Healing Us: Sports Romance, A Comeback Uncovers Love (6 page)

A knock at the door frightened Beth and she sprang out of
bed to see who it was. A man with khakis and a blue collared shirt identified
himself.

“Hello, Beth Barker?”

“Yes that’s me. Who died?”

“No one died mam. I’m Sal Conti with the International Drug
Testing Federation (IDTF) and we’re testing the entire field of athletes
competing in this week’s events. You have five minutes to put on clothes and
finish what you’re doing.”

“I take an occasional ibuprofen but nothing more,” Beth
blurted out.

“This is just a routine test. We’ll be showing up often
between now and the Olympic games. You have nothing to worry about because last
I heard, ibuprofen isn’t a banned substance.” He smiled and went on to the next
room.

Beth pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. She had
been tested before so she wasn’t worried and Ben warned her that this would happen.
She decided to walk down with Heather for moral support because the process was
intimidating. She saw Heather’s door was not properly closed so she pushed her
way in.

Beth’s draw jaw dropped at what she saw. A needle was jammed
between Heather’s toes and Elijah was holding a bag as fluid went into her
vein. “What the hell is going on here. I’m going to turn around and pretend as
if I didn’t see anything.”

“Stop Beth. Heather will be ready in two minutes and you can
walk down together. I wish you hadn’t come in but you did and now we’re in this
together. We’ll implicate you and your boyfriend if you speak a word of this.
Ben knows drugs because of his sister and no one will believe him.”

“As I said, I didn’t see anything.” Trembling, Beth turned
to leave.

“Heather thought that you suspected her so we planned for
this. The two of you are easy to set up because you got used to taking drugs
because of your injury and Ben’s sister is a junkie. We’ll just have sweet
heather blow the whistle on you if it comes to that.”

“Can I speak babe?” Heather asked and Elijah nodded. “All my
tests have been clean and will continue to be clean. I’ll win my gold and be
America’s sweetheart but that won’t get in the way of your dreams for gold. You
gain nothing by blowing the whistle and what would happen to sweet Lizzie if
her uncle goes to jail or loses his PT license?”

“I have to go get tested. This isn’t over and this will
somehow be made right.” Beth walked out the door as Heather slipped on her
shoes and followed.

“Wait up Beth.” Heather turned to Elijah. “You get rid of
this shit and make certain my room is clean in case they surprise us with an
inspection, which is unlikely if everyone tests clean.

Beth and Heather entered the elevator together. “All I care
about right now is surrendering a vial of my blood. You’re lucky I don’t blow
the whistle on you right now but you included Ben Knight in this scandal and I
won’t allow his name to be smeared.”

“You’re so high and mighty Beth but I assure you, there’s
nothing you can do. The other teams are doing it so I’m just leveling the
playing field. I learned from the best and I’m not getting caught.”

“Karma will get you Heather as it always does. With age
comes wisdom and at 26, I’ve been around a lot longer. You’re a kid and you’ll
make a mistake.”

The doors to the elevator opened and Beth stepped out to
test for PEDs, a test she knew would be clean.

****

Beth picked up her phone when she arrived back in her room
and dialed Ben. She hoped to get some reassurance from him that everything
would be all right. Beth had a race to run and she had to focus on posting a
decent time. She would run in a heat before the final and the start was in
eight hours.

“Ben, are you alone because I don’t want Lizzie hearing what
I’m going to say,” Beth said frantically.

“I’ll walk out on the porch. Are you injured?”

“No nothing like that but it’s serious and it involves you.
Before I begin Ben; let me tell you how sorry I am because if it weren’t for me
you’d be safe.”

“Safe from what Beth? What the hell are you talking about?”
Ben closed the porch door so Lizzie wouldn’t over hear him.

Beth filled Ben in on what transpired and he was frustrated
that she didn’t have more details.

“It’s a mess Ben. Should I just let it slide because Heather
was right in that it doesn’t directly affect me.”

“It does affect us because it tarnishes the sport we both
love. When this gets out, and it will, the whole team will be implicated and
stripped of any medals you earn. Heather will sing like a canary and say you
knew about the drugs and did nothing. That’s guilt by association Beth and you’re
comeback will be an epic fail.”

“What’s my next move Ben? I’m scared and all alone here in
Oslo.”

“Run your best race this week and don’t engage Heather or
Elijah. I don’t want you having dinner with them or going to the stadium in the
same car. It’s O.K. to be mad and scared because you can channel those emotions
into your run. I’ll see what I can find out here and I’ll meet you back in
Colorado. Monte and Tara can take care of Lizzie.”

