Trouble With the Curve (Learning Curve #2)

by Felicia Lynn

  Not able to withstand the disturbing quiet and distance any longer, I reach for her hand. She doesn’t pull away when I clutch her hand tightly in mine and even returns the gentle squeeze. But she doesn’t look my way, and I desperately need to see the whites of her eyes.

  Her soft voice finally pierces the silence. “You have no idea how sorry I am, Ty. I should have listened to you. I ruined your night. I wish I could rewrite history and go back to the hallway and take the escape route. Ty, I know this will probably make headlines tomorrow and embarrass you, but I don’t even know how to fix it. So many people witnessed that scene, and that woman is beyond angry and can’t be trusted. There’s no telling how she’ll spin this to make you look bad,” she says, sounding dejected.

  “Babe, stop. Nothing that happened back there was your fault. You didn’t ruin anything, and we did nothing to provoke her. Clearly, the chick is crazy. If I make headlines tomorrow defending our relationship and my future wife, so fucking be it. I didn’t say anything I’m ashamed of or didn’t mean one hundred percent. What’s done is done, and at the end of the day, I refuse to let that shitty altercation screw up our night.”

  Stopping at the intersection before I make the turn on our street, I glance over at her and see she’s stirring more and paying attention to what I’m saying, so I continue. “Babe, I need to know you’re okay, and then I want us to try to forget what happened back there for now. We’ll deal with the outcome tomorrow, but tonight it’s just us, Charlotte. My plans tonight of spending every waking hour showing you how much you mean to me by worshipping your body are still very much on. But I won’t have anyone else in the bed with us for that. There’s no space for that, buttercup. It’ll always be just us there.”

  Looking perplexed, her eyes meet mine. “You’re not mad at me for not going with your plan?” she asks.

  “And miss out on our adventures in life together, Charlie? Fuck no, babe. Everything happens for a reason, no matter how much dealing with the bullshit sucks at the moment. I could never be upset with you for wanting to tell the world you’re wearing my ring, even if your reasoning was a tad bit spiteful. I get it. Hightailing it out the back door unnoticed possibly would have bought us time, but that woman had a motivated plan. The talk would have happened sooner or later, and another time or place wouldn’t have changed the outcome. My response to those particular questions from anyone will be the same tonight, tomorrow, or next week, month, or year, Charlie. The truth will come out. Not too many ways anyone could spin my words to make it sound like I’m not head over heels in love with you. So forgive me for not giving two shits about what she thinks or reports. As long as the gist of the article is that we’re both off the market, I’m all yours, and you’re mine, then who cares? That’s all that really matters to me.” With a nod of acceptance and a reticent smile, I know I’ve succeeded and continue the drive home.

  Just as we’re pulling into the driveway, my phone rings in my back pocket. I sigh, reaching for it while wishing for a second that sitting on it had crushed it. Every irrational instinct tells me to ignore it, carry my girl into the house, and forget the outside world exists. But not many people actually call me, knowing I hate to talk on the phone. Most people would text, even if it were important. I’ve felt the phone vibrate at least a half dozen times on the drive home, but I had more important things to work out. Pulling it from my pocket, I hesitantly look at the screen, figuring it’s likely Scott even though a contract offer shouldn’t even be on the table yet. But it’s not Scott, and I’m skeptical and taken aback by the name displayed.

  Gov. Ronald Baker. What the hell? I look up to find Charlie staring at the screen as well, and I feel the anxiousness in her posture as she waits to see what I’m going to do. Our eyes connect, and she forces a faint smile, but I see the sadness behind it.

  Nope. Not happening. No one else is coming between us tonight. I don’t even try to hide that I decline the call without a second thought before stashing my phone in the gym bag behind me. Charlie releases a relieved sigh, and I know it was the right move. Her dad may be anxious to work things out with her, but if Charlie needs a minute, days, or even weeks to prepare herself emotionally for that, he’ll have to dig deep for some patience and wait.

  “No offense to the governor, but I have plans with my girl, and I already said it’s a party of two. When we get through those doors, I don’t want any of tonight’s bullshit between us. Are we good, buttercup? Behind those walls, I can promise we won’t be using our mouths to talk, so if you have something to say, now’s the time.”

