Playing for Keeps: Book 2 (Playing the Game Duet)

by Gina Drayer

  I took a big chug of water and shook my head. “It’s not you. Anything can set me off. I threw up while brushing my teeth last week and then cried because I thought I had a handle on my morning sickness. Just the thought of mashed potatoes made me throw up.” My stomach lurched again, and I put my head back in the trash can. “Nope, I’m good. It was just a dry heave. I’ll count that as a win.”

  Ben leaned away, eyes narrowing. “Is this normal? Have you talked to your doctor about this?”

  “Just the joys of pregnancy. I’ve got another week or two of this, or so my doctor keeps promising.” I glanced over at the now empty bag and frowned. “You didn’t happen to get two veggie burgers did you?”

  “I’ll send my driver out to get another one, and I’ll take care of your trash can for you.”

  “You deserve a medal. A pregnant girl couldn’t ask for a better friend. I promise, when you find your own girl, I’ll personally write you a letter of recommendation.”

  He groaned and picked up the basket. “I’m sure your endorsement will have the ladies banging down my door.” He looked down at the trash can and made a face. “You know what? I think I’m fine being single.”

  14

  Cooper

  Camp wasn’t even half over, and already every muscle in my body ached. The long hours and back-to-back games were tough even for a seasoned veteran. And while the temperate spring weather in Tampa was a lot better than New York, after spending all day out in the Florida sun, I was exhausted.

  All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and talk to Emily, but Tony had left me a message letting me know that they were doing a last minute packing marathon. The big move was this weekend. And knowing Emily, she’d work until she was ready to drop.

  The woman was devoted to her job and refused to let the baby slow her down. Even so, I could tell the long hours were wearing her down. She’d call me at night and nod off in the middle of our conversation.

  I wanted to be home. I wanted to do more to take care of her, but anytime I offered to hire help, she’d get upset and refuse. Despite refusing help, she kept me involved with her day-to-day life. I flipped through her messages today. They were all over the map.

  Emily: I puked while doing the dishes. Your evil spawn hates me.

  Emily: I bought a baseball onesie today with New York’s newest fan on the back. It’s the first thing I’ve bought for the baby. I may have cried in the checkout lane.

  Emily: I can’t fit into my favorite jeans. I’m going to be huge by the time you get home.

  I stared at the picture of her belly. There was a barely noticeable bump, and I couldn’t help but smile. That was our baby.

  Cooper: You’re adorable. Call when you get home.

  I grabbed a water out of the refrigerator and started a hot bath. Thankfully, the house I was staying in during spring training had massive tubs—big enough for even me to soak.

  I turned on some music and eased into the tub. The aches in my limbs were just starting to relax when my phone rang.

  “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. Tony said you guys were staying late.”

  “Ben insisted that I go home. And that treacherous friend of mine backed him up. They are treating me like I’m going to break.”

  “You don’t have to do everything yourself. Let the people around you help.”

  “I am,” she grumbled under her breath. “And I’m kind of glad they sent me home. I wanted to tell you something, but you have to promise that you’ll listen to everything I say before you react.”

  “That sounds ominous. Should I be worried?”

  “I know I should do this in person, but I can’t wait until you get home.”

  A million things flashed through my mind. Was there something wrong with the baby? Was there something wrong with her? Could I get a flight to New York tonight? Maybe she was already tired of this long distance thing and wanted out.

  “Just tell me already.”

  “Ben brought me dinner tonight, and I thought he was making a pass at me. So I—”

  “That asshole is dead. He told me he wasn’t interested in you. And I believed him.” I was definitely getting that flight back home so I could kick my ex-friend’s ass. “I swear to God when I see that fuckwad again, I’m going to kill him.”

  “Cooper,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “You didn’t let me finish. He wasn’t making a pass at me. He’s not interested. At all. And for the record, neither am I. But while I was rejecting his non-advance, I told him I was in love with you.”

  The line went silent, and I waited for her to get to the point.

  “Didn’t you hear what I said? I told him I was in love with you.” She paused again and then growled under her breath. “I’m trying to tell you I love you, stupid.”

  “That’s it? I thought something bad had happened.”

  “And I thought I’d get some kind of reaction when I finally told you I loved you.”

  “I knew that already.”

  “How did you know? I’ve never told you.”

  “I can hear it your voice. I read it in your texts. It’s in the way you put up with me. Any fool with eyes can see that you’re madly in love with me. The same way you should know that I love you, too.”

  She sucked in a breath and whispered, “You do?”

  “Of course, I do. I fell in love with you the first time we danced. I should have said it, but things have been pretty rocky between us.” Sighing, I sunk back into the water and tossed an arm over my eyes. “I know being with me isn’t always easy, and the job doesn’t help—all the travel and long hours, but I promise you I’ll make it worth the trouble. You’ll never regret being with me.”

  “What are you doing right now?” she asked, her voice a little softer now.

  “I’m soaking in the tub. Coach had us doing drills today, and my thighs are screaming.”

  “So you’re alone? And naked? What a coincidence, so am I.”

