Note: Neve is said as Nev. This story will contain mature content. I'll try to update weekly so if you're a member you can follow/subscribe to this story. If not, you can read the most recent chapter while on the main page with all the other Mortal Kombat stories. To the right of the story's title there's an arrow, click on it and it will take you to the most recent chapter.
Warmth and nostalgia spread through Kano causing an enormous smile to stretch across his face. Fond memories ran through his mind as he looked at the upscale neighborhood and breathed in the salty sea air.
Nary glanced at the lightning portal where Lord Raiden gave her a small nod before closing the passageway. Her pillow lips pulled into a sweet grin when she saw the ecstatic expression on Kano's face.
He set down his suitcase to cup her face, "Babe, how did you know?"
With a small shrug, she answered, "After you told me your last name, I did a little research and well, this was the closest beach to your childhood home."
His thumb brushed her cheek bone, "Me, Mum and Uncle Jack would drive on this street to get to the beach and she eh, she'd tell me that once she won the lottery, she'd buy one of these houses for us…That uh, that never happened - but it was always fun for us to drive down here and pick out a different house each time before spending our day on the beach."
His eyes welled up at the memory of not only his mother's words but of how hopeful she was every time she bought lottery tickets. Although she was disappointed when she lost, she would then smile and told him they had another chance to win. Whenever Uncle Jack was with them, he'd simply shake his head and remind them why he was a realist instead of an optimist like his sister.
The tears and melancholy in the Aussie's eyes made Nary question her decision, "Oh, I'm sorry Kano, I didn't mean to make you feel sad."
Shaking his head, "Don't apologize, Cupcake! Sure, this isn't exactly how I imagined ending up here…" He leaned his forehead against hers, "But I'm still gonna spend a few days in a beautiful beach house with someone who I love so damn much!"
A relieved smile touched her lips, she softly pressed her mouth against his, "I love you too and I'm happy that I can make you happy…Now, let's get inside and unpack."
There was a pout on his mouth, "Aww, I thought you were gonna say undress!"
With a roll of her eyes and a scoff, she replied, "You must be the horniest man in Earthrealm."
He smirked and arched his brow, "You make it sound as if that's a bad thing."
They both chuckled as she playfully pulled him towards their luxury beach house.
A slow whistle came from his lips the instant they approached the contemporary seaside abode. With its two-stories, private entrance, massive windows, white stucco and Brazilian cherry wood exterior and 2,600 square feet, it was the perfect getaway for the new couple. After Nary typed in the numeric code on the front door's lockbox, she retrieved the house and car keys and used the former to gain access to the lavish home.
They set down their luggage by the stairs to take in their stunning surroundings. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior with black, dark gray and wood furniture that went well with the house's white walls and hardwood floors. In the living room the overstuffed black sofas looked so inviting and complemented the oak coffee table. The house's minimalist décor, clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows were the seamless combination of style, lightness and comfort.
With their hands still linked, he opened the sliding glass door letting her step ahead of him. They walked onto the deck and marveled at the picturesque image of the white sandy beach and sparkling sapphire water ahead of them.
"Fuck, this has to be the best view in the whole worl-scratch that!" He held up her hand above her head and slowly twirled Nary then pointed at the beach, "Now this is the third best view in the whole world!"
She never felt so cherished and beautiful. Instead of using her words, she poured every ounce of appreciation and love into the long and deep kiss she gave him.
Gentle heat radiated from the sun onto his head and bare brawny arms. Her supple lips and body were pressed against his as the waves crashed. He couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else.
The car keys jingled when Nary dropped them in his hands after she entered the kitchen. Seated at the breakfast bar, he looked up and saw her new outfit. The royal blue sundress had a white floral print, its v-neckline, spaghetti straps and formfitting bodice tastefully displayed her busty chest and slightly toned arms. The skirt was flared and flouncy with its hemline stopping above the knee. Her black locks were held up in a white claw clip. Dark blue slip-on sneakers added a casual touch to her appearance and reminded him of the shoes she wore whenever she was working. She was the perfect vision of effortless sensuality, sweetness and approachability.
"Love, you look so fuckin' cute and sexy!" Using his free hand, he dragged his forefinger underneath the spaghetti strap and traced the neckline before cupping her face, "Do we really have to go grocery shopping right now?"
