Catching Lily (Spring Training Book 2)
Page 21
“He wants to fuck me regularly, Stephan.”
He laughed. “And you don’t like having sex with him?”
“I didn’t say that. Don’t be an ass.”
Stephan lifted his free hand, palm out in defense. “When I’m in a new relationship, I like to be with my guy day and night. It’s normal. If he lived somewhere else and he was important enough to me, I would ask him to move here and give us a chance. It’s a normal human reaction.”
She stared at the floor. Had she been unreasonable?
“Look, I know you. You’re not the sort of person who would ever throw away their livelihood for a guy. You’ve worked hard to get where you are today. And I would never suggest you sell the gallery. It’s a horrible idea. You love this business with your entire soul.
“That being said, Dominic has a point. He doesn’t have options. He’s in the middle of a contract. He can’t walk away from his job. The man is head over heels for you. He would move mountains if they got in your way. Anyone can see that.
“It’s not unreasonable for you to take some time off. Like he suggested, I can manage without you for a month or so. We could hire someone to help out in your absence. A grad student or something. Someone comes in here for an application at least once a week. There are four resumes in the desk right now.
“Besides, most of the important stuff you could do virtually. There’s no reason you need to be physically in the gallery to arrange showings, manage the accounting, handle the inventory spreadsheets. I can handle the on-site responsibilities.”
Lily lifted her gaze to his. Why was he making sense? “You would do that for me?”
He jerked, scrunching his eyes. “Of course. What are friends for?”
She sighed, staring at the floor. Maybe Stephan’s plan had merit. She could keep her hand in almost everything remotely. And if there was a problem in the gallery, Stephan could easily call her. Why had she spent the entire week stomping around acting like she was queen of the universe when all Dominic had asked for was more of her time so they could figure out if they had something sustainable? She didn’t need to be a royal bitch about it.
She groaned. She hadn’t spoken to her sister all week. Their spotty communication had been through texts. She suspected her sister was hiding something, or someone. Probably Xavier. But Ava had sent texts nearly every day. And that morning, she’d told Lily she had plans for the evening.
Lily, being nosy, had looked at the Miami schedule and determined the team was in Jupiter that day.
She jumped to her feet. “I need to go. Can you handle things today?”
Stephan smiled. “Got it. Go.”
She raced across the room, grabbed her purse, and dashed out the back door. Her fingers shook as she fumbled with her keys and climbed into her car.
Get a grip, Lily. There’s plenty of time.
His game would start in two hours. She didn’t want to show up at the game and possibly distract him. She wanted to go to his condo.
First, she went home, haphazardly grabbed a bag, and tossed stuff in, hopeful. Then she sat at her computer and took a deep breath. She opened the gallery calendar to ensure she had all her ducks in a row for a few days. Nothing pressing jumped out at her. The deliveries were already arranged. The next show was on target. Paychecks had been distributed. Everything was fine.
Finally, she was on the road.
Nerves made her fidget the entire drive. When she got to Dominic’s condo, she wasn’t sure if he would be there yet or not.
She stared at the front of his condo. There were no cars out front, but that meant nothing. He would have parked in the garage.
She stepped out of the car anyway, determined to at least try. When she reached the front door, she stared at it a moment. What the hell am I going to say?
Before she could reach up and knock, the door suddenly opened.
Dominic stepped forward and then stopped. It didn’t seem as though he’d realized she was out there. Instead, it seemed as if he were leaving.
But he stepped back.
“Can I come in? Is this a bad time?”
“No. Actually… I mean, no.” He didn’t move a muscle.
Her shoulders slumped. She fought back tears and pursed her lips. When she thought she could speak again without making a fool of herself, she opened her mouth. “Okay. I’ll go. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” She turned around and took a step, her heart racing and her mind screaming at her to fight harder.
Dominic suddenly grabbed her arm from behind and pulled her around to face him. He tipped his head down, his expression serious. “I meant, no, it isn’t a bad time. Not that you couldn’t come in.” He backed up slowly, his hand sliding down to grasp hers and tugging her with him.
Relief washed over her, but the stress and anxiety kept the tears so close to the surface she feared she might break down and sob anyway.
When he had them inside, he shut the door with a loud snick and took her other hand too. He pulled them both up to his chest and then hauled her against him. His face buried in her hair. “I’m so sorry. I was such an ass. I was actually about to head to Miami to find you.”
She lifted her face. “You were?”
“Of course. I haven’t slept in a week, and if I don’t convince you to give me another chance, I’ll probably get fired.”
She gave him a wan smile. “No pressure.”
He grinned larger. “Nope. None at all.” He cupped her face. “Lily, I was a dick. Forgive me.”
She wrapped her fingers around his forearms and squeezed. “I was a bitch. My fault. There was no reason for me to freak out like that.”
