JT’s and Brodie’s Jets team won again. They were being touted as the team to beat in the finals. The regular season was coming to a close in a few weeks—then the top teams would play for a chance to compete in the grand final and ultimately win the title of Premiers. The Grand Final Week—Mandy had been told by the other wives—was very exciting, usually involving a fanfare of events and media attention hyping up the excitement levels for players and fans alike. She wasn’t sure her nerves could cope with any of that, so just concentrated on the normal games ahead, trying to survive those first.
As the usual group of family and friends gathered outside the door to the changing rooms, Mandy absorbed her surroundings. So many fans were waiting excitedly for the chance to see their favourite players, and kids were dressed as little versions of their heroes. Men and women were dressed in the team’s colours of black and gold, wearing scarves and hats, waving flags. Reporters and photographers milled around, waiting for a comment or photo that would give them a story to print, which would justify their employment. Seeing everyone so happy now their team had won, Mandy realised what a huge responsibility the team of Jets players carried onto the field.
Chapter Eighteen
It had been a good victory.
JT sat next to Brodie, watching as his fellow teammates, team officials and staff rowdily sang the team song—a tradition after a win. People were thumping their hands on the walls or cupboards, anything to make more noise as they jubilantly celebrated the outcome. JT couldn’t help smiling at the way Riley was enthusiastically joining in, enjoying his life, deserving to after having to survive the loss of his parents while so very young.
“Love seeing the kid so happy…better feeling than the win, really,” JT spoke quietly. “You and I are lucky bastards. Great women prepared to put up with us forever, the kid over there and me with one on the way, your parents, my father, people that we can count on, not to mention some loyal friends. All of it—all this—makes a bloke feel real grateful. We’ve certainly come a long way this year, Brodes! I got a feeling that this is our year, big fella!”
“Yep, you got that right, mate.” Brodie took a long swallow of the sports drink he was holding. “Pinch myself every day at my luck in finding Cait and young Riley. Can’t imagine my life without them, now. Wouldn’t want to. Mandy’s a winner for sure, couldn’t be happier for you JT. Hope the kid takes after her, though!” He grinned. “What do you say we get cleaned up and out to our women, pronto? Don’t know ’bout you, but I need to taste some sweet lips, and real soon.”
JT couldn’t have agreed more with Brodie, so he dragged his tired, stiff and sore body up from the bench and headed for the showers.
* * * *
JT was appreciative of all the fuss being made over him and Mandy back at the after game function. Sponsors and club directors wished them well, buying champagne and insisting on toasting to them and their future. He noticed that Mandy was only having a token sip before making the champagne glass disappear, as if by magic. JT was aware that alcohol was not good for a developing baby, and was so proud of her. He knew she was going to be a wonderful mother. He was also relieved to watch as Mandy cleaned her plate at dinner, glad that her stomach must have settled down since the morning.
He really wanted to tell his father, in person, the good news that Mandy had agreed to marry him, and so had called earlier and invited his dad to come and join them at the club. He was also looking forward to breaking the good news about the baby. JT had been pondering what his father would want to be called—maybe ‘Pop’ or ‘Pa’. ‘Granddad’ sounded way too formal. The impending conversation brought a smile to his face as he imagined his father’s delight at the news.
Chapter Nineteen
Mandy noticed Jon Senior and June—her downstairs neighbour—arriving together, and elbowed Caitlin.
“Well, would you look at that, Caitlin? Did you know those two were friends?”
“No, I didn’t,” her friend replied, obviously surprised by the sight as well. “Although, now I think about it… Remember the night the boys were away, and you and Riley watched the game? June declined Riley’s invitation to join you, which was really funny—she loves watching the footy with Riles. Anyway, she said she had something else to do. That night, when I came home after work, I thought I saw JT’s dad’s car in the street. I mentioned it to Brodie, but he just said plenty of cars looked like Jon Senior’s.” Caitlin shrugged. “So I forgot all about it.”
