Worlds are Shattered
“You can’t make me!” The blonde haired, brown eyed beauty, had just resorted to child-like argument. “How can you even ask me to… to…” she stuttered, trying to find the courage to say the words. “God, Ican’t even say it!”
To think that just ten minutes ago Marlena was a normal 20 year old girl. Ten minutes ago, she had hopped out of her boyfriend’s car thinking just how lucky she was. Up until nine minutes ago, her plans were to apply for medical school as far away from Salem as humanly possible. Sometimes she just hated Salem – most of her classmates at school had flittered off to college as soon as school was over. Even marks couldn’t stop them! Something Marlena had learned early was that anything could be bought. She wished it wasn’t so, and up until eight minutes ago, she hadn’t really believed it. It’s not that Marlena was jealous of the rich kids – it’s just that she had always had to work so hard to get ahead in life. In the past two years since school had finished, Marlena had worked at the local coffee shop, trying to scrimp up enough money to even think about applying for medical school. Up until five minutes ago, she had honestly believed that her parents would deliver on their promise – to pay her tuition fees, if she could afford the rent, food and expenses during her four years.
“…Marlena… Marlena…” Marlena was awoken from her daydream by the sound of her mothers concerned voice. “Are you OK, honey?” Rachael Evans gently squeezed her daughters shoulder.
“Don’t call me honey!” Marlena shrugged her mother’s hand away. “Even if I could believe that my father could do this… I never would have imagined that you of all people would consider selling your own daughter for a profit!” Her blazing eyes stared un-relentlessly into Rachel’s eyes, as if they could have burnt a hole into them.
“Marlena, be reasonable!” her father’s stern voice broke through the silence. “Don’t make your mother and I out to be some kind of monsters!”
“Well, if you can do this to me, monster doesn’t even begin to describe you! What about Roman? Do I just tell him that it’s over – sorry, I’m getting married next week – I’m sure that will go down well.” Marlena rolled her eyes. The truth was that she was never serious about Roman Brady and she was pretty sure Roman wasn’t serious about her . It was always going to end – but her father didn’t know that, did he?
“That boy – he doesn’t deserve your attention. You will be better off without him!”
“Why, because he isn’t rich? How much money does this intended husband actually have?” Sarcasm dripped from Marlena’s mouth.
“That is not relevant Marlena, and you know it!”
“No I don’t know it! I can’t believe that you just expect me to lie at your feet like a dog – and do whatever you say! You have absolutely no authority over me! I am twenty years old.”
“And how are you going to pay for Medical School Missy? Don’t expect your mother and I to come up with one single cent of your tuition fees. If you do not do this, you will be disowned from this family.” With that Mr Evans turned to leave the room.
Marlena felt all the air from her lungs escaping her. In one second she felt as though she could not breathe. Medical School was her dream, and it had just been taken away from her in one single moment. Tears came to her eyes, as Marlena’s anger bubbled to boiling point. And suddenly she cracked. She let out a huge cry and pounded her fists into her father’s turned back. “You are a BASTARD! I hate you!”
But her father didn’t even bat an eyelash. Instead he just continued walking as if it had never happened. As he reached the door however, he turned around, eyes like slits, and whispered dangerously. “Nevertheless my dear – this is the only way you will get any money towards medical school. Mr Black is willing and able to support you through the whole of the course. Think carefully Marlena! I will have your answer by Thursday!”
“Darling, I’m sorry that your father talked to you like that. He is stressed – the business is not doing very well. He felt that it was the only way to save us all!” Marlena hardly heard her mother try desperately to come up with excuses for their behaviour. She turned and fled out the front door, blinded by tears, and choked with sobs that threatened to escape before she had reached the privacy of the great outdoors.
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John Black pounded the punching bag as hard as he could. After the night he’d just had, he was surprised that he hadn’t punched a hole right through it. How could his deranged mother expect him to marry a woman he had never even met – correction, a girl he had never met – he was 8 years older than the 20 year old girl.
As much as he hated to admit it, John could see the reason behind the arranged marriage. His rich mother was very sick and her wish had always been to see her soon married. She wanted to make certain that the Black bloodline and name would continue for generations to come.
John knew that he couldn’t very well refuse her dying wish – if indeed she was dying. John had a feeling that his mother was not quite as sick as she led him to believe. But it couldn’t hurt to invite Miss Evans and her parents around for dinner one night to see what he was dealing with. John didn’t want a wife who would disgrace him. She needed to be intelligent and funny and charming. He seriously doubted that a 20 year old could be a person he would be happy to spend the rest of his life with.
John wiped the sweat off his muscular torso, and headed for the shower. He would see what this Miss Evans was like and decide on Wednesday night!
Nightclub Encounters
He noticed her from across the dance floor – with her long blonde hair, that sat in loose curls down her back. She was wearing a red halter-necked top and a black knee-length skirt that showed off her slim figure to perfection. John studied the beauty, wondering if she had ever been here before. Surely he would have noticed her if she had. She was stunning, and totally the type of girl that John usually fell for. He strode across the dance floor with his eyes on his prize. A night of dancing and fun was just what he needed to take his mind off his situation.
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Marlena gulped nervously as she saw him stride confidently across the dance floor. He never took his eyes off her for a second. She admired his crooked smile, that oozed sexiness and sensitivity all at once. This was the kind of man that Marlena always fell for. After the scene with Roman this afternoon, when she had broken the news to him about her expected marriage, Marlena decided that she needed a night on the town. She planned to forget everything tonight and have a good time.
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When he reached her, John smiled genuinely and offered her his hand. “I’m John, would you like to dance?”
“I’d love to…” Marlena took the handsome mans hand and let him lead her to the dance-floor. She saw Hope glancing in her direction and giving her the thumbs up. Hope, her best friend, had suggested the night out on the town so that Marlena could have at least one night of happiness before she had to face her mother and father again. Marlena returned her gesture with a smile of excitement, before turning her eyes back to Johns.
She gazed deeply into his blue eyes as she became lost in the dance. John was incredibly sexy and had such an intense stare that made Marlena feel like she was the only woman in the world. She placed her arms around his neck and almost trembled when she felt the muscular torso that was hidden beneath his blue shirt. He smiled at her when he noticed how affected she was, all the while admiring her expressive eyes. Hardly two words had escaped from her lips since he had asked her to dance an hour ago, but the thing that John noticed most was that the woman in his arms seemed somehow sad – like she had experienced great pain. He adjusted his arms around her waist and was lost in the feeling of her soft curves beneath his rough hands.
He moved in closer, drawing her exquisite body closer to his. He didn’t know what it was that made her so sad, but he wanted to take away all of her pain, if only for tonight. He felt her head burrow into his shoulder and he held her tightly. How long they danced like this, neither knew, but Marlena broke the embrace first. She looked into John’s eyes and welcomed the sweet kiss which she knew was about to happen. When their lips touched slowly but passionately, both found themselves lost in the sensation, not believing that such passion could exist in such a simple gesture.
Suddenly Marlena broke the contact, realising that if she didn’t stop this now, she would never be able to go back – that she would be head over heels for this man. She mumbled an apology and stumbled backwards into the crowd, searching desperately for Hope.
John looked up in surprise as the gorgeous woman stepped clumsily away from him. Rushing after her, he gently took her arm.“At least tell me your name before you run off into the night?” He pleaded, searching her eyes for a reason that she had to leave.“Mandy,” Marlena lied, crossing her fingers behind her back, before retreating into the darkness.
First Meeting
“I refuse to meet him!” Marlena told her father the next morning.
“I’m afraid that you don’t have much choice in the matter, young lady! If you want a future in medicine, this is your only option!”
Marlena frowned and refused to speak for the rest of the morning. She could still feel her lips burn as she remembered John’s hot lips on hers. She could still feel the sanctuary that she had felt when she was encircled in his arms on the dance floor. She wished that she could see him again – that this engagement nightmare did not exist.
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John sighed as he let the hot water of the shower run over his body. He wanted the stress of the last few days to just wash away. Tonight was the big meeting with his ’fiance’. His father had told him that Marlena Evans was beautiful and smart, but somehow he couldn’t believe it. His thoughts kept drifting to the stunning Mandy whom he had held in his arms last night. Her beautiful hazel eyes were ones that John knew would always haunt him. He imagined that she was here with him now, kissing him, arousing him.
John was awakened from his fantasies by his mother telling him to hurry and get dressed. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the night ahead.
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“What are you doing? We are meeting Mr Black at Tuscany in 2 hours.” Mr Evans chided his daughter when she came downstairs.“I am just going over to Hope’s place so that I can try on some of her dresses. I’ll have to meet you there.”
“What’s wrong with that lovely blue dress that I got out yesterday?” Mrs Evans spoke gently, trying to keep the peace.
“Rachel, please… don’t interrupt.” Mr Evans spoke to his wife, then turning to Marlena with a red face he continued, “You had better be there by 7pm on the dot Marlena… or you can kiss medical school and this house goodbye.”
“James…” Rachel looked at her husband in shock, sensing the tears filling her daughter’s eyes.
“Rachel… if our daughter won’t do the one thing that we ask her to do… for the good of the family… she is no longer welcome in our house.
”Marlena looked tearfully between her mother and father, hardly believing what she was hearing. She gathered her bag and rushed out the door, slamming it for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last few days.
“See you at 7pm sharp!” her father bellowed after her.
