Taylor laid with her head on his chest, her fingers interlocking with his. His breathing under her, something that she could get used to. His other hand was placed on her hips, his thumb stroking the exposed skin. It all felt like a haze, her memories as dizzy as he had left her.

She was scared that if she stood up and looked in the mirror, she’d find marks all over her body, matching his lips. On her neck, on her collar bone and her chest. Even her thighs. She giggled at the memory, her cheeks blushing, shrinking in his hold. He smiled, looking down at her because he knew exactly what she was thinking. It wasn’t a dream anymore. The picture of his face half hidden between her thighs would be stuck in her mind until the end of time. The feeling of his fingers in forbidden areas. She closed her eyes, laying her cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. His hand moved up to her head, his hair brushing her hair.  

Both of them felt comfortable in the silence. Next to each other. Maybe if they stayed still, time wouldn’t move and tomorrow’s problems would never come. Her hand looked so small in his, he marveled at it. Smiling. Those same tiny and cute fingers had left slight scars on his back, he was sure of it. Those fingers had grabbed on his soul. He brought them to his lips, pecking them like he was thanking them. She rolled her bottom lip in between her teeth, holding up a smile because even that sent shivers in her chest.  

“Why JW?” he suddenly asked and she, let out a questionable ‘hm?’. He tilted his head, having view of the back of her head. “I know it’s your middle name but why not TW?”

She scoffed. She turned her body, so she’d be facing him, laying on her side. His hand stayed on her hip like he was making sure that she wouldn’t leave too soon.

“Does it keep you up night?”

“I’m just curious.”

She was smiling but she wasn’t speaking, like she was feeling uncomfortable. She looked away from his eyes, focusing on his shoulders, her fingers tracing his bones.

“I wrote my first article more than a year after the accident. I couldn’t watch football after being told that I’d never be able to play professionally. Then 2014 world cup came along and it was playing everywhere. I remember I had this fire in my chest after every match… it was the game between Brazil and Germany that made me reach my limit…”

“Uh…” Kylian hissed at the memory “that was brutal.”

“Yeah… and i had this need to yell at somebody so instead I wrote it down. And then I had to sign it…” her voice trailed off. “But signing it as taylor didn’t feel right. Taylor was the name on my jersey, she was a footballer, a little girl that could make it big and I…” she paused, her eyes darkening “failed her.” Kylian’s hand rested on her cheek, his thumb comfortingly caressing het. He knew that look in her eyes, he had seen it in the mirror numerous times “who was I to judge anyone? it didn’t feel right signing with her name so instead I used my middle name. Jane. perhaps trying to hide behind it so I could be even meaner…” she looked in his eyes again, the teasing spark returning “torture footballers with no remorse, ruin careers—” he laughed, grinning at her and nodding his head “be the evil witch of the west—”

“Alright, alright, I get it.” He topped her voice. Moving his body closer to hers, his hand snaking behind her back so he’d move her closer to him as well “you did a good job at that.”

“My, thank you.” She smiled. Leaning in, her lips barely touching his. He searched in her eyes for more, he wanted to know more of the girl across from him.

“Where would she be? Taylor, I mean. If it wasn’t for the accident.”

She hummed, closing her eyes like she was imagining. “Marquinhos asked me the same question.” She bent her forehead on his “Barcelona with Aitana Bonmati. Starting 11, in every game. Number 10.” she opened her eyes, the corners of her lips lifting “she’s best friends with Leo Messi by the way” Kylian laughed. She raised her finger because she had more to say. “In fact, he says, she is the best in the game, and she has two ballon d’ors.”

“Two of them?” he asked in shock.

“Mhm.” She nodded “one of them she got after winning the champions league against Real Madrid and the other she got after the world cup.” She scratched her fingers on the sheets “Youngest on her team.” She smiled “and she’d inspire little girls everywhere hopefully.”

He started drawing circles on her back, sliding closer “except Leo and Bonmati, does she have any other favorites?”

She puffed, half smiling, avoiding his eyes “There was this one footballer, she’s heard a lot about. Kylian Em.. something…”

“He sounds amazing.”

“Meh.” She shrugged her shoulders “He could be better.”

“I think he is a fan.”

“Really?” she asked, widening her eyes.

“Watches all her games.”

She moved her legs in between his, tangling them with his. Her hand found its way behind his neck. “Does he?”

He looks at her lips “He thinks she is dumb for choosing Messi over Ronaldo.” She laughed, bending her head back. First time he was the cause of that sort of laugh, he wanted to keep doing. To keep hearing it. “But she’s pretty good at what she does.” Taylor returned her head back to his, their foreheads colliding. “Maybe he could learn a thing or two from her.”

Their laughter died slowly but the smiles lingered. Silence while they stared in each other’s eyes. Imagining what that future would be like. In that future they were free of rules and restrictions. It was a different life. “Hey.” He whispered.

“Hm?”

“You didn’t fail.”

It was a pleasant surprise to hear him say that. Her chest tightened, her eyes softening while looking at him. And yet while being with him under the sheets, the feeling of failure was stronger than before. What an irony that she found herself afraid of failing because of matters of the heart again. Just a different kind. She pecked his lips, a quick kiss. “I know” she whispered in his lips, and he leaned in again, with more force. Kissing her deeply. She bound her entire body around his while her hands rested on his face, holding it close to her own so he wouldn’t move away from her. He lifted his neck just a bit, so he’d have better access on her mouth. She was melting into him and so was he. She pulled away for a moment to breathe. He kissed her nose and her eyes and her chin. She dived her head under his chin, biting on his neck. His entire body vibrated, a soft moan coming out his lips. She smiled, rewarding herself. She moved lower, to his chest, leaving small bites, enjoying the power she had over him a little too much.

He fell asleep while they were knitted together like that. Only woke up when he felt her pull away, his eyes following her as she walked around the room to get ready. She put on his jersey again and her jeans, moving around the room as silent as a cat.

He got up, while she was fixing her hair in the mirror, picking it up on a ponytail. His arms crawled round the shape of her body, his lips falling on her exposed neck. She watched him from the mirror, wondering how she ever got here with him.

“You sure you don’t want me to sign it?” He said and she snorted.

She twisted her body to face him. She held on to his neck. Said nothing but let a sigh of desperation.

She kissed him, one last taste before she walked out of his room. Leaving him alone in his cold lonely room.

JOURNALISTS OFFICES / PARIS – NIGHT

Ann sat on her desk, watching the game between PSG and Al Nassr. She leaned closer as she saw Taylor Wilock, jumping on Ramos’s arms. Then on Kylian. She paused. She balanced her head on her hand, smiling.

She had her phone on speaker, Verratti’s voice coming from the other side.

“Turns out she’s not that bad.” He said and Ann scoffed

“So you’re all warming up to her now?”

“Yeah.”

“I heard Kylian defended her honor on the welcoming event. A friend of mine says he was pissed. You think they could be friends?”

“Maybe. I think it’s cause Marquinhos yelled at him for giving her a hard time.”

Ann smiled “when are you coming back?”

“Tomorrow.”

“And the next game?”

“4 days later. Against Pays De Cassel”

“Are you gonna get me in the postgame conference.”

“Sure.”

--

Completely forgot to post this bonus chapter here 😭😭 I'm sorry. Full new chapter will come on Monday ✨ thank you for everything ✨