Curveball: A Second Chance Romance (Double Play Series Book 1)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “I...we never...I never…”

  “What do you want Charlotte?” he asks.

  His breath is hot on my neck and I feel his erection, bouncing against my center.

  “I want you to...I...want--”

  My words are cut off by a hard smack to my ass and I gasp.

  “Say it baby cakes.”

  “Again Gabe. Spank me again.”

  Another smack reverberates around the room, followed by another and I grip the sheets to steady myself. I'm shaking with need and I might combust if he doesn't fill me in seconds.

  “Stop,” I say breathlessly “I need you inside me, right now.”

  His hard length slides into me quickly and I let out a satisfied moan.

  "Fuck Charlotte...you feel so damn good. I could stay buried in you forever."

  My brain turns to mush on the words, forever. I never realized how badly I still want this man and forever would be a dream. I wonder briefly, when my resentment turned to love again but the thought quickly escapes me as I feel his erection push at something deep within me.

  "Oh my God," I moan, "Gabe I...yesss."

  That's all I can muster up before I explode on his cock and he rocks into me relentlessly, chasing his own release.

  He pulls out of me quickly, flipping me over and my back slams on the bed. He pushes himself back inside me and his thrusts are unrelenting. The moment he releases inside me, I grip his shoulders, riding the wave with him. My legs tighten around his waist, my nails gripping his shoulders and I feel my body pulse around him, again.

  "Charlotte..." he groans, not slowing down.

  "Oh Fuck, Gabriel..."

  What is he doing to me? My body hums with bliss and it takes the pounding happily. I don't want him to stop. He slows his pace and collapses on top of me, a bead of sweat dripping off his forehead onto my neck.

  "You're a witch," he says, out of breath.

  He rolls to the side and eyes me out of the corner of his gaze.

  "Excuse me?" I say, raising my eyebrows, turning my body towards his.

  "You've got me under your spell again, Charlotte," he whispers, putting a strand of hair behind my ear.

  I try not to swoon at his words but it's too late. Don't look into his eyes Charlotte. Don't. You. Dare. Do. It. Shit...it's over Charlotte. You're done.

  Chapter 16

  Gabriel

  I sit at my desk as I watch film on the upcoming opposing pitcher and look up when I hear a knock on my door.

  “Jackson fucking Turner!”

  I get up from my desk, walk around to the other side and walk over to my longtime friend. Jackson and I were drafted in the same year, both going to Houston. We lost touch when I was traded to Miami, but he reached out when I was dropped to coach.

  He's been a great friend and helped me get my head on straight, in a time when I was lost. We don't see each other as often as we used to but we chat here and there and get together whenever either of us are in the same state as the other.

  Currently, he's the right fielder for the Atlanta Storm, and I usually keep track of their schedule. I didn't see a Texas game on there for another couple of weeks.

  “How are ya, man?”

  He grabs my hand, pulling me toward him and slaps me on the back.

  “I'm good man. How's Lacey?” I ask.

  “She's good, she's good.”

  “Well, what the hell brings you down here to us little people?”

  “Rumor has it your sister's been plowin’ through the league. I want in.”

  “What the hell did you just say?” I growl.

  “Easy, ” he says lifting up his hands in surrender. “I mean she's helpin’ a lot of guys out with PR gigs and stuff. I'm almost at the end, I wanna go out on a high note. I need some good press.”

  “Oh,” I say, visibly relaxing, “Yeah, her company is takin’ off.”

  “How is she doin'? I haven't seen her since her Lonestar groupie days. I ran into her a couple months ago, but she ran off,” he says, laughing.

  “She’s been better. Divorced, ex-husband was a piece of shit, but you know her, she's pushin’ through. My girl actually works for her too, I'll get you a meetin’ with them.”

  “Your girl, huh? Wanna elaborate?” he smirks, sitting in the chair, opposite my desk.

  “Charlotte Daniels. No elaboration needed.”

  “No shit. She was actually with Savvy, I wasn't gonna say anything. How the hell did you get her to take your sorry ass back?”

  “It's uh..ha...well I have kids. Twins. Devin and Bella. They’re eighteen. Devin is actually my ace right now. It's a long story,” I say, shaking my head.

  “Well, I'll be. Damn, Gabriel, look at you. I'm proud of you, man!” he says, rising from his feet, slapping me on my back.

  He walks towards the door and then turns around.

  “Wasn't your sister's company called SG Sports? The guys were tellin’ me it's Double Play, I could have sworn she had another name, right?”

  “That's another long story. You stickin’ around? Wanna get a drink tonight?”

  “Sure man. Call me later.”

  Charlotte

  I walk towards Savannah's office and knock twice.

  “Come in,” I hear, from the other side of the door.