“Of course there was. The gallery’s important to you, and I blew it off like it meant nothing. I realize it was stupid. I honestly didn’t mean for you to sell it and become my captive slave or anything.”
“Damn. I was hoping that was exactly your intention.” She gave an exaggerated sigh and slumped against him. “The captive slave part, anyway…”
He smiled broader, lifting a brow. “Really? Hmmm.”
She righted herself and inhaled. “You were right. Stephan can run the gallery for a while. Not forever, mind you, but for a few weeks. Maybe a month or so. It won’t fall apart without me. There are plenty of things I can handle remotely on my laptop.”
“Seriously? You would do that for me?”
“Yes.” She lifted onto her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “I missed you. I really missed you. A lot. I can’t sleep or eat. I spent the week snapping at Stephan, and I’ve hardly heard from Ava. She’s probably afraid to call.”
“Yeah, about Ava…”
Lily shook her head. “Don’t say it. Whatever it is, leave it for later. I want to talk about us right now. Not my sister. I can’t handle more.”
Dominic smirked. “Okay. Sounds good to me.”
“Unless she’s in trouble?” She flinched.
He shook his head. “Not at all. She’s in good hands.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Enough about your sister. Let’s talk about us and all the things I’m going to do to you before the sun comes up.”
He took her hand again and led her into the kitchen. His touch reached all the way into her heart. Electricity zinged through her every time they came into contact.
It was time she admitted it was a real thing she couldn’t escape.
When they reached the kitchen, he surprised her by grabbing her around the waist and lifting her onto the island. He pulled off her heels and set them on the floor. He leaned into her and kissed her lips gently. “I can’t believe you’re here. You’re mine, Lily.”
Her body turned to mush in the blink of an eye.
He could do amazing things to her pussy with his tone. His dominant, authoritative, alpha tone. She didn’t care that her entire list of adjectives was redundant. When he controlled her, he was that potent. Every time.
She squeezed her legs together and reached ou
t to wrap her arms around him.
He jumped back a step, out of reach.
She moaned. “Dominic…”
He leaned his ass against the counter across from her, leaving about three feet between them. He crossed his ankles and his arms. “You’re willing to negotiate, then?”
“Yes.” She’d do anything for him.
But she misunderstood. He wasn’t talking about the next hour of sex. He was talking about the next few months of life. “You’re okay with Stephan handling things for a while?”
“I said I was.”
“And you’ll travel with me? Not every time. Some of the games are too far away to make it worthwhile. But you’ll come to the ones that are reasonable?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll stay in Miami with me when I’m in town?”
“Yes.”
“My parents are coming opening day. And my sister and niece.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait to meet them.” There was nothing he could throw at her that would send her away. Did he not realize that?
He pushed off the counter. His voice dipped into that tone again. “You’ll keep weird hours with me so I can spend all my spare time with you?” He reached for a lock of her hair and let it slide over his finger.
“Yes, Sir.”
He flinched subtly when she spoke that word. It was like a gate. A portal they used to indicate they were moving from normal, everyday life into a Dominant/submissive role. It was her way of letting him know she was interested, ready, and willing.
He slid his hand to her cheek. His mouth descended on hers.
She moaned against his lips, sliding her tongue out to tangle with his.
His fingers threaded into her hair and held her head more firmly. He devoured her this time.
She craved everything he gave. She wiggled her butt to the edge of the table, her tight pencil skirt staying behind, climbing up her thighs until her legs were free. When she reached the edge, she spread her knees and grabbed his waist to pull him in closer.
Her pussy ached for contact, even that of his jeans against her panties.
Dominic broke the kiss again and went to work unbuttoning her blouse. “You wear the sexiest clothes every time I see you.”
“It’s how I dress for the gallery,” she responded as if he required an explanation.
“Mmm-hmm.” He pulled the blouse out of her skirt and lowered it over her shoulders. His fingers immediately opened the front of her bra and discarded it also.
Then, without wasting a moment, he went for the zipper at the back of her skirt. “Lift your butt, baby.”
She set her hands on the cool granite behind her and lifted her ass off the island.
Dominic tugged the skirt and her panties down her legs, leaving her naked.
Once again, it didn’t escape her notice that he was fully clothed.
When she would have sat up straight again, Dominic hauled her around to the side of the island and then set a hand on her back and lowered her lengthwise against the top.
She shivered as the cooler surface hit her back.
He lifted her hands over her head and pressed them into the granite. “Leave them there.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He grabbed her knees next and spread them out so that she straddled the island. The stretch was almost too far. If she wasn’t as limber as she was, she wouldn’t have been able to do it.
This position left her open and aroused as hell.
“This okay?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her nipples puckered as the air conditioning hit them, and she squirmed.
