Warning: This chapter has sexual situations which has changed it to an "M" rating. Just forewarning…..If you don't like, don't read! As always, I welcome your reviews!

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"Soooo….who is Kamekona?" Shauni asked.

"He's part of my extended family. My "ohana". I will warn you though, don't be surprised if he shamelessly plugs his businesses and asks you to promote it for him." Steve smiled at her, "He's good people, though…..I know he has my back, which means he has YOURS, too. He won't tell anyone about our plans."

Steve instructed Shauni to pack a bag with clothes for the day as well as 'overnight'. When she looked at him with uncertainty, Steve only shrugged and said, "We may spend the night. We'll see."

Shauni looked at him, shocked, "But my parents…."

"I've already told them we might not be back until tomorrow."

Shauni's eyebrows shot up and she blinked in disbelief. When had she ever had a man in her life whom her parents would be okay with whisking her away for a day and night? The answer to that would be, NEVER. It didn't matter that she was an adult; As her dad had pointed out many times over the years, she would always be his "little girl".

So how had this happened? Not that she was complaining, but what had happened to make her dad comfortable with her going away for a night with a guy?

"Seriously?" she asked.

Steve gave her his little sideways smile, "Seriously." He answered, "Come on, let's get our things together so we'll be ready when Kamekona gets here."

Shauni returned to her room to pack a bag with a couple of bathing suits, changes of clothes, and the toiletries she would need.

Returning to the living room a little while later with her bag in hand, she found Steve and her Dad talking on the lanai and having coffee together.

She was startled a minute or so later by her mom's voice behind her, "Enjoy yourself today."

Shauni turned to her Mom, "Why do I feel like I'm missing something here? How is it that Daddy isn't throwing a fit and threatening Steve within an inch of his life if we aren't back tonight?"

Olivia chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. All I can say is that your dad really likes Steve and trusts him to take care of you. And….so do I."

Shauni could tell by the tone of her mother's voice that she wasn't just talking about Steve protecting her from danger. She was implying of Steve's ability to take care of Shauni's heart as well. Shauni wondered how Olivia could sound so certain about that when she was still struggling herself with where their budding relationship might be headed?

"My advice," her mom continued, "… is to not question it and just enjoy it."

Shauni turned and saw the twinkle in her mother's eyes. "I really like him, Mom. I don't want to mess this up…..Whatever 'this' is."

"One day at a time, honey. If it's meant to be, it will happen. Enjoy today together and see where it leads you, okay?"

Shauni opened the door to the lanai with bag in hand as her dad and Steve both turned her way.

"Here. Let me get that for you." Steve stepped towards her to grab her bag and sit it beside his own.

Always the gentleman, Shauni thought to herself.

Hearing a helicopter in the distance, Steve turned his gaze towards the sky and saw Kamekona approaching. Within a couple of minutes, he was landing the helo and waiting for his passengers.

Steve shook Derek's hand to say "goodbye". Over the whir of the blades, Shauni heard her Dad say, "Take care of my girl."

"Always." Steve replied and Shauni felt butterflies fluttering uncontrollably in her stomach.

Then Derek turned to her and pulled her into a hug, "Have fun, baby. We'll see you sometime tomorrow." She returned the hug before letting go, grabbing Steve's hand and running for their ride.

Steve helped Shauni into the helicopter. "Your chariot awaits, m'lady," Kamekona quipped before Steve helped her with her seatbelt and handed her a headset to wear so they would be able to communicate easier during their flight. As soon as they were ready, Kamekona lifted them into the air and they were on their way.

Seeing Oahu from the air was amazing. Flying in from a plane, which Shauni had done countless times during her childhood, was different from seeing it from a helicopter. She was able to take in the beauty of the island at a closer level and she found herself in awe. She felt Steve reach over and take her hand so she turned towards him.

"I never get tired of seeing it this way." He smiled at her as he looked over the ocean below them.

Steve sensed that Shauni was enjoying the flight, too, "How about giving us the grand tour, Kame. Then, you can take us back later…I'll make it worth your while."

Kamekona nodded and smiled at Steve in the mirror, "Whatever you say, Commander."

