Month Five:
Adam closes his briefcase and puts it next to his desk and heads upstairs to finish packing. Colby joins him in his bedroom a few minutes later. "Dad, where are you going? We still have a few calls out."
"You can take them. I made sure they knew to talk to you or me. I will be gone for a week at the most."
"Where?" He zips his luggage.
"Leave a message on my cell, I'll be checking it periodically."
"What if its life or death? How do we get a hold of you then?" He hugs her.
"Ok, I will leave it on all the time. My charger is packed." He kisses her forehead and walks out. Colby follows him downstairs and picks up the phone.
"Bro, he's leaving again. No, he wouldn't tell me. Yes, I will be here. He'll be back in a week, like last time." She hangs up and plops down on the couch, turning on the TV.
Adam walks into the lobby and gets stopped by the concierge. "Mr. Chandler. Ms. Elizabeth asked me to give you this key to the penthouse. She had some meetings run late." Adam takes the cord.
"Thank you." He heads for the elevator smiling. "Ms. Elizabeth. I was wondering what name she was using." He lets himself in and feels a little strange but decides to take advantage of her absence. He heads to the bathroom and goes through the bath salts and bubble baths. He sets out candles and lights them. After taking off his sweater and loosening the collar of his shirt, he calls down to the front desk. "Yes, let me know when Ms. Elizabeth is on her way up. Thank you." Then he calls room service ordering up champagne and strawberries with chocolate sauce. The room service arrives a couple of minutes before the desk calls letting him know Liza's on her way. He starts the water running and pours in some bubble bath, gardenias and honey. He hears the door open
"Adam! You scared me." She smiles then notices the empty room service cart. "Have you eaten?" She drops her purse on the table.
"No, I ordered a treat for you. The concierge said that your meetings were running long so I thought something relaxing." He leads her to the bathroom filled with candles and a gentle smelling both. "Do you like it?" She turns to face him.
"Yes." She kicks off her shoes. "Is this just for me? Or…" She begins to unbutton her blouse.
"No, I thought I would join you." She smiles. After she is undressed and sinks into the warmth, he joins her. She slips under the water to wet her hair. He begins working the shampoo into her hair. Liza leans into his hands.
"I always loved this. You have such a gentle touch, sometimes." She closes her eyes.
"Time to rinse." Liza leans her head back, bracing herself against his legs. He rinses all of the soap from her hair then leans over her and kisses her lips. She raises her head following his kiss and turns to straddle him. She pours some shampoo into her hands and gives him room to slide underneath her to wet his hair. She begins to wash his silver mane. He closes his eyes feeling her fingers, her nails on his scalp. Her legs tighten around him. He can feel her body moving against him as she massages the shampoo in.
"Time to rinse." She whispers. He slips down again and she washes all of it out. He raises his head taking a nipple in his mouth before he sits up completely. She can feel his arousal against her and raises up a bit. He holds onto her hips and guides her onto him. She gasps.
"Oh, Adam!" She holds onto his shoulders as the water sloshes close to the edge then sometimes over the edge. He nuzzles between her breasts as he thrusts quicker and quicker. She pushes away from him leaning her head back as she shudders in release. He brings her back to him and into a kiss. Their tongues dance in lust. She disengages herself. He breaks their kiss; she turns her back to him and seats herself between his legs marveling in the warm water.
"Would you like a sweet bite?" He points to the strawberries and chocolate.
"Yes." She reaches out and pulls the tray closer to them. He lightly traces her back. She squirms under his touch and he can't help but smile. She dips the strawberry, turns to offer him a bite, which he takes then she finishes. He takes his turn in feeding her until they are both dripping chocolate on each other and laughing. When the water begins to cool, they climb out and dry off. Adam wraps his arms around her as they stumble into the bedroom.
"There is an unopened bottle of champagne in there?" He nods towards the bathroom.
"By all means, but I don't think I should."
"Why?" He steps back.
"I am finishing up some antibiotics. I don't want to risk it."
"Oh, ok. Are you alright?" He looks at her more closely to detect any hint of illness.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a virus, I will be fine. Nothing contagious either." He smiles. "Please open the bottle. I can fix something for dinner."
