“I’m going to win today.” His protests were swallowed by her lively tongue.
“You’ll win either way. Take your pants off,” she ordered.
Jay groaned. “Didn’t you get enough to eat?”
“Hardly.”
His balls tightened at her growl as she lowered his pants, dragging his briefs down. “I need to focus on the game.”
Ignoring his protests, she stretched her sugary lips around the tip of his engorged shaft. Her tongue did wild loops and the way she bobbed, so enthusiastic set his blood on fire. Jay’s resistance liquefied. Hell, he was putty in her hands, but damn if she was going to get away without a thorough pounding.
Grappling her head, he lifted her with a jerk and flipped her onto the bed. “Get naked now.”
Jessica’s eyes widened, full of lust and her face flushed. In one motion, she shrugged out of her nightgown. Instead of lying back and spreading her legs, she turned on her hands and knees and wagged her luscious ass at him.
Jay slipped on a condom and stood at the side of the bed. Fortunately, it had a thick mattress and was high enough so he didn’t have to squat. Grabbing her hips, he eased in, moving slowly, drawing each stroke across the sensitive bundle of nerves inside of her.
She moaned and flattened her face on the bed, letting him drag her glorious body back and forth.
“Harder, Jay, faster.” She urged him as she squeezed her own breasts, her hips twerking, growing more and more urgent. “Slap me.”
Jay had never raised a hand against a woman. But damn if she wasn’t a wild beast, a tigress to tame. He walloped her across her tight behind and she squealed, quivering.
“Again, pull my hair.” Her voice was breathless with passion and need.
He wrapped her long hair around one hand and slapped her with the other.
She cried out and gasped, her moans more guttural. “Jay, Jay, oh, Jay.”
She was close, so close. Jay moved faster, drilling her deep. His pulse swished through him, galloping to the pace of his hips. She was so freaking tight, hugging him like a glove.
Grunts, moans, and the slapping sounds of their bodies racing toward the edge spurred him higher and higher.
Jessie, Jessie, Jessie, he couldn’t get enough of her. And when she quaked and clenched, spilling his name from her mouth, he surged and pumped all of his love into her, draining his energy, his entire will to win.
They collapsed together, a soaking sweaty mess, his pants spilled around his ankles, his shirt rumpled, marinated in the heady, sweet, balmy scent of love.
~Jessica~
“Payback.” Jay cups his hands over my eyes and kisses the side of my face. “We’re off to conquer one of your fears today.”
The Rattlers won yesterday’s exhibition game 2-0, and the team was given a day off. Jay pitched seven innings, striking out seven and walking only two.
“Where are we off to?” My voice quakes. I’m not sure which phobia he wants to tackle. I have so many. Scorpions, spiders, heights, water. Why, oh, why did I tell him about them? These past few days were sheer bliss, and I’m growing comfortable with him, as if he’s known me forever.
“Surprise, sweetheart. Pack a change of clothes. We’ve a plane to catch.”
Oh, gosh. He calls me sweetheart, and the way his eyes are all crinkled, amused, he’s either mocking or teasing.
“Do I need a passport? I hate surprises.”
“You’ll love it. Let’s go.” He pats my behind and I heat at the memory of those wicked slaps.
An hour later, we land on a small strip of asphalt in the desert.
“Gateway to the Grand Canyon? I’m not getting on one of those mules.”
“Even better. We’re going for an expedition on Navajo Bridge, more than four hundred feet above the Colorado River.” Jay’s grin seems entirely too cryptic, as if he’s hiding a big, sneaky secret.
“What’s so scary about a bridge?” I wake my smartphone and browse to the place of interest, a gigantic steel bridge arching high above the Colorado River spanning two sides of Marble Canyon. My fingertips tingle and the jitters churn inside me at the thought of looking down into the canyon.
“Don’t worry. It’s going to be fun. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He takes my hand as the passengers begin to deplane the tiny puddle jumper.
“Why? What’s going to happen?”
My question is met by Jay’s enigmatic smile. He pecks me on the check and nuzzles my nose with his. “You worry too much.”
