**Chapter Three**
"Coming!" I yelled from my bedroom. I was sitting on my bed trying to take that damned boot off my foot. I had taken the first one really easy but my problem became bigger when I tried the second one. That thing just wouldn't get out. "Just a sec." I yelled again and tried one more time to take it off.
Fuck it...
I got up and walked to the door with one foot bare and the other... boot-ed. My feet were hurting from walking all day with those boots and all I wanted was to take them off... Why couldn't God agree with me once in a while?
I kind of limped all my way to the door, cursing all the while the boot. As I stood in front of the door I swear I could smell him already. Or maybe it was just that he had come here so many times that my apartment was beginning to smell like him. Or, well.. it could be psychological, you know, his name = his smell.
I shook my head and focused on what I had to do, so I opened the door. "Hey." I smiled by seeing him and soon I placed my lips over his with a welcoming kiss.
He brought one hand to my face to put more pressure on the kiss and the other sneaked around my waist to keep me in place. I couldn't help but smile through the kiss. He pulled his lips away, which were already turned up in a smile, hands still on me. "Hey." He greeted and using the hand on my face he softly caressed it.
I got lost in his eyes and the sensation of his touch for a moment, unable to speak. It was so damn good. "The things are in the kitchen. I'll be right back." I whispered and gave him a quick kiss then left him alone to walk back to my bedroom, limping of course. It was now or never. Or this boot would come off or it would feel the wrath of Samantha Spade.
"The groceries are still in the bags." I heard Martin saying from the kitchen and noises of doors opening and closing.
"Oh, well, I didn't have the time." I mumbled this half lie as I struggled with my boot. I'm sure he must have had at least chuckled but since I was away from him I couldn't hear. But I knew Martin and I could picture him taking things from the cupboards as he chuckled. Or even laughed.
I forgot about Martin for a few seconds to focus on the task at hand. How could something become so tight? I mean, when I put my boot on this morning it fitted perfectly but now it just wouldn't come off. Did it grow smaller or something...?
"What are you doing?"
My head snapped up with a start, the voice - even being Martin's - startled me. Wow, I didn't even feel his smell coming. That was new... "What?" I asked confused.
"What are you doing?" He stopped closer, inside my bedroom.
"I'm having a little war with this lovely thing." I didn't look at him as I spoke, still struggling with my boot. Suddenly as if magically, that stupid thing was out of my foot. Ahhh... fresh air.. Err... "See? Done." I stood and walked up to him. "Shouldn't you be making dinner?"
He crept his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. "Yeah." He breathed out, right on my face, his warm breathe on my lips, then his lips found the fragile flesh of my earlobe and he ran his tongue along its loops and whorls. Again. I shuddered from the sensation. Was I seeing some kind of fetish here?
"Martin..."
"Yeah?"
I pulled my face away from his hungry lips and smiled at him. "Dinner?"
"Not hungry."
I giggled, yes I giggled and I didn't have a problem with giggles anymore. I was giggling, so what? And leaned closer to him again. "Me neither." I whispered just before joining our lips.
* * *
He tightened his arms around me as I snuggled into him, then kissed the top of my head. His bare skin was so soft, even to a man, and I loved the feel of it against my own. I loved his touch, the way he touched me was always so gentle and loving, so careful when I am in his arms. He had strong and male hands, always ready to be hard when needed, but they turned into soft caresses when I was around.
"I love you." He whispered in my ear, sending an electric chill through my body.
I let out a deep breathy sigh as a smile broke across my face and linked our hands. Hearing him saying the words was so magic; it was like the first time ever. Every time he said them I felt like it was the first time. I'd never stop being amazed by this. I hoped not. "Me too."
I felt him nuzzling his face in my hair and breathing in deeply. I had to smile at his attempt to feel my scent better. It wasn't funny; it was just that I always did the same thing. The fingers of the hand linked with mine were gently caressing my own hand, making goose bumps form on my skin. The other hand was around my shoulders and over my arm, like a second skin and this hand was caressing me too.
I had nothing. For a long time I had nothing, only my job and failed attempts to date losers. Then Jack came along and filled a hole in my life. Or that was what I thought. He hadn't really filled it, he was only like a blanket put over the hole and covered with leaves to look like the real ground. That's all he always was, a faked sense of security.
I had nothing and suddenly I got everything I ever wanted. I didn't know for sure if Martin was my real safe ground, but I felt it, I felt it was real. "Promise me you'll never gonna stop loving me."
"I promise." He said immediately, without thinking, without doubt. He tightened his arms even more around me. "Forever."
