The Dugout(65)

“Dad, but I have my mom’s eyes. She passed when I was in elementary school, but I carry her eyes with me wherever I go. It’s a constant reminder that she’s always with me.”

If I wasn’t already seriously crushing on the man, I would be big time after that statement.

“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t imagine losing a parent.”

“It was hard, especially when my dad was working double time to afford my baseball practices. I’ll always cherish the moments I had with her before she passed.” He lifts his hand to my collarbone and drags a finger along the bone, just a whisper of a touch. “Did you really never see how much I liked you?”

I shake my head. “No, I honestly thought I was broadcasting my feelings too much and when you noticed, you’d let me down gently.”

He chuckles. “God, you completely underestimate yourself, Milly. You have no idea the kind of power you hold over me.”

He leans forward and presses a light kiss across my lips before pulling away and asking his next question.





Chapter Nineteen





CARSON





Let’s play a touching game. It will be fun.

We can get to know each other.

It will be fun.

Fuck. No.

This is not fun.

So far, Milly has answered one question and has touched my face, and I can already feel my dick getting hard. What the fuck is that about? She touched my face, not my pec, not my abs, not my actual dick, but just my face, and I’m already turned on.

Then again, the minute she walked out of her bathroom, I knew I was in trouble. She might be shy and reserved, but she’s also daring and surprising, two attributes I’m really attracted to. And when she’s daring, she goes all out, meaning the booty shorts at practice and the thin camisole she’s wearing right now. I swear I can see the outline of her nipples, and I’m itching to lift that shirt up and over her head and suck each little peak into my mouth.

Holding myself together, I take a deep breath. “What’s your favorite smell?”

“What?” She laughs. “That’s not the kind of question I was expecting.”

“I like to keep you on your toes.”

“Okay, well . . .” She pauses to think about it. “Do you know what I really love? The fresh smell of rain on a ball field.” A girl after my own heart. “There’s something about it that brings back such good memories. Do you know the smell I’m talking about?”

I nod. “Yeah, and I would have to agree with you.” I motion at my body. “Go ahead, touch away.”

With a sly smile, she drags her finger down my face to my neck. She dances her fingertips along the soft skin and then to the hollow of my shoulder, but the entire time her eyes stay connected with mine, never once looking away. It’s not only hot and tempting; it’s forming a deeper connection between the two of us.

“My turn,” she whispers, her leg moving closer to mine. “What’s your favorite thing to do on the Internet?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Porn.”

She rolls her eyes. “I knew you were going to say that. Answer seriously.”

“Uhh . . . I did.” I start to touch her but she stops me.

“Seriously? I thought you were going to say baseball clips or something.”

“Milly, I’m a twenty-two-year-old male who hasn’t had a girlfriend since high school. Porn is absolutely my favorite thing to do on the Internet.”

“You haven’t had a girlfriend since high school?”

I shake my head and move my hand over her shoulder and down her ribcage where I rest my palm against her side, my thumb falling below her breasts, where I stroke back and forth, never touching her breast.

“When I got to college, I knew what my job entailed: earn a degree, play professionally. My dad worked his ass off to get me to where I am today, and I wasn’t going to do anything to screw that up.” I glide my fingers over her stomach and ever-so-lightly graze them up the center of her chest to her breastbone. The swell of her breasts tickles my fingers as her breathing picks up. I continue to mimic the circular motion moving down her shoulder, across her ribcage, up her stomach, over her cleavage and to her breastbone. With each pass, her eyes become heavier and heavier and her breathing becomes more labored.

“Have you been celibate this whole time?”

“Cute, Mills.” I glide my finger over one swell to the other. “I’ve fooled around, but nothing serious. Nothing like what I feel for you.” I draw a lazy circle over the top of her right breast. “My turn to ask a question. Have you crushed on any other Brentwood baseball players beside me?”

“Oh yeah,” she answers without skipping a beat.

“Ouch. And here I thought I was special.”

“You are.” She brings her finger down my pec and circles my nipple with her thumb.

Fuck.

Me.

Just like that, my cock strains against my sweats and boxer briefs, an ache starting at the base of my spine. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any sort of release with a girl. I’m not sure how long I’ll last if we keep up this game.

Trying to take my mind off my hardening cock, I ask, “Who was it? Whose ass do I need to kick for trying to steal the attention away from me?”