Time Won't Wait
Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own the Rent characters. I only own Carmen and James, and any of their family members. Thanks!
Part 4: (Of Candy)
Here's the part that everyone was probably waiting for! This will end that cliffhanger and we'll see how Carmen and Maureen react to each other. Plus, how does the conflict between Carmen and Maureen affect the two filmmaker's relationship? Trust me, you don't know, that is, until you read it! And, when you're done, please review? I'm gonna stop chaptering my stories until they're all finished too...
**********************************************************
* This story picks up right where the last one left off. So, if you don't remember, James was talking to Carmen about her fear of intimacy..... *
"What's all your fault? You've never done anything wrong in your life." Laughed James, taking the cup of tea from Carmen's hands and setting it down on the table. Carmen pulled her knees up to her chest and curled into the fetal position. With difficulty, she choked out,
"I refused Mark. Now he probably won't ever speak to me again."
"Refused him how?" Asked a confused James.
She gave him a look of utter shock at his lack of knowledge, "We came close to sleeping together, and I backed out at the last minute."
James whistled and his eyes opened wide. Leaning back against the couch, he whispered, "Oh, Geez."
That only made Carmen cry harder. Realizing his mistake, the Scotsman pulled a tissue from his pocket and softly rubbed her tears away.
"Go on and cry, lass. Cry all you want, he isn't here."
Suddenly, Carmen lunged forward and wrapped her arms around James's in a desperate embrace. He held her close to him, stroking her soft brown hair like a mother comforting an ill child. In his hug, she found safe haven. To her, he was a neutral. A man which expected nothing but friendship from a female. James didn't want a relationship, sex, or anything else. He just wanted to be able to call Carmen and talk for three hours straight on the phone, or go to a cafe and talk about art over coffee. The ideal friend for any lonely person.
**********************************************************
Mark stared at the sidewalk as he walked dejectedly back to his apartment. Now, with all the snow off the ground, he listened to the echo of his shoes on the concrete. Even with the busy city around him, the soft tap of rubber on cement penetrated his eardrums like loud blasts of music. Every sound was amplified. The creaking of the door to his apartment building, the squeaking of the steps are he walked slowly up them, and the swing of the door to his room. He threw himself on his bed and gazed up at the ceiling. In the next room, he could hear muffled voices - Roger and Mimi's.
"Probably discussing wedding plans." Whispered Mark to himself. The realization that his best friends were getting married had hit him hard. Up until this moment, one little thing hadn't dawned on him, but now, it was apparent. Where would he live? He couldn't just stay with Roger and Mimi for the rest of his life. They'd need that apartment space, especially if they had kids. A slight knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Roger entered the room. He was clad in his nighttime apparel of a T-shirt and boxers. Some music band's name was plastered on the shirt, although Mark's couldn't read it.
"What're you doing back so early?"
"Nothing."
"Did you and Carmen have a fight or something?"
"No."
"Sure. Listen Mark, you don't look okay. You had a fight, didn't you?"
"Not a real fight."
"Okay, look, you're not gonna play games with me. I'm not letting you get all depressed and shit, again, like last year."
"Oh, what do you know? Mimi came onto you strong. She begged you!"
Roger raised an eyebrow. He was trying hard to hold his temper, "So, this is about sex."
Mark sat up on the edge of the bed swinging his feet to the floor, "In a sense, yes."
"What happened?"
"It's kinda personal...."
"You've got 5 seconds to talk."
"All right! Carmen and I were kissing and things heated up. We got really close and she suddenly just pulled away from me."
Roger almost scoffed, "That's happened to me before. I'll bet it's happened to every guy."
"Yeah, but now I bet she'll never even speak to me again. She probably thinks that all I want is sex from her."
"Why? Do you?"
"No! I want her in my life."
The musician had a faint guess as to what Mark was hinting at, but he dismissed it, "Look Mark, just give her some time and a little space. If she wants to, she'll come back. Trust me."
"Besides, you guys have been dating for like, what? 3 months now? You've made it that far without fucking yet, and that's pretty good." Came Mimi's voice from the doorway. She paused, then added, "Or maybe that's the dancer Mimi talking..."
