Something New & Unexpected

by Sarah Matthews

  The first half of the game was extremely sloppy because of the rain. With it being an outdoor stadium, everything was getting soaked. With the ball being extremely wet, there were two fumbles, causing two turnovers, back to back. When we turned the ball back over, all of us either let out a loud groan or yelled. By the two-minute warning, I was glad the half was almost over.

  When it ended, Billy muted the TV, and everyone got up and moved around. I was glad I didn’t have to listen to the halftime show.

  Getting up, Steve asked, “Do you want anything?”

  I shook my head. Sitting there, I started feeling pain in my legs from being bent so long, and rubbed the back of them. I laid my head against the back of the couch and closed my eyes.

  Seeing my discomfort as he sat down, Steve put his drink and plate on the table. Without a word, he slowly began to straighten out my legs. My eyes flew open and began to water, and my mouth opened a little, silently, as the pain shot through both of them, simultaneously.

  “I know. Easy,” he said, softly, rubbing them as they straightened.

  When they were completely straight, he put them on his lap, and I turned and scooted down until my head was on the arm of the couch.

  “Why didn’t you tell me your legs were hurting?” he asked, continuing to massage both of them.

  “Because they didn’t start cramping until a few minutes ago.”

  “Oh, okay, but I don’t think you should’ve sat like that for that long,” he observed, leaning forward and grabbing his plate of nachos, while still massaging my left leg with his hand.

  “I don’t think so either,” I agreed.

  Over the next few minutes, we sat and laid in silence, as I relaxed and enjoyed the continued massage, as he ate his nachos. Every so often, he leaned down and fed me one with cheese.

  “So, Beth,” Ryan said, pulling back up to the couch, “Steve tells me you’re an English major at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.”

  “Yep, I am, but I don’t know what I want to do with it.”

  “That’s okay. I didn’t know either. There’s so many things you can do with that kind of degree.”

  “Really?”

  “Absolutely. We should get together sometime and I’ll see if I can help.”

  “Really? That would be great. Thanks.”

  “No problem. Just tell me when and I’ll see if I’m free.”

  “Actually, I’m having lunch with a girlfriend of mine tomorrow before heading back to school; you’re welcome to join us. We probably won’t talk about school, but it should be interesting, nonetheless.”

  “I’d love to, but I don’t want to intrude.”

  “You wouldn’t be, I promise.”

  “You sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay then.”

  “Ladies, if you don’t mind, the second half is about to start,” Alex interrupted as I told her the time and place to meet us.

  “Oh, alright,” Ryan said a bit sarcastically, but jokingly, then turned back to me. “Men,” she said, rolling her eyes, dramatically, and we both laughed.

  The second half of the game was much more interesting and exciting. Though it was still raining, both teams managed to play better than they did in the first half. By the fourth quarter, however, we started to pull away thanks to the defensive interception that was run back for a touchdown, and the amazing run by our running back that resulted in a touchdown on our next possession. Needless to say, by the two-minute warning, we were already screaming and high-fiving because we knew we were going to win, unless there was a miracle.

  When the game finally ended, we continued to celebrate. Steve got up, leaned down over me, and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He picked me up and started spinning me around, as we continued to kiss.

  “Okay, get a room you two,” Alex joked, when our kiss went a little too long.

  We just chuckled through it.

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea,” Steve whispered, in my ear, when it finally ended.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” I whispered back, against his ear.

  After saying, “Goodnight,” to everyone, we headed back to his apartment.

  “That was great! I still can’t believe it!” I said, amazed.

  “I know! I can’t either,” he replied, shutting the door behind us. “What do you think your friends are doing right now?”

  “I don’t know and I don’t care,” I answered, wrapping my arms and legs around him tighter. “All I know is that it’s been the best night I’ve had in a long time, and I want to enjoy it with you.”

  “Really? The best night, huh?” he asked, with a slightly lopsided grin.

  “In a long time, yeah,” I answered, grinning back.

