by Celia Aaron
Easton. His hands on me. I rolled to my stomach and groaned into my pillow. He felt so good. His fingers sinking inside me as his lips plundered my mouth. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to quell the need that swirled inside me.
I flipped to my back and stretched my hands out beside me, laying them on top of the blanket and keeping them there. Nikki’s snoring continued. I slowed my breathing, trying to calm down and fall back to sleep. But Easton was there again, running his teeth along my nipple.
I balled my hands into fists. I wasn’t about to finger bang myself with Nikki sleeping beside me. But—I glanced to my bathroom—I could take a quick shower. I slid out of the sheets and crept to the en suite door. Nikki rolled to her stomach and sprawled across my bed.
Easing the door closed behind me, I stripped off my t-shirt and panties and flipped on the hot water. The room steamed up as the water rushed by, but all I could feel was the buzz in my clit and the tension low in my stomach.
I stepped in, the water so hot it almost burned, but it was nothing in comparison to the heat between my thighs. Reaching down, I flicked my hard nub and moaned into my arm. I closed my eyes and imagined Easton’s mouth on me, his tongue swirling around my pussy. It was his fingers plunging inside me.
Sliding my fingers out, I rubbed my swollen clit. Easton looked up at me, his eyes glinting as his tongue drove me wild. I tensed, my hips grinding against my fingers. Easton’s tongue was all I felt, his lips fastening around me. Working his fingers in and out, getting me ready for his cock.
I wanted it, every inch. I closed my eyes and he was inside me, shoving me against the wall and taking everything I had. My orgasm rushed over me in a wave, fast and strong. I bit my arm as I came on a cry, his name on my lips. I leaned on the tile, letting the water pour as I tried to slow my breathing. Once my body finally relaxed, I glanced to the door. No sign of Nikki. I’d gotten away with it.
I grabbed my loofah and body wash, hoping that this little solo tryst would solve the problem and quench my need for Easton. Soaping up, my mind wandered back to his hands on me, how they’d slid against the curves of my body. How large and hard he’d been in his pants. Fuck. Even though I’d just gotten off to him, the need was back, not sated even the slightest bit.
The bathroom door swung open, and I dropped my loofah with a squeak.
“Hey. It’s only me. Calm your tits.” Nikki rubbed her eyes and plopped down on the toilet.
Snagging the loofah, I stood up and played it cool. “So, why didn’t you go back to Braden’s last night?”
“Oh, he and Easton had a ridiculously early practice. I didn’t want to hang around at his place after he’d left.”
“Okay, so why did you come to my place instead of going back home?” I hung the loofah and shampooed my hair.
She finished and flushed.
“Ow!” I hopped away from the stinging hot water. “You, bitch!” I dodged the spray and turned the faucet to counteract the lava pouring from the shower head.
She laughed far too hard and leaned against the vanity. “I came here because we need to talk about Easton.”
I swatted at the water, throwing some of it over the shower door and getting her wet.
“Keep doing that and I’m coming in there with you.” She yawned and stretched as I stared at her, aghast.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I? I’d film it, too. We’d make kajillions.” She grinned and I barely restrained myself from tossing more water. But I didn’t do it, mainly because I knew she wasn’t bluffing. Boundaries were not Nikki’s forte.
I turned my back on her and adjusted the nobs again as the water cooled. I didn’t want to discuss Easton. That topic was closed as far as I was concerned. I’d been shanghaied into the double date the night before, and even though I’d gotten hot and heavy with Easton. It was a mistake.
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I think you and Easton would be good together.”
“No.” I rinsed my hair, the water flowing past my ears and blocking out her voice. I wasn’t ready. Even though it had been two years, I wasn’t over it.
“Did you hear any of what I just said?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me through the glass.
“Some of it?”
“No you didn’t. I said that you and Easton have an obvious chemistry and it would be a good idea for you to let him put his dick in you. Maybe play just the tip if you’re feeling skittish.”
