Keys: You were right with this one, but wrong with the others. Lol. Maybe there isn't a key (no pun intended) to figuring me out. Maybe I just do what I do. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Panda: Twist and turns keep you on your toes. Lol.
Taya: Cinema? What did you go see? Was it good?
KDC: Hey, I won't pressure you to write one. If you prefer to be a reader than a writer then that's entirely your choice. I bet you could do it, though.
Zeus: I usually read before bed, too. Thanks for stopping by!
Fab: Lol. I knew that! I must be losing my marbles. You don't have your own author page, though. So, would you tell me the name of your stories so I don't have to hunt through all of them looking for yours?
MMJ: I don't know how they'll beat the bad guy, but I'll figure something out. Thanks, as always, for the review!
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Chapter Twelve
Interruption
They continued on to the remote tribe of Seculis, traded gems and spices for cloth and a plant Challenger had insisted he needed, and headed back home without any further hitches. On the final stretch of their journey, Marguerite trudged behind Roxton, groaning from the strain of keeping up with his long strides. "John, I'm not a mule," she stated, agitated.
Roxton laughed, swinging his rifle to his other shoulder. "I never said you were, Marguerite." He whirled around on his heels so suddenly that Marguerite collided into his chest. When she huffed and raised her head up to glare at him, Roxton only chuckled. "Besides, wasn't it you who wanted to reach home before dinner? Didn't you – not two hours ago – vehemently demand that I get you back in time to wash the twins and tuck them into bed? Because the poor little lass and lad must be fearing we abandoned them?"
Marguerite scowled, folding her arms defensively. "I'm their mother, John."
"Yes, and I am their father. Your point?"
Marguerite brushed past him, muttering: "I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"Whoa, there, Marguerite." Roxton grabbed her arm, halting her from marching away. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Marguerite clenched her teeth, prying her arm out of his gentle grasp. "What do you think it means, Lord John Richard Roxton?"
Great, Roxton thought sarcastically. Now she's in one of her moods.
"You don't know what it's like to be abandoned," she stressed, her eyes shining with passion. "All alone on the streets, struggling in any way you know how in order to survive. It's a pitiful, lonely world when no one loves you. When you don't even know your real name – let alone your full name. I will never – ever – allow my children to feel even the slightest sliver of my painful past. I won't let them think for even a fleeting moment that I left them willingly or otherwise."
"Marguerite, you're blowing this out of the water, my love. We've only been gone a few days. Will and Lilly don't think we've abandoned them. Besides, Malone and Veronica are wonderful with them. And Challenger is the doting grandfather. I doubt the twins have even realized we've been gone this long."
Marguerite bit her tongue and glanced away.
Roxton caressed her cheek tenderly. "It's ok, Marguerite. I know you're carrying around a heavy burden, especially with the threat of Klor looming in the shadows. But, darling, that's what I'm here for. Let me help you. If I could, I would erase every haunting memory and sooth every ache in your heart."
Marguerite's lip trembled and she fought back her tears. "I know, John. I know." She stroked his stubbly face. "And I would do the same for you."
Roxton slowly leaned forward and captured her mouth with his in a lovingly. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his kisses turning more passionate and hungry. He moaned when his tongue slipped between her lips and he rubbed his hands along her back, pressing her more firmly to him. Marguerite responded in kind, sliding her fingers over his chest as she melted into his fiery kisses.
"My, my, my, sorry to interrupt."
Marguerite leapt back, her eyes wild and her breathing rapid. Roxton, stunned, took a moment to catch up. He eyed her oddly. "Marguerite? Is something wrong?"
"Didn't you hear that," she asked desperately.
"Hear what, Marguerite?"
"The voice!"
Roxton paused, scanning the area. He trained his eyes back to her face, noticing the fear and anxiety. "No. Was it Klor?"
Marguerite went ashen. "No. It was someone else."
"Who?"
"I…I don't know."
End Chapter Twelve
~ ~ AUTHOR'S NOTE ~ ~: For some wacky reason, the last few months, FF.net has not allowed me to use anymore than one space between paragraphs. Is anyone else having this problem? How can I fix it?