She was lying face down on the bed, they were both naked, he was straddling her, massaging her shoulders, working his fingers deep into her muscles. The noise she was making deep in her throat reminded him of the purring of a contented cat. He smiled to himself at the analogy, knowing, both figuratively and literally, how sharp her claws could be, having been victim to them more than once.
During the evening she'd recounted a bit more of her time in Brussels, going into more detail for him. She'd gone to pick Andrew up at nine, when he'd called to say he was ready, while Boone fixed the two of them a late supper. Andrew had sat with them for a while as they ate. She got the distinct impression that it was more because he wanted to be sure Boone ate something, than that he wasn't ready for bed. They'd come upstairs about midnight and he'd made the offer of a massage. She'd stripped her clothes off in an instant and had thrown herself on the bed.
She now lay limp and sated, close to sleep. He leaned down and blew softly in her ear. "Shan?" he murmured quietly.
"Hmmm?" she acknowledged.
"How about going across the road for a swim?" he suggested.
"Mm, mm," she answered in the negative.
"Skinny dipping in the moonlight?" he sweetened the deal.
Her eyes opened slowly. "You are an evil man, Boone Carlyle."
"So, that's a yes?" he was still leaning over, whispering in her ear.
"Get off me." She smiled.
He pulled on his jeans and handed her his t-shirt. After padding quietly down the back stairs, they quickly exited the house.
On the beach they swiftly disrobed and waded into the water, relishing the silken feel of it on their naked flesh once they'd submerged themselves. They paused often to tease each other with gentle random caresses and quick kisses as they swam out to the raft he had anchored, in deeper water, a distance from shore. Pulling themselves up onto the platform, they lay side by side on their backs recovering from the slight exertion of the swim. She reached down for his hand and tangled their fingers together.
After resting for a minute, he turned on his side, and propped his head up on his elbow, gazing at her exposed body bathed in the light of the moon; her incredible beauty enhanced by its' glow. She smiled at the intensity of his scrutiny. Unable to restrain himself any longer he reached out and slid his hand over her breast, the residual water of the lake that remained on their skin acting as a lubricant. Suddenly wanting this to be all about him, slowly, not wanting to frighten him, not sure if he'd still find it threatening, she guided him onto his back, and slid herself on to him. She could sense his hesitancy, but he didn't put up any resistance as she rocked softly against him. She watched his face as he fought to try and keep his eyes open, losing himself in sensation. She used her intimate knowledge of what he liked to prolong the intensity as long as she could, her link to his thoughts aiding her. His lips were parted, his teeth biting at them, his tongue periodically sliding between them, he was breathing raggedly and groaning wordlessly, when he finally came. She smiled at the pleasure she'd given him and let herself relax against his chest.
'Christ, I love you,' he thought silently. She grinned tiredly against his neck. 'We can't fall asleep.' He cautioned, before doing exactly that. She snuggled up against him and let herself drift off.
They woke up several hours later, before daylight could expose them, and returned to the house.
Saturday morning they headed for the city to return her rental car. Boone asked her exactly where he was to meet her, knowing from his experience with her driving habits that there really was no chance that he'd choose to keep up with her. He quietly advised them both that he thought that they should probably go by his mothers' place to let her know Shannon was back. None of them were looking forward to that encounter.
Reaching the highway, Andrew had watched in amusement as her tail lights disappeared in the distance. They hooked up at the rental place and headed, reluctantly, for Sabrina's.
Andrew was particularly concerned about the upcoming confrontation. He'd watched, as his grandmother reduced Boone to an emotional mess, almost every time they visited. Usually he'd drive the car away from her estate as quickly as he could, pulling in to the closest gas station and hurrying for the restroom. He'd return minutes later, his cheeks flushed, smelling slightly of vomit. Once he was old enough to realize exactly what it was that his father was doing in there, he'd started the habit of scooping change from the ashtray and buying him a bottle of water from the vending machine. He remembered the first time he'd wordlessly handed the bottle to Boone. His father had squeezed his brows together, fighting back tears as he realized that his son had known all along what he'd been trying to hide. Andrew had slightly higher hopes for this visit though. Even though she'd only been there for slightly less than a week, he could see how much his mothers' presence had added to Boone's self confidence.
They stood on the front step, Boone reaching out to ring the bell. He'd called ahead, so wasn't surprised when his mother, herself, answered the door. "Boone." She greeted with a smile. The smile faltered then transformed into a mask of disgust when she saw Shannon standing behind him. She regarded him with complete contempt for a moment before slapping his face as hard as she could, then slamming the door.
