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Bless The Broken Road


This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you


Introduction

She saw her, walking toward him in a gown of white. She had assured herself that this was how it was all meant to be in the end. He was happy, smiling, waiting for her to join him. But deep down, she couldn’t rid herself of the feeling that she was taking her rightful place. That she had stolen a smile that was only ever meant for her. Just like, she had stolen his words, his heart, and her place in his bed. She had the life that she longed for, but could never have. But what was she thinking? She had done it to herself. She didn’t regret it for the most part. All of this, she had sacrificed for the only man she loved more than him. He had stolen a part of her heart that he once possessed, and when it came down to it, there was no way to tell him that she had chosen another man. So she did the only thing she could think to do, she lied. She lied and hurt him and pushed him away, so that he could move on. So that he would force himself to move on. And though it killed her, she put on her game face and did just that, until he finally got the hint.

As she gazed on last time from the back of the church, she let a few tears escape. Everyone else, including her family and her best friend, was dressed for a wedding. She however, was garnered from head to toe in black. Yes, Whitney Russell was in mourning. She might as well be at her own funeral, because that’s what watching Fox Crane marry Kay Bennett felt like, her own death. She sent up a quiet “I love you,” hoping that somewhere in his heart, Fox heard her, and quietly left the church before Kay had reached for his outstretched hand. She walked away once again, from the love of her life.


……

“Smile you idiot” he chanted to himself as she came toward him. He had to admit, she looked stunning. And he did love her. They had had their share of problems, but she wouldn’t leave him. She was loyal, beautiful and honest. And most of all, she was nothing like Whitney. Whitney Russell, the woman who never seemed to leave his mind, no matter how hard he tried and no matter how much she had hurt him. And boy, had she shattered his heart into millions of pieces. There were so many lies, lies that he didn’t understand. All he had ever asked was that she be honest with him, just like the girl..err, woman who was walking toward him now. Yes, Kay Bennett was loyal, loving, a good mother and honest. She was everything that he had ever wanted as a neglected little boy laying awake nights in his bed at boarding school. But if that was the case, then why didn’t this feel right? Why was he wishing upon wishes that when he lifted that veil, it would be Whitney’s face underneath it, as Eve and Ivy purred over their child as he too watched on?

As Kay came closer, he got a sinking feeling in his stomach. It managed to calm him and rattle him all at once. It was as if he could hear a voice, her voice. It was simple enough. Three little words that she had said to him more than once. Three little words, more like three little lies. He became angry then, wondering if she was laughing at him now, the way he swore she laughed at him then. Laughing at how gullible he had been all along. But now, he could laugh. He was marrying someone who was everything she wasn’t, who wouldn’t lie to him or leave him. He watched her walking to take his outstretched arms when he felt a piece of him leave that church. He shook it off as chills and nerves, as the wedding ceremony began. He was determined to be happy with her, forever.


Chapter 1

“Mommy” he said as he saw her thin frame walk through the door, depositing her keys in her purse. “I have fun with Uncle Trevor,” he smiled back at Trevor as Whitney looked in that direction.

“Oh, did you now,” she said as she hugged Miles, a little bit longer than usual.

“Yep,” he continued to smile. “We pwayed with the trucks and watched a movie,” he finally finished as she sat him down.

She removed her coat and took a deep breath. She then made her way to the couch in the center of the room and fell onto it as if she had just finished a double shift at some warehouse.

Trevor looked over at her, with a playful yet concerned look on his face. “That bad huh?” he asked with a gentle voice. “I told you I would’ve gone with you,” he said, placing a kind hand on her shoulder. Trevor was overprotective of Whitney, and Simone for that matter. He was after all their cousin, but really, he was more like a big brother to them. He was the closest they had ever come to knowing one anyway.

“No, it was fine. I knew this was going to happen,” she said as she tilted her head slightly downward, trying to hide her grief. “But I had to go. I had to see if for myself. He looked happy,” she said a little less than convincingly with a far off look in her eyes.

“Yeah, but he would’ve been happiest with you,” Trevor told her reassuringly. He hated this, all of it, but Whitney had told him to keep his mouth shut. And he could never break a promise to his “Binky.” So instead, he told her what he knew to be the truth. It seemed to set her at ease for the moment.

“Maybe” she said as she got up to head toward the kitchen. “You want something to drink,” she offered as she began to keep herself busy.

“Nah, I’m good,” he smiled back, the echoes of his slight Southern drawl giving her the comfort to let out a deep breath as she walked through the doorless entryway. She got out a glass and a pitcher of OJ, her favorite. She quickly poured it and sipped it. It was the only thing she could do to keep from crying again. She had cried all the way home. Crying anymore about it would just make her pathetic, and that’s why she knew she never deserved him in the first place. That hadn’t however, stopped her from wanting him and loving him with all she had. She quickly collected herself and walked back through the entryway, only to see her beautiful son on the floor, playing with some Matchbox car. She smiled to herself. Yes, he had been more than worth it, even if it had cost her Fox.

“Hey, why don’t you take him out for a bit. He really did miss seeing you today,” Trevor interrupted her thoughts. I can just hang out here til you get back, if you need to talk. Or I can carry my sorry black behind home, to my own house and stop living off of family,” he said with a slight chuckle. He of course, was joking with her.

“Yeah, maybe we should go out. But you’re more than welcome to come with us,” she offered, not sure of how alone she wanted to be with her thoughts.

“Naw, I’m good. Besides, I need a break. Love that kid too death, but he wore me out today,” he smiled looking down at his nephew as he continued to entertain himself.

“Hey sweetheart,” Whitney said to Miles as she faced him. He stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. “What do you say you and I leave this place a little bit and hang out, huh? Just me and my favorite guy,” she said with a smile, waiting for him to say yes.

He smiled back at her, a smile that resembled hers. And every time he smiled, she fell more in love that she was already. “Okay mommy,” he replied with a huge grin, excited at the thought of having his mommy to himself for a while.

“Okay, we’ll go to the carnival then, just for a little while though. I don’t want you spoiling your dinner with cotton candy,” she said as she stood, rubbing her hands roughly against his hair and smiling. “I’m going to get changed,” she let Trevor know. He nodded as he continued to relax on the couch and waited until she came back down.

Fifteen minutes later, Whitney was in a pair of jeans, a vintage “Golden Girls” baby t-shirt, and a pair of white sneakers to kick around in. She figured she’d bring a sweater, seeing as it was spring, but hints of winter still showed up from time to time. “Is my big guy ready,” she said as she made sure he was warm enough.

“We go to Carnival now,” she smiled and clapped his hands together.

This was all that mattered as she looked in the rearview mirror at him. He was the other love of her life, and he would have to be enough. He was enough. She smiled as they continued on content just to be together forever.

Chapter 2

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

She sat there as she watched him run around with the other kids near the Ferris Wheel. He was smiling, although he was thoroughly exhausted. He was three years old now, living out his three year old dreams by going to the town carnival. It wasn’t much she thought, but it was time with him. Time she could never get back, and that he would one day treasure. She had lost so much time with him after all.

As Miles continued to run around, she relaxed against the bench a little more. She inhaled the sent of cotton candy and caramel apples, mixing with the salty, buttery smell of overpriced popcorn. It was still fairly cool outside, but comfortable nonetheless. She was tired from today’s events. Well, today’s event anyway. She still couldn’t believe she had enough strength to go to the church. After all, she had told Theresa when she found out she was going, that she didn’t want to hear about a single detail. That was, after she had convinced her best friend that she had to go. Theresa swore it would be like betraying her, but Whitney had reminded her that Fox was her good friend too, and he needed her to be there today.

God, he had looked handsome in his tuxedo. Perfectly groomed to his tall, lean frame. She wondered if she could ever grow tired of his looks? Part of her, the catty part that she would never admit to having, wanted to trip Kay, or run down the isle and object while screaming bloody murder. But the other part of her, the bigger part knew it wasn’t fair. She had broken his heart. She had never deserved him, and she knew now that he could see why. She had been right when telling him that all along.

She was broken from her thoughts by her son. “Mommy, we can go on dat now,” he said smiling as he pointed to the Ferris Wheel. She smiled back at him and nodded, happy to oblige such a simple request. She took him in the seat with her and made sure along with the ride watchman that he was secured. “We go high mommy,” he said with a giggle as the ride began to move.

“Yeah baby, we’re going to look down at the world,” she offered him a small smile. She then realized what she had said. It was the same thing he had said to her when they rode this ride at the carnival. She rested, as the Ferris wheel was having a calming affect on her. She let her mind wonder, just for a moment.

“Hey Whit, you okay,” Fox asked as she looked down a bit, before snapping her head back up and looking straight ahead.

“I’m fine,” she snapped, not ready to admit that she was just a little bit scared of heights.

Fox looked at her and her reaction, trying to stifle back the laugh that was fighting it’s way out. She was so stubborn; she would never admit what he already knew. Well, he knew several things that she wasn’t ready to admit, but he was a patient man.

“So, you gonna keep your eyes closed forever,” he said with a million dollar smile. He couldn’t wait to hear his friend’s response.

“They aren’t closed because I’m scared you know,” she said somewhat bitterly. “I’m just tired. I’ve had a long day is all,” she said reassuringly, but only to herself.

He wanted to laugh, but as he continued to look at her, he could only manage to grow more serious. He found himself studying her face, the way he always did. She was so beautiful. He knew she had no idea that she was, but that’s what made her even more so.

“Hey,” he said as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, before moving it beneath her chin and making her look at him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, he swore she was going to give in, But she simply continued to look at him, waiting for him to finish speaking. He gathered his thoughts and continued. “Um, you really don’t have to be scared. Think of it as being the Queen of all you see. You simply get to look down on the world,” he said with a comforting smile. “Look down on your kingdom Queen Whitney,” he said now with a glint in his eyes.

“Well, okay,” she said, as she felt the fear leave her body. “But I prefer Princess for now. Queen makes me sound old, and Princess just flows better,” she said giving him a crocked smile.

“Okay Princess,” he said with a smile and lay back as he enjoyed the ride with her.

“Ha, I went and ruined any chance of him being my prince,” she said to herself, banishing the memory from her thoughts. She had to stop this. She made a decision years ago. And it had gotten her what she wanted, no needed the most. The child riding next to her. That’s all that mattered. He came first, forever and always. “Dreams never did you any good the first go round,” she reminded herself, before she once again lost herself in her son’s joy.

……

Everyone was gathered at the reception. Tons of people were socializing while walking around. It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, and they had decided to have the reception outside at the country club. Everyone who was anyone was there. After all, a Crane was married today. The bride was over by the cake, yapping away with her little sister, who was holding her daughter. He looked at her, managing a half smile, before returning to concentrate on the drink in his hand. All he could think was that it wasn’t spiked enough for what he needed. To block everything out of his mind. He was still deep in thought when he felt a small hand on his back. He turned to see who it was and gave her a slight smile. “Hi Theresa, lovely day for a wedding, wouldn’t you say,” he said rather deadpan. Normally he would be more chipper in how he said it, but Theresa was aware of what he was really feeling today.

“Hey, how ya holdin up,” she said trying to send him some sort of comfort. She knew as well as he did that it wasn’t suppose to be this way. She knew that Whitney had hurt him. And she knew part of the reason why. But she didn’t’ understand why her best friend hadn’t fought for him in the end. She knew she loved him more than ever. And God knows he still loved her.

“Oh, as well as can be expected,” he said taking another large gulp of his punch. “I mean hey, I’m with the woman of my dreams right? What could possibly be wrong with me,” he said as he looked down, trying to contain his rage.

“If it matters to you at all, she truly hopes you’re happy with Kay,” Theresa said trying to save some face for her best friend, even as she watched him hurt. All of this was unnecessary and it drove her insane.

Fox looked at Theresa with a hard but unreadable expression on his face. He then let out a slight chuckle. “That’s very rich, don’t you think,” she said rather snidely. If she wants me happy, tell her to take it all back. Tell her to stop lying, to me and to everyone. She’s so different from the girl I thought she was,” he said with a bit less venom, but more of a hint of disappointment. “Shit,” he cursed himself “I still love her don’t’ I,” he said as more of a statement than a question waiting to be answered.

“You’ll always love her Fox,” Theresa said as she offered him a glass of water. “I mean, I’ll always love your brother in some way, but you move on,” she said trying to help him cope.

“I know that, and I love Kay, I do. She’s been so amazing to me, even when I wasn’t that great to her,” he said without emotion. “But ,I just feel like I’m cheating her. I can never tell her that Whitney enters my thoughts at night, no matter how hard I try to stop it. But I am happy, I know I am. Kay will always be honest with me,” he said satisfied with his justification.

