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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SILAS

“So, his season is over?” Kent asked Lou, our head trainer, as we waited outside Nate’s hospital room. For once, he appeared concerned about something besides ticket sales and social media follows, although losing Nate could render a big loss of both for the Bats.

“I really can’t tell you. Until all the tests come back, we have no idea what kind of damage has been done. He’s young and healthy, so that works in his favor, but…” Lou trailed off, turning his head toward the curtain around Nate’s bed. “I can’t tell you anything right now.”

We’d been practicing for our first game in Boston this morning when I’d spotted Nate go down at the plate.

We all rushed over and found him rolling back and forth in the dirt, clutching his shoulder. I’d hoped he’d stand up and tell us all to back off, but when I spied the angry tears in his eyes, I’d known it was bad.

We’d been at the hospital all day as he underwent all sorts of examinations and tests. Our doctors consulted with the ones at the hospital, but no real conclusions were made.

The tests we’d sent him for a few weeks ago had shown nothing but a minor muscle strain, so the trainers had worked with him to keep it strong and flexible, depending on him to tell us his level of pain. I didn’t know if this was a worsening injury or a new one, just that it was excruciating enough for him to leave the field without a fight.

Ending his season now would be terrible. Most of it was already gone, but we were closer to a play-off spot than any of us had anticipated, and we needed Nate. But if this was a career-ending injury, I was too worried about him to consider what that would mean for the team. I’d have to worry about it soon, but thinking of it all ending for him in his twenties, remembering how devastating it had been for me at forty-two, made me sick to my stomach.

I may not have been able to get as close to him personally as the other guys, but we’d grown into a mutual respect. He’d worked hard, and when he was on point, his talent could almost make me overlook the arrogance he still held on to, although it was noticeably less than at the start of the season.

We were on our way to clinching a wild card spot, and with one of our best players possibly gone, I didn’t know how we’d do it. I’d have management expectations to figure out and a sharp drop in team morale to contend with.

I tried to inhale but couldn’t take in a full breath.

“I’ll go talk to him,” I said, heading into his room with a slow approach in case the painkillers had knocked him out.

“Let me guess. I’m out,” Nate rasped in a gravelly voice.

“We’re waiting on tests. No one knows anything yet.”

He rolled his head toward me as he leaned into the pillow.

“How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Figure out how to live when your career was over.”

“You don’t know that. And that mind-set won’t help you now. You’re young and strong. I was an old man when I blew out my knee,” I said, smiling when I caught the corner of his mouth lift. “Had I been your age, I would have told the doctors to fuck off and fought to come back even if they told me I couldn’t.”

He nodded, pressing his hand to his forehead.

“I don’t know who I am without this.”

I felt every tortured word. I’d been in a hospital bed, staring at the lights and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life. But at least I’d gotten to do what I’d loved for half of it, and I hoped for the same for Nate.

“I’m planning on you coming back, and you should be too. I bet, soon, you’ll be as good as new, and you can tell me to fuck off whenever I ask about your shoulder.”

He huffed out a laugh.

“Thanks, Coach.”

“Anytime,” I said, giving his arm a soft jab. “Get some sleep. Pain meds make it nice and dreamless.”

“Shit, I hope so,” he said on a yawn. “Good luck tomorrow.”

Our game was at noon tomorrow, and the assistant coaches had taken over running the rest of practice. We’d be as ready as we could be, and I couldn’t do anything beyond that.

“Go back to the hotel and get some sleep.” Kent slapped my back on my way out. “Nothing we can do about it now.”

“Right. See you tomorrow,” I said, trudging out of the hospital exit and plopping down on an outside bench as I arranged for a cab back to the hotel on my phone.

I’d called Rachel after we’d rushed Nate to the hospital this morning, needing her voice to calm the chaos in my brain as always. She had no answers, but none of us did. The guys were looking to me to lead, but I had no one to follow.

It was the loneliest feeling in the world.

Too wired to try to sleep, I stopped at the hotel bar for a drink. I couldn’t have more than one or else I’d really be useless tomorrow, but maybe the liquor would uncoil my nerves enough to sleep.

