by Hamel, B. B.
He chews on that for a moment. The last stragglers make it inside and one of them shouts a greeting to River. He nods back but his eyes are still distant. Once they’re inside, we’re alone near the entrance.
“Look at me,” he says softly.
“No,” I answer.
“Come on. You don’t have to be such a damn coward.”
I turn to him, anger flaring. “Is this what you want?”
He reaches out suddenly, hand on my cheek. I feel my skin flush and my heart race with excitement. He’s inches away, right on the other side of the chain-link fence.
“This is what I want,” he whispers and he kisses me.
I blink, startled, but I kiss him back. God, I can’t help it. As soon as his lips touch mine, it’s like heaven….
But I jerk away after a few seconds.
“River,” I hiss. “My dad is right over there.”
He smirks at me. “I don’t care.”
“I do.” I look around wildly. Fortunately, my dad is still huddled with his coaches and there’s nobody else around to see anything. “God damn it, River.” I step away from him.
“Tell me you didn’t just kiss me back and I’ll leave you alone.”
I move my jaw for a second, thinking of a comeback, but… he is right. I did just kiss him back.
“You don’t owe me anything, okay?” I snap at him. “Just let it go.”
And I storm back into the facility.
He says something but I don’t hear it. I walk as fast as I can. I practically run inside and duck into the first empty room I find, shutting the door behind me and catching my breath.
That kiss.
That reckless, stupid, absurd kiss.
It could’ve ruined everything, gotten us caught. He could’ve lost his job here. My dad could’ve flipped out at me, fired me, sent me away.
He nearly ruined even more.
But I kissed him back because I wanted it.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I wanted it badly and I still want it.
I can feel it buzzing through my skin, the need for him, the desire. It pools between my legs and makes my lips tingle. I want his touch, his taste.
I want him again. I want him between my legs again and god, it’s so messed up.
I should stop, get myself under control.
But he’s not going to give up. I know it and I think he knows it.
I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’d better figure it out soon. River’s not the kind of man to back off when he wants something…
And he’s made it very clear that he wants me.
7
River
She can say she doesn’t want this. She can tell me to go the fuck away, to grow up, whatever.
But that kiss said even more than I needed to hear.
Yeah, okay. It was reckless and stupid. If Coach had seen, I’d be done. So much for starting over.
But I had to do something. She could just go on ignoring me forever and eventually I’ll be gone anyway. I mean, she could tell her dad about the baby and he could just trade me away or some shit.
No, I can’t risk that. I have to step up and do something and I have to do it now.
But unfortunately, there are other important things to attend to. Like the fact that our very first game is coming up in a few days and I still give a shit about that.
“You ready?” Chet asks me the Saturday before kickoff.
“I think so,” I admit. “Shit, I’ve played in more games than most guys and I’m still a little nervous.”
“I think we all are.” He laughs a little bit. “Hell, I’m nervous. I don’t know why. I haven’t missed a serious field goal in like… forever.”
“But this is all new and all eyes are going to be on us.”
“That’s right.” He cocks his head at me. “You know, I really thought you were going to be some kind of animal.”
I grin. “I’m an animal on the field.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’ve barely come out though. What’s up with that?”
I go quiet for a second. “Maybe this is a new start for me,” I say softly. “Maybe I’m looking for something to stick.”
He snorts. “Shit. That’s bad luck.”
“What is?”
“You’re looking to stick in Wichita, Kansas.”
We both laugh at that and I have to admit, he does have a point. The town’s growing on me but it’s not exactly the most exciting place to live.
Not like it matters. The only thing that matters is the football season. We’re traveling half the time and spending the rest of the time on the field. It doesn’t matter where I’m at, so long as I have football.
* * *
The big day arrives with little or no fanfare. I wake up, head to the stadium, and get in my gear. The coach gives us a calm, simple speech, and then we hit the field.
I don’t think I really get in the game mood until the very first snap. Even though the stadium is packed and rocking with fans, I still don’t really feel it.
As soon as that ball is in my hands and I’m dropping back to pass, though…
It’s all a blur after that.
That’s how every game goes. I focus in completely on what I’m doing. Nothing else exists and once the game’s over ,it’s like waking from a dream.
Fortunately, I wake from this dream to find out that we completely demolished the other team.
“Hell, yeah, boys!” Coach shouts in the locker room. Media cameras are all over the place and the room’s packed. I find myself looking around for Nicole but can’t spot her. “That’s what we had to do, prove to the whole world that we’re a force. Now you better believe the other teams are gonna be terrified of what we can do!”
The boys all cheer. I gotta admit, I feel a little excited after that.
“And the game ball goes to…” Coach turns and looks at me. “River, come up here, son.”
I get up and take the ball as the guys all cheer. I guess I played pretty good.
After that, it’s the usual postgame shit. The guys all want to go out and get laid and relax, but I pass up on it. My legs and back are aching from a few hits I took and frankly, I just don’t feel like getting wasted.
