Thrown by a Curve (16 page)

Ignoring the pang in her stomach, she retrieved the ice pack from the freezer, wrapped it in a towel, and brought it to him.

“Ten minutes,” she said.

He grabbed his music player and slipped in his earphones. “Got it.”

He’d tuned her out, deepening that ache in her stomach. She walked out of the room and hunted down her notebook. She set a timer and began to chart today’s notes in Garrett’s file.

The ten minutes passed much too quickly. But when she went into the workout room, she found only the ice pack lying there. Garrett was nowhere to be found. She loaded the ice pack back into the freezer and left the room.

Thinking Garrett had gone into his room, she walked out into the hall, but his door was open. She peeked her head in. He wasn’t there.

“Garrett?”

He didn’t answer, and she didn’t hear the shower running, so she went out back and found him standing at the edge of the sand staring out over the ocean. She walked outside and stood at the edge of the deck, watching him.

What a picture he presented in his bare feet, shirtless, the sun beating down on him while the wind blew his hair. She wondered what he was thinking as he stood there examining the waves. It had been a rough day, both physically and emotionally. Was he thinking about that, irritated with her, or just pondering the future of his career? Was he thinking about her?

She’d definitely thought a lot about him today, about more than just his shoulder.

She’d had his body last night, had felt every rock-hard ridge and plane. He’d been inside her. He’d tasted her and had made her come—more than once. They’d just begun mapping each other’s bodies, and no matter how much she talked the talk about professionalism and how they should stay away from each other, the bottom line was, she felt cheated. There was so much more she wanted to know, to find out about Garrett, his wants and needs, what turned him on and what got him off.

She gripped the edge of the railing, desire igniting inside her like a flash fire. She blazed hot for Garrett. No man stirred her as quickly as he did. Just one look, one thought, and she was consumed. All rational thought fled, and every wall she’d so carefully constructed throughout the day crumbled around her.

He was right. What difference did it make if they had sex? She knew her job, knew what it would take to get him ready to pitch. She could do her work efficiently and the two of them could still have a smoking-hot sexual relationship.

She’d be insane to walk away from something like this. She knew he wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. He had his career to resume once his rehab was over with. That would consume all his time. And she sure as hell wasn’t looking for a committed relationship. She was building a career that had been her primary focus for years.

So they both worked for the same team. It wasn’t like she was going to be engaged with him on a one-on-one basis after he finished his rehab and the season started. Unless he was injured, they wouldn’t have much contact at all. She could protect her job, and no one would ever know about the two of them.

She was an adult. So was he. They could manage their sexual relationship. She could manage it.

She kicked off her shoes and stepped off the porch.

EIGHTEEN

A STORM WAS COMING. GARRETT HAD BEEN WATCHING
the clouds gather, darkening the sky and shifting the atmosphere from bright and sunny to ominous and gray.

He knew the feeling. His own mood had darkened throughout the course of the day. But that was on him. Not on Alicia. He knew she was out on the deck watching him. He didn’t turn around, didn’t go to her, figured if she had something to say she’d come talk to him.

He’d kept things professional between them today. That’s what she asked for, and he knew her job was important to her, so he did his best.

It was hard. Hell, she made him hard. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he wanted more of her, and a lot more of what they’d had last night. But if she didn’t want that he’d have to respect it.

The problem was, he knew she was torn, and it would be easy to get her to change her mind. He could be persuasive if he put his mind—and his charm—into it. But that would make him an asshole, and he’d like to think he wasn’t one. So he backed off and kept things between them business only. If he had to go through this therapy thing with a throbbing hard-on, that was his problem. Eventually, he’d get over it.

Besides, he had bigger problems to deal with than whether or not he’d ever get Alicia in the sack again. Like getting himself on the pitcher’s mound. It was time he started concentrating on that.

So when he caught sight of Alicia stepping off the porch and coming toward him, he figured she was going to drag him inside and perform some kind of stretching torture on his arm. He turned to face her, waited for her to say something.

