Catching Ava (Spring Training Book 3) Read online

  Lily hauled Ava in for a tight hug. “I love you. You know that. And I’ll support you any way I can, but know that I’m here for you. You don’t have to prove anything to me. I know you can do anything you set your mind to.”

  They started walking again. There were several things Ava had to face. Her relationship with Xavier seemed far more involved than a week should reflect. Every time they were together was intense and steamy.

  She wasn’t about to discuss anything about her sex life with her sister. She had been tight-lipped about her private life since she’d first been old enough to date. Even though the two of them were close, Ava had never offered specifics with Lily. It felt awkward, like it would telling her mother if she were alive.

  “Be careful,” Lily advised unnecessarily.

  A small group of fans lingered near the entrance to the clubhouse while the women waited several yards behind them. When the guys came out, they signed a few autographs and then made their way toward the women.

  Ava found herself holding her breath as she watched Xavier head her way. He was so unbelievably sexy. Suave. His hair was damp from a recent shower and hung across his forehead in adorable curls. She wanted to run her fingers through the thick locks and drag his face down for a lingering kiss.

  But her sister was standing next to her, so probably not the best idea. She didn’t need either Lily or Zia to know the specifics of how deeply she was involved with Xavier yet. They would pounce on the idea and hound her to death with questions she didn’t want to answer.

  One week. Why did it seem like a year? How had they gotten so involved so fast? Just thinking about her feelings for him made her nervous.

  Xavier glanced at the two other women before his gaze focused on Ava, his dark eyes intense in a way that made her fidget and shift her weight from one foot to the other. It seemed as though he undressed her with his eyes.

  When he reached her side, he casually leaned in, set his hand on the small of her back, and kissed her neck behind her ear. “I want to eat you right here,” he murmured.

  Her face flooded with heat, and her mouth fell open, but she couldn’t make a sound. Besides, what would she say?

  As if his statement had been about nothing more interesting than the weather, he righted himself and greeted Zia and Lily.

  As Brett and Dominic kissed their women, Ava bit her lip. All she could think about was the mumbled comment Xavier had tickled her ear with. Wetness pooled between her legs, making her regret her decision to show up in a sundress and thong.

  She was glad she’d worn flat sandals, however, because when they headed to the car, she feared she would’ve fallen on her face in heels after his greeting.

  “Do you guys have plans?” Brett asked. “Or do you want to go to dinner with us?” He glanced from Ava to Xavier. Obviously Dominic and Lily had already agreed. Perhaps the four of them had made plans before now.

  Xavier spoke. “Sounds good.” He glanced at Ava with one eyebrow raised. “Yeah?”

  She nodded, still unable to speak. Every ounce of her attention was focused on Xavier. The way he smelled. The way he kept touching her back, her arm, her hand, her cheek. The way he winked at her when no one was looking, knowing he’d ruffled her.

  What she really wanted to do was go back to his condo and head directly to his bed. Instead, she would play nice with her sister and the others as if she and Xavier were no big deal. Just two people out on a third date.

  Though, how the hell she would get away with it was a mystery at the moment. Surely anyone who paid one second of attention to them could see that Ava was totally head over heels for Xavier and hopefully vice versa.

  “Where did you park?”

  She smiled up at him, shooting him her own wink. “At your condo. I took a taxi.”

  “Perfect.” He threaded his fingers with hers and gave a tug. “We’ll meet you guys at the restaurant? Where are we going? What time?”

  Dominic’s gaze looked a bit too jovial, as if he were not the least bit snowed under by his friend’s relationship with Ava. “The Italian place on Fifth. Seven o’clock?”

  “Sounds good. We’ll see you there.” Xavier pulled her hand, angling them for the players’ parking lot before anyone could possibly suggest something else. He rushed her toward his car, ushered her into the passenger seat, and then rounded to his side at a jog.

  She fought the urge to giggle at the obvious urgency he felt.

  When he was settled, he glanced out the back window and then grabbed her face and hauled her toward him, his lips closing in before she had a moment to think.

  Who needed brain cells anyway when Xavier’s mouth was on hers? She reached across the console to grab his biceps as he angled her face exactly where he wanted it and deepened the kiss.

  Minutes later, he finally released her lips and set his forehead on hers. “Been wanting to do that since the moment I saw you in the stands. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the game?”

  “Surprise?”

  “I love this kind of surprise. Please feel free to show up any time.”

  Warmth consumed her body, partially because it was hot in the car, and he hadn’t taken the time to start the engine before making a total lip connection.

  His gaze roamed all over her face, a silly grin making her feel like she was the most important thing in his world.

  Finally, he released her to start the car. Then he peeled out of the parking lot without saying another word.

  When they reached his condo, he pulled into the garage, turned off the engine, and nearly leaped out.

  She followed him, trying not to laugh at his intensity.

  The moment they were inside the kitchen, Xavier kicked the door closed, grabbed Ava by the waist, and spun her around to flatten her against the door. His lips were on hers again, but this time, his hands were on her waist, roaming up to cup her breasts.

  She lifted her arms to wrap her fingers around his neck and then higher, threading them in his thick curls.