  I open it up and walk through, holding the take-out bag.

  “I'm holdin’ you hostage. I will handcuff you to your chair and force feed you, if you don't take a break to eat,” I say, walking towards her desk.

  “You don't have handcuffs,” she says, eyeing me.

  I raise my eyebrow and smirk.

  “Ew, I don't wanna know. Gimme!” she says, reaching for the bag of food.

  “You needa slow down, Sav. You're gonna burn yourself out. What's goin’ on?” I ask with concern.

  “I...I just want this company to do well, that's all.”

  I nod in understanding.

  “Am I ever gonna know what happened with SG Sports?”

  Her gaze snaps back up to mine and she opens her mouth to speak but shuts it.

  “My ex-husband is a dick. That's all ya needa know,” she says, taking a bite from her sandwich.

  “Sav, it's me. I’m not just an employee, I'm your sister. I know I don't have the greatest track record with tellin’ important aspects of my life, but...I thought we were gonna start over.”

  She's silent for a long moment, looking down at her desk.

  “Ya know that bar fight that Gabriel got in? The one that ended his career?”

  I nod.

  “It was my fault. The guy he beat up...that was my ex-husband.”

  My mouth drops, and I mentally backtrack, remembering the headlines. He was in a strip club, so I shut it out. I didn't need to know about his crazy escapades as I was raising his kids. It just broke my heart and I couldn't do it to myself anymore.

  “I...I had no idea, Sav. I shut everything out once he got to Miami. I saw the headline and I didn't wanna see the explanation.”

  “Yeah, well, I'm an idiot,” she says shaking her head. “Plus of course they didn't post the reason. They made it sound like a lovers quarrel or some crap. You know how those magazines are.”

  “Wait, I'm so confused. You didn't divorce him until recently, that happened like four years ago.”

  “Yeah, well, after that night, I...let's just say my prenup wasn't fool proof, or it was I just…” She trails off and a tear escapes down her cheek.

  “Shit Sav, I'm sorry, forget it. Tell me when you're ready, okay?” I say, moving to the other side of her desk.

  We hug for a long time and when we break free, she takes off her glasses to wipe her eyes.

  “It's not you, Charlie. I wanna talk about it, I just...it's tough. It's not about the money, I don't care about that. Just...appreciate what you have,” she says, smiling weakly.

  “Of course I do. I love your brother with everything I have Savannah. I always have, despite it all. It scares the shit out of me but only the
greatest things do, right?” I say, smiling back.

  “Not just him...cherish everything,” she says, pulling me in for a hug.

  My heart breaks for her. If I ever see her ex-husband in the street, he's a dead man. Only a complete shithead would break this amazing woman's spirit. I make a silent vow to Savannah at that moment. She is getting her happily ever after, I won't stop until she does.

  Chapter 17

  Gabriel

  “She in?” I ask the receptionist at Double Play.

  She nods her head and I walk down the hall with the roses in my hand towards Charlotte's office. The door is closed so I lift my hand to knock but stop when I hear laughter. Charlotte's laughter. I smile because it's a sound I've become addicted to. That is, until I hear the source of that laughter and it's a man's voice.

  I bust the door open and see Charlotte jump in her chair, as does the man leaning over her shoulder, hands braced on the desk, next to her.

  “What the hell is goin’ on here?” I boom at them.

  “I’m sorry, did I cut into your next meeting time?” he asks, looking down at Charlotte.

  She smiles, shaking her head and I want to throw up.

  “We’re in the middle of somethin’ Gabriel. I think Savannah is in, you can wait with her while we finish,” she says cooly.

  “Work, my friend. You know how it is,” says the man, smirking.

  His face is familiar, but I can't place it.

  “Oh yeah, work? Work require your arms to be around my girlfriend?” I growl.

  “Gabe…” Charlotte gasps.

  “She can email you the rest,” I snap, walking towards the desk.

  The guys face drops and he backs away, putting his hand out for Charlotte to shake.

  “Thanks for the meeting, Charlotte. I look forward to seeing the rest of the pictures from the event,” he says, his tone all professional.

  He walks towards me and leans close to my ear.

  “Drop the caveman act, Papi Chulo, she's all yours,” he says, slapping me on the shoulder.

  He walks out of the door, shutting it softly. I turn, looking at Charlotte and she is standing in front of her desk, crossing her arms over her chest. My eyes roam over her body taking in her appearance.

  Her black heeled foot is tapping against the rug and her long shapely legs get lost behind a black pencil skirt. Her delicious breasts are hidden behind a white, button-down blouse, with the first two buttons unbuttoned. I look up past her slender neck and stop on her face. Her caramel eyes are hidden behind her black, rimmed glasses and her brown hair is pulled up high, in some kind of knot on top of her head.

