Chapter-Two-Hundred-Eighty-One
“So I hear you plan on revealing what you’ve been doing with the kids all this time tonight,” Riley announced conversationally as she and Brian still sat there eating their ice cream and Brian grinned mysteriously.
“That I am. They’re all very excited, especially Sarah.”
“Any hints for your girlfriend as to what that is?” she asked hopefully, and she leaned forward a little bit in her seat.
“Nope,” Brian replied while smirking and he leaned forward too so their foreheads were nearly touching. Riley scowled.
“Meanie,” she pouted and he chuckled before cupping her cheeks in his hand and leaning forward some more to give her a peck on the lips
“I love you” he told her innocently and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“I love you too,” she replied in a stubborn tone, only making him grin even more.
“So what are the plans for next the couple of weeks? Christmas is two weeks away you know,” he asked, purposely changing the subject, as he needs to know his schedule so he can plan caroling outings.
“Basically to get the kids ready for Christmas. We still have yet to find our Santa Claus who is supposed to come into the Orphanage so the kids can tell him what they want for Christmas. Nick has been trying to contact our regular, but he’s not answering or returning our calls, so we’re kind of in a bind. If we don’t hear from him by tomorrow Brooke is looking for a replacement.”
“If you don’t hear from him, I will do it” Brian volunteered.
“That’s really sweet of you honey, and as much as I would love to see you dressed as Santa Claus, I think the children would recognize you. They see you every day.”
“Not if I had on a heavy disguise.”
“You would be surprised how perceptive kids can be.” Brian thought quietly for a few moments before replying.
“How about my dad then? They’ve never seen him before. I don’t think even our kids have seen him enough to recognize him.”
“That could work,” Riley replied, and Brian nodded.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back at the Orphanage just as AJ had gone back into Brooke’s office to get Laila’s diaper bag so that they could go, Brooke walked up behind him and slid her arms around his waist and she rested her chin on his shoulder.
“Where are you going baby?” she questioned.
“Ryan wants to go visit his father’s library. I thought Laila would like to go too, even though she’s too little to remember.”
“How about you let Howie take Laila, and you stay here with me? I could use a little Brookie and Alex time if you know what I mean.” AJ’s eyes widened with excitement and he nodded, before poking his head outside the office door where Howie is waiting with Ryan.
“On second thought D…how about you take Laila with you? Brookie says she needs Brookie and Alex time,” he announced while wriggling his eyebrows and Howie chuckled.
“No need for an explanation J, just hand the baby over.” AJ kissed Laila’s forehead softly.
“Go with Howie baby, okay? And J will be right here waiting for you when you get back I promise,” he told her, while handing her over and Howie gently took her and her diaper bag before walking off toward the door with Ryan at his side. AJ shut the office door and he turned around only to have Brooke push him up against the door lightly before wrapping her arms around him and claiming his lips for her own. AJ moaned in surprise, as Brooke has never ever been like this before. He kissed her back while sliding his arms around her waist and he stood there just kissing her as for one, he’s missed doing so, and two he doesn’t know what she’s okay with and what she isn’t. So, he’ll just let her control and see where they end up. She reached behind him then never once breaking their kiss and she turned the lock on the door. With one swift movement AJ had gathered her in his arms so she is straddling him and he carried her into the back room with the bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
When Brian and Riley finished their ice cream and had been sitting at their table talking for an hour they decided that they would go hang on the beach. Brian stood up and took Riley’s hand into his own and together the two of them walked out of the ice cream shop, after throwing their garbage away. As they started down the sidewalk Chase stepped out from behind a pay phone booth.
“Well, well, well…look who it is. My bitch of a wife out with her new boyfriend. Aren’t you two cute?”
“Ex-wife, Chase. Just because you refuse to sign the divorce papers it doesn’t mean I’m going to play along with you and still pretend I’m still your wife. I’m moving on.”
“You can say that all you want sweetheart, but whether you like it or not we’re married.” Riley slid her arms around Brian’s waist then and he wrapped his around her in return before pulling her near.
“I don’t get why you’re holding onto her Chase when you don’t even love her. Just sign the papers, man.”
“And just hand her over to you? I don’t think so, man. Riley is my property. She will always belong to me.”
“I am nobody’s property, you jackass,” Riley informed through clinched teeth and Brian hugged her closer trying to keep her calm.
“Have it your way, Chase,” Brian replied calmly. “Don’t sign the papers. But you will have a detective to deal with if you don’t.”
“What, that Detective Stabler freak? Who cares? He showed up on my doorstep and we argued, but he wasn’t any threat to me. I ended up slamming the door in his face.”
“Yeah well if you don’t start cooperating soon, things are going to get ugly, because I will walk through fire to make sure you’re out of Riley’s life for good.”
“Well then I suggest you start walking through fire, Littrell because I’m not going anywhere.”
