Broken Bases

by Nikki Pennington

  Jimmy took the kids out to the mall today, and Rosa is home with her family, so it's just Shay and me for a while. We haven't been alone in a long time. She sits down next to me and I throw my arm over her shoulder.

  "Please just sit with me a while, just relax." I sigh. She looks up at me and smiles.

  "There is nothing more I'd love to do than sit here with you."

  We are just inches from each other, the sexual tension between us has been brewing for a month now. I've been dying to get my lips on her. I feel like this is the only opportunity I'm going to have for a while. I glance over at her and move a piece of hair from her face and lean in.

  "Shay, you are so beautiful, and I have waited so long for this moment."

  I lean in and kiss her. And finally, again, after all these years she kisses me back. We are kissing each other with a sense of urgency, we both realize we might not have much time, and we are trying to take advantage of this rare moment. I don't want to rush anything, but I don't want anything to ruin this moment we finally have with each other.

  My hands go to the bottom of her shirt and she lifts her arms so I can pull it off her. I kiss down her shoulder, to her chest and lower her on to the couch. I have never seen Shay like this. I have dreamed of this moment for so many years, but I have never been here. She’s looking up at me from the couch, her hair is everywhere, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are red. I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful in my life.

  "I don't think I'll be able to stop if we get started."

  "I don't want you too." She says as she lifts my shirt from my head.

  I hover over her admiring her for a moment longer and then deepen the kisses.

  "Luke, I can't believe this is finally happening. I love you. You have to know that. I have loved you for so long, but I've just been too scared to tell you."

  I look at her with love in my eyes.

  "I love you too, Shay, always have. I am so glad we finally made it here. I’m so glad we found our way back to each other. It’s officially the bottom of the 9th" She smiles up at me, "No, I think this is the grand slam."

  I kiss her again, with a little more urgency, then I make my way down her body. I take her nipple into my mouth and feel her sigh against my body. Her fingers find my hair, and her body bucks against me. I leave a trail of kisses down her body and slowly move her knees apart.

  I need to cherish her. I need to show her that I deserve her, even if I still don't feel like I do. I take her into my mouth and it's everything I’ve always dreamed it would be. I hear her gasp and her grip on my hair tightens. I let my fingers and tongue do things to her that I've been dreaming of. I continue to lick and push my fingers inside her and I can feel her body tighten up. Her knees squeeze against my head and her body bucks up. I slowly caress her body with my other hand and within minutes I feel her come in my mouth.

  I pull myself up, and she has heat in her eyes.

  "Please, Luke, please let me feel you inside of me."

  I lean over her and kiss her like I'm not sure I'll ever get to kiss her again. I want her to taste everything I did, and I want her to feel how much I want her. She wraps her hand around my cock and angles it above her entrance. I push into her, and I see stars. She feels so tight around me. It's like our bodies were made to be together. We are a perfect fit. She lets out the sexiest moan I've ever heard, and I nearly come undone. I can feel her clenching around me and it's driving me wild. I take one of her nipples into my mouth without losing any momentum.

  "Luke, I'm almost there..." she pants. Lust filled eyes staring at me.

  "Come with me, baby, I say, Let go."

  A little while later, we are laying on the couch together tangled up in each other. She smiles up at me and I kiss her forehead. "I love you so much, Shay. Thank you for being here with me."

  She sighs and drifts off to sleep. How on earth did I get so lucky to be here in this moment with this woman?

  And why is there still a part of me that feels like I'm not completely here.

  Chapter FORTY-FOUR

  Shay

  I wake up and look over to see I'm still laying on the couch with Luke. That was unbelievable. I could just feel the love radiating off him. I am so mad at myself for letting this go on for so long. Why did I waste so much time? We could have had so much more time together. I should consider myself lucky that I have him now. I can’t believe this man has waited all these years for me to come around and finally figure out what he has known all along.

  I'm lucky our kids love us both, they love each other. This is the kind of family I've always wanted to have. I finally have it. I am incredibly lucky. This might end up being a mistake, it might end up in heartbreak, but it will be worth it. I’m finally not concerned with the what if’s and I’m trying to live in the right now.

  This has been worth the wait all along.

  Luke is asleep, so I get up to make us something to eat. I've almost finished making the food when I feel arms wrap around me. I smile to myself, and I turn around to see my man. This man that I have made wait far too long. He is grinning at me.

  "My girl, I have been waiting too long to have that smile directed at me."

  He pulls me into a kiss. Just then the family walks in.

  "Oh finally." Rosa says.

  I laugh, and Ava runs up and hugs me. "Are you going to be my mommy now?"

  I'm speechless and don't know how to approach this.

  "Ava baby, you have a mom, but Shay is going to be the mom that's around. The mama that's taking care of you." Luke says with a smile.

  I look up at him shocked. Ava smiles, hugs me, and walks away. I look over a Ryder standing in the kitchen.

  "After all this time are you finally going to let him come around more?" I burst out laughing.

