Curveball: A Second Chance Romance (Double Play Series Book 1)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  The kids are coming back late tomorrow afternoon and Gabriel wanted to have this dinner, just the two of us.

  The waitress brings me another tequila and I immediately am brought back to the first time I ever tasted it back in high school. We went to hangout on a friend's boat that was docked near the beach. Gabriel brought a bottle of the cheap stuff, he got with his fake ID.

  “Come here,” says Gabriel, “You’ve had too much to drink. Just lay down,” he says, as we lay in the makeshift bed on Johnny’s boat.

  “Your fault,” I slur.

  I cuddle up close to him, but his cologne turns me on. His smell is changing, he smells like...a man. I run my hands down his chest and down to the waistband of his pants, but he stops me.

  “Charlie,” he whispers through gritted teeth. “Everyone is sleeping around us, stop it,” he scolds me.

  “I have to pee. Come with me, I don’t want to go by myself,” I say, getting up from his embrace.

  He sighs but follows me off the boat and onto the dock. We start to walk towards the bathrooms, but I pull him to the side, by the outside showers. They’re hidden now in the dark and I push him against the wall of one.

  “Charlie, what are you--”

  “Shut up. Unzip your pants Gabe, I want you right now,” I say, pulling his neck down for a kiss.

  He groans and turns us around, pushing me against the wall. I watch as he lowers his zipper and I smile.

  “You’re crazy,” he says against my lips.

  “I am. Crazy for you, right now, right here.”

  I unbutton my jeans and pull them down, along with my thong.

  I turn around and brace my hands on the wall of the shower.

  “I don’t have a condom,” he says, putting a hand on my shoulder.

  “Pull out. I need this now,” I say, reaching behind me and grabbing his hard length.

  He groans and pushes my hand to the side as he pushes inside me. I moan loudly, and I feel his hand cover my mouth.

  “Quiet or I stop,” he whispers in my ear, biting my earlobe.

  I groan in protest shaking my head. He takes his hand off my mouth.

  “Don’t you dare,” I whisper.

  I brace my hands on the wall in front of me as he pounds into me from behind. The sound of our bodies smacking against one another, mixing with the crash of ocean waves is my undoing. Gabriel moves a callused hand around my front and pinches my clit, dragging out my climax even more.

  I bite down on my lip to contain my moan and I hear him let out a low growl, as he pulls himself out and empties onto the floor next to us. My body is still riding out my orgasm, clenching around nothing and I sigh.

  I'm so swept up with bliss, that I don't notice him turning on the shower and soaking me to the bone.

  “You jerk!” I yell.

  I pull his arm so he's under the water with me and he laughs.

  “I had to clean up our mess,” he says shrugging.

  I grab the back of his head and crash our lips together, as the water rains down on us.

  I will never get enough of this boy, even if I have him for the rest of my life, it will never be enough.

  A clearing of a throat snaps me back to reality. Right there, in the flesh, is the man I can't stop fantasizing about. His white t shirt clings tight to his broad muscled chest. His mountainous biceps are being suffocated by his leather jacket. His brown hair hangs loose around his ears, just begging for me to run my hands through it as he devours my soaking pussy like he used to. His jeans hug his hips tight and when he turns to slide in the booth, I get a quick glance at his tight ass. God, I am such a goner.

  I should have used my old trusty vibrator before I came here tonight. The flush in my cheeks has to be obvious, because as soon as Gabriel's gaze snaps to mine, his expression changes from friendly to animalistic. His look alone could make me gush through my panties, come to think of it….shit, I'm soaked. I squeeze my thighs together and I'm sure he notices because he gives me that smile, showing off his irresistible dimple, the one I used to love to lick.

  “Stop lookin’ at me like that baby cakes. I’m not a piece of meat,” he says quietly, leaning forward across the table.

  His low chuckle sends a heat down to my belly, especially when he uses the pet name only he ever called me.

  “I...I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout,” I say, stumbling over my words.

  I break eye contact and look down at the menu. He laughs again and takes his menu too, motioning for the waitress.

  “What can I get y’all?” asks the cheerful teenage girl.

  “I’ll drink whatever the lady is drinkin’ and I’ll have the bacon burger. Medium, please,” he says, giving the menu to the girl.

  “I’ll have the same, thanks,” I say, smiling up at her and giving her my menu too.

  “So…” he starts, as the girl returns with his tequila.

  I finish mine and motion to her for another.

  “You better take it easy, Charlie. I was serious about what I said. I wanna talk, but not if you’re gon’ block me out with the hard stuff,” he says, sipping his tequila slow.

  I make eye contact with him above his glass and nod.

  “Fine, last one. Start then...I’m listenin’.”

  “So, I'm gettin’ on good with Bella. She's a lot like you, ya know.”

  “I know,” I smile.

