Page 15

15

Ripley

I’m so full of adrenaline, I feel like I could run laps around the stadium. We won, and it was a solid victory. My pitches felt strong all night, the team was on fire, and I’m still buzzing from the roaring cheers of the crowd. As I head off the field, wiping sweat from my forehead with the back of my glove, my first thought isn’t about stats or my pitching form—it’s about finding Kali. And, of course, Juniper. Because tonight, she was in the stands too, cheering me on with her little lungs working overtime.

I jog through the dugout, weaving through a few fans who’ve stuck around, offering high-fives and fist bumps. The guys pat me on the shoulder, congratulating me on a good game, but I’m more interested in scanning the seats beyond. Soon enough, I spot Hattie’s ball cap bobbing near the exit. Juniper’s by her side, bouncing on her toes, and Kali stands next to them, smiling so brightly it outshines the stadium lights. My heart does a weird little flip. She’s still wearing one of my team’s caps—she must’ve bought it at the merch stand. The thought that she’s representing me sends a surge of pride through my veins.

I break away from my teammates and head straight for them. Juniper is the first to bound over, throwing her arms around my waist. “Dad! You were so awesome! That last strike you whooshed it right past the batter!”

“Yeah?” I can’t help grinning, ruffling her curls. “Pretty good, right?”

“Pretty great ,” Kali chimes in, and her voice makes my stomach flutter. She steps closer, eyes gleaming. “I’d say that was a near-flawless performance, Riptide .”

I arch an eyebrow, playing it off. “Near flawless? So where’d I mess up?”

She laughs, nudging me with her elbow. “I mean, you didn’t do a cartwheel across home plate after the final out, so I guess you missed a showboating opportunity.”

Hattie chuckles, adjusting her hat. “I’m taking off, guys. I’ve gotta get home and work on that project for Monday.” She pats me on the shoulder. “Congrats, big brother.”

“Thanks,” I say, giving her a quick side hug. “Need me to walk you to your car?”

“I’m good,” she says, waving me off. “I parked close. You three have fun.”

We exchange goodbyes, and then it’s just Juniper, Kali, and me standing under the glow of the stadium floodlights. The air is still crackling with post-game energy, but all I can think about is how nice it is to have these two waiting for me. My daughter, and the woman who’s becoming… more.

Juniper tugs on my sleeve, eyes dancing. “Dad, can Kali come over? We could have dinner or something.”

I glance at Kali, trying to gauge her reaction. She looks back at me with a hint of a shy smile, and that’s all the confirmation I need. “Yeah,” I say, nodding. “I was about to invite her anyway.” I turn to Kali. “If you’re free? We can just hang out, get some food.”

Kali’s grin widens. “Sure, I’d love that. I’ll follow you guys in my car?”

“Sounds good,” I say, trying not to sound too eager, but let’s be honest, I’m psyched.

Juniper squeals and does a little twirl, which makes both Kali and me laugh. We walk out of the stadium together, the crowd thinning as fans disperse. In the parking lot, I give Kali a quick wave before Juniper and I climb into my truck. The drive home is filled with my daughter’s nonstop chatter about the game—every strike, every run, every cool moment. I respond with half-focused nods, my mind drifting to thoughts of Kali pulling up behind me in her own car, the memory of her smile and the way she looked at me from the stands.

* * *

When we get home, the porch light’s on, and I spot Kali’s headlights coming around the corner. Juniper sprints to unlock the front door, and I stroll back to Kali’s car, opening the driver’s door for her. She steps out, a bit of the leftover summer breeze ruffling her hair.

“Hey,” she says softly, and there’s a moment where we just look at each other—this charged gaze that reminds me of last night. We share a grin, and then Juniper hollers from the front porch, “Come on, I’m hungry!”

Laughing, I usher Kali inside. The three of us kick off our shoes, and I drop my gear bag by the couch. “So,” I say, turning to them, “any preferences for dinner? We could rummage through the fridge—though I’m not sure what we’ve got—or maybe order pizza?”

Juniper bounces on the balls of her feet. “Pizza!” she exclaims, like it’s the greatest invention known to man. “Please?”

I glance at Kali, who shrugs with a little smile. “Hey, I’m not saying no to pizza,” she teases. “Especially after that game. I need some carbs.”

