On Leave

Nine

Nine

Sebastian wasn't sure how to feel really. It was the morning after his first home cooked meal was sat in front of his face and he was still in awe. After dinner Ashley had handled the dishes while Raelynn had set up the coffee table with books and an old beat up laptop that seemed too ancient to function. Shortly after Raelynn had helped Ashley with her school work like a professional tutor but with love. Their friendship was sweet to watch as Chip made it obvious that his only concern was the two girls in the room. He would rotate between the girls throughout their lesson, laying on eithers lap or feet barely glimpsing his way.

As Sebastian poured himself a hot cup of coffee he found his thoughts straying to the beautiful tutor/best friend/dog master/hard working female and how she looked in a form fitting t-shirt that did nothing to hide her curves and perky breasts. How her tied up hair would escape her bun and float around her face. He had been sitting on the couch watch TV while they had done their work. It had been oddly relaxing and the longer he had stayed there the more he realized why his little sister treated it as if she were home. That's the air that Raelynn gave off. Home.

She had no idea that he was watching her more than the TV as she sat cross-legged on the floor, Ashley in front of her and her back to him. In the small living room, he was close enough that if he reached out he could tug gently at the baby hairs at the nape of her neck. His mind was so focused on the woman that he never heard the door open. Nor did he hear the footsteps.

From the corner of his eyes he saw movement. Sebastian nearly choked when he watched the same woman from his befuddled brain walk through the archway that lead from the front door through to the kitchen. She jumped the moment she saw him, then smiled in relief. She wore running leggings, tightly stretched across her toned legs. She wore a work out tank and her hair was in a high ponytail falling in waves down her back. Sweat drenched her body, her shirt sticking to her slick skin. Her breathing was slightly labored. Chip ran past her and up the stairs and Sebastian figured it was to find Ashley. He looked back over to Raelynn, the question lingering in his mind.

"Did you run here?" he asked.

"Yes." She said as she walked over to the fridge. "Do you mind if I grab a water?" she asked.

"Go ahead." He said.

"Thanks." She said as she grabbed one and opened it. She slowly drank it and Sebastian stood, transfixed as he watched her throat move as she swallowed. Finally, she pulled back and he saw she had finished the entire bottle. Thirsty, maybe I could give her something else to drink from. Sebastian shook his head to clear it as Raelynn tossed the bottle into the recycling bin. Eco friendly woman on top of that. Nice touch.

"So, you ran from your apartment to here? That's almost ten miles!" Sebastian asked. Raelynn nodded as she grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. She then hopped onto the counter a mere three feet from Sebastian. Her chest still rose and fell with heft, and he found himself drawn to the fact that her nipples were poking through her sports bra and shirt. He heard the crunch as she bit into the apple. He watched in silent awe as the juice from the apple rolled over her chin, down her neck, only to disappear between her ample breasts. Sebastian noticed then, the blush that was creeping up her chest making him look up. But she wasn't looking back at him, well not his eyes anyways. Her eyes trailed slowly down his body and that's when he remembered. He only wore sweatpants, chest and feet bare. As a Marine his body had to be in tip top shape always, and being so tall, his fast metabolism didn't allow him to gain weight easily. He smiled as he realized his body was affecting her.

He purposefully nudged himself away from the counter top he was leaning on and took the two steps he needed to be right beside her. He watched her freeze for a moment, gasping almost silently.

"Sorry, I just wanted to get an orange." Sebastian said as he leaned over her to reach for said fruit from the bowl. With her height, sitting on the counter she was almost eye level with him. Almost. She was so small, and he hated small things...usually.

Sebastian pulled away and turned, leaning on the counter right beside her. He started peeling the orange in silence but was hyper aware of how close he had placed himself to her. He heard her low, almost inaudible intake of breath. It was shaky, as though she was nervous.

"Screw it." Sebastian heard her mumble and was surprised when she hopped off the counter to stand in front of him. She looked him square in the eyes, confusing him as to why. Then she lifted her hand and poked him in the stomach.

What the hell is she doing? He asked himself. Then she poked him again. Confused, he spoke.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian asked.

"Excuse my rudeness for touching you, however your abs are fascinating, and I wondered if they were soft or hard. Never met a guy with an eight pack before." Her pure honesty baffled him for a moment. He didn't know what to say. All he knew was that her touch was sending fire down his spine and he felt something else on his body going from soft to hard. He leaned down then, whispering into her ear.

"I have something else you can touch that could be of better interest to both of us." She froze then.

"RayRaaaayyyy!" The sound of his little sister coming down the stairs with the furry beast on her tail had him standing straight up again. She looked up at him then, a curious look on her face as she smiled faintly. That innocent touch made his stomach clench tightly. Her full, red lips begged to be kissed and it taunted him that he couldn't do just that. He had to hold himself back. If Ashley said that she was worthy of a knight then she did, unfortunately Sebastian wasn't a noble man. The Marines had changed him. The things he had seen and done, they weren't something an innocent woman like Raelynn needed to be introduced to. He was a beast, a monster, and she was a gentle, soft woman. She deserved better and more than he could offer.

Unfortunately for him, that meant that he would be tortured by her presence and her intoxicatingly sweet scent for the duration of him being here. And he couldn't do anything about it.

-------

Raelynn couldn't figure out what was going through his head. One minute he would tease her, then he'd be playful, the next she would see this look in his eyes, like he was sad, but he was trying to hide it. She didn't know why, but for some weird reason she wanted to.

Ashley came barreling down the stairs with Chip in tow then and Raelynn stepped away from Sebastian. Ashley was dressed in denim shorts and a bikini top, her short blond hair in two small pig tails. Sunglasses perched on the top of her nose as she lifted a beach bag around her shoulder.

"Sebby, RayRay, get ready, we will be headed to the lake momentarily." She said confidently. Raelynn lifted an eyebrow.

"I don't own a bathing suit Ash." Raelynn said. Ashely smiled.

"No worries, I have plenty for you, come along, lets go to my room, Sebby, get dressed and could you pack the cooler for me please?" she asked. Raelynn looked back to find 'Sebby' fake saluting her and Raelynn giggled. He may be a giant, but it was clear he cared for his sister, and was wrapped around her finger.

Ashley dragged Raelynn up to her room and sat her down as she ran into her closet, throwing clothes all around until Raelynn heard an "Ah-hah!"

For some reason, the sound made Raelynn worry.

---------------------

Another one done!!!!!!

Tell me what y'all think. Foreshadowing here like cray cray, lol.

J. V