Elaine clapped her hands together gently. “Right now lunch is finished, I’ve got some games I’d like to play.”
Blake rolled his eyes and said “Mom aren’t we a bit old for games?”“Come on Blake.” Elaine said “You’re never too old for games.”As Melissa helped Brock to clear the table and loaded the dishwasher, Elaine, Blake, Tony and Andrea moved into the living room to discuss games.“My mom is so obvious.” Brock said suddenly, snapping Melissa back into the present, she'd be lost in her thoughts about what happened at the dinner table, did Blake still want her? But what about Brock? She found herself starting to fall for him the same way she did his brother. "Brock, what do you mean?" She asked, giving Brock a conflicted look. Brock paused, he was going to tell her about what his mother said, he knew what Elaine was up to, his mother had a big heart, she invited Melissa for two reasons, one was because she was alone at Christmas, Elaine hated the idea of anyone being alone at Christmas, to the point she’d invited weird uncle Al, who did nothing but complain, about everything even the weather, and the second reason was to set up Melissa and Brock, it had been three years since he’d had a girlfriend, and he hadn’t really dated, his mother wanted her children happy and often “helped” to set them up on dates.He was trying to test the waters, he started off wanting to be her friend, and even now he wanted that friendship to continue, but he wanted more. "I mean she's always like this with the games at Christmas time even though we...." Brock continued to talk, but Melissa was again distracted by her own thoughts she continued to absent mindedly to stare at the sink. Her thoughts still conflicted. Her feelings were muddled, her heart was thrown into confusion. Unconsciously her face reddened as she thought about Brock and didn't notice he was behind her. It was only when Brock put a gentle hand on the tap to turn it off did she turn around to face him trying desperately to remember anything he was talking about but she couldn't, all she could do was look into his eyes.Stuck between the sink and Brock’s muscular chest against her back, he turned her around slowly to look at him.“These past few weeks we’ve spent together have been the best.” He said his voice was deep and sexually charged.“Me too.” Melissa managed to squeak out. The smouldering look on Brock’s face was turning her insides to butterflies, she felt a warmth growing in her lower stomach. She opened her mouth and let out a wordless gasp. She could feel the heat off his body.His eyes seemed to darken, his lips mere centimetres away from hers, she almost leaned in to close the distance when they were disturbed by someone clearing their throat.It was Elaine. “Ahem. Sorry, I just came to get a drink.” She said with a secretive smile on her face. Walking away with her drink she could feel an idea forming in her head.Brock moved away from Melissa, she felt the cold of the air surrounding her after his warm body moved away.Finishing up they joined the others in the living room, Elaine was sat in the armchair, a tower of board and card games by her side on the floor. Andrea was sitting on the floor next to her mum, Tony was sat at the opposite end of the coffee table, Blake sat on a dining room chair he appeared to be sulking.Elaine’s expression lit up as the two entered.“You two are on the couch.” She stated.Sitting down on the couch, Brock asked “What are we playing first mom?”“Hmmmm let’s see.” Elaine said. Brock looked at his mother, ‘Like she hasn’t already thought about it.’ But didn’t say anything, just raised an eyebrow in her direction.“Let’s play charades.” Elaine declared a square box in her hands, placing it on the table, she said “We can play in teams. Me and Dad, Blake and Andrea and Brock and Melissa.”Opening the box she put pencils, paper and charade cards in their own box on the table.Blake locked eyes with Brock who smirked and raised an eyebrow, putting an arm around Melissa’s shoulders. Giving her a friendly side hug, before saying and letting his arm drop “We’ll smash it.” He said and Melissa turned her head and said “You bet. By the way I get super competitive.” Melissa said with a laugh.Andrea complained “Why do I have to be with Blake? He’s terrible at this game. Why can’t I be on a team with Melissa?”Elaine said with finality “Because I said so.”Smiling kindly Melissa offered “We can team up, on the next game if you want?” Andrea seemed satisfied with that.They rolled a dice that had been left in there last time. “Highest number goes first, then the next and the lowest last.” Elaine declared.Blake rolled for their team and got a 1, Andrea scoffed about her brother not being able to do that right, Tony got a 3, “Ok Melissa all we have to do is beat three.” Brock said “Do you want to roll?”Melissa picked up the smooth red dice. Shaking it in her hand, she rolled it on the table, “6 yes.” Brock declared.And with that the game started.