Bases Loaded (Mustangs Baseball) (10 page)

“We’ll have sex.
With each other,” he added. “And we’ll act like a normal couple in public.
Kissing. Touching. The whole ball of wax. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I think I
do. You want me to act like I’m your girlfriend.”

“Not act, Clare.
You
are
my girlfriend. I’ll call you with arrangements for the weekend
on the yacht.”

He left, slamming
the office door behind him. Clare folded her arms around her middle and dropped
her forehead to her desk.

She couldn’t stop
shaking. Where had she found the nerve to talk to him in such a way? She’d
never stood up to any man before, but there was something about Antonio that
made her forget who she really was and behave like the woman she wanted to be.
His parting words echoed through her brain. “You
are
my girlfriend.”

Oh. My. God.

* * *

An enormous
bouquet of red roses greeted her the next morning from the center of her desk.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Antonio
. She was just slipping the
accompanying note out of the plastic pick holder when someone knocked on her
door.

“Come in.”

Her fellow
professor, and good friend, Laura, stuck her head in. “Someone has been holding
out on me.”

“Come on in. I
take it you let the delivery person into my office?” They had exchanged office
keys long ago in case of an emergency. Flowers weren’t really an emergency, but
they were gorgeous, so she wasn’t going to make an issue of it.

“I hope you didn’t
mind.”

“Not at all. And I
haven’t been holding out on you.”

Laura sat in the
guest chair facing Clare’s desk. “So, who are they from?”

Clare peeked at
the card. Not that she needed to. There was only one person on the planet she
knew who would send such an extravagant gift.

“It must be
someone really special,” her friend said. “There must be three dozen roses
there.”

“They’re from a
friend,” Clare hedged.

“I wish I had a
friend like that,” Laura sniffed. “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”

“No. Really, it’s
just someone I met recently. He’s just being nice.”

“Well, if you
don’t want him, I’ll take him.”

Clare moved the
arrangement to a corner and sat behind her desk. She slid the card into the
center drawer on top of the charm. “I didn’t say I don’t want him.
It’s…complicated.”

“It must be more
complicated than a Mozart symphony to warrant that many blooms.”

Clare sighed. “It
is. Believe me, you don’t want to know.”

“That’s where
you’re wrong, girlfriend. I want to know everything down to the smallest
detail. How did you meet him? What does he look like? Is he a good kisser? Is
he good in bed? Is he husband material?”

Girlfriend.
There was that word again—only it meant something entirely different when Laura
said it. “I met him at Jason Holder’s fundraiser last weekend, and he’s more
gorgeous than a hothouse full of roses. The rest I either don’t know or I’m not
telling.”

“Lots of different
people go to fundraisers, but most of them are rich. That would explain how he
could afford the roses. Those things aren’t cheap, you know?”

Yeah, she knew.
But Antonio could afford them. No problem.

“You already know
everyone on the team, so it must have been some Dallas socialite or a
politician, maybe.”

Thank goodness,
her fellow music professor didn’t follow sports, or she would know the Mustangs
had acquired several new players after the playoffs. But her lack of knowledge
played to Clare’s advantage. “Maybe,” she encouraged.

Laura nodded.
“Okay, so you aren’t going to tell me.” She sat up and leaned over the desk to
look Clare in the eye. “At least tell me what he did that requires such an
elaborate apology.”

“It’s not an
apology. He wants me to go out with him. That’s all.”
On a yacht. For an
entire weekend.

“And you don’t
want to go.”.

“I already told
him I would. This—” She indicated the bouquet with a sweep of her hand. “—is
just overkill.”

The other woman
sat back and fanned her face. “I wish I had a man who sent me flowers for no
good reason. I’d settle for a bunch of daisies.”

It was sweet and
unnecessary—which made it all that much sweeter.

“Where’s he taking
you?”

“I’m not sure. He
didn’t say.” That much at least was the truth. The private yacht was docked
somewhere along the gulf coast of Texas, but she had no idea as to where.

Laura stood.
“Well, I’m glad you have a date. It’s been way too long since you’ve had one.”

“Not that long,”
Clare protested.

“Months, sugar.”
She moved toward the door. “It’s been at least six months.”

As her
well-meaning sidekick stepped out into the hall, Clare called after her.
“Thanks for letting the delivery guy in.”

