Pitching to Win (Over the Fence #1) (12 page)

S
ea foam dots
the shore line, tracing an invisible path that we walk along at a lazy pace.

Minka's sandals come off the minute we exit my house, I tell her to leave them by the hot tub, she won’t want them.

Now she digs her toes into the sand, her turquoise painted nails peeking out every so often. Her curls are loose and windblown, and the dress she'd slipped on hugs her amazing curves as the ocean air blows through it. I have never seen a more beautiful thing in my life. It almost hurts to look at her.

I lace our fingers together, smiling warmly at her when she glances up at me through her lashes.

"So...you never answered my question in the car."

Shit, this again. I needed to play this off. "What question?"

"I asked you about the situation with your dad. Don't play dumb with me, Axel." She
already
knows me too well.

"Alright...alright. My mom asked me to have a sit down with him, said I didn't know the entire story. I don't know what I'm going to do yet.” I lean down to pick up a shell, running the smooth ripples of it through my finger. “The thing is, being back here...it brings back so many good memories of me and him together. We would play ping pong, he taught me how to surf, I'd help him grill. There isn't one bad memory here. But does that replace all of the negative shit that has gone in the past couple of years?"

Her big brown eyes fill with understanding. "It can't replace it, but it can help you find the answer you're looking for. I think...that if you're so confused, you should sit down with him. Hear him out."

"This coming from the girl who told me to 'fuck what he thought,’ the last time we had this conversation?"

"I remember what I said, but I was in a different place even then.” She stares out onto the water, as if the answer to all of life’s problems can be found there. “Take this from someone who not only lost a parent, but never got to know them. If you don't take this chance to hash it out with him, you will regret it forever. No matter if the talk goes well, or if it ends terribly, you can walk away knowing in your heart that you tried."

I motion for her to sit in the sand with me, and am impressed when she plops right down, not even once complaining about dirtying up her dress. We sit side by side, elbows resting on our knees, facing out towards the sea as the sun, lowering out on the horizon, paint the sky pink and orange.

"You're right, I have to try." I say quietly, more to myself than to her.

I feel her small hand squeeze my arm in a sign of reassurance.

"Can I ask you a question now? Is my turn in the hot seat over?"

"Sure..."she replies cautiously.

"Why did you really bring those condoms with you?"

Minka huffs out a breath. "I told you, I really didn't pack them. My friends must have planted them in there as a joke."

"Did you think I expected sex for bringing you out here?" It was a reality I feared ever since I'd asked her to come here with me. I didn't want her to think she owed me a thing, and I didn't want to pressure her into something she didn't want to do. "Because I don't, at all. I want you to experience that, preferably with me, but whenever it is, when you're ready. I would never, ever pressure you."

"Wait...Owen, I'm not a virgin."

Her answer slaps me across the face, and then makes it burn with shame. Fuck, I shouldn't have assumed that. Now I’ve made an ass out of myself, and probably made her uncomfortable. And I’m also a tiny bit disappointed that someone had gotten to have that cherished gift of hers.

"I didn't...I'm sorry. I just assumed...because you seemed so timid the first few times...and I...I'm sorry."

"I mean...I know it might be hard to imagine someone would want me in that way...." she shrugs her shoulders, dragging her fingers through the sand idly.

"No, Minka, that's not what I meant by that at all. Truly. I just...you said a couple of times that you weren't as experienced, and so I just thought...Jesus, I'm an idiot. Just forget I ever said anything."

An awkward silence passes between us as the sun descends further into the looming night sky.

"We should head back before it gets too dark." I hate myself for putting this kind of tension into her petite body. She stills me with her hand as I go to get up.

"I can, I can tell you about it. My first time. If you want to know." Her voice sounds so small, fragile.

I really don’t want to hear about it, her with someone else. But this seems like a big step for her, by the way she’s breathing as if she’s about unleash a giant secret. “I’d love to listen, to be here for you."

"I was a sophomore. I'd never been particularly popular, but I hung on the outside rim of the in-crowd, mostly because of my two best friends. During the second week of school, this junior boy came up and introduced himself. I thought he was so cute, and I was freaking out because he was actually talking to me. I'd never had that kind of attention before.” She smiles, but its not right. It looks more self-deprecating than anything.

“Anyway, he asked me to hang out that weekend. He took me to the movies. Bought me Twizzlers, put his arm around me, and at the end of the night, gave me my first real kiss on the lips." She pauses, a wane smile crossing her lips.