She didn’t. A strong gust blew in from the ocean, slapping strands of her hair across her face. She didn’t bother to push them away. Her gaze was fixed on his, and he read the intent in her eyes. He recognized that heat, because it had been boiling inside him all day long. Her desire crashed into him with a force stronger than the wind.

He didn’t understand the sudden turnaround. He could question her, especially since she’d been the one to put up the wall between them. Now she was tearing it down?

But he realized he really didn’t give a shit why she’d changed her mind. He only needed to know one thing.

“You sure about this?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t hesitate, and he wasn’t going to ask again. He swept his hands over her cheeks and pushed her hair away, then slanted his lips over hers, needing his mouth on hers. There was no figuring this out—whatever it was between them that drove him crazy, and probably her, too.

He only knew he wanted her with a primal force as strong as the wind slamming them into each other. He drew his arm around her waist to hold them both steady. And when the first raindrop smacked him on the cheek, he broke the kiss, grabbed her hand, and they ran like hell toward the house as the skies opened, drenching them in the short distance to the deck.

Alicia lifted her gaze to his. Her hair was plastered to her head, her tank top was molded to her chest, and droplets of water slid down her body. He’d never had desire gut punch him like it did right now.

Lightning arced across the sky as thunder clapped around them, shaking the foundation of the house. The skies had grown so dark it was like night. The rain came down so hard he couldn’t even see the water anymore. The force of the storm mixed with his hunger for her, and he pushed her against the wall of the house and fixed his lips to hers.

She met his kiss with equal force. Maybe it was the weather, the storm bringing out primal desires. And maybe he just wanted her that much. He lifted her shirt and swept his hand across her stomach, felt the ripples in her muscles as he wound his arm around her so he could draw her closer to his body. She moaned against his mouth, tugged at his bottom lip with her teeth.

He growled in response, his need for her fierce as he pulled her wet shirt off and undid the clasp of her bra. There was no one outside, no neighbors within viewing distance. Even if there were, no one could see anything in this driving rain anyway. Alicia didn’t seem to care as she helped him peel the rest of her clothes off, then his.

Fed by the storm, the two of them stood outside, leaning against the porch, their wet bodies steaming as the rainstorm cooled the air around them. He didn’t care, but she had goose bumps. He wrapped his arm around her and used his body to shield her from the wind, his lips and hands to give her heat. He grasped her breast in his hand, using his thumb to graze a nipple already hardened from the wet and cold.

She shuddered and wrapped her tongue around his, sucked it into her mouth, and nearly brought him to his knees. He groaned and pulled his lips from hers, gazing down at her face. Her lips were trembling.

“I need to be inside you,” he said.

She lifted her gaze to his. “Yes. Now.”

If it wasn’t for the lack of a condom, he’d have driven inside her right there—on the deck in the pouring rain. But he took her hand and pulled her inside the house, both of them dripping wet as they dashed toward the bedroom. He turned on the shower, waited until the water was steamy hot, and pulled Alicia inside, shoving her under the spray.

“Get warm,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

He grabbed a condom and set it on the shelf, then met her in the shower. Her eyes were closed, the water pouring over her head. She opened her eyes and smoothed her hair back, then reached for him.

He stepped into her arms, his body chilled to the bone. But her breasts against his chest and her mouth on his heated him up fast. She met his lips in an eager kiss that made him shudder, and it wasn’t from the cold. He smoothed his hand down her back, remembering what it felt like to hold her body against his last night.

It hadn’t been enough then, and now, he mapped her curves as he moved his mouth over hers, wondering what it would take to get his fill of her. Steam enveloped them, and she wrapped her hand around his cock, stroking him with gentle, fluid motions, making him ache to be inside her.

He backed her against the wall and slid his hand between her legs. She was so soft, like the petals of a flower. He wanted to be gentle, but she dug her nails into his arms in response, her body quivering as he began to ease his hand back and forth across her sex.

