Chapter 12
twelve
Ellie
When I saw Karol following Sean into the equipment tent I knew she was up to no good. I jogged across the sand and entered the tent to find Sean pressed against the center tent pole, and Karol plastered against him, her hand moving toward his groin. Oh no. Uh uh. That ain’t happening.
Sean notices me first and I don’t want him to think I’m upset with him. I know he has nothing to do with Karol’s actions, so I wink. His tight expression softens. Karol hasn’t realized I’m here yet. So I deepen my voice to a low growl. “Get your hands the fuck off my man, bitch.”
She jerks and with her hands up in a surrender position, turns to me with a smirk. “So you think he’s yours?”
“I don’t think. I know. Now get out.”
“Seansy, are you going to let her ta?—”
“You heard her. Get out. And get the thought of ever teaming with Ellie out of your head as well.”
“You can’t speak for her. Ellie, you and I have been on the same team before. We could be great together.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “You’re right, Karol. I don’t need Sean to speak for me. In this case though, our thoughts are the same. I would never trust you as my teammate. Never. Now, get out. Go rub your fake tits on someone who cares.” I turn sideways in the tent opening and point out toward the ocean. As far as I’m concerned she can just keep walking that way. “Get. Out.”
Karol scoots past me. Once clear of the tent she tilts her nose in the air. “You’ll be sorry, Miss high and mighty. We would have been the greatest team ever.”
Tapping one foot, I roll my eyes. “The only way we’d make number one ranking would be if you slept with the entire judging community and all of the refs. Not my style, bitch. I suggest you keep walking.”
Lips pressed together Karol glares at me. I swear I can almost see steam pouring out of her ears. I bite back a chuckle. She gives Sean one hopefully final, narrow eyed look then stomps away. Neither Sean nor I move until she’s disappeared into the crowd.
“Ellie? Sweetheart? Thank you for coming to my rescue. Please believe me. I had nothing to do with Karol’s advances.”
“Don’t worry, babe. Unless you wanted to continue with her.”
“God, no. Never. She…” His shiver tells me more than his words.
With a wicked smile, I crowd close to him until he steps back against the tent pole. “Good. I’m not going to grope you here in public. But watch out when we get home.” I drop a chaste kiss on his mouth and turn away.
“Hold on, sweetheart. We just can’t leave it at that.”
“Oh, we can. And we will. I think a dose of antici…” I wait a long time before finishing. “…pation will be good for you. Come on, the match is starting. I don’t think Maya’s going to make it through the B Boy’s match. She’s pushing it just to stay for this one. We need to go home and put her to bed.” I waggle my eyebrows, turn and give my hips an extra sway as I walk from the tent.
Sean follows me to the main court. The B Boys did secure good seats for us and made sure Maya’s foot was elevated. From Sean’s serious expression I’m pretty sure he’s in big brother mode. That should be a fun discussion. One I hope I’m around to hear.
Maya looks exhausted although she’s putting up a good front. Luckily the match is fairly one sided and the winning team sweeps the sets in quick fashion. There’s extra time before the final match of the day and not so surprising, the B Boys make an appearance in time to squabble over which one of them is going to carry her to the truck. After Rock, Paper, Scissors, Blaine wins the duty. And Sean’s glare.
We stop for take-away for supper and once we’re home, Maya insists on using the crutches and getting up the stairs by herself. I climb beside her with one hand on the small of her back while Sean remains a step behind. Just in case. In the apartment, Maya shakes her head. “I’m too tired to eat. Just put mine in the fridge please. I might want it in the middle of the night. Or for breakfast. I’m taking pain meds and going to bed.”
I help her put on a nightshirt and get as comfortable as possible in bed. Sean brings in cold packs and arranges them around her swollen knee. When he’s satisfied with the placement, he stands back and clears his throat. “Maya.”
“What is it, Sean? You’ve got that big brother knows best look on your face. You know how much I hate that.”
“Sorry.” He attempts a smile.
“That’s worse,” she says. “Just tell me what’s bothering you.”
“The B Boys.”
Maya’s lips twitch. “What about them?”
“They paid a lot of attention to you today.”
“They did. They’re both very nice. Fun to be around.” She snuggles down against her pillow and crosses her arms over her belly. “And?”
I’ve seldom seen Sean so at a loss for words. I’m pretty sure I know where this is going, and I could help. But I’m not going to. I lean against the doorframe to watch.
“Maya, I… um… I’m concerned.”
“Uh huh?” She’s not going to help him either.
“They both seemed interested in you. You need to be careful. Not cause…”
“Sean, be quiet and let me tell you something about the B Boys and relationships.” She crooks her finger and signals him closer. “Don’t worry about me, big bro.” Her eyes go wide. “They’re gay.”
Laughing, I back from the room. I have our meals set out on the island before Sean appears. He plops down onto one of the stools. “I am such an idiot.”
“Why? Because you didn’t know?”
“No, because some part of me didn’t believe my sister can handle herself just fine. She doesn’t need a protector. An overbearing big brother. Will you help me? When I get all bristly and protective, talk me down or something.”
“She doesn’t mind, you know. You’re family. You look out for each other. That’s a marvelous thing. Don’t worry, if you really are trying to hold her back or ‘guide’ her where she doesn’t want to go, she will let you know. Your sister is a strong woman. A capable woman. She just doesn’t always realize that yet.”
Sean pushes his meal to the side and plants his elbows on the countertop. “You’re a strong, capable woman yourself, Ellie Andrews.”
Pleased by his compliment, I preen a bit. “Thank you. I know.”
