A Second Chance

[Guest]

Taking a quivering breath, she just nodded. She was afraid to speak for fear of completely loosing her grasp on the emotions that swirled around her. Who had done it?! Why?! Surely it couldn't have been Lance...his own brother? The thought made her feel sick. She had just seen him not but 30 minutes ago. He had been so happy and sweet...like always.

"Lance..." She croaked out his name and stared at Daniel, her face still looking pale and strained, "Was here earlier...for a minute. Very short visit... you don't think... you can't believe..."

Her words faltered as she saw the answer in Daniel's face. So he did think!

"Oh god..." Bolting up right, she ran to the bathroom and dropped before the toiled, spewing the contents of her stomach into the bowl.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel could hear faint sounds coming from the bathroom and moved to the kitchen on stiff legs and put the kettle on to make some tea which was ready by the time Mel emerged, her frame shaking a bit from the strain of vomitting, her face pale. She sat at the table and accepted the tea with gratitude. Dan sat opposite and silently munched on a cracker and sipping tea to which he added some vodka to calm him down.

"I don't want to jump to any nasty conclusions, Melissa. I am suspicious, simple as that. I hope this will turn out to be just a damn coincidence but until that is proved Lance is the main suspect in my sights. I'm sorry to break this to you like this and now, so late."

 

[Guest]

Mel nodded and took another sip of tea, "It's OK...I just...can't believe anyone would want to hurt him and if he...they...whoever hurt him could do such a thing, what about me...or you?" Her bottom lip trembled a moment until she bit down on it, tasting her own blood.

She gripped her mug, trying to control her shaking hands. All she wanted to do right now was wrap herself around him and drown in the warmth of his body. Staring into her mug, the sides of her fell, framing her face and hiding her expression. "I don't want to loose you also Danny..." Her words were carefully spoken and so soft she wondered if he could have even heard them, but she finally had admitted to herself how much he meant to her.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Putting his tea away Daniel got up, went around the table and crouched next to Melissa's chair, holding her hands in his left palm, his right stroking her back. He hated to see her like this, sad, afraid and unsure of future, the heavy news hard to bear. Dan put thinking about the implications away for the moment as he kissed her shoulder and hugged her once more.

"Don't you worry about nothing, Mel. I won't let them get to you, that's for sure. I'm not that easy to get lost... so, please, don't worry about this. Nothing's going to happen to you or me. I'll see to it. Don't worry," he whispered, kissing her head and pulling up a chair to be closer to her, still holing her hands.

 

[Guest]

She sighed softly and relished his tender kisses and touch. He moved closer, pulling a chair and from the angle that she sat, her legs were trapped between his spread thighs as he faced her. She stared at his chest for a second, wishing for a moment she could see his warm bare flesh and study the play of muscles beneath it. Just the thought warmed her up and chased some of the worries away. The glum and horrid thought that someone could hurt him, take him away from her like they had with Michael.

She squeezed his hands tightly in hers and then relaxed her hands a little, caressing him with her thumbs and slowly shifting her gaze up to his face. "To tell you the truth, I'm not even really worried about myself, Daniel...I'm more worried about you."

She couldn't read his reaction at all in that moment, but before she knew what her next move would be, it was as if her body kicked into action before her brain could catch up and she leaned forward and up to press her lips to his.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

The initial shock of the kiss, this time deliberate, soon turned into a warmth that seeped into every part of his body, making him blush and close his eyes. It was no accident this time, Melissa's intent was clear, she wanted to kiss his lips. There was a tempest of quickly waning oppositions in Daniel's head. "I shouldn't" on the one hand and "why the hell not, you like her" on the other. "It's wrong, she's Michael's wife" here and "Michael is dead and she's free tu pursue her happiness" there. Those and many more were washed away by the gentl touch of Mel's lips.

He responded by reaching to her and holding on to her shoulder, gently kissing her lips back. His indecisiveness evaportated, giving way to acceptance of what was happening, full acceptance.

 

[Guest]

He went from rigid and tense for what seemed like an eternity in her mind. She thought of ending it before it even got started, but then he relaxed and slid a hand over onto her shoulder, holding her there. She sighed against his lips, the kiss was soft, sweet and warm. Lips pressed and meshed together, drawing back slightly and then pressing again. He had wonderful lips, she thought in the back of her mind. Smooth, firm and yet they gave softly and fully.

Not being able to resist, she kissed his lower lip, gently flicking her tongue over it and sucking on it slightly before kissing him fully on the mouth. Damn, but he tasted good. Her body was already hot, the dull ache between her thighs and rock hard nipples was as sure sign that she wanted to pounce on him then and there. Wrap her body around his and forget about death.

