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The Tessarae Inn |
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The Son Also Rises CHAPTER 19 “That’s not the way you are supposed to tackle.” “It is when it’s my wife I’m tackling.” He kissed her lightly on the lips then jumped up and ran. Starr and Sean were on his heels screaming for the ball. Blair could hear Jack yelling, Dadd-e-e-e-e-e, Daddy, Dad-d-d-y. And she could hear Cassie laughing. She rolled over on her stomach and watched Todd barrel into the end zone dragging Starr and Sean on either side of him. Now he was doing the cabbage patch and both Starr and Sean were whooping in joy. She sat up and brushed dirt off of her jeans then smiled. Her children were happy. Her husband was finally home and damn it she was not going to cry about it. She was just going to have to find some other way to express her joy. She walked over to the sideline and flopped down next to Cassie, who released Jack and let him toddle into her arms. “I tell you, Blair, Jack is going to be a little bruiser. It was all I could do to hold him back and keep him from running onto the field.” “That’s my boy. First a model then he can be the real thing—a football star.” “You decided to go with the Game Day Kit!” “Still thinking about it. If you have time why don’t you come with the kids and me to Moon Jumping when we leave here? I’m going to try the prototype outfit on Jack then see what I think.” “I already know what you’re going to think.” “Do I run this cutest baby in the world speech into the ground?” “You love your children and Todd’s children too. They're very lucky children.” Blair kissed Jack on the top of his head then said, “I know it sounds trite but I’m the lucky one. They bring me so much joy, Cassie, I have to pinch myself.” Starr rushed in front of her and screamed, “Mom-m-m-m-y, come on. We’re gonna run another one. Daddy says if you can run deep enough he’ll throw you a Hail Mary pass, whatever that is.” Blair laughed. She wasn’t sure she even wanted to know what that was but she did know that she couldn’t take Todd rolling on top of her much more in the name of tackling. The last time it was all she could do not to wrap her arms around him and lose herself in him. He was just too sexy today. She pulled Jack closer. “Need to spend a minute with the baby so I’m sending in the backup. She’s trotting out on the field now.” Cassie whipped her head toward and looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh, no, you don’t, Blair.” Oh, yes, Ms-s-s-s-s Callison. We Mannings do not allow simple spectators. Go show ‘um you’ve got the right stuff.” “Come on, Cousin Cassie. We need to huddle.” Blair laughed as Cassie rose to her feet slowly then complained about her aching knees. Starr was unimpressed. She grabbed Cassie’s hand and made her run then they formed a huddle with Sean. Todd trotted toward her and she looked away. Was he getting sexier or was it just the fresh air and exercise? He squatted down in front of her. “Missing the contact, babe. You know football is a contact sport.” She smiled at him. Jack jumped up and down until Todd took him, stood up and swung him around for a few seconds. Jack squealed with delight. “Come on, daddy,” yelled Starr. “Got to go, Blair. Need to see you shaking those pom-poms for me though. Need you to cheer me on to victory.” She harrumphed then leaned forward. “Todd, Todd. He’s my man. Finest stud in the whole land.” He grinned at her. “I like it.” “I thought you would.” ================= He looked into the SUV through the driver’s window. He could clearly see Jack strapped in securely in his car seat and Sean and Starr strapped into their safety belts on either side of him. He glanced at Blair and for a moment he felt a rush of fear. Everything precious to him in this world was sitting up in this car. He leaned in and kissed Blair on the cheek. Starr and Sean made exaggerated kissing sounds. He smiled at them then turned his attention back to Blair. “Drive carefully, babe.” “Always.” He nodded at Cassie then looked at the children and smiled. “I’ll see you at home later.” He watched Blair maneuver the Lincoln Navigator out of the parking space, drive to the end of the parking lot, turn right and then disappear. He reminded himself of what a good driver she was and that everything finally in his world was damn near perfect. He and Sean still had a lot of work to do but they were growing closer with each day. Blair had been right three weeks ago when she told him that he could allow himself to care about Sean. He opened up his heart as much as he could and Sean was coming around too. Things were good. There was no use borrowing trouble. He tossed the football lightly in his hand and walked back out onto the practice field at Llanview U. He had spent a lot of time on this field doing various things including playing football but he could honestly admit that he had never had as much fun as he did today playing some whacked out version of touch football with his family. He never would have thought that possible. Would never even have considered the possibility. Yet it was real and they would do it again and a thousand of other things that would put a smile on his face. His family was whole and together. Anything was possible.
