Dear Readers, sorry for the delay in posting. I had Baby #5 (Caleb Michael) in September, and as most of you now know, I can't write when I am pregnant, because there is something about looking at a computer/phone screen that makes me sick.
Also, I forgot to invite Courtney to the reception in Chapter 50, so I changed just a smidge to show that she was indeed invited at some point and did RSVP for it.
Anyway, that's all I have for now. As always, happy reading.
Dressed in a simple burgundy gown, Eleanor stood in the foyer waiting to greet the few guests that had been invited to Michael and Karen's wedding celebration.
"Mother, are you certain you're feeling up to this?" Nathiel asked, his brows knit with concern. "Patrick is more than capable of seeing to the guests. From what I understand, you have been busy all morning helping with last minute preparations."
"You needn't worry about me, Son," Eleanor assured him. "I am currently feeling quite well."
"No doubt due to all the liquor you've been drinking," he retorted.
"How I chose to deal with my pain is nobody's business but my own," Eleanor tersely countered.
"Mother, if you would just seek medical treatment -"
"Nathaniel, enough," she snapped, her patience now gone. 'We have already discussed this, and my decision is not going to change, no matter how much you may wish otherwise. Now, please join the others in the ballroom. I will be there shortly."
"Yes, Mother," Nathaniel relented.
Eleanor watched her son saunter down the hallway until he turned a corner and disappeared from sight. She felt a little bit guilty for choosing to be with his father over him, but no one knew how much she yearned to be united with her one true love.
After years of being separated from him, the wait was almost over. Almost. For her family's sake, Eleanor would fight to survive through the holidays, but even then, she would not make any promises to anyone. Her will to continue living with the pain of cancer was beginning to dwindle, especially since Michael and Karen were now wed. She had helped them as much as she was able, thus completing the mission Fate had bestowed upon her. Sooner rather than later death would be her recompense. She wallowed in that knowledge.
The ring of the doorbell broke Eleanor's thoughts. She stood regally to receive the first guest, momentarily putting aside her pain.
Patrick allowed a pretty brunette entry into the mansion. He promptly assisted the young woman with her coat and wedding present. Underneath her coat she wore a sleeveless amber party dress, which perfectly flattered her body. Patrick clearly thought so, too, because Eleanor caught him briefly glancing at more than just her face. Instead of reprimanding him, she let him be, knowing that it had been a long while since he had looked upon a woman in such a way.
In the meantime, Eleanor greeted the brunette with a warm smile. "Hello, you must be Courtney, who works at Big Ed's."
"Yes, ma'am," the young woman politely answered.
Eleanor cringed slightly at being addressed so properly. "Oh, no, not ma'am," she firmly insisted. "That makes me sound so old. Please, call me Eleanor. Unlike some, I do not stand on formalities."
"Yes, ma'am - I mean, Eleanor," Courtney hastily corrected. She glanced around at her surroundings in awe. "You have a very beautiful house."
"Thank you, but I cannot take credit for it. This house belongs to my son and daughter-in-law. Patrick will take you to meet them right now."
Courtney eyed the middle-aged butler with obvious interest as well. "Okay, sure," she said. A small smile tugged at her lips as she obediently followed him out out of the foyer.
When he returned, Patrick appeared a bit flushed in the face. Eleanor chuckled, amused by his blatant desire for the attractive college-aged waitress. "I was wondering when Cupid's arrow would finally strike you, Patrick."
"Nonsense, Eleanor," he rebuffed. "Miss Mayfield is cute, I admit, but a tad too young for me."
"Funny, age hasn't stopped anyone in this house from pursuing relationships with each other. I see no reason why you should be any different."
The color in Patrick's cheek's deepened. "I suppose I hold myself to higher standards. Robbing cradles is not my style."
"Well, perhaps it should be," Eleanor suggested with a playful wink.
The doorbell sounded again, saving the poor butler from further embarrassment. "Thank god," he muttered under his breath as he opened the door.
A couple clad in modest clothing entered the mansion. Eleanor sensed their discomfort right away. They obviously were not accustomed to being invited to high societal events, though Michael's and Karen wedding reception was anything but. It was simply meant to be an intimate celebration among family and friends. Nothing more.
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Davis," the woman said, trying to put the husband and wife at ease. "I'm so glad you two could come today."
William quickly cleared his throat. "Thank you, Mrs. Helms. I'm afraid we can't stay too long, but we wanted to show our support to the newlyweds. We owe them that much, especially Karen. What she did has helped us through the grieving process."
