00: 50 a.m.

(Home & safe, I love it that you worry. It's new. GJ.)

John looked down at his screen questioningly. It was a text from a masked number; he concentrated on the initials at the end and thought deeply. Gage… His body froze and he looked over at Liz as she left the shower, wrapped in a towel.

00: 53 a.m.

(How did you get my number? And you are welcome. JC.)

He hit send immediately and incidentally turned down the volume of his iPhone before walking over to Liz.

"How was day baby? I hope you weren't too bored." She asked sweetly, sitting down in the chair before she started to dry her hair.

"It was…okay, I did a few-'

"You will never guess who I ran into today…" she interrupted. "Remember Cali from high school right? Well, she was with her husband and they just bought a house downtown, so I told her hey, why not come dinner at ours and we could catch up on all this time, you think that's a good idea too right?"

"Yeah…I mean, wasn't she the one who spread the word that you were pregnant or something?" he frowned and Liz rolled her eyes.

"It's all behind us now you know. You should've seen the bag she had, at first I thought it was a Birkin, but I took a closer look and I noticed hers was longer than the one we bought in Paris. I didn't say it out loud of course, she would've been so embarrassed." She chuckled.

John watched and listened to her; mesmerized by the shallowness of her conversation. But it was just that smile on her face that made it so worth it; Liz was his high school sweetheart, he'd always loved her dearly and John Cena Sir, and Carol all loved her. He repeated the same mantra to himself every time he would find himself in doubts.

"…So I told Amy we couldn't take a girl with natural hair, it's just not…orthodox you know, but in the end, she took her anyways." She sighed sadly, holding her brush against her hair in front of the mirror.

"As long as you had a good day…" he kissed her temple and she smiled, but her smile fell slightly and he frowned.

"Johnny…" she started. "There's something about Gage I noticed."

His fingers rooted solidly on the armchair, her chocolate brown eyes looked apologetically at him.

"I think; she scared of you John…" she breathed.

Well…well…well…

"She's kind of distant when you're around, I think she does not know which way to go about you; and I know you don't like her." She murmured.

An internal sigh of relief eased the tension in his body. Liz was so far from the truth; he almost wanted to hide somewhere and burst into mindless laughter.

"Lizzie, don't think too much about this, she's such a strange woman…"

That was all he could say; he rubbed her shoulders in a little massage and she closed her eyes in appreciation. Yes, a strange woman he'd gotten to know so much lately.

"C'mon let's go to bed." He tapped her shoulder lightly, to wake her up.

"I'm not really tired…"

"Aren't you…and what do you have in mind?"

"Well…I was sure you'd have an idea or two…" she grinned coquettishly, untying her towel slowly, damp hair still falling over her shoulder.

OO

00:57 a.m.

(I always manage to get what I want Johnny. How is Liz?)

01:23 a.m.

(Goodnight.)

John looked down at his screen in the darkness of the room. His phone in hand, he silently slipped out of bed, next to Liz's sleeping form, and went downstairs to the kitchen. He began to type an answer.

02:02 a.m.

(Sorry for not replying earlier. You are dangerous. Lol. She is okay, she thinks you are scared of me. You should be sleeping now so good night too.)

He sat in the couch in which he was the night Gage had come for dinner. He could still picture her; in her tight white dress, her long porcelain legs neatly folded beneath her. She discharged so much grace and calm; resembling the damsels he read about in school. His screen lighted up with a text message.

02:10 a.m.

(You have no idea how dangerous I can be Johnny. Scared heh? Liz; like you will never cease to surprise me. What are you doing up? Go to bed.)

02: 11 a.m.

(Sending text messages to dangerous women, and you?)

02: 13 a.m.

(Painting.)

02:14 a.m.

(Do you ever stop? Don't you get some rest?)

02:15 a.m.

(I'll get plenty of rest when I'll die.)

John chortled; he stood, moving to the window in the kitchen. The lights were still on up stairs, were her room supposedly was. Her curtains were light and he could see the ghost of a frame besides the window.

