Match Point
Page 7
At the end of the day on Friday, 50% of the competitors who lost were now out of the match. Patrick had won his first two matches that day so he proceeded on to Saturday. Kelly had loved every minute watching the players and she was looking forward to Saturday. Because Patrick had to work late after his matches on Friday to set up for the next day, Kelly kissed him goodbye and said she would see him tomorrow. Sure enough, she was right on the first bleacher Saturday morning. Being the second day of the tournament, the competition was getting stiffer and she could see an occasional throwing of a racquet or hear loud yells of frustration from the neighboring courts. Once again, Patrick had two matches to play and he won the first match fairly easily, but had to work a little harder on the second one. But after persevering, he won that one too. Kelly was delighted and really excited for him. She knew if Patrick won tomorrow, he would enjoy having won the trip but she knew he would love the bragging rights of having won the tournament even more.
Kelly made dinner for Patrick Saturday night, so he could just relax and rest up for the final day of the tournament. Patrick had been adamant about not having sex that weekend because he wanted all of his energy for the tournament. Kelly had pouted and tried to make him feel guilty, but he didn’t budge. Secretly she was OK with it. She just wanted to rib him a bit about it.
Trying to have a little fun with him as they were sitting down to eat she said, “Since you have denied me your manly body for three days I think that fair play is in order.” As he glanced up from his lasagna, Patrick looked at her with a quizzical expression. Looking as serious as she could, Kelly continued. “Let’s make a little wager, shall we?”
Patrick looked amused and curious as he put down his fork and said, “Another bet? Let’s hear it.”
The more Kelly thought about possibly going to Aspen, the more excited she got. She knew Patrick was good enough to win the tournament tomorrow but she wanted to give him a little extra incentive. Continuing with her thought process, Kelly proposed, “If you don’t win tomorrow, I get to abstain from having sex with you for a week.”
“A week?” Patrick cried. “Why a week? I only put you off for three days!” Kelly was having so much fun teasing him. As she started to smile, Patrick understood that she wasn’t angry and getting back at him, but rather she was having fun.
Cocking her head to one side and trying to feign looking hurt she explained, “It’s not nice to turn down a lady. I think you need to be taught a good lesson for rebuffing my advances.” Taunting him further, Kelly said, “However, this shouldn’t be a problem for you, unless of course you think you can’t win tomorrow.” Looking at him with a self satisfied grin, Kelly watched Patrick shift a bit in his chair at the challenge.
Not one to shy away from a bet or show lack of confidence Patrick replied, “You’re on, girl. But if I win tomorrow, you’re not going to be able to walk very well on Monday because I’m going to do dirty things to you all night.”
Reaching out her open hand across the table she said, “Then we have a bet? Shake on it.”
***
The final day of the tournament was another beautiful one. The spectators had come in droves for the final matches. Patrick had only one match to play this final day and the final doubles match was being played two courts down. Patrick was playing against John Roy, the club pro from Van Der Meer Tennis Academy in the Sea Pines area of the island. Patrick had known John for years and they had a friendly and professional relationship. Patrick knew John was a top notch player and tough competitor and he knew this match was not going to be easy.
As they began the first set, the points were long as they pushed each other around the court with drop shots, cross courts and overhead lobs. Kelly could see the guys panting because they were in constant motion. She was thrilled when Patrick finally won the first set. The match was going to be best two sets out of three, with a ten point tie breaker if they ended up in a third set. Although Patrick tried valiantly to win the second set, he was not able to and Kelly could see he was frustrated. She knew this third set was going to be a battle of wills, pride, and ego. Loud cheers and applause followed the conclusion of every point as the players were battling neck and neck. Kelly held her breath at every point and sat nervously wringing her hands together. She knew Patrick was a really good sport and even if he lost, he would be professional. But she wanted so much for him to win, especially after everything that had happened this past year with Danielle and Dayan.
