CHAPTER 26
Carly's fiery, eager response told Bo she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. Her hands were already under his sweater caressing his back, her jeans clad legs wrapped round him. Sixteen years stolen from them yet her mouth still knew him very well and his hands still knew which particular areas to touch in order to get her respond to him instantly. The very first time they'd made love in Mexico, so long ago; it was as if that soft, soft body was made specifically for him- every part of her was his and they fitted perfectly together whenever they made love after that; tender yet wild and frisky, sometimes almost brutal- like the night he'd publicly announced their engagement. Whatever was going to happen between them right now, it would be fuelled by their long separation. Everything Larry did to her over the years he'll make her forget; tonight and the rest of their lives.
Lifting Carly up slightly, he pulled the shirt from her shoulders and down her arms, raining kisses on her neck and breasts. Her breath warm against his cheek, she tugged at his sweater and he helped get it off before lowering her down again on the couch, grinding himself against her. Their mouths devoured each other's, hands feverishly caressing.
A sudden ringing in his jacket resting on the Barcalounger nearby broke the spell; just as Bo was pushing the bra strap down her shoulder. They both froze. The ringing sounded again.
'I don't believe it!' Bo muttered against her neck.
Reality hitting at full force, Carly shifted under him. 'I guess you have to get that,' she said, gently pushing him off her and sitting up.
Retrieving the phone from the jacket pocket, Bo pressed 'answer'.
'What?' he snapped. After listening in silence and speaking for a few minutes, he hung up and turned back to Carly. 'It's the station... a case I'm working on...' He stopped, staring at her. She was just doing the last button and pushing back her dishevelled hair. She met his eye and lowered her gaze, red in the face.
'No... Don't you dare do that!' he pulled her into his arms, holding her head up to look at him. 'No guilt.'
Too late for that, Carly thought; shame and embarrassment running through her. How could she have forgotten completely; she'd come on to him like a bitch on heat, forgetting he belonged to another... Hope! This was way different than before; she was alive and kicking, how could she ever compete with her? Billie wasn't able to!
She shook her head, pulling away. 'I... I guess I had too much wine and strayed a little too far down memory lane, that's all. I'm sorry...'
'Carly, stop that!' Bo shook her slightly. 'We're adults; we knew what we were doing! I for one am not sorry.' His face softened, stroking her hair. 'I've wanted to do that... for the longest time. And I know you wanted it too.'
Carly stared at him, about to ask him exactly what he had in mind for them; a one night stand or, and it was too crazy to hope for... a second chance.
This one's just yet another rough patch and they'll get through it, like they usually do...
Jennifer's words gave her her answer. Bo was lonely and she was his ex whom he'd shared a lot of passion with. He needed solace now but in the end he will go back to Hope, which is what he would have done if Lawrence and Vivian hadn't played God with their lives. If she wanted to prevent her heart from being broken, this could never happen again, ever.
She looked up at him, smiling faintly. 'I admit that. I guess we both got carried away in the moment... this being a special day for us.' She rubbed his arm. 'You better get going.'
Frustrated beyond measure, Bo put his sweater back on and Carly helped him with the jacket, smoothing the lapels without looking at him. He lifted her head, brown eyes locked with hers.
'I know what you're thinking right now, Carly,' he said in a low voice. 'And the only thing I can tell you right now is, this isn't over.'
He kissed her hard before letting her go. 'I'll see myself out. Get some rest, okay?'
She nodded. Stroking her hair, he left the house, slamming the door behind him. Carly sank back on the couch and began to cry softly; beginning to think it would have been better if she'd died from the fall after all. Everything was so messed up!
She stayed there for a while then jerked as the bell rang again. Picking up her cane she went to answer the door, wondering if it was Bo and why he'd come back so quickly.
'Good evening, Carly.' was the cool greeting. 'Long time, no see. May I come in?'
::::::::::::::::::
Olivia turned down the volume of Limp Bizkit to answer the phone, wondering who could be calling her now. 'Hello?'
