18+

    Kelsey watched on as Scarlett's lips moved but the words were inaudible. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to concentrate on whatever it was she was saying but the long, cold stare from Jake was making it impossible.

    Keeping her breath even she thought back to the drunk karaoke night with Milly and Cameron, arm in arm belting out Carrie Underwood's Before he cheats.
Years of angst and frustration seeped out of every pore mixed in with hard liquor and nicotine that night. That was the evening that Kelsey swore off of relationships, men were nothing but fun for her from that point onwards and her heart stayed strictly under lock and key.

    Sean's hand rested gently against the small of her back, his other providing support under his chin as he leant on the arm of the chair, eyes locked in on his younger brother.

    "Oh that sounds lovely, Dear." Martha Henderson shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, her hand tilting her near empty wine glass back and forth sloshing the pale liquid around before downing the remnants. "Oh would you look at that. I'm all out of wine, do excuse me whilst I get myself a refill." Martha swiftly stood from her chair and retreated up the garden towards the house at a brisk pace.

     "So." Sean's voice cut through the tense atmosphere. "You never did explain why it is that you're back, Jake." He raised his eyebrows, eyes glinting with an all knowing spark. "Changing specialty again?"

  Jake's jaw clenched, his line of sight dropping to the floor.

     "Not exactly." He responded through gritted teeth, his hands absentmindedly fidgeting with the label wrapped around the bottle that he held tightly on his lap.

     "Still I'm surprised to see you back here. Thought you'd be living it up, partying every night. Being the centre-"
      "Just shut up."
      "Oh but I thought you were all up for a chat this evening."

  Jake looked up meeting his brother's gaze, eyes glossy but lacking any tells to what he was truly thinking. He shrugged, a short chortle leaving his lips.

      "Touché, Sean." His eyes passed over to Kelsey and for a flicker of a second she caught a hint of pain flash within before his cocky demeanour corrected itself. Taking a swig from the bottle he grimaced from the burn before pointing back and forth between Kelsey and Sean.
      "I'd still rather talk about this."

      "I've already told you, Jake." Sean's voice was stern but low. "Not now."

   Jake was no longer focusing on his older brother, he leant further forward, pointing the bottle in the direction of Kelsey who sat frozen, counting the rhythm of her breathing.

       "You turned my life upset down." He grimaced, the pain flickering behind his eyes again. "When you left that morning. You wrecked everything."

        "Jake..." Her voice was feeble, lost against the intensity of his stare.

       "You left, not even looking back. You never answered my texts or my calls." Jake hissed. "You just left me alone, Kelsey." 

  Kelsey opened her mouth to respond but the words remained lodged in the back of her throat. She just stared on at the male before her, his mask slipping and a side she'd never seen before beginning to peek through. He looked like a wounded animal, eyes wide and shoulders raising with each ragged breath.

      "Jake, your brother's right. Whatever you want to say can wait till the morning." Jerry instructed, his right hand raising up to rub his temple. Jake pressed his lips together in a tight line, nodding his head slowly, his eyes still locked on Kelsey's with the tell tale signs of tears welling up.

      "Fine." He whispered. Scraping his chair back he stood abruptly, like a switch his face returning to the cocky smirk Kelsey had always known him to wear. Turning to Scarlett with his arm outstretched he let his eyes flicker once more over Kelsey, no longer hinting at any emotion behind them.

      "Let's go, babe." Scarlett secured her hand in his as she too stood from her chair, meekly nodding in Kelsey's direction before following Jake up the garden path, the blanket falling off one shoulder and trailing behind them.

  Kelsey felt Sean release a lungful of air beside her, his tense features softening once his brother disappeared inside the house. Switching his attention to Kelsey his eyes were a swirling blue in a variant of tones, like a storm far out at sea, he scanned her face to find any inclination of what she was feeling.

     "Are you ok?" He took her hand in his, his soft words jolting her back to the moment.

     "Yeah." She breathed, squeezing his hand in hers gently.  "That was bizarre." She smiled, a light chuckle leaving her lips.

