by Abbi Hemp
“Now!”
“This is my apartment too,” Tabby said drunkenly. “You can’t do this shit to me.”
“I’m not going to tell you guys again.”
The others stumbled to their feet, looking back and forth between Tabby and me. She defiantly took another drink. Her friends turned to me.
“I’m calling the landlord. You know there’s no partying allowed here.”
“This isn’t a party,” Tabby whined. “You’re such a stuck-up bitch.”
Some guy in a green turtleneck sweater laughed. I shot him a look that sent him scurrying to the door. Tabby walked over to me.
I smelled marijuana, clove cigarettes, and cheap wine coming off her clothes and out of her mouth. As she stared into my eyes in a threatening manner, I decided to move out the next morning, no matter what it took.
“Let’s go guys. We’ll party on campus. My roommate’s being a bitch.”
She broke eye contact with me and stumbled toward the door. The others followed. When they were all finally outside, I twisted the latch.
I hoped she wouldn’t come back, at least not that night. As I surveyed the damage they’d done to the apartment, I took a deep breath.
I’ll take care of it in the morning.
While tempting, it was still early, and I wouldn’t be able to study with the living room still trashed. I walked over to my recliner and saw someone had spilled wine on it.
“Shit!” I screamed.
A guy who had been laying behind it, out of view, sat up and glanced around with a look of confusion on his face.
“Who the hell are you?” I asked.
“Oh, hey. I’m Timbo. Where’s Tabby at?”
“Get out of my apartment! Now!”
He grabbed the arm of the recliner and got to his feet. I stood a few feet away, hands angrily crossed over my chest. I watched as he left.
After locking the door behind him, I made a sweep of the house, looking for any other stragglers. Even though I hadn’t found anyone, I still got even angrier.
She’s nuts. I’m out of here tomorrow no matter what.
I left the mess for her to clean up and retreated to my room. Studying was the last thing I wanted to be doing, but I had to keep my grades up.
To pay for my own room, I might have to work extra hours, which would mean less time for studying in the future. Better to be ahead, I reasoned.
Did James worry about the same things as me? Or had life always handed him everything he wanted on a silver platter? The way he acted sometimes, I wondered.
I pushed him out of my thoughts and hit the books hard, fast, and without protection. Later that evening, as I laid in bed, I imagined what it would be like to have James as a husband.
Would being the wife of a sports star make my own dreams less relevant? Couldn’t he play professional football while I studied to get my advanced Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
Reality, thankfully, slipped away and dreams entertained and enlightened me the rest of the night. In them, James played a huge role, the hero and the villain at the same time.
* * *
I woke the next morning to the sound of someone banging on the door. If that’s Tabby, I’m going to kill her, I thought as I threw back my covers.
They banged again, more insistently.
“I’m coming!” I yelled, never a morning person.
When I flung the door open, ready to yell at my so-called roommate, I froze at the sight of a campus cop.
“You Haley Harrison?” he asked, pen poised above a pad of paper.
“Um, yeah. Why?”
“Where were you two nights ago?”
“I’m no law major, but if I’m not under arrest, I don’t think you have a right to ask me that question.”
He scribbled something onto the paper.
“Look, miss. You’re possibly in a lot of trouble.”
“Possibly?”
“Your friend Tabby really hurt someone the other night. She’s saying you were there with her and that it was your idea to attack the woman.”
“Attack who?” I asked, utterly confused.
“Where were you two nights ago?”
“It’s none of your business.”
If word got out that James and I were in a relationship, his coach might get upset and fuck with his time on the field or something else. His scholarship depended on him playing, and I certainly didn’t want him to lose any help he might get for going pro after he graduated.
“You’re going to have to come with me down to the station.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll be calling my attorney.”
“It’s certainly your right.”
“Can I get dressed, at least?”
“I’ll have to come in.”
I sighed.
“This is nuts. I’m getting ready to move out on Tabby because she’s been lying about a lot of things.” He stared at me, not looking convinced. “She’s probably lying about this.”
“If you gave me an alibi, it would help.”
“I’m not telling you anything.”
“Very well. We’re going to the station then.”
“Fine.”
“Exactly.”
“Perfect.”
Hah! I got the last word.
I spun around and went inside. He followed after me, waiting in the living room as I went to get out of my pajamas and into something a little more suitable for police questioning. Were they even real police? I wasn’t sure. And an attorney! I did not have one on speed dial.
Tabby is so going to pay for this.
THIRTY-ONE
James
I stared down at my phone. She’s not answering my calls or texts again? Playing games with me? After we had opened up to each other? Or is something wrong?
Teddy walked in the kitchen as I leaned against the counter in front of the sink.
“Hey, glad I caught you.”
“What’s up?”
“Have you heard about Haley?”
