Kimber looked over at Sheamus, unable to keep the smile off of her lips. He glanced her way and grinned, giving her a wink.
She let out a happy sigh and turned, staring out over the darkened sky as they made their way to Colorado. Here it was, almost four in the morning, and yet she was wide awake. She imagined she was too keyed up to sleep.
"So you said yer Da was goin' to meet us?" the Irishman inquired and Kimber began to frown.
"Yeah." she shook her head and sighed, "I told him not to bother. That we could get to the cabin just fine, but Daddy insisted."
Sheamus reached out and stroked her cheek, murmuring, "He just wants to make sure you get in all right. Ah'd do the same thing."
She took his hand and kissed it before smiling.
They were silent for several moments before the Celtic Warrior asked quietly, "Have you told them about what's been goin' on wit' you?"
She didn't need him to clarify, she knew what he meant. The letters and her encounter with that fan the day before.
She sighed. The police had questioned the guy. He had stuck to his story that he was just an overzealous fan who had gotten carried away. They had even searched his house, but hadn't found anything.
Sheamus wasn't so sure he wasn't the man who had been sending her letters, but Kimber truly believed that aside from being a creep the guy was innocent.
"No." she stated, "I don't want to worry them incase this turns out to be nothing. If the police manage to find him then I'll tell them the whole story. But for right now I just want to keep quiet about it."
Sheamus didn't like that idea. At all. But he respected her wishes to remain silent.
It wasn't long before they landed. They eventually got off the plane and began to make their way through the terminal and towards the baggage claim. They collected their luggage and began to make their way towards the exit.
As they walked Kimber keep peeking over at him. Though he tried to appear calm, she could see the apprehension in his blue eyes.
She drew to a stop before him, smiling tenderly before giving him a hug, "Don't be nervous."
He returned the embrace and sighed, "Ah'm not. Not really."
They pulled back and she smirked, "Liar."
He chuckled, playfully ruffling her hair, "All right, maybe just a little."
She crooked a finger at him, getting him to lean down. She planted a warm kiss on his cheek.
"My dad is awesome." she assured him, "You'll love him."
"Ah have no doubt of that, lass." Sheamus stated and they once again began to walk.
The thing was, that's what he was most nervous about. He was afraid he couldn't measure up.
They were almost to the entrance when they found an older man in his mid-fifties, gray touched brown hair and the same green eyes as Kimber's, his hidden behind wire-framed glasses, standing there and waiting.
The moment she saw him Kimber dropped her bags and ran towards him. He smiled, something Sheamus imagined came easy to him, and scooped his daughter up into a tight hug.
"Look at you." he beamed as he held her close, "You look just beautiful, mud pie."
He pulled back and gave her a kiss, staring down at her like she was the most precious thing in his world.
Sheamus approached, her bags with his, and waiting to be introduced.
"Daddy, this is Sheamus." Kimber stated proudly, "Sheamus, this is my dad, Brian."
"Good to meet you, son." Brian reached out and gave him a hearty handshake.
"Good to meet you, too, sir." Sheamus grinned, instantly at ease with the man.
He looked down at Kimber and asked with a grin, "'Mud pie'?"
Her father laughed and started to answer when the reporter injected, "Never mind. It's a long, boring story."
"I'll tell you about it later." Brian stated in a stage whisper, earning a playful swipe from his daughter.
Laughing, he put an arm around her shoulders and led the way outside.
Sheamus walked after, breathing in the crisp, cool air. He was glad that he had remembered to wear his warm jacket. He figured he was going to need it.
Brian helped Sheamus put the bags in the back and the three climbed into the SUV. They were soon heading out in the predawn towards the outskirts of Denver.
"So Kember told me yer an architect." Sheamus spoke up and Brian nodded.
"Daddy built our house." Kimber said proudly.
"Do you strictly do homes?" the Irishman questioned.
"No, mainly buildings." Brian spoke up, "My firm's done quite a few of them in Denver. Ours is the only home I've ever built."
He began to smile, going on, "Kimber tells me that your home is quite something."
"It's beautiful." Kimber interjected.
"I'd love to see pictures of it sometime." Brian stated.
"Ah'll be happy to send ya some." Sheamus told him, smiling at the reporter, "But Ah'm afraid it's not the palace yer daughter might have made it out to be."
"He's being modest, Daddy." Kimber stated, "His home is stunning."
