Her coat hung off her shoulders, her gloves and scarf long discarded. The stubborn breath of waning winter rattled the floor-length bamboo shades. But she felt only heat. And his ravenous mouth devouring her skin.
He shifted her, so she straddled him. Then, his greedy fingers pulled her sweater from her jeans, streaked up her sides, and slipped under her bra. Reason extinguished like a candle flame. Her name escaped in a gasp, as the blood rushed from his head to his lap.
She moaned against his touch, which evoked a deluge of sensations. She felt her mind drift into some obscure corner, while simultaneously primitive senses awakened. She was losing control. A bead of fear formed. Then, she felt him pressed hard against her through jeans.
"Philip," she croaked, as her body, driven into overdrive, waged a tug of war with her mind. Consequences, her mind shouted. He dragged at her sweater, so he could nip at her shoulder. She closed her eyes and tried again, "Philip. We can't."
"Baby," he groaned, as his teeth ran across her collarbone. He was completely lost in her.
With lethargic muscles, her hands caught his cheeks, so that their eyes met. "Philip. Stop."
He blinked. Their panted breaths smoked between them. Then, he saw the tears gathering in her eyes. His hand slipped from under her sweater. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. He counted to ten. Twenty. His body still reeled from the feel of hers, begging for fulfillment.
"I'm sorry, Philip." Her voice hitched, seeing his obvious disappointment and frustration.
He ran his hands roughly through his hair, reminded of her fingers pressed against his scalp. Settle down, Kiriakis, his mind chided his charged body. He gritted his teeth, when she moved along him to sit on the bench and put some distance between them.
"I-I don't think I'm ready… This is all new to me, Philip," he heard her tremulously say.
The cool air brushed against his thundering chest. Then, he heard a broken sob. His eyes blinked open to see her clumsily straightening her clothes, before she rose to rush out with her coat pulled tightly against her.
"Chloe, wait!" He winced, as he quickly stood and caught her before she could race out. She tried to push him away, but he simply pulled her closer, until she collapsed in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Philip. I can't be what you want," she sobbed.
"Chloe…" he sighed, fighting to keep his hands light, as he stroked her hair. "Don't be crazy. After everything we've been through, you should know how I feel about you. You're exactly what I want."
Tears streaming, she sniffed, "I know you're probably used to a different kind of girl, who knows what to do."
You were doing just fine to me, he thought. He sighed again, running his hands up and down her back and finally laying a kiss on her forehead to soothe. "You're who I want, beautiful. No one else can compete." He pulled back slightly to brush away the tears with his thumb. "I'd be lying, if I said I didn't want you naked…" he confessed with a wry grin, which earned him a teary smile. He gave her forehead another kiss, before he hugged her again.
In the descending sunlight, he looked around the elegant gazebo and saw his breath, as he sighed and guilt seeped in. This wasn't what he wanted for Chloe, he admitted. For her first time. With him. He wanted music, candlelight, a big soft bed, and those bewitching blue eyes filled with complete and pure trust. Absolutely no reservations.
He sighed again. "But I want us both to be ready."
"I'm just… s-scared…" She felt comforted, when his arms tightened around her. "…I do love you, but I-I just…"
"Need some time," he finished.
She closed her eyes in gratitude. "Yeah."
"Then… you got it. I love you, Chloe... I'll do anything to make you happy." He breathed a sigh of relief, when she finally relaxed in his arms. "Could you do me a favor, though? From now on, could you wear big ugly sweaters and baggy pants? Please, for my sanity?"
She laughed.
A small interval of silence passed, when she asked, "Philip, how many girls have you been with?"
That did it. If any ferocious desire remained, that squelched it. One of man's most feared questions. Philip sputtered, then rubbed a hand over his face, torturing his body further with her seductive scent clinging still to his skin.
"Uh, we should really check on the others, don't you think?" he panicked, as he gripped her hand to leave the gardens.
She stood firm, her two hands holding his arm. "Philip, I'm not that naïve. You're the most popular guy in school and must've had a lot of girlfriends, before I came along."
Looking into those big, inquisitive eyes, he felt his palms start to sweat. No male ever escaped this question unscathed, particularly if the answer was less than saintly. Plus, Chloe - his innocent and beloved Chloe - was the one, who was asking it. "That was such a long time ago, Chloe… I can barely remember-I mean" he quickly amended, when her eyes widened, "It's not that they weren't important-I mean, I didn't sleep with all of them-I mean, only a few of them-I mean-" God help him, he was bulldozing his own grave. "Oh, boy…" He flinched, preparing for a slap or hysterical tongue-lashing.
