Desire: Version>> It's in his kiss...

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“Doree, what is it about you,” Chris questioned reluctantly tearing himself away from the woman in his arms as he fought for his breath, “what’s happening to me?” he questioned feeling his pulse race out of control as he tried to keep a distance between them.

Chris took in another labored breath as the party continued in full force from behind the curtains of the room he and Doree had wound up in together. Now as they sat in the center of a satin covered rounded mattress, he realized his head was swirling with thoughts, with visions he was certain he shouldn’t be having. Holding Doree so close, keeping her in his arms and craving her touch wasn’t something he’d wanted for a long time, yet tonight in this place, in this room, all he could think about was consuming her and losing himself to the lust burning him to the core. Before he could grasp a clear thought, her arms hooked around him drawing his mouth to hers for another fierce kiss.

“You’re finally admitting how right we are together,” Doree murmured as her mouth tasted his savagely offering up a hint of exactly what she wanted from him, of what she was certain he would give to her as this night went on.

“Doree, wait....” Chris felt his head swirling as he drew back again, “I need some air. I think....I really.....” he choked up a bit, “I need......I....is it hard to breathe in here?” he questioned above the music realizing that something was happening, something he couldn’t quite put a finger on, but it was reaching into him, pulling out something that caused him to tremble and burn within at the same time.

“I’ll fix that for you,” Doree kissed him once again silencing any further protest that may have fallen from his lips as she leapt into his lap circling her arms around him. Carefully enfolding him within the confines of her limbs, Doree continued to kiss Chris showing him just how right they were together in this moment of untamed passion as the curtain drew back and Chris felt Doree’s lips over his neck.

“Doree,” he whispered her name realizing that they were no longer alone as he tugged on her hair gently, “Doree, we have company.”

“Who cares?” she murmured tearing at his shirt as Chris found the very curious eyes of the man before him burning through him as the man seemed to smile in amusement.

“Dr. Ramsey,” the man cleared his throat, “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

“No, not at all,” Chris began to peel Doree off of him as she fell back onto the mattress, her eyes wide with confusion.

“Who are you?” Doree frowned slightly realizing this uninvited guest had suddenly rained on her parade.

“I don’t mean to intrude, but I’ve been requested to retrieve Dr. Ramsey for a bit,” he answered smoothly in his ever alluring accent.

“Requested by whom?” Doree hissed at him as she placed her arms protectively around Chris.

“Rest assured he’ll be in good hands,” he glanced over at Chris before extending his hand out to him, “the name is Joshua and I work for Stephen Clay.”

“Stephen Clay?” Chris’ eyes widened, “as in the host of this party?”

“The one and only,” Joshua nodded, “Stephen has requested a private meeting with you and I am obliged to see that it takes place.”

“What does Stephen Clay want with me?” Chris questioned skeptical as Doree placed feathery, light kisses over his neck, her arms circling his body and playing with the buttons on his shirt.

“Perhaps you’ll understand more once you follow me,” Joshua offered cryptically, “it would be best not to leave Stephen waiting.”

“Stephen Clay isn’t a man who likes having to do that, does he?” Chris raised a curious brow realizing for the first time all night long he’d been aroused by an interest other than Doree. He untangled himself from her arms as he rose from the mattress. He looked over at Doree before extending his hand, “Shall we?”

“I’m afraid Stephen only asked for you,” Joshua interrupted stepping between Chris and Doree, “while I realize that you two arrived here together, you must understand that Stephen is very private in his affairs and his request was to bring you alone. Surely you must understand that.”

“Of course, but....” Chris began to object as Joshua snapped his fingers together and a burly looking man appeared from behind the far curtain. Chris’ eyes widened as he noticed the goofy, golden get up the man was scantly clad in as he moved in behind Doree.

“She’s in good hands here,” Joshua promised simply.

“Wait a second,” Chris began to object as the man slid in behind Doree and began massaging her shoulders. She tumbled back into his arms closing her eyes seemingly lost in relaxation as her plans for Chris faded with each magical touch over her soft skin.

“Shall we?” Joshua inquired raising a brow as he turned to Chris.

“How did you......” Chris began realizing Doree had slipped into the charms this newfound visitor had entranced upon her.

“We shouldn’t keep Stephen waiting,” Joshua explained simply drifting behind the curtain he’d appeared from as Chris gave Doree one last look and he wondered just who Stephen Clay was and what was so urgent that he needed to see Chris tonight and alone at that. Suddenly the mystery of the rocker’s true identity seemed to hold a significance far beyond anything Chris had imagined when he’d received the enigmatic summons to the party. Perhaps time would tell just what Stephen Clay wanted for Port Charles and somehow Chris had a feeling he’d find out sooner than those unaware of their host’s mysterious presence at the party.

“Your date has quite an insatiable appetite for you, now doesn’t she?” Joshua inquired as Chris slipped out into the darkness the hallway provided him. He searched out the source of the sound, but was surrounded by darkness and he began having second thoughts about following this Joshua character until he spun around and Joshua was standing right behind him face to face with him.

“Excuse me?” Chris’ eyes widened as he took a step back keeping a distance between him and Joshua.

“I said your date seems to be rather ravenous tonight,” Joshua breezed past Chris down the darkened corridor, “seeing as she is an officer of the law, it speaks volumes about your tastes in women.”

“How did you know she was a police officer?” Chris inquired as Joshua continued through the winding corridor.

“Stephen makes it his business to know everything about everyone,” Joshua shrugged glancing over his shoulder at Chris, “much like yourself, Dr. Ramsey.”

“Just what is it you think you know about me?” Chris questioned defensively.

“Oh no,” Joshua shook his head, “this isn’t about what I know of you. It’s about what Stephen knows and I must confess that he finds himself rather impressed with you. He’s had an eye on you for quite some time and he feels you’re exactly the kind of man he’d like to have around more often. You can do great things for Stephen and this pleases him.”

“I’ll bet,” Chris muttered a bit skeptical, “though if Stephen felt this way, why wouldn’t he come to me personally and speak with me at the party?”

“As I told you, Stephen values his privacy and we tend to do what we can to keep Stephen’s needs accommodated,” Joshua stopped mid-step as he turned to face Chris, “tell me something Christopher, judging by that woman we left behind in the other room, would you say you’re one for domination or more so submission?”

“Excuse me?” Chris blinked back at him a bit surprised.

“I realize that the question may have caught you off guard, but considering the company you’ve kept,” Joshua mocked with a tight smile, “I’d gather you were more a submissive lover than a dominant.”

“Hold on one second,” Chris stood frozen feeling as if Joshua was suddenly sizing him up like a tasty morsel as he shook his head defiantly, “listen if this was just some kind of ploy to get me alone, then clearly I shall remind you that I was with the lady. I’m afraid I’m not into anything other than the ladies and if I lead you to believe otherwise.....”

Joshua laughed heartily finding himself more amused by the moment as he glanced over Chris once again, “Oh Dr. Ramsey, you are full of entertainment value this evening, but rest assured it is indeed Stephen who has an interest in you this evening,” Joshua stepped in closer towards Chris, lingering just in above his face as a fit of teasing laughter erupted behind his cool, confidante smile, “you’re just not to my tastes I’m afraid. I prefer the tall, dark and mysterious myself.”

Chris eyed him closely trying to figure out what he’d just walked into as Joshua seemed to sense his discomfort and he took a step back motioning towards the doorway down the hall before them.

“Perhaps you’d feel more at ease once you go inside and speak with Stephen,” Joshua suggested, “he’d hoped you’d be pleased with his gift for the evening and given your response, there’s no doubt in my mind that you shall leave this place any other way than with your desire satiated.”

“Just what is Stephen expecting?” Chris couldn’t help but ask trying to keep the shakiness out of his voice as he looked to the doorway wondering if Doree was the lesser of the two evils. He reached to the tie on his mask ready to remove it as Joshua’s hand clasped over his.

“Keep the mask on for the duration of the evening,” Joshua warned him, “whatever else you choose to discard is at your own discretion, but Stephen requests that the mask remains. That is all he wishes of you, well, other than that he hopes you find what you’ve been seeking out tonight.”

“And just what does the great Stephen Clay believe I’m seeking out this evening?” Chris challenged as Joshua stood at the door turning the knob a quarter of a turn.

“It’s not what Stephen believes as you so callously put it,” Joshua opened the door revealing the thick blackness behind it’s opening, “it’s what he knows and I’m certain that by the end of the night, you too shall be enlightened in the ways in which Stephen intends to reward those around him for their loyalties.”

“I never said I was loyal to him,” Chris started to argue, “I haven’t met the man and even now I’m starting to wonder if that was really the intention in bringing me here.”

“Just enjoy the pleasures Stephen has provided for you,” Joshua placed his hand on Chris’ back pushing him into the darkness, “it’s not everyday a man like yourself captures Stephen’s attention in such ways that he goes the extra mile to give them everything they desire, but in your case, consider yourself to be a lucky one,” Joshua concluded shoving Chris into the blackness knowing full well that Stephen Clay would show the skeptical Chris Ramsey a world he’d only dreamed of. That much he was certain of.

A quick rush of heat pressed over Chris as the essence of pure vanilla and smooth rich cream of swept over his senses stirring him from the slumber he’d fallen into. Groggily Chris let out a tiny moan feeling his limbs rigid as he attempted to stretch out only to discover a stiffness pressing out over his limbs. He tugged at his arm only to discover it had been somehow restrained during his nap that he couldn‘t quite recall taking until this moment of awakening. Stranger and stranger were his dreams, he thought to himself as the faint light of candles flickering across the room captured his attention. His eyes were drawn to the thick, alluring essence they’d provided as the shadows over the room seemed to carry on a life of their own, leaving behind so many whispers of secrets untold to anyone outside this very room. The question was, where was this room and what was he doing here, he questioned struggling to clear his head as he tried to retrace his steps. There had been the invite to the party, the date with Doree, the talk with Joshua and then...

A gasp flooded out from Chris’ lungs as his eyes snapped open and he turned his head to the left ever so slightly only to discover his wrist was bound to some kind of headboard with a white silken scarf. He tugged once more without avail as a frustrated sigh ripped through him. He lay back wondering what contraption Doree had come up with now when suddenly he felt a warmth trace over his thighs breaking any hint of a rational thought that had been forming in his mind prior to discovering he wasn’t alone.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t awaken in time to enjoy this,” a voice whispered inside of his head, surrounding him as though it was deep inside speaking to him within the silence of the room. He sought out the source of the sound, but alas was met by the shimmering, flame before him as the candle flickered wildly.

“I’d hoped you’d join me before the night had ended,” the voice continued as Chris felt a pair of very soft, enticing hands trail over the smooth contours of his chest leaving traces of a heated vanilla scented slickness over his skin.

“Doree,” he questioned groggily as he struggled to raise his head only to feel the weight of gravity pressing down upon him.

“Who’s Doree?” the voice questioned as soft, sensual lips trailed over his broad, muscled chest, moving over the tightness of his flat abdomen before the same soft hands returned to the strength of his muscled thighs pouring their warmth out over his exposed skin.

“What’s happening.....” Chris questioned closing his eyes feeling lost in a dream he’d experienced night after night, a tempting fantasy, yet somehow this was too real, too powerful as a sharp breath expelled from his lungs.

“Don’t fight it,” the voice murmured as moist heat surrounded him tasting of his skin sweeping over his hardened nipple suckling on it before offering up a light nip.

Chris reopened his eyes this time discovering the mirror that hung over the bed. Much to his surprise, he noticed a beautiful, masked woman over him tempting her with her mouth as she worked her enigmatic charm over him in her quest to gain control over his body. Her hands robbed him of any thoughts of protest as his eyes fixed upon the golden goddess over him. While the lighting in the room revealed nothing more than the bare minimum, her dark tresses cascaded over her back as her soft, naked form hovered over him.

“Who are you?” he questioned closing his eyes as he fought for more oxygen gasping at her touch as her hands followed a trail leading towards the root of his masculinity.

“I’m yours,” she confessed her lips following the trail her hands had taken as she slipped in between his thighs, stroking the base of his swollen member as the heat surrounded them, the candles springing forth to life as her hold constricted over him, “I’m all yours,” she promised her tongue darting over his tip, taking him into her warm, welcoming mouth as he sucked in a sharp breath feeling the vibrations of her soft moans against his driving need causing him to arch up into her wanting nothing more than to lose himself deep within her sensual mouth. His body began to writhe beneath her as her hold on him constricted. Her tongue teased him, tasted the sweetness he provided her as his hips arched into the rhythm her mouth had created over him.

“Who are you,” he heard himself questioning as passion overwhelmed him and he found himself not really giving a damn who she was as this felt so right, so perfect, so familiar as he closed his eyes momentarily losing himself to the pleasures she’d provided him. He thought to the walk he’d taken to get to this room, to the journey that had led him to waking up tied to a bed with this woman pleasuring him, yet suddenly nothing made sense. It was as if he’d walked into one of his most vivid warm and erratic fantasies come to life, but as he opened his eyes he was still left with mystery as the mirror revealed nothing of her identity of his other than her dark tresses caressing the contours of her body as she continued to please him driving him to a point of no return as he lost himself within her abandoning himself to pleasure in one last shuddering movement.

Silence fell over the two of them as Chris let out a heavy sigh, unable to comprehend what in the world had brought him to this room, to this woman when he’d followed Joshua in an attempt to find Stephen Clay. He’d hoped that somehow the answers would come to him, but as she made a path of kisses leading up over his body, he found more secrets awaiting him as she stroked his chest lightly.

“Does that please you,” she questioned kissing the center of his chest, a smile revealed to him from behind the mask she’d been wearing. He noticed the flecks of brown behind her eyes as he struggled to reach out to her suddenly remembering with a sharp sting that he was still restrained.

“Who are you?” he questioned feeling something strangely familiar about being with her as her body hovered over his, “how did we get here?”

“Stephen called you here,” she answered simply placing a kiss over the center of his chest, “I’m a gift to you.”

“A gift?” Chris questioned catching his breath as he looked up to her beautifully curved body, “and what have I done to warrant such a gift?”

“Stephen thinks very highly of you,” her lips hovered just over his as she tipped down to kiss him teasingly, “as do I.”

“I’ll bet you do,” Chris mused with a nervous expression as she remained over him, “so does Stephen.......does he send his lovers over to many others that he’s trying to impress? Does he send you out to seduce men often in order to get what he desires?”

Her smile faded as a frown crept over her features darkening them as she pulled away from him, “I’m not Stephen’s lover,” she argued with him as her hands lazily drew circles over his chest, “only yours.”

“My lover,” Chris repeated still at a loss as she lay over him hugging his body beneath her as a soft, sigh expelled from her lips.

“That is correct,” she nodded listening to his heart beat beneath her, “I am only yours and I’m here to make you happy. To please you....”

“To please me, huh,” Chris questioned thinking of how to gain control of this most erotic situation as the warmth of her curves seemed to melt into him reaching something deep inside of him as the familiarity of this situation rang out in his mind.

“That’s right,” she looked up tracing his lips with her index finger before leaning down to kiss him.

“Then take the mask off,” Chris requested hopeful, “let me look at you before you continue to have your way with me.”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that,” she shook her head.