Finally she drew back a little and stared into his face, her eyes slightly glassy and breath a little uneven. His eyes cracked open and stared into hers and she found herself blushing, "Um...hi." Was all her mouth was able draw out in the swirl of confusion in her head.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

As the soft kiss continued Daniel felt himself being aroused, blood leaving his face and pouring elsewhere, making him grow and harden. When Mel licked his lip and he sighed, so gentle and sensual the gesture and touch were. His heart skipped a bit as Melissa moved closer and pressed harder against his mouth, kissing him fully to which he slowly responded and rubbed her shoulder, marvelling how soft and delicate she was in his embrace. The turmoil inside him straightened into a single line that was the kiss, it occupied the whole of his mind and there was nothing else besides it. Only the soft, warm, sexy feeling of Melissa's lips against him and the uncomfortable hardness in his pants.

As she moved away and broke their intomate moment he opened his eyes, not really comprehending what had just happened, the reality rushing back to greet him, all the stimuli from all his senses calculated by his brain with immense speed. And over all of them the sweet taste of Melissa's lips on his. She said something to him but his mind was so clouded he couldn't understand it so he just covered her hands with his.

"We'll be fine, Mel," he said.

 

[Guest]

The rest of the day was a bit of a blur to Mel. The kiss had burned it's way into her mind and it was pretty much all she could think about. She had wanted to kiss him again and again, but had drawn back and nodded at his small statement.

After that, they had busied themselves around the house and that evening shared a small dinner and watched a movie, sitting on the couch together. Convorsation with minimal...as if both couldn't quite figure out what to talk about or what to say. Instead she snuggled near him, giving him small shy smiles from time to time until she was too tired to stay up anymore.

Mel wished him sweet dreams and pressed another soft kiss against his cheek as she usually did. This time she seemed to linger a little, pressing her forehead against his, then making herself leave .

Inside her room, Mel snuggled up into her bed, wishing instead she were with Daniel with his warm, hard body against hers. Sighing, she closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep. Tomorrow they had a BBQ to attend...

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

It was pretty much a dream, the charm of their kiss lingering around his mind for the rest of the day, making his vision hazy, sounds muted and slow, time speeding up and slowing down, his thoughts in confusion. On his lips he could still feel the softness of her kiss, her tenderness and eager will to have shared such a moment with him. It certainly was a pleasant feeling if a bit alien to Dan. Certainly he was still shocked but those oppositions which made his cling to reason were now gone and forgotte, buried under the lovely recollection of her breath tickling his cheek.

Melissa's presence hear him was no longer a slightly uncomfortable one, he got used to living with her, staying at her place and helping around the house. And the quiet evenings they could share together were a welcome time every day. Nothing changed in that because of that kiss, to the contrary -- it seemed like a seal to assure each other of warm, kind feelings they harboured.

This night Daniel went to bed more at peace than anytime since he had arrived on the porch of this house. Somehow it all seemed right, he had no regret and no remorse about kissing Mel and enjoying that kiss to its fullest. He regretted she didn't decide to sleep in his bed again, he would have welcomed her presence, her scent and warmth next to him. Dan fell asleep impatiently awaiting the moment when he would see Melissa again.

 

[Guest]

The morning couldn't come any faster. Mel woke up and lay in her bed a moment, pondering yesterday's events and wondering what this new day would hold. She ached to be close to Danny again. It seemed like he was the only one that could take the pain and thoughts of Michael away...well, not away, but he seemed to eased the awful memory of pain and replace it with happy thoughts. Of Michael, of her new future...of a new beginning.

She yawned and stretched, then got out of bed and grabbed a pair of blue jeans, this pair more form fitting and a light red knit top. The BBQ would be a casual event and they usually started fairly early...mid morning, early afternoon.

Mel slipped into the bathroom and started to get ready for the day, going through her usual shower routine, then taking the time to put on some light makeup and blow dry her hair out so it lay soft and silky around her shoulders.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Daniel woke up as if startled. His eyes went wide open and he sat up, listening intently... no strange sounds reached his ears and he wondered why had he woken up so suddenly. Oh well, it happened from time to time but he couldn't get used to it and always expected the worst to happen in a matter of second. But no earthquake came and no tornado tried to tear the roof off the house so he got up and went to the bathroom to do the usual morning duty, put on his jogging suit and left the house for the run.

He couldn't concentrate on rhythm or breathing though and more than a few times he had to stop and begin running again to get the body in the usual motion. He could not, something had changed inside him and he was no longer the Daniel he had been yesterday. Repulsed with his lack of self-discipline he trotted back home and promised himself to try again in the evening.

The cloud shrouding his thoughts was quickly blown away when upon entering the hall he saw Melissa emerging from her room and his features smoothed. Once again she amazed him with a totally new face in her fitting outfit and eye-drawing red top.

