Page 29 of Fake Dates and Home Plates (Way Off Base #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Henley

I see the exact moment he spots me, his eyes heating when they land on the jersey he had made for me.

For Christmas, he gave me a custom Knights jersey. Instead of the school’s colors, the jersey is my favorite colors: pink and black.

Standing, I turn around and pull my hair off my neck, showing him his name on my back. When I sit back down, I see him lick his lips before returning his attention to the game.

“Damn. He looks like he’s going to eat you,” Lily tells me.

Theo was able to snag another ticket next to me so Lily could come to the game as well.

“God, I hope so,” I tell her with a grin.

We both laugh as we continue watching the game. At some point, Lily goes to grab us some hot dogs and sodas we devour within seconds.

Not much later, when it’s his turn to bat, I can’t help my laugh. Theo’s been listening to my running playlist for months now, and I recognize the song as one of the many I’ve played while riding as his passenger princess.

It’s only a few seconds of the song, but Lily and I dance in our spots like idiots anyway. When he swings the bat my direction, my mouth turns up into a smile that has Lily teasing me mercilessly.

Baseball games are long and not overly entertaining. If Theo weren’t on the field, I probably would be bored out of my mind. That’s an inside thought, though, and one I never plan to admit to him.

The crowd roars as the last pitch sails across the plate. Strike three. Game over.

Knights win.

Theo’s teammates leap over the dugout railing, storming the field in celebration. I’m already on my feet, clapping hard, my throat raw from yelling for nine innings straight.

I’m not even sure what I was yelling, but I went with whatever the crowd was saying, hoping to come off as a supportive girlfriend. Lily hugs me, leaving to head back to our apartment, but I’m staying behind to meet Theo.

When the crowd finally thins and players disappear toward the locker rooms, I make my way down. The halls under the stands feel a little spooky as I head towards the spot where Theo told me to meet him.

He’s already showered, leaning against the wall. Before I can even say congratulations, he grabs my wrist. “Come with me.”

His voice is rough and low, leaving no room for argument. I let him pull me down a narrow hallway until he shoves open a door to a storage room stacked with buckets of balls, extra uniforms, and scuffed helmets. He kicks it shut behind us and pushes me against it, his hands caging me in.

“Theo—”

“I need you.” His breath is hot against my ear, his words urgent.“The whole game, it’s all I could think about,” he says as he unbuttons my shorts. “You’re here, wearing my name, and you’re all fucking mine.”

His teeth nip at my neck as he slides his fingers into my panties, circling my clit before dipping his fingers down to my entrance. “So wet for me.”

I nod. “All for you.”

Theo groans before sliding my pants down to my ankles. “We don’t have much time, but if I don’t get inside you right now, I might lose my fucking mind.”

We’ve enjoyed a lot of sex over the last few months. Slow, hard, fast, romantic.

I’ve never seen Theo like this.

My pulse spikes, my body already answering him before my brain catches up. “Take what you need. Use me, baby.”

He kisses me, and it’s messy, desperate, all teeth and tongue.I fist his jersey, tugging him closer until there’s no space left. When his hand wraps around my throat, with just enough pressure to steal a fraction of my air, I gasp.

Not from fear, but from need.

“Like this?” he rasps, eyes dark, asking if it's okay.

I nod, my lips parting. “More.”

His grip tightens, his thumb pressing just under my jaw. I moan against his mouth, kicking off my shoes and shorts, just as needy for this as he is.

“Fuck me, Theo.”

He relaxes his hold before grabbing me by the hips and forcing me to turn towards the door. “Bend over, baby girl.”

I do as he says, turning my face so my cheek is against the cold metal door. My hands come up to support me, pressing flat between my chest and the door.

Theo doesn’t waste time. I hear his zipper slide down, and seconds later, he’s lining himself up. He pushes into me with a brutal thrust, both of us groaning at the feeling.

“This hot little cunt needs me, doesn’t it?” he asks.

My back arches, hips pushing back to meet his thrusts. “I do. I need you too, Theo.”

He isn’t the only one going crazy.

“You know I love you, right, Henley?”

My nod against the door is frantic. “I love you too.”

“Good. Because I’m going to fuck you like you’re a whore, and before I do, I need you to know you’re my entire fucking world.

” His words have me clenching around him.

“God, Henley. You act like such a slut when I’m inside you.

I’ve barely even started, and you’re panting and clenching around me like you’re too fucking desperate for my dick. ”

We’ve been experimenting with sex since we started, and Theo’s mouth has become downright filthy. His words make me whimper.

His thumb traces my asshole, and I feel him spit onto it as he drives himself harder into me before pulling out and doing it again. Once he’s lathered his saliva all over my hole, his thumb pushes inside.

I detonate, my vision blacking out. Theo’s hand on my hip tightens enough that I know I'll have a bruise, one I’ll be tempted to have permanently etched into my skin.

“I can’t wait to fuck your ass, baby girl. I’ll fill all your slutty little holes until you’re covered in my cum and begging me to stop.”

That’s cute. “We both know I’d only beg for more.”

His thumb leaves my ass, and he uses that hand to spank one of my cheeks. “You’ll do what I fucking tell you to.”

I won’t. I’m too much of a brat, too happy to push any limit.

