Game Up

by Tara Jay Wimble

  She glared at Lara. “You got me in trouble with Baby Horse.”

  “They’re sharing a room ‘cause they’re loud when they fuck,” Rhian stage-whispered to Lara.

  Lara wrinkled her nose. “I really could have gone the rest of my life without knowing that.”

  Rhian sighed sadly. “Yeah, me too.”

  Chapter 19

  “I have to tell you something, Lara.”

  Lara reached over to calm Asha’s fidgeting hands.

  “When we...when I was living in Cali with the girls. Ummm.”

  Lara lifted one hand to smooth back Asha’s hair. “Babe, it’s okay.”

  “Don’t be mad. Please don’t be mad. And please remember the stuff we learned in those therapy sessions.”

  Lara raised an eyebrow. “Okay,” she said warily.

  “IkissedRhian.” Asha buried her head into the pillow.

  “You kissed...oh. Whoa.”

  “More than once. But it didn’t mean anything. At all, I swear. She was a...make out buddy.” She cringed at how high school that sounded.

  “Rhian’s a freaking child, Asha!”

  “She’s twenty-three!”

  “Really? Twenty-three? Huh. Still!”

  Asha peeked at her from beneath the pillow. “Are you mad?”

  “Yes! Well, no. A little, I don’t know,” Lara stuttered. “Mostly surprised, really surprised. I mean it’s Rhian.”

  They sat in silence for a few moments, Lara trying to work her head around this. Finally, she found her words. “I’m not mad, I guess. It’s just weird, she’s a teammate you know? She was your roommate. She’s our friend.”

  Asha looked miserable, staring intently at the ceiling.

  Lara actually wasn’t that mad, she wasn’t sure why, she felt she should be. Maybe the whole therapy thing had been worth it, even though it felt weird as hell.

  “Hey,” she said softly.

  Asha refused to meet her eye. “I swear she’s only a friend, it was a comfort thing. It meant nothing. It will never happen again.”

  “...I know, I trust you.”

  Asha smiled slightly. “Yeah?”

  “Of course.” Lara chose to let it go. What did it really matter anyway? It was Rhian. She was harmless. And Lara had to give her all the credit for the “win Asha back” plan.

  “She’s hot, but I never would have pegged her as your type.”

  “She’s not my type. You’re my type. My only type.”

  Lara gave her a lingering kiss. “Who kisses better?” she teased.

  Asha pretended to be deep in thought.

  “Asha. Lorenz.”

  Asha pounced and pinned her to the bed. “You. Definitely you.”

  Lara squirmed away and pretended to pout. “No, now I’m mad at you.”

  “Baby!” Asha whined. “I was just kidding. How ‘bout I make it up to you?”

  “You could try, I guess”

  “Hmmm. I’ll try hard.” Asha put her lips close to Lara’s ear. “You’ll come hard.”

  Lara squirmed again, her eyes darkened. She tried to respond with something witty, but it was too late.

  Asha had already begun to work her magic and Lara was rendered speechless.

  ***

  “SO, am I forgiven?”

  “Maybe I need a little more convincing.”

  ***

  “WAIT. You think Rhian is hot?” Asha stopped and peered up at Lara.

  “What the hell, Ash!” Lara growled, jolted by the sudden disruption.

  Asha grinned. “I was just asking. Jeez.”

  ***

  “BABE, I need a breather,” Asha groaned. “My jaw is cramping.”

  Lara laughed. “Aww, c’mere.” She peppered her face with light kisses, then snuggled behind, drawing Asha close. Lara reached around, and played with her teasingly.

  Asha groaned, and shifted her hips for more pressure. “Active recovery. I like it,” she breathed.

  ***

  LARA gasped as Asha’s hand found her again. She reached down, almost as a reflex, to still her fingers.

  She shuddered as another aftershock hit her.

  Asha slowly began moving again, testing the waters. Lara’s hand was still clamped tightly around her wrist.

  Another spasm rolled up Lara’s body.

  Asha pressed a little harder, and Lara’s grip loosened, barely circling but not wanting to lose contact.

