“No.” He took in a deep breath and let it out. “At the end of the day, Papi, Pops, and the rest went home to their real families. We were just charity cases.” He focused on the armrest and picked at a scratch he remembered making as a kid. All we wanted was parents to love us. Clothes and a warm bed to sleep in. The staff did what they could, but the orphanage never had enough money. Often we would wear the same clothes until they were nothing but threads, and in the winter it would get bitterly cold because we didn’t have enough to heat the place.”
“That’s awful.”
“I could have lived with all of that,” he said as he looked out at the sun setting over the outfield. “I could have even thrived, if it wasn’t for the visits.”
“The visits?”
He glanced at her. “Of prospective parents. They would interview us like it was a fucking job we were applying for. They said that they wanted a kid, but what they wanted was a trophy to show their friends.” His eyes stung, and he blinked them back. “None of them knew how to handle troubled kids, and they didn’t want to learn. They were chasing a dream, a perfect dream, and we just got in the way. That’s why I don’t ever have kids of my own. I never had a real father in my life, so I don’t know how to be one. And the thought of having a kid out there that I’m not there for, I could never do that the way my father did to me. I don’t know if he even knows I exist. I figured if I ever changed my mind about kids I’d adopt; I know better than anyone how many lost and unloved kids there are out there that need a family.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Jett sniffed and turned away. “Yeah, well. You wanted to know why I’m such an asshole. You wanted to know why I had the façade back there at Chez Monique. Well, it’s because that’s what people expect of me. I learned at an early age that being an asshole was the only way to get anyone to notice me.”
“But that’s the wrong type of attention.”
“At least it was attention.” He took in a deep breath and focused on the pitcher’s mound—his mound. Although it took several years before he could say that. “Which was better than nothing. There were far too many forgotten birthdays in that place. Far too many Christmases alone.”
“Oh God, Jett. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, well. At least now I can make sure that those kids have enough to eat and enough heat to warm their toes.”
“You make donations to the orphanage?”
“Yeah. It’s not much, but maybe . . . Maybe it will help prevent some kid from turning out like me.”
“You didn’t turn out so bad,” she said.
He turned to face her and tell her that she was insane—why just look at him—but the words caught in his throat.
“In fact. . .” She inched closer. “I think that you turned out pretty great.”
“Yeah, you mean financially I’m well off, but—”
“No.” She touched his arm. “You’re a good man, Jett. I can see that. Anyone would be a fool not to see that.”
“Nice guys finish last.”
“Are you sure about that?” She stood up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.
There was something warm and inviting about the press of her mouth against his. Jett inhaled her sweet scent, and it caused something to snap. Decades of pain and loneliness rose to the surface. Before he realized what he was doing, he grasped her arms and dragged her body against his. She tasted so sweet, so right. For that for the first time in his life, he wasn’t alone anymore.
He was home.
Chapter 7
Mel’s heart ached for the man next to her. She wanted to soothe his ache, to ease his pain. Jett might put on a good show, but she felt that she was seeing the real man behind the asshole façade, and that man was hurting more than she could possibly imagine.
She reached out and brushed her fingers over his chest. Jett was hard, and his muscles tightened under her touch. She groaned as she tilted her head, inviting him closer. He slid his hand into her hair and invaded her mouth, touching and exploring every inch she had to offer.
When they finally pulled away for breath, she nibbled her lower lip and slid down onto her knees.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she eased apart his thighs.
“You said that some of your best memories were in these bleachers,” she said.
“Yeah. . .”
“Yeah, well. . .” She positioned herself in between his thighs. “I want to add to those memories.”
“Melody, you don’t need to—” Jett gasped as she undid his zipper and eased out his erect cock.
“Oh God.” He eased down into his chair. “Wow.”
She slid her hand over his length, then flicked the tip of his head with her tongue. Something dark and hungry passed through his features as she slowly slid her lips around his swollen head.
“That’s good,” he whispered. “Real good.”
She pushed down on his length, taking as much of him as she could manage. Jett threaded his fingers into her hair, holding her head steady as she moved back and forth along his length.
“That’s amazing,” he said.
She groaned against his shaft and pushed him in as far as he could go. When she felt him touch the back of her throat, she retreated and ran her tongue over his tip once more.
“Take off that stupid jacket,” she commanded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She grinned as he moved to obey. Once he resettled, she took him once more, sliding down his shaft until he bumped the back of her throat. Grabbing his base, she stroked him with both her hand her mouth as she flicked open the button on his pants with her fingers. With the opening wider, she was able to free his balls, and she started to gently tug on them in time with her mouth.
“Oh God.” He curled his fingers into her scalp as she moved over his shaft. “That feels so good.”
Mel looked up from her work and found him watching her with such lust, such intensity. This man made her feel beautiful and wanted. She wanted to do the same for him in return.
Mel groaned as she quickened the pace, sliding over his now slick length and taking him once more.
“You like that, don’t you?” he asked as he tugged on her hair. Before she realized what was happening, he was controlling her movements. In and out, back and forth, she loved how he was losing himself to her.
