John's arms were immediately around Olivia as he kissed her. He pulled away slightly, allowing her to remove her coat. She looked into his deep chocolate brown eyes and smiled.
"Hi." he whispered as he kissed her neck.
"Hi." she purred, covering his lips with her own.
He lifted her up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as they continued their deep, probing kiss. He carried her up to his room and fell on the bed. John and Olivia's hands moved quickly, trying to get their clothes off. John let out a long sigh once he felt Olivia's warm, bare skin against his. His hands roamed her soft skin that he knew so well now. Her soft, cool fingers wrapped around his erection as she slowly began to stroke him, causing John to moan and beg for mercy, he'd been hard since he'd spoken to her on the phone. "Liv...you've gotta stop that." he begged. "No." she purred. John couldn't take it anymore, he laid Olivia back and began to slowly kiss around her breast teasingly. Moans escaped her throat, but he wanted her to beg like he had. He slowly kissed his way down as his fingers ran softly along her thighs. Olivia screamed as she writhed around, John continued to kiss and lick at her sending her into cries of pleasure. He kissed her lightly as he gazed into her eyes. "John...I want you...I want to feel you inside me." she begged, breathlessly. He plunged into her, instantly sending her into waves of orgasm. Their heavy breathing and moans flowed through the roomm as he continued to pleasure Olivia. John let out a long satisfied moan as he reached his own climax and collapsed, spent on Olivia.
John lay close to Olivia, holding her. She let him hold her tight, she felt very relaxed in his arms.
"Liv?" John whispered.
"Hmmmm.?" she purred.
"What are we gonna do?" he asked softly.
"About?" she asked as she propped herself up on her elbow.
"About this......us...." he said.
"I don't know." she began "But right now, it just feels right....We're both adults, John. I'ts not like we're in love with each other, because we aren't." she replied.
John leaned in and kissed her. Olivia slid out of bed and began getting dressed. John followed her downstairs to the door. He hugged her and gave her a final kiss.
"Would you like a ride home?" he offered.
"No thanks. I'd rather walk." she replied. "Bye, John." she said as she ran her finger along his square jawline.
************
Olivia arrived home. The house was empty and she found Nick's car to be gone. She breathed a long sigh as she shed her coat. She went upstairs, entered the bedroom and began to undress. She stepped into the shower, letting the hot water hit her chilled skin full blast as the thoughts flooded her mind.
***********
Simon walked in his living room to find Yasmin sitting deep in thought on the sofa.
"Allo, luv." he said as he kissed his wife. "Something wrong?" he asked.
"I don't know really....I saw something today that really bothered me." she said.
"What, luv?" Simon asked.
"Well, I called Liv earlier today for lunch. She turned me down again, saying she didn't feel up to it and she didn't feel like going anywhere. "
"Yeah, Nick says she's been like that for awhile now. She's a right mess." Simon answered.
"But," Yas continued "When I was out running some errands today, I passed Liv as she was walking down the street. I got curious after she'd turned me down and followed her....I realized it was the way to John's house. I sat at the corner, watched her knock on the door and watched her go in." Yas explained.
"What are you thinking, Yas?" Simon asked.
"I don't know, Si......Maybe they're just talking, who knows? But, Liv's in a bad place right now, God knows she won't talk to me--or Nick for that matter. Why would she go to John?"
"I don't know, luv. Should I talk to John?" Simon asked as he held her.
"No...he'd probably get upset if you started asking questions." Yas replied.
"I'm sure it's nothing, Yas. Nick and John are like brothers. I'm sure John's just someone for her to talk to."
***************
Nick walked into the house. It was late and he was exhausted, since he decided to stay at the studio and finish up a few more things. He collapsed on the sofa, trying to relax. Thoughts plagued his mind of how Olivia would massage his shoulders after a long day. How she would smile each time he touched her or called her sweetheart. A smile came to his lips when he thought about the first time he'd kissed her, held her and made love to her. His smile faded as he thought about the way Olivia was now. She wanted nothing to do with him. He didn't even know how she felt about him anymore. "Does she still love me or care about me?" he wondered. His anger turned into tears. He wanted everything to be normal again, he wanted Olivia to be normal again. Nick tried to stop thinking about everything, figuring he'd drive himself crazy. He couldn't talk to Olivia, she'd never listen or come near him. He couldn't talk to John, he had his own problems with Kate and Nick noticed that John had been acting rather aloof lately.
