Page 86 of Rematch
“Please,” she gasped, not even sure what she was begging for.
Preston somehow knew. She felt him pop the button on her jeans, sliding down the zipper. His fingers burrowed their way beneath the elastic of her panties, stroking her clit as she continued to ride his thigh.
“God!” she cried out.
A full minute didn’t pass before she shattered, the orgasm ripping through her like a tornado. Her body trembled as he drew out the experience, his fingers playing her like a guitar. As far as orgasms went, that one was in her top five. Which wasn’t surprising, considering the other four spots were also held by Preston-induced climaxes.
Slipping his hand from her jeans, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her as he lowered his leg. Her thighs instinctively tightened together, hating the loss.
Chelsea sank into his embrace, her right cheek pressed against his broad chest as she tried to recover. She heard the hard, steady thud of his heart, the sound of it calming, relaxing.
Once she found her strength, she lifted her head, looking at him. “I…” She didn’t have a clue what to say, because now that reality was returning, so was that inkling of fear she couldn’t seem to shake.
Preston cupped her cheek, gazing deeply into her eyes. “Don’t regret that, Chelsea. It wasn’t wrong.”
She bit her lower lip, then realized his words were wasted. She’d yet to regret a single thing she’d done with this man. “I don’t regret it,” she said, hoping to reassure him.
“I know you’re worried, and I understand the reasons behind that anxiety. I intended to give you all the time you needed, but…” Preston shrugged, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “You and your cupcakes are too damn sexy.”
She laughed loudly, realizing there hadn’t been nearly enough lighthearted fun in her life until this past month. Chelsea had spent the last year working her way through a veritable roll call of emotions. From homesickness after the move to Paris, shock over the pregnancy, grief over Agnes’s death, stress over moving back to Baltimore, wonder after Lennon’s birth, regret over not knowing how to find Preston, and a whole shit-ton of exhaustion and second-guessing as she tried to work her way through the minefield of first-time motherhood. It had been twelve months of the scariest fucking roller coaster known to man.
With Preston back in her life, peace had returned to her world, and it brought joy and laughter along for the ride.
“My first review,” she joked, holding up her hand as if reading it aloud from a sign. “Stingrays left winger, Preston Jacobson, says Sugar and Spice’s cupcakes are too damn sexy.”
Preston laughed. “Hey, I’ll skywrite that if you want, but you don’t need my words to sell your cupcakes. One bite of those and you’ll have fans for life.”
She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. “You make me happy.”
“Ditto.” His smile in response to her compliment warmed her even more. Before either of them could say more, Lennon’s quiet cry distracted them.
Preston beat her to the stroller, lifting him into his arms, cooing softly, and Lennon instantly quieted.
Chelsea was amazed by how quickly Preston and Lennon had bonded. Not even Ethan, who’d been around since Lennon’s birth, was able to soothe him so quickly.
“He’s probably hungry,” Preston said. “It’s been a few hours.”
Chelsea nodded, walking to the refrigerator to fetch a bottle. Preston claimed one of the new kitchen stools, settling in to feed Lennon so that she could finish frosting the last few cupcakes.
Silence descended for a few minutes, Preston’s gaze traveling back and forth between her and Lennon. She got the sense he wanted to say something.
“What is it?” she finally asked.
“You’re really unhappy living with your parents?”
Chelsea shrugged. “I wouldn’t say I’m completely miserable. It’s just…challenging. Mom is very opinionated about childrearing and my personal life.”
“Is she Team Rick?”
“No. I wouldn’t say that. But…well, she doesn’t really know you.” Chelsea was aware that was a lame answer. Preston had met her parents, of course, and he’d stopped by the house a few times, usually prior to hitting the road for an away game, but other than that, all their time together was spent at his place.
Which was her fault.
Preston’s condo had quickly become her happy place, because she was free to be the mother she wanted to be without dealing with her own mom’s scrutiny. Plus, watching Preston with their son was her favorite thing—way better than anything TV offered.
“Your place offers me a respite because I hate confrontation, and my mom is sort of driving me crazy. The reason I try not to push back is because she really does help me a lot, with laundry and babysitting Lennon two days a week. I’ve been focusing too much on the negative when it comes to her. I know all of her comments and concerns come from a place of love.”
“It’s been a lot of changes…for both of you,” Preston said.
