Spring Training

by Stacey Lynn Rhodes

  “Yeah, sort of. I really don’t want to talk about your brother right now, though.”

  “Okay, but you know I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Alex.” Older than his years. She thought about his schedule. “Don’t you have class right now?”

  “It was canceled because the prof is sick, but I didn’t get the message, I guess. I’m walking back to the apartment now, so I thought I’d check in and see how it was going with you, especially after the pics I saw…” He paused. “Sorry, I know you don’t want to talk about Em. Anyway, I might go in and see if I can help out at the office—”

  “You should take the extra time and chill out, doing something relaxing or fun.”

  “I already went for a run this morning.”

  “I meant besides running. Maybe go to a movie? Go shopping? Have lunch?”

  “Seriously, Ma. By myself, at ten-thirty in the morning?”

  “Oh.” That was true. “I was just thinking you spend enough time working, studying and working out. I worry that you’re not enjoying the rest of what college is about.”

  “I’m fine, you don’t need to worry. It’s not like I’m a hermit or anything. I go out.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I do! Hey, save your mental energy for the other one. My life is under control. Okay?” Alex reassured her.

  Under a bit too much control, actually. She sighed, not really sure she should be complaining about that. “Okay, hon.” She glanced up as someone pulled in behind her at the pump. “I’d better move—just gassed up Em’s truck and I’m blocking the pumps.”

  “Typical,” he echoed her thought from earlier and she laughed. He joined in, and her tension eased. She couldn’t be that bad of a mom if Alex had turned out so well. Em was a good kid, too, just…well…a bit too much of a kid for his age and this opportunity.

  “Talk soon,” she promised.

  “Love you. Say hey to the brat for me.”

  “Will do. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Despite the pleasant conversation with Alex, Teri’s frustration returned when she got back to the apartment and took another look at the boxes and garbage sacks of clothes in his room. What am I going to do with Em? He had an opportunity here that thousands of guys would kill for and he was happy to just fuck around. She went over scenario after scenario in her head as she put herself into work mode, trying to come up with something to motivate him.

  Chapter Six

  By the time late afternoon rolled around, she had settled dozens of recriminations on herself for failing as his mom. In the meantime, she had, ironically enough, been a mom in overdrive. She’d done a quick inventory then had gone back out to get a few more things at the store, and while she was out she’d gotten an oil change and washed his truck. She’d unpacked all of his clothes and most of the boxes and arranged his room, then fixed his favorite pea and cheese salad to go with the steaks she had marinating.

  Pissed off or not, she didn’t want to be spiteful about it, and she always felt better when she was getting things done. Standing with her hands on her hips, she took a last look around Emery’s room. Part of her was cynically wondering whether she’d just be packing it all back up again soon, but maybe having a more settled space would somehow make him work to stay.

  Teri had racked her brain trying to come up with the perfect combination of words to convince Emery to take this once-in-a-lifetime shot seriously. She was at a loss, though, so she’d soon given up and tried to clear her mind. It kept drifting back to the unexpected, sexy evening she’d spent with Aaron the night before.

  It would bubble up in her brain now and then who he really was, and it was odd trying to reconcile the famous ballplayer with the man whose touch had brought out a side of her she’d never really known before. As much as she loved ball, she’d never been a groupie—and really, she hadn’t exactly had a chance to be young and focused on anything so carefree as hooking up, at least not after that first time. So to her, he was just Aaron. And last night had been beyond hot, though his crack about her ineffective lecture this morning had stung.

  Maybe she should cut him some slack. He’d never been a parent, so he probably had no idea how personal it felt when someone criticized how she treated her kids. If the topic even came up, perhaps she’d liken it to someone hacking on his ball playing or training regime.

  Actually, she should just let it drop. A few days from now, she’d be back home. And while she’d continue to make the trips up to see Emery play, they’d be sporadic and short. The team would be on the road, she’d have work and eventually Aaron would be rejoining his own team…if Emery didn’t get cut before then.

