Star-Crossed in the Outfield (All About the Diamond #4)

by Naomi Springthorp

  “Very good chills.” I can’t help but smile. “I baked brownies and cookies. She said she’ll show me more in the morning.”

  “Room service just got here. Let me call you back after we eat, okay? Or do you want to call me when you climb into bed, so I can tell you what I want?”

  “I’ll call you later, baby.” I thought she was done. “Chase—I miss you, baby.” She hangs up leaving me wishing that I could be with her right now. She misses me. It shouldn’t make me feel good that she misses me, but it does. She fits, too. I mean, she belongs with me and fits the team dynamic. She’s even helping Sherry, looking out for her and she doesn’t have to do that. Shit, I was being selfish and killing to birds with one stone, thinking my girl would learn to bake and Sherry would have someone around—she took it to a whole different level. I love her heart.

  Seno and I eat dinner while he calls Sam and she agrees to go stay with Sherry for a few days. I’m happy I ordered us a twelve pack of brews, we’re going to need them this weekend. I turn on the TV and flip through channels, while the twelve pack disappears.

  I’m stretched out on my bed, half asleep watching an action flick when my phone rings, “Hey, Sweetness.”

  “Hi, baby… What are you doing?”

  “Seno and I are hanging in the room, tossing back some brews.”

  “Michelle says I have a big box from Amazon waiting for me at home. Do you know anything about that?”

  “I guess that depends on what’s in the box. Might be a delivery from somebody else.”

  “So, you did send me something? What is it?”

  “You’ll have to look for yourself, Sweetness.” I don’t know exactly what’s in the box, Sherry did that part. I’d rather she be surprised anyway. I wouldn’t tell her if I knew.

  “You really don’t need to keep sending me things.”

  “I want you to have things. I want you to have the appropriate team gear and things that you need. It makes me happy to give you things.” I want to give you everything are the words going through my head and I realize my buzz may be getting the best of me. “So, are you curled up on the couch with a blanket?”

  “Yes, and I’m lonely,” playing with me in her sweet, soft girly voice.

  “Oh, Sweetness, we can’t have that. Close your eyes and let me make it better. I’m there with you right now. I lean over the back of the couch and kiss your cheek, your skin’s so soft. You turn your head and look at me, I can only imagine the need in my eyes matches the need I find in yours. We claim each other’s lips because we can’t help it, we need the touch, the electrical contact. I wrap my arms around you and pick you up, bringing you close to my chest and holding you tight, never wanting to let you go. I carry you out to the balcony and you snag your blanket on the way. I sit down on the lounge chair under the night sky with you in my arms and get us both wrapped in the blanket. My hands hold you possessively because you’re mine and I’m not going to share. I love the way your body fits perfectly against mine while I hold you and we look at the stars with the faint sound of the ocean in the background. The night sky is so dark that the stars shine and twinkle with more stars than you can imagine. The beauty of the night is breathtaking, but doesn’t compare to my woman that I’m holding in my arms, my Kristina, my Sweetness. You make me warm all over. You make my heart beat faster. You make my pulse race. I want to hold you and protect you. You make me think things that I don’t understand and want to say things that I know I shouldn’t.”

  I’m interrupted by Seno throwing something at me and mouthing “Shut up! You’re drunk!” at me.

  I try to get my head straight. I don’t even know what I was saying. “Sweetness, what would you do if you were here with me?” Seno gives me a thumbs up.

  I hear a sweet sigh and I know she’s falling asleep, “I want to be in your arms under the stars. Can’t you be here with me under the stars?”

  “Yes, my Sweetness. I’m with you under the stars. Tell me what you would do if I was there with you.”

  “My feet would be nestled between your legs. My arm stretched across your body and holding you at your waist. My head cuddled into your neck with my face resting on your chest. Relaxing to the sound and feel of your heartbeat. Absorbing your warmth and content being near you, I’d kiss your bare chest and move my hand up your torso to hold onto it. You’d kiss me on the forehead because it’s the only place you could reach without disturbing our position. I feel tingles just being near you and I’m embarrassed by my attraction because I can’t help myself as I lightly rub against your leg. I’m wet for you and I can’t control it, when all I want is for you to keep holding me.”

