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Housing A Dragon

By: Tony155



Turbulence rocked the small aircraft, sending Zeke's stomach into a tailspin. This is better than a roller coaster, he thought, although he wished for a smoother flight. Flying wasn't one of his favorite things to do, but it would become a necessary evil in his line of work. Thankfully, he didn't have to pay for this one. His flight from Sarasota to Detroit had gone very smooth, but the commuter shuttle from Detroit to Dayton, Ohio was rough almost from the start. Wind and rain battered the twelve seat craft, but the pilot seemed to know what he was doing and the rocking had been kept to a minimum.

Zeke thought back to the previous day when the director of player personnel for the Cincinnati Reds called him and asked him to meet him in his hotel room. He didn't read anything into it and thought the meeting would be about where he would be assigned for the upcoming season. A fourth round draft choice from the previous year, Zeke had played for a month in Billings, Montana for their rookie league team after his season at the University of Texas was completed. He had pitched well for that month, but he figured he would go back for another season. That's what usually happened. Ideally, he would have liked to start in class- AA Chattanooga, but instead, he was surprised to find out he was being assigned to Dayton, their class-A team.

He knew no one from that area and discerned he would have to find somewhere to stay for the spring and summer. Usually, the team was pretty good about finding housing for their players, usually with fans in the area who had extra room. That's what happened in Billings. An elderly couple who had season tickets for the Mustangs let him use a room in their home for that month. They were very, very nice, only charged him a hundred dollars and Zeke hoped to live with them again, but it wasn't to be.

The plane hit another pocket and the young girl to his right began to turn different shades of green. Her hand reached for the vomit bag in front of her, but stopped when the plane became stable once more. Zeke smiled at her reassuringly, hoping it would calm her. He certainly didn't want her to toss her cookies. He didn't mind the sound, but the smell would probably make him retch, too.

"First flight?" he asked. She nodded. "We'll be there soon." He looked down outside his window and saw the skyline of Columbus below him. He saw the Olentangy River snaking its way around the city and the unmistakable shape of Ohio State's football stadium. He sighed softly and thought they'd only have another fifteen minutes to go.

* * * * *

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Keri shrieked, her eyes staring daggers at the man packing his suitcase. She had come home from work to find him there.

"I told you a month ago I was tired of your shit, so I found another place to live." He continued to throw shirt after shirt into the large, leather case.

"What am I supposed to do?" she wailed. She couldn't understand why he was doing this to her. She thought things were going well for them, not perfect, but certainly better than before. She was making an effort. Wasn't that enough?

"I don't know, Keri," he replied grimly, "but it's not my worry." He shut the case and put another on the bed in its place.

"Oh, that's just great!" She was starting to get really angry. The shock had worn off. "You leave just when all the bills are due and it's your turn to pay them."

"I'll send you some money."

"Write me a check now."

"I don't have it. I don't get paid until Friday, you know that."

"That's just like you. Not a penny to your name until payday. Why did I hook up with you in the first place?" She shook her head in anger.

"Must have been my personality," he replied sarcastically. He left the small room and went to the bathroom to collect his toiletry items. Keri stayed in the room, arms across her chest and glaring in his direction.

"I can't believe you're just going to up and leave after all we've been through," she said in his direction.

"Listen, honey," he said as he returned, "it was fun for a while, but you have to admit, things sucked pretty bad these past few months."

"If you hadn't been screwing around, things might not have been so bad."

He had enough by then. "Drop it, Keri! We've been through this over and over again." They stared at each other. "Just drop it," he said quietly. His second suitcase was filled, and now a third appeared.

"Maybe we can work this out."

"No, Keri."

"Where will you go?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"My brother said I could stay with him until I find something more permanent."

"It doesn't have to be like this," she pleaded, hoping to talk him out of it.

Michael stopped packing and sighed. "Keri, it's over. It was over when you found out about Meg. We tried to make it work, but you'll never forgive me and you'll never forget. Just let me get out of your life."

Keri looked at him and couldn't disagree with what he said. She hadn't forgiven him and she surely hadn't forgotten. Why else had she brought it up? It was still an open sore in her heart. People who cared about each other simply didn't do that, or did they? She tried to forgive him, tried with all her might to forget he screwed her best friend, her former best friend. Keri took a deep breath to keep her composure.

"Send me the money when you get paid," she said callously before she left the room. And Keri didn't bother to look up when he left for the last time.

* * * * *

The phone rang and Keri jumped out of her skin. It was after eight o'clock and she still hadn't turned on any lights. Depressed and lonely, she turned to a bottle of rum for her solace. She wasn't drunk, yet, but she was on her way. Keri clumsily put down the tumbler and wove her way to the phone, answering it on the fourth ring.

"Hello," she said tiredly.

"Hey, girl. What's up?"

"Nothing, Fran. What's up with you?" Keri hoped to finish the conversation quickly so she could get back to her bottle.

"You sound funny, Keri. Are you okay?"

There was silence on Keri's end. A sniffle. "Michael walked out on me," she said softly.

"Shit," Fran exclaimed, "but you can't say you didn't see it coming."

"I didn't."

"Oh, come on, Keri."

"I swear I didn't see it, Fran. I thought things were getting better."

"I'm sorry, Keri."

"Me too."

"What are you going to do?" Fran asked.

"Get drunk."

"That won't solve anything."

"I don't care." Thinking of her drink, Keri went back to her chair and took a swig, feeling the bitter warmth go down her throat. "Anyway, it's only for one night. I can get drunk one night, can't I?"

"I guess you can," Fran said. She felt sorry for her friend and couldn't tell her not to do it. When Keri found out about Michael and Meg, Fran was the first person she called. Over the past few months, Fran could see it in Keri's actions and demeanor that she hadn't forgiven Michael. She was surprised he didn't bug out sooner. "Well, besides getting drunk, what are your plans?"

"I guess I'll need to find a new roommate," Keri sighed, "or a smaller apartment." She took another drink and put her glass down. "Well, enough about my problems. What did you call about?"

"I got the tickets."

"Tickets?"

"The Dragons tickets, remember?"

It came back to Keri. They had gone together and purchased Dayton Dragons season tickets. They were baseball fanatics and were original members of the Dragons' fan club. "Yeah, I remember, now. That's great." She didn't sound very convincing.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just tired, depressed, you know."

'Are you going to work tomorrow?"

"Of course I am. I'm not going to get that drunk." Keri managed a small laugh.

"Good for you," Fran laughed, too. "Well, I'm going to let you go. I have some more calls to make."

"Okay, Fran. Thanks for calling."

"No problem, Keri. If there's anything I can do, let me know."

"I'll be fine, Fran. I've been dumped before."

* * * * *

The small plane landed smoothly in the cold and rain of Dayton. As it taxied to the appropriate terminal, Zeke glanced at the girl and she seemed to be most appreciative of the flights end. She gave him a wane smile and he could see her white knuckled hand holding onto the arm of her chair.

"You can let go, now," he said quietly, looking at her hands.

Gingerly, she released her grip and flexed her fingers. "I don't think I'll want to fly for a long time," she murmured.

"It's not so bad," he replied. "If we were in a regular jet, we probably wouldn't have even felt a bump."

"The next time will be too soon," she said, totally unconvinced.

Once the plane stopped, it was a few more minutes before they were allowed to leave. Zeke reached into his pocket and checked the name and address of the hotel where he would be staying for the first week. The club paid for the first week of lodging, then he would be on his own. His father and brother were going to drive his car to him from their home in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but he didn't expect them until the next weekend. He didn't figure he'd need his car for a while, anyway, thinking the hotel would be near the ballpark and within walking distance. 

All twelve passengers departed the plane quickly, happy to be one firm, solid ground. Zeke lost track of the girl almost as soon as they left the plane as she hurried away faster than anyone else. Zeke found his luggage without any problem and set about finding a taxi to take him downtown. He thought the Dayton airport was near the city, but in reality, it was almost fifteen miles away. Soon, though, he was on his way.

He was thankful his driver wasn't the talkative type since he wasn't interested in conversing with anyone at that time. Zeke settled into the seat and thought about the past few years. Sometimes, he regretted not signing with the Seattle Mariners when they drafted him after his senior year in high school, but he had his finance degree and that was the main reason he went to college. He really learned how to pitch while he was in college, but he felt he should have started in class AA this season. But, the Reds thought differently, and here he was heading to Dayton. He missed his family and hoped they'd be able to see him pitch that season, something they were unable to do when he was in Billings. Soon, the skyline came into view as the rain continued to beat upon the windshield. Once they reached the hotel, the driver helped him get his suitcases out of the trunk of the car after Zeke paid him. Zeke tipped him before he made his way into the lobby of The Biltmore, a drab looking building from the outside, but pretty nice inside.

After he was shown his room, he closed the door behind him and put his suitcases on one of the beds. He flexed and stretched and debated upon taking a nap. Instead, he pulled out his paperwork and called his manager to let him know he was in town. He was expected to be at the ballpark the next morning for practice and meetings at nine o'clock. The meeting would start at ten and the practice would start at noon. When Zeke asked about a place to stay once his week was up, he was told to be patient, that he would learn about that in due time.

After that, he called his parents to let them know of his arrival. He kept it short and sweet to conserve what little money he had. Hanging up the phone after their conversation, Zeke laid down on his bed and took a well deserved nap.

* * * * *

An annoying buzzing noise woke Keri from her sound sleep that Wednesday morning. She opened one eye and saw it was raining, again. When would it end? Disgusted, she threw off her covers and stumbled to her dresser where she shut off her alarm clock. Michael had been gone for two days, but she found she didn't miss him that much. Maybe it was best he did leave, she thought. Truthfully, she knew she hadn't been all that happy with him, no matter how much she tried to convince herself to the contrary.

As she let the steaming water of her shower wash over her, her thoughts turned to her finances. She really needed to find a roommate quickly. When she chided Michael about his money, she really had no room to talk, although she had more money in the bank than he. She had been frivolous with her money when he was around, but no more. She would have to be more responsible now and put herself on a budget. And she hoped Michael would be good to his word and send her some money for the bills. She thought perhaps she could check the university bulletin boards for students needing housing and that seemed to be the obvious solution for the time being. If not, she would have to find a less expensive apartment, probably one with only one bedroom.