“WHY are you such an asshole?!” Riley shouted suddenly, not being able to take it anymore and she suddenly burst into tears. “You didn’t love me when we were together, you fucking cheated on me for godsakes, Chase! Just LET ME GO!” she told him, and she suddenly lunged at him and began clawing and beating at him. “YOU BASTARD! I AM SICK OF YOU CONTROLLING MY LIFE, I’M SICK OF IT!” she shouted, and Brian dove forward, grabbed hold of her and pulled her back.
“Riley! Honey! Shhh…it’s okay, It’s okay” he insisted, turning her to face him and she sobbed into his shoulder, her body shaking violently. All the while Chase stood back and just laughed amusedly.
“Come on, it’s okay…he’ll get what’s coming to him. Lets just go,” Brian continued too sooth, gently rubbing his hand over her back and he guided her away, completely ignoring Chase as he muttered ‘crazy bitch…’ behind them. Brian led her to the beach and she sobbed the entire ten minute walk there. When they got there, Brian was pleased to see that there isn’t anybody there. He brought her under the shaded bridge and helped her lie down in the sand before lying next to her and he wrapped her in his arms, and held her close protectively as she buried her face in his shoulder.
“I hate him Brian, I hate him…how far is he going to push me? Does he want to push me over the edge because he is ABOUT to accomplish that!”
“No he’s not baby, because I’m not going to let him. You are so strong, you are going to get through this.”
“He won’t sign the divorce papers Bri! Why won’t he let me go? Why?”
“Because he’s an asshole…but we’re going to take care of it. I promise,” Brian reassured, and she looked up at him and he cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I love you…we’re going to get through this. It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t see how…even Detective Stabler couldn’t get him to cooperate.”
“Detective Stabler specializes in stopping serial killers, and rapists and stuff…not in divorce. We’re going to have to take this to court.”
“I don’t want him in my life forever Brian…”
“I know honey, and I meant what I said. I will do everything I can to make sure he isn’t in your life anymore.” Riley slid her arms around Brian’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she sniffled. After a long while when she had managed to calm down some, she looked up at him, her eyes meeting with his concerned ones. He placed his forefinger and thumb to her chin before tilting it back some and leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over hers and she kissed him back making it much deeper as she slid her hands up under his shirt and rubbed them over his skin. Without a word, Brian began undoing the buttons to her shirt as he brought his lips down to her neck and placed light kisses on it.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile in Brooke’s office/bedroom, AJ lay in bed with Brooke snuggled next to him with her head rested comfortably against his chest. Brooke let them go as far as making out half naked, but that was where she drew the line and AJ was fine with that, because it was a big step forward. He leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead as he rubbed his hand over her bare back and she rested her chin on his chest as she gazed up at him.
“That was quite a surprise,” he informed her.
“Blame the digital get down that we had recently because that’s what triggered it.” AJ chuckled softly and gently pulled her on top of him so she lay on her stomach with her head rested against his shoulder and he pulled the blanket up on them.
“I think we will be having webcam sex more often then if it gets these kind of results.”
“But to have webcam sex, that would mean you’d have to leave me. And I don’t think I’m willing to let you leave me again,” she informed, looking up to meet his chocolate brown eyes. AJ smirked.
“Not necessarily…I could always get my laptop and go across the room from you and we could have webcam sex in the same room.” Brooke laughed, and she cupped his cheek in her hand before pulling his lips down on hers for a soft kiss and he slid his arms around her waist before placing his hands to her bottom and resting them there as she is in nothing but her panties. After a few moments when she pulled away she crawled out of bed, grabbed the bed sheets and wrapped it around her waist and she walked into the office portion of the room. AJ got up and followed her in his boxers, not bothering to grab a blanket and he found her standing at her desk checking her e-mail. AJ went up behind her and sat in the chair before pulling her down into his lap and bundling her up in the bed sheets and he placed light kisses on her neck and shoulders as he read her mail over her shoulder. He saw her looking at events in Florida and when she suddenly came across ZooLights he gently placed his hand ontop of hers, stopping her from doing any scrolling and she looked up at him.
“Let’s take the kids to the ZooLights.”
“Kota, Ellie, Sarah, Josh, Chris, Spencer, Laila, and Ryan would love that,” Brooke replied while smiling some.
“Not just our kids,” AJ told her, as he nipped lightly at her earlobe. “The whole Orphanage. A fieldtrip.”
“Again?” Brooke asked surprised, and she pulled back from him slightly and turned her head to look at him causing him to rest his forehead against hers. “Alex, our last fieldtrip didn’t turn out so great. Infact, it was a disaster. Sean lurking about out there makes it impossible to do those kind of things.” AJ considered this for a moment.
“We’ll buy leashes for Josh and Ellie.” Brooke laughed at this.
“Really? You would put your kids on a leash?”
