Big Baller : A Hero Club Novel

by Katrina Marie

  Rounding the corner, she picks up her pace. “My car is right over there.”

  “You know this isn’t a race, right?” The flurries are getting bigger and hit me in the face. It wouldn’t be so bad if they’d stop landing in my fucking eyes.

  She laughs as we near what I assume is her car. “I’m just trying to protect your Southern ass. I know you don’t like cold weather.”

  We stop at the driver side door of an older model sedan. I can’t tell what kind it is, but I know from the body style it’s almost a decade old. She unlocks it and I move to open the door for her. Slipping on a small patch of ice I didn’t see; I end up pressing her against the car. Her breath comes out in soft pants, small white clouds leaving her mouth on every exhalation. Eyes wide, her gaze meets mine and despite the cold and the fact I can’t feel my fingers, I lean down and press my lips to hers.

  She doesn’t pull away. Her hands trapped between us grasp onto my jacket, yanking me closer. My tongue swirls with hers and I use the top of her car to support my weight. I lose all track of time as she tries to pull me flush against her body. The thickness of my jacket keeps us from that.

  I move one of my hands and tangle it in her hair, grateful that she wears it down when she’s not at work. A moan escapes into my mouth as I deepen the kiss. She breaks away, placing small kisses along my neck. Teasing me the way I teased her when she was in Austin. Dammit, this isn’t fair. Not when I can’t strip her out of her clothes in privacy.

  “Get a room,” someone from a couple of rows down yells, breaking the bubble we’ve been in for the past few minutes.

  Jolene pulls away from me and looks down at her hands gripping my shirt. “I’m so sorry. I’m not sure what got into me.”

  Running a finger down the side of her face, I lift her chin until her eyes meet mine. “Never apologize for that. But maybe we can go back to your place now. We’ll have privacy there.”

  She nods and turns to get in the car. I wait until she’s settled in her seat and close the door. I’d offer to drive, but I’m one of the people that doesn’t do well with wintry weather. I round the car and slide into the passenger seat. Leaning over, I kiss her one more time before putting my seatbelt on. “Let’s get out of here. I have plans for you.”

  A sly smile crosses her face as she puts the car in reverse and merges into traffic. I’m going to make her forget every man before me.

  The drive doesn’t take long. With as many people as we saw on the sidewalks, I figured traffic would be horrible. Apparently, those who were going to get out and about already are, and everyone else has stayed in.

  Jolene pulls into a parking garage and parks close to the elevators. “We’re here,” she squeaks out nervously, but doesn’t reach for the door.

  “Are we going to get out, or stay in the car? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be anywhere you are, but inside might be more comfortable… and warmer.” I’m only giving her a hard time. Even if I have plans, of every way I want to claim her, she’s still skittish. The only reason I know she wants more is because she initiated the kiss in the parking lot. She pulled me closer and made me lose all sense of reality.

  “Yeah,” she reaches for the door handle before I can get out to open it for her. She waits until I’m beside her before walking toward the door next to the elevators.

  Despite the frigid air and the promise of warmth her apartment brings, I pull her to a stop. She gasps as I run a finger along her jawline, and brush kisses along the same path. A small reminder of what’s coming.

  Her breathing picks up and she shudders at my touch. “Let’s get inside.” This time we’re rushing for completely different reasons. A part of me wants to scoop her into my arms and carry her to our destination, if only to speed things up. But I have no idea where to go, and I don’t want to freak her out.

  She leads me down a hallway by the edge of my jacket, then turns down another one. I’m nothing more than a puppy, eagerly following her, and waiting for my treat. Stopping in front of her door, she fumbles with her keys. I slide my arm around her waist and under her jacket, caressing her waistline through the thin red fabric of her dress. Her keys fall from her hand and she mutters a curse. “We will never make it inside if you keep distracting me.”

  I pause in my teasing to pick up the keys and place them in her outstretched hand. “You’ve been distracting me all damn night,” I whisper in her ear.

