by Tia Siren
''Where are you from in the States?'' Danny asked.
''New York. Have you ever been there?''
Danny looked down at his patent leather shoes and shook his head. ''No. I hope to go one day, though. Manhattan looks so unbelievable; we haven't got anything like that here.''
''Manhattan is just a jungle of concrete. There are many nice things to see in the US. We have beautiful nature.''
''I've heard of the Grand Canyon,'' Danny said.
''Do you know, I've never been there.''
''I expect one day when my career comes to and end I'll go to play in the states. I'll take you there. How about a helicopter ride?''
Amber laughed at his cheeky proposal. ''I'd love to.''
''I thought Americans were supposed to be loud and brash, but you're not. You're.....''
''What?'' she asked impatiently.
''You're refined, graceful. You're beautiful.'' Amber's faced turned fiery red. ''And you blush easily,'' he added with a grin.
Amber shuffled from one foot to the other. ''You're a very handsome man, and I'm not used to receiving such heartfelt compliments.''
''There are plenty more where that came from. I'm a cheeky Londoner; we say what we think, and I think you're as fit as hell.''
''Fit?'' she asked.
''In England, we say a girl is fit when we mean she's beautiful.''
''Oh. I thought you were referring to my athletic prowess,'' Amber said as she looked deep into his eyes. She began to play with her hair and stepped a little closer to him.
''I'm sure you're very athletic when you need to be,'' he said, pushing the conversation the direction he wanted it to go.
''Stop or you'll make me blush again.''
A bell rang, and people began to leave the reception area and head into the dining room. ''Bloody bell. I was just beginning to enjoy myself,'' Danny said. ''Oh well, I suppose I'd better go.''
''I suppose you should,'' she said equally as disappointed that the conversation was coming to an end.
''Come on Danny,'' Rod said pulling his arm.
''See you after dinner?'' Danny asked.
''I'd like that,'' Amber replied.
Dinner was a long drawn out affair. There were speeches by old players who re-lived the match all those years ago. Danny listened with interest for as long as he could, but soon his thoughts were with the leggy American. He looked for her but didn't see her. He craned his neck and looked to the back of the room. She was sitting with Josephine on the last table next to the door. She saw him looking and waved; he acknowledged her wave with a movement of his head.
''He's fit isn't he?'' Josephine said.
''Fit? Ah yes. He's very fit.''
''He likes you, I can see. Do you know how rich these young guys are?''
''No idea.''
''Two hundred and fifty grand a week, pounds not dollars. That's a million a month sterling, so in your money about one point seven million dollars a month.''
''That's ridiculous. For kicking a ball?'' Amber said in amazement.
''It's a bit obscene if you think about it. A fireman only gets twenty-five grand a year. That puts it into perspective.'' Josephine took a gulp of wine and Amber noticed she was a little drunk.
''Crazy,'' Amber said. She looked across at the back of Danny's head and smiled to herself. She liked him. She didn't know why. Was it his cheeky disposition, his stunning looks or the way he complimented her without inhibition? Maybe she was just charmed by his English accent. Whatever, I might as well enjoy it, she thought
Finally, the speeches stopped. The band leader introduced himself and his colleagues and began to play some dance music that was popular fifty years ago. A lot of older players took their wives to the dance floor and soon it was full.
Amber saw Danny deep in conversation with a Spanish looking man. She wanted him to look around at her, but he didn't. The conversation became animated, and Danny stood up and kicked his chair over. When he stormed out of the room, Amber instinctively stood up and followed him. He turned left and walked through the revolving front door onto the street. As he sucked in the night air, his face was lit up again by the photographers.
''Fuck off you ass-holes,'' he shouted. He grabbed a camera and was about to smash it on the ground.
''Danny, stop,'' Amber shouted. She ran to him and pulled him away. ''Come on. Let's walk,'' she said. Danny was breathing hard, looking for a fight, but none of the photographers were brave enough.