After her shower was completed, she dried herself and set about getting dressed for work. After only getting dressed in her bra and panties, the phone rang. "Shit!" she exclaimed as she went into her livingroom. She looked at the caller ID and saw it was Fran.

"Hey Fran," she said after she picked it up.

"Hey Keri," she replied. "I won't keep you but a minute."

"Okay."

"I've got the answer to your roommate problem."

"Really? Who is it?"

"Well, what would you say to having a Dragon for the summer?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I talked to Jean from the fan club and she says she needs some hosts for some of the players this season. They got some new arrivals this week from spring camp. What do you think?"

Keri was silent on her end for a second or two. "You're crazy."

"Come on, Keri, think about it. Whoever it is will only be around when they're playing at home. That won't be so bad. Plus, he'll probably have references from people he stayed with before. I mean, you don't have to do it if you don't want to, but it's a quick solution. At least you won't have to make any fast decisions about moving until the fall." 

Keri thought about it for a few seconds. It really wasn't a bad idea, although she wasn't keen about having a complete stranger in her apartment for the summer. Still, he would be at the ballpark when she came home from work and they wouldn't have much contact with each other except for weekends. At least they would have things to talk about, like baseball, she laughed to herself. She just didn't know.

"I'll have to think about it," she finally said.

* * * * *

Thursday morning, the clubhouse attendant gave a Zeke a note to call Jean Asbury. "Who's Jean Asbury?" he asked him.

"She's in charge of the fan club here," he explained. "She's also in charge of finding you guys places to live this summer."

Zeke's eyes widened. He had been a bit worried about his housing. He hadn't heard anything from his manager since their initial talk. "Thanks," he said as he tucked the note into his pants pocket.

His practice went fairly well as he was watched carefully by the pitching coach during his throwing session. The Reds still hadn't decided whether they wanted him to be a starting pitcher or a reliever. He had done both in college, but he was more comfortable as a starter as he had been during his junior and senior years. The season would be starting soon and he wished he knew where he stood. After throwing, he did about twenty minutes of running in the soggy outfield grass near the gravel warning track. 

After the practice was over, Zeke showered and dressed quickly and walked back to his hotel room. It wasn't a far walk and sometimes he jogged the distance. Once back in his room, he took the paper from his pocket and dialed the number.

"Hello," a pleasant female voice answered.

"Hi, this is Zeke Monturo from the Dragons. I was told to call this number."

"Hi Zeke. It's good to hear from another Dragon. My name is Jean Asbury and I am president of the Dayton Dragons fan club. We heard you were looking for someplace to live this season. Are you still interested?"

"Yes ma'am," he answered politely, his Arkansas drawl a bit more pronounced.

"Well, we have someone, but she wants references first. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes ma'am, that's fine. I expected that." He gave her the name and number of the persons with whom he lived in Billings. "Besides my parents, that's all I have," he explained.

"That will be fine," Jean said. "I'm sure that's all she'll need."

"She'll?" he asked. He didn't hear anything pertaining to there being a couple involved.

"Pardon?"

"You said 'she'll' like it was a single person."

"She's a member of our fan club and she is single. Is that a problem?"

"No, I don't think so, as long as it's not a problem for her."

"She wouldn't have given us her name if it was."

"That's true," he admitted. It wouldn't matter, anyway, he thought. She was probably someone's grandma, which was fine with him.

"She'll call you if she wants to meet you. If not, she'll call us and we'll try to find other housing for you. Do you have any questions?"

"No ma'am. I just appreciate the offer."

"You're very welcome. We're looking forward to seeing you pitch this year."

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll do my best."

"I know you will. Take care, Zeke."

"Thank you, ma'am."

* * * * *

Thursday evening, Zeke's phone rang in his room and he pounced on it, knowing it was about housing.

"Hello, Zeke Monturo speaking," he said, answering on the first ring.

Keri hesitated slightly before speaking. She was a bit nervous about calling him, even though the Gilkey's had given her a sweet report about him. "He never gave us any problems," Georgiana said. "We hardly even knew he was here. He was the perfect boarder." Still, Keri was apprehensive about letting a male stranger into her home. But what choice did she have? At least she knew a little about him.

"Hi," she said softly, barely audible. "I'm Keri Scopes and I was given your name from Jean Asbury of the fan club."

Puzzled, Zeke looked at the phone. He thought she sounded like a teenager. "Hi, Keri," he replied.

"Anyway," she continued, "I have a room available. I'd like to meet you first, of course, you know, to go over expenses and things like that. And I'm sure you'd like to see the room first before you decide."

"That's fine," he said. "When would you like to meet?"

"Is tomorrow night okay for you?"

"Tomorrow night's fine."

"Do you think you can find my apartment?"

"Well, I don't have my car yet. My dad's bringing it Saturday from Arkansas. Is there a bus I can take?" He really didn't want to take a cab again.

Keri thought quickly. "There's no need for you to take a bus. I can pick you up."

"Okay." He still couldn't get over how young she sounded.

"Is seven o'clock okay for you?" she asked.

"Seven is fine. How will I know it's you?"

"I'll be driving a white Grand Prix with a lot of Dragons bumper stickers on it. How will I know it's you?"

Zeke thought for a moment. "Well," he said, "I'll wear jeans, a Dragons tee shirt and a ball cap."

"Sounds good," she said, smiling on her end. He had a nice, friendly voice with just a hint of a southern drawl. "I guess I'll see you at seven."

"I'll be waiting."

* * * * *

Keri arrived promptly at seven Friday night and had no difficulty finding Zeke. He was tall and big and looked like the typical Arkansas farm boy with his suntan and light brown hair pushed under his baseball cap. She stopped at the curb and waved to him and he ambled over. 

"Keri?" he asked as he looked through the open window.

"That's me. Hop in and we'll get going." She leaned over and unlocked the door for him.

Zeke got his first look at her and could tell she wasn't a teenager, but merely had a very young sounding voice. At first glance, he thought her to be around his age, but maybe just a bit older. He was never very good at guessing someone's age. "I'm Zeke," he said, extending his hand to her. She took it lightly and he let go quickly. Her hand seemed so small in his. 


Housing A Dragon



As she drove, she looked at him from time to time and wondered if she should try to strike up a conversation. His piercing blue eyes were studying the road and all of the landmarks as they drove. She was still a bit nervous, but she didn't want him to know it. Finally, she asked, "So, what do you think of Dayton?"

"Oh, it's okay, I guess. I really haven't seen much," he said, looking her way. "Maybe after I get my car, I'll see more of it. The stadium is great, though. It'll be fun playing there."

"Yeah," she agreed, "the stadium is first class. We've led all class A teams in attendance every year since it's been open, and some class AA teams, too."

"Wow," he said, duly impressed. He was used to seeing only a few hundred or a thousand fans in the rookie league parks. Dayton's park held over eight thousand.

"Dayton's not too bad," she continued. "I've lived here my whole life and I've done okay."

"What do you do for a living, if I may ask?"

"I'm a paralegal for a law firm."

"Oh."

"Oh?" she replied. "Is there something wrong with being a paralegal?"

"Not a thing. I just wasn't expecting that."

"What were you expecting?"

"I really don't know," he said smiling, hoping to get away from the subject. 

"We're almost there," she said as she turned left onto a shaded street. He saw a tavern on the left and a bowling alley on the right. Just after they passed a library, she turned right and into an apartment complex. She drove all the way to the end and parked in a space near the entrance to the last unit. "We're here," she announced.

They both got out and she led him into the unit and up two flights of stairs. At the landing, she turned to the left and put her key in the lock. The door opened effortlessly and she flipped the light switch to her left. Straight ahead, he saw a sofa with tables on each side. To the left was a chair and a television and to the right was a dining area. Keri moved behind him and shut the door, locking it with the dead bolt.

"Would you like to see the room?" she asked.

"Sure," he answered. She led him to the hallway and to the right where she flipped on the light and stepped aside. Zeke brushed past her and entered the small room. It had a double bed, dresser, desk, chair, and a small closet. He looked around for a few seconds. It was small, but no smaller than his room in Billings or his room at home, for that matter. He nodded approvingly and said, "It's fine."

Keri smiled and was relieved. Now, all they had to agreed upon was money. She knew young ball players didn't get paid much and she didn't want to strap him, but she wanted a fair return. "Do you want to see the rest of it?" she asked.

"Sure," he replied.

She led him back down the hall and showed him the bathroom, the dining room, and the kitchen. When that was completed, they sat down at the dining room table. "I don't mean to be too forward," she began, "but how much do you make per month?"

"About fifteen hundred dollars before taxes. About eleven hundred after taxes."

"Okay," she said, "how about three hundred a month?"

"That's kind of steep," he replied, thinking about his month with the Gilkey's.

"Well, it would cover your food as well. You wouldn't have to pay any utilities, either."

"I don't know..."

"Listen," she said quickly, afraid of him turning it down, "what do you think you can afford?"

Zeke thought for a few seconds. He still had a student loan and his car to pay off. It wasn't a whole lot, but she didn't need to know that. Besides, he would be free income for her. Three hundred was just too much. "How about two hundred?"

Keri's eyes narrowed slightly, but she smiled to herself. This wasn't going to be easy, she thought. She folded her hands in front of her as she looked at him. "Two-fifty," she said.

"Sold," he smiled. It was the amount he had figured on paying in the first place.

"Good," she said, obviously pleased with the transaction. Now, she wouldn't have to worry about Michael's lost rent money until October. She hoped to get three hundred, but she could live with two-fifty. "Before we go over some things, can I get you something to drink?"

"Ice water would be fine," he said. Keri got up and went to the kitchen. She got him a tall glass of ice water and handed it to him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Zeke studied her for a few seconds as he had done periodically since she first picked him up. She wasn't a beauty, but she was cute. Her brown eyes lit up whenever she smiled and she had a nice smile. Her straight brown hair was tied back in a pony tail that reached the middle of her back. He immediately thought she would look much better with shorter hair falling loosely around her face. She had full, pouty lips that looked like she could suck a golf ball through a garden hose, he thought rudely. She also had nice curves and shapely derriere, but he wasn't interested. He simply wasn't attracted to her and he had too many other things to worry about. And having a girlfriend wasn't at the top of his list.

