Ch. 36 Flying
(DALLAS)
I was sitting in the front row of seats in the auditorium waiting for Eli's play to start. Clare was at my side and my arm was around her, on the other side of her was Owen, Drew, Bianca, Luke, Alli, Wes, Katie, Jake, Fiona, Imogen, Cam, Maya and Zig we took up the whole first row. Eli was of course directing, Adam stage manager, Becky assistant director, understudy and chorus, and of course Tris, Dave, Tori, Jenna and Connor were all in the play.
Clare was sort of sitting on her side, her legs bent and curled to her side, and on Owen's lap as she leaned on me. She was sitting this way because it was more comfortable with the healing road rash on her back side. The lights dimmed, music started and the curtain went up. I'm not one that typically likes musicals or Shakespeare but even I had to admit it was pretty cool, Eli and everyone did a good job. Most importantly though, at least in my eyes, is that Clare loved it and as I said before as long as she's happy I'm in heaven.
"The play was great bro," Drew complimented Adam when the younger Torres brother came out from back stage.
"Thanks, there's a cast and crew party at Above the Dot and Eli says you guys are invited and to head over there." Adam told us.
"Then lets go." Owen said.
"Do you guys need any help?" Fiona asked.
"No you guys head over, we'll be over in a bit." Adam said and then went backstage.
The whole group of us walked over to Above the Dot and went in. There was already music going and food set up so we all got something to eat and sat down at tables. It wasn't long before the cast and crew joined us, after more applause and many congratulations and good job and other things like that said all around, Eli and Adam joined us at our table.
"Adam told us the judge approved an order of protection against Asher." Eli comments.
"Yeah," Clare nods taking my hand under the table.
"You don't sound very comforted by it." Bianca says.
"It's only a piece of paper and they have to catch him violating it in order to do anything about it. The only good thing is they extended the order to include Mike, Eli and the rest of you so if he contacts any of us or makes threats to any of us he can be arrested and it's another criminal charge." Clare tells them.
To get Clare's mind off of Asher and the case Adam changes the subject to her birthday party. Audra said we could have it at the house and she starts talking with Adam about decorations, music, food and that sort of thing.
"I need to get up and move a bit, I've been sitting too long the abrasions hurt." Clare says after about an hour.
I stand and offer her my hand and she gets up, we walk around a bit mingling with everyone. Almost everyone asks about Asher or the trial, Clare does remarkably well answering the same questions over and over with a smile. Eventually she grows tired of it though and I take her out to the stairs for some air.
"You know we can go home anytime you want, we don't have to stay." I tell her.
"I know, I'm not tired or anything just had to move, which hurts too but not as much as sitting." Clare assures me after a quick kiss.
"Everyone's coming to the game tomorrow but if we run long Eli and the others will have to leave to make it to the play on time. You'll still be with Drew, Bianca, Maya, Katie, Jake and Alli and of course you can always go down to the locker room and watch from there." I tell her.
"I know," she smiles, "I'm not going to have to give you another pep talk am I?" She questions.
"I don't know the last one worked pretty well maybe you should." I reply and she scowls at me.
"I'm cold lets go back inside." Clare says shivering a little.
I rub her arms to get her warm as we walk back inside; I see Luke, and Owen waving to me from a corner when we get back in.
"I need to talk with Luke and Owen about some team business, you gonna be okay?" I ask her.
She glowers at me a little. "I think I can find my way to the table again."
I smile and kiss her cheek before walking across the room to my teammates. "Hey everything set for tomorrow night?"
"All set, Drew and Bianca will keep her occupied for an hour and we'll help you with the rest." Owen tells me.
"Perfect, everything else is arranged and tomorrow night will be perfect for Clare." I tell them.
(CLARE)
I was leaning against the plexi-glass behind the Ice Hounds bench where our seats were. Knowing I'd have to be sitting for an hour or more for each period I opted to stand for now. The scratches and road rash were healing well but it was extremely uncomfortable, smarted and was immensely painful the more they healed, the skin stretching and new skin forming. Drew, Bianca and I were talking about spring break; well they were talking about it I was just hoping I was all healed by then.
