by Mignon Mykel
“I understand that you’re not a teenager anymore,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean if I see you making a mistake, I won’t step in. That’s what family does.”
“And what, exactly, is your problem with Kenny?”
“Other than the fact that I think he’s too old for you, he goes through a lot of women, and I don’t want you to just be the next in a long line. You’ve got the Olympics coming up and your career, you can’t get sidetracked with relationship drama.”
“I don’t—” I dragged my fingers through my hair. “I don’t even know what to say to that. You’re telling me that I shouldn’t date because of my career? Half the women on my team are engaged or married. Hell, most of the guys on your team have families. So what makes you think I can’t handle it?”
He shook his head. “You’re not the problem, he is.”
“Let me ask you something. Before you saw us flirting last year, did you have any issues with Kenny?” I asked.
“Not really.”
“Then why did that change when you saw he might be interested in dating me?”
“Because I don’t think he’s interested in dating you, I think he wants to get what he can and move on to the next woman.”
“Dale, he’s not like that. If he was, he could have had whatever he wanted and left already.” My brother cringed just like I’d hoped. “Kenny fought this knowing what my life is like and that he doesn’t want a long-distance relationship. But Dale, that’s months away. If he wasn’t interested in something more, he could have had a night or two last season and moved on. But he didn’t. I pretty much convinced him to give in to this just until I have to go back into training, but he’s already figuring out when we can get together.”
My brother looked like he was in pain. I’ve had to listen to my friend drool over him for years and say all kinds of things a sister shouldn’t have to hear. So now it’s his turn.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Kenny, but I really like him and he seems to like me. You’re the most important person in my life. I’d appreciate it if you at least give him a chance.”
Dale walked over and kneeled next to the couch.
“Of course he likes you Lucky Penny, you’re amazing,” he said, using the name he’d given me when I was a baby. “And if it’s that important to you, I’ll stop the big brother act and give him a chance. It’s just not easy turning that off after a lifetime.”
“You don’t have to turn it off all the time. Like when you’re letting me crash here or at one of your other places because I’m homeless.”
“You’re not homeless, you’re a nomad.” he said. “And you’ll always have a place to stay if you need one.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed. “Thank you.”
He stood and walked toward the front door and slipped his feet into slides he’d left there.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I think I owe Kenny an apology. What unit is he in over there?” he asked.
I told him and he walked out the door. Hopefully to apologize and not pulverize. Just in case, I texted Kenny to give him a head’s up.
Kenny
I opened my front door as soon as I heard the elevator ding down the hall. Dale Montgomery strode off and walked in my direction, still looking pissed. I’d thought Penny was being overly cautious, but maybe she was right to warn me.
He looked up and spotted me and ate up the rest of the distance with long strides. I stepped aside to let him enter the condo and closed the door behind him.
“I want to apologize for the way I acted before,” he said. “According to Penny, I had a few things wrong but regardless of that, she’s an adult. Sometimes I forget that.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I do really care about her. No matter what, if that wasn’t the case, I never would have gotten involved.”
Dale nodded.
“Obviously this is all new and we have no idea what’s going to happen, but we plan on getting to know each other better over the next few months and take it from there,” I said. “Once she goes back to training camp, we’ll figure it out and after the Olympics, when she goes back on the road, we’ll figure that out, too.”
“So if this thing between you continues, you wouldn’t pressure her to quit softball?”
“No, if anything I’m already trying to figure out how I can get time off during the season to go watch her play.”
“Sounds like you’re doing more than taking it from there,” he said around a smile.
I shrugged. “Maybe. But don’t tell Penny, I don’t want to scare her away.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he said as he walked to the door and pulled it open.
“Thanks.”
“But just remember, if you hurt her, I won’t be this nice.”
“Understood.”
He started to close the door and peeked his head back inside.
“You might want to leave this open because I’m thinking my sister will probably be over as soon as she can.”
The elevator dinged and I found myself opening the door to yet another Montgomery, only this time it’s the one who already has dibs on my heart.
“Are you okay?” she asked as she stepped inside and looked me over.
She’d changed out of her dress and now wore a pair of shorts, an oversized tee, and flip flops. And she looks just as beautiful as she did earlier.
“I’m fine. He really did just come to apologize.”
“Thank God.”
“Were you that scared I couldn’t defend myself at least a little bit?”
“He had rage on his side. That makes a person superhuman.”
Penny reached forward and unbuttoned my shirt for the second time tonight. Just like last time, I let her take the lead. She slipped the last button through its hole and pushed the shirt back until it fell off my shoulders to the floor. Pressing her palm flat against my chest, she walked me backward and when my calves bumped against the couch, urged me to sit.
She pushed my knees open and knelt between them and leaned forward to unbutton and unzip my pants.
