Reasons Why - 11

Chapter 11

Poor Mikey was bright red, stood in his cot crying. Chloe's heart broke at the sight of his tear stained face. Reaching out to lay a hand on his head she gasped, he was scorching hot. She lifted him up, glad that she'd found a t-shirt of Phil's on the stairs to cover her nakedness as she cradled the little boy. She had no real idea how to deal with him being ill. All she knew was paracetamol would cool him down, and probably fluids and a cold cloth to the head. Carrying him downstairs, she spotted Chris stood in the hallway, his t-shirt back on looking at her concerned face.

"You ok?" 

She nodded, "he's burning up. I need to get him some medication. Can you look in the kitchen cupboard for me?"

Chloe shouted instructions as she held Mikey with one arm and soaked a cloth under the cold tap, then she filled one of his beakers, but Mikey who'd stopped crying and was now whimpering, resisted the drink, but once she sat on the sofa, she could lie the cold cloth over his forehead. 

Chris emerged with an armful of things, handing her a syringe loaded with medication he assured her was the correct dose, and the local name for the drug she wanted. They managed between them to get it into the distressed little boy, and as Chloe took his temperature with the thermometer Chris had found, she located the phone and called her mother. She hadn't spoken to either parent in the ten days that she'd been here, but the last thing she wanted to do was call Didi and Phil needlessly, but she also didn't want to be blasé if Mikey was more sick than she realised.

"Mum?" Chloe couldn't hide the desperation in her voice, then glancing at the clock quickly calculated that it was six am back at home. "Sorry to wake you!"

"Are you ok Chloe?" her mother's sleepy voice was filled with concern. 

"I am, but it's Mikey!" She quickly explained all that had happened, and the fact that she didn't want to call her brother unless it was really necessary.

"Has he got a rash? You really should strip him off, check and then get him in as few layers as you can. Then check his temperature again. His napkin should also be wet." Even in the panic, Chloe found her mother's old fashioned terminology endearing, no one called nappies napkins any more in fact this side of the Atlantic they were diapers! 

"If he has a rash or it isn't wet?"

"Check, get him comfortable, then call me back. Ok? Don't panic."

Chloe hung up, then dispatched Chris to find a clean vest for Mikey. Cooing to the little boy who seemed a little more sleepy, she stripped him off, sighed with relief at the lack of rash, changed his nappy, which fortunately was wet, then placed him in the new vest that Chris had found. Pulling the little boy into her arms she was rewarded with him snuggling in and closing his eyes. 

Chris sat next to her and took a deep breath, "well that was scary!" As he placed an arm around her, she leaned into his body with relief.

"You were brilliant! Thanks!"

He kissed the top of her head, "was that before or after Mikey woke?"

Lifting her eyes to his she laughed, "it was a bit of a passion killer!"

Stretching he kissed her lips this time, "it was probably for the best. Imagine your brother coming home and finding us!"

Shuddering she glared at him, "I feel quite ill now!" 

Chuckling he pulled her close, "give your mother a ring and I'll load the Wedding Singer?"

The three of them were curled up together fast asleep when Didi and Phil walked in, the older couple stood for a moment and observed Chloe, wrapped in Chris' embrace, Mikey equally secure in Chloe's arms.

"Hey Clo!" Didi knelt down on the same level as her sister in law and shook her arm gently. "You alright?"

Chloe felt the world come slowly into focus and suddenly the trauma of the evening came rushing back. "He had a temperature..." she tried to pull herself forward and uncoil their son from her arms. "I gave him some...infant Tylenol, stripped him. He calmed down after a while, but I didn't want to disturb you."

Didi reached out a hand and placed it on Mikey's head, taking a deep breath she smiled, "seems like you did a good job! Let Phil carry him to bed, thank you both! We're going to go straight to bed, see you in the morning?"

As the two left the room, Chloe turned to Chris, he was smiling at her, "see told you it'd be ok!"

Smiling nervously, she gave him a brief kiss, then grimaced, "I should turn in too, thanks for being so sensible tonight!"

Chris nodded realising that yet again that barrier between them had been lowered. He was left to rue missed opportunity. Taking her hand, he tried to lighten the mood, "I'm playing poker tomorrow, with the lads, it's a monthly thing. Are you free Wednesday? I could cook you dinner?"

She shrugged a little non-committally, she had no desire to be reintroduced to his house-mate or any of his acquaintances, and then there was the implications and the potential situations that could occur if they were alone together again. If Mikey hadn't have interrupted them...she shuddered, she'd be head over heels thrown into something that she'd have no control over. 

And dinner would only reignite that.

"Don't over think it Chloe, I know you! I'll pick you up at seven?"

Biting her lip with anxiety, then nodding, she finally managed an shaky, "ok!"

Leading him to the door, she closed the front door behind them. 

"I really enjoyed tonight!" He offered, taking her hands in his, "despite all the drama!"

She chuckled, "Mikey has got the best timing!" 

