by Lauren Wood
She knew she should just stay away from Johnny, run far away and never look back. But she really did like him, there seemed to be a lot more under his public image. That was the part of Johnny she wanted to get to know.
Not for the first time she thought back to the first time they met. It had been a sorority party and he had come to their house. She had barely been downstairs, trying to avoid all the noise and drinking. But she had finally had to traipse down the stairs to get a drink.
He had run into her in the kitchen. “Hey I haven’t seen you tonight, my names Johnny.” He had smiled at her.
She had been annoyed; she had hoped to escape back upstairs quickly. “Hi I’m Carrie, nice to meet you. I have to go back and study though.”
When she had tried to leave he had stopped her for a minute. “Hey don’t go so quick! I mean I can actually understand you, you aren’t slurring every word!”
She had laughed, “That’s because I don’t drink a lot, and haven’t had any tonight. I find it messes with my ability to concentrate and learn.”
He had smiled that killer smile, the one that she saw in her dreams now. “Yeah it does do that. Don’t tell anyone, but, this is the only drink I’ve had tonight.” He had whispered to her.
Carrie had felt privileged to know something no one else did about him. “Why is that?” She had asked him, she had honestly been shocked.
“I don’t like what it does to my body. But I also don’t want to hear all that shit about being a wuss and crap like that. You know how guys get when they think you aren’t drinking enough. Do girls do the same thing?” He asked her.
“No not really. I mean they might ask you if you want something, but they’ll just roll their eyes if you say no too often!” She had laughed.
“Well that’s kind of nice. Guys go into this long spiel of how you’re not a man unless you drink so much, and yada yada yada!” He had laughed.
She had ended up talking to him for a few hours. During that time she had learned a lot about him. He was far more than what the public saw, but she would never let them know his secrets. Carrie was sure that he wasn’t a boy scout either though; he most likely was quite the ladies’ man.
Eventually that night he had been propositioned by one of who sorority sisters. Carrie had excused herself, not sure if he took up her sister on the offer or not. All the while she had wished she had been daring enough to ask him to her room.
Chapter 3
“Hey man are you going to the party tomorrow night?” Mike, another player on the team, asked Johnny.
“Yeah sure, is it the one at?” Johnny began to ask, and Mike cut him off.
“It’s the one where we always end up having tons of trim!” Mike laughed.
“Oh that cuts it down so much for Strom over there! He gets it whenever he wants, he’s the star quarterback!” Another player said from the side.
Mike and Johnny both laughed, “Yeah that’s true, but you know sometimes you have to pass a few to find the right one.” Johnny said without thinking.
“What man, are you planning on settling down? Not you, man that would be a big mistake.” Mike said.
Johnny thought about it, could he be with just one woman? “Nah, I was just joking.” Johnny said. But in his mind he could think of only one person, Carrie. That damn dream, it had messed him up.
The thing about the dream was it had seemed so damn real. He almost thought that he was there; he could feel her skin when he skimmed his fingers down it. Still if he closed his eyes right now, he could feel it.
She haunted his every thought right now, and had done so for a bit now. How, he wondered. Johnny wasn’t the type of guy who was a one woman man. He’d had all the girls he wanted since high school. All he had to do was say something, hell no that wasn’t true. So many would come up to him and hit on him, making it clear what they wanted.
He liked the fact that he hadn’t had to commit to any of them. They all knew that he wouldn’t be back after the one night, and they didn’t care. He had to admit he liked that, so why was he even thinking about one woman?
It confused him a lot. He had to shake her out of his head enough so that he could practice, and get through the game on Saturday. It was a huge game; it could put them in the Rose Bowl, the Championship Game!
Johnny wondered if he should skip the party of Friday night. She might come downstairs, like she had many times in the past. When she had shown up, each time, he had sensed her. The air around him had changed; he could simply feel her presence. He hadn’t been like that with any other woman in his life.
“Hey I may not go Friday night after all. You know that game on Saturday is really important.” Johnny told Mike.
“Oh man, at least come for an hour, you don’t have to stay late.” Mike said.
“Maybe I’ll see.” Johnny answered.
He made his way out to the field, trying to push Carrie out of his mind. He loved this game, he loved being on the field. Once the ball was in his hands, his mind clicked to the game, she was out, but he could feel her on the edges.
He was on point, the practice went great. There was electricity in the air among the players. They could all feel that impending victory that could be there’s. All they would have to do was play and work as a team, and they knew it was there!
Everything was perfect, the operated as a cog that moved in synchronicity. Johnny, the whole team, and even the coaches were excited.
Victory on the field was easy to obtain, it was off the field Johnny wasn’t sure about. Sure he could go right now and have a girl from any dorm or sorority. However, he wanted her, Carrie.
Chapter 4
“Come on Carrie, you said you would go to the party! Plus Johnny is here, I just saw him walk in.” Sally told her.
Carrie blushed bright red. She had shared her feelings about Johnny with Sally a little. But even Sally didn’t know about the dreams that Carrie had about him.