"It went on like that for a while, he was really sweet and attentive. But then he'd start asking me to do things. Intimate things. Just a little here and there, and not aggressively enough that I thought anything of it. I'd convinced myself that he was older, and in order to be with him I needed to up my game. So I did. Things were usually all about him, but there were times that he pushed me a little too far, touched somewhere that I wasn't exactly comfortable with. But he was so sweet after those times, that it made up for all of that." She looks pained now, as if old wounds are being sliced open and exposed to the salty air. I want to comfort her, badly, but am hesitant to. I don't want to spook her.

"Winter Formal rolled around and he asked me to go with him. I was ecstatic. I'd never been asked to anything before. I was painstakingly thorough in my getting ready, the right dress, the perfect shoes. I even paid to have my hair done. When he picked me up, I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I pushed it aside, not wanting to ruin the night. Tons of kids drank for these things, right?"

My blood singes in my veins, because I had been one of those kids. I want to punch myself. This prick wasn’t good enough for her, and neither was I.

"The dance was fun enough, he seemed a little out of it, but I was there with him. Everyone knew who I was, and knew we were unofficially a couple. I thought it was awesome. Afterwards, there was this huge party at Jason Hinkley's house."

I'd almost gone to that, but Farris had thrown a seniors only get together that I'd ended up at instead.

"When we got there, he kept drinking. I had one or two. He was sweet, hanging his arms around me, kissing me in front of everyone. When he asked me to go upstairs, I was nervous, but I just pushed past it. This was what high school was about, right?” She shrugs, clearly not believing her thought process.

“Well, the whole sex thing was fairly awkward, it hurt most of the time and he didn't pay much attention to my needs."

Fuckbag. Only the biggest of pussies got off without helping out their woman.

"I thought, I'd done it, you know? At least it would get better from here. He was so nice the rest of the night, pumped up actually. And then...when I got to school Monday morning. He dumped me. In front of everyone.”

Her voice cracks as she finishes that sentence, and I ball my hands into fists until I can feel my nails breaking the skin. I’m suddenly so angry I don’t think I can hear the rest of her story.

"Turns out I was a prize in some game. He told the whole school I was easy, and anytime I saw him after that he'd cough some obscenity under his breath. Everyone did. I became the butt of the school wide joke for the next...well, I guess I still am."

I can’t see my vision is so black with rage. This fucker was lucky enough to be with Minka, lucky enough that she gave him her virginity, and he threw it back in her face. And all of those people mocked
her
for it? I was ready to obliterate the world. "Who is he?"

"Owen, it wouldn't make a difference. Not now." she sighs, resigning herself to her fate.

"Who is he?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. Right before I met you actually, I'd decided to stop letting it matter. I'm not playing the victim anymore. I had a hand in what happened, I could have chosen not to push aside those red flags."

"Don't you ever say that. None of that was your fault. Some asshole took this beautiful, innocent girl and used her. Used you. You don't ever deserve that. Fuck all of those people, Minka."

She gives a weak smile. "So...that's why I didn't want to get to know you. In some ways, the situation is all to familiar. Older guy pursuing me, so persistent and charming—“ She nudges me, trying to make me laugh at her joke. I can’t find the humor in it.

"I would never do that to you."

"I think I know that. Which is why I'm here with you." She snuggles closer, putting her small arm around my back, comforting me. "But Owen, don't hurt me. I don't think I could take it again."

A
fter we’d walked quietly back
from the beach, I'd grilled up salmon that Maria had stocked the fridge with. Minka put on some soft rock and pulled out two beers. I think she was trying to lighten the mood after our serious talks. It helped a little.

We laid on the sofa in the living room, me flat on my back, her wedged between me and the back of the couch, wrapped around my body like a koala bear. I stroke her back absentmindedly while watching the baseball game lighting up the TV.

Something has changed, shifted. Sure, I still want to have her naked and under me at pretty much all points of the day. But I have this strange need to fiercely protect her that wasn't there before. I guess her father and I have that in common now.

I need to keep her safe, destroy anything bad that comes into her life. I'm surprised to find that I'm seriously falling for this girl. Surprised not because I don't want to fall for her, that's not it. Its just that...I've never really felt this way before.

But then again, I knew from the moment I'd met her that nothing with Minka was going to be similar to any other relationship I'd ever had.

"Are you excited?" Her random question pulls me out of my deep thoughts.

"Huh?"

"To go pro. To be one of these guys." She flutters her hand towards to the TV, where the camera has a close up of the pitcher waving of signals at his catcher.

"Yeah...I think so. I'm not sure."