  “I just...I guess I've been doin’ a lot of thinkin’ since all this and I wanna make it right. I wanna have a fresh start. Eighteen years is a long time ago and I--I'm a different man now and I plan to show you that. In more ways than one,” he whispers.

  My breath hitches and I lean into his promises.

  “Oh yeah? Do tell,” I whisper back.

  “You have grown into an absolutely stunnin’ woman, Charlotte. You are the picture of perfection and you should be treated as such. I can treat you like that now.”

  His voice is low and raspy, his bedroom voice. Don't swoon, Charlotte, don't you dare swoon.

  “Since when did you get so good with words?” I whisper.

  “Hey Charlie, I thought that was you,” says a voice, interrupting our intimate moment.

  Oh for fucks sake, just what I need.

  Brantley Henderson leans down over the table and kisses me on the cheek, before turning towards Gabriel. Really, Brantley? I have a feeling I am going to be right in the middle of a pissing match, very soon.

  “Gavinwood. Didn’t realize you were gracin’ this little ol’ town with your almighty presence,” Brantley sneers.

  “Henderson,” growls Gabriel back, through gritted teeth. “Been a long time.”

  The romantic gentleman is gone and in his place, is the possessive beast.

  “What you doin’ sharin’ a drink with my lady?” Brantley asks, moving closer to me.

  “Brant…” I try and diffuse the situation.

  “Your lady, huh? Last I checked I was the only one in this town that rocked this pretty little thang’s world,” Gabriel laughs, crossing his arms over his chest, looking from me to Brantley.

  My face reddens and I look up at Gabriel. His smile drops, and I can see the jealousy dripping from those beautiful blue eyes. Only they aren’t the passionate blue I saw when he walked in here. Nope, now they are a dark, fierce blue, that wants to rip apart Brantley Henderson, limb by limb.

  “Brantley, it was nice to see you but...we were kinda in the middle of somethin’,” I say, smiling up at him.

  He nods his head and bends down to kiss me right on the mouth. I back away quick and shoot daggers in his direction.

  “Brantley,” I warn.

  He smiles and walks away, winking at Gabriel. I can’t turn back to the table and face him. I know what I'll find there. The jealous teenage hulk that hides behind that sexy body, is still there and I can feel it.

  Gabriel just stares at me for the rest of our meal and I can’t bring myself to even speak. We pay the check in silence and make our way outside,
still silent. I don’t know how to start the conversation, but thankfully he takes control. He grabs my hand, pulls me behind the pub and slams me into the wall.

  “Tryna rile me up again, like ya did with Bobby Hyde?” he says, in a low, menacing voice.

  “That wasn’t my fault and I told ya that a million times. It was a lifetime ago Gabriel, get over it,” I say, shaking my head.

  “Tryna get me to fuck you, as hard as I did that night? In my jealous rage, watchin’ him kiss my woman? Draggin’ you out of that party, after I smashed his face in? You couldn’t even make it in the car, you almost let me take you right there, on the street, my filthy girl, you remember that?”

  His lips touch my ear and my breath hitches as I remember that night. We were at a party, his teammate Bobby was drunk and planted a kiss on me, right as Gabriel walked into the kitchen. It was so stupid and bad timing. I was about to push him off, when Gabriel grabbed him by his hoodie and punched him right in the face. He grabbed my wrist and we made our way to the street, to his truck.

  “You’re mine,” he growled as he pushed me against his truck.

  “I know. It wasn’t my fault Gabe, I’m yours, you know that. Only yours,” I said breathlessly.

  My heart still hammers, remembering how he fingered me, furiously, on the street and I begged him to take me against his truck. He buckled me in the front seat, we parked at the nearest lake and fucked until the sun came up. I've seen the possessive, jealous Gabriel but he was on a whole new level that night and it made my pussy clench. Just thinking about him and how he was now, right in front of me, promising that same rough touch that I begged for that night.

  “You’re thinkin’ about it, aren't ya,” he says, breaking me out of my spell.

  His hands grip my waist and push me harder into the wall. I groan, knowing I won’t be able to say no, no matter how hard I want to.

  “Tell me,” he says again.

  “I am,” I say out of breath. “I’m thinkin’ about it.”

  I close my eyes, embarrassment reaching my cheeks.

  He kisses my neck and I let out a moan. He finally captures my lips and I fling my arms around his neck. I pull him closer to me, not wanting there to even be an inch between our bodies. My tongue meets his in a familiar dance and all of these years float away. It is just him and me and the passion that could never be extinguished. He breaks the kiss and looks into my eyes.

  “Did Brantley make you shiver like I am right now?” he asks, kissing the sensitive spot behind my ears.

  “Gabriel…” I plead.

  I did not want to talk about Brantley right now.

  “Did he soak these panties like I do?”

