Ellie and Paul - Part 1

The gentle rocking of the subway train had lulled Ellie halfway to sleep. The ride from work to the gym was almost forty-five minutes, and at this time of year it was always dark before she left the office. When she first joined up, she wondered what had possessed her to join a gym so far from home ' it certainly wasn't cheap, and there were probably equally good options closer to home. But she really wasn't thinking about that...

Paul. Paul was Ellie's personal trainer, and seeing him twice a week made all the difference. Paul was tall, with dark curly hair and beautiful chocolate eyes, and he was in excellent physical shape. Even though Ellie had rarely seen him without his gym-issued windbreaker, she had had many detailed fantasies about what might be underneath. Once, when she had nearly tumbled off a step bench, she caught his arm and could feel the rippling forearm muscles underneath. She'd thought about those forearms a lot lately.

It was Friday evening, and Ellie's boyfriend, Jeff, was away for the weekend at a business conference. He was often away, and lately, when he was around, he may as well have been away. He put in long hours at his accounting firm, and was expected to make partner within a few years. Potential ' that's what everyone said he had. Ellie supported his work, and loved him, but she often wondered if that's just how it was going to be ' her vs. work. The thought depressed her every time she thought about it.

"This train will be going out of service at the next station. All passengers must leave the train¦.

Ellie woke up and groaned. Time to change trains.

Twenty minutes later Ellie arrived at the gym. It was very cold outside, and she was almost grateful for the warm, sweaty air in the gym. She changed quickly, snapped her long blonde hair back into a ponytail, and dashed up the stairs to meet Paul.

As usual, Paul was cheerful and friendly. To some extent, Ellie realized that she was paying Paul to be nice to her (these sessions were not cheap), but over the last few weeks it was starting to blur into flirting, or so it seemed. Ellie was painfully shy sometimes, and when she had been dating, had often needed a couple of drinks before she could relax and flirt with men. That experience made it hard for her to read the signs now ' flirting was too tied up with the taste of vodka and tonic (and that certainly wasn't an option before a workout!)

As usual, Paul was merciless. She had awkwardly teased him that his New Year's resolution had been to kill her. Lunges, squats, more lunges, deadlifts¦ and on it went. Whenever she could catch her breath long enough to gather her thoughts, she tried to flirt and give him "the look, but often he seemed to be looking away, at something far off in the distance.

The hour sped by too fast. However, the best part was always saved for last. Paul would always spend about five minutes stretching her hamstrings, and, as painful as that was, it was her favorite part of the workout. It was five minutes of Paul touching her. Though he was usually careful (and professional) just using the heel of his hand to touch her, more than once he had touched her thigh with his whole hand, and she could feel each finger pressing into her. That alone had been material for a whole string of fantasies.

"So Paul, what are you doing this weekend? Ellie asked. They often talked about their weekend plans at their Friday sessions.

"Not much. Watch some basketball, maybe a few movies. he said.

Suddenly, Ellie was inspired. One of her friends, Justin, worked for one of the big movie studios and had just given her a box of preview copies of still-in-theatre movies. She had no idea when she would watch them all, but maybe this was her chance to catch his attention. She knew this was dangerous territory, but she couldn't stop herself.

"My friend Justin works for one of the big studios and he gave me a box of brand new movies. Is there anything in particular you want to see? I probably have it in the box.

"That's really nice of you Ellie. Which ones do you have?

"Truth be told, I haven't looked through it yet. But you can come over to my place to pick some out. Tonight even. There¦. she'd said it. She'd invited him to her place. With her boyfriend away. What was she thinking¦..

"Ok. I have a few things to wrap up here, but find me after you get dressed.

The next few minutes were a blur. Not much different from the feeling before a big date, but without the warm-fuzzy buzz of the vodka tonics she'd normally dose herself. She wished for some kind of chemical to steady her nerves. Cripes, she was frantic like a teenager. She quickly showered, put on some lip gloss, groaned at her chipped pedicure, and rushed back up to meet Paul. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs she was in full-blown stomach-butterfly attack.

Paul was at the top of the stairs, his curly hair reined in by a ball cap, and a puffy black winter coat, and he'd traded the tear-away training pants for faded blue jeans. He looked even more boyish. She nearly died when he flashed his smile.

"Hi Ellie ' did you drive or take the train here?

"I took the train today. Did you drive?

"Yeah, my car is outside. It's really cold, so I hope it starts.

As he turned the key his stereo screamed to life, loud house music nearly burst her eardrums. He looked sheepish, and apologized.

"When I'm in here alone I like it really loud.

Though the ride to her house was about fifteen minutes, it seemed like both an eternity and a flash. He fiddled with the radio almost constantly, changing between stations despite her protestations that whatever he wanted to listen to was fine.

They pulled into the lot behind her building, and climbed the stairs to the third floor. He didn't have much to say, and for a minute she wondered how she would feel if nothing happened between them. Then again, if something did happen, she'd have cheated on her boyfriend, and that would be a hard feeling to be alone with in the night. But it was too late to worry about that now, she thought as she unlocked her apartment door.

Inside her apartment, she took his coat and immediately headed to the kitchen, leaving him to wander the living room. Paul made a beeline to her huge bookshelf, bypassing the box of DVDs on the coffee table. Ellie herself always enjoyed looking at other peoples' books. It was a good way to break the awkward moments when left alone or at dull moments during a party. Short of digging through someone's medicine cabinet or nightstand, it was the best way to learn about them.

From the kitchen she called "Paul, can I get you anything? Beer? Soda? Wine? I've got red and white¦.

