A Fresh Start

Chapter Thirty Eight

After watching Sam, Jeffrey and Ava for a few minutes, Olivia leaves Company. The more she thought about the fact that Jeffrey picked Sam over her, that Ava seems to be growing closer to Sam than to her, and the fact that Jeffrey treats her like a naughty child that he has to chastise and correct, or worse an annoyance that he would like nothing more than to be rid of. Along with the fact that he's always running to Sam's defense, Olivia is absolutely furious by the time she reaches the Beacon.

Most of the staff stays out of her way when she walks into the lobby. Even Emma didn't say too much to her when she comes into the suite that evening. After spending a couple hours mulling over what had happened at Company, and Jeffrey physically removing her from the restaurant, she reaches for her cell phone and walks out onto the balcony, dialing Simmons number.

"Hello." He says, on the second ring.

"It's me." Olivia says.

"Yes."

"I want it done, now!"

"Now!"

"Yes now!"

"We can't do that. We're not ready."

"The…."

"It takes more than that ma'am, especially in this case. We can't readily get our hands on him."

"Why not, he's an open figure in Springfield."

"He's also the mayor. We can't just walk up to him and grab him. If we do, it will be a useless operation. We have to plan this carefully, and that is what Ralph and I are doing."

"Well, hurry up about it. He getting closer and closer to her, and now my daughter is…."

"Mom, I need some help." Emma calls from inside.

"Look, I got to go. Just get this taken care of as quickly as possible."

"We're working as fast as we can."

"I need it down faster, before she takes my daughter too."

"Yes ma'am."

Olivia hangs up and goes inside to help Emma with her homework.

An hour later Cassie walks out of the bathroom. Richard is sitting on the side of the bed and when she walks in as he looks up. Softly in the background classical music is playing. Overwhelmed by her beauty, and the fact that they are together again, he watches her walking towards him. When she goes to sit down beside him, he holds up his hand to stop her. Standing up he asks, holding out his hand. "Can I have this dance?"

"Of course, Your Highness." Cassie says, moving into his arms.

"I think I'm a little past your Highness." Richard says, putting one arm around her waist and pulling her to him as they begin to waltz. After a few minutes they give up the dance as Cassie wraps her arms around him and lays her head on his chest. Taking her hand, he leads her over to the bed. "I want to hold you." He says, wrapping his arms around her as she lays her head on his chest. "I missed this." He says, kissing the side of her head. "I missed the feel of you in my arms."

"I missed you too."

"Do you know what I missed the most?"

"No, what?" She asks, sitting up

"The feel of your skin touching mine." He whispers, kissing the side of her neck and moving up to her ear.

"Richard." She sighs, kissing him, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he deepens the kiss. After a few seconds, she pulls away.

"What…?"

Moving to straddle him, she leans over to kiss him again, as he pulls her to him, his tongue slipping inside her mouth as she sighs softly.

They kiss for several seconds before Richard leans backs, eyes closed as he tries to catch his breath. Reaching for the first button on his shirt, she unbuttons it. Tugging on the shirt as she moves down, never taking her eyes off him as he reaches for the belt on her robe, pulling it loose and slipping his hands underneath.

"Richard." She sighs, when she feels the heat of his hands on her lower back.

"Your skin is just as I remember, soft as cashmere and as smooth as silk."

Leaning forward, she kisses him softly, moving over to his ear and neck as he moves his hands to her shoulders, and brushing the robe off them and down her arms. Laying her hands against his waist, she sits back and looks down. "No one makes me feel what you make me feel. I want you to know that, not Josh, not Jeffrey, and definitely not Edmund."

"How do I make you feel?"

"Loved, that's what I was searching for and I should have realized that you were the only one that can make me feel that way."

"I'm sorry."

"I know." She says, leaning over and kissing him. "And I'm sorry about everything that I've down since…."

"Cassie." He says, sitting her up again. "I told you…."
"I know you did, but I wanted to say that and I won't mention it again."

