Touch, Taste, Feel – By Righteous Query

Chapter 1

Marlena sat in the corner transfixed on an article that had just been published in hopes of shedding some new information on John’s condition. It had been 4 months since she’d flown them to Lugano in hopes that a team of renowned specialists would be able to help him recover from a stroke induced by the hands of Dr. Charlotte Taylor. All Marlena kept thinking about was the fact that John was upstairs fighting for his life because he was trying to save her. She replayed the incident in her head over and over again, never being able to change the results.

Marlena removed her readers and rubbed her eyes from fatigue when a friendly hand waved a hot cup of coffee under her nose garnering her attention. It was Dorothy who she’d learn to lovingly call Dot, one of the nurses on staff at the clinic.

“Dr. Evans, you need to go outside and get some fresh air. You have been in this library all day every day for weeks,” said Dot.

She was right, but she was determined to find a solution to reversing John’s paralysis if it was the last thing she did. She would never give up, because at the rate they were going, John was losing faith and it showed every time she tried to talk to him and it was slowly chipping away at her resolve.  

Marlena took a sip of her coffee and could tell it wasn’t from the clinic. “Oh my goodness, Dot, this is fabulous. Thank you. Please have a seat,” she said, moving some of the books she’d been reading about stroke related treatments.

“I can’t. I have an appointment shortly, but I knew you’d be here and I just wanted to remind you that although your husband is the patient, you need to be cared for too. He’s going to need you at your absolute best, otherwise…,” said Dot.

“I know. I know. I just love him so much and want to make things better. It’s a marathon, not a sprint but I can’t just sit here and do nothing.  Your staff has been kind enough to give me certain privileges as an M.D. and doing research gives me something to do,” said Marlena.

Dot rubbed Marlena’s shoulder showing compassion. She had engaged with loved ones time and time again who thought they could do it all without some form of emotional support. “Do me a favor, there is a mailbox just opposite of the gardens. Would you drop this postcard off for me within the hour? For the cup of coffee,” said Dot.

Marlena was happy to. She had been reading tirelessly for weeks and the words were starting to no longer make sense. She grabbed her coffee and committed to stretching her legs for a stroll across the grounds. Clinica di Lugano would be their new home for the unforeseeable future and although the accommodations were very comfortable, Marlena could not call it home until her John returned to her.

Marlena walked down the long sterile corridor that led to an atrium in the center of the clinic. It was a well-designed oasis for patients and long term residents to use for walks, meditation and a much needed change of scenery. Arranged like a labyrinth, Marlena slowly walked along the unfamiliar path enjoying the various flowers and plants thriving in this contained environment.

Just as Dot had described, there was a bright yellow mailbox in the corner minding its own business. Marlena suspected that it was only there to give residents a place to go other than the waiting room. Just as she dropped the postcard in the slot, she heard the sound of short fast footsteps clicking in the distance. Marlena could feel her chest tighten as she held her breath. She’d learned that urgent footsteps always followed with bad news.

“Dr. Evans! Dot told me you might be here,” said the nurse. “Mr. Black needs you.”

“How bad is it?” asked Marlena trying to suppress the panic brewing in her gut. John had been extremely combative as of late and she was struggling with keeping him calm.

“He’s calling for you. Dr. Welsh thinks your presence could help,” said the Nurse.

“Of course, yes. Absolutely,” replied Marlena.

She rushed to the medical side of the clinic, which was just below the private residences, where John was being treated. As she approached his room, she could hear his voice echoing down the corridor.

“I want Marlena! Doc! Doc, where are you? Doc!” John called out.

Marlena plastered a forced smile on her face and entered the room bracing for another combative episode. “I am here darling. I am here,” she said, rushing to his bedside and kissing him on the lips.

His beard had grown in completely and he was overdue for a haircut. Marlena looked into his tired eyes and could tell that he had reached his breaking point. “What’s all this commotion about?” she said in a jovial tone trying to keep it light.

John laid upright in his hospital bed, frozen from the neck down. The gray at his temples were more pronounced giving him a distinguished look that had potential with a little grooming. Marlena pulled up a chair and sat beside him stroking his face.

“I can’t take this Doc! These trials haven’t done anything for me here. I want to go ahead with the procedure,” said John in frustration.

They had had this conversation before and were firm that the risks were too great and not the right avenue for them to explore. Now, John had a fleeting change of heart and Marlena wasn’t so sure why.

“I really think this procedure could give me an advantage in expediting my recovery. I know there are risks of having another stroke, but since mine was chemically induced by that muscle relaxer injected into my system, I didn’t have any of the preexisting markers that would put me at additional risk,” said John.

Marlena just nuzzled into him and tried to envision being on the other side of this journey. She was well aware that every day wasn’t going to be easy or even good, but the hope of having a tomorrow with John was enough to get her out of bed each morning.

“Why the sudden change of heart?” she asked, trying to understand John’s mindset.

“I got the results we were waiting for and there was no change,” said John solemnly.

“Those weren’t due until tomorrow. I…I wanted to be here,” stammered Marlena.

“No, Doc. I asked them to tell me first. I was hoping for good news and wanted to tell you,” said John clenching his jaw. “If I could just smash something!”

Marlena tried to speak over the lump in her throat as she chose her words carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was lie to John, but she also needed to restore his faith that they were going to get through this.

“Honey, please know that everyone is making wonderful progress and I truly feel…,” began Marlena when she immediately realized her poor choice of words had triggered John.

“…Feel?  Tell me what you feel Doc?” he said curtly.  His indignation had been more volatile than when he lost his memory.

Marlena could feel the burn behind her eyes as she suppressed her tears. “I know that in due time, we are going to make remarkable strides. I’ve been catching up on some research during your therapies and there are some really cutting edge trials that I want you to consider,” she said, grabbing his limp hand and squeezing it with reassurance.  “There is a cure, baby. We just have to find it.”

A tear fell down John’s face in despair as he watched his love hide behind her fears of the unknown. He felt completely useless and extremely guilty watching her sink deeper into this abyss of hopelessness with him. “I can’t do this Doc. I can’t do this to you.”

Marlena wiped his tears while letting hers fall. “You can’t do what to me?” she asked.

“You should have never come here with me. I want you to go back to Salem. Live your life. Forget about me,” said John, not at all sounding convincing.

“John Black, I have never taken you for a liar,” she said soothingly. “You don’t want me to leave you any more than I do, so let’s make a deal with each other huh?”

“What’s that?” asked John.

“Give it a little more time, without resisting, and if we don’t feel like the trials are working, we will talk about the procedure. Let’s start with small goals. Like today, I actually accomplished something and it helped,” she said, sounding hopeful.

“What did you accomplish?” he asked.

“Well, it’s not much but, I found the mailbox,” she said magnanimously.

John just stared at her for a moment and then brandished a smile. “Wow, I can’t believe you have reduced the highlights of your day to finding a mailbox,” he said.

“It wasn’t just finding the mailbox, but more so the symbolism. I was told that something I hadn’t seen yet existed and I found the courage to find it. It’s the same with your recovery. The answers are there. We just have to find it,” she said.

“I miss you,” said John with pain in his eyes. “I miss holding you. I miss lying next to you.”

Marlena immediately recalled something she’d read about recently that could be applicable to John’s case. Jumping to her feet propelled by a great idea, Marlena kissed John tenderly on his lips. “Stay right here! I have an idea,” she said.

John raised his eyebrow and scoffed, “Well make it snappy. I was about to go for a jog shortly.”

That was a sense of humor that would get them through this painful journey. Marlena had been so hyper focused on the medical side of John’s recovery, that she had completely overlooked his emotional needs. Stepping out of the room for a moment, Marlena returned with a tray of grooming essentials.

“Ok Mr. Black, how would you like a special makeover from your very own Kitchen Beautician? I remember giving Sam the best perms when we were teenagers,” said Marlena full of enthusiasm.

John had a look of panic in his eyes. “Please no poodle perm. I don’t think that’s my look,” he said.

Marlena lovingly rubbed his beard and swept his overgrown cowlick. “The first step to getting back the old you is looking like the old you,” she said, picking up the razor and preparing John for a gentleman’s shave.

Marlena could kick herself for not exploring the ideas of touch therapy. It had been spoken about when dealing with patients in a coma and preemies, but there was no reason the theory couldn’t translate to John’s paralysis.

Marlena lathered John’s face with shaving cream and carefully began to shave the salt and peppered strands from his cheeks. Leaning close to his face to get the best possible angle, Marlena got a surge of relief being this close to John for the first time in ages. With a few swipes of the blade, she could slowly see a familiar face begin to emerge. The more hair she removed, the more entranced she became. It was as if she had been waiting for someone to arrive and finally saw them approaching in the distance.

John studied her face as she hovered over him. The smell of muted lavender on her neck tickled his nose and heightened his senses sparking an overwhelming feeling of comfort. Her delicate hands carefully held the razor in fear of nicking him from working at an awkward angle.

“Sit on my lap for a better angle. Frankly, I missed the viewpoint,” said John flirtatiously. “If you could just undo the top button on your blouse and lean over. You know, bring the view to me.”

Marlena blushed slightly at the thought while giving it much consideration. Engaging with John like this was definitely a welcomed change of pace.

“I was thinking of having you moved to our private living quarters. You aren’t being monitored as frequently and frankly, I’d love to hear you breathe next to me when I sleep. I think a change of scenery would do us some good,” said Marlena subtly undoing her top button.

John focused his eyes on Marlena’s cleavage as she reached over him to get the other side of his face. He licked his lips as her decollete brushed across his nose. Her scent was intoxicating and filled his head with vivid memories of running his lips across her nipples.

Marlena could feel his warm breath tunnel down her blouse making her flush with fever. John noticed a slight hue of crimson radiating across her chest as she carefully moved in closer to get next to his ear.

“Stop moving,” she said, trying to keep her concentration. Clearly heavy flirting was an incentive to keeping this patient cooperating.

John laughed at the irony. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he joked.

Marlena tried to suppress her infectious laugh as she gently lifted John’s chin to pay close attention to his neck. She dipped the razor in the bowl of water clearing the suds and started on a fresh line.

“Did I ever tell you that I love this part of your neck?” asked Marlena as she inched so close that shaving cream transferred from John’s face to hers.

John closed his eyes and willed his limbs to move so that he could brush the side of her cheek but it was to no avail. He was trapped in his own body and so desperately wanted to escape. If he could wiggle a finger, that alone would restore a sliver of hope that one day he would be able to touch Marlena’s face again.

With all the time in the world, Marlena delicately swept the razor up John’s face leaving a smooth trail of his soft skin under the pad of her fingers. There was something deeply satisfying about pampering him.  Just feeling the warmth of his heart along with his body was truly making her heart smile.

“Did I ever tell you how much I need you to shave me with two buttons undone,” said John pushing the envelope. “I’m a very sick man. I need hope.”

“What you need is a haircut and I plan to do that too. But in the meantime, let me concentrate. I have a razor near your carotid artery and I really don’t want to cut you,” she said with a steady hand.

“I think if you straddled me, you would have a better angle. I promise I won’t bite,” said John followed by a crude flick of his tongue.

Marlena stopped shaving him and finally released that infectious laugh. It was the kind of laugh that made her laugh even more. Every time she would try to start shaving him, John would flick his tongue again, sending her into another fit of laughter. She needed this. They needed this. They were missing the intimacy they once shared and moving him into their quarters; even part time, would definitely lift their spirits.

“Mr. Black, how am I supposed to finish your gentleman’s shave with you doing that…that thing with your tongue?” she said, pretending to be offended.

“Sit on my face and I’ll tell you,” flirted John.

“That can be arranged provided you follow the rules,” said Marlena, licking her lips seductively.

Marlena did the finishing touches on John’s clean shaven face and then swaddled it with a warm cloth.  She’d secretly added a few drops of lavender oil to hopefully enhance his experience with a touch of aromatherapy.

Cupping John’s cloth covered face, Marlena leaned in close to his ear and softly whispered, “Take a deep inhale.”

John expanded his chest inhaling those beautiful notes of lavender that drove his senses wild. It smelled just like the soft skin on Marlena’s inner thigh. It was so vivid in his mind that he could taste it.

Removing the towel, Marlena revealed the face of The John Black. His piercing blue eyes shined brilliantly as he gazed up at her.

Marlena stood in awe. She had missed his handsome face juxtaposed to the warmth and familiarity in his kind eyes. There was a light that she hadn’t seen since before this nightmare began.

“Oh Doc,” said John with a sense of gratitude in his eyes. She found a way to awaken a part of him that he feared was gone, a feeling of hope.

“John…,” she whispered as she leaned closely, brushing her lips across his.

Pulling back slightly, she stared into his eyes and reconnected with his mind the way they’d always been able to. He knew what she was thinking and smirked giving her his response.

Marlena carefully straddled John and crowned over his face sliding her chest across his nose before parking her parted lips in front of his. She could taste their shared breath as she hesitated a little longer before kissing him softly.

John felt more alive than he had felt in ages. The sight of Marlena’s warm body on his was almost as good as feeling it. For a brief moment he had found peace. All of the senses and feelings he needed to be in this moment were present and working at full capacity.

Brushing his nose against Marlena’s in between soft little baby kisses, John began to press harder against Marlena full of want and need. Her soft lips against his was a sensation that he couldn’t truly explain, like an opiate craving he couldn’t kick. Her love and touch made him feel like he had feeling all over his body again.

Swept away by their reconnection, Marlena cupped John’s face into her hands and dragged her open mouth along the curve of his neck. She could feel his pulse racing as he panted heavily in her ear.

He closed his eyes and reminisced of the last time they had made love.

It was a Sunday and football was playing on the tv.  He could vividly recall that Marlena was getting dressed for brunch with friends when the aroma of her lavender scent suddenly made his nature rise. He remembered kissing her softly on the back of her neck while she sat at her vanity putting on her earrings.

She coyly smiled trying to resist John’s advances because she was the host and couldn’t be late. “John, stop it,” Marlena said as she proceeded to slide the strap of her dress back into position.

“The sooner we start, the sooner we finish,” he moaned in her ear.

John stood behind a seated Marlena and studied their reflection in the mirror. He watched her watch him kiss the curve of her collarbone and slide the strap of her dress back to starting position only this time she didn’t resist.

“We can’t,” she whispered unconvincingly as she tilted her head to give John full access to the erogenous part of her neck.

John proceeded to push down the other strap of her dress exposing a glimpse of her erect nipple cupping it with his clever hands. He could hear Marlena moan from deep within her diaphragm and knew he was breaching her defense.

“I can stop if you want me to,” he said as he slid his hands down her shoulders stopping at the top of her hips.

His tall powerful physique caressed her from behind as his wandering hands traveled down to her silky smooth thighs, slowly spreading them apart. He bunched her dress up her thighs and traced the outline of her panties as he continued to lock eyes with her in the mirror full of lust and desire.

Marlena tossed her arm back and circled John’s neck inviting him to push further. Watching him seduce her in the mirror turned her on more than she could have ever imagined. She never considered voyeurism as part of their sexual repertoire, but for the love of him; all things were possible.

John fondled the rim of her lace panties before sliding his fingers down the middle to feel her slick heat. “Did you want me to stop?” he asked once more for good measure.

Speechless, Marlena shook her head no as she tensed up in anticipation of what John had in store. Her body was craving his touch and it was too late to turn back now.  She took her hand and placed it on top of his, guiding him to rub her swollen clit while never taking her eyes off of his reflection.

John moved his fingers in a circular motion exploring the wet, warm recesses of her snatch while rubbing his face through her flowing blonde tresses. She could feel his erection pushing into her back begging for attention as her loins began to cry out. Marlena felt herself approaching climax as she spread her legs wider inviting John to bring her home. Tightening her arm around his neck, she swirled her undulating hips while John rained kisses across her silky shoulder and she exploded in ecstasy.

He loomed over her and watched her delicate reflection quiver in drugging waves. Her expression of euphoria was one of his favorite sights to behold.

Yes, John remembered the last time he’d made love to Marlena and would fight with all that he had to touch her that way again. “I love you Doc,” his husky voice whispered in rapid shallow breaths.

“I love you,” she replied.

The moment was brought to a screeching halt when Dot and a team came rushing into John’s room shocked to find the source of his accelerated heart rate.

“Well, I am happy to see you weren’t having a heart attack,” she said standing in the doorway.

Chapter 2

Marlena slept with John’s bed placed next to hers in their private residence allowing her to sleep with her head on his shoulder. The sound of his breathing brought her a sense of peace and comfort that she hadn’t felt since before his accident. It pleased her to no end having the ability to wake up in the middle of the night and chat about nothing or everything under the sun.

Last night they lay awake and drilled each other on the skills they’d mastered. Marlena had learned more about baseball, guns and picking locks than she knew what to do with while she shared her trade secrets on how to psychoanalyze a person based on limited clues.

Unbeknownst to John, Marlena had been experiencing sporadic nightmares about the night that he was accidentally injected by Dr. Charlotte Taylor. It was the same recurring dream. Marlena knew what was going to happen and planned to warn John, but when he walked through her front door to save her, she couldn’t speak to warn him that Dr. Taylor lurked behind him in the shadows.

Marlena had just struggled with Dr. Taylor, shoving her to the floor in an attempt to flee when John entered the room. In slow motion Dr. Taylor leaps from the corner accidentally injecting John with the deadly syringe.

“Marlena!” yelled John as he burst through the door.

“John, look out!” she screamed only seconds before he was injected. A look of horror grew across his face as he froze and began to fall to the floor.

Marlena began to toss and turn as she pleaded in her sleep, “Oh my gosh John! No! Hang on baby. Hang on! No!”

She could see herself trying to save him with chest compressions, but it wasn’t working.

“John, it’s Marlena. I’m not going to lose you!” she screamed in her sleep.

A paralyzed John laid beside Marlena calling her name trying to rescue her from the torturous images that haunted her at night. “Doc!” John called out, but he couldn’t wake her.

“Get my bag! she screamed in need of a dose of adrenaline to counter the effects.

“Doc, honey. It’s me. It’s John. I am ok. Wake up baby. It’s a dream. Can you hear me?” he called out feeling completely helpless. Although it was just a dream, the idea of not being able to run to Marlena in her time of need was soul crushing. He could feel himself breaking into a sweat as his pulse raced and his breathing grew shallow.

Gasping for air, John called out once more. “Doc,” he managed to utter, trying to catch his breath.

Marlena’s body jolted as she woke up in a panic rolling over to John. “Honey, I’m here. It’s ok. We are ok,” said Marlena as she cradled John’s head in the dark. “I’m going to call the doctor!”

John didn’t want a doctor, he wanted to do something as simple as roll over and nudge his sleeping wife when she had a nightmare.

“I don’t need a doctor. I need you,” John said, trying to slow down his breathing. He wasn’t about to let this work him into a panic attack.

“‘I’m here. I’m sorry. I must have had a bad dream,” said Marlena, rubbing her hand down John’s chest. She could feel his heart racing at an alarming rate. “Just breathe. We are ok. Just breathe.”

“Talk to me. What are you feeling?” asked John, putting on his honorary psychiatric cap.

It had been ages since someone asked Marlena about her feelings. She had been the foundation of all of the ups and downs with those she held dear, always being that sounding board for those in need. The fact of the matter was, sometimes Marlena needed a sounding board and a place to express her fears and insecurities.

“I am feeling like…like things have been out of my control for a while now. I feel like I need to use my energy for something else other than fighting a losing battle. I am afraid, no I am terrified of what’s to come, but I need to preserve my energy for you,” said Marlena.

“How long have you been having these nightmares Doc?” asked John.

“Since we got here. I just keep dreaming that I can stop everything before it happens and…,” she trailed off with a heavy sigh shaking her head.

Tears began to stream down John’s face as he listened to the pain and fear in Marlena’s voice. He’d always known her to be the strongest woman he’d ever known, but even she had her limits.

“Doc, I need you to do something for me. I figured you had enough on your plate with everything, but a change of pace would do you some good. Don’t cha think?” he asked, trying to sound chipper.

“Change of pace?” she asked.

“I want you to leave the clinic for a while tomorrow. Get some air,” suggested John as he felt Marlena charging up to protest. “It’s Basic Black business.”

“John, I’m not leaving you…don’t even suggest it!” she spat.

“You are going to one of my local offices to grab some documents. You’ll be gone for a few hours. No difference than you being downstairs in the library during my tests. Plus,” he said in a hushed whisper, “I want you to score us some chocolates for our pillow talks. I remember what chocolate does to you.”

The idea of seeing something other than these clinical walls would be a nice change of pace. But what if something happened and she wasn’t here?

“Can’t we use a messenger? Darling, I really don’t feel comfortable leaving you,” digging her heels in the sand.

“Doc, I want you to hear me when I say that we are in this together and even though my body isn’t listening to me right now, trust and believe my mind is strong as ever and that’s a fact,” said John full of bravado. If he ever needed to sell himself as the courageous husband in charge, it was now. “So, I need you to go into town and take care of things, ok?”

Too exhausted to fight, Marlena conceded, “Ok.”

Shocked with how simple that was, John decided to add a bit of mischief. “Say, why don’t you grab some trashy lingerie to wear around here. I would be ok with your flannel if I could lift it up…,” he joked crudely.

How could she deny him this simple request? She would go to the ends of the earth for him if need be. It was official, after 4 months of being a fixture at Clinica di Lugano, Marlena was going into town.

Marlena laid the outfit she planned to wear into town across her bed along with her nylons and underpinnings. She stood at the foot of her bed in just a silk robe with a look of perplexity on her face.

“I feel so foolish,” said Marlena as she shifted her weight full of insecurity. While she loved being the center of John’s attention, this was more spotlight than she was accustomed to.

“Don’t. Do you realize that on the mornings that I left after you, this is how I started my day?” said John admiring Marlena’s sense of modesty. The most beautiful also came with an over pinch of humility.

“Oh please. You always left before me, until…,” said Marlena as she was hit with an acute aha. “Until you changed your schedule…”

John’s face lit up with a smile as the penny dropped for his unsuspecting wife.

They then finished the sentence together, “to match mine.”

John loved to watch Marlena get dressed in the mornings. He’d prefer that over the news any day. He would use her outfit choices to get the weather forecast. He would use her color choices to predict her mood and he could tell how great the sex was the night before based on the bra and panty set she selected. Oh yes. While Marlena didn’t realize she was putting on a show for John, she was.

“Just forget that I am here. Get dressed like you do every morning. You are making too big of a deal out of this,” said John trying to coax Marlena into letting down her guard. “Just go brush your hair in the mirror and talk to me. How about that?”

Marlena gave John a sly grin and wagged her finger as she approached him to steal a kiss. Sweeping her lips across his, she pulled back just to gaze into his eyes before rubbing her forehead against his. He was her soulmate. He was her lover. He was her very best friend. She felt like she was leaving him for weeks on end and perhaps that is why she was resisting the urge to appease him.

“I love you. I’m going to tell Dot that if…,” began Marlena before she was silenced by the driving force of John’s kiss. The soft feathery strokes of his tongue left her dazed and mellow.

“You are going into town. Not the moon. Stop obsessing. We are fine, now undo your robe for me. Come on, I can’t smell your perfume,” John lied.

Marlena knew John’s M.O. but was happy to oblige his desires to objectify her. She pulled the belt around her waist exposing her smooth skin only clad in panties. Swirling her tongue between John’s soft parted lips, she could feel her loins starting to stir.

“Oh how I love you,” moaned John into her mouth. “Will you do something for me before you go?”

“Anything,” panted Marlena in between kisses.

“I want you to touch yourself right now. I want you to touch yourself and come in my ear,” said John with a look of lust in his eyes.

Marlena had missed John’s touch more than she had ever imagined. As much as she loved kissing him and strengthening the intimacy between them, she missed the way he brought her to pure bliss. Now before her was a new way to experience that bliss.

Marlena straddled John’s lap and faced his inclined form. Peeling the silk robe from her shoulders, she let it drop cascading around her waist. If John wanted a show, how could she not give him one.

John’s eyes locked onto hers as he licked his lips savoring every moment. Marlena arched her back as she slowly ran her finger down the center of her chest until she reached the edge of her panties before she playfully snapped the rim.

Looming over John, she brushed her breast across his nose as his eyes followed intensely like a hunter in the wild, calculating when to pounce on its prey.

“Tell me what you want me to do Mr. Black,” said Marlena in a low and sultry voice.

Drunk with passion, John’s eyes lingered over her entire body. Oh how he longed to run his hands down the inner parts of her thighs once again. “Are you wet?” he asked, biting his bottom lip.

Marlena slid her hand into her panties and sighed with relief. She had so many pent up urges to unleash. Swirling her finger down the folds of her essence, she pulled back so John could watch her moist center in action. She was wet indeed and proved it by sticking her glistening finger into John’s mouth offering him a sample.

“Am I wet? You tell me,” she said with a sly grin.

One taste of Marlena sent John’s active senses into overdrive. While parts of him couldn’t feel her, he could certainly enjoy the taste, smell, sound and sight of her. That small sample of her juices was like giving an addict just a touch.

He suckled on Marlena’s finger savoring her taste before she plunged back inside her slick heat for round two. Her face hovered just over John’s as she rested her forehead onto his while staring into his eyes panting softly.

Marlena loved the intimacy. She loved the closeness. She loved that she had found a way for them to connect again. She loved that she was still being challenged by John’s inner strength; encouraging her to explore deeper levels of pleasure. It was new and exciting. It restored hope that slowly but surely John was coming back to her.

The feeling of Marlena’s warm pants in John’s ear helped him recall making love to her so vividly. The sounds of her moaning. The taste of her sex. The smell of her skin. He longed to be with her completely, but he still had his other senses and he still had his memories.

“You are about to come,” whispered John into Marlena’s ear as she buried her face into his neck. “I can hear it in your breathing. That’s it. Let me hear you.”

Marlena gently laced her fingers in John’s hair, gripping tighter as she approached climax. Grinding in circular motions on the palm of her hand, Marlena fused her lips with John’s, breathing a heavy climax into his mouth followed by a grunt deep from within her diaphragm. It was like she had been holding in that orgasm for months.

“I love you so much,” said Marlena as she dragged her mouth up John’s neck.

“And I love you. More than you will ever know, Doc. More than you will ever know,” said John. “I still get to watch you get dressed right?”

Marlena belted her infectious laugh that filled the room with light-heartedness and joy. It was her beauty that was going to get John through this and it was going to be her love that sustained him.

Marlena stood outside of the clinic’s main entrance and looked behind her at the upper floors. In her mind, John was looking out of the window making sure she got off ok. She smiled as she thought about their morning, hopeful that it would only get better from here.

An SUV pulled up and the driver jumped out to open the door. Marlena nodded and took a seat preparing for a scenic drive. Just as they cleared the grounds, the driver turned to Marlena and handed her an envelope with “Doc” written on the outside. She smiled and sniffed it as she could smell John’s aftershave.

Opening up the note with urgency, Marlena brushed her cheek with the back of her hand as she settled into reading John’s words:

Doc,

If I know you the way I think I do, you are reading this with the back of your hand rubbing against your cheek.

Marlena covered her mouth and laughed because he knew her so well. She felt small flutters in her stomach with excitement.

I want you to go into town and enjoy yourself. I have arranged a surprise for you that I hope you enjoy and take advantage of. I am nothing without you and all that I am because of you. You sustain me. You fulfill me. You give me hope.

I love you madly,

John

Marlena held the note close to her chest and cherished the sentiment. With everything going on, he still found a way to be the most thoughtful man she had ever known. She had no doubt that they were going to see this through.

After a 30-minute drive into town, Marlena pulled into the turnabout of a quaint hotel. Before she could ask where she was, her door opened and she was surprised to see a face she didn’t realize how much she needed to see until that very moment.

It was Laura Horton standing right before her in the flesh. Marlena was so shocked and overcome with emotion that all she could do was burst into uncontrollable sobs. It was time. She needed this release and John knew exactly who to call to hold Marlena up.

Laura hopped into the back seat of the car and closed the door behind her, allowing her friend to embrace the journey of sinking within herself. Not only was Laura her best friend, she was also a respected Psychiatrist.

She just held Marlena tightly until her tears were upstaged by her double breathing.

“Let it out dear friend. Just let it all out,” said Laura trying to soothe her.

Marlena finally calmed down and collected herself. “Oh my gosh. Hi,” she said, forcing a smile. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Yes you do, so don’t resist,” replied Laura while squeezing her hand.

“What are you doing here? I am so happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” asked Marlena, hugging her tightly.

“I was in Europe taking part in a series of lectures when I got a call from a lovely nurse named…,” said Laura.

“…Dot,” finished Marlena smiling.

“She let me know what John needed me to know and here I am,” said Laura softly. “We all agree that you need to take care of yourself too if you are going to be there for John. He’s worried about you.”

Marlena fished for tissues in her purse as she laughed at the absurdity. “He’s worried about me with all that he has going on. I just love…him…so…much,” she said, starting to well up with tears again.

John had managed to have Marlena’s day planned down to the last detail. Treatments of her choice at the spa, a 5-star lunch and of course a little shopping for a few essentials that he wanted them to have.

Marlena and Laura sat in their fluffy robes, luxuriating poolside at the spa. The massage and facial had Marlena feeling rejuvenated, but it still didn’t completely suppress her angst. She was so happy to have Laura here, but she couldn’t stop wondering what was going on with John and kept looking at her watch.

“Marlena, the clinic has your itinerary. If there was a problem, they would call you,” said Laura. “And guess what? No one has come for you. Have they?”

“No, they haven’t,” sighed Marlena with a hint of relief. “It just feels…wrong being here when John is…”

“…Is getting the best treatment by the best doctors,” added Laura while rubbing Marlena’s hand. “Now I am only here for the day so I am going to insist that you unplug and let your hair down. I want to talk about you and how I can help and then I want to dish out the latest gossip.”

Marlena thought long and hard about what she could possibly say about herself. Outside of reading medical journal after medical journal, there was nothing else that she could think of worth mentioning.

“You spending the afternoon with me is beyond helpful. I couldn’t think of a better distraction,” said Marlena.

“And how are you and John?” asked Laura trying to get Marlena to purge.

Marlena wasn’t quite sure how to answer that question. As she tried to wrap her head around the most fitting answer, she smiled at the thought of him. She even blushed a little when she recalled their romantic encounter this morning.

“We are better. It’s taken a while for us to get that old thing back, but the connection is there. We are even finding time for a little romance here and there,” shared Marlena.

Laura leaned in for more details while resting her chin in the palm of her hand. “Really? Do tell and don’t skip over the good parts,” she said.

“It’s taken a while, but the fun and naughty John has been making a few guest appearances as of late. He’s a huge flirt and a lot more forward than I thought he would be,” said Marlena.

“Flirting is good,” added Laura.

“Due to his paralysis, we’ve had to embrace new ways of creating intimacy and so far…we’ve found a few avenues to explore. I gave him a shave and attempted to cut his hair the other day and we had a blast. We even worked in a little making out here and there,” confessed Marlena.

Girl talk was exactly what Marlena needed. It was such a welcomed relief to share all of the sordid events that had taken place over the last year and a half. From John being struck by that car and presumably dying before her eyes, to finding him alive but no longer the John she once knew. Yes, the last few months of Marlena’s life were not for the faint of heart, but not one time did quitting ever cross her mind.

They returned to the clinic after a relaxing afternoon of pampering and girl talk. Marlena was certain that John would want to thank Laura in person for making the time to spend the afternoon keeping his pride and joy occupied and content.

There was a bigger reason for Laura’s presence, but she had clear instructions not to alarm Marlena until absolutely necessary. As they walked into the main entrance, Laura had almost forgotten part of her mission and handed Marlena a large manila envelope. “I almost forgot!” she said. “The Basic Black documents you were supposed to grab.”

“You mean there really were some papers to grab? At least I remembered the items on John’s shopping list. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I show him the…,” began Marlena when she was interrupted by Dot.

“Welcome back Dr. Evans,” she said before looking over to Laura. “And you must be Dr. Horton. It’s a pleasure to meet you in the flesh. Mr. Black said some very nice things about you. Did you both have a nice outing?”

“We did indeed. I feel pretty good. How’s John? Is he up for a visitor?” asked Marlena as she watched Dot exchange glances with Laura.

“Not quite. It’s been a busy morning,” Dot replied cautiously.

Marlena sensed a bit of tension in the air as she studied the look on Laura’s face. “Why do I get the feeling there is something going on here? I’m going to see John,” feeling a ball of angst return to her gut.

“Dr. Horton…,” said Dot. “Why don’t you and Dr. Evans relax in the atrium while I go find out if John is up for visitors.”

Laura led Marlena into the labyrinth of flowers and took refuge on the nearest bench.

“What aren’t you telling me Laura?” asked Marlena flatly.

Laura grabbed Marlena’s hands and calmly told her, “John went through with the procedure this morning.” 

Chapter 3

Marlena paced back and forth in the waiting room incensed with John and Laura’s betrayal. How could they arbitrarily make a decision like this and not include her? She felt a sickness brewing in her gut with equal proportions of anger and fear. The moment Laura told her that John had gone behind her back and initiated an extremely experimental and life-threatening procedure, all she could think about is what they had endured over the last 2 years. In her mind, the risk was too great.

“What if you don’t wake up?! What if you fall into that 45% failure rate? What if this exacerbates your existing conditions? We don’t know enough,” Marlena recalled saying over and over again.

It had been an hour since she walked away from Laura in the atrium. Plagued with hurt, fear and confusion, Marlena rushed to speak with Dr. Welsh, who still remained at John’s side monitoring his results so that he could give Marlena the most current and accurate information.

She tried to find the logic in the decisions made, but her emotions kept convoluting the facts. The fact was, John wanted to take part in a risky stem cell transplant despite the odds. As a physician, Marlena had the ability to grasp the concept of neurons being produced from human stem cells grafted into the stroke-damaged brain. As a wife, she couldn’t fathom the efficacy rates and how John could make this decision without considering her.

She froze in her tracks as she allowed the thought to echo in her mind again and suddenly felt selfish. Here she was asking how John and Laura could do this to her, when it was never about her. It was about John and his quest to get his life back. It was hard to detach herself from anything that concerned him, but the fact was — it was his life to risk. He had managed to cheat death so many times before, maybe this latest test would be no different.

Having the hour to ride the waves of fear, fury and optimism, Marlena had fleeting pangs of regret about how she left things with Laura.  Hopefully, she would have an opportunity to make things right, but for now she needed to speak to Dr. Welsh to get John’s prognosis and where they went from here.

Marlena looked at her watch and realized that it had been 90 minutes and while the waiting was maddening, all she could think about was something Laura said to her when they were laughing and relaxing at the spa. ” If there was a problem, they would call you,” said Laura. “And guess what? No one has come for you. Have they?” She missed her friend and needed her more than ever. She wanted to reach out and find her, but she couldn’t miss the opportunity to speak with Dr. Welsh.

After what seemed like an eternity, Dr. Welsh appeared at the end of the corridor slowly approaching. With bated breath Marlena tried to assess his posture to gauge if he was about to share good or bad news. Most didn’t realize being a trained physician was a blessing and a curse. While it allowed one to grasp medical concepts easily, it was also harder to lie to yourself and bask in the shadows of ignorance.

Clutching her hands envisioning that it was Laura’s for support, she braced herself for the news.

“Dr. Welsh,” said Marlena walking down the corridor to meet him halfway. “Please tell me John is ok.”

Dr. Welsh led Marlena back to the waiting room to take a seat. She didn’t like all of the formalities. She just wanted to hear what was going on.

“John is resting. We had to put him in a medically induced coma. It was clear that it was the best choice to increase the efficacy of the transplant. His vitals are strong. He’s comfortable and so far, we are in an acceptable place,” said Dr. Welsh. “We aren’t out of the woods, but…”

“But what?” asked Marlena, rebuking the thought of any more surprises.

Dr. Welsh smiled. He had to remind himself that he was speaking to a peer for all intents and purposes. “Dr. Evans, I am sure you are aware that John Black is a remarkable man that has endured a lot medically. There was evidence of profound exploratory work to his neurological system. To the likes of things I have never seen.”

Just as Marlena had feared, all of the memory manipulations and chip implants no thanks to Stefano had reared its ugly head.  They hadn’t disclosed any of that, because it was too hard to explain and justify. “John is a remarkable man. He’s faced some insurmountable challenges that most men wouldn’t have been able to overcome,” she said beaming with pride.

“The science involved is to the likes of things I have never seen before. Astoundingly remarkable if I may say so. In time, I would love to explore who, and what the source of this technology is because I have no doubt that it is the true root of why John may be the game changer in this trial,” said Dr. Welsh. 

Never in Marlena’s wildest dreams could she have imagined that there was a silver lining in any of the dastardly deeds of Stefano DiMera, but she would take any and all blessings that she could get.

“In time Dr. Welsh, I am sure John will fill you in on all his medical details because I know that he’s going to pull through this and tell you all that you need to know first-hand. In the meantime, I need to see him,” said Marlena, feeling a sense of relief. 

Marlena was finally where she should have always been, right at John’s side. She took a seat beside him and grabbed his hand.

“John, honey it’s Marlena…Doc. I am here and everything is looking good.  I can’t wait for you to wake up so that I can blast you for how you went about this. I understand you wanted to protect me, but we have to work on our communication a little bit more,” she said as she rubbed his limp hand. “I would have preferred that you make the decision and forced me to deal with it instead of leaving me in the dark. I understand why you did it now and I’ll forgive you, but not until after I rake your coals over the fire.  I was also awful to Laura and I need to find her and apologize for my initial reaction when she told me. I realize now that she was being just as loyal to you as she has been to me all of these years and I lost sight of that. Gosh honey I love you and I need you. You are a gutsy son of a gun John Black and you sure know how to keep things interesting. I am going to see if I can catch Laura before it’s too late, but I’ll be back soon, ok darling?”

Marlena just stared at John’s form resting in a peaceful slumber. Dr. Welshes’ updates had given her a sense of peace to hold her for the next few hours when she felt a slight flinch of John’s hand. Marlena jumped to her feet and perched over him with excitement.

“Honey! Honey! It’s Marlena. You moved your hand! Can you do it again? Baby…,” she rambled as she reached for the call button. “Honey, can you move your hand?”

Dot entered the room with urgency. “Dr. Evans, is everything ok?”

Marlena wiped the tears from her eyes, hardly able to catch her breath. “Dot, I felt his hand move. I was holding his hand and I felt it flinch. It was slight but it was definitely movement! Is this a sign? Should we call Dr. Welsh?”

Dot checked the monitors and flashed a light into John’s pupils. She didn’t want to give Marlena false hope, but she was also aware that John’s case was like nothing they had ever seen before.

“Why don’t you give me some time with John to check a few things before I update you on what this could mean,” said Dot cautiously. “I’ll send someone to your residence the moment we have updates.”

Marlena reluctantly let go of John’s hand and refused to believe anything other than he was coming back to her.  She needed to find Laura and tell her the good news. She needed to find Laura and apologize for her behavior. She rushed to her room in hopes to call her.

Marlena entered her suite and to her surprise Laura was sitting there all smiles. She exhaled in relief and ran across the room to embrace her friend.

“Oh Laura, forgive me,” she sobbed. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I was scared and…”

Laura just hugged her friend and smiled. “There is nothing to apologize for. John had already warned me that you were going to have this type of reaction and that you would calm down within 2 hours,” she said looking at her watch. “And he was correct, down to the second.”

