by Cherry Kay
“How often do you have nightmares?”
“At least three times a month. Which is pretty okay, compared to before. I couldn’t sleep. So what I’d do, during high school – was study until I fell asleep.”
“Ah, that’s some level-up right there,” he joked.
She smiled, happy to know what level-up was. “I was pretty academically inclined back then,” she said, fiddling with the pendant hanging on her chest.
“So that,” Shaun began hesitantly, “Is that why the pendant is important to you?”
She looked down and nodded, holding the fused rings in her palm. “It was mom and dad’s wedding rings.”
Shaun took a deep breath, remembering how she almost killed herself for it.
“I’d do the same,” he told her, “I’d have run out to grab that before it got lost or something.”
She smiled, “You saved me. Why?”
“Because you were too pretty to die,” he replied.
She gave a muffled laugh. “How nice to know.”
“I just wanted to know you better. And it was a good thing I sort of stalked you. I still wanted to ask you out for a date that night,” he grinned. He looked at his watch. “You need sleep and so do I.”
She nodded, secretly disappointed that he was going home. It was almost two in the morning. She stood up and walked with him to the door.
“I’m sorry I got drunk tonight,” she said.
“It wasn’t bad at all,” he replied, “you’re a good drunk.” And he laughed.
She liked hearing him laugh. The corners of his eyes crinkled and his loud laughter was comforting. She looked at his eyes. “Thank you. For staying here with me.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m serious. I have a reputation to uphold.”
She laughed and he did too. Then he suddenly stopped and kissed her. Her eyes widened and then they closed, feeling his moist lips on hers. One hand cupped her face, and they were kissing eagerly now, her fisted hands against his chest. She didn’t pull away.
He pulled her closer to him, loving the taste of her warm mouth. It was delicious and exciting. He wanted more of her. He didn’t care how. His hands began to roam all over her body, feeling every curve. His fingers traced her collarbone and it went further down to her cleavage… he stopped and pulled away, feeling his temperature increase.
“I- have to go,” he said awkwardly, rubbing his neck without knowing. He smiled sheepishly as she nodded, breathless from that kiss.
“Yeah, uhm, yeah.”
“Good night, Alexis.”
“Good night, Shaun.”
Alexis locked the door and stood with her back against it. She smiled to herself. It was a wonderful feeling to be wanted, wasn’t it?
*
The rest of the days went smoothly. They saw each other more often. After work and after his practice. He had heard from colleagues and teammates that the last practice had scions from the big league. They had seen him play from afar and wanted him. There were two teams fighting for him now.
He was on his way to getting what he wanted. It was what he wanted first and foremost. But, as he stood in the shower, his thoughts kept coming back to Alexis and the idea of kissing her and kissing her some more didn’t leave him at all. He smiled to himself.
Sure, he was softening up, he knew this. But it was good. It made him think better. It made him play well. Perhaps it was her personality that had begun rubbing off on him. The go-getter and tactful, smart Alexis Matthews. The niece of Dan, his treasured coach. He hadn’t even told Dennis about the progress lately, wanting to keep it all to himself.
She was the reason he was playing well, he realized, smiling again to himself.
He turned off the shower and changed along with the rest of his teammates. Michael was noticeably silent. Perhaps word had gotten to him that he had gone well with the bet. Too bad, Alvaro.
Get the game and maybe get the girl, well, whichever girl. He felt this was what he was born for. He read a message from her, saying she’d wanted pizza night.
Pizza night and a movie. At my house. With TV.
So thirty minutes later, with a piping hot pizza box in his car, he made his way to the café. She got out in three minutes and slid into the car.
“Hello,” she said with a smile.
He leaned over to her.
“What?”
“My kiss.”
“We aren’t a couple,” she laughed.
“Says who?”
“Well no one, that’s why!”
He grinned. “I guess I wasn’t being persuasive enough, huh?”