I slid onto a stool at the bar and pulled up my texts with Rachel. She hadn’t written back since I’d spoken to her this morning, which wasn’t like her. Maybe something was going on with Taylor today. We hadn’t talked about her plans for the day since it was all about me and my worries over Nate and my team and what the hell I would do.

My girl deserved more attention than that, and I needed to get out of this shitty mind space so I could be who everyone needed me to be.

But right now, I needed to be the lost asshole at the bar trying to find the answers to all his problems at the bottom of his bourbon glass.

“Excuse me, sir.”

My head shot up at the bartender’s voice.

“The lady over there wants to buy you a second drink of whatever you’re having.”

I held in a groan, not in the damn mood for this tonight. Since Kent would lose his shit over any nasty behavior that could make its way on to social media, and rude was never my style, I tried to smile and shook my head.

“Tell the lady thank you, but I have a girlfriend so I’m going to decline.”

“Fair enough,” he said. “I’ll let her know.”

I hoped she’d take no for an answer and I could just go upstairs without a hassle and try for a few hours of sleep.

“I should’ve known. The hot ones are always taken.”

My head whipped around to a very familiar voice. I blinked a few times, wondering if I was hallucinating Rachel’s face on the woman settling next to me at the bar.

“You didn’t even pick up your head to see what I looked like. Whoever your girlfriend is, she’s one lucky lady.”

I wasn’t sure if it was my exhaustion or shock that left me speechless. Rachel was here. In Boston, on a stool next to me at the bar. Smiling and carefree like that day we’d met in Williamsburg.

Her lips were painted a bright cherry red that matched her skintight red dress. Her chestnut hair brushed her shoulders in loose waves as she crossed her legs, the swells of her breasts fighting with the low neckline.

Jessica fucking Rabbit.

How the hell had she pulled this off? This explained why I hadn’t heard from her since this morning, but how long had she been waiting for me at the bar? Looking like that?

All good questions I wanted the answers to, but right now, my only interest was in playing along.

“You look a little sad,” she said, jutting out her crimson lip in a pout. I wanted to bite it, along with the rest of her. “Missing your girl?” she asked, tilting her head as she set her large purse on the stool next to her.

“I am.” I nodded. “I always do, but especially on long trips like this. Sleeping in a king-sized bed by myself is a little lonely.”

“I bet.” Her eyes traveled up and down my body as she leaned back. “What do you do for a living that you’re this built? Football player?”

I stifled a laugh as she waved at the bartender.

“Since he didn’t want a drink, I’ll buy myself one.” She rubbed her hands together. “You can give me whatever he’s having,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Bourbon,” I said, lifting my glass.

“Sounds perfect,” she said, leaning over the bar.

He nodded, giving Rachel a long once-over that almost had me over the counter and in his face, but he didn’t know she was with me.

And I couldn’t fight every man in this bar. That dress was pure fire and sin, and while I hated anyone looking at my girl, I couldn’t blame them.

“So, back to you. What do you do?”

“I’m a ballplayer. Baseball, so sorry to disappoint you.”

“Oh, that is disappointing.” She frowned. “But I bet you’re hot in uniform. Of course, I can’t make that judgment until you stand up.” Her eyes flicked to the back of my chair as she muttered a thank-you to the bartender when he set the glass in front of her, almost breaking character when she sputtered the first sip.

Bourbon wasn’t Rachel’s drink of choice. She preferred a margarita, a glass of wine, or something sweet and fruity. The harder stuff wasn’t her thing, but she loved a good fantasy.

“I guess you’re on a long stretch of games?” She traced her finger around the rim of the glass. “Too bad you can’t ease the loneliness somehow. But I guess it’s hard to do that without some company, right?” She took another sip, her face twisting in a grimace as she set it down. I had to sink my teeth into my bottom lip to stop myself from laughing.

She was sexy and so damn adorable.

“This is my second week on the road. It’s tough. What about you? You’re here alone, so you must be a little lonely too, right?”

“Sure, maybe a little. But I like being alone. See, I’m a writer, so I get the best inspiration just by people-watching. And you caught my eye the minute you came in.” She propped her elbow on the counter, resting her chin on her palm. “I bet you have a ton of good stories.”

