Under The Waves
Chapter
Nine
(A few hours later.)
Chloe had found the strength to move Brady to the small bed in the corner. She had even ripped off the edges of the sheet to clean the small wound on his forehead. The gash wasn't deep or severe, and would most likely heal very quickly. He was still unconscious, but his breathing was steady and calm. Chloe lay on her side behind him and kept her arms wrapped gently around him.
She had stayed awake this whole time, trying to figure a way out of the mess they had gotten themselves in. But, she knew that this room was nearly impossible to escape from. The only thing left for her to do was to wait until Lexie and Stefano decided what to do with them.
Chloe ran her fingers up Brady's bare arm, as he was clad only in a white tank top and a pair of jeans. She figured if they only had hours or days to live, then at the very least they were together again. Chloe sighed softly and snuggled up to his warm back as she remembered how much she had missed being near him.
Brady moaned softly and rolled on to his back. She hovered over him, and his eyes fluttered open groggily. He adjusted his eyes to the light and looked up at her, his voice quiet and raspy. "Diva...?"
Chloe smiled slightly and nodded. "Hey, blue eyes... I'm glad you're up."
Brady put his hand to the small gash in his head and looked at her in confusion. "What happened? Where are we?"
Chloe sat up, and Brady followed, looking around the room as she explained. "We are underground. Under the DiMera mansion. My lovely sister drugged me and threw me down here. A couple of hours later, you showed up. And, the best part is... there's no way out."
"No way out? There has to be..."
Chloe shook her head and frowned at him. "Sorry. I know this place pretty well and I've already investigated every nook and cranny. There's no way out. We're going to be here until they decide to kill us."
Brady scooted up the bed and leaned against the wall. "Kill us? You really think that's what is going to happen?"
"I do. Death before disloyalty, right? Isn't that the DiMera mantra?"
"But, you... You're family... You're Stefano's daughter. He wouldn't touch you..."
Chloe sighed softly and shook her head. "Doesn't matter. If he doesn't kill me when he finds out, Lexie will. Besides, if Stefano can't control me and keep me in the family, then he might as well kill me."
Brady looked at her sadly and brushed one of her long brown waves out of her face. "Chloe... I -- I don't get it... What happened? How did Lexie find out?"
"She -- she followed me. She saw us today. So, now we're just waiting for daddy to come home."
"Damnit... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come to you today... I shouldn't have done that."
Chloe slid off the bed and paced in front of it angrily. "You're right. You shouldn't have. I told you to keep away from me, but you didn't."
Brady stood up and made her stop pacing by holding on to her arms. He looked into her eyes and pleaded with her. "I'm sorry... This is all my fault. And, I'm gonna get us out of this mess."
Chloe looked away from him and shook her head. "I -- I can't stay mad at you. I never have been able to. Not for long anyway. Besides, there's nothing we can do to change things now. The damage is done... Now we have to fix it."
"What do we do? How do we fix it? Do we just sit around here with targets on our forehead, waiting for our executioner?"
Chloe slid out of his grasp and began pacing again, her hand on her forehead as she tried to think. "Damnit, I don't know... I can't pick the lock. There's no windows... My cellphone won't work down here."
Brady looked at her curiously and Chloe stopped in her tracks. "Your cellphone? You have your cellphone with you?"
"Yeah... I -- I tried using it before, but I can't get a signal down here. Not surrounded by all this concrete."
"And who exactly were you trying to call?"
Chloe crossed her arms and bit her lip nervously, hesitating to give him the answers he wanted. "I -- I can't tell you that... But it was somebody who could help us out of this."
Brady put his hands on his hips in frustration. "You can't tell me? We're going to be dead in a couple of days anyway. What's it gonna hurt if you spill the beans now?"
"I'll tell you in the afterlife then."
"Chloe... Please... The room isn't bugged, is it?"
She shook her head and frowned slightly. "No, it's not actually. No bugs, no cameras. Just us and the walls."
Chloe sat back on the bed with a sigh, and Brady sat next to her. "You know, my family is going to figure this out when I don't show up at that party tomorrow night. They'll know that it has something to do with you, and Stefano. They certainly won't chalk it up to being just a coincidence that I've been kidnapped twice in less than two months."
"But what they can do? They -- they'll just put themselves in danger, and they might not be able to do anything at all."
"Don't ever underestimate a Black, Diva. You should know that by now. Besides, maybe whoever you are trying to call on your cellphone will figure out you're missing and come looking for you too."
