It was sweet hell, making him want to spill hard and fast, but he held back, gentling his movements as he pressed his forehead to hers.
"What you do to me, Aubry," he whispered, easing into her, then out. "I can't explain it."
She reached up to rub her fingertip against his bottom lip. "I know. I know. For me, too."
It was an emotional connection he'd never felt with any other woman. It shattered him in ways he couldn't fathom. This woman had the capacity to destroy him.
He was in love with her and he wanted to tell her. But when they were alone. Not here. Not now. Instead, he gave in to the sensation, to the rhythm of their bodies moving in unison. He ground against her and she tightened around him. He saw it in the way her eyes widened, and knew she was going to come again. He waited for her, gave her the friction she needed, and when she gasped and came, he thrust hard, releasing the spurts of come that exploded from him.
It was all he could do to stay upright as he released, as everything around him seemed to go black for a few seconds. He held on to Aubry and planted his mouth on hers, fusing the two of them together in this raw passion that seemed to have no end.
But finally, he took a deep breath and gripped the table. Aubry released her leg and let it slowly slide to the floor.
"Now that is a much better memory of the wine cellar than I had previously."
She smiled and kissed him. "I'm glad to hear that. Although if you recall I had my hand on your cock that night as well."
He laughed. "Yeah, but it didn't feel as good that night as it did tonight."
"I'm sure that's true."
They disentangled and righted their clothes. "Uh, I'm going to need to get rid of this condom. And I don't think there's a bathroom down here."
"Come on. There's a bathroom right off the kitchen."
They left the wine cellar the way they came in, then quietly entered the kitchen. Music was playing in the living room, so they snuck into the bathroom and tidied themselves up before reentering the living room.
Aubry's mother was reading, so she looked up. "How was the walk?"
"Invigorating," Aubry said as they both took a seat on the sofa across from her parents. "I feel a lot better now."
"Me, too," Tucker said. "Your property is amazing, Mr. and Mrs. Ross."
"Thanks," Clyde said, setting down his phone. "We've always liked this house."
"Oh, Aubry, I forgot to give you that recipe you asked for. Before I forget again, why don't you come into the kitchen with me and you can copy it down?"
"Yes, let's do that." She stood and looked down at Tucker. "I'll be right back."
"Would you two like some coffee?" Helen asked.
"I'd love some," Clyde asked.
"If it's not too much trouble," Tucker said.
"Not at all." Helen smiled at him before leaving the room.
"Where did you all walk to?" Clyde asked after the women left the room.
Fortunately, Tucker had walked the grounds before. "We went past the pool house to the statuary gardens, then over to the azalea garden. It's coming along nicely there. Everything seems to be in bloom. Really pretty."
Clyde nodded. "Helen loves all her flowers. She makes me get out there all the time and take walks."
Tucker could picture that.
"So, about Aubry. Is this a serious thing?"
Tucker was prepared for this conversation, knew it was coming eventually. "Yes, sir. From my standpoint it is."
"I'm glad you're not taking it lightly. That means something." Clyde leaned forward. "My daughter worked her ass off as an undergraduate, then in medical school, and now her residency. She has a clear plan for her future, and I know you do as well."
"Yes, sir."
"I think you're an outstanding ballplayer, Tucker. I've watched you play and I'm impressed with your talent. I think the Rivers were damn lucky to sign you, and I believe you're going to have an amazing career as a pitcher."
High praise coming from someone like Clyde Ross. "Thank you, Mr. Ross."
"But here's the thing. Aubry's not ready to settle down yet. She's got a year left in residency and she'll need to take her tests after that, then apply to a fellowship. She has to think about her career, not love or romance. The last thing she needs right now is a distraction from a hotshot athlete like you, or God forbid, to fall in love."
