First & Ten Chapter 41
EPOV
"Bella?" It had taken longer than I wanted to get out of the training facility after the game. My teammates had been buoyant and wanted to celebrate, and then Coach wanted to load me full of information about the Bears.
I'd texted Bella to go ahead and eat without me but I'd felt terrible about it. I wanted to celebrate the win with my girl. Even though we'd spent every night together going over film, I missed just being. Three more weeks and we'd get some time. Well, more like four if we won the Super Bowl. There'd be loads of press and appearances to do after. Then I was whisking her away to Hawaii for as long as her work would allow. It was hard to believe it'd be our first vacation.
Bella didn't answer my call and I sighed. She'd probably fallen asleep waiting for me. I locked the front door and tossed my keys on the side table before heading into the bedroom. She'd left the light on for me and I poked my head in to see if she was sleeping or just hadn't heard me.
She wasn't sleeping. And she must have heard me, because she was lying on our bed, her body tilted toward me, propped up on her left arm. She was wearing my jersey and what appeared to be nothing else, as she'd let it ride high up on her right thigh, high enough to see the number ten I'd helped her affix to her body. My cock instantly responded and I found myself incapable of moving from the doorway.
"Hi, there," Bella said in some sexy purr I'd yet to hear her use before. I was a goner.
"Hi, sweetheart. Is this for me?" It had to be, or I would die.
She laughed and tossed back her hair. "What do you think?" Her fingers trailed over her right hip and dipped down to trace my number. So fucking hot.
I took a step forward and stopped. "I think it better be."
Bella licked her lips and I whimpered. Yes, I fucking whimpered. She was so hot and it felt like it'd been so long.
"And if it's not?"
I walked to the edge of the bed and looked down at her. She smiled up at me in challenge. "Then you better resolve yourself to the fact that it's going to be." I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it across the room. Bella gasped softly, her eyes immediately going to my abs as they always did when I was shirtless. I bit back a laugh. She was so predictable. Well, not that predictable, obviously, as I hadn't anticipated her waiting quite this way, but it was the best surprise in the world.
She titled her head back and her brown eyes met mine. "Maybe I thought you deserved a reward for playing so well."
Damn right I did. Especially a sexy reward. I unbuttoned my jeans and tugged them off impatiently. "I like rewards."
Bella laughed. "And here I thought you played because you loved the game."
She rolled over and I lowered myself on top of her, caging her between my arms. "That used to be the case but now I'm all about the glory." I rubbed my cock against her and watched her eyes go dark.
Bella reached up and put her arms around my neck. "Damn it, I've turned you into a diva."
I laughed and bent to kiss her, taking my time and just brushing her lips lightly with mine before I pressed them firmly against hers. She moaned and opened her mouth to me. Our tongues met lazily as I lowered myself down further, letting our bodies touch the way they wanted to.
Her fingers wound into my hair and she held my lips against hers, kissing me softly before she bit my lip and released it. "What was that for?" I asked, running my tongue over it.
"Just trying to bring you back down to earth before you start making ridiculous demands like me having to feed you peeled grapes while kneeling on a purple pillow at your feet or something."
She never ceased to amaze me. I barked out a laugh. "Well, I must admit the mental image is certainly working for me." Her mouth dropped open and she smacked my back. "But the pillow would be red, naturally. And you'd be naked."
Bella snorted. "I'm always naked in your scenarios."
"This is your scenario. I'm just improving it."
She pouted and I couldn't resist, so I kissed her fat little lip. "You're too cute."
"Cute?" She raised a brow and gestured down at her body. "This is cute?"
"No. Absolutely not. It's sexy as hell. You nearly killed me when I walked in the door. You should give a guy a little warning."
She laughed. "I wanted to surprise you. You had a long day and I thought maybe you'd enjoy a little down time."
"More like up time," I told her and she giggled again as I pressed my cock against her. "As you can clearly see."
"Well, I can't really see, because your boxers are in the way." I grinned and raised myself up so she could slip her hands down and start to tug them off me. When she couldn't reach any further, I slid an arm back to help her and pulled them the rest of the way off.