“No problem.” She
eyed the giant bouquet. “I’ll take my fee in details later on.”

Clare smiled as
her friend closed the door with a final wave goodbye. She sat for a moment,
waiting, just in case she decided to come back. When she was sure she was
alone, she opened the drawer and picked up Antonio’s note.

She recognized his
handwriting from the silent auction bids. It was strong, but there was a flair
to it that spoke of his passionate side. She sighed. He definitely had a
passionate side. She could attest to that.

She slipped the
card from the envelope. Her skin burned red-hot as she read the short note.

I’ll pick you
up on Friday. Your place. 4pm. It’s a clothing optional weekend.
He had
signed it simply,
A.

A clothing
optional weekend. Oh boy.

Chapter
Eleven

She’d been on a
chartered flight once, but it was nothing like the executive jet Antonio had
arranged to take them to Galveston where they would board the yacht. As they
got closer to the coast, the butterflies in her stomach turned into seagulls.
It was all she could do to keep her legs still and her hands from shaking.

“Thanks for
coming,” he said for the hundredth time since she’d stepped into the limo he’d
hired to take them to the airport. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself for
forty-eight hours.”

“I’ve never been
on yacht before.”

“I’ve been on a
few. This one is bigger than the others I’ve been on. The owner said they’ve
taken it to Europe several times.”

“Where are we
going?”

“Just out into the
Gulf. I told the captain to sail around in circles and not to expect to see
much of us.”

The meaning behind
his words sent the flock of birds in her stomach into a tizzy. She had imagined
doing all kinds of things with Antonio this weekend, but she hadn’t taken into
account they wouldn’t be alone on the boat. “It’s just us and the captain?”

“There’s a cook, a
steward, and a mechanical guy, too.”

“Oh.” She turned
her face to the window, so he wouldn’t see the look of horror that was probably
there.

“They’re used to
this sort of thing,” he said, accurately reading her discomfort. “They’ll be
discreet.”

She supposed
coming from someone who wanted an invitation to have three men fuck her at the
same time, her shyness seemed out of place. But the idea of strangers
eavesdropping on private moments was different. “They’ll know.”

He shrugged. “I’m
sure they’ll suspect, but they won’t
know
. Unless you want them to.”

A flush of
embarrassment crept over her face. She shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think,
or you don’t want?” His voice was low, seductive, as he called her out on her
evasion. “Would you like the possibility of having an audience?”

She shook her head
again but with less conviction than before. For the first time in her life, she
began to believe someone might find her attractive, and with that amazing
realization came a new desire to explore her sexuality.

“Clare.” He leaned
over and captured her hand in his. “I’m looking forward to making love to you
all weekend long. I certainly wouldn’t pass up the chance to make love under
the stars or on the open deck with the sun warming your skin. If you want to be
adventurous, all you have to do is say so, and I’ll ask the crew to stay
below.”

Adventurous. She
turned the word over in her mind. She wanted to run the bases with three guys
at once, but, truth be told, she didn’t know if she had the nerve to actually
do it. Perhaps all she really wanted was to be asked. Knowing someone thought
her attractive enough to issue an invitation might be enough. But if she took
baby steps toward the goal, she could prove to herself and Antonio she was
ready to play his kind of games. Then there would be one less reason for him to
deny her.

Taking a deep
breath, she made up her mind to cultivate her adventurous side. Heck. She’d
already had sex in her office. That counted, didn’t it?

“I think I’d like
to be daring,” she said.

He squeezed her
hand. His smile was brilliant. “We’ll see. I want you to enjoy this weekend as
much as I intend to.”

The moment the
wheels touched down on the runway until they set foot on the deck of the yacht,
Antonio kept her hand in his, their fingers intertwined just like she imagined
their bodies would be soon. She wasn’t sure if the gesture was meant to comfort
or to ensure she didn’t run. It did both, she decided as she gazed longingly
from the aft deck toward the rapidly disappearing dock.

So far, everyone
had been wonderfully attentive, assuring them both of their wish to be of
service, performing their duties then quietly disappearing.

They’d settled
onto chaise lounges in the sun. Sheltered from the wind, and thanks to a Fall
heat wave, the air temperature was just right for lounging.

