| The next few weeks continued along the same lines. Both Brian and Sue seemed to have a silent pact between them not to think about Spencer or talk about him. That was the job of their minders, and a job they were doing well. It was something always on the back of their minds, but for the most part, they carried on, happy to build on their relationship. Their visit with Brian's parents had strengthened their love, having been able to relax completely together. Their walk along the lakeside had been the balm they needed to forge ahead. Sue noticed Brian had relaxed considerably too. Even though he had never told her about any nightmares, she knew he had them, watching him as he slept. She could do nothing at these times except hold him close and wish the dreams would disappear and also the horror in their lives would vanish. She never quizzed him about it, but she did worry about him. Since their Lexington trip, the nightmares seemed to have stopped, as hers did too. Her plaster-encased arm the only constant reminder of the day Spencer had nearly forced his way with her and she would be happy when that constant reminder was finally gone. Coincidentally the day she had an appointment with a doctor was the day of her birthday. She didn't even know if anyone knew it was her birthday. She hadn't even told Brian about it. All she wanted for the day was to have her arm free of the heavy and now smelly plaster. Anything after that was a bonus. She'd been dreaming, a dream leaving her feeling warm all over, a dream that she knew Brian was in, but she couldn't quite remember. She felt something soft and silky gliding over her nose and she wrinkled it up. She wanted to sneeze but held it back, letting the warm feeling wash over her again. She knew it was morning, she could feel the warm sun shining in on her face, the warm rays pushing Sue's mind into a cosy paradise. She wasn't ready to wake up yet. Something traced along her bottom lip, tickling her and she moved her head away only to have the same sensation run along her top lip. She concentrated and suddenly realised it was a finger. It wasn't her dream anymore. She heard Brian chuckle softly and her skin tingled. He knew she was now awake. Slowly she slid her tongue out between her lips and licked the tip of his finger. She hadn't expected the taste of something sweet but that was exactly what his finger tasted of. Her eyes still shut she moved her tongue back and forth over his finger, tasting the sweetness. It was chocolate. Curling her tongue around his finger she captured it into her mouth, sucking on it, causing a strangled moan to escape from Brian's throat. If he was going to torture her, she would do the same to him. Brian pulled his finger out of her mouth and in an instant he was replacing it with his tongue, his lips sliding over hers seductively, his tongue playing enticingly with hers. Sue welcomed the kiss, returning the need he was demonstrating. This was far better than the dream she had been having. She moaned loudly pulling him close to her. He had awoken her passion, the one that had been building in her dreams, and now she wanted nothing than to have him make love to her with wild abandon. A knocking at the door brought them both out of their passionate embrace and Sue moaned again. Brian smiled at her, a devilish gleam in his eyes and Sue wondered what he was up to. He jumped off the bed leaving her feeling somewhat abandoned, wishing he was still in her arms, kissing her. She craved his kisses. At the door stood someone from hotel catering waiting to push in a trolley into the room. Will was checking the trolley quickly then Brian stood aside, the smile on his face indicating to the man he could come in, but at the same time alerting Sue to some plan he was obviously hatching. Brian tipped the man and turned to look at Sue, walking over to her still in the bed, propped up to see what was happening. He held his hand out to hers to help her up. Sue took his hand and her skin tingled where they touched. He gently pulled her up out of the bed and into her arms. His lips moved to her ear, kissing her there softly, sending tingles through her body. She was powerless to do anything but enjoy the sensation, her breathing coming in slow gasps. Like angels wings his breath caressed across her ear, his tongue sneaking out, increasing the longing. His lips slowly lowered to the sensitive spot behind her ear and he kissed her, intensifying the shivers roaming over her skin. He whispered something and it took a moment for it to register in her mind. "Happy birthday Baby. I love you so much," he had whispered. He moved away far enough to look into her eyes and he watched her face register his words. He smiled lovingly at her. "You knew?" she asked him, seeming to be stunned that he had. "Of course I knew. Sue you are the most important