Disclaimer: This is purely fiction. All characters are imagined and based on no one in real life.

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Keira’s ears were still ringing. The closing ceremony had been amazing, but a combination of music acts and fireworks echoing around the Stade de France had left her with a faint, high-pitched tone that felt like a soft pressure against her eardrum.

It had made the afternoon’s media round difficult, taking questions from the pool of journalists who'd followed the cycling team throughout their two weeks at the Olympics. And of course, they’d all wanted to talk to her…

‘Gold fever’ she’d heard it called.

The amount of attention she’d received after crossing the line to win the women’s sprint had been incredible. An intense interest in every part of her life… whether or not it had anything to do with her sport.

Keira had found their scrutiny uncomfortable at times this week, but even more so yesterday. Flanked by her teammates in their identical tracksuits, all listening intently to queries from journos about her relationship status. Barely veiled hints that all those early morning starts must really have put a dent in her sex life…

Sadly, it was all too true.

But not for the reasons the tabloid press believed.

After all, it wasn’t Keira’s dedication to her cycling career that had put half a decade’s worth of passionate affairs on hold; blue-balling all those potential lovers.

No. She’d been waiting… for just one.

The one she’d wanted for a very long time.

*

She’d told Nick to meet her here, the hotel’s bar a far cry from the social experience she’d enjoyed at the athlete’s village. More subdued, lacking the diversity and passion of the world’s most gifted (and seemingly horniest) sportsmen and women Keira had lived among for the last fortnight. Fun as the village had been, it had been quite wearing this time around - this her third Olympics. The party atmosphere she’d welcomed in her twenties had all felt a bit much on this occasion.

Checking in at the Marignan this evening had been a welcome change of pace – Keira’s brief nap in a bed that wasn’t made of cardboard feeling like a moment of exquisite luxury.

Nick hadn’t questioned the message asking him to join her at this fancy hotel on the Champs Elysee – her coach had known of her plans to stay on in Paris after the Games. Do some sight-seeing in one of Europe’s great cities. They’d talked about meeting up for drinks before he flew home with the rest of the coaching staff.

An immaculate waiter in a white waistcoat smoothly appeared at her elbow while she eyed the street entrance for signs of Nick. Keira reluctantly asked for a vodka tonic, more in the mood for wine if she was completely honest, but terrified of looking stupid  while ordering from the bewildering number of choices on offer.

The fresh-faced waiter gave her a knowing smile, a hint of recognition in his eyes. For a moment she was worried that he’d make a scene – draw attention to her in this dimly lit little sanctuary. Derail her quiet moment of anonymity.

“I almost didn’t recognize you with your hair down.” The young Frenchman spoke quietly over the lounge jazz, his English excellent despite a strong accent. “Congratulations…” He paused, seeing her look down at the wine list as he reached out to take it from the table. “You’re meeting someone?”

“Umm, yes…” She answered, surprised at how nervous she sounded, blushing when the young man beamed at her.

“Bon, in that case, allow me to bring you a bottle of our 2014 Chablis – compliments of the hotel of course. A golden vintage to celebrate your achievement.”

Blushing hard, she murmured her thanks – his attention making her slightly self-conscious. Keira watched him go, catching her reflection in the wall-mounted mirror over towards the bar.

She’d agonized over what to wear tonight. Forcing herself to set aside the modest black dress she normally packed for post-competition functions. Tonight, she wanted to take his breath away – make Nick see the woman she imagined herself to be. Somehow channel the imperious confidence she felt on-track into her off-track persona.

The dark-green satin hugged her closely, accentuating her muscular thighs and firm butt. Long enough to hide the bruises and scrapes that came with a life spent frequently skidding across the floor of a velodrome. It was sleeveless, showing off her neck and shoulders, dark hair in loose curls resting against her collarbone. Keira felt she looked good tonight, but still struggled to feel beautiful.

