The Eyes Have It
Chapter Eight - Falling
When John opened his eyes he realized that he was still on Marlena's couch. He was lying down and covered up with the blanket that he had placed on Marlena just the night before. He wondered how long he had been out. He could hear Marlena moving around in the kitchen. He sat up and stretched and noticed it was light outside.
Marlena came walking into the living room with a tray of toast and coffee. "Good morning," she smiled at him. She was still wearing her robe, but it looked like she had already showered and done her hair and makeup.
"Good morning," answered John a little sheepishly. "How long have I been sleeping? It looks like it's morning already."
"It's almost 8," Marlena replied. "I was just about to wake you."
"8 o'clock?...in the morning?..Crap, I should have been back at the office hours ago. I'm so sorry I fell asleep on you Marlena," he said as he started to pull on his shoes.
Marlena laughed, "I guess we're even now. Last night I tucked you in and made you comfortable... and I promise I didn't peek," she continued as he looked up at her. John smiled as he stood up and took her in his arms.
"I really wish I could stay this morning, Marlena. I hate to sleep over and run." He planted a soft kiss on her lips. Marlena's stomach filled up with butterflies. She reached up and placed her hands on the back of John's neck and pulled him in for a longer kiss. As she began to gently suck on his bottom lip, John groaned and pulled her body tighter against his. His tongue entered her mouth and began to dance with hers. She tasted divine and he could feel his passion building. He knew he had to leave now or he would take her right here on the couch. He released her and rested his forehead against hers.
"I really have to go now," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back, her eyes closed, leaning against his forehead.
"I'll call you later, maybe we can have lunch," he suggested.
Marlena lifted up her head and looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said only half kidding.
John reached up and took her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "I will do everything in my power to get away for lunch today, Marlena, but if I can't , I will call you personally and let you know, okay?"
Marlena smiled at him, "Okay." she agreed.
After John left, Marlena quickly got dressed and headed to work. She was practically humming as she walked into her office. She had spent most of the night sleeping on the couch next to John. She loved being near him. For some reason he made her feel safe and protected...and it had been a very long time since anyone made her feel that way.
Just before noon, Marlena's phone rang. She smiled...hoping it was John. "This is Dr. Evans," she answered with her usual greeting.
"Hi Marlena. It's John." He sounded rushed and not in a very good mood.
"Hi John, is everything okay?" Marlena asked concerned.
"I'm afraid not. It looks like it's going to be another late night tonight and there's no way I can get out of here right now. I am so sorry." He sounded extremely disappointed.
"It's okay, John, really. I understand." Marlena was disappointed too, but very happy that he had gone out of his way to call her.
"If there's any way that I can get out of here by 8 or 9pm, can I come over to see you?" John asked hopefully.
"Absolutely," she answered, a smile on her lips. "I'll even fix you some dinner."
"That would be wonderful, Marlena. I'll call you around 8 and let you know what's going on. I have to go now, my other line is ringing," and with that he was gone.
After Marlena put down the phone, she couldn't stop thinking about how stressed John sounded. She knew that he hadn't eaten any breakfast this morning or dinner the night before and now he was skipping lunch. She decided she would surprise him and bring him lunch at his office. Even if he was too busy to eat with her, she could at least drop it off for him. She left her office and went by the deli to pick up some sandwiches and salads and then headed to John's office at Tyton.
When she got to John's floor, she approached his secretary, Mrs. Bowman, and asked if she could see him for a moment. Mrs. Bowman was an older woman who had worked for John for many years. She always relocated when John did because she liked her job and didn't have any family to speak of. She felt very protective of John, like he was her own son. She explained that John was very busy in meetings today and couldn't possibly see anyone. Marlena explained that she just wanted to drop off some lunch because she knew that he was working around the clock and wasn't taking any time to eat.
Mrs. Bowman smiled at Marlena. She liked her. She wondered if Marlena was the reason that she hadn't noticed John going out with anyone lately. Marlena was much more beautiful and elegant than the women she was used to seeing with John, the ones that she didn't approve of, especially that Kate Roberts who had been trying to snare John since the day they arrived in Salem. Mrs. Bowman asked Marlena to take a seat and told her she would let John know that she was here.
Marlena sat down in one of the large, comfortable chairs and looked around the office. It was a very warm and comfortable place with big overstuffed chairs and dark green carpeting. The pictures on the wall were soft landscapes with lakes and trees. It made her feel like she was out in the country in a nice cabin...a very nice cabin. Marlena could see down the long hallway from where she was sitting and she saw an open door at the end of the hall. She wondered if that was John's office. She could see a man standing with his back to her and something around his neck. When Mrs. Bowman buzzed him on his speaker phone, he reached up and removed what turned out to be arms around his neck. Marlena strained to see clearer and as the man moved over to his desk, she could make things out quite clearly. It was definitely John standing there and Kate Roberts was standing there next to him.
