Hardball

by Sykes, V. K.

  “Hold onto my neck,” he said, his voice a rasp as she complied and he lifted her into his arms. “Where’s the bedroom?”

  She blinked, surprise rounding her luscious mouth into an O, then pointed straight down the hall to the stairs.

  As he carried her to the bedroom, he lowered his head to nip hungrily and lick at the swell of her breasts. Holly moaned softly as he sucked hard on one of her nipples, savoring the rigid yet silky feel of it in his mouth. It took all his self-control not to push her up against the wall and take her right then and there.

  That was a fantasy he could get into.

  Later.

  “Oh, my Lord,” she breathed as he continued to suck. Her slender fingers wove gently through his hair, brushing across the nape of his neck.

  He eased her through the door and set her down across the duvet-covered bed. Her bedroom was a feminine oasis, all soft colors and textures. He swept the mass of embroidered cushions on top of the duvet out of the way, scattering them onto the floor. Whipping his shirt off, he bent to finish the intensely pleasurable task of undressing her.

  And, damn, didn’t she look fine in her sexy lace garter belt, and in those silk stockings gracing her long, long legs. He hooked his fingers under the waist of the garter belt and simply drew the whole thing—stockings and all—down her smooth skin, letting his fingers trail along the inside of her thighs and knees. She bit her lip and lifted her butt to help him, clearly as turned on as he was.

  Now all that remained were her white cotton panties, and they looked so simple and sweet that Nate decided to leave them be for the moment. He stepped back to enjoy the view of pale, freckle-dusted skin, killer legs, and long satiny hair draped over plump breasts and stiff pink nipples.

  And her face—the eyes closed now, but her features were beautiful and fine-boned. Her expression held more than a hint of the vulnerability he’d seen in the living room, and her mouth trembled. That tugged at something inside him, something damn close to his heart. It made what they were about to do way more than your average hot fuck, and he didn’t mind that at all.

  Holly turned her head to the side, her cheek pressed against the duvet as her breath came in little pants. But after a few moments, when she no longer felt his touch, her eyelids fluttered open. He waited patiently while her big hazel eyes, more green than brown, finally focused on him, standing there naked from the waist up. Then he grinned.

  “Now, for your viewing pleasure, Madame,” he said in a deliberately seductive voice as he took a bow.

  * * *

  Because her mind had dissolved into silly putty under Nate’s onslaught, it took Holly a few seconds to realize what the astonishing man was up to. As he slowly pivoted on his heel, making a full circle while pulling his belt through the pant loops, she realized he was starting some kind of parody of a cheesy male stripper act. She’d endured one at a bachelorette party once, and it had embarrassed the heck out of her at the time.

  But she wasn’t embarrassed now, because this was obviously intended to make her laugh and calm her jittery nerves. Nate Carter, she was coming to learn, was not only handsome and funny, he was considerate, too.

  And the freaking epitome of masculine grace. Her hands itched to touch his broad shoulders and muscled arms, and caress down his brawny chest and his classic six-pack abdominals. The man was a southern girl’s sexual fantasy come to life. It didn’t seem possible he could actually be there with her.

  When he completed the pirouette, his zipper was down, and he was swinging the belt around his head in a cowboy motion. Bumping and grinding, humming the stripper tune and looking like he actually knew what he was doing, he let go of the belt and shucked the pants to the floor. If he felt the slightest bit self-conscious or awkward, she sure couldn’t see it.

  Dumbfounded, Holly started to giggle. Even the startling bulge in his briefs—which would have unnerved her a bit under other circumstances—seemed a trifle ridiculous as he gyrated in front of the bed.

  She raised herself into a crossed-legged sitting position, stifling her giggles. Then she inserted two fingers into her mouth and gave a loud wolf whistle, something she’d been able to do with great success since she was a little kid.

  That stopped him dead in mid-gyration for a moment, but then he laughed.

  “Very impressive, Doctor,” he said. “You’ll be great to have in the stands the next time I pitch.” Then he went back into his act, and Holly started to clap in time to his goofy, off-tune humming.