“But I requested it of you,” Chris reminded her, “didn’t you just inform me that you are here to comply to my requests.”

“Anything but that,” she explained simply, “it’s not allowed.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Stephen forbids it,” she answered as her hands fanned out over his chest, “but anything else, anything at all, it can be yours.”

“Anything,” Chris pretended to think it over for a moment as she shifted above him, her skin colliding with his in a most enticing fashion.

“Anything,” she nodded as she watched him as if reading the questions behind his eyes as she leaned over him reaching for his restraints. Slowly, she began to unknot the silken scarf as she looked over to him.

“How did you know I was going to.....” he began as she pressed her index finger to his lips in an attempt to silence him.

“I know you better than you know yourself and these,” she motioned to the scarves keeping him down, “they aren’t you, at least not the you that you desire to be in this moment, but I beg of you should I release you, you cannot ask about the mask again. Is that understood?”

“Completely,” Chris nodded in response as she freed up his arm and he let out a relieved sigh, “thank you.”

“Don’t make me regret this,” she warned as she moved over to free up his other hand, “Stephen wanted you to be under my control completely.”

“Did he now?” Chris raised a curious brow, “so this was all Stephen Clay?”

“No,” she shook her head as she settled in over his lap cupping his face in her hands as she pulled him in closer to her, “this is all me. This is how I want you,” she leaned in to kiss him tenderly a soft sentiment behind it that wasn’t there earlier, “I want you under my terms.”

“And just what are your terms,” he questioned slipping his arms around her slender waist, “what is it you ask of me?”

“To free yourself of the world as you know it and just be with me,” she whispered kissing him once more, a longing behind it as he squeezed her soft form to his, “I want you to realize that after tonight, there will be no other woman who will ever love you like I can, like I will always love you.”

“You couldn’t possibly love me,” Chris argued with her as he took in her scent feeling swept up in an air of striking familiarity as his lips traced over her collar bone.

“Why not?” she questioned her fingers threading through his hair as his lips traced over her.

“Because this doesn’t seem real. None of it is real,” he argued with her.

“Is that honestly what you believe,” she lifted his chin to meet her eyes once more, “look at me and tell me you don’t feel it.”

“I feel so many things right now I don’t even know where to begin,” he confessed tugging on her hair gently before drawing her to him in a passion laced kiss. Her arms wrapped around him, offering up a hint of the secret she’d harbored as she longed to lose herself to him, to free herself from the shadows as his arms provided her a warmth that had long since been lost to her.

“Chris,” she whispered his name wrapping herself around him as he held her, “I need you.”

“I need you too,” Chris confessed his fingers moving through her darkened tresses as her mouth moved with his in a slow, tender kiss. Her body began to melt into his offering up a warmth that had long evaded Chris in his time here in Port Charles and his curiosity got the best of him as the music began to fill the room surrounding the both of them.

“That song again.....” she half groaned as he squeezed her closer to him.

“Not a fan of Stephen’s?”

“That song does too much, it clouds things....” she whispered ready to confess more to him as she felt his fingers slip in beneath the strap holding her mask over her face and she withdrew from him as if she’d been burned. “What are you doing?” she gasped tearing out of his reach, “you promised me you wouldn‘t.”

“I needed to know,” Chris explained his pulse quickening as his eyes trailed over her soft curves feeling a life surrounding them in the room as the music continued to play, “I want to look at you.”

“No, you can’t,” she argued with him as she turned away from him, “I must go.”

“No,” he reached out to her tugging on her leg as she attempted to flee from the bed, “don’t go,” he pleaded as she toppled down onto the mattress face down into a heap of pillows, “please don’t leave,” he begged of her moving in over her as he pinned her down.

“Let me go,” She hissed at him, “I need to leave now.”

“No, don’t leave,” he urged as he lay over her wrapping his arms around her body, “please stay....”

“You can’t keep asking of me what I cannot give you,” she answered as she gazed up at his reflection in the mirror on the wall before them.

Chris looked into her reflection seeing her concerned brown eyes as he lay over her and he realized there was something there, something in that moment sweeping over them, tempting to take them into a world that hadn’t existed moments earlier as his hands roamed over her curves tracing her sides in a slow, sensual pattern as she lay beneath him.

“You’re so beautiful,” he admired her curves, tracing her spine as something reached deep into him, drawing out a feeling that mere words couldn’t quite express as his hands pressed over her hips. He pulled at her body, suddenly finding himself overwhelmed with an unmistakable desire as he leaned forward laying kisses over her spine.

“Chris,” she whispered his name as he pressed against her keeping her closer to him as his kisses tapered off over her skin in achingly slow patterns.

Chris’s arms circled her body fingers trailing over her abdomen as he urged her onto her knees giving her a glimpse of her full reflection in the mirror as he knelt behind her cupping her body closer still. His hands cupped her breasts tenderly, kneading them gently as her head fell back into his shoulder and a soft sigh of passion escaped her lips. He watched her reaction to him feeling her every tremor, her every breath matching his own as he held her. His lips traveled over the curve of her neck as her hips grinded back into him remembering his heat as she reached for his hand drawing his finger into her mouth sucking it deeply as he watched her in the mirror. She was beautiful, his living, breathing dream as his free hand rested over her hip watching her sensual responses to him. His pulse quickened, his body on fire as his palm curved in over her thighs feeling her eagerness for him.

Sensing her burning desire for him, Chris dipped his fingers into the damp petals of her womanhood as she took his finger further into her mouth savoring the taste of him as he awakened her hunger for him with each skilled touch of his hand. She mimicked the motions suckling on his finger matching the rhythm he’d set within her taking him into her mouth deeper as he withdrew from her releasing her long enough to position himself behind her. Parting her thighs in order to accommodate him, he entered her fully in one deep thrust causing her to cry out as he slowly withdrew from her body while holding her in place refusing to allow any motion between them as their eyes connected in the mirror before them. She watched the hunger build from deep within him as his arm circled around her waist turning her to her back as he moved in over her kissing her with a burning intensity as they were joined as one. The music, the moment, the rhythm between them replaced the previous dispute as he lifted her hips to his thrusting body giving in to the primal desire in them as this dream threatened to engulf them both wrapping them up in a world of ecstasy. Feeling her heart pounding with his as his dark eyes connected with hers, he felt their control slipping away as he leaned in to kiss her allowing his molten juices to intermingle with hers in one final glorious moment.

Collapsing over her, Chris could feel her body still in tune with his as it suddenly dawned on him just what this moment meant to him, why it had felt so familiar to him and as he kissed her gently stealing her breath from her once again he released the tie on her mask knowing the beauty that lay before him. He pulled the mask from her features knowing in his heart he’d just shared one of the most intense experiences of his life with the one woman he’d ever truly loved.

“Eve,” he caressed her cheek realizing what his heart had known all along from the moment he’d awakened in bed with her.

“I really wish you hadn’t taken the mask off me,” she whispered her voice tight with emotion as she reached out to him drawing his own mask from his eyes as her fingers traced over his features, “you shouldn’t have done that.”

“Eve, I couldn’t bear to not look at you, to not see you again,” Chris confessed kissing her once more, “I love you and I’ve always loved you. I can’t hide behind a mask any longer.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan,” she whispered holding him tighter, “Stephen won’t be happy about this at all.”

“To hell with Stephen Clay,” Chris argued with her, “he doesn’t own you and he most certainly doesn’t own me.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t have done that,” Eve blurted out closing her eyes as he pulled her into his arms holding her close to him.

“Eve, there are so many questions I have, so many things I need to know....” he began as he settled back into the mattress.

“There are many different answers,” she confessed untangling herself from his arms as tears swelled in her eyes, “but I wish you had listened to me about the mask,” she gave him one last longing look before she rushed towards the doorway exiting the room hurriedly.

“Eve,” Chris called out to her not clear on what was happening as he leapt from the bed chasing after her. He moved to the door throwing it open to go after her as he found himself surrounded by darkness once again, “Eve!” he spoke her name again as he noticed a figure down the hallway. Rushing towards the shadows, he reached out into the tiny hallway hoping to find some clue as to what was going on and where Eve had drifted off to when he found himself face to face with Joshua once more.

“There you are,” Joshua smiled at him pleasantly, “Stephen was wondering if we’d be seeing you again. It would seem your companion has had her fill of the evening here.”

“Where is she? Where’s Eve?” Chris reached out to him, “where did you take her?”

“Who’s Eve?” Joshua questioned innocently as he looked to Chris giving him a rather curious expression, “dare I ask why you’re running around the halls in your birthday suit?”

“I was with her....with Eve....” Chris stammered a bit, “we were in the room you’d taken me to. She was with me, but then she ran out and she talked about Stephen....” Chris trailed off, “Stephen Clay. That’s it. I need to speak with him. Where is he?”

“I’m afraid he’s not available right now. After you’d had your fainting spell he’d seen to it you rested. He stayed for a while, but was called away and must reschedule your appointment with one another.”

“I don’t believe that for one second,” Chris argued with him, “Where is he?”

“I really don’t know,” Joshua shrugged with a tiny sigh, “perhaps you can leave your number for where you can be reached during the evening tomorrow and Stephen can return your call.”

“I don’t want to have him return a call. I want him to tell me where Eve is. I need to know what he did to make her so afraid that she’d just run out on me after we.....”

“After you what?” Joshua raised an arched brow.

“After we made love, though clearly judging by my appearance you can see that,” Chris looked down to find he was fully clothed once more. Stunned he looked up at Joshua, “How did you do that?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Joshua shrugged as the man who’d entered the room Chris and Doree were in earlier stepped into the hallway holding Doree up in his arms.

“Chris, there you are......” Doree slurred as the man held her out towards Chris.

“She was looking for you,” the man explained simply before looking to Joshua.

“Thank you,” Joshua nodded dismissing him as he looked over to Chris, “I trust you can find your way out on your own, yes?”

“I’m not leaving without Eve,” Chris insisted determined to find her once again as the world seemed to make anything but sense for him.

“It would seem your lady friend won’t be up to you and I having a dispute about this woman you claim is here. I can assure you that there is no Eve here and you on the other hand should help your date sober up,” Joshua folded his arms in front of his chest, “it looks as though she’s about to lose her lunch and anything else she’d had after.”

“It was the oysters,” Doree groaned holding her stomach as she nearly collapsed in Chris’s arms, “I don’t feel so hot.”

“I’ll take care of you,” Chris finally sighed realizing Joshua wasn’t going to answer any of his questions and Doree wouldn’t help matters. He looked over at Joshua with a warning glance, “you haven’t heard the last of me.”

“I hadn’t imagined we would,” Joshua watched Chris leave as he carried Doree down the hallway. After Chris slipped out of sight, Joshua let out a tiny chuckle as he turned to find Stephen standing in the hallway, “it would seem you were right on the money with that one.”

“He is a rather interesting character,” Stephen nodded with a smug expression, “it would seem his desires haven’t changed much in this short time she’s been away from him. Even the lady cop hasn’t changed what it is that Evelyn means to him.”

“And still you had no intentions of letting him in on what’s happening here, did you?” Joshua questioned curiously, “he has no idea just what he holds in his hands, does he?”

“Not a clue and I intend to keep it that way for now,” Stephen smiled wickedly.

“And as for Evelyn,” Joshua raised a curious brow, “what shall we do?”

“Nothing,” Stephen shrugged, “I’ll pay her a visit later because I’m sure she’ll have her own thoughts about tonight.”

“And you trust her to stay away from Chris until you’re ready for them to come into contact again?” Joshua inquired.

“At this rate, he’ll grow mad if he doesn’t agree to help me,” Stephen looked down the hallway towards the room he’d emerged from moments earlier as Evelyn had come to him in tears, “one way or another I will get what I want out of him. After the last time, I’m certain that he holds the key to all of this. There just needs to be the proper motivation for him.”

“And you believe it’s her even with her impossible nature?” Joshua questioned as he and Stephen headed towards the room Evelyn was waiting in.

“Impossible implies challenge and you know I never back down from one of those,” Stephen smiled proudly knowing he had Chris Ramsey right where he wanted him.

Chris Ramsey stood on the balcony of his penthouse apartment trying to nurse the hang over he’d found himself with. The aching in his head seemed to indicate he’d spent last night overindulging himself only he couldn’t quite recall having any drinks. Granted he’d fed Doree a couple of oysters, but he was fairly certain he hadn’t touched anything at the party.....well except for Eve. The memory of making love to her burned him like crazy as he tried to put together some sense of reality. While the very notion of making love to Eve sounded crazy considering, he couldn’t quite let go of the vividness of the memory. Logic would tell him that last night was only a dream, but he wasn’t living on logic much these days and the taste of her still imprinted deeply on his mind more than any other dream had touched him before.

Hearing a sound coming from his front door, he made his way into the living room and opened the door only to discover Doree standing before him looking rather exhausted as she stepped into his apartment.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Doree blurted out as she brushed past him, “after the way we left things off last night I thought we needed to talk.”

“That might be a good idea,” Chris agreed not quite sure he was ready to speak with Doree, but perhaps it might help things make sense.

“Chris, about my getting sick,” she turned to face him, “I apologize for ruining our night.”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” Chris admitted, “perhaps it was a sign for us.”

“What do you mean?” she frowned.

“Before you started feeling bad you and I were a bit hot and heavy with one another and quite frankly I don’t know where that came from,” Chris confessed thinking clearly for the first time in the last twenty four hours, “we went to that party together and somehow we started to do things that I’m fairly certain we wouldn’t do under normal circumstances.”

“Chris, what are you saying?” Doree questioned in confusion, “other than my getting sick, I thought the night was going rather well for us.”

“That’s just it, Doree,” Chris shook his head, “you and I agreed not to be together and then that music, that place, well it started something that I know neither one of us wanted to finish. I’m just glad that Joshua stopped us before we delved into that territory we often seemed to fall into in the past.”

“Chris, you were enjoying last night and I was too. Had Joshua not come and taken you away from me, you’d have been with me still, in my bed and my arms making love to me,” Doree insisted firmly, “even you can’t deny that.”

“Doree, I won’t pretend that might not have happened because it very well could’ve, but I can’t do this. I won’t go through the motions of a relationship with you because you and I both know that I’m not in this like you want me to be. You’re a nice enough person, but Doree what I’m looking for....hell I don’t even think I’m looking anymore.”

“This is about that woman you were with last night, isn’t it?” Doree frowned her anger building inside of her, “it’s about that woman I saw kissing you. Tell me Chris what really happened when you left the room last night. Who were you with?”

“Wait a second,” Chris stopped himself, “you saw me kissing a woman?”

“I tried to pretend I didn’t,” Doree huffed, “I tried to let it go since I believed you and I were starting over again, but then when I saw you in the hallway with her holding her as her kisses trailed over your neck over your.....” she stopped herself shaking her head, “I saw you together, but I did nothing. I was angry when I saw her in your arms, but somehow I can’t remember what happened after that. I don’t remember anything until I found you again.”

“Doree, this woman you saw me with. What did she look like?”

“You don’t even remember?” She blinked back at him, “she was all over you Chris and you can’t remember.”

“Doree, please just answer me. Did she have dark hair,” Chris looked around his apartment as he found the photo he’d had of him and Eve on his desktop. He reached for the frame holding it out towards Doree, “did she look like her?”