"Is that better?"
Bella eyed me hungrily. "Yes. Much better."
"You look incredibly sexy in my jersey. Perhaps you can wear that whenever I don't want you to be naked with my diva demands."
She grinned. "And when might that be?"
Good question. "Uh, when people come over?"
"So, I can wear this and nothing else when people come over? That's fun."
I growled and buried my face in her neck. "You can't." I nipped at her as she laughed and wiggled beneath me. "Just for me."
She ran her fingers through my hair. "Of course, just for you." I lifted my head and smiled down at her.
"You know, I didn't get to rub your torso for luck," she told me. I scowled and she giggled. "This torso, not the fake one. This one is all mine."
"Damn right it is." I rolled us over so that she was on top of me. She crossed her arms on my chest and rested her head on her hands. "Did you know that every single member of my team, including Jasper, by the way, rubbed that thing before and after the game? Em has them all believing it's our good luck charm."
She giggled and blew me a kiss when I glared at her. "Well, it is a funny image. And we're paying him back."
I moved my hands down her back and she arched against me. "This is true. I loved when Ronnie asked me that question about Dancing."
Bella gasped as I traced a finger along her spine. "He fell for it, for sure."
I smirked. "As soon as we were alone he asked me if it was true. I told him I got a letter but I hadn't spoken to anybody about it."
"Good. It'll drive him nuts." Bella looked thoroughly satisfied as she pushed off my chest and straddled me. "Now, about rubbing that torso of yours."
She was so sexy. "What about it?"
Her hands glided over my pecs and down my abs, as she lightly moved her finger over my body. "I'm rubbing it. Do you think I'll get my wish?"
I pursed my lips and studied her. "What might your wish be?"
"Hmm." Bella kept caressing me as she thought about what she supposedly wanted. "I could use a new office chair." I laughed and she bounced a little with my motion.
"That seems rather minor to waste a good wish on," I told her.
Her lips twitched. "True. Rose was telling me about this convertible red BMW she thought I'd look great driving. That's a pretty good thing to wish for, right?" She scooted down and ran her tongue over my stomach, tracing my abs with it and making me groan.
"That's better I suppose." My hands were in her hair now, tugging lightly as she tickled me with her hot mouth.
"Or…" she paused as she licked my right nipple and then my left. So fucking hot.
"Or?" I asked.
"Or maybe I could wish that my sexy boyfriend would fuck me tonight." She reached between us and grabbed my cock, pumping it with her capable hands.
"That's the one," I choked out, thrusting into her hands.
Bella ran her thumb over the tip of my cock and smiled down at me. "You think so? That's better than a new car?"
"More reliable," I told her, desperate to be inside her before she made me come like an inexperienced schoolboy.
"Is that so?" She raised an eyebrow as she released my cock and reached down to pull off my jersey.
"Oh yes. You can't trust the car, but I will give you a smooth ride every single time." The jersey was up and off and her beautiful breasts were right there so I reached up and grabbed them, rubbing my thumbs over her nipples.
"Not even a new car? It comes with a warrantee doesn't it?"
She was such a tease. I loved it. I pushed off the bed and rolled us so she was beneath me again. "So do I. Satisfaction guaranteed."
"Is that so?" She licked her lips again. "Well, I guess hot sex with my boyfriend will be my wish then, seeing as car dealers aren't open at this hour."
"You do wonders for my ego, you know that?" I grinned down at her and she laughed and looped her arms around me again.
"Just making sure you don't become a diva."
"Thanks for keeping me in line."
She giggled and wrapped her legs around my waist, rubbing her pussy against Zeus. "Thank you for making my wish come true."
"Don't thank me, thank the torso."
She pressed her hands to my chest. "Thank you, beloved torso that is nothing like that one being stroked by many a man and my mother. Thank God for that."
"Hey! Don't bring that up when I'm about to make love to you. Your wish might go unfulfilled now."
Bella sighed. "Then I guess I'll get that car. Such a travesty."
"I'll buy you the damn car if you stop talking about it and let me have you."
