And Alex wanted me to leave this? "I . . . I'm sorry Alex, I can't," I said. "My family, my new work . . . ”
Alex's face changed, from sunny and beaming to cloudy. "I can't believe it," he muttered lowly. He grabbed my arms, picking me up off the ground. “Who do you think you are bitch? Did you really just say no to me? Me?!”
I'd been trained to fight ever since I could walk, but Alex had caught me off guard, and he outweighed me by nearly a hundred-and-thirty pounds. He also was a highly trained athlete who was used to taking punishment. My arms were pinned to my sides, and I was in the right distance where I couldn't kick effectively, and was too far away to knee. He shook me side to side, my head snapping back and forth as he started to carry me back towards the tunnel. I tried to scream, my teeth clicking together painfully as he snapped me backwards. My head seemed to rattle back and forth, and I grew worried. We were in shadowy darkness, and Alex was a celebrity. In this town, celebrity and money talked.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the dimness. "Drop her now, asshole.”
Alex stopped shaking me at least, and I tumbled to the ground. Before I could do anything though, a dark shape vaulted over me, spearing Alex in the stomach. Considering that Alex was a football player I thought it a stupid maneuver, but it caught him off guard enough that the two tumbled to the ground.
I rolled away and to my knees, my head clearing as I did. I could see clearly now as the two men rolled, Riley wrapping his arms and legs around Alex. At first glance, Riley should have been at a disadvantage. Years younger, and a good seventy pounds lighter, the one hundred-and-ninety pound high school senior should have been easy pickings for Alex.
But Riley was no average high schooler. Trained by the same men who'd trained me, Riley was one of the best martial artists in the country, and perhaps the best in the world that hadn’t graduated High School yet. Sweeping Alex, Riley ended up on top, straddling his waist. "You wanted a Bylur on top of you, didn't you, you big fuck?" Riley taunted, a devilish grin on his face. "But I know the truth, Andi's too damn pure and smart for your stupid shit."
He was right. While I'd dated Alex for most of the season, we'd never had sex. Well, if you don't count a quick blowjob. I was surprised Riley knew.
"Fuck you, you little shit," Alex said, trying to shove Riley off of him. I knew Riley could have locked up Alex as tight as a straight jacket, but instead he went with the shove, dropping back while at the same time grabbing Alex's right leg, twisting as he went. I knew exactly what was happening, but did nothing as a gristly, ripping sound came from Alex's foot, and he suddenly went from yelling in anger to screaming in pain. "My leg!"
"Try getting a spiffy new contract with that now, you abusive fuck," Riley said, getting to his feet. "And remember, before you ever think of putting your hands on a woman again, there are men like me out there willing to make you our bitch."
Stadium security came running up, Gene close behind. "What the hell is going on?"
"Alex tried to attack me, and Riley defended me," I said simply. "I think Alex messed himself up when they fell to the ground."
* * *
"For God's sake Andrea, what were you doing letting him get the drop on you?" Carter asked later that evening. Tabby had just gotten off the phone with Gene, who confirmed that Alex was going along with my initial story. Spartan personnel in the stands had seen Alex grab me, and there was no evidence that Riley had actually intentionally injured his leg. Initial reports were that Alex had at least a high ankle sprain, most likely with complete tearing of at least one of the ligaments. Knowing what I knew of the technique Riley had applied, I suspected that there was more than that wrong as well.
That didn't assuage Carter's wrath on me.
"Fuck you Carter," I shot back. We were in the gym, me needing time to work off my rage and frustration at the incident. I was stripped down to just my sports bra and compression shorts when Carter came in. He'd not said a word to me as he stripped down too, going with just his compression shorts. For nearly a half hour we'd worked out, each on our own routine, but not needing words. I knew that he'd been pissed off at me about the whole thing. Heck, I was pissed off at myself.
Now that he was speaking at least, I was letting some of that anger go at him. "You think I fucking planned to be assaulted by my boyfriend in the middle of the damn stadium?"
