Chapter Twenty-Four
Ryker
I t’s game day.
The second half of our baseball season is finally starting and this is my version of Christmas morning.
Baseball usually runs from late August to October, then picks up again in April and May. We’re sitting at the top of our division, and my stats have never looked better. My agent informed me that the Detroit Panthers are heavily interested and willing to sign me if all goes well for the rest of our season.
Instead of crumbling under the pressure, it pushes me forward to work harder. I’ve been lifting heavy, sticking to my nutrition plans, and getting extra cardio with Camille any chance we get.
The game is tonight at seven, on the first Friday of April. The grounds are solid after thawing from a cold winter, and the sun’s been peeking out over the mountains longer and longer every night.
I couldn’t be fucking happier.
I arrive at the baseball facility early to get some extra stretching in for my shoulder, making sure it’s in perfect condition to whip balls over to first base. As I walk through the building, I find myself smiling more than usual and it’s not just because tonight’s our season opener.
It might also have to do with a certain blonde I can’t seem to keep my hands off. Ever since Sunday night, I’ve found myself at her apartment nearly every day this week, finding excuses to leave with her after practice.
And each night ended up with me inside of her.
I can’t get enough of her, and I fear I never fucking will. I think I’ve finally met someone more insatiable than me. Knowing how much she craves me makes me want her all the more, a rabid cycle we can’t seem to get out of.
Pushing through the door to the locker room, I find most of the team hanging out in groups as they get fired up for tonight. I’m about to pass them without a word when Noah spots me.
“Ryker, where are you going?” he asks, falling in step with me.
“To find Mackenzie and go through some stretching exercises for my shoulder.”
“Good idea.” He nods. “But you should come hang out with us after, join the pregame party.”
I raise a brow at him. He must be fucking joking because he knows me better than that.
Noah chuckles. “Dude, I’m just kidding. You should’ve seen the look on your face. I know you like your peace and quiet before a game.”
I don’t reply and move to the back room. For the next twenty minutes, I stretch out my shoulder with Mackenzie and go through my pregame preparation before we have to hit the field to warm up together.
In the meantime, I like to sit at my cubby in the locker room with classic rock playing in my headphones to get me ready and in the zone .
It’s almost game time, which means we need to get our asses on the field. We’re all walking down the tunnel to our dugout when I see Camille, who never fails to make my heart want to beat straight out of my chest.
She’s got her camera set up, with the question ‘What’s your guilty pleasure movie?’ on her whiteboard for us to answer as we walk by. Noah’s leading the group and gets the luxury of answering first.
“ Marley and Me makes me cry every time,” he says without an ounce of shame.
Cuddy’s next, and I already know his answer because he never shuts up about these movies. “The Twilight Saga, and yes, I’m team Edward, duh.” He winks, oozing confidence as he struts by the camera while a few of the guys snicker.
I do my best not to stare at Camille now that I’m next, but I fucking fail.
What else is new?
She’s wearing her personalized jersey, with cut-off jean shorts and her signature Converse. Her long blonde locks are falling in waves around her shoulders, almost in a freshly-fucked look.
I find myself wanting to wrap it around my fist while I pound her from behind, just like I did last night.
Camille’s gotten more and more confident in bed with me, asking for things to be a little rougher. I always go by what she needs, never taking things too far even if my control threatens to slip away sometimes.
“ The Little Mermaid ,” I tell her, doing my best to rein in the smile on my face as hers expands at my answer.
Camille bends over and then stands with a reusable mug in her hand, thrusting it toward me. “Here, this is for you. Good luck today, Ryker the Biker. ”
She handed me a cup of coffee with a baseball designed foam on the top.
“What’s this?” I ask her, doing my best to sound unaffected.
She shrugs. “It’s a good luck coffee. You told me you like having one just to hold for comfort in between innings, and I thought the design was cute.”
She’s fucking cute. I told her how coffee reminds me of my mom and how it helps center me if I start to get stressed. The urge to kiss her is strong, but I remember where we are and it’s snuffed in an instant.
“Thank you.” I nod, making my way to the dugout, my heart feeling weird as fuck in my chest. I’ve never experienced this until I met her.
When I get there, I place the cup in my usual spot, and then we’re gearing up for game time. Cuddy and I toss the ball across the field, slowly backing up and creating more distance.
During stretches, I do a quick scan of the stadium, looking for her. She’s been busy since the game started, running around to do various things for our social media accounts. That girl works so damn hard, and I admire the hell out of it.
I spot her right above our dugout, our team’s hat on her head, covering her face to stay inconspicuous to any cameras. Our games are often shown on sports networks, and she told me she needs to hide the best she can.
Not wanting to stare too long, I continue to trail my gaze across the stands. The crowd is already electric, the seats filled with green and white for our opening night. It generates a buzz in the stadium, one that fuels me from the inside out.
We’re the home team, which gives us the advantage of having the last at bat. I feel good as I jog out to third base, the leather encasing my left hand adding to the excitement pumping in my body .
I’ve never felt more at home than I do on a field with a glove on one hand and a ball in the other. My mind ventures to images of Camille’s body wrapped around mine, and that same feeling of home hits me.
Before I get to dwell on that notion, the umpire yells, “It’s time to play ball!”
As the opposing team’s batter sets up in the box, the cheers become deafening, our RLU fans really showing up today. Enough that by the fifth inning, we’re up by two runs and the opposing team has yet to score.
Aspen’s team is getting amped up, especially with their best hitter walking up to bat. I’m on the balls of my feet, ready to move any way possible in case it comes my way. The batter swings and misses on the first pitch, but on the second one, he crushes it to the far left, sending the ball into foul territory, right where Camille is sitting.