Sidelined: A Sports Romance

by Violet Paige

  “Sure. Of Course.” She took a sip and watched as he poured a cup.

  “What do you think about hanging out today?” His eyebrows waggled over the mug.

  Skye didn’t need to think about it. “Yes. What did you have in mind?”

  “I don’t know. We’re in San Diego. I’m sure we could think of something fun to do.”

  “Something touristy?” She didn’t have a plan, but spending a day with Ben sounded like a good time.

  “Definitely touristy. You know, I’ve never been to the zoo.”

  Skye’s mouth dropped. “How is that possible?”

  “Because I’m gone all the time on the weekends flying. I don’t have kids. The zoo seems like a family thing, but I’ve always wanted to see what it looks like.”

  “If you haven’t been, we are absolutely going. I have a zoo pass.”

  Ben laughed. “A zoo pass?”

  “Yes, and I can bring a guest.” She beamed. “This is going to be awesome.”

  “Alright, the zoo it is.” He sipped from his mug. “But first, can we swing by my place so I can change?” He was wearing his Friday night shirt and pants.

  Skye giggled. “I think you should go just like that.”

  “Funny. Do you mind giving me a ride?”

  “Sure. I’ll shower and then we can go. The morning is the best time to go. We can get there before it gets too crowded.” She watched as he wandered to the window.

  She wanted to shower before their day date. This could be her chance to show him she was bold. She was a take-charge kind of woman.

  He looked into the courtyard. “Ok, I’ll be out here.”

  Skye inhaled sharply. “Any chance you want to join me?” She forced her eyes to stare into his and not drop to the floor. Confidence was in the eyes.

  Ben looked surprised. His eyes widened and for a second he didn’t make a sound. “I—uh—I just showered.”

  “Right.” Skye shook her head and retreated backward. “Never mind. I’ll just be a few minutes.” She darted to her room.

  She heard Ben call over her shoulder, “Skye, that’s not what I meant.”

  She closed the door and threw herself on the bed. It was going to take a few minutes to regroup and muster the confidence to face him.

  There was a quiet hush that settled over the zoo in the morning. The animals were stirring as they were fed breakfast. The sprinklers watered flowerbeds. Skye thought it was the most beautiful time of the day at the park.

  “So this is the famous San Diego Zoo?” Ben seemed to be enjoying their stroll through the lush foliage.

  Skye had managed to shed most of the embarrassment from the shower incident. It was humiliating that she asked him to join her, and he turned her down flat. He didn’t seem uncomfortable though, so she tried to keep smiling and enjoying the day with him.

  “This is it. What do you think?” They were near the giraffe exhibit.

  “It’s pretty incredible. I can see why it’s so famous. But you know I don’t think the animals are really the focus.”

  Skye turned toward him. “Really, what is it?”

  “I feel like we’re walking around a garden or something and look, there happens to be a lion over there or oh hey, it’s a polar bear.”

  She laughed. He was acting out the animals with his hands and mouth. His polar bear imitation was fierce.

  She stopped long enough to answer. “Yes, that’s what I feel every time I come here.”

  “How often are you at the zoo?”

  “Honestly, I had never been here until I started working on the tourism account at work. The zoo is one of the many parts to that campaign, and it was my favorite. I started coming to do research, and it turned into almost a daily trip.”

  “Wow, you really like the zoo.”

  Skye blushed. She realized that might sound a little strange, but she wasn’t sure about telling him why it had become such a sanctuary for her.

  “I do. I love it here. It’s peaceful.” She watched the giraffe take a mouthful of straw.

  “Thanks for bringing me.” He adjusted his sunglasses on his nose.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled as he hand moved until his fingers interlaced with hers.

  “Show me the pandas. I hear they are the big attraction.”

  “Right this way.”

  Ben pulled forward and punched in the access code to the parking garage for his condo complex. After she took him home this morning to change, he offered to drive. They left her car in guest parking.

