The game was about to start and I grabbed a bag of dill pickle seeds and an orange Gatorade preparing to spend it on the bench. Dan walked over and handed me his cell.
“Sabrina and Lexi are stuck in Atlanta and their flight was just delayed again. Hold onto this and let me know if she sends any updates.”
Dan’s always been a little on edge whenever Lexi wasn’t around but with this being his first season married to Sabrina, he’s worse than usual. It’s going to be a long season for both of us. This will be the first time I’ll be leaving someone I want to spend time with when I go on the road. In fact, it’s the first time I have someone I actually want to spend time with outside the bedroom. Before I could get too bogged down with thoughts of how shallow my adult relationships have been, Cal took a seat next to me.
He nudged his chin and said, “Give me a handful of those.”
I opened the seeds and poured a pile into his palm and took some for myself before zipping the bag closed.
“Your protege is glowing today.”
“He’s not my protege.” I spit some empty shells onto the floor. “He thinks he’s my replacement.”
Which might be the case, but if I have my way, that won’t be for a long time. My agent has started the lengthy process of negotiations and I’m looking for at least a five-year contract renewal. That should give me enough time to figure out what the hell to do once I retire.
We stood for the national anthem and the game started. The rookie pitcher, Sam Cherry lived up to his Cherry Bomb nickname throwing heat and striking out the side.
Dan ran down the steps and straight over to me.
“Nothing yet,” I said.
“They were supposed to be here two hours ago,” he said then walked across the dugout to grab his bat and helmet. “Let me know as soon as you know something. Call time out and run onto the field if you have to.”
Thankfully Sabrina called just before the middle of the third inning and said they were getting on a plane and would be here in a couple hours. I met Dan at the top of the dugout stairs and filled him in.
“She said they’re going to Uber to the stadium from the airport so don’t leave before they get here,” I added.
“Thanks man.” He smiled and slapped me on the back. We walked down the stairs and he grabbed a drink. “I was getting ready to hop in the car and go get them.”
“Sabrina said to tell you to relax. They’re fine and will be here before you know it.”
The Waves won the game 6-2, despite three errors by the shortstop. The kid has talent, but he needs to get his head out of his ass and pay attention. Play is different at this level and if he doesn’t adjust, he won’t make it. But that’s not my problem. He views me as a rival instead of a mentor so I’m the last person he’d look to for advice.
I walked out of the dugout looked up into the stands. Hannah stood at the top of the stairs next to Doug Luna. She laughed at something he said then walked down the stairs toward Mrs. Garrett’s group. Thankfully he disappeared into the concourse because I couldn’t be responsible for my actions if he followed her. I have no reason to believe Hannah is interested in the man, but my blood still boils every time see them together. Apparently jealousy is another first I’m feeling with Hannah.
She led the group onto the field and I walked to her side.
“You guys ready to run?” I asked.
I spent the next half hour standing at home plate, telling each kid when to go. Dan, Cal, and Monte stood at each of the bases, acting as coaches, waving their arms in a dramatic circle advancing the kids to the next base. We wrapped things up and Hannah led the group out off the field and up the stairs. I’m sure she’ll go back to her office to do some work before leaving.
“I’m gonna hit the showers,” Dan said. “My girls will be here soon and I gotta smell good for them.”
I don’t need to shower, but I followed him to the locker room to change. After sliding on shorts and a T-shirt, I slipped my feet into my favorite Sperrys and said my goodbyes. I walked out of the stadium toward to the player’s parking lot. The door had just closed behind me when a red Ford Focus pulled up. The back passenger door opened and Lexi came bounding out.
“Uncle Jack!” she yelled and jumped into my arms.
“You made it,” I said and kissed her forehead before putting her back down.
“I didn’t think we would. We were in the airport so long,” she said, dramatically drawing out the last two words.
Sabrina walked over, and dropped two suitcases and a backpack next to her.
“How are you holding up?” I asked, kissing her on the cheek.
“Not quite as energetic as our girl here, but I’m good,” she said.
Lexi filled me in on their airport adventure, which is par for the course for her. After all, she’s been traveling to games her whole life. Before she started school, she was usually with us on road trips.
Dan burst through the stadium doors and ran toward us. Pulling them into his arms, he kissed them both.
“I’m so happy to see you guys,” he said. “I missed you both so much.”
“Daddy, you’re squeezing too tight.” Lexi wriggled until he loosened his hold.
Sabrina stayed right where she was and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I wasn’t sure if you guys would be hungry, but ordered take out just in case,” Dan said. “We can pick it up on our way to the condo.”
“Are you coming over, Uncle Jack?”
“No, I have plans,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the game though and then Sunday on the boat.”
“Plans?” Based on Sabrina’s smirk and raised brow, I’d say Dan told her about Hannah and me.
“Plans,” I confirmed with a wink. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Chapter 22
Hannah
I knocked on the door of Jack’s condo and waited, listening for signs of life inside. I hadn’t noticed his car in the parking lot, but didn’t want to just go barging in. When he didn’t answer, I carefully pushed the code he’d given me earlier into the touchpad and smiled when the light turned green and I heard the lock disengage. I turned the knob, opened the door, and slowly stepped inside. The door sounded extraordinarily loud as it closed behind me.