Eleanor solemnly nodded. "I'm sure it has."
"All right, you two, that's enough," Jessica lightly scolded "Bill, you and I came here to celebrate a marriage, not lament our daughter's death."
"Yes, of course, Jess," William agreed. "He turned his attention back to Eleanor. "So, where's the party?"
"Patrick will show you the way," the woman replied.
A few minutes after the trio left the foyer, Michael and Karen appeared on the landing of the main staircase. They were truly a sight to behold. Thankfully, Markus had showed up just in time with his camera. He busily snapped pictures of the elegant couple as they descended the stairs. Once they reached the floor, Eleanor drew Karen into a tight embrace. "You look simply ravishing, dear."
"Thank you."
Eleanor caught Michael's gaze but it wasn't the killer who she saw. It was Victor. Her Victor. She'd recognize him anywhere.
"Eleanor, are you all right?" Karen gently asked.
The woman suddenly blinked, clearing her vision. Michael's familiar face came back into focus, and it left her feeling a bit disheartened. To her surprise, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lowered his mouth to her temple, feigning a kiss.
"Soon," he breathed against her hairline.
"Yes," she uttered just as quietly.
They shared a brief knowingly look before the Boogeyman withdrew from the dying woman. Then, he took his bride's hand, firmly griping it within his. She could see exactly what he wanted in his dark eyes.
"I will announce your arrival in ten minutes," Eleanor told him.
The killer offered her a brisk nod, clearly undaunted by the short timeframe he was being forced to work with.
"Come with me, Markus," Eleanor commanded next. "You can take some pictures of the guests while we wait."
Once they were alone, Mitchell pushed Karen down onto the stairs and hungrily ravished her mouth. Within seconds his pants were down, her gown was up, and her panties were bunched to the side. Without warning, he thrust into her so hard and went so deep that it actually stole her breath away.
Mitchell was a conflict of emotions, which Karen suspected was the reason behind this unexpected tryst. She was unable to single out a specific feeling, but his desire for her was fierce and raw. There was no way she could match it, so she didn't even try.
After only a few strong strokes, Mitchell was pumping his seed into Karen's body. This was the first time she had failed to come during sex with him, and it left her feeling quite deflated. Not only that, but he hadn't waited for her to give her consent either. He had just taken her like David Miller always had.
Karen fought hard to keep her own rampant emotions under control. There were guests waiting for her and Mitchell in the ballroom. She couldn't fall apart now.
By the time her husband finished coming, Karen was trembling underneath him. Unlike all the other times, though, it was not from glorious afterglow. However, she intended to play it off as if it was in order to avoid an awkward situation. She only hoped he had been too absorbed in his pleasure to have felt the difference within her. In this instance, she hated that their souls were connected. It made deceiving him that much more difficult.
Mitchell gave Karen one last kiss before standing to zip up his pants. She also rose to her feet. Her hands shook as she adjusted all the layers of her gown to make herself more presentable. When she straightened, she found her husband's dark eyes boring into her. She hastily clasped her trembling hands behind her back, hiding them from view.
"I probably look pretty disheveled, huh?" Karen asked. She managed to keep her tone light, but her mouth felt extremely dry. "I think I'll take a few minutes to freshen up. I'm sure Eleanor will understand."
"Karen, wait. Please."
The earnestness in Mitchell's voice gave her pause.
"I know I hurt you,* he said, "and I am very sorry. I never should have touched you under those circumstances. I wasn't in my right mind."
Karen was able to feel the sincerity in her husband's words, and it helped ease the pain his actions had caused. "Thank you, Mitchell, but it's fine. Really. I mean, how many times have you given me the same release when I've needed it? Quite a few, if I recall correctly - sometimes even your own expense."
Mitchell's expression hardened. "There is a big difference between taking and giving, Karen, as you are well aware. What I did to you makes me no better than your father."
"You're wrong, Mitchell," she sternly objected. "You are nothing like my father. You apologized to me. He never will."
The killer cocked his head at the teenager. "Does that mean you forgive me?"
"Yes, of course, I forgive you, Mitchell," she assured him. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Karen. So very much."
Mitchell opened his arms to her, and she willingly stepped into them. Karen's heart fluttered as they closed in around her.
"I'll make this up to you, sweetness," he promised against her lips.
"You'd better," she muttered back.
The newlyweds then shared a soft tender kiss, the complete opposite of the ones prior.
"We should go," Karen said when they broke apart at last.