“Ok so which one of you is going to act it out first.” Elaine asked“Brock can, I’m happy guessing.” Melissa smiled, Brock chuckled and grabbed a card. Standing in front of the people seated he took a look at the card.“Oh you have to do it within in a minute.” Elaine said grabbing a small hourglass. Brock looked at the card.FILMDEADPOOLBrock grinned, he knew this was one of Melissa’s favourite films, they’d talked and laughed about it, even quoting bits of the film, that brought them into fits of laughter.Elaine said “Ready and......go.”Brock started to do the gestures for charades“It’s a film.” Melissa responded. Brock nodded.He held up one finger “One word.” She saidThinking he split the word into syllables, by tapping two fingers on his bicep.“Two syllables” came Melissa’s responseHe tapped his arm again “second syllable.”He mimicked swimming.“Swim? dive? water? drowning? Pool?” Melissa said Brock shook his head after each one except the last which he nodded.“Deadpool” Melissa said. Brock didn’t even have mine the first syllable.“Yes.” Brock said. With a few seconds to spare Brock and Melissa started off by getting points.The game carried on in the same vein, for three hours.Elaine announced “and the winners with 31 points, is......Brock and Melissa.”Elaine got up and continued “Right it’s 5:00 I’m going to prepare a sandwich for dinner. Does anyone want one?”“No thank you. I’m still full from lunch.” Melissa explained.Brock agreed, Blake said he’d like a sandwich and was promptly asked to come give his mother a hand. Before she left to get something to eat, Elaine told them “Don’t worry, I will feed the dogs. Would you like to show Melissa where she will be sleeping.”“Actually I need to take Storm and Sully for a walk. Would...” Melissa stated.“Perhaps Brock would go with you? Because you may get lost being new to our neighbourhood” Elaine said looking her elder son directly in the eye.Melissa took her coat that Brock had been holding, as she handed him the leashes. Putting on her coat, is difficult with two large dogs, itching to get out on their walk, she reached into the deep pockets pulling out her matching grey cashmere gloves, scarf and hat which she treasured not for because they were cashmere but a gift for her birthday last year from Ryan, he always knew what she needed or wanted, and he always had good taste in clothes for others.As she finished putting on her gloves Brock opened the door, handing back Storm’s lead he held the door open as they stepped out into the cold December afternoon.It was already dark out, the surrounding area being illuminated by numerous hanging pretty Christmas decorations and street lights.Brock and Melissa walk down the street. Sully and Storm slightly out in front of them. Sniffing at all the new smells occasionally lifting their legs on the lampposts which bring the couple to a stop, only for them to carry on, after a few seconds of the dogs deciding that the smell is not worth following up.There is a comfortable silence between them, as they pass nicely decorated houses and now closed stores, it’s only broken when Brock tells Melissa about certain things that happened in specific places.“This is where I broke my leg when i was 15.” Brock said pointing at a plaza that had a statue of a unicorn in bronze, rearing up, on a plinth, surrounding it is stairs that lead down to a fountain, and railings.Brock continued on “I was a bit of a skater when I was younger. And I was trying to do an Ollie, and instead I fell, landing on my leg. It snapped in two places. I was in plaster for 8 weeks.” He chuckled at the memory.They walked a bit further “Oh this used
It was getting close to seven pm when the two walked in. Getting in out of the cold December air, the two took off their coats, and the leads off the dogs, Brock shut them in the small living room, that was separate to the one the family were sitting in.Elaine looked over to them when they walked in, “Hello lovely’s, are the dogs okay?”“Yeah they enjoyed their walk and even chased a squirrel.” Melissa said laughing.“It’s okay for you Sully pulled me into a bush.” Brock said with a smile.“So we thought we’d have a few drinks, and perhaps play a few more games?” Elaine said.“Before you do I have something for you.” Melissa disappeared into the kitchen and then returned five minutes later with the mince pies. “I Erm...... I made these for you guys, they are kind of a tradition in the U.K. we have them at Christmas and in my opinion they are delicious.” She said opening the biscuit tin, that she was holding, to show mince pies with icing sugar on top.“You can eat