''Shit,'' he said as they walked away from the hotel. ''That'll be all over the tabloids tomorrow. More trouble.''
''Calm down. So what if it is in the papers tomorrow? You're Danny Constance, brilliant footballer. You're not the Prime Minister or a policeman. Everybody expects a young man like you to be a bit wild.'' She took his arm and threaded it through hers. ''Come on take me to one of your famous pubs.''
The White Horse was busy inside, but it fell silent when people saw Danny.
''Danny Constance, you are a hero, ain't he lads,'' the barman exclaimed. The pub exploded into raptures of applause and cheers. Danny turned around and smiled. ''Thanks. Thanks a lot.''
They sat in a cozy corner next to a real fire. ''People love you. I can see that. Why worry about a few stupid photographers,'' Amber said.
''I'm not worried about photographers, but I'm worried about what my manager just told me.''
Amber looked at him quizzically. ''Do you want to tell me?'' The pained expression on his face made her push her hand across the table and take his.
''I was in a nightclub a few weeks ago. Me and Rod were dancing with a load of girls. One girl pushed her breasts against my chest; I gently pushed her away from me. Now she's made a case against me for sexual assault and Miguel, our manager, has just heard the police have passed the file to the Crown Prosecution Service and recommended they take me to court.''
Amber looked horrified. ''If all you did was push her away, where is the proof?''
''Exactly,'' he said.
''Well, it hasn't got that far yet. I'm sure it won't.''
''I wouldn't be so certain,'' Danny said staring into the top of his glass.
''Come on, there are much more cheerful things to talk about than this. Tell me about where you grew up.''
Danny laughed. A young man came to the table and asked politely for his autograph. Danny obliged. ''If you think talking about my childhood is more cheerful than talking about possible prosecutions then you're mistaken.''
''Don't care, tell me anyway.''
''I was born in London, in the east end. The poor bit. My dad was a thief and spent most of my childhood in and out of prison, and my mom earned a living on her back.''
''Do you mean she was a …...?''
''Whore? Yes, I suppose she was. But she loved us; she was only trying to do the best for us.''
''Wow, that's quite some upbringing.''
''Yes and the worst is, I can't.....'' He stopped.
''Can't what?''
''It's nothing. It's okay.''
They spent the rest of the evening talking about their respective lives, deeply interested in what the other had to say. When the pub closed, they went to a fast food restaurant and ate a burger. They looked like a couple and in a state of inebriation, Amber wanted them to be. He was so handsome and sexy, and she loved his ironic sense of humor.
''Where are you staying?'' he asked.
''Josephine and I were going to take a taxi back home.''
Danny laughed. ''Maybe she won't be taking a taxi. Rod's taken a fancy to her. We're staying in the hotel, so maybe she's with him.''
''Oh. Then I guess I'll go on my own.''
Danny stopped and pulled her to him. He pushed her hair from her face and placed his arms around her. She looked up and saw his lips approach hers. The she felt him kissing her, deeply, passionately. His breath smelled of beer as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. He took the lapels of her coat and lifted her onto her tiptoes as he nuzzled his face into the w
onderful scent of her neck.
''Taxi?'' he said.
''Yes.''
Danny hailed a cab and opened the door. Amber got in first and dragged him inside. ''You're coming with me,'' she said.
When they arrived at her apartment, Danny whistled. ''Nice place.''
''Yes it belongs to a friend of my dad's. But I expect you could buy one of these every month.''
''Yes probably. But I've got other plans for my money.''
Amber kicked off her shoes and rubbed her feet. ''What things?''
''I'm building a kid’s home in my old borough.''
That was all Amber needed to hear. He was not only handsome and witty, but generous and sensitive, and now she wanted him inside her.
''I need a shower, I stink of pubs,'' she said.
''Me too,'' he said following her.
''Er.....are you coming to the shower with me?''
''Yes, might as well save on water,'' he joked.
