by Anna Edwards
I slide from the chair and move to sit beside Arabella on the couch. She’s finished the donut now, and her delicate hands are resting in her lap. I dare to reach out and wrap my large hands around hers before I continue to speak.
“I give you my word, Arabella, I’m falling for you. I don’t see this as a short-term relationship. I see it as a permanent one in this world and the next. You’re it for me. I don’t want anyone else. I think that’s why I never settled down before. No one compares to you. I love you. Will you be my girlfriend, please?”
Arabella brings her hand up to her mouth and tries to hide a sob before lowering it again and saying, “Yes, I will. I’m sorry, Zeke. I’m so stupid. I just saw red. I didn’t even hear what you were saying. I thought you were laughing at me, and it hurt. I should have trusted you. Oh God, I feel sick. I’m so stupid.”
“I’m pretty certain the sickness is the result of half a tub of ice-cream and a donut.”
“Probably. It’s a lot even for me.”
Arabella pulls her hand away from mine and reaches up to stroke my jawline where she hit me. “I’m sorry. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
I take her fingers and kiss her knuckles. “It was a misunderstanding. We’ll have plenty of them over the years, I’m sure. At least I’ll be able to bring you lots of presents to make up.”
“You know I’ll never be able to get through all these cakes.” Arabella peeks into the box again. “I’d be the size of a house if I tried.”
“It doesn’t matter. As I said, I’ll take them to the orphanage tomorrow.” I lean into Arabella and press my forehead against hers. “Am I forgiven?” I ask.
“You’ve got nothing to be forgiven for. It was me who lost it. I should be asking you that same question.”
“I’ve already forgotten what happened.”
“Good.”
My mouth moves to Arabella’s, and we seal our reunion with a kiss. She pulls away from me and gets to her feet.
“Zeke,” she says as she holds out a hand to me.
I cock my head not sure what’s happening. “What?”
“It’s time, fourth base. Let’s make this relationship official in every way.”
I get to my feet, and taking her hand, I pull her flush against my body and allow the towel wrapped around her to pool at our feet, leaving her naked before me.
“Touchdown, baby, not fourth base. We’re going for touchdown. We’ve been getting our sports mixed up, but not anymore.”
Chapter 7
Arabella
I can’t believe I was so stupid and didn’t listen to the words coming out of Zeke’s mouth. I allowed the past to cloud my judgement, and I nearly lost him. I’m just glad he wants this as much as I do and didn’t walk away from my crazy when it took over.
All I feel now is an overwhelming desire to be with him and to go the final step in our relationship. It’s been a long time coming. Sharing our love for each other in the most intimate way is something we both need.
I lead Zeke through the house and into my bedroom. I’m not self-conscious of my naked body, in spite of my rounded belly from eating the donut and too much ice-cream. However, I do feel my embarrassment rising when I see my clothes strewn all over the floor—he’ll think I’m a slob.
“I was going to put them in the laundry after my bath. I’m usually a bit tidier. I just didn’t have time this morning before work.”
“That’s okay. I’m a bit of a slob with my clothes. It’s why I have a maid. I do tend to pick up my underwear and put them in the laundry basket, though. Feels a bit wrong asking her to do that.”
“You have a maid?” Is the only thing that registers.
I know the best of the best players do pretty well for themselves, but to hear evidence of it from Zeke’s mouth makes me realize just how successful he really is.
“I do. It’s easier than trying to clean up after myself. She also prepares my meals based on the dietitian’s recommendations.”
“Next you’ll be telling me you have a house out on the San Juan Islands.”
Zeke lowers his head and looks guilty.
“Oh my God, you do!”
“I bought it for my mom and dad. They live out there, but I go there whenever I need a break. It’s big enough that we don’t disturb each other. My main residence is the penthouse suite downtown.”
“You really have done well for yourself.”
“I like to play hard, and I’ve been rewarded for it.” Zeke pulls me close to him, and I suddenly remember I’m naked when I feel the smooth fabric of his practice uniform against my soft skin. He places his hands on my shoulders and starts to lower them down my back toward my bottom. “Is it going to be a problem, me having money?”
I shake my head. “As long as you let me pay my way sometimes, then we’ll be good.”
I don’t live in a massive house, but it’s all mine. I worked to pay my way through university and saved a big deposit, so I only have a small mortgage. I’d always hoped to be financially independent at a young age, and I’ve been lucky enough to achieve it.
“Deal, you can buy the cakes next time.” He winks at me.
“Deal.”
Zeke kisses me, a small peck to the lips, before pulling back.
“I just remembered I didn’t pay for the cakes. I know the owner of this little bakery, and she did me a favor. I’m not sure her partner was too impressed. He’s going to be spending the rest of the evening helping her to bake more.”
“You have the best friends.”
It’s my turn to kiss Zeke, and this time, we don’t come apart. He pushes me back against the bed, and we fall onto it together, our mouths joined in a powerful embrace the entire time. We’re savoring and remembering each other’s tastes—mine, most probably, is laced with the sweet icing of the donut.
Zeke’s hands roam my body, searching out my heated flesh, and such is my sensitivity at the moment, the fine hairs covering my skin prick up on end at his touch.
