Page 129 of The Third Baseman

Space.

“Alright, big head. I just… I’m still getting used to that side of your life. You know, the one who can buy telescopes that cost the same as a car, and old farmhouses…” She paused and pursed her lips. “But… also… I never realized how full-on the season was going to be. Days off should be spent relaxing, and I like spending them in with you, eating popcorn, watching movies. I like us hanging out and getting to know each other again.”

I brushed my fingers through the ends of her ponytail. “I love those nights too, but today is special, it’s your fake birthday,” I smirked. “Plus, you’re my girlfriend, and I want to show you off.”

I swear I felt her tense under my arm, but she kissed me too quickly for it to register properly. It wasn’t the first time it had happened either.

“Thank you, I’m a lucky girl.”

“You’re welcome. You’ve got an hour, but then we need to leave to meet Drew and Emerson.” I flicked on the television to catch the start of the Braves game. They were playing the Giants, who we had next week. “Go get your ass in the shower.”

“An hour? How long do you think it’s going to take me to get ready?” she tutted.

I chuckled. Not one woman I’d ever met had complained I’d given them too much time, and most of that was spent applying a shovel-full of makeup that took nearly as long to remove. With Marnie, however, she could have five minutes and still look perfect, but I’d allowed for some extras just in case.

“Hey, I know what it’s like if you stand between a woman and time. I’ve made that mistake before.”

Marnie was halfway to the bedroom, but turned and stared at me with narrowed eyes.

“Emerson! I meant Emerson.”

“Hmmm.”

I’d never given her a reason to be jealous, but I wasn’t going to lie and say I didn’t enjoy it a little. We hadn’t talked much about our previous relationships, mostly because I’d never had one and wasn’t overly enthusiastic about discussing my one-night stands. The only thing I cared about hers was that they were done. My body still swarmed with jealousy at the idea of her being married, so I’d decided to pretend it never happened.

She was mine now, and anyone else was irrelevant.

And while tonight might have been a fake birthday, there was a present in there for me too. We hadn’t been out as a couple before, never been photographed together. In fact, I’d never been out on a date, not a proper one. Dates were for girlfriends, for women you planned to see again.

And I couldn’t fucking wait to date the shit out of Marnie.

I focused back on the game; nothing was happening, so I jumped up at the commercial break and went to shower. Twenty-two minutes later, I’d left Marnie with a towel wrapped around her, head upside down as she dried her hair, and returned to the game where there still wasn’t much going on.

The Braves had scored, now leading one-nothing, and that was the most interesting thing I could say. I must have been watching longer than I thought, because when I got up to grab a drink, Marnie appeared in the bedroom doorway, and I forgot everything that had ever happened up to this very second in my life.

My dick throbbed so hard I needed to keep myself from toppling over at the blood rush.

Fuck me. I’d never seen her look like this.

I’d gotten used to seeing her at the club in tight yoga pants, or jeans and a tee, or walking around my apartment in a bra and panties, sometimes naked.

But I’d never seen this.Ever.

If I had, we wouldn’t have surfaced for air.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” She was fixing her earrings and hadn’t noticed me walking toward her.

No,stalkingwould be more apt.

I was the hunter and she was my prey, and I wasn’t just going to eat her. Fuck dinner, I was about to devour her.

Her dress was a thousand shades of blue silk, all flowing over her body like a moonlit waterfall, the clearest waters cascading into the deepest, darkest pool. The pool which stopped mid-thigh, showing off the longest, leanest, curviest legs. I’d never seen them look like this, and all I could think about was having them wrapped around my head while I went to town on her; dragging my tongue over her clit, and spearing it into her tight, wet pussy.

I dropped my cufflinks on the side table, and slowly rolled up my sleeves one at a time.

“Jupiter…” she frowned.

“Marnie.”

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