Hard to Catch: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (The Beasts of Baseball Book 3)

by Alice Ward

  “You don’t think I’ll scare the kids, do ya?” I asked, pointing at the faded bruises on my face. The black under my eyes had begun to turn a lime green, but the marks on my cheeks were still dark purple.

  “I can fix that,” she said, moving her hand slowly toward my face. The smoothness of her skin against mine felt so good. I wanted to reach up and touch her, but I didn’t.

  “I have some makeup in my room. Come by before the event, and I’ll fix you right up.” She glanced around and pulled her hand away.

  I’d never been so anxious to do a charity meet-n-greet in all my life. The next two days waiting for the event had been killing me. Kat was busy with her interviews, her charity scheduling, and Lord only knows what else. She wasn’t accessible, at least not to me. But today was the day, and I planned to get as much Kat time as I possibly could.

  My hand was reached toward her door, clenched in a fist, and ready to knock when it opened. Kat looked surprised as she opened it, her eyes narrowed and her head tilted. “Todd?”

  “You told me to come by,” I said, pointing to the marks on my face that were already clearing up.

  “Of course, come in,” she said, motioning for me to enter. “I’m running late. I’d forgotten.”

  It didn’t make me feel so great that she’d forgotten me, but I was still holding her to our deal. “You pack your bikini?” I asked.

  “Bikini?”

  “Yeah. You promised to go to the beach with me after the event,” I said, smiling with as much charm as I could muster.

  “I said I’d go to the beach. I didn’t say anything about a bikini,” she smirked.

  “What else do you wear at the beach?” I asked with a laugh. “A gray suit and heels?”

  She stood back, held her arms open and showed me the outfit she was already wearing. White shorts, fuck they were nice and short. And a pink tank top, this one tighter than the other, pressing nicely against her firm breasts. I bit my bottom lip, rose an eyebrow to show my approval, and without realizing it, a growl escaped my throat.

  She blushed, quickly rushed into her bathroom, and returned seconds later with a pink zippered bag. “Sit down.”

  I sat. Kat fumbled in the pink bag, digging through various tubes and bottles before finally pulling out a small brown squeeze tube. “What’s that?” I asked, suddenly cautious about makeup being applied to my face.

  “Concealer,” she replied, pushing her hand against my forehead to tilt my head back to the chair. “It’s nothing that will show. It’s designed to hide blemishes.”

  The brush was cold as it slid across my skin, first at my cheek and then under my eye. Her finger was warm sliding across the goo to smooth it. I watched as she moved closer, leaning over me to check her work. Her vanilla scent, her smooth skin, and her warm breath were too much to bear. I gripped her hand as she pulled it from my face, tugging her closer to me. Our lips met, explosions, wildfires, and even volcanoes erupted within me from her touch. It’d been too long. She felt it too, I knew she did.

  “We have to go,” she whispered, barely pulling her lips away from mine.

  Her eyes were wildly excited, but her actions cold and precise. “Okay,” I agreed, deciding now wasn’t the time to argue.

  She rushed me from the room, shared an elevator with me, barely speaking, and then jumped into a black car out front, leaving me to ride with the other players on the shuttle.

  My eyes pulled to Kat like magnets to metal as she led the kids in a cheer. “Here.” She handed me a speed gun. My hand grazed over hers as I took the device from her. What was it about her that drove me so wild?

  The kids lined up, all taking a turn at the pitcher’s mound while I clocked their speed. One boy, Jimmy, he was a natural, throwing out thirty mile an hour balls toward the batter. “Wow. You got some arm,” I told him, his cheeks rounding with pride.

  “You’re really great with these kids,” she said softly, her hand sliding gently up my arm as she spoke.

  “I have a surprise for you after this,” I grinned. I knew her curiosity was bursting as she gazed at me with that beautiful smirk and those gorgeous, narrowed eyes.

  “Are you ready to watch how the pitcher and catcher work together?” she yelled to the kids, ignoring my comment. They all cheered as Calvin took the mound.