When the music started I sat down and waved at the Ice Hounds as they came out, blowing a kiss to Dallas as he skated past. This time they played aggressively from the start, I think they were still pretending the other team was Asher. By the end of the first period they were up by one and when the team skated back into the locker room we got up to get snacks. Adam wouldn't let me get real food though he said we'd be eating after, I only got a soda and a soft pretzel. We sat back down just as the music started again, the Saturday game was even busier than the Friday night game.
The second period wasn't as exciting for our side, the Ice Hounds were still playing very aggressively but now so was the other team and at the end of it they were beating us by two. When the Ice Hounds skated back into the locker room I stood up so I could get some relief from sitting so long. In the third period the Ice Hounds came back for a close win of one point, it was rather exciting and Owen got to score the winning goal. When the game ended Adam, Eli and the others going to the play had to rush out to make it on time. I hugged as many as could and told them to break a leg before they left.
"Clare you're riding with us." Bianca said taking my hand as Drew pushed his way through the crowd and we followed.
We went to Drew's car in the parking lot and got in; Drew started driving toward Little Miss Steaks.
"Oh wait I need to get something from the loft, do you mind Clare? We can call Dallas and let him know." Drew said when we were nearing the restaurant.
"No that's fine, I'll call Dallas now." I shrug and get out my phone.
Dallas is changing or in the shower because he doesn't answer. I leave a message that I'm with Drew and Bianca and we have to swing by the loft and I'll see him soon. Drew drives to the loft and we go up, he tells us to sit on the sofa and he'll be out soon. Bianca and I sit down and Drew walks back to his room. We sit silently for a few minutes and then Bianca starts talking about my birthday after about twenty minutes of not seeing Drew Bianca says she's going to go check on him. Tired of sitting I get up and wander the living room looking at the pictures on the shelves. Most of them are of Fiona and Declan, a few with their parents. There's only one of Drew and his family and then a couple of Drew and Bianca.
"Okay got it, let's go." Drew says coming out of the bedroom with Bianca several minutes later.
We leave the loft and as soon as we're back in Drew's car, my phone rings and it's Dallas.
"Hi Mike did you get my message?" I ask when I answer.
"Yeah I'm still at the arena why don't you have Drew drop you off here." Dallas says.
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit." I say and hang up.
"Drew can you drop me off at the arena? Mike said he's still there and asked if you could drop me there." I request.
"Sure Clare no problem oh I need to get gas first though." Drew says.
I just nod and Drew pulls into the next gas station and gets some gas. Finally we get back to the arena and the only two cars in the parking lot are Audra's car that Dallas borrowed and Luke's.
"I don't see Mike but his car is still here." I say when Drew pulls up by the player's door.
"We'll help you find him." Bianca says.
I open my door and get out of the car just as Luke comes out of the player's entrance.
"Hey Clare Dallas sent me out to get you." Luke says.
"Okay I guess I'll see you guys later then." I say to Drew and Bianca and they wave as I close my door.
I go to Luke, waving to Drew and Bianca one more time before we turn and go inside. There's music playing still but it isn't the typical rowdy upbeat game music. It's slow and sweet and romantic, I also notice that for it being only about an hour after the game the arena is curiously empty there isn't even cleaning staff.
"Luke what's going on? Where's Mike?" I question as we walk down towards the locker room in the eerily quiet arena.
"Waiting for you right through there." Luke says pointing at the entrance to the ice. I look at Luke and back to the shadowed entrance; he must have sensed my apprehension because he put a hand on my shoulder and urged me forward gently. "Asher's not here I promise no one else is here just us and Dallas and I'm about to leave. Go on he's waiting for you." Luke says.
I still don't know what's going on, they obviously planned something. I'm slightly nervous but Dallas and Luke would never do anything to hurt me and I have a feeling Drew and Bianca were in on this as well and probably a few others. I leave Luke's side and walk to the dark archway leading to the ice as I get closer I can see some of the lights are on over the ice but not all of them less than half, only enough to see and none of the lights are on over the seats. I see Dallas now; he's dressed in street clothes but has his skates back on. He's mostly in the darkness under the archway but I can see he's smiling.
