WE MADE AN AGREEMENT. From that evening on, due to his distractions, we both needed, and I demanded, time to study and focus on things that weren’t in our little bubble we created. I didn’t want my grades slipping or, even worse, losing my scholarship because I was sucking face with a boy. I don’t think my parents would quite understand that one. And Wrigley needed to keep his grades up to keep playing on the team.

It was nearing the end of October and their season had ended a couple months ago, but the couch still required them to go to batting cages, and practice at an indoor field. Their current field was under construction and new seating was being added. He’d invited me to come to the batting cages for one practice and had a blast, until it had turned into a heated battle of who was a better batter.

“Your hips are turned all wrong,” he said. “Here, let me show you.”

He took a step towards me, but I held my hands up. “Freeze. I don’t need your fake distractions; I know what I’m doing.”

That cocky eyebrow raised. “Yeah? When did you become a pro?”

I wiggled my hips and squared up to the plate. “I’m not a novice. I’ve played before, remember we were on the same team.”

“And we were five, Hadley.”

“So what? It’s like riding a bike. You don’t forget this stuff.” I also may have watched you every time you batted, but that was neither here nor there.

I heard the machine winding up to shoot out the next ball. Wrigley had to adjust the speed so that it came out slow enough where I would have a chance hitting it. The cages were empty for the most part, except a father and son at one end, and a high school aged kid two cages down from them. The place was lit with bright florescent lights and it smelled of AstroTurf. You know, like that rubbery scent that you smell when you open a new package of rubber bands. Wrigley looked delicious as usual. He had one a worn pair of khaki colored cargo shorts that were ripped at the bottom, a maroon fitted shirt that hugged his chest nicely, and a black Yankees hat that he wore backwards. If eighteen-year-old boys all looked this good, the world would certainly be in trouble.

If he so much as touched me, it would be game over. I wouldn’t even be able to dodge a ball a toddler threw at me with his distractions. Putting my elbow up and pointing it out, I had my legs shoulder width apart and I stared at the machine several yards away, impatiently waiting for it to surprise me with the next ball. Thus far, I had hit four out of seven balls. That may not have been the best average but I’d not hit a baseball since I was a kid playing in his parents’ field. 

The ball shot out and I tensed. I wished these things happened in slow motion. I’d kick his butt then. As the ball came at me, I motioned to swing, just as the bat came in contact with the hard leather, the vibrations and sting went through my hands and I closed my eyes as a natural instinct. Hey, nobody said I was a professional ball player. I know you’re supposed to watch the follow through. The ball shot straight up in the air, then hit the netting slightly behind me. 

Foul ball.

Wrigley chuckled. “Nice hit, Slugger.” 

The bat dropped to my side and I turned to glare at him. “A hit is a hit. We never agreed that it had to be in bounds.” 

He was amused. “Well, if that’s how we are going to play.” 

“That’s the rules,” I stated, matter of fact. 

He saluted me. I turned away from him and faced the pitching machine. The last two balls I missed completely. One of them I swung so hard, I twisted completely around. I thought Wrigley was going to pee his pants from laughing so hard. I tried to pretend I was mad at his heckling but I wasn’t. He was so playful, it was sweet. 

When it was his turn, he made adjustments to speed up the ball. I watched him for the first time without any reservations of getting caught sneaking a peek. I was able to openly look and admire his ability and attractive qualities. How his stance was ridged, yet prepared to swing. How those hazel eyes focused on the balls shooting out over the plate. I enjoyed seeing how he was basking in his love of the sport, even if it wasn’t against a team. He was dedicated and passionate. It was a quality I found very attractive. Each time he hit, and the ball would go straight over the pitching machine, he would give himself a little nod, as if to say, ‘job well done’. It was very sweet to see.

We took turns hitting, about five times each. While I could do this all day, I could tell he had other things on his mind. “You ready to leave?” he asked.

I was putting my helmet up on a shelf when I felt him approaching me from behind. I held my breath, waiting for him to press up against my back, but it never came. Instead, he reached around me and put his helmet up next to mine. He exhaled and his breath blew across my neck.

“Yep.” I squeaked. He knew the effect he had on me.

