Can't believe we only have just over a week until we have season 5...there goes my idea of having finished my take on season 4 before season 5 begins. Oh well, its still fun filling in the blanks (and lets face it there were more than a few holes in the plot lines of season 4). Anyway enjoy and hopefully chapter 20 won't be too far behind.
**** This chapter picks up directly after chapter 18.
"Are you okay Rayna"
"I'm fine" she stated through gritted teeth. She didn't have the patience to pamper his ego tonight. Swallowing down her anger she staked her way back into the throngs of the bar.
"What did you want to tell me Markus?" Rayna yelled over the music as she turned towards Markus.
"Um, maybe we should go somewhere private. I don't think this is something you want to hear about here."
Sighing, "Fine. I think I'm going to head home anyway, why don't we head outside where its quieter."
Pushing her way through the crowd, Rayna forced her way through a little bit more forcibly than was polite. At this stage, she didn't care, she was angry and frustrated and wasn't feeling overly charitable towards anyone, especially Markus. She could feel him hovering behind her as she waited for a large group of people to move pass them.
Pushing against the door, Rayna burst out into the fresh air, inhaling a deep breath she willed herself to calm down. Her whole body was tingling and she could still feel Deacon's hands on her. Her tongue darted out and licked her lip. Biting down on her bottom lip, she smothered the moan bubbling up, she could still taste Deacon on her tongue. Smoothing her hands down over her skirt, she balled her hands in the material as she willed the flush threatening to engulf her body away.
"Are you sure you are alright Rayna?"
"YES" Rayna snapped back before softening her tone, "Yes, I'm fine. I just need a moment that's all."
Walking away from the man hovering behind her, she drew in more deep breaths. Her body was on hyper alert thanks to Deacon however her mind was struggling to swim through her raging desire, so that she could deal with whatever emergency Markus had.
Markus stood rooted to the spot as he watched Rayna storm away from him. Sensing that she needed some space, he moved away from the entrance into a more secluded area off to the side of the entrance. Leaning against the wall Markus watched as Rayna walked in tight circles, attempting to work some of her emotions off.
Turning back towards Markus, Rayna walked slowly towards him. He watched as she headed back towards him, sensing that her mood had changed. Even though she claimed she was fine, he knew that she wasn't. Something had happened tonight that had caused her current mood. Grimacing to himself, he knew that what he had to say wouldn't improve her mood. But he owed it to her to tell her what he had seen tonight. He still found it hard to believe that Deacon had behaved in that manner, especially when he knew that Rayna had come along tonight at his request.
Markus knew what everyone had told him about their relationship, but from what he had seen, it didn't seem as strong as he had been led to believe. Thinking back over the last couple of months, he knew he hadn't imagined the deepening relationship between himself and Rayna. It was reassuring to him that their relationship had developed into friendship, with a potential of something greater. He knew that Rayna would be devastated by Deacon's deception. Thankfully she knew that she could depend on him to help her through. After all she had confided in him about Maddie's desire to enter the industry. He knew that she was protective about her private life and that she wouldn't have turned to him in her time of need unless she trusted him and felt something for him.
Rayna wrapped her arms around her middle struggling to centre herself. Her unreleased tension was causing her to be irritable. Rubbing her hands over her bare arms, her mind flashed back to Deacon's warm hands teasingly caressing her skin. Clenching her teeth, she willed her mind back towards the man in front of her forcing her bubbling desires down. Smiling weakly at the man standing in front of her, she could feel the flames of annoyance growing in her, overwhelming the last of her dying embers of desire.
"What was so important Markus?" Rayna asked, not bothering to hide her frustrated tone.
"Umm, well you know Ray I love working with you and you know that l see us as more as friends than artist and producer, right?"
"Hmm, right?" Rayna answered hesitantly unsure where this conversation was leading.
"So, um, l think it's only fair that I'm honest with you. Ummmm…."
Frowning slightly at him, Rayna watched as he paced in front of her. She could sense that he was struggling to tell her something.
"Ray…"
"Ohhhh Markus, sorry, give me a minute."
Not waiting for his reply, Rayna raced past him. Turning around Markus watched as Rayna rushed towards Scarlett. His eyes widened as she hugged the young woman. He felt sick as he watched them chatting to each other. They both seemed so comfortable with each other. He knew that what he had to tell Rayna about Deacon and Scarlett would devastate her but she had the right to know what he had seen.
Markus gave Rayna a small smile as she walked back towards him. He knew he couldn't delay any longer. He had to tell her that Deacon had potentially cheated on her with one of her artist.
"Sorry about that. I just remembered that Deacon asked me to invite Scarlett over for dinner tomorrow night."
"Deacon asked you?" Markus squeaked.
Frowning at Markus, Rayna nodded.
"Ye. Why?"
"Um, oh geez. Umm, how well do you know Scarlett?"
"Why? I've known her pretty much her entire life. She's Deacon's niece….why?"
"Deacon is her uncle?"
"Um, yeah. Why? What's going on Markus?"
"Nothing…nothing Ray" Markus stammered "I…. I just wanted to tell you that I'm unsure about one of the tracks on the album."
Rayna gave him a quizzable look. He was acting bizarrely. Sighing internally, it shouldn't surprise her. Markus was prone to being a drama queen, blowing things out of proportion. The entire cloak and dagger act from tonight wasn't that out of character, though even she did think it was a bit of an overkill to just tell her about his concerns relating to the album. Rubbing her forehead, she didn't have the patience to deal with this tonight. All she wanted to do was go home and wrap herself around Deacon and forget about Markus and the outside world.
"Markus its late and I'm tired, you dragged me out here just to tell me that?" The tone in her voice expressed her disappointment towards the man in front of her.
"I'm sorry Ray" Markus says as he grabs her hand. His eyes plead with her not to be angry with him. His thumb caresses her skin while his blue eyes show the level of hurt his voice expresses. Pulling her hand out of his grip, Rayna ran her hands through her hair while blowing out an exasperated sigh.
"Markus go home and sleep it off. We will talk about this later."
"Rayna I'm so sorry."
"I know you are Markus. Look I'm going to go back and catch a ride with Deacon. Why don't you go home and think it over? Do you really want to change the song list on the album? How about we discuss it Monday?"
Markus nodded at her. He knew he should be embarrassed by his behaviour tonight but he wasn't. He knew he wasn't imagining the feelings between him and Rayna. He suspected that she was just afraid. Afraid to break from what she had always known. Opening his arms and giving her a sheepish look, Markus' eyes pleaded with her to forgive him. Smiling weakly at him Rayna allowed him to hug her goodbye.
Turning his head to the side, Markus whispered in her ear, "Night Ray" before kissing her cheek.
Pulling back out of his embrace, Rayna gave him one last smile before walking back into the bar.
Markus smiled as he watched her walk away. There was no denying the chemistry between them. He knew that she must have felt it. His body was still humming from that brief embrace. His lips were tingling from kissing her cheek. He sauntered over to the waiting taxi, whistling to himself thinking it was just a matter of time before her claimed Rayna as his own.