“Who the hell is that?” Doree sneered at him.

“Just answer me, Doree. Was this the woman?” Chris questioned desperately.

“It could’ve been,” She snapped at him, “she had a mask on, but Chris, what haven’t you been telling me? Are you seeing someone else? Is that why you’re blowing me off now? Did this other woman somehow convince you to break things off with me? Is this tramp the reason you’re blowing me off?”

“She’s not a tramp,” Chris defended sharply, “she’s nothing like that.”

“No? Well what else would you call someone who’s working her damnedest to take away the man I love?”

“Doree, you don’t love me. You really, truly don’t. While you think it’s love, you and I both know it never got to that point. We never, ever had that together.”

“You’re just like every other man, aren’t you?” Doree questioned in disbelief, “you think you can use a woman, tell them all the things they want to hear and then you dump them when the next woman comes along. It’s like nothing is ever good enough for you, is it Chris? You’re going to hold onto the dream of Miss Martini here and you’re going to let me slip away from you and you don’t care, do you?”

“Doree, I never, ever meant to hurt you,” Chris started as she tossed the photo across the room and reached out to him drawing him in for a kiss laying out the desperation behind it, yet Chris felt nothing. For the first time since he’d met Doree, he found himself untouched by the kiss. Not even lust or even repulsion was there. Nothing seemed to fit the mood as he stood before her.

Doree drew back her eyes wide with surprise as she stepped away from him, “You mean it don’t you? You are really going to let me go, aren’t you?”

“Doree, I’m sorry,” he started again.

“Save it Chris,” Doree stalked towards the door, “I hope you and Miss Martini have a wonderful life with one another, that is if she doesn’t treat you like you’ve treated everyone else in this world. Then again, I hope she leaves you completely miserable because you deserve nothing less,” she finished slamming the door on her way out as Chris found himself haunted by the memory of Eve. He looked around his apartment trying to reason with himself about what had taken place.

Chris shook his head feeling the ache remaining as he made his way into his bedroom deciding that perhaps a shower would clear his thoughts. Could he have been with Eve last night? Had she really been with him like he’d hoped or had his missing her clouded over him on an already baffling evening? He just wished he could know for certain what was real and what was just fantasy playing into life. Entering the master bathroom off of his room, he turned the water on before returning to his room to gather something to change into. He looked in the mirror set up across from the door to the bathroom as he removed his shirt and he thought of Doree’s words about the previous evening.

“I tried to let it go since I believed you and I were starting over again, but then when I saw you in the hallway with her holding her as her kisses trailed over your neck over your.....”

“My neck,” Chris blurted out tearing open his shirt as he noticed the marks over his skin. He leaned in closer to the mirror noticing the red spots over his otherwise flawless skin when he heard a noise coming from behind him. He turned his eyes to the view of the bathroom he’d had in the mirror’s reflection and he could’ve sworn he’d seen someone in there amidst the steam.

“Hello?” he questioned cautiously as he stepped into the steam filled bathroom. The heat from the water in the shower had spread out through the room and he turned his eyes towards the glass door of the shower noticing the figure that was outlined through the frosted glass, “who’s here?” he inquired stepping forward as he reached out to the door pulling it open as a surprised gasp fell from the shower occupant’s lips.

“You frightened me,” Eve confessed behind the haze filled shower walls as she moved her hands up over her soapy, foam covered body, “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t join me in here.”

“Eve, what are you doing in here?” Chris questioned as his eyes fell over her glistening, naked form.

“Waiting for you,” she reached out to him, “though I’d hoped you’d hurry up in taking those pesky clothes off,” she shrugged momentarily as she tugged him into the shower to join her, “to hell with it. I’ll work on them myself.”

“Eve, but how.....what........” Chris felt the heat of the water pouring over his skin as Eve pulled his shirt off of him tossing the damp fabric out onto the bathroom floor with a mischievous grin.

“You could work with me on this,” Eve pulled at his sweat pants easing her hands beneath the waistband as she tugged them down past his knees.

“Eve, wait a second....” Chris reached out to her pulling on her shoulders as he forced her to stand upright once again, “Eve, talk to me.”

“Wouldn’t you rather make love?” she questioned kissing him hungrily as her arms hooked around his neck, “because I know I would prefer it right now,” she hinted with a giggle as she nipped at his lip, “don’t make me beg you, Chris.”

“Eve, it’s just after last night,” he began with a soft moan as her hands robbed him of speech.

“It was magical, wasn’t it?” Eve smiled as she kicked his jogging pants down to his feet as she wrapped her arms around him pressing him back into the shower wall, “we really do have a certain chemistry, don’t we?”

“We always have,” Chris breathed stepping out of his pants and kicking them aside as he reached for her kissing her hungrily, “it’s about time you realized it.”

“I’ve always known it,” Eve whispered seductively as her hands wandered over his damp, heated skin. Her lips moved in over his neck nipping at him gently before she began to trace patterns with her tongue over the skin beneath his earlobe tempting him with each determined motion, “but I was so very afraid to let you know just how you reached me.”

“You knew?” Chris questioned in a tight whisper as his hands wandered over her soft form, feeling her alive and within his reach as she kissed him with a growing hunger and determination.

“I did,” Eve confessed seeking out his hands as she laced his fingers with hers, “but the truth of it is that I’m not afraid to show you anymore,” She pressed him back into the shower wall fiercely as her mouth ravaged his, “I don’t want to keep quiet any longer.”

“Eve, you have no idea how long I wanted to tell you,” He blurted out as he leaned forward in an attempt to kiss her as she pulled away from him.

“Shh,” she whispered releasing his hand as she placed her index finger over his lips to silence him, “no looking back. Just forward.”

“How can we have that? How are you here when I saw....” Chris began as she interrupted him with another desperate kiss.

“Forget what you think you know and give in to what you feel,” Eve pleaded with him as her kisses reached down deep into him burning him down to the core, “feel me, Chris.”

“Oh Eve,” He murmured her name wrapping her up in his arms as he pressed her against the shower wall lifting her body her legs enveloped him keeping him close to her, “I love you.”

“I love you,” she replied her voice vibrating through the small, shower as he thrust deep, filling her completely.

Capturing her mouth with hungry urgency, Chris found himself swept away in this fantasy of her as the water pounded upon them driving them on harder, faster more desperate than he’d imagined he’d ever be over someone in his life. Making love to her, being with her again had brought him life and as her nails bit into his shoulder stinging him slightly, he gazed into her dark eyes knowing that he’d found the woman he’d always been searching for and that somehow things between them were finally as it was meant to be. Her body matched his movements arched in unspeakable ecstasy as the world around them began to fade away and they were the only two remaining in this moment, in this feeling they’d created with one another. The fury of their love making had taken control and the world was nothing but a shadow of a memory as they abandoned themselves to pleasure soaring over the edge of the passion they’d been swept up in.

Collapsing against Chris’ body, Eve took in a shivering inhale as she held onto him. Her body spent with the aftermath of the love they’d shared as he held her. She lay her head on his shoulder as Chris squeezed her closer still not wanting to let go of her. Chris reached out from behind them and turned the shower off with one hand while his other arm remained around Eve keeping her close to him.

“This can’t be happening,” Chris murmured pressing a soft kiss over the soft, creamy skin in the dip of her neck as she let out a soft sigh.

“This is as real as it gets,” she blurted out taking in his warmth.

“But how,” he questioned closing his eyes as he held her, “how can you be here?”

“You needed me,” Eve answered honestly as she met his eyes, “you wanted me and I’m here for you.”

“But how,” he questioned again as she slid down his body now standing before him.

“The how isn’t important,” she reached for the palm of his hand kissing him, “it’s the knowing I’m here that makes this so special.”

“Eve, I have so many questions like about last night...”

“Chris,” she silenced him with a kiss, “let’s get dried off before we go into that.”

“Alright,” he nodded reaching for a towel in the bathroom large enough to wrap the both of them up in it. He returned to her wrapping her up in the towel with him as they stood in the center of the bathroom.

“Thank you,” she smiled bringing her arms around his waist as she hugged his body. She pressed her head into his chest closing her eyes as she listened to the fierce pounding of his heart, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Chris kissed the top of her head, “but why did you leave last night? What happened?”

“I couldn’t stay after you took off the mask,” Eve answered keeping her eyes closed, “it was just too much.”

“Too much? Eve, you’re not making any sense. Why did you have to run from me?” He searched her features.

“Stephen asked only one thing from us last night and we didn’t do as he requested,” Eve met his dark, intense features, “even now if he knew I was here,” she shook her head, “but I couldn’t stay away. I could never stay away from you for long....not again.”

“Eve, what does Stephen have to do with us?” Chris questioned cupping her face in his hands, “how does he influence what we have together?”

“Chris, he knows everything. He knows things neither one of us could even begin to understand and even now,” Eve took in a breath as her voice softened, “he knows.”

“Knows what?” he questioned again, “Eve, what has he done to you?”

“It’s not what he’s done to me. It’s what he’s done to us,” Eve touched his cheek, “you don’t know it yet, but Stephen’s already influenced you. He’s reached out to you and touched you as he has with me.”

“Eve, you told me last night that you aren’t Stephen’s lover, so what hold could he possibly have on you? What is it that keeps you away from me and near him?” Chris searched her eyes, “what is this guy all about?”

“Chris, he’s just so...” she began as there was a sound from the other room causing her to jump, “Chris, he’s here. He’s found me.”

“Eve, he won’t hurt you. I won’t let him near you,” Chris promised her, “whatever it is you’re into, I’ll help you.”

“Chris, even you can’t get me out of this one,” Eve answered honestly, “because he knows your heart as well. He knows you love me and that I love you. He knows that love is going to be the one thing that will be your undoing which is why I came to you today to ask that you forget about me-- to beg that you move on, but then I was distracted by what I felt for you.”

“You make love to me in my shower, returning to my life after months of my believing you’re dead and now you’re telling me to forget you,” Chris blinked back at her, “Eve, have you completely lost your mind?”

“Chris, I can’t afford to lose you,” Eve blurted out, “I want you to continue to live and be happy, to be carefree.”

“Eve, I haven’t been happy in a long time, at least not until last night. When I was with you again....” Chris searched her eyes, “Eve, who else knows you’re alive?”

“You’re the only other person I’ve revealed myself to other than Stephen,” Eve answered honestly, “Stephen knows the truth, but no other was aware of it until last night when you called upon me.”

“Eve, you were the one who called to me. Joshua told me that Stephen wanted to meet with me and then...well, then I woke up in the bed and you were there....”

“That’s all you remember,” Eve searched his eyes, “nothing else?”

“Eve, what am I missing?” Chris blinked back at her, “what else happened last night?”

“Nothing that you should trouble yourself with,” she caressed his face gently, “just know that you should avoid Stephen at all costs. He knows how to control you and if you allow him the power he craves, then you stand to lose more than you could ever gain. He isn’t worth risking your soul.”

“Eve, you’re not making any sense,” Chris shook his head as he saw the genuine fear behind her eyes, “what aren’t you telling me? How can you be here with me after everyone believed you died?”

“Stephen found me,” Eve offered up, “he turned my life around and gave me freedom once again. He showed me how life could be if I embraced the world he offered me and gave my old life up letting it pass on as the world believed I had. It was working fine until last night. When I saw you with that woman at the party, that Doree person, somehow I knew I couldn’t let go of everything that I’d left behind. I couldn’t let go of you. I had to reach you, but even now as I stand here in your arms, I realize I should’ve stayed in the shadows.”

“No,” Chris shook his head, “Eve, in finding you again, in us being together, it’s the first time in a long time that everything has been alright for me. It’s better than alright. It’s as if everything I’d been denied is here right before my eyes all in my reach.”

“Chris, it’s all a fantasy. It’s your fantasy about us about being together. Last night was a dream come to life for you that Stephen made happen. We’ll live out all of your fantasies from here on out as long as it gives him what he wants. Can’t you see that he’s using our feelings against us for his own purposes? He feeds off of what we share and that song.....” Eve was cut off again by another sound in the room.

“Chris, are you here? Chris....” Jack’s voice rang out as Chris looked to Eve.

“Eve, just let me go talk to Jack,” Chris urged seeing she was shaking, “I’ll go get rid of him and then we can continue this conversation.”

“Chris, he can’t see me here. No one can know I’m here,” she pleaded with him.

“Eve, it’s just Jack.”

“No one can know, especially not Jack,” Eve begged once more.

“Alright,” Chris nodded as he gave her a quick kiss, “I’ll be right back.”

“Hurry please....” she squeezed his hand watching him go as a chill rushed over her and she hugged her arms to her body wondering if she’d made a mistake in coming to him.

Chris stepped out of his bedroom quickly slipping on a fresh pair of jogging pants as he saw Jack standing in the living room looking around the place.

“Hey the door was unlocked so I came inside,” Jack explained simply, “I had to talk to you.”

“What’s on your mind Jack?” Chris frowned slightly, “I was just in the shower.”

“I know....I mean I realize that from your appearance, but there’s something I wanted to talk to you about. You remember Tess right? The woman I found in the woods and well, there’s something about her. I was going to talk to Ian, but I figured maybe you could help me with her. I don’t know why, but somehow I just get a feeling that maybe you’re the man I need to talk to about this.”

“Jack, I’m a little busy right now,” Chris replied impatiently.

“Chris, this won’t take long,” Jack hesitated, “Chris, do you have someone here with you?”

“Actually I do and we were a bit busy if you catch my drift,” Chris answered flatly.

“Chris, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely important,” Jack pleaded with him.

“Fine, give me a second,” Chris turned towards his bedroom once again as he hoped Eve would understand what was going on. He entered the bathroom finding the towel he’d left Eve wearing was discarded on the floor, but she was no where to be found as the bathroom was empty.

“Eve?” he questioned looking around for her, “Eve, where are you?” he called out again as he searched his bedroom for her. He heard a noise from behind him and he turned to find Jack standing there in the doorway.

“Chris, who are you talking to?” Jack questioned in confusion.

“Eve,” Chris blurted out, “she was just here with me.”

“Oh Chris,” Jack gave him a very poignant look, “I know you miss her, but we both know that there‘s no way that she could be....”

“No,” Chris argued with him, “she was just here. I just made love to her and we were right here. She was afraid, worried about something that was happening and I left to go answer the door to you and now she‘s gone.”

“Chris, don’t do this to yourself,” Jack pleaded with him, “don’t let this drive you mad. I know you miss her, but there’s no way that she could’ve been here with you.”

“She was,” Chris argued with him as an idea formed in his head, “and I’m going to find her.”

“Chris...” Jack watched him turn towards the closet and he frowned slightly, “what happened to your back?”

“What?” Chris tried to look over his shoulder.

“There are some marks there. Scratches maybe,” Jack stepped in closer.

“They’re from Eve,” Chris felt the fresh sting upon his skin, “I told you she was here. We were in the shower making love and...just look. Look at them and you’ll see I’m not lying.”

Jack looked at his brother seeing the very distinct marks on him as he met his brother’s eyes, “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Last night Doree and I went to that party Stephen Clay was holding. We were in this back room and this man, Joshua, he asked me to go with him to meet Stephen, but instead I wound up in this room with Eve. She and I were together making love until she ran out, but then today she showed up at the apartment and she was scared. She kept talking about Stephen Clay and then you showed up...”

