Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (11 page)

After a cuddle-filled, make out session thirty-five thousand feet in the air, we land in New York. Jace drapes his arm around my shoulders as though it’s the most natural thing in the world and he does it all the time. As we wait for our luggage, Jace breaks our kiss and asks, “Your place or mine?”

Since my place is technically my sister’s, I quickly reply, “Yours!”

Jace grabs our bags and leads me to a car waiting outside. Helping me into the backseat, I notice the reporters surrounding us and realize they must have been tipped off. Thirty minutes later, the car pulls up in front of a luxury loft building in Manhattan. I look at Jace, confused.

He gets out of the car and holds his hand out for me. The flashes from the cameras are blinding. I’m used to the occasional paparazzo here or there, but not this constant, everywhere we turn photo taking. Jace squeezes my hand and nods up toward the building. “I rent this place and stay here in the off season,” he explains.

My heart skips a beat. Jace Richards had been this close the whole time and I had no idea. I’m still looking up at the building when I feel his hands slide around my waist and down my derriere as he draws me in for another passionate kiss. Aware of the reporters, I hold back and pull away quickly.

The questions about our relationship fly around us as we walk toward the building. A few reporters even ask if I cheated on Grant with Jace. My heart races and I realize I need to speak to Grant as soon as I can.

On the stairs and within reach of the door, Jace spins us around. He nods to a blonde female reporter. “I’ll give you the exclusive. Nicole Adger is mine, all mine. She’s the woman I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

I stare at Jace in shock as he laughs and kisses me again. More questions come from the crowd but he drags us inside. Once in the “privacy” of the glass elevator where it’s just the two of us, I finally speak. “What the hell was that, Jace?”

I’m gripping the rail in the elevator car, trying to steady my trembling hands. He reaches out to touch me, but I put my hands up stopping him.

“Come on, Nik, relax,” Jace says, rubbing my arms.

I turn away from him and face the outer wall of the elevator overlooking New York.
Wow, the view is amazing.
I quickly spin around to face him. “I’m yours? Waiting for your whole life? Jace, where the hell did all that come from? I’m not looking for a relationship right now. I’m trying to get promoted to an assistant trainer and I have a lot to prove. I don’t know what you think—”

He cuts me off with a kiss.
Mmm, why are his lips so soft and delicious?
The elevator doors open and he leads us into his loft. Looking around quickly, I see the loft is decorated in all dark wood colors with a rooftop terrace and a glass staircase in the middle of the room.

Jace’s voice snaps me back to the conversation we’re having.
“So you’re saying you just used me for sex last night?”

My body is on fire, partially because of the kiss, but mainly because of the embarrassment. “No! I… didn’t… I…”

Jace laughs and squeezes my hip. “We’re starting off as friends and seeing where things go, right?”

I bite my lip.
Well, I did say that, although I don’t normally sleep with friends.

He takes my hand and guides me to the terrace where a hot tub sits. He pulls off his shirt and turns to me. Nodding toward his shorts, he asks, “Should I do the honors or would you like to?”

Sighing, I look into his face. His dimples are more than distracting but I do my best to focus. “Jace, I’m serious. We can be friends but nothing more right now.”

He gives me a slight frown but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he drops his shorts and boxer briefs, his manhood springing to attention. He climbs into the hot tub and asks, “You getting in?”

“Dammit, Jace,” I say with a laugh as I pull off my clothes and walk toward the tub. The air is still cold at the end of March in New York and in the brief moment that I climb the steps into the hot tub, my nipples go erect.

Stepping into the warm water, he grabs my hand and pulls me between his legs, my back to him. His strong hands massaging my shoulders as we listen to the street sounds below us.
Ah, I missed New York and the sleepless nights here.

His mouth moves over my neck as his hand slips beneath the water. I feel his manhood dancing against me as his hand slides between my legs. My mind is suddenly flooded with my sister’s words. Spinning around to face him, I put some space between us. Without thinking, I blurt out, “We didn’t use protection last night!”

He mocks me, shadowing my surprise face. I hit him and l sit back on the opposite side of the hot tub. He laughs and grabs my foot, rubbing it as he speaks. “Come on, Nik, give me some credit.”

