Page 52 of Passed Ball

"No one has made me come in my pants since I was sixteen, so I think it's safe to say you own every inch of my body, sweetheart."

Pink stains her cheekbones when her gaze falls to my lap. "That kind of makes me a hypocrite for not noticing how much you were enjoying it."

"I prefer to think of it as the greatest compliment. You were focused on your own pleasure for once--just the way I wanted you to be."

She sighs and I know our time together this afternoon is coming to an end. It's for the best; I need to get home to my daughter and she needs to get back to work.

"I should . . ." I thumb over my shoulder.

"Yeah, I should . . ." She nods to her computer, but neither of us moves.

"This is weird, right?" I ask.

"Kind of." She bites her lip and I give her the time she needs to process what's on her mind. "I've only ever had casual sex before."

"Sweetheart, we agreed not to talk about other guys anymore."

"Calm down, caveman. My point is, this is different . . . we aren't that. Without this"--she waves a hand between us--"our paths still cross. There's no avoiding each other. It's not the same as a random hookup from a bar or a dating app. I can live the rest of my life without seeing them again."

"That's why we have rules. I don't want them to stop us from getting to know each other, and I like spending time with you, texting you, but I don't have a relationship in me--not now. Probably not any time soon."

"And I don't want that. My whole life I've been what everyone else needs me to be and I'm finally whatIneed. I won't give that up."

"For the right person, you won't have to."

She reels back like that truth slapped her. "Everyone takes, Xavier. Even when they aren't trying to."

I would take too--I know I would. My life is too chaotic not to. "Do you want to stop--" My voice is cut off by the shake of her head.

"No." The word rushes out of her. "That's not what I'm saying. I enjoy spending time with you, too. I needed to know we were on the same page."

"So it's cool if I keep texting and calling you, even if I'm not sure when I can see you again. Because it might be days or it might be weeks."

"Please," she says, sagging with relief. "And I get it. The season is crazy and you have a daughter."

It's the same way I feel. We might not know what the hell we're doing, but I know I don't want to act like she's nobody to me just because she can't be everything to me.

Holding her hips, I stand from the chair and straighten her skirt. It's a little wrinkled but the pleats hide most of it. Tugging her with me, I walk to her door, stopping with my hand on the knob.

I need one more kiss to hold me over. I pull her to me, spinning her against the door and kiss her goodbye the way I want to. I'm already taking from her and I like it, because kissing her brings me back to life. She makes me forget all the stress and pressure. For a while, I just get to be me.

Her lips are swollen and red, marked with my kiss when I pull back . . .

and I like that too.

"I'll text you," I say, and unlike the boys that came before me, I mean it.

Chapter 24

Vivienne

My head spins as the door shuts with a quiet snick, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and Xavier on his way home. I don't do things like this--not in my office, during the middle of my workday. Is this real life? Because it sure doesn't feel like it.

To be sure, I lift my fingers to my swollen lips. The remnant tingle is real, and so are the wrinkles in my skirt from being bunched up around my waist.

Each time we're together is better than the last. I'm honestly concerned for my well-being. At this rate, by the time he's inside me, I might end up in a sex-induced coma.

The man takes his time. He asks me questions and the way he watches me . . . I suppress the urge to shiver. And the way he talks to me every step of the way--god it's hot. I guess you can take the people pleaser out of the girl, but you're left with a girl with a praise kink.

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