  She heaved a sigh and sat down on the bed. Basically she just had to get along with him on the surface of things until their ways parted for good. No one was forcing them to spend time with one another, and two people certainly didn’t have to have every little thing in agreement in order to have sex. Good sex. Really amazing…

  Stop it.

  Teri’s gaze landed on the boxes, and she jumped up, glad to have one more task to distract her from her mental spiral. She could finish that then clean herself up and maybe check email or something until the guys got back.

  She was just hauling a stack of broken down and folded up boxes out to her car, thinking longingly of a nice, hot shower, when Aaron and Emery pulled up into Aaron’s parking space.

  Crap. And here she looked like shit, and frankly didn’t feel like talking to either one of them.

  Briefly considering ignoring them both, she nodded toward them as they got out and approached, and continued without pausing toward her car.

  “There’s a recycling bin over there.” There was a subdued note to Aaron’s voice as he gestured to the enclosed dumpster area.

  “I’ll just take them home for now. You never know when you might suddenly need moving boxes.” She stared pointedly at Emery. He apparently got the reference since he swallowed hard, but he held his tongue and simply took the boxes from her. He walked silently next to her, placed them in the trunk of her car then headed upstairs without a word, leaving Teri and Aaron alone.

  Teri chanced a look at Aaron. The chastened look on his face hit home. Whether it was the sudden exhaustion from working all day, or her mental struggle over what to do with her son, she stupidly needed reassurance. She took a slow step toward him, then another. Suddenly they were moving into each other’s arms.

  “I’m sorry, babe.” Aaron held her tight. He ran his hand over her hair then toyed with her ponytail. “That was a really shitty thing to say, especially right then. Not exactly supportive. I shouldn’t have taken my frustration with Emery out on you. I felt horrible all day.”

  “No, you were actually right. Talking doesn’t seem to work with him,” Teri conceded. She sighed into his chest, enjoying the feeling of giving up her cares for the moment. “I just don’t know what to do.”

  “Well, Coach McCauley and Ron, one of the assistant coaches, had Emery in their office for a long time after practice today, that’s why we’re back so late.”

  She pulled back, though his arms remained lightly around her waist. “Oh no! What did they say?”

  Aaron grimaced and moved so they were strolling slowly toward the stairs, his hand riding lightly on her lower back. “He wouldn’t tell me, but Ron said Coach ripped him a new one. Said talent only goes so far and they didn’t have time to waste on prima donnas who disrespect their coaches and teammates like he has been.”

  Teri winced. “Ouch. No wonder he was so quiet.” Her heart ached for her baby boy. A dressing down like that from a respected authority figure, well-earned or not, had to have hurt.

  “I caught hell too, for not rounding him up earlier.”

  What? Teri stopped moving and stared at him. “That’s not fair. He’s an adult, he’s responsible for himself.” She thought about what she’d just said, gave a wry laugh and qualified, “Well, technically.” And she would do well to remember that h
e was a grown up. She wouldn’t do either one of them any favors by bailing him out of situations. He had to stand on his own two feet, even if that meant she sometimes had to watch him fall.

  It was still hard, though. Occasionally she thought that the hardest part of parenting was knowing when to stop.

  She was relieved when Aaron winked. “Don’t worry about it. Both my job here and my babysitting gig are voluntary on my part.” He turned them back toward the stairs, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

  “Ick, I’m all sweaty,” she protested, trying to pull away. The feel of his arm across her damp T-shirt forcibly brought back to her how disgusting she was. He refused to let go, and she acquiesced without a struggle, remembering his shoulder.

  “So am I,” he reminded her. “I showered up after my rehab session and weights, but didn’t take a second one after helping run outfield practice. I’d just as soon clean up at home.” He let her go as they entered the apartment door Emery had left ajar. The sounds of a shower running came down the hall.

  “Sounds like Emery beat you to it.”

