"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Twenty Five
**This chapter is dedicated to Lakota who inspired me with only one word…Obsession… and to Bobby…who helped in the healing…***
"Come on, just a little bit farther."
Chloe stuffed her hands in her pockets as she walked. "Philip it's cold out here…we've been walking for hours."
"It hasn't been for hours, Chloe…more like twenty minutes."
"Well it seems like hours…your family's land goes on forever." Stopping to look out over the expanse of land and trees that swept down and away from where they stood Chloe could see the buildings of downtown Salem in the distance and the river beyond that. "Are you sure we are still in the city limits?"
"Yes I'm sure and it's not that cold out here. Look at you, you are bundled up so tight you look like a snowman." Philip grinned.
"Well thank you very much!" Planting her gloved hands on her hips Chloe turned squarely to face Philip. "I can't believe you aren't cold with only that one jacket to keep you warm."
"Its called polar fleece and it works wonders at keeping me nice and toasty," Philip replied grabbing Chloe and yanking her up tight against the length of him. "Besides, I'm just naturally hot blooded."
"Yeah I've noticed that about you," Chloe whispered, slowly wetting her dry lips.
Philip bit back a groan, his eyes following the path of her tongue as it left behind a shiny, wet glow on her mouth. "You shouldn't do that out here you know. It's bad for your lips," he whispered.
"Well I don't have any lip balm with me." Chloe whispered back, leaning in closer.
"You can borrow some of mine," Philip's lips brushed against hers as he spoke and he felt Chloe's lips curve into an answering smile.
"All rig-"
Philip swallowed her words as he angled his mouth over hers immediately parting her lips with his tongue demanding entrance to the warmth inside. Chloe felt her knees weaken as a storm of emotions swirled around inside of her at the power of his kiss. Slowly she moved her hands to Philip's waist and then around to his back, pressing closer to him her body instinctively arching toward him. The blood pounded in her brain pushing out any thoughts except Philip and the never before known feelings he was creating deep within. All of a sudden, Philip broke away, his breath warm as his mouth grazed her earlobe.
"God Chloe…what you do to me."
Closing her eyes, Chloe struggled to control her breathing as Philip slowly trailed his tongue on the outer boundary of her ear, stopping to place kiss at the edge of her jaw before continuing on leaving a trail of soft kisses from her cheek back to her lips.
"Still cold?" he whispered against her mouth.
"Ummmm…yes."
Philip chuckled at her answer and Chloe soon joined him. "Sorry but I am." Looking up into his eyes, she saw laughter in those blue depths but there was also a deeper sentiment lingering there. She watched as he battled to control it…to mask it…as if he didn't want her to know what he was feeling. But the moment his gaze dropped to her mouth and she inadvertently again wet her dry, wind blown lips his eyes darken to a deeper blue and his smile disappeared.
"Philip…what is it?"
He didn't answer her but only pulled her close in a tight embrace. Burying his face into her hair, Philip breathed deeply, inhaling the subtle, spicy scent of her that always took him back to his first real memory of the two on them.
That night on the pier when he had finally gotten up the nerve and did the one thing he'd wanted to do from the first time he saw her. It only took a few steps to be close enough to remove her glasses and at the same time he found himself wrapped in the fragrant arms of her perfume. It had invaded his senses and wrapped itself around his heart so securely that he knew, even years from now, it would always remind him of her. He'd told her that story after they got back together just before school started and he'll never forget the day he grabbed his jacket out of his locker and found a delicate, lace handkerchief in one of the pockets that had been sprayed with that same perfume. He now kept it hidden in a secret place in his room and it still carried the essence of her.
Obsession.
He had finally learned the name of it when she ran away and he and Shawn had looked around her room hoping to find a clue to her whereabouts. He doubted Shawn noticed but the moment he entered the room he felt himself being enveloped by the fragrance. He saw the bottle sitting on her dresser and the name of it branded itself into his mind and his heart.
Obsession…she is that, Philip thought as he held her close. She is my obsession.
"Hey look at that."