  The heat began to coil, quicker this time, as she suddenly found herself barreling towards the edge again.

  ***

  “SO, you swear you’re not mad.”

  “No, Ash, I’m not mad. I promise.”

  “I don’t want this to be a thing between us.”

  “Babe! Stop. I swear to you.”

  “You’re the best I’ve ever kissed. I only want to kiss you. I didn’t mean that. It was a joke, I’m an idiot.”

  “I know, it’s fine! Seriously. Anyways, I’m not worried about Rhian. Or anyone else. You were screaming my name when I caught you playing with yourself.”

  Asha blushed.

  “And did I ever tell you how incredibly hot that was?”

  “Lara, I was crying.”

  “Well, yeah, that was pretty weird. But the rest of it was...” Lara paused. She pulled Asha roughly towards her.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  ***

  ASHA woke from her sleep with a harsh yelp, and frantically pushed at Lara, trying to get her to roll off of her. “Get off!”

  “Ash?” Lara blinked sleepily.

  “Get the fuck off! Get...oh fuck! Fuck!”

  Lara watched with alarm as Asha grabbed her calf with both hands, writhing and cursing.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Foot! Grab my...” Asha rolled too far to the left, right off the bed.

  Lara scrambled after her, and grabbed her foot, flexing her toes upward, working out the calf cramp.

  Asha grimaced, and pounded the ground with her fist until it eased.

  “Really? That was a little dramatic.”

  “Whatever. It hurt.”

  “It was a cramp.”

  “My muscle almost snapped. It still hurts.”

  “Can we go back to sleep?”

  “Sure, fine. I almost died, but yes, let’s go back to sleep.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t die, it was terrifying.”

  Asha stuck her tongue out at her, and crawled back onto the bed. Lara resumed her position, sprawled on top. She was almost asleep when she felt a nudge.

  “Are you awake?”

  “No.”

  “Lar.”

  “Sleeping.”

  “It’s really sore, I think it’s going to cramp again. Can you massage it?”

  Lara blinked blearily at her girlfriend. “You know I love you, right?”

  Asha smiled. “Yeah.”

  “You’re a complete baby sometimes.”

  Asha shrugged. “It hurts though, and you do it better than me.”

  Lara sighed, and grabbed her leg. Asha winced when she started kneading the muscle. “Jesus, Ash. It’s like a rock.”

  “No shit. I told you.” She pressed her fists into her eyes, trying to hide a sharp breath as Lara hit a particularly sore spot.

  “I guess I wore you out today. I’ll take it easier on you. You need to remember to hydrate.”

  “Shut up.”

  ***

  “I made something special for you. To thank you for putting up with me last night,” Asha called from the kitchen.

  “You don’t have to thank me. That’s kinda part of the loving girlfriend job.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Still. Thank you.” She sat next to Lara, and passed her a plate.

  “Chocolate chip pancakes! I love you.”

  Asha grinned. “Just ‘cause of the pancakes, I bet.”

  “Nooo. I love you always, but the pancakes don’t hurt.”

  ***

  LARA looked over. Asha was staring at the TV, but she co
uld tell she wasn’t watching.

  “You okay?” Lara asked, nudging her gently.

  “Just thinking.”

  Lara waited - this wasn’t the time to push.

  “My shoulder is bothering me. A lot.”

  Lara tried to keep the concern off her face. “Do you need ice?”

  “Maybe.” Asha rolled her shoulder and winced. “I don’t want to get the surgery,” she admitted.

  Lara knew there was more.

  “What if I can’t play again?”

  Lara smoothed Asha’s furrowed brow, and cupped her cheek tenderly. “Annica had this surgery. And her shoulder was a lot worse.”

  “Annica’s a cyborg,” Asha said darkly.

  “Touché.”

  Asha sighed heavily.

  “Hey, you’ll play again. You’re too talented and too stubborn to let this hold you back. And Duisburg is gonna work with you.”

  “Maybe not. They might change their mind.”

  “Asha, don’t be silly. They’re just ironing out the details now. You know it takes forever. They’re not going to back out.”

