Title: Natural
Summary: An unknown batter named Edward Masen takes a losing baseball team to the top of the league. Edward lives out his fame but can't seem to shake the idea of the mysterious woman he meets on the train.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.
A/N: Thank you to my amazing mind soulmate and awbffe, LoveBadBoyVamps, for beta reading this chapter. *muah*
I searched for Bella on the train without much luck. She couldn't have just disappeared. Jasper discussed with me what to look forward to when we arrived in New York. There were to be lots of meetings and interviews if I made it—and Jasper was positive I would. But I couldn't listen to him since I could still taste Bella on my tongue.
"Masen! Get your head out of the clouds." Jasper ordered.
"Sorry. I'm listening."
"Yeah, yeah."
He gave up and instead went to sleep. Within minutes he was snoring and grumbling in his sleep. I looked around the compartment and decided try and see if Bella would be in the dining car. Quietly I slid out of my seat and made my way to the back of the train. The lights were dimmed and as I slid open the door I spotted her. She was seated at a small table that was lit by a single candle. The bartender was behind the bar cleaning of glasses.
Bella looked up upon my entrance and I saw her tell-tale blush. With a small smile I made my way over to bar and ordered a draft. He handed it to me and I sat across from Bella.
"Hello," I whispered.
She smiled. "Hello, Mr. Masen."
"Don't you think we're passed formalities?"
"Okay. Why are you up this late, Edward?" She drawled my name and my body chilled at the sound of it.
I chuckled. "I keep thinking about this beautiful girl who kissed me a couple hours ago. Why are you up?"
"Couldn't sleep." She shrugged. After a long pause she continued."So, what made you want to become a baseball player?"
"I'm good at it."
Bella leaned in closer towards me and giggled. I decided right then that I wanted to make her do that the rest of my life. The thought shocked me. I hardly knew this girl sitting across from me. How did I make such a commitment to a girl I barely knew.
"Well doesn't that just explain everything?"
I moved my seat so that it was closer to hers. "My father."
"That's why you play?"
"He taught me everything." I nodded. "We would play every chance I got. In a way he gave me my ticket to freedom. He would always say I was destined for it."
Her body turned towards me and I became very aware of how my hair stood on end. "He must be very proud of you."
"He was."
I didn't like discussing my father. The truth was he was weak and he pushed me way too hard to become what he couldn't. He was an insufferable drunk and even in his death caused me pain. He left me nothing and forced me to seek out Jasper and get my career going. He only gave me advice one time, and it seemed to stick, yet I never knew why. He had said, "You've got a gift Edward... but it's not enough - you've got to develop yourself. If you rely too much on your own gift... then... you'll fail." I hated thinking back to memories of him but, with Bella, it felt that I could talk to her about anything. Even now, seeing her face fall at the mention of my father's passing was causing me to want her comfort. I wanted her tiny hands cradling my face as I told her everything. Every fear. Every doubt. As I told her how I never thought I could live up.
"I'm so sorry, Edward."
Her hand reached over and took my own. She placed our intertwined hands together on my lap and I felt it again. I felt the instant charge whenever we connected. It was evident in the air and the space between us. It was even evident in her voice.
"It's okay." I paused as she rubbed her thumb over mine. "I'm going to prove I can do this, for him."
"I have no doubt that you will."
She squeezed my hand in reassurance and just like that I believed her. I knew nothing about Isabella Cullen. All that I knew was that I wanted to spend the rest of my life learning about her. What made her blush? Why was she constantly biting on her bottom lip? It seemed as though I couldn't read her mind that her face was telling me all I needed to know. If, of course, I took the time to learn.
We continued discussing my past and she offered nothing of her own. I told her about my struggles growing up and how we didn't have much money since it was just me and my dad. We both worked all day and during breaks we would throw the ball around.
At some point the bartender left us alone, seeming to become bored in our conversation. I didn't mind. It just meant alone time with Bella. After seeing Bella light up as I talked about my childhood, I even opened up about the night my father died.
"After the funeral I was mad at the world. He left me with only the house. No money. I was sitting on the front porch a wreck when a storm began." Bella gasped but I continued. "I didn't move. The rain fell all over me and then the lightning started. We had an old tree on the front of our property. When I was younger I can even remember my mother pushing me on the tire swing… before she left. I just happened to look up towards the tree when lightning struck it."
"Oh, my god!" Her mouth was dropped in shock and worry.
It was my turn to squeeze her hand. "I was fine. Well, in a way. You see, that night changed my life forever. When the lightning struck the tree it produced this piece of wood before my feet. I didn't know what came over me but I was hit with the notion to make it into a bat. And I did."
"You created a bat? On your own?" I nodded. "That's amazing."
"That's Wonderboy."
She giggled. "You call your bat Wonderboy?"
"Well, you'll see for yourself when I make it to the big show."
"You know, Wonderboy, you certainly make a lot of promises."
I shifted closer to her and stared into her deep brown eyes. "But, I always deliver."
"You certainly do."
Her voice dropped an octave and I was never more glad that we were alone. I knew it was a foolish thing that I was getting myself into—and I knew Jasper would say she was using me for my status—but I trusted her.
"Bella, is it okay if I kiss you?"
She chewed on her lip and nodded. My hand reached over and rubbed her cheek. Her skin was smooth like satin and my mind wondered if her whole body would feel like this. My face moved towards hers and I touched my lips to her with the softest touch.
There it was again. The spark.