  “I bet I can make it even better.”

  “Yeah? How?”

  “I love you,” he whispered, in my ear.

  I stiffened.

  When I didn’t say anything for almost a minute, Steve leaned back and looked at my face. My eyes were wide and slightly glazed over, and my mouth was slightly open. Suddenly, a single tear started running down each cheek.

  “Shh, don’t cry,” he said, wiping away my tears, with both hands. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because,” I replied, leaning forward and whispering, in his ear, “I love you, too.”

  He grabbed my face with both hands, and I looked into his eyes again. Wiping the tears continuing to fall, he leaned forward and kissed me. The kiss was sweet and tender and full of love. As we broke apart, he wrapped his arms back around me and just laid his forehead against mine. Looking into my eyes, he had the biggest smile on his face. Smiling just as big, I leaned forward and kissed him.

  At first, my kiss was just as sweet and tender, but quickly turned passionate. As our tongues fought for dominance, my hands went through his hair, and his hands went to the hem of my jersey. He slowly lifted it up, and we pulled away as he tugged it over my arms and head then tossed it. Chuckling, and not caring where it landed, I grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him forcefully and passionately, and he began to walk forward.

  As we went blindly down the hall, my hands went to the hem of his jersey and his went under my turtleneck. A loud moan escaped into his mouth at the sensation his hands caused. Suddenly, just as I was about to pull his jersey up, I felt the wall at my back, and I laughed softly.

  “Sorry,” he apologized, sincerely.

  “It’s okay,” I told him, still laughing.

  “Did it hurt?”

  “Nope, I’m good,” I assured him.

  Taking advantage of our stationary position, I yanked his jersey over his arms and head, and tossed it blindly toward the living room. He did the same with my turtleneck. Pulling me down for a kiss with one hand on the back of my neck, Steve pushed off the wall with the other then wrapped both arms, tightly, around me again before turning the corner to his bedroom.

  Making our way into his bedroom, he walked over to the end of the bed. After laying me gently on it, he stood back up and I crawled backwards until I reached the pillows. I gave him a seductive smile as I let my hair down and slowly shook it out. Growling, he quickly pulled off his turtleneck and tossed it on the floor, and I couldn’t help but laugh. He got on the bed and settled between my legs.

  For several minutes, we just laid there looking into each other’s eyes and listening to each other breathe, as he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and I slowly ran my hands up and down his back. On the outside, I was calm and collected, but inside I was anxious. My heart was pounding so hard and so fast that it felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest, and my whole body was tingling in anticipation.

  Steve slowly leaned in and kissed me, softly, and that was all it took. Within a second, I opened my mouth and licked his bottom lip and he immediately obliged. As our tongues tangled lazily, his hands went to my breasts, and I moaned
loudly into his mouth and began to lightly scratch his back. Kissing his way to my neck, I closed my eyes to enjoy the sensations coursing through my body. Soon I had to bite my lip and grabbed his shoulders to keep from screaming, as he continued to massage my breasts through my bra. When he reached the curve that connected my neck and my shoulder and began to suck gently, I couldn’t take it anymore and something between a loud moan and a soft scream escaped.

  As he continued to kiss along my collarbone, his bottom half began to vibrate and he just ignored it and continued.

  “Maybe you should get that,” I said, when the vibrating continued.

  “Just ignore it,” he mumbled, into my neck, “it’ll quit in a minute.”

  Sure enough, it did, and I tried to focus again on how Steve was making me feel. Unfortunately, just as he was reaching the top of my left breast, the vibrating began again. Groaning loudly, in frustration, he laid his head on my shoulder and I couldn’t help but snicker.

  Taking a deep breath, he took his phone out of his back pocket and answered it. Telling whoever it was, “I can’t talk.” He hung up, put it on silent, and laid it on the bedside table.