"Mike what's going on?" I question as I approach him.
"We're having dinner Princess." Mike says.
"We're what?" I ask thinking I heard him wrong.
"Well first," he says as I reach him and he picks me up, "we're going to skate a bit because I know how much you like this part."
I put my arms around his neck and we fly out around the ice, I notice the LED board above the ice is going and just flashing Mike Dallas loves Clare Edwards over and over again. In the very center of the ice is an Ice Hound's blanket like they sell at the gift shop. That's not the best part, the best part is there are candles set up, floating votives in Ice Hounds cups around the blanket and a picnic dinner from my favorite Italian restaurant.
"You guys have been very busy this took a lot of time and planning. How did you get private use of the arena and what about the camera's and the cleaning staff?" I ask.
"The security cameras are off the head of security showed me himself and the cleaning staff won't be in for four hours. The arena is ours for the next few hours, now how about I take you around the ice once at top speed and then we'll eat." Dallas suggests.
"That sounds great." I smile.
Dallas quickly picks up speed and within a minute we're more than flying across the ice. Dallas is going so fast I'm sort of giggling and screaming at the same time like when you're on a roller coaster. He skids to a halt after going around twice, skimming the ice with his blades and making snow as he scrapes the ice. He smiles and affixes his lips to mine kissing me with much fervor before going to the blanket and setting me down.
"We should get you some skates, as captain I have a set of keys to the arena, we could come and skate just the two of us." Dallas says sitting down next to me as we begin eating.
"I like that idea, I haven't skated in years but I'll probably still prefer to be in your arms as you skate." I tell him as I take a bite of my manicotti.
"I'll always prefer that too." Dallas smiles and we share a quick kiss.
We eat in silence for a bit, just watching each other and eating sort of slowly. Normally sitting too long gets uncomfortable for me but sitting on the ice is different, even through the blanket the ice is cooling and calming on my abrasions. When we're done with dinner I lay on my back and Dallas moves some stuff to lie down next to me. I watch the LED board flash our names and giggle a little.
"What?" Dallas asks.
"I can't believe the coach and owner and everyone let you do this. Take over the whole arena, put our names on the display, have a picnic on the ice." I reply.
"I'm captain of a team that hasn't lost a game yet. Anyway the coach and owner and the whole staff likes you and feels bad about everything that you've had to go through with Asher. They were more than willing to give me use of the arena for a few hours." Dallas tells me taking my hand and interlacing out fingers.
I sit up and take off my jacket, lying back on the ice. "The cold feels good on my back." I explain.
He props himself up on his elbow to look at me smiling and brings his lips to mine. I put my free hand at the back of his neck and deepen the kiss.
"You want to go around the ice some more before we have dessert?" Dallas asks.
I bite my lip and smile and he helps me up, he stands on the ice and the picks me up. He starts off fast and I'm already giggling, my adrenaline rushing as the wind whips through my hair. I'm holding onto him tightly although I know he won't drop me. The feeling of zooming around the ice in his arms is indescribable, thrilling and scary and amazing all at once. We go around as fast as he can several times, he zigzags and zooms and then skids to a stop near the blanket again.
He sets me down, I sit down and he sits next to me and takes off his skates then reaches into the picnic basket and produces a huge slice of chocolate cake and a thermos of hot chocolate. Dallas hands me a fork but then feeds me a bite, I smile and put my lips on the fork eating the bit of cake. Be it the whole evening, the adrenaline rush of flying around the ice, the wonderful food, the fact that my scratches aren't hurting when I sit on the ice or just being with Dallas but I'm relaxed and happy and finding that I want to touch Dallas, that I want him to touch me not just hold me but touch me. We finish eating fairly quickly, not too quickly however and we keep feeding each other cake.
