Walk Off (Double Play Series Book 5)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “No? How about a fuckin’ one then? That seems to be how we solve all our problems anyway, no?” she says getting to her feet.

  “That's not true. I love you with or without the sex, don't turn this around on me now,” I say standing too.

  “I'm not, you are! You're the one keepin’ a secret from me, you're the one angry about somethin’ that you won't tell me! I can help you, we can talk through it, but not if you shut me out,” she yells throwing her hands in the air.

  “You can't help me with this, I have to deal with it on my own!”

  “We're a team, Nico. We should be doin’ it together!”

  “Not with this we're not.”

  She opens her mouth but then shuts it and shakes her head slowly, sitting back down on the couch, giving me her back.

  “Lace, I didn't...I didn't mean we're not a team. My words got jumbled,” I say touching her shoulder.

  I hear her sniffle and curse under my breath.

  “Lacey…”

  I kneel in front of her cupping her cheeks to look at me. I should be doing this with the ring in my back pocket right now. I planned to do it right in our living room. I wanted to make it special, but I couldn't wait. I'm impatient and wanted her to wear my ring as soon as I got permission from Jackson, but I didn't.

  I close my eyes bracing my forehead against hers.

  “I love you so much, Lacey. I know I don't deserve your trust but know I will never hurt you. This is something I'll figure out on my own, but it does not affect how much I love you, okay?”

  She silently nods, wiping away her tears.

  “I just don't like seein’ you upset when I have no idea how to fix it,” she whispers her hands coming to mine on her cheek.

  She takes my hand off, kissing my palm and lacing our fingers together.

  “You are fixing it, just by sitting next to me, okay?”

  She nods again and I kiss her forehead before getting to my feet and taking my place on the couch again.

  Rose is staring at us, a small smile on her lips.

  “I...y'all have your own way of figurin’ things out, it may not be conventional but that's borin’. I have to say y’all are a different couple than when you started this. I'm really happy to see the change. Not that I don't love our time together, but I really don't see a need for the weekly sessions anymore. We can change them to once a month, if you're okay with that?”

  I tighten my grip on Lacey's hand in mine and nod.

  “Thank you, Rose. We owe you everything for helping us through this,” I say.

  “I was just the referee, y'all were the ones playin’ the game.”

  Lacey lays her head on my shoulder and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her in closer to me.

  “Let's go home, Blondie.”

  ------

  We drive home, our hands linked together, and Lacey dozes off about halfway through the ride. When we get to the house, I see a silhouette of two people on the front porch. They're kissing, the man’s hand on the woman’s ass and I put the car in park hopping out and walk closer.

  “Can I help you? This isn't a bed and breakfast,” I snap.

  The couple breaks apart and I hide my smirk.

  Savannah and Jackson Turner.

  “H...Hi, sorry,” Savannah stutters. “We figured you were at therapy, we were just waitin’ for y'all to get back.”

  “Mm hmm,” I smirk.

  “Nicholas,” Jackson says extending his hand.

  I look at it and cross my arms over my chest, arching an eyebrow.

  “I'd rather not shake the hand that was just on my future mother-in-law’s ass, if you don't mind.”

  Jacksons jaw tenses and he hides a smirk of his own, remembering that line from the first time we met, when he used it on me.

  -----

  Three years ago...May

  “So just be normal. He's gonna grill you, just don't talk. Just nod and be polite, okay?”

  I laugh pulling Lacey in close to me, one hand going to her cheek the other to her lower back.

  “So, you want me to look like a fucking idiot, shaking my head yes or no but never speaking? I am capable of having an adult conversation without sexual innuendos, you know. I can use a filter, I just choose not to with you,” I growl in her ear.

  My hand goes down to cup her ass and I kiss her hard on her mouth, my grip tightening on her cheek, moving it down to her neck to pull her further to me.

  A throat clears behind us and Lacey jumps away from me, wiping her mouth.

  “Daddy! Hi! This is Nicholas Johnson my-”

  “Boyfriend. Nice to meet you sir,” I say putting my hand out for him to shake.

  He eyes it then crosses his arms over his chest. “I'd rather not shake the hand that was just on my daughter’s ass, if ya don't mind.”

  My smile drops and I nod, not saying a fucking word like Lacey instructed me to. Great start Nico, really great start.

  ------

  “Where's Lacey?” Savannah asks breaking me from my memory.

  “In the car sleeping. She's been exhausted lately.”

  “Okay, that's perfect then. Jackson has somethin’ he would like to say to you,” Savannah says pinching his side.