“He does know me doesn’t he?” said Marlena shaking her head in disbelief. “Oh my gosh. Laura, he moved his hand! I know it was minor but Laura, I felt his hand move!” she said as she sobbed full of joy.

They both cried tears of happiness and embraced each other tightly.

“I made myself at home. I started a pot of coffee. Let’s have a seat and you can update me. I want to hear everything,” said Laura, full of excitement.

“Wait, your lecture! You have to leave,” exclaimed Marlena.

Laura grabbed her hand. “John arranged a sub. I am here for as long as you need me to be,” she said.

Marlena was completely overwhelmed with the idea of how John managed to make all of these arrangements without her knowing. She knew that he was a man of many talents, but his latest feat was a notch above remarkable.

Somehow, John predicted everything down to the latest detail. He seemed to be pulling strings as he laid downstairs in a medically induced coma. Marlena was starting to realize that John didn’t need her to care for him, he needed her to fight beside him.

She and Laura had a pleasant evening. So much so that she encouraged Laura to return to her speaking obligations with a promise to check in during her next break. “I am just a call away,” she said hugging Marlena good-bye. “Give John my love and try not to be too hard on him.”

Marlena had every intention of hitting the roof the moment John was well enough to defend himself. Her intent was to unleash her fury and then spend the rest of their time finding creative ways to make up.  The idea alone put a smile on her face.

After seeing Laura off , Marlena decided to spend the rest of her evening beside John. If he moved his hand again, she wanted to be there cheering him on every step of the way. She knew that he could feel her presence and hear her voice.  She was determined to be the first face he saw when he opened those piercing blue eyes. Just as she passed the front desk, the receptionist called for her attention.

“Dr. Evans, I have your mail here. Do you want it now or should I have it brought up to your room?” asked the receptionist.

“I’ll take it now thank you,” said Marlena, grabbing the short stack of correspondence and then making her way to John’s room. She hadn’t heard back from Dot since John’s flinch, but she was certain that it would be explored in due time.

Marlena entered John’s room and rubbed her hand across his face and smiled. “Hi love. I found Laura and everything is fine. Clearly you thought of everything,” she said, making herself at home in the lazy boy recliner.

“It was also brought to my attention that you have been a very busy man, John Black. I don’t know how you managed to take care of so many things…” began Marlena when she realized what she was about to say. “What am I saying? You’ve always been this way. It is one of the many reasons I love you so.”

If Marlena was going to get through this, she had to think like John. She had to proceed with the plan. He was certain that things would be fine and after all of these years, he’d never led her astray. Sifting through the mail, she found something vaguely familiar that caught her eye. It was a postcard, the very same postcard she’d mailed days ago per the request of Dot. She flipped it over and was shocked to find that it was addressed to her, giving instructions to check the top drawer to the left of John’s bed.

Marlena went to the drawer and was happy to find another letter addressed to “Doc”.  She was so grateful to get word from John that her hands trembled with excitement. She sniffed the envelope and could so relate to John’s reaction to her lavender fragrance as the intoxicating aroma of his aftershave embraced her like a warm blanket.

“And you just keep the surprises coming Mr. Black,” said Marlena as she placed the envelope over her heart. “Would I embarrass you if I read this out loud to you? I was going to read you a little Dan Brown, but I think I want to start with this.”

Marlena took a seat on her lazy boy and pulled a blanket around her shoulders prepared to get cozy and dig in. Although she missed the sound of John’s voice, he had found a way to reach out to her to ease the loneliness.

Doc,

I guess you’ve had a moment to calm down and listen to reason. Based on my ability to predict the future, I am willing to guess that you are sitting beside me snuggled under a blanket reading this out loud. Do me a favor and try not to read it too loud because it does get pretty mushy.

I am sorry that I had to make a decision of this magnitude without you knowing. It was weighing heavy on my heart and the moment you had that nightmare and I couldn’t get to you; I knew then what I had to do and I just hope that you can forgive me for it.

Please don’t take this out on Laura. She was against my way of doing things, but she had several instructions to follow based on a litany of possible outcomes. Trust that all that was decided was based on what I felt your best interests were, the same as you have been doing for me and that’s a fact.

Doc, you have always made me feel like I could do anything, even when I doubted myself. You have talked me off the ledge more times than I can count, but I owe this to myself. I have to get better. I feel like we’ve only just begun, and I’ll be damned if Charlotte Taylor takes that away from me.

You are my heart and soul and I will do any and all to hold and feel you in my arms again. You were right in bringing me here and I plan to prove it. I am not giving up baby, but the only way I am going to make it through this is if you are with me every step of the way.

The last few days were huge for me, because you found a way to remind me of this simple thing called joy. The sight of your face, the smell of your skin and the sound of your moans sparked a fire in me so just know that I am here, and I promise with all that I have to return to you whole and complete.

All my unwavering love,

J.B.

Marlena must have read her note from John a dozen times because when she woke up it was in her hand and clutched to her chest. Although she missed the sound of his voice, it was helpful having his words. It was just after sunrise when Marlena stood up and stretched her neck and shoulders. It was a long night, but also a quiet night.

She walked over to John and caressed the side of his face. She could feel his five o’clock shadow prickle her fingers. “Good morning honey. I hope I didn’t snore, but if I did, at least you know I was here all night and plan to be here until you wake up,” said Marlena, making sure he was comfortable. 

The morning nurse started her rounds promptly and started to check John’s vitals before Dr. Welsh arrived.

“Good morning Dr. Evans. They just made some fresh coffee at the nurse’s station if you need a cup,” said the nurse.

Marlena stood back and allowed the nurse to update her charts, anxious to hear about any changes.

“No, thank you. I’m going to head up to my suite after Dr. Welsh arrives. I’m just anxious to hear his thoughts on John moving his hand yesterday,” said Marlena as she looked at John longingly.

It was clear that John’s recovery was going to be extraordinary and defy all things logical. All of this time, Marlena feared that his history was going to compromise his recovery, not enhance it. Now all she had to do was wait impatiently.

Dr. Welsh appeared right on time. “Dr. Welsh, good morning! Any updates? Did Dot tell you about his movement?” asked Marlena hoping for good news.

Dr. Welsh checked John’s pupils with the light from his lab coat before he spoke. This was one of the most exciting and perplexing cases that he’d had the privilege of championing. He had so many questions and so many additional tests to run before he felt comfortable giving a prognosis.

“Dr. Evans, as it stands, John’s current state is stable. We still need to allow the neurons to generate and make structural and functional connections with John’s nervous system. This would take weeks in the cases we’ve observed, but as you know, John’s case is an exception,” said Dr. Welsh cautiously.

“And the movement. Do you have any ideas about his hand moving? He moved his finger yesterday. It was subtle but very clear just the same. That has to mean something,” said Marlena, determined to speak in the positive.

“Again Dr. Evans, until John wakes up and we do a complete evaluation, it’s just too early to say. What I can tell you is that he hasn’t had an adverse reaction to the transplant. Now we just have to wait and see. We are going to run a few scans this afternoon to check on the progress of the procedure and take it from there,” said Dr. Welsh, choosing his words carefully.  “Dr. Evans, as a physician, I am sure you are aware that I’m speaking to you with some trepidation because I never give patients false hope, but I think you can exhale for now.”

Marlena took this nugget for what it was and held on to it for dear life. Any form of positive news was all that she could ask for. She walked over to John and ran her hand up his chest, speaking to him as if she knew he could hear her.  “Well honey, you proved me wrong again. You still aren’t off the hook with me, but we will cross that bridge later. I am going to step out for just a bit, but I will be back shortly,” she said.

Just as she grabbed her things, she had a last-minute thought and reached for her lavender scented hand cream and added a fresh dab into the palm of her hand and massaged it into John’s before fanning the fragrance under his nose. Leaning over his face, she kissed him softly and whispered, “Inhale my love.”

Chapter 4

It had been a week since John’s procedure and while he was still in a coma, it was for a good reason. His response to the transplant was not only successful but showing progress at an exponential rate. Each day, Marlena made a point to care for John by shaving his face, massaging his hands and feet and speaking to him about important decisions as well as the mundane. The only thing that kept Marlena going was the stellar progress he was making.

As Marlena slept upright in her lazy boy holding John’s hand, she was awakened by a sensation that sent a wave of electricity through her body. She couldn’t prove it, but after waiting for weeks, she could have sworn she felt John’s hand move again. 

She jumped to her feet and leaned over him squeezing his hand with excitement. “Good morning handsome! Did you squeeze my hand again?  Baby, I am here. Can you do it again? Please.”

Marlena hovered over John in hopes that there was a sign of activity. He didn’t flinch but she was certain that he’d tried to reach out to her. She could feel it deep within her gut. Brushing her lips over his, she tried to quiet the gut wrenching pangs of missing John in her chest. While each day, she saw signs of him gaining strength and brain wave activity, she needed to hear his voice.

“It’s ok darling. In your own time,” she said, trying to hide her disappointment. She knew that John could feel her energy because she could certainly feel his.  

Returning to her seat at his side, she began her daily routine of reading the WSJ and local Salem News. “Oh, honey I spoke to Belle and they are doing well. She misses you and wants to see you. I told her the only way I would allow it is if you opened your eyes and told me yourself,” she said solemnly. “I am sure there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for our baby girl. Brady sends his love too. They need you John. I need you. I’m starting to get a little stir crazy here. I wasn’t going to tell you because I didn’t want to worry you, but that goes against our deal to tell each other everything doesn’t it? I wish you would have written me another note. I could definitely use a word from you.”

Marlena felt her emotions taking over as she welled up with tears. She had been a pillar of strength for days without wavering, but it was starting to take a toll on her. Maybe reaching out to Laura would be helpful. Unplugging and having chats with her had certainly been helpful. Just when Marlena looked down at her newspaper, she distinctly heard John groan. For a moment she had to make sure she wasn’t hearing things. She knew all too well that even she was capable of hearing what she wanted to hear. Waiting pensively, John groaned again when Marlena jumped to her feet and hit the call button. She was certain he groaned and wanted the staff to see it.

“John! I am here! Yes, Brady and Belle miss you honey.  Oh my gosh. What was I talking about?” she asked, trying to recall what stimulated him. She pushed the call button again, determined to have someone else bare witness. 

Grabbing John’s hand again, Marlena spoke to him. “John, I need you. Please honey. I am scared and tired and I need you to show me that you can hear me,” sobbed Marlena. She didn’t plan on breaking down, but it was beyond her control.

Just as the nurse entered the room John groaned again! It was clear as day. Perhaps Marlena in need was coaxing him to return to her. She knew in her gut that her calling for him during her time of need had triggered a response.  She stepped back and watched the nurse check John feeling slightly light-headed because she somehow forgot to breathe. She could feel her pulse racing when she heard the most beautiful sound.

“D…D…Doc,” John managed to utter. It was at that moment that Marlena exhaled and collapsed in her chair sobbing tears of joy.

Marlena paced in John’s room waiting for him to return from a series of tests. She had spent the entire morning looking into his eyes and reminding him how much she missed and loved him. She wasn’t going to berate him for the risky decisions he’d made behind her back. All she wanted to do was shower him with love and affection and allow herself to be consumed with him.

He hadn’t said any more than her name since he’d woken up, but it was enough to send her over the moon and back. The last week had been frightening and lonely and all she wanted to do is celebrate this milestone and bask in it.

To Marlena’s surprise, a nurse entered the room with a beautiful bouquet of lilacs and sat them on the table. They were exquisite with a pop of color that took her breath away. Thanking the nurse for bringing them in, Marlena couldn’t resist the urge to smell them. Who could have sent John something so beautiful? Inspecting more closely, Marlena noticed the card with “Doc” written on the envelope. She plucked it from the bouquet and walked over to the window to garner a moment. Just as she was about to read the card, John had returned from a morning of tests. He looked exhausted but alert, smiling at Marlena as his bed was put into position.

“My love,” said Marlena, waving the card in her hand. “Have you been finding a way to make more demands? May I read my card?” asked Marlena as she perched beside his bed rubbing the side of his face.

John nodded and smiled.

Marlena opened the card and read the message aloud. “I am sorry. I love you. J.B.”

John’s eyes showed his remorse and so much more. He had to express in every possible way how important Marlena was to him and how much he needed for her to understand. Clearing his throat to give Marlena the precious gift that she had been waiting for, John finally spoke.

“Sorry Doc,” he whispered as a tear streamed down his cheek.

“Me too,” replied Marlena as she pushed to speak over the lump in her throat. She leaned over and kissed him softly on his lips as she traced his jawline with her fingertips. “I have missed looking into your eyes and hearing your voice more than you know.”

There was nothing left to say. She didn’t want to talk about the procedure or the coma. She didn’t even want to talk about any new revelations after his morning tests. She just wanted to be with him. She wanted to feel him and drink freely of him.

Placing her head on his chest, they just laid in silence for what seemed like an eternity. The sound of John’s heartbeat in her ear was all consuming, coaxing them both into a peaceful slumber.

“Doc,” John called out after waking up.

Marlena could hear him and almost thought she was dreaming. Immediately jumping to attention she happily answered his call. “I am here, love. What is it?”

“How are you?” he asked out of the blue. “Bad dreams?”

Marlena hadn’t had any bad dreams since his procedure. It may have had to do with the fact that she hadn’t slept in a week. “No, no bad dreams. Only good ones,” she said, rubbing his forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Tired. Lost,” said John. Looking down his chest as he tried to will his body to move but it was to no avail.

Marlena could tell by the determined expression on John’s face that he was trying with all of his might to get his limbs to obey his command, so much so that a vein began to protrude from his temple.

“Damn!” exclaimed John in frustration. “I can’t. Doc, I still can’t!”

John became agitated just enough to increase his pulse, summoning his nurse to rush to his side.

“Mr. Black, are you ok? I know Dr. Evans keeps you alert and going,” joked the nurse as she checked John’s vitals.

“I still can’t feel anything! Why can’t I feel? They said the procedure went well,” said John, full of consternation.

“I’ll call the doctor,” the nurse said before leaving the room.

Marlena wasn’t sure how to approach this. Although she was just as anxious as John was to learn how effective the procedure was, she knew that it was still going to take time.

“Darling, you just regained consciousness after a week. You can’t push yourself. I wasn’t going to tell you until they confirmed things but, while you were in a coma, I felt your finger flinch twice,” said Marlena with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.  “Now, there is nothing conclusive yet, but I know what I felt.”

John was overcome with astonishment. “What? When? What did Dr. Welsh say?” asked John, anxious to learn what else he missed.

“Well, he said you were a remarkable man,” began Marlena as she tried to ease into the details. “You had an amazing response to the transplant, and it could be…and is most likely due to whatever you experienced in your past.”

“Damn Stefano! The reason we are here to begin with,” said John full of disdain.

Marlena didn’t want to say or do anything to compromise John’s progress, but she couldn’t hide the truth from him. If they were in this together, she had to keep him in the know no matter how painful.

“Honey, for the first time — we may have used Stefano’s tricks against him. It is because of whatever was done to you, that your response to the procedure could be…miraculous. We have to hold on to every ounce of good news,” said Marlena, always finding the brighter side of things.

Dr. Welsh entered the room with Dot at his side with a smile on his face. “Mr. Black. Welcome back. I must say, you are the buzz here at Clinica di Lugano. How are you feeling?” he asked, flashing the light in John’s eyes.

“Paralyzed,” said John curtly. “Marlena says I moved my hand. What does that mean? How long until I can feel something? How long until I know if the transplant worked?”

Dot lifted the blanket exposing John’s feet and began to conduct a few tests as he continued to engage with Dr. Welsh.

“The transplant was very successful. It’s doing what we need it to do and it’s happening rapidly. 5 times faster than we have seen in other trials,” said Dr. Welsh full of optimism. “John, I am sure Dr. Evans has told you that this is a remarkable case. Due to the augmentations of parts of your neurological system, we are seeing results that we have never seen. It is a very exciting time, but unfortunately also new so we have to approach this with caution.”

Marlena sensed the frustration brewing deep within John’s gut. “So Dr. Welsh, we’ve done the transplant which was successful. The tests are showing a rapid production of neurons that are developing 5 times faster than your other trials. What’s next?” she asked while holding John’s hand.

“Well, considering you’ve only been awake for less than 24 hours John, I would have to say the same thing I said when you arrived,” said Dr. Welsh apologetically.

“Give it time,” said John in exasperation. “And will you stop jabbing me with the damn tool!” he shouted at Dot not realizing what had just happened.

The room fell silent as everyone exchanged glances in amazement.  Dot immediately began to poke John again, making sure to conceal her movements under the blanket.

“Do you feel this?” she said, poking his toe slightly.

“No, nothing,” said John as his breathing began to accelerate with excitement.

“How about this? What do you feel?” asked Dot.

John closed his eyes and tried to focus. He had to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. He had come too far to give up now. 

“I’m not sure. It’s different than what I think I felt before. Like hot or cold. I don’t know. Maybe I was just imagining things.”

Dot exchanged glances with Dr. Welsh, her expression was impossible to interpret.

“Mr. Black, that was in fact cold,” she said, revealing a bag of ice.  “You have officially displayed a reaction on the left side of your body.”

It was the news that John had been waiting for since the moment he arrived at Clinica di Lugano. He had finally been shown a sign that all that he’d endured was not in vain. Marlena grabbed his hand and sobbed tears of joy as she leaned in to sweep her cheek against his.

“You did it baby! You did it! I love you so much,” she rejoiced. Marlena was so ecstatic that she couldn’t contain herself. She wanted to jump for joy but mustered the strength to contain her elation to a huge smile with a slight bounce at John’s bedside.

John closed his eyes and took a moment. It had been such an arduous journey up until this point and it was just the beginning. He was wrought with emotion and too overwhelmed and exhausted to hold back his feelings. John Black had finally broken. Of all of the heroics and death-defying acts, he had finally accepted that he had been reduced to the simplest form of himself. He wasn’t sure if he was feeling sorrow, elation or fear. Perhaps it was a little of them all.

Marlena sensed John’s need for space and assumed his proxy. “Dr. Welsh, this is great news. I am sure you both want to confer and then set up a new round of tests. How about we give John a moment,” she said in a rush to clear the room.

Dr. Welsh and Dot made a few more observations and scurried off to prepare for a new level of discovery. The room was silent except for the sobs of John and Marlena in unison. She could feel his pain as well as his relief. She was determined to allow John to feel everything that came his way. He’d earned it.

Cradling him in her arms, their bodies were fused together until they broke out into laughter and just looked into each other’s eyes. Marlena lovingly wiped John’s tears and swept his hair away from his face. “You did it,” she spoke softly into his neck. “Just like every challenge you’ve ever faced. You did it.”

“We did it Doc and this is just the beginning,” said John beaming with pride. “What did I do to deserve you?”

Marlena became absorbed with the feel of John as her tongue skimmed his trembling lips and her hands explored the texture of his face. “We need to celebrate,” she moaned into his mouth.

“We need to celebrate,” reiterated John as he took a deep inhale of Marlena’s essence.

“And I know exactly how,” said Marlena as she looked at the door with a sly and mischievous grin.

“What are you thinking Mrs. Black? I hope it’s naughty and objectifying,” said John in a husky whisper.

Marlena bit her bottom lip and cocked her head to the side. “Well it would require a few things,” she said as she walked across the room. “Like I should really lock this door for starters,” she said, turning the latch.

John gulped as his imagination began to run wild. A locked door implied so many possibilities and he was open to any and all. “A locked door, huh?” he asked as he raised his eyebrow the way Marlena loved.

“Ohh, don’t do that,” she cooed “That eyebrow gets me going every time.”

Marlena vanished into the bathroom and returned with all of the accouterments necessary for a sponge bath and began to set up her workstation like this was old hat.

“Do I detect a sponge bath?” asked John, full of excitement.

“You do indeed Mr. Black and on reasonable authority, you’ve really worked up a sweat,” said Marlena as she removed John’s gown.

She took the cloth and submerged it in the hot bowl of soapy water and then wrung it out before spreading it across John’s bare chest. She slowly swept her hand across his body, taking inventory of his perfect form.

“Is the temperature ok?” Marlena asked seductively as she stopped just above John’s waist. All she had done for the last few months was craft the best ways to maintain their bond and strengthen their intimacy. They had never struggled in the romance department and despite John’s limitations, their connection was just as strong as ever.

“The temperature is perfect. You may want to remove your blouse though. So that it doesn’t get wet,” said John, pushing to enhance his experience. 

Marlena smiled and just continued to explore John’s body as she submerged the cloth again and moved to his shoulders. Caressing his bicep with both hands, she slid down his arm slowly concentrating on massaging each of his fingers one by one before rinsing the towel again.

Just as she was about to move to the other shoulder, John’s prediction came to fruition. Her blouse now soaked became see through exposing her lace bra.

“Oops,” she said playfully as she leaned over John to reach his other arm. She could feel his eyes searing into her flesh. She wanted to stimulate him just before the brink of pushing him over the edge.

She purposefully positioned her face so close to John’s that her nose grazed his as she lathered his torso absentmindedly twirling her fingers in his nature trail. She had all the intentions of controlling herself, but the rapid pants of John’s warm breath in her ear were most distracting.

John licked his lips ogling Marlena’s cleavage in a lecherous manner. All he wanted to do was run his tongue down the center of her chest, not stopping until he reached her fertile promise land. She’d given him a sample of her essence not so long ago leaving him desperate for another taste.

“Doc, you are killing me,” groaned John, full of want and need.  “Just…just pull back so that I can look at you.”

Rubbing her hands down his arm, she lingered at his fingertips before massaging his hand  and finishing by softly suckling his index finger and kissing the palm of his hand.

“Oh, wait. You asked me to back up so that you could see me, didn’t you?” she asked while unbuttoning her blouse completely.

She pulled the covers back to start on his legs, taking great care to clean every inch of him. The feel of his skin under her fingertips made Marlena’s loins stir as she refrained from the urge to straddle him like she had just done not so long ago. How far was too far? How much excitement could a man in John’s condition handle? They had already surmised that he was a remarkable man. Maybe she could prove it.

“I could look at you all day,” said John enjoying the view.

“Well I have to keep you motivated,” she said, removing her blouse and continuing to bathe John’s lower half.

“You know, I have a confession to make Doc,” began John. “I miss you. I miss holding you. I miss touching you. If I could just hold you, this would almost be bearable.  I love just looking at you. That smile, that scent and sound of your voice helps me remember how you feel.”

Marlena just smiled and fawned over John, paying very close attention to every detail.

“Honey, you have a new mole on your upper thigh,” Marlena observed while drying John’s body.

“How do you know it’s new?” he asked.

Marlena laughed and whipped her hair to the side and gave John a sly grin. “I know every inch of you. I know you have a freckle on your back left shoulder. And I know you have a birthmark just behind your right ear.”

“You have 3 freckles just above your left nipple,” said John.

Marlena looked at him quizzically. “Are you sure?” she asked, completely surprised. “Since when?”

John closed his eyes trying to jar his memory. He could vividly recall Marlena’s breast in his hand that day on the beach citing sun safety.  He slid her swimsuit strap down a little lower than planned while applying sunscreen exposing her perky nipple. He couldn’t resist the urge to move in for a quick flick with his tongue and noticed there were 3 new freckles.

“At least 2 years,” said John full of confidence.

“I don’t believe you,” said Marlena massaging lotion into John’s skin, making sure to not miss a spot.

“Take off your bra,” said John. “I’ll show you. They are very small. Faint, but they are there.”

Marlena looked at John suspiciously as she continued to seductively moisturize his body while shaking her head.  “I think you are just trying to get me topless John Black.”

“Would that be a bad thing?” asked John with intensity.

Marlena shifted uncomfortably as she began to dress John in a fresh gown. She smiled as her chest told her secret by turning a mild shade of crimson.

“No, it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all,” said Marlena as she tried to be honest. “I just don’t want you to push yourself. I worry.”

“Don’t. You just being here sustains me, Doc. I get so much just seeing you, smelling you, hearing you and tasting you,” said John. “Please don’t take that from me.”

Marlena leaned closely into John’s face and she brushed her parted lips over his while fastening his gown. She couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him as he suckled on her bottom lip.

“I would never,” she moaned into his mouth.

“Do me a favor,” moaned John as he continued to steal soft baby kisses.

“Anything,” said Marlena as she found herself getting consumed by him.

“Take off your bra. I want to prove you have 3 freckles,” said John, smiling from ear to ear while rubbing his nose across hers.

Marlena removed her bra while standing at John’s bedside and examined her left breast. She didn’t intend for the gesture to be so erotic, but there was something more than just looking for freckles stirring.

“I don’t see it,” said Marlena, shaking her head and laughing. “I knew you were trying to get my shirt off.”

John doubled down, intending to keep this moment going. “Come closer and I will show you,” said John in a hushed whisper.

Marlena leaned in close positioning her pebbled nipples in John’s line of sight.

“Closer,” he commanded as the scent of lavender tickled his nose. “I love the smell of you.”

John scanned Marlena’s breasts up close and was unable to resist the urge to kiss her soft skin. He circled his nose around her nipple before he took it into his mouth. “There they are,” said John smiling.

Just as Marlena was about to inspect John’s findings, there was a knock on the door. But for the latch, the sight of a topless Marlena’s nipple in John’s mouth would have been a sight to behold.

“Did you want me to get that?” asked John, full of sarcasm.

Marlena scrambled to get dressed while giving John the stink eye and waving her fist. “Just a moment!” she called out.

Scrambling to the door, Marlena unlocked it to find Dot standing on the other side with a smile.

“Sorry to disturb you Dr. Evans. Bad time?” she asked.

Marlena stepped aside slightly embarrassed. They must have looked like newlyweds unable to keep their hands off each other.

“Not at all. I just finished helping John with a sponge bath,” she said.

Dot entered the room and walked over to the window to appreciate the beautiful day.

“It’s a beautiful day,” said Dot, smiling from ear to ear. “And according to these latest test results, it just got better.”

Chapter 5

It had been 2 months since that fateful day when Dot walked into John’s room to advise him that regaining his mobility was solely based  on his ability to push himself.

“John, your results are off the charts. We have never seen anything like this before. We want to suggest a progressive physical therapy that may have you regaining some upper mobility sooner than projected,” said Dot.

That was all John needed to hear before he was all in. He looked over to his wife and realized that he needed to pause for a second. He’d learned from his previous mistakes and still hadn’t been held accountable for it.

After getting all of the details, it was clear that John would be pushing himself to limits that he’d never imagined. There would be pain, frustration and fatigue; but if all went according to plan, he would be able to hold Marlena’s hand again.

“Thanks Dot. We will talk about this and let you know,” said John looking over at Marlena.

He was well aware that Marlena had been holding back her true feelings about him moving forward with his procedure without her knowing. It was only a matter of time before she expressed herself and now seemed to be the best time.

“You have to keep going honey,” said Marlena as she grabbed John’s hand. “You have my support.”

“But not always and I have to answer for that,” said John solemnly. “So before we go any further, let me have it.”

Marlena had already had this fight a million times in her head and now that it was really happening, she wasn’t quite sure what to say and most importantly how to say it. She was livid beyond words, but she was no longer enraged. 

She grabbed John’s hand tighter and leaned into him close, so close that their noses brushed softly. “I am so happy that you came back to me,” began Marlena as her voice trembled with emotion. “I am so….amazed by your courage. I am also disappointed with your betrayal. John, do you realize that I couldn’t have stopped you from going through with the procedure, but you stopped me from being able to choose to be at your side. All that I could think about was what if something had happened? What if I wasn’t able to get to you in time…” said Marlena flatly. The thought had left her numb.

John braced himself for the floodgate of hell to be unleashed. He could see the door of it opening as he looked deep into Marlena’s hazel eyes as they changed to an ominous shade of amber.

“You opted to ask for forgiveness instead of permission and I understand your reasons. We are in this together and I will never speak of this again under one condition,” she said.

“Name it,” said John, plagued with more guilt than he knew how to handle.

“Don’t EVER lie to me again,” she said sternly.

John looked into Marlena’s eyes as a tear fell from the corner of his eye as he began to laugh.

“Doc, you are really pissed and that’s a fact, because I can feel you squeezing the hell out of my hand!” rejoiced John. “I can feel you squeezing my hand baby!”

Marlena loosened her grip immediately but then grabbed John tightly again, “Wait what?! You can feel my hand?  John, are you saying…?”

“I am saying that I felt you and it was the most beautiful sensation I have ever felt in my entire life.”

Marlena snapped back to reality and realized that she was now facing a different aspect of this new normal leaving her very unsure of herself. So much had happened with John’s recovery at a jettisoned pace that she never really took the time to figure out how she planned to share a bed with him again.

She was madly in love with him and very attracted to him, but outside of a little heavy petting when they first arrived at the clinic, they hadn’t had an intimate moment since John’s latest stage of recovery.

She’d had a general chat with the doctors on engaging in sexual activity and it was unanimous that their only limitations were their own which pleased John to no end.

The truth was, she hadn’t been sexual with John for years in theory. She had slept with him twice when he had no memory prior to the accident, but the dynamics now were so different. John had made enormous strides since arriving here, but to his dismay achieving an erection was still on the horizon.

Marlena looked at the clock and realized that John would be in physical therapy for the rest of the afternoon which gave her some time to collect her thoughts. On a whim she picked up the phone in hopes to hear a friendly voice.

“Laura? It’s Marlena. Can you chat? I miss you and need some advice,” she said.

“I am all ears,” said Laura as she grabbed her cup of coffee and curled up ready to engage in a profound deep dive with one of the smartest people she knew.

As a psychiatrist, Marlena knew all too well how important communication was in any relationship. The problem she faced now was not knowing what to say. “It’s very sensitive and it has been bothering me for a while now leaving me to feel…vulnerable,” she said. “I love John with all of my heart and soul, and we have always had this inexplicable connection, almost reading each other’s mind. John has been cleared to be an outpatient and will be moving back into our bed.”

“Oh my gosh Marlena, that is amazing! What specifically are you feeling vulnerable about?” asked Laura.

“John still has several limitations and I don’t know how to approach sexual intimacy with a partner with disabilities. I don’t want to jump back into things like nothing has changed, but I also don’t want to make John feel like any modifications are a problem for me. I guess I don’t know the right amount of intensity to aim for,” she said, feeling lighter after purging her innermost thoughts.

“Oh Marlena. I think the best approach is to share exactly what you just said with John. Communication is your biggest asset right now. You both do have this strong bond, which should make it easier to connect on so many other levels,” pointed out Laura. “It’s all about discovering new ways to tap into pleasing each other. Just be open about what you want and encourage John to do the same. Provided you both are honest with your needs and desires, I am sure things will fall into place.”

“It has been a while since I’ve been with John romantically although we have made out a few times,” recalled Marlena fondly. “I feel so stupid. I have been with this man for years and yet I feel like this is our first time in a way.   Does that make sense?”

“Absolutely, but think about it like this…remember the butterflies in your stomach during your first date? That tingle when you both reached for the salt and touched each other’s hand? The anticipation of his kiss at the end of the evening? Find the excitement in the newness. It truly is a fresh start. Live in it. Enjoy it,” suggested Laura. 

She was right. The limitations would be what they wanted them to be and knowing John the way she did, she was certain that he would push the envelope with every opportunity that presented itself.

“So a lot of communication and a little imagination, huh?” asked Marlena trying to dig deep for the courage she lacked.

“You got this girlfriend. Marlena, you and John have always had a relationship that I envy. I will never forget one 4th of July, I was talking to him about something extremely important and suddenly he paused mid-sentence and smiled. His back was to the door and yet he felt you walk into the room. It was remarkable,” said Laura.

Spending the afternoon chatting with Laura had put Marlena’s mind at ease. She looked at the clock and wondered how John’s physical therapy was going. If all went according to plan, he would be cleared to move back in with Marlena and they could start this new phase of their lives. It was like a dream having her John back in her arms each night, she just hoped they could adjust to the changes.

Just as Marlena was about to call the nurses station to get an update, there was a light tap on her door. John sat before her all smiles holding a box in his hand. “Honey, I’m home!”

Marlena stood at the door in shock with her hand resting across her heart. She’d watched John working hard every day to get to this moment and yet she was completely blown away with the fact that he was before her on his own with a gift in his hand.

“Hi sailor!” said Marlena as she stepped aside and watched John maneuver his wheelchair. Her first inclination was to help him, but she refrained herself and just watched in awe. “Welcome home.”

John had shown up hours earlier than Marlena expected which added an element of surprise to her day. She had been so focused on preparing to care for John and she was starting to realize that he was becoming very independent.

John moved around the room to adjust to his surroundings. The room had already been furnished and designed to accommodate patients with mobility challenges so he anticipated a seamless transition.  He just stopped and looked at Marlena to take her in. He hadn’t felt this alive in ages and it was all thanks to the love of her.

“Can I just say how beautiful you look? Ravaging actually,” said John, getting lost in her eyes.

“Sure ya can,” she said, trying to get an extra compliment.

“Ok, you look beautiful Mrs. Black. Simply ravaging,” said John staring deep into her soul. “Come sit with me. I have something for you.”

Marlena sat next to John and couldn’t help but notice the obvious black box with the gold bow. She felt that twinge of excitement that Laura had reminded her to capture. “Is that for me? You can’t show a girl a box from Barney’s and it not be for her,” she said, full of intrigue.

“That would be cruel now wouldn’t it?” said John in a husky whisper.

Marlena could feel him undressing her with his eyes making her shift nervously in her seat. She was trying to control herself, but John had a way of coaxing her out of her shell.  She bit her bottom lip to remind her to pace herself. All she wanted to do was sweep her lips over John’s and get lost in him.

John handed her the gift and watched her open it with bated breath. When she saw the contents she paused and gasped into the back of her hand and looked in amazement. “John…, this is exquisite. I don’t know what to say,” said Marlena, completely floored.

It was a diamond eternity band with their initials inscribed on the inside. John took the ring out of the box, slightly nervous in his own right. So much so that a bead of sweat began to glisten at his temple. His fingers trembled slightly as he perched the ring between them, mastering his newfound dexterity.

“I have been working on this for weeks because it was important to me that you know how much you mean to me and how much I need you in my life. You are my life and as I slide this ring on your finger, I want you to know that it represents my eternal promise to never lie to you again,” said John.  He had come so far and he was determined to regain the strength and dexterity to place this ring on Marlena’s finger. It was ceremonial and represented a huge accomplishment they had achieved together.

Marlena watched John grab her hand and slowly slide the ring on her finger. The feeling of his hands caressing hers took her breath away. She had waited so long for this moment and it was here. After all of the calamities and snags along the way, her John Black was back and she was never going to let him go. She leapt into John’s arms and kissed him passionately, swirling her tongue with his. She could taste his breath with hers as she curled her fingers in his hair.

“I love you so much,” she whispered in between kisses before pulling back to look into his hypnotic blue eyes.

“I love you, Doc. More than words could ever say,” he said, sighing in relief. “I have to be honest; I am so glad that’s over!”

They both laughed and embraced. Marlena could appreciate John expressing his vulnerabilities. It was the sign she needed to let down her guard and share her insecurities too.

“You were stressing out?” she asked while softly caressing his face and loving every detail.

“You have no idea,” said John.

“I think I do,” said Marlena as she stared at her ring in amazement. “This means more to me than I could ever say.”

John patted his lap, beckoning Marlena to sit with him. She was hesitant with this underlying fear of hurting him but accepted his invitation just the same.  She sat on John’s lap and draped her arm around his neck while resting her head on his shoulder. Running her fingers through his hair, Marlena felt so good being close to him again. She was so grateful that they had been given another chance and she vowed to never take their life together for granted.

“You feel so good. I have missed this more than you know,” said Marlena.

“You’ve missed sitting in my lap in a wheelchair?” asked John jokingly.

Marlena chuckled and so appreciated John’s light-hearted humor. Despite how difficult this journey had been, he always managed to have a great sense of humor. It was one of the attributes that kept their bond so strong. She lost herself in thought when John tried to tap in.

“Talk to me Doc. Tell me what you are thinking,” said John as he grabbed her ring finger and kissed it.

Marlena remained  pensive as she recalled her enlightening conversation with Laura.

“I spoke to Laura today and she sends her love and well wishes on your recovery. She also helped me with something that I’ve been struggling with,” began Marlena as she nervously played with the collar on John’s shirt.

“What’s going on, Doc? Is there something I can help you with?” he asked, always being supportive.

“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve shared a bed and I’m just feeling very…insecure and vulnerable. Unsure of what to do. What’s right and what’s wrong. What’s too much or not enough. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come and I just don’t want to be unrealistic. This is all new to me,” confessed Marlena.

John laced his fingers with hers and took a sigh of relief. “I have the same fears and I think the best way to start is to just communicate. For starters, I miss being close to you. I miss hearing you moan in my ear when I touch you here,” said John as he placed his hand on the delicate inner face of her thigh. 

Marlena quivered slightly as John’s hand made itself at home poised at her center. She rubbed her hands up his torso and brushed her lips across his.

“Well I know you haven’t fully gotten sensation in your lower half and while I want to explore with you, I don’t know what to…” began Marlena.

“Doc, everything about you turns me on. The way you smell,” said John as he sniffed her neck and moved down to her cleavage. “The way you sound and the way you look. Everything about you drives me insane.”

John pulled back and looked into Marlena’s eyes, tipping her chin toward him to command her attention. “Doc, just because I haven’t achieved an erection yet, doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to you. I will stop at nothing to make you happy and that includes making you come and scream in my ear, do you understand me? We connect on so many levels and I’m looking forward to discovering new ways to turn you on,” he said as his bold hands grabbed eagerly at her blouse.

“Oh John,” Marlena moaned as she felt herself falling into that old familiar place. It had been years since she felt the full essence of John’s mind, body and spirit besiege her.

“It’s going to be ok. I’ll prove it to you. Grab your sweater and come with me,” said John on a whim.

“Oh anytime and anyplace,” said Marlena as she tried to shake off the lust filled haze looming over her. “Where are we going?”

“We are just going out for a bit. Just trust me alright,” said John.

“Oh I do. With all my heart and soul,” replied Marlena, stealing one last kiss before she jumped to her feet.

John escorted Marlena around the grounds of the clinic and explored areas of the facility that he’d never seen. He had a newfound appreciation for taking a leisurely stroll. For months he worked himself tirelessly for this moment.

Marlena stood beside John at the edge of a water fountain full of coins from all around the world  just beyond the main entrance.

“Give me a coin,” said John.

“Ha! I haven’t seen cash since we checked into this place,” said Marlena enjoying the sound of the water trickling down the iron centerpiece.

“I think you should check your left breast  pocket,” said John. ” Just above those freckles I told you about.”

John always knew how to make Marlena laugh. He had an insatiable knack for turning the most mundane occurrences into moments. Marlena rubbed her hand over her breast pocket and found 2 coins to her surprise and examined them closely.

“Mexican pesos? Where in the hell did you find Mexican pesos?” asked Marlena.

“Work with me here. You’d be shocked how hard it was for me to come up with those. Coins around here are pretty scarce,” said John raising his eyebrow while plucking a peso from Marlena’s hand. “Now make a wish.”