Leaning over him, she lightly kisses the side of his neck as she slowly pulls his shirt from his pants. Gently running her hands up his chest she brushes the shirt off his shoulders and down his arms as he leans up, helping her.

When she starts to lean forward, he stops her. Lying back, he slowly runs his eyes over her, stopping for a few seconds at her breast. Watching her breathe as he slowly runs his tongue across his lips while she watches him. "Richard." She gasps, feeling the heat of his mouth without him touching her.

Leaning forward, he lightly kisses her, softly caressing her nipple while she buries her fingers in his hair, holding him against her as she sighs softly After a few seconds, he lays back and reaches up, cupping both breasts with his hands, loving the feel of their weight in his hands. "I didn't think I would ever feel this again." He whispers, leaning forward again and softly licking her nipples.

"Richard." She gasps, arching her back and pressing her breast into his mouth.

"Ummm, you taste so good." He whispers, moving to her other breast as she reaches up, burying her fingers in his hair again and holding him close to her. After a few minutes she feels her body beginning to burn out of control. Moving back, she takes a deep breath while she looks down into his eyes, watching them fade as he realizes that she's fighting for control.

"We'll take it slow." He whispers, moving his hand down to her thigh. Laying her hands at his waist, she watches him as she begins to open his belt, tugging it free before reaching for the button on his jeans, popping it open while she leans forwards and kisses him, distracting him. Reaching up, he wraps his arms around her. After a few seconds and while he's still kissing her, she begins to tug on his jeans, she shivers when she feels him sigh. Resting her hands on the inside of his jeans as she returns to the kiss. "Cassie." He sighs.

Pulling her against him, he feels the desire burning inside her. After a couple seconds, Cassie moves back, breaking the kiss. Catching the look in her eyes, he stands up while she pulls his jeans down. He stands there watching until she stands up. Taking a step forward and kicking the jeans out of the way, he looks at her and she knows that he wants to say something but he doesn't have the words to express what he's feeling. Resting her hands at his waist, she looks up at him and says, "Show me."

"Cassie." He whispers, as he pulls her to him kissing her as he reaches for his boxers. Pulling them off and kicking them to the side by his jeans as she reaches for him. She softly caresses him. "Darling." He groans, as waves of desire fill him, like forty foot waves pound the shore. "I need you." He whispers hoarsely.

"You have me, handsome." She replies, sitting down on the bed and then laying back. Leaning over her, as he kneels between her legs, kissing her as he slowly runs his hand down her body, gently caressing her, looking up, he watches as he touches her, his fingers slipping between her thighs, caressing her. "Richard." She moans, closing her eyes as she arches her back, reaching for him.

"Do you feel me Darling?" Richard whispers, as he begins to softly caress her body.

"Yes." She groans

"How does it feel?"

She's too wrapped up in what he's doing to reply. It's only a few seconds before Cassie opens her eyes. Looking up, she reaches for him, wrapping her hand around him, she holds fast for a few seconds, until she feels him shiver with need. Slowly she caresses him, falling into rhythm with his caresses, while she listens to each ragged breath that he draws and she feels the heat building inside her.

It's not long before she realizes that unless something happens, he's going to loose control. Looking up, she whispers. "I want to feel you, all of you." As she bends her knees, opening her body for him.

"Darling." He whispers, pulling his hand away as she releases him. Laying his hand on her hips, he moves closer to her, slipping inside.

"Richard." She moans, arching her hips and taking him deeper

His first thrust felt like they were newly weds again, after the anticipation of months of waiting, and dreaming. Leaning over her, he kisses her as they settle into their rhythm.

After a few moments he feels his body spinning out of control so he begins to slow down. Leaning over her, he kisses her as she reaches for him, pulling him deeper inside her, clinching the muscles deep inside, while she slowly scratches her way down his chest, before reaching between them and gently caressing him.

"Cassie." He groans. "I'm going to loose it darling." He gasps, while she continues to caress him.

Looking up, she whispers. "I want you too."