She laughed and touched my cheek. "I don't want the car. I only want you."
I didn't know how she did it, but she could take me from exasperated to excited in a tenth of a second. I rubbed my cock against her and watched as her head fell back in surrender. "Now, Edward." I slid inside her and marveled at just how perfect it felt each and every time. Making love to Bella would never get old, which was a damn good thing since I planned on spending a good six or seven decades with her.
I rocked slowly in and out of her as she moved her hips up to meet me, gripping me with her legs, our bodies moving in an easy rhythm. Her eyes held steady on mine as I brought my lips to hers, giving her long, slow kisses just like my strokes inside her. She moaned softly and I felt the vibration against my lips, which made me smile. I loved Bella's moans.
Her movements became a little more frantic, so I reached back and pulled her legs from around my waist. "What?" she started to protest, but I brought her legs up and hooked them over my shoulders, before I thrust deep inside her. Her moan got a lot louder then and I grinned as I pounded my cock inside her.
"You did wish to be fucked, didn't you?" Bella nodded, her mouth open as she panted below me. I thrust harder, watching her breasts bounce as my cock moved in and out of her quickly. Her moans were louder and her body was going wild beneath me. I got so fucking deep this way. My body slapped against hers, the sounds of good, hard sex and Bella's moans all that I could hear. The best sounds in the world as far as I was concerned.
Bella screamed my name as she tightened around me. It was hard to move when she gripped me so tightly but I kept going, loving the way her walls felt clamped around me. A few thrusts later and I was joining her, coming deep inside her as she continued to spasm around me. My muscles were screaming at me when I finished, but I didn't give a damn. I lowered her legs and collapsed on top of her.
"Jesus, Edward, that was…" Bella broke off and shrugged.
I laughed and kissed her right breast, laying my head on her left. "What you wished for?"
"Yeah," she replied breathlessly.
"You can ask for that particular act any time you like," I told her, finally having enough strength to lift myself off her and roll us so that her head was on my shoulder.
"Okay. I love my private, lucky torso."
I laughed and kissed the top of her head. "It loves you too."
"This was a good day," she told me, stroking said torso lightly.
"It was. And an even better night." She glanced up at me and smiled. "I love that you were there watching me win today."
"I loved watching you. Not cheering was awfully hard. I'm afraid that Buddy and I were a bit biased in the end."
I smiled. "I won't tell."
"You better not." She relaxed against me. "And you better win again next week so we can have another lucky chest rubbing."
"Well, with incentive like that, how could I lose?" She was all the luck I'd ever need. I tightened my arms around her and closed my eyes. "I love you, Bella Swan."
"I love you, Edward Cullen." And with that, I was a winner already.
Xoxoxoxox
Every day that went by, we got more and more tense. Coach was driving us nuts with how good the Bears were and telling us that we barely squeaked by when we beat them in Chicago and we had to be ten times better now. They were hitting on all cylinders and we were getting lucky out there, or least that's how he made it sound.
"He's pissing me right the hell off," Jasper muttered, scowling as Coach went into yet another tirade about how we should have lost last week. Winning by twenty-two was apparently nothing in his book.
"He doesn't want us to blow it. Aren't you the one that's supposed to get people, Dr. Phil? He's trying to motivate us."
"He's making me tense. We know what we're doing." Jasper crossed his arms and looked like a little kid.
I snorted. "I think something else is making you tense."
Jasper grunted. "No damn down time."
"Hey, if we win this week, we'll have a few days off."
"As if. Are you going to sit around at home watching TV or tape on whomever the AFC is sending to the Super Bowl?"
I didn't say anything, because we both knew the answer to that question. If we were heading to the Super Bowl, I was going to be ready.
Emmett poked Jasper from his other side. "Stop your bitching, Jasmine. It's time for film study." His face was deadly serious and Jasper and I both stared at him like he'd grown another head. Emmett was the last person to be interested in these endless meetings. He was really taking this seriously.