  “I want to hold you, too, my Sweetness.” I shouldn’t, but… “Are you really wet for me right now, Sweetness?” No response. “If you’re tired, I can let you go to sleep.”

  “I’m not ready yet. Um, maybe.” That’s a yes.

  “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  “Are you, uh, hard?”

  “Trust me, as soon as you said wet I got hard.”

  She giggles and it makes it worse. Seno gets up and stomps across the room, “Horndog,” then locks himself in the bathroom and turns the shower on.

  “How hard are you?”

  “I thought you just wanted me to hold you.”

  “Mostly, but other things are good, too. Chase, baby, I want you bad.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I want you to hold your cock and tell me how hard it is.”

  Oh fuck, “It’s rock solid, thinking about you.”

  “I wish you were in me.”

  “Me, too… Sweetness, what are you wearing? I’m laying shirtless with my hand in my sweatpants.”

  “You should come out of those sweats and stroke yourself for me. I want to lick your cock and kiss it all over. You’d see my breasts bounce in the skimpy tank top I’m wearing and get a view straight down my shirt. You’re so hard that I can only get half of you in my mouth and that’s not good enough.”

  “No, my Sweetness deserves all of me. I pull you up to my lips and kiss you as you slide back onto my hard dick. Oh, Kristina, I can feel you on me and it’s amazing.”

  “Stroke it like I’m on you, baby.”

  “Are you touching yourself, Sweetness? Please touch yourself. I would touch you and make you feel good if I was there. Do it for me, Sweetness. Reach your hand into your panties and feel how wet you are.”

  “Are you stroking your dick?”

  “Yes, and imagining you on me. I want to make you come and I want to hear you. Find your spot, Sweetness, and rub it for me. Tell me how wet you are. Tell me how you feel.”

  “My panties are soaked, and I’m slick to the touch. So easy for you to slide in. I need you, Chase. Fuck, I’m falling for you.”

  “It’s okay, Sweetness. I need you, too. Rub it and feel me pushing into you. I’ll always protect you, Kristina. Always you, Sweetness.” I hear her whimper softly, sexy. I’ve heard it before and I know she’s with me. “Feel how hard I am for you.”

  “I sit up straight and ride you hard because I can’t help myself. Grinding against you at our connection. I touch our connection and feel how hard you are, filling me, stretching me. Oh!” Her tone changes.

  “I’m here with you, Sweetness. You want to come?”

  “Yes, oh yes, oh Chase.”

  “Rub it harder for me, faster, Sweetness. Don’t stop, just don’t stop. I want you on me. I want to push into you and feel you wet around me. I want you however I can get you.” I’m getting close and start to lose my breath.

  “Oh, Chase!”

  “More, Sweetness. More. Don’t stop. I won’t stop, push it Sweetness. More.”

  “Chase!” I hear her cry out my name and whimper. I know the sound and it sets me off instantly.

  I groan as I come, “Fuck, Sweetness. How do you do this to me? Oh, fuck… I’m still coming. Tell me you feel it. Tell me you want me in you. Tell me it’s only you and me, Kristina.”r />
  There’s only silence.

  “Chase?”

  “I’m here, Sweetness.”

  “I miss you, baby. It’s only you and me.”

  I smile, “I miss you, too. I’m here to catch you if you’re falling. I’ll always protect you. I promise you’re safe with me. I promise. I’m still holding you, Sweetness. All night long.” We hang up and sleep, unable to keep our eyes open. My girl. All I can think about and I dream about her now, too.