Theresa simply smiled, as it was her turn to take a sip of her punch. She didn’t like Kay, and she definitely didn’t trust her. But if the girl was hiding something, she sure covered her tracks well. And she did take Fox’s mind off of Whitney, even if it was only for short periods of time. “Well, you seemed to have made the right decision for you Fox. I think you’ll be just fine,” she said as they stood there for moments longer, just enjoying the company.

Kay gazed over toward her husband. He was standing, having just finished talking with Theresa. She was still there beside him. That made Kay nervous. Not because Theresa was attracted to Fox. No, Theresa and Whitney were extremely close. What exactly had the two of them been talking about? She could only assume it was the one woman who robbed her of having her husband, mind, body and soul. Kay knew what to say and how to act around Fox to make him think she was unaware of what he felt. But deep down she knew, she would always be there. There were three people in her marriage. Well, she refused to be the odd man out. She had actually stuck it out with Fox. She hadn’t abandoned him, disgusted him, and shattered his world into a million pieces. No, Kay Bennett-Crane had made sure she was everything Whitney hadn’t been for Fox Crane. And she had been rewarded, by taking Whitney’s place and Fox’s last name…by any means necessary. She smiled to herself before going over to join her husband. He gave her a peck on the lips as they enjoyed the rest of the reception.

Chapter 3

But I got lost a time or two


“Honey, I’m gonna go home ahead of you, I think Maria is down for the night,” Kay said as she came over to her husband, who was talking to his new father in law.

“Okay, that’s fine. I’ll just meet you back at the house in a few hours okay,” he said giving her a smile before she turned to leave. He turned back to Sam. Well, I’m going to go chat with whoever is left, since I’m not sure if I talked to everyone,” he gave the man a firm handshake and a manly hug before leaving his presence. He turned around, only to spot Theresa ready to leave the party. He walked over to her.

“Hey, you leaving,” he inquired with a boyish charm.

“Yeah, I have to get home to my kids Fox, but this, this was lovely. Thank you for inviting me,” she said as quickly tried to escape his company. But his mouth was quicker.

“She wouldn’t even let you bring him,” he asked, wanting so desperately to hear the answer.

“Actually, he didn’t want to come Fox,” Theresa turned around to look him in the eyes. “He’s very loyal to her ya know. He’s the man in her life, and he knows it,” Theresa said, giving a slight smile at how adorably protective Miles was of his mother.

“Yeah, you’re right. I just always pictured him being at my wedding since the moment I knew he was coming,” Fox said as he too thought about his former godson.

“He is loyal Fox, but he still loves you ya know,” Theresa said, offering as much comfort as she could. She didn’t think it was working to well.

“I love him so much it hurts,” Fox said without hesitation. Anyone who was anyone knew how Fox felt about Miles, even after the other shoe dropped. “I just, I just wanted to see him, ya know. Maybe it would make things easier,” he said letting out a heavy sigh.

“You aren’t asking me to talk Whitney into that are you?” Theresa asked, hoping that’s not what he was asking.

“No no, I wouldn’t do that to you Theresa,” he said in a little voice. “It’s just. When you see him, please tell him that I love him and miss him every day,” Fox said, trying to choke back a tear or two that threatened.

“Of course. But I think he knows,” Theresa smiled slightly before walking away. Soon she was out of sight, and he was walking toward his new life.

He didn’t mean too, but he couldn’t help it. He got in his car, and his body took over his mind. He knew he had to get home. He had a new bride waiting for him in some ridiculously expensive getup that wouldn’t stay on for long. But he didn’t care. He had to come here first. It would give him something. What, he didn’t know, but it was something he couldn’t get from anywhere else. He pulled his car to a stop and parked it. He got out of the car, looking tired, his bowtie undone and off, now leaving the top button undone. His suit jacket was unbuttoned at well, and his hair didn’t look so put together anymore, due to him nervously running his hands through it the entire drive over. You would’ve sworn he aged 10 years in the 10 minutes it took him to get there.

He got out of the car quickly, and walked toward the entrance. Apartment 142, this was it. As he stood, he wanted to pace, but couldn’t find the extra energy. Instead, his mind wandered to the worst day of his life. A day that took place while he stood in a doorway, not to dissimilar to the one he occupied now.

“Chad, Fox can never know that Miles is your son,” she said with a desperate plea in her voice. “It’ll break his heart.

“I’m not lying to anyone anymore Whitney. We belong together, and now that we have Miles, that can happen,” Chad said as he placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

Just outside the doorway, you could hear a human heart breaking. “Not his kid,” was all Fox heard in his head. Surely, this was some cruel joke that Whitney was playing on him. After all, he had lied to her for almost a year. Maybe she was just going about her usual, stubborn yet over the top way of getting back at him. Yeah, that was it. After all, he had come to talk to Chad about backing off of her. She was getting distant with him, and he would appreciate it if he would just let them have time alone to fix the unfixable. He hoped rational conversation would work. If not, he would just enforce it. He had no love loss for Chad Harris anyway. But even after she had given their son away, he still knew he wanted a life with her. They had broken up yes, and he had made a terrible mistake sleeping with Kay Bennett. But it was Whitney’s face he saw. It was then that he knew she was worth whatever battles lie ahead. That was until heard her speak again.

“NO Chad. I told you because I thought our lives were over. Otherwise, you still wouldn’t know. God, would you think about Miles for a minute. He is much better off with Fox as a father. The kids can’t tease him that way,” she said on the verge of tears.

”You think I care about Fox’s feelings Whitney?” he said, half disgusted that she was still saying his name. “Miles is MY flesh and blood. Now that I know that, it finally tells me that what I’ve wanted all along is, what does Theresa say, “fate”, Chad ended with triumph in his voice.

Fox had had enough. Enough of the lies, enough of the heartbreak. He stormed into the studio, ready for blood. He hated Chad, he always had. But now, Chad had everything he had ever wanted, Whitney and her son. He had finally won, and it broke his heart. Then with that realization, anger began to take over, and he made his presence know, “YOU BITCH,” Fox yelled at the top of his lungs.

Startled, Whitney turned around to see the owner of that voice. She grew terrified when she realized the owner was Fox Crane. “Fox, when did you get here,” she asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

“I’ve been here long enough to know that you and your sick brother here have just ripped my heart out,” he said letting the tears go. He didn’t care. “I came here because I wanted to make sure Miles was safe. I figured you’d be here for the same reason, cause deep down I knew you loved him just like I did,” he continued in a mix of rage, tears, and shock. “But I heard you and Chad talking, so I stopped. That’s when I heard,” he said with the voice of a little boy. His heart was breaking again at the recent memory. “He’s, he’s not even my flesh and blood. He’s not my son,” Fox asked, demanded really. He was still hoping somehow, it was a cruel trick. “And don’t lie to me. I’m tired of the lies Whitney.”

She looked at him, really looked at him. He was going to die. But she had to tell him now. She couldn’t lie to him after he asked her not to. She loved him to much for that. So she swallowed everything she could and opened her mouth to utter the phrase that could send him to his death. “Yes, it’s true. Miles is Chad’s son Fox,” she said as she reached out to touch him.

He pulled away as if she were trying to burn him. He simply looked at her, and then the smug smile on Chad’s face. He wondered why God was so cruel. “I hate you for this Whitney,” he spat suddenly. “I’ll hate you forever for this,” he said, trying not to give her the satisfaction of seeing him cry anymore. Suddenly and on instinct, he walked over to the crib where Miles lay. He knelt down and ever so gently scooped him up into his arms. He simply looked down on him as the baby looked back and smiled. Even now, he felt so right in his arms. And his smile still melted his heart. But it was now a smile that belonged to Chad. He had imagined that it looked like his the first time he held him. But he knew now that that was just a dream. Whitney had lied to him, and hurt him in the worst way imaginable. He had to get away from here, away from her. He had to move on and stop the hurt right away. As he turned to hand him to Chad, he looked down at Miles one last time and said with such conviction, “There will never be a day when I don’t love you. You will always be my boy,” he said, as he finally handed him off to Chad. He simply took one last look at Whitney, the woman he loved more than life itself, and turned and walked away.

He let a tear go at the memory of that pain, that pain from years ago. And yet somehow, it always seemed fresh. That type of hurt wasn’t going to go away, which is what he feared every day. Then, he was interrupted by the slamming of a car door. Before he had time to gather himself completely, he heard his name being called. “Uncle Fowx,” Miles yelled at the top of his lungs as he saw him standing in front of the door to their apartment. He knelt down to scoop him up and hug him until there was no end in site.

“Hey buddy,” he said against his ear as he continued to hug him. He also caught a glimpse of Whitney. No matter what, she would always manage to take his breath away.

She simply stood there, knowing why he had come. It was killing him to see her, and the feeling was mutual. Once today had been enough torture for her. She shot a quick glance at his left hand. Part of her was hoping against hope that there would be no ring there. That she would be the reason it wasn’t. That he had called off the wedding right after she left, and that’s why he was standing at her door now. But she knew better. It was there, securely sitting on his fourth finger. Kay Bennett’s claim to him for a lifetime. He had come to hold Miles, just for a little while. He had kept his promise and always loved her son. She was always grateful, especially after Chad died. Or rather, after he was killed. Fox, along with Trevor and TC were the men in his life now. Good men that would always love him. She just wondered when she would get tired of hoping that Fox would love her too.

He stayed for a few moments, drinking a glass of water and listening to Miles tell him about the carnival. During the story, he and Whitney had exchanged a knowing glance. It was brief, but powerful. He soon realized he had to leave. He had a wife at home waiting. And as much as it killed him, he never let it show. He got up and left, just as quickly as he had come. And once again, he was out of her reach.

Chapter 4

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

She lay there, much like she did every night. This was the time when her loneliness tried to drive her crazy. When the “what ifs” of her life became the loudest. It had been weeks now since he had come to her doorstep, on his wedding day. Weeks for her to imagine the lines on his face, the lines she had certainly put there. She had looked in on Miles at least five times tonight, mostly for reassurance. She knew he was why she did what she did, but they didn’t. And they could never know. That was the entire point of all of it. It was the only way to get him back, to get him away from Chad. And if she had to shun Fox, gross him out, cut off the entire world and put herself in danger, then that’s what it would take. At least, that’s what she told herself. Several thoughts and memories plagued her mind at night. Like the day she found out she was going to be a mommy. It should’ve been the happiest day of her life.

“Oh God, this can’t be happening. I can’t be pregnant, not now,” she cried inside. She had always wanted children, but today wasn’t the day she wanted to find out. Her mother’s past had just come out. She was still trying to absorb it all, mostly the fact that she had been right for months, yet her mother had called her a liar. But she still wanted to forgive her. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No, Fox Crane was. Ever since that night at the Seacliff Inn, when she found out she was his Mystery Woman, he had been pursuing her with an ambition she didn’t know he had. She found it rather cocky at times. Especially since he knew she was committed to Chad. How dare he say things to her like “Chad isn’t who you really want to be with Whitney and you know it.” She rolled her eyes in disgust. He just continued to bombard his way into her life, thinking it was the way to get to her heart. But then she stopped. Deep down, if she wasn’t being stubborn, he had never needed to push all that hard. She knew, even if she would never speak it out loud, that he had long ago taken her heart away from Chad. After seeing him in the hospital, she was ready, finally, to tell him tonight. But now this. Now, she was forever tied to Chad Harris. And really, was that so bad. He loved her, and he had been there for her. Well, there had been some rocky patches in their relationship, but they were good for each other. And now, now they had a baby on the way. There was so much stress in her life, this could only add more. But she should be thrilled. After all, she was having Chad’s child, it’s what she had always wanted. She had lied to her sister, left her family, all to be with this man. Yes, she would follow through, because that’s what she always did. Fox Crane, he was just a phase. She was losing this battle trying to fool herself as she walked out of that hospital bathroom to face her future.

“I should’ve told him anyway,” she reprimanded herself out loud in the still of the night. “He wouldn’t have cared. He would’ve kept me safe and loved me anyway,” she said forcing tears back from her eyes as she could vividly see her old self and trying to yell to her to go find him anyway. “I never did deserve him,” she mumbled as she found her efforts futile. They always were. “But he held me, even as my world fell apart,” she said, recalling the day that changed her forever.

Oh God no, Fox. No, it can’t be,” she cried hopelessly, feeling her entire body about to give way. “Chad can’t be my brother,” she cried as Fox stared at her, willing her to look back at him. Finally, she couldn’t do anything but collapse.

