Chapter 7

Chelsea had just settled into her chair at the studio, which was no easy task these days. She felt like she was getting larger by the minute, and the baby's never ceasing acrobatics were beginning to wear on her nerves. She knew she was putting untold amounts of stress on herself with the web of lies she had concocted to keep her baby safe, but more and more she was starting to wonder about the wisdom in lying about the baby. There was no way out now, she thought gloomily.

Johnny, her first born, was very quiet and docile compared to this baby. Figures, she thought sarcastically. This baby was half Adam, so it was probably going to come out making enemies in the nursery by cribbing another infant's pacifier or something. She knew Adam better than she knew herself at times. His countenance usually belied a tremendous amount of pain. He liked to pretend that nothing got to him, but she knew better.

Victor had really done a number on his youngest son, possibly damaging him irrevocably. Chelsea naively thought she would be enough for him, but seeing Adam sitting so congenially with his father at On the Boulevard was a jarring reminder of how important Victor was to him. She couldn't wrap her head around how easily Adam had forgiven Victor, but his father's love and approval meant more to him than anything or anyone…even a family of his own.

The thrum from the elevator broke through the turmoil swirling around in her brain as she waited for her computer to boot up. She watched as Dylan strode off the elevator and marched up to her desk, clearly agitated.

She smiled up at him. "Did you forget something?" Chelsea asked, confusion evident on her face.

"I just had a conversation with your ex!" he snapped.

"You what?! Where? When?" Chelsea struggled to stand.

"I waited for him to come out of the restaurant Chelsea. I can see what he's doing, and you're falling for it!"

"Okay, now hold on. Falling for what exactly?" She posed, her confusion quickly becoming replaced with annoyance.

Dylan inched closer to her, and staring fixedly into her eyes, replying coldly, "I saw him with his hands on your belly. I didn't like it. That's OUR baby, and he has no business putting his hands there!" he chided.

Fuck! Chelsea knew he was right in the theoretical sense, but technically, Adam had more rights than Dylan. She knew she shouldn't have risked letting Adam feel the baby like that. Still, she didn't like Dylan lording over her either.

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him to stay the hell away from you. He doesn't give a damn about you Chelsea! He likes to mess with people, and I'm not going to let him hurt you again." Smirking, he finished, "I think he finally got the message."

"Let's get something straight. I'm sorry about Adam touching me like that, but I don't need you or anyone else giving Adam messages! If he needs to be set straight regarding anything where I'm concerned, I can deliver that message to him." She was shaking with fury at the thought of Dylan threatening Adam, and that she felt protective of Adam infuriated her even more.

"I don't want him near you Chelsea! He's nothing but a rich, spoiled punk!"

Chelsea couldn't believe the way he was acting. She wasn't some helpless female, in need of male intervention to shoo away the big, bad wolf! This was a side of Dylan she hadn't seen before, and it wasn't pretty.

"He's not a punk, okay?" She could feel her face warming. "If you think Adam is spoiled, then you don't know the first thing about him. He's rich, but that's the only thing you got right."

"I see you're his biggest defender because no one else in town would take up for him. You can't even have a normal conversation with him because he's constantly coming back with some smartass comment or some insincere bullshit!"

"Whoa!"

Neither one of them heard the elevator as Chloe suddenly appeared next to them.

"I could hear you guys screaming from a closed elevator! Why are you shouting at each other?"

"Mind your own business Chloe!" Chelsea angrily retorted.

"I'm leaving," Dylan mumbled, his face tense and emotionless.

"Sorry, I can come back…"

Dylan expelled a long breath before responding, "No, it's okay. I've said everything I have to say." He abruptly turned, and stalked over to the elevator without saying another word. They both watched quietly as the elevator doors closed.

Chloe slowly turned back to address Chelsea. "You want to tell me what the hell that was about? Oh wait, let me guess..Lucifer?"

"Not now Chloe," Chelsea responded weerily.

"Was it Adam?"

She just wouldn't let up. "Yes Chloe! He's pissed about Adam, okay?!"

"Please tell me you're not about to ruin the best thing that ever happened to you!"

Chelsea could feel angry tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm so sick of everyone trying to tell me what to do!" Pushing Chloe aside, she reached for her purse sitting on top of a pile of neglected papers on her desk.

"Where are you going now? To see Adam?"

"I have to try and salvage my relationship with Dylan, so yes, I'm going to see Adam," she replied resentfully as she left Chloe standing with her mouth agape.