Roger turned back to his friend, "Carmen ain't through with you yet, buddy."
With those words, he picked up Mimi in his arms and carried her out through the door. A call of "Buenas Noches Mark!" Came from Mimi as she and Roger went behind closed doors.
Soon a fitful sleep enveloped Mark against his will.
**********************************************************
Carmen slowly pulled away from James and sat back again on the couch.
"I want to get close to him. I do want him, it, it just feels wrong."
"I know the feeling. My parents were so homophobic that I had to conceal myself."
"This is New York James, it's okay to be yourself here."
"I think I finally will."
"You're gonna come out of the closet?"
"Yes, and for someone!" James and Carmen embraced in celebration of James's newly renewed courage. As he held her close, his ears heard her soft whisper,
"Who's the lucky one?"
"Collins. I love him."
"Collins? That's great! He's a lucky guy."
Blushing, James smiled, "I think about him day and night. Ever since I felt his eyes on me, and when I heard his laugh..."
The artist drifted off into his own dream world. Suddenly, he snapped back to attention, "Carmen, you said you do want Mark?"
"Yes."
"Sexually?"
"Yes, but I can't get my mind to respond to my body."
"We could get you drunk."
This earned him a dirty look, but both were soon laughing.
"Look, why don't you call him tomorrow? All you need is the right setting, I'll bet. And, if he won't speak to you, then he isn't the right guy. Any guy who loves you, should respect you, and girl, you deserve respect!" Stated James.
"Thank you." She said, wiping away her tears.
James kissed each of her cheeks while he gave her a good-bye hug. Then, with a wave, he let himself out of the apartment. Standing, Carmen stretched and walked toward her bedroom.
'Tomorrow, I'll call him, 'Tomorrow.' She thought, and her tired body pulled her into a deep sleep.
********************** (Next Day at 7:00pm) *****************************
Carmen sat in a chair, her hands in her lap. She fidgeted, almost spastically twitching with her worry. The desire to call her boyfriend conflicted with worry. What if he hung up on her? What if he never wanted to see her again? These thoughts ran through Carmen's mind like a freight train, destroying everything in it's path.
With a trembling hand, the female filmmaker reached forward, and dialed Mark's number. Shockingly, he answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Mark?"
"Yeah. Carmen?"
"Yeah."
A pause took over their conversation. Finally, she spoke again, "Mark, we need to talk."
"I know. I was gonna call you, but I - "
"It's okay. Meet me outside in a few minutes, all right?"
"Sure, I'll be there."
They hung up. Carmen rushed to her closet and pulled on her coat, a new sense of courage flowed through her veins like fire. Shoes pounding on the stairs of her apartment building, she made her way downstairs and out the door. Like a good omen, a warm breeze swept across her face as the sunlight disappeared behind the roofs of the skyscrapers that New York uses as signs of power and wealth. A lone figure stood on the opposite side of the street. Fighting the urge to simply jump into his arms and kiss him, she walked over to greet Mark.
She saw in his eyes a mixture of pain, and hope. Carmen knew that it was up to her as to which one would soon envelope both of his optic mirrors. It would be easier for her to leave him with pain, but she didn't know if she could ever hurt someone. Reaching forward, she took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Mark looked shocked, as he had thought that she had brought him her to tell him that she wished to break up.
"Mark, I wanted to say, I'm sorry."
"It isn't your fault, I was moving too fast..."
"No! I'm just still so scared. I can't be hurt again."
"I'll never hurt you Carmen, I love you."
Carmen caught her breath, it was rare that Mark said those words, even though she knew he did, "I love you too."
"C'mon, we'll talk on the way." He said, nodded his head in the direction of the sidewalk leading away from their building. She smiled and they left.
Neither one saw the person who had lingered in Mark's apartment building doorway frame. Another shadowy person appeared behind the first.
**********************************************************
"What are they talking about?" The second figure asked.
"I don't know. Something about Mark moving too fast and scaring Carmen."
"Really?"
