Page 57 of Saved By the Pitcher

“What?”

Mike laughed and pulled James back out the doorway and down the long corridor to the master suite. When he opened it, James gasped. “You like?”

James was still surveying the room, shocked at the size, elaborate fireplace and the same incredible view of the park courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows. “This room is twice the size of my apartment.”

Mike shrugged. “I had to have something bigger than you.”

“Besides your ego?” James teased, turning back to face Mike.

“Fresh,” Mike replied. “Get naked. This time, I’m controlling what we do. I’m going to lick you from head to toe before beginning my gag-control lesson. We’ll finish with you rewarding my efforts with your delicious cum.”

“Oh,” James murmured.

“That is, if it doesn’t taste like kale today,” Mike joked.

That elicited a snort from James, who gave a light smack to the side of Mike’s head. “Is this how it’s always going to be?”

“Yes. Always.”

Chapter Nineteen

James was still fussing with his hair when there was a knock on the bedroom door. If it was Mike, James was going to lose his shit. He’d learned to listen to Maria’s premonitions, predictions and superstitions. She was never wrong, and she believed that two partners shouldn’t see each other on their wedding day until they were at the ceremony.

James opened the door a crack. It was Billy. “Oh, it’s you. Get in here.”

Billy walked through the doorway, looking dapper in a black tux that worked with his dark hair. “Can you help me with my bowtie? I’ve never worn one.”

“Sure.” James smiled, then he walked to his brother to help with the finishing touch. “Nervous?”

“Nah,” Billy assured him. “I’ve been wanting to marry her for so long, I’m just happy the day has come. What about you? Are you nervous about marrying Mike?”

James shook his head. “Not even a little. Who would have thought a year ago when you convinced me to try to patch things up that we would have moved so quickly?”

“He knew you were the one right from the time he met you,” Billy reminded him. “He was just waiting for you to catch up.”

James sighed. “I guess Maria is still batting a thousand, huh? Mike is jealous. His best hitting average was .245.”

“Well, he was a relief pitcher,” Bill noted. “They save games. They don’t make the hits, especially American League pitchers who only get the experience when playing a National League team in a National League ballpark.”

James nodded. “Yeah, he knows that. He was kidding around.”

“It was nice of him to pay for everything and use his house here in the Hamptons for the wedding,” Billy gushed. “I could never have afforded to have a wedding like this.”

Mike had known Billy and Nadia had wanted to marry and would have been on course to do so if Charles Vicksburg hadn’t set them back by stealing their ring. After Mike had proposed to James a few months earlier, he had suggested to Billy that he propose to Nadia and the couples marry at the same time. When Billy had worried about Mike footing the bill, Mike had laughed, saying that four could marry as cheaply as two. Mike had also given Billy an engagement ring he had bought years earlier for a woman that he thought was his soulmate—until he had discovered she was sleeping with a player from the New York Mets as well as Mike.

“He can afford it, buddy. And you know how generous Mike is. I’m still in awe that he put up my homeless friend Hal in an apartment and helped him find a job.” James smiled.

“And influenced a bank to give your former boyfriend a loan to start up a restaurant again, with an anonymous outrageous check to help things along,” Billy added.

James nodded with pride. “With a note that said it was from someone who had enjoyed his former restaurant. Mike is…”

“Yeah, he is,” Billy interrupted. “And now, he’ll be yours, bro.”

James finished with Billy’s bowtie, turning him toward a full-length mirror. “Stunning,” James said, admiring how handsome his brother looked in his tuxedo.

“I do look pretty nice, don’t I?” Billy half-grinned. “You know, I wasn’t sure about sharing the stage with you and Mike. I mean, Nadia is already way out of my league. Now I’ll be up in front of everyone with two Ken dolls, too.”

James frowned. “Stop it. You’re beautiful, Billy. Inside and out.”