The Eyes Have It

Chapter Twelve – The Elevator...part deux

When Marlena woke up the next morning, John's arm was still wrapped around her. She could feel the warmth of his body cuddled up behind her and she loved the feeling. She held his hand in her own and brought it up under her chin, snuggling against him. She loved waking up in her own bed with someone holding her. It had been a long time.

John kissed the side of her forehead. "Good morning, Beautiful." He had been awake for awhile, happily watching Marlena sleep. He never got tired of looking at her face. She was like a magnificent work of art, every feature just right, her skin like porcelain.

"Have you been watching me?" Marlena asked as she stretched her body and rolled onto her back.

"Umm-hmmm," John answered, kissing her temple again. "You make the cutest noises when you sleep."

"What? Are you saying that I snore, John Black?" she asked, half kidding.

"No...not snoring exactly...more like sighing. You sounded very happy." He gently moved some hair out of her face with his finger.

"I have a feeling that you have something to do with that."

"I sure hope so," he kissed her lightly on the mouth. "I hate to sleep over and run, but I have to get to work, and I'll bet you do too."

"Uh-uh, I don't wanna get up," Marlena answered as she burrowed back down under the covers, acting like a child that doesn't want to go to school. John laughed, the one thing he had learned about Marlena already was that she was definitely not a morning person.

"Come on, sleepy head," he said as he pulled the covers off of her, "Walk me downstairs so I can go. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can get back to pick you up." Now he had her attention.

"Pick me up for what?" she asked as she slowly got out of bed and put on her robe.

As they started to walk downstairs with their arms around each other, John explained, "I would like to take you out on a date tonight?"

"A date?"

"Yep, a traditional, old-fashioned date. You know, maybe some dinner, a little dancing, a little hand holding, a little making out…."

Marlena laughed, "I think we're way beyond "a little" making out."

As they reached the front door, John turned and took Marlena in his arms. He rested his hands on her lower back and looked into her face. "I know, Marlena. I think maybe we've moved a little fast. We sort of skipped the beginning and started in the middle somewhere. I think that's why you got so scared." He reached up and softly stroked the side of her face. "I want us to really get to know each other, Marlena. I want to know everything about you, what you like, what you don't like, what you're scared of, everything. And I want you to know me too. Then they'll be no more doubts, no more fears…"

Marlena held John's face between her hands and kissed him softly on the lips. "You are the sweetest man…" She rested her head on his chest and hugged him close.

"So does that mean you'll go out with me tonight?" John asked as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Marlena laughed, "I'd love to go out with you, Mr. Black."

"Good." John opened the door and began to leave. "One condition…" he said as he turned back.

"Yes?" Marlena asked seductively as she leaned against the door.

"No wine until after I get here."

Marlena slapped his arm and pushed him out the door. "Get to work, Mr. Black. You're late."

As John was getting in the elevator, Marlena called to him, "Oh John, thanks for staying with me last night."

"Thanks for letting me," he replied as the elevator doors closed.

Later that day, Marlena was having lunch with Maggie Horton in the hospital cafeteria when she noticed Maggie looking at her funny. "What?" Marlena asked.

"I don't know," said Maggie smiling. "You just have this look on your face like you've got a secret…a really good one."

Marlena smiled and began to blush a little. "I have a date tonight," she said, just like a teenager.

"Hmmm, let me guess," said Maggie. "With a Mr. John Black?"

"Uh-huh," Marlena replied, blushing again.

"Why, Marlena Evans, you look absolutely giddy."

Marlena giggled. "I am Maggie. He is the sweetest, most incredible man. We spent last weekend together and we had the most amazing time." Marlena did not share the intimate details of her weekend with Maggie. That was personal and not something she was comfortable sharing.

"Well, I haven't seen you look this happy in a very long time." Maggie said as she grabbed her friend's hand and squeezed it. "I am so happy for you…..and I must say, he is a hotty."

Marlena laughed, "Yes, he certainly is." They finished their lunch together, chatting and laughing, with Marlena happily sharing some of the G rated portions of her weekend.

Marlena spent over an hour getting ready for her date with John. She wanted to please him, she wanted to dazzle him, so she decided on her sexiest dress, the red strapless with the slit all the way up to her thigh. She pulled her hair up in a twist on the back of her head and fastened it with a diamond clasp. She examined herself in the mirror, pleased with what she saw. She wondered where he was taking her tonight, not that it mattered, she'd go anywhere with him.

When she heard the knock on her door, she felt the excitement shoot through her body. "You're being ridiculous," she told herself. "You just saw him this morning." But she ran down the stairs anyway. She couldn't wait to see him.

She opened the door to see him standing there with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. He was dressed to perfection in a perfectly tailored dark blue suit and a tie that matched his cobalt blue eyes. John held his breath when he saw her. He had truly never seen anything so beautiful.

"Marlena, you literally take my breath away," he managed to get out as his eyes took in every inch of her. "You are stunning."

Marlena rewarded him with a huge smile, "You're not so bad yourself."

John kissed her cheek as he handed her the flowers. "For you, but I must say, they pale in comparison."