“A writer. What kinds of stories do you write?”

“Dirty ones,” she said with a wink. “I guess that’s why the hot ballplayer in the room gave me the most inspiration.”

“Glad I could help. So, what do you mean by inspiration exactly?” I inched closer, grazing my knuckle from the back of her calf to where the hem started at her thigh. “Does that mean you’ll leave me and go upstairs and write the sexiest scene you can dream up? Or…” I flattened my palm and skated my hand over her knee, teasing the inside of her leg. “You’ll slip your hand in between those beautiful legs and play with that soaked pussy until the thought of me makes you come.”

She let out a gasp, clenching her legs shut around my hand.

“I’m wrong? I see how you’re looking at me. I bet you’re drenched. If only I could check to make sure. I bet you taste nice and sweet too.”

Her gaze swept over the bar. It was a Thursday night. The crowd was filling up but sparse enough for the moment.

Her lips curled as she gripped my wrist, spreading her thighs just enough for me to swipe the wet skin between her legs.

A satisfied smile pulled across her mouth. She was in that dress, in this bar, with no fucking underwear.

My head spun, the lust potent enough for my cock to almost pop through my zipper. The possessive caveman in me was about to hoist her over my shoulder so no other man would see her in that dress—and what was or wasn’t underneath—but me.

“I was right.” Her nostrils flared as I drifted my finger up and down in soft, slow strokes. Her legs jerked when I found her clit, flicking it as she dripped all over my hand.

“That’s inspiring, all right,” I said, my voice husky as I slipped my hand away and sucked the tip of my finger. Fuck, she was always so sweet. I was going to eat her pussy until they dragged me out of my hotel room at game time tomorrow.

“I think I’ll call it a night,” I said, sliding off the stool and dropping a couple of bills onto the counter. “If I could help you out with more inspiration,” I said, coming up behind her and pressing my hands on the bar, boxing her in, “I’m in room 723.”

I strode out of the bar and toward the elevators, not looking back as I hit the button.

“Oh wow, Silas Jones!”

A man approached me just as I was about to get on the elevator. He wore a Boston baseball cap as he met my gaze with bulging eyes, gaping at me as he extended his hand. “I’m a big fan,” he said, shaking my hand with a little too much bounce.

“Thanks, even though I’m playing against your team tomorrow?”

He let out a chuckle. “You’re still a legend. Tough break on Becker. I mean, good for us, but not so good for you, right?”

“It’s a tough break, but we have a great team. I wouldn’t count the win just yet.” I forced a tight smile. We were more than one player, but no one realized that. I had to make sure the guys knew it tomorrow or this good season would crumble fast.

“It was nice to meet you,” he said, waving as he headed toward the exit. I nodded back, getting on the next elevator as I tried to shelve all the bullshit I’d have to deal with tomorrow to tomorrow.

I had a gorgeous stranger to take to my bed for the night.

“Goodness. What took you so long?” Rachel asked, her arms crossed over her beautiful tits, pushing them up even more as she leaned against my door. “What’s a girl have to do for some solid inspiration around here?”

I should have opened my door, pushed her inside, and ripped that dress off her like I’d wanted to do since she sat next to me. Instead, I couldn’t wait one more second for that lush mouth on mine. I grabbed her by the waist, backed her into the wall next to the door, and crushed my mouth to hers. One hand went to her hair as my other one shot up her bare thigh.

She squirmed against me as I dug my fingers into her ass, pressing my painful erection against her core, my cock throbbing as it remembered how bare she was underneath.

“Get the fuck inside,” I growled, swiping my keycard over the lock and pushing her inside once the lock beeped.

“On the bed,” I said, so turned on I barely had the air to get any words out.

She smiled, climbing onto the big mattress and propping herself up on her elbows.

“I love a man who knows what he wants.”

She yelped when I climbed next to her and flipped us over, bunching the hem of her dress as I lifted it above her hips.

“What I want is for you to climb up and ride my face until you come.”

I grabbed her thighs and pulled her up, positioning that beautiful pussy right where I wanted it.