Sheamus ducked his head and chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Kimber, stop embarrassing the young man." her father chastised her good-naturedly.
"Sorry." Kimber glanced back at him and smiled.
"It's all right, angel-err, Kember." the wrestler quickly corrected himself.
He saw her father's eyes glance over at him in the rearview mirror, a knowing smile tugging on his lips.
Sheamus breathed an inward sigh of relief. Well it looked like her Da had no problems with the likes of him dating his darlin' daughter. One down. Now the rest of the family to go.
It wasn't long before they turned off down a long, winding country road. The closer they got to the Gentry's cabin the more Kimber kept checking for his reaction.
She felt herself beaming as Sheamus finally took sight of their cabin. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open in awe.
When she had said 'cabin' he had figured some quaint little out of the way log cabin in the woods. Not this amazing, two story log palace.
"Wow." he shook his head in wonder, "Yer home is beautiful, Mr. Gentry."
"Brian, son." Brian gently corrected, "And thank you."
They pulled up to the house and Brian cut the engine. The three got out and began to collect the bags.
"Derek, Mary and Dylan are staying in the guest house out back." Brian told the pair as they quietly slipped into the house, "Kimber, why don't you show Sheamus to Derek's old room. You, of course, will take yours."
"All right. Thanks, Daddy." Kimber planted a kiss on his cheek and started to lead the Irishman up the stairs to the second floor, her father following after them.
"Thank ya, sir." Sheamus reached out and shook the man's hand.
"I'll see you kids in the morning." Brian told him with a warm smile before retiring to his bedroom.
Kimber continued on down the hall, stopping at the last door. She turned to him and grinned, opening it.
"Here ya go." she whispered, "Derek's bed might be a little too small, though."
"No problem." Sheamus murmured as he joined her in the doorway, "If it is, Ah'll just have to sleep wit' you."
Kimber blushed, but she couldn't keep from smiling. It was a tempting offer, after all.
She backed out of the doorway and motioned for him to go on in. Sheamus stepped inside before turning back to her.
"Goodnight." he murmured.
"Goodnight." Kimber repeated.
The Irishman leaned down and, grinning mischievously, tapped his lips with his finger. Kimber giggled softly and reached out, giving him a warm kiss.
His arms were instantly around her, lifting her high up and tightly against his chest. He deepened the kiss, his tongue coming out to taste her. Kimber practically purred as she returned the embrace.
When the kiss was over both were left shaking. Sheamus set her on her feet and Kimber reluctantly backed away from him.
"See you in the morning." she practically purred as she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
He wanted to follow after her. Did he want to follow after her. But he was in her parents' house and he figured they wouldn't take too kindly to him exiting their daughter's bedroom in the morning.
He turned and looked around Derek's old room in interest. It was a typical teenage boy's room. Sports posters and swimsuit models adorned the wall. Sheamus only halfheartedly looked at the models. The truth was, the woman in the next room did more for him than these ladies.
He wandered over to the bookshelf and felt a grin perk his lips. Sitting on the shelf were two pictures.
The first was of Kimber and Derek. They had to have been about three and five, he would have guessed.
Derek appeared to have his sister's dark brown hair but none of the green eyes she and her father shared. His were a deep blue.
It was Halloween. The boy was dressed up like a cowboy. He was beaming brightly and holding up his bag, filled to the brim with delicious treats.
But Sheamus' gaze was solely locked on Kimber.
Springy dark brown curls flowed around her head and shoulders. She was smiling shyly at the camera, dressed as a little black kitten. Furry black ears peaked out of her curls and she was holding her long, furry black tail in both of her hands. She had painted on whiskers and a pink nose.
He chuckled, taking her in. He felt his heart melt and he had a wicked idea to start calling her 'kitten'.
He went to the next picture and his grin deepened. She looked about fourteen, her brother, he guessed, sixteen or seventeen. They were dressed in formal wear, heading to a dance of some kind.
She was beaming at the camera. Her hair was piled on top of her head with little curls falling along her face. She was dressed in a blue gown, shiny and flaring around her knees.
His hand reached out, his thumb stroking her picture as he stared at it pensively.
He wished he had known her then.
Sheamus turned away and went for his case, kneeling down to unzip it. He better try and get some sleep. He wanted to be at his best when he met her family in the morning.
.
.
.
.
.
Kimber slipped out of her room around eight that morning. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a green sweater, hair pulled back in a ponytail, she felt refreshed and excited to see the other members of her family.