"What's wrong, Daniel? You looked angry just a second ago..." she said, looking him in the face.

"No, it's nothing, really," he answered with a smile as he moved towards his room. Passing Mel he stopped and kissed her cheek. "Thank you. Good morning," he greeted her and slipped into his room to shower and change.

 

[Guest]

Mel watched him slip into the bathroom. Thank you? Thank you for what? She wondered and then shrugged and smiled. He had even kissed her cheek. Not to comfort her or sooth her, but out of greeting. Feeling warm and happy, she moved down the hallway and into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, as usual.

Humming to herself, she prepapred a simple breakfast of waffles and then began assembling a party tray for the BBQ that would be a little later. It was always customary for the guests to bring a little something.

Her humming turned into soft singing, some tune she hadn't even thought of for years. Chopping up veggies and laying out cheeses, she completely forgot that Daniel was even in the house until she spun around and gasped in surprise, almost dropping the tray when she saw him standing there, grinning at her.

A soft flush of embarrassement colored her cheeks and she laughed, "OK OK...you caught me. Now wipe that grin off your face or I'll have to hurt you."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Done with the shower and shaving Daniel put on his olive cargo pants and a t-shirt with a Soviet T-34 tank printed on the front and a writing Liberate Moscow on the back. Dressed he went to the kitchen but entered slowly, hearing as Mel hummed to herself and then began singing, and leaned on the table, watching the slow sway of her hips hugged by jeans. She moved, almost dancing, working with foodstuffs for the party today. He didn't even notice that his lips had formed into a wide smile. Seeing Mel natural like this made him warm all over and happy to be here with her.

Then she turned and saw him and almost dropped the tray she had in her hands. Daniel protectively extended his hands to grab whatever was falling or stady her is she lost her balance.

"Hey, careful, Mel. It's just me," he said not really knowing what else to say and helped her with finishing the breakfast.

 

[Guest]

Mel giggled and helped him steady the tray before setting it aside. They finished making breakfast together, piling on waffles onto a plate and then sitting at the table together.

She smiled, blushing slightly and feeling rather warm and fuzzy, as well as embarrassed for getting caught singing. She plopped a waffle onto her plate and began to drizzle syrop over it, eyeing him now and then. "So...you ready to go to this BBQ today? I think it'll be fun...if you watch my back, I'll watch yours against Karen and Ted."

She grinned and chuckled.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

I love watching you anyway, Daniel though to himself as he really found lost of pleasure in looking at her stand, talk, move, etc. Watching her back would be privilege he wouldn't dismiss, then he thought of her hips in the jeans she was wearing and became embarrassed.

"If she jumps at me like yesterday and grabs me into a headlock there will be little I can do to prevent being bullied. I mean I could break her hold easily enough but I don't want to hurt her. Anyway, perhaps she won't be there. And if Ted is giving you a hard time or wouldn't take 'no' for an answer just tell me and I'll have a man to wuss talk with him," Dan said with a playful wink. "I'll just have my morning smoke and be ready. It won't take long," he smiled and left for the porch.

 

[Guest]

Mel giggled at the thought of Karen holding Daniel down in a headlock. Her large breasts would probably smother him before she got a chance to get him to come to her. She grinned and smothered a laugh behind a hand, trying to chew on her food and not choke. Finally swallowing, she took a long swig of juice, then said, "Well, if that's how she wants to play, then she'll have a cat fight on her hands. Don't want to let a good thing get away from me."

The moment those words passed her lips, she found herself blushing. Goodness! She had to be careful as to what she said. She kept forgetting that Daniel shy and a lot more closed off than Michael had ever been. Michael was usually the one making HER blush, not the other way around.

Giving him a warm smile, she took another sip of juice and finished off her waffles, taking her plate to the sink.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

He smoked slowly but the cigarette somehow wasn't tasty and he killed it even before he rached half its length. He just sat on the porch, the crippled butt between his fingers and just stared at the garden. Melissa's don't want to let a good thing get away from me still reverberated inside his head. What was that supposed to mean, he wondered. Was she attracted to him? He shook his head. Duh! She wouldn't have kissed me if she wasn't right? And it had been no friendly kiss, it was sensual and loving, it was a kiss to build a dream on. Dan realised he wasn't about to let that Ted fella sweep Melissa away from him, expensive car or no. She was too precious to him to let her go like that without a fight.

Sighing he returned inside and peeked into the kitchen, empty, living room, empty.

"Mel, ready when you are!" he cried and began taking the food they wanted to take with them to the car.

