Romance: Seducing The Quarterback

by Stacie Duncan

  “Depends on who’s asking,” he replied coyly, “Is this for the interview again?”

  “A follow up edit? Maybe,” she replied, “But no – would that change your answer?”

  He shrugged, “Perhaps. But to answer your question – that would be an affirmative. I’m pretty damn single, alright.”

  Surprise registered on Megan’s face as she heard the words. She had done her research on him before conducting the interview and according to popular media reports, he was definitely not. Mike caught up on that, seeing as he had kept one eye on her this entire time to gauge her reaction.

  “You seem really surprised to hear that,” he commented.

  “I mean, sort of. I was under the impression you were dating that model.” Megan was referring to one of the latest women that he had been spotted partying it up with.

  “My work requires me to work long and hard days,” he shrugged, “So I like to cut loose whenever I get the chance, you know?”

  “So, no girlfriend?”

  “Nope,” Mike grinned, “Is this still for the interview?”

  Megan laughed, “I am not sure.”

  “So what about you then?” he asked her. Megan knew that it was coming all along.

  Usually, Megan had a pre-prepared script that she used whenever she was asked a question along these lines. It was always the same thing – yes, she had a boyfriend. They had been together for a long time and were working long distance right now. Yes, she was happy and no, she would not go out for drinks just to see what she was missing.

  It was the classic excuse she used to ward men off. Even though, the boyfriend she spoke of did not exist.

  But right now, as Mike asked her the same question, somehow, she did not want to use the script.

  “I mean, sure. I’m pretty single, too,” she replied. This had been the first time in months that she had answered that question with full honestly.

  Megan might have been imagining things but she swore that she saw Mike’s eye light up for a second as she said the words. “Interesting,” he replied.

  “And why do you say that?” Megan crinkled her nose in confusion.

  “You know, I’m just surprised at how no one has snatched up a pretty girl like you up yet,” he said without his voice wavering.

  Megan felt at a loss of words again. Was he flirting with her? Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that she would be sat in a car with Mike Ferguson trying to charm her.

  “I’m… flattered,” she replied after a moment of regaining herself.

  Mike grinned, “Let’s get some ice cream,” he changed the topic, not wanting to her even more flustered.

  They proceeded to get ice-cream and then get even more progressively drunk with the hidden bottle of liquor stashed in Mike’s trunk. At the end of it, they found themselves parked outside Megan’s apartment.

  “So I guess it’s time for me to go,” she told him standing outside her door. He had walked her up to her floor.

  “Sure,” Mike replied coyly with his hands thrust into the pocket of his jeans, “if that’s what you want,” he added as an afterthought.

  Megan looked back at him. She had just had a tremendous evening with this guy and the chemistry between them was amazing. Normally, if this was a date, there would be no question whether she would invite him inside at the end of the evening but this time, she felt hesitant. This was not a regular date – the man standing before her was a well-known public figure who she, before today, had a strictly work relationship with.

  She toyed with the tassled free ends of her hair, “So,” she lengthened out the word and then made a decision, “Do you want to come in?”

  It seemed that Mike had been waiting for her to say those exact words and nearly jumped at the opportunity. “Honestly, I was beginning to think you were never going to ask.”

  That was the thing about Mike – he somehow so effortlessly made any situation lighthearted and relaxed. Suddenly, all of Megan’s nerves disappeared and along with her apprehensions of Mike being a famous guy. Because right now, all that did not matter. The person standing before her was not some famous guy – he was just a guy she had vibed with and then decided to bring him back home. What was to happen afterwards, well, that was still undecided.

  Megan walked over to her kitchen cabinet with a certain bounce in her step. She felt completely at ease. “Let me pop open some wine for you,” she announced as she struggled to reach the top shelf where the bottle sat, “I feel like we deserve some after-party drinks, don’t you?”

  Mike chuckled, “Always!” He had begun to make himself more comfortable as he took off his shoes and jacket and sank back down on her couch.

  Megan walked back in with the bottle in her hand. Mike raised an eyebrow at her, “No glasses?”

  “Eh, I figured we could just wing it,” she grinned and took a swig out of the bottle before handing it back to him.

  They sat and drank until the last remaining drops had been consumed from the bottle.

  “It’s probably some sort of a violation to go back driving while I’m this drunk,” he commented with the occasional slur slipping in between his words.

  “Hey – I’m a journalist. I can make you look good in the article that they eventually publish your DUI,” Megan joked.

  “Here’s hoping I don’t get one then,” he joked back and then glanced at his wall, “But damn, it’s actually quite late. Perhaps I should get going.”

  Megan looked back at him and bit down on her lip, “Well – you’re too drunk to be driving safely on your own.”

  He laughed, “Well so are you.”

  “I know.”

  Mike looked back at her, expectantly but she did not say anything else. They walked to her door and just as they were about to say their goodbyes, Megan reached a decision.

  “Well, it was nice seeing you tonight,” he said at the doorway, waiting for his cue to leave.

