Truth Out Of Darkness
Chapter 37
They entered the restaurant arm in arm.
"Oh, Brady. It's beautiful!" Chloe breathed. Maggie Horton had really outdone herself. Small white christmas lights twinkled everywhere and there must have been thirty trees each decorated in a different theme. The dining tables had been removed to create room for the guests to mingle. Long banquet tables had been set up by the walls and were loaded with amazing Tuscany fare. A small orchestra played in a corner.
"Not as beautiful as you." Brady replied huskily. He grinned and let his eyes flicker briefly over Chloe's figure. She was beautiful. Hell, she was always beautiful. But tonight she was descending from Heaven with angels singing and flowers blooming beautiful.
Her hair had been curled and partially pulled up. The rest had been left free to fall in waves down her back. She wore a long shimmery dress of champagne silk accented with small gold sequins. The dress was held up with spaghetti straps and featured a modest v-neck which displayed a hint of cleavage when she moved. Her skin shimmered and glowed radiantly.
Chloe looked up at Brady, her sapphire eyes twinkling and replied, "You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Black." And indeed he wasn't, in a sleek tuxedo that must have been made exclusively for him.
He smiled down at her, his own blue eyes laughing. "Thank you, milady." he said, brushing the back of her hand lightly with his soft lips. The tender caress sent a surge of electric heat through her arm and her hand tingled for minutes afterward.
They were soon greeted by Maggie. "Brady! Chloe!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I'm so glad you came!"
"We wouldn't miss one of your parties for anything in the world." Brady charmed flirtatiously.
Maggie laughed. "Flatterer! Chloe, honey, you look beautiful. I'm so glad to see you doing better!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Horton." Chloe was a little overwhelmed by Maggie's effervescent personality.
"Call me Maggie, dear. Your parents are already here, so go in and have fun!" she beamed at them and then went to check on her other guests.
Brady and Chloe slowly mingled through the crowd, stopping occasionally to chat with a friend or two. Chloe looked out at the ballroom and groaned to see Craig and Nancy making a spectacle of themselves. Brady and Chloe watched as Craig dipped his beautiful wife in an overwhelmingly cute display of affection.
Chloe crinkled her nose. "I can't take them anywhere." she commented wryly.
"That's nothing. Check out the couple in the corner." They saw a couple standing in a dimly lit corner sharing a deep, passionate kiss. Chloe blushed when she saw that it was John and Marlena.
Brady smirked. "Let's go say hi!"
"Brady!" her protest was wasted on him as he dragged her over to the kissing couple. The couple was so engrossed in each other, that they did not notice Brady's approach.
"Dad! Marlena! Hi!" Brady greeted them loudly, grinning from ear to ear.
The startled couple reluctantly broke their kiss. John swore under his breath, while Marlena blushed becomingly and fluttered her eyelashes.
"Brady, Chloe. How nice to see you." John commented, a bemused expression on his face. He turned to Chloe and delicately took her hand in his. "As always, my dear, you are simply breathtaking." he said, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles.
Brady noticed the pinkish glow on Chloe's cheeks. "All right, Dad. Just remember she's my date for the evening, okay?" Brady said as he goodnaturedly swatted his father's chest.
Marlena smiled tenderly at Brady, her heart swelling with pride. {He's grown so much; he's so much like his father.} She turned to Chloe. "How are you feeling, Chloe?" she had been concerned by her earlier episode.
Chloe breathed deeply. She linked her arm with Brady's and smiled. "I'm fine now. I just want to enjoy myself tonight." Brady smiled down at her, love visible in his eyes, making them appear bluer and brighter than usual.
John observed the silent interplay between them. "Ah, to be young and in love." he teased.
"Speaking of young love, does anyone know where Belle and Shawn are?" Brady asked.
Marlena gestured across the room to the banquet tables where Belle was stuffing Shawn's mouth with various appetizers.
"If you'll excuse us?" he and Chloe left to greet their friends.
Belle popped another tasty hors d'oeuvre in Shawn's mouth. "Oooh, you gotta try this one!"
"MMMPFGH. Belle, could at least wait for me to chew and swallow before cramming the next one in?"
Belle laughed and shoved in 3 more delectable treats.
"Hey, you two!" they heard Chloe's voice as she and Brady came up to them.
"Brady! Chloe!" Belle exclaimed.
"MMMGHLIENFMMMGHJ" Shawn mumbled.
"Shawn, as always you are the epitome of class." Brady deadpanned.
"Your sister's fault." he replied once he was able to swallow.
"Chloe, you look beautiful..." Belle gushed. Shawn rolled his eyes as the girls fawned over each other. Grabbing Belle's wrist, he whisked her away to the dance floor.
Brady realized he was suddenly alone with his lovely date. A devilish gleam winked in his eyes, a idea forming in his mind. "Close your eyes and open your mouth." he told Chloe.
"What?"
"Come on. Trust me." he said silkily.
