Page 10 of Taking the Pitch (Love & Baseball #2)

CHAPTER NINE

amelia

“Who the fuck does he think he is? Telling me to slow down,” I grumble as the girls and I make our way to the dance floor. Honestly, the fucking audacity of that man.

“What!?” Hazel yells from behind me. The music is getting louder the closer we get to the dance floor, and I can barely hear myself complain. I shake my head, letting her know that it’s nothing.

Charlie is in front, leading the charge to find a free space on the packed floor for us to dance. Even in the VIP section, there are bodies everywhere. Finally, a space opens up and we slide in, bumping along to the music and sipping our chosen poison of the night.

“You like him!” Charlie yells over the music.

“What!? Who?” Hazel yells.

Charlie tips her head towards the bar where Judd is leaning back against it, one elbow propped on the top, watching us. Looking sexy as fuck. The asshole.

“Millie likes Judd.”

“No, I don’t! He’s insufferable.” I yell back at her.

Charlie’s grin grows. “If it’s any consolation, it seems like the feeling is mutual.”

“You should go for it!” Hazel yells over the building tempo of the music as her body follows along like a cobra dancing to a flute. The girl can move, and it doesn’t seem like I’m the only one who notices. A trio of guys eyeball us and make their way over.

“Absolutely not. He’s not my type,” I say as the guys get closer.

“Sexy as sin isn’t your type?” Charlie asks, also noticing the tripod coming closer behind Hazel.

I scrunch my nose. “He’s not that good looking,” I say, taking a drink.

Hazel lets out an unlady-like snort. “And I’m a virgin.”

I roll my eyes, but the subject is dropped when the group of guys finally reaches us. Without uttering a word, the guys slip in and start dancing with us. At first, they keep a respectable, yet danceable distance, but soon into the third music transition, the guy I’m dancing with decides to get a little…handsy.

It’s subtle. A little slip here, bump there, easily mistaken for just accidents. But apparently because I don’t say anything about him ‘accidentally’ touching me, that’s an ‘all systems go’ in his mind. Before I know what’s happening, I feel his hand slide low, very low, almost too low, over my stomach and pull me back against him on a very prominent body part.

I let out a gasp, but no one notices over the music. No one except him apparently, because he leans down and says into my ear. “There’s more where that came from, shorty.”

Gag me.

Utterly annoyed and disgusted, I turn and try to push away from him, but my tiny build has me at a complete disadvantage. He takes my trying to get away from him as ‘playing hard to get’. Taking his other hand, he places it on my ass along with the first one and pulls me closer, pushing his boner into my lower stomach. Since I still have my now empty glass, I can only push at his chest with one hand. “Not interested,” I say as I push against him again.

“Come on baby, I can show you a real good time.”

“Doubtful,” I retort. I’m fucking over this shit. I shove harder and his face changes from amused to pissed in a flash.

He reaches up and grabs my wrist, squeezing it painfully. “Don’t be a fucking bitch,” he says into my ear.

Fuck this.

I pull back just far enough to create a little distance, then bring my knee up swiftly, making contact with the fuck wads pathetic excuse of manhood.

He releases my wrist and doubles over with a loud, “Fuck!”

His shout gets the attention of the other members of our group and a few others and they finally turn towards us.

“What happened?” Charlie asks, looking from him to me.

“She’s a fucking tease.” The guy I was dancing with coughs out.

“And you’re a fucking twat, what part of ‘No’ didn’t you understand? I’d spell it out for you, but I’m afraid that would be too difficult for you to read.”

“You fucking–”

I sense him come up behind me before I hear, “Is there a problem?” in that deep rumble I recognize as Judd’s voice.

Unconsciously, I take a step back, towards the safety of Judd’s body, colliding with his front. He steadies me but doesn’t release me. Instead, he pulls me to him, tucking me into his side. My body instantly relaxes, knowing it’s safe.

“Yeah, this bitch led me on, then kneed me in the balls.” I feel Judd’s body stiffen when the idiot calls me a bitch.

By now Hazel and Charlie have both left the guys they were dancing with, joining me at Judd’s side. The guy’s friends look both uncomfortable and annoyed.

Judd looks over at Charlie and passes me to her, then strides forward and towers over the asshole. “Wanna try that again?”

The guy opens his mouth to speak, but Judd interrupts him. “I suggest you think before you speak. I watched the whole thing from the bar and from what I saw, she was trying to get away from you, but you wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

The guy snaps his mouth shut and shakes his head once.

“Good, now I suggest you call it a night and get the fuck out of here before I get the bouncer. Deny’s looking a little bored.” The group looks over at the bouncer we met earlier and Deny tips his chin up at Judd in acknowledgement.

The idiot’s friends finally come to their senses and pull him away. We watch as they shove him through the crowd towards the door. Deny stares them down the entire way through until the door shuts.

Relief washes through my body, and I sag slightly against Charlie. Judd turns back to us, eyes running over me. “You okay?” His gaze is soft, tender. Completely opposite of the one he gave that ass hat.

I nod.

“You sure?” he asks, reaching up and brushing a lock of my hair away from my face.

I suck in a breath as a wave of heat hits me in my core.

Is it me, or did he just get…hotter?

“Mills, did you hear me? Do you want to go home?” he asks, concern in his voice.

Mills? No one’s called me Mills since…

No. Not here. Not now. Suck it up Amelia.

