Chapter 32

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

ALEXANDER

Preparing for and hosting the World Series means travel, long days, and nights in the office for me, which is limited time with Dani. We had a quick rendezvous Tuesday at her house while Tyler was at her parents, and it was hot. And now I have a constant craving for Dani Franklin.

But then I had to miss T-ball practice and dinner on Wednesday with them because of work. She’s more understanding than I am. She grounds me, calms me, and with this extra work activities, I need calm. I need her.

Tonight is our first home game, and we’re coming into the series tied one game each from the road trip. Being on a national stage is a lot of added pressure and extra obligations. I’ve got a championship team in the front office and on the field, and everyone is working extra hard. While I’m accustomed to red carpets and media, they aren’t usually at my stadium. Keeping the press wrangled might be the most challenging part of the week, and it’s draining. Although, the list of VIPs to manage and pacify is ex hausting too. But my team in the World Series? Priceless.

While A-list celebrities are clamoring for the hottest tickets in town, I’ve made it clear to our Reapers team that we don’t forget who we are as an organization. We represent family and community. So tonight, in my suite, I’ll host the most important people in the stadium; ten kids and their parents, known as the Southend Sluggers. While the other suites are serving steak and lobster tails, I asked Tyler to help me create the menu for our suite. We’ll be having unlimited hot dogs, chicken fingers, mac and cheese bites, quesadillas, and sodas. The bar was converted into an ice cream sundae station with the most decadent toppings and milkshakes in town, prepared by Brady. Tonight, we’re going alcohol-free, and I’m not even phased by it. Dani insisted we have some healthy items thrown in for good measure and limit the sugar and caffeine, but when Tyler and I explained this could be a once in a lifetime event, she gave in and let us have our way. Sure, I’ll have a veggie tray and adult food in the corner, but tonight, it’s about the kids.

Since I’ve been with Dani, she’s chastised me about my language, especially around the kids. Dani made a swear jar, and it travels with me. Every violation by anyone is one hundred dollars. The first day or so, it filled up fast, but I’ve been getting better. The first day or two, I filled it up and wondered if we needed a bigger jar. But her laughter and encouragement are all I need to work on my lifestyle change. The swearing penalty fees will go to a charity of her choice. If changing my language makes her happy, then I’ll do everything I can to make it happen. She’s worth it.

This might be the most fun I’ve ever had watching a game. The kid’s excitement feeds my soul more than attendance numbers and the score at the end of the game. They are eating their weight in hot dogs, playing with Scoville, and dancing between innings. I think they’re even giving Trevor ideas for his antics-fille d baseball games. He’s enjoying the night as much as the kids.

The worst part? Keeping my hands off Dani. My appetite for her is insatiable, but she asked for us to keep it quiet, and I’ve agreed. For now. Hell, I mean, heck, I’ll agree to anything she wants as long as she’s giving me the time of day. It’s the bottom of the fourth inning, and I’ve reached my breaking point. We’ve only been passing glances for the past hour.

“Hey T, mind being in charge for a bit?”

“That’s a big ask.” He looks around at the chaos of the Sluggers.

“They’ve gotta crash eventually, right?” Admittedly, I don’t know much about kids, but I’m learning.

Emma doubles over in a full-on belly laugh. “Y’all are so clueless. It’s cute.”

“What?” we both ask at once.

“Where are you going?” Trevor asks.

“Um, I need to show Dani something in my office,” I say. I track her movement as she flits around the suite, taking care of the kids, wiping faces, and constantly laughing. I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off her.

“Is that what we’re calling it these days?” Emma asks, elbowing me in the ribs.

“Don’t push me, Em,” I say gruffly. Her response? She hugs me around the waist and kisses me on the cheek. Dynasty, one of my Slugger girls, sees her and lets out a loud, “ohhhhh.” This encourages Emma to be even more playful. Dani looks our way, and her face goes through multiple expressions in less than two seconds. Confusion. Jealousy, or at least I hope that’s what it is. And then happiness, my favorite. I’m figuring out how to read her, and I’ll have to ask if I’m right.

I make my way over to Dani and put my chin on her shoulder, whispering in her ear. “Hey sunshine, how you doing?”

Her eyes light up even more, if that’s possible. “Good. You?”

“I’m okay. But I have a problem that I need your help with. ”

“Oh, what’s that?” Her question is full of concern. She’s always ready to jump in for the rescue. She’ll help anyone, even if they don’t know they need it.

“Think we can go to my office to discuss it?”

She looks around the room. She’s conflicted. “Trevor and Emma will watch him. He’s in good hands.” I’ve learned when she’s hesitant, it’s usually because of Tyler, and I find it endearing. Her devotion to her son is very attractive.

“Okay.” She looks at me with apprehension until I give her a quiet “good girl.” Now her wicked smile appears, and that’s my favorite expression.

She tells Tyler she’ll be back and heads to the door at the rear of the suite. I’m two steps behind her when Jules gives a slow clap. “Subtle.”

“Fuck off,” I mumble.

“At-ah,” he says and wags his finger at me. He points to the swear jar on the counter. I reach in my wallet and begrudgingly add a bill, and Trevor laughs from across the room.

“I don’t have time for this.” Dani’s already out of the suite.

