Brady traced Chloe's lips with his finger, "Chloe, are you sure?" he asked.
Chloe looked into his eyes, she could see the fire of passion in them.
"Brady" she licked her lips "I want to be with you." She whispered huskily.
"And I want to be with you" he said looking her in the eyes "but only when
we are both sure this is what we want."
Chloe smiled at him, "how do you do that?" she asked him. "Do what?" he asked not knowing what she meant. "say no and make it feel like it's the right thing?" Brady chuckled and pulled her closer to him "I didn't say no," he disagreed "I want you in every way, but not until we are both sure that it is the right time and right place."
She looked him in the eye, her chin touching his chest "I'm sorry" she apologized "I didn't mean to lead you on." Brady tucked a finger under her chin "Hey" he snapped holding her so that her eyes were level to his "I'm not upset, I love you." He kissed her gently. "It's the dress" she chuckled "it makes me feel sexy" she whispered. "It makes you look sexy too" he agreed.
"Come on' Cinderella?" he pulled her up "gotta get that dress back to wardrobe, besides Belle is coming over for dinner remember" he said. "Why don't you come over for dinner?" he asked "after all Belle did say she wanted to see you." Chloe thought for a moment, "okay, but can I keep the dress?" she asked "Pleassssse" she begged "You can bring it back tomorrow" Brady rolled his eyes "It's a good thing I am related to the boss, cause anybody else would not get away with this."
Chloe shrieked lightly "yes!" she exclaimed. Brady turned her around and zipped the dress up. He lightly kissed the back of her neck. Chloe shivered "Brady" she protested, "dinner, Belle remember?" she pointed out. "Sorry, couldn't resist" he chuckled. "Uh-huh" Chloe shot back,. Not convinced "let's go Romeo."
"Whatever you say, Juliet" Brady followed her out the door, locking it behind them. "Working late?" John Black walked around the corner, raising an eyebrow at them. "Dad" Brady jumped "I didn't know you were here." John chuckled "something I should know about son?" he noticed Chloe wearing the red satin dress.
"Chloe just did a shoot for Mystic Mascara, and she looked so good, I thought I'd take her to dinner." John knew about the photo shoot, that was all over the office. He sighed, nepotism was such an evil thing "Okay, but I want that dress back tomorrow." After bidding them a good night, John walked to his office, muttering something about Brady having a bad case of Chloeitis.
5:45 P.M, Brady's loft
"Wake up Cinderella" Brady whispered in Chloe's ear, nuzzling the soft spot behind her ear at the same time. "Mmm' she moaned "I like this dream." Brady chuckled again, his voice rumbling softly in her ear "Trust me this isn't a dream, but it could be a nightmare real quick" he said "Belle is on her way over and she is bringing Phillip with her."
"Phillip?" she spoke briskly "this should be good." Brady sat down next to her on the bed, "Phillip is coming to my house, with my sister. He wouldn't dare cause any trouble" Chloe heard what he had said, but her thoughts went a completely different way. She began to laugh softly. Brady gave her a strange look "what is so funny?" he asked. Chloe looked at him, still chuckling softly "nothing" she shook her head "just a weird thought, came into my head." Brady wasn't buying that "uh-huh, fess up Lane "what were you thinking?"
"Its really bad Brady" she said. "Out with it" Brady shook his head "how weird?"
"Very, very weird" she answered. Brady shook his head again "Come on, out with it" he commanded. "okay, but don't get say I didn't warn you, she shot him a look. "I was just thinking what a small place Salem really is" she said "Belle is dating Phillip, who is your Uncle. Before Phillip she was dating Shawn who is your cousin." Brady stopped her "Okay, Chloe that's enough sick thoughts for one day."
Chloe grinned at him, "It's true" she pointed out. "Yes," he pointed out "but my mom is Phillip's half sister, as is Bo, henceforth, the fact that Phillip and Bo are my Uncles has nothing to do with the fact that Belle dates Phillip or Shawn. Now, Ms. Gutter mind, can we please go get dinner ready?"
Chloe allowed Brady to pull her up and together they descended the twisty stairs just in time to see Belle pull the door open "Brady," she said exasperated "they have these things called locks, do you ever use yours?" Brady merely grinned at his little sister "Nope, don't have to" he answered "I have my very own bodyguard here with me." He grinned pulling Chloe in front of him.
She punched his arm "Thanks a lot Brady" she shot back at him "I'll have to remember that." He chuckled and pulled her closer to kiss her "Come on you guys, Phillip is coming over, remember?" Belle spoke up. "Speaking of Phillip," Brady gave his sister a look "why did you invite Phillip to come to my house?" he asked. Belle rolled her eyes "Come on Brady, that's ancient history, besides Chloe is happy with you, and I am happy with Phillip."