It was one of those dreams that had flashed through her head when Sally had told her Johnny was downstairs. Carrie couldn’t help but remember how erotic the dream had been.
She had never had sex before, but in the dream they had done so many things. She had no feeling what they would really feel like, but in the dream they had been amazingly wonderful.
Her body had hummed and purred in the dream. Johnny had touched her in all the right spots. She didn’t know how he had known where to touch her.
“Yeah just let me change really quickly.” Carrie answered.
“You look perfect in that dress, I already told you that. If anything will catch his attention that dress will do it.” Sally smiled at Carrie.
“I don’t know if I want his attention.” Carrie admitted shyly.
“Look I know you are a virgin, but you have to give it up one day. So why not with him, he’s so fine.” Sally said.
Carrie could see Sally almost salivating as she talked about Johnny. But once Sally had known that Carrie liked Johnny, she had tampered her pursuit of him.
“I know he’s really fine. But what if I’m really bad? What if he laughs at me?” Carrie asked. “Plus I’ve been raised that you just don’t give that to anyone. It should be someone special. I don’t think Johnny Strom is looking for that, he just wants notches on his bedpost.” Carrie stated her worst fears of hooking up with Johnny.
“Well you know they say there is one woman for one man, that they are soul mates. Maybe this is you two. I mean, every time he’s been here and you come down, he goes to you. I’ve seen him leave one of the other girls standing there and he’s gone to talk to you. She’s offering him sex, and he just leaves. That’s not normal.” Sally told Carrie.
“Maybe it’s just the pursuit though, and if I’m bad. Well he won’t want more.” Carrie looked down.
“Hey come on positive thoughts girl. Don’t always think so negatively. You’re a beautiful girl, once you dress up and take your nose out of the books. I mean any guy would be dumb to not see how hot you are
!” Sally complimented her.
“Thanks, but you’re just saying that to be nice.” Carrie didn’t think she was beautiful at all. She was kind of plain.
“Look, here in the mirror, just look at your image. Tell me you aren’t beautiful.” Sally pulled Carrie to the mirror.
Carrie looked at the girl staring back; she didn’t look like the same person. Sally had helped Carrie with her hair. The long brown hair hung freely around her shoulders. Usually she would have it up on top of her head. “Yeah well I look different, that’s for sure.” Carrie admitted.
“No you are beautiful, stop selling yourself short Carrie. Now come on it’s time to get down there to the party.” Sally pulled her out of the room.
Carrie protested along the way, until they got to the top of the steps. She looked down and found Johnny staring up at her. A slow smile spread over his face at her sight. Carrie smiled back at him and allowed herself to think positive if just for a bit.
Perhaps Sally was right, maybe Johnny felt something more for her? Maybe just maybe she could convince herself enough of this that she would sleep with him. She had to admit that she wanted to know if that dream was true or not.
Chapter 5
Johnny could feel her before he saw her. His attention was drawn to the stairs and then he saw her. He couldn’t help but smile up at her. When she smiled back it made him feel great.
“Hey, I was hoping you would come down.” Johnny came up to her.
“I agreed to come down earlier in the week. Sally wouldn’t let me out of it!” Carrie told him.
He laughed, “I wasn’t going to come at all either. But I decided to at least stop by for a bit. However, now that your down here. Well would you like to go for a walk out back in the garden?” He asked.
“Sure, but I would think you’d want to stay in here.” Carrie stated.
“No I would rather be alone with you and just talk.” Johnny admitted.
She looked at him; he could see the shock in her eyes.
“Come on let’s go. It’s so loud in here too, I can barely hear you.” He let her walk in front of him.
Carrie thought she could feel his eyes studying her body as she walked. It made her feel self-conscious, and she thought she might fall down. She hated wearing any type of heels, but tonight she had put some on, on Sally’s urging.
She stumbled slightly and felt his arms go around her to catch her. “Thanks.” She mumbled.
He didn’t want to let go of her, she felt good to touch. Johnny let go reluctantly though. “Sure, you know you could take the shoes off if you want.” He said.
“I really hate these things. I’ve never been good at walking in them, and they hurt my feet.” Carrie told him.
“Take them off; I can carry them for you.” He stated.
Carrie took off her shoes and he grabbed them. She wiggled her toes in the grass. “That’s so much better.”
“Did you grow up on a farm?” He asked her.
“Yes I did. But tell me why you would say that?” She questioned.
“Because I grew up on one too, and I love going barefoot!” He laughed.
They found a place to sit in the garden. “It’s so beautiful out here. Sometimes I’ll come out here and study, it’s so peaceful.” Carrie said.
“Yeah, but your even more beautiful.” Johnny said.
He wanted to touch her, but also to show her respect. Johnny felt awkward around her. He sighed lightly and shook his head.
“I don’t know what it is about you Carrie, but you’re different.” He said.
Chapter 6
Carrie couldn’t believe her ears when he said she was different. “What do you mean?” She asked.