Nick willed himself off the sofa. He slowly made his way up the stairs and started down the hall, stopping outside Olivia's door.
"Liv?" he called through the door.
There was no reply. He quietly turned the doorknob and opened the door a little. He could see her sleeping form curled up on the bed. He walked to the bed and looked down at Olivia. Her face was beautiful and peaceful. Nick pulled the comforter over her and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
*************
Nick sat at the table, still exhausted from not sleeping well. He'd wanted to take Olivia in his arms last night and just hold her, but he knew she wouldn't allow that. Olivia entered the kitchen and began making her tea.
"G'morning, luv." Nick said in a hopeful tone.
She kept her back to him, remaining silent.
"Is this what it's come to, Liv? Now you're not speaking to me?" he asked.
"I've nothing to say." she mumbled as she got her tea and left the room.
"Bloody hell......I've gotta do something. I can't keep doing this." he thought to himself.
He decided he'd go to the studio.......he'd be alone there. He needed to clear his mind for awhile. Maybe he'd talk to Yasmin later, since she knew what was going on. She would understand. He collected his keys and headed out the door.
The morning was bright and sunny, yet Yasmin felt like a dark cloud hung
over her.
She had stayed awake most of the night thinking about what she had seen
the day before.And the more she thought about it, the more it bothered
her.
She hated to think she was prying into everyones' business, but she was
so worried about Liv....she just had to know exactly what was going on.
Yasmin got up and got dressed.She woke Simon to let him know she was
leaving.
"Simon, luv.I am going out for a bit. You guys have the day off, right?"
"Yeah...I will be here." he said still half asleep.
"Ok..I will see you when I get back, luv. I shouldn't be long." she said
as she bent to kiss his cheek.

Yasmin parked in front of Johns' house and worked up the nerve to get
out of the car.
She walked up to the door and knocked.
John opened the door and was surprised to see Yasmin on the other side.
"Yasmin. Is everything ok? Something wrong with Charley?" John asked
looking concerned.
"Oh no...nothing like that.But I do need to talk to you.Can I come in?"
"Sure." John said as he stepped aside to let her in.
"So, what is it ya need Yas?" John asked as he sat across from her on
the couch.
"Well John...I have been worried about Liv, which I am sure you can
understand."
"Yeah,I know.We all are."
"And yesterday I had called her and asked her to go to lunch with me,
and once again she told me she didn't want to go out....she didn't want
any company."
"That is terrible." John said.
"I agree. But then I went out. Had errands to run and such. And who do I
see walking down the street? Liv. I was so shocked. Not an hour earlier
she had told me she didn't want to go out of the house."
Yasmin watched Johns' face, as slowly the colour drained from it.
"And I was even more shocked when I followed her here. What did she come
here for, John?" Yasmin asked point blank.
"Shit." John muttered under his breath."It's nothing Yas.She just needed
someone to talk to." John said as he stood from the sofa and ran his
fingers through his hair.
"John." she said gently."I would love to believe that...but I know when
you are hiding something.Are you sure there isn't more? Are you and Liv
sleeping together?"
John turned to face Yasmin. His first thought was to try to lie, but he
could see the look on Yasmins' face. It would be useless.
"We didn't plan for it to happen." he said with a defeated sigh.

