Page 22 of Somewhere Only We Know
“If I don’t score, then what happens?”
“I guess I’d be okay with waiting,” she relents with an over-dramatic sigh.
“Don’t sound so sad, Bee.” I tell her and kiss the side of her head. I look at the time on the stove and back at her poster. “Are you about done? I have to head to bed.”
“Yeah. I’m just gonna soak these in water and I’ll head up with you.”
Not even two minutes later we’re headed up the stairs on the opposite end of where her parent’s bedroom is. It’s a big house and I don’t know why Jax insisted on staying in the dorms. The carpet in the hallway mutes our steps and her dog pops his head up from the window seat he made himself comfortable at.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Jax asks and wrings her hands in front of her.
“Don’t do that.” I say and move into her space.
Her chest heaves as she tips her head back to meet my eyes. “Do what?”
“Make small talk when you want something else.” The hem of her shirt brushes against the waistband of my shorts as I move an inch closer. This might be for both of us, but it’s also for her. We can’t go any further unless she tells me what she wants. “What. Do. You. Want?”
“Kiss me,” she says so quietly. I raise a brow and silently push her for more. “On the mouth. And with tongue.”
My cheeks twitch with a smile as I cup my hand around the back of her neck and tip her head back. Jax’s eyes move like a pinball machine as she looks over every detail of my face as I dofor her. From the freckles that have started to pop out on the bridge of her nose and cheeks, to the fluttering of her lashes, and to the small opening between her lips. I duck down and kiss one closed eyelid and then the other. Moving over her face like I’m outlining a constellation of stars. A breathy moan leaves her when I kiss the corner of her mouth and then the other. Her mouth opens in protest when I seal my lips to hers. Our tongues instantly tangle and I lift her into my arms and carry her into her room.
I sit on the cushioned bench she has at the foot of her bed and groan into the kiss when the feel of her hot center rolls over my erection. My hands roam over her body and under her shirt. Sliding into her hair and tugging on the strands. Pulling her closer as this kiss goes further than a quick goodnight kiss. Jax’s hips roll over my erection and I know if I don’t stop, then I’ll say to hell with prepping her and take this all the way.
Breaking the kiss, I move to her jaw and pepper kisses there before trailing to her neck. My tongue flicks out and licks at her rapid heartbeat. It’s as wild as mine and the signal I need to stop. I stop her hips from moving and take a deep breath.
“Nate,” Jax groans.
“You’re a minx, you know that?” It’s rhetorical, but she smiles. I push back wayward curls and stand up, making sure her feet around solid footing. “Goodnight, Jaclyn.”
“Goodnight, Nathan.”
I shake my head and close her door before heading to mine and debate taking care of the situation before I go to bed. But I don’t. With as much strength as I can muster, I pace in the guest room until my erection is no more and go about getting ready for bed.
I stiflea yawn and pound my glove as Felix, our pitcher, strikes out a batter. Two more and then the win is ours. I stay loose as he winds up for the next pitch, continuing to stay present in the game for the last couple of plays. The ball is hit to third, I move into position towards first for the backup and hear the thwack of the ball landing in the mitt. Brian, the centerfielder, and I do our two up signals to each other as I’m walking back into position. One more and then my girl and I can lay out by her pool for the rest of the day.
Making the decision to not enter the draft until next year wasn’t a hard choice. In fact, it was the easiest choice I ever made. I get to finish school, be with my team for one more year, and build my relationship with Jax. I pop back into the game as the ball is sailed to home and I wait with bated breath to see if the ball is hit or missed.
It’s hit to third on a rocket of a ground ball, fielding clean, and thrown to first for the final out. We did it. We rush the pitcher’s mound as the umpire signals the game and dogpile in the middle of the field.
I black out during the trophy ceremony and from the noise of the crowd. This series was almost unwinnable at times. Our opponents were just as hungry for this win as we were. But we rallied every inning to stay on top. Once our last teammate gets his shirt on, the captains hold the trophy up and we move to the fence by the dugout and sing the school’s fight song with those in the stands. I spot Jax singing and jumping with some of my teammates girlfriend’s and seeing her joy sparks my joy.
I motion for Jax to join me at the gate and soon other family members and friends are joining in.
The security guard holds open the gate and then she’s flying in my arms.
“That was insane!”
“Were you locked in the whole game?” I ask, even though I know the answer. Jax is probably a bigger fan of baseball than I am.
She jumps and pats my stomach as a way to get out her excitement. “Are you kidding? I went through two bags of sunflower seeds. I’m going to need to drink a gallon of water just to get the taste out of my mouth.”
I laugh and pull her into my arms and kiss her on top of the head. “Thank you for being here.”
“I love supporting you in anything you do.” She says as she looks up at me. The sun has pinkened the top of her cheekbones making her look younger than her twenty-one years. And the light dusting of freckles that cover the bridge of her nose are no longer hard to ignore; it makes me want to just stare at her so I can count them all.
My name is called out and we look over at where the guys are huddled. I love my team, but I only want to celebrate with her. “I won’t be long.”
“Hey, I’m not going anywhere.” Jax tells me and leans up to kiss me on the cheek before going to stand in the minimal shade by the dugout.