"I think you let your guard down," Carter replied. "Jesus, you knew he was temperamental, you've read the papers on the guy. How the hell you even started dating him is beyond me. Yeah, yeah he looks like a movie star, but he's an asshole."
"Something you know a lot about," I seethed. We were both dripping in sweat, and I couldn't help but notice Carter’s body. "You've been an asshole most of your life."
"Wha . . . ? I may be an asshole to you sometimes, but I'm an asshole because I care about you!" Carter yelled back at me. "I never want to see you hurt, and when I heard about . . . FUCK!"
Carter screamed and turned, going over to the heavy bags that were hanging near the walls. Punching out, his fists blasted into the leather, thunderous booms accompanying each blow. The sounds beat Carter's words into my head, and suddenly things about the way we acted together became so clear. I thought about the ways he was so strict about my gear when we went patrolling, or the way that he would always call dibs on the most dangerous-looking opponents the few times we'd had to fight so far. I thought of the way he pushed me on the mats training harder than even Mom or Dad did, and how the few times I’d gotten bruised or injured, it was at Carter's hands. Each time, he'd been concerned, but each time he'd push me that much harder, trying to exploit his advantages until I got better.
And that was the reason, too. He wanted me better, not to protect himself, but to protect me. I went over to Carter, who was still hitting the bag with blind frustration. I waited until the frustration died off, and he grabbed the bag, leaning his head against the leather, gasping. "What? I don't want to fight any more, Andi."
I didn't say anything, just went with what my instincts told me was the right thing to do. Touching his shoulder, I ran my hand down his arm until I took his hand. With my other hand I cupped his face, turning him towards me. The surprise in his eyes at my touch turned to hot desire as he saw my expression, and our lips came together in wordless juncture.
Pulling Carter with me, we crossed the short gap between the bags and the edge of the stretching mats, our lips never separating. Finally, kneeling down, I pulled back enough to speak. "No more fighting, Carter. Not between us."
I reached for the band of my sports bra underneath my breasts, stopping when Carter's hands grabbed mine. "Let me," he said, his voice different than before. He was dripping with arousal, but also something more, something no other man had ever expressed to me. I let my arms rest instead on the inside of his elbows as Carter lifted the bra up and pulled it off with my assistance. Supporting my head and back, he guided me to the ground, his eyes enraptured by what he saw in front of him. I'd never felt more beautiful in all my life.
Carter sat down, and I maneuvered to sit in his lap, swinging my leg over him. Taking his face in my hands, I kissed him again, our tongues touching for the first time in electric sparks of passion.
He seemed to know that what I needed was tenderness. We explored each other's mouths for long, blissful minutes, his arms holding me close to him. I could feel his cock inside his compression shorts, and knew how aroused he had to be.
Now, with Carter hard and throbbing beneath me, I knew how much he wanted me. "Carter," I said, pushing back just enough to speak again. "Carter . . . ”
"Andi?" he asked, stopping. We both knew the enormity of what we were doing it seemed, and if there was ever going to be a point that we stopped, it would have to be now.
It was at that moment that part of me knew Carter was the man for me, even though it took me weeks and months afterwards to realize it consciously. He stopped, respecting me, and giving me a choice. I could see the concern in his eyes, not for his chance to get his
rocks off, but for me. It made my choice easy. "Make me feel good."
We kissed again, Carter's hands growing bolder. He reached down and squeezed my ass, a thrill shooting through my body as we explored each other. My hips rubbed back and forth, the thin layers of Lycra and underpants barely containing the heat coming from below. Still, the friction sent heat flooding my already warm body, and I let myself go with it.
"That's it," Carter said when I threw my head back, groaning thickly.
His voice galvanized my body, and within seconds I was shaking as my first orgasm rippled through me. I clutched Carter to me as I came, and for the first time his lips wrapped themselves around my nipples, adding to the wonderful sensation. When it passed, he stayed where he was, nursing and kissing slowly, letting my body come down slightly while still stoking the flames of our passion. Finally, I was able to relax, and pushed him back. "Time for me to see what you've been keeping down here."