  A warm shaft of desire shot through her as he suddenly cupped her ass in both hands and pulled her flush against him.

  “Wanna shower with me?”

  Teri’s eyes widened as the wet and wonderful possibilities flashed like an X-rated movie trailer in her head. She nibbled her lower lip as she found herself hard-pressed to say no.

  Looking like he’d just won the lottery, Aaron grinned wide. “Seriously? You’re considering it?” He abruptly let go of her ass then encircled one wrist as he turned away. She stumbled to keep up as he pulled her down the hall to his room, leading her inside and closing the door before she could protest.

  He yanked his damp shirt over his head, then tossed it toward a hamper by a door she assumed led to the en suite bathroom. When he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his now-tented pants, she held up a hand.

  “Whoa. We can’t do this,” Teri whispered urgently, dying to see more of him in the light of day, but very conscious of her son just down the hall.

  Sure we can… Her body was all in favor of the idea.

  “Sure we can, if you hurry up,” he persuaded. “You should know better than anyone he takes forever in the shower. C’mon.” He beckoned, backing toward the bathroom. “C’mon, Teri,” he repeated in a low, sexy rumble. His gaze was locked on hers and she had to fight to keep from taking a step toward him.

  It wasn’t as though Em was going to search her out anytime soon. In fact, she’d be lucky if she got him out of his room to eat dinner. So really, there was nothing keeping her from indulging. Just two consenting adults…

  “Just…wait.” She held up her hand and watched him make an effort try to smooth his features as he battled his disappointment. That show of maturity and restraint more than anything made up her mind for her.

  She whipped her own shirt over her head and watched his jaw drop.

  “Okay, now you can take off your pants.”

  Chapter Seven

  Aaron’s erection came roaring back to life at the unexpected vision of Teri’s small but perfect, pink-tipped breasts as she stood topless, hands on hips, waiting impatiently for him to strip. He tried to catch up mentally. He’d just been joking when he’d first suggested a shower together, but then her tempted look and lack of immediate refusal had fired his imagination. It had been disappointing, but not wholly unexpected, when she had balked once in his room, so he’d given it one last shot by groveling, not expecting it to work.

  Not wanting to waste another minute, he toed off his shoes and stripped his socks off then pushed his pants down, kicking them aside. That left him in his plain, white jock, and he paused, arrested by the blatant admiration in Teri’s eyes.

  He knew he was in good shape, but his body’s appearance became more important to him now as she devoured his form with her hungry gaze. Knowing she watched every movement, he palmed his aching cock over the jock, giving it some much needed counter-pressure.

  Her pink tongue snuck out and ran over her lips, leaving a shine he wanted to kiss away. Aaron cocked a brow at her. “Okay, pants are off. What now?”

  Teri smiled sensuously and toed off her sandals, giving a sexy shimmy as she slid her shorts down her tanned legs, leaving her in only a pair of simple white panties. “Turn around,” she ordered.

  Aaron hated to look away, but complied, slowly turning.

  “Stop.”

  He halted his movement and sensed Teri step up close behind him. A bit of movement, then a pair of panties went sailing past him toward his bed. Before he could turn back around, she grasped him by the hips and slid her fingers under the thick elastic of the jock’s waistband.

  Alternating side-to-side, she slowly pushed the elastic down until it was caught on his almost painfully erect cock. He held his breath, bracing for the coming discomfort but not wanting to interrupt the moment. As if realizing his dilemma, she reached around and took his cock in a tantalizingly brief grip, just long enough to clear the waistband, as she pulled the garment down to the tops of his thighs.

  Aaron could sense her kneel down behind him and fought a burst of lust at the mental picture of Teri, nude and on her knees. She finished pulling his jock down to his ankles and let him step out. Then, instead of standing back up, she began stroking down his thighs and he felt her give a gentle bite to his ass cheek.

  “Ahh.” His head dropped back and his dick gave a heart-stopping jerk as he fought to keep from coming right then and there. She nibbled around to his hip, continuing her light massage of his legs, while turning him around.