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“Where is she?” James Evans spoke uneasily under his breath to his wife at the dinner table.
“She’ll be here James. You made it very clear that she had no choice in the matter.” Rachel flashed a smile, trying to hide the contempt that she was feeling about her husband’s treatment of their only daughter
this afternoon.
“I’m sorry… it appears that our daughter is running a little late. Can I get anyone a drink?”
John Black was sitting across the table with his mother and father, waiting impatiently for Marlena Evans to arrive. He had been sitting at Tuscany, dressed in his best suit for half an hour, making small talk with Rachel and James Evans. John was trying to hide the nervousness and the irritation that he was feeling at the prospect of this meeting, and he was beginning to wonder if this girl actually existed. He somehow hoped that she wouldn’t show up. His thoughts travelled to Mandy… as he waited for James to return with the drinks.
“Good evening mother…” John heard a voice behind him and sawRachel’s eyes widen as she focused her attention on her daughter. John turned to observe his intended and almost laughed when he took in the sight that was before him.
Marlena Evans had taken the opportunity when her father had left the table, to prepare her approach. The expedition to Hope’s place had been highly successful. After two hours of hard work Marlena had been transformed. She watched her mother carefully as she reacted, smiling delightfully to herself at the ingeniousness of her plan. She glanced around, hoping that there was no-one that she knew in the restaurant, embarrassed to be making such a spectacle of herself. She stared at the back of the man sitting in front of her, waiting for him to turn around, so that she could put her indestructible plan into motion.
As John began to turn towards her, Marlena placed a hand over her mouth, her eyes not believing what she was seeing.
Marlena
“Mandy?”
The brief look of distress crossed Marlena’s face as she stood face to face with the man that she had been fantasizing about all day. God, what was she wearing? Marlena fought the urge to go running from the room. In the few seconds of confusion, thoughts flew through her head. She couldn’t ask for a better outcome – here was a man whom she was attracted to and would pick out of a crowd to dance with. He too was obviously attracted to her. Marlena remembered the feeling of dancing in his arms. But then the thought hit her – the realization that made up her mind once and for all. John had been just playing a game last night; setting himself up for one last little fling before he ran off to get married. He could never have intended to contact her again; probably all he had wanted was a quick root, never to be seen of or heard from again – at least not by ‘Mandy’. She straightened her clothes nervously, playing the role very well. She looked downwards, and pushed her oversized glasses back onto her face.
“Marlena Evans… pleased to meet you…” The voice was timid and totally unlike her. She waited for his response, refusing to look at him, playing the frigid virgin to a ‘t’.
“I’m sorry, I thought that you were… never mind… I’m pleased to meet you Miss Evans.” John took her hand that was clasped in front of her, the knuckles white from anxiety. He raised it to his lips and kissed it reverently, in a gentlemanlike gesture. He caught Marlena’s gaze as she stole a glance into his blue eyes, and stared confusedly at her. He put his hand to her waist and escorted her to her chair, pulling it out for her and allowing her to sit down.
Marlena could feel the electric impulses rush through her body when his lips touched her skin. She was surprised that he had treated her so nicely – considering her attire and behaviour. But if Marlena was expected to marry a man whom she didn’t know, she wanted to make damn sure that he knew that she was impenetrable. She was going to continue her virginal, frigid, and untouchable act until Mr Black decided that he did not want her anymore. Until this moment, Marlena had imagined herself being released from her fiancé and running straight into John’s arms. But now that dream was impossible – John was the man whom she was trying to get away from.
John watched his ‘intended’ as she settled herself at the table. He smiled in amusement when he saw the pleated plaid brown skirt that fell below her knees, making her look like a school girl. Her brown tweed coat hung from her body and hid all of her best features. He caught a glimpse of a black lacy bra as he stood above her, and he smirked. She was Mandy… he was sure of it. No woman who regularly wore clothes like that could possibly feel comfortable in that bra. He looked at her face, her gorgeous eyes now hidden behind those horrendous glasses, but her skin still flawless. He wanted to touch her soft hair, now mousey brown in colour – and tied in a single plait at the back of her head. She had obviously gone to a lot of trouble to make herself look unappealing, but John thought that it was the cutest thing that he had ever seen.
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John was broken from his reverie when he heard the groan as Mr Evans approached the table. He looked at the man as he gaped at his daughter – obviously in shock as to her appearance. “Marlena is here…” Mrs Evans smiled sweetly at her husband, and placed one finger on his jaw to close it.
“I can see that,” he spluttered. John looked at Marlena, who was looking up and directly into her father’s eyes, smiling sweetly. “Hi daddy…” The words resounded in a singsong fashion, and John knew that Marlena was gloating.
Marlena smiled a satisfied smile to herself as she gazed innocently into her father’s eyes. “Is something wrong, daddy?” She knew that she had won this round… and she could see the rage forming on his face. He would blow a gasket when they got home, she was sure of it. But for now Marlena was more than satisfied. John Black would have dropped her like a bomb by the time tonight was over… and then it would be too late for her father to do anything about it.
“Can I speak to you for a minute?” Mr Evans ground out the words, a feigned smile plastered on his face.
“Daddy, I can’t leave our important company. We can talk when we get home.”
Marlena’s smile now mirrored his, fake pleasantries shining through the malice that existed there. Mr Evans walked up close to his daughter, and taking her arm roughly, he escorted her out of sight of the table.
“Excuse me a moment.” The fake smile was directed at John, and he stood amusedly as she walked away.
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Her face was a picture of misery when she returned to the table. John could see traces of tears in her eyes, and her face was flushed. “Sorry about the interruption folks.” Mr Evans took his place at the table and sipped his drink. His face was red too, and he eyed his daughter as she sat defeated across from him.
“I took the liberty of ordering your dinner.” John leaned in close to her and whispered into her ear.
“I don’t want anything Mr Black… thank you anyway.” She turned towards him, glaring insolently into his kind eyes.
“Actually… that was very kind of you John. Marlena will love whatever you ordered for her… wouldn’t you my dear?” Mr Evan’s voice was overbearing, commanding, and Marlena simply nodded in agreeance, her eyes flashing dangerously as she did so.
The conversation was strained. John endeavoured to engage Marlena in conversation throughout dinner, but he only managed to get polite responses from her. He noticed that she only picked at her fish, her eyes distant as her fork pushed it around the plate. “Don’t you like fish?”“It’s fine.” Her response was short and sharp.
“Then why aren’t you eating it?” Who did he think he was, she thought to herself, as she looked directly at him. Why did all the males in her life have to turn out to be pig-headed jerks? Marlena simmered as she resolved not to let another man tell her what she should and shouldn’t be doing; what she could and couldn’t do.
“I’m not very hungry… excuse me for a moment…” Marlena stood to leave, and noticed that John stood with her, ever the gentleman. “Would you like some company?” John offered her his hand, which earned him a roll of the eyes.
“I think Mr Black, that I can make it to the bathrooms by myself.” With that Marlena Evans turned on her heel and strode away.
A New Understanding
John noticed the faint purple outlines of a bruise forming on her wrist. He glared across the table at Mr Evans, who was busy devouring his dinner, completely unawares that his daughter was in pain. John guessed that he probably didn’t care – he wanted a marriage; he wanted a merger; and he was prepared to sacrifice his daughter to get it. John wondered how the man could live with himself. He closed his eyes briefly, and a picture of Mandy’s sad brown eyes haunted him, as he held her close. It was the same look that he had seen when she walked back to the table with her father. The sadness that he had seen last night was because of him; because of her forced marriage. John felt himself reeling as he came to the realization that Marlena Evans did not want to marry him – even though she knew that it was her dream-man from last night.
John pushed his chair back from the table suddenly, mumbling his apologies as he walked towards the women’s bathrooms. There he waited, until she finally emerged. “Would you like to dance?”
Marlena was surprised to find him standing there. She hoped that he couldn’t see that she had been crying. His stare was intense and she felt herself become lost in it, as she took his offered hand and followed him to the dance floor. She felt his arm around her waist and she almost melted into his touch. Then she remembered why she was here, and she pulled back slightly.
“You don’t have to pretend that you are the frigid spinster type anymore Marlena.” John placed his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “I know that you are Mandy… and I know that you don’t want to be forced to marry me.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about Mr Black.” She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. John smiled and placed his finger to her bottom lip, gently caressing it. “Oh yeah?” He raised his eyebrow playfully.
Marlena jerked her head back when she felt the sting of his touch. “Don’t touch me,” she huffed, and she tried to pull out of his arms.
John only grasped her tighter. “I’m sorry. But I know that you are the woman that I danced with last night. You can’t hide your beauty even beneath these hideous clothes.”
“Are you insulting my fashion sense?” Marlena shot back angrily, her eyes darting dangerously over his face. “You are nothing but a player Mr Black… and I refuse to let you treat me like your prize… some kind of object that will submit to your every whim and.. and” John released her suddenly, and twirled her in his arms. Marlena caught her breath when she came crashing back into his chest, the closeness of his body making her lose her train of thought.
“Understood.” He winked at her. “I know that you are scared Marlena… This situation is not exactly what I had hoped for either… but at least we know that we are attracted to one another…”
“Don’t flatter yourself Mr Black.” Marlena became flustered as she tried to find the responses that suited her role, but his persistence was causing her to lose it.
