Chapter 21

His eyes looked deep into hers. "Are you saying… what I think you're saying?" What I hope you're saying…

She blushed, suddenly shy now with Philip wide awake and waiting for a response. Slowly, her fingers crept up his bare chest and ran along his shoulders. Her lips followed their trail, laying sweet, innocent kisses from his navel to his pecks, then throat.

He lifted her face to meet his. "Chloe, are you sure? I need you to say the words."

Her big blue eyes were clear and alert. And in them, they radiated warmth and love. "Make love to me, Philip."

His heart skipped then broke a little, recognizing another milestone in their relationship. Chloe was not only trusting him with her body, but also her heart. Trust. Chloe's greatest challenge and gift. It humbled him now that both her body and mind felt that he had earned it.

He ran a thumb over her cheekbone, savoring the silky texture of her skin. "You're so beautiful…" He'd relish every moment. His lips slowly descended upon hers, starting with teasing nibbles and gradually drawing them out into long, seductive kisses. He felt the shiver run through her, as she prepared herself for uncharted territory. He kept his hands light and easy, understanding that the nerves were still there, and he felt them, as well. Even now, his hands were slightly unsteady, as they ran gently up and down her arms. Now, he knew the difference between sex and lovemaking. When you were in love, it changed everything. So, he kissed her and kissed her, until her arms wound around his neck, as she leaned back with him, pulling him closer and intensifying the kiss.

He could smell that hypnotic scent of lavender, as his hands dove into her rich hair. Then, her nails lightly scraped his scalp and she moved against him. The room heated. He broke away to run his lips hungrily down her neck. When he saw the shiny heart locket, brilliant against soft pink cotton, he collected his breath and smiled. She was really his.

"Philip?" Her voice was soft and breathless. She drew a breath, when he continued his journey down her body. With exquisite tenderness. Finally, his fingers reached the edge of her nightgown and drew it slowly up her legs.

Someone wailed.

Philip's ears perked up immediately. "Chloe?" He moved back to see her face. Did he do something that scared her or hurt her? But she appeared as enthralled as he.

"Philip, what's wrong?" She reached for him.

Someone cried again.

Both now turned toward the sound outside.

"Philip, I think someone's in the guesthouse," she whispered, her eyes confused. She inhaled then exhaled to steady her breath. Her body was still humming from his touch.

His eyes blinked, when they heard the sound again. He remembered. His shoulders slumped and his chin dropped to his chest, as he felt the intimate hour slipping away. "I think it's Belle or Mimi," he sighed, still too disappointed to be genuinely concerned.

"They're here?" her eyes wide, now focused on the door toward the sound.

He sat back on the bed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Yeah, they came with us last night, because we were so worried about you."

Her expression softened. She'd never take for granted the value of good friends. She'd lived most of her life without them. Her brows wrinkled again, when the sound became a low whimper. "Someone's crying. We'd better see what's wrong."

He sighed again, wondering how he was going to explain that he needed a couple of minutes to settle down. Then, her soft hands caressed his face and their eyes met. She pulled him into a mind-melting kiss.

Breathless, she rested her forehead against his, while running a loving hand along his chest. "I haven't changed my mind, Philip." Before he could reply, she gave him another sweet kiss and got out of bed to check on their friends. "See you in a bit?" her expression telling him that she wasn't that naïve.

He smiled, "Yeah."

After closing the door behind her, she slipped out into the hallway and knocked on the opposite door. "Belle? Mimi? May I come in?" She could hear someone hiccupping from the tears.

Dainty steps approached, and then the door cracked open. "Chloe." Then, her friend hugged her. "You're ok."

"Yeah," she replied in concern at the tear-ravaged eyes. "What's wrong, Belle?"

Her friend sniffed and then pulled her into the room, before closing the door. With her back to them, Mimi was curled in the middle of the bed in fetal position. "It's Mimi."

"What happened to her? Is she sick?" Chloe approached slowly. Chloe and Mimi may be building toward a permanent truce, but that still didn't make them close.

"No," sniffed Belle, "But she drank the same punch you did last night. She can't remember anything that happened afterwards."

Chloe looked from the trembling body on the bed to Belle's stricken face. "What happened afterward?" she asked cautiously, although only one horrible thing could send a girl into this kind of grief.

"I had sex," answered a little voice on the bed, "With Jason."

Chloe's mouth dropped open and looked back to Belle for corroboration.

Her friend nodded. "Shawn and I found them, passed out."

"I don't suppose that you guys could've-" Chloe broke in mid-sentence, when Belle shook her head with definite eyes. There was no mistake. Speechless, she tried to think of something comforting to say. But couldn't think of it. She'd assumed Mimi was a virgin, simply by the romantic and somewhat unrealistic way, in which Mimi had spoken of sex. She looked again at a devastated Mimi. Such a thing might have happened to Chloe, if Philip hadn't been there.

