Strike (Completion Series) (11 page)

We entered the backyard and saw everyone else already in the pool. Bitsy and Jon had worn their swimsuits under their clothes. Jon’s dark blue trunks could almost pass for black. Swimming was the only time Jon stepped out of his Goth persona. I teased him about being a vampire
. Jon always gave as good as he got with comebacks and said he’d mastered the difficulty over light sensitivity. My brother had a mind of his own and I wouldn’t change him for the world.

The
appreciative whistle from Mick announced our arrival.

Chi Chi didn’t let it pass
. “Yeh, tall boy, see what you’re missing playing that pansy court game. Baseball’s all about hot mamas strutt’n their stuff.”

Male laughter sounded from the pool.
I guessed this was an ongoing tease between them and it made me smile. I looked around and found Reed in the water with his arms stretched out on the sides of the pool. I could only see his upper body, and his partially flexed muscles made my knees weak. I was the pansy ass. He had sunglasses on, so I couldn’t see his eyes, but his head followed me as I walked around to the steps and sat down with my feet in the water feeling horribly exposed.

It took Reed all of two seconds to lower his arms and head my way. He said something to Alex as he passed him. Alex started moving in the other direction
, but Reed kept coming toward me. I sat up a little straighter, keeping my eyes on the dark orbs of his glasses. He didn’t step up, just put out his hand.

“Get in and swim with me.”

How could I resist? The pool was heated and it felt good to step in. I took Reed’s hand and with a sudden tightening of his grip and a sudden pull, I was down the steps and in his arms with my chest pressed against his. I couldn’t help looking over his shoulder for Bitsy, especially after it became obvious that Reed had a hard on.

“Alex is keeping her occupied for a few minutes. Damn
, Jaycee, you’re hotter than shit, and I’m going to embarrass myself in about twenty seconds.”

While he spoke, he pulled me into deeper water. “Say something that will spoil the mood quickly. I’m a grown man for god’s sake
, but you, in that suit, make me feel like I’m sixteen again.”

“It belongs to Chi Chi. She saw my old one-piece and insisted I wear this.”

“The woman is evil, but I don’t know if I’d have done any better regardless of the swimsuit. I can’t wait until tonight. Don’t make it too late.”

“Hey
, Reed, you wanna play some volleyball?”

Sal saved us
, I think. He tossed the net into the water and Reed took one side and secured it to the poles in the shallow end. Bitsy was too short, so she sat on the side and cheered Mick, who played for the opposing team.

After the game, the guys started up the grill
; I helped Maggie carry food outside after Reed handed me his t-shirt to put over my suit.

“I can’t take anymore
, baby,” he whispered.

I gladly covered myself and couldn’t help the warm tingly feeling that shot straight to my clit. Hopefully, the swimming pool would have Bitsy tired and ready for bed early.
Reed was driving me past hot and all the way to inferno.

We ate, drank, and laughed into the evening. I learned that this barbeque was a tradition with the guys before spring training started. Mick didn’t always get to come because his regular season of basketball was
n’t quite over and playoffs started in two weeks. His schedule meshed this time, so he joined his friends in their preseason party.

Bitsy and Jon weren’t the only two who were tired when we made our way to
the loft. It seemed so strange walking into a home that was bigger than a tin can. We took quick showers and headed to our respective rooms. No reading or homework, just exhaustion. The activity from Friday night had finally crept up on me, but at the same time, I wanted to see Reed. Bitsy fell asleep within minutes, but I waited another ten to give Jon a chance to fall asleep.

I closed the
outside door behind me and started walking down the stairs. Reed waited at the bottom. He helped me sit down next to him and I rested my head on his shoulder.

“I know you’re tired and I wanted to give you a chance to say no, if you’d rather sleep.”

His words disappointed me. Yes, I was tired, but I’d also needed his hot body all day and the last thing I wanted was to go back to the room I shared with Bitsy. “No problem, Reed. Get some sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow.” I attempted to stand up, but he stopped me.

He turned my head, taking my lips in a long series of nibbling kisses that wouldn’t make it any easier for me to sleep. “Is that really what you want
, Jaycee?”

“No,” my voice was breathlessly low.

“It’s not what I want either, but I was trying to be a gentleman.” His hands went to my breasts. “I don’t want to be a gentleman, baby.”

I circled my arms around his neck. “Please don’t.”

“The chair is waiting.”