  They had lunch at the park. Walked along the Mission Bay trails and got smoothies at a boardwalk stand. They tried to fulfill every tourist wish in an afternoon. They posed in front of the historic Balboa Park building with its famous domed roof. Ben made funny faces in the selfies, but he still looked sexy. You couldn’t hide eyes and a smile like that. Skye knew the day was winding down, but she wasn’t quite prepared for it to be over. The sun set over the city, and the temperature had dropped ten degrees. After this morning, she wasn’t about to stick her neck out again. Ben could ask her to dinner if he wanted it to keep going.

  He turned the ignition off and sat staring through the windshield.

  “I had fun. Thanks for thinking of the touristy day.” She reached for her purse.

  “Wait.” He turned toward her, his light blue eyes dancing with questions. Maybe he was as confused as she was. “It was a good day.”

  She fidgeted with her keys, knowing all along she was stalling. She wished his truck didn’t have a console. It felt like a mountain dividing them in the cab. “Yeah, it was a good day.” She reached for the handle on the door and stepped out of the truck.

  Ben followed her to her parking space. “Do you want to do something later this week?”

  “Sure.” Skye was ready to peel out of the parking lot. They had an amazing day from waking up together on the couch, to laughing at the penguins, to trading San Diego stories. Why was he ready for it all to end before the sun had sunk behind the ocean?

  She inserted the key in the lock and opened the car door.

  “Skye, before you go….”

  She spun on her heels, meeting a pair of hot and urgent lips. His hands moved over her pulling and tugging her toward him. She dropped the keys and her purse, her hands wanted to touch him. Her mouth parted as his tongue danced against hers. He tasted like strawberries and she worried they might devour each other in the parking garage as he started to growl against her neck. He dotted her throat with her kisses. Her head rolled to the side. This is what she had waited for all day. His mouth, his breath, his hands. But before she could coax him into the back of her car or into the elevator he stopped.

  “Whoa.” He breathed into her ear.

  “What’s wrong?” She didn’t see anything in his eyes but what she was feeling, total lust.

  “Nothing is wrong.” He played with her hair. “I just think we should take it slow this time.” He backed away from the car and retrieved her keys from the ground.

  “Slow. Right.” She accepted the keys in her palm, but wasn’t quite sure she could do the same with his answer.

  Had she somehow conveyed to him that she wasn’t interested in all the other things they did before the fight? She loved doing those things to him and with him.

  “I’ll call you later.” He kissed her forehead and walked backward toward the elevator bay.

  She slid into the driver’s seat. Her heart was still beating faster than normal, and her hair was tussled on all sides. She took a minute to steady herself before starting the car. Ben Hardcastle had totally turned everything upside down.

  She steered onto Friars Road when an incoming call beeped through the speakers.

  “Hello?” She pressed the button on the steering wheel.

  “Hey, how was last night?” Kari was practically squealing. “Dave was disappointed but I took care of him. You were not kidding about Ben. Wow. I want to hear details!”

  Skye thought how to answer. �
��Want to come over?”

  “Sure! I just bought a new moscato. I can be at your place in fifteen minutes.”

  “On my way. See you there.” She exited toward the Gaslamp district. If there was one thing she needed more than Ben, it was a girl’s night.

  Seventeen

  Rookie move, he thought. Bolt turned on the TV and searched for a baseball game. The Padres weren’t playing tonight so he’d have to watch another team. He didn’t know why he let Skye drive away. The day was incredible. He had never seen someone so excited about a zoo before. He could tell there was more to it than the animals; he just couldn’t get her to open up about it. He didn’t want to push her. She seemed like she was always on the edge of running. After the fight he knew he was walking a fine line anyway. Better to leave things alone.

  Most guys would have invited her up. He would have invited her up. Taken that jacket off of her and every other stitch of clothing she was wearing until she was moaning and screaming his name under his hands. He shook his head. That was then. This is now. He wasn’t going to go there again until she was ready.

  He turned off the TV. There wasn’t anything that could hold his attention now that she was gone.

