***
Laurel cleaned herself up; drying her tears and re-applying lip gloss in the mirror. She scanned the place again and quickly noticed Ben outside. He was at the back of the garden, leaning against the fence, beer in hand, looking pensive. Cindy was nowhere to be seen.
‘’I was looking for you,’’ she started, unsure of herself. And he nodded, but his eyes were distant.
‘’Look, I should have done this before,’’ she continued, ‘’Way before. I want out of the deal. I won’t reveal your figure skating alter ego. I’ll sign your stupid paperwork if you want but you have my word on it. You’re free. You don’t have to train me anymore.’’ She frowned and looked at the floor.
‘’And sorry,’’ she said, ‘’I wanted to say sorry for how I behaved. I’m not usually in the habit of blackmailing people.’’
He grabbed her arm as she started to retreat and spun her round. He cupped her face in his hands and planted a delicate kiss on her mouth.
‘’Stop it!’’ she protested and pushed him off her. ‘’What about Cindy? I thought you liked me and then you turn up with her!’’
He laughed and she hated him once more.
‘’Come here,’’ he said, leading her back into the bathroom, the only private space available. ‘’Sit,’’ he said, pointing to the edge of the bathtub, ‘’We need to have a chat.’’
‘’Go on,’’ she said sulkily.
‘’I don’t know where to start. I have trust issues. My high school girlfriend was a cheerleader. She was unfaithful to me.’’ He looked into her eyes and she finally saw him, the real Ben, vulnerability and honesty hiding behind the cocky and arrogant façade.
‘’She cheated on me with my best friend. For three months! And her stupid cheerleader friends were in on it too. Laughing at me behind my back. Ever since then I’ve not really been that keen on cheerleaders,’’ he continued. And then smirked shyly, seeming to realize how ridiculous he sounded.
‘’I got her back,’’ he added brightly, ‘’I screwed all of her cheerleader friends. Every last one of them,’’ he smirked.
‘’Oh God,’’ Laurel groaned and put her head in her hands, but she couldn’t help giggling. At last she was finally beginning to understand him… a little.
He kissed her again, more passionately, and she didn’t hold back until Cindy entered her head.
‘’Hang on a minute,’’ she gasped. ‘’What about Cindy?’’
He sniggered and held off explaining, enjoying her growing annoyance.
‘’Seriously!’’ she snapped, ‘’Explain now! Who is she?’’
‘’Chill,’’ he drawled. And took a deep breath. The look on her face had told him not to stay silent any longer.
‘’Cindy is my friend and she’s a lesbian. She thought you were hot and wanted me to introduce her to you. But you weren’t exactly friendly,’’ he mock-grimaced and laughed.
‘’Oh,’’ she said, her eyes glazing over with realization and then delight. She tried to play it cool but the beaming smile that crept over her face couldn’t be controlled.
Suddenly they were back in one another’s arms, kissing and caressing each other, undoing buttons, pulling off clothes frantically, until they were writhing naked on the floor once more. This time without the sting of the ice but with added fervor and urgency. Before she knew it he was inside her, plunging deeper and deeper, his power and desire building up and up. He slowed down suddenly and gazed at her, stroking her face and showering her neck and breasts with soft kisses. She tugged and pulled at his thick dark hair and squeezed his huge strong shoulders and then his sculpted buttocks, pulling him deeper.
He slowly drew himself out, Laurel purring with pleasure, and pulled her up, bending her over the bathtub. He entered her from behind, cupping her cute pert bottom in his rugged hands. He rubbed in between her buttocks gently with his finger and she moaned with delight. He then took a strong hold of her curvy hips and pulled himself deeper and deeper inside of her until he exploded and collapsed on top of her, embracing her and fondling her breasts and stomach. He laid her back on the floor and kissed in between her legs, licking and sucking until she could take no more. He pushed his finger up inside her and flicked his tongue quick and hard until she wailed quietly and uncontrollably, her body shaking in spasms of pleasure and relief.
They lay there for a moment or two, recovering, before hearing knocking on the door. ‘’Seriously, whoever is in there had better hurry up! Someone’s puking in the other bog.’’