A huge thank you to everyone who has read, followed, reviewed, or added this story as one of their favorites. I love you all for your kind words and awesome support. I do apologize for taking so long to update this little tale. I've been terrible about letting life and some of my other works side track me from Stephen and Peyton. So with that said, without further ado, I give you chapter 13.
Chapter 13
Down the Road & Around the Corner
Never had a first kiss hit Stephen like this. The feel of her of soft full mouth against his, the tentative touch of her fingers against his wrists, the sweet smell of vanilla perfume and lavender shampoo; all hitting him harder than any attitude adjustment from Cena or RKO from Orton. He wanted more. He wanted to forget they weren't alone. He wanted to back her up against that large oak behind her and devour her soft wet mouth. He wanted to memorize the taste of her lips – her mouth. He wanted his tongue to explore every single inch of her mouth. Groaning with self-control he wasn't aware he possessed he gently began to pull back. His eyes roamed eagerly across her face. He was certain that he would never forget the way she looked right this very second. Never had a woman looked more beautiful, innocent, or down right damned sexy in his whole life. Without much thought he could have lost himself in the beautiful darkness of her heavily glazed eyes. Her cheeks where tinted with a deep healthy rosy tint. Stephen's long pale finger offering the barest of touches; as his finger softly whispered across her full lower lip.
The sound of gentle innocent laughter drew Stephen from his thoughts as he dropped one last very soft chaste kiss across her forehead. Glancing to his right he noticed Sammy Jo standing just a few feet away. The pure glowing happy amusement painting her face was enough to make Stephen smile big and broad. "Na-Na" hollered out Sammy Jo with the sing song voice of youth "Na-Na – Aunt Peyton's kissing a boy," cried out the young girl before she sprinted off to share the news with nana and anyone else who would listen.
Stephen stifled the urge to giggle at the deep scarlet blush painting her cheeks. Peyton's muttered mantra "I love my family – and I won't kill them!"forced a wide smile to break across his face.
Wrapping his arms loosely around her waist he pulled her a little closer. "Peyton?" he questioned, forcing her to look him in the eye for the first time the kiss.
Not ready to face whatever was swimming his beautiful blue eyes Peyton searched for an out. Without thinking she quickly buried her face against his broad chest; her hands resting along his hips – fingers clutching the soft cotton of his black and red t-shirt. Inhaling deeply she was nearly swept away by the scents that in a very short time she had accepted as purely Stephen.
Holding her so close renewed Stephen's faith in heaven on earth. A small part of him wished he knew more of her past. He desperately wanted to understand what made her so shy and skittish with him. A larger part of him simply didn't give a damn. Holding her like this spoke to his primal inner male; made him want to be her guardian – her protector against all things large or small.
Watching the bustling activity across the yard, he noted her sister-in-law coming across the lawn with a large sheet cake. Loosening his hold on Peyton, he smiled gently; taking her hand he led her across the lawn toward the picnic table. Peyton quickly took the seat directly across from her grandparents. She silently sighed with almost near relief when she felt Stephen's large hands resting atop her shoulders – the feel of his warm body behind her filling her with both spastic butterflies and a calming safety at the same time.
Within a few short hours, the majority of the day's guest had left. Peyton watched her grandparents speaking the last few stragglers in the driveway. Entering the kitchen with the last of the dishes from the picnic tables; she was pleasantly surprised what fast work Connie and Shannon were making of the cleaning up the kitchen. "Here's the last of the dishes from outside," she noted sitting them in the sink to rinse before adding them to the dishwasher. Turning on the faucet she waited for the water to run warm.
Reaching over Carrie shut off the faucet – smiling at the quizzical look splashed across her best friends face. "Don't worry about this. Connie and I have the kitchen under control." Reaching behind her she picked up two large mugs of homemade steaming hot chocolate. Handing them both to Peyton she smiled. "If we need any help, we have Alex, Matthew, and the kids around here. You need to go find 'your guest' and enjoy a few minutes together – now shoo!"
Accepting the mugs, Peyton felt a little guilty. What girl in her right mind would rather clean a dirty kitchen then spend time with Stephen "Sheamus" Farrelly. Yet the idea of being alone with him right now so soon after everything that happened earlier; well frankly the idea scared her more than just a little. Which was silly she thought; after all she was planning on go on the road with him starting tomorrow morning. If one little kiss shook up this much – maybe going on the road with him wasn't such a good idea. One thought that was all it took. One thought stupid damned thought was all it took to open the flood gate of doubt. Was she making the right decision? Was she capable of simple honest friendship with this man? Did that kiss earlier screw up any real friendship that months of phone calls had put into place?
Within seconds Carrie could see the doubts creeping into Peyton's head. Looking around the kitchen, Carrie took the mugs from Peyton's suddenly cold fingers. Placing them on the counter, she pulled her best friend into a tight warm hug. Whispering she spoke "You listen to me Peyton Ross. Don't you dare let whatever doubts are creeping around in that pretty little head of yours spoil this! He is a good man who obviously cares for you very much." Stepping back from Peyton she smiled, picked the two mugs up once more, and declaring with a giggle and a wink "Now go find that beautiful hunk of man before I do!"
Stepping out onto the back porch, Peyton sat both mugs on the small table nearest the porch swing and sat down. She could see Stephen and her two brothers across the yard. They were just finishing up the yard clean up. As the three men approached the house, it was as if her two brothers had suddenly disappeared she seemed only interested in Stephen. Nothing had changed since she saw him last, yet somehow he seemed changed – different.