“I need you,” I whimper with desire.
“I know. I feel the same way about you.”
Zeke trails his lips away from my mouth and over my body, traveling lower with his tender exploration. His kisses become more forceful, turning into little bites around my breasts. He massages the soft flesh there and flicks his tongue over my nipples until I’m arching my back off the bed, begging for him to relieve the pressure building between my thighs that’s screaming out for his touch.
“Please,” I cry out, and Zeke obeys.
His mouth moves down over the rotund curve of my stomach full of ice-cream and donut. I’m not a small girl, but I’m not big either—I’ve got curves in the places a man likes, and at the moment, I’m all Zeke needs to drive him wild. He groans as he moves nearer to the apex of my thighs. He inhales my scent, and I almost come on the spot from the eroticism of it all. I’ve never had anyone enjoy the taste and smell of me down there as much as Zeke does. He seems to crave it like a drug. He buries his head between my thighs, and I feel his tongue slide from his mouth and trail a path along the line of my sex. Everything is heated and sensitive at my core, and all I can do is lie back and enjoy the sensation. I’m so very close to coming, and I’m desperate to experience everything Zeke wants to give me.
He runs his fingers over my clit and then delves not one but two of them inside me. He’s preparing me to take his dick, and I’m thankful for it. The thing barely fit in my mouth earlier today, and it’s been a long time since I had sex.
All coherent thoughts go out the window when Zeke flicks his tongue hard against my clit. I explode in a powerful orgasm and wave after wave of pleasure bathes his face in my satisfaction. It’s never felt this good before even with my vibrator, and I need more. Who knew it, there’s a sex goddess inside me!
When my orgasm subsides, Zeke withdraws his fingers from my body and slides his body over the length of mine, so he’s pressing down on top of me. He’s still dressed in his t-shirt and
shorts, which is entirely far too much clothing—he needs to lose some, fast.
“Will you strip for me?” I ask.
“You want to see my moves?” Zeke replies with a wink as he rolls away from me before getting off the bed and standing beside it.
“No, I want to see you naked. If you don’t lose the clothes in the next few seconds, I’m going to tear them from your body, and you’ll be doing the walk of shame back to your car in the morning in your birthday suit.”
“I can’t disappoint you then, can I?”
Zeke grins at me before pulling his t-shirt over his head and giving me the view of his muscular chest with its abundance of tattoos. My favorite drawing is on his wrist. It’s of a small group of trees. I haven’t asked, but I’m sure it represents Seattle and the evergreens we have growing around here.
I lie back on the bed, naked as the day I was born, and watch him with my arousal coating my thighs. I lick my lips when he lowers his shorts down his marbled thighs and stands staring at me in just his snug underwear, the outline of his impressive erection prominently on display.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” Zeke asks, his hands moving to the waistband of his underwear.
“I was born ready for you. It just took me a while to realize it.” I don’t think about the words until they’ve left my mouth. They flow out like a song of honesty for the man in front of me.
Zeke lowers his underwear to the ground, and I get my first full few of his naked body. He’s got muscles on his muscles. I’m a very lucky lady.
“Stop devouring me with your eyes, Arabella. I want inside you,” he says as he moves back onto the bed.
“I want you inside me,” I retort, parting my legs to accommodate him between them. He positions himself at my entrance…and I wait.
“Have you ever had sex in a position that wasn’t missionary?” he suddenly asks, and I’m embarrassed having to reply because the truth is no, I haven’t.
“No, only this way, and my ex preferred it with the lights off.”
I look up at the ceiling and realize we’ve been doing all of this with the lights on. Zeke, who’s as toned as they come, has seen every wobbly part I possess. It’s a stupid worry, and I shake it away.
“Good, I get to break all your positional virginities then.”
“I can’t wait.”
Zeke pushes inside me as my mind whirls into overdrive, thinking of all the things we can do together. I have a very vivid imagination. We’re going to have such fun. I quickly lose my train of thought, though, once he’s all the way in and filling me. I’m not used to his size, so it stings a little, but it also gives an edge to the intensity I’m feeling.
“Move, please,” I beg when it gets too much. “Please,” I plead again.
Zeke lowers his lips to mine and completes the circle of our connection as he thrusts in and out of me—slowly at first, but then at a pace so perfect I can feel another orgasm already building within me. My legs and arms wrap around Zeke and hold him closer, so it’s only his hips moving.
“I’m not going to last long,” he utters breathlessly into my mouth.
I catch his words and respond with an orgasm, my pussy clamping down on his dick and drawing it deep inside me, so he can find his release. I’m pretty certain I start floating at one point—the feeling is that fucking good. Zeke’s essence coats my insides, and it heightens all the sensations within my body.
Eventually, we both collapse in a tangled mass of limbs on the bed. He’s still inside me, and we’re both gasping for breath, trying to bring oxygen into our overworked lungs. Zeke’s cock starts to soften and slips from me. This seems to spur him on to move, and wrapping his arms around me, he repositions us, so I’m now lying on his chest. Neither of us says anything at first. We just stay like this, content in the knowledge we’ve found each other again and been given the chance of a happy ever after.