Marlena held her coin in a tight fist and thought long and hard about a befitting wish. What could she wish when she had so much to be grateful for?  She looked at John, smiled and then tossed the coin into the water.

“What did you wish for?” asked John.

“I can’t tell you! If I tell you, it may never come true,” said Marlena, holding on to the tradition of old age folklore.

John kissed the back of her hand and tossed his coin in and heard it plunge into the water. “I heard that if you make a wish and the coin makes a splash, the person next to you has to tell you what they wished for,” said John.

Marlena wrinkled her nose full of incredulity taking in the absurdity of what she had just heard.  “And where might I ask, did you hear something so ridiculous?”

“It was the very wise and revered Bugs Bunny I believe,” said John keeping a straight face.

Marlena shoved his shoulder and smiled realizing that they were just the same as they’d always been, if not stronger. She no longer felt intimidated about the unknown. She no longer felt like she had to have all of the answers. This was their new normal and they would figure things out on the fly like everything else.

“Are you hungry?” asked John.

“I am starving,” she replied.

“Good. Let’s go back up and order something special. I feel like celebrating,” said John kissing Marlena’s left hand adorned with 5 karats of promise.

Marlena entered their suite with takeout on the mind only to have it blown apart by the candlelit table for two before her.  She just stood in awe and smiled. She could feel John behind her beaming with pride.

Marlena turned around to shower him with affection. “What am I going to do with you?” she asked, kissing him passionately on the lips.

“I have a few ideas, but first let’s eat!” roared John full of enthusiasm.

It was a beautiful night and a fabulous meal according to the empty plates and wine bottle illuminated by the candles now burned to the nub.

John and Marlena cuddled in bed making out like hormonal teenagers. It was as innocent as a first date as they lounged fully clothed on top of the comforter.

“So how do you feel?” asked John as he stroked Marlena’s hair out of her eyes so that he could gaze into them.

There were so many ways Marlena could have answered that question but they all led to the same answer.

“I feel great! I feel spoiled,” she said, waving her new ring in the air admiring it from afar.

“I’m glad to hear that, but how do you feel?” asked John again while tapping his finger on Marlena’s heart.

“Oh my,” said Marlena, giving it thought. She adjusted herself, cuddling closer into John letting go of all of her inhibitions.   Rubbing her leg up against the side of John, she finished her thoughts. “I feel safe. I feel comfortable and I feel horny.”

John raised his eyebrow and asked, “How horny?”

“Horny enough to tell you how bad I need to feel you touch me right now,” said Marlena as she kissed John forcefully with want and need. “I’ve missed being close to you and feeling your warm body on mine. Is it ok to say that?”

“Only if it’s ok for me to say that I miss tasting you and hearing you moan,” John replied while pushing his hand up Marlena’s blouse and cupping her breasts. Her soft skin felt like silk under his finger tips.

Marlena took her time and remembered all of the subtle nuances that always pushed them to the brink of ecstasy.  She unbuttoned her blouse, removed her bra and enjoyed watching John lose himself like a kid in a candy store.

She straddled John and watched him explore her breasts in wonderment, flicking her erect nipples with his aggressive tongue while squeezing with the perfect amount of pressure. Marlena felt the burgeoning tension build as she tilted her head back cushioning her mound against John’s powerful physique with her skirt pushed above her hips.

John studied her form and traced his fingers over her left nipple becoming reacquainted with the three freckles he’d grown quite fond of before resting his hands on Marlena’s hips fusing his body into her void.

He watched  her restrain from grinding into him when he gently guided her hips into circular motions, “It’s ok. You don’t have to be afraid,” said John as his breathing increased. “It’s still me Doc. Let go.”

Marlena grabbed John’s hand and slid it into her moistened panties as she continued to slowly roll her hips. “Please,” she managed to utter as she saw the lust in John’s eyes.

John could feel her sticky heat warm the palm of his hand before he rubbed her swollen clit making her body shudder with bliss.  He watched her body move up and down on his fingers as her lavender scented breasts swayed to his delight.

“Damn you turn me on woman,” said John removing his hand only to sample a taste of her essence.

Marlena removed John’s shirt and slid his pants down exposing his flaccid manhood. While it would have been an uncomfortable moment for some, it was actually empowering for both of them. Not avoiding that part of his body and incorporating it into their love making turned John on even more. It was an endearing gesture of acceptance that made John love her more, if it was even possible.

Marlena straddled over John’s exposed form and leaned into him. “Do you trust me?” she asked in a low and sultry whisper. She was drunk with passion and planned to act on it.

“You know I do,” said John as he dropped his hands to his side as a form of trust and submission.

Marlena lowered her warm center over John, gliding his penis between her slit. With the right amount of pressure, they’d successfully crossed a huge creative milestone.

He was wowed by her. He worshiped her. John watched Marlena’s body fuse with his gliding freely while loving the feel of him; the very part of  him that he thought would not be a factor in pleasing her in the way they’d  known before.

Marlena caressed John’s face in her hands as she explored his mouth freely with her tongue. There was something new and erotic about their lovemaking and she was going to enjoy every bit of it.

John was amazed with the closeness and satisfaction he was experiencing. Exploring this new uncharted territory was going to be an adventure that he was looking forward to. Oh the naughty things that were coming into his mind as his hands explored Marlena’s body as she slid her way to orgasm.

“Oh John,” panted Marlena as she felt herself approaching climax. Resting her hands on his chest, she leaned her forehead against his and looked deep into his eyes.

He could taste her breath as she groaned deep from within her diaphragm as her body began to quiver. Her orgasmic whimpers suddenly sent a sensation of euphoria through John’s body making him tingle all over. 

Coming down from an earth moving orgasm, Marlena collapsed against John’s chest panting breathlessly.

“John?” she called out.

“Doc?” he called out too.

She looked down and deduced that her research was right, one didn’t need an erection to achieve orgasm.

Chapter 6

Marlena slept comfortably nuzzled under John’s arm with her freshly diamond encrusted left hand on his chest. John laid awake staring at the ceiling as he pulled her into him. For some reason he felt like the closer she was to him, the more he could feel her. In the back of his mind he knew it was illogical, but he did it anyway.

Laying on his back for 9 months gave John a lot of time to think about things most take for granted. He had spent most of his present life cursing Stefano DiMera and could not escape the fact that thanks to him, two of the most inexplicably fortunate things happened to him; meeting and falling in love with Marlena and now his miraculous recovery.

He rubbed his arm along the side of Marlena watching his hand go up and down with the curves of her body as her warm breath blanketed his chest in slow relaxed puffs. It was a good night and John was feeling grateful. He felt like there was hope of getting his life back, or at least the best chunks of it. Their lovemaking was a great start although John was still trying to wrap his head around this new normal.

Marlena stirred in her sleep as she cuddled into John, rubbing her hand up his chest. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so safe and worry free. Stretching luxuriously, Marlena opened her eyes and found John gazing longingly at her face. She knew what he was thinking because she was thinking it too.

“I’ll explain it in a second. Let me just wake up all the way,” grumbled Marlena, refusing to start her day.

John had just raced through a million thoughts in the last few minutes and had no idea what she was speaking about. “Explain what?” asked John.

“Last night?” she reminded him. “Unless of course it wasn’t memorable.”

John remembered alright. He and Marlena had embarked on a new adventure and while he was very pleased he was also very confused. There were so many facets of his condition that he was going to have to explore.

“Um honey, I definitely didn’t forget. I’m just here for the ride. Pun intended,” joked John.

Waking up in his arms with a smile was more than Marlena could ask for. She had always been a minimalist and she truly did appreciate the little things. Were they back in Salem with their family and friends? Was John completely recovered? No, but they were together and willing to fight with all they had to get their lives back.

Marlena sat up and looked around the room and was pleased to see the lovely mess strewn all about. The empty wine glasses, discarded articles of clothing and displaced pillows were all tell-tale signs of a successful evening.

“Good morning lover,” she said while stealing a quick morning peck. “What’s on the docket for the day?”

Marlena jumped out of bed scantily clad in John’s t-shirt that hung modestly just above her thighs. She bent over to grab a pair of lace panties that she clearly wasn’t wearing, giving John a great view of her assets. When he recalled the breathtaking views of Switzerland, this one wasn’t in the brochure. He was clearly going to have another sample before they started their day.

“Well, I did arrange to limit my treatments and therapies for the day. I was looking forward to just focusing on you,” said John as he watched her disappear into the bathroom.

He gulped with trepidation as he looked at his wheelchair parked right next to his bed. It was the first time he was actually about to manage a morning routine all on his own. He’d practiced this maneuver a million times, but attempting it now had him feeling a bit nervous. He heard the water running in the distance from the bathroom as he pushed on to get himself out of bed.

Marlena stepped out of the bathroom and paused at the door watching John secretly. She needed to reassure herself that not jumping to do everything for him was the right move, supporting his autonomy. Watching him gracefully transfer from the bed to his chair made her radiate with pride and felt it was now appropriate to announce herself.

“Hey sailor!” she called out as she posed in the doorway whipping her golden tresses back and forth. “How about we act like newlyweds all day.”

John looked into the air to ponder such a thought and rubbed his hands with glee. “That sounds like the best idea I have heard in ages.”

Marlena walked over to him seductively, taking a seat on his lap with confidence. “How about I order us some breakfast and today’s paper,” said Marlena, kissing him softly behind his ear. “We can eat, make love, nap and then order lunch and start all over again.”

“What if I told you I was hungry now,” whispered John as he palmed the cheeks of her ass. She had neglected to put on panties which invited John to press on with his morning agenda.

Marlena stroked the side of his face and looked at him with lust filled eyes. “What did you have a taste for?” she asked, predicting his response.

John managed to chauffeur her over to the foot of the bed where Marlena took a seat facing him. She sat poised and silent with a come hither grin as John slowly leaned in and tugged at the bottom of her already lifted t-shirt. Lowering his eyes to her center, he slowly moved his hands up her silky inner thighs savoring every inch of the journey. Spreading her knees apart, he was now face to face with her snatch dragging his lips up the path until he stopped at her awakening mound.

Marlena raked her fingers through his hair as she watched him strategize on how to attack this feast. She could feel her loins starting to salivate in anticipation of his touch. She wanted him. She needed him. She craved him. Her body’s response to John Black was beyond her control. It always had been.

John grabbed Marlena’s hips with his warm firm hands and aggressively tugged her toward his face to get up close and personal. Marlena felt a new sense of power and brute strength in his touch. John’s workouts had elevated his upper strength significantly and the feel of the raw energy on her body made Marlena shudder.

“Oh my gosh how I love you,” she purred while arching her back and melting under his force.

John slowly kissed Marlena’s folds before sweeping his tongue up and down her slit. He had fantasized about the hypnotically sweet taste between her thighs and he planned to savor every moment.

Swirling his tongue around her clit, John hooked his finger into her slick walls giving the perfect amount of force and friction to get the job done right.

Marlena collapsed onto the bed all consumed. She spread her legs like a butterfly, giving John full access to the depths of her soul. The powerful force of his tongue swept up and down her opening as his finger plunged in and out.

He lifted his head only to watch her. John’s favorite sight in the world was the expression of euphoria spread across Marlena’s face. She glanced down to find John watching her squirm and smiled, flexing her hips as he playfully tapped on her g-spot.

“Gosh you taste so good,” moaned John as he returned to feast between her thighs.

Marlena could feel her orgasm approach and tried to relax to hold on to this moment. Her body began to tingle all over as she grabbed the back of John’s head and forced it into her core.

“OH YES!” screamed Marlena loud enough to wake the dead. “Right there John! Please don’t stop!”

John obeyed Marlena’s command and held formation. He could feel her slick walls quiver around his fingers as he pumped in and out of her with precision. The taste of her arousal sent John into his own euphoria as he felt Marlena’s body twitch with satisfaction. She bellowed in ecstasy from deep within her gut.

Dazed and mellow, Marlena laid like a starfish in the center of the bed staring at the ceiling. She enjoyed the waves of pleasure surging through her body.

John rested his chin on her thigh and gazed up at her completely smitten. She was the color to his black and white and he could not make it without her.

“You’re welcome,” said John pushing back into his chair with a smirk across his face.

Marlena grabbed a pillow and tossed it at John playfully before leaping into his arms. “Now that you’ve eaten, can we order breakfast? I’m starved,” said Marlena.

John and Marlena sat across from the table enjoying a rather late breakfast as they glanced over their sections of the American newspapers they made an effort to scan daily. It was a way to check on “home”.

John peered over his business section and watched Marlena engrossed in her article. He truly could watch her all day. Her crazy mane swept to the side exposing the curve of her collarbone. She finally felt him staring at her and spoke without looking up.

“I read this article about sex and intimacy with partners that have sustained paralysis and spinal cord injuries and did you know that the ejaculatory mechanism can occur whether your penis is erect or flaccid, meaning you don’t need to have an erection in order to reach orgasm and ejaculate,” said Marlena.

John just looked at her and raised his eyebrow continuing to listen. He loved it when she spoke clinical while she sat before him half naked smelling of lavender and sex.

“You are fascinating,” said John as he sipped coffee and just watched her in awe.

“I’m just answering that burning question,” she added without looking up. She knew she was flirting with him and she loved the game.

“The process that allows you to reach orgasm and ejaculate is separate from the process that’s responsible for giving you an erection,” explained Marlena, finally looking over her paper at John and stealing his bacon.

“You looked that up?” asked John, aiming to make Marlena stir.

“I looked up a lot of things,” said Marlena flirtatiously. She was enjoying the banter ensuing.

“Oh, like what? I mean you had to have come across other fascinating things during your research,” inquired John. He was determined to press Marlena for every ounce of useful information.

She looked back down at her coffee and smiled coyly. She conceded as he made her blush and break her poised demeanor.

“Well in regards to sex, I will admit that I did want to understand what we would be facing. I needed to make sure I understood every possible way to connect with you,” began Marlena. She reached across the table and stroked John’s chiseled jaw. “And it’s not about the sex. It’s mentally and emotionally too. I just need for us to always be in sync.”

John grabbed her hand and kissed her delicate inner wrist. He’d spent countless nights worried about his challenges all the while Marlena was bypassing them all, refusing to give John’s condition the power. She loved him mind, body and soul and her resilience and strength was proving it to him everyday.

“What did I do to deserve you?” asked John.

“Well gee, you’ve done so many wonderful things for so many people, John Black. Your friends respect you, your children adore you and I cherish you,” shared Marlena.

It was truly a honeymoon in every sense. John and Marlena closed themselves off from the world, allowing themselves to be consumed with each other. Nothing else outside of their suite mattered. They had forged their own little menagerie.

Marlena made the bed for the 2nd time today and with any luck, there would be a 3rd. She was happy to do it instead of having to explain to housekeeping why her panties, a cheesy romance novel, a bag of Doritos and a tennis ball were tangled in the sheets.

“Doc, the movie is starting,” John called out.

She grabbed the Doritos before scurrying off where John had made himself comfortable on the sofa with a blanket. She snuggled under the blanket and took refuge in his arms.

“What are we watching, again?” asked Marlena with trepidation. John had sworn it was his turn to pick the movie although she begged to differ.

“Trust me,” said John kissing her softly behind the ear. “Look at it this way, if it’s a bad movie, we can make our own.”

Marlena smiled sheepishly at the thought. Maybe making the bed again would happen sooner than she anticipated. Maybe they would never make it to the bed. Having her way with John on the sofa would suit her just fine.

To Marlena’s surprise, John had selected Mr. & Mrs. Smith. She was very familiar with the original with Carole Lombard but was happy to catch the rebooted version with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. She cuddled into John enjoying the blend of his touch, a great movie and what remained in the bag of Doritos.

“Oh my gosh! Shooting the rocket launcher like that would have blown his head off. Ridiculous,” scoffed John at the TV.

“Hey, you picked the movie. I’m enjoying it myself,” said Marlena. “Besides, we all know how well you know your way around special weapons and tactics and you could take Brad Pitt any day.”

John felt her tighten his grip around her waist as he moved his focus to kissing the back of her neck. It just so happened to be during the scene when the main characters’ fist to cuffs is interrupted by unbridled passion and mind-blowing sex.

“I have been known to work well with my hands,” he whispered into Marlena’s ear as he began to explore her body. He’d made his way up her blouse and rested his warm hands on her ribs, purposefully coming close to her breasts.

Marlena tried to focus on the movie, but John was making it impossible. The screen was heating up as Mr. & Mrs. Smith kissed passionately against the wall, toppling onto the floor. It brought back fond memories of the vast array of moments that John and Marlena had shared over the years.

“This reminds me of that time we made up after that huge fight,” said Marlena trying to recall what the fight was about. “The fight was stupid but the sex was great.”

John’s hands continued to wander as they found themselves under Marlena’s bra, cupping her breasts softly. “If you are talking about the fight at Carrie and Austin’s wedding, that was your fault,” he said.

“My fault!” she exclaimed as she turned around to face John. Laying on top of him and face to face, she looked deep into his eyes. “You were the one that was late if I recall. I distinctly recall telling you to drop your dry cleaning off 2 days prior. How was I supposed to know that you wanted to wear that particular suit?”

“I always wear that suit to weddings,” said John emphatically as he showered Marlena with gentle baby kisses along the curve of her collarbone. He swept her hair out of his way as he went in for more.

She relaxed her body on top of him and found her core responding to his touch. Resting the palm of her hands on his chest, she arched her back and gave in to the feel of him.

“You have dozens of suits. What are you talking about,” she replied between kisses. Despite the action ensuing on the screen between Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Black had a situation brewing of their own.

“But this particular suit has a more generous inseam,” replied John as he slowly flicked open the buttons of Marlena’s blouse one by one. “You see, the sight of you all dressed up kept me rock hard all day.”

“Then that would explain what happened in the storage closet of the reception hall. I recall us arguing in the corridor only to be snatched behind a closed door and pinned against the wall,” she recalled fondly. “If memory serves, you demanded to have your way with me.”

“That’s a fact,” said John. “You wore lace crotchless panties too.”

Grinding her hips into John to jar her memory, Marlena brandished a sly grin. “Oh my! How could I forget? I guess I was preparing for make-up sex. And it worked,” she said dragging her mouth down the side of John’s neck.

“It did,” said John as he peeled Marlena’s open blouse off her shoulders bringing her erect nipples into his mouth.

“I will never forget how you grabbed me by my shoulders and pinned me against the wall,” moaned Marlena. “It took my breath away.”

“I’ll never forget how I bunched up your dress and ripped your nylons. Your thighs were damp. If memory serves, I slid right in,” he groaned.

“My body has always craved you. Even when I tried to fight it, I never could,” she moaned into his mouth swirling her tongue about. “Your hard body slamming into mine.”

As the movie played on the television, John and Marlena told their own story by making out heavily like horny teenagers. It was something erotic about trying to show restraint. Marlena rubbed her hands up John’s torso as she began to thrust her body into his. As her throbbing snatch began to yearn for more attention, she reminded herself to focus on John’s needs. She allowed her hands to wander, massaging his perfect form.

John remembered the sexual escapade even more vividly as he was flooded with fond memories thanks to Marlena’s touch. It was her love that willed his body to heal as he longed to feel her slick walls tighten around his shaft again.

“I was amazed at how you draped your leg over my shoulder as I drilled into you with slow shallow thrusts,” he remembered.

“That’s right! I was on my yoga kick then. Flexible,” she purred as she began to kiss his chest all the way down to his stomach.

“You should pick that back up. Could come in handy. What’s it called? Downward dog? Watching you bend over and stretch made my nature rise,” he said watching Marlena slide her hands down to fondle his crotch.

The sight of her touching him had turned John on more than he could express. She was gentle but assertive. She was oblivious to his affliction but mindful of his need to be close to her. He watched her give such love and affection and yet he was only able to feel her touch with his eyes.

On instinct, Marlena felt inclined to test John’s senses by reaching into his pants and stroking him softly, coaxing his body to respond. He had made so many remarkable strides over the last few months it was only a matter of time before more improvements presented themselves.

“Gosh I love you woman,” he grunted before fusing his lips with hers.

The driving force of his kiss beckoned her, as she kept her hand down his pants. “I hope I’m not being too forward,” she whispered looking longingly into his eyes. She longed to worship every part of him.

“Never,” he replied, returning the favor with his brazen hands sliding down into her moistened vessel.

There they were, nestled on a sofa completely enthralled in each other. It was the perfect example of unconditional love. She could not exist without him nor could he without her. And while she was happy to have his stroking fingers match that of his tongue, she was ecstatic to feel John achieving a mild erection in her hand.

She glanced down and tugged at his waistband to reveal her discovery. “Darling, if you don’t do something with this, I’m going to have to.”

Chapter 7

John’s head was spinning as he tried to wrap it around what happened during their heavy make out session on the sofa. He had managed to achieve a slight erection but to his dismay, it was only for a brief moment. Now he laid in bed perplexed about what this all meant.

Marlena stood before John applying her lavender scented cream on her arms and hands dressed for bed. She sensed that he was conflicted or deep in thought about what she hoped he didn’t consider a failure on his part.

“Can I get you anything before we turn in honey,” asked Marlena.

John forced a smile and grabbed her left hand and stared at Marlena’s ring before he kissed her delicate inner wrist. “No, dear I’m good,” he said with his mind elsewhere.

Marlena kissed him on the lips and stroked his cheek. Everything didn’t require a conversation or a deep dive. This was one of many bumps in the road that they were going to come across and Marlena had her mind made up that John’s rise to the occasion was a great thing, despite his inability to maintain.

She crawled into bed and turned off the light, snuggling into him. John just laid there staring into the abyss.

A few moments past before Marlena felt John’s spirit tug at her core, beckoning her to speak.

‘Yes dear,” said Marlena as if she were called.

“I didn’t say anything,” replied John, stroking her shoulder.

“I know, but I heard your heart call me so I’m answering,” she replied.

John just smiled and shook his head. “You heard or I guess felt that?” he asked. “Of course you did. I don’t even know why I asked that question.”

Marlena didn’t say a word. She just listened intently while running her index finger up and down John’s bare chest. While she was always Mrs. Black, she could never completely subdue Dr. Evans.

“Why aren’t you wearing your charm bracelet?” John asked, breaking the ice.

Marlena rubbed her wrists. “It’s…oh my,” she said sitting up. “It’s in Salem. I’d stopped wearing it after you and I, well you and…It’s packed with our things. We left in a haste.”

John rubbed her shoulder and kissed it. The smell of her lavender got his attention so he doubled dipped and kissed her shoulder again.

“Don’t worry about it honey. It’s safe, I just noticed your wrist earlier and thought about it,” he said.

Marlena laid back down on his chest and used the bracelet as a segue. “Hey, I’ll call Salem tomorrow and have Kayla send the bracelet. She has access to our storage. I could have some of our things sent. What would you like?”

“Outside of the kids, and grandkids, I have everything I need right here,” said John.

“I disagree,” began Marlena before taking a beat. “You forgot your arrogance.”

“My what?” asked John full of incredulity.

“John, do you realize that only the most arrogant man could find a way to seduce me on a private jet; while I was married to someone else by the way — impregnate me, deliver our child, save me from the clutches of Stefano, raise our children…”

John tried to interrupt Marlena, but she wasn’t having it.

“…run a successful company, resurrect from the grave and still make me come just by looking at me,” said Marlena breathless before sweeping her lips over his.

She stared at him for a moment so that he could see the intensity in her eyes. He saw that sparkle that he didn’t need a light to see that always gave his spirit a jolt. It was as if he could absorb parts of her energy to get him over that last hump. Before he could find the right words to say, she smiled and laid back on his chest.

“So tonight got me to thinking,” said John. “I think you should start that yoga thing again. I mean, I wouldn’t want you to get all stiff and lose all that muscle memory…ya know.”

Marlena smiled because she knew John so well. She knew how to coax him out of self-deprecating thoughts that she was glad she could not hear. She knew that he still had low periods and made a concerted effort to lift his spirits without it being patronizing.

“John, just say you want me to wear the yoga pants that give me the…,” said Marlena searching for words.

“Camel toe?” asked John with a twinge of excitement.

“Oh my gosh! I was going to say firm ass!” she exclaimed.

“Well that too,” he quipped.

“Just say you want to watch me do yoga and I don’t know, maybe coach from the sideline,” Marlena said flirtatiously. “I mean you know my form better than anyone.”

“That I do,” said John running his finger across her back. “That I do.”

“Unless you think it could have a…negative effect on you. A man in your condition and all,” she said playfully.

John knew what she was up to and he loved her for it. He could admit that he had gotten in his own head about his body responding for a moment. While Marlena was focused on the fact that it happened, he was only able to see that it didn’t happen the way he wanted. She helped him see the absurdity in that.

“Studies show that a beautiful woman bending over is what’s needed for a man in my condition. It helps increase my heart rate, blood flow and brain activity,” said John flirting back.

“Well if you can stay positive, maybe I can work on getting that leg back up,” said Marlena.

And just like that, they were fast asleep.

John sat in the hot shower alone in deep thought. Despite how grateful he was with his progress, he was still struggling with his limitations. Was this as good as it was going to get? Was he destined to remain in this chair for the rest of his life? Would he be able to fulfill Marlena completely? He was very aware that she was dedicated to him, but sometimes he had this nagging thought that he was becoming a burden. These thoughts were silly and he knew it, but it didn’t stop them from plaguing his mind just the same.

John came out of the bathroom slightly damp with a towel draped across his shoulders. He wished he’d pushed for another day of leisure as he preferred connecting with his wife and best friend. He adored her. He loved her. He needed her.

Timed perfectly, Marlena stood at the dining table wearing a very revealing pair of yoga pants and it’s matching sports bra, leaving very little to the imagination.

“Good morning sailor,” she said while pouring him a fresh cup of coffee. “Busy day today?”

John took his cup of coffee without taking his eyes off of her. Her yoga pants hugged her narrow hips accentuating her perky ass that had managed to fight gravity very well. She wasn’t making this easy for him and somehow, that was part of the allure.

“Yes, very busy,” said John leering at her cleavage.

Marlena nonchalantly spread out her yoga mat in front of the window and proceeded to stretch as John looked on.

“It’s a beautiful day. Hopefully we can make some time and get some air,” she said.

John sat across the room and watched Marlena begin her sun salutation. Pressing her palms together, she stood in Mountain Pose, better known as Tadasana. She knew John was watching but made a point to pay him no mind. She just closed her eyes and took a deep inhale sweeping her arms overhead in wide arcs. She could feel the tightness in her shoulders so she kept her hands apart.

John continued to watch Marlena move in fluid motions, tantalizing him in a way that only she could. She had gone through her 12 distinct poses and was now on round two. Out of practice, she began to break a small sweat as she filled her lungs with a deep inhale. She gracefully transitioned from a High Lunge into the infamous Downward-Facing Dog pose guaranteed to hold John’s undivided attention. Marlena pressed the front of her thighs back as she pressed her inner hands firmly against the floor making sure to give John the best view.

He sipped his coffee once more before reaching for the phone, never breaking his stare. Watching the beads of sweat appear on her chest and trickle down her cleavage was giving him a new perspective on how he should spend his day.

“Good morning. John Black here. I was hoping to postpone my PT another day,” he said into the phone. “Nope, I’ve never felt better. I just…need to…catch up on a few things.”

Marlena couldn’t resist the urge to glance over her shoulder and smile at him. It was the first time she’d acknowledged him since she started.

“You changed your schedule around?” she asked, making sure to thrust her ass in his direction. She truly got off on teasing John. She had mastered the art of being a passive-aggressive flirt.

John moved his chair to improve his view. Even during his lowest points, the sight of Marlena in any form was a welcomed distraction.

“You are sexy as hell. Do you know that? asked John.

Marlena switched poses again. “I’ve heard it a few times,” she replied.

John sat transfixed and just watched the movement of her body. He just loved watching her in her natural form. It could be something as simple as turning the page of a book; he had come to the realization that he was mesmerized by her.

Marlena looked over to John and smiled. Improvising, she took a seat on top of the solid coffee table taking advantage of its perfect height. “Hey, partner stretch?” she asked, laying on her back and lifting her leg into the air.

John approached her and grabbed her heel and straightened her leg gently. He could smell the faint aroma of her sweat mixed with lavender reminding him of the hot nights of passion wherever their colliding bodies fell.

Marlena winced as John applied a little pressure on her thigh. Maybe John would have to stretch her out in more ways than one.

“Make sure your hips stay down and don’t strain. If need be, you can slightly bend your other knee,” said John.

His strong bare chest hovered over Marlena as he moved his hand down the back of her thigh and massaged it with the pad of his agile fingers.

“Ooh, easy. I’m tight,” she said gazing into his piercing blue eyes.

“Well, hopefully not for long,” he said releasing her leg gently and moving to the other side.

“Oh so are you going to help stretch me out?” she asked flirtatiously.

John brandished a smile. Perhaps it was Marlena’s smile. Perhaps it was her pheromones. Perhaps it was both, but John felt lighter just touching her. It wasn’t so long ago that just holding her hand was a goal. He finally found a blessing and made sure to count it.

John stretched her limb and caressed the tightness on her muscles, enjoying the feel of her tight body in his hands. They alternated a few times before switching things up.

“Lay on your stomach,” said John making sure to run his hands across Marlena’s ass.

John grabbed her ankle and gently bent her leg toward her ass ogling at every curve.

“Hmmm…,” moaned Marlena. “It hurts but it’s a…good pain. You know what I mean?”

“I do indeed,” he whispered so low that Marlena barely heard him.

Perhaps her distraction was working after all. She thrusted her ass in the air and tapped her hand on the table.

“You always did tap out first,” quipped John while grabbing her other ankle.

“Oh, like how you did in the car that time we blew out of Tuscany?” asked Marlena.

John tried to think back. There had been so many sexy moments that held a special place in his mind although all in his heart.

“Wait, that wasn’t Tuscany, that was the Pub and if I recall, you got a migraine from such a huge orgasm,” affirmed John.

Marlena sat up and looked him square in the eye with a twinge of resentment. “John Black, that was in the parking garage at University Hospital and you head butted me when YOU came.”

John thought back and then leaned in for a kiss. “Baby, every time with you is better than the last,” he said, brushing his lips across hers.

Marlena leaned in to him and stroked the side of his face. “I love you and I’m so so grateful to have you back,” she moaned into his mouth.

John swirled his tongue with hers full of equal proportions of lust and gratitude. It had just occurred to him that this woman in his arms was so grateful to have him in her life as he was.

“I love you. And for the record, I tapped out on the beach,” said John as he continued to explore Marlena’s mouth with his tongue.

“Omg you are right,” she said kissing John all over. She could feel her loins starting to stir. “It was the thing…”

John recalled vividly now. They were on the beach and managed to find a secluded corner. “Baby that was more than a thing,” he groaned.

He was right. It was more than a thing. It was one of the first times in recent years that Marlena had completely surprised John with a very illicit form of PDA.

Marlena raked her fingers down John’s hard chest. Just the feel of his touch on the small of her back made her body quiver. This is what got her off. This is what made her center cream for him.

“I could come just kissing you,” she mewled as her body trembled ever so slightly.

John could feel himself bringing Marlena to climax with the power of his touch and the swirl of his tongue. He lived to bring her pleasure and he could tell from the feel of her skin that she was inches from euphoria.

Tugging at the rim of John’s boxers, Marlena felt his maleness respond to her. Pensive but excited she reached into his shorts and gently caressed him. They both realized that an incredible moment was happening and decided to live in it.

They just continued to kiss face to face. It was tender and special. John plucked at the edge of Marlena’s pants aiming for her slit when her body began to palpitate.

“Ohh, John,” she panted softly.

She’d managed to come before he even touched her inner folds, but reached into her panties anyway. The fragrance of her warm honey on the tips of his fingers was like Christmas morning.

Marlena shoved her hand down her panties beside his, using her juices to slide her hand up and down John with ease. It was the best she could do on the fly, extending their moment by a few minutes.

While John didn’t climax he still came in a way. It was yet another step forward in the right direction. He was able to appreciate the moment. He had worked so hard to get to this point.

Marlena laced her fingers with his and sat across his lap. “I told you so,” she whispered into his neck. “I can come just looking at you.”

It was clear that John’s recovery was going to be in incremental stages. Inch by inch, he was making progress and had to keep his momentum.

“I can’t put into words what you do to me,” replied John. “Dr. Welsh told us there would be spurts of improvements along the way. I guess this is part of that journey.”

Marlena lifted his chin and commanded his undivided attention. “You are doing remarkably John. You had the courage to push through with this medical trial and despite the risks and my reservations, you displayed that arrogance I was talking about. It drives me crazy at times, but it’s sexy as hell.”

She was sexy as hell if anything. Her unwavering support was what kept him going. It was his lifeline.

John tucked her hair behind her ear, and rubbed his nose down the curve of her neck. “You didn’t finish your work out. I counted 4 sets,” he said, patting her ass.

“I know. I couldn’t resist you,” she said behind a blushing smile. “You get to me.”

John could relate because she got to him too. Just when he thought he couldn’t go any further, she was there behaving like they weren’t in the midst of chaos.

Marlena stood up and kissed John softly on the lips. “I’m going to have a quick shower. Why don’t you get us some breakfast? If we have another day of leisure, I need you well fed.”

John watched her disappear into the bathroom and smiled when the phone rang. “I got it!” he called out while trying to maneuver around the sharp turn of the coffee table, whacking his toe on the leg. He winced in pain and froze as the phone continued to ring in the distance.

It was the first time John welcomed that uncomfortable tingle after striking a nerve. His eyes lit up with excitement as he looked down and realized he was able to feel and crinkle his toes.

The phone rang several times before John moved a muscle. He had to make sure he was seeing and feeling what was really happening and that he wasn’t imagining things. His heart skipped a beat as he looked over toward the bathroom and heard the water running in the distance.

Rushing to the phone, he answered it on top of the world, “John Black.”

“Boy am I glad to hear your voice. What does a guy have to do to get you on the line?” asked the familiar voice.

“Abraham! You called at the perfect time. Boy have I got good news for you,” said John.

Chapter 8

Marlena sat upright with her frameless readers perched on the tip of her nose, highly engaged in a book that she was reading when John slid into bed beside her.  “What a day!” he said, feeling quite accomplished. Just when things seemed to be their darkest, dawn announced it was coming.

“Uh huh,” said Marlena, barely looking up, forcing John to peek at the cover of the book that had her deeply entranced.

“Tantric Massage Therapy,” said John, reading the book cover. “Any good?”

Marlena turned the page and searched for a passage. “You tell me,” she said as she began to read aloud. “Tantric massage is an erotic massage aiming for relaxing, arousal, and connection between two people while focusing on erogenous zones.”

Finally giving John her attention, she slid over to him and read more, with the sole purpose of drawing him in. “Ohh, baby. Listen to this — Tantric massage involves your erogenous zones and genitals, but the goal isn’t to have an orgasm. It’s possible to have an orgasm during the massage, but the focus is on giving and receiving pleasure from your partner.”

Without hesitation, John gave Marlena his bedroom eyes and in a deep baritone voice he said, “When do we start.”

Rubbing his hand up her thigh, John leaned in to kiss Marlena’s neck as she continued to read although he was undoubtedly breaking her concentration.

“It says we have to set up a comfortable space with dimmed lights and relaxing music,” she said, going down the listed steps to euphoria.

John clicked the remote to play a little Spanish guitar and then continued with his strong advances making Marlena recoil slightly so that she could get to the next step.

“Comfortable space, dim lights and relaxing music. Check,” replied John as his hand wandered aimlessly under the covers making Marlena giggle like a giddy schoolgirl.

“Oh my,” she said, glancing at John. “It says my partner should take off their clothes and I can decide whether to take mine off as well.”

“Done!” exclaimed John, tossing his boxers across the room. “Your turn,” he said anxiously, pulling at her nightgown and showering her with a gentle persuasion of kisses.

“Okay…okay,” she said, succumbing to a breached defense and removing her gown.

Marlena tried to fight off John’s brazen hands while she continued to go down the list of action steps. Weeks ago, during her research sessions, she came across this topic and with John’s miraculous progress, she was inclined to catch up on any and all that she could.

“Hold on, there is more,” she said, reading further to herself. “Ooo, this is getting good,” she said, looking at John with a sly grin and shaking her head.

Reaching over him to access the top drawer of his nightstand, Marlena arched her back and thrusted her ass in John’s face as she rummaged for a hidden treasure. He couldn’t resist the urge to drag his mouth across the side of her hip as he tugged at the rim of her panties before smacking her ass.

“Aha!” She exclaimed, waving a bottle of body oil and returning to the book. “Now it says that we have to make steady eye contact and take five synchronized deep breaths together.”

“Ok, that sounds easy enough,” said John.

Lying beside him, Marlena turned to him and smiled. Although it wasn’t instructed, they intrinsically laced their fingers and rested their foreheads against each other. Timed perfectly, they took their first deep breath in unison, proving they were one in mind, body and spirit.

Losing count, they took several synchronized deep breaths becoming consumed with one another.

Stroking Marlena’s face, John asked, “What’s next?”

She was dazed with her eyes at half-mast, “Oh I’m supposed to…um,” she said, sweeping her nose across his before pulling back and grabbing the oil. “It says here that I have to rub this until it’s warm and massage it into your neck, ears and back.”

John rolled over to his stomach and melted into the firm bed as his nearly naked wife loomed over his form, rubbing her hands up and down his body. Her soft fingers traced the outline of his earlobes as she resisted the urge to sweep her mouth over the curve of his shoulder.

“How does that feel?” she asked.

“Something is missing,” he said, flipping over to his back with ease and looking into her eyes. “What about your turn?”

John grabbed the oil, poured a healthy amount into his firm hands and placed them on the sides of Marlena’s neck following the trail of her collarbones.

Marlena closed her eyes with her head tilted back and absorbed the feel of him. His hands skimmed over her breasts and down her ribs sending a tingle down her spine.

“Ooh,” she panted with a shallow breath as John continued to knead into her starving flesh. “I was supposed to be spoiling you. I guess we can move on to the next step which is to massage your chest, stomach, arms and legs.”

John watched her explore his body through lust filled eyes so grateful he now had the luxury of touch. It was not so long ago that he prayed in his sleep for a moment like this.

Marlena made sure to cover the four zones listed when she remembered a key detail. “I almost forgot step seven,” she said, reaching for John’s legs. “It specifically said to also massage your partner’s inner thighs and… adjacent areas.”

Whether he could feel her touch or not, the pure sight of her exploring the surface of his body like a wonderland excited him beyond words. He just laid there with his hands to his side, submitting to her.

“Tell me what feels good,” she said, stroking his member gently while holding his balls.

John’s head fell back as he closed his eyes, taking in this moment when Marlena moved her hand to his thigh.

“No, go back. That feels great,” he whispered.

Marlena followed his command and returned to stroking his manhood and then paused.

John opened one eye and smiled, “I said don’t stop because it feels great.”

Marlena gasped as her face lit up with excitement, making sure to continue with her tantric massage. She nodded acknowledging that she was very clear that John had more sensation below his waist than before. It was all starting to happen in slow increments, appearing at the most divine moments.

They had both gone through the steps and now understood the power of tantric massage. Knowing that John could feel her caressing his legs and feet with more intensity, Marlena continued to pamper him by running her slick palms over his flesh.

