Page 61 of Grand Slam

I’m first to admit, I didn’t handle it well.

Most of all, it came between Em and I when it didn’t need to.

“Good book?” I ask and she turns in her chair, looking over her left shoulder.

“Hi,” she says, holding her hand to her chest. “Sorry, yes, it is. It’s murder mystery so being out here alone probably wasn’t the best choice on my part, but hey.” She shrugs with a little laugh.

“Not alone now,” I tell her, taking the last step and joining her on the patio. “So what’s happening in this book?”

“Missing girls.” She turns it over so I can see the cover. It’s the same author I’ve seen her reading for weeks, only a new title. “It’s a series, with like twenty plus books. Each one is my new favorite, but every one of them keeps me on edge.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask, sitting down on the side of her lounger and mindlessly dragging my thumb over the side of her calf.

“It’s a very good thing.” I notice the shift in the tone of her voice. “No reason to read a book that doesn’t keep you wanting more with every page.”

Moving my hand further up her leg, chills cover her skin and her eyes drop to where my hand is.

“Is this what you do when I’m not here?”

“This and clean and study. I’m almost finished with my online course and I don’t want to fall behind before I start my final year this fall.”

She’s studying to be a middle school history teacher. Not sure I could ever deal with teenagers on a daily basis, but it’s what she wants. I plan on ensuring she gets exactly what she wants.

“I’m sorry this last week has been a rough one.” I pause with my hand on her thigh. Sliding in a little closer I take the book out of her hands and lay it flat on the table, ensuring I don’t lose her current spot. “I’m sorry I made it uncomfortable around here.”

She holds my stare, not saying anything in return. That alone makes my heart race.

“I promise you, I won’t bring shit home like that again."

“It’s not that you brought it home, it’s how you dealt with it after you did. I’m here for it all Kelton, not just the good. I’m not a delicate flower that can’t take the bad too. You can’t ignore me and at the end of it, I’m gonna be all smiling and say oh it’s no big deal, let’s forget all about it. You may not have been an ass to me, but ignoring me felt like a dismissal and,” I don’t let her finish. Reaching out I grab her and pull her into my lap. The surprise on her face, the gasp from her lips, does nothing to stop me.

“I was wrong,” I confess. “I’m sorry.” I hope she can see just how much I mean it. When she nods I feel a sense of relief wash over me.

“I love you,” I whisper, her forehead pressed to mine as I cup the back of her neck holding her close. Straddling my lap, my other hand resting on her hip, I feel grounded for the first time all week. “And I’ve missed you.”

“Missed you too, and not just these last few days.” I know what she means and again that ache in my chest returns. I was here but I wasn’t present, I get that.

Pulling back, our eyes meet and I swear the ground beneath me rocks. In such a short time this woman has rocked my world, left me breathless, and made me so dependent on her that it literally hurts when she isn’t close enough for me to touch. And knowing that she is carrying our child, damn that makes it a hundred times stronger. Like I can’t breathe without her near. I’ve never been that dependent on anyone.

Fisting her hair, I pull her mouth to mine and swallow her gasp. The familiar taste, one I’ve missed and feel desperate for.

When she slides forward, and I feel her pressing down on me, it’s like a flip of a switch. My pulse quickens and I turn layingher back down on the oversized lounger. It’s like a twin sized bed with oversized pillows and extra thick cushions.

Climbing up and over her, I lower my body to hers and she parts her legs accepting me.

“Where is Liz?”

“Gone,” she says between kisses, hooking her leg over my hip. Digging her heel into my ass, she pulls me in and shifts beneath me. The friction instantly makes me hard, and I push my hips forward matching her movements.

When I feel her beneath me trying to work her shorts lower I lift my body and watch. Thankful I’d chosen comfort for the trip home I too remove my sweats and pull my shirt up and over my head.

Covering her body with mine once more I position myself against her heat and when I shift forward she gasps.

Very little words are spoken but instead we remind each other of our connection, not just physical but emotional too. A connection so deep it’s like she is fucking holding my heart in her hands.

“Kelton,” she whispers my name and I move inside of her, kissing along the side of her neck.

“Yes, baby.” I shift, pumping slowly and watching her eyes roll back as she arches her back. “You feel so good.” As if she can’t tell. Her nails dig into my back and I pick up speed, hitting that spot I know sets her off every single time.

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