person in the whole world to me, your birthday is something I made sure I knew." He turned to the trolley not far behind him. Sue looked over at the trolley that had been brought into the room. It was beautifully laid out, it's pristine white tablecloth on it standing out, plates covered with silver covers and cutlery carefully placed. In the middle of the arrangement was a single red rose bud and beside it sat a brightly wrapped parcel about half the size of a video case making Sue smile. Brian saw where her eyes were looking and grinned. He reached over and picked the parcel up. "Happy birthday Sue," he said and handed the package over to her. Still smiling Sue slowly opened the gift. She guessed it would be jewellery by the shape of the box, which she found was a good guess once the paper was taken off, the name of a well known and expensive jewellery shop on the box. She hesitated, her heart pounding at the thought of what was in the box. It was too big to be a ring, but the possibilities after that were many. She looked up at him and his eager eyes were encouraging her to open the box. They smiled at each other before Sue lowered her eyes back to the box. Slowly, with slightly shaking fingers, she opened the box. As she looked inside her eyes began to glitter with tears that sprang up to fill them. Happy tears not threatening to fall, just enough to blur her vision for a moment. Inside the box lay firstly a gold necklace with a diamond covered heart attached to it. Her breath caught in her throat at its beauty the lights shining off the diamonds in a rainbow of colours. But that was not all. Beside it lay a matching bracelet, delicate golden links covered in small sparkling diamonds forming the chain with a golden heart hanging from it. "Oh Brian, these are simply beautiful. How can I thank you enough for these?" she asked running her fingers softly over the diamonds on the bracelet. "You don't have to." He leaned down and kissed her softly on the cheek. "There's an inscription on there," he said pointing to the heart. Sue looked down and saw the writing on the heart and she smiled, her eyes blurring again. On one side he had their names engraved in fancy writing and Sue took a moment to run her fingers over them. Then she turned it around and inscribed on there the word 'Forever'. She knew that was the way they both saw their relationship and as soon as their life became normal, with their demons disappeared, they would have the forever they wanted. "I love it Brian. And thank you, though that is not enough." She lifted the bracelet out of the box first and tried to put it on. "Here, let me." Brian took the bracelet from her fingers and attached it around her right wrist with gentle loving fingers. Her skin burned where his fingers touched, her insides quivering as his touch always did. He reached into the box and took the necklace out, moving around Sue to stand behind her. His fingers grazed her neck so softly and she moaned inwardly. Brian's fingers rested on her shoulders once he had fastened the necklace. Sue felt him moving closer and she sighed, repeating the sigh aloud when his lips skimmed across the back of her neck. "We better eat this breakfast," Brian said to her, chuckling when she groaned her disappointment. "Come on Baby, you know I want the same as you do, but you have to be somewhere this morning." At the mention of the appointment she had today Sue shuddered. Her arm was being X-rayed this morning, and a decision was being made as to whether her arm was healed or would need further treatment. She hoped it was healed, her plaster being taken off and she wouldn't have the constant reminder of what happened that day. "Yeah, I want to get that over and done with," she said to him and he pulled her into his arms for the comfort she needed. "Come on. Don't think about that. Lets eat now and worry about that when the time comes." They sat to a delicious breakfast, before making the visit to the doctor that had been recommended to them and had been something Sue had dreaded. As they left the office, Sue's arm free of any restrictions, and a clean bill of health, she felt a lot better, happiness welling up inside her. Brian had promised her an evening for the two of them after the concert, and she was looking forward to it. It would be a birthday to remember. But Brian was greeted with the horrible reminder of their evil shadow on their life when they got to the concert venue. He had taken Sue out to lunch at a highly recommended restaurant, knowing the others were arranging a small birthday party for Sue and he was to keep her occupied. On their arrival back to the venue, while Sue was kept busy being wished Happy Birthday by everyone, someone slipped Brian a large envelope that had been left earlier in the day. His eyes widened and his heart began pounding with fear as he looked