Tucker didn't like where this was going, and he wholeheartedly disagreed. "But sir--"
"Let me finish. I've worked my whole life to give Aubry the life I feel she deserves. And she's worked hard as well. I won't let you take that away from her. So you break this off with her, or you'll fall asleep one night playing for the Rivers and wake up the next morning pitching for the goddamn Triple-A team again. Don't think I'm joking here, Cassidy. I will trade you or I will send you down to the minors. You understand me?"
"Coffee for everyone." Helen came in with a carafe and cups, a smiling Aubry trailing behind her, which effectively cut off the conversation between Tucker and Mr. Ross.
Clyde offered up a friendly smile as if he hadn't just upended Tucker's whole world. "Great. I'm ready for some coffee. How about you, Tucker?"
Still barely able to form a coherent thought, let alone words, Tucker nodded and tried for what he hoped was a smile.
Clyde might be able to play the part of doting husband and happy father, but Tucker had gotten the message loud and clear.
He'd just been told to break up with Aubry. Like . . . right now.
No, he hadn't been told. He'd been threatened. His job--his career--had been threatened. Clyde Ross had made it very clear that if he wanted to keep the job he loved, he had to end things with Aubry.
He just didn't know what the hell he was going to do about it.
"YOU'RE IN A GOOD MOOD," KATIE SAID TO AUBRY, frowning at her.
They'd decided to go out to dinner after their shift ended. Aubry dipped her chip in salsa, grinned, then ate it, following up with a sip of her margarita.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No. But usually these after-work dinners are bitchfests and we're both grouchy and grumbly. You are neither grouchy nor grumbling about anything. Instead, you've got a goofy-ass smile on your face. What's up with that?"
Aubry shrugged and took another drink. "I'm just . . . happy."
Katie grabbed her drink and leaned back in her seat. "Okay, what's going on?"
"Nothing," Aubry said with a laugh. "Can't I be happy?"
"Of course you can. But we had a shit day today and we barely had time for a break to pee, yet you're sitting here all smiles. So spill."
"Fine. It's Tucker."
"Ohh, so he's the one putting a smile on your face. That makes sense. What's going on with you two?"
Aubry hadn't seen him for several days, since that night he'd had dinner with her parents. He'd left after coffee, saying he had an early call at the ballpark the next day, and she knew he had back-to-back-to-back games. But still, her parents had loved him, and so did she.
Things were working out.
"He met my parents."
"Really. And how did that go?"
"It went really well. I was afraid my dad was going to have a fit about it. One, because you know how my father is, and two, because Tucker plays for the Rivers."
"And he was okay?"
Aubry smiled. "He was okay. After Tucker left he told me that Tucker was a really nice young man, a professional, and he could see how much I liked him."
"That's great. So things between you and Tucker must be getting serious."
"I think so. Maybe. I don't know. It's hard to say how serious either of us can get with the careers we have. We're both just so busy."
Katie placed her drink on the table and leaned forward. "Oh, bullshit, Aubry. Stop making everything in your life about your work and take your career out of the equation. How do you feel about Tucker?"
She hadn't said the words out loud to anyone yet, but she had to. She just had to. "I'm in love wi
th him."
Katie squealed with joy, got up and came around to Aubry's side of the table, pulled her out of her chair and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you. Does he love you, too?"
Aubry laughed at Katie's exuberance. They both sat down and Aubry moved her drink toward the chair next to Katie's so she could be closer. "I don't know. We haven't said the words to each other yet. But I feel it, you know? I think he does."
"If he agreed to the dinner-with-the-parents routine, trust me, he's in love with you. It's only a matter of time before he says the words."
That was how she felt as well. "So now you know why I'm smiling."
"And now you know why I'm going to glare daggers of hate and jealousy at you the rest of the night." Katie lifted her glass toward Aubry.
Aubry laughed and lifted her glass, clinking it with Katie's. "You will not because you're my best friend and you love me."
"Fine. Here's to love and the lucky ones who manage to land the hot men."
"I'll definitely drink to that."
TUCKER SAT IN HIS CAR IN FRONT OF VICTORIA BALDWIN'S office, almost too afraid to go inside to talk to her.
