I cried out his name when he roared, and the pounding stopped, his face contorting into a mask of pleasure-filled agony.

  His arms buckled, and I took his weight as he collapsed onto me, kissing his temples, tasting the sweat of his skin. When he tried to lift up, I wouldn’t let him go. Instead, I curled my arms and legs even tighter around him.

  He didn’t protest but shifted until more of his weight was on his elbows, our lips softer against each other as the urgency was replaced by a tenderness that brought tears to my eyes.

  “Thank you,” I said and felt him smile against my lips.

  “The pleasure was all mine.”

  “I mean it. Thank you.”

  The smile faded as he looked down at me, all seriousness this time. “It was a shock, being confronted by that reporter, seeing that video, watching Mom and Nana’s reaction. But once the shock settled, I remembered who that girl in that video is. It’s you. Kind, sweet, gentle, funny, corny Eliana. The woman who agreed to be my girlfriend, then my fiancée because she has a caring and considerate heart. That woman is you. And I care about you, deeply.”

  A tear slid down my temple, and he lowered his head to kiss it away.

  “I care about you too,” I admitted. “And I also know that this will serve as yet another distraction for you. An embarrassment for you and the team. If you need me to go, I’ll understand, I promise.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “But what if there are other videos?”

  “Then we deal with them. I need to know who the man in the video is. Name. Address. Any information you can provide. He needs his ass kicked, criminally, civilly, or by my hand, for recording you without your knowledge to begin with, then releasing the tapes.”

  I nodded. It was so sad to be having this conversation when his cock was still connecting us.

  We continued to kiss for so long that he swelled inside me again. He rolled away, but only long enough to change condoms and pick up something else.

  Taking my left hand, he slid his grandmother’s ring on the fourth finger. “I don’t want you to take it off again.”

  “I won’t.”

  And with that promise, he made love to me — softly.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Kane

  It felt like bags of cement were strapped to my feet as I trudged into the locker room the next day. Now that the shock had worn off, I knew the guys were going to give me hell.

  But when I pushed through the doors, the men were standing there talking quietly to each other, then silence reigned as they realized it was me who had entered. My team turned as one. No one joked. No one laughed. No one smiled.

  The way they looked at me, you might have thought there had been a death in my family. Maybe there had been. A death of dignity. Privacy. I guessed there were all kinds of death.

  Ace led the charge of men who surged toward me. “You okay? How’s Eliana? I fucking want to kill somebody for what happened.”

  The knot in my shoulders loosened as, to a man, they murmured their support.

  They were tossing out questions, so I decided to tell them everything I knew at this point. Once I was finished, Luke said, “You’ll find the pussy behind this.”

  “Damn internet,” Calvin added. “Anybody can hide behind a keyboard.”

  I told the guys of Rhett’s idea for a public service announcement, and they all agreed to chip in to have one produced if Rhett backed out of it.

  “I’m not backing out of shit.”

  Heads snapped around. Yep, our boss was standing there. On one side of him was Coach Griffin, and the other side, Coach Delaney.

  “I’ve actually given this a lot of thought in the past twelve hours or so,” Rhett continued. “We’re going to move forward with it immediately.”

  A few of the guys cheered, then Blake Osbourne, one of the veteran players who was usually pretty quiet stepped up. “You have my full support, and I want to contribute to the cause. At the end, if you can add an “in memory” screen, I want to pay to have my sister’s name, Brenda, added. This was before the day of social media and internet, but something similar happened to her. Not video. But pictures. She ended up taking her own life over it.”

  There was a long stretch of silence before another player stepped up. “I want to add Melanie to that list. Suicide too.”

  Calvin spoke up. “Maybe add an “in honor” page? If so, add Renee.”

  I looked around, and a fucking tear was dripping down every one of our faces as man after man named off someone they’d known who’d gone through a similar experience, although maybe not as public as ours had been. I couldn’t wait to tell Eliana about it when we got home.

  Home.

  It was so natural saying that in reference to her.

  When it was quiet again, Coach Delaney stepped up. Last year, Bobby “Spaceman” Delaney found his name plastered over tabloids for many weeks. One of the best baseball players who ever lived, Spaceman found himself humbled by an enormous gambling debt that nearly destroyed his family. Nearly destroyed Katrina, his daughter. Our PR queen.

  “As you all know,” Space began, “I dragged my family through hell and back because of the mistakes I made. Rhett and each of you welcomed me here, even after all I’d done. I didn’t have a nickel to my name, but that didn’t matter. You men allowed me into the pack. Listened to me as if I still mattered. Today, we’re going to do the same for Kane and his fiancée.”

  Hoots and cheers followed as many clapped me on my back.

  Alright then. It looked like I was about to play a game with the full support of my team.

  I blew out a breath.

  Now, I just needed to see how much support I got from the fans.

  ***

  “Batting fourth, first baseman, number six, Kane Steeeeele.”

  My name was still ringing around the stadium as I ran out of the dugout to the field. I was relieved that the cheers were louder than the boos.

  As the announcer continued to introduce our players, I looked for, and found, Eliana. She was sitting in the middle of a sea of women. Zoe, Mom, and Nana, of course. But then there were Whitney and Holly, her little boy sitting on her lap. More wives and girlfriends surrounded them all.