She was standing in the middle of the field and her hair was the same red-gold color that he remembered. And her skin was still like porcelain and her eyes the color of emeralds. She was then and now a beautiful woman and he never in his life hated a woman more. “What do you want, Katherine?” Her eyes flashed then she smiled slightly. “If I said my son, what would you do?” “I’d ask you again what you want and I’d ask you not to waste my time pretending to have maternal instincts. Let’s get to the heart of the matter and save us both some time.” “Aren’t you the least bit surprised to see me?” “Not really. You know the old saying: If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. That's my life. Somehow you’re being dead seemed too good to be true.” She slowly narrowed her eyes and she studied him. “It was Ethan,” she said finally. “He never was much of a brother. Weak. He spotted me in Paris and probably ran straight to you.” Oh, damn. That’s why Ethan came back. Damn. Ethan came to the house to warn him but he was so mad that night that he wouldn’t give him a chance to explain. All that stuff about family was not about Blair or the children, it was about Katherine. He glanced at her and felt a wave of pressure beginning to build in his head. So what if he was an asshole that night. Ethan should have told him about Katherine anyway. She was watching him with a smirk on her face, so he narrowed his eyes and said, “Never said a word but then he always was too loyal to you. And you were never good enough to wipe his ass or his boots.” Katherine shook her hair then cocked her head upward for a few seconds before lowering it slowly and looking him directly in the eye “I never did like you.” “And to this day I have never met one person who liked you. Yet here you are defying reports of your probably well-deserved demise. What the hell does liking have to do with anything?” She shoved her hands into the pocket of her jeans and leaned back slightly on the heels of her boots. “You should have told me you were rich.” “And you should have kept your panties on and your smelly body parts away from me.” Katherine glared at him then cleared her throat. “I need money. Four million dollars. I can give you twenty-four hours.” “I see. And what do I get in exchange for four million dollars?” “Peace of mind. And my son.” “Kind of cheap isn’t it.” “Make it five then.” “So just so I am clear on the terms, that’s five million dollars times…? How many times do you plan to come back and ask for more?” “I’m not greedy just a little bit strapped for cash at the moment. Just asking for what should have been mine to begin with.” “Really? I think you should adjust your shock treatments because you're coming across as a blathering idiot or a motley fool, whichever is the crazier.” Katherine’s whole body tensed but then she let her gaze slowly drift along his body. She ran her tongue across her upper teeth and then smiled. “Would have been interesting if we’d met in some other way. I mean instead of you being all broken and stuff. Never thought you’d make it.” “I did but no thanks to you.” “Yep. Appearances were deceiving. You were pretty damn strong after all and you were rich, too. Things could have been different, if I’d known.” “Not even in your wildest dreams.” “Is she the one? The blonde you were all over. Is she the one you were so damn hell bent on getting back to?” “My life is none of your business, Katherine.” “Was she waiting for you pure and chaste? Or was she dancing on your grave?” “Screw you, Katherine.” “Wouldn’t you like that? You never really had the full pleasure. Pity is it not because I understand I am quite good?” Todd exhaled loudly and looked off toward the goal posts. This crazy woman was truly crazy as a loon. Katherine cleared her throat. “But enough of this reunion. I’ll call you tomorrow at 4:00 pm. I will expect all arrangements to have been made. This is the account number where I want you to wire the money. Not 5:00. Not even 4:30. Tomorrow at 4 pm sharp.” ============= Sean-Ryan couldn’t stop laughing. This was serious but it was still just too funny. “So you threatened the hell out of Manning for a few bucks and he just said no. Nothing more just no.” “Go to hell, Sean-Ryan.” “He always was one crazy mother. Of course, you never took any time to get to know him. Maybe, if you had, you’d have seen what a loser that plan was from the get-go.” “Screw you, Sean-Ryan.” “That’s what I’m trying to do to you. Now come here.” “Not in this bloody lifetime.” “You know how I like a challenge. Do you really want to set me off?” “I don’t give a—“ He was on her so fast that she didn’t have time to react. He held her hands behind her back with one hand then pulled at her blouse with the other until it gave way. She struggled but he was too strong for her. He kissed her and she tried to bite him but he knew all of her tricks and he could feel the heat from her body radiating into him. He released her hands then steeled himself for the slapping and thrashing that would come next. All she did, however, was to step back then unzip her jeans and step out of them. He watched her