January 22, 2005
Though no physical stains could been seen, blood marred many of Salem's most romantic locations. Lucas had desired the perfect place to make his proposal; yet, history seemed to block him at his every turn.
Tuscany would have been the logical choice of most, but few had attended a wedding there that ended with the groom's untimely death. It would be impossible for Lucas to make his declarations of love in the very building where Sami's father had been brutally murdered by her mother.
Wanting a setting that was as serene as it was lovely, Lucas next considered St. Luke's. Visions of candles and promising whispers heard only by God filled his mind. Yet, the recollection of Caroline's death quickly demolished such idealistic thoughts.
The next setting to be considered was the apartment's rooftop. Lucas had momentarily envisioned a candlelit dinner and sporadic snowflakes falling from the sky. Then, he had been hit by not one but two realizations. The first was that the roof had long ago served as a special meeting place for Austin and Carrie. And, he realized, even if it hadn't, Sami would hardly relish being dragged out into the cold night to be served quickly chilling food.
Ultimately, Lucas found that there was no escaping the past. His only reasonable option was to embrace it.
Lucas gently held Sami's hand as he led her down the corridor. It was only with immense effort that he was able to give a calm appearance. Years of bickering, loathing, and loving had led them to this path.
As Sami unknowingly grumbled about a co-worker at the hospital, Lucas mindlessly nodded and gave appropriate nonverbal responses. Despite his adoration for Sami's voice, there was really only one word he wanted to hear her say tonight. And, he didn't know what he would do if she didn't say that single word. Yes.
"Lucas," Sami loudly admonished. "Are you listening to a word I am saying?"
Lucas flashed Sami his most dazzling, though guilty, smile. It served it's purpose - even Sami could not feign anger when Lucas gave her that look.
Sami rolled her eyes at the gesture but made no other comments regarding Lucas's lack of attention. "So, what exactly is it that you needed to take care of?"
"Oh, just a little of this and that," Lucas vaguely answered, his hand resting on the doorknob.
"Good, because I'm starving. The sooner you hurry up and get things taken care of, the sooner we can eat."
A soft laugh escaped Lucas's lips. He found Sami's impatience absolutely adorable. In fact, he had begun to notice that it was generally Sami's more exasperating qualities that he considered most attractive. Her sarcasm was lovely. Her stubbornness was incredibly sexy. Her suspicion was fascinating. And, her intensity was enthralling.
Opening the door to reveal a room lit with candles and a picnic basket adorning the floor, Lucas said, "I don't think you'll have to wait too long before eating."
"Lucas," Sami gasped with a smile. Stepping into the room, she whispered, "It's beautiful."
Lucas was certain that the grin upon his face looked entirely ridiculous. Nevertheless, he couldn't conceal his elation. With Sami, moments of unpretentious joy were not always easy to have. Even the simplest of times could be transformed into an emotional struggle. Yet, there Sami was standing in front of him with a smile gracing her lips. She seemed to be engrossed in each detail of the room. And, Lucas could see when Sami finally realized just which room they were in.
"What's going on, Lucas?" There was no hostility in Sami's question, merely uncertainty.
A week had been spent preparing every last detail of the evening. From the lavish meal to the romantic candles to the very words he would speak, Lucas had each minute planned. And, none of it mattered when he stood there with Sami.
Deeming his plans insignificant, Lucas softly answered, "This is where Will was conceived."
"I know. But, why did you bring me here?" Motioning toward the charming dinner setting, Sami continued, "What is all of this for?"
"It's for you." Crossing the distance that separated his body from Sami, Lucas continued, "I wanted everything to be perfect tonight. I imagined a thousand different places I could take you but none of them seemed right. It seemed like the past was everywhere. Then, I realized that there was no point in trying to escape history. So, I embraced it." Lucas used his left hand to widely gesture at the room, "This is where it all began. We may not have realized it then, but what happened in this room changed our lives - for the better. If we hadn't been here then, we may never have made it here now."