“Chris, but how can that be possible? Eve’s dead,” Jack’s eyes fell upon the marks on his brother’s shoulder once again.

“Maybe not because how could a dead woman do this to me?” Chris reached over his shoulder to touch the marks, “She was real. There’s no doubt in my mind about that and I’m going to prove it to you.”

“Chris, I’d like to believe you, but....” Jack stopped mid-sentence as something happened inside of him and he dropped to his knees.

“Jack, what’s wrong?” Chris reached out to him, “what’s happening?”

“I don't know,” Jack confessed feeling something tearing at him, “there's this pain--this ache...like something is trying to tear me apart from the inside out.”

“Jack,” Chris reached out to him as Jack looked up at Chris behind foreign colored eyes, “oh my god.”

“What’s happening Chris?” Jack questioned as Chris took a step back.

“I don’t believe this,” Chris gasped trying to make sense of what was happening.

“Believe what,” Jack opened his mouth to speak again when suddenly he felt the very distinct changes happening inside him, “no!”

@@@@@@@@@@

“I warned you not to go out unless I had asked it of you,” Stephen glared at Eve as he squeezed her arm tightly, “I told you how I wanted things to be.”

“You can’t bring him into this facade you have going,” Eve hissed at him, “I won’t let you hurt him, Stephen. You can’t have him.”

“I’ll have whatever I want and the truth of the matter is that you know he’s already mine,” Stephen smiled at her, “Chris Ramsey has belonged to me for quite some time only he isn’t aware of it, much like you weren’t aware of it until I pulled you out of that wreckage.”

“If I’d known what you were when I found you in that church, I’d have run from you. I never would’ve allowed you to manipulate things like you have,” Eve spit at him.

“When I found you in that church, you needed me. You needed clarity in your life and I gave you a way out of the nightmare you were living,” Stephen reminded her harshly as he pulled her in nearer to him, “you gave me what I wanted and needed and I gave you an escape.”

“This wasn’t what I’d asked for. What I wanted was to spend my life with my child and Chris.”

“Your child,” Stephen snickered, “now that in itself is a rather interesting concept. I’d warned you that you should take heed in my cautions I’ve given you about all of this, yet I find you spending time in Chris Ramsey’s apartment making love to him without my permission.”

“You don’t own me.”

“I beg to differ on that one,” Stephen thought it over for a moment, “and while I must confess that I wasn’t happy about your sneaking out on me, it was a rather refreshing thing to wake up to this afternoon. After last night I didn’t imagine that your passion would grow any stronger than what it was, but clearly I was wrong. You two still have something very savory about you and with it, the ardeur seems to grow stronger. I believe I do enjoy your relationship with him and while I’d hoped you’d include me in it a bit more, I will say that you can continue to feed off of the passion if you wish.”

“I let him go. I released Chris today so that you will not be able to feed off of what he feels for me,” Eve answered sharply, “I won’t let him hurt because of you.”

“It’s a pity you felt that way,” Stephen shook his head, “letting him go doesn’t work well for either of us Eve and especially not for your child. I’d hate to think of what might happen to the child if the ardeur isn’t fed. It could be rather devastating and that would be a pity since things were going so well for us.”

“You wouldn’t....”

“Wouldn’t I?” he raised a curious brow, “you know me better than that, Evelyn.”

She saw the fire behind his eyes as she took in a pained breath, “What do you want from me, Stephen?”

“You know what I want and I’m certain that you’ll see to it that I have it. I can’t imagine us having anymore conflicts about this, can you?”

“No Stephen,” she shook her head realizing that things were about to take a turn for the worse as her love for Chris had opened up a door that neither one of them were prepared for.

“Jack, talk to me,” Chris reached out to his brother watching as Jack writhed with agony over something that Chris wouldn’t dare place a word on. He watched his brother curl up into a ball, lost in some deliberate pain before he finally touched Jack’s shoulder softening his tone, “Jack, talk to me please.”

“Chris,” Jack looked up at him behind strained eyes as he let out a breath, “what’s happening to me?”

“I don’t now,” Chris frowned slightly, “but a few minutes ago I thought I saw...well I thought that...” Chris shook his head, “we need to get you to the hospital, to run some tests on you.”

“Chris, I don’t want any tests,” Jack shook his head defiantly, “something’s not right here, but it doesn’t feel like something you can fix at the hospital.”

“Jack, for a second there I thought...” Chris watched as Jack slowly pulled himself together moving into a seated position.

“Chris, I know what you thought, but that’s not possible,” Jack reached in to touch his teeth, a breath of relief washing over him, “I’m not going to become that again. It isn’t possible now that Caleb is gone. We both know that.”

“Still none of us have dealt with that before,” Chris reminded him, “you don’t know if there are any long term effects.”

“If there were, wouldn’t you be feeling it too?” Jack questioned simply, “he bit you too.”

“I realize that but.....” Chris stopped himself thinking about his brother’s words, “he did bite me, didn’t he?”

“He did,” Jack nodded, “and you were the only person he touched that never had any symptoms.”

“You’re right,” Chris pressed his fingers over his shoulder feeling the sharp sting from the wounds Eve had imprinted in him. He turned towards the mirror an eerie feeling rushing through him as he stood in front of it taking a good, hard look at his neck once again.

“Chris, what is it?” Jack questioned managing to stand up as he looked to his brother, “did something happen?”

“Something did, but not what we’re talking about,” he let out a breath of relief seeing that while his neck was clearly marked by Eve, it didn’t appear to have some sort of fang imprint to it. He looked over to Jack once again, “we need to find out what’s happening. Jack, have you had any spells like this before now?”

“Chris, I just came over here to talk about Tess. I have been feeling great since she fixed my leg and there hasn’t been anything bothering me,” Jack stopped himself, “oh my God. Tess! I have to go find her. She could be in some kind of trouble.”

“I think we need to worry about you right now,” Chris reminded him, “a few minutes ago we both experienced something that I’m certain neither one of us was expecting and now, well I don’t honestly know how to take things.”

“Chris, nothing is making sense and it hasn’t for a while,” Jack shook his head, “first Tess shows up and she looks just like Livvie, except she’s not Livvie. She’s so sweet and wonderful and Livvie is so evil and now...”

“Now you seem like you’re going through some kind of change and I’m seeing Eve,” Chris frowned slightly, “something is happening Jack and I will find out what it is. That much I’m certain of.”

“Joshua, please tell me you have good news about the concert,” Stephen grinned wickedly, “let me know that things are finally going our way.”

“As you planned on them to be,” Joshua nodded proudly, “a finer event shall not be heard of.”

“Excellent,” Stephen rubbed his palms together, “then it looks like all is settled in terms of the concert.”

“And what of that other problem that seemed to arise?” Joshua raised an arched brow.

“It’s been taken care of,” Stephen smiled proudly, “Evelyn saw things my way and I have a feeling that from here on out there won’t be any other problems.”

“And what of Dr. Ramsey?” Joshua questioned further, “what shall we do about him?”

“Nothing yet as he will come to us,” Stephen looked over to the security monitor a smile sweeping over his face, “ah and yet not a moment too soon.”

“He is persistent isn’t he,” Joshua noted with a tiny laugh as he looked at Chris breaking into the warehouse. “What shall I do with him?”

“Give him the usual song and dance and tell him that I’d love to meet with him before the concert. Perhaps by then he’ll be seeing things my way.”

“As you wish,” Joshua nodded going off to take care of the unexpected guest.

“Soon Chris,” Stephen laughed lightly, “very soon everything will come into place and when it does, nothing will stop me.”

Chris entered the deserted warehouse finding the remains of the party from the previous evening surrounding him. As he crept through the darkness, the hollow echo of his footsteps filled the black emptiness all around him. He looked from one side to the other hoping to find some kind of clue not as to what had been happening, but more so as to why it was all happening. With Jack’s encounter at the apartment and Eve’s hasty retreat Chris knew something was brewing outside the realm of normalcy and while Port Charles was full of the unknown, this would be one instance that Chris would get right on top of. That much he was certain of.

“Well, what do we have here,” Joshua’s voice rang out as Chris spun around to find the man standing directly behind him, “Dr. Ramsey, what brings you back to this place?”

“I want to see Stephen,” Chris demanded, “last night you said you wanted to take me to him, but instead Stephen found a way to evade the encounter all together.”

“I didn’t hear you complaining about that before,” Joshua offered up a cryptic glance, “why the sudden urge to meet with him now of all times?”

“I need to speak with him about the woman.....about....” Chris shook his head, “I just need to see him.”

“I’m afraid that while your urgency is noted, you aren’t going to be able to get back to see him at the moment. He’s otherwise occupied.”

“With what?”

“With something that is none of your concern,” Joshua stood taller, “now I’m going to have to ask you to leave, but rest assured that I will tell Stephen that you stopped by.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Chris argued with him, “not until I see Stephen Clay.”

“I’m afraid that’s an impossibility at this moment, but I will let him know that you’re very interested in meeting with him.”

“Why don’t I stay here and tell him that myself because I know he’s here somewhere,” Chris looked around the darkness, “I know he’s hiding in this place.”

“Why would Stephen need to hide? He’s a busy man...far too busy to play games with a man like yourself,” Joshua pointed out as he motioned out towards the darkness as a burly, large man appeared from the shadows, “now Dr. Ramsey I’m only asking once more and then I won’t be asking any longer. You can either leave on your own, or be escorted out by Jupiter.”

“Jupiter?” Chris let out a tiny laugh, “you’ve got to be kidding right?”

“Not in the least,” Joshua said with all seriousness behind his tone, “now I suggest you be on your way.”

“This isn’t over,” Chris warned adjusting his tie as he looked past Joshua at Jupiter.

“That seems to come out of your mouth quite frequently it seems,” Joshua shook his head, “and take a piece of advice. Don’t threaten Stephen. It’ll come back to haunt you if you keep carrying on like this.”

“I didn’t threaten Stephen,” Chris reminded him, “yet.”

“See to it you don’t because I can assure you being on Stephen’s bad side is not a place any mortal would want to be at. Good day Dr. Ramsey.”

Chris glared at him momentarily before Jupiter stepped in between them. Turning towards the door, Chris headed out into the parking garage outside the warehouse where he’d parked his Escalade. He let out a frustrated sigh reaching for his cell phone as he set out to call Jack and see if he was in any better shape then he’d been when he’d left the apartment. Jack had been so insistent on returning to Tess without taking the time to get himself checked out and that worried Chris. While he’d wanted to find out what was going on with Stephen Clay, somehow his concerns about Jack seemed to take over the moment.

“Damn,” Chris cursed realizing that his cell phone wasn’t getting a signal from inside the garage. With a huff he shoved his phone back into his jacket pocket as his eyes cast in the direction of his car and he suddenly noticed something that made his heart stop. He took in a breath and blinked twice unable to believe his eyes as he approached the Escalade.

As Chris stopped only a couple feet from his car, he blinked again seeing that there was a surprise waiting for him on the hood. There as he remained frozen, his eyes cast over the long, leather clad legs dangling over the side of the car. His gazed traveled upward over the lavish, form fitting leather curvature moving over her shapely thighs as his eyes lingered over her exposed midriff up towards the sheer black translucent material of her shirt. His eyes took her in hungrily as the shirt did nothing to mask the beautiful curves that lay underneath as she leaned back onto the hood of his car as if at perfect ease in that moment as a smile spread over her beautifully, luscious red lips.

“Eve?” he questioned as his heart pounded in his chest, “what are you....how did you...”

“Ramsey, I think you should pick up your jaw before you trip over your tongue there,” she offered with a teasing grin before hopping down from the onyx covered hood. Rubbing her hand over the place she’d been seated at moments earlier, she couldn’t help but let out a tiny laugh, “I think I like this one, Ramsey. It’s a change from the Ferrari, but it suits you.”

“Eve, what are you doing here? I mean when you left the apartment this morning just like you did I was starting to think I was hallucinating you, but here you are,” he took in a sharp breath noticing the way her outfit curved into her body leaving no questions unanswered about her delicious curves that he’d dreamt about. Coming to think about it, that outfit she was in seemed to elevate his temperature a few degrees and cloud his minds with thoughts far sinful than those they’d shared in the shower earlier in the morning together.

“I’m here,” Eve laughed delightfully amused by his reaction to her as she reached out to him bringing her fingers over the lapels of his jacket as she pulled him in closer still, “just for you.”

“But how? I mean....Eve, there are so many things...” Chris stammered a bit as she pressed into him, “I mean why did you leave.....I thought you said....how....”

“Shhh,” she instructed pressing her index finger over his lips to silence him, “no more questions. Not now when we have so many other important things to attend to.”

“Eve, it’s just,” Chris began as she claimed his mouth in a hungry, demanding, erotic kiss. Her mouth beckoned him refusing him any opportunity to slip away as she rubbed up against him letting the leather slide against his slacks in an inviting movement.

“Just....shh....” she whispered nibbling on his lip as her eyes met his with a wicked spark behind them, “tell me something Ramsey. Ever make love on the hood of your car before?”

“Eve, you can’t be serious,” Chris began feeling her peel away at his jacket as her mouth moved in over his neck nibbling again touching all the right places as his jacket slipped to the ground, “you are serious, aren’t you?”

“Dead serious,” she answered with a seductive smile as her palm pressed over the center of his chest pushing him back towards his car.

“But Eve....there are so many things, so many questions....” Chris watched her pull her shirt over her head discarding it with one swift motion as his heart thumped in his chest. He looked around the parking garage realizing it was nearly empty as she shook her head, the dark ringlets of her hair framing her face as it offered up a sinful temptation. She stepped forward as his eyes fell over the warm lines of her body, “Eve, I just have to know....” he reached out to her, “what’s with the outfit?”

“It’s what you wanted,” Eve answered pressing him back into the hood of his car as she reached down to the top of his pants untucking his shirt with one fierce pull before throwing him down on the hood of the car.

“Eve.....this is....I mean this is wonderful....but,” he began again as she climbed over him pinning him down on top of the car devouring his mouth with kiss after hungry kiss. His hands pressed around her torso feeling the warmth of her body longing for his touch, his passion as her hands ripped open his shirt sending buttons flying across the deserted corner of the garage as his eyes were drawn back to hers. Something about the way she looked at him, about the way she wanted him set his soul ablaze as he dragged her mouth down to his hungry lips as his tongue darted repeatedly inside her mouth as her hands traveled over the warm contours of his chest, scratching lightly at him as her thumb played over the button on his slacks plucking it open with one simple motion.

“Eve wait,” Chris demanded bringing his arms around her waist as he shifted his weight pinning her beneath him as her curls swept around her features and she smiled up at him expectantly.

“I always did love it when you took control,” Eve breathed feeling his hands wander over her rib cage fanning out over her taut abdomen, “take control of me, Chris.”

“Eve, this shouldn’t keep happening like this,” he confessed his lips traveling over her collar bone tasting the sweetness of her silken skin absorbing it down deep into his soul as her body rose up to his touch longing for the heat of him to burn her to the core as she let out an impassioned cry.

“Chris, I need you,” Eve cried out writhing beneath him as his lips traveled over her slender frame, “please don’t analyze this.”