Ironic that a woman presented to millions on TV wearing skin tight Lycra should worry so much about feeling on show, but it wasn’t the attention of faceless strangers she was inviting tonight. No… This really mattered to her. She wanted him to want her, the way she’d wanted him for years.

Nick arrived at the door to the bar just as the waiter delivered the wine to her table. The young Parisian followed her eyeline, smiling when he saw her reaction to the lean man in his mid-thirties walking in off the Champs Elysee. A barely audible ‘bon chance’ whispered when he set the opened bottle back in the cooler.

Why was she this nervous?

She could barely breathe, watching her dark-haired coach smoothly negotiate the busy bar, walking over to where she was sat. Keira stood up from her chair as he drew near, wobbling slightly on unfamiliar heels – walking in them so different to cycling shoes but no less hard to master. Nick’s eyes lit up when he saw her, his reaction making her blush furiously, hoping it was dark enough in here that he wouldn’t notice.

“Holy shit, Keira, you look incredible…” He praised her once he’d made his way over. She stepped around the table to hug him, pressing her cheek against his and inhaling deeply. She loved the cologne he wore on nights out like this.

“If I’d known you were going all out, I’d have worn something smarter!” He joked.

She laughed and motioned for him to sit. “What’re you talking about! You look great…”

Her answer more than simply polite. She loved it when he dressed like this. Snug-fitting dark suit pants and a pale-blue shirt, open at the collar to show off his smooth chest and wide neck. Keira loved to look at his body, the physique she knew he worked hard to maintain despite having quit competitive cycling more than five years ago.

The waiter returned, smoothly pouring Nick a glass of wine before melting back into the hubbub of the bar. Her companion gave a low whistle when he noticed the label peeping out from the cooler.

“2014 Chablis, huh? Thought you said you were done celebrating?”

 “Compliments of the hotel – perks of being a golden girl, apparently…” Her answer made Nick smile and shake his head, taking a sip before silently mouthing ‘wow’.

She sighed. “But it’s fitting, I think…”

“Oh?” Nick’s eyes danced in the low light. His steely green-grey stare much softer in this setting than when he was coaching trackside.

“Yeah…” Keira paused, letting the moment sink in. The few seconds before she spoke the words that she hoped might change everything. “I’ve got some news, Nick… And I wanted you to be the first to hear it.” She watched him set his glass down and lean forward, concern on his features.

“Everything OK?” He asked, eyes searching her face.

“I think so?” She laughed nervously… “Umm, Nick - I’m retiring… The race last week – that was my last.”

His reaction made her worry he might fall off his chair, Keira reaching out to grab his elbow as Nick’s eyes widened and his eyebrows climbed. His mouth opening and closing as he tried to find words. Finally, he reached for his glass again, taking a swift gulp.

“You’re… What?” He answered after a few seconds. “Why? Did something happen – are you feeling alright?”

“I just… I feel like it’s the right time.”

“But… You’re literally at the top of your game! You didn’t just win last week, Keira – you left the others for dead! I mean, you were only point-two off the world record, for God’s sake – if you hadn’t had the wobble at the start when the Japanese rider bumped you-”

“Nick, please stop coaching for a second, yeah? I was at the debrief, remember…” She watched him calm down – switch off the keen analytical mind that had helped her go from a top five rider to the best in the world. “It’s not about performance… It’s about wanting something else.”

“A change of discipline? I mean it’s tricky, but with your talent I’m sure you could-”

“No. Not that. That’s not what I’m talking about. That’s not what I want.” Keira could feel her heart-rate rising, her adrenaline spike.

Familiar sensations in an unfamiliar setting, so used to turning that nervous rush of energy into torque and power – drive that surging thrill through the pedal, faster and faster.

“Then what? What is it you want, Keira?” Nick asked, stare from those pale eyes intense while he waited for her answer.

She took a deep breath.

“…You…”

Time seemed to slow. Just like it did for her on-track, lights and sounds muffled, fuzzy and shimmering – blurred as her mind worked faster than the combined reports from her senses.