“Let’s go.” His voice sounded deeper, huskier.

I had no choice but to follow. We walked through the facility, not holding hands, nor touching. We weren’t a super affectionate couple outside because it wasn’t something that made me very comfortable and he’d picked up on that fact. It had nothing to do with me not feeling prideful that he wanted to be with me. But I was more uncomfortable with myself and lacked confidence that I should be seen with someone like Wrigley in that capacity.

As we walked, he looked over at me, hazel eyes burning. They were lustful and I knew he was turned on. I swallowed, hard.

“We had a bet. You lost.” He simply stated.

I had the right mind to appear bashful. “Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d follow through with it.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

I shrugged, as we stepped out into the night air. It was thick with humidity, and sweat built on the edge of my hairline before we even made it to the car. “I dunno. I guess I just thought you were being silly.”

“Well, I’m always joking around, but a bet is a bet. You only hit half of your balls.”

I mentally laughed at the way that sounded. Geez, I think I’m as bad an adolescent boy sometimes with where my mind wandered to.

“Okay, but if we were to say dumb down your ability to my ability, I’d say we both hit the same amount and therefore we tied. So, nobody won.”

He chuckled. “Except, that’s not how it works, and that’s not what happened.”

We got to his Jeep and he hit the unlock buttons. As we both climbed in, I tensed at the quietness that surrounded us. You could hear a pin drop. He wasn’t starting the engine, he was barely even moving except for the slight up and down pattern of his breathing. If it weren’t for the sensation of his eyes being on me, I would have thought he’d fallen asleep.

I squirmed. “Okay, so what was your end of the deal? I don’t remember.”

“We try something new.”

I was looking out the windshield. “And by new, I’m assuming you aren’t referring to a new way to hit a curveball.”

I could hear the smirk in his voice. “Nope.”

Every ounce of me wanted to know what this new thing was, but I was beginning to shake with nerves. He was making me feel uneasy, but not in a bad way. Just a way I knew he was going to, once again, be my teacher of sorts, and I was going to be expected to feel.

We continued to sit in complete silence and I had no idea if he was waiting for me to make eye contact and nod in compliance, or if he was going to start the Jeep so we could go back to his, or my, place. My question was soon answered when he cleared his throat. Naturally, I turned in his direction. Those brownish green eyes met my blue ones head on. I gulped.

“Wait… right here?” I whispered like someone would be able to hear me.

He nodded. “That’s going to be half the fun of it, Hadley.”

“But we are under a freaking light post. Don’t you think people will see us?”

He glanced up. “Maybe, but no worries, you’ll still be dressed.”

My shoulders visibly relaxed. “Okay, good.”

The side of his mouth tilted up and he shook his head. “Jesus Christ, you thought I would strip you down for everyone to see? No fucking way. I don’t share, and I’m certainly not going to let some creep look at my girl.”

“Your girl?” I tenderly asked. Those two words warmed my heart and instantly made me drop my guard.

“I didn’t stutter. We’ve discussed this. I’m not interested in anyone else, and this has been going on for long enough now that I can say shit like that. So yes, you’re mine.”

Well, okay then. Who was I to argue? Except, I wasn’t an exhibitionist. Actually, was I able to make a statement like that when I hadn’t had any experience in the matter? I wasn’t sure, but I do believe I had some say so. He did tell me my clothes would be on, so that was a plus. Besides, I wasn’t ready to take that step just yet. I wasn’t saving myself for marriage, but I also wasn’t someone who was going to strip down and show my goodies when a pretty boy smiled at me. He had to prove himself worthy. Of course, Wrigley already had, but it still wasn’t a step I was ready for. Thankfully, he was patient.

“Are you going to tell me what this “new things” is? Or what you’re wanting?” I asked curiously.

His head went back and forth. “Nah, I’d rather show you.”

“Is it sex?” I felt the need to ask the obvious despite how embarrassed and childish it made me sound.

He was slightly taken aback by the question but quickly responded. “No, it’s not sex.”