  Taking advantage of his split focus, I slowly wrapped my right leg around his. In one swift motion, I flipped us, catching him off guard. Looking into his eyes, I couldn’t help but smirk. His eyes were a bit wide then started to narrow, in determination. Before he could retaliate, I kissed him passionately and his eyes closed. I swallowed the moan that escaped, then slowly made my way down his neck. When I got to the curve, I slowly sucked just like he did, and I felt him shiver.

  Just as I got to the top of his chest, my phone began to vibrate.

  “Oh, come on,” Steve groaned, loudly.

  I chuckled, causing his chest to vibrate.

  “Right back pocket,” I mumbled, into his chest.

  Without a word, he stuck his hand in my pocket to grab the phone. A low, and uncontrollable, moan escaped at the sensation. With a laugh, he slowly pulled the phone out, causing me to moan again. He laid it on the bedside table next to his, instead of handing it to me.

  “Hey,” I said, looking up at him, when he didn’t hand it to me.

  “What? It’s probably just people celebrating and drunk.”

  “That’s true.” I laughed.

  “Do you really want to deal with them?” he asked, putting his hand against the back of my head.

  “No, not really.”

  “I didn’t think so.” He grinned, pulling me down for a kiss.

  As we kissed, I continued to run my hands over his chest. Suddenly, he rolled us until I was flat on my back again. I hooked my leg over his hip, as he made his way back down to my breasts. Enjoying the feeling of his warm mouth and tongue on my exposed skin and cleavage, I closed my eyes and relaxed. I was so relaxed that I involuntarily jumped when my phone vibrated again.

  “Ignore it.” He laughed softly, against my skin, causing it to vibrate.

  “I thought you put it on silent,” I replied, not bothering to open my eyes and look at him.

  “I guess I forgot,” he murmured, reaching the top of my abdomen.

  “I guess so,” I said, a lilt in my voice.

  As Steve slowly made his way across my abdomen, with his hands and opened-mouth kisses, my phone vibrated yet again. I ignored it and it stopped. Unfortunately, within a few seconds, it started again. Realizing whoever it was would continue to call until I picked up, I reach for it.

  “Don’t get it,” he mumbled, against my abdomen.

  “I have to, otherwise they will just keep calling,” I told him, grabbing the phone off the bedside table. “Besides, it’s your fault for not putting it on silent,” I added.

  His head jerked up. Looking at me, his eyes narrowed, and I snickered as I answered the phone.

  “Hello?” I answered, still snickering. “Mom, I can’t talk right now.” I tried to hang up, but she just kept talking.

  If it wasn’t bad enough that I couldn’t get my mom to stop talking, Steve decided to torture me. As he resumed doing magic with his hands and mouth on my abdomen, I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning or screaming into the phone.

  “Okay, I will,” I replied, my voice cracking.

  Steve huffed out a small laugh when I had to reassure her that I was okay. I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled just hard enough to make him moan. As he reached just above my belly button, I felt my control slipping.

  “I gotta go, Mom,” I told her, quickly, and hung up before she could say anything, then blindly tossed the phone toward the bedside table.

  It hit the floor just as Steve’s mouth surrounded my belly button and his tongue sank inside. Unable to hold it in, I screamed, loudly, and pulled his hair with both hands. He started kissing his way back up. By the time he made it back up to my mouth, I needed to taste him so badly that I basically attacked him and rolled on top of him again. He tasted so good I didn’t think I could let go.

  Finally, when I almost passed out from a lack of oxygen, I reluctantly, and slowly, pulled away. Before completely breaking away, I playfully bit his bottom lip, eliciting something between a groan and a growl from deep in his chest. With a light laugh, I tucked my arms under me, laid my head on his chest, listened to his heart, and relaxed.

  As our breathing returned to normal, I noticed the clock and sighed, closing my eyes.

  “What?” he asked, softly, running his fingertips gently, and slowly, up and down my back.

  “It’s late.”

  “So?”

  “So, I gotta get home.”

  “Stay.”

  “Can’t.”

  “Why not?” he asked.