  Asha stretched out with her head on Lara’s lap. “Maybe I should just retire.”

  Lara looked at her sharply.

  “It’s gotten so hard.”

  Lara considered her words carefully. “I’ll support you, whatever you decide. But I don’t think you’re done. Your time is coming, I can feel it. One day, I’ll have the honor of playing in front of you. It’s going to happen.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I do know. It will. You’ll have this surgery and you’re going to come back and take Germany by storm.”

  “Maybe. It’s just. I don’t know,” Asha said, clearly frustrated.

  “Sweetie, it’s okay. It’s okay to be scared...”

  “I’m not scared!”

  “Nervous then, but I’m here. We’ll get through this. Want me to get you that ice?”

  Asha rolled over, and gave her a look.

  “Really? I thought your shoulder hurt,” Lara said with a smile.

  Asha groaned. “It does, but...”

  “Ice first. I’m not going to be the one to break my girlfriend.”

  “Fine,” she huffed.

  ***

  “WANT to watch a movie?” Lara asked brightly, after she had finished securing the ice to her shoulder.

  “I want to watch you,” Asha replied with a glint in her eye.

  Lara shook her head with an embarrassed grin, and headed for her bedroom. “Which one?” She helped prop her up on the bed.

  “I’m serious.” Asha leaned up to kiss her.

  “We will. After you ice,” Lara mumbled into the kiss.

  “C’mon.” She gave Lara her best puppy dog eyes.

  “Not fair, you know I can’t resist that.” She moved to ease Asha’s shorts off.

  “Wait.”

  Lara looked up questioningly.

  “You.”

  “Babe. I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re all wrapped up.”

  “That’s not what I meant.” Asha gave her a devilish look. “I wasn’t kidding, I want to watch you.”

  “Oh.” Lara was thoroughly confused for a second. “Oh! You want to...really?”

  “We used to do it all the time, we just don’t have to bother with, you know, laptops or phones now. And it’s only fair. You got to see me.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I mean...”

  “Okay? But only if you want to.”

  “I do.”

  “I’ll do it with you. We can watch each other. It’ll be hot.”

  Lara tried to hide her nervousness. It was a lot easier for Asha, something that Lara had been extremely grateful for at the start of their relationship. Her nerves about her inexperience lessened and her confidence grew every time she made her girlfriend come.

  For her though, it took more time, more effort, more coaxing, more patience, just more.

  Asha was thrilled by the challenge. And Lara had gotten over her self-consciousness, become more relaxed and in-tune with her body. It was never an issue now when they were together, Asha could play her perfectly.

  But in those lonely moments when they were only connected by technology, Lara wished it was easier. It was a little embarrassing to watch Asha back off numerous times, patiently waiting for Lara to be with her.

  Asha saw the worry and nerves flicker across her face. She cupped her face. She knew instantly where Lara’s mind had gone.

  “Hey,” Asha said softly. “No worries, no pressure. Just you and me.”

  Lara’s nerves melted away at her soothing promise, just like always.

  “You’ve turned me into a freak, you know.”

  “Yeah, you love it. Take off my shorts, hot stuff. And get naked.”

  “Get naked?”

  “Yeah, babe. Get naked.”

  “You have such a way with words.”

  “You know it, Larry.”

  ***

  LARA’S eyes were closed, allowing Asha to brazenly stare. She watched the way her arms flexed and twisted, how the muscles in her neck tightened. She studied the wrinkles that creased her forehead. She adjusted so she could have a better view.

  The ice wrap was annoying as shit. She couldn’t find a comfortable position. Asha sat up suddenly, and started tearing at the plastic wrap.

  Lara’s eyes flew open. “Ash,” she scolded. “You need to keep that on.”

  “Later,” Asha grunted.

  She struggled for a few more seconds, before Lara reached up to help her.

  “I knew this would happen,” Lara grumped. “You have to put it back on right after. And leave it on. And...”

  Asha caught her lips in a kiss to shut her up. Lara’s hands reached for Asha.

  “No, keep going,” Asha whispered. “This is so hot, I love watching you. I want to see you make yourself come.”

