Page 37 of Protect Home
“Well, you’re the dad, so she doesn’t have much of a choice, Gus,” Cal says.
“I mean Tenley. I want her to keepme,” I admit.
“Fuck,” Briggs and Cal say in unison. “You’re serious.”
“I know it can’t be that shocking. She’s the only woman to ever turn me down, and yet she’s still the only one I see. There’s more to her than unfiltered chaos. I can feel it.”
Cal smiles. “Sounds like you didn’t need us at all, my man. Not one single bit.”
Yeah, I guess not.
The noiseof the stadium rattles my ears and electrifies the adrenaline I thrive in. That’s the joy of being a damn good athlete.
I’m already planning out the next play in my head.
The score is two and four with the Strikers in the lead. We’re in the top of the ninth inning, and all we need is to secure this out, and the game is ours. The Dallas Predatorsare a team we’ve battled tooth and nail to conquer in the sweep.
Last season, we were just shy of taking home that victory.
But the difference between this year and last is that we’re better than ever, and comin’ back swinging. Literally.
“Headed toward the gap at center,” Callaway calls out from the pitcher’s mound as the last batter slams one against his fastball. Getting into position, I cover my base at third as Briggs makes the scoop in center field, launching the ball to Jethro at second. But the cocky fucker running the bases thinks he can round it out to third for a triple without being tagged out.
Not on my watch.
I’ll bulldoze him to the ground before he has a chance at getting anywhere close to my bag.
“Make the tag!” King yells from shortstop, covering me behind third as Jethro powers the ball at me, planning to secure the out.
The moment the leather ball hits my glove, I swoop down and meet the runner at his slide to make the tag. The umpire calls him out, and screams from the stadium penetrate my ears. “Let’s goooooo,” I growl, throwing my glove in the air and beating my chest like the fucking primate I am.
Thatis how I plan to secure the title as the best third baseman in the league. Our teamwork is unmatched.
King charges at me and throws an arm around my shoulder as we celebrate the win, chanting and cheering together.
“Atlanta boys, where you at?” Mack, our team captain, yells, barreling into the huddle we formed at the first baseline.
The entire Striker’s team is at the plate, jumping in fucking victory as we chant, “We right hereeeeee!”
Thisis the high I crave. The high I can’t find anywhere else other than right here on this orange clay.
Peace washes over me as we disperse, signing merch for fans and taking selfies. Something I’m trying to do better at. Searching the crowd, my eyes find Kodi with her head behind a massive camera lens and a wide smile on her face.
I can’t wait to see those photos. There’s nothing like capturing the energy of a solid win. Just beside Kodi, though, is the woman I’m currently bent out of shape over. The woman I want, yet she’s too far out of reach.
And here’s a new title for her: the mother of my child.
Never saw that one coming.
Although I’m fully aware of the possible outcomes when having sex, protected or not, that was the least of my concerns. The only thing running through my head was how fucking perfect her tight pussy felt strangling my cock, and how I wanted to do it until morning.
That and the fact that the opportunity may never present itself to me again. Tenley running away before I even had a chance to clean her up confirmed it. I’m still clueless as to what happened or why she reacted that way.
I’ve spent far too many nights replaying that night over again in my head, and come up empty every time.
I feel the moment Tenley settles her sights on me. Her bright blonde hair is pulled back in two French braids with little tendrils framing her face. She’s in a pair of black denim overalls—never knew I had a thing for them, but fuck, they’re cute on her. Her yellow short top underneath ties together her Striker’s spirit, repping our team colors. Thigh tat on display.
Her combat boots really seal the deal. This woman has astyle of her own, yet it feels simple at the same time. She’s tastefully unique, and I love that about her.