  I lifted my head, rested it on my arm, and looked at him. “Because I’m meeting Jo and Ryan for lunch tomorrow.”

  “So?”

  “So,” I chuckled, “if I stay, you’ll make me late.”

  “No, I won’t,” he replied.

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “I promise.”

  “Okay, but if I’m late you’re in so much trouble.”

  “Okay.” He laughed.

  “I mean it, if I don’t have time to go home and—”

  Before I could finish, he kissed me, effectively stopping my train of thought.

  “I hate it when you do that,” I grumbled, as it ended.

  He laughed. “I love you,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear, all trace of humor gone.

  “I love you, too,” I replied, leaning forward to kiss him again.

  After another long kiss, I laid my head back on Steve’s chest. He reached for the top blanket and laid it over us. He wrapped his arms around me and I snuggled into him. Within minutes we were both asleep.

  By the time I made it to the restaurant the next day, I was so mad because I was running late. I was so late that I didn’t have time to go home and change. I was just thankful I was wearing my turtleneck last night and not just my jersey because that would’ve been interesting.

  Finding a parking spot, I pulled in and shut off the truck. After taking a deep breath, I folded down the visor mirror and grabbed my purse out of the passenger seat. Taking out my lip gloss, I quickly applied it and put it back. I made sure my hair looked alright. Not noticing any fly-a-ways, I checked myself over one more time and pushed the mirror back up. Making sure I wasn’t forgetting anything, I took the key out of the ignition and headed in.

  When I got in, I was glad Jo called ahead of time because it was completely packed. Not seeing her or Ryan, I went up to the hostess and she pointed me in the direction of our table.

  “Hey, guys,” I said, when I reached the table.

  “Hey,” Jo and Ryan replied.

  “Sorry I’m late. It’s just been one of those mornings.”

  “Oh, you’re fine,” Jo assured me, getting up to help me with my jacket. “They haven’t even taken our drink orders yet.”

  “Oh, okay... an
d thanks,” I said, as she finished with my jacket.

  After putting it on the back of her chair, over hers, she sat back down and I scooted next to her. Just as I got situated, my phone started to ring. Grabbing it from my purse, I sighed when I looked at the caller ID.

  “I’m still mad at you,” I answered it, and the girls looked at me, and I grinned. “Why? Let’s see…” I laughed “What do you mean ‘next time’? There’s not gonna be a next time ...I told you what would happen ...You better make it up to me.” I chuckled, as our waitress came up. “Hey, listen, I gotta go, but I’ll call you when I get back ...I will, I promise ...I love you, too ...Bye,” I said, hanging up.

  After taking our drink orders, our waitress left and the girls looked at me expectantly.

  “What?”

  “I love you, too?” Jo repeated, arching an eyebrow, clearly curious and wanting to know more.

  “Yeah... so?” I asked, biting my lip as the corners twisted up.

  “So? When did that happen!” she asked.

  “Last night, after the game,” I replied, unable to hide my smile any longer.

  “Oh, so that’s what he whispered in your ear. No wonder you guys wanted to be alone,” Ryan said, her lips quirking up slightly.

  “Actually, it isn’t. He just whispered that we should go back to his apartment.”

  “Oh.”

  “But once we were there, he said it.”

  “Aww,” Jo and Ryan said.

  “Yeah,” I replied, softly.

  “So, what did you do?” Jo asked.

  “Well, besides say it back, what do you think I did?”

  “Cried?”

  “Bingo.”

  “Well, you’re not alone,” Jo said.

  “Definitely not alone,” Ryan agreed.

  “Well, thanks.” I smiled at them.

  “So, did anything else happen?” Jo asked, with a bit of a mischievous grin.

  I started to answer, but our waitress returned with our drinks. After taking our orders, she left and I took a drink of my Sprite.

  “So?” Ryan asked.

  “Well, I didn’t go home, if that’s what you want to know,” I answered.

  “Really?” they both said, curiosity fully piqued.