"You might want to fix your lipstick first," Mitchell suggested with a faint smirk.
"Okay," she relented. "I'll be right back."
Eleanor checked the time on her dainty gold wristwatch. She had said ten minutes nearly twenty minutes ago. Finally, the bride and groom appeared in the doorway. She instantly sensed that something had happened between them - something that had driven them apart before bringing them back together. She assumed the couple had engaged in intercourse, which was why she had left them alone in the first place. Had Michael actually done something to harm his soulmate? Eleanor didn't wish to speculate, but if that was indeed the case, she was very pleased that the newlyweds had been able to make amends before their reception. That in itself said a lot about their love for each other.
"All set?" she simply asked. She knew when to pry and when not to, and this was definitely not the time or the place to bring up such a subject.
"Yes," Michael answered.
"Very good." Eleanor turned to the gathering of the couple's closest friends.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and happy privilege to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and Karen Martin! Let us welcome them with a round of applause!"
Everyone in attendance either clapped, cheered, or whistled when the bride and groom entered the ballroom, which had been transformed into an enchanted forest for the evening. Tall artificial trees lined the room's perimeter. Their branches extended towards the center of the room, creating a canopy for the guests to eat and dance under. Strings of white lights and crystals dangled from the trees' branches, making the trees look like magical weeping willows. The ceiling was concealed behind yards of navy silk with thousands of tiny holes cut out of it to mimic the night sky. It added to the romantic ambiance that Karen had wanted to create.
"Oh," the teenager breathed. She wandered beneath the lit canopy. While she was busy admiring the decor, everyone else was admiring her.
"Does she even know how beautiful she is?" Eleanor whispered to Michael.
He shook his head. "No, not really. It's part of her charm." He sighed softly. "But, I'd better join her before she becomes aware of all the attention she's receiving. Excuse me, Eleanor." He stode to his wife's side. A few moments later they both moved to mingle with their guests. Eleanor remained within ear-shot.
"Mr. and Mrs. Davis!" Karen gasped, clearly surprised to see Bonnie's parents in attendance.
Jessica embraced the teenager as William shook Michael's hand.
"Its's so good to see you both, again," Jessica said. "Congratulations on your marriage. You two make a very handsome couple."
"Thank you," replied Karen. "And thanks for coming. Mitchell and I really appreciate you being here."
"Of course. William and I wouldn't miss this celebration. We're so excited for you. With everything you've been through, you deserve to be happy."
Karen smiled at Jessica. "I am happy," she said. "Very happy."
Mitchell bent over and kissed her crown through her translucent veil.
Just then Courtney bounded up to the small group. "Congratulations," she cheerfully voiced to the bride and groom.
"Courtney, hi," Karen responded. The young women shared a quick friendly hug.
Courtney turned to Michael. "Mitchell, may I steal your wife just for a few minutes?
"Yes, go ahead," he consented.
"Thank you."
The two girls moved to stand next to a tree not too far from Eleanor.
"So, tell me about Patrick," Courtney lowly commanded.
"Patrick?" Karen repeated, appearing quite stunned by the name.
"Yeah, Patrick," Courtney confirmed, albeit a little impatiently. "What do you know about him?"
"Honestly, I don't know Patrick as well as I should," Karen freely admitted. "I've been so caught up in my own drama that I haven't taken the time to befriend too many people, yet. Patrick does support my relationship with Mitchell, though, so in that regard, he has earned my trust."
Courtney's brows furrowed. "What's wrong with Mitchell? From what I've seen, he seems like a really good guy, and he's obviously crazy about you…"
"It's a long involved story," Karen truthfully answered. "Mitchell is a very complicated man, but, yes, if there's one thing no one should ever doubt about him it's his undying love for me. And, trust me, I love him just as much."
"Right," Courtney said. "So going back to Patrick -"
"Patrick?" Dawn snickered as she invited herself into the private conversation.
"Yes, Patrick, " Courtney reiterated. "Do you have something against him?"
The blonde teenager shrugged. "No, I guess not. I mean, he's nice and has a good heart, but, well, he's also kind of old, don't you think?"
Courtney crossed her arms in front of her chest. "As if you have any room to talk," she snapped. "Your boyfriend isn't exactly young, you know."
"Mark may be a lot older than me, but he's at least still in his early thirties," Dawn said. "Patrick has to be, what, nearing fifty?"
"Well, I happen to find him really attractive," Courtney proclaimed.
"Fine, whatever makes you happy," Dawn conceded.
