Strike

by Jennifer Ryder

  “You know what I’ve imagined a hundred times?” he asks, his voice lusty and deep.

  “What?” I ask, running my fingers down his chest and over the cut of his hips.

  “Bending you over this bench.”

  I bite down on my lower lip and turn around, splaying my hands on the countertop, positioning my legs shoulder-width apart. I look over my shoulder and blink at him. “Like this?”

  He groans as he moves in closer, and I gasp as I grind my arse against the towel.

  “Do you feel what you do to me?” he says, his voice strained.

  “Nope. You need to lose the towel.”

  It drops to a heap on the floor, and Spencer slides my robe up over my hips, exposing my behind. It sends a cool shiver right through to my bones. My breath catches in my throat as his finger runs between my arse cheeks and through to the wetness awaiting him. He teases at my wet lips, and swirls his fingertip around my clit. My heart rate climbs with the promise of what’s to come.

  I lean my forearms on the countertop, stopping my nipples from coming into contact with the cool surface below. Then his hot erection probes between my legs, not entering me, but gliding against my heat. It feels so damn good.

  “Feel me yet?” he whispers.

  I shake my head. “Nope. Not yet,” I choke out.

  He moves back for a moment, and then a ripped condom wrapper lands on the bench in front of me. He was prepared. Bet he was a damn boy scout.

  Gripping my hips, he positions himself and I tilt my pelvis forward, opening myself to him. He thrusts deep in one quick move, pushing my boobs onto the kitchen bench.

  “Ah!” I cry out, the heat between my legs and the ice-cold bench on my nipples too sharp a contrast for senses to handle. But it’s an awesome combination.

  “How about now?” he asks, moving in just a touch before driving in deep.

  “Yes! Now I feel you. God, do I feel you.”

  “I’m gonna take this real slow … I wanna enjoy this.”

  “Don’t let me stop you.”

  His hands wander up my ribs, teasing at the underside of my boobs as he slides in and out … slow and steady, and then hard and deep. Just when I think I know his rhythm, he mixes it up.

  “Spencer,” I breathe, grinding my hips against him. He leans his warm chest against my back, kissing between my shoulder blades. His hands snake around and tug at my nipples, sending a renewed wave of desire to course through me.

  “Fuck, it undoes me when you say my name like that.”

  “Spen-cer,” I repeat.

  “I don’t ever want you to stop saying it, but baby—”

  “No one has ever made me feel this good,” I say, panting heavily. No one. Ever.

  “Fuck,” he growls as his hips slap faster against my arse.

  “Don’t hold back, because I can’t.”

  Spencer grips at my shoulders and pounds into me. I cry out as I climax, my legs turning to mush.

  He grabs my hips to steady my shaking. He continues to fill me, rekindling the orgasm that was starting to fade. I brace myself, and try to stand firm. Spencer reaches his hand around my hip, his fingers spreading my arousal as he gently massages my clit. Placing my hand over his, I drive the pace of his movements, giving more pressure.

  “Harder,” I whisper.

  A sexy rumble vibrates low in his throat as he gives me what I need to fall again into the bottomless pit of pleasure. Spencer pulses hard inside me, twitching as he stills his hips.

  “Holy hell, Spencer. I don’t think I can walk.” The last orgasm wrung out whatever energy I had left, and my head’s swirling from lack of food. I really need to eat.

  He hugs me from behind, playfully biting down on my shoulder. “Music to my ears, beautiful,” his voice rasps.

  He slowly withdraws from me and I turn around to watch the smile grow on his face. It’s as blinding as the sun coming through the window behind him.

  “As good as you imagined?” I ask.

  “My imagination’s poor as piss. That was incredible.”

  I peck him on the lips. “Yeah, it was. So, what are we going to do today?”

  “Eat first, then retreat to your room.”

  “Just what I had in mind.”

  “But the next time, when I can get myself together, I want it to be slow … you just say things to me, and it makes me crazy. I lose it and end up turning—”

  “Wild?”

  “Yeah,” he breathes. “Wild.”

  “Aw, you’re so fuckable, especially when you get all cute on me,” I tease.