After we step off the plane, we meet with a group of hikers outfitted with backpacks and climbing gear. Jay shakes hands with the organizer and introduces me.
I nudge him aside. “I’m afraid of heights, remember?”
“Yes, and I’m going to cure you.”
My breathing goes shallow and cold sweat erupts on my forehead. “No, please, I can’t hike on the edge of a cliff.”
“That’s not where we’re going. Trust me.” He picks up my bags and leads me to a van where some of the hikers are sitting.
By the time we park at the side of the bridge, I’m in full panic mode. The people in the van are bungee jumpers. They ask me if I’ve ever jumped.
I punch Jay and shake him. “I can’t do it. I’m too scared.”
He smirks and squeezes my hand. “I’ll hold you the entire way down.”
“No way. I can’t jump. Jay, this isn’t fun anymore. Let me off the van.” My voice is so shrill I’m singing high soprano. I unsnap my seat belt and reach for the door. Jay grabs me and reseats me on his lap.
Around us, the other jumpers stop joshing each other and stare at us.
“I can’t do it. Let me go.” I kick and flail, knocking the back of my head on his jaw.
Don’t be a wuss, G finally speaks up. You challenged him fair and square and he won.
Jay grips me tighter and steadies me. “Relax, you’re not jumping. I was just joking.”
Really? He’s too nice, Jess. Letting you off the hook. Let me take control and I’ll jump.
No, G. You’re staying put or I’m tossing that G-spot vibrator we bought. Eh? Eh? I dangle it off the edge of the canyon rim.
G pokes me. Better pay attention. If you’re not jumping, then who is? Jay?
“Are you jumping?” Panic seizes my heart. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
The sandy haired man who’s the leader says, “We have an excellent safety record. Double ankle harnesses and three cords per setup.”
“Jay, don’t, I’m scared.” My entire jaw trembles and tears rim my eyes. “I don’t want to lose you.”
If you lose him, we’d better order the one with the rabbit ears, G thumbs the controls on the vibrator.
I grab it from her and stuff it in her mouth, turning it on to full thrust mode and gag her.
“Shhhh …” He kisses the top of my head. “You won’t get rid of me that easily, precious tigress.”
I feel like fainting when we clamber out of the van. The five guys and four girls in the group are already lugging the cords and harnesses to the center of the bridge.
“I’m not sure I can even walk on the bridge. It’s such a long way down.”
“It’s wide enough for a car to drive across.” Jay takes my hand. “You wanted to conquer your fears. Let’s take it one step at a time.”
Step by excruciating step, I walk to the center of the bridge, staying well away from the rails. I can’t even watch as one by one, the jumpers are strapped to the cords and launched off the bridge, screaming and hollering. Every one of them returns excited and pumped up. The smiles on their faces and the pure elation is contagious, but I don’t want to let Jay go.
“Make sure you record this on video.” Jay hands me his camera phone. “Wait, wait, take a picture of me before the jump.”
“Oh, Jay.” My hands shake but I snap one of him. One of the other jumpers takes a picture of us, and Jay kisses the tears that stream down my face.
I’m too scared to lean agains
t the rail, but I have to see him. The jumper who took our pictures says she’ll do the video. My hands are clasped tightly as Jay puts on the harnesses and double, triple checks the safety equipment. He gives me a thumbs up and I smile weakly. My heart is close to cardiac arrest and I can’t get enough oxygen into my lungs.
He climbs on top of the rail and spreads his hands, whooping and hollering, then looks back and blows me a kiss.
Before I can blink, he plunges off.
“Jay, I love you!” I scream into the wind. I rush to the side of the rail and bend down. He’s falling so fast he’s a blur, heading straight for the crystal clear water flowing below. The slack of the cord tightens and snaps him halfway up, then drops him again and again.
Everyone around me cheers and whoops and I can’t help but clap when they finally pull him up. His face is split with the happiest, most exhilarating grin, even wider than when we’re having sex. A twinge of envy, a small dot of a wish leaps through my heart. If I weren’t such a chicken-wuss, I could have shared this precious moment with him.