I stood up straight.
“Did something happen?”
“All I’ve heard in the newsroom is that she’s in trouble for attacking some woman with Tabby two nights ago.”
“That makes no sense,” I said, shaking my head. “She was with me that night.”
“From what a reporter told me, she’s not saying anything to them, which is pissing the cops off even more. I think she’s protecting you, man. Didn’t you say your coach saw you two together at Papa Jack’s and you lied to him about her?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But how would he find out if she tells them she was with me.”
“Fucking journalists, man. We’ll do anything to get clicks these days, even something like who a big star like you is dating.”
“That’s messed up, bro.”
“Tell me about it. I’m seriously thinking about switching majors.”
“Why would she not tell them?”
“She’s protecting you, man. That’s damn rare.”
“Yeah,” I said absent-mindedly. “Thanks for watching out.”
“No problem. I’ll see you back at the house.”
I nodded my head.
“Catch you later, bro.”
After he left the kitchen, I walked to the stadium for evening practice.
While I hoped she was okay, I couldn’t be late again or Coach would go nuts. The closer I got to graduating and going pro, the tougher he’d gotten with me. If I had problems handling what he gave me, though, I’d never make it in the pros.
As I walked across campus toward the stadium, I hoped Haley would be okay. Would she understand my future career was at stake? Did football mean more to me than love? The questions haunted me the entire way.
* * *
At practice, I found it difficult to concentrate. Was Haley okay? Should I do something to help her? I hated not being able to go until I finished with football for the day.
Coach noticed my sub-par performan
ce and called me over as the other guys headed back to the locker room. I walked over to him, ready to just get it over with.
“What’s going on with you today?” he barked as I approached.
I shrugged my shoulder.
“Are you messing around with a woman?”
“No, Coach,” I lied.
“You’re free to date a woman, but if you do, I’m not going to be able to help you make it all the way to the pros.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Look at me!” he snarled.
I lifted my head and looked him directly in the eyes.
“If you’re not dedicating yourself one-hundred percent to football, I can’t help you.”
“I’m all in, Coach.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Coach.”
“Go get cleaned up. I better not hear any more stories about you getting in trouble or carrying on around campus.”
I nodded seriously then turned and ran to catch up with the others. None of them said a damn word when I walked in the locker room, not even Curtis.
“Hey, fellas. Good practice out there.”
“No shit,” Thompson, a rookie, said.
“What did you say?” I asked, turning to him.
I forgot sometimes everyone below me on the totem pole wanted to climb their way to the top and replace me. My problems gave them cause to celebrate.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
“Fucking right you said nothing.”
My anger built up even more as I walked to my locker and began undressing. I did it as quickly as possible, determined to find out exactly what had happened to Haley.
I sent her a text before jumping in the shower. When I got out, she had replied, telling me she was home and safe but not to come over. Try and stop me, I thought.
After getting dressed, I headed out of the locker room and trekked across campus on foot toward her apartment. I took the path where I’d met her that first night.
Memories of all the sexual encounters and time spent together came rushing back to me as I increased my pace, anxious to see her again. Why hadn’t she used me as an alibi?
Only she had the answer to that question, and I would get her to tell me. Why did love have to be so fucking complicated? Was it even worth all the headaches?
I thought Haley was worth it in so many ways. If she felt the same about me, we might have a chance of a bright future together. I believed love would find a way.
THIRTY-TWO
James
When I reached her apartment, I stopped on the front porch and knocked loudly. The door opened slightly, and I saw her beautiful face.
“What are you doing here?” She glanced around. “You shouldn’t be here. Come inside.”
“I heard Tabby is trying to get you in trouble,” I said as I walked in.
“Yeah, but I don’t want it to get out that we’re together because your coach would be mad. I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry about it? How can you say that?”
“Because I love you, James, and I want the best for you.”
“Love means we work together. Always.”
I put a hand on her waist as I stared into her eyes. She frowned.
“Well, we can’t this time. Your dream of making the pros is important to me now too.”
“What about you? Your dream is important too.”
“I have time and a few different paths I can take. It’s different.”
“This isn’t right,” I said.
“It’s not, but we have to do what we have to do, you know?”
She stood on her toes and kissed me, making all my problems melt away. I loved the way she made me feel when her body was pressed against mine.
“We can have one big night of passion before breaking it off the rest of the semester,” she said.
“I don’t want to break it off…”
Her kiss silenced me. I reached down and picked her up. Carrying her in my arms, I walked to her bedroom, opening the door with my foot.
She clung to me, nibbling at my ear as I crossed her room to the bed. I kissed her neck a moment before setting her down on the mattress.
The sight of her looking up at me stirred the beast between my legs. One more night wouldn’t be nearly enough. I was ready to give up going pro to be with her.
