Page 12

12

Knox

Over the next few games, the team had finally turned our shit around, and the clubhouse was buzzing after winning our fourth game in a row. Every player had done his part, but I hoped the front office had taken particular notice of my performance.

I’d gone three for four tonight with an RBI in the fifth, and my defense had been on point as well. It felt as though I was finally doing more than filling in for Long and actually contributing to our success.

“Nice hitting out there, rookie,” Payne shouted as he tossed his glove into his locker. “You’ve been on fire lately. What’s your secret?”

I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face. It felt good to have my teammates recognize how well I was playing. “Just finally seeing the ball better.”

“If you keep it up, Long’s going to have to fight you for his spot back,” Neal added.

The others laughed as they headed to the showers. Next to me, Stratton was pulling off his gear and barely engaging with anyone. It’d been that way since he’d gone to the lab for the paternity test five days ago.

Since we had an early game the next day before leaving town again, everyone was going home instead of hitting up the bar. Stratton and I had plans, and I wanted to help him relieve a little of the stress he’d been under.

After we both grabbed a shower and changed, he and I headed toward the parking lot.

He looked around, and when he saw no one was close, he asked. “You’re still coming over, right?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

I followed him to his condo in my rental car and parked in a visitor’s space. He waited for me at the entrance to his building, and we walked to his unit together. Stepping through his door, he tossed his keys on the table in the entryway and went directly to his couch.

I dropped down beside him. “You know you can talk to me about what’s going on. Obviously, you’re stressed, which anyone in your situation would be.”

He laced his fingers on top of his head and stared at the ceiling. “I’m tired of waiting. Either way, I just need to know. If the baby’s mine, I’ll figure shit out. If it’s not, I can put this whole thing behind me.”

“Hopefully, you only have to wait a few more days for the results to come back. Maybe the road trip will be a good distraction in the meantime.”

He turned his head to look at me, and the corners of his mouth tugged up. “Speaking of distractions. I could use one right now.”

“Oh yeah? What kind of distraction are you talking about?” I asked, knowing damn well what he meant but wanting to hear him ask for it anyway.

“The kind that feels so fucking good I can’t possibly think of anything else.”

“I can do that.” I made quick work of his jeans as he tugged off his shirt. “In fact, I bet I can make you forget your own name.”

“That’ll only happen if you stop talking.” He smirked.

I shot him a glare. “Be careful. If you keep that up, I might not let you come.”

He reclined against the cushions, pumping himself with lazy strokes. “As if you’d ever deny me.”

He was right; I wouldn’t do that. Not because I couldn’t, but because watching him lose control was the best part of the whole fucking experience.

“Lucky for you”—I moved between his legs and gave his entire shaft a long lick—“making you come is my favorite. Knowing you can’t hold back when you’re with me fucking turns me on.”

His head fell back, and he closed his eyes. “You talk a big game. Now show me that you can back it up.”

“Challenge accepted.” I took him into my mouth, focusing on only the tip for a few seconds. He palmed the back of my head, but I backed off before he could force me to take him further. “You’re not in control right now.”

“Singleton,” he growled. His tone made me think he’d resist, but soon his hand dropped and gripped the couch instead.

I rewarded him by relaxing my throat and taking him as deep as I could. His abs tensed, and I could tell it was taking everything in his power not to touch me as I bobbed up and down his cock.

The moment his legs started to shake, I slowed down and went back to kissing and licking the head.

“Don’t stop,” he begged. “I want to come.”

Sitting back, I wiped the saliva off my chin. “Go get the lube, then come back and bend over the couch.”

He arched a brow before getting up to go to his room. It hadn’t taken long to learn Stratton enjoyed being in charge, but sometimes he gave up control, and I took over. I wondered if he’d always been that way or if it was something he only did with me.

I shook my head and stripped out of my clothes. It wasn’t the time for deep thoughts about our … whatever this was. He needed me to help take his mind off the chaos happening in his world, and I was more than happy to do just that .