She rounded the bed to sit beside her and carefully reached out to stroke gently her hair. "It'll be alright," she said softly, as she'd heard Philip and Belle say so many times before. "We're here for you." She exchanged a look with Belle, who sat down on the bed, as well. "I should get something from my bag. We've got to make sure…"

Belle looked at her in confusion.

"I'll be right back, ok?" said Chloe with a look of sympathy.

Belle nodded.

Chloe crossed the hall and returned to find Philip in the bathroom, shaving. She hesitated. He was still shirtless, so she could see his muscles ripple, as he pulled the razor through the white cream up his neck and chin. An emotion ran through her. Somehow, this intimacy was just as mind-numbing, as the journey they'd begun moments before.

"Philip?"

He jumped then cursed.

She rushed in, seeing the little drop of blood forming on his chin. "Oh, Philip. I'm sorry I startled you." She quickly grabbed a towel and pressed it against the small cut.

"It's alright. I nick myself shaving all the time," he said with a wry grin. "Anyway, what's going on over there?"

"Uh." It seemed so surreal, after everything that'd happened, that she'd be standing here talking to him, while he was bare-chested and part of his face was covered in a white foamy beard. "Mimi's really upset…" Chloe looked away, now unsure how much she was allowed to divulge to him. "Where's my overnight bag? I need something from it."

"I think it's still in the car. Chloe," he began, while lifting her face to meet his, "What's going on?"

"I don't think I'm supposed to say anything, not yet."

His head tilted. "Ok… You're not feeling sick again, are you?" His eyes grew anxious at the possibility.

"No, I'm fine," she assured him with a hug. "Could I have the car keys?"

His eyes still narrowed in suspicion. "Sure." He walked back into the room and plucked his keys from atop the dresser and handed it to her. "Hey, Marie brought this for you, too." He pulled a thick matching pink robe from the top drawer. "I think she left the shoes beside the bed."

Snug in her comfy robe and shoes, she walked down the hall toward the front door. She passed by the living room, where Jason sat in a chair with his face buried in his hands, while Shawn sat silent on the nearby couch. Perhaps, Jason did remember that night. If he did, he wasn't exactly celebrating the event either. Since they didn't seem to notice her and she really didn't know what to say anyway, she stepped outside onto the private driveway of the guesthouse. Slinging both overnight bags over her shoulder, she pulled down the rear hatch and quietly headed back in.

She returned to the girls' bedroom and closed the door. After she found a small, unassuming purse, she walked to the bathroom to fill a cup with water. Then, she sat back down beside her friends. She handed the cup to a clueless Belle to hold and next opened the little purse to pull out a single pill still locked in its packaging. "I think you should take this, Mimi."

"W-What is that?" asked Belle.

"It's a morning-after pill. I got it a couple of days ago… Since Mimi doesn't remember and I know that Jason was pretty much out of it last night, I think Mimi should take this, just in case."

Mimi closed her eyes, and the tears fell again. This was not how she'd envisioned the morning after her first time. She was supposed to wake up content and warm in her lover's arms, hugging the experience to her bosom, cherishing it. Instead, she felt shame.

Belle stroked her hair. "You have to protect yourself, Mimi."

They finally coaxed her to sit up and gulp down the pill. Her friends would wait with her for a couple of hours to watch for side effects.

Curiosity got the better of him. So, Philip wandered out of the bedroom to see what was up and what was so pressing that Chloe couldn't wait to get to her overnight bag. She'd said that Mimi was upset, but that was nothing new. That girl was strung high enough for an orbiting satellite. The opposite bedroom door was closed, which only made him narrow his eyes. What was going on in there? Males were always suspicious, when females sequestered themselves from men. Who knew what they could be plotting? Philip shook his head and quietly laughed. Women.

He lazily scratched his bare belly. He'd check on his buddies, before he jumped in the shower.

"Hey, dudes," he greeted, as he entered the living room.

"Hey, Phil," answered a solemn Shawn.

Jason didn't even grunt. He was bent over, grasping his head, silently in despair.

"What's up with you, Jase? You feeling alright, man?" Philip sat himself on the opposite couch, after he gave his friend an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Must be one hell of a hangover, the way you were looking last night."

"I'm in such deep shit," he finally was able to say.

"What're you talking about, man? Just stay here 'til the reek clears, and your dad'll never know."

When his buddy only shook his head and buried his face further into his hands, Shawn spoke. "Jason and Mimi had sex last night."

Philip's eyes popped wide open. "Whoa. I didn't know you and her were that serious. So, that's where you snuck off to, when Chloe left. You sly dog." He grinned and gave his buddy a congratulatory punch in the arm. "So, I guess you and Mimi worked things out, then."

"Dude, I barely remember touching her…" His voice was so small that his friends scarcely recognized it. Philip's eyebrows rose in confusion, when Jason continued, "I was so fucking wasted, I barely remember… being with her."