She became aware of tiny details, just as she would when the starter’s gun in a race would crack and she’d feel her muscles light up. Supporting hand leaving the rear of her saddle as her powerful stroke propelled her forward – and onto victory.

Keira watched her coach’s reaction to her words. Eyes fixed on his, filtering every fractional change in his expression. She saw his shock; surprise… But soon followed by something else, something she’d seen only a few times before – in hushed moments where they’d been alone, his guard down.

A deep, deep longing. A barely smothered, fiery need. Something he only showed when he thought she couldn’t see – at team socials or during late evenings at training camps. She saw it because she knew what it was. Recognized what was between the two of them.

That tension always reined in, bound and shackled by the professional boundaries they vigorously applied to their work. But her ferocious desire for him ever present – never leaving her. Always in her mind whenever he was close - the constant, debilitating fantasies about touching him; of him fucking her.

“Me?” His answer was shaky – a breathless whisper of disbelief.

“Don’t act like you don’t know…” Keira’s face burned as she spoke, but she forced herself to push through - make it through the discomfort, just as she’d trained her body to endure for all these years. “You must have guessed – I mean, I made it pretty clear in Munich.”

“Thought you’d said you were too drunk to remember any of that?” Nick quizzed her with a slight frown.

“Yeah, well… I wasn’t… It was the wrong time then. I was wrong to have put you in that position... when we were both vulnerable.” She let out a shaky sigh. “You did the right thing that night – I’ve always loved that you chose to take care of me instead of taking advantage…”

 He smiled, his face a mix of emotions. “So what’s changed?”

“Everything… And nothing.” Her words brought a look of puzzled concern to his features, and she took a long sip of wine. “Winning gold was incredible, Nick. Truly, the best moment of my life.” She sighed, reaching out her hands for his, looking into his eyes as she worked through the speech that she’d run through in her mind so many times this week.

“It was like getting to the top of a mountain I’ve been climbing for years. The view is… It’s incredible, Nick – but… it’s lonely. I want to share it with someone. I want to share it with you…”

She watched him smile, pale eyes shining with emotion. The kindness and warmth in his expression making her yearn for him. His face so close as she leaned over the table, her hands in his. Her soft sigh when he lowered his head and parted his lips…

Keira let her eyes close slowly as his soft kiss made her moan, all of time slowing to a stop while she reached out tentatively to hold his jaw and kiss him back.

*

Feeling light-headed, she led Nick by the hand into her room, wondering if it was her raging desire or simply the wine that had her feeling quite so off balance.

Nick laughed softly as she wobbled on her heels in the deep carpet, arm around her waist helping to keep her upright while she took them off.

“I’ve got you…” He reassured her, before being distracted by the view from her window. “Oh wow…” Nick murmured, holding her close as they walked slowly over to the balcony.

Paris shimmered below them, most of the lights and decorations remaining up after yesterday’s closing ceremony. The Olympic rings still shining from the mid span of the Eiffel Tower – elegant landmark glittering in the late dusk glow above the city.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Keira breathed, leaning into Nick, her hand resting on his chest.

He looked down at her and smiled. “You’re beautiful…”

Keira laughed,  “You’re so cheesy…” She teased, secretly delighted at the compliment. All her earlier anxiety about her looks melting away with the warmth and adoration she saw in his eyes.

When she kissed him this time, she didn’t hold back.

In public no longer – now sequestered in perfect, private luxury. Just the two of them, alone at last to be who they wanted to be. Framed by the backdrop of the city of lights, they explored each other. His hands moving over her body, fingertips brushing the skin on her back as he started to inch the zipper down on her dress.

Keira unbuttoned his shirt as his knuckles brushed all the way down her spine, running her hands over his broad, smooth chest. Kissing his pecs while she trailed her fingers lower…

He lifted her chin when her hands found his belt, kissing her softly while she worked open the buckle and unzipped his pants. His long, throaty groan of lust her reward when she reached in his briefs, trembling fingers closing around his stiff cock.