  With hooded eyes, she looks at me. Her cheeks heat and cover with a pink flush as she nods. No words are necessary. She reaches for the handle, opening the door before slithering out of the truck, and I do the same out my side. Moving behind her in silence up the path to our front porch, I step closer to her and pull her back to my front as we walk. She arches in my hold on her, rubbing the curves of her bottom into my groin. I growl, tipping my lips to her ear and gently nipping her lobe. I’m so fucking turned on, having her perfect little ass pressed into me, that I’m seconds from hauling her over my shoulder and running the rest of the way into the house and up the stairs to the bedroom. At this point, I’m not even sure we’ll make it to the bedroom before I get her out of this dress. We’ll be really fucking lucky if I can make it in the door and get it fully closed before she’s naked.

  “Buttercup, what exactly were you thinking when you chose this particular dress tonight? Were you trying to torture me or did you just want to make it impossible for me to take my eyes off you? Because whatever the reasoning, I approve. But fair warning, babe, you’re probably going to need to make time to order a replacement tomorrow because it’s unlikely this one will survive much longer.”

  She senses the urgency and moves a little quicker, reaching the door. When I pull the keys from my pocket, she turns to face me as I fumble to put the key into the hole, and I feel her fingers slowly working to unbutton my shirt. Struggling to pull my eyes off her to work the key into the lock on the door, I connect my gaze with hers as she peers up at me raptly.

  “Just trying to save us a little time and get to work now since I really like this particular shirt you’re wearing and don’t want to risk its destruction.” Using every ounce of the strength I can find, I pull my eyes from her and refocus on my hand to unlock the door. When the key turns, I swing the door open with more force than is necessary, and it loudly bangs against the doorstopper. Not caring in the slightest about possible damage, I’m just pleased the cock-blocking door is finally open, making me one step closer to a unclothed Charlie. I waste no time and sweep her weightless body up and over my shoulder. She shrieks with giggles as I take wide steps into the house, and the sound is music to my ears. I kick the door closed with one foot, flip the lock, and move toward the stairs. As I’m walking through the family room on a beeline to the finish line, I rid myself of the keys by tossing them across the room into a decorative basket on the coffee table.

  “HEY,” she quips, with a bossy tone. “No throwing in the house, Mr. Stone. Same rules still apply even if you are a hotshot major league baseball boy now. I like that table, and I don’t want any scratches on it if you miss.” My hand, thankfully now free of the keys, lifts and hovers over the globes of her ass. I drop the open palm to one of her tight ass cheeks, inflicting a solid smack to silence her protests instantly.

  “Baseball MAN or player and I didn’t miss. I don’t miss . . . ever, buttercup,” I growl, softly caressing the warm spot on her bottom that received the punishment as I continue to quickly move closer to the stairs. The whisper-soft moans I hear escaping her lips send a vibration of desire directly to my aching cock as if communicating through fucking Morse code. My God . . . this woman is my undoing.

  Taking the steps up to the room two at a time while fumbling with the zipper on the backside of her dress with only one free hand, I’m unsuccessful in releasing the zipper. The distance to the room might as wel
l be two miles away. My frustration grows at an increasingly urgent speed to reach the silky softness of her skin being held prisoner in the form-fitting black material. So instead of stopping and stripping her halfway up the staircase, knowing we’d never make it any further, I change my mission. Luckily, my greedy hand finds a patch of her warm flesh at the base of her sexy little ass cheeks where the dress has hiked up over her thighs.

  “Oh . . . my . . .” She pants, squirming to spread her legs as far as the fabric of her dress allows in this position. As hot as the dress is on her and as much as I’ve enjoyed seeing her in it all night, I’m beginning to fucking hate it and look forward to destroying it as soon as possible as my retaliation. The extra inch of space she was able to make is just enough for my fingers to inch closer and explore her needy little pussy. My fingers flick across the lace fabric of her barely-there panties, and I feel the slick warmth under them. I can’t get to the bed fast enough.