Kelly rooted after every point he won and she couldn’t take her eyes off the court as the balls sailed back and forth over the net. It seemed like every time Patrick won a point, John would win the next one. The whole crowd was in suspense, not seeing an obvious clear winner. The next thing everyone knew, they were at six games all in the third set and it was time for the ten point tie breaker.
Patrick had a pretty good idea that the match would turn out this way. He and John had always played neck and neck and that was one of the things he respected most about John. He was going to do everything he possibly could to win, but he would not begrudge John at all if he lost. Patrick knew that sometimes talent wasn’t enough. Luck also plays a part sometimes, in who wins or loses.
Glancing over at the stands, Patrick looked at Kelly. Just as she was giving him the thumbs up, he remembered the bet they made last night. It would be bad enough losing the tournament, but then no sex for another damn week? That would be too much to bear. Setting his sights back on the court and his opponent, Patrick went into the zone. He became a man possessed and on a mission that would not fail.
As the points advanced, the players found themselves at 9 to 8 in Patrick’s favor. It was match point. If he could get this, the victory would be his. Standing at the base line to try to serve out the match, he threw the ball into the air and hit it. All eyes followed the ball and a hush fell over the crowd. No one, including Patrick would have expected it to go right into the net. The crowd let out a gasp and Kelly’s hands flew to her face in disbelief. Patrick had only one more serve left and you could feel the tension from the crowd as they nervously watched on. Both men were intense and totally focused on the court.
Taking a moment to inhale a deep breath, Patrick returned to the baseline for his last serve. Kelly couldn’t breathe. She thought she was going to pass out right on the spot. She had always felt that it was much more nerve racking to be a spectator versus being a participant. And right now, she was coming out of her skin. Throwing up the second serve, Patrick saw nothing but the ball. As it sailed over the net, Patrick rushed up to volley at the net. He was in perfect position at the middle of the net so he could move either right or left, depending on where John was going to hit the ball back. Instead of looking at the ball, Patrick watched John’s body movement to see which side he was going to try to hit the ball past Patrick. What John failed to remember at that moment was that Patrick was an expert at reading his opponents’ body language. Patrick could see by the way John positioned his feet and where he was looking that he was going to hit the ball to Patrick’s backhand side. The minute the ball left John’s racquet, Patrick was in position and belted it back to the far corner of John’s side of the court for a cross court winner.
Everybody was on their feet clapping and screaming. Kelly couldn’t contain herself and was jumping up and down and screaming herself. As the men met at the net to shake hands, everyone could see they were good friends as they walked off the court together talking and laughing. Kelly gave Patrick plenty of space to be congratulated by club members and spectators alike. She was so proud of him and knew she had fallen hopelessly in love with him. As the crowd began to dwindle away and the clean up crew started to break things down, Kelly saw Patrick looking for her and knew he was ready to go home.
Throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a huge embrace she said excitedly, “That was one hell of a match point! I’ve never been so nervous in all my life. I thought I was going to have a heart attack!”
Giving her
a sexy swat on her bottom, Patrick grabbed her hand and while walking hand in hand away from the club Patrick answered, “If you think you were going to have a heart attack today, wait until tonight. If memory serves, I have three days of making up to do.”
Smiling sheepishly up at him, Kelly replied, “Yes you do.”
About The Author
CHELSEA DORSETTE was born in Boston, Massachusettes and now calls Raleigh, North Carolina home. Her writing careert began after college in the radio broadcasting industry as a copywriter. Some years later, she penned a handful of children’s short stories and then moved on to writing country music lyrics. Chelsea’s current love is writing erotica.
She is also the author of Escape and Longing.
* * *
Escape is a collection of steamy erotic short stories in which characters enjoy unbridled lust in all sorts of unconventional locations. Chelsea Dorsette breathes new life into the world of erotica by breaking away from the conventional storyline, and has created sexy new scenarios with characters from all professions and sexual preferences. Her detailed and engaging stories will leave you feeling like you’re part of the action.
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