I meet her in the hall and we quietly walk to the elevators, the sexual tension between us thick. I’m a little surprised actual electric sparks aren’t bouncing off of us. We get to the elevator, and Kylie is inside, making sure people get where they should be. On game day, and especially during this series, we have too many people who wander where they shouldn’t, so we have actual elevator operators. Right now, I’m hating it.

“Mr. Decker,” she says in greeting. “Where to?”

“My office, please.” I swipe my badge to override the system since we locked down access to that area for tonight. It should be empty. Perfect for when Dani screams my name.

We stand at the back of the elevator, looking ahead, acting like total strangers, when the back of her hand brushes against mine. I link our pinkies, just that small connection giving me a taste of what I’m craving. I’m getting hard just thinking about her .

“Thank you, Kylie,” I say as we exit the elevator. Her smile lets me know she’s on to us, but honestly, I don’t care.

We walk off the elevator, my hand at the small of Dani’s back, guiding her. Without saying a word to each other, we walk past empty cubicles and offices. Why is my office so far away from the elevator? I’m wound tighter than a spring about to explode. We get inside, and the automatic lights come on. Fuck. I fumble to turn them off. The lights from the game give me enough light to see her silhouette, and it’s driving me insane. The reflection film on the windows should keep us private, as long as we don’t have the backlighting of the overhead lights.

Dani giggles as I hit several switches, trying to turn them off. Once I have the privacy situation taken care of, I stalk toward her, a lion eyeing his prey. Her giggle stops, and she bites her bottom lip. I can’t take it anymore, and I kiss her roughly, my tongue demanding entrance. I need to relieve this tension between us before I spontaneously combust. My fingers are into her curls, and they serve as my personal stress ball. Having her in my arms relaxes me, while also winding me up. It’s a paradox. I can’t get enough of this woman. She’s burrowed under my skin and become part of me.

As I kiss down her jaw to her neck, I’m encouraged by her moan. “Sunshine, I’ve dreamt of the day I could bend you over my desk and sink into your luscious pussy. Is tonight when my dreams come true?”

“We won’t be seen?” That’s not the yes I was hoping for.

“Not with the lights off.” My hands caress her curves as they explore her body. She’s wearing a denim skirt, making my objective easy access. Her lips give a wicked smile. She knows exactly what she’s doing to me. I slide her skirt up around her hips and palm her center.

“Always so wet for me.” My nose skims her neck, taking in her scent of sunshine and something tropical. All my blood flow is south of the beltline, so not much going to my thinking head. Words elude me .

Her giggle sends me to the edge. If I don’t bury myself in her soon, I’ll come in my pants like a teenaged boy. “Sunshine, I’m waiting for you to tell me the rules here so we can play.” I always want her to have control. My greatest fear is she has regrets about me or anything we do. Whether or not she knows it, this woman owns me.

She turns around and bends over my desk, her ass in the air. Well, I guess I have my answer. I slide her panties down and unzip my pants. My dick strains at the zipper. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a condom. Now that I’m around Dani, I don’t leave home without one. When did I become such a horn dog that I keep a condom on me at all times? Oh, that’s right. When my dick met her pussy for the first time. And now it’s waiting to be reunited with his best friend.

“I’m not sure I can be gentle,” I warn as I slide into her slowly, savoring the feeling of her tightness.

“I’d certainly hope not,” she says, turning her head over her shoulder to give me a wicked smile. Holy hell, what she does to me.

I pound into her, balls deep, one hand on her hip, the other massaging her clit. Her seductive smile is gone, her reflection in my computer monitor telling me she’s close. “Come for me, sunshine. That’s my good girl.” A few more strokes and she clenches around me, and I come with her. It was quick and dirty, but oh so satisfying. “Incredible,” I whisper. I pull her up and turn her head to mine for a kiss. I’m still inside her and am already dreading our separation.

The crowd goes wild. My sentiments exactly. I forgot there were forty-thousand people watching a baseball game because at this moment, it’s just me and her. When I’m with her, it’s more than the physical ecstasy, it’s just, I don’t know, something special. I think about telling her those three words I’ve never said to a woman, but don’t want it to be in the afterglow of sex. I want her to know I mean it. I love her, not for the off-the-charts orgasms, but because of her heart, her kindness, her patience, her sunshine.

“I think they just scored,” she says.

“Or they’re cheering for us scoring,” I chuckle. “Because baby, that was the most magnificent grand slam I’ve ever seen.” I pull away and step into my bathroom to clean up. When I come back to my office, she’s sitting on the desk, watching the game.

“It’s incredible, isn’t it?”

I’m next to her, my arm around her shoulders. “You’re incredible,” I say as I nibble at her ear.

She swats at my chest, playfully pushing me away.

“Everyone’s so happy,” she says sweetly. “The team, the fans, me. There’s so much positive energy here, can’t you feel it?”

All I can feel is her, and that’s more than enough for me.

“I can. And you magnify it all.” We take it all in and bask in the happiness. I feel a piece of my heart shift and come to life. She’s done it. She’s changed me. As we leave my office, I’ll never look at it the same way again. Not because of what we did in here tonight, which was phenomenal, but because this is no longer the center of my universe. No, my universe now revolves around Dani, my personal sunshine.