Keri sat down as before with her hands clasped in front of her on the table. Beneath them was a sheet of paper in which she had written down various topics to discuss with him. 

"Okay, first of all, are you a smoker?"

"No."

"Good. I'm not, either. I can't stand the smell." She already knew he wasn't a smoker when he entered her car.

"I go to the grocery once a week. If there's something you like or need to have, let me know. That's where part of your money goes anyway. The washer and dryer are for your use. If you want me to show you how to use them, I will. Otherwise, you're on your own. I won't do your laundry. Most guys I know do their own."

"Four years of college taught me that," he said.

"I thought so. You're welcome to join me for any meal. I don't mind fixing extra. Just let me know. If you have a practice or a game, I can always make enough for leftovers."

"That sounds fine. I'd really appreciate that."

"No problem," she smiled. Keri looked down her list. "Oh, yes, dates." Zeke looked at her quizzedly. She looked back at him. "I really don't mind if you bring someone over, but you'll have to go to your room to entertain her. I'm not going to share my evening with the two of you. If I'm not home, that's a different story. And I refuse to compete with her in the morning for the bathroom. I will definitely throw a hissy fit over that!" 

Zeke laughed out laugh. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that. I think I'll be too busy or too tired to even worry about dating right now."

"I'm sure you'll change your mind about that. Do you have a steady back home?" She thought he was too good looking not to be attached to someone.

"No," he said. "I dated a little in college, but not too much. What about you?" It was his turn to ask a question.

Keri turned red from embarrassment and anger as she thought about Michael. "Well," she sighed heavily, "my boyfriend and I just split up. You're taking his place, so to speak." She looked down at her paper.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thanks."

"Anyway," she said, sitting up straight, "back to my list. No parties. There's no compromise here. Absolutely no parties."

"Are you sure about that?" he teased.

Keri looked him square in the eye and smiled. "No parties."

"Damn. I invited the team over tonight. I guess I should cancel that."

Keri shook her head. "I have plenty of towels, wash cloths, sheets, pillow cases and things like that," she continued, "so don't be afraid to use them. And that leads me to my last point, privacy. I only have one bathroom, so we'll be sharing it. I need it early in the morning so I can get ready for work...."

Zeke leaned forward and interrupted. "I'm a late riser, so there's no problem there. I probably won't even wake up until after you've gone for the day." Zeke thought for a second. "I grew up with three sisters, so I think I know where this is going. You won't have a problem from me. The Gilkey's only had one bathroom, too, and it worked out fine. You'll find I am not your typical ballplayer," he laughed. "I do have some manners and morals."

"Good..."

"But, I expect the same courtesy from you." He sat back in his chair and took a sip from his water glass.

"And you will get that from me," she replied softly.

"Sounds great! Anything else?"

Keri checked her list again. "Not that I can see." She then saw something. "Wait. There is one more thing. When can you make your first payment? I hate to ask, but the ex kind of left me in a lurch when he departed the premises."

That's really not my problem, Zeke thought to himself, but he held his tongue in check. "I get paid next Friday and every other Friday through the end of the season."

"Good," she said. An idea then struck her. "Why don't we do this. Just pay me half a months rent each paycheck. That way, you won't have to give me the whole thing at once."

Zeke thought about it momentarily. Instead of answering, he reached into his wallet and pulled out a calendar. He studied it for a few seconds before putting it away. "That sounds fine, except I get paid three times in May."

"Zeke," Keri said, "I'd only want you to pay twice in May. I'm not trying to stiff you or pull one over on you. I just thought it might be easier for you, that's all. If you only want to make one payment a month, that's fine with me."

Zeke sighed. He didn't think it was going to be this hard. Heck, he was only going to be there half the time, anyway. "Yeah, okay, that's fine. I'll pay half every other week," he consented.

Keri could sense he was getting exasperated, so she decided to cool it down a bit. "I'm sorry if I seem too pushy about rules and stuff. I just want to make it clear where I stand so there's no misunderstanding between us. The Gilkey's said wonderful things about you and I know I don't have anything to worry about. But, I've been burnt before and I'm just trying to be careful."

"No need to apologize," he said quietly, "it's your apartment."

They were silent for a while as he sipped on his water. He looked around the dining room and the kitchen area. The entire apartment had a nice feeling to it and it suited him. It reminded him of his sister Cathy's place back in Hot Springs. Cathy was his closest sibling, one year younger, and they were very close. When he looked back in Keri's direction, she was eyeing him closely.

"When do you want to move in, or do you still want to?" she asked patiently, almost dreading his answer.

"I think Sunday would be okay," he answered, ignoring the second part of the question. "The club is paying for the hotel room until then and I'll have my car, too. Besides, our first game is Monday and I'd like to get settled before then."

"Will you be pitching?"

"I don't know. They haven't even told me if I'm starting or relieving yet. Hopefully, I'll find out tomorrow."

"You were a starter at Texas, weren't you?"

Zeke laughed. "I guess you've been checking me out, haven't you?" Keri nodded shyly. "Yes, I was a starter at Texas, but the Reds can't seem to make up their mind about me. We'll just have to see." He glanced at his watch and frowned slightly. He wanted to get some running done before he went to bed, but that seemed impossible since she would have to drive him back to the hotel.

"Anything wrong?"

"No," he said absently.

"Do you need to get back?"

"No, not anymore."

"Oh," she replied, a bit confused. She got up from the table and pulled out a can of soda from the refrigerator.

"Water and juice are better for you," he said as she sat down once again.

"I know."

"There's just useless sugars and carbs in that."

"I know."

"Maybe I should just mind my own business."

"That's a wise choice." Keri smiled as she put the can down on the table. Maybe the Gilkey's were right. Maybe it would work out after all.

* * * * *

Keri met Fran after work Monday afternoon at a bar and grill not too far from the Dragons' ballpark. They wanted to make sure they got there early for the pre-game festivities. Zeke got settled in on Sunday without too much difficulty, although he got lost and had to call her for directions even though she had written them down for him. He found out from the pitching coach they wanted him to be a long reliever to begin with, and then perhaps move into a starting role later in the season. Zeke was very disappointed and kept to himself for most of the evening. Keri had wondered if she should talk to him about it, but decided against it. She didn't know him well enough do discuss his livelihood with him.

The dinner was excellent as it usually was when they dined there. They both skipped dessert and were sipping on beers when their conversation turned to the subject of men.

"Have you heard from Michael?" Fran asked out of the blue.

"He stopped by Saturday and gave me some money he owed me."

"Really? At least he did that. You didn't think he would."

"True."

"How did it go?"

"Okay, I guess. We didn't really say much. It was nice to see him, but I think I'm better off without him. He probably thinks the same thing about me!" Keri laughed lightly. She still missed him, though, just a little bit.

After their dinner, they walked to the ballpark and found their seats. They were in the second tier behind the first base dugout, five rows up. They were great seats, although you could say every seat in the ballpark was very good.

The ceremonies began and Fran and Keri sat back and enjoyed it. They introduced each player and Keri pointed out Zeke to Fran when he trotted to the first base foul line to join his other teammates.

"He's kind of cute," Fran said as she peered at him through her binoculars.

"Not bad," Keri said indifferently.

It turned out to be a dull game as the Fort Wayne Wizards scored early and often and beat the Dragons 8-2. Zeke didn't get to pitch and Keri thought he'd be disappointed because of it. He was. He dressed quickly, not bothering to shower. What was the purpose? He hadn't broken a sweat the entire game and didn't even get to throw in the bullpen. He kept his anger in check, though. It was only one game, after all, and there would be plenty of chances to show them that he should be in the starting rotation.

He let himself into the apartment not long after Keri had arrived. From the couch, she looked up in surprise, not expecting him back so soon.

"Are you hungry?" she asked after he closed the door behind him. "I've got some spaghetti in the fridge."

"No thanks," he replied, "they had a spread of food in the locker room after the game. Maybe I'll have it for lunch tomorrow."

"Sure."

With that, he left her, going to his room and quietly closing his door behind him.



* * * * *

The next few weeks went by quickly as Keri and Zeke settled into a routine. As the Gilkey's had told her, he was turning out to be the perfect boarder. He kept to himself for the most part, but sometimes joined her for a meal or for an evening of TV if the program was something he was interested in. She genuinely missed him when the Dragons embarked on their first road trip of the season. Little by little, he was growing frustrated by his role on the team. It was easy to see that the Dragons' main weakness was their starting rotation. Time after time, they would be down quickly and by a large amount and it looked as if it was going to be a long season. Sure, he got to pitch and that was what was bothering him. He was pitching very well when called upon and he couldn't understand why he wasn't getting his shot. He was pitching two, three, and sometimes four innings at a time and allowing very few runs to score. In fact, he had allowed only three runs in twelve innings pitched thus far. He hoped things would change soon.

When he returned from the road trip, Keri had a supper ready for him. She knew he'd be tired and hungry after the trip and thought a home cooked meal would appeal to him. After he put his luggage in his room, he came back out and ate. He really appreciated the meal and it was nice to come home to. 

"How was the trip?" she asked, although she already knew. Two wins and five losses and not a starting spot for Zeke. Although her knowledge of the pure science of baseball was limited, as a fan she found it hard to believe he wasn't pitching more.

"Two and five," he replied. "I got to pitch a little. I did okay, I guess." He had given up two runs in five total innings pitched. "Anything new going on with you?" he asked between forkfuls.

"Not a whole lot. Fran introduced me to a guy from where she works." She looked at him to see if there was any reaction. There wasn't. "We went out for some drinks. He seems pretty nice."

"Good for you," Zeke said. "I hope it works out."

"It was only drinks. We're going out to dinner tomorrow night."

"Great." He then thought for a second. "Are you coming to the game?"

Keri shook her head. "No, Brian doesn't like baseball so I gave my ticket to a girl at work."

"Oh." He sounded disappointed, but Keri wasn't sure.

"But, I'll be at Saturday's game," she added quickly.

"Okay." 

