Chapter 18

The water pelted against her skin, washing over the soapy residue and sending it splashing down the drain. Stepping out of the shower, she dried herself off. Sweltering, swirling steam spread onto the floorboards, covering the mirror in a frosted haze. Her skin was damp and moist. A towel wrapped around her curvy body, she stepped into the cool air, sticky with sweat and moisture. She got that smoldering look in her eyes as she feasted upon his tall frame.

"Are you just going to stand there?" she asked, protruding her bottom lip into an exaggerated pout.

"I was waiting for you," he countered in a low ghost of words.

She stepped closer to him, holding onto the towel draped across her figure. "It isn't every day I accept an invitation like this."

"That's good, because it isn't every day that I ask beautiful women to pose for me."

"I didn't even know you painted."

"There are a lot of things we don't know about each other."

"That's true. So where do you want me?"

Brady had to think for a moment. He had to control the numerous suggestions that came to him that had nothing to do with art. "Maybe on that chair by the window."

"Sure," she said and walked across the room. "I should have known you were an artist. You have that whole loner thing going for you."

"Thanks. I think?"

"No, I meant it as a compliment. I never have really figured you out, Black. Well, at least not yet." She winked.

"Does that mean you plan to?"

"It might," she smiled, that wonderful, bright smile that seemed to illuminate the room.

"Whenever you're ready."

"I'm ready," she told him, slowly dropping the towel so it puddled at her feet. She was confident and radiant as she stood naked before him, unashamed, uninhibited.

Brady watched as the towel fell from her perfect skin to land on the unworthy floor. Her body was too perfect, remarkable. He was starting to have doubts that he could really capture all that she was with paint. "God, you're gorgeous."

"Is that your professional opinion?"

"No, that's just an amazing observation. Sit any way you like as long as you're comfortable," he told her, taking his brush and palette in his hands.
Chloe positioned herself in the chair, her legs pulled tight to her stomach, her hair cascading down her back and shoulders, slightly covering her breasts.

The paintbrush molded to the canvas, drawing a perfect line. The paint, crushing to the white background, slowly being filled in, began to take shape. The lines were soft, the colour matching her tan skin perfectly. Slow, careful strokes became hurried as he couldn't draw his inspiration fast enough. He sweated through his shirt, as he hurriedly sought more paint, more detail.

He switched to a new medium. Grabbing charcoal and a sketch book, he stepped away from the easel and came closer to Chloe. He drew her from various angles in a frantic race of shapes and textures. Finally, the heat was too much, and he tore his shirt off, flinging it to the ground near Chloe's foot and that too became part of a sketch. Everything surrounding them was incorporated, as if their experience was being recorded on paper. His hands and chest were black as he rubbed the charcoal against the grain of the paper. The natural light from the window quickly faded but was not replaced. He worked even in the dark, sketching the wonderful creature in front of him.

Chloe watched him, seeing him, almost for the first time, alive. He was passionate, more so then she saw in him during the daylight hours when he was too caught up in the world. He was different, and yet so was she. They weren't hiding who they were. The drawings were sprawled everywhere, and the paintings were drying, but he still wasn't satisfied.

Brady looked Chloe in the eye, and she looked back at him with a mysterious smile. She stood, leaving him kneeling on the floor beside the chair to watch her. She picked up a clean canvas and a paintbrush. Still naked, she stood in front of the easel. Brady stood up and came behind her. Taking her hand in his, they slid the brush down together. His chest pressed against her, heaving in and out, as they painted together.

Brady's other hand locked onto her hip, and he grazed her stomach while still paying attention to their work of art. Soon she found it hard to concentrate, as he slipped his hand against her skin, lightly massaging her back and shoulders. His mouth found her nape while he gingerly played with her hair, keeping his eye trained on the portrait.

Chloe struggled to keep control as she felt his hot breath wash over her neck and back. Turning to face him, she crushed her breasts into his strong chest, as her lips made fast work of his throat and jaw. They dropped the brush, splattering paint against her bare legs and his jeans. Neither noticed. Or if they had, they didn't care. He touched her cheek, sharing the charcoal with her sensitive skin.

