Chapter 11 - I Don’t Owe You Anything (Neil’s POV)

The buzzsaw whine of cicadas sounded pleasant in the cooling evening air of Sandown Park. Neil dipped his spoon into his sundae and lifted a small piece to his mouth. The sweet vanilla melted on his tongue, sliding down his throat with a trickle of chocolate sauce. The place had been busy earlier, but people had returned home as the sun sank lower. Now there were few enough others there that it felt like he and Avery had a little privacy.

“This,” he said. “Is nice.”

“It is,” said Avery. “I can’t remember the last time I had ice cream. Years ago really. I never had any when I was a basketball player because it’s dead calories. I wanted mine to mean something.”

Neil looked at her as he raised his spoon once more. She was serious, and he smiled at her softly.

“I just meant getting to relax with you,” he said. “After the last few weeks getting through the early knockout rounds of the Championship.”

“Oh.” Avery laughed, loud and short. Her face flushed red. “I’m sorry, that was so self-centered.”

Neil raised a finger to touch her lips and stop her.

“It was you, Avery,” he said. “You, the basketball coach. You, the woman who lost it all and has rebuilt her life better than before. Not self-centered, just you. It’s what I love about you.”

She took the digit between her lips and sucked it for a moment. Neil’s mouth dropped open. With a grin, she let him go again.

“Weren’t expecting that, were you?” she said.

Neil shook his head, robbed of a voice by her action.

“I don’t owe you anything,” Avery said.

Neil looked at her in confusion. What could she mean? She paid him on time every week and he honestly didn’t even care about that so much since ultimately she covered everything anyway. He’d applied for a couple of extra government payments for her over the months, but that all went into both their needs too.

“I know you don’t,” he said, frowning.

She shook her head. “No, Neil. I know I don’t owe you anything.”

That clarified precisely nothing.

“Do you remember what you said, two weeks back?”

“I’m pretty sure I said a lot,” he replied. “It was two weeks ago, Avery. Was it something in particular?”

“You know,” she said. “For someone so smart you can be incredibly dense. Remember when I made you breakfast naked and wanted to go further but you refused?”

And there it was. The exact moment, in all its glory. Yes, after he gave her the orgasm from oral sex she felt guilty and said she owed him. When he said no she felt rejected until he added…

“When you know that you don’t owe me anything…”

He paused and studied her face. Her gaze was intense, pinning him to his words so he couldn’t escape, couldn’t deny what was happening.

“You mean?”

“Yes,” she said. “I want you, and I know I don’t owe you anything for that night. What you did was amazing, but you did it because you wanted to. Maybe I’ll never understand that, but I know it now and I want you.”

Neil almost climbed over the table in his hurry to get next to her. He cried out as he smacked his leg against the corner of the bench and collapsed. Avery laughed.

“Someone’s eager,” she said. “Not sure if it’s flattering… or desperate.”

Neil reached out to stroke her cheek. She leaned against his fingers, breathing deeply. Slow, his eyes watching hers for any sign he might be overstepping, he leaned in. With their lips an inch apart Neil paused. Could this be real? It was, and that was the thing. His mind flicked back to the deepfake. He’d thought he loved her back then, but that was barely an infatuation based on a fantasy. The truth of Avery with all her needs, her passionate drive, and even her anger wasn’t just real, it was better. And her wanting him too? Maybe he was even worth that now.

Avery reached behind his head. Her fingers wrapped in his hair as she pulled him against her. Lips met, parted. Tongues explored, hot and wet and eager. He reached a hand towards her breast and stopped, suddenly remembering where they were. He reached behind her instead, supporting her body as he pulled her against him, pressing against the arm of the wheelchair as their kiss deepened.

His cock stirred and he didn’t resist it. They’d have to wait, but this was right now, wanted by both of them. His palm traced the length of her back, feeling the supple strength underneath her shirt. She’d been working out with dumbbells lately, just a couple she still had from her old days on the court. She wasn’t reclaiming her life. She was building anew.

“There is a problem,” she said quietly when the kiss broke.

“What is it?” he asked.

“My back.”