Zeke finished his meal and began to clear his plate, utensils, and glass. "I can do that for you," Keri said as she moved to his side. "Go ahead and take it easy. You had a long trip." Zeke looked at her, but decided not to debate the issue. He had always cleaned up after himself and didn't know why this time should be any different.

He scooted back his chair. "Thanks a lot, Keri. It was really good. I didn't expect it."

"I'm glad you liked it. Now, go relax and take it easy." She dismissed him with a wave of her small hand.

Zeke left the dining room and went into the living room where he saw the sports section of the newspaper laying on the sofa. He sat down and began to read articles pertaining to the Dragons and their woes. He took satisfaction in the fact that the writers were also wondering why he wasn't starting, considering he had the best earned run average on the team and seemed to do well every time he pitched. Granted, he had pitched only seventeen innings, but it was a statistical fact nonetheless. In the article, the manager said he was in no hurry to change his rotation because his starters had only pitched three times so far and it wasn't enough time to evaluate them. Zeke understood his reasoning, but it still didn't mean he liked it. The only thing he could do was continue to pitch well and force their hand.

* * * * *

Loud music was playing in the spacious locker room as the players were getting ready for their game. The yelling and laughter seemed a bit out of place for a team that hadn't done well so far, but they were young, most of them barely out of high school. Zeke hadn't yet found his niche within the team. Sure, he had friends, but none were close and he rarely hung out with them outside the game. He thought perhaps his age was the biggest factor in the division, him being the oldest player, but he felt out of place in other areas, too.

When he finished dressing, he went up the tunnel and into the dugout where he watched the position players running and throwing. He glanced down to the bullpen and saw the starter for the game, Enrique Tavares, beginning to throw. 

The stadium was starting to fill up as it did every game. It never failed to amaze Zeke the great fan base this team had. Even though they were lousy, every game was a sellout and everyone seemed to have a great time. He looked up to where he thought Keri and Fran normally sat, but didn't see Fran nor the girl whom Keri had given her ticket. Just as well, he thought. He stretched out on the bench. He didn't notice the pitching coach come back to the dugout, nor the fact that Tavares had stopped throwing.

A few minutes later, the manager, the pitching coach, and the trainer headed back to the bullpen where they surrounded the pitcher. His interest piqued, Zeke continued to watch as the meeting broke up and everyone except the catcher began to walk back to the dugout. Zeke's heart skipped a few beats with excitement. Maybe this was it, he thought. Tavares was wind-milling his shoulder and Zeke could see him wince in pain when he did so. He's definitely not pitching tonight, Zeke thought. He looked expectantly at his coach and manager when they entered the dugout, but they brushed past him and headed down the tunnel to the locker room without saying a word.




Housing A Dragon



"Damn!" Zeke muttered aloud.

A few minutes later, another pitcher named Brad Maller trotted from the locker room and out to the bullpen to begin throwing. Zeke was beside himself in anger and frustration. He stared at the pitcher in the bullpen in disbelief. Maller had been terrible so far and normally wasn't a starter. Zeke just couldn't understand it. What was it going to take before he became a starter? When the coach and manager came back, Zeke couldn't even look at them, looking in the opposite direction or down to his shoes.

When the game started, Maller was true to form, terrible. Hits ricocheted all over the field and the Dragons found themselves down 4-0 before he retired a hitter. When the next batter crushed one to the wall, the pitching coach yelled down to Zeke, "Monturo, get loose." Zeke nodded and ran down to the bullpen and began to throw. 

His arm loosened quickly and soon, his pitches hit the catcher's mitt with a loud "Thwack". He mixed in some curves and change ups, all the while watching the game. Two more batters reached safely before the manager made the slow trip to the mound. He took the ball from his beleaguered pitcher and motioned for Zeke to come in. It was 5-0 by then and the bases were full. There was still only one out. Zeke trotted to the mound amid cheers from the fans. The manager gave him the ball without saying a word and headed back to the dugout.

Once he threw his allotted eight warm up pitches, Zeke exhaled deeply and eyed the batter stepping up to the plate. He was the lead off batter who had already had a base hit that inning. On the second pitch from Zeke, he hit a ground ball right back at him. Zeke fielded it, threw to the catcher for the force out at home before the catcher wheeled and threw to first base to complete the double play. The fans erupted in cheers as Zeke trotted off the mound and received congratulations from his teammates.

Zeke would pitch very well that day, pitching 4 2/3 innings with but 1 run and 3 hits given up. The Dragons would lose 7-4, but Zeke was happy with his performance nonetheless. He drove home humming to himself. He knew they couldn't keep ignoring what he was doing. Surely, the Reds would take notice and tell them to make him a starter. He still couldn't understand why the pitching coach and manager hadn't done it before, but he was sure it would have to happen soon. With one pitcher down to injury, they didn't have many choices left and Zeke was the most logical one.

He opened the door to the apartment and stepped in. He looked around and saw she wasn't home. Zeke then remembered her date. It felt weird not to have Keri there as she was home every night after a game. He liked her and thought she was a nice person, especially since she would have food for him after the game whether he had eaten or not. They were becoming friends and were more comfortable around each other. If she had any fears about him before, they had been quickly dashed. At times, she wondered why she even had that list of rules she discussed with him that first night. It had not been an issue and things had been very smooth between them.

Zeke was still hungry, so he looked in the fridge for something to eat. He found some chicken and rice and warmed it up in the microwave. After he ate, he washed his dishes and the few pieces that were in the sink. When he finished, it was almost midnight and he knew he needed to sleep. He found it odd that Keri wasn't home yet, but he figured she was having a good time. At least he could tell her about the game in the morning.

* * * * *

Keri unlocked and opened the door as quietly as possible as her friend was kissing the back of her neck. "Stop it, Brian," she giggled unconvincingly. They stumbled into the room and bumped into a table near the door. Both tried to stifle their giggles, but were unsuccessful.

"Shh, you'll wake my roommate," Keri said, a bit more seriously.

"That's okay," Brian slurred slightly, "she can join us if she wants. I wouldn't mind." He smiled wickedly.

"I don't think so," Keri whispered, keeping her thoughts in check. "Keep your voice down."

"Screw her, it's your apartment." Brian made no effort to be quiet.

"Come on." Keri took his hand and guided him across the dark apartment to her room. She opened the door, flipped on the light, and closed the door behind them.

Zeke woke when they first entered the apartment. He could hear the giggling and bumping into the furniture before they went into her room. Zeke tried to get back to sleep, but the rustling of clothes, the continued giggling, and then the bed gymnastics kept him awake for a few more minutes. Suddenly, and without warning, it became quiet. That was a quick one, he thought wryly, as he turned back onto his stomach in search of sleep once more. It certainly didn't bother him that Keri brought someone home. He just wished they were a little more sober and quiet about it.

A short time later, he woke to the sound of her door opening and closing again. Footsteps came toward his room, but stopped and went to the bathroom where that door was closed. A few minutes later, the toilet was flushed and the footsteps came out of the bathroom and towards his door. They stopped, turned around and walked back down the hall. Zeke listened for her door to open, but he heard nothing. He waited for the front door to open, thinking maybe her date was leaving, but that didn't happen, either. Not hearing anything else, Zeke tried once again to get to sleep. As he started to flip onto his stomach, he thought he heard something. It was muffled and barely audible, but he was sure he heard it. He pushed off the covers and quietly went to his door. He put his ear to it and listened.

Zeke heard it now, the unmistakable sound of Keri crying. "Damn!" he hissed to no one in particular. What was he going to do now? He didn't know her very well at all, but he couldn't just act as if he didn't hear her. Maybe something was really wrong. He pulled on his sweat pants and a tee shirt and quietly went to the living room.

Keri heard him coming and tried to wipe her eyes with her hands. Angry at herself for waking him, she looked away as he stood in front of her. Zeke could barely make out her form on the sofa, her silhouette showing through the open blinds of the moonlit window.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice choked and barely audible. "I'm sorry if I woke you. I didn't mean to."

"That's okay. Want to talk about it?" He moved around her as if to sit down.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"So," he said slowly, "you brought a guy home, he's in your bed and you're out here crying and there's nothing to talk about?" He sat down next to her. He could smell the faint scent of alcohol on her along with her perfume. Zeke wrinkled his nose at the combination, but said nothing.

"I wasn't crying," she sniffed. "I just needed to think. What do you care, anyway?"

"It's after three o'clock in the morning. What do you need to think about?"

Zeke felt the shaking of the cushions before he actually heard her begin to cry once more. Her face fell forward into her hands as she began to sob. "I thought he was different," she hissed between tears, "but he's like everyone else." Zeke looked at her helplessly, not knowing what to say or do.

"How so?"

Keri pulled her face away from her hands and wiped her eyes once more. "You must think I'm a whore. My boyfriend cuts out and I have another guy in my bed on our second date."

"Not at all." He could see the shininess of the tears against her face as they started to erupt once more. "It just seems like you could use some kindness in your life."

Keri didn't bother looking away or try to brush them aside. She just let them run down her face and fall where they wanted to. She didn't care if he saw her crying. She didn't care about anything anymore.

Tentatively, Zeke reached behind her and started to rub her back gently with the palm of his hand, much like he had done when one of his sisters had a rough date or a bad day at school. His hand passed over the soft material of her short, satin gown and back to her bare skin. Keri felt the anger and frustration drain out of her slowly and her crying subsided after a minute or two. She then realized that someone did actually care about her. Sighing heavily, she moved her head to the right until she found his shoulder and rested against him. "I'm such a mess," she murmured.

Zeke continued to rub her back slowly and deliberately, waiting for her to continue, but all he heard was her shaky breathing as if she were still gamely fighting her emotions.

This continued for a few more minutes before she sat up. "Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked softly.

"I thought you might need someone to talk to." He stopped rubbing her back and put his hand at his side.

Keri pouted slightly. His hand had felt very reassuring against her skin, soothing and comforting. Slowly, she placed her head against his shoulder once more and sighed. "I do need to talk to someone," she admitted.

For the next ten or fifteen minutes, she poured out her heart to him, telling him her troubles and her problems with men in general. Without going into graphic detail, she told him how Brian just screwed her for barely a minute before finishing and falling asleep. No foreplay, no tenderness, just in and out, and then falling asleep.

