Behind the Plate: A New Adult Sports Romance (The Boys of Baseball Book 2)

by J. Sterling

  “I know, and I promise this will be the one and only time he’s in the bedroom with us,” I said before wincing because that sentence was awful. “Where should I start?”

  Chance blew out a long, cleansing breath. I could tell he was trying to refocus and calm himself down. He needed the blood to flow from his pants back up to his brain even though I liked it where it was.

  He cleared his throat and said, “I guess at the beginning. When did you guys break up?”

  “About a week after you and I went to The Bar,” I said and watched as Chance looked a little shocked.

  “Seriously? That long ago? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I know,” I began to explain as I searched for the words. “I just wanted to make sure that the breakup would stick,” I said before shaking my head. “No, that doesn’t sound right. That isn’t what I mean. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing.”

  “You could have told me.” He looked so disappointed and sad. “All this time, I thought you two were still together. I figured that’s why you stayed away from me.”

  “I know that it might not make sense from your perspective, but after I ended things with Jared, I needed the time to figure out my heart. I wanted clarification. I couldn’t do that if I jumped straight from him to you.”

  Chance nodded. “That makes sense. I hate it, but it makes sense.”

  I smiled softly before continuing, “I wanted to tell you. So many times, I wanted to tell you, but then the semester was ending, and I was going home. And I didn’t want to start something when I was leaving for New York.”

  “Danika, I would have started something with you if you were going to the moon. I just want to be with you.” Chance’s voice was so honest and vulnerable that it took everything in me not to crawl into his lap and kiss him again.

  “I want to be with you too,” I admitted, and he reached out, his hand gripping one of mine.

  “How did Jared take you breaking up with him? He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to just let you go without a fight,” he asked like there was something he wasn’t saying.

  “He was surprisingly okay with it at the time. At least, that’s how he acted. Like he had known it was coming. Like he’d half-expected it. I don’t know. I’d thought he’d be pissed, but it seemed like he couldn’t have cared less,” I said, remembering that the biggest fight he’d put up about our breakup was just the other day. “He didn’t act that way in New York though.”

  Chance removed his hand from mine as he sat up a little straighter. “What do you mean?”

  “He came to my house, unannounced, and basically said he’d given me enough time.”

  “Enough time for what?”

  “To come to my senses,” I said, hopefully sounding as disgusted as Jared’s words had made me feel.

  “What’d you say?”

  “I told him that I still meant what I’d said and that I didn’t want to be with him.”

  “Is that true? You don’t have any lingering feelings for him? You guys were together a long time. I’m sure it’s not that easy,” Chance asked, and I understood why he did. They were the same questions I’d asked myself over and over again.

  It had honestly caught me off-guard, the way I felt after the breakup. Part of what had kept me holding on for so long was the fear that I might be making a mistake or that maybe this was just a phase our relationship was going through and it wouldn’t always be this way. Jared had been by my side for so many years, and I was used to him being there, felt like I owed him loyalty. What if I ended things and regretted it? That question had haunted me.

  “I don’t regret breaking up with him. I’d thought I might before I actually did it, but once I did, I felt relieved. I don’t want him back. And it’s extremely fucked up, but I don’t even miss him,” I added because it was the truth.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve never been surer about anything.” I wanted Chance to know that there was no competition here and that Jared was not a threat to our future.

  The second he had walked out of my apartment, I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders. My soul felt free and happy. The earth felt like she had opened all of her doors for me to do and be anything I wanted. I had known then that I’d made the right decision even if it had taken me way too long to make it. Better late than never.

  “I can’t be a rebound, Danika. Not with you. This can’t be something you want to do to get it out of your system, and then you’ll go back to him after.”

  Has he even been listening? I wondered before realizing something. “Are you feeling vulnerable right now?”

  “I think so.” His eyes narrowed, and his expression shifted.

  This was all new to him, and labeling his emotions wasn’t something he’d ever had to do before.

  “It’s kind of sexy.”

  “It doesn’t feel very sexy.” He shook his head, disagreeing with me, but he was wrong.

  He looked so incredibly hot, sitting there with his heart in his hands, basically asking me not to break it without saying those exact words. I knew I needed to reassure him more, to let him know that I wanted to do this with him and only him.

  “You could never be a fling. And this is not a rebound. Jared and I have been over for a long time, and we both knew it.”

  “Then, why’d you stay?”

  “Because it’s easy to stay when you’re comfortable and it’s familiar.”

  “So then, why’d you break up with him?”

  That was the question I’d been waiting for. “There were a lot of reasons. We stopped being good together. We fought all the time. That was all we seemed to do anymore.”

  “Yeah, I saw some of that.”

  “But I mostly broke up with him because I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I said before adding, “But I didn’t tell Jared that part.”

  I watched as Chance swallowed hard, his throat bobbing with the action. “Well, he obviously knows about me.”

  “And he assumes you had something to do with it. But I waited. I didn’t jump from him to you. I took my time,” I said, trying to rationalize my decisions even though I knew I didn’t need to.

