When Fools Rush In

Chapter 22 - White Headband

Lucy tied her trainers up and studied herself in the full-length mirror on Jack's bedroom wall. She hadn't worn her gym kit for some weeks; even before the accident she had been spending hours working or sneakily seeing Jack when time allowed, and her bout of tonsillitis had also knocked her back. It was now Wednesday morning and after two days of moping around on the sofa while Jack was out training, she thought it was time to gently get moving again. She had at least found some diversion by going back to her flat to pick up the post and pack a suitcase of belongings to see her through the two or three weeks before she would be well enough to fully return to work.

Jack turned over in bed with a long drawn out moan before resuming his heavy sleep breathing. It was still only 7:30am, and with a midweek Premier League fixture at the Etihad against Leeds later that night, Lucy was keen not to wake him up too soon.

The downstairs gym in the building was surprisingly empty. Lucy had assumed that many of the building's luxury lifestyle tenants would be working out before they blitzed up their avocado and chia smoothies and showcased their latest paid partnerships on Instagram, but to her relief she could hide on the treadmill in the corner. Jack didn't use this gym, for fear of being "mobbed" in his own words, and instead focused on the superior facilities at the Etihad.

Forty minutes later - after twenty minutes of light walking on the treadmill and some gentle weights - Lucy was knackered. Her fitness had completely vanished, the accident having knocked the stuffing out of her. The aches in her body which had begun to dissipate had returned, and her legs felt like lead. Picking up her water bottle, Lucy sighed and began to make her way back upstairs, hungry and irritable. There was a time she remembered when exercise produced endorphins.

Back in the flat, Lucy perused the cupboards for food. They were unsurprisingly sparse, with Jack relying on being fed by the club or having special deliveries of balanced meals. She did, however, find a box of Coco Pops, which had enough let in the bottom for a large bowl.

"Mornin'" came a deep, husky voice from the entrance to the kitchen.

Lucy glanced behind her to see Jack, wearing nothing but a small pair of boxers, shuffling sleepily over to the breakfast bar, his hair sticking up everywhere and his eyes still half-shut. As she was accustomed to, Lucy felt her heart flutter and her stomach flip at the sight of him. He was just irresistible.

"Oh good morning gorgeous," she breathed, "you're up early." She glanced at her watch. "It's only half eight."

Jack wandered over to her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. He nestled his face into Lucy's hair as she ran her hands down his warm back, running her fingers down to his hips and along the elastic of his boxers. Her face was resting against his chest, breathing in his divine scent. 

"Noticed you weren't there and got bored like," mumbled Jack. Lucy felt his hands moving down to her bum. He gave it a squeeze.

"I thought I'd try the gym downstairs out," said Lucy, moving her head to the side but still resting it against Jack's chest. "It was quite empty, which was just as well as I'm knackered now."

"Well like I sez, take it easy Luce, don't go overdoing it OK?"

"No I won't, I'm going to have something to eat and have a bath I think."

She felt Jack nuzzle his face into her neck, planting sloppy, tired kisses on her skin, his stubble grazing on the side of her face. Instinctively, Lucy pushed her hips forward into him and felt his morning hardness through his boxers. She sighed lustfully. 

"Ya havin' a bath without me?" Jack moved backwards, pouting, the corners of his mouth creasing into a smirk, his doe eyes staring into Lucy's as she looked up at him. The sod.