I was perplexed momentarily by the nervousness in Carter's eyes as I reached for the waistband of his shorts, but my attention was soon drawn as his cock sprang out of its compressed prison.
"Holy fuck," I whispered, taking the massive erection in visually. "No wonder you looked nervous. Don’t worry, I’m no petite waif, Carter," I teased, wrapping my fingers around the base. Carter had a penchant for dating smaller women, girls who he dwarfed. "I think it looks damn sexy."
I pumped Carter's cock slowly, relishing the look on his face as the sensations filled his body. Letting go momentarily, I pulled my shorts down, clenching in the relative chill of the air in the gym. Grabbing his cock again, I swung myself up and over, holding him at my entrance. I looked him in the eye, wanting to savor this moment. Regardless of what else happened, I knew that from this moment on, we'd never be the same again.
Sinking down, I let gravity take care of the work of letting Carter fill me. With each inch, it felt like not only was I being filled, but my mind was opening, my heart unlocking to places that it had never been before. I'd found the man who was perfect for me, and even though I'd been looking for years, he was closer than I could have ever expected.
Finally, with a small squeak of astonishment, I realized that Carter was all the way inside me. "So big."
"Are you okay?” Carter asked nervously, his hands coming to my waist to ease me up if I needed it. They relaxed when I nodded my head, grinning down at him.
"Carter, this is the best feeling I've ever had in my life," I said.
I lifted myself up and sank down again, this time using my thighs to control myself, letting each inch of the pleasure sear its way into my memory. I was grinning like a fiend when I settled down again, and looked Carter in the eyes once more. "Tell me this is as good for you as it is for me.”
Carter nodded, his nervousness evaporating and a smile spreading on his face. "You have no idea."
I began to ride him, letting my instincts take over, sliding back and forth on top of him. Faster and faster my hips slid back and forth, each time his hard cock sliding deep inside me, filling me better than I could’ve imagined. I pitched forward, my breasts pressed against his chest while we kissed, lifting myself up and down on his cock. Both of us were moaning, unable to form words, but not needing to.
It should have lasted hours, and later on it would. But that first time, both of us were so worked up, there was no way we could hold back. We were hungry for each other, and it wasn't long before Carter's hands came to my waist. Holding me still, he began to thrust upward, faster and faster, until an explosion went off inside me and the world went temporarily gray as I climaxed a second time. In that moment, he lifted me up, pulling out as he came.
Afterwards, I lay on the mats with Carter, our clothes still discarded on the side, nestled in his arms. "Why?" he asked, kissing my forehead.
"Why what?" I answered. "Why you, or why now?"
"Both, I guess," he said.
"I could ask you the same thing," I said. "I didn't think I was your type, with your penchant for teeny-tiny types."
Carter chuckled. "I could probably give you some half baked psych analysis from Sophie’s old books, but I'm not going to worry about it. I'm just glad we did."
Chapter Nine
Present Day
Andrea
"Andi? Yo, Earth to Andrea?"
I shook my head, looking up at Riley, who was grinning at me. His cowl over his eyes, but he was uncovered from the nose down, and he was certainly amused. "Yeah, what's up?"
"You need a nap or something?" Riley asked. "You've been spacing out for quite a while over there."
I shook my head. "Sorry. Just lost in the memories. Your mentioning Alex Young got me thinking about him."
Riley laughed quietly. "Yeah. Hey, did you read? He actually did sign a contract with New England during the off season. Though it was for the veteran minimum instead of the big money contract he was hoping for.”
“Well, on the positive side, that was the first night Carter and I got together."
"I know," Riley said. When I looked at him surprised, he laughed. "Oh, you and Carter played it off for a while, so I don't know if Mom or Dad knew, but Barb and I knew right away. She came to my room that night in fact."