Those four words send images through his mind that he barely controls. Leaning over, he begins to thrust. This time there's more of a feeling of desperation even though he's determined to give her satisfaction before he takes his own. Reaching for her legs, he bends them back. Slipping deeper inside her, he brushes against the special place.

"Richard." She cries, when he repeats that same move. "Oh!" she moans. Feeling her body beginning to loose control, "just a little bit…." He thrusts one more time, brushing again against her, and she feels waves crashing inside her.

He feels her release, tightening around him, holding him and caressing him at the same time. Those caresses break his control, thrusting once more; they feel him filling hers with all the passion burning inside him. "Cassie." He groans, collapsing in her arms.

Wrapping her arms around him, she holds him tightly while they try to regain control. Small waves of desire wash over them. Neither one moves until they are able to release the other one without feeling like a piece of themselves is missing.

When they finish eating, Jeffrey pays for the bill and then they leave. They walk across the parking lot to Jeffrey's truck, opening the door he turns to Ava and asks. "Are you going to be okay going to the Beacon?"

"I'll be fine." Ava says.

"You're sure."

"Yes, I'm going to go up to my room and I won't answer the door unless it's for room service, or a gorgeous…."

"I get the idea. If she…."

"She's not going to do anything to me."

"What I was going to say was, if she starts harassing you, I want you to call me, anytime." Jeffrey says

"I will." Ava says, leaning up to kiss his cheek and give him a quick hug before she walks across the parking lot to Cedars.

Jeffrey watches her, as Sam stands beside him. When she's across the street, Sam slips her hand in his. "She's going to be okay."

Reluctantly Jeffrey opens the door to the truck, helping Sam in. He gets in and closes the door behind him, still looking at Cedars.

"What are you thinking?" Sam asks

"I don't like her going to the Beacon alone." Jeffrey says. "Not after the way Olivia was acting this afternoon."

"So what do you want to do?"

"I need to make sure she gets home okay."

"Okay."

"Do you mind?"

"No, of course not." Sam says, as Jeffrey starts the truck.

Pulling out of the parking lot, they leave Company as Ava drives by them. Pulling out behind her, Jeffrey follows her to the Beacon. When she reaches the parking lot, she parks and gets out. She locks her car before she walks over to Jeffrey's truck when he parks by the front door.

"You didn't have to follow me home, I'm okay."

"I'll feel better if I know you're home safe." Jeffrey says, opening the truck door.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm walking you to your door."

"You don't have to walk me to my door." Ava says, as he slips out of the truck.

Ignoring Ava, he turns to Sam. "Do you mind waiting here?"

"No, it's probably better that I do. Ava, I'll see you soon." Sam says.

"Okay and congratulations."

"Thank you."

Jeffrey and Ava leave. When they enter the lobby of the hotel, Jeffrey looks around for Olivia, but doesn't see her. Putting his hand on Ava's lower back, they walk across the lobby to the stairs. Ava can feel the tension flowing through Jeffrey. "Would you relax? It's like you're ready to pounce."

"Maybe I am. I don't like the feeling I got from her today." Jeffrey says, as they walk down the hall to Ava's room.

"What feeling?"

"That's she's up to something, and it's not good." Jeffrey says, as he looks both ways down Ava's hall as she opens the door to her suite.

Opening the door, they walk inside. "Okay, I'm home. She didn't attack me, or hurt me." Ava says, as Jeffrey walks through the suite, checking to make sure no one is in the suite.

"Okay, it looks like it's clear." Jeffrey says.

"See, I told you, I'll be fine."

"Alright, you'll call me if…."

"Yes, if I need you I will call you."

"Okay." Jeffrey says, walking to the door. Opening it, he checks the hall before he walks out. "Call me tomorrow, just so that I know you're alright."

"I will." Ava says, Jeffrey leaves and Ava locks the door, sliding home the dead bolt.

Jeffrey is walking down the stairs to the lobby when he looks up and Olivia is coming up them. When she spots him, she asks. "What are you doing here?"