every move as if his life depended on it. She removed her panties then stood in front of him naked and stared at him with sheer defiance. She had no weapons except her arms and legs and her rage. He knew the next move in this script. He was supposed to grab for her and then she would fight him like there was no tomorrow. In the end, he would win and take her but he would pay a price in bruises and scratches and passion so white hot they would both be singed and burned by the time it was over. Instead of grabbing her, he reached out and touched her face gently with his hand. He outlined it then touched his finger to his own lips and then to hers. He stepped back and removed his sweater then his pants and shorts. She did not move but she watched him. He walked to the bed and pulled back the covers and climbed in. He reclined with his arms behind his head. He kept his eyes on her the entire time. It was her move. She would come to him or not. If she came there would be no question that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. She swayed slightly as if she was afraid to take a step toward him or away from him. He did not break his gaze. She was his. She knew it. Time for her to act like it. Finally, she moved toward him. He released the breath that he didn’t know he had been holding but he didn't move. There could be no question this time. She moved next to him on the bed and ran her hand lightly over his body. He closed his eyes and let himself drift into the sweetness of their passion. She moved on top of him and finally he couldn’t feign self-control any longer. He reached up and pulled her closer to him then kissed her as he let his hands explore her body. She made a soft gurgling, gasping sound as she fought to keep the last remnant of her self-control in place. But he knew it was a losing battle. He could tell by the way her body arched and moved toward him. She wanted him. She needed him. He wanted to devour her with swift, commanding strokes but that would be too easy. He was going to make her work for it this time.
“I know I should have done it before but there were reasons why I couldn’t. You know that. I’m breaking every rule and I’m doing it for you.” Katherine slipped his sweater over her head then zipped up her jeans. She pulled on her boots. “Cameron isn’t happy but I’m paying off the debt.” “Won’t the whole infrastructure of August Moon collapse as a result? Won’t really ba-a-a-d-d-d-d-d-d things happen?” “Maybe. There may be a war, Katherine, but I’m willing to take that risk.” “Why now all of a sudden? What because I slept with you a few times in the last couple of weeks or so?” “Best weeks of my life and we weren’t sleeping. And exactly how do you calculate a few?” “Damn you, Sean-Ryan McGill. If you loved me a tenth as much as you love screwing me then none of this would have happened.” “So now somehow this is all my fault. I wasn’t the one who messed with Cameron. You knew exactly what you were getting into and you jumped anyway.” She reached back and grabbed her hair at the nap of her neck then twisted it into what looked like a long rope then stuffed it under a black knit cap. “I don’t want you to pay the money. I’ll handle it myself. When Cameron finds out I’m alive, I’ll negotiate with him myself.” “You’ll have as much chance as a snowball in hell.” “Yeah, well I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” She slipped on her jacket then reached into the pocket and tossed something at him. “What’s this? Your cell phone? How will I be able to get in touch with you?” “You won’t. And Sean-Ryan that was the last time you’ll ever lay a hand on me. Ever.” She opened the apartment door and then stepped out into the hall. For a brief moment she stared at him then turned and slammed the door shut. He stared at the door for a long moment. Something clutched him in the pit of his stomach but he forced himself to relax his muscles. She’d be back. She always came back. He was the one who left then left again and again and each time she moved heaven and earth to find him. There was no way the connection between them would ever be broken—their destinies were intertwined for forever. She'd come back. He knew that in the pit of his soul. Still, he didn’t like being aware of his feelings. Ever since that horrible day sixteen years ago, he'd wiped his emotions out. He couldn’t afford to be weak and she stirred things within him that made him care whether she lived or died. Couldn’t afford to care about anyone that way again. People said he was a cold, unfeeling bastard. He said he was focused. But maybe he had played it wrong with this Cameron thing. He should have handled it from the beginning. He tried to prove to them that he was what they thought him to be. All he proved to himself was how much he loved her. Did he say loved? The thought startled him then made him angry. Love? He was glad she was gone because obviously she was making him lose his freaking mind.
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The Son Also Rises FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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