"Thank you." Courtney faced Karen. "So, Is he with anybody?"
The bride shook her head. "No, I don't believe so. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him with any woman since I've come to live here."
Courtney leaned in closer to her two companions and dropped her voice even further Eleanor had to strain to hear her next question. "He's not gay, is he?"
All right, it was time to intervene. Eleanor purposefully approached the trio "No, I assure you he is not," she tersely uttered. "Don't you three start gossiping now. It's quite unbecoming."
"We weren't gossiping," Dawn disputed.
"It was my fault," said Courtney. "I was the one who was wondering about Patrick's love life."
"Yes, I know," Eleanor told her. "Patrick has dated a few women, but for one reason or another it just never worked out. A couple of years ago he gave up the dating scene altogether.i think he's resigned himself to the belief that he will never find true love."
"That's so sad," Courtney said.
Eleanor softly cleared her throat. "Yes, well, I think it's quite possible that he could be convinced otherwise."
Courtney's expression instantly brightened. "Really?"
The older woman nodded. "But you didn't hear it from me, and it will have to wait until after dinner and the first dance." She eyed Karen. "Are you and Mitchell ready to eat?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Good. I will tell the caterers that they can start bringing in the food. Meanwhile, you and Mitchell may take a seat at the sweetheart's table. I didn't bother making seating arrangements for anyone else. I figured people could just sit at whichever table they wanted."
"Perfect," said Karen. "I will fetch my husband."
Mitchell could not keep his eyes off of his bride as they ate their meal together. Her beauty completely captivated him. In his opinion, she looked more gorgeous now than she did on their wedding day, which, at the time, he would have thought impossible.
"Mitchell, will you please stop looking at me like that?" Karen pleaded. "You're making me blush."
"Among other things, I am sure," he boldly assumed.
"Mitchell!" she hissed.
The killer chuckled, amused by his ability to rile up his soulmate.
"It's not funny," she griped.
Mitchell leaned over and pressed his lips to Karen's ear. "You're really sexy when you get angry."
Her dark eyes flashed at him. "Stop," she muttered.
"Stop what?" Mitchell innocently asked.
"Don't play dumb, Mr. Martin," she snapped. "You know exactly what you're doing to me."
"Do I?"
Karen attempted to angle her head away from him, but Mitchell raised a hand to her face preventing her retreat. He tenderly caressed her cheek while gently nipping her earlobe.
"You're trying to seduce me," she murmured.
"Is it working?" he whispered back. "Do you want me?"
"Yes," she breathed.
"Then leave," he secretly ordered. "I will find you."
Karen nodded. She then rose from their table and walked out of the ballroom. For personal reasons, Mitchell was forced to wait a few extra minutes before joining her. It worked to his advantage, though, because in the meantime, Dawn became worried for her friend.
"Is Karen all right?* she asked from her seat off to his left.
The killer pursed his lips together, feigning concern at his wife's conspicuous absence. "I'm not sure," he said. "I should probably go check on her."
"Don't be gone too long," Eleanor cautioned. "It's almost time for cake and the first dance."
Mitchell simply nodded and left to find Karen. She was in their suite, already laying half-naked on their bed. He undressed from the waist down and crawled between her parted legs. She was definitely prepared for him this time. He hungrily devoured her mouth as he slid into her hot slick folds.
No matter how many times they had sex, being inside of his soulmate always felt so damn good. The bond they shared was extremely special and deserved to be treated with respect. Mitchell had misused its purpose during their last coupling by not asking for her consent beforehand. He vowed that would never happen again, no matter the circumstances involved.
Bring around the dying Eleanor had triggered the killer's boogeyman instincts to the point of needing an outlet for release. He had unwisely used Karen to fulfill that yearning. Although unintentional, he had violated her by taking what he wanted without giving her anything in return. Well, not this time. Mitchell made certain that his wife climaxed before coming hard himself.
Afterwards, he propped himself up on his elbows and stared deeply into her soulful brown eyes. "Better?" he asked, though the answer was evident in her placid demeanor.
"Much," she confirmed, "but I'm sure we've been missed downstairs."
"Undoubtedly so." Mitchell sat up and adjusted his slacks. Then, he helped Karen off the bed and with her gown. She quickly dashed the vanity to reapply her maroon lipstick.
"They say the third time's the charm," she teased, catching his gaze in the looking-glass, "so mind your lips, Mr. Martin."
"Or what?" he playfully challenged.
"Or no sex until Halloween," she blurted out.