  “If you’re not careful, I’ll get cute all over you.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  * SPENCER *

  “Another photo? Are you serious?” I shake my head.

  “Shut up. I wanna remember this day. It’s been incredible,” she says and grins.

  “Show me.”

  She hands me the camera, and I click through the dozens of photos she’s taken of us since we retreated to the bedroom. Messy hair, no makeup, but a smile intense enough to melt your insides. Seeing how she looks at me in these photos … she couldn’t be more beautiful. Now she’s mine. Mine.

  “I want these. Can you send them to me?”

  “Sure.”

  “When I’m not with you, it’ll be the next best thing.”

  “Aw, did I tap a ‘cute’ nerve or something?”

  You got in my veins is what happened.

  I place my finger to her lips. “Shhh.”

  April laughs and smooths her hand over my chest.

  “I’ve got training tomorrow and a race on Sunday. As much as it kills me, in the morning I’m gonna have to leave you,” I say, resigned. Back to reality. At least I’ll be back riding and not in the office.

  “It’s only a couple of days. Besides, I need to wash these sheets and freshen up my room. It smells like sex in here.”

  “Smells like fucking heaven to me.” If only I could stay here indefinitely.

  “Are you looking forward to this round? You don’t seem that keen.”

  “Yeah, I am, just, you know, nervous, I guess. Not sure if I’ve got a win in me.”

  “Of course you do. I’ve seen you ride.”

  I shrug. I always do this at this point in the season. Self-sabotage. “People have this expectation of me … that I get everything I want. The motocross title is everything I’ve ever wanted, not the money or the day job. This is all I’ve ever wanted … and now you. I think I want you just as much, and that’s sayin’ something.”

  “Then why don’t you prove them wrong? Show them more of the Spencer that I know, not the Jones they expect.”

  “It’s not just that, though. I look at Stone. He’s a made man. I had the money to get me here. He did it himself, and from what I heard, he didn’t have the best time growing up. He’s got more guts and raw energy than anyone I’ve ever seen or raced with, and when he wins, the smile on his face? It’s like he’s taken on the world and won. After he had the accident I didn’t know if he’d make it back, but the fucker never gave up. I don’t know whether I can take that away from him.”

  “Motocross isn’t the only thing that puts a smile on his face. Having seen him with his wife and kids, I can tell you there are more important things in his life. Don’t let anyone hold you back from what you really want. It never ends well.”

  Lying on my back, I curl my arm beneath her shoulders, bringing her close. Moving onto her side, she weaves one leg between mine.

  “You’re beautiful, in so many ways. How’d I get so fucking lucky?” I ask, not knowing how she’d even answer.

  April shrugs, and presses her lips to mine. Her kiss is just like a peach … soft and delicate. She pulls back, her smile fading as she snuggles against my shoulder, looking up at me.

  “I wanna come and watch you ride, it’s just …”

  I knew this was coming. “Mac?”

  “Yeah,” she sighs.

  I’d been trying to wrap my
head around it too. I’ve never had to deal with an overprotective dad before, let alone a man who holds the lynch pin to my racing career.

  “He’s the one person in my family who understands me. I don’t wanna hide things from him. I know I have to tell him about us eventually, I just don’t wanna make life difficult for you.”

  In all this, she’s more worried about me.

  “I told you before, I don’t care who knows. I’ll tell anyone who wants to listen. You tell Mac whenever you’re ready. It’s up to you, April.” I’ll just have to prove to Mac that I’m good enough for her. He’s going to be much harder to convince than April, and that’s saying something.

  “I’ll tell him soon … maybe when the season’s over. This time of year is stressful enough for everyone.”

  “Sure. We can do it together if you think it’ll make it any easier,” I offer.

  She doesn’t reply but furrows her brow, and busies herself toying at my nipples. I hold her hand down to stop her. She’s driving me nuts doing that, and my dick’s too sore to do it again.

  “I know; I’ll call Eevie,” she says, and nods. “I’m sure she’ll be there for the race anyway. It’ll be a good chance to catch up with her. I wanna see you ride, Spencer. I’ll be there, no matter what.”

  My heart grows to twice its size in my chest, and I pull her into my arms. April’s gonna be in my corner. I’ll have someone there for me. It means more to me than she will ever know.