“Oh, God,” she said. “Yes, just like that, Garrett. Put your fingers inside me and make me come.”

He loved that she talked to him, told him how to give her pleasure. And despite how fragile she felt under his hand, she demanded more than just a gentle stroke. He increased the pressure, resulting in her low moan, which tied his balls into knots and made his cock twitch. He leaned into her, rubbing against her as he moved his fingers and rolled the heel of his hand across her sex, giving her what she asked for.

“Ohhh,” she said, tilting her head back as she shattered against his fingers, her pussy clamping tight around him. Her lips fell open, her nails scoring down his arm as she tilted her pelvis toward his thrusting fingers while she rocked through her climax.

He reached for the condom wrapper, tore it open, sheathed himself, then spread her legs. “Do you know what it does to me to watch you come?”

She swallowed, then licked her bottom lip. “Tell me.”

“My balls tighten up like a fist, and my cock gets even harder. It makes me think about nothing but what it’s going to feel like to be inside you, fucking you with long, slow strokes.”

Even with the water beating down on them, he heard the short, panting breaths she gave him in response. “Yes. I want that. I thought about you all day, Garrett. I missed your body against mine.”

He raised her arms above her head and slid inside her pussy. She moaned against his lips and wrapped one leg around his hip, drawing him deeper.

Damn, it was good to be this close to her, to feel her nipples rub against his chest as he pumped inside her. He twined his fingers with hers and wrapped his tongue around hers, grinding against her until she tightened around his cock, squeezing him.

He tilted his head back, watching the way her eyes widened whenever he pushed deep. He reached between them and found her clit, wanting her to go off and take them both into orgasm.

“Yes, touch me there,” she said, twining her hand around the nape of his neck to bring his mouth back to hers. “Make me come again.”

He kissed her deeply as she tightened around him, her whimper of satisfaction spurring him to thrust deep and join her in her orgasm. He swept his arm around her waist and held her while he shuddered and spent himself inside her.

He caught his breath, still feeling her pussy grip him with pulses from her climax.

“You kill me,” he said, resting his forehead against hers.

“I’m hardly a bundle of energy here.”

He laughed. They washed, got out of the shower and dried off. When Alicia started to head out of the room, he grasped her hand and tugged her into his bed.

“Do you have some problem sleeping with me?” he asked. “Do I need to tie you to my bedpost?”

She arched a brow but settled in next to him. “Intriguing idea. I didn’t know you had that kind of kink in your repertoire.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Miss Riley.”

She swept her hand over his arm as he cuddled in close to her. “Is that right? Do tell.”

“Stay in my bed and you might find out.”

She didn’t move. Instead, she wriggled her butt against him and made a contented hum.

He’d call that a win. For tonight, it was good enough.

NINETEEN

AFTER THE PREVIOUS NIGHT’S STORM, THE DAY
dawned sunny and dry, with just a hint of a cool breeze.

Alicia figured today was a great day to play golf since she’d challenged Garrett earlier and told him she was a better-than-average golfer. Plus, it added variety to his therapy and would be a good way to work his shoulder.

Waking up in his bed this morning had been strange. And exciting, especially the way he roused her before dawn with his hand caressing her breast and his hard cock nestled between her legs. They’d made love slow and easy, until it had become more heated, and Garrett had pulled her on top of him to finish them both off. Then they’d showered together, laughing as they washed each other, then dodged flying suds during a soap battle.

All in all, not a bad way to start the day.

Now, on the eighteenth hole of the golf course, she was in therapist mode, watching Garrett’s every move. His swing was easy and he hadn’t once seemed to tighten up or wince. A very good sign.

“How are you feeling over there, champ?” she asked as he teed up.

He shifted his gaze from the ball to her. “You trying to throw off my concentration?”

She leaned against the shaft of her club. “You’re ten strokes ahead of me, asshole. I don’t have a chance in hell of beating you, so I don’t think distracting you is a viable strategy for me.”

