NOTE: I realize that I sped up Brady's recovery, but I thought it would be better for the story, rather than dealing with all of the physical limitations the cast from his leg would provide.

Chapter 31

Brady walked out of the bathroom, holding the towel around his waist, and stopped in his tracks when he caught Chloe eyeing him. She scanned her eyes over his physique and let them linger on the reddened scar on his shoulder. Brady followed her eyes and felt his face go red when he realized she was looking at his fading wounds. "I know. It's not very attractive, is it?"

"Actually," Chloe began, licking her lips as she closed the gap between them. "I find it rather sexy. It kinda adds to that bad boy image that I fell in love with."

"Really?" Brady asked sheepishly.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Brade," she told him before her tongue descended into the groove on his shoulder where a knife had pierced his skin only a few months previously.

Brady nearly dropped the towel when he felt her lapping at his exposed tender flesh. "Chloe, you don't know what you do to me."

"I can pretty much see what I do to you," she laughed, ripping the towel from his waist.

"I guess you're at the horny stage." He laughed as she moved her hands against his throbbing groin. He said the words without a second thought and closed his eyes tight, thinking he might get a storm of accusation in way of response.

"Horny stage!? What?" Chloe asked absently, while she pushed him against the wall.

Brady breathed in deeply. He couldn't decide whether he should ruin the moment by telling her he knew she was pregnant, or to just play it off until she was ready to tell him. He was torn, and the feel of her tongue running circles down his chest was not making him think any more clearly. Fuck it. He wanted her. He always wanted her and hadn't been able to have her for what seemed like an eternity. His leg was healed, and his shoulder was almost all the way recovered. More than anything, he needed her. The way she touched him, grabbed at him like he was the cure for anything that ailed her, made him moan deep against her ear.

Shit, he wanted to stop. Wanted to will his body to not react to her, so that he could think rationally. But then, the alternative seemed so tempting, so right. Explanations could wait. The truth could wait until she was ready, but his libido could not. The blood rushed from his system, pumping to the center of his body where Chloe embraced it with tiny manicured hands and nails that gently scraped.

Now against the wall, Brady was trapped exactly where Chloe wanted him, and God Almighty, did she want him. She was a starving woman, and she would not stop until she gorged herself full of Brady Black. "Oh ,Brady," Chloe moaned, running her fingers over his body, cupping his erection in her hand.

Brady winced as she squeezed his length a little too tight. Fuck, she was eager. She pressed her cleavage against his wet chest, feeling the soothing drops against her tank top. Her hands left him for a brief moment as she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head. Brady's eyes feasted on her breasts as they spilled out. She wore no bra, and Brady smiled inside because Chloe always wore a bra and now he knew she had planned the entire episode. His hands gripped her hips and brought her back against him. The feel of her hardened nipples against his slick skin was enough to make him lose it right there.

She moved against him, pressing herself deeper into his embrace. Just the feeling of having him hard against her stomach was enough to make her legs shake as she anticipated the events to follow. He leaned his tall frame down and took her lips against his. The kiss was hard, needy, passionate. A blind desire came over her, and she couldn't control herself. She was no longer constricted by society's conception of the ""perfect woman."" She didn't let those dainty stereotypes box her in. She considered herself a modern woman, and a modern woman took control and seduced her lover with as much gumption and prowess as a cheetah stalking their prey.

Every inch of her body wanted to be touched and tasted, and when her mouth left Brady's to search his neck and collarbone, she forced his head against her own skin, and he complied. His tongue was not rough but definitely aggressive as he swooped against the hollow in her throat, down her breastbone and onto her breasts. She arched her back and let out the slightest of moans. Just the sound made Brady's heart quicken, and his pace became furious, as he tasted the glorious peak of her breast.

His hands roamed down her body, skirted her behind, then moved under the material of her shorts to cup her cheeks. He picked her up in one steady motion. It was his turn to groan, as he switched positions and hoisted her against the wall so that their lower halves were so close had she not still been wearing tiny shorts, he would be inside her. He braced one hand on the wall, and the other remained on her skin, holding her in place.

Already he felt the strain on his arm, but he didn't give a flying fuck. Nothing would take him away from this moment or her. He would take every opportunity he was given to be with her, because there had been a time when they might have ended up apart. His eyes could barely focus as his tongue darted into her sweet mouth. She was a goddess, and he was going to worship her. He tried to forget the secrets between them, the lies that had kept them apart. He wanted to be with her, filling her so completely there would be no way to pry them apart.