Sliding her hands in the waistband of my boxers, she said, “I should have done this while you were standing.”
I lifted my hips so she could pull them down and off because I’m helpful like that.
Penny stared at my dick as it jutted toward her, flagrant with arousal. Wrapping her hand around the base of my shaft, she leaned forward and opened her mouth over the head and lowered inch by slow inch. When her lips touched her fist, she reversed direction, adding a suction at the end before repeating the motion over and over, settling into a rhythm.
I groaned and gripped my fingers in her hair holding her in place, but it didn’t stop her tongue from swirling around and around, driving me closer to the edge.
“Penny,” I panted. “Stop.”
Releasing me, she sat back onto her heels. I reached forward and wrapped my hands around her waist, pulling her to stand. Sliding my thumbs into the waistband of her shorts, I dragged them and her panties off in one swipe and pulled her forward to straddle my lap.
She raised up on her knees and slowly lowered, impaling me in the process. It’s never felt this good then I opened my eyes wide when I realized why that is.
“Condom.” Her blue eyes met mine, but didn’t seem to comprehend. “I’m not wearing a condom. You need to get off. Now.”
Her inner walls fluttered.
“It’s okay, I’m on the pill,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure.”
She rode me, moving up and down, her motion getting more frantic with each thrust. I was about to give her a warning when I felt her fluttering against me again and I lifted my hips countering her thrusts.
Her inner spasms squeezed me until I couldn’t hold back any longer. I wrapped my arms around Penny and held her until all the aftershocks faded.
Penny
Ken
ny spooned me from behind as we snuggled in bed. I’ve never felt comfortable sleeping with other people, but with him, it just feels right. Everything with him feels right.
I realize that right now everything between us is shiny and new, but I have a feeling that things will only get better between us as time goes on.
He really is the perfect guy. Smart, funny, good looking, and hot as hell. And did I mention that dick? It’s truly exquisite.
The man attached to that perfect work of art kissed the back of my head and squeezed me closer.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“Your dick.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
I turned within the circle of his arms to face him.
“And also how right this feels.”
He offered a sleepy smile. “It really does, doesn’t it?”
“There’s one other important thing I realized.”
Opening his eyes, he studied my face. “What’s that?”
“Do you realize when people refer to us they’re going to say Kenny and Penny?”
He snort-laughed. “No, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Just something to think about in case you want to run before things get too serious.”
Leaning forward, he kissed the tip of my nose. “I think it’s too late for that.”
I smiled and scooted toward him then rested my head on his bicep and curled my arm around his waist. Taking in a lungful of Kenny’s clean, citrus scent, I let it out slowly and closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep with happy thoughts floating through my head.
It’s like my grandmother always said, “everything happens for a reason”. When the Olympics were postponed, I was devastated. But if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have gotten this chance with the man next to me.
So now next year, I can go for Olympic gold and win or lose, Kenny will be here for me…waiting with open arms.
About Tina Gallagher
Tina Gallagher wears many hats. She's a wife, mother, author, and editor...and that doesn't even include her day job.
As a tween, she and her best friend would create their own happily ever afters for their favorite soap opera couples. Eventually the soap operas lost their appeal, but the writing never did.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Marketing, Tina worked a spectrum of jobs ranging from baking and cake decorating to marketing and project management. But her true passion is writing. In between her day job and spending time with her family, she manages to fit in time to write the fun, sexy romance novels she loves so much.
Tina lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
Also By Tina Gallagher
Also in the Carolina Waves Series:
Once Removed
Waste of Handsome
Once Removed
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Double Contact
Christy Pastore
Prologue
Lark
Back Then
My eyes crack open, and I stare at the ceiling fan.
Round and round it goes.
A low growl rumbles next to me as a large hand palms my breast. His touch is rough. Zero finesse.
But beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to three a.m. hookups. Mine happens to be an all-star athlete.
Alec Norris. Age twenty-three. Third baseman. Drafted third overall by the Stingers in the first round.
His thumb flicks back and forth over my nipple. “Babe, how about a blowjob?”
I’m exhausted, and he wants me to do more work? I’m only two years older than him. I should be ready for another go around.
I’ve slept with Alec steadily for two seasons. He is superstitious, but I can entertain his superstitious nature. It’s nice having a regular hookup without the pressures of commitment. Neither one of us has expectations about the future.
My teammate, Jessa, doesn’t understand our arrangement. She tells me if I don’t love him, I should move on.
Love isn’t in my vocabulary. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’ve reserved my significant commitments to baked goods, top-shelf booze, and good times. Alec’s a good time, and with our demanding schedules, our arrangement works.
We’re at his place because we met up after midnight. If it were before midnight, I’d be in my own bed. This all started when I slept with Alec the night before the team’s three-game home opener against the River Bandits.