John achieved a modest erection and pulled Marlena into him, swirling his tongue around her mouth with a surge of urgency.  Tugging at the edge of her panties, she quickly slid them off before straddling him and attempting to revisit that familiar place.

Resting her hands on his oily chest, Marlena settled above John lowering her slit over his bulge sliding back and forth. John could feel the warmth of her throbbing mound and found himself completely overcome with familiar sensations.

She dipped down to take his mouth into hers as his hands cupped her breasts and squeezed them aggressively. There was something about him being able to feel her that made her crave to feel him more. She gasped as she placed her hands on top of his, inviting him to squeeze harder.

John felt Marlena thrust her core with more intensity as the length of his hardening shaft bumped against her clit, sending a new level of electricity throughout her body. Flexing her moist center at the right angle, the tip of John’s erection slid into her walls making her whimper with delight.

John’s manhood managed to slide in and out of Marlena’s slick heat for a few moments before it slightly retracted. This didn’t stop her as she continued to fuse her body with his as his clever hands held on to her hips, guiding them back and forth.

“You are so beautiful,” he said as he watched her body gyrate. Using his massive upper body strength, he lifted her, placing her center over his face; darting his tongue into her slit full of want and need.

Blown apart by heat and consumed with passion, Marlena grabbed the headboard, gripping it for dear life. John’s firm hands gripped the inside of her thighs spreading them apart, giving him an up close and personal view of the depths of her soul.

He savored the taste of her sex. The more he got, the more he craved. “You taste so good,” he spoke between her damp thighs as he ran his tongue around Marlena’s clit.

Her knees were spread apart and locked into position as she forced her throbbing mound into John’s face, giving him what his soul desired. Her whining hips did a mating dance as a climax came over her body in drugging waves.

“Oh shh…I’m…coming. JOHN!” She screamed as she rocked her core vigorously while trying to keep her grip on the headboard. Slick with oil, sweat and sex, Marlena’s hands gave out sending her crashing down beside John.

There she was, breathless and glistening with sweat, lying face to face with the sexiest man she’d ever known. She ran her hand down the side of his face and explored his mouth once again.

John wasn’t close to being finished, sliding his hand between her legs and priming her silken folds for round two. “You aren’t getting off that easy. Come here you,” he moaned into her mouth while pulling her into him.

Lying on their sides and facing each other, Marlena casually draped her leg over John’s hip as she thrusted her core into him. John’s firm fingers plunged in and out of her velvety pocket as she fondled him freely. He could feel the small ridge at his fingertips, telling him he’d hit her g-spot. He teased by playing around it before going in for more, making her scream.

“JOHN!” She screamed in ecstasy as she felt her walls start to quake. Rolling her hips forcefully, she had an idea. “Trust me,” she spoke into his mouth in between a fury of kisses.

Before he could say a word, Marlena gently touched his balls and pressed just behind them, sending an acute sensation of euphoria throughout his body. She could see the sense of burgeoning pleasure in his eyes as she panted breathlessly into his mouth.

It was hot. It was messy. It was sexy. It was real. The friction of their wet slick bodies colliding sent shockwaves through John’s body that he hadn’t felt in ages. He always could with his mind but now he was able to pair it with touch.

Marlena felt the warm stickiness of John’s essence cover her as she hugged him tightly. She could feel him feel as his body shivered, and it brought her to tears. They had fought through hell and back and she finally felt like everything was going to be ok.

John fell back onto his pillow staring blankly at the ceiling smiling. His face was drenched in sweat and the Egyptian cotton sheets clung to his oily form.

“Marry me,” said John on top of the world.

Marlena remained propped up on her elbow and just looked at him with love and satisfaction. She could tell by the look on John’s face that she’d gotten to him. She’d returned to the core of his soul, a part of him she prayed she could find again.

Falling back with her hands behind her head, “You’re welcome,” boasted Marlena.

“I need a cigarette,” said John in a husky voice as he basked in post-orgasmic afterglow.

Marlena laughed as she nuzzled into John. “You don’t smoke,” she replied.

“I know. That’s why it’s really weird,” he joked before kissing her behind the ear. “More research I take it?”

“Combined with my in-depth knowledge of anatomy, yes,” she replied. She found herself extremely relaxed and on the verge of dozing. “There is a pressure point and if you hit it right, the male g-spot better known as the prostate responds.”

“Well, I am so grateful you paid attention in class. But next time, you get the massage,” said John as he rubbed his hands down the small of her back. “You know I live to spoil you.”

“And I you my love,” she whispered. “Big day tomorrow. I want you to feel your best.” John tried to put it in the back of his mind. He was being evaluated tomorrow and Dr. Welsh and his team were going to advise where they went from here. Despite all of the remarkable improvements that he’d made since arriving, he was still pensive. Nothing was this easy and part of him was preparing for a new insurmountable challenge to present itself.

“I always feel my best with you Doc. You whisked me to the other side of the world on a whim and look at me?” said John, full of gratitude. 

“Well, you’d do it for me. Besides, I need you. Who else is going to feed my starving loins the way you do? And gold star on that new headboard thing. Sheesh,” she mumbled and before long she was fast asleep.

Marlena stood in the mirror doing the finishing touches on her hair and makeup as John enjoyed his favorite pastime just watching her from the sideline. He’d always known how striking she was, but it wasn’t until this very moment that he realized he preferred her hair the way she’d worn it as of late, long with tons of volume. She leaned into the mirror so that she could apply her mascara when she noticed John in the corner studying her every move. She tried to pay him no mind, but finally brandished a smile.

“If you want a makeup lesson, let me know,” she said, unable to keep her concentration.

“You don’t need any of that stuff, should you ever be short on time,” said John, moving closer to her. “Did I tell you how much I love your hair this length?”

Marlena blushed and then grabbed her Mason Pearson brush and gave her golden tresses a few strokes before she turned to John for his approval. “How do I look?” she asked, rubbing her sweating palms down the sides of her slacks. “I don’t know why I am so nervous. This is all about you and I am beside myself. I’m sorry.”

John approached Marlena and hooked his index finger around hers, swinging it back and forth. He was just as nervous as she was and had no problems admitting it. “Don’t be sorry. This affects both of us,” he said, kissing her hand. “I’m pretty ready to be on the other side of this myself.”

“You and me both,” said Marlena as they headed for the front door.

John stopped in his tracks as if he’d forgotten something and did an about-face. “Hey Doc, hold on a sec,” he said, retreating back to the sitting area. “I wanted to give you something.”

Marlena exhaled deeply and then smiled nervously. Shaking her head, she reluctantly walked back toward John taking a seat beside him.

“What are you up to, John Black?” she asked suspiciously. “We are going to be late.”

John reached into his pocket and handed Marlena a small jewelry box, “I wanted you to have this before we met with Dr. Welsh today. Just a little something to show my appreciation for your love and devotion.”

Marlena loved gifts from John more than anything. They were always thoughtful and a huge surprise. “Honey, you shouldn’t have,” she said gushing. She had been pensive all morning and to pause for a moment like this was welcomed but unexpected.

John watched Marlena open the box with bated breath and saw an expression of excitement cross her face only to be upstaged by a twinge of regret. It was a new charm for her bracelet that she’d absentmindedly left behind in Salem. She lifted it from the box to reveal a barbell.

“It’s just a new charm for your bracelet.  A barbell because of the strength you’ve shown throughout this entire thing,” said John leaning in for a kiss. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”

Marlena welled up with tears and stroked John’s cheek. “Oh honey. I love it. I just hate that I don’t have the bracelet with me to add to it,” she said, clutching the box to her chest.

“Well honey, we will have it sent, but until then, maybe this will hold you over,” said John handing her another box.

Marlena looked at the second box and had a sense of deja vu. “You didn’t,” she said with disbelief as she cautiously opened it. When she saw the contents, she closed her eyes and wept slightly, shaking her head back and forth. “You always find a way to ruin my make-up.”

John took the box out of Marlena’s hand and revealed her original bracelet with a series of charms that John had presented to her over the years. It was more symbolic than anything, a tangible item that chronicled their triumphs, trials and tribulations.

John grabbed her wrist and decorated it with her bracelet then began to affix the new charm. “After I spoke to Abraham, I asked for a little favor. There’s a box with a few comforts from home,” he said. 

Marlena lifted her wrist and adored her freshly charmed bracelet from afar before pulling it close to her heart. “I love you. And I love my bracelet,” she sobbed.

John wiped her tears softly. He didn’t mean to make her cry. He just had to remind her of how much he adored and treasured her for all that she was. “Don’t cry baby,” he said behind a huge smile. Although they were tears of joy, John only wanted to see a smile on her face. “Let’s get this show on the road, huh?”

Marlena brushed her cheek with the back of her hand and looked down at her bracelet once more. “Ok, I’m ready. Let’s go get some good news,” she said.

John and Marlena sat side by side with their fingers tightly laced as they waited for Dr. Welsh to return to his office. John could feel the tension brewing in his gut as he looked at the clock and shook his head.

“Isn’t the point of an appointment to meet at a specific time?” John mumbled curtly.

Marlena looked at her bracelet and maintained her smile from this morning. “It’s going to be fine. I’m sure Dr. Welsh was called away briefly. Happens all the time,” she reassured John while patting his hand. “I’m over the moon about my bracelet by the way. Can’t wait to thank you properly later,” she added before stealing a kiss.

Dr. Welsh entered the room all smiles with a tall stack of files tucked under his arm. “I am so sorry I’m late, but it’s for good reason. John I am happy to say that all results indicate you are on your way back to full mobility.”

John just sat in his wheelchair in shock. He could feel the adrenaline starting to surge through his veins as he tried to suppress his initial urge to rejoice.

“Let me get this right, you are saying that I will get everything back? My legs, my life,” he said, glancing over at Marlena. “More romance with my wife?”

“I’m saying that with each day you are gaining more and more strength and mobility. As far as romance, please remember that things take time, and you will slowly regain functions in that department as well. Loss of erection is normal but understand that the penis is most sensitive at about 60%. There are several intimate activities that we can recommend if you need some guidance on how to navigate through sexual activity,” said Dr. Welsh. “Although, according to Dot, you have your finger on the pulse of that Dr. Evans.”

Marlena blushed slightly and exchanged glances with John before responding. “I have done some extensive research in various departments, and I am thrilled to say that John has been…responding well,” she said proudly while shaking John’s hand.

“Well, that’s wonderful news. I see all of the new sensations you’ve experienced as of late here,” said Dr. Welsh looking through John’s file. “Now the hard part.”

“Hard part?” asked John as he nervously started tapping his leg up and down.

“Yes, continuing physical therapy is crucial to your recovery, but demands are going to be a lot more intense,” said Dr. Welsh. “There are going to be some challenges along the way, but I assure you that we are confident that this is part of your journey to a full recovery.”

Marlena looked down at John’s leg bobbing up and down and placed her hand on his knee. He hadn’t even recognized that he was involuntarily moving his leg and she brought it to his attention.

“John only knows about hard work. It’s what has gotten him this far,” added Marlena.

“Gotten us this far,” corrected John.

“I do want to add a caveat. The previous exploration of your central nervous system does present some blind spots,” cautioned Dr. Welsh. “With this being a trial and you having previous treatments we aren’t clear on; we still need to watch you closely.”

“What specifically are you concerned about doctor?” asked Marlena.

“John, we do see that you are at risk for an aneurysm, some cardiovascular complications…but those are just things we plan to look out for,” said Dr. Welsh.

John glanced over at Marlena in search of her approval and her smile, and the reassuring shake of his hand was all he needed.

“Dr. Welsh, mark my words. I am going to walk out of this place holding my wife’s hand and nothing and I mean nothing is going to stop me and that’s a fact,” said John.

Chapter 9

It had been a few weeks since John started the next phase of physical therapy trying to walk again. Even though he could now feel his legs, the ability to learn to walk again was much more challenging than he could have imagined.

His physical therapist Miles Müller stood behind him, pushing him to persevere. “You’ve got this John. Take your time and focus on maintaining your balance for now,” he said.

Sweating profusely, John tried to stand while holding the rails on both sides of him for balance and support. He was determined to put one foot in front of the other, but it was to no avail. Trembling violently, the vein on John’s temple began to protrude before he collapsed in his chair, defeated.

“Something’s not right. We’ve been at this for weeks and I feel like I’ve gotten nowhere,” grumbled John through a clenched jaw.

“Not true. John, you are leagues beyond any other patient I’ve worked with in this condition. What you’ve done in weeks takes others months if not years,” reassured Miles.

That’s not what John wanted to hear, but it was good to work with someone full of optimism. “You sound like my wife. She’s been saying the same thing,” said John.

“And how does that make you feel?” asked Miles.

John rose to his feet again full of determination. “It makes me feel like I have to get through this no matter what,” he said.

John held onto the rails again, refusing to stop until he achieved something noteworthy today. Through sheer will and determination, John had managed to get to his feet and stand upright.

“That’s it John! You are doing it!” Encouraged Miles.

Marlena stood outside of the physical therapy gym watching with bated breath. Her goal was to chat with the staff to get a progress report and she found herself transfixed on watching John learn how to walk again. Part of her felt like she was invading his privacy and while she wanted to walk away, for some reason she couldn’t.

Dot turned the corner and saw Marlena perched outside the door spectating in stealth. She had seen loved ones in this position more times than she could count and while the cases were all different; the pain, fear and frustration were very universal.

“Dr. Evans, how have you been?” Asked Dot, looking around the corner at John.

Barely able to avert her eyes, Marlena answered somewhat distracted, “I’m ok. Just worried…about him. He’s working so hard and he’s pushing himself beyond what a normal person can endure.”

“Well based on your description of John, he’s not normal,” said Dot with a smile.

Marlena turned to face her and brandished a smile. “You are right. He’s not normal, he is Thee John Black. If I told you some of the heroic stunts he’s pulled over the years,” Marlena recalled fondly.

“Well in time, I’d love to hear a story or two,” said Dot. “Now again, how are YOU? What are you doing for yourself? Outside of being there for John.”

Marlena took a moment to answer the question, somewhat embarrassed because she didn’t have an answer. Her version of self-care reverted back to John. His recovery was her mission and although she was aware that she deserved a bit of down time, she preferred John to be part of that process too.

“Once we get over a few more hurdles, I’ll do better. How is he doing so far?” Asked Marlena as she watched John push on before nearly collapsing under his own weight.

“He’s ahead of schedule…by far,” replied Dot. “I suspect our biggest problem is going to be getting him to take a break.”

“Leave that to me,” said Marlena with a sly grin. “I know how to make John stop and smell the roses.”

“I bet you do,” said Dot with a light chuckle. “Respectfully of course Dr. Evans. It’s just that the chemistry is beyond apparent. It’s borderline uncanny. It actually deserves a study.”

Marlena watched on as John continued to struggle, bringing her to tears. It was that hopeless feeling in the pit of her stomach almost making her want to vomit. “I can’t watch this,” said Marlena averting her eyes. “I wish I could do more.”

Dot coaxed Marlena from the doorway and down the corridor. “Dr. Evans, it’s critical that you try to avoid watching John at this point if it’s going to trigger you. When he’s low, he’s going to need all of you. Hence the recommended self-care,” she encouraged.

Dot was right and although she knew better, the heart had a mind of its own. “Thanks Dot, I needed to hear that,” said Marlena.

And just like that, she had a brilliant idea.


John sat in the steam room wrapped in a towel on a teak bench deep in thought. Resting his face in the palms of his hands, all he could do was brood about what he considered a lackluster performance and an epic fail on his part. While he was aware that this was going to take time, he was hopeful that his unique circumstances would fast-track his recovery at an exponential rate.

As he sat with his eyes closed, he heard the door open in the distance. “It’s reserved!” Exclaimed John but there was no response.

He could hear someone enter and from the sound of their footsteps, he deduced it was someone on the lighter side; perhaps a woman? Refusing to engage, John kept his face buried into his hands when he heard the rustling of a bag and a familiar aroma.

Giving in to curiosity, he took a peek to find his adorable wife perched beside him wrapped in a towel with a Happy Meal from McDonalds casually sipping on a drink. “Thirsty?” She asked bringing the straw to his lips.

John couldn’t help but smile as he snatched the bag from her hand and took a heap of fries and then took a sip of the drink.

“Rough session, huh?” asked Marlena as she wiped a few grains of salt from the corner of John’s mouth.

John just shook his head in disbelief. “It was brutal,” he replied, digging in the bag for more fries.

“Well, luckily The Golden Arches are global, so I was able to nab us some comfort food. I figured a happy meal would make you…happy,” said Marlena.

John reached for the burger and took a healthy bite before feeding some to Marlena. “You make me happy, and this is awful and yet the best, Doc. Thank you baby,” said John as he blessed her with a peck on the lips.

“If I hadn’t told you, I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you,” said Marlena, taking a sip of the drink. “Is it me or is it hot in here?”

“Hmm, it’s the towel. If you remove it, you are guaranteed to cool down,” said John flirtatiously as he took another sip.

“Um, I would think it would be just the opposite, no?” asked Marlena while snacking on fries.

“That’s so true,” said John.

Stroking the side of Marlena’s face, John leaned in and rubbed his nose across hers. Who knew something as simple as a happy meal could bring such comfort?

“Don’t forget your prize,” she said handing him the bag.

John took the bag from her and made sure to rub his hand over hers like high school sweethearts. After all of these years, she still gave him butterflies and knew without a doubt he wouldn’t be able to get through any of this without her.

“Oh, I get the prize,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.

“You get the prize,” affirmed Marlena.

John rummaged through the bag and found a small box at the bottom. Eating a few more fries before pulling out the box, he shook it to listen for clues. “Let me guess, a convertible,” he joked.

“You will just have to open it and see,” she replied nonchalantly.

John opened his prize and just stared in silence for a beat before uttering, “Wow.”

Marlena wasn’t sure how to interpret his reaction. She was hopeful that the gift would lift his spirits a little and although he was the king of surprises, he’d taught Marlena a thing or two.

“I’m sorry. WOW!” Exclaimed John with light in his eyes. “Marlena…this is amazing,” he said in complete shock. “This is a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks rookie card. Honey…outside of the kids and my watch, this is the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received.”

Marlena exhaled full of relief. “I was hoping you still wanted it,” she said leaning over to take a peek.

“Do I? Ernie Banks is one of the most famous professional athletes to never win a championship. He spent his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was a power-hitting shortstop who racked up 512 career home runs. He was also the first Cub in history to have his number retired,” said John as he looked at the card in complete awe.

John leaned in and kissed Marlena softly on the lips, consumed with the taste of her. She welcomed his open mouth as her tongue explored his freely while running her fingers through his wet hair.

“I love you,” she whispered as she pulled back and rested her forehead against his.

“I love you back,” he said stroking the side of her face.

“How much longer do we have in here?” Asked Marlena looking at the clock on the wall.

John took a sip of the drink before offering it to Marlena, “About 20 minutes. You want the last of it?” He asked.

Marlena slurped the last of the drink until the sounds reverberated throughout the tiled steam room. She then removed the lid and took an ice cube into her mouth before sharing it with John with a kiss. Swapping the cube back and forth, they playfully tried to cool each other down while heating things up.

Although John could have easily removed Marlena’s towel, there was no need. He knew all of her treasures like the back of his hand. After swirling their tongues around the nearly melted ice, John reached for another piece and traced Marlena’s lips with a fresh cube.

“Umm, that feels nice,” she moaned as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back just a little. She could feel John’s other hand begin to wander.

“Let’s play a game,” he said seductively.

“Ok, so long as it includes you,” she replied.

Without warning, John took the ice cube and slowly slid it up her delicate inner thigh making her body quiver. “Don’t resist or you lose,” he moaned before taking her mouth into his and simultaneously shoving the ice cube into her warm snatch.

“Oh my!” she exclaimed, trying not to recoil.

“Now hold it,” encouraged John as he pulled back and looked deeply into her hazel eyes that were drunk with passion.

Marlena could feel the cube melting rapidly between her warm recesses as she ran her hands up and down John’s sweaty chest.

“Pelvic floor exercises. Very good Mr. Black. And have you been practicing yours?” She asked.

“I have,” he answered while placing her hand on his lap.

Marlena could feel a slight erection beneath the towel as she slid her hand underneath and stroked it gently while dragging her mouth over his.

She could always count on John to turn physical therapy into foreplay as she reached for another ice cube to enhance their steamy kiss.

“We are going to get busted,” said Marlena looking at the clock.

John reached for another piece of ice and rubbed it up and down her slit before sliding it in with his finger plunging in and out of her moist canal.

“We aren’t going to get busted. You’ve heard the whispers haven’t you? We are known as the most in love couple in the history of this clinic,” said John. “Dot warned the staff about knocking with us for some strange reason.”

Marlena looked at the clock and noted the time as she felt John’s agile fingers swirl around her slick walls. “Then we have 16 minutes to figure out what to do with this ice before it melts. Any ideas?” she asked with a raised brow.

“I can come up with a few,” he replied, pushing his fingers into her faster.

Marlena continued to circle his package with her hand and noticed that his erections were not only firmer but lasting longer. An image of her riding him to glory sent a surge of excitement through her veins as she pressed his hand into her center for more pressure and friction while swirling her hips.

“Baby…,” she purred in his ear trying to suppress a burgeoning climax.

Part of her wanted to try taking him into her mouth but she’d wait for a better moment. Although, what could be better than being alone in a steam room covered in only a towel?

In a husky whisper, John commanded her, “Open your legs wider.”

Marlena leaned into him, spreading her legs wider giving him full access. John could feel her walls tighten and quake around his finger as she dug her nails into his flesh with one hand while gliding up and down his manhood with the other.

Marlena was completely enthralled with his touch as John’s greedy mouth took bold possession of hers. Peering at the clock, Marlena knew in the back of her mind that they should stop but she could not resist him. The feel of his fingers thrusting in and out of her luscious vessel was too much to handle as her sultry and incoherent mews filled the room.

“We need to take this upstairs,” she panted breathlessly.

Between their body heat alone combined with how long they’d been in the steam room, something needed to happen soon.

“I can feel you,” grunted John. “You are about to come.

He was right, Marlena felt a climax coming on as she continued to stroke John’s waning erection. All she could think about in that moment was timing it just right to keep a smile on John’s face.

Pressing his magic spot, she moaned, “I think…you are…going to come…too.”

Marlena held her breath as her body tensed. Clasping her knees together while still fondling John, she could feel his body begin to shudder as she put firm pressure on his g-spot.

“Oh Doc!” John moaned as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he felt his body release his stressors and fluids all at once.

But for the intense heat in that room, they could have gone for round two in a New York minute.

“Wow,” panted Marlena breathlessly as she adjusted her towel giving John a quick peek. Just the quick glimpse of her body made him want to start all over again.

“A happy meal and a happy ending. Not bad Doc,” John joked as he grabbed the McDonalds bag and gift.

“You just wait until later,” she warned with a sly grin heading for the exit.

Just as she and John opened the door, a trail of steam followed them into the cool room where Dot was waiting patiently against the wall.

Smiling with her clipboard pulled into her chest, Dot looked at her watch. “How was your physical therapy today?” she asked while keeping her stoic and professional demeanor.

Marlena couldn’t help but blush as she glanced over at John and smiled. “I personally think he’s improving more and more every day,” she said.

John shook his head and grabbed Marlena’s hand and kissed it. “It was rough today, but she made up for it…in spades,” he replied.

Marlena was aware that they’d garnered a reputation for being madly in love and felt compelled to elaborate. “He’s talking about the gift,” she said looking over to John. “You were talking about the gift weren’t you?”

John showed Dot the baseball card beaming with delight. “Take a look,” he said.

“Just a little love token,” gushed Marlena.

Dot was happy to see that John’s disposition had improved significantly since she saw him last. It was abundantly clear that Marlena was a key factor in his recovery. Bidding them a good day as they left the room, all Dot could do was break formation and have a private laugh to herself. Although she knew John was happy about his gift, she was willing to bet the barn that Dr. Evans had put that smile on his face a hell of a lot more than that card did.

Marlena turned down the bed on both sides and prepared for a night of much needed sleep. Even she was well aware that she needed rest at some point. It was a good day. She’d managed to surprise John with a rare and well received baseball card; lifting his mood and have great sex in the steam room. Most would call that a successful day.

John came out of the bathroom dressed for bed completely exhausted. He’d pushed himself to the limit today and all he wanted to do was fall asleep with Marlena tucked under his arm.

“Did you see my glasses in there?” asked Marlena, looking around the room. “I guess it shouldn’t matter since I’m too tired to read tonight anyway.”

“I did not, but I’m so tired honey, it could have been a shark in the tub, and I would have missed it,” said John.

Marlena rubbed the side of his face and kissed him softly on the lips. As she pulled back, she noticed that John had a very dull look in his eye.

“Honey, you feel ok?” she asked.

“I’m fine. Just beat. Hurry to bed, you know how I hate getting started without you,” said John making his way to the bed.

Marlena stepped into the bathroom for less than a second when she remembered that she put her glasses in her purse and did an about-face. Spinning on her heels, she saw John rubbing his head as if he was nursing a headache. She paused for a second to observe and wondered if John was pushing himself too hard. She was extremely proud of him and while she wanted John restored to his old self completely, she was just happy to have him back in her life. She still never truly dealt with the emotional roller coaster she’d been on for the last few years, and while she continued daily to take it all in stride, even she had a breaking point. She would rest when she knew John was just a little further along.

“I just remembered where I put them,” began Marlena. “I think a good night’s sleep is what we need. Can I get you anything before we call it a night darling?”

John fell back onto his pillow and extended his right arm across Marlena’s empty side of the bed, tapping on the sheets.

“Yes, you in my arms,” groaned John behind closed eyes.

“Oh baby. You don’t have to ask me twice,” she said as she jumped into bed and turned off the light.

Cuddling into John’s warm chest, Marlena found herself finally starting to relax. She could feel his chest rise and fall in that comfortable rhythm that always put her fast to sleep. She couldn’t imagine being without him. She actually could vividly remember her life without him, and she never wanted to feel that type of misery again.

John felt himself drifting off into a slumber happy that the dull headache he’d been nursing had just gone away. He’d pushed himself beyond today and although staying in the steam room an extra few minutes wasn’t the smartest thing to do, it certainly was worth it. He could honestly say that his wife did it for him every single time. He was grateful beyond words. He’d been given a second chance and planned to take full advantage of it.

Chapter 10

Marlena had made the commitment to remain consistent with her yoga practice to show John an additional level of support during his arduous physical therapy sessions. He had been at it nonstop for weeks and she was about to crack the whip in more ways than one. She was starting to pay close attention to John’s overall mental health, and she was firm that he needed more work life balance.

Bending down to complete her practice, Marlena did one last stretch thrusting her firmer posterior into the air when John turned the corner in a rush but stopped in his tracks at the sight of her.

“Well, I can always take a sick day,” he mumbled under his breath. “And good morning to you!”

Marlena finished her practice and greeted John with a kiss. “Sorry that I didn’t do that earlier. I was in the middle of my flow,” said Marlena.

“I love that you’ve gotten back into something. I’m tired of you living in that research library and reading journals all day,” said John. Just as she was about to speak, he silenced her. “I’m back Doc. My mind is sharp, my health is improving, and I promise you that I will be back on my feet in no time.”

Marlena loved this man more than words could adequately express. Standing here, she realized that she’d given Don and Roman all of those years just to be able to appreciate knowing the difference between loving and loving with a passion. She cocked her head to the side and just smiled and sat in John’s lap.

“Wheel me to the bed and take these pants off of me please,” she requested.

She didn’t have to ask twice. John made his way to the bed in record time, almost losing his cargo. He approached the edge of the bed, pushed Marlena off of his lap and then got out of the chair right next to her. Tugging aggressively at the rim of her tight yoga pants, he stopped in his tracks.

“How in the hell do you get these things off?!” he shrieked.

Marlena laughed uncontrollably when she saw the disappointment on John’s face, but he refused to give up.

“Oh, you thought I meant for a morning quickie. No, I actually need help taking these off. When I sweat, they stick to my flesh like a wetsuit. Besides, you have PT,” said Marlena.

John ran his hands up and down the curve of Marlena’s hip cupping the cheek of her ass. He just licked his lips envisioning what he planned to do later.

“Doc,” said John, unable to pull away. “You can’t tease me like this. I’m going to cancel my PT session this morning. I am determined to help you get out of these pants…and then into them.”

While the thought was tempting, she couldn’t help but notice how fast John got out of his chair and into bed beside her. She was certain that he didn’t realize how well his new mobility served him as well.

Stroking the side of his face, she kissed him passionately on the lips swirling her tongue about. “PT now. Loving later,” she said, full of encouragement. “Hmm, although you do taste damn good.”

John tried to breach her defenses as his brazen hands groped and tickled Marlena all over. Her infectious laugh filled the room and his heart with so much joy. Smiling from ear to ear, John kissed her on her neck before returning to his chair.

“I’ll go to PT, but that’s not going to slow me down later on. You’ve unleashed the kraken,” said John, winking flirtatiously.

Marlena sat in the middle of the bed perched upright on her knees facing him. Her mane of unruly curls framed her beautiful face.

“So I take it I’m on my own with these impossible to remove pants, aye?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so doll. I know you noticed how fast I got out of this chair,” said John full of bravado. “You are on notice that there’s more where that came from.”

Marlena looked at John with a sly grin. “I did notice your superlative mobility Mr. Black, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you how disappointed I am that you aren’t helping me with these pants,” said Marlena, removing her sports bra exposing her erect nipples.

She hopped out of bed and made a dash for the bathroom leaving John somewhat unsure if he had the strength to pass up a few more moments of heaven. He bit his bottom lip and fought with himself.

“Don’t even think about it!” Yelled Marlena from the bathroom as the water turned on.

John just shook his head and smiled. Heading off for another grueling day, at least he had returning to her as motivation to persevere.

Marlena walked into the lobby of the clinic carrying a few bags from a trip into town. Listening to John and her inner voice, she’d decided that getting away for a few hours was much needed. Just as she passed the reception, she was greeted with a smile.

“Hi Dr. Evans,” said the receptionist, handing Marlena a shoe-sized box. “This arrived for you today.”

Marlena looked at the sender and smiled. “Thank you so much,” she said, dropping the box into one of her shopping bags.

Just as she made her way toward the elevator, a team of nurses and doctors rushed past her responding to a call. Although she was at a medical facility, it was easy to forget that it was in fact a hospital.

Yielding the elevator to those in a rush, Marlena found herself off to the side in a small cluster of visitors and long-term residents. Listening in, she tried to get a pulse on what was happening.

“Hi, does anyone know what happened?” asked Marlena.

A gentleman spoke up from the crowd, “I heard someone went into cardiac arrest during physical therapy,” he said.

Marlena’s ears started burning when she heard physical therapy. All that she could think about was John and needed to lay eyes on him before she did anything else.

The receptionist approached the group to make a small announcement as she was bombarded with a million questions. “Ladies and gentlemen, all that I can share at this time is that the PT wing is not accessible until further notice,” she stated plainly. “Once they treat the patient and secure the area, I’ll have more information.”

“Can I check on my wife?” asked a gentleman.

“What about my son?” asked another loved one.

“I promise you; I will have more information shortly. In the meantime, have a seat in the lounge and I’ll see if I can get more details,” said the receptionist as her phone started ringing off the hook calling her back to her post.

Marlena and the others stood around trying to decide what to do, all of them having the same fears. There were dozens of patients in the physical therapy wing and even those odds were too high as far as Marlena was concerned.

Taking a seat in the lounge, Marlena tried to think positive thoughts as others started to do the same. In the back of her mind, she was certain John was fine, but not knowing for sure had her stomach in knots.

“I’m worried about my wife,” said the gentleman sitting across from Marlena. “She wasn’t feeling her best this morning.”

Marlena felt the same sense of angst. “I hope my husband didn’t push himself too hard. I’ve been worried about him overdoing it,” she added.

It had been months since Marlena sat barely able to breathe waiting to hear an update about John. She’d grown comfortable as of late with John’s continued improved progress and this change of pace had humbled her beyond words. All she could think about was what a great mood he was in this morning and that if anything happened to him, she didn’t know how she’d manage. Although she was there supporting his rehabilitation, she found herself extremely dependent on him too.

“Paul Wagner. How do you do?” asked the older gentleman, extending his hand.

Marlena shook his hand and smiled. “Marlena Evans-Black. Nice to meet you,” she replied, trying to calm her nerves and looking at her watch.

“You sound American. Not that there’s anything wrong if you aren’t,” babbled Paul nervously. “I’m sorry. I ramble when I’m nervous.”

Marlena smiled and welcomed the conversation. Not only could she use the distraction, but it also felt good to counsel someone. “Don’t apologize Paul. We all have something we do in times of distress,” said Marlena. “I tend to clutch my hands into tight fists.”

They both looked down at Marlena’s hands and lo and behold, they were balled into tight fists resting on her lap.

“My wife and I are newlyweds,” said Paul, thinking of her fondly. “We met at a bridge tournament on a river boat. I hate river boats, but my niece got tired of me sitting home alone. I’d been a widower for about 7 years. I only went to shut her up.”

Paul took a long pause before continuing on with his story as Marlena leaned in to engage further. She had a very unique way of getting people to feel comfortable around her, letting down their guard.

“Well go on,” she encouraged enthusiastically. “Please don’t stop now.”

Before long, Paul no longer rambled but shared the mundane musings of his very wonderful and yet simple life as a gym teacher from Florida. Marlena sat most entertained bearing witness to someone writing a chapter of their memoir. She felt like a psychiatrist again and it brought her just as much comfort as she was certain talking about his life brought Paul.

It had only been 15 minutes and it felt like a lifetime. Marlena stood up and began to pace as she contemplated flexing her status as a doctor with privileges but tried not to be that person. If something was wrong with John, her heart would have told her. She felt her connection with him deep within her soul but holding him would be the icing on the cake.

Just as Marlena was about to give in to the pressure of uncertainty, she saw Dot walking toward the lounge. She could tell by her posture that the news wasn’t good as everyone stood up to hear the latest update.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. First and foremost everyone’s loved one in this room is accounted for and fine. We have suspended the rest of the sessions for today. Those of you here as outpatients will be housed and rescheduled for tomorrow. Those of you that are local, and residents will have the afternoon off.

Marlena exhaled and made her way back to her apartment with a huge sense of relief. Although she knew John was ok, she felt an overall sense of pressure rise to the surface. Perhaps she had been suppressing all of these feelings all of this time and was now being overwhelmed with the reality of it all.

Sitting her bags down, Marlena made her way past the sofa and stood at the window. Taking note of the beautiful landscape, she lost herself and tears began to fall. She didn’t mean to cry, it just happened. Before long the tears became uncontrollable sobs. Burying her face in her hands, she just purged all of the pain and confusion from the last 2 years. Images of John being struck by the car and slipping away before her eyes; the shrieking cries of Belle and Sami echoing in her head; then a resurrected John being injected by Dr. Charlotte Taylor. For the first time since Marlena could remember, she could feel an emotional pain deep within her gut.

The cry was that cleansing release she needed all of this time. She didn’t try to suppress it. She just rode the wave of despair as she knew it would soon pass. Suddenly she heard the click of the door and knew it was John.

“Doc? Baby, what’s wrong?” asked John as he rushed to her side.

Marlena was so immobilized with grief and pain, that she couldn’t catch her breath. She placed her hand over her chest and crumbled right before John’s eyes and crouched onto the floor.

Without a second thought, John stood up from his chair and braced himself with the back of the sofa to get to her. He vowed to protect her at all costs, and nothing was going to stop him.

John found the balance and strength to get on the floor beside Marlena and held her into his chest. He didn’t need her to explain the source of her overwhelming sense of sorrow. He’d sensed for weeks that she was on the verge of imploding.

Swaying back and forth, he held Marlena in his arms and just let her soul cry out. A person could only take so much, and she’d finally hit her breaking point.

“Let it out baby. You just let it all out,” he whispered trying to choke back his own tears. If it was one thing he couldn’t handle it was the sight of Marlena hurt.

The strength of John’s arms pulling her into his chest soothed her as she tried to control her double breathing. She just closed her eyes and buried her face into him. The faint aroma of his workout combined with the saltiness of his cheek was safe and familiar.

“You can’t do that to me. You can’t get hurt or scare me. You can’t get sick. You can’t…,”she stammered.

What could John say? How could he possibly promise to avoid life’s calamities? Stroking her hair he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. He savored the scent of her golden tresses as he tangled his fingers in her curls.

“Doc, I promise that I will always fight my hardest to get home to you,” said John.

“You promise?” she asked the impossible.

John smiled and held her close. “I promise, baby. I promise,” he said.

Propped up against the wall for at least a half an hour, John and Marlena made themselves quite cozy on the floor in front of the window. Luckily a throw and a few pillows were on the adjacent sofa, giving them the perfect retreat.

“You feel better?” he asked, running his fingers up and down the side of her arm. He could see the goose bumps form on her soft skin as she cuddled into him.

“I do,” she said, looking off into the distance. “I don’t know what came over me. I knew you were fine.” Marlena sat up to face John. She hadn’t really looked at him since he’d found her in shambles on the floor. “I knew you were fine. I felt you right here,” she said, placing John’s hand over her heart holding it tight.

He knew all too well that feeling she spoke about. That inexplicable draw that he felt toward her. It was as if he could feel his heart tug in whatever direction she was in. She was truly his beacon of light.

“I know that feeling more than you will ever know,” he said, moving her hair so that he could see her hazel eyes. “I felt it when you were in the pit thanks to Stella Lombard. I felt it when you were hidden in the tunnels beneath Paris in the clutches of Stefano. I felt it when you were stranded in Melaswen.”

Marlena smiled and leaned into him. He truly was her hero. “John, you realize that you got out of your chair pretty damn easy,” she said gleefully.

“I would crawl to the ends of the earth for you and that’s a fact,” said John. “Getting down here was easy, the magic is going to be getting off this floor.”

She knew he wasn’t exaggerating. He’d proven it time and time again. She needed John Black like she needed air. Every part of him sustained her.

“I love you,” said Marlena as she kissed John softly. “I guess today reminded me of how close I came to losing you and I couldn’t take it.”

“Well let’s make each other a promise,” began John. “Let’s promise to live each day together to the fullest. Let’s laugh. Let’s love. Let’s celebrate our new beginning.”

Dragging her mouth over his, Marlena explored the taste of him. She savored the texture of his soft skin as she allowed herself to be consumed by him.

“Can we have a honeymoon night? We don’t have to do anything special,” suggested Marlena. “So long as I can hold you.”

If John could give it, it was hers. There was nothing within his grasp that he would begrudge her. “Whatever your heart desires,” replied John as he traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his finger. “How about you start us a bath and I’ll get a few goodies sent up.”

Marlena got up and moved John’s chair closer to him for better balance. “I’m not so sure you are going to need this much longer.”

“That’s the plan,” said John, sitting down with strength and ease.

Marlena sat in John’s lap and caressed him once more for good measure. “Lavender or Jasmine in the water?”

“Surprise me,” said John. “Just keep the water warm.”

Marlena walked into the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The cryfest earlier had not only cleansed her soul but ran her makeup down the sides of her face. The look of adoration in John’s eyes never indicated what a sight she was. She laughed at herself as she thought about how much better she felt. None of the circumstances had changed, she just didn’t feel so weighed down emotionally by trying to keep it together. It was a burden she decided she was no longer carrying. Being human is what made her a renowned and highly respected psychiatrist.