He gave her a sexy grin, then turned and took his shot, a nice, straight arc that landed in the middle of the fairway.

Prick.

She took her tee shot, a decent one, but it had nowhere near the distance his had. They grabbed their clubs and went to find their balls.

By the time they arrived at the putting green, she had a good opportunity to make par. Garrett was about six feet from the hole with a fair chance of hitting a birdie shot.

Which he missed by barely an inch.

“Fuck,” he said, then tapped his ball in for par.

She missed hers and bogeyed the hole. “Ditto,” she said.

They ordered lunch in the clubhouse.

“You were right,” he said after taking a long swallow of iced tea. “You’re good.”

“It wasn’t even close to being my best game,” she said, taking a sip of soup, “but I haven’t played in a while. You’re good, too. How does your shoulder feel?”

He rolled his shoulders. “Surprisingly good, considering I haven’t played golf in a couple of years.”

“That’s a great sign. Golf is good therapy for you, now that you’re healing so well. You should play more.”

He speared his salad and took a bite. “You should play with me.”

“You’re not good for my ego. I need to play with someone I can beat.”

“Wuss. Suck it up.”

She laughed. “Next we have to do your therapy. Then we’ll see who the real wuss is.”

“You’d persecute me like that after I just put my shoulder through eighteen holes of golf?”

“It is my job, you know.”

“And you enjoy it so much.”

“I do.”

He gave her a mock glare over the rim of his glass. “I think there must be a little sadist in therapists.”

“You think?”

She expected there to be some tension between them, uncomfortable silences. And maybe that was on her—her own fears about what she thought might happen after she slept with him.

There was none. They’d had a fun morning and were at ease with each other.

So much for her worries.

When they got back to the house, she washed up and changed into her workout clothes. Garrett was in the gym when she got there, sitting on one of the benches, ice pack already on his shoulder.

She leaned against one of the machines. “Doing my job for me now?”

He looked down at the ice pack then back up at her, giving her a knowing smirk. “I think I’m familiar enough with the routine now.”

“Is that right? Maybe you don’t need me anymore.”

“Oh, I need you, all right. I have an ache.”

From the look he gave her, she knew exactly what kind of ache he was referring to, and it had nothing to do with his shoulder. Heat speared her, need coiling low in her belly. She came toward him. “Is that right? Tell me where you hurt.”

He put his hand between his legs. “Right here. Do you think you can do anything to make me feel better?”

She straddled him, the hard ridge of his erection pressing up against her quivering pussy. “Oh, I can definitely make you feel better.”

He grasped her hips and rocked her against him, drawing her quivering pussy against his shaft. She licked her lips and laid her hands on his chest. “I could come like this,” she said, her voice lowering as desire flushed through her nerve endings.

Garrett figured there was nothing better than a beautiful woman getting herself off on his cock. Having Alicia writhing fully clothed on his lap had gotten him from semi-hard to fully erect in a matter of seconds. He’d been thinking about her while he’d put on the ice pack. She’d looked hot today on the golf course. He’d never found golf sexy at all until he’d played with Alicia. She was competent in her swing, and it didn’t hurt that she’d worn those capri pants that showed off her toned calves. Plus, he let her walk ahead of him so he’d gotten an awesome view of her great ass as she moved with confidence through the course.

Who knew that golf would get him hot? But having her sit on him like this was definitely melting the ice pack on his shoulder.

He shrugged off the pack and drew Alicia against him for a kiss that rocked him all the way to his balls. She was fully into it, slipping her fingers into his scalp to tug on his hair. It gave him chills and made his cock as hard as the metal bars he lifted here in the gym.

But then she moved away from him and dropped to her knees.

“Slide your legs over,” she said, looking up at him.

He sat forward and swept his legs over the side of the bench, laying his feet flat on the floor. Alicia shouldered herself between them, then tugged on his sweats, drawing them and his boxers down and off.

