Deck His Balls (Spice and Seduction)

Chapter Six

Tricia

The soft click of my heels echoes through the hospital corridor as I approach Jasmine’s room, a bouquet of sunflowers in hand. My heartbeat quickens, and I take a deep breath, trying to steel my nerves. Caress rounds the corner, her face lighting up when she spots me.

“Hey, girl!” She pulls me into a warm hug. “Ready to see our little princess?”

I force a smile, giving a slight nod. “Absolutely. Lead the way.”

Caress loops her arm through mine as we continue down the hall. “You look like you’re about to take the court for the finals. What’s going on?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. Should I tell her about Joel’s coffee visit this morning or how our almost kiss at the hospital fueled my fantasies last night? The memory of his passionate kiss still burns my lips. “I, uh…I have something to share. But let’s see Jasmine first.”

Stepping into the room, I’m immediately enveloped by the joyful atmosphere. Jasmine beams at us from the hospital bed, cradling her newborn daughter with a radiant glow. “There are my girls!”

I lean down to embrace her, breathing in the sweet scent of baby powder. “She’s perfect, Jas. Absolutely beautiful.”

“I know, right?” Jasmine’s eyes sparkle with happy tears. “I still can’t believe she’s really here.”

Caress settles into the chair beside the bed. “Okay, spill it, Tricia. You’re practically vibrating over there.”

My mouth goes dry as their expectant gazes focus on me. “Well, you’re not going to believe this, but…Joel and I sort of had a date this morning at my place.”

Twin gasps echo through the room. Jasmine’s eyes widen. “No way! What happened?”

The words tumble out in a rush. “We were talking, just hanging out like normal. But then things…shifted.” I press my thighs together, remembering the delicious friction of straddling his lap. “One minute we’re joking around, and the next…”

“You kissed!” Caress exclaims, bouncing in her seat. “Oh my God, I knew it!”

A fierce blush heats my face. “It was more than a kiss. It was…intense.” Breathless and needy, with my fingers tangled in his silky hair. The memory alone sends tingles down my spine.

Jasmine reaches over to squeeze my hand. “This is amazing, Trish! I’m so happy for you two.”

But a flicker of doubt gnaws at my happiness. “I don’t know… Now we have a proper dinner date set up for tonight. What if this ruins everything? Our friendship means the world to me.”

I swallow hard, unable to shake the nagging fear. “You guys know how I am with relationships. I -”

My chest tightens as the words leave my mouth. “What if taking it to…that level, messes everything up? I mean, look at my parents.”

The room falls silent, weighted by the unspoken memories. Jasmine’s face softens with sympathy while Caress leans forward, her brow furrowed.

“Your parents were high school sweethearts who grew apart over decades, Trish,” Caress says gently. “You and Joel have been building a deep, mature bond as adults. Your situation is totally different.”

“Yeah, and their split wasn’t just about losing the romance.” Jasmine’s voice is uncharacteristically stern. “The real damage came when the friendship deteriorated too. When they stopped listening to and respecting each other.”

She fixes me with an intent stare. “You are not your parents, Tricia. If anyone can navigate this, it’s you and Joel.”

I nibble my lip, mulling over her words. Jasmine’s right, Joel and I have only known each other for a little over a year, but in that time, we’ve had each other’s backs, no questions asked. Our friendship is the bedrock…but could it also support something deeper? More intimate?

Caress reaches over to pat my knee. “Look, we were kids when your parents split up. Maybe it felt like their whole relationship crumbled overnight. But Trish, we’re adults now.” A wry smile curves her lips. “Trust me, keeping that spark alive gets complicated sometimes, even when you adore your partner.”

She shakes her head. “Relationships take work to maintain the closeness – physically and emotionally. Your parents might’ve put too much pressure on their romantic bond to fulfill all their needs once you girls were out of the house.”

The wisdom in her words rings true. I study Caress, my eternally upbeat friend now mom and see a newfound maturity shining through. In my gut, I know she’s right, but am I brave enough to take their advice?

