Pitching for Amalie

by Hayley Faiman

  “I do. I would love to someday. My parents have never been back or spoken to anyone from home that I know of. I can remember an aunt who I was close to and a few cousins, but I don’t remember much else—just snippets.”

  I put the meatballs in the skillet to brown them while I grab a glass bowl from the cabinet next to the stove. I gather all the ingredients for a salad and begin to prepare it. Jarrod is watching me, like he’s mulling over something. I can almost see the gears turning in his head.

  “What will we be doing in Kentucky?” I ask, breaking the silence.

  “Relaxing with my family. Maybe going to a horserace if there is one.”

  He takes a pull from his beer, and my mouth practically goes dry as I watch his throat work the liquid down. He’s so strong and tough. He amazes me.

  “I’m nervous about meeting your family. I haven’t really been around a family in a while,” I confess, not able to meet his eyes.

  “They will love you. Trust me. My brother, the one who is single, will be all over you.” He laughs.

  I meet his eyes, confused. “Why?”

  “Because you are tall, built like no woman I’ve ever seen before. You’re beautiful, and your hair and eyes are such unique colors that it’s so hard to even look away from you. You draw me in, and you suck me in, just like you do with every single man in your presence.”

  My eyes bug out at his explanation. What is he even talking about?

  I scoff at his words. He’s clearly insane.

  “I’m serious, Amalie. You are so uniquely beautiful that I have to fight the urge to punch out every man who looks at you because I know exactly what they’re thinking. It’s what I thought about when I first laid eyes on you and what I still think about every second of every day.”

  I stare at him. How can he say such things to me?

  He rises from the bar and walks over to me, turning me in his arms. He leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips.

  “You are beautiful, sexy, and smart. The best part is, you have no fucking clue the power you have over me and every other man on this planet.” He crushes my mouth with his.

  Sliding his hands from my waist to my ass, he picks me up. My legs instinctively go around his firm waist while my hands dig into his shoulders.

  “You’re crazy,” I whisper against his lips when they still.

  “No, I’m really not.”

  Before I can protest, he pulls my panties to the side and slowly slides himself inside me, placing my ass down on the countertop—thankfully away from the food and knives. I wrap my legs tighter around his waist and throw my head back. His strokes aren’t hurried. They are slow and calculating. I feel like I am high. My body is floating with every stroke.

  “Live in this moment, Amalie. Feel this. Feel my cock going in and out of your body. Feel what I do to you. Look at us,” he demands harshly.

  My eyes travel down. I watch as his beautiful cock slides in and out of my body, connecting us. He’s coated in my wetness, glistening, as it slides in and out, in and out. It’s beautiful. My body takes him, all of him, and he gives that to me.

  “You are beautiful. This is beautiful,” he says, speeding his strokes and holding on to me a little tighter.

  A tear escapes my eye, followed by another and then another. When I come, I cry out, and I can’t stop the tears. Jarrod gathers me in his arms and sinks down to the floor, his back to the cabinets. He’s still rooted deep inside me, his hands lovingly caressing my hair.

  “Hey, hey. You all right?”

  I place a kiss on his neck and look up at him. His cobalt eyes are shining with worry.

  “That was intense and beautiful,” I say, hoping that I won’t need to go into detail with him about my feelings.

  I fell in love in that moment, watching us and our connection. I fell deep in love, and I’m not quite sure how to process it yet.

  “Yeah, baby. Fuck, I don’t know that I’ve ever had this much sex in such a short amount of time.” He laughs.

  “I know, right?” I slide off his lap and readjust my panties. Then, I wash my hands and plate our food before placing them at the bar.

  Jarrod grabs another beer. Then, he takes his fork and cuts a meatball in half before putting it into his mouth.

  “Christ, baby. This is so good. It’s nothing like I thought.”

  “Thanks. I knew you would like it. Maybe when we’re in Kentucky, I can make Ableskivers to go with breakfast one morning.” I want to do something special for his family. I don’t know why I think cooking will be special. What the hell do I know? I’ve never really met the parents before.