“I don’t… you know, I am still attracted to you even though you chose to wear these totally unflattering glasses tonight.” He leaned in close to her ear, and breathed into it with hot breath. “I’m a man that likes a challenge, and I must say that there is something about a frigid woman that excites me. I want to make her mine…”
Marlena’s eyes flashed, and her face reddened even more. “How dare you speak like that to me… who do you think you are?” She couldn’t think; she couldn’t move. John was exciting her like she had never been excited before. There was something so dangerous about the way he spoke; his intensity was such that she had never seen; yet she knew that he was gentle. She wrenched her hand from his grip, but in an instant, he had captured it again, stroking the aching bruise that was darkening. “Does it hurt much?”
“That’s none of your business. Let me go.” Her voice was angry, but John knew that it was only because she was fighting her attraction for him. He took her chin in his hand, and removed her glasses from her face. “There… that’s better.” He paused, taking his time to admire Marlena’s eyes. “I will let you go… but first I want you to do something for me…”
“What’s that?”
“Kiss me…” John saw her splutter as he said the words.
“What did you say?” Marlena’s voice became childlike as she realized what he was asking her. Her face flushed a deep crimson. The situation was like one that she had only dreamed about – a dark and handsome man stood before her, telling her to kiss him – his intense eyes piercing through her very soul.
“I said… kiss me…” John breathed the words as he leaned in towards her, keeping eye contact every step of the way.
It was like slow motion when Marlena relaxed into his embrace, and met his lips with hers for a slow and tender kiss.
Body Language
That wasn’t so hard was it? The question filled Marlena’s mind again and again as she prepared for her evening with John… The memory of that gentle kiss lingered on her mind, as she tried her hardest to stay calm. Tonight was her first date with John… and any other time she would have been jumping for joy. But tonight, although a dangerous excitement filled her, Marlena knew that she couldn’t act like a school-girl about this. This was reality and her night out with John tonight could hardly even be called a first date. It was just his way to try to woo her into marriage… with romance and kisses and dangerous games. She welcomed the challenge. She was looking forward to tonight… being able to talk to him alone, being able to inform him of her position on the issue of marriage. But most of all, she craved to feel his lips on her skin… the memory of the fire that coursed through her last night on the dance floor still flooding her senses.
Marlena took a last look in the mirror, making sure to have covered the ugly black bruise that had appeared on her upper arm… inflicted by her father who had been unhappy with the way his daughter had acted last night. She tried not to let the tears start again as she replayed the scene in her mind.
“How could you embarrass your mother and I… and yourself like that?” He had waited until they had arrived home… in the privacy of their own space. Marlena had merely ignored him, the angry pout painted to her face.
“Marlena… if John Black does not want to marry you after that little stunt that you pulled, we will still disown you!” Marlena looked to her mother in a childlike appeal.
“James…” Rachel was looking at her husband in utter shock.“I am not going to change my mind on this. You had better hope that John Black still wants to marry our brat of a daughter…” He grabbed Marlena’s arm and squeezed her tightly. “Because if he doesn’t… and I would be surprised if he still took you… you will be out on the street.” He jerked his hand away from her… leaving a throbbing pain through his daughters arm.
She heard the doorbell ring and she hurriedly checked herself over once more, before making her way downstairs to where John was waiting. She saw him as soon as she left her room, talking seriously to her father. No doubt about whether he still intended to marry her. She took a deep breath as she saw him, the muscular chest still defined, even through his blue button up shirt. His hair had been gelled just enough, and he looked incredibly sexy.
When he looked up, she caught his bright blue eyes… that lit up at the sight of her.
He caught her shy smile as she descended the staircase. There was a slight sway in her hips as she navigated it in her red high heels. John took in a deep breath as his eyes travelled over her tanned legs, her red dress finishing just above her knees. The dress hugged her flat stomach, and the curves of her hips, and showed just enough cleavage to have John desiring her. He could see the slight colour of her cheeks as she held his stare, and she flicked her head unconsciously, so that the long brown longs flicked delicately behind her.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, John held out his hand and she took it shyly. His warm hand closed around hers. “You look beautiful…”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. Shall we?” Marlena didn’t even glance at her father before walking out the door in front of John.
“So, where are you taking me?” Marlena spoke softly as John opened the car door for her. “Oh… I don’t know if I should tell you that…” He smiled down at her as she adjusted herself in her seat, her tanned thigh showing through the split of her dress. John gazed at it for a moment… before getting into the car himself.
The banging music of the club sounded, as Marlena squealed in delight. “Why did you bring me back here, John?”
“Because Mandy…” he teased. “Tonight, our night is going to end with me escorting you home… the way it should have been the other night.” Marlena felt her breathing quicken as he came up behind her, his body close to hers. “You really are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, you know…” His breath tickled her ear as he blew gently on the sensitive area. His hand travelled up to her neck, where he pushed aside her hair, and bent to softly caress its nape with his lips. “John… I think that this is moving too fast…” Marlena felt her eyes flutter shut as she revelled in the sensation… but her head told her that she couldn’t fall for him… not until she knew where he stood.
“I’m sorry…” He stepped away from her. “I just can’t help myself when you are around me. I’ll get us some drinks…” Marlena breathed a sigh of relief when he walked away, thinking quickly as she anticipated his return. How was she going to say no to him… he was so hot… and sexy… and his kisses made her whole being soar. Before she knew it, she felt a man behind her again… and she turned and spoke playfully, “I thought you were getting us some drinks…” She trailed off as she saw the man standing behind her. It wasn’t John… and the look in his eyes told her that he wanted something from her. “Dance with me.” It was a request, not a question. Marlena looked around helplessly, searching the crowd for a sign of John’s unmistakable blue eyes. The man grabbed her bruised arm, and Marlena let out a slight cry of pain. Then suddenly she felt herself pulled backwards by a familiar hand. She breathed a sigh of relief as John confronted the man. “Don’t you ever lay a hand on my fiancé again.” He pushed the man as hard as he could, his voice filled with rage. Marlena stepped behind him and tugged on his arm. “John, please… just leave it.” John turned to face her, and melted when he saw the pleading in her eyes. He saw the delicate white hand which she held out towards him.
He took the offered hand and followed Marlena deeper into the club… glancing back only once to throw a threatening look in the man’s way. “Are you okay?” She asked gently, noticing the tightness of his face muscles. She reached out to touch his jaw. John shuddered and answered softly. “I should be asking you if you are okay… not the other way around. Are you okay?” He placed his hand over hers, which rested on his cheek. “I’m fine, thanks to you…” She smiled up at him. “Do you want to dance with me?” She took his hand and led him to the dance floor, placing her arms around his neck, as he relaxed into her.
No words were spoken on the dance floor, only the heated body language told them what the other was feeling. Marlena held tightly to him, pushing herself into him, getting as close as she could be. She buried her head into his neck and sighed when his face buried itself into her hair. His hands travelled the length of her back again and again, resting for a moment at the small of her back and then travelling to her shoulders.
John turned her around, and put his arms around her from behind, crushing her to him, savouring the feeling of her softness against the length of his body. He moved her hair aside and began gently nuzzling her neck, soon replacing his nose with his mouth as he heard her moan softly. His hands travelled to her thighs, and he started to push her skirt up her long leg. Marlena turned in his arms and pulled his lips to hers for a searing kiss.
Close Encounters
Their bodies were intertwined in fevered ecstasy. Marlena was pressed up against the back wall of the club… John’s hands caressed her thighs. Their tongues duelled, both knowing what they wanted to happen.
A loud voice began to penetrate her clouded senses… but it wasn’t until she felt her entire body jerk against the wall that she realised what was happening. The man from earlier had a hold of John, and with a thud he had pressed him up against the wall beside Marlena. Tears soaked her skin as she grasped desperately at the man’s hands, clawing him, trying to get him off John. “Don’t worry beautiful… they won’t hurt him… just as long as you do what I tell you…” Marlena’s eyes widened and she glanced at John, who looked at her with rage in his eyes. He was helpless… he couldn’t move because he was being pinioned to the wall, two strong men taking over from the other’s hold. “Marlena… run… you have to get out of here…” His jaw was clenched, and all he cared about right now was her safety. He could see out of the corner of his eye, the way the man undressed her with his eyes… and he wanted to help her. But there was nothing he could do.
“I can’t leave you…” The tears filled her eyes, and she pressed herself against him, nuzzling her face into his neck. John’s heart broke and soared at the same time. They were in a dangerous situation, but her loyalty meant the world to him.
“You have to… you have to go… otherwise they will hurt you…”
Somehow John turned his head slightly and kissed her soft cheek, whispering the soft words.
“They will hurt you…” She felt herself be pulled backwards by rough hands, the desperate sobs pouring from her as she lost contact with John.
“Let go of her… leave her alone…” John screamed the words as loud as he could, struggling to get away. He felt the first blow to his face, just as Marlena was pushed forcefully against the wall. He kept bellowing as he saw the fear on her face… the tears sending black mascara streaming down her face… the agony in her brown eyes as she turned to stare at him, pleading with those captivating eyes.
She screamed and kicked and cried, trying to push the man off her. But he was too strong. She felt his hands grasping her breasts violently, causing her to cry out in pain. She screamed John’s name over and over and over again, as the strange hands pulled her skirt around her waist and cupped her centre. “Oh, my, my, my… this is turning you on isn’t it?” He drawled the words out close to her ear, and Marlena merely sobbed. “I suppose you came here to get fucked tonight… well I am going to make all
your dreams come true. I will fuck you like he never could.”