Even though we were in the light, the hazel of his eyes were nearly drowned out by the darkness of his pupils. One quick glance down and I could tell he was turned on, despite our not having touched each other yet. Whatever he had in mind was obviously something that did it for him. Or maybe it was more the fact that he was going to do something with me, something I hadn’t experienced yet.

Wrigley came over the center console and rested his elbow on the edge of it. I was ridged and unsure what he was going to do. We’d made out in his Jeep before, but never like this. Gently, he brushed the hair away from my shoulder and ear, and he began kissing up the side of my neck. Goosebumps rose over my arms and my right hand gripped the door handle. Why did this feel so different? So intense?

“Unbutton the top of your shorts,” he demanded in my ear.

My eyes sprang open and I jerked away. “I thought you said we weren’t doing that?”

He snickered. “We aren’t, Hadley. But I’m asking you to trust me and unbutton the top of your shorts.”

My heart was at a full gallop and if he listened real close, he’d be able to hear it. I nodded. Reaching for the metal button, I popped it through the small slit, then sat and waited for his next move. I was scared and had every thought imaginable flying through my head. Like, maybe he was going to go down on me. Or maybe he was going to make me do things to myself. I had no clue what sort of things Wrigley was really into. If he wanted me to do things to myself while he watched, he may be barking up the wrong tree. As Anna would tell Christian Grey, that is a hard limit.

Awkwardly, I placed my hands on either side of me, unsure if I should put them on his chest, up on his neck, pull him closer to me, or anything else. My nails began tapping, and I couldn’t stop them even if I tried. I was clicking them to the pounding of my heart. Wrigley’s easy going smile met my eyes and, as if some sort of sedative shot to my nerves, I tried to relax. He knew I was freaking out and he was silently trying to tell my that I had nothing to be scared of. His smile did that for me. It was always like a shining beacon in any crap storm I was building up in my head.

“Do you trust me?” he asked earnestly.

Did I trust him? Did I trust enough to give myself over to him unequivocally and know that his intentions were good? That Wrigley Brooks wasn’t just here for himself, but for me too. That his enjoyment was seeing me have enjoyment. Did I trust that if I exposed myself to him he would look at me and tell me how beautiful I was, and would treat me like I was something to be treasured? Every single question had the same answer.

Without a doubt.

He’d earned it. “Yes, I trust you.”

His smile was brilliant. “Good.”

When he came forward again, he kissed me with such passion I felt it in every fiber of my being. His lips pressed to mine and molded to match me. It was open mouthed and his tongue danced across the softness of my lip. He was rewarding me and my response by making me into a puddle of mush before any of the good stuff really started. My body was warm, and my toes curled. When his hand came up behind my neck, I responded by grasping his forearm and giving it a squeeze.

He briefly pulled his lips away and said, “This is just going to be about you. I want you to feel. Understand?”

I didn’t understand but I nodded anyway. What was that supposed to mean? I was willing to give myself over to him though. I trusted him enough to know I would only go so far and I would only do certain things. I trusted that he wouldn’t hurt me.

My breathing accelerated and my body was at attention. With every kiss, and every touch, it was like he was commanding me. With or without my consent, my body was betraying me and putting itself out there to feel something amazing. One of his hands dropped from my neck and went down to my breast. My nipples were erect and I inadvertently arched my back to give him a better grasp. He was cupping it from over the top of my shirt. I was wearing a thin bra and I felt every ounce of his fingers. Breath escaped my lips as he nipped at my collar bone.

“How does this feel?” He gave a gentle squeeze, then ran his thumb over my nipple.

Did he want a one-word response, or a full paragraph because right now my brain was misfiring and I was only capable of sending the sound of a grunt out of my throat?

His hand left my breast and touched the edge of my shorts. My eyes flew open. This was definitely not something we’d done before.

“Wrigley, I thought you said we weren’t—”

He quickly shushed me. “We aren’t. Just sit back and relax. Trust me.”

My chest rose and fell with increased breathes. The tips of his fingers toyed with the top of my underwear and then he was hovering over me. His watchful eyes were gauging my reactions and how I was responding to him. It was unnerving and intimate. Almost more intimate than the way his hands were slipping lower and lower. His hand was just on top of my sex, which was now wet and I was feeling a need I’d never felt before. At the very first touch of his finger on my clit, I nearly came unglued.