  Kristina

  Five minutes ago I was listening to his voice and couldn't keep my eyes open. Now, I can't sleep. I can't believe I told him that I'm falling for him. Shit! This is how I end up pregnant and the size of a house! Plus, bonus! It will be my own fault! I’m the one that slides onto his cock without warning and doesn’t want to get off of him. I can’t be falling for him. This isn't part of my plan. I need to have a job and be self-sufficient. Being dependent on a man, any man, not an option. The tone in his voice tonight owned me. New, sincere and possessive, it shot right through me. I want him so bad that I had phone sex and fuck if I didn't start it! Yep. This is my end. The life I want goes out the window. I’m controlled by a man. This can't happen. Oh, and his possessive words. He wants us to be living together? He said he wants me in his bed every night. He said it’s only me and him. He wants to be like them. He wants to move me in, get married and knock me up. I can’t do this. I don’t want to get hurt again. He said he’ll protect me and I believe him. I believe every word he says.

  I get home after no sleep and find the huge Amazon box waiting for me. It's full of everything for baking. Mixer with all the attachments, bowls, measuring cups, everything I could possibly need for baking and not the cheap stuff. I walk into my room to find all of my new Seals wardrobe hanging everywhere. Everything says Cross and has a big 17 on it. He can’t buy me and mark me. He doesn't get to own me.

  No, I can’t do this. I want him. I think I love him, but this isn’t me. It’s too much.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chase

  Road Trip Day 5: Saturday - Game 2 in Houston

  I wake up thinking about Kristina and I’m somehow satisfied from last night. I reach for my phone to call my girl and tell her good morning, but Seno yells at me from across the room, “Pervert! Keep that shit in your pants and under control. No more beer nights for you. Fuck, at least tell me to take a shower or something before you have phone sex and wack it.”

  “Sorry, it was her fault. I’ll warn you if it happens again. Dude, she says the hottest things. Fuck me.” I relax in bed thinking about our conversation, “Hey, she told me she’s falling for me.”

  Seno stares at me, “Is that what you want? Just her? No more girls everywhere waiting for you to fuck them? No more nights with the twins? No more walking away the next day, without even knowing their name?”

  “I want her. I know it sounds stupid. I need her. I want to protect her. I told her I’m here to catch her if she falls. I promised I wouldn’t hurt her. I mean it. Dude, I understand why you want Sherry with you. The one special one that’s yours, that you can share with and just be you, everything is better with them being in the same room or sitting in the stadium during a game.”

  Seno smiles, “You need to do whatever makes you happy and keeps you that way. Don’t tell her you love her over the phone or text or anything stupid, do it in person with no alcohol in your system.”

  “I can do that.”

  I have pictures of a mixer and baking stuff from Kristina.

  Text from Kristina - You need to stop.

  Text from Kristina - I mean, good morning. Thank you for the baking tools and the outrageously expensive mixer with attachments that cost as much as my rent.

  Text from Kristina - Sorry, please stop sending me things.

  Text from Kristina - I don’t think I can do this.

  Woah! What the fuck happened? I call her, but she doesn’t answer.

  Text to Kristina - Good morning.

  Text to Kristina - Please answer your phone or call me.

  Text to Kristina - I thought you would like it because you wanted to learn how to bake.

  Text to Kristina - You’re still going to have things left for you at your cubicle everyday until I get back.

  Text to Kristina - I’m sorry. Tell me what to do here.

  Text to Kristina - You said you’re falling for me. This doesn’t make any sense.

  Text to Kristina - I’ll never hurt you. I mean it.

  Text to Kristina - We won’t end like the rest of them.

  Text to Kristina - Don’t run scared. Please. I need you.

  I turn to Seno, “She froze me out and won’t respond. Fuck!”

  “Give her a chance to respond and see what happens. You can send her flowers or something if you want.”

  “No, she told me to stop sending her things.”

  “Concentrate on baseball. Only five more games until we go home. She’ll come around.”

  We head over to the stadium early to work out and I need to run it off. I need to run her out of my system. Maybe I need to find a hook up tonight and forget about her. But, that’s not what I want. Fuck. I want her. I keep checking my phone, but there’s nothing new. I’ve run over ten miles and already spent too much time in the batting cage. I walk into the clubhouse and hang out with the guys, listening to music and playing cards. Trying to get through the day without my Sweetness.

  Mason walks in, “What the fuck did you do? Michelle said Kristina freaked out and took off.”