He looked at her, searching for the lines of pain that showed her meds had run out. That wasn’t it, though. She was facing down, glancing up at him, then diverting her eyes again. This was uncertainty, not the agony he knew.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not strong enough to be on top,” Avery said. “And if you’re on top it could make the injury worse. I’m not sure…”

Neil pursed his lips and stroked his chin. She was right, of course. He hadn’t even considered what kind of problem his weight on her could create. Now she said it, he felt selfish. Denying the fact that they both wanted each other, though, was impossible now.

“Maybe it will be okay?” said Avery.

He took her hand in his and raised it to his mouth, placing careful kisses on the back of each finger.

“No, you’re right. There must be something though. I’m sure people with spinal injuries have had sex before. I’ll ask Uncle Frank if he has any ideas.”

She snorted, a puff of air blasting from her lips in disbelief.

“No you fucking won’t! Neil, you are NOT talking about our sex lives with the guy who runs the wheelchair basketball team I coach. Are you kidding me?”

“Okay… but…”

She hung her head in her hand and shook with laughter. “I can’t believe you thought that was a good idea. No, don’t worry. I’ll check with the online disability support group. They’ll know what to do. But maybe tonight…”

“Yes?”

“Maybe we can just, you know, do OTHER stuff? It doesn’t have to just be full on sex, right?”

“Yeah, that’s cool,” Neil said. “You mean I get to go down on you again?”

Avery’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “You really did like that, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I told you so.”

“Why? I don’t get it.”

“Because you’re amazing when you climax. The way you wrapped your hands in my hair, the taste of you, your cry of passion. God it’s wonderful!”

She laid a hand on his crotch. “Maybe you’ll get to do that,” she said. “But tonight I’m going down on you. I always hated it with my other boyfriends, but they were selfish. Maybe it’ll feel different with y—”

She stopped and stared over his shoulder, glaring past him.

“Can I fucking help you?”

Neil turned and saw a middle-aged man staring at them, open-mouthed.

“No… er… sorry… er…”

There were a couple of other people looking their way now too. Perhaps they had been a bit overly amorous for a public place, but the ugly stares they were getting made it seem like there was something more behind it.

“Not used to seeing a cripple getting sexy?” demanded Avery.

Neil put his hand on hers. “Let’s go,” he said. “This park seems a bit polluted right now.”

She looked at him. At first he thought she was going to explode. That would be her all the way. Instead she shrugged and pulled him in for another kiss.

“Okay, you’re right, let’s go,” she said. “I’m feeling kind horny!”

He snorted. Yeah, she’d had the last word and the few who had been staring moved on.

Avery fumbled her key in the front door as she tried to unlock it. Neil chuckled and put his arm around her, leaning over the back of the wheelchair to kiss her cheek.

“Now who’s eager?” he asked

She paused for a moment as she nuzzled against him. With a deep breath she returned her attention to the lock. Her fingers still shook, but she managed to turn the key and shoved the door open hard. It slammed against the door stop.

“Get into the bedroom!” she said. “Now!”

“Yes, boss.”

Neil gave a throaty chuckle and she turned to look at him.

“Oh don’t pretend you don’t like it,” said Avery. “I’ve been watching you close and you love it when I take control. I mean, you like getting bossy too, but only when I don’t do my meds right or slack off on training.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be like that.”

She turned to him. “No, you should. I need it sometimes. But right now… Yes, I’m the boss so get in that bedroom and be ready for me.”

Neil didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was almost in shock at how she was behaving. Was this the Avery he’d met who had given up on life? Or the refined, motivated, smart woman who drilled the HotWheels into being a highly competitive team? Once again, he’d made assumptions and pigeon-holed her.

“This is different,” he said.

Avery smirked. “If I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna have fun. Now get in my room, get naked, and wait for me.”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’ll give you ten seconds!”

He strode down the hallway with her counting in the background. This was going to be amazing, better than anything he’d imagined. He removed his t-shirt and folded it neatly, laying it on top of her chest of drawers. His shoes he left next to them and then came his jeans and underwear. She was right, he reflected. He did like it when she took charge, when she demanded and pushed and told him exactly what she wanted.

He nearly leapt in the air when he felt a hand crash onto his rump.

“Surprised?” said Avery, just behind him.

“Yes,” he gasped. “I never even heard you.”

“Turn around.”

He did. Slowly, savoring every moment of ecstatic trepidation as he pivoted to face her. She sat in her chair before him, still dressed. Her gaze ran the length of his body, sliding down from his face to his toes then back up, stopping when she faced his erection.

“I like it,” she said.