  “You took too damn long,” Chance growled, his confidence back. “And I don’t care what Jared thinks. Or says. You did the right thing by anyone’s standards. And Jesus, Danika, I don’t give a fuck. I just want you.”

  “I want you too.”

  “It’s about damn time,” he said before moving quicker than I’d anticipated. His hands were suddenly on my back, pulling me lower on the bed as he hovered over me, his muscles flexing, hair flopping over his green eyes.

  “Don’t stop,” I pleaded because I’d waited too long for this moment, fantasized about what it would be like to touch him and have him touch me. I’d dreamed about it for months, even when I had no business doing it.

  “I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.” He leaned down to kiss me, taking my mouth like he owned it. And he did. He always had, even when it didn’t belong to him. “But there’s no way I can have you once and never have you again.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked as I licked my lips, hoping to tease him.

  “This. Sex. Us,” he said, still hovering over me, those broad shoulders just begging to be bit. “I want all of you. And not just for tonight.”

  “What do you need from me, Chance?” I asked, forcing him to say the words out loud. “Tell me what you need.”

  “I need us to be together. I need this to be real.” He wagged a finger between our two bodies. “I need you to be mine. My girlfriend.”

  “Then, ask me.” I couldn’t stop grinning because I wanted this too.

  “You want me to ask you?” He leaned back on his heels, taking his gorgeous body away from mine.

  “Uh-huh,” I all but mumbled around my smile, missing his nearness.

  “No,” he said, his face serious, and I got nervous. “If we do this, we’re toge
ther. We’re not seeing other people. We’re not casually dating. We’re not friends with benefits. We’re a couple. You’re my girl. And I’m your guy. Any questions?”

  “Just one,” I breathed out, so turned on that I could barely stand it. “Why aren’t you inside me yet?”

  No More Talking

  Chance

  “Why aren’t you inside me yet?”

  The tone of her voice, all breathless and sexy, lit a fire in my bones and made my dick instantly ten times harder. I’d never wanted anyone the way I wanted Danika. My body craved her. Everything about her called to me and pulled me near. Staying away from her last semester had been a form of torture I never wanted to experience again.

  And I knew I’d never have to. She was here, lying on my bed, waiting for me to make her mine. I’d meant what I said. Once we crossed this line, there was no going back. I wasn’t the kind of guy to fuck and leave. To be honest, I rarely fucked at all, but that was out of necessity for protecting my future.

  I knew firsthand how the wrong girl could really screw that all up. The only way to make sure that there weren’t any problems of the female variety was to control who was in and out of my bed. It may it have seemed like a drastic measure to take, but growing up as Jack Carter’s son could do that to you.

  “God, you’re beautiful. You know that?” I said as I leaned down, taking her mouth with mine.

  Her lips were as perfect as I’d always dreamed they’d be. She tasted like spearmint and some kind of fruit. I had no idea which, but I couldn’t get enough of it as I ran my tongue along her lip before diving inside her mouth. She moaned, and I had to stop myself from coming in my pants.

  “I want to feel you,” she said around our kiss as she tugged at my shirt. “Take it off,” she demanded, and I reached behind my head, grabbed the fabric, and pulled it free. “Oh my God, that was sexy. Put it back on and do that again!” She grabbed for my shirt and threw it back at me.

  “Seriously?” I asked through a laugh, and she nodded, her eyes bulging wide.

  “Yes. How did you do that? We don’t take off our shirts like that. Do. It. Again!” She was so happy that I did as she’d asked. Her jaw dropped. “Always take your shirts off like that. Every time. Okay? Promise me.”

  “I promise,” I said before touching the bottom of her shirt and lifting it slightly, exposing her tanned skin. I pressed my mouth there, licking and nibbling my way across her stomach, as her hips lifted and started gyrating in small circles. “You begging for me without words, baby?” I asked, staring at the lower half of her body, and she stopped moving completely.

  “I’m just”—she lifted her head to look at me—“so turned on. I want you inside me.”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. I’ve waited too long for this moment to not enjoy it.”

  “Who says you won’t enjoy being in me?” She pretended to be offended, and I stopped myself from grinning.

  “I’m going to enjoy every inch of you first. Now, stop talking, Danika. Unless you’re screaming my name, I don’t want to hear any more words.”

  “Damn. You’re bossy,” she said, and I shot her a look before she added, “I like it though.”

  I liked it too. There was something about feeling strong around an already-strong woman that was an absolute turn-on. It was like she empowered me and added to my strength instead of doing the opposite that so many guys warned about.

  Kissing her stomach, I inched my mouth lower at the same time as my hands worked on the button of her jeans. It came undone with a pop, and I moved to the zipper, dragging it down. Her hips wiggled as she tried to help me get her out of them.

  Leaning back on my legs, I used both hands to tug and pull the fabric around her hip bones, which were currently my favorite things. They stood out, begging to be noticed, so I leaned forward, kissing each one before going back to her jeans. When I had shoved them down enough, she started kicking, turning them inside out before casting them away. My breath hitched as I took her in. Seeing her almost naked for the first time was overwhelming. I lost all my words.