  “Mom would love that,” he says with a smile. He places a chaste kiss on my forehead before devouring every single bite of food on his plate.

  Instead of in Jarrod’s strong warm arms, I wake up to a note on my pillow.

  AT TRAINING. WILL BE GONE MOST OF THE DAY. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

  –JARROD

  I decide to do just that. I clean up the few dishes that were leftover from dinner last night. I clean the kitchen, take a long bath, and settle down with a good book on my e-reader. Then, right when all the good sex is happening, my phone rings. I look down at the caller ID. It’s Jo. I haven’t talked to her in days. She’s changing, and I’m not sure I like the person I am seeing in her.

  “Hello?”

  “Lee, are you still in the city?” She sounds annoyed.

  “I am. Niklas visited me the other night, and I wasn’t entirely comfortable going back, so Jarrod suggested I stay with him for a few weeks.” I know she wants Eric for herself. She can have him, but honestly, I wouldn’t wish him on my worst enemy, let alone my oldest friend.

  “Yeah, Eric called me. He really wants to see you, Lee. I think he wants you back. He says he misses you. God, girl. What I wouldn’t give to have him want me the way he wants you.”

  She’s idolizing him just like I knew she would. It doesn’t matter that she knows all the dirty details. She, like my brother, doesn’t believe all of them. They think I am being dramatic, and there is no way Eric could have ever treated me the way he did because he loves me.

  “It’s been seven years, Jo. We are so over that it’s ancient history. I’m with Jarrod now. I really like him.” I want to tell her to take Eric off my hands, but I’m afraid she would follow my ill advice.

  “Yeah, I saw you guys on a gossip website. I don’t think you know him as well as you think you do, Lee.” She’s trying to sound sincere, but it’s not coming off that way at all.

  “Why do you say that?” I’m baiting her.

  I know what I see in Jarrod. I know he’s not perfect, but I also know he’s really into me. Not once has his phone rang and a girl been on the line. He isn’t secretive about texts or phone calls. He has been completely honest with me, and I have been in his home. If he were hiding some huge things, odds are that I would find it.

  “He’s a total player, Lee. You’re just going to get used up and spit out like all the other women. I saw a photo of you guys out shopping—at a baby store,” she whispers the last few words.

  I want to laugh.

  “I am visiting with his family in Kentucky next week, and his sister-in-law is newly pregnant, so I wanted to buy her a congratulations gift. We haven’t been together long enough for me to even be pregnant.” I laugh.

  “Well, I just worry. I read that his last girlfriend did get pregnant, and he forced her into having an abortion.” She sounds a little too haughty to be genuinely concerned.

  I think about Jarrod and how nice he is. He said if I did get pregnant, then our baby would be beautiful, and he is so excited to be an uncle, so there’s no way he would force an abortion of his own child.

  “I’ll ask him about it when gets back.”

  “Where is he? He left you alone?” She sounds offended.

  I’m not, so why should she be?

  “He’s at practice. They have a game tomorrow.” I tell her good-bye and hang up the pho
ne.

  Why is she being so catty? I have no doubt that she’ll immediately call Eric and tell him that I’m in New York and then I’ll be in Kentucky. Oh, and I’m sure she’s sent him all the info on Jarrod she could get her hands on. I contemplate, Why am I friends with her? She doesn’t seem to have my best interest at heart anymore.

  I am now renewed with nervous and agitated energy, so I decide to start some laundry. I separate all of Jarrod’s clothes and my own. I go through all his pockets and find nothing to be concerned with. Now, I feel stupid with Jo’s silly seed of doubt trying to take root in my brain. I start a load of whites and lie back down on the sofa to try to relax. I end up falling asleep with questions about Jo and our friendship swirling in my mind.

  “Wake up, beautiful baby.”

  Whispers tickle my ear, and I slowly flutter my eyes open to stare into the cobalt-blue pools I’ve become accustomed to. He’s smiling, kneeling down, with his face in line with mine.

  “Hey.” I stretch a little, arching my back and straightening out my legs. “What time is it?”

  “It’s after six. I’m fucking beat.” He lifts my legs and settles down on the sofa under them.

