Page 67 of Convincing the Catcher

“Yeah, I have. But when you get back to campus? When you have to actually settle into life—” He doesn’t finish his sentence, but I already know what he was going to say.

“Without my dad?”

“Yeah.” He nods. “I told you, once the dust settles, that’s the hard part. I know you think you’ve been through the worst of it. And maybe you’re right. But for some people … what’s about to come is the hardest part. Because it’s final. And it’s … quiet. And you go from planning funerals and making arrangements to having to be okay without your dad.” Every word he says is pained. “I just need you to promise me that no matter what, if you need me, you know you can call me. Day or night. Anytime.”

I peek at him through my wet lashes, feeling the weight of his words and knowing he isn’t telling me any of this to bring me down. He just wants me to be prepared, and he needs to know I’ll come to him. Even so, my heart aches, and I’m reminded that after tonight, I won’t be in whatever this bubble is that I’m in right now.

I nod my head. “I promise,” I whisper.

It doesn’t matter that a few weeks ago, we were just two kids, helping each other out with some insane deal. We’re bonded now. It may be through pain and trauma, but I’ll always look back and know in the darkest hour of my life … Cane Hale was there to rescue me. And no one will ever take that away from him.

Not even me.

CANE

I’m first out of the tub, and I grab a towel, quickly drying myself before wrapping it around my waist. I reach for two more towels, and this time, I lift Harland out, setting her onto her feet.

I wrap one towel around her body and run my hands over her arms and back to help her get dry. Her hair is wet, and she peeks up at me through her thick lashes.

“You’re always taking care of me,” she whispers sweetly. “I feel like I don’t do anything for you.”

Kneeling down, I use the other towel to dry her legs off. Not because she can’t, but it’s just who I am. I don’t know why I’m this way, but I’ve been like this my whole life. And for whatever reason, the need to caretake only amplifies when it comes to Harland.

Maybe it’s because I know how independent she really is while also knowing she deserves to be able to let go sometimes. Or because I know she’s going through a lot, and I want to be her rock, the one she can rely on. Honestly, I don’t know. And I also don’t really care either. If it makes her feel cared about, that’s what matters.

When I stand again, tossing a towel to the corner, she stares up at me, holding the towel snug around her body.

“How am I supposed to go to bed to get rested up for our flight tomorrow when you look like that, shirtless?” she says, waving a hand toward my abdomen. “I mean, dear God, Cane, how often do you work out?”

“Probably the same amount as you, tank,” I say with a grin because her body is a fucking force.

I kind of wanted to see how tightly her thighs could squeeze my neck earlier when I was eating her out, but then I also thought that might strangle me.

Like I told her, though, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go …

I lift my hand to her face, cupping her cheek before brushing my thumb across her bottom lip, instantly making her melt closer.

“But you’re right, Catch,” I rasp. “We probably should get some sleep. Early flight and all.”

“Yeah, definitely,” she whispers, cocking her chin upward, almost in a dare.

Her green eyes dance with pleasure, and slowly, she drops the towel from her body, leaving herself bare. Her nipples harden when I drag my thumb across her lip again before stroking her cheek, but surprisingly, she steps around me, strutting toward the bed.

Turning around, I take in the sight of the most perfect woman I’ve ever met climbing onto the bed, completely naked.

“It is our last night before we return to NEU though,” she drawls, dipping her head to the side. “And to be honest, my mind was a little fuzzy last night because of the pain. So, I was thinking, maybe we could have a do-over?”

“A do-over?” I croak out, my cock thickening under my towel, creating a bulge.

She positions herself onto her knees, looking at me all playfully and teasingly before she cups her tits as a way to cover them up, yet the sight of them spilling from her palms makes my pulse quicken.

“See, you had to go slow. And I don’t think I got the full experience.” She shrugs, biting down on her lip. “I think you took it easy on me because you were scared of hurting me.”

A groan erupts inside my throat, and I swallow it down. I’d love to fucking rail her into that mattress so hard that it leaves an outline of her perfect body. But she wasn’t ready for that last night. What am I saying? She still isn’t ready for that.

If we do this, it’ll only be her second time. I don’t want to hurt her. But, Christ almighty, the look she’s giving me from the bed … I know I’m not going to say no to her.

I let my eyes sweep over her tits, making the bulge under my towel even bigger, and she sucks in a breath when she notices it.