at it. He looked for Sue and was glad to see she was busy talking to Jac, opening a large gift that she had given her from Kevin and herself. He slid his finger under the flap of the envelope and opened it slowly, not entirely sure he wanted to see what was inside. What he found sickened him and he slid the disgusting pictures back into the envelope. Newman sure didn't mind getting himself into the positions he was in on these photos. But he looked so much like Brian anyone would believe they were him. A letter fell to the floor as he pushed the photos back in. What he read made Brian's blood run cold. "All I want is your girlfriend...The originals are just the beginning…I'm playing the game to win..." Brian felt like heaving when he read the note. A helpless wave of panic ran through him and he knew there was nothing he could do to stop him. He quickly left the room and leaned against the wall hoping to gain some support as his legs began to buckle beneath him. He sunk to the ground tucking his legs in to his body as he fell, wrapping his arms around them and burying his head. How were they ever going to get through this? How could he protect Sue when he kept getting through the cracks in one way or another? When and where would he try again to take Sue from him? The thought of him touching Sue made his blood boil. The thought of not having Sue with him panicked him. He looked up when he heard someone coming out of the room he had been in, hoping it wasn't Sue. Thankfully it was Nick walking out the door. "You okay Brian? You look pale." Nick asked crouching down to Brian's level. "Did something happen?" Brian merely handed him the photos watching the disgusted look on Nick's face as he looked at them. "Man, I'm so sorry this is happening to you Brian. It just won't go away will it? I wish there was something I could do." He pulled Brian up and held him in a hug. Brian took comfort from his friend's presence. Brian shook his head sadly. "I don't know what more we can do. Look at these. He delivered these. He is getting through all our security. When will he strike next?" Brian asked frantically. "He's got to be caught." "He will." Nick pulled him in for another hug. He didn't know what to say to Brian to make things better. "Come back inside. Sue's looking for you," he finally said. "Don't you tell her about these Nick. Today is her day, I don't want to upset her." "Sure thing." Nick agreed. "It'll work out Brian." Nick said to him leading him into the room they were partying in, handing the envelope to Will as he went. Will would know who to pass them on to. They were blackmail. Brian tried his hardest to put the episode out of his mind and when he thought about his plans for the evening he smiled. It was going to be very special. Sue hadn't commented on the Spa bath they had in their room, but he planned on making full use of it that night. On their return to the room the spa was already humming and Sue looked quizzically at Brian. "For later," he whispered curling his arm around her and giving her shoulder a squeeze. "How much later Brian, it's already after 11?" Sue asked in a hushed voice full of emotion. He pulled her close, their bodies touching. He brought her gaze up to his with a finger under her chin. She looked into his eyes and saw a million emotions in their ocean blue depths. She saw his caring, his understanding, his protectiveness, but the overwhelming emotion shining from them was love. An undying devotion to the both of them and this relationship they shared. It overwhelmed her time and time over at how much they loved each other and this was just another time that emotion washed over her. "We have all night," he told her quietly. He stood looking at her, his lips slightly parted, his breath coming in slow pants between them. Sue could feel his breath on her face, wishing he would close the gap between them to join their hungry lips to each other. Her fingers itched to touch his chiselled jaw, cupping it gently, and then running the tips down to his lips hoping he would suck one into his mouth. A wave of desire shot through her at the though, cascading down like a cascading river pooling like molten mercury in her belly. A thought suddenly struck her. It was her birthday, she could do anything she wanted. Slowly she lifted her hand, the one that had been in plaster and let her palm cup Brian's jaw, loving the feel of his skin against hers. It was a welcome sensation after being encased for so long. The roughness of his beard scraped against her palm as she lowered it slightly, her eyes never leaving his. The look between them was intense. Sue knew there was no turning back tonight. It was going to be a night of love filled with intensity but at the same time gentleness. Her knees began to buckle at the thought and she had to force them to keep her upright, grasping Brian's