02:17 a.m.

(I'd pay good money to see what you're doing…I love your car. My first car looked exact same in green and less CIA-agent-like.)

The frame shifted, and she stood up, certainly holding her phone in her hand.

02: 17 a.m.

(Why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free? Come check it out…)

He looked up at the window again. The frame behind the curtain waved in his direction. He moved away in disbelief. She couldn't see him from here…he was too far…his phone lighted again.

02:18 a.m.

(You've been watching ever since I came for dinner the first night. Think I hadn't noticed. .)

02:19 a.m.

(Busted. How did you know?)

02:20 a.m.

(Because I watch you too Johnny.)

John smiled down at his screen, pushing the curtain again, but the frame was gone, but he looked sideways, and she was now standing on her balcony, leaning against the rail.

02:22 a.m.

(Get back inside; you'll catch a cold.)

02:23 a.m.

(I'd rather stay here and watch you watch me.)

John smiled curiously waving at her from behind the glass and a hint of a smile showed on her lips in the dark night. A relentless need to kiss those cold lips travelled all the way down his dry throat and he groaned.

02: 25 a.m.

(You should really get more sleep.)

02: 26 a.m.

(I don't like waking up to an empty bed.)

He looked up from his screen and she was back inside, behind her French doors, her frame behind the curtain. She was her own prisoner at that huge fortress of solitude. Was she really okay with what she was doing? Married men? Why wasn't she just like all other women; at the pursuit of love and happiness? John detested her solitude the same way she did, but was it that no man had loved her or that she'd refused herself to love anyone?

02: 30 a.m.

(Did you ever have a boyfriend?)

02:31 a.m.

(That was random…)

02:31 a.m.

(Just answer.)

02:32 a.m.

(No.)

02: 33 a.m.

(Why?)

02: 34 a.m.

(Wasn't it to you that I said I only did men in your situations?)

02: 35 a.m.

(Have you ever tried?)

02: 36 a.m.

(Yes, it was very unproductive. What's with the sudden inquisition?)

02: 38 a.m.

(Trying to understand what's under the red hair. What are you doing tomorrow?)

02: 39 a.m.

(Nicholas J. asked to take me to a few places, I said yes.)

John's brows scrunched together tightly, he looked up at the frame behind the curtain, but it was gone already.

02: 40 a.m.

(Where is he taking you? When will you be back? For how long have you known him again?)

02:42 a.m.

(He talked about Lettuce Lake Park, Piers 60 and a few other places. I do not know. I know Nicholas since I was twenty; five years exactly. Satisfied?)

02: 43 a.m.

(Not really. Be careful, I don't trust him. It's my last day home before I head back to work on Monday. I'd like to see you.)

02: 44 a.m.

(I can manage Nicholas. You see me every day already Johnny. What do you mean?)

Good question what did he mean; but he just wanted to see her, spend some time with her, talk, watch a movie, anything, he just wanted to be with her an hour or two and he would be sated for the next three weeks he'd be away. A ball formed in his abdomen. It was so wrong, but he wanted to kiss her cold lips again and feel them warm up to his, her cold fingers in his back; just like he had tonight in the parking lot. He'd launched himself at her so stupidly. That's what she did to him; she stupefied him.

02: 48 a.m.

(Come after your jogging. I'll make us breakfast. I want to see you too Johnny. I can go to bed now. Night.)

And he was stupid again. He looked up through the kitchen window again and noticed the lights were off already and he smiled. He was relieved he hadn't had to justify that he wanted to see her. Gage was the most intuitive person he knew; she asked for no information, no justifications or excuses; she took him the way he came and accepted it. May be that was why he enjoyed her presence so much, but would she ever contempt herself with just that?

Will he?

John locked his phone, and went back upstairs. Liz was still sleeping and she shifted sleepily when he moved into bed.

