The Fadeaway: A Smart Jocks Novel

by Jenshak, Rebecca

  “That sounds good. Christian is gone all week with his father.”

  “What’s he like? You never mentioned him, and I was always afraid to ask.”

  I grimace at the thought I might have come across that closed off. “He’s a good guy, a little flaky. We had a study hall together and hung out a few times, but I got pregnant after we were together only once, so I don’t really know that much about him either. I mean, we’ve tried to be friendly and civil, but it’s hard.”

  “Damn. One time?”

  I nod to Gabby who looks horrified to know that sort of thing really happens. “Yep. First and last time I had sex.”

  “What?!” Blair shrieks earning us a look from the cab driver in the rearview mirror

  My cheeks blaze with heat. “Yeah, been a bit of a dry spell.”

  “Holy shit. You haven’t slept with Joel yet?”

  “Umm…”

  Blair laughs and Gabby joins in.

  “What?”

  “This is too precious. Joel gave Wes the worst time about how long it took us to have sex after we started hanging out and that was only a few weeks.”

  “It hasn’t been that long and with Christian around there hasn’t really been an opportunity.”

  Until now.

  Gabby opens the clutch on her lap and hands over a sleeve of condoms. “Plenty of opportunity tonight.”

  The cab pulls up to the hotel and I shove the condoms into my purse before filing out behind Blair.

  “Wait, why are you carrying condoms?” Blair asks Gabby as the three of us catch the elevator up to our room.

  Gabby has this habit of letting her long blonde hair fall over the scars on the left side of her face when she’s nervous or unsure, which she does now. “I just wanted to be prepared for anything. What if I meet some hot guy tonight?” Her eyes light up. “Or maybe I can convince Coach Daniels to let me into his room,” she says and smiles deviously.

  “The coach, really?” I ask. “I mean, he’s hot don’t get me wrong, but he’s like forty.”

  “I’m not looking to get married and have babies, just jump his bones.”

  Blair shakes her head and looks to me. “This is what happens when you go too long without sex. Take this as a warning, go forth and have sex or else you’ll end up like Gabby.”

  Gabby punches her playfully.

  “Longer than four years?” I ask.

  “Try twenty-one,” she whispers even though we’re alone in the elevator.

  We arrive to our floor and I gape as the doors open. “You’re a virgin?!”

  A group of young guys enters the elevator and Gabby’s face turns crimson at their knowing smirks.

  We rush out past them, but one of the guys yells out, “Happy to help later in room three fifteen.”

  Gabby practically sprints down the hall. Blair and I follow, laughter echoing throughout the floor as we enter our room.

  “I’m sorry,” I say when I can force the laughter back. “I just had no idea.” I wave a hand in front of her. “You’re gorgeous. I don’t know how you’ve managed to keep your V-card.”

  “After the accident, I didn’t leave the house much,” she admits.

  Blair takes her hand and threads their fingers together. I don’t know a lot about the car accident that left Gabby with the scars marring her beautiful face, but I get glimpses of her insecurities and I hope her moving to Valley will be good for her.

  Blair’s phone beeps and she drops Gabby’s hand to pick up her phone. “The guys are getting on the bus now to head to the hotel. We’ve got about fifteen minutes to get ready.”

  My stomach twists into knots. “Should I text Joel?”

  “I say, you put on the sexiest outfit you packed, and we’ll wait downstairs for them. Shock attack.” Blair claps her hands. “Go get ready.”

  * * *

  Joel

  “Wanna grab a drink at the bar?” Wes asks, looking too damn happy for him. His usual preference after an away game is to go to his room and chill with Z.

  I shrug, deciding not to question his sudden interest in hanging out. “Sure, let me just drop my stuff in my room first.”

  “And maybe you should shower, too.”

  “Dude, what’s with you?”

  He’s all smiles as he exits the bus ahead of me. I text Kitty on my way to the room.

  Me: Did you see the game?