"We won't get those lucky fumbles and bounces this week, boys. You can't rely on them. The Bears are more disciplined." Than the defending champs? I didn't think so and rolled my eyes at his rhetoric. "Cutler will be on. We've got to get after him hard. Try to pressure him into a bad throw. Make it happen, don't just hope it happens! Marty, run the film!"
I sat back and got ready for more mindless film study. I already had these tapes memorized, but maybe I'd see something new this time. Coach stood up next to the white canvas, ready to point out each minute thing that he saw for us to attempt to take advantage of. Marty pressed play and the lights went down as the film started.
Emmett sat forward eagerly and Jasper shot me a look that said what the fuck is up with him? I shrugged. If there was one thing Emmett was serious about, it was football. Clearly he was caught up in the moment. That, or…
Before I could even finish the thought, music boomed out of the speakers. It was in Spanish but it was familiar and then all of a sudden, there was Jasper, a tense smile on his face as he donned jeans, a blue button down shirt and a black leather vest.
"Rico…..Suave." Holy shit. The room exploded into laughter as Jasper walked down the runway, looking terrified, while Rico Suave played in the background. He hit the end of the runway and tried some Blue Steel look that completely failed but was absolutely hilarious. The real Jasper was pale as hell next to me, his mouth wide open as he watched the video in horror.
"What the hell is this? Whitlock, you looking for a second career?" Coach demanded, smacking the screen with his pointer stick. The video cut away and the next thing we saw was Jasper, still in the vest and jeans, but minus a shirt underneath. I was laughing so hard I thought my stomach was going to split open as "I'm Too Sexy" started up.
"You're too sexy for your shirt," Emmett told him.
Jasper slunk down in his seat. "Fuck you both."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Key Master," I murmured. He glared at me but couldn't really respond to that one.
"Looking good, Whitlock!" Darnell was stomping his giant feet.
Coach pointed at Jasper's bare chest. "Who wears a vest without a shirt?" Fashion show Jasper had grown more comfortable by that point. He strutted down the stage, posed, turned and sauntered back.
"You're a natural," I told him.
Emmett chortled. "You would know." And then, horror of horrors, there I was, in only my underwear, standing around getting oiled up for my magazine shoot.
"Where the fuck did you get that?" I demanded. There was no video made, I was sure of it. Everybody was roaring with laughter. Jasper finally cracked a smile, now that I was in the same boat.
"You're too sexy for this song," Emmett replied. The song ended and "I Touch Myself" came on next. Jesus. The next clips were me, then Jasper, then me again, one humiliating shot after another. He also had Darnell's infamous shower tape mixed into the bunch. Coach was staring at it with sick fascination.
"Hey!" Darnell yelled.
"I've clearly got to give you guys more to do," he told us, shaking his head but not stopping the damn video.
Jasper was in a bathing suit, carrying a beach ball. I was in my underwear, leaning against a wall, looking thoroughly irritated. "Jeez, Cullen, some model you are." Fuck you, Adrian.
Jasper tossed the ball to a grinning Alice and smiled. "Awww, do you have those little floaties for when you get into the pool?" Even our fucking kicker was getting in on the ribbing. Emmett was on the floor he was laughing so hard. Any remorse I might have felt about setting him up was gone.
The video finally ended with Jasper on stage with a bunch of other half naked men, looking very much like he was starring in some random Broadway show.
"Turn on the lights," Coach demanded. Marty hurried to do so. He stood in the front of the room, his face immobile. "Alright, we had our fun. Girls, did you need to hit make up before we do some real work?" He looked at me and Jasper expectantly. Neither of us responded. "Okay, then. Put in the real tape, please. McCarty, you owe me two hundred pushups."
"Yes, El Capitan!" Emmett shouted from his place on the floor.
"Where in the hell did you get that video?" I demanded, glaring down at him.
Emmett just grinned and shrugged. "Money talks, Calvin. You're just lucky I didn't turn it into a money making enterprise. The making of the underwear ad DVD. Tell me I wouldn't be a millionaire, well, more of one, if I released it?" I couldn't argue. Early reports from the sales team indicated that the underwear line was going to be my most lucrative venture yet and it was women doing the ordering. Still, I had an idea.
