Mercy: Second Chance Military Romance

by Abbi Hemp

  He crawled between my spread legs, lifting them on his broad shoulders. It’s going to be inside me again. The thought of his hot, hard cock filling my pussy drove me wild.

  I stared deep into his brown eyes, getting lost in them as time slowed. He did not look away, meeting my gaze with equal intensity. I felt his cock rubbing against my pussy.

  Held up by his toned and rock-solid arms, he slipped it deep inside me in one quick motion. I moaned as he moved his hips. He fit perfectly. I never wanted the moment to end.

  As he thrust in and out, building up momentum, I found myself rushing toward an orgasm. He pumped faster, his condom covered dick making my entire body tingle.

  Does he realize how much I love him? I wondered as I studied his face. All doubts fell aside as he switched his angle of entry slightly while still sliding in and out like a piston.

  “James!”

  I came at the exact same time I called out his name. He didn’t stop or even slow down. My pussy clenched his cock tightly as my body exploded in ecstasy.

  He stared down at me, a labored look on his face. I enjoyed the sensation as my first orgasm died down. If he kept it up much longer, I was sure I would come again.

  No man had ever been able to do that for me. Another sign? He grunted, breathing faster. I reached up and pinched his nipples hard, surprising him but not slowing him down.

  His cock throbbed inside me. I thought about earlier, him fucking me without a condom, how different it had felt. This was good, but that had been heavenly.

  The memory of his smooth shaft sliding in and out without protection turned me on. My breathing became more labored, matching his as he fucked me harder.

  “Oh, James. Come with me,” I begged.

  “Yes!” he grunted, arching his back and moaning.

  Seeing his face full of pleasure pushed me over the edge again. I closed my eyes, almost passing out with all the sensations shooting through my body.

  He stayed inside me, not moving as my body shook. It felt so good I screamed, not caring who heard me. Life without James was not a possibility.

  “Oh, baby,” I cooed. “Kiss me.”

  His head lowered, and I attacked his lips, unable to get enough of the slightly salty taste.

  “Wow,” he said as he pulled out.

  A moment later, he was laying on the bed next to me. I rolled over on my side and cradled my body against his, my arm draped over his tight, sculpted stomach.

  “That worked out,” he said, still trying to catch his breath.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We were doing it without a condom at your place. Remember?”

  “I remember,” I said quietly.

  “It’s just not a good time for us to have a baby.”

  “No.”

  “Maybe someday, though, huh?”

  He craned his neck to look into my eyes.

  “Maybe.”

  “You okay?”

  “You fucked all the words out of me.”

  A grin slid across his face, but it quickly faded. Had he realized this might be the last time we were together for a while? That we might never get back together?

  “I love you, Haley. No matter what happens.”

  “No matter what,” I said then sat up. “I should go.”

  “What?” He sat up too. “No. Stay tonight.”

  “No, we need to get used to being apart. It’s been nice sleeping next to you, but we have to be practical, James.”

  I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

  “Fuck practical,” he said, also getting to his feet.

  He stared at me as I slipped on my panties.

  “Be realistic, James. We both have so much else going on right now. I’ll wait for you.” I put one leg into my pants then the other. “Will you wait for me?”

  “Of course I would wait, but we don’t need to split up.”

  “We do,” she said. “Your coach is kind of crazy, but he’s right. You need to focus all your energies on going pro after you graduate. Having me in your life will just distract you.”

  “No…”

  He walked around the bed and put a hand on my shoulder as I buttoned my jeans.

  “Yes, James. It’s the only way.”

  “Sleep on it at least, okay?” he begged.

  “Okay, but I’m sure it’s the only thing for us to do. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Can you hand me my bra.”

  “I’d rather not,” he said, but bent down to pick it up off the floor. “Here.”

  I took it from him and put it on, reaching around to fasten it as he watched.

  “Look, I’ll think about it, okay? Get some sleep tonight. You need to think about football.”

  He frowned, not looking happy.

  “I’ll call you.” I leaned against his body and kissed him on the lips. He resisted. “Don’t be that way, James.”

  “Be what way? In love? That’s like telling me not to breathe.”

  “Okay, now you’re being dramatic.”

  I put on my shirt. He stood in front of me, still completely naked.

  “I love you, James. That’s why we have to do this.”

  “Think about it some more tonight.”

  “I will.”

  He kissed me again, the most passionate kiss we’d shared up to that point. As I walked out of his room and headed downstairs, tears filled my eyes. His roommate Teddy glanced up at me from the couch as I passed, but he said nothing.

  I opened the door, walked out, then shut it behind me. It sounded final, like I’d never see James again. You’re making the right decision, I told myself as I walked home to my apartment. Tabby was still in jail, which was a plus. All I had to do was get James out of my mind.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  James

  On my run the next morning, she called me. What now? I stopped to answer it.

  “Hey, Haley.”