Mitchell chortled. "Come now, sweetness, we both know that's an idle threat, but if you truly believe you can hold out that long, then I will humor you. However, if you think your desire for me was bad before our wedding, I promise you will suffer tenfold over the next two weeks. Are you really prepared to endure such torture?"
Karen smirked at him. "You know I'm not."
Mitchell approached her chair and planted a firm kiss on her crown. "That's good to hear, because there's no way I could last until Halloween either. I don't currently possess that kind of willpower."
His wife instantly turned solemn, obviously recalling what had happened between them earlier.
"Karen, I won't hurt you like that ever again. I promise."
"Yeah, I know."
Karen's words, however, did not match her expression or her emotions. For the first time, Mitchell felt a shadow of distrust towards him that had never been present in her soul before. He hated it for being there, but what he hated more was that he could only blame himself for its creation. And he knew that no matter what he would say or do, it would always lurk within her.
"I'm sorry," the killer muttered, mostly to himself.
Karen reached for his hand and brought it to her lips. "Let's go back to our reception," she gently said.
"Yes," he agreed. Together, they left for the ballroom.
Michael and Karen returned to the ballroom just as their white and navy wedding cake was being rolled out. Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief, yet the tension between the newly married couple was palpable, at least to her. She wished she could fix whatever was ailing them.
As they cordially cut a slice of cake and politely fed it to each other, Dawn stepped close to Eleanor and uttered, "What's wrong with them?"
"I don't know. Something happened between them before the reception. I thought they had worked out their differences, but clearly I was mistaken."
"It must have been something pretty bad to cause them to act like this."
Eleanor soberly nodded. "Yes, that is my fear, too."
"Let's see if I can change the mood." Dawn grabbed a champagne tulip glass from a nearby table and softly tapped it with the edge of a knife. The irony was not lost on Eleanor.
The bride and groom submitted to the wedding tradition and shared a chaste kiss that failed to exemplify their profound love and passion for each other.
Dawn shook her head in disapproval. "Oh, come on, you two. We all know you can do better than that…"
At first it looked as though Michael and Karen were not going to rise to the occasion, but then the teenager stood on her toes and covered the killer's mouth with hers. It only took a moment for him to respond. He returned her kiss with such fierceness that by the time they separated, she was flushed and fighting for breath.
"Wow, okay, that was hot," Dawn stated, echoing Eleanor's thoughts precisely.
Nathaniel stepped forward. "Yes, well, I think it's time for the first dance."
Mitchsell guided Karen to the center of the dance floor underneath the canopy of tree branches and white lights. When The Power of Love by Celine Dion began playing, the conflict between the newlyweds immediately melted away as though it never existed. They danced in perfect harmony with each other. Their graceful and sensual movements bewitched everyone in the room, including Eleanor.
The two soulmates concluded their routine with a long affectionate kiss. The applause that followed was loud and completely justified. Michael and Karen bowed and curtseyed respectively and then welcomed their guests to join them on the dance floor.
Eleanor waited until Karen was happily dancing with Derek to approach Michael. He regarded her with an air of wariness. "Do you wish to talk?" she asked.
His sepia eyes strayed to his life partner. "I hurt her, Eleanor, in a manner I never should have," he disclosed. "I lost credibility with her, and now out bond is forever tainted because of it. She will never fully trust me, again."
Eleanor gaped at the killer, utterly astounded by what he had just revealed to her. "You, Michael!" she finally gasped. "How can this be? You were supposed to be the one person she could trust to never harm her."
A shadow of deep remorse passed over Michael's handsome features. "I know."
"Did you rape her?" Eleanor wondered quietly.
He didn't respond for a long moment. At last he said, "Eleanor, I took Karen in such a frenzy that I didn't give her the chance to consent to it. I was so lost in my desire for her that I failed to consider her feelings and needs. Because of that, she did not find any pleasure in our copulation."
Eleanor frowned. "But Karen didn't fight you."
"No, though I wish she would have. Surrendering to me did nothing but cause her pain." Michael's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't she stop me, Eleanor?"
"Perhaps she didn't think she could," Eleanor speculated.
The killer scoffed. "She's the only one who can," he disputed.
"Yes, but does she know that?"
"Of course she does. She knows that being my soulmate means that she is also my equal."
"Does she? Does she really?" Eleanor implored. When Michael didn't respond, she said, "It's easy to assume that she should know that, Michael, but her father has conditioned her mind to think otherwise. Although she has grown in a lot of ways over the last few months, Karen still has a victim's mentality, especially when it involves sex."