They were both silent for a moment, remembering the passion they'd shared. Chloe knew she'd never felt this way about anyone else, that she was starting to fall for this man who was still really a stranger. His lips joining hers woke her from her reverie, and she responded with intent. Who was she kidding? She could just about ask herself. She was unable to resist or prevent this if she tried. 

The next morning, she woke with a pounding head, the product of a nervous evening. Her attic bedroom was wonderful, a real haven, with the gingham curtains and matching quilt on the white wood bed. The serenity was short lived as Chloe spotted the time. Just before seven, Phil and Didi were due to leave in a few minutes. Stretching, she climbed out of bed and found the flipflops she was using as slippers, then made for the stairs. 

The door to the hallway was ajar...an unusual thing as Didi insisted she closed it to stop the boys wandering at night. As she reached the door she gasped, there on the bottom step, neatly folded were the top that she'd worn the previous night, and of course her bra.

Heat flushed from her chest up to her face and she felt light-headed with embarrassment. Suddenly she dreaded facing Phil and Didi with the knowledge that they had a good idea what had happened the previous evening. 

As she opened the door fully, she literally bumped into Phil coming out of the bathroom, already dressed and ready for work. He grinned at her, "do you fancy a few beers tonight? Dee's got some friends coming over for a work meeting thing?"

She nodded, "sounds good! We could go into town?"

He laughed, "if you want. I haven't been out downtown for ages!"

"Phil! You're in you're forty not ninety!" Play punching his arm, she slipped past him and down the stairs. 

Didi was perfecting her makeup in the cloakroom mirror.

"Hey Chloe. Sleep well?"

There was a glint in her eye as she awaited a response and Chloe realised that she was the one who'd retrieved her clothes. As the blush reappeared at the slightly loaded question, she shrugged, "nothing happened..."

Didi laughed, "I just didn't want Phil to find your underwear...other than that I don't mind what happens here. Ok?"

"We weren't neglecting the kids..."

Giving her a hug, the older woman smiled, "Chloe! Mikey's fine. All kids get bugs, fever's...and you coped more than admirably! I'm very pleased at my new childminder!"

Chloe returned the hug, feeling a little choked at the camaraderie her sister-in-law was displaying.

After a fairly uneventful day with the boys, she had changed into jeans, a tight black t-shirt and her favourite converse for the stroll in to the centre of town. Phil started at a rapid pace, and Chloe was glad she'd opted for flat shoes and not her heeled sandals.

  "What's eating you?" she asked as he finally slowed a little.

He shrugged for a moment before glancing at her, "I really wanted to talk tonight...about Owen."

Chloe felt as though she'd been slapped around the head. Stopping dead in her tracks she waited for him to notice and turn, "why?"

He sighed, "because he was my brother too. I miss him, and you are the only person I know who can answer my questions about him."

"Oh."

Starting to walk again she looked up at him, and he spoke again, "I only knew him a few years really. But unlike you," he winked, "he emailed me most days, he visited us here several times. We got on. But I didn't know his favourite colour, or whether he was a morning person, I never knew whether he was a jock or a geek at school..."

When he looked at Chloe he had tears in his eyes, and she could do nothing but hug him, for a few moments. She had been so encompassed in her own grief for so long, that maybe she was guilty of not appreciating the special relationship she had had with her twin.

Pulling apart, she smiled sadly, "Blue, the brighter the better, definitely not...unless he was escaping from a bedroom that he didn't want to stay in, and he was straight A's all the way, yet captained cricket, football and rugby teams."

Phil returned the sad smile, "I hate that my last memory of him is a phone call."

Chloe gulped, fighting her own thoughts, the last two occasions had been an argument, and then on a mortuary slab. Would she ever forget that argument? Would she ever forgive herself for calling him, telling him about David? The fight...

Chloe couldn't help but zoom back to those days at the very start of the year. She'd saved him from the date from hell on Friday evening. He'd called her to thank her the next day, and invite her out for dinner. She'd declined as she was meeting David her boyfriend after his cricket match for a few beers. As was quite usual, David's arrival at seven pm turned to eight then nine and then ten. Chloe was sat at home waiting. 

She'd met David on her first day at work. A partner in the Law firm she was a new junior at. Immediately he'd slid into her office and asked her out for lunch. Within moments she was besotted. She introduced him to Owen a few weeks later and he'd disliked him on sight. And that had devastated her. Owen was a womaniser, sleeping his way around London, yet he had the gall to disprove of the man she entered a respectable relationship with. She couldn't be angry with him though, and over the next few months they'd found some type of truce over her choice of lover. 

But that Saturday night as she sat waiting for David to show, Owen had called drunk. When he realised that yet another evening had been spent at home waiting for David to show up again, he became crazy. 

She could remember the conversation almost word for word.

"Chloe! He doesn't deserve you. He doesn't love you! For the last six months you've spent more and more time trying to keep him happy...and what does he give back to you?"

"Owen, I'm not getting into this now. Not when you're drunk!"

"At least I'm enjoying my youth, doing what all people in their mid twenties are doing...having fun! You! You're sat at home like a fisherman's wife waiting for a man who never comes. What is wrong with you?"