“Stop,” he said after a long moment.
She retreated but continued to stroke him with her hand.
“On your feet,” he commanded. She moved to obey, and he turned her around so that her back was to him.
“Pull up your dress.” She did, revealing her purple thong.
“Lovely,” he said, rubbing his hand over her ass. “Now sit down.”
She started to sit, but he pushed her back up. “Slower.”
She moved slower and as she approached his lap, and he placed one hand on her hip as he guided his cock toward her opening.
Mel gasped as his rough fingers pushed aside her thong and the tip of his erection parted her folds. Grasping the arm handles, she slowly lowered herself onto his lap.
“Spread apart your legs.” He reached around her and slid his fingers over one of her thighs. “That’s it.” He inched down in the seat as she lowered herself until he was completely inside of him.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered.
She moaned as she lifted up and then settled back down on his lap.
“Yes, just like that.” He eased his hands up along her sides and then slid them over her breasts. Mel whimpered as he squeezed her mounds and eased her up and down his cock.
“That’s it. Keep it going just like that.”
Mel nibbled her lower lip as he started undoing the zipper along her back. Easing his feet in the inside of her legs, he pushed against her skin until she parted her legs as far as they would go.
“Yes,” she whispered. “That feels so good.”
“You feel so good,” he whispered as he lowered the seam of
her dress. “So fucking perfect.” He flicked open the hook on her bra and slid his hands back over her breasts.
“Yes.” She tightened her grip on the arm rests. “Oh God.” Pressure built deep inside her lower abdomen. Mel leaned back against his chest as he nipped her ear and neck.
“I love how you ride me, sweetheart,” he whispered. “You’re so hot and wet.”
“Yes.” She gasped as he pinched her nipples, teasing and stroking them until they formed sharp peaks. “Harder.”
He cupped her mounds and pulled her hard against his body, filling her to the point of breaking.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
“I want you to come for me,” he whispered as he slid one hand down her abdomen. “I want you to show me how much you love my cock.”
She gasped as he eased his fingers under her dress. After rubbing her mound, he slid his fingers under her thong and found her clit.
“Yes,” she nibbled her lower lip as he pinched her breast. “Oh God.”
“That’s it. Ride me baby.” He rubbed her clit in a circular motion that drove her wild.
Mel slid her hand down over her stomach and covered her hand with his own. “I want to feel us,” she said as she took his hand and inched it down to where he entered her. Slowly she moved over his length, and together they felt him slip in and out of her body.
“Does it feel good?” he asked.
“Amazing.” She closed her eyes. “So fucking good.”
“Good.” He kissed her neck and shoulder as she moved quicker over his length.
“I want you to come, too,” she whispered. “I want you to fill me.”
“That won’t be too hard,” he said. “You drive me crazy, darlin’.”
“I want to touch you,” she said. “I want to see you.” She slid off of him and turned to face him. Repositioning herself on his lap, she straddled his thighs and lowered herself onto him once more.
“Better?” he asked.“Much better.” It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but she was too far gone to care. All Mel knew was that she wanted him deep inside of her body, filling her, claiming her.
She ran her hands down his chest until her fingers teased the skin just under the hem of his shirt. Running her hands up, she ran them along the hard planes of his abs. Wanting more, she pushed up his shirt and pulled it over his head so she could get her hands on him, feel his skin under her touch.
With the shirt removed she finally got a good look at the black ink that had peaked her curiosity in the elevator when they first met. She let her fingers trail along the edges, examining the fierce lion he had tattooed over his shoulder and chest. The lion's mouth open in a ferocious roar on his pec, its mane flowing over his shoulder and partway down his arm. It was beautiful.
Jett thrust deep inside her, eliciting a sharp gasp from her, and she let her nails dig into his skin, scraping them down his flesh, leaving red streaks down his chest, and she was rewarded with a quick intake of breath followed by a deep growl that sounded more like it belonged to the animal tattooed on his chest than the man himself. She rode him fast and hard as leaned his head back in bliss. Soon his was moving his hips in time with her thrusts, and his grunts and groans were mingling with her muffled cries.
“I’m going to come,” she whispered. “Oh God. Faster, Jett. Harder.”
He grabbed her hips and pushed up hard, filling her to the point of breaking. Touching her breasts, Mel pinched her nipples as she moved faster over his cock. The world around them faded away as she raced closer and closer to the edge. Then, with one quick thrust, she was over, and her body was bathed in bliss.
She tilted her head back as pleasure poured through her veins, covering every inch of her in bliss. Beneath her, Jett shivered and pushed hard, thrusting deep inside her body. She felt him lose himself inside of her, and nothing ever felt so good or right. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her, and with each thrust a new connection formed, binding them tighter together than she had ever thought imaginable.
When it was finally over, she kissed him lightly on the lips and then buried her head into his shoulder. She didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to face reality. All she wanted to do was to lose herself in his arms and never let him go.
Chapter 8
“Sorry I’m late,” Mel said as she slid into her seat in the conference room.