I knew the exact chair he was talking about and my panties grew damp. We held hands and ran to the house. He activated the alarm once we were inside and led me to
his bedroom. The red bondage tape was sitting out on the nightstand by his bed along with a black silk scarf. That wasn’t what held my attention, though. Our chair—yes, I considered it ours—sat in the corner of his room.

Reed released my hand
and lay down on his bed watching at me. “Take off your clothes, Jaycee.”

I wore shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-f
lops. I slipped the shoes off while I pulled the shirt over my head. Now his eyes were lighter blue with tiny flecks that sparkled. It had to be an optical illusion, but it wasn’t the first time I’d noticed it. I unsnapped my shorts before pulling the zipper down, easily sliding out of my panties at the same time. I hadn’t worn my bra. Reed stared, making no move to help me or remove his own clothes. I would have felt uncomfortable, but there was no way I could when his eyes ate me alive.

“Move the chair over here and turn it around so the back faces me.”

My kinky Reed was back in full swing. I did exactly what he said.

“Straddle the chair
, Jaycee.”

I had no idea how that would work sexually
, but I was past caring. Reed watched for a moment before standing up and taking the scarf from the nightstand. Once he covered my eyes, I wouldn’t be able to see his incredible muscles, so I drank him in, burning each sinewy movement into my memory.

“You know you can tell me to stop any time
,” he whispered in my ear as he placed the scarf around my head, covering my eyes.

“Yes.” My heart was ready to explode from my chest. I could feel moisture on the chair dripping from my pussy
, but I wasn’t embarrassed by it; I was too damn turned on.

He lifted my hands and slowly pulled them behind me
while wrapping the tape around my wrists. When my arms were secure, I felt the heat of his hands against my ass.

“Lift a little
, baby, and slide forward.”

I widened my legs, lifting my butt as he
arranged me how he wanted. The wooden slats of the chair’s back hit my breasts. He walked around and manipulated my breasts so they fit through the slats. “This isn’t how I remember that first night.” I knew I had a goofy grin on my face, but couldn’t help it.

“
My dreams have a mind of their own and I liked where they took me.”

“Will I like it?” It was a
ridiculous question because I already liked it.

“Hmm, we’ll see.”

Not what I expected, but there was no way I’d stop him now.

“I’m not moving far away
, but I need to get something.”

A
touch of panic entered my voice. I just couldn’t help being a big baby. “Don’t leave the room.” My doubts would set in if he left me, which seemed stupid, but I couldn’t help it.

“Not far
, baby.”

I heard him move
and, I think, pick up something. The noise sounded strange and then I heard the unmistakable sound of a crinkling wrapper a foot away from me. A cool, ripe strawberry rubbed against my lips seconds later. I licked the juice that dribbled down, knowing I didn’t get it all. Reed took over the job and I smiled as his rough tongue trailed from my chin to my neck. He pulled my hair, moving just my head back. When he lifted his mouth from my flesh, he circled the strawberry over one nipple and I quickly sucked in air knowing his hot lips would follow.

I was wrong.

He circled the other nipple, letting the juice run down past my stomach. He put the strawberry to my mouth.

“Eat it
, baby.” I sucked it past my lips, loving the sweet but tangy taste.

H
e added another strawberry and increased the sweet torture to my breasts.

“What do you want
, baby?”

Oh
, God, I couldn’t believe he asked. He knew what I wanted.

“You, please
, Reed.” The words were a strangled gasp of air as I wiggled in the chair as much as my bindings allowed.

He leaned in
—his warm breath whooshing over my ear. “Be more specific for me.”

“Your mouth on my breast, please.”

He did exactly what I asked, though it wasn’t what I really wanted. He kissed the sides of my breasts, licking a little strawberry juice off with his tongue.

“My nipples,
God, Reed, please.”

And just like that he gave me what I
needed. He sucked my nipple, using his tongue to swirl it around. The suction felt incredible, but my pussy started giving me problems. With the way he had me sitting in the chair, nothing touched me down there. I couldn’t get close enough to the slats or the chair bottom even after trying to tilt my pelvis forward. That part of me ached for touch.

He moved to my other nipple
. “Is there anything more you want?” And he sucked it into his mouth. He had to have noticed me squirming.

“You’re torturing me.” I was panting in a very unladylike way.