"You're not sure? Isn't it like a flight or fight response? You either have to have it, or you don't."

"I guess. I just...I've always been good at baseball. Its not something I've ever had to struggle at. I do love it, there is nothing compared to that feeling of standing on that mound, controlling all of the players on the chess board. But sometimes I think I'll get there and think, 'This is it?'"

She yawns, "I guess you won't know until you get there."

I glance at the clock, not realizing it was already midnight. The game being on the West Coast had thrown me off.

"Alright beautiful, I think it's time for bed. We have to be up early, I'm teaching you to surf."

"Oh, yay! I've always wanted to try." She looks so cute in her sweatpants and tank top, cuddled up. Her eyes are half-lidded she’s so tired.

I take her hand and walk her down the hallway to her room. Pausing outside the door frame, I kiss her forehead. "This is where I leave you."

Her arms wrap around my waist and she looks like she wants to say something else. Instead, she presses up on her toes and kisses me lightly.

Her soft, plump lips smoothe over mine, coaxing them in a slow and sensual rhythm. I frame her face with my callused hands, rubbing my thumb across the velvet of her cheek. When she begins to breath heavy groans into our kiss, I know I have to break it off. After everything tonight, I need to show her that I’m not just here for the physical.

"Goodnight Minka." I drop my hands from her face and pull her hands away from my body.

"Oh, okay. Goodnight." A tinge of something I can’t put my finger on lights in her eyes. It may be disappointment. Flashing one last smile, I mount the stairs to my room.

Forcing myself to stay up there through the night is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

W
e woman are
the absolute worst. I'd been the one to tell Owen that I didn't want to stay in his bed. I'd told him about how much Gregory had hurt me and used me. I'd been the one who tried to push him away from the beginning.

So why in the world had I been crushed when he'd essentially dropped me off at the guest bedroom last night?

Why had I laid in bed, not able to fall asleep until 2:30 a.m., cursing myself for ever telling him about Gregory? Thinking he probably wanted nothing to do with me now.

Why had I debated, several times, not waiting for him to come to me and simply walking up to his room?

This is why I avoided shit like this. It made me crazy. It made all women crazy. We turned into paranoid, question-asking monsters who could do nothing more than blow every situation out of proportion.

Of course, everything with Owen today had been completely fine. Good to know he hadn't lost any sleep over it.

Most of the morning and afternoon were spent down by the water, teaching me to surf. Which hadn't been as much of a disaster as I'd originally thought. I even stood up two or three times.

We capped the day off with an early dinner, Owen had grilled steaks while I threw together my infamous pasta salad. We drank wine with dinner. The whole thing felt very adult, which both excited and scared me. I couldn't help straying back to my earlier thoughts that he would never stick around for an inexperienced high school chick.

I was bent over the second floor balcony railing, staring out at the now descending sun dropping into the ocean, when Owen came out from clearing the dishes. Instead of cradling my back against his front as he'd done yesterday, he stood beside me, just far enough away that we weren't touching. I gave an inward groan.

He'd been like this all day. Friendly but not affectionate. If he did touch me it was quick, none of those lingering grazes or heated stares.

I didn't need to be treated with kid gloves. If this was my summer fling, the only chance I was going to have with Owen, than I wanted my money's worth. I steel my nerves and dive head first.

"So...you were a great teacher today."

"Thanks. That's actually...um, my major."

Wow, hadn't known that. Now that I did though, I could totally see it. And I could totally picture him, in his school appropriate button down, grading papers...okay, snap out it. That was one fantasy we could maybe act out later.

"You'd be great at that. But I'm wondering if maybe you had another lesson in you for today."

His eyes light up with interest. "And what did you have in mind?"

"Well...I've never, I've never skinny dipped before. And I thought maybe you could show me?"

His baby blues liquefy into cobalt orbs, and his tongue darts out to wet his lips. I feel a little parched myself. That ask had taken all of my courage, and my breath, with it.

"You...you want to go skinny dipping?" He nearly chokes.

"I do."

"Okay, sure."

He clasps my hand in his large one and leads me to the outside stairs that connect the decks above and below us. When we come to the first floor, he pulls me across the wood expanse and down onto the grass. Of course Owen's family has a beautiful pool when the beach was just steps away.

By now the sun had fully gone down, the only light guiding us was the half moon hanging low in the sky. At the edge of the pool, Owen drops my hand.

I was unsure of what move to make next. My brain had only gone so far as to think through the initial ask.

"So first, you have to take off your clothes." Owen stares at me greedily, but warmth sparks in his eyes. I know he must have a lot of pent-up lust in there. We'd barely done more than cuddle and makeout for two weeks.

