Sex, Vows & Babies: Cherry Picked (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Shots On Goal Book 3) Read online

  “And?” I shamelessly queried.

  “You were my first kiss today,” she finally spit out.

  I was stunned. I could tell she was a tad bit inexperienced, but never kissed? That was a shocker. When we kissed at the Cloisters, she was timid but I thought it was just because we had just met. I would have never guessed from how perfect that encounter was that she had not had any form of practice on that front.

  “Good.” I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t want her to be shy about anything with me.

  A goofy grin fell across my lips as the triumphant feeling of victory settled deep in. Little did Nikki know, I didn’t intend for her to ever have another—I was going to be her first and last for everything. That thought made my pants unpleasantly tight, and I shifted to try to get comfortable, trying to be discrete about readjusting myself. Thankfully Nikki was too engrossed in her food to notice my movements.

  “It doesn’t bother you, does it?” Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly.

  “How could it? I care that I was your first kiss because I hope it meant something to you, just like it meant everything to me.”

  Throwing her food onto the coffee table, Nikki leapt into me, letting her soft lips dance with mine as I pulled her in as close as I could.

  “How’d this happen?” she asked, barely pulling away from me.

  “What?” I enquired before quickly kissing her again.

  “How’d we get this lucky to have such a serendipitous meeting?” Her question sank in and melted my heart a bit.

  “Sometimes fate just has a way of bringing people together, I guess.”

  She shifted off my lap, biting her lip. “Chase?”

  “Yes babe?” I took another bite of pizza; I had to do something with my mouth to preoccupy its need to be connecting with Nikki’s.

  “Does it bother you that I’m a virgin?” Her words barely came out.

  “Not in the slightest.” I didn’t let a second go by before answering; I didn’t want there to be any doubt in her mind.

  “Okay. Good.”

  She leaned back into me while we finished our meal and watched the rest of the movie.

  A long yawn escaped Nikki when she stretched as the credits scrolled across my TV screen. “I should probably head home. It’s getting late.”

  I gripped her tighter. “Just stay here.” I couldn’t imagine letting her leave my apartment.

  “But…” She glanced over her shoulder at me. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “We can just sleep. I promise I won’t try anything.”

  It pained me to think that I would have to control myself, but for my beautiful ballerina, I would practice restraint.

  “I-I guess that would be nice.”

  I didn’t waste time. She’d agreed to stay, and I didn’t want to give her a chance to change her mind. I led her into the bedroom and gave her a shirt and shorts to sleep in.

  I waited in bed while she got ready in my bathroom. Worry that I was pushing her too hard settled in as she took forever in the other room, but I had to push it out of my mind. If she didn’t want to be there, she wouldn’t be—at least that was what I was letting myself believe.

  Once she crawled into bed, I breathed a sigh of relief.

  I wrapped my arms around her from behind and felt her body relax slowly into mine.

  “Goodnight,” she said quietly.

  I kissed her cheek. “Sleep well, beautiful.”

  Chapter 6

  Nikki

  Waking up still curled in Chase’s strong arms was surprisingly perfect. I hadn’t slept that well in my entire life. Shifting a bit, I rolled over to face him, kissing his stubble-covered cheek.

  He took a deep breath in. “Good morning, babe.” He yawned, pulling me closer into his bare chest.

  I loved the way my skin felt on his.

  More firsts.

  I was really enjoying my new conviction of being a yes person. It had brought me to one of the most incredible people I had ever met in my life.

  “Good morning, handsome.” I glanced over his shoulder to check the time on the clock that rested on his nightstand. “I have to head to that yoga class.”

  He groaned loudly. “No, don’t go!”

  “You promised I would make it if I came over last night.”

  He rubbed his sleepy eyes and grunted, “Fine.”

  Suddenly, I got the best idea ever. “Hey, why don’t you come with me?”

  His eyes shot open. “Me? Do yoga?”

