The Taste of a Champion

Have you ever set a goal for yourself that seemed so out of reach?

Sarah had been training for months. Running through the city in the cold, the air burning the edges of her nose where snot had gathered and dried, the clomp, clomp of her shoes on the pavement taking her closer and closer to her goal. It was silly really, following in the footsteps of a fictional character, but if she was going to live in Philadelphia, she was determined to be like Rocky. The thought made her laugh as she rounded the corner of Kelly Drive, right in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and those iconic steps. She checked her watch and she was right on target. The first five miles had taken 43 minutes and 45 seconds. This could be the day!

As always, the theme song from the movie popped into her head as she began her ascent. One step at a time, she found a good pace and stuck with it. Duh na duhhh, dun na duhhhh! Duh na duhhh, dun na duhhhh! She kept her breathing steady and fought through the burning in her thighs. She was almost there. She could see the last step looming above her against the backdrop of the Greek Revival architecture of the museum, illuminated by the colorful evening sky. As her right foot hit the top step, she brought her arm up to check her time. When she saw it, both her arms shot up into the air as sweat poured down the sides of her chilled face. She’d done it! Five miles and the 72 steps in under 45 minutes. She laughed at herself as she looked around, a mime of the many tourists standing around her in the same pose, having their photo taken for proof. But, she’d really done it, and a few tears fell from her eyes in triumphant release, mixing with the sweat on her face, undetected.

Sarah made her way back to the apartment she shared with Jim, her boyfriend of three years. He’d moved to Philly last Spring for his new job and she’d followed him later that Summer, scared and excited at what might come. She’d never done anything like that for someone else, moved to a new city, left security behind for a new adventure based on someone else’s needs. It went against everything she’d ever told herself. Never depend on a man. Make choices based on what is only best for you. But, she moved here for him, and it had been great so far. She loved her new job, she’d made some friends that were supportive and fun to be around, and then there was her silly training goal, to run like Rocky. It took her the entirety of the Fall season and well into Winter before she was even close. And today, on January 28th, she’d done it.

She raced into their high-rise apartment building and urgently pressed the elevator button. Quickly checking her watch, she hoped that Jim was already home from work so that she could tell him her news. Sarah knew he’d be happy, but that he’d probably roll his eyes at her. He had never even seen the movie until that first weekend she came to visit him, they curled up on the couch with popcorn and fluffy socks to ward off the early chill of Spring. He didn’t seem too impressed, but for her, it brought back memories of watching the movie with her dad, and she loved every minute of it.

She banged open the front door and quickly shed her damp coat, hat and shoes.

“Jim?” she called out into the empty apartment, rounding the corner to find him reading the newspaper at the small kitchen table, barely able to fit in the cramped space.

“I did it!” she squealed when she saw his face light up in question, balling her own fists in excitement.

“What? The steps?” A small smile crept towards the edges of his face, growing wider and stronger as he watched his girlfriend wiggle about with utter joy.

“Yes! The steps! And five miles, in under 45 minutes!”, Sarah jumped up and down in short little bursts, like a child about to get a really big present.

He jumped up out of the chair, almost knocking the newspaper off the table before slamming his hand down and saving it from fluttering all over the small room. Sarah stood there, vibrating in her triumph, and he took the two steps towards her and gathered her into his arms.

“I’m so proud of you!” he gushed into her ear as he held her.

He kissed her hot salty cheek, red with adrenaline, and licked the taste of her off his lips. Her excitement bounced off of him, and he found himself suddenly aroused, his half hard erection pressing against the zipper of his work slacks. What was it about her in this state? She was red and sweaty, he could smell her musk seeping through the thin fabric of her running pants. It was the look of triumph on her face, the look of a champion, that pulled him towards her. He grabbed her face with both of his hands and kissed her lips hard, smashing them roughly against his. She opened her mouth and let him explore with his tongue as she panted for breath, a small squeak escaping her mouth at its sudden intrusion, and then he pushed her into the living room up against the arm of the couch.

Keeping his mouth on hers, he reached up and balled the top of her pants in his fists and jerked them down to her knees. The skin on her legs was red and splotchy as the blood was finding its way back into the recesses of her body. He rubbed his hands forcefully over her skin, finding that she was cold and hot at the same time. Cold clammy butt cheeks led down to the hot spot between her legs, heated with blood from exertion and need. He ground himself into her open legs, a spot of her wetness appearing on his trousers where their bodies met.

“Jim!” she panted at him, fumbling with her vest and t-shirt, her cold fingers couldn’t quite maneuver the zipper just yet.

He paused his exploration of her lower bits and ripped the zipper down and shoved the vest off of her shoulders, grabbing a hardened nipple between his teeth, the fabric of her shirt and sports bra preventing him from getting a good grip. Frustrated, he slowed his pace, his urgency was only going to make it more difficult.

“You’re fucking amazing, Sarah.” he spoke to her softly, rubbing her shoulders, then gently removing the vest tangled around her arms.

Wetness sprung to her eyes, and she could feel his pride in her, a pride she didn’t really know was there. He pulled her shirt up over her head, making the sweat drenched hairs at the edge of her face stand out wildly, her bright green eyes sparkled at him as she tried to hold back the emotions threatening to take over. He pulled her sports bra up just over the top of her breasts and softly kissed one nipple then the next. He opened his mouth and sucked on each in turn, warming them. Sarah groaned as he soothed her sore nubs, the pain mixing with pleasure and melting down to the spot between her legs.

Jim knelt before her and looked up into her shining eyes.

“Thank you”, he said to her, “Thank you for being you”.

He leaned her back over the arm of the couch and finished removing her pants, peeling them down her legs. He could smell her on them, and quickly snuck a whiff before tossing them across the room. She was laid open before him, cold and pink like a salted pig ready for the butcher, and he was feeling quite hungry. He went to dip his tongue between her folds, but she jerked and put her hands down to stop him.

“No, I’m all sweaty and gross!” she protested.

“Hush! No you’re not, you’re perfect just like this!”and he moved her hands out of the way, holding both of her strong wrists in his as his mouth found what it wanted.

She was already slick, and she bucked her hips into his face as he sucked and licked her lips. She moaned loud enough for the neighbors to hear through the thin walls. Encouraged, he pushed his tongue deeper into her, tasting her arousal and her sweat, the taste of a champion. Moving his tongue to her clit, he flattened it and pushed against her hard, over and over. Sarah panted and moaned underneath him, whipping her head from side to side as her orgasm quickly built up, her eyes squeezed shut. She gripped at his tidy hair until she shuddered and screamed, flooding his mouth with her the taste of her orgasm. Sarah looked up at him, smiling, tears streaming down her cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath. He leaned over her, a huge smile on his face, his pride shining, almost bursting though his skin and illuminating the room around them.