  In our bedroom, I flip the light switch on before releasing the grip on her thighs. Dragging her body slowly down mine, I hear our synced heartbeats hammering in my ears from the pulsing intensity of our need for each other. Her nipples pebble under the fabric of the enemy dress, and I can’t avoid a nip with my teeth. She shudders with a soft moan of pleasure, so I give equal attention to the other bud before releasing her feet to the floor at the foot of our bed.

  Her gaze stays riveted on my face while my hands move to the back of this offending dress I’ve loved to hate all night. Although my initial instinct was to destroy the dress in revenge, I have no desire to waste time on that right now when I have something much more valuable demanding my attention, so the decision to release the zipper and let the dress fall and puddle around her ankles on the floor is an easy choice.

  “YOU’RE SO FUCKING BEAUTIFUL. Perfect. This is the only place I’ve wanted to be all night.” I finish the job she started downstairs by unbuttoning the rest of my shirt. I proceed more cautiously than I’d prefer, but my girl likes this shirt and doesn’t want it ruined. I toss it aside as Charlotte lowers herself onto the bed and slowly slithers her way backward toward the center pillows at the head of the bed. Driven by a sense of urgency, I make quick work of the rest of my clothes.

  “Are you in a rush, Mr. Stone? I couldn’t help but notice that bulge in your pants most of the night. I assumed you’d want to take your time since you’ve been waiting a while. Are you certain you’re ready to take those tight sexy boxer briefs off already?” she asks, watching me closely from our bed. She’s baiting me, and I know it.

  Wearing just a thin black lace bra that hides absolutely nothing and barely there fuck-me-please matching panties that I know are soaking wet because my hand was inside them a minute ago, she wants me to lose control. I’m powerless not to with her, but I want to make sure she’s wild for me too. Sitting up, she slowly reaches behind her to the clasp of her bra, and my eyes lock on her chest immediately.

  My breathing is erratic, and my body is motionless, not caring in the least that I still have my boxers on. I need to be closer to her before she’s bare so I can cover those perky little tits with my hands and mouth. “Stop,” I groan the demand. She complies and then leans back, propping herself on her elbows. Her gaze lazily rakes over my body, making the anticipation of being inside her more unbearable.

  “I’m certain about a few things, Charlotte. And ready to lose the so-called sexy underwear that has trapped my cock all night is definitely on that list.” I hastily remove them and drift closer to the bed. Her eyes drop to my dick, and she instinctively wets her lips with her tongue. FUCK. I stroke my aching cock a few quick times to ease the pressure.

  She shivers and her skin pebbles. “My God. I’m certain I need you in a bad way, hotshot. What are you waiting for? Get over here. Please?”

  “First, I want to tell you more things I’m certain of, buttercup. I’m certain that I love you more than anyone could imagine possible. We should be worried my heart is close to shattering. I’m also certain that you’re the most beautiful woman on the planet. You’re beautifully smart, confident, and sexy as fuck in anything you wear or don’t. As much as I adore the way you looked in that dress before I took it off, I like it a whole lot more on the floor. But most importantly, I’m without a doubt certain that you’re all mine. Every single part of you belongs to me, and I’m spending every second of it connected. I’m going to play with my treasure. All. Night.”

  Swiftly climbing across the bed, I’m leaning over her. My lips hover over hers without touching. Charlie sighs before again wetting her lips. “I’m ready, Ty.”

  “You certainly are. I don’t need to feel your panties again to know that for sure. I want you stripped now.” My hands move to her right hip to grip the fabric of her fuck-me-please panties. With little effort, the thin lace rips when I tug it between both my fists. I move to repeat the action on her other hip and then to her cleavage to destroy the bra covering her flawless tits.

  She gasps, shocked, her breath coming out in tiny pants as I pull the shreds of ruined fabric from her body and fling them across the room with a vengeful smirk. “I was willing to remove those myself while you were busy undressing, you beast,” she says, attempting to chastise me, but the effort is lost because her facial expression only translates to lust. My girl needs me as much as I do her.