  “It might take me a while.”

  Asha pulled off her tank, tossing it to the side to join the discarded ice. “Okay. I’m with ya.”

  “Could you...” Lara wasn’t sure how to ask for this. “I want to see...I always close my eyes, so...”

  Asha understood. “Yeah? You want me to go first?”

  Lara nodded shyly.

  Asha settled back, and let one knee fall against Lara’s. It didn’t take long at all, with Lara working at her neck.

  “Lara.” She gulped in a breath. “If you keep doing that...”

  “That’s the idea.”

  She felt Lara’s lips brush against her breast.

  “Lara,” she choked out. It sent her over the edge, shaking and panting. She finally opened her eyes to find Lara watching her intently, her own hand moving in lazy circles.

  Asha pushed herself up against the headboard and tugged Lara into her lap. She guided Lara’s hand back between her legs. She let one of her fingers graze before moving her hands back up Lara’s body.

  “Holy shit, Ash,” Asha whispered with a smirk. She nipped at Lara’s ear. “You’re soaked. Just from watching me?”

  Even though she couldn’t see her face, Asha knew Lara was rolling her eyes. She laughed softly and rested her chin on Lara’s shoulder.

  After a few minutes, Asha absolutely ached. She shifted Lara slightly.

  Lara giggled when she felt Asha’s hand creep between their bodies. “What are you doing?”

  “You realize how much this is killing me?”

  When Asha heard Lara’s breath grow ragged, she slipped out from underneath and straddled one of Lara’s legs.

  She hovered over her, letting their lips barely touch. They breathed in each other.

  Lara shivered. “Almost.”

  “Yeah.” Asha dropped her lips to Lara’s neck.

  After a few more minutes, Asha felt Lara start to tense under her. She kissed her hard, before pulling back to watch her face, watch the tension grow in her mouth, her neck. She straightened up more and started rocking her hips, using Lara's leg for
friction.

  “I’m there, I need...I need...Ash,” Lara whimpered. She let out a sharp cry and arched into the bed. Asha rolled her hips a few more times, and followed.

  “You cheated,” Lara finally whispered, dissolving into giggles.

  “Did not,” Asha whispered back, as she waited for the room to come into focus. “How’d I cheat?”

  “You used me to get off.”

  “There’s nothing in the rules against that.” She rolled off and sank heavily into the bed.

  “You were right,” Lara admitted. “I liked that, it was...” She searched for the words.

  Asha nodded. “It’s intimate. I like the intimacy. I mean, I love making you feel good. It’s my favorite thing. But watching your face, knowing that you’re causing that? Getting to see something so private? Yeah, it’s hot.”

  ***

  LARA propped herself up on her elbows. Her life was pretty incredible, she mused.

  Asha glanced up at her with a bemused smile. “What?”

  “You’re beautiful.” Lara’s chest tightened when she saw how these simple words seemed to light up Asha’s entire being.

  “You’re beautiful, Alexa. My German warrior.” Asha dipped her head back down.

  Whoa. Lara fell back dramatically. “Ahh...shit. Keep doing that,” she hissed. She reached down and pushed on Asha’s head involuntarily.

  Asha couldn’t help but smirk as Lara bit back a scream.

  ***

  “CAN we try something?” Lara mumbled.

  Asha looked at her questioningly, Lara’s face was tinged pink and she was fidgeting. She grabbed her hands.

  Lara ducked her head.

  “Ash. It’s me.”

  “Okay, yeah. Go look in the top drawer,” her voice a little stronger.

  Asha opened it and whirled around. “Larelle Richter,” she exclaimed with a smirk.

  Lara blushed. Asha walked back over and grabbed her hands, pulling her up. She kissed down her neck, and muttered, “You weren’t kidding about getting freaky. That’s fucking hot.”

  “Me and Alexa were talking about it, she suggested I surprise you.”

  Asha pulled back. “Alexa. Like Vianne’s Alexa.”

  “Yep.”

  “...”

  “What?”

  “You were talking about sex with Alexa?”

  “Yeah? You guys were all out surfing. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would bother you.”