Page 19 of Scoring in Cedarwood

He loved the sparkle in Dane’s eyes and the wistfulness in his voice. He could listen to Dane for hours. “I didn’t see Ashton’s name on the office list.”

“He moved away,” Dane said. “His wife didn’t like me. I spent more time with Ashton than she did and she hated me for it. He left the practice and me.”

The twinge in Dane’s voice spoke volumes. “You had an affair with him, didn’t you?” He snuggled up to Dane and rested his head on Dane’s shoulder again. He draped his arm across his belly.

“Not when he was married.”

“You loved him.” Probably still did.

“I did.” Dane rubbed his cheek against the top of Tanner’s head. “We were inseparable in college. He was my first boyfriend. Everyone thought we were just friends. No one knew when we went back to the dorms… Anyway, we split because he wanted to date a woman and I’m not bisexual. He wasn’t going to come out, even to admit he was bisexual, and once he met Nissa, I refused to come between them. We stayed friends and even worked together, but the tension was always there. He kissed me once during the last Christmas party and I didn’t push him away when I should’ve. After the first of the year, he left the practice and they moved to Kentucky.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry.” Tanner toyed with the trail of short hairs leading beneath Dane’s waistband. “I like having your attention and I can kind of see how Nissa would feel threatened. You’re sweet and handsome and caring. You had history with Ashton. If you were with someone, she’d be happy. But you alone were too much for him to resist. I get it. You’re too much for me to resist. If you were with him or anyone else, what you and I are doing right now wouldn’t be possible.”

“I suppose not.”

Tanner rose up on his elbow again. He could have nights like this all the time if he wanted. But he had to be honest. He’d never bared his soul to anyone—not even to his family. Right now, he wanted to tell Dane everything. “I’m afraid.”

“Of what?” Dane asked. “Me? I won’t hurt you. I won’t ask you to leave, either.”

Thank you, God.“I’m happy to hear that.” He relaxed a bit more. “The last family that sponsored me didn’t want a gay man in their house and kicked me out. I didn’t have the balls to tell the owner of the team that I’d lost my sponsorship, so I lied.”

“I thought you were supposed to focus on baseball.” Dane caressed Tanner’s cheek. “Tanner.”

“I lived above a restaurant and waited tables when I wasn’t playing or practicing.” He massaged his forehead. “I’m not proud of lying, but they threatened to tell everyone I was gay. Back then, I didn’t want anyone to know. I have a reputation for being the hot guy on the team—the one the women want to be with.”

“You didn’t want to lose your notoriety.” Dane cocked his eyebrow. “Why not be notorious for playing ball? Why have a gimmick?”

“I thought it would help my game. Those six months of working myself to the bone didn’t do anything for my playing ability, other than dull it.” He summoned his courage. “I worked hard to be where I am, but I’m scared. I’m afraid to be out and proud. I say I’m not worried, but I’m bullshitting everyone. In private, I’m happy. This last week has been the best in a long time. But I see what happens when you’re not true to yourself. Being a gay athlete can suck ass. The guys in the locker room may not accept me. I might be looking at them strangely or want to come on to them.”

“Do you?” Dane asked. “Really? Are you a stark-raving madman just looking for dick when you go into that locker room?”

“No.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about—concerning them.” Dane grinned. “You could’ve had me and you didn’t pounce the way I thought you might. Makes me think I’m repulsive.”

“No, you’re not.” Tanner crawled onto Dane, stretching out on top of him. “Feel that? I’m very much attracted to you and want to be with you.” He paused. One more second and he could take this to places he wasn’t ready to go, or he could slow down. “But I don’t want to screw this up. I doubt you’d turn me in if we split, but I don’t want you to think I’m doing this because you’re right here and so sexy.”

Dane stuffed his hands into Tanner’s back pockets. “You’re trying to fix my wounded ego.” He laughed. “I like it. You’re pretty sexy, too.”

“Thank you.” He brushed his nose along Dane’s. “You’ve got the prescription for anxiety, don’t you? Being hot?”

“Iama doctor.” Dane patted Tanner’s ass. “What else is bothering you? I can see it in your eyes. Talk to me.” He shifted beneath Tanner, rubbing the bulge in his pants over the one in Tanner’s. “Are you upset about the rule? The one stating we shouldn’t be doing this?”

Heat seared Tanner from within. “Don’t want to talk.”

Dane kissed Tanner and slid his hands along Tanner’s back.

“Yes.” Tanner straddled Dane. He stripped his shirt off and flexed. “Like what you see?”

“I do.” He palmed Tanner’s chest. The man had so much muscle. He pinched one of Tanner’s nipples.

“Fuck.” Tanner arched into his touch. “I love that.”

Dane sat up the best he could and trailed his fingers over Tanner’s ribs. At the same time, he bit one of Tanner’s nipples.

Tanner ran his fingers through Dane’s hair, holding him to his chest. A groan rumbled in Tanner’s throat. He tipped his head back. How had he gone this long without Dane? Easy. He hadn’t been in Cedarwood. Coming to the small town had been a boon Tanner wouldn’t relinquish.

Dane scraped his teeth across Tanner’s nipple. He had Tanner on the edge before they’d even fucked. Each bite and suck on Tanner’s skin elicited a slew of groans. Dane smoothed his hands around Tanner’s ribs to his back, then down to the swell of his ass.

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