Never Say Die- Chapter 6

 

Chapter 6

 

 

            My phone vibrated on the table, nearly causing me to jump out of my seat in surprise. I slid it open to see that I'd received a text message-

            “Done with the girls, when do you want me over?” This time I actually did jump out of my seat, I'd completely forgotten that he was coming.

            “Mom I'm sorry, I have to get going, I forgot I invited Rhys over to make dinner together.” my mother smiled, clearly thrilled with the idea of my being with someone, human or otherwise.

            “You must have us over to meet him sometime soon dear.” I'd seen that one coming, my mother would feel that she couldn't provide a strong argument against Malcolm's proposal without first getting a feel for Rhys and it would bother her until she met him which meant that I would be the focus of constant nagging until I gave in.

            I smiled at her, “I will, you're both going to love him.” In my heart I knew that I was absolutely right as I pushed Malcolm and whatever problems he may have to the back of my head.

I kissed her cheek before giving her a big hug and stepping back.

            “I love you darling!” she said.

            “I love you too mom...Oh! I almost forgot.” I opened my phone to text Rhys back, “Give me 20 minutes, had to stop at my parents. See you soon. -S.” I tucked my phone into my pocket and looked back up at my mother.

            “I promise I'll see you soon.” And her elated smile was the last thing I saw as the flames drew up around me and her kitchen disappeared.

            I stepped out of my bathroom, the safest place to flame in when I wasn't sure if Flan was home, and went in search of a pair of comfy shorts and a t-shirt to wear over my black bikini. It was a good day to sit by the pool and I wanted to just be close to Rhys for a while so I could forget all this Malcolm business and get back to my life.

            Rhys had perfect timing ringing the bell just as I was coming down the stairs. I opened the door with a big smile and before I could step back to let him in his arms were around me and his lips crushing mine.

            He let me go with a grin, “I've been waiting all day for that.”

            I smiled back, “So have I.”

I pulled him back to me after he had closed the door behind him, he lifted me so that my legs were wrapped around him and carried me to the couch. I began to feel an aching need for him, longing for him to be closer to me, we managed to end up the same way we had been on Marlene's couch with his warm weight pressing down on me. His shirt found its way to the floor and I marveled at his perfectly chiseled chest, not too muscled but just enough to make any woman in her right mind, drool like a dog.

            It wasn't until I realized that his hands were under my shirt and pulling at the strings of my bikini that I reluctantly pulled away and gave him a shy smile.

            “I'm not ready for all that yet...” I trailed off somewhat embarrassed; he immediately seemed contrite and concerned that he had crossed a line, “Saydie I'm sorry, I shouldn't have...” I put a finger to his lips, silencing his apology. “Relax, it's not like I wasn't right there with you. It's not that I don't want to, believe me I do, I'm just not ready yet.”

            “I don't know what came over me Saydie, I kissed you and it was like suddenly I had to be closer, like I had to be a part of you.”

            “That’s how I felt too.” I replied, noticing something stirring in my heart as I looked at him, “But we must already be a part of each other otherwise, how could we feel like this?” he smiled and pressed his lips to mine one more time.

            “You're something else Saydie, I can't seem to get enough of you.”

            “We're still doing something right then I guess.” I said with a grin, he smiled and gently unwrapped himself from me and pulled me up to sit next to him.

            “We won't do anything you're not ready for until you decide to okay?”

I nodded, “Thanks.”

            “Can I ask you a somewhat personal question?” I could see the blush spread across his cheeks and suspected what was coming next but nodded and let him ask anyway.

            “Have you ever been with a guy, like that, I mean.” I smiled at his choice of words.

            “No I've never been with a guy like that. I don't really even date and so nobody has ever attracted me enough for that until now.”

            “You don't date huh? Then why did you agree to go out with me?” curiosity burned in his eyes as he waited for my response.

            I answered as honestly as I could. “Because I couldn't say no, my life was completely altered the minute I met you, I couldn't resist getting closer.”

            While I was talking I noticed that we had indeed gotten closer to each other and then his lips were on mine again, gentle this time like he had resolved not to get carried away.

            He pulled back and brushed his hand across my cheek, “You're so beautiful, how did I get so lucky?”

            I blushed a deep red, “I think I'm the lucky one.” and he smiled at me.

            I stood up and pulled him to standing, “Let’s go sit by the pool while we still have time and we can talk about anything you want.” He followed me out back and now that it was lighter out his eyes widened as he took in my pool, “Whoa! I didn't see that last time.”