Brady set her down and moved his hands down her body, lingering as he went. He found the material of the small blue workout shorts and pulled them down as he went. He knelt in front of her, taking in her beauty and her intoxicating scent that had him on a head trip already. He kissed just above and below her belly button, so softly and slowly that it didn't seem to match up to the heated passion encircling them. When he realized what he had done, he moved back up to face Chloe's puzzled expression.

No, he wouldn't think about the baby, not now. Before she had the chance to question him, she found herself absorbed in another round of heated kisses. He lifted her once again, consumed by his lust. "I love you," he breathed out heavily against her. He met her eyes and smiled that silly crooked smile she loved more than anything.

"You know I love you, too," she replied, digging her nails into his back as he pushed his great length inside her. Dear God, she couldn't take it and bit down on his shoulder as he began to thrust into her.

He let out a ragged wheeze at the slight tingling pain and proceeded to command her body. She felt the orgasm rip through her so hard and so fast, she had no time to prepare and had she not been propped up she would have fallen onto the ground in a great heap. He felt her legs shake against him as she became overwhelmed by the sudden invasion, and he smiled against her neck, as he knew that would just be the beginning. Brady stopped moving and braced her against him as he moved from the wall and walked toward the bedroom. <>"What are you doing?" came her ragged reply.

"I'm sorry, hon, but I can't hold you up here much longer."

"Oh." She sank her head against his shoulder, running her tongue over the mark that her teeth had imprinted on his skin.

Brady breathed sharply at the pleasurable pain that she had inflicted. He was at the threshold when she began to become impatient and squirmed against him. "If you keep that up, I will never make it to the bed," he laughed softly.

"I don't need a bed," she whispered seductively, still moving up and down against him, finding a rhythm that was starting to consume her.

"You asked for it." Brady lowered her to the soft carpeted ground where they stood. He hovered over her, bucking his hips to her rhythm.

She turned them over in a quick motion, pinning him underneath him, and she rocked over him. His hands explored her pink flesh, moving down so close to their intertwined bodies. His hand was on her stomach, and he caught himself quickly this time. Chloe didn't seem to notice as she pushed him in and out of her, her hips buckling and losing the pace she set when his hand found her tight nerves so ready for him. Chloe looked down into his eyes, and when he merely continued running his fingers over her, she continued.

He was so close. He felt like his body was about to burst with so much tension and pent up sexuality. But he forced himself to hold on. Even though his loins were burning and his forehead was dripping sweat, he waited for her. And when she screamed out his name in fulfillment, he spilled inside of her, jerking and twisting with pleasure. Chloe came tumbling down against him, as they were both spent. He breathed in fire as his lungs constricted for air.

Brady lightly brushed his fingers across Chloe's shoulders and back. "Chloe!?" he whispered gently, but she was already asleep as he had suspected, and he picked her up and laid her down onto the bed and held her against him.

She sighed against his hard chest and relaxed into her new position. Brady, however, despite the tired ache in his body, could not find sleep. He was worried about her and their relationship. If she didn't feel comfortable telling him about the baby, what else couldn't she tell him? Brady reached between them and softly, very softly ran a finger over her stomach. There was a baby growing inside, and he just couldn't understand why she would want to hide that from him. A baby. His baby. Their baby.

God, he had waited for this. It hadn't happened on purpose, and he never even thought about the possibility the first time Chloe and he had made love. But now as he watched his Diva sleep, he wondered if somehow deep inside, he had in fact planned it. He was always so careful, so safe. So then why had they not used protection? Why had the thought never even crossed his mind?

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

Chloe moaned lightly in her sleep. She woke up easily and smiled when she saw Brady lying beside her. He was so handsome. He looked so young in his sleep, so free. She held her stomach and wondered if the baby would be just like him. If it were a boy, would he be rebellious and charismatic like his father? Or if it was a girl, would she be sweet and sensitive like Brady could often be? Boy or girl, their child would be beautiful. She imagined a small brown-haired, blue-eyed boy, running around chasing Brady, and she smiled at the thought.

They were going to give their child every opportunity and ounce of love that they so yearned for as children. Their children would have good lives with parents who cared and listened and encouraged. She imagined that there would be music. Music would fill the house on Sundays. And pancakes. Pancakes as high as the ceiling and as thick as a hockey puck. Chloe smiled to herself and rubbed her tummy again.