She walked over to Derek's door and knocked, calling out softly, "Sheamus? Are you awake?"
The door opened immediately and the reporter found herself smiling. His hair was laying across his forehead. He was decked out in a deep blue knit shirt that made his blue eyes pop and a pair of dark denim jeans. He was grinning but Kimber could see a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
"Do Ah look okay?" he asked, scrubbing a hand over his hair.
"Don't worry." she told him as she took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze, "You look amazing. But then again you could look amazing wearing anything. They're going to love you."
He allowed her to lead him down the back stairs and towards the kitchen. As they drew closer he could hear Brian talking to another man while a little boy's voice called for his mother.
They came to the entrance of the kitchen and Kimber gave him a bright smile before leading the way inside.
"Hey." she greeted casually.
Sheamus watched as Brian, an older woman who looked like an older version of Kimber, only with blue eyes, a young man who he recognized instantly as Derek and a young woman, pretty with long, auburn hair and warm brown eyes, look towards the entranceway in happiness.
"Aunt Ember!" a little voice called as a child of about four came racing around the island and towards her.
He had reddish-brown hair and his father's blue eyes. Also, it appeared that the child was missing his first tooth.
Little Dylan started to run towards her when he spotted Sheamus standing behind her. He quickly bypassed his aunt and instead launched himself at the wrestler, wrapping his little arms around his leg.
"Shay-moose!" he cheered happily, garnering laughter from the adults.
"Wow." Kimber huffed with feint annoyance, "Looks like I've been replaced."
Dylan looked over his shoulder and asked her, "Is he my present?"
That got another round of laughter.
Sheamus picked up the little boy, instantly charmed by the child, "Hello, fella. Ah'm sorry to say that Ah'm not yer present, but that don' mean we can' be best pals while Ah'm here, all right?"
"Okay." Dylan turned to Kimber and reached out his arms, "Hug, Aunt Ember!"
"Come here, you little monster." Kimber grabbed the little boy and held him to her in a long hug.
Sheamus leaned back and tenderly took in the scene. There clearly was a lot of love in this house.
He watched as she eventually put him down and turned to embrace her mother. The older woman held her daughter tightly to her, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Welcome home, sweetheart." she told Kimber warmly.
As she pulled back Derek came forward.
"Come here, mud pie!" her brother called out before lifting her into his arms for a big hug.
"Hey, bro." she greeted him, returning the embrace, "How are you?"
"Same old, same old." he grinned down at her, "Life of a newspaper man and all that."
She pulled back and turned to hug her sister-in-law, "Hi, Mary."
"Hi, doll." Mary hugged her tightly, "Welcome home. We sure did miss you."
"Same here." Kimber stated, heartfelt.
She turned and motioned for Sheamus to come forward.
"Everyone." she announced as she took his hand, "This is Sheamus O'Shaunessy. Sheamus, you already met my dad."
"Thanks again for picking us up." the Irishman grinned at the older man.
"Think nothing of it." Brian waved his hand.
"Sheamus, this is my mom, Elise." Kimber presented her mother.
Elise came forward and extended her hand, a small smile on her lips, "Sheamus."
Sheamus shook her hand and offered warmly, "Thank you for invitin' me to share Thanksgiving wit' you, Mrs. Gentry."
"Think nothing of it." Elise murmured as she released him and took a step back.
Sheamus took in her hesitant nature and tried not to let it get to him. Maybe she was just shy.
"This is my brother, Derek." Kimber grabbed Derek's arm and pulled him forward.
"Good to finally meet you." Derek stated as he shook the other man's hand, "Hell of a fan."
"Daddy." Dylan sang out.
"Daddy's sorry." Derek stated, the group laughing.
"Did Ah hear you right?" Sheamus questioned, "Yer a reporter, too?"
"For the Denver Times." Derek clarified, "Sports section."
Sheamus' eyebrows raised, "Ah'd love to talk football wit' ya later."
"You're on." Derek chuckled.
Mary came forward, the young woman smiling shyly, "Welcome, Sheamus. I'm Derek's wife, Mary."
"Good to meet ya, Mary." Sheamus shook her hand, "Ah've heard a lot of good things about you from Kember."
"Why don't you all retire to the living room," Elise stated as she got back to making breakfast, "Breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes."
"I'll help, Mom." Kimber rolled up her sleeves and started to jump in.