A few seconds later, he returned, tossing the bottle to me and getting into position. As he braced himself on the back of the couch, I dropped to my knees behind him and spread his ass cheeks. I circled his hole with my tongue before pressing it inside, causing him to push back against my face. I devoured him like he was my favorite meal.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he chanted.

I chuckled. “Feel good?”

“Uh-huh.” I seemed to have rendered him speechless.

“You ready for my dick?” I asked, getting to my feet.

He glanced over his shoulder, his forehead glistening with sweat and his eyes dark with need. “Yes,” he breathed.

Covering my fingers with lube, I used them to loosen him up before I slicked up my hard length and pressed it against him.

“I love watching your ass open for me,” I grunted and entered him. I gripped his hips and pulled out almost all the way before slamming back inside.

He jolted forward, a long moan leaving his lips. “Give me more. I need more.”

I did as he asked, and the sound of skin slapping skin filled the room. My balls pulled up tight, and I knew I was on the edge, but I didn’t want to let go until I took care of him. I reached down to stroke his shaft as I continued to pump furiously into him.

“I’m going …” He didn’t get all his words out before I felt his hot release spill over my fist.

With a curse, I drove into him one final time and came deep inside his ass.

Once we both caught our breath, I pulled out and took a step back. He was a little less steady on his feet, but he managed to turn around and face me.

He grinned at the mess he’d made all over my hand. “Guess we need another shower.”

I brought my fingers to my mouth and sucked his cum off of them. “I don’t mind licking them clean. You taste delicious.”

He laughed. “Get your ass to the bathroom, and maybe I’ll return the favor and taste you.”

We’d finished batting practice and were getting ready for the game when Schmitt walked into the clubhouse.

“I just got off the phone with the staff in Albuquerque, and I’ve got some bad news.” The room went completely silent as we waited for him to continue. “Long suffered a setback during his workout this morning. He reinjured his hamstring, and it’s going to require surgery to fix it. He’ll be out the rest of the season.”

“Damn,” Davenport muttered. “That sucks.”

A few guys nodded in agreement.

“Listen, Long’s a good guy, and we’ll miss having him on the field with us, but we’ve still got a lot of ball to play this season, so we need to stay focused,” Schmitt added, then turned to me. “Singleton, you’re our first baseman for the time being. We’re counting on you to keep playing the way you have been.”

I nodded. “Absolutely, Skip.”

After a few more words about our upcoming game, Schmitt went back to his office while several of my teammates made their way over to me.

“Congrats. You’ve earned your spot here.” Latham patted me on the back.

“Thanks,” I replied, tempering my excitement about extending my time in the majors even though it felt like my dreams were finally coming true.

I knew my teammates were happy for me, and their congratulations were genuine, but I also understood they were probably bummed about a guy they really liked not coming back. Unfortunately, injuries were a part of the game, and they happened often.

“Glad you’re sticking around, rookie.” Stratton grinned as he tucked in his jersey.

I returned his smile. “Appreciate it, man.”

“Now I feel like a dick for saying Long needed to fight to keep his job last night,” Neal admitted.

Davenport chuckled. “He would’ve made the same joke if he had been here.”

The others laughed too, and Neal shrugged. “You’re right.”

After a few more fist bumps and back slaps, I laced up my cleats and grabbed my glove. As I headed into the tunnel, I heard footsteps behind me.

Turning my head, I watched Stratton jog to catch up to me. He kept his voice low even though no one else was nearby. “You know what I said about being glad you’re sticking around wasn’t just about the team.”

“It’s because you like watching me strip out of my uniform every night, isn’t it?” I flashed him a huge grin.

“Pretty much.” He smirked.

I snorted. “Is that all I am to you? Eye candy?”

“That’s definitely not all, but the other benefits are things I can’t mention right now if I don’t want to walk onto the field hard as hell.”

I laughed, happy to see his playful side return after the week he’d had. “Maybe you can take advantage of those benefits later tonight at the hotel.”

“Counting on it.” He winked and then walked past me toward the field.

Knowing he and I wouldn’t have to stop doing whatever it was that we were doing anytime soon only added to the relief I felt getting to stick around Denver.

And I wondered if maybe it could be the start of something more with Stratton.