He brushed his
thumb over the back of her hand. “As soon as we have something to eat, I’m
going to take you to our cabin and have dessert.”

There was a wicked
tone to his voice that left no doubt as to what he considered dessert. She
stared straight ahead, acknowledging his comment by returning the thumb caress.
Her body warmed from the inside out, imagining what she hoped he had in mind.

They watched the
sun disappear below the horizon in a blaze of jewel-toned colors. Dinner was
served al fresco on a white-draped table illuminated by candlelight and a
blanket of stars. The servings were generous, and she ate like she’d been told
it was the last meal she would ever have, despite her earlier nerves.

“This is
delicious,” she said, reaching for another warm roll.

“The sea air
always makes me hungry,” he said. “I could never be in the Navy. I’d eat until
I couldn’t get through the hatches.”

“Good thing you
took up baseball.”

“I suppose so. I
never would have met you if I had taken another route.”

“I doubt that
would have been a great loss.”

She sensed a
change in the atmosphere and glanced up at her dinner companion. Candlelight
flickered off the hard lines of his face. His dark eyes seemed to absorb more
light than they gave off.

“What do I have to
do to convince you, Clare Kincaid, that you’re a game changer for me?”

His earnest
admission stole her breath. She wanted to believe him. “I’m a conquest for you.
Nothing more. I understand that, and I accept it.”

“No. You don’t.
You don’t understand anything.” He folded his napkin and placed it on the
table. He sat back in his chair and let out a long breath. “Look, I don’t want
to argue with you. I know what I know, and I’ll eventually convince you, too.
In the meantime, can we just enjoy each other’s company?”

She rose and
walked to the railing. Wrapping her arms around herself, she gazed up at the
full moon. What he was asking wasn’t unreasonable. She
had
agreed to his
terms, which meant she’d agreed to sleep with him. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t
already done it. But this was different than the time in her office.

That had been
spontaneous combustion.

Tonight was a
planned seduction with all the time in the world to see it through.

Be adventurous.
Take what he’s offering for as long as it lasts.

Antonio joined
her, enfolding her in his arms from behind, startling her.

“Shh. It’s just
me, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear.

“Antonio….”

“You look so
lovely in the moonlight.” His lips left a trail of heat along the length of her
neck to her collarbone. “Relax. Let me love you.”

She leaned back
letting him take her weight. He was solid and heat radiated off him, so it was
easy to imagine the star-splashed black sky as a blanket cloaking them from the
world. When his fingers slid along her arms to capture her hands, guiding them
to the rail, she made no protest.

“Hold on,” he
said.

She gripped the
polished wood, grateful for its unyielding presence. His hands moved to the
buttons on the front of her summer blouse, and as he worked the fasteners free,
warm air caressed her exposed skin. When the garment hung open, he cupped her
midriff between callused palms and let his fingers explore from the band of her
bra to the waistband of her shorts.

Clare closed her
eyes, allowing her to focus all her senses on enjoying the feel of his
work-roughened hands touching her.

“So soft.” His
voice was anything but. The shell of her ear tingled where his lips brushed
then nibbled. She pressed her mouth tight to keep from groaning out loud at the
erotic sensation. He nibbled again, this time taking the lobe between his
teeth, biting lightly then soothing the prick of pain with his tongue. A sound
escaped then. A moan? A groan? Whatever it was called, she felt sure it’d been
loud enough to summon Merfolk from the sea.

Antonio’s silent
mirth rumbled around in his chest pressed to her back. Smiling, he pressed a
kiss to the side of her neck.

Damn man. It
wasn’t fair what he could do to her with so little effort.

Covering her
breast with one hand, the other inched below her waistband, stroking, sending
tendrils of want and need to her pussy.

Giving her no time
to protest, he’d upped the seduction to a whole new level.

She flexed her
hips in a vain attempt to coax his fingers toward the swollen flesh between her
legs, but he wouldn’t be goaded into speeding things up. In answer, he pulled
his hand from her shorts.

“Let’s get this
off.” He brushed her hair over one shoulder and placed a kiss on the nape of her
neck while he worked her blouse over her shoulders.

She tried to shrug
it back in place. “We can’t….”

“We can. I told
the staff to go below for the night.” He divested her of her top and bra before
placing her hands back on the rail. “Don’t move.”