  She shudders against me and shakes her head. “We’ll cause a scene if we don’t make it inside, then I’ll have to move from embarrassment.” Finding the correct keys, she slides it into the lock.

  “Fine,” I pout and slide my hand over hers. “But the minute that door closes behind us…you are mine.” The last part is a growl and I hope she knows just how serious I am.

  Instead of answering me, she turns the key and pushes the door open. I take that as all the invitation I need. But Jolene surprises me. She yanks the key out of the door and turns to face me. Her hands reach for the lapels of my jacket and she pulls be toward her, closing the distance between us. Walking backward, she tugs me along, her lips inching toward mine.

  As soon as I clear the door, I kick it closed with my foot. I pause to lock the door behind me, but she yanks me forward. “Don’t worry about that. The only person who barges in unannounced is Lana, and she’s been warned not to show up.”

  “So, you planned to seduce me all along,” I chuckle. “And here I thought it was the other way around.”

  “Shut up and kiss me already.” Who am I to disappoint? I slam my mouth into hers. Our hands are busy, trying to get our jackets off of each other without breaking contact. It’s not an easy feat, but we manage to shrug our jackets off with our lips still fused together.

  Now that the bulk between us is gone, I can do what I wish. I pick her up, her legs wrapping around my waist. She gasps as my hardness hits her center. “We should go to the bedroom,” she pants.

  “Tell me where it is.” She tries to slide down, but I grasp her ass, keeping her in place. “Just tell me.” I don’t want to lose contact. Lose the feel of her body pressed against mine.

  “Straight down the hall. It’s the door at the end.” She clings to me, pressing feverish kisses against my throat. Arms secured around me so she doesn’t fall. Not like I would let that happen. In less than a minute we’re in her room, and I place her right beside her bed.

  Her hand reaches for the strap of her dress, but I grab it before she even has a hold of it. “Don’t. I want to do that.” As much as I’ve always enjoyed the rush of getting a woman into my bed, I want to take my time with her. She’s not like the other women, and I don’t want to treat her like she is.

  Her cheeks pinken and she steps toward me, hands outstretched. Her fingers fumble with the buttons on my shirt. One by one the buttons come apart, my undershirt exposed with each one. Her warm breath hits my chest as she comes closer, sliding my shirt off my shoulders.

  The moment feels surreal, and like so much more than just sex. I honestly can’t remember the last time a woman has undressed me. Or if it’s ever happened before. I relish the time she’s taking to pay attention to my body. Taking her time. Torturing me in the best way possible.

  She reaches her hand under my shirt, tracing the muscles as she lifts it up and up. I hurry the process and reach behind my head, pulling it off in one swift movement.

  “Somebody is impatient,” she smirks as she trails her hands down my chest, then my stomach, before stopping at the top of my pants. With one finger she unbuttons them, and excruciatingly slowly pulls the zipper down. Grabbing the waistband of both my pants and boxers, she slides them down my legs, gasping as my cock springs free.

  She sits on the edge of the bed, staring at me. I feel insecure, completely undressed and vulnerable to her gaze. Wondering how much of me she’s truly seeing. Not just the superficial stuff. My muscled body, or scars from falling off my bike and trying crazy ass stunts on the court. But the fear I have that this is someth
ing real. Something I’ve never had before. That she’s made me want her for more than a couple of nights of fun.

  I grab her hands until she’s standing again. My hand reaches for the bottom of her dress, and I slowly lift it up. Running my fingers over her soft skin, never breaking contact, until I pull it over her head and throw it on the floor behind us.

  All she’s left in are her lacy bra and panties, and her heels. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

  She bursts out laughing. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting considering I’m buck naked and trying to be sweet. “Sorry. I just never understood that phrase, and it’s kind of cheesy.”

  “Okay,” I breathe out. “You are stunning. Every. Single. Inch.” I drive the point home by tracing the outline of her bra until I reach the back and undo the clasp.