The three of them stood there in stunned silence for a minute before Shannon brushed past him and tried the door, finding it unlocked. Her surprise had quickly turned into a level of anger that more than matched Sabrina's. She flung the door open. Sabrina was striding angrily across the foyer. "Stop right there, you fucking bitch." She closed the distance between them and slapped her step-mother, putting all her weight behind it. "That's for hitting Boone. Now, and every time I watched you do it the past."
"How dare you," Sabrina's hand moved to her cheek. "Get out of my house."
"Gladly, after you've heard what I've got to say." Shannon said through gritted teeth.
"There's nothing you, or that pathetic excuse for a son I'm cursed with, have to say that I want to hear. Get. Out." She said the final two words slowly and distinctly, emphasizing each one.
"I don't give a flying fuck what you want to hear, mother." She sneered. Glancing back at the entrance, seeing the two of them still standing there, she realized that this was a discussion that should not be held in front of Andrew.
"You ungrateful, selfish little bitch," Sabrina spat, "Don't you dare call me mother." Shannon grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the den; Sabrina tried, unsuccessfully, to pull it away. The door slammed behind them, and the yelling continued.
Boone stood frozen to the spot for a minute, the imprint of her hand bright red on his cheek, before he shook himself out of his daze. "Andrew, you okay?" his first thought was for his son. The boy looked up at him, obviously shaken, but nodded his head. "I want you to wait here; we'll be leaving as soon as Shannon and I finish talking to my mother." He nodded again; Boone bent down and hugged him. "It'll be okay." Boone reassured him. He headed across the foyer, knowing that a week ago, he wouldn't have had the confidence to confront his mother.
As Boone opened the door to the den, Andrew could hear his grandmother insult him in her usual fashion. "Are you going to let your wife fight your battles for you, or have you actually grown a backbone?" before the door closed and the yelling started up again.
Half an hour later they were back in the car. Sabrina hadn't come back out of the den when they left. Though nothing had really been resolved; a lifetime of baggage couldn't possibly have been taken care of in such a short time, they'd both made it perfectly clear to her that they were back together again, permanently, and her opinion was of no consequence whatsoever. He'd also added that he'd put up with her derogatory remarks and snide insults long enough, they were to stop immediately, or she'd never see her grandson again. He'd hoped the threat would be enough to buy him some peace.
Unexpectedly, he turned the car into a McDonald's. She frowned looking at him out of the corner of her eye, wondering who he was and what had he done with Boone?
"Boone, what're you doing?" Andrew asked from the back seat.
"After what we just went through, I thought, what the hell," he shrugged, shaking his head.
He held the door to the restaurant open for them. She kept looking at him, trying to hide her smile as she watched the emotions play across his face. He never been able to hide his feelings, especially from her, that's why it had been so easy for her to know he'd been in love with her all those years. Right now, she thought, he looked kind of queasy.
Andrew looked up at the menu, "What do you usually get?" he asked Shannon.
"Yeah, Shan, what do you usually get?" he echoed snidely, smirking at her, knowing full well that she probably ate this stuff about as often as he did, which was never. She shot him a nasty look and elbowed him in the ribs.
After the two of them made their selections, the lady behind the counter looked inquiringly at Boone, he asked for a bottle of water in a slightly strangled tone. That's when Shannon started opening laughing at him. 'Food elitist,' she thought.
After paying for their food, he made a beeline for the door, wanting to get away from the miasma inside the restaurant as quickly as possible. They sat at one of the outside tables, and unpacked their lunch. He watched, wincing slightly, as they downed burgers, fries and what passed for milkshakes. At one point she offered him a fry, smiling in amusement. She was surprised when he took it from her and took a tentative bite. The rest of it quickly went in the garbage. She'd figured she'd have had an easier time getting him to eat bugs, but remembered that he'd already done that. She remembered a twelve year old Boone, standing in the back yard, a grasshopper in his hand. She'd dared him to eat it, saying that she'd tell his mom he kissed her if he didn't. He'd popped it in his mouth, even at that age already unable to deny her anything. She laughed out loud at the memory.
"What're you laughing at?" He thought it was because of his reaction to the French fry.
"You remember when we were kids and I got you to eat that grasshopper?" she asked.
"God, I think I can still taste it," he made a disgusted face.
"Will you guys tell me more stories about when you were growing up?" Andrew asked excitedly.
"Sure, I've got lots of entertaining stories about your dad." She winked at Boone.
'Oh God,' he groaned silently.
In the car on the way home, Andrew suddenly spoke up from the back seat. "Dad?"
'Oh shit,' Boone thought, he never called him that unless he was sick or upset. He glanced at the boy in the rear view. He definitely didn't look well.
Shannon looked over her shoulder at him. "Boone, pull over."
He'd already started turning the wheel before she'd even managed to get all three words out.
She held the boys' head as he threw up on the side of the road.
Boone managed to hold off on the "I told you so's" until they were alone that night.