Page 55 of The Catcher

It was so overwhelming that I turned away, opening the door so I could get some air.

Of course Tanner was right behind me. He always was.

“Pick a ring,” he said.

“What if I don’t want to get married?” I asked instead.

“You don’t get that option,” he said harshly. “I love you and you’re going to be my wife.”

I didn’t say anything.

“Comeon,Em,” Tanner said. “Fuck. I’msorryfor what I said about Noah.”

I had never heard him saying he was sorry in my life, but I still couldn’t make my lips saythose wordsback.

“Moonstone,” I said. “I want a moonstone ring.”

He made a satisfied grunt, then put his hand on my bottom lip and pulled my mouth open, forcing his fingers on my tongue.

I tasted myself on his fingers, sweet and warm.

“Lick it off,” Tanner ordered. “Then you’re going to march back to the Jeep and give me a blowjob. And you’re going to tasteyouin your mouth when you do it, so you can fucking remember that my cock goes in your cunt. Then you’re going to be a good girl and direct me to where I can buy you a goddamn moonstone.”

I licked myself off his fingers, and then I turned and marched.

I couldn’t deny I was his to command.

21

The National League Championship series had returned to town, and the Phoenixes were down 0-3. It was a seven-game series and they were close to elimination. They had lost all the games narrowly and the mood in the clubhouse was resentful of the Matts who had let key runs in with their relief outings.

The morning of Game 4 I got up and stuck a pregnancy test midway through my pee stream, something I’d done every day at Tanner’s insistence since a few days after I ovulated. There was never anything on the tests, but it didn’t stop Tanner from buying them in huge quantities and insisting I test several times a day.

But this time when I put the test lazily on the bathroom counter I glanced down at it and gasped.

Two lines.

Two pink lines, clear as a bell and getting darker every second.

I stared uncomprehendingly at the test, and I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. My heart had given a little involuntary leap of joy and it was pounding now, not with fear, but with excitement.

After years of Noah laughing at me for wanting a baby, saying he didn’t want my body to change, I was finally pregnant! And Tannerwantedthis, wanted our baby.

There was a loud banging on the door, and I was startled into dropping the test with a clatter.

“What’s going on in there?” Tanner barked. “Try another test.”

I didn’t trust my voice; I just picked up the test and went to the door, opening it and showing him the two lines wordlessly.

His lips curved up in triumph, and he bent down to kiss me exultingly.

“Good fucking girl!” he growled, sending shivers of pure pleasure down my spine. “I can’t wait to see your belly round and full and your tits leaking with milk for my baby. Good goddamn girl,” he said again, capturing my face in his hands and kissing me.

After the game, Tanner was inundated with interview requests. Everyone wanted to know how he had managed to hit a homerun powered by Inconceivable burgers. Meanwhile, a buoyant Steak was pulling on my arm, trying to get me to come to the bar with them. Tanner looked around in annoyance, shaking his head at me.

“Come on, man,” Steak said. “It’s just down the street. Your interview won’t take that long. Let her have a little fun.”

Tanner flicked his eyes over my face, slowly, appraisingly, and he took my chin in his hand.

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