The Ace

by Rhonda Shaw

  They’d agreed to have commitment-free sex, but then he’d given her a chaste good-night peck on the cheek. They’d established that they were going to keep things simple and casual, but now he was making comments that sounded anything but. She couldn’t figure him out and it was driving her crazy. She usually had a guy pegged after five minutes, but he was forever changing the game, catching her off guard at the most inopportune moments.

  Karen watched him, standing across the room talking and laughing with some of his teammates. He looked innocent enough, with his boyish charm and easygoing demeanor, but there was something else in there. She wasn’t surprised that he could be sweet and caring, very thoughtful at times, but his strong intuition took her aback.

  He’d caught her completely off guard with his comment that she would find what Chase and Maddie had one day. People usually couldn’t read her easily—even Maddie still had difficulties at times despite years of practice. It made her ponder rethinking her agreement with him and backing out gracefully before things got messy—even messier than they appeared to be already.

  What was she thinking? Hell, no. That was the last thing that she wanted and so she was moving full-speed-ahead with their agreement. She’d get her hands on him, no matter what it took, even if she had to apply some pressure to his snail-like pace. She was confident that she could keep things between them under control, tucked inside a neat little box where they belonged. Then, when the time was right, she’d have no problem kicking the Smutster to the curb. He was, after all, just another man. No more, no less.

  * * *

  During dinner, Karen and Jerry sat with the bride and groom along with Bree at the head table. The room had a soft hum to it as everyone enjoyed the delicious roasted chicken and friendly conversation. For the most part, Jerry had kept his exchanges with her to a minimum, so much so that she wondered if he even realized she was sitting next to him. He’d spent most of dinner debating with Chase about things that made her eyes want to cross.

  “Seriously?” Karen finally asked, interrupting their intense discussion on four-seam fastballs. “How can there be that many different ways to pitch a friggin’ baseball?”

  Jerry sat back in his chair. “It’s the art of pitching,” he said as if she was an idiot. “You can’t just have one pitch.”

  “Well, duh, I get that, but really? Four-seam, two-seam, sinker, splitter, curve, breaking, change-up, knuckleball,” she said, ticking each off on her fingers. “What’s next? The tornado?”

  He looked amused as he turned toward her and twined his fingers through hers, ignoring the fact that they had an audience. “Wow, Karen. I’m impressed that you knew all of those.”

  She paused a second, caught in his deep brown eyes, before yanking her hand from his tight grasp. “Why is that impressive?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t realize you knew that much about it.”

  “Are you insulting my intelligence?” Karen looked over at Bree, who was watching their exchange with undivided attention. “Bree, is he insulting my intelligence?”

  She nodded with a small giggle and Jerry gasped. “Now wait a minute! I am not,” he exclaimed, turning his head to frown at Bree. “I can’t believe you took her side, Bree.”

  “Is it because I’m blonde or a woman? Or both?” Karen inquired, her brow raised.

  He swallowed thickly before taking a drink of water. “Why do I feel like there is no right answer to this one?” he said to the table.

  “Can’t help you out of this one, Smutty,” Chase said with a grin.

  “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” Jerry asked, giving Karen a hopeful grin as he tried to placate her.

  The table laughed and she gave him a small smirk before raising her brows again, waiting for his answer. Seeing he wasn’t going to get out of it, Jerry sighed. “I’m sorry, Karen. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you didn’t know anything about baseball even though we all know you go to the games so you can admire our asses...” He broke off with a whoop of laughter as she jumped up, reaching for the glass of water that sat in front of him, threatening to pour it over his head.

  He grabbed for her arms, laughing as he tried to stop her. Karen was giggling as she struggled out of his grip, but he held on tight and pulled her against him, pinning her arms as he sat her down in his lap. He continued to hold on to her even when everyone else got up to check out the dessert spread that lined the back wall of the room.

  Karen looked at him over her bare shoulder. “You can let me go now.”

  “I don’t think I want to,” Jerry said quietly. His gaze never left hers as he placed a soft, discreet kiss on the sensitive skin right behind her ear, causing goose bumps to rise up all over.

  She was suddenly aware how close they were to each other. She could feel the heat of him through his clothes, his heart beating against her back and his warm breath on her neck. The soft, woodsy smell of his cologne lightly mingled with the air around them and begged her to bury her nose in the crook under his jaw.

  Unable to stop herself, Karen swallowed hard as she shifted her butt back until she felt his hardness. Tilting her hips, she rubbed gently against him as a shudder ran through her. His eyes closed as he hissed in a breath, and when he reopened them, they were so dark with desire that they appeared bottomless. Jerry shifted his arms, causing her breasts to rest on his forearm, and pulled her back again so he could press against her.

  Her breath was coming in shallow gasps and the noise of the room around them was a low drone. She couldn’t tear herself away from the strong magnetic pull of him and tried to press closer, needing desperately to touch him. His hand, hidden from view under the table, streaked down her side and snaked under her dress. His warm palm glided up her thigh before he gently cupped her with a slight squeeze.