Mandy and Caitlin decided to not mention anything about the older couple to anyone, and in the future to just be a bit more observant. The two young women giggled conspiratorially together over the whole idea.
Mandy was pleased at JT’s father’s reaction to both the engagement and pregnancy. Mandy had worried the man might think the engagement was forced as a result of the pregnancy, but he really didn’t seem to be worried at all. Mandy was reduced to tears, again, when told of the emotional history of the engagement ring she now wore, and how Jon Senior had offered the ring that had belonged to his deceased wife—JT’s mother—when told of his son’s plans. He assured Mandy he couldn’t be more pleased than to see the ring on someone as lovely as her. She was touched, lost for words as the true sentimental value of the beautiful jewellery became apparent.
June was ‘tickled pink’, as she put it, hinting unabashedly to both Caitlin and Mandy how much she loved weddings, and how she was just about to splash out and make herself two new outfits, hoping she might have some occasion to wear them. Mandy thought that June did look happy, and wondered if the weddings were the only things lifting the retiree’s spirits.
Riley spent most of the night with a young, athletic-looking girl who he introduced as Phillipa, the coach’s daughter. He explained that everyone called her Pipsqueak. It didn’t look, to Mandy, as if she actually enjoyed her nickname, though. Phillipa—whom Mandy guessed to be in her mid-teens—was quite focused on Mitch ‘Rookie’ Harris, as most of the young girls her age seemed to be.
* * * *
Mandy and JT finally managed to escape the night’s activities at around ten p.m., and headed back to the flat. JT insisted on carrying Mandy up the stairs—he reminded her that he had done the exact same thing on the first night they had made love. Mandy didn’t complain. She was tired and loved being in her man’s arms.
This time there was no special bath for JT—the couple were both emotionally and physically drained from the long and life-altering day. As they lay in each other’s arms, JT whispered to Mandy, “Happy birthday, Mags. Hope you’ve had a day to remember.”
“Oh, He-Man, the best ever. But it’s still my birthday and I want another present. It amazes me how something so hard can feel so soft to touch…” Mandy gave a sultry purr as she wrapped her palm around JT’s erection. “My favourite part is this raised bit, just here,” Mandy teased as her finger rimmed the mushroom-shaped head of JT’s penis, stopping at the slight join of flesh at the top. JT could only moan and growl in response as she wrapped her soft hand around his steel-hard cock.
Mandy lowered her head and blew gently on the enormous length that stood erect before her, then ran the tip of her tongue slowly over the same path that her finger had taken before it, loving the way JT jerked in response. She took him into her mouth slowly, pressing her lips together tightly to create just enough friction as she sucked his warm cock all the way into her mouth, until the head bumped the back of her throat.
Mandy tried to relax her throat even more, so she could take all of him, moving her mouth up and down. She grazed her teeth gently along the rigid shaft as she pumped her hand in a complementary rhythm.
She was enjoying herself, totally absorbed in her endeavours. She could feel the moisture building between her thighs and squeezed them together to try to ease the ache. Now she was so in tune with JT’s body, Mandy knew he was getting close. When he tried to pull her mouth away from his almost exploding cock, she shook her head and sucked harder.
“Woman,
I’m coming in your mouth if you don’t let go. I can’t hold on any longer,” JT groaned.
It was exactly what Mandy had intended, and as she felt the warm, salty fluid hit the back of her throat she slurped it down greedily, not wanting to waste a drop of JT’s essence. When she was certain she had milked him dry she rested her head on his thigh and looked up at him coyly, licking her lips.
“Mmmm! You taste so good,” she said.
JT was on her in seconds, caressing and stroking, pinching and tugging, making her cry out in pleasure.
JT licked and nibbled first at one nipple, then the next, bringing them both to hard protruding buds. He placed kisses over every inch of her, first light and gentle, then hard and possessive—she could feel him leaving his mark all over her body. The pain was so pleasurable that Mandy reached a climax even before JT paid any attention to her moist folds. But when he did reach that hot and swollen place…oh, how he made her explode.