"It's a public hotel. I had to meet someone here."

"I threw you out of the…."

"Actually I left before you could." Jeffrey says, walking past her. She turns to follow him.

"Is Ava home?" Olivia asks.

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since she left Company, but if she is home, leave her alone Olivia." Jeffrey says, turning around.

"You can't dictate…."

"I'll dictate and protect her if I see that it is necessary. She doesn't need anything else to happen today."

"It wouldn't be necessary for me to speak to her, if she…."

"I'm not going to argue this point with you. She chose to take Sam. If you'll get over your stupid jealousy and think about why Ava did choose Sam, you might realize that you brought this on yourself."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"That means that the reason she chose Sam, is because you can't keep from trying to control her, and her decisions about her child."

"She's pregnant, and she refuses to…."

"She's not refusing. She doesn't believe that she must marry William, simply because she is pregnant. She'll be a great mom, and I'll be there to support her, and I know she wants you to be there too, but if you keep on like you're doing…."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not going to do anything, she will." Jeffrey says, walking out of the Beacon and to his truck.

Climbing in, he takes a deep breath while Olivia watches from the doorway of the Beacon. Starting the truck, as Sam asks. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, in her room and comfortable."

"Then what was the sigh for?"

"I ran into Olivia when I was leaving."

"What did she say?"

"First, she wanted to know why I was at the Beacon, and I told her that I had to meet someone there. Then she wanted to know if Ava was in her room."

"You didn't…."

"No of course not, but I told her to stay away from her and we got into it about that."

"And."

"And about Ava taking you to her appointment and her marrying William, why did you go with her anyway?" Jeffrey asks.

"Because she asked me."

"You had to know what Olivia's reaction would be when she found out." Jeffrey says, looking at her.

"Yes, I said something to Ava about that, but she wanted me to go and I wanted to see what would happen, considering…."

"Considering that you'll be doing the same thing."

"Yes."

"Okay. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Sam says, picking up the folder laying between them and moving over beside him. Lifting his arm, he puts it across her shoulders "What's this?"
"Oh the file on Doris Wolf, Mallet brought it over to me this afternoon."

"What's happening?"

"I've got to turn it over to the States Attorney and he'll take it from there."

"Why the States Attorney, I thought you would turn it over to one of DA's?"

"No, the governor wants the states Attorney to handle the prosecution, and she's got some serious charges to face, more than just bribery, but jury tampering, aiding and abiding but that charge maybe dropped. But she's still facing serious time if she's convicted."

"The state's attorney handles these cases."

"Yes."

"When do you have to turn this over to him?"

"I was on my way over there when I left this afternoon, but then…."

"You go sidetracked with me, Olivia, and Ava. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm glad I stopped at Company before I left. I kept Olivia from hurting either of you."

"Why don't you take it to him now?"

"It's after six; I'll take it to him tomorrow after you leave."

"Okay. What do you want to do?"

"Why don't we go home and spend the evening together."

"Okay."

A few minutes later, they arrive at the loft. Parking, Jeffrey opens the door after turning the truck off. Getting out, he helps Sam out as Ralph pulls up behind them a few cars down. He watches as they walk into the building. Watching the building, he watches as one of the lights on the top floor comes on.

"So, he lives on the top floor." Ralph says, watching a series of lights come on.

When they walk in, Jeffrey locks the door behind them as Sam walks into the living room. "I'm going to go change into something more comfortable." He says, following her into the living room.

"Okay." Sam replies, flipping on the TV. The local news was on and Sam sort of tunes it out until the weather starts. "In tropical news, Tropical storm Henry off the coast of San Cristobel is making travel to the tiny island nearly impossible. One of the worse storms in recent years, Prince William is calling for the country to take precautions in case the storm turns towards San Cristobel and increases in strength."

"What's going on?" Jeffrey asks, sitting down next to Sam.