"Would I lie?"
"I'm gonna follow them. This sounds like it'll be good."
"You're sick. Leave them alone."
"No!" With that, the second figure slipped past the first and followed the couple, keeping out of their sight.
The first figure sighed and went in the opposite direction, leaving it's friend to do as it would.
************************************************************
James breathed out heavily. He was trying to get his breath to show up in the March air. Nothing appeared and the disappointed artist frowned. Slowly, he raised a hand to knock on the door that stood before him, broad, dark, and foreboding. The knocks echoed, signaling that the door was hollow. Steps came closer and closer until the door knob finally turned and was opened.
"James! It's good to see you here." Said Collins, a broad smile on his face.
"Hi, Collins. I came by to talk to you about something."
"C'mon in then. It's warmer in here."
"Thanks." Smiling so that his cheeks moved to darker shade of red. One Scottish trait was the redness of some of the people's faces, especially those who also possess red hair to match. Without moving from his place just inside the doorway, James blurted out,
"Carmen told me about you."
"What'd she tell you?"
"That you gay."
"Oh." Collins scratched the back of his head and turned from the artist for a minute.
"So am I."
A confused genius turned back around and stared at the man near him, "You are?"
"Yeah. I just came over to say that, I've never met anyone like you. When I felt you staring at me, it was, so... so-"
"Wonderful? Beautiful?" Finished Collins, a sexy grin on his face. The two moved closer together without even noticing it.
"Yeah, something like that." Whispered James, laying a hand on the scholar's arm.
Looking down at the man he loved hand's at where it rested, calm broke the ice in his veins. Collins would never forget Angel, but, he had to move on. This wonderful man was offering him that chance. And he would take it.
As the artist leaned in to kiss the genius, he whispered in that ever so accented voice, "I love you."
*****************************************************************
* Two hours later.... *
The two filmmakers made their way back to their street. While they had talked what for seemed to be an eternity, no progress had been made. Even though Mark had convinced Carmen, that he loved her and wanted her for more than her body, she was still a little scared and pulled back. He said he would wait for her, and she'd promised him that he'd be the first. Still, it felt like a substantial part of their love, had been whisked away by the wind. One night had killed their passion.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Here, I'll walk you up to your apartment." Suggested Mark and she took his arm like he was a formal escort. Shyly laughing at the comedic gesture, they started up the stairs. A short jerk on Mark's arm stopped him.
"Do you hear that?" A whispering voice full of fear hit his ear.
He was silent for a moment, until the distinct sound of cloth moving against cloth became apparent, "Yeah." He whispered back, and moved to grasp her hand.
Trying to appear calm, they kept walking. Robberies and murder were common in their area of town at night and they knew that the best thing to do was get inside somewhere. Carmen reached inside her pocket and pulled out her pepper spray. Mark, in an effort to see if he had anything with him that could deflect an attack, went through his coat pockets. Shockingly, he found a few metal camera parts.
Among the items, he felt his small flashlight designed for working with camcorders. In a rather foolish act, he turned on the light and shined it in the general direction of the sound.
"Maureen?" He asked, thoroughly confused.
Carmen looked furious, "What are you doing here?"
Ever the actress, the spy played it cool, "I've got a right to be where I want. It's a free country, isn't it?"
"Not when your intruding on other people's business!" Carmen said, and there was a tone to her voice that had never been there before.
"It's not like you were talking about much anyway. I mean, Mark's being rejected, what else is new?"
Raising the hand that held the pepper spray in it, she pointed it at Maureen, "I'm sick of dealing with you! For months now you've done nothing but torment me! Get lost, Maureen! Or so help me I will use whatever method I need to make you leave!"
The other woman looked shocked, but, seeing that she'd driven her ex - boyfriend's girlfriend to the point where her own body was threaten, she backed off.
Carmen could feel her blood boil and her mind was clouded. Mark didn't say anything, he had never seen his girlfriend act like this. It impressed him. After a moment, they began walking again, and stopped in front of her apartment door.