  I grinned, and Eliana gave me a thumbs-up. So far, so good.

  Let’s play ball.

  We did, and it was an exciting game this time, with us leading and falling as one inning led to the next. By the ninth, we were down by one — ten to eleven — when I popped a zinger over the fence. Todd scored with me, giving us a one-run lead going into the bottom of the inning.

  Seth was on the mound, having taken over for Calvin in the eighth. He was looking good as he struck out the first batter.

  One down, two to go and our winning streak would be extended.

  Just the thought of winning streaks made me automatically think of Eliana. Glancing up at the stands, I was glad to see her looking so happy. Three rows above her, Katrina Delaney was looking less so. She was staring at her phone, her forehead furrowed.

  Focus.

  There was a strong batter at the plate — player named Walker, who I hated — so I got into position a bit farther away from my base, hoping it would come my way. I watched the wind-up and then our catcher’s hand moved to where the ball was supposed to land.

  Crack!

  The ball came off the bat like a damn rocket, sailing just above our second baseman’s head. Center was hustling, and I pressed my cleat to my base, waiting for whatever shit came sailing my way. It was a damn fine throw, but Walker tagged the base a step before it wedged inside my glove.

  Shit.

  One out. Man on first. We can handle this.

  “Girlfriend’s got some nice titties,” Walker snorted as he removed his batting gloves and stuck them in his pocket. I ignored him, or tried to. “Pretty mouth too.”

  I gritted my teeth as Seth wound up again, and Walker shuffled farther from the base. I was ready — cleat on base, glove extended to pick that bastard off. Instead, Seth followed through with the pitch, and Walker headed for second.

  Crack!

  It was a grounder, but Ace picked it up. With a quick turn, he whipped it to second.

  “Safe!”

  Fuck.

  Second turned and found my glove, but it was too late.

  “Safe!”

  One out. Man on first and second. We can still handle this.

  Glancing back into the stands, Eliana was still smiling and talking. Katrina was gone, and a few other women were staring at their phones, some with a hand over their mouths.

  Focus!

  Getting back into pick-off position, I watched Seth glance over at me. He turned and threw. It was perfect, right at my feet, and I got my glove down just an inch before my man dove back and touched base.

  “Out!”

  That was better. Two outs. Man on second. This game was ours.

  Another glance up, and more and more people were staring at their phones. I was staring right at her when Eliana looked down at the row of people in front of her. She leaned forward, her face a mask of growing horror as she reached for the phone in front of her.

  No, baby. Don’t look.

  Crack!

  Agony flared in my thigh as the ball came off the bat at lightning speed. I hadn’t even seen it. Didn’t even know where it had gone after it clipped me. All I knew was that I was on the ground, two runners heading toward home, and the woman I loved staring blankly.

  We’d just lost.

  Everything.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Eliana

  In one moment, things felt normal. I was watching my man protect his base at the end of an exciting game. The next… it all fell apart.

  All it took was a glance down at the woman’s phone in front of me. I’d only seen it for a split second, but I’d known. The bodies. The movements. Strawberry blonde hair.

  I’d leaned forward for a better look, needing to see if this was an old video or something new.

  It was new.

  Horribly new.

  It was Kane and me in his kitchen.

  Reaching for the phone, I grabbed it out of the woman’s hand just as a ball cracked against a bat. There was a loud gasp from the crowd, then screams of “get it” and “throw.” But I wasn’t paying attention. I was watching Kane’s face move between my legs.

  “Oh no.”

  It was Zoe, and she snatched the phone from my hand. “Kane’s hurt,” I heard her say from a distance. I looked up, and he was on the ground, another player behind him scrambling for a ball. A runner touched home, tying the game, with another closing in.

  Finally, the right fielder scooped up the ball and shot it to home, but not in time.

  “Safe!”

  Kane’s winning streak was over. So much was over.

  I wasn’t his good luck charm anymore.

  I met his eyes as he sat there, looking as numb as I felt. Hands hooked under my arms, pulling me up, but I didn’t want to go. Or stay. I didn’t know.

  As I was pulled down the row of seats, Kane pushed himself up as trainers surrounded him. He shook them off and started limping toward the dugout.

  “What’s happening?”

  The question came from Nana, and I looked back to watch Marsha holding the older woman’s arm as they moved up the few steps to the suite. “I don’t know,” Marsha answered, her eyes meeting mine.

  In the box, Katrina Delaney rushed over to me but stopped when she was only a few feet away. “You know?” I guessed my knowledge was written all over my face.

  Sinking into a chair, I dropped my face in my hands as I absorbed this latest intrusion.

  How?

  It was one thing for an old boyfriend to hide a camera and record our intimate encounters. It was completely another for Kane to also be involved.

  The door burst open, and the sound of cleats on concrete rang as Kane burst into the room. “What happened?” he demanded. When no one said anything, he raised his voice, “What happened!”

  Katrina moved first, not answering him, but instead asking everyone who was still skulking around to leave the room. It took a few minutes for the wives and girlfriends to scurry out. Some shooting me looks of sympathy, some just staring in wide-eyed surprise, not sure how to react.

