Part II of Twenty-one coming up, I must warn you it's a tad short. So I hope you all enjoy. Thanks again for reading and leaving feedback!
Chapter Twenty- one (Part II)
Slowly, Sean's breath returned, but his body remained feverish, severely stirred by the woman before him. And though he could now move, no longer rooted by the swelling in his heart, he remained near the door, choosing to make his presence known from where he stood. Drawing another breath, Sean further settled his thoughts; then raised his hand and gently knocked on the study's door...
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The moment her sight fell upon him, her eyes locking with his intense blue gaze, she was flooded with love, seizing the breath in her lungs, causing her to nearly crumble were she stood. Fighting to maintain her poise, to obscure the yearning heat that was now rushing through her core, Marita forced herself to breathe, still not believing that he was there, hoping that she could somehow settle her heart. But her attempt proved futile, doing little to quell her emotions or to strengthen her tattered resolve; for she needed Sean so much and wanted so desperately to feel him, to lose herself beneath his touch. But she couldn't she thought painfully, as she continued to gaze at him, reminding herself of their reality, she couldn't go to him, because they were never meant be. Marita again breathed deeply, knowing that she should speak or be tactful and end Sean's entrancing stare, but found that she couldn't. For her mind was void of all words and expressions, leaving her powerless to the feelings coursing fiercely through her soul.
"Can I help you?" Marita heard Holmes say, piercing her reverie and unknowingly heightening the tense mood.
Silence –
"No" Sean finally answered, failing to spare the man a glance "I'm here for Marita." He ended earnestly as he continued to bind her with his gaze.
"Do you know this man?" Holmes naively asked as he turned his sight from the man before him and onto a shaken Marita.
Silence –
"Yes..." She answered awkwardly, as she forced her eyes from Sean and on to Holmes, embarrassed by her irrepressible emotions. "He's an old friend" she added shakily, as Sean moved further into the room, advancing upon them, causing her to tremble, to fear him being so close.
"Hello Marita" he said softly, once he reached them, struggling to restrain his impulse to touch her.
"Hello Sean" she said quietly, her heart now pounding more feverishly in her chest.
Slowly releasing her gaze, Sean turned to the gentleman beside her and extended his hand. "Sean Logan" he said firmly
"David Holmes" the man stated sharply, as he returned Sean's handshake and unpleasant stare.
"I didn't know Marita had 'old friends' in Cholena." He finished tightly
"I don't..." Marita interjected with forced blithe, attempting to stay the tense mood "Sean lives in Lexington."
"Lexington?" the man stated tartly "You're a long way from home to be paying an unexpected call."
"Indeed I am..." Sean replied evenly, un-phased by the gentleman's obvious irritation with him. "But Marita is special, worth every mile it took to get here. For it is only in her presence that I find... true peace." He finished honestly as he turned his eyes to the life of his soul, rendering her speechless, touched by the emotions he was igniting in her heart.
"Well it is for that reason that I am here also" Holmes asserted strongly, determined to counter the affect of Sean's words. "Seeing as I was just about to ask Marita to join me for dinner. Perhaps you could visit at another time, when she is free." He ended boldly
"When she is free?" Sean questioned incensedly, now becoming put off by the man's impudence
"David..." Marita interjected quickly, faintly; still heated, weakened by Sean's closeness and his words. "I'm sorry...but I can't...join you for dinner." She said, ignoring the logic plaguing her mind, for the relentless desires of her heart.
The man studied her a moment, wanting to ask why, but already knowing that her reason for declining had everything to do with the gentleman before him. It was obvious that there was something between Mr. Logan and Marita. For the tension amid them had not escaped David's notice. But despite the apparent connection between Marita and this man, David still felt that his acquaintance with her was stronger, and in turn wanted to push for her to change her mind... but he ultimately decided to back down, knowing that respecting her was more important than him battling Mr. Logan for her time.
"Very well" Holmes finally conceded "I won't say that I'm not disappointed... but there will be other times...perhaps then you won't be fettered by an untimely guest." He finished as he turned his gaze to Sean, who was fighting hard to stay his tongue and cool exterior.
"Perhaps." Marita answered tensely, a bit displeased with the man's assertions about Sean.
Silence –
"I guess I should go...give you and Mr. Logan some time to catch up." Holmes said awkwardly, knowing that he'd taken his tenacity too far. "Will you be so kind as to walk me to the door?" he requested softly, hoping he could get Marita alone so that he could atone for his behavior.
Silence –
"Of course" Marita finally stated, no longer piqued by the man's comments but now concerned with her choice to forgo his dinner in order to get what she wanted, but in the same breath what she feared, which was to speak with Sean, to face him - alone.
"Wonderful!" The man uttered as Marita forced a smile, quietly hoping that her brief escape from Sean would strengthen her senses, prepare her to face him in the moments to come. Holmes then possessively looped his arm in hers; causing Sean to become more chafe. "Mr. Logan" he said stiffly, confidently as they moved past Sean.
"Mr. Holmes." Sean replied coolly, rolling his eyes in contempt after the man and Marita walked by. He then turned to watch them exit the room, their arms intertwined. His heart again panged with jealously but he swiftly pushed it aside, forcing his temper to cool, knowing that within minutes Marita would return, and then there would be nothing, and no one standing in their way.