'Miss Alamain?' a deep hesitant voice replied. 'E.J DiMera.'
'Oh, you. How did you get this number?' Olivia asked suspiciously, strongly remembering Shawn Douglas and Grandy's warnings.
'Uh... I have my connections. I take it you've heard...'
'You supposed right. And I'll use this opportunity to say that you're the most despicable human being to walk the earth and I hope you burn in hell for what you did.' Phoebe raised her head at Olivia's harsh voice.
'Olivia, please...'
'Oh, the old chestnut, "there's two sides to the story". You have NO excuse for what you did!' Olivia spat. He was just like Lawrence; evil lurking behind the charming smile, the very worse type of mask.
'I don't; you're right!' E.J said hurriedly, desperate. 'But I promise you- I've learnt my lesson long since, I'm not that type of man anymore...'
'Save it for confession, Mr DiMera. I don't know what you want from me but don't you ever call me again.' She hung up. Caroline's story about E.J and the DiMeras had made her skin crawl, considering she'd lived with Evil personified for most of her life. Apparently, another evil lurked in the place she thought would be peaceful; E.J and his infamous father, Stefano. Her brother didn't have to tell her twice about staying away from him; if he's anything like his father.
Settling back on the large canopied bed, she picked up the remote only to curse loudly when the phone rang again. She answered it. 'What?'
'Olivia, please; don't hang up.' E.J said, his heart lurching at the sound of her voice, even though it was harsh right now. She affected him more than she possibly knew and it broke his heart that she'd already been fed with stories about him so soon. If he wanted her in his life and oh, how he did- he had to fight very hard to win her over.
'You're starting to get on my nerves,' she said coldly. 'I already told you...'
'Yes, I did it. I did everything your brother must have told you!' E.J's words tumbled one after another. 'And I hated myself for what I did, for a very long time- I still do! But please... give me a chance to show you... that I'm not that kind of man, not anymore.'
Olivia's eyebrows went up. 'Why's my opinion of you so important?'
E.J hesitated, wondering if he should tell her now. He might freak her out and force her to tell her father and the Commissioner was known to be very touchy when it came to his family; especially his children.
'I... well, you've just moved to Salem and I want us to be friends on a clean slate, a sort of new beginning for me.' he said, praying she would by it.
Silence from her end. 'Olivia?'
'I find you very weird.' she said at last. 'I don't like you and you want me to be friends with you. What exactly do you want?'
'Just that.' E.J pressed. 'Your friendship.'
'After what you did to my cousin? After what your family's done to mine? Are you serious?'
'Regard it as my step towards redemption, Olivia. I'm starved for a friend, someone I could really talk to. When I saw you today, I sensed you're the type of lady who would look beyond the surface and I hope you'd do that with me.'
Olivia didn't really like the way the conversation was going. 'Mr DiMera...'
'E.J, please call me E.J.'
'E.J, I don't really know you but based on what I've heard about you, we obviously can't be friends; it's ludicrous. I've not known my family long, true- but my loyalty lies with them. I'm sorry, but the answer is no. Goodnight and once again, don't call me again.' She hung up. History wasn't going to repeat itself; she was not going to allow a pretty boy in a fancy suit to get obsessed with her and not take no for an answer; just like Lawrence.
Victor had received the news of Carly's return from Justin with mixed feelings and curiosity had led him to this visit. On the way, he'd kept wondering if Carly was still the fresh faced beauty he remembered vividly or pale, haggard and thin from her ordeal over the years. He was wrong on both counts. Carly was even more beautiful, albeit a bit fragile looking, and carried an air of dignity on her shoulders as of old despite leaning on a cane. As he looked at the familiar green eyes, the old bitterness at her 'betrayal' reared up its ugly head and for a brief moment had an ugly thought; Lawrence should have finished her off. And then he remembered she was Olivia's mother. He was very much attached to the prickly young woman and if he wanted to have that close relationship he craved, he had to play nice. At least Hope has moved back in with Bo; so no danger of Bo losing his head over Carly again- that was something he would never approve of, because it would be another reminder that Carly had chosen Bo over him.