When we finish Dallas puts the stuff back in the picnic basket and moves it aside, we lay back on the blanket on our backs and he puts his arm out for me to use as a pillow. For a while we just lie there, his other hand is holding mine. Then he moves onto his side and conducts his lips to mine, his tongue stealing along my lower lip until I part my lips and allow it in. His tongue explores my mouth, he let's go of my hand and uses it to unbutton my blouse. When my blouse is open he clasps my breasts over my bra and my breathing hitches. He massages a little then moves his hand under the bra, pushing it up and out of the way putting his mouth over one nipple and sucking lightly. I moan and bite my lip, heaving a breath as he moves to the other nipple and toys with that one getting the nipple hard. He takes his head up and looks at me with a soft smile before kissing me gently.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"You're positive the camera's are off?" I question.
"Absolutely positive I told you I saw it myself. I meant are you okay? You're seeing and feeling me and not Asher, you're not scared or nervous or anything?" Dallas asks.
"I'm only seeing and feeling you, I'm not scared maybe a little nervous but I'm always a little nervous like this." I tell him.
"If I go too far or too fast you tell me to stop and I will." He reminds me.
"I know." I smile.
"Good now how about we get that top and bra off you." Dallas grins mischievously.
I bite my lip as he takes his arm from under my head, pulls me up a little; he slides off my top and pulls my bra over my head. Now he's more dressed than me and I just won't have that so I start taking off his dress shirt unbuttoning the first few buttons before pulling it over his head. Then I claw at his undershirt and get that off so I can admire his sculpted chest. He strides over my hips, his hands exploring my curves and finding my breasts again and massaging gently, pinching my nipples lightly. I moan with a shuddering breath and my hands automatically go to his shoulders, gripping tightly. He begins lingering open mouth kisses down my torso until he comes to my jeans and he nips near my navel lightly. He somehow gets my jeans undone without me even realizing and then begins gently sliding them off my legs, pausing to take off my shoes.
"You have to be as naked as me." I remark.
"Yes Princess." He smiles.
Rather than simply taking off his jeans he takes off the rest of his clothing and lays back on the blanket entirely nude. He moves on top of me supporting his weight off of me with his arms and moves down my body pulling my panties down with his teeth to my knees and I giggle. He sits up and pulls my panties down my legs the rest of the way. Then spreads my legs getting between them and without warning his tongue slithers inside of me I catch a gasp in my throat and bite my lip as I moan. I grip the blanket and am very glad the only thing on it right now is us. My back arches as his tongue paints my insides and awakens my nerve endings.
The ice feels great against my back, keeping the road rash from really hurting and going sort of numb and therefore all I feel is the pleasures of his tongue. It's in an interesting contrast the heat inside of me conflicting with the freezing ice coming through the blanket to my back. Dallas was holding my hips with both hands but now one hand goes to my clit and rubs in gentle circles. I moan louder, my back arching up a little more, my body trembling, I'm gripping the blanket so tightly my knuckles are aching just slightly. His tongue is as far as it can go, twisting and tickling and exploring me so deftly and I want more.
"Mike," I exhale and he stops and looks up at me.
"Do you want me to stop?" He asks kissing my belly lightly.
"No," I shake my head biting my lip briefly. "I want more, I think I'm ready." I tell him.
He slides up next to me and locks onto my eyes. "You think or you are? I didn't bring you here to have sex." Dallas says.
I smile, reaching up to kiss him briefly tasting myself on his lips. "I know that Mike and I'm ready. Erase Asher completely, take him away, I'm not sore down there any longer and I need to feel you, more of you. I know you love me, I know you will be gentle and caring and loving and everything Asher wasn't. I'm ready." I tell him.
Dallas smiles kissing me again and his eyes glaze over with lust. He sits up reaching over to his jeans and pulling a condom out.
"I was a boy scout," he smiles, "I'm always prepared."
"I'm not even going to ask how long you've been caring that around in your wallet." I laugh a little.
"I always have one in my wallet, like I said I'm always prepared. I wasn't expecting you to have sex with me Princess; I keep them in my wallet in case me or one of the guys needs one but didn't carry it around waiting for you to be ready. Well I mean I was in a way but..." He starts to explain and I cut him off.
"Stop talking and put the condom on and tell me you love me." I demand.
