AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ah, you guys are so savvy! And, I have a random poll, which I was inspired to ask from a fabulous Pirates story called A Pirates Life Indeed. Anyways, do you guys have a favorite Mort Rainey quote? If so, what? Why? Thanks for all your inspiring reviews, and please drop one for me! Thanks!
The next day, I woke up to find a light snowfall outside. I smiled; I had always liked the snow. I stretched, getting out of my warm bed and walked down the stairs. Without warning, Rainey, whom I hadn't seen there, lightly grabbed my arm and quickly led me into the living room.
I quirked an eyebrow, noticing the coffee table moved over to the side, a radio upon it.
"Today, I am going to teach you to dance," he said smiling.
I grinned and nodded as he went over to the radio and pressed the play button. Soon, Beethoven's Fur-Elise filled the room, making me smile. This was one of the few songs I could listen to over and over and still yearn to hear it again.
"I take it you like the song?" he asked and I nodded. "Okay, now are you ready to learn?"
I nodded in reply, smiling with excitement.
"Okay," he said. "Now, place your left hand on my shoulder." I did so and he took my right hand with his left one. "Now, let me lead you around the dance floor."
I smiled and nodded, although I kept my eyes on the floor so I wouldn't step on his feet.
"Don't worry about my feet," he said lowly, almost huskily, making me blush slightly. "If you learn with your head down, you will keep your head down."
I smiled at his advice and shakily picked my head up. Within minutes, I had stepped on his foot. I apologized and he smiled; luckily we were both barefoot. Twenty minutes later, I had stepped on his feet countless times but was able to hold his gaze. Finally, we stopped, taking a break, and he limped to the couch.
"You did great," he said, wincing slightly. "Now when people ask you to dance, you'll know how... and you won't step on their feet."
I smiled but I apologized once again and sat on my knees before him. Gently, I took his left foot in my hand and hoped what I planned to do next, would work.
Rainey watched curiously as Madison took his foot in her hand. Softly but firmly, she began to massage his feet, causing him to moan slightly. It was as if she knew the exact spots to push that would've made him scream in absolute pleasure. He, however, held it in, not wanting to scare his friend but more importantly, not wanting Madison to think that he'd been having those feelings.
Slightly shifting his weight, he began to dwell on these feelings. He hadn't had sex in about a little over a year. When Madison had shown up, he thought of her as an employee, nothing more. Sure, he was physically attracted to her... but it wasn't as if he wanted her for sex, he needed help.
But then... he got to know her... which led him thinking about her in a lot more...
Emotionally, she was damaged, he knew that right on. She held so many burdens, haunting burdens, that had hurt her emotionally but she kept everything inside. He doubted that he would've known about her father if he hadn't seen her in the cold. Damn, that pissed him off. How could anyone treat her so vile... and not even care? What was the world coming too? And what bothered him even more is that she didn't stand up for herself, like she did with him. She's seriously afraid of him, he thought.
Physically, she showed no signs of her abuse. She was very beautiful to him, although somebody else may not agree. She had sparkling eyes and long hair, a dazzling smile she could light the room up with. Her body in itself was amazing. She was not fat nor was she thin, she had a very athletic build. Her breasts were large although she wore clothing that did not show them off and he honestly did not think she would, even if she had the clothing to do so. She had self-respect and that's what truly amazed him about her.
He suddenly wondered if she had any bruises on her body, any scars. Any careless marks her father had left on her... He knew she was treated unfairly, unjustly, but she acted so humble that it was hard to tell. She had taught her own self-discipline. If only she wasn't treated like this... if only it wasn't her...
But then we wouldn't have met, he thought suddenly. She wouldn't be here... with me.
He shook his head suddenly, getting the selfish thought quickly out of his head. She had moved onto his right foot now, sending chills down his spine. How can she affect me like this? How does she have this hold on my? He blinked, and began to think of something, anything, that would push these sudden urges out of his body. Ami and Ted popped into his head and a malicious groan escaped his throat.
Madison quickly let go of Mort's feet, her eyebrows raised in surprise. Rainey glanced down and immediately shook his head. "No, it's not you. An old memory popped into my head... something that I'd truly like to forget."
She nodded, but her eyes still looked dismayed. He pulled himself off the couch, watchful of Madison's hands, and walked over to the closet.
"Thank you for the foot massage," he said, opening the door. "It really helped my feet. I don't even remember my ex-wife giving me one."
He had a wife? I wonder what happened to her? Did she hurt him? Did he hurt her? I wonder how they used to live? So much more questions popped into my head, but I pushed them in the back of my mind and watched Rainey pull a white box out of the question.
I quirked my eyebrow as he brought the box over, a small mischievous smile playing on his lips. I smiled, although my look was questionable. He smiled at this and handed me the box as we sat on the couch.
"Open it," he said softly.
I looked down at the box and delicately pulled the lid off the box. Unfolding the fragile white, paper machete, I gasped at what he had gotten for me. It was a red, sleeveless dress that, when unfolded, went down to my ankles. A beautiful, silver design ran down the right side of the dress, making it look classy yet flirty at the same time. My breath had willingly left me.
Carefully, I folded the dress back up and put the lid on the box, placing it on the floor beside the couch. I pulled Rainey in a tight hug, feeling tears prick into my eyes. He seemed taken aback by my quick gesture, but calmly wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him.
"Thank you, Mr. Rainey," I said. "No one has ever done anything like this before... in my life."
"Maddy, how many times must I tell you to call me Mort?" he asked, a playful smile on his lips.
I broke apart from him, quickly blinking away my tears. "Sorry," I said sheepishly. "Rainey sounds so much cooler."
His eyebrows rose as he put on a mock-hurt face, placing his hands on his hips. "Are you disrespecting my first name?"
I smiled innocently, twirling a lock of hair around my finger. "What ever do you mean, Mort? I mean, Mort is cool, but Rainey... that's like so cool!"
He laughed at my specific explanation and poked my in my stomach. "Hmmm, very reasonable. How about you call me what ya like?"
"Cool, like Captain Rainey?" I asked as my eyes lit up. "Or, or... Mortticans? Or-"
"Only if I can call you Maddy-poo," he said, poking me once more. "Or Maddy-pie!"
"Okay, okay," I said laughing. "I'll call you Mort, then."
"Good," he said. "And I'll call you Maddy."
I nodded, but my face dropped and I turned, looking him in the eyes. His pools of chocolate burned into mine, an eyebrow slightly arched. "But really, there must be something I can do to repay you for that dress."
"Whoa, whoa," Rainey said, lifting his hands as though he was surrendering. "Maddy, I don't do that to employees. Our relationship is strictly business."
I laughed and playfully smacked him. He laughed as well and caught my wrist, looking me squarely in the eyes once more. "Okay, I know what you could do for me."
My smile dropped but my eyes continued to dance as he continued, "Promise me the last dance. At the Ball."
I nodded and smiled serenely. "Of course, Captain Rainey!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: You know, Captain Rainey doesn't sound so bad... Anyways, okay, so I bought the official Secret Window poster (which was twenty-five bucks, man!) and the guy at the poster place who was so savvy, gave me three free Johnny Depp pins, which I have placed on a gold chain and put around my neck! Anyways... please review! Ta!