I furrow my eyebrows, not comprehending what he means. I never saw him get out any condoms. He pulls my foot to his mouth and gives it a soft kiss.

“I’m shooting blanks, baby. I had a vasectomy so you don’t have to worry about having a baby Jace on your hands,” he explains, pleased with himself.

A vasectomy?
He’s only twenty-seven. What if he wants kids in the future? I know down the road that I do, but now it wasn’t even a possibility, at least not with Jace.
Okay, Colie, you’re getting ahead of yourself.
I don’t even realize I’m frowning until Jace mocks me again, displaying a frown of his own.

“What, Nikki? Thought you only wanted to be friends?” he teases me.

Right, friends, it didn’t matter
. Except that Lord knows how many women he’s gone through since we parted ways.

“Okay, then how many women have you been with?” I ask with raised eyebrows.

He swims the short distance to me, straddling my legs. His hardness pressing against me and my legs immediately part for him. “Baby, don’t worry about it. I get tested regularly and right now, you’re the only one I want to be with.”

He nibbles on my lower lip but I’m not satisfied with the answer. I stand up quickly forgetting we’re not in sunny Florida. Immediately, my nipples get hard again and goose bumps cover my body.

Jace pulls me back into the water, his mouth on mine as he distracts me and we begin to make out. His hands find my happy spot between my legs and he slips a finger into me. I moan against his mouth. He sucks on my ear as he whispers, “If it’ll make you feel better, we can use a condom until you’re comfortable without one. I want to make you happy, Nicole. I want you to be mine.”

As though his hand wasn’t tempting enough, his words make me want him more. I kiss him passionately as he slips in another finger, his free hand teasing my nipples which are already sore from the evening before. I whimper against him and let him work his magic on me once more.

***

The sun tells me it’s time to wake up but my body doesn’t want to. I haven’t slept more than an airplane ride in the past twenty-four hours. Jace is curled behind me, his morning wood resting against my thigh. I wonder if my body can handle another round and I think I’m about to find out as I feel a hand grope my breast.

Rolling onto my back, I watch Jace slowly waking up. The day-old scruff he normally sports is now two days old, and it’s rubbing my chin raw, not that I’m complaining. My finger traces the barbwire tattoo around his bicep. He begins rubbing himself against my leg as I move my fingers to his long hair. His eyes still closed, he lowers his head and sucks on my nipple. I let out a soft moan as I close my eyes. When I open them, he’s grinning.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

“Hey…”

His fingers tease my nipples more as he asks, “So, what’s on the agenda today? Do you need to stop by your place or can we stay here naked all day?”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to decide how to answer. Deciding to tell the truth, I answer, “Well, since I technically don’t have a place, I think the naked option will work.”

Jace leans up on his elbow, his face questioning my previous statement. Taking a deep breath, I tell him the story and as I finish, he frowns.

“I thought you said Adamson was your friend?”

I sit up against the headboard and nod defensively. “He is, he was just trying to help.”

“Funny way of helping by leaving you homeless.”

I start to object but Jace kisses me, distracting me once more. “You’ll stay here,” he says as though that’s the obvious answer

“What?” I exclaim. “No, Jace, I don’t think so.”

He laughs and fingers my hair. “Nikki, it’s not like I’m here during the season, so technically we wouldn’t be living together. This is really a friend helping you out, not like Adamson,” he calmly explains to me.

I start to object but Jace puts his fingers to my lips. “I don’t take no for an answer.”

Then he yanks my hips, pulling me down on the bed. His strong hands slide up my arms, pinning mine over my head. With one hand, he holds both of mine down and shows me exactly what he means.

***

My heart skips a beat when I see the number on my phone. I should’ve called earlier, but I’ve been stuck in bed with the heartthrob of Major League baseball. Besides, our every move has been plastered all over the tabloids, television, social media outlets. You name it and our picture is there. Jace insists that we get out for fresh air and go out to eat. I’d much rather stay in, but as long as he’s around me, I don’t mind.

Walking on to the terrace, I answer briskly, “Hello?”

“Colie, is everything okay?”

I’m confused when Grant asks that. Why would he think things weren’t? “Huh? Yes, everything’s fine. Why?”