Ignoring the almost painful beating of his heart, Lucas dropped to one knee. His eyes locked with Sami's as he continued, "I know I'm not perfect; or, anywhere close to it. But, I love you Sami. I know things haven't always been great between us, and it wasn't easy getting to this point." Lucas could see tears building in Sami's eyes as he added, "I can't promise you that there won't be hard times. I can't swear that you'll never cry or get angry. And, I can't even guarantee that you won't have moments when you really dislike something I say or do. But, I can promise you that there won't be a day that goes by when I won't tell you that I love you and mean it."
Pulling the engagement ring from his coat pocket, Lucas held it up for Sami's inspection. "Samantha Jean Brady, will you marry me?"
The smile slowly faded from Sami's face, an unreadable expression taking its place. Avoiding Lucas's hopeful gaze, Sami replied, "You actually think I want to marry you?"
Just as Lucas felt his own smile disappear, Sami turned to look at him with a truly wicked grin. Laughter tinged her voice as she said, "Of course I want to marry you!"
"Sami," Lucas attempted to reprimand. Unable to even pretend to be the least bit unhappy, Lucas smiled widely and slipped the diamond ring onto Sami's outstretched left hand. He quickly brushed his lips over Sami's ring finger before rising to his feet. "Please don't ever scare me like that again," Lucas pleaded in a husky whisper before capturing Sami's lips with his own.
When she finally found the willpower to pull her lips away from those of Lucas, Sami could not stop the single tear that escaped to slide down her cheek. Though she seldom opened herself up to reveal the weaknesses that plagued her, Sami felt the need to share those uncertainties with Lucas.
"I never thought that I would be this happy. After everything that happened, after losing my parents, I . . ." Sami pushed back the tears that choked her. "I thought that it would be impossible to love anyone. And, I knew even if I could fall in love, that the man I cared for wouldn't be able to love me back."
Lucas attempted to interrupt with words of reassurance, but Sami silenced him by placing her index finger on his parted lips. "Lucas, I know that I'm a handful. And, I know that most guys would be scared just by me and would be absolutely terrified once they heard my family history. I couldn't imagine there ever being someone who could know me this well and still love me. You've never tried to make me regret loving my mother - even though she was a murderer. Instead, you made me feel safe and loved. You saved me, Lucas. Not just from my mother but from myself."
Brushing a few strands of hair away from Sami's face, Lucas softly kissed her forehead. "I'll always be here to save you, because that's what you do for me. I'm nothing without you." Lucas quickly brushed his lips against Sami's mouth once more before wrapping his arms around her body. "I'll never stop loving you."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * *
The setting sun cast a warm glow on the city of Salem, a direct contradiction to the chilly breeze that blew through the streets. Safely tucked away within the Kiriakis mansion, Philip and Nicole leisurely sat before the fire.
With her legs drawn under her slender body, Nicole casually flipped through the pages of Bella's most recent issue. Just a few feet away, Philip discreetly monitored her behavior. Though his Marketing textbook lay in his lap and his hands involuntarily scribbled notes onto his paper, Philip scarcely noticed anything but his blonde companion. He wasn't merely captivated by her tonight, though that was surely true enough. Philip sensed something stirring within Nicole. Her eyes would linger on a glossy page just a little too long, her hands would take just a little too much time to turn the page.
Hardly aware of Philip's concerned gaze, Nicole stared despondently at the curvaceous, blonde model on the page. It seemed as if the beauty was looking back at Nicole with mocking eyes.
It felt like a lifetime since Nicole had been the stunning figure that lured buyers to any given product. Perhaps, it had been a lifetime.
Breaking the silence that distanced her from Philip, Nicole earnestly asked, "Do you ever wonder how things go so wrong? Why some people end up getting everything they want and the rest of us just keep losing?"
Philip needed no time to contemplate Nicole's musings. They were questions he asked himself far too often. "All of them - out there - they think we have it all. They could never understand."