As I took off my clothes, she stood up and did the same. We had seen each other’s bodies many times before, but I still got aroused at her naked flesh.
I bent and kissed one of her dark nipples, loving the way it hardened between my lips. After our acrobatic the last time, we took it more careful.
Even the basic positions were extraordinary with her. She made me feel like no other woman had been able to over the years. We were meant for each other.
She ran her fingers through my hair as I kissed lower, getting on my knees in front of her. I wanted to worship every single inch of her body.
Her moans let me know she appreciated the attention as I kissed her stomach then moved lower. Grabbing that ass, I buried my face between her legs.
As I licked and kissed, she spread her legs a bit, giving me easier access. While I made love to her pussy with my mouth, I stroked my cock. Fuck! Condoms!
Should I tell her or just keep going? Surely she’s going to notice.
My mind went over every possibility as I traced the alphabet with my tongue, making her moan even louder. I’ll get her off and then leave. Yeah, that’s doable.
“Fuck me, baby,” she said, stepping back.
I stared up at her, my hard cock in my right hand.
“Let me finish,” I said, breathing heavy.
“I want you inside me.”
After a deep sigh, I said, “I forgot a condom.”
“Oh no…”
“Yeah. Let me finish.” I licked her slit from bottom to top. “You taste so good.”
“Don’t stop,” she begged.
I did not stop, but I slowed down, etching every inch of her flesh into my mind. If we had to be away from each other for even a few weeks, I wanted to remember her.
After a few licks, I stopped and laid down on my back.
“Come here,” I said, motioning with my hand. “Sit on my face.”
“I’m not sure…”
“It’s my fantasy.”
Her eyes widened.
“Okay…Sixty-nine?”
“No. This is sixty-eight, all about you.”
She smiled as she kneeled on the carpet. A moment later, she had straddled my chest. I grabbed her ass and pulled her forward.
The most amazing pussy in the world inched closer to my face. I still had her taste in my mouth, but I wanted more, so much more.
Her thighs were pressed against my face. She stared down at me, a look of anticipation on her face. I loved when a woman rode my mouth, using me.
“Oh, James…”
I licked her tender, pink flesh again, loving the sounds she made. Moans fell from her mouth to my ears as I grabbed her ass and rocked her body forward and backward.
She got into it after a few seconds, grinding her wet pussy against my face. I stuck my tongue out as far as possible, and she rubbed herself against it like it was a mini-dick.
As I made her moan even louder, I continued stroking my cock. While I wanted to be inside her so bad, a child would change both of our lives, and not necessarily for the better.
“I can’t do it,” she said, breathing hard and heavy.
She moved down my body. I stared up and into her eyes.
“I have to have you inside me.”
“Are you sure?”
Without another word, my dick slid into her pussy as she continued moving backward. Once it was all the way in, she began riding me, moving it in and out.
All the while, she stared into my eyes. The room spun and the world disappeared as I began to see glimpses of her soul. I loved who I saw looking back at me.
My hard, throbbing cock
slid in and out of her tight hole as our bodies synched up. When she came down, I thrust upward, even deeper into her warm, wet folds.
“James,” she moaned.
“Yes, baby…”
I slid my hands up the front of her body, squeezing her breasts as the friction of my skin sliding into hers built up to intolerable levels of immense pleasure.
“James…”
“Haley…”
Neither of us needed words to understand how the other felt in that particular moment of space and time. Her mind fell into mine, melded together with it.
We were separate but together, two but one. She leaned forward, palms on my chest to hold herself up as she continued grinding relentlessly. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I found it hard to formulate any type of rational thought. Part of me understood fucking her without a condom was dangerous, but in the heat of the moment, I didn’t care.
As I got closer to coming, I sped up my thrusts. Nothing mattered but achieving an orgasm, shooting my hot, thick seed deep inside her and making a fucking baby.
The look on her face told me she was close too. We were still staring into each other’s eyes, knowing somehow we had won the ultimate prize. I’m so close. This is it!
Both of us flinched as someone pounded on her front door.
“Who the hell is that?” she asked, crawling off me.
“I have no idea,” I said then stood up, my still hard cock bobbing up and down. “Let’s go fine out.”
We both threw on our clothes. Stuffing my hard cock into my underwear and then pants was not fun and took me a bit longer.
“Go on,” I said. “I’ll be there in a moment.”
She flung open the door of her bedroom and rushed out. I gave up wrestling my cock and shut the door before sitting on the edge of her bed to wait for her.
THIRTY-THREE
Haley
When I got to my front door, I opened it with one hand while holding my robe closed with the other. A skinny man with a Mohawk wearing a pink shirt stood on the porch surrounded by two other men and two women. I didn’t recognize any of them.