  “Yes I...I wanna apologize for this mornin’. You kind of caught me off guard and I was just replayin’ the past three years over in my head, my daughter’s face after the bet came out and the cheatin’ scandal. I...you're a great guy, Nicholas, I just...I want my daughter to be happy. I don't want her to question when you stay a little late at the field. I don't want her home worryin’ when you're on the road, if another story will emerge a couple days later. I don't want her to live her life wonderin’ her husband’s whereabouts. I just want her to be happy,” he exhales.

  I nod.

  “That's what I want for her too and I will continue to prove to you that I'm being genuine.”

  “You don't have to do that. I...you have my permission to marry her. Just know this though, there was a reason you always came up short on that home run board three straight years. I will have no problem to show you what the reason is if you hurt her again. I may not be 300 pounds, but I will beat the shit out of you, Nico, make no mistake.”

  I put my hands in the air and smile.

  “No arguments here. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much. I swear you won't regret it. I am going to devote my entire life to her and our children. She will be the happiest she's ever been, I swear to you.”

  “What's goin’ on here?” a groggy voice says behind me.

  I turn and see Lacey rubbing her eyes.

  “Nothin’, Blondie. Just your parents comin’ to make sure you didn't kill me yet,” I laugh.

  “Not today,” she smiles coming up to my side.

  “We’ll let you two rest. Once that baby comes, forget it,” Savannah says hugging us both.

  Jackson comes over and slaps my back, putting his hand out for me to shake.

  “Don't be such a wise ass next time your future father-in-law wants to shake your hand,” he says low enough that Lacey can't hear.

  I laugh and nod taking his hand, feeling the nervousness creep up now. I have permission, now I just need Lacey to say yes.

  -----

  We're laying in bed, my plan was to propose as soon as we stepped in the door but Lacey walked right up the stairs to bed and tucked herself in. She's been so tired, and it makes me nervous leaving her this weekend for a quick home series in Miami.

  “What's on your mind?” she asks running a finger down my chest.

  “Truthfully, I'm nervous leaving you this weekend.”

  “I'll be fine, Nico. I have my appointment tomorrow, so it'll put you more at ease, okay?”

  “I think I might take the fine and go late tomorrow. Our games at 8, I can fly after you're home from work and settled, nice and relaxed in bed and fly home as soon as we're done Sunday afternoon,” I say mindlessly playing with her hair.

  “I'm okay, baby. I have Bells, Normani
, my parents, Aunt Charlie and Uncle Gabe, Miguel and Alessandra… plenty, okay?”

  “I know but…”

  She leans up on an elbow looking at me.

  “What?”

  “If I missed it, I would…”

  I close my eyes and shake my head, trying not think about missing the birth of my first child with this amazing woman. Remembering the doctor talking about the c-section procedure. I would die.

  “You won't,” she says cupping my cheek. “I was gonna beg for one more bang before you left, but I'll refrain,” she says smiling.

  “I...do have something else I need to say before I go,” I say sitting up and reaching towards the nightstand.

  I roll over and kneel on the side of the bed before I turn back around holding the small black box.

  “Nico, what the hell is that?” she asks her voice panicked.

  “Lacey Lee Turner…”

  “Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now? Nico...I…”

  “Shhh. Shelve the sassy for five minutes you brat,” I smirk.

  She starts to cry and puts her hand over her mouth, silently nodding and I laugh.

  “You drive me up a fucking wall every damn day. You keep me always looking over my shoulder, sleeping with one eye open, on my damn toes every second of the day. I swore I would never marry, no one out there would be able to tie me down, but the second I laid my eyes on you, I knew. I would chain myself to you for the rest of our lives because you are the most interesting, funny, intelligent, adventurous and loving woman I have ever known. Your capacity for forgiveness, your heart, your ability to overcome fears is amazing to me. You're amazing to me and you would make me the luckiest son of a bitch in the world if you married me, Blondie. So, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?”

  She laughs through her tears, grabbing the back of my neck as she smashes our lips together in a wet, tearful kiss and I pull back, laughing.

  “You didn't even see the ring yet.”

  “I don't care. My answer is yes. Yes, yes, yes and yes you crazy, sexy, annoyin’, sometimes funny, incredible man!”

  I open the box and she gasps furrowing her brows.

  “A halo cut, huh? Is that supposed to be a sarcastic ring choice? Because we both know I'm far from an angel, Hulk.”

  “You know me too well, Blondie,” I laugh. “It was just a feeling I got when I saw it. I searched for a long, long time and finally found it. When the woman told me it was called a halo cut, I knew it was meant to be.”

  She laughs rolling her eyes as I slip the ring on her finger and it slides on perfectly.

  “It might need to be taken down a side when my fingers don't look like sausages anymore,” she laughs studying it.

  “They're beautiful sausage fingers.”

  She slaps my chest and we kiss again. A long, loving kiss and she reaches down to cup me through my boxers.