  “Are you hungry? Need me to make you something?” I don’t know why, but looking at his dark circles under his eyes and his slacked face, I want to take care of him.

  “We’ll order in tonight, baby. So, what did you do today?” He starts to massage my bare feet with his strong hands.

  “Cleaned a little, started some laundry, and read.” I shrug. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like getting into the Jo and abortion discussion. I honestly don’t think it’s valid at all.

  “You don’t need to clean, baby. I have a housekeeper. She comes on Wednesdays. But thank you. I appreciate it.” He smiles.

  It’s a sight that takes my breath away every time. It’s his bright, shiny all-American smile. I love it.

  We decide to order Chinese. Since it’s not my favorite, I decide on steamed rice with broccoli and beef. It’s unhealthy, I’m sure, but it’s the only thing that appeals to me. Jarrod just laughs. I told him he was lucky that I didn’t order my usual.

  “And what’s your usual, beautiful?”

  “Sweet and sour chicken without the sweet and sour and steamed rice.” I shrug.

  “So, chicken nuggets?” He throws his head back with laughter.

  I grab a pillow and lightly throw it at his chest. “Be nice!”

  “You are adorable. How the fuck did I ever get so lucky?” He has stopped laughing, but his eyes are dancing with amusement. He leans down and softly kisses my lips. His phone rings, and we are interrupted.

  “Hey, Mama,” he croons into the phone.

  Oh God. His mother.

  “Practiced all day. No, it went well. Hey, reason I called is that I’m comin’ to town for a week, next week actually. Yeah, we got a small break. But I’m bringin’ someone with me. Yeah, a girl.” He laughs softly and winks at me.

  I just stare in shock and fear.

  “You’re gonna love her. Amalie. She’s Danish. You’ll see her in a week. Do I have to? All right. She’s about six feet tall, white-blonde hair, extremely light-blue eyes. I can’t even tell you how gorgeous she is. Oh, she’s an ultrasound technician who does some side modeling. No, nothing like that. She does pinup clothing. Yeah, like Marilyn Monroe.” He rolls his eyes and grins at me. “All right, Mama. We’ll be seein’ ya next week then. Love you, too.”

  “Oh my god,” I whisper, unable to completely comprehend the conversation that Jarrod just had with his mother about me.

  “My mama is so fucking excited to see you. I don’t think she would care if I even showed up. She practically cried when she found out you were a model like her idol Marilyn Monroe.” He laughs softly.

  “I’m so nervous,” I whisper, unable to make eye contact.

  He puts his fingers under my chin and lifts my face to meet his eyes. His cobalt eyes are taking me in, and I see that they are bright, and he looks happy.

  “She’s already in love with you. Meeting you in person will just solidify that. I have to tell you, I haven’t brought a girl home since I was in college, so she’s over the moon.”

  “You haven’t?” I question. How could this be?

  “Nope. I haven’t met anyone who I thought might be a permanent fixture. My mother attaches and then gets her heart broken too easily.”

  “What are you saying?” I search his cobalt eyes.

  I watch as they crinkle at the sides, and a huge smile appears on his face.

  “I’m saying, when I’m with you, I can envision us being permanent. I wouldn’t introduce you to them if I didn’t. I’m saying, you’re mine. I want to be with you. I’m saying, I like you a lot, more than anyone else I’ve ever met.” He punctuates the T, before crushing his mouth to mine.

  We almost don’t hear the buzzer ringing with our food. Well, I don’t because I’m so lost in his kiss, but Jarrod does because he’s starving.

  Such a man.

  The next morning, I am wrapped in warmth that envelops my whole being. I don’t want to open my eyes in fear that the cold could somehow seep into me, my bones, or my soul. I chance a peek to see Jarrod’s messy hair, soft full lips slightly parted, and lashes against the tops of his cheeks. He is so beyond gorgeous. I can’t believe that he is actually wrapped around me. My heart does this weird flutter thing.

  Uh-oh, that can’t be good.

