Page 104 of Sliding Into Love
Electricity scorched through her veins, and she hissed, circling her hips, anything for more of that sensation. When Ethan remained still, she decided to use him, bracing against the wall to push back against him. Ethan released her hands to wrap his fist around the ponytail sticking out from beneath her hat, tugging her head back so she saw him out of the corner of her eye. That little bit of tension and the slight change of angle nearly whited out her vision. Once her hands were free, Ivy reached behind Ethan, digging her nails into his backside to wrench his hips forward. Finally releasing whatever hold he had on his self-control, Ethan snapped his hips, pushing her harder against the wall.
A strangled sound left her throat as her body pressed harder into the wall, the cool paint achingly smooth against her burning, over-sensitive skin.
“Fisher?” Someone called Ethan’s name outside the door.
Ivy froze, almost screaming in frustration, expecting him to stop. But Ethan kept moving, pressing his face into Ivy’s shoulder to muffle his groaning.
“Fisher, we have an early morning. Lights out in ten.” Harkness.
“You got it,” he called toward the door. His voice sounded aggravatingly normal, and he let out a low chuckle against the back of her neck, his breath sending goosebumps down her spine. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we’ve got to be fast.” Ethan’s whisper sent more skitters of pleasure along her skin, and she wasso close.
Then Ethan released Ivy’s ponytail and shoved his hand between her legs to roughly circle his fingers over her clit until her inner walls gripped his cock. Stars burst behind her eyes, and she forgot how to breathe. He finished quickly after and collapsed with a grunt against the wall, bracketing her body with his. After planting a soft kiss and a scrape of his teeth on the back of her neck, Ethan moved to rearrange himself and straighten his clothes while Ivy did the same.
“I guess I should go.”
“Mmm.” Ethan turned her around, nuzzling her neck. “You could stay and sneak out in the morning.”
“Emily Harkness is a terrifying woman, and I do not want to face her wrath.”
Ethan’s hands found their way beneath her jersey, sliding up over her waist to palm her breasts.
“Ethan!” Ivy hissed.
He pouted.
“Fine. You can go. You’re going to keep these though, right?” He slid a hand into her back pocket and tugged the fabric.
“If they make you act like this, you can bet your sweet baseball-playing ass I’m keeping them,” Ivy said and kissed him before sliding out the door.
Where she walked directly into Jen, who sauntered down the hall.
“Looks like someone rounded the bases and made it all the way home.” The blonde snickered at Ivy. “Nice.”
When Ethan awoke,he groaned and rolled over to pull Ivy close. Except her side of the bed was empty.
Right. He was in a hotel. Because he was playing in the World Series.
And today was the day he’d been dreading. The joint press conference with the Tornadoes’ players and staff.
With Lawrence.
Anxiety at having to share air with his uncle scraped through Ethan’s body, leaving his muscles aching and in need of relief only the warm touch of Ivy’s soothing hands could give.
Instead, he had to settle for a shower just short of volcanic.
After the shower, Ethan buttoned himself into the suit he had brought for the press conference, black on black with a red tie. Ivy had laughed while she’d smoothed the lapels of the jacket when he’d tried it on for her at his apartment, muttering about wearing colors for once under her breath. Ethan had reminded her his tie was red, and blackwasa color, thank you very much. And then he’d enjoyed wrapping the red tie around Ivy’s wrists to pin her hands over her head until she’d breathlessly agreed that black was a color.
With those memories bolstering his mood, Ethan joined his teammates for the press conference and did his damndest to ignore the asshole who used to call himself his uncle and coach.
Ethan was ready for the game and the whole World Series to beover. He wanted to get married and settle into domestic bliss with Ivy and their kids. Maybe when this was all over, he’d finish school and be a teacher. Ivy would love that, he thought, trying to conceal his smile and stay serious for the cameras.
With one footfirmly planted on the bag, Ethan kept his eye on Jen as she strode to the plate. Her confidence gave Ethan a boost; Lawrence’s shit at the press conference still rang in Ethan’s ears. No matter how little Ethan valued his uncle’s words as an adult, the sting of hearing the same things over and over in the past hadn’t fully healed.
It was the bottom of the fifth, and Ethan hovered near third while Derek did the same on second, both men in nearly identical positions as they waited for
—crack—
Jen hit a foul into the seats behind third, and the Tornadoes’ catcher called a timeout to confer with the opposing pitcher.