Turning around Philip looked in the direction Chloe was pointing but saw nothing but the snow covered ground and the trees. "What? What are you looking at?"
"Our tracks…look at the way they cut across the snow. It's so sad."
"Sad?" Philip turned to look at Chloe. "Why do you say that?"
"It's just that it was all so perfect before we got here. The snow was so white…so clean looking…and undisturbed. It makes me think that we shouldn't be here, you know?"
Philip looked out over the land and the woods and tried to see it through Chloe's eyes. It always amazed him that she was able to make him take a second look at just about anything and see it in a way that he never would have looked at it before.
"I don't know, I think I like it this way. Maybe the next person who comes out here will wonder who was here and why and did they stop to appreciate what they saw in front of them…" Philip let his voice trailed when he felt Chloe's eyes on him.
"I guess I'm thinking that before it had a sense of innocence to its beauty…before we messed it up."
"Well, just because it's not innocent any more doesn't mean its not still beautiful," Philip said, turning to meet her stare. "Or that it doesn't deserve to be thought of as beautiful by the next person that comes along."
"I guess that depends on who that next person is." Chloe answered, her voice held a trace of sadness as she looked away and gazed back out at the snow covered ground.
Wondering if they were still talking about tracks in the snow or something a bit deeper, Philip suddenly had an urge to get a smile back on Chloe's face. "Wait here," he said, "and don't turn around."
"What?" Chloe, ignoring his request, turned to follow him. "What are you doing?"
Philip grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her back around so she was still looking at their tracks in the snow. "You'll see in a minute…now stay put!"
"My feet are getting cold from standing in one place." Chloe said.
"Don't worry," Philip called out, "we'll be moving on in a minute."
"You sound farther away…where are you?"
"I'm right behind you!"
"Sure you are Philip Robert Kiriakis…I swear if I get whacked with a giant snowball in the back you are going to be in big trouble."
"Trust me…just trust me!"
Chloe smiled to herself as her curiosity grew with each passing minute. She wanted to turn around so badly and see what Philip was up to but she didn't want to spoil his surprise. "Come on…I can't stand it anymore," she cried out, stomping her feet trying to warm up her cold toes.
"Just….about….done!"
"Can I turn around now?" Chloe started to rotate her shoulders even while she spoke.
"No! Wait! Let me get into position…..okay…turn around!"
Chloe spun around and saw Philip had gone down the small slope in front of where she was standing. He stood in the snow about fifty feet away and held his arms out wide.
"Tada!"
"Tada what?" Chloe asked.
"Tada what…don't you see it?" Philip said.
"I see a lot of tracks in the snow and a crazy guy with a silly grin on his face…that's what I see."
"No," Philip twisted back and forth from the waist up, looking around. "Wait a minute…let me come back up there." Without taking a step, he jumped as far from where he was standing as he could, landing in the snow before heading back up the hill. Reaching Chloe he paused to catch his breath and then stood next to her waving his hand in the direction of where he just stood. "Now do you see it?"
Chloe looked up at the grin on Philip's face and then back down at the tracks he had created in the previously untouched snow before returning her gaze to his face. "What exactly am I looking for?"
"You are going about this all wrong my dear. You are looking with your eyes and all you see are my footprints," Philip moved to stand behind her and gently reached around, covering her eyes with his gloved fingers. Chloe's hands flew up to his but he quickly laced her fingers with his and leaned forward to press his mouth close to her ear. Giving her a quick kiss, he felt her soften as she leaned up against him. "Relax…and close those beautiful eyes of yours. Got 'em closed?"
He felt her nod as her silky hair brushed against his cheek and he slowly lowered their locked hands until they rested against her stomach. "You need to look with your mind, your soul…and your heart. Now open your eyes."
Chloe did as she was told and she instantly saw a large, lopsided heart that Philip had created by shuffling his feet in the snow. It was a little off balance and looked like a product of a young child with a crayon but it was the most beautiful thing Chloe had ever seen. "Ohhh…Philip."
