The Athlete

by Elin Peer

  “I know you’re angry with me and that this is your preferred method of solving your problems. Imagine how good it’ll feel to take me down.”

  I didn’t deny it.

  “Which hand is your dominant one?”

  I lifted my right hand.

  “Then you can only use your left hand.” Emanuela folded her arms and tapped her fingers on her upper arm. “After the wrestling is over, you’ll let the thing about the bikes and the mud hole go? There will be no talking to the media about it. None!”

  The thought of wrestling this small female was both ludicrous and exciting at the same time.

  “Do you hear me, Hunter?” Emanuela was staring right into my eyes with a small triangle above the bridge of her nose from the way she pinched her eyebrows.

  “I heard you.”

  “Good. And because of my willingness to meet your strange cultural customs and wrestle you, I’ll get three tries to take you down. If I can do it once, I win.” She held up a finger in front of my face. “I’m only doing this because it also serves as a way for you to get used to being close to a woman, which will ultimately help the team.”

  I inclined my head toward the middle of the room, where there was a large rug. “Over there. If you get me down on my back, you’ve won.”

  I had never wrestled with just one arm, and as we took up our positions opposite each other, I wondered if maybe this was a mistake.

  She watched me as I bent forward and held up my left arm while counting down from three.

  Her position was more like an old-school boxer with her hands protecting her face and her knees bent a little.

  3. 2. 1. Go!

  Emanuela had no experience in fighting so it wasn’t surprising to me that she waited for me to make the first move. We moved in a circle as she kept her distance while I came up with a plan in my head. I didn’t want to hurt her or unintentionally touch some private part of her body. My attack had to be clean and sharp.

  Her breathing was fast and her energy focused as she kept sidestepping to keep the same distance between us. When I jumped forward she gave a shriek and stiffened. It made it easy for me to get behind her and pin both her arms to her chest with my left arm while pushing her knees forward in order for her to fall. I controlled her body and eased her to the ground before rolling her over and using my weight as a symbol of my dominance.

  “Get off me!”

  I rose up with a smug grin. “Don’t worry, you still have two chances left.”

  Emanuela got up and rubbed her nose. She looked mad and took up her position, this time holding her hands apart and bending over like a real wrestler.

  When I made a mock attack, she moved out of the way in a fast reflex. It was not going to be as easy this time.

  “Is that the best you can do?” I provoked her but she was too smart to take the bait.

  We danced around each other watching for signs of an attack. She pushed me with her hands but I was grounded enough to not lose my balance. It was impressive how much she had picked up from the first round and how fast she was to move away when I tried to attack her. But I was relentless and I had a plan.

  As I had hoped, she pushed back at my forehead when I lowered my head and attacked her. With an iron grip I locked my fingers around her wrist and twisted her arm back. It forced her to turn her body and made it easy for me to step up against her back and push her down again. My blood flow was rushing from the adrenaline and excitement of being on top of her. This time I didn’t get up right away.

  “You did better this time. Are you ready to take me down?”

  She was bucking me off her and I gave a low sneer.

  “Stop that.”

  “Just let me up.”

  “Okay.” I got up, hoping she wouldn’t notice my mid-section. “Last chance, sugar. 3. 2. 1.”

  This time she tried a new strategy and attacked right away. Having only one arm made it harder to keep her at a distance and she used her feet to try and kick my legs out underneath me.

  “Hey, no kicking.”

  Emanuela was feisty by nature but she was also competitive, fast, and relentless.

  “Umph…” I exhaled breathily when she managed to kick my foot out and I went to one knee.

  Emanuela was quick to throw her whole body on top of me with a victorious howl. Because of my temporary loss of balance, her weight knocked me backward and it took all my core muscles to roll onto my side instead of landing on my back. Emanuela was pushing at me with both hands and used all her weight to get me onto my back, but I managed to push her back with my left hand and get to my knees.

  “What are you going to do now?” I breathed as she got up on her knees too. There was such fire in her eyes, and with her cheeks flaming from the wrestling she’d never looked more attractive.

  Emanuela narrowed her eyes. “I’m taking you down.”

  It was tempting to let her do it, just to feel her weight on top of me and maybe have her sit astride me, but I was too competitive; and knowing Emanuela, she would rub it in my nose forever if she won.

  I reached out my left hand to grab her, but she pushed it away and shoved at me.

  “I’m sorry, darling, but I can’t allow you to take me down.” I used the endearment to mess with her head, but like always, Emanuela gave as good as she got.

  “Why not, teddy bear? Admit it, you secretly want to submit to me, don’t you?”

  We were both panting and focused when I gave her my biggest smirk, meant to get under her skin. “Sorry, babe, but the only one submitting will be you.” I followed up my words by attacking her again, using my whole underarm to push across her collarbone and tip her backward.

  “My legs.” She grunted as I held her down, and it made me pull back a little for her to untangle her legs from their bent position. I should have just gotten up then, but instead I captured her in a missionary style and smiled down at her with satisfaction.

  “Do you submit to me?”

  “Of course not. We wrestled and that means you can never talk about the bikes and the mud hole.”

  “But you didn’t win.”

