Chapter 5

They had made love three more times throughout the night. Ciara couldn't help but sigh and smile with the utter completeness she felt as she began to wake. Ben was a better lover than even her fantasies had made him out to be, and she had had some pretty damn good fantasies about him. She slowly moved her head to catch a glimpse of him while he still slept. He looked so peaceful, she thought and then laid her head back where it had been resting before, on the crook of his shoulder. She felt safe and at peace in his arms. A feeling that was a bit unfamiliar for her but something she could get used to.

Ciara could feel the strong steady beat of Ben's heart under her hand. She breathed in deeply and took in the scent of him. She couldn't figure out what it was he smelled like and finally decided it was just uniquely Ben and nuzzled her nose more deeply against him for a moment. She ever so slowly began to glide her fingers over the lines of his abdomen and rested it on his hip.

Ben clasped her wandering hand in his own and brought it to his lips. "I could feel you staring at me," he stated and then placed her hand back over his heart. "I can also see that your mind is running about a mile a minute. What are you thinking?"

Ciara grinned, "I was thinking about you, and how what happened between us was much better than any fantasy I ever had about you ever was."

Ben couldn't help but grin himself, "You fantasized about me. Huh?"

"I did, and there were some doozies," Ciara chuckled. "I think one of the better ones I had involved you in the shower. Who knew one could be so jealous of drops of water?"

"What are you talking about?" Ben questioned.

"I dreamed about you being in the shower. I was jealous of the drops of water that got to run down your pecs, your abs, your… because I wanted to be the one running down your body."

"I see," Ben sighed and hugged her tighter to his torso. He loved holding Ciara in his arms and the feeling of how she clung to him. How her one thigh hooked over his own and lay resting there waiting for his touch. As much as he wanted to stay in this moment with her, he needed to discuss with her what had happened last night. He needed to know what she wanted to do. "Ciara, we need to talk."

"Oh God, Ben… don't you dare" Ciara pushed off of Ben's chest and stared at him, "Don't you dare tell me that we can't be together. You told me that you would never break my heart and if you tell me that we can't be together, then you will not just be breaking it you will be crushing it."

Ben sat up and caressed Ciara's cheek, "No, it's not that. Ciara, the first time we made love the condom broke, what do you want to do? What are the chances I got you pregnant last night? Do you want to get a morning after pill or something like that? Whatever you decide I will support."

Ciara sighed and leaned into Ben. Ben leaned against the headboard of the bed and Ciara scooted along with him laying her head back against his chest under his chin. "How do you feel about being a father?" Ciara asked.

Ben swallowed, "I have always wanted kids. I wanted to be a better father than what I had as an example. I've seen good men who are great fathers. So, while I personally didn't have a great example, I think I know how to be a good dad."

"Ben I'm not sure what the odds are. I haven't gotten the reminder on my phone that I'll be ovulating soon but that doesn't mean anything. And no, I don't want to get a morning after pill. What we did wasn't a mistake and we both wanted what was happening to happen. I don't want to ever have to take one of those pills again."

Ben looked down at Ciara and lifted her chin to look at him, "Chase?" he asked.

Ciara only nodded.

"You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do. If you don't want to take that kind of pill again, then you don't have to. I support your decision. If we did get pregnant though we need to figure out how we are going to care for this kid though."

"I've got my trust fund. I'm not worried about money," Ciara stated.

"Fair enough, but I was talking about more my contribution. How I was going to be contributing financially to this situation. Ciara, I need to tell you something."

"What is it, Ben?"

"Ciara, before you came here, I had just gotten back from visiting Stefan DiMera. He offered me my old job back, and I accepted."

Ciara pushed away from Ben dragging the bed sheet with her to wrap herself in, "Damn it, Ben! How could you!"