"All she had to do was say no," Michael griped with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Well, it could be she didn't think saying no would be enough to stop you." Eleanor pinned him under an intense stare. "Would it have been enough, Michael?"
Again, no answer.
"Has she ever fought you before?"
The killer gradually nodded. "Once."
"And?"
"And I overpowered her," he said, "but that was before her full transformation. She would be able to best me now."
"Then, show her that, Michael," urged Eleanor. "Until she learns that she can hold her own against you, she won't know what she has truly become and will never gain the confidence to stand up to you or her father when the situation warrants it."
Michael remained silent, his gaze locked onto Karen, who was now being twirled around the dance floor by Markus.
"That should be you,," Eleanor blatanly told him.
"Yes, it should be," he agreed. "Excuse me, Eleanor."
"Of course, Michael," she said. "Have fun."
Mitchell purposefully approached Markus and tapped him firmly on the shoulder to get his attention. "I'd like to dance with my wife now," he simply stated.
Markus wisely bowed out, letting the killer reclaim his partner. He captured her hand and led her into a slow dance.
"Did you have a nice talk with Eleanor?" she asked.
"It was productive," he mildly replied.
Karen invaded Mitchell's dance space to rest her head on his chest just below his chin. "She likes to pry."
"True, but her heart is in the right place."
"Yeah, it is."
Mitchell tenderly stroked his soulmate's back. "So, are you having a good time?"
"I am, thank you," she said. "Are you?"
"Social events are not really my thing," Mitchell quietly confessed. "Truthfully, I'd rather be somewhere private eating your delectable pussy. That's a far better dessert than mundane wedding cake."
Karen's body instantly warmed against his, telling him he had succeeded in turning her on.
"Hmm, you look quite flushed, sweetness," Mitchell lowly noted. "Perhaps you'd like some fresh air...?"
At her nod, he guided his wife out of the ballroom. From there, he teleported her to the back patio for privacy. He encouraged her to sit on a concrete bench while he dropped to his knees in front of her. "Don't hold back," he requested.
"I won't," she promised.
Mitchell raised Karen's gown and was immediately enamored by her sweet aroma. His mouth went straight to work, sampling her delicious nectar. He knew he shouldn't keep stealing her from their reception, but his desire for her was impossible to control. He loved her. Every last inch of her. Inside and out.
Karen wove her fingers through the killer's hair as juices poured out of her body. He delved deeper, wanting to taste it all. He was greedy like that.
After awhile, Mitchell backed away from his quivering soulmate. He sat down beside her and draped an arm over her trembling shoulders. "The next two weeks are going to be pure Hell," he groaned.
"Yeah, they are," she said, "but after Halloween, things should start to cool down between us, don't you think? I mean, I know I'm supposed to be a horny teenager, but this is getting a little excessive."
Mitchell chuckled; he couldn't help it. "I agree, sweetness. Wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, though, I believe it's going to get worse before it gets better."
"But it should get better, right?" Karen asked in earnest.
He nodded. "Yes, sweetness, I'm expecting it will."
"Good, because this constant need for sex is driving me absolutely crazy."
"I know. I feel the same way."
Karen cupped Mitchell's in her hands and kissed him hard, passionately. As they made out, she moved to straddle his lap. He unfastened his pants, allowing her to sink down on his throbbing erection.
Their sexual interlude didn't last long, but it was enough to sate them, temporarily. They rejoined the party just in time to say good-bye to the Davises.
"Thanks so much for coming," said Karen. "It was great to see you, again."
"Jess and I wish we could stay longer," William said, "but we have to get up before dawn to care for the farm, and without Bonnie to help...well, it just makes it that much harder."
The amount of guilt and anger that radiated from his wife by the mere mention of Bonnie's name surprised Mitchell. He had no doubt she would avenge Bonnie's death. It was just a question of when and how.
"Once things settle down here, I'd be happy to help," she offered, shocking everyone, including Mitchell.
"Karen, you don't have to -"
"I know," she quickly interrupted, her anger diminishing. "I want to."
"Well, you know where we live," William said. "Come over anytime, and we'll put you to work."
'Deal," Karen replied with a genuine smile. Then, she turned to Mitchell, her smile faltering. "That's okay, isn't it?"
"Yes, of course," he assured her. It was obvious that without schoolwork to keep her occupied, she needed another outlet to fill that void. Another outlet other than sex. "Having a job will be good for you."