Looking at each other, something had changed in her. She kissed him, violently, passionately. Reaching back behind her, she opened her door. While still connected to him by their lips, her hands grasped his scarf and pulled him roughly into her living quarters.
"Carmen? What are you - "
"Don't speak. Please." Came her whisper, and in it the soft tone that Mark recognized. Her request was a form of protection. Now that her body and mind were in agreement, she wanted them to stay that way. They slowed down, savoring each moment. She pulled off his coat and threw off his scarf. He did the same for her before leaving her side for only a minute. What he did was lock the apartment door, to ensure their privacy. As he turned back toward her, she was walking towards her bedroom. With a smile, Carmen invited him to join her.
At the door, he stopped, "You're sure about this?"
"More than anything. I want you tonight."
He approached her, and soon, clothing was flung aside as the two found refuge beneath the sheets. The heat in the room was growing, there was no doubt about that. They made love with a desperate passion that stemmed from many origins.
Mark was relishing in this, for he found that every inch of Carmen was beautiful. Carmen loved the sensations that coursed through her body as she gave Mark her virginity. As the temperature increased, and the embrace grew stronger, both began to perspire. The two bodies were drenched in sweat, mingling together.
No memories surfaced in her mind to make her want to stop this. She couldn't if she had tried. Their lips locked together and eyes were tightly shut. Everything seemed to be building up toward a sensation unknown to one and missed by the other. Suddenly, Carmen's once pure body was experiencing an explosion of emotions she'd never known. In a desperate attempt to release some of that energy, she cried out his name at her moment of ecstasy.
The feel of her climax triggered Mark's and he too, went over the edge. A long spiral of pain, pleasure, and love. When it all had subsided into a pleasurable throbbing, he collapsed. He looked down at Carmen, the woman he loved. Her body glistened with beads of sweat and her short brown hair clung to her bare neck. The look in her eyes only heightened her sensuality to him. Kissing, the couple shared a tender moment.
Mark moved to lay next to her and whispered, "I love you."
She gave a contented smile, "I love you too Mark."
Soon, the bliss of sleep conquered their minds as they lay together, in each other's arms.
Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own the Rent characters. I only own Carmen and James, and any of their family members. Thanks!
Part 4: (Of Candy)
Here's the part that everyone was probably waiting for! This will end that cliffhanger and we'll see how Carmen and Maureen react to each other. Plus, how does the conflict between Carmen and Maureen affect the two filmmaker's relationship? Trust me, you don't know, that is, until you read it! And, when you're done, please review? I'm gonna stop chaptering my stories until they're all finished too...
**********************************************************
* This story picks up right where the last one left off. So, if you don't remember, James was talking to Carmen about her fear of intimacy..... *
"What's all your fault? You've never done anything wrong in your life." Laughed James, taking the cup of tea from Carmen's hands and setting it down on the table. Carmen pulled her knees up to her chest and curled into the fetal position. With difficulty, she choked out,
"I refused Mark. Now he probably won't ever speak to me again."
"Refused him how?" Asked a confused James.
She gave him a look of utter shock at his lack of knowledge, "We came close to sleeping together, and I backed out at the last minute."
James whistled and his eyes opened wide. Leaning back against the couch, he whispered, "Oh, Geez."
That only made Carmen cry harder. Realizing his mistake, the Scotsman pulled a tissue from his pocket and softly rubbed her tears away.
"Go on and cry, lass. Cry all you want, he isn't here."
Suddenly, Carmen lunged forward and wrapped her arms around James's in a desperate embrace. He held her close to him, stroking her soft brown hair like a mother comforting an ill child. In his hug, she found safe haven. To her, he was a neutral. A man which expected nothing but friendship from a female. James didn't want a relationship, sex, or anything else. He just wanted to be able to call Carmen and talk for three hours straight on the phone, or go to a cafe and talk about art over coffee. The ideal friend for any lonely person.