  Her voice took on a husky tone that told me things were about to turn x-rated. My cock immediately stirred. I knew this game well. I put the phone on speaker and got comfortable.

  “So tell me, pretty girl, what are you doing there all alone and naked.”

  “Thinking about you and how much I miss you and your cock.”

  “Trust me, baby. He misses you, too.” My hand slid around my cock, and I closed my eyes, focusing on her voice.

  “Did that pregnancy book of yours tell you about the second trimester? Everything is sensitive. My clit is so swollen a stiff breeze could get me off.” She sucked in a short breath, a sexy sound that drove me insane the more I heard it. “I’m not going to last long.”

  “Fuck. I want to be buried deep inside of you right now. My hand is no substitute for the feel of your pussy gripping me as you come.”

  Her soft moan filled the air, and I could picture her teasing her clit while listening to my dirty words. It had only been a few weeks since we were last together, but it felt like an eternity.

  Within a few minutes, she was screaming out her release. The sound was enough to drive me to the edge and a few tugs later I joined her.

  After I caught my breath, I grabbed a towel and stepped out of the now cool water. I took the phone off speaker and pressed it to my ear.

  “God, I love you. I know you’re busy right now, but maybe I can fly you down for a day or two. I can’t go much longer without seeing you.” She didn’t respond. I waited, but nothing. “Emily?”

  I concentrated on her breathing, deep and even—almost like a soft snore. She’d fallen asleep.

  “Sweet dreams, baby. I’ll see you soon.”

  I hung up, pulled out my laptop, and searched for a flight.

  Star New York

  Cooper Reynold’s Girlfriend Pregnant!

  During a recent interview, New York’s superstar third baseman confirmed that he and his girlfriend, Emily Oliver, are expecting a baby. Star New York first broke this story when Oliver was seen leavin
g a doctor’s appointment sporting a noticeable baby bump.

  We’re told Cooper and Emily are both excited about the new addition. Could wedding bells be in their future? We’ll keep you posted.

  15

  Emily

  This move was going to kill me. We’d been unpacking for almost a week, and we still weren’t done. Luckily, there wasn’t much left to do. After arguing with Tony, I agreed to take the next two days off.

  While I wouldn’t admit it to him, I needed the time off. I was tired, bruised, and ached all over. Not to mention the fact that I still hadn’t bought anything for the baby except for the one baseball onesie. I not only needed to fill a nursery at my place, but I needed to put together one for Cooper’s apartment. He threatened to hire a personal shopper if I didn’t start using the credit card he left for me.

  I was also running out of clothes that still fit me.

  Whether I wanted to or not, I had to go shopping. And now that I was in my second trimester and my hormones have leveled out a bit, I might be able to buy baby stuff without crying in the checkout lane.

  I spent most of the afternoon shopping, and I couldn’t wait to get home. Cooper’s game was delayed due to a spring shower, and he spent that time texting me naughty messages. I was just about to head home when I passed an adult toy shop. I probably would have gone by without even noticing the neon sign, but in my current state of constant horniness, the glowing Good Vibes Toy Shop sign caught my attention.

  I was twenty-eight and a little ashamed to admit, I’ve never owned a vibrator. Now, with my boyfriend thousands of miles away sending me dirty messages all the time, it seemed like a good time to give one a try.

  Feeling like a person about to commit a crime, I looked around to make sure no one I knew was around. There were a dozen or so people on the street, but luckily, none of them were paying any attention to me. So I pushed open the door and went inside.

  The loudest bell I’d ever heard in my life announced my entrance into the store. I froze and put my hand back on the door, planning my hasty escape.

  “Come on in, hon. I promise I don’t bite.” A short older woman behind the counter waved me over. She looked like someone’s grandmother, not like someone who sold lube and vibrators all day. “Don’t worry. No one else is here. I can give you a tour and help you pick something out. Are you shopping for yourself?”

  “I… Um. Yes. It’s for me.”

  Did she know this was my first time in a shop like this? Was it what I was wearing? The scared and clueless look on my face? Or was it the fact that I hadn’t been in the shop longer than a second and I was ready to bolt?

  Her eyes drifted down to my bump and nodded knowingly. “Is this your first?”

  “Yes. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sex toys. I’ve just never had one before. My boyfriend is away, and I thought we could try something new over the phone. Oh, God. You don’t need to know all that. Just point me to the… um, vibrators and I’ll be out of your hair.” I slapped a hand over my mouth before I said something else. Evidently, I traded morning sickness for verbal diarrhea.

  She chuckled and shook her head. “I meant, is this your first baby? With your boyfriend out of town, I can understand why you’re here. When I was five months along with my second one, I wanted sex all the time. If it wasn’t for my trusty magic wand, my Harold would have moved out. Follow me, and we’ll get something for you.”

  Colleen, the owner of the shop, showed me around, and my embarrassment eased a little. There was a wide selection of dildos, vibrators, butt plugs, bondage gear, and even costumes. I never knew there were that many sex toys and my desire for a simple, utilitarian vibrator seemed mundane in comparison.