There was nothing she could do as he tore her g-string from her trembling body… the fear overtaking her as she realised what was about to happen.
Suddenly with superhuman strength, John plunged himself forwards, throwing the two men backwards. He was in a bad state, the cuts and bruises to his face blurred his vision, but his white-hot glare found her… and found the man who was violating her. In one instant, he had pulled the man off Marlena, watching for just a second as she collapsed to the floor… hugging herself tightly as her sobs continued. “I told you never to touch her again…” John seethed as he crashed his injured face into the other mans. He went sprawling backwards, and as much as John wanted to kill him for touching Marlena, he knew that she needed him. He motioned for security who took over.
John rushed over to where Marlena sat… He took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. The tears filled his eyes as he saw her heartbreak. “It’s okay now… I’ve got you…” Marlena clasped his shirt by the collar and pulled him towards her, securing herself in his comforting embrace. John engulfed her frame as she cried her heart out… placing soft kisses in her sweet hair as he whispered soothing words to her.
***************************
“Thanks for letting me come back here.” Her tone was shy as Marlena took the shirt that John was offering her to sleep in. “I just couldn’t go back there… not tonight…”
“I understand… Marlena, there is something I need to ask you…”
John took both of her hands in his, and she waited for him to continue. “Is everything okay between you and your parents?” Instantly he regretted his words. She withdrew, turning away from him. When she spoke, it was defensively.
“Look… I just couldn’t go back there in this… this state…” She motioned to her ripped dress, and her messed up face.
“I know… I understand… I’m just worried about you.” John placed his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He winced slightly when her hand touched his face.
“I’m going to have a shower and then I am going to clean you up…” She whispered the words, not wanting to leave his arms, but knowing that she had to.
When she emerged from the shower, John’s breath caught. In just his white t-shirt, Marlena looked ravishing. Her tanned legs were highly exposed, her face devoid of any make-up, her hair freshly washed. He could smell her freshness from across the room, and he wondered how she did it… He didn’t have any girly smelling products in his bathroom. She smiled at him, her eyes pained when she saw how swollen and bloody his handsome face was. “Do you have a first aid kit?” She asked, coming closer to him and studying his wounds. “Do I look like I’m the type of person who has a first-aid kit?” John spoke playfully… the joking around allowed him to temporarily get his mind off her delectable body. She gave him a disapproving glare. “Do you have some antiseptic?”
He shook his head.
“Alcohol?” John stepped away and retrieved a bottle of fine brandy from his kitchen, while Marlena filled a small bucket with hot water. “Come in here…” She called from the bathroom. When he entered, she was bent over, looking into the cupboard. He could see the very tops of her thighs, almost to the roundness of her bottom. He stood in the doorframe, leaning against it as he watched her, not making a noise.
Marlena turned around, and jumped when she saw him standing there. Her face flushed when she realised the compromising position that he must have seen her in. “I’m sorry…” She mumbled her apology, and awkwardly took the bottle of brandy from him.
“Take a seat…” She motioned to the edge of the bathtub, and John sat himself down, hoping that she wouldn’t hurt him too much.
“So Doc… is this going to hurt?” She smiled at the new nickname, and gazed deeply into his eyes. She kissed him lightly on the lips, and brought a warm cloth to his face. She gently traced the cuts and bruises, ridding them of the blood and grime that had pooled there, too intent on her work to notice how her closeness was affecting John.
He was captivated by her. From where he sat he had a perfect view of her breasts through the white t-shirt. She had one hand braced on his leg and she stood so close that John could smell her… he could feel her soft breath on his face as she so gently treated his wounds. John knew that he would envy all of her patients once she became a doctor. He already knew that she would be a great doctor… the best. He was glad that he had a chance to make that dream come true for her. He looked upwards, his blue eyes roaming her determined face. His hand travelled upwards and he tentatively touched her chin… causing her to look at him in surprise. “Let me finish…” She murmured, as his fingertips traced her lips. She pulled away, her breathing slightly more laboured now. John dropped his hand, as Marlena took a swig of the brandy. “Want some?” She asked offering him the bottle. John took it from her, surprise in his eyes. Then the hint of an amused look masked his face. “Here I was thinking that you were going to make a great doctor some day… and then you start to drink the antiseptic…” She laughed loudly, and he joined her… the sound of it filling John with another twinge of desire. He was amazed that he had finally found someone who he could laugh with.
“Yeah whatever…” Marlena took a fresh cloth and poured some of the brandy onto it. Then carefully she lowered it to his face. John jumped as the sting of the brandy rushed through him. He clenched his teeth to keep from crying out in pain. “Dammit…”“Oh you big baby…” Marlena leaned downwards and tenderly kissed the bruise that she had just treated. And in a moment all of his pain was gone. He glanced at her again, and he noticed the hardness of her nipples as they protruded from the shirt. He reached up again, and cupped her face, this time bringing his lips to hers for a kiss that left them both breathless.
New Beginnings
Marlena woke up to the sun shining through the window. Her body was sprawled out on the bed, facing down, her body and face aching slightly from the events of last night. She sighed softly and turned over, expecting to find John’s hot body curled beside her. But the other side of the bed was empty. Marlena was more than a little disappointed. Last night had started out as a nightmare… but turned out so wonderfully. They had made love, slowly and passionately… and Marlena could not remember a time when she had felt so out of control in her life. She was hoping that this could be a new start for them… that somehow their feelings for one another would be sorted out. But now that he was no longer there, Marlena began to feel uneasy… and sad. Last night she had given her heart to him… she didn’t want it to be trampled again.
Wrapping the sheet around her, she made her way to the
bathroom, where their passionate interlude had started last night. She realised that she had never finished washing the blood from John’s face… and she wondered how he looked this morning. If only he was here, she would know for sure. Marlena looked at herself in the mirror and realised that she didn’t look too crash hot herself. Maybe that had caused John to run for the hills this morning… maybe it had been the alcohol talking last night… it could be anything. Marlena decided that she would take a shower and then get out of here as quickly as she could. She fingered the deep purple bruise that had formed over her cheek, and winced from pain. Then she looked at her neck, where a dark red mark had appeared from her and John’s passionate interlude last night.
She turned on the water and sighed as the heat soothed her aching body. She allowed it to wash all of her problems away. Then, realising that she had been here longer than she had wanted to be, she got out of the shower and dried herself off. She walked over to John’s closet and pulled out a button up shirt. Her clothes from last night were torn and in no condition to be worn. She came out of the bathroom, her tanned legs exposed underneath the big white shirt. Then she saw him.
John dropped his bag as he gaped at Marlena… looking so sexy in one of his shirts. He hadn’t even expected her to be up yet.
“Damn…” he murmured as he regained control and leaned down to pick up the bag.
She levelled a cool gaze on him and spoke… her voice cold. “Uh… sorry, I meant to be gone by the time you got home. I just realised that I don’t have any clothes though.”
“Why did you want to leave? I was hoping that you would spend the morning with me…” John moved towards her, unaffected by her cool affect. He realised that she was probably just feeling uncomfortable with how fast things had progressed between them.
“Uh… I woke up and you weren’t there. I guess I thought that you um… regretted what we did last night.” She spoke in a small voice, and his heart broke to hear it.
“Oh baby… I could never regret last night…” He leaned in and captured her lips for a sweet kiss. “I am sorry about this morning… I could have stayed in bed with you all morning… but I wanted to get you a few things.” John handed a surprised Marlena a bag.
“Thanks…” she replied awkwardly, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “How are you feeling?” She reached up to touch his bruised face and stroked the tender flesh.
John captured her hand with his and let it rest against hers for a moment, his eyes closed as he savoured her touch. He thanked heaven that he had met her… it was fate that had drawn them together. John imagined himself leading this fantastic woman down the aisle… and he hoped that after all, she might agree to be his wife. Then he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her… ever again.
“I’m fine… really, just a little sore… but you know what?” John opened his eyes and reached out to touch her bruised cheek.“What?” She smiled at him, and allowed herself to rest her body against his.
“It was worth it…” He kissed her cheek and heard her sharp intake of breath as her bruise twinged. “I’m sorry.” He removed his mouth and stroked the area gently with his fingers. “Are you feeling okay?”
Tears welled up in Marlena’s eyes… as the memories of the almost rape came rushing back to her. John pulled her into his arms and let her cry against him. “You are safe… I won’t let anyone hurt you… I promise…” Marlena let her sobs die down and she looked up into his eyes, the devotion that she found there so comforting. She placed her lips onto his and kissed him hard and fast, and they moved slowly over to the bed, where they began to make love all over again.
Afterwards they lay, intertwined in each others arms, their hearts pounding in unison with each other. “I am so glad that I met you…” Marlena breathed sweetly, as John caressed her face. “So am I…”
************************
Marlena was positively giddy. She swirled around in her white satin wedding dress. Today was the day she had always dreamed about. She felt like a princess… the sparkling diamonds that covered her dress, shone delightfully in the sunshine. In just a few minutes she would be walking down the aisle to marry John… and tonight they would begin the rest of their lives together.
Since that morning that they had made love at his apartment, John and Marlena had spent little time alone together. As much as they wanted to… stealing moments away from important wedding plans to have picnics in the garden, romantic trysts by the pool… they had always been found, before things could progress the way they both wanted them to.