"I guess I shouldn't have expected more," she said. "I mean, Brian's a nice enough guy, but he's not someone I'm looking for in the long run. Do you know what I mean? I just thought somehow it would be better with him, I don't know, nicer maybe. Instead, I was just another girl to screw."

Keri yawned as sleepiness and the alcohol were starting to overtake her. His shoulder felt good to her and he hadn't made any move to show her he wanted her to leave. She shivered from the coolness coming from the air conditioner as bumps appeared on her exposed skin. In the dark, Zeke remembered there being an afghan behind their heads. He reached behind him and pulled it down for her. After he draped it around her shoulders, he pulled her close to him and held her. Keri was surprised by this move, but she didn't rebel against it. She merely accepted it as a friend comforting a friend. It was truly the nicest thing a man had done for her within the past few hours.

Soon, she was warm, but made no effort to move away from him. She felt safe and secure in his arms and didn't wish to leave. Zeke didn't know what to think. He didn't mind helping her out and listening to her problems, but he had an early practice at ten o'clock and he wanted to get some sleep beforehand. He did admit to himself he liked having Keri in his arms, but it wasn't under the exact sort of circumstances he would want or envision. Sure, he liked her and would help her, but he really needed some sleep.

A few minutes passed before she realized she was dozing off. She sat up abruptly and the afghan fell from her shoulders. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I've bothered you way too much with my problems."

"It's okay," he replied tiredly. He was almost sorry to let her go.

She reached down and found his hand. Keri touched it briefly. "Thanks for listening."

"No problem."

They both stood up slowly and headed for their rooms, the clock chiming three-thirty as they went. Keri turned the knob of her door as Zeke entered his room. Once the door opened, she sighed heavily. "Shit."

"What's up?" Zeke asked from his room. From the lighting in her room, he noticed her in her nightgown and was impressed. It was plum colored, barely came down past her butt, and looked very nice on her. She did have a nice figure, he thought.

"Look at him," she said.

Zeke walked down the hall, came around her and looked at the naked male on her bed. He was sprawled corner to corner, snoring loudly, and effectively taking up the whole bed. "Do you want me to move him?" he asked.

"No," she sighed, "I really don't want to sleep with him." She sighed again. "I'll just take the couch."

"You don't have to. You can have my bed and I'll take the couch."

"No, no, you won't," she retorted.

"Keri, I've slept on many couches in my life. It's no big deal." He turned off the light and closed the door. He took her lightly by the hand and began to guide her to his room.

"No, I can't let you do this," she protested.

"Don't argue with me," he replied. "I don't mind. Compared to that bus, the couch will feel like feathers."

"No, I couldn't..."

"No more arguing." He pulled her more urgently towards the door. "Come on." She obediently followed this time.

"Oh, Zeke..." she said shaking her head. "How can I ever repay you for this?"

"How about a big breakfast before I go to practice?" he suggested.

"You've got it," she said, producing a small smile, "but I owe you a lot more than that."

"No you don't."

"I do, so don't argue with me." She looked down at her bare feet before looking at his sleepy blue eyes once more. "I was beginning to hate all men, thinking there wasn't a decent one left in this world. You've shown me otherwise and now I know there's hope for the male species after all."

"I'm certainly glad of that," he laughed softly.

"I'm not joking," she said seriously. She moved away from him and entered the room. Looking at him, she said quietly, "You're a sweetheart." Keri leaned forward and gave him friendly peck on his cheek. Slowly, she closed the door, leaving him a bit bewildered and dumbfounded at the same time.

* * * * *

"Hey, what's someone got to do to get something to eat around here?" Brian said loudly as he exited Keri's room. Keri was in the bathroom and Zeke was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper.

"Maybe you should find a restaurant somewhere," Zeke said quietly.

Brian jumped slightly as he wasn't expecting a male voice to answer. He moved into the living room to have a look. When he saw Zeke, he said, "Who are you?"

"Keri's roommate," Zeke answered.

"I thought her roommate was a girl."

"You thought wrong, man."

Brian laughed lightly and moved back towards the hallway. "Hey Keri, how about fixing me something to eat?" he yelled towards the closed bathroom door. Sitting on the toilet, Keri was silent and seething.

"You might want to keep your voice down, this is an apartment building, you know," Zeke said quietly.

"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?"

"I'm just asking you to quiet down a bit, that's all. There's no need to get upset about it." Zeke looked at him with no anger or malice, but he still thought Brian was a jerk. 

"I'll talk the way I want to talk," Brian replied. "Hey, come on, Keri, I'm hungry," he whined.

"Man, why don't you just leave?" Zeke said. "She obviously doesn't want to talk to you and from what she says, you're not all that like you think you are. How long did you last, anyway? Five, ten seconds?"

Brian's face went crimson in anger. "Is that what she told you?" he demanded.

"It's what I heard." Zeke stood up and let Brian see all of his 6'3" and 235 pounds of muscle. "Now, why don't you go?"

As Brian turned and went back to the room to collect his things, Keri was wiping herself and flushing the toilet. She came out of the bathroom with Zeke's bathrobe wrapped around her.

"Well, well, you are here," Brian said sarcastically. "Well, honey," he said as he brushed by her, "I don't know what you told him, but you weren't exactly the best lay, either."

"Get out of here," she hissed. She saw Zeke move around the table, but she waved him back.

Brian laughed. "All right, all right, I'll leave. Believe me, I don't want to piss off the incredible hulk here." Zeke looked on warily. Brian opened the door and was almost out the door when Keri stopped him.

"Hey Brian?" she asked. He looked back. "Next time, let a girl know when you're in them. It's hard to tell the difference between you and air."

Brian frowned, shaking his head. "God, you're such a bitch." He walked away and went down the stairs.

Keri shut the door and stood with her back against it, breathing heavily. She glanced at Zeke and smiled. "I think it's about time I started to fix you that breakfast."

* * * * *



After the meal was completed and the dishes done, Keri went back to bed for more sleep. Unfortunately, Zeke didn't have that luxury and left for the ballpark for his practice. Since he had pitched so much the night before, he wasn't required to do any throwing, but took part in batting and fielding practice. After practice, the pitching coach pulled him to the side and gave him the news he had been waiting for. He was going to be placed in the starting rotation for the rest of the season. He went on to explain why they waited so long, but Zeke heard none of it. He didn't want to hear why, all he wanted to do was pitch the way he was supposed to. He did thank him for the news when their conference ended, and then he left to take a shower. Zeke couldn't help but wonder if the newspaper had anything to do with the change. The beat writer for the team openly chastised the Dragons' manager for keeping Zeke in the bullpen and wondered why he was dragging his heels when it was quite apparent Zeke was the best pitcher on the staff. Whatever it was that got him the promotion, he simply didn't care.

He rushed back to the apartment to tell Keri the good news. When he got there, he didn't see her in the living room, dining room, or kitchen. When he went to the hall, he looked towards her room and got a surprise he wasn't expecting. Her door was open and Keri was laying on her back, asleep on the bed with one leg bent in an "L" under the other. His bathrobe was neatly folded at the foot of the bed and she was still wearing her short nightgown, but it was bunched up near the top of her thighs. He stood there transfixed as he could see her slit and her fuzzy pubic mound partially covered by the satin material. His heart leapt and he had the same feeling as when he accidently walked in on his sister when she was naked; aroused, yet embarrassed.

Zeke couldn't move and didn't wish to. This was different than seeing his beloved sister in her all together. Although she had been marvelous to look at, she had covered up quickly without shrieking and he was gone before she knew it. When they talked about it later, she wasn't upset with him and joked with him about not sneaking any more looks at her. That had been the previous summer and nothing had happened since. They were as close as they had ever been and she joked about it from time to time. Yes, this was quite different.

It had been over a year since he had been in bed with a woman and the sight of Keri got him hard and horny very quickly. He never thought he would ever think of her in that way. He still didn't think she was as pretty as girls he had previously dated, but why was he now attracted to her? Was it only because she was partially unclothed? He didn't know for sure although he felt they were now friends. That went unspoken during their breakfast together. But, friends weren't supposed to see each other naked and he knew his thoughts for her had changed. He didn't know if he would be able to look her in the face now. Maybe he should tell her about it when she woke. He truthfully didn't know what he was going to do or how he was going to handle it. Zeke looked at her for a few more seconds before he closed her door quietly.

* * * * *

For the next few days, Keri noticed something amiss with Zeke, but she couldn't place her finger on it. He seemed nervous and fidgety around her from time to time and whenever she asked him about it, he would say he was fine and she would let it go at that. She felt as if he was more formal with her than before, that their friendship had somehow taken a step backward. But, by the time he departed for their next road trip, he seemed back to where he was that early Saturday morning. His first starting assignment would be in Lansing against the Lugnuts and Keri was unhappy she would not be there to see it. She was even more upset to find out she would be missing his second start in South Bend, too.




Housing A Dragon



Zeke left with mixed emotions. On one hand, he was glad because he was about to have his first starting assignment, but on the other hand, he would miss Keri. He had decided not to mention anything about seeing her semi-nakedness, but that caused a bit of tension within himself whenever he was with her. He looked at her in a different way now, finding more things he liked about her than disliked. He never found her unattractive before, but he was now finding her more and more appealing. Of course, he battled himself as to whether it was only because of what he saw or because of what he was feeling. Truthfully, he didn't want to fall for her or anyone now. In his mind, he felt he would be promoted to class-AA Chattanooga should he continue pitching well and he didn't want a girl to be in the way. But, he also knew a promotion probably wouldn't happen until perhaps mid-summer or later no matter how well he did, so he would have time to deal with Keri and his feelings towards her.

She drove him to the bus station that morning before she went to work, something he didn't think necessary, but something she wanted to do for him. True, she had been puzzled by his behavior as of late, but in the last few days, he had been friendlier again and more open. She didn't know what the difference was, but she shrugged it off and wished him well when he left. When she found she was missing him as he walked away, she knew she was in trouble.