  Dammit. He reached for his keys and closed the door behind him. He shouldn’t have let her leave. He didn’t wait for the elevator. He jogged down the stairs and headed for his truck. He had one stop to make first.

  He knocked on her door. He thought he heard giggling, but wasn’t sure. He held the ice cream and toppings in a bag in his right hand and waited for Skye to open the door.

  “Hey.” She pulled the door back, a glass of wine in her grasp.

  “Hey.” He grinned.

  “Who is it, Skye?” Bolt heard a female voice call from the living room.

  “Um, I guess I should have called first. You have company?” He shrugged at his bad move. Calling would have made sense, but then that would have taken the spontaneity right out of it.

  “Come in. It’s ok. It’s my friend Kari. You met her last night at the club.”

  Bolt followed Skye into the apartment. Music was playing from the stereo and Kari was sitting on the floor next to an open bottle of wine on the coffee table.

  “Hey, Ben. I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

  “Hi. I didn’t either. I should have called.” He held up the grocery bag. “Thought I’d surprise Skye with dessert.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet,” Kari gushed. She stood to peer in the bag. “Chocolate and strawberry. Nice choices.” She winked at Skye.

  He handed the bag to Skye. “Why don’t I leave this for you girls and I’ll call you tomorrow?” He turned for the door, kicking himself for being so rash.

  “No way. I’m outta here.” Kari darted in front of him.

  He shook his head. “No, you shouldn’t leave. I’m the one interrupting.”

  “Too late.” She grabbed her purse and then the door handle. “Call you later, girl.” Before Bolt could protest further the friend was gone.

  He turned to face Skye. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  Skye giggled. She didn’t seem upset. “Kari does what she wants to do.” She placed the bag on the counter. “Dessert?”

  Bolt walked toward her. “Two kinds of ice cream and toppings.”

  She reached into the bag and lined the contents on the counter. “Ok, so we have chocolate, strawberry, chocolate syrup, cherries, and whipped cream?”

  “Did I leave something out?” Bolt realized he had never built a sundae before, but he thought he had all the bases covered. What was he missing?

  “No, looks perfect to me. I’ll get the bowls.” As she turned to the cabinet behind her, his eyes followed her ass and all the curves from her hips. He shook his head as if that would somehow reset his thoughts.

  He looked at the coffee table. There were a few candles dotting the surface along with the wine. If he hadn’t just seen Kari walk out of here he would have thought Skye was in the middle of a romantic evening. He picked up the ice cream and the other jars.

  “How about a sundae picnic in here?” He placed the containers on the coffee table.

  Skye turned off the kitchen light and walked over, holding bowls and spoons. She smiled. “Ok.” She sat next to him on the carpet. She slid a bowl in front of him and started unsnapping the lids. “So Ben, are you a strawberry or chocolate lover?”

  “Oh, definitely chocolate. Lots of whipped cream.” He peeled the plastic off of the chocolate container.

  “Well, at least we don’t have to fight over the ice cream. I like strawberry, but with lots of chocolate syrup. And whipped cream.” She smiled, dipping a spoon into the center of the pink carton.

  Bolt felt like he needed to explain why he showed up on her doorstep unannounced, but Skye seemed completely calm. He noticed her wine glass was almost empty. That probably helped. Maybe she didn’t need a reason. She was just glad he was here, and with dessert.

  He scooped a spoonful of chocolate into his bowl and reached for the whipped cream canister. He pressed on the dispenser until the bowl was brimming with the creamy topping.

  “You weren’t kidding about the whipped cream.” Skye’s eyes widened.

  “What? Can’t a guy enjoy his dessert?”

  She giggled. “Don’t let me stop you.”

  He loaded his spoon and took a mouthful. He watched as she ate the strawberry ice cream. He didn’t know where it came from, but he had an idea that he wanted to try.