Marlena heard her father calling her and she knew that it was time to go. She took one last look in the mirror and smiled at her reflection. Then she grabbed Hope’s hand and together they practically ran down the stairs, to where her wedding… and John was waiting for her.
John took a deep breath when he saw the beauty that was Marlena… walking down the aisle… towards him. He pinched himself… hard… to make sure that this was real… that this was really happening to him. He gazed at her… from her blonde hair that was piled loosely above her head, affixed with a lace veil. He was so glad that she had dyed her hair back to the blonde that she had when he had first met her… as Mandy. His gaze travelled to her smiling face… her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she walked towards him, her hazel eyes never leaving his. Her dress was divine… long and full… but John knew that to him, Marlena would look exquisite in anything.
She finally reached him and he offered his arm to her. Then they said their vows… and the way they said them was so heart felt. They were so in love with one another. They sealed the union with a kiss and Marlena laughed happily as John carried her back up the aisle in a gesture that was so like him.
*************************
They hadn’t had a moment to themselves all evening… constantly surrounded by congratulations and well-wishers. They kept stealing glances of one another as they struggled to pretend to be interested in what the crowds of people were saying to them. Suddenly John swooped Marlena into his arms, mumbling his apologies to the people that surrounded her. He placed one hand onto the small of her back and the other on her stomach as he led her quickly out of the room. Marlena giggled as John whispered into her ear. “I never thought that I would ever be alone with you again…” He stood behind her, hugging her to him as they walked, struggling to move faster in the awkward position.
John glanced around to make sure that nobody was watching. Then he opened the nearest door and pulled her by the hands in behind him. They could feel coats surrounding them, and John was a little surprised. “You are all class John Black…” Marlena laughed teasingly. “You bring your blushing bride into a coat closet…” John stared at her in the darkness, trying to determine if she was serious or not. And when she started laughing uncontrollably, he joined in, pulling her towards him for a hug as he did so. God, how he loved this woman. “I wouldn’t care where I was as long as I am with you…” John whispered huskily into her ear and Marlena felt her body shudder with desire for him.
“I have missed being with you SO much…” She replied as they broke apart. John’s lips descended onto hers and they kissed with utter lust for each other.
“What do you say we start our honeymoon right now?” John winked at his new bride… as he pulled her out of the closet.
“I’d say that is the best idea you have had all day…”
First Fight
“Where do you two think you’re going?” Hope laughed, as she pulled Marlena’s arm back to the room. John held tightly to his wife’s hand, and they looked at each other in frustration. “We were… uh… we… wanted to…” Marlena couldn’t find the words, and instead a deep blush suffused her cheeks, as John winked at her knowingly. “I KNOW what you wanted to do… but we aren’t finished with you yet…”
Just then some of John’s friends slapped him on the back, and pulled him in the opposite direction. They looked at each other, as their hands lost contact, the desire written all over their faces.
***************************
John watched as Marlena became engulfed in a huddle of her friends, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her when she became engrossed in the conversation. How he wished that he could be touching her right now. “John… buddy… are you listening to me?” His friend spoke, clicking his fingers in front of John’s face. He quickly snapped back to reality, and he smiled absently, before excusing himself. He picked up two glasses of champagne from the nearest waiter and made a beeline for Marlena.
When he reached her, he snuck up behind her, signalling for Hope to keep quiet. Then suddenly, he snaked his hands around her small waist and handed her the glass of champagne. He almost closed his eyes at the feeling of her pressed up against his body… the intoxicating smell of flowers, and her perfume, and her hair, sending his senses reeling. He put his face against her neck and breathed in deeply. “Why hello there, Mrs Black…” he murmured, into her soft skin.
Marlena gasped when she felt his rock-hard chest press up against her and involuntarily she closed her eyes and leaned back into him. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck… and she heard the huskiness in his voice when he spoke to her. “Hi…” she spoke cautiously, and smiled as she took a sip of her drink. “Uh… you kind of… uh… interrupted something…” She thought that it would be fun to play with him for a while. “Aw… but I just wanted to see my gorgeous, sexy, wife…” John whined, as he placed his lips against the side of her cheek.
Marlena almost caved when she felt his sweet kiss, and she bit her reddened lip to stop herself from reacting. “Baby… can you give me five minutes?” She spoke as soon as she trusted herself. John’s face dropped, and at once his smile vanished. He withdrew his arms from around her hurridly. “Baby… come on… it’s just five minutes…” Marlena turned her head to look at him. “Yeah whatever… take your time…” John threw up his hands and strode away, downing his champagne in one gulp.
Marlena looked back at Hope and giggled, her eyes widening at his reaction. “I think that we just had our first fight…” She took a sip of her champagne and then gave it to Hope. “Wish me luck…” She gathered her full skirt around her and slowly made her way over to where John stood, glowering at her. His eyes were flashing, and Marlena made sure to put a little swing in her hips… to tease him. But John looked away.
When she reached him, Marlena stood directly in front of him, so that their bodies touched. “John…” she spoke softly. “Look at me…” When he didn’t, Marlena put both of her hands on his warm cheeks and pulled his head towards her. “Why didn’t you tell me that I was marrying a sook?” She smiled at him, as the words caused him to look up at her. Then their gazes locked. “I was just playing with you… you know that there is nowhere I would rather be, than in your arms… don’t you? Huh?” With a will of their own, John’s arms wrapped around Marlena’s back, and he pulled her body flush with his. And he placed his lips on hers for a passionate kiss, their tongues duelling, their hands moving over each others bodies, as if they had forgotten where they were.
They were broken from their embrace by the shouting and clapping of the wedding guests, as their attention had been drawn to the couple. John placed his forehead against Marlena’s and smiled… his exasperation portrayed in his body language. Then they looked towards the crowd and smiled. John noticed how Marlena’s cheeks had become a deep shade of pink, and he wanted nothing more than to take her home, and sample her soft skin.
They found themselves again pulled in opposite directions.
****************************
“I would like to invite the bride and groom to have their first dance…” The announcement came over the loudspeaker, and from across the room, John’s deep blue eyes, met Marlena’s hazel ones. They almost floated towards one another, no longer aware of anyone else in the room. And their hands met and John clutched her tiny one in his as if he would never let go.
Their bodies were as close as humanly possible and they stared into one another’s eyes as they swayed to the music. Then Marlena let her head fall onto John’s shoulder and she closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of him. Her lips were so close to his neck and it seemed so natural to be here… in his arms. She placed a tender kiss on his neck… and her eyes widened when she felt his response to their closeness stirring within his pants.
Marlena pulled back to look at him and the intensity and the lust which shone back at her… caused her own body to lose all sense of reality. She needed him… and he needed her. “I have to have you, now…” John growled in a husky tone, and Marlena shuddered. Then she felt herself being pulled towards the door, and when she wasn’t moving fast enough for him, she was swept up into his arms as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Marlena giggled and rested her head on John’s chest as he made his way to the waiting limo.
The Wedding Night
“Dammit… there is so much fabric here…” Marlena had already removed John’s jacket and was working on his shirt, her nimble fingers quick to release each and every button. They had finally made it back to the motel that they were staying in for the night and they were both so frenzied and turned on that they could hardly stand it. Marlena cried in triumph when she felt John’s bare chest beneath her fingers, and she leaned down to kiss the exposed skin, ignoring the fact that he was getting exasperated with her dress.
He pushed her away, and stood gazing at her gown in confusion, his look almost comical. Marlena burst into uncontrollable laughter. He stood with one tie in one hand and a handful of the dress in the other. He looked up at her when she started laughing, and he raised an eyebrow in a quizzical fashion. “What’s so funny?” He dropped the dress and moved towards his wife, prowling. Marlena couldn’t stop laughing and she started to move backwards as John approached her. By the mischievous look in his blue eyes, she knew that whatever he was planning couldn’t be good. “I… you… just…” She couldn’t spit out the words, and suddenly, Marlena found herself being propelled backwards by John’s body weight and falling onto the softness of the large bed.
John straddled her. “You just what? Huh?” He smiled down at her, and then, without warning, his hands found her ribcage and he started tickling her. Marlena struggled beneath him, as John found all of her most ticklish spots, and her laughter caused her to cry out, tears running from her eyes, her mouth open, her stomach rippling with pain. “St… ha ha… st… o… p… ha ha… oh… my god… I am d…dying…” John gazed down at his captive beneath him, and gasped at her beauty. Her face was flushed and glowing and her lips just begged to be kissed. His hands stopped their assault and her hazel eyes met his… as her breathing slowly returned to normal. John allowed his finger to trace her full red lips, and then leaned down and took her mouth with his, their tongues instantly seeking the other out.
As the kiss broke, Marlena pushed him away and stood up, her hands reaching for the ties that held her dress in place. After a few moments, with her nimble fingers, the dress pooled around her feet, and John could only stare in awe, as she stood there wearing a white corset and matching underwear, stockings and a garter belt. He stood and moved towards her. He placed a hand on each of her thighs and slowly ran them up their long lengths, and then continued up her body… to her creamy neck. “You are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen…” John spoke huskily, as he leaned into her ear and suckled on her sensitive earlobe. “And you… are the most incredible man…” She ran her hands over his chest seductively, and then reached down and cupped his erection, which pushed against his suit pants.
“And my my… I think that this… is for me…” She licked her lips enticingly, and smiled at him, as her hands undid his pants and pulled them down so that he stood there naked in front of him. Then she pushed him backwards, so that he sprawled across the bed. “What are you doing?” John asked her huskily, making a move to get up again.