  When there was only Kane, Nana, Marsha, Zoe, and me left, Katrina addressed the man who looked ready to explode.

  “There’s a new video.”

  “No fucking shit.” He limped toward her, favoring his right leg, his hand stuck out.

  “Kane, this isn’t the same as before. This is…” She shook her head as he grabbed the phone from her hand.

  He hit play, and I watched him watch the two of us together. His face registered the same shock I’d felt as he muttered, “How?”

  His eyes blazed as he looked up at me. “Did you do this?”

  Shock made me mute, so I could only shake my head.

  “Did you? You seem to be the common denominator in these videos, Eliana.”

  “Kane Bartholomew!”

  He turned on his grandmother. “Don’t you Kane Bartholomew me,” he roared.

  “That’s enough!” The voice came from the doorway, and I recognized the man as the team’s owner, Rhett Hamilton.

  Marsha wrapped the older woman in her arms, and Kane looked ashamed. “Nana, I’m sorry.” He looked at me. “I’m sorry, I just don’t understand.”

  I was still shaking my head. I didn’t understand either.

  In abject misery, I felt the fangs of despair settling into me, biting and sucking my spirit greedily, draining me of hope. When I was young, I was terrified of vampires, of how they looked so normal until they opened their mouths. As an adult, I realized there were creatures much more terrifying than those who avoided the light. Creatures who hovered in the shadows, ready to leap when you weren’t looking.

  Humans.

  A phone pinged, and Katrina grabbed hers from Kane, dread on her face. “Google alerts,” she muttered, then “Fuck!” Stomping her foot, she pulled her arm back, winding up like she was going to throw her phone.

  Kane grabbed her wrist, then the phone, and Katrina turned away.

  “Show me,” I whispered, then cleared my throat and said it again, louder this time.

  His face tight, Kane limped over to where I sat. Zoe moved, and he took her place and held the phone between us.

  I tapped play.

  This time, we were in his bedroom, and I was riding him on his bed.

  “How?” we said simultaneously, and I knew my face was crimson. It had been bad enough when it was only me, but now him?

  “Your private investigator is here.” It was Rhett, and we both looked up to see a middle-aged man in shorts and a polo. He didn’t look very PI, but he held out a card as he approached.

  He introduced himself as Paul Beck. “I came to the game to see if I could locate anyone paying undue attention to you or Eliana,” Paul explained. “I have both your names in my alerts and got the ding when the video hit. I stayed back, watching the crowd to see if I noticed anyone looking smug.”

  “Did you?” I whispered.

  “No, I didn’t. I’d have the fucker in a headlock if I had.”

  I heard Nana mutter, “Good.”

  Kane must have heard it too because he turned to his mother. “Do you mind taking Nana back?”

  “I do not want to leave this conversation, Kane Bar—”

  “Nana, please. It was bad enough when this was only about Eliana, but… I know you don’t want to see me.”

  Nana’s eyes widened. “You? See you do what?”

  Kane reddened. “Nana,” he said slowly. “Please don’t make me spell it out.”

  “Oh!” She looked directly at me. “Well, nobody told me anything, so how was I supposed to know? But I want to stay anyway. Who do you think changed your diapers?”

  “The nanny.”

  She glared at him. “Well, I supervised. And then you went through that naked phase when we couldn’t keep clothes on you.”

  “Nana…”

  “Well, it’s true. You’d just whip off your clothes and streak around no matter where we were. And how old were you when I caught you and that girl skinny-dipping in my pool?”

  “Nana!”

  I watched the dear woman give herself a mental shake. “Oh yes, sorry. But the point was that I’ve seen you in all your naked glory many times.”

  “Mom…” Kane whined, sounding like a little boy.

  Marsha stood up. “Let’s go. I don’t think they want parental units around for this delicate conversation.”

  When Nana finally stood up with a loud “hmph,” Kane nearly sagged in his chair.

  No one said a word until they were safely out the door.

  “Well then,” the private investigator began, “I can also report that I’ve located the address of Brett Southerland based on the information you provided me last night.”

  I glanced over at Kane. I didn’t know he’d done that already.

  “And?”

  “He still lives in New York proper. He’s a PE teacher for an elementary school. Coaches Pee Wee Football. Usual stuff for college football players who don’t make it pro.”

  I cringed as I thought about him being around all those children.

  “I’ll be heading out there tomorrow to case the place, get pictures and any evidence I can. I’ve been in contact with the cybersex crimes unit of the FBI, and they’re very interested in your case. You’ll probably be receiving a call or visit from them.”

  I finally found my voice. “But that’s for the videos from when I was in college. What about the…” I looked at Kane, and the muscles in his jaw popped. “What about the videos from recently?”

  Paul nodded. “I need inside your apartment, Kane. Based on camera angle for the videos, we should be able to locate the source.”

  Kane stood back up, much more slowly than usual. I grabbed his arm. “Are you okay?”

  Gently, he stepped away, and my hand dropped to my side. “Yeah. Let me go change, and we’ll get out of here. I want this figured out as soon as damn possible.”

  Without another glance at me, he limped out.