Nicole allowed her eyes to drift over all the fine furnishings that adorned the room. Returning her gaze to Philip, she replied, "This is all I ever thought I wanted. A mansion. Nice clothes. Servants to follow my every order."
"Feels pretty damn empty, huh?" Philip wryly responded. Closing his book and setting it aside, Philip softly added, "There has to be something more."
"Like what?" Nicole glared at Philip as though silently challenging him to think of a single source of plausible happiness. "Maybe I was right all along. Money might not whisper sweet things in my ear, but it sure as hell won't leave me standing alone in the snow. Now, will it?"
Philip inadvertently winced. It was the first time Nicole had made any reference to her breakup with Brady since the day she moved back into the mansion. Turning his eyes toward the fire, Philip commented, "I don't want to feel like this forever."
Nicole kept herself entirely focused on Philip's profile. For the first time, she truly saw him as a man with a tattered soul and not a boy with a gloomy heart. "Can you remember the last time you were really happy? Because, I'm not sure I can."
Having no real answer for the posed question, Philip ignored it and replied with a question of his own, "Did you ever love my father?"
The question clearly caught Nicole by surprise. To her own dismay, Nicole simply uttered the truth. "No."
Philip nodded but remained silent. He could hardly claim to find Nicole's answer shocking. Philip discovered nothing astounding about the one-word response but was thoroughly intrigued with the honest nature that inspired it.
Returning her attention to the magazine, Nicole indifferently commanded, "You should get back to studying."
Philip arched an eyebrow with bemusement. He found it wickedly amusing to be receiving academic directives from Nicole. Though she had once been his step-mother, it had been a role that Philip never felt suited Nicole. In fact, he had almost hated Victor for casting Nicole into their lives as Mrs. Kiriakis.
Scooting backwards so that his back rested against the love seat, Philip commented, "I really used to hate you."
"Gee, thanks," muttered Nicole in response.
Philip paid little attention to Nicole's comment as he continued his candid ramblings. "I mean, honestly, I really hated you. I thought my dad had lost his mind when he married you."
Nicole could not quite decide if Philip's statements thoroughly angered her or were simply another source of amusement. Opting to welcome the situation's humor, she responded, "Yeah, well, it wasn't like I was really impressed to have your for a stepson. You were always whining about something."
Nicole almost expected Philip's eyes to fill with anger; instead, he began to chuckle. "Was I really that bad?"
"Oh, yeah," answered Nicole as she began to feel her tension slip away. "You were awful. If you weren't going on and on about how Kate and Victor should remarry, you were whining about . . . Chloe." The name was said with thinly veiled abhorrence.
"God, I loved her," whispered Philip to himself. Catching Nicole's admonishing gaze, he added, "Don't worry, I'm not going to catch some flight to Europe so I can fight my nephew for her. But, some part of me is always going to love Chloe." In an attempt to relate his own situation to Nicole's, Philip stated, "I'll always care about Chloe, just like you'll always care about Brady. It may have taken me awhile, but I finally realized that Chloe was not the girl for me and she never would be."
Tossing her magazine onto Philip's forgotten textbook, Nicole moved so that she was sitting beside Philip, her back also resting against the soft love seat. In what some would think of as her typical fashion, Nicole boldly stated, "I'm sure Victor would have been glad to hear that." All of Salem knew of Nicole's disgust for her dead husband. Any other woman would have surely avoided mentioning him in his son's presence but not Nicole.
Seconds passed in silence.
Then, Philip softly laughed, and Nicole released a breath she had not even realized she had been holding. "Yeah," the former Marine answered. "You're probably right."
Each time Philip privileged Nicole with one of his inviting laughs, she felt a little less uncomfortable. Until, finally, she was now feeling entirely at ease. Motioning toward the Marketing book, she noted, "Victor would have also been glad to know you were going back to school. He was proud of you no matter what you did, but I know he always hoped you would decide to become a part of Titan."
