Page 56 of Tagging Bases

I glance over at the man and become overwhelmed with affection. I want him. I want this amazing guy in my life, in my bed, back in Bushwick. I want to experience more of his strength and power firsthand, again and again…and again.

This isn’t just lust talking, mind you. There’s a connection between us—something real and undeniable. I felt it that night we painted the town, and I feel it now, watching him sleep, watching him dominate on the field.

The camera switches to an interview with the coach, but I’m no longer paying attention. My thoughts are consumed by the jock beside me and the desperate, impossible longing building in my chest.

I know I shouldn’t get my hopes up. Guys like Daniel and Charlie are on a whole different level. What could they possibly see in a scrawny troublemaker such as myself?

As if sensing the weight of my gaze upon his skin, Daniel’s shoulders roll, and his head turns, nestling deeper into the pillow. A soft sigh escapes his parted lips, and I hold my breath.

His eyes slowly flutter open, long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks. They’re unfocused at first, still hazy withthe remnants of sleep. But as he blinks, awareness seeps in, and his gaze locks on mine.

“Mornin’,” he murmurs, voice rough and gravelly. It’s the same voice that was crying out in ecstasy mere hours ago, begging me for more, for harder, for faster. The memory sends a shiver down my spine and causes heat to pool in my groin.

“Hey,” I whisper back, afraid to speak too loudly and shatter the intimacy of this shared space between us.

Daniel’s lips quirk up in a lazy half-smile. He picks his hand up, thick fingers stretching out to brush against my cheek. They’re warm and slightly calloused.

I lean into his touch, my eyes closing as his thumb traces the curve of my cheekbone. A blush rises beneath my skin, a rosy hue that reveals how deeply I’m affected by his simple caress.

“Sleep well?” he asks, thumb dipping down to skim along my bottom lip. It takes every ounce of restraint not to part my lips and draw that digit into my mouth, to taste the salt of his skin on my tongue.

“Mmhmm,” I hum. “You?”

“Best sleep I’ve had in a long time,” he says with a note of sincerity in his tone that makes my chest ache.

His hand slips around to cup the back of my neck, fingers threading through the short hairs at my nape. He uses that grip to tug me closer until our noses brush. The heat of his breath skims over my lips, making my toes curl beneath the sheets.

“I could get used to this”—his eyes search mine with a raw honesty in them that steals the air from my lungs—“waking up next to you.”

My pulse thunders in my ears. “Me too,” I admit softly. “I enjoy seeing you like this. All sleepy and soft.”

Daniel chuckles, rolling onto his back. “Don’t get too used to it. Most days, I look like a monster.”

I roll my eyes and scoff. “I don’t believe that for a second. You could never look like a monster. Not even first thing in themorning.”

Daniel’s eyebrows lift. “Oh yeah? Wanna bet?”

Before I can respond, he throws back the sheets and rises from the bed. I gasp as I take in the sight of him, all tanned skin and rippling muscle dusted with a light smattering of hair. He’s magnificent, a Greek god come to life.

But then he hunches his shoulders, curls his fingers into claws, and contorts his face into an exaggerated snarl. “Rawr!” he growls, stomping around the bed like a Neanderthal. “I’m a scary morning monster! Fear me!”

I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, stop! You’re ridiculous!”

Daniel doesn’t let up, though. He beats his chest with his fists and lets out another caveman-like grunt. As he moves, I can’t help but notice the way his morning wood bobs and sways with each step. It’s an impressive sight, thick and flushed.

“Okay, okay,” I concede, giggling. “I take it back. You do have one monstrous thing about you in the morning.”

Daniel pauses mid-snarl and glances down at his erection. His eyes widen, as if it didn’t even register that he has a boner. A wicked grin spreads across his face, and he waggles his eyebrows at me.

To my shock and amazement, he clenches his pelvic muscles and makes his cock bounce up and down. My mouth goes dry at the sight, desire spiking through me like lightning.

“Me big strong caveman,” he grunts, voice dropping an octave. “Me have big throbbing club. Caveboy want to play with club?”

I laugh hysterically to the point that tears pool in the corners of my eyes. I grab a pillow and lob it at him. “You are such a dork!”

Daniel catches the pillow easily, tucking it in front of his groin like a makeshift loincloth. He executes a silly little bow, then straightens up with a grin. “Nah, you love it. Admit it.”

“I admit nothing,” I retort primly, even as my lips twitch with barely suppressed mirth. “Now go tame that beast before you poke someone’s eye out.”

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