Nick kissed her neck and shoulders as she stroked him, descending path of his warm lips making her sigh with pleasure. His hands sliding her dress lower before caressing her aching tits, thumbs brushing over sensitive nipples making her moan for more.

She helped him undress her, watching his eyes widen when she stepped out of the dark-green dress pooled at her ankles. Now wearing nothing but black lace panties, the full cut looking more like a thong thanks to her thick thighs and muscular ass.

“You look incredible… I… I’ve wanted you for so long, Keira.” Nick’s admission seemed to shock him, her tall, dark-haired coach blinking rapidly, eyes shining in the low light.

“Come here.” She replied, sitting on the bed. Waiting for him to join her before she pushed him back onto the covers and threw her leg over his, kissing him passionately.

Entwined in each other, she could feel him against her. Hard cock grinding against her pussy making her ache to feel him inside. When his hand slid inside her panties, she cried out in delight - honestly shocked at how wet she was for him, how good his touch felt over her clit.

He held her close as she came on his fingers, Keira’s body primed for this climax for years – shaking as she finally let it tear through her. Melting for him, soft and yielding now. Exposed and vulnerable for this man in a way she could never be for anyone else. Eyes closed, enjoying his kisses against her lips and cheeks as she panted and gasped through her release, rolling her hips as his fingers lingered in her wet heat.

“I want you inside me…” She whispered against his cheek when she could speak again, sitting back so she could look him in the eyes and show how desperately she needed him.

Keira turned onto her side, watching as Nick slid his briefs off and spooned close behind her. Stiff heat of his cock pressed against her ass.

She turned her head to look at him as he ran his hands down her flank, caressing her hips, pulling her back onto his shaft. Teasing the tip against her soaked underwear until she could take no more, reaching back to pull her panties to one side – gasping as she begged him to put it in…

Her long, soft moan when he entered her sounded like it belonged to someone else. The blissful groan of a woman unlocking a half decade of chained lust. Her body welcoming him - pussy clenching gently around his hardness, eager to cling tightly to every inch as he slowly started to thrust.

He held her by the hip as he fucked her, long slow strokes that made her eyes roll back and her breath hitch in her throat. Nick’s kisses on her back and shoulder making Keira shudder with pleasure.

She held the hand on her hip, in time moving it to her chest, encouraging him to squeeze her tits. Pinch her nipples as she backed up onto him to drive him deeper.

His moans in her ears were like nothing else. Better even than the cheers of the crowds that had come to see her race and win. This her real victory – this her real prize.

Keira felt him getting close. Nick’s breathing ragged now, his rocking thrusts more desperate as he started to fuck her hard. Her wetness coating them both as he pounded her dripping pussy.

“I want it, Nick. Don’t hold back – it’s yours…” Her whispered words unleashed him. A soft wail of desire giving her a moment’s warning before she felt the first jet of heat bloom inside and enjoyed the throbbing of his swollen cock between her clinging lips.

Keira leaned back and kissed him as he came inside her, stroking his face when he rested his head just above her shoulder, gasping through his orgasm.

Nick held her close. Big frame curled around her. Cuddling while he gradually softened in her tender, well-fucked pussy. As he went to pull out, she stopped him, holding his arm close to her chest to keep him close. Kissing the knuckles of his hand before she cleared her throat to speak.

“Don’t move, not yet – this is perfect. Let’s just stay like this, OK?”

Stillness. Security. Love. Her world finally reduced to the joyous feeling of this man holding her tight – keeping her safe. What she’d wanted all along, through every moment of whirling energy; every lap of blurred, speeding motion. To rest in his arms.

And just… stop.

***

Thank you so much for reading. It's been a while since I've posted something softer/more romantic, so it would great to know what you think! Feedback always welcome.