Sculpting his back and shoulders, she drew in a breath as his mouth plundered against hers. He drew out her tongue and molded it to his. Again colliding with her lips and sweet tongue, he suckled on her perfectly formed bottom lip. She didn't resist. She only encouraged, sending chills down his spin. Her mouth was perfect as it danced and hummed in perfect rhythm with his own. They felt whole, connected, a part of the same painting, being drawn together by dizzying pleasure.

She wavered as her back hit the canvas, and the paints squished against her skin and between his fingers. The soft, cool paint took off the edge of the heat being built between the two lost souls. Brilliant blue and radiant reds mixed, becoming a dark, fluid purple smeared against their skin and his clothing. Oranges, vibrant and alive, smudged on her skin as he moved over her stomach and breasts. She spread yellow and green over his fly as she undid his pants, making him just as naked and colourful as she was. He looked at her, a technicolour rainbow, the most beautiful one he had ever seen.

The experience became surreal. They were actually free, and no longer tainted by clothing. Feeling and experiencing each other. Her lips met his once again. As their bodies moved together, slick with paint, he closed his eyes, savouring the sensation……

His eyes opened. He looked around the room and reality hit him. As he slammed the alarm clock, he ran his hands through his dampened hair, realizing it was only a dream. Trying to sit up, he realized his erection was all too real.

After a long, cold shower, Brady dressed and was off to work on his motorcycle. He rushed through the doors without looking up and walked fast down the hallway to his office. Chloe came around the corner, holding stacks of files in her arms, and was practically run over by Brady. Papers went flying into the air, and Chloe landed with a thud on her bottom.

Brady stifled a laugh and offered her his hand. ""I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's fine," she told him and bent down, beginning to pick up the papers that were now out of order. It would probably take her the rest of the day to get them all organized again.

Brady squatted next to her and tried to help her out. She didn't even look at him, and she seemed tired. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Chloe told him simply, almost with no regard to the question.

"You look tired," he told her. Gently, he brought his hand against her face and stroked her cheek, letting it rest in her hair.

She closed her eyes and nearly started to cry right then. It was hard enough dealing with Derek and lying to Brady about it, but when he showed that kind of tenderness with her, she felt so much worse. "I'm fine, really," she said, taking his hand out of her hair.

Brady watched her. He couldn't quite make out the mix of emotions on her face and decided not to pursue it. "Do you want to hang out tonight? Maybe you can come over, and we can watch some T.V. or something."

"I don't think so," she answered, still keeping her emotions aloof.

"Why not? Do you have other plans?"

"No, it's not that. It's just that I'm not really in the mood for that."

"Maybe, we could go out somewhere then?" he asked, unsure of what game she was playing.

"We'll see."

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

"Positive," she said, meeting him in the eye.

"I'll see you later then, I guess." He walked away, confused and frustrated. He thought they had been making strides and were finally settling into some type of comfortable friendship.

Brady walked into his office, slamming the door behind him and closing the blinds. He took out a pack of smokes from his desk. It had been a long time, he realized, since he had smoked. Lighting the cigarette, he fell against the couch and stared up at the ceiling in frustration.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The small blonde beauty and her bubbly friend walked into the bustling auto shop. Immediately, Jared spotted the girl he had known practically his whole life. She wasn't the girl he remembered but was now a woman. Her face looked oddly distressed, marring her perfect features.

"Jar!" she called from halfway across the room and ran to meet his extended arms. The other girl stood in place, folding her hands over her chest, feeling very out of place.

"Belle, what are you doing here?" Jared said, standing before his best friend''s sister.

"I have to talk to Brady. Is he here?" she questioned, the worried expression donning her face once again.

"Actually, he's out for lunch, but he should be back soon. Why don't you go wait in his office?"

"Sure." Belle waved her hand at Mimi and motioned for her to join them. Slowly, she made her way to the pair and desperately tried not to be noticed. "Jar, I want to meet my very best friend, Miriam Lockhart."