I hold his eye contact while I ease one strap of my periwinkle tank top down. I watch him track the course of the skinny strap down my arm, and it gives me a buzz of power, knowing how much I affect him.

I slip the other strap down and then move to the tiny silver buttons that run all the way down the front of the shirt, keeping it closed. My fingers tingle as I slip each button out of its loophole, with each one falling open, more of my skin is hit with the cool night air.

Owen’s eyes have gone black by the time I shrug the top off of my body, leaving me in my white strapless bra and white jean shorts.

Wordlessly, he pulls his navy blue t-shirt over his head, tossing it to the side. The moonlight bounces off the grooves of his muscles, highlighting just how amazing his body is.

He stands, waiting for me to make my next move. So that’s how we were going to play. I throw him a small, flirty smile as I flick the button on my shorts. I hear his intake of breath at the tiny movement. I push the course material down my legs and stand up straight, a little more self conscience than before in just my white bra and bikini-style underwear.

Owen pushes his khaki shorts down roughly and frantically. I hold in my laugh at his haste. Someone’s in a hurry.

As soon as he stands up, he takes one look at me, and before I can reach back slowly and unhook my bra, he whips his boxers off.

I freeze. He was…he was just so beautiful. And I know that was a weird word to use in reference to a guy, but he just was. He looked like a sculpture, his muscles mimicking carved stone. And down below…wow. He stood stiff as a board, he was so turned on it looked painful.

“Fuck this slow shit.” One second he stood in front of me, the next I am in his arms, being pulled off the ground. A split second later we hit the cool surface of the water, breaking through and sinking under.

The shock of being thrown, or carried, in hits me, and I begin to struggle from Owen’s arms, which we are rapped around my half naked body at the bottom of the deep end. Kicking off, I swim up and break the surface, sputtering.

Owen comes up while I’m coughing the water out of my lungs. “Thank god.” I choke.

“What?” Rivulets of water drip off his wavy strands, and his chiseled arm comes up to slick it back out of his face. My core aches in awareness. Tingles snaked down my spine as I remember just how completely naked he is under the water.

“I thought you were never going to touch me. I’m not a china doll, Owen. I said don’t hurt me. That didn’t mean you can’t play with me.”

“Well get your sexy ass over here then.” He swims closer toward the middle of the pool, where he can stand.

He urges me to move closer, and my body moves of its own accord. All doubts and insecurities vanish the minute he pulls me into his tight, muscular form.

"How could I not touch you? How I could not worship you? God, look at you."

I look down between us, trying hard to examine just what he sees in me that makes him want to declare me a god.

He moves his right hand from where it had been locked around my waist and ghosts his fingertips over the tops of my breasts. Instantly, my nipples stiffen to a hard peak, something that is easily visible through the now soaking wet white piece of lace.

I hear his sharp intake of breath. "God damnit…”

Owen deftly reaches behind me, and I hear the snap as he unhooks my bra, sliding it from my shoulders in one swift move. I watch as the whisp of white disappears into the dark water of the deep end.

My attention is quickly pulled back to the glorious, naked man standing in front of me.

He wrenches me harder against him, with no barrier in the way now, my breasts mashing against his chest. My nipples are so hard that the sudden contact makes them sing with pleasure. He’s only been touching me for a couple of seconds and I’m already so ready to unravel that it won’t take much more.

Feeling his impressive arousal nakedly pressing to the front of my belly has me nervous. And when I’m nervous, sometimes I babble.

"Isn't water supposed to shrink these things?"

I almost slap my hand to my forehead after hearing that come out of my mouth. So sexy of you, Minka.

Owen chuckles, his desire not even phased by my stupid comment. I can see the heat pouring out of his eyes. He begins to move us through the water until he backs me up against the wall. "There isn't a moment when I'm around you that I'm not hard. That I'm not aching to be inside of you. I know I said I wouldn't push you, but please, let me show just what this thing can do in water."

I audibly gulp. I am so turned on in this moment, I would probably let him whip me or chain me up if he asked nicely. Moving my hands quietly where they are concealed in the murky water below us, I make contact with his cock and wrap one hand around it, stroking up lightly.

A low growl emanates from his lips, and it was all the answer he needed.

Owen plunges his head down to meet mine, latching his lips onto my own and pulling long, sultry caresses from me. As my stroking increases on his nowhere-near-shrinking anatomy, up and down the bulging member to his hot, swollen head, his kisses become frantic, eliciting moans and growls that work their way out of my throat.

