And... Here's another one for you!

Chapter 8

And How They Loved

Part III

Victor

I was waiting in the dark conference room after dinner.

"Hey." Marian slipped in and closed the door.

I stood and smiled at her. She immediately ran over and launched herself into my arms.

I stood there and kissed her. She wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.

When I finally put her down our lips were swollen.

"Wow." She said and grinned.

"I know."

She just hugged me again.

"Let's talk." I said and she held up a finger before reaching down the back of the mini fridge I the corner. She pulled out a small bottle and looked at the label.

"Cider." She grimaced but shrugged it off and put it on the table in front of me.

I laughed at her boldness and we both sat.

"My gran would turn in her grave if she saw me doing this. Sharing booze in a dark room with an unmarried man." She said. "My dad wouldn't be too pleased either."

I smiled. "What's he like?"

She leant back and passed me the bottle. "He's great. My mum left us when she found her soulfinder. Dad's not a Savant so he had to teach me and my sister everything he heard from Mum. He did really well."

"And your sister?"

"Amy. She's cool. Met her soulfinder Derek when we were on holiday and now she's a vet in Denver. She has Jamie, her son. He's so cute."

I thought for a bit. "Amy Turner. I think I might have met her. We sometimes take our dogs and horses there."

Marian nodded. "Thank god you live in Denver."

I laughed. "I know. What are the chances right. We live within an hour drive from each other."

"Apart from the fact that most of the year I'm on the other side of the world."

I smiled and reached for her hand. She twisted her fingers in with mine. "We'll manage." I said. "When do you go on leave?"

"A month."

"Ok. I'll come and meet you when you get back. I want to meet your family and I want you to meet mine."

She grinned. "Sounds really great. I want to meet them. I'll tell you the base I come back to when I find out."

We swapped numbers.

"So, I have heard a lot about you from the guys at dinner." I said and she cringed.

"If its anything about the Jack Daniels and the bulletproof vest, don't tell me?"

I laughed. "I didn't hear that one. But I can feel there is a good story for a rainy day."

She smiled. "It involves theft, nudity and a week on kitchen duty."

I laughed, already getting the picture. "You know, we are really different."

She looked at me with her head tipped to one side.

"I mean, you're all sarcastic and funny and badass."

She grinned. "Yeah. I ought to stop that."

"No, don't! It's one of the best things about you." I said and she blushed a bit.

I carried on. "It's just; I gave up on finding you so I threw myself into my job to keep my mind off it. I think I became a bit of a robot. You didn't."

She smiled and leaned forward, planting a kiss on my cheek. "Well, I gave up too. But I still tried to live my life as I would if I had found you earlier. And we have time. We're only 23."

I nodded. "Yeah, we're good. But I was being affected by your 'absence'."

She smiled and squeezed my hand. "So was I. I was getting a bit mean. I would joke about things I shouldn't and was getting into trouble more. I'm surprised I wasn't told to get lost."

I laughed. We were interrupted by my phone ringing. She gasped, "I love this song!"

It was playing Hurts Like Heaven by Coldplay.

I felt brave so I put it on replay and stood. I pulled her to her feet and swung her around the room.

She laughed and put her arms around my neck.

I sang along quietly and we dance in circles, avoiding chairs and tables.

"Yes I feel a little bit nervous. Yes I feel nervous and I cannot relax." She sang and I spun her under my arm and dipped her.

I loved it. It was everything I wanted.

I felt calmer, happier.

"Cos you use your heart as a weapon, and it hurts like heaven." I sang and she laughed.

Her red hair was flying everywhere and she was breathing fast.

When they song ended we collapsed onto a sofa and caught our breath.

"Wow." I said.

She rolled onto her front, facing me. "Thanks for finally showing up." She said.

I leaned forward and kissed her gently.

When we parted I rested my forehead against hers. "You too."

We were interrupted by someone clearing their throat from the door.

We turned to see Nigel standing and looking stunned.

"Well that was fast." He said. He turned and walked briskly away.

I looked back at Marian. We burst out laughing.

She kissed my cheek, whispered goodnight and skipped off, waving as she left.

God she was great.

I wasnt so happy with this one.

I thought their relationship was a bit strained.

But the dancing was cute.

Hurts Like Heaven is an awesome song.

Check it out.