“All right, pizza it is.” I quickly dial up Starlight Pi, and place an order for a large half-pepperoni and pineapple, just in case Juniper wants her favorite combo. Kali keeps me company in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, arms folded, while Juniper runs to her room to change into PJs.

“How’re you feeling after that game?” she asks me, reaching out to poke my bicep. “Any soreness?”

I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good. I’m used to it.” I soften my voice. “Thanks for coming tonight, by the way. It meant a lot, seeing you up there with Hattie and Junebug.”

Her expression warms. “I wouldn’t have missed it.” She dips her gaze, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “You looked… incredible out there.”

A surge of pride and something else—longing, maybe—flares in my chest. She likes me. She’s really here. The doorbell rings before I can say anything witty, though, and I hurry off to pay the delivery guy.

Soon, the three of us are sprawled in the living room with the pizza box open, sodas and water bottles scattered on the coffee table. We joke about the game, laugh at Juniper’s dramatic reenactment of my final strike, and pick out a family-friendly movie to watch. It’s some animated flick about talking animals, but Juniper is enthralled, and Kali and I exchange amused smiles whenever the plot gets too cheesy.

Halfway through the movie, Juniper’s blinking rapidly, trying to stay awake. Eventually, she loses the battle and dozes off against my shoulder. I gently lift her, careful not to wake her, and carry her to her bedroom. She murmurs something about starfish and batting averages—an odd combination that makes me grin. I tuck her in, smoothing the blanket around her, then close the door quietly behind me.

When I return to the living room, Kali’s curled up on the couch, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. Her eyes flick to me, and the way she looks at me—like she’s been waiting—is a direct hit to my gut. We’re alone now, the movie paused, the house silent except for the faint buzz of the fridge.

“Hey,” she says softly, setting the pillow aside.

“Hey,” I echo, feeling that spark igniting again. I cross the room in a few steps and sink onto the couch next to her, close enough that our thighs brush. “Sorry, that took a minute. She had a lot of stories to share while half-asleep.”

Kali laughs, a sound that makes my skin tingle. “She’s the cutest. I love how excited she gets about everything.”

“Yeah,” I say, voice dropping a bit. “She’s definitely my pride and joy.”

Kali leans in, her hand sliding over mine. “She’s lucky to have you.” Her words hang there, soft and genuine, stirring something deep in my chest.

For a moment, we just look at each other. The tension from last night is back, but this time it’s sweeter, more familiar. It’s like we’ve stepped past some barrier, and now we’re both standing in uncharted territory. I lift a hand to her cheek, brushing my thumb lightly across her skin. She leans into it, eyes fluttering closed.

Then I’m tilting my head, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss that sends a jolt of warmth down my spine. Kali makes a soft sound, pressing closer, and I slide my free hand around her waist, pulling her against me on the couch. The world shrinks to just us, the taste of pizza and the lingering smell of her shampoo swirling in my senses.

When we finally come up for air, her cheeks are flushed, and my heart is hammering against my ribs. I can’t resist dipping my head to her neck, planting a trail of slow, heated kisses. She arches into me, fingers clutching my shoulders, and a low groan escapes me. The couch feels too small for the surge of want coursing through my body.

“Ripley,” she murmurs, breath uneven, “we should… we need to be careful. Juniper?—”

“I know,” I rasp, kissing the spot right below her ear. “Believe me, I know.” I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. “I want you to stay tonight. Hell, I want you all the time. But… I don’t want her waking up and getting confused. We haven’t figured all this out yet.”

Her gaze flickers with understanding, though I can see the same longing mirrored in her expression. “I get it,” she whispers, hands still fisted in my shirt. “We need to figure out how to do this, the three of us. Especially for Juniper.”

I nod, heart twisting. “I just… I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you away, or that I regret anything. Because I don’t.” My voice almost shakes with the intensity of how much I want her to understand. “Last night was… everything.”

Her eyes soften. She reaches up to cup my face, running a thumb over my jaw. “I don’t regret it either. Not one bit.” She kisses me softly, then laughs, almost self-consciously. “It’s probably good that you’re the cautious one here, because if it were up to me, I might just stay every night.”

A rush of heat flares through me at the thought, but also a sense of relief that we’re on the same page. I slide my fingers into her hair, pulling her in for another deep, lingering kiss. She melts into me, and for a few blissful moments, the rest of the world fades away. The only sounds are our ragged breaths and the faint ticking of the clock in the hall.