The two sat on the steps to the porch and talked, the chiminea giving off a little heat, kept them warm.“I was out here taking photographs of the snow. It’s such a lovely picture, I couldn’t sleep.” Brock admitted.“Oh same. I tossed and turned.” Melissa agreed, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.Brock fiddled with the camera, holding it up, Melissa looked out over the street now covered in a cold white blanket. It sparkled under the dim light of the street lights. It looked so magical. Melissa thought how picturesque the street looked, the dark sky, the dim orange glow and the white snow.Even the cars were covered in the deep snow.Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of light and whipped her head round to look, there with a guilty look on his face was Brock.“Oh my god Brock, you didn’t just take my picture? Give me the camera I’m deleting it.” Melissa placed her now empty mug under the swing seat on the porch, and she reached for the camera in Brock’s
THE NEXT MORNING - CHRISTMAS DAYMelissa woke up to bad breath, opening her eyes blearily, she saw a drooling, brown and white muzzle in her face “Urgh Sully you stink.” The St Bernard gave her a sloppy lick on her face. “Stop. I’m up.” Melissa said pushing the dogs face away gently.Sully got up and onto the floor, Melissa, sat up, scratching her head a little confused and woolly headed as to where she was for a little while.Getting up, she walked up to the back door, the dogs hot on her heels. Opening it, they ran out only to come to a sliding stop on the entryway floor, when they saw the snow. Storm looked out at the white blanket that now covered the previous lush green grass. Sully watched Storm eyeing him. He always made sure that it was safe by watching Storm in situations like these.Taking a couple of cautious steps forward he stuck his nose into the snow, sniffed, and growled at the cold white stuff, deciding it was safe, he ran off into the garden, chasing in
After letting the dogs in, Melissa walked back towards her basement bedroom, not looking around just focusing on where she was going. She was beyond angry, she felt humiliated and embarrassed.Melissa hated all these emotions and they were starting to overwhelm her, she felt the bitter sting of salty tears burn at the back of her eyes, swallowing hard so the tears didn’t fall, she walked bumping into another hard body. Not daring to look up at the face of the person, she knew who it was from the Avengers pyjamas.“Hey sweetheart.” Sleepy eyed, and hair all messed up from sleep, he had bare feet. His deep voice rumbled, Melissa looked up at him, he was looking at her with a bright smile on his face, when Melissa lifted her head, his smile faded.“Babygirl what’s wrong?” Brock asked quietly. Melissa couldn’t respond, the tears would fall if she did. Brock understood and putting his arm around her shoulder took her to her bedroom, as soon as she stepped onto the steps and the
CHRISTMAS DAY EVENINGMelissa was changing getting ready to go to bed, she smiled as she thought back to earlier in the day. They’d had an amazing dinner, and gone to relax. Elaine had opened some alcohol and Brock suggested that they play some drinking games, with their parents, Andrea could drink soda and join in. Elaine and Tony had passed on that idea so that just left Blake, Brock, Andrea and Melissa.Andrea said that it’s weird to play drinking games with her brothers, so she left to go up to bed. Which loosely translated she was going to go FaceTime her friends. That left Melissa, Blake and Brock. “Ok so how about we play monopoly with a twist?” Blake suggested. Brock and Blake explained the rules. When you land on another’s property the owner of said property tells you how much the rent is and what to drink, you pay the rent and chug a drink
Brock woke up with a start, his arm was draped across the bed, looking sideways he saw a sleeping Melissa, her hair messy from where he’d had his hands in it, he smiled at this. Then he remembered earlier, when he’d made love to her. He saw Blake at the top of the stairs, and yes a small part of him had felt euphoric, here was Blake watching as his older twin was deep inside Melissa, this felt to him like he was asserting his dominance over Blake. Like Brock was trying to say “This is how you treat a woman like Melissa” Brock felt Melissa stir and she rolled towards him, “Hey.” Melissa said before she realised they were both naked in bed pulling the covers further over her naked chest. “Hey beautiful.” Broc
A FEW DAYS LATERMelissa is back at home. Her family were back from the U.K. pulling into the car park. She had to nip in the office and deal with a break in. The burglars had stolen inconsequential items, files of her trade deal in Australia it was essentially research not that it was good for anything. The company’s profit and loss statements, also a few items of importance to Melissa they wouldn’t fetch much money but to Melissa they were priceless. Nobody had seen anything the cameras never picked up anything either. Brock and Melissa was having dinner later, so she needed to get ready.As Melissa approached the door she noticed it was a jar. Cautiously she dialled 911, leaving the phone now connected to the emergency services “Hi police please, my names Melissa Hartford I’ve had a break in.”“Ok Miss Hartford stay on the line and don’t go in under any circumstances. There will be an officer with you shortl