Spring Training (11 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Jessa stepped out of the tub, lingering a moment to enjoy the view. Garrett was sex-on-a-stick fully clothed and covered in sweat. Bathtub Garrett was even more tempting. Tanned skin pulled taut over hardened muscles. His strong thighs bunching as he bent his knees and reclined against the back of the tub. His hair teased the tops of his shoulders as drops of water fell from the ends to join the rivulets running down his chest. Wet strands fell around to grace his cheekbones and Jessa reached out to smooth them back. He was spectacular.

And he’d missed her.

The knock sounded again.

“That’s dinner. Guess I lost track of the time.” She pulled a large terrycloth robe off the hook behind the door and wrapped herself in it. “Stay and enjoy your bath. I’ll be back in a bit.”

She leaned over and kissed his forehead, trailing her fingers through his mess of hair. If she didn’t get out of here, they’d miss dinner for sure. “Don’t do anything you shouldn’t,” she called out as she pulled the bathroom door closed behind her.

“One second,” she yelled as she pulled on a pair of shorts and the T-shirt she’d gotten from Garrett the other night. She loved the feel of the soft cotton against her skin. She’d slept in it every night, his lingering scent reminding her of what they’d shared.

God, she’d missed being with him.

The last few days had been agony.

Her body came alive when Garrett was within sight, as if it recalled how well his hands molded to its every curve. Her muscles went soft, moist heat formed between her legs every time he glanced her way.

And still she’d remained at arm’s length. Fighting like hell to remember her purpose here wasn’t to sleep with Garrett, but to make friends with him, guide him through the rough spots and keep him out of trouble.

Something told her she wouldn’t be getting a raise any time soon.

The concierge rolled a cart through, pausing inside the door. “Is there any place in particular you’d like me to set up, miss?”

Jessa laughed. He couldn’t be more than a year or two younger than her. At least he hadn’t called her ma’am. She motioned for him to follow her. “Here is fine,” she said, waving her hand toward the table.

“How many guests are you expecting?”

The staff at this hotel could be trusted, but Jessa didn’t want to broadcast that Garrett was here.

Or that he’s currently naked in the bathtub. “Excuse me?”

“I apologize, would you prefer I place all the plates for you to sort out for seating?”

Jessa was still confused. “I’m not expecting company.”

He nodded in understanding, a slight smile on his face. He opened the cart and Jessa felt her face flush.

“Wow, that does look like a lot of food, doesn’t it?”

“If you don’t mind me saying, miss, I hope you’re hungry.”

Jessa had called the hotel’s chef and personally requested that a special menu be prepared. She’d never actually believed he could pull it off on such short notice. Yet she watched, amazed, as the concierge presented her with all the greatest Southern comfort foods, or so he claimed as he pulled plate after plate and set them on the table.

If a bath and massage didn’t improve Garrett’s mood, maybe good ole Southern cooking would do the trick.

“Thank you for doing this on such short notice.” Jessa knew the concierge didn’t have anything to do with the meal preparation, but after he’d finished, she slipped him a twenty anyway.

“You’re quite welcome, miss. It’s our pleasure to serve you. Oh, and here is the item you requested.” He handed her a plastic bag bearing the hotel logo. Nodding once, he smiled. “Enjoy your evening.”

“What’s in the bag?” Garrett asked as the concierge slipped from the room.

“You’re supposed to be in the bath.” Jessa reached in and pulled out a plastic bottle filled with a rich yellow liquid. “I called the spa downstairs and asked them to send up whatever they had to use on sore muscles.” She held the bottle up for his inspection. “This is supposed to be a mixture of jojoba and essential oils. I have it on good authority that it will work out all of your kinks.”

“Hmm. You wanna work out my kinks?” He wagged his brows. “’Cause that could be downright interesting.”

His hooded gaze caught her breath. Damn, the man was sexy. “Do you want to eat first?”

Her stomach filled with overactive butterflies. Now that Garrett was here, the food seemed like a ridiculous idea. What did she know about making him happy? She didn’t know anything about him. Not really. She knew who he was as a baseball player, knew every statistic about his career practically since Little League. She knew his smile could melt her insides and his gaze could make her wet.

She knew how he fucked.

But that didn’t tell her anything about who he was as a man. His hopes, his dreams.

She could please him with her body, satisfy him sexually. But out of the bedroom? No clue.

“Depends on what’s on the menu.” He looked her up and down. “Nice shirt.”