She'd seen red then, partly because he was right, David had given very little to their relationship. In fact she had found out the following week that he had started to sleep with a new junior recruit at work. Hindsight was a great thing, and looking back all the signs were there and unfortunately only Owen had seen them. 

At that moment though, his anger and presumption over her life had caused her to snap back, maybe partly because she knew he was right about David, partly because she knew that he was living the life she should have been living...who knew, but flip she did.

"What's wrong with me? Because I'm not a whore like you there's something wrong with me? Is that your point darling brother? I am living MY life, and I don't appreciate your interference, and I am not helping you out of any more sexual crises. Do you hear? Give me some credit and some space! Try to stop ruling my life and sort out your own problems Owen!"

And she'd hung up. 

Crying herself to sleep, it had been a restless night until a few hours later she was woken by the sounds of sirens and swirling blue lights. Then Owen was beaten to a pulp on her doorstep, a random mugging, on his way to apologise for hurting her earlier.

  "We argued." She looked up at Phil, "the last thing I told him was to leave me alone and sort out his life."

Phil gasped, this wasn't anything like he expected. His father hadn't told him that, he could only think he didn't know. "Really?"

She nodded, blinking at tears, "he was coming to say sorry..." she dropped her eyes for a moment, unable to believe she'd finally shared that information outside of the medical world. Not even her best friend or parents knew that, and suddenly she felt exposed. "If we hadn't had that fight..."

Phil reached for her hand and squeezed it so tightly, "no. You can't think like that. He as his own person..." 

"He was my brother..." she suddenly started to cry and all Phil could do was pull her close and listen. "I loved him, and I let him down Phil. We all lost him, because of me!"

Phil wanted to cry with her, her sorrow was so complete, but he also knew that THIS was what had caused her self destruction that had followed, this guilt needed to be dealt with, shared at least. "You didn't beat him up Chloe, you didn't break his jaw, fracture his skull or puncture his lung. That dreg of society did, Malcolm Pinker. He did it all. You didn't give that man drugs, didn't make him desperate for money, and you didn't make him kill our brother. You need to know that!"

"But he wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for me!"

She looked up at him and he felt as though his heart would break at the sorrow and devastation he saw there. "Owen did what he wanted, you didn't ask him to come to yours, and you couldn't have stopped him. It was a terrible tragic coincidence that he came across Pinker that night, and the man will stand to justice in a few months. I only wish that you guys had the death penalty, as I'd like to inject that bastard myself."

Chloe stayed curled in to him, and they moved to sit on a bench nearby, this was not a conversation for a pub or bar.

"You've blamed yourself since Chloe," he offered after a few minutes of silence, "I heard that, but no one realised that it was for this reason."

She looked at him, "how can I tell my parents that it's my fault their golden boy is gone? My fault that the light of their life has gone?"

He shook his head, "they wouldn't feel any different to me. No one thinks it's your fault. If anything they fear they're losing you too. You need to speak to them, they don't know how to help you and they are terrified that you're not going home."

"I can't look them in the eye any more." She sobbed, "how can I tell them?"

He sighed, lifting her chin forcing her to look at him, "tell them what? That you and your twin loved each other and he was coming to see you when he was killed? I don't see what you're worried about!" He tried to play it down, but it was a hard job, she was being SO hard on herself.

"The only thing I can say is that Owen didn't deserve to die Chloe, that much is true, but you are insulting his memory if you give up on your family, your friends, you life over this. You should be living your life to the maximum appreciating every minute you have. Live for him, don't you see that?"

"Insulting him?" she offered with a teary smile. "Is this how you make me feel better?"

He loved the spark of humour and he wondered if they were turning a corner, "you won't listen to me sweet talking, sometimes it's cruel to be kind. How about we go to the pub as planned...and you tell me as much as you can about him? Memories are what keep him here," he tapped his heart, "and here," he tapped his head. 

When Phil offered his hand, she accepted and with a smile allowed him to lead her towards town. She knew that this wasn't the end of her torment. But for the first time in ages, she could suddenly see a little light at the end of the tunnel. Her twin had been vibrant, larger than life...and he deserved to live on in her and Phil...her older brother was right, she owed Owen that.

Reasons Why - 10

Chapter 10

The movie started, and Chloe and Chris sat at either end of the sofa, not miles apart, but far enough that they could both get some clarity. Drew Barrymore in her unique goofy way made Chloe laugh, but Chris rolled his eyes, glad when the doorbell rang signaling the arrival of the pizza. Pausing the film, they settled on the floor either side of the coffee table with the food before restarting it. Chloe laughed as she tried to wrestle a huge wedge of pizza into her mouth without any of the gooey cheese landing on her. 

"Should have had something that doesn't make me look like a pig to eat!" She offered, wiping her hands on a napkin. 

Chris giggled, leaning forward and swiping at a piece of cheese that had landed on her chin with his thumb, "can't think of anything better than getting dirty with you!" As the words left his mouth he gasped at the double entendre. "I didn't mean..."