She shook her head in amusement. "Philip, I'm not going to condemn you, because you've been with other girls." His eyes opened and flitted in surprise. Now, she averted his gaze, as she explained, "In the foster families that I lived with, a lot girls told me about… you know, sex… and how the boys treated them and how they felt afterwards… So, I know-I mean, I just asked, so I'd know how much your experience was different from mine…" She looked sadly down at a withered rosebush. "I don't expect for you and me to be at the same… stage… I guess."
Because his gloves were strewn somewhere in the gazebo, his chilled but gentle hands cupped her face. He looked upon her adoringly, before he kissed her. "You're wrong, Chloe."
She blinked in confusion.
His expression was pensive and lips pressed together, resembling his father at a vital moment. "We'll be exactly the same." He ran a thumb over her cheekbone. "You're my first. The first girl I've ever loved. So, when that time comes, when we're together, it'll be special. And we'll be exactly the same."
"Oh, Philip," she managed, before she embraced him. Her heart had never been so moved. With tear-filled eyes, she looked around to take in the soft, wintry afternoon and knew that no matter where the world took her she'd always cherish this moment.
He closed his eyes and smelled the soft, clean scent of her hair and knew he'd wait forever, if he had to, for her. "Come on, beautiful. Everyone must be wondering where we ran off to."
"Well, what's the problem?" asked Jason, his green eyes gleamed in exasperation and impatience. "Or are you just into games?"
"I'm into games?" Mimi managed, still in shock at his outrageous questions. "Mister Player himself is asking me about playing games. Unbelievable." She turned and stomped as hard as she could through the snow.
"Then, what the hell is this, huh?" He shouted from behind her.
Enraged without really knowing why, she threw up her hands, "What?"
"I just told you point blank that I like you, and you told me that you like me-"
"Statements made under duress should not be taken seriously," she said, as coolly as she could.
"There you go again. I'll tell ya, for someone who doesn't play games, you're sure good at it," he shouted from across the field.
"You… you… " she growled.
"No convenient snowman in sight, Meems. You just might have to talk to me this time."
"Fine. You really want to know what I think of you?" she retorted with hands fisted at her sides. "I think you're an egotistical, brainless jock, who uses his pathetic charms on unsuspecting girls, so he can brag about it to his idiot buddies in the locker room, so you can be the Man. Now, you're after me, who you probably think is just playing hard-to-get, so you can add another notch to your trophy belt."
His jaw clenched, his eyes iced. "Done?"
She lifted her chin, wondering why she suddenly felt so cold. "What, Jason? Did the truth hit too close to home for you?"
His silence was oppressive, then he replied with a chilly shrug. "You've got me pegged, Meems." He walked, until he was a couple feet in front of her. "Since you've made yourself pretty clear, I guess I'll just move on to the next unsuspecting girl." With his face unreadable, he brushed passed her and headed back to the pond.
She watched his retreating back and wondered why the victory seemed so empty.
Philip and Chloe reached the frozen pond and smiled at the sight that greeted them. There on the old wooden bench a pale blond leaned into the warm side of a dark haired boy, whose arm held her closely. They spoke softly in intimate conversation, before he chuckled at something she'd said. Chloe's smile spread, when Shawn laid a gentle kiss on Belle's hair. Happy for her friends, Chloe turned to share the smile with Philip, who grinned and lifted her knuckles to his lips.
"Looks like things worked out, beautiful."
Never considering herself a sucker for sappiness, her eyes teared nevertheless. She hugged her boyfriend. "As they should."
They both turned to approaching footsteps from the opposite direction. A stone-faced Jason arrived with Mimi, following a couple of yards behind.
"Hey, Jase," greeted Philip to his eerily quiet friend.
Shawn and Belle turned to welcome their friends, as well.
Jason nodded and said to Phil, "Hey, dude, I'm gonna take a rain check on that hockey game."
"Uh, sure, buddy." His concern apparent, Philip felt Chloe squeezing his hand.
"You alright, Jase?" asked Shawn from the bench.
Jason shrugged. "Got some stuff to do. See you guys later, ok?"
His friends exchanged worried looks. "See you later, Jase."
After he disappeared toward the gates, everyone turned to Mimi, whose eyes remained downcast.
Always sympathetic, Belle stood and quickly crossed to her friend to hug her. Everyone stood speechless, as Mimi let out a choked sob, while Belle comforted her.