  “You’re pretty good at that.” Her voice is shaky. I’m not sure if it’s from nerves or the fact that I can take a bra off one-handed in less than thirty seconds. A result of lots of practice, but she doesn’t need to have that confirmed. Not now, and not ever.

  “Mhm,” I mumble. She starts to take her panties off, but I stop her. “That’s my job.”

  I ease her onto her bed until she’s lying down. Her long brown hair fans out above her, and she looks ethereal. I study every inch of exposed skin. Tonight, will be one she never forgets.

  Twenty

  Jolene

  Bentley towers over me, domineering and unafraid to take what he wants. He’s most definitely the wolf and I’m the prey. I watch him taking in my body on full display. Yearning for something I’ve been holding out on giving him. The reward at the end of the chase. I wasn’t putting this off because I wanted to tease him. That would be cruel, and I’m not that sort of woman. I wanted to make sure it was right…for both of us. That I could trust him. I haven’t seen his face grace the font of a tabloid in weeks. At least, not with another woman. It’s mostly him hanging out with teammates or shooting hoops with Derrick. That’s how I know he’s trustworthy, and tonight will be perfect.

  He leans over me until his face is mere inches away from mine. “Are you still good? I don’t want to stop what we’ve started, but I will if you have any doubts.”

  His fingers brush a stray hair off my forehead and the gentleness turns me on more than when he picked me up and carried me to my room. The soft side that he doesn’t show anyone else is precisely why I’m falling for him. “I’m good.”

  Nodding his understanding, he kisses along my jawline, pausing to nip at my ear. He gently sucks on my lobe and heat rushes south. Who would have known I’m a sucker for my ears being played with? I turn my head until my lips brush against his. “Kiss me.”

  He doesn’t hesitate. His mouth melds to mine, and it’s pure perfection. It’s as if my lips were made for his. They make me forget all the rejection in my past. The hurt so many, especially those who were supposed to love me unconditionally, have caused me to disappear. All that matters is right now, with him.

  His mouth breaks away from mine and works down my neck, settling on my right nipple. He bites down. Not too hard, but hard enough to no longer know the difference between pain and pleasure.

  I squirm under the attention his mouth and tongue give me. His dick twitches with the friction. “Stop torturing me already,” I all but pant.

  He doesn’t respond, but I can feel him smile against my skin. He gives attention to the other nipple, but nowhere near as much as he did the first. My body is on fire and he hasn't even entered me yet. I swear if he doesn’t do something soon, I’m going to scream out of frustration.

  I move my hand to his head and tangle my fingers in his hair. Maybe if I guide him further down, he’ll take the hint. It’s been months since I’ve been with anyone, and I know I will go off like a firework at the slightest touch.

  Finally, he works his way down. His tongue gliding a patch down my stomach. He reaches one hand up to pinch my nipple, and the other to my warm center. Feeling how much I want him through the lace fabric. “I think you’re almost ready for me.” His voice is gruff. As if it’s taking everything in him not to devour me. His breath against my thighs sends shivers through my body. I’m going to lose it before he’s done anything. This is one of those times I wish foreplay didn’t exist. The wait until the main attraction is almost painful.

  Using his teeth, he pulls down the edge of my panties and shimmies them down my legs. I start to kick my heels off, but he places a hand on my foot. A silent command to leave them on. That’s kind of weird, but whatever floats his boat.

  Before I can ask what’s taking so long, I feel his breath against my clit. He doesn’t start off slow, either. He’s done taking his time, and within minutes…I’m seeing stars. Son of a bitch, I should have listened to Lana all those months ago and had fun until I found someone to be serious with. Because I feel like I did in my younger days every slight touch would make me explode. He doesn’t relent, though. Only grips my thighs, pulling me closer to him. And I’m left riding wave after wave of ecstasy.

  I can’t take anymore and I push his head back, needing a break from the onslaught of feeling. He arches an eyebrow and stares at me from the edge of the bed. “Had enough already?”

  “It’s, um, been a while.” Embarrassment rushes through me, and I’m sure my face is bright red. Even though I’m far from being a virgin, I feel like I’m at a different level than he is when it comes to sex.