“So sexy.” He leaned over and flicked his tongue across her nipple. Then he did it again under her breast. And again on her belly. When he licked his tongue through her belly button, she whimpered. Maddening.
Dominic stepped between her legs and grabbed her thighs. Two seconds later, his mouth was on her clit, sucking hard.
Two seconds after that, she came, just as hard.
He didn’t stop there, though. He thrust his tongue into her pussy and then drew it back to flick over her clit rapidly while two fingers pushed into her. Her belly dipped, her chest arching. She moaned into the room, knowing there was no way in hell she could avoid a second orgasm, even though he hadn’t given her permission to have either of them.
She was right. The vaginal orgasm that followed the clitoral one slammed into her, leaving her gasping as waves of pleasure marked her as his.
He didn’t stop licking her until she was somewhat able to focus.
He was smiling when she met his gaze, and he lifted his face, licking his lips clean. “Needy little girl, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“In a hurry too.”
“Yes, Sir.” Her heart raced.
“Did I say you could come?”
“No, Sir.” She whimpered.
It was titillating imagining what he might do tonight or any night in the future. She was well aware they’d only touched the very edge of the possibilities. So far he hadn’t marked her skin in any way. Not with a flogger or a whip or anything. But she knew he would. And she craved it.
He’d seen her get all hot and bothered at Zodiac that night. He would push the issue. Maybe not tonight, but soon.
He smiled. “God, I love that look on your face.”
“What look, Sir?”
“The one that tells me you’re wondering what I might do next. And I’m going to enjoy seeing that in your eyes for years. Because I’m going to ease you into my world at a snail’s pace. Keep you on your toes so that look is always there.”
Of course he was.
She shivered at the thought. She wanted whatever he would give her. He was a master. Her master. The ruler of her body. Denial was futile.
She was his. Words she hadn’t expected blurted out of her mouth. “I’m falling in love with you.”
He smiled and leaned over to kiss her lips gently. “Thank God. Because I fell in love with you months ago, probably the first time you came to my house and let me fuck you in my bathroom.”
She flushed. That had been embarrassing.
“It was beautiful.” He rubbed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I knew then we had a chemistry that couldn’t be denied. I won’t let you go again.”
She nodded, hoping he was serious. Because she wouldn’t run again, either.
“Please…”
“I love the sound of that word coming from your lips.”
“Sir, my skin is crawling. Please…”
“Mmm. Don’t rush me. I’m just getting started.” He kissed her again.
Just getting started.
That pretty much summed up their relationship.
They’d had a long stretch of starts and stops, but that was over. They were really getting started now.
Lily had never been so eager or so happy.
Suddenly, spending days watching this man play baseball and then sleeping in with him and fucking all morning didn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
She was looking forward to it.
Author’s Note
Thanks for taking the time to explore my new world of baseball. I hope you enjoyed this second book in the Spring Training series. Use the following link below to continue reading this series. Catching Ava releases March 14, 2017.
http://amzn.to/2jB0OxV
In addition, if you find yourself intrigued by the introduction of Club Zodiac, I’ll be releasing a spin-off series in that world in the fall of 2017!
Here’s a blurb for book three in the Spring Training series, Catching Ava, which features the third baseman as he meets the perfect sweet, innocent, younger woman while dealing with a family crisis:
She’s determined to round the bases, and he’s just the player to show her the way.
A blind date with a sexy major league baseball player seems harmless enough. Except Ava Phillips falls hard for Xavier Monreal and then can’t get him to move off first base.
Xavi
er has some family issues that need resolving before he’s boyfriend material for anyone. He also has a stubborn streak that keeps Ava at arm’s length.
Time and again their agendas clash. Ava has personal goals that keep her from spending much time with Xavier. Meanwhile, Xavier needs to get his head out of his ass if he wants to earn her respect.
Major league baseball is a demanding sport not conducive to long-term relationships. Only the strongest can survive.
Books by Becca Jameson
Wolf Masters Series
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Tessa’s Wolf
Rebecca’s Wolves
Melinda’s Wolves
Laurie’s Wolves
Amanda’s Wolves
Sharon’s Wolves
The Fight Club Series
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Need
Hers
Want
Lust
The Underground Series
Force
Clinch
Guard
Submit
Thrust
Torque
Saving Sofia
Spring Training Series
Catching Zia
Catching Lily
Catching Ava
Claiming Her Series
The Rules
The Game
The Prize
Emergence Series
Bound to be Taken
Bound to be Tamed
Bound to be Tested
Bound to be Tempted
Durham Wolves Series
Rescue in the Smokies
Fire in the Smokies
Freedom in the Smokies
Wolf Gatherings Series
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Dominated
Completed
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Betrayed
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Out of the Smoke
Abducting His Mate
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Wolf Trinity
Frostbitten
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