Chapter 36
Hours later, decked out in her new dress and protected from the cold; Carly was shaking her head in a mixture of amazement, exasperation and delight.
'Oh My God, he didn't...' she said, as soon as she saw the stretch limousine packed in front of the building. The door opened and Bo got out, looking very dashing in a suit and dark topcoat, grinning all over his face.
'Beauregard Aurelius Brady, no you didn't!' Carly exclaimed, unable to hold back her laughter. 'What is this?'
'First stage of our engagement celebration; a limo transporting the princess to her destination.' Bo replied, touching her cheek.
'And the destination would be...?'
'Hello, have we just met? I'm not telling you that.'
Carly groaned. 'Just when I thought you were fresh out of surprises you spring another one! You're going to wear me out one of these days.'
'Oh, I intend to, Princess.' Bo's eyes sparkled. 'In more ways than one.' He raised her chin and kissed her, his mouth warm against hers.
'You look beautiful, by the way.' He said, eyes skimming her.
'You don't look bad yourself, Commissioner.' Carly smiled, reaching up to adjust his tie. 'I have a good mind to skip our date and ravish you, right here and now.'
'Much as I'd love that,' the look on his face was more than enough evidence, 'I spent a lot of time putting this evening together and I intend to let you experience the whole package.'
'You bet your skippy I'm going to experience the whole package.' Carly purred, a feline look in her green eyes.
'Okay, that's enough out of you.' Taking her arm, he led her into the warm and plush interior of the car. On cue, it moved away from the hospital's drive way. Unable to help herself, Carly took Bo's face in her hands and kissed him deeply, her arms going up to circle his neck as his arms went round her waist. For a while they held each other, their lips fused in barely held back passion. Overwhelmed, Bo's hand reached down to spread over her stocking- covered thigh under the slit in her dress. Carly freed his mouth, moving up his cheek which drifted him back to reason.
'Carly...' he choked as her lips went further up, ' I think we're starting the party a little early.'
'So?' she said, her teeth and tongue on his ear lobe. 'I'm game if you are.'
His longing told him to go for it, his head reminded him he'd gone through a lot of trouble putting their special date together and he wasn't about to let it go up in smoke. Chuckling, he plucked her arms off him. 'Carly, behave now. We've got the whole night for this; after you see what I arranged for us.'
Carly lifted her brow at him. 'I just hope our bedroom's sound-proof enough.'
Bo grinned. 'Who said anything about going home?'
'We're staying out all night?' Carly exclaimed. 'But the girls...'
'I told Olivia not to wait up for us and she's more than capable of looking after her baby sister.'
'Bo, I'm not comfortable leaving our daughters all by themselves! Vivian...'
Bo stilled her mouth with his palm. 'Stop that. There's nothing to worry about; they're perfectly safe.'
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'Royal flush,' Olivia said, dropping the cards on the table triumphantly. 'My game I believe. Pay up, gentlemen.'
Dropping their cards in disgust, Phillip and Brady reached for their wallets.
'Who the hell taught you how to bluff?' Brady grumbled, sliding a hundred dollar note to her.
'The butler back at the estate, Hoskins. He learnt a lot of tricks during his war service and passed them on to me.'
Ciara, long bored by the lengthy poker game, was seated on the carpet with Phoebe watching Swan Lake on the huge plasma T.V, a dish of chocolate-chip ice cream in her hands.
'Always a pleasure,' Olivia grinned, slipping the two hundred dollars she'd won into her bra and got up. 'I'll make another batch of pop-corn.'
'Remind me not to trust her bluff again.' Philip muttered as she disappeared into the kitchen.
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Carly sighed with heartfelt relief. 'See, all taken care of.' Bo slipped his arm round her shoulders. 'Nothing to worry about.'
' I should have known... I'm sorry for freaking out.'
'That's okay. Let's see that smile... come on.'
Carly's face softened again as her lips lifted. 'That's better...' Bo kissed her again. 'No more worries or fears. Remember what we're celebrating.'
'Our engagement.' Carly replied, savouring the word. Glancing down at the ring sparkling on her finger, she smiled wider. 'Still feels like a dream to me.'
'Then maybe we're both dreaming.' He held her close, kissing the top of her head. 'This night is ours, Princess. And I'm going to make sure you live to the full like you deserve.'