**********************************************************
Mark stared at the sidewalk as he walked dejectedly back to his apartment. Now, with all the snow off the ground, he listened to the echo of his shoes on the concrete. Even with the busy city around him, the soft tap of rubber on cement penetrated his eardrums like loud blasts of music. Every sound was amplified. The creaking of the door to his apartment building, the squeaking of the steps are he walked slowly up them, and the swing of the door to his room. He threw himself on his bed and gazed up at the ceiling. In the next room, he could hear muffled voices - Roger and Mimi's.
"Probably discussing wedding plans." Whispered Mark to himself. The realization that his best friends were getting married had hit him hard. Up until this moment, one little thing hadn't dawned on him, but now, it was apparent. Where would he live? He couldn't just stay with Roger and Mimi for the rest of his life. They'd need that apartment space, especially if they had kids. A slight knocking on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Roger entered the room. He was clad in his nighttime apparel of a T-shirt and boxers. Some music band's name was plastered on the shirt, although Mark's couldn't read it.
"What're you doing back so early?"
"Nothing."
"Did you and Carmen have a fight or something?"
"No."
"Sure. Listen Mark, you don't look okay. You had a fight, didn't you?"
"Not a real fight."
"Okay, look, you're not gonna play games with me. I'm not letting you get all depressed and shit, again, like last year."
"Oh, what do you know? Mimi came onto you strong. She begged you!"
Roger raised an eyebrow. He was trying hard to hold his temper, "So, this is about sex."
Mark sat up on the edge of the bed swinging his feet to the floor, "In a sense, yes."
"What happened?"
"It's kinda personal...."
"You've got 5 seconds to talk."
"All right! Carmen and I were kissing and things heated up. We got really close and she suddenly just pulled away from me."
Roger almost scoffed, "That's happened to me before. I'll bet it's happened to every guy."
"Yeah, but now I bet she'll never even speak to me again. She probably thinks that all I want is sex from her."
"Why? Do you?"
"No! I want her in my life."
The musician had a faint guess as to what Mark was hinting at, but he dismissed it, "Look Mark, just give her some time and a little space. If she wants to, she'll come back. Trust me."
"Besides, you guys have been dating for like, what? 3 months now? You've made it that far without fucking yet, and that's pretty good." Came Mimi's voice from the doorway. She paused, then added, "Or maybe that's the dancer Mimi talking..."
Roger turned back to his friend, "Carmen ain't through with you yet, buddy."
With those words, he picked up Mimi in his arms and carried her out through the door. A call of "Buenas Noches Mark!" Came from Mimi as she and Roger went behind closed doors.
Soon a fitful sleep enveloped Mark against his will.
**********************************************************
Carmen slowly pulled away from James and sat back again on the couch.
"I want to get close to him. I do want him, it, it just feels wrong."
"I know the feeling. My parents were so homophobic that I had to conceal myself."
"This is New York James, it's okay to be yourself here."
"I think I finally will."
"You're gonna come out of the closet?"
"Yes, and for someone!" James and Carmen embraced in celebration of James's newly renewed courage. As he held her close, his ears heard her soft whisper,
"Who's the lucky one?"
"Collins. I love him."
"Collins? That's great! He's a lucky guy."
Blushing, James smiled, "I think about him day and night. Ever since I felt his eyes on me, and when I heard his laugh..."
The artist drifted off into his own dream world. Suddenly, he snapped back to attention, "Carmen, you said you do want Mark?"
"Yes."
"Sexually?"
"Yes, but I can't get my mind to respond to my body."
"We could get you drunk."
This earned him a dirty look, but both were soon laughing.
"Look, why don't you call him tomorrow? All you need is the right setting, I'll bet. And, if he won't speak to you, then he isn't the right guy. Any guy who loves you, should respect you, and girl, you deserve respect!" Stated James.
"Thank you." She said, wiping away her tears.
James kissed each of her cheeks while he gave her a good-bye hug. Then, with a wave, he let himself out of the apartment. Standing, Carmen stretched and walked toward her bedroom.
'Tomorrow, I'll call him, 'Tomorrow.' She thought, and her tired body pulled her into a deep sleep.
