Kellie and Brad

Kellie smiled but said nothing. Brad noticed sadness in her eyes.

"You`re not used to this, are you?"

"Not used to what?"

"Positive reinforcement."

Kellie sighed. "Not so much, I guess. My coaches and teammates try but what they say doesn`t seem to stick. And I never got a lot of it growing up, as I`ve told you before. I`m not sure that I`ve earned your confidence in me."

"Well, trust me, Kellie, you do deserve to have people believe in you. And you will need to get used to it, because I`ll always support you, whether you want me to or not."

"Thanks Brad, that`s very sweet of you."

They kissed and lay back in the cool grass, holding hands, watching the sunset. After the sun went down they decided to leave, and as they were getting up, Brad said, "If I`m not being too forward, I`d love for you to come back to my place for some coffee."

Kellie felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She wasn`t sure about this. But Brad was always so nice to her, especially tonight, and coffee sounded harmless. She finally said, "OK. Coffee. I`d like that."

Brad smiled and took Kellie`s hand. They walked back to his house. Kellie noticed it was modest but very well-maintained from the outside, and while there was some evidence of a bachelor lifestyle inside it was still tidy. She sat down in the living room as Brad went to work brewing some coffee. Again she was nearly overcome with anxiety. She wanted to make Brad happy but genuinely didn`t know how.

Brad inhaled the warm aroma of the coffee. He was thrilled Kellie decided to come to his house, but he knew he still had to walk a fine line balancing his desires and the precarious nature of her state of mind. He thought he could help, though. Just being with Kellie for these six months had done wonders for his own confidence, and in his mind he believed he could do the same for her. He came up with a plan as the coffee brewed. It was a little hokey, he thought, but it just might work.

He walked to the living room and gave Kellie her mug. They sat on the couch together, quietly drinking their coffee. Kellie watched Brad as he fished into his pocket and pulled out a shiny new penny. He took the penny and placed it in her hand, folding her fingers over it.

"Brad? What`s this?" she asked.

"For your thoughts."

"I`m sorry?"

"You know. A penny. For your thoughts."

Kellie couldn`t help but laugh a little. It was so corny, but also so... Brad. But she quickly turned serious, realizing this was probably his gentle way to ask her to open up to him, to have the "where is this relationship going" talk. She took a deep breath in a futile effort to quell the butterflies. When she finally did speak, her voice was thin and shaky.

"Brad, you`ve been so wonderful to me. You make me smile and laugh, and you make me feel special. No one`s ever been so nice to me, and I`ve never felt this way with anyone else before."

"Thank you, Kellie. It makes me very happy to hear you say that."

"I... I just have one question."

"Shoot."

"Why?"

Brad was confused. "I`m... not sure what you mean by that."

"Why me? Why take all your time and energy on me? I don`t know what I`ve done to deserve this."

Brad didn`t react at first. Then a small smile crept on to one corner of his face, spreading until eventually he was positively beaming.

"What`s with the smile?" Kellie asked.

"You really don`t know, do you?"

Kellie was becoming a little annoyed by his reaction. "Bradley Galenchuk," she said, using his full name, "stop with the teasing and explain yourself!"

It felt like the moment of truth for Brad, and he decided to jump in head-first. He leaned forward and kissed Kellie, as he had done many times before, except this time he let one of his hands wander down to her rear end and gave it a little squeeze. She flinched in surprise, while he just looked in her eyes and said "You don`t know just how beautiful a person you are, and you don`t know just how much of an effect you have on me with how sexy you are!"

Kellie just bowed her head and said nothing.

"Kellie... what`s wrong?"

"Do you really mean what you just said? I just find it difficult to believe you could really feel that way about me, or that I am in any way worthy of your affection."

"Yes, you are. I can. And I do."

Kellie fell silent again, paralyzed by her inability to accept Brad`s apparent love for her.

Brad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was proving to be more difficult than he thought. He understood on some level that Kellie had low self-esteem but he underestimated just how bad it was. He was not about to give up, however; if anything it made him more determined. He also realized he couldn`t show any of the frustration he was feeling, otherwise he knew he`d lose her forever. He smiled, stood up and extended his hand to Kellie.