***

I smooth my red cocktail dress for the hundredth time, my reflection in the mirror betraying my nerves. My hands tremble slightly as I adjust a stray curl. Deep breaths, Tricia. You’ve faced tougher opponents on the court.

The doorbell chimes, sending my heart into overdrive. I open the door and my breath catches. Joel stands there in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, looking like he stepped out of a magazine.

“Wow,” he says, his dark eyes roaming appreciatively. “You look stunning, Tricia.”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Mitchell. But aren’t you cold?”

He grins, the dimple in his cheek making an appearance. “I have a light coat in the car and the heat on. Ready for our date, Miss Washington?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I quip, grabbing my clutch, and my coat.

As we walk to his car, Joel’s hand finds the small of my back. Even that light touch sends tingles through me.

“So,” I say, aiming for casual, “planning to wow me with your extensive knowledge of wine pairings tonight?”

Joel chuckles. “Only if you promise to dazzle me with stats from your last game.”

“Oh please, I save that kind of dirty talk for the second date,” I tease.

His laugh is rich and warm. As we reach his sleek black Audi, Joel opens my door with a flourish.

“Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

I roll my eyes but can’t hide my smile. “Such a gentleman. What would the tabloids say if they could see the ruthless CEO now?”

Joel’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “That I’ve been utterly charmed by a certain WNBA star, of course.”

My heart skips at his words. As I slide into the buttery leather seat, I wonder if he can hear it pounding.

The drive to the restaurant passes in a blur of easy banter and stolen glances. When we arrive, the ma?tre d’ greets us warmly.

“Mr. Mitchell, Miss Washington, welcome. Your table is ready.”

He leads us to a secluded booth tucked away in a corner. Soft lighting from a classy icicle white Christmas tree casts a warm glow, and the low hum of conversation creates an intimate atmosphere.

As I settle into the plush seat, taking in the crystal glasses and flickering candles, excitement bubbles up inside me. This is really happening. I’m on a date with Joel Mitchell.

I meet Joel’s intense gaze across the table and my breath catches. The night suddenly feels full of possibility.

The waiter approaches, his crisp white shirt and bow tie a stark contrast to the restaurant’s warm ambiance. “Good evening. May I take your order?”

I glance at Joel, suddenly realizing I haven’t even looked at the menu. He smiles reassuringly. “Ladies first.”

“Um, I’ll have the salmon, please,” I say, picking the first thing I spot that sounds good.

Joel orders a steak, and as the waiter retreats, I find myself relaxing into the booth. “So, Mr. CEO,” I start, leaning forward slightly, “any dating horror stories to share? I’m sure you’ve got some juicy ones.”

He chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Oh, you have no idea. There was this one time I took a girl to a fancy French restaurant. I was trying to impress her by ordering in French, but accidentally told the waiter I wanted to eat his shoe.”

I burst out laughing. “No way! What happened?”

“Let’s just say it was a very confusing and slightly mortifying evening,” Joel admits, grinning. “What about you? Any disasters in your dating past?”

I take a sip of water, considering. “Well, there was this guy who showed up to our date in full cosplay. Which wouldn’t have been so bad if we weren’t going to a black-tie charity event.”

Joel’s eyebrows shoot up. “That’s… quite a statement. Did you at least get to choose which character you were?”

“Sadly, no. I was stuck being the ‘normal’ one next to Batman all night,” I say, shaking my head at the memory.

As our food arrives, the conversation flows easily, peppered with laughter and shared glances. I find myself opening up more than I expected, drawn in by Joel’s attentiveness and genuine interest.

“You know,” I say, pushing my empty plate aside, “I’ve never actually shared that story before. It’s… nice to be able to laugh about it now.”

Joel’s eyes soften. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to share it with me. I like seeing this side of you, Tricia.”

