The often over used cliché states that history repeats itself. As he stood in the doorway of the bar on 3rd Street, Jason could not help but wonder if the saying might actually hold some truth. After all, he knew that the current scenario was frightfully familiar.

Always distant from the other mere mortals, the goddess was sitting at the end of the bar, her eyes lowered to her drink. Jason knew that he should just turn around and leave. That was what he should do. But, Jason Masters often had difficulty doing what was right - especially when the bad was so very tempting.

With self-assured steps, Jason approached the counter. His brain and heart both were telling him that he was making a mistake - but his body had different ideas. For more than three days, he had been trying to get in touch with Mimi. Yet, every single attempt to communicate with her had been thwarted one way or another. And, there was only so much rejection and despair that Jason could handle.

Jason, unnoticed by the woman he was now standing behind, boldly reached his hands out and placed them on her trim waist. Had it been any other woman, she most certainly would have spun around at the sudden touch - but not Chloe.

With seductive slowness, Jason moved his hands over Chloe until they gently rested just under her breasts. Still, she remained as cool as ever.

Keeping his hands placed on Chloe, Jason positioned himself so that the side of his face rested against hers. In a whisper he stated, "I'm tired of losing."

Pushing Jason's hands away from her body, Chloe turned to face him for the first time. Each word dripping with bitterness, Chloe stated, "Yeah, well, you won't be scoring with me. So, go get Jan or some other tramp to help you win."

"I'm being serious, Chloe," lowly responded Jason. "I am so sick of losing the game while everyone else gets to win. And, I know you are, too."

"The game? What game are you talking about?" Chloe asked as her mind invariablely returned to the words Brady had once spoken to her in a dream. The time has come to play for keeps. Don't allow the false appearances to conquer you before you've even given the game your best.

Jason placed his body on the stool beside Chloe and answered, "Life. The game of life. While you and I try to start the game over and get the points we never earned, everyone else is moving on, winning the game."

Though the analogy was a little on the childish side and left many facts unstated, Chloe understood exactly what Jason was saying. Amongst the talk of winning and losing, a heavy truth lay in Jason's words.

A dark glint of unruliness tainted Chloe's blue eyes as she glanced at Jason. More often than not, she found herself disgusted by him. He was far too reckless and had never really learned the value of a person's individuality.

Still, Chloe knew that desperate times called for desperate measures and that any port would do in a storm. And, after Brady's complete rejection, Chloe felt engulfed by an endless storm - with Jason as the only available port.

In her mind, Chloe rationalized her actions by telling herself whatever happened between herself and a man that she honestly disliked didn't matter. She was entirely incapable of giving or receiving love, and Jason was too self-absorbed to deserve or need it. They would be the perfect heartless match - if they weren't repulsed by each other and in love with other people.

Running her tongue over her lips, Chloe questioned, "You want me to be your sex kitten, don't you?"

Jason found himself at a total loss for words. He expected a lot of things from Chloe Lane - hearing her mention being a sex kitten wasn't one of them. As Jason tried to force his eyes to not widen with shock, he asked, "You really love Brady don't you?"

All hints of seduction and playfulness were wiped away from Chloe's face as she began to scowl defensively. Her tone quite harsh, Chloe asked, "What are you talking about? Why would you even mention Brady?"

Standing, Jason once again moved behind Chloe and wrapped his arms around her. He explained, "If you are willing to try and seduce me, then I know you have to really be hurting. And, you and I both know there is only one person that was ever capable of breaking your heart that much."

Chloe allowed Jason to keep his arms around her as she asked, "Do you want to go to the hotel or not?"

"Let's go."

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

Okay, so maybe history doesn't really repeat itself, thought Jason. They had been just outside the infamous hotel from their past when Chloe's cell phone began to ring. Apparently, it had been destiny calling, because Chloe had simply told Jason that she needed to go find out what her future held before quickly leaving him alone on the sidewalk.