Karen's dark eyes lit up with excitement. "I think so, too."
"Mitchell, you're also welcome at our house," Jessica added.
"Thank you," he said. "I appreciate that."
"We'll see you both later, then," Wiiliam kindly said. He claimed his wife's arm and ushered her out of the ballroom.
Karen returned to dancing with her girlfriends. Dawn and Courtney took it upon themselves to teach his sheltered wife some of the trendier dance moves that would be done at school dances or in night clubs. Per usual, she was a quick study. Dancing just came naturally to her, which was why he wished to continue their lessons. It also gave them the chance to be intimate with each other without having sex.
Markus stopped to stand a few feet away from Mitchell. The former's eyes darted from Dawn to Courtney before finally settling on Karen.
"Will you stop ogling my wife?" Mitchell flippantly asked.
"Hey, Dawn's dancing, too," Markus replied in his defense.
"True, but she is not the one you are currently watching."
"Sorry, Mitchell, I meant no disrespect. It's just so hard not to look at her." Markus shifted slightly on his feet. "You know, I hate to say this, but Karen's father actually did you a favor by keeping her under lock and key. If she had been allowed to go out clubbing and such, she would have attracted a lot of attention."
"Yes, in that regard, David's desire to protect her was completely justifiable," Mitchell agreed. "However, his motive behind it certainly was not. He deserves whatever fate Karen decides to give him."
"I would presume death," Markus bluntly stated.
"We shall see."
Karen suddenly met Mitchell's gaze. She wandered over to him with her friends in tow. "You two look so serious," she observed.
"Yeah," said Dawn. "You'd think watching us dance would have put them in better spirits."
"It did," Markus assured her. "The three of you looked really sexy."
Dawn and Courtney snickered at the candid compliment while Karen's cheeks flushed bright pink. In the meantime, Mitchell elbowed Markus none too gently in the ribs.
"Ow," Markus complained, rubbing the affected area.
"Mind yourself," the killer lowly warned. "That's my wife you're speaking about."
"Relax, Mitchell; it's fine," Karen lightly scolded. "There's no need to crack Mark's ribs over an innocent compliment."
"Hey, at least you have a man willing to fight for your virtue," Courtney said in a slightly raised voice as she stole a glance in Patrick's direction. He took the bait and walked over to her.
"Would you care to get a glass of punch with me?" he cordially asked.
"Thank you, Patrick. I'd love to." Courtney smiled at Mitchell and Karen. "Would you please excuse us?"
"Of course," Karen answered on their behalf.
As Patrick and Courtney wandered off, Dawn's parents approached the small group.
"Well, guys, I think it's about that time," Derek said. "Dawn, you have school tomorrow, and Mitchell and Karen have a honeymoon to plan."
Even though the cop had spoken the truth, Karen's face still fell. He and Johanna were Karen's family, and parting with them was always difficult for her.
Derek sighed and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Listen, kiddo, I told David that Dawn's great aunt is dying and that she decided to stay in Waukegan to help out her aunt and uncle, which he can easily confirm, if he hasn't already. That means we can visit more often, and I promise we will, all right? But if you need us for any reason in the meantime, please don't hesitate to call. You know we'll always be there for you." He kissed her temple. "We love you, Karen. So much."
"I know," she said. "I love you, too."
Derek released Karen and shook the killer's hand. "It was good to see you, again, too, Mitchell."
"You also," he replied, and he meant it. He appreciated Dawn's parents, a lot. They were good people.
He and Karen stepped away, allowing Derek and Johanna to say a proper farewell to Dawn, Markus, and the Helms. Patrick left Courtney's side to tend to the Johnsons.
The waitress strolled over to the newlyweds and said, "I should really get going, too. I have two classes in the morning and a shift at Big Ed's tomorrow evening, but this was really fun. Thanks for inviting me."
"You're welcome," Karen said. "We'll definitely have to hang out more often."
"Yeah, for sure. Just let me know when."
"I will."
When Courtney left the ballroom, Karen went to speak with the Helms. "Nathaniel, Rebekah, I can't thank you enough for letting us have our reception here," she graciously said.
"You're welcome," Nathaniel said. "I'm sure you're ready to call it a night, too."
"Yes. It's been a busy few days, and Mitchell and I still have to pack for our honeymoon."
"You were given a few gifts," Rebekah added. "I had Patrick put them in your room already."
"Thank you," Karen replied. "Have a good night."
"You, too. We'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, Eleanor," Karen said as she gave the woman a final hug.