            The pool was designed to look like a private lagoon with plants and flowers growing all around it to form a wall of foliage, giving swimmers privacy from the house and patio and vice versa. There was a small stone path between the foliage and the patio that led under an arch of roses and out to a seating area big enough for about 5 lounge chairs.

            On one side of the seating area was a large pile of carefully placed rocks over which a waterfall gracefully cascaded into a stone lined hot tub which then cascaded into the pool providing a relaxing sound designed to soothe the soul after a long day. On the other side were the marble steps that led into the pool.    

            An enclosed wooden cabana with mostly glass walls stood at the other end complete with a 2 person sauna, massage table and a built in closet for towels.

            I left him to pick his chair while I went to get the towels, in the top of the closet hung rows of lavender that provided a lovely smell for the towels to help you relax even more. I inhaled deeply as I pulled out 2 over sized butter cream yellow towels, 2 pairs of sunglasses and went to hand him a towel and a pair of the glasses before laying out my own towel and setting my glasses down on the table between us.

            I watched his eyes nearly bulge from his head as I let the shorts slide down my legs to the ground and then pulled the shirt over my head. My swimsuit didn't cover as much as it probably should have, the top was barely more than pasties attached to strings leading around my neck and back. The bottom was just as indecent with just enough fabric to cover my front and most of my behind, it was held together by strings tied on each hip.

            “That suit should be illegal madam, especially after the talk we just had, how do you expect me to keep my hands to myself?” he was trying hard to keep his eyes on my face and I couldn't help but laugh, “I never said you had to keep your hands to yourself.” I winked at him and he grinned for just a moment before his lips slid into a frown.

            “I didn't say you had to cover it up..” he grumbled at me deliberately looking off toward the pool as I pulled my shorts back on to help provide less of a distraction, he'd have to deal with the top though.

            I sat in the chair next to him and he reached for my hand, the warm current seemed like it was a little stronger and we both glanced at each other from the corner of our eyes to see if the other had noticed.

            I picked the glasses up and slid them over my eyes as I relaxed further into my chair, we sat in silence soaking up the sun before he suddenly spoke.

            “Saydie I need to ask you another personal question and you can tell me to mind my own business if you want.”

            I sat up to look at him and raised my glasses a bit, “Sure, you can always ask me anything.”

            He took a deep breath and looked terribly embarrassed to even ask, “Are you seeing anybody else? I mean it’s cool if you are, I just couldn't help wondering.”

            I smiled, “You think that after all this” I raised our hands to refer to the current between us, “I'd even look at another man, let alone date one?”

            He blushed, “I just needed to know if I had any competition or anything.” my visit to my parents’ house came back to the forefront of my thoughts before I pushed them away again.

            “I assume that means you're definitely not seeing anyone else?” I asked already knowing his answer.

            “Of course not, it would have never crossed my mind, but you with another guy, well...” he trailed off and I could see the jealousy in his eyes. I stood up and went over to sit on the edge of his chair, leaning against his chest and kissing his nose.

            “Why Rhys, it sounds like you might be jealous.”

            “I would be if you were seeing someone else.” He looked very seriously into my eyes, “I want you to be my girl.” I blushed at his words and a smile spread across my face.

            “I was yours the moment we met.” I told him, we smiled at one another and he pulled me completely on top of him to kiss me again.

            “Maybe I'll come back another time.” I recognized the teasing voice and looked up to see Flan standing under the arch.

            “Hey Flan.” I said happily, “We were just um... making things official.” she raised an eyebrow at me.

            “Does that mean you guys are together now?” I nodded and couldn't seem to stop smiling.

            “My congratulations to you both. Rhys you know it’s my duty as the roommate to kick your a*s if you break her heart. She's waited a long time to find someone like you so don't mess it up.” I blushed at her declaration and Rhys took her warning in stride.

            “I will do my best to never mess anything up.” he laughed and Flan and I joined in.

            “I brought home some salmon and thought we might grill again tonight. I assume Rhys, that you'll be joining us for dinner? Apparently we have a reason to celebrate.” I smiled as his face lit up at the thought of getting to man my grill again; he looked at me apparently expecting a response from me before answering.

            I nodded, “Who am I to deny him time in the 'man's kitchen'?” he laughed and stood to kiss my cheek, “You're the best babe.”

            “I try.” I smiled to myself finding that I was full of a new confidence that this could really work.

