Page 57

Two months later…

“Yes, just like that, Knox!”

Knox leans over me now, pressing his chest against my back and bringing his lips to my ear. “Does that feel good for you, baby?”

I moan as he thrusts harder. “So… good… oh my God .”

“I’m no deity, but you can pray to me anytime.”

He bites at my neck, sucking on the skin as he starts moving faster. “ Knox …”

“Do you want to come, Harlow?”

“Please,” I pant. “Please make me come.”

He wraps his hand around my body and slips it between my legs, thumb teasing my clit. I moan the moment he touches me. “There you go, baby. You’re doing so well. Taking my cock nice and deep into your wet pussy. Fucking perfect, Lo.”

“ Ohhh ,“ I moan as he presses down on my clit in time with his next thrust. My breathing is labored as he brings me to the edge of bliss.

Knox nibbles on my ear as he starts breathing heavier. “I need you to come, baby. I need you to come before I paint your cunt with mine.”

When he presses on my clit one last time, I fall apart, clenching around him and loudly moaning as he fucks me through my orgasm.

“Such a good girl, Harlow.” He’s thrusting faster now, closing in on his own release.

“So.”

Thrust.

“Fucking.”

Thrust.

“Good.”

Thrust.

And he shatters, groaning into my neck as his hips still, and he fills me up, spilling every last drop of cum inside me.

We both collapse onto the bed, Knox falling down beside me as we catch our breath.

“There’s no way you don’t win tonight now,” I say, turning to face him. “Not after sex like that.”

“Because you have a magic pussy,” he chuckles. “I fuck you, and I can do anything.”

“Like pitch a win in game seven of the World Series?” I smile.

Knox leans over and kisses me. “I really fucking hope so.”

“You’re going to do incredible tonight,” I reassure him. “And I can’t wait to watch my boyfriend become a World Series champion.”

“Meaning your brother would also become a World Series champion, Lo.”

I groan. “Knox, you just fucked me into delirium, and we’re both still naked. Can we please not talk about my brother right now?”

“Of course, Lo,” he smiles before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’m not ready to leave you soon.”

“You need to be with your team,” I say, laying my hand on his cheek. “You all need to make sure you’re ready for the game. Someone is winning the World Series tonight, and we all hope it isn’t the Thunderbirds.”

“I know,” he sighs. “But I would also like to just spend all day in bed with you.”

“Offseason starts tomorrow. We’ll have plenty of days where we won’t have to leave the bed at all.”

“Can’t fucking wait,” he says as he kisses me again before helping me sit up.

“I should probably go to my apartment for a bit. You have to leave soon anyway.”

“Why do you even need your apartment anymore?” Knox asks, wrapping his arms around me and putting the back of my head on his shoulder.

“Because that’s where I live.”

He eyes me. “When did you last spend the night there, Lo?”

“It’s, uh… been a while,” I admit sheepishly.

“It’s been since before I tore my hamstring if you want to be specific.”

“Because you keep me up all night,” I say, poking his side, “and you won’t let me take the subway when it’s late.”

He laughs heartily. “Or because I just don’t want you to leave. I love having you here with me, Lo.”

I turn my head to face him. “Are you getting at something, Knox?”

“I can’t keep anything from you.” He grins widely before softly kissing the tip of my nose. “Why don’t you just move in with me?”

I look at him in surprise. “You want me to move in?”

Knox repositions me now, bringing me to sit on his lap as I face him. “Why not? You stay here every night anyway. You’re practically living with me now, just without having your things here.”

“Yeah, but if I move in, I’ll always be here.”

“Good.” He gently kisses my forehead.

I study him now to see how serious he is. He looks completely relaxed. This isn’t a stressor. This is a genuine want from him, to have me around all the time.

“You really want me to move in?”

Knox smiles at me. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t mean it, Lo.”

“The offseason is getting ready to start. You’ll never be away from me.”

“Perfect,” he says, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip.

I blush as I turn my face, burying it in his chest. “Alright then.”

“Yeah?” His smile is wide, lighting him up in genuine happiness. “You’ll move in?”

“I’ll move in.”

Knox is on me in a flash, knocking me backward as he descends on me with his mouth on mine. He parts my lips and slides his tongue inside as his hand starts roaming my body.

When he teases his fingers up my thigh, I stop him. “Slow down, buddy. You need to get to the field.”

“You don’t think we have time for one more?” He cocks an eyebrow at me with an ornery smile on his face.

“Jesus, where do you get your stamina from?” I say in exasperation. “You’ve fucked me twice this morning already.”

“I’m a professional athlete, baby. I’ve got stamina for days.”

I roll my eyes as I laugh. “Well, this professional athlete needs to get his ass to the field. You’re starting tonight.”

He groans before moving off me. “Fine. I know you’re right, but that doesn’t mean I like it.”

“You’re insatiable.” I shake my head.

“Only for you.”

“Well,” I say, sliding my hand up his chest, “if you get the win tonight, we’ll have to celebrate after, won’t we?”

“Yeah? What do you have in mind?”