She started the oversized bathtub and added a few dashes of lavender Epsom salt. She figured John’s muscles could use the help after a hard workout.

Marlena had managed to scrub her face, fill the tub and soak for at least 10 minutes before John surfaced. True to form, she was certain that he was out there being John Black and since that was her most favorite thing in the world, there was no way in hell she was going to stop him.

She moved over and watched John climb over into the tub effortlessly. It was all coming together. It was clear that her meltdown combined with John’s evident progress were all signs that everything was going to be ok.

Marlena laid between John’s legs resting her back against his powerful chest. She pulled his arms tighter around her waist as she closed her eyes.

“On my way up after that incident, I met the nicest guy. We were both waiting for the elevator, and he told me how he’d met this nice lady while everyone was waiting on pins and needles downstairs. Said that she listened to him go on and on about nothing, but that it made him feel…heard and important,” said John kissing the side of Marlena’s neck.

“Paul Wagner. Retired teacher from Florida. Never heard of him,” joked Marlena.

“Well he told me that Mrs. Evans-Black should be a therapist or get one of those talk shows,” added John full of pride. “Doc, you never mentioned you were a doctor did you?”

“I am and always will be Marlena Evans-Black. Professionally I am Dr. Evans. I am here as the wife of John Black,” she said with clear distinction.

He spoiled her. He bathed her. He gave his undivided attention to every part of her body even washing her hair. John lathered the body lotion up and down Marlena’s leg respectfully stopping at the thigh. She sat perched on the edge of the bathtub dressed in a luxuriously overstuffed bathrobe with her hair wrapped in a towel.

“Come sit and I’ll dry your hair,” said John. “This is a full-service spa.”

There was something sexy about John brushing his wife’s hair. His strong fingers massaged her scalp as he pushed her hair from her face.

“I can get used to this,” said Marlena as she looked at their reflection in the mirror. John sat just behind her as she slouched in her vanity chair. “Do you take tips?” she asked.

“Only kisses,” said John, dragging his mouth behind her ear.

Just then the doorbell rang, breaking up the fun. “That’s dinner. I’ll meet you back by the window,” said John pushing off.

“The window?” asked Marlena, getting up to investigate.

John grabbed a box of pizza, a six pack and a pastry box from the delivery guy and tipped him well. He was feeling grateful and wanted to pay it forward. Just as he turned around, there she was standing there gorgeous as ever.

Marlena stood in the sitting area at the window where she’d just had her meltdown. John had managed to dress it with blankets and pillows transforming the area into a nicely tucked hideaway. She was smitten beyond words.

Just then, the laptop on the pillows began to chime. “Right on time,” said John. “We have a Skype call coming in.”

Marlena hurried over to the hideaway and took a seat to answer the mysterious call. Just as the call connected she was happy to find Carrie on the other end.

“Marlena! Oh my gosh I miss you,” Carrie said full of excitement.

Marlena clasped her hands together and smiled full of joy. “My sweet girl. I miss you too,” she said.

John made his way to the corner and joined the conversation. “Hey pumpkin! Thanks for meeting us for family dinner. You all set?” asked John.

“Hi John. I’m all set,” she said, grabbing her box of pizza and beer too.

John and Marlena cuddled in their little corner like kids in a makeshift fort. They huddled in front of the laptop chomping on pizza and drinking beer like a true family night.

“John, your pancakes were better than Marlena’s but still not the best,” said Carrie apologetically. “But in fairness, that was early on. You got much better.”

“I should have let you starve!” Exclaimed John.

It was a flawless family dinner bridged together with sheer determination and modern technology. John, Marlena, and Carrie spent the last hour laughing and talking about the happier times and put new ones on the calendar for the very near future. It was that perfect ingredient that they both needed to get to the next leg of this journey.

Bidding Carrie a farewell, John and Marlena carved out the next part of the evening for themselves. It was perfect timing to catch the sunset. Leaning back into John’s arms, Marlena counted her blessings. All she needed to keep going was right here in this pile of blankets, random pillows, and a half empty pizza box.

“That was really nice,” sighed Marlena with great relief. “This is really nice,” she added cuddling closer to John.

He grabbed her fingers and entwined them with his thinking back on a million memories. While it would be cliché to plant a romantic kiss just as the sun disappeared below the horizon, he didn’t need to add to the moment. It was perfect just as it was.

“Thank you Doc,” whispered John softly into her ear before taking an irresistible nibble.

“For what?” she asked.

“Oh my gosh let me count,” began John. “Or in short, just for being you.”

They did make quite a pair. The beautiful brainiac that everyone adored beside the handsome heroic millionaire. It was right out of a fairytale. Just as John buried his face into the side of Marlena’s neck, she flinched, taking her eye off the sunset, missing that burst of light by a second.

“Darn, we missed it!” exclaimed Marlena. “I guess that means we have to do this again tomorrow.”

John thought that was an excellent idea. “The only thing that sounds better than that is forever,” he said, kissing her softly.

Melting in his arms, Marlena slept well that night. What made her sleep so peacefully was knowing that John would be right beside her in the morning.

Chapter 11

Marlena slept like a baby, so much so that she found herself very well rested with 2 hours left until she was scheduled to do her morning yoga practice. Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster and she could certainly process her feelings better with a good night’s rest.

She cuddled into John and noticed how even his posture during sleep had changed for the better. He had a better command of his mobility and she was taking notice. To feel him spoon her so effortlessly in his sleep felt like home and perhaps that’s what she was missing.

Sure, she had him back and that was a dream come true, but she didn’t realize how much she’d missed the nuances that made them them. The way he’d carry her around the room during a wrestling match. The way he’d stand in the window naked after hours of making love and the way she’d lay in bed admiring his slender silhouette.

She looked at the clock again and realized that it was still 6:00. Sitting up, Marlena noticed John had pulled the blackout curtains which is something he never did during the week, especially when they had a busy day ahead.

“John are you awake?” she asked, shaking him gently.

“No,” he said with a husky tone. “I’m asleep next to my beautiful wife and I was just about to seduce her in this really hot dream. Do you mind?”

“That’s during the REM stage of sleep,” pointed out Marlena. “Did you unplug the clock and close the curtains?”

John didn’t answer her immediately and just cuddled into her running his legs up and down hers. She noticed every nuance of his movement, taking note.

Marlena whacked him on the arm. “John?” she asked again.

John shifted again and hugged Marlena tight but didn’t answer. He knew better than to lie to his wife, so silence was his only option.

In a huff, Marlena got out of bed and pulled the shades open letting in a huge burst of late morning light. She turned around and walked over to an unplugged clock and shook her head. The writing was on the wall and her husband made it clear, so she got back into bed and backed into him.

“You think you are so clever don’t you? I know you didn’t answer me because you didn’t want to lie,” started Marlena. She laid there staring at the ceiling for a few seconds unsure what to do with herself.  “Can you at least tell me what time it is?”

John refused to indulge her and buried his face into the back of her neck cupping her breasts over her nightgown.

“The phone!” exclaimed Marlena as she jumped out of bed and went to look for her cell phone. She knew she left it on the table near the door and now it was missing. She scratched her head for a moment and realized John’s phone was also missing.

She walked into the kitchen and realized that the microwave clock was flashing as if it had been reset. Everything she looked for to find out the time was either altered or missing.

“You win,” she said walking back into the bedroom and climbing into bed. “You know all I had to do was pick up the landline and call the front desk.”

“I know but I was pretty sure you would catch my drift before you got to that point,” said John breaking his silence. “Now just practice not having a to-do list. After yesterday, I’m firm that you need more rest, relaxation and outlets. We have to heal from the last few years. While I’m working on my legs, promise me that you will work on your spirit.”

For the first time, Marlena not only heard John with her ears, but with her heart. She’d tried time and time again to get past the last few years, but perhaps she was avoiding instead of processing. She was all too familiar with patients avoiding instead of dealing and perhaps she’d fallen prey to that too.

“I’ll work on that honey. I promise,” said Marlena as she tightened John’s grip around her waist. “I may not know what time it is, but my stomach says it’s late. Feed me. I mean, I can cook…”

“Gosh no,” said John without thinking. “I don’t want you to lift a finger,” he said kissing her neck. “Today is Indulgence Day.”

Marlena flipped over to look at John’s piercing blue eyes full of excitement. “Indulgence Day? It sounds wonderful. Tell me about it,” she said.

John swept her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “You need bigger diamonds,” he said.

“No, I just need you. And maybe eggs benedict,” she said rubbing her hands up John’s chest. “I mean it is Indulgence Day, which means…I could need sustenance for later.”

He loved the sound of that. Cupping her cheek, John kissed Marlena passionately as his other hand explored her body underneath her pajama top. The feel of her smooth skin on his fingertips was the best way to start the morning. It was Indulgence Day after all and now seemed like the best time to kick things off.

John’s brazen hands tugged at the waistband of Marlena’s pajama bottoms as she tossed her leg over his hip. The feel of his firm, aggressive hands was turning her on beyond words as she felt her loins start to warm up. Her body had a mind of its own when it came to John Black. She’d learned years ago to not resist it nor could she.

“Are you indulging me Mr. Black?” she asked as she casually reached down his boxers.

“You know it,” he moaned as he pulled her bottoms off and tossed them onto the floor.

Before Marlena could respond, John had her on her back with her legs in the air kissing her softly just below her belly button. “I’m indulging in a snack before breakfast,” he said.

For a blissful 45 minutes, John snacked on Marlena’s innermost secrets full of want and need. He truly craved the taste of her essence as he dragged his tongue up and down her moist slit, darting it in and out then around her clit. He knew her body like the back of his hand and where her hidden buttons lied in wait.

Marlena arched her back as she tried to focus on the journey to euphoria. Her fingers twirled John’s overgrown locks as she forced his greedy mouth into her center.

“Oh my gosh! Baby, don’t stop,” she purred as her hips moved in a slow circular motion. There was something new going on in John’s intensity and she was loving it. His touch had a twinge of naughtiness, like he was having his way with something that wasn’t his and yet all of it was his for the taking.

He teased and tickled. He flicked and licked. His touch was full of passion and an eagerness to please.

“I can’t get enough of you,” moaned John from between her legs. “Your taste. Your sound. Your body. Just…you.”

John had a way of making love to Marlena’s mind and body. He got to her in the best possible way. Her moans of ecstasy filled the room as she allowed herself to indulge and unapologetically beg for more.

“JOHN!” she screamed as she tried to muffle her sounds with a pillow. She could feel her body approaching a huge orgasm from deep within.

Without warning, he removed the pillow, grabbed her ankle and pried her legs open. He rested his body on hers, kissing her madly as his free hand plunged into her slick walls reaching for the spot to bring her home.

John could feel her body tighten around his fingers as her loins were flooded with unadulterated pleasure. “Don’t fight it,” he commanded softly.

She just stared deeply into his eyes and could clearly see his soul. Cupping his face in the palm of her hands, she allowed his thrusting fingers to ravage her.  Until this moment, she’d never heard the headboard tap against the wall, but it did on the first annual Indulgence Day.

“OH JOHN! Yes!” she screamed between the taps of the headboard. “Please. Don’t. Stop.”

Something had come over her in drugging waves. This morning’s delight was reminiscent of their forbidden trysts before becoming man and wife. It felt so wrong and so right all at once.

The driving force of John’s long, liquid kiss rushed lust through Marlena as she clawed at his back in pure bliss.

“You needed this,” moaned John into her mouth. “You were starving for my attention.”

Marlena felt John’s fingers stroke the spot that officially made her toes curl. His powerful physique hovered over her body as she began to quiver uncontrollably.

“OH BABY!” she cried, squeezing John with all of her might. Her arms and legs wrapped around him as her entire body climaxed.

“That’s it. Tell me how you like it,” commanded John.

“I love it when you do that. And that,” she panted breathlessly.

John held Marlena close as she slowly descended from cloud nine. He needed her to feel safe again in his arms and like everything was truly going to be ok.

“Happy Indulgence Day,” said John with a huge smile.

Marlena laid half-naked in the middle of the bed looking like the perfect pretty mess. Her mane cascaded across her face and her disheveled pajama top was pushed above her waist.

“Happy Indulgence Day,” boasted Marlena full of gratitude. “What…got into you?”

John didn’t need a special day to celebrate Marlena. The truth was, he didn’t know how to not worship the ground she walked on. She had sacrificed so much for so long and had to make sure that she was truly on the road to repair.

Pushing back, John sat up and grabbed Marlena’s foot and pushed into her arch. “So, eggs benedict was it?” he asked.

Marlena sat across from John, finally eating her eggs benedict and loving the extra hollandaise sauce. This was better than Christmas morning, a day of sex and leisure with a view of the Switzerland landscape. But for the reason they were there, it was a true postcard moment.

“So can I ask you a question, lover?” asked Marlena as she took a sip of her perfect espresso.

She was definitely a sight to behold. She sat at the table still clad in part of her morning attire. She did manage to find her lace panties before sitting for such a thoughtful meal.

“Absolutely honey,” said John completely mesmerized by her natural beauty. He sat there smitten, cherishing every moment of her joy.

“Once and for all, what time is it?” she asked.

John just smiled and pushed the morning paper across the table. “First help me with 57 down on today’s crossword puzzle,” suggested John.

Marlena opened the rolled-up newspaper and her cellphone tumbled onto the table. She was shocked to find that it was just after 11 AM. Although she was certain John had rescheduled the world so that they could have their moment, she didn’t push it. Instead, she opened the paper to help with the crossword puzzle.

“7 letters for stubborn,” she said thinking long and hard. Her brilliant hazel eyes looking into the air for the answer.

“M-A-R-L-E-N-A,” suggested John.

She just looked at him and smiled while resisting the urge to toss her napkin at him. “You are so clever Mr. Black. You knew the answer but planted this just to take a jab at me. The answer is adamant.”

“That’s a fact,” he said laughing at her expense.

It was the perfect day of retreating. John had pushed his appointments to spoil Marlena and take care of home. He got so much pleasure just hearing her laugh.

Marlena stood in the bathroom mirror completing a modest look for the day. Freshly showered, thoroughly orgasmed and extremely relaxed; she applied a little lip gloss and put her hair in a loose ponytail.

“Are you ready?” she called out to John in the distance. It was time for another episode of the Kitchen Beautician as she laid out her clippers and scissors.

“I’m coming, but close your eyes,” he said just outside of the bathroom door.

What could he possibly have up his sleeve now? Marlena smiled and did as she was told. “Ok, my eyes are closed,” she said.

She heard John approaching but the sounds were different as she heard a slow yet distinctive tap on the floor.

“I’ve been working on this for a while and thought it was the best time to show you,” he said.

Marlena opened her eyes and before her was John approaching her slowly with the aid of a walker. She just stared at him speechless as her eyes welled up with tears. She didn’t cheer or root him on, she just watched him walk into the bathroom like she’d done a million times before.

He took a seat in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. She was clearly overwhelmed with emotion as he grabbed her shaking hand and kissed it.

“I told you, I’m back baby,” said John full of confidence.

Marlena’s tears of joy turned into an uproarious laugh as she realized the milestone that had just occurred. “Happy Indulgence Day,” she whispered. “Happy Happy Indulgence Day.”

She kissed John on the crown of his head since she could only express herself with action. She found herself too choked up to get her words out, but he felt her and knew her deep sentiment well.

Taking a breath, Marlena found her center and looked at John’s reflection in the mirror while finding the shape of his future haircut. She rested her chin on top of his head and found herself draping her arms around his neck, loosely caressing him as she studied his grow pattern.

“How about a full-on buzz cut? Maybe it’s the Swiss water, but your hair has been growing extremely fast,” said Marlena.

She knew all too well that John was more of a crew cut guy, minus the dark years that she’d sooner forget about.

“I’ll do a buzz cut if you let me give you the Carol Brady shag,” he joked.

“Oh damn. I think I did that already. Those were dark times.  So, ivy league crew cut it is,”  she replied.

“I can get used to this. My barbers have never been this hot,” flirted John.

He sat in the chair and watched Marlena laser focused on giving him the best haircut ever. Her glasses were perched on the tip of her nose giving John the naughty librarian vibe.

“If I haven’t told you how proud of you I truly am, I am saying it now,” began Marlena. “I wasn’t prepared to see you walk in here today. I was standing here collecting my thoughts about how nurturing and attentive you are as a husband and how grateful I am and then you just…walk in like it’s just a normal day.”

It took an act of Congress to keep the tears from falling again. Even though Marlena tried to keep it light, she was still deeply touched and overwhelmed with emotion.

John looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. “Doc, you are my best friend. You are my partner in crime. You are my anchor. You are my morning, afternoon and evening. You are my…everything. I don’t know how to not shower you with attention and affection,” said John.

Marlena finished John’s hair and admired her work as she styled him a little more. Although his hair was perfect, she couldn’t resist the urge to touch him a bit more. She’d been that way since she could remember.

“Viola! That will be 2 kisses and a cheap feel,” said Marlena as she deemed her haircut complete.

“Well in that case, I’ll overpay and tip too,” said John grabbing her arm and pulling her into his lap.

Seducing her with the feathery strokes of his tongue, Marlena’s full lips softened under his. Even though John had started the morning off just right, she wasn’t opposed to some afternoon action.

“So what’s on the docket for today? Clearly you have it all planned out,” said Marlena.

“Just you, me and wherever the day takes us.”

“Which reminds me, I went shopping yesterday! I can’t wait to show you what I grabbed,” said Marlena jumping to her feet with excitement.

“I’ll race you,” said John light-heartedly.

“Hmm, I’d prefer to walk with you. It’s been a while.”

Marlena proudly linked her arm around John’s and happily walked beside him to the living room. It was a short stroll, but definitely one for the memory book. It was just as magical as walking down the aisle.

She tried not to hover or fuss, but able-bodied or not, she loved to cater to John. She saw it as a privilege and an honor.

Sifting through her shopping bags, she pulled out a nice leopard nightie that she couldn’t resist, and with any luck, nor would John.

“You like?” she asked, holding it in front of herself.

“No, I love!” Exclaimed John. “It’s my second favorite outfit.”

Marlena smirked and just stared at him for a beat with her hand on her hip. “Birthday suit?”

“You got it, baby!” he roared.

She knew him so well. Without even trying, she could read his mind most times although she chose not to. She’d learned the hard way that John, though devoted and loving, was a complicated man.

Just as she got to the bottom of her shopping bag, she found the parcel she received from the receptionist.

“Oh my goodness! I’d completely forgotten about this,” said Marlena. She opened the package, skimmed the letter and handed the box of contents to John.

“Remember the tantric massage we tried not too long ago? Well I wrote the author and shared how helpful the book was and we’ve received a response,” said Marlena reading an excerpt from the letter. “We appreciate the wonderful feedback and have enclosed another helpful book from our series.”

John looked into the box and pulled out a book. “Creative Cuddling,” he read.

“Ok, so if I read something interesting, you’ll keep an open mind?” she asked, grabbing the book.

“The massage was great! As for something new, so long as it includes you, baby I am in!” he said with a mischievous grin while rubbing his hands together.

Marlena doubled over with laughter at the sight of him being playful. The sound always filled the room and John’s heart with warmth and joy.

“I love it when you act like the dirty old man,” she said smiling from ear to ear.

“We should write our own book,” said John joking but half serious. “I keep hearing we’ve got that thing.”

“Hmm, that we do,” said Marlena kissing John with an open mouth. “I just love you.”

“And I you.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon making out like teens on a 3rd date. It was tender, hot and heavy. Marlena made sure to receive her payment for services rendered.

“Have I ever told you what a great kisser you are,” said Marlena in between small baby kisses.

“You have but I love hearing it,” said John as he grabbed her breast. “Don’t forget I owe you a cheap feel.”

“Ooo, like a dirty old man,” she said while giggling. He truly brought out the best in her.

“Happy Indulgence Day, baby,” she said.

“Happy Indulgence Day, pretty lady,” he replied.

Chapter 12

It had been a few weeks since John was able to kick his wheelchair to the curb and advance to a cane. It was definitely a boost to his morale and had put a proverbial pep in his step. Miles, his physical therapist, watched John closely as he pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion.

“Ok John. Let’s call this your last rep. You killed it today,” coached Miles from the sideline. “Let up on that intensity.”

John continued to push himself as if he had something to prove. “I want to try those battle ropes one more time before we quit,” he said, wincing in pain. “I think I’m ready.”

“Negative. We need to get a little more strength in your legs before we put that kind of pressure on those knees,” said Miles, stopping John from doing another rep.

John finally stopped and collapsed in exhaustion on the mat. “I’m so close man. If I could just…” began John.

Miles sat beside John and handed him a bottle of water. “If you could just what? Kill yourself?” he asked in all seriousness. “John, what’s going on with you?”

John took a swig of water and just pondered the true answer to that very question. He grabbed his temple and winced at the pain. His headaches had become more frequent and more intense although he tried not to let on.

“I just want to stay in the zone. I take these sessions very seriously,” said John. “I got a lot on the line man.”

“I am here for you and support your journey, but I’m going to need you to trust me. I know when you’ve met your goal for the day,” said Miles.

John took a deep sigh and conceded. Miles was right. Deep down, he was afraid of regressing and in some twisted way deduced that the harder he worked, the further he moved away from how he’d arrived at the clinic not so long ago.

“You got it. Thanks for the work out man,” said John extending his hand.

Miles shook his hand firmly and pulled John to his feet. “You good for stretching?” Miles asked.

Right on cue, Marlena entered the gym dressed for a workout wearing a pair of spandex shorts and a Basic Black t-shirt.

John’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. “Oh yeah. I’m real good,” he said, smiling from ear to ear. “I’m scheduled for a partner stretch with the hottest stretch partner ever.”

“Hello gentleman. How was your therapy today,” she asked before stealing a quick peck from John on the lips.

“Maximum intensity,” said Miles with trepidation.

John guided the conversation away from his extreme performance level. “Look at the branding! My favorite girl shows up wearing the company t-shirt, and quite well,” boasted John.

“You are a lucky man,” replied Miles. “Good to see you Dr. Evans. No more heavy exertion for him today, please. Maybe you can talk some sense into this guy. He’s a machine.”

Marlena smiled full of pride. She knew she had the cream of the crop, and nothing could ever convince her otherwise. “That he is,” said Marlena as she squeezed John’s biceps.

Miles bid them a farewell as Marlena took a seat on the mat prepared for a little hands-on attention. She could tell John was exhausted and gently reached for his hand.

“You ok, baby?” she asked.

Although distracted, John shook off the voices in his head and stood over Marlena and looked at her gorgeous form. “I’m good now that you are here. You know how I love lifting your legs in the air,” he said flirtatiously.

“Hmmm, and I love the way you lift them,” she replied lying on her back.

John kneeled before her and took her right leg in both of his hands. He stepped his foot to the inside of her left thigh just above the knee to lock her leg in position in line with the rest of her body.

“Ouch! I’m tight,” winced Marlena as she tried to keep her leg straight.

John was obviously distracted by her center clad in spandex right under his nose. All that he could imagine was trying this stretch with less clothing.

“Oh I can take care of that,” he said, biting his bottom lip. “3,2,1 now exhale.”

John lowered her leg and switched to the other side. He was starting to realize that this activity should have probably been done in private. He could feel his nature stirring to a slight attention.

“How was your workout? Miles mentioned your intensity,” said Marlena. “Please don’t tell me you are overdoing it.”

“He’s exaggerating. You know I can’t half ass, Doc,” said John, clearly deflecting. “Now what’s not an exaggeration is how great, and I mean great your ass looks.”

Marlena smiled and winced at once before John counted down and released her leg. “Why thank you. You can’t be the only one around here looking just so…irresistible.”

John had definitely improved in every aspect. Not only was he out of the wheelchair, but his mobility and strength had made a tremendous rebound. Now if he could just get rid of the headaches.

John and Marlena continued to stretch and but for the fact that they were fully clothed in a gym, there were definitely a litany of sexual undertones to their session.  Joining the soles of her feet below her groin, John positioned her legs like a butterfly and gently pressed her knees to the floor as he loomed over her smooth body.

“How’s that? he asked, resting his brazen hands on her inner thighs.

She smiled coyly and replied, “Great, but your hands are sliding and keep moving up my thighs. Any higher and we may have to get a room.”

John looked over his shoulder to verify the coast was clear and then released Marlena’s leg and climbed on top of her. He felt like he stretched her enough and now needed to act on his desire to kiss her.

“I’ve been dying to do this since the moment you walked in here,” said John as he forcefully explored Marlena’s mouth with his tongue. He groped her hips and thrust his growing erection into her center.

She felt his sudden rise to the occasion and looked at him with excitement. “Oh baby. What do we have going on here?” she asked, reaching down his shorts.

In theory this would have been considered highly inappropriate in a public place, but this was clearly a situation that required a medical evaluation and she was a doctor.

They kissed passionately and rolled around the mat exploring one another when they realized that John’s response wasn’t going away. They both looked deeply into each other’s eyes and had the same thought. Could they afford to waste such a new and rare opportunity?

“Can we get to the apartment in time?” asked John in between their hot and wet kisses. His hands had made it up Marlena’s Basic Black t-shirt as her erect nipples decided to join the party.

“You tell me,” she moaned into his neck as she tried to control her urges to ravage him right then and there. She looked across the room and saw a door. “What’s behind the door?”

“Us!” exclaimed John as they carefully got off the floor.

Barely breaking their kiss, Marlena realized it was a short stroll across the gym. “Your cane, baby, do you need your cane?”

“To hell with the cane. I think we have a pole,” said John with a raised eyebrow.

Using the wall for additional support, John led Marlena to a first aid room with the convenience of an exam table.

“What luck. Have a seat Mr. Black so that I can examine you, I am a doctor ya know.”

John sat on the edge of the exam table and pulled Marlena into him and cupped her breasts beneath her sports bra. Her hardened nipples felt like eraser tips as John brushed his thumbs across them.

“I’m thinking baby steps,” whispered Marlena as she tugged at John’s shorts, happy to find his manhood at about 70% erect.

One of the great things about making out in a clinical setting was the convenient items just at your fingertips. Marlena noticed lubricant on the adjacent counter and grabbed it gracefully while continuing to kiss John passionately.

Marlena teasingly shoved her lubricated hand into John’s shorts and began to stroke his member gently while making sure to circle his sensitive tip for good measure. They could be discovered at any moment or John could lose his excitement.

There they were in a dimly lit examination room on their way to 3rd base, kissing passionately and exploring each other both feeling a twinge of adrenaline at the thought of being caught. This was so not like Marlena and yet it was. John had the ability to make her throw caution to the wind and be with him at any time and any place.

John lifted her t-shirt and freed her perky breasts, squeezing them as he tilted his head back and enjoyed the sensation of Marlena’s smooth hand gliding up and down his shaft. Seeing his gorgeous wife’s stellar performance out of her element was driving him wild.

“Gosh you feel so good next to me,” he moaned, full of pleasure.

Within seconds, Marlena decided to up their ante and test John’s response to a little oral stimulation. Taking him into her mouth, she swirled her tongue around him making sure to reward his member handsomely for standing perfectly at attention.

John didn’t realize how much he’d missed the feeling of the warm wet recesses of her mouth on him. Although pensive that it could go away at any moment, he basked in the excitement of it all. Even the sounds of her devoted acts of love had him at the brink of exploding.

“Oh Doc,” he moaned, gently placing his hand on the back of her head. The sight of her head bobbing up and down was something to behold.

She didn’t utter a word. Time was of the essence as she felt a surge of obligation to get John off in a way in which he deserved. He’d worked tirelessly for months and this was the least she could do to keep the morale.

“How does that feel?” she asked in a seductive whisper. “Does that feel good baby?”

She could tell from his grunts and groans that she was accomplishing her mission. Thinking on her feet, she decided to use her other hand to caress his balls in hopes of gauging his progress and helping him explode. Although she could feel his erection waning, she knew exactly how to drain him of every last drop of passion. Pressing on that spot just beneath his balls was the pressure valve she was looking for.

John’s body tensed up as he looped his fingers around Marlena’s hair and screamed in ecstasy as fluid shot out of him like a cannon.

“OH..shh. MARLENA!” he exclaimed as he began to orgasm with extreme intensity.

Mission accomplished. Marlena had given John the release he’d so deserved.

She popped up brandishing a naughty grin as she saw the look of pure bliss splashed across John’s face. They laughed and caressed each other full of glee.

Marlena ran her hands up and down his back. “I guess we can add this one to the record book.” 

“I’ll say,” said John, still spinning from a crazy ride.

“We better get out of here. Can you imagine how this would look?”

John carefully got down from the exam table somewhat wobbly from the head rush and in need of the support of his cane.

Marlena held him up as they walked out of the exam room, not surprised to see Dot smiling holding John’s cane.

“I’m sure you were looking for this?” she said, waving it in the air.

John smiled sheepishly as he took the cane from Dot and glanced over to Marlena at who didn’t look bothered at all. As a matter of fact, she looked prideful as if she made a grand accomplishment and as far as she was concerned, she did.

“Thanks Dot,” said Marlena. “You are always there when we need you.”

“Everything is ok I gather?” she queried. From John’s expression, she was certain it was but felt compelled to ask anyway.

“Today was another milestone day,” said Marlena. Realizing the innuendo, she followed her statement. “John managed to walk across the room without his cane.”

Dot just smiled and clutched her clipboard and nodded, “One step at a time, right? And how did you do?” she asked John.

He looked at Marlena for her assessment, unable to keep a straight face. “I think I did ok,” responded John. “Doc, how did I do?”

“Stellar!” she said, full of enthusiasm.

Of all of the couples that had come and gone, Dot had to admit that the Blacks were her all-time favorite. They were fun, compatible, loving and a hoot to watch.

Marlena set the table for lunch and waited patiently for John to shower before she served up a good meal for what had been a great day. The water turned off ages ago and although she had a good mind to go check on him, she was also trying to just breathe and take things one step at a time.

“Honey, your lunch is getting cold,” Marlena called out.

John sat on the bench freshly showered battling an intense headache that he couldn’t seem to shake. Clearly they had become more intense and frequent, forcing him to take note. He rubbed his temple and tried to maintain his composure. He knew that it was time to speak up as this ailment wasn’t going to go away.

“On my way!” yelled John rising to his feet.

He walked out of the bathroom and saw Marlena sitting at the table all smiles. Just the sight of her had made the pain in his head dull ever so slightly as he took a seat across from her and kissed her hand.

“You look refreshed,” said Marlena chipperly. With each day the old John was coming back to her, keeping her love tank full and abundant.  “I hope you are hungry. I got us some great salads with a little saffron risotto.”

John devoured his dish in seconds. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was starving or because Marlena sat across from him looking like dessert.

“Baby, lunch was excellent,” said John as he leaned back in his chair sinking into the abyss of a food coma. “Can we do some creative cuddling?”

Marlena dropped her fork and sprang into action. “I haven’t read the book yet, but I am more than certain I can find some fun chapters for us to read through.”

“Or we can write our own chapter,” laying his head on her stomach. Marlena stood next to John and held him close burying his face into her lavender scented torso. “Are you ok baby?”

“Thanks to you I am. This morning was amazing,” he said, trying to keep his eyes open.

Marlena helped him up from the table. “I’ll say. Come on, I want you to rest.” 

John stood up and felt his head spin before he almost lost his balance giving Marlena a fright.

“Honey! Are you ok? Talk to me,” she said, sitting him back down and kneeling in front of him.

John grabbed his head as the pain hit him like a ton of bricks. The throbbing had never been this intense before and he became acutely aware that something was wrong.

“It’s my head. I’ve been having these headaches and…” began John.

Marlena recalled watching him weeks ago rub his temple and didn’t think it was serious at the time. Now she could kick herself for not being the helicopter wife she was known for being.

“Come on, let’s get you into bed and I’ll call Dr. Welsh.”

They had been on easy street for a while, and she wasn’t prepared to pivot and face another insurmountable challenge. Guiding John to their bed, she checked his vitals and then reached for the phone.

“Doc, just bring me an aspirin and lay with me. If it doesn’t go away soon, then you can call the doctor. You are also a doctor if I recall, so I’m in good hands.”

Against her better judgment, she laid next to John and gently massaged his temples. She paid close attention to the clock and was adamant that if his headache was still there in 30 minutes, she was calling the doctor.

Before long, John was fast asleep. Perhaps it was just exhaustion or elevated blood pressure that caused the headache. She could kick herself for not checking. To the best of her knowledge, this was the worst headache John had experienced thus far.

All that Marlena could think about were the experimental manipulations done to John by the hands of Stefano. She was always going to attribute medical anomalies to that part of his life. It was the only explanation that gave her peace. They’d managed to defeat every single obstacle initiated by Stefano and if that somehow included these headaches, they would defeat that too!

She watched  John sleep peacefully beside her like he didn’t have a care in the world. Although she agreed to only call Dr. Welsh if the headaches persisted, she was still going to have John thoroughly evaluated tomorrow morning if need be. They had come so far and couldn’t lose momentum now.

Marlena slid out of bed and decided to let John rest peacefully. She was long overdue for some girl chat with Laura and was hopeful that she would catch her on such late notice.

Marlena dialed the number and it rang several times to her dismay. Just as she was about to hang up, Laura answered out of breath.

“Hello,” panted Laura.

“Oh my goodness, Laura is everything ok? It’s Marlena.” 

“I just got in the door. I spent the afternoon with Mike and the kids,” said Laura. “I’ve been thinking about you.”

“Oh please give Mike my love. Is he still doing the Doctors Across Borders?” 

“He loves it,” said Laura. “Now dear friend, how are you? How’s John?”

Marlena collapsed on the sofa because there was no short answer to that question. She was definitely feeling some relief emotionally, but every day was a new day and sometimes those came with new obstacles.

“John is progressing nicely,” she said, pausing before sharing the great news. “He’s walking now!”

Laura cheered on the other end of the phone. “Oh my gosh Marlena! That is excellent news. I am so happy to hear this.” 

“It’s been a journey, but yes, John is on his feet. He fatigues easily and uses his cane; well except for earlier,” added Marlena thinking back fondly of this morning.

“And you, I really want to hear about you,” Laura pushed. “John has you and a team of doctors looking after him. Who’s looking after you?”

“Believe it or not, John. He’s really taken charge of keeping me on track and taking better care of myself,” said Marlena. “We’ve been spending more leisure time together and it has been wonderful.”

Laura was a trained psychiatrist and also a very loyal and attentive friend. “That sounds great Marlena, and I am so happy for you, but we both know that there is something else bothering you.” 

Marlena smiled full of gratitude. How did she get so lucky to have a husband and best friend that knew her so well. While it had been a blessing and a curse at times, she always appreciated it.

“Oh Laura,” sighed Marlena. “John has been having these headaches. I noticed him nursing one weeks ago and didn’t jump on it. Now I’m worried. What if this is an adverse reaction to the trial? What if…,” began Marlena, working herself into a frenzy.

“Marlena, listen to me. You are a doctor. You have to remind the wife in you that you don’t know until you evaluate the patient.” 

“I know. I know. It’s just been such a long and stressful journey back and I just don’t want to have to face another pitfall. I honestly don’t think that I could bear it,” said Marlena solemnly.

Marlena was lucky to have a friend in Laura Horton. Not only was she a confidant, but a great sounding board indeed.  Suddenly there was a knock at the door that garnered Marlena’s attention.

“I love you dear friend,” said Laura.

“I love you too,” replied Marlena. “There’s someone at the door. Chat soon?”

“You got it. Stay strong.” 

Marlena got up to open the door and to her surprise it was Dot paying a visit.

“Dot, what a lovely surprise. Please come in.” 

Dot took a seat and got straight to the nature of her visit. “I won’t be long. I just wanted to share that a few family members have shared that you’ve been extremely helpful and encouraging during their time of need.” 

“Oh, it was nothing major. Just light conversation to get their minds off things. I was happy to help,” said Marlena modestly.

“That’s just it. Dr. Evans, you are happy to help,” gushed Dot. “We’d like to invite you to counsel the family of patients at your leisure. Our resources would be at your disposal.”

Marlena pondered the offer, and it sounded like something right up her alley. She could remain close to John yet give his journey some distance while helping people all at once. While she’d be a fool to turn the opportunity down, she knew talking to John first was her best bet.

“I am honored and very interested in the offer. Let me chat with John…” started Marlena when he appeared in the doorway. He was grabbing his head, barely able to stand.

“Doc,” he said, holding his head. “Call Dr. Welsh. Something’s wrong.”

Dot jumped to her feet and ran to catch John whose knees started to buckle. “Dr. Evans, hit 611 on your line now!” 

On autopilot, Marlena jumped to her feet and dialed the number as instructed. As much as she wanted to recoil into herself, her body reacted on its own.

“This is Dr…Mrs. Black. John Black needs help now!” 

And just like that, what had been a great run had come to a screeching halt.

Chapter 13

John sat upright in a hospital bed with his arms folded like a petulant child. While he’d admit that his headache was strong enough to call the doctor, he didn’t like the idea of having to stay the night in the hospital wing.

“John, it’s for observation. They need to monitor you to see what’s triggering your headaches,” said Marlena as she stroked his hand. She could see the deeply embedded frustration seething in John and while she felt the same, he needed her positive outlook more than ever.

John just sat looking out the window with a clenched jaw, avoiding Marlena’s glance because he didn’t want to break. He wasn’t afraid for some reason, he was frustrated. Not only was he frustrated, but he was also freaking angry. The possibility of being kicked out of this trial was not an option.

Dr. Welsh and Dot stood on the other side of the bed trying to offer their next step. “John, we knew this was a possibility. You had a remarkable run without experiencing any setbacks,” said Dr. Welsh. “But we are going to isolate the reason for these headaches and rule out your body resisting the trial cocktails.”

“Even though you transitioned into predominantly physical therapy, we have still been observing everything going on with you medically very closely,” said Dot.

Marlena could tell that everything they said had completely fallen on deaf ears. John didn’t hear a word they’d said. She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was off in another place formulating his own plan to make this problem go away. That’s what he did, climb to the top; get knocked back and get to the top again.

She stepped into his line of sight to break his counterproductive trance. She didn’t want him developing some radical ideas in his head that would cause more harm than good. She plastered a forced smile on her face and tried to keep a steady voice.

“Honey, this could be a helpful thing for us. This is a trial right? How are we going to know how to treat a possible reaction unless we study it,” said Marlena trying to motivate John. “You are about to make history, baby. This is just part of the journey. Now get arrogant so that we can finish what we started this morning.”

Marlena’s hazel eyes twinkled brilliantly as a sign that John felt and heard her. She truly was the only person capable of pulling him from the deepest levels of despair.

John touched Marlena’s face and broke a slight smile. If his woman told him to get up and fight, he had to do what she desired. He was incapable of forsaking her.

“Yes dear,” he said with a hint of a smirk. He looked over to Dr. Welsh and Dot to engage. “So what’s the first step?” he asked while squeezing Marlena’s hand.

“Well, we’ve managed to simulate and predict your progress in the lab with the blood samples we take from you once a day. This helps us map changes and where they occur. And hopefully why,” said Dot.

“Kind of like rewinding a videotape to catch something you missed,” added John. This could very well be up his alley.