"You like it?" He whispered, hugging her close.
"I love it…I wish it would stay there forever."
"Well I don't think that will happen but you do have my heart you know…and it's yours forever…if you want it."
Chloe turned suddenly, breaking free of Philip's arms wanting desperately to see his face but she moved to quickly.
"Whoa!" Seconds later Philip was lying flat on his back in the snow.
"Oh Philip…I'm sorry! Here let me help you up..." Chloe reached down to grab his hand when without warning he started moving his arms and legs simultaneously in the snow. Bringing his arms up to his head and back down to his side while sliding his legs open and closed at the same time, Philip grinned up at the confused look on Chloe's face.
"There…that should do it," he said, holding out his hand. "Now help me up."
Chloe grabbed his hand and pulled him up to a standing position. "What was that all about?"
"I was making a snow angel," Philip pointed back down at the snow. "See?"
Following the direction of his finger, Chloe looked and saw what did appear to be an outline of an angel's head, wings and skirt in the snow.
"Don't tell me you've never done that?"
Chloe slowly shook her head back and forth as she continued to look at the impression. "No…I never did."
"Not even as a kid?" Philip asked. "I thought every kid knew how to make a snow angel."
"Well not this kid," Chloe replied. "You know, not everyone grew up a mansion, surrounded by a loving family and the best of everything just laid out for-"
"Hey, wait a minute," Philip interrupted her. "My childhood wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. My dad was sick and in the hospital for most of it and my mom was always at Titan trying to keep the business running. I was surrounded by servants who were paid to spend time with me."
"But at least you at Shawn and Jason and their families to spend time with."
"That true but that was only when I got older and was in school. In fact, it was Henderson who first showed me how to make snow angels."
"Henderson?" Chloe sounded doubtful, trying to picture the pretentious and overly formal butler out playing in the snow.
"He may not show it but Henderson is pretty cool. Come on, now it's your turn to learn."
"Oh, I don't know…"
"Come on…it's fun," Philip said, pulling Chloe over to a clean, fresh area of snow. "Now…first thing you do is lay back in the snow."
"Okay, if you say so." Chloe bent her knees and started to crouch down.
"Wait, wait, wait," Philip grabbed her arm and pulled her upright. "What are you doing?"
"I'm getting down in the snow," Chloe said, "like you told me too."
"Not like that. Hold your arms out wide to your sides and spread your feet a little farther apart." Philip nodded as Chloe followed his instructions. "Good!"
"So…how do I get down in the snow?"
"Like this!" Philip pushed at Chloe shoulders sending her flying back down in the snow.
"Philip!"
"What? If you try to lay down any other way you'll ruin it."
Chloe looked up at him from the ground. "Are you going to do this with me?"
"Nope, I've got to help you up afterwards. Now moved your arms and legs at the same time like you just saw me do."
Slowly Chloe started to move her limbs repeating Philip's movements from a moment ago.
"No, no…you've got to go bigger! Like this!" Philip jumped up and down in front of Chloe doing jumping jacks, grinning at Chloe's musical laughter that filled the air as she mimicked his actions.
"Okay…now what?"
"Here," Philip reached down to grab her hand. "Let me pull you up and don't try to help me. Just try and stay as a stiff as a board so you don't wreck it."
"Well, that shouldn't be to difficult because I'm starting to freeze in this position."
Philip pulled hard on Chloe's out stretched hand and in one smooth motion she was off the ground and in his arms. Quickly turning around, Chloe's looked down in amazement at the snow angel that looked back up at her. "I did that?"
"Yep…pretty cool huh?"
"Yeah…pretty cool."
"Come on…let's get moving before we both freeze out here." Philip grabbed Chloe's hand and started walking again.
"Where are we going now?" Chloe asked, looking back one more time at her angel.
"Not far, there's someone I want you to meet."
"More surprises?" Chloe asked, wrapping her hand around Philip's arm and snuggling up close to him as the made more tracks in the virgin snow. "I don't know how many more I can take."