“So pretty,” I said, spreading her open with my thumbs and giving her one long lick. “So sweet and so pretty,” I rasped before I buried my head between her legs, licking and sucking every soaked inch as she bucked her hips against my face.

“That’s it. What a good girl you are.” I dragged kisses along her damp thigh. “Ride me harder.”

“I’ll kill you,” she croaked out, her legs already shaking as I snaked my tongue deep inside her, lapping at her clit.

“Holy shit,” she moaned, grabbing the headboard with both hands as she rocked into me.

“You won’t kill me, and if you do, no better way to die, sweetheart.” I sucked her clit into my mouth and slid two fingers inside her, twisting as I inched them out.

She shook from the waist down as she screamed, coating my tongue as her legs went rigid against my face.

Her chest heaved as she draped a hand over her eyes, sucking in a deep breath before she sat up.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard.”

“You said you wanted inspiration,” I said, holding her eyes as I licked my lips.

Fuck, she tasted good.

“I know I just got a ton.”

She grinned, lifting her still-quivering leg to straddle me as she popped my jeans open and dragged the zipper down until my cock sprang free.

“My turn,” she whispered as she bent her head and swallowed me whole.

Fuck, I wasn’t going to last. Her dress bunched around her waist as her head bobbed between my legs, moaning around my cock. I was about to come hard too, but I didn’t want to like this.

“Get up here,” I said, my voice a low growl as I lifted her up by her underarms and pulled her back on the bed. “Spread your legs for me,” I told her, hooking her leg over my hip as I slid inside her with one quick thrust.

“Silas,” she said on a long whimper when I picked up the pace, the mattress creaking under us as I went deeper and harder.

“You going to come for me again, pretty girl?” I grunted out, reaching between us to play with her clit. “Show me how much you wanted me in the bar. Make a mess all over my cock and come for me. Yes, that’s it. Such a good fucking girl.”

She clenched around me, making me come hard enough for spots to burst under my eyelids. I grabbed the pillow instead of Rachel’s hair, afraid I’d pull too hard as I spilled inside her.

“Sorry I broke character first,” she said, laughing against my shoulder.

“How did you get here?” I asked, still gasping as I chased my breath.

“I planned on surprising you here tomorrow. But you sounded so upset today.” She ran her fingers through my sweaty hair. “I called Auden to see if she could stay with Taylor tonight so I could come see you earlier. I switched my train ticket from tomorrow to today, and here I am.”

My eyes fluttered closed when her nails grazed my scalp.

“You sounded like you needed me. I bought the red dress a while ago.” She settled on her side. “Not quite Jessica Rabbit, but close enough.”

“It’s perfect.” I pecked her lips. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. I didn’t plan on the whole role-play thing. I figured you’d turn around to see who wanted to buy you a drink.” She kissed my cheek.

“Why would I? I don’t need or want anyone else but you. I had no reason to look.”

“Well, yes, and I love you for that. But I figured you’d see it was me and we’d just come upstairs. I didn’t plan on all that, but it was fun as hell.”

She chuckled, cuddling into my side.

“I stuffed a tank top and shorts—and underwear—” her mouth curled into a grin “—into my big purse so I don’t have to go home in a fuck-me red dress tomorrow morning.”

“Fuck-me red is definitely accurate,” I said, pinching the material between my fingers. “Did I ever tell you how gorgeous you are?” I ran my finger over the blush staining her cheek.

“Yes, but feel free to keep repeating it.”

“That was a lot of fun. But know what’s even more fun?”

She shook her head. “What?”

“I get to wake up next to you on what I expected to be the shittiest day of my managing career so far. And that makes it already not so bad.” I drew her closer. “When did you get here?”

“Like a half hour ago. More or less.”

“Then I have to feed you.” I delved my hand through her tangled hair. “I have more inspiration for you, so you’ll need to keep up.”

“You take care of me,” she said, lacing our fingers together, “and I’ll take care of you.”

No one had taken care of me since I was a kid. Not at home, especially not on the road.

I did need her, and I was sick of hiding the woman I loved. When I got home, the first thing I was going to do was put a stop to that.

I’d tell the whole goddamn world that this woman belonged to me as much as she owned me right back.