Chapter 18

"Your hair's not pink," the little leaguer from the last game said as he stopped in front of me on the host family hill.

"Then how in the world did you recognize me?" I asked him.

"Crew told me it was you," he said.

"Did he threaten to hit me another home run?"

He smiled.

"He did, didn't he?"

He nodded. "He said this time he's goin' yard."

"And, you believe he'll do it?" I asked.

"Crew's the best player on the Sharks. Of course he'll do it."

"He likes her," Gina interrupted.

"Gross," the kid said before taking off to find his seat.

"So?" Gina prompted.

"So, what?"

"So, why'd you ask me to come to the game?"

I shrugged.

"Peyton," she probed.

"Fine. I took your advice," I said as my eyes latched onto Crew at shortstop. I wished I wasn't visualizing him naked when he looked so damn hot in his uniform.

"Which advice?" Gina asked. "I tend to give a lot of it."

"The part about getting it out of our systems."

She screeched.

I reached over and cupped her mouth with my hand since people around us had turned to look. "I'm gonna need you to calm down."

She nodded.

I slowly removed my hand.

"I can't freakin' believe it," she whispered. "How was it? Amazing? I'm sure it was amazing. Look at the guy. He's like a freaking underwear model."

I pursed my lips. "It was pretty amazing."

"I knew it."

I laughed.

"Are you gonna do it again?"

I nodded.

She screeched.

I covered her mouth as heads turned again. "Shhhhh."

She nodded like a little kid who'd been scolded.

I reluctantly removed my hand. "Girl, keep your calm."

"I'm sorry. I'm just so dang happy for you. I've been worried about you. But now, you're happy. And I want you to stay that way."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into me. "How'd I get so lucky to have you in my life?"

"Goes both ways," she said as the inning ended and the Sharks jogged off the field.

"When's their next night off?" I asked.

"Next Tuesday. Why? Wanna go on a double date?" she asked.

"I'm not sure if we're that official."

"Well, if you want to. We can."

"There's a lot of time between now and Tuesday."

"What's that mean?"

"It means we could go back to hating each other by then," I explained.

On the field, the Sharks were up to bat. Crew stepped into the batter's box. His hands tightened around the grip of the bat, and I couldn't help but envision those hands last night gripping my skin. The uniform's short sleeves molded to his biceps, and my mind shifted to my own hands clutching his skin. The pitcher delivered his first pitch. Crew swung, and the bat connected with the ball. Fans around us jumped to their feet as the ball sailed over the center fielder's head and continued over the fence behind him.

The fans exploded with cheers as I clapped for the impressive hit from my seat.

Crew circled the bases like he had the first time, his head down and the gloating nonexistent. When he reached home, the on-deck batter bumped his fist. He moved toward the dugout and was congratulated by his other teammates. He glanced to me with a slight smirk on his face before disappearing in the dugout.

That smirk just might be the death of me.

"Excuse me?"

I glanced to my side.

The little leaguer stood there with a baseball in his hand. "He said you should never underestimate him."

I rolled my eyes as the boy handed me the ball.

Gina chuckled beside me. "Sounds like he showed you."

I didn't respond. But, I guess he had. In more ways than one.

After the game, Gina and I waited by her car in the nearly empty parking lot. I tossed the home run ball in my hand.

"Where'd you get the ball?" a deep voice asked.

I looked over at Crew. "Some showoff hit a home run."

"Showoff?"

"Big time."

He laughed. "So, you waited for me."

"Actually, we're waiting for Cody," I explained.

"Well, I'll leave you to it," Crew said. "He'll be out in a few minutes."

Gina nodded as Crew turned and walked away.

My shoulders dropped. Where was he going? So much for him wanting to spend all of his free time with me.

He stopped and turned back toward me. "Would you get over here and stop being stupid."

I exhaled. "Why should I?"

He cocked his head. "Because I told you, I want you by my side at all times."

"Awwww," Gina cooed.

With my stomach flipping like some middle schooler who'd been kissed for the first time, I walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush against his chest before dropping a kiss to my lips.

"I love you two together!" Gina called.

We smiled against each other's lips.

"Don't forget you still owe me that shower," he said.

"How could I forget?"

* * *

I steadied myself against the wet tiles with both hands as the shower water rained over me. Crew's arm was hooked around my stomach as he thrust into me from behind. I arched my back, pushing my ass closer to him. Even with a condom on, he glided in and out of me as if we'd done this a thousand times before.

"Jesus, Peyton," he grunted.

I could only gasp, as the sensations began to swirl between my thighs, my legs shaking with the impending orgasm. My fingers slipped on the tiles.

"I've got you," he assured me, his arm tightening around my stomach.

"Gaaaaahhh," I groaned as my orgasm tore through me, the tremors coming in waves.

"I'm right there," he said, pounding into me. "Grrrrrr," he groaned before stilling inside me and dropping his forehead to my shoulder. "Un-fucking-believable."

"Maybe you should've stopped fighting with me sooner," I said.

"You think?"