The low rumble of his voice only turned me on more. “You did this to me all day. You walk out in that hot little piece of nothing bikini and I couldn’t even give myself a hand job to relieve the throb in my cock. You almost killed me today.”

“So you’re punishing me.” He was going to ruin this.

“No, not even close. Lean back a little.” He pushed a pillow between me and the top of the chair back so my chin could rest on the softness.

I heard
the rustle of his clothes followed by the tear of a condom wrapper. He moved behind me and grabbed my waist a few seconds later.

“
Lift up again,” he said into my ear, his throaty voice sending shivers down my back.

He moved my ass
up, sliding his legs under mine as he straddled the chair too. I put all my upper weight against the pillow and wooden chair back as his fingers found my clit and rubbed against me. His finger entered my pussy and slid out. He adjusted me higher and the tip of his cock replaced his finger. He lowered me slowly down the long length of him. I was sore, but like the night before, it was an incredible sting that I never wanted to end. The chair squeaked with our combined weight.

“We’re going to break the chair,” I practically screamed.

“I don’t give a fuck, Jaycee. I’ll buy a hundred more chairs and we’ll break every one.”

He started moving, well, mostly moving my ass up and down. The wonderful long slide of his cock hit heaven inside my pussy. I groaned as he increased the pace. I buried my mouth into the pillow and screamed. The chair rocked back and forth
, straining under us, but I no longer cared. His cock began pulsing inside of me and my orgasm continued.

In
just two nights, Reed taught me why there was such a craze about sex. I hadn’t understood before. My first time in the backseat of that car was dirty and wrong.

This was incredibl
y right. It was perfect.

I woke up in Reed’s arms an hour after we crawled into his bed. I was sticky and itchy from strawberries and it made me smile. His warm body pressed into mine. I had to get back to the loft and my room, so I wiggled out from his hold. He never woke up.

A soft glow from a nightlight in his bathroom helped me locate my clothes
after washing some of the sticky red trails from my body with a washcloth. I made it downstairs and noticed the security system. Reed had given me the code when he set it and thank goodness my mind wasn’t so far gone with lust that I couldn’t remember the six digits.

I climbed the stairs to the loft and
unlocked the front door. The soft glow and drone from the television let me know I wasn’t sneaking back in without being seen.

My brother waited
with Don Gato curled on his lap.

“Hi
. Couldn’t sleep?” I asked in the most level tone I could manage.

“New bed
. I guess I needed a lumpy couch, though this one doesn’t pass the test. How about you? Couldn’t sleep?”

I walked over and sat on the opposite end of the couch
. My brother turned slightly so he faced me.

“I’m kind of with Reed.”

“Kind of?” A touch of irritation entered his voice.

“I’m not sure what this is
, Jon; it’s too new. I’m sorry my sex life is thrown in your face; it shouldn’t be this way. What I have with Reed is private.”

“He doesn’t act like it’s private.”

My brother needed to understand. “I’m as surprised as you are. I didn’t think he’d be so touchy feely after one night. This entire relationship thing is new to me.”

“Will you still be working for him on Monday?”

I sighed. “Yes, but I’m not sure I like what you’re implying. I know you’re protective of Bitsy and me. I’m the same way about the two of you, but this is my life too, Jon. I can’t help my feelings, which include my attraction to Reed.” I looked away as I said the last part. “He’s a nice guy. I didn’t think they existed.” My gaze landed back on my brother. “Present company excluded.” I gave him a tight smile.

“I think you’re crossing the TMI line again. Please don’t put the word
s ‘sex life’ and ‘attraction’ in a sentence when you’re talking to me.”

We both laughed.

Jon continued. “I told you I like him.” He looked around the room. “How could I not like all this or even his friends? I’m just worried about Bitsy and what will happen when it goes away.”

He was right, and both of us knew
this wouldn’t last forever. Our mom taught us that lesson very early. Tears pressed behind my eyes, but I wouldn’t let them fall.

“I promise to work my ass off. Even if things with Reed and I don’t work out, I’ll make it so he can’t live without my help.”

“You’re delusional, sis. There is no way he’ll keep you around if the attraction part of your relationship ends. But while it lasts we’ll make the most of it.”

How could I argue
when he was right? “I’m sorry, Jon.” And I was. He deserved so much more than what life gave him, all three of us did. We’d survived up until now and we’d continue surviving.

“Go to bed
, sis.”

He handed
over Don Gato and I went to bed.