  Leaning over her, I devour her softness and swallow each of the little moans that escape as our lips connect. Her lips are warm and sweet on mine. Our breaths moving quickly, she rocks her hips back and forth before wrapping her legs around my waist.

  She hooks her feet around my waist while her hands make space between us to fist and stroke my rock solid, aching cock. “I want you, Ty. Please?”

  “Every cell in this body is owned by you, Charlotte.” She lies panting, her chest heaving.

  I move, brushing my lips across her cheek, then move to the other. “I.” Moving to nip and nuzzle the tender spot of her neck. “Am.” Trailing my tongue over her collarbone. “Yours.”

  Lowering my body more, I feel her drop her legs from around my waist, opening herself to me. I continue to ravish her body until settling between her thighs. Her slit glistens with slick sweetness. Resting on my elbows, I softly blow a rush of air on her clit. She whimpers, thrusting her hips up closer to my mouth. I fucking approve. Gripping her tight ass cheeks as I lift them off the bed, I hold her in the perfect position for my mouth to better access those sweet lips.

  “Ty,” she shrieks. Her fingers laced through my hair tug while my mouth plays her body like the rare beautiful instrument it is. Nothing has ever given me the amount of pride and sense of accomplishment that being the cause of Charlie’s mind-blowing orgasm provides. I love every second of this.

  “Hold still, buttercup. I’m going to make you scream now.”

  And seconds later, I do just that. And then I do it again.

  Before she’s able to spiral down from her bliss, I move up her body and recapture her warm lips, demanding more.

  “Watching you fall apart is definitely a favorite source of entertainment. You’re incredible, Charlie.” My hands caress her globes, gently pinching and teasing her hardened nipples.

  “Please, Ty. I’m aching for you. I love everything you do to me, hotshot, but please. Now.” With one forward push, the walls of our room fill with the soundtrack of pure bliss and pleasure. It’s the best feeling in the world. Flesh against flesh, we’re connected in every way possible. Fuck. She’s all I could ever wish for, and I’ll never have enough of any part of her.

  Her eyes glisten with tears, but the light sparkling in her eyes as our gaze is trained to each other tells me they’re the happy kind. “Forever. And ever. You’re everything to me, and I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

  Struck. Captivated. Hypnotized. Again. Nothing will ever matter as much as what Charlotte and I have together. I wish I’d known that sooner and not missed years of feeling like this. I would have searched high and low for her, instead of b
eing hyper-focused on an MLB contract. Baseball is a career dream, but Charlie in my arms is my forever dream.

  Staring into her glistening eyes, I brush my lips against hers soft like a whisper. “Always. Just us. Love plus, baby.” Thrusting more erratically and falling deeper into the frenzied pleasure of the moment, I teeter on edge, barely able to hold back another second. She feels too fucking good. I know she’s close too as I feel her fingers bite into my shoulder blades. “Buttercup, I need to feel you fall with me,” I encourage.

  She intertwines our legs, and her body tenses followed by little tremors. With my cock nestled inside her slick folds, I lose all semblance of control, completely lost to the girl who gives meaning to my life. Together, we explode into a million soul-shattering glowing stars.

  “I love plus you, Ty. So much.”

  VINDICTIVE EX-BEST FRIENDS, evil reporters with ulterior motives, viral social media videos stirring up the wrong kind of publicity, and a father with a guilty conscience wanting to undo wrongs and rewrite history. Ugh.

  Falling onto the bed with a sigh, I close my eyes for a moment, pressing my fingers to my temples and aggressively massaging to release some of the tension. The stress of everything is definitely starting to get to me. Tyler said he was starting to feel like it was dangerous to question the possibility of more surprises coming our way, and I agree. I’m really not too sure I can endure the thought of dealing with anything else. Seriously, I’m starting to wonder what kind of powers that one email chain letter I received and ignored held. Clearly, I didn’t take the warning of bad luck coming my way seriously by refusing to forward it to ten friends.

  I woke up this morning feeling so emotionally drained and exhausted that I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the bed. Maybe I’m getting sick, but I’m pretty sure I’m just overwhelmed.