“New start, huh, River?” Chet asks me.
“New start, my friend,” I say with a laugh.
He grins and waves as I undress, wrap a towel around my waist, and head into the sauna.
Once I’m in the hot room, back against the wood, leaning on my elbows, I can finally think.
It felt really good to be out on that field again. That’s what I live for, getting out there and doing my job. I took hits but I threw the ball like a maniac, hitting touchdowns I shouldn’t have hit, making passes most guys wouldn’t even try. I was on fire, and it was like a total blur.
That’s heaven for me. When my mind can disconnect and my body just… just does what it’s supposed to.
I smile to myself and let out a breath.
New start, new season. That’s one hell of a way to get it going.
As I reflect on what happened out on the field, the door to the sauna opens. I expect one of the others guys to step inside, but instead, a flash of blonde hair catches my eye.
I sit up straight as Nicole steps into the room.
“Mind if I join?” she asks a little timidly.
“Not at all. I figured you’d be staying far away from me.”
She shrugs and sits next to me. Not touching, but not on the other side of the cramped room, either.
“You played good today,” she says. “Dad wants me to break it down with you.”
I laugh. “Really now? Your old man sent you in here?”
She gives me a look. “No, that was my decision.”
“Interesting.” I stretch a little bit, still sore, but dizzy with happiness.
“Look, can we just not talk about… you know?” She doesn’t meet my gaze. “I figure, we have to work together, so let’s just move
on. Okay?”
“Okay,” I say. “We don’t have to talk about it right now.”
She glares at me. “Ever.”
“Oh, no, we’re talking sooner or later. But we don’t have to right now.”
She sighs and looks away. “Fine. Good enough, I guess.”
I lean back and watch her again. She looks uncomfortable but I can’t blame her. She would probably rather be running away right now.
Which begs the question, why is she here?
“I was impressed,” she says finally. “You played good. Stood tall in the pocket. But you took hits.”
I shrug a little. “Everyone takes hits.”
“You’re the quarterback, River. You’re not supposed to take big ones. We need you healthy.”
“I know that,” I say softly. “I just wanted to win, is all.”
She nods a little. “I know you did. But please, be careful. We need you healthy if we’re going to go anywhere this season.”
“Ah,” I say softly. “So you need me, huh?”
She glares. “I don’t. The team does.”
“Oh, come on. You need me just as much as the team.”
“River.”
I slide closer to her. “Nicole.”
“I thought we weren’t talking about… you know.”
“We’re not. Who said anything about talking?”
“Come on.”
“You come on. You followed me in here wearing just that little towel and you thought I’d keep my hands off you?”
She blushes, looks away. “Maybe I didn’t think about it.”
“Liar.” I sit closer, practically purring in her ear. I tilt her chin toward me. “You thought about it a lot. Are you wearing anything under that towel?”
She bites her lip, meets my gaze. “No,” she says.
My heart starts pounding in my chest.
“Prove it.”
She hesitates a second. “I don’t have to prove anything.”
“You don’t have to. But I want you to. Take off the towel.”
She doesn’t move. For a long moment, she meets my gaze, doesn’t turn away. For a long moment I think she’s going to stand up and walk out of here.
Until she reaches up… and slides the towel down.
It drifts slowly. I watch as it moves over her ample, perky breasts. Her nipples are hard and I can’t help but loose a growl from my throat.
I reach up and grab her hair and she gets the towel down around her waist. I kiss her and she kisses me back with a ferocity I wasn’t expecting.
I’m still amped up from the game and this is only driving me further. My cock is hard as I cup her breasts, teasing them with my fingers. I kiss her neck, her lips, her chest. She groans as I reach down and pull the towel further, unwrapping it so she’s totally exposed.
“River,” she whispers. “Someone could come in. This is stupid.”
“I know,” I growl back. “But here you are.”
I spread her legs wide and tease her pussy top to bottom with one finger. She shivers and groans and pulls me in, kissing my lips hard as I slide that finger slowly inside of her.
I love the way her body tenses and reacts to me. It’s like she can’t help herself, can’t hold back. As soon as my hands touch her skin, she shivers and groans, every inch of her getting into the moment.
I lose myself in her skin. I tease her pussy, rolling my fingertips along her clit. All my aches and pains are gone, except for the ache in my hard cock.
But right now, I know this isn’t about me. I could take her body for my own right now, but I know what she really needs.
I kiss her lips one more time and lick her nipples, teasing them in circles, biting down softly. I drop to my knees between her legs and spread them wide.
She groans and looks down at me. “River, I—”
I lick her pussy top to bottom and she swallows whatever she was about to say.
It doesn’t matter. I have one goal now, one desire.
I want to make her feel good. I want to remind her why she can’t stay away from me.
I lick her pussy and roll my tongue along her clit, spreading her lips wide. She groans and grabs my hair as I work her, tongue and lips sucking and working, making her clit all mine. I suck it, roll my tongue around it, then slide my tongue back down to push inside of her.