  I nodded, giggling. “Why is that such a shocking notion?”

  Chase propped up on his elbow. “Because I am a giant hockey player. I’d be a bull in a damn china shop for sure.”

  “Yes, but a sexy bull,” I teased. “Come on. It will be so much fun.”

  “Do you really want me to go?” he asked, rolling me on top of him.

  I nodded playfully, starting to plant hasty kisses on his lips and cheeks. “Please, babe, for me?”

  “You’re lucky you’re cute and that I have today off from practice.” He kissed the tip of my nose and smacked my ass gently. “Now get up so I can get damn sweats on and try this yoga thing you’re so keen on.”

  “There’s a first time for everything, my dear. Who knows? You might just enjoy yourself.”

  Watching Chase doing downward dog on the pink mat that was way too small for his giant frame next to me was one of my favorite sights to date. He was trying so hard to get the poses right that he was forgetting to breathe. Every once in a while, I would hear him gasp for air, and it took everything in me to not bust out in a fit of hysterics on the spot.

  “And now, mountain,” the instructor’s soft voice dictated, and Chase whispered, “Finally, one I know I can’t mess up.”

  I silently giggled, getting into position and taking a deep breath in then holding it for a few seconds. Calm washed over my body while I did yoga; it was my meditation time.

  “Slowly relax and enter tree pose.”

  Chase watched me as I lifted my right leg, resting my foot on the inside of my left knee.

  “Wh-Whoa,” I heard him exclaim as he attempted to balance.

  I looked over my shoulder at him and said, “I know you have to be more coordinated and graceful than this on the ice. Just relax and listen to your body.”

  An older lady to my side shot us a dirty look while holding her finger over her mouth to shush me. I rolled my eyes at her and she looked away quickly. Some people took life way too seriously in my opinion.

  As the class ended, we all bowed to the instructor and made our way out the door.

  “That was an interesting first.” Chase hooked his arm around my neck as we walked out of the studio.

  “Hey, I have an idea.” I practically bounced as I positioned myself so I could look up at him. “Let’s spend the next two weeks doing firsts, trying all new things together before my orientation.”

  Chase scooped me up into his arms and whirled me in the air effortlessly; it was so different than when my dance partners did it. Even though dancers were strong, Chase had more brawn, and I wasn’t worried that an extra pound might snap his wrist like a twig. “That is a wonderful idea, baby.”

  “Awesome! What should we do next?” I asked, giggling in his arms.

  He put me down and started to walk back toward his apartment. “Eat breakfast together? I am freaking starving.”

  I laughed a little. “Sounds like a plan.”

  We spent the next two weeks of my freedom before I had to report to the ballet doing as many firsts as we could find in the city. Every minute Chase was not at practice, he spent with me. I had barely been to my place since we started our adventure, but I wasn’t complaining. There was something about Chase’s flat that felt like home, and that feeling grew stronger with each passing day.

  We went to the Empire State Building, road on the Staten Island Ferry, ate cannoli in Little Italy, checked out Grand Central Station, and road the subway. Central Par
k and the Statue of Liberty were my personal favorites, but Chase would argue that going to the fish market in China Town was the best.

  As I sat on his couch, searching online for other things for us to do, Chase called out from the kitchen, “Isn’t there a famous zoo here?”

  I feverishly started to google it. How did I not think about a zoo? “Yeah! The Bronx Zoo.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He came in wearing only faded blue jeans carrying cups of coffee for us. His body was toned and incredible, and I couldn’t help but think about letting him have the biggest first I could offer.

  I took my mug from him, taking a sip quickly to hide the fact that I was blushing. “I can’t believe tomorrow starts my reality.” I was sad to think that our little bubble of exploration was going to burst first thing in the morning.

  “It’s going to be a grand adventure.” Chase took the seat next to me, letting his hand land on my knee.

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I was nervous but excited. I knew starting with the ballet was going to be amazing, but I was scared I was going to be out of my league.