shirt to help her stay upright. He tightened his arm around her waist. He wanted to lower his lips to hers but he knew Sue wasn't finished. She trailed her fingertips down his jaw letting her nail scrape softly over his skin. A soft moan escaped his lips, a smile playing on Sue's as she felt a sudden power when she heard the sound. Slowly she brushed her index finger across his bottom lip, his tongue coming out involuntarily, wetting her finger almost bringing a moan to her own lips. She wet his lip with her finger and when he sighed aloud she chose that moment to push it gently in. He sucked softly and now it was her turn to moan. With her other arm she held on to Brian for support, the shards of desire shooting through her making her weak with need. It was a feeling she would never get used to, but at the same time never get enough of. It was exhilarating. Brian chose that moment to take control and leaned down to lift Sue into his arms. His blue eyes flashed with promise as she pulled her finger away and lifted her lips to his needing them urgently. He obliged immediately, feeling the same need deep within himself. Sue clung to Brian as his lips played over hers. They kissed, their lips never parting, tasting, probing, taking from each other with gentleness and longing. Brian lowered Sue in front of him still kissing They undressed each other frantically and before long they were both undressed lying on the bed. Poised over Sue, ready to fulfil both their wishes, Brian's hands snaked up Sue's arms and entwined his fingers in hers above her head. His gaze burnt into hers affirming their desires and that they would both be taken to paradise. As he slowly entered her, Sue's fingers tightened on his, closing her eyes while lifting her hips to meet him, letting the moment engulf her. An intensely emotional union followed, their bodies slick with sweat as they rode the roller coaster ride of passion. As Brian lay beside Sue some time later he propped himself up on his arm and looked into her eyes. Words escaped him at that moment and they lay together, side by side, content to simply look at each other. All of a sudden he remembered the spa bath and jumped up, giving Sue a fright as he did. He held out his hand and she came to him without question. She had no idea what he was thinking of until he started leading her towards the humming she had commented on earlier. He opened the door and led her into the room. Candles flickered and a familiar fragrance filled the room. Violets and roses, one of her favourite scents, invaded her senses and she sighed. Brian turned and looked at Sue. "Happy birthday Baby, Well, technically it isn't anymore, but that doesn't matter." He kissed her cheek and led her to the tub. Sue stepped into the water and again sighed. The water was warm, a perfect temperature, and she slid in, letting the water engulf her body. She held her hand out to Brian, encouraging him to join her. He stepped in and she moved forward, letting him slip in behind her. His lips found the back of her neck immediately bringing a long drawn out moan from Sue. The combination of warm water, the violets and roses scent wafting through the air, and two wet slick bodies pressed up against each other led to more passion shared well into the night and early morning hours. Morning dawned and Sue stretched like a cat as she woke. Without opening her eyes she knew Brian wasn't beside her. The sound of the shower going was a good hint, but that presence she felt when he was with her was missing. She opened her eyes and smiled. Remembering their night together could do nothing but bring a smile to her face. Brian had been so attentive, making her birthday one to remember. A knock at the door brought her out of her musings. She frowned. Who could be knocking at this time of the morning? The water was still running in the shower so she knew Brian wouldn't be getting the door. She got up and wrapped her robe around her body. As she padded to the door she suddenly felt she needed more on and took the robe off, replacing it with her sweater and pants from the night before. An uneasy feeling came over her as she stood at the door. Through the peep hole Sue could see Will checking another trolley of food, almost identical to the one the morning before. She shrugged, wondering why Brian would arrange this two mornings in a row but she opened the door. Will had finished checking the trolley and allowed the hotel employee to walk through the door. Sue turned her back on the trolley as she walked back into the room. She heard some scuffling and thought Brian must have been coming out of the bathroom. She turned in time to see Brian lunge towards her, knife in hand. In an instant she knew it wasn't Brian and she opened her mouth to scream. A knife came up to her throat. "Make a sound and I will cut your throat." |