“Arabella?” Zeke eventually breaks the silence.
“Yes,” I murmur happily.
“If you get angry at me tomorrow, can we not tell my teammates about the mind-blowing sex we’re having? I’d like to keep it a secret.” Zeke chuckles, and I smack him lightly on the chest, not finding it in the least bit funny.
I’m going to be so embarrassed when I go back to work. Zeke grabs my hand when I pretend I’m going to hit him again, and he rolls me over onto my back so he’s on top once more. He looks down at me, his eyes focused intently on mine.
“I love you, Arabella.”
“I love you too,” I respond and rotate my hips against his length, which is already hardening again. “I don’t have to be in work tomorrow. Fancy showing me some more of your moves?”
A few hours later, I pass out with exhaustion, happy and completely content.
Chapter 8
Zeke
Two days have passed since Arabella and I made love for the first time. We’ve barely gotten out of bed since, except for me to attend my training sessions and for Arabella to go to work this morning.
Today is my fitness test, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous. I’ve done them numerous times in my life, but this one feels different. Not just because I have to pass it to stand a chance of playing in the Super Bowl, but because I want to do it for Arabella, to show everyone how good she is at her job.
When I arrive at the training facility, everyone is already out on the field warming up or running drills. I’m dressed in my playing gear. It’s still a little chilly in the morning here, even if we are going into spring. I remove my training jacket and store all my belongings in the locker room before making my way onto the field. My stomach is churning as I greet the playing coach and the fitness expert. So many people go into running a topflight team.
“How are you feeling?” my coach asks.
“Not too bad. If the truth be told, I’m a little nervous.” I shrug my shoulders in reply.
“Don’t be. We’ve heard good things about Dr. Smith’s techniques, so I’m confident you’re fully healed and ready to go.”
I’m not sure of the context of his comment. I’m suspicious, especially after the argument Arabella and I had the other day when she revealed to my teammates something that should have stayed between just us. Cliff took great delight in tormenting me about it at training yesterday. Thankfully, Will put a stop to it in the end, declaring Arabella completely off limits for teasing until she’s ready to handle it. I hope she never will be, but it’s part of the camaraderie at the club and happens to all of us at one time or another.
“I’m guessing you know we’re dating?” I question.
“It’s come to my attention,” my coach replies. His face is stern.
“Is it a problem?” I jerk my head up, a simple gesture telling him I’m not going to give up my relationship with Arabella.
“No, we’re all happy for you. Dr. Smith is an excellent addition to our staff, and she has some fascinating new theories on fitness and the human body. One of the reasons we agreed to her taking over from Dr. Burrell, in spite of all the testosterone around here, is her unique perspective. I can’t wait until she’s put everything in place. We’ll be invincible as a club if she can get an injured player, who was barely walking two weeks ago, to play again in time for the Super Bowl.”
“That we will.” I smile, relieved they like Arabella. “We’ll keep our relationship professional while we’re here. You have my word on that.”
The fitness coach thumps me on the back playfully. “So she won’t be sucking you off in her office again then?”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Seriously, does everyone know?”
“Pretty much, we’ve had a blow-by-blow description of your argument. She’s a hot head. She’ll keep you in check.”
“I’m screwed.” I shake my head.
“Enough girl talk. Get out there and show me what you’ve got,” the coach orders, and I obey him immediately.
I run out onto the practice field and spend the next hour proving my fitne
ss with various sprints and exercises. I complete everything the coach and my teammates throw at me and barely break a sweat. At the end, I sit down with a bottle of water and wait for the others to finish their session. The team leaves for Tampa, where the Super Bowl is being held this year, tomorrow. I really want to be on that plane. Even if I only get to play five minutes, I want to be there. It’s the pinnacle of every player’s career, and no matter how many times you play in a Super Bowl, you always want to go back there, to be the best of the best, and to score the winning touchdown.
Eventually, the coach calls us all over, and we take a knee on the ground in front of him.
“Thank you, everyone. You’ve all pushed hard today. I can really feel the urgency in you all to be victorious on Sunday. I’ll be pinning a list of the players in with a chance of a place in the starting line up to the board in a few minutes, but I did just want to say one thing before I do. During our last playoff game, the unthinkable happened. We lost one of our best players. One of our highest scorers of the season. Zeke was taken out by a nasty incident involving another player who I’m pleased to say is now suspended for the foreseeable future.” The coach lets out a deep breath of annoyance, and a few of the players glance my way—some with encouragement on their faces and others look as nervous as I feel.
All of a sudden, something catches the coach’s attention. He looks over our heads and smiles knowingly to himself before calling out, “Dr. Smith, why don’t you join us?.”
My head spins in the direction the coach is looking. Arabella is standing there in her blue scrubs, her cheeks bright red, embarrassed no doubt at being spotted and called forward. She sees me and bites her lip nervously as she walks onto the practice field and over to where we’re all congregated.
“I apologize for interrupting,” she addresses the coach when she’s closer and doesn’t need to raise her voice. “I was just interested in the results of Zeke’s fitness test. I’m sorry, I should get back to work.” She turns around and starts to walk off in the other direction.