Chloe heard the catch in Belle's voice, she didn't believe it for a minute, but Belle wasn't going to say otherwise as long as Brady was in the room. A knock at the door stopped the talking for a moment "it's Phillip, I'll get it" Belle jumped up and ran for the door. Flinging it open, she let Phillip in. Phillip looked around "Hi, Brady, Chloe" he greeted them "nice place you have here." Brady sighed, relieved he wasn't really sure what Phillip would do, even at Brady's house. The two of them had a rocky history that escalated into a war. The prize was Chloe Lane, and Brady won the war, plus most of the battles, seriously straining an already strained relationship.
Brady walked around the bar to the stove. A few seconds later, he pronounced that dinner was done and it was time to eat. Just as they sat down at the table, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it" Chloe hopped up. She opened the door and saw Nicole and Mark standing there "Hi Chloe" Nicole smiled "Mark and I thought we'd see if you and Brady wanted to join us for dinner." Brady saw them from the table, 'this was going to be a fun evening' he thought. "Why don't you guys eat with us?" he invited. Nicole and Phillip studied each other coolly, before she nodded "sure, sounds like fun." Brady shot Phillip a threatening look, hoping he'd get the message. By the set of his jaw and the dark look in his eyes, Brady decided that he got the message.
Chloe got extra dishes, while Brady got extra chairs and a few minutes later there were six around the table. "Mark this is my Uncle Phillip and my sister Belle" Brady loved introduing Phillip as his uncle, sort of like rubbing salt in the wound "Belle, Phillip this is Mark."
Phillip watched the others carefully, Chloe seemed right at home at Brady's house, as did Nicole and Mark. He wondered how often she was here, "maybe she lived here" he thought. He tried to tell himself he didn't care, but truth be told he did care. He was well aware that Chloe was tightly and completely with Brady, that he blew his chance with her long ago, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
As they were finishing dinner, the doorbell rang again. This time it was Shawn and Jan. "Now things are really going to get interesting" Chloe heard Brady mutter under his breath. "Are you enjoying this?" she asked him. He chuckled and nodded his head "Yep" he agreed "bring on the fun." The party did indeed get interesting when after a few moments Jason and Mimi showed up. "Who put the note out that there was a party at Brady's?" Brady fumed. Nicole and Chloe watched him, chuckling "I think you doth protest too much" Nicole said "I think you're enjoying this."
Brady half smiled at her "maybe, but before too long they are all getting kicked out" he said. 'One hour later, Brady did usher all the younger crowd out, leaving only Chloe, Nicole and Mark." Ahh the sound of silence" Brady leaned his head back on the couch, Chloe nestled against his side. Nicole and Mark cuddled on the other sofa "I wish I had their energy" Nicole chuckled "Think we can bottle and sell that at Basic Black?"
Brady chuckled "that WOULD put us on the international map."
A/N: I decided not to put them together in bed yet, it just didn't feel right, but I will I promise.
Chloe smiled at him, "how do you do that?" she asked him. "Do what?" he asked not knowing what she meant. "say no and make it feel like it's the right thing?" Brady chuckled and pulled her closer to him "I didn't say no," he disagreed "I want you in every way, but not until we are both sure that it is the right time and right place."
She looked him in the eye, her chin touching his chest "I'm sorry" she apologized "I didn't mean to lead you on." Brady tucked a finger under her chin "Hey" he snapped holding her so that her eyes were level to his "I'm not upset, I love you." He kissed her gently. "It's the dress" she chuckled "it makes me feel sexy" she whispered. "It makes you look sexy too" he agreed.
"Come on' Cinderella?" he pulled her up "gotta get that dress back to wardrobe, besides Belle is coming over for dinner remember" he said. "Why don't you come over for dinner?" he asked "after all Belle did say she wanted to see you." Chloe thought for a moment, "okay, but can I keep the dress?" she asked "Pleassssse" she begged "You can bring it back tomorrow" Brady rolled his eyes "It's a good thing I am related to the boss, cause anybody else would not get away with this."
Chloe shrieked lightly "yes!" she exclaimed. Brady turned her around and zipped the dress up. He lightly kissed the back of her neck. Chloe shivered "Brady" she protested, "dinner, Belle remember?" she pointed out. "Sorry, couldn't resist" he chuckled. "Uh-huh" Chloe shot back,. Not convinced "let's go Romeo."
"Whatever you say, Juliet" Brady followed her out the door, locking it behind them. "Working late?" John Black walked around the corner, raising an eyebrow at them. "Dad" Brady jumped "I didn't know you were here." John chuckled "something I should know about son?" he noticed Chloe wearing the red satin dress.
"Chloe just did a shoot for Mystic Mascara, and she looked so good, I thought I'd take her to dinner." John knew about the photo shoot, that was all over the office. He sighed, nepotism was such an evil thing "Okay, but I want that dress back tomorrow." After bidding them a good night, John walked to his office, muttering something about Brady having a bad case of Chloeitis.
5:45 P.M, Brady's loft
"Wake up Cinderella" Brady whispered in Chloe's ear, nuzzling the soft spot behind her ear at the same time. "Mmm' she moaned "I like this dream." Brady chuckled again, his voice rumbling softly in her ear "Trust me this isn't a dream, but it could be a nightmare real quick" he said "Belle is on her way over and she is bringing Phillip with her."