"I like surprising you Chloe," Philip said, stopping long enough to place a soft kiss on her upturned face before continuing to lead her across his family's estate.
*****
Shawn paused as he opened the glass doors that lead from the flagstone patio to the living room. Making sure he had all the snow off his shoes, he stepped into the room, cringing still as his wet boots came in contract with the plush Oriental rug. He was amazed at how quiet Philip's house always was no matter how many people were home. Philip's parents were in Chicago for the weekend but that still left Lucas and Nicole but neither one of them seemed to be around today. Walking over to the double doors, he looked out in the empty hallway, wondering where Belle and Mimi had disappeared to.
Belle's short outburst when they were in the middle of telling Mimi the truth about what happened between Jason and Jan still bothered him and he wanted to find her to talk about it. Replaying the words in his head, he still couldn't figure out why she got upset with him but she was upset…that much was clear.
"Can I help you?"
Spinning around, Shawn found Henderson standing right behind him. Philip always joked that he thought Henderson walked on air because he always seemed to appear without making a sound. "Umm, hi Henderson. I was looking for a couple of my friends."
"If you mean Miss Lockhart and Miss Black I believe you can find them in the solarium."
"Great…thanks." Shawn stepped out into the hallway and realized he had no idea where he was going.
"Henderson, can you tell-"
"Take your immediate left and follow the hall all the way to the back of the house. You can't miss it…it's a big glass room filled with plants." Henderson said as he headed up the stairs.
"Thanks again Henderson." Shawn called as he vanished up on the landing.
"You're most welcome Mr. Brady," came the droll reply.
Shawn just shook his head as he turned and followed Henderson's directions. Turning the corner, he came up short as Mimi walked right into him. "Whoa…watch out!"
"Oh, hey Shawn…fancy meeting you in here."
"I came looking for you and Belle."
"Sure you were," Mimi answered, folding her jacket over her arm making sure her gloves and earmuffs were still in the pockets. "More like looking just for Belle."
"That's not true Mimi, I was worried about you too." Shawn bent down and tried to get Mimi to look directly at him. "You guys have been gone awhile…are you okay?"
Mimi fingered her lips gingerly, wincing slightly at the soreness. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a little stupid is all."
"Because of the fight?"
"I never meant for that to happen…I don't even know how it did. I mean I went looking for Jason not to take on Jan."
"Belle and I saw that you found him. I take it from his quick departure the explanation didn't go so well."
"I didn't even get the chance to start. He is so mad at me. Then Jan showed up and that seemed to anger him even more so he made a smart remark and took off. I wanted to go after him but there are so many people here…I didn't want to get into it in front of every one."
"What did Jan say to set you off? I saw that little maneuver with the hockey stick."
"I can't even remember, something typically Jan. But it was the straw that broke the camel's back, to borrow a phase from my mom and before I knew what I was doing Jan was on her ass on the ice. I was planning on just walking…well, skating away but then she yanked me down on the ice and the next thing I knew fists were flying," Mimi shrugged. "Anyway, Belle and I got caught up in girl talk in a guest bathroom that's bigger than my bedroom. So, how the party?"
"There's still quite a crowd here. Jan took off of course and no one has seen Philip or Chloe since you three first got here."
"Gee, now that's a surprise. I guess Jason is gone too?"
Shawn nodded. "I checked out front for his car before I came inside."
"I figured as much," Mimi sighed. "He's never going to talk to me again."
"He's got to talk to you, opening night for the play is only four days away. Maybe you'll find a chance during a rehearsal to get him alone so you can tell him that you know the truth."
Mimi rubbed her forehead, applying pressure to her temple. "I doubt it. Boy, have I've got a killer headache. I told Belle I was coming out to see if Henderson could get me a couple of aspirin but do you think you can give her a ride home? I really just want to get out of here and I'm sure Philip will make sure Chloe doesn't have to walk home either."
"Sure, is Belle still down in the plant room?"
Mimi smiled at Shawn's description of the solarium. "Yeah…you going to talk to her about that little blowup that happened between the two of you earlier?"
