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Special thanks to Ozmett – I used your nugget of information about the keeper's gloves here. Well, sort of anyway ;)
xoxo
Gail cracked her eyes open the next morning and stretched her body yawning a little. She was surprised how good she had actually slept even though the previous evening had been somewhat.. difficult for all kinds of reasons. First all that awkwardness between her and Holly. Only to be added with the foot fondling happening.
Gail groaned quietly. She had fondled Holly's leg and foot to make sure she wasn't injured, but when her fingertips had grazed the soft skin on Holly's calf Gail's thoughts had spiraled towards wanting.. to touch more. But the brunette hadn't seemed all that excited to Gail. Maybe Holly didn't want her anyway. Maybe she really wanted to be Gail's friend. Friend only. Shit, Gail mused turning to face Holly's bed. Holly was still sleeping. Looking gorgeous as always, Gail noted with a soft smile. Her eyes swept over Holly with admiration. Now I'm staring at her while she's asleep. Stalker! Gail huffed at herself and managed to stop ogling the sleeping woman. Gail got up with a sigh intending to take a shower. Gail was just about to grab the bathroom door handle, when a sleepy sigh and groan made her turn around. Holly's half opened eyes found Gail's. Holly looked a bit out of it Gail thought, but the keeper was smiling so very sweetly.
"Good morning." Gail gave little smile back. Stay friendly even though Holly looks.. so adorable and.. extremely delicious. She obviously doesn't want to be more than friends or date you or anything.. Just stay friendly and don't crawl next to her now, Gail decided feeling more than a bit deflated.
"Hey… Um.. You're.. really pretty in the morning." Holly murmured with a soft smile, while raking her sleepy eyes dreamily all over Gail, who was hovering in front of the bathroom door dressed in a tight fitting white tank top and black boyshorts. The blond with her bed hair looked like an irresistible combination of cute and sexy, Holly noted. "You're always so pretty." Holly sighed softly in awe as she locked eyes with Gail.
"Oh.. Thank you.." A soft, but wide smile spread on Gail's face, while her brow arched in surprise. "You too.." She swallowed as Holly's still sleepy, but adoring eyes held eye contact with hers.
"So.. Uh.. You can go first." Holly whispered after blinking and clearing her throat motioning vaguely to the bathroom with her hand.
"Um.. Okay. Thanks." Gail nodded clearing her throat also, before slipping into the bathroom.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind the striker Holly released a deep breath and pulled her pillow over her face. "Oh gods.. I'm dying here.. What the hell was I thinking?! You're always so pretty? Oh my god. Just shut up.." She groaned thinking she wanted nothing more than to go after Gail and take a morning shower together. "Friends! What a stupid idea. It's never gonna work!" Holly hissed at herself.
Gail shut the door behind her and clamped her hand over her mouth to stop herself for squealing out loud. She leaned her back flat on the door grinning under her palm. After a moment she realized, she couldn't hog the bathroom for too long. They needed to get down to breakfast. She shook her body and went to lean over the sink curling her fingers on the edge. "I.. I think.. she likes me." Gail whispered quietly as she looked at her own happy face reflected in the mirror.
.
The late afternoon day game against Calgary Stingrays had been a tight one. It had ended in a tie. The whole rockets team was totally spent after the final whistle blew. It had been a warm day and the Stingrays had been a difficult and tough opponent for the Toronto team. Holly had been under fire throughout the game with shots coming from all directions. The Rockets' defense play had not been up to par. A tie after the Stingrays' relentless press was almost a victory for the guest team.
The somber and tired Rockets had had a meeting and then dinner after the game, before heading to the airport and flying to Edmonton. Their game against the Edmonton Otters was scheduled for the next day early evening.
When the plane touched down in Edmonton the players climbed on the team bus, that drove them to their hotel. It was late and the players were all ready to get in their rooms and get some sleep. Gail trailed after Holly in the corridor as the brunette checked the numbers on the doors.
"Here it is." Holly said stopping to open the door to their room.
"I just want to get to sleep." Gail groaned tiredly behind Holly.
"Oh hell no.. This is not good." Holly swallowed, when her eyes landed on the double bed in the room. She thought she had murmured her statement low enough for Gail not to hear, but she did.