"Phillip?" she spoke briskly "this should be good." Brady sat down next to her on the bed, "Phillip is coming to my house, with my sister. He wouldn't dare cause any trouble" Chloe heard what he had said, but her thoughts went a completely different way. She began to laugh softly. Brady gave her a strange look "what is so funny?" he asked. Chloe looked at him, still chuckling softly "nothing" she shook her head "just a weird thought, came into my head." Brady wasn't buying that "uh-huh, fess up Lane "what were you thinking?"
"Its really bad Brady" she said. "Out with it" Brady shook his head "how weird?"
"Very, very weird" she answered. Brady shook his head again "Come on, out with it" he commanded. "okay, but don't get say I didn't warn you, she shot him a look. "I was just thinking what a small place Salem really is" she said "Belle is dating Phillip, who is your Uncle. Before Phillip she was dating Shawn who is your cousin." Brady stopped her "Okay, Chloe that's enough sick thoughts for one day."
Chloe grinned at him, "It's true" she pointed out. "Yes," he pointed out "but my mom is Phillip's half sister, as is Bo, henceforth, the fact that Phillip and Bo are my Uncles has nothing to do with the fact that Belle dates Phillip or Shawn. Now, Ms. Gutter mind, can we please go get dinner ready?"
Chloe allowed Brady to pull her up and together they descended the twisty stairs just in time to see Belle pull the door open "Brady," she said exasperated "they have these things called locks, do you ever use yours?" Brady merely grinned at his little sister "Nope, don't have to" he answered "I have my very own bodyguard here with me." He grinned pulling Chloe in front of him.
She punched his arm "Thanks a lot Brady" she shot back at him "I'll have to remember that." He chuckled and pulled her closer to kiss her "Come on you guys, Phillip is coming over, remember?" Belle spoke up. "Speaking of Phillip," Brady gave his sister a look "why did you invite Phillip to come to my house?" he asked. Belle rolled her eyes "Come on Brady, that's ancient history, besides Chloe is happy with you, and I am happy with Phillip."
Chloe heard the catch in Belle's voice, she didn't believe it for a minute, but Belle wasn't going to say otherwise as long as Brady was in the room. A knock at the door stopped the talking for a moment "it's Phillip, I'll get it" Belle jumped up and ran for the door. Flinging it open, she let Phillip in. Phillip looked around "Hi, Brady, Chloe" he greeted them "nice place you have here." Brady sighed, relieved he wasn't really sure what Phillip would do, even at Brady's house. The two of them had a rocky history that escalated into a war. The prize was Chloe Lane, and Brady won the war, plus most of the battles, seriously straining an already strained relationship.
Brady walked around the bar to the stove. A few seconds later, he pronounced that dinner was done and it was time to eat. Just as they sat down at the table, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it" Chloe hopped up. She opened the door and saw Nicole and Mark standing there "Hi Chloe" Nicole smiled "Mark and I thought we'd see if you and Brady wanted to join us for dinner." Brady saw them from the table, 'this was going to be a fun evening' he thought. "Why don't you guys eat with us?" he invited. Nicole and Phillip studied each other coolly, before she nodded "sure, sounds like fun." Brady shot Phillip a threatening look, hoping he'd get the message. By the set of his jaw and the dark look in his eyes, Brady decided that he got the message.
Chloe got extra dishes, while Brady got extra chairs and a few minutes later there were six around the table. "Mark this is my Uncle Phillip and my sister Belle" Brady loved introduing Phillip as his uncle, sort of like rubbing salt in the wound "Belle, Phillip this is Mark."
Phillip watched the others carefully, Chloe seemed right at home at Brady's house, as did Nicole and Mark. He wondered how often she was here, "maybe she lived here" he thought. He tried to tell himself he didn't care, but truth be told he did care. He was well aware that Chloe was tightly and completely with Brady, that he blew his chance with her long ago, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
As they were finishing dinner, the doorbell rang again. This time it was Shawn and Jan. "Now things are really going to get interesting" Chloe heard Brady mutter under his breath. "Are you enjoying this?" she asked him. He chuckled and nodded his head "Yep" he agreed "bring on the fun." The party did indeed get interesting when after a few moments Jason and Mimi showed up. "Who put the note out that there was a party at Brady's?" Brady fumed. Nicole and Chloe watched him, chuckling "I think you doth protest too much" Nicole said "I think you're enjoying this."
Brady half smiled at her "maybe, but before too long they are all getting kicked out" he said. 'One hour later, Brady did usher all the younger crowd out, leaving only Chloe, Nicole and Mark." Ahh the sound of silence" Brady leaned his head back on the couch, Chloe nestled against his side. Nicole and Mark cuddled on the other sofa "I wish I had their energy" Nicole chuckled "Think we can bottle and sell that at Basic Black?"
Brady chuckled "that WOULD put us on the international map."
A/N: I decided not to put them together in bed yet, it just didn't feel right, but I will I promise.