This was nothing like when I had been alone in my room learning my own body. This wasn’t nothing like experimenting with different ways of touching myself and figuring out what is pleasurable and what isn’t so great. While I was able to make myself climax before, Wrigley seemed to know the right buttons to push, and the perfect spots to caress. Several flicks of his finger had my body quaking and guttural moan coming from my chest.

“Oh my god!” I gasped and reached out to grab a handful of his shirt. His approving smile let me know things were good on his end. There was no way he was enjoying this as much as I was.

“That’s right, just feel me.” His watchful eyes would glance up every now and then, I could only assume to make sure there was nobody in the parking lot.

He dipped his hand down lower, and one of his fingers entered me. Jesus, that was a different sensation. When I had done it, I hadn’t felt much of anything. I just figured I was part of the large percentage of women who didn’t really get pleasure from penetration. But now! Now it was so good and I was positive it was because I was so turned on, wet, and close to orgasm that him inside of me like this, the fullness it made me feel, had me nearing the end.

My eyes rolled back and closed. He pushed deeper and pressed upwards. Wrigley used his other hand to pull my shorts down lower so he could get to all of me easier. I lifted my hips allowing him to. At this point, if he wanted me to strip down, I would get naked and climb on top of him. Funny how in a heightened state of arousal, I was suddenly willing to do just about anything to get the release. Any sensibility was flying right out of the window and I was ready to sell my soul to ride with the devil.

I was in such a state of ecstasy that I hadn’t realized just how close to coming I was. He knew, somehow.

“God, this is more than I ever hoped for. You’re perfect.” His eyes were nearly black and I knew he was hard and ready to be touched.

I should have. I wanted to. But how did I do that? Did I do it the same way he did it to me? Did I just grasp it like a broom stick and move my hand up and down? My lack of knowledge was sucking at a time like this. I wanted to reciprocate. Wrigley pulled his fingers out and rubbed small circles of the bundle of nerves that felt swollen and needy.

“Wrigley, I’m going to finish.”

“Good. Let go, Hadley. I’ll make you ride it out.” His demanding voice was gruff and a tone I’d never heard.

And just like that, an explosion of sensation overcame me. My body shook with a fierceness that had him pressing down on me to help hold me still. My legs closed tightly. I couldn’t open them if I tried. I wanted him to keep touching me, and I wanted him to stop touching me. It was too much. Colors were forming behind my eyelids and my ears were ringing. This was the orgasm of all orgasms. I started to feel like I was going to urinate everywhere if he didn’t stop touching my clit. I’d never been so over sensitive. Even my skin was hot and sweat had formed on my brow. I grabbed his wrist and pushed at him.

“Too much. Oh my god, you have to stop.”

He chuckled and gave my clit a little flick before he pulled his hands out of my shorts. It made me jump and moan. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before.” He sounded as breathless as I was.

I tried to catch my breath. The reality of what we’d done was catching up to me and my mind was telling me that my bottom half was still exposed. My cheeks reddened and embarrassment was settling in.

“Is that a bad thing or what?” I asked.

He sat back in his seat and adjusted his very obvious erection. “Let me put it this way. You have always been a very good girl. Studious and smart but how you just were, open and letting me do what I wanted…” He whistled under his breath. “It was incredible.”

I pulled my seatbelt on, still not sure if I should be taking his words as a compliment. I kind of wanted to get back to my dorm, shower, and lay in my bed where I could over think everything that happened tonight.

“Let it go, Hadley.”

“What?” My eyes shot to him.

“Your nails. You’re clicking them”

I glanced down and sure enough, I was. “It’s just that that was pretty intense. How am I supposed to be feeling?”

“Anything you want.” He shrugged. “I’m just telling you that you were beautiful.”

He thought I was beautiful? That was very sweet and kind of him to say when I was feeling so unsure.

I nodded. “Well, I liked it,” I said shyly.

He had started the engine and steered the Jeep out of the parking lot. “I think I need to win more bets like that.”

I slapped his arm. “Shut up and drive would you?”