She listened to every pitch he made on the night he started in Lansing. Whenever Lansing got a base hit or scored a run, she would cringe and silently curse. She would cheer every strike he threw and every out recorded. In six innings, he gave up three runs and seven hits to go along with eight strikeouts. Although they would lose, 3-1, he was happy with his performance, as were the announcers who broadcasted the game back to Dayton, stating it was one of the best performances by a starting pitcher all season.

His next outing went much better as he pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-2 victory.Keri was thrilled, not only because he pitched well, but because it was almost time for him to come home. She missed him more than she cared to admit and couldn't understand why. They had never dated and except for that one little kiss she gave him, they had not been intimate. But, she had melted when he touched her and it wasn't all because of the alcohol in her system. She loved it when he was holding her and loved his touch when he rubbed her back. She chastised herself for wasting her time and having sex with Brian when perhaps the real person for her actual lived with her. She was getting no clues or signals from him that he was interested in her in a dating sort of way, but she had the feeling he liked her, and the feeling was quite mutual.

His bus arrived Thursday evening and he called her to be picked up. Her heart leapt at the sound of his voice and she hurried to get there. She took extra care with her hair and makeup, hoping he would notice. It was now important to her to know how he felt about her and how he thought she looked. For Zeke's part, he was as anxious as Keri was He was lonely for that week and a half and resisted many opportunities to call her. He had bought a phone card just for that very purpose, but couldn't drum up the courage to go through with it. Instead, he called Cathy and they talked for over an hour. He told her everything and revealed his confusion about his feelings. He told her about seeing Keri's semi-nude body and could now joke about it as he compared the scene with their own escapade.

"Did she look as good as me?" Cathy jokingly asked.

"I don't know," he answered, "you covered up too quick!"

They both burst out laughing and Zeke was grateful to be able to talk to her.

"You know what you should do," she pointedly said to him.

"What's that?"

"You need to tell her how you feel and stop tiptoeing around the issue."

"Yeah, but what if she doesn't feel the same? That's going to make it pretty awkward between us."

"Well, if I'm getting a correct picture of the situation, I think she's feeling the same way."

"How do you figure that?"

"Just call it woman's intuition. I'll tell you a pretty safe way to find out. When she picks you up, just say something innocent like 'It's good to be back.', or 'I missed you.'. It doesn't have to be mushy or romantic when you say it. Just say it matter of fact-like. Look for clues and go from there."

"What clues should I look for?"

"Well, if she jumps into your arms and wraps her legs around you..."

"Good clue."

"If she grabs your crotch..."

"Another good clue."

"If she..."

"Come on, Cathy, get serious," he moaned. "I think I can figure out the obvious clues. I need to know the subtle clues."

Cathy smiled on the other end. "Well, if she can't stop smiling at you, I think that's the biggest clue of all."

"Yeah," he sighed.

Keri parked across the street from the bus station and waited for Zeke to safely cross. Even from a distance, he could see the difference in her appearance. For one of the few times since he began living with her, she had her hair loose and free about her face. The smile on her face was quite evident and she looked very pretty. There was no other word that could describe her. Maybe it was a her inner being showing through or maybe he was seeing her in a whole different light.

Before he could say anything, she hugged him lightly and let go. She stepped back and smiled at him. "It's good to have you home again," she said softly.

"I missed you," he said seriously, looking her straight in the eye and forgetting his sister's instructions.

"Oh, I missed you, too," she replied. Gaining confidence, Zeke drew her into his arms and hugged her, burying his nose in her hair and neck and taking in her sweet aroma. Nothing was said for the few seconds of their embrace, but Keri was turning into putty and plainly wanting to melt into him. When they did part, Keri looked dreamily up at him and couldn't stop smiling. He had never really noticed how big and brown her eyes were and liked the way she was staring at him. He certainly didn't need any more clues about how she felt about him.

"Maybe I should go on more road trips," he laughed. "I wasn't expecting this type of welcome." Keri could only stand by and smile as he put his luggage in the back seat of her car.

On the way home, they talked about the trip and his two starts. She was happy that he pitched so well, but she pushed away the thoughts that he might not stay in Dayton for the entire season. That was a distinct possibility now, especially if Chattanooga had any pitching injuries or promotions to class-AAA, Louisville. Keri didn't want to think about that now. But, in the back of her mind, if he continued to pitch well, it was inevitable. 

"Are you hungry?" she asked as they entered the apartment. It was a little after eight o'clock. "I have some pot roast leftovers in the fridge."

Zeke moved past her as he headed to his room. "That would be great, Keri, thanks." He put his two bags on the floor next to his bed and left them there. He would deal with the laundry issue later. Zeke returned to the kitchen where Keri had already started to get his supper ready. He went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of flavored water. Keri was starting to eat and drink a little bit healthier since he began living with her, having given up her customary sodas in favor of water and juices.

Zeke sat at the table and watched her as she moved around the small kitchen. Keri was wearing a colorful, form-fitting sun dress and it hugged her body attractively. It showed off some of her small cleavage, but no more than her nightgown had. Keri noticed his attentiveness as she moved about, but she said nothing. After his supper was reheated, she placed a steamy plate in from of him. She took a seat, watched him dig in, and enjoyed being able to do something to make him happy.

Zeke turned in early that night. He didn't get to discuss with her how he really felt as Cathy had suggested, but things had definitely changed between them and they both felt they were no longer just roommates. 

After he had gone to bed, Keri called Fran. They had already discussed Brian at length during Zeke's road trip with Fran apologizing over and over again for introducing them, so that subject didn't come up. This strictly pertained to Keri and her feelings toward a certain ballplayer.

"I really did miss him, Fran. When he hugged me, I thought I was going to die!" she giggled. "When I was cooking supper for him, he couldn't take his eyes off me. It was like I was the greatest thing he'd ever seen."

"Looks like you got a live one there, Keri," Fran replied.

"I like him a lot, Fran. It's just too bad it won't last."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know as well as I do that if he keeps on pitching like he is, he won't stay here. They'll move him to Chattanooga and I'll probably never see him again." She sighed sadly at the thought.

"Even if he gets promoted, you can't be sure about that. Anyway, my God, Keri, you guys haven't even kissed and you're missing him before he's even gone!"

"Yeah, well, I'm a mess as usual."

"Don't you think it would be better if you two had an actual relationship before you get all weepy about him?"

"I could go into his room and jump his bones right now if you like," Keri suggested. "How would that be for a relationship?" She was joking, of course, but she certainly wouldn't mind getting naked with him.

"Keri, come on! You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do. But , if I get really attached to him, it'll kill me if he leaves. Part of me doesn't want to get too involved with him and the other part wants to ride it out for all it's worth." Keri sighed. "I don't think there's any winning in this."

* * * * *

It was Monday night and the Dragons had an off night as they waited for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to come into town. Zeke was scheduled to pitch the last game of the series before they would head out on the road again. Immediately after the game on Thursday, they would board a bus and go to Fort Wayne. Zeke had started in front of the home crowd for the first time the previous Saturday, losing 4-3, but pitching decently by allowing three runs in five innings. He wasn't happy about his performance and groused about it all day Sunday, but by Monday, it was forgotten and he was back to his normal self again.

By now, it was Keri's habit to stay up until he returned from the ballpark, waiting for him and talking to him for just a bit before he went to bed. She usually got home from the ballpark about a half hour or so before he did. If he was still hungry, she'd warm up supper for him, something she didn't mind doing. Besides, it was the only time they saw each other unless he got up when she went to work. 

After supper and dishes, there wasn't much on TV that appealed to either of them. Zeke had debated about having a serious talk with Keri for the past few days, but thought he wanted more time to express himself. Their time together after the game when he came home wasn't adequate in his mind. Now that he had her alone with an evening all to themselves, his nerves were getting the better of him.

She sat next to him on the couch and put her head against his shoulder, much like she had when he comforted her that one morning. Zeke liked it when she did this and was getting used to their more intimate moments, although it hadn't gone past that. Their hands found each other and he liked that feeling, too. Although she was above average in height, her hands were small and they were dwarfed in his "bear paws", as she affectionately called them. He held her hand, as he had done the previous evening after their afternoon game. 

"I'm going to miss you when we go on the road again," he said out of the blue. In fact, he had missed her that day when she had been at work. Although he had practice in the early afternoon, his thoughts went to her periodically and he was anxious until she came home.

The thought of him being gone again saddened her. He hadn't been home long, and now, it was almost time for him to go again. "It'll be a short trip, though," she replied. "I'll be sure to give you a big hug when you get back."

Zeke smiled at the thought. "Will you miss me?"

"Without question." Keri sighed.

"I talked to my sister on our last road trip."

"You did?"

"Yeah."

"Did you talk about anything in particular?"

"Oh, lots of stuff," he replied, "but mainly, things about you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, well, you were on my mind a lot," he explained, "and she's always been a good listener when it comes to my girl problems."

"Have I now become a problem to you?" she asked.

"Only in a good way," he smiled. He kissed her forehead, something he'd never done before. "You're a problem only because I don't know what I truly feel about you, nor do I know what I want from you." He squeezed her hand lightly.

Keri was melting from his touch and was barely cognizant of what he said. "I see," she said, trying to buy some time and get her thoughts straight.

"I mean, I never wanted to get involved with you. I thought I'd spend the summer here, do my job, and then go home to Arkansas in the fall. I hoped we'd be friends, of course, but I didn't want or expect us to go any further than that." He sighed deeply. "Sometimes, I think it would have been better if I had found another old couple to live with."

"How's that?" she demanded, a bit alarmed at the last sentence.

"It's just that I'm starting to like you more and more." His eyes fell. "I'm really not going to want to go back home when the season's over."

Keri thought over what he said. Even before he kissed her forehead, she suspected he had deeper feelings for her than he let on. "I'm getting the same feeling myself. I missed you the first time you went on a road trip. You've been such a good friend to me, especially with that Brian mess I went through. You haven't given me a speck of trouble and I'm so used to you being around now. It feels weird when you're not here. I don't know," she shook her head, " but..." She fell silent, her head bowed.

"But what?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do, just say it."

Keri hesitated and pushed away from his shoulder a few inches. "Promise me you won't get mad."

"I'm not going to get mad. Why would I get mad?"

"I don't know," she said again. "It's just that I think I would like to be more than just friends with you." She cringed slightly and didn't know what his reaction would be.

