Reasons Why - 12

Chapter 12

They drank several beers in virtual silence before either of them tried to break the atmosphere. Chloe was quiet, self contained, but Phil could sense calmness and hoped that this delve into the past hadn't caused a return of the fragility that saw her miss Owen's funeral. He'd promised her parents he'd try to help her, bring her through this, the thought of sending her back in a worse place was when she'd arrived.

After sinking her second pint she turned to him, "you were right bro. It does feel a little easier now I've told you."

Phil nodded, not wanting to blow this, "a problem shared is a problem halved, or so goes the saying. I've always agreed with that."

He signalled to the barman and ordered them a repeat of their drinks, then turned to her, "you gonna throw up if you keep at this pace?"

Chloe nodded, "hope so!" When his eyes narrowed, she added with a grin, "If Owen was here now, that is EXACTLY what he would do. From now on I'll think about his reaction to things. I might start living more!"

Two hours later they'd talked out their issues, their memories and compared thoughts on Owen, and were sat debating the merits of UK comedy. Phil seemed to rue not knowing about his father until he was gone twenty, and had this kind of lust over a British legacy, eighties comedy, punk music and even soap operas. So she was trying to understand why he couldn't appreciate the dozens of TV channels he had in his home that all constantly played TV shows that her friends at home would kill each other to watch. Instead he preferred DVD's of Only Fools and Horses and The Vicar of Dibley. 

                "Shall we go? It's late...I'm working tomorrow, you've got two kids to run you up the wall..."

                "One for the road?" She laughed as she waved to the barman.

The next morning she'd regretted her exuberance but she'd slept better than she had in a long time. Since being in Canada her nightmares had stopped, Owen's bruised, damaged face didn't appear in the middle of the night, and she didn't see the bloodied street outside her home.  And since talking to Phil, confessing her role in Owen's end, well she'd slept like a log. And knew she would have without the several pints she'd consumed.

She hadn't heard from Chris other than a phone call the previous day, so as she was giving the boys breakfast, she was pleased when the phone rang.

                "Hey!" he breathed and in that moment she realised how much she'd missed him.

                "How are you? Did you win much last night?"

He groaned, "I was hustling until the last hand, then threw it all in...Peter cleaned up. I was pissed! How was your night?"

She sat back on a stool watching the kids tuck into cereal as she relaxed, "yeah, went to a few bars with Phil. Had a long chat. It was good."

He laughed, "Kaleb's girlfriend spotted you with 'an older man, hugging', think she was trying to turn me off you...I didn't see that in her until you pointed it out."

                "Women are evil manipulators Chris; it'd do you good to take note of that."

                "Stored in my grey matter!" He laughed, "You still ok for later? I can pick you up at seven?"

                "Can't wait!" She announced, and realised that she meant it. She really wanted to see him.

Seven couldn't come quick enough. When the children had a nap she painted her toenails, shaved her legs, and washed her hair. When Didi and Phil came home she had dinner ready for the whole family then disappeared for a nervous run. That meant all her preparation was in vain and needed repeating, but pounding the boardwalks and letting that adrenaline pump seemed to calm her down.

Why was she so nervous? She wondered as she took the second hot shower of the day. The aggressive jets pounded her body as rhythmically as she'd hit the pavement earlier, and second time around she had rediscovered the serenity that she'd had that morning.

She wore a dress she'd found in a charity shop that morning. Mid thigh length, halter neck, fitted but hopefully not too slutty. Chloe was desperate to make the right impression.

Phil paused from bathing the boys to give her a wolf whistle. "You look amazing! He's a lucky man!"

She smiled, "ya think?"

Didi was similarly enthusiastic as she sat beside Chloe watching her apply makeup. "You look great Chloe! If he wasn't already hooked you'd snare him tonight!"

Chloe turned and hugged her sister in law in an impromptu show of emotion, but she'd been feeling emotional all day. The out pouring the previous day obviously triggering a lot more than she imagined.

                "What's that for?" Didi asked with a smile.

She shrugged, "I guess I'm just really grateful for all you've done, you and Phil. I mean it must've been hell thinking that your husband's off-the-wall sister was coming to invade your house. But you've been so cool with me, and I don't think I've deserved it."

