Playing Again: A Quick Snap Novella

by Anna Edwards

  “Arabella, please stay,” the coach welcomes her softly. “ I'm just about to reveal Zeke’s test results. I’m not surprised you want to know my verdict, and I know it’s not just because you’re in a relationship with him—it’s because you love your job, and you’ve worked hard to get him fit. You’d be exactly the same with any other player. I know you feel self-conscious about being with Zeke, but there’s no reason for you to feel that way. Please, I do understand. I met my wife on the job.”

  Arabella turns back around and lets a happy smile break out on her face.

  “I would like to know if he’s going to make it. I really wasn’t certain when I first saw him. I wrote in my notes there’d only be about a five percent chance.” Arabella looks at me. “Sorry, Zeke, but your muscle was so tight. I didn’t think we’d ever get it loose in time.”

  “It’s okay,” I reply, laughing at the fact she’d written me off and was now admitting to it.

  Arabella comes over and stands behind me. I grab her hand, and placing it on my shoulder, she lets it rest there, her fingers interlinked with mine. We both turn our attention back to the coach.

  “As I was saying, we thought we’d be a man down for the Super Bowl, but I’m pleased to announce that Zeke passed his fitness test with flying colors.”

  I let out a deep breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, and Arabella squeezes my hand.

  I made it. I’ll be getting on the plane and playing a part in the game.

  The coach continues, “In fact, depending on how he does in the practices leading up to game day, he passed the test so well I anticipate we'll be starting with our first choice team in all positions.”

  Everyone jumps up and starts to congratulate me and Arabella. I can’t believe I’m probably going to start the game. It’s crazy. When Denton Blake went through me and tore my hamstring, I honestly thought my season was over. Now I’m not only looking at playing in the Super Bowl but actually starting the game. I might have to make a pointed tweet later to let Denton know he really is a loser and ruined his own career for no reason. I’ll have to make sure I’m subtle about it, though. I don’t want to get into trouble.

  Eventually, everyone settles down, and the coach pins the names of the others going to the Super Bowl to the board. Most of the players who are officially first choice don’t even bother looking. They wave goodbye and go off to change, so they can get home and pack for the trip. Arabella stands a little way off from me with a big smile on her face. I stride confidently over to her, and picking her up, I twirl her around before placing her gently back down in front of me.

  “You did it,” she congratulates me.

  “You helped me to do it. Your new techniques have been more effective for my body than Dr. Burrell’s. He was one of the best, but times are changing for players in the NFL. The demands on our bodies are increasing, and it’s going to take different methods to keep us in peak fitness.”

  “I have to agree there,” the coach says, appearing behind me. “The Super Bowl is going to be rough on a lot of our players, Dr. Smith. We have the on hand medical team at the game, but afterward, they’re yours to watch over. I give you full permission to do whatever is required to get me my first choice team fit in time for the start of the new season.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Arabella shakes his hand. “I really appreciate that. There does seem to be considerable issues with groin injuries among the team at the moment. I think I’ll start by working out a treatment plan for that.”

  The coach laughs. “I bet there is. You set in place whatever you think will work.”

  “I will, thank you again, Coach.” Arabella looks down at the ground and gives a nervous cough. Although she reports to the owners of the club, the coach is her boss as well. He leads the team, and she’s here to keep the players fit. “About what happened the other day with my outburst in front of some of the players, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

  The coach tilts his head back and lets out an extremely loud chuckle. “I’m sure you won’t. Please don’t worry, though. My wife and I have awful arguments at work sometimes, and I shouldn’t be telling you this, Zeke, but the showers after you and your teammates have gone are hot for making up.”

  “Oh my God, no.” I put my hands over my ears. “I don’t need to hear this. Come on, Arabella, we’re out of here.”

  I bend down and scoop Arabella into my arms and toss her over my shoulder like she’s weightless.

  “Zeke, put me down, you might hurt yourself.”