And then, his hands tear my own away from what they so badly want to keep doing. I frown into his mouth, until he quiets me. "If you keep going, I will come way before I want this to end. You are amazing."

His brilliant blue eyes connect with mine, and sparkle in the moonlight.

Then his hands are on me.

One massages my left breast, rubbing slow circles which he makes smaller and smaller until he brushes over my nipple, only to move back out and repeat the process over again. The other slips through my lace panties, expertly locating the spot between my legs. "Oh god yess..." I mewl and drop my head on Owen's shoulder.

"That's it baby, let me hear how good I make you feel."

His dirty words sends a shiver through my body. Switching breasts, he kneads the right one while rubbing my clit at just the right pressure and speed. I can’t help but squirm.

"Shit, Minka, yes. Ride my hand."

I’m burning up from the inside out, and the cold pool water burns my skin when the ripples hit me. Between the contrasting temperatures and Owen's ministrations, I feel like my body is a grenade, seconds away from detonating.

Right as I feel the white hot pleasure spike low in my core, about to send me tumbling over the edge, Owen stops.

"Wha...what are you doing?" I’m greedy and breathless, so pissed that he has left me teetering on the cliff.

I get my answer when Owen scoops me up, supporting my back with one hand and using his other to wrap my legs around his waist. Immediately, my body goes rigid with understanding. It's not that I wasn't ready for sex with him, but he hadn't even asked. An alarm sounds somewhere in the back of my mind as Gregory's eyes loom in front of my face.

"Minka, relax. Look at me." Owen says sharply but softly. It was a command, but not a gentle one. "I would never take something without asking. You tell me when you're ready for that. I just...I wanted to try something that I think you are really going to like. So just...trust me?"

My body relaxes fractionally, and he pulls me closer. I’m now all but straddling his lap in a standing position.

He brings my arms around his neck, gently instructing me, and bends his head to kiss me gently but thoroughly. His tongue sweeps over mine, coaxing soft, needy sounds from my mouth to his. Just as the last of my tensions melt away, he brings our groins together, my clit lined up on his still bulging dick.

Pulling away from our kiss, Owen rests his forward against mine and stares deep into my eyes. In an almost imperceptible movement, he lifts me an inch, maybe two, and then brings me down just as slowly.

The feeling it creates makes every hair on my body stand on end. I feel the tiny motion from my toes to the top of my head, both of which were now tingling with jolts of pleasure.

He does it again, mimicking the motions of sex without being inside me. He uses his cock to massage my most sensitive part through my underwear, the rough lace adding to the pressure and torture.

His hands grip my ass, digging in enough that I’m sure there will be bruises there for days. We both sigh into the other's mouth each and every time he moves me, and his eyes are like a mirror for mine. They are hooded, drunk with passion.

But what I hope he can’t see in mine, what I hope I can conceal even while he’s unraveling my body, is the well of emotion appreciation and feelings for him firmly cemented in my chest. I feel my heart crack under the pressure with every move, humbled that he would wait until I said okay to sex. Cherished that he wanted to find and introduce me to new experiences, both sexual and not. I was in grave danger of falling in love with him, and I had to hide it as best as I could. Especially from myself.

Owen's breathing becomes more labored, his motions with me more jerky. I can tell he’s close, and I’m not far off myself. I can feel the heat from his rigid tool grinding onto my clit, and I begin to move back, squirming for that release.

Sensing my need to come, Owen readjusts, scooping my ass up in one hand and gripping me hard by the hair, pulling my mouth to his. The little bite of pain is all I need to start fucking him, over my underwear, back.

My senses go into overdrive, my brain hyper aware of Owen rubbing against me and claiming my mouth in dirty, savage kisses. I break away to scream out as my orgasm breaks over me, exploding from within me and rippling through my body like the water in the pool.

A moment or two later, Owen lets out a deep groan followed by a string of curses as he shoots hot, thin strands of come onto my stomach and his.

We’re both silent for what seems like minutes. I can’t even find the energy to push away from the concrete wall he’s backed me up against, which is now cutting into my back.

When Owen finally speaks, he can’t even form a full sentence. "You...that...Jesus."

I chuckle, and mentally pat myself on the back for rendering him speechless.

He swoops down to place a gentle peck on my mouth. "Let's clean you up."

Moving us out into the open water of the deep end, he washes evidence of his pleasure away from our stomachs, and then proceeds to dunk me.

Cold water hits my lungs as I am pushed under, and come up sputtering. "You really know how to charm the ladies, huh Axel?" I cough.