She rolled her eyes but smiled. Thirty minutes later, they parked near rows of low-rise brick apartments. It was a quaint neighborhood. There were trees and hedges interspersed between buildings.
They walked up three steps and he opened the door to his apartment.
“You have a pretty nice place,” she said as she got in. She hadn’t expected him to be a neat freak. She’d expected sloppy and in dire need of general cleaning. It was a modern man-cave of sorts, there was a fifty-five inch TV and most of the items in the apartment were either grey or black.
“I do my best to keep it clean. Military style,” he replied.
“So, tonight, action or fantasy? Drama or... no romance please.”
“I’m not a sucker for romance,” Alexis said.
He shrugged. Well, that was interesting. No wonder she wasn’t the showy type. “Have you ever seen Big Bang Theory?”
“I missed out on season seven,” Alexis said.
“Score!” Shaun said with relish, “I didn’t know you liked it. Great, we can marathon that, well only until ten or something.”
She laughed. “Alright.”
They enjoyed their large pizza with extra cheese, drinking orange juice along with it. No beer since tryouts were coming up, he told her. She didn’t care. She disliked beer anyway. They were both seated comfortably, her legs wrapped under her skirt. His legs were propped against the short table, far away from the pizza box, of course.
They had been laughing nonstop for the duration of the episode’s run, when she moved her legs to get some blood circulating and he tried to grab a pillow beside her.
He took a breath, brushing against her thigh accidentally. “Uh, sorry,” he said, unable to look at her.
Suddenly the mood in the room changed. They still laughed but not too loudly now. It was as if both were conscious now. Shaun did his best to quash other thoughts from forming, but it didn’t help that Raj had gotten to sleep with Emily.
He could feel discomfort in his groin, discomfort that might show how juvenile he was. He shifted his legs.
“Are you okay?" She asked in a quiet voice.
“Just – yeah, I’m good.”
“You aren’t,” she said with smile.
This irritated Shaun. He had been dreaming of ravaging her for too long. For two months, to be exact. “Well, what would you know?” he said sullenly.
“Excuse me Mr. Mood swing,” Alexis retorted.
“Well, excuse this,” he muttered, suddenly grabbing hold of her and kissing her lips. He tasted orange juice and enjoyed it all the same.
She didn’t push him back. Instead her tongue met with his. Their soft kisses grew fervent. Her initial hesitation was fading away. Shaun felt the warmth spread on her face and he could feel his heat rise, too. His hands moved slowly down her neck. Alexis’ breathing grew ragged and her breasts heaved against her button down blouse. He slowly unbuttoned it and she gave no hint whatsoever for him to stop.
One hand made its way to her breast and he held onto it, clutching it gently. She let out a moan. She had never been touched like this. Her top had now been completely unbuttoned and her bra had slipped down and she hadn’t even noticed all the movement. She found her hands trailing on his chest. She slipped a hand inside his shirt and she felt his muscles and the way they rippled under her fingers.
>
She found herself lying down on the couch as he licked her neck, all the way down to her clavicle and then he licked a nipple. She gasped as her legs rubbed against his pants. He took a deep breath, enjoying the sensation of her legs rubbing against his own. He continued to fondle with her breast as he kissed her, open-mouthed and hot kisses they both wanted.
He then suckled both breasts and Alexis writhed beneath him, enjoying the sensation. He tossed her blouse and bra away and he began to unzip her skirt. He licked the underside of her breast and he began to trail down slowly. The anticipation sent Alexis moaning louder. He held her down as she writhed some more.
With a glint in his eye, he began to play with the folds of her sex. She bit her lower lip, trying to control the growing ecstasy she was feeling. He slowly began to separate them; feeling the glorious wetness and heat in between. She was as horny as he was. It made him smile in triumph and he enjoyed making her squirm underneath him. His lips roamed down from her breast, going further down. Alexis panted as he played with her some more.
Alexis panted as he played with her. She held onto the fabric of the couch, wanting more. His tongue was brushing against the folds he had been playing with. She let out another soft moan, gripping the couch tighter. He kept teasing her, licking and sucking and then sucking and licking.