  “Nope, I’m fine. You’ve returned me to peak physical health.” I smack her backside as she starts to struggle, and several of the players nearby shout and jeer. “Have you finished work for the day? I need to pack, and then I plan on fucking you senseless. It’ll be the last time until the Super Bowl is over, and I’m going to miss you.”

  “No, I still have clients and don’t talk about fucking me in front of your teammates,” Arabella scolds.

  “Too late.” I smack her backside again before turning around. “Coach,” I call out, and he nods his head to indicate he’s listening, “Arabella is taking the rest of the day off. Is that okay?”

  He winks at me. “Just don’t pull any muscles.”

  “Zeke, put me down,” Arabella insists. “I can’t just walk out of work.”

  I ignore her protests. All I can think about is getting her in my bed and making love to her until the sun comes up. My life couldn’t be any better right now, and it’s all because the woman I gave my heart to in high school has come back into my life. She’s restored me to full health and given me her heart in return for mine. Scoring the winning touchdown on Sunday would be the icing on the cake, and the way things are going at the moment, I wouldn’t bet against me doing just that.

  Chapter 9

  Arabella

  I can’t stop looking down at the lanyard and name holder hanging around my neck. It doesn’t seem real. It’s stupid because as the team doctor, I can easily get a pass that would allow me to be down on the field side if I wanted. I’d be even closer to the game than this pass allows me, but this one is special. It means something more because I’m not here today as a Seattle employee—no, I’m here as Zeke Humphreys’ girlfriend. The pass allows me, along with the other wives and girlfriends, into the players’ box.

  Zeke doesn’t know I’m here. Will and his girlfriend, Meg, arranged it for me. I told him I had to work and couldn’t get away, but apparently, Zeke was missing me, so when the other wives and girlfriends flew out yesterday, I joined them on the plane. Last night, we went out for a meal together, and this morning, we had a mini spa session.

  We haven’t been able to see the players as they’ve been tucked away, preparing for the game. However, I have spent a lot of time with Meg. She’s adorable, and I’m sure we’ll be firm friends for many years to come. We both have the same sense of humor and no nonsense attitude when it comes to our rich, football-star lovers. She’s also got a killer voice when she sings. I definitely don’t have that, though. I sound like I’m strangling a cat.

  “This way, Bella,” Meg calls out to me as we make our way into the players’ box.

  As the quarterback’s girlfriend, Meg gets pride of place, but she taps the seat next to her, inviting me to sit. I show my lanyard to the security guard who ushers me through, and I make my way over to her.

  The noise around us is crazy. This is the biggest sporting event of the season, and the sounds of screams and singing are deafening. I’m really looking forward to the halftime show. Last year, with J Lo and Shakira, it was absolutely amazing and showed girl power at its finest. I expect this year will be just as exhilarating to watch.

  “I feel sick with nerves,” Meg waves her hands in front of her face.

  “No hot dogs for you then.” I laugh at her.

  “No chance, I’m having all the hot dogs that come this way. The only time I get to eat a decent one is when I’m at a game. Oh look, they’re coming out.” Meg swats me
excitedly on the arm, and I try not to react in pain at the powerful hit she has.

  I’ve never seen Zeke in his full uniform. He doesn’t have his helmet on his head yet, but he’s carrying it at his side. His tight game pants show off the muscles in his thighs, and the bulge at the top has my mouth watering, especially knowing what’s beneath.

  “Fuck me, he’s hot!” I exclaim before realizing what I’m saying.

  “Exactly my words when I saw Will for the first time at a game, and they don’t get any less hot, even if it’s the hundredth time you’ve seen them wearing it. We’ve brought his uniform into the bedroom a good few times. Will loves me wearing his shirt too.”

  I feel my panties warming with excitement, thinking of how excited Zeke would be if I wore his shirt. Damn, he’d ravish me and make me come so many times I wouldn’t be walking for the next year at least.