I ease her back against the arm of the couch, letting my hand roam over the curve of her waist, up her ribs—just shy of any territory that might lead to us losing all sense of control. Even so, the contact is electric, our mouths colliding in a desperate need to be closer. Kali slips a hand under my shirt, splaying her palm against my lower back, and my body lights up like a fuse.

Time stretches; I lose track of how long we kiss, how many times we pause to catch our breath before diving back in. Each time we break apart, we laugh softly, the sound tinged with hunger and a trace of disbelief that we’re here, like this, in each other’s arms. Eventually, sense kicks in—Juniper’s asleep in the next room, and I know how light a sleeper she can be.

With reluctance, I rest my forehead against Kali’s, trying to steady my breathing. “We should… we should head to my room,” I murmur.

She exhales a shaky laugh. “Yeah… probably a good idea.” She slides her hand out from under my shirt, smoothing the fabric back down. “I don’t want to traumatize your kid.”

I manage a wry grin, even as my pulse continues to hammer. “Definitely not. I need you, Kali.”

Kali’s lips twist in a small, sultry smile. “Yeah?”

I scoop her into my arms, carrying her with purpose down the long hallway toward my bedroom. I place her on the bed, and lock the door. Kali’s eyes light up with heat as soon as I pull my shirt off. “You’re such a filthy girl, aren’t you?” I ask her as she licks her lips.

“Incredibly filthy.” She takes it upon herself to remove her own shirt, flinging it across the room. She twists her hands behind her back, unclasping her bra in one quick flick and she has that thing off just as quickly. She flings it at me, and I snatch it out of the air.

My body’s turned on, my cock straining against the zipper of my jeans. “So filthy. You know what happens to filthy girls?” I ask her, keeping my voice low.

She shakes her head slowly, a small smile playing at her lips. “What?”

“They get tied up. They get punished.”

Her eyes widen, and I love the way she’s looking at me right now. Like she’s not sure if she can trust me or not. But I want her trust.

Desperately.

“You trust me, right?” I ask her, unzipping my jeans. My cock’s so fucking hard I can barely stand it.

She nods once, her eyes never leaving mine. “I…uh, yes. I do.”

“You sound a little unsure.”

She twirls a strand of hair around her finger as her other hand traces over her left tit. Fuck, she’s priceless. “I trust you, Ripley.”

My smile spreads slowly across my face. “Good.” I step closer. “Take everything off,” I tell her. I want her bare for me. I watch with eager eyes as she does what I ask.

I pocket her panties in my jeans, wanting to keep these for my own souvenir. I step out of my socks and jeans. I remove my boxers last, letting my cock jut forward. I stroke it with one hand, my eyes zeroed in on Kali’s hot body.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asks me as I climb onto the bed, her bra still dangling from my fingers.

“On your knees,” I demand. “Hands behind your back.”

She’s such a good girl, instantly responding to my every command, her obedience sending a rush of heat straight to my core. There’s something about the way she looks at me—like she’s craving every bit of control I’m willing to give—that makes my pulse pound in my ears. The soft hitch of her breath, the slight tremble in her hands, all confirm what I already suspect: she was made just for me.

I work the bra around her wrists, binding them behind her back. I make sure it’s tight enough to where she can’t break free, but not too tight to cause her pain. I press my hand around the binding. “This okay?”

She glances over her shoulder at me. “Yeah,” she breathes out, breathlessly.

“Good, ‘cause I’m about to fucking own this perfect body, Kali.”

Her breath catches as her eyes blaze with heat. “Do it,” she demands.

I pull out some lube I picked up on the way to the ballfield today, and set it on my night stand. I resume my position behind Kali, and place two pillows under her stomach. I lean her over them, smacking her ass a bit as I keep one hand on the binding of her wrists.

There’s something about having this sense of control over her. Not because I’m some control freak, or anything like that. No, it’s more that I’ve got her trust. That I’m showing her how she can trust me. Like we’re here together, building something real. Something tangible. My cock’s raring to go, and I rub it over the soft folds of her pussy. She’s so wet for me, and I slide my cock deep inside her, loving the way her tight walls clamp down around my dick.