"Whoa… then, how the hell do you know that you two…"

"Belle and I found them," supplied Shawn, as he met Phil's shocked expression with a sympathetic sigh. "They were both basically gone."

It was then that Philip remembered Shawn carrying Mimi without half her costume. And Jason obviously drunk beyond reason. Philip was so caught up with Chloe that he hadn't put two and two together. Literally. "You think Mimi remembers anything?"

"She was pretty wasted, too," answered Shawn, "Belle couldn't wake her."

"Damn…" Philip shook his head. He then remembered that Chloe had said Mimi was upset. Really upset. Maybe she did remember… Oh boy, was it going to be interesting at the breakfast table…

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Philip rose to answer it and let in Henderson and a small train of servants with huge covered platters, balanced on their efficient shoulders.

"Good morning, Master Philip, or should I say, good afternoon."

"Hey, Henderson," he replied with an awkward hand scratching his head. This was going to be interesting indeed.

"How is Miss Chloe?" asked the doting servant, noting the boy's bare chest. "Marie wanted to check on her, as well, but Mrs. Roberts required her services." He referred to the wife of Philip's brother Lucas with hardly a sneer.

"She's with the girls in the other room. Let me get her for you," Philip quickly said, striding in front of him. Now that he got the scoop on last night's events, who knew what was happening behind that door? He took a breath and knocked. "Chloe? Henderson's here to see you."

Footsteps padded promptly and she let herself out, then closed the door behind her, before Philip could get a good look inside. "Hello, Henderson," Chloe smiled.

"Oh, Miss Chloe. Marie and I are so glad that you're feeling better."

Misty-eyed, she hugged him. He was always so kind to her. "Thank you for taking care of me."

He smiled in return and, with a perfectly gloved hand, gave her cheek an affectionate pat. "You're very welcome. Now, Cook has prepared a rejuvenating, as he put it, meal for everyone. Miss Chloe is instructed to pay particular attention to the creamy cinnamon raisin oatmeal and blueberry-filled crepes with light whip cream. To cleanse and refuel the system."

"Thank him for me."

He smiled and followed the rest of his staff out.

Toying with the tie of her robe, Philip grinned. "Ready to stuff your face?"

Her arms circled his waist, as she rested her cheek against his smooth chest. "Thank God, you were there."

"I'll always be there." His arms tightened around her. "But you're thinking about Mimi, aren't you?"

Her eyes met his in question.

"Shawn and Jase told me. Does she remember what happened?"

"No, but Belle told her." She rested her cheek back on his chest.

"Jason's not too clear about what happened either. Shawn told him." He sighed. "That makes two very upset people." To soothe her and himself, he ran a hand down her hair. "Come on, beautiful. Food's getting cold. See if Mimi's up for breakfast."

She slipped out his arms and went back inside the room. Her friends were brushing their hair in the bathroom. "Uh, breakfast is ready."

The brush paused in midair, while Mimi's eyes blinked and looked away.

Belle drew a supportive arm around her friend. "It'll be alright, Meems. We're your friends. Plus, the food will make you feel better. And knowing this household, the food's going to be darn good."

Mimi tried to smile for her friend.

"Mimi," began Chloe, wondering if she should be telling her this, "Jason is…" What was a safe way to word it? "…concerned, too. He doesn't remember that much either, but… he's worried about you, too," she improvised, hoping that would make her feel better. Truthfully, she was uncertain exactly how that boy was feeling. Freaked out may have been more accurate.

Mimi's eyes met Chloe's in the mirror. Then, looked away. She didn't know, what was worse. That he might be gloating at his conquest or that he, too, couldn't even remember taking something that she could only give once.

Ultimately, she let her friends lead her out of the room. She'd finished brushing her hair and pulled on fresh clothes. Now, she headed to the kitchen to get a bite to eat. Like any typical morning. But she felt, like she was in daze. This wasn't really happening. She couldn't have given her virginity to someone she didn't love and wake up the next morning with no memory of it. So, she couldn't have swallowed a pill, because she'd had unprotected sex and could've gotten herself pregnant. No, all of this was some torturous nightmare that got implanted by those adults, who told horror stories to discourage young people from having sex. Yeah, that was it. This was all a dream. Wake up, Miriam. Wake up.

Then, she reached the living room and saw him. He sat there with his head in his hands, staring dejectedly at the floor. Then, like a dream, in slow motion, one frame at a time, he looked up. She stared at him. He stared at her. They stared at each other, transfixed. Then, his eyes flickered and his lips tried to form words, but nothing came out. Those green eyes were wide and… could it be… frightened.

She tried and tried. She tried to remember the taste of his breath, the feel of his hands, anything. She tried to remember what it could've been like with him. But she remembered nothing. All she saw now were those green eyes, filled with regret.

Her heart broke.

"Mimi…" he managed finally.

Sobbing, she broke from the supportive holds of her friends, pushed passed a freshly showered and shocked Philip, and ran back to the room.