Zeke laughed lightly and smiled at her, shaking his head slowly.

"What?" she asked. Keri didn't know whether to be confused or upset with him at this point.

"Like I said before, I didn't want to get involved with you or anyone because I would have to leave and go back home after the season. I've been fighting my feelings for you for the past few weeks, ever since we stayed up that morning. That's why I called Cathy and talked to her about you. I figured she could give me some answers and she did. She told me I should talk to you and let you know how I feel."

"Smart girl."

"Yeah, well, that's Cathy. She's a year younger and about a thousand times smarter than me."

"Someone has to keep you in line."

"There's no doubt about that," he agreed.

"So, how do you feel about me? You've never really said."

"Well," he looked at her thoughtfully, "I like you a lot and I miss you when we're apart. I even thought about you at practice today. That hasn't happened to me before." He smiled to himself. "I think I'd like to get to know you better and see what you're all about."

Keri smiled at him. "I'd like that very much," she purred.

Zeke pulled her close and hugged her to him, his arms wrapped around her protectively. Keri didn't know what he showered with, but it smelled wonderful to her. She took in his scent several times and tried to commit it to memory. 

His hand rested against her forearm and he lazily brushed his fingers over her skin. Her skin was very soft to him as he now wanted to discover and remember many things about her. This was going to be hard for both of them. He knew that. Zeke thought about the possibilities his career could take that summer and he guessed Keri had thought about it, too. She wasn't ignorant when it came to baseball and Zeke figured she knew he might be promoted or that the possibility existed for that to happen. Heck, he could even be traded, but he thought that to be a remote possibility. They would discuss that later, he supposed.

They sat together quietly for some time and didn't wish it to be any other way. Once again, Zeke enjoyed having Keri in his arms and Keri felt content, safe, and secure. It had been a long time since she felt this good.

As the clock chimed eight o'clock, Zeke shifted his position and turned his face to hers. He looked at her big, brown, expressive eyes and saw a lot of joy coming back to him. It really pleased him to see her happy.

It had been a long time since she thought of Zeke as just a big farm boy from Arkansas. Once she got to know him better, she came to realize he was far from simple and was in fact, quite complex in his thinking and analyzing. The fact that she was a few years older than he mattered little to her. Michael and Brian were both older than her, but Zeke acted and was more mature than either one. She knew he could very well be the one for her and she was willing to take the chance to find out for sure. She liked the way he looked at her, as if she were the only thing on his mind at that point.

Out of nowhere, he asked, "Would you mind if I kissed you?"

Keri blinked for a second and wasn't sure if she heard right. Zeke had a whimsical look on his face as he waited for her answer. "You said you wanted to kiss me?" she finally answered.

"Yes, I do, unless you find it too unappealing." His smile was starting to disappear as his puzzlement grew.

"No, no, no," she said quickly. "It's just that noone's ever asked me before. They just did it whether I wanted them to or not." She tried to reassure him with a smile, but he still looked confused.

Taking matters into her own hands, Keri leaned forward and placed her hands on both sides of his face. She pulled him close and kissed him tenderly for a few seconds before stopping. "Yes," she said breathlessly, "please kiss me."

Zeke had been kissed by a number of girls in his lifetime, but hers was different than any of them. Keri's kiss was light and feathery, yet a bit urgent at the same time. It was a woman's kiss to be sure and he loved it. He had never kissed someone with such full lips before. He wasted no time kissing her back, holding her to him and savoring her taste upon his lips. Keri's breathing quickened almost immediately and she parted her mouth to accept more. Zeke continued his gentle assault before he drew back slowly, letting their lips linger near until their bond was broken completely.

Keri was slightly lightheaded as she opened her eyes and looked at Zeke. He was smiling broadly and had already committed their first kiss to memory. Keri regained her senses enough to say, "Don't you ever ask for permission to kiss me again!"

Zeke laughed out loud and pulled her close to him once again, thankful they had time to explore this new facet of their relationship before they turned in.

* * * * *



They enjoyed being with each other over the next few days as much as possible, considering their schedules. Zeke was now making it a point to wake up at the same time as Keri and eat breakfast with her before she left for the office. He would then do the dishes and go back to bed for a few more hours of rest. He didn't mind changing his schedule a bit and they both enjoyed the few extra minutes it gave them while he was home.




Housing A Dragon



They hadn't slept in the same bed, nor had they explored a sexual relationship with each other. As much as they thought they would enjoy beginning something like that, they both thought it best to wait until they knew each other better. Keri still had the memory of her escapade with Brian fresh in her mind and was still skittish about starting another sexual relationship, never mind it would be with someone whom she trusted and was beginning to love.

The game against the Timber Rattlers on Thursday turned out great for Zeke and the Dragons as he pitched a complete game shutout and allowed but three base hits. The Dragons' bats came alive for an 8-0 victory. Fran and Keri yelled until they were hoarse, as did the rest of the sellout crowd. Towards the end, when the victory was assured, Keri suddenly became sad as Zeke retired batter after batter and got closer to the victory. She almost hoped for the Rattlers to get a hit so she could watch him through Fran's binoculars some more, but she knew that was grossly unfair of her to think that way. Her heart grew heavy as the last batter was retired on a strike out. She let out a sigh and cheered with the rest of the crowd before she and Fran made their way from their seats down to the bus.

She had already told him many times before she left for work how much she was going to miss him when he left for Fort Wayne. She didn't tell him, but she had already purchased tickets for Saturday and Sunday's games to surprise him. Keri didn't care that it would be a long trip for her. It would be worth it to see the look on his face when he saw her. They had grown very close, very quickly in those few days. They had stayed up late getting to know each other that Monday night and didn't want to go to bed when the time came. She couldn't get over how soothing, yet exciting his kisses could be. He continually messed with her emotions as his kisses could be playful and teasing one minute, yet be sensual and send all kinds of signals between her thighs the next. He left her hot and bothered and wanting more when they finally disengaged at eleven o'clock. When she undressed for bed, she was hardly surprised at how wet and slick she was and longed for the day when he would be between her legs to satisfy her needs.

About an hour after the final out was made, there was a small crowd of friends and fans waiting for the ball players as they filed solemnly out of the ballpark to board the bus. Zeke saw Keri immediately and gave her a big hug and kiss. He waved to Fran before he put his gear in one of the luggage compartments. Since it was only a week trip, he only had one piece of luggage plus his equipment bag to pack. He came back to Keri, knowing they would have a few minutes before it was time for him to go. 

"You pitched great," she said. 

"Thanks," he beamed. "Everything just flowed and I couldn't miss."

"When do you pitch again?"

"Tuesday."

"I'll listen to it."

"Good."

They stood and faced each other awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Keri looked up to the sky and tried to avoid getting teary-eyed. She sighed loudly and looked at him. "I'm going to miss you," she said, her chin quivering. She knew she would see him again in just a day or so, but her emotions were getting the best of her.

"I'll be back soon," he assured her, "next Thursday night or Friday morning. Don't wait up for me. My car is here."

"Don't be silly," she laughed lightly, "you know I'll be up until you get home."

"Come on, Keri. You have to work the next day."

"I know, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing you're on you way home."

Soon, it was time for them to leave and Keri sighed audibly. They hugged and kissed quickly again before he left her at the curb. He boarded the bus with the rest of his teammates and they pulled out into the warm Dayton night. The only consolation she could take with her was the fact that in her purse, two tickets waited to be used that coming weekend and she would look forward to that.

* * * * *

The drive to Fort Wayne went quicker than she expected. She had made reservations ahead of time at the same motel where the Dragons would be staying. It was a Motel 6 not too far from Fort Wayne's ballpark. Keri arrived just before noon and the team had already departed. After she checked in, she was given directions to the ballpark.

Keri felt anxious and a bit nervous about what she was doing, as if she were making a rendezvous with a lover. She missed waking up with him and sharing breakfast. She missed waiting for him to come through the door after the game and having a supper waiting for him. She missed kissing him and being kissed in return. Most of all, she missed his touch when he held her close to him, breathing in his scent and feeling genuinely loved without him saying a word. Keri loved him and she couldn't kid herself about that anymore. 

Keri found her seat, which was a few sections to the right of the visitor's dugout. From her vantage point, she could see a bit of the dugout and some of the players inside. It was still a half hour before game time and there weren't too many players around. A few had emerged to start loosening up and begin to throw, but she knew Zeke wouldn't be one of them. Keri walked over to the railing near the dugout and looked around for someone to help her.

A bat boy came out began to place items in the on deck circle; pine tar, rosin, weighted donuts. As he turned to go back in, Keri beckoned him to the railing. "Could you tell Zeke Monturo to come out for a minute so I can talk to him?" she asked sweetly.

He looked at her quizzedly as if he didn't understand. Keri smiled and reached into her purse. She produced a five dollar bill and handed it to him. "I'd really appreciate it," she said. "Tell him Keri wants to talk to him."

The boy took the money and put it inside the lining of his ball cap. "Yes ma'am," he beamed, "right away." He then disappeared into the dugout.

Keri waited impatiently as different players came out of the dugout and onto the field. Finally, the hulking figure of Zeke emerged and he looked her way in utter shock. Keri's heart skipped a beat when she saw him. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he reached up to touch her hand.

"I just had to see you," she replied. "I missed you." She felt as if she was going to start crying.

Zeke didn't know what to think. When the bat boy told him that someone named Keri wanted to see him, he thought it was a joke. He couldn't believe she would be there when he came out. When he did see her, he was overjoyed. "I missed you, too. When did you get here?"

"About a half hour ago. I checked in before I came out."

"Where are you staying?"

"Motel 6."

Zeke's eyes showed his astonishment, but his smile was what caught her eye. "What room?"

"208."

"Got anything planned this evening?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"I was hoping to take a certain pitcher out for dinner. Interested?"

"You bet I am," he replied. Zeke looked over his shoulder and saw that the game would be starting soon. "I have to go back in," he said, squeezing her hand.

"I know," she said. "Meet me at my room when you get back, okay?" She looked down at his face and smiled.

"It's so good to see you, Keri." His smiled broadened before he looked back at the field once again. 