"Well," smirked Philip. "I couldn't exactly say no, now could I?"
"What do you mean?"
"Titan is like this mansion. When my dad was alive, everyone wanted a little bit of it because he was there to be the responsible one, the safety net. Now, he's gone and there isn't anyone willing to accept his legacy."
"Except you."
"Exactly." Philip released a frustrated sigh. Nicole gave no visible hints to her opinion on Philip's brief rant. He wondered if she now thought that he was still that selfish teenager who felt everyone had done him wrong. Feeling the need to justify his emotions and reservations, Philip explained, "Brady may have liked working for my dad, but we all know that, in the end, he'll choose to take over Basic Black. And, I doubt Brady even will be ready for that any time soon. And, let's be honest, the idea of Bo taking over Titan is a joke. The same thing would go for Shawn."
"So, the mansion, the cars, and Titan are all yours," observed Nicole. "I suppose it would be a bit of a double-edged sword. You're given all the power a man could want, but you have it all to yourself."
Just as the room was about to be plunged in a contemplative silence, Philip confessed, "It scares me, you know. According to my father's attorney, I'm suppose to be employed full-time at Titan by the time I'm twenty-five. When I'm thirty, I'm expected to be running the entire company."
Impulse, rather than calculation, had a ruling power over Nicole. She reached out her right hand and placed it on Philip's wrist. "I know it all seems really intimidating, but you'll figure it all out." Nicole released a velvety laugh. "Come on, Philip, if I can survive working at Titan, I know you can."
"Yeah, well, I'd kill to have your business savvy," muttered Philip, his awareness given to little more than Nicole's hand resting on his wrist. All other thoughts being erased from his distracted mind, Philip instinctively used his tongue to moisten his suddenly dry lips.
Nicole felt as though her body was being physically torn apart. Logic was forcefully pulling her back, but something else was pushing her toward Philip. Nicole had spent a full week imagining an array of ways to get on with her life. Philip Kiriakis had never been on the agenda.
Inches shrank to centimeters as Philip and Nicole drew closer. Nicole's eyes closed almost against her will as she prepared for her lips to meet Philip's. Then, nothing.
Pushing himself away from Nicole, Philip struggled to regain any semblance of logical thought. Not sure how to process the evening, Philip stated, "We probably shouldn't be doing this."
"You're right," Nicole grumbled. A dozen rationalizations raced through her mind. She told herself that Philip was right. Any form of intimacy between the two of them would be an immense miscalculation. Nicole was almost certain Philip would assume she was using him either to get back at Brady or to get herself back into the Kiriakis lifestyle. Though neither would have been true, Nicole's history would make such assumptions seem factual in almost anyone's mind.
Philip quickly rose to his feet, surprised by how unstable his legs felt. He wasn't wholly certain he could make his shaky limbs carry him up the stairs and into his bedroom.
However, minutes later, Philip did indeed find himself standing outside his bedroom. His hand lingered on the doorknob, but his gaze lingered on the oak door across the hall.
Philip was just beginning to turn the knob when his attention was caught by approaching footsteps.
Nicole slowly walked toward her bedroom door, her cheeks flushed as Philip unabashedly stared at her. She tried to act oblivious to his gaze as she opened her bedroom door.
Caving in to her weaknesses, Nicole turned to take one last look at Philip. Doing so, she discovered that the younger man was now standing right beside her. Nicole opened her mouth to speak, but her words were forgotten when Philip brashly pulled her to him for a kiss that even the mighty Greek gods would envy.
Caution was tossed aside as Philip savored the soft feel of Nicole's lips and skin. When the need for air was unbearable, Philip breathlessly pulled his lips away from Nicole's. He kept his face close to hers and allowed his eyes to search hers.
He feared that such a search would reveal rejection. Instead, he found a desire that mirrored his own. Refusing to break the powerful gaze, Philip vowed, "I don't know where this will lead, or how it will end. But, I swear, I'll give it all I have."
And, night fell upon the city.