“Stay there…” She demanded sharply, and John stopped in his tracks. “Since you seem to be having trouble undressing me tonight… I thought that I would save you the trouble.”
Marlena turned around so that her back was facing him, but her eyes stared at him from over her shoulder. She let her hands travel down the sides of her body, until they reached the ties of her corset. Pulling them, she quickly loosened the garment and let it drop down to the floor. Her panties followed, and then she stood, wearing nothing but her garter belt and stockings.
She unclipped the stockings, and removed the garter belt… and then she turned to face him, her entire body exposed to his roaming eyes. She placed her leg up onto the bed beside him and spoke in heavy tones… “You can do the rest…” John didn’t wait for a second invitation. His hands swept up her leg and one finger pushed in underneath the top of her stocking. Then he slowly pulled it down her shapely leg, indulging in the feeling of her soft skin beneath his fingers. He repeated the process with the second stocking.
John pushed Marlena down onto the bed and settled himself atop her, worshipping every inch of her creamy skin. When they finally climaxed together, it was with each other’s names on their lips, and afterwards, Marlena lay in John’s arms… her head resting on his pounding heart beat.
************************************
John felt the morning sun filtering in through the room. He pulled the covers over his tired body and allowed his thoughts to drift to last night. He smiled as he thought about how amazing his night had been… and how amazing his wife was. Johncouldn’t believe how lucky he was to have Marlena as his wife… he turned over and reached for her… he wanted to feel her hot naked body, pressed against his. His eyes opened as he found her side of the bed cold and empty. Blinking, he sat up, and his eyes scanned the room for her.
He considered having a shower before venturing out of the room to find her, but he didn’t want to miss out on the chance of having a shower with her. He pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and he smiled as he heard her singing from the kitchen. His heart soared as he realised that she was happy… he had made Marlena Evans happy… his wife.
He gasped as he saw her, and he allowed himself to lean against the doorframe as he took in her appearance. Her back was facing him, as she stood at the kitchen counter, totally oblivious to his presence. She was clad in only his white shirt… it’s length showing off her generous length of tanned legs. Her blonde hair sat in messy curls down her back, and he could see her right shoulder where the shirt had slipped off. John drooled as he realised that the shirt must not be buttoned up properly at the front, and he wanted her to turn around so that he could catch a glimpse of her gorgeous breasts. He felt himself get hard, as one of her legs travelled up the back of the other one, and she ran her foot up and down it’s length.
He couldn’t take it any longer. With eyes full of lust, he moved towards her quietly, making sure not to alert her to his presence. When he reached her, in one movement his arms encircled her waist and he picked her up in his arms, spinning her around as she laughed in shock. “Morning…” She smiled sweetly as he slowed down, making no move to remove herself from his grasp. “I didn’t say that you could leave my bed…” he joked, as her arms fell around his neck, and her hands started playing with the short hair at the back of his neck. “I didn’t know that I had to ask your permission…” She pretended to be thoughtful, as one of her hands moved down John’s back in a seductive motion. “Well woman… you are married now! You have to do what your husband says…” Marlena giggled as John pressed his lips against her neck. “And right now your husband says… get back into that bed…” His voice was deep and husky and Marlena shuddered at the sensations that he was creating with his tongue.
With a concerted effort, Marlena pushed his head away from her, and smiled as he placed her onto the ground. “Hold up buddy…”
She spoke, the corners of her mouth turned only slightly upwards as she tried to contain her amusement. “This is not the dark ages… and I am not going to allow myself to give in to such brutish tactics…” She turned away from him and resumed her task of preparing breakfast. “Awww but…” John started complaining, knowing that for now, she was in control. He came up behind her and pressed himself into her.
“But nothing buster! I gave you enough last night to last you a lifetime! You are just going to have to wait until I… want… you…”
She turned her head so that she was looking into his eyes, and she smiled seductively. “Besides, didn’t you once call me a prude?” She stepped away from him and moved over to another area of the counter. John could do nothing but stand there, his mouth agape, as Marlena bent down to retrieve something out of a cupboard. He could almost see the roundness of her backside as she did so, and unconsciously, he again found himself moving towards her, his body begging for release.
She turned around as he reached her, holding a can in her hand. She was flustered by his closeness. “Oh, but honey… I was just trying to get a rise out of you. Although… you know…” He backed her against the counter and pressed his hardness against her, his eyes looking intensely into hers. “With you… even if you were a prude… I would still want you…” He brought his lips to her ear as he whispered the seduction into it, his hot breath causing her to close her eyes for a moment. She could feel her excitement settle at her centre. Their little game was making her unbelievably hot for him. “But you are ANYTHING but a prude…”
“Is that so?” She raised her eyebrows and pushed him away from her again. Then she sauntered over to the bowl of fruit that she had cut up. “Well… if I WAS a prude… then I wouldn’t be able to allow you to have me… now would I?” She smiled as she opened the can that she held in her hand, and drizzled some of it’s contents over the fruit. “Touche!” John gave up and moved behind her, his arms encircling her waist. He kissed her neck tenderly, and then looked up at what she was doing.
“Condensed milk?“ He smiled as she placed her finger in her mouth, and had a taste of the sweet syrup. “What the hell are you doing with condensed milk?” He laughed as she turned her head to face him, her lips pushed out into an adorable pout, her eyes filled with mock hurt. “What?”
“Well honey… it’s not exactly breakfast food…” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Well, have you ever tried it for breakfast before?” Marlena challenged. John frowned in concentration as he tried to recall. “I thought not.” Marlena placed her finger into the can, and held it up to his mouth. Without hesitation, John took it in his, making sure to clean every inch of her finger before he consented to release it. Then he gazed up at her, and he could see the glazed look that coated her. “Mmmm… you know… I think you might be onto something here…” John lifted Marlena by the waist before she could utter a protest. He placed her sitting on the counter top, and pushed her knees apart so that he could stand between them. Then he reached for the bowl of condensed milk covered fruit.
Taking a piece of apple, he held it up to her swollen lips, and watched as she took a bite. Everything about her was so… so… sensual… and John knew that he would never tire of her. “God… you are so gorgeous…” Her neck rolled forwards lazily and she blushed as she looked at him, her mouth turning upwards into a delighted smile. She reached forward to brush her hand through his hair, and then she grasped his hand in hers. She brought it up to her lips, and opened her mouth, as she waited for him to put the rest of the apple piece into her mouth. Then she took a piece of pineapple, and held it up to his lips, laughing as he took it and her fingers into his mouth.
In the next moment, John was reaching for the buttons of her white shirt and before long, he pushed it down her shoulders. Then he pushed her backwards onto the counter, so that she was reclined onto her elbows. Marlena could only gaze up at him… as his roamed her naked body, resting briefly upon her centre, which glistened with her arousal. He picked up a strawberry and smeared it over her lips, before allowing her to take it in her mouth. His covered hers, as he sucked away the remnants of condensed milk from her face, and their tongues mated passionately.
He reached for the can of condensed milk and smiled cheekily down at Marlena, who eyed him with curiosity… and impatience. “I think I like this condensed milk thing.” He winked playfully.“I think it’s just about the best breakfast that I have ever had…” Marlena spoke, smiling.
“Yeah? Well it’s about to get a whole lot better, pretty lady…” Marlena gasped as the slight trickle of condensed milk hit her naked skin, it’s coolness making her shiver. Then, her gasps turned to moans of pleasure, as his tongue met her skin, and meticulously licked and sucked and nibbled on the drizzled areas.
“Oh… ummm… oh John… please…” Her breasts heaved, and her head thrashed from side to side, as John’s fingers found her centre and began to thrust into her, hard and deep. “Please what?” His own voice was shaky, and his erection strained for release. He wanted to be inside her… and now.
“Ummm… oh… god… mmmm… fuck… me… fuck me now!” She screamed. John quickly removed his pants, and his erection sprung free. He pulled Marlena into a sitting position, and wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he entered her hard and fast… and smiled as she gasped in pleasure. “Oh God… John… mmmm… hurry…” He began to pound into her again and again… each time he removed himself almost completely, before slamming himself back in. He watched her body language as each time her plunged, she threw her body forwards and her neck backwards, and moaned in ecstasy. “Dammit Marlena… you are so… fucking… hot…” He watched as she came, her entire body shuddering with the release, and screaming his name. And she pressed her thighs together, and her walls tightening around him, caused his powerful explosion.
Marlena leaned forwards and rested on his sweaty chest as her breathing slowly returned to normal. Then he pulled out of her, and picked her up. “Woman… you are amazing…” He placed his lips upon hers for a firm kiss.
“Sailor… so are you…”
Trouble In Paradise
Marlena smiled as she turned a full circle in front of the mirror. John was taking her out to dinner tonight in a small Parisian romantic restaurant, and she wanted to look her best for him. Marlena giggled as she recalled all the hot moments that she and John had shared over the past few days. Last night when they had reached Paris, they had danced on the terrace and made love all night long in their hotel room. Still, they hadn’t mentioned the word love, but Marlena knew that she was in love with John… totally, completely enraptured with him. And she hoped that he was in love with her too. Tonight, Marlena was going to tell him. She opened the box that held the gold watch that she had bought him, and turned it over in her hand to look at the engraving. She closed her eyes and thought about him for a moment, and then, slipping the watch into her purse, she made her way into the hallway where John was waiting for her.