  He pushes his hand down the front of my leggings, proving his words true. His strong fingers flick my clit and it makes me jump.

  “Gabe...stop it!” I say, trying to push him away.

  “Tell me, Charlie, god dammit. Tell me that bastard is lyin’,” he says, looking into my eyes.

  I try to break his gaze, but he grabs my chin to look at him.

  “I…it was one time, Gabe. It was a mistake...I was drunk,” I say, shaking my head.

  He drops his hand from my chin and takes his other hand out of my pants.

  “When?” he chokes out.

  “Two years ago..I went to the pub to drink because the kids were off at their first high school dance. I was emotional and alone and he...it was a mistake...he wasn’t...”

  He wasn’t you, I wanted to say. I couldn’t though. The words didn’t come.

  I look up at Gabriel, disgust in his eyes and that was it.

  “Don’t!” I say angrily, pushing him away from me. “Don’t act like you were a saint for eighteen years, for God's sake, Gabriel. I’m thirty six years old. Eighteen years ago you left me with a giant hole in my heart. Frankly, whatever I did to numb the pain all this time, is none of your goddamn business.”

  “Oh, it’s not, huh? Who else have you fucked in this town? I swear, if Devin didn’t have my eyes or Bella didn’t look like my sister, I would have to question-“

  I slap him right across the face.

  “How fuckin’ dare you?” I hiss. “The first time you accused me of that, I barely let slide but to throw that at me again? Besides you, Brantley was the only other man I slept with!”

  That shut him up real quick. I can’t stop myself from continuing, though.

  “I was supposed to wait around for you, Mr. Arrogant Asshole? Funny thing, because I did! Sixteen years without a man’s touch and I gave in one stupid night, that I barely even remember. Tell me you’ve been celibate these past eighteen years and I’ll shut my damn mouth!” I say, putting my hands on my hips.

  He is silent again.

  “That’s what I thought. Thanks for the burger and tequila!”

  I push past him and walk to the parking lot.

  I hold back the tears until I reach my truck and as soon as I am inside, I let them flow. How could I have let my body, overtake my mind like that? I was a woman for Christ's sake, I wasn’t a teenage girl, unable to control my desires. That passion we shared, was so real and felt like no time passed, between our teenage selves and now.

  I can still taste his lips, feel his fingers digging into my waist. The bad part of all this is, if he didn’t push about Brantley, I probably would have let him take me right there, against the pub wall.

  We couldn’t control ourselves when we were younger, fooling around and fucking, wherever we damn well pleased. I was just hoping now, as adults, we could control ourselves a little better, but I guess not. It seems our bodies wanted to pick up, right where they left off.

  Not allowing myself to be with another man, or at least one I could remember, was really messing with my libido at the moment.

  I realize I probably shouldn't be driving home, so Caryann comes to pick me up. We drive around the town, for God knows how long, not wanting to go home to my empty house, yet. We stop at Mikey’s, so I can vent some more and then finally, in a haze, she drives me home.

  We pull into my drive and I notice a figure, sitting on my porch. My heart hammers in my chest, as the figure comes off my steps and walks towards the car.

  “Is that…”

  “Yes,” I say, through gritted teeth, cutting of Caryann.

  I recognize the defeated walk and get out of her car, slamming the door.

  “Thanks Car..I'll call you tomorrow,” I say to her, through her open window.

  She nods and pulls out of the drive as I whip around to Gabriel.

  “Didn’t cause enough damage tonight, you came back for round two?” I yell, walking past him and to my front porch.

  “Charlie…” he says behind me, defeated.

  I can smell the alcohol pouring out of him and see him stumble to catch up to me.

  “I fucked up…” he slurs.

  He gets to my porch and plops down on the porch steps.

  “Are you drunk?” I ask, opening my front door.

  “I fucked everything up, Charlie,” he says sadly, laying down on my porch.

  “God damn, Gabriel, get the hell up,” I say, walking over to him, trying to pull him up from the ground.

  His body is massive, and I can’t move him if I tried.

  “Just leave me here. I don’t deserve your kindness, baby cakes,” he says, rolling over on his back and cupping my cheek.

  My heart melts at the pain in his eyes.

  “Just come on. Let me make you some coffee,” I say, putting my hand on his cheek.

  He closes his eyes at the touch and then slowly pulls himself to his feet. He stumbles a little and I catch him, putting his massive arm up and over my shoulder. I wrap my arm around his waist, to steady us both.

  “You smell like a man,” he says, trying to muster up some anger.

  “I was with Caryann and we stopped at Mikey's,” I say, wondering if he even remembers him.

  “That bastard,” he spits out.

  “That bastard was one of your be
st friends, Gabriel. He still is mine. Don’t be an ass.”

  I walk him to my kitchen and I feel his body go rigid.

  “Still…” he slurs, “I don’t like him putting his hands on my woman.”