"I want to show you something, Kellie. Please," he said.

Kellie sighed. "What is it?"

"Do you trust me?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Do you trust me?"

"I... I... yes."

"Good. Then come with me."

Kellie stood up, wanting to fully trust Brad but still wary of what his endgame was. She held his hand and he led her to a hallway, stopping just outside his bedroom door in front of a full-length mirror, where he stood behind her, holding her gently around her waist.

"Now," Brad said, trying to keep his voice soft and kind, "take a good look in the mirror. Tell me, what do you see?"

"You and I standing in front of a mirror. Brad, what are you..."

"No Kellie, I mean look closely. REALLY look. Humour me. Please."

Kellie sighed and said, "OK, I`ll play along."

Brad gave her shoulders an affectionate squeeze. "Thank you, I promise it will be worth it. Now, what do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror?"

"Could I start by describing what I see when I look at you?" Kellie asked.

Brad briefly considered this and then smiled and nodded his head yes.

"OK. I see a strong, handsome man. I see a perfect gentleman, someone I`ve never heard say a bad word towards anyone. I see a man with a big laugh and a goofy sense of humour. And I see a man who is completely crazy for wanting to spend so much time with me."

Brad started to plant little kisses on Kellie`s neck, earlobes and shoulder blades. A soft gasp escaped Kellie`s mouth. When Brad spoke, his voice was deep, guttural and more than a little hungry.

"I assure you, my dear Kellie, I am 100% sane. But in a way, I guess I am crazy... crazy in love. Want to know why? Because of the woman I see in the mirror. I see a woman who is athletic and dedicated. I see an intelligent woman, smart enough to succeed at a mentally demanding sport and lead a team to greatness along the way. I see a woman who has overcome many challenges in her life to become a successful and genuinely good person. I see a woman who, as great as she is, could be even greater if she would just believe in herself and allow others to believe in her too. I see a woman who has both tremendous inner and tremendous outer beauty."

Kellie`s eyes turned hazy and dreamy. Brad`s voice put her into an almost-trance, and his words touched her heart in ways no one had ever done. A single tear rolled down her cheek, which he softly wiped away with his hand.

"One more thing," Brad said.

Kellie cocked her eyebrow, silently asking him to go on. He turned her almost all the way to face him and then adjusted her head so she could look at her backside`s reflection.

"I see a woman who has the finest, firmest ass a man could ever dream of!" Brad growled.

Kellie`s eyes grew wide, and to her surprise she felt a naughty little smile form on her lips. "Bradley Galenchuk, are you getting fresh with me?"

"Maybe," he playfully teased.

Kellie stayed in the position she was in, her eyes darting back and forth between the reflection of her rear end in the mirror and Brad, whose eyes she could see locked on to her butt. "You really think I have a nice ass?" she asked.

"Not just nice, Kellie. Amazing," was his reply.

She stared back at her reflection, studying it, as if she were truly seeing it for the first time. She wore jeans that, she had to admit, did cling to her hips and butt quite nicely. She bent over a few inches and wiggled her rear end ever so slightly, a sight that caused Brad`s mouth to open and his manhood to surge forward.

"Not bad," Kellie purred.

Brad gave a silent prayer of thanks. Those two words alone represented a major victory in helping Kellie overcome her poor self-esteem. Surely it was the start of greater things to come.

Kellie felt flush in her cheeks, but that warmth held nothing on the inferno she felt down below in her sex. She turned around, guided Brad`s hands onto her ass, and then very firmly grabbed his butt cheeks. She kissed him with more hunger and fire than she ever had before. Their tongues parted each other`s lips and danced together. After coming up for air Kellie panted, "Brad, I want to please you. I want you to please me. Show me how."

Brad was filled with desire, his erection desperate to be freed from his pants. "Just follow my lead, baby, and tell me what feels good to you. I promise I won`t do anything you don`t want to do, but please let me make sweet love to you."

In a very bold move for her, she let her hands travel to his crotch and rubbed it, feeling his impressive hardness. "Yes, baby, that`s what I want, show me what a real man can do!"