He was blushing, and it was so endearing that she leaned forward and silenced him with a kiss. Pizza discarded, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him, any gentleness had left the room. Chloe was just as desperate as him to touch, taste, be close to him.  Within moments she was spread back against the floor, Chris over her, those lips teasing her to distraction. Throwing back her head, she absorbed the sensation of his lips at the base of her neck, along her collar bone.

The phone ringing caused them to roll apart with a groan, a few more seconds and Chloe knew it would have been almost impossible to stop, as it was, she pulled herself up and rushed to the phone. 

Chris was stood in the corner of the room near a tall bookcase when she reentered the room.

"It was Didi, fussing over the kids. Can't blame her I suppose, she's not left them that much!"

He nodded in the direction of the table, "the pizza is glad she called." Lifting a framed photo from the shelf, he stared at it. "Is this Owen?"

Chloe took a deep breath then crossed the room to him, the photo was from her graduation. Her and Owen, laughing, an arm tossed around each other showing the closeness they had that surpassed most sibling, friend or even lover relationship. The pain was still raw as she saw the humour in his face, the carefree nature of his body language. Owen was destined for SO much.

"Yep." She nodded quietly and had to swallow the knot of emotion to add, "that was him."

Chris was staring at the picture, Owen a pretty blonde boy did look happy, good looking, relaxed, but it was Chloe that he couldn't take his eyes off. He presumed it was only a few years ago, but she looked vastly different. Not just that she was bigger, curvier, but she had a real joy to her face. He realised that he hadn't seen that expression on her face since he'd met her. She had a permanent vulnerability, an almost paleness to her that was a haunting quality. She was beautiful now, but he really wanted to see her as she was there. Before she lost Owen.

It was dodgy ground again, awkward, a little difficult, so he reached over and kissed her briefly, "you look so happy. I can tell he loved you."

Shaking her head trying to lighten the mood, she nodded, then kissed him back, "let's eat!"

Replete and slumped back against each other, the film played out, and as Drew stood in the centre of the baseball field and late, but nevertheless there, Michael Varden arrived at a sprint, Chloe felt tears well in her eyes. 

Chris glanced down at her with a smile, "I was just about to say that was crap, but you obviously enjoyed it?"

She nodded, punching his arm, "it was romantic..."

He scoffed, "I give you romance!" 

She thought about their meeting, him rescuing her, was there a more romantic gesture than that? She was in grave danger of swooning at him, her immediate thought was that it was a story worthy of telling children or grandchildren. She shook herself, this was a holiday romance for all intent and purpose, there was no longevity in this relationship.

Smiling at him she nodded, "you are a very romantic person!"

Suddenly Chloe was apprehensive, worried about where all this would go, the easy atmosphere was gone. Gathering the dishes, she smiled at him before taking them to the kitchen. She was pottering there when she felt his arms swirl around her from behind.

"What is it? What just happened?"

His voice was a warm tingle at her ear, and despite her resistance she felt her body sink against his. His hands secured her close to him, his thighs against hers, chest against her back.

"I'm just..."

Chris could feel her insecurity, her need for reassurance, and knew that he couldn't rush this, "Chloe, I don't want this to end."

She turned in his arms,"but where are we going with this?"

He sighed, "who knows? But we have to try, to see how things work between us. If it does, then we can try and work out a future. I believe we can sort something if we want to."

She tried desperately not to fill up with emotion at the thought of losing him, of never seeing him again, but then the reality of the different worlds they live in, their paths were miles away...

And then he kissed her.

How could she focus on her future, preserving her sanity when he was tantilising her in such a divine way.Would she ever get bored of kissing him or being kissed.  Somewhere the tempo had changed, as he kissed she returned, tenfold, part of her succumbing to the realisation that any part of this man was better than none. If he left now, she'd be heartbroken, it was the old adage of in for a penny, in for a pound. Whereas Chris was trying desperately to hold back, give her time and space.

I'm not a saint! He thought as her hands slid under his t-shirt, splaying warm fingers over his spine. wriggling her pelvis into his he could do nothing but groan. At some point he'd lost control of the kiss, and it was her teeth that were biting his bottom lip, her tongue that was darting in and out of his mouth. And his whimpers of desire that echoed around the kitchen.

"Chloe!" he moaned as her teeth tugged at his earlobe, "we need to slow down..."

"Uh-uh!" she refused. Breaking from his neck only long enough to lift his t-shirt over his head.

Chris still trying to be Mister Nice Guy tried to resist, but when he met her eyes, the look of need, it was more than he could manage. Raising his arms he allowed her to remove his shirt, and then watched the heat in her eyes as she devoured him. 

Chloe was amazed, he was more beautiful than she ever imagined, his defined pecs, dark flat nipples, surrounded by whorls of dark hair, the trail that led over his flat stomach to disappear under his jeans, and a dark tattoo that adorned one shoulder and part of his chest. She was too distracted to decipher what that was. Using a thumb, she swiped over his right nipple. She grinned as he bit his lip, and she knew he was fighting his own raw desire. When she scratched it with her nail, he couldn't hide the moan that slipped undetected through her lips.