  “Jesus Christ,” Jerry moaned under his breath, his long fingers lightly stroking her dampness through the thin, silk patch of her thong. His head fell forward onto her shoulder and Karen knew he was struggling to keep his control from snapping.

  Bree’s high-pitched giggle followed by Maddie’s laugh yanked Karen back to reality. She wrenched herself off his lap and stood, tugging down her dress as inconspicuously as possible. She was breathing hard and felt overheated, and was pleased to see that he was in the same shape. His eyes still burned hot on her and there was a slight flush to his skin as he tried to steady his breathing.

  She cleared her throat and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to regain her equilibrium. “Perhaps we should save that for another time.”

  “Perhaps we should,” Jerry agreed.

  “I’m going to get a drink. Do you want to come?”

  He glanced down at his lap before looking back at her with a crooked grin. “I think I should stay here for now, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, right. Sorry,” she said with a suppressed giggle. “Can I bring you something then?”

  “A beer would be good.”

  Just as she was about to walk away, Maddie rushed over, grabbed her arm and pulled Jerry out of his seat. “Come on, guys.”

  The band had started to play and people were filling up the postage stamp–sized dance floor. Karen realized belatedly that Maddie was making a beeline toward it.

  “Oh, no,” Karen protested as she tried to dig in and stop.

  Nothing was going to deter Maddie as she continued to pull them. “Come on. The wedding party has to dance together.”

  “Maddie, we’re not doing the cheesy best man/maid of honor dance, come on.”

  “It’s my engagement party and you’ll do what I want you to do.”

  “Maddie, he can’t dance! He’ll step all over my toes and I’m wearing my new Prada sandals tonight.”

  “Who said I can’t dance?” Jerry asked. Apparently, he’d overheard, even though his attention was
on trying to button up his coat one-handed in order to cover the bulge in his pants.

  Seeing this, Karen burst out in hysterics, causing Maddie to stop and turn back to them. “What are you laughing at?”

  By this time, Karen was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face and Jerry’s strong attempts not to laugh made it even funnier to her. He grabbed her by the arms, dragging her toward the dance floor while keeping her strategically positioned in front of him. “Nothing. She’s just lost her mind,” he told Maddie. “We’d love to dance.”

  Stepping onto the wood floor, Jerry pulled Karen into his arms and moved them around to the slow, sultry music.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot about that and then when I saw you...” She started to laugh again recalling how he’d been frantically trying to button his jacket with one hand since Maddie had the other.

  “Okay, okay. We don’t need to relive it,” he said with a crooked grin.

  Karen wheezed out a breath. “Oh, man, that was funny. I haven’t had a laugh like that in a long time. Thanks, Smutty.”

  “Glad I could oblige even though I’m the one in pain, not you.”

  Her blue eyes crinkled at him as she pouted her pink lips. “In pain, huh? Poor baby.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate the sympathy, but it will be gone shortly, so don’t worry about it.”

  One of her brows curved up. “Shortly, huh? You going to run to the bathroom and—”

  “Not that,” he said, cutting her off. He eyed her intently before nodding. “Oh, yeah. Tonight, for sure.”

  Breathless anticipation and a fresh wave of heat pulsed through her, but she played nonchalant. “Wow, you seem pretty sure about that. I wish you luck.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t need it.” Jerry twirled her around and when she came back into his arms, he dipped her. “It will be a piece of cake.”

  “Piece of cake?” She couldn’t raise her head since he still held her in a dip. “Bring me back up, ass.” He whipped her up and her eyes probed his. “How can you be so sure I’m game? Maybe tonight I don’t feel like it. I think I might have a headache.”

  Jerry stopped dancing and lightly grazed her cheeks with his fingertips. Leaning down, he put his mouth right next to her ear and spoke in a soft, husky voice. “You are by far the sexiest, most beautiful, intelligent woman I have ever met. I’m going to make you scream...multiple times.”

  He stood up straight and his eyes seemed to undress her, conveying to her just how sexy he thought she was, before he dropped his hands and moved off the dance floor, leaving her alone. She watched him walk away, stunned at first, but then huffed out a breath.

  “What? You think that’s going to work?” Karen called out after him.

  She could still feel where his warm hands had rested on her neck, so large and strong. His intense gaze had made her limbs go loose and watery, and the low fire he’d ignited deep within was threatening to erupt. Her need for him was nearing the point of irresistible, so much so that she wanted to rush after him and yank him into the nearest closet so he could make good on his promise.

  Fuck, she thought. It worked.

  * * *

  Karen stood on the patio outside of the clubhouse savoring the way the cool spring air tickled and soothed her heated skin. It wasn’t that warm inside, but all the tension between her and Jerry had fired her up. She felt flushed and shaky, but it was also intriguing and exciting. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy had kept her this captivated and engrossed.

  Jerry was more confident than most of the guys she’d dated, and that carried over into everything he did, how he approached things. He turned on his charm and took whatever he wanted from her, regardless of what she thought on the matter, and she wasn’t sure whether to be angry that she was going right along with it or impressed. All he had to do was crook his finger at her and she blindly followed, happy to ignore the screeching of the brakes that her mind was trying to throw down.