He moved around nervously and finally spoke. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I dream about you, and you are on my mind all the time.”
“Okay, so I don’t know what to tell you.” She stated. “I can tell you that I’m not some easy girl though, I don’t want to be another notch on your bed post. That’s not how my mother raised me.” She said.
“No, I don’t think of you like that at all. I mean if I did, I would have already tried to talk you into going upstairs.” He told her.
Carrie studied him closely, she wondered if he was lying to her. She heard stories of how guys would tell a girl just about anything to bed them. Johnny was a real player and he would most likely always be one.
“So you’re practicing patience with me?”
“No, it’s more like I want it to be special with you.” He said slowly.
She didn’t know if she could accept this as truth or not. It all sounded too good to be true. How would Johnny Strom stop his ways? Or was he just talking about bedding her, and having all those other women too?
“I don’t know Johnny; I’m not the type of girl who wants to share with others.”
“I wasn’t asking you to do that.” He looked at her quickly.
“Then what are you asking me?”
“I don’t know.” He held her gaze. “This is new to me.”
Carrie took her bottom lip into her mouth and bit it lightly. She always did that when she was nervous and unsure. She found that most of the time around Johnny, at least right now, her lip was in her mouth.
“If you keep doing that I’m not going to hold back though, I will kiss you.” He told her.
She looked up at him, her lip still captured in her mouth. He moved closer to her and covered her mouth lightly with his. The kiss was gentle and sweet, and far too short for her liking.
She closed her eyes; she swore this was a dream. To test it out she leaned into him and placed her lips over his. He pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss.
Carrie sighed loudly at the passion she could feel in the kiss. “I don’t know if I can sleep with you though.” She pulled away from him finally.
“I’m not forcing you to sleep with me. Did I say we should go upstairs? Carrie, I’m not going to push you into anything. I’m also not going to lie to you; I wouldn’t stop if you said yes. I want you more than I have ever wanted another girl or woman in my life.” He told her.
All logical thought left her mind at the sweet words, she wanted him too. Carrie kissed him again, but in her mind she could hear the words, don’t do it.
But she couldn’t say the words; she couldn’t invite him up to her room. He didn’t push her into it either. He held her and kissed her occasionally. Carrie almost gave him when he skimmed his fingers over her nipple. She felt the nub grow hard and her body react to him more.
“I want you Carrie, but I don’t know if you are ready. It’s getting late and I have to go, we have a big game tomorrow.” Johnny said.
“What time is it?” Carrie asked.
“It’s already 2 in the morning.” He told her.
“It’s been that long; it’s only seemed like a little time.”
“I know, but we’ve been out here for a while.”
“I’m sorry you missed the party.” She said.
“No I didn’t miss anything; I had the best night ever.” He told her.
“Really, but we didn’t have sex.” She said confused.
“Carrie, darling, you don’t have to have sex to enjoy a night. You of all people should know that, you are a virgin right?” He said.
She blushed, “Well yes I am, but how did you know?”
“If you weren’t you would have been all over me in a second. But you hold your values high, and I respect that. This is why I won’t force you into it. I had fun touching you and kissing you though. I swear I want much more too.”
She smiled up at him. “I don’t know I’m scared of letting you have my heart.” She admitted to him.
“I know, trust me. I told you this was different from anything I’ve ever felt too.” He said. “Are you coming to the game?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“I’ll see you after it is over. Maybe we can go and get something to eat.” Johnny said
as he stood up.
“Sure, but don’t you usually do something as a team?”
“I’d rather spend it with you.” He pulled her to his chest and kissed her deeply once more. He let her go and she watched as he left.
Carrie wanted to all him back, tell him to come upstairs. But it was far too late, and he had to play tomorrow. She would only hurt his chances of performing on par. So she watched as he left, he turned around and blew her another kiss. “Until tomorrow, sleep tight my darling.” He said.
Chapter 7
Johnny had a really nice night with Carrie. He had wanted to take her upstairs so many times. But he had been serious when he told her he wouldn’t pressure her. He wanted this to be a mutual agreement between them.
“Hey Johnny, where have you been all night? I’ve been looking for you. Would you like to come upstairs?” Patty, one of the sorority sisters stopped him on his way out. She pushed her body up against his.
He tried to back away as quickly as he could, to put distance between them. But he heard Carrie from behind him, could feel her there.
He turned towards her to say something, but she gave him a look that said don’t bother. He watched as she ran past him and up the stairs.
Johnny turned to face Patty, “If I would have wanted to find you I would have, I’m not interested.” He said and left.
He wanted to go up and tell Carrie that he wasn’t interested in Patty. Hell there was only one person he wanted, and that was here.
It was late though, and he knew that she wouldn’t listen. He would catch up with her after the game. I hope she still comes to it, he thought.
The whole way back to his room he was mad at Patty. But in truth he knew he had also helped to create the problem. If he hadn’t been such a playboy, it wouldn’t have been expected of him. Carrie wouldn’t question his motives and she would let go of those feelings.