Jared met Mimi's hazel eyes and swallowed hard. She was simply dressed, and her hair was not done in any special way. But she nearly took Jared's breath away. When she smiled at him, he couldn't help but reciprocate. Always being the type of girl men saw as plain, she was always nervous meeting new people, but nothing about Mimi was plain.

"It's nice to meet you, Miriam," Jared said gallantly.

"Actually, most people call me Mimi."

"All right, Mimi then." He laughed and took her hand, gently shaking it.

"That's right!" Belle exclaimed. "We were having a slumber party, and you and Brady were at the penthouse too."

Jared smiled fondly. "I remember," he said simply.

"Well, it's been nice seeing you again," Mimi said quietly.

"We'll all have to go out one night. You know, catch up and everything," Belle said, smiling, momentarily forgetting the reason she was there in the first place.

"Yeah, we'll definitely have to do that," Jared responded, feeling excited.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mimi sat outside of Brady's office, staring down at her feet. She didn't react well to all the attention from the men in the garage. She wasn't used to the whistling and cat-calls she had received when she walked in. New York was nothing like Salem. Here, she was noticed, and she still wasn't sure if she liked it or not. She was nervous, and she knew why. The last time she had seen Brady, they were practically still kids, but she had the biggest crush on him even then. The butterflies turned in her stomach at his approach. She stood up to greet him, and he swallowed her up in a hug. He picked her up and swung her around.

Chloe watched from the doorway of her office. She couldn't help but feel a wave of jealousy pass through her.

"Meems, what are you doing here?" he questioned, setting her back down on her feet.

"It's Belle!"

"Belle! My God, what's wrong with her?"

"Nothing, well, nothing life-threatening anyway. She's waiting in your office, but I wanted to talk to you first."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"It's Shawn."

"What did he do to her? I'll fuckin' kill him," Brady said, angered.

"Brady, calm down." Mimi put a hand on his arm, which got Chloe even angrier. "It's not that simple. Things like this never are."

"Things like what?"

"I think she should be the one to tell you."

"All right. Wait out here, and I'll go in to talk to her."

Mimi nodded and sat back down.

Brady carefully opened the door. Belle looked up and stood to greet him, throwing herself into his chest. He couldn't help notice her tear-stained face and baggy eyes. It wasn't typical Belle, not the lovely, perfect girl he had known. She was troubled, and he guessed it had something to do with Shawn Brady.

"Come here!" Brady said, gently walking her to the couch and easing her down. He handed her a tissue and sat next to her. Looking into her sad, swollen eyes, he couldn't help but let his anger take over. ""Belle, what did he do to you? Did he hit you? So help me..."

"No, Brady. Shawn would never hurt me like that."

"Then what is it? What's going on?"

"He's going to leave me."

"What do you mean leave you?"

"He's moving away, and he's going to leave me behind. So I broke up with him before he had the chance to do it first."

"Well, that was dumb," Brady quipped, matter-of-factly.

"What!? Aren't you supposed to be supportive? You're not supposed to sit there and call me names; you're supposed to help me. What kind of brother are you?"

"Belle, listen to me. Shawn loves you. He has all of his life. I don't think he's going to stop now. Did you give the guy a chance to explain? Are you sure his plans don't include you?"

"I don't know, Brady. I couldn't stay to find out. I called Mimi and begged her to come with me to visit you. When we were on the plane, I told her the real reason we were coming to see you."

"Now do you see why I called you dumb? Granted, it was a little harsh, but Belle, you didn't hear him out. And you got poor Mimi involved now, too. Why don't you pick up the phone and give Shawn a call?"

"I can't."

"And why not?"

"I said some things. Some terrible things. I was just so angry. Things were going so good. I just wanted everything to stay how it was."

"So you were being selfish? Just caring about what you want, instead of what was best for Shawn?"

Belle nodded in response.

"Well, don't worry. If I know Shawn, I bet he's sick from worrying. He loves you, Belle. Never doubt that. Now, pick up the phone, and give him a call. I'll wait outside the door to give you some privacy."

