“Keep going,” she said, and he pressed in until their hips met, his throat working as he tried to come to terms with just how perfect she felt around him. Her hand coiled around the back of his neck as she leaned up and nipped his bottom lip. He tried moving just slightly, and when she groaned and rocked up into him, he moved a little more, dragging out and pushing back in, as pleasure already threatened to overwhelm him.
As her eager responses grew, he continued to rock into her, thrusting harder and harder as he gripped her bottom, holding her still. One hand found her and rubbed tight firm circles over her, until her eyes fluttered and she called out his name before constricting around him.
At her “Jonny!” his vision started to blur, and he groaned, low and hungry, clutching her tight against his chest, burying his face in her neck and moaning against her skin as he pulsed inside of her.
They held onto each other until finally, spent, sated, and satisfied, Jonny loosened his grip just enough that he could take her in. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair in disarray, a small smile gracing her lips. She had never looked more beautiful.
“You are incredible, you know that?” Jonny said, tucking a strand of hair around her ear.
“I would say that was all you.”
“Us.”
“I like the sounds of that,” Ada agreed with a smile. “When do you want to be married?”
“As soon as we can,” Jonny said. It was hard to remember a time when he hadn’t wanted to be married. “Might want to keep it quiet that you are living here until then.”
“I told you,” she said, “my reputation doesn’t matter much anymore. But I suppose we should try to be as respectable as we can.”
“I’ll arrange for the banns to be called tomorrow,” he said, running his hand over her hair, unable to keep himself from touching her, still rather incredulous that she was his.
He would take that very seriously.
No matter what else arose, she would always come first.
That, he would ensure.
The next few days passed in a blur of stolen kisses and tender moments as Jonny and Ada reveled in their newfound commitment to each other. For a man so gruff and hard to everyone else, he continued to show her a tender, soft side that made him even more irresistible.
Ada smiled just thinking about him as she stood in the stands beside Minnie, Lily, and Emmaline, the crowd filling their ears.
They did their best to provide their own cheering for Manchester Central, as they had traveled to London for the day to watch the club play the Wanderers at the Kennington Oval. The gentlemen had made sure they were sitting close enough that they could see them, with Lily’s father, Lord Harcourt, also a member of the club committee, keeping a close eye on them where they watched from the cricket pavilion across from the slightly rowdier crowd.
Excitement thrummed through Ada’s veins, her heart swelling with pride as she watched Jonny sprint onto the pitch, his powerful strides eating up the ground.
For a man so strong and thick-muscled, he moved withgrace. His face was tight with focus, although he snuck a glance up toward the pavilion, his gaze softening when he found her watching him.
Ada smiled back in encouragement. She knew how much this game meant to him — to all of them, especially after all they had so recently overcome.
After Rhys lost the coin toss, the match began in a frenzy of action. Manchester Central fought hard, but their opponents matched them at every turn. The ball flew from end to end as the minutes ticked by, neither side able to break through.
"Come on, boys!" Emmaline shouted beside her, hands cupped around her mouth, uncaring about the attention her cheering called from the ladies and gentlemen nearby. Minnie and Lily clutched each other, breathless, while Lily reached out with her other hand to grip Ada’s as the Wanderers bore down, but Manchester Central’s defense held strong.
As the second half began, even from across the field, Ada could see the exhaustion and determination etched on Jonny's face. Her fingers dug into her palms as she silently willed him on. "You can do this," she whispered, and when he glanced her way, it was almost as though he could hear her.
Then, in a burst of speed, Jonny stole the ball from a defender and charged down the pitch. Ada leapt to her feet, heart in her throat, as he dodged one opponent, then another. The crowd roared as he reared back and sent the ball flying across the pitch, past two defenders, where it only stopped when it reached Colin. He made a couple of quick moves from one side to the other, before he drew back his foot and sent the ball straight into the back of the net.
The stands erupted. Ada shouted in elation, embracing her friends as tears of joy streamed down her face. On the field, Jonny and Colin were engulfed by their teammates, their shouts of triumph echoing into the sky.
The final minutes ticked down as Manchester Central held strong.
And won the FA Cup.
While many spectators quickly left the oval, Ada and the other supporters who had followed them from Manchester stayed and watched, breathlessly, as the players were awarded the trophy.
Finally, they were finished, and, still cheering, Ada raced down to the pitch with everyone else who was close to the team.
The players were instantly overwhelmed with well-wishers, many of them congratulating Jonny, and Ada stayed back, wanting to allow him time to take in this moment.