After they dropped a very quiet Mimi at home, Shawn and Belle walked back toward the penthouse. Mimi hadn't said a word, after Jason had left. Finally, Belle had given up trying to squeeze out of her what happened between the two. Whatever it was, it was serious.
Although Belle felt bad for her friend, she was still on cloud nine. She stole a glance at the dark haired boy beside her and linked her hand with his. When he gave her a smile, her mind blissfully blanked and her heart leapt. She let herself lean into him and cherish happiness so long denied.
Belle was affectionate by nature. She was always ready to hug her friends, hold their hands, or simply offer words of encouragement. So, it had been especially hard to be with Shawn and not show him exactly how she'd felt about him. They'd been best friends since conception, it seemed. Then, one day their relationship evolved into something more, but her feelings had changed so gradually that by the time she'd realized it, she'd already fallen head over heels for him. As his strong arm encircled her waist, she couldn't begin to describe how happy she was. Shawn and Belle were finally together.
"I guess I should bug Jase tomorrow about what happened today," said Shawn, interrupting her thoughts.
Belle shook her head. "Knowing those two, either one of them could have said something to set the other one off. After all, Jason isn't exactly Mr. Sensitive."
"Hey, hey," he chided, "And Mimi is Miss Tact?"
"What are you trying to say?" she challenged, as she set her hands on her hips, preparing for battle. "That this is all Mimi's fault?"
"Whoa, whoa," grinned Shawn, "Chill, Mother Hen. I'm just saying neither of them are known for thinking before they speak, you know?"
She crossed her arms over her chest and grudgingly agreed, "I guess you're right, but Mimi's just… Mimi."
"Yeah," he said, admiring as always how quick Belle jumped to her friend's defense. "Look, why don't we let them work this out on their own? I think we've played enough Cupid for now."
Her mouth twitched. "I guess we sorta have, haven't we?" She linked her arm with his and continued toward the penthouse. Random gusts of wind sent loose snow into a flurry. She bit down on her lip, before she spoke again. "So, um, speaking of Cupid… What are you doing-" When he flashed a mind-numbing smile, she struggled for a coherent sentence. "What're you doing, you know, for, you know… later on this week?"
"Hmmm…" With tongue in cheek, his eyes wandered as if in contemplation. "I don't know. Any day in particular? Because the new Victoria's Secret catalog's coming, and me and the guys were gonna thumb through it, when we watch Smack Down during commercial-hey!" he chuckled, when she whacked him on the shoulder and huffed.
"Shawn Douglas Brady…" she growled lowly.
Still grinning, he lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. "Any day in particular, Isabella?"
Faced with those chocolate brown eyes, she sighed, "Maybe…" her eyes averted his a moment, "like Valentine's Day."
"Belle Black, do my ears deceive me, or are you asking me on a date?"
She threw her hands up. "Fine. You wanna make fun of me-"
He pulled her into his arms and gave her bone-melting kiss. A shiver ran down her spine, when his warm palm cupped her cheek and fingers curled around her neck. Breathless, she rested her head against his chest.
"I'm free," he answered with contentment in his voice, "How about you?"
Chloe checked her reflection in her locker mirror one last time. She'd brushed her hair completely straight and let it fall loose around her face. But schoolmates still threw furtive looks her way, as they passed. Even in a relatively large school like Salem High, word got around fast. And the word was, someone had been stupid enough to touch Kiriakis' girl. No doubt there would be repercussions. Unbeknownst to Chloe, however, the gossip train had her attacker run out of town by the end of the week.
She'd brushed on another layer of gloss, when a velvet red rose appeared before her.
"What…" she blinked and turned to find winking dimples, before he backed her against her locker and kissed her. "Philip!" she blushed, placing her hands on his chest, not really knowing what she was planning to do with them. Tacitly, they'd agreed that certain activities were reserved for private. She didn't like indiscriminant people knowing too much about her, and being Philip Kiriakis' girlfriend made discretion nearly impossible.
He ran a gentle finger over her fading bruise. "Hey, beautiful."
Nearby, several girls leaned in to observe shamelessly. Her face reddening a deeper shade every passing second, Chloe could only look down at the rose between them. "What's this?" she managed.
His grin widened. "Hmmm… I dunno… could be a bunny… maybe a hot dog… wait, that's the same thing…"
"Philip…" Her brows narrowed in exasperation. With her open locker door on one side and his arm on the other, she was basically caged in. Her heart tripped and then raced. He was so close. She could smell the clean scent of his soap beneath the cologne. Before she could stop herself, her hands had crept up to rest on his shoulders.
He kissed the tip of her nose. "Thought I'd start the week off right."