  Chapter 7

  Chase

  After walking around all day, looking at animals, and convincing Nikki she could not have a red panda as a pet, we were relaxing in bed with Chinese takeout. It was our last night of our two weeks of firsts. Even though I’d had practice almost every day, it felt like a vacation was about to end, and I couldn’t have been more bummed out about it.

  I threw my chopsticks into the empty container, feeling way too full for my own good. “Man, that is so fantastic.”

  Nikki popped another crab rangoon into her mouth. “Mmmmmhmmmmm.” The look of satisfaction on her face was priceless as she noshed on the seafood pastry.

  “Finished?” I grabbed the empty containers as she nodded.

  “Thanks babe.”

  I cleaned up our mess then climbed back onto my side of the bed. I pulled Nikki into my arms and she wiggled free.

  “Everything okay, baby?” I propped up on my elbow.

  She nodded then bit her bottom lip.

  “What is it?” I knew that look—she had something serious on her mind. It was so crazy to think it had only been two weeks since we met, and I couldn’t imagine my life without Nicolette Jennings in it.

  Her lips connected with mine. There was a need behind her kiss that was new, and I wasn’t going to question it. She rolled onto her back, pulling me on top of her. I could feel eagerness building up quickly. Sleeping next to her every night had been challenging, to say the least, but I had done it. Her fingertips raked over my back, pulling my shirt up over my head, and I froze.

  “Nik, we don’t have to—”

  She stopped me by plunging her tongue into my mouth. “But I want this.” She breathed in my ear as she pushed her hips up into mine.

  “Are you sure?” I hated questioning her desires, but I needed to be a hundred and fifty percent certain she wasn’t just doing this because she knew I wanted it.

  “If anyone is going to be my first, I want it to be you during this time of bliss.”

  I kissed down her neck, my blood coursing through my veins as excitement and hunger crashed hard in my gut. I pulled her yoga pants down and off along with her lacy thong, breathing in the sweet smell of her cravings deeply.

  My tongue connected with her wetness and her back immediately arched, her fingers lacing in my short hair. I flattened my tongue, softly putting pressure on her sensitive skin. I was going to savor every second she gave me. I pulled her legs up over my shoulders, firmly gripping the tops of her thighs. “If anything is too much, just tell me, okay?”

  I could feel her entire body start to tremble as she mumbled, “O-Okay.”

  Exploring her tenderness with my tongue, I quickened my pace using her breathing and moans as a guide for how to continue. Within seconds, her first climax consumed her as she cried my name. It was the sexiest sound I had ever heard in my life.

  Letting her relax for a second, I rested my head on her stomach.

  “Ready?” I asked before gently nipping at her belly.

  “For what?” A euphoric smile was firmly placed on her cupid’s bow.

  “Baby, I am definitely not finished with you yet,” I growled.

  Her eyes got wide as I winked up at her. I tenderly let my index finger trail down her clit and press softly onto her opening. Kissing down to her inner thigh, I let my finger explore her as her breath hitched.

  “Oh my goodness, Chase.” Her groan of pleasure leapt into the night air and my dick twitched. I needed to be inside her as soon as possible.

  “Baby?” I glanced up at her. “I don’t have condoms. Do you want to wait?” It was a sad truth, but I hadn’t felt the need for them since I didn’t think Nikki would be ready this soon. I didn’t want her to find them in my apartment one day and jump to conclusions.

  “I don’t care,” she said breathlessly with my finger still buried deep inside her. I knew it wasn’t fair to ask while she was drenched in ecstasy, but I didn’t want to stop pleasing her either.

  I ripped the rest of our clothes off, taking a second to enjoy the simple beauty of her perfect body. “You’re incredible.”

  She beamed up at me. “I could say the same thing about you.”

  I positioned myself on top of her. “This might hurt at first. Trust me, it will get better.”

  She nodded, pecking me quickly. “I’m ready.”