  My hands moved instinctively to her ankles before my fingertips brushed up the length of her calves to her knees. I wanted to touch every inch of her naturally bronzed skin. She was so damn soft, and I was nothing but rough edges and callous hands. I thought I breathed out a curse as I looked at her, but I had no idea what my mouth had said. I ran my hands up her thighs, skimming around the hem of her underwear but not going inside. She sucked in a breath.

  “You like that?” I asked, feeling like a damn superhero at how my touch was causing her to react. It only made me want to do it more. I wanted to own her body, her movements, her pleasure.

  “I’m not allowed to talk,” she said, and I let out a soft huff.

  “Who knew you were so obedient?” I teased.

  “I can stop,” she said, but it wasn’t believable. Danika was pliable under my touch, willing to do whatever I asked.

  I responded with a resounding, “No,” and her eyes rolled back into her head as she closed them, her hips moving to grind against my hand.

  I’d never imagined Danika being submissive in any way, but having her like this for our first time in bed was perfect. I guessed a part of me needed her to listen and not fight back for once.

  My fingers skated over her panties, across her pussy, and her entire body clenched as the heels of her feet dug into the bed.

  “Chance,” she breathed out, and I smiled, knowing what she craved.

  Lowering my head between her thighs, I licked at the fabric of her panties. The sound that escaped her lips made me want to fuck my own mattress; it was so hot. I kept licking her, panties still in place, knowing that it was driving her as crazy as it was driving me. I knew she was dying for me to slide them over or off, so I could taste the real thing.

  I couldn’t wait a second longer. Pulling the fabric to one side, her bare pussy exposed, I practically dived in headfirst. My tongue went in, barely touching her flesh, just so I could torment her a little longer. She grabbed for my head and pulled my hair hard.

  “Chance. Do it already,” she begged.

  “Do what?” I asked against her, my breath hot and teasing, my lips talking to hers.

  “Eat my pussy. Please.”

  I had no idea how I hadn’t lost it right there in my pants. There was zero chance I’d ever been more turned on in my entire life. My dick was so fucking hard; it throbbed and ached with each beat of my heart.

  I started feasting on her. Licking with long, flat strokes of my tongue before fucking her with it. My tongue darted in and out of her hole, making her squirm and buck against me before I eventually replaced it with a finger. Pushing it all the way in, I fucked her with it as I licked her clit, the taste of her driving me wild.

  “Oh fuck, Chance. Just like that,” she moaned as I finger-fucked her and licked her like I had been born to do it. “Don’t stop.”

  Not a chance, I thought to myself.

  “Come for me, baby,” I said, hoping she would.

  I’d never had a girl come in my mouth before, and I prayed to the pussy-eating gods that I was doing it well enough that she would. If the way she moved was any indication, she liked exactly what I was giving her.

  “I’m going to come,” she moaned, and I kept doing what I had been doing, too cautious to change a thing and ruin it all.

  My hand kept fucking her, harder and faster as I licked her, alternating between flicking and sucking her clit into my mouth. She practically screamed as her hips lifted all the way off the bed, and her fingernails dug into my skull. Her body shuddered as it pressed back onto the mattress, her breaths coming out in rapid but uneven pants.

  “Holy shit,” she said, her eyes closed, and I wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand.

  “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” I said, hoping she knew how much I meant it.

  Watching her come apart, knowing that it was because I was making her feel good, was beyond sexy
.

  She pushed up onto her elbows and looked down at me, her breaths still erratic. “Oh yeah? Well, that was pretty hot on my end too.” Her mouth was still open as she dropped back onto the bed with a thump. “I just need a second,” she said, holding one finger in the air.

  I chuckled before getting up off of my knees and standing upright. “I’m just going to take these—” I declared, but her body was instantly at mine, her hands grasping for the waist of my jeans.

  “That’s my job,” she said before unbuttoning each one.

  My arms fell to the sides and I let her do whatever she wanted to me.

  Danika pulled at my jeans, forcing them down my thighs with a little bit of a struggle. “Damn thick thighs,” she cursed, and my hands cupped her cheeks.

  She looked up at me, so sweet and innocent.

  “You don’t like my thighs?” I asked with a grin, stopping myself from laughing.

  “Everyone likes your thighs. I think they have their own fan page.” She licked her lips before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on each one.

  Hooking my boxer briefs with both hands, she tugged them down next to my feet, and I stepped out of them.

  I realized then that I was standing buck naked in front of Danika, her eyes wide as she took me in. I would have felt more vulnerable, if she wasn’t currently looking at me like I was a god in a human form. This woman made me feel invincible.

  “Talk about being beautiful,” she said as her hand reached for my dick and wrapped around it.

  “You don’t have to.” I wanted her to know that she didn’t have to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with, but it was too late.

  Her hot, wet lips wrapped around the head of my cock as her tongue joined in somewhere underneath it. She started sucking, moving her head back and forth, and I needed something to hold on to or else I was going to fall to the floor. Looking around quickly, I realized that there was nothing within reach.

  “Danika,” I said, wrapping my fingers in her hair to get her to at least slow down. “Oh God, Danika,” I moaned again, but she wasn’t stopping.