Her panting was now getting louder. She was wet, wet with anticipation, wet for him. She whimpered, the most sensual whimper he had ever heard- and he lost it. He wanted her to scream, scream out in pleasure. His mouth crushed full lips and he stifled her moan. Her hands skimmed on his chest and all the way to his groin. Shaun kicked off his pants with a grunt. Good thing they were drawstring pants.
He had to do this now, he was screaming to himself. He wanted her, damn, he wanted her so much he could die for it. Sweat was forming on his forehead and nape, and the room had suddenly become a sauna. She was touching him and writhing beneath him- it was an invitation only for his satisfaction and he would take advantage of it. And as she was trailing her hands further down, he stopped her and pinned her arms above her head with ease.
In a single second, as their eyes locked onto each other, he thrust himself into her. He couldn’t help but moan himself, as he enjoyed the wetness and tightness, and delicious warmth that enveloped him. He thrust again and again, and looking at her face in the throes of passion nearly drove him insane. Alexis was rocking her hips back and forth, creating friction that had become unbearably sweet. He dove into her harder this time, and her moans became louder, and she hoped they wouldn’t wake the neighbors.
Shaun didn’t care, all that mattered was this moment. All that mattered was the pleasure he knew he wouldn’t have or ever ask from anyone else. Alexis could never imagine lovemaking to be this sweet and she didn’t care if she moaned too much. All that mattered was this moment.
He came and she came and for a split second, their hearts beat at the same time.
***
“So this is where you accomplished feats worth the scholarship?” Alexis teased him as she surveyed the field.
He nodded proudly. “This is where I got bruised black and blue, broke a rib and gained the admiration of countless wannabe players and the admiration of chicks- women,” he quickly said, seeing the look on her face. He laughed.
“It’s funny how I’ve only been here a few times. Like less than five times,” Alexis told him. “And here I am, a sudden fan of football.”
“You’re just a fan of the player,” he teased. He took a breath, wanting to tell her something intimate. He knew this wasn’t just any frequent date anymore. After they had slept together five days ago, and he had awoken up in the morning to see her face, he knew he was in too deep. He had stared at her as she slept and boy, did he stare.
He saw her looking at peace and content and he wanted to see that every morning. And because he felt this way already, he told himself she deserved to know that he had seen her before… which would totally ruin things, wouldn’t it?
He had thought about asking Dan Matthews properly, just to show how good his intentions were with Alexis. He was ready to do this, his mind completely made up.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“Just now,” she replied with a smile.
“Well, I guess I’ll remind you more often.”
“What’s gotten into you?” she asked warily, but a mischievous smile was playing on her lips.
“I believe I may be in love,” he muttered.
“What?”
Shaun repeated it again.
“I can’t hear you,” Alexis said.
He frowned. “I can’t believe you’d ask me to say it again. You heard it.”
“What? Your reputation to uphold is gonna get ruined by me?”
“Seems like it,” he said. “But what about you?”
“You can’t demand me to be in love with you,” she laughed.
“Not fair. I told you how I felt.”
“You’re like a spoiled brat. You don’t have to get any reciprocation whatsoever.”
He huffed. “It isn’t easy, you know!”
“Of course I do,” Alexis said, holding his hand with hers all of a sudden. She slowly leaned in to kiss him.
“And what the hell is this?” a gruff voice interrupted.
“Uncle Dan…” Alexis’ face faltered. She was surprised to see him here. This wasn’t where he booked practices, but perhaps he was here for something else. Then she smiled, realizing she could now introduce someone to her family. “Well, this is my boyfriend Shaun.”
Dan looked at his niece’s face. She looked happy, upbeat and contented. “I know who this kid is. The question is, what’s he doing with you?”
Alexis looked at her uncle and back at Shaun. He knew who Shaun was? Of course, football. Her uncle had taught different leagues over the years-
“He was my linebacker,” Dan said.