She placed a finger at the base of his cock, just above his balls. He shivered at the gentle touch. She ran it up along the glans, every fraction her digit traveled thrilling him further. When she curved her finger round to caress across the eye of his dick his eyes closed. He already felt like he was on the edge, just from her proximity. He’d never felt so excited before.

“You look like you’re ready to cum already,” she said.

His eyes opened in surprise as she removed her hand. Looking down he saw a slight trail of precum leading to her nail. She grinned and placed it into her mouth, sucking erotically on the point.

“Tasty,” she said.

She locked the wheels of her chair as she leaned in towards him. Her breath panted hot against his skin as she paused a moment before flicking out her tongue in a teasing lick. Neil moaned in pleasure. Her head bowed further, swallowing the tip of his cock and drawing him deep into her mouth.

He sighed and reached out a hand to caress through her long, raven locks, so clean and soft. When he’d first arrived she hadn’t washed her hair in months, but he’d loved every moment of how she’d grown and embraced life. She truly was glorious.

Avery slapped his hand as his fingers curled through her hair.

“I didn’t say you could touch me,” she hissed with pretend menace. “Hands behind your head!”

Neil chuckled. He did as commanded, locking his fingers like he was a criminal, arrested by her sexual attention.

“I never knew you were so kinky.”

Avery shrugged and cocked her head. ”I’ve had a lot of people tell me what to do, Neil. My parents, coaches… even you. It’s fun to turn the tables.”

She sucked on him again, going deeper this time. Her mouth embraced his length, her tongue rolling around his shaft as she plunged onto him. One hand rose to cup his balls, tenderly squeezing the sac. It lasted only a second before he pulled back.

“Besides,” she said. “This might not be the first blowjob I’ve given, but it’s the first one I’ve wanted to.”

She plunged back onto his cock, sucking his erection deep. Neil gasped as he felt the bulb press against the back of her throat. Avery gagged, then pushed on, letting him go deeper. A second later she jerked back, coughing and spluttering.

“Okay,” she laughed as she recovered from choking. “I read that in some erotica once and wondered… bad fucking mistake.”

Neil shook his head as he joined her amusement. “Yeah, let’s not try that again. Really, you don’t need to try so hard, Avery. You don’t need to do anything at all if you don’t want. I like you just as you are.”

She gazed up at him and scowled, the grin beneath it proving the look a lie.

“I thought I told you not to be a saint,” she said. “Besides, maybe I want to learn what I can and can’t do.”

“Sure,” said Neil. “I get that. Maybe just try what you want though, not what some idiot wrote is supposed to be hot.”

They stared at each other. She had a strength and passion in her gaze that made Neil shiver in delight. He wished she would let him ask his uncle about sexual aids for people with disabilities because he wanted to make love with her right then.

“Undress me,” she said.

He stepped behind her wheelchair quickly. Curling his arms around her body, he hugged her close and brushed his lips across the side of her neck, teasing her with his teeth. Her body felt firm in his embrace, a mark of the work she’d done in regaining her strength. He gripped the cotton hem of her t-shirt, lifting it over her body. Avery raised her arms above her to let him remove it.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he said.

“Thanks.” It was just one word, but it sounded like she meant it.

She leaned forward so he could reach the hook of her bra. He took the clasp between his fingers and twisted: once, twice, and it came undone.

“What the fuck?” Avery glanced over her shoulder at him in surprise. “How’d you learn to do that so easily?”

He shrugged. “Just a natural, I guess.”

Her gaze narrowed, her lips tightened. It wasn’t anger, he realized, it was disbelief. And she was right. He’d learned everything he knew about undressing a woman from having to do all of that for his mother too many times to remember when she was hurting too much to look after herself. Not that he was going to reveal that right then.

He took a deep breath and bent to kiss and nuzzle her earlobe. His arms circled her again, his fingers reaching to caress her breasts. He cupped them in his palms, feeling their weight and firmness and for a second the deepfake image invaded his thoughts. Its breasts were perfect globes, thick, large and swollen. Perfectly round nipples sat perfectly on their crest. It was a perfect imitation of nothing. Avery’s were different. They were slightly uneven. Nipples on the undercurve meant he had them in his palms already. And then he felt the minor groove down the center of the left one. He pulled it gently between his fingers, squeezing and marvelling at how the two sides of the bud curved together then flicked out of his grip.