In the bathroom, they kissed again. When Danny pulled away, he leaned against the heated towel rail watched as she undressed. The zipper on her dress got stuck, and he assisted.
''I'm a bit shy, I don't normally undress in front of strangers,'' she said, standing in bra, panties and stockings.
''Well, from where I'm standing you have nothing to be ashamed off.''
Amber kept her back turned as she rolled her stockings down. She unhooked her bra and reached for a bath towel. She wrapped it around herself like a dress, reached up inside and rather awkwardly pulled her panties down. It reminded Danny of the way his gran used to take off her swimsuit on the odd occasion she'd taken him to the beach.
''You are shy aren't you?'' he said.
In the safety of the towel, she turned around. He was already completely naked, his penis at full stretch. ''Oh, I'm used to being in changing rooms,'' he said when he saw her reaction.
''Perhaps you can teach me to be less shy?''
''Come here then,'' he said.
She stepped towards him, and he kissed her. He put his hands on the towel and gently loosened it. As it slid slowly down her back, he kissed her more deeply. She pressed herself against him so he couldn't see her breasts. He let the towel go, and it fell from her. She closed her eyes and clutched him. She felt his penis sticking between her legs.
''You are so beautiful, and your body is perfect. Let me look,'' he said. He stepped back but she followed him, and clung to him again, afraid of his gaze. ''Step away, I want to look at you,'' he commanded. ''Step away.''
She frowned and her lips rubbed together in a childish gesture. She stepped back and turned her head away from his gaze.
''The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Look at you.''
''I'd rather you didn't.''
He opened his arms, and she quickly went back to him. ''One day you won't care, you will stand in front of me naked without thinking about it.''
''So you don't just want a one-night stand,'' Amber concluded.
''No. Not with you. You're a real girl, not like all the bimbos who throw themselves at me.''
Amber pulled him into the shower and turned on the water. As it cascaded down, she put some shower gel in her hand and began to rub it over his shaft. He soaped her breasts, back and stomach. When he reached down to her womanhood, she quivered and held his arm so he couldn't move.
''Slowly, I'm really turned on.'' He nodded and put his hand between her legs with as much care as he could. As he rubbed, she put her head into his shoulder. Her breathing became deeper as his hand worked its way between her folds.
''Stop, I want to save it for bed, she said as she got dangerously close to orgasm.'' He pulled his hand away and rubbed soap over her buttocks.
''Your legs are so bruised,'' Amber observed.
''Top class football, it really hurts sometimes.''
Amber knelt in front of him and kissed the bruises one by one. It was such a tender gesture, the like of which he'd never experienced before.
''God, you're great,'' he moaned.
''Let's go to bed now,'' she said in a low voice.
They dried themselves and went into the bedroom. Amber turned the lights right down; he turned them back up again. They lay side by side, naked and wonderfully fresh.
He took a breast in his hand and rubbed his thumb over her nipple; it got harder, and he began to suck it. She gasped and thrust her hips against his. His free hand cupped a buttock and pulled her more firmly to him.
Soon he pushed her onto her back and knelt above her. She knew what he wanted, but she was suddenly shy again. She resisted his attempts to open her legs until he kissed her and whispered how beautiful she was.
Amber cried out and almost came when he put his mouth on her womanhood. She was tense, part of her wanted him to get the hell away from her because she hated the thought he might not like the scent of her, but another part of her wanted him to ravage her and make her come.
When she realized he plainly did enjoy what he found between her legs, she relaxed and let him pleasure her. Her legs fell wide open, and her hands played in his hair. He lapped at her, his tongue flicking over her clitoris, making her gasp each time.
''Come for me Amber,'' he said. ''Relax and let it go.''
She took a deep breath and let all the tension out of her body. Seconds later she came. A deep, shivering orgasm that made her eyes roll.