I nudged Jasper, who was still bright red. "You know what must really kill him? There was plenty of video of us to be found, but nobody wants him for anything."
"Yes, they do!" That got to him. Ha! Emmett stood up and glared down at me. "Just you wait and see."
Jasper smirked. "I don't know, Emmett. It seems you're going to toil in obscurity while Cullen and I get all the attention. As it should be. Lineman need to be faceless brick walls." His eyes twinkled and he winked at me. Alice had informed him then.
"Everybody will know this face soon enough!" Emmett yelled.
"McCarty! Shut the hell up. You had your fun!" Coach was through with the interruptions.
"Aye aye." He sat back down next to Jasper. "You'll see," he told us.
Jasper and I grinned at each other. Sure we would.
Xoxoxoxox
I could feel the crowd as we stood in the tunnel, ready to take the field. They were loud and they were vibrating the entire stadium with their enthusiasm. Emmett was bouncing around next to me, reveling in the attention already. I was aware of him, of the sound around me, of the energy of all my teammates. I took it in and tucked it away to remember after the game. Right now, I couldn't let any of it matter. All that mattered were those 60 minutes on the game clock and having the higher score in the end. Then I'd feel. Then I'd celebrate, I hoped.
Emmett left me alone, blessedly. He knew what I was like before a big game. All of my teammates did. Some liked to jump around like Emmett, others liked to be quiet and focused like Jasper and me. Everybody had their thing.
The cheerleaders were all lined up in their rows, ready to greet us as we ran through them. I could see the fire shooting out of the weird torches we used, sending flames a good fifteen feet in the air. The flag bearers stood in front and go their signal, racing into the stadium to raucous cheers. The defense and special teams followed, waving their arms and pumping up the crowd as the announcer began to call our names.
One by one, my lineman went out, Emmett to the loudest cheers, of course. The backs and receivers went next, each one getting loud approving cheers. And then it was my turn. I couldn't really hear my own name as the volume in the stadium was deafening. I jogged onto the field, past my teammates, getting a few claps on the back by faceless people that I really wasn't aware of. I saw the field. I felt the electricity. And I felt at home here. It was odd to compare it to how I felt about Bella, but it was the same thing. I belonged on this field, just like I belonged with her. This was my place.
As Bella entered my mind, I looked at the camera, hoping she'd know that I was thinking of her for just a moment before the game. She was in that press box, watching me right now, and that gave me an incredible boost. I shot her a quick smile and headed to the sideline to get some last minute refreshing on the game plan.
"That defense is going to be coming after you all game. Don't be afraid to dump off to Crowley and Cheney on the check down. Protect the ball, don't force anything, and take your shots when you can." Coach smacked me on the back and I trotted out to midfield with the rest of the captains.
I shook hands with Jay Cutler, Devin Hester, Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers, who smirked when I did so. Yeah, fucker, I remember you, too. Just try it this time.
"Julie, you're looking a little portly! Did you put on a few pounds?" Emmett asked with a big grin.
His smirk turned into a scowl. "Enough to knock you flat on your ass, McCarty."
"I plan on dancing with you all day, Peppers. You might be carrying my baby before we're through here."
I bit back a laugh at the rage on Julius' face. It seemed Emmett had knocked Bella right out of his thoughts. He may be a pain in the ass but he knew just what I needed. I clapped him on the back as the ref came over and went into his spiel about heads and tails. The Bears called heads and won the toss. They wanted to defend first, so the ball was mine. Just the way I wanted it.
"See you out on the field, Cullen. Tell your girl I'll be happy to take her to the Super Bowl with me."
The rage wasn't there this time. I laughed in his face. "I don't think she's interested in doing a profile on the Pro Bowl players, but I'll tell her to let you know." He huffed and ran off to his own sideline. The last thing I wanted to do was play in the Pro Bowl if we lost. Emmett, Jasper and I had all been elected but we planned to be playing a week later in the Super Bowl. Let Peppers go and have his consolation prize.