"I love you Princess. I am in love with you Princess, I live to serve you Princess." Dallas says before tearing open the wrapper and putting the condom on. He gets in position and looks up at me again. "Are you sure?" He asks me once more.
I bite my lip and nod, I can't quite find the words and as much as I want him I'm beyond scared. I know Dallas loves me and he won't hurt me but sex was scary to me even before the rape. I'm trying not show it though, I don't want Dallas to stop and if I seem afraid he will. I focus on the burning desire I have for him, a conflagration in my loins to feel him. It's almost an empty feeling that I know only he can fill. He enters me slowly, gently pushing in just the tip of his head at first. He waits a second watching me, allowing my body to adjust, when his head is all the way in I whimper and moan at the same time. Even with only the head in it's painful, not like his tongue and I grip his shoulders tightly sucking in a sharp breath.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"Yeah it hurts a little that's all." I tell him.
"Do you want me to stop?" He asks.
Inside I'm waging a war, I want him to stop and I don't. I want him to continue, to feel him, to make love and in a sense erase the rape. I want to make love to the man I love and know the rapture of being cared for and share this most intimate of things with my boyfriend. At the same time I'm quivering in fear and want him to stop, I want to curl into a fetal position and cry. The rape, the whole thing rushing back to me in waves and rushes of emotions and memory flashes, my mind beginning to slip again as my body craves to feel Dallas. Somehow in all of this I manage to shake my head to tell him I want him to continue and Dallas pushes in a little farther.
He goes slow, being as gentle as possible and I know it must be torture for him. His lips find mine and his kiss relaxes me a little. I do my best to stay in the moment and not go back to the rape, to concentrate on Dallas and keep my eyes open to watch his. When I whimper into the kiss he begins to pull out just as slowly. There's more pain than I was anticipating not as much as the rape but the pain still significant. He moves slowly, painstakingly slowly and he continues kissing me and locking his eyes with mine, he doesn't even enter me all the way. He continues this way for many minutes and eventually the pain begins to subside, not dissipating completely but ebbing away until the pleasure over takes it.
I relax a little, moaning again and kissing back with more fervor. Even with the pain mostly gone and overtaken by pleasure he still doesn't push in all the way he's being cautious but it's appreciated. He does start thrusting a little faster now though, I'm caught in a tangle of pain and pleasure, the pleasure typically overtakes the pain but if Dallas moves a certain way I'm hit with a wave of pain and it's distracting. Not just distracting but brings with it emotions and flashes of memories from that horrid night in the alley. I tighten my arms and deepen the kiss as my hips being moving a little as if they have a mind of their own. My body seems to be searching for the right movements and positions to find as much euphoric salacious pleasure as possible, my body, my insides feel ready to explode in orgasmic elation. Meanwhile my mind feels ready to crack; it's fracturing between the pleasured, rapturous euphoria of coming to climax and the pain, terrifying emotions and horrible memories the pain the whole experience is bringing up inside me.
Suddenly there's this rush, this tidal wave of immense exotic carnal bliss and no more pain. I'm so very close, I feel my insides tense just as Dallas tenses as well his kiss picks up fervor and passion and we both reach orgasm together breaking apart as we simultaneously scream each other's names. He slows down and pulls out of me, I whimper and shudder, curling on my side as I tremble. I hear Dallas taking off the condom, now that I'm off the ice my back is burning, smarting like never before and I roll to my back on the blanket so it will go numb once more. My orgasm slowly dissipates, my body continuing to quiver and quake a bit. As the pleasure wanes, the pain comes back in tenfold washing over me in a tempest of fear and bad memories as much as I don't want it to. I want to think only of this moment, of now with Dallas of what we just shared but I can't stop it. I bite my lip and swallow hard to keep from crying just as Dallas lies down next to me and caresses my belly.
"Are you okay Princess?" He asks.
I take a shuddering breath and nod, doing everything to keep from crying. I don't want him to think it's him. To think it's something he did because he was nothing but wonderful and I manage to nod.
"I love you Clare." He whispers against my neck.
"I love you Mike." I whisper back.
Update soon from right abouts here and possibly in Dallas' POV