000

The morning fog whirled and stumbled around the trees of the empty park. John used this precious time to release some tension. Moloko played in his ears the song Sing it back. John listened attentively to the sultry voice of the woman and every word she sang. Every distant echo of his heart pounding tamed under the sound of the music, and the now, he could barely feel the strain against every muscle exercised. He'd made a dream of Gage; he'd dreamt of her in the kitchen, a bowl of strawberries with cream in her hands, she sat on the counter in front of him, and took each strawberry and fed him with it, then she took some cream on her index and made him lick it. The vague colourless image of his dream travelled down to his groin; and he woke up in panic, a terrible hard on bugging him.

The sun shred little by little, but it was very low, and covered by thick grey clouds. He jogged back into his street and Gage's house immediately; he looked ahead, then sideways, then all over again for unwanted eyes spying him as he ran towards her door. He climbed the stairs and his hand rose to knock at the red door. But he tentatively shook the handle and the door opened slowly; taking a last look around, he saw no one as the sun slowly began to rise, and entered. He was greeted by the sweet smell of freshly made bread and smiled in delight.

"Hi Johnny."

The sound of her voice helped him find his way in her house. He moved passed the large living room, turned right and he found her; in all white as always; red hair into a braid that fell down her shoulder, she wore no make up or little he could tell and smiled when she saw him.

"Hey." He smiled back. It was the first time she gave him a genuine smile.

"I made us a typical Dutch breakfast. It's healthier than those god-awful pancakes you make over here." She shrugged. There you go…

"Well; what do we have here?" he asked sitting down in a high chair; his eyes searched the table for the breakfast but found nothing, he frowned.

"It's all on the table outside." She said, cleaning her hands on the white apron around her waist, her hands went to her back and untied it and she turned to hang it. She wore a back-less cut out jumpsuit; she had nothing inside, and her clothing exposed her entire back and stopped right above her butt. It continued down, hugging her perfect round bottom.

"This way Johnny." She took his hand abruptly and led him outside. She pushed the glass doors, and a small wooden table with two identical chairs decorated the private balcony.

"You made all this?" he asked baffled, seeing the full and colourful table. Gage nodded, taking a seat into one of the chairs. He felt a little unclean sitting near her, in his soaked sweats.

"I took it very seriously when you said you wanted to see me." She smiled gesturing him to eat up.

"I made some French croissants, eggs à la Florentine, Ham, some toasts, orange juice, hot chocolate and of course the Dutch breakfast cake with cloves cinnamon and nutmeg."

"Wow."

"Don't be coy; eat!" she pushed.

"I never knew you could cook so…" he said taking a croissant into his plate, she poured some hot chocolate into a cup and drank it.

"I love to cook; but…" she took another sip and looked away. "I have no one to cook for most of the time, and I'm too lazy to do that for myself only."

He took a piece of his croissant. It tasted delicious, crunchy outside, but tender on the inside; he groaned suddenly realizing he was very hungry.

Gage watched; very pleased at John as he chopped down his breakfast. It was a wonderful sight to behold.

"It's delicious. I haven't ate anything this good in a while." He said, taking a sip of his orange juice.

"I really hate those dull pancakes. Whenever I order breakfast here, that's all they offer."

"Then you've never been at Ihop."

"What's that?"

"It's like a McDonald's, but only for pancakes. You've never seen one in town?"

"I avoid the proletarian cafés." She said snobbishly, and John frowned.

"How snooty." He said, and she looked up from her cup.

"You don't know where I come from, don't judge me." She sighed, and she looked away again.

"Well; if you told me, there wouldn't be any confusion." He replied.

"When I was a little girl, my mother never cooked. She always gave me some money for a take out from one of those cheap places and I hated it. I learned to cook from books and TV." She murmured.

"And your Dad? Didn't he cook?"

"My Dad?" she asked and he nodded.

"I never met him."

"Oh. Sorry." John gulped down his piece of bread and looked away in embarrassment.

"I've never done this Johnny; told anyone about my life like I do with you. It's new to me." She confessed.

"I'm glad you're trying. How do you feel?"

"Exposed."

