He tossed my pack onto the bench seat, then closed and locked the door. He grasped my hand and threaded our fingers together. His were long, warm, slightly calloused, and dwarfed mine, and I decided I more than liked the feelings he caused within me whenever he touched me. However slight the gesture, it stirred a physical response deep inside that I now longed for; hungered for. I knew he struggled at times; I could see desire in his eyes, feel it in the depth of his kiss, the desperation in his touch. I marveled at his control. I marveled at my own. As he pulled me toward his bike, the expression he threw over his shoulder at me nearly stopped me in my tracks. Mischievous. Sexy. Promising. “You’ll see.”
We rode through campus, my arms wrapped around his stomach and holding tightly. The warmth from his skin seeped through the tee shirt he wore and sank into me, and I loved that feeling, too. It reminded me of safety, protection, desire, all tightly bound within the tattoos and muscles of the most unlikely of scarred heroes. Dare I call him mine?
Brax changed gears and slowed the bike as we pulled into a darkened sports complex, winding through to the baseball diamond’s parking lot. At this time of night all the lights were off, and Brax came to a stop close to the dugout entrance. He braced the bike as I climbed off, then with his heel he kicked the stand and swung his leg over. Immediately, he turned to me and unclasped the straps to my helmet.
“It’s so dark,” I said quietly. “What are we doing here?”
He set both our helmets on the seat of the bike then grasped my hand and looked down at me. The full moon had already come and gone, so the celestial illumination was next to nothing. Brax’s face was swallowed in shadow. His voice washed over me; raspy and familiar. But when he smiled, his teeth slashed across his face. “You’re about to break the law, Sunshine. Now come on.”
“We’re breaking into the ball field?” I whispered, and pulled back on his hand. “Brax, we’ll get into trouble.”
His body brushed mine. “Only if we get caught.” Humor laced his voice, and he pulled me gently. “Come on, Gracie. Let loose a little.” We got to the dugout gate, which was chained and about seven feet high. Brax pulled me close, lowered his head and brushed my lips. “Trust me, sweetheart. Can you climb a fence?”
“Oh lord,” I whispered, looking around nervously. “Of course I can.”
His hands moved to my hips. “Well, get your skinny little ass over the gate then, will ya?”
“Brax, I swear,” I murmured. Then I heaved a gusty sigh, stuck my fingers through the links and shimmed up and over the chained gate. Brax followed behind me with grace and very little effort, and dropped to the ground. His hand found mine and pulled.
“Your reluctance is too fucking cute, Gracie. Besides, adrenaline is good for the heart,” he whispered. “Now quit your bitching and follow me.”
“I’m not bitching,” I insisted in a hushed voice. “I’m voicing my concern over your delinquent decision, is all.”
Suddenly and in the darkened dugout Brax jerked to a halt and scooped me up in his arms. I stifled a squeal, and he chuckled. “Keep it down, keep it down,” he warned. He bent and grabbed something as we passed the benches, and then rounded a corner and started walking.
“I can walk, you know,” I insisted. It only made him chuckle again.
“Yeah, but I like you right where I got you.” He pulled me close against him, and I tucked my head in the crook of his neck. He walked for a few seconds more, then stopped. His warm breath brushed my temple. “All right, keep your eyes closed. No looking.” He set me down.
Not that I could see a solitary thing anyway, but I still let my lids fall. “Yes, sir.”
Brax busied himself close to where I stood, laughing softly to himself. I wanted to peek, but I refrained, just on the off-hand he’d catch me. Then, he was there, his body crowding mine in a way I felt positive only Brax could do. Even blinded, I felt him swoop in, melding us together as he enveloped me, one arm around my waist pulling me snugly against him, the other cupping the back of my head as he steered his mouth over mine. My hands found their way to his hair and entwined my fingers through the soft flips and curls I found so appealing. His lips, so expert and full and firm and pliable moved over my jaw, my lips, and his tongue tasted me in such an erotic way that I couldn’t help the groan that he coaxed from deep within me. He pulled back and whispered in my ear.
“Christ, girl, you’re killing me.” He kissed my nose, then my body went airborne once more as he lifted me, his arms catching me behind my knees. “Keep those beautiful eyes closed, you hear me?”