"I'm gonna try…did she say anything about it when you two were talking?"
"Now Shawn, I can't divulge information like that. Just follow your nose and you can ask her about it yourself." Mimi patted him on the shoulder as she walked by and disappeared around the corner.
A few minutes later Shawn came upon a set of double, multi-paned glass doors. Peering through one of the panes, he tried to find Belle but all he saw was plants, plants and more plants. Reaching for one of the door handles, his hand brushed against an old fashioned skeleton key with a fancy tassel attached sitting in the lock. An idea came to him so quickly that before he would allow himself to second guess it he grabbed the key, stuffed it into his jacket pocket and quickly entered the room. Stepping inside, he was immediately surrounded by the warmth that was needed by the room's inhabitants in order to survive and thrive. Closing the door behind him, he quickly turned the small brass knob and the clicking of the lock seemed to echo in the quiet of the room.
Walking down a few steps he knew the room was laid out in a long rectangle with plants on the outer edge and the more exotic flowers in the middle. The three walls and the ceiling were made of glass and the sun shone down brightly except in areas that were shaded where the leaves and branches of the taller plants rose high toward the ceiling. Looking down one side and seeing nothing, Shawn decided to head down the other direction until he found Belle. Quickly shedding his jacket against the warm temperature of the room, his sweatshirt soon followed and he was down to wearing only a tee shirt. At the corner he saw Belle's jacket and gloves laying on one of the chaise lounge chairs and his stuff quickly joined them as he suddenly heard Belle's voice.
"Well…look at you."
Turning around, Shawn almost answered her but then he realized that he was still standing there alone. Taking a few steps he followed her voice as she continued her one sided conversation.
"Aren't you a pretty one…what are you doing over here all by yourself."
Shawn finally saw her as she bent over a single blooming flower that was brilliant in shades of purple, rose and pink with a center that opened up in a burst of fiery red. He moved closer as Belle looked at the flower from all angles, bracing her hands against her knees in order to get a closer look.
"I must say you are the best looking thing I have seen in this room today."
"Oh…I wouldn't say that." Shawn whispered as he snaked his hands around her waist.
"NOOOO!"
Belle felt the scream rip from her body the moment she felt his hands touch her. She twisted violently away from his touch, the desperation to get away clawing at her as she broke free knocking over the pedestal table sending the stunning flower tumbling to the floor.
"Belle! It's me…its Shawn!"
He'd let go of her the moment he heard that terrifying scream come out of her mouth. Holding his hands high in the air, he stared hard at her wide, unblinking eyes praying that she knew who was standing in front of her. He watched as she blinked hard once, and then twice and then finally she seemed to recognize him.
"Shawn…you jerk! You scared the crap out of me."
"So I heard."
Belle's suddenly filled with unshed tears. "It's not funny!" she cried.
"Belle…I didn't mean-"
Breaking free from his gaze, Belle noticed the flower on the ground and dropped to her knees. "Oh my god, what have I done?"
"You didn't do anything Belle, it was an accident."
"I ruined it! I ruined it!"
Shawn rushed to her side and knelt down beside her. "Shhh…it's alright. Look, the flower is fine." Carefully lifting the potted blossom Shawn placed it back on the table, noting that the petals were a little bent from where it landed on the ground. "It's a little dented but its still a beautiful flower."
"How could you sneak up on me like that?" Belle said, brushing away the tears she could no longer contain.
"Honey…I'm sorry," Shawn reached for her but Belle quickly pushed his arms away.
"Forget it, I'm outta here," she said, rushing past him.
Spinning around, Shawn followed her catching up just as she reached for her jacket. "Belle, wait please…don't go…not like this."
Pulling away from his touch, Belle grabbed her jacket but instead of putting it on she just pulled it close to her chest, burying her face in it as the sobs racked her body. She didn't know what was the matter with her. Shawn had scared the hell out of her but she knew he would never hurt her. It was those few seconds when she first felt his hands touching her that she truly didn't know who it was and that brought flying back everything that had happen one week ago today in startling detail.