  With the pants pooled around his ankles, he stepped out of the left leg and deftly twirled the trousers with his right foot before firing them across the room.

  “Go, go!” she cheered as she collapsed onto her pillows, unable to hold back her laughter.

  He’d stripped down to his briefs, and the tight cotton looked ready to shred as his erection stretched the fabric. Nate spun again and pushed the briefs slowly down, still grinding away as he gave her a spectacular view of his tightly muscled butt. With a flourish, he flung the underwear across the room where they snagged on the shade of her bureau lamp.

  Holly stilled on the bed, her laughter dying as he turned to face her. His cock thrust out from a crisp nest of dark hair. It was so big and thick and, well, insistent, that it made her weak just gazing at it. But weak in a good way, even though it did make her nervous again.

  The rest of him was equally impressive. Six foot five worth of solid muscle, all hard and firm. Her medical mind unexpectedly kicked in, whispering that he must have a great body-mass index. There wasn’t the slightest hint of flab on him anywhere. Just wonderfully sculpted man-flesh. His deep tan only heightened his sex appeal. Except for the area defined by his tan lines, his entire body seemed the same, uniform bronze color.

  She raised her eyes to meet his glittering, hot gaze. It made her skin prickle, made her limbs weaken, and made her so, so wet between her thighs. Then he smiled, and the breath snagged in her chest. Slowly, he descended on her, like some sex god, powerful and totally intent on business.

  As his mouth covered hers, she drank in the hot brandy taste of him, pulling his probing tongue into her mouth, savoring the silky slide of wet warmth. His body came down on hers, pressing her into the mattress. The sensation of him caging her, surrounding her with that incredible body, stormed through her, inflaming the hidden folds of her body with an aching need. She could feel her panties getting soaked as she readied for him.

  “How was the show?” Nate whispered as he lowered his head to blow cool air over her nipple. She shivered as the hard little bud grew even stiffer.

  “Not exactly what I was expecting,” she finally managed. “But just perfect.”

  “The start of a perfect night,” he murmured. “Just enjoy, Holly, and let me take care of you.”

  “O…okay,” she stuttered.

  It was about all her brain could manage as her swollen nipples throbbed and she squirmed upward, giving him a silent message. With a low hum, he flicked his tongue over her nipple, and soon had her writhing in pleasure. His long fingers grasped her breasts, gently kneading them as he licked and sucked as if he would never stop. She let her mind drift, giving herself over to the building arousal settling deep in her core. Almost unconsciously, she pushed her pelvis against his erection, shivering at the electrifying sensation that danced between her thighs.

  He growled around her nipple, and then pulled away with one last, hard suck. She whimpered in protest. But when she realized he was moving down to the sensitive flat of her stomach, the waves of excitement, pleasure, and nerves sky-rocketed. She’d never been that much into oral sex—it made her feel too exposed—but she couldn’t bring herself to stop him. It just felt so good as he worked his way down, his tongue expertly flicking her shivering skin as he moved lower and lower.

  It was making her crazy with a disconcerting mix of lust and anxiety, and Holly expected him to pull her panties down quickly and cast them aside. But he surprised her again. With his face still pressed int
o her taut abdomen, he slid them down, but only two inches or so.

  His lips and tongue were instantly on the newly exposed skin, just above her hairline. The heat of his breath felt as if it would melt her from the outside in. He tickled and played with her, finally snaking his deft fingers inside the panties and through the drenched tangle of her curls. Holly drew her legs up wide, moaning, her body wanting more of him, all of him. She was ready for him to be inside her.

  In a flash, the panties were gone, so smoothly that she hardly felt them as they brushed her legs. Then his tongue touched her tender flesh, and her senses exploded. Every cell in her body seemed to flutter to the rapid beat of her heart, and the wild sensation coalesced in the bundle of nerves throbbing beneath his tongue.