  “Hey, maybe it isn’t such a good idea for you to be driving tonight,” she said suddenly and lightly gripped from by his sleeve to stop him from leaving.

  “What other option do I have?” he countered, with a small smirk on his lips as he thought of where this conversation was steering towards.

  “Mhm, I don’t know,” Megan teased, tiptoeing around the idea, “maybe we can work something out?”

  At this point, Mike walked over so he was a little closer to her. He nudged her softly on the head, “What you have in mind?” he said in a whisper.

  “Do you want to stay over?” Megan finally said and it did not take much to get Mike to agree as he closed in the distance between their faces and covered her lips with her own. They stumbled back into her foyer, now making out passionately and latching onto each other.

  “I thought you would never ask,” Mike said breathlessly as he stopped kissing her for a moment to swipe away the hair from her face.

  “I’ve been trying to all evening -,” Megan tried to speak but she was cut short by Mike as he devoured her lips once again. They wound up backing up on her sofa as he explored his hands in her hair and pressed up tightly against her.

  Breathless, Megan tore herself away from him and sat up. Mike followed suit and looked at her with a confused expression on his face. Had he done something wrong? Usually, women never really stopped him once they got this far. He opened his mouth to ask what had happened but she got up before he had the chance.

  “My bedroom is that way,” she said coyly and then walked over to her room.

  Mike could barely contain his excitement as he grinned and rushed over to her, firmly closing the door behind.

  They were all over each other - hands in each other’s hair and mouths on each other’s bodies. Articles of clothing came flying off and soon, the only barrier between the two of them was thread bare. Mike stopped for a moment and slowed down his pace, taking his time in kissing her. He was being inexplicably slow and Megan felt like she was about to lose her mind. How could he be so calm in a t
ime when all she wanted to go was devour him?

  “Mike,” she called out to him, “Please!”

  Mike grinned back at her. It seemed that he knew exactly what he was doing. He trailed down small kisses down her torso, causing her to mewl with happiness. Finally, he trailed his way upwards and hovered directly over her face.

  “Are you sure?” he found himself asking. Even though he was slightly inebriated, he still knew the importance of asking for consent.

  Megan felt like she could not answer fast enough. She nodded profusely, “Yes! I want this.”

  That was all the confirmation he needed as he dipped down and removed the last article of clothing separating them and dived right into her. He was devastatingly slow at first as he gave her the time to adjust to him but then, it suddenly started to feel good.

  Megan did not know how long they were at it for but soon, he collapsed on top her and she breathed in the hollow of his neck. They were both swamped from the activity.

  “That was amazing,” was the last thing he said to her before drifting off to sleep. Megan, too, felt her eyelids grow heavy and sleep overcome her.

  Chapter 5

  The morning after a one-night stand almost always seemed to follow a reserved pattern for Megan and when she woke up the next morning, she expected the same thing.

  The person in question would always wake up before their partner and pick up their clothes and slip away. Sometimes, they would leave a note on the desk but most times, the only memory they left behind was the events of the night before. Megan woke up the next morning to an empty bedside and she prepared herself for what was to come.

  She assumed that he probably already left.

  But when she hopped out of her shower and walked into her kitchen to start off her day, she was surprised to smell the aroma of bacon wafting in the air.

  For a second, she went on her defensive mode and scoped the kitchen for any signs of an unwanted intruder but all she saw was Mike.

  “Surprised to see me?” he grinned at her from the other side of the counter.

  Megan shrugged, trying to hide the obvious surprise on her face and in her tone, “Just a little caught off guard,” she tried to play it off casually.

  But in her mind, she was already contemplating his actions. Why had he decided to stay? She had not expected him to stick around – especially being the person that the tabloids made him out to be. A bad boy and a player. So what was he doing standing in her kitchen, preparing breakfast for her?

  Mike chuckled, “I don’t know what to tell you either,” he replied, “but I guess I was just too hungry and too hungover to drive back in the morning.”

  Megan nodded. She could work with this explanation – it was platonic and the only reason he had stayed was cause of convenience. But even though that this was the answer Megan was hoping for, she realized that it left her feeling a little disappointed.

  What was happening to her? It was as though one part of her wanted to hear one thing and another part wanted to hear something completely opposite. She bit down her lip and sat opposite to him as he laid out the breakfast on the table.

  “And I guess,” Mike continued, “I would be lying if I didn’t say that it was also because I wanted to see you once again in the morning.”

  Megan felt her heart flutter- this is what she had been wanting to hear. “I am glad you stayed,” she replied, now sure of what she wanted.

  Mike grinned, “Anyway – I noticed you had way too many boxes of cereal lying around. Thought you could use a proper breakfast.”

  Megan groaned as she bit into her piece of bacon, “Mhmm, this is actually incredible!” she exclaimed.

  “Well, I’m a man of many talents,” he grinned back at her. “Eat up, gorgeous.”

  Megan felt herself blushing at his words but hid her face as she dug into the remains of her breakfast. He was a tremendous cook and it was the most unexpected thing about him.