"Whatever you're having, or whatever is open

Ellie chose an Amarone from the rack. It was a little pricier than she'd usually open for an evening drink, but this was no ordinary evening. She pulled the cork, and poured him a hefty glass, and herself an equally large amount. She gulped about a third of hers back, and then refilled¦ every little bit of courage was needed now. As she left the kitchen, she clicked the stereo remote, filling the apartment with the sounds of old Motown.

When she entered the living room, Paul had made himself at home. He'd pulled a couple of books off the shelf and was slouched on the couch, flipping through the pages. She handed him his glass, and their fingers grazed, almost painfully. She looked down and he was looking right at her.

They clinked glasses, their eyes not moving. The tension was almost painful. Ellie's arms broke out into goosebumps.

"So, what books are you looking at? Dammit, she couldn't handle the tension and had blown it. Stupid, stupid, stupid¦.

"Maxim Gorky. I noticed you have a lot of Russian literature on your shelves. Did you study it in school?

"A little, but most of those books are from my grandfather. He was a communist, and took quite a fondness to all things Russian. But I just like the simplicity of the stories, even if they are a little bleak.

"Hmm¦ I don't read a lot of fiction. No time, he said. "But it's cool that you do.

As they spent a few more minutes discussing her book collection, Ellie feared she'd ruined the moment. But then something happened that changed everything¦

"Hey, you bought an exercise ball! Paul exclaimed, noticing the oversized inflatable ball in the corner.

"Yeah. I need to practice my balance exercises without you around to catch me.

Paul set down his glass and rolled the ball out of the corner. He quickly rolled it forward and knelt on it, balancing carefully.

The warm fuzziness of the wine had started to kick in, and Ellie was suddenly taken by a delightfully wicked thought. She gulped back the rest of her glass, and stepped in front of Paul.

"There are so many things you can do with these balls. No end to the interesting possibilities, I'm sure¦

Paul's balance slipped, and he rolled off and sat on the ball.

"You're right. There are lots on interesting exercises. Want to try something fun?

He grabbed her arm, and stood up, pulling her close to him. He looked her right in the eye, and gently kissed her, his soft lips covering hers and his tongue grazing her teeth.

Ellie's heart flipped, and she kissed him back, thoughts of her boyfriend and any guilt about cheating a million miles away. She stroked the back of his neck and she heard him moan slightly.

"Mmmm¦ she said. "I don't see what this has to do with the ball

"I haven't got to that part yet. Paul said.

He kissed her again, and started tugging lightly at the top buttons of her blouse. Within seconds it was off and she was pulling his t-shirt over his head.

They sunk down on to the couch. His kisses drove her wild and his strong hands caressed every part of her body. He was so fit, his muscles so firm, so different from Jeff. She was buzzing from the wine, but not enough to numb her senses, as she felt him tear away what was left of her clothes.

He broke his kisses and looked at her directly. "Ellie - are you okay with this? I mean¦ I just¦.

She silenced him with a deep kiss. They were both completely naked now, and he began kissing his way down her neck to her breasts. He gently licked her left nipple, grazing it with his teeth. Ellie sighed, which only made him suck harder.

His kisses wandered down her stomach, and he stopped to tease and tug her belly piercing with his teeth. She had had the piercing years ago, but no one, not even Jeff, had ever bothered to explore it. She nearly had an orgasm from the sensation. Rough, but tender.

His lips finally brushed her pubic hair. Not more than a second later Paul's soft tongue was licking her, and the world began to spin.

When she could take no more, Ellie stroked his ear. "Paul, what was it you were saying about the ball? she said. Without waiting for an answer, she guided him off the couch and to the ball in the middle of the floor. She sat on the ball, and stretched backwards, arcing her body over the curve.

Paul knelt in front of Ellie, kissing her belly and squeezing her hips. She raised her head slightly and looked into his eyes. He leaned forward and softly penetrated her, his large muscular body tensing, then releasing slightly. They rocked gently on the ball. Paul holding Ellie's hips and thighs and her tight abs rippled with each thrust.

After a minute, Ellie could feel the tremendous pressure of an orgasm building. The unusual position had tensed every muscle in her body and she felt almost ready to burst.

"No, Paul, not yet she moaned. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her upright, and then, with one smooth motion, turned her body so she was kneeling, her upper body draped over the ball. He curled his body over hers, burying his face in her hair.

"Oh Ellie he whispered. "I've wanted this for so long. You have no idea¦

His strong hands gripped her hips and he slipped into her from behind this time, thrusting with his powerful hips, his fingertips stroking her sides, his nails gently scratching her back. Ellie looped her lower legs over his, pulling him closer, the ball still gently rocking with their lust.

Paul licked and bit at Ellie's ear, and the wetness and warmth made her whole body shiver. Within seconds, the trembling began, and a few seconds later she came in a flood of ecstacy, the ball pressed tight to her belly and Paul to her back. Her orgasm was intense, and the waves of contraction pushed Paul to the edge. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her upright. He buried his face in the back of her neck as his orgasm burst. He came inside her, and more powerfully than he had ever remembered.

When the stars had cleared her eyes, Ellie felt Paul turn her over and lay her down on the floor, and he covered her body with his. He kissed her, and looked into her eyes.

"Ellie, what have we done? he said

"We've had sex, and it was amazing she said. "And you have nothing to apologize for. I wanted it. I really wanted it

His serious face dissolved into a smile. He reached down to take her hand and brought it to his lips.

"I can think of other gym equipment with interesting possibilities, he said. "But we'll have some practicing to do¦