Forever. He will love me forever.
* * *
"Samantha?"
"Yes?"
Viv lifted a paper and waved it in front of her to catch my attention. "Come take a look at this."
I put my mug down and got up from my chair, walking quickly to her. Maybe it was a clue to help finding our missing person. "What is it?" I asked leaning over her to look at the paper.
"Do you remember where Rebecca said Patrick goes to vacation?"
"Yeah, somewhere in Maine." Viv raised her eyebrows and handed me the paper. She had that look in her eyes that said she found something really important. I took the paper and turned it over, reading through it. When I reached where I was supposed to, my eyes widened and hope filled inside. "Maine." I looked back at her.
"Exactly."
"We need to tell Jack."
Viv grabbed her telephone and pushed the speed dial. She quickly told Jack about her discovery, which I won't get in details right now, and hung up. "He's calling a team there."
"I hope they find Michelle." She was only ten year old and was kidnapped for 38 hours now and her parents were worried to death. Viv nodded, a clear sign she agreed and her eyes slightly went away from mine to look at something behind me. By the look on her face when she did that, a welcoming feeling came inside of me. I knew it was Martin because only him could make me feel like that.
"Hey."
His soft voice sent a tingle down my body and for a second I was frozen in place. I turned my head to the side and gave him a smile that formed over my lips as soon as I felt his smell. "Hey."
He smiled back at me and put a hand on my back. For what I don't know, but why would I care? His touches were always welcome. "Any news?"
"Yes." Viv spoke first and I handed him the paper. "We got a clue in Maine and we think Michelle might be there."
"Jack's calling a team there."
"That's good." He let out an obvious sigh of relief and handed me the paper back. "I'll go get some coffee."
"Ok." He smiled at me and walked away. I watched as he walked further and further away only wishing he would come back and touch me again. That he could be by my side all the time, every waking hour. I already thought about him every waking hour and having him by my side would only increase my happiness.
"Things are pretty good between you two, huh?"
I looked startled at her, her voice bringing me back from my 'thinking of Martin 24/7' state. I focused back on her and wanted to slap my head to see if maybe my brain could register her words quicker. "Yeah." I looked down, smiling at my hands as thoughts of him came back to my mind.
"I'm happy for you, Sam. I really am."
I raised my head and stared at her for a second or two, taking in the impact of her words. I never knew someone being happy for me could feel so important, that my happiness was something someone would be glad for. "Thanks, Viv."
She gave me a warm smile and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "I've never seen you so happy before and we know each other for years now."
I shrugged, not knowing what really to say. Words formed but I couldn't get them out correctly, I didn't know the right words to say, but you know, the simplest things are the easiest. As Martin's name run on my mind, I smiled at my own words. "I never loved someone so much in my life."
She tilted her head and I saw something sparkling in her eyes. "I can tell."
I giggled and looked down shyly, I could feel the blush coming. Love is... is an emotion that catch us unprepared; it makes us laugh when we are unhappy and cry when we want to be tough. Martin's love caught me from the deep bottom of a hole and brought me back up. Love doesn't make the world spin, or better or even less dangerous. It only makes worthy living in it.
The feel of Martin's love came inside me with such strength that I felt like I could die for it, of it. It supported me when I felt as if the world was falling apart. When I felt myself falling apart.
His love was a light come from Heaven. And I was thankful for it.
* * *
I stirred and sighed deeply as I did so. I reached out one hand searching for some sign of warm skin so I could snuggle into it and get more comfortable. But what do I find? Yeah, exactly, not Martin. Only cold sheets. I opened one eye and through it I checked if it was true what my hand felt.. or didn't felt. Yup, no Martin. I opened the second eye just to make sure and there was no Martin indeed.
I sat up with a start and looked around as my confused sleepy mind went back to work. What the hell was happening? I mean, I was lying in bed and very naked but no Martin with me. See what's wrong in the picture? Hmm... Waking up without Martin when I had slept with him was really pissing me off...
I pulled the covers away and the different degree from the room hit my skin. It wasn't cold but I had no clothes on plus I was under warm covers, so... I got up and, searching for something to put on I found Martin's red tee shirt on the floor. Ahhhhh, just what I needed. I smiled to myself and put in on. It smelled like him.
As soon as I opened the bedroom door I felt the slight smell of cinnamon and eggs and, of course, coffee. So, Martin woke up early to make breakfast? Hmm, I should have stayed in bed... "What are you doing?" I stood at the kitchen door with both hands on my hips, though I kind of got a little lost looking at Martin's bare chest while he was in only sweatpants.