Beth’s voice cracked. “I don’t know what I’d do without you
by my side. I don’t know why the heck I didn’t see the good in you at CCU. My
life would have been better with you in it.”

“We can’t change the past, Beth but we can learn from it.
Lizzie’s calling me so I have to go. She has ballet and I’m her chauffeur. Hang
in there and call me before your heat.

Beth ended the call and with the room still dark due to the
blackout curtains she sat and collected herself which she liked to do before
important races. Some would call it mediation but it wasn’t that formal of a
ritual. She had never been trained so there were no chants or incense burning.
It wasn’t really prayer either because while she believed in God she didn’t often
pray. She had faith that someday she would have faith like all the other good
Christians but for now it was just dark silence. As Beth thought about the
positive aspects of her life she kept coming back to Ben.

Ben was right that she couldn’t change the past but she
couldn’t help having regrets. Beth couldn’t believe she backed off Ben’s
advances during their hike in Utah. Like two animals they could have had sex
out doors in the dirt. They could have made noise and no one would have heard.
The thought of his strong arms pushing her down on the ground with dust flying
and leaves crunching was making her horny. Her crotch started to burn with
desire while sitting alone in the dark. Beth closed her eyes and she could
almost feel Ben’s weight upon her. Beth ripped off her sweatshirt because she
started to sweat just thinking of Ben. The most beautiful thing about her
fantasy was that it would very likely happen in the future. With thoughts of
Ben in her mind she was able to push out the drug scandal. She would race
towards Ben and away from the drama that Heather and Elijah brought into her
life.

Beth opened the drapes and pulled on her black running
tights. She planned to get to the track early where she could scope out the
competition and go over race strategy with Seth.

Security was tight at the stadium and for good reason. Every
large event whether it was for sport, performing arts or political purposes,
was considered a terrorist target in 2016. Beth didn’t mind having her bag
investigated, a physical pat down or the metal detector. They made her feel
safe and she had one less thing about which to worry. As she was walking
towards the track Beth ran into Seth whom she hoped had nothing to do with the
use of PEDs. She decided to throw the subject out and see how he reacted.

“Hey Seth; I thought I’d be the first one out here. It was
quiet on my floor at the hotel because I assume most are trying to recover from
the flight.”

“I’ve already been here for hours. That’s why they pay me
the big bucks, Beth,” Seth joked.

“Were you aware that all of the athletes had to submit to a
surprise drug test last night?”

“The IDTF doesn’t alert me when those tests are taking place
but I figured it out when I saw the athletes lining up in front of the
conference room. You looked like lambs going to slaughter.”

“Doesn’t it make you a little nervous because if one athlete
tests positive it will put a stain on the entire program,” Beth commented.

“Surely you did your research before you joined Apex. Not
one of our athletes has ever tested positive because we make sure they never
step foot in our front door. I was aware that after your accident, you were on
all kinds of steroids and medications. Your doctors and coaches from Oregon had
to bend over backwards to prove that you were off everything.”

Beth continued asking questions as they walked onto the
track. She wanted to know for sure that Seth had no knowledge of what was going
on. “You’ve been able to avoid scandal the entire time you were an athlete and
now as a coach?”

“Of course. I loathe PED’s and I’ll do whatever it takes to
keep an even playing field. I’d submit my runners to daily tests if that would
prove that I run a clean program.”

Beth smiled because she was satisfied that Seth was doing
nothing nefarious. “I’m going to take a few laps to loosen up. Care to join
me?”

“No thanks, I hate to admit it but you’re too fast for me –
even in warmups.” Seth patted Beth on the back.

****

The 400 was first and that was Heather’s race. Beth normally
watched all of the running events but this time she skipped Heather’s heat
entirely which she won. Beth avoided contact with her and Elijah and when she
walked away with first, Beth refused to congratulate her.

Beth made it to the 500 finals, which all but cemented her a
spot on the Olympic team. If she avoided last place in the final race she would
be on the team. Her phone buzzed and it was Ben; her heart jumped when his name
popped up on the screen.

“Hey, you called to wish me luck, how sweet,” Beth answered.

“Of course I did. I know you’re in the finals and making the
team is in the bag. I was thinking Beth and there is no way that pointing the
finger at us will work. They’re trying to keep you silent by threatening you
and me. The thing is we’re both squeaky clean but I am going to ask you to do
something risky when you come home. I’ll fill you in when I pick you up at the
airport in Salt Lake.”

“Yipee, you’re picking me up?”

“I’ll be there and I hope I wasn’t too presumptive in
booking us a room at a lodge. I asked Seth if you could have a night off and
he’s known about us so he said yes.”

“A night with you sounds superb. I haven’t stopped thinking
about our hike in the woods. What a fool I was to put on the breaks.”

