"You're cheating, Sean, stop stepping in front of me when it's my turn to hit the ball," was Rachel's pouting complaint to Sean as she missed another serve, he fired at her playing tennis.
"I didn't step in front of you," protested Sean, lying through his teeth. She'd already beaten him at archery, sword fighting, and basketball. Sean, being the jock he was, was getting tired of losing. So he'd resorted to cheating to make sure he didn't lose again.
I'm pathetic, I haven't grown up yet, I still hate to lose, Sean admitted silently.
"Don't tell me Sean, the Panther, Grayson, can't stand to lose a silly video game," Rachel teased laughing at the look of mock anger on Sean's face. Then squealed as Sean started, stalking her like the big cat he was nicknamed after. Rachel began to run as Sean gave chase laughing and squealing as he mockingly roared behind her. Rachel made it to the kitchen and was rounding the gourmet island as her doorbell rang and she breathlessly called time out to open the door for her nephew.
"Hey Auntie," D.J. said with a hug as he entered the kitchen from the garage door.
"Hey D.J., Rachel said still a little breathless from playing with Sean. D.J. coming further into the kitchen noticed Sean standing by the island and lifted a questioning brow at his aunt.
"Hey, I know you. You used to play for the Falcons; they called you the Panther because you could snag any football thrown at you. And you were so powerful and quick no one could take you down once you got in your stride," D.J. gushed. "Wow, man why are you, a living legend, standing in my Auntie's kitchen?"
Rachel was impressed, if D.J. remembered Sean, then he must have been a real football star. Rachel started to introduce Sean but before she could say anything, Sean stepped forward to shake D.J.'s hand and introduced himself
"Hello D.J., I used to be the Panther but that was a long time ago. I'm just Sean now and I am a friend of your Aunts, nice meeting you," Sean greeted.
D.J. was in awe for a moment and couldn't say anything, he just looked from Sean to his Aunt giving her an accusing look that said, Auntie, you have been holding out on us.
Rachel just shrugged and decided to direct his attention to the reason for his visit.
"D.J. everything for your Mom is in the fridge except for the meatballs. Sean, will you please get them from the oven for me?" Rachel said.
"Oh, I forgot Auntie Mom sent some stuff over for you too; I'll go get them from the SUV. Be right back," D.J. said, taking the two platters of sandwiches with him as he headed back out to the car to get Rachel and Sean's lunch. Sean pulled the meatballs from the oven and secured the lid to the aluminum server Rachel gave him. Rachel took the pasta salad from the fridge and sat it on the counter. D.J. returned with their lunch and exchanged it for the pasta salad waiting for him on the counter. Before heading out the door he kissed his Auntie goodbye and Sean followed him to the SUV with the meatballs. They talked for a few minutes before D.J. left and Sean came back in with a slight grin on his face.
"What's so funny," Rachel asked when Sean returned.
"I just got interrogated by a 26 year old kid who wanted to know my intentions toward his Auntie, that's what," Sean replied. "He said since your father was gone now he had to look out for you."
Rachel, at the sink rinsing the vegetables for their salad, upon hearing Sean's words teared up at how sweet D.J. was and at how much she missed her Dad. Sean sensing her distress came up behind her to message her shoulders.
"Hey are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm ok," Rachel said clearing her throat.
"Well aren't you going to ask me what my answer was?" Sean asked
"I'm sure I'll find out your intentions soon enough, right?" was Rachel's answer and turning back to the sink she continued to prepare the salad for their lunch.
"Can I help?" Sean said wanting to shrug off the seriousness of the moment and get back to the fun they were having earlier.
"Sure, you can open up that basket, and set up everything my sister sent in the den. I thought we'd have a small indoor picnic in the den by the fireplace and listen to some music. Everything we need should be in the basket, plates, cutlery, napkins and a big red and white table cloth to set everything up on." I'll just finish up the salad and the dressing and bring it in shortly. Let me know if you need any help locating anything."
"Sure thing," Sean said and he scooped up the big basket and headed for the den to set up.
"Wow," Rachel said as she walked into the den later with a big wooden bowl of salad and citrus vinaigrette dressing. Sean had been busy while she worked in the kitchen. The table cloth was spread out with a chilling bottle of Verdi white wine chilling in a bucket of ice the plates and cutlery arranged neatly in place settings across from each other. With a crusty French baguette bread sitting on a baguette tray next to a dish of her mother's famous honey butter, a platter of warm fried chicken and a small sample platter of cheese and fruit all placed in the center of cloth. Sean also had the fire, and music going. Everything looked cozy and romantic with Sean stretched out on his side of the mock picnic table looking relaxed with his back leaning against the sofa and his feet crossed at the ankles staring into the fire so deep in thought Rachel didn't think he'd heard her.
"Sean?" "Sean, penny for your thoughts," Rachel said as she sat the salad down and took a seat opposite him.
