AN: So sorry about the delay. Full time job, two kids and moving house... not easy.

Chapter 26: Euphoria

"Where is she?" Paul asks with a worried expression.

With Bella's permission, Peter gave the players a reason for her absence that isn't too far from the truth. He explained that her father died and that she's had a rocky relation with him, so she'd rather not talk about it. They all kept quiet and treated her with much care.

So much care that I get several frowns from my team mates when I enter the training center alone.

"Doctor's appointment," I explain, while joining Paul to the locker room to get changed.

Bella's gone back to the doctor for another attempt at internal examination. She believes she's ready now, and I wanted to come along, but this week is the last week before the season's end and I can't really afford to miss one practice. I believe she actually wanted to go alone, or else she would have booked the appointment next week instead.

"Is she all right?" Paul continues.

"Yeah, she's fine, just a checkup."

"Didn't mean that," he says. Paul knows a little bit more than the rest of the players, about her mental condition. I needed someone to talk to when she wouldn't allow me near her, and he knows about the rough patches we've been through. He has no idea about the full truth though, and I am grateful that he never asks.

"Oh, yeah. She's… yeah, she's great, better than expected. I thought she'd break down again, you know? She was slowly recovering, and then that bastard dies on her, and his last words weren't exactly nice."

"But she's keeping strong?"

"Definitely. That girl has some strength in her, even when she doesn't see it."

"You think she's putting on an act? To keep you from worrying now with the championship being so near?"

"No, I don't believe so. I know her so well by now, I'd like to think I can tell the difference."

When Bella walks into the fitness room two hours later, she has a huge grin on her face. I rush over to her and ask about the results.

"I don't know, the doctor said she'd like to consult a gynecologist first. I can call her in two days."

"Then what are you so happy about?"

"Well obviously it worked, the internal examination. I was able to do it. She had to go like real slow, but I did it. I feel like I'm on top of the world now. It's silly really, to be so joyful about a thing that most girls hate. But I just feel so… normal."

She smiles and I'm happy for her.

Later that night, her good mood still lasts, and it's making her courageous, I can tell by the look in her eyes when we enter the apartment. She flings her arms around me and pulls me towards the bedroom. My stomach growls, but I know better than to object. She's still very sensitive to rejection, still feels insecure about her "inability to please me."

I won't back down when she's up for playtime.

In no time, we're both in our underwear, kissing hard and passionately. Her warm hand sneaks into my boxers eagerly.

"Easy," I murmur against her skin, knowing that I won't last long if she keeps this up. Bella ignores me though and she rubs me enthusiastically. I'm reduced to panting, completely at her mercy as she climbs on top of me and gyrates her hips against my dick.

The palm of her hand still slides over my wet tip and her center moves up and down my length.

"Oh Bella," I sigh, as I fall over the edge and make a mess on my belly. She drops down next to me and whispers, "I can never get enough of feeling you pulse in my hand. That is just so hot."

She kisses me with that same urgency, and I can tell that she still feels turned on. She's not relieved the way she usually is after I orgasm, not yet.

When my hands roam the sensitive skin on her neck and her back, she lets out soft sighs. And when my fingertips move over her thighs, her legs open just a tiny bit.

I try to hide my surprise and softly caress her inner thighs. There's no mistaking it, her legs open just a little more.

My teasing touch moves closer and closer to her center, which is clearly where she wants me.

When I finally rub my thumb over the wet fabric of her panties, she moans.

Touching her like this made me hard again, but this time it's not about me. I want to make her feel good as well, and I pray with all my might that she will let me this time, that she won't suddenly panic and stop me.

When her hips push up against my thumb, I feel bolder and gently I move her panties to the side. We both sigh into each other's neck when my skin touches her wet folds, sliding over it ever so lightly. Her clit is already swollen from all the teasing and I make slow circles around it.

I keep myself from pushing a fingertip inside her, to keep her from feeling any pain, and focus all my attention on her soft bud.

It's exactly where she wants it, because she keeps pushing her hips closer against my still tentative touch.

Encouraged, I rub her a little harder, speeding up my movements as well. I no longer circle around it, but move her clit back and forth between my wet fingers.

Her soft sighs turn into moans and her body tenses underneath me.

"Oh," she suddenly gasps, "that… right there, that's…. oh… so good."

I keep the pace steady and continue rubbing that same spot, while she keeps uttering some more words I don't understand and then she stops breathing.

I open my eyes to see if this is a bad sign, but it clearly isn't: her face is all bliss and she tumbles down.

I understand now what she means about feeling the orgasm pulse through her body.

I could never get enough of that either, or the smile that is etched on her face for the rest of the evening.

It's pure euphoria.

PS: Progress! What do you think? Still liking the story despite the long pause?