Page 44 of Instigator

“Hey, you.” I’m proud when my voice comes out mostly even.

“Ceci.” A thrill runs through me at the sound of my name. He even pronounces it correctly. It’s not the first time he’s called me by my real name, but I’m still amazed he took the time to say it right. Not many people do. “Are you ready for this?”

Exhaling slowly, I shake out my shoulders and try to recalibrate. “I am if you are.”

He makes a noise deep in the back of his throat. “I’m turning on my camera. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

We’ve never played with video on. It’s always been strictly audio. It was safer that way.

I guess now we don’t have as much to risk. We’ve already met.

I click the button to turn my camera on, and the screen flickers to life.

His picture appears first: Aidan MacGregor, the same man I met a few mornings ago. It’s almost a relief to see it with my own eyes, that he’s the same.

He’s slumped on a bed with a generic hotel room headboard. The idea of him being in bed makes my stomach swirl.

“There you are.” His voice is warm and rich, and the faint note of approval does funny things to my heart rate. His smile splits his face. “I like this.”

Whereas I was all done up for work when we met a few days ago, now I changed my outside clothes for comfy sweats and a camisole, my hair is tied up in a sloppy bun, I wiped off all my makeup, and I traded my contacts for glasses.

“So this is you in your natural environment,” he continues, his eyes roving over my face through the screen. “I like this, too.”

“Me too,” I admit.

“I wish I was back in Boston. We could do this in person.”

My breath catches. “You’d want to?”

“Fuck, I want to do everything with you.” His voice is a rasp, and I have to wonder just what does everything entail?

Dirty, dirty thoughts run through my mind. He’s younger than me, and he’s an athlete; he probably has the stamina to keep me on my toes.

“Well, let’s start small,” I suggest. “Maybe when you get back, we can do dinner this time.”

“Yeah?” His shy smile makes my heart flutter.

Damn, he’s precious. What I’d give to corrupt him… I bite my lip, tamping down my baser urges. This is not the time or the place.

“Yeah. I’d like that,” I reply.

“Cool.” Red spots bloom on his cheeks, and his eyes squint with happiness. “Shall we get started?”

When I nod, he starts the game. It’s a baseball simulation, and we’re on opposing teams. We navigate through the innings, alternating who’s up to bat and who’s pitching and fielding. It’s relaxing mentally, even when I have to jam the buttons with my fingers to catch a fly ball or make my player run across the field. I mutter under my breath, and he curses as I catch him out.

“You know,” he says, “only four more weeks until pitchers and catchers report.”

I cackle. “I’ve already got tickets to most of the spring training games.”

The Bulldogs have their preseason training in Florida, and I usually rent an apartment for a few weeks and catch as many games as I can. It helps that I can create my own schedule. As long as my work gets done, Bex doesn’t care if I’m in the office with her and the intern. Hell, sometimes I think she prefers if I stay away. We get more done that way.

“I’m so jealous. If I could get away from the team, I would be down there.” Aidan swallows, and I catch myself watching the bob of his Adam’s apple, the way he bites his cheek. “Do you…”

He stops, and I lean forward, eager to hear more.

“Hmm?”

“Maybe we could go to a baseball game together?” He gulps again. “Our physical therapist, her brother-in-law is Brandon Walker, so sometimes a few guys will get together to go to a game and support him. He’s always at our games in his offseason.”