  “I brought you lunch,” I say, walking over to her, slowly.

  I place the bag on her desk, along with the flowers and move quickly to cage her in.

  “None for yourself?” she asks, her voice dripping with attitude.

  I lean close to her, my breath tickling her ear.

  “Sit up on your desk, spread your legs and I'll eat my lunch right now,” I say, my voice rough.

  “Gabe…” she whispers.

  “Charlotte…”

  “You can't just stomp in here like some brute, puttin’ a claim on me when I'm in a meetin’ with a client.”

  “He was practically layin’ on your back. I could see the look in his eyes, he wants you.”

  “He's all talk, he’s harmless. We've come to an understandin’.”

  “I want him to know that you're mine.”

  “He does! I told him I'm seein’ someone and I think you made it pretty clear if I didn't! Ya gotta trust me!”

  I let out a breath.

  “Okay you're right, I’m sorry. I just got you back and I ain't losin’ you again,” I say, kissing her softly on her lips.

  She cups my cheeks and looks up at me.

  “You're stuck with me, Gabriel Gavinwood.”

  She drops one hand to my shirt and pulls my body flush against hers.

  “Did you lock my door?” she asks, gasping for air.

  I nod and kiss my way down her neck to the top of her blouse. I undo the rest of the buttons and untuck her blouse from her skirt. I pull her skirt up above her waist and suck in a breath when I see the top of her stockings. A damn garter belt. My erection presses painfully into my zipper.

  “Why the hell are you wearin’ this?” I say, my voice tortured.

  “A little birdie told me you would be makin’ an appearance at some point today. I wanted to be prepared,” she says.

  She grabs my hand and brings it to the top of her stocking, unhooking it from the belt. It snaps against her skin and the sound makes me groan.

  I press my other hand to the front of my jeans and she pushes at my chest. I take a step back.

  “So, you're hungry?” she asks sexily.

  She lifts a leg up and puts it on the arm of her desk chair, giving me a view of heaven. I nod, and she crooks a finger.

  “Come here, then. Get on those knees Gavinwood,” she smirks.

  I stalk over to her, dropping to my knees and drag the material of her panties to the side. I waste no time and dive into her heat. Her hand goes back to the base of my neck and she plays with my hair as I eat her. She moves the leg from her chair and hooks it up and over my shoulder. The hand on the back of my neck starts to move my head closer to her and she starts to ride my face, brazenly. Her other hand braces herself on her desk and I feel her legs shake.

  “Yes Gabe...so good,” she whispers.

  I bury myself deeper in her pussy and the movement makes her butt hit the desk and she gasps.

  “Oh God, too much...I...shit,” she says through gritted teeth.

  Her hand puts pressure on my neck and I plunge my tongue as deep as I can go, as my top teeth graze her clit. She sucks in a breath and I feel her shudder.

  After a few seconds, she lays back on her desk, slowly trying to catch her breath. She leans up on her elbows and smirks.

  “Your turn.”

  “I'm gonna to cash it in later tonight,” I say, pressing on my length again.

  I'm in need of a cold shower, desperately.

  “What?” she says sitting up quick. “Why don't you...what's goin’ on?” she asks, panicking.

  I laugh and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “Nothin’ is goin’ on. I just need to run some last-minute errands tonight, before the stores close tomorrow and I need to get a move on. I just wanted to come by and give you a little pre-Christmas present,” I say, kissing her lips.

  I go to walk away and she drags me back by my shirt, slamming our lips together again.

  “I love when you taste like me,” she says in a throaty whisper, “It's so damn sexy.”

  She kisses down my neck and sucks on the spot right above my collar bone that drives me wild. I grit my teeth and try to keep a death grip on my control. She moves her hand down to my belt and I grab it quick, before my control evaporates.

  “Nice try, Daniels,” I laugh.

  “Come on. You get to eat me for lunch, I'm hungry too,” she pouts.

  “Eat your sandwich,” I say, winking at her. “I'll let you have your fill tonight.”

  She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs.

  “You're the worst.”

  “I don't recall you thinkin’ that a couple minutes ago.”

  She picks up a pen and throws it at me and I duck. I laugh as I walk out of her office and down the hall.

  I take my phone out of my pocket and dial Bella's number. She picks up on the first ring.

  “We're here, where are you?” she asks quietly.

  “Had to make sure your mama was at work. We're good. I'll be there soon.”

  I jog down the stairs to my car and drive across town to meet Bella and Devin. I met them for breakfast this morning and told them my plan for Charlotte on Christmas Eve, tomorrow night. Bella was ecstatic and Devin...well he's gonna take some more convincing, but we're getting there.

  “I don't get why I had to
be here. I don't know shit about this stuff,” Devin grumbles, as I walk towards them outside the jewelry store.