'Wow, that was great,'' he said enthusiastically. He came up the bed and kissed her. She tasted herself on his lips and didn't' know whether she liked it or not. ''Condom,'' he mumbled. He got up and walked to his dinner jacket. She watched as he took out the sachet, tore the top off with his teeth and pulled out the rubber. As he walked back to her, he expertly rolled it over his shaft. The skill with which he did so made Amber suspect he'd been doing it for many years, despite his young age.
When he entered her, she pushed her head back onto the pillow and wrapped her legs around his back.
''That's it, babe,'' he said. ''Now I'm gonna make you come some more.'' And he did. His thrusts were so hard; she came twice in quick succession. Each time he was fascinated by her facial expressions.
He kissed her mouth, her nose, and her forehead as he continued to thrust. He was young and super fit, his body was lean and lithe, and she stood no chance. She came again and again until she was exhausted, unable to bear another orgasm.
''Come now, come in my pussy,'' she pleaded as the next wave threatened to hit her.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on her. Not her just her body, but Amber the person. The effect she'd had on him had been overpowering. As soon as he had her whole being in his imagination, he grunted, said her name, and buried himself deep into her until there was no more to give.
*****
''Sorry Danny, I don't want to see you anymore. I'm really sorry. I know we had a great time the other evening, but I just want to leave it there,'' Amber said into the cell phone Josephine had given her.
''You're joking right?''
''No sorry, I'm not.''
''What the hell happened? I don't understand.''
''There's nothing to understand. We had a great time. Let's leave it that.''
Danny looked at his colleagues who were still on the training field. ''But I like you, more than anybody I have ever met.''
''Sorry Danny. Goodbye.''
Danny threw the phone across the car park and kicked out at the wire mesh fence that surrounded the training ground. A photographer caught it on camera. The same photographer followed Danny all afternoon and evening as he got drunker and drunker, and surrounded himself with more and more women.
Josephine looked at Amber as she put the cell phone back on her desk.
''It would have been no good Amber. He's got a court case pending, and he's a loose canon. You would have been dragged into it; your reputation would have suffered.''
Amber wiped away a tear. ''I suppose so, but I really thought I had something with him. He's different.''
''He's just a
footballer. Do you want your life all over the papers, and the life of your parents?''
''No. But you screwed Rod, so what makes you so high and mighty?''
''I didn't do anything of the kind. I fancy him, and he wanted to, but I went home. My job is worth too much. I can't go around screwing clients and neither can you.''
''Sorry. I didn't mean.....''
''It's okay,'' Josephine said. ''Come on let's go and get a latte.''
The following morning Danny was too hung over to turn up to training. He pushed the girls in his bed to one side and went to throw up in the bathroom. His phone rang, it was Miguel.
''Sorry boss, I'm ill. A touch of flu.''
''Not according to the Daily Star. You and a group of tramps are all over the back page.''
''Okay, I got pissed. Really pissed. Sorry.''
''Ten thousand fine, and get your ass here this afternoon or you're off to Spain to play football, do you understand?''
''Yes boss.''
Danny sat at the kitchen table in his three million pound London apartment and looked down the River Thames. It was raining and the clouds only just cleared Tower Bridge. The weather matched his mood. He was ashamed of his drunkenness and his womanizing, but he only had one overriding thought. He wanted her back, and he wanted her back now.
He called her, but she didn't answer. He called again just before his dressing down by Miguel, not reply. He called her afterward, no reply.
On the way home, he summoned all the self-discipline he had and drove straight past the pub.
Maybe if he explained his secret, she would understand him better. It would explain his behavior, the late night drinking, the nightclubs, the women. But could he trust her not to tell anyone? He'd lived with it for too long; it had eaten away at him for years. He felt inadequate and frightened that one day he would be the laughing stock of the country if it got out. But Amber would understand and help him; he was sure.
*****
''Danny, what the hell, it's two am,'' Amber said after she'd looked through the spy hole in her apartment door.