"Good night, dear. Pleasant dreams. You also, Mitchell."
He nodded and then escorted his wife directly to their private quarters. She was fatigued and needed time to wind down after their busy weekend. Hell, the past few weeks had been laden with nothing but drama, and, unfortunately, there was still a lot more to come. He wished he could give Karen a reprieve from it all, but he knew it would be awhile yet before that would happen.
Karen sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at him expectantly. "So, what do you want to do?" she asked.
"Do?" he repeated, confused.
"Yeah, you know, for your birthday," she clarified.
"Oh, that."
"Yes, that," she smirked.
Mitchell sat down next to Karen and caressed the side of her neck with his lips. When she leaned into him, he deepened his kisses, suckling and affectionately biting her tender skin.
"Mitchell, stop," she moaned. "You're going to leave marks."
"Which will be gone by morning," he gruffly reminded her.
"Mmm, yeah...I forgot…"
Mitchell unzipped the back of his partner's dress. She carefully freed her arms from its organa sleeves and allowed its organza and satin bodice to pool around her waist. He suckled his way down to the swell of her breasts, making sure to leave a noticeable trail along the way. He impatiently yanked her bra down so that he could lick and bite her hard nipples.
Meanwhile, Karen helped Mitchell out of his indigo suit coat and crisp white dress shirt. "I want to feel your skin against mine," she murmured.
Good. He wanted that, too.
Mitchell intended to make sweet love to his wife, but the moment her hand gripped his erection, all coherent thought left his mind. Before he knew it, their wedding clothes were strewn all over the floor, and she was sprawled underneath him as he slid his sex in and out of her at a frantic pace. She cried out her release, but it wasn't enough to satisfy him. He yearned for so much more from her - more than what she was capable of giving him at the moment he realized.
Out of necessity, Mitchell ejaculated inside of Karen before he was truly ready to keep himself from hurting her, again. He had to rebuild her trust in him, because come Halloween, he would need it all.
"Mitchell, you didn't have to -"
"Yes, I did," he sternly interrupted. "I was not lying when I said that my desire for you is getting harder for me to control."
Karen sighed deeply as her dark eyes searched his. "What can I do to help?"
"Learn to fight me," Mitchell plainly told her. "If I can trust that you will stop me before I hurt you, then I will feel comfortable pushing you more."
"Do you want to hurt me?" Karen asked, quietly.
"Yes," he honestly answered. "That's the problem, sweetness. You are my soulmate; therefore, I can push your limits beyond those of what others can endure. And that excites me."
"Oh," his wife muttered. Then, her eyes widened in understanding. "Oooh!" she gasped. "No. No way. Absolutely not."
"Karen -"
"You want to kill me!" she shrieked.
"I can't kill you," Mitchell calmly replied.
"Yeah, but you want to try." Karen sat up slightly and said, "I've been stabbed before, remember? - and it didn't feel exactly pleasant."
"I know, but the pain you experienced then will be different from the pain you will experience with me."
"Oh, yeah? How can you be so sure?"
The killer smirked at his soulmate. "Because you are different, Karen. You're like me now - but stronger."
"You keep saying that…" she muttered.
"Only because it's true," he insisted. "It's your own insecurities that are hindering you from taking that last step, sweetness. I've helped you as much I can."
Karen leaned back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I know."
Mitchell slipped out of her and left the bed to use the bathroom. When he returned, he found his wife laying underneath the sheets on her side, facing away from him. Her mood was solemn - dark - and he did not like it. Not one bit. "I'm not angry," he said, attempting to comfort her.
"No, you're disappointed," she dully responded, "and that's far worse."
"Karen, I'm not -"
"Yes, you are," she disputed. "I can feel it."
The teenager was close to tears; Mitchell could hear it in her voice. Her crying was definitely not the way he wanted their wedding weekend and his birthday to end. He hastily joined her in bed. He then reached for her, trying to coax her into his arms. "Sweetness, please…?"
She relented and turned into his side. To calm her, he began removing the pins from her hair. His strategy worked. Her mood lifted significantly, proving that her love for him was too great to be suppressed by other emotions. His love for her, though, was just as powerful. "Karen…?"
"Yes," she consented while already slipping a leg over his hip.
Mitchell succeeded in making love to her slowly, showing her exactly how deeply he cared for her. When they finished, he enfolded her in his arms and lightly stroked her hair. "Good night, Karen. I love you," he said, his tone tender.
She snuggled further into him. "I love you, too, Mitchell. See you in the morning."