  The head of my dick slowly started to enter as she gasped, digging her nails into my shoulder.

  I retreated. “Too much?”

  She violently shook her head as her eyes locked with mine. “Keep going,” she pleaded.

  I gingerly let my length fill her as she gripped me, breathless.

  She was so tight. It had been so long since I was with anyone, I couldn’t even remember it. I was a goner. I slowly rocked my hips into hers, paying close attention to her moans and cries.

  “Look at me, Nikki. I want to see everything.”

  Her gaze snapped to mine as her body quaked under me.

  “Oh, Chase, I’m…” She couldn’t finish her statement before her walls were closing tightly around me, sending my body into hyper-drive. I quickly pulled out, grabbing the sheet to wrap around the head of my dick as my own orgasm consumed me.

  My head fell into her shoulder as I tried to catch my breath. “That was unreal.” I could hear her heart thudding in her chest as she nodded in agreement.

  “Chase, thank you.”

  I shifted her into my arms, tucking her into my side. “You don’t need to thank me for anything, baby. I should be thanking you for trusting me this much.”

  She kissed my shoulder, shifting a little to get comfortable. “Of course I trust you.”

  Chapter 8

  Nikki

  I was a ball of nerves as I sat in a gray plastic chair, waiting to be called into Serena’s office. She ran the show for the entire company, and I couldn’t shake how alarming it felt to be finally here.

  “Nicolette Jennings?” I heard her call for me and I shot up to my feet.

  “Hello. It is so wonderful to meet you.” I grabbed her hand, eager to get to know her.

  “Lovely to finally make your acquaintance, dear. Please have a seat.”

  I sat down opposite her on the other side of her desk. “It says on your paperwork that you go by Nikki?”

  I nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

  “It’s a pleasure to have you have here, Nikki. Here is your schedule and the information about you mentor. A lovely woman that is highly regarded in our company, Lisa will be your go-to person.”

  I read over my rehearsal schedule and all I could think about was how little time I would actually have to spend with Chase now.

  “I look forward to meeting her,” I blurted out after realizing how long I had been silent.

  “Warmups will be starting in twenty minutes, and you have a meeting with Lisa directly after. If you ever need anything at
all, my door is always open.”

  “Thank you, Miss Serena.”

  We shook hands once more and then I was sent on my way, shocked at how quickly our meeting was over. I pulled out the map of the building as I walked out of Serena’s office and rushed to the warmup room, ducking in with a couple minutes to spare.

  The ballet mistress introduced herself to all of us and we began stretching on the barre. It was captivating being in a studio filled with so many talented dancers. Even though I’d enjoyed my little stint of time off, I hadn’t realized how much I missed being in a class. My spine stretched, my feet ached, my muscles cried, and it was amazing.

  By the end of the warmup, I was ready to seize the entire company. Waiting for me outside the studio was a kind-looking young woman with a huge smile on her face.

  “Nikki?” She rushed over to me.

  “Are you Lisa?” I asked as she hugged me.

  “Sorry, I’m a hugger, and I am so thrilled to be your mentor this year.”

  The warm welcome was so nice. “I am really looking forward to learning the ropes from someone who has been in my shoes.”

  Her hand landed on my shoulder. “I am here for you if you have any questions. I know this can be overwhelming, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.”

  “I won’t. Thank you,” I said as I checked my tightly packed schedule once more.

  Lisa took the page from my hand. “Here, I will walk you to your rehearsal—these hallways can get a little confusing.”

  “Tell me about it.” I was relieved to have the help. Being that it was my first day, I was stressed enough, and not having a clue where to go was adding a terrible bit of anxiety to my experience.

  She ushered me to the next practice room. “You’ll get the hang of it in no time. Have fun today. My cell is on the back of this sheet, just in case.”

  I gave her a hug. “You don’t know how amazing this is. I was so nervous that everyone was going to be standoffish.”