“Pure heaven,” I utter out, my cock filling her up completely. With how wet she is, I probably won’t even need the lube, but I know I want to make sure she’s comfortable. Again, it’s the building of trust.

I keep fucking her, letting my cock enjoy her sweet pussy. I lean closer to her ear. “I need to fuck your ass, Kali. Are you ready for that?”

She glances at me, her eyes searching mine. “Yes, I’m ready.”

“Good girl.” I pull out of her, and grab the lube. I put enough around her back hole, and grip my cock with one hand. “Breathe, okay. I’m going to go so fucking slow, but not sure how long I’ll be able to continue at that pace.”

I push the tip of my cock into her, keeping one hand on the binding of her wrists. I nearly black out as I continue pushing deeper into her.

“You okay, baby?” I stall.

She nods against the mattress. “Yes, keep going.”

I push a little further in, letting my other hand press against her clit. “Fuck, Kali. I know your pussy’s getting jealous. Don’t worry. I’m going to fuck you with my thick fingers.”

“Yes, please. It’s so empty.”

I smile, pushing my cock further into her ass as I push my middle finger deep into her tight pussy. “I want you completely filled up,” I tell her, dropping her wrists so I can work her clit with one hand. “I want you at my mercy, Kali. I want you begging me to come.” I start moving everything in unison, pushing another finger deeper inside her pussy.

I lean my head back, my eyes squeezing shut as I get lost in the sensations. I’m fucking her ass with my cock, and finger-fucking her pussy while my other hand plays with her clit. She’s thrusting her hips against the pillows, her clit slamming into the heel of my palm.

“That’s it, Kali. Fuck me, baby.” If I could bury my face between her legs right now, I would. I keep slamming into her, gently at first but now I’ve worked up to a solid pace.

“Oh god, Ripley,” she whisper-yells. “I need my hands.”

I laugh lightly. “Not a chance. I’m nowhere near done with you yet.”

“Oh please, fuck, Ripley.” Her voice grows louder, and I remove my hand from her clit so I can cover her mouth.

“Quiet, Kali. Shhh,” I lift her slightly so I can whisper into her ear. “You need to stay quiet, baby.”

“My hands,” she pleads through my palm across her mouth.

I let go of her mouth, quickly untying her wrists.

She places both hands against the mattress, bracing herself. “Don’t stop,” she whispers. “Please, Ripley.”

I resume playing with her clit. Her orgasm is close. I can tell, and I stop thrumming her clit. “Are you begging for me to make you come yet?”

Her eyes meet mine from over her shoulder. “Why’d you stop? I’m almost there.”

“Breathe,” I tell her. “This is edging.”

“What?”

“I’m not letting you come until you’re literally begging me for it, baby.”

Her eyes challenge mine. “Is that a fact?”

I give her a lopsided smirk. “Yep.”

She moves a hand between her thighs, making contact with her clit, nearly out of breath. “I can do it myself.”

I quickly grab her wrists. “Do I need to tie you up again?”

“Please let me come, Rip.”

I kiss her, moving my cock once again. I continue fucking her ass as my fingers fuck her sweet cunt. “Is this what you want?”

Her eyes nearly roll back into her head. “Yes, oh yes.”

“Get your fingers off that clit, baby. No cheating now. I want to be the one to make you come.” I push a finger against her clit with my other hand. “You like it when I touch you like this? When I own every inch of you?”

“Yes, Rip, yes.”

“Shh, remember you have to stay quiet.”

She drags her bottom lip between her teeth. “Then, don’t stop.”

“Are you negotiating with me?” I ask her, my cock so close to coming.

“Maybe,” she says with a wink that has my heart beating double time in my chest. “Don’t stop, Ripley. Please, I need to come. If you want me to beg, I will.” And then she starts to beg, asking me to never stop fucking her. To always make her come. How badly she wants to ride her orgasm out all over my fingers. How she’ll lick them clean when she’s done.

“You’re so fucking perfect,” I tell her, knowing I’m never letting this woman go. Never.

She comes in a glorious wave of moans and her whole body vibrates as she tightens around me.

“Fuck, baby. Your mine, Kali. I own you so fucking good. Fuck,” I grunt out as my orgasm crashes through me. I can’t stop coming as my breathing picks up. I’m nearly out of breath, my heart thumping wildly inside my chest. “Baby, I fucking…” I almost told her I love her. Hell, fuck… I think I do.