His touch gave her goosebumps but she pressed on, "Thanks and yes, the fridge is empty." She pointed at him as her free hand removed the white cardigan off a nearby stool's back and placed it into one of two large canvas bags on the breakfast bar, "Work and then play."
He stood up from his seat and held her waist after she placed the canvas bags' straps over her shoulder, "All right, but we'll go hard at the latter, right?"
Her hands went to his chest, she brought her face close to his, "We most definitely will!"
Kano teasingly growled then pecked her lips. He took her hand into his before they headed for the garage.
"Not bad, Sweetheart!" He commented the minute he saw the blood red Jeep Wrangler and opened the passenger side door for her.
"Thanks, and I knew you'd act all pissy if I rented us a Mini." She gave him a thankful kiss on his cheek then entered the car. Using an app on her mobile phone, she opened the garage door.
He walked over to the driver's side, "You're damn right! By the way, where's this grocery store?"
"On Treaumont Street, I have the address on my phone but I'll put it into the car's GPS."
As he sat in the driver's seat, he waved her off, "No need, Darling. I know where it is but first, we need to make a little detour."
"To where?" She reached up and pressed the button near the rear-view mirror's mount; the roof gradually retracted all the way back. "It's no fun if I tell ya! Trust me Babe, it'll be worth it!" He winked at her and started the car.
"Lead the way!" She grinned and secured her seat belt. With a push of a button on the door's panel, all four windows opened.
Once they pulled out of the driveway, he smirked at her taking his hand and placing it on her thigh. She put on sunglasses and leaned her head against the headrest. He picked up speed and glanced at her smiling face. For a brief moment, he took his hand off her thigh and reached for her hand. Their hands clasped, he brought them to his lips before returning them to the top of her thigh. She leaned over and brushed his cheek with her mouth. With the wind going through their hair all while the sun shined on them, they had never felt so free and content.
A text exchange from her brother, Rasi, distracted Nary long enough for Kano to drive up and gaze at their destination. Although he had been back to Australia several times over the years, he hadn't seen his childhood home since Uncle Jack's death.
The bungalow style house had the same structure with its front porch, one story, chimney and modest 1,500 square feet. An attached garage was to the right of the home. It surprised him to see the same lavender colored paint used on the exterior. The only changes to the property were the addition of a white picket fence, a bluestone walkway and two flower beds that lined either side of the porch's steps. A woman in her late twenties with long platinum blonde hair and a little girl with matching locks, were on the right side of the porch's steps planting flowers.
Nary removed her sunglasses after finishing her text conversation putting the shades into the canvas bag. When she looked up, it took her a moment to recognize the house from her research, a small smile touched her mouth. She saw him staring at the home in quiet awe and realized that he hadn't been there in ages. With his hand still in hers, she gave him a little squeeze and spoke once he gave her his attention.
Her thumb stroked the top of his, "Kano, it's a beautiful home. It's been a long time."
Nodding, he told her, "Yeah, since Uncle Jack. I-eh, I avoided coming back because I was scared of how I might feel."
"And now?" She brought her other hand over and rested it on top of theirs.
Feeling her physical and emotional support made him comfortable to admit, "I'm fucking terrified…but I'm also excited to get inside and look around. I hope she lets us in."
A playful grin was on her mouth, "Baby, I'm confident that you could charm her."
In a cocky tone and smile to match, he remarked, "Well, you're proof that some women find me utterly irresistible."
"Yeah-yeah, we'll see if she's like me or Sonya." She reluctantly released his hand and opened the car door.
They approached the white picket fence interlacing their fingers. He called out to the blonde woman. She and her daughter stood up and walked over to them.
He offered her his hand, "The name's Kano and yours would be?"
She shook his hand, "I'm Neve and this little lady is-…"
"Harper!" She smiled and stuck out her small hand.
Charmed, he shook her hand, "Well, it's nice meetin' ya, Harper! This stunning woman beside me is my girlfriend…"
"Nary, it's a pleasure." She shook both their hands.
"Likewise," Neve said with a grin, "So, what brings you two here today?"
Before Kano could speak Harper eagerly bounced on her feet, "Oh! Mummy, he used to live here! Remember, my closet has his name and how tall he is!"