  “James, I’ve been thinking about this all morning. Don’t try to stop me.”

  “Stop you?”

  “I’m breaking up with you.”

  “You can’t. I won’t let you.”

  “You can’t stop me. It only takes one person to break-up.”

  “No,” I said, at a loss for words.

  What could I say to explain to her the way I felt? I would give up football and everything else I held dear for her. Coach and others might think me young and foolish, but love for Haley had blinded me to reason.

  “Goodbye, James. I’ll talk to you around Christmas.”

  I had no words. She ended the call. Nothing made sense to me in that moment. Why the hell am I so into this woman? Does she really mean more to me than football?

  She thinks she’s the only one who has a decision in this? I don’t think so.

  I ran back to the house, hoping to catch Teddy before he left for the day. He was in the kitchen, eating a bowl of oatmeal. Brian sat next to him, watching intently.

  “Hey,” I said. “Got a minute?”

  Teddy looked up.

  “Sure.”

  “If I write a letter to the editor, can you get into the paper tomorrow?”

  He picked up his phone and glanced at the screen.

  “It’s a bit late, but maybe. What’s up?”

  “I want to write something about Haley and clear her name. She doesn’t need to be dealing with legal problems while trying to go to school.”

  “Won’t that mess up…”

  “Yeah,” I said, cutting him off. “But I need to do this.”

  “That’s love,” Brian said meekly.

  “Can you help?”

  “Sure. I might be able to call in a favor. Have you written the letter yet?”

  “No, I was hoping you would help me.”

  He nodded.

  “Yeah, we can work something out. Grab your laptop. You can start while I finish eating.”

  I went into my bedroom and grabbed the laptop, having no idea of what I might say. The only thing I
was certain of was the fact I needed to do something to help Haley. Whether she wanted my help or not, I had to at least try.

  Teddy and Brian both helped me craft something short and to the point but with enough emotion to give me a fighting chance when Coach found out what I did. He would probably disown me and might even try to kick me off the team.

  I loved Haley more than football, and I would prove it to her. Teddy talked me out of calling to let her know before it was published, saying it would be better if she read it unaware. I agreed with him, but it was hard not to call her.

  “Looks pretty good,” Teddy said after reading the most recent draft all the way through.

  “Pretty good won’t work. I need something spectacular.”

  “Needs more love,” Brian said.

  Teddy and I both looked over at him.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “You want to appeal to a raw human emotion like love. It’s too sterile right now. You give all the facts, but why is anyone going to care? On the other hand, if you profess your love publicly and give up football for Haley, people are going to sit up and take notice.”

  I nodded.

  “You know, Brian. You’re a smart dude.”

  He smiled as Teddy patted him on the back. They made a cute couple.

  “I have to get ready to go into the newsroom and put the paper to bed, but if you have it ready, email it to me.”

  “Yeah, give me a few more minutes. I want to love it up some like Brian said.”

  “Good idea.”

  Teddy stood up. Brian did the same. I turned my attention back to the screen of the laptop. The words swirled and danced on the page in front of me. How the hell anyone sat down and typed up any amount of words that made sense when read together was beyond me.

  Word by word, I went over the letter to the editor. I would likely go down in school history as a great football player who was an idiot and gave it all up for love, but in the heat of the moment, I pushed all doubts and fears aside.

  Haley needed my help. I loved her. End of story.

  Maybe I would lucky and Coach would still help or at least not throw me off the team. Would the students and faculty allow him to get rid of me?

  Questions flew through my mind as I emailed Teddy a copy of the letter.

  “Here it is, bro,” I wrote at the bottom. “Thanks for the help.”

  I hit send then sat back in the kitchen chair.

  Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?

  Only time would tell.

  THIRTY-SIX

  James

  The letter appeared in the campus newspaper the next day thanks to Teddy. It read as follows:

  Dear Buffalo State Students,

  Many of you know me from the football team. It pains me to say this, but I will be quitting soon. Why? Unwritten rules have put me in a terrible position. I’m being asked to choose between the two things I love most in life, football and a very special woman I met recently.

  This wonderful woman means the world to me. Because of her, I’ve begun to understand love and that football may not be the most important thing in the world. I know, you’re probably surprised I would say such a thing, but it’s true.

  My writing abilities are not good, but I want to publicly state that I was with Haley Harrison the other night. We were together from dusk until dawn, wrapped up in each other’s arms. She means the world to me, and I don’t care who knows anymore.

  As I said, I will be quitting the team. This will affect our chances at winning the regional championship, but that doesn’t matter as much to me as my love for Haley. To Coach and everyone else I let down, I apologize, but this is the right decision.

  Haley and I are in love, and that’s all that matters right now.

  Yours if you will have me,

  James King, Quarterback

  I read it three times, hating the way it had come out. People would surely make fun of me. As I scrolled down the page, I saw the first comment. It was supportive. Over a dozen people had already commented, saying they backed me up and would protest if I got kicked off the team.