Gould kicked off and Breaston got us a decent return to the 26. I took to the field and stood behind my line, surveying the Bears' defense. They were in a standard 4-3 but I could see that Urlacher was jumping around some and Harris was inching up from his corner spot. Oh yeah, they were coming hard.
"Blue 22, Blue 22, hut, hut, hike." I gave Crowley the hand signal and he stayed back in protection. The ball was in my hands and I took a five-step drop. Jasper was blanketed pretty well by Davis but Fitzgerald had a step on Bowman so I let the ball fly. Crowley checked Harris as he tried to blow by him to get to me, giving me the extra time I needed to get the ball off. Harris plowed into me as the ball left my hands. The roar of the crowd told me that Fitz had caught it. I sat up quickly and saw we were already at 43. Nice start.
I called a handoff on the next play, which went for a nice 6 yard gain. They were all over Jasper, trying to take my favorite target away, so I compensated with screen passes to both Crowley and Cheney. We were in the red zone four plays later. I got my guys in the huddle and called for the fade. Jasper was going to back of the end zone and I was going to get the ball to him come hell or high water.
The Bears stuffed the box, expecting more dink and dunk. I got the ball and dropped back, looking to the left where Fitz was tied up with Harris. I pump faked in his direction and the safety took a couple steps in that direction. That was all I needed. I let the ball fly to the right hash, where Jasper was waiting. Bowman was with him but Jas was four inches taller and could jump a hell of a lot higher. I threw it over his head and he timed his leap perfectly, coming down with both feet in the corner of the end zone. The ref signaled touchdown and the stadium went nuts.
I ran into the end zone and hugged Jasper. "Nice throw," he shouted.
"Nicer catch," I told him.
"Best protection," Emmett yelled, picking me up and swinging me around.
"Carry him, jackass. He's the one who got the TD."
"Just sharing the love!" He put me down and grabbed Jasper, who smacked at his pads.
"We better not get a celebration penalty," Jasper yelled.
Emmett put him down and shook his head. "Live a little, Fabio. It's the Championship Game!" And he was off, celebrating with our teammates on the sideline. There'd be time for celebrating, when that clock ticked down to zero. Right now we had 53 minutes and 37 seconds to go.
I jogged to the sideline and Darnell grabbed my shoulder pad. "Nice drive."
"Thanks. Now you go out there and stop their asses cold."
He grinned. "You know I will."
He did, too. I wasn't watching too closely, as I was going over my plays with Marty, but I looked at the Jumbotron now and then when the crowd got extra loud. It was 3rd and 4 from our 48 when Darnell burst through the line and planted Cutler for the sack and a loss of 9 yards. Maynard took the field to punt the ball and Breaston went back to return. I stood up and put my helmet back on, giving Darnell a fist bump when he walked by.
"Nice."
"Told you. Now bury them, QB."
I nodded and watched Steve return the ball to the 16. Long field this time. We'd see what we could do to shorten it. I'd played small ball with them on the first drive. It was time to air it out a little. I got in the huddle and gathered my team around.
"Fitz, think you can blow by Harris on this one?" He nodded, his dreadlocks moving with him. "Good. It's coming your way. Run the post. Jasper, you run the skinny post just in case Fitz can't get a step. The rest of you, max protect. Got it?" There were nods and grunts. I clapped my hands and we got in our formation. The Bears were loading the box again, thinking I'd go with what worked before. How foolish of them.
"Red 27, Red 27, hut, hut, hike." The words meant next to nothing, but the cadence was an important part of the game. I felt the ball hit my hands and my eyes were already on the field. Jasper was already at the end of his route, cutting in, the corner and the safety with him. Fitz was still streaking down the sideline. He wouldn't cut in for another 10 yards. He had a step on Harris and he was turning it on, running like the wind. I felt a body move past me and prayed that Emmett had Peppers under control as I let the ball go. Fitz cut in as the ball left my hand and I stood and watched as it sailed right for him. Harris was three steps behind now and Fitzgerald caught it and streaked into the end zone untouched. 14-0 after the kick. I felt good.