Brad led Kellie the short distance to his bedroom, kissing her the whole way. He carefully undressed her, and she was happy to let him do it. Kellie was still very nervous but she understood deep down this was something she both needed and wanted very badly, and she reasoned if Brad was as tender and loving with sex as he was with every other part of their relationship then things would be fine. She was now naked before him, and did not attempt to cover up. He took a minute to admire her beauty. "God, you`re stunning!" he exclaimed, and then started to undress himself.

"Not so fast. Allow me," Kellie said. She removed Brad`s shirt and ran her hands down his muscular chest and defined abs, stopping only when they reached his belt buckle. She undid the belt and pulled off his pants and boxers in one movement. She chewed on her lower lip as she gazed on his long and thick erection, wanting to discover how he would use his tool to pleasure her body.

Brad guided Kellie to stand up again. He stepped in close and inhaled deeply, enthralled by the scent of her feminine arousal. He kissed her from her earlobe down to the tops of her breasts. He took both of them in his hands, two perfect handfuls that fit just right. He flicked the left nipple while he kissed and nibbled at the right. Kellie moaned "Yes!" as she felt currents of electricity surge to her erogenous zones as a result of Brad`s touch.

After a few minutes of loving attention on her breasts Brad trailed his tongue all the way down Kellie`s flat stomach. He turned her around and bent her over at the waist so she faced the foot of his bed, giving him his first full view of both her naked vagina and ass. "Oh god, so beautiful," he said, and his soft breath raised goose bumps on her soft milky-white flesh. He massaged her cheeks and planted little butterfly kisses on her inner thighs, moving closer and closer to her exposed sex. It was a sweet torture for her; she loved the softness and care he was giving but she was eager for more.

He reached her treasure spot. The room was heady with her musky aroma. He licked up and down her opening and probed her lips and folds. This caused her to buck a little and exclaim, "Oh my god!" He rubbed her mound and licked her, then penetrated her with his tongue.

Given her relative sexual inexperience, there was no way for her to properly describe it, but she felt something powerful build deep within her. Her breaths became shallow and ragged. The pleasure was almost too enormous to comprehend. Then he found her clitoris, peeking out of her like a love bud. His flicking and bathing it with his tongue sent her crashing over the edge.

"Yes Brad, YES YES YES!!!" Kellie screamed in ecstasy as she climaxed. Wave after wave of her juices drenched his face and the sheets at the edge of the bed. Her knees shook and buckled, and she collapsed on the bed. It was her first real orgasm given to her by someone else, and she was a little shocked by its intensity.

Brad delicately traced his hands along her legs and buttocks as she recovered from her contact high. He went to the head of the bed and looked into her eyes. "So, I take it you enjoyed that?" he asked.

Kellie didn`t say anything but looked up at Brad and smiled. Then in a flash she leapt off the bed and jumped into Brad`s arms, knocking him flat on his back and straddling him. They kissed passionately.

"That was so amazing. No one`s ever made me feel that way," she said between kisses.

"There`s more we can do, if you`re up for it."

Kellie reached down and took hold of Brad`s stiff member, giving it several sensual strokes. "You`re so big and so hard."

"Oh god Kellie, that feels amazing!" Brad sighed in pleasure. His urge to cum was strong but he concentrated on holding back, desperately wanting to please her more.

After a few more strokes Kellie asked in a sweet, sexy voice, "Please put this inside me?"

"I`d love nothing more."

He rolled over on top of her. He lined his hard penis up to her slit, still glistening with wetness. He entered her slowly, giving her some time to adjust to his girth.

"Oh god, it`s so big! I feel so full!" she yelled.

"Are you OK? Should I stop?" He was suddenly concerned.

"NO! Please don`t stop. Do me hard. Please."

Brad smoothly plunged his rod in and out of her, slowly at first but soon picking up speed. Before long she was matching his thrusts with those of her own. Their bodies were covered in a light sheen of sweat. Her legs clenched around him in a vise-like grip, and he couldn`t help but think that, yes, they were as strong as he imagined they would be.

