(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)
Chapter 12: "At the End of the Day"
The darkness enshrouded Reve de la Mer the way barnacles clung to the bottom of a boat. Walking through the cloak of night to the front door, Olivia smoothed her shirt and adjusted her long braids over her shoulders. She pushed open the door and was greeted by Henri.
"Madame," he bowed. Taking her bag, he pointed in the direction of the dining room. "Dinner has already been served."
"Bloody hell," she muttered under her breath. She flashed Henri a bright, but forced, smile. "Thank you Henri." Olivia continued to fuss with her appearance as she walked around the corner and down the hall to the dining room. She took a deep breath before walking into the large room. "Hello."
Two massive crystal and gold chandeliers hung from the ceiling at either end of the table that sat ten. Gold and ivory inlay wove a twisting vine of flowers around the edge of the milk chocolate wood table. A large spray of tulips and irises sat at the center, a reminder of earth that juxtaposed the empyreal mural of clouds and cherubs on the ceiling. The beauty of the dining room though was disregarded with the three distinct welcomes she received. Armando smiled kindly and nodded. AJ jumped up from his seat and embraced Olivia. Julianna put down her fork, the loud clink echoing in the large room.
AJ's arms around her stabbed Olivia's heart, a forceful reminder of Gregory's hands on her body. She gasped and gently pulled away from him as he asked, "Where have you been, Angel?"
"Yes, Olivia. Do tell us what you've been up to all afternoon." Julianna narrowed her eyes and sipped her wine as Olivia sat down in the chair AJ held out for her. "Where were you? Who saw you?" She watched Olivia finger one of her braids and open her mouth to speak.
"Olivia," Armando reminded his wife, "was kind enough to take my place at lunch with Gregory Richards." He smiled again at Olivia.
"Lunch ended hours ago." Julianna pushed away her plate and waved her hand over it. The steward, who blended into the wall, sprang to life and collected the unwanted plate without a word.
"Well, after lunch I took Gregory on a tour on Sunset Beach. Then we had a drink in the bar at the Resort." Olivia shrugged her shoulders uncomfortably as AJ rested his hands on them and kissed the top of her head. She shook her head as Therese came in with a full plate of food. "No thank you. I'm not hungry."
"Thank you again, ma chere. I hope it didn't inconvenience your afternoon."
Olivia smiled as she took a sip of ice water. "Don't be silly, Armando. I didn't have plans anyway."
AJ cleared his throat loudly and chided quietly, "But Angel, we had plans to go sailing this afternoon."
"We did? I didn't know that." Olivia looked up at him in confusion as her mother-in-law clucked her tongue in displeasure…or disapproval, she wasn't quite sure which. Newfound guilt seeped into her being when she recalled the way she and Gregory undressed each other with painstakingly slow fingers. The way his hands ran over her body. The way his eyes seemed to bore into her soul as he moved above her, his gaze never leaving her face. She looked down and tugged at her hands anxiously as the color rose in her necks and cheeks.
"Well, it was meant to be a surprise." He chuckled softly as Olivia lowered her head. She stood up quickly, pushing the chair back into AJ's gut. He exhaled heavily as he clutched his stomach. Julianna's heavily penciled eyebrows shot up as Olivia turned around to face AJ.
"I'm sorry for this afternoon." Olivia tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans, flinching as the cut on the inside of her palm rubbed against the rough material. She looked back at Armando, then Julianna. "If you'll excuse me, it's been a long day. I think I'm going to retire for the night." She leaned forward and pecked AJ's cheek. "Good night."
A chorus of parting words ushered Olivia out of the dining room. As she stepped up the staircase, she put her hands over her flaming cheeks and sighed deeply. Once in the safe haven of her bedroom, she leaned against the door and closed her eyes. One hand clenched the cool brass doorknob, the other fingered her neck.
"All better," he whispered. He kissed the inside of her palm again as she laid down on her side. He cupped her cheek with his other hand and placed the softest of kisses on her lips.
She wrapped her arm around his waist and drew herself closer to him, deepening their kiss. With a sigh, she tucked her face into his neck and rubbed his back.
His cheek rested on hers and he whispered in her ear, "It's going to be hell sitting across from you and not being able to put my hands on you."
Olivia opened her eyes as her lips curled up into a smile. She jerked her hand away from the doorknob as it turned counterclockwise and the door pushed open. "AJ," she gasped and backed into the room.
He kicked the door gently closed with his foot. With a smile, he walked towards her and held out a covered bowl. "I know you said you weren't hungry Angel, but…there's always room for dessert." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he removed the silver cover. "Vanilla bean ice cream with a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream on it. Just the way you like it."
"Thank you," she said softly as she took the bowl and sat down at the foot of the bed. Olivia looked at the bowl and then back up at AJ. "I need a spoon."
AJ held up a small silver spoon victoriously as he kneeled in front of her. He scooped up a bit and held it up to her. She hesitated before wrapping her lips around the cold offering. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "For the other night." He returned the spoon to the bowl and set it aside. Taking her hands in his, he rubbed them and repeated as she looked away, "I'm sorry. For everything."
"You're always sorry," she muttered.
He let go of her hand and touched her cheek, turning her head back to face him. "I wanted to make it up to you. I had a romantic afternoon on the boat planned. Just you, me, and a bottle of champagne. And-"
Gregory, his fingers caressing her inner thigh…His hands pushing down her pants and pulling her closer…Kneeling above her, his brown eyes flashing before that first gratifyingly powerful thrust in to her…
"-you so much, Angel."
Olivia's head snapped to attention as she refocused back on AJ. "What?"
"I love you so much, Angel." AJ leaned up and kissed her lips. He pushed her back onto the bed gently and leaned over her. A trail of kisses led him to the base of throat where he occupied himself for a moment before moving up to her mouth again. For the briefest of moments, it was not AJ's face that she saw. It was not AJ's hazel eyes that looked down into hers…but Gregory's dark brown ones. It was Gregory's face that she reached up for. Gregory's neck that she wrapped her arms around as she returned his kiss eagerly. Replaced cruelly a moment later by AJ, who looked back and smiled at her.
Olivia held up her hands as he moved for her mouth again. "Wait." She pushed him off her and stood up. "I'm just going to slip into something more comfortable." She ducked into the closet and called out, "I'll just be a moment." She threw a smile over her shoulder as she walked across the room to the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her. The telltale click of the lock followed a second later. AJ grinned broadly as he placed a heaping spoonful of her ice cream in his mouth.
In the bathroom, Olivia dropped her bunched up nightgown on the marble counter and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She unwrapped the silk bundle and pulled out the small pink box, only to drop it down again a second later. Oh damn, she thought in a panic, I didn't use it this afternoon. Her breath came in short rasps as she the color drained out of her face. Damn! Trembling, she stripped her clothes off and exchanged them for the lace trimmed white nightgown. After the diaphragm was in, she hid the box in her medicine cabinet and rinsed her hands.
AJ lounged comfortably on the bed when she opened the bathroom door. He stood up and met her as she crossed the room to the bed. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to him roughly and crushed his lips against hers. She closed her eyes, her arms hanging numbly at her sides.
"I love you," he panted between kisses. He nibbled at the side of her neck as Olivia bit her lip and grimaced over his shoulder.