  She had to figure out how to regain control of the situation, instill some boundaries and turn the tables. Yet even as she tried to devise a way to change the dynamic between her and Jerry, she still couldn’t ignore that nagging voice that insisted she was in over her head and she should back out now, before there were any casualties.

  She took a deep, cleansing breath and looked up at the dark, clear sky. Stars twinkled down and the moon was bright, lighting up everything around her. Karen could smell the sweet scents of spring in the air. It wouldn’t be long before the flowers were in full bloom and the trees recaptured their grandeur, with leafy branches sprouting in every direction. Spring brought with it new beginnings and fresh starts, and that was just what she needed, she told that annoying voice. It was time that she had some excitement in her life and she couldn’t think of a better person than Jerry to add that thrill she was searching for. She just had to stay strong.

  As she stood overlooking the small garden in the courtyard, Karen felt his presence behind her and didn’t need to turn around to know he was watching her. So she remained where she was, making him come to her, letting the lessons begin.

  A few seconds later, he was standing beside her. “It’s nice out here.”

  “It is.”

  Comfortable silence fell between them and she waited, assuming he was fumbling for a way to ask her to leave with him.

  Not as cocky now, are we, Smutty? she thought with a smirk.

  “Well,” Jerry eventually said, as he let out a breath and turned toward her. He jingled his car keys in his hand. “I’m going to head out. Are you coming with me or not?”

  She looked at him in shock. “Just like that, huh? ‘Are you coming with me?’”

  “Yeah, why not? Why make a big production about it? We both know what we want and that doesn’t include anybody wooing anyone.”

  He was right. What did she expect from him? Roses? Promises? Whispered sweet nothings? Well, no, but she did expect him to be as eager as she was, damn him. She didn’t understand how he could be so freaking calm about everything.

  He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming her space and his dark eyes searching her face. “So, what’s it going to be, Karen? We going to finish what we started? We going to make good on our agreement?”

  She snorted, shaking her head at his arrogance, but so turned on that she couldn’t work up any real irritation toward him. “My house. We leave in separate cars. No one knows about this.”

  “Nice...sneaky stuff. I like it and happen to agree.”

  She ignored him, and continued. “I’ll take off first and wait for you outside the complex. You can follow me from there.”

  “Right. Got it, ma’am.” He laughed when she gave him a dirty look and stomped away.

  He was going to see. He thought he was so slick and smooth, so self-assured and in command. He was in for a surprise. She would show him who was really in charge and teach him a thing or two. By the end of the night, he was going to be begging for mercy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Karen pulled into her driveway and shut off her car, but remained where she was, her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. She didn’t like the nerves she felt quivering in her stomach. She had no reason to be nervous—she’d dreamed about this, played out countless fantasies in her imagination, and now she was going to experience the real thing. After tonight, all of her curiosity about Jerry would be a thing of the past. That didn’t allow for any nervousness on her part. If she was going to show him the ropes, she couldn’t appear an anxious virgin.

  She hoped they’d managed to leave the engagement party with enough time between them to not raise any speculation. She didn’t like hiding anything from Maddie, but to bring other people in on the arrangement she had with Jerry would complicate things and that definitely wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted simple, carefr
ee, no attachments and that’s how it would be, damn it.

  When she saw him pull up to the curb in front of her house and turn off his lights, Karen took a deep breath, steadied herself and climbed out of her car. She didn’t look back when she heard his door shut, not ready to make eye contact with him yet.

  Fumbling with the key because of shaky fingers, she swore under her breath when she felt him stop behind her, and told herself it wasn’t nerves but eagerness. She was finally going to get her hands on Jerry Smutton. But she didn’t want him to misread her edginess, so after opening the door and stepping inside, she threw her purse down on the small entry table and started to head toward the kitchen, playing for casual.

  “Make yourself at home. I’m going to—”

  She wasn’t able to finish the thought before Jerry grabbed her arm and spun her around, crashing his mouth down on hers. His fingers tangled in her hair and tugged, exposing her neck so his lips could caress the sensitive spot just below her jawline. His teeth nipped her lightly as his hands tried to touch her everywhere at once, taking what he wanted and demanding her response, giving her no room except to blindly follow.

  She put her hands on his chest, trying to regain her balance, but his presence was so overpowering that she couldn’t tell which way was up. All she was cognizant of was Jerry and everywhere he touched. He grabbed her breasts over the silk of her dress and squeezed, causing her to moan.

  “You look so hot tonight,” he said in a low, raspy voice. “It took everything I had to keep my hands off of you...as much as I could.”

  “Let me touch you,” she groaned.

  “Not yet,” Jerry said between deep, hungry kisses. “You’re mine right now.”

  His kisses were demanding and rough, all teeth and tongue, before he abruptly pulled away. Karen started at the break in connection before teetering, suddenly free from his hold. Her mind was fuzzy and her body trembled from head to toe, everything tingling in anticipation.