  “I had those same thoughts as well, Miss Hot and Flustered,” Meg continues to taunt me.

  It’s my turn to wave my hands in front of my face, not because I feel sick with nerves but because I’m about to have an orgasm in the middle of the players’ box, and Zeke hasn’t even touched me. Damn, he’s good! I reach out to one of the young boys walking past, offering us bottles of water. He hands me one, and gulping the contents down, I finally begin to feel cooler.

  We take our seats just as Will leads the team out for the national anthem. Zeke hasn’t looked up at the players’ box yet, so he still doesn’t know I’m here. As Will and Zeke take their places in the line-up, Will flicks his head up toward where Meg and I are standing. Zeke looks at him confused before following his captain’s line of sight until he’s looking directly at us.

  His eyes go wide when he sees me waving, and I mouth I love you to him. He mouths it back before placing his hand on his heart and singing the national anthem out loud. He doesn’t take his eyes off me throughout, and he has the biggest smile on his face.

  I was worried about his reaction to me being here. It’s not part of his routine, and it’s such a big game I didn’t want to throw him off, but he looks genuinely excited to see me. When the national anthem is over, the players take their starting positions, and Meg and I hold on tightly to each other’s hands as they kick off.

  The next few hours pass in a blur of singing and screaming. I shout so much my throat is red raw. The half time show is as amazing as I expected, and I’m finally beginning to, sort of, understand the game. Well, that’s what I think when close to full time, Will catches the ball in the down and throws it to Zeke who takes it clean. He races for the end zone like he’s been at full fitness for months rather than walking on crutches a few short weeks ago.

  I burst into tears when he scores the winning touchdown in the game, and all the assembled Seattle fans go completely crazy around us. Meg and I hug each other and jump up and down screaming. I hug all the other players’ wives and girlfriends, and we all sob happily together as our men step forward to collect the trophy.

  This has been the most magical experience of my life, and I plan to attend every single one of Zeke’s games in the future as his partner, supporting him from the players’ box.

  Once the players have completed numerous victory laps to show off the trophy, and the crowds have started to disperse, I head back into the hospitality suite with the other players’ partners to wait for our loved ones to return. Meg hands me a glass of champagne, and together, we toast our men.

  “So, how was it?” she questions.

  I’d told her earlier this was my first time at an NFL game.

  “I adored every moment of it,” I reply, holding back my tears of happiness. “As a newly converted fan of football, it was an exhilarating introduction to the game. The doctor side of me is always present, though. I saw a lot of potential new regimens I can introduce to help the players make it back here again next year.”

  “Even better.”

  Meg toasts my professional nerd side, just as a commotion at the main door to the suite draws our attention to the arrival of the players. Will walks in first with the trophy in his hands. The players are now dressed in tailored suits. Zeke’s behind him with the biggest smile on his face and holding the MVP trophy. I stand tall with everyone else, and curbing the overwhelming urge I have to run to him, I clap loudly instead, applauding their triumph. Zeke makes a direct beeline for me, and Will does the same to Meg, pulling her away to pretty much devour her in the middle of the posh conference suite.

  “Surprise!” I exclaim.

  I do a little pretend curtsy to Zeke, suddenly feeling a bit nervous at being here when he didn’t know I was going to be. He doesn’t move at first, just stands there staring at me. Eventually, he opens his mouth and slowly licks his lips like he’s thinking how he can conquer the prey in front of him. I immediately get all hot and bothered again.

  “Did Will and Meg arrange it?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “Best quarterback ever,” Zeke declares before he slams his body into mine, and the kiss he gives me makes Meg and Will’s look like a chaste peck on the cheek. He pushes me against the wall behind us and whispers, “Need you now.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t fuck me in front of the entire Seattle squad and their partners. There are some prominent people in this room as well.”

  “Can’t wait,” Zeke responds breathlessly. “Have to be inside you.”

  He grabs my hand and storms off with me running behind him in my high heels. He’s like a caveman possessed.