“No problem,” Greg drawled as he waved his head in the air. “Kennedy hasn’t arrived yet.”
“He had his assistant pop her head in to say that his phone call is going longer than anticipated,” Joel said as he examined his fingernails. “He’s going to be here in a few minutes.”
“Thank goodness.” Mel put her things on the table. She didn’t feel up to listening to Kennedy lecture her on punctuality. After the night she had, she was surprised that she was present and functioning at work at all. After the date, Mel had gone home and tried to sleep, but she couldn’t seem to shake Jett form her mind. He had really opened up to her last night and shown her a glimpse of the man behind the asshole façade. She had actually liked that man and wanted to get to know him better. She could hardly wait until they met up for dinner tonight. There was going to be no more fancy restaurants, no more limousines. They were going to take the subway to a burger place he knew on the other side of the city, but Mel couldn’t be happier if he was taking her for a five-course meal on top of the Eiffel Tower. This was the real Jett, the unpretentious, sweet man who loved hot dogs and baseball. She felt so much closer to this man than the one he projected to the media. Perhaps, with a little persuasion, she could get him to be himself in public as well as private. He might be surprised how much closer his fans will feel with him if he stopped pretending and just been himself.
Greg started tapping his pen on his notebook. “This is ridiculous. I know that you aren’t busy, Mel, but Joel and I have a project to run.”
Mel straightened in her seat. “Actually—”
“Anyone know why he called this meeting?” Joel interrupted.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Greg said. “Kennedy has seemed rather distracted lately. I wonder what’s going on.”
As if on cue, Kennedy strolled into the conference room and shut the door behind him. Immediately Mel, Greg, and Joel straightened in their chairs.
“You’ve done it this time, my dear. You’ve done it.”
“Did what?” Greg put down his pen.
“Who are you talking about?” Joel asked.
Kennedy stopped at the head of the table and looked at the men as if they were insane. “Why Mel, of course.” He waved his hand in Mel’s direction.
“Her?” Greg asked. “What on earth did she do?”
“Someone’s in trouble. . .” Joel whispered.
“No, no, nothing like that.” Kennedy clasped his hands together. “This is good news. Good news.”
“What happened, Mr. Brach?” Mel asked.
Kennedy rubbed his hands together and nibbled his lower lip. “Your date, my dear. I couldn’t have planned things better myself.”
“My date?”
“What do you mean?” Greg asked. “Mel doesn’t date.”
“She doesn’t do anything,” Joel muttered. Mel gave him a sharp look of disapproval.
“Honey,” Kennedy said, drawing her attention back to him. “That kiss he gave you outside the restaurant last night was genius.”
“What?” Mel asked.
“Congratulations, my dear,” he said as he pulled out his cell phone and swiped the screen. “You are now a social media sensation.” He showed her his newsfeed, where she saw a picture of Jett kissing her outside the restaurant. She was blushing, he was attentive, and many on the internet were already speculating if they had sex and how long the relationship was going to last.
“Oh my God.”
“Let me see,” Joel nudged her out of the way and stared at the phone. “Wow.”
“I want to look.” Greg grabbed the phone and glanced at th
e screen. “It’s just a kiss.”
“A kiss felt around the world. Look at the emotion on her face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that scoundrel look so smitten. Bravo, my dear. Bravo. Everyone is talking about it.” Kennedy scrolled through the feed, shaking his head.
A sinking feeling settled in Mel’s chest. “I don’t see how any of this—”
“You got him to agree to put his face on the line, of course.”
“It…” She glanced around at the expectant faces. “It never came up.”
“No matter, I’m sure you will get his approval eventually.” Kennedy pocketed his phone. “When you do, be sure to send him around to legal to sign the paperwork.”
Mel cleared her throat. “I don’t think—”
“I just got off the phone with Hansen and managed to convince him to hold off on the new designs until next spring,” Kennedy said.
“What?” Joel pushed back his chair and stood. “You want us to work for her?!”
“You can’t,” Greg whined. “We have been working day and night on designs.”
Kennedy made a noise of dismissal. “It can wait. That kiss changes everything. We have to strike while the iron’s hot.” He rubbed his hands together. “That’s why I want the two of you to work with Mel on this project. Do whatever she says.”
“What?” Greg stood as shock blanketed his face. “You can’t.”
“I can.” Kennedy’s amused expression turned serious. “And you will do it if you want to keep your job.” He glanced at Joel. “We’re a team, remember. This is an incredible opportunity.”
“About that, Mr. Brach. Jett really isn’t into fashion. I don’t think he’ll go along with this idea.”
“First name basis, are we?” He grinned. “Girl, you just keep doing what you’re doing and get me that signature.” He turned to Greg and Joel.” You two, come with me. We need to plan an ad campaign that will sweep Los Angeles off its feet.”
“But Mr. Brach, I’m not going to use him to get ahead, talk him into something that he’s not interested in. I can’t. I won’t. If you make me, I’ll quit.”
Pursued by the Player (Black Towers Book 3) Page 6