“It’s not your fault okay. This was Alistair’s doing,” he said as he caught her. He stroked her hair as she began to let the cries rack her body. “I’m a monster Fox. You are holding a monster,” she sobbed uncontrollably as he held her on the ground from behind.

“No, I’m not. I see the same girl, the same gorgeous, beautiful, intelligent girl I have always seen. I still see you Whitney,” he said ever so softly as her let her cry. And he did, he saw her the same as he always had. “And I know you’re still that strong girl who’s given me a few killer rights,” he said with a slight chuckle, hoping that it would offer some comfort to her right now. He had no idea what to say. How could he know. There wasn’t exactly a book on this thing.

“I’m not strong enough for this Fox. Please, you can let go of me now,” she said, still disgusted with herself. The last thing Fox Crane needed to be doing was holding her. She could be contagious for all she knew, and there was no need to taint the heir to the Crane Empire. Not only had she slept with her brother, a sin in and of itself. She had completely shattered the illusion, in a matter of minutes, that she could ever be good enough for Fox. She had worked up the courage for weeks to finally tell him that she felt the same way he did, and that she was pregnant with Chad’s baby. But she wanted to know if he could love her anyway, because he was what she wanted. But now, that wasn’t an option. In fact, she didn’t know what her options were anymore. She was lost, and alone. And she just needed to get away.

“Well, that’s what you got for letting your guard down and thinking you were good enough for him,” she said in disgust. “Really Whitney, you were a Russell. A little introverted chocolate girl from a decent family. Nothing special. You didn’t’ command a room, you didn’t take risk, and you were a pair of glasses that you owned but never wore and three years removed from braces away from being an all out nerd,” she chuckled to herself. “So that was the first mistake, believing he would want you forever,” she said, tearing up at the hurt the statement caused her, even though she knew it to be true. She surely had wanted him, from the moment she met him. And when she was helping him in L.A, she had wanted him. And when they came back, when she had left Chad, she had already known she was in love with him, but he wasn’t hers to love. The first half of their relationship had been based on denials of love. That couldn’t be a good sign. And then, came the lies.

“Whitney, I know,” he said as he looked at her with a rather doofus look on his face. “I found the test when I was taking out the trash. I’m gonna be a dad. I mean, I know we didn’t plan on this so soon, but sweetie, ya gotta believe me, I’m over the moon about this,” he said, barely able to contain his excitement. A baby, with the one woman he’d love til he died, and probably beyond.

“Fox, what are you talking about, I’m not pregnant,’’ she began with the lies.

If only she had known. After one little lie, it just got easier for her. She hadn’t made a habit of lying during her life, but for her child, it seemed to come so naturally. She was protecting him. She had to pass this baby off as Fox’s. Well, that’s partly what it was about. Part of her, the part that knew the part that knew better, was hoping against hope that this was Fox’s child, that they would be a family. God, if she had loved him enough, could she have willed it? She wanted it to be true. A part of her started to believe her own lie, but her guilt would never let her take it too far.

“What if something happens to you Fox,” she said, only partially feigning concern for him. “I don’t’ want to be a single mother, not having your wishes in writing. There has to be some way, some way that it will be like you’re here with me if something happens,” she said in a sad sing song voice, placing one hand on his shoulder, while taking the other and guiding his hand to rest on her belly.

He could only look at her. He loved her so much. He hated the idea of going to the compound, even if it was to save his niece and his friend. But she wanted him to. She said she wanted this more than anything, to have Jane home, and safe with Theresa. And now she needed this “just in case” answer. He thought about it, and then it dawned on him. “My power of attorney Whitney, I’ll sign it over to you. That way, you can speak on my behalf when it comes to our child, our son,” he smiled; pleased with the answer he had come up with.

She smiled back as she hugged him. She also felt sick inside. Yet another lie. This really was getting easy. But, she would now be able to give up this baby, so that he could have the life he deserved, away from all this tragedy and perversion that would be his existence. She suddenly, with a crooked smile on her face, pulled away and looked at him, with quizzical eyes. “Wait a minute, you said our son,” she grinned. “How do you know it’s even a boy,” she wondered out loud.

He gave her a playful smile, the one that seemed to melt her, and maybe annoy her a bit too. It just oozed of a cockiness she was never sure she would get use to. “I have my ways,” he smiled back at her, like he was keeping some secret. He knew it was driving her crazy.

“Did the doctors tell you,” she asked questioningly, thinking he had gone behind her back.

“Not at all, they don’t have to tell me, I just know,” he said before pausing to kiss her on the check again. “Now, I’ll have Ethan draw up the papers so I can sign them, and then I’ll be on my way,” he said before letting out a heavy sigh. “The quicker I leave, the quicker I get back to you and Junior,” he kissed her, this time on the lips, a little more passionately than he had intended. She just did something to him. He could taste her lips forever. Finally pulling back for air, he gave her the softest, most loving smile, and headed toward the kitchen to sign over his Power of Attorney willingly to the woman he loved.

Moments later they both reemerged, having completed all the documents. He turned around to face her now, knowing this was the last time he’d see her for a while. He didn’t intend on being gone for long, but he had grown use to seeing her face every day, waking up next to her, encircled in their essence, intertwined in body and spirit. Being away from her, even for a moment was going to be hell. And the thought of missing his son’s birth frightened him. But he’d die for her. He was putting his life on the line as he spoke, all because she had asked him. As these thoughts raced through his mind, he only hoped his eyes were conveying how deeply his love for her truly ran. Slowly, he took her hands in his, as he continued to stare. “I swear to you, on everything I am, I will come back alive and with Jane, Gwen and my grandmother,” he said with so much certainty, it seemed to rattle the ground beneath her. He wanted to say so much more, but he couldn’t find the words. All he could do was stare and feel and live in that moment. Deep down, something told him that it would be the last pure moment they would ever have together. He took another deep breath before leaning in to kiss her sweet lips. She welcomed his lips on hers, before allowing him to pull away. He then kissed his hand, ever so softly, before placing them on her belly. He had to say goodbye to his son. He hated leaving him, but he hoped he was making him proud by doing this, by making his mommy happy. He then kneeled down to her belly and kissed it once more before saying “I promise, I’ll be here when you come out little guy,” before standing back up, and placing a soft kiss on Whitney’s lips. He then smiled, whispered “I love you,” and set out on a mission. A mission of true love.

He was gone, and all that was left was her and the silence. Her, the silence and a picture of what she always wished they could be. It was from the night they sang at The Blue Note. The night they first made beautiful music together. She remembered that night. She hadn’t laughed that much in years. Fox had managed to make a complete fool of himself on stage. He knew he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, yet he got up there and sang anyway. He did it because it was for a good cause. He had looked so handsome that night, and so happy. She thought it had been Theresa that night. She wanted to think that so badly, that the way he looked at her was simply him getting caught in the moment, or projecting what he felt for Theresa onto her. Because God if it wasn’t, then the fire inside of her stomach that flared up just at the thought of him was going to be the death of her. But now here she sat, just a picture. A picture that represented something that could never be, especially not now. She had his Power of Attorney now. She had everything she needed to shatter him. She held that picture tightly, distraught that it could never be, disgusted that she had ruined it. She hated herself, she hated her baby, she hated that she had slept with her brother, she hated that she felt that her brother was all she deserved. She was beneath Fox in every way, and yet he loved her. Not only would she shatter him, she would make him look like a fool. He hadn’t asked for this. “Yes he did,” she said. “I told him not to love me, it would only bring him down. And now it has,” she said silently weeping, as the quiet overtook the moment.

Unable to take the torture of her thoughts any longer, Whitney simply gave in to the sleep that had tried to overtake her for hours. She would have to get up soon anyway. Her son would be up and ready for the day. She knew that focusing on him, on his life, would help her survive. It always did.

Chapter 5

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

“Chad, I’ve made a decision,” she said as she approached him. It was still hot and sticky outside. The town was recovering from the earthquake that had hit two weeks ago. She, along with most of the town couldn’t wait for summer to turn into fall. It would be cooler yes, but the symbolism of things dying; only to be reborn would not go unnoticed for her.

“Really, and what’s that,” he said, smiling at her as she came closer. Deep down, he knew what she would say. He knew that like him, she was finally ready to admit that what they had was real and lasting. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, him and Miles. He wanted to let out a joyous chorus, but he held it in, until she finished what she had to say.

“I,” she paused, trying not to choke on, or choke back, the words she was about to say. “I want to be with you Chad,” she said, somewhat pained, but only in her mind. “I want us to be a family, you me and Miles,” she finished, managing a bit more conviction, not that she thought it mattered to him how it came out.

“Yes,” he said, finally able to release after what seemed like hours. “I knew you were still in love with me. They all said I was crazy, that I was nasty, but they were wrong. What we share, how we love can never be wrong,” he said with a smile as he walked to scoop her up and spin her around.

God, she felt sick. This couldn’t be the only way, could it? To “love” her brother. “No,” her heart cried out. “YES,” her head screamed even louder, holding back everything in her that wanted to scream out in terror. “You better suck it up girl, convincing him is just the beginning. You have an entire town to fool too,” she thought to herself. Quickly, she placed her arms between their bodies, forcing Chad to put her down. She was getting ready to speak, when suddenly, he grabbed her head and pressed his lips to hers, forcefully. He seemingly wanted to convey how happy he was to her.

“God, you don’t know how long I’ve waited to do that,” he said with a permanent smile on his face. She smiled back at him, yelling at herself to keep her hands by her side, instead of raising them to wipe her mouth.

“Yes I do Chad,” she said returning his smile. “I’ve been waiting forever to do that too,” she smiled, letting into the lie more and more with each word, each action.

“God Whitney, I just want to spend tonight with you, celebrating our love,” he said, still smiling, still happy that he had finally gotten everything he wanted. Everything he had planned on having all along.

She had to think quickly, she couldn’t let her disgust show. He wanted to make love to her. More like have sex. She knew this was what she was worth now anyway. She had nearly given into temptation during the earthquake, but she had also hit her head. Even then, her good sense won out. But now, this lie put her in a position where it would be nearly impossible to avoid him. No, she would simply have to avoid him. She would think about that later though. Right now, all she wanted to do was see Miles. Her precious, beautiful, perfect Miles. “Chad, we have the rest of our lives to spend together, but right now, I just want to see my son,” she said, the thought of him bringing the first genuine smile to her face in weeks.

“Don’t you mean our son Whitney,” he said correcting her. His smile seemed genuine, and yet sinister all at once.

“Yes, yes of course I meant our son, You’ll have to forgive me, I’m just apprehensive still about saying it out loud. The others were against it for so long,” she said, trying to hide her fear. That look in his eyes just now, it sent a bit of a chill down her spine. She may have just gotten herself into something that she couldn’t get out of. “But I have to get Miles away from him,” she reminded herself, and quickly banished that previous thought. After all, once a mother gets a phone call like that, she has no choice but to do whatever it takes to save her child.

“Are you sure you can handle all three of them Theresa? I really can call Trevor,” she said, concerned about her best friend having to watch her two children and Miles. Yes, she had offered, but this was a lot to ask of one person.

“Well, first of all, Trevor is allergic to me,” she said giggling at Whitney, who still looked flustered and concerned. “He thinks I’m nuts Whit,” she finished, snapping Whitney back from a blank moment.

“Well Resa, you kind of are,” she said smiling. “I mean, of course you are, you’re about baby-sit three kids. What sane person does that,” Whitney said smiling back at her.

“You do have a point,” she said going along with the conversation. “But no seriously, didn’t you say he wanted to take his girlfriend out tonight. And besides, mama’s here, so if I run into any trouble, the pro is here, waiting in the wings to save the day,” she gave Whitney a reassuring smile.

“Well,” Whitney said hesitantly, “you have a point there. And as much as I don’t want him out of my sight, I have to go to class don’t I,” she said with an awkward smile.

“That would be good, considering you’re one year away from owning a Master’s Degree. One of us has to be the smart one in the friendship, and I clearly am too beautiful to waste my time on trivial things like higher education,” she laughed as she playfully flipped her hair.

“Goodness Resa, you’re impossible,” Whitney said jokingly back. “Well, if I don’t leave soon, I’ll be late, and neither one of us will be getting a degree,” she said. “Miles baby, can mommy have a kiss goodbye?” she said smiling at him before releasing his hand. He smiled at her, giving her a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

“Mommy is going to learn cause she’s smart,” Miles smiled. He hadn’t started school yet, but he knew that he was proud of his mom, whatever she did.