Emmett caught me in another bear hug. "Was that you that I felt before I released the ball?"
"Yeah, Peppers tried to stunt around me. As if." He released me and ran to grab Larry. I laughed and headed to the sidelines to work on the next series.
The Bears played it smart on this next drive, not panicking, sticking with their game plan, giving the defense a heavy dose of Forte with safe throws to Olson. They cut our lead in half when Forte burrowed in from the 3 for the touchdown.
Our next drive stalled at the 40 when I had to throw the ball away or take a sack from Urlacher. They got a field goal right before the half and we took a 14-10 lead into the locker room.
"Thirty minutes, men. Thirty minutes is all that stands in front of you and the ultimate glory. I know you want it. You know I want it. You're outmuscling them out there. Keep it up and we'll win this thing!" Coach was shouting and inciting the team to near riot-like intensity. I tuned him out and closed my eyes, picturing us winning, getting the championship trophy and heading to Miami. I could see it. I could taste it. I was going to have it.
Chicago had the ball first and they drove the field. Hester broke a big play on a reverse that had them at the 13 and two plays later they were in the end zone with an Olson touchdown. 17-14 Bears. The crowd was deflated and silent. Not for long. I'd see to that.
Breaston returned the ball to the 33 and I called a series of slants and screens, small yardage plays, but safe throws. Crowley and Cheney got the ball over and over and they got us down the field. We were first and goal from the five and I stepped back to pass. The Bears were playing run all the way, but we only had Jas and Fitz running routes and they were well covered. There was a small hole in the line between Emmett and Sam and I took it, tucking the ball against my body and running through it as fast as I could. I felt the bodies crashing around me and I stepped out of a one-armed tackle around my waist. I kept my feet moving and I was in. The ref signaled touchdown and the crowd roared.
"Go white boy, go white boy, go!" Emmett shouted as he lifted me. This time I didn't complain. I could count on one hand the number of running touchdowns I'd gotten since I entered the league. I was a pocket passer, pure and simple, but I saw the opportunity and I took it.
"Nice run, Cullen!" Coach shouted, clapping me on the back. "Don't do that to me ever again!" I laughed and ran to look at the pictures of the defense from the last series.
Hester nearly broke a return on the kick, but Feely managed to bring him down at the 42. They had a short field and the crowd groaned. But the defense stood up and did their thing, stuffing Forte on his first two carries and tipping Cutler's pass so it fell harmlessly on the sidelines instead of going for a first down. Chicago punted and it was our ball at our own 13.
"Let's do this!" Emmett shouted. I could only echo his sentiment. We were heading into the final 15 minutes of the game and if we could go on a nice long drive, we could really limit Chicago and force them to throw. The defense knew this, of course, and they were playing short field all the way, so I checked out of the handoff I'd planned and threw and out to Jasper for a gain of 11. That opened the defense up a bit and we were able to go back to the running game, with Hightower ripping off a 6 yarder and a 9 yarder back to back.
I threw a screen to Crowley that was broken up at the 50 and breathed a sigh of relief as the ball bounced harmlessly to the ground. It was 3rd and 3 and we needed to pick up this first down. Time was ticking away but not nearly enough.
"Jasper, Larry, I want both of you to run a slant. Whoever's opening is getting the ball." I trusted both of them. It wasn't the wisest play call, because they could cut one another off and the defense would be drawn in the same direction. But I knew either one would catch it. They took their positions on opposite ends of the line and both broke in after they ran five yards. Jasper had a step on Bowman and I threw it his way. He brought the ball into his chest and fell to the ground, cradling it carefully as we picked up the first down.
"That's what I'm talking about!" I fist pumped and ran up to the line. I handed the ball off to Tyler on the next play. We were going to run the rest of the way and then try to pick up the first down with a short pass if necessary. Hightower plowed through the line and picked up a first down. Four plays later and we were knocking on the goal line again. This time, I gave the ball to Crowley and he got the touchdown. Much better. It was 28-17 and there were only 6 minutes left.
