Brady had brought them to a place that was a tropical paradise. Palms scattered the beach on clean white sand and the ocean spread before them, a never-ending lapse of blue water struck the shore. This was the type of place she'd wanted to go her whole life. The type of place that didn't demand anything from her. She could just be.

The salt water smell of the air was a welcome change to the polluted clogging air from the city and Chloe relished in it. She kicked off her shoes and ran through the sand like she was ten years old again and didn't have a care in the world.

Brady watched her for the better part of the morning while she twirled and splashed in the surf, letting her hair go wild with curls that spanned the length of her back. If only for a moment, he imagined that this was how their life could have been...would have been if she hadn't turned and walked out on him.

The heat was getting to him and he took refuge in his small office sorting through other cases and looking for a way to get around legal technicalities. By late afternoon, the air conditioner began to make a rattling noise and he feared it was going to give out by days end. Reluctantly he shut if off and opened a window. The evening breeze was just starting up and the room stayed cool. He heard the back door creak and knew Chloe was back from the beach. He didn't bother to greet her. There was still too much tension and an unnatural pull that kept him from trusting himself. The best thing for both of them was for him to stay away until they rode this thing out and he could get Chloe back to Salem.

--

Chloe had spent the afternoon on the beach while Brady kept himself closed up in the office just off the kitchen. She'd heard him on the phone a few times and he seemed angry. Chloe had never heard him that angry. As the day winded down and the sky was cast in gold and crimson light, she stepped back into the house. Her only thought was to have a nice hot shower and then sink into bed under the cool sheets and just forget.

--

Hearing Chloe race up the stairs, Brady stepped out of the office and moved to look out the window. The room was hot and his white button-down clung to his sticky skin. Gingerly undoing the buttons, he stepped out of the house and walked the beach, his shirt flapping in the wind. Soon the heat of the sun was pounding against his back, even though it was nearing eight o'clock, so he dropped his shirt from his shoulders with ease and kept walking.

Chloe stepped under the hot spray and soaked her hair. The bathroom was clean and bright with a hint of natural light coming from the open window. She quickly gazed out the window, but a person caught her eye. It was Brady on the beach, tan, tone and real. A deep ache began to throb between her thighs. The years away from Brady had done nothing to lessen her attraction to him, if anything time had increased her need. The years had been kind to him and although he wasn't the same young man he once was, he'd developed into a very strong, brave man. His body was more built than she had remembered. His chest was broad and solid and his back the same. The muscles rolled when he moved and his tousled hair became more so. He was beautiful.

God she missed him. Missed his hands on her, his strong, strong fingers. Missed the way he made her feel when they were close, bodies pressed together and no space between them. She missed being connected to him. The throb continued to build and build so much so that she had to turn the water to cold and turn her eyes from the window. When she lathered soap over her body , she resisted the urge to do more naughty things.

Hours later, Chloe lay in bed, restless. Her entire body was aching for human touch...for Brady's touch. Throwing off the thin sheet that covered her, Chloe stepped out of bed.

She stopped on the last stair when she saw him gazing out the window to the moonlit sky. "You're still up," she said, sounding surprised.

"I told you I don't sleep that much." He swiped his hand over his face and closed his eyes briefly before he turned to her. His breath caught in his lungs.

"Right. Brady, why don't we just stop playing this game."

"What game?"

His heart raced, hard and fast against the bulk of his chest. His eyes roamed her body of their own accord. His body straightened; perked up with the smell of sex in the air. All she was wearing was one of those silk mens shirt nightgowns with the buttons in front. The room was electric with so much lust and desire it made it hard to breath. One charge, one tiny spark would set the room ablaze.

"Something is going on here. I can feel it and I know you can too," Chloe rasped gaining another foot closer.

Brady yanked his hand through his short spiked hair in frustration, sexually and otherwise. "What is it you think is happening between us?"

"The same thing that always happens when we're together; the reason I had to stop seeing you after I married-"

He held up his hand stopped her mid-sentence. "Don't say it. I don't want to talk about that. Not now. Not tonight."

"Fine. I want you Brady. I won't deny it, not tonight."

A muscle in his jaw ticked as he tried to hold back his anger. "What am I supposed to say to that?"

"You can't tell me you don't want this." Her head shook and those damn ringlets swayed with the movement, entrancing him in some mysterious hypnotic state. His body started to burn for her. The deep pressure built steadily making his jeans tight and uncomfortable. Even as he tried to deny it, she was quick to speak again.

"I can see it in your eyes. I can see that you need it just as much as I do." Her eyes were a scandalous mix of lust and passion as she stepped forward. Removing the clip form her hair, she let it cascade down her shoulders, pool against her buttocks. "Just give in."

Placing her hands on his chest, her fingers splayed the great expanse of muscle underneath her hand. Shoulders square, jaw set, he was spring tight. Letting her thumb rub the tight bead of his nipple, she was encouraged by the tiny flutter of breath that landed against her cheek. Letting her fingers trail down his stomach to scratch and mesh with the tiny blonde hairs below his belly button, Chloe smiled a vixens smile.

"Touch me, Brady." She knew what power she had over him and that if she just played with him a bit she could parlay that power into passion. "Right here," she moaned. Manipulating his hands against the vee of her nightgown, she let him feel how swollen her breasts were in anticipation of his touch. To have those strong hands over her, made her knees go weak. He needed to be touching her in ways that were sinful; she needed it more than she needed to breath. When her tongue flicked against his bottom lip that was it.

He tried to resist but the surge of energy that rushed through his fingers whispered for him to take her. "Is this what you want?" Grabbing the ends of her nightgown he ripped it apart sending the buttons skittering across the floor. Her nipples speared when the cool air hit her and the groan she let out was pure sexual desire. Cradling her breast in his large hand, his mouth moved against the column of her throat, nipping and mending the tiny bites.

