Spring Training (13 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“
No, Garrett.”

“Come on, Jessa.”

“You seriously want me to ride that? I’ll get all wet!”

His lids fell shut and he cursed under his breath. “I promise it won’t hurt, and it’ll be over before you know it. You might even enjoy it.”

Jessa looked up at the ginormous water ride and her stomach turned itself inside out. Nervousness paralyzed her limbs. She shook her head. “I can’t feel my legs.”

“I’ll be with you the whole time,” he promised.

She swallowed a gulp and shook her head again. No way was she getting on that thing. Not in this lifetime.

“It’s perfectly safe,” he purred at her.

She poked him in the chest. “No fair using your sexy voice on me.”

“I have a sexy voice?” He blinked his beautiful eyes and gave her a look that was more rogue than innocent.

“Yes, damn it, you do. Stop using it.”

He leaned in. “You shouldn’t have told me that. I’ll use any tactic to get my way.”

“You wouldn’t.”

His lips quirked as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I would.”

“I’m the ‘keep my feet on the ground’ kind of girl. Not the ‘ride a log up fifty stories and then plummet to the earth’ kind of girl.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “You’re exaggerating, Jess. It’s not fifty stories.”

“But the sign said —”

“Fifty feet, princess. Feet. Not stories.”

“Oh,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “That makes it all better then.”

She didn’t know how long they’d waited, but it wasn’t near enough time to get her nerves in check. When Garrett had mentioned spending the day together, she’d imagined he’d want to stay in, stay naked. Order a pizza. Maybe catch a game on the TV. But this … this she hadn’t expected.

“Come on, we didn’t stand in line all this time so you could back out.” He laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him as the hallowed out log that would carry them to their deaths arrived. He gave her a sexy smile. “This is nothing. Be glad I’m not taking you on the roller coasters.”

“What are you? Some kind of adrenaline junkie?”

He ignored her. “In you go.”

She glared at him as he helped her into her seat at the front. “You so owe me for this.”

He gave her cheek a quick peck, then hopped into the seat behind her. “Looking forward to paying up, sweetheart.”

Jessa closed her eyes and prayed she could get through this without throwing up. Nervous energy flowed and she felt her cheeks grow warm with … what? Fear? Anticipation?

The ride jerked to a start and they were on their way. A warm, heavy weight squeezed her shoulder in reassurance and she craned her neck, catching the heat that flashed in his eyes as his thumb caressed the back of her neck, just for a second, before pulling away again.

Within minutes, she’d forgotten her fears and was lost in the magic of the ride. She giggled at the banjo-playing animatronic rabbit, the hillbilly music, the happy squeals of the children behind her. By the time the warning signs signified danger ahead, when they started to climb the steep slope, she was enchanted.

As they neared the top, awareness had her knuckles whitening on the bar over her lap and she squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath.

“Breathe, Jess. And open your eyes!”

At the demand in Garrett’s voice, Jessa’s eyes snapped open as they hovered for a split second before plummeting down the other side. She screamed as the ground raced to meet them. Water splashed over her, its chill shocking, refreshing.

She laughed with genuine glee, her heart racing in her chest as the ride came to an end.

Garrett was there to help her out and she threw herself at him, her breasts crushed into his chest as she hugged his neck. “That … that was … exhilarating!” He spun her around and tiny droplets of water flew from the ends of her hair. She didn’t even care that she was wet. Her body shook as adrenaline pumped through her. She felt amazing.

Alive.

The same way she felt whenever Garrett touched her.

Her feet touched the ground as he released her. He backed away and scowled.

“What’s the matter?”

His eyes were glued to her chest. She looked down, gasped and plucked at the thin, pink shirt that clung to her breasts. Her bra did nothing to hide her nipples, currently poking through the material.

“Shit!” She looked around to see if anyone else noticed her predicament. There were several others around her who were soaked, but she had drawn several male stares.

She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Garrett when a thought occurred. “Why aren’t you wet?”

A guilty grin split his face. “I ducked.”

“Oh! You!” She moved for him again, but he grabbed her wrists and held them tight against his chest.

“We have bigger problems right now, princess. Add it to my list of things you get to pay me back for.” He laced their hands and merged them into the flow of foot traffic.

“Where are we going?” She stumbled, trying to keep up as he pulled her along.

“We’re going to buy you a new shirt.”

“I’ll admit that’s probably a good idea, but do you have to pull my shoulder out of its socket in the process?” She jerked on his hand to make her point.

He turned on her, eyes blazing. “I’m not real fond of sharing what’s mine, Jessa. And right now, anyone who looks can see your …” He clamped his mouth shut and resumed their march.