  Jarrod’s leg is thrown over both of mine, and it feels like my foot is starting to fall asleep. I try to shift ever so slightly as not to wake him because I honestly just want to look at his sleeping face for a few more minutes. Unfortunately, my plan is a bust because he pulls me even closer into his body and rolls on top of me, his arms caging in my head.

  “Morning, baby,” he whispers against my neck before leaving light kisses.

  “Hey,” I whisper.

  That is the only coherent thing I can say with his lips on me, his voice sleepy and husky and dripping with sex.

  “Open up, baby,” he whispers in my ear, nudging my legs open with his knee.

  I oblige because sleepy morning sex with Jarrod is starting to look enticing. Any sex with Jarrod is extremely enticing and satisfying, but there is something so intimate about sleepy, hazy morning sex that makes my heart swell.

  One of his hands leaves the bed to slightly knead my breast, tugging on my nipple, and then it travels down to my sex. I’m already wet. I know I am. The man turns me on like no one else ever could. When Jarrod’s fingers trace me, going up and down my center, his groan vibrates my neck where his lips are kissing me.

  “Baby, seriously, you’re already wet. Fuck me, you make it really hard to take my time with you.”

  I start to giggle, but when I feel him slide inside me, my breath hitches, my legs spread farther apart, and my back arches off the bed.

  Jarrod roughly grabs the backs of my thighs, his fingers digging and biting into my flesh, bruising my pale skin, but I don’t care. I want the bruises. I want to be marked by him on the outside as much as he has already marked me on the inside.

  “Be still, baby. Be real still,” he whispers before pulling halfway out of me and then slamming into me.

  My half-lidded sleepy eyes bug out. He deceptively smirks down at me.

  That man.

  I’m trying my hardest to be as still as possible while Jarrod continues his half-out-slam-in assault on my body. I can feel the fire in my belly, the tingles, and my eyes begin to roll in the back of my head right before my hips start to roll. I get maybe one or two of my hip rolls in before I feel a hand smack down on my hip, a loud crack echoing throughout the room. Again, my eyes open and narrow on Jarrod’s cobalt blues, and I see another damn smirk on his lips.

  “I said, be still, baby. Whose woman are you?” he asks me, roughly grabbing my thigh again.

  I notice a sheen of sweat covering his beautiful smooth chest.

  “Yours,” I moan be
fore biting my lip because it is pure torture not to move.

  “Fuck yes, you are,” he says, pulling completely out of me.

  I whimper. He instructs me to flip over to my stomach, and before I can position myself any further, he grabs my hips and hauls me to my knees before thrusting deep inside me. I prop my elbows on the bed as one of his hands snakes down to my clit.

  “Fuck my cock while I make you come. Work for it, Amalie,” he growls.

  I do. I push myself back onto his cock like my life depends on it. His fingers never stop in their assault of my clit, and within sheer minutes, I’m coming all around him. My pussy clenches around him, my whole body shaking. He stops touching my clit before I’ve even finished. He grabs my hips and relentlessly pounds into my body while I’m still pulsing around him. After one…two…three hard thrusts, he comes, gruffly saying my name, and then we both collapse together.

  Jarrod slides out of me, but half of his body remains plastered against my back. My hair is everywhere and crazy. I know it. I’m sweaty and trying to catch my breath when I feel him kiss a path from my neck, down my spine, to the top of my ass, and back again.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispers when he is back at my neck.

  All I can do is hum in response.

  “You’re mine?” he asks, splaying his hand across the small of my back.

  I turn my head to the side to see his gorgeous face looking at me, his eyes looking a little sad.

  “Of course. No one else’s. What’s wrong, sweet?”

  He smiles sadly, and it worries me. Never has he looked at me with anything but hunger, desire, or sheer joy, so this sadness is startling.

  “I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you,” he says in a low voice, his lips just a whisper above my skin.

  His warmth is all around me, and it makes me feel soft and needed.

  “Is this about Eric? He won’t hurt me again, Jarrod. I won’t let it happen. I’m not the same young girl I once was. I’m not scared of him, not anymore, especially with you to protect me.”

  Jarrod tightly wraps me against his hard body and sighs.