“I think we can try something new. Something you’ve been wanting.”

Knox licks his bottom lip as he catches on to my meaning. “Think you’re ready for more than my fingers, baby?”

“Guess we’ll find out if you win.”

Knox moves quickly, pinning me to the bed as he brushes his lips against mine. “I’ve got all the motivation I need.”

There should be a handbook on how to handle the stress of watching your boyfriend pitch in a World Series game. Sure, it wouldn’t sell many copies since that’s a pretty niche market, but goddamn, do I need one right now.

I’ve been watching the game from the suite Knox and Cole got for us. , Sage, my parents, Simon, his wife, and some executives from Axis are all here with me, watching from the comfort of a box.

And I’ve been so fucking nervous that I’ve bitten my nails down to the quick and all but put a hole in the floor with all of my pacing.

They’re not even playing poorly, though. Sure, the game is tied 2-2 as they prepare for the bottom of the eighth, but they’re playing well.

Especially Knox.

He’s so in control tonight. He may have given up two runs, but he gave them both up in the first inning. The Thunderbirds have had seven scoreless innings thanks to Knox not losing his composure after the first. Hell, in the eighth inning, he was still pitching. His pitch count is just over one hundred, and there’s a chance that Paul will keep him in for the complete game.

But I can only see that happening if we pull ahead in the bottom of the inning now.

The home-field advantage the Stars earned will hopefully help. The stadium is packed to the brim, with thousands more fans surrounding the outside, listening in to hear how the team is playing.

Rory has spent basically the entire game trying to keep me calm. I’d ask my parents to help if they weren’t just as anxious as I am right now. This is the Stars’ first World Series appearance since Cole joined the team—their first appearance in more than a decade, at that.

We’re all stressed and hoping to see New York bring home that pennant.

One of the Thunderbirds’ relief pitchers takes his spot on the mound as the Stars get ready to bat. Our designated hitter, Andrew Pelton, leads this half of the inning.

The crowd stands as we hear the crack of the bat and see the ball soaring into the outfield… and we all deflate as the center fielder makes the catch.

Lane is next up. The first few pitches end in foul balls, but pitch four ends as a ground ball hit toward third base. Lane speeds off toward first as the third baseman fields the ball and tosses it. The play is close, and we all hold out hope until the umpire reviews the footage to find that Lane was tagged before he hit the base.

And just like that, we’ve got two outs.

Cole now strides over to the batter’s box, taking a few practice swings to loosen up.

“Oh God,” I say, covering my eyes. “I don’t know if I can watch.”

Rory peels my hands from my face. “Watch your brother, Lo. He’ll be pissed if he gets a hit, and you didn’t see it.”

I groan and agree. Even though I’m unbelievably nervous, I keep my eyes on the game for Cole.

And when he knocks that first pitch right into the stands of left field, I’m so fucking glad I did.

“Cole!” I shout as Rory jumps and yells beside me.

“We’re fucking winning!” she yells as she runs over to hug my parents.

I grab Sage, who has no idea what’s going on but is excited by all the dancing, and spin her around as we all carry on our excitement after Josh strikes out, ending the eighth inning.

When the Stars take their places for the top of the ninth, I’m elated to see Knox return to the mound.

“I see he’s going for the complete game,” a man beside me says before turning to me. “I don’t believe I introduced myself yet. I’m Matt Trelon, VP of Marketing for Axis.”

“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you!” I say, extending my hand to him.

“You as well, Harlow,” he replies, taking my hand and shaking it. “I’ve been talking with Simon a lot recently. We both agree that you seem to be very good for Knox.”

“Oh,” I blush. “I think I’ve just helped him become more open.”

“Well, whatever it is you’ve done,” Matt says, “you’ve completely changed how people see him. His attitude has progressed so much through the season.”

“Like he said to me a couple months ago,” Simon chimes in, walking up to stand on my other side and shooting me a soft smile. “He just needed a reason to be happy.”

My blush is deeper now as I feel it creeping down my neck and across my chest. “That’s all I want for him.”

We fall into silence as we all watch Knox rear back for his first pitch of the inning, a foul ball the Thunderbirds’ second baseman hits to the left. He connects on pitch number two, sending the ball shallow in the outfield. The Stars’ right fielder, Neil Mansfield, is quick and catches it on a dive.

Out number one.

The next batter is the Thunderbirds first baseman, Ari Morgan, one of their strongest batters. And when Knox sends him back to the dugout with a three-pitch strikeout, the crowd is reaching insanity.

Out number two.

The Stars are one out away from the World Series title.

Rory slides in beside me with Sage on her hip. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous,” she says.

“Fucking tell me about it. My brother and my boyfriend are one out away from winning the damn World Series.”

“Cole’s played such a great game,” she says aloud, but not to me, more as though she’s just stating a fact. With her bright smile and slight flush to her cheeks, it’s obvious why she’s focusing on my brother to anyone paying close enough attention.

“He has,” I respond, grabbing her hand to ground myself so I don’t start pacing again.