Meeting his eyes, she suddenly spotted the change in him, the resistance or passivity was replaced with intent, and ensnaring both her wrists he stepped towards her. Chuckling with nerves and apprehension, she stepped back instinctively, and with a stalking menace, he backed her across the room until the side of the refrigerator stopped her path, pushed flush against it she was trapped, and he lowered his mouth and snatched at her lips.

If she thought she'd experienced his most passionate kiss she was wrong. She could barely think for the mashing of his lips, the pressure of his body and the soft chafe of his stubble against her face. As soon as he relinquished her hands, they were all over his warm skin, touching, feeling. He bit at her jaw, her ear lobe, and Chloe's head lolled back in the throes of this increasing passion. 

It was a while until she registered Chris' hands, sweeping over her hips, her buttocks, and then sliding under her top, and onto her bare skin. She gasped, and he chuckled against her skin. His warm hands were causing chaos, her knees were weak, and again Chris smiled into the skin of her neck, as he helped her stay upright. When his hands rose to her waist, his lips came back to his mouth, distracting her from the actions of his hands.  

Breaking away from her lips briefly, he lifted her slinky top over her head, and Chloe giggled as he tried to negotiate the asymmetrical neckline over her head. Raising her arms up in the air, she shimmied until the material was at her wrists, then she tossed it to the floor. 

Chris' eyes were wide as he looked down at her, despite her slim build, she really needed to fill out more in his opinion, her breasts were struggling to be contained by the strapless bra that she wore. As he sighed, looking at her intently, the length of her body, then meeting her eyes, it was Chloe's turn to grin. Finally he was as devoid of conscious thought as her.  

Reaching behind her back, she unclasped the bra, her teeth biting her bottom lip the only sign of her anxiety. Chris had reached for the fabric before it fell away, and throwing the scrap of fabric across the room. His eyes glues on her. He knew she was beautiful, but her body was flawless, perfection. Raising his hands, he found her curved breasts fitted his hands exactly, her round dark nipples hard against his palms.

"Chloe..." his voice was a breath but she silenced him with a finger on his lips. 

"Don't say anything!" She led him into the lounge. 

Dropping onto the sofa, he pulled her astride his thighs, wrapping his arms around her. Chloe smiled at the hardness of him, prominent through his jeans, and her bare legs. This was everything she knew it would be. But the smile faded on her lips when he slid out his tongue and lashed at her nipple. Groaning she braced herself back, her arms on his thighs, thrusting her chest forward, wanting his lips on her. And she got her request. His lips fastened around her left nipple and he tugged it gently. With a sigh, she drew her hands through his hair, holding him close, not wanting the moment to stop. 

Chris was worried he was about to explode, he knew that Chloe's wriggling and grinding against him was due to her pleasure at his pressure on her breasts, but she was rubbing against a part of him that was already strained beyond belief. He was about to move her, lift her off him before he exploded like a virginal teenager when a squawk emerged from the direction of the stairs. 

Chloe froze then hearing a sob coming from upstairs, then with a gasp, still half naked she jumped up, "that's Mikey!" Then she rushed out of the room, leaving Chris in need of an ice cold shower. 

Reasons Why - 9

Chapter 9

"Good night?" Phil asked as he squeezed past her in the doorway to the hallway. He was slurping coffee form a mug already in his suit as he looked for his shoes. Didi was also ready for work and was in the kitchen packing lunch for the day when she glanced up to see Chloe.

"You ok? You look tired! Late night?"

Chloe was only wearing her short pyjamas and it wasn't until Didi's eyes widened that she realised that she hadn't covered the hickie.

"That's from Saturday, he's been suitably chastised! And I was home by twelve last night...just didn't sleep well."

She raised an eyebrow but seemed to believe her, "you ok still for tonight? We'll be home a little early but then out again for maybe seven?"

Chloe reached for the coffee pot and filled a mug, "Chris is coming over. To keep me company."

Didi grinned, but it was left to Phil, who'd just entered the kitchen, to tease her, "seeing a lot of him considering you don't want to!"

Chloe glanced at him over her shoulder, "Chill out brother! One minute I don't have enough fun, and now I'm having too much?"

Jangling his keys at Didi he laughed, "Not at all,  Dee and I just don't have this excitement in our lives any more!"

"Ignore him Chloe, he has more than enough fun! I'm having a ride from Phil today so you can use the car. Go where you want!"

"Cool!"

Chloe was relieved that they left before her brother spotted the lovebite. How long do these things last? She was busy making breakfast when Carter shouted from upstairs, the childgate was across the top and neither him nor Mikey could come down. Lifting the youngest one and letting Carter follow them, she was almost done with feeding them when the phone rang. 

"Phew! I'm glad you answered and not your brother!"

Chloe sighed with pleasure, "Hi Chris, how are you this morning?"

"Better now I've spoken to you! I've just got half hour before my training session starts. Just thought I'd see how your day was going?"

"My day?" She laughed, "I'm still in my pj's and fighting some porridge into a two year old! Doesn't get more glamorous than that!"