“Nikki, I’m not going to sleep with a player. Last night was a momentary lapse. You know why. So drop it.” I conditioned my hair and tried not to think of Easton, but Nikki was having none of it.
“It’s been two years, babe. You have to get out there again.” Her voice was quieter, concern lacing through the words. “I hate to see you passing up having a relationship because of that douche-nozzle. He’s gone. Good riddance. It was hard, but you’re better off without him.”
Everything she said was true. But there was still a place inside me, a secret place, where I stored up all the hurt he’d caused, all the humiliation, all the loneliness. It was like a lockbox, but I’d gotten so used to carrying the weight around inside me, I didn’t know what I’d do if I threw it overboard. Would I sink right along with it?
I turned the water off and slid my towel from the rack. Stepping out of the shower, I shook my hair and laughed as Nikki held her hands up and ran back to my bedroom. She jumped on the bed and rolled to the far side. I followed her and plopped down next to her, not caring I was getting my comforter all wet.
“I hear what you’re saying. I know, okay? I know it’s been two years. I just…”
She turned over and faced me, propping her head on her hand. “You have to let it go. It’s time to move on. And Easton isn’t him. Just because he’s a baseball player doesn’t mean he’s a fucking prick. Understand?”
“I don’t know.”
She ran the back of her hand down my cheek. It was a particular quirk of hers. Intimate and comforting, I’d only ever seen her do it with me and her little sister. “I do know. And it’s time for you to suck it up, buttercup. Nothing wrong with being a cleat chaser like me.”
“Nothing wrong, per se, but chasing after boys in tight pants hasn’t exactly worked out well for me.” I pretended I was going to bite her finger.
She laughed. “Well, in that case, Easton is perfect for you since he’s the one doing the chasing.” She grinned, her eyes lighting up. “What did you two do last night while Braden and I were otherwise occupied?”
“Nothing.” I turned to look out the window, the sun already getting high.
“Liar. Tell me.”
My cheeks flushed. “Nothing.”
She rolled to her stomach and rested her chin on her hands, staring at me eagerly. “Tell me what happened or I swear by all that is holy I’ll tell you every explicit detail of how Braden fucked me until I couldn’t walk straight.”
I covered my face with my hands. “You are the worst.” And then I spilled. It was the only way to avoid hearing an inch-by-inch description of Braden’s dick.
“So no actual p in v then?”
“No, just f in v.” I wiggled my fingers.
“I got t in v.” She stuck her tongue out at me.
“You win.” I shook my head and caught a glimpse of my phone on the nightstand. The notification light was blinking.
I picked it up and swiped across the screen. There were four messages—all from a strange number.
5:30 a.m. Hi Kyrie. It’s Easton. I just wanted to say what a great time I had with you last night. Hope we can do it again soon.
5:32 a.m. I don’t mean do the awkward thing with walking in on my sister again soon. I meant the dinner and the stuff after.
5:34 a.m. I mean, we don’t have to do the things we did after dinner again, if you don’t want to. I just want to spend time with you. But if you wanted to do those things, I’d love to do them.
5:38 a.m.
I’m sorry for all the messages except maybe the first one. Please call or text anytime. I have practice til noon, but then I’m available anytime. Talk to you soon.
“You own that D.” Nikki had been reading over my shoulder. She squealed and fell back, kicking her feet in the air.
“I don’t own a D.” I put my phone down and stared at it as if it were poisonous. “How did he get my number?”
Nikki stopped kicking and sat up next to me, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “It’s a mystery.”
“Ugh, Nikki!”
“What? Why do you always think it’s me?” She shrugged.
“Because it always is you.” I pinned her with a scowl.
She puffed her lips into a pout. “You aren’t going to text him back?”
“No. I need to slow things down.” I wanted to text him, call him, jump in my car and go watch him practice in those tight pants. But I wasn’t about to rush into anything. Stopping and thinking would be the key to keeping my heart safe.