  I handed the speed gun to Ace, loaded my gear on, and took my spot at the plate. Kat explained every move we made, giving the kids an insight into how we had to work together. They all oohed and awed at the accuracy in each pitch. It felt good to get the credit for my part, even if only from a group of fifth graders. Kat smiled in my direction as she told the kids to watch where I placed my glove. Calvin slammed the ball into my palm, each time, exactly where I directed him.

  The kids had a blast, and I had to admit, so did I. But the tension between me and Kat was growing stronger with each glance, and I was glad it was finally over. “Hang back,” I said as I passed Kat and headed out the door with the other players.

  Everyone climbed onto the shuttle, Ace and Calvin expressing excitement to get back to their girls. I envied them. But, for now, I had my girl.

  “You comin’?” Calvin asked, holding the door.

  “No, I got a ride,” I said, motioning over my shoulder at the red Corvette pulling up.

  “Nice,” he said with a wink.

  A tall man wearing a suit exited the Corvette, handed me the keys, and had me sign for the car. As he headed to the car waiting for him, Kat walked out of the school. “What’s this?” she asked, her eyes wide and expressive.

  “Our ride to the beach,” I smiled.

  She seemed reluctant as I opened the passenger door. The shuttle, the team, and any sign of the media were gone. “I’ll take it easy,” I promised.

  Her lips tightened, but they were fighting back a smile, I could tell. I laughed. “Baby, you’re gonna have to learn to let go.”

  I started the car, revved the engine, and peeled out of the parking lot as Kat gripped the dashboard so tight her knuckles whitened. “You said you’d take it easy,” she squealed.

  The excitement in her eyes told me she wanted it, but her tone said something entirely different. I let off the gas and cruised past our condo. “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “I have this all night. I’d hate to let it go to waste,” I smiled, moving off the A1A.

  Once on the highway, she relaxed. “This is a nice car,” she said, sliding her hand across the leather interior.

  “You want to see what it can do?” I asked, grinning in her direction.

  “Maybe just a little,” she giggled.

  My foot pushed on the gas, speeding the car up to eighty, and then ninety in just a few seconds. The force sent her back against her seat, laughter, squeals, and excitement oozed from her as we raced down the highway. “Faster?” I asked.

  Her cheeks were bright red, and her eyes wild as she nodded. A soft squeal escaped her lips as I punched it, sending her back further into her seat. My body rushed with adrenaline, a much-needed sensation I’d missed these last several weeks. Watching her light up, enjoying the speed, and knowing she trusted me made the sensation all that more enjoyable.

  I let off the gas, slowed to the speed limit, and watched her eyes move toward the cop sitting along the side of the road. As we passed him, she laughed, “Close one.”

  I whipped the car into the parking lot of a jet ski rental shop. “What are we doing here?” she asked, the excitement in her voice turning to anxiousness.

  “You’re gonna love it,” I promised.

  Inside the shop, a woman with tanned, leathered skin handed me a receipt to take outside to the beach in exchange for my credit card. Kat was still whining that she wasn’t ready. “There are sharks out there,” she moaned.

  I gripped her hand, ignored her excuses, and guided her to the tiki hut where a man waited to set us up. “Wet suits?” he asked.

  “Absolutely,” I said, handing him the receipt.

  Kat lo
oked adorable in her pink wet suit. It was so tight it clung to her hourglass-shaped body. “We may need to keep that,” I said, considering cutting a few holes in it, of course. She blushed, obviously on the same track.

  The man gave us a quick overview of how to operate the jet skis. Kat listened carefully, asking him to repeat himself on various occasions. “You’ve never done this?” I asked, surprised by how little risk she’d taken in her life.

  “No,” she replied, her tone quick and nervous.

  We started out slow, Kat not willing to accelerate enough to get over the waves that banged against the shore. “You have to gun it,” I shouted, blasting over one of the larger waves.

  It was obvious her fear was taking over. I didn’t think she was going to be able to make it past the breaking waves. “I’m coming,” I shouted, turning my jet ski around to call it a day. I didn’t want to push. If she was scared, she was scared.

  Her jet ski turned toward me and suddenly moved forward with a wild intention. Holy shit, girl, you did it! I was shocked as she blasted over the wave and made her way to me. “How’d that feel?” I asked.