Jessa’s body warmed, her clit pulsating in anticipation of the promise in his voice. She cleared her throat. “I had the chef prepare things I thought might help you feel better. Although chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, paired with all that gravy will definitely call for an extra workout.”

Surprise widened his eyes. “You had that made for me?”

She nodded, darting her gaze away to hide her embarrassment.

Inspecting under the lids, Garrett’s eyes drifted closed as he inhaled the delicious scents. “Damn. I don’t know what to say.”

He turned and scooped her up, one arm cradling her legs, the other pressed against her back, as he urged her mouth to his. He pressed his tongue against her lips and she opened, sucking him in, loving the feel of being in his arms.

“Thank you, sweetheart. But don’t drop that bottle,” he said between kisses. “We’re about to put it to good use.”

The endearment wrapped around her heart. It was different somehow, from calling her princess. More intimate. Erotic images of Garrett naked and slathered in oil had her squirming, desperate to get her hands all over his warm, tanned skin. As well as the skin that wasn’t so tanned.

By the time they reached the bedroom, dinner forgotten, Jessa was ready to throw him to the mattress and ride them both to ecstasy.

Garrett placed her on her feet and stripped off his robe, his magnificent body exposed for her pleasure.

“Lay down.” Her voice trembled in time with the flutter in her pussy.

“That’s not really what I had in mind, princess.” He shoved a hand under her shirt and cupped her breast, teasing the tip with his thumb.

“Uh-uh. You first.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” He pinched her nipple and tugged.

The sensation shot through her breast, tightening her stomach. The twinge of pain ramping her arousal until her pussy wept with need. Wiggling out of his grasp, she spun him and pointed. “No,
you
first. On the bed. Now. So I can work on your muscles.”

“Oh, I’ve got a muscle you can work,” he teased.

“Garrett!” She popped him on his bare ass and shoved him forward.

Laughing, he stretched out on the bed, his naked backside making her mouth water. He folded his arms and rested his cheek against his folded hands.

Having Garrett at her disposal was too delicious an opportunity to pass up. He’d learned every inch of her body. He’d tasted her, teased her, threatened to do things to her that made her body heat to an uncomfortable level.

He’d shown her how to appreciate herself as a woman. In his arms, she could be anything, say anything, do anything.

It was addictive. And it was her turn.

The last few nights she’d lain awake, her body painfully aware of Garrett’s absence. It was insane, but just once, she wanted to wake up wrapped in his arms. If he happened to wake her in the middle of the night because he couldn’t wait another minute to take her, well, that would be okay too.

She eased over him, straddling his ass. His heat penetrated her skin and she resisted rubbing on him like a cat, instead pouring a small amount of oil into her hands and rubbing them together.

Starting at the base of his spine, she leaned in, using her body weight to add subtle pressure. Her hands warmed, a combination of the oil and the heat from their combined body temperatures.

Long, wide strokes spread the oil. She massaged her thumbs up either side of his spine, trailing across his shoulders and looping around once again, hugging his ribcage and trim waistline before returning to where she’d started. The man had an amazing body. Jessa could get lost tracing all its sleek lines and hard edges. She especially liked the way his muscles tapered the lower she went, ending in two of the most delicious dimples above his ass.

She ran her fingers across the line between pale and sun-kissed skin, thinking very soon she’d trace that line with her tongue.

Maybe next time she’d request flavored oil.

Using the heels of her palms in slow, circular strokes, Jessa worked her way up his back, eliciting moans of pleasure from Garrett. His muscles were hard, strong. Tight. She moved to work between his shoulder blades, pressing in with her thumbs, sweeping out and circling back to lengthen and relax.

“Jesus, your hands are magical,” Garrett growled.

Jessa moved to his upper shoulders, her breasts grazing his back as she hooked her hands around him, uncaring if she got oil on her shirt. She drew in a breath and her nipples reacted, shrinking into tender buds.

“How does the oil feel?” Jessa continued to work across his broad shoulders, then switched to the pads of her fingers to work up the back of his neck.

He adjusted his head to give her better access. “It’s weird. It feels hot and cold all at the same time. Strangely soothing.” He sighed. “But then again, with your hands on me, baby, there’s no way it could be anything but.”

“What a sweet talker you are, Garrett Donovan. One day, that silver tongue of yours is gonna get you in trouble.”

His husky chuckle rumbled through her legs and traveled to her core. “Tonight, if I’m lucky.”