  “I feel like I could write up an entire article on just this slice of bacon, if I am being honest with you,” she mused, much to his amusement.

  “I hope we get to connect more than just one the basis of you writing more articles about me,” he replied, as he dug into his own plate of food.

  Megan grinned, “Hey, I thought we already did,” she teased lightly, hinting back to the events of the night before.

  “I think you need to refresh my memory a little about that,” he replied back, his eyes suddenly turned dark.

  Megan had suddenly lost her appetite to eat – but it had been replaced by something much more primal. And she knew that she was not the only one as she saw Mike stare at her from across the table. It did not take him long before he, too, had abandoned his fork and spoon and cornered up Megan to the side of the table.

  “Go ahead,” she breathed out. Her breathing had accelerated as he was now in very much close proximity to her. She felt him kiss her neck and she knew that was the end of it. All her self-control and thoughts about work dissolved away and all that seemed to matter was him and this moment.

  It did not take long for them to get at it, tugging on each other’s clothes. Suddenly, nothing else mattered and all that existed was this.

  * * * *

  Mike ended up leaving late into the evening that day. They had spent most of their time fooling around but also just being with each other. It was bizarre just now comfortable she felt around him.

  Megan was not a romantic by nature. She considered herself to be a realist and knew that the fairy tale love a person sees in the movies seldom exists in real life. But she could not deny the butterflies that stemmed in her stomach when she thought back of Mike and her interactions with him.

  He was so unlike anything that she had imagined him to be. He was charming and respectful in his dealings with her, even though, before she had assumed that he would be arrogant and treat her just like another fling. Could she even use the word fling? They had only hooked up twice in the space of twenty-four hours but she could not get the experience out of her mind. It had been one of the best times that Megan had ever had.

  They had exchanged numbers after but apart from a brief conversation the next day, they had not interacted ever since.

  Megan was not one to check up on the guys she had been seeing but this time, curiosity got the better of her and she found out through his publicist that he was currently out of country for a football game.

  “Any idea when he might be returning?” she asked the publicist over the phone.

  “Yeah, he’s scheduled to be back in the country on Friday. He’s a busy man. Do you want to schedule an interview with him?” he asked her.

  “No, no,” Megan said abruptly, “I was only – well, I had some follow up questions for him and I needed to see him in person for that. But thanks for letting me know,” she said and then hung up.

  She felt weird – keeping tabs on him like that but she felt a tinge of something. Was it fair of her to expect that he should have told her that he was going to leave the country like that? She had never been informed and not that it was her place to know, but she felt a little disappointed either way.

  She typed up a text message – she wanted to ask him how he was doing and if he missed her but she erased her it as soon as she did. What had come over Megan? She was never this obsessive and clingy person but what was it about him that made her attracted to him to this extent?

  She knew she had to clear her head. She put her phone away and decided she had done enough for the night. For the remainder of the time till he comes back, she would not check up on him. But within her heart, she hoped that her phone would light up with a text displaying his name.

  And with that thought, she decided she needed to stop acting more like a teenage girl and go to sleep.

  * * * *

  Chapter 6

  Friday finally rolled by and even though Megan would never admit this to herself, she woke up extra happy that day. She went about her work with a smile on her face and
she was extra chirpy in all of her interactions with people.

  And all of it had to do with the fact that Mike Ferguson was returning back to town tonight. She was almost certain that he would contact her – after all, how could he not after them having such a fantastic time together?

  “What’s gotten you all chirpy?” Annie asked her as they both packed up their desks at the end of the day, “I noticed how you were still in a good mood even after you got assigned to do that boring horse derby story. I mean – who does that? Spill, I feel like there’s something you are not telling me.”

  Megan shrugged. She had tried to keep it on the down low but evidently, her excitement had been hard to suppress. “I don’t know – can’t I just be happy?”

  “Who’s the guy?” Annie asked her, point blank.

  An unfamiliar blush crept up on her cheeks, “Well,” she stammered, “You know, he’s just someone. Not that important!”

  “But of course he is!” Annie said, nudging her lightly with her elbow, “I mean look at you! You are as gleeful as a child on Christmas morning. You gotta tell me about this mystery man.”

  But Megan held her fort, “There is no mystery man. Just a guy I saw - it’s really nothing.”

  “Sure,” Annie replied in a tone that said she knew that she was not being told the full story. But to Megan’s relief, she decided to drop the subject.

  “Hey you want to go out for drinks tonight?” Annie asked her but Megan was already shaking her head.

  “I really can’t,” she said, “Got a lot to do around the house tonight and honestly, I would just like a night in to myself,” Megan knew she was making excuses but she did not want to occupy her schedule just in case Mike wanted to see her again.

  Annie stared back at her suspiciously, “Right – the mystery guy. How could I forget?”

  Megan rolled her eyes but before she could formulate a sufficiently witty response to shut Annie up, one of the interns came bursting into the room with a stack of pictures in her hand.