"Me, too." Mary joined them.
"Is there anythin' Ah can do?" Sheamus asked.
"Oh!" Elise looked over at him in surprise, "Um, no. No, but thank you, Sheamus. Why don't you join the guys in the living room. We'll call when it's ready."
Dylan came forward and grabbed Sheamus' finger, trying to tug him out of the room, "Come on, Shay-moose. I wanna play Hot Wheels."
"Well if you ladies'll excuse me." Sheamus grinned as he started to leave the room, "Ah have a very important date wit' some cars."
He followed the child into the living room, taking note of the hundreds of little toy cars that littered the floor.
He hunkered down with the boy and began to drive cars around the floor while Brian and Derek sat on the couch and watched.
"So how was your flight?" Derek questioned.
"Early." Sheamus sighed, earning a chuckle from the guys.
Mary peeked out the door at them before making her way back in to the kitchen.
"Whew." she murmured as she fanned herself with a dishtowel, "I love my husband. I do. But that man. . ."
Kimber laughed at her sister-in-law, "He is kinda cute, isn't he?"
"'Kinda'?" Mary fixed her with a stare, "Honey, he is an Adonis."
"And he's a wrestler?" Elise murmured lightly, her attention on the pancakes she was cooking on the griddle.
"Yes." Kimber glanced over at her mother, "And a very successful one. He's been both WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion."
"Hmm." the older woman replied thoughtfully.
"Okay, what is it, Mom?" Kimber asked as she began to set the table, "You've been painfully polite since we got here."
"It's nothing." Elise stated as she began to place the pancakes on a large serving plate.
"Mom, don't lie." Mary looked over from cooking scrambling eggs and accused her with a smile.
Elise sighed, turning to face her daughter, "It's just that he's a wrestler."
"Yeah." Kimber shrugged, "So?"
"His job is to beat people up." her mother flinched, "It's just so violent."
"He wrestles, Mom." Kimber explained, "Men. In a ring. It's what he does.
"And besides," she went on, feeling defensive, "He's always been there for me when I needed him."
"It's true." Mart spoke up, "I've watched the shows. It's sweet, the way he looks after her. Mom, it's obvious that he really cares about her."
Kimber sent her sister-in-law a grateful look. Mary gave her a wink and went back to cooking the eggs.
"He's actually very gentle." she stated with a soft smile as she stepped up to her mother, "And thoughtful. And he has such kindness."
"I'm sure he's very nice." her mother still didn't look all that convinced.
Kimber sighed and turned away in annoyance. If only she'd give him at least half a chance. She'd see what a remarkable man he was.
She peeked out the door and smiled, watching as Dylan ran his cars up and down Sheamus wide shoulders and arms. The Irishman was sitting there patiently, talking to her father and brother.
"So you must get to see a lot of great games." Sheamus was saying to Derek.
"Yeah, it has it's perks." the younger man agreed, "I even got to cover the Superbowl last year, it was great."
"Do ya follow rugby at all?"
"I just started watching it a couple of months ago." Derek nodded, "I'm getting to be big fan."
A man after his own heart, Sheamus thought with a grin.
"Shay-moose?" Dylan absently asked as he drove his truck across the Irishman's muscular thigh, "Are you really going to beat up the Big Show with a chair?"
Sheamus looked over at Derek and Brian with hesitance.
"They said on TV that you were." Dylan looked up at him, "But Mommy and Daddy said I can't watch it."
"Yer mother and Da are probably right." Sheamus replied carefully, "It's best you don' watch that."
"But why are you doing it?" Dylan asked, big blue eyes innocent.
"Hey, buddy," Derek interjected, "Why don't you show Sheamus your action figures."
"Yeah!" Dylan jumped up and raced out of the room, question instantly forgotten.
"Thanks." Sheamus told the other man, "Ah wasn't sure what to say to him."
"Don't worry about it." Derek told him good-naturedly.
"I can't begin to understand your situation." Brian cleared his throat and spoke up, "But I want you to know that I wish you the best at TLC. And I hope you stay safe."
"Thank you." Sheamus told him sincerely.
"And kick the Big Show's ass." Derek added with a chuckle.
"Hear hear!" Brian agreed, the three men laughing.
"Now that Ah can promise ya." Sheamus guaranteed.
Dylan came running back in, holding a Sheamus action figure.
"Do you like my Shay-moose man?" the child questioned, handing it over.