Dot was enlightened by John’s outlook, “Well yes, that’s exactly it. That’s the engine of this trial. We map the patient and create the perfect formula to restore them back to normal.”

“Until you, we were stuck at a certain level because our patients didn’t have your unique medical history,” began Dr. Welsh. “John, I know you’ve been through a very painful and difficult experience, but please take comfort that you have accelerated our data years ahead of any other patient. You have found a way to subdue every medical anomaly thus far, and I am certain we will learn something profound from this obstacle too. Dr. Evans is correct in what she said about you making history. We will restore your health John. It’s the least we can do.”

John looked over at Marlena and nodded. “They sound really confident don’t they?” 

“They do.” 

“Almost arrogant.” 

“I would say so. Now what are you going to do?” asked Marlena.

Marlena tossed and turned all night without John sleeping next to her. She’d grown reaccustomed to sleeping on his chest again making his absence felt more than ever.

Marlena couldn’t completely wrap her mind around the science and technology behind the trial that was curing John, but if Stefano could accomplish his dastardly deeds, then who knows what Clinica di Lugano had under lock and key.

She tossed once more when she realized she wasn’t going to sleep at all tonight. She had offered to sleep in the room with John but sadly it wasn’t allowed. Just as she tried to take a mental inventory of snacks in the kitchen, she heard her cell phone beep. She jumped up and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. It was a text from John.

John: Doc, U awake?

Marlena: Hi!!!! I miss you. Are you ok?

John: Just exhausted. Can’t sleep with all of these tests and monitors.

Marlena: Anymore headaches?

John: Not since they tweaked my dosage.

Marlena: OMG I am so relieved. I’m glad they finally let you use your phone.

John: I demanded a few moments. I had to say good night and chat with my pretty lady.

Marlena: I just might be able to sleep now. I love you.

John: Send me a naughty pic!

Marlena pulled the phone close to her face to do a double take. She laughed like a giddy schoolgirl at the mere thought of obliging him. He was upstairs all alone being poked and prodded. Clearly there was something that she could send him to keep his morale.

Thinking on her toes, she turned on the light and put on her glasses. She had conjured up the best selfie on such short notice. Sure, she could have easily just sent a close up of an intimate part of her body, but she thought this approach would really get a rise out of John. She took a picture and sent it, waiting patiently for a response.

John opened the attachment on the other end and saw exactly what he’d expected from his brilliant wife. Giving “naughty librarian”, she put on her glasses, unbuttoned her nightgown an extra row and tossed a sexy book over her cleavage. Her blonde mane of unruly curls cascaded over part of her face like they’d just made love all night.

John: I was hoping for a boob, but this was way sexier

Marlena: Modern technology.

John: They are back for another round. I’ll see you in the morning. I love you pretty lady.

Marlena: I love you back, sailor!

Marlena held the phone in her hand like a cherished love letter that she’d just found in her high school locker. She would never be able to explain how John Black had captured her heart and kept it for all of these years. He still made her heart flutter and feel all tingly inside; and was that feeling that allowed her to finally fall asleep.

Marlena paced back and forth outside of the room that was assigned to John, the only problem was that he wasn’t there. She missed him terribly last night and was anxious to be there when he woke up, but to her dismay, he was still having a last-minute test.

Dot turned the corner, happy to find Marlena. She knew an update on John was of the utmost importance and wanted to give her the latest intel.

“Dr. Evans. Good morning,” said Dot walking into John’s empty room for more privacy. “We had a productive night. John did well and he agreed to one last test in exchange for his freedom.”

“And did we isolate the cause of the headaches?” 

“Not yet, but we have kept them at bay temporarily. We know it has something to do with the cocktails prescribed. We just need to figure out what exactly is the culprit, and we will.” 

While it wasn’t great news, it wasn’t bad either so Marlena would take it. Now all she needed was her husband. “When is John due back? I was hoping we could have breakfast together,” said Marlena. She walked over to the chair and sniffed his robe to feel his presence. “Last night was agony. I wasn’t prepared for a pitfall and yet…”

Dot could tell that Marlena wasn’t feeling nearly as confident as she pretended to be. She pulled up a chair and invited her to take a seat. Marlena sat down not realizing that she still had John’s robe in her clutches holding it like a security blanket.

“Dr. Evans, we are going to get through this. Dr. Welsh and I are very confident that we can figure this out without compromising John’s progress,” said Dot confidently.

“Forgive my candor, but there are no absolutes in medicine. We follow the science and do what we know. John is a wild card which means anything is in the cards and that terrifies me,” said Marlena.

“Dr. Evans, the odds are extremely promising. Now what I can’t tell you is when this will be over, nor can I promise that another issue won’t arise, but what I can say is we have a few contingency plans just in case everything we anticipate rears its ugly head. Our lab is working 24 hours a day on all of our patients and John’s data has us in the driver’s seat. While you are 100% correct about there being no absolutes in medicine, this is the most confident I’ve ever been in my professional career.” 

Marlena heard Dot loud and clear, but it still didn’t subdue the angst in her gut. Perhaps seeing John walk through that door would make her feel better. She just needed to hold him and hear his voice.

“Thank you for everything, Dot. You have truly been a huge asset during this entire ordeal,” said Marlena. “I just wish I could see him. This waiting drives me insane.”

“We have a host of families that feel just like you. Have you given any thought to the offer of speaking to a few people? I think it would be a great distraction and a huge help for them and you, but no pressure,” said Dot, hoping to snag the opportunity to have Marlena join their team in a way.

Although Marlena hadn’t spoken to John yet, he never interfered with her professional decisions, and he did encourage her to dive into more productive activities. “How about I speak to one patient in need and see how it goes? When could I start?” asked Marlena, realizing that she’d just accepted an interim job opportunity.

“Well, I have someone that could really use your expertise now. John won’t be done for a while, and I suspect this will help you pass the time. What do you say?” 

Marlena could not have told Dot no, if she tried. She had gone above and beyond since day one and if there was a need for her expertise, then she was going to put it to good use.

“Ok. Let’s give it a shot,” said Marlena. It felt right and she needed something to do other than worry.

Dot stood up ecstatic. “I am really excited about this partnership. We have a space for you at the research library. There’s a conference room we use for larger study groups and presentations.” 

Marlena took a deep breath realizing what she’d just agreed to. She hadn’t practiced in a clinical setting in a while, but she knew treating patients was in her blood. She looked around the room and ran her hand across John’s robe once more and smelled it for good measure.

“How much longer do you think John will be?” 

“I would say by lunch time, he’s all yours,” replied Dot. “May I show you to your new office and introduce you to your first patient?”

Marlena’s legs felt like a ton of bricks. While she knew John wasn’t due to return for a few hours, just the thought of not being here when he returned didn’t sit right in her spirit, but she was going to leave anyway.

“Can you please tell John where I’ll be and if anything happens…” began Marlena.

“…You will be summoned immediately, Dr. Evans. I’ll tell John personally after we get you set up.”

Marlena spent the rest of the morning speaking to family members of patients at the clinic. Once she’d allowed herself to become engrossed in her work, the day seemed to fly. It had also given her some perspective on her journey and how lucky she was that John’s prognosis was very promising in comparison to some of the challenges others were facing.

She realized that sharing a workspace with the research library was a huge win because in her down time, she preferred to stay on top of all of her medical journals to keep her finger on the pulse of Psychiatry.

She looked at her watch and realized John would be finished soon and couldn’t get to him fast enough. Just as she began to pack her belongings, Paul Wagner entered the room, uncertain if he’d found the right place. He looked unnerved and brandished a slight smile when he saw Marlena’s smiling face.

“Mr. Wagner, right? Hi,” said Marlena standing up to greet him.

Paul shook his head in amazement, “So you are a psychiatrist? I knew it. You were the easiest person to talk to!”

“I am indeed. Although while here at the clinic, I’ve been Mrs. Black,” explained Marlena. “Please, have a seat.”

Paul sat across from Marlena nervously cupping his hand while bouncing his knee. “I feel like I’m imposing,” he said. “I’ve never seen a shrink before.”

Marlena smiled and looked at her schedule, “Well, considering you aren’t on my schedule this morning, technically I am Mrs. Black and you just stopped by for a chat.”

“You are good,” chuckled Paul. “I’m just feeling horribly guilty and wanted to ask if I am being silly. Watching my wife struggle like this is hard and yet sometimes I just want to run and not deal with it. Is that normal?”

Marlena could relate to what Paul was feeling. Even as a renowned psychiatrist, she was human. This journey that they were all on was not for the faint of heart. There were days when she wished she could just shut her brain off.

“It is very normal. The first normal reaction to stressors is to avoid it or run in the opposite direction. What’s keeping you here is emotional,” said Marlena. “There could be a conflict between your physiological response versus your emotional response. Have you spoken to your wife about how you feel?”

Paul just looked around the room in search of the best answer. Marlena could tell that he was searching for the nicest answer and not the truth.

“Paul, it’s ok to be honest about how you feel. It’s the first step to finding a solution,” explained Marlena.

“She doesn’t let me in. I’ve tried to be supportive and helpful, and she pushes me away,” said Paul solemnly.

Marlena’s heart broke for him. While it was difficult enough to watch the person you love go through such an arduous journey, it had to be crippling to also feel their rejection. She took comfort in knowing that she didn’t experience that for too long with John. She was really counting her blessings.

“Paul, may I make a suggestion? Start by doing things that bring a little of your life before all of this happened into your lives now.”

Paul wrinkled his nose as his face was completely blanketed with confusion. “I don’t follow.” 

Marlena got up from her desk and walked over to Paul in hopes to reach him. “Think about the simple things you did as a couple like reading the morning paper during breakfast or a game of Gin Rummy. Anything that you did as a couple that perhaps you can do, even if modified, right now.”

“We watch cooking shows. Iron Chef is one of our favorites,” said Paul smiling slightly.

Marlena looked at his expression and noticed a bit of a lift when he spoke. ” Then try bringing that to her. Remind her. Try a new recipe and I don’t know…have a taste test.”

Paul listened and began to shake his head like maybe it was a good idea. Maybe he could try a different approach to connecting with his wife.

Just as Paul was about to speak, Marlena’s desk phone rang. “Excuse me. I typically don’t take calls during a session, but this is the receptionist that helps make my schedule and technically I’m available.”

Marlena took the call and looked at her watch shaking her head. “That’s kind of tight, I’m due upstairs to check on my husband. Can we try for tomorrow perhaps?” she asked into the phone while taking a long pause. “I see. Well if it’s an emergency, then yes.”

“I see you are wanted. I’ll take your advice and get on your schedule,” said Paul standing up. “I appreciate your time Dr. Evans.”

Marlena stood up and escorted Paul toward the door. “As you can see, I don’t bite. Make an appointment when you are ready and hopefully we can make some progress.” 

After Paul left the room, she scurried over to her phone to call John’s room to get an update. She was determined to be with him at the next available opportunity. Now with a patient in need of counsel, she was afraid John would be alone and idle until she could get to him. She was torn and hated feeling like this, but she knew he would understand.

A nurse answered the phone and to Marlena’s dismay, John was done and discharged. “Oh my. How’s he feeling? Did he go back to the apartment? Can a nurse check in on him until I can get there?” she asked, trying to cover her bases. “How’s he feeling?”

Marlena had a million questions and didn’t know what to expect. Was he feeling ok? Did the headaches return? Was he fatigued? The list was endless. Before going off on a tangent, she considered the fact that he was discharged. That was a good sign, wasn’t it?

“Thank you nurse. Please get a message to him that I’m on my way the moment I finish with this last patient.” 

She hung up the phone and took a deep breath so that she could remain in the zone. She had to remain professional and hold her own problems at bay, which was a big ask, although she’d done it a million times before.

She paced back and forth and looked at her watch, waiting pensively for her next patient to show up. It was so last minute that she’d neglected to get details. If she was going to do this again, she had to remember her routine. She was so out of practice and that combined with her distraction had her giving this interim assignment second thoughts.

“You are just worried about John. It’s fine,” she said to herself.

She could feel that knot of uncertainty building in her gut. She hadn’t felt this anxious since before John’s headaches and couldn’t get out of this crippling headspace soon enough. She heard the click of the door from across the room and switched to her professional hat.

To her surprise, John entered the room back in his wheelchair with lunch on his lap with a single lilac in his hand.

“Dr. Evans, I believe you have an appointment with me this morning,” he said from across the room as he slowly approached her. “And I have breakfast, well brunch in tow.”

Marlena, frozen in her tracks, just closed her eyes and sobbed. She wasn’t sure if it was relief, fear or the sight of John back in his wheelchair. She was slammed with a flood of emotions and the place or origin escaped her. She ran to him and kneeled down to kiss him passionately on the lips. Cupping his freshly shaven face into her hands, she drank freely of him. It was as if they’d been separated for months.

“Oh honey,” she wept unapologetically, coupled with a tight embrace. “I missed you. I love you. Oh my gosh I missed you. Oh my gosh I love you.”

John just held her tight until he felt the tremble in her body dissipate. “I’m here baby. I gotcha. I gotcha,” he said soothingly.

Marlena just remained in his embrace until she felt her love tank fill up just enough to pull away. “Baby, you have to use your chair again? What did they say? How do you feel?” 

John lifted her chin and smiled. “Doc, breathe. Everything is going to be fine,” said John. “As far as the chair, I was in a rush to see you and it would have taken forever to walk to you.”

He sat the bag of food on the adjacent table and handed Marlena the lilac. “For you,” he said enjoying the sight of her exhale and blush from the adoration.

“Oh baby,” she said lovingly as she stroked the side of his face while fawning over her flower.

John reached behind him and grabbed his cane draped across the back of his chair and stood up. “You owe me a breakfast date and I’m starving,” he said, pulling out a chair at the small conference table.

They sat next to each other and just held hands and smiled, barely able to stop long enough to eat. This was that feeling she craved all last night and this morning, that need to feel connected and as one.

“How are you feeling?” 

“I feel fine. We have a temporary fix in play for now, but I have all of the confidence in the world that we are going to remain on easy street,” said John. “I just need you to trust me when I say I have this under control, ok?”

Marlena averted her eyes which was a sign of her struggle to concede. She hated being a doctor because it was almost impossible to disillusion herself about the facts.

“Just for now, but I want to have an in-depth conversation with Dr. Welsh and Dot immediately so that I can understand what is going on,” she said without an ounce of abatement.

“That has already been arranged. We have a meeting with them later. For now, I just want to look at you,” said John looking around the conference room. “Look at you, starting up a practice abroad. Not too shabby.”

Marlena looked around and smiled at the comfort of being surrounded by books and more books. But for John’s situation, this was her happy place.

“I hope you don’t mind that I accepted the offer before talking to you. It came out of left field, and I promise that I won’t let it interfere with…” she began rambling before she was silenced by John’s index finger gently brushing across her full lips.

“Doc, I wanted this for you more than you did. I think it’s great!” he said supportively. “I’ve come to the realization that we’ve come too far to stop now.”

Oh how she adored him. Oh how she loved him. He always managed to take care of her before she even realized it.

“I love you,” she whispered before brushing her lips over his. She needed to be consumed with him to quash this angst in her gut.

“And I you,” he said, receiving the feathery strokes of her tongue. “But I do have a slight issue that we need to address.”

“Ok, tell me,” she said pulling back slightly so that she could gaze into his piercing blue eyes.

“There’s a side effect of an interim drug they have me on.” 

“Ok, we will deal with it baby. As long as you are ok,” she replied. “What’s the side effect?”

John pushed back from the table with a devilish grin and replied, “Sporadic erections, that don’t seem to go away. How should we handle it?”

Marlena stood up immediately with lust-filled eyes. “Please tell me you locked the door,” she panted. Her libido shot from 0-60 in 3 seconds flat.

“I did and told the receptionist that we didn’t want to be disturbed,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

Blown apart by heat, their bodies collided like two great forces that could not be subdued. She could feel his full erection cushioned against her mound as it began to throb.

“Are you saying that we can go for it?” she asked as she moaned into his mouth.

John didn’t bother to answer with words. He lifted her body and placed her on the conference room table and unzipped his pants with a plan. He was going to have his full way with her, all consequences be damned.

Conveniently dressed in a skirt, Marlena didn’t have time or the inclination to remove her panties. Charged with excitement, John bunched her skirt up her thighs as she clutched fistfuls of his shirt. The full length of his powerful physique loomed over her as his hard thighs crowned her hips.

He didn’t even have to coax her knees apart or prime her loins to receive him. He briefly rubbed his acute hardness up and down her moistened slit melting from feeling her sticky heat kissing the tip of his manhood.

Taking his time to savor the moment, John entered her slick walls slowly as he felt her arch her back to better accept him.

“OH GOSH!” she moaned at the sensation of John’s full erection stretching her opening.

Marlena’s eyes slid shut in ecstasy as John plunged into her with one powerful thrust forcing her nails to claw into his flesh. She was certain that she broke the skin although he didn’t flinch. She just draped her arm around his neck and stared longingly into his eyes, allowing him to ravage her body with reckless abandon. The sounds of their flesh slapping against each other was a clear indication that they had no intention of taking their time.

John could feel her walls tighten around his shaft as he willed himself to slow down his urge to explode in her luscious vessel.

“Doc, I have missed you so much,” he moaned as he drug his open mouth across her collar bone. He looked at the pure unadulterated bliss blanketing across her face and knew he’d returned home. “I miss that look on your face as I am blowing your back out.”

It was reminiscent of their passion-filled and forbidden tryst all those years ago on top of the Titan conference room table. For a man fighting to regain his strength and mobility, John didn’t disappoint in the least. He stood up on his own with his pants around his ankles digging into her core in search of her orgasmic treasure.

“Right there! Right there!” she directed. She could feel the tip of his rock hardness brush against her g-spot, making her crave for more while thanking yoga for getting her leg over his shoulder with ease.

He plunged and pounded. He dug and dove into the warm wet recesses of her starving flesh. Her slick walls tightening around his shaft was almost too much to bear.

“You like that? Huh? Tell me how you like it,” commanded John as he looked deep into her hazel lust-filled eyes.

Marlena’s undulating hips dipped and swirled in random patterns confusing her senses with maddening pleasure. All she knew was that she didn’t want him to stop. John dipped as far as he could as he moved the strands of hair clinging to the side of Marlena’s sweaty face.

“I like it like that,” moaned Marlena in complete ecstasy.

John twisted his hips to hit another angle, sending Marlena to the moon.

“And I love it when you do it like THAT!” she squealed.

Neither of them knew what John had in store and were determined to make this session of lovemaking one for the record books.

John was completely mesmerized by her. The idea, that after all of these years, her body could respond to him on a whim was a true testament to her unwavering love and devotion to him. He was determined to please her over and over again, come what may.

John placed his massive arms on each side of her, crowning her with his glistening form, the sweat dripping from his chin down onto her blushing cleavage. He could feel her walls tighten and quiver around his gliding shaft.

“How’s that yoga coming along?” he asked with a heavy breath.

Marlena gave him a naughty grin, tossed her other leg over his shoulder and replied, “You tell me!”

John melted in between her damp thighs. With both of her legs over his shoulders, he could feel all that she had to give. For the first time in ages, he was able to hit the ridge of her pubic bone that made his toes curl.

“Is that all you got, sailor?” teased Marlena. If they were going to push this to the brink, she refused to hold back. “Are you going to make me beg?”

John pulled out of her warm honey and stood tall on both legs, only wavering slightly and bracing his balance by clutching her knee.

“Honey are you ok,” Marlena jumped up full of concern.

John raised his eyebrow and in a husky whisper replied, “Never better, now turn over.”

Before Marlena could react, John’s firm and brazen hands pulled her close to him, flipping her over and cupping her breasts beneath her blouse. Somehow, the tip of his determined organ knew its way home without the guide of his hands.

Marlena exhaled from deep within her gut as John’s firmness slammed into her clit and pulsed against it rapidly. She arched her back and screamed into her own shoulder smearing what little make-up that remained across her sleeve. The feel of John’s hands guiding her hips as his body slammed into her was like the very first time. It was raw and debaucherous. It was mindless and passionate.

John could feel the adrenaline to his core waning, as he remained laser focused on bringing Marlena to the other end of euphoria. She deserved this release, and he was determined to stick and stay with all puns intended.

Flexing his core, John had managed to brush against Marlena’s g-spot as his shaft brushed against her clit. It was the perfect storm destined to bring Marlena home.

“You feel that?” asked John, taking bold possession of her body.

Marlena’s eyes rolled into the back of her head as her knees gave out beneath her. Her cheek was now plastered against the conference room table as John pounded her from behind mercilessly.

“Yes! Yes! Yes,” she cried. “I feel it!”

Like kismet, they exploded at almost the same time. The sensation of John releasing his sex into her made her come harder than she could ever remember.

John was momentarily transported to another space and time as he felt like his old self again. Being able to make love to his wife and knowing that he was able to satisfy her the way she deserved was the best feeling in the world.

Collapsing onto Marlena’s back and burying his drenched face into her, he pushed into her, determined to squeeze out every last drop.

And so there it was, John and Marlena given another opportunity to do the conference room table all over again. It was hot. It was heavy. It was everything like the first time and more only this time with the aid of a locked door.

Mr. and Mrs. Black were back, even if it was thanks to the inexplicable side effect of an experimental drug.

Chapter 14

There was absolutely no way around explaining John and Marlena’s appearance after the serendipitous reboot of their explosive reunion on a conference room table. Both drenched in sweat adorned with the smearing of Marlena’s makeup, they laid on the table basking in a post-coital afterglow.

The uneaten lunch sat cold on one end of the table while their bodies continued to radiate a level of heat that they hadn’t seen in ages. Sure, the passion was always there, but there was something powerful about being able to act on that passion without encumbrances. 

John felt the unpredictable effects of his medication slowly coming down from a high, reliving the last hour he’d only dreamed about since they’d arrived in Lugano.

As grateful as he was to be afforded this opportunity, he was determined more than ever to stay in this place. He pushed himself off of his wife while grabbing her around the waist and onto her feet. There was no need for humility as they both knew they looked a sight.

Marlena paused for a moment to get her balance from the rush of blood humming in her veins. She was in a euphoric haze and extremely disoriented and yet she’d never felt better.

“Damn,” she said with deep satisfaction. She could feel the warm remnants of John’s essence and sweat starting to run down her thighs. She turned around and looked at her lover with equal proportions of lust and adoration, her loins still stirring for more.

“Honey,” said Marlena dazed and mellow.  “What in the glorious hell was that?” She ran her hand down the side of John’s face and kissed him passionately.

“A side effect that I think we should take full advantage of,” he said, dragging his mouth across her neck. “Let’s clean up here and get to the apartment.”

“We get a part two? Oh baby,” she moaned into his mouth.

They caressed and laughed uncontrollably when they realized what had just transpired and where.

John pulled his pants up with urgency. “Let’s clean up here before Dot shows up. Somehow I think she knows when we are hooking up,” he said.

They cleaned up the remnants of their afternoon delight and headed to the privacy of their apartment hoping for another opportunity. With any luck, they would be able to get upstairs unseen.

Always neatly coiffed, Marlena was a pretty mess with her makeup smeared and hair a mane of unruly curls. Although she never wanted to relive the more recent events of the past, she was more than ok to push John in a wheelchair to speed up their return to their apartment.

“I hope no one sees us. I must look a sight,” said Marlena as she breezed by the receptionist,

“Have a good day Dr. Evans,” said the receptionist.

Marlena didn’t even bother to engage, she just rushed toward the open elevator door and said hurriedly, “You too!”

“Doc! Doc, two o’clock. Evasive maneuver,” said John on a mission to elude Dot down the intersecting corridor talking to a nurse.

Marlena sped up as the elevator began to close when John used his cane to open the door just in the nick of time. “I knew this thing served a higher purpose,” he said feeling accomplished.

“You always know how to save the day,” she said feeling invigorated and carefree. “How about we freshen up, reheat our lunch and try some creative cuddling?”

Just as the door began to close, Dot’s clipboard slipped through the waning gap opening the doors to welcome her onboard.

“Dr. Evans, John…I see you finally reunited,” she said. “How’s the stiffness?”

John was taken aback by the question until he realized the double entendre. He exchanged sheepish glances with Marlena and then tried to get his mind out of the gutter. Rubbing his legs he finally replied, “My legs feel heavier than usual, but we are making it work.” He subliminally passed the ball to Marlena, who always knew how to keep grace flowing in an awkward situation.

“Hence the wheelchair. We are heading to the apartment now to discuss a few things that have come up,” said Marlena, kicking herself for her poor word choice.

John looked at her and smirked. She could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking the same thing she was. They had both done a naughty play on words unintentionally.

Dot pushed her glasses up and smiled. “Well we look forward to discussing the latest details with you guys later,” she said. “And John, pace yourself. Some of the side effects are just temporary.”

The elevator door opened inviting John and Marlena to freedom. “You guys enjoy your afternoon,” said Dot.

Marlena smiled graciously as she pushed John out of the elevator. “Thanks. We will chat soon,” she said. “And I promise, he’s in good hands.”

Dot just watched them progress down the hall to their apartment and smiled. She wasn’t sure which of the potential side effects would surface, but she had an inkling of one or two.

Marlena sat on the sofa drying her hair thinking fondly of her earth-shattering romp on the conference room table. Of all places to reunite with John, this had to be the most ironic. She’d fantasized about their first time all of those years ago often, never considering the possibility of perfecting it. She was also concerned about John’s health status. Sure, a surprising physiological response by way of a rock-hard penis had its perks, but she was more concerned with the underlying issues going on.

John hobbled out of the bathroom on his cane wincing with every step. He wasn’t sure about the source of his aches and pains but the look on Marlena’s face had him leaning toward the much-respected sex injury.

Marlena stood up to greet him and clear a path. “Hi sailor! Did the extra time soaking help?” she asked while standing up to greet him.

“I think laying down for a bit is best. Let’s head to the bedroom,” he said, feeling his own limitations.

Marlena was happy to oblige with no expectations in mind. She just loved being around him. She looped her arm through his and made a slow stroll to their well-appointed love nest. The moment they entered the bedroom John noticed that his side of the bed was turned down for him. He looked at Marlena and felt compelled to kiss her softly for knowing his needs in advance.

“I love you,” he said as she helped him into bed.

“And I love you,” she said beaming from ear to ear. “Now, what can I get you?”

He just grabbed her hand and kissed the delicate inner face of her wrist. “Just you,” he said.

Marlena crawled over him stealing a kiss along the way. “Well if anyone deserves a siesta, it’s you,” she said, getting under the covers and cuddling into him. “Of all places, a conference room table? You can’t make this stuff up!”

They laughed uncontrollably, taking comfort in each other’s joy. It’s what made them so special and so them.

“We will certainly have a lot of private laughs about that one,” said John.

“For sure and maybe it’s me, but are they making tables harder these days,” she said adjusting the pillows behind her back.

“No baby, I think it’s us,” he said pulling her close. “But not too bad after 15 years.”

Marlena did the math in her head, and he was spot on. “You remembered,” she said lovingly.

“How could I forget? You were avoiding me like crazy. If I recall, you asked me to never touch you again and proceeded to shut the elevator in my face,” recalled John.

Marlena cringed and grabbed her face. “I know. It was after the plane and I was so worried and confused,” she explained. “You know that I didn’t really mean that don’t you?”

“I figured as much when we ran into each other later in the conference room.” 

Marlena sat up and looked into his baby blue eyes. “You followed me! We didn’t run into each other,” she corrected.

John gave it a quick thought and realized she had a very credible recollection of that fateful night. He did remember every detail of how she looked and smelled, however.

“Guilty,” he admitted sheepishly. “You wore an indigo ball gown and wore the same lavender scent. That’s how I found you. Your essence lingered in the hallway and led me right to you.”

“And I’m so glad it did,” she said kissing him softly on the lips. “I guess I was already pregnant by then, huh?”

“So it was the plane,” said John smiling. “Full disclosure, up until that point, that was by and large the best sex I’d ever had.”

Marlena laid her head on his chest and nuzzled into him. “Really? I thought it was when we finally got back together. We were at the penthouse, and you were displaced and heading to the Salem Inn,” she recalled. “I think you knew you were taking me up those stairs.”

“I did,”  he confessed. “But the only reason I approached with caution was because I knew the next time we shared a bed; it was going to be forever.”

“And forever it shall be,” she replied.

They fell asleep in each other’s arms as if they didn’t have a care in the world. It was their safe place were nothing else mattered.

They must have really worked themselves into a frenzy earlier because they napped until late in the afternoon. Marlena opened one eye to look at the time and was shocked they had slept so long, and yet she didn’t care.

Laying on her side, she backed her ass into John’s center and spooned in his arms hoping to steal a few more minutes of that warm and cozy state.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, the phone rang. Although it completely killed the mood, it was an appropriate time to call. She sat up and answered the phone trying not to wake John.

“Hi Dr. Evans. I hope I didn’t call at a bad time,” said Dot.

“No, not at all. We have just been napping since we got home and John’s still asleep,” said Marlena in a hushed whisper.

“Exhaustion is expected. I am not sure if John informed you that I would be making contact about what’s been going on,” began Dot. “You are all over his consent forms so I can discuss this with you briefly if I may?”

Marlena looked over to John who still slept soundly and undisturbed. She tipped into the living room in hopes to have a better understanding of the latest details of John’s case.

“I would be happy to get clarity,” said Marlena. “The headaches, what’s the cause of them?”

There was a long silence on the end of the phone before Dot spoke. “John is administered a series of medications that have helped him progress rapidly toward recovery. The medications have to be taken in a series in order to work. One of them is putting enormous stress on his Kidney.”

Marlena took a seat on the nearest chair to absorb what Dot was saying. “We think we can synthesize a variation of the drug that so far has proven could be a very effective substitute. We are just racing against the clock,” explained Dot.

“What clock? How much time do we have and what is the prognosis if we can’t get a substitute?” 

“We regress and lose a substantial amount of progress made,” said Dot apologetically. “John’s case is so rare and unique that we just don’t know certain things until the eleventh hour.”

It had been such a magical afternoon and while Marlena was highly concerned about the latest details, they had come this far and still had a good amount of fight and optimism stored for darker times ahead.

Taking a deep breath and willing herself to stay in an optimistic place, Marlena continued to listen intently. “Go on,” she encouraged.

“We’ve given John another drug to…hold his place in line so to speak. Prevent us from losing our progress until we figure out how to synthesize a new substitute,” said Dot. “It’s not a drug that will aid his recovery but it’s buying us some time.”

“And it’s temporary?” 

“It is. I wouldn’t want to go beyond 14 days. Anything beyond that gets risky.” 

“And the side effects of this new drug? What should I expect?” asked Marlena.

“So far, we’ve been able to ascribe body aches, fatigue, depression, vivid dreams and intermittent priapism,” said Dot. “Respectfully, I dare ask if that symptom has occurred?”

“The sporadic erections, yes. Should we be concerned if they return?” Marlena asked in all seriousness. She wasn’t about to endanger John in any way regardless of the temptation.

“If they last more than 4 hours, it can be dangerous,” answered Dot. “And before you ask, there is no danger to engaging in sexual activity during these occurrences.”

Finally some good news. So there it was in black and white so to speak. They had 14 days to synthesize a new drug in order to keep John moving in the right direction. She had a choice of making this 14 days the best 2 weeks of their stay in Lugano thus far or worrying that they’d run out of time.

“Dot, professionally–how confident are you about this new substitute drug? I need you to be honest with me,” she asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

“It’s too soon to say. But we are close to mapping the first formula. Once we get the results, we will know how close or far we are,” said Dot. “I hope that helps.”

It was honest and the latest intel. It was all that she could ask for at this point. She graciously concluded the call and sat deep in thought. She was perplexed by the fact that she didn’t know exactly how she felt. Was there a new obstacle? Yes. Did they have a viable solution? Not yet, but they were in a promising facility that had gotten this far. She sat in solace for at least 15 minutes, selling herself on all of the pros to be the opposition to John’s potential cons. She had to tell him the latest updates the moment he woke up and she hated to drop the hammer on such a memorable day.

“Doc?” John called from the bedroom.

“I’ll be right there!” she replied while preparing herself.

She entered the bedroom and stood next to John leaning over to kiss him softly. “How was your nap?” she asked with love in her hazel eyes.

“Lonely,” he replied tugging at her arm, beckoning her to come back to bed.

“Honey, it’s nearly dinner time. You should eat.” 

“I’ll eat exactly what I have a taste for,” he said pulling at the edge of her flannel bottoms.

While she rarely refused any of John’s advances, she couldn’t withhold the details of her conversation with Dot.  She dug her heels into the carpet so that she could focus on the priority.

“Wait, honey. That was Dot. She gave me an update,” said Marlena, taking a seat beside John on the narrow edge of the bed.

John looked at the expression on Marlena’s face and found her hard to read. “Is it good or bad?” he asked while scooting over and making room.

She noticed all of the miraculous improvements that he’d made since being there. Just a few months ago, scooting over wasn’t even an option and yet it was something that he’d just done relatively effortlessly with little thought. Marlena suddenly felt inspired and suddenly hopeful.

“I…I think it’s closer to good,” she said on a whim.

She shared every nuance of her conversation with Dot preparing to give John a pep talk. After she finished speaking, he just looked at her with a blank expression and then smiled.

“So we have up to 2 weeks of these as long as it’s for less than 4 hours,” said John, pulling back the sheet to reveal what Marlena deduced was a very impressive erection.

“I’m trying to have a serious conversation,” she said trying to ignore the masterpiece before her.

John leaned forward to kiss her softly on the lips. Just a subtle peck to lure her into his world of carefree and reckless abandon. After one brush across her lips with his mouth, her defenses began to weaken.

“You did an excellent job bringing me up to speed and all of your updates have been duly noted,” said John now showering her with soft feathery kisses along the curve of her neck. “My take is that we can live it up for 2 weeks while that stellar team continues to heal me day after day.”

Marlena smiled from ear to ear hearing such a positive mindset about a very precarious situation. They were definitely in tune and she knew beyond a doubt that John was truly feeling hopeful.

Submitting to his advances, Marlena fell into him, kissing him passionately. She couldn’t resist the urge to slide her hand down his torso and rest her hand on his pulsating manhood. She wanted to take her time unlike earlier today, but her body had a mind of its own. She could feel her mound begin to salivate and throb as her body heat shot up instantly.

“I’m going to get naked now,” she moaned into his mouth before straddling him. All that lay between them were John’s expanded boxers.

John sat upright watching his wife’s perfect breasts bounce joyfully in his sights. He cupped them forcefully and shoved her erect nipples into his mouth, flicking his tongue in various directions.

Marlena tilted her head back and allowed him to explore her body with wonderment. Her hips, with a mind of its own, began to grind into John’s member in slow circular motions. She could have easily slid him inside, but she was confident that she could take her time.

“Gosh I love you,” whispered Marlena. “I can’t wait for you to make love to me the way that you do.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” he asked in between hot liquid kisses.

Marlena slid his boxers down as her knees clamped his naked hips; his tip was poised at her opening. John could feel the warm stickiness of her center brush across his shaft as he flexed just at the perfect angle, breaching her welcoming entry. He melted inside of her warm tight vessel as she exhaled from deep within her gut.

She slowly moved up and down until her body adjusted to his girth, so grateful to have the best seat in the house. The sensation of his stiffness thrusting past her clit had her completely spent and yearning for more.

Before long, they’d found their rhythm as John laid back and watched his wife ride him to glory. She placed her hands on his chest and found herself once again digging into his flesh.

John placed his firm hands on her hips and pulled her into him, completely filling her void. Marlena clearly aimed for multiple orgasms as she began to bounce on John’s lap with one mission, to come harder than she ever had over and over again.

“Oh John…” she purred with every stroke.

There was something magical about locking eyes during sex. It was a core ingredient to connection, intensity, and euphoria.

John winced as the tip of him hit Marlena’s pubic bone. “Ah, Doc,” he groaned full of pleasure. “You feel like heaven.”

She collapsed on his chest as she hauled in a breath and tensed her core in anticipation of what she hoped would be the first of several orgasms. Her slick walls quivered and tightened around John as he gently pulled her hair just enough to garner her gaze. Marlena finally exhaled, mixing her hot breath with his as he savored the taste of her lust.

“That’s it. Let it go,” he said, coaxing her closer to the verge of exploding.

It was slow and passionate. It was deep and deliberate. She couldn’t prevent her hips from rising to meet his thrusts.

“OH…JOHN…what you do to me,” she cried as a climax came at her in drugging waves.

He could feel her damp body tense in his arms as he held her tight. She was his safe place. She was his weakness. She was his everything. With her at his side, he could do anything.

Marlena was spent. Panting breathlessly, she collapsed on John’s chest and licked the salty curve of his collar bone.

“I’m being a selfish lover,” she said into the side of his neck preparing for round two. “Is this too much for you? I just love being close to you. My body has a mind of its own when it comes to you.”

John ran his hands up and down her back and pressed his thumbs into her tender muscles. With all that he had left, he thrusted into her to keep the fires burning.

“That’s what sustains me. This passion. This fire. I need you like I need air,” he said softly.

He was flooded with emotions; torn between the elation of being Marlena’s desire and the acute sensation of his body shutting down. He knew he had to push forward. What if he was regressing faster than projected? What if he’d never have a moment like this with Marlena again.

Weakening but determined, John rolled Marlena onto her side and spooned her from the back, blanketing her with his muscular chest. Kissing up the back of her neck, he slowly pulled her head back toward him so that she could catch a gaze of their reflection in the mirror across the room. Their eyes locked in their reflections as John slid back into her inviting folds.

Marlena had never really thought about what she looked like during the throes of passion. While it took a moment to get used to what felt like being watched, she focused on John. The sight of him ravaging her body with an expression of unbridled bliss was all that retained her attention.

The simultaneous sight and feel of him exploring her flesh as he pumped into her was a new and all-consuming high. While she felt her g-spot being thoroughly serviced by the slow and rhythmic jabs from John’s manhood, her inner urges were also being tantalized by the distant view of it all happening. It was like having the ability to step back from your art and master it from a different point of view.

Marlena saw her wishes coming true as she felt John lift her leg, gripping the delicate inner face of her thigh. He knew he was cheating because that was her spot. He had mastered the art of taking her body to places unknown just by touching her there.

He felt what he hoped would not be his last orgasm approaching rapidly as he slowly dug into her wetness, hearing the slippery sounds every time he drove back into her.

He felt his love shoot out of him like a rocket as he melted into the curve of her spine. She watched his reflection twitch in delight and the sight of his final thrust incited her cry of release.

They soon fell asleep in each other’s arms feeling safe. Feeling happy. Feeling like they had finally found each other again.

Chapter 15

John sat on the exam table almost certain of his current prognosis without him being told. He was extremely fatigued, achy, and growing weaker every day. He sat alone waiting for Dr. Welsh to return with the latest findings while contemplating his plan B.

He looked across the room at the empty wheelchair with contempt having bid it farewell for what seemed like a lifetime ago. Now he found himself befriending it once again under duress.

Dr. Welsh walked into the exam room with a look of frustration on his face. John already knew that it was bad news and braced himself by opening with a light-hearted comment.

“Hey Dr. Welsh. Aren’t you guys supposed to wear a fake smile even when the news is bad?” asked John.