His mouth pulled into a brilliant smile, "That's right! Me mum used to measure me every year until I was ten!"
Harper proudly grasped her hips, "I'm seven and I'm so much taller than you were at that age!"
He and Nary chuckled at her bold attitude and comment.
An embarrassed Neve scolded her child, "Harper, don't be rude to our guests! Sorry about that!"
Waving her off, he replied, "It's all right, I was a runt until I hit my growth spurt. Anyway, if it's no trouble, I'd like to show my lovely lady here, where I grew up. We won't take long, promise."
"Aww, that's so sweet and of course you can! Would you two like something to drink or eat?" She held Harper's hand and opened the fence's door for them.
Nary politely shook her head, "Thanks for offering, it's so kind of you but we're good. We're actually going grocery shopping after this."
Kano agreed, "She's right and we're not gonna wear out our welcome."
"Nonsense! It's not every day we get visitors like yourselves, especially one that's an American!" She opened the door for them.
Nary explained, "We're here on holiday and this isn't my first time in Australia but it's great to be back!"
They entered the living room where Neve politely told them, "Well, I'm glad that we can be a part of your holiday! So, we're gonna wash up for lunch; if you two need anything, just call out."
Kano gave her a small nod and let his eyes roam around the room. The modern furniture and television were placed in the same way his mother had arranged them. His mind returned to the Christmases and movie nights that he, his mum and Uncle Jack had spent there. Familiarity and comfort filled him as he told Nary about the memories that were made in the room.
It pleased her to see him so excited to share stories from his past while standing in his childhood home. For the first time since she met him, the rogue Aussie seemed to be in his element. She grasped his hand and thanked him for the stories before pecking his cheek.
Despite the absence of food being cooked, Kano could smell his mother's meat pies the minute they stepped into the kitchen. Although the counter, cabinets and table had been changed, he still remembered the everyday and celebratory meals they had together. He spoke about the time when he was nine and his mother tried to make a four-course meal only to have it end in her burning the roast chicken and blueberry pie. That night, Uncle Jack had taken them to their favorite Chinese restaurant and teased his sister.
When they entered his old bedroom, they came upon Neve and Harper putting toys into a chest located at the foot of her bed. Kano led Nary into the closet where he showed her the makeshift growth chart his mother had made on the left side's door casing. His fingers touched the wood casing making sure to avoid the slightly faded black markings displaying his name, age and height. Remembering the love and pride on his mother's face whenever she measured him caused his eyes to well up. It brought him back to a simpler time that preceded all the pain and loss; when there was only joy and celebration after each new milestone.
From beside him, Nary saw the emotion in his glistening eyes; she wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her chin on his shoulder. In response, he planted a small grateful kiss on her forehead as she rubbed his back.
Seeing all the feelings he had buried finally bubbling up to the surface was astounding; it also pulled at her heart. She felt so elated that he got to experience such a cathartic moment and did so without any shame. Another part of her knew how fortunate she was to be able to witness him be so open. She then found herself faced with a representation of his physical progression as a child while she literally embraced his recent evolution as a man. The significance of the occasion left an indelible impression on her soul and heart.
Neve was moved by Kano's genuine reaction and cheerfully suggested. "You should take it with you! My husband is running errands right now. I can have him get a casing kit at the hardware store to replace the frame."
Surprised, he blinked then protested, "I couldn't, it-it's a part of your home."
"Yes, but this piece right here, it's also a part of you." She gripped his forearm and smiled at him, "So please Kano, take it…I insist!"
Touched by her generosity, his lips curved upward. He thanked the young mother and asked if he could hug her to which she willingly agreed. Seeing the sweet exchange made Nary cup her heart with both hands.
Nary opened the Jeep's trunk and watched Kano carefully load the casing into the vehicle. The trunk's door was had just closed when he took her into his arms pulling her into a warm and tender kiss. He then stroked her cheek silently thanking her for being so supportive.
Words couldn't express how overjoyed and appreciative he was to be able to revisit his past with her by his side. In spite of his initial fears, the experience proved to be poignant, therapeutic and rewarding; he knew that having her present played a big part of it. Only she pierced through his armor and helped him open his heart. It made perfect sense for him to bring her to the place where he first learned how to love and to be loved.
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