Suddenly, the thought of pancakes had her stomach rumbling, and she edged her way to the side of the bed. She tucked a few hairs behind Brady's ear. "Your hair's getting too long. We'll have to cut it when you wake up," she whispered and then grabbed her robe, setting off for the kitchen.

Chloe checked the cupboard and pulled out the ingredients she would need. Midway stirring the light batter, a loud knock at the door pulled her out of her trance, and she quieted her jovial humming. "Just a minute!" she called and set the bowl on the counter.

In just a few quick strides, she was at the door, turning the lock. The hair at the back of her neck stood up, but she brushed it off. She hadn't been feeling herself lately, and that's all it was, she told herself. But as she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat, and she staggered backwards. "What do you want?" she cried in terror as she met eyes with the worn, beaten shell of a man behind the door.

Derek sauntered into the loft like it was his own. His posture was straight as an arrow, so unlike himself. His eyes were cold as they had always been, but the blood that seeped from his pores was what made her jump. He came towards her, his mouth opening and instead of words, dead decay excreted from all crevices.

"No, no...you're not real," she screamed, clutching the counter top to keep herself up. Chloe closed her eyes and willed him to go away, but when she opened them, he was not only still in the room, he was closer than she was comfortable with.

"You're dead!" she yelled hysterically as the tears rolled past her cheeks onto the floor. She watched them hit the ground that was already wet from his footprints. His dead, sagging skin came to the side of her face by way of his hand, and she had to climb over the counter to get away. "You're dead!" she repeated lowly. She backed up until she hit the wall and had no where else to escape to.

He came still closer and closer until he was inches away from her, exhaling stale breath onto her face. She cringed and writhed to get away, but there was nowhere to turn. "Brady!" she said, straining to be heard as Derek's hand covered her mouth to silence her.

Then he was over her, wielding a knife inches from her throat. But his direction moved towards her stomach, and she knew he was going for their baby. Anything but the baby, she wanted to scream, but she couldn't. No, she wasn't going to be a victim the rest of her life. She wasn't going to let this bastard win. Chloe bit down hard, so hard she drew blood, and Derek released her, backing away and cradling his hand.

"Stupid bitch! I was going to just kill you, but now I think I'll have a little fun. Remember the first time, Chloe? We had fun then, didn't we?" His voice was cruel and heated.

Chloe knew where he was going with this, knew she didn't want to hear it. She covered her ears with her hands and closed her eyes. "You're not real!" she screamed.

"Oh yeah, you must remember. It was out in that old warehouse by the dock. You remember the one, don't you? You told me you weren't ready, remember? Do you remember what I said?"

Chloe closed her eyes tighter. No! No, she did not want to remember, but she knew. She knew his words and the look in his eye as if it were yesterday.

"Come on, baby. You know what I said. Let me hear you say it."

Chloe opened her eyes and looked at his beaten face. She gathered her strength. "You said I owed you. You said that it wasn't a big deal. You said no one waited until marriage anymore. But it was a big deal to me. I wanted to wait. I never loved you. I never wanted you!!" she screamed. "You made me do it. I didn't want to. You made me!" she cried.

"I gave you those pills, remember, baby? You agreed then, didn't you? You wanted me then," he told her boldly with a smug smile on his face.

"You tricked me! I never wanted to. You gave me drugs and got me so high I didn't know what I was doing. I hate you! I hate you!" she sobbed, clutching her stomach. "You're dead. I saw your body being pulled out of the river. You're dead."

"How do you know it was me? Did you see my face? Do you know for sure?"

Chloe's eyes popped open, and she could feel her heart pound against her chest.

"See? You're not so sure after all. Now come on, baby. Show me how much you missed me," he drawled, stepping closer. He knelt beside her, caressing her hair before he roughly pulled it and crashed her head against the counter.

Chloe cried out in pain as he mounted her struggling body. His weight was heavy, bruising, and she felt she couldn't breathe. The baby! "No!" She clawed at him with angry nails and tumbled around on the floor with him. He pulled the knife out once again and, without a second thought, drove it into her stomach. The blood came to the surface instantly and covered the linoleum floor. Chloe crumbled in pain and clutched her belly.