Standing in the foyer, I took a deep breath, inhaling the faint remnants of his scent. He can’t be that far behind me and it would be really strange if he walked in and found me standing just inside the door sniffing the air. I moved forward and placed my purse on its now-usual stool then settled onto the couch and grabbed the remote from the coffee table in front of me.
I scrolled through the menu a couple times then clicked on an old episode of The Office. My sophomore year of college, I interned at a marketing firm and can totally relate to some of the antics that go on in the show. Yes, they’re exaggerated, but apparently craziness is the norm when you get people together in a cube farm. The Waves’ offices are a bit more segmented, but still manage to get a little nuts at times. I can’t imagine what would happen if we were all in the same room all the time.
After slipping off my shoes, I placed my glasses on the coffee table and curled my legs onto the couch, resting against the decorative pillow. Turning up the volume, I relaxed and watched one episode of The Office end and another begin. The opening sequence had just ended when I heard the front door open. I shifted up and looked over my shoulder.
“Don’t move,” Jack said.
I froze in place and watched him walk toward me. When he reached the couch, he dropped to his knees and leaned toward me, forcing me to lie back against the pillow. Placing his hands on either side of my face, he devoured me with his gaze and my heart pounded at its intensity. When he lowered his mouth to mine, I’d expected a full-blown, tongue-tangling kiss, but instead, he nibbled at my bottom lip before placing his mouth over mine and applying a wonderful suction that I felt right down to my core.
My mind whirled as Jack’s mouth opened and closed in a s
teady rhythm. Long and hard, soft and gentle, our tongues tangled in a hot, sexual assault. He literally made love to my mouth and I didn’t want him to stop. I twisted my fingers into his hair and held on tight.
“You drive me crazy,” Jack whispered as he pulled back just far enough to tilt his head and come at me from a different angle.
With our mouths still melded together, he shifted on top of me and I opened my legs to make room. Taking the invitation, he settled into place, and I shamelessly rubbed against his erection. He moved so suddenly, I barely had time to let go of his hair.
“Come here.”
I took his offered hand and he pulled, hauling me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
“Jack,” I screeched. “What are you doing?”
He spanked my ass then rubbed his hand against the spot in a soothing caress.
“Getting you into my bed the fastest way possible.”
My stomach bounced against his shoulder but before I could protest again, he lowered me to the bed. He ripped his shirt off and threw it to the floor then stepped out of his shorts. I caught sight of his erection peeking over the waistband of his boxer briefs a second before he rested his knee next to my thigh and urged me to lie back.
“I think we can get rid of these for a while, don’t you?” The words were barely out of his mouth when he pulled my capris off with one tug and tossed them on the floor.
Jack settled his hands against my waist and pushed me further onto the bed. Leaning forward, he opened my blouse, one button at a time then slowly peeled it apart, leaving goosebumps where the material had been.
“I don’t want to embarrass you,” he said. “But I can see right through this material.”
His looked at my breasts, encased in a sheer white demi bra. The matching panty shows just as much. I’ve always liked wearing sexy underwear and Jack’s appreciation makes me happy for that fact. After taking a lazy tour of my nearly-naked body, his gaze met mine again.
“I’ll have to see if I can get a refund since they’re defective,” I said.
He lowered his mouth and nibbled at the mound peeking over the material of my bra.
“I didn’t say anything about them being defective. They’re actually kind of perfect, like you.”
Before I could think about that last statement too much, he brushed his lips against mine and picked up where he’d left off in the living room. He settled between my widespread thighs and I wrapped my arms around his neck, putting my breasts in contact with his brick wall of a chest. He slid his hand up my back and flicked my bra open then shoved it out of the way. I groaned when my nipples made contact with his skin. They’ve always been sensitive, but with Jack, they’re at a whole other level.
He pulled back. “Christ, Hannah.” His gaze roamed over my body as he dragged in deep breaths. “I wanted to go slow this time, but you erode my control until I act like a horny teenager with his first girl.”
He stood and removed his boxer briefs then leaned over and grabbed a condom out of the nightstand drawer. I watched, fascinated, as he covered his hard length with latex. That done, he leaned down and slipped his index fingers into the waistband of my panties and slowly dragged them down my legs. He settled my calf onto his shoulder and leaned forward, shifting my other leg to the side, opening me to his gaze.
His finger traced my folds then dipped inside.
“Mmm, perfect.”
He leaned down and brushed his mouth against mine then filled me in one long stroke. Our breath mingled between kisses as he thrust into me, slowly at first then with more force. I tightened my leg against his shoulder and grabbed onto his arms. His muscles flexed as he pushed his upper body up and away from me, shoving his pelvis deeper into mine. The new position had him brushing against my clit with every thrust.
“That’s it,” he said, picking up the pace. Everytime he pulled out, my inner muscles clenched and tightened, then fluttered when he pushed back in. “You feel so good.”
He slipped his hand around my ankle and raised my other leg onto his shoulder and thrust forward, pushing deeper than before, the tip of his penis hitting that spot while his pelvis brushed against my clit. Talk about sensation overload.