“NE-illll…!” Avery gasped.

It sounded like she’d just had a tiny electrical shock. He did it again.

“Stop!” she squeaked. “Or… don’t!”

“You’re gorgeous,” he mouthed into her ear. “Are you ready for more?”

She nodded and he lifted her from the chair, placing her on her bed. Slowly he peeled her jeans and panties down her legs, pulling them from her to reveal the sensual body they’d covered. He stroked his palms up the outside of her thighs, pressing enough that it would feel deep and sensual as one of his massages while careful not to hurt her. She moaned her appreciation.

Slowly he parted her thighs and knelt between them. He lowered his lips to her slit and flicked out his tongue, looking forward to pleasing her once again. She stopped him, grasping his hair and holding him away from her.

“What is it?” he asked. “I thought you liked it when I—”

“I want to try again,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“I want to give you a blowjob, Neil.”

He chuckled. “It’s my turn.”

“No, well… yes. But can’t we do it at the same time? You know… 69?”

He hadn’t even thought of that. He’d actually never tried the position before, but as he thought about it, it made sense. They could pleasure each other. And if he was on his hands and knees he could keep his weight from pressing on hers, even if their bodies touched. The only problem was, after an orgasm he always felt weak.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Avery nodded.

He could do it for her. And for himself.

He climbed onto the bed, carefully placing his knees beside her head as he straddled her face. His hands fell beside her hips, offering support as he lowered himself towards her body. His position and need to protect her no matter what made it impossible to use his hands on her, limiting his activity. He flicked his tongue out towards her sex, gasping as her mouth drew his cock inside again.

And then they were together. Warm and wet and tasty. Her musky scent filled his nostrils as he lapped at the center of her slit. She matched him, sucking hard on his shaft, her hands closing round his balls. He almost thrust at her, overcome with passion, but stopped himself in time.

Avery pulled back, removing her mouth from him to replace it with her spare hand. Closing her fingers over his length, she began to run her hand up and down. Her grip was slightly too tight, but that did nothing to reduce his pleasure.

Neil pressed his mouth against her mons, her dark curls tickling him. His tongue opened her, revealing her clit. Leaning in further, he sucked the tiny nub into his mouth, testing it with his lips.

She purred against him, the thrilled vibration tingling through his groin as she drew one of his balls into her mouth. Her fingers jerked him more firmly, the grip and the tug of her mouth on his sac pushing him closer to the edge. He pushed closer to her, delving his tongue inside her warmth, curling it lengthwise to fuck her. It made his mouth ache, but the more he did it, the more she increased her pressure.

“I can’t hold on much longer,” he said.

“Good,” she said. “I’m nearly there too.”

She moved her mouth back to the head of his cock, nibbling it with her lips. His hips thrust forwards before he could stop them, just slightly, overexcited as his orgasm neared. He steadied himself and focused on her pleasure. His tongue traced down the length of one of her labia, up the other, before he drew her clit again. She was wetter now, and he could feel her shiver.

Harder.

He pushed against her sex as blood beat in his head.

His fingers flexed in the sheets. Her nails dug into him.

Neil fought for control.

Then he felt a quick jet of liquid in his mouth and lost it.

His legs collapsed as he drank in all she had. He came in her mouth. When she swallowed, he screamed against her. His arms shook as the orgasmic tension kept him upright. She grabbed his legs and squeezed, muscles tight as her release continued. As she relaxed, he pushed up, managing to lift himself from her only by an extreme force of will. He couldn’t risk hurting her. He had to be strong enough to move.

Quaking, he managed to turn beside her before collapsing, thankful they could both fit on her bed if he rolled sideways.

“I l-love you,” he gasped.

Avery paused, silent for a moment before speaking in a bare whisper.

“Will you come with me?” she asked.

He giggled, goofy in the afterglow. “I think I just did.”

She turned to face him, seeming to study his every feature.

“To Arizona? Did you mean it?”

“What?”

“I’m calling her,” Avery said. “I’m calling Coach Ramirez. Tomorrow. I want that coaching scholarship and… and I want you to come with me.”

She bit her lip.

“Please?”

Neil leaned over her, beaming in admiration. She’d done it. She’d chosen. And she wanted him.

“You know I will!”

She closed her eyes and cuddled against him. “Good. And I love you too.”