He was quiet for a moment, then replied, "you have NO idea what that could conjure up in my mind!! What you doing later?"

"Mikey! Don't throw that!" She intercepted a spoonful of thick porridge before it hit the floor or even worse his brother. "Sorry, these are two boisterous kids! So I have Didi's car. Not sure where I'll take them. But I do hear Beacon Hill is a great place to go!"

"Good plan! I may try and join you there after lunch, if you don't mind? I'm training quite close. Could buy you a sandwich at the cafe?"

Chloe took a deep breath, her heart was racing purely at the thought of seeing him, "I'm taking a picnic, I'll add a few more things in case you can join us!" 

He groaned, "do you have any idea how big that park is? I'll have to find you!" Eventually he named a few landmarks and they decided on a rough location for the picnic.

Carter loved freedom, sprinting off in a dozen different directions, as she intermittently allowed Mikey to stumble along the path gripping her hand in his wake.They walked, played football, or rather 'soccer', then finally made for the rendez-vous point with Chris.

"You didn't tell me there was a farm here Carter!" she exclaimed as they saw the signs for the Children's Farm. "Shall we come back and see that another day?"

Carter nodded enthusiastically as they walked across the grass, and excitedly told her about ALL the animals that were there. 

They were sat on a blanket under the shade of a tree, Mikey sleeping, even Carter quiet and subdued when Chloe spotted a figure jogging across the grass towards them. Chris. Chloe drank in the vision of him, a sleeveless t-shirt and royal blue shorts showing his tanned muscular arms, similar muscular calves powered him towards them. His dark hair was hidden under a baseball cap, and despite the dark shades covering his eyes, she knew they were focused on her. 

"Hey!" he whispered as he realised both kids were quiet. "Tiring morning?"

She nodded, stroking Carter's head that had fallen onto her thigh, his eyes closed. "Lots of running around!"

He dropped to his knees next to her, and she automatically lifted her face to his for a kiss. He grinned at her eagerness, and as their lips met, she patted a slap of chastisement on to his upper arm. But it was a mere gesture, because as soon as his mouth, those beautifully shaped lips touched hers, she was lost, again. 

Suddenly remembering that they were in a park, a public place, with the children, she pulled away. But her hand remained, cupping his cheek. 

"Can I go away then come back again if I get that greeting again?" 

She repeated the slap to the shoulder, but again there was no malice. "How long can you stay here?"

He glanced at his watch, "maybe an hour, I've got a training session later, with this new cv instructor."

Chloe leaned back on her  elbows and smiled at him, "is this you making excuses for why you fall asleep halfway into Never Been Kissed?"

Chris was already ruing the fact that he had this energy draining and loaded day this of all days. There was a certain apprehension linked with tonight and he hated the thought of being below par. But his game paid his bills. But he couldn't have imagined a greater lunch hour than that picnic, salami subs, olives and strong creamy goats cheese, all interspersed by kisses from the lovely Chloe. His idea of heaven. 

Carter woke as they were finishing their meal. And Chris chased him around and played games with him for the rest of the hour. They all made for the exit then Chloe watched him jog off to his car, a shiver of anticipation tickling up her spine. 

"And you know where the doctor's number is?"

Chloe looked at Didi with exasperation, she was hardly a teenager on her first adventure in babysitting, she'd cared for these boys for almost two weeks. "Will you just go already? We'll be fine!" As Didi smiled, she added, "and Didi...you look stunning!"

"Doesn't she just?"

Phil appeared in the doorway, handsome in his jet black tux and crisp white bow tie. They both looked at Didi who looked almost majestic in her floor length sapphire coloured gown. Her hair was coiled into a pleat, simple diamond earrings her only other adornment. 

Didi blushed as Phil held out a hand to her, "so quit worrying about inane things. We all know it's your diversionary tactic. You look divine!" He kissed her in a way that was so romantic, Chloe felt like an intruder. But it was the best display of their love that anyone could imagine, and for a moment Chloe hoped that she'd find that happiness with someone, at some point. Nothing else really mattered.

As she waved them off, Chloe nipped upstairs to check on the boys, who were both snoring softly. Closing their doors, she headed back to the lounge and switched on the BBC24 channel and caught up on some home, then World news. She was there when the doorbell rang, and she walked with much trepidation to the door.

Chris was casually lounging against the porch looking delightful in his pale denim jeans that seemed to hug him more than was fashionable, but super sexy, and a white t-shirt, mirror aviator shades over his eyes, his short dark hair ruffled from the journey in his open topped car.

"Hi!" Chloe breathed, trying to stop her eyes wandering rampantly over him. But when he removed his shades, and those chocolate brown eyes pierced hers, she could look nowhere else. If looks were electric, this one alone would light the whole city. 

Nibbling on the arm of the sunglasses, he slowly looked her up and down before meeting her eyes again, "hi!"

