*This is my first story on here. Please be honest and leave any suggestions you may think would help! Enjoy!*
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Elle had been lying in the warm sand for hours, enjoying the beginnings of the summer heat. She knew it wasn't good for her skin, especially at 27 years old but she had been restless all winter, and figured one day wouldn't kill anyone. She hated the biting cold of Toronto winters. Having grown up in California, where the sun always shines and the beaches were constantly packed, it was a hard move to make, but one she had no choice in making. She sighed, pushing those thoughts from her head. I'm here to relax, she thought, not dwell on the past. She readjusted her towel on the ground and flipped onto her stomach, resting her head on her arms. Just as she got comfortable again, she felt something smash into her thigh, leaving a distinct sting where it had made contact.
"What the f-.." she began yelling, tearing her earphones from her ears, but stopped having seen the source of all the commotion. A tall silhouette stood before her, the sun behind him making it hard for her to distinguish his features.
"I'm so sorry" he said quickly, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. "My friends and I were playing some footy, and Josh there has horrible aim."
She looked down and saw the ball at his feet. Damn she thought realizing what made the impact with her thigh, that stings! But she'd be damned if she'd let him know how much it hurt. She'd seen them earlier when she arrived at the beach, a group of six men, all presumably in their early 30s .
"Obviously." She said dryly. "The net is on the other side of the beach. It's fine, just make sure it doesn't happen again or --" Her words were cut off, this time because he had knelt and touched her thigh. She could see him properly now. He was tanned; his jet black hair tousled from the wind and eyes the colour of honey. He had a straight nose and wide smile, filled with perfectly even, white teeth. How the hell can someone have teeth so perfect she thought. He had a bit of stubble growing and she could tell from the white tank top he wore, that he kept fit. He looks like Adonis himself she thought, or one of those Greek gods. She was drawn back to earth when she felt his fingers brush against her skin again, leaving a trail of goosebumps. She'd been caught staring and she knew it. His mouth twitched slightly at the corners, hiding a knowing smile.
"Well he has horrible aim, but I'll give it to him he can kick a ball pretty hard. Your leg is pretty red, does it sting?"
"It's fine!" she exclaimed, brushing his fingers away "You might want to get back to your game though, I'm sure your buddy has a few more people he wants to injure!"
"Hey, I'm sorry I --"
"Look, I just want to sit here and enjoy the sun like everyone else. Just don't pass the ball to...Josh is it? And we'll all be happy." She turned onto her back again, shoving her sunglasses on and putting her earphones in, she watched him take one last glance at her, and return down the shore to his buddies. They clapped him on the back, clearly plying him with questions. Why was she being so rude to him, it's not like he was the one who kicked the ball so horribly. She was unsettled by how nice his hand felt on her skin, and that damn smug smile he had when he caught her staring. Fucking guys, she thought huffing out loud. She closed her eyes again and let herself relax into David Gray's voice, singing Sail Away. She'd always found his voice so soothing. Half way through the song though, she felt that sting again, as the ball hit her stomach then bounced on her head, leaving a trail of sand on her body and face.
Son of a bitch she thought. She got up spitting sand from her mouth, threw off her sunglasses, took the ball and kicked it back, and smiled as it hit the man she assumed was Josh straight in the chest. "Hope that stings, you ass", she called. Having been an avid football fan and playing the game most of her life, she had pretty great aiming skills. They didn't have to know that though. His buddies were all laughing as she sat back down. The one she'd named Adonis even made his way over again, but she couldn't hear what he was saying, her music blaring into her ears.
"What?" she snapped.
"Hey!" He looked a little affronted. "Look I'm really sorry; he can't help his horrible aim. You, though, seem to have great aim. I'm assuming you hit your target?"
She fixed him with a serious stare, but couldn't help but melt as he smiled at her. She found herself smiling back and let out a small laugh. "Yes, I hit exactly what I was aiming for."
"Great. Then you can play with us." He said in a matter of fact tone.
She laughed again, "Thanks but no thanks, as much as I enjoy being hit repeatedly by a football, I was actually just going to leave. I don't know how much more abuse my body can take from an inanimate object."
"Hey c'mon now, don't let us ruin the day! You can get some payback" he said while cocking an eyebrow, giving a mischievous look.
She laughed again. She liked the ease in which he joked with her, even if his friends did slam a ball into her twice. She was also never one to refuse a challenge. "Fine" she agreed, "God knows I can't resist a little revenge."
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Gabe caught a look of ferocity as she accepted his offer to play with the rest of the guys. It gave him a strange feeling, a tug somewhere in his gut. She looked like she could keep her own. He couldn't resist admiring her as she made her way ahead of him towards the group. She had amazing curves he thought, not like those stick thin girls he always saw. She was in a black one piece halter swimsuit, which plunged at the neckline. She had pulled on shorts for the game; even those left little to the imagination. He wondered why she wasn't in a bikini; she certainly had the body for it. Her legs weren't extremely long by any means, but she wasn't short either. They led to an amazing ass, full and round. As she turned around his gaze was drawn to her breasts. Damn he thought, mentally shaking himself, focus on the game! It was her turn to catch him in the act.
"C'mon, you scared I'm gonna kick your ass?" she called over her shoulder, smiling.
"You can try" he replied with a grin on his face.
As they reached the group he gestured to each man in turn. "Josh, Aiden, Blaine, Seamus, Ian this is-"
"Ellena" she extended her tanned arm to shake each of their hands. "You forgot one more person" she said turning to him. Her chocolate eyes gazing into his, an eyebrow cocked. He had to suppress a laugh.
"Gabriel. Call me Gabe, please" he smiled.
"Well Josh, I can't wait to return the gifts you gave me" she gestured to her leg, still red from the hit, smiling evilly. Josh gave her an "as if you could hit me" stare.
Gabe laughed, while Ian announced "Ellena's on my team boys, let's get this game going!"
Seamus, Elle, and Ian were on the first team, Gabe and the others the second. He was utterly surprised by the level of skill she possessed. After putting Josh in his place a few times, she got serious. He saw the competitiveness slowly form, the focus in her eyes. She was killing the other team. The more he watched and played with her, the more that tugging feeling in his gut grew. They played for about an hour, before the other team cried out in defeat to a final score of 6-3. He watched as she collapsed with the other guys into the sand; sweat trickling down her neck, her face flushed. Her long hair that had hung in a ponytail previously was now a little loose, small strands falling in her face.
"We're done." Huffed Blaine "Ellena, you're a handful for someone so small." he said laughing
"Little, pshh, easy to say when you're what, 6ft 11" she laughed, while punching him lightly, "Anything is little to you."