'Well, what's a big shot ex-pro ball player doing with my Aunt? I hope you aren't playing her because she's good people and she's already been through a lot. If you're just playing around go find someone else to play with. She's not a toy, she is a woman with a big, kind heart who deserves someone who loves and appreciates her and who will treat her like a queen. If you think you're that person by all means proceed with your plans. However, if you are not serious then leave and don't come back because we love her and she deserves better. Don't hurt my Auntie, man.' The look in D.J.'s face had been solemn and sincere and Sean couldn't lie to him. He'd been thinking about his brief conversation with Rachel's nephew since the kid drove off.
All he could say was, 'I know you love your Aunt, D.J. I also know she is a special Lady. What I don't know is where this thing with us is going, but I do want to find out. I can't make any promises right now, but I can say one thing, she's stirred up some feelings in me I haven't felt before. We've only known each other for a few days but there are feelings involved, I just need some time to figure them out, ok?' D.J. had looked Sean straight in the eyes as he spoke and whatever he saw must have been ok because he nodded, shook Sean's hand, got in the SUV and drove off.
The encounter had gotten to Sean. He wanted to sort this thing with him and Rachel out. He could feel a change happening inside him but didn't know what the change was or why it was happening. Sean knew he wanted Rachel but sensed it went deeper than that. Oh well he couldn't it figure out now so he might as well enjoy his time with her.
"They're worth more than a penny, Rachel," Sean said as he came out of his silent reverie to smile at her. "Umm, everything looks and smells good," he said as she handed him a plate of chicken, salad cheese and fruit. Setting his plate in his lap he opened up the wine to pour them both a glass. Watching as Rachel pulled off a piece of the French bread, spread some butter on it, and took a bite savoring the delicious morsel. She made it look so good he had to try some too.
The food was almost as delicious as the woman he was dining with Sean observed as he savored the indoor picnic lunch set before him. He was on his third or fourth piece of chicken he'd lost count as he pigged out on the food from Rachel's family catering company.
"Umm, this chicken is finger-licking good," Sean said as he finished off his last piece taking a swallow of his wine to wash it down. Rachel smiled taking in how much Sean ate, shaking her head with humor as she watched him practically inhale five pieces of chicken along with his salad and all the other goodies Marge packed in the basket for their lunch.
"I see, you've been licking your fingers, I wonder if your mother knows of your terrible table manners," Rachel teased back in response.
"Hey, what can I say when the food it good, I just can't help myself," was Sean's reply.
"Would you care for some rum cake? My sister makes them. They are scrumptiously decadent and scandalously rich. Oh and did I mention they are about 80 proof so please don't light up anywhere near the cake or you'll blow yourself up," Rachel offered the dessert with a teasing warning.
Lifting his brow in surprise amusement, Sean said, "80 proof now how could I pass that up, especially if the cake is half as good as your Mom's chicken."
"Let me just clean up the remnants of our little picnic here and I'll bring you back some cake in a jiffy," Rachel replied as she leaned forward to begin packing up the leftovers, and cleared away their meal.
"I'll help," Sean replied. With the two of them working together they had everything cleared away and were back with their cake and coffee in record time.
"So what should we do for the rest of the day," Sean asked Rachel after practically inhaling his piece of cake.
"I don't know, all I had planned for today was relaxing and enjoying a good book. But then I don't usually have such fascinating company." Rachel replied.
"Fascinating, am I," Sean asked as he set down his empty plate and scooted forward to invade Rachel's personal space he reverted to what Rachel began to think of as his deep chocolate voice. He quickly removed Rachel's plate sitting it down next to his to move in closer for the kiss he'd been dying to give her since they were interrupted by her sister's voice message this morning.
"How about we pick up where we woke up this morning," Sean said as he reached over and pulled Rachel into his lap facing him in a straddling position. Rachel had never been picked up and handled so lightly before and found Sean's ability to maneuver her so easily enticing.
" I have terrible memory, so why don't you help me remember what you're talking about, demonstrations are definitely allowed," Rachel said as she brought her hands up to encircle Sean's thick neck and opened her knees slowly in increments until she was in direct contact with the thickening bulge in Sean's jeans.
With a deep moan at the contact of Rachel's blue jean encased core he gripped Rachel's hips, tilted his pelvis upward, and proceeded to maneuver Rachel back and forth over the bulge developing in his pants drawing out twin groans from each of them as they sought and found the other's mouths in a heated kiss, their bodies straining to get closer as the kisses became more urgent.
Sean, never ceasing the activity of their gyrations below, pulled away slightly to take in some oxygen. "Rachel, I know this is sudden, the attraction we have for each other, but Babe I have to get inside you before I die right here, right now," he said on an upward stroke. "Please, let me make love to you, say yes and make me the happiest man on this planet," Sean pleaded.
Rachel, hardly believing her own reaction to this man could only give the answer they both wanted, "Yes, Sean, make love to me and put an end to the fire you've ignited in me," she said and followed with mind blowing lip lock action.