“Garrett, I … do you … you think I’m yours?” The thought made her ridiculously happy.

“For today, yes. Make no mistake about it. I don’t have any plans to share what little time I have left with you, and I certainly won’t allow other men to see the delicious secrets you hide under your clothes.”

He stopped in front of a store.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous.” She bit back a laugh at his deep scowl. Still reeling from his possessiveness, Jessa fought against the idea that they would soon be going their separate ways. She wanted to hang on to this feeling for a little longer, a feeling that could very well destroy her in the end.

He slapped some cash in her hand. “Get a new shirt.” He glanced at her chest and grimaced. “Preferably one darker than the color of your bra.”

She looked at the cash and passed it back him, snickering. “I don’t need your money, Garrett.”

When he didn’t take it, she pressed it in his palm. “I can buy my own shirt.” She turned to enter the store. “But, you can buy me something sweet for going on that ride with you to begin with,” she said over her shoulder.

Jessa didn’t waste any time in the store. She picked out a black shirt and giggled at the word
princess
emblazoned across the front. Perfect. She asked the cashier to cut the tag off so she could wear it out.

Garrett squinted at her before his lips curled up. “Wow. That’s sexy.” He took her hand and spun her in a circle.

She fluffed her soaked hair, thankful she hadn’t worn much makeup. ‘Cause that would have been a disaster. “Yeah, right. I look like a drowned rat. I had to put this on over my wet shirt, so it’s still not helping with much more than covering me.”

“That’s good enough for me. Now, you asked for something sweet.” He craned his neck to see over the crowd of people. “Let’s go.”

Again, he laced their fingers, tugging her to follow him. She shouldn’t let him hold her hand. And she shouldn’t have let her excitement get the best of her when she hugged him after their ride. They were in public for chrissake.

Not very stealthy of them, but Jessa enjoyed the feel of his strong fingers wrapped around hers, the feel of his calloused thumb brushing across the inside of her wrist. Enjoyed it too much to pull away.

No one stared or pointed, no one gawked or commented. Today, they were two people amongst thousands of other people too caught up in their own enjoyment to notice something as insignificant as Garrett holding her hand. How could something simple enough to be ignored hold such meaning for her?

Garrett took her into a bakery and proceeded to order two of the biggest cinnamon rolls Jessa had ever seen, along with two bottles of water.

Once they were seated, she eyed the confection. “If I eat all this, I’ll go into diabetic shock.”

Frowning, Garrett reached for her plate. “You don’t eat sweets?”

She palmed her fork, wielding it like a dagger. “It was a joke. Back off my pastry, dude.”

Garrett showed her his palms and eased away as she dug in, shoving an oversized bite into her mouth. She hummed around the sticky goo, trying not to laugh and spew crumbs across the table. Her eyes rolled back in her head in ecstasy as the delicious flavor melted over her tongue. She was pretty sure she had icing on her face.

Smirking, Garrett watched her. “I think that’s about the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Jessa cupped her hand to her mouth, losing her battle not to laugh. She worked her throat, choking down what she could before reaching for her bottle of water to wash down the rest.

She wiped her mouth on a napkin. “Yeah, well, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll never be able to eat in front of you again.”

He leaned in. “I don’t know which I’d rather eat. You or the cinnamon roll.”

“Why not both?” she said, watching him track her tongue as she licked over her lips.

Garrett shifted in his seat. “I’m not in the mood to get arrested for fucking you on this table, as tempting as the thought may be.” He used the edge of his fork to slice through the roll on his plate. His eyes met hers again as he brought it to her lips. “Open up, baby.”

Mesmerized by the erotic tone of his voice, Jessa opened and let him feed her. She closed her lips over the fork as he eased it from her mouth. His gaze dropped to her throat as she swallowed.

“Delicious.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Your turn,” she said as she cut a piece and offered it to him.

Back and forth they went, alternating feeding each other, oblivious to the world around them. Jessa forgot all the reasons they shouldn’t be together for the one reason they should.

She loved him. And not that sweet, flowery crush shit that people their age seemed to have. Hers was a deep, intense yearning. A desire that threatened to burn her alive. A need to possess and be possessed.

“I’d give anything to know what you are thinking about right now.” Hunger burned in Garrett’s eyes as she dragged a finger through the leftover icing on her plate.

Jessa brought her finger to her mouth, rubbing the icing across her lips before licking it off. She focused all her emotion — her love and her need — into one look. “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?”

His nostrils flared as his chest expanded. “I’ll race you to the car.”

* * *

It had been an amazing day. In fact, Garrett couldn’t remember ever
enjoying a day more. He hadn’t wanted it to end.