"Oh god Kellie, you feel so wonderfully tight! You`re going to make me come soon!" Brad exclaimed.

"Yes Brad! I`m going to come too! Make me your lover!" Kellie replied. She soon let out other screams of joy as her climax took over. He came soon after, grunting ecstatically as his ejaculation erupted inside of her.

They lay down on their sides, each holding and caressing each other, looking at each other in a contented silence, happy to do no more than bask in the afterglow.

Brad was the first to break the silence. "Thank you. For everything."

Kellie shook her head. "No, it is me who should be thanking you."

"I love you, Kellie Ferguson."

"And I love you, Bradley Galenchuk."

They drifted off into a blissful sleep.

****

FIVE MONTHS LATER

A lot can change in just one year.

If there was one coherent thought she had in the pandemonium surrounding her, that was it.

Brad gave Kellie new life. Of that, she was certain. It was not an overnight process; there were still some struggles and times when she doubted herself.

But overall Brad had a hugely positive impact on her life. He gave her plenty of encouragement and praise. He gave her support and a shoulder to cry on when she was experiencing difficulties. And yes, he was great in bed; they had many more nights of wonderful sex since first consummating their relationship. Most of all, he loved her completely and unreservedly.

The resulting change in her demeanour was clear for all to see. The townspeople noticed. More importantly, her coaches and teammates noticed. She was more consistent on the ice. She had a better command of the team and improved her ability to draw out their best performances. More importantly, she became better friends with her team. They all trusted each other more. For the first time in a while, Kellie felt she was part of a real team, and her love of curling was rekindled.

Brad was proud of Kellie`s progress. He marveled at the changes he saw, how she became more confident, more outgoing, more comfortable in her own skin. As was his way, he downplayed his role in this process. To anyone that would listen, he would say Kellie had this greatness in her, all he did was give her a nudge in the right direction to allow her to shine.

Kellie and her team certainly shone on the curling ice. They won two warm-up events and established themselves as a team to be reckoned with. They cruised through provincials and reached the finals, where, once again, Kellie met her rival. This time, the outcome was different. Kellie and her team played flawlessly and easily defeated her nemesis. For the second year in a row, they were going to the national championship, but this win was so much more rewarding for everyone.

The town held a special banquet to congratulate the team and wish them well at nationals. There were speeches by the mayor and the president of the curling club. Brad also gave a brief but touching speech, at the end of which he surprised Kellie by presenting her with a small box. Kellie opened it to reveal a stunning diamond engagement ring. She looked up to see Brad bent on one knee before her, asking for her hand in marriage. She was overjoyed, and enthusiastically said yes. They kissed as everyone in attendance gave the newly engaged couple a standing ovation.

Kellie`s team arrived at nationals filled with confidence and eager to test themselves against the best teams in the country. They had a successful week, finishing second during the round-robin portion of the tournament, qualified for the playoffs and made their way into the championship game.

The final game was tense and thrilling. Both teams were on top of their game, making several great shots. It came down to the last shot of the final end, with the score tied. Kellie held the rock, taking a deep breath, preparing herself to make the most important shot of her career. Brad was in the large crowd watching, his stomach tied up in knots, silently praying she could pull this off.

Her form was perfect.

With perfect line calling by her third and expert sweeping by her two front-end players, Kellie delivered the rock right to the button, scoring the winning point. Kellie and her team won the national championships.

The crowd cheered loudly as Kellie and her team celebrated their achievement. While the other players looked for their loved ones in the crowd, Kellie searched frantically for Brad. She saw him running down the arena stairs toward the ice and ran to meet him. She jumped into his arms and hugged him fiercely. Several photographers and TV cameras moved in close to film the moment. Brad thought, let them look, my fiancée is the national champion and I love her.

"You did it Kellie!" he yelled over and over, struggling to make himself heard over the din of the crowd.

"Thank you Brad, I couldn`t have done this without you!" she replied.

"I love you, Bradley Galenchuk."

"And I love you, Kellie Ferguson." He punctuated that by firmly yet lovingly swatting her ass. "Now go get that trophy!"

They kissed deeply, both more madly in love with each other than ever before.