THE END
Though no physical stains could been seen, blood marred many of Salem's most romantic locations. Lucas had desired the perfect place to make his proposal; yet, history seemed to block him at his every turn.
Tuscany would have been the logical choice of most, but few had attended a wedding there that ended with the groom's untimely death. It would be impossible for Lucas to make his declarations of love in the very building where Sami's father had been brutally murdered by her mother.
Wanting a setting that was as serene as it was lovely, Lucas next considered St. Luke's. Visions of candles and promising whispers heard only by God filled his mind. Yet, the recollection of Caroline's death quickly demolished such idealistic thoughts.
The next setting to be considered was the apartment's rooftop. Lucas had momentarily envisioned a candlelit dinner and sporadic snowflakes falling from the sky. Then, he had been hit by not one but two realizations. The first was that the roof had long ago served as a special meeting place for Austin and Carrie. And, he realized, even if it hadn't, Sami would hardly relish being dragged out into the cold night to be served quickly chilling food.
Ultimately, Lucas found that there was no escaping the past. His only reasonable option was to embrace it.
Lucas gently held Sami's hand as he led her down the corridor. It was only with immense effort that he was able to give a calm appearance. Years of bickering, loathing, and loving had led them to this path.
As Sami unknowingly grumbled about a co-worker at the hospital, Lucas mindlessly nodded and gave appropriate nonverbal responses. Despite his adoration for Sami's voice, there was really only one word he wanted to hear her say tonight. And, he didn't know what he would do if she didn't say that single word. Yes.
"Lucas," Sami loudly admonished. "Are you listening to a word I am saying?"
Lucas flashed Sami his most dazzling, though guilty, smile. It served it's purpose - even Sami could not feign anger when Lucas gave her that look.
Sami rolled her eyes at the gesture but made no other comments regarding Lucas's lack of attention. "So, what exactly is it that you needed to take care of?"
"Oh, just a little of this and that," Lucas vaguely answered, his hand resting on the doorknob.
"Good, because I'm starving. The sooner you hurry up and get things taken care of, the sooner we can eat."
A soft laugh escaped Lucas's lips. He found Sami's impatience absolutely adorable. In fact, he had begun to notice that it was generally Sami's more exasperating qualities that he considered most attractive. Her sarcasm was lovely. Her stubbornness was incredibly sexy. Her suspicion was fascinating. And, her intensity was enthralling.
Opening the door to reveal a room lit with candles and a picnic basket adorning the floor, Lucas said, "I don't think you'll have to wait too long before eating."
"Lucas," Sami gasped with a smile. Stepping into the room, she whispered, "It's beautiful."
Lucas was certain that the grin upon his face looked entirely ridiculous. Nevertheless, he couldn't conceal his elation. With Sami, moments of unpretentious joy were not always easy to have. Even the simplest of times could be transformed into an emotional struggle. Yet, there Sami was standing in front of him with a smile gracing her lips. She seemed to be engrossed in each detail of the room. And, Lucas could see when Sami finally realized just which room they were in.
"What's going on, Lucas?" There was no hostility in Sami's question, merely uncertainty.
A week had been spent preparing every last detail of the evening. From the lavish meal to the romantic candles to the very words he would speak, Lucas had each minute planned. And, none of it mattered when he stood there with Sami.
Deeming his plans insignificant, Lucas softly answered, "This is where Will was conceived."
"I know. But, why did you bring me here?" Motioning toward the charming dinner setting, Sami continued, "What is all of this for?"
"It's for you." Crossing the distance that separated his body from Sami, Lucas continued, "I wanted everything to be perfect tonight. I imagined a thousand different places I could take you but none of them seemed right. It seemed like the past was everywhere. Then, I realized that there was no point in trying to escape history. So, I embraced it." Lucas used his left hand to widely gesture at the room, "This is where it all began. We may not have realized it then, but what happened in this room changed our lives - for the better. If we hadn't been here then, we may never have made it here now."