Jason had dejectedly returned to the bar - only to find himself in the presence of someone even more troublesome and cold than Chloe. And, unfortunately, she saw Jason before he had the chance to run from the bar. Of course, that didn't mean Jason was willing to spend a single minute with her if he didn't have to.

The only thing that really kept Jason from fleeing the building was knowing how much satisfaction Jan would get from seeing him run from her. And, there was no way Jason was going to help fuel the power trip Jan was taking - no way.

Choosing to sit several bar stools away from his former flame, Jason prayed that Jan would just leave him alone. She didn't.

Jan moved to the bar stool to Jason's left and opted to merely stare at his handsome profile until he gave in and looked at her. And, as she had expected, it didn't take long.

Turning to face Jan, Jason demanded, "What do you want?"

"I want it all, Jase. But, that's not what I came over to talk to you about." After a dispassionate pause, Jan commented, "I saw you with that cold-hearted freak. Honestly, Jase, I always thought that even you had more taste than to publicly hit on that blood-sucking witch."

Jason could feel the blood drain from his face as Jan spoke. He had a feeling that his bad day was about to get much worse.

"First," stated Jason, hoping that he sounded more confident than he felt. "Chloe's not a blood-sucking witch. Even I can admit that it's time to lose the childish names we all called her in high school. And, second, what I do and who I do it with is none of your business."

Unfazed, Jan simply questioned, "But won't she be jealous that you're also sharing your bed with Chloe?"

"Who do you think is going to be jealous of me and Chloe?"

"Your lover - Mimi."

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

Chloe was almost trembling as she stood outside the door, her heart beating so forcefully that she nearly feared it would simply pound out of her chest. Just knowing that Brady was once again only separated from her by a door was close to being too much for Chloe to bear.

When she had answered her cell phone and heard his voice, she had been certain that she was dreaming. But, it had truly been Brady, and he wanted to see her. Despite her reservations about returning to his home after what had happened three nights before, Chloe agreed to meet him at his penthouse.

Only seconds after Chloe rang the doorbell, she found herself face-to-face with Brady. As always, it took but a single look from him to make her knees go weak.

Before Chloe could speak, Brady stated, "I shouldn't have greeted you the way I did the other night."

"No?"

"No. I should have greeted you like this," Brady said before pulling Chloe to him and covering her mouth with his.

What began as a passionate but simple kiss quickly deepened as Brady expertly slipped his tongue into Chloe's mouth. All the world faded away as Brady became the true center of Chloe's universe.

That is, until the more stubborn part of her realized that Brady Black was once again in control without ever really telling her how he felt. Well, Chloe refused to be as easily tempted by his sweet kisses as she had once been.

Pushing Brady away, Chloe heatedly inquired, "What gives you the right to just stand here in the doorway of your and Mimi's penthouse and kiss me like that?"

A mischievousness he had not known for many years returned to Brady as he stated, "You're right." Quickly, he gracefully pulled a stunned Chloe inside the penthouse and slammed the door. "We should definitely be doing a lot more than kissing, and we should be doing it in here."

Allowing Chloe no reaction time, Brady used the fiery tension between them to add to the pure hunger they both felt. Almost forcefully, Brady took control of Chloe's lips once more, leaving her at his sweet mercy.

While he thoroughly explored Chloe's eager mouth, Brady ran his hands quickly over her body, realizing just how right their bodies had once felt together - how right it could be again. With the movements of an expert, Brady slipped his hands under the back of Chloe's shirt and gently caressed her bare skin.

However, those sweet touches were the near opposite of the ravaging actions taken by his mouth. And, Chloe's deep moans only made him want her more.

Wildly throwing her hands around Brady's neck, Chloe allowed herself to enjoy the touches she had been missing. Becoming almost addicted to the quick pace of their tempestuous foreplay, Chloe moved her own hands down to Brady's chest.

Chloe reluctantly tore her and Brady's lips apart and gave him a devious look before using her hands to fervidly rip open the button-down shirt that had annoyingly been separating her from his bare chest.