  Kitty: I did. Congratulations on another win.

  Me: Thanks. What are you up to tonight?

  Inside the room, I drop my bag on the bed. I don’t really care if Wes has to smell me or not, but I want to hear from Kitty before I head down, so I jump in the shower while I wait for her to respond. Once I’m out and re-dressed, I still haven’t heard from her, so I pocket my phone and head down to the bar.

  When I see Blair sitting next to Wes, I bristle. Why invite me to tag along? Glancing at the rest of the table, I see Gabby and Nathan are with them. And someone at the far end of the table I can’t see, hidden by Nathan’s big head. One drink and then I’m out.

  My phone vibrates, and I reach for it, reading the text as I walk across the bar.

  Kitty: Hanging out with you.

  I start to type a response, but something pulls my attention to the table and as Nathan leans forward, I’ve got a perfect view. She fidgets nervously watching me with wide eyes. My chest aches. Actually fucking aches. She’s here. Kitty’s here.

  I ignore the rest of the table, walk up to her, and pick her up enjoying the squeals of delight as she wraps her arms around my neck.

  “You’re here.” I clutch her to me, start to put her back down, but instead hold her against me and crash my mouth down over hers.

  I hear the guys laughing at me and I flip them off with one hand, not breaking the kiss until I’ve shown her just how glad I am she’s here.

  When I finally pull back, she’s breathless and her cheeks flushed. “I guess that means you’re okay with me being here?”

  “More than okay with it.” I take the seat she was sitting in and pull her on my lap.

  There’s conversation. I think I even take part in it. Laugh at the appropriate times, answer when asked a direct question, but damn all I can focus on is Kitty. She’s here. For me. My mind is kinda blown. And not just that she was willing to give up a night, drive all this way to watch me play, but at how glad I am.

  The hotel bar shuts down early, so we only have time for one drink, which is perfectly fine with me.

  “Uhh, where am I sleeping?” Nathan asks as we all stand.

  Wes hands him his key card. “You can stay with Z. Gabby can stay in the girl’s room. Blair and I will get another room.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Gabby protests. “I’ll just stay with the guys.”

  There’s some back and forth, but Gabby is insistent. “It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the floor or couch. Whatever.”

  Nathan places an arm around her shoulders. “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

  With that settled, Katrina looks up to me like she’s unsure. I pull her to me. “Wanna go to my lair?”

  She giggles as I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder like a rag doll, placing a palm on her ass to cover what the fabric doesn’t. I’ve gone caveman and it feels fantastic.

  I’m ready to ravage my Kitty. Fucking finally.

  * * *

  Katrina

  He doesn’t put me down until we’re in the room. He’s a man on a mission. Kicks his shoes off, pulls his shirt over his head. I giggle as I watch him undress like he’s being timed.

  “Gonna leave any of that for me to take off?”

  His hands still at his jeans. He pops the button but doesn’t push them down. “You want to undress me?”

  I nod and step forward. Whatever nerves I had about this moment dissipate as his eyes darken and his chest rises and falls as I let my hands trail over his stomach. His abs are cut and a trail of dark hair disappears into his boxers.

  His hand
s ball into fists at his sides as if he’s holding back from touching me. Letting me have this moment. Hooking my fingers under the denim, I push down taking his boxers with them. I move lower with his clothes shimming them off his legs. I’ve already seen him naked, but he’s as impressive as I remembered and my core throbs.

  I peek up at him, finding him watching me with such desire it makes me uncharacteristically bold. His length twitches as I bring my mouth to him and I place a soft kiss to the head. A groan escapes his lips and I continue kissing and adoring every glorious inch.

  His hands don’t move from his sides until I take him into my mouth. Gently, his fingers thread through my hair and he applies the slightest pressure guiding me as I suck and lick.

  I know he’s holding back, but screw that I want everything he’s willing to give. I take him deeper until he hits the back of my throat and I peer up to meet his tortured gaze. I try to smile around him, telling him with the look of pure bliss I know must be on my face that it’s okay to let go.

