Indulgent Pleasures

“Oh, yeah. I used to chase him all over the place. Insinuating myself into all of the parties he was at, going to the games, you name it, I tried it. He never did take the bait though we spoke quite a bit.”

How would she have felt to know Zoe had once landed in the bed of her current lover? That would’ve been way too weird.

Luckily enough, Justin had discriminate taste.

She stared at him up on the stage, admiring his tall, broad physique, the way he filled out his tuxedo so perfectly. Her entire body reacted to him even from this far away and she wondered how much longer she would have to endure this party, Caleb and Zoe, until she could get away and meet up with Justin.

It couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter Fifteen

Justin paced the lavish hotel room he just paid for, undoing his bow tie as he walked. Frustration fueled him, making him tense, agitated. Horny as hell.

Yet again Stephanie kept him waiting. He’d barely just escaped the charity gala, finding it hard to extract himself from all of the people who wanted to speak with him. Now that he wasn’t always traveling with the team he was available for more public events and they knew it. They also knew where his true heart lied.

And that was with almost any local charity that helped children. He was a sucker for a poor or sick kid. They reminded him too much of his own disillusioned youth.

Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly eleven-thirty and he tore the watch off, tossing it onto a dresser. Not even caring that it was worth over twenty thousand dollars.

He glared at the Rolex, disgust filling him. He’d been caught up in the fast lane just like every other player on his team. He’d bought into the flashy cars, the designer labels and expensive accessories as some sort of status symbol.

The last couple of months before his accident he’d felt disgruntled, frustrated with the path his life had been taking. That’s why he’d bought the house in his grandmother’s hometown and worked on fixing it up. It gave him something to do, something to be proud of, an accomplishment other than baseball.

When he hit the age of thirty-one last year and his body felt as if it was slowly giving out on him, he knew he needed another focus. His entire life had been baseball since he was a kid. He hadn’t known what else to do.

It was as if his grandma had led him to his new passion when he’d driven out to Half Moon Bay that one afternoon. He’d stumbled upon his future home by accident, didn’t even know if it was for sale when he saw it but he’d taken one look and knew it had to be his. He’d taken that old, dilapidated house and remodeled it until it shone. It made him feel good, like he’d accomplished something major and quickly it became more than a hobby.

It had become an obsession.

He felt almost as obsessive about Stephanie. His cock hardened at the thought of her, of the way she looked earlier in that gorgeous dress out on the balcony. Her tits practically overflowing, just begging for his touch and he’d had to use every ounce of restraint he had to stop from stripping her bare and fucking her against the railing.

Yeah, that would’ve gone over real good at a charity event for Christ’s sake.

She’d made him angry when she acted as if she didn’t want to be seen with him. He didn’t get it, didn’t get her behavior at all. Did she think it was embarrassing, what they had? Every single woman he’d ever dated wanted nothing more than to be seen flouncing around town on his arm. It used to not bother him because hey, pussy was pussy. He’d take whatever he could get. And well, he usually got some pretty damn fine pussy.

Lately though, he’d hated it. How could he find a woman for a potential lifetime relationship when he didn’t trust how they felt about him? Not that he’d been looking for any sort of immediate permanence but the idea had been hanging on the fringes of his brain. He wasn’t getting any younger and he’d always wanted kids.

Hell, he wanted to make up for the shoddy way his parents had treated him. Wanted to indulge his future children with every single thing they could ever need. Not just the material things but emotionally as well. Lavish them with love, caring and understanding. Be there for them no matter what.

Justin grimaced and scrubbed a hand over his face. What the fuck was he doing, standing in a hotel room with dreams of his future children in his eyes? He didn’t

do this kind of sentimental shit, at least not very often and he had no clue what had gotten into him.

Stephanie has gotten into you, that’s who.

He rubbed his eyes, massaged his temple with the tips of his fingers. He was tired, cranky and horny, never a good combination. Really hoped Stephanie was prepared because he was probably going to be a bear to deal with.

Maybe being with her would soothe his frayed nerves though she was half the reason they were frayed in the first place.

Women. Who knew they were so much damn trouble? No wonder he’d avoided them for so long.

A click sounded at the door and then it swung open with a quiet swoosh. Stephanie entered the room with tentative steps, her shoes dangling in her hand and she seemed awfully short in her bare feet.

“It took me forever to get out of there. The crush of people trying to leave slowed me down,” she said when she saw him, her voice dripping with apology.

“It’s all right.” He shook his head. How could he be mad at her when she looked like she did? That dress fit her like a dream, the top molding to her chest, emphasizing the lush curve of her breasts and showcasing her smooth cleavage. The skirt swirled all around her, draping her body mysteriously though he knew every inch of skin beneath it and knew it well.

And he couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. On her.