"Thanks, Brade. I knew you'd know what to do."

"That's what I'm here for." Brady exited the room, closing the door to give Belle some privacy.

"Hey, Meems. I'm sorry I left you out here all alone."

"No problem. How'd things go?"

"Good, I guess. She''s phoning him right now. I know she's my little sister and all, and I love her. But boy, does she know how to create problems for herself."

"That's our Belle."

"So, Meems, how about you? Caused any trouble lately?"

"Ah, Brady, you know me. I try to stay away from trouble," she said, tugging at her sweater. "Mostly," she added with a hint of sarcasm.

"You know, Mimi, you haven't changed a bit. You're still that same shy girl with more personality and humour than you'd ever let on. Only now you're a woman. I like that about you."

"I can''t say the same for you, Brady."

"Wow. You sure know how to boost a guy's ego, don't you?" he said, forcing his bottom lip into a pout.

"That's not what I meant," she laughed, lightly hitting his forearm with little force. "I just meant you've really grown up. You're a man now, but you're still as gorgeous as I remember." She blushed.

"Miriam Lockhart, you're blushing," he teased, causing her skin to become an even darker pink. "Come here." He laughed and snatched her into a big bear hug.

Mimi was short compared to him, and she didn't quite reach his shoulder. She found her head buried in her chest as he squeezed her against him. She couldn't help but like the feel of him so close to her. It was true that in the past she had a crush on Brady, but she knew little about the man he was now. From what Belle had told her, he wasn't as carefree as he pretended to be with her. She knew he had secrets, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be the one to crack the code.

Chloe walked out of her office, humming a favourite melody. Realizing she had been unreasonably cold to Brady earlier in the day, she wanted to apologize. It was just so hard to think good thoughts as she waited for Derek to strike. Smiling to herself, she remembered how gentle Brady had been with her. He hadn't pushed her to tell him things she wasn't ready to. He was growing more patient with her each day. He wanted to spend time with her. Now, she was going to tell him she had changed her mind and would love to do anything with him.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the two hugging. A broad smile was etched over his face, and Chloe could tell this wasn't just some ordinary girl he had picked up off the street. This girl seemed to know him very well. Chloe's anger swelled in her head. She thought the other day had meant something to him. She thought they were finally connecting. Leave it to Brady to make her believe they were experiencing something real.

Brady let go of Mimi, and they laughed together. "Well, what'd you say once Belle straightens out this whole mess with Shawn, we all go out for dinner?"

"Dinner would be nice, as long as we can go dancing afterwards."

Brady looked down at his little sister's best friend, realizing how many years had passed and that she wasn't a child anymore. Both she and Belle were women. "Dancing?"

"This is New York. How often am I going to have an opportunity to go to a night club in the city that doesn't sleep? So what do you say, Brady?"

"All right, but would it be okay if I brought a friend?'

"That depends."

"Oh yeah, on what?"

"On whether that friend is Jared or not."

"Maybe you have grown up." He laughed. "I'll see what I can do." Then he looked up, catching Chloe eyeing him and his companion from across the way. He wondered what it looked like to her and hoped she hadn't gotten the wrong idea. They had come too far for him to blow it on some silly misunderstanding.

Before he had time to react, Belle walked out of the office with a smile plastered on her face.

"Well?" Mimi asked excitedly.

"Everything's okay. Shawn understood. He says he misses me, and he can't wait ''til I get back."

"And to think you had to come all the way to New York just to find that out."

"That's not the only reason we came here, Brady. It's not very often I get to see my older brother."

"Riiiight. Mimi told me all about your plans."

"Mimi! You told him about roping him into taking us shopping?"

"Shopping? No way, girls. You're on your own for that one."

"If you didn't tell him about that, what did you tell him about?"

"Well, Meems has convinced me to take you girls out dancing."

"That's so great. You are the best brother," she cooed, taking him in her arms.

It figured that Belle would make her life more complicated than it had to be. Brady wanted to protect her. He wanted her to hold onto her one true love. There was something so magical about love when it was with the right person, and he wanted her to have that.