She had only been to Adam's penthouse one other time, and interestingly, she was loaded for bear then too. As she stepped off the elevator she could hear music streaming out into the foyer. Adam and Dylan were walking, talking contradictions. They had almost nothing in common. Even their musical taste warred against each other. Dylan was country, and Adam was...different. What the hell was he blasting in there, Chelsea wondered absentmindedly as she pressed the buzzer outside his door.

It was obvious he wouldn't hear a five alarm fire with the music so loud. She tried the door, and to her astonishment he hadn't bothered to lock it.

"Adam?" she called out, as she stepped into the main sitting area. Hearing the sound of a shower, she started to leave, but decided against it and took a seat on his sofa. If she left now she would lose her nerve, and she had to sever all ties with him if this was going to work.

This was torture, she observed, as her mind inexplicably began to imagine him in the shower. Suddenly, memories of taking showers together intrusively flooded her mind, almost against her will. She turned despondent as she thought about how playful and uninhibited they were with one another. She felt just as comfortable with him in the shower as she did fully dressed, and curled up next to him on the sofa watching some lame movie.

"This is crazy. Stop it," she scolded aloud. Damn her out of control hormones! Why did she have to lust after a man who made her life a living hell?! Just as she began to have second thoughts about sticking around, she heard the water turn off. Suddenly her heart rate ticked up at the thought of him walking out and finding her there.

She breathed deeply, trying to collect herself as she rehearsed what she would say in her mind. A couple of minutes went by, when he surprised her by strutting out of the bathroom wearing only a towel, and headed straight for the kitchen. Miraculously, he still hadn't noticed her on the sofa. She was now strongly regretting her decision to stick around, and wanted to sink into the cushions when he finally saw her and noticeably jumped.

Walking over to the keypad on the wall, Adam lowered the volume on his sound system, and fumbled to secure the towel around his waist as he walked over to greet her. She slowly rose from the sofa as he approached.

"I'm sorry to just barge in, but I did ring…" she trailed off, embarrassed.

"No, it's okay," he interrupted anxiously. "I like my music loud, so it's my fault I didn't hear the door chime."

"You really should lock your door."

He smiled at the concern in her voice. "Sorry for my attire, but I wasn't expecting company."

Chelsea's eyes betrayed her as they traveled down his chest to his lean torso. She immediately noticed he had lost weight. He was much leaner now, with an athletic runner's body. She gathered part of the weight loss stemmed from the shooting, and was suddenly curious to see where he had been shot.

"You were shot…in the back?" She blurted out, and then inwardly cringed at her forwardness.

He was taken aback momentarily, before quickly recovering to reply, "Would you like to see?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I asked you that…"

"Chelsea…it's okay. We used to be married," Adam gently chided her. He slowly turned, exposing his back to her. He heard her sharp intake of breath, and then felt the gentle flutter of her fingers as they traced the scar from the entry wound located between his shoulder blades.

"My God Adam. You're lucky to be alive."

"So they tell me," he murmured. Turning to face her, he uttered, "Listen, I just showered after my run, so please, make yourself comfortable on the sofa while I put something on. I'm feeling a little vulnerable half naked while in the company of a fully dressed, and beautiful ex-wife."

"Sure," she replied too quickly, almost cutting him off.

He studied her curiously for a second before walking back into his bedroom to dress. Deciding upon comfort over style, he hurriedly grabbed some loose fitting drawstring pants and a tee shirt from his dresser. He was happy to see her, but worried about the purpose of her visit. Something didn't feel right. She was acting nervous, and that in turn was making him nervous. That stupid ass Dylan probably ran back and grunted some Neanderthal warning to her, he surmised bitterly.

Emerging once again to join her in the sitting room, he took a seat next to her on the sofa. She turned toward him just as he was preparing to ask her about the purpose of her visit.

"Adam- I think we need to cut all ties," she murmured uncertainly, shifting her eyes to the floor.

He exhaled deeply before responding, "You can't even look at me when you say that Chels."

She sharply looked up to search his eyes, and finding her voice and her confidence coldly stated, "We can't be friends Adam. It's just not going to work." She held his gaze without blinking.

He could feel her slipping further away, and wanted to kill Dylan at this moment. Since when did Chels let some guy dictate to her? Struggling to keep his temper in check, he bit back the first thing that popped into his head, and instead opted for a more measured and careful approach.

Sighing heavily, he responded, "Chelsea, I don't know what I've done, but I promise you I will respect your boundaries. I really miss our friendship." He mentally kicked himself at that weak sounding overture.

"You didn't do anything Adam, but I'm with Dylan now, and I…" she stopped talking, as she fought to stand up. She had to get out of there before she broke down in front of him.