Dr. Welsh brandished a smile and patted John on his shoulder in solidarity. “Good morning John. Forgive the delay. I wanted to run a few scenarios before our consult,” said the doctor. He was extremely perplexed as he looked at John’s chart once more to refresh his memory.

“It’s alright. I can feel everything you are about to tell me,” said John massaging his stiffening legs. “Just come out with it. I’m regressing faster than you thought, aren’t I?”

“We are so close and yet we just can’t explain your resistance to a protein. It’s almost like your cells are mutating faster than we can predict how to treat you,” he said followed by a dramatic pause. “We aren’t giving up though. I have my best scientists working around the clock to figure this out.”

“I am assuming the catalyst is my freakish biology,” said John in search of answers. The only thing harder than regressing was having to explain to Marlena that there was a new obstacle on the horizon.

John, sitting in this sterile room, was listening to a bunch of hypotheticals as a formality. His goal was to hear what was happening, what wasn’t going to happen and what could happen. There was no chance in hell that he was throwing in the towel.

“Dr. Welsh, I appreciate what you guys have been able to do for me. Hell, for us,” said John. “Is there an alternate treatment plan or facility that could help?”

Dr. Welsh rubbed his chin in deep thought. This was one of the most perplexing and yet exciting cases he’d had throughout his career, and it pained him to be at this fork in the road. “Let me check a few things among colleagues and see what comes up.”

“I would appreciate that,” said John.  “Any tips on what to tell Marlena?”

Dr. Welsh smiled and rested his hand on John’s shoulder. “Dr. Evans is almost as remarkable as you are, and I sense a huge key to your recovery success. Lean on her. Be honest with her.”

John smiled and beamed full of pride. “She is remarkable. She’s actually a few levels beyond that, but you are right. She would go to the ends of the earth for me and I for her.”

“We’ve noticed, so much so that her presence has been part of our calculations in your recovery,” replied the doctor. “She’s been a tremendous asset to you, our staff and others here. She’s highly respected.”

John slowly made his way to the library in hopes to find her there, he knew the sight of her face would lift the heaviness on his heart. Just as he rolled past the receptionist, she called out to him.

“Hi Mr. Black. Dr. Evans finished her sessions for the day. She’s in the atrium,” she said pointing across the corridor.

John wheeled himself across the way and found himself mesmerized by the labyrinth of tranquility. There were so many varieties of flowers and foliage creating a lush oasis. He looked to his left and then to his right and had a good mind to just call out to her but decided to use his romantic GPS. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and intrinsically knew to turn left. Following the path and enjoying the sights along the way, he’d finally found her sitting at a table with her back to him. He just took a moment to collect his thoughts before announcing himself.

“Hey sailor,” she said without turning around.

John smiled and approached to see what had his wife’s attention and saw her taking a stab at water coloring.

“How’d you know it was me?” he asked, watching her add a splash of green to her masterpiece.

“The same way you found me in this little corner,” she said smiling and finally looking up. Her hazel eyes were bright and so full of beauty.

John got out of his chair with a struggle, refusing Marlena’s help while taking a seat next to her. Just the feel of her arm brushing across him made him feel better.

“When did you start painting?” 

Marlena pulled back and compared her creation next to its living inspiration, which wasn’t precise, but it showed promise. If nothing else, it was a great way to distract her while waiting to hear from John.

“Well, a patient came to see me this morning and was kind enough to give me a starter set as a parting gift,” she said, cleaning up her mess. “I didn’t have any more sessions this morning and decided to come out here and just….”

John could feel the tension between the two of them. They weren’t fighting, nor were they at odds. They were merely pensive as they both tried to come to terms with the latest obstacles before them.

“…Just what?” asked John as he lovingly moved her hair behind her ear. It was a selfish move on his part, as he longed to see her face.

She exhaled from deep within her gut making sure to avert her eyes. She knew that if she looked at him at this very moment, she would crumble.

Marlena shrugged half-heartedly while focusing on cleaning her brushes and replied, “Just to distract me a little I guess.”

John didn’t press further. His heart and eyes told him exactly where Marlena was emotionally and since she was the professional, he decided to yield the floor and not belabor the latest updates just yet. He did however insist on seeing her beautiful face and cupped her cheek ever so slightly to catch her gaze.

As her face turned toward John, Marlena closed her eyes tight, but the tears still found a small breach and rolled down the side of her face. “Please don’t. I don’t want to upset you,” she whispered with a cracked voice from the lump in her throat. Her heart was breaking, and she didn’t know how to make it stop. She didn’t know how to make any of this stop. It was just a constant wave of obstacle after obstacle.

John wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb and then held her close, taking comfort in the alluring scent of lavender from the small of her neck. They had gone through a lifetime of challenges and always came out victorious. John didn’t know when or how, but he had faith.

“I need you to make me a promise Doc,” began John.

Marlena willed herself to disengage because she knew what was going to be asked of her. It was something she struggled with although if asked she would push through and oblige.

“Please don’t ask me to do that John. You know me and you know…,” she uttered before his finger silenced her rebuttal.

“Doc, please.  You have to tell me how you feel,” said John as he felt his limbs starting to ache before going numb. “Even if it’s about your fears.”

Marlena shook her head, refusing to concede. “No! Absolutely not. Besides, I’m fine. You have enough on your shoulders without having to worry about me,” she said, drying her tears. “I’m here to help take care of you and that’s exactly what I am going to do.”

“We take care of each other,” corrected John.

Marlena rested her forehead against John’s temple and lovingly stroked the side of his face. “Let’s agree that you focus on getting better and I will focus on you.”

John tried to speak before he was silenced with a kiss. Although it was fueled with fear and desperation, he could feel her unconditional love and passion. For the first time in his life he was truly afraid and although he vowed to protect Marlena at all costs, he was also physically incapable of hurting her. His confession was on the tip of his tongue and yet he wasn’t ready to let it pry his lips.

“You have always done the heavy lifting. Now it’s my turn,” she said with an intense stare into his eyes. Their backs were against the wall and the only way out was ahead. “I have an idea, let’s go for a walk and you can bring me up to speed.”

Despite the severity of the situation, the fresh air brought both of them clarity and the strength to talk it out. It’s what they did. It’s how they won and now it was time to hatch a plan.

John and Marlena had a very productive stroll around the grounds as John updated Marlena on all of the latest details about his regression. They hadn’t formulated a plan, but they did agree to never give up. Although time was of the essence, they agreed to call it a night and not talk about it until morning.

Marlena sat upright in her bed with her frameless glasses perched on the tip of her nose grasping at straws in hopes to find a solution to their latest medical anomaly. While they had agreed to not talk about it, Marlena was still dedicating every waking hour to getting their lives back.

John rested soundly beside her as she turned page after page praying something helpful would jump out at her. Even with a team of seasoned researchers working around the clock, Marlena refused to waste a moment. They’d hoped for 14 days and sadly it was now looking like nearly half. She could kick herself for becoming so complacent over the past few weeks. It felt like a dream come true having John like his old self. It wasn’t about the sex, although that was a very welcomed bonus, it was truly about the light in his eyes.

She placed her book on her nightstand and removed her glasses, rubbing her fatigued eyes. She leaned over and kissed John’s forehead tenderly and studied the details of his face. She noticed a new freckle just above his infamous eyebrow and rubbed her finger across it.

“We are going to make it baby,” she whispered. “Just hang on. Just hang on.” She turned off the light and backed into John to feel the warmth of his body next to hers. Matching the rhythm of his breath, she soon found herself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

John and Marlena had blown out of the pub in a fury to get home and at each other. They’d been apart for a full 7 days thanks to a schedule from hell and had to endure a family celebration immediately after landing at the Salem Airport.

John pulled into the parking garage of their penthouse and parked his truck in a haste and leaned over to kiss Marlena passionately. “The only thing I like about you going away is the reunion”, he said while dragging his mouth down the center of her chest. He seductively flicked her buttons one by one as he palmed Marlena’s thigh under her skirt.

Marlena missed John madly. They had just reunited after a litany of unfortunate events and now they had found each other again. “Are we really about to make love in the front seat of your truck?” asked Marlena in between the driving force of John’s tongue. “We can make it to the elevator, can’t we?”

John pulled back and with intensity, looked deep into Marlena’s eyes and said, “We can have a quickie now and then go upstairs and make slow…long…passionate love.”

Marlena didn’t even take a second to respond, “Deal,” before unzipping John’s pants and sliding her curious hand into his boxers stroking his throbbing stiffness.

John grabbed the side of Marlena’s moistened panties underneath her skirt and ripped the stitch with aggression. Their hot breath filled the air as the windows began to fog adding an element of seclusion.

She slid his shirt over his head so that she could run her fingers down his muscular chest with ease as he slowly parted her knees. Her body was responding to him leaving a trail of her sticky essence trickling down her dampened thighs. All that she could think about was the blissful sensation of John breaching her entry with his swollen shaft. There were no games. She wasn’t going to play coy. She was going to lay down in the front seat of John’s truck with her feet on the ceiling and let him plow into her loins until they both blew off just enough erotic steam to make it upstairs.

She found herself tugging at the rim of John’s boxers as his hips began to involuntarily thrust at her void. Contrary to popular belief, there wasn’t a lot of space in the front seat of a truck, although the bench seating was a bonus.

As she successfully freed John from the confinements of his boxers, she could feel the palm of his hand brush across her throbbing mound before thrusting his fullness into her welcoming center, stretching out her softness.

She exhaled from deep within, welcoming the sensation of John’s firm body slamming into hers full of want and need. “Oh how I have missed you,” she moaned as she laced her fingers around his hair. It was the perfect length to grab during the throes of passion. “AH! Right there. Right there!” she directed with a twinge of authority. He loved responding to her commands in the bedroom. Whatever she begged him to do, she would also have to beg him to stop.

John laid on top of her slowly driving his hips in a circular motion. He could feel her warm folds grip his shaft as he looked deep into her eyes while swirling his tongue around hers. The truck swayed back and forth as their bodies collided in a slow repetitive rhythm.

“7 days,” groaned John into the side of Marlena’s neck. “You made me wait 7…long…lonely days without you.” John could feel her knees clamp his naked hips as her slick walls tightened around him. “Do you know how long 7 days is?” He withdrew from her and slid back home again.

Marlena’s eyes narrowed at half-mast as she hauled in a deep breath and arched her drenched back trying not to slide off of the slick leather interior. “7 days did feel like an eternity,” she said as the head of John’s staff nudged her g-spot sending a flooding wave of euphoria throughout her body.

John laced his fingers with hers and pinned her sweating palms on the foggy windows as their bodies slammed into each other on a mission to release spasms of pure unadulterated pleasure.

“Welcome home,” moaned John into Marlena’s mouth before he exploded.

“No! Wait!,” she begged on the verge of following him. Dragging her open mouth along the curve of John’s salty shoulder she dug her nails into his flesh.

“I gotcha baby,” said John as he remained dedicated to bringing her home.

Marlena came instantly again and again, falling apart beneath him while calling out his name. “JOHN!” she screamed as he collapsed on top of her.

“Welcome home, sailor,” she purred into his ear. “That was a great appetizer. Now, what do you have for the main course?”

John loomed over her drenched in sweat, smiling from ear to ear. “You are the main course,” he said before kissing her again.

John shifted and moaned in his sleep as his dream took him back to happier times. He was with her. He was holding her. He was pleasing her. It was a feeling he wished he could hold onto forever.

“Doc?” he called out in his sleep. “Baby don’t go. Stay with me.”

Marlena was awakened by the sounds of John talking in his sleep. It happened on the rare occasion that he went to bed with the weight of the world resting on his shoulders.

“I’m here love. I am always going to be right here,” she replied, nuzzling into him. “There is no place I’d rather be.”

Marlena woke up earlier than usual and committed to her daily yoga practice. She couldn’t rest knowing that today was the day she and John had dedicated to discussing their next move. Although distracted and beside herself, muscle memory helped her flow along although by the time she finished, she was no more enlightened than before.

She laid on her mat staring at the ceiling in search of a solution to help them out of this hell. Not only was watching John suffer taking its toll but watching him get to the brink of recovery and having it snatched away was cruel and a dagger to her heart. What was it going to take for them to live their lives without the disruption of havoc and turmoil?

She recalled so vividly when everything began to push them toward the bosom of chaos, always leading back to a DiMera. As much as she hated to admit it, John was right every time he blamed Stefano’s bloodline on the bane of their existence.

Realizing the time, she started a fresh pot of coffee in anticipation of John waking soon so that they could start their day, although she wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Doc!” John called out.

“I’m here honey! Just making coffee,” said Marlena. “You want some?”‘

“Doc!” he called out again with a hint of fear in his voice.

Marlena hurried to his side without hesitation and found him sitting up sweating profusely trying to catch his breath. For the first time since she’d loved this man, she saw fear in his eyes and wasn’t sure how to process it. He’d always been brave and strong. He’d always stood ten toes down in the face of adversity without so much as a flinch and now, he was slowly becoming a shell of himself.

“Baby, what is it?” she asked, cupping his face into her hands.

“Where were you?” he asked almost half asleep.

“I was in the kitchen making…,” she began and then realized it didn’t matter. “All that matters, is that I am here now.” She rested her forehead on his and held him close. “I am right here John.” She could feel his pulse racing rapidly as she tried to comfort him.

“I had the strangest dream, Doc,” began John, coming out of a fog and rubbing the side of his head.

“I know. You were talking in your sleep,” she said while propping his pillows. She pulled back and looked into his eyes and noticed the light was gone, breaking her heart into a million pieces. “Dot said you could experience vivid dreams.”

John grabbed his head and winced at the reappearance of his dull headaches. These intricate house of cards that they’d built over the last year were starting to fall down one by one and he didn’t have a clue if or how they were going to put it back together again.

John reached over and grabbed Marlena’s hand and kissed it before rubbing it up and down the side of his face, savoring the soft feel of her skin next to his. He immediately inspected her ring finger and was horrified to find it bare. “Where’s your ring?” he asked with a twinge of panic.

Marlena looked at her left hand and nonchalantly replied, “It’s right there on the nightstand honey.”

“Go get it, please.” 

Marlena didn’t question him, but instead walked to her side of the bed to retrieve the very ring he’d slid on her finger months ago as a promise of honesty and devotion.

“I took it off last night after my fingers started swelling a bit,” she replied, attempting to slide it back on.

John took the ring from her hand and looked at her with a level of intensity that she hadn’t seen in ages. “I need to see this on your finger. I need to know you are in this with me.” 

She was somewhat taken aback with the notion that John would even question their solidarity. “Of course I am with you. Until the end of time,” she reassured him. She kissed him softly on the lips and stroked his face as he managed to force a smile.

He perched the ring between his trembling fingers and attempted to slide it back on to hers when his dexterity failed him, dropping the ring onto the floor. There was a moment of silence that blanketed the room and yet she could hear John’s spirit screaming in despair at the top of its lungs. Before her eyes, the facade of strength and bravery was no more as John collapsed and sobbed in her arms.

“Damn it!” he exclaimed with equal proportions of anger and fear. “Doc, I’m worried now. I…I don’t think we are going to make it. I don’t have the answers babe. I’m fresh out of ideas.”

Marlena crumbled and joined him in uncontrollable sobs as they clung together for dear life. She wasn’t sure how to fix this, but she was determined more than ever to make this go away.

“It’s ok to be worried. I’m worried too, but I’m also mad as hell!” she roared, rocking him back and forth. The more John cried, the angrier she got — to the point where her fists were clenched ready to pummel the first thing she saw. “Just lean on me baby. Just lean on me.”

John’s tears stopped only to be upstaged by him gasping for air and grabbing his chest. “Doc,” he called out, succumbing to the pain. “I…can’t…breathe.”

She hit the emergency button on the phone and cradled him in her arms as the terror began humming throughout her veins. “This is Mrs. Black. I think my husband is having a heart attack. I need help!” she yelled into the phone. She looked at the pain in John’s face as he shrank mentally in acute discomfort. She just held him in her arms until a team of doctors arrived. She didn’t want to let him go, but she did reluctantly, standing on the side with bated breath.

“It’s ok John. I’m here,” she called out to him, fighting to maintain their direct eye contact as the team began to stabilize him for transport.

John managed to lift his left arm brandishing his wedding ring as the oxygen mask was placed over his mouth and nose. He just kept calling Marlena’s name as they wheeled him out of the room in a haste tugging at her soul. She stood looking at their empty bed trying to figure out how things had shifted so rapidly. She’d spent the entire morning stressing about their plan of attack and now she longed for the opportunity. She wanted to crumble, but she couldn’t. She wanted to crawl into a corner, but there was no time.

She wiped the tears from her face and saw her ring on the floor and immediately picked it up and slid it back in its final resting place. She collected her center before grabbing the phone, dialing several numbers full of conviction.

“Abe, it’s Marlena,” she spoke calmly into the receiver. “Unfortunately no, it is not. That’s why I’m calling.” She took a dramatic pause and looked at her ring once more remembering the promise. “Heaven help me, we need your help. I need Lexie to put me in touch with Rolf…and ultimately Stefano DiMera.”

Chapter 16

Marlena sat in the waiting room rocking back and forth trying to calm her nerves and collect her thoughts. She could hear the throbbing of her own pulse humming through her veins as she tried to recall her rushed call to Abe. She was certain that she’d shared all of the pertinent information and would follow up with the latest prognosis as well as have John’s medical records sent to Lexie at once.

She had come to the conclusion that returning to the source of the problem was possibly the source of the cure and made the decision to solicit Stefano’s help without compunction. Every time she began to second guess her decision, she simply asked herself, “What would John do if her life was hanging by a thread?” Part of her knew that John would resent her for making such a decision, but she opted to beg for forgiveness since asking for permission was no longer an option. She was in the driver’s seat now and there was no time to second guess herself. Digging deep, she willed herself to approach this like a physician, thinking about the patient’s needs before all else.

Marlena slid her sweating palms up and down the length of her pants focusing on the shimmer of her ring, a newfound and calming distraction. It was presented to her as a symbol of honesty and devotion and now more than ever, she had to focus on the devotion to do everything possible to bring John back to her once and for all.

A nurse walked down the hall toward Marlena, giving her pause. The sound of the nurse’s footsteps clicked rapidly as she grew closer, tightening the knot in Marlena’s stomach. She wasn’t sure what information was on its way and preferred to hold on to uncertainty in the event that something ominous was on the horizon.

“Dr. Evans, Mr. Black’s files were sent to University hospital as requested,” she said. “Dot is working on extending privileges to a Dr. Lexie Carver and they should be instated soon.”

“Marlena, slow down. What’s happening?” asked Abe. He could hear the surreal calmness in her voice, a tone he’d heard many times before when chaos ensued while she was at the helm.

“I don’t have time to explain. I’m sending Lexie John’s latest medical records,” she said before a long pause. “I was hopeful that she could get guidance from Rolf without revealing that the patient is John.”

She heard her thoughts part her lips sending a chill over her body followed by a vile metallic taste in her mouth. “I’ve arranged to have the Alamain jet bring you to Lugano where a driver will bring you directly to the clinic.”

“Marlena, Rolf which means Stefano? Do you hear what you are saying?” asked Abe. He could only imagine the sense of desperation Marlena must have felt knowing that she was willing to bend the knee to such a sinister soul. “What does John have to say about this?”

Marlena choked back her tears and focused on her ring digging for the strength to have this conversation. “He won’t…it’s…it’s my call,” she said, trying to convince herself that this was the only way. “Abe, they just wheeled John out of our bedroom with what appeared to be…”

Marlena paused and refused to speak further about anything negative into existence. She just held the phone to her ear looking at the door to their apartment. She knew that she was supposed to be at John’s side reassuring him that he was going to be ok, but that would have been reactive.  Picking up the phone to try for a Hail Mary was active and had a higher success rate.

“Marlena, you know Lexie and I will do everything we can for you guys. You are like family, hell you are family.  If you are to the point where Stefano is your last hope, then I can only assume the hell you are going through.”

“Thank you Abe. I’m hopeful Lexie can help us without alerting her father. I would never ask if…”

“He’s going to pull through this Marlena. You know that don’t you?” asked Abe.

“I do, hence my fear of his wrath once he finds out what I’ve done,” Marlena trailed off for a moment. She was starting to have second thoughts about this entire idea. But what if this was John’s only hope?

Marlena sat next to a sedated John with her head on his chest. It was the only way she could close her eyes and rest her mind after the intense brainstorming session she’d had with Lexie before her pending arrival at the clinic. Marlena was certain that Rolf’s experiments were the reason why John was regressing, and she was also certain that his science could ultimately save him.

In her mind’s eye, she envisioned Lexie reaching out to her father hoping to connect with Rolf about a case she was consulting on. Manipulating some data to disguise John as the patient and using that with all of the work they had already successfully mastered at the clinic was a very feasible albeit risky plan.

Marlena sat up and rolled her aching neck longing for John’s brazen hands to rub the tension from her body. She watched his chest rise up and down as he rested comfortably, giving her a sense of peace.

“A panic attack? After everything we’ve been through,” she said with a light chuckle. She grabbed his hand and kissed it savoring the warmth of his touch. “I am just glad that it wasn’t a heart attack.”

She stood up and walked across the room to look out of the window in hopes of seeing the arrival of Abe and Lexie. It was a 10-hour flight from Salem and with any luck, they would be arriving soon. She’d rehashed her diabolical plan in her head a million times and while it terrified her beyond words, at least there was a plan.

“Dr. Evans?” called out a familiar voice.

Marlena spun on her heels hoping for an update and was happy to see Dot standing before her with a hot cup of tea as an offering. “Dot, hi. Any news?” asked Marlena as she bundled up in her oversized sweater.

Dot approached Marlena and handed her the warm refreshment and took a seat inviting her to join. “I had a chance to confer with Dr. Carver and I must say…I like her. She shared some very helpful ideas before boarding the plane and I am hopeful that she has more.”

Marlena glanced over at John and smiled. Just the sight of him made her heart flutter. Dot followed her glance and watched John resting and touched Marlena’s hand lending her support.

“I have to thank you,” began Marlena. “Since day one, you have been instrumental in John’s recovery and a wealth of support for both of us.”

“You guys have grown on us too,”‘ replied Dot. “While it’s been an exciting time for us medically, I’ve enjoyed watching the two of you engage. It is by far one of the most fascinating connections I think I’ve ever seen.”

Marlena just continued to watch John rest peacefully. She could feel her connection to him tugging at her heart as Dot’s voice blended in with the ambient noises of the room. She could sense that John was no longer afraid like he’d expressed earlier before his panic attack. She could sense that he was hopeful and ready to fight. At that very moment, Marlena closed her eyes and brandished a smile before clinging to her chest with her left hand. She could feel his energy, bringing her an overwhelming sense of confidence in her ability to navigate them through this leg of their journey.

“…Dr. Evans? Did you want to sit in?” asked Dot again.

Clearly Marlena had missed what Dot said and sipped her tea on a mission to refocus. “Forgive me Dot. I’m a bit distracted. Sit in?”

“Yes, Dr. Carver is enroute from the airport and we have managed to offer them a residence here. She plans to hit the ground running. Did you want to sit in on our consult?”

“Oh my gosh, they are here! Thank goodness,” said Marlena, rising to her feet. “I need to see them before you guys get started.”

Marlena walked over to John and kissed him on his cheek. She had to believe that help was on the way. “Honey, Abe and Lexie are coming. We are going to work this out. I need you to just hang in there for me.” 

Dot walked over to join Marlena at John’s bedside. “We have him heavily sedated. Not completely in an induced coma but close to. I’m hopeful it will buy us some time as we already have him in a state to receive the right treatment the moment we crack this code.”

“How close are we?” asked Marlena.

“I am confident that once we solve this riddle about why John’s body is resisting this protein, we could have something very promising to work with…we never could have foreseen a medical anomaly such as this.”

“Count on John Black to stand out in a crowd,” she added with a hint of sarcasm. “You always find a way to keep it interesting, don’t you honey?” Marlena leaned in close and rubbed her head across John’s temple while gently caressing his face. She savored the feel of his warm face next to hers. It was her happy place and she wanted it back more than anything.

This was the crescendo in their journey and Marlena could feel it deep within her soul. She was numb and somewhat stoic; a defense she had been building up for the last few hours. She had started with despair followed with fear. Now she was angry and ready to fight for the love of her life, even if that meant Stefano’s indirect assistance. 

Marlena just buried her face into Abe’s shoulder. She didn’t cry, she didn’t scream; she just closed her eyes and tried to pick up the subtle, but familiar scents from home. She hadn’t realized how home sick and alone she truly was until this very moment.

Lexie rubbed her back full of compassion and exchanged glances with Abe. They were very concerned about her emotional state coupled with the idea of reaching out to Rolf via Stefano.

“Marlena how are you?” asked Lexie to get a feel for where she was emotionally.

Marlena finally lifted her head and brandished a faint smile before pushing the hair away from her tired eyes. She draped her arms around Lexie and embraced an old friend and the key to saving John.

“Oh Lexie…It’s so good to see you,” she began before pulling back and grabbing Abe’s hand. “To see the both of you.” She stood there for a moment and took them in. Abe was looking light and youthful wearing a low haircut and a thinner mustache while Lexie had grown her hair longer but wore it in a tight ponytail. They both looked like home and despite the nature of their visit, it felt good to be with them.

Marlena led them to the sitting area of their apartment that looked very similar to hers. She sat on the sofa and pulled Lexie’s hand to sit with her. “Did you look over his latest medical file?”

“I did and I spoke to Dot and Dr. Welsh before I boarded the plane and shared a few things I noticed off the rip,” said Lexie. She paused for a moment and glanced over at Abe sitting in the chair just across from them.

Marlena widened her eyes and shook her head gesturing for Lexie to complete her statement.

Abe nodded in reassurance as Lexie went on. “I studied John’s file the entire flight and I have to say that this has Rolf written all over it. Marlena…are you sure about this? I mean, I know how you and John feel about my father.”

“Just looking at John’s file, you could tell Rolf’s involvement?” asked Marlena. She wasn’t about to entertain their concern about her discernment. Nor was she about to allow her disgust for Stefano to cloud her judgment.

“100%. He’s brilliant and an arrogant son of a bitch. I believe he gave John a virus,” said Lexie. “I believe when he programmed John to be a mercenary, he created a self-destruct button so to speak.”

Marlena looked at Lexie with incredulity while trying to wrap her head around what she’d just heard. She turned to Abe who shrugged while nodding simultaneously before she turned back to Lexie.

“Self-destruct?”

“I think that once the doctors started probing John and noticing Rolf’s proprietary work, a dormant virus was activated,” hypothesized Lexie.

Marlena became completely enlightened when she looked at John’s case through Stefano’s nefarious and deviant eyes. “He’s erasing his data. The sick bastard programmed John and as if the chip wasn’t enough, he added a failsafe to erase all traces of his dastardly deeds.” She took a beat to let her new perspective resonate a moment when suddenly all of the pieces were starting to look familiar. “Have you made contact with Rolf yet?”

“Not yet, but I did call…Stefano,” began Lexie. She could tell by the pained expression on Marlena’s face that the sound of his name struck a nerve. “I called him from my office so that he would think I was working on something in Salem. I’ll be checking my service soon to see if he left me Rolf’s contact info.”

“So it has already begun,” whispered Marlena to herself.

Lexie stood up and grabbed Marlena’s hands and shook them with intensity while taking a deep breath. “I better get downstairs and get briefed. We are running out of time.”

Marlena rose to her feet and reached for Abe’s hand forming a small circle” No one is to know about Stefano’s and Rolf’s involvement. Not even the doctors. I feel like the less people know, the safer they will be. I can’t take a chance of endangering anyone here.”

“I agree with Marlena,” said Abe. “Clearly, Stefano went through a lot of trouble to protect his secret and he won’t stop here.”

“I’ll get in and see if what I suspect is true. If it is, I am confident that I can share just enough with Rolf to kill the virus so that John’s regression will cease and…”

Marlena’s hazel eyes lit up as she felt a glimmer of promise fill her spirit. It was the first time since John’s regression began that she felt hopeful. As much as she hated to admit it, Lexie was her Trojan Horse of sorts and all she had to do was hope that Rolf would take her in.

Marlena looked at her watch and realized how late it was. “We better get going,” she said.

“Let me see if Rolf responded,” said Lexie. She checked her messages and to her surprise, there was a message from him. His garbled accent was disguised by living in the shadows of countries around the world. She listened intently and then ran over to her laptop and logged in per his request and then paused.

“What’s wrong?” asked Abe.

“Rolf responded,” she said looking at Marlena. “He instructed me to check my email. After I click this link, anything is possible.”

Marlena knew that she couldn’t turn back now. She took a deep cleansing breath and nodded urging Lexie to move on and then had a last-minute thought. “Wait…Abe, the IP address. I remember once John being careful when responding to emails when he was working on projects for the ISA.”

“Good thinking,” said Abe. He was impressed with Marlena’s approach and stream of logic. “I see John has rubbed off on you in more ways than one.” He rubbed his chin and asked Lexie, “Are your emails through the hospital encrypted?”

“Probably not enough to keep Stefano from finding whatever he’s looking for. What should we do?” asked Lexie. “I need to go see John now. We are losing time.”

“I’ll make a few calls and make sure you appear to be in Salem when you communicate with Rolf. You and Marlena go meet with the doctors and I will work this out,” said Abe. Taking charge of a situation was his strength and it was the least that he could do. If all went according to the plan, maybe he could work covertly beside John again one day.

Abe was truly starting to feel the gravity of the situation and it pained him to know that Marlena had been championing this all alone. Somehow, she’d gotten him in the divorce from Roman. He could see that clearer than ever now.  He bid the ladies farewell and urged them to start their leg of this mission as he started forensically inspecting Lexie’s laptop.

Lexie seemed to mesh extremely well with the staff at the clinic. She had never seen so many exploratory avenues having only practiced in the states. Perhaps this is how Rolf got his start and ended up going rogue. She stood over John watching him rest as she continued to process what she’d learned and recommended so far. She was jetlagged, worried and perplexed as she rubbed her eyes.

“Dot has access to the best coffee that I have ever had,” said Marlena as she handed Lexie 12 oz of the most robust smelling brew.

Lexie inhaled the aroma awakening her senses before taking a sip. “This is amazing and most needed,” she said. She leaned her head on Marlena’s shoulder and watched John sleep.

“Abe is just waiting to have one of his guys at the station test your computer to make sure it appears like you are using a University Hospital access point,” said Marlena. “With Stefano, we can’t be too safe.” Marlena realized what a precarious situation they were in. She was essentially soliciting help from her arch nemesis through his own daughter. It actually sounded like a move out of a DiMera playbook.

“Good. John’s labs should be in any second. The moment I have a look at them, I’ll know exactly what to say to Rolf when I speak to him,” said Lexie.

“If this works…oh please let this work. We cannot tell John of Rolf’s involvement until after he’s safe and out of the woods,” said Marlena with a feeling of guilt tugging at her heart strings. “We tell each other everything and I don’t know how I’m going to be able to face him knowing what I’ve done.”

“The goal is to have that option,” added Lexie. The coffee was starting to give her a jolt preparing her for a second wind.

Dot entered the room with enthusiasm and a smile spread across her face. She was breathless from the combination of adrenaline and rushing over while waving a piece of paper in her hand.  “Dr. Carver, the results are in and you were right! It’s definitely viral.”

Marlena and Lexie looked at each other and felt like they had just gotten a step further in the right direction. The more they knew about John’s issue, the closer they were to curing him.

Lexie grabbed the results and scanned them for something familiar when it came to her. “Dot, I need to grab my work laptop and check something. Would you excuse me?”

Before Dot could reply, Lexie rushed out of the room with John’s labs in her hand. She needed to rehearse her query to Rolf and only had one shot.

She scrambled to her apartment to find Abe rebooting her laptop and concluding a call with an IT expert from Salem’s finest. Giving her the thumbs up to proceed, Abe closed out his call with a word of caution, “Thanks again Briggs. Again, this is extremely classified and if anyone asks, send them to me.”

Marlena entered the apartment moments later and stood in the corner pensive as Lexie logged back into her email to respond to Rolf.  She took a deep breath before clicking the link which led her to a portal when an image of Rolf popped onto the screen.

“Rolf, hi. Thank you so much for making yourself available on such short notice,” said Lexie.

Marlena turned her back and gazed out of the window. She didn’t want to distract Lexie and yet she couldn’t pull herself from listening in on every word of their conversation. The sound of Rolf’s voice sent chills up Marlena’s spine as she listened to Lexie finesse him. Abe walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder to remind her that she wasn’t alone.  She grabbed his hand and shook it to acknowledge his support.

Lexie managed to ask a litany of questions that had nothing to do with John’s case while taking copious notes. The more Rolf spoke, the more she was able to understand his genius, making sure to flatter him along the way. 

“Rolf, thank you so much. I appreciate your insight and I’ll certainly follow your instructions to the letter,” said Lexie. The sound of her disconnecting her call signaled Marlena to spin on her heels to read Lexie’s face.

Lexie input a few variables into John’s file with the necessary adjustments and closed the laptop to ensure they were alone. It was brilliant and terrifying all at once. She was trained to save lives and what she had discovered was designed to do the complete opposite.

Abe stepped forward hopeful that the plan had worked. Her expression was hard to read as she looked at him in disbelief. “I think I got it. Oh my gosh, I think I got it!”

Marlena slowly approached Lexie, almost afraid to speak. For a moment she thought she was dreaming. “Lexie, what are you saying?” she asked.

Lexie took a deep breath and looked at the closed computer on her desk. She was suddenly flooded with mixed emotions that she had no time to explain. “I get it…I see it…and I think I can fix it.”

She saw the light in Marlena’s eyes as tears streamed down her face. Abe noticed a tear fall down Lexie’s cheek too as he walked over to embrace her. She wasn’t quite sure how to react. While she was hopeful that she’d found a cure for John, she’d simultaneously proven that her father was a monster.

Chapter 17

It had been a full 24 hours since Lexie arrived and single-handedly led the research team down a back road to success. After working in teams throughout the night and carefully mapping out how to combat what Lexie identified as a virus, John seemed to be improving and no longer regressing.

She stood over John watching him sleep, feeling conflicted with the notion that she had lent a hand to saving his life while blatantly going against her father. It was a delicate dance she’d been doing since the moment she found out her paternity. She was able to recuse herself most times when her father’s nefarious acts were brought to light, but somehow, this one had struck a nerve.

She was struggling with the disdain for her father’s actions trying to make sense of it all. She’d fallen down a rabbit hole once out of desperation, wielding Stefano’s duplicity to get what she wanted, and it came with a hefty cost. Unlike Kristen, she learned that help from her father always ended up doing irrevocable collateral damage and was hopeful that this wouldn’t be the case.

Marlena entered John’s room happy to see Lexie poised at his bedside. She couldn’t adequately express her gratitude for all that she’d done. She waved her finger at Lexie and smiled. “You! We have hope because of you,” she said as she tried to speak over the lump in her throat.

Lexie reached out for Marlena’s hand beckoning her to John’s bedside to join her vigil. “I care about this man very much. He’s been a staple in all of our lives and I’m so glad that I could help,” she replied.

Marlena approached John like a moth to a flame. She could feel his energy calling and tugging at her heart. She took Lexie’s hand and squeezed it pulling it close to her heart and mouthed, “Thank you…thank you…thank you.”

Learning the science behind John’s medical crisis made Lexie feel more than obligated to right one of Stefano’s many wrongs and she was realizing that she had some soul searching to do once John’s favorable  prognosis was confirmed.

“I’m glad that I could help. I just hate that we had to get Stefano and Rolf involved,” said Lexie. “Any idea on how you’ll break the news to John?”

Just hearing the steps Marlena had to make in order to save John’s life made her stomach turn. She felt a small bout of nausea take over as her mouth went dry and her pulse began to race.

“As soon as I know that he can handle the truth. I won’t lie to him,” she replied. “I know if the tables were turned, he would walk through the fires of hell if it was me laying here.

“And that’s a fact,” Lexie added, paying homage to John’s coined term for reassurance.

“And that’s a fact,” repeated Marlena beaming with pride.

All that Lexie could think about was how someone dear to her had been fighting for their life no thanks to her own father. She suddenly felt uncomfortable and out of place being there and shifted beside Marlena then slowly backed away.

“I’m going to give you guys some time alone. All of his levels have improved and he’s responding to treatment,” said Lexie. Despite the indirect guilt that she felt because of Stefano, she was also very proud of herself.

“Get some rest. You’ve been up all night,” said Marlena. She pulled up a chair next to John and assumed her position of resting her head on his chest.

Lexie was exhausted beyond words. She was starting to see spots and only comprehended every other word. “I am beat, but on call if anything and I mean anything changes. That goes for good news too!”

“How long until he’s awake? I miss the sound of his voice,” asked Marlena.

“Soon, the treatments are working rapidly and they’ve taken him off the sedative,” said Lexie. “Once he’s awake, we will have a better gauge on where we go from here.”

“Did you hear that John? Everything is working out. I told you we were going to make it,” she whispered softly into his ear.

Lexie smiled and made her way to her residence taking a slight detour along the way. She was exhausted and beyond mentally fatigued and yet, she couldn’t seem to quiet the nagging whispers in the back of her mind. She was truly contemplating severing ties with her father by resending her unwavering loyalty. How could she have been so myopic? How could she stand in solidarity with a person that could create and execute such deviant plans? 

Reaching out to Rolf to help John would appear to be a betrayal to her father, but it paled in comparison to his dastardly deeds and making her feel justified in her decision.  Yes, Lexie Carver had seen the light illuminating how dark her father truly was.

Marlena had spent the entire day in John’s room talking to him about the mundane. From reading excerpts from their nightstand books, to completing the New York Times crossword puzzles. She truly felt that the sound of her voice helped relax him and in some way, accelerated his recovery.

“Ok John Black. This one is right up your alley. First major league player to hit a home run. 7 letters,” asked Marlena as she skimmed over the puzzle for the remaining outstanding questions. “Oh and 4 letter word for greeting.”

She missed John’s witty responses that always made her laugh accompanied by a personal touch. She found her mind wandering as she bit the tip of her pen, reminiscing fondly of happier times; times that made her smile secretly about things that only John knew.

“I miss looking into your eyes. I miss the sound of your voice,” she said, grabbing his hand and kissing it. “We’ve been through hell and back baby, but I truly feel in my heart that we are on the better side of this entire ordeal.”

She studied his face and leaned in rubbing her forehead against his. She could feel his warm breath travel down the side of her face as she became consumed with him. Her presence along with the familiar scent of lavender coaxed him to shift in her embrace making her pull back hopeful that he was waking.

“Honey, I’m here,” said Marlena softly. “You are going to be ok.”

“Doc,” moaned John, fighting to come back to her.

Marlena grabbed his hand to guide him back to the present, gazing at his face full of want and need. She could hear him fighting to speak as she lingered on his every word.

“Yes! John, I’m here. Honey, I’m here!” she said, full of elation.

“Ki…, kiss” he mumbled without opening his eyes.

It was euphoric. It was magic. It was music to her ears. She had waited for this moment and now it was finally here. She stood up and took John’s stubbled face into the palms of her hands and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

“A kiss? Oh, baby it is my pleasure,” she said as her hazel eyes danced at the sight of him.