  Seeing her at ease Sean's smile mirrored her own, his dimple appearing once again as he took in the woman sat on his lap. The twinkling of the fairy lights sparking behind her, casting ethereal lights through her rich auburn hair. Her red lips pulled at the corners up towards the dusting of freckles that laid beneath her comforting gaze. All feelings from what had just happened dissipating into the breeze around them.

   The sound of footsteps deviated his attention. His mother sauntered towards them, no wine glass in hand just her arms wrapping her jacket tightly around herself. Her green eyes were sharp against the moonlight, a single crease in her brow showing her displeasure.

    "Well I think it's wise if we call this a night." She sighed. "I apologise but please, Kelsey. Understand that Jake is going through a lot at the moment- now I know that to you that's not a valid excuse. But please, hear him out."

  Kelsey blinked rapidly, gathering her thoughts together she removed herself from Sean's lap and standing steady on her feet, the cold air causing her skin to prickle now she no longer had the proximity of Sean's body heat.

   "I'll hear him out." Kelsey shivered yet her voice remained steady. "But don't expect my opinion to change suddenly, the damage he did goes too deep. I'm not sure how much you're aware of but please know yourselves that I had my reasons for leaving the way I did."

   Sean's jacket once again graced her shoulders, the heavy fabric draping over her. He stood beside her, hand resting on her shoulder and pride brimming from within him.

     "We should be going." He politely nodded in the direction of his parents.

      "Thank you for tonight." Kelsey added leaning into Sean  before he guided her back towards the house leaving his parents speechless underneath the tree. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, leaning down he placed a delicate kiss atop her head. His lips whispering into her hair.

      "You're one amazing woman, Owens."

                                                                          ..................................................................................................................................

  Sean cut the engine, the car sitting silent in the car park of the travel lodge. Kelsey unclipped her seatbelt, slowly and carefully letting it slide back beside the seat.

       "So." Kelsey tested, looking across at Sean. "Are you going to be a gentleman and walk me to my door?" She looked up at him through her eyelashes, a playful lilt to her voice.

Sean unclipped his own belt, pushing back his hair with one hand he met Kelsey's mischievous gaze, his teeth glinting in the fluorescent light of the streetlamp as he laughed.
     "Then I best open the door for you."

  Walking away from the car hand in hand they raced to the warmth of the lobby. The automatic doors groaning as they slid open to grant them both sanctuary.
Stopping in front of the now empty desk, Sean held both Kelsey's hands in his, raising them up to his face he brushed a kiss between her knuckles.

     "I take it this counts as seeing you to your door." He smiled, his lips like a delicate rose petal against her skin. Kelsey lowered their arms, slowly walking backwards, tugging Sean along with her.

     "Actually, my door is this way." She raised her brow, a devious smirk pulling sideways. Her heels echoed against the tiles, filling the silence in the lobby as she lead Sean towards the door that would open to the hallway and staircase. Sean followed in tow, his fingers still entwined with hers.

  Kelsey held up her keycard to the panel beside the door, it's green flashing light and ear splitting beep letting them know they could continue onwards. Stepping through Kelsey held her finger to her lips eyeing the doors that lined one side of the wall. Sean repeated her motion, stifling a laugh behind his finger as they rounded the corner to the entrance of the staircase. Taking his hand from hers, he kept it behind her as they ascended the stairs, earning a roll of the eyes from Kelsey.

        "I haven't had a single drink, I'm able to walk up a couple flights of stairs without you needing to be on guard." She laughed, nudging into Seans shoulder.
        "I've seen you trip over far less in flatter shoes."
        "I don't fall that easily."
        "Oh is that so, Miss Owens."

  They stood still on the landing, Sean looking down at her, his honey coated words filling their surroundings. The moonlight flooded through the small window beside them, casting a glow across his face, his features she once considered sharp were soft beneath it's touch, his eyes once cold and avoidant now captured all of her in a warm embrace. Kelsey let out a shaky breath.

       "Well maybe only when I'm around you, Henderson."

   His smile grew wider, reaching up he caressed her cheek before tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. 