“That’s right,” she smiled, leaning down to give him one more kiss on the forehead. She leaned into the doorway, and gave Theresa a quick hug before turning and heading for her car. She then turned on the engine and headed to campus.


He tapped his pen against the desk, trying to fight off the memory that wanted to flood his mind. Today however, the pen was not the mightier weapon, and so he simply gave in.

“Are you okay,” she asked him with concern over the phone. He had left their dinner early to go deal with a crisis down at Crane Industries.

“No, not really,” he said sadly. “I just came up with this proposal, ya know, to fix the Arrington Corporation’s crisis. I mean, a foolproof plan. But when I showed it to my father, he congratulated Ethan,” Fox finished in the same voice that he had as a young boy, seeking his father’s approval.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” she said, and she truly was. She had always hated how Julian seemed to cast Fox aside. That was in less of course, he could use him to his advantage.

“Don’t be, it’s not your fault. I was actually thinking that hearing your voice just now is the only good thing that’s happened to me all day,” he said as just thinking of her bought a smile to his face. “Well, that and our dinner. I’m still mad that I had to leave you all alone, in that dress,” he said, as naughty thoughts entered his mind. He was determined to take things as slow as she wanted to, but he was still crazy in love with her, and he was still a man. A man who had worshiped ever inch of her for over a year from afar.

“Fox Crane, are you thinking bad things about little old me,” she said as she shamelessly flirted with him. Everything about tonight had started out as part of her plan. She had determined that the new best way to protect her unborn child was to let the world think it was Fox’s. So, she decided that she had to sleep with him, pronto. But a funny thing happened over their dinner. She found herself having fun. More fun than she had ever had on a date. She had conversed about the recent turn of events in her life. And Fox had been so understanding, vowing to move at any pace she wanted to. But they had also just talked. They had always been friends, but dinner lasted for hours on end, mostly due to the time they spent conversing and dancing. But then he was called to headquarters, because he was needed. Everyone on staff knew how good Fox was, how much potential he had. They knew that one day, Crane Industries would not only be the most powerful business on the planet, but it would be legitimate and personable, due to Fox Crane. That thought alone put a smile on her face. Then, a voice on the other end snapped her back into reality.

“Whitney, Whitney, you didn’t’ fall asleep on me did you?” he asked, concerned that he hadn’t gotten a response when he called her name the first three times

“No, not even close. I was just thinking about you,” she said, still hints of flirtation dominating her tone.

“Oh really, what about me,” he asked. She had peeked his interest.

“Haha big boy, not so fast. I was just thinking about how you are going to prove every naysayer wrong one day, and how proud I’ll be of you then. Or how proud I am of you right now,” she smiled as if he could see her on the other end.

He smiled so hard he was afraid his face would end up stuck that way. “Whitney, you will never know how much that means to me. I swear that’s all I need,” he said to her, his emotions almost reaching across the phone line and resting beside her.

“Well, I mean it,” she said without hesitation. “You can do anything Fox, never forget that. And don’t let them work you too death,” she said, interrupting her own previous thought. “You sound tired, take a break,” she said grinning, as an idea popped into her head.

“I will, bye,” he said as he waited for her to hang up, and then placing the phone back on the receiver, refocused on his work

Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock at his door. He must not have heard it the first time, because this knock was a bit louder. “Must be Sienna with more files,” he said, so engrossed in his work, that he barely lifted his head when he said, “come in” to no one in particular.

She sauntered in with a smile on her face and some food in her hand. Dinner had lasted a long time, but they hadn’t actually eaten in at least four or five hours. Plus, he had been working hard through the night, so she decided to stop at the all night burger spot and get some sandwiches, before paying him a surprise visit. She knew he was busy, but she wanted to do something to cheer him up. The way he sounded on the phone. He sounded so wounded, and that had wounded her.

“I think you should look up when you invite somebody in,” she said brimming with confidence. She knew that she had caught him off guard.

Fox would know that voice anywhere. Whitney. The name that raced through is mind like the opening measure of some great, yet unwritten symphony. And here she was, minutes after getting off of the phone with him, standing in his office. He didn’t need this. Now there was no way he was going to focus, not with her standing there, still in “that” dress.

“Hi,” she said, somewhat shyly. “I just. You just sounded tired and stressed and upset on the phone. And I knew you weren’t going to take the break, so I figured I’d come down here and make you take it,” she finished, her demeanor changing, her confidence growing with every word, every sexy stare.

“You know me so well,” he managed a slight laugh. It was all he could do though. Everything she did, she became more wonderful to him.

“So,” she let out a deep breath and began, “I stopped by Joe’s and got you a very messy, very unhealthy sandwich, a tasty chocolate milkshake,” she began, “and oh yeah, something to drink too,” she finished with a coy, flirtatious smile on her face.

He laughed, but only slightly. That comment had gotten to him more than she knew. He had wanted her since the moment she said hi and he looked up at her. Two naughty scenarios had already run through his mind, and after that comment, another one was well on its way. But he shook it off, as she approached him.

“Here, why don’t you put this down, just for a little while,” she said leaning down as she stood behind him, close enough to whisper in his ear. Her breath, it felt so good. “You just sit there, eat a little bit, and let me take care of you for a change,” she said before kissing the side of his head, so sensually he thought he would rise out of his seat. “Now, sit back and relax,” she demanded in a tone he had never heard come from her before. But he liked it. And he did as he was told. Before he knew it, her gorgeous and gentle hands were lovingly massaging his broad, masculine shoulders, sending him into a state of euphoria.

“God Whitney, you have no idea how good that feels,” he said lethargically

“Hmm,” she responded, as much as she could. She had no clue giving a massage would set her on fire as much as receiving one would. He looked so good, laying there, completely allowing her to control his mood. She looked at his shirt, and began to loosen his tie. “Here, let’s get you a bit more comfortable,” she said sensually, one hand still on the front of his chest, and the other kneading his upper back. He was still very much in the moment. She continued on for about another minute, before she realized she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to touch him with more of her body. She wanted to taste his lips. She had wanted to taste his lips since he showed up to take her to dinner. With that, she grasped hold of his tie, and swiftly lowered herself down on Fox’s lap. Fox, still relaxed, suddenly sat up in a state of shock.

“Whitney, what are yo…,” but before he could finish, she had captured his perfect lips in hers. She couldn’t let go. She didn’t want to. In so many ways, she didn’t know how long this would last. She was making a point starting right now, to love every moment she had with Fox. She knew it couldn’t last between them. She was making sure of that. But she loved him dammit, and if this was all she got, she’d make it count, so that she could remember it forever. She continued to probe his mouth, their tongues colliding, both in desperate want of the other on so many levels. The kiss spoke for them in ways their words could not.

Fox’s hand soon found their way up and down Whitney’s back, before landing firmly on her bottom. “Whitney,” he said breathlessly between kisses. She loved the way he said her name. “Whitney,” he continued, “we should slow down,” he said still kissing her, trying to think rationally for both of them.

“I don’t want to,” she moaned, as she began to nibble on the exposed skin on his neck. “I want you Fox, I always have,” she said with such honesty that she scared herself.

“God, I want you too, believe me I do, but this is only suppose to be a break,” he said, the reality of the lust filled moment dying down. “I have to finish this baby,” he said, continuing to give her pecks of adoration on the lips. “And what I have in store for you, is going to take longer than a lunch break or a midnight snack,” he said honestly, looking at her, feeling his heart would burst at any moment.

She looked back at him, the love he had for her reflected in his eyes. Suddenly, she couldn’t take it. She got up, scared of her own feelings. Without another word, she ran out of his office.

“Dammit, I knew it was too fast,” he reprimanded himself, before turning back to drown himself in paperwork.

Outside of the door, Whitney Russell was finally remembering to breathe. “How dare you Whitney,” she yelled to herself with venom. “You lost control in there, and that’s not acceptable. You don’t get to have him for real,” she said convincingly, even though a tear threatened to fall. She quickly placed her hand to her belly. That was always the dealmaker. That reminded her that all things with Fox could only be make believe. She couldn’t feel these things for him, even if she wanted to. It would only hurt her that much more, when she had to push him away again. She walked away then, one hand on her belly to show love to her child, and the other covering her face, trying to shield to visible pain of a confused and breaking heart.

“Hey, you okay,” Kay Bennett-Crane asked as she walked toward her husband’s desk. His mind had obviously been somewhere else. She dare not ask where.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking,” he answered vaguely. He wasn’t foolish enough to tell her about the memory of Whitney he just had, and how vividly he had remembered it.

“Well, I came in from downstairs to ask you to grab lunch with me,” she smiled at him, changing the conversation. “I swear, we work in the same building, but I never see you until it’s time to leave, if that,” she continued rambling, maybe to him, or maybe just to herself.

“I can’t honey,” I have to finish this report,” he said. He noted the disappointed look on her face. “But I tell you what, you have me all to yourself for dinner,” he said smiling at her. She was his reality, and he did love her. And she is whom he chose. He was going to be happy with her. He would make her happy.

“It’s a date,” she smiled, before kissing him goodbye and going back to work.

He smiled as she left the office. Yes, he had put a smile on her face. She deserved his attention and his love, and he was going to give it to her. He just couldn’t seem to give her all of it.

Chapter 6

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

“Whitney, wait up a minute,” he yelled as he gave chase to her. She seemed to be in a hurry to leave this class and the campus.

Finally hearing his voice, she turned around, slightly miffed that she was being deterred from getting home to her son as quickly as possible, but waiting for him to reach her nonetheless. “Hey Alan,” she smiled at her partner for Massachusetts Family Law class. “What can I do for you,” trying to speed up this conversation. Class had exhausted her, and she really just wanted to get home to her son.

“Oh nothing, just wanted to give you your notes,” he said with a warm smile, hinting on flirtation. “I figured you needed them to study,” as he handed them to her, glad he had saved her from a night of frustration.

“Thanks,” was her simple reply as she took the notes from his hand. She definitely needed these. Alan was a lifesaver.

“No problem, I just figured you would go crazy without them,” he finished before turning to walk back to the building. He then turned back around. “Hey Whitney,” he started, before pausing to gather himself. “If you um..if you ever need me to come over, or meet you somewhere to help you study. Ya know, outside of class and group study, I’m available,” he finished nervously.

Oh God, was he asking her on a date? Was this a come on or something. Not that he wasn’t cute. He was handsome, and all the girls in her class thought so. Smooth dark skin, piercing brown eyes, a stout six foot frame with broad shoulders. And the boy could dress. But that aside, no man had entered her thoughts in that manner, not since Fox anyway. “Um,” she said, finally able to come out of her own thoughts, “sure, I mean, if I get stuck on something, I’ll be sure to get in touch with you,” she said, avoiding the underlying meaning in the question, yet answering it without offending him. She watched as he walked back toward the building as she quickly headed toward her car and speed home. It was time to hang out with her favorite man.

He watched her get into the car and speed away. “Damn, she is too fine for words,” he smiled to himself as he finished looking at spot she had just vacated with a menacing look on his face. Seconds later, his cell phone rang. He looked down to see who it was, and he groaned before answering. “Ya huh,” he greeted without emotion.

“Is that anyway to talk to me,” the voice on the other end said sternly, causing Alan to roll his eyes. He still wasn’t scared of his “boss”, but he decided to placate him anyway.

“No sir, sorry sir,” he said still without emotion.

He began to laugh on the other end of the phone. There was nothing maniacal about the laugh. It was almost as if he was just laughing at something funny on TV. But that’s what finally made Alan scared. Most people would grow frustrated with his attempts to show he didn’t care, but not him. No, he could play this game a hell of a lot better. Almost like he had invented it.

“Are you finished?” he asked, giving him no real time to answer. “Because if you are, then we can get down to business,” he finished, his voice finally taking a serious tone once again. “Make no mistakes Mr. Jones, I always get what I want. And right now, I want my great-grandson away from that piece of trash mother of his. After that’s done, you can have your kicks,” he spat, letting him know that he meant every word and then some. “Are you still on top of her schedule,” he asked already knowing the answer.

Alan swallowed hard before answering. “Yes sir,” he said with conviction. “I know her every move by now. But it’s just so hard to ever get her son alone. She is paranoid, and with good reason, so the apartment is pretty secure,” he continued recounting everything he had learned up until this point.

Alistair listened on, unimpressed with his excuses. Good help was so hard to come by these days. He would have to do most of this on his own, but it was no bother. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t used less than capable men before. As long as he never paid and got his way, they were expendable in the end anyway.