"Ah, class!" Sheamus beamed as he took the figure from the child, "Wow, look at that."
He held it up to his face and asked the boy, "Do you think it looks like me?"
"Yeah." Dylan giggled.
"Breakfast, guys." Kimber announced as she stepped into the living room.
That got them instantly to their feet and the small group made their way into the kitchen. They began to get situated around the table, putting pancakes, eggs and bacon onto their plates.
"This smells wonderful, Mrs. Gentry." Sheamus smiled over at Kimber's mother.
"Thank you." Elise nodded, offering him a faint smile.
Kimber caught his eye and shrugged, frowning slightly. He gave her an understanding nod, though, silently letting her know it was all right.
"Hey, mud pie, pass the toast." Derek called across the table to his sister.
"Here you go." Kimber passed the breadbasket to her sibling.
When she turned back she found Sheamus looking at her with that same confused smile.
"Why do they call you 'mud pie'?" he again asked her.
"Never mind." Kimber fixed him with a grin.
"Ah will find out." he leaned over and whispered in her ear.
She simply grinned at him before taking a bite of her eggs.
"So I hear we get you two for the next three days." Brian looked pleased by that news.
"Yeah." Kimber sighed wistfully, "Then it's back on the road. Sheamus has a house show in West Virginia."
"Must be tiring." Mary spoke up, "Always having to be on the road."
"And so far from home." Brian added.
Sheamus nodded, frowning slightly, "It can be rough, sure."
His eyes darted to Kimber and he added with a hint of a smile, "But the people ya travel wit' make it worth it."
"We're like a little family, in a way." Kimber explained, adding after she thought a moment, "Well some of us. I wouldn't exactly call Alberto Del Rio or Big Show 'family'."
"Amen to that." Sheamus sighed before taking a healthy bite of his pancake.
He closed his eyes and chewed, practically in Heaven.
"Ya certainly don' get home cooked food like this on the road." he stated before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Amen to that." Kimber repeated regretfully.
"Well eat up." Elise told them, "There's plenty more where that came from."
Breakfast soon ended and Sheamus rose, collecting the dishes.
Elise watched as he took them over to the sink and started to run the water.
"Sheamus," she stood up, "That's really nice of you but you don't have to do that. You're a guest."
"Me mother always told me a guest should show their appreciate to their hosts." he grinned over his shoulder at her, "And Ah'd like to start by doin' the dishes."
Kimber took her mother's plate, giving her a knowing smile before she joined the Irishman at the sink.
"I'll dry if you wash." she volunteered.
"Yer on." Sheamus nodded.
"Come along, dear." Brian smiled as he slipped an arm around his wife's shoulders and led the reluctant woman out of the room.
The rest of the family made their way out of the kitchen, leaving the pair alone.
As they did the chores Sheamus turned to her, "Ah like yer family."
"They like you, too." Kimber beamed up at him, "Dylan especially."
"He's a great lad." the wrestler rinsed a plate and handed it to her.
He went to wash the next one when he hedged, "Ah'm not too sure yer mother fancies me, though."
Kimber finished drying the plate, setting it in the cabinet. She turned back to him, fidgeting with the dishtowel.
"She's just overprotective of me." she tried to be diplomatic, "I'm the youngest, after all. And her only daughter. She really does mean well."
"Ah can understand her wantin' to watch over ya." the wrestler murmured as he looked at her intently.
Kimber leaned up and closed her eyes. He met her halfway, meeting her in a long, thorough kiss.
"Oh, excuse me!" Mary gasped as she walked into the kitchen and spotted them.
Sheamus and Kimber instantly pulled apart, watching as she hurried out of the room. They looked at one another and began to laugh.
"Think they'll still buy that Ah'm just a friend?" he asked her with a wink.
"Nope." Kimber giggled, "I definitely think the cat's out of the bag now."
.
.
.
.
.
Shortly after breakfast Elise, Mary and Kimber got started on making the Thanksgiving meal. Sheamus insisted on helping out, proving to be quite the asset in the kitchen. Elise was both surprised and thankful for his help.
She was so grateful that she even gave him a hug, startling the large man. He looked over the top of the woman's head to find Kimber watching him with a wide grin.
It was soon time to eat and they took their places around the table in the dinning room. They clasped hands as Brian said grace.
"Uh, if ya don' mind," Sheamus spoke up when Mr. Gentry had finished, "Ah'd like to say a blessing. It's one me family usually says at every get together."