Our lips moved together, each of us learning what the other liked. Her hands pressed against my chest and my arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer to me. As our kisses grew more urgent she moved her body over me and wound her fingers into my hair. Having her heat so close to where I was ready for her was driving me insane and I wasn't sure I wanted to disrespect her in that manner.
"Bella…" I breathed. "I think maybe we should stop. I don't want this to be something you-"
She tugged on my bottom lip. "Don't think, Masen. Feel."
With that word she grounded against me and all doubt left my mind. I gripped her hips—keeping her close to me—and lifted her. Her kiss never lessened as I placed her at the edge of the table and stood. Her hands slid down my body and she removed my button-up from my pants and went to work releasing the buttons on my slacks.
My hands slid up her thighs and pushed back the material of her dress so it balled up on her hips. I made my way to the front buttons of her dress and removed them one by one. She wore a black corset that hugged her figure and pushed up her ample breasts. My hands brushed over them before releasing one and bending down to suck on the sweet bud.
Bella's breathing was ragged as I swirled my tongue around her nipple and blew on it. She pulled down my zipper and slipped her hand in my slacks releasing my cock. Her soft hand rubbed along my erection, feeling me. She pulled me towards her so I was right against her panties.
I slipped my hand between us and pushed aside her underwear and ran my finger along her slit. She was wet and ready for me and as I pushed my finger inside I felt her tightness. She released me and her hands went to my hair again pushing me closer to her breast. I gripped my erection and put it at her entrance and slowly slipped inside.
"Oh, god." She moaned.
Her center was hot and tight. The moisture of her arousal surrounded me almost causing me to lose it right there. I pushed all the way in and found heaven. My body stilled a moment in an attempt to regain control. I wanted nothing more than to push into her hard and rough on top of this table but I needed to let Bella set the speed.
Bella's hips shifted against me and I kissed my way up to her lips. Our lips joined once again in a fiery kiss as I pulled out of her and plummeted back in. She mumbled against my lips as my mouth sucked on her tongue.
We worked out a rhythm as our bodies gripped one another. Eventually Bella lowered her back on to the table as I gripped her hips. Seeing her there, sprawled out for me, her hands gripping her curls, was a sight to worship. She was beautiful and smart and as I angled my hips to brush against her I felt her walls begin to clench around me. It was the most amazing feeling in the world and it got better when Bella said my name in a breathy moan that passed through her full parted lips.
"Edward."
The sound of my name from her brought me over and I spilled myself inside of her. My body stilled as hers rode out over me. I collapsed on her body covering her with my own. Our breathing was matched in its heaviness and I truly felt one with her. Joined at the hip with my intake causing her outtake.
I lifted my head and smoothed out where her hair had matted on her forehead. She blushed and I watched as it spread throughout her whole body. It went down her neck, across her ample breasts, down her torso and seemed to lead to where we were joined.
I stated the only word I could think of at that moment. "Beautiful."
She smiled, and after a soft kiss shared between us, we both sat up and readied ourselves to return back to the cabin. I watched as she dropped down from the table and I walked over to her taking her in my arms and bringing my mouth down to hers.
"This is going to be the greatest day of my life."
She arched her eyebrow. "Going to be?"
"It's after midnight and I have you. Then later today I'm going to be a professional ball player. Things couldn't be more perfect."
She didn't say anything she lightly kissed me. "We should go back."
"Yeah," I nodded.
I took her hand in mine as she grabbed on with both. We walked back to our seats where Jasper was still snoring. I sat across from him and pulled Bella down with me. She curled her legs under her and laid her head on my chest. My arm wrapped around her protectively and within minutes we were sound asleep.
x-x-x-x
When I woke, the first thing I noticed was that I couldn't feel her presence. My eyes shot open and I looked around but she was nowhere to be found. I stood and saw that her suitcase was gone. I searched again and saw Jasper walking towards me.
Frantically I asked him, "Jazz, have you seen Bella?"
"Bella? Whose Bella? We have to go, I can't be worrying about girls you meet on a train."
I gripped his suspenders. "Bella! The girl I was talking to last night. She was here… have you seen her?"
He shook his head and I released him. I looked again to where we had been sitting and spotted a white envelope with messy handwriting. I picked it up and saw my name written on the front. Quickly, I sat down ripping the letter open and that was when I realized it was from Bella.
Edward,
I had an amazing time last night but you must know it can never be more than that. It will forever just be a memory I look back on with a smile. There is a lot you don't know about me but just know that a relationship between us can never work out. My deepest regret is that I let it go so far when I knew it couldn't be more than just last night. I regret that I did that to you. Good luck, today. You're going to be an amazing baseball player, Edward. I truly believe that. Don't let it get to you like it does other guys. You have heart and that's just what the league needs.
Please don't go looking for me because I don't want to be found.
All my love,
Bella.
I gripped the letter tight in my hand. Just this morning I thought I was going to have everything I ever wanted, but she left. Jasper shook my shoulder and urged me to get up. It seemed I was going through the motions as I placed the letter in my jacket pocket and grabbed my suitcase. I still found myself searching for her, hoping she would be waiting on the platform. But she wasn't there.
Jazz dragged me along through the station and into a nearby cab. I clutched my chest where the letter was and realized I had to look for her. If this is what I wanted out of life I had to find her. If I gave up on her it would all be over.
As the thought crossed my mind, I knew what I had to do.
A/N: Well, I worked out the changes in the storyline. This story is based of the movie, The Natural. But, I changed a lot of things. I'm merely using the movie as a guideline. I really hope you all enjoy it.
