Not 100% happy with this chapter, but here you go...thank you to those that have followed, favourited and commented xx


He could smell the stale popcorn and nail polish fumes from outside the house.

He'd turned his bike off up the hill and coasted the rest of the way until he heard her heartbeat pound in his head and stopped outside the house.

Every person's heartbeat was unique, like a fingerprint, and hers was like a beautiful symphony, he'd recognise it anywhere now.

Quickly casting a glance to his left and right, checking to make sure the dark street was deserted, he leapt effortlessly from the front lawn up to the porch roof, crouching down and silently stalking his way to the open window.

Her sweet, intoxicating scent was almost overpowering as it wafted toward him on the breeze, and Marko instinctually licked his lips and his throat ached, he swallowed hard as he leaned against the windowsill and peered into the bedroom.

Her honey-brown hair fanned out in luxurious waves over her pillow exposing her pretty, delicate neck, her thick eyelashes brushed softly against her flushed cheek and her full, pink lips parted ever so slightly as she breathed deeply in heavy sleep.

Marko gripped the windowsill harder in restraint as he became hypnotised by the way her chest rose and fell in time with the throbbing in his head, his throat ached painfully, and he could feel the darkness swell hotly inside him. Marko bit his bottom lip, swallowing against his thick, aching throat, his body tingling in anticipation.

Breathing deeply, trying to muster as much self-control as he could he released the windowsill, now splintered under his grip and looked around the large bedroom, though only illuminated by the moonlight shining high in the midnight sky, he saw in perfect clarity every small item in the room…

The stitching on her large suitcase, half unpacked and left discarded next to the wardrobe, the individual zipper teeth on her small make up case open on the dresser, every spoke of her hairbrush along with a few long strands of silken, golden hair, the fine fibres of her sweater hanging off the armchair, the small, gold heart shaped pendant hanging from a hook near the mirror with "D+B" sloppily engraved on it, the delicate lace of her pale pink bra hanging from the bathroom door handle.

Marko swallowed thickly.

A red mist clouded his vision as he tried to focus on the date on her airline ticket on her nightstand and not her sleepy head as it rolled softly against her pillow.

David's name escaped her soft lips in the quietest of whispers.

Feeling as though a bucket of ice water had suddenly been injected into his dry veins, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and deftly dropped to the ground, his boots crunching the parched, yellow grass underfoot as he headed for his bike. His mission from David now accomplished, he'd checked out her surroundings, gauged how long she'd be in town for and now he could go home and try to forget the feel of her heartbeat pumping through his body.

He couldn't do this again.

Not if he wasn't allowed to have her

And he wasn't allowed.

She was David's.


David chain smoked a whole pack of cigarettes as he waited for Marko to return.

Dwayne and Paul had grown tired of David's dark mood and headed off to the beach for the last few hours before they had to return to the hotel, surf boards balanced on top of their heads, Paul saying something about watching Jaws the other night and wanting to go night surfing.

David lit another cigarette as he watched the candles slowly burn down and rubbed his middle finger and thumb over his brow in frustration, now alone he didn't have to hide how truly pissed he was.

Paul just couldn't keep his mouth shut.

And Max, Max could go do one if he thought he could use her presence to control him.

No one controlled him.

What did he care if she was back, wasn't like she'd come looking for him, wasn't like he wanted her to…

Taking another drag he let his head fall back against the fabric of his wheelchair, closing his eyes and exhaling a cloud of smoke, trying to let his newly refreshed veins soothe his tension, which proved fruitless as visions of her pretty neck and tanned legs swam under his eyelids.

David let out a growl of pent up rage and picked up an empty whisky bottle from the large chest to his left, throwing it against the far wall of the cave, the glass exploding and shattering into tiny sharp splinters, falling onto the sandy carpet…

Marko let out a low whistle as he leant against the opening to the cave, one foot balanced in front, resting on the toe of his boot, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused smile on his lips, thoroughly pleased with himself that he'd caught his usually detached and aloof older brother in a moment of fury.

David sent an ice-cold glare at Marko, his lips turning up in a sneer.

Marko raised his hands in surrender, sauntering down the rocky steps and flopping down onto the old, battered sofa "Hey bro, I get it…" he said, his dark grey eyes glittering in the candlelight, the dark stain of dried blood plastered down his chin and chest "…the babe's really somethin' else"

David clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, trying to regain his cool and Marko rolled his eyes, deciding to put his brother out of his misery.

"She's got a flight back to Seattle booked for the ninth" he said casually, flicking at the sand on the floor with the tip of his boot.

David nodded slightly at his brother, which was all the thanks Marko was going to get in David's present mood.

"Where are the others"? Marko asked, looking around the hotel, absentmindedly picking at the stitching on the sofa, trying to lighten the heavy tension.

David chuckled softly, his brilliant blue eyes twinkling in the low fire light and took another drag of his cigarette, trying to push the events of the evening to the back of his mind

"Paul's trying to turn a shark…"