“Eve, it’s just if you leave....” Chris pressed a kiss over her navel as she threaded her fingers through his hair forcing him to meet her gaze.

“I’m not going anywhere this time,” Eve promised a seriousness behind her eyes, “but if I can’t have you here and now it’ll be the end of me. That much I’m certain of.”

“Eve,” his lips grazed her skin gently as she let out breathless urgent gasps, “let me take you home. Let me take you back to the apartment and we can do this the right way. We can make love in my bed....” he tried to reason with her as her grip on him tightened.

“No Chris,” Eve insisted pulling him up towards her with a harsh tug, “I want you now, not five minutes from now, not in an hour....right here....right now...”

“Eve,” Chris began again as he saw the thirst burning behind her eyes.

“Chris now,” she pleaded with him as his mouth captured her mouth with hungry urgency realizing that there was something about the moment that was far too urgent to let it pass them by as he lost himself in her arms giving in to anything she’d asked of him.

“Stephen, I got rid of our problem,” Joshua explained as Stephen simply raised his hand in the air to silence him.

“I don’t think we’re going to have a problem any longer,” Stephen smiled his eyes locked in on the security camera as he found himself quite entertained by the action taking place in the parking garage, “it would seem that Evelyn has come through for us again in a most pleasing way.”

“You mean she,” Joshua’s eyes widened as he noticed the screen before his employer, “well I would say that she does have something about her that works rather well for this.”

“Very well indeed,” Stephen reached out to turn off the screen as he looked over to Joshua and smiled, “it would seem that I’m growing stronger by the minute.”

“That is what you hoped for,” Joshua reminded him.

“Indeed it was and now, well now we’ll give them a moment of privacy before the surprise I have planned,” Stephen laughed, “and believe me by the time I’m through with this town no one will know what hit them.”

Chris let out a labored breath as he fell down upon the top of his car unable to believe what he’d just let Eve talk him into. Knowing that they could easily be interrupted at any moment had only fueled the fire between them as he’d taken her in such a wild, untamed fashion that his fantasies paled in comparison to the experience they’d just shared together. Feeling her move in beside him, her own breath ragged and uneven, he curled his arm around her drawing her in closer to him.

“Was that everything you wanted?” Chris questioned a hint of a smile sweeping over his lips.

“All that and more,” Eve answered her dark eyes connecting with his, “Chris, I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Chris admitted honestly, “though I have to confess that none of this makes any sense.”

“I wish I could explain it to you in a way that would do just that for you, but there are things, circumstances that you’d be best left in the dark about,” Eve admitted turning her eyes away from him as her heart ached.

“Such as your connection to Stephen Clay?” Chris offered up feeling her grow rigid in his arms.

“Chris, this isn’t the place to talk about Stephen,” she blurted out feeling a chill surrounding them as she slowly began to slide off of the hood.

“Hey,” he reached out to her hooking his arm around her waist as he drew her body to his once again, “you’re not going away that easily.”

“Chris, we just can’t talk about this now,” Eve looked over her shoulder at him, “at least not like this.”

“Fine, then we get our things,” he motioned to the clothing scattered around on the ground, “and then we’ll go back to my place.”

“Chris, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Eve closed her eyes as she sank back into his arms, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself for that long.”

“Eve, come on,” Chris couldn’t help but laugh, “I realize you can’t get enough of me, but don’t even try to use that as an excuse for putting a distance between us. As you can see clearly this thing we have between us is good for us. Now if we start talking more about things I’m sure we can make it even better.”

“That’s just it,” she slipped out of his arms pulling her pants back into place as she reached for her shirt, “Chris, I don’t know if I can do that anymore. I don’t know if I’ll be able to have a long period of rational thoughts before I jump you again. Chris, there’s no telling how long I can go without touching you,” she took in a sharp breath as she closed her eyes, “even now I want you all over again.”

“Eve,” Chris saw the tortured expression on her face as he slid off the hood of his car as well. He noticed that she was suddenly shaking as he reached out to her, “what’s going on?”

“Chris, it’s this hunger, this desire,” she opened her eyes again, “I’m afraid if we keep seeing one another like this, that it’ll destroy us both in the end.”

“Eve, you’re not making any sense,” he started then stopped himself as he took a step back. Quickly putting his clothes back on, he reached for her hand taking a moment to assess the parking garage before he pulled her into his car with him and he found himself suddenly aware of the tears forming in her dark eyes. “Hey,” he offered up gently as he touched her cheek, “Eve what’s going on here?”

“Chris, it’s Stephen,” Eve blurted out, “he’s going to destroy us both if we let him.”

“Eve, I’m not following. What does Stephen have to do with what we have together?”

“Chris, haven’t you felt it yet?” she opened her eyes again to see the confusion on his features, “Chris, there have been changes since he’s stepped back into Port Charles. Don’t you feel them coming over you?”

“Eve, something strange is going on, but what has Stephen done to you? How is it he’s been the only one who’s been aware of you being here in Port Charles up until now? How is it we all thought you were dead when here you are alive and as beautiful as ever...”

“Chris, there are things you don’t know. Things I’m certain you wouldn’t understand,” she turned away from him, “that accident was the beginning of the nightmare you’re starting to feel.”

“Eve, being with you isn’t a nightmare,” Chris reached out to her.

“You don’t understand, Chris,” Eve shook her head determined, “Stephen feeds off of what we feel...he uses our feelings against us.”

“Eve, how can Stephen feed off of what we have?” Chris questioned blankly.

“The same way he fed off that damned candle when you lit it,” she snapped back at him, “Chris, don’t you see what’s happening here?”

“What candle?”

“The one you lit when you wanted me to return to you,” Eve faced him again her eyes dark with something he couldn’t quite read, “Chris, when you lit that candle to be with me, when you wanted me to return to you, that’s when Stephen felt the power for the first time.”

“Eve, I’m not following. Yes, I lit a candle and it did some strange things but....”

“But nothing,” Eve insisted, “Chris, when you beckoned me, it awakened Stephen and you and Doree together paved the way for his return.”

“Me and Doree,” Chris stopped thinking back to his relationship with the blonde police officer as a stunned gasp fell from his lips. Seeing the way Eve looked at him, he suddenly felt as though he’d betrayed her with his wild encounters with Doree, “Eve, I was going through a hard time, but she never, ever meant anything to me like you did. She was just there and I got into this stupid, stupid thing with her that was purely physical and not like what we have....”

“Chris, I know what went on with you and Doree,” Eve closed her eyes as she let out a slow, controlled breath, “I know that you don’t love her, nor were you ever capable of being in love with her like you love me.”

“I do love you,” Chris promised as he reached for her hand, “I’ve always loved you and nothing has changed that. Nothing ever will change it for me, Eve.”

“I know that,” Eve answered sadly, “and Stephen knows it too which is why he called upon you. It’s why had had me return to you.”

“Eve....” Chris suddenly felt a chill rush over him.

“Chris, when you and Doree kept going at it all the time, it not only gave him the power to feed again, but it sparked his desire to see what could happen if your desire was met by love. He wanted to see what would become of you and I together knowing that what we had ran deeper and more profound than what you had with Doree and much to his pleasure we connected on a level that gave him more strength and power than he’d ever dreamed of.”

“Eve, how can Stephen feed off of what we have together? You’re talking like he’s some kind of vampire....as if....” Chris trailed off suddenly thinking about Jack’s attack earlier at the apartment.

“Chris, Stephen has to feed the ardeur and if he doesn’t he has to find other ways to feed, but those involve killing people. This way he plays it safer leaving less questions to answer, but the hunger never leaves. It never goes away and even now I feel it. Even now as I have you so close to me, I can't help but want more of you, to consume you completely.....” She closed her eyes fighting for clarity, “Chris, when I’m not with you there’s this ache and while I tried to keep my distance from you, Stephen won’t hear of it especially when he’s so close to getting what he wants.”

“Eve, are you saying that Stephen Clay is controlling what’s happening between us? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“What I’m telling you is that he’s feeding off our experiences, off our love for one another,” Eve answered tearfully, “when he bit you before you opened yourself up to him and when he took me....”

“Bit me....” Chris repeated as it began to sink in, “oh my God. Then that means....Stephen Clay is...”

“Caleb,” Eve finished seeing the horror behind his eyes, “Chris, he’s back and this time he’s ready for something more, for something he couldn’t get before.”

“But how...” Chris reached out to touch her face feeling the warmth beneath her skin as she leaned into his touch, “how did he get to you?”

“When I’d run away to think,” Eve closed her eyes thinking back, “when I met Michael...rather Caleb at the church and I’d leaned on him. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but he marked me. I didn’t have the effects come over me that everyone else did when he came to Port Charles, but the potential was there much like it was after he bit you. I had no idea that I was connected to him until the accident. Three days after I’d ‘died’, I awakened in Stephen’s lair and I’ve been there ever since waiting for him to let me go, to find a way back to those I loved despite the fact that I was no longer that woman who’d been in the accident. Then when I had the chance, when Stephen allowed me a chance to feed off of the desire inside of me, I refused. Chris, the last thing I wanted was to do this to you, to turn your world upside down, but when I saw you with Doree, jealousy overtook me and I remembered how good we were together before I’d been taken from this world. I remembered that night we made love at your apartment, the night our son came to be and I realized I couldn’t not be with you. I couldn’t keep from touching you again or showing you how much I loved you. I’m so sorry that I’ve turned your world upside down.”

“Eve, you didn’t turn my world upside down,” Chris argued with her, “quite the contrary considering that being with you again is like I’m finally alive for the first time in a long time,” he paused as he thought of her words, “Eve, did you just say our son?”

“Chris, don’t pretend that it never crossed your mind,” Eve sighed as she thought back to her life before things grew so reckless, “you and I both know that when we made love that night there was a chance that Daniel was ours.”

“You never wanted to talk about that night,” Chris reminded her, “so I just assumed....”

“Chris, I know you had a DNA test run on him after I left this world,” Eve met his eyes a seriousness in her tone present that hadn’t been there before, “you needed to know and when you found out after you lost me, you still couldn’t bring yourself to reveal our secret to Ian.”

“Eve, I didn’t want to complicate his life. Daniel was happy and I knew you loved Ian,” Chris confessed, “I wanted to reach out to Daniel, but....”

“But something told you to keep a distance,” Eve finished, “Chris, I know you can feel what’s happening too. Caleb touched you. He brought you into this world of his and even now, you and I are both bound to him as much as we don’t want to admit it.”

“Eve, I just can’t believe....even after all this time,” Chris stammered thinking back.

“He chose you because you were Danny’s father. He knew it from the moment he marked me and that’s why he tried to convince me not to marry you. He knew that if we were together that our feelings for one another would burn out of control.”

“But you just said that now he’s feeding from them,” Chris answered a bit puzzled, “how can he go from fearing it, to needing it?”

“He wasn’t feeding from the ardeur before, but now with the music and the knowledge that Joshua has given him about controlling the ardeur, he’s found another way to get what he needs,” Eve sighed closing her eyes, “and now that he’s aware of what passion can do to alleviate his hunger, he’s using it against everyone in Port Charles.”

“Which explains the party,” Chris realized, “last night when I couldn’t get enough of Doree it wasn’t because I wanted to be with her.”

“No, it was something he created with the music,” Eve explained simply, “much like how he manipulated you and I in that room.”

“Eve, what I felt for you last night wasn’t because of some manipulation that Caleb threw out,” Chris touched her cheek gently, “when I made love to you it was because I wanted you and only you. I love you and no vampire or other unworldly thing can change that.”

“Chris, but even now after you know what’s happening, now that you know about the ardeur and what it does...” she began as he leaned in to silence her with a tender kiss.

“Eve, we’ll find a way to work through this now that I know the truth. Now that I know what’s happening...”

“Chris, I can’t control it,” Eve blurted out her voice shaky, “I tried to, but the hunger it reaches into me as well. I can only purge the fixation with it for so long before it starts to eat away at me.”

“And you’ve fed on this passion as your means of surviving all this time,” Chris questioned thinking it over, “all these months.”

“I didn’t feed,” Eve answered simply her gaze drifting to the floor of his car, “I refused until last night.”

“When you fed off of me,” Chris half questioned.

“When we fed off of one another,” Eve met his gaze, “Chris, I’m not the only one Caleb’s touched. You have it too and your time with Doree should’ve proven that to you.”

“I just never....I never imagined....” he trailed off thinking about the farce of a relationship he had with Doree, “and now. Where does that leave us?”

“We are out of options,” Eve sighed, “we either fight the hunger and avoid one another at all costs, thus bringing us both to the brink of insanity or we give in,” she met his eyes once more a desperation building behind them.

“Which means Caleb gets stronger,” Chris finished as she nodded.

“So here we are stuck in the dilemma of a lifetime,” Eve sighed as she sank back into the chair, “the more we want each other, the more we are together, the stronger he gets.”

“What is it that he wants? Why does he need all of that power?” Chris questioned thinking it over.

“I don’t know,” Eve shrugged, “I wish I did, but I don’t. I just know that for him to gain so much strength as he has over this short time, it could only lead to something horrible.”

“Eve, we’ll have to stop him.”

“But how?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll have to think of something,” Chris decided.

“And until then?” she looked over at him, “What do we do about us? Do we try to stay away from one another or do we give in?”

“Eve, I....” he found himself at a loss as he reached out to her, “I can’t bear the thought of being away from you even for a short time.”

“Then it would seem that we’re caught up in this thing without any alternatives,” Eve tried to shake the feeling building inside of her, “we’re prisoners to the passion Caleb feeds off of.”

“It’s our passion and I won’t let him take that from us. I’ll find a way to fix this.”

“Chris, he’s a vampire. Think about that. I mean really just think about how insane all of this is.”

“Eve, we can pull through it. We always manage to get through the rough times,” he pulled her into his arms, “I’m sure now will be no different.”

“I just wish I had your faith,” she sighed leaning into him as the door to the car thrust open and Joshua looked in on them.

“How touching this is, but I’m afraid Stephen wants to see you both now,” Joshua explained menacingly as he snapped his fingers and two muscle men stepped towards the car reaching in towards Chris and Eve ready to do Stephen’s bidding as the world as Port Charles knew it was about to be turned upside down.

“Joshua, if you don’t release us right this instant,” Eve fought against the masked moron that had carried her into the building once again, “I’m warning you...”

“I’m just following orders,” Joshua shrugged as he motioned towards Stephen’s muscle men alerting them to set Chris and Eve down. Following his request, they both took a step back as Eve folded her arms in front of her chest.

“You know you should really learn to play nice, Evelyn,” Joshua shook his head disapproving, “although I will say you and Dr. Ramsey put on a good show.”

“You bastard,” Eve lunged forward ready to attack him as Chris reached out to her.

“Eve, don’t,” Chris urged glaring at the man who’d taken them from their moment with one another, “don’t let him have that kind of power over you. He’s not worth getting upset with.”

“They were watching us,” Eve explained with a huff, “it’s bad enough that Stephen feeds off it, but to have spied on us...”

“It’s not as though you chose to make it a private display,” Joshua noted smugly, “although should Stephen be in the frame set to make you both suffer, he’d lock you in this room and let you both tear one another apart, drowning one another in the passion you feel.”

“That’s it,” Eve began again as Stephen stepped into the room raising his hand in the air.