            After a dinner of grilled salmon, green beans mixed with bacon pieces and garlic butter over rice, we relaxed again by the pool with a couple bottles of sparkling cider. We seemed to have a thing for apple related beverages whether juice, sparkling or hot in our house.

            “I'd like to propose a toast.”Rhys stood with his glass half full of cider, “To Saydie, the only woman who is everything I could have ever hoped for and more than I could have imagined.”

            I blushed and took a sip, hoping that I wouldn't be expected to reciprocate but suddenly I felt that I had to declare some kind of feeling for him and so I stood up with my glass raised.

            “To Rhys, the man who has changed me forever and shown me how to open my heart.”

He smiled and leaned to kiss me.

            “Alright you guys enough of that.” Flan laughed, “To Rhys and Saydie may your bonds stay strong longer than forever.”

            “Cheers!” We all said taking another sip of the cider, but her words had perplexed me for a brief moment, our bonds could never possibly stay strong that long, eventually I would have to leave, I was in this relationship on the principle that it was better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. The thought made me sad and for one fleeting moment I wished that he was a demon so that I could stay with him forever but then my rules mentally smacked me in the head as I realized that this new idea would work even less than having him human, and the thought was quickly pushed aside.

            Rhys spent a lot more time at my house from then on, coming over after work, between classes and when we weren't together we were texting or e-mailing, we became completely inseparable and in some ways I felt bad about it, mostly due to my desperate need not to become completely entangled in everyday human life which included his friends. I felt like I was isolating him by his own choice but he didn't seem to be able to balance things out nor did he seem to want to. No matter how much I pushed him to spend more time with his friends he wouldn't do it if I didn't come with. I tried the excuse that I was shy of people and he tried to extricate me from my shell with promises of a good time and an opportunity to make new friends. I knew it wasn't going to work that way.

            But still that nagging desire to just be human, to blend in and worry about stuff as it happened held on with a ferocity that surprised even me.

            So when the night of the big football game was looming upon us, it was with great humility and grace that I agreed to go with Flan and sit at the highest level of the bleachers to watch Rhys play. I knew him immediately by the number on his red jersey before taking in the mass of added pads that made him look even more monstrous. He seemed to be a very popular player and many people were chanting his name as he ran out to the field with the rest of the University of Wharton Wolverines team.

            Flan and I were settled with steaming hot cups of cider from Marlene's, bundled up against the slight chill in the night air on the very top row of bleachers. We watched as the cheerleaders did their warm ups and then turned to the crowd to get us cheering with them.

            “The head cheerleader down there is who Rhys left for you.” Flan pointed out with a laugh, “No competition whatsoever, she's just a brainless bimbo.” I nodded but I knew Flan just wanted to help me feel better about it. I couldn't help feeling a little bit bad even though I knew what his reasons had been but I wasn't surprised that they'd gotten together.

            Through decades of high school and college football it almost seemed traditional for the head cheerleader and the football captain to at least give dating a shot. I remembered when they'd tried to pull it off at a high school I'd attended to keep track of the child of a contract signer (his soul was the forfeit if his parents couldn't pay their debt). It didn't really help that the team captain turned out to be gay but he did his best to still have a good time and show pride for his school and team.

            Since we were so far up there was no way I could get a good look at what the girl looked like but I could get a good look at what she was trying to do, I could see her openly flirting with Rhys. So I concentrated for a moment and managed to focus my hearing to his voice hoping that it would be enough to draw her voice into my line of hearing as well.

            “Hey Rhys, how's it going?”

            “It's going pretty good.”

            “I've missed you so much I wish you'd reconsider letting me make up with you.” I watched as she ran a single finger down his nose and lips and nearly jumped out of my seat to go down there and tell her off.

            Flan grabbed my arm, “Calm down you don't even know what they're talking about, at least give the man a chance to prove that he's everything they say he is.” I knew she was right as I sat back down and focused just in time for his response.

            “Sorry Roni it just isn't going to work out, I told you that, besides I'm with Saydie now.” Roni?

            “Rhys you know we belong together.”

            “No Veronica we don't, I belong with Saydie. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, I’m sorry.” He sounded so apologetic that I felt bad for him but Veronica, clearly taking his words as a bluff, spoke in a low voice with a hint of jealousy.

            “I guess we'll just have to meet this new girl and find out for ourselves.” I watched as his eyes lit up at the idea of having me meet his friends and suddenly it was like he and Roni were just two old pals talking about getting together not exes trying to make strained conversation. The down side was that he didn’t seem to realize that the wheels in her head were turning on full power with an alternate plan to just meeting me.

