Chapter 9
nine
Sean
Other than a soft circle of light from a bedside lamp, the room is dark when I peek in on Maya. She’s lying on her back, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. I take a short step into the room. “Need anything?”
Her head turns toward me. “Stop hovering. I’m as good as I’m gonna be for now. The pain meds have kicked in again. I don’t want another ice pack right now. The water in my mug is still cool. I ate my chocolates. Thanks by the way. I’m going to try to sleep.”
“I’ll be right out there.” I point over my shoulder toward the living room.
“Just go to bed.”
“What if you need something?”
She lifts her phone. “Speed dial. Really, Sean. I’m okay for now. Go get some rest. Where did Ellie run off to?”
“I sent her to bed. In my room so she isn’t tempted to hover.”
“Like you’re doing?”
“I guess. Okay, okay, baby sis. I get your point. We all need to sleep. There’s a lot we need to accomplish tomorrow.”
Her eyes close and she sighs. “I’m sorry. All the work you and Ellie put in to make this a successful tournament for us… all ruined because I’m awkward.”
“You know that’s not true.” I move to the bed and take her hand. “Injuries like yours happen. No matter how careful someone is. No matter how graceful or not. You haven’t ruined anything.”
She gives me a dirty look.
“Maya, you know what I mean. Once you’re rehabbed, we’ll do the work again. It’s not like if we miss the Olympics this time we’ll never have another chance.”
“Maybe I d… never mind. You’re right. I’ll see things in a better light once this stupid knee heals. Now do me a favor and get some sleep.”
My mock salute and “Yes, ma’am,” finally bring the hint of a smile. “Don’t hesitate to use that speed dial. You won’t be disturbing me.”
She closes her eyes. “Turn off the light, will you? I think I’d like pancakes for breakfast.”
“Pancakes it is.”
“And close the door on your way out. Love you, big bro.”
“Love you, too, baby sis.”
I have to trust Maya knows her body even with the injury. She won’t try to hide the pain or pretend she’s doing better than she is. Of course the timing isn’t great but, fuck, I hate she has to go through this. Once I check to make sure we have the needed supplies for pancakes and some bacon for me, I stand at the kitchen island staring at the couch.
It's fine for sitting, but I’m not convinced it will make a comfortable bed. And sleeping in my jeans is not ideal. I glance down the short hall to my bedroom. Ellie should be asleep. Maybe I can sneak in to the bathroom and grab my sweats without disturbing her.
Or what I really want to do—join her in the bed.
She’s not ready for that. We haven’t even broached the subject of last night’s kiss and why she shut down afterwards. I thought we were on the same wave length, going in the same direction. Now I’m not so sure. Maya’s injury and the huge question marks hanging over our future as a team don’t help.
I won’t come to any solutions just standing here. Not sure things will look better in the morning but if I can at least rest my brain I might be clear headed enough to fake it.
I pause at my bedroom door, my hand clutching the knob. Flexing my fingers does nothing to relax them before I aim for silence as I open the door. So far, so good. I don’t want the light from the other room to disturb Ellie, so I step inside quickly and push the door nearly shut. There’s enough ambient light I can make my way to the bathroom without running into the bed or the chair angled in one corner.
A soft moan rises from the bed. I freeze, my breath stalls in my chest and my cock stirs at the sensual tones. I lift my gaze to where Ellie is curled on her side, clutching the comforter against her chest. She’s kicked off the rest of the bedding and I follow the length of her shapely leg to the curve of her hip. I’ve seen her in tight shorts and bikinis often enough but tonight the sight of her skin makes my mouth water.
Her hips rock. Fuck, her hand’s… she’s pleasuring herself. Shit, what do I do? My cock has no problem with the question or an answer, as the blood leaves my brain and heads south.
“Oh, Sean,” she moans.
“Ellie,” I say without thinking, her name a rough whisper of sound.
“What the… Sean?” She jerks to sitting and pulls the comforter over her body. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t stop.”
“St…stop what?” Her eyes are heavy lidded and I wish there was enough light to see the blush I know must be filling her face.
“Moaning my name. Making yourself come. Ellie, god help me, don’t stop.” I’ll fall to my knees and beg if that’s what she wants. Anything she wants.
We stare at each other for a long time then she blinks. She’s made a decision. Her tongue peeks out to trace her lower lip as she shoves the comforter aside. “I’ll moan your name, Sean. Only if you…come with me.”
“Tell me, sweetheart, tell me what to do.” I edge closer to the bed. Giving her control feels like the right thing to do. Because it won’t take much for me to lose it. My cock throbs and aches. I don’t know how long my knees will keep me upright.
“Strip and…” She pats the mattress. “We need to talk.”
“Talk?” The word squeaks. She wants to talk?
“Only a little. If we’re going to do this we need to be clear on a couple things.”
How can she be so unaffected when two minutes ago she was touching herself and moaning my name? I can do this. Talk. While I rip off my shirt and step out of my jeans and briefs, she strokes her silk covered mound. Crawling from the end of the bed, I settle on my side next to her, take her hand and suck her fingers into my mouth. Teasing the tips with my tongue I growl deep in my throat. If her fingers taste this good I’ll die a happy man when I feast on her.
“I can’t think when you do that.”
“Good. Thinking’s overrated.” I lick her palm then chase the thrill bumps on her arms to her shoulder. Her other hand against my forehead stops my progress. “Sweetheart?”
“You need to know if?—”
“When.”
