What was he even talking about?

"Become intimate, without the act of sex?"

What did that even mean?

He might have gone overboard with Tika on their date. He wanted sex with her as well, but he knew they needed to wait and build their relationship. He had no idea what he was doing with a woman like Tika, but he had to wing it.

The thoughts that were screaming through his head weren't pure and innocent. He wanted to be naked and sweaty with the woman that every sane guy fantasized about. What was he supposed to do to contain what he really wanted to do?

He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Is it okay if I touch you...in places?" He was going to make this up, every step of the way.

"Boy, you don't have to ask." Tika's hands rubbed over his chest, but he gently took her hands and moved them away. That was arising things in him.

"And can I...I mean...do you mind if I take your shirt off?"

"So this is about to get freaky huh?" They both grabbed her tight-fitting black shirt and pulled it over her head to reveal a black, lacy bra, holding her perfect round mounds in place.

He tucked in his bottom lip, nervously biting it. A way to control where he wanted to put his mouth. He was no better than any other man, lusting over her. He was trying to get to know her, without the physical.

"I'll take my shirt off too." He pulled off his t-shirt.

"Well, damn!"

That had to be a reaction to the fact that he worked out nonstop, ate right and his body was the result of that. Low body fat and all muscle mass left a very chiseled physique. His body was his temple. Most baseball players were lean, not muscular. He was a nice mix of that.

"All of this has been hiding under your baseball uniform? If the ladies saw all of this, I'd have to fight them off."

"Nobody has my attention but you." He took her hand. "Lay down here, I'm going to give you a massage."

"Well, double damn!"

Rico made sure Tika was comfortable on the couch, and then he went upstairs to his bathroom, hurriedly trying to find the best lotion he owned. Aveeno would have to do.

He made it back down to Tika and she had taken off the black pants she wore, laying on her stomach, exposing her ass cheeks that were not covered in her thong panties. Also, her bra was off and to the side with the rest of her clothes.

This was a bad idea.

"I figured I'd give you more things to massage. And please, touch me anywhere you want, don't ask. I'm all yours."

A trickle of sweat dripped down his temple. The air conditioning was on full blast, but it felt like he was in the middle of the field on top of the mound. A wipe of his brow and he had to push past his nervous energy. Tika was just a girl.

He slathered both his hands with lotion and placed his hand on the small of her back, rubbing his hands in circles while he kneaded her skin. He kept doing that, relaxing and she relaxed and made his way up to her shoulders. Then he pumped more lotion into his hands and started on her lower body.

And she let him massage the front of her body.

By the time he was finished, there was not an inch of her body that he did not touch. All of the nervousness was gone as well. He felt comfortable being with her. He kissed her in places, without going all the way there, which made him desire her more, but he held it back. He let her kiss him in places, his neck, chest, stomach...although he wanted her lips in other places lower. They had an intense make-out session, but there was not much time for much else before she had to leave.

She dressed, he put his shirt back on and then he walked her downstairs and outside.

"Tonight was nice...but next time can we make it further than third base? Maybe a home run?"

He held her in his arms while they stood downstairs in front of her car. "I promise you, our first time we will need more time. And I want it to be special, something you will never forget."

That's what he told her and he meant it.

Now he was on a plane off to the next city for a two-week stretch. This was going to be torture. Tika was super busy, about to spend time overseas while also getting ready for her tour so there would be no slipping away for a few hours like when they were in St. Louis. All they had was contacting each other by phone, sometimes Facetime, sometimes talking, or even texts.

And they were sexy calls, talking sexy things.

"I hope you're not vanilla," Tika said to him.

He cracked a chuckle. Here he was talking about sex with Tika Foster. Tika Foster was his girlfriend. Never would he have seen this coming.

"There is nothing wrong with vanilla...but I can do whatever you like."

"I like freaky," she said. "Tie me up, smack my ass, punish me."

He was getting hot at all the thoughts of that. While he was not vanilla, he was not into kinky things. With Tika, he wanted to explore all the things. All the positions.

"You like being on top?"

"On top, from the back...in a plane, on a train...in the backseat of my limo. Weird and wild places when people are around."

His girl lived dangerously. He had not done anything like that.

"And toys," she said. "I have a few I'd like you to use on me. Or maybe I'll use them on you."

He had never used any toys. He was unsure of what to even think.

"Don't worry, I will be gentle with you."

He had to lay there, imagining her doing those things while he stroked himself. He was so hard thinking about her. He wanted to taste her and see if she tasted as good as he imagined. He wanted to suck her dry.

So maybe it was a good thing they were taking this time to get to know what each other liked.

While they were away in Philadelphia for a three-game series, the press asked the Coach what they thought about Tika Foster attending so many of their games lately.

What? She was there? Tika had not told him she was flying into his game, he thought she would be halfway across the world. Or home spending the last day of rest with her family. He wondered why she decided to come. He understood why she chose not to tell him because he told her he played badly when he knew she was there, but now he was upset she had not told him.

"I think she's coming to see me," Anthony said to him. "I mean, who else?"

He said nothing.

If they guys knew he was spending so much time with her, that he kissed her, massaged over her body, and that she was his girlfriend, their ribbing in the locker room would be insane. Let them think whatever.

"Maybe she's into the team...you know, her hometown team." But he knew she had no interest in baseball, she was there to see him.

Not knowing she was there did free his mind. He was able to focus on why he was there and that was to play baseball. Having a win was even better. But now he wanted to call her and see if she had time to see him later that night.

"You could have told me you were coming to my game."

"I like to surprise you, baby, get used to that. And I was cheering so loud for you. I got spotted by fans, sorry."

Imagining Tika screaming his name made him warm and fuzzy inside. "So...they know we're together?"

"No!" she added quickly. "When the media caught up with me I said I'm So St. Louis, and Cardinals represent The Lou, so they will be seeing me at a lot more games. You should see me in my red and white today."

He grinned thinking of whatever cute outfit she wore. "Send me a pic. Better yet, can you come see me in my hotel room?"

"I wish, Rico. I'd rather be there with you instead of having to fly right back out. I'm off to Europe. I told you about that."

Yes, she did, but he did not want to think about it. They always discussed where they would be next, but he was selfish and wished she did not have to go so far away. Tika had a five-day tour of Europe with three performances while there. The distance did not change anything. He still would be unable to see her, and their time on the phone would be more limited because of the time differences.

"And then after this, you're back in St. Louis long term, right?"

"Yes, Rico."

He wanted to see her every day when she was back in St. Louis.