Ignoring the almost painful beating of his heart, Lucas dropped to one knee. His eyes locked with Sami's as he continued, "I know I'm not perfect; or, anywhere close to it. But, I love you Sami. I know things haven't always been great between us, and it wasn't easy getting to this point." Lucas could see tears building in Sami's eyes as he added, "I can't promise you that there won't be hard times. I can't swear that you'll never cry or get angry. And, I can't even guarantee that you won't have moments when you really dislike something I say or do. But, I can promise you that there won't be a day that goes by when I won't tell you that I love you and mean it."
Pulling the engagement ring from his coat pocket, Lucas held it up for Sami's inspection. "Samantha Jean Brady, will you marry me?"
The smile slowly faded from Sami's face, an unreadable expression taking its place. Avoiding Lucas's hopeful gaze, Sami replied, "You actually think I want to marry you?"
Just as Lucas felt his own smile disappear, Sami turned to look at him with a truly wicked grin. Laughter tinged her voice as she said, "Of course I want to marry you!"
"Sami," Lucas attempted to reprimand. Unable to even pretend to be the least bit unhappy, Lucas smiled widely and slipped the diamond ring onto Sami's outstretched left hand. He quickly brushed his lips over Sami's ring finger before rising to his feet. "Please don't ever scare me like that again," Lucas pleaded in a husky whisper before capturing Sami's lips with his own.
When she finally found the willpower to pull her lips away from those of Lucas, Sami could not stop the single tear that escaped to slide down her cheek. Though she seldom opened herself up to reveal the weaknesses that plagued her, Sami felt the need to share those uncertainties with Lucas.
"I never thought that I would be this happy. After everything that happened, after losing my parents, I . . ." Sami pushed back the tears that choked her. "I thought that it would be impossible to love anyone. And, I knew even if I could fall in love, that the man I cared for wouldn't be able to love me back."
Lucas attempted to interrupt with words of reassurance, but Sami silenced him by placing her index finger on his parted lips. "Lucas, I know that I'm a handful. And, I know that most guys would be scared just by me and would be absolutely terrified once they heard my family history. I couldn't imagine there ever being someone who could know me this well and still love me. You've never tried to make me regret loving my mother - even though she was a murderer. Instead, you made me feel safe and loved. You saved me, Lucas. Not just from my mother but from myself."
Brushing a few strands of hair away from Sami's face, Lucas softly kissed her forehead. "I'll always be here to save you, because that's what you do for me. I'm nothing without you." Lucas quickly brushed his lips against Sami's mouth once more before wrapping his arms around her body. "I'll never stop loving you."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * *
The setting sun cast a warm glow on the city of Salem, a direct contradiction to the chilly breeze that blew through the streets. Safely tucked away within the Kiriakis mansion, Philip and Nicole leisurely sat before the fire.
With her legs drawn under her slender body, Nicole casually flipped through the pages of Bella's most recent issue. Just a few feet away, Philip discreetly monitored her behavior. Though his Marketing textbook lay in his lap and his hands involuntarily scribbled notes onto his paper, Philip scarcely noticed anything but his blonde companion. He wasn't merely captivated by her tonight, though that was surely true enough. Philip sensed something stirring within Nicole. Her eyes would linger on a glossy page just a little too long, her hands would take just a little too much time to turn the page.
Hardly aware of Philip's concerned gaze, Nicole stared despondently at the curvaceous, blonde model on the page. It seemed as if the beauty was looking back at Nicole with mocking eyes.
It felt like a lifetime since Nicole had been the stunning figure that lured buyers to any given product. Perhaps, it had been a lifetime.
Breaking the silence that distanced her from Philip, Nicole earnestly asked, "Do you ever wonder how things go so wrong? Why some people end up getting everything they want and the rest of us just keep losing?"
Philip needed no time to contemplate Nicole's musings. They were questions he asked himself far too often. "All of them - out there - they think we have it all. They could never understand."