I don’t know how long I tossed and turned
, but sunlight woke me up. My door was shut and Bitsy was no longer in the room. I threw on my shorts from the night before and walked out of the room, moving my disheveled hair out of my eyes and yawning. I needed to pee, but wanted to know who was in the apartment. Three sets of eyes looked at me when I hit the end of the short hallway. They sat on the barstools eating breakfast.

Reed’s lips tilted up at my appearance as I slowly backed up and retreated to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror was worse. I
couldn’t believe he saw me this way. We’d yet to wake up together after a night of sex, and I was mortified. I hadn’t bothered to put any makeup on the previous night after my shower. But I still looked hairy scary. I quickly brushed out my hair and presented my scary face to the reflection.

“Ugh,” I said aloud. My puffy
eyes were also bloodshot. Two nights with little sleep was catching up with me. I pinned up my hair, turned on the shower, and jumped in. Halfway through washing myself I realized I hadn’t brought clean clothes in with me. After I was clean, I left my hair pinned up, wrapped a towel tightly around me, and escaped to my bedroom.

My squeal was loud enough to hurt my ears. Reed sat propped back on my bed, his arms crossed above his head. Pure wickedness dripp
ing from his smile.

“You can’t be in here,” I whispered in mortification.

He only laughed. “Jon took Bitsy to the main house to play a game of foosball. I’m all yours, baby.”

Hell, I wanted him
, but there was no way. “We are not having sex on the bed next to my sister’s.”

I’d
never seen anyone move so fast.

“You’re
tempting me, Jaycee. I’ve wanted to take you against the wall since our first night.” He backed me into the wall.

“Reed, please.”

He kissed me. It answered my question about what they had for breakfast. Reed’s mouth tasted like warm maple syrup mixed with his incredible unique taste that I needed to bottle.

“Please continue or please stop?”
he asked against my lips after he let me breathe again.

“Stop.” That’s what I said
, but my husky voice begged for the exact opposite.

Reed backed away
. “You’re a tease, Jaycee Shumway, but I’ll let you go this time.”

He was driving me crazy
, and for some reason the use of my last name didn’t help. I turned the knob on the door and opened it. He walked through with a smug grin and said over his shoulder, “Pancakes are in the microwave. Join me in the main house after you eat so we can discuss our plans for the day.”

He left me breathless and unsatisfied
, but I smiled too. I’d felt his erection when he pinned me to the wall.

The pancakes were made from scratch and there was no way Jon made them. He had enough problems following the directions for heating
food in a can. Reed had cooked for them and my heart did its squishy melty thing that Reed was so good at causing.

I cl
eaned the kitchen disaster left behind. Reed might be able to cook, but he couldn’t clean up after himself worth a damn. I filled Don Gato’s food and water bowls before leaving. He gave me a hurt look for not letting him get past my legs when I closed the door behind me, but I ignored it. I found everyone in the game room, Reed playing foosball with Jon while Bitsy used her hands to hit balls into pockets on the pool table.

“Jaycee,” she shouted when I walked into the room
, and she threw her arms around me.

Of course, I did the same. My
baby sister kept Jon and me sane when our lives were anything but. Reed watched with his little boy smile, and Jon scored.

“Kick his butt
, Jon; he needs to be taken down a peg or two.”

I picked up my sister
, inhaling her sweet smell as she wrapped her legs around my waist. Jon scored again because Reed hadn’t stopped staring at me. I could no longer decipher the look on his face. It wasn’t happy or sad, just intense.

“If you’ll stand there every time I play
, sis, I won’t lose another game.”

Reed
’s attention finally went back to Jon and the game continued.

I put Bitsy down and she jumped around with excitement.
“Reed’s buying me school clothes today at a real store, Jaycee, and he said I can go to Maggie’s house after.”

I looked over at Reed and could tell he purposefully ignored me now.
“Oh he did, did he? Reed and I will need to discuss that and it probably won’t happen, sugar.” The look on her face made my heart clench. We only shopped second-hand. A real store to her was Walmart where we bought underwear. Used swimsuits at thrift stores, yes; underwear, no. Probably no difference at all, but even the trailer trash part of me had lines I didn’t cross.

Bitsy knew firsthand what no money meant and she gave me a
tiny smile. “I love you, sissy.”

“I love you too
, Bitsy.” When things fell apart with Reed, we would be okay. Shumways against the world.

When the game finished, I told
Reed we needed to speak privately.