  “Thanks, beautiful.”

  “I’ll get the laptop and book the flights.”

  April unwraps herself from me, and returns a few minutes later. She props up next to me in bed and turns the device on. A ridiculous photo of me making a stupid face comes up as the screensaver.

  “Get rid of it, now,” I say, pointing to the background. She grins and shakes her head, her ponytail swinging from side to side.

  “Sorry. I can’t do that,” she says, cocking her head and fluttering her eyelashes.

  “You can and you will.” I poke her in the ribs and she jerks away. I tickle her either side of her ribs. She squeals and burrows further down the bed, trying to hold the laptop upright at the same time.

  “Focus, Spencer. Flights.”

  ****

  Saturday

  “What the hell have you been up to, Jones? You’ve been avoiding my calls,” Billy says and punches me on the upper arm.

  I knew he’d be pissed at me. He always wants me to go out with him. He can be pretty timid around girls, and he needs a good dose of Dutch courage, aka rum and Coke, and a wingman to be brave enough to approach a woman. I knew it was only a matter of time before he gave me shit about not going out on the drink with him.

  “Been busy, mate,” I reply casually.

  “Come on. Let’s go out tonight, get into the rum and get some birds. I haven’t had any action since we went out last.”

  “Not tonight.”

  “What’s been keeping you busy? I saw those twin sisters from Manly in the city a couple of weeks ago. They asked about you. Have you seen them lately?”

  “Yeah, like I said, I’ve been busy.”

  Billy laughs and shakes his head. “I knew it. You always were a selfish prick. One girl is never enough for you. Well, let me know when you’re ready to give them up. Maybe they’d like a bit of young blood.”

  I should set him straight. I should, but I don’t have the energy to deal with the shit he’d give me about having a girlfriend. Between the session out on the track today, the skydiving and the twenty-four hour marathon with April, I’m not in the fucking mood. I just wanna drown in a hot shower and go to bed. Even if I tried to explain, he wouldn’t understand anyway. He’s all of twenty-one. What the fuck would he know?

  “They’d walk all over a young cock like you. Takes a real man to know how to handle two women. You’ve gotta know what you’re doin’.”

  He shrugs. “Come on, Jones. Help a brother out.” Christ, is he pouting? I’ve got to shut him down.

  “Not tonight.”

  “Pfft. Suit yourself.”

  “Good on you, boy,” Mac barks from behind, slapping me on the back. A shiver runs up the length of my spine. How long was he standing there? Oh fuck. He glances over at Billy, and huffs out a resigned breath. He grips my shoulder, and drills me with his intense gaze.

  “You’re gonna kick arse tomorrow. Best training session I’ve seen from you yet, Jones. You keep nailing the holeshot into the first corner. I’m impressed. Just keep doin’ what you’re doin’.”

  “Thanks, Mac,” I say on an exhale.

  “Tomorrow’s gonna be one helluva day,” Mac says, and claps his hands together.

  Stone walks over. He looks as fucked as I do. “What the hell got into you today, Jones? All that fuckin’ roosting … I needed more tear-offs. Way to block-pass me on the corner, mate.” He smirks, and I nod, acknowledging the compliment.

  “What can I say? I had Red Bull with my Weet-Bix.”

  “Whatever you had, have it again tomorrow, boy,” Mac says, his large hand gripping my shoulder.

  I had your daughter, Mac. Over and over. She’s responsible for this high. Christ. He’d fucking kill me if he could read my mind.

  I can’t say I’m not fucking petrified of what he’ll do when April tells him. If she still wants me to be there when she tells him, I will, but I’d better make sure I’ve got my full body armour on: helmet, boots, kidney belt, the works.

  “Sure thing, Mac,” I say.

  Mac smiles and turns to face Stone. “Is Eevie gonna be here tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, she’s at some day spa place now. I thought she needed a bit of looking after. We’ve left the boys at home this time. The flight’s too hard for her with both of them.”

  “Yeah, I bet those little rascals keep her busy. Tell her that Peaches is coming up tomorrow. She’s gonna take some more shots of the team. You know I haven’t seen much of her at the track since she grew up. Doesn’t take much to make me happy; it’ll be good to have my girl here.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure Eevie will be happy to see her,” Stone says.