Carly pressed her cheek against his, anticipating whatever surprises he had up his sleeve.
After an hour's drive, the car finally pulled up in front of a place she hadn't been to before. An imposing red brick building almost as large as the Salem Inn but more traditional in decor. It reminded Carly of an English country home.
'Sunset Guesthouse. It opened its doors about three years ago.' Bo took Carly's arm and turned to the driver. 'We'll see you tomorrow. Thanks.'
The chauffeur touched his cap and rolled up the window before driving off.
'Now what?' Carly asked, expectedly.
'On to Phase Two.' Bo led her into the building where the owner; a tall, angular woman in her mid-sixties greeted them warmly, leading them through the brightly lit courtyard to their cottage.
'Everything you requested has been attended to, sir but if there's anything lacking, please let me know.' She handed him a key.
'Thanks, Mrs Russell.' Bo said.
Smiling at them, the woman took her leave.
Carly's eyes widened as Bo let her into a lovely living room decorated with antique furniture and plush carpets; a fire burning on the hearth. The table was set for two, complete with candles on silver candlesticks.
'My God Bo...' she whispered, turning to look at him. 'I can't believe you did this.'
'Well, you know me... full of surprises.' Bo laughed, helping her out of her coat. 'Wasn't this all worth the wait?'
'More than worth it,' Carly replied, overwhelmed and moved by his gesture. 'This is more than perfect...' Carly looked round the room. 'Everything.' She pulled him close to her, drawing his head down to kiss him.
Bo pulled back before things got too heated. 'First things first, Princess.' Letting her go, he pulled back a chair. 'If you'll take your seat, ma'am...'
She took her seat smiling, feeling so cosseted and loved. Touching her hair, Bo lifted the chilled champagne from the ice bucket.
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'When will Daddy and Aunt Carly come home?' Ciara asked again as Olivia tucked her in.
'Stop fretting ducky, they'll be back in the morning. They just want some alone time. What story would you like?'
'Can you tell me a poem instead?'
'Poem... let's see. Okay, how about Mr Sandman?'
Ciara shook her head. ' I know that one already.'
'Okay then... this is one Ma used to recite to me when I was your age. Listen now.' Clearing her throat, Olivia began, stroking Ciara's soft hair.
Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;
Sailed off on a river of crystal light into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.
"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea.
Nets of silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.
And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.
Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea;
"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"
So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.
So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.
'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be.
Some folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea.
But I shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
Now Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed.
So close your eyes while mother sings of the wonderful sights that be.
And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea,
where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
By the time Olivia was done, her little sister's eyes were closing, her rosebud mouth widened in a yawn. Smiling, Olivia stroked her hair as Ciara drifted off to sleep. Turning off the lights, she closed the door softly behind her and joined Philip and Brady who were settling down to a movie.
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'Well?'
'Dinner; delicious. Champagne; excellent.' Carly sipped the sparkling drink, her eyes dancing over the glass. 'My fiancé? Absolutely yummy.'
Bo gave a mock stern look. 'Now, Carly...'
'So, now what?' Carly asked, putting down the glass flute.
Bo stood up 'Phase three; a little trip down memory lane.'
'Memory lane?'
Bo picked up a remote from the coffee table next to the couch and pointed at the stereo system opposite them.
Carly shook her head in disbelief as the familiar tune started. 'That's... that's...' Bo pulled her to her feet. 'Bo... how did you...'
A hot kiss on the mouth silenced her. Without a word, Bo held out his hand. Without a word, she slipped her hand into it, his fingers enclosing hers. Pulling her close, he slipped one arm round her waist. Her other hand rested on his shoulder and they slowly moved in time to their song.
Once upon a time... I dreamt that you were mine
I dreamt we sang one song for one night only
Dreams were all of you, a hope for me and you
Time to steal one kiss for one night only...
Carly closed her damp eyes as Bo's lips touched her forehead, his arm tightening round her waist.
One dream in the night,
Sunlight in your dreams,
The more I seem to care,
The more I need to there,
I need more than one night of love
To hold you...
Bo's lips moved down her cheek to her neck and shoulders, making her tremble and sigh.
One dream in the night,
Sunlight in your dreams,
So if you tonight you hear singing in the air,
Remember that we share our dreams forever
Someday soon we'll see a place for you and me,
And our love will last for more than one night only...