They won. And he had one of the best games of his professional career.
We’d slept together again that night.
The next game, you guessed it—they won.
We slept together after the second win.
But then, they lost the third home game.
Alec had the brilliant theory, the reason for the loss and his poor performance was because we had sex before midnight.
Next, it was on to Chicago to face the Cannons. We slept together . . . after midnight . . . at his place. They won all three games.
A year later, we are having sex at his place because they’ve got a three-game series against the Rapid City Buffaloes here in LA. When a series starts on a Saturday, he’s more likely to win if I sleep with him at his place and give him a morning blowy.
Some might think I’m a dumb girl who’s being conned by a professional jock. Not true. Alec has documented the stats, and it turns out the calculations are so spot on it’s scary.
Thus, why I’m here entertaining his superstitious nature. Despite the scary certainty of his calculations, I think it’s bullshit. He’s in his head, and if he’d just toss the fantasies out, he’d still be a great baseball player.
His lips ghost over my neck as he grinds his cock against my thigh. “Suck me off.”
Think. Think. Think.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy giving a good blowjob, but my mouth feels like cotton and I have a big day myself. Jessa and I have a charity beach volleyball match today.
His touch softens. “I’m so hard for you.” Alec continues to caress my breast and kiss his way up my neck. “Suck my cock, babe. Please.”
As I run through the catalog of superstition, I can’t think of a single reason not to fulfill his request. I arch up and settle on my knees. He slides the comforter down, revealing his suitable length.
My hands grip his cock, and I give him a few strokes. He moans in pleasure when I settle my mouth over the tip.
The alarm blasts and the announcer chirps out the daily forecast. “It’s seven a.m., and it will be another gorgeous day in sunny Los Angeles—we’ll reach a high of seventy-four degrees. Humidity will be seventy-four percent and zero chance of rain.”
“Shit,” he hisses out just as I lick him slowly. “No . . . don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Humidity and the temperature are the same, that means I’ll bat below average if you blow me.”
And there’s my cue to leave.
“Sorry, babe,” he offers and pats my head like I’m his favorite lap dog.
I hop off the bed and scoop up my dress from the floor. Dizziness takes hold, and my hand reaches for the dresser to steady myself. I had a bra . . . there it is on the chair. My gaze swings back to the bed, and I smile at Alec.
“You don’t have to apologize to me. I get it, remember.”
And even though I understood, this morning feels different. The whole situation feels miserable.
Blowing out a slow puff of air, I shimmy the sundress up my legs. “Can you give me a ride to my car?”
“No can do. I’ve gotta get another hour of sleep before I head to the stadium to work out.”
You had time for a blowjob, but you can’t give me a lift?
Plastering a fake smile on my lips, I slip on my Sperry sneakers. “No worries. It’s only a few blocks. Bye.”
I don’t wait for Alec to speak. Rage settles in my stomach as I hit the last step of his Hermosa Beach bungalow.<
br />
I didn’t get a look at myself in the mirror before I walked out. Shit. I must look very walk-of-shame-y.
My phone buzzes with a text. I glance at the screen.
Alec: Don’t forget to wear your blue shirt with my number on it. Don’t wear the white one.
I roll my eyes and shoot him back a thumbs-up emoji.
As I tuck my cellphone inside my purse, I peek over my shoulder to find a herd of people running toward me.
Awesome. The charity run is this morning. I totally spaced it. Not that I was going to run in the race anyway.
Holy . . . no . . . no.
Someone will recognize me from last night’s event. I’m wearing the same damn outfit.
Think. Think. Think.
My heart hammers in my chest, but I’m frozen to my spot.
Move feet.
“Lookin’ good this morning, Lark,” a voice from the crowd whistles out. “Norris and you still hot and heavy?”
Oh. My. Gawd.
When the crowd passes by, my eyes connect with Wolfe Hastings . . . arrogant bastard. And one of the best beach volleyball players in the world. And he will defend his gold medal in the Olympics this summer.
“Oh, hey, yeah, I’m just getting ready to run myself.”
“Right, you look like you’re dressed for it.”
Cackles of laughter filter over the male-dominated crowd, and my stomach lurches. Embarrassment and last night’s bottle of vodka dance up my esophagus.
Gulping in a deep breath, I brush off his comments and walk toward the alley. Lightheadedness rings in my skull and out of my ears. I should’ve snagged a bottle of water from Alec’s fridge. I steady myself and shake off the noticeable dehydration.
When I make my way to the next block, my feet fail me, and I miss the curb. My arms shoot out as my body plunges toward the earth.
Strong arms catch me before I collide face-first into the cement.
“Not on my watch,” a deep husky voice lashes over me.