  Her body had craved his touch for hours. She didn’t need any foreplay to catch up with his driving need. She wanted him naked so she could flatten her palms on his warm skin as soon as possible. But when she eased her hands down to his shirt and then tucked them under the hem to touch his back, he broke free.

  He sucked in breaths as if he’d been running. His eyes were darker than she’d ever seen them and filled with desire. He smoothed his palms down her arms until he tugged her hands from under his shirt and held them in his.

  She opened her mouth to protest, and he stopped her with a shake of his head.

  “I want to touch you,” she whined.

  He leaned closer, still clasping her hands, and gently bit her neck before whispering in her ear, “Later. I promise. Right now, I need you to let me control this, or I will come in your hand.”

  She shivered.

  He chuckled. Then he released her wrist and spun her around so she faced the door, her cheek nearly planted on the cool surface. His fingers went for the zipper on her back and lowered it down until her dress fell away from her shoulders.

  “Jesus,” he breathed. “Ava… My God. You are full of surprises.” A hand on her shoulder pressed her cheek firmly against the door. His other hand trailed down her spine to the small of her back and then tucked under the tiny elastic of her thong. It was the only thing she wore under the dress. And it was soaked.

  Her dress was still tangled around her wrists and trapped against the door at her waist.

  Xavier kept his hand on her back, holding her in place as he kneeled behind her to tug the light blue material of her dress off her body. He tapped her feet one at a time to remove it.

  The way he held her against the door made her so horny she thought she might come. Her nipples were tight and needy flattened to the cool surface.

  He set his palms on her shoulders, ran them down her arms, and grabbed her hands.

  She gasped as he tugged her wrists over her head and then h
eld them in place with one hand.

  Her breasts dragged against the door a few inches, making her moan.

  When he nudged her feet wider with one of his, she bit her lip.

  She was so aroused she thought she really might come before he touched her. And she knew she would shatter instantly if he reached between her legs.

  His free hand danced across her skin, skimming the line of her spine and then the curves of her breasts from the sides.

  She shuddered with every caress.

  When he shoved his knee between her legs and pressed it against her sex, she lifted onto her toes and screamed his name. “Xavier. Oh. God.”

  “Mmm. You have no idea how unbelievably sexy you are right now. I’m going to come in my pants.”

  “I’m going to come on your pants.”

  “That’s the plan.” He reached around her side to stroke her breast again, making her squirm with the need to have him touch her nipple. But it was trapped against the door. Meanwhile, his leg lifted another inch, and he dragged his knee back and forth across her swollen sex.

  She clenched her entire body, so close to the edge it was embarrassing.

  “Let it go, hon. I want you to scream when you come.” He pressed harder, the lace of her thong pressing against her clit until she couldn’t take it another second. She came hard, losing the ability to remain upright on her own.

  She didn’t need to, however. Xavier held her hands and kept her body from collapsing with his knee.

  The pulsing of her clit against his thigh was intense, but she wanted more. She needed him inside her. “Xavier…” His name came out on a gravelly breath as she pleaded with him.

  He removed his leg from between hers, took a step back, and wrapped his arm around her middle so fast she squealed. One second she was against the door, and the next second she was on her belly on top of the kitchen table. Xavier dragged her thong off her body and left her there.

  She braced herself with her hands and turned her head to look at him behind her.

  His gaze was on hers, his eyes smoldering again. The intensity made her arms shake. He was also stripping off his clothes, and in seconds, he stood between her legs, rolling a condom down his shaft.

  He tucked his hands under her knees and drew them out wide, easing her body closer to the edge of the table. And then his erection was at her entrance, and she was panting.

  “You ready for me, Ava?”

  “Jesus, Xavier. Yes. Please.” How could she not be ready? She’d just come all over his leg without much contact. She was suspended, hanging off the edge of the table, her knees spread wide. Her sex pulsed with desire.

  He lined up with her entrance, hesitated long enough for her to squirm against him, and then thrust into her to the hilt.

  She screamed, her fingers gripping the smooth wood beneath them until they hurt.

  He didn’t move his torso, but he stroked her thighs with his fingers. “You okay?”

  So much better than okay… She let her cheek rest against the cold surface and licked her lips. “Fuck me, Xavier. Don’t stop.”

  Xavier moaned, and then he gave her what she wanted, thrusting in and out. So deep. So full. She couldn’t believe how good it felt. Even better than the first time.

  In moments, she was coming again without warning, grasping at his length tighter with every pulse. She couldn’t breathe. She didn’t even want to breathe. It would take too much energy, and she didn’t care if she died on this table in Xavier’s arms. It would be the best way to go.

  Seconds later, Xavier thrust into her one last time and groaned as he pulsed inside her. When he was spent, he didn’t pull out for a while. He took deep breaths, stroking her thighs with his fingers.

  Finally, he slid free of her channel and released her legs to grasp her waist. He spun her around and set her on the table facing him. After gently cupping her face and kissing her thoroughly, he pulled her chest against his and threaded one hand in her hair. “Was that hour better than the last?”

  At the teasing lilt in his voice, she chuckled. “It wasn’t a full hour yet, but if you stop manhandling me and let me explore you for a while, then I might agree.”