"Please." Brian motioned for him to go on.
"May love and laughter light yer days, and warm yer heart and home." he began, "May good and faithful friends be yers, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless yer world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yers."
"Oh, Sheamus." Elise breathed, touched, "That was beautiful. Thank you."
The Irishman began to beam and they started to eat.
"Pass the rolls, mud pie." Derek requested.
"Okay, that's it." Sheamus stated as he sat down his knife and fork, "This has been killin' me since we got here. Ah got to know why you call her 'mud pie'."
Brian, Elise and Derek began to laugh as Kimber's face reddened.
"Who wants to tell it?" Brian asked as he grinned around the table.
"Oh, not me." Kimber sang out before taking a drink of her wine.
"I'll do it." Elise turned her attention to Sheamus and began, "When Kimber was about Dylan's age we had an enormous Thanksgiving dinner here. Everyone from both sides of the family came.
"Anyway, while we were preparing the meal it started to rain." she went on, "None of us thought anything of it until it was time to eat and I called everyone to the table."
She looked over at her daughter lovingly, "Well, everyone came but Kimber. We were frantic. We started looking all over, inside the house and out.
"Brain and I eventually found her at the edge of the yard, behind the pine trees, sitting on the ground with a pie tin, soaked and covered in mud. Oh, she was a mess! Her hair, her white party dress. Mud head-to-toe.
"I wanted to be so mad at her-she had scared me to death after all. But she had the sweetest smile on her little face." Elise laughed, "And she had told us she wanted to make us dessert."
The table hooted and Kimber slumped down in her seat.
"And she's been 'mud pie' ever since." Brian added.
"Ah see." Sheamus smiled evilly over at her, "Wait till Ah tell the fellas back at the WWE."
"I will pay you to keep quiet." Kimber began to giggle.
"Mom, don't we have a picture of her some where?" Derek couldn't help but tease.
"Ah want a copy of that before Ah leave." Sheamus stated, earning another round of laughter.
.
.
.
.
.
Kimber sat on her bed, reading glasses perched on her nose later that night. She was hunched over her laptop, editing together her newest episode of One Week With. . .
It was definitely a gorilla project, she couldn't help but think with a smirk. What with her handheld camera and Sony Vegas Pro she was using on the computer to edit it.
But, she had to admit, she liked it. She had gotten some great footage of Sheamus and the guys playing football in the backyard. She still giggled over the part where Sheamus had used Dylan as the ball, carrying the little boy around as he squealed with delight.
Plus she had gotten some great family stories from him. It had drawn her to him all the more.
There was a knock on her door followed by it opening and the very man she had just been watching entering.
He closed the door and made his way over to the bed, watching the footage on the computer. He began to chuckle as he watched himself pick Dylan up as though he were a football and take off across the yard.
"You really made his day, you know." Kimber glanced over at him with a soft smile before turning her attention back to the screen.
"He's a great lad." Sheamus stated as he took a seat behind her on the bed.
His eyes traveled from the computer to the back of her neck. With her hair pulled up in a ponytail he was afforded a healthy eyeful of skin.
He licked his lips, a devilish smile beginning to form on his mouth. He leaned forward, his nose brushing against her flesh and causing her to jump slightly.
He inhaled deeply, a rumbling coming up from deep in his throat. Vanilla, lavender and something wholly fresh and completely Kimber.
Kimber turned her head slightly and giggled; his mustache and beard were tickling her neck!
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Ah wanna see if you taste as good as ya smell." Sheamus took another deep breath, "Can Ah taste ya, angel?"
Kimber felt a shiver run down her spin and her eyes darted to the door. Yep, it was closed all right.
She could only nod, her voice suddenly leaving her. Sheamus needed no other encouragement and his lips rubbed against the back of her neck. They parted as his tongue came out to lave at her flesh.
"You do taste as good as ya smell." he murmured against her skin.
He continued to nip and kiss her neck, suckling the flesh there. Kimber felt her eyes slide shut, her head tilting back in abandon. Oh this man's mouth.
She found herself being turned around and it wasn't long before her lips met his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as the kiss deepened.
"I should really. . .go back to. . .work." she breathed against his lips in between kisses.
"You work too hard." he tenderly chastised her as he pulled back.
He removed her reading glasses, looking them over with interest, "Ah didn' know you wore glasses."