  I had so many questions like you put that where? Who would buy a dildo shaped like a dolphin? Wouldn't that be uncomfortable? Why were most of the vibrators pink? And more often than not, is that even safe? I mean, really, if you fell from your sex swing, would your homeowner's insurance cover the medical bills? And how would you even file the claim? Sexual misadventure?

  “This might interest you since your guy is away,” Colleen said, handing me a box.

  It was called the Love Duo; a his-and-hers set of sex toys. The box boasted that each toy had a sensor that controlled and interacted with each other. You connected it to your phone with an app, and the toys synced with each to match the motion and intensity of your partner’s toy.

  There really was an app for everything.

  I handed her back the box, a little uneasy about connecting a sex toy to my phone. “I think that’s a little advanced for me.”

  “Just keep this in mind if your man travels a lot. It’s hard to keep the romance alive in a long-distance relationship. You learn to expand your definition of sex, and you get a little creative.”

  “I’m all for being creative, but why don’t we try something a little lower tech for my first time.”

  “Suit yourself, but keep it in mind.” She put the box back on the shelf and grabbed something called a Joy Stick. It was neon pink, but at least it looked like what it was.

  But why did it light up?

  The loud bell at the door dinged. I looked up and mistakenly made eye contact with the new comer. The guy smiled back at me, and I looked away.

  “Okay, I’ll take it,” I said, shoving the box back to Colleen.

  I followed her back to the register, keeping my head down.

  “I’m throwing in a bottle of this lube. You’ll thank me later. That will be sixty-eight forty-three. All sales are final. No refunds. No exchanges.”

  “Who would return a sex toy?”

  “You’d be surprised,” she said, handing me a black, nondescript bag.

  “Do you have anal beads?” the other customer asked.

  “I’ll be right with you.” She turned back to me and slipped me a card, lowering her voice. “If you need anything else, just give me a call. And if you change your mind about that Duo, I can deliver.”

  I left the shop, feeling educated and empowered. I learned more about sex in the hour I spent with Colleen than I had in the week-long sex education seminar I attended. My phone buzzed with another text.

  Cooper: Tony told me you were taking the day off tomorrow. I have a surprise for you.

  I smiled and replied.

  Emily: Oh, really? I have a surprise for you too.

  16

  Emily

  Our nightly call was cut short the night before because of a team meeting, so I didn’t get to try out my new toy. And now I had to wait until seven when the team was done with their post-game meeting.

  I filled my time unpacking my purchases from yesterday. Besides the most adorable miniature clothing in the world, I also managed to buy a crib, a car seat, and a rocker. All of which was being delivered early tomorrow.

  Unfortunately, that meant I had to spend the afternoon packing up my office and moving things. I left the big furniture and heavy boxes stacked in the corner but moved a lot of my paperwork to my bedroom. I’d have Tony stop by and take it to the new building.

  I think one of the reasons I didn’t want to buy baby furniture was because I knew I didn’t have enough room. I was going to have to sell my place and buy something a little bigger. But I had some time to consider all my options.

  I was almost finished clearing out the entire room when someone knocked on the front door. It was a little after six, and I figured it was just Tony, dropping off dinner like I couldn’t feed myself. I might not be a great cook, but I was an adult. I knew how to order takeout.

  But when I opened the door, Cooper was standing there with a bag slung over his shoulder.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “That’s not quite the greeting I was expecting.”

  “No, really, what are you doing here? Didn’t you have a game today? That just finished two hours ago?”

  “We don’t have a game tomorrow, and I talked coach into letting me take the day off. After I finished
the morning drills,” he said and dropped his bag. “I have a little over twenty-four hours before I have to catch a flight back.”

  “You shouldn’t have. You’re going to be exhausted.”

  I reached out and touched his chest just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating him.

  “I’ll deal with it. Now, shut up and kiss me.”

  He grabbed my hand and pulled me into an embrace. His hot lips covered mine, and I fell into his arms.

  “You should invite me in because I don’t think your neighbors will approve of what I have planned.”

  “Then, by all means, come in and get those clothes off.”

  I pulled on his shirt, walking backward. We stumbled together down the narrow hall, never more than an inch apart, leaving a trail of shoes and clothing on our way to my bedroom. Thankfully, my mind hadn't completely checked out yet and reminded me that my bed was covered with boxes and papers.

  “To the sofa,” I said and bit his bottom lip.

  “I like the way you think.”

  I pushed him down on the loveseat and straddled his hips, yanking off my bra on my way down.

  “Those are new,” he said, cupping my breasts. He circled the hardened nipple with his rough thumb, and I sucked in a breath. “And so sensitive.”

  “A perk of pregnancy.”

  He trailed feathery kisses down my neck, across my collarbone, and then proceed to lick and nip at the beaded peaks of my breast.

  The sensation was more intense than anything I expected, and I could already feel that coil of need tightening deep in my core. I buried my hands in his hair and cried out his name. I was on the verge of coming, and he’d barely touched me. But it wasn’t enough.

  I rose up and adjusted our position until I could slide down his length, sinking all the way to the hilt.