  “I never said I had to win.”

  “Fair enough, but I still want my prize for winning.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Your heartfelt apology for being an ass to me.”

  My midsection was pulsing from the friction of her trying to push me off her.

  “I’m not an ass.”

  “Say that you’re sorry.”

  Emanuela’s dark hair had escaped her hairband and was now spread out like a halo around her head. She panted. “You’re heavy.”

  I used my right arm to take some of my weight off her. “Better?”

  She didn’t answer my question but her breathing became less strained. “I’m sorry you had to land in the mud hole.”

  I tilted my head. “Yeah? What part of it are you sorry about?”

  She bit her lips.

  “What, you don’t have anything to say? It sounds like you’re blaming me for it.”

  “Because it was your arrogance that landed you in the pile of mud.”

  “Ha. That’s funny. Especially since you already admitted that you played a trick on me.”

  Emanuela bucked her pelvis. “Could you get off now?”

  I closed my eyes, feeling a strong impulse to create more friction between our midsections. “I told you not to do that.”

  “Then get off.”

  Our eyes clashed. “I won and you fucking owe me an apology, woman.”

  She looked away. “You’re poking me.”

  If she thought she could throw me off by pointing out the obvious, she was wrong. “Don’t worry. It’s just my body confusing the wrestling with sex. It has nothing to do with you.” My eyes lowered to her lips and I wondered what it would be like to kiss her.

  “Oh, I wasn’t worried. I got the message loud and clear when you said that you’d rather stick your cock into a beehive.” There was venom
in those words. “Now get off me or I’ll start screaming.”

  I released her at once and got up from the floor.

  “This isn’t over!”

  CHAPTER 8

  Roommate

  Hunter

  Four hours after the wrestling match we had just enjoyed dinner when Emanuela and I were at each other’s throats again.

  “Did you have to be so mean to her?” Emanuela’s eyes were glowing with indignation.

  “I only said that I don’t want to dance.”

  “Why not? Why can’t you give Angel a single dance? She’s been nothing but nice to you.”

  Angel was the beautiful blonde with generous-sized tits that I’d spotted the first day in the locker room. Unfortunately, all her beauty had faded as soon as I heard the first violent outburst of her hyena-like cackle. Never had I heard laughter that hurt my eardrums more.

  “I have the right to decide when I dance and with whom I dance, and right now I’m not in the mood for dancing.”

  Everyone at the table was staring at us and when she realized the sudden silence, Emanuela stormed off with a short “Fine.”

  I was tired of her attitude, so I got up and followed her until we were almost out of earshot. “Turn around.”

  Emanuela flung her answer over her shoulder. “Go away.”

  “Turn. Around.” This time my voice was hard and my tone non-negotiable. It made her stop and turn to face me.

  “I’m not your puppet.”

  “Nor am I yours. You don’t get to tell me who I should dance with.”

  “I don’t mind you rejecting her, but the way you did it was rude and she teared up, but I guess you didn’t see that.”

  I moved closer. “I’m sorry if I offended one more sensitive Motlander. It wasn’t my intention, but forgive me for not realizing that dancing with me mattered that much to Angel.”

  “It doesn’t matter to her. You don’t matter that much to any of us.” Emanuela’s voice was high-pitched and insistent.

  It felt like a slap on the cheek, because not long ago the person I trusted most in this world had made me feel I didn’t matter to her either. Emanuela only confirmed what I already knew. I mattered to no one.

  The pain that I’d held in for weeks now made me snap back at her. “Fuck off. I don’t need you to scold me like I’m a schoolboy. I’m a grown-ass man and I make my own decisions. If you don’t like them, tough shit.”

  She stared at me in disbelief. “I can’t believe how crude you are.”

  I moved closer, almost whispering my retort. “I told you. You have no fucking idea who you’re dealing with. That shit you pulled on me today…” I trailed off, looking down at her. “Don’t ever forget who I am and where I come from.”

  She was shaking, but still met my stare head on. “Is that a threat?”

  “More like a warning.”

  “Then I have a warning for you too. Don’t go around hurting people on my team, or I will find a way to hurt you back.”

  I snorted. “Like you did when we wrestled today? Please! You would have to tie me down in my sleep in order to hurt me, and you know it.”

  She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “If that’s what it takes.”

  This time we weren’t touching but again, the energy crackling between us went straight to my groin. Mental images of this little feisty warrior using her pretty mouth for other things than complaining had me leaning closer to her. “I can’t wait for you to try and tie me up, my love, but know this: as soon as I break free, I’m coming for you and when I do, you’d better be ready for me.”

  There was anger written on her face as she jerked her head back. “You would hurt a woman?”

  I gave a deep laugh, refusing to share my dirty thoughts with her.

  It felt like we were in a bubble, but of course our fight was the thing everyone talked about and sure enough, the next day we were back in Donna’s office.

  Donna stayed behind her desk this time, her hand holding an electronic pen that she tapped down on the writing pad with an insistent tap tap tap sound.

  “The last time we were here, you two assured me that you’d figure out a way to become friends.”

  “We never promised we’d be friends.” I moved in my seat.