The intensity of Mandy’s orgasm was so strong that she rode it for what seemed an eternity. Finally, as she shuddered, the wave nearing its completion, JT entered her. His thick cock was hard once again, filling her as her inner muscles clenched at him eagerly. The pleasure began to build again instantly as JT pumped and thrust into her. Mandy wrapped her legs around him and locked her ankles as she clung to him bonelessly, unable to do anything more than ride another tidal wave of desire to its conclusion.
Just like all the times they had made love before, Mandy was astounded at the colour explosions in her mind, never the same, but always breathtaking in their combination. Recalling the pattern of swirling shades could always give Mandy plenty of inspiration for her art and jewellery designs.
Needless to say, she would never be short of an idea!
Chapter Twenty
The last game of the season—before the finals series—was on the coming Friday night. The game was scheduled to be held in Brisbane. JT, Brodie and the Jets team were flying up on the Thursday morning to prepare for the important game. If the Jets won, they would go into the finals series in first spot, giving them an extra bonus—a week off. At this time of the year, a week off would be of great value to any team, since it there’d be time for any niggling injuries to heal. The first spot also meant two chances to reach the Grand Final. Plenty of nervous energy was flowing around the local area, with expectations high for a Jets premiership.
Mandy was overjoyed that her morning sickness had abated, often wondering why it was called that, when nausea seemed to have stricken her at various times of the day. Once, while enjoying an intimate moment with JT, with him in between her legs, his mouth doing amazing things to her little nub, she had been forced to push him away and race to the toilet, only just making it in time before emptying her stomach, which had quickly dampened any further sexual desires that night.
Mandy and Caitlin had made the decision not to travel to the Brisbane game, knowing that JT and Brodie would need to be totally focused on their jobs. Instead, both girls would remain home and go about business as usual, Mandy selling her wares at the markets during the day and Caitlin doing her usual Friday night gig at Mia’s Restaurant. Mandy and Riley would watch the game together and send updates to Caitlin. The two women put on brave, confident faces as they sent their respective men off early on Thursday morning, Riley even missed swimming squad training to say his farewells and wish Brodie and JT good luck.
* * * *
JT had rung her three times during the day of the game. He’d seemed happy, but eager to get the game underway, so they—the team—could begin to focus on the end prize. Mandy had thought that maybe he should just take one step at a time, but had kept the thought to herself. She had reminded him that she would be proudly watching the game and telling their ‘little peanut’ how well Daddy was playing, which had brought forth a gush of romantic endearments from the other end of the line before JT, reluctantly, had had to end the call.
Mandy, weary from a busy, profitable day, was glad to be home and after unpacking her van of the few remaining unsold items, she treated herself to a long soak in the bath. Relaxing and enjoying the warm water that was easing her muscles, Mandy couldn’t resist rubbing her hand over the slight rise of her abdomen, where the baby was growing. She enjoyed having one-sided conversations with her tummy, telling the growing bump how much he or she was loved and what was happening during the day. JT also spoke into her belly button quite often, adding stories of his day and future plans for his son or daughter when the baby finally arrived.
She was trying not to think about the birth too much—plenty of time to worry about that in the parenting and childbirth lessons. They had been for the first antenatal appointment. An ultrasound that showed the excited parents-to-be the first glimpse of their baby had made it all seem more real. Upon seeing what had appeared to be a big head and long body, Mandy had thought the baby had looked more like a peanut. She had proudly displayed the photo image in a frame by her bed.
Now warm after her bath, Mandy pulled on one of JT’s big sweat tops and her own new sweat bottoms, a present from JT. She had never worn this sort of clothing before, but really liked the comfy feel of the material against her skin. Wearing JT’s oversized top was also a way to feel closer to her absent man, his scent still part of the soft fabric.