  “Going back to the hotel,” Zeke informs Will as he rushes past him, and Meg grins at me.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be joining you very soon. It’s been far too long since I last saw Meg.” Will winks, and Meg’s cheeks turn bright red.

  Zeke continues his path out of the stadium and into a waiting taxi. I just follow along. I’m not going to argue with this man at the moment. He’s just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl and has the MVP Trophy. He can do whatever the hell he wants to me—he’s that much of a winner. Plus, the caveman act is hot, and it’s leaving my panties soaked.

  When we get to the hotel, everyone gets out of our way as we head to the room where Zeke’s been staying. Meg arranged for all my belongings to be sent with hers to the hotel earlier, so I don’t have to worry about collecting anything, which is good because otherwise I’d probably be doing a walk of shame in ripped clothing later.

  As soon as the door to the hotel room is shut, Zeke pushes me hard against the wall. He devours my mouth in an urgency so fierce it’s like he’s dying, and I’m the only one who can save him. His hands roam over me, his warm touch exciting me as he strips my clothes roughly from my body. I’m wearing a blouse, and the buttons don’t unfasten quickly enough for him, so he rips it from me.

  “Fuck! So beautiful. I love you, Arabella. I’ve never felt this urgent need to be with someone. It’s like my skin is burning alive. I can’t get inside you quick enough. I’ve just played a hard game, and I should be exhausted. I don’t understand it.”

  “It’s raw passion. Our love is so intense.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I’d have been taking a plane back to Seattle right now if you weren’t.”

  I place my hand on his heart. “I’m always here.”

  Pushing Zeke away from me, I walk over to the desk at the side of the room and hitch the skirt up I’m still wearing. I lower my panties down my legs before bending over the desk and presenting my backside to him.

  “I’m ready for you, Zeke. I’ve been wet since the moment I first saw you run out onto the field. Take what you need from me. I’m all yours, forever.”

  Zeke doesn’t move for a minute. He just looks at me as if he’s trying to figure out what to do next. Eventually, he steps forward, and when he reaches me, he lowers his suit pants and underwear to the floor. His rock-hard dick springs from its hiding place, and I gaze at it over my shoulder. It’s my turn to lick my lips.

  “Are you sure about this? I don’t th
ink I can be gentle.”

  “Zeke, I’m all yours. I wouldn’t be offering myself to you like this if I didn’t want you as much as you do me.” I wiggle my backside at him and press my top half firmly against the desk, giving myself a little stability for what is about to come.

  Zeke strokes his fingers up my pussy, testing to see if I am indeed ready for him. I know I’m drenched there—I want him so desperately. In the next second, I feel the blunt tip of his hard cock at my entrance. He slides effortlessly inside me and then pulls straight back out before repeating the actions again and again. He grips hard to my ass cheeks and finds a steady rhythm that has him rutting hard into me on the desk. I’ve been so on edge since the moment I saw him that I feel every movement he makes against my heated and sensitive flesh.

  “Touch yourself, Arabella, make yourself come. I want to feel it around my dick.”

  I reach down between my thighs and rub my already throbbing clit. It doesn’t take long before I’m doing just as Zeke asked. My body ignites in a torrent of pleasure, wave after wave slamming into me and leaving me breathless. Zeke buries himself to the hilt and roars his own release, coating my insides with his much-needed orgasm.

  “Fuck.” He collapses over me on the desk.

  It’s not a totally comfortable position, but at the moment, neither of us can move. We need to catch our breath. A vision of Zeke in his uniform flashes in my head. I purr and let out a little hum of satisfaction at the thought.

  Zeke withdraws from inside me, and as he pulls away, he gives my ass a little slap before kicking his pants off and scooping me into his arms.

  “You're going to tell me what was going through your head just then, when you hummed?”

  “Just hoping you’ve got a spare uniform in the room. I wouldn’t mind a bit of role-play.”