She nods. “When we do this, first I need you to know how much you mean to me. As a friend, a coach, and as a man. Can we add sex to the equation and keep everything else the same?”
“Ellie, I honestly don’t know.” What I do know is that I’m in love with her, I just don’t know what will happen when I tell her. Until then if I don’t get my face between her legs in the next minute… “Ellie, sweetheart, let me bring you pleasure.”
“This isn’t just about me. What about your needs?”
I answer by taking her mouth, teasing and nipping until her lips part and I take the kiss deeper. The stiff set of her shoulders softens and I ease her back onto the pillows. “We’ll take turns.”
“What good sportsmanship.” She chuckles then gasps as I cup her breast and suck on her nipple through the satiny material of her cami. “Oh, that’s not fair.”
After circling the slick fabric around her distended nipple, I lift my head. “Don’t they say all’s fair in love?”
“And war. I’m not fighting you, Sean. You feel too good. Like that kiss yesterday. I didn’t know how to deal with how you made me feel. I’m sorry I shut you out.”
“Don’t shut me out now.”
She cups my face. “Never.”
Turning my head, I kiss her palm. “Enough talking?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Take this off.” I pluck at the hem of her camisole before moving my fingers under the elastic waist of the last barrier between me and what I want. She wiggles out of the cami before I slowly tug the shorts down her legs and expose my destination. Her mound is smooth, and how I wish for more light to see her glistening sex.
“Close your eyes,” Ellie says and when I do, she turns on the soft glow of the nightlight base on the bedside lamp. “There. I want to be able to see you better. Every last inch of you.”
“You read my mind.” There’s more I could say. More I want to say. But not as much as I long to make her come. The scent of her arousal surrounds me as I spread her folds, and my heart is where it’s meant to be. Home. “Ellie, sweetheart…”
Her knees drop to the side opening her further. “No talking, remember?”
“Are pleasured moans considered talking?” I ask before pressing my tongue to her clit.
“Ah, oh, Sean. That’s… god, good.”
Ellie scrapes her fingers through my hair, her short nails making my scalp tingle. Hoping to return the favor, I use my tongue, lips, and huffs of breath against her sensitive nub. She writhes in pleasure, arches to meet my thrusting tongue, holds my head just how she wants me.
I’m drowning in sensation. The taste of her. The aroma of arousal. The feel of her skin against my palm, her fingers cupping my head. Too easy to lose focus. I can’t. Won’t. The sounds, the evidence of her pleasure is what I crave after months of wanting her.
I run my fingers along the crease of her thigh. Holding her breath, knowing what I’m about to do, she whines deep in her throat. It’s all the encouragement I need. Aided by her slick arousal, my two middle fingers slip deep inside her channel.
“Sean. Yes.”
“You like?” I ask as I move my fingers in that ‘come here’ motion.
“I—”
An orgasm bursts over her, surprising us both. She gasps and keens softly, her body trembling, her inner walls convulsing around my fingers. After she catches her breath, I add my circling thumb to her clit while I softly suck the skin right above her mound.
“Too much.”
I lift my head and pause.
“No, damn it. Don’t stop.”
“Ellie, sweetheart. What do you want? Need from me?”
She lifts her head and her eyes are luminous in the muted light. “You. All I need is you.”
“You have me.”
Her smile is a wondrous combination of desire, satisfaction, and hope. I will make it my life’s mission to keep that expression on her face. Only when we’re alone. Because I won’t share that with anyone. I’m the only one to see her this way. She’s mine. She will always be mine.
I draw my soaked fingers along her belly as I ease up to take her lips. Pouring all my emotions into the kiss, I tease her nipple and slip my leg between hers. Soon she’s riding my thigh and gasping my name.
My cock is ready to explode.
“Fuck,” I moan.
“Yes, yes. Now, Sean. Fill me.”
Straightening my arms, I lift my chest and look down on her. “Can’t, sweetheart. No condoms.”
Her brows lower. “What do you mean?”
Confession time. Attempting to calm my heavy breathing, I nuzzle her neck then say, “I haven’t wanted to be with a woman for so long, I gave up keeping them on hand.”
“It isn’t your hand you need to worry about, babe.”
“Ha ha. I’m trying to be… umm, don’t move like that… responsible here.”
“You should know I haven’t been with anyone for years. When has there been time?”
My body takes over, my hips arching, grinding my cock against her hip. “So we’re healthy. What about babies?”
“What about ‘em? Sean, babe, move just a little to the left and lower. Ah. Ahhh, yes.”
She’s got me right where I want to be. The head of my cock rests in the slick heat at her entrance. Only a slight adjustment, a tiny thrust separates us from… “Birth control… Ellie…”
“Taken care of. Shots.” She plants her feet against the mattress and I slip into her a short inch. “Oh, good, babe. Good. Make it… uh, better.”
With a pace so slow I’m not sure how I manage, I sink into her. Balls deep. She takes my length and smiles up at me. “I hoped you’d feel this wonderful.”
“No words,” I manage. “Feel.” I’m unable to maintain my slow thrust and retreat, the speed and force of my hips increasing with each moan, each gasp, each desperate word of encouragement.
“Almost,” she sighs.
Balanced on one elbow, I slip my hand between us and find her clit. Stroking in counterpoint to my thrusts, I bring her closer then tip her over the edge. She covers her mouth as she screams my name. I feel the rumble of it along with the rhythmic pull of her walls trying to draw me in deeper. It’s all I need and piston into her three times before, groaning her name, I follow her into pure sensation.