  “Where’d she go? She’s not at the stadium working?” I hear the worry in my voice.

  Mason watches Seno drop his head and shake it, “Uh, I’m sure everything is fine.”

  Seno comments, “Mason, you’re an idiot. See if you can find out where she went.”

  Text to Carter - Can you find out what time Kristina is working today? And if she’s there?

  Text from Carter - On it

  Text from Carter - She called in sick.

  Text to Sherry - Any idea where Kristina is?

  Text to Kristina - At least tell me you’re okay.

  Text from Kristina - I’m okay. Please leave me alone.

  Text to Kristina - I will do anything you want, except leave you alone.

  Text from Sherry - Yes

  Text to Sherry - Where is she?

  Text from Sherry - She doesn’t want you to know.

  Text to Sherry - Can you help me? I don’t know what to do. I need to know she’s safe.

  Text from Sherry - She’s safe.

  I’m completely lost and it’s almost time for the game to start. I go through the motions, get ready and go out on the field to stretch and warm up. I don’t know what to do, since she won’t talk to me. I need to be in the same place with her and bring her back to me, tell her to stop running. I know that’s all this is. She’s running away because she’s scared of getting hurt again. I guess from her view I’m not the best bet, but I’m not that guy. I was, but meeting her saved me. She saved me and made me realize what I was missing. She may be the only one that can save me. Why won’t she let me save her?

  I try to get the game started right. I walk through the dugout clapping and say “Let’s make it a win!” I’m first at bat and as I stand in the on deck circle swinging my bat, I wonder if she’s somewhere watching me. The cameraman is watching me and I look directly into the camera as if I’m looking at Kristina, pat my heart and point at her. I step up to the plate and dig in with my cleats. The plan is the same as it always is, get on base and let the team bring me around to score. Keep it simple. Get a base hit. Take a walk. Whatever. Just get on base. It takes ten pitches, but I get the walk and making the pitcher throw ten pitches to the first batter is in our favor. Use the starter up and get into the bullpen early. Mason is at bat next and communicating with me. I steal second successfully and I’m in scoring position with no outs. Mason hits a double off the right field wall and I score. That’s how we play baseball. We scored 3
in the first inning. One out in the bottom of the sixth inning and a fly ball is heading toward left center field. I run to make the catch and Simms is running toward me from left field. I call him off because I’ve got the ball, but he keeps coming at me. I catch the ball as he’s grabbing for it and take his elbow to my face, knocking me backwards to the ground. I roll with it into a backwards somersault to help lessen the impact and somehow manage to hold onto the ball for the out. I sit up and Skip waves at me to see if I’m okay, I wave him off. I refuse to look like I’m hurt, even if I am. I’m staying in this game and we’re winning. I’m not going on the disabled list and I’m not showing any signs of injury to anybody that might be watching me play. The last thing I need is another reason for Kristina to not want to be with me. Nobody is taking my spot on the team or getting anywhere near my girl, and she’s still my girl. I just need to get to her and everything will be fine. Seno hit a homer in the 6th inning and a double in the 9th, driving in four runs. The streak continues, Seals win 7-1.

  Kristina

  It’s stupid, but I find Sherry’s is my safe place and I’ve taken up baking to keep busy. She suggested it, said it helps when she’s nervous. She also said she wouldn’t mind some cookies. Sam is visiting until the team gets back, so they turn the game on and cheer together. It makes sense, both of them are close to Rick. I’m trying the recipes she taught me on my own without her assistance and watching the game out of the corner of my eye, trying not to pay attention to Chase when he’s at bat.

  Sherry checks on me, “How are you doing?”

  “I think I’ve got the cookies down. You’ll be the test when you taste them.”

  She examines me, “Everything else okay, too?”

  Sam yells out louder than expected when Kris Martin gets a hit and I let it distract me from Sherry’s question.

  She doesn’t push me, “You’re always welcome here. You know where to find me if you want to talk.” She starts to walk away, but turns and speaks quietly over her shoulder, “Don’t give up so easily, things have a way of working out. Cookies smell good.”