He ran his fingers through Jessa’s hair, reveling in the delicious mews she made each time he caressed the silky tresses. She moved her head, snuggling deeper into his lap. If she kept this up, she’d find her resting place a little less comfortable.

No matter how many times he had her, it was never enough. He stayed hard whenever she was around. Hell, fact was, all he had to do was
think
about her. Her smile, her laugh. The way her lips stretched around him as he sank to the back of her throat, the way she’d cupped her breasts and rode him to insanity.

The way she looked at him when she was about to come.

He groaned as blood rushed his groin. She made a noise in protest as his length pressed hard against her cheek. He could take her again — right here, right now — and he knew she wouldn’t deny him. His dick may be on board with the idea, but he enjoyed watching her sleep. The rhythmic pace of her breath. Her quiet little sighs. She looked almost angelic. Quite different from the woman who’d begged him to take her harder a few hours ago.

He continued to stroke her hair, his gaze turning back to the basketball game on the TV, while his attention remained on the beauty in his lap.

Their time was coming to an end. Her suitcases were out. Strewn across the room, ready to be packed, and with them, whisk her out of his life. They both felt it. The frantic way they’d fucked all afternoon proved it. It was as if they were trying to cram a lifetime of memories, of pleasure, into one day. And it irritated the shit out of him.

They should have more time. Hell, they should have all the time in the world.

There had to be a way. After all, her dad liked him. Hand selected him out of hundreds of other guys. Garrett was a good man. He wasn’t without fault, but he took care of his own. He was loyal and hard working. He didn’t play games unless it was on the ball field. He wasn’t interested in the bed hopping so many of the other rookies took part in. TJ should have no objections to Garrett dating his daughter.

And he was rationalizing to make himself feel better.

He wanted time, damn it. Time to learn all the little things. The big things. And everything in between.

Time to figure out the emotion pooling in the center of his chest.

Garrett didn’t like feeling as if he didn’t have a choice. Others dictated so much of his life, he’d be damned if he’d let anyone dictate his love life as well. And yet …

“Hmm.” Jessa shifted, drawing his gaze. He smoothed a hand over her head, her hair soft against his roughened hands.

She made him lose his damn mind like no other woman before her. Drove him crazy with need. And not only the need to lose himself in the sweet heaven of her body, but with the need to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe.

They needed to talk. He couldn’t let her go back to New York without knowing how he felt. Even if he hadn’t worked it out for himself yet, it was obvious there was something between them. Something more than a couple weeks of stolen moments.

When he was with Jessa, he didn’t have to wonder at her motives. When she looked at him, she didn’t see a number or a name. Lord knows she didn’t need either. He could relax and be himself.

He’d never been in love before, but he wasn’t so stubborn as to deny the possibility.

“Garrett?” Her soft, sleep-laden voice soothed him.

Tomorrow. He had to go back to work, but he’d take her to dinner and they’d talk. Because he wasn’t letting her go.

“Are you ready to go to bed, sweetheart?” He used the remote to dim the lights before turning off the TV.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes. She reached her arms wide, arching her back in a stretch. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.” She smothered a yawn and chuckled. “Guess you wore me out.”

He stood and reached for her hand. “Come on, sleepyhead. It’s back to reality tomorrow, so we better get some shut eye.”

She groaned and dragged her feet behind him. “Can’t we stay holed up in this room forever?”

She had no idea how close he was to doing that very thing. He stared as she peeled the clothes from her body and crawled into bed. His gaze lingered long enough to see the flush of arousal color her skin. God, he’d never get enough of this woman.

He pulled his own clothes off and got into bed, pulling her back against his chest. His hand slid over her hip and down the top of her thigh.

“I want you.” Her whispered words wrapped around him as she arched her back, her ass grinding against his swollen cock.

Desire rocked his system as he moved her leg back, draping it over his, opening her to him. He guided his length until the sweet heat of her pussy kissed his tip. His hand on her hip to steady them, he eased forward, gritting his teeth against the pleasure that engulfed him.

He moved in a slow, steady rhythm, working himself into her. He wouldn’t rush. He wanted to savor the feel of her surrounding him, swallowing him inch by inch.

Inch. By. Fucking. Inch.

“You feel so good,” she whispered. “So good.”

“Never better, baby.” Garrett nipped at the curve of her ear as he reached to cup her breast. He rolled her nipple with his fingers, teasing, tugging, flicking until she groaned his name.

“Tell me what you need, Jess. Tell me what you want.” He kept his pace slow, easing in and out, as she fought to drive him faster.

She pushed his hand away from her breast, replacing it with her own. Her pussy clamped down on him when she grabbed her own nipple and squeezed. “Touch me. Rub my clit. Make me come, Garrett. Make us both come. I want to feel you burn inside me.”