He looked at me with that look which said 'are you retard' or something like that. "...Breakfast...?" He said, or asked.. or whatever... he could be confusing sometimes, and looked down at the food.
I rolled my eyes and walked to him. "No. I mean, why are you here instead of in bed with me?"
He gave me one of his boyish smiles and I felt my legs turning unto jelly. Damn it... I thought I was past that already, but obviously not... And stretched out one hand. "Come here."
I stood closer and gladly wrapped my arms around his waist before he could do anything first. "...Morning" I murmured just before kissing his bare chest. Oh God, it smelled just as good as always... I rested my head over it softly and let myself enjoy the proximity. Hmmm.... so soft...
"Morning." He whispered in my ear and kissed it softly.
"I missed you."
He chuckled softly, his breath right on my hair, tickling it. "I missed you too."
I tightened my arms around him and nuzzled my face in his neck, breathing in his soft scent... speaking of which... "What are you doing? It smells good."
He placed a small kiss on my forehead and let me go, going back to do whatever he was doing. "Eggs and beacon to me and cinnamon toast to you."
"Cinnamon toast?" I asked with perplexed face and voice. That's the first time I had ever heard about it. Ok, so it was a little exaggerated... I had heard of it, of course. That was the first time I'd eat it. Hmm, see, better sentence.
"Yup. Oh, and coffee."
Ohh, coffee, my so loved coffee. After the last time I woke up and there was no coffee in the machine Martin learned his lesson. I was so pissed that he had that look of fear on his face and a expression that he would rather jump from the balcony of my apartment from the seventh floor than stay with me in the same room. No coffee = a very pissed Samantha Spade. And like I said before, I can be very scary and Martin found out in the worst way.
"Do you wanna help me?"
I smiled at him and nodded. He opened his arms and mentioned me to stand in front of him and so I did. He put his arms around me, leaning his body really close, using his hands to hold mine and teach me how to do what he was doing. Like I didn't know...
Whatever... I was in his arms again, feeling his scent again. Everything was good. Nothing else in the world mattered. I leaned back to put more pressure between our bodies and closed my eyes because of the wonderful sensation.
Ohhh, the world was a wonderful place to live...
* * *
"Coming!" I yelled from my bedroom. I was sitting on my bed trying to take that damned boot off my foot. I had taken the first one really easy but my problem became bigger when I tried the second one. That thing just wouldn't get out. "Just a sec." I yelled again and tried one more time to take it off.
Fuck it...
I got up and walked to the door with one foot bare and the other... boot-ed. My feet were hurting from walking all day with those boots and all I wanted was to take them off... Why couldn't God agree with me once in a while?
I kind of limped all my way to the door, cursing all the while the boot. As I stood in front of the door I swear I could smell him already. Or maybe it was just that he had come here so many times that my apartment was beginning to smell like him. Or, well.. it could be psychological, you know, his name = his smell.
I shook my head and focused on what I had to do, so I opened the door. "Hey." I smiled by seeing him and soon I placed my lips over his with a welcoming kiss.
He brought one hand to my face to put more pressure on the kiss and the other sneaked around my waist to keep me in place. I couldn't help but smile through the kiss. He pulled his lips away, which were already turned up in a smile, hands still on me. "Hey." He greeted and using the hand on my face he softly caressed it.
I got lost in his eyes and the sensation of his touch for a moment, unable to speak. It was so damn good. "The things are in the kitchen. I'll be right back." I whispered and gave him a quick kiss then left him alone to walk back to my bedroom, limping of course. It was now or never. Or this boot would come off or it would feel the wrath of Samantha Spade.
"The groceries are still in the bags." I heard Martin saying from the kitchen and noises of doors opening and closing.
"Oh, well, I didn't have the time." I mumbled this half lie as I struggled with my boot. I'm sure he must have had at least chuckled but since I was away from him I couldn't hear. But I knew Martin and I could picture him taking things from the cupboards as he chuckled. Or even laughed.
I forgot about Martin for a few seconds to focus on the task at hand. How could something become so tight? I mean, when I put my boot on this morning it fitted perfectly but now it just wouldn't come off. Did it grow smaller or something...?
"What are you doing?"
My head snapped up with a start, the voice - even being Martin's - startled me. Wow, I didn't even feel his smell coming. That was new... "What?" I asked confused.
"What are you doing?" He stopped closer, inside my bedroom.