“Hello, is this Chad Harris,” the voice at the other end asked, somewhat faintly.

Chad looked down at the phone, staring at the screen as it flashed “unknown caller”. “Um yeah, it’s me. Is this the record company,” he asked in disbelief. He couldn’t believe they were even still interested.

The voice on the other end let out a chuckle. Indeed, he had his perfect idiot lined up. He couldn’t believe how fate was on his side. “No fool, this is your brand new grandfather,” he announced himself with such force that it took Chad by surprise.

“Oh,” was all Chad could say while he gathered his thoughts. Then he felt himself become angry. “Yeah man, what do you want,” he said in his best “I’m hard” tone, which only made Alistair laugh harder.

“Oh please, it’s never worked for me Chad, don’t’ start now,” he said letting his laughter die down. This phonecall did have a purpose after all. “What I want my boy, is for my grandson to have everything he ever wanted,” Alistair began with a gentleness in his voice that he knew would draw Chad in. This was really too easy.

Chad was silent for a moment. Was Alistair for real? The old man had to know what it was that he wanted, but there was no way he could get it for him, no way at all.

“I know what you’re thinking. How can that be possible? Isn’t there some law against marrying your sister? Well son, like I told you before, Cranes are above the law, and you are now a Crane,” Alistair finished the statement calmly. He was reeling him in with each word.

Chad began to listen with interest. His one track mind, which was always on Whitney was loving the sound of this. “Okay, you have my attention,” he said, giving him enough to continue.

“Well, first thing’s first,” Alistair said coolly, “the quickest way to get to your sister…”

“My lover,” Chad corrected him instantly. “Whitney is still the woman I love,” he said without hesitation.

Alistair Crane didn’t know whether to throw up at Chad’s utter denial and indulgence in vileness, or to cry tears of joy at how painfully stupid and evil he was. It was like he was his carbon copy, except he had the grave misfortune of being short of all brain cells and the wrong color. But those things could be overlooked for the bigger picture.

“I stand corrected,” Alistair replied, playing along. “But never interrupt me again,” he said sternly, giving fair warning. The only warning. “Now, as I was saying, the quickest way to get to Whitney, is through her son, am I right?” Alistair asked, leaving it up to Chad to ponder the question.

“Yeah, I guess,” she said hesitantly, finally agreeing though. “But what does that have to do with me?” he asked curious as to the answer.

Silly boy. Alistair just shook his head as he prepared to answer. “If the quickest way to get to her is through her son, then wouldn’t you want to get your hands on him,” Alistair asked in a way he knew would lead Chad to the matter at hand. At least he hoped it did. If not, he was in more trouble than he thought. But he couldn’t back down now.

Chad thought about it for a moment before answering. “Yes, I would, but how can I do that. He’s not my son,” Chad said with a little hurt in his voice. Every time he thought of that child, he thought of how Fox had touched her and tempted her and taken everything that had rightfully belonged to him. He had never hated anyone in his life as much as he hated Fox. He had taken complete advantage of his Whitney.

“Chad, the answer is quite simple. Isn’t your sist..woman putting her precious baby boy up for adoption,” Alistair said in a coy yet condescending tone. “Wouldn’t it just be perfect if someone she knew could adopt him,” Alistair said, yet again leaving Chad to ponder a question. It was an ever-dangerous way to get Chad to draw the conclusion he wanted him to, but he had to let him think he had some of the power in the situation.

“Alistair,” Chad yelled into the phone, “I’ve got it,” he said with excitement, amazed at his own “genius”.

“Keep your voice down boy,” Alistair reprimanded. “No one needs to know we’re having a conversation.”

“Sorry, gramps,” Chad said quietly with a bit of humor in his voice at his new nickname for Alistair. “But I think I’ve got it. What if you adopt the baby?” he said, his pride in his answer nearly sending him leaping down the hall.

Alistair wasn’t a fan of death. Hell, he had pretty much made himself invisible over the years. But for the first time in his life, he was seriously thinking about taking his own. There was no way this fool was of his own flesh and blood. He’d work on that later though. For right now, getting that baby was all that mattered. “No,” Alistair said calmly, trying not to deflate him too much. “I was thinking more like you should adopt him Chad,” Alistair said with a smile. “I mean, I’d love to do it myself, but people in this town seem to be suspicious of me,” he said with a faux sense of pain in his voice. “I don’t understand why,” he finished with a small voice.

“Well, you have done some bad things Alistair,” Chad chimed in.

“Look, I’m not calling myself a saint my grandson,” Alistair said pouring on the charm. “But I’m obviously in the business now of helping out my family. After all, I’m calling today, trying to help you get everything you want aren’t I?” he asked a question he already knew the answer to.

“I suppose. But won’t me getting everything I want be hurting Fox? And isn’t he your family too?” Chad asked more as a counter point than out of concern for Fox.

Alistair was silent for a split second longer than he needed to be. Who knew? Maybe Chad wasn’t the sharpest knife in the draw, but he seemed to have a lucid moment here and there. “Right you are grandson. But, you, you are my first born grandchild. I want you to have your heart’s desire. And since you haven’t crossed me, I shall oblige you,” Alistair finally finished feeding him the latest line of bull.

“Yeah, that makes sense I guess,” Chad answered. That was more than enough for him. “So um, how exactly am I gonna get this kid,” he continued. “I mean, I don’t have a real job, I’m not married, and most importantly, I don’t think Whitney would like it too much,” he said, curious as to how he would go about this.

“Chad, how many times to I have to tell you, you are a Crane. I will help you take care of everything,” Alistair said reassuringly.

There was a huge grin on Chad’s face. “You know old man, maybe I misjudged you. You seem to see my side of things when it comes to Whitney. So um, thanks,” he said with sincerity.

“Cut the sentimental talk Chad, we have no time for it right now. Our main focus right now is making sure you are the legal and only parent of Whitney’s son. So meet me in half an hour. I’ll let you know where once you start driving,” Alistair said and then hung up.

Chad simply stared at the phone for a few seconds, before leaving his apartment and heading toward his car. Yes, he was on his way to the life he had always imagined. And with Alistair helping him, nothing would stand in his way.


“So, you really think this Alan guy was trying to ask you out,” Theresa asked as she sat in Whitney’s apartment chatting away as they vegged out on popcorn and did their nails. It was the movie night, something they tried to do once a month just because. The kids were all upstairs sleeping

Whitney looked up from her toes, which she had painted a pale pink to answer her friend. “Yeah, I think he was,” she said matter of factly. “But it was weird,” she started. “I mean, he’s a nice enough guy, and he’s rather smart. We do well on our assignments and everything,” she continued. “But I don’t know, there’s just something about him that’s a bit off,” she finished trying to place her finger on exactly what it was.

“I bet you I know what it is,” Theresa said grinning. “It begins with and F and ends with a ends with an X and he is laid up with that horrid wife of his as we speak,” Theresa finished, the disdain in her voice not lost on Whitney

“Theresa, we’ve been over this. There really isn’t any reason for you to hate Kay that way,” Whitney said, barely convincing herself. “She loves him and she’ll make him happy. That’s all that matters,” Whitney finished with her head back down, facing her nails.

“Oh come on Whit,” Theresa said raising her voice slightly. “This is the Kay who admitted she put some voodoo spell on the man you love just because she wanted him to balance work and home. What kind of woman doesn’t have enough faith in her man to trust he can do it on his own?” Theresa’s eyes questioned her best friend.

“Well, that may be true T, but I certainly did a lot worse with him than she did. I didn’t trust him either. All she wanted was for him to be successful,” Whitney tried to rationalize in her head, without much success.

“Bullshit Whitney,” Theresa spat back, a little more forcefully than she meant to. “Never, not once did you think Fox needed help being a successful executive,” she said, calming her voice a little. “No one ever believed in him the way you did,” she finished, knowing she had spoken the truth. “Even Fox knew that much,” she said whimsically. “And besides, this isn’t about that hon, it’s about Kay Bennett and how I still don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. Trust me, from one “non-practicing” schemer, I know a plot when I see one,” Theresa stated. “I know what a pair of eyes look like when they are desperate to hold onto a lie and everything that they lie gets them,” she said speaking from experience. “Whitney, I saw her looking at me and Fox when we were talking at the wedding from hell. She’s hiding something, something big. And that something has everything to do with you and Fox, I’m sure of it,” Theresa finished, hoping that some of that had gotten through to Whitney.

“Maybe,” Whitney said, wanting to believe her. Wanting to believe that it even mattered. “But Theresa, Kay Bennett, and you forgot the Crane by the way…”

“No I didn’t,” she interrupted her.

Whitney rolled her eyes at her best friend. As I was saying, Kay Bennett-Crane isn’t the reason Fox and I didn’t work. I am,” she said as her voice grew softer.

Now it was Theresa’s turn to roll her eyes. She loved Whitney like her sister, maybe more than her sister maybe, but this swan song had gotten old ages ago. “Well, if you would’ve fought for him, I doubt this would be the story,” Theresa said like it was part of tango between friends that they both knew all the moves for.

“Save it T, I was only sparing him me. My God, half this town thinks I’m a sick freak, and I can’t blame them. That’s kinda what I was going for. But Fox, I hurt him so much, even after…,” she cut herself off. She couldn’t think about it, any of it. She got herself back together. “The only thing that matters is that little boy sleeping upstairs. Tell me you wouldn’t give up everything for Jane and Little Ethan,” Whitney said, trying to turn the tables.

“Oh no you don’t,” Theresa said blocking said attempt. “Look, you know that I would. And Whitney, you will never know how brave I think you are for what you did. I mean, you could’ve done something like I would have done and oh, I don’t’ know, kidnapped your own child. But you have a faith in some system, some rule of order that I never did. That I still don’t,” Theresa said. “Hell Whitney, you just have faith,” she finished. “But what scares me, is that you bought into your own lie. To even let him touch you,” Theresa began before Whitney cut her off.

“Please, let’s not go there. It’s better if I don’t have to talk about it,” she said so quietly. She tried to block those times out, and it usually worked.

Theresa took a moment, and then continued. “Well, to even put yourself through that Whitney, you had to believe you were as bad as you wanted everyone to think you were. You had to think you were low, disgusting and unworthy. And personally, I don’t think you’ve ever gotten your self-esteem back,” she said, offering up the only perspective she could.

“Yeah well, I did what I had to do, and I’d do it again,” she said without hesitation.

“Yeah, but it cost you so much Whit,” Theresa said, the concern never leaving. “I mean, sacrificing Fox makes sense to some extent. But Whitney, you never had to give him up. And I think a huge part of you knows that. That’s why you just kick yourself even more. And the fact that you didn’t think you could come to me,” she said as tears threatened to fall. “God Whit, I’m your best friend. I know I don’t have many selfless moments or anything, but all you ever had to do was tell me. I would’ve been there,” she said, no longer able to hold back the few tears that glided down her cheek.

“Theresa, I didn’t want to involve you okay,” she started, threatening tears of her own in that moment. “I didn’t want to involve anyone who didn’t need to be. And anyway, you were trying to get your children back. The last thing you needed was my problems messing that up for you,” she said, as a single tear came tumbling down. “I had myself, my faith, and I did have help ya know,” she said as both tried to recover from the moment.

“Yeah you did, and you still won’t tell me who,” she began. “But I still feel like it wasn’t the same. They don’t know you the way I do,” she smiled as she lightly jabbed Whitney in the shoulder.

“True. But they helped save my live and Miles’ in so many ways,” she said with a far off look in her eyes, thinking of her guardian angel.

She sat there in silence. He had just shown her how much she had hurt him. He had hurled every name he could think of at her, before going down to the adoption agency. She knew she deserved every word, every look of disappointment, every bruise from every step she hit on the way down from that pedestal he had placed her so high upon. She had crushed the man she loved the most. She never knew a hurt that deep could exist. It had killed her to let go of her son, but it had been for the best. But at least she had had a say, and at least she knew why she did it. Fox didn’t have a clue. He had trusted her, with all of his heart, and she had lied. The way he looked at her before he left cut her deeper than she had ever known. Even protecting her child didn’t’ seem worth this hurt.