“Slow down? No. You need to text him.” She tried to grab for my phone.
I smacked her hand away. “Give me a minute okay? I said I’d think about seeing him. I just need some time.”
She leaned back and stared at me, her brown eyes searching my face. “You promise you’ll give him a chance?”
“I’ll think about it. That’s all I’m going to say.” I stood and went to my dresser before donning a t-shirt and yoga pants. “Want to go eat big bowls of cereal and watch mind-numbing TV?”
“You know me so well.” Nikki rose and flounced past, giving me a playful slap on the ass as she went.
I stared at myself in the dresser mirror. Despite what I’d told Nikki, I couldn’t decide if I really wanted to give Easton a chance. I didn’t know if I could handle another heartbreak, especially when I already knew what it was like chasing after a man who ate, slept, and dreamed baseball. Would Easton be any different?
Nikki and I lazed away our weekend. I received a few more texts from Easton asking how I was and wanting to know if I was free, but I didn’t respond. Nikki gave me the stink eye when I checked my phone but didn’t type anything back. She didn’t press, but I knew she was dying for me to message him.
He kept trying, still texting me on Monday morning during the staff meeting. I flipped my phone so it was face down on the table as Tessa did her usual round robin of questions to each editor.
“The Justin piece?” Tessa asked. This morning she was dressed in an eggplant colored sheath dress with a mustard jacket and pea green tie. It was as if the condiment section at a hotdog stand had vomited all over her.
“I’ll have it by lunch. One final pass and it will be good to go.” I smiled.
“Good. Nikki, how about that piece on all-natural tampons I asked you for?”
“Don’t worry. I’m really plugging away at it. Shoving every bit of info into it. Our readers will really soak up the knowledge.”
I snorted and covered it with a cough as I kicked her ankle.
“So, today? I’ll have it today?” Tessa asked, oblivious as usual.
“I’ll ram it home before close of business.” Nikki grinned.
After a few more minutes, the meeting was over. Once I’d gained the relative safety of the hallway, I let out the laugh that I’d stifled as best I could.
“Nikki!” I tried to scold her, but it was too funny.
“You loved it.” She hooked her arm in mine and walked me to my office.
My phone buzzed in my palm as we turned the corner and stopped dead. A huge bouquet of flowers—blue and white hydrangeas, and large yellow roses—overpowered my desk.
“What the—?” I hurried over and snagged the card as Nikki leaned against my doorframe, a satisfied smirk on her face.
Kyrie,
I would really like to see you again. Hope these brighten your day.
Easton
“Flowers, bitch. He sent you flowers. Can you at least text him now?” Nikki strutted over and took a whiff of a rose. “Mmm. Text him.”
I sank down at my desk and stared at the enormous arrangement. My phone buzzed again. I checked it. Two more messages from Easton.
Still thinking of you.
That sounded stalkery, but it’s true. I would really like to see you again. And I may have asked Braden to ask Nikki to make sure I wasn’t bugging you. She said it was ok.
I put my phone down and glared at Nikki. “I told you I needed to go slow.”
“I know that’s what you said, but I think maybe you needed a little push.” She examined her bright red nails.
“No, Nikki, I need to go slow. You can’t just decide what’s right for me and then get Easton to play along.”
“Look, if a man wants to send flowers, let him.” She put her hands on her gray peplum skirt, squishing down the ruffle along her hips. “I didn’t get any flowers. I’m the one who should be bitching.”
“You want my flowers?” I had the impulse to clutch the vase to keep her away, but that was foolish. They were only flowers—big, beautiful, thoughtful flowers.
“That’s not the point.” She threw her hands up. “The point is that Easton is a good guy who deserves a chance. That’s all I’m going to say. Now, I need to go pretend like I’m working for a while until Tessa leaves for her bloody mary and mimosa brunch, food optional.” Turning on her heel, she strutted away.