  Is this really happening? Did I make the right decision?

  As I sat in the Student Center food court, eating a bagel and reading the comments, my phone rang. Fuck. It’s Coach. Should I answer? I accepted the call and put the phone to my ear.

  “Hey, Coach, about the letter…”

  “Get your ass in my office. Now!”

  He ended the call. I sighed, wondering if I should finish my bagel first or not. Compromising, I took it with me as I walked across campus toward the stadium.

  * * *

  As soon as I walked in, I knew it wasn’t going to be good.

  “What the hell is your problem, son?” he asked.

  “I’m sorry, Coach, but I love her.”

  “Sorry? I thought you were serious about football and going pro.”

  “I am, Coach, but…”

  “No buts,” he interrupted. “Do you know how competitive it is these days? Not very many men make it all the way to the pros. You have a special talent, but you’re fucking it away!”

  “I’m sorry, Coach,” I said, staring down at my feet.

  “Quit fucking apologizing! I’ve been getting calls all day saying there will be protests and petitions and who knows what else if I don’t let you keep playing.”

  I looked up.

  “You’re going to let me play and stay in a relationship with her?”

  “Of course not,” he said. “But I’m going to give you one more chance to make the right decision. Break it off with her until you both graduate. I don’t care what you do then, but I need you practicing twice as much as you are now. You don’t have time for puppy love.”

  “It’s not puppy love, Coach. I love her.”

  “You kids don’t know the meaning of the word.”

  He glared at me in silence a moment, which made me more uncomfortable than his yelling.

  “Are we on the same page?”

  “Yes, Coach.”

  “Good,” he said. “Go get suited up and on the field. We’re doing two scrimmage games today to prepare for the playoffs coming up.”

  “But I’ve not agreed to breaking up with her. I can’t do that.”

  His eyes narrowed as he stared at me.

  “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

  “No, Coach. I’m serious.”

  He sighed and put a hand on my shoulder.

  “Look, son. You’re making a huge mistake. Take it from me. I was in the same position as you many years ago.”

  “Yeah?”

  He nodded.

  “And I choose the girl. Look where I am now.”

  “You’re a great coach.”

  “I know, but I would have been a better pro player. I’m sure of it, but I’ll never know for sure because I made the wrong choice. I don’t want you to make a wrong choice too.”

  He squeezed my shoulder then moved his hand away. I had never seen him get so personal before. The idea of him being with a woman had never entered my mind.

  “I’m not saying break it off completely, but tell her you need to cool it off for a couple years. By that time, you’ll be in position to accept offers from some pro teams. She will be more than happy to wait for you.”

  “It’s not like that, Coach. She doesn’t care about the money.”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  “You kids these days. Think you have it all figured out, don’t you?”

  “I know I love her.”

  “That’s well and good, but this is your one chance to do what thousands of other players in college right now can’t do … go pro. Do you want to throw that away, James?”

  “No, Coach.”

  “Exactly. The best way to do it is leave her alone. Don’t even talk to her again for now. By the time the semester is over, she’ll be dying to get back with you. At that point, you can explain your long term goals with her. T
rust me, son. This is for the best.”

  I pressed my lips together and nodded, trying to let his advice sink in.

  “Now go get ready.”

  “Yes, Coach.”

  At practice, I pushed all other thoughts out of my mind and concentrated on football. On my way home later, they rushed back. Coach was right. The best way to break it off with her would be to end it without any further contact, like ripping off a bandage quickly.

  When the semester finally ended, I would have more time to talk with her and explain my decision to focus on football. I only had one chance to make it big. If she truly loved me, she would understand. At least that was what I told myself.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Haley

  I woke up with James on my mind immediately. We hadn’t spoken in a few days, not since I had told him it was over. Maybe he had wanted to break up too?

  My phone rang as I stretched in bed. I grabbed it off my nightstand, hoping to see James’ face on the screen. It was an unknown number. What the hell?

  “Hello?”

  “This is a collect call from the Buffalo Jail. Do you accept charges?”

  “Yes,” I said then sighed.

  “Haley?” Tabby asked.

  “Yeah. What do you want?”

  “Will you please come and bail me out? I’m so sorry about everything.”

  “Are you insane? I don’t have the money to do that, but even if I did, why the hell would I do it after you told them I was with you that night?”

  “Haley, I’m sorry. You were there…”

  “Fuck you, Tabby!”

  I ended the call and turned my phone off completely, knowing she would try to call again, whittling away at my resolve until I felt bad and helped her. She had to learn, and I had plenty of my own problems to deal with.

  As I got dressed and ready for my day, James kept popping into my thoughts. I missed his body, but I also began to realize I missed his laugh and good vibes too. By the time I left the house, I was running behind, so I didn’t stop to read the campus paper like I usually did.