Didi laughed, "The boys love you and you're saving us a fortune! This is a mutual love hug, ok?"

They were disturbed by a knock at the door, "just go. I'll see you later!"

Pulling open the door, Chloe met Chris' eyes and smiled at the look of wonder that washed over his face.

                "You look great!" Taking her hand he tugged her down the steps and into his arms. He wasn't looking too rough himself, he had a body that suited any clothes and the fitted shirt and jeans were perfect.

Smiling she let him pull her into an embrace, then returned his kiss with enthusiasm. Finally pulling back he looked at her suspiciously for a moment, surprised at her behaviour. She'd been so resistant until now.

                "Shall we go?" he breathed. When she nodded, he led her to his car.

The trip to his house was a small jaunt along the coast, the early evening sun and breeze made the open topped journey pleasant. The suburb he drove into was leafy and home to large detached houses, none of which were small. When he swung into a driveway between two large pillars she gasped. The house was a stunning. From the car she could see an asymmetrical flat roof, and large floor to ceiling windows. It was a modern building that would look out of place in so many towns, but here, overlooking the North aspect of the harbour it was perfect.

                "Guided tour?" Chris asked joining her beside the car, amused at her stunned reaction to the home he rented. "It's not mine by the way...I just have a deal through my contract."

She nodded, "I love it though!"

Taking her hand again he led her through the side gate and into the back yard...and what a back yard. The view to their right was of the open ocean, in front and to the left - the harbour and the City. To her left was an elevated deck with a shelter from the weather perched separate from the house looking down at the bright blue pool that was spread out in front of them. Glancing over her shoulder she looked back up at the house. It was as amazing as the front view.

                "This place is amazing!"

He grinned, "I was offered some modern apartment downtown, but it isn't my scene. I wanted a bit of space, you know?"

She nodded, oh yes she knew. "SO what are we having for dinner?"

Chris laughed her eyes were looking longingly at the pool while she spoke, "I've got a couple of steaks, we can have them whenever. Do you want a swim first?"

Chloe loved swimming, and looking at the pool so cool an inviting, she was more than keen. But she'd spent ages getting ready, "maybe a little later...this hair might look casual...but it took a while to get it right!"

Laughing out loud he led her in to the house. The inside guided tour was equally as impressive, four bedrooms, sun decks, games rooms. It was like bachelor heaven.

                "So Kaleb lives here too?"

Chris groaned, "He’s a good friend, we played together in college, but he had a bad winter. His father died, he went off the road a bit. He was living in one of these play boy condos, but Greg our coach was worried about him. So I moved him in to one of the rooms. He's better for it." Smiling at her he cupped her cheek gently, "but I didn't see how bad an influence his girlfriend Marie is until you mentioned it. Her and Shayla his sister are here most of the time, and he's not good when they're around...I don't want to see him throw away this career, you know?"

She nodded, "you've got a thing for broken people!"

Stopping he looked down at her, "you're not broken!"

Chloe sighed, "I was..."

Linking his fingers through hers he squeezed her hand looking at the floor for a moment, "we all have low times. I've been there too." He finally looked at her, "I had a good friend when I needed it, I try to be that for Kale."

                "And me?" She asked suggestively.

Chris pulled her into his arms, "my intentions with you are purely selfish I'm afraid!"

And as quickly as that the mood had changed. Chris lowered his head to her, but she was already wise to it, her lips lifted to find his as her hands flew to his hair. His kiss took on so many personalities, desperate, passionate, gentle, suggestive, but tonight’s seemed to combine all those things and she was lost within moments, trying to meet every nuance of it. His tongue delved into her mouth, her own lips no resistance to the invasion and her racing heart seemed to block out anything else. They were almost violent in their need to be inside each other, bites, tugs and duels as they both fought for supremacy.

Chris hadn't experienced this type of Chloe, receptive, enthusiastic...and suddenly he realised that this was everything he'd strived for, Chloe sans regrets. Straying from her mouth, he trailed his lips over her cheek, jaw and to the soft contours of her neck. Chloe's head rolled to the side offering more of her flesh to him, her hands making for the buttons at the centre of his dark shirt.

                "Chloe!" he gasped as her fingers raked across the skin she'd managed to expose, and he lifted his head to look down at her.