It had been four days since Clyde Ross had threatened to trade him. Four days since he'd last talked to Aubry. He was afraid to even text her, though he didn't think her father monitored her phone.
He felt like a goddamned coward. But this was his career. What the hell was he supposed to do?
And that was the problem. He didn't know. Right now he needed intel, so he got out of the car and went inside the building where Victoria's spacious office was located. He'd texted her this morning and asked if she had some time to see him before he had to report to the stadium for his game today, and fortunately she did.
The receptionist led him to her office. Victoria looked gorgeous as always in her dark slim pencil skirt, white blouse and high heels that accentuated her killer legs. He had no idea about her age--late thirties or early forties maybe? It didn't matter. She was beautiful, in that classic-beauty kind of way, her brown hair perfectly styled and brushing her shoulders in a wave of curls.
She was also a shark in this business, and that's what he admired the most about her.
"Tucker," she said, smiling as he entered. "I'm so glad you stopped by. Would you like something to drink?"
"I'm fine right now, thanks."
"All right. Take a seat and tell me what brings you by today?"
His stomach jumbled and he didn't want to have this conversation with her, but knowing was better than not knowing. "I was wondering if you'd heard anything about a trade involving me."
Her brow arched. "A trade? No. Why? Have you heard something?"
"No."
She leaned a hip against her desk and crossed her arms. "Okay. Then tell me why you thought there might be a trade in the works."
He wanted to downplay this so she wouldn't ask a lot of questions. "I was just wondering if you'd heard anything. You know, just to be safe."
She pushed off the desk and took a seat in the chair next to his. "I don't think so, Tucker. You're worried about something. Did someone on the staff threaten you with a trade?"
"No. No one on the staff threatened me with a trade." That part, at least, was honest.
"You're obviously upset enough to have come here today to talk to me. Come on, Tucker, tell me what's worrying you."
There was no way in hell he'd tell Victoria about Clyde Ross's threat. He knew Victoria. She was protective of her players. He'd seen her in action when she was negotiating a deal and she was a tigress, giving no ground where the best interests of her clients were concerned. If he told her what Clyde had said to him, she'd march right into his office and threaten him with trading Tucker, telling him what a loss it would be for the Rivers, when that was the last thing he wanted. Now that he knew Clyde hadn't started trade talks--at least not yet--he was going to have to finesse his way out of this.
He dragged his fingers through his hair. "I don't know, Victoria. I think it's just all in my head. You know how it is. The pressure of the game, of wanting to do my best for the team. I had a couple of losses recently that I should have won. And my curveball sucks right now. I can do better."
She sighed. "Tucker. You're having a fantastic year. Your pitching is phenomenal, and it's gotten even better since you've been with the Rivers. My guess is you're only going to improve. The Rivers would be morons to trade you, and trust me, that organization isn't moronic, so relax. Your status with the team is fine."
If only she knew. He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"I'm more than probably right. I know my players and my teams, and trust me when I tell you that you're right where you're supposed to be."
"Okay."
She studied him for a few seconds. "Unless you're the one who's not happy and this is your not-so-subtle way of telling me you want out."
He leveled his gaze on her, making sure she knew where he stood. "That's the last thing I want. I like where I am. I like this team."
She nodded. "That's what I thought. So focus your energies on your outstanding pitching, and you let me worry about the front office stuff, okay?"
He stood, and so did she. "Okay. And thanks for letting me vent a little."
She patted his shoulder. "Anytime. That's what I'm here for."
He left Victoria's office a little more clearheaded. But he still wasn't sure what he was going to do.
He loved Aubry. But his career was everything to him.
And he still felt like a coward.
A coward with no answers.
AUBRY KNEW TUCKER HAD A DAY GAME TODAY. SHE also knew, like herself, that he'd been really busy the past week. They'd hardly spoken and he was getting ready to go out on a road trip again, so she wanted to see him before he left.