  Who knew this kid felt this way. It seems like everyone was waiting around on me. I smile to myself. Better late than never, I guess. I curse myself for all the time we may have lost together while I was hardheaded, but I also realize I can't dwell on the past. I need to look forward to what kind of future we can have together.

  Chapter FORTY-FIVE

  Shay

  The final bell of the day rings, and I’ve never been more glad to get home. It feels like the time from Thanksgiving break has just been dragging on, I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that Christmas break will be here before we know it.

  I look up and watch Ava packing up her stuff, the two of us have grown closer since Luke and I made things official, and I am so thankful for that. I hope her and Ryder can find some way to connect. I know blending families can sometimes cause stress to the kids involved, and that’s the last thing I want for these kids.

  I don’t remember a time when I just got to think about myself. I’ve been a mom for so long, and it’s hard to remind myself that I need to put myself first sometimes.

  As if he knows what’s going through my head, my phone dings with an incoming text from Luke.

  “Date night, tonight? Tammy wants the kids for the night. We need a night to ourselves; it never happens.”

  I smile to myself. He always knows what I need. I reply with yes and tell Ava it’s time to head home.

  “Do you love my daddy?”

  Ava looks up at me in the car and asks. I stiffen, I do love her dad, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to respond to this. The kids know we are together, but do they understand what it means to be serious about someone?

  “I do love your dad. I love you and your dad very much.” I say to her with a smile.

  She smiles back at me and says, “I knew it. You know, they say kids know a lot more than grownups think we do.”

  I laugh and turn the radio back up and we sing along to the music the rest of the way home.

  After we make it home, Ava heads up to her room, and I head up to take a shower, I’m not sure where Luke is taking me tonight, but I want to wash away the workday regardless. My unruly hair is not going to be tamed tonight, so I do m
y best to make it presentable, and pull on my favorite black dress. I’ve done my makeup and I’m fastening my shoes when Luke walks into our bedroom.

  “Shay, how is it possible that you look more beautiful every day?” Luke says as he looks me up to down.

  I feel my face heating up, “Oh stop, it’s like an obligatory boyfriend thing to say that stuff.”

  He walks over to me and puts my face into his hands, “This isn’t something I have to say, you are beautiful, you have always been beautiful, and I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

  He pulls me in for a kiss, and I feel like I’m floating on air. I let out a soft moan, and he deepens the kiss. I instantly put my hands up his shirt and let them roam across his chest.

  “If you don’t stop, we will never make it out of here for our date.”

  I laugh, and his eyes heat up. I push him towards the bathroom and finally hear the water turn on.

  About an hour later we are heading out the door, and I feel giddy. I feel like a teenager again. He is the only man that’s ever made me feel this way. He puts my hand in his once we get into the car, and I smile to myself. How did I get so lucky?

  We pull up to a beautiful restaurant, with the most gorgeous mountain view. I still can’t get over the amazing views that Colorado has. We are seated in a small corner of the restaurant, with wide windows. It feels like we are the only two people in the world. We can’t take our eyes off each other, and the conversation is just flowing so well tonight.

  After dinner Luke takes my hand and we walk outside. The restaurant has a gorgeous walking path out back, and it’s paved, and covered in twinkling lights, we walk hand in hand towards the trail. It’s a chilly evening, but it feels amazing. I had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, and I’m here with the most amazing man, so I feel nothing but warmth coursing through my veins.

  I can feel his thumb rubbing across my hand, and it’s sending shivers down my body.

  “Luke, this has really been the most perfect night. You don’t know how much I’ve needed something like this. It’s like we’re finally together, but we are never really together, just the two of us.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” He sighs as he looks over at me. “I’m sorry that life is so busy, but we should do things like this as much as we can. We both love the kids, and I know we wouldn’t trade this crazy life for anything, but I also want this relationship to continue to grow.”

  I stop, and he turns around to look at me with a confused look. “Is everything okay?” He asks, concerned.

  “You know I love you, right?” I say, my heart is pounding. This isn’t the first time I’ve said this to him, but something about his moment seems special. “I’ve loved you for so long, but my life hasn’t been easy. I’m not the best at letting my feelings show. I’m not the best at making sure someone knows what I’m truly feeling. I just want to make sure you know that your it for me. I love you so much, and I don’t know what to do with that. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to make sure you can see that and feel that.”

  He pulls me closer, his hands rubbing up my arms. He loops one arm around my waist.

  “Shay, I know you love me. I know you loved me then. We were both young, we both made mistakes, me more than you. I can feel the love you have for me, it’s like we are connected to each other. I would have waited ten more years if I had to, for us to finally get to this moment.”

  I pull him in for a kiss, and it’s like the world disappears. I open my mouth inviting him in, and his tongue swipes with mine, and it feels like heaven. It feels like home.

  This moment with him makes everything that I’ve gone through in my life worth it. This man is slowly erasing every painful memory I have. All the sadness I’ve had up until now means nothing when I’m wrapped in his arms. I can feel myself finally letting go of all the pain I’ve been holding on to for so long.

  The air shifts around us, and I can feel the heat throughout my body. Who knew a kiss could do this to a person? He pulls away, practically panting.