  “Fucking amazing!” Her eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree.

  The waves were still slapping, nipping at our feet. “Come on, let’s take a cruise,” I said, turning and taking off toward the depths of the ocean without waiting for her to refuse.

  Looking over my shoulder, she kept up, and soon was beside me. The faster I went, the faster she went. I dove the nose of the jet ski into the water, accelerating hard to sink it and me into the waves. As I popped up, Kat was squealing with delight. “You try it,” I teased, knowing the response before her head even began shaking with a hard no.

  “What about this?” I asked, turning the jet ski around to get a head start. I circled it around, spun fast past her, and then made my way back toward the large wave forming. As soon as the nose touched the wave, I lifted up hard, pushing the jet ski high into the air. I pulled back, flipping myself before landing back on the water. Kat was speechless at first, staring at me with a strange look in her eye. Was she pissed?

  “Nothing scares you, does it?” she asked as I pulled up beside her.

  “Nope,” I lied. She scared me.

  Finally, a smile. My heart calmed as her eyes softened on mine. I didn’t want her to think I was just an adrenaline junkie like the tabloids and the Mets said.

  She looked up at the sky. “It’s getting dark.”

  I nodded, turned my jet ski around, and headed for the shore with her beside me. I didn’t speed up once. I wanted this moment to last.

  “You two looked like you were having fun out there,” the man at the stand said.

  I watched Kat smile, nod, and then blush a little as I gave her a wink. My eyes followed her as she stepped into a small hut to change and dry off. “You hungry?” I asked when we were both back in our clothes, motioning to the pizza place across the street.

  “Starving,” she agreed.

  I took her hand, we ran across the street, and ordered the largest pepperoni pizza they had. “Let’s eat on the beach,” she said. Wow.

  “That sounds like a fabulous idea,” I agreed and ordered a six pack of beer to go with our meal.

  The sand was still warm from the blistering sun that day, even though it was long gone. We found a place under a large palm tree, away from any businesses, locals, or tourists. I wanted to say so much, but I didn’t know how, or even what. Her eyes pierced through my soul as she gripped a large slice of the pie and folded it before bringing it to her beautiful red lips.

  “Are you going to watch me eat?” she asked, ripping off a bite after she spoke.

  I laughed. I could watch her eat. I could just watch her forever.

  I reached into the box, pulled my own slice out, and folded it the way she had. She smiled, grabbed two beers, handed me one, and then sipped on hers to wash down her food.

  “I haven’t liked not seeing you this last week,” I finally said.

  Our eyes locked, and for a second, I thought she would lean in and kiss me. “What’s that?” she asked, pointing over my shoulder. I turned, squinted my eyes to see the dark shadow resting on the shore.

  She was already up and heading in that direction by the time I made out a turtle. “It’s trapped,” she said as I finally caught up with her.

  It was huge, not just large, but huge. Holy fuck. She’d asked if I was afraid of anything. Well, I was a little intimidated by this guy’s pointed, sharp mouth. “You have to help him,” she cried.

  I reached down to grip the plastic that had entangled around his flippers. He snapped, and I pulled back, looking for another angle. Kat cried again, “Please, help him.”

  Shit. I reached back down, quickly grabbing the plastic in both hands. I gave a quick tug, snapped it, and the big guy settled down, letting me work. It was as if he knew we were trying to help him.

  Kat snapped picture after picture as I worked, freeing the plastic and fishing line digging tightly into his skin. I talked to him, telling him it would be okay, and he lifted his head, gazing at me with his ancient eyes.

  When he was finally free, I stroked a thumb down his head. He bowed, as if he were saying thanks before heading back into the water and disappearing into the dark depths.

  Kat’s arms wrapped around my neck, her lips pressing against my cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, her breath warm against my cheek. I turned my head and found her lips with mine, connecting us the way we both wanted. If this was my reward, I’d free a snapping sea turtle every day of my life.

