Chapter 7

Cassie was taken aback by Daniel's aggressiveness, and he was nowhere close to giving her a charge of this kiss. He was guiding her. Daniel's hard squeezing of her breast caused a sharp pain in her body, but it thrilled her. His grip on her neck was neither soft nor gentle. Cassie loves this side of Daniel, who takes command of the situation rather than appearing timid or weak. Cassie surrendered to him as his tongue swirled in her mouth giving her a stroke. Daniel was moving to her side, about to place his hand between her legs, when his phone fell, and both of them came out of a passionate trance of liplock.

Daniel immediately moved back to his seat and adjusted his glasses. Cassie also adjusted her top and then tried to unfasten her belt. This time on the second try the belt sprang open and Cassie without looking at Daniel said goodbye and got out of his car. She rushed inside where Ruth was in a kitchen giving the final touch of her cooking. Cassie was heading to her room as she was not in a position to face her mom. Ruth called her name but Cassie told her. “Not now Mom.”

She entered her room, closed the door, and stood against it. Her breathing was still heavy. She didn't know whether she should be relieved that she had finally had her first kiss or concerned because Daniel was her only friend on the entire Elite campus. She started pacing in her room because they didn't talk after the kiss and Daniel also moved back as if he didn’t want it. Cassie sat at the edge of her bed What if he didn’t want it and he just did it because he was being polite to me? A voice in her head. Then she decided to talk to him tomorrow when they’ll meet at Steven’s game.

The next morning after her classes, she rushed to the game and when teams were going to a stadium she called Steven’s name and wished her the best of luck. Steven turned around and when his eyes landed on Cassie he walked toward her.

Steven smiled. “I am glad you came to my game.”

Cassie tilted her head. “How could I miss the game when I witnessed the captain’s hard core practice?”

Cassie held out her hand and wish him again. Steven shook her hand but didn’t loose the grip, Cassie got confused. Steven turned her hand and kissed at the back of her hand. “Meet me after the game in dressing room.”

Cassie felt the same butterflies in her stomach, as when he touched her first time in the cafe and her cheeks burned, as he winked and disappeared into the stadium. The game was about to begin, and Daniel had not arrived yet. Cassie kept turning back to look for Daniel, but he was nowhere to be seen. Cassie unlocked her phone to send Daniel a message, but then she remembered their kiss and wondered whether Daniel was keeping a distance because he wanted time to process what had happened between them.

The stadium is packed with energy, and the loud roar of the crowd can be heard everywhere. As Steven looks around the field, he reads his opponents and plans his next move. With pride and a feeling of duty, he wears his number 9 jersey. Cassie is nervously sitting in the stands, and she has her hands on the railing in front of her.

Even though both teams fought hard, the score stayed the same at 1-1 going into the last quarter. Still, some time left on the clock. Steven gets the ball near the middle of the field and skillfully moves past players. Every time he moves, the crowd gets more excited. He gives the ball to a partner and then runs toward the goal, ready for the return pass.

Before the last play, Steven looks up and sees Cassie in the stands. It's a short, heart-stopping moment. She mouths, “You’ve got this,” and he nods.

The ball is crossed back to Steven, who now faces the last defender and the goalkeeper. He tricks brilliantly, gets past the defense, and runs for the goal. The goalkeeper runs out to meet him, but Steven stays calm. He shoots quickly and accurately, and the ball sails past the goalkeeper and into the center of the net.

The referee’s whistle signals the end of the match, and the stadium explodes with celebration. Cassie walked to the dressing room where everyone was already celebrating. She hugged Steven tightly. "I knew you could do it," Cassie says quietly, her eyes bright with joy.

Steven, breathless and overjoyed, smiles back. "The victory was already mine."
Cassie squinted. "Don't you think it was a team effort?"

Steven shakes his head. "I individually practiced more than the whole team together."

Cassie opened her mouth to correct his claim, but then dropped it and asked. "Why did you want to meet after the game?"

Steven raised his shoulders. "So that I can ask you out for a coffee."

Cassie asked. “Steven Huntsman, are you asking me out on a date?”

Steven shook his head. “I don’t date.”

Cassie asked. “Then what would you call if we go out together?”

Steven kept his hand at the back of his neck. "A meeting where two people will have coffee and chat."

Cassie accepted Steven's offer because she thought it would be the best way to take her mind away from Daniel. Steven told her he would meet her at the college gate in an hour to take her to a place to have his favorite coffee. It was already late for her but she didn’t want to lose a chance to be with Steven.

Cassie thought Steven would take her to a cozy or serene coffee shop, but he took her to his dorm and made his favorite coffee there. Cassie took a sip and closed her eyes because she couldn't control herself when the taste melted in her mouth and she let out a loud, sexy moan. When Steven saw a layer of coconut sprinkles on her top lips he laughed and then wiped her coconut off with a paper towel. Cassie wanted to kiss Steven because he was so close to her, but she just shrugged and took another sip. She then made another sexy noise, like a moan, and Steven grunted. "Would you stop making that noise?" When Cassie took the mug off her lips, coconut sprinkles got all over them again. This time, Steven wiped it off with his finger and licked it.