It was the first time Saoirse had met Neil's extended family, the sort of event she usually found nerve-wracking but tonight she felt more relaxed and comfortable. Gathered into the back garden of Neil's family home were relatives even Neil hadn't seen for a while.
At the start of the evening Neil stayed beside Saoirse, he introduced her to his relatives and kept a reassuring hand round her waist or across her shoulder. As the night continued, Saoirse felt at home and began moving round the garden to chat to clusters of other family members with Neil's sister.
When the sun set, Neil's brother called last orders for more food from the barbecue. Saoirse heard Neil calling her from his seat near the bottom of the garden so she brought him a plate of food, and a drink for herself. Neil was the only person left under the gazebo, Saoirse went to sit down next to him but Neil protested. "Psssst!" he hissed. "Come here!" he said softly, patting his knee. She perched on his knee holding a plate of food in one hand and her drink in the other and Neil wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his lap and resting his beer bottle against her hip. He kissed her neck, smelled her perfume and sighed in her ear and she felt his cock twitch against her ass. "Hello my gorgeous." he said softly.
She giggled. "Is this appropriate? Your entire family is here!" she said cautiously, looking at him.
"I missed you." he whispered in her ear.
"I've only been across the garden!" she giggled softly and kissed him quickly. He smiled at her adoringly.
"I'm glad you're here, have you had a good night?" he asked in his low, soothing voice as he stroked her thigh and looked in her eyes.
Saoirse nodded. "Yes, I've had a great time. Everyone has been welcoming and it's nice to see you with your family." she replied, smiling at him.
"You've got the seal of approval." he winked.
"Phew!" Saoirse joked. "What do you want?" she asked, nodding towards the plate in her hand. Neil exhaled, put his hand up and shook his head. "I thought you wanted more food, that's why you called me?" she said.
"No, I wanted you, that's why I called you." he teased, taking the plate from her and setting it on the table. Neil smiled at her and stroked her back. Saoirse slid her arm round his neck and smiled, leaning in to kiss him. "Listen, I was talking to Matt..." he started, looking in her eyes.
Neil's sister interrupted them, flopping down on the chair beside them with a loud sigh. "Oh here, Neil's bowed to peer pressure!" she joked, nodding to two empty beer bottles on the table. They looked round.
"I'm nearly finished my third now, really rebelling tonight!" Neil laughed. "I've got my designated driver right here." he smiled, hugging Saoirse to him. "We're leaving soon. If you want to go home?" he said to his sister. She nodded exaggeratedly.
"Come on we'll get a head start, Saoirse. Neil will just bounce off everyone the whole way up the garden after us!" she laughed, standing up and reaching for Saoirse's hand. Saoirse stood up.
"I might hardly drink anymore but I'm not that much of a lightweight!" Neil exclaimed, handing Saoirse her jacket and handbag and finishing his bottle of beer. He followed the two women up the garden, saying their goodbyes to everyone. Neil's brother insisted they take home some leftovers. "We'll be eating this for the next week, bro!" Neil laughed as his brother handed Saoirse 2 tupperware boxes full of food. They dropped off Neil's sister at her house and then went home to Neil's flat.
"All I can smell is barbecue smoke!" said Neil, sniffing his shirt sleeve as he followed Saoirse up the stairs into the flat.
"I know, me too. It's in my hair as well." Saoirse replied. Neil grasped Saoirse round the waist from behind and smelled her hair.
"Yeah...do you want to jump in the shower with me?" he asked, turning round to hang their jackets up in the hallway.