"Don't. You can trust me." He shrugged. She looked around the table, like there was something missing and stood up and walked back inside. She came back seconds later; a medium sized glass bowl in hand and put it on the table. John looked down at the plate then back at her.

"What? You don't like strawberries?" she asked innocently, he shook his head.

She smiled again for the hundredth time since he came and managed to eat some of what she cooked. John chuckled lightly and she looked up quizzically.

"It's funny…I just…dreamt of strawberries last night s'all." He rolled his eyes taking another piece of the cake.

"Just the strawberries?" she pushed, noticing the stupid grin that betrayed him.

"And you too." He breathed.

"Oh Johnny…" she sighed biting down her lip. "What was I doing with them?"

"You were…" he started; his face flushing red. "You were feeding them to me."

She smiled brightly. Oh this man was going to be the death of her. She stood up and pushed away the plates. She sat on the table right in front of him, so she could look down at him and grabbed the bowl of strawberries.

"What are you doing?" he asked, though well aware of what she planned.

"Sometimes Johnny…dreams come true." She grinned dipping her fingers into the bowl retreating a strawberry soaked into cream and sugar.

"Oh no…I'm not…you're not…"

"Open up…" she motioned the strawberry to his mouth and he backed away.

"Say ah…" she giggled.

"Gage…"

When it was close to his mouth enough, he finally opened it slightly and accepted her finger and the strawberry into his warm mouth. Her fingers on his lips turned her on immediately; and all the laughter and the giggling died down. The sun was slowly rising before them. She gulped when John sucked gently on her index, she then took another one, then another one; repeating the same action until he was fed up.

In an instant, they had gone from artic Alaska to a torrid desert in Africa. John's miraculous tongue sucked on her finger, and it sent alerts to every part of her brain to react, and fire back. He stood up from his chair and now stood tall before her, his hand holding the one that had been his mouth.

"You're going back to work today right?" she whispered as he topped her.

"Yes."

"How long will you be away?"

"Three weeks." He answered, moving closer to her, and she frowned.

"Will you be there for my exhibition? It's on the 23."

"I'll try as much as I can."

"You have to or else, Nicholas will be only to glad to mark his territory." She giggled but John frowned. He moved between the v of her legs, and leaned down.

"John…" she turned her head to the side avoiding his lips on hers. "It's really taking everything in me not to jump you right now…" she whispered, but he moved his head to make her look at him.

"This is not fair Johnny…you can't do this…" she continued. But he was so determined when he was like that. His face cornered hers and his lips found hers and she caved in.

"You're a selfish man too Johnny…" she murmured, breaking away and looking up at him and he nodded. He nodded. She'd never felt so weak in her entire life. Gage circled his neck with her hands and his pulled her to him, and her legs wrapped around his waist. John offered her a long desperate kiss, with the same intensity as the one in the parking lot last night but this time, she could keep up with him; meet his tongue when it searched hers, her teeth could mirror his when he bit her lower lip.

She turned to ash as his fire burned her. His skin was so warm, so different. John grabbed her braid and pulled it backwards so her face came up, he inclined his head, and his lip grazed her jaw, then her ear then he stopped lower. He made a little suction in the base of her neck, pulling, nibbling and chewing her flesh with exquisite precision. His face was against hers, and the warmth spread to her entire body. His hand held her neck while the other was in her back holding her sturdily to him. She began to breath faster and faster, her chest heaved and she felt weak in her knees and arms.

John's face left her neck, and he held her chin while he kissed her again. Her stomach twisted; knots forming over knots. Something rose in her throat and she felt like screaming to let it out. What was this? Gage pulled back abruptly; pushing John away from her.

"What are you doing?"

"…I don't know…" he shrugged, his hands moving to his head. Gage checked herself up, trying to take deep breaths.

"Did I…Did I hurt you?" he asked with a wary frown.

"No…it's just…I felt strange."

"Strange? Strange bad or strange good?"

"I don't know. I think I didn't digest something correctly." She climbed off the table holding her stomach.

"How did you feel?"

"I don't know exactly. Kind of dizzy, my stomach hurt, and I breathed really hard."

