Chapter 1: Introduction
They emerged from the sweltering gym, dripping in sweat and bruises, their panting and ragged breath funny and satisfying in a way that only being on a lacrosse field could be. Rachel, captain of the team and a natural leader, stood among her crew of girls as they ripped off their helmets, mouthguards, and protective vests.
Mia, her best friend since childhood, who never shied away from a dare or a good time, eyed her ripped off mouthguard with curiosity.
"You know, I've never really thought about it before, but these things are kind of... intriguing," she said, twirling the blue silicone piece around her fingers.
Rachel raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Intriguing? Mia, it's a mouthguard. It's designed to prevent us from biting our tongues off, not to be intriguing."
Mia shrugged, grinning. "Well, yeah, but have you ever tasted it before?
I mean, really tasted it?" Mia asked, popping the mouthguard back into her mouth and sucking on it thoughtfully. Rachel watched her, amused, as Mia's eyes fluttered closed, a soft moan escaping her lips.
"Mia, what are you doing?" Rachel asked, a laugh bubbling up in her throat. "It's just sweat and spit. It's not exactly gourmet."
Mia opened her eyes, a mischievous glint in them. "Maybe not, but there's something about it. Something... satisfying." She took the mouthguard out of her mouth and held it out to Rachel.
"Your turn."
Rachel laughed, shaking her head. "No way, Mia. I'm not putting your drool-soaked mouthguard in my mouth."
Mia rolled her eyes. "Come on, Rachel. Don't be such a prude. It's not like we haven't swapped spit before. Remember that time we made out after winning the state championship?"
Rachel felt her cheeks flush at the memory. It had been a reckless, passionate kiss, fueled by adrenaline and victory. But that was different. That was... intimate. This was just weird.
Even for Mia. Rachel hesitated, the mouthguard dangling from Mia's fingers like some sort of bizarre dare. She glanced around the field, half-expecting to see their coach walking towards them, ready to bust them for some sort of unsportsmanlike conduct. But the coast was clear. It was just them, the green expanse of the field, and the setting sun casting long shadows over the grass.
"It's not like it's going to bite you, Rachel," Mia teased, her voice laced with laughter. "Unless you're into that sort of thing?
Are you hiding a secret kink, Rachel?" Mia wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, making Rachel laugh despite herself.
"Very funny, Mia. I'm not into biting, thank you very much," Rachel replied, snatching the mouthguard from Mia's hand. She examined it for a moment, turning it over in her hands, feeling the smooth, slightly tacky surface. It was just a piece of silicone, after all. What could it hurt?
She popped it into her mouth, feeling the familiar pressure against her teeth.
It was warm, damp, and tasted of Mia - a mix of her best friend's unique saliva, sweat, and the faint lingering of the sports drink they'd had at halftime. Rachel's eyes widened slightly. It was... interesting. Not unpleasant, but definitely not something she'd go out of her way to experience again.
Mia watched her, waiting for a reaction. "Well?" she prompted, her voice laced with amusement.
Rachel took the mouthguard out, holding it between her fingers. "It's... salty. And warm. And...
not entirely unpleasant," Rachel admitted, her brow furrowed as she considered the sensation. "But I still don't get what's so intriguing about it."
Mia grinned, taking the mouthguard back from Rachel and popping it into her own mouth. "I don't know, Rach. There's just something about having my mouth filled like this, you know? It's... intense. In a good way."
Rachel watched as Mia sucked on the mouthguard, her cheeks hollowing slightly. She couldn't deny that there was something oddly intimate about the act, even if she wasn't quite sure she understood the appeal.
Mia seemed to be enjoying it, though, her eyes fluttering closed as she moaned softly around the mouthguard.
Rachel cleared her throat, tearing her gaze away from Mia. "You know, we should probably clean these things. I mean, it's one thing to...experiment, but we don't want to get some sort of infection or something."
Mia opened her eyes, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You're right, Captain Safety," she teased, taking the mouthguard out of her mouth and holding it up. "I'll run them through the sanitizer in the locker room.
You grab the rest of our gear and meet me there," Rachel instructed, already heading towards the gleaming white building that housed their changing rooms and showers. Mia nodded, gathering their stray helmets, pads, and sticks, her mind still buzzing with the unexpected intimacy of their shared exploration.
As they stripped down to their sports bras and shorts, the cool air of the locker room a stark contrast to the heat of the field, Rachel couldn't help but steal glances at Mia. Her best friend was humming to herself, a small smile playing on her lips as she rinsed their mouthguards under the tap, her movements almost...
reverent. Rachel shook her head, amused and slightly bewildered by Mia's enthusiasm. She tossed her own mouthguard into the sanitizer, watching as the machine whirred to life, cleansing and drying the silicone pieces.
"So, what do you think?" Mia asked, turning to face Rachel, her arms crossed over her chest. "Still just a mouthguard, or something more?"
Rachel leaned against the cold tile wall, considering her response. "I don't know, Mia. It's definitely... different. I can't deny that there's something... interesting about it.
But I'm not sure I'm ready to call it 'something more' just yet," Rachel replied, her tone measured. She wasn't one to jump into new experiences without careful consideration, unlike Mia, who seemed to embrace every oddity with open arms.
Mia smirked, stepping closer to Rachel. "Oh, come on, Rach. Don't tell me you didn't feel anything. I saw the way you looked at me when I was... tasting it." She paused, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.
"You were watching me, weren't you? Like you wanted to taste it too."
Rachel felt her cheeks flush, caught off guard by Mia's bluntness. She looked away, breaking eye contact. "I was not," she lied, her voice coming out more defensive than she intended.
Mia laughed, a soft, knowing sound. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Rachel. It's just us. No judgment here." She stepped even closer, her body heat radiating against Rachel's skin. "I thought it was kind of hot, to be honest.
Seeing you get all worked up over a mouthguard," Mia said, her voice still low and playful. "I mean, who would've thought, right? That something so... mundane could be such a turn-on."
Rachel's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. "Mia, what are you saying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through her veins.
Mia grinned, unapologetic, her eyes never leaving Rachel's.
"I'm saying that I think we might have stumbled upon something... exciting, Rach. Something we hadn't considered before."
Rachel swallowed hard, her mind racing. She'd always known Mia was adventurous, but this was... different. This was pushing boundaries she hadn't even known existed. "Mia, I don't know if I'm comfortable with this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mia's expression softened, and she reached out, giving Rachel's arm a gentle squeeze. "Hey, I'm not saying we have to do anything. I just think it's worth exploring, you know?