Alexis frowned. Shaun could have told her this, unless he didn’t know that Dan was related to her. Her eyes slowly trailed back to her uncle’s. She saw the anger in them. She looked at Shaun again. Then she saw his eyes registering shame… well, was it shame? Realization dawned on her that she had been made a fool of.
“I bet you did this on purpose, huh, boy? You get to her and you get to me?”
“What?” Alexis began, trying to analyze the situation.
“Did he tell you he got into major league? He got what he wanted. Must’ve played good cause he was playin’ you,” her uncle breathed out.
She had never heard her uncle say such harsh things.
“And he was this stupid to take you around. Ann Arbor is a small place. You really are stupid, kid. You’re even stupider that you had to fool my niece.”
“Lex, I—"
Alexis stepped away, breathing shallowly. Shaun saw the confusion and the growing resentment, and realization in her eyes. He wanted to touch her, hold onto her, tell her it wasn’t a joke. That he wasn’t using her. That he wanted her in his life.
“I can’t believe you’d do that to me,” she whispered.
“Hey, coach,” another voice interrupted.
They all spun around and Alexis saw a group of burly men, obviously football players. Dan didn’t take his eyes off of Shaun. Shaun knew Dan wanted to murder him by now. And then Shaun saw Michael.
“Whoa,” Michael breathed out as his teammates listened, “you’re finally meeting the parentals!”
“The what?” Dan’s voice was dangerously low.
“Well, coach, Shaun told me here a few months ago that he’d get to call you dad in no time-“
“Shut it, Mike,” Dennis interrupted.
“Go on,” Dan breathed.
“Gee, man, where do I start? I mean, Shaun’s a really cool guy on the field and all, but as soon as he saw your daughter here-“
“Shut up,” Shaun said, glaring at Michael.
“You knew I wasn’t his daughter already, then?” Alexis interrupted, “I told you ab
out how my parents died and how my uncle and aunt adopted me. You knew Uncle Dan was my uncle.”
“I didn’t want to—"
“You made a fool out of me, but to make a fool out of my niece isn’t something I can forgive easily.”
“I’m sorry to tell you this,” Michael said in the heat of the moment, “but he made a bet with us. That he was going to become quarterback by playing really well and dating your daughter- I mean, niece in the process...” he looked sincere, like he had been hurt to break the news himself.
“You idiot, you complete stupid-“ Dan said, clenching a fist.
Alexis stared at Shaun, unable to believe he didn’t bother denying the allegations. Well, because it was damn true! She had been made a bridge to his dreams.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this way-“ Shaun began.
“Wasn’t supposed to be this way? Wasn’t supposed to be this way? You’re a liar, you’re a liar!” Alexis cried out. She didn’t want to break down, not here, not in front of her uncle’s team. “You told me- you told me-“ she couldn’t continue.
She took a breath, controlling her emotions. In an instant, her uncle and Shaun saw that her eyes had gone steely and her mouth was drawn into a straight line. She didn’t say anything else, instead, she spun around and walked away, not looking back even if Shaun called out for her.
“Lex, stop, please!”
“Stay here!” Dan’s voice thundered.
There was something in Dan’s voice that made him stop in his tracks. He turned to face his coach, his mentor for a year. He couldn’t say anything. He expected a punch in the face. He saw the rage in Dan Mathew’s eyes.
He took a breath. “Dan-“
“Don’t,” Dan said slowly, “don’t you say anything stupid.”
Shaun and the rest of his team heard Dan shout a few expletives. Shaun actually cringed. He wanted to apologize, explain that it wasn’t his fault. Explain that what had happened was just a collection of events and that he didn’t mean to trick Alexis. He was going to tell her about it eventually…
“You’re off my endorsement. I should never have relied on you,” Dan told him.
“Coach, be reasonable,” Dennis began.
“You are not part of this discussion,” he snapped at Dennis.