As she lost herself to the soft music and the magic of being in Bo's arms, Carly's mind went over the dances they'd shared back in the day. The night they were at the Hortons. Frankie's send-off party. In the garden during Victor's birthday party. On the roof of Izzy's apartment. New Year's Eve of 1992. They'd been the first set of memories of Bo that had crept back after years of long term amnesia and lies, from the moment she'd seen the ruggedly handsome man and the adorable little boy in the photograph. They'd been vague at first until more memories rushed in and she'd finally remembered who she was, remembered Bo and Shawn-Douglas. She felt Bo's lips move to the corner of her mouth and she lifted her head for his kiss. Which he gave her; Deep. Possessive. Passionate.
I'll dream one dream in the night,
Sunlight in your dreams,
One dream in the night,
Sunlight in your dreams...
Carly's arms went round his neck , her hold tightening as his hands went lower, pressing her hard against him. The stolen years may not have existed; in spirit they'd remained as one without realizing it at all.
Carly clung to him, savouring the feel of his hands caressing her body; his mouth eagerly devouring hers. Bo pulled back, brushing back her hair with his hands; the crystalline eyes, illuminated by the candles' light, looking up at him.
'What are you thinking about right now?' she asked, softly.
'A lot of things. Mostly... how much I love you and how grateful I am, very grateful that you're with me... in the true sense of the word.' He took her left hand, kissing it. 'I can't wait for our wedding.'
'Oh... me too.' She whispered, pressing her face against his. 'This will be like what, our third attempt down the aisle?'
Bo's arms tightened round her. 'This time we'll make it, Princess. You are going to be my wife, no matter what. We have a hell of a lot to look forward to. I love you... so much.'
'I love you too. For loving me, for all this.' Carly reached up, stroking his cheek. 'Most of all, for everything that makes you. You're my great love, Bo Brady. Every passing day, you just remind me why I love you.' Her arms went round his neck again. 'I can't wait to be your wife.'
'Not as much as I want to be your husband, Princess. And it's going to happen because I'm never letting you go. Ever.'
With that soft vow, he lifted her face and kissed her again; the kiss close to brutal and Carly fiercely responded, moaning as his lips moved to her neck, shoulders and chin moving up to capture her mouth again, his fingers running through her luxuriant tresses. Breathing hard, he crushed her against his hardness and Carly gasped, wanting him badly.
'Let's not wait any longer...' she whimpered, clutching him.
Eyes dark with passion, Bo picked her up, carrying her to the enjoining bedroom. He groped her back for the zipper of her dress; Carly guided his hand to her left side and within seconds the dress peeled off her body onto the carpet and she stepped out it.
Bo lay her on the great poster bed, eyes not leaving her face as he took off his clothes then joined her; his desire for her at boiling point as her soft body moulded against his. They kissed frantically, hands feverishly caressing and touching each other. Bo's fingers followed his mouth as he explored her face; her eyes, cheeks, chin. When he traced her lips, she captured a finger, sensually sucking on it. Growling, he pulled it out and crushed his lips against hers, their tongues merging. As he lowered his head to kiss her breasts, Bo's hand reached down to stroke her between her thighs and she arched beneath him, eyes shut tight as she moaned. 'Bo...' she managed, in the middle of the sweet torture. She reached out to stroke him in return; groaning, he grabbed her wrist and pushed it aside before parting her legs. Carly cried out as he filled her, grasping his shoulders as they moved.
'Oh yeah... baby, that's the sound I want to hear,' he rasped, losing himself in her essence. 'Give me yourself...'
'I'm yours, all yours...' Carly cried out, filled with excruciating love for her exciting, passionate lover. She pulled his head down and kissed him repeatedly. 'I love you Bo... I love you so much...'
'Tell me again.' Bo growled, burying his face against her neck, nibbling on it. 'Tell me again, Princess.'
'I love you... oh, how I love you...'
Bo moved against her fiercely, her nails digging into his back as she met his thrusts, raising her legs to his waist. To Bo, the night they'd made love for the first time in seventeen years, the nights after that and tonight, it was like their first time almost twenty years ago. In an instant, he was back in Mexico; in the candle lit hut where he'd possessed her body at last, after denying her and fighting for her for so long. Every part of her was his, her body and soul. Finally they shuddered, breathing hard; trembling in each other's arms. Sweet thunder after the storm.