“Enough,” he silenced Joshua as he entered the room, his blue eyes cast over in Chris and Eve’s direction, “well I must say I am rather pleased to have the honor of your company, Dr. Ramsey. It’s been far too long.”

“Caleb,” Chris sneered at him, “I should’ve known you’d be behind something like this.”

“It’s Stephen now,” the vampire smiled wickedly, “and yes, it is rather ingenious isn’t it?”

“What is it you’re hoping to accomplish?” Chris challenged, “as soon as everyone realizes you’ve returned to Port Charles, then your days are numbered.”

“Are they?” Stephen smiled wickedly, “because the way I see it, I’m here to stay and those who are against me will suffer, however those who work with me,” his grin widened as his gaze traveled over in Eve’s direction, “they shall be able to enjoy the perks of this relationship.”

“I told you already that Chris isn’t a part of this,” Eve began stepping forward towards Stephen as he raised his hand stopping her mid-movement keeping her frozen in place as his eyes leisurely moved over towards Chris, “She sure is a feisty one isn’t she?”

“What have you done,” Chris reached out to Eve feeling a coolness rush over her as she remained frozen in place, “what did you do to her?”

“She’s fine,” Stephen lowered his hand as Eve let out a gasp fighting for air as she fell to her knees caught up in a moment of breathlessness.

“Eve,” Chris dropped down beside her touching her back gently, “Eve, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she whispered hoarsely as her hand clasped over her neck and her angry glare burned through Stephen’s back as he turned away from her.

“Now Evelyn, what have I told you about your attitude problems,” Stephen turned around to face them again, a cool, confident smile over his features as he took a seat in the black leather chair across the room, “now without dragging this out more than necessary, how about you and I doing what we came here to do and we get down to business?”

“And just what business might that be,” Chris questioned helping Eve off the ground as he wrapped his arm around her protectively.

“That would be the business of revenge,” Stephen smiled wickedly, “it would seem that you and I have common enemies here in Port Charles.”

“I hardly could imagine you and I having anything in common seeing as hating you is my one tie to those who claim to hate me,” Chris remarked bitterly.

“Ah, I see you’ve gained a false sense of assurance in my time away. This is a change for you seeing as the last time you were more than willing to comply to any of my wishes,” Stephen mused with a smile waving his hand around the room, “but I mean you no harm, Chris. Can I call you Chris?”

“How about we skip over that and you just let Eve and I leave?” Chris suggested glaring at him, “clearly you’re back to piss off a few people in town and I’ve gotta tell you Eve and I just aren’t up for the games.”

“See now that’s not what I want to hear,” he frowned slightly, “Eve here has become something of a presence in my life that I can’t quite imagine going without. I rather enjoy her company and though she tries to deny it, I think she is a bit partial to mine.”

“In your dreams Stephen,” Eve shot back at him harshly as she leaned into Chris.

“I know all of yours,” Stephen offered up a hint of a smile as his eyes darted towards Chris again, “and yours, which I must confess are most inspirational as they fueled the pathway to this reunion of ours. That candle was brilliant, wouldn’t you say?”

Chris said nothing as his hold on Eve constricted.

“I mean here I was ready to call it a day when you were all by your lonesome lost over that love that passed you by,” Stephen snickered, “then in walks a blonde and it would seem that the candle showed it’s true form as did you. Why I still remember that first night you and Doree were together,” his eyes fell over Eve in a menacing sort of way, “don’t you, Eve?”

“Go to hell,” Eve spat back at him as she untangled herself from Chris’ arms.

“Ah, now how many times must we go through this,” he shook his head with a sigh, “she just doesn’t seem to grasp the concept on things, now does she?”

“What do you want?” Chris questioned sharply.

“Truthfully?” Stephen raised a curious brow.

“That all depends,” Chris hesitated thinking it over for a moment, “somehow I don’t think I’ll be getting honesty from someone like you.”

“Honesty is purely subjective, wouldn’t you say?” Stephen raised a curious brow, “I mean really how up front were you with Officer Doree about where things were headed?”

“Things weren’t headed anywhere,” Chris cut back sharply, “and that seems to be where I’m headed in this conversation with you.”

“Look Chris, we both want the same thing,” Stephen smiled at him, “you want some respect and what you feel is rightfully yours. You want Eve. I want Olivia and we both want people in this town to take notice of just what we are.”

“We aren’t anything like one another,” Chris shot back bitterly, “you know nothing about love otherwise you wouldn’t be playing these games right now with us.”

“You think I like this?” Stephen questioned blinking back at him, “do you honestly think I enjoy lurking in the shadows while the woman I love is parading herself around town with a man I despise? How do you think it makes me feel...” Stephen paused momentarily, “then again, why don’t you tell me how it feels since you experienced it first hand while Eve was with Ian. Pisses you off, doesn’t it? Makes you angry?”

“Eve was with Ian because you talked her into marrying that loser,” Chris yelled at him, “she would have been happy with me if you hadn’t blindsided her like you did.”

“Would she?” Stephen’s gaze drifted to Eve again, “is that how it would’ve went, Evelyn?”

“It doesn’t matter how it would’ve went. All that matters is that Chris and I are together again and we don’t want to be a part of your games,” Eve answered with a sharp hiss, “I’ve had enough of you manipulating me. I want to be free to live my life without you interfering.”

“I can see that you do long for that, but at the same time Evelyn, you know that you and Chris are vital to what I have planned,” he smiled wickedly at her, “after all I haven’t felt more alive than I did after that Halloween party and even now, with the way you two are carrying on, the anger and the passion behind your words has me going strong. You both are very important to what I have in mind.”

“What you have in mind is nothing short of insanity, and if you think for one moment that we’re going to allow you to keep us playing along with your deceptions you have another think coming,” Eve glared at him, “I don’t want any part of it.”

“Without me you’d be dead right now,” Stephen reminded her angrily, “I saved your life and for that I deserve more respect than you’re giving me.”

“Enough,” Chris stepped in between them, “What do you want Caleb?”

“It’s Stephen,” he corrected.

“You’ll always be Caleb in my eyes,” Chris grumbled at him, “what do you want us to do in order for you to let us out of this?”

“What I want is for you two to help me get that life with Olivia that was rightfully mine. You of all people should know what it’s like to have the woman you loved ripped away from you by circumstances. I had it happen twice and I refused to allow it to happen again.”

“If you want Livvie, then why not go for her? She’s in between men right now,” Chris tried to reason with him, “she’s certainly ready for a change of pace. You won’t have a problem picking her up now that she’s slumming.”

“Still I want more,” Stephen insisted, “there’s so much more I need--that I crave.”

“Crave all you want, but Eve and I...” Chris reached out to her pulling her into his arms protectively, “we’re leaving here now.”

“I don’t think so,” Stephen raised his hand as Eve collapsed in Chris’ arms, her body growing limp as Chris squeezed her tightly.

“What have you done to her?” Chris questioned fear overtaking him as he tried to rouse Eve.

“I’ve done nothing more than reminded her what she was,” Stephen smiled wickedly, “if you love her as you say you do and you want to save her, then I strongly suggest you let her feed.”

“How can she feed like this,” Chris looked over at Stephen again, “you know as well as I do...”

“I trust you’ll know what to do,” Stephen chuckled as his laughter reached down deep into Chris chilling him to the bone, “Eve’s future is in your hands and with that in mind I have things to do, but Joshua,” he motioned to his companion, “he can take you and Eve somewhere private so that you can help her feed,” he paused momentarily as a smile swept over his features, “and Chris, don’t fight the feeling. It’ll do you both wonders.”

Chris lay Eve down on the king sized bed watching her hair flutter around her shoulders as he touched her cheek. She felt so cold, so lifeless as his eyes fell over her. Reaching out to search for her pulse, he touched her soft, pale skin as he spoke out to her, “Eve, Eve baby wake up,” he urged hoping to rouse her from the spell Caleb had inflicted upon her, “Eve, can you hear me? It’s Chris.”

Feeling her lay unresponsive to him, Chris sat behind her on the bed, drawing his arms around her body as he cradled her. He kissed the top of her forehead hoping to get some kind of response from her as she felt so distant, so....he refused to allow the thought to continue as he eased one arm away from her body knowing what he needed to do as he lowered her to his lap. His index finger swept over her cheek as he drew in a nervous breath. Hoping that it wasn’t too late to help her, he rolled up his sleeve carefully allowing the material to bunch over his bicep as he watched her lifeless in his lap.

“Eve, I’m going to fix this,” he whispered soothingly hoping his words would reach her as he looked to his wrist and he took a deep breath. Looking around, Chris noticed the mirror on the wall behind them as this was the same room they’d been in on Halloween and with a heavy heart, he threw his fist into the wall watching pieces of the mirror crackle as he struggled to pull a shard of the glass from the wall. He closed his eyes momentarily hoping that somehow this would all be a nightmare, a bad dream, but alas as he opened his eyes, finding his sleeping beauty before him lost in her terrible lifeless slumber as he pressed the mirrored fragment over his wrist as he closed his eyes again, “I love you,” he whispered slicing himself as he felt the warmth of his blood stirring on the surface as he opened his eyes watching the crimson warmth spread over his pale skin.

Turning his eyes to Eve once again, Chris propped her up on his thigh bringing his wrist just above her lips, hoping to arouse her from the spell Caleb had put her under. She made no move towards him as Chris gently pressed his wrist against her mouth hoping to stir up something deep inside of her. After what felt like an eternity, panic began to overtake Chris as she did nothing, remained cold and frozen in his arms as his blood soaked over her lips drip by agonizing drip.

“Come on Eve,” Chris urged of her as her lower lip twitched and he held her tighter, “that’s a girl,” he urged as her mouth began to respond to him. Her face seemed to color once again as her lips clasped over his wound gently suckling over his skin. Chris bit down on his lip feeling a slight sting hit him as her mouth hungrily drank of him and her dark eyes opened once more. Her hands wrapped around his arm securing his wrist tighter against her mouth as her hunger deepened.

“Eve,” Chris called out to her his voice tight with tension as she began to move beneath him repositioning herself in his lap taking a more predatory stance as she knelt over him keeping his wrist to her lips as she drank of him, feeling his life force beat into hers with each passing moment as he bit down on his lip again, “Eve....Eve slow down.”

Seeing the look on his face, Eve couldn’t help but feel electrified as she tasted of him, enjoying the warmth and life of him in these moments he’d awakened her for. She clasped her fingers around him digging her nails lightly into his skin before she noticed he’d cut his lip. Instantly withdrawing from his wrist, she watched him sigh a breath of relief as she seemed to have finished with his arm. He began to pull his arm away from her as she shook her head in refusal raising his arm to her lips again as a smile swept over her features. With what almost sounded like a tiny giggle she looked to his wound pressing a soft kiss over it before her tongue traced patterns over his skin cleaning up some of the mess she’d made as Chris let out a low moan closing his eyes.

“Oh Chris,” Eve growled his name feeling a rumbling from deep within as she released his arm around and she turned her attention to his lips. Crawling in over him, she straddled his lap her fingers threading into his hair as she forced him to meet her gaze and a tiny laugh bubbled over her, “oh yes,” she leaned in closer to him her breath mixing with his as his heart pounded in a mixture of confusion, fear and excitement, “Chris, you taste so good,” She purred capturing his mouth in a explosive kiss as her fingers tightened their hold on his dark hair demanding more from him as her tongue danced and curled with his needing to reach deep inside of him in an attempt to fulfill that ache deep inside of her.

“Eve,” Chris whispered breathlessly as she finally pulled back from the kiss keeping her hands in his hair as if to hold him in place as she looked deep into him, “Eve, wh-what’s happening?”

“You gave me life, Chris,” Eve confessed leaning in towards him again as her tongue traced over his lower lip at a leisurely pace tasting the sweet traces of blood lingering upon his soft, sensitive flesh.

“I was just so worried,” Chris blurted out his voice tight with tension as he realized he was at her complete disposal and he watched the predatory smile rushing over her beautiful features, “Eve, what’s happening?”

“We’re happening Chris,” she released his hair as her finger nails drifted over the front of his shirt tearing away at the material as she reached for his chest longing to feel the warmth and life beneath the surface as she palmed at his chest. With a devious grin, she lowered her lips to his shoulder tracing over his collar bone as she discarded his tattered shirt.

“Eve, but you....we....” Chris started his head swimming at the realization of what was happening as the woman he’d loved for so very long had awakened as something Caleb had created, as something more than the woman he’d fallen for, “Eve, wait...”

“Shh...” Eve breathed in his ear her lips hovering over his skin, “don’t fight us, Chris. Don’t fight me,” she pleaded with him, her mouth so very close to his pulse, to the strong life force inside of him, “I know you want this just as much as I do. I felt it when you awakened me.”

“Eve, I was trying to save your life,” Chris muttered as her lips swept over his skin, tracing tantalizing patterns over his neck as he closed his eyes knowing what was next as he braced himself for the moment. He felt her teeth graze his skin, touching the surface of his skin as he realized that this would probably be one hell of a way to die as he prepared for what was to come. However, much to his surprise her little love bite had been just that as her mouth traveled over his skin making it’s way over his chest as her fingers curled over the tiny hairs dusting over his warm, muscles teasing him mercilessly before her mouth moved in over his taut nipple suckling it as he let out a low, pleasureful moan.

“That’s it Chris,” she smiled as her hands wandered over his body leaving no inch of him unexplored before she reached for her own shirt drawing it over her head. Seeing his eyes glazed over with passion, she pressed her fingers over his belt buckle quickly disposing of it before unzipping his pants and tearing them from his body along with his boxers in a lightning quick movement before she climbed back on top of him, her mouth giving it’s full attention to his neck once more.

“Eve,” Chris breathed her name feeling the dizzying passion exploding in the room around them swelling and pulsing with a life of it’s own as her mouth devoured his skin with teasing nips and lavish kisses. He raised his hands seeing the wound on his arm had begun to close up as he pressed his hands over her beautifully curved, brazen body remembering the wild, untamed energy that lie beneath the surface. Somehow in the moment, he discovered that not only had Eve managed to alleviate his slacks, but somehow her own leather pants had gone with the mix leaving nothing but the warm contact of their skin to skin as she straddled him.

Bringing her hands around his head once again, Eve sat upright taking him with her as a smile swept over her features. “Chris,” she whispered his name as he held her in his arms, feeling how she’d returned to him as their eyes connected, “I need you. I want you deep inside me touching me,” she purred capturing his mouth in a savage kiss as she wrapped herself around him, lowered herself gingerly on his straining sex as she let out an impassioned cry throwing her head back as he filled her.

“Eve, what it is you do to me,” he whispered heatedly as her breasts skimmed tantalizingly against his chest causing any rational thought inside of him to flee upon contact with her as she began to grind against him creating a tumultuous rhythm between them as she’d awakened a desire inside of him unlike anything he’d ever know. His hands traveled over her spine, holding her hips securely as she pressed down to meet his every upward thrust in this desperate dance she’d invited him to take part of.