       "My room's just this way." Kelsey whispered, her heart hammering from his gentle touch. Turning back she grabbed hold of the bannister, her knees now weak she could no longer guarantee that she wouldn't trip up.

  Their footsteps were silent against the old carpet, the slight tacky feeling providing some resistance against each step. They crept passed doors until Kelsey stopped outside the room she had become quite acquainted with. Holding her keycard to the sensor she waited for the green light to blink and the the telltale click to sound before opening the door inwards. Flicking the switch to her left the lights flickered on revealing her little room.

   Sean watched her walk towards the back of the room and place her bag down on top of a vanity table, the metal strap clinking against the weathered glass of the mirror. He stood frozen still at the threshold. Kelsey had her back to him, arms raised as her hands searched through her hair pulling pins out and discarding them next to her bag. She turned to face him, red curls cascading in voluminous waves over her shoulders. Sean's eyes followed the curls that fell loosely, gently kissing the corners of her red painted lips. Leaning against the door frame, he felt the desire burn within. His teeth grazed his bottom lip as his eyes followed the curves of her body, down the long stretch of legs before returning back to her eyes that stared at him through thick eyelashes.

       "You can come in, Sean." She smiled walking slowly towards him.

  Taking a deep breath in with the futile attempt to calm his racing pulse and thoughts, he took a step forward into the room, his hand resting on the door handle. Kelsey's eyes took in this information, her smile tugging upwards.

      "You can shut the door behind you too." Kelsey's voice was barley a whisper but Sean was hanging on to every syllable. She got closer to him, eyes locked on his, glinting with an unspoken desire. "You see, I need some assistance to get out of this dress."

   Sean closed his eyes and shook his head, his chest filling with air as he carefully shut the door behind him, a satisfying click resounding in the small room. Kelsey's hand carefully wrapped around his, his eyes opening dark with a hunger for what was being teased before him. She guided him further into the room, dropping his hand she turned to face away from him, pulling her hair over her shoulder to reveal the top of the zipper that was glinting silver. Sean swallowed hard.

       "Kelsey." His voice was deep, speaking her name as if it were a warning. He trailed his fingers from the base of her hairline gently down her neck, his touch but a ghost till he got the the top of the dress. Taking the zipper between his thumb and forefinger he leant in, her perfumed scent intoxicating him further.

       "Kelsey, if I do this I can't promise that I'll be able to leave this room tonight." He explained in a breathless whisper, his lips dusting the tips of her ear causing a small moan to leave Kelsey's lips. Sean's free hand found itself holding her hip, squeezing it in response to the sound of pleasure. A smirk grew upon Sean's face, he lowered the zipper slowly exposing the band of Kelsey's lacy bra and smooth skin.

  A low moan sounded from Sean's throat as he felt his trousers go taught against him. His teeth grazed her ear before his lips kissed downwards, slowly leaving a trail down her neck, sucking and biting gently before stopping to gather himself.

     "Last chance to ask me to leave." He whispered, pulling her back against him both hands playfully squeezing her hips whilst he smiled against her neck.

   Kelsey wriggled against him turning in his arms, her pupils dilated and reflecting the same hunger as his. She bit her lip playfully stepping back from him and reaching behind her. Sean's breaths were ragged as he watched her unzip the rest of the dress letting the white fabric fall to the floor by her feet. Stepping over her discarded garment to returned to Sean's arms, one hand resting on his shoulder and the other reaching up and holding the side of his face.

     "You're not going anywhere." She purred pulling his face towards her with their lips colliding in an explosion of passion.

   Her fingers tangled amongst his golden waves, deepening the kiss whilst his hands returned to her hips, sliding round and cupping her arse. Sean lifted her up, inviting Kelsey to wrap her legs around his waist, her arms locking together behind his head. She moaned against his lips as she felt him rub against her. He pulled away breathless, walking towards the bed and placing her on top of the purple covers. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the toned upper body that has been plaguing Kelsey's thoughts. With a wide smirk painted across his face he leant down tilting Kelsey's chin up to look at him. Holding her face centimetres from his own he licked his lips, his next words sending Kelsey into a euphoric state.

     "Then I'm all yours, Kelsey."