Nicole allowed her eyes to drift over all the fine furnishings that adorned the room. Returning her gaze to Philip, she replied, "This is all I ever thought I wanted. A mansion. Nice clothes. Servants to follow my every order."
"Feels pretty damn empty, huh?" Philip wryly responded. Closing his book and setting it aside, Philip softly added, "There has to be something more."
"Like what?" Nicole glared at Philip as though silently challenging him to think of a single source of plausible happiness. "Maybe I was right all along. Money might not whisper sweet things in my ear, but it sure as hell won't leave me standing alone in the snow. Now, will it?"
Philip inadvertently winced. It was the first time Nicole had made any reference to her breakup with Brady since the day she moved back into the mansion. Turning his eyes toward the fire, Philip commented, "I don't want to feel like this forever."
Nicole kept herself entirely focused on Philip's profile. For the first time, she truly saw him as a man with a tattered soul and not a boy with a gloomy heart. "Can you remember the last time you were really happy? Because, I'm not sure I can."
Having no real answer for the posed question, Philip ignored it and replied with a question of his own, "Did you ever love my father?"
The question clearly caught Nicole by surprise. To her own dismay, Nicole simply uttered the truth. "No."
Philip nodded but remained silent. He could hardly claim to find Nicole's answer shocking. Philip discovered nothing astounding about the one-word response but was thoroughly intrigued with the honest nature that inspired it.
Returning her attention to the magazine, Nicole indifferently commanded, "You should get back to studying."
Philip arched an eyebrow with bemusement. He found it wickedly amusing to be receiving academic directives from Nicole. Though she had once been his step-mother, it had been a role that Philip never felt suited Nicole. In fact, he had almost hated Victor for casting Nicole into their lives as Mrs. Kiriakis.
Scooting backwards so that his back rested against the love seat, Philip commented, "I really used to hate you."
"Gee, thanks," muttered Nicole in response.
Philip paid little attention to Nicole's comment as he continued his candid ramblings. "I mean, honestly, I really hated you. I thought my dad had lost his mind when he married you."
Nicole could not quite decide if Philip's statements thoroughly angered her or were simply another source of amusement. Opting to welcome the situation's humor, she responded, "Yeah, well, it wasn't like I was really impressed to have your for a stepson. You were always whining about something."
Nicole almost expected Philip's eyes to fill with anger; instead, he began to chuckle. "Was I really that bad?"
"Oh, yeah," answered Nicole as she began to feel her tension slip away. "You were awful. If you weren't going on and on about how Kate and Victor should remarry, you were whining about . . . Chloe." The name was said with thinly veiled abhorrence.
"God, I loved her," whispered Philip to himself. Catching Nicole's admonishing gaze, he added, "Don't worry, I'm not going to catch some flight to Europe so I can fight my nephew for her. But, some part of me is always going to love Chloe." In an attempt to relate his own situation to Nicole's, Philip stated, "I'll always care about Chloe, just like you'll always care about Brady. It may have taken me awhile, but I finally realized that Chloe was not the girl for me and she never would be."
Tossing her magazine onto Philip's forgotten textbook, Nicole moved so that she was sitting beside Philip, her back also resting against the soft love seat. In what some would think of as her typical fashion, Nicole boldly stated, "I'm sure Victor would have been glad to hear that." All of Salem knew of Nicole's disgust for her dead husband. Any other woman would have surely avoided mentioning him in his son's presence but not Nicole.
Seconds passed in silence.
Then, Philip softly laughed, and Nicole released a breath she had not even realized she had been holding. "Yeah," the former Marine answered. "You're probably right."
Each time Philip privileged Nicole with one of his inviting laughs, she felt a little less uncomfortable. Until, finally, she was now feeling entirely at ease. Motioning toward the Marketing book, she noted, "Victor would have also been glad to know you were going back to school. He was proud of you no matter what you did, but I know he always hoped you would decide to become a part of Titan."