  “It’s all good. We can take this as slow or fast as you want.” He climbs onto the bed next to me and pulls me closer to him.

  “I’m okay now. That was just intense.” He’s obviously mastered the art of going down on women. While a part of me is jealous, I know that none of the women before me matter. At least, not right now.

  “Do you want to keep going?” He sounds sincere, but I know that stopping now would be torture for him. And me, if I’m being honest. I need to feel him inside me. To connect with him physically the way we connect on our virtual dates and when we see each other.

  “Yes,” I nod. “There are condoms in the top drawer of the nightstand." I point above me to the furniture in question. Even though it’s the only one by my bed.

  “So, you were prepared for tonight.” It’s not a question. I may act like I don’t want this to only be physical, but I can’t deny the way he makes me feel. How he makes me want more. He reaches over us and grabs the square foil packet out of the drawer. “What if it’s not big enough?”

  “Someone is a little sure of themselves,” I wave him off. “We’ll manage because as much as I want you right now, you aren’t coming near me without protection.”

  “I don’t know if I should be offended, or not,” he scrunches his eyebrows together. “As if I’d ever do anything that made you uncomfortable.”

  “Dude, you pursued me after I told you I didn’t want to date. Then, you conspire with my best friend to get the outcome you want.” I roll my eyes at him, “I don’t think there’s much you wouldn’t do to get what you wanted.”

  “I may be confident in myself, but I’m not an asshole.” He says all this while rolling the condom over his erection. It looks snug, but as long as it doesn’t break…we’re good. “Now,” he leans over and places kiss after kiss along my shoulder. “Where were we?”

  I shiver under the feel of his lips on my skin. The way he runs his hands down my body until he finds what he’s looking for. “Yeah,” I squeak out. “I think that’s exactly where we were.”

  “You know, I think you’re right.” He moves until he’s looming over me, between my legs, just one push from being inside me. He slides forward until the tip of his cock is lined up with me, but he doesn’t go any further. “You sure?”

  “If you don’t do something soon, I’m going to take care of it myself.” That’s all the permission he needs. He slams into me and my entire body ignites. He fills me completely, stretching me with each push. He wraps one arm around me, bringing me closer to him, until I can feel him deep inside
me. Claiming me inch by inch.

  “Bentley,” his name is a whisper on my lips. That spurs him on. Faster and faster until all I see are stars as I come undone around him. Shuddering as the final throes of ecstasy leave my body.

  Within minutes he’s gripping my body harder than before. His fingers wrapping in my hair, pulling my head back until he stiffens. His cock pulsing inside me as he finds his release.

  Gently, he frees his hand from my hair and lowers me to the bed. I’m not sure what he sees on my face, but he asks, “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” I nod. At least, I think I am. It’s been months since I’ve been with anyone, and he was my re-introduction into having a sex life again. He’s made it impossible for others to live up to him. And I’m not complaining one little bit.

  He rolls off of me before getting off the bed and going to the restroom. I can do nothing but lay in pure bliss. Absolutely nothing can bring me down from the high I feel right now. He comes back to the bed, a knowing smirk on his face. “Are you ready for bed?”

  All I can do is nod and pull the blanket out from underneath me. He slides in behind me, wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me flush with him. The contact alone is enough to make me want more. The way his hand slides from my waist and down my hip, back and forth, lets me know he does, too. I can already tell it’s going to be a long night. I don’t know when we’ll actually let our eyes close for the night, but I know I will drink in every moment I have with him before he leaves.

  Light streaming from the window wakes me up. Wait, why is there light coming through? Blackout curtains aren’t supposed to allow that to happen. I know for a fact they were closed before we fell asleep last night.

  I swing my arm behind me, feeling for the body that should be there. That’s supposed to be there, but it’s missing. The spot he was lying in is still warm. That’s a good sign. At least I know he didn’t sneak out in the wee hours of the morning once I fell asleep. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t just do it. But why open the curtains? To be an asshole?