  My cock shifted, coming alive from her touch, my breathing speeding up, my heart racing. I needed her, now. I walked her toward the secluded spot in the sand where we had eaten with my arms wrapped tightly around her waist. My lips continued to deliver small kisses to her flesh as I lowered her to the soft sand. Her body melted into mine, her eyes closed, and her breathing slowed as I unfastened her shorts. My hands slid to her hips, gripping the denim that clung to her body and pulled it away without any resistance from her.

  “No panties?” I asked with a chuckle, delighted at the sight of her pink flesh. I dove in, pushing my tongue deep between her folds, tasting her again.

  Her back arched, her body pushed toward me, showing no signs of fear, reluctance, or even embarrassment of being in a public place. My body was drenched in adrenaline as I unleashed my cock and slid up her body, taking one breast in my mouth from above her shirt.

  Those moans, those little sighs, all the sounds of her pleasure were pushing me closer and closer to my edge. I didn’t want this to end, but as my cock rested at her hot pussy, I knew it wasn’t going to last long.

  “Don’t leave me again,” I whispered in her ear as I slid deep inside of her.

  “Never,” she gasped, my cock thrusting into her squirming body.

  Her legs wrapped around my waist, her arms tightened around my neck. Lips pressed hard against my shoulder, and then teeth grazed softly at my skin. Her warm, tight flesh tugging at mine sent a furious rush of pleasure through my veins. My toes curled into the sand, digging deep into the earth as I thrust deeper and deeper into her.

  Nails scraped at my back, her hips bucked against me as her breasts pushed upward to my open, ready mouth. Moans escaped her throat and fell onto the night air without remorse as her orgasm let loose and her inhibitions disappeared. That was all I needed for the extra nudge over the edge. My body tensed, tightened, and then relaxed as my weight dropped to her, and cum exploded from the tip of my cock.

  I brushed the hair gently from her face, stared into her eyes. I didn’t say anything, but I wanted to. I wanted to say so much.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Katrina

  Juggling the job of media manager for the Beasts and attending to Rhett’s demand for ten positives for every one negative was proving more exhausting than expected. At least I had Todd, at night anyway. Snuggling up in his arms, falling asleep after making love, or sometimes just talking,
it was nice. Was it too nice? I was getting too close to him. I knew that.

  “You’re doing an incredible job, Katrina.” Rhett slapped me on the back as the players all lined up behind the long tables I’d set up. Each one had a stack of photographs, a pen, and a large canister to hold donated food.

  “Thank you,” I said, stretching up to hang the Beasts Battling Hunger sign. Lana stood beside him, her hand on her hip, and her lips tightly pursed into a dead smile.

  I hated her being there, but it seemed she had no plans on leaving. “Yes, great job,” she said quickly and moved down the table toward Todd. I watched her, trying my best not to be noticed by Rhett. Todd smiled, laughed at whatever she said, but snuck a quick glance in my direction that eased my anxiety.

  Lana had me confused. She hated when I screwed up, like letting Todd venture into a bad part of New York where he was videoed in a fight. But she also seemed to be irritated when I was doing a good job. At career day, when I chose Ace Newman to speak, she cringed when Rhett told me how smart my choice had been. I was pretty sure she'd cringed when he just complimented me here.

  “I can’t wait to hold you,” Todd whispered in my ear as he walked by. Lana glared in our direction.

  “What did the bitch want?” I snapped, realizing as soon as I spoke that my tone was less than flattering.

  “She actually asked about you. She wanted to know if I was tired of having a full-time babysitter yet.”

  I was fuming. “Calm down. I think she was just feeling me out for adrenaline cravings,” Todd said, brushing his hand slowly up my arm.

  “You’re right,” I agreed, even though I wasn’t certain he was right. Lana was smooth, but she was also sneaky. Maybe she was on to us.

  “My room or yours?” Todd asked, changing the subject and easing my mood.

  “Mine,” I said and moved away to talk to the other players.

  Lana had caught me once going up in the elevator, so I wasn’t taking that chance again. Todd knew to punch the lobby button in the elevator to pass my floor if Lana made it on there before he hit my floor. It was exhausting hiding out relationship, but I knew, we both knew that I’d be fired if caught. What Todd didn’t know was how much I truly needed this job. Without it, where would I go? To my mom and dad’s tiny condo?