Liza cuddles closer, lightly running her fingers through his hair. They are lounging outside in one of the chairs on the balcony. His eyes are closed and he sighs contentedly. "You've seemed distracted this week, is everything ok?" He opens his eyes.
"It has to do with something outside this place, are you sure you want to know?"
"Is it your health?" She sits up a little.
"No, I am perfectly healthy. Actually, I had a check up when I came to the city before coming here. He said that I'm healthier than I was before the TIA. I praise you for that."
"As long as you are alright, I'll leave it up to you to decide whether to tell me anything else."
"It's not really that important." He answers. He feels her shiver a bit. "Let's go inside, the sun is almost gone." She takes his hand as they walk back inside. She lays down on the couch. He lifts her head up and sits underneath with a pillow under head. She begins flipping through the channels. "Stop." She stops on the opening credits of a movie.
"You like this movie?" She looks up at him.
"Not really but it has been a while since I've seen it. They don't often air it due to content." She leaves it there and they watch for an hour in silence before she breaks.
"Ok, is it just me or does this relationship between them, without the strange French death stuff and the cruelty, remind you of this relationship between us." She looks up to him.
"A little, but not. I don't think I will take you to Paris now."
"Tuscany. You always loved it there." She realizes that she insinuated a future between them.
"Or back to Kent." He says noticing her slip but letting it go. Liza can't help but rub her stomach a little. Maybe I should tell him now. Or maybe I should wait till I'm out of the first trimester, just in case. She continues to argue with herself through the rest of the movie. Adam periodically watches her mind work. How can I get her to come home? To Colby? For once, I understand why my children need their mothers, except Haley. No one needs Arlene. Liza wanted Colby from the beginning, she needs her. They need each other. Colby is so much more of Liza than me. Colby is already following in some of her footsteps. The movie ends and they sit up. "Tired?" He rubs her shoulders.
"Yep. It has been a busy day." She smiles over her shoulder.
"Ok." Adam stands up taking her hand. "Let's get you tucked in." She lets him lead her to the bed but his help in getting her into bed turns seductive and leads to gentle lovemaking.
"How are you feeling?" He asks as she walks in from the kitchen.
"Fine. I thought you were going to sleep in this morning?"
"I was, but I woke up early this morning and thought I heard you getting sick." She sits on her side of the bed.
"I got dizzy this morning, must be the leftover from my virus. I'm ok." He starts getting out of bed.
"I'm going to shower." She nods and watches him go into the bathroom. A small smile forms on her lip as she hears the water come on. When she's sure he is in the shower she comes into the bathroom, removing her clothes and joins him. "Liza!" He says startled as he turns around.
"You don't mind, do you?" She steps closer to him as he shakes his head. She joins him under the spray. They caressingly soap each other up. After rinsing, Liza re-soaps her hands and maintaining eye contact with him, she reaches down and carefully begins handling him. He tenses a bit under her torturous touch. "You did say that you were willing to give up some sexual control, right?" He nods unable to speak as she rubs him little harder. They move back under the spray. He braces against the wall and leans in to kiss her wet lips. The water flows over them in a waterfall. He tries to maintain their kiss but can't when his arousal grows in her hands. She smiles knowing he was trying to control himself. Liza presses against him adding to his heat. She slides down his body taking him in her mouth as she kneels. He closes his eyes and again uses the wall to brace himself. As she brings him to the edge, he lowers one hand to hold her head not believing she's really doing it. His muscles tense and the relax with release. Liza stands up and brushes her wet hair out of her face. She leans back under the spray. He presses closer to her and kisses her exposed throat and up to her mouth. They cool off under the lukewarm water before getting out. Liza watches him out of the corner of her eye, wondering if she went too far. Adam tends to be conservative, sexually. As she reaches around to hook her bra, he steps up and does it for her. He wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her shoulder.
"That will give me something to remember for the next few weeks." She smiles. "Do I want to know where you learned to do that?" She turns sneaking a quick look of him in only his boxers.
"I don't know, do you?" He thinks on it and shakes his head.
"No. But let me know if you remember any other talents you want to share." He pulls her closer, caressing her back with a feather touch.