"Um.. It's a big bed." Gail pointed out hoping to ease Holly's mind. Maybe I get to cuddle Holly, Gail thought hopefully.
"It is." Holly nodded. Shit. This is not good, she repeated in her head. "A big bed."
.
The two women both unpacked their bags in silence not addressing the giant elephant in the room. The king size double bed staring them right in the face.
"So.. Um.. You can take the bathroom first." Gail said making Holly lift her eyes from the insides of her suitcase.
"Thanks." Holly nodded stiffly, before grabbing her stuff and retreating into the bathroom.
"Oh hell.. " Gail groaned and flopped on her back on the bed. "A fucking double bed.."
Gail wasn't bothered by sleeping in the same bed with Holly, but she didn't want the brunette to feel uncomfortable. We are both adults. I'm an adult. I can keep my hands to myself, Gail thought resolutely. I just have to keep right on the edge of the bed. Do not put your hands on her! Distance. Distance is the key to success. Give Holly space. Space and time. "I can do this."
"Your turn." Holly gestured towards the bathroom as she came out and paused beside the bed.
"Okay." Gail croaked out startled out of her thoughts by Holly's sudden appearance.
Holly watched the bathroom door close after Gail, before slipping into the bed and burrowing under the covers. She sighed and closed her eyes. "Just keep your hands to yourself." Holly murmured quietly. Gail is a friend. We're friends. I don't want to mess that up just for.. one night or.. something. Maybe we could be something more, Holly swallowed. Could we? "Keep to your side." She ordered and settled at the very edge of the bed. "Oh great.. There's only one big blanket in this big bed.." She exhaled nervously adjusting her pillow and the blanket.
Gail was seemingly calm, when she came back to the room and settled into bed. She noticed that Holly was perched right on the edge of the other side. Gail sighed and turned off the nightlight.
"Goodnight Gail." Holly whispered facing the other way from the blond.
"Goodnight." Gail turned on her back taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.
Gail listened to Holly's soft breathing and when it finally evened out she realized the brunette had drifted off to sleep. It was no wonder as the keeper was beat after today's game, Gail understood. But she herself felt like she couldn't sleep. Her thoughts kept swirling around Holly. Holly and her. Friendship. Someother.. ship. Gail stared at the ceiling trying to force her mind to shutdown and to dose off. Maybe I should go to the bathroom to read or something, Gail mused a while later almost getting up, when she felt the bed dip and Holly roll closer to her. She held her breath waiting what would happen. Another russle and another dip. Gail whimpered as Holly's arm snaked around her middle and Holly's nose nuzzled her neck.
"Oh my god.." Gail exhaled tensely. "Holly?" She whispered cautiously.
Holly didn't answer and Gail knew that she was still asleep. Holly had gravitated to Gail in her sleep. Somehow that made Gail's insides turn to mush with happiness. She relaxed smiling and melted in Holly's arms quickly drifting to sleep in the warm embrace.
.
As the morning came Holly's eyes fluttered open for a moment and she burrowed more firmly against the warm body tangled up with hers. She sighed contently and ended up closing her eyes once more. Holly's hand slipped under a shirt to caress the soft skin. A soft moan sounded in the room making Holly gasp and wake up with a start realizing that she was in bed with Gail. In bed with Gail, fondling the silky softness of the blond's abdomen with her fingers.
Gail turned in Holly's arms facing the brunette. "Hey.. Good morning." She murmured against the other woman's chest, while draping her arm over Holly's waist.
"Morning." Holly squeaked hoarsely with all kinds of sugary emotions starting to burst inside her. This felt nice. To hold Gail. To be held by Gail. Holly's scientific brain caught on soon though and she knew she needed to stop this, before the.. snuggling would escalate. Holly wanted it to escalate. This was dangerous. Get up, the brunette commanded herself feebly. "I'll take.. the first turn in the bathroom?" She stuttered unevenly as she started to wiggle out of Gail's arms.
"Mmhm. Go ahead." Gail regretfully let Holly slip out of the bed immediately missing the feel of the woman close to her.