She managed to get up off the step she had called home for the past 20 minutes. She wanted to run down to the agency to stop Fox, but she felt it best to give him a few moments before she followed him down there. She just couldn’t understand it. Her plan had worked. She had given up her child, her son, just like she had wanted to. He would never have to hurt knowing how he was conceived. She didn’t have to keep Fox away from his happiness any longer. But now that it had happened, it wasn’t a cause for celebration. She had killed him inside, and a part of her had died with him. She now realized that by going through with this, all of it. From the first lie to this very moment had meant that she was resigning herself to never have love. She had sacrificed him for her child long ago. That sick little baby boy who had fought in spite of the odds against him. She then chuckled. Her boy, she had had a son. Just like Fox said she would. If God had been kind, she would’ve called it a connection, a connection he had formed with his son. But God wasn’t kind was he? Because she had had Chad’s son. Chad her half brother had fathered her baby. With more energy than she thought it should take, she grabbed her keys to head out of the door and go to the clinic. But before she got out of the house, the phone rang. Against her body’s wishes, she went to answer it. “Hello,” she asked with little interest. It probably wasn’t even for her.

“Whitney, Whitney Russell,” the unfamiliar voice on the other end of the phone asked.

“Yes, who is this,” she said, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Someone who needs to speak to you immediately,” the voice on the other end said with a slight urgency.

“Um no offense, but this really isn’t the time. There are some things that I need to take care of right now. And the fact that I don’t even know who you are isn’t helping your case,” she snapped. She didn’t have time for these games.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that, I wanted to, no, needed to get to you. Your son is in danger. Grave danger. And frankly, so are you,” the voice said as calmly as it could.

“What are you talking about,” she said, willing her heart to beat normally. Not her son.

“The adoption is final Whitney, but it has not worked out as you planned,” the voice continued.

“Wait, how did you know about my child was being put up for adoption? Who ARE you?” she demanded. She really didn’t have time for this game.

“You’ll know that soon enough. But you have to trust me now. I know who is adopting your child, and I know you will not like it. But once you hear everything, you will be as scared as I am for you and your child now.”

“What do you mean will be,” she continued to speak frantically. “What is going on? Please, tell me something,” she begged of the stranger on the other end.

“Whitney, Chad Harris is the sole guardian of your son. He paid off the agency to get him,” the voice said clearly, so that she could absorb every word “with Alistair Crane’s money,” they finished, the magnitude of the last words resounding.

“Oh God,” was all Whitney could muster as each word hit her like a Mack truck. “What am I going to do?”

“Hey Whit, you okay,” Theresa asked, concerned about the look in her friend’s eye.

Whitney, hearing Theresa call her name came to from her memory. “Huh, yeah, I’m fine girl,” she said as she plastered a fake smile on her face.

“After all you’ve been through, and you are still the worst liar in town,” Theresa smiled before grabbing the remote and starting the movie, as she and Whitney lay back and got lost in fiction for a while.

**Warning** I do NOT like this chapter. I feel it's a bit slow, but it has to be written so that things make sense later. So I'm seriously apologizing in advance. But as I told twin, even I like the next chapter, so I hope that makes up for this. But anywho, read on family. And as always leave comments, good, bad or indifferent.



Chapter 7

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

Kay Bennett-Crane sat at her desk, mindlessly editing files like she had been for the past three hours. Her job at Crane Industries wasn’t exactly hard. She was after all the secretary. And she wasn’t particularly fond of it, but it allowed her to see her husband everyday, a gift she was thankful for. She was still an hour from her lunch break, which would consist of a strolling through the springtime climate that May bought to Harmony. It was getting hot outside. Maybe she’d even ask her hard working husband if he wanted to join her. Seconds later, her phone began to ring. She looked down and noticed that it was indeed her line blinking. She picked it up. “Hello, Crane Industries. This is Kay speaking. How may I help you?” she said in the robotic tone she had been trained to spit out on reflex.

“Ah, it’s good to know you can be trained,” the voice on the other end chuckled, amused with his one-liner.

Kay rolled her eyes. “Alistair,” she began sarcastically, “is there a reason you’ve interrupted my work?” she said, not at all interested in what he had to say.

“Now now Kay, is that anyway to talk to your favorite in-law,” Alistair gave a sinister chuckle, humored by her disinterest. “And besides, when have I ever called you to just call,” Alistair asked coyly.

“You never call me. Well, unless it’s a threat,” she said matter of factly. “I don’t really have time for games Alistair,” she said adding strength to her voice. “So why don’t you just tell me what this call is about.”

Alistair couldn’t contain the tickle in his stomach that turned into a laugh. She really had no clue who she was dealing with. He almost thought it cute that she was trying to be defiant and brave. But now he had to set her in her place. It was no matter; all it would take is one little phrase. “Oh Kay, I’m sure you’ve convinced yourself that you’re not afraid of me. But I know you are. Because I know everything,” he said with an eerie sense of victory in his statement.

Kay, trying not to sound nervous asked “What is that suppose to mean?”.

“Kay, I know everything, including everything you know and don’t tell. Does the name Miles ring a bell,” he asked, waiting for the light bulb to go off.

Kay used all her strength not to drop the phone. Why would he bring up Miles? Unless….

“I know what you’re thinking Kay. Does he know? The answer to that question is yes my dear,” he said calmly, almost seductively, as if he was trying to lure her in.

“I..I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, trying to lie her way out of this, as she had so many times before.

“Oh dear Kay, I use to think you were clever. Now I’m starting to wonder if being with my idiot grandson hasn’t worn off on you,” he said with a plastic concern in his voice. “Besides, no matter how strong you try to be, I’m not going to be afraid of you. I own you,” he said in a demented tone that made the hairs on Kay’s back stand up.

“Fine” she said after a hard swallow. “Name your terms,” she said braving herself for the consequences of her actions.

Alistair chuckled. This was so easy. “Well, it’s quite simple really. I know that one Whitney Russell has become just as big a pain to you as she has to me,” he began calmly.

“I know no such thing. I could care less about Whitney Russell,” Kay continued to lie to Alistair.

“Dammit little girl, you are really starting to get on my nerves,” Alistair said agitated by the mere thought of her now. “If she wasn’t a threat, you’d be running upstairs to tell your precious husband that he had a little bastard with the love of his life right now,” he said, allowing himself to calm his raging temper. “You hate her as much as I do, even if it’s for different reasons. I’m here to tell you that the only way to have Fox to yourself is to get rid of Whitney Russell,” he continued, back to his calm, calculating tone that directed people like the conductor of some great orchestra.

Kay knew this wasn’t a request. She never imagined that Whitney Russell would have to be exterminated. But she also knew that she had come to far to turn back now. She was Mrs. Fox Crane, and that’s how it would stay. “By any means necessary” she chanted to herself, before willing herself to reply to Alistair. She let out a heavy sigh. “What do you need me to do.”



He let out a deep breath as he sat in his favorite chair. He didn’t think he’d be home so soon, but the latest case had taken an unexpected turn for the better, and he decided to reward himself by giving himself the rest of the day off. He shifted slightly, reclining the seat and kicking off his shoes so that he would get more comfortable. Just then, he remembered that he needed to call his wife. She would come looking for him for lunch, and he wouldn’t be there. He was tired, and he didn’t fell like calling her just yet, but eventually he would have to. Otherwise, she’d call him, yelling about how she was worried that something had happened. Understandable in his opinion, but it still made her clingy, which he hated. He took the cell phone out of his pocket and looked at it, debating on whether to call her now or later. He decided he could barely keep his eyes open, so he opted for later. It was only going to be a two-hour nap. He finally allowed himself to recline fully, loosing his tie and shutting his eyes. Just before he was in a deep sleep, there was a knock at his door. He sat there, hoping it wouldn’t come again, but it did. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said frustrated as he got up to answer the door. When he opened it, he was more than surprised to see this person on the other end. “What in the hell do you want,” he spat without apology.

“Trust me, you aren’t my favorite person either,” Trevor spat back at him, walking into his home not caring whether or not Fox wanted him there.

“Well come on in,” he said sarcastically as he closed the door, all the while staring a whole into the back of Trevor’s head. “Seriously, what are you doing in my home,” he asked, now demanding an answer.

“Look rich boy, don’t think I’m here voluntarily,” he bellowed toward Fox, his displeasure at having to be here at all evident.

“You’re still not answering my question,” Fox said arms crossed defiantly. He was getting tired of him stalling.

“I’m here cause I need answers,” he said in a quieter tone than he meant to relay.

“Answers to,” Fox began, his curiosity now peaked.

“Did you kill Chad Harris,” he asked point blank.

Fox was caught off guard. He was prepared to answer almost any question, especially one about Whitney. But this was unexpected to say this least. “Well, I. Um, I didn’t really,” he stammered.

“It’s a yes or no question my man,” Trevor replied impatiently. He was starting to think he was wasting his time.

“No,” Fox said quietly but assertively. “Why did you ask me,” curiosity now getting the better of Fox.

“Simple. I wanted to know who beat me to it,” he said, a slight smirk crossed with disappointment creeping onto his face.

“Beat you to it,” Fox questioned. It was no secret that he, along with others in this town thought that Trevor had indeed had something to do with Chad Harris’s death.

“Don’t sound so damn shocked aight,” he replied to him, his eyes holding an accusatory stare. “I know what you think. That I offed that piece of shit. Believe me, I wish it had been me. I wanted it to be me. I came here so it could be me,” he ranted, mad at his missed opportunity. “But it wasn’t. I got that phone call that day, and from then on it was all that was on my mind,” he held his head in disgust, as if he had failed.

Fox stood there slightly in shock. He and Trevor didn’t exactly get along. But he seemed to be at some sort of crossroads. Not only was a man dead mysteriously, even though he hated detested Chad. But Trevor was being blamed for it. That would be fine for him, except for the fact that Fox sincerely believed him when he said he didn’t do it. “So you thought that I did it,” Fox said. It was really all he could manage.

“Well, you hated Chad, and you aren’t my biggest fan. For all I know, you could be setting me up to get me out of Whitney’s way,” Trevor said staring right at him, daring him to disprove this theory.

Fox couldn’t believe this. What an accusation. Well, he was about to give him a piece of his mind. “What the hell kind of claim is that?” he voice trembling with anger. “Don’t get me wrong, I hated Chad Harris as much as anyone. I thought he was a sick disgusting freak who had no right to be the father of such a precious child, regardless of the fact that he’s the father. And as for setting you up to get you out of the way, why would I do that. Whitney loves you and I love Whi…” he stopped himself, realizing what he was about to admit to Whitney’s very own family.

Trevor smiled inside. He definitely didn’t like Fox Crane, but he knew that he loved his cousin and she loved him. Why, he would never know, but he wasn’t about to question her. She deserved all the happiness life could give her. And regardless of what he thought of Fox, the man he felt abandoned Whitney when she needed him the most, he knew he loved Miles as much as he did. “Well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I apologize. You sound like you mean it,” he said only half concerned. “But we have a problem dude. If you didn’t do it, and I didn’t do it, then who did,” he wondered aloud as Fox looked at him.

“I wish I knew,” Fox replied. “I’d shake their hand and give them a nice job at Crane Industries though, that’s for sure,” he said with a slight chuckle. Then he remembered the rest of what Trevor said. “Hey uh, you said something, about a phone call right?” Fox said trying to grasp at any information he could.

“Yeah man, I did. And it was weird as hell,” he said remembering that day a year ago.

”What’s up, this is Trev, what it is,” he said casually as he walked around his apartment making sure everything was just right for tonight. Tonya was coming over, and he was sure he would be getting some tonight. He figured the least he could do was make it a bit romantic, so he wouldn’t seem like a complete dog when he told her he could only be her friend.

“Is this Trevor Russell,” the unfamiliar voice on the other end asked blandly.

“Yeah, but who the hell are you,” he asked, knowing that the number and voice were foreign to him.

“This is someone you need to hear from. Please, don’t hang up on me,” the voice pleaded, sensing that he was about to disconnect.

“You got like five seconds to tell me why not before I really do,” he stated clearly, his frustration clearly getting to him.

“If you love Whitney you won’t hang up,” the voice said sternly, urgently even. This scared Trevor, even though he wouldn’t admit it.

“What in the hell are you talking about? What is wrong with my Binky?” he continued, his concern no longer hidden. He needed answers now.

“She’s in grave danger, and has put herself into deeper trouble than even she knows,” the voice finished, sending chills down his spine.

“Naw, you’re playin with me. She called me, told me she and the little one were happy with Chad,” he said not knowing what to think anymore. “Who the hell are you and why are you playing with me like this,” he wanted to know right now.

“I wish I was Trevor. But I’m afraid the simple fact of the matter is that without help, Whitney and Miles will soon die. I just thought that maybe you could,” the voice began, the words cracking as they were forced out.