  “You promised that you’d get along. And yet, everyone reports that the two of you still do nothing but antagonize one another. This has to stop!”

  Emanuela and I both looked in opposite directions.

  “Ema, I’m disheartened that you failed to show leadership when we specifically talked about this.”

  Emanuela’s fingers were playing with her wristband.

  “It’s hard enough to beat the other teams; we can’t have internal battles as well.” Lowering her voice to a softer tone, Donna leaned toward us. “Is that so hard to understand?”

  “You know what’s hard to understand.” Emanuela pushed to the edge of her seat. “I know I may not have acted my finest, but Hunter doesn’t even want to be here. He says so all the time. Why can’t he be released and go home where he’s happy? Our team was doing fine without him.”

  “Released.” Donna gave a nervous chuckle. “You make it sound like Hunter is a prisoner.” Her eyes went to me as she assured me, “Which of course isn’t the case.”

  I shrugged. “The captain is just pissed that I’m a stronger leader than she is.”

  Donna put down her pen and leaned back in her seat. “That might be, Hunter, but I still think you need to learn how to relax around women. Female authority is new to you, but it’s the way of the Motherlands and you will have to adapt.”

  I groaned in response. “I had a female teacher, and I assure you, Kya had plenty of authority.”

  Donna sighed. “Maybe. But since the tension between you two has only increased, Amy, myself, and the rest of management have decided we’re going to go with the plan of giving you a female roommate.”

  “No!”

  Donna ignored my outburst. “Three teammates have volunteered. Vicki, Sara, and Angel. It’s up to you whom you pick.”

  Crossing my arms in protest, I pushed back in my chair. “I’m not moving in with any of them.”

  “Fine, then you find a female teammate who will be your roommate. You have until tomorrow morning.”

  “Good luck with that.” Emanuela shook her head and looked at me. “I’d go with Sara if I were you. Vicki talks a lot and I know you don’t like Angel’s laugh.”

  I pressed my lips together, signaling that I didn’t like this conversation.

  Donna picked up her pen again and made a doodle on the pad in front of her. “We understand that it’s a hard pill for you to swallow, but it’s for your own good.”

  “I don’t care. I’m not doing it.”

  “Really, Hunter.” Donna made a sound of deep disapproval. “I have to say I’m very disappointed that you are so stubborn and unwilling to work with us on your issues. How do you expect us to help you if you won’t do something minor like having a roommate?”

  “Yeah, Hunter, maybe you should consider it,” Emanuela chimed in. “It would help you get past some of your awkwardness around women.”

  What the hell? I wasn’t awkward around women, was I?

  With zero interest in having a roommate, I quickly concocted a plan that felt bulletproof to me. “Fine, Donna, I’ll do it. But only if I can have Emanuela as my roommate.” There was no way in hell Emanuela would even consider it. She had refused the first time Donna had suggested it and after all our fighting these last few days, she would be laughing at the pure insanity of my request. I was so sure about it that I had a smug smile on my face.

  Donna’s head swung to Emanuela. “That brings us back to my original suggestion.”

  Emanuela didn’t laugh. Instead she leaned forward and placed her head in her hands.

  It had to be a charade of some kind, so I pushed her a little more. “What do you say, captain, you wanna live with me?” I couldn’t hide the amusement in
my voice from the sheer madness of it; any second now she would explode with the strong refusal that I was counting on.

  “Donna, would you allow me a few minutes alone with Hunter, please?”

  My heart started thumping in my chest as Donna stood up and left the room. What the hell was going on?

  Turning her body to me, Emanuela looked into my eyes. “Did you mean it? Do you want me as your roommate?”

  “Nooo. Of course not. I want to live alone.”

  “I know. Me too. But it doesn’t sound like you have that option.”

  I tapped my foot, trying to read her. “Don’t tell me that you would consider being my roommate even for two seconds.”

  She sighed and leaned her head back, looking up at the ceiling before meeting my eyes again. “I’m willing to do what’s best for the team. My biggest concern is that you bring out the worst in me, but I suppose Donna would tell me that it’s an opportunity for me to rise above my feelings of dislike.”

  “Don’t! The dislike is mutual and I like it that way.”

  She lowered her brow. “You do?”

  “Yeah. The only advantage I could see living with you, instead of one of the other women, would be that I’m guaranteed not to fall in love.”

  Emanuela broke our eye contact. “Because I’m too masculine.” It didn’t sound like a question but more like a statement.

  Wait, was that pain on her face? Was my little warrior wounded from my harsh words earlier? It was hard to imagine her being anything but immune to my opinion of her.

  “It’s just that I’m getting vibes of interest from some of the other women and I don’t want to get involved with any of them. With you, on the other hand, I’m one hundred percent sure that you are not into men.”

  Her forehead furrowed. “You think I’m a lesbian?”

  I had never picked up any sort of sexual interest from her side, so it was an easy answer. “Yeah. Or maybe you’re just asexual like the rest of the Motlanders.”

  “Really, Hunter, are you sure that it’s not you who are asexual? After all, you are the one turning down living with women who you claim are showing an interest in you.” She widened her eyes. “And here I thought that Nmen were these strong and virile men.”