"Cuddling! Holy crap.. " Holly groaned hitting her head against the closed door with a thud. "Why does she have to be so sweet, cuddly and.. hot! It was much easier to not want her, when I thought she was a bitch! One night together to go and.. I'm not gonna make it. I'm only human.."
Holly padded in front of the sink lifting her eyes to the mirror. "I'm not gonna make it.." She repeated with a little smile, before shaking her head.
.
After having breakfast at the hotel's restaurant as a team Gail set her sights on Traci, before her friend could escape to her room. Gail wanted a word with her best friend. She wanted to vent. She needed to.. open up and share a little. Gail realized grumpily, that she needed to talk. That was a first, she huffed. Voluntarily finding Traci to talk to her about her and Holly.. My love life or lack there of, she corrected with a sigh.
"Traci! Traci!" Gail hissed and yanked her friend with her to the nearby stairwell.
"Jeez! Where's the fire?" Traci mocked Gail's rapid movements as the door shut behind them and she smoothed out her shirt.
"In my pants!" Gail wailed.
"Funny." Traci snorted smirking.
"I'm being serious Trace! Last night.. This morning.. There was cuddling, tangled limbs, fingers on my skin.." Gail threw Traci a quick glance until squeezing her eyes shut. "And I.. I want to.. I.. I'm gonna crack and pounce on Holly soon. I just.. I just can't take much longer!" She screeched balling up her fists as her eyes flew open.
"Ah. I see." Traci said overtly calm, while eyeing her friend with a raised eyebrow. "And.." She prodded questioningly.
"I'm trying to be a gentlewoman and respectful and.. all that." Gail hung her head with a sigh.
"Aww Gail.. That's so romantic." Traci approved smiling giving Gail's shoulder a pat.
"Romantic? It's a nightmare!" Gail moaned waving her hands around. "Holly spooned me last night. I.. I cuddled her this morning!"
"And that was a nightmare?" Traci arched her brow again.
"No!" Gail snarled. "Of course not! The nightmare part is that I wanted to kiss her so bad and I can't!"
"Why can't you?"
"Traci! Concentrate!" Gail spat unimpressed by her friend's apparent cluelessness.
"I'm sorry, but you're all over the place with your fretting." Traci rolled her eyes.
"I'm trying to be respectful. So Holly can set the pace. But if it's a snail's pace I'm gonna.. not be able to control myself.."
"Oh. Right." Traci nodded. "But if she wanted to be close to you.. Like that. Um, it's a good sign right?"
"I hope so." Gail croaked with hope flooding inside her.
"Come on. We should go. The bus leaves soon. Morning practice. Remember?" Traci reminded.
"Yeah. Game day." Gail pulled the door open stepping back into the lobby. "And then off to Winnipeg. Do you think Holly would like to go sightseeing with me tomorrow? We do have the day off."
"We have a game to win first. Here in Edmonton. Concentrate Gail. Put your game face on." Traci commanded with a smirk. "Then you can cuddle with your… With Holly again."
"Do you think there'll be a double bed in Winnip.."
"You're such a goner Gail. Like a little puppy on Holly's leash." Traci snickered cutting Gail off. "It's kinda sad, but also kinda.. sweet."
"Hmph. I'm not sweet. I'm a badass!" Gail countered with narrowed eyes as she pulled the door open.
"You wish."
.
The warm-up for the game was starting soon and the Rockets' players were strolling one by one out of their locker room after hearing Coach Oliver's final pep talk and instructions. Holly noted Gail getting up after lacing up her cleats and adjusting her shin guards once more.
"Hey.. Gail?" Holly took a hold a Gail's arm, when the blond traipsed past where the keeper was still seated. "Um, can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure." Gail nodded looking somewhat surprised seeing Holly stand up and tug her along. Gail let herself be dragged to a little nook along the hallway, while their teammates went the other way towards the entrance out to the field.
"So.. What did you want to talk about?" Gail asked hesitantly, when Holly just stood silently in front of her shuffling nervously from foot to foot.
"Well that.. I'm sorry for.. You know.. violating your personal space last night." Holly said sighing casting her eyes down. "You're just.. Um.. I was.."