 

[Guest]

Fiddling in the bathroom with her hair and fussing over whether to change to stay the way she was, Mel was startled by Daniel's call and smiled. It felt nice having someone calling for her again. Spritzing on some light perfume, she walked back out. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Grabbing her purse, she found Daniel loading up things into the car. Checking to make sure the back door was locked, she grabbed the car keys and tossed them to him, watching him catch them with ease. "Your turn!"

Sliding into the car, she buckled up and turned to him slightly. "I'll give you directions unless they already gave you some. It's real easy to find and right near the church."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

"I will find the church but I might get lost in the area beyond so you just tell me where to turn and where to stop." He glanced at her as he was driving. "Looking good, Mel. I can't blame any guy for trying to have a date with you. Tomorrow's Saturday," he nodded, thinking what to do with the weekend. "Any plans? Do we stay in or drive somewhere? Go dancing?"

He looked at her from time to time to see her reaction.

 

[Guest]

Mel blushed at his compliment, "Thank you." She replied softly, feeling the warm rush from his words, not unlike the feeling she had everytime she was near him. Which was a lot lately.

"I don't know about Saturday...why don't we just play it by ear. I was hoping to perhaps sleep in and be lazy. I haven't done that in ages...for no good reason. But perhaps catching a movie or something could be fun..." She smiled, letting her words drift off as they neared the church and then starting to give him directions.

The drive really was a short, easy one and the house they arrived at was fairly large, with a big yard and people already starting to fill up all parking spots. "Why don't we park off the street a house or two down? Then we can be sure that we can make a break for it later without a problem."

 

[Poganin]

Daniel Rikers

"Good idea, Mel! Very good. If it's boring it'll be easier to drive away," he nodded and drove a bit farther, then stopped and helped Melissa out and then helped her take the trays with food out of the car.

Together they walked back to the house where the party was just starting and entered, smiling and greeting the friendly. Both scanned their surroundings for the presence of Karen or Ted. Immediately a band of kids surrounded Daniel asking him to show them his throwing abilities. A five year old boy tugged on his hand and Dan raised it, the boy hanging from his forearm. For a moment they were looking at each other, the child blinking, wondering probably what he was doing hanging from this man's arm. Then Danny shouted "Boo!" and the kid shrieked, let go and landed on his butt on the grass.

"Serves you right for hanging on strangers' hands, kiddo. What's your name?" Dan asked crouching next to the boy.

"S-samuel."

"Okay, Samuel. Hold on," he said and grabbed the kid and seated him on his shoulders. "Hello! I found a lost kid! Who's boy is this?" he shouted loudly and entered the garden with a crowd of kids of various ages surrounding him.

 

[Guest]

Mel giggled at Daniel, watching him interact with the kids. A strange ache settled in her heart and she found herself blinking back tears and quickly turning away to busy herself with the plates of food. A friend waved her over, greeting her with a hug and smile and then setting her to work on the buffet table helping the others set up.

She put out paper plates and plastic cups, knifes and forks while chatting with the girls. Glancing at Daniel from time to time, she noticed he was still gathering a crowd of children and was busy totting the one kid around until a dad came along and plucked him off Danny's shoulders.

The two began talking as the kids playing happily around their legs, tugging on Daniel's shirt to ask him questions. She found herself smiling, drawing in a deep breath and enjoying trying to enjoy the afternoon.

 

[Poganin]

Daniel

Having returned the kid to his dad Daniel looked around to see where he might make himself busy or help with some preparations so as not to be too visible and so a victim to pestering children or horny women. He found himself near the grill stands and decided to help the guys with making the coals smoulder evenly. One of the older kids who had been on his team during the football game asked him to help him carry the meat out into the garden and Danny waved to Melissa that he was going away for a bit and disappeared inside the house. In a few rounds they were done and then kids found him again and asked to play with them but he just shood them away saying he would play with the later.

Instead he just maneouvered towards the drinks stand and took two cups of juice and joined Mel at the food tables.

"Here. I swear, I wish I had as much energy as those kids."

"Come on, Daniel. You were doing great during the game," a woman he didn't know scolded him mockingly.

 

[Guest]

Mel smiled, ignoring the woman who had opened her mouth without even as much as a hello. "You're great with kids...it's as though they are drawn to you like a magnet." She said, taking the drink from him. "Thank you. Are you hungry? All these heavenly smells are making me that way." She admitted with a chuckle. "I've been shamlessly nibbling on some chips and dip over here while helping, but I think I need to move on."

With that statement, she nudged him along, giving him a look that said, please get me away from these people for a second. "Why don't we find ourselves a spot to sit before it gets too crowded. Mary...the mother of the little boy you had on your shoulders, told me to snatch up one of their plankets and settle down someplace near."

Pointing towards a small pile of blankets near a stack of lawn chairs, they made their way in that direction. "Someone mentioned music later on...not sure if it'll be a live deal or just someone deciding they want to play DJ."