I hold my hands out and reach for him as soon as he’s over the edge. The earth seems to move under me and my emotions are raw, right at the edge of consciousness. When Jay jumped, I leaned over the rail without fear. I wasn’t paralyzed and filled with panic.
But a new fear overtakes me, quaking to the core of my heart. Had I really yelled out that I loved him?
Horrors! It has to be on the video. What will he think when he watches it? My insides liquefy and I have half a mind to throw his camera phone over the bridge.
Chapter 9
~Jay~
Back at his hotel room, Jay went through his pitching schedule and rubbed his eyes. Jessica’s week was almost up and he had no time off to see her to the airport. Not that he wanted her to go, but ever since the bungee jump, she seemed to be angling for him to declare his love and ask her to stay.
Her high pitched voice as he flew off the bridge vibrated in his memory. She’d yelled out that she loved him and later, had been too embarrassed to view the video—one he’d replayed over and over in the privacy of his room. Sa-rang hae-yo, I love you, he repeated to himself. He’d never said those words to any woman, not Su-Bin, not any of the models and actresses he’d dated, no one.
Jay’s room phone rang and he picked it up, wondering how Jessica’s interview with the Rattlers had gone. She’d applied as a marketing and publicity intern so she could travel with the team.
“It’s about time you picked up your phone.” The voice on the line screeched in Korean, souring the hairs in his inner ear. Su-Bin. Crap.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Not too busy to jump off a bridge. What were you thinking?”
“What I do doesn’t concern you. Have you gone public with the breakup?” Jay picked up the cordless receiver and paced around the room.
“No, as a matter of fact, I had to do damage control. Who was that dark-skinned slut screaming she loves you? I just finished telling my parents she’s a Navajo Indian paid to make your jump more dramatic.”
“Don’t you dare call her names.” Pressure built in Jay’s head, hot and tense. “You’re supposed to tell your parents we’re breaking up. I just handed you an opportunity. Blame it on me. I don’t care.”
“Jay Pak, you don’t get it, do you?” Su-Bin’s voice sizzled through the phone. “If you don’t marry me, my father will cancel the proposed sponsorship for the Rattlers, and there go the Korean fans and TV contract.”
“He can’t do that. He promised.” Even as Jay protested, he knew the chairman of Lucky Moon, one of South Korea’s biggest conglomerate, could do anything he damn well pleased. “Can’t you explain to your father that we don’t love each other? Don’t you want to be with Dong-Hung?”
Dong-Hung was the guy fucking Su-Bin in the shower when he was supposed to be escorting her to a game Jay was pitching at, except the game had been canceled due to a lightning strike at the stadium.
“Dong-Hung doesn’t have your status,” Su-Bin explained. “You’re a major leaguer, or could be, if my father pushes money into the sponsorship.”
Jay gripped the phone tightly, his muscles twitching in a red hot rage. “Are you saying the only reason I’m on the roster’s because of your father?”
“I’m not saying anything, except losing the sponsorship and the Korean TV rights would lower your value to the team. Think of all those tour buses and fans who’d decide to go somewhere other than hot, dusty Arizona for their vacations.”
He didn’t give a shit for her blackmailing. Her existence was a blot, the engagement a business arrangement. He was done biting his tongue and catering to her schemes.
“I’m sorry, Su-Bin,” he spit out her name as if it were dirt. “It’s better if we make a clean break. Fess up to your parents, tell them you’re in love with Dong-Hung.”
“Humpf, you can’t get rid of me that easily. I’ve seen her pictures on the gossip blogs. A half-breed whore. You’re really lowering yourself to the gutter.”
Jay kick the side of the bed. “No, Su-Bin, you’re the whore. We’re through, get it? No more saving face. I’m making my own announcement, and I choose my Jessica Song over you.”
He ended the call. How dare Su-Bin insult his sweet Jessie and insinuate he wasn’t good enough to make the team? He’d just gotten the top evaluation from the computerized pitch analysis program and placed first among all the starting pitchers.
Even Ryan now claimed him as a buddy and said he wouldn’t mind being the relief pitcher to finish off Jay’s games.