Now hungry—a state Mandy was finding increasingly common these days—she thought pizza would be a nice treat for her and Riley, and her stomach growled in agreement. Mandy pulled the door to her flat closed and headed downstairs, not even bothering to make up her face. Gone were the days when she had applied layers of makeup. Mandy did not feel the need anymore for a barrier to protect herself from the world.
Riley was always interested in food of any kind, so Mandy phoned the local pizzeria and ordered a home delivery. The order—for two large, deep-dish pizzas, one ham and pineapple and the other vegetarian, plus a serving of garlic bread—was promised within thirty minutes, so thankfully for her complaining tummy, it wasn’t long before she and Riley were greedily munching away on their delicious but not-so-wholesome dinner, anxiously waiting for the telecast of the game to begin.
Riley, his mouth full of pizza, told Mandy that he’d invited June to join them but that she had been busy again, not telling him why. Mandy was worried that maybe she had pushed in on June’s territory, taking up Riley’s regular time with June, and decided she would speak to her elderly friend about it very soon.
The telecast began with a camera shot of the Jets team in the dressing shed. Mandy’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of JT wearing only a pair of the team’s shorts.
“Oh, my…” was all the reaction she could manage verbally. Her nipples responded at once, becoming hard pebbles, and poked against the fabric of JT’s shirt. Mandy couldn’t help admire JT’s amazing body, but felt a little pang of jealousy that the whole television audience had got to see him that way as well. Riley was laughing at her, asking her which shirtless chest she had been looking at—as if she’d actually noticed anyone else.
The camera shot changed to the Brisbane dressing room, and the commentators spoke of the hard game ahead. Mandy was still trying to settle her raging hormones at the sight of JT when the two teams ran down the players’ tunnel and onto the field. The game kicked off. It was a physical match, with neither team able to post any points before half-time. JT and Brodie were looking battered and weary as they left the field for the half-time break.
Mandy dutifully texted Caitlin details of the nil-all scoreboard, and that Brodie was okay. Even the always-bouncing, exuberant Riley was quiet for a change.
The second half of the game was just as tough, neither team making the most of its opportunities, or so the commentator said. Mandy didn’t really understand what that meant. She watched as JT, reaching out over the line to score a try, dropped the ball. As camera replays from every angle repeated the dropped ball, Riley wailed his disappointment, actually berating JT. Mandy was very shocked at the outburst. She felt so sorry
for JT—he had looked so dejected when the camera had showed a close-up shot of the face she had grown to love so much.
With less than five minutes to go, the Jets team were in possession of the football. JT made a barnstorming run, eating up the field. Once JT’s forward momentum was stopped he placed the ball on the ground at his feet and rolled it backwards, so the next runner could pick it up. Brodie was that player and he made as much ground, struggling against the force of his opponents as JT had before he was tackled. Brodie, jumping quickly to his feet despite the attempts by the defence to slow him down, played the ball, rolling it between his feet to the teammate standing directly behind him. The Jets were so near the try line that it looked as if JT, now standing close by, was going to be passed the ball, take another run and crash his body over the line in an attempt to score. The Jets player holding the ball pretended to pass to JT, and the Brisbane players headed en masse to stop JT, expecting him to receive the pass. They left a space, and the player still holding the footy used the distraction to dive over the try line and score.
Mandy and Riley jumped up and down and cheered loudly. The Jets now led with only minutes to go.
As Mandy and Riley sat perched on the edge of their seats, clutching each other, praying the Jets would hold on to the win, Mandy heard a crashing sound come from above. It sounded as if something had fallen in her flat. Quieting Riley, she stood, trying to listen. It sounded as though someone was in her home. Not really thinking about the possible danger of her actions, Mandy shouted to Riley as she ran out of the door, “Stay here, Riles, I’m just going to check my place is okay. I’ll be right back.”
Mandy's He-Man Page 10
