Page 87 of Convincing the Catcher

As if feeling my gaze, he shifts subtly before finally, he yawns. Stretching his body, he cracks his eyes open, and the second he takes me in, the corner of his lips lifts into a crooked smirk. When his dimple is exposed, my heart flutters.

“Hi,” I whisper, unable to stop smiling.

“Hi,” he says back, flipping his body all the way toward me. “How’d you sleep?”

“I slept pretty good, all things considering.” I wiggle a little closer, and the heat from his body warms me. “How about you?”

His eyes dance with amusement. “I had a hot redhead in my bed, Catch,” he drawls sleepily. “And once she was done taking advantage of me, I slept pretty damn good.”

I roll my eyes. “You didn’t seem to mind it.”

His fingertips run through my hair. “How do you feel about last night?” His eyes dance between mine. “Any regrets?”

“Major,” I tease, biting down on my lip. “You?”

“So many,” he says back with a grin, and I giggle when his other hand tickles my side. “Nah, Catch. I’m joking.” His expression grows somber, and he brushes his thumb across my cheek. “I have no regrets.”

“Me neither,” I whisper. “So, does this mean …”

“That you’re my girlfriend?” he cuts me off. “Hell yeah, it does. I might just go shout it from the rooftops too. That way, everyone knows that Harland Meadows isn’t on the market.”

“I was never on the market, you idiot.” I laugh before lifting a brow. “Though I may want to be the one yelling it from the rooftops. The women of NEU love baseball boy Cane Hale, you know.”

“What’s not to love?” He winks. “And you can shout it from anywhere you want, Catch. I want everyone to know I belong to you.”

The words he just said … maybe to some, they wouldn’t mean much. To me, him saying he belongs to me and not the other way around, they mean everything. They mean enough for me to say what I do next.

“I belong to you too, Baseball Boy,” I utter, kissing his cheek. “But I’ll warn you: I have no experience in having a boyfriend. So, be patient with me, okay?”

His hand runs down my bare body, resting at the bottom of my abdomen. “Trust me, Harland. The fact that I’m your first everything … it drives me fucking wild.” He kisses my forehead. “What an honor. What a gift.”

I used to worry that when, one day, I did have sex or did date someone, I’d be embarrassed at being so inexperienced. With Cane, I don’t feel ashamed. The way he looks at me makes it hard to feel anything but happy.

“What are your plans today, Catch?” he murmurs against my forehead.

“I don’t really have any.” I shrug. “With no classes and no softball, I don’t know what to do with my time. You?”

His palm splays out across my stomach, and he brings his mouth to my ear. “Well, first, I want to fuck you in the shower. But then … I have somewhere I want to take you. And before you ask me because you’re a control freak and you can’t stand not knowing, it’s a surprise.”

First, I shiver at the mention of a shower with my boyfriend. But then I narrow my eyes at him when he pulls his head back.

“What are you up to, Hale?”

“Guess you’ll see, huh?” He brings his lips to mine, kissing me. “Now shower first. And if you’re a good girl and let me fuck you from behind so that I can watch my cock slide in and out of you, I’ll wash your hair after.” He suddenly smirks. “What am I even saying? I’m going to wash your hair either way.”

And before I know it, we’re out of bed and headed to the bathroom. And I’m eager for yet another first.

CANE

Harland stares at me, completely and utterly confused. “We’re at a tattoo shop …”

“Yes,” I say as we stand in front of the door.

I don’t dare to walk inside because right now, it’s obvious she’s freaking out.

“Why are we at a tattoo shop?” she asks, staring at the sign.

“Because for years, I’ve wanted to get my father’s signature on my bicep. And I want you to sit next to me while I get it done.” I cringe. “I told you, I’m not a fan of needles.”