  I get my phone out of my gear bag. There’s a text waiting for me from the one person I’ve been thinking about all day. Obsessively.

  APRIL: THINKING ABOUT YOU. AGAIN. XXX

  Three kisses. She’s really thinking about me. It was all I could do not to think about her too. It wasn’t just the sex I was imagining, but more how she’d changed within a short space of time. It’s like whatever barrier she was hiding behind is gone. She is opening up to me—

  “You comin’ to the pub for dinner, Jones?” Stone asks.

  “Huh?”

  He looks to my phone and then smirks at me. “Comin’ to the pub?” he asks, wide-eyed.

  “Yeah, sure … I just need to make a call.”

  He raises an eyebrow. What the fuck is with him? “Hurry up then, mate. We’ll wait out front.”

  I move outside, and dial her number.

  “Hey, you,” she says, bringing a stupid grin to my face as I imagine her doing the same.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “How’d you go today?”

  “Awesome. I’m pretty pumped for tomorrow.” I kick at the stones on the ground. I wonder what she’s wearing. Actually, it’s better I don’t ask.

  “Me too. Hey, I don’t want to alarm you, but there’s a bit of a problem.”

  A problem? Is there a drama with the flight? She can’t come?

  “What?”

  “My bedroom smells too clean now.”

  I laugh out loud. “Yeah, that’s a huge problem. Just gimme twenty-four hours and it’ll be back to the way you want it.”

  “My saviour,” she says sweetly.

  “Just promise me one thing.”

  “Name it.”

  “That you won’t touch yourself while I’m gone. That’s my job now.”

  “I’m not a total nympho, you know. I need time to recover. You wore me out, although that g
entle tongue-lashing you gave me this morning made me feel wetter. Sorry, I mean better.” She giggles and then sighs, as if she’s the happiest girl in the world. I did that. And it’s an incredible feeling.

  “Stop teasing. I’m about to go grab some dinner with the guys, then I’m gonna crash.” She’s got me semi-hard just hearing her voice. If she keeps talking like this, I’ll be rock hard.

  “Sorry, I’m still tingling. I’ve had this ridiculously stupid grin on my face all day.”

  That makes two of us.

  “Well I’m glad I put it there. Can’t say it was a chore to.”

  “You know I want double my goodnight kisses tomorrow.”

  “You got it.”

  Someone barges my shoulder. I turn to see Stone mouth hurry to me.

  “If I don’t see you before the ride, good luck. I know you’re gonna smash it,” she says, her genuine words causing a deep ache in my chest. April believes in me. She’s a precious beautiful thing, and she’s mine. It’s a huge responsibility. She said she’d give me her heart. She trusts me. I can’t fuck this up. I won’t.

  “Thanks, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Night,” she whispers. I disconnect the call and slip the phone in my pocket.

  “Hurry the fuck up, Jones,” Aidan calls out, waiting beside a taxi. The sooner we can shower, eat and get to bed, the better.

  “Yeah, yeah. I’m comin’.”

  ****

  * APRIL *

  Sunday

  “It’s good to see you, April. I love watching Aidan ride, but sometimes it’s a long day when you don’t have anyone to talk to,” Eevie says. “So what made you come?”

  I shrug, and fidget in my seat. “You know … I’m taking some more shots, seeing my dad and stuff.”

  The side of her mouth quirks up and she narrows her bluey-green eyes at me.

  “Oh, good. Well, it’s nice to have the company.”

  Yeah. She doesn’t buy it.

  She probably didn’t know I’d paid more than four hundred dollars for the flights to Brisbane since I only booked two days beforehand, and then hired a car and drove nearly two hours to get to Toowoomba. Yeah, it was a lot of effort, but whether Spencer thought he needed me here or not, I was going to be here for him. He’d told me he rarely got support from his family. I have no idea why. He’s a bloody talented rider. I’ve only seen him ride once, and I can tell he’s a natural, and could see his love of the sport. When I said I was coming to watch him, the look on his face was pure gold. I know me being here will mean something to him, but more than that, I know it will mean something for us.