  He pulled her face away to meet her gaze. His eyes were narrow with his broad smile. “That could be arranged.” He stepped back. “Don’t move for a second.”

  She remained perched on the edge of the table, watching him dispose of the condom, and then he was back. “Wrap your legs around me.” He lifted her as she held on, and then he made his way to the living room where he sat on the couch, leaving her straddling his lap.

  She pushed back a few inches to see his face. “Now? Now I get to explore?”

  He lifted both hands as if in surrender. “Go to town.”

  Faced with free rein to do whatever she wanted for the first time, she suddenly found herself feeling a little timid. So far, every encounter with Xavier had been choreographed and directed by him. She hadn’t had the opportunity to explore.

  The way Xavier had controlled her had enabled her to really let go and surrender. Or perhaps forced was a better term than enabled.

  She set her hands on his broad shoulders first, spreading her fingers and staring at the gorgeous contrast of their skin. As she smoothed her palms down to his pecs, his breath hitched.

  She smiled inside, feeling a tiny fraction of the power she held over him just by being her.

  But she wanted to see all of him, hold his length, taste it, watch him grow in her hand. So she slid off his lap, landing on her knees between his thighs. When she lifted her gaze to his, she found him deep in concentration, his brows drawn together, his lips pursed. He set his arms along the top of the couch cushions and nodded.

  Renewed arousal made her clench her channel at the way he silently gave her permission to continue. On her knees between his legs with her hands on his thick, muscular thighs, she felt completely submissive and so horny.

  She’d never given anyone a blowjob before, but suddenly it was the first item on her bucket list. Gathering courage, she lifted one hand and stroked a finger along the side of his erection. It was already stiff, having never fully receded after taking her on the table, but it grew more engorged and stood out from his body at her touch.

  A glance at his face found his head tipped back and his teeth gritted.

  She didn’t think he was in pain. In fact, she smiled and returned her perusal to his length, emboldened. She wrapped her hand around him and stroked it slowly up from the base to the tip.

  The mushroom-shaped head darkened further, and a drop of precome leaked from the tip. Before she could change her mind, she leaned forward and flicked her tongue over the slit, gathering up his arousal and drawing it into her mouth.

  His thigh stiffened beneath her hand as his entire body went rigid. And if she wasn’t mistaken, a low groan filled the silence. Maybe it came from inside him and didn’t really leave his lips, but it was there all the same.

  He tasted salty and musky, and she wanted to know the flavor better, so she leaned forward farther and licked around the rim of his head. When it twitched under her lips, she drew it into her mouth, sucking him into her a few inches before releasing him with a pop.

  A soft sound came from Xavier’s lips without a doubt this time, and she lifted her gaze to find him staring down at her with smoldering eyes and parted lips. His hands were stretched along the back of the couch, gripping the upholstery.

  Her heart raced, knowing she affected him so strongly.

  “Take me in deeper, hon.” His voice was low, gravelly, sexy. Demanding.

  She hesitated for a moment, half of her wishing he wasn’t trying to take over her exploration. But his dominance was ever present, even in this supposed, temporary twist of power. She realized in reality he had never really given her any true command. He’d simply permitted her to explore under his guidance. He still controlled the situation, and she was still completely submitting to his will.

  Did it matter? Yes. Be
cause admittedly, it made her so horny she couldn’t possibly deny the reaction her body had to his demand.

  Still holding the base of his shaft in her hand, she lowered her mouth over the top and took him in as deeply as she could without gagging.

  He groaned louder, and his fingers cupped the back of her head. Holding her down on him? No… He was simply expressing his excitement, which she could feel through his fingertips.

  As if a silent pulse ran back and forth between them, she instinctively knew what he wanted and began to suck him harder, letting her cheeks hollow as she pulled off and then lowered back over him.

  He permitted that about three times, and then he grasped her chin and eased her off his length. A second later, he grabbed her under her arms and lifted her back onto his lap so that she straddled him.

  Her body shook with need, her nipples sharp points jutting out between them.

  Xavier released her waist to run his hands around and cup her breasts where they hung between them. He gripped her nipples in simultaneous sharp pinches that made her arch her chest toward him and cry out.

  “Oh, Ava. You have no idea what you do to me. Lower yourself over my cock, hon. Fuck me.”

  She glanced down at his rigid length between her legs and eased herself over him. Slowly. So slowly that every moment was an amazing stretch of her tight channel, bringing goose bumps to her skin until she was completely filled with him.

  So deep. She grabbed his shoulders, her fingertips digging into his skin. Then she lifted off him with the strength of her knees planted on both sides of his thighs. When she slammed back down, he squeezed her breasts. “So good, Ava. God, you feel amazing.”

  She watched his face intently as she continued, loving the slow change in his expression as he got closer to orgasm.

  His eyes closed, and he grabbed her hips to control the speed. After several minutes, he held her down, keeping her from continuing. With one hand on her hip, he eased the other around to her clit.

  She grabbed his fingers and tugged. “Not this time. Let me concentrate on you, Xavier.” There was no way she could come again so soon after two orgasms in the kitchen. And she really wanted to watch him come undone without the distraction of her own need.