  The feel of his hot tongue sliding languorously across her folds was sensual torture. As she arched her spine into the waves of pleasure, he slid his hands under her, firmly cupping her bottom and tilting her hips. She sobbed with excitement, feeling completely out of control but, for once, not caring.

  “That’s it, baby,” he murmured. “Let yourself go.”

  He pulled her to him, his strong fingers gripping her cheeks hard enough to drive her crazy but not hard enough to hurt. He licked into her, parting her folds with the hot thrust of his tongue. He teased her, flicking in and out, pushing her to the edge of satisfaction. She writhed under him, wanting more. Her clit ached unbearably for the touch of his tongue, and when he finally found the swollen bud, sucking it gently into his mouth, her orgasm exploded like a starburst behind her eyelids. Contractions rippled out from her womb in luxurious, deep spasms.

  Quickly, Nate moved up her body and held her tight as she shuddered in exquisite release, kissing her neck, her cheek, her ear. Holly began to laugh softly as the spasms faded, tears welling in her eyes.

  “Are you laughing or crying, gorgeous?” He nuzzled the corners of her mouth, sharing the salty taste of their lovemaking. “I’m not sure either reaction does much for my ego. I’m kind of a delicate flower, remember?”

  Now, she had to laugh harder. She gazed into his amused eyes, taking his strong, stubbled chin in her hands. “It’s just the release of tension. I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. I don’t know what to say.”

  “So don’t talk, then,” he said with a seductive grin. “Just enjoy.”

  * * *

  Nate didn’t want to be apart from her for even a second, but he had to find his pants. Before he’d left for the golf course this morning, he’d shoved a condom into his pocket, even though he’d figured there wasn’t much hope he’d get to use it tonight.

  Damn. Had sweet Holly proven him wrong.

  He ripped the foil open and hurriedly unrolled the ribbed latex over his aching cock. If he didn’t get to bury it inside her soon, he’d lose his mind. Or he’d just lose it, because he didn’t think he could hold back any longer. No woman had ever gotten him hotter than he was at this moment.

  Holly unleashed a radiant smile and held her arms open for him, her slim legs bent at the knees and her luscious hips tilted up to receive him. Her soft, swollen flesh, so pink and wet, peeked out from behind that sweet nest of curls. She looked so fucking sexy—so totally relaxed in her own body.

  No fooling around with that girl now. Clearly, all his hard, insanely enjoyable work had blasted her bout of nerves into the stratosphere and her inner sex goddess had come roaring forth. He felt humbled to be the lucky recipient of all that sensual energy.

  He came down on top of her, desire pulsing through his whole body. As the tip of his cock probed her drenched opening, he knew she was more than ready—ready to take the full length of him in one thrust. He pressed into her gently but without pause, the hardness of his shaft pushing its way through her slick folds. When Holly moaned, he knew it was in pleasure, not discomfort. She was so hot and wet. Buried as deep as he could go, he held himself still, propped on his elbows as he reveled in her liquid fire.

  Panting, Holly pulled her knees up high, spreading herself as she hooked her ankles high on the back of his thighs. He nudged in deeper, watching the rush of blood to her cheeks as he began to move. Her eyes looked dazed, but she licked her lips, a tiny, greedy little flick of the tongue as she arched her back. Her auburn hair spread in a wild mass across the pillow, and the full globes of her breasts bounced as he mounted her. The feel of her, the look of her, made his cock seem to swell even more.

  Fuck. She was a goddess, Nate thought as he swooped down to capture her mouth in a brutal kiss. Holly moaned as he nibbled her neck, and her hands drifted down his back to grasp his ass. She tried to urge him even deeper inside, but he resisted, pulling his cock all the way out. Her eyes flew open, and she gasped in protest.

  Unable to resist, Nate used the tip of his erection to tease her tight, hard clit.

  “Oh, you…jerk,” she whimpered, her eyes practically rolling back into her head. “You’re making me crazy!”

  Nate had to grit his teeth. It was sweet agony, being so close to her wet pussy and not sliding inside. His cock threatened to erupt as it rubbed through her slick folds and against her swollen bud.