No longer concerned with appearances, she hugged him. "Thank you. It's beautiful."
"People, people," announced Shawn, as he approached, "I've said it before, and I'll say it again…"
With an arm around Chloe's shoulders, Phil grinned. "Hey, buddy. What's up?" The boys exchanged macho handshakes and grunts.
"Hey, dudes," greeted Jason. Chloe's eyebrows rose, as he waved goodbye to a flock of giggling girls. "Hear about the Vday party this Friday?"
His compadres shook their heads in the negative, and in pity. Jason and his outlets for his emotional woes. "Naw, man."
"Cheerleader-" What was her name again? Jason asked himself. He shrugged, "Cheerleader's throwing this costume party at her old man's place. Says it's huge. Plus, she's hiring a DJ. You guys're going, right?"
"Don't know, man," said Phil first, "Kinda have plans this weekend." He coyly ignored Chloe's look of curiosity. Besides, he thought, he'd kind of signed off parties. Despite the end result, the last one he went to was a night he'd rather forget, to say the least.
"I gotta see, Jase," chimed Shawn, as he spotted a familiar blond choosing books for the morning classes from her locker. He watched, as a tall, broad shouldered football player walked up to her and leaned, so petite Belle was partially obscured. Shawn held his breath, as she smiled politely and closed her locker. Then, Shawn's eyes locked with hers from across the hallway. Her smile widened, before she shifted her attention back to the boy and shook her head. Saying her farewell, she walked through the archway, which was formed by his arm, and joined her friends.
"Hey," greeted Shawn, inwardly relieved.
"Hey," she replied and slipped his arm onto her shoulders in assurance. They smiled at each other, before they realized how quiet it had become. They both turned to see silly grins plastered on their friends' faces. Even Jason's lips formed a knowing smile.
"So," began Belle, as her cheeks pinkened, "What's up?"
"Jason was just telling us about a party this Friday," explained Chloe, "Costume party."
"Oh, Kelsey Simpson's party," said Belle. "She told me at practice a couple of weeks ago that she was thinking about throwing a Valentine's Day party. So, are you guys going?"
"Did you want to go?" asked Shawn.
"Yeah. I mean, it sounds like fun," said Belle, thinking now what interesting costume she'd make Shawn wear.
"Awesome," said Jason, "K-Man, Chloe. How about you guys? You going to the party?"
"What party?"
Everyone turned to see Mimi in her lavender wool coat, walking up to her friends. Then, all eyes switched to Jason. Outwardly, he was as placid as a lake on a perfect day. But everyone knew that the most dangerous waves rumbled beneath the surface.
"What party?" she repeated. Her outward appearance mirrored his. Cool and unaffected. But her eyes. They couldn't quite meet his.
"Uh," began Belle, "Kelsey's throwing a costume party this Friday."
Mimi merely nodded. "That's cool. Are we going or what?"
Her friends exchanged uncertain glances.
"Belle and I are," answered Shawn cautiously.
Mimi's eyes then inquired after Philip and Chloe. "We're not sure," said Chloe, slightly confused at Jason and Mimi's bizarre behavior.
"Well, sounds like a blast. Count me in," Mimi announced.
The warning bell rang.
"I'll see you guys later," said Chloe, "Dr. Kettle locks the door and won't let us in, if we're late for AP Bio."
"Hey." Philip grabbed her hand, before she could run off. "I'll walk you to class."
She squeezed his hand and smiled. "A Calculus exam awaits you, sir. You can't be late." She waved goodbye to everyone, then gave another parting smile to Philip. "Make me proud." Then, she was gone.
"Come on, Philip," said Belle, after she kissed Shawn's cheek. Then, she and Phil headed for their exam.
"Later, Mimi," said Shawn, as he and Jason headed for English Lit.
Mimi's tense shoulders finally relaxed. She rushed to open her locker to get her books, when a small white envelope fell to the floor. Puzzled, she looked around the emptying hallways, then finally reached for it. "To Mimi" was neatly written on the front. She tore it open and pulled out the small sheet of parchment paper. The same ink in the same neat calligraphic script.
"In dream I see her, eyes smolder pools of fire, lips glisten dews of rose, and hair cascades waves of dawn…"
Mimi's eyes blinked furiously. Then, she flipped the paper over to find the other side blank. No signature. Not even "from your secret admirer." She read the words over again, completely shocked. The sound of the last bell startled her so that the note nearly fell from her fingers. She took a calming breath, before she tucked the paper back into the envelope, gathered her things, slammed shut her locker, and sprinted for class.