Chloe had taken ages to choose what to wear, and the approving smile he gave her made it all worthwhile. She knew he loved the miniskirt she'd worn the previous night, so she'd chosen a similar one in white, and coupled it with a black long sleeved top in light cotton, that hung asymmetrically off one shoulder, fortunately the love bite free side. She was enjoying the lack of effort her new short hair needed and it was sat spikey and roughly around her neck and ears. 

"You look good enough to eat," he offered in a growl as he leaned in for a kiss. And what a kiss. It took up where that hot look had left them. Their bodies molded as their tongues tangled, lips mashed and teeth nibbled. Chloe was a mess, her legs felt weak and her heart was hammering against her ribs, and she was completely uncaring that they were on the doorstep in the still bright sunshine.

"You're going to get me arrested!" he murmured against her collar bone, his breath against her flushed skin driving her wild. 

Chloe could feel him hard against her, and knew that this wasn't a one way desire, but then she'd always known that. "You'd better come in!" She breathed back, lifting his face so that he was once again meeting her eyes.

Nodding, he retrieved his sunglasses that had ended up on the floor in their melee of passion, then he followed her into the house. 

"Do you know a pizza delivery number?" she asked, getting two bottles of beer out of the fridge. 

Chris pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket and pressed a speed dial number, "can I have a large pizza delivered?" Through the medium of sign language they agreed toppings and side orders, then he hung up. All of a sudden it was awkward. There was this unwritten expectation between them, Chloe didn't know how far she anticipated things going, but she knew that him being there signaled a big change in their relationship and she was both scared and exhilarated.

Jolly Hols

Sorry I haven't posted sooner. I was whisked away for a few days in the sun but had no internet reception!

Promise to post next chapter online in the next few hours. Hope you're not all too tortured!
MZ 

Reasons Why - 8

Chapter 8

"Where are we going?" she asked as Chris led her more slowly away from the bar.

Chris shrugged, "I don't know! We're not going back to mine, that's not on the agenda tonight...there's a cafe bar, in a hotel nearby, it'll be quieter than most places..." Hearing her chuckle, he stopped, "what is it?"

Chloe swung her arms around his neck, "have I scared you that much that you'll spend all evening trying to do the right thing?"

He took a deep breath, "Chloe!" 

It was a warning and she smiled. Kissing him briefly she added, "I love that you care that much! The hotel bar sounds great."

Lifting a hand he spread his fingers across her jaw, fanning them down to her neck, holding her in his gaze, "you sure are confusing me Miss Palmer!"

Running her thumb over his lips, loving being so close to his face, having the chance to study him, "I don't mean to confuse, you are trying so desperately to be a gentleman - and it's very appealing." She broke into an evil grin, "and it makes it very tempting to tease you!"

Still holding her close, he threw his head back for a moment, "shall I find my white flag now?"

Chloe placed her hands in the centre of his chest and pushed him away, "oh no. I like the fighting Chris not the passive Chris!"

He laughed, "and I definitely like the feisty Chloe. Come on!"

The hotel was tucked away in a sidestreet, and in the reception was a quiet bar. He led her to a secluded sofa in a corner then made for the bar, ordering them a couple of beers. Coming back to the table, he handed her the beer, and then a menu. "I'm starving, do you want anything to eat?"

She nodded, "you must be ravenous after all that running around!" 

"Oh yes, physical activity does that to a man!" Chris retorted with a grin, before burying his nose in the menu.

Chloe laughed as she opened her own menu.

They ate well, with Chris telling her all about an earlier conversation with his parents. They were planning to visit in the next few weeks. His groans at the thought spoke volumes. 

"I love them!" He assured her, "but my father has had the highest power job imaginable for years, and now he struggles to fill his days of retirement. My mother is a typical Greek woman, fussing and feeding! It can be like hell!"

"My parents are quite cool actually, my mother is like a friend, we shop together, go out for the day, you know? But then we don't have the huge distances to travel like you."

He nodded, as he accepted his huge hamburger from the waiter, "when I'm in New York in the winter I'll see them a lot. I know they miss me, but they fuss, you know?"

She nodded, "I bet your sisters do too!"

Groaning he looked at her, "you don't know the half, Eleni is the oldest, twenty three, six years younger than me, and she constantly tries to set me up with her friends. Then there's Rhea, she's twenty one and midway towards becoming a vet...she's cool. But Tiana...her name means Princess, and she lives up to it! She's nineteen and has chosen to do nothing. No work, no college...and my parents just give her an allowance to spend on herself.'' he grimaced, "we fight all the time because I'm sick of her disrespecting my parents."

"And they don't care about that?"

He nodded, "they defend her, we end up fighting...it's always ugly."

"Will she come with them when they visit?"

He held up a hand, "I'm hoping they don't come! But there's no way they'd leave her home alone, whilst they defend her, they don't trust her!"

Chloe loved this insight into the Petrakis family, "Owen was a bit similar to that. Everyone loved him. I spent so long putting things on hold to dig him out of holes, and no one ever criticised him..."

He could see her pain, still raw, "but he gave back, unlike Tiana, he worked, and wanted to spend time with you, and appreciated you...she does none of those things, so please don't compare your brother to her."