I propped my chin on my hand and studied the arrangement. I’d never actually received flowers before. Maybe Easton wasn’t the sort of player I was used to. Maybe Nikki was right. I sighed at the thought of admitting that skinny maniac was correct about anything, but she had me this time.
I picked up my phone to text him back, but my email dinged and distracted me. When I saw who it was from, I almost knocked my mouse off the desk from trying to open the email too quickly.
Dear Ms. Kent,
We have reviewed your body of work and have an interest in interviewing you for the executive editor position at Style and Substance. Please send us your latest pieces from the next Teen Sparkle issue. If all is in order, we will set an interview at that time.
Yours,
Graciela Froggart
I tamped down my excitement and re-read the email several times. I just had to get my fluff piece on the pop star finished, perfected, and printed, and I’d have my foot in the door at Style and Substance.
“Ms. Kent?” Grady, from the mailroom, stood at my door.
I schooled my features, though a stupid grin kept threatening to overtake my face. “Yes?”
“I forgot this came for you, too.” He walked in and I hastily minimized the email.
“What’s this?”
He handed me a box wrapped in brown paper.
“From a Mr. Holliday. I signed for it along with the flowers but forgot to drop it off. See ya.”
“Bye Grady.” I spoke as I ran my fingers beneath the folds in the paper and pulled.
The torn paper revealed a brand new Kindle, top of the line. On top were two tickets, right behind home plate, for the Thursday night Ravens game. I smiled, my cheeks heating as I ran my hand over the smooth Kindle box. Easton was relentless. And did I really want to keep fighting my attraction to him?
Picking up my phone, I texted:
Thanks for the flowers and the Kindle. I look forward to seeing how much heat you can bring on Thursday.
I hit ‘send’ before I chickened out. I stared at my phone, willing it to buzz. Anxiety ramped up inside me. Had I made him wait too long? After a few moments, I was rewarded.
You’re welcome. I’ll bring the heat. You bring the Kindle. We’ll see who blinks first.
EASTON
WE WERE UP two runs in the bottom of the ninth with one out. Rodriguez walked the last batter and Coach called for me to warm up. The tying run was at the plate.
I’d tried to focus the whole game, but all I could think about was Kyrie. Braden said I was acting like a total pussy, but I thought the Kindle was a pe
rfect gift, and I was proud of myself for thinking of it. It was an added bonus that I got to preload it with The Encyclopedia of Baseball.
She was at the game. She’d told Nikki, who’d told Braden, who’d told me that she’d show; plus the fact she’d said she would be here via text. I wonder what she’s wearing.
“You gonna throw the fucking ball or what, Easton?”
I snapped out of my daydream. “Yeah, bro. My bad.”
Our bullpen catcher, Harrison, was tapping his cleat on home plate and had his mask flipped up. He flipped it down and squatted behind the plate as I started my warm up pitches.
I got in all of two throws when I heard a crack, and looked out to see the single go up the middle. The runner on first rounded second and headed for third, but the strong throw from center field sent him scrambling back. Coach started out from the dugout and motioned for me. Fuck, I’m not ready!
A worker opened the gate in the outfield wall and I trotted through. It was unusually hot for a mid-April game, and the humidity created a pressure cooker inside the stadium. It hit me like a brick wall. Sweat formed on my forehead, and began to bead up on my arms. The crowd roared around me from every direction. My feet pounded the ground, the spikes leaving small tufts of grass in my wake as the cheers grew louder when I neared the infield.
Usually, I would be focused on the hitter and his scouting report, the inning and out situation. I didn’t even know who the hitter on deck was. All I could do was look for Kyrie in the stands. And then...I saw her.
She wore a flowery spring dress, with a short sleeve lavender cardigan. Her eyes locked onto mine, and her lips formed the most gorgeous smile I’d ever seen. Nikki was with her, but I couldn’t even give her a glance. My eyes were focused on Kyrie.
“Easton! Fuck son, what’s the matter with you?”
I glanced to my coach, though I hated losing the sight of her. “Sorry, Coach.”