Chloe pushed herself against his hand and arched her back to get closer. "Oh God, yes!"

When his mouth dipped into the hollow of her throat, and continued down to the curve of her breasts, she became drunk from his touch. She fisted her hand in his hair pulling a ragged moan from the back of his throat. Through her silk bra he kissed her perfect breasts. Drawing his mouth against her hard peak, Chloe's eyes closed and a guttural moan followed a shudder that sailed through her body. His tongue was quick and generous as he feasted on her nipples bringing them to the surface. The silk grew wet as he lapped against her, taking all he'd wanted over the years. She was jelly in his hands and he had a sweet tooth that wouldn't be satisfied with just a taste. She was honeysuckle sweet and he watched her blossom in front of him.

That's it, he thought as she moaned his name. Suckling, he devoured her like the ripest fruit straight from the vine. The saccharine taste of her reached his tongue and he had to swallow a few curse words.

Pushing Chloe against the wall he took her mouth; crushed his lips against her with bruising force. His hands travelled from her hip to her thigh, digging into the soft skin just below her nightgown. His hand slid under, pulling the silky material up with his fingers. Cupping her bottom, his fingers dug into her, pushing her against his rock hard body. His hands were rough with her, not giving way to tenderness that came with sweet lovemaking. This was sex in it's purest form. Hot and gaudy. Fast and tortured. They were crushed against the wall, breathing each other in. The friction was a thing of beauty as it sparkled with a life of its own.

When she thought she couldn't get any more turned on, he proved her wrong. His palm slipped between them moving against her hot center.

"Fuck, you're so wet, I bet you taste like honey."

The words sent the ache between her legs to throb even harder. Spreading her legs with his thick thigh, he settled there allowing her to buck and bend against him.

She was spinning; moving so fast she forgot that what they were doing was irrational. That it shouldn't be happening. That she was a married woman. The feel of him against her thigh made her wet through her panties. He thrust against her, burying his face against her neck saying words that were fire against her ear. Her breath was raspy and ragged against his neck where she bit and soothed, then sucked the blood to the surface colouring the skin a deep purple. The shell of his ear surrendered to her tongue and she dipped and laved at the creases and folds.

His lips were on hers again, and his tongue drew her out. Sliding into the dark cavern, his tongue sought and explored, finding the wonderful taste of her again and again. Pulling her lip into his mouth he bit down and was satisfied by the coppery taste of blood. Soothing the wound with his tongue, he came back for more, tasting her like she was his last grasp of reality. And she was.

He'd forgotten she was a hellcat in the sack, but as her nails scratched down his back, his memory resurfaced, sending an ice cold bucket of water through his system. The thought of anyone else having her this way made him sick. And he knew, even as his body pressed into her, that she'd been with Philip, maybe even just like this. Maybe she'd lost herself for him and dripped with hot sweat. A part of him --the very male part-- wanted to believe he was the only one that made her that crazy. But he knew it couldn't be.

He pushed her away on a heartfelt groan. Just as fast as it had started, it was over. Both in their respective halves of the room, were panting for oxygen.

Brady slammed his fist into the wall. How long had he wanted that? How many times had he dreamed of touching Chloe that intimately? How often had he thought of laying on top of her, spreading her thighs and sinking into her warmth? He might have dreamed it; wanted it, but had never wanted to give in to it. Giving in to it meant giving her power over him. And he almost let her have that.

"Brady, it's okay." Chloe, who had been slumped against the wall, righted herself and straightened out her nightgown.

"No it's not!" When he whirled around his eyes were hollow angry orbs.

She touched her lips. They were red and plump from their heated kisses. "I need you, Brady."

Brady looked at her and was repulsed with himself. Her face was flushed, her blouse still undone and he could still see the soft cream of her breasts, marred red from his calloused hands. "What about Philip, hmm? That's the reason you're here. That's why you came to me in the first place, isn't it? Oh I get it, he's not here and you thought I'd make a fine substitute; that I couldn't resist you, is that right?"

"It's not like that and you know it!"

"Oh no? Then what's it like? Why don't you explain it to me, Chloe."

"Brady."

"No really, I'm interested. Tell me! Will you sweet talk me and fuck me and pretend I'm him and then tomorrow pretend it never happened? Will we sit across from each other at the breakfast table while you loathe my very presence and pretend we're strangers again?"

"That's not how it would be and you know it!"

"I don't know it!" He yelled, causing her to shrink. "The only thing I know is that I let you in my life ten years ago and for what? For you to run back to Philip when I told you I loved you. When I touched you and kissed you...when I made love to you. Look where it got me. When things got too hard, you turn to him instead of me? Is that how relationships work?"

Chloe crossed her arms under her breasts and jutted out her chin. "That's not fair. Don't you dare do that to me!"

"Life isn't fair, Chloe. I learned that the hard way. You just need to deal with it." Brady scratched his fingers through his untamed hair and shook his head adamantly.

"You know I lost something too. It was my child too. Dammit Brady! I lost her too!"

His anger was barely concealed in his eyes and it threatened to explode if he wasn't careful. His voice was calm and cool when he spoke again. "Yeah, you did, but I didn't just lose our baby, I lost you too."

She stared at him hard, forcing the tears in her eyes to remain there.

"Wipe that look off your face. This is who I am now," he growled.

"No, it's not, it's who you pretend to be," she said softly and retreated to the sanctuary of the bedroom.

Brady whirled around and watched as she moved quietly out of the room. God dammit, he still wanted her, but more than that, still loved her.

_____

This is dedicated to Georgie who months and months ago bribed me into writing a sentence with the words "Fuck" and "Honey" in it and this was the result.