The silence that falls over the crowd is deafening as Knox gets into position for his pitch to the Thunderbirds’ left fielder.

He rears back with the pitch he’s most well-known for and sends a knuckleball down the middle. The bat connects, but the hit is shallow, soaring up high but not traveling far.

The cheers start early as Cole gets in position, glove up under the ball falling toward him. And when his glove closes around it, the crowd erupts.

My dad runs up behind me and scoops me up as we all start screaming. We’re jumping and yelling and celebrating almost as much as the guys on the field.

The Stars just won the damn World Series!

I glance down at them in time to see the traditional cooler of Gatorade poured over Cole’s head—Knox, Lane, and Josh doing the honors.

“Can we go down?” I ask Rory excitedly.

“Hell yes, we can!”

I hug my parents quickly before Rory, Sage, and I dash from the box. The team passes we have on us allow us to get there easily.

Two minutes after leaving the box, we step onto the field and run alongside the other family members doing the same.

Knox sees me before I’m halfway there and sprints to me, picking me up and spinning me around, kissing me the moment my feet are back on the ground.

“You won!” I shout. “You fucking won the World Series, Knox!”

“Couldn’t have done it without you, Harlow. God, I fucking love you.”

He lifts me again, this time taking me over to the rest of the team to join in on the celebration.

Once the on-field celebrations end and Cole is named World Series MVP, the festivities move inside. The clubhouse is usually reserved for athletes only, but the team is making an exception, allowing family and friends to join the team.

When we’re all crowded inside, the bottles are brought out, ready to be popped for the classic champagne shower.

As several of the guys start working on the corks, Lane holds Sage to his chest. “Keep that alcohol off my fucking daughter, please.”

“We’ll just get you instead,” Knox says deviously, popping the cork from the bottle he’s holding and spraying it all over Lane’s legs.

“This Fort is a hell of a lot more fun than the old one,” chimes Josh, joining us with Ella under his arm and taking a swig from his own champagne.

Lucia finds us now. “Congratulations, guys! World Series fucking champions!”

“Duck,” Sage says in her adorable little toddler voice.

“Oh, I’m fucked,” Lane groans. “Kids who run around swearing are cute, right?”

“The fucking cutest!” Ella replies, leaning over and pinching Sage’s cheek.

Josh starts looking around curiously. “Where the hell is Cole?”

I try to find him when I notice something else. “Rory’s missing, too.”

“That’s interesting,” Lucia smirks.

“What do you think is happening?” I whisper to Knox.

Knox picks me up again. “Don’t fucking know. Don’t fucking care. We won the World Series, and I have the most beautiful woman in my arms right now. I don’t care about anything else.”

I just smile and nuzzle into the crook of his neck. “I’m so happy for you.”

He leans down and kisses my temple as Simon fights his way through the crowd to us. “Knox,” he says, flagging him down. “I need you to come with me.”

Without setting me down, Knox follows Simon out of the clubhouse and into the hallway, where we find Matt, the man from Axis I met during the game, waiting for him.

He puts me on my feet and looks to his agent. “What’s this about, Simon?”

“Knox,” he says, gesturing to the man beside him, “this is Matt Trelon. He’s the VP of Marketing at Axis.”

“Oh!” Knox grabs his hand and shakes it heartily. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Matt laughs. “Please call me Matt. Sir makes me feel old.” His tone turns more professional. “But the other Axis executives and I thought now would be a great time to give you some good news.”

“I’m not sure there’s any news that can surpass what just happened,” Knox replies, pulling me closer. “But I’m all ears.”

“Well,” he starts, “we’ve kept a close eye on you through the season. You’re known now for being more than just this unbreakable pitcher; it’s been a great change for you. You’re happier and have more love from the fans than ever before.”

“Yeah, I think this season has been great for me. This has been the best year of my career.”

“We agree. And now I’d like to formally tell you that Axis is looking forward to moving forward with your endorsement deal.”

Knox stares at him in disbelief with a bright smile. “Seriously?”

Matt chuckles as he places a hand on Knox’s shoulder. “Very serious. We’ll work out the logistics with Simon here, but expect to hear from us soon.” He adjusts his suit jacket now. “Congratulations on your win, Knox. We’re excited to work with you.”

Simon gives his congratulations—both on the World Series win and on successfully getting the Axis contract—before he and Matt turn on their heels and head down the hall in the opposite direction. Once they’re out of sight, Knox has me pinned against the wall, mouth on mine.

“Knox,” I manage between frenzied kisses. “You did it.”

“All because of you, Harlow. You’re the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I smile wide and press my forehead against his.

“God, I’m so fucking proud of you. You’re talented and incredible and deserving.”

“Wouldn’t be here without you, baby.”

I never imagined myself like this, wrapped in the arms of Knox Spencer, my boyfriend , before this season, but I’m so happy I know him. Really know him.

Life is great at throwing curveballs, though. You live, and you learn, and you’re better for it after all the pain wears off.

When you get through that, it all feels a bit easier, and you can take everything in stride when life throws you a little off pitch.