"What did she say?" I asked, curious. The area next to the Circle K was still pretty quiet, our sensors weren't saying anything.
Riley shook his head. “I don’t remember exactly, but you know her.”
One of our sensors began to give off its ultrasonic beep. "We've got movement," Riley said, checking it out. The sensors were designed to only trigger if a group of four or more in a tight configuration came into range. "Let's look."
Riley looked out over the area, while I gathered up our sensors. Thankfully they collapsed into a pack smaller than my forearm and could be attached to various points on my costume. "What do we have?"
"Six white males, two of them with shaved heads, all of them rocking Doc Martens or jungle boots," Riley said. "What do you think?"
"Duh," I retorted with a smirk. "Think they could have been any more obvious?"
Riley shook his head, and pulled his directional mike from his pants pocket. He tapped the side, then flashed me two upheld fingers. I changed my cowl's radio over to frequency two, so I could listen to the same thing as him.
The feed was clear as a bell, so much better than the microphones that Dad and Patrick had used. It was nearly as good as standing next to the group.
"So where are you meeting them tonight?"
I looked down, and saw that most of the group was gathered around two of the others, who were obviously the leaders. I guessed that one of the group gathered around had asked the question. The young gang member continued. "I mean, if we're supposed to put this new product on the streets, we have to have some, even if it's just samples."
"What do you know about it?" one of the other members asked. "I mean, is this supposed to make you fly, chill, buzz, what?"
"From what Mr. Clean's people told me, it's supposed to turn you into Superman," one of the men said. "Dunno what the fuck that means, but that's what they promised me."
"Drop in or wait?" Riley asked. "Part of me wants to kick some ass."
I shook my head, holding up my hand. "We need intel more than intimidation. You're recording this?"
"Of course," Riley whispered back. "It's automatic."
I nodded, knowing my gear was set up the same way, but it had been a while since Riley did such a job. I turned my attention back to the conversation below.
"What if one of the masked people show up?" one of the Eighty-Eights asked. "They've been more active recently."
"Mr. Clean's people assure me that the Fire and Ice group won't be an issue. Apparently, one of them won't even be in action for a while soon anyway."
The words shook me, and I looked over at Riley, who shrugged. Could there be someone that knew or suspected who we were? There was no time for discussion about it now, we had to gather information first. Analysis would come later.<
br />
"Who's going to be occupado?" one of the Eighty-Eights asked. "Please tell me I'm going to find Ice Princess tied up in my bed. My birthday's next week, and I could use an early present."
What was it with street criminals having a hard-on for me? "You wish. No, Mr. Clean's people said they are taking out Crimson Justice tonight. He was seen heading out towards the airport. They take him out, and the other two will be easy."
My eyes widened, and I looked at Riley. Time to move. I switched my comm unit back to the main frequency, leaving Riley behind to get the gear while I put distance between the Eighty-Eights and me. "Mom!"
"Honey, not now," Mom's voice came back, tense. "Carter's got a situation."
No shit.
Chapter Ten
Carter
The first sign of trouble was the fact that I was able to penetrate so deeply into the airport without any sign of security. I mean, I'm good, but I'm not that stealthy, and I should have had to work for it. Instead, I practically walked into the private cargo area of the airport without even having to look twice over my shoulder. Ever since the terror incident five years ago down in Miami, the TSA had been much stricter than before. Not enough to stop someone with my level of training, but still it made penetrating the airport a challenge.
Not that night, that was for sure. I jumped the security fence with ease, landing in the grass in between the sensors that the airport had installed, and quickly hopped again before the sweeping radar beams could pick me out. "I'm in, Sophie.”
Sophie was working communications for us that night, and would have a hot mic for me the whole time. "Understood, Carter. When the other two patch in, I'll tie you in too if you want."
"Sounds good. I'm going to check out the small spots near the swamps first, then work my way toward the east."
"Okay," she said. "Just remember, you get out of there as soon as you see any trouble. I don’t want to send Mark after you."
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