  “I’d like to take you home now,” He chokes out. His breathing is heavy, and I can feel it against my lips. “I had more plans for this night, but none of them matter anymore. I just want to get you home.”

  He doesn’t have to tell me twice, I’m ready to go home too. That kiss was electric. I kiss him again, and he kisses me back, then groans as he pulls away. He grabs my hand and pulls me towards the car.

  I don’t know what has come over me, but I can’t keep my hands to myself once we get back to the car.

  I’m running my fingers through his hair and he’s kissing and nibbling at my neck. I feel like I might explode if I don’t get closer to him, so I climb across the middle console until I’m straddling his lap. His lips crash into mine, and his hands travel up my thighs and are suddenly dangerously close to the hem of my dress.

  The material of my dress is bunched up at my upper thigh, and his touch makes me feel like my body is a live wire. I whimper as his hands make their way up my body, his fingers are playing with my nipples through the thin material of my dress, and the straps have already fallen off my shoulders. I arch my back, and his lips travel down to my chest. I can feel his breath on my skin and it’s driving me wild. I pull his shirt out of his pants and my fingers travel up his body. I hear him growl and feel him stiffen in his pants.

  “My God, Shay, what are you doing to me?” He asks, his voice laced with lust.

  Before I know it, his hand is under my dress, and I can feel his fingers rubbing against the lace of my panties, and I know I’m soaked. He groans, and I pull his mouth to mine. He pulls my panties aside, and I can fill his finger slip inside. I think I’m going to combust.

  I’m panting, and the windows of the car are completely fogged up. I don’t know what’s come over me because I don’t even care that we are in an abandon parking lot at midnight. I don’t even care that there’s a chance someone could walk up at any minute. The only thing I’m worried about is getting as close to this man as I physically can right now.

  I have never felt like this in my entire life. I’m sweating, and my hair is an unruly mess. I’ve also never felt more beautiful in my life. This man makes me feel alive.

  “I have to be inside of you, Shay.” I can’t wait any longer. I’m in total agreement with him. I unzip his pants and lower myself onto him.

  We both groan and I look at him with tears in my eyes. “I love you so much, Luke.

  He kisses me slowly, and I rotated my hips in what felt like a rhythm to his kisses. We are as close as two people can get, and it still doesn’t feel close enough.

  “I love you too, Shay, so much.”

  When I finally pull away and move back into my seat, it feels like the car is 100 degrees. I roll down the window and adjust my dress. I look over and Luke and he is smiling. He caresses my cheek and gives me a quick peck on the lips.

  “Let’s get you home Shay, see if we can get ourselves into any more trouble.”

  I laugh and buckle my seatbelt.

  Chapter FORTY-SIX

  Luke

  Ever since our date night, it’s like Shay and I are attached at the hip. We are finally all meshing like a real family.

  Jimmy, Tammy, and Em came into town and spent Christmas with us, the kids, and Rosa. I never knew it what it was like to have an actual family until now. I think Shay was feeling the same because she has never been able to do Christmas big like this. The house was filled with so much love and laughter.

  Once school started back up, and everyone was back to work and school I started to really feel the pain of losing ball. Sure, I left the game with a lot of money, enough to take care of us for the rest of our lives, but it didn't take away the pain I was feeling. I don't remember a time I didn't play ball, so I've been struggling to adjust. I also don't care for being in the house alone.

  It’s been months and I haven’t told anyone that my career is over, I’m still living in denial. Spring training is due
to start soon, so I have to sit the family down and have this talk with them.

  One evening, when I finally have everyone home, and we are all together for once, I break the news.

  “Guys, I have something to tell you.”

  Everyone looks at me, Shay looks worried, and the kids just look confused.

  “I found out a few months ago that baseball is over for me. I haven’t told anyone yet, because I guess I thought if I didn’t then it wouldn’t be real.”

  Shay comes over to me and wraps me in a hug, “I wish you would have told me this so I could be there for you, I’m sorry this is happening. I know how much baseball means to you, what can I do?”

  I am shocked, I kept this huge thing from this woman, and she is worried about what she can do to help me, how did I get so lucky?

  “You being here, being with me, being with our kids, is all the help I need.” I tell her as I pull her in for a kiss.

  One weekend in May, a month or so after I broke the news about baseball to my family, Shay had some end of school year meetings, it was just the kids and I at home, and I had been dreading making this phone call I needed to make. It only took Lindsay two rings before she answered.

  "What do you want, Luke?"

  "Nice to hear from you too, Lindsay, it's been a while."

  "Let's not pretend we like small talk Luke, just tell me what you need so I can go on with my life."

  "I want you to sign your parental rights for Ava over, you and I both know that's what's best for her, and I'm tired of waiting around for you to decide to make an appearance back in her life."

  "I'm going to want money, Luke, I'm sure you know that."

  "Name your price, and give me your address, I'll send over the paperwork."

  Her price wasn't nearly as high as I was expecting, I really would have made any price she threw at me work. I immediately call my lawyer and get things squared away. I have big plans, and this was one hurdle I needed to jump over to get the ball rolling.