********************** (Next Day at 7:00pm) *****************************
Carmen sat in a chair, her hands in her lap. She fidgeted, almost spastically twitching with her worry. The desire to call her boyfriend conflicted with worry. What if he hung up on her? What if he never wanted to see her again? These thoughts ran through Carmen's mind like a freight train, destroying everything in it's path.
With a trembling hand, the female filmmaker reached forward, and dialed Mark's number. Shockingly, he answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Mark?"
"Yeah. Carmen?"
"Yeah."
A pause took over their conversation. Finally, she spoke again, "Mark, we need to talk."
"I know. I was gonna call you, but I - "
"It's okay. Meet me outside in a few minutes, all right?"
"Sure, I'll be there."
They hung up. Carmen rushed to her closet and pulled on her coat, a new sense of courage flowed through her veins like fire. Shoes pounding on the stairs of her apartment building, she made her way downstairs and out the door. Like a good omen, a warm breeze swept across her face as the sunlight disappeared behind the roofs of the skyscrapers that New York uses as signs of power and wealth. A lone figure stood on the opposite side of the street. Fighting the urge to simply jump into his arms and kiss him, she walked over to greet Mark.
She saw in his eyes a mixture of pain, and hope. Carmen knew that it was up to her as to which one would soon envelope both of his optic mirrors. It would be easier for her to leave him with pain, but she didn't know if she could ever hurt someone. Reaching forward, she took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. Mark looked shocked, as he had thought that she had brought him her to tell him that she wished to break up.
"Mark, I wanted to say, I'm sorry."
"It isn't your fault, I was moving too fast..."
"No! I'm just still so scared. I can't be hurt again."
"I'll never hurt you Carmen, I love you."
Carmen caught her breath, it was rare that Mark said those words, even though she knew he did, "I love you too."
"C'mon, we'll talk on the way." He said, nodded his head in the direction of the sidewalk leading away from their building. She smiled and they left.
Neither one saw the person who had lingered in Mark's apartment building doorway frame. Another shadowy person appeared behind the first.
**********************************************************
"What are they talking about?" The second figure asked.
"I don't know. Something about Mark moving too fast and scaring Carmen."
"Really?"
"Would I lie?"
"I'm gonna follow them. This sounds like it'll be good."
"You're sick. Leave them alone."
"No!" With that, the second figure slipped past the first and followed the couple, keeping out of their sight.
The first figure sighed and went in the opposite direction, leaving it's friend to do as it would.
************************************************************
James breathed out heavily. He was trying to get his breath to show up in the March air. Nothing appeared and the disappointed artist frowned. Slowly, he raised a hand to knock on the door that stood before him, broad, dark, and foreboding. The knocks echoed, signaling that the door was hollow. Steps came closer and closer until the door knob finally turned and was opened.
"James! It's good to see you here." Said Collins, a broad smile on his face.
"Hi, Collins. I came by to talk to you about something."
"C'mon in then. It's warmer in here."
"Thanks." Smiling so that his cheeks moved to darker shade of red. One Scottish trait was the redness of some of the people's faces, especially those who also possess red hair to match. Without moving from his place just inside the doorway, James blurted out,
"Carmen told me about you."
"What'd she tell you?"
"That you gay."
"Oh." Collins scratched the back of his head and turned from the artist for a minute.
"So am I."
A confused genius turned back around and stared at the man near him, "You are?"
"Yeah. I just came over to say that, I've never met anyone like you. When I felt you staring at me, it was, so... so-"
"Wonderful? Beautiful?" Finished Collins, a sexy grin on his face. The two moved closer together without even noticing it.
"Yeah, something like that." Whispered James, laying a hand on the scholar's arm.
Looking down at the man he loved hand's at where it rested, calm broke the ice in his veins. Collins would never forget Angel, but, he had to move on. This wonderful man was offering him that chance. And he would take it.
As the artist leaned in to kiss the genius, he whispered in that ever so accented voice, "I love you."