“Chris,” Eve’s hungry cries of desire reached down deep inside of him drawing something out from within as his fingers traced her spine, memorizing her contours as the limits of where she began and he ended began to evaporate melting them into one body, one heart, one soul as their unquenched desire took control of them and their eyes connected again with an unspoken need building between them as she captured his mouth in a desperate kiss, “do it Chris,” she whispered in short gasps as she nipped on his lip, “don’t hold back...please...” she urged of him as their bodies pounded out of control threatening to overtake the both of them as she drew back angling her head back, her hair tickling the curve of her spine as Chris’s hands traveled over her flat abdomen, skimming over her breast bone until his eyes fixed on the flawless skin of her neck. His fingers traced the surface of her creamy flesh as she whimpered slightly begging for completion as the first waves of her climax rushed over her taking her far over the edge of the intensity between them. He watched her face grow flushed as her lips curled with desire. As he felt as though he wouldn’t be able to hold on a moment longer, he lowered his mouth over her neck taking what he needed of her as he nipped at her pulse feeling the warmth flowing to the surface as he flooded himself into her in a one perfect moment of white-hot eruption.

“Chris,” Eve cried out feeling her body stiffen as his mouth clasped over her drinking of her. Threading her fingers through his hair tightly once more, she cried out as another explosion erupted between them causing her head to swim to the point she feared she would leap out of her skin as his grip on her eased up and she felt him place a tender kiss over her soft flesh. Gently massaging his scalp as he lapped up the remains of her pulses with his tongue, Eve murmured faintly, “now I belong to you....” she whispered holding him closer, “I’m forever yours.”

“Eve,” Chris began slowly withdrawing from her skin as he noticed the marks he’d put upon her. Realizing what they’d just done, he felt suddenly horrified as the tiny bites were an instant reminder of what they’d just experienced together. Suddenly life as they knew it ceased to be as it was as they’d crossed over a line neither one had been prepared for, “oh my God,” Chris gasped noticing the pool of red forming over Eve’s otherwise flawless skin as his eyes darted back to hers, a panic rising from deep within him as he touched her face, “Eve, talk to me. Are you....are you alright?”

She let out an amused laugh as she touched his face in return, “Chris, what kind of question is that? Am I alright?” she shook her head as though it had been some kind of joke, “Chris, I feel completely alive. I’ve never felt better.”

“But Eve, I just...we just.....” he stammered struggling to put the words together as her damp form clung to his, “we’re....”

“Vampires,” Eve chuckled at the sweet irony of it all, “here we’ve been fighting it, but all along this is who we are now.”

“Eve, I don’t understand. I mean....” he trailed off as he noticed something darker behind her eyes, “Eve, how long have you known that we...”

“Long enough to know there’s no running away from it,” Eve confessed with a sigh, “this is what Stephen wants from us and while this isn’t who we are, we can’t fight it.”

“Eve, how can you say that?” he touched her face again, searching her eyes. “Eve, think about what we have waiting for us. Think of Danny.”

“Danny,” Eve blinked back at him.

“That’s right,” Chris nodded feeling a sudden grip on the reality that had evaded them moments earlier, “vampires or not we have a son out there, a son that Caleb wants to get his hands on, a son that’s in danger if we do nothing.”

“Danny,” Eve repeated again suddenly swept away by the weight of the situation, “oh my God. Chris, what have we done? How could we....” she felt a panic coming on as he held her closer to him.

“We just can’t lose sight of what we are, of who we are,” Chris hugged her tighter in his arms as he kissed her temple, “Eve, we can’t let Caleb....Stephen....whoever he is succeed in whatever he has planned for Port Charles. We can’t let him win.”

“Chris, but you see what we’ve become...what we are now,” Eve felt the tears burning behind her eyes as she looked to him, “Chris, with a snap of his fingers he tried to take all the humanity from me and he found a way to drive out the most primal parts of us--the parts that he needs to grow stronger and with us both feeding like we did,” her gaze lowered to the floor as she felt him reach out to touch her chin urging her to meet his eyes once again.

“What Eve?” he asked gently.

“Chris, I’ve never fed like that before tonight,” Eve confessed unsure, “before now I’ve never....I mean Caleb must’ve bit me when he found me in that accident, but before now I’ve never felt that hunger....I’d never acted upon it until...”

“I know,” Chris nodded seeing the fear behind her eyes at the thought of what they’d become.

“Oh God,” she blurted out terrified, “Chris, how could I do that,” her gaze slipped to the fresh wound on his wrist, “how could I?”

“Eve, it’s okay,” Chris hugged her tighter feeling her slip away as her fear and confusion overtook her, “we’re going to get through this. We’ll find a way to stop him.”

“But how? How can we do that if we lose control like this again,” Eve questioned blankly, “how can we...”

“Eve, listen to me,” Chris urged her to face him again, “we’re going to get through this together and in doing so we’ll deal with this hunger between us. We’ll do what it takes to keep it under control.”

“But Chris, what if it means we do this to each other,” she touched his wrist seeing the marks left behind as her other hand rose to her neck, “what if this is the byproduct of what our hunger does to us.”

“We won’t let it get this far again,” Chris promised her, “somehow we’ll find a way to keep things under control without it coming to this point again.”

“But how?” she questioned wearily, “how can we do that?”

“I don’t know,” he whispered drawing her securely into his arms, “I don’t know Eve, but we’ll find a way to fight this. We’ll find a way to fight this and save our son. Somehow I’ll find a way to do this.”

“But what if we can’t,” she questioned shakily.

“We will,” Chris promised silently praying they’d find the strength and determination to protect their son from the evil that threatened to destroy Port Charles.

Chris tipped his head out into the hallway before glancing over his shoulder at Eve. “It looks like we’re alone,” he informed her reaching for her hand as he lead her down the darkened corridor, “it seems quiet here.”

“Too quiet,” Eve felt a shiver run through her as she took in their surroundings hoping that somehow they were out of the madness for this brief moment in time as Chris lead her along the narrow pathway.

“Somehow I think we’re okay for now,” Chris confessed as they made their way into the open room at the front of the warehouse. Seeing that it was empty, he turned to Eve again, “I think Stephen’s decided we weren’t worrying about after last night.”

“I wouldn’t imagine he would be worried after we gave him what he wanted,” Eve remarked bitterly as a tiny shudder ran through her, “Chris, as long as he’s out there though, we’re never going to be safe.”

“Maybe not, but at least we can try,” Chris guided her towards the exit a plan forming in his mind, “I think I might be able to find a way to get us out of all of this.”

“Well you’d better start talking because while Stephen may not be around now,” Eve warned him as they stepped out into the daylight, “he’ll be lurking in the shadows returning when he’s ready for something more.”

“I realize that which means we have to work fast,” Chris confessed pulling his cell phone out of his pocket.

“Chris, who are you calling?” Eve frowned slightly.

“Jack,” Chris explained, “after you disappeared from my apartment, Jack started having symptoms again. Everything that has been happening must be effecting him too since Caleb is alive.”

“Oh God, I didn’t even think about that,” Eve gasped with sudden realization, “there’s no telling how many others have been effected by him.”

“We’ll get right on it,” Chris promised her as he dialed his brother’s number and Jack answered hurriedly.

“Lucy?” Jack questioned his voice tight with tension.

“No, Jack, it’s Chris.”

“Chris, where have you been?” Jack’s voice crackled with a nervousness that Chris instantly recognized, “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night.”

“I was with Eve,” Chris explained simply, “I found her again and we’re safe now, but I don’t know how much longer it’s going to last because Stephen Clay is...”

“Chris, Ian’s dead,” Jack blurted out suddenly.

“What?” Chris blinked back in surprise, “but how?”

“I--I don’t know. He and Lucy were on their way over to see Tess here at the house and then they were attacked. By the time we found Lucy with him, it was too late. He’d already...” Jack’s voice trailed off, “Chris, it was horrible.”

“Oh my...” Chris looked over to Eve feeling a sudden panic rush through him, “Jack, what about Danny? Where’s Danny?”

“Last I’d heard Lucy said Ian had left him with Colleen, but...” Jack started as Chris cut him off.

“Jack, just stay there and I’ll get there as soon as I can,” Chris hurried over as he hung up the phone giving Eve a look.

“Chris, what’s wrong?” Eve noted the fear behind his eyes, “Chris?”

“I have to call the hospital,” Chris explained simply dialing the number as Denise answered the phone, “Denise, hey this is Dr. Ramsey. Can you put Colleen on the line?”

“Dr. Ramsey,” Denise began a hesitation behind her voice, “I can’t.”

“Why not? Is she there? Denise, I thought she was working today,” Chris frowned slightly.

“She was supposed to, but...” Denise trailed off.

“Denise, what is it? Where’s Colleen?”

“Dr. Ramsey there was this attack and they brought her in earlier,” Denise began tears obvious in her tone, “she was on her way over here after hearing about Ian, but...but...”

“But what?”

“Someone attacked her too and they took Daniel,” Denise blurted out, “he’s gone and Colleen hasn’t been conscious since they’d brought her in. With the head trauma she’s endured, Dr. Wexler fears she won’t make it through the night.”

“Damn,” Chris cursed as he tried to keep his composure, “thank you Denise and let everyone know Colleen is in my prayers.” Hanging up the phone Chris looked to Eve.

“What? What’s going on Chris?” Eve questioned seeing the look of despair behind his eyes, “Chris, answer me.”

“Eve, it’s Ian,” Chris braced himself for her reaction.

“What about him?” Eve began a fear rippling through her, “did he leave with Danny?”

“No,” Chris shook his head, “Eve, there’s no easy way to put this, but Ian’s dead.”

“What?” Eve gasped as the sudden realization hit her, “oh no. No, that can’t be.”

“Jack said he was attacked outside his house last night. By the time Jack and Tess found him, it was too late.”

“Tess? Who’s Tess?” Eve blinked back at him.

“It’s a long story,” he reached out to touch her shoulders, “but Eve there’s more.”

“What is it?”

“It’s Danny,” Chris took in a breath, “Eve, he’s missing.”

“No,” Eve shook her head, “He can’t be. With Ian he had to have been safe. I mean there’s no way that Ian would’ve allowed anyone to take him. He loved Danny.”

“Eve, Ian’s dead,” Chris reminded her again as he urged her to meet his eyes, “he’s gone and so is Danny.”

“You mean our son is....” Eve felt the tears misting over in her eyes, “are you saying that Danny’s dead?”

“No,” Chris shook his head determined, “he can’t be dead. I won’t believe that.”

“Then if he’s not dead....” Eve stopped herself, “Stephen has to have him. Oh my God, if he gets his hands on Danny...”

“Eve, just take a breath,” Chris urged as her eyes grew wild with fear and anger.

“Chris, how can I just take a breath when our son is out there with Stephen? Chris, we have to find him. If we don’t, there’s no telling what Stephen will do to him especially now that he’s concerned about our loyalties. He’s a madman and if he has Daniel...”

“Eve, he won’t hurt our son,” Chris offered up, “just think back to when he was around the first time. He wanted Daniel for his own child, so I don’t believe that he’d put Daniel in danger..”

“Chris, how can you be so stupid?” Eve snapped at him, “haven’t you figured any of this out at all?”

“Eve,” Chris watched the anger churning inside of her.

“Caleb wants Daniel not because he needs any child to call his own,” Eve confessed emphatically, “he wants Daniel because Daniel is a potential threat to him.”

“Eve, he’s just a child,” Chris began in confusion.

“He’s not just any child, Chris. He’s a special boy,” Eve insisted firmly.

“I know he is because he’s ours, but...” Chris reached out to her again.

“You just don’t get it, do you?” Eve shook her head, “Chris, think about this for a moment. When I met Caleb when he was posing as Michael I was conflicted inside. I wasn’t sure if I should run away with you or stay in Port Charles and start a life with Ian. I was so convinced that Daniel was Ian’s child, but deep down a part of me must’ve known it wasn’t true and it was that part of me that made myself vulnerable to Caleb. He already told you that he can read our thoughts, see our dreams and know what’s in our hearts. He saw that you were Daniel’s father and he knew that if you and I were together, there wouldn’t be a chance in heaven or hell of him getting in the way of our family. With you as my husband our son would never be put in the vulnerable position he was put in with my turbulent relationship with Ian. Caleb was banking on that and that’s why he urged me not to marry you.”

“You didn’t marry me because of Caleb?” Chris blinked back at her, “you listened to a vampire when it came to marrying me?”

“I made a mistake. I told you this already, but that’s not important anymore,” Eve shook her head, “Chris, when Daniel was conceived things were just right for this prophecy that Caleb was expecting. He knew from the moment our son came about that Daniel would ultimately be his undoing. He knew that our son would one day destroy him and to prevent that from happening, Caleb fixated himself on me in the hopes of turning me over to his side so that our son would grow up to be an ally instead of a foe.”

“Eve, how could our son destroy Caleb?” Chris questioned in confusion, “he’s just a child.”

“Chris, I know this is hard for you to grasp, but Daniel was meant to be a slayer,” Eve explained simply, “as crazy as that sounds, when he was born, he had a gift, special powers and with those powers he’d eventually destroy Caleb.”

“Wait a second,” Chris blinked back at her, “our you telling me our son is going to be what.....a Buffy or a Rafe?”

“That’s just it,” Eve reached for his arm, “Rafe’s not a true vampire slayer. He was born into a family of slayers of the past, but it skipped over Rafe. Granted he has powers and the ability to use them to a degree, but he wasn‘t the chosen one. He wasn‘t the one that Caleb feared as Caleb found Rafe to be a minor set back in his plans which is why Rafe didn‘t survive Caleb‘s first attack on him.”

“Eve, now hold on,” Chris ran his fingers through his hair, “I’ve seen Rafe and he’s alive...”

“Just like I am,” Eve challenged, “Chris, you saw me when I was dead. Hell, you saw what happened when Caleb was around. Granted Rafe had special situations, but he is no slayer. He’s trained, but he’s not the chosen one.”

“Eve, do you have any idea how crazy this sounds?”

“Do you have any idea how crazy it feels to be saying this,” Eve reached for his arm, “but we can’t waste time on the when and the hows. We need to find Daniel before Caleb decides that the threat of what Daniel stands for is too much. We need to save our son.”

“Then we have to find Caleb,” Chris decided firmly, “but when we do, we need to be ready.”

“Chris, I just don’t know how ready we can be. As much as I hate him, the fact remains that he has the ability to manipulate me. You saw that last night,” Eve sighed, “I couldn’t control myself.”

“Eve, I have an idea, but you just have to trust me,” Chris touched her cheek gently, “you do trust me, don’t you?”

“More than I’ve ever trusted anyone in this world,” Eve nodded in response.

“Good, then let me take care of things and we’ll find a way to save our son. I promise you that Caleb won’t hurt him.”

*****

Chris took in a breath as he stood outside the darkened warehouse. It had been hours since he and Eve had made their departure, yet the power this place seemed to hold in store for them lingered through the air. Chris looked over to Eve seeing the doubt behind her eyes as he reached for her hand.

“I wish you would’ve stayed back at the apartment,” Chris began gently as she shook her head.

“No, I couldn’t do that. I had to find our son. You know that,” Eve insisted as she prepared herself for what lay ahead, “we do this together.”

“Just follow my lead,” Chris urged as they entered the warehouse finding Joshua seated up front with a couple of the muscle men.

“Well, this is certainly a surprise,” Joshua smiled wickedly, “I hadn’t anticipated seeing you two for a while considering that you’d left the master satiated earlier this morning with your little love play.”