John’s breath caught in his throat when he saw her come towards him. She was wearing a dark pink form-fitting dress, the slit at the side showing off her gorgeous legs, the neckline delightfully low. “Hi…” she purred, as she gave him a peck on the cheek, and then she turned so that he could see the back view. John’s mouth dropped open when he saw that the dress had no back. “I can see that you like it…” Marlena smiled, gesturing towards the slight bulge that had formed in his pants. “I LOVE it… maybe we shouldn’t go out tonight…” He placed his hands on her waist and bent his mouth to her neck, teasing her. “I think that little John wants to stay right here…” Marlena laughed, and pulled away from him. “Oh no you don’t big boy…” she spoke huskily. “You owe me a nice…” Her fingernail found his chin, and forced him to look up at her, and not down at her body. “… romantic dinner…” She smiled and placed her lips onto his for a passionate kiss. Then she pulled back and gazed at John, dressed to perfection in a black suit. Her fingers travelled up to his bow tie and she struggled to straighten it, while John breathed the scent of her in. He patted his pocket where his gift for Marlena was safely tucked away. “There… you look gorgeous…” She gazed up at him, and they smiled lovingly at one another. Until the sound of the phone ringing snapped them out of their spell.
“Are you going to answer that?” Marlena asked, not taking her eyes off John.
“Hmmm, no… whoever it is can just wait.” John placed his hand over the bare skin of Marlena’s back and led her towards the door.
*******************************
Their hands were clasped across the table, and John and Marlena were having a hard time taking their eyes off each other. Their main courses arrived and Marlena offered her fork to John… and they fed each other with intimacy. “You know…” she started, but John stood up and pulled her up with him. He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms, clasping her left hand and placing it against his chest, his free hand pressing the small of her back into him. They moved to the music, staring into each other’s eyes. “You are so beautiful…” John murmured huskily. “I love you Marlena…” Her eyes filled with happy tears as the song ended. Then John led her back to her seat, and he took a package out of his pocket. Marlena gasped and accepted it, opening it to reveal a diamond anklet. “Oh John, it’s exquisite… Would you put it on for me?”
“Not as exquisite as you…” John bent down and knelt on the floor. Then he clasped the jewellery around her ankle, admiring how it sparkled on her dainty bones. He placed a kiss on her skin. “Excuse me for a moment…” He cleared his throat, and before Marlena could protest, he had gone.
With her heart pounding, Marlena took the watch out of her bag, and waited for his return. This was turning into her very own fairytale.
Not knowing how long he would be, Marlena pulled John’s phone out of his jacket pocket. She dialled Hope’s number… she HAD to tell someone the news. Marlena groaned when Hope’s number rang out. She hung up, and jumped when the phone started ringing loudly. Glancing at the screen, Marlena saw the number of her parent’s. Thinking that the phone call must be for her, she hit the answer button, and was about to say hello, before getting cut off by her father’s voice.
“Have you got her under control yet?” He barked fiercely into the phone. Marlena opened her mouth. Suddenly she felt sick. Her entire body ached, her head and heart pounded, and small beads of perspiration covered her. She tried to form some words… something… anything, but nothing would come out. “John… earth to John. I want to know if you have seduced Marlena into falling in love with you yet…” Small tears seeped from Marlena’s eyes, as she realised what this meant. John had never wanted her… all along it had been his and her father’s plan… to control her. “How could you?” Her tone was almost a whisper, but her father knew right away that it was Marlena. “Marlena, honey… this isn’t…”
“I hope you’re happy…” Marlena hung up the phone, and stood from her chair, not knowing where to go or what to do. Her heart felt like it was breaking in two. She grabbed the delicate anklet and ripped it off, just as John came back.
“Marlena… what is it? What is wrong?” John grasped Marlena’s upper arms, staring at her face as it dripped with tears. “Tell me…”
Marlena threw John’s phone at him, as it started to ring again. John shut it off. “I am not interested in answering the phone. Tell me what has you so upset…”
“I was a fool…” Marlena spoke quietly, dangerously. “I hope that you and my father are proud of yourselves. You found a way to CONTROL the wilful Marlena…” John stared at her in confusion, wondering if she had been drinking too much.
“Come again…?”
“You can have it all back…” Marlena spat angrily. She tossed the anklet onto the table, and picked up her purse. Then she ran from the room, the tears cascading down her cheeks. How could I have been so stupid? she cursed herself. I did it to myself again… I fell for someone who was just using me.
*******************************
John ran a hand through his hair, frustrated by what had just happened. He didn’t know what had her so upset. He had just told her that he loved her… could that have been it? Could she be scared? John glanced down and threw some cash onto the table. The velvet case caught his eye, and he picked it up. Opening it, John looked at the Rolex watch that it encased, and read the inscription.
My Sailor,
With love always, Mandy
John clutched the watch to his heart, and groaned as the phone rang. “Hello…”
“John… we have a problem…” John rolled his eyes as he heard the voice of Marlena’s father. He hated the man, and he was annoyed that he acted like he was John’s best friend. John was glad that he had gotten Marlena away from him. He remembered back to the night before his wedding.
“You only have to keep her interested in you long enough to get her pregnant…” Mr Evans had approached John. He had been drinking and John hoped that his intoxicated state was why he was saying these things. “With all due respect Mr Evans, Marlena and I actually LIKE each other…” He rolled his eyes. “I know what you LIKE about my daughter…” Mr Evans chuckled. “She’s one hot piece of flesh… but don’t let that fool you… she’s as frigid as they come…” John shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his fists clenched and unclenched as he was forced to listen to this… Marlena’s own father running her down. “I don’t want to hear this…” he spoke.
“I have tried to set her up with lots of guys before. She NEVER put out…” Mr Evans continued as though he hadn’t even heard John. “But maybe with you it will be different… I think she likes you…” John didn’t want to get into a fight with Marlena’s father… not the night before the wedding. He didn’t want anything to jeopardise the chance that he and Marlena had of being together.
“What is it? I have more important things on my mind right now…” John spoke harshly. “Yeah… like the fact that Marlena is upset with you?”
“How did you know that? What did you do?”
“She answered your phone… I might have asked if you had seduced her yet…” “Jesus…“ John slammed the phone shut, his heart pounding. Marlena thought that he had been using her… that he had formed a plot with her own father to get her out of the way, and keep her out of trouble. It all made sense now. John rushed out of the restaurant, determined to find her… determined to make her believe that he hadn’t done anything of the sort. Things had been too perfect between them to let some misunderstanding stuff it up.
Misunderstood
Marlena stormed through the door to the motel where she and John had been so happy up until just a couple of hours ago. She had such a headache and was so confused, and all she wanted to do was to cry her heart out. She practically ripped her shoes off her feet and threw them as hard as she could at the wall. Then she collapsed onto the soft bed, burying her head into the pillows, and let her tears flow.
She caught the scent of John in the sheets, and the feelings of betrayal shot through her heart like daggers. How could he have done this to me? What kind of a man would lead someone on like this?Her thoughts flowed freely. Yet, she could still hear the words that John had spoke tonight as they filtered through her memory. I love you… love you… She could see the look in his eyes as he had presented her with the anklet. Could that have really been a lie?
Marlena tried to tell herself to stop fooling herself. John was a liar and she would be stupid to fall for his manipulations. She knew that it was only a matter of time before he would come back here and he would offer her every excuse under the sun. But she would refuse to fall for it. Her dignity wouldn’t allow it.
Marlena rose and changed into her pyjamas, discarding her dress on the floor next to the bed. Then she lay back down and curled up into a tight ball. Her tears were silent now, as she fiddled with her engagement ring. Her heart was betraying her mind, as she fantasised about John storming into the room, and holding her and telling her that it was all a mistake. But she knew that it was all a fantasy… she and John would never be together again.
***************************
John came in the door and was surprised to find that the lights were off. Marlena was curled up in bed. He sighed as he came closer to her. She wasn’t sleeping, he could tell that much. He leaned over and touched her face ever so gently. “Marlena… are you awake?” Even though he hadn’t known her for very long, John already knew her well enough to recognise the slight catch in her breath as his skin came into contact with hers. But just as soon as it had happened, her breathing had returned to normal. John wondered if he had imagined it. He sighed again, as he moved to the unoccupied side of the bed.
John removed his clothes, leaving only his boxer shorts on, and then he climbed into bed beside her. He leaned over, immediately shivering as his body heat contacted hers. “Marlena… honey, I know that you aren’t asleep…” He touched her hair, and with that, Marlena had had enough. She turned over furiously.
“Don’t you DARE call me honey… and GET OUT…” She screamed as her face came dangerously close to John’s, her eyes flashing. “I am not going anywhere… not until you let me talk…” John spoke calmly, and he tried to reach for Marlena’s hand, but she pulled it away forcefully. She realised just how close to John she was, and she couldn’t help wanting to lean over and kiss his soft lips. She could tell that John was thinking the same thing, as his eyes darted quickly between her eyes and her lips. As he moved closer, Marlena regained her senses and practically jumped out of bed, throwing her robe over her body and tying it securely.
“How dare you come in here and demand to talk… after what you did you are lucky that I am still here at all…” She began to pace the floor, with angry steps, and John sat on the end of the bed, letting her have her tantrum. “God, why AM I still here? I must be the world’s biggest fool…” Those words were spoken more to herself than to John.