*****************************************************************
* Two hours later.... *
The two filmmakers made their way back to their street. While they had talked what for seemed to be an eternity, no progress had been made. Even though Mark had convinced Carmen, that he loved her and wanted her for more than her body, she was still a little scared and pulled back. He said he would wait for her, and she'd promised him that he'd be the first. Still, it felt like a substantial part of their love, had been whisked away by the wind. One night had killed their passion.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Here, I'll walk you up to your apartment." Suggested Mark and she took his arm like he was a formal escort. Shyly laughing at the comedic gesture, they started up the stairs. A short jerk on Mark's arm stopped him.
"Do you hear that?" A whispering voice full of fear hit his ear.
He was silent for a moment, until the distinct sound of cloth moving against cloth became apparent, "Yeah." He whispered back, and moved to grasp her hand.
Trying to appear calm, they kept walking. Robberies and murder were common in their area of town at night and they knew that the best thing to do was get inside somewhere. Carmen reached inside her pocket and pulled out her pepper spray. Mark, in an effort to see if he had anything with him that could deflect an attack, went through his coat pockets. Shockingly, he found a few metal camera parts.
Among the items, he felt his small flashlight designed for working with camcorders. In a rather foolish act, he turned on the light and shined it in the general direction of the sound.
"Maureen?" He asked, thoroughly confused.
Carmen looked furious, "What are you doing here?"
Ever the actress, the spy played it cool, "I've got a right to be where I want. It's a free country, isn't it?"
"Not when your intruding on other people's business!" Carmen said, and there was a tone to her voice that had never been there before.
"It's not like you were talking about much anyway. I mean, Mark's being rejected, what else is new?"
Raising the hand that held the pepper spray in it, she pointed it at Maureen, "I'm sick of dealing with you! For months now you've done nothing but torment me! Get lost, Maureen! Or so help me I will use whatever method I need to make you leave!"
The other woman looked shocked, but, seeing that she'd driven her ex - boyfriend's girlfriend to the point where her own body was threaten, she backed off.
Carmen could feel her blood boil and her mind was clouded. Mark didn't say anything, he had never seen his girlfriend act like this. It impressed him. After a moment, they began walking again, and stopped in front of her apartment door.
Looking at each other, something had changed in her. She kissed him, violently, passionately. Reaching back behind her, she opened her door. While still connected to him by their lips, her hands grasped his scarf and pulled him roughly into her living quarters.
"Carmen? What are you - "
"Don't speak. Please." Came her whisper, and in it the soft tone that Mark recognized. Her request was a form of protection. Now that her body and mind were in agreement, she wanted them to stay that way. They slowed down, savoring each moment. She pulled off his coat and threw off his scarf. He did the same for her before leaving her side for only a minute. What he did was lock the apartment door, to ensure their privacy. As he turned back toward her, she was walking towards her bedroom. With a smile, Carmen invited him to join her.
At the door, he stopped, "You're sure about this?"
"More than anything. I want you tonight."
He approached her, and soon, clothing was flung aside as the two found refuge beneath the sheets. The heat in the room was growing, there was no doubt about that. They made love with a desperate passion that stemmed from many origins.
Mark was relishing in this, for he found that every inch of Carmen was beautiful. Carmen loved the sensations that coursed through her body as she gave Mark her virginity. As the temperature increased, and the embrace grew stronger, both began to perspire. The two bodies were drenched in sweat, mingling together.
No memories surfaced in her mind to make her want to stop this. She couldn't if she had tried. Their lips locked together and eyes were tightly shut. Everything seemed to be building up toward a sensation unknown to one and missed by the other. Suddenly, Carmen's once pure body was experiencing an explosion of emotions she'd never known. In a desperate attempt to release some of that energy, she cried out his name at her moment of ecstasy.
The feel of her climax triggered Mark's and he too, went over the edge. A long spiral of pain, pleasure, and love. When it all had subsided into a pleasurable throbbing, he collapsed. He looked down at Carmen, the woman he loved. Her body glistened with beads of sweat and her short brown hair clung to her bare neck. The look in her eyes only heightened her sensuality to him. Kissing, the couple shared a tender moment.
Mark moved to lay next to her and whispered, "I love you."
She gave a contented smile, "I love you too Mark."
Soon, the bliss of sleep conquered their minds as they lay together, in each other's arms.