“Joshua, why don’t you just put a lid on it,” Eve challenged her words striking him sharply, “where’s Stephen?”

“He’s a bit busy right now,” Joshua explained simply.

“Tough,” Chris insisted, “get him. Now!”

“And why should I?” Joshua rose from the chair he’d been seated in.

“Because I have something that Stephen wants and he has something that belongs to me,” Chris informed him tightly, “tell him I’m here to make a trade with him.”

“A trade,” Joshua laughed heartily, “what could you possibly have that Stephen could find of any use?”

“I have something that means quite a lot to him and in exchange for my son, I’ll give him what he wants.”

“Oh this aught to be good,” Joshua laughed again as a silence fell over the crowd. Suddenly all eyes were towards the corner of the room as Stephen emerged with Daniel in his arms as a menacing grin swept over his features.

“Well Danny boy, it looks like mommy and daddy have decided to join us once again,” Stephen offered up in a soothing tone, “perhaps they’ve finally come around to see things from my point of view.”

“Daniel,” Eve gasped as her eyes fell upon her son for the first time since the accident, “oh my. He’s so grown up.”

“He’s quite a boy, Eve,” Stephen smiled proudly, “you’ve given me a fine son.”

“He’s not your son,” Chris stepped forward, “he’s mine and I want him back.”

“Demanding aren’t you,” Stephen pressed a kiss on top of Daniel’s small head, “but the fact remains that Daniel is mine and he’s not going anywhere now or ever.”

“Oh but he is,” Chris stepped in closer feeling a boldness behind his voice as he watched his son in the arms of a monster, “He’s coming home with me and you’re going to leave him alone. You’re going to give him to me now.”

“And just why would I do that?” Stephen raised a curious brow.

“Because I have the one thing you want more than anything,” Chris confessed with his own cryptic smile, “and it can be yours once I have my son.”

“And just what might that be?” Stephen challenged.

“Me Caleb,” a voice rose from the shadows as Livvie stepped into view breaking her silence, “you can have me again, my love.”

“Olivia,” his breath caught in his throat as he looked to her.

“It’s been too long, Caleb,” she whispered as she glided across the room towards him outstretching her arms, “and I see you have our boy with you. Our precious Danny.”

“Indeed I do,” Stephen offered up making his way down the steps as he walked towards her, “he’s home where he belongs.”

“With us,” Livvie smiled at him before she curled her crimson lips in a pout, “let me hold him. Let me take our son in my arms once more.”

“Olivia, how I’ve missed you,” Stephen began as he bridged the distance between them, “you were all I could think about since the moment you left me.”

“I’m sorry I left you,” her face darkened, “I never should’ve done those things to you. I never should’ve allowed myself to lose sight of our love.”

“How could you have betrayed me like that?” he questioned as she reached out to touch his cheek in a light caress.

“It was a mistake, but I swear to you, I will never hurt you again,” she promised reaching out to Daniel as she gently scooped the boy out of his arms, “now we’re a family again.”

“That we are,” Stephen smiled proudly as he watched Livvie take a step back. Suddenly something seemed different about the moment, something seemed off as he spun around to see Lucy Coe standing behind him, her arrow aimed at him.

“Long time no see,” Lucy blurted out with a frown, “then again, I’d hoped we’d never have this encounter again, but now that the moment is here, I won’t screw it up again,” she promised shooting the arrow straight through his heart as Eve rushed over towards Daniel.

“Tess, move away from him,” Chris shouted out as he saw the fear building behind the woman’s eyes, “take Daniel and get away.”

Tess did as instructed as Lucy’s arrow plummeted through Stephen’s chest setting off a whole string of explosions as Tess hit the ground shielding Daniel with her own body. Chris reached out to Eve pulling her to the ground with him as a blinding light filled the warehouse surrounding them. After what felt like an eternity, Chris slowly pulled away from Eve taking a moment to look over the remains of the warehouse. He noticed Lucy hovered over in the opposite corner of the room with Jack beside her.

“Is everyone alright,” Chris questioned wearily as Caleb’s muscle men had also gone up in smoke.

“We’re fine over here,” Jack explained with a cough.

“Tess?” Chris turned his eyes towards the woman who’d held his son in her arms. She lifted her head, eyes filled with tears as she nodded.

“Danny’s fine,” she offered up as Chris let out a breath of relief.

“It’s really over,” Lucy stepped forward seeing the pile of dust that remained of Caleb. Dumping a bottle of holy water over his ashes just to be sure, she turned her eyes towards Chris and Eve, “he’s gone this time.”

“Are you sure about that?” Jack asked cautiously as he made his way around the warehouse to check on Tess.

“It’s over,” she nodded as Chris let out a breath of relief feeling all the urges from the previous night leaving him as he turned his attention to Eve.

“Eve, it’s over,” Chris confessed looking down at her as he noticed something wasn’t right. Her breathing was labored as he touched her cheek noticing obvious wounds returning to her.

“Chris, what’s happening?” she questioned with a cough as a sharp pain ripped through her.

“Eve,” Chris touched her cheek realizing she was in pain as he turned his eyes towards Lucy, “Lucy, what’s going on?”

“I--I don’t know,” Lucy shrugged, “I slayed Caleb. Everything should be getting back to normal.”

“Jack?” Chris looked to his brother, “are you feeling anything?”

“I’m fine,” Jack blurted out as he held onto Tess, “the hunger is gone.”

“Eve,” Chris turned his attention back to the woman he loved as she seemed to be fading away before him, “Eve, talk to me.”

“Chris,” she coughed his name, “Danny....how’s Danny?”

“Danny’s fine, but it’s you I’m concerned about. We need to get you to a hospital,” Chris began reaching for her, “we need to help you.”

“No,” she shook her head, “it’s too late for me.”

“No, Eve it’s not. Caleb is gone and I’ll help you.”

“Chris, when Caleb found me....” she coughed out, “I was like...like this...near death and....” she let out another pained cry as he reached out to hold her, “now that he’s gone...”

“No, don’t say it,” Chris pulled her into his arms, “Eve, you’re not going to die.”

“I’ve returned to how I was the night he found me,” Eve closed her eyes letting out a breath, “when he first marked me, it didn’t take like it should’ve because of Danny, but then when I was in the accident....he and I had this deal.....this...pact that returned me to what I was when he found me....”

“No,” Chris felt the tears stinging in his eyes as he held her tightly, “Eve, I can’t lose you. Not now.”

“We saved our son,” Eve forced a smile, “he’s safe now.”

“Eve, please don’t leave me,” Chris pleaded with her as the tears stained his cheeks, “hold on. I’m going to help you. Just hold on.”

“It’s too late,” Eve took in a breath feeling her life force fading away as she closed her eyes, “I love you, Chris.”

“Eve, I love you,” Chris cried harder as he held her in his arms, “I’m not letting you go.”

“Chris, just take care of our son. Promise me that you’ll see to it that he lives a good life.”

“He’ll have a good life with both of his parents in it,” Chris promised her as he held her, “Eve, I won’t lose you.”

“Chris.....” she opened her eyes once again, “I love you.”

“Eve,” he called out to her as she grew limp in her arms and he felt himself overcome by sobs unable to contain the pain of the moment as he felt her slip away from him. Slowly, he felt a hand on his shoulder as he looked up to find Tess beside him. Saying nothing, she knelt over towards Eve touching her gently as something began to stir within the room. Chris couldn’t quite place it, but a warmth filled the room surrounding them all as Tess slowly glided her hand just over Eve’s lifeless form. Suddenly the color returned to her cheeks and a breath escaped Eve’s lips as Tess moved back and she looked to Chris with wide eyes.

“Eve’s all better now,” Tess explained letting out a breath as she fell to the floor beside Eve taking the moment to regain the energy that had left her in reviving Eve.

“But how?” Lucy questioned in surprise as she moved in closer to see what Tess had done.

“I told you she was a miracle worker,” Jack held his nephew as Eve’s eyes opened once again and she looked up to the crowd, a confused expression on her features.

“Wh-what’s going on?” Eve questioned groggily as though she’d been stirred from a peaceful slumber.

“Eve, you’re okay,” Chris reached out to hug her as he placed a kiss on the top of her head, “Everything’s okay now,” he whispered cradling her in his arms as the danger had passed.

“Chris, where did you put that gift?” Eve questioned rummaging through the closet seeking out the presents she’d intended to have under the tree by now, yet as usual she was running behind more so than ever.

“Mom, Katie is picking on me again,” Daniel ran into the room standing in the doorway his hands on his hips as a pout formed on his features.

“Am not,” the little auburn haired girl ran in behind him offering up a huff as she shook her head defiantly, “Danny’s just being a meanie. He’s trying to tell me scary stories again because daddy is baking the cookies.”

“Scary stories,” Eve stepped out of the closet after locating the gift she’d been searching for. Eve gave Daniel a look before stepping over to embrace both of her children, “how many times have I told you not to tell monster stories to your sister?”

“Oh mom, it wasn’t that bad,” Daniel shook his head, “I was just telling her all about the vampire stories that Uncle Jack was talking about.”

“Your Uncle Jack likes to tell tall tales,” Eve scooped the both of them up in her arms as she headed towards the family room, “he’s like your daddy when it comes to telling stories.”

“I hear my name out here,” Chris called out joining his family in the living room, “what did I do now?”

“Mommy says you like to tell stories,” Katie explained with a tiny laugh as Chris reached out to her scooping her up in his arms.

“Your mommy loves my story telling,” Chris kissed his daughter’s head gently, “it’s one of her favorite things about me.”

“It’s one of my favorite things about you too,” Katie confessed with a giggle as she hugged her father, “Daddy, can you tell us the stories again about how you and Uncle Jack slayed the fire breathing dragon in order to bring mommy and Aunt Tess home again?”

“Oh that one,” Daniel rolled his eyes, “I want to hear about the other ones. The ones with the vampires and the monsters that liked to munch on little girls.”

“Daddy, make him stop,” Katie snuggled into her father, “make him stop.”

“Daniel, don’t tease your sister,” Chris warned, “though I’m sure we can tell Danny the story about what happens to little boys who like to scare their little sisters.”

“Oh spare me,” Daniel rolled his eyes as the doorbell rang and he nearly leapt out of Eve’s arms, “they’re here!”

“I’ll get the door,” Eve offered as she followed Daniel into the foyer realizing that he’d already opened the front door to greet his cousin.

“Alex, come on in. You have to see this video game I got. It’s so awesome,” Daniel explained as he and Alex rushed off to his room to get lost in a video game as usual.

Eve let out a tiny laugh before she looked to Jack and a very pregnant Tess, “They can’t even make it past the getting their coats off before they are ready to explore, can they?”

“Daniel just seems to bring out Alex’s adventurous side,” Tess smiled in response.

“And vice versa,” Eve agreed, “come on in you two. Merry Christmas,” Eve reached out to embrace the both of them.

“Merry Christmas,” Jack responded with a happy smile, “so where’s that no good brother of mine?”

“He’s telling Katie another one of his stories,” Eve explained.

“In that case, I should go in and help him out,” Jack gave Tess a quick kiss. “You know where to find me.”

“Of course I do,” Tess shook her head as a smile swept over her features, “you know he’s really just a big kid himself.”

“Aren’t they all,” Eve laughed heartily, “but then again, that’s part of the fun with them, right?”

“So they keep telling me,” Tess laughed lightly rubbing he swelled abdomen.

“So how are you feeling,” Eve escorted her into the house setting their jackets aside.

“I’m good,” Tess confessed, “the doctor said everything is going really well with this pregnancy.”

“That’s wonderful to hear,” Eve smiled at her, “I’m sure Alex is more than thrilled to be having a little brother or sister.”

“Actually he and Daniel are already planning ways to convert the baby to their side if it’s a boy and if it’s a girl, well they’re ready to pawn her off on Katie,” Tess laughed lightly, “who’d have thought children would be such an adventure?”

“Given the ones we’ve been through, I’d take this kind of adventure any day,” Eve admitted thinking back to how much life had changed over the years.

“You and me both,” Tess agreed as they made their way into the living room seeing Katie seated upon Jack’s lap as he was reading her one of her favorite fairy tales.

“Hey beautiful,” Chris whispered coming up from behind Eve and wrapping his arms around her as he watched his brother and Tess keeping Katie company, “I was wondering when you’d return to me.”

“I was gone five minutes,” Eve shifted in his arms to face him.

“Five minutes too long,” Chris blurted out a sly grin sweeping over his features, “though I will say in those five minutes, I did get an idea that I thought perhaps might interest you.”

“Oh really?” Eve raised a curious brow, “do tell.”

“Well, to stay in the holiday spirit, I thought perhaps we’d do something a bit traditional this year,” Chris confessed his grin growing wider.

“Such as?”

“This,” he held up a small mistletoe as his smile grew over his features, “and I’m pretty sure you know what this means.”

“I think I might have an idea,” Eve nodded in response capturing his lips in a tender kiss as he kept his arms around her holding her closely. As they parted a smile swept over her features as she leaned into his touch, “I love you, Ramsey.”

“And I love you, Ramsey,” he whispered kissing her once more as they looked to their daughter once again seeing her enjoy her aunt and uncle’s attention while Daniel’s excited laughter roared from his bedroom as he played with his cousin. Chris felt Eve snuggle into him as he spoke up again, “this is just perfect.”

“We really do have it all, don’t we,” Eve couldn’t help but smile at him, “and here I was afraid I’d never be around to share this with you. I thought that our time had passed us by somehow.”

“Well, I’m glad you were wrong,” Chris hugged her again, “that we were both wrong. Though, I will tell you never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the simple life would be this wonderful.”

“Neither did I, but I’m so glad we have it,” Eve confessed wrapping his arms around her, “although there is one thing that might shake things up this holiday season.”

“Such as?” Chris raised a curious brow.

“Well, you could kind of call it our past coming back to haunt us a bit,” Eve answered in all seriousness.

“What do you mean our past coming back to haunt us?” Chris gave her a look.

“Well, I was just thinking about a time in the not so distant past when you and I couldn’t get enough of each other, like when Caleb was around,” Eve thought it over for a moment, “or even after when you and I had Katie.”

“That’s because even without Caleb’s evil influence, our love was the one thing that kept us going and brought us to this place together,” he kept her enveloped her in his arms keeping her closer, “it’s our love that will keep this family going strong for the years to come.”

“I hope you mean that because it’s our love that’s expanding our family once again,” she met his dark eyes a smile sweeping over her features.

“You mean you’re.....we’re....” Chris stammered a bit before lowering his voice, “another baby?”

“Well you did say we had a certain kind of magic, didn’t you,” Eve teased gently as he scooped her up into his arms spinning her around in the moment.

“We’re having another baby. This is the greatest Christmas ever,” he blurted out excitedly before lowering her to her feet again and offering up a soft kiss as he touched her face, “I’ll always love you, Eve.”

“I’ll always love you,” Eve promised with a soft smile, “and while we may have said things like that to others in the past, this time it’s forever.”

“I’ll accept nothing less than that,” Chris agreed kissing his wife as their happiness and love had paved the way to a journey that had saved them in so many ways. Their love had survived darkness and now with their family, they had the world at their hands and nothing would ever take away the love they had for one another. This time they would have their eternity and their happily ever after.