Her nipples
puckered in the warm night air. She quickly scanned the ink-black ocean for
signs of life. They were alone with the vast sparkling blanket and the
moonlight. She was half-naked and all alone with Antonio. An errant breeze
teased a loose tendril of hair, adding to the wild and decadent feelings
rushing through her.

Behind her, he
adjusted his stance, fusing his front to her back. He’d removed his shirt so
they were skin to skin.

“God, you feel so
good,” he said, his cheek pressed against her temple He growled out the words,
his chest vibrating against her back sending a shiver of awareness all the way
to her toes.

His hands once again learned the shape of her
shoulders, her ribcage, her breasts. “I love your breasts.” He handled them
reverently, testing their weight before brushing his thumbs across her nipples,
making them grow impossibly harder.

He dipped his head
low and rolled each aching nub between his thumbs and forefingers. “Beautiful,”
he breathed, planting an open-mouthed kiss on her shoulder. He gave her nipples
a sharp tug and released them.

Clare gasped at
the sudden jolt of pain, but the gasp turned to a groan when his hands moved to
her ribs to stroke and caress.

“I’ll be back to
them, sweetheart. I promise.” His fingers made short work of the front closure
on her shorts, and before she could formulate a protest, he pushed them and her
panties over her hips. She braced her feet apart for balance on the swaying
deck and the garments lodged just above her knees. His hands smoothed over her
backside like a blind man committing a piece of art to memory.

“You have a
magnificent ass.” He gave both cheeks a firm squeeze. “Time for dessert.”

He moved, his
hands skimming down her thighs. Clare looked over her shoulder and caught sight
of the top of his head sinking low…lower.
Oh God!

“Got a good grip
on the rail, sweetheart?”

She flexed her
fingers and gripped the wood tight enough to leave indentations. “Y-yes.”

“Good.” His palms
caressed one ankle—lifted it. Her shorts and panties slid down. Antonio removed
them from the leg he held aloft before gently guiding her foot to the deck. As
her leg descended, his lips worked their way up from her ankle to her very
naked ass.

She had only a
moment to absorb the fact she was stark-naked outdoors in a place where others
might see her. What most concerned her was Antonio was on his knees, which
meant he had to be…eye-level with…. Clare bit her lower lip to keep from
voicing her misgivings.

“Luscious,” he
breathed, or at least she thought that’s what he said before his tongue swept
across her left cheek. He followed the taste with his teeth, nipping her skin.

Clare yelped and
jerked her hips. Firm hands held her fast.

“Easy,” he said.
“Did I hurt you?”

“N-no. You
surprised me, that’s all.”

“Good, then you
won’t mind if I do it again?” Clearly, he didn’t expect an answer since he gave
her no time to respond before he did it again, this time soothing the bite with
his tongue. “Ah, Clare…you don’t know how that turns me on.”

Clare dug her
fingers into the railing while Antonio amused himself placing small bites
across one cheek then the other. Her heart raced. No man had ever lavished so
much attention on her bottom before. He said it turned him on, but Lord, it did
the same to her. If he didn’t move on soon, her pussy would drip all over the
deck.

“More. Spread your
legs for me,” he said, applying pressure to the inside of her thighs.

She shifted her
feet.

“Sweet Heaven.”

He fixed his mouth
to her pussy. Blinding pleasure overrode any qualms she might have had about her
public nakedness.

“Oh!” Her nails
dug into the railing. She clenched her teeth and shut her eyes.

His hands gripped
her bottom, holding her open for his merciless tongue. And Lord, did he know
what to do with his tongue. He kept her off balance, lapping at her slit with
the flat of his tongue then dancing over her clit and plunging inside her. He
employed the use of lips and teeth liberally until her fingers ached with the
attempt to hold onto reality, and her knees trembled.

He wrapped his
strong arms around her thighs, anticipating her collapse, and held her steady.
She’d long since given up trying to stifle the cries his attentions drew out of
her body. If they summoned all the mythical creatures of the sea, so be it. She
was one of them tonight.

The darkened ocean
and sky enveloped them. The warm salt breeze lifted the ends of her hair and
teased at the curves of her body. How decadent she must look. A sea nymph
draped over the railing, her hair wafting in the breeze, a god on his knees,
worshiping her very core.