  Teri zeroed in on his hipbone and he had to fight to keep from pushing her to the floor and pouncing on her. Watching her head move, just inches from his straining erection but purposely avoiding contact, was driving him crazy. He cupped her head with his hand, forcing back the impulse to move her mouth to where he wanted it, and instead loosened her ponytail band, gently removing it to allow her hair to flow down her bare back.

  Just then, she glanced up at him from under her lashes, gave him a smile and…stood.

  Damn.

  He waited for her lead, trembling a bit with the effort of his restraint.

  “I thought we were taking a shower,” she reminded him with an evil smile as she turned away to enter the bathroom.

  “Oh, you are so gonna get it,” he growled, stalking after her, patience at an end.

  He reached around her and flipped the shower on, adjusting it to the perfect temperature setting then urging her inside, stepping in close behind her.

  They took turns shampooing and rinsing their hair under the spray, sliding slowly past one another to exchange places, then began the fun process of ‘washing’ one another. Standing so near, Teri seemed so small. Her confidence, maturity and presence tended to make him forget how tiny she was.

  “You’re such a cute little thing,” he teased as they soaped up, loving her reaction as he got the arched brow. “How do you do that with just one eyebrow?”

  “It’s a gift. And I’m not a ‘cute little thing’. Hardly,” she scoffed, tossing her head. “You’re just big.” She grabbed his erection in a soapy hand, and he almost broke a sweat. “Mmm, and wide too.”

  “Ah, Teri, the things you say.” He loved her playful sexiness. Hell, he loved everything about her. How lucky was he to have her come knocking on his door at such a crappy time in his life?

  He pulled her against him, feeling their slick bodies come together, and dipped his head to take her mouth in a lush kiss she returned in full measure.

  “God, I just want to pick you up and nail you right against the wall,” he muttered as he spread his legs to fit them together even tighter.

  “Why don’t you?” she invited huskily, and for a brief, wonderful moment, he couldn’t think of a single reason why not.

  The water pressure suddenly strengthened, and reason came flooding back with it. They looked at each other regretfully, but when Aaron would have
turned off the water to get out, she stopped him. “Wait.”

  Once again, he was treated to the sight of Teri on her knees, but this time the teasing playfulness was gone, replaced by a woman on a mission. He tried to protest, pull her back to her feet, but she refused to budge. She cupped his ball sac in one gentle hand as the other fisted the base of his cock and gave a pump as she wrapped her lips around the head, taking him into that heavenly wet heat.

  Aaron dropped back against the wall with a thud and spread his legs even more. Teri flicked her tongue repeatedly just under the head then ran it around the ridge in each direction before slipping her lips down his shaft to where they met her hand. The visual was proving too much, and he could feel the tension building at the base of his spine.

  She looked up at him, her eyes smiling as she repeatedly took his cock as far down as her encircling hand, then provided exquisite suction on the way back up, bringing him to the edge of control. He teetered there for a few moments before her finger slipped back and firmly stroked his perineum. That new sensation overwhelmed his efforts to hold back, and he crossed his arms to keep from grabbing her head to hold her in place.

  “I’m there, babe,” he warned hoarsely, but she didn’t pull away, giving one more of those breathtaking strokes behind his balls then he was coming and there was no place to escape from her attention. The very thought that she hadn’t pulled back, that she had taken what he had to give, sent an extra, hard pulse through his cock. She gently milked him until the sensation was too much, then finally let him pull her to her feet and up against him.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He got the eyebrow from her again. “I’m not. C’mon. Let’s go have dinner.”

  “What? What about you?” Aaron protested, feeling guilty for having been on the receiving end without giving her pleasure as well.

  Teri just laughed. “Don’t worry. I wanted to do that. I enjoyed it too. And you can make it up to me later tonight.” She got out of the shower and dried off before wrapping up in a bath sheet for the trip to Emery’s room.