And with that, he took them on a tour of the islands. With each minute that passed, Steve sensed Shauni's tension easing more and more until they eventually landed at Kamekona's place of business. Shauni put on her wig and glasses to disguise herself when the exited and ward off any recognition that might happen once they got off.

Before they exited the helicopter, Kamekona pointed in the direction of his jeep "Here are my keys…..Keep it for as long as you need."

"Thanks, buddy." Steve answered.

"No problem, brah." Then looking at Shauni, he said, "Can I get a picture before you go? It would be great for my business to show that I've flown the beautiful Shauni Steele around the island."

Shauni graciously accepted and took off her wig before maneuvering around so Steve could take their picture together. Then, she hugged Kamekona's neck and kissed his cheek, "Thanks, Kamekona. That's the most fun I've had in a long time!"

"Anytime, sistah. You just let me know when you want another ride."

Shauni put her wig back on and walked to the Jeep inconspicuously while Steve got them an order "to go". She would have loved to stay at the shrimp truck and eaten with the full view of the beach, but knowing that she could be noticed at any moment prevented her from doing so. As Steve drove them to his house, she enjoyed the view and grew more excited about the afternoon ahead.

Before long, Steve pulled up to his house and they went into the house to eat their lunch before it got cold. Shauni set things up on the table outside while Steve grabbed some beer from the fridge and followed behind her.

They spent the next few hours enjoying the sun, sand, and ocean and relaxing with each other. Eventually, they made their way back into the yard and managed to get into the hammock together without tipping it over.

At this point in their day, Shauni felt like Steve knew a lot more about her than she knew about him, so she probed him for more information. They laid together in silence for a few minutes before Steve began telling her the "quick version" of his mother's disappearance & reappearance in his life, as well as his father's murder and what was going on with his sister and Joanie. As he told the story, she nuzzled into his shoulder and ran her hand softly up and down his chest. Steve's fingers were playing with her hair having an almost hypnotic effect on her. She felt utterly and completely relaxed. Had she been allowed to have any wish in the world, she would have frozen these moments lying in the hammock together. She felt comfortable. She felt safe. She felt loved. No place on earth had ever given her that feeling more than being in Steve's arms.

After hearing the details of Steve's life, or at least the parts he wanted to share with her, Shauni gained a new prospective of the man she couldn't deny she was falling in love with. The prospect of falling in love scared the hell out of her, but there was no denying it was happening.

When Steve got quiet again, Shauni wanted to lighten to heaviness of the moment since his mood seemed to have taken a somber tone.

"Wow," Shauni exclaimed. "That's quite the soap opera you've lived, Commander. " She leaned up carefully so as not to tip them over and kissed him softly. "I'm so sorry you went through all of that. No wonder you're so strong."

"What do you mean?"

"You're just very closely guarded. It's hard to penetrate that tough exterior. Now I think I understand why." She kissed him again, "I'm sorry."

"Things happen, you know? I'm okay." he tried to reassure her but there was sadness in his voice.

Time to change the subject, Shauni thought as she got a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Okay…..Enough of the serious stuff. I'll race you to the water!"

She pushed herself off of the hammock causing Steve to fall to the ground as she made a mad dash for the ocean. Even with her head start, Steve managed to catch up to her. He lifted her off the ground and over his shoulder as he ran with her and threw her into the surf. They both came back up out of the water breathless and laughing. Steve pulled Shauni into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. It was a bold move on her part, but also felt completely natural. Steve's eyes darkened as he leaned down to take her mouth in his. Their tongues started to dance together as they tasted and explored. Steve's hands moved downward until they could grab her bottom. Yeah, he had wanted to do that for days; She had the most perfect ass. He felt himself getting harder as he squeezed and she ground her hips closer into him. A groan of desire escaped from deep within his chest.

Finally, he broke away and looked into her eyes. "Maybe we should move this inside."

Rather than answering him, Shauni leaned in to kiss his neck and tempt him even more. Steve walked out of water with Shauni wrapped around him as they made their way inside.

They had barely made it back inside before she felt him untying the bikini strap around her neck. He pulled his mouth away from hers once more.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" he asked. Her heart fluttered at the hesitancy in his voice. It was so sweet….and so unexpected from the "always in control" SEAL.

"I'm sure that I can't wait any longer!" she whispered breathlessly. "I want you."

"Good, because I want you too."