Carly in turn, regarded Victor with surprise, although hers was mild. Victor was now in his seventies yet, carried himself straight and proud; obviously still fit. The iron grey hair was now completely white and the face... sterner than ever. Bo and young Phillip didn't have that look thank God, neither did Justin or Brady.
'Long time, no see indeed, Victor.' she said, allowing him to enter. Victor entered the living room, looking round. 'Nice house.' he said, nodding in approval.
'Olivia picked it for us; she put everything together while I was still at the hospital.' She indicated an easy chair.
'Thank you.' Victor sat down. He saw the wine bottle and the two glasses on the coffee table but said nothing. 'Olivia did all this, you said. You trained her well.'
'This is not about training, Victor. This is a girl who was forced to grow up too quickly.' Carly replied, sitting down on the couch. Victor eyed the cane.
'That's not permanent, is it?'
Carly smiled sarcastically. 'Wouldn't you love it to be.'
'Come, come Carly; I didn't come here to fight with you. I came to see how you were.' Victor said gruffly. 'Why are you suspicious over one innocent remark?'
'Because none of your remarks are innocent, Victor Kiriakis. I know you and still do even after all this time. I saw the things you sent to me in Paris; you went all out, for a reason.'
'I sent them purely as Get Well presents. Be paranoid if you want but it's the truth.' Victor shifted, determined not to let those cat- like eyes get to him. The old anger was building up and he had to quell it and fast.
'SO, what brings you to my house, Victor? Mind you, I'm still in shock you came at all.'
Victor managed not to glare at her but he didn't smile either. 'It's more like a courtesy call; you're the mother of my eldest granddaughter after all. And I feel it's in Olivia's best interest that we let go of the past.'
So that's it. 'You mean you, Victor.' Carly replied coldly. 'You've always hated me, ever since I walked out of your house; you refused to let go of the past- you did all you could to come between Bo and me- even stooping to attempted murder.'
Victor looked back at her impassively. 'But I wasn't the one who lied to Bo about Nicky being your son and ruining your wedding day in the bargain. I'm still surprised he forgave you at all.'
'He forgave me because he LOVED me, it's what compassionate men like Bo do, they understand and they forgive!' Carly snapped, infuriated. 'Bo's nothing like you, he never holds grudges! Let go of the past indeed... I now know what this is about; you want to get close to my daughter!'
'Carly, once again I didn't come here to fight with you,' Victor said, as coolly as he could. 'I take back what I said. And yes, I admit I do want to establish a relationship with Olivia, she is a Kiriakis...'
'She's a Brady- make no mistake about that.' Carly interrupted him. 'And I'm not sure I'm comfortable about the idea of Olivia being around you.'
'You are being paranoid, Carly. Like I would harm any of my grandchildren for anything!' Victor protested.
'We're talking about my child here, Victor.' Carly persisted. 'She looks exactly like me! How can you assure me that every time you look at her, you don't feel like any hate?'
'My blood runs through her veins, she's Bo's daughter, my granddaughter.' Victor maintained stubbornly. 'As for you, It's hard to hold a grudge on someone locked in a coffin. Or maybe I'm getting old. Either way, Olivia's friendship is something I really want and the best thing to do is for us to learn to tolerate each other.'
Again, the arrogant 'us'. What a bastard he was, Carly thought. He'll never change, no matter what he thinks or how hard he pretended. 'I'll consider it... for now.'
'What on earth is there to consider...'
'Victor, Olivia was forced to live with a demon for sixteen years; she was kicked, whipped and beaten by him and I barely managed to keep him from killing her. If you want me to let you have access to her - you have to give me a valid reason to trust you. She has the mind of a twenty five year old but I'm still her mother and I'll protect her... with any means necessary.' Picking up her cane, she pulled herself up, looking down at him. 'Give me time to consider it.'
Victor knew when he was beaten and he didn't like it one bit. He got up. 'Very well, Carly. It's your call. I'll say goodnight.'
She inclined her head politely and saw him to the door.