  He answers by pulling my hair tighter until the slightest prick of my scalp sends pulsing waves of pleasure through my body. He takes my mouth until tears leak from my eyes and I fight my gag reflex, but it’s the hottest moment of my life.

  A rumble leaves his chest and when I think he’s going to come, he surprises me by stepping back and pulling me to my feet. I’m uncoordinated and a bit dizzy as he holds me upright and wipes a thumb across my lips cleaning up the saliva gathered around them. “Your mouth is perfection, Kitty, but when I come, I want to be buried balls deep inside you.”

  My body hums in anticipation and I sit on the end of the bed, so ready for that and more.

  He steps to me with a wicked grin and dips low, taking my legs and throwing them over his shoulders. My panties are gone in a flash, dress now bunched up around my hips, and his mouth meets my sex.

  Holy sh– crap.

  The vibration of his laugh against my sensitive flesh earns another moan. Guess I said that out loud. “You’re fucking adorable censoring your curse words when I’ve got my tongue on your pussy.”

  “Force of habit.” I just barely get the words out before his teeth join the action and I scream – not in pain but in pure ecstasy.

  He guides me on to my stomach and lifts my ass into the air, continuing the sweet torture on my clit and bringing a finger to the party. “Christ, you’re so wet.”

  His finger glides smoothly in and out as he drops open mouth kisses on my thighs and ass. My face goes hot as he spreads my cheeks and keeps right on kissing me. Oh my God, he’s going to lick my ass. The realization hits me too late and I have no time to be bashful, or flip over before his tongue pushes inside my hole in sync with his fingers below.

  “Fuuuck.” There’s no use censoring my words as I get my first rim job. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Or ever? I wouldn’t know since I’ve never discussed it. Let alone had it performed.

  “Relax,” Joel says in a hushed tone. “You trust me?”

  “Yes,” I say. And I do. God help me, I really do.

  “Good.” He slaps my ass playfully. “We should have the condom talk.”

  I laugh at his openness. Probably should have had it ten minutes ago, but better now than tomorrow. “I’m on the pill, but I think we should still use a condom just in case.”

  “I’m clean. We get blood work drawn every couple months, and it just so happened to fall last month,” he says all this, my, well, my everything, still up in the air on display.

  “Okay, but since then you could have come in contact with something.” I’m not sure if it’s more humiliating that we’re having this conversation or that he’s basically having it with my lady parts. I walk on all fours up the bed and to the nightstand to get my purse. I pull out the condoms Gabby gave me earlier, set them on the bed still refusing to look up as I sit back on my knees. Wow, adulting is hard. But then again, the other option is an STD or child and well I learned my lesson on safe sex the hard way.

  “Haven’t come in contact with anything, but if you want me to wear one, of course I will.” He follows me onto the bed and pulls my dress up and over my head. I’m not wearing a bra and he cups my breasts in his big palms. “Damn, Kitty. Your tits are fantastic. Add motorboating to my new list of hobbies.”

  “It’s not like you can tell by looking with every STD,” I tell him before I lose this moment and my last opportunity to voice all my concerns.

  He removes his stare from my breasts and shakes his head slowly, side to side. A broad smile overtakes his handsome face and his eyes bore into mine. “No, you misunderstand. It’s not possible. I haven’t been with anyone since then. Been focused solely on you, babydoll.”

  “Come on. You can’t expect me to believe that.” I roll my eyes and push playfully at his bare chest.

  “It’s true.”

  “Why?” The question is out before I can stop it. I don’t want him to lie or pretend we’re something we’re not, but I need to know.

  “Same reason I had a standing reservation at Araceli’s. I knew eventually you were going to say yes.”

  “Wow. You’re good.”

  He takes me down onto the bed with him, rolls on top of me, cradling my head with his hands as he stares down at me. “Kitty, you have no idea.”