“Are you going to keep talking, or are you going to fill me up? I’d love to go to this party with your cum dripping out of me.”

It’s going to be really fucking uncomfortable with our mess sitting in my panties for hours, but I know Theo’s going to go wild thinking about me leaking his cum while we’re celebrating with his teammates.

He grunts at that. “Oh, fuck.”

He holds me to him, making sure he doesn’t miss filling me up completely. Once he pulls out, he turns me around, kissing me slowly. Then, he grabs my discarded shorts and panties, dressing me carefully before he slips both of my sneakers back on.

It’s only then I notice he didn’t even remove his pants. They’re barely hanging off his hips. I love that he needed me so much, he couldn’t even undress himself.

He tucks himself in and zips his pants back up. Then, he pulls me in, pressing his forehead to mine. Breathing hard, he says, “You have no idea what you do to me, Henley.”

I don’t argue, but he’s wrong.

Because he makes me feel the same way.

As we walk through the front door of an unfamiliar house, it’s clear the party has started without us.

“Barlowe,” Ezra calls, tossing back a shot at the counter. “Thought maybe your girlfriend chained you to her bed.”

Not a bad idea, honestly. I look up at Theo, and the heat in his eyes tells me he’s having the same thought.

“Come on, Henley. There are three shots waiting for you at the bar and a coffee table that wants to be your dance floor,” one of the guys shouts.

I’m not sure who he is, but it’s clear my reputation is well known here.

Despite the chill game night we had with his teammates in the fall, this is a full on party. The music is loud, there are people making out on the couch, and I can spot a table for beer pong in the kitchen.

For the first time, I find myself feeling hesitant at a party. It’s been a long time since I let go, having spent most of the school year focused on running or hanging out with Theo.

I grab at Theo’s hand, a little nervous. “I can drive us home later if you want to celebrate with your teammates.”

He shakes his head. “You hate to drive. Either we both let go and have a little fun tonight, or I can be your bodyguard.”

Reaching up on my tiptoes, I give him a peck on the lips. “What makes you think I need a bodyguard? Worried about me?”

Theo’s kisses me, deeply and a little inappropriately, considering the audience. Whoops and whistles fill the air.

“I’m always worried about you, Henley. I really don’t plan on drinking much tonight, but we can use a rideshare app if we need to. Why don’t you just have some fun?” He wraps an arm around my shoulder and leads me to the makeshift bar.

Ezra hands me a shot. “Hope you like tequila.”

I do.

I tend to make the best decisions while drinking it. And by the best, I mean the worst.

Thankfully, the liquid has been chilled, and someone even cut up limes and set a salt shaker out.

With Theo’s hand on my shoulder, I lean my head in and lick it before pouring salt on it. Then, I grab a lime and tell him, “Bite.”

The peel is between his teeth, ready for me.

There’s a round of cheers, and I tap my cup against Ezra’s. Then, I lick the salt from Theo’s hand before throwing back the shot. As soon as I’ve swallowed, I’m reaching up to take the lime from Theo’s mouth, biting down.

He’s grinning at me. “Even if you throw up on my shoes tonight, that moment makes it absolutely worth it.”

Theo grabs us both a beer, and we make our way through the party. He never leaves my side, introducing me to everyone he knows.

Arms wrap around me from behind, and I freeze.

Sunny squeals in my ear, “I’m so glad you’re here! Come be my beer pong partner.”

She drags me away without waiting for an answer, but I manage to grab Theo’s hand so he’s forced to follow. It’s clear she’s already pretty tipsy, and since I haven’t had any alcohol in months, I’m also feeling the effects from just the one beer and tequila shot.

Sunny crosses her arms, looking at the table, “My turn!”

Grumbles have me laughing. Clearly, it was not Sunny’s turn at all, but I’m guessing her brother’s teammates aren’t willing to argue with her.

Except for one.

“Sunny, you can’t just kick everyone off the table because you want to play.” His voice sounds like he's forcing the annoyance.

She scoffs. “Pretty sure I just did, Lukas.”

I laugh loudly.

“Come on, Henley. You can be my partner, and the boys can be a team.” She directs everyone without regard for whether they even want to play.

Theo claps Lukas on the back. “Come on, partner .”

Sunny is terrible at beer pong and she hates beer, so I’m forced to carry the team and drink every time the guys sink a ball into another cup.

The game passes quickly, and thankfully, Sunny has lost interest in it.

Giving me a hug, she says, “I told some friends from class I’d meet them at another party, but I’m glad I got to see you!”

Then, she’s waltzing away, utterly unaware Lukas is following her. I have a feeling he doesn’t want her to know, and I don’t blow his cover, happy she has someone looking out for her.

Theo pulls me into the living room, but instead of dancing on the coffee table, I grind against him.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, my words slightly slurred.

“I’m okay. Lukas and I were dumping the beer when you two weren’t looking.”

I laugh. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

He pulls me even closer, though I’m not sure that’s possible. “Want to get out of here?”

I do. I want to go home, ride his dick, and snuggle up to him, but I settle for just nodding in agreement.

Or at least, I thought I did.

But when Theo says, “How about you drink some water, then we snuggle, and I wake you up with my tongue between your legs?” I realize my thoughts were spoken out loud.

“You good to drive?” I ask.

He nods, picking me up bridal style and carrying me to his Jeep.