"Oh, I will. I promise. So …talents?" He nods. "So, you liked it." He briefly closes his eyes.
"Yes. Very much." He gives her a small kiss before letting go and walking to the bedroom to dress and pack.
"So, you saw him last week?" Sarah asks rubbing Liza's stomach with gel.
"Yes. I did." Liza can't help but smile. Sarah turns on the ultrasound.
"Any chance that I will get a name."
"No, can you see anything?" She asks trying to change the subject.
"It is only the first trimester, there is not much to see but…here." Sarah points out the head and spine. Liza can't help but shed a tear.
"And everything is alright?" Sarah prints a couple of pictures, turns off the machine, and begins wiping off Liza's stomach.
"Yes, Miss Paranoid. Your love child is healthy and so are you." Liza sits up. "Does he know he's daddy bound?"
"No, not yet but soon."
"He will start to notice."
"Unless, I call off our relationship." Sarah stops.
"Liza, you can't be serious."
"You wouldn't say that if you knew…" Liza just shakes her head.
"If I knew what? Is he mean to you? Doesn't like children? Abusive?"
"No. No, nothing like that. Its just who he is that…It's Adam." She waits for Sarah's reaction.
"Adam, who?" Liza looks shocked at her reaction. "Adam? Adam? Like, Adam Chandler, father of Colby, your former husband, Adam?"
"Yes." She nods. Sarah sits back against the counter and stares at Liza. Minutes pass and Liza starts feeling uncomfortable.
"Adam Chandler? Wow! Well, I'm impressed with his stamina and enthusiasm. With everything you've told me, the man is a machine." She steps up to Liza. "You should tell him and keep your relationship going. Liza, he obviously makes you happy. Make it work this time and maybe you can get Colby back, too. Liza, if it doesn't work you have us. He doesn't know where you live now. Bobby with back you. So will Lilly and I. Plus my husband is the sheriff." Liza takes her hand.
"Thank you. Now, can I have my baby's first picture?" Sarah hands them to her and leaves her to get dressed.
Stuart walks into Adam's study. "Adam, can I talk to you?" Adam looks up from his computer.
"I'm very busy, Stuart. What do you need?"
"Busy with what? Chandler Enterprises was sold."
"I know that Stuart. We have other properties and holdings that I need to keep track of. I am also trying to find the new owner of my company. I plan to on getting it back."
"JR and Colby are worried about you."
"What for?" He stands up.
"They say that you have been disappearing the past several months."
"So? I didn't realize they cared that much."
"They do. Colby came and asked Marian and me to talk to you. Where do you go? Are you in trouble?" Adam walks around the desk.
"Stuart. I am not in trouble nor am I causing any. For once." The last part he says under his breath. "And where I go is no one's business."
"Is it a woman?" Stuart asks bringing up JR's concern. Adam stalls. He made the deal with Liza to not tell that they were seeing each other. But, he didn't promise not to say he was seeing someone and Stuart will keep his confidence.
"Yes, there is a woman I've been seeing but I would like to keep this between us, Stuart. You can't tell Marian, no one. Understand?"
"Oh, Adam. This is wonderful." He thinks on it. "Is she married? Is that why it's a secret?"
"No! Well, no not that she has ever mentioned but it doesn't matter. One week of the month, she is mine and no one else's. Stuart, I've never felt this connected. Not Brooke or Erica, or Krystal. This is like…"
"Liza?" Stuart asks. Adam freezes.
"Yes, yes like Liza. After what's happened…" Stuart knows about Adam's TIA. "And the experience with seeing Dixie's image trying to save my soul, I finally understand some things that you have always wanted from me. This woman is my last, she's my future."
"And you think you will be able to change your ways for her."
"Yes, if given the chance to do this the way we wanted."
"I won't tell anyone. I promise. I hope I get to meet her one day." Stuart starts to leave. "I really hope it works out for you, Adam." Adam goes back to his work of finding out who now owns Chandler Enterprises. He has a name of the rep that was sent to negotiate with Zach. And the name of the holding company he represents, Three Brothers, Inc. He sits back.
"Where is Colby? She was so gung-ho about helping but now…" He picks up the phone to make a few calls.