"May be you should see a doctor. How bad was it?"

"Not too much, but I've never felt that before; I could be sick." She walked back inside. The sun had already completely risen.

"Way to break the ambiance sorry…" she murmured.

"No; I'm the one to apologize. I should've exercised some self- control."

"That you should." Gage grinned at John and he smiled back. Her stomach did the unnerving thing again and she frowned.

"I really need to see a doctor." She repeated.

"At what time is Nicholas taking you?" he asked.

"He said a little before lunch time."

"That's early; where is he taking you again?"

"I told you in the text yesterday; get to the point."

"Okay! I'll mind my business; I just want you safe." He shrugged.

"Nicholas is not Hannibal the cannibal. Compared to you…" she smirked. "He exercises some self-control."

"That was a low blow Gage." He snorted.

"I know, but I don't play by the rules." She looked pitifully at him.

"What time are you leaving?" she asked.

"At ten."

"Oh. How is hum…Randall by the way?"

"I don't know, he must be getting ready to leave too."

"Does he…hum talk about me often?"

"Not when I don't ask; which I avoid to do." He sat down on the round couch in the living room.

"Thank you." She smiled. "Most people would've wanted to know what happened between Randall and me."

"I do; but I wanted to hear it from you first." He said, she joined him on the small couch.

"Yeah?" she asked and he nodded. "Well; this your day of luck Johnny. Once upon a time…an artist met a sexy man with tattoos at the bar of the restaurant in which she worked. He checked her out and she checked him; the next day he came back and he waited until the end of her service, and asked her to go for a drink." She started, looking up at the ceiling.

"The girl accepted and later they went to his hotel to…well you know. In the middle of undressing and all that, she stopped and left! End of the story." She chuckled, finally looking down at John.

"That's it?" he asked and she nodded. "Why did you do that? Not that I feel for Randy at all…"

"I'd just ended things with someone else. I didn't have the heart of going through with it. I would've fucked him just to let off steam."

"Someone else?"

"Another married man what do you think?" she snorted.

"The one who did the painting in your room?"

"God! Do you ever forget anything Johnny?" she chuckled remembering the conversation they'd had months ago.

"You seemed to like him a lot. Did you love him?" he asked. She paused for a moment like she was deep thinking.

"…He did a lot for me. He taught me everything I know. If today I'm a successful artist, that I have this big house, it's because of him." She pursed her lips, bringing her knees to her chest.

"He loved me; but not in a way that was acceptable."

"What do you mean?"

"The affairs of the heart are complicated Johnny, and…I didn't love him like he did."

"You talked about your science teacher once…what about him?" he raised his eyebrows Gage turned smiling maliciously.

"So eager to know everything Johnny. I'll tell you when the time is right." She smirked. John smiled widely too; and his beautiful one-sided dimple showed; and her heart leaped. He looked down at his watch, and it was her cue he was leaving. He looked up at her and she nodded.

"Thank you for everything. I had a very pleasant morning." He said.

"I did too Johnny." She sighed as they rose from the couch and walked to the door.

"Be safe and come back soon." She smiled.

"I promise I will." He leaned down, but this time he grabbed her and pulled her into a full bear hug. Gage was struck; dumb founded by the affective gesture. She'd never really had hugs in her life; instinctively, she circled him with her arms and held him tight too.

Her stomach turned again, and her body began the unnerving earthquake. John released her finally and left a small peck on her forehead. He partly released her, but she grabbed his neck and pulled him into a kiss once more. It was an intense quick kiss; meant to tell him goodbye, and thank you.

He gave her another all teeth showing, Colgate smile of his before walking out. She locked the door behind him and the air became cold again. Thirty minutes later, her phone buzzed and she smiled at the text. Reading through it, she smiled, and a little warm tear escaped her eye.

8: 10 a.m.

(I'm slowing down on pancakes now. I'll call you when I get to Connecticut. You are a fine cook Miss J. & a fine woman too. You should give yourself more credit; ttyl. JC.)