“When those kids are Ellie and Josh, yes. It would be a good idea to put Kota and Sarah on one also just to be on the safe side, but that’s up to Nick.” Brooke smiled up at him some, and he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as he gazed into her eyes.
“Come on Brookie, the kids would enjoy that. Being able to look at Christmas lights at the zoo? It would be fun.”
“How will we afford that?”
“Let the five of us take care of that.”
“Are you sure?” Brooke asked skeptically.
“I’m positive. The five of us are a bunch of suckers when it comes to these kids.” Brooke shifted herself then so she is straddling AJ’s lap and he sat back in the chair before sliding his arms around her waist as she cupped his cheeks in her hands.
“That is why I love you guys. The way you all are with these kids, it’s just amazing.”
“But you love me more, right?”
“Duh,” Brooke replied and he smirked, before leaning forward and placing tender kisses on her neck and shoulders as his hands slid down and came to a stop so they were rested on her bottom.
“When are you going to let me remove this last unnecessary piece of clothing, so that we can be together, huh?” he asked softly, resting his forehead against hers and looking into her eyes.
“I don’t know, I’m scared.”
“Of what baby? I’m not going to hurt you. Have I not proven to you how gentle I am with you? I could never hurt you in such a violent way…ever. I’m not Thadius, Brookie…I’m AJ McLean and I love you.”
“What’s going to happen after I give you what you want? What’s going to happen when I give into you and we’re done?”
“I’m going to be right here holding you and I’m going to feel like the luckiest man alive because I have the whole world in my arms…and she is mine. And I am never going to let her go because I love her too much.”
“You promise?” Brooke asked softy.
“I promise Brookie. I’m a grown man…and you are a grown woman. I am not going to run off on you the second after we’ve made love like some high school boy. I am completely, one hundred percent committed to you. I always have been…from the second I set eyes on you. I know you are scared and I know that you’ve been hurt very badly. But I could help you move on if you’d let me. Put it all in the past Brooke Morgan…Thadius isn’t worth it. He doesn’t have a right to have this kind of control over you. You are an amazing woman and you are so much better then him. He’s not worth it.”
“You are right,” Brooke replied softly, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “I’ve been wanting to put it behind me for awhile now…”
“Then do it Brookie. Put it behind you, you can do it. And I’m right here with you every step of the way.” Brooke gazed into his serious – yet loving brown eyes for a few moments as tears streamed from her own watery ones and then she placed her hand to his cheek and pulled his mouth down onto hers for a deep kiss. AJ tightened his arms around her and kissed her back. When she pulled back a few moments later she nodded quietly as their foreheads still touched.
“Do it Alex…help me move on. Make love to me…please.” Without a word AJ got up with her and captured her lips for his own as he brought her around the desk to the floor and with one swift movement he laid her down with him on top. Without so much as breaking their kiss and he pulled the bed sheets up on them and prepared to make love to the beautiful woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with right there in front of the warm fireplace.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“I can’t believe we just did this on the beach in broad daylight…” Riley announced softly, as she and Brian lay in the sand together. She has her head rested against his chest and his arms are wrapped around her as they have nothing but his leather jacket covering their naked bodies.
“It was kind of a spur of the moment kind of thing,” Brian insisted, as he lay there placing soft kisses on her forehead. “You were upset and I was on a mission to make you feel better.”
“Well it worked,” Riley replied while giggling some, and she looked up at him to find his blue eyes gazing back down at her and he smirked before leaning forward and kissing the tip of her nose. After a few moments of lying there watching him, she rolled off of him and proceeded to get dressed and Brian did the same, before anyone decided to join them on the beach and catch them naked. That would be an interesting tabloid article. He can just see it now: The Christian Backstreet Boy caught naked on a public beach with his girlfriend. He’ll have a fun time trying to explain that to everybody. When they were both back in their clothes, Brian gently slid his arms around Riley and pulled her so she lay on top of him with her head rested against his chest and he hugged her tightly as he kissed her forehead affectionately.
“You are so perfect,” he insisted and she looked up at him while giggling slightly.
“I don’t know about perfect.”
“I do. You are the definition of perfect Riley Anders,” he told her and she snuggled up with him anymore. She knows in her heart that she is no where near perfect, but if he wants to believe so, who is she to stop him? God knows she needs someone in her life that loves her that much.
“I love you Brian,” she whispered.
“I love you too,” he replied, and oh does he love her. His mind is made up. Tomorrow morning, he is going to talk Josh and Chris letting him buy a ring and he is proposing on Christmas Eve whether dickwad Chase signs the papers or not. If he doesn’t…well then they’ll take care of that afterwards. But Riley needs some hope to hold onto and he is going to give that to her. He is tired of waiting for the moment when he gets to make spending the rest of his life with her official. Waiting for Josh and Chris’s approval is one thing…and understandable, but he is not going to wait on Chase to stop being an asshole. He is calling his lawyer tonight.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
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