Steve carried Shauni upstairs and laid her down gently on his bed. Never breaking contact with her mouth, he removed her bikini bottoms before moving his knees between her thighs forcing her to open for him. He surveyed her beautifully toned body and couldn't wait to taste every inch of her.

Shauni looked up at him, "I think I'm at a distinct disadvantage because you have more clothes on than I do."

"MmmHmm. And may I say, I like this look on you." Steve answered cheekily before moving his hand to one of her breasts.

Shauni arched up to him and fought to continue thinking clearly, "Not fair." Shauni whispered, "You need to get naked too." She reached her hands to the waistband of his board shorts to remove them.

Soon they were both naked and taking in the sight of each other. Steve started moving his way down her body with his mouth, his tongue, and his hands. Good God, but his mouth could do wonderful things to her. Shauni had never met a tongue so talented…..and it wasn't long before she was coming for him…..and coming down from the ecstasy he'd given her.

Shauni believed in playing fair, so before Steve could continue with his exquisite torture, she determined to give him some pleasure of her own. She wrapped her legs around his hips and performed an impressive move flipping him around so she was straddling him.

Steve grinned up at her, "Pretty impressive. Where did you learn that?"

"I've learned some self-defense moves. Daddy insisted that Sasha and I be able to protect ourselves."

"Hmm…I'll keep that in mind."

Shauni kissed her way down his chest and perfect abs until she found the section between Steve's lower abs and hips that formed a perfect "v" and practically made her salivate. He was beautiful. She continued kissing her way southward. When she heard his intake of breath, she knew she was doing something right. It was all the encouragement she needed to take him in her mouth and it wasn't long before Steve felt himself on the edge of his control. Shauni felt strong arms pulling her back up until she was hovering over him again.

"You're driving me crazy," he whispered.

Shauni answered with a smile before positioning herself so they could finally come together in the way they had both fantasized about for days.

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Shauni watched Steve sleeping for quite a while. Never had anyone made love to her like Steve. Even though making love to him had surpassed all of her wildest dreams, the feeling of "connection" bubbling to the surface was a new experience. It scared her. But….she also reveled in having someone love her so completely. She knew that Steve had no ulterior motives. He wasn't using her or her fame for anything else. He just wanted to be with her.

So where did she go from here?

As she watched him sleep, she couldn't stop taking in the features of his gorgeous face. It always struck her as cosmically unfair that men had long lashes that most women would die for….but Steve's lashes caressed his upper cheekbones and tempted her to lean down and kiss him. However, she knew kissing him would lead to other things, and for now, she wanted to let him sleep.

This had been one of the most memorable and romantic days of her life, so she wanted to do something for him in return. Trying not to wake him, she got out of bed, grabbed his shirt from the chair in the corner and put it on as she made her way down to the kitchen to see if she could find them something to eat.

She found some chicken breasts and made a quick marinade so they could put them on the grill. She also found things for a salad and was chopping up veggies when he walked into the kitchen and found her. She drank in the sight of him; Sleepy eyes, bare chest, and black running shorts. It was all she could do not to sigh in appreciation. He made his way over and pulled her into his arms.

"Hey," he smiled down at her.

"Hey yourself." She leaned up for another kiss.

"What are you doing?"

"Making dinner for us. I've worked up quite an appetite."

"Mmmmm…..Me too." Steve picked her up easily and sat her down on the counter so he could move between her legs. He knew they were making out like teenagers, but he couldn't seem to get enough of her. "Besides, we need to keep up our strength, because I'm not nearly finished with you yet."

Shauni felt her toes curl but she tried to appear nonchalant, "Is that so?"

"Oh yeah," he replied. "I'm going to make sure you enjoy every second tonight."

Before Shauni could respond, she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the living room.

"Steve? Are you here?"

Then, an adorable toddler with blond curls and chubby legs came barreling into the kitchen, "Unca Teeeb, Unca Teeeb!" She reached her little hands up to a startled Steve who quickly reached down to pick her up. She planted a sticky kiss onto his cheek, and before he could say anything, Mary came following behind.

"Mary? What are you doing here?"

"We decided to surprise you," Mary answered before her eyes grew big as saucers as she looked past Steve to where Shauni was perched on the counter, "Oh-my-gosh-You're Shauni Steele!"