Page 116 of Playing Dirty

This little game of cat and mouse is gonna get us in trouble, but, damn, is it fun.

It doesn’t help that I can still feel Theo every time I move—his cum in my ass, and the stiffness in my joints from how rough he was earlier. Though, I have the sneaking suspicion that was exactly his plan. And why he chose to draw my attention back to it right now.

“Dirty move, Teddy Bear. One you’re gonna be paying for later.”

He just winks and mouths,“Counting on it.”

The next two pitches pass without any attempts at playing, my brain still reeling on all things Theo. I don’t need eyes in the back of my head to know he’s staring at me either; the heat of his gaze may as well be a physical caress along my shoulders and back. It causes a shiver to ripple down my spine again while I watch their pitcher on the mound.

I creep my way closer to third, taking a more liberal lead than I realize because of the distraction Theo poses behind me. And a distraction it is, because when their pitcher checks me, I’m too far from the bag to make it without diving headfirst to the ground.

But it’s an effort made in vain, because this time, I’m the one who’s too late, the ball inside Theo’s glove smacking me on the forearm before I can make it back.

I know the shithead just picked me off, but it still stings when I hearthe umpire shout, “Out!” to signal the end of the inning.

A series of boos echoes through the stadium like a choir, and I let out a soft curse as I roll to my back. Theo’s still standing over me, his lips rolled inward while he suppresses a smile, and he offers his hand. I take it, despite my annoyance, and he pulls me to my feet.

“Looks like your ass is mine in more ways than one today,” he whispers.

His eyes twinkle with smug confidence, and when he flashes me that perfect, devastating smile, it takes all my willpower not to lean in and kiss him. Of course, I quickly remember where we are—and why that’s a big fucking no-no—when some of his teammates start converging on us, heading back into their dugout.

He tosses the ball back to the mound and heads to join them, but he shoots a wry grin over his shoulder and calls out, “Hopefully you’re more on the ball behind the plate, there, Hastings!”

God, he’s never gonna let me live this one down.

Our teams quickly swap positions on the field, and after busting my ass to get back in my gear, I’m positioned behind the plate to take on the next inning.

We’re in the meat of Leighton’s batting order now as Phoenix steps up to the plate, and I catch Theo taking some practice swings in the on-deck circle. He must feel my eyes on him, because his gaze flicks to me, and I spot the faintest twitch of his lips.

“Asshole,”I mouth to him, and it has a full grin spreading over his face.

The sight has my stomach doing all kinds of gymnastics, and I quickly look away, needing to focus on the task at hand. He’s already caused me one fuckup on the field tonight; I don’t need another.

Zander and I are up in the count on Phoenix early with two strikes and one ball, but Phoenix isn’t budging from the plate. He’s managed to hangon to his life at the plate by the skin of his teeth, clipping two foul balls in a row now.

And though I should know better, I can’t stop myself from adding fuel to the fire. After all, what’s a rivalry game without a little shit-talking at the plate?

“You’re doing wonders for your batting average tonight, Mercer. You planning to make it 0-3 with this next pitch?”

He glances down where I’m squatting, waiting for him to re-enter the batter’s box. There’s a little flash of irritation in his stare; a jolt of contempt if I’ve ever seen one.

“Eat a bag of dicks, Hastings.”

I’m about to tell him I’ll just have Theo’s ass for dessert instead, but I quickly rein my tongue in before it decides to get me in trouble.

Coach relays his pitch call to me through my earpiece, and I set up on the inside corner—the spot Phoenix has been weakest all night—and sign for Zander to nail him with a slider.

And when the ball lands directly in my mitt, Phoenix’s swing a complete miss, the crowd goes nuts.

I smirk when Phoenix curses, and another jab slips out before I can help it.

“Damn, kid. At this rate, you may as well bench yourself for the rest of the game.”

Phoenix is instantly fuming, his eyes darkening to damn near black when he snarls out, “Yeah, well, at least I’m not a pawn in somebody else’s.”

The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and an unsettled feeling coils in my stomach.

“What’d you just say?”