Marlena just froze. She couldn't believe what she just saw. Her heart started pounding in her ears. Kate and John began to walk out of his office, Kate in the lead. Marlena stood up and faced them not knowing what to do or say. Kate saw Marlena standing there holding the bag of food. "So this is what's been keeping John busy," she thought to herself. Kate had not given up on getting John Black for herself. She walked up to Marlena and said, "Hi Marlena, is that food for John? I hope so, he was just telling me how hungry he was," and with that, Kate walked off towards her office, leaving Marlena just standing there.
John was several steps behind Kate and he hadn't heard what Kate said to Marlena. He greeted Marlena with a big smile and said, "Marlena, what a nice surprise. I'm sorry I had to cancel lunch, but I'm so glad to see you."
Marlena could feel the blood rushing up to her head. She couldn't believe the gall of this man. "I just came by to bring you some lunch because I knew how busy you were," she barely got out with her teeth clenched. "Don't choke on it!" she spat out as she dropped the lunch bag on the small reception table and quickly headed for the elevator. She made it inside just as the door was closing.
John was right behind her, but he just missed it. He banged his hand against the elevator door and swore. "God damn it!" What the hell was wrong with that woman? She had more damn mood swings than anyone he'd ever met. Unfortunately, she was also more interesting and exciting than anyone he'd ever met and he knew that he wanted to be with her more than anything, even if she was a royal pain in the ass.
As John was pushing the elevator button to go and follow her, one of his manager's came out of a nearby office. "John, we've got Dubai back on the phone. We need you in here."
"Damn it!" cussed John. "I'll just have to deal with Marlena later."
Thankfully Marlena only had one client to see that afternoon. She tried to remain calm and listen patiently as the woman went on and on about her husband ignoring her and never taking her out anywhere. She had no sympathy for the woman what so ever. All Marlena wanted to do was to go home and cry her eyes out. She couldn't believe that she had actually been thinking of starting a relationship with John Black. She was thanking God that it hadn't gone any farther than it had.
By the time Marlena got home, she had calmed down a bit, but as soon as she walked in the door, she saw the flowers that John had sent her. Her rage came back full force. She took off one of her shoes and hurled it at the flowers. Half of the blossoms came off on one side of the bouquet but it stayed standing, looking rather lob sided. Marlena marched upstairs to soak in a hot bubble bath.
John had tried to call Marlena, but she wasn't answering her phone. He wasn't surprised. Things were finally starting to calm down at his office and he managed to get out a little after 8pm and headed over to her place. He had no idea what had happened at his office, but he was determined to find out. He was even bringing a peace offering although he had no idea what he did wrong.
He knocked on the door and was surprised when Marlena opened it, looking fairly calm although her eyes looked puffy like she had been crying. When she didn't say anything, he tentatively asked if he could come in. She opened the door wider and let him walk in. Right away John noticed the lob sided flowers sitting on the table.
"What happened to the flowers?" he asked, trying to break the ice as he set down the package in his hands.
"They had an accident," was her cool reply. "Why are you here John?"
"I'm here, Marlena because I said I would be," answered John feeling incredibly frustrated. "And I'd really like to know what that was at my office today."
"I'm sorry, John. I guess I owe you an apology for that. I had no right to behave that way," she answered with absolutely no feeling in her voice.
"I didn't come here for an apology, Marlena. I just want to know what is going on." John was getting nervous now. She was behaving very strangely and like she didn't care at all.
"Nothing is going on, John. There is nothing between us. I have no claim on you. You have every right to see whomever you wish." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
John was totally confused. "Marlena, what are you talking about?"
"I saw you, John. I saw you in your office with Kate and I got upset because I thought you were busy working. It doesn't matter to me who you're seeing John, just please don't lie about it."
"I'm not seeing Kate, Marlena, and I was busy working." He was starting to get defensive.
"Oh please, John. I saw you….with Kate's arms wrapped around your neck. You looked pretty cozy from where I sat." Marlena was getting upset now.
John was finally beginning to understand what had happened. A smile began to creep over his face as he realized that Marlena was jealous.
"What the hell are you smiling at?"
"You…..you're jealous."
"I am not jealous. I told you it doesn't matter to me who you're interested in John. It's none of my business."
"But I'd like it to be your business, Marlena," he said softly as he slowly walked towards her. "Kate was in my office today because she's been helping me a great deal the past few days. She's a very sharp business woman. In fact, I just gave her a promotion."