"I'm having a little war with this lovely thing." I didn't look at him as I spoke, still struggling with my boot. Suddenly as if magically, that stupid thing was out of my foot. Ahhh... fresh air.. Err... "See? Done." I stood and walked up to him. "Shouldn't you be making dinner?"
He crept his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. "Yeah." He breathed out, right on my face, his warm breathe on my lips, then his lips found the fragile flesh of my earlobe and he ran his tongue along its loops and whorls. Again. I shuddered from the sensation. Was I seeing some kind of fetish here?
"Martin..."
"Yeah?"
I pulled my face away from his hungry lips and smiled at him. "Dinner?"
"Not hungry."
I giggled, yes I giggled and I didn't have a problem with giggles anymore. I was giggling, so what? And leaned closer to him again. "Me neither." I whispered just before joining our lips.
* * *
He tightened his arms around me as I snuggled into him, then kissed the top of my head. His bare skin was so soft, even to a man, and I loved the feel of it against my own. I loved his touch, the way he touched me was always so gentle and loving, so careful when I am in his arms. He had strong and male hands, always ready to be hard when needed, but they turned into soft caresses when I was around.
"I love you." He whispered in my ear, sending an electric chill through my body.
I let out a deep breathy sigh as a smile broke across my face and linked our hands. Hearing him saying the words was so magic; it was like the first time ever. Every time he said them I felt like it was the first time. I'd never stop being amazed by this. I hoped not. "Me too."
I felt him nuzzling his face in my hair and breathing in deeply. I had to smile at his attempt to feel my scent better. It wasn't funny; it was just that I always did the same thing. The fingers of the hand linked with mine were gently caressing my own hand, making goose bumps form on my skin. The other hand was around my shoulders and over my arm, like a second skin and this hand was caressing me too.
I had nothing. For a long time I had nothing, only my job and failed attempts to date losers. Then Jack came along and filled a hole in my life. Or that was what I thought. He hadn't really filled it, he was only like a blanket put over the hole and covered with leaves to look like the real ground. That's all he always was, a faked sense of security.
I had nothing and suddenly I got everything I ever wanted. I didn't know for sure if Martin was my real safe ground, but I felt it, I felt it was real. "Promise me you'll never gonna stop loving me."
"I promise." He said immediately, without thinking, without doubt. He tightened his arms even more around me. "Forever."
Forever. He will love me forever.
* * *
"Samantha?"
"Yes?"
Viv lifted a paper and waved it in front of her to catch my attention. "Come take a look at this."
I put my mug down and got up from my chair, walking quickly to her. Maybe it was a clue to help finding our missing person. "What is it?" I asked leaning over her to look at the paper.
"Do you remember where Rebecca said Patrick goes to vacation?"
"Yeah, somewhere in Maine." Viv raised her eyebrows and handed me the paper. She had that look in her eyes that said she found something really important. I took the paper and turned it over, reading through it. When I reached where I was supposed to, my eyes widened and hope filled inside. "Maine." I looked back at her.
"Exactly."
"We need to tell Jack."
Viv grabbed her telephone and pushed the speed dial. She quickly told Jack about her discovery, which I won't get in details right now, and hung up. "He's calling a team there."
"I hope they find Michelle." She was only ten year old and was kidnapped for 38 hours now and her parents were worried to death. Viv nodded, a clear sign she agreed and her eyes slightly went away from mine to look at something behind me. By the look on her face when she did that, a welcoming feeling came inside of me. I knew it was Martin because only him could make me feel like that.
"Hey."
His soft voice sent a tingle down my body and for a second I was frozen in place. I turned my head to the side and gave him a smile that formed over my lips as soon as I felt his smell. "Hey."
He smiled back at me and put a hand on my back. For what I don't know, but why would I care? His touches were always welcome. "Any news?"
"Yes." Viv spoke first and I handed him the paper. "We got a clue in Maine and we think Michelle might be there."
"Jack's calling a team there."
"That's good." He let out an obvious sigh of relief and handed me the paper back. "I'll go get some coffee."
"Ok." He smiled at me and walked away. I watched as he walked further and further away only wishing he would come back and touch me again. That he could be by my side all the time, every waking hour. I already thought about him every waking hour and having him by my side would only increase my happiness.
"Things are pretty good between you two, huh?"
I looked startled at her, her voice bringing me back from my 'thinking of Martin 24/7' state. I focused back on her and wanted to slap my head to see if maybe my brain could register her words quicker. "Yeah." I looked down, smiling at my hands as thoughts of him came back to my mind.