"I only need them for reading, really." Kimber explained, "Eye strain."
He put them on and gave her a grin. He looked so handsome and quite studious.
"Ah want to read you." he told her as he pulled her close.
Kimber went to him with a giggle and they shared another kiss.
She eventually pulled away, though, and sighed, "I really should get this episode finished."
He relented with a huff, taking her glasses off. He perched them back on her face, gently sliding them up her nose. She grinned and turned around, getting back to work.
She hit a few keys on the keyboard when she paused, her brows knitting together.
"What is it?" Sheamus inquired.
"This file. It won't open." she murmured, hitting a few more keystrokes.
"Let me try." he stated as he reached around and picked up the laptop.
"Oh, I don't know." Kimber was hesitant.
He gave her a smirk and reminded, "I was an IT lad, remember."
She leaned back and let him work, her fingers knotting in worry. She watched on as he began to type away on the computer, his expression thoughtful.
After a few minutes he began to grin and he turned the laptop around to show her. The media file she couldn't open before was now playing effortlessly.
"There ya go, lass." he announced as he handed it back to her.
She sat it on the bed and turned back to him, in awe, "Where did you learn to do that?"
"Ah have a degree in Computer Technology from the University of Ireland." the wrestler clarified.
Kimber grinned, "Beauty, brawn and brains."
"Yeah." Sheamus sighed, puffing out his chest, "Ah'm the total package."
"You really are." the reporter murmured, heart in her eyes.
Sheamus' face began to redden in embarrassment and she used that opportunity to lean over and kiss him.
He cupped her cheeks, returning the embrace before pulling back.
"Back to work?" he asked sadly and she nodded.
"Back to work." she confirmed.
He planted a kiss on the end of her nose, earning a giggle from her, and reluctantly climbed off of the bed and left her to it.
She watched after him with a sigh, shaking her head in wonder. He truly was incredible.
.
.
.
.
.
Kimber finished uploading the video and turned off the laptop. She rose from the bed with a groan and stretched, moving her head from side-to-side to work out the kinks. She looked over at the clock and sighed. Not bad for almost an hour's work.
She slowly began to smile as she made her way from the room. Now it was on to quality time with her family and Sheamus.
As she made her way down the steps and towards the hall she noticed that her parents, Derek and Mary were standing in the doorway to the living room, smiling and murmuring about something.
"What's going on?" Kimber questioned as she drew near.
"Shh." her mother shushed her softly and waved her over to join them.
Kimber gave her a confused smile and tiptoed over to the door. As she stepped into the doorway she drew to a stop, her heart beginning to melt.
Sheamus was sacked out on the floor, in front of the fireplace, hands behind his head. His eyes were closed, the Irishman deep in sleep. Sprawled on his chest, arms and legs flopped over either side of his torso, cheek pillowed on one of his pecks, was a sleeping Dylan. Scattered all around them were dozens upon dozens of Hot Wheels.
"Looks like those two played a little too hard today." Brian murmured with a chuckle.
"I think it was the turkey that did them in, Dad." Derek stated with a smirk.
"How sweet!" Mary sighed blissfully.
"He'll never let him leave now." Elise smiled.
Kimber braced her hand on the frame and leaned her cheek against it, her eyes locked on the sleeping man.
She felt something wash over her and she began to blink as realization hit her like a tidal wave.
She loved him.
She was in love with Sheamus.
But how could she not be? He was brave and fearless. Smart and funny. Handsome and sexy. He had such gentle grace and kindness. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man.
She felt a shiver of fear wash over her. Afraid of what she was feeling. Afraid that maybe he didn't feel the same way.
She trailed her hand up and down the wooden doorframe, a frown marring her features. She knew he cared about her. Of that she had no doubt. And she knew he wanted her. But what if that was where it ended? What if that was all he wanted?
Maybe he wasn't even looking for anything more. He was on the road two-hundred plus days a year. He was concentrating on trying to get his title back from Big Show. Maybe he wasn't looking for love right now.
And if he didn't? Then what? Could she really carry on down the road they were headed?
She wasn't naive. She knew that sooner or later they would end up in the bedroom. The thought both terrified her and made her curious. She didn't even know if she could sleep with him.
Resolve came over her at that moment and at last she knew. She had to tell him about her past. And she had to do it tomorrow.
Then, after that, they could see where they went from there.
She just hoped he could understand and not turn away from her. Her heart couldn't take it if he did.