             “I'm working on it Veronica, she’s a little shy but I can't wait until she's ready to meet everyone, you're all going to love her, she's absolutely the most wonderful person you'll ever hope to meet.” I blushed at his words and smiled to myself.

            “I'm sure she's great.” Veronica replied with barely concealed venom in her tone, “I can't wait.” then her voice perked up and became sweet again, “There's the river trip next Saturday why don't you bring her then? It should be plenty of time to warm her up to the idea.” he nodded in agreement.

            “Sure I'll see if she'll go, if you ever saw her pool you'd know that a lazy river ride is right up her alley.” He grinned from ear to ear, his eyes completely full of thoughts of me and then he looked right up towards us and waved, when I waved back he blew me a kiss and I blushed as Flan and I both blew one back, being goofy and giggling.

            I could see the cheerleader straining to see who he was blowing kisses to but when she turned to ask him he had already gone out to the field to start the game. I could have sworn I heard her mutter something along the lines of, “If I'm lucky maybe she'll drown.” I couldn't hold back the laughter and Flan looked at me curiously but didn't say anything.

            I watched in amazement and a bit of horror as these 2 teams went at each other like a herd of rhino's with a ball. The air was thick with the excitement of any football game, the schools colors of crimson and gold were everywhere, engulfing the opposing teams colors of green and white. It looked like the entire town had come out for the game and there was no doubting the devotion of Wharton to their football team.

            When the game was over we had won 19 to 12, Rhys had scored the winning touchdown making him the hero of the game and the victory rang through the stadium. Flan and I made our way back down to the bottom of the bleachers to head to the parking lot when I suddenly felt a large presence behind me and whipped around defensively, but before I could do anything there were warm and familiar lips on mine and my feet were coming off the ground, this time he pulled my legs up and around him, it seemed the only way for me to really get around the mass of padding that he was buried under.

            I laughed as he spun me around in celebration of their victory and the fact that I'd been there to see it, excitement sparkled in his eyes.

When he finally put me down he could still barely see me over his equipment so he knelt on a bleacher seat to bring himself back down to my level.

            “There's going to be a victory party tonight, do you want to go?” he already knew my response before I shook my head.

            “You go have a good time, if it's not too late you can stop by afterward.”

            “Are you sure that's ok with you? I don't have to go.”

            I smiled, “It's fine, I can't hog up all of your time and Flan and I are used to hanging out by ourselves, go have fun with your friends, enjoy your win with your teammates, we'll have our own little victory celebration later when I give you a massage and a sauna.” I winked at him and pushed him toward the locker room.

            His lips were warm on mine again for one last kiss, “I won't be gone long, and it’s not worth it without you there.” I laughed and pushed him some more.

            “Just go, I’ll see you later.” I smiled at his retreating back and he turned around several times to wave and blow me kisses before disappearing into the locker room.

            Flan and I headed back to the car and by the time we'd buckled ourselves in I had a text telling me that he missed me already and he'd see me soon, I rolled my eyes and smiled to myself.

            When we got home we decided to warm ourselves up in the hot tub while we waited for Rhys to make his appearance which, despite what I'd told him, I knew wouldn't be much more than an hour or so after he got to the party.

            Almost as if he was making my point, Rhys strolled through my house around 11pm to find us chatting in the sauna. His phone never stopped lighting up from the moment he got there until he finally just turned it off and sank into a lounge chair after a nice massage and sauna just like I'd promised.

            I sat down next to him and he took my hand, “Good party?” I asked.

            “Not without you there.” he replied and I smiled at him.

Then his expression changed and he sat up to look at me as if he wasn't sure how to word his next sentence. “I have to tell you something and I know you're a little shy but I'm under direct order to bring you on the team trip to the river, people are starting to think I'm making you up or hiding you in a dungeon.” I laughed at the vision that formed in my head at the idea of him hiding me in a dungeon, realizing that the cheerleader-ex must have made the suggestion to quite a few other people that he bring me along.

            “Come on babe please?” I studied him for a moment taking in his beautiful smile and the flash of excitement in his eyes, he really wanted me to meet his friends just as much as I wanted to avoid them but I just couldn't bring myself to say no again knowing he'd be disappointed so I agreed.

            “Sure I'll go, if Flan can come too.” He looked psyched out of his mind as he picked me up and spun me around.

            “Flan can come too.”

We were all laughing just before his lips gently pressed against mine and I began to feel dizzy, not from the spinning but from how he took my breath away.