"I'm happy for you, Sam. I really am."
I raised my head and stared at her for a second or two, taking in the impact of her words. I never knew someone being happy for me could feel so important, that my happiness was something someone would be glad for. "Thanks, Viv."
She gave me a warm smile and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "I've never seen you so happy before and we know each other for years now."
I shrugged, not knowing what really to say. Words formed but I couldn't get them out correctly, I didn't know the right words to say, but you know, the simplest things are the easiest. As Martin's name run on my mind, I smiled at my own words. "I never loved someone so much in my life."
She tilted her head and I saw something sparkling in her eyes. "I can tell."
I giggled and looked down shyly, I could feel the blush coming. Love is... is an emotion that catch us unprepared; it makes us laugh when we are unhappy and cry when we want to be tough. Martin's love caught me from the deep bottom of a hole and brought me back up. Love doesn't make the world spin, or better or even less dangerous. It only makes worthy living in it.
The feel of Martin's love came inside me with such strength that I felt like I could die for it, of it. It supported me when I felt as if the world was falling apart. When I felt myself falling apart.
His love was a light come from Heaven. And I was thankful for it.
* * *
I stirred and sighed deeply as I did so. I reached out one hand searching for some sign of warm skin so I could snuggle into it and get more comfortable. But what do I find? Yeah, exactly, not Martin. Only cold sheets. I opened one eye and through it I checked if it was true what my hand felt.. or didn't felt. Yup, no Martin. I opened the second eye just to make sure and there was no Martin indeed.
I sat up with a start and looked around as my confused sleepy mind went back to work. What the hell was happening? I mean, I was lying in bed and very naked but no Martin with me. See what's wrong in the picture? Hmm... Waking up without Martin when I had slept with him was really pissing me off...
I pulled the covers away and the different degree from the room hit my skin. It wasn't cold but I had no clothes on plus I was under warm covers, so... I got up and, searching for something to put on I found Martin's red tee shirt on the floor. Ahhhhh, just what I needed. I smiled to myself and put in on. It smelled like him.
As soon as I opened the bedroom door I felt the slight smell of cinnamon and eggs and, of course, coffee. So, Martin woke up early to make breakfast? Hmm, I should have stayed in bed... "What are you doing?" I stood at the kitchen door with both hands on my hips, though I kind of got a little lost looking at Martin's bare chest while he was in only sweatpants.
He looked at me with that look which said 'are you retard' or something like that. "...Breakfast...?" He said, or asked.. or whatever... he could be confusing sometimes, and looked down at the food.
I rolled my eyes and walked to him. "No. I mean, why are you here instead of in bed with me?"
He gave me one of his boyish smiles and I felt my legs turning unto jelly. Damn it... I thought I was past that already, but obviously not... And stretched out one hand. "Come here."
I stood closer and gladly wrapped my arms around his waist before he could do anything first. "...Morning" I murmured just before kissing his bare chest. Oh God, it smelled just as good as always... I rested my head over it softly and let myself enjoy the proximity. Hmmm.... so soft...
"Morning." He whispered in my ear and kissed it softly.
"I missed you."
He chuckled softly, his breath right on my hair, tickling it. "I missed you too."
I tightened my arms around him and nuzzled my face in his neck, breathing in his soft scent... speaking of which... "What are you doing? It smells good."
He placed a small kiss on my forehead and let me go, going back to do whatever he was doing. "Eggs and beacon to me and cinnamon toast to you."
"Cinnamon toast?" I asked with perplexed face and voice. That's the first time I had ever heard about it. Ok, so it was a little exaggerated... I had heard of it, of course. That was the first time I'd eat it. Hmm, see, better sentence.
"Yup. Oh, and coffee."
Ohh, coffee, my so loved coffee. After the last time I woke up and there was no coffee in the machine Martin learned his lesson. I was so pissed that he had that look of fear on his face and a expression that he would rather jump from the balcony of my apartment from the seventh floor than stay with me in the same room. No coffee = a very pissed Samantha Spade. And like I said before, I can be very scary and Martin found out in the worst way.
"Do you wanna help me?"
I smiled at him and nodded. He opened his arms and mentioned me to stand in front of him and so I did. He put his arms around me, leaning his body really close, using his hands to hold mine and teach me how to do what he was doing. Like I didn't know...
Whatever... I was in his arms again, feeling his scent again. Everything was good. Nothing else in the world mattered. I leaned back to put more pressure between our bodies and closed my eyes because of the wonderful sensation.
Ohhh, the world was a wonderful place to live...
* * *