I roll my tongue back up and push two fingers inside her pussy as I lick her clit. Her body starts to writhe along with me, her hips rolling. She’s sweating, moaning, her eyes shut tight.
“Look at me,” I growl at her. She opens her eyes, bites her lip. “I want you to watch me getting you off, girl.”
She moans as I push my fingers deep. I suck her clit and fuck her with my fingers, moving faster, moving in time with her body.
I can sense the way she feels based on how she tenses and moves. I follow her rhythm, follow her lead. I let her show me what she wants and I give it to her, I give every single lick and suck, my fingers sliding in and out.
Her back arches and she gasps, shaking softly. “Oh, fuck,” she says.
“You want to come for me,” I growl, a statement and not a question. “You want to come and let me taste it. Let me taste that delicious pussy, girl.”
“Oh, shit,” she moans. “Faster. Don’t stop now.”
I keep going, tongue sucking and licking, fingers fucking. I slide my fingers deeper, spreading her pussy apart, plumbing her deep and hard, curling my fingers to hit that perfect spot.
And I know she’s coming by the taste of her. I lick her, not stopping, forcing her orgasm faster and further. She moans, her body tenses as she grabs my hair tight. I growl in response, forcing her orgasm further, up to that next level.
Finally it all comes crashing down. She gasps and groans and her body goes soft again. I slide my fingers out from her and lick them clean with a smile on my lips.
“There you go,” I say, standing, heart hammering.
She stares up at me. “What? Huh?”
“That’s your reminder. That’s what you need to remember.”
“Remember what?”
“What I can make you feel.” I lean forward and kiss her gently before adjusting my towel.
I leave the sauna and leave her there. I want her to think about that… think about how it felt to have my mouth between her legs.
I could’ve stayed, maybe tried to get mine, but no. That’s not what I want or need. Right now, I just want her to know how far I can take her, how far I’m willing to push her body.
And I know she’s not going to forget it. She can pretend she wants to get away from me all she wants…
But when it comes down to it?
She’s an animal for me.
And she damn well knows it.
8
Nicole
I think I’m an insane person.
That’s the only explanation, right?
Only an insane person says she wants to do one thing and then keeps doing the opposite, especially when she knows she’s being stupid.
So I must be insane. Lost my damn mind. Went bonkers, cuckoo, bananas, whatever.
Sorry. I shouldn’t make light of mental illness.
I just feel so out of control right now that I don’t know what’s going on with me. I have no frame of reference for what I’m doing.
I know I should stay away from River. But every time I think about him, it’s like I’m physically drawn toward him.
Watching him on the sidelines of that football game was pretty amazing. He was on fire out there, absolutely incredible. He looked like an adult playing with children. He made everyone around him better… and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
That’s the man that touches my skin. That’s the man that drives me wild.
After the game, I wrestled with myself. I kept telling myself to stay away…
But as soon as I saw him go into that sauna, I knew I had to follow.
Insane, right? Totally insane.
I go
home after that and sleep on it. I keep dreaming about him, thinking about him, and as I wake up early on Monday morning, I know there’s only one solution to my problem.
It’s the worst solution. It’s the nuclear option. But when I eat breakfast, pour my coffee in my Yeti mug, and head out to drive to the practice facility, I know it’s the right one.
I park my car in my usual spot and head inside. There are a few guys here this early and I smile and greet them. I even stop to talk with one of our linemen, a big guy named Thomas.
“You gotta get lower,” I say to him. “Real low. I know you’re a big guy, Thomas, but you gotta get lower.”
He laughs at me. “What’s a little girl like you know anything about it?”
“I’ve been around football my whole life,” I say. “Trust me, I’ve seen guys worse than you do better. Just get lower, okay? Do it today. Trust me.”
“All right then. I’ll trust you.” He laughs and waves as I head off.
My dad’s in the office like always. I swear, he probably slept here. He’s wearing a rumpled sweatshirt and his eyes are baggy.
“Up late?” I ask him.
“You know me.”
“Your normal post-game ritual.”
He sighs and rubs at his eyes. “Whiskey and game tape.”
“How much did you drink?”
“Not as much as I would’ve if we had lost.”
I laugh and lean against the table. My heart’s racing in my chest, skipping a beat.
“Find anything good?” I ask him.
“Nothing really, not yet at least. Thomas needs to get lower. He’s getting rolled for no damn reason and River paid the price for it.”
I laugh at that. “I literally just told him that on my way in.”
“Atta girl. Think he’ll listen?”
“Probably needs to hear it from you but let’s see if he listens to me first.”
Dad nods and leans back in his chair. “Sweetie, when did you get so grown up?”
I smile at him and I swear I’m about to cry. I have to blink back the tears and look away.
“Oh, shit, what did I say?”
“Nothing,” I manage. A flood of emotion hits me all of a sudden.