They ate in silence for a little while, both contemplating the other's revelations. They were sat either side of a low table on sofas and as Chloe finished her food, a few minutes after Chris, he tapped the seat next to him.  Nodding, she moved to sit beside him on the low brown leather sofa, half turned to face him. He had his arm slung along the back of the sofa, watching her intently. 

"So what are your plans for the rest of the week?" Chris' fingers slid forward to ensnare a short spike of hair behind her ear, and twirl it.

"I'm just looking after the kids. Part of the fun of coming here was not having to commit to friends, family. You know? Just a relaxing break."

He nodded, "we have a varied training schedule, some days, some evenings. But I want to see you whenever I can. Can we go out tomorrow night?"

"Phil has a work dinner, I'm babysitting the night too...you could come over? We could get a pizza?"

Chris thought he'd died and gone to heaven, she was inviting him into her family, into her life. It was a liberating thought and activity. "I'd love to. It sounds perfect."

"Don't get too cocky at the thought, I'm watching the Wedding Singer and Never Been Kissed," his eyes widened in horror, and she grinned. "I LOVE Drew Barrymore, and Didi has THE biggest chick-flick DVD collection!" Running a finger along his jaw, loving the gruffness of his stubble, she grinned, "so if you can cope with that, then you're welcome!"

"I'm sure I can manage!"

They had a few more beers, then Chris insisted on walking her home, the same route along the boardwalk. As they crossed the bridge out of the centre to join the path, he held her back, turning her to look at him, "can we get this over and done with now?"

As a questioning look swept over her face, he pulled her close and planted his lips on hers. There was no time to process things, she was overwhelmed by his smell, his body and the touch of those beautiful lips on hers. Those expert lips. He teased her, drawing her into his arms, and when he snatched at her bottom lip with his teeth she gasped. His response was a groan as he dipped his tongue into her mouth, unable to hide his desire from her body, every inch of him wanted to merge with every inch of her. 

Finally lifting his head, in a moment of clarity, he didn't know what decision he rued more, kissing her, but he'd had to, the thought of it had been with him all day, or that he'd stopped. Looking down at her in that second, her eyes still closed, face still serene in her passion, his heart swelled, not to mention other parts of his anatomy. 

Her lips lonely, Chloe opened her eyes and met Chris' gaze. 

"Ok?" he asked hoarsely.

She nodded, "I'm glad you got that over with too!"

He loved that she lightened the mood so easily, that she was so playful. "Good. Shall we walk?"

Pressing her hips against his she smiled, "can you?"

"You relish my discomfort?" 

When she chuckled, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her over his shoulder, starting towards Phil's in long strides. She squealed with every step, but he just laughed, this was a little less intense on his libido. But as he rounded the corner to run parallel with the harbour, she was wriggling, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to manage her.

"I'm putting you down...only because I don't want to drop you. You deserve to be dragged home like that for your cheek!"

Chloe was still chuckling as he took her hand and led her along the path.

At Phil's house she smiled at him, "coffee?"

He glanced behind her, the house was in darkness, the last thing he wanted was to wake up her brother and family. Then there was the fact that he didn't trust himself. He burned for this girl like he never had before. 

"I don't think that's the best idea." He spotted the slight downturn of her lips, disappointment,  and added, "only because I'm like a coiled spring. Last think I need is to get caught inflagrante with you by your brother!"

She beamed at him, "really? You'd want to?"

He laughed at that hint of insecurity and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "my little problem that you joked about affecting my walking earlier is unchanged. Because of you!"

She gave a knowing nod, "really? So what happens if I do this?" She leaned forward to place her lips just below his earlobe, and as she flicked out a tongue to taste it, she pressed her breasts against him. 

The breath left his lungs with a hiss and he grabbed her, pinning her against the wall of the house, "playing games? Are you sure?" As his lips flew to hers  in a uncontrollable bout of passion, she purred like a contented cat.  His hands found the warm soft skin of her spine at the same moment his tongue found hers, and as they battled for supremacy a million fireworks seemed to ignite then explode under her skin.  

"Shit Chloe," he gasped his mouth dropping to her neck, "If you don't stop teasing me this is going to get pretty desperate!" She was gyrating against him, two very libidinous pelvises sandwiched together and he was at the point of losing control. 

"I want..."

He managed to tear his mouth from her skin and look down at her drugged eyes, "this is not the time...and definitely not the place...anyone could find us..."

Chloe dropped her head back against the wall and sighed, and despite his claims and protests, he found the sight of her long neck too tempting, leaning forward he dropped his lips to her skin.

"No biting!" she snipped, managing to regain some of her composure. Chris' chuckle was a warm breath against her neck, and then he nuzzled with his nose, pushing back her shirt until he could see the purple mark. Planting his lips on it, he lifted his head and pushed himself away from her. 

"I didn't intend that."

"I know. But it annoyed me!"

He grinned, "but I'm forgiven now?"

Nodding she straightened her clothes, "getting there Petrakis, you're getting there."

He took her hand and kissed her finger tips, "until tomorrow?"

After a brief nod, she watched him jog off into the distance.