“Look, I don’t know who you are, but I can’t take any chances that you’re playing with me. I’m on the next flight to Harmony. I’ll run there if I have to,” he said ready to come to her rescue, even without any clue as to how he was gonna help her when he got there.

“So you just dropped everything and came to Harmony,” Fox asked, a possible sign of admiration for the man that stood before him present in his voice.

“Anyone would,” he said adamantly. “When I got here, I couldn’t get in touch with Whitney though, it was the strangest thing. She seemed hauled up in that studio apartment with Chad. So I went, against my better judgment mind you, to Theresa to see what she knew,” Trevor said, rolling his eyes at the thought of Whitney’s best friend.

“Damn, you don’t like Theresa either,” Fox asked surprised.

“Hell no. I think she’s crazy, kinda off her rocker,” he said making a ‘crazy’ motion by circling his finger around his head. “But I knew if anyone knew what was happening she would. She didn’t like the situation Whitney was in either, and told me she only talked to her once a month at best. They had never gone that long without speaking,” Trevor continued to relive the memory out loud. “So slowly, I managed to get back into Whit’s life, until one day she let me in. The rest is history I guess,” he finished as he shrugged his shoulders and headed toward Fox’s door. “Look man, I’m sorry I barged in on you. I just needed an answer,” he said as he stood in the entrance way, offering his form of an apology.

“No, it’s fine, really. I’m glad you asked me,” he said, still in shock that he had come at all. “I guess this just means everything is up in the air again,” he sighed, more wound now than before.

“Yeah, I guess it does,” Trevor agreed. They both stood silent for a few moments more before Fox spoke.

“Um, hey man look,” he began, tripping over his words somewhat. “I was just thinking that, you know, if you figure anything out or anything, you could maybe, give me a call or something,” Fox said nervously as he ran his hand through his blond hair. “I mean, I know we don’t really like one another and everything, but I was thinking since this is kinda bigger than both of us,” he continued, but was cut off by Trevor.

“Hey look, I’m not saying we are gonna be insta-friends or sing Kumbayah by the campfire or anything, but I think the least I can do is keep you in the know if I figure this all out,” Trevor gave a single head nod, reassuring Fox that he wasn’t the only one who felt they should stay in touch.

Fox chuckled a bit to himself before nodding back. They said nothing else as Trevor left Fox’s home, after getting his number. Fox sat back down in his favorite chair, once again reclining and preparing himself to rest. He couldn’t shake the fact that things just didn’t add up. He was pretty sure Trevor wasn’t telling him the whole story. Just “slowly managing to get into Whitney’s life” like that seemed odd. And what was so crazy about Whitney’s life that he couldn’t get in at first anyway. He was her family after all. He remember from when they were together, how she had always talked about Trevor. Hell, Fox had started calling him St. Trevor the Russell because of how much Whitney and then Simone would sing his praises. So for him to be pushed away by Whitney at first struck him as odd. But it was no matter. He was too tired to think about that, or the phone calls, or the fact that his wife and stepdaughter would be home in a few hours. So he gave in and enjoyed the precious few hours of sleep he could get, as he let himself fall into dreamland.


She walked through the student center, trying to find him. She was already mad that she had to add him to her docket for today. She was already swamped with classes and homework and she had a romantic dinner planned for later with her baby. But he was family, and so she said okay. Turning her head, she managing to see him sitting in a booth on the right side. She quickly walked over, placing her bag down before sliding into to rest her behind. She comfortably lifted a French fry from his plate before she began. “So really Alan, why did you want me to meet you,” she asked with confusion still etched in her voice.

“Now Michelle,” Alan said, looking at her with a slight smile, “Is that any way to talk to your favorite cousin,” he grinned, showing off his boyish dimples.

“Cut the crap Alan,” she scolded as she continued to chomp on a few fries. “What do you want from me?”

“Simple,” he said, mischief in his eyes belying his forthcoming request. “I want you to fix me up with your boyfriends cousin. I want a date with Whitney Russell.”

**WARNING**
This chapter is rated R for sexual content. Read at your own risk. If you decide NOT to read the love scene, I promise you won't be missing out on the story. So it's really your choice. And be gentle. This is only the second love scene I've ever written, and the first in this much detail. And this symbol (*) will indicate the break where the love scene begins. Okay, enjoy.

Chapter 8

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

“Theresa seriously, I love The Notebook too. But I swear we watch it every single time you’re over here,” Whitney playfully scolded her best friend as they wound down their movie night. It was pretty late, but between the sweets and having dozed off a few times already, they were both pretty awake.

“Yeah right, you know you love that movie too,” Theresa rolled her eyes, pretending to throw a pillow at her head. “And besides, I could look at Ryan Gosling all day,” Theresa said dreamily as Whitney rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, don’t tell me you don’t at least think Noah is hot,” Theresa asked accusingly, daring her to deny it.

“Okay, Noah is kind of a romantic, I’ll give you that,” Whitney said defeated.

“He’s not just a romantic Whit. That boy is persistent. Not to mention strong,” Theresa continued to gush like a schoolgirl with a crush. “When they get off of that boat and he says ‘it’s still not over’ and just grabs her,” Theresa ends lost in her own thoughts.

”You are terrible,” Whitney laughs at her friend.

“Maybe,” she agrees. “But tell me you wouldn’t want a man to just take charge like that. To have a man love you like that is,” Theresa said, unable to finish before swooning.

It was then that Whitney remembered, she had in fact had someone just like that. He loved her in spite of herself. She still didn’t feel she deserved Fox’s love, but she knew that she craved it. Her mind wandered further, to the night a little more than a year ago when she had craved it so much that it had taken her to his doorstep. That night had been the greatest of her life.

She was free, at least for the night. She had seen the moon hanging high above the autumn sky and couldn’t resist the urge to go outside and bask in it for a while. But she couldn’t leave, she had Miles to take care of. Chad had been away for the entire week. It was now Thursday, and she knew that Saturday morning she would have to endure the torturing of pretending with him once again. And besides, she had alone time with her precious son. That was surely more important than time alone, walking around Harmony aimlessly. But Miles was now sleeping, and the more she looked out the window, the more she knew she needed alone time. But how? She couldn’t call Theresa, and Simone wasn’t available right now. She still had issues with her mother, even though she loved her. She knew they’d end up having one of those “what can I do to make you love me again” talks, and she didn’t have the energy. So she resided herself to just waste away inside, getting her only joy from the peaceful child sleeping just a few feet away. But then, she thought. Yes, her angel, as she had called her. That had been the name she had given her since the day she called to let her know she and her child were in danger. Maybe, just maybe she could come over. If not to watch Miles while she left, than to at least keep her company. After all, she knew of her pain more than anyone. With her eyes closed and her heart hopefully, she dialed the number. The phone rang twice before there was an answer on the other end.

“Hello Whitney,” the sweet voice singsonged to her, almost as if she knew she would call.

“Hi,” she simply replied. “I, well, I hate to be a bother, and I know it’s kind of late. But I was wondering if you could, maybe come over. You know, keep me company, or maybe even watch Miles for me for a little while. I just feel so trapped,” she said, beginning to vent all her frustration before catching herself. They didn’t want to hear her complain she was sure.

“Whitney, I was expecting you to call. I would be glad to come over and watch him for you. I adore that little boy so. And it will give you a chance to breathe for a while. You deserve at least that much,” the voice at the other end said. “I’ll be there in ten minutes my dear, be ready to leave,” they said before hanging up, so that Whitney couldn’t protest.

Whitney sighed but smiled to herself. She would finally get a few hours to herself. Not that she particularly love that. It meant she had to think, and her thoughts never put her at ease. But nonetheless, she was just happy to be free for a while.

Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Whitney opened it, and sure enough, it was her relief, ready to spring into action. “Thank you so much,” she says as she leans down to give the person a kiss on the cheek.

“Oh, it’s no problem at all. I think I’ll rather enjoy myself,” they say as the pat Whitney on the shoulder. “Now, leave before I throw you out,” the smile playfully as Whitney kisses her hand to place on Miles’ forehead, then walks out into the night.

“What do you think Miles, mommy is going to have a great night,” the person says, smiling down at his sleeping frame.


It had been forever. She almost forgot what it was like to have a light dew caress your skin as you watched the changing leaves shine in the moonlight of the New England sky. She had always walked outside at night when she was younger. She was never going anywhere in particular; she just loved to do it. And this night was no different than ones past. Tonight, she had no sense of where she was going, but just being out and able to go somewhere had put a smile on her face. She continued to walk around and went down to the park for a while just to take in the scenery. Then, out of nowhere, there was a feeling inside of her. She looked up at the sky, and one star seemed to stand out more than the others. Curious, she decided to follow it for a while.

She had long ago stopped following the star, and yet, here she stood. She didn’t know why she was at his doorstep now, nor did she know what it was that wasn’t letting her turn back. For God sakes, he could be in there with her now. She could be interrupting him and his pursuit of happiness. But before she could think further, her hand raised and came down with a knock on the door. She stood like a statue, partially shocked, partially curious as to what her actions would lead to.

Fox was sitting in his chair, watching TV. Well, more like flipping through the channels, trying not to think about life. It had been two days since the truth of Kay’s actions had come out. She had told him herself, in hopes that it would dull the pain. She had admitted to casting spells of some sort and counteracting planned projects to keep him home with she and Maria. Part of him was still mad about being made a fool of. But he was more frustrated than mad, and not because of Kay. No, for the past few hours, all he had been able to think about was Whitney, and how in spite of everything, all he wanted was for her to be here right now, sitting lazily on his lap like she use to. They use to have so much fun doing nothing at all. Then, he heard it. It was a small knock, but he heard it. Groaning as he got up, he figured it was Kay coming to apologize again and beg him to take her back. He got up and walked to the door, the speech already spilling from his lips. “Look Kay, I’m going to take the time to talk this out with you, but right now I just want to be alo..” his words trailed off as he opened the door. His rehearsed speech was quickly replaced with a look of shock.

She stood there, chewing her bottom lip as she stared at him. His facial expression was unreadable other than what she expected, shock. “I’m sorry, I was just walking and. You know what, this was a bad idea,” she said as she turned in what seemed like slow motion.

“Whitney,” he managed to say in something just above a whisper. He still was trying to process it. She was at his door, in the flesh. This wasn’t a dream was it? He quickly shook himself and got his bearings, finally able to complete a sentence. “You, uh, you must be cold. Would you like to come in?” he asked her, never wanting to assume anything about her ever again.

“Um, sure,” she said hesitantly before walking through the entranceway and towards the couch in front of the TV. “Let me guess, channel surfing,” she chuckled, trying to break the ice. She still didn’t know why she was here. She had no explanation to give him.

He just looked at her. She smiled, but it was as if it hid something. The smile didn’t reach her eyes. She looked tired and bewildered, like she had been working at a job she hated for decades. He continued to stare at her as she sat down, and he did the same. “So,” he said, “you still know my routine,” he smiled back at her, causing her to smile too.

“Yeah,” she said with a simple nod before bringing her feet in and her knees to her chest. She was starting to think that this was a horrible idea. They sat in silence for a few moments, letting the sounds of some cheesy infomercial fill the room, Finally, Fox couldn’t’ stand it anymore.

“Whitney, why are you here,” he asked, a mixture of bitterness and excitement in his voice.

“I, I don’t know Fox,” she said with the voice of a lost five year old. “I was just walking, taking a break while the sitter was home, and I was looking up at the stars, and then the next thing I know I’m knocking on your door,” she rambled on nervously, still childlike in tone.

Fox just looked at her, really studying her for the first time. She was still the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen, in spite of her tired appearance. The spark in her eyes had died, but she still seemed to be on cusp of that glow he had loved so much.

She looked back at him, watching and waiting for that sign that told her he was okay with her being here, just for a moment or two. She didn’t think she saw it though, and exhaled, defeated. “So, how’s Kay,” she asked suddenly, wanting to know if she was going to be expected. She didn’t’ want to be the cause of any more problems for him.

He laughed a bit at her question, disgusted at the nerve of her to even think she had a right to ask. “Fine I suppose,” he answered quickly.

Whitney could sense the anger in him. He still hated her and what she did to him. Deep down, she always knew this, but maybe during her walk, her moment of happiness, she had tricked herself into believing that the only other happiness she had known was still there too. How wrong she had been. Tired and defeated, she slowly got up off the couch and walked to the door, never looking back at Fox. “Look, I really don’t know why I came here,” she started explaining hurriedly as she walked the distance of the room. “I just, I don’t know. But I know I had no right to come. I hurt you in the worst possible way, and I’m truly just thankful you let me stick around this long,” she finished almost out of breath from walking so fast.