  Finally, no longer able to bear it—and she was sobbing with frustration—he pushed into her with one smooth thrust and held himself deep inside her tight channel as she dug her nails into his back. Then he withdrew to the tip of his cock and plunged it in again, all the way to the hilt. Over and over, he kept up a steady rhythm.

  Holly’s arms drifted up over her head, and she pushed her slender hands against the headboard. Her breathing sounded shallow, and her eyes glazed with pleasure. As he picked up the pace, she began to murmur in a husky little voice, using the leverage of the headboard to grind her pelvis into him.

  “Oh, baby. That’s so good, so good,” she whispered in a sexy chant. “Yes, just like that. Just like that. Just like that.”

  Nate groaned, lust capturing him in an iron grip. He loved to hear a woman voice her pleasure. He loved connecting with her. And with Holly, so innocently sensual and natural in her response, the connection was deep and intoxicating.

  “Oh, Nate! I’m coming again,” she cried out. Arching her back, she grabbed his hips and pulled him hard against her, writhing and moaning as the orgasm ripped through her.

  Nate grabbed her hands and pushed them up over her head, freeing his hips from her grasp. Then he surged into her, rocketing to the brink. He stared down into her eyes, glittering with emerald flecks in the dim lamplight. She smiled up at him, wildly flushed, totally female, and so beautiful.

  He roared and came hard, pumping into her until he fell onto her lush body, exhausted and completely spent.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The crowd in the stadium came to its feet, roaring its approval as Nate struck out yet another in a long string of batters. Holly cheered along with everyone else, swept up in the excitement of the game and the display of Nate’s power and control. She’d never suspected a baseball game could be such a turn-on, but that was before she’d started sleeping with Philadelphia’s number one sports hero.

  Maddie turned in the next seat and gave her a playful smile. “He’s really something, isn’t he?”

  Holly removed her sunglasses and grinned back. “And you’re not just talking about his pitching, are you?”

  Maddie was right, of course. Nate was something special, and Holly hadn’t taken her eyes off him since he’d stepped onto the pitcher’s mound. She had a good view, too, as they were seated in the field level seats behind the Patriots’ dugout. That allowed her to study his rugged profile from the side—the strong jaw, the high cheekbones, and the dark, two or three day growth of stubble. Even from a distance, he looked so tall. Dominating. Overpowering.

  Just like in bed.

  A hot, sensual shiver moved through her body. Holly clamped down on the mental image of Nate’s hard, naked body looming over her as they made love. Now was not the time or place for sexual fantasies, especially with the Maddie sitting right there
next to her.

  Pay attention and concentrate on the game, silly.

  Watching Nate play was exciting on its own terms—a righteous display of athletic power and skill. When he fired the ball in an impossibly violent yet somehow graceful motion, Holly had no hope of following the blazing pitch. She’d see the ball in Nate’s hand as he whipped his lanky arm forward, and a split-second later she heard the hard, leathery smack as it hammered into the catcher’s glove.

  Wearing a knowing little grin, Maddie nudged her in the side. “He’s all man, that’s for sure.”

  Not long ago, that comment would have made Holly flinch with embarrassment. But in the three weeks since she and Maddie had met at the golf banquet, they’d fashioned the beginnings of a solid, lasting friendship. Maddie had invited her over for dinner the first night the team had hit the road for Atlanta. Holly had reciprocated by taking her to lunch in Little Italy, and they’d met for coffee three times since. Today, when Holly finally could rip herself away from work, they’d agreed to meet at the stadium to watch Jake and Nate in action.

  Holly gave a sheepish laugh. “Tell me about it. I think I may have had more sex in the past three weeks than in the rest of my days put together.”

  “You’re not complaining, are you?”

  “Complaining, no. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, yes. But in a good way. Nate was calling me all the time from Atlanta and Chicago. And when he got back…well, let’s just say I’m pretty sure he missed me. A lot.”

  Maddie’s eyebrows arched. “I can’t get my head around the calling all the time part. Our Nate?”