"Please don't cry Belle…I didn't mean to make you cry." Shawn whispered, moving up close behind her. He wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her but he was afraid of what she would do if he touched her again.
"It-it's not you," Belle stuttered, trying desperately to control her tears. She could feel him standing behind her and as much as she wanted to she wouldn't let herself relax against him. "I-I don't know what's the matter with me."
"I should have called out for you when I first came into the room. I wasn't thinking…I didn't realize that I might scare you…that it would remind you of last-" realizing he was stumbling over his words, Shawn abruptly snapped his mouth shut.
"Remind me?" Belle's voice dropped to a whisper so low that Shawn was forced to lean over her shoulder to hear her. "Remind me of what? The stench of his breathe as he slobbered over me while I tried to twist my face in any direction to get away? The roughness of his hands as they grabbed and pulled at me? The sound of my clothes being ripped off my body and then feeling the rocks and dirt digging deep into my back as he-"
"Belle!" Shawn spun her around, captured her face in his hands and gently lifted her face forcing her to look at him. "Please…don't do this to yourself."
"I didn't do this to myself Shawn…he did it," Belle said, unable to see his face through the fresh tears that filled her eyes. "And he didn't just do it to me but he did it to my mom who cries herself to sleep at night. He did it to my dad who walks the floor rechecking the house security system over and over again. He did it to my friends who now have to live with the fact that if it happened to me it could happen to them too…and he did it to you."
"I thought you were handling what happen…all of this…so well."
"I am…sometimes. But sometimes I feel so helpless I can't stop crying and sometimes I get so scared my muscles freeze and I can't move an inch…and sometimes I am so tired I can't remain standing."
"Come on, come over here with me," Shawn said, dropping his hands from her face, he led her to a double wide lounge chair in a shaded, secluded area. Sitting down, he scooted over to the far side. "Is this okay?"
Nodding, Belle brushed away the tears and joined him, suddenly desperately needing to feel Shawn's arms, his safe, strong and protective arms, around her. Resting her head against his shoulder, she stretched her legs out next to his and rolled her body toward his. Looking up at him, she saw he was staring up at the dark green branches that created a canopy over the two of them, one hand tucked behind his head and other laid flat behind her on the chair.
"Its okay Shawn…I want to feel your arms around me."
She watched as his eyes closed and she felt his chest deflate as he slowly released a deep breath. His arm curved around her back and he rested his hand on her upper arm.
"It kills me to even think…think about what happened to you Belle," Shawn whispered, his eyes still closed. "I don't think I have the strength to say it out loud and I know now, that bothers you. Please don't believe that I'm trying to pretend it didn't happen because I know I can't but I don't want to cause you any more pain by talking about it."
"You have to talk about it Shawn, you can't keep it bottled up inside of you."
"I have talked about it…somewhat. Philip and Jason have been really good about listening to my rantings, especially Philip…I guess you know about what happened to Chloe."
"Yeah…she's been wonderful to me too through all this. I don't know what would have happened if she hadn't been there with me that night."
"You know, I've wanted to talk to you…about all this but you seemed to either be upbeat and I didn't want to bring you down or you were a little depressed over the bruising on your face that all I wanted to do was cheer you up. But believe me…it's always on my mind."
Belle nodded in agreement. "I know…sometimes it seems to take over every corner of my brain and I can't think of anything else. Especially at night…when I'm alone. Brady even slept the on the floor in my room the first couple of nights…because I would wake up in the dark and be so scared."
Forcing himself to focus on her voice, Shawn tried his best to ignore her hand as she reached across his stomach hugging him and at the same time pressing her body against the length of him. "And you called me."
"Just hearing your voice…and I knew that I was safe."
"Aren't those sessions you and Chloe taking helping?"
Belle brought her hand to the center of Shawn's chest and slowly traced circles as she continued talking. "Well, I've only met with the doctor a few times and it's not easy but I have learned one thing."