His words send a warm flutter through my chest. Emboldened by the intimacy of the moment, I lean in closer. “Speaking of sharing… have you ever had any, you know, weird fantasies? Things you’ve always wanted to try but never have?”

Joel’s eyebrows raise slightly, a mix of surprise and intrigue crossing his face. “That’s quite a shift in conversation,” he says, his voice lowering. “But I’m game if you are. Ladies first?”

A blush creeps up my neck, but push through. “Well, I’ve always kind of fantasized about… being fingered in public. But without getting caught, you know?”

Joel’s eyes darken instantly, and before I can blink, he’s sliding around the booth to sit next to me. His hand finds my thigh under the table, and I inhale sharply at the contact.

“Is this okay?” he murmurs, his fingers tracing small circles on my skin.

I nod, my heart racing. “Yes,” I breathe, trying to keep my composure as his touch sends shivers up my spine.

With a devilish grin, Joel’s hand moves higher, and I gasp as his fingers slip under the hem of my dress. His touch is feather-light, igniting a fire within me that I can’t tame. He slides his hand further, slipping my panties to the side, and my eyes widen in anticipation.

“Joel, what are you doing?” I manage to ask, my voice shaking as his fingers brush against my already damp center.

He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. “I’m making your fantasy come true, Trish. Relax and enjoy it.”

His words send a shiver down my spine as he teasingly circles my clit with his fingertips. I bite my bottom lip, desperately trying to focus on anything other than the building pleasure. The soft music in the background blends with the sound of cutlery clinking against plates, creating an erotic symphony that heightens my arousal.

“So,” Joel says, his voice deceptively casual as his fingers continue their relentless assault, “what’s next on the agenda for Serenity Hoops Camp this year?”

I can’t believe he’s actually managing to hold a conversation right now, but I force myself to respond. “Um… we’re planning a new mentorship program, pairing our high school players with successful alumni from the camp.” I gasp as his fingers slip inside me, his movements becoming bolder, more insistent.

“That’s amazing, Trish. It’s so important to give back to the next generation,” he says, his voice a low rumble in my ear.

“I… I agree,” I pant, arching my hips slightly to meet his probing fingers. “But right now, I… I…”

Joel’s laughter is muffled by the tablecloth. “I know exactly what you want, Tricia,” he whispers, and I detest how well he seems to understand me.

His fingers pick up the pace, and I can feel myself teetering on the edge of climax, my entire body on fire. I grasp at the tablecloth, struggling to maintain some semblance of composure, but it’s no use.

My breath catches as a wave of pleasure washes over me. I grip the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as I fight to maintain composure. Joel’s dark eyes never leave mine, watching intently as I unravel under his touch.

“Joel,” I gasp, my voice barely above a whisper.

His lips curl into a satisfied smirk. “Yes, Tricia?”

I can’t form words, my body trembling as the tension builds. My hips involuntarily buck against his hand, seeking more. The restaurant fades away, my world narrowing to Joel’s burning gaze and the exquisite sensations he’s creating.

Suddenly, it crashes over me. My eyes widen and I bite down hard on my lip, stifling a moan as my body convulses. Waves of ecstasy pulse through me, leaving me breathless and shaking.

Joel slowly withdraws his hand, looking impossibly smug. “Check, please!” he calls out, his voice husky with desire.

My mind whirls, struggling to process what just happened. Did we really just…? In public? The lingering pleasure mixes with a heady rush of excitement and disbelief.

“Ready to get out of here?” Joel asks, a smile set on his face.

I nod, still dazed. “God, yes.”

As we stand to leave, my legs wobble slightly. Joel steadies me with a hand on my lower back, sending another jolt through my oversensitive body.

“You okay there, Coach?” he murmurs, amusement coloring his tone.

I shoot him a playful glare. “I think you know exactly how okay I am, Jo. At this rate, I may jump you in the car if you don’t hurry the hell up and stop teasing me.”

Joel picks up his pace even as a smile crosses his lips.