CHAPTER 48

Yasmin stared in shock at John. "Oh my God....you're telling me that you did sleep with Olivia." Yas whispered. "It wasn't a planned thing, Yas." John defended. "Then what the hell was it John? An accident?" "It just.....happened." John replied. "I can't believe this. How long has this been going on?" Yas asked. "Not long......just a few days." "Why John? Why Liv? She's not capable of making rational decisions right now." "Yas, I swear I didn't plan any of this. I was out a few days ago and I passed Liv on the street. She looked sad and lonely, I talked to her for a few minutes and she felt like everybody was looking at her, due to the papers. I asked her if she wanted to talk and she came with me. We talked for awhile and she got a lot off of her chest before she broke down and cried. I didn't know what to do Yas, she was so upset. I just hugged her and held her until she stopped crying, it seemed like the thing to do." John explained. "I can understand her talking to you about what's going on.....I just don't understand the rest of it. Olivia's been in such a state since she got out of the hospital." "Yas, I......." "What John?" "Dammit.....when she stopped crying, I kissed her. It just happened. I don't know why. I shouldn't have, but I did." John said. "What about Kate? What about Nick? John, he's your best friend. Do you have any idea what this would do to him should he find out?" "I know Kate would be hurt, she'd probably hate me. And I know it would destroy Nick, as well as his relationship with Olivia. God, Yas....I fucked things up." "I'm not going to disagree with you there." Yas replied. "You know what they've been through to be together. You know how miserable they were apart and they just lost their baby. John, he loves her more than anything in this world, she makes him happy. Did you consider any of that before you pulled this stunt or were you more concerned with your own needs?" "Dammit, I know I made a mistake....but it's too late to change it now. It wasn't a long term thing......it's not like we're in love with each other." John said. "Yes, you made a mistake and no you can't change it. But just because you're not in love with each other and the fact that it was just mutual sex doesn't change the fact that she's with your best friend." "You're gonna tell Nick about this, aren't you?" John asked. "No John. It's not my place to tell him and I don't want to be anywhere near when he does find out." Yas said as she walked to the door. *************** Yasmin arrived home more confused than she had been. John should've known better. He knew Olivia wasn't thinking properly....her world was a wreck. She sat back against the sofa, running her fingers through her hair. It was still early and Simon was still sleeping. She had no idea how she'd break this to him, since he knew of her suspiscions. Yas leaned her head back, closed her eyes and tried to process all the thoughts in her head. "'Ello?" Yas asked. "Hi Yas, it's Nick." "Hi Nick, how are you?" "Ok...all things considered." "I understand." Yas replied. "Yas, I'm worried." "About what?" she asked. "Liv.......she won't speak to me, she won't look at me and the other night, she was standing in the doorway to my music room while I played and she was crying about something. I put my arms around her and told her I loved her and she fought to get away from me and yelled don't touch me. Yas, I don't even know how she feels about me anymore. She kept her back to me all morning and wouldn't speak when I spoke to her. I swear, I think I'm going crazy." "Nick, I'm sorry....I had no idea." Yas said. "I know, she won't talk to you either and it's not for lack of trying." "She'll come around." Yas said. "I don't know Yas. I just have a feeling that something's going on with her. I just don't know what it is." Nick said. "What kind of feeling?" Yas asked. "I don't know. You don't think she's found someone else, do you?I just got this feeling recently. She flinches everytime I touch her, she's been yelling at me. She got really upset with me one night and stormed out of the house.......I'm afraid there may be someone else, I just don't know." Nick explained. "Maybe you need to talk to John." Yas said. "Why? I've barely spoken to him lately." Nick replied. "Just talk to John, Nick." "Ok, I will." Nick said as he hung up with Yasmin. John was sitting on the couch reading when he heard the knock on the door. "Nick." he said sharply, for the first time feeling dread at seeing him at his doorstep. "Can I come in, John?" Um, sure." John said stepping back. "You look terrible, Nick. What is it?" John asked already having an idea as to what the answer might be. "Well...do you have any idea what is going on with Olivia?" Nick asked. The colour drained from Johns' face...much like it had done earlier in the day with Yasmin. "You do...don't you?" Nick asked searching his friends face. "John, tell me. Is she seeing someone else?" "Nick...I don't know..." "Just tell me John." John starred down at the floor desperately searching for the right words...knowing there were none. "We never meant for it to happen." John said looking Nick in the face. "Wait.....are you telling me You and Liv?" Nicks' voice trailed off as he felt the room start to spin. "We never meant for it to happen...we were both so lonely. I'm so sorry Nick." "Shut up!" Nick yelled. "You've been fucking the woman I love and all you can say is sorry?!?" "Nick..." John was cut off by Nicks' icy glare. "You were my best friend, John." Nick hissed. "I still am." John said sheepishly. "Like bloody hell you are!" Nick shouted as he charged at John, pinning him against the wall. "From now on I want nothing to do with you." Nick said looking John in the eyes."You might as well be dead to me." With that, Nick turned and walked out of the house. Nick arrived back at his house...he knew he had to finally have it out with Olivia...even though he'd had just about all the heartbreak he could take for one day. Olivia was at the sink as Nick made his way behind her, wrapping is arms around her tightly. "Nick...stop it! Don't touch me!" Olivia shouted turning to face him, pushing him away. "I bet you didn't say that to Johnny." Nick hissed as he stepped closer to her. "What are you talking about?!" "Oh Liv...don't play dumb...it really doesn't look good on you, luv. " Nick said with an almost wicked smirk on his face. Con't next pg.