Chloe nodded in agreement and laid her head on his shoulder. Brady wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her close. She knew she couldn't panic, not if she wanted to save both of them. They had at least until tomorrow morning, maybe even tomorrow night to come up with a plan. She hoped that Brady was right, that Shane would realize that something was amiss and be able to help them.
"You're right. I told you I'd fix everything, and I will. I mean, sure, I haven't done a great job of it so far... But, we will get out of this. Won't we?"
"We've gotten through worse things before. If nothing else... At least we're together, and we're ourselves, no longer the creations of Stefano DiMera."
Chloe lifted her head and smiled at him. "We are together. There's nobody else in the world I'd want to spend my last hours or days with."
Brady smiled back at her and laid his hand on her cheek. "That's right, Diva. I promised you so many years ago that we would always be together. If we win this fight, we win together. And if we don't... We go out fighting -- together."
The words were right on the tip of her tongue, the words that would tell him about the child that they had conceived together less than two months ago. But, something held her back from saying it out loud. She wanted to tell him at the right time, not now when their futures hung in the balance.
Brady's fingers brushed through her hair and he looked at her with a small dose of amazement. "I -- I have missed you so much. And -- now you're here... and..."
Chloe laughed softly and nodded. "It's not exactly the best circumstances for us to be together again, I know..."
"It doesn't matter. You're here, and you're real. It's not a dream, or my imagination. It's really you... The same Chloe Lane that I fell in love with so many years ago."
"I -- I can't explain it in a way that makes sense, but all of my memories of my life before Stefano are here in my head, and my life that I lived under his control."
Brady nodded in understanding. "I know... Mine are too... They co-exist together."
Chloe sighed and grabbed his hand, laying it on her chest above her heart. "And, what I remember the most about all the time that we were apart. All the times that I didn't even know who I was, or remember the life I had here in Salem with you... I remember feeling empty inside, like something was always missing, and I could never figure out what it was. Now I know... It was you. Even Stefano destroying my mind couldn't keep my heart and my soul from loving you..."
A few hot tears spilled down her cheeks and Brady leaned in to kiss them away. His lips found hers and she could taste the saltiness of her tears on his warm soft lips. He gently kissed her and she parted her lips to allow his tongue inside the warm contours of her mouth. Brady moved his hands to rest in her hair, and the kiss continued for quite a while, warming both of them with the love they shared.
Their lips broke apart, and Brady smiled slightly as he whispered to her. "I've missed you so much... I promise that we will get through this... And I..."
Chloe bowed her head slightly, trying hard to fight back more tears and interrupted him. "Brady, stop... Just... No more words right now. I don't want to think anymore, I don't want to talk... I just want to BE."
She lifted her head, her blue eyes brimming with tears, as Brady nodded in understanding. She didn't want to think about what was in their past, or what the next 24 hours would bring. All she wanted was to be in this moment right now, and without saying any more, Brady understood her perfectly, just as he always had been able to do.
Brady's lips pressed against hers again, but only briefly, as they quickly moved to capture her earlobe with his teeth. He made a trail of kisses down to the soft skin of her neck, and Chloe sighed happily as he nibbled at her neck. She ran her hands over his arms and pulled at his tank top to lift it up.
Brady broke his lips away from her neck and she lifted the shirt over his head. There were a few dark bruises on his chest and stomach which she traced lightly with her fingers, before looking at him with concern. They were just a few more signs of the fight with Lexie's henchman, a brief reminder of their situation.
"Does it hurt?"
"Only a little."
Chloe smiled and ran her fingers over his abdomen and chest, memorizing the feel of every muscle underneath her roaming hands. She leaned in and kissed each bruise lightly, before lightly flicking her tongue over his nipples teasingly. She made a trail down the middle of his chest, and kissed each curve in his abdomen sweetly.
Brady tugged at her shirt, and Chloe sat up so he could slowly unbutton it, trailing his fingers down the middle of her chest as he undid each button. Her shirt slid off her shoulders easily and it was tossed to the floor next to Brady's white tank top. Brady kissed her collar bone, then made a trail down to kiss the curve of her breasts peeking out over her white bra, as his hands reached around to undo the clasps behind her back.
Her bra quickly joined the rest of the clothes on the floor, as Brady ran his hands over her bare back. His mouth clamped on to one of her nipples and sucked at it gently, causing Chloe's skin to tingle at his loving touches. He lightly raked his teeth over her nipple and then switched to the other breast, his hand massaging the now neglected one tenderly.