“Maddox…” he trails off before continuing, “Someone’s moving your stuff out of your apartment. I wanted to make sure you had a safe place to stay.”

“Maddox? Why were you talking to him? I thought you hated each other.”

I hear him sigh and can picture him running his hands through his hair. “I wanted to make sure you were safe,” he says softly.

As much as I want to be angry with him for spying on me, I’m not. In fact, hearing his voice relaxes me and I can’t hide the faint smile on my lips. “I’m fine, Grant.” I rush on before he asks where I’m staying, “How’s the shoulder?”

“I’ve been resting it so I guess we’ll see tomorrow.” He pauses then asks, “You’ll be at the game, right?”

It’s opening day. It’s my job. Of course I’ll be there.
Crap!
What will the guys say about Jace?
Not only is it Jace Richards, but he’s their rival. I assure Grant I’ll be there and after a long moment of silence, we say goodbye.

I’m staring at my phone when I hear the door open behind me. Jace wraps his arms around me, kissing my neck. “I’m leaving for the airport in a couple hours. Let’s go make the most of our time before you send me off,” he whispers in my ear.

Knowing it’ll be weeks before our schedules allow us to see each other again, I follow him inside. However, my mind can’t stop thinking about seeing Grant tomorrow.

***

The car service pulls up in front of the airport. Jace grins as he sees the slew of reporters. I’d never given much thought to them before, since I was always just background but after the last few days, I now understand why Grant despises them so much.

I mindlessly drag my fingers up and down his forearm. Jace lifts my chin, making me look at him. Tears threaten to fall as our eyes meet. He frowns. “Nikki, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. I’ll have my assistant book your flight to L.A. where we’ll spend the first weekend we both have off.”

I nod and kiss his cheek, but that isn’t what’s bothering me. “Jace, there’s no way I can afford the rent on your loft. I’m only going to stay until my place is okay again.” I cringe as I say it and I know I sound totally pathetic.

He shakes his head and kisses me tenderly. “Don’t worry about the rent. Let me take care of you, babe. There’s no way in hell you’re going back to your old place. It’s safer at the loft and I want to know where you are.”

I smile as I think about how much he’s taken care of me the few days we’ve been together. He lifts his eyebrow at my smile and I lean forward and kiss him. “Just thinking about the kitchen table last night…”

He grins and pushes me back on the seat, sliding on top of me. His hand gives a tight squeeze on my breast and he says, “We could re-create that right now.”

I push him off as I sit up and shake my head. “I don’t think so, not with all those cameras,” I respond, gesturing to the reporters getting antsy on the sidewalk.

His eyes look a little wild when he comments, “Think of the thrill of it, Nik. One day, I’m sure I’ll convince you to do it.”

My heart palpitates as his words hit me, but I shake them off. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me out of car. Immediately the flashes start firing and I turn into him, instinctively expecting him to hide me from the hounding reporters. It’s what Grant would always do as he pushed our way through the crowds. However, Jace is the opposite of Grant in all possible ways.

He stops in the middle of the crowd and grabs my waist. Leaning down, he kisses me as hard as he can. Normally I would appreciate his tongue rolling over mine, but I can’t focus on it right now as our picture is being taken over and over.

Jace holds my hand as we finish the kiss. He jokes and teases with a few reporters, giving them more details on our relationship than I’m okay with. Finally we get inside the airport. After he gets checked in, we walk over to the security line. I know we’ll part soon and I’ll have to face the reporters alone.

“What’s wrong, Nikki?”

The whole time we’ve been at the airport, his hands haven’t left my body. He holds me in a possessive, yet flaunting manner. I love having him so close, yet at the same time, I’m definitely not comfortable with being displayed as arm candy.

Nodding to the reporters, I say, “Jace, I don’t want our whole relationship on the front page every day. I need some privacy.”

Jace squeezes my hips and leans in to kiss my nose. “Nik, if we give them what they want they won’t make up what we don’t.”

He doesn’t give me time to respond. He plants a thick kiss on my lips and says, “I’ll call you later tonight.” Then, in a low voice, he adds, “Wear something sexy to bed when we talk.” With a swift wink, he heads through the security check.