“What exactly do you think happened tonight?” John asked calmly.Marlena whirled around to face him and flashed angry brown eyes at him. “I know EXACTLY what happened. My pig of a father wanted to get me out of the way, and you volunteered yourself to help him do it…”
“You don’t even know how wrong you are right now.” John placed his forehead in his hands. He was so tired and he knew that tonight’s scene was not going to be easy. He cursed Marlena’s father and tried to remain calm.
“Marlena, it’s not at all what you think…” he started to try to explain, but he was cut off by the shrill sound of Marlena’s irrational voice. “Not what I think… oh John, don’t treat me like a naive child. I know exactly how my father works… I just didn’t picture YOU being so manipulative… I can’t believe that you almost had me fooled, with your whole ‘I love you’ routine tonight at the restaurant. I must be an absolute idiot.” She stopped in the middle of the room and shook her head as if in disbelief of her own stupidity.
“I wasn’t lying about that… how could I? Do you HONESTLY THINK that I could lie about something like that? And if I WAS plotting with your pig of a father, as you so rightly put it, WHY would I be keeping up the charade now that we are married?” John moved to stand in front of her, his voice becoming louder as his anger increased. “I can’t even pretend to know how your obviously twisted mind works. But really John… now that I am onto your sick little game, there really is no need to continue it,” Marlena sneered. She made a move to get away from him, but John took her upper arm in his hand, squeezing it more tightly than he meant to. “Let go of me…” Marlena warned through gritted teeth. “I will let go of you when I am good and ready. This is NOT some game that we are playing Marlena. We are married and I LOVE you more than I ever thought that it was possible to love someone. I agree that your father is SICK and TWISTED and a PIG, I could see that the first day I saw you with him. The way he treats you makes me feel sick to MY stomach. And the ONLY plotting that I am guilty of is wanting to get you as far away from his as physically possible.” John paused, his chest heaving from the passion of his speech, and Marlena could only stare at him, speechless for a moment. A million thoughts ran through her mind, and she wanted so badly to believe him… but her stubbornness won out.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe a DAMN word that you say. I HEARD him with my own ears, I heard him talk about me like I was some kind of project. I know that you and he think that I am like some naughty child that needs to be reprimanded and controlled, but I am warning you that even if I do continue with this SHAM of a marriage, I will NOT stand for it. I do what I want, when I want to do it…” Marlena wrenched her arm out of John’s strong grasp and rubbed it vigorously. “Honey, I can…”
“DON’T call me that…” She folded her arms across her chest, her lips pushed outward into a sullen pout. “Marlena, I can understand why you don’t trust men… I don’t blame you for it, not with a father like that. But I promise you that I am not lying, and that I do not want to control you. All I want is for you to be with me and love me… and I want to LOVE YOU. Let yourself be loved… stop punishing yourself by making yourself miserable.”
John placed his hands onto Marlena’s shoulders and sighed when she relaxed slightly under his touch. “I know that you love me too… why else would you be so hurt by what you heard?” He placed a finger on her chin and tipped it up so that her eyes looked into his.
“You are SO wrong. I am hurt because I feel like I have been USED and manipulated. That someone I thought I knew could turn out to be evil to the very core. But you know John… there is one thing that I still don’t understand. What was in it for you? I know that my father got a business merger out of it, but what could you possibly have gotten out of marrying me?” She spoke with accusation and cynicism laced through her voice.
“You really want to know? You really want to know how I benefited from marrying you?” John spat out with exasperation.“Aha, I KNEW you were lying to me… I knew it…”
“I didn’t say that Marlena. But there is something that I got out of this… I got to marry the most gorgeous, sexy, incredible woman that I have ever seen.” Before Marlena could protest, John’s lips were on hers, and his tongue was probing her mouth for entry. For a moment she tried to resist, but her desire was too strong and she kissed him back passionately and angrily.
After long moments they separated, and Marlena finally realised what had just happened. Angrily she pushed him backwards so that all bodily contact had ceased. “I never want you to kiss me again.”
The Heat Of The Moment
Awaking to the sunlight streaming through the window, bathing the city in romantic light, Marlena felt anything but romantic. Her eyes were red and swollen from hours of silent crying into the pillow, her hair a mess of unruly blonde curls, that had seen too much tossing and turning during the long night. Her mind was both numb and full of pain, along with her limbs which seemed to hang limply on the mattress. The wretchedness that Marlena felt however, was in knowing that she woke up alone, John’s side of the bed was cold and empty, and the knowledge that only a week into her marriage, still a blushing new bride, she was once again all alone.
Just the thought of facing the day in the same city as John sent Marlena’s senses reeling, as she forced herself to get up so that she could look presentable when John woke. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the state of her, the dried remnants of her tears, demonstrating to him just how effectively he had succeeded. No, by the time he woke up, Marlena told herself that she would look like the ice maiden, not allowing a single flicker of emotion filter out through her. Stepping under the shower, Marlena turned the spray onto her face, letting steaming hot water wash away all remnants of her sleepless night.
When she had finished, and had dressed in tight blue jeans that flared at the bottom and a red singlet top, Marlena felt ten times better. She surveyed her appearance in the mirror, frowning at the way the jeans seemed to fit her body like a glove, far too sexy for her liking. But she had sighed as she surveyed the contents of her suitcase, filled with flimsy, sexy, daring outfits, befitting a honeymooner. The jeans had been the least revealing thing that she had packed, so they had been the only choice for attire.
Coming out into the bedroom, Marlena found herself gazing at the lounge,
where John lay still fast asleep, his long limbs cramped uncomfortably into the short length. Unconsciously she moved in front of him, and caught herself gasping as she saw the glean of his bare, tanned chest, spattered with dark hair. While he was sleeping, she could almost believe that John was as innocent and honest as she wanted him to be, and she found herself forgetting all about his deception, even as her body betrayed her. Heated warmth of arousal filled her and flowed like liquid to the centre of her, and Marlena fought herself to repress the need to run her fingers through the jet black hair on his head that had moulded and shaped to the lounge in his sleep. And to trace the outline of his lips with her tongue. It was a face that just pleaded to be touched and kissed and loved. In her mind Marlena knew that she shouldn’t be thinking like this, but her entire body cried out for his touch – and she wanted nothing more than for him to reach up and make her forget all about what had passed between them last night, to forget that it had ever happened.
Taking in a deep breath, Marlena wiped away the single tear that slid down her face, and turned away from John’s sleeping form. Until she was stopped by his husky murmur. “Marlena.” Swinging around, Marlena found her eyes widening, as she saw the sleepy way he regarded her, his eyes slumberous and desirous, as they roved her body, resting for long moments on her hips and breasts, before finally capturing her hazel gaze with his. She was captive as his hand reached for hers and stopped her from turning away again. “God you’re gorgeous…” his mouth whispered, as Marlena’s gaze fixed onto those soft lips, and she wanted to beg for them to fuse with hers. She trembled as she felt hands on the outside of her clothed thighs travel upwards to scope her body. And closing her eyes to the heady sensations that coursed through her, Marlena endeavoured to stop her traitorous body from openly displaying how much she wanted him.
Those rough hands moved up under the red singlet top, skin on skin, and Marlena moaned, throwing her head back in a gesture of surrender. She knew that she couldn’t stop herself even if she had wanted to… and right now she didn’t! One more time with him, she found herself promising, and then I will never let this happen again. But even as the thought invaded her mind Marlena knew that once would never be enough… even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to satiate her need for John Black.
Gasping his name as lips found the delicate neck, open for his mouth to feast upon, Marlena stopped thinking, grabbing his hair with desperate hands to drag his head up to meet hers. Their lips met and fused, and her mouth opened underneath his, their soft sounds of love escaping through.
As they parted, John held Marlena’s face in his hands and stared into her eyes. “You see – we will always have this -”
The words made Marlena’s blood run cold, the harsh reality slamming her back to earth with the speed of light. She found her face flaming in both shame for what she had just done, and anger for his words. Anger that he could think that sex would be enough to get them through this, that sex was the main ingredient for a successful marriage. “You egotistical bastard…” she spat venomously, yanking her face from his grip. “If you think that seducing me will get you back into my good books, think again.” She turned to leave, her hair whipping backwards so fast that it hit him in the face.
But she almost spat poison when he jerked her backwards, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, her mouth poised to tell him exactly what she thought. Before she could find the words, John spoke. “ You can deny it all you want Marlena, but you want me, and I sure as hell want you.“ Indicating the throbbing arousal that left no doubt as to his desire, before continuing, “And no matter what you believe I did to deceive you, that fact will always be there, threatening your resolve. We are married, darling, and you won’t be able to hold out forever. Soon you will come willingly to my bed begging me to make love to you… and until then I won’t touch you. Let’s see just how long you can wait.” He let go of her arm, smugness in the suggestive smile that turned up his mouth.
“You’re so sure of yourself right now, but trust me, darling,” she bit back with resolve. “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole, and if you so much as come near me, I will make you regret it. Nobody gets away with betraying me, and I most certainly am not going to come crawling back to you, just so that I can have my trust abused again.” The venom dripped from her words as she smiled and added sweetly. “I’ll be out for the day! Don’t bother to wait up for me…”
And with that, Marlena Black turned on her heels and slammed the door behind her, leaving John watching the door in frustration.
The Jarlena Journal 