She bit her lip, her head dipping as she studied the floor intently. Why did she do it? They'd actually been holding a decent conversation for once. Jesus, he still made her nuts, she couldn't find even ground around him, even now. Even though it had been fifteen years, he was still, in her mind’s eye, that little boy who pulled her hair and teased her unmercifully. HE was her knight in shining armor and her biggest pest, but dammit they’d both grown up hadn’t they? So much had happened though, seeing him again was bringing it all back with a vengeance, making her act all sorts of crazy. Sighing, she stood and moved to him, her hand sliding up to his shoulder. He didn’t know she’d had that faith, maybe he didn’t remember the times she’d watched him play after he got it right. God it won’t hurt to give a little at least on that score. I remember how intensely protective he is about his ability and music. Yea she could give a little here, it wouldn’t hurt.
"Maybe I shoulda. So you finally got it huh?"
He stilled at her touch then shrugged. "I managed ok I guess," he said humbly.
She leaned in, her forehead bracing on his back, her words mumbled into his shirt. "I... I never fight with people, haven’t in years, yet here I am acting like I’m fifteen again. I'm acting like a brat, I'm sorry, really."
Richie sighed and turned to face her lifting her chin and turning on his famous charm "I guess I am too..... truce?"
Fear, need, hot, cold, it all raced up her spine in a dizzying emotional tidal wave. Eyes widened at the feel of his hand on her chin, as she watched his face. "Truce, well unless ya make me mad again. I can’t seem to dammit control it around you." A slight grin played hide-n-seek with her lips. “Besides, Whose gonna keep you on the straight and narrow if I don’t Scarecrow?”
He smiled then flicked her nose playfully, more to cover his own confusion than anything else. He'd been looking forward to a restful relaxing break, to calm placid home. Home had always been his heaven away from the rigors of the road. No women, no wine, no drama and he hadn't gotten more than one good night’s rest before Melanie Daniels came roaring back into his life. He handed her another of the glasses and nodded toward the living room. He had a feeling this break wasn't going to be much of a vacation at all, not with Mellie back in his life.
She took the glass, the flash and sizzle of his skin searing her into silence. She turned and started towards the living room with the extra glass of tea, knowing the peacefulness of returning home had just went to hell in a hand basket. She stepped over to Shannon and handed her the glass of iced tea before moving towards the big easy chair, the one she always used to curl up in when at the Sambora’s, her mind so occupied with dealing with ancient emotions that she paid no attention to who had gotten into the chair first. Plopping down she heard the gruff “Ooph” before she felt the warmth of a lap beneath her.
“Dammit Let me up!”
His hands went out automatically to settle at her waist, the heat of her against his groin making every muscle and nerve tense. Fuck if it didn’t feel right, her being on his lap, just like he remembered all those years ago. He grunted as her elbow connected to his chest, his hands tightening at her waist as she struggled to get up. “Where ya headed Mellie?” Her hissed “let me go!” had him chuckling, his hands sliding to secure his hold. Damn if her tiny body didn’t fit perfectly. No other girl who’d shared his lap had felt the same.
“Lemme up now! We got a yard to clean!”
“What if I don’t wanna?” He glanced over at the two on the couch and winked, every sense feeling alive, his laugh starting to build as little Shays eyes nearly bugged from her head. “Not like you haven’t sat here a million times before.”
Mel trembled, her memories and anger crashing into each other as he held her firmly on his lap. Oh no he wasn’t holding her down, he couldn’t. He’d never had the strength to hold her down, he was too un-coordinated. She wiggled and squirmed, valiantly trying to get up, and received an outright laugh for her efforts. [i]Damn, when had he gotten so strong?”[/i] “Dammit Dork! Ya heard me let me UP!”
He groaned as her ass kept moving, setting fires he didn’t know whether to put out or add gasoline too. All he knew in that moment was her wiggling was making it increasingly difficult for him to think because his body was responding in ways he didn’t want his mother to witness. Leaning forward his lips settled close to her ear, the devil on his shoulder spurring him on. “If ya don’t get still we won’t ever get off this chair Mellie, cuz fuck if my mom sees what response your wiggles are inspiring. I’m only human Mellie.”
Shannon’s brow quirked upwards as the little battle came to a complete stop, Mel’s face blanching of all color, her body stilling totally as Richie’s eyes glittered and his laughter roared. What the heck was all that about? She still couldn’t wrap her mind around it all. They had known each other and sis had never ever even mentioned it, and now she was fighting and squabbling with him like it was an everyday thing. Richie Fuckin’ Sambora and HER SISTER was treating him worse than a convict in some ways.
Joan shook her head, her gaze steady on the two in the easy chair. Fifteen years and nothing had changed, they were still squabbling like two children trying to one up each other. Her brow arched as she watched Melanie’s color go off kilter. Well maybe some things had changed, they weren’t kids anymore and knowing all she did about her son now? Well maybe it was time to help Melanie out a bit. “Now Richard, you let Melanie up.”
Richie’s gaze flashed from the silky sunburst hair to his mother, “But Ma!” He didn’t want to let her up. He wanted to see just what damage that wiggle could do, but the warning tone in his mom’s voice as she lengthened his name again dashed ice water against his thoughts, his hands loosening and letting Mel free.
Shannon held her breath as Mel bolted the chair and turned, her once pale face flushing with that glow that said Melanie was getting ready to let fly with the anger again. God she wanted to understand what exactly was between these two. It went beyond boy picking on girl she could tell that, but what exactly had happened?
Mel opened her mouth a time or two wordlessly as she forced the current of emotion his teasing had threatened. Swallowing hard she grabbed for Shannons hand, her head jerking towards the door as she speared Richie with a glance. “Come on, we got a yard to clean. You grab the ladder, I’ll get the garden hose.”
“Nah I’ll get the hose, you know where the ladder is.” Richie hefted himself from the seat and started to the door only to be hip-checked as Mel tried to go through the door at the same time.
“I said YOU get the ladder.”
“Metal Mouth!”
“DORK!”
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