“We’ll make up for it Beth. I’m not letting you out of bed
until you’re sick of me.”

“That will be never but I guess I’ll pull myself away from
you so I can continue chasing the gold medal. I have to go because I’m in the
athlete’s lounge and I want to get to know some of the women from different
countries. I never wanted to do that before because I was too focused on the
competition. I’m beginning to realize that this may be my last shot at
international competition – except for the Olympics of course.”

“O.K, good luck and don’t worry about Heather because we’ll
take care of it when you get home. Go back to your room tonight and have a cup
of chamomile tea because I know you and celebrating with Champagne isn’t your
thing.”

Beth met Cammy from Germany and Su from Ethiopia who would
be her closest competitors in the race. Despite the language barrier Beth
realized that not only were they elite runners but they were nice women. She
thought about the drug issue for a quick moment and thought what an evil thing
to do to other athletes looking to win for their countries. It was unfortunate
that Heather couldn’t embrace the joy of competition, after all, it was just a
sport.

Beth, Cammy and Su stuck together when the gun went off and
let those less experienced runners burn out. During Seth’s training he had
tried to simulate a race with women whose legs were fresh. It was a good thing
because Su in particular was barely winded at the 4000m mark. Cammy fell back
but Beth did her best to stay with the Ethiopian but she came in second by three
seconds, which was enough to go to the games.

“Nice Beth. We’ll work on your finish when we get back to
Utah. Are you joining in the celebration with the rest of the team?” Seth
asked.

“No, I hate to be a party pooper but as you know I’m
celebrating when I get home.”

“Yes, Beth I’m aware. I knew something would happen between
the two of you, although I wasn’t sure if it was going to be love or hatred.”

Beth smiled and hopped in a waiting car. She refused to take
sleep medications or even Melatonin but she loved a cup of chamomile tea at the
end of the day. She brought a year supply with her from Oregon and she never
travelled without it. Even Heather knew when they were living together, not to
touch her tea.

Beth was in the airport with the rest of the team waiting
for the flight to Heathrow, when she was approached by Elijah.

“Congratulations; you’re one step closer to gold,” Elijah
said as if nothing had transpired.

Beth was aghast. “I hope you don’t think we’re pals after
what I saw in Heather’s hotel room. This thing is just sad because I thought
you were a standup guy. You only just met Heather and you’re willing to risk
your reputation for her. Is she holding something over your head?”

Elijah pulled her aside so no one would hear them talking.
“Heather was smoking hot and she came on to me in the dining common. We went
out and got piss drunk, which is when she told me she’d been taking PEDs and
she had a way of masking them for drug tests. She said it made her fast enough
to win the gold medal and make a ton of money afterwards. She needed help
administering the drugs and she promised me a boatload of cash if I agreed to
be that person. I didn’t want you involved but now you are and you had better
keep quiet. Heather means business and will stop at nothing. She holds a grudge
and she remembers Ben giving her the brush off and instead pursued you.”

“I’m not afraid of Heather and I’m certainly not afraid of
you. You’ve warned me and now I’m warning you because I once called you a
friend; get out while you still can.” Beth put on her headphones and walked
away.

****

The fasten seatbelt sign was illuminated as the plane
approached Salt Lake City. Beth was nervous and excited to see Ben and hoped
that he had built a night with her in his mind. In her dreams, being with Ben
was effortless and she wanted it to be the same in person. Beth snuck a look in
mirror but there was little she could do after 20 hours of travel. Beth walked
to the baggage area where she planned to meet Ben Knight and there he was. He
took her breath away when he spotted her with his sparkling blue eyes and
smiled. Beth bounced into Ben’s arms and she didn’t have to worry about meeting
expectations because being in his arms was the right place to be.

“Welcome home Beth.” Ben lifted her off her feet and twirled
her around. “I can’t believe you’re back in my arms where you belong. The magic
between us is 10 times what it was. I have to admit that I was slightly
worried.”

Beth walked over to pick her bag up off of the carousel. Ben
wasn’t far behind, holding on to her jeans by the waist band. His finger
against her flesh reminded her of his touch and if she had her way she would
tear his close off and make love to him right there.

“Should we stop off and get some take out and a bottle of
wine?” Beth asked.

“It’s all been arranged. We have a spectacular view,
fireplace and there are seven jets in the shower.”

“Water is the theme of our relationship, isn’t it?”

“I guess so. We’ve spent a lot of time in the pool. Do know
how badly I wanted to grab your breasts when I strapped the heart monitor on
you?”

“You should have because it was on my mind too. I think we
need to stop talking and get to the hotel,” Beth pulled down Ben’s face by his
silky brown locks and kissed him.