"Well," smirked Philip. "I couldn't exactly say no, now could I?"
"What do you mean?"
"Titan is like this mansion. When my dad was alive, everyone wanted a little bit of it because he was there to be the responsible one, the safety net. Now, he's gone and there isn't anyone willing to accept his legacy."
"Except you."
"Exactly." Philip released a frustrated sigh. Nicole gave no visible hints to her opinion on Philip's brief rant. He wondered if she now thought that he was still that selfish teenager who felt everyone had done him wrong. Feeling the need to justify his emotions and reservations, Philip explained, "Brady may have liked working for my dad, but we all know that, in the end, he'll choose to take over Basic Black. And, I doubt Brady even will be ready for that any time soon. And, let's be honest, the idea of Bo taking over Titan is a joke. The same thing would go for Shawn."
"So, the mansion, the cars, and Titan are all yours," observed Nicole. "I suppose it would be a bit of a double-edged sword. You're given all the power a man could want, but you have it all to yourself."
Just as the room was about to be plunged in a contemplative silence, Philip confessed, "It scares me, you know. According to my father's attorney, I'm suppose to be employed full-time at Titan by the time I'm twenty-five. When I'm thirty, I'm expected to be running the entire company."
Impulse, rather than calculation, had a ruling power over Nicole. She reached out her right hand and placed it on Philip's wrist. "I know it all seems really intimidating, but you'll figure it all out." Nicole released a velvety laugh. "Come on, Philip, if I can survive working at Titan, I know you can."
"Yeah, well, I'd kill to have your business savvy," muttered Philip, his awareness given to little more than Nicole's hand resting on his wrist. All other thoughts being erased from his distracted mind, Philip instinctively used his tongue to moisten his suddenly dry lips.
Nicole felt as though her body was being physically torn apart. Logic was forcefully pulling her back, but something else was pushing her toward Philip. Nicole had spent a full week imagining an array of ways to get on with her life. Philip Kiriakis had never been on the agenda.
Inches shrank to centimeters as Philip and Nicole drew closer. Nicole's eyes closed almost against her will as she prepared for her lips to meet Philip's. Then, nothing.
Pushing himself away from Nicole, Philip struggled to regain any semblance of logical thought. Not sure how to process the evening, Philip stated, "We probably shouldn't be doing this."
"You're right," Nicole grumbled. A dozen rationalizations raced through her mind. She told herself that Philip was right. Any form of intimacy between the two of them would be an immense miscalculation. Nicole was almost certain Philip would assume she was using him either to get back at Brady or to get herself back into the Kiriakis lifestyle. Though neither would have been true, Nicole's history would make such assumptions seem factual in almost anyone's mind.
Philip quickly rose to his feet, surprised by how unstable his legs felt. He wasn't wholly certain he could make his shaky limbs carry him up the stairs and into his bedroom.
However, minutes later, Philip did indeed find himself standing outside his bedroom. His hand lingered on the doorknob, but his gaze lingered on the oak door across the hall.
Philip was just beginning to turn the knob when his attention was caught by approaching footsteps.
Nicole slowly walked toward her bedroom door, her cheeks flushed as Philip unabashedly stared at her. She tried to act oblivious to his gaze as she opened her bedroom door.
Caving in to her weaknesses, Nicole turned to take one last look at Philip. Doing so, she discovered that the younger man was now standing right beside her. Nicole opened her mouth to speak, but her words were forgotten when Philip brashly pulled her to him for a kiss that even the mighty Greek gods would envy.
Caution was tossed aside as Philip savored the soft feel of Nicole's lips and skin. When the need for air was unbearable, Philip breathlessly pulled his lips away from Nicole's. He kept his face close to hers and allowed his eyes to search hers.
He feared that such a search would reveal rejection. Instead, he found a desire that mirrored his own. Refusing to break the powerful gaze, Philip vowed, "I don't know where this will lead, or how it will end. But, I swear, I'll give it all I have."
And, night fell upon the city.
THE END