"What? Violating?" Gail scoffed baffled. "You did no such thing." She said with conviction.
"But I just sort of clung onto.." Holly started explaining meeting the blond's wide eyes, but Gail quickly cut her off.
"Holly no. Just no. I liked it! Okay? I liked when you held me.." Gail swallowed staring into Holly's apologetic eyes. "In your arms. I.. I liked it Holly. Please don't apologize for that."
"Gail.. This.." Holly wiggled her index finger between them. "Friends thing is really.. not working for me." She confessed shrugging a little.
"Oh?" Gail's eyes widened in alarm. She didn't want to lose Holly's friendship. She didn't want to lose Holly. She wanted to be with Holly.
"It's just not working." Holly gulped eyeing Gail with a mix of nervousness and something else. "For me."
"But Holly.. I'm sure it'll all work out. I think we're great friends. We will be great.." Gail rambled, but was suddenly silenced, when Holly's soft lips pressed on hers. "Oh.." Gail whimpered. What's happening, she managed to think overwhelmed, before melting into the kiss.
Holly nipped on Gail's lips until cautiously slipping her tongue in the blond's mouth. Gail moaned quietly and responded eagerly by gliding her tongue against Holly's. The blond wrapped her arms around the keeper's middle pulling their bodies together and holding Holly impossibly close. Holly brought her hands behind Gail's neck to secure the blond wouldn't escape from her. Though Gail didn't seem like she wanted to stop or bolt anywhere, Holly hazily realized. Actually the striker just latched on harder to the keeper's lips. Holly's glove covered hands rubbed gently on Gail's shoulders and neck as their mouths explored each other.
"Oh my God.. What is that smell?" Gail crinkled her nose pulling away slightly.
"Um.. Sorry.. I.." Holly dropped her hands from Gail and took a step back.
"Why are you stopping?" Gail whined pulling Holly back against her. "Come here." She purred.
"But.. my gloves.." Holly lifted her hands a little as to show them to the blond.
"Forget the gloves." Gail said with an impatient eye roll finding Holly's mouth once again, but only for a moment. "Oh god.. Seriously what the hell stinks in here?" She snorted glancing around.
"Me." Holly confessed sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
"What?" Gail met Holly's eyes.
"I mean.. My gloves.." Holly shrugged with a pink tint to her cheeks. "..are a bit smelly I guess."
"Your gloves? Did you wash them in sewage or something?" Gail smirked at the brunette's adorableness.
"You don't wash your gloves!" Holly huffed horrified. "It's bad luck! Not to mention that you can't.."
"Oh gods.. Calm down. Don't wash them for all I care." Gail soothed wanting to get back to what they were doing a moment ago. "Could you just.. I don't know, keep them down wind?" The blond teased and tugged Holly's glove covered hands on her waist, before brushing her lips over Holly's.
"Mmm.." A small moan slipped from Holly's mouth as their lips moved together slowly.
"Holly?" Luck's voice rang out in the corridor making the two women halt their kissing and spring apart.
"Uh.. Sorry." Holly swallowed as she stepped further away from the blond.
"Shit." Gail grumbled disliking Luck more and more now.
"Yeah?" Holly called out breathily into the hallway. "Jen?"
"We're starting the warm-up Holly. Chris is waiting." Jen appeared in front of Holly and Gail giving both women a curious look, but didn't comment on the women's flushed faces.
"Okay. I'll be right there. We were just.. I'll be there." Holly promised and Jen nodded and started walking away. "Um.. I'm.. sorry.. I guess I.. I should go. To warm up." Holly stammered to Gail with a lop-sided smile and regretfully scampered after Jen.
"But I was just warming up in all the right places.." Gail whined by herself feeling all tingly as she watched Holly leave. She shook her head, until sashaying to the field herself with a wide smile spreading on her lips. Holly kissed me. "We kissed." She sighed elated.
.
Thanks for reading :)
A/N Life's been a bit hectic lately and I wrote this chapter quite hastily.. I'll edit this later, when I have a moment / Done 8th of September!
A/N And I'm sorry - I seriously can't believe these team names I keep coming up with :D Animals and bugs everywhere!