His balls tightened as she grabbed hold of his cock and began to stroke it from base to tip, never once drawing her gaze away from his face. He leaned down and kissed her again, brushing his lips against hers, coaxing her to open for him. Her lips trembled, her excitement clear.

God, that turned him on. He dipped his tongue inside, licking and tasting her until she pulled back.

“Let me taste you,” she said, rolling her thumb over his cockhead.

He shuddered, then leaned back and laid his palms flat on the bench, giving her access to him. He was riveted, watching her as her tongue slid between her lips. He found himself swallowing, his throat dry as he anticipated her next move.

She licked the underside of his shaft, starting at the base until she got to the tip. Then she covered his cockhead with her lips and flicked her tongue over it.

He couldn’t hold back the groan of sheer pleasure. He’d never felt so hard or so ready to shoot a load of come. He ached with the need for it, and when she shifted, then took him deep into her mouth, he let out a curse.

She had him. She owned him, and he’d give her anything as long as she kept sucking him like that, bathing him with her tongue and covering his dick with her sweet, hot mouth.

He swept her hair to one side so he could watch her cheeks hollow as she clamped her lips together and increased the pressure, bobbing up and down on his shaft until he dug his feet into the carpet and held on. Sweat beaded and rolled down his back as he thrust against her mouth.

“I’m going to come, babe,” he said, unable to control the thrust of his hips as she sucked him fully into her mouth. “God, you’re going to make me come.”

He gave her the option of pulling back, but she grasped his shaft and took him deep. Unable to hold back, he held her head and let go, bursting into her mouth as what felt like gallons of come erupted from him, making him shudder and yell out as he came.

He was shaking as he released, and Alicia took everything from him until he collapsed forward, fisting her hair and holding on to her for what seemed like his goddamn life.

She laid her head on his thigh and let him recover. When he could form words, all he could say was, “Christ, that was good.”

She tilted her head upward and licked her lips. It made his dick twitch. Damn, she made him insatiable.

“You’re killing me, Alicia.”

“So, you’re saying you don’t want to lift weights now?”

He laughed. “Uh, no. But I’d love a glass of ice water.”

She got up. “Me, too. I’ll go get us one. You should get dressed.”

Before she could get away, he grasped her wrist and pulled her into his lap for a deep kiss. “Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Oh, your pleasure is coming.”

She grinned. “I’m counting on it.”

While he pulled his clothes back together, Alicia came back with two glasses of water and handed him one. He drank it down in about three greedy gulps while she sipped hers.

“You really do need to do a workout, you know,” she said.

“I know. I just need a minute to catch my breath. And I don’t know, maybe a snack. You depleted all my stores with that blow job.”

She snorted. “Toughen up. We’re working on your stamina, stud.”

“I think you’re trying to kill me.”

But she did relent, and they had a snack, then went to work on his therapy. He had to admit, therapy was a lot more fun after sex, though his cock kept twitching while he fantasized about all the different ways he’d like to have Alicia in the workout room. She noticed, too, shooting a glance at his crotch and lifting her gaze back to his.

“Exercising with a hard-on doesn’t get your blood flowing to the right muscles. I need it in your shoulder—not your cock.”

He shrugged as he worked the pulleys. “I can’t help it. I keep thinking about bending you over the bench. Or throwing you down on the futon and fucking you.”

She gave him a glare, but it was only a halfhearted one. “Well, stop it. We’re in work mode now. We can have sex later.”

“Is this a work-reward kind of thing?”

“Will it make you stop thinking of sex if I say yes?”

“Maybe. It would help if I could have a little tease right now.” He walked away from the pulleys and toward her. Alicia backed away.

“No, Garrett. Work now.”

He advanced on her. “Just a little play. Then back to work.”

She laughed as he pressed her up against the wall. “I’m serious.”

“Oh, so am I. Dead serious about getting my hands down your pants and—”

“So, is this a new form of therapy?”

Garrett turned in a hurry, his throbbing erection dying as he faced the one person he really didn’t want to see right now.

His agent—Victoria Baldwin.