“— No,” moaned John. “Kiss.”

Marlena paused for a moment trying to understand what John was trying to tell her. She stroked his face gently as his piercing blue eyes fluttered and caught her gaze.

“Doc…hi,” he said with a faint smile. He was almost at the stage of talking in his sleep.

“Hi honey,” she replied.

“Kiss,” repeated John as he tried to keep his eyes open.

“I heard you. You wanted a kiss. I did it and I’ll do it again and again,” she spoke softly into his mouth as she brushed her lips across his.

He began to chuckle while his eyes remained at half-mast, “No, the 4-letter word for greeting. Kiss.”

Marlena was taken aback and completely smitten. His wit and humor reintroduced itself proving that he was coming back to her.  She thread the fingers of her left hand through his and relished in the moment. She didn’t feel the need to summon the doctors or page Lexie right away because in her heart, she knew that he was going to be ok. She was selfish and knew it. She just needed a moment, this moment with him all to herself.

“Hi sailor! Boy have I missed you,” she replied as tears streamed down the side of her cheeks and buried her face into his neck.

“Doc,” he whispered, letting her name linger on his lips.

The sound of him calling her name was like him saying he loved her for the very first time. It made her spine tingle and her heart flutter leaving her breathless, “I’m here, my love. How do you feel?”

“I…I feel like the luckiest man alive. To wake up from a nightmare and the first thing I see is your beautiful face,” he said, taking notice of the shimmer of her ring. “Ah, I see you put that back on.”

Marlena looked at her ring and smiled. “Oh yes. I’m never taking it off again. Swollen fingers be damned,” she laughed.

John was less groggy and although the last few days were a bit of a haze, he was very clear on how much he missed just staring at her from across the table as she read those long-winded scholastic journals with the intensity of a romance novel.  He tucked a fallen curl cascading across her face neatly behind her ear. He didn’t want anything to obstruct his perfect view of heaven.

“Honey, should I call in Dr. Welsh,” she asked.

“Not yet,” he said, pulling her into him and holding her close. “I just want you all to myself for a little while.” He closed his eyes and took a big inhale of her lavender scent. It felt warm and safe just like home.

Marlena smiled at the irony that she’d just had the same thought too. She just cuddled into him, smitten and lost in the moment. “Mr. Black, now you know that I am a doctor,” she began. “Why don’t you allow me to check you out a little before we call in the cavalry?”

John raised his eyebrow and brandished a come hither grin. He could always count on Marlena to find the most encouraging methods to meet him halfway.

“Well now that I think about it Doc, I…I think I’ve lost dexterity in my right hand,” said John as he slid it beneath her shirt cupping her warm bosom.

She gasped at the sensation of his fingers creeping beneath her bra. He casually brushed her nipple with the back of his thumb before cupping her breast and squeezing it softly.

“You don’t waste any time do you?” she panted into the small of his neck. She could feel her loins begin to stir as she tried to suppress her cravings for more. Her body was starving to be nourished by John’s touch and she didn’t have the willpower to resist.

Her lips responded on their own, brushing softly across John’s. The feeling of his warm breath swirled around her hypnotically luring her in as if her body was levitating. She could climax in his arms right then and there. He was her drug. He was her strength. He was her everything.

Her body quivered in his embrace forcing him to pull her tight. She felt perfect nestled safely in his arms and never wanted to let go.

“You feel at peace. Like you know everything is going to be ok,” whispered John.

“Oh honey I do. At this very moment baby I do,” purred Marlena into his ear.

“Good, because now you can’t use that as the reason for not telling me why I recall hearing you talk about contacting Rolf and Stefano DiMera?”

Lexie slept a lot less than she planned, tossing and turning for the last few hours.  Between the jet lag, working all night and feeling conflicted about her father, her mind was racing a mile a minute and it was quite obvious to Abe.

He had taken a moment to explore the grounds and absorb the Swiss flare and sprawling landscape, envisioning what it must feel like to afford such opulence with little to no effort. He felt so apologetic that a near tragedy had to coax him out of Salem and hoped there would be an opportunity to turn this visit into a more positive excursion.

Now he stood in silence staring out of the window transfixed on a potential fallout approaching. While he was certain that John would push through this ordeal like every other challenge sent his way, his gut was telling him that it was only a matter of time before Stefano would emerge in some form or fashion. Like Voldemort, the bastard had an uncanny knack for appearing at the mention of his name.

“I hope we can find time to explore before we head back to Salem,” said Lexie. She’d given up on trying to force a nap and found her husband deep in thought.  She stood next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I didn’t think I’d see the whites of your eyes for hours,” said Abe. He continued to look at the view and mull over the nag in his gut that something ominous was on the horizon.

“I couldn’t sleep,” said Lexie listlessly. Jet lagged.” She rolled her neck and checked her watch taking note of the time. “Any updates on John?”

“No, not that I know of. They would have called you if there were any changes and the phone didn’t ring,” said Abe.

He turned to Lexie with the thoughts about her father on the tip of his tongue. He’d always been able to talk out a hunch that popped into his mind only this time it was hitting too close to home. Now he too could commiserate with a league of Salemites whose lives had been affected by Stefano. The longer he stood there the more he began to resent it. Thinking on his toes he stood behind Lexie and rubbed her knotted shoulders with the pad of his strong fingers.

“You seem preoccupied. What’s on your mind?” asked Abe.

“I’ve just been thinking about John. Seeing Rolf’s work up close and personal and its connection to my father. I’m just processing it all I guess,” she replied.

Abe got a small bit of satisfaction knowing that Lexie still had the capacity to see the dark side when it came to her father.

“It’s definitely a lot to take in. But look at you! You may have just made the game winning shot. If nothing else, you sent us into over time,” boasted Abe. “It’s actually remarkable.”

Lexie was proud of her contribution and would definitely give practicing medicine abroad some thought. Being able to undo something heinous that her father had done was a way of drawing a line in the sand. Maybe this was her passive aggressive way of standing up to him.

“I think I’ll call downstairs and check on John. Marlena was with him hoping he’d wake up soon,” she said.

Abe realized that he’d missed his chance to share his reservations. Maybe letting this play out a little more was the best way to go. Stefano’s legacy had a tendency to spark paranoia and pandemonium, tampering with the cogs in a well-oiled machine.

Lexie called downstairs and was kindly greeted by John’s nurse, “Dr. Carver, I was just about to ring you. There have been some changes. Dr. Evans would like to see you and Mr. Carver as soon as possible,” she said.

Lexie’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach as she gasped into the phone. Her expression told Abe all that he needed to know. He grabbed his shoes as he watched a flustered Lexie scurry off to change her clothes.

“What did the nurse say?” asked Abe.

“Just that Marlena asked for the both of us to come as soon as possible,” she replied. “Oh Abe, what if something went terribly wrong?

“— Because you did,” replied Marlena, remaining in the safe confines of John’s arms. She knew that if their eyes met, she would crumble. “You heard me tell Lexie that I didn’t want to tell you that…that I asked her to get in touch with Rolf until I knew you were safe.”

The room went deathly silent as Marlena listened for a response from John. He just continued to caress and hold her close, running his nose through her tousled hair.

“I wasn’t going to lose you again. I refused to do it,” she said, choking back the tears. Suddenly the huge lump in her throat made her eyes burn, inviting them to flow.

John still didn’t utter a word forcing Marlena to finally look into his eyes. Although she had an insatiable knack for predicting his next move, she didn’t expect to see him sobbing silently, completely vulnerable and raw.  She cupped his face and joined him in a deep and cleansing cry.

“I always said that I trusted you with my life,” said John.

“You would have done the same for me,” she replied, full of conviction.

“Oh baby, you have no idea what I would endure for the love of you,” he said.

At that very moment Abe and Lexie entered the room not expecting to see John awake and in a tearful embrace with Marlena.

John pulled back, wiped his eyes and said, “Visiting hours are over.”

“Wise guy!” roared Abe as his face lit up with excitement.

“He’s awake,” said Marlena as she blotted her tears on her sleeve while smiling from ear to ear. “He’s awake…and he sounds great, and he feels terrific!”

“You feel good too,” John added, fishing for a kiss but winced when he moved suddenly.

“You guys couldn’t wait for the sedative to wear off could you?” asked Lexie as she approached John for a warm embrace.

“I think a huge thank you is in order,” said John. He then glanced over at Abe and shook his hand. “To the both of you.”

Lexie and Abe exchanged glances unsure about how much Marlena had filled John in. It was obvious that whatever he knew, it sat well with him.

Marlena laced her fingers with John’s, pulling their joined hands toward her. Subconsciously, their body language was a definitive tell about the strength of their connection. It was impossible to hide it and they never could.

“I told him everything. It’s ok, we cried it out,” she said gazing into his eyes just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“I would have done the same thing for her in a heartbeat. I trust this woman with my life,” said John as he looked deep into Marlena’s eyes. He was so in awe of her that he had to force himself to pull away. 

It felt like a normal couple’s night sitting across from familiar faces from home. John and Marlena held hands the entire time they chatted, lingering onto each other’s every word.

They also managed to bring John up to speed on everything Lexie had discovered about the virus that activated in him.

“So if a doctor had never gotten close to Rolf’s work, the virus never would have been triggered,” said John in complete awe of Rolf’s creative genius. He tried to sort through the random samples of mixed emotions about how he felt. On one hand, Rolf was part of the reason why he was able to be so successful with the trial and the reason why he almost lost it.

“It looks that way,” said Lexie.

“It makes you wonder what else is going on that we don’t know,” said Abe.

“Well I am frankly not going to worry about that until I have to,” said Marlena. She leaned in to kiss John once more to confirm that he was really there. “I’m just going to…live in the moment.”

“A healthy mindset is the best way. You guys make a strong team,” said Lexie. “Marlena, what you’ve found for John is remarkable. I can’t imagine the hell that you both have been through.”

John brandished a boyish grin and glanced at Marlena, whose chest blushed into a pale crimson. She was suddenly flooded with vivid memories of all of the creative ways they’d kept the romantic fires burning. She realized her next bedtime countdown would be ranking the top 3.

“We’ve uh…had some good times too,” confessed Marlena.

“So what’s next?” asked Abe.

Dot entered the room holding a potted orchid with a less than impressed expression on her face. She cleared her throat to command the attention of the room when everyone looked her way.

“So this is how I find out you are awake? I see two phenomenal doctors here and I bet neither one of them has evaluated the patient,” said Dot breaking out into a smile. “It’s good to see you awake Mr. Black. These were delivered for you.”

Marlena walked over to Dot to receive the orchid, admiring the unique shade of indigo and sitting it on the tray. “It’s beautiful.”

John looked at the orchid and studied it closely, curious to know who would send such a deliberate flower. He plucked the notecard from the fork and pinched it from the envelope. It was a generic “Get Well” card with no inscription, however there was a stamp and a very distinct one. John narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw and glanced over to Abe and handed him the card.

“It’s a Phoenix,” he said.

Chapter 18

“I’ve run every test not excluding X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs. Outside of just normal physiological changes in the human body over time, I don’t detect anything out of place,” confirmed Dot.

John sat on the edge of the exam table in silence, conflicted with being on the receiving end of good news. He wanted to jump for joy and run down the halls of the clinic like it was the last day of school and yet, he couldn’t shake the lingering thought that there was something inexplicably anomalous coursing through his veins.

It had been 4 weeks since he received the indigo orchid accompanied by the ominous note card inscribed with the stamp of a Phoenix. There was no doubt in his mind that it was Stefano DiMera reaching out from the shadows and yet after that, there was no further contact.

“— So as it stands, you don’t detect anything foreign or out of place?”

Dot sat on her stool staring at all of John’s test results confirming what she already knew. “I don’t see anything out of place and frankly I’ve grown weary of poking and prodding you,” she said. She spun around to face him and glided over to him with the help of squeaking wheels on her chair. “John, you may just have to accept the fact that you are ok. Which leads me to a little bit of bad news.”

John raised his eyebrow and clenched his jaw, bracing  himself for a new surge of obstacles. He felt great and he was able to resume his rehab exercises where he’d left off, happy that he could depend on his body again.

“Now what is it?”

“I have to update your file to Outpatient NR as in non-resident. You are free to merge back into your normal life, but that also means your time here as a resident has come to an end.” It was bittersweet for Dot as she’d grown quite fond of John and Marlena. They’d added some much-needed fresh energy to the clinic and bidding them a farewell was harder than she thought it was going to be.

“And everything will eventually return to normal?” asked John.

“Provided you keep up with your PT and don’t overdo it. I see all of your fine motor skills, balance, dexterity and erectile dysfunction correcting itself over time.”

“— How much time? I really want my old life back. All of it,” said John with an emphatic expression written across his face. While he and Marlena had mastered the various creative shades of intimacy, he missed being with her. That lunchtime rendezvous between clients. The sporadic blow jobs because he served her eggs Benedict.  He wanted it all.

Dot paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. She was about to blur the lines a bit as she wanted to be frank and professional at the same time. “You’ve been evaluated by a renowned urologist and for a period of time, there will be good days and…not so good days. But sexual functionality will continue to return as you heal. Not to mention, it’s very clear that you and Dr. Evans are very…in sync.”

John sat with a look of indignation plastered across his face. While he was pleased beyond words that he was regaining his mobility again, he would gladly compromise a sliver for the chance to feel Marlena’s luscious vessel tighten around his rock hardness. That sporadic taste of heaven he’d experienced during that enigmatic phase — he craved it more than words could express.

“I can’t believe I’m about to ask about this but, what about that blue pill that’s all the rage?”

“Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t erase the issue altogether. You have nerve damage and sildenafil doesn’t pair well with medications that contain nitrates.”

John shifted uncomfortably because she sounded just like Marlena who had said the exact same thing over breakfast. It was one of the drawbacks of being married to a doctor.

“You know Dot,” began John, as he stood up with the use of his cane. He was steady on his feet and just had to work on the fatigue. “I’m late for a special date with a very special lady.”

“Why am I not surprised? You know that is the key ingredient to your rehabilitation. Who knows, maybe getting away from this clinical setting will do wonders for you,” suggested Dot. She placed a supportive hand on John’s shoulder and gave it a firm shake. “John, you have permission to live your life.”

John brandished a small grin that gradually became a smile. “— And I plan to do just that. Thanks Dot.”

Marlena sat in her makeshift office staring at her computer screen lost in thought. The last few months had been a whirlwind of events that she wasn’t sure she’d had a chance to process. She had grown very accustomed to living on edge considering the peaks and valleys she’d had to endure. It was an arduous journey so far, but the shimmer of her ring from John reminded her that she would do it all again for the love of him.

For the love of him, she could vividly recall the last four tumultuous years that had challenged their love and nearly torn them asunder. She’d prayed for the madness to end and now that it had, her senses felt deceived.

“He knows and wants something from us, but what?” asked Marlena as she plucked the Phoenix branded notecard from Abe’s fingers and examined it closely. “Lexie, did he say anything to you?”

“Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time.” Lexie didn’t bother to examine the card. The branding was all that she needed to confirm its place of origin. What she wanted to know was why. She looked over to Abe, reading the look of consternation on his face. “Babe, what are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking Rolf rolled over and Stefano put two and two together,” he hypothesized. “The bigger question is, what does he want?”

John knew Stefano like the back of his hand and he knew Stefano catered to that. It was like the Joker taunting Batman without provocation; merely doing it because he could.

“I don’t think he wants anything just yet. This is a business card,” said John.

“— Or a warning shot,” replied Marlena. “Stefano never does anything in vain. John…”

John grabbed Marlena’s hand and kissed it before rolling his thumb over her ring. It had become more symbolic than he imagined, representing a beacon of light. “Doc, I know DiMera and this is just him having a tantrum because we got over on him. I don’t want you to give this another thought.”

Marlena closed her eyes and tried to shake away the nonsense of it all. Just seconds ago, she was on top of the world and now coming to the realization that it was a figment of her imagination. “— What if there is more with your health that we don’t know about?”

“That’s what you’ve got me for. I’ve made the decision that I’m going to do whatever I can to right my father’s wrongs and you have my word that I’ll work with the doctors here to reaffirm John’s clean bill of health,” said Lexie as she cuddled into Abe. “We are going to get through this…together.”

“She’s right Doc, we’ve got this,” added John. “And that’s a fact.”

An email alert suddenly popped onto her screen breaking Marlena’s trance. The moment she clicked it, she regretted it, realizing that it wasn’t from a familiar sender at all. The attachment self-loaded without the ability to change her mind and suddenly began to play Nessun Dorma. She could feel her body respond with a shiver as the hairs on her arm stood at attention. Could this be the long-awaited epilogue that they had been waiting for?

Marlena placed her hand on the laptop screen prepared to close it and stop the intrusion, yet her curiosity had gotten the better of her.  She knew it was another mind game and watched the screen with bated breath, eager for another enigmatic message to be delivered. For 3:05, she sat translating the harrowing aria wondering if the lyrics foreshadowed what was to come. The song finished as the screen faded to black leaving no trace of the sender.

“— Doc?” John stood behind her with a look of concern spread across his face. He could tell by Marlena’s expression that she wasn’t in the midst of a music appreciation session. “What’s going on?”

Marlena closed the laptop full of angst and willed herself to shake it off. She turned to see John and jumped to her feet welcoming him with an embrace, brushing her mouth over his.

“Hey sailor.”

John reciprocated, incapable of resisting the taste of her as the lingering scent of chamomile tea on her breath mixed with his. He cupped her face with the palm of his hand and playfully brushed his nose across hers. Being with her again felt like heaven.

“Hey pretty lady. What’s going on?”

“— Hmm, just making out with this dreamy guy that I met a while back.”

“Dreamy huh? And what makes this guy so dreamy?”

Marlena’s lips grazed across his skin teasingly before she slid her open mouth over his, allowing her tongue to edge just far enough between her parted lips to taste him.

“He’s a damn…good…kisser,” she replied in between the feathery strokes of John’s tongue. His full lips pressed against hers tempting her with desire. She tilted her hips to align with his slightly missing the poke of his absent erection into her center.

John abandoned his cane and grabbed Marlena’s waist, pressing his chest against hers. He had her cornered like his prey plotting on how to pounce. Pinning her hand above her head, he loomed over her; seductively running his mouth along the curve of her collarbone. The faint moans in his ear coupled with a nip of his lobe enticed him to push on.

Their kisses were electric and most times more intimate than love making. Perhaps it was the softness of her flesh tantalized by the precision of his touch. Or the taste of his skin beneath the warm trail of her tongue. She loved to feel the weight of his body pressing against hers as his firm hands rolled her hips in sporadic patterns — all of this while they stared deeply into each other’s eyes and explored with their tongues.

It was all unchoreographed and yet a splendid simpatico full of involuntary movement that invoked passion and desire. From the drape of her arm loosely circling his neck to his brazen hand lifting one of her legs squeezing onto the delicate inner face of her thigh. Teasing her, kneading her and grinding into her center.

“I’m crazy about you,” said John. Although maintaining his balance while holding up Marlena’s leg forced his stamina to wane, he pushed on ecstatic to be in her space.

“And I am crazy about you.”

There they were, against the wall with their bodies and limbs entwined taking comfort in the simple pleasures of making out. John couldn’t resist the urge to move his hands toward the apex of her thighs as he tugged at the rim of her moist panties.

“John, the door is…”

“— Locked,” he said in a husky whisper.

She melted in his arms with the permission of a locked door, welcoming his wandering hands with the widening of her legs. She pulled back for a moment to catch his gaze, yearning for a glimpse of that twinkle in his eye.

“Touch me,” said Marlena in an authoritative tone. For the first time since she could remember, she felt a sense of liberation unencumbered by a litany of circumstances beyond her control. John towered over her with his nose pressed against hers; poised at her lips both above and below.

She could sense his hesitation. He was completely unsure of his abilities despite her unwavering  faith in him. She just wanted to be with him. She just wanted to feel him and she would take that any way that he could oblige. She slowly slid her free hand down the front of her pants, dipping her finger into a pool of her warm honey. She could feel her mound throb as she brushed across her clit and shuddered while buckling her knees.  She could tell by the look in his eye that he wanted her so she coaxed him by swiping his bottom lip with the finger covered in a sample of her essence.

The flavor of her nectar was sweet and salty with soft notes of musk. He was caught in her snare, but bewitched and desperate for more. He sucked her finger into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it, savoring her flavor. 

She smirked with approval, brandishing a slight curl in her lip and a mischievous arch in her brow. “—Touch me.”

John obliged. She didn’t have to beg. He wanted her more than anything so he helped himself by sliding his agile fingers into her panties. He methodically traced the outline of her folds, teasing her into begging for more.

“You are so damn sexy, woman.” He was spellbound and so in awe of her— finally touching her welcoming folds. With his fingers now slickened by her sticky heat, he plunged them into her loins with firm precision making her knees buckle and gasp with reckless abandon.

“—Ooh John.” She couldn’t stop her hips from thrusting into his touch, gyrating her core in circular motions. He softly brushed against her clit and found it throbbing and swollen, determined to get more up close and personal.

“I want more of you…now!” John couldn’t resist his craving any longer and found himself in familiar territory with Marlena back on the conference table with her well-toned and limber legs spread before him like a buffet table. He took a seat on a wheeled swivel chair that made the perfect pairing with eating out his wife vigorously on the familiar surface. His tongue dipped and swirled around her clit as he basked in the feel of her grabbing at the back of his head.

Marlena arched her back and moaned in ecstasy as she could feel a strong orgasm brewing. Her fingers twirled and tugged at John’s hair as he darted his tongue up and down her welcoming slit.

“—OH JOHN! I’m going to…” Marlena convulsed mid-sentence. She held her breath and tensed at the depths of her core trying to suppress that first wave of euphoria. It was selfish and she knew it, but unapologetically held out for more. Her appetite was ravenous. Her cravings were insatiable, and she so wanted the feel of John’s hands to plunge into her folds and brush against that spot that sent her to pleasures unknown. She bit down on her bottom lip harder than she meant to, impervious to the pain. “Now…I want more of YOU!”

John retreated slightly, pushing his swivel chair back just far enough to lay his sights on the luscious vessel between her dampened thighs. He still held her ankle in the palm of his hand as he looked at her lustfully while enjoying her flavor lingering on his smiling lips. He knew her so well. He knew what she wanted. He even knew how.

He stood to his feet, caressed her ankle, and kissed it softly. His goal was to tease her, almost to the verge of torment. They had been down this road before letting their imaginations chart their path to pleasure. He would push her body to the brink of bliss and then watch her explode and then collapse in his arms, breathless and spent; with the glisten of sweat dripping down her cleavage.

She knew his game and was willing to play for as long as her starving loins would allow. She loved being his muse and private dancer of sorts and waited impatiently for him to make his next move and he did just that with skill and precision. With her leg now resting on his shoulder, John leered as he watched his own hand travel up her quivering thigh, knowing full well that touching her there would be maddening.

Her eyes were begging and pleading with him for release. She could hear her pulse humming in her veins as her lips throbbed so much they almost ached. He drew into her, kissing her passionately, and palmed her mons, sliding his hand all over.

“—Please.” She was at his mercy and needed his touch to finish the job he so masterfully started.

John finally drove his fingers into her, making sure to strum her clit along the way. His massive chest crowned over her as she slid her hands up the back of his shirt and clawed at his flesh. The feel of his tongue exploring her mouth while his talented hands stroked her G-spot was exactly what she wanted. She felt so safe under his muscular form and brought her other leg up and casually tossed it over his shoulder.

“I love yoga,” he moaned into her mouth.

“And I love you.”

John was determined to fulfill her that afternoon and did so by hitting every angle. He kissed her, held her, teased her and pleased her. His mastery was confirmed with the contorted look on her face and a heavy exhale bellow from deep within her gut.

Her orgasm was all-consuming and hitting her in drugging waves. She could feel her flesh tingle in its entirety causing her to shiver in his arms.

“Are you cold?”

“Gosh not at all,” she panted breathlessly into the side of his neck. “Just the opposite.”

“You know everything is going to be ok, right?” John felt like he was finally in charge of his destiny. The confidence alone was going to see him through this and that with Marlena at his side was the key.

He helped her up and had to take a moment to appreciate how relaxed and disheveled she looked. He giggled under his breath as she fixed her hair and adjusted her skirt.

“I do know that. I truly do. And what, may I ask, has you so amused?”

“Just the fact that Dr. Evans is yet again going to leave this room doing another walk of shame. What would the children think?”

Oh how she loved him. Through sickness and health, she loved him. There was something about John Black that made her happy to rise in the morning and lay next to and dream of him at night. She filled the room with her infectious laugh, it was a sound that always warmed his heart and left him smitten and yearning for more.

“They would be mortified if they knew how we carried on, wouldn’t they?”

“Doc, I’m pretty sure they know. How many times have we been busted by Dot alone? And this was with my injury!” He grabbed his cane for support, feeling somewhat exhausted but accomplished. “Which reminds me, I have some news.”

“News? What kind of news? Good news I hope.”

“Well that depends on how you look at it.” He grabbed her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “I have officially been deemed well enough to be discharged.”

Marlena’s face lit up with glee. She buried it into his shoulder and held him close. She felt like she’d waited an eternity for this moment. “So all of your scans came back negative? The trial was successful?”

“It was successful, baby.” He tightened his arms around her. He wanted her to feel reassured that this was happening and to bask in it. “But—we have to move out. Soon.”

Chapter 19

Marlena stood in the small conference room surrounded by shelves of books and articles that she had consumed for the last several months. She’d waited for so long to hear all of the words John had just spoken, and yet she wasn’t processing them.

“Doc, did you hear me? We made it.”

He could tell from the movement of her hazel eyes concealed behind a squint, that she was in disbelief. “You mean it’s over?”

“Medically yes.” He stood before her waiting for the reality of it all to catch up. The moment he hooked his finger with hers and drew closer, it had finally hit her like a ton of bricks.

She jumped into his arms full of joy mixed with a fraction of fear. “We can go home?”

“If we want, but I’ve come to realize that you are my home.”  He smoothed the tousled strands of hair that she’d grown long and tucked it behind her ear. “I just want to be where you are. That’s good enough for me.”

She smiled at him. Her eyes were glossy with unfallen tears. “I feel the same.”

Their bodies fused together in an unbreachable embrace with this newfound energy and sense of liberation lingering in the air. “I couldn’t have done this without you, Doc.”

“—And I wouldn’t have let you.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“We said for better or worse, didn’t we?”

“We did.”

“And I meant every single word of it.” Grabbing his hands and gazing into his eyes, Marlena was suddenly struck with an epiphany. “Maybe we should plan an adventure before heading back to Salem. You know, get the biggest bang for our buck!”

John raised his brow and gave her a naughty grin while playfully tickling her ribs. Her smile was infectious, and her laugh was intoxicating “The biggest bang huh? Now you know I like the sound of that!”

She melted in his arms ecstatic. “Oh baby, I love it when you think with a dirty mind. It kinda…turns me on.”

Just as he swept his full lips behind her ear, the moment was disturbed by a light tap on the door. “Damn. These people always know when I’m close to seeing you naked,” said John half joking.

Marlena gave herself a once-over as she went to unlock the door. To her surprise it was the receptionist with a few collapsed file storage boxes in tow.

“Hi Dr. Evans. I was told to drop these off exactly 45 minutes after Mr. Black’s arrival.”

Marlena looked back at John and smiled. “Yes, my wonderful husband has always been prepared.”

Marlena received the boxes and returned to her desk and tossed them to the side. Remnants of the old John were slowly but surely returning to her, flooding her with vivid memories that kept her coming back for more for all of these years. “You actually told the receptionist to knock in 45 minutes, didn’t you?”

John smiled sheepishly and averted his piercing blue eyes as Marlena playfully smacked him on the shoulder. “You came down here planning to take advantage of me didn’t you, Mr. Black?”

“Hey, what can I say? You tend to have that effect on me,” he said before leaning in for a kiss. “Just like on the  plane,” he said with a soft brush across her lips . “And the conference room table,” he added before indulging in another.

“What about the hot springs?”

How could he forget? It was a memory indelibly etched in his mind. “—Ah, the hot springs. That deserves a redo. We were naked but didn’t seal the deal.”

“But we certainly made up for it down the road.”

“Indeed we did. What about Italy after our surprise wedding?”

“Ah! Yes, that brings back memories. Even though we were in danger, we still made the moment our own, didn’t we?”

John took a seat and pulled her onto his lap and casually rested his hand on her thigh. He couldn’t resist the urge to rub his fingers up and down her soft skin. He just gazed at her for a moment, forming his thoughts before he spoke.

“So, I have an idea.” John just looked at her for a moment and found himself lost in her eyes. His face was starting to ache from smiling so hard.

Marlena took her left hand and stroked the side of his face returning his sentiment. The room was quiet and their connection was undisturbed. There were no more doctors having sidebar conversations in the corner. There were no more machines beeping in the distance. It was just them consumed with one another.

“—Let’s go upstairs and spend one last night in the apartment. We can have a nice dinner, hatch a plan and blow this joint,” suggested John as he took her left hand and kissed it. The shimmer of her ring flattered him. She was all his and he wanted the entire world to know.

She leaned into him, resting her forehead on his. It was the first time in ages that she felt safe. “I’d like that. There is also something else I want to tell you before we leave this room.”

“What’s that?”

“I think Stefano sent me an email. I’m not sure because there was no message but —”

“—Nessun Dorma. I heard it and saw the look on your face.” John took a deep breath and clenched his jaw. “I want that forwarded to Shane. Maybe trace it back to who sent it.”

“Maybe it was nothing. Maybe—”

John silenced her with the tip of his finger and forced a smile. “Doc, I’ll take care of it. I don’t want you to worry about the orchid or this email, ok?”

She was concerned and although she tried not to let it show, he felt it. She just rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the silence and the smell of his skin. This was her happy place. This was her utopia and she never wanted to leave it again.

Marlena stretched across the foot of the bed clad in a pair of lace panties that traced the roundness of her ass like they were custom-made. She just laid on her stomach with her legs crossed at the ankles and propped her chin up with both arms. John sat across from her with his back against the headboard clicking away on the laptop. It was like old times and she loved it. There were so many times that she would beg him to stop working and now just watching him catch up on life had her amused.

“Ok. It’s all booked.” John closed the laptop and found Marlena looking at him like a lovesick schoolgirl. She seemed to be smiling whimsically like her head was somewhere else. She was captivating. She was alluring. She was the cure to his physical limitations.

“So then it’s all set!” Marlena turned her head to the side forcing her unruly mane to cascade across her face framing it like a special memory. 

John set the laptop on the nightstand and then looked at her and rubbed his chin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful picture and yes it’s all set. We leave for Paris in the morning. We have a nice little place with a little patio so that we can sit outside and read the paper every morning.”

Marlena pushed up and exposed her topless form with her long hair falling just over her nipples. She reached for the glass of bourbon on the nightstand and took a sip and passed it to John cuddling next to him. “I think it sounds terrific.” She casually tossed her leg across his and slid it up and down while running her finger in random patterns across his hairy chest. “And how far is it from…”

“—Doc, we are near the Basic Black offices in town as well as the best doctors.” He just stared out into the distance and sighed listlessly.

“I’m sorry honey. Please be patient with me. I’m trying not to hover, but it’s going to take me a minute.”

“No, Doc. I love it when you hover.”

“Ok, I want you to remember that you said that!”

John cracked a weak smile and then sunk back into a lull. “I’m just laying with the most gorgeous woman in the world; planning an adventure to Paris and yet…”

Marlena clenched her jaw and took a deep breath. She was determined to convince John that his physical limitations were going to subside. “Everything is coming back the way it’s supposed to.”

“Well frankly, I got used to improving at warp speed. This waiting is agony.”

“Well I actually like the normal pace.” She took a thoughtful pause and lifted her head to face John. She whipped her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear so that he could see her eyes. They didn’t look nearly as hazel as they always did, but closer to a brilliant shade of green with flakes of copper. “To me, it confirms that whatever they did to you—it’s over. You are normal which means your recovery will be normal.”

“Based on my last evaluation with the urologist, he was confident that my responses would  be more frequent and last longer.”

“And did he make any recommendations on exercises that can help?”

John just chuckled and shook his head. “He said not to focus on it. To follow the same things we did before.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is I want you, Doc.”

“—Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

John wrinkled his nose. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith?”

“That is what we were watching on that very sofa and if I recall, I helped you release…some tension. You remember that don’t you?”

John smiled at the vivid recollection. “I do indeed. I also remember your late-night readings. Tantric something.”

“Tantric Massage Therapy.”

“That’s right. Tantric Massage Therapy.” He traced the outline of her hips and found himself leering at her. Wanting her. Craving her. “Did you finish the book?”

“I did and I learned a lot.”

“Well, we actually take a train to Paris and did you know that it’s a 7 hour trip? I mean it’s a long time to spend with someone—trapped in a private car.”

Marlena perked up. “With a view of the European countryside?”

“If the shades aren’t drawn.”

She smiled as naughty thoughts flooded her mind and yet she felt selfish. “You are making it impossible to not objectify you. When you say things like ‘private car’ and ‘trapped for seven hours’—it just brings out the artist in me.”

“Well you have my permission to objectify me in any way you see fit, pretty lady. So long as I can return the favor.” He wanted to kiss her and yet he decided to hold back. Perhaps focusing on everything but making love to her was the best approach. He reached into the nightstand and grabbed the massage oil that was where they’d left it last. He was happy that it hadn’t been packed with the rest of their things. “Lay on your stomach and walk me through your favorite chapters.”

He didn’t have to beg. She pushed up and looked at him while biting her bottom lip trying to control herself. She couldn’t resist the urge to flirt just a tad, so she swept her hair across her neck exposing her bare back. As John poured the oil into his hands and warmed it between his grinding palms, Marlena slowly laid onto her stomach mimicking her morning yoga movements. She lowered her breasts followed by her stomach while letting her ass linger in the air for a moment longer. “How’s this?”

John pressed his oiled palms on her shoulders and slid them down to the small of her back. “So where do I begin?”

“Well the object is to read your partner’s body language and focus on giving pleasure while forgetting about time. Start with my neck and ears and just make your way down.” She wiggled her ass just a little as she settled into her pillow and closed her eyes. “I trust you.”

John found himself conflicted. While his goal was to be close to her and focus on everything but sex, it’s all that flooded his mind. He could feel the knots of tension that had built in her neck. “Doc, I had no idea how tense you were. You have knots all back here.” He pressed just behind her ear and used the pad of his thumbs to slide down her shoulders making her body shudder.

She groaned with gratitude as he kneaded her body.  His hands were warm and firm with a GPS to her spots programmed into his fingertips. She didn’t need to direct him. His hands somehow knew. It was as if her body was controlling them and telling them where to go. “Oh, John, this feels so good. Marry me. Again.”

He was flattered and humbled. She truly loved him just for him. Even at his lowest points, her devotion never wavered. When he begged her to walk away, she declined. Now he was kneeling over her in awe with the look of bliss on her face. She was in her happy place which meant that she loved him as he was, not for what he used to be. Message received.

“I’m just going on instinct here Doc. You have to tell me how I’m doing.”

She scoffed and looked back at him over her shoulder and smiled. “Don’t be modest. You know exactly what to do. I told you that I trust you.” She settled into her pillow and wiggled back into her comfortable space.

On instinct John pressed and rubbed every inch of her until her loins were soft to the touch. He understood the science behind this as he found himself wanting to indulge a little more.  “What’s next?”

“There’s the whole front side to cover if you can handle it.” Marlena rolled over and lazily tossed one arm over her head while allowing the other to fall at her side. “No pressure.” She was sincere and willing to go at his pace, beyond content with the feeling of him plucking at her flesh.

“I’m actually enjoying myself. I’m learning a lot. Like how you relax when I do this.” John rubbed the palm of her hand and watched her wrist go limp. “And if I want to excite you, I can touch you here.” He cupped the delicate inner face of her thigh and squeezed it gently making her squirm. “See, I’m a fast learner.”

“I’ll say. Have you been reading up without me?”

“Nope. Just instinct.”

They just stared at each other speaking with their eyes as John slid both hands down her yoga-toned leg and stopped at the ball of her foot and pushed dead center. She winced at the pain but wanted more. She tried to remove the lust from her eyes, but she couldn’t help it. He did things to her that were beyond her control. As John rolled his thumb up the length of her foot, she arched her back and twisted with gratitude.

Just watching her face was turning John on in a voyeuristic way. It was something stimulating about watching her in her purest form, happy and blissful with a man with no past and physical limitations with questionable restoration. He was adding a new level to his mastery of pleasing her and she deserved nothing less.

On an impulse, he reached over her and grabbed the glass of bourbon sitting on the nightstand and took a swig without taking his eyes off her. She watched his every movement pensive, unsure of what he had up his sleeve. He dipped his finger in the glass and traced Marlena’s lips with the numbing libation. He could tell from the look in her eye that she was open to more.

She just laid on her back with both of her arms behind her head begging him with her eyes. She licked her lips savoring the flavor of the subtle vanilla notes.  “You make me very happy,” she murmured. “So so happy.” And he did with every fiber of his being.

“I’m not done.” He dipped his finger in the glass again and gave her pebbled nipple a light twist and licked it off. “I’m sorry, was that in the book?”

She panted and quivered then shook her head no, praying that he would keep going. He did by giving her other nipple the same kind of affection.

She arched her back and moaned as his powerful physique loomed over her with his hips crowning over her thighs. She was all spent and he knew it and continued to massage her breast with the fullness of his hands. The smell of muted lavender on her glistening skin was maddening and starting to get to him. It was only a matter of time before this escalated to something more. He poured the last drop of bourbon into her belly button and chased it with an impetuous kiss across her stomach.

“That wasn’t in the book.” She closed her eyes and tried to quiet the screams from her throbbing arousal. “Wait, you are supposed to—”

John could feel her body tense up as he moved on to rub the apex of her thighs sending her into a toe-curling frenzy.

“—Cool me down. So that…I…don’t…”

Just as John touched the rim of her panties she convulsed but managed not to come. If this was the game, she was willing to play all night long. He was tormenting her and he knew it. Now he had to decide how to relieve the pressure. He could feel it burgeoning and building a relentless momentum as she wiggled and writhed from his touch.

He moved his hands from her erogenous zone, but it didn’t stop her body from craving more. “Just breathe and enjoy it. Prolonging your orgasm will enhance the intensity.” His voice calmed her and somehow reset her urges as she started to rev up again.

He had been listening and learning all of this time; taking copious notes to perfect his sensual genius. His fingertips were bold and unapologetically curious, exploring every inch of her fevered flesh.

She wanted to kiss him and taste him. She wanted to feel him on top of her with his warm skin sliding on hers. She reached for him, beckoning him to smother her body with his. “Just hold me.”  She needed something to squeeze as the pressure returned with a vengeance, this time demanding to be uncaged.

He laid on top of her, blanketing her exposed form and cocooned her in his arms. They just stared into each other’s eyes smiling and thinking of what to do, no words were spoken. She traced his chiseled jawline, craving the flavor of his kiss and yet she held back and just marveled at the sight of him. She could feel his body responding, proving the method to their sexual madness and yet there was no need for more. Just knowing that it would happen in their own time was gratifying in itself. She loved him. She needed him and would take him for all that he was, grateful for another chance as lovers to Touch. Taste. Feel.

The End