I take a breath, steadying myself, then give him a quick nod. “I’m sure. Thank you for standing up for me. I’m sure I could have handled it, but I’m glad I didn’t have to.”

“No need to thank me, Amelia. Men shouldn’t assume just because they’re lucky enough to get a beautiful woman to dance with them they’re entitled to anything else.” He gives that devilish smile of his. “And I have no doubt in my mind that you could have handled it. You just shouldn’t have to.”

My cheeks heat and I turn to the girls, who have matching looks of curiosity on their faces. “I’m fine, I promise. I’m not gonna let some asshole ruin our night.” I give them my best smile and loop my arms through theirs. “Come on, girls, I think another drink is in order.” I glance over my shoulder to see Judd right on our heels.

When we hit the bar, I feel the heat from Judd’s body wash over my back as he towers over me and orders us all another round. The bartender nods and grabs fresh glasses for our drinks.

“We’re heading to the bathroom! Be right back!” Hazel yells to us, grabbing Charlie and hauling her to the bathroom with her before I can even acknowledge her.

Turning my back to the bar, I lean against it and let my eyes roam over Judd.

I’d have to be an idiot not to admit how sexy he is. Especially in his pirate costume. His white shirt is unbuttoned down to the base of his sternum, showing off his smooth, chiseled chest. No tattoos have graced his skin there yet, but I know he has a full sleeve down his right arm and a few on his left. Not that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them in person. In a moment of weakness, when I couldn't sleep last night, I googled the man standing before me, and I was not disappointed.

Well, that’s not true. I was disappointed, but not because he’s not impressive to look at. I was disappointed to find that I enjoyed what I was looking at… Immensely.

My eyes finally make their way up to his and I find he’s staring back at me with a hunger I’ve only written about in my books, never experienced myself.

“Like what you see?”

I roll my lips inward, biting at the bottom one, and shrug. Because there is no way I’m admitting how much I actually enjoy what I see to this man.

His green eyes darken, and he closes the small gap between us. Towering over me, he leans down and whispers into my ear. “I think you do.” His breath tickles the hair on my neck, sending chills down my spine.

When he leans back, my drink is in his hand. I reach up to grab it, but he pulls it back out of my reach. He brings it to his lips and takes a sip. He raises his brows in surprise and hands me my drink. “Not bad, a little sweet, a little sour, a little burn at the end. Fits you perfectly.” There's a little drop on his lip from the drink. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m watching my hand as it reaches up and my thumb swipes at the corner of his mouth. His hand grips my wrist before I can pull back. He sucks my thumb into his mouth, teeth grazing the pad of my thumb.

My lips part as I suck in a breath. Fuck, that was…hot.

The girls come back breaking whatever the fuck that was between Judd and I.

Looking from Judd to me, Hazel asks, “Did we interrupt something?” Mischief in her voice.

Deflect, deflect, deflect. “Not at all.” I tip my head at Judd as I pull my hand away, instantly missing the contact with him. “He’s a slob, so I was just helping him out.”

Hazel’s smile widens and Charlie rolls her eyes, giving me a ‘yeah right’ look.

Needing to change the subject, I grab their free hands and pull them away from the bar, leaving Judd. “Now that we have drinks, let’s go dance.”

Making our way back out into the crowd, we find a free spot on the dance floor and start moving with the music. But when I turn around, Judd is no longer just watching from the bar. No, he’s followed us out onto the floor and is watching my every move. Turning back around, I decide to try to just ignore him. I take a sip of my drink, also trying not to think about his perfect lips that were on my glass moments ago.

That idea is quickly tossed out the window when one of my favorite songs comes on and I start moving with the beat. I can feel my backside graze Judd’s jeans, just barely, just a whisper of contact, indicating he’s moved closer to me. With alcohol coursing deliciously through my veins and more promised to come, I’m feeling brave, adventurous even.

Taking a half step back, my ass connects with Judd’s front as I shimmy down his body, throwing my free hand up above me. His hands skim down my sides as I make my way back up. I cup my hand behind his neck while his fingers graze down to my hips. Closing my eyes, I lean into him, letting myself get lost in the beat and his touch. One of Judd’s hands snakes around my middle and I feel his body moving perfectly in rhythm with mine.

He leans down, lips grazing my ear, sending shivers through me. I’m so lost in the sensation of our bodies moving together, I let out a shocked gasp when his teeth nip at my ear, sending delicious heat down to my center.

I take another drink of my liquid courage and turn around in his grasp. Looking up at him, I lock eyes with his almost black gaze. Want and desire reflect back at me, matching my own. My hand on his neck laces through his shaggy hair and I give it a small tug. He growls and tightens his grip on my back, bringing me impossibly closer.

Everyone around us fades away as we stare at each other, dancing to the hypnotic beat of the music. I feel the pull to be closer to him, to have his lips on mine. He must feel it too, because his face inches closer. The scent of mint and whiskey mingling together.

I move closer, completely entranced by him. Our lips are impossibly close and still not close enough. I close my eyes, expecting him to close the distance. I feel his breath on my lips just as I’m jostled from behind and my half full drink spills all over Judd’s back.

He lets out a “Shit!” and pulls away from me, breaking the moment.

I hear a ‘sorry’ yelled over the music from behind me, but I don’t turn around to acknowledge them. I’m too busy ogling the Greek God in front of me who just pulled his wet shirt over his head, revealing the body of a very tattooed Adonis himself.

Fuck me.