"What's that?" Shawn said trying his best to ignore the sensations that Belle was creating every time her fingers trailed over the thin cotton fabric of his shirt.
"Whenever I find myself caught in a memory…a bad one I mean I try to replace it with a good memory."
"I guess that makes sense," Jason said as he started copying Belle's actions with his own fingers against the sleeve of her sweater. "Do you use the same memory all the time?"
"Yeah…at first I tried to think of anything that made me feel good but I found it easier to concentrate on the same memory over and over again, picking out the details and the feelings I felt and try to recreate those feelings instead of the ones that come to me whenever I find myself thinking about the attack."
"So which memory do you use?"
"Us…that night we were in your house alone."
Shawn's hand stilled at her words. "You mean just a couple of weeks ago?"
"Remember when I fixed you eggs for dinner?"
"And then we did the dishes together."
"You lost our water fight."
"Lost? What do you mean lost?"
Belle giggled at the memory. "I had you cornered and like the smart guy you are you gave yourself up."
"There was so much water on the floor we almost ended up on our butts."
"But you grabbed onto me…""
"…and you grabbed onto me…"
"The next thing you were kissing me in a way you never had before."
Both Belle and Shawn fell silent, each lost in their own memories of that night of what happened between them and what didn't happen. Suddenly, Shawn leaned over and placed a kiss on Belle's forehead. "It's one of my favorite memories too."
Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, Belle could only nod in agreement.
"Hey, you're sweating," Shawn said noticing the thin sheen of perspiration at Belle's hairline.
"Well, it is a little warm in here," Belle said, "you're lucky you were wearing so many layers under your jacket."
"So? If you are that warm take off your sweater."
"Shawn…it's still too painful for me to wear a bra…I've only got a camisole underneath it."
"Belle…I've seen you in a bikini and if memory serves we were even in the water together and all you were wearing was the bottom half of that bikini…I think it will be alright."
Pushing off against his chest Belle slowly sat up, facing away from Shawn. "But that was before…"
Shawn dragged himself up against the back cushion to sit up right. "We can handle this…remember?"
"Shawn you haven't seen…you've only seen the bruising on my face."
"Do you want to leave? We can go back to the party or just get out of here if you want."
When Belle didn't respond Shawn wasn't sure if she had heard him. He opened his mouth to repeat the question but he never got the chance to speak as Belle crossed her hands across her stomach grabbing the bottom edge of her sweater. Pulling it up past her chest, she lifted it past her shoulders and over her head until it covered her hair for a few seconds before stretching her arms out straight removing the top completely as the blond strands slowly floated back into place.
Twisting the sweater around her hands, Belle dropped them into her lap. She could feel Shawn's eyes roaming over her back and the ribbons of scars and healing scratch marks that covered her from her exposed neck and shoulders down to her waist with most of it concealed by the pink satin material. Except for her mom and the people in the emergency room no one had seen her like this. She wait for him to say something but the only sound she could hear was her own heart pounding in her ears. "I know it's pretty rough to look at…"
Belle words faded away as she felt Shawn move his right leg until it rested on the floor. Oh god…he getting up, she thought. I shouldn't have done this…he wasn't ready to se me like this…it's too much!
The touch of his fingertips against her neck was so soft Belle wasn't sure if she really felt it at first. Turning her head, she saw that Shawn had moved closer as she was now sitting between his legs and from the corner of her eye she watched as he trailed his fingers along her shoulder, outline the thin pink straps of her camisole. Closing her eyes against the tears, she felt his other hand repeat the same movements on her other shoulder.
Softly he touched her…again and again…he caressed her skin and with each passing of his hands over her he took away more of her pain, her humiliation, her fear. She could feel his fingers slip under the straps as he moved his hands from her shoulders down to where they met the material and back up again.
"Can I?' he whispered and Belle nodded as he gently lifted them and slowly moved them off her shoulders. Pressing her sweater to her breasts, Belle held the camisole in place as Shawn drew the straps down her arms and then his lips began the same journey on her skin that only moments ago his fingers traveled.
*****
"Here we are."