  “I know I said we wouldn't, but you can't expect me to not want to ride you tonight, my nails diggin’ into your chest with your ring on my finger, right?”

  I laugh and hop back on the bed on my back, sliding my briefs down as she licks her lips, moving her head above my length.

  She grabs the base of me with her left hand and smirks as I watch her.

  “God, that ring looks sexy on your finger when you fist my cock, Blondie.”

  “Mmm it feels good, too. So damn good, fiancé,” her voice says dripping with seduction.

  I gulp, trying to hold off a little as she suctions her mouth back over my head, her cheeks hollowing out, dragging every inch of pleasure to the head of my cock.

  “Shit, Lace...so fucking good. So, so good,” I whisper.

  “Don't come,” she commands.

  I open my eyes and watch her as she dips her head down and sucks my balls into her mouth and I hiss through gritted teeth.

  “Then stop doing that.”

  “Control it,” she sasses. “I want you to come in my pussy, but I ain't done suckin’ this lickable cock,” she says flicking my tip with her tongue.

  “Lacey…” I say warningly.

  “Hulk…”

  She drops her head down again, my length hitting the back of her throat and I expect her to pull back, but she pushes further down.

  “Dammit,” I grit pulling on her hair to take her off me.

  “God, you haven't pulled my hair in forever, that’s how it’s gonna be tonight, baby?”

  Her smile is hellish as I tangle my fist in her hair, pulling it back to expose her neck. I sit up, launching for it and purple a spot, unable to control the animal inside me tonight. My other hand grips the other side of her neck, keeping her in place as I suck and bite that spot like a vampire.

  “Fuck, Lacey you make me wanna just...uhhhh,” I say through my teeth.

  “God, I want you to lose control. I need such a good fuck, Nico.”

  “You don't know how badly I want to pound your bratty ass into this fuckin’ mattress. Soon, Blondie. So soon.”

  Instead I lay on my back and watch as she straddles me, riding us both into our orgasms, over and over throughout the night. Sleep, then sex, sleep then sex until they blend together and I'm not even sure if I’m dreaming or not when I feel her lips wrap around my cock sometime in the early morning.

  I open my eyes slowly and realize I wasn't dreaming as I shoot my load down Lacey’s throat and she smiles, wiping her mouth.

  “I didn't expect you to have anything left,” she smirks moving to kiss me on my lips.

  “I think I was sex drunk last night,” I laugh, my voice not hiding the exhaustion I feel.

  “I guess you don't have magic semen after all. I totally took advantage of you so I would go into labor before you left, but it's a cryin’ shame, your cum is broken. I don't feel a thing,” she exhales.

  “Are you serious?” I laugh.

  “Well, you were so worried, so I figured if I went into labor before you left, you wouldn't go and wouldn't worry about missing it,” she shrugs. “But I think it's safe to say you have nothin’ to worry about this weekend.”

  “Thank you, I think?” I say unsure with a smile.

  “You're welcome. Now get up, I need to change these sheets,” she laughs.

  I go to the bathroom and start to shower as she slips inside with me. We wash each other’s bodies, eyeing our nakedness, our breathing unsteady. Our connection never wavers, our bodies never need a break.

  “I'm gonna miss this belly,” I say rubbing it slowly with soap.

  “I will too,” she sighs.

  “Won't be too long before you have it again, don't worry.”

  She slaps my chest.

  “Don't even think about it, Nicholas. I'm going back on birth control the second I'm allowed. Give me at least a year to recover.”

  “Birth control, huh? Funny how great that worked,” I say rubbing her belly again.

  She rolls her eyes and reaches behind me to change the water to a bath.

  “Can I...ask you to do somethin’ without you makin’ fun of me?” she asks shyly.

  Since when has Lacey been shy about anything?

  “What?”

  “Can you...it's kind of hard for me to bend forward and I don't wanna get a bikini wax because I'm so sensitive down there and will probably punch the poor woman in the face on the first rip. I don't wanna be that hairy woman in labor, like ‘oh how's bigfoot doing in room 4?’ and-”

  “You want me to shave your pussy?” I laugh.

  “Uhh forget it, forget I asked,” she grumbles sitting on the edge of the tub, reaching for the razor.

  I grab it out of her hand and bite my lip.

  “I wasn't laughing at you, Lace. I’m sorry. That's just...you have a lot of trust in me,” I smirk.

  “I figured you have just as much invested as I do. You cut me, no pussy for you and I probably will cut you back.”

  “Gee, no pressure, huh? Standing above me is probably better, I'll be gentle.”

  I sit in the tub underneath
Lacey's legs and she groans.

  “God, this is so embarassin’,” Lacey says exhaling as I rub shaving cream on her.

  A moan drips from her lips and I smile.