"Feely! Don't you dare kick it to Hester! You hear me!" Coach was screaming so loud I imagined the Bears themselves could hear him, but he was right. The last thing we needed to do was give up a cheap touchdown. Feely squibbed it and it was picked up by some backup linebacker. Yeah, they got the ball on their own 32, but it was better than a touchdown.
Our defense took the field and played prevent, which I always fucking hated but I understood. They wanted to make the Bears use up as much clock as they could and keep everything in front of them. So they played back and gave up all those little 6 and 7 yard passing and running plays. Chicago burned all three of their timeouts on the drive, but they did get in the end zone with 1:27 remaining. They went for 2 and failed to convert when Hester couldn't bring the ball down in bounds. 28-23. They were going to onside kick.
Gould lined up and kicked the ball toward the left hash. I held my breath as Jasper reached out and grabbed the ball, falling to the field immediately instead of trying to advance it. Our entire sideline was screaming "Get down" and of course he did. The game was ours. I ran out onto the field and looked into the excited faces of my men.
I lined up behind Sam and gave my last cadence of the game. "Green 28, Green 28, hut, hut, hike." I felt the ball hit my hand and immediately went to a knee. The refs blew the whistle and the clock ticked away. There was pandemonium all around me. The stadium was louder than I'd ever heard it before. My teammates were surrounding me, hugging me and one another. Bodies crushed together. Reporters shouted questions I couldn't hear. All the faces and voices faded together and away. I was going to the Super Bowl.
I babbled my way through a TV interview, complimenting my teammates, talking about how excited I was, saying I was looking forward to playing the Patriots, whatever came out of my mouth. I honestly didn't have a clue. I knew I held the NFC Championship trophy high over my head and then I hurried into the press conference and looked for my girl and there she was, her brown eyes shining with excitement. She didn't even try to hide the smile on her face and neither did I. I wanted, very badly, to go over and kiss her until neither of us could breathe but I knew I couldn't right now. Soon.
More questions were asked and answered. I barely paid attention. My focus was on getting into the locker room and getting to my Bella. I gave typical answers and wished the world away so I could celebrate the way I wanted to. We finally got dismissed and I went into the locker room, which was wild. Champagne and beer were flying all over the place. The trophy was being kissed. My torso was being kissed. I was being kissed. Darnell put a sloppy one on my cheek. I was covered in alcohol a minute after walking into the room.
"We're going to Miami, bienvenido a Miami!" Emmett shouted/sang. I laughed as he dumped a beer over my head and hugged me to him. "I love you, man."
"Love you too, Em. Thanks for keeping Peppers off my ass today."
"That's my job!" He ruffled my hair and boogied over to rub the torso. I laughed and shook the beer droplets off my head.
"Well, someone's going to need a shower." That voice. I looked over and there she was, a huge smile on her face. I glanced around and saw that nobody was looking, so I brought her hand to my lips and brushed it with a quick kiss. She blushed and tugged it away, but her eyes were heavy with lust. My girl loved a good football game and I loved that about her.
"I am going to need one. Care to join me?"
"As soon as we get home," she responded, holding her pad out. "So, Edward Cullen, you're going to the Super Bowl. How do you feel?"
"Pretty fantastic, Miss Swan. It's a dream come true. This has been the best year of my life and I'm thrilled to get the chance to top it off with a championship." She colored again at my tone and my words. God, I loved her. I just might get my ring in two weeks. And someday thereafter, I'd get an even more important one. So would she. I touched her left hand and smiled. I had a plan.
A/N He has a plan! And so do I. Always did :) Those who thought I might skimp on certain things need not fear! Everything will wrap the way it should, I promise! They're going to the Super Bowl! Are you excited? I sure am! About that and other things!
First & Ten is nominated for two GiggleSnort Awards! I linked it on the bottom of my profile. Go read and vote for your favorite funny fics! And thank you to those that nominated me! I love making you laugh!
Sideline will update on Wednesday, those that want some Cockyback and Reed Girl.
Thanks for going on this fabulous ride with me. I'm still blown away by the response to this story. You all are amazing! See you next week with more!