"Well its about time." Chloe said, blowing on her frozen fingers through the barrier of her gloves.
Philip turned to look at her with raised eyebrows. "Excuse me? Who had stop every couple of feet to create yet another snow angel?"
"Hey, when I find something I like to do I want to do it as often as I can!"
Forcing his first words back down his throat, Philip swallowed hard at the carnal thoughts her innocence words sprang forth in his mind. "Have you ever heard the saying too much of good thing isn't good for you?"
Chloe rolled her eyes and seemed to consider his question for a long moment. "Nope," she answered with a small smile on her face.
Philip only shook his head. Maybe we should stay out here in the cold, he thought. I have a feeling I am going to need it.
"So where are we?" Chloe looked at the long, one story wooden structure. "A barn? You brought me to a barn to introduce me to someone?"
"It's not just a barn," Philip said, opening the single door and stepping over the raised threshold. "Welcome to the famed Kiriakis stables. Watch your step."
Holding tight to her hand, Philip waited until Chloe was inside before he closed the door behind her. It was warm and dark inside compared with the bright sunshine since most of the windows were closed over. A single row of lights down the center of the building was lit and the stable's residents began to response to the invasion of their peace and quiet with soft pawings at the ground and gentle gruffs.
"Sooo…who am I here to me?"
"Come with me," Philip said grabbing Chloe's hand and taking her deeper into the stable.
"Don't tell me your country music buddy lives in here?"
"Country music buddy?"
"You know, the guy who runs the stables for your dad. That night we were in the park…when I told you what was happening during my voice lessons…you told me he got you listening to country music."
"Oh you mean Benjamin. No, his place is out back and he's gone home for the holidays." Philip said, stopping in front of the last stall. He gave a gentle whistle and out of the darkness came the long dark snout with a small diamond marking of white high on its forehead. Philip tapped three times on the stall door and black Arabian immediately recognized the signal and came forward to greet them.
"Hey boy, how you doing?" Philip said, quickly pulling off his gloves so he could gently rub the horse's nose who responded to his voice with a low whinny. "Chloe, I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine…this is Dynatos Mia."
"Oh Philip…he's beautiful." Chloe whispered from his shoulder. "His name, is that Greek?"
"Yep, it means 'strong one' and he certainly is."
"He's yours isn't he?"
Philip turned to look at Chloe. "How did you know that?"
"I can hear it in your voice. Have you had him long?"
"Three years now. He was a birthday gift from my dad when I turned thirteen even though my mom was the one who gave him to me because my dad was still in the hospital then." Philip stepped to the side, pulling Chloe closer to the stall. "Here, you want to pet him?"
"Oh…I don't know," Chloe said, pulling her hand away.
"You're not scared of horses are you?"
"They are such beautiful animals but they are a lot bigger in the flesh then they are in pictures."
"Come here," Philip took her hand and one by one, pulled on each of the fingertips of her glove, slowly easing it over her skin. "Your hands are still cold."
"I told you they were," Chloe protested trying to pull away.
Refusing to let go, Philip shoved her glove in his pocket and sandwiched her hand between his own and slowly began rubbing his hands back and forth across her fingertips, letting the friction create a natural heat. His eyes captured hers in a steady gaze as he slowly raised their hands to his mouth and gently breathed warm air on her skin. Chloe fought to keep her eyes open when all she wanted to do was to close them and lose herself in the wonderful sensations his hands were creating.
"Better now?" Philip whispered.
"Much."
"Here," Philip lifted her hand towards his horse. "No, its okay…don't pull away. Dy knows we aren't going to hurt him." Placing her hand on the nose of the horse, Philip covered it with his own.
"Oh, he is so warm…and so soft," Chloe said as she followed Philip's directive and moved her fingers against the horse's skin.
"Is this the first time you've ever touched a horse?"
Chloe only nodded as she continued to stroke gently.
"Well…first snow angels and now horses…this seems to be your day of experiencing things for the first time." Philip said, lowering his head until his lips lingered inches away from hers.
to be continued….