"There's a tropical storm off the coast of San Cristobel." Sam says, watching the TV. "Do you think Richard and Cassie are okay down there?"

"They are fine. San Cristobel has dealt with tropical storms and hurricanes before, not that strong of one in recent years, but William knows what he's doing, and right now they aren't predicting that it will turn." Jeffrey says, as she glances over at him.

Jeffrey is sitting beside her in a pair of shorts and no shirt. He busy watching the sports caster talk about the Cubs game from the night before and is completely unaware of Sam watching him, until she reaches out and turns his face towards her.

"What?" He asks, looking at her. Moving closer to him, Sam leans forward and kisses him softly before she sits back. "What was that for?"

"I wanted to, and because you're too much of a distraction like that." Sam says, slowly running her eyes over his chest.

"I'm a distraction." Jeffrey says, taking Sam's hand and pulling her to him, but she resists and he looks at her. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to do that right now." Sam says, leaning back against the arm of the couch and tucking her feet between the cushions.

"You know you're giving mixed signals here." Jeffrey says, watching her.

"No, I'm not. We're just thinking two different things. I was admiring how handsome you are, and you're thinking about sex."

"Aren't they one and the same?"

"No, they're not. I think you're beautiful and I like to look at you, that don't necessarily mean that I want to sleep with you. It's kind of like looking at a piece of art, you like to look at it, you think it's good and you admire the artist that created it, but you don't need to own it. That's how I feel when I look at you sometimes, except for the owning part, I definitely need you own you." Sam says, moving over to sit in his lap.

"You know you're making things way too complicated."

"No, I'm a woman, you're a man, we think differently." Sam says.

"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus kind of thing."

"Exactly." Sam replies, laying her head on his shoulder.

"What else do you feel when you look at me?" Jeffrey asks, putting his arms around her.

"Sometimes I feel amazed."

"Amazed, why?"

"Because I have you, and you're here, you're with me and we're together."

"Did you feel like that before?"

"Not as much as I do now, but I felt that way sometimes. I count myself lucky that you love me and that you want me."

"I feel the same way, so we're both lucky." Jeffrey says, kissing the side of her head.

The news had gone of and some Entertainment show had come on, picking up the remote, Jeffrey started flipping through the channels. He watched a few minutes of a game on ESPN, before he remembers that Sam is with him and probably doesn't want to be bothered with baseball.

"You can watch that." Sam says when he changes the channel.

"Thanks, but it's nothing I'm really interested in." Jeffrey says, flipping over to Lifetime, where a Danielle Steel movie was playing. Reaching for the remote, Sam flips the TV off. "I thought you would want to watch that."

"I would if I hadn't seen it at least three different times." Sam says, dropping the remote to the couch and snuggling into his arms. "I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"Since I have to go back tomorrow, why don't we just sit here and talk."

"About what?"

"I don't know. What are you going to do now that the investigation into Doris is over with?"

"Run the city of Springfield, I'm still mayor."

"Anything else?"

"Well, I have to go to DC in a week or so. I've got to help and old friend move."

"You're going all the way to DC to help an old friend move."

"Yes, this particular friend is very close to me, in fact I would be willing to say that I don't want to live without her."

"I know she feels the same." Sam says, stretching her legs out

"Do you know what I love about her?" Jeffrey asks, slowly running his fingers through her hair.

"Umm." Sam says softly.

"Her heart, she has the biggest heart I know. She's not pretentious or fake. She'll tell you how it is. But she'll be there, whenever you need her. She'll help anyone she can." Jeffrey says, still running his fingers through her hair.

After a few minutes, he glances down and smiles. While they were talking, Sam had fallen asleep. Putting his arms around her, he moves her closer too him, and putting his feet up on the coffee table, he sits there, holding her and enjoying being with her. bout an hour later, Sam slowly wakes up. Looking up, she smiles and says "Hi."

"Hi."

"I didn't mean to fall asleep." She says, snuggling in close to him again.

"Are you tired?"

"No, I was just comfortable and it felt good to have your arms around me and I was warm. I just relaxed and feel asleep."