  The attention and love he gives my body is so very Joel. Thorough, dedicated, and hot as fuck.

  He’s rough but somehow still gentle. Not one single inch of my body is missed. He gives me everything except the one thing I’m dying for. I’m grinding beneath him, pleading with my hips, for him to put me out of my misery. “You ready, Katrina?”

  No mocking or playfulness in his tone. He’s making certain of my consent. I’m so ready. Four years too long ready, but I can’t imagine it any other way. Here with Joel, just like this is perfect.

  “So ready.”

  He kisses the top of my nose and shifts, grabs a condom and covers himself before lining up at my entrance. I watch in fascination as he glides inside of me so painfully slow I try and slide down to help. He pins me in place by holding my hips still. “You’re so fucking tight.”

  My body climbs and my heart beats so fast I know it’s as much my feelings for the man as it is this moment. He fills me up so full, but it’s not just his huge ego or even huger (totally the right word for this moment) dick, it’s my heart remembering what it’s like to let someone in mind and soul.

  Completely at his mercy, I let him finally have me. All of me.

  30

  Joel

  Kitty is naked in my bed. Well, not my bed, but I’m not about to get hung up on the details. She’s here and naked and she’s fucking mine.

  “What time does the bus leave tomorrow?” she asks, tracing circles on my chest as she lies beside me.

  “Early, but I can sleep on the bus.”

  “Can we hang out when you get back?” Her voice is cautious and unsure.

  I pull her on top of me. “Yep. I plan to steal as much of your time as you’ll let me this week.”

  She presses her smile to mine. “Do I finally get to see your lair?”

  “Oh yeah. There’s lots more ravaging to be done.” I’m already picturing a week filled with Katrina naked and in every place and position I can dream up when I remember I have a meeting with Sara Icoa tomorrow. “I’ve got a few things to do with the team and Sunday is movie night with the roommates but come over. Blair crashes more often than not so you can be my plus one.”

  “I thought you promised ravaging. Sounds suspiciously like hanging out fully clothed.”

  She says it in a teasing manner but shit she’s right. We had sex and instead of moving on, I want to pencil her in to every free minute I have. And hell yeah I plan on ravaging her as often as possible, but that’s not all I want to do with her.

  I guess I’m quiet for too long because she shifts. “You okay? Sorry, I was just kidding. I’d love to hang out.”

  Plant a kiss to her temple and t
uck her in close beside me. “Just tired, I guess. Been a long day.”

  She yawns in agreement.

  “Night Kitty.”

  * * *

  Katrina

  “This place is insane,” I say to Blair as she leads me around The White House. The guys are getting movie night set up while I get the grand tour. It’s the coolest place I’ve ever seen, and I was so not prepared after seeing the shit hole the baseball guys live in.

  “Joel’s family bought it and turned it into a mini version of the basketball dorms of some of the larger universities. I heard Kansas has a barber shop in theirs.”

  “Seems a little like overkill.”

  “Right? But the guys love it. They even have custom bedding, not that they care about that, but I think it’s awesome. Wes is sad about moving out next year. I guess Z will too so who knows who will move in and take their place.”

  “What happens when Joel graduates?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “I’m not sure. If he ends up going pro next year instead of playing his senior year, Nathan would be the only one left.”

  My heart drops. If Joel goes pro next year? I didn’t even know that was a possibility. To be fair, I hadn’t asked. I’ve carefully avoided any conversations around the future. I haven’t even allowed myself to ask him what his plans are next weekend because I don’t want to come across as clingy. But the way my hands shake I know my heart has started wishing and hoping for more regardless.

  We stop in front of the last doorway. “And this is Joel’s room. I’ve never –”

  “Not so fast.” Joel runs from the top of the stairwell and jumps in front of her. “Access denied. Only girls allowed here are the ones who put out.” The smile on his face falls as if he’s realized the bad joke.