That was all she needed to hear. She kissed his hand before letting him go. "I'll see you back at the motel," she said as he began to turn and walk away. A smile and a wave was his reply before he was out of her sight.

The game mattered little to her as she wished for it to be over quickly. But, as she recalled Murphy's Law of baseball, if you wanted a quick game, it was sure to go into extra innings. The Wizards and the Dragons would battle for twelve innings before Dayton came out with a 4-3 victory. Antsy and frustrated over the amount of time it took, Keri hurried back to her motel room and waited for Zeke to arrive.

She took a shower to get the sweat and dirt off her. It had been a hot, windy day and the dust kicked up now and then. Keri felt much better after her shower and changed into the sun dress Zeke liked so much. A few minutes after six o'clock, Zeke knocked on her door dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. A hug and a kiss was her greeting as she pulled him inside and closed the door behind them.

"I couldn't wait for you to get here," she said breathlessly between kisses.

Zeke made no reply as he kissed her back and hugged her to him. He sniffed at her freshly scrubbed skin and wanted nothing more than to bury his nose in her neck and take in her scent. He still couldn't believe she had come to Fort Wayne to be with him. He had missed her, too, and found himself wishing that the road trip would go by quickly.

After their lips parted, Keri moved back slightly and looked at him with her misting eyes. "I hope this doesn't scare you...." Her voice trailed off.

"Scare me?" He looked at her puzzled.

"I love you."

Zeke blinked. He had been trying to think of a way to tell her the same thing. Slowly, he pulled her to him once again and hugged her. "I've been wanting to tell you the same thing. I just didn't know if I should say it."

"Please, say it," she said softly. "I want to hear it. I need to hear it."

Zeke let her go and placed his hands on Keri's shoulders. He smiled at her before he took her face in his hands. Her face felt soft and delicate as he held it tenderly, massaging her cheekbones with his thumbs. "I love you, Keri," he said before he kissed her again.

Within minutes, dinner became an afterthought as his kisses began to have an effect on her that she wasn't expecting. Her breathing became raspy and hot as she returned his kisses with fire and passion, an urgency that even she didn't know about. Her little groans surprised Zeke as he realized what was happening to her and that he was the cause. He became even more surprised when she slowly moved her hand down his muscular thigh and began to rub her hand against the growing bulge hidden behind denim cloth. Zeke sucked in his breath to suppress a groan of his own.

She felt him through his jeans and sighed as she gave him a gentle squeeze. A small groan escaped his lips this time. Zeke found her forwardness refreshing and deliciously naughty as he hadn't seen this side of her. They continued to exchange kisses as his own hand slid down from her face and cupped her left breast. He kneaded it tenderly as she began to melt from his touch. As good as it felt, she wanted to do more than become putty in his arms. She wanted to explode.

Keri took his hand from her breast and stepped back. She quickly undid the buttons of her dress and let it fall to the floor. Zeke looked at Keri and became more excited by the second. She was wearing a lacy white bra that pushed her breasts together and out, showing beautiful cleavage. His eyes traveled down her body to a matching set of panties that hugged her shapely hips wonderfully.

"You're beautiful," he said, barely able to speak. His eyes were staring at her face now and taking in her features.

Keri smiled and blushed from the compliment, something she wasn't used to hearing from her previous boyfriends. Feeling confident, she moved forward and began to unbuckle his belt. Zeke watched in disbelief as she tugged at the button at the waistband before unzipping his jeans. Coming out of his stupor for a brief instant, Zeke pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to a nearby chair as Keri slowly pulled his jeans down to his ankles. Zeke sat down on the bed and pulled off his shoes and socks before tugging off his jeans as well.

He stood up once again and looked at her. Keri looked frail and much more delicate to him now, but he thought she never looked prettier. Her hair wasn't pulled back, but hung loosely about her broad shoulders. Her smile was radiant as she gazed back at him. Zeke gathered her into his arms once again and hugged her, his erection poking her. She took his hand and guided it to the beginnings of her underwear, already becoming damp from her excitement. She placed his hand over the outline of her clitoris and pressed it there. Zeke took it from there as he began to rub her gently and evenly, sending shivers through her and almost buckling her knees. Her hand found his erection again and she began to pull on it carefully.

Keri placed her head against his chest and let her feelings and emotions take over. He was pleasing her very much as his fingers continued to play music, his sweet touch sending tingles and shivers through her as she continued to fondle him. She wanted him very bad at this point and wanted him to take her without any resistance, but his fingers were working their magic and she knew it wouldn't be much longer before the build up would be too much and she would begin to ride that rolling wave of passion.

Without warning, he scooped her up in his arms and gently placed her on the bed. He placed both hands under her firm butt and slowly pulled her panties down her curvy hips, past her soft thighs and down the rest of the way to her delicate toes. He lingered near her ankles before he began to kiss her legs. Keri kicked her panties unnoticed to the floor. He started at her calves and made his way up to her knees and to the beginnings of her thighs. Zeke kissed her outer thighs first, taking his time and savoring the thought of pleasing her with his tongue and mouth. His kisses were light and soft as he gradually moved forward and inward. Her inner thighs were amazingly soft and Zeke's mouth lingered there for a few seconds. Keri knew what he was about to do and shivered uncontrollably in anticipation. She had never been pleasured orally before, but Keri wanted Zeke to do that for her, trusting him with her love not to hurt her. With that trust in mind, she parted her legs and opened herself to him for the first time.

His first taste of her was sweet and musky as his tongue swept through her small opening and flicked the hood that shrouded her clit. Keri gasped at the pleasure it gave her and opened herself wider still. Zeke inwardly groaned at the sight as he stopped for a second or two to admire. Her thighs and labia were a bit fleshier than the two girls he had been with before, but he thought it only made her sexier and more desirable. This was a real woman he was loving, not some teenage girl in college.

Zeke pressed his face into her again and began to love her with his mouth and tongue. Keri inhaled sharply and groaned loudly before gently placing her hands on his head to guide him. It wasn't long before the tremors began and Keri felt the sexual tension within her begin to release. The first spasm hit her with tremendous force and made her arch her back and buck against him. She squealed uncontrollably as her hands held him in place. She alternated between gritting her teeth and calling his name over and over. Zeke kept teasing her clit with gentle nips from his teeth and flicks of his tongue as she continued to writhe and grind her pelvis into his face. It seemed to go on forever as spasm after sweet spasm ripped through her. After a while, though, the spasms subsided and was replaced by delicate, feathery waves. Keri relaxed her thighs, moaning softly as Zeke's tongue started to massage her, gently licking her swollen, sensitive clit as lovingly as a mare taking care of her newborn foal.

They lay side by side whispering sweet things to each other as her breathing returned to normal. Zeke reached behind her and unfastened the hooks of her bra. Keri wriggled free as Zeke pulled it away from her, showing him her small, cone-shaped breasts. Her aureoles were puffy and extremely soft to the touch, while her tiny nipples were hard from her orgasm. Zeke buried his face between them, touching them, holding them, kissing them, tasting them, loving them. Keri felt the familiar stirs between her thighs as she watched him devour her breasts with love. Her other lovers had never taken much interest in them and she thought them to be unattractive, but she now knew that to be untrue. His tongue swirled around her tiny little nubs as Keri squeaked from their sensitivity, causing Zeke to refrain from nibbling on them with his teeth.

He came back to her and kissed her lips again, relishing their fullness. They kissed for a few minutes before Keri pulled back. "I love you so much. Noone's ever loved me like that before!" She pulled him close and hugged him. "Please make love to me," she whispered in his ear.

Zeke continued to hold her, feeling her small breasts poking his chest. He could have held her all night and be satisfied with that. He loved the feel of her soft nakedness against him and wondered if he deserved to have someone like Keri. Zeke inhaled deeply before he kissed her forehead. Looking deep into her shining brown eyes, he said, "There's nothing else I'd rather do."

* * * * *

Thoughts of Zeke never left Keri as she tried to sleep. She could feel his sperm trickle down her thigh and onto the mattress. She pressed them together in hopes of keeping his precious juices within her, but the oozing continued. She begged him to stay in her room, but the team had a curfew and he could get in a lot of trouble if he wasn't in his room when it was checked.

They made love twice more after their late dinner at a local restaurant. Both times, her orgasms were so strong that she thought her insides were being ripped out. There were times when she couldn't distinguish between the pleasure and the pain, crying out with joy and wanting both to last as long as possible as her vaginal muscles contracted around his penis.

She had a very hard time letting him go when it came time for him to leave, but she did. Keri knew he didn't want to go, either, and she could take some consolation in that. She would never forget their first night together, nor would she ever forget how he felt inside her for the first time. It was every bit as wonderful as she had imagined in her secret dreams about him.

Just as sleep was about to overtake her, there was a soft knock at her door. Looking through the peephole, she saw Zeke standing there. Keri opened the door quickly and let him in. "What are you doing here? Won't you get in trouble?" she demanded.

Instead of answering, he swept her up and carried her to bed. After laying her down on the mattress, he said, "Don't worry. They did their bed check and I don't have to be back until six o'clock." He placed the back of his hand against her face and rubbed it delicately before kissing her. "Mind if I stay for a while?"

* * * * *

The days that followed their tryst went by slowly as Keri waited for him to return. Their good-bye was long and sad, but each would carry the memory of their night together in their hearts. Zeke would pitch well in his next outing. Although not getting the victory, he allowed only two runs in seven innings in the Dragons 4-2 win over South Bend. Now that his assignment was over and his next start would be Sunday in Dayton, Zeke turned his thoughts to Keri. His time with her was the best he had ever had and he replayed it over and over again in his mind. He would always remember how her muscles enveloped and gripped him while he was inside her. Her eyes were always fixed on him, trusting him more than anyone else she had let inside her secret place, trusting him not to hurt her like the others had. Her kisses had been hot, fiery, and passionate as he took everything she could give him and he gave himself wholly to her.

Only with the mightiest of efforts could Zeke push her out of his mind, and that only happened when he was pitching that Tuesday evening. The rest of the week went slowly for him as well, as he knew it would. He wanted so much to be back in her arms so he could touch her, explore her body, and make love to her all over again.