                "I want this Chris..." She gyrated her pelvis in to his, her thighs nudged either side of one of his, and she could feel how much he wanted this too.

He shook his head in wonder, "are you sure?"

She nodded, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, about this since you rescued me."

Resting his forehead against hers he groaned, "me neither. I can't concentrate."

Wrapped her arms around him she rested her lips on his, "well then maybe we should 'deal' with this first, can't see me enjoying food at the moment."

Chris groaned again, she knew he was as highly strung, as desperate for this as she was. But he seemed to be debating this, so she did the only thing she could, stepped away from him a seductive smile on her face as she reached for the halter tie that held her dress together. As the bow released, she turned, heading for the house, her dress falling, leaving her completely naked to the waist.

Chloe had reached the door into the lounge before a large pair of hands met around her waist and warm lips planted on her shoulder. She grinned as those lips kissed up her neck and she turned her head in that awkward embrace to meet his lips. As Chris sighed against her lips, his hands slid up over her ribs to cup her breasts.  She pushed into his hands and at the same time she pressed her buttocks into his groin, rewarded with the feel of him hardening against her.

                "Shit Chloe!" his teeth were grazing her cheek, "you are..." Words failed him; he was overwhelmed with the visions and the sensations of just being with this woman.

Her head fell back and she absorbed the sensation of his fingers teasing her hard nipples, his knee trying to nudge between hers.  She was swooning, her whole body heavy against him.

                "Bed," he growled, pushing her towards the stairs. He wanted nothing to spoil this, he planned to savour every single second of it, of her.

Giggling she started to climb the stairs, but every time she turned to snatch at his clothes, or try to kiss him, he was greeted by those bare breasts level with his eyes.  He repeatedly tried to ensnare one with his mouth, but each time she squealed then ran up a few more steps. By the time he'd backed her towards his bedroom door, he was on the verge of exploding.

                "Chloe!" He snatched at her wrist as he kicked open the bedroom door, and catapulted her into his body. With an almost territorial and possessive growl, he devoured her lips with his own. Chloe was tired of teasing him now, she wanted this as much as he did, and his desperation only excited her more. The dull throb of anticipation that had fired around her pelvis had become a hot pulse and it was driving her wild.

As Chris kissed her, she tore at his shirt, glad that it came free easily, his hands that were clasping her face in such a tender fashion dropped to allow her to drag the shirt off. And it was Chloe that pulled her lips from his so that she could look down at the beautiful muscular chest that she'd only started to get to grips with a few evenings earlier.

                                                                                                                 

With a chuckle, she stooped her head and captured one of his hard flat nipples between her teeth and then sucked it in exactly the way she knew he'd been desperate to do to her. Chloe loved this control, the way he was putty in her hands, and taking advantage of his confusion she nudged him backwards so that he hit the mattress with the back of his knees and fell, sprawled out on to the bed.

With a deliberate lick of her lips she started to crawl over him, but Chris was wise to her, snatching at her he rolled her over and trapped her with his body.

                "My turn!" he mock snarled at her, securing her wrists with one of his hands. Then ignoring her groans he used his free hand and his mouth to explore her...fully! The exquisite sensations of his mouth hungry at her breast was superseded by delicate nips over her stomach, hips as he shed her remaining clothing. Then, releasing her hand, he knelt between her legs, exposing her first to his eyes, before his mouth descended. As he touched her, she came apart, so many emotions and heady sensations accumulating that it was almost more than she could manage.

Sitting back on his heels he watched her regain control and knew that all playing was over. The look that passed between them spoke volumes, and in a frenzy of activity they tore at each other's remaining clothes. All plans for pleasuring the other or leisurely exploring skin were long forgotten as Chris, kicking off his jeans retrieved a condom from his wallet, and Chloe grabbed it, tearing the packet with her teeth, and then rolled it on him.

Chris almost cried out as he finally slid into her. Chloe let her head fall back as she held onto him desperately.

               

                “Look at me,” he breathed, “stay with me!”

So with eyes locked, bodies entwined, they both found that elusive peak of pleasure together. As Chris collapsed over her, panting, for the first time he started to worry about how he’d let her go in a few weeks time.