"No! Not the baby! Not the baby!" she thrashed as she felt herself leaving this earth. Her breath grew shallow as she battled the man she hated more than death. He had killed her as soon as he drove the metallic dagger into her stomach. She knew the baby wouldn't survive, and she knew she couldn't live without it. "The baby!" she whispered on her last breath.

A soft, mellow mood fell upon her. She was no longer in the kitchen, and the blood was gone. Everything was white and pure. She held her baby, beautiful, healthy, alive, and somehow she knew things would be all right, somehow she knew she would be okay. And then something drew her attention. An enchanting woman lit by gentle waves of light seemed to direct her attention. This woman seemed so familiar, so close to her, yet she couldn't place the feeling. The warm glow faded. And then she heard his voice, and she moved toward it, straining until she could find its source……

"Chloe?" Brady said gently as he tried to shake her from another nightmare. He was used to it now. He knew they were violent, and they worried Chloe. Most of them were about Derek, and this one seemed to be one of the worst ones. Chloe had been fighting for over half an hour with the sheets, and Brady had been desperately trying to wake her for about that long.

Concerned and without Chloe knowing, he had gone to a sleep therapist and discussed Chloe's sleeping problem. The doctor had told him that attacks and dreams such as hers were brought on by stress, and the best way to help was to gently ease her out of them. Brady tried to follow the advice, but it seemed that with each new dream, Chloe become more withdrawn, and it was harder to get her out of the nightmare.

"Come on sweetie," he soothed, running his fingers down her arms. "Chloe, wake up. Please. For me." Brady continued to wipe away the tears that streaked her face and pressed a cool cloth to her forehead. "Chloe!?"

She began to settle, and slowly she opened her eyes. The tears brimmed over, and she sat up, hugging Brady so tightly to her she could feel the pressure on her lungs.

"It was a bad one,"" he told her, rubbing his hands down her back.

Then on instinct, her hands went to her stomach, and she felt the small protrusion that was starting to form. "The baby's fine," he whispered.

Chloe nodded and then realization hit her. Her head came off his shoulder, and she met his eyes. A mixture of guilt, fear and anticipation crossed his features. "You know?" He nodded shyly at her and placed his hand over hers. "Brady, I wanted to tell you. I did. But I wanted to be sure. I didn't want to tell you and then end up losing the baby. Think how devastating that would have been for you. After Kayla...after everything that happened, I wanted to give this to you. I couldn't risk hurting you, not again."

"So instead, you took all the responsibility on yourself? That isn't right either, Chloe. I could have handled it. Look what this secret has done to you. You haven't slept in God knows how long, and when you do, you have these nightmares that scare the shit out of me."

"I know that now, but you were under so much stress. This thing with your dad and you nearly losing your life……how was I supposed to spring this on you? Don't be mad at me, Brady. I did what I thought was right, and if that makes me wrong, then fine. But I wouldn't have done it any other way. Not when I know how much it broke your heart the first time."

"Okay, okay...it doesn't matter now. God, can you believe it? We're going to have a baby. Have you been to the doctor's yet?"

"No, not yet." She bowed her head. "I was scared to go alone."

"Well, we'll have to go. I'll make a call in the morning." He smiled. "I can't believe it's out in the open now. I thought I was going to burst before you told me."

"Why didn't you tell me that you knew?" she asked curiously.

"I thought you would tell me when you were ready. So I waited and waited, but you didn't tell me. And then when you started having the nightmares, I knew there was something bothering you, so I didn't know what to do. I just couldn't take it any longer. This secret was tearing us apart. I had to get it out into the open. I want you to know that I want this baby so much. And that I love both of you more than I ever thought possible."

"I love you too. I'm sor..." Chloe began but didn't get a chance to finish because Brady pressed a kiss to her lips to stop her.

"You don't have to be sorry," he told her when he pulled back.

Chloe smiled and leaned against his chest once again. "Brady, what did I say? When I was dreaming, what was it that scared you?" she asked reflectively.

"You said lots of things. I know I can never take away your pain. I can never make anything that asshole did right, but I'm here for you when you need to talk."

"I know that." Even though it had been a dream, she had to relive it. For whatever reason, her brain was telling her to let it go. She had to get it out in the open. She had to remember for her own sake. "Brady, we never saw his face, what if..."

"He's dead, sweetie. I promise you that. He can't hurt you. He won't ever again." He wrapped his arms around her and laid them back down against the bed.

Chloe fell asleep, and for the first time in a week, she had a completely dreamless sleep. She felt so safe and so loved.