Page 13 of Stolen Bases

To you.

“He’s a fucking idiot,” I grunt. It pisses me off that she’s not angry at being treated with such disrespect.

“Oh, and you’ve never left with a different woman you arrived with? You’re a baseball player. I know how you guys are,” she bites back.

Her sharp comment stings, but I get it. I know a couple of those guys myself. They will fuck anyone and everyone, so long as they get their dick wet. I used to fuck around, but I would never treat a woman so cavalier as to go off and fuck someone else while on a date with them.

“Sorry to disappoint, but no. If I pick a woman up for a date, I take her home. Whether we fuck is irrelevant.Butif I meet her at a restaurant and she turns out to be horrible, I will leave money for her to take a cab home. That’s just good manners.”

Talia’s chest heaves, and I can’t help staring at the tops of her breasts as she tries to gather her thoughts. “Well, that was … honest.”

I rip my gaze away from her perfect tits to her steely gaze. “I’m always honest. Especially with the women I take out.”

“Oh, you’re one of those guys.” She grabs her braid, fidgeting with the strands.

“What does that mean?”

She holds her hands up by her head. “You keep itcasual.” She uses air quotes like I don’t catch the judgement in her voice. “Just so you know, when guys say things like that, it makes them sound like a manwhore,” she says, making me laugh again.

She’s funny. I should take offense. She’s basically calling me a walking herpes. But damn, that was a good burn. Besides, she’s only half right.

“Shoot. He’s coming this way,” she groans.

“Let me help you get rid of this dude.”

“Why?” Her head tilts to the side, exposing her neck.

So sweet and innocent.

A never-before sense of protectiveness washes over me, and I can’t stop myself from saying the next thing. “Because what he did was wrong, and he needs to know he missed out on getting to be with the most beautiful woman on the planet.”

Her eyes widen in shock, but she recovers quickly. “How do you plan on getting rid of him?”

Pulling her chair closer to mine, I turn her legs to the side, trapping them between mine.

This is a bad idea.

“Do you trust me?”

I watch her slender throat flex as she visibly swallows her nerves. She nods, but I need to hear the words. I run my hands up her arms before sliding my fingers up her neck and digging them into her hair. My thumbs run over her jaw as I tilt her chin up. She leans into my touch, sending my heart into cardiac arrest.

“Say it. I need to hear you say it.”

She hesitates for a fraction of a second. She grabs my wrists, unaware of my racing heart and the rush of blood in my veins. “I-I trust you.”

“I’m going to kiss you, then he’ll know you’ve moved on and will have no reason to bother you anymore.”

“Are we really doing this?” she whispers. Her lemon-scented breath fans across my face, sending the hairs on the back of my neck on end.

I run my nose along her jaw as excitement pools in my gut. I’m dying to know what she tastes like.

I lick my lips and nod. “Yes.”

We slowly lean towards each other, breathing in each other’s breath, before I press my lips to hers.

Sparks crackle between us, sending my stomach into a freefall of excitement. Kissing Talia is like getting on a roller coaster I never want to get off of.

Her lush lips open, and I take advantage, sweeping my tongue into her mouth. She tastes sweet and tart like the lemonade she’s drinking, and something distinctly her. I can’t get enough of it. I tilt her head, taking the lead, and she lets me.

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