Fox saw her inching toward the door more quickly than he had anticipated. Almost on reflex, he darted out of his chair and toward the door. He didn’t know much about what was happening, but he knew she couldn’t leave, not yet. Whitney reached out for the door handle and got the door to open about halfway before she felt it slam again. She simply stood there, refusing to turn around. Fox stood behind her, inhaling her scent. “She smells so good,” he thought as he took a few deep breaths and gathered himself. “Whitney, don’t go,” was all he could manage. He didn’t even have a good reason for asking her to stay. At least not yet.

“Fox, I need to leave now,” she said trying to be stronger than she was. Everything in her wanted to turn around, but she knew she had no right to. She wanted to leave and go home to her son. “Let go of the door,” she commanded him with more force than she knew she had.

Fox wouldn’t move his hand. He just couldn’t let her leave. He had some things to say. “Whitney,” he said calmly but forcefully. “Turn around,” was all he asked her.

Never being able to resist his request, she did just as he had asked and turned around. When she did, she found herself face to face with the man who had stolen her heart years ago. “What do you want Fox,” she said in a whisper, which gave away her nerves.

“I want to tell you,” he said as he continued to burn her eyes with his own. “I want to tell you so much,” he said, trying to find the right words. “I want you to know that you hurt me,” he finally began.

Whitney took a hard gulp. He had scolded her before, but when he did, she felt that she had gotten off too easily. She always figured this day would come. And since it had been more than a year since everything feel apart, she was ready to let him get it all out. “I know,” was all she could say as she still stared at him.

“No, you don’t know,” he said, now sure he wasn’t going to move from in front of her. He took his arm off the door, knowing it was now giving her a chance to leave. But he still faced her, and she stood there, seemingly preparing herself for the onslaught. Part of him wanted to hold back after seeing her putting up a brave front. But he had to get this off his chest. “You don’t know how you hurt me at all. What you did, it killed me Whitney. And not just because he wasn’t mine, but because he wasn’t ours,” he said, his voice breaking. “He is such a beautiful child. I just knew I was going to spoil him, and teach him how to play catch, and talk to him about girls. But you took that away from me. You took my dream,” was all he could manage before a few tears slid down his face.

Whitney also began to cry for the pain she caused him. Not just for the pain she caused him though, but for herself as well. Everything that hurt Fox hurt her. And all the dreams that had died for him died for her too, the day she found out she was pregnant. She had wanted that dream with him. Family, love, happiness, all with Fox. But it was never going to be. She still loved everything about him. Even his anger. But she had cheated him and herself long ago. She was with her son now, and with Chad. She had a man worth nothing, but she had her son, and Fox had the chance to move on.

He was still staring at her. His tears had subsided. He had something else to say. This part however, scared him more than his anger at her taking away his dreams. He had to tell her that in spite of that, she still consumed him. She still haunted his dreams. He was still madly in love with her. That ever her standing in front of him right now was almost too much to bare. Needing just to breathe her in as the rest of his truth was told, he slowly inched closer to her. “But you want to know what really drives me crazy,” as he walked closer, and closer. His eyes filled with the heaviest of emotions, ones Whitney thought she knew, but would be insane to think he felt. Something like passions and love. “What kills me is that I still think about you. The way we use to touch. The way we use to talk about everything and nothing. I miss the way we could just be around each other. I miss your smell, and your eyes and your hand on my chest just for comfort,” he finished, now mere inches from her face. But his gaze still never broke from hers. “I go insane because here I am, supposedly moving on with my life with a beautiful woman who can give me a child like I’ve always wanted, and yet all I can think about is you. And that I still love you,” he says with so much passion that Whitney felt it would knock her over into the door. “And what makes it even worse, I look and you and I swear you love me back. It makes me think that maybe, maybe those times weren’t all lies,” he finishes again with a sigh.

Whitney looks at him with huge eyes. Now she knew how he felt. She had asked for it by standing there. She thought it was only fair to stand there and take the punishment, but this revelation was pure torture. And what was worse, he still knew her so well. He knew she felt for him what he felt for her. And it killed her that he thought any of what they had wasn’t real. It cut her deeper than he’d ever know. She was ready to answer him, but he caught her off guard as he inched closer still.

“Whitney, tell me I’m lying. Tell me that you never loved me. Tell me that you aren’t in love with me now,” he said in the smallest of voices. He had never needed an answer more in his life. He leaned down, placing his lips mere inches from hers. He was going to get his answer very soon. “Tell me you don’t love me,” he dared her as he stood there in that position.

Whitney tried to breath. She tried to remain a statue. But Fox’s essence had a way of paralyzing her. She wanted so much to scream out “yes” to him, but she couldn’t put him in harms way like that. He’d never leave her alone then. “No Fox, I don’t love you,” she said in a shaky voice. Another lie, but not as easy to tell as she thought.

“You’re lying,” he smiled suddenly, something in her eyes giving him the confidence that he was right.

“No, I’m not,” she said back to him, still shaky, still breathless.

“Fine, then prove it. I want to kiss you, and I’m going to. You don’t kiss me back, I’ll know. You can lie, but your heart can’t,” he said as descended upon her lips without giving her a chance to answer.

Whitney stood there mortified, but aware of what she had to do. She didn’t move as she tasted Fox’s lips trying to probe her mouth open. His smell, his lips, his eyes, his shoulders, his feet, everything about him moved her soul. She tried harder, willing herself not to give in. She had to for his sake and for Miles’. He continued, closing his eyes, as if he was willing her to give in. He knew she wanted to. She was always so damn stubborn. Finally, Whitney couldn’t do it anymore. She threw caution to the wind and let her heart say what she never could. She threw her arms out and around Fox’s neck as she bought him into her mouth as deeply as she could. They stayed in the kiss for a moment more before he pulled away.

“I told you you were lying,” he smiled at her as she simply nodded. Then, his eyes took on a very serious, very passionate tone. “I am so in love with you Whitney Russell,” he said truthfully as he looked into her eyes. “And I’m going to show you just how much,” he said before grabbing her again, ravaging her mouth with his lips and his tongue. Soon, she felt their bodies couldn’t get any closer, so she wrapped her legs around his waist. He smiled inside, and proceeded to take her upstairs to his bedroom. He meant what he said. He was going to show her that he loved her, and once he did, he knew she’d never leave him again.

*****

They continued to kiss as he fell with her upon the bed. Both were saying things with their bodies that words couldn’t say. He continued to kiss her as he feasted on her neck. She threw her head slightly to the side, letting him have his way. She loved him. She felt it with every touch, every stare, every moan. She needed him, she always had. She couldn’t believe she had denied herself this moment for so long. But now, for one night, she was living it. She would be selfish, and allow her feelings for him to exist outside of herself.

He stopped kissing her, as he hovered above her. Her jacket had been removed upon her arrival. He looked down at the sweater and jeans that he still had to contend with. But it was no big task. He had every intention of worshipping her from head to toe. He was going to show her how he had longed for her all this time.

She looked up at him, staring at his beautiful, perfectly chiseled face. She long to simply stroke his check, and so she did. She darted her hand up and ran it along his slightly stubbly cheek. He felt her delicate hand on his face, and he turned in toward it and placed a soft kiss on her wrist. He then looked down at her, as she looked up lovingly at him. “So beautiful,” was all he could manage before descending down to capture her lips once again. He again went toward her neck, but soon found that any further progress was being halted by her sweater. As if she knew what he wanted, she sat up with him, continuing to kiss his lips, as he lifted the orange sweater over her head gently. He then, in an effort to have them be equal in their love for tonight, let her remove his shirt. She unbuttoned each button slowly, almost painfully, kissing each part of his chest as it became exposed. At the last button, she lingered around his belly button, kissing him so lightly he thought it was air. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He brought her head back up to his and kissed her mouth again. “I love you,” he groaned as he began to feast on her next and collarbone. As he made his way to her shoulders, he realized she still had on a black silk bra. Clothing certainly wasn’t ideal for tasting every inch of her. He bought her closer to him, encircling her frame in his arms as he continued to feast on her. He then let his right hand slide up, placing his thumb between the firm skin of her back and the bottom of her clasp. Quickly, with his other fingers assisting him, he managed to unclasp her bra. He then slid the straps down her shoulders as he kissed them gently. Peeling the bra off completely, he let himself up for a moment to stare at her, the top half of her body now as naked as his. He sat in awe for a moment, allowing himself to take it all in. Something deep inside of him was worried that this would be the only night they would have together. She resisted the urge to cover herself with her arms. This was Fox after all. He looked at her like artwork, instead of as an object like she was use to. She allowed herself to remain open, letting him love all of her with his eyes, but begging him with all of her heart to love her with the rest of him.

Fox could see it in her eyes. She wanted this more than anything. And although she hadn’t said it out loud, she didn’t have to. Not right now anyway. He soon focused on conquering the creature that he was staring at, the mixture of lust and love merely causing him to explode. All of his attention went to the two perfectly round mounds. Curious to see if she tasted as good as he remembered, he quickly descended upon her collar bone, kissing and licking her in a frenzy. Whitney, losing herself in the sensation wanted this to last forever. She quickly grabbed Fox’s face in her hands bringing it up to hers, and kissed him in a painstakingly slow manner. Fox released from the kiss with a smile, before bending his head down and began swirling his tongue repeatedly around her left nub. This made the fire inside of Whitney’s loins rage, as she threw her head back, moaning “Fox” as he continued his assault. Seemingly encourage by her moaning his name, he took her in his mouth, gently suckling her and she bought his head closer to her body. She couldn’t seem to ever bring him close enough to her. After giving all of his attention to one breast, he moved over to the other one. He laid her back down as he did this, Whitney now beginning the writhe underneath him. He loved the way she looked, her mouth slightly open in the shape of an “o” as she squeezed her eyes shut, the sweet torture washing over her.

Whitney was now at a point that she had ever only been with Fox. Only he had ever made hr feel this way. But it had been so long, all she wanted was him, right now. “Fox, please,” was all she could manage. She knew he knew what that meant. And as if he was reading her mind, he finished his assault on her breast, and began to kiss down her stomach, flat and firm. He stayed there for a moment, content to look up and catch a peek at her face. She had a slight smile on her face, her teeth holding onto her bottom lip for dear life. He wanted to say something to her before he went any further, but he didn’t want to speak right now. So with his tongue, he slowly began to run the words “I love you” over her tummy, slowly writing each word sensually as he pulsated his tongue. Whitney was slowly dying a joyous death from the anticipation of it all. She definitely wasn’t turning back now, not that she wanted to. This was quickly becoming the single most euphoric moment of her life, and she hadn’t even gotten rid of her pants yet.

Forever in sync with Whitney’s thoughts, Fox finished his message to her, and proceeded down to the hemline of her form-fitting jeans. He licked the place where her hips met the material, and then lifted his head up, moving up to kiss her, letting her know that the next step was a big one. He pecked her on the lips, and then placed his hands at her lips, ready to run a finger from her lips to the fly of her jeans. But before his index finger could start its voyage, Whitney quickly captured it in her mouth, suckling it before releasing it to let him continue. She then began to rub her hands up and down his sculpted chest as he proceeded to unbutton her pants with ease. She lifted to let him remove them easier. Now she lay there, with only a pair of black boyshort panties. Fox felt himself grow even more at that moment. Every thought about going slow was about to fly out of his mind, but he knew he had to. He had to savor every moment. He wanted this to last for hours on end. Quickly looking down at her, he saw her eyes ,trusting and loving and all for him. His heart burst for about the third time since they had entered the bedroom. He continued to look into her eyes, as they began pleading for him to love her some more. He was never really able to refuse her much anyway he thought as he went down to kiss her. He kissed down her body again, until her reached her panties. Taking both index fingers, he hooked them both into their respective sides, readying himself to pull the down. Whitney moan in anticipation of being totally naked. He slowly began to pull them down, but paused. When he did, he bent down, and placed the most intimate of kisses in the most intimate of places. Whitney was pretty sure she had died when he did that. She needed him more than she thought she did, screaming out “Now, Fox, Please, I need..” was all she could get out before she felt the cold rush of air against her lower half. She realized he had removed the last of her clothing. He had no more barriers.

Fox, not wanting to wait to taste her any longer, slowly descending upon her lips once more, feeling he could never kiss them enough. Meanwhile, his hands were massaging every inch of her. He went lower, rubbing circles around her breast before stroking her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, making her cry out in ecstasy. Still kissing her, he left her breast, causing her to gasp at the absence of pleasure. Bu