“Oh my God, Jack! Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”
He picked up the pace and said my name on a low groan. “Come for me, baby.”
My nipples tingled and a wave of sensation crashed through my body as I clamped down on him over and over again. Jack stiffened and throbbed inside me. After the storm passed, he turned his head to the side and kissed my knee before sliding first one leg then the other down to rest on the bed. He lowered himself against my chest and my inner muscles clenched with aftershocks.
He kissed my collarbone and looked up at me, his eyes sleepy and sated. I imagine mine look the same. Then something felt strange.
“Jack?”
“Hmm?” He kissed the curve of my breast.
“Jack, something doesn’t feel right,” I said, trying not to sound too panicked.
Shifting onto his elbow, he looked down to where we were still joined and back into my eyes.
“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine, but something doesn’t feel right. Down there,” I added, as if there was any question to what I was talking about.
He backed away slowly, and pulled out of me, then cursed.
“Fuck!” he said, not quite under his breath. “The condom broke.”
Jack
I grabbed a tissue and dragged the busted condom off, cleaning myself in the process. I pulled a washcloth off the shelf and ran it under warm water for Hannah so she could do the same. Looking at myself in the mirror, I cringed at the freaked out expression on my face. But I guess I have every right to be freaked out. I’ve been having sex since I was sixteen and have never had a condom break. Ever.
I guess I’ve just been lucky.
After squeezing the excess water from the washcloth, I left the bathroom and handed it to Hannah.
“Thank you,” she said.
I walked around the bed and kept my back to her as I pulled my underwear back into place and grabbed my shorts from the floor giving her a little privacy.
“Can you hand me my clothes?”
She sat in the middle of the bed with the sheet clutched against her chest. Instead of doing what she asked, I pulled a T-shirt from the drawer and brought it over to her. I don’t want her to leave right away and I have a feeling if she gets into her own clothes, she will. I’d expected a protest, but instead, she slipped the shirt over her head without saying a word. She smoothed her hair into place and looked over at me.
“You okay?” I sat next to her on the bed.
She nodded. “I’m sorry I reacted like that. It just freaked me out for a minute.”
I chuckled and laced my fingers through hers and squeezed.
“Understandable,” I said. “It freaked me out, too.”
“Just to ease your mind, I’m on the pill,” she said.
“That’s good to know.” I stroked my thumb against hers. “But pregnancy isn’t the only issue with a broken condom and I want to put your mind at ease. I’m clean. You know I get regular physicals that include blood work.” I said.
“I’m clean, too,” she said.
Not that I had any doubt, but it was nice to hear.
I shifted further onto the bed and pulled her against my chest. We stayed that way for a long time and I just enjoyed the feel of her in my arms. Her breathing deepened and as carefully as possible, I reached down and pulled the sheet up to her shoulders. I settled further into the pillows and closed my eyes.
I woke slowly with Hannah still in my arms and looked over at the clock. It was just past six so my alarm won’t go off for another couple hours. The game is at one o’clock today, and I don’t have to be at the field until ten, but I’m not sure about her.
“Hannah,” I whispered, then kissed the top of her head. She snuggled further into my chest a
nd sighed. Rubbing my hand up and down her back, I repeated her name.
“Hmmm?”
“What time do you have to get up?”
“Not yet,” she muttered.
I’ll give her another half hour. I can’t imagine she has to be at the stadium super early, and Hannah doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who takes hours getting ready for work.
I slid my hand under the sheet and rested it on her waist. She still wore my T-shirt but it had ridden up during the night so I touched warm, soft skin. Then I remembered she’d never put her panties on last night, so I let my hand drift lower until it reached the firm globe of her ass. I squeezed and slowly caressed, just enjoying the feel of her.
Hannah moaned and pushed against my thigh, then shifted her leg over mine. Instead of dragging her on top of me to impale her with my growing erection, I closed my eyes. But instead of dozing back off, I started thinking about what happened last night. I guess I’ve just been really lucky, because I’ve never had a condom issue. I know Lexi exists because of a broken condom, and while Dan fought hard to keep her and loves her more than life, he was less than thrilled the moment it happened.
When Hannah told me the condom broke, I definitely panicked, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I suppose it was bound to happen eventually and I’m glad it was with Hannah. At least she’s honest and I trust that when she says she’s on the pill, she really is. I’ve had women swear they were protected and we could skip the condoms, but I never felt comfortable enough to do that.
My first Minor League coach warned about girls who’d get pregnant on purpose hoping to hitch themselves to a future Major League star. At the time, I thought he was exaggerating, but I’ve seen it happen since then. I’ve also personally witnessed girls poking holes into condoms, which is why I make sure to always use my own.
You’d think all that would put a damper on sex, but the MLB is just as active as ever. Until Cindy wrote that book, I never thought twice about it. I was careful and avoided the usual groupie scene and thought that was enough. While I didn’t trust the women enough to go bareback, there was a degree of familiarity there that made me feel like things were under control. The guys always busted me about being a serial monogamist, but it worked for me.
Waste of Handsome (Carolina Waves #2) Page 18