Chloe closed her eyes and opened her mouth, feeling slightly foolish. Seconds passed when suddenly something made soft contact with her lips. It was rough and bumpy, and was slowly tracing the contours of her mouth. Her stomach lurched and she trembled at the intimate contact.
Brady watched her reaction with dark eyes. His eyes were drawn to her full lips. He wished that it were his lips trailing along her mouth instead of the strawberry he was holding. {This 'friends' thing is going to be very hard.} He sighed and placed the large strawberry between her perfect white teeth. She bit down in surprise and laughed when the juice nearly squirted out of her mouth.
Brady leaned close to her ear and whispered seductively. "You know strawberries are powerful aphrodesiacs." He meant it as a joke, to relieve the sudden tense charge between them. He was blindsided by her reaction.
Her eyes darkened with desire until they were two deep pools of violet blue. Then she smiled, and the moment was gone. She quipped with her usual playfulness, "Maybe you should have one then." She selected a fat, crimson strawberry and dipped it in a thick chocalate sauce. She fed it to him and laughed as he devoured it hungrily, juice running down his chin.
She reached up and wiped it away with her fingertips. They both felt the electric current that rocketed through him at her touch. {We need to end this now.} he thought, and then smiled as the orchestra began playing a familiar melody.
He cocked his eyebrow and bowed slightly. "Miss Lane, may I have this dance?"
She replied in a like manner. "Why, I thought you'd never ask, Mr. Black."
The ballroom was lit entirely by candles. Small white candles glowed everywhere, and if you looked at them just right, they looked almost like stars. As Chloe and Brady danced to "Music of the Night", they stepped out of time and space and left their surroundings behind. For this one eternal moment, the other guests were forgotten. It was just the two of them, dancing in a starlit sky to a melody they knew from long ago.
They danced closer together, aware of every touch. Brady's hand on the small of her back, holding her firmly to him, feeling her heat throught the thin material of her dress. Chloe's arms moved up around his neck, even as his other hand cupped the back of her neck, fingers lost in her hair. Their bodies pressed so close, they were one.
They were lost in each other's eyes, caught up in feelings they didn't understand, emotions they couldn't explain. They only knew that they had felt this way before, a lifetime ago. They surrendered to the moment, as the swelling song carried them to unknown heights, held captive by the melody.
Brady slowly lowered his head, all logic fleeing his brain. She lifted her head, and closed her eyes in surrender. His lips lightly settled on hers, then deepened in a kiss that united them, reunited them for all eternity. They felt it in the core of their souls.
They were One.
Chapter 37
They entered the restaurant arm in arm.
"Oh, Brady. It's beautiful!" Chloe breathed. Maggie Horton had really outdone herself. Small white christmas lights twinkled everywhere and there must have been thirty trees each decorated in a different theme. The dining tables had been removed to create room for the guests to mingle. Long banquet tables had been set up by the walls and were loaded with amazing Tuscany fare. A small orchestra played in a corner.
"Not as beautiful as you." Brady replied huskily. He grinned and let his eyes flicker briefly over Chloe's figure. She was beautiful. Hell, she was always beautiful. But tonight she was descending from Heaven with angels singing and flowers blooming beautiful.
Her hair had been curled and partially pulled up. The rest had been left free to fall in waves down her back. She wore a long shimmery dress of champagne silk accented with small gold sequins. The dress was held up with spaghetti straps and featured a modest v-neck which displayed a hint of cleavage when she moved. Her skin shimmered and glowed radiantly.
Chloe looked up at Brady, her sapphire eyes twinkling and replied, "You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Black." And indeed he wasn't, in a sleek tuxedo that must have been made exclusively for him.
He smiled down at her, his own blue eyes laughing. "Thank you, milady." he said, brushing the back of her hand lightly with his soft lips. The tender caress sent a surge of electric heat through her arm and her hand tingled for minutes afterward.
They were soon greeted by Maggie. "Brady! Chloe!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I'm so glad you came!"
"We wouldn't miss one of your parties for anything in the world." Brady charmed flirtatiously.
Maggie laughed. "Flatterer! Chloe, honey, you look beautiful. I'm so glad to see you doing better!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Horton." Chloe was a little overwhelmed by Maggie's effervescent personality.
"Call me Maggie, dear. Your parents are already here, so go in and have fun!" she beamed at them and then went to check on her other guests.
Brady and Chloe slowly mingled through the crowd, stopping occasionally to chat with a friend or two. Chloe looked out at the ballroom and groaned to see Craig and Nancy making a spectacle of themselves. Brady and Chloe watched as Craig dipped his beautiful wife in an overwhelmingly cute display of affection.
Chloe crinkled her nose. "I can't take them anywhere." she commented wryly.
"That's nothing. Check out the couple in the corner." They saw a couple standing in a dimly lit corner sharing a deep, passionate kiss. Chloe blushed when she saw that it was John and Marlena.
Brady smirked. "Let's go say hi!"