“Like I said.” She moved back down his spine, shifting her body until she straddled his legs. Tiny hairs tickled her skin as she cupped the cheeks of his ass. Firm, like the rest of him.

She dug her fingers into his flesh, kneading the fine globes until he grew restless. She swatted him and jolted as his head whipped around.

“What do you think you’re doing, princess?”

She soothed the skin with the palm of her hand. “Couldn’t resist.” Distracted, she watched as blood reached the surface and turned his ass cheek light pink.

“That’s twice you’ve popped my ass. I think a little retribution is in order.”

The pulse of her heart pounded heavy in her ears. His words worried and excited her at the same time. She wasn’t worried he’d hurt her. Never that. She worried what it said about her that she was so ready to play this little game. What would he think when he found her swollen and wet? Would he think less of her?

No. Of course he wouldn’t. He’d encouraged her, praised the way she’d made him feel. This could be an opportunity to push her limits, and maybe his, too.

She’d started it and she wasn’t about to chicken out now.

She eased her leg over, sliding off the bed. “What kind of retribution?”

His gaze followed her, eyes flashing with a hunger she felt clear to her toes.

“The kind that puts my palm on your bare ass. Among other places.” He rolled over and pushed from the bed, standing his full height. He twisted left, then right, testing the muscles she’d worked. His cock, swollen and thick, hung heavy between his legs. Moisture beaded at its tip and Jessa fought the urge to drop to her knees and take him in her mouth.

“Because you’ve been so generous tonight,” he fisted his length and stroked once, twice. “I’ll give you a three-second head start.”

Jessa couldn’t pull her gaze away from his hand. The dominance in the way he spoke, the confidence in the way he gripped himself, shifted something inside her. The knowledge that she wanted this, wanted Garrett more than she’d ever thought possible, heightened the anticipation. She licked her lips and inhaled slowly. Her heart hammered in her chest.

“One.”

Oh, shit.

Did he really expect her to run? The wicked gleam in his eyes told her yes. He expected her to run, and was prepared to give chase.

“Two.”

Jessa backed away as he made to circle around her. He moved slowly, stalking her. The door at her back, she knew this was her only chance.

“Three.”

* * *

Garrett couldn’t even muster a laugh when Jessa squealed and dashed from the
room. He needed every bit of lung power just to breathe.

Fucking unhinged. That’s what she did to him.

This little game they’d started had his dick close to bursting. It’d been hard enough to let her play on his skin, her hands kneading away his aches and pains, her fingers dancing over every inch of his back, his sides, his ass.

He clamped down on the base of his shaft and took a steadying breath. Wouldn’t do any good to lose it now. He had plans for his little princess tonight. He’d make her wait a bit longer, drag out the anticipation while he cooled off.

In the bathroom, Garrett grabbed his shorts and wrestled his wallet from the pocket. He tossed it, along with his key card and change, onto the counter. He wouldn’t need those things tonight. If he had his way, he wouldn’t need that goddamn key card for the next forty-eight hours.

Unless he went for a change of clothes.

He wasn’t leaving Jessa tonight. Hell, he wasn’t leaving Jessa, period. The idea settled over him like a warm blanket.

Not sure when it happened, the mind shift about Jessa. When she’d told him his touch was the one she desired … the moment he sank into her precious heat that first time … maybe the minute he’d answered his phone tonight.

He didn’t give a fuck about the when’s or why’s. How he’d gotten here didn’t really matter, did it?

Jessa was his. Would be his. He didn’t know how yet, but he knew they’d make it work.

It wasn’t like her dad could kill him or anything.

No, he’d just fire his ass and leave him with nothing but a farm and a family to support.

Fuck that. Garrett would find a way for them to be together. Even if that meant going toe-to-toe with her father. TJ liked him, and the feeling was mutual. He could work with that.

All he had to do now was convince Jessa.

With that in mind, he finished collecting their clothes from the wet floor and tossed them into a chair in the bedroom.

Now where was that … ah, yes.

His gaze landed on what he needed. This time he did chuckle. How far would she let him go? How far did he want to go?

Questions he’d never been compelled to explore until her.

So far, their relationship had been about sex. And baseball. Two of his favorite things, yes. But he wanted them to be about more than that, something far more intimate. He wanted her in his life, in his house, in his bed.

He wanted it all.

“Garrett?” Jessa’s voice drifted from the other room, quiet, shaky. Excited.

Beginning right now.