Jay splashed his face with water and paced around his room until his pulse rate settled back to normal.
He called Jessie. It was time to let her know his intentions. If she was willing, he’d create a job for her and pay for her travels.
Jay kicked back on his bed. “Hey, anything going on tonight?”
“Oh, gosh. You won’t believe that death hike we went on. There was even a narrow path by the side of a canyon.”
“But you made it, right?”
Jessica exhaled and moaned. “Yes, I technically made it, but all the girls were laughing at me. I was practically hugging the rock wall, taking two inch baby steps at a time.”
“See? We cured your fears.” He laughed, picturing her shaking her fist at him.
“You’re taking credit? You scared the crap out of me jumping off that bridge.”
“Shows how good I am to you.” He chuckled. “How about the job interview? How did that go?”
“Not sure. The guy in charge asked a lot of questions about you. I’ve a feeling they don’t want anyone fraternizing with the players.”
“That’s not fair.” Jay clenched his fingers on the bedspread. The thought of not being with Jessica squeezed the blood from his heart.
She heaved a sigh. “It makes good sense, doesn’t it? The support staff traveling with the team shouldn’t cause distractions.”
“You’re far from a distraction. In fact, you keep me focused and on top of my game. Can I come over?”
“Yeah, in a bit.” She kissed the phone, making a smacking sound. “I’m sweaty and grimy, got burrs in my jeans. Let me get cleaned up.”
“Even better. Hold that spot in the shower for me. I’ll be right over.”
Time to put his plan in action. He couldn’t lose her. This was no longer casual, here today, over tomorrow. No. Not when she was embedded deep in his heart.
His Tigress. His woman.
~Jessica~
I leave the door unlocked and strip off my sweaty clothes. Jay’s on his way and I need to be sweet smelling and ready. He may think he wants to wash the dirt off me, but I’m really a mess.
I’m disappointed about the job interview, but I’ll find a way to stay close. Maybe I can blog about the games, build a following and show the team my marketing skills in action.
Stepping under the hot spray, I lather myself from head to toe and scrub the dirt off my skin with a bath brush. Mr
. Showerhead is tempting, but he doesn’t compare to Jay’s soft and hard touch. I stimulate my nipples to prime my body for Jay. My skin’s slippery and I’m sure I’m completely drenched with my natural juices, even without the soap suds sliding down my body.
The sound of the door alerts me and I give myself one last rub between my legs. Yep, I’m hot, boiling hot for my rookie pitcher. I close my eyes and let the water run over my face as I wait for him to step behind the curtain.
The curtain sweeps open. Hot hands squeeze me from behind and a hard rod presses into the small of my back. Wait, he feels smaller.
The hand cupping my breast doesn’t cover it completely. Adrenaline and panic zap through my veins. I jump back and elbow the intruder.
“Preston, what the heck? I thought you went home.”
He’s not smiling. Not at all. His eyes are stern, intense. He grabs my hair and yanks my head toward him, pushing his lips against mine. He tastes awful, like tobacco and garlic. I grit my teeth, push and struggle, but he slams me against the enclosure wall.
I clamp my thighs and squirm, struggling to get out of his grip. The water’s still on and I slip, losing my balance.
“What the fuck?” Jay’s voice roars.
His fist slams into Preston’s head, snapping him back so hard he collapses on the floor of the shower.
“Oh, Jay, thank God you’re here.” I stumble out of the shower, reaching for him.
The daggers in his eyes are stone cold. “You bitch. You lying bitch.”
I clutch his shirt, wordless, my mouth wide, my heart seizing with pain.
“Don’t touch me.” He shoves me aside and storms from the bathroom.
“Jay, Jay, let me explain.” I run after him, naked, but he slams the door behind him. I pull on a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, then scramble out my door and smash into a fashionably dressed Asian woman.
“Sorry.” I push past her, but she snags the back of my shirt.
“I seem to be lost. Could you help me find my room?” Her speech is heavily accented.
“Uh, well, I’m kind of busy.”
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015 Page 110