****

Smooth jazz was playing and the fire was roaring when they
walked into their room. The mantle was covered with candles and the king bed
was covered in pink rose petals.

“You somehow knew I don’t like red roses,” Beth placed her
hand on her heart as she took in her surroundings.

“Pink is more delicate – like you,” Ben said as pulled off
her sweater and dropped it to the floor. Her bra came next and her kissed her
chest as it had never been kissed before. Her nipples grew hard and Ben
released he belt buckle before he pushed her jeans to the floor along with her
panties. Ben pushed Beth away so he could gaze at her in front of the
firelight. “You’re perfection Beth. I could spend forever looking at the gentle
curves of your breasts and your taught belly. It’s a shame your body ever has
to be covered with clothes.”

Beth took a step forward and pulled off his t-shirt as she
began clawing at his belt buckle. His tight and undulating abs and wasp waist
made Beth’s mouth water. She ran her finger down from his chin over his
chiseled body until she reached for his cock and it was erect within seconds. 
His cock was big, and was nicely trimmed, her soft hands wrapped around it and
she felt it throbbing as she ran her hands up and down. Ben moaned when she
pushed him back on the bed and began sucking his hard penis. She drew him in
and out of her mouth at first slow and then fast an as her head rocked in
perfect rhythm with his gyrations.  She stroked her hand up and down his shaft
as she took his manhood in and out of her mouth.  Out of breath, she pulled her
mouth off and just admired her view, his abs where flexing as he breathed and
his chest was rippled with muscles as he held her head. Ben’s hands were now
tangled in Beth’s red hair, he placed his cock in her mouth again and began
thrusting his hips as he held her head still.  She can feel his intensity as
his cock slipped in and out of her mouth as he pumped her harder, moaning with
pleasure he tensed before he came generously inside of her.

“I have no idea how we’re going to top that.”  Ben smiled,
pulled her head up and nuzzled her under his chin. They laid still without
talking because words weren’t necessary and waited for Ben to recover from what
could only be described as magnificent. “Do you have a fantasy that I can
fulfill, Beth?”

“There isn’t much that I don’t think about doing with you
Ben but I’m in no rush. If I let myself think of having you inside of me I have
to change my panties. I’m not exaggerating Ben because I had a lot of laundry
to do in Oslo.” She smiles.

Upon hearing what Beth desired, Ben laid her on her stomach
and began massaging her ass.  He spread her butt cheeks apart to expose her
pussy and began licking.  Beth was so wet already, that Ben slid his tongue
inside her effortlessly.  Beth reached down and began flicking her clit with
her fingers at the same time and made her closer to climaxing. Ben then lied on
his back with his Penis erect now and pulled Beth on top of him. Beth guided
his cock to her pussy and she slowly inserted, feeling every sensation of his huge
head penetrating her.  She straddled his body and placed her palms flat on
Ben’s chest and pumped her hips up and down. She moaned, yowled and made sounds
she’d never heard come from her mouth.  As she looked down, his cock was disappearing
inside her and every stroke seared a sensation up and down her body. Ben made
his own lovers cry as they did what neither had done before – they climaxed at
the same time.

Breathless, Ben pulled himself out of Beth’s wet pussy and
they collapsed together on the cotton sheets. It was ½ hour before either had
the energy or reason to speak.

“So that’s what sex is life when you’re in love with another
person,” Beth said in a raspy voice.

“Did you just say love Beth Barker?”

“Yes; I love you Ben Knight. People have said that I seem to
be running towards something and I never figured out what that something was.
Now I know the answer and it’s an easy one. I’ve been running towards the
happiness I feel when I’m with you.

Ben smiled as he pulled Beth tight. “I knew I was falling in
love with you but I’m done falling. I love you too Beth. Just curious; haven’t
you loved before?”

“I thought so but this is different because it’s real. You
mentioned fantasy and I have often thought of you in the shower.”

“Sounds like a plan. It’s your fantasy so you lead the way.”
Ben was looking forward to her fantasy because he had a few of his own as well.

Beth led Ben into the shower and lathered him up under the
pulsating water. She washed his brown locks and Ben reciprocated by doing the
same with her ginger hair. “Ready for the fun part Ben?”

“I was already enjoying myself but if there’s more, I’m game”

“I want you to pin me against the tile wall and kiss me
wildly from my head moving down and lick until I’m satisfied.”

Ben did as Beth said and she gasped as he pinned her and
went on to perform the best oral sex she had ever received. Beth was in ecstasy
and when he was done Ben carried her to the bed. Wet and exhausted, they slept
in front of the raging fire.