Also lost in the heated passion, Brady moved himself and Chloe backwards until their bodies slammed into the wall. Still, they refused to untangle themselves from each other. Moving his lips to Chloe's right ear, Brady gave her an impish nibble before huskily stating, "Upstairs."

Struggling past the wants of her body, Chloe managed a weak nod as she continued to leave a delicate trail of kisses down Brady's neck.

As Brady began to pull her toward the stairs, Chloe moved her left hand away from his body and slid her right hand down until it rested at the top of his pants. Flashing a seductive smile as they neared the foot of the stairs, Chloe slipped her fingers just inside waist of his pants.

She felt whatever cool resolve she might have hidden inside her completely fade away when Brady placed his stronger, larger hand atop her delicate one. Lifting her gaze to meet his, Chloe's breath was instantly stolen by the desire that she saw in his captivating blue eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Chloe propelled her body toward Brady's, not caring about how hard they hit the stairs when she knocked them down. All that mattered was being as close to Brady as possible - as soon as possible.

While Brady used one hand to keep Chloe's body pressed against his, he used the other to help push them both up so that Brady was leaning against the wall and Chloe was leaning against him.

For a moment, Brady entirely forgot about finding the way to his bedroom and began to hungrily run his hand up and down Chloe's bare legs, occasionally giving that heavenly skin a light squeeze.

Her hand still locked on the waist of Brady's pants, Chloe began to slowly attempt moving up the stairs while trying to also immerse Brady's chest with her kisses - a reward for the zealous way he made her feel with each caress of her leg.

Their hands lustfully running over each other, Brady and Chloe eventually made it to the top of the stairs - falling to the landing with a soft thud. Of course, by the time they managed to get that close to the bedroom, Brady's belt and shoes had been discarded along with Chloe's heels and shirt.

With the soft carpet beneath her back and Brady's body hovering just above her chest, Chloe felt certain that impetuous actions had never felt so good. She could feel Brady masterly drop his lips to the ample skin left revealed by the mere bra that covered her breasts and knew that she was where she belonged - where she had always belonged.

And, the more they touched one another, the more they wanted to do.

As he rose and lifted Chloe up, Brady vowed, "We're almost there, my star, we're almost there."

Chloe, while allowing Brady to practically carry her the rest of the short way to his bedroom, gave herself permission to enjoy the way he referred to her with the almost forgotten nickname of star. The sweetest smile she had ever known graced Chloe's lips as she realized she was still Brady Black's star.

Finally reaching the bed, Brady sat down and pulled Chloe onto him so that she was straddling his legs. Resting his face on Chloe's chest, Brady whispered, "God, I've missed you, Chloe."

Chloe felt warm tears build in her eyes as she used one hand to softly caress Brady's cheek. "I've missed you, too. I just couldn't stop loving you."

Brady knew that Chloe probably hadn't intended to bring up love. It had always been a terribly difficult subject for her, but he couldn't suppress a smile when he heard her say that she loved him. After the cold years he had spent with Mimi, Brady felt all his burdens be lifted just by knowing that he was finally kissing the woman he loved and was loved by in return. His voice no louder than a whisper, Brady replied, "I love you, too. It's always been you."

Words no longer necessary or wanted, Brady slowly dropped himself back on the bed, taking Chloe's ardent body with him. His fingers slipping to the clasp of Chloe's bra, Brady had little trouble freeing her of the confining material.

The feel of her bare skin against his was so pleasurable, Brady was barely able to lift her away long enough to remove his own pants as she shimmied out of the skirt that he had practically lifted to her waist.

Tossing aside the final pieces of their underclothing, Brady and Chloe covered every inch of each other with fulfilling touches and kisses. Looking into Chloe's eyes, Brady sought some type of silent reassurance - he found it.

Knowing that he and Chloe were wanting the same pleasure, Brady gently took the game to an all new level - along with his and Chloe's ecstasy. And, lost in their own forbidden passion as two bodies became one, both Brady and Chloe purposely chose to ignore that their actions would most certainly have staggering consequences.