“You said something earlier this evening that I’ve been thinking about. Anticipation.”
The way he draws out the word brings those damn butterflies back to dance in my stomach. I’ve wanted to do more than just hold hands or share public-acceptable kisses all day. I’ve been anticipating what I want to do with him tonight. Now the need for him is nearly unbearable. “I did, didn’t I?”
Rising from the stool he grabs my hand and pulls me after him. “Come on. Anticipation is over.”
“But what about supper?” I laugh as we speed into the bedroom.
“I anticipate we can eat that later.”
He shuts the door and I move in to keep his back against the wood. “When I saw you backed up against that tent pole, all I could think about was climbing you like a tree.” I nip at his neck and tug up on the hem of his tee shirt.
He throws his head back and groans. “Yes, climb me.”
As we strip each other, he walks me backwards until I’m pressed against the wall. “Sturdier here, sweetheart.” His length is captured between us so I shimmy before I lift one leg to start my climb.
“Dear god, woman. Wrap your legs around my waist.” He lifts my other leg and once I’ve locked my ankles behind his back, he lifts me higher against the wall.
“I hope you’re ready, sweetheart.”
“Have been. All day.”
The head of his cock twitches against my clit and our moans fill the room. With smooth, steady ease he lowers me fully onto his length. The angle steals my breath.
“You’re tight like this, Ellie. Wet, tight, hot.” He thrusts upward. “Hold out your tit to me, sweetheart. That’s it. Mine.”
He sucks hard on my nipple. Then the other before he lifts me nearly off his cock before plunging deep. “Again,” I demand.
“Fuck. Hang on, Ellie. Taking you for a ride.”
Planting one hand on the wall, he clutches my butt with the other. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, holding tight. I never want to let go. His strokes are long and smooth. When I arch my back, pressing against the wall, the angle shifts and a deep rumble sounds from his throat. “That’s it. So good. Ellie. Ellie.”
“Sean,” I tug on his earlobe. “I want you to come for me.”
He shakes his head. His thrusts drive me higher up the wall. “You. First.”
“Like that and I will.” I’m trying to hold back. For him. I drag my short nails down his chest and tweak his nipples. His cock twitches against my g-spot. And deeper. Even more… glorious… “Sean.”
Anticipation turns to desperation. His fierce thrusts draw grunts from deep in his chest. I answer with high keens of pleasure. With gasping half-words we encourage each other. The spiral tightens. Spins. Bursts. We moan as bliss overtakes us. His hips slow and I feel how he jerks as he empties inside me.
“My beautiful Ellie,” he whispers.
Keeping us joined, he backs toward the bed and sits. The new position renews the sensation deep in my womb and he gasps when I shift to enjoy the fading thrill.
With trembling hands he cups my cheeks and kisses me. The tender press of his lips to mine becomes firmer. The dance of his tongue insistent. His cock swells. I lean back and stare at him in wonder. “Sean?”
“I could stay hard inside you forever, Ellie.”
“That could get awkward. But, holy shit, babe, that would be amazing.”
“It’s all you, sweetheart.”
I shake my head. “It’s us. Why did we wait so long?”
“Anticipation?” He chuckles and his length bounces inside me. I cry out my pleasure. Carefully rolling us until we’re fully on the bed and I’m spread wide under him, Sean grins. “I think I like anticipation. Keeping you not knowing when I’m going to make love to you, but always ready. Anticipating how I plan to bring you pleasure each time.”
“Hmm. I could go for that. If we take turns. Why should you get all the fun?” I tilt and lift my hips creating a new angle, a new rhythm. Without speaking he joins my sexual dance. This time is slow, easy, yet no less satisfying.
After a shower, we curl together under the comforter. I bring it to my nose and inhale. It still smells like him. I never want to sleep without him surrounding me.
I trace patterns on his bare chest with my fingers not so subtly moving lower as I go. His abs contract and he slaps his hand over mine. “Give me a chance to rest, sweetheart.”
“If I must,” I pout.
“Ellie, I want to marry you.” He turns to his side to face me.
“What did you say?”
He takes my hand. “I want to marry you. Ellie, I love you. I have for a long time. Now, I’m in love with you, too. I want you. More than this. Than sex. I know you’re not ready. And that’s okay. I’ll wait. As long as it takes. Even if this… the sex… is all we have for now, I’ll wait.”
He falls silent. His eyes are luminous in the dim light, so hopeful yet afraid. Silly man. He doesn’t have to wait. I know what I want. Him. He’s mine. Forever. “Sean, you say you’ll wait for me to, what, catch up with you in the love department?”
“Yes. Forever if need be.”
“How will you know when I’m ready?”
I’ve stumped him. I only let him try to gather his thoughts for a few moments.
“You could just ask.”
Too much sex must have addled his brain tonight. He stares at me with his lips parted in a much too kissable way. I sigh. “What did you say about marriage?”
“That I want to marry you. And I do. Whenever you’re ready.”
We’re not going back into that useless discussion. “You could just ask.”
“What? When you’re ready?”
“No, you stupid man. Let me make this simple, babe. Ask me to marry you. Then you’ll know for sure how I feel. If I’m ready.”
He catches the inside of his cheek between his teeth then takes a deep breath. “Ellie Andrews. I love you. Will you marry me?”
“Sean Davis, I love you, too. I’ve been in love with you for years, I just didn’t realize it. I guess I wasn’t ready then. I am now. Yes. I will marry you.”
We stare into each other’s eyes for a long moment before he pulls me into his embrace. His kisses tease and entice. His touch expands my senses. His loving words fill my soul as his body joins with mine.
It appears his rest period is over.