Adam quickly stood, grasping her arm to steady her. They stood facing each other as she looked up at him, frozen in place. She thought her heart would leap out of her chest as his eyes burned into hers. She wanted to run, and desperately wanted his kiss at the same time.

In that moment, he knew she wanted him, and without thinking or giving her time to think, he cupped her jaw with both hands and slowly brought his lips to hers. She immediately protested, and half-heartedly tried to push him away, making him twist his fingers in her hair, holding her to him more firmly.

Chelsea whimpered softly as he deepened the kiss, parting her lips with his tongue. Unable to resist any longer, she returned his kiss with a sense of urgency and longing, stroking his tongue with her own. Her knees buckled when he began sucking on her lower lip, and in one fluid motion he pulled her on top of him as he lied back onto the sofa.

Adam pulled her legs on either side of his waist as he settled against the cushions with her straddling his hips. Her hair hung down like a curtain around his face as she gazed into his eyes before lowering her lips to his. Her breath was warm and achingly sweet. He gasped slightly as she ran her tongue lengthwise across his lips before gently flicking it between his parted lips. He needed to feel her skin against him now. Without breaking the kiss, he grasped the fabric of her dress, pushing it up past her waist. She immediately broke the kiss and fumbled to pull the fabric from his hands.

"Babe…please…"

"Don't Adam…I feel huge…"

Covering her hands with his, he placed his mouth against her ear and whispered, "You are more beautiful to me now than ever before." Still holding her hands at her sides, he nibbled and lightly flicked his tongue into her ear. She melted into his touch, as he once again clutched the fabric of her dress and in one smooth move, pulled it up over her head, with no more resistance on her part. He reached around her and quickly unfastened her bra, throwing it and her dress on the floor. He couldn't breath as he took in the beautiful creature on top of him. She in turn gathered the folds of his tee shirt and pulled it over his head, tossing it behind him. She stroked his chest as he continued staring at her like he wanted to devour her.

"So amazing," he whispered, as she kissed him, nibbling his lower lip playfully, until he couldn't take the torture any longer. He somehow managed to remove her leggings and his pants in short order, casting them aside where they soon joined her bra and dress on the floor.

Their heavy breathing combined with the haunting, evocative music playing softly in the background, served as the backdrop to their lovemaking.

"What do you need baby?" he whispered into her ear, producing a wave of goose bumps across her skin. All of her senses were heightened, and there was no stopping now.

"You. Just you. Now," she whispered breathlessly against his mouth. He knew he wouldn't last long under these circumstances, as they began a slow, sweet rhythm, completely in tune with each other. The rest of the world ceased to exist. There was only this moment, and they were the only inhabitants of the beautiful world they had just created. No more hurtful words or actions. Just love.

Chelsea slowly began to feel consumed by the fire burning throughout her body, as their lovemaking reached a fever pitch. He softly moaned against her lips, sending both of them over the edge of the precipice as wave after wave washed over them, leaving them breathless and shaking.

She collapsed against him, lying on her side as he stroked her back. He was acutely aware of the baby nestled between them, and knew then that he would die for her and this child.

After a few moments of lying in each other's arms, with limbs tangled together, Chelsea broke through the silence and asked, "What is that shit you listen to on your stereo?"

"Shit?! Oh, that's right, you're into country. Yuck." He tugged on her hair. She smiled against his chest.

"Now what?" he asked, as he softly kissed her hair.

"What do you mean?" she replied hesitantly.

"Where do we go from here, Chelsea?" He knew what he wanted, and inwardly prayed she wanted the same thing, but the hesitancy in her voice terrified him.

"I should probably go." As quickly as possible for someone in her condition, she moved to gather her clothes off the floor, and hastily began dressing.

"Wait a minute. That's it?" he asked in disbelief, his anger beginning to rise. "You can't just walk out. We need to talk about what happened." He dressed quickly as she searched for her purse.

Finding her purse, she fumbled inside for her car keys, and moved toward the door. "I'm sorry Adam. I can't talk about this right now! Everything is so fucked up," she said, choking back the tears that threatened to fall.

He walked up behind her, and grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. "That's my baby. I know it, and you know it."

She stared at him for a moment, too shocked to speak, and then her anger took hold. "So that's what this was about. You thought you would seduce me to get me to tell you what you want to hear."

"What? No!"

"Really? Because this sure feels like a setup Adam!" She yanked her arm free, and reached for the door.

"Chelsea, you couldn't be more wrong about me," he replied, his frustration and anger building. "I love you, and I know you love me! Please stop lying!"

"Goodbye Adam."