Fortunately, their schedules actually meshed for a change, and she had gotten off work right about the time his game ended. She dashed home to shower and change into very sexy underwear and a sundress, slipped into her sandals and drove over to his place. She'd sent him a text message right before she left telling him she'd meet him there.
When he opened the door, she threw herself against him, planting her lips on his for a kiss.
"I've missed you," she said, tossing her purse on the table by the door as she walked in. "God, it feels like an eternity since we've been together. Or even talked."
She fell onto his sofa and curled her legs underneath her, smiling up at him as he entered the room. "We should probably have sex first, don't you think?"
He looked gorgeous in his jeans and T-shirt, said T-shirt hugging all his muscles oh so perfectly.
"Uh, actually, I had made plans to hang out with some of the guys from the team tonight. It's one of the guy's birthdays and he arranged a party at a bar. I'm sorry. I texted you back, but I guess you didn't get my message."
"Oh. You did?" She got up and grabbed her purse so she could pull out her phone. She read his message. "You sure did. I was so excited to see you and I figured you'd . . . Well, never mind." Her cheeks heated. "I'm so sorry, Tucker. I didn't know."
"It's okay. I'm the one who's sorry. I should have called you when you didn't reply to my message."
"No, really. It's on me. I just thought . . ."
She thought he'd want to see her. They'd barely spoken. She texted him and he'd text back, but she sensed a distance. And now . . .
She shouldn't read too much into this. He was just busy. So was she.
She took a deep breath and headed to the door. "Okay, then. Well, you have fun with the guys tonight."
"Really, Aubry. I'm sorry about this. It's just that I said I'd go to this party for him. And it's just all guys, otherwise I'd take you with me."
"No you definitely should go hang out with the team. Have a great time."
"Thanks. I'll text you later, okay?"
"Sure. Bye, Tucker."
He didn't pull her against him for a kiss. He didn't hug her. It was as if he didn't want to
get close to her.
She walked out and he shut the door.
Something was wrong. With him. With them. With their relationship.
When she got to her car, she palmed her stomach, feeling the ache of loss all the way down to her toes.
What the hell was going on?
TUCKER LEANED AGAINST THE FRONT DOOR, LISTENING to the sound of Aubry's car starting up and pulling away.
He had no party to go to tonight. When she'd texted that she was coming over, he'd panicked and that was the first thing he'd thought of to tell her. Unfortunately, she'd showed up at his house looking gorgeous and smelling like candy and all he'd wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her and make love to her and tell her he was in love with her.
Instead, he'd sent her away.
Coward.
He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, then let it out.
He was hurting her. Hell, he was hurting himself. This wasn't him. He didn't act this way, didn't skulk around avoiding a woman because he'd been threatened by her father. He'd always addressed uncomfortable issues head-on. Even that night in the wine cellar with Laura, he'd told her up front and honestly that he didn't see their relationship continuing. He'd taken a knee to the balls for it, but he'd been honest with her.
And now? With the woman he loved, he was avoiding and being completely dishonest. It was the most cowardly thing he'd ever done.
And he still didn't know what the hell to do about it.
He needed to talk to someone, and he knew who. He had a road trip coming up, and it would end in Houston, with a day off in between.
He needed to go home and talk to his family.
AUBRY DID NOT WANT TO BE AT THIS DINNER TO CELEBRATE her aunt and uncle's anniversary.
Love was a crock of shit, and who better to represent that than a philandering uncle and the woman who foolishly stood by him despite his constant affairs.
But her mother would have been offended had she not showed up, and since she was off work, she was here. For her mother, and for no other reason.
And okay, also for her Aunt Farrah, who looked beautiful tonight in a gold dress, her hair worn down in gorgeous red waves. She was the bangle bracelet queen, and she was definitely clanging those bracelets with fervor tonight. At least her uncle would be attentive tonight. He kind of had to, since the party was in their honor. Why Uncle Davis felt he could do better than her treasure of an aunt was beyond her ability to understand.