  He dipped his finger into the bowl bringing it forward with whipped cream. “Hold still,” he ordered her. Skye didn’t move as he wiped the cream along her bottom lip. She stifled a giggle. Bolt leaned forward, taking her bottom lip in his mouth. He sucked gently until all the whipped cream was gone.

  “Mmm…I didn’t think this could taste better, but it does.” He flashed a grin at her as he sat back on his heels and ate another bite of ice cream.

  Skye rose from the floor and walked to the other side of the room, cutting the lights. The candles flickered on the table. He eyed her suspiciously as she returned to her seat in front of him. She didn’t sit all at once, instead she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Bolt swallowed hard. What in the hell was she doing?

  She reached for the whipped cream and handed it to him. “You can taste more if you want.”

  With one hand he grabbed the can and with the other he placed his bowl on the table. He didn’t need any more ice cream. He kept his eyes on Skye. She bit her lower lip and leaned forward on all fours, crawling toward him. Her tongue lashed against his lips and he pulled her into his lap. Hands tangling though her hair, mouths moving hard against each other.

  She leaned back, her head reaching away. Bolt tilted the can up and squeezed whipped cream until he outlined her bra. She smiled as she sat forward, facing him. This was the fun, sexy Skye he had met the first night at the bar. His tongue began to trace the line he made, lapping at the whipped cream as he moved against her skin. Skye arched her back, thrusting her chest forward. Somehow she managed to balance herself in that position and reach behind to unclasp her bra. He watched in amazement as she slid the straps along her arms and deposited it on the floor.

  She nodded, and he knew she wanted more. He picked up the can again and shook it before pressing the nozzle toward her breast. He made slow swirls along her nipple, knowing in seconds he would be licking it all off.

  This had to be the single most erotic thing he had done, hands down. He took one breast in his hand, and began licking at the whipped cream. He lapped until his work revealed a hard point in the center of the cream. He drew her into his mouth and sucked, toying her with his teeth. He groaned as she began to rock against him. He loved it when she did that. Her hips were like magic.

  “More,” she purred.

  He liked this. She was all in. He shook the can again and covered the other breast then stroked her with his tongue until her skin was glistening from where the whip
ped cream had been.

  “You are fucking gorgeous.” He growled, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her mouth. He laid her on the floor underneath him and planted kisses on her neck and ear. Skye clasped her hands to his back, and he thought for the first time they might be back on the same page. They were good at this.

  He felt her tugging on his shirt and sat up to remove it. As he pressed his naked chest against hers he felt the stickiness from the whipped cream. God, he wanted to cover her in the stuff and lick her entire body, but he was trying to show some kind of restraint. Pants on was good. Pants on would keep him in the safe zone.

  “Take them off,” she urged. Her hands were at his zipper.

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, sweetheart.” He sighed into her ear, as the heel of her hand pressed into jeans, creating a pressure that kept building with each motion.

  She searched his eyes. “But I thought we were good? Don’t you want more?”

  He kissed her throat. “That’s the problem. I do want more. And if we do much more than this I don’t know that I can promise I won’t try to seduce you right out of your rule. And I’m not going to do that.” He rubbed his hand across her breast and smiled as she arched into him.

  “Pants off.” Her eyes flashed at him.

  “Pants on.” He challenged.

  He realized she had the upper hand, and if she wiggled out of those jeans he wasn’t exactly going to get up and walk away. Dammit, why did she have to make it so hard the first time he tried to be a good guy?

  He saw a wicked expression sparkle in her eyes. “Ok, how about you pants off, me pants on?” She had already flicked the button on his jeans and her fingers were working on the zipper.

  “Huh?” Now he was confused.

  She reached for the whipped cream can that had rolled under the coffee table. She grinned. “I want a taste.”

  Bolt almost fell over. This girl was going to kill him, tame him, or worse, both.

  Eighteen

  Waking up with whipped cream on half your body is sticky and sticky. Skye rolled on her back. Ben was still asleep. She peeled the sheet from her skin and walked toward the bathroom. A hot shower was the only way to remedy the stickiness.