"Brady!" her protest was wasted on him as he dragged her over to the kissing couple. The couple was so engrossed in each other, that they did not notice Brady's approach.
"Dad! Marlena! Hi!" Brady greeted them loudly, grinning from ear to ear.
The startled couple reluctantly broke their kiss. John swore under his breath, while Marlena blushed becomingly and fluttered her eyelashes.
"Brady, Chloe. How nice to see you." John commented, a bemused expression on his face. He turned to Chloe and delicately took her hand in his. "As always, my dear, you are simply breathtaking." he said, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles.
Brady noticed the pinkish glow on Chloe's cheeks. "All right, Dad. Just remember she's my date for the evening, okay?" Brady said as he goodnaturedly swatted his father's chest.
Marlena smiled tenderly at Brady, her heart swelling with pride. {He's grown so much; he's so much like his father.} She turned to Chloe. "How are you feeling, Chloe?" she had been concerned by her earlier episode.
Chloe breathed deeply. She linked her arm with Brady's and smiled. "I'm fine now. I just want to enjoy myself tonight." Brady smiled down at her, love visible in his eyes, making them appear bluer and brighter than usual.
John observed the silent interplay between them. "Ah, to be young and in love." he teased.
"Speaking of young love, does anyone know where Belle and Shawn are?" Brady asked.
Marlena gestured across the room to the banquet tables where Belle was stuffing Shawn's mouth with various appetizers.
"If you'll excuse us?" he and Chloe left to greet their friends.
Belle popped another tasty hors d'oeuvre in Shawn's mouth. "Oooh, you gotta try this one!"
"MMMPFGH. Belle, could at least wait for me to chew and swallow before cramming the next one in?"
Belle laughed and shoved in 3 more delectable treats.
"Hey, you two!" they heard Chloe's voice as she and Brady came up to them.
"Brady! Chloe!" Belle exclaimed.
"MMMGHLIENFMMMGHJ" Shawn mumbled.
"Shawn, as always you are the epitome of class." Brady deadpanned.
"Your sister's fault." he replied once he was able to swallow.
"Chloe, you look beautiful..." Belle gushed. Shawn rolled his eyes as the girls fawned over each other. Grabbing Belle's wrist, he whisked her away to the dance floor.
Brady realized he was suddenly alone with his lovely date. A devilish gleam winked in his eyes, a idea forming in his mind. "Close your eyes and open your mouth." he told Chloe.
"What?"
"Come on. Trust me." he said silkily.
Chloe closed her eyes and opened her mouth, feeling slightly foolish. Seconds passed when suddenly something made soft contact with her lips. It was rough and bumpy, and was slowly tracing the contours of her mouth. Her stomach lurched and she trembled at the intimate contact.
Brady watched her reaction with dark eyes. His eyes were drawn to her full lips. He wished that it were his lips trailing along her mouth instead of the strawberry he was holding. {This 'friends' thing is going to be very hard.} He sighed and placed the large strawberry between her perfect white teeth. She bit down in surprise and laughed when the juice nearly squirted out of her mouth.
Brady leaned close to her ear and whispered seductively. "You know strawberries are powerful aphrodesiacs." He meant it as a joke, to relieve the sudden tense charge between them. He was blindsided by her reaction.
Her eyes darkened with desire until they were two deep pools of violet blue. Then she smiled, and the moment was gone. She quipped with her usual playfulness, "Maybe you should have one then." She selected a fat, crimson strawberry and dipped it in a thick chocalate sauce. She fed it to him and laughed as he devoured it hungrily, juice running down his chin.
She reached up and wiped it away with her fingertips. They both felt the electric current that rocketed through him at her touch. {We need to end this now.} he thought, and then smiled as the orchestra began playing a familiar melody.
He cocked his eyebrow and bowed slightly. "Miss Lane, may I have this dance?"
She replied in a like manner. "Why, I thought you'd never ask, Mr. Black."
The ballroom was lit entirely by candles. Small white candles glowed everywhere, and if you looked at them just right, they looked almost like stars. As Chloe and Brady danced to "Music of the Night", they stepped out of time and space and left their surroundings behind. For this one eternal moment, the other guests were forgotten. It was just the two of them, dancing in a starlit sky to a melody they knew from long ago.
They danced closer together, aware of every touch. Brady's hand on the small of her back, holding her firmly to him, feeling her heat throught the thin material of her dress. Chloe's arms moved up around his neck, even as his other hand cupped the back of her neck, fingers lost in her hair. Their bodies pressed so close, they were one.
They were lost in each other's eyes, caught up in feelings they didn't understand, emotions they couldn't explain. They only knew that they had felt this way before, a lifetime ago. They surrendered to the moment, as the swelling song carried them to unknown heights, held captive by the melody.
Brady slowly lowered his head, all logic fleeing his brain. She lifted her head, and closed her eyes in surrender. His lips lightly settled on hers, then deepened in a kiss that united them, reunited them for all eternity. They felt it in the core of their souls.
They were One.