Chloe ran her fingers through his hair and moaned softly as he continued his attention to her breasts. Chloe's fingers skittered over his bare skin until she found the top of his jeans and unzipped them quickly. She slipped her hand inside and slowly ran it the length of his growing erection. Brady moaned softly and removed his lips from her nipple to kiss her lips again.
He ran his lips over her neck and her bare shoulders, as his fingers glided over every inch of her bare skin slowly. Chloe sighed at each of his touches and kisses and continued slowly stroking him. This wasn't at all like their time on the submarine when it was raw lust. Each touch and kiss was a gesture of love, gentle, slow and tender.
Brady wrapped his arms around her and rolled her on to her back as her hand slipped out of his jeans. He hovered above her and kissed every bare inch of her stomach and chest as his fingers worked the zipper of her jeans. He pulled her jeans and panties down and to the floor, leaving her completely exposed to him. Chloe tugged at the edges of his jeans, and Brady understood her perfectly. Since fair was fair, he removed his jeans and boxers, then lay down on his side.
His lips reclaimed hers as the tips of his fingers danced over ever bare inch of her. His hand rode up her inner thigh slowly and he broke off the kiss to whisper in her ear. "I love you... and I have never stopped for even a second... and I never will."
Chloe smiled and draped her hand over his shoulder. "I love you too, Brady... Forever... No matter what happens."
Brady kissed her again as his fingers found the wetness between her legs. He slid two fingers inside her and began slowly driving them in and out of her. His thumb found her clit and began rubbing circles over it. Chloe moaned into his mouth as she nibbled on Brady's lower lip. Her hand traveled in between them until she found his erection and began stroking it in rhythm to match Brady's movements inside her.
Chloe's breathing became labored as she felt her body rise higher towards her climax. She rolled on to her side to face him and draped her leg over his to pull herself closer. Brady's hand left her mound and went to her waist pulling her in until they were tightly pressed against each other, as close as two people could possibly be. Their bodies melted together perfectly, recalling the perfect fit they had found the day they fell in love with each other.
Her fingers slipped away from his c*ck, so he could move to position it at her entrance. Chloe held on tightly to his back and buried her face in his shoulder with a sigh. Brady slid the tip of the shaft into her and Chloe nibbled at the flesh of his shoulder. He slowly slid all the way inside her, the heat of her tunnel pulsing around his c*ck, making his entire body tremble with pleasure.
Their position didn't allow for much movement, so Chloe wrapped her leg over his hip, and Brady held on to her leg to allow his hips to thrust into her steadily. They were face to face, and continued kissing as Chloe gripped on to his back with her fingers.
He moved slowly, wanting to take his time and savor every moment they had together. Chloe didn't mind at all, enjoying the feel of his warm skin pressed up against her tightly. She was completely fulfilled, having him inside her, and she couldn’t recall a single time in the past four years when she had ever felt this complete.
Chloe felt herself riding on the edge of her climax, and her fingernails dug into Brady's back as he quickened the pace of his thrusts. He released her lips and began lightly sucking at the soft skin of her neck.
"Oh God, Brady... I love you so much..."
The grinding of their hips against each other drove her right over the cliff as her orgasm slammed into her powerfully, sending shocks of lightning through every inch of her. She knew she could live a thousand lifetimes, and no one would ever be able to make her feel the way that Brady could. She was loved, wanted, needed, safe and complete whenever she was in his arms.
The muscles of her p*ssy tightened around his c*ck, and Brady made a loud guttural noise into her neck. His own climax was close, and he easily rolled her on to her back, never removing him c*ck from her still pulsating hole. Chloe spread her legs apart further and Brady began driving into her harder. He was still gentle with her, but she could tell that was he pushing himself towards his release.
He moved faster and Chloe lifted her hips to meet his, burying his c*ck all the way inside her. It only took a few more pounding thrusts until he came inside her with a loud grunt. His body collapsed on top of her, and Chloe lovingly wrapped her arms around him. She made lazy circles on his back with her fingers as both of them slowly rode out the waves of pleasure that were attacking their bodies.
Brady nuzzled her neck with his mouth and gave her a few gentle kisses. "I love you, Chloe... I love you so much."
"Brady, I'm -- I'm..." She tried to, but she still couldn't tell him about her pregnancy, not now. It wasn't the right time or place, and it would only make him worry for her more.
