Page 39 of Grand Slam

“So.” It hits me that earlier she was playing me. Reaching out, I hook her waist and pull her in under the water, fully clothed. She yelps, and I spin her around pinning her to the wall. “Smooth play,” I say, nipping at her lip. “I’ve been trying to find ways to not climb the walls waiting for you and here you were waiting for me.”

Em nods.

“Liz?”

“Having dinner with Jerry.” She breathes in a sigh. “I told her not to expect me back tonight.”

“Good girl.” I bite the side of her neck and lightly suck. “Missed you,” I confess, not caring for a second that I sound like a sappy girl. “Been hell without you,” I add, bringing my lips to hers. Cupping her face, I look into her big beautiful eyes. Hazel, more golden, and gorgeous, the kind that make you feel like they can see all the way through to your soul.

“So fucking much, Em.” I press my lips to hers, kissing her for the first time in weeks. “My home is wherever you are,” I whisperand feel her lower lip tremble against mine. “I’ve realized something so important since you left Nashville.”

“What is that?”

“You give me a sense of peace that nothing else ever has.”

“Not even baseball?”

“I love baseball,” I say, once again ensuring I see her face clearing. “It kept me going during some pretty hard times, I’m good at it, and I’ve built a life playing something I love. But that life is still missing something.”

Tears fill her eyes.

“You,” I add. “I made the mistake of leaving once without you. Should have loaded you up when I left Chicago. I should have told you that you shook my foundation and made me question everything I’d ever thought I wanted. But I didn’t want to take away your dreams.”

“And now?”

“I still don’t want to take anything from you, I want to help you get everything you ever dreamed of. I just hope I’m part of those dreams.”

Standing before me with her T-shirt and pants clinging to her body, she offers me the sweetest smile.

“Saying all the right things, big guy.” She glides her palms over my chest. “There are so many things I see in my future, goals, aspirations, places I want to visit, things I want to do. But one thing is consistent through it all, and that’s I want to share them all with you.”

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere,” I assure her.

“Take me to bed, Kelton.” She takes my hands in hers and tugs me along. Flipping off the water, we step out and discard her clothes quickly. Drying off, I follow her into the bedroom and watch as she sits on the edge of the mattress. Sliding back I can’t take my eyes off her.

So beautiful, rosy cheeks, her hair wet and wild.

Hurrying to my bed I grab the condoms and tear them open grabbing one and dropping the box. They spill at me feet, she giggles and I tear open the package, quickly sheathing myself.

“I’m warning you now, we’ve got some time to make up.”

She is up high, her elbows at her sides, supporting the weight of her upper body as she watches me. When she bites her lip, and with one finger motions for me to come closer, I almost lose my shit right there.

Fuck, this woman and the hold she has on me. My heart is in her hands, she has all the control and she doesn’t even realize it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Emerson

With my legswrapped around his waist, holding him tightly to me, I ride out the wave of pleasure. My entire body hums from my head to my toes as shivers rack my body.

I’m fully aware of him watching the entire thing play out, but I squeeze my eyes shut so tight that when I do open them I see white blotches within my vision. My fingers curl into fists as I grip the sheets.

My toes curl, I feel him start to move again and I gasp.

“Damn,” Kelton moans.

I’m spent, completely taken by the hours I’ve spent in his bed. But one touch, one kiss, and we are shifted into the need for one another that overpowers anything else. It’s like we’ve spent years apart instead of weeks and we are trying to make up for every lost minute.

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