Neither brother knew whether to laugh or beat the hell out of the man who had so thoroughly captured their baby sister's attention. Giving each other a knowing look, they decided to sit back and enjoy their baby sister's happiness. If the time came and Stephen hurt her, well then no amount of professional wrestling training would be able to save him from the ass beating he would have coming.
Stephen reached the porch first; walking towards the porch swing he gave it a gentle push. Smiling "what's a pretty lass like yeh doin' out here all by yehself?"
Taking that as their cue, Alex and Matthew quietly slipped into the house – leaving Stephen and Peyton outside to their own devices.
Taking a seat next to her on the large porch swing, Stephen smiled bright and innocent when she handed him his mug of hot chocolate. Looking down at the mug, he murmured in deep appreciation "extra marshmallows," he giggled.
"Carrie knows what she's doing!" I returned with a giggle of my own. For several long moments we both sat in comfortable silence; rocking with the gentle sway of the old swing.
Taking a deep sip of his hot chocolate Stephen broke the silence "Penny for yeh thoughts lass?"
'My thoughts…My thoughts?' On one hand she worried that her current thoughts were not worth a penny. Yet on the other, she knew they were worth so very much more. She knew she had to answer him she simply had no idea what to say. Sitting her nearly empty cup on the porch railing she stood, her back to him as she gazed out over the yard. Lost in thought she could hear Shannon and Sammy-Jo playing in the distance – sounded like they were playing tag. Gazing around the yard she noted her nephew was obviously done helping his dad and uncle with clean and was back at the picnic table sketch pad in hand. With a deep shudder, she struggled to push her chaotic thoughts into some semblance of order. She needed her words to make sense – she needed Stephen to understand even she didn't – not completely anyway. "Stephen….I" the remaining words broke off left unsaid; as he stood from the swing coming to stand directly behind her. Once more he placed his hands atop her shoulders giving her a comforting squeeze before sliding his arms around her shoulders and pulling her back flush against his larger more solid frame.
If she were honest, nothing had ever felt my safe or more right in her whole life. Right this second she felt nearly invincible. She knew without asking that this gentle giant would protect her from all comers. The idea that he would protect her was a given – without doubts; so why then was heart racing like that of a cheetah and stomach doing a spastic tango that was leaving her more than a little dizzy. Leaning in close, Stephen whispered in her ear, "Are yeh thinking about our kiss earlier?"
Was he kidding? Did he really have to ask that question? Wasn't it obvious to everyone around her that she had thought of little else in hours? How was she supposed to answer that? In that moment, she wished she were more sophisticated. She wished for flirty sexy little come backs that would be easy and fun – something that would keep the mood between them light and easy. Racking her brain the only answer she had was the unvarnished truth. Yes she was thinking about their kiss. She couldn't stop thinking about it. All she could do was think and in some part worry. A huge part of her wanted more – another kiss wherever it may lead them. All the while listening to that still small voice inside her head that whispered she wouldn't be enough for him; that she would never make him happy. Dreading having to speak – she found that she was beginning to dread the silence more. "Yes" she murmured "I was thinking about our kiss earlier," did she admit that was all she had been able to think about for the last few hours; or did she simply leave well enough alone.
Releasing her from his embrace, Stephen slowly turned Peyton around to face him; once more wrapping her snug in his embrace. Pulling her snug and tight against him, Stephen inhaled deeply the scent that was all Peyton – her soap, her shampoo, that damned gentle scent that simply clung to her wherever she went. It was enough to drive him crazy with want – want to kiss her bloody damned senseless again and again. Instead he pulled her closer, struggling to suppress the wave of raw emotion that flooded him when she once more buried her face against his broad chest. What was it about this woman that had him tied in knots? Rubbing a hand up and down her spine he whispered "talk to meh darlin'"
And say what, she wondered almost painfully? "How can I tell him what I'm thinking?" Searching for the right words, Peyton unconsciously clung a little tighter to him.
Stephen wished he could see her face – look into her eyes. While he was nearly grateful for whatever was driving her to cling to him so tightly; he needed her to trust him enough to talk to him. Whispering once more, "Talk to meh baby-girl – be honest with meh."
Drawing in a deep breath, Peyton didn't move she didn't think she could face looking into his eyes as she spoke. "Why? Why? Why….did"
Stephen didn't need to hear more – he knew what she was thinking. She wanted to know why he kissed her. What answer could he give her with scaring the bloody hell out of her? She deserved the truth, but a truth that wouldn't drive her running and screaming from his arms. "For much the same reason Ah suspect yeh kissed meh back." He replied with a quiet smile lacing his words.
Smiling Peyton wondered if he truly had any ideas about why she kissed him back. Unsure of herself she smiled looking into his beautiful blue eyes, her right hand caressing his cheek.
Her touch a gentle balm across his senses; he didn't know what she was thinking but he damned sure knew what he was thinking. "Baby-girl, if yeh don't want meh kissing yeh again so soon – I wouldn't be looking at meh like that."
Peyton knew he was right; she should pull back – this was going to get messy painful. Whatever, at this moment messy painful could come – she didn't care. All that mattered was Stephen kissing her again – right now. Without moving she smiled as she continued to slowly gently caressing his cheek. Opting instead for the one word she prayed he couldn't resist "Please"
Author's Note: First of all, I am sorry that it has taken me so long to update this. I do hope that someone out there is still reading and enjoying my little tale of Stephen. There is something about this story/idea that I have just been in love with since the beginning. I am determined to finish it as best I can, but to be honest with you I don't think this is my best work – much of seemed a huge struggle. Looking over it before posting, maybe it's a filler chapter showing the end of their time together before entering the WWE. Please read and review – all constructive thoughts and idea are greatly appreciated. Thanks again and much love xoxoxox OZ