"Yah, I'll bet you did…" Marlena whispered under her breath.
John was facing Marlena now and he put his hands on her arms. "Marlena, listen to me. I am not now, nor have I ever been interested in Kate Roberts. There is only one woman that I am interested in."
Marlena was still not convinced. "Then why were your arms around her John?" Tears started to well up in her eyes. God, Marlena hated being a needy, emotional female.
"Her arms were around me and she was just saying goodbye."
"What do you mean, goodbye?"
"Her new promotion puts her in charge of the Dubai office. She'll be leaving next week."
All of a sudden, all the disappointment and the anger and the jealousy that Marlena had been fighting to hold back released and tears started running down her face. John took her in his arms and held her tightly to his chest. He patted her head and tried to soothe her. After a few moments, her crying subsided and her breathing began to return to normal. John lifted up her chin and made her look into his face.
"I'm crazy about you, Marlena," he said as he wiped away the last few tears on her cheek. "..just you, no one else."
He placed a soft kiss on her mouth. They stood there just looking into each other's eyes, both of them feeling the heat of their bodies next to each other. "I want you so much, Marlena," John finally whispered, not being able to stand it any longer. He lowered his head and began leaving small kisses along her jaw line to her soft neck. He sucked on her neck gently and then worked his way up to her ear. Marlena leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She could feel the heat growing inside her, spreading out to all her limbs. Her nerve endings began to tingle and she felt a rushing in her ears. She let her body just relax and sink into John's arms as he held her tightly and continued to place soft kisses on her ear and her neck. He finally came back to her mouth and took it possessively with his own, pressing hard against her lips. He urged her mouth open with his tongue and tasted every part of her sweet mouth.
Without breaking the kiss, John found the sash on Marlena's robe and quickly untied it. As her robe fell open, his hands reached inside and around to her back and he pulled her tightly against his eager body. He could feel her through the thin satin of her nightgown. His hand began to travel around her waist and then up her rib cage until he found her breast. He cupped it in his hand and squeezed softly while gently rubbing his thumb across her nipple. Marlena moaned and arched her back which made her pelvis press harder into John. She could feel how much he wanted her. She began to shake and tears began to slowly roll down her face.
John felt Marlena trembling and then he tasted her tears in their kiss. He pulled away and looked into her face. Her eyes were closed and she was crying. He gently pulled her head into his chest and rocked her like she was a small child.
"I'm sorry, John…." she began, trying to control her crying. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Shhh…it's okay. There's nothing to apologize for," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"I guess I'm just nervous….and a little scared…"
"You don't need to explain, honey. It's okay." John continued to hold her in his arms and rock back and forth.
When she finally calmed down, John led her over to the couch and pulled her down next to him, cradling her in his arms. When she tried to apologize again, he stopped her. He lifted her face up to his.
"I want to make love to you, Marlena, more than anything in this world," he told her, looking her straight in the eyes, "..but not until you're absolutely ready. I'm not going to rush you into anything. I can be a very patient man, when I need to be." And then he added with a twinkle in his eye, "…besides, I'm actually getting used to cold showers."
Marlena laughed, rather embarrassed, but so grateful for this loving, caring man sitting next to her.
"So where's that dinner you promised me?" John asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Coming right up, sir," Marlena answered as she jumped up and headed to the kitchen.
John and Marlena spent the next few hours just enjoying each other's company. They sat on the floor in the living room eating macaroni and cheese at the coffee table. It was the worst macaroni and cheese John had ever had, but he didn't care. He just loved being there with Marlena, listening to her tell stories about her friends and her childhood, watching her expressions, seeing her laugh. He never got tired of looking at her. After they cleaned up the dishes and John was getting ready to leave, Marlena apologized for not having any dessert.
"Dessert!" John yelled. "Oh crap, I forgot all about it." John found the bag that he had carried in when he first got there. He looked inside and laughed. "Would you like some Butter Pecan soup?" he asked.
Marlena burst out laughing and grabbed him in a big hug. "No, thanks. I think I'll pass, but thanks for trying."
They kissed good night at the door, like teenagers ending a date. "I'll call you later." John said as he kissed her nose.
Marlena watched him as he entered the elevator and disappeared. She couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. Marlena knew that there was no going back now. She was falling head over heels in love with John Black.
John called her thirty minutes later just as she was climbing into bed.
"I just wanted to say good night," he said softly, "…and don't make any plans for this weekend. This weekend, you're mine."
Marlena fell asleep with a huge smile on her face, wondering exactly what John planned on doing with her this weekend.