"Well good, but I really need to get up."

"Okay." Sam says, moving off his lap "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just need to go to the bathroom." Jeffrey says, walking quickly to the bathroom.

When he comes out a few minutes later, Sam asks. "Why didn't you move me?"

"Because you were comfortable, I didn't want to wake you and I liked holding you, but to be honest if you hadn't've woken up, I might have moved you." He says, sitting down beside her.

"You know I'm going have that to look forward too."

"What?"

"Running to the bathroom every five minutes, either to throw up, or to use the bathroom."

"You think you're morning sickness will be bad."

"I don't know. Mom never talked about things like that. It wasn't proper to discuss such things. And I was never around my family so I never knew anyone that was pregnant, until Megan got pregnant, and even then I don't really know how bad her morning sickness was. You know, it's going to be interesting that Ava and I are going through this at the same time. Are you going to be able to handle two pregnant women at the same time?"

"I don't know, I guess we'll find out." Jeffrey says, taking her hand and playing with her fingers. After a couple minutes, he looks up and notices the look on her face. "What are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about Ava."

"What about her?"

"That I admire her. She doing this on her own, without William, although I know he'll be a part of the baby's life, they're not getting married and I admire her for following her heart."

"She's a strong kid. She has to be look at her parents."

"I think she happens to have a pretty terrific father. Now her mother, I don't know quite how to take Olivia, but I admire Ava."

"There was something else you were thinking about, wasn't there."

"Yeah." Sam replies, fiddling with her hair.

Reaching up, Jeffrey takes her hands and holds them. "What?" Sam starts to pull her hands free, but Jeffrey tightens his hold. "No, tell me what you're thinking about?"

"I was..." Sam pauses for a few seconds.

"Yes."

"I was thinking about the question that she asked you." Sam says, in one breath.

"The question she asked me, when?"

"At Company, after we told her about the baby."

"About us getting married." Sam nods, and then looks up at him. "Do you want to do that?" Jeffrey asks his heart starting to beat a little faster.

"If I was in Ava's situation, I would say no. But I'm not, I love you…."

"But."

"But I don't want it to be farther down the road and you tell me that you're leaving…"

"I would never…."

"… or that you only married me because of the baby."

"Sam! That's not going to happen. If we get married, it will be because I love you so much that I want the world to know it. Our baby will only make it more of a connection between us.

"I know I love you and I want us to raise our baby together, but we…."

"Forget about the fact that we just got back together, we know each other, right."

"Yes."

"We know everything that any couple knows about their partner after dating for years."

"Well, I'm sure the women married to the Green River Killer and…."

"Sam!"

"Okay, yes."

"So answer that question with your heart and not your brain. Do you want to get married?"

"I don't know, and I'm not saying that because I'm thinking with my head instead of my heart. I don't know if we're ready for that. I don't think we've adjusted to the idea of being parents and I think it would be just a little much to be adding marriage into the mix. We also have to consider Ava."

"Ava! You can't possibly think that she'll be against us getting married."

"Kids are funny Jeffrey. I know that she says that she's okay with you and me being together, I'm not disputing that, but when you add marriage into the picture, the situation changes, and people's feelings change, plus the added pressure of her being pregnant. She's not married…."

"By her…."

"I know by her own choice, but I think that deep down inside her, even though she's willing to do this alone, because she doesn't love William, she wishes that she did and that she was getting married to the man that she loved, and that they were going to raise their child together. The fact that we do love each other, and we will be raising this child together will hurt her."

"You are very wise." Jeffrey says, leaning over to kiss her.

"No, I just know how I would feel if the situation was reversed. I would be damn jealous of her." Sam says, leaning back.

"So we don't have to get married right away. We can wait like we planned till you get over here and get settled."

"Okay."

"I think its time we went to bed. We both have to be up early tomorrow." Jeffrey says, standing up and turning to help her up. Putting his arm across her shoulders, they walk upstairs.

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