Free Strike by Jennifer Ryder

like shit for not staying … for not telling her more about me. The truth.
    Riding. Practice tomorrow. That’s the shit I need to think about right now. Yeah.
    No, wait. Get home. Jerk off.
    Then think about riding.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    * APRIL *
    An hour after he left, and my brain is still going over what happened tonight. I’m convinced I’m as mad as that bloke in Alice in Wonderland . The one with the freaky hats. I must have channelled some kind of freaky sex goddess, because I’d never been daring enough to think about doing something like that, let alone to orchestrate it.
    Was trying it this way, changing tack, even going to work?
    Before we went to my bedroom, the way his hands felt on me when he massaged my feet and ran them up my legs had turned my insides to mush. They weren’t the hands of a man trapped in an office all day, shuffling papers. The little callouses on his palms told me there was more about Spencer. I hope in time he’ll share more of himself than he has so far. It’s heartening to know he is so interested in me, but getting to know someone is a two-way street.
    I keep coming back to the strange, tortured look on Spencer’s face when he left. Did he want to stay, or was he grateful for an out? Did I go too far? I’d wanted him to stay. What could have been so important that he couldn’t sleep the night? It was only work.
    I’d enjoyed myself tonight. Hottest date ever . I could have ripped those clothes off him, so, so easily but I’m glad I held firm. After Todd, I’d always jump into bed too soon, determined to make sure the guy wanted sex as much as me before it got too far, but somehow I’d always ended up getting used, and they’d move on … with a small piece of my heart in tow. History had proven that I’d always pick the wrong men, and when they left or never rang again I’d always think I was the problem. I’d get upset and withdraw into myself until I was ready to start again. It was tiring.
    I had to break the chain.
    I am not my mother.
    I want someone to really get to know me, and Spencer is well on the way. Has he made all this effort because I’ve taken the reins and held back on the sex? Is that the key? Is that what he likes about me? The thrill of the chase? I wonder if once I sleep with him, he’ll hang around. I bet he never has to beg for it. The reality is, that even though it’s early days, I care about Spencer more than I should. My head has never been in charge; my heart leads the way.
    I guess soon enough my heart will discover the truth about Spencer. I hope he’ll be the one to affirm that I’m more than one-night material. Because I know, in my heart, that I’m more than that.
    ****
    * SPENCER *
    Saturday
    “My Peaches is coming to visit this weekend, so you boys had better keep it in your pants. I know I don’t have Stone to worry about, but Billy … Jones … you’d better keep in mind she’s my only daughter and I’m a big ol’ grizzly bear when it comes to her.”
    As the team manager, what Mac says goes. No if s, no but s.
    Whatever .
    “Sure, Mac,” I mutter.
    What kind of a name is Peaches? I bet she’s Daddy’s little princess. I’m not interested anyway. I’ve got April to dream about, and I haven’t been able to get her and her sexy antics out of my head. Last night, after I jerked off in the shower, I’d barely slept. Even after I came, when I settled into bed my dick was hard again. I could have jerked off all night. Maybe I should have, because riding with a stiffy is fucking torture.
    Mac comes over, and sits on the bench beside me. “You look like shit, Jones. Another late night, huh? You’d give the partying a rest, wouldn’t you?”
    I knew he was insinuating I’d been fucking yet another girl. I wanted to tell him it wasn’t like that, but I’d just be ridiculed for it. I don’t need shit from Mac, or anyone else who’d laugh at my attempts to actually try and get to know a girl. I don’t need any added