Brady lifted his head and looked at her curiously, wondering why her blue eyes were wet with tears. "Chloe... What's wrong?"
"Noth -- nothing... Everything is perfect. I'm just happy to be with you. Here or anywhere else."
And although she kept the real reason for her tears from him, hating herself for lying, the rest of it was true. It didn't matter that they were locked in an underground cell. It didn't matter that their lives were on the line. The only thing that mattered was that they were together. It didn't seem to matter what happened in the future, they had experienced a love that was powerful and true, something that most people lived a lifetime never knowing.
They spent the rest of the night tangled up in each other, alternating between sleeping and spending their awake time discussing the years they had missed. Brady filled Chloe in on all that she had missed in her years away from Salem, causing her heart to ache for the time that she had lost. If they got out of this alive, she vowed to spend every waking moment making up her absence to her loved ones. The family that she had created in Salem was far more important to her than the blood ties she shared with the DiMeras, and she prayed that she would be able to get back to the life she had once loved.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Morning)
They were barely awake, and in the midst of putting their clothes back on when the door to their cell was flung open. Lexie walked in, flanked by her two thugs, and gave them both a glare of disgust.
"I put your lives at risk, and somehow the two of you can't resist falling in to bed with each other. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting."
Chloe buttoned the last button on her shirt and laughed at her crazy half-sister. "What's the matter, Lex? You jealous?"
Brady couldn't help chuckling too as he tucked his shirt back into his jeans. Lexie crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes angrily. "Jealous? Of you? Get real."
"I was just saying... Since the only man who ever loved you divorced you six years ago... And, no man could ever love you after what you've become. Well, it makes sense to me."
"You little bitch... If I didn't need you to be alive until tonight, I'd kill you right now."
Chloe rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "Whatever Lexie... It's getting kind of pathetic. You had to bring your two thugs in here because you know that I could beat you down in a heartbeat. I don't know what you have planned for us, and I don't really care. Do you want to know why?"
Lexie raised her eyebrows doubtfully. "Not particularly. Because I have a feeling you're going to care when you see what it is..."
"I don't care, because you're a f*ck-up, Lexie. You always have been, and you always will be. You can't do anything right, and that's why Daddy always loved me best. Because I'm a winner, and you're a loser. Whatever your plan is, you're bound to screw it up. So, I'm not really as worried as you think I should be."
Lexie looked as if she was about to blow her stack and attack Chloe, but she somehow kept a hold of her emotions and backed off into the hallway. One of her henchman rolled a cart from the hallway into the center of the room. There was a TV and nothing else on it, and he quickly left.
Brady finally spoke up and pointed at the TV. "What the hell is this?"
Lexie grinned proudly from the hallway and replied. "It's all part of tonight's surprise. You'll figure it out soon enough, I'm sure. Now, I've got a lot to do today, so you won't be seeing much of me."
"What a pity..."
Lexie ignored him and grabbed a grocery bag from the hallway and placed it inside the cell. "I got you some water, protein bars. Nothing fancy. But, I wouldn't want you to get sick from hunger before the big event."
Lexie pulled the door closed, but peeked around it before shutting it all the way. "Have fun... But not too much fun."
The door shut with a loud click and Brady looked towards Chloe. "You sure know how to get to Lexie, don't you?"
Chloe shrugged slightly and stared at the TV curiously. "It's the only thing I can do at this point. Besides, it's always fun to piss her off."
She turned the power to the TV on and waited as the image cleared up for her. Chloe backed up in surprise as she sat on the edge of the bed. Brady sat next to her and they stared at the image together. After a few minutes of silence, she turned to him with a look of worry.
"It's the Penthouse Grill..."
"Which means..."
Chloe sighed and turned back to look at the screen. "Whatever is going down there tonight is something my sister wants us to witness. And that can't be something good."
It was going to be a long day as they watched the black and white surveillance video on the screen, waiting for tonight's party to begin. Brady kissed her on the forehead, trying to give her a small slice of hope.
"It's okay, Diva... There is going to be tons of security tonight."
Chloe nodded and looked back at him sadly. "I know... Remember last night you said to never underestimate a Black? Well, never underestimate a DiMera either. Everyone at that party tonight is in grave danger. I know Lexie and Stefano well enough to know that is the truth."
Brady wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they watched the screen in complete silence. Both of them trying to figure out a plan, a way out, and a way to save the guests at tonight's party. Chloe checked her watch briefly, it was eight a.m. and the party began at seven. Less than twelve hours to go.