"Why thank you, sir." Marlena replied in her best southern accent. "You do know how to turn a girl's head."

John laughed as he watched her set the flowers on her desk. "I hope these ones don't meet up with a terrible accident."

She gave John a warning glance as she said, "I think they'll be just fine. So….where are we going tonight?"

"I'm taking you to the Penthouse Grill. I thought we should start again at the very beginning."

Marlena blushed a little, remembering that first night at the Grill and how she behaved towards him. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

John watched her as she gathered her wrap and her purse. "So I have to ask, Dr. Evans," John began, his eyes caressing her every curve, "…is this how you usually dress for a first date?"

"A first date?" Marlena giggled. "Well, no, not usually, but you see I had nothing else to wear, everything else was at the cleaners."

"Well, isn't that fortunate for me." John said with a big grin. He took her arm in his and they headed out on their date.

The Penthouse Grill was extremely busy when they arrived. It looked like some kind of party was going on. John & Marlena decided to sit in the bar and have a drink while they waited for their table. Marlena ordered a white wine and sipped it slowly, she did not want a repeat of that other night which she vaguely remembered….she wanted to remember this one. When the band began to play Unchained Melody, John got up and asked Marlena to dance. "I believe you still owe me that dance from the first night I met you here."

"I believe you're right." Marlena replied with a big smile.

He led her out to the dance floor where they settled into each other's arms. He held her body close to his and held her hand close to his heart. Marlena wrapped her arm around his neck and rested the side of her head against his cheek. They fit together perfectly. They moved and swayed to the music like they were floating in their own little world. No one else was there, it was just them. They danced this way through several songs, neither one wanting to move or let go of the other. All of a sudden they were startled, they had bumped into someone. Marlena came out of her reverie to see Calliope and Eugene. They greeted her with shouts and hugs and invited John & Marlena to join them at their table. John recognized them as the couple he had seen with Marlena over a month ago at Blondie's and decided it was a great idea.

They all sat and ate and talked and laughed and had a wonderful time. John sat back and watched Marlena laughing hysterically at Eugene's terrible jokes. He loved seeing her like this. He joined in and laughed at their crazy stories, especially the one about Marlena being Eugene's Best Man at his wedding. Marlena knew that John had been watching her all evening and she began to wonder if John was really having a good time or if he was just being a good sport. She felt bad that their date had been crashed by her friends and she really did want to be alone with him, so she finally made an excuse about how late it was getting, and got up to leave. John followed her lead and they said their goodbyes and agreed to get together again soon.

As they were heading down to the car, Marlena began to apologize to John for her friends interrupting their evening. John silenced her right away. "I had a wonderful time, Marlena. I loved meeting your friends and I loved watching you with them. They're quite something. How did you meet them anyway?"

"Well, Eugene was actually a patient of mine, a long time ago."

"A patient? That explains a lot." John said laughing. Marlena punched him in the arm.

"John," she scolded.

He grabbed her and gave her a big kiss. "I loved your friends, Marlena. I think they're wonderful people."

Before they returned to the car, John asked Marlena if she would like to go for a walk. It was a lovely night out so she agreed. They held hands and walked towards the water front. John took her down to the pier where he had ended up that first night he met her. He told her about that night and about how he couldn't stop thinking about her. Marlena confessed that she had been thinking about him too. She couldn't get his gorgeous blue eyes out of her mind.

"Oh really?" John asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Yes, really," she answered as she placed a kiss on his lips. They just stood and stared at each other, studying each other's faces, memorizing every detail. John used his finger to trace a path across Marlena's face, he touched her eyebrows, her nose, her cheeks and then her lips. He kissed her slowly and sensuously, softly licking and sucking on her lips. He loved the way she tasted. Marlena held the back of John's head and kissed him back, her lips wrapping around his and pulling him in.

As John rested his forehead against hers, he whispered, "I've got something for you."

"You do?" Marlena responded absently, her eyes closed, her head resting against his.

"I do," he pulled away and reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a small square box and handed it to her.

"Oh John, what have you done?" Marlena smiled up at him.

"Open it...I got it a few days ago and I've been waiting for the right moment to give it to you."

Marlena opened the box and found a small crystal heart on a gold chain. She lifted it out and it immediately lit up with all the colors of the rainbow as the streetlights reflected off of it. "Oh John, it's absolutely beautiful." As Marlena examined it a little closer, she could see a line down the middle. "John it looks like it's cracked down the middle."

"That's because it's a mended heart, Marlena. It was broken, but now it's been put back together and healed. ...and that's what I want to do for you, Marlena. I want to heal your heart. I want to take away all the pain it's had in the past and I want to fill it with love and happiness."

Tears started to form in Marlena's eyes as she held the necklace to her chest. "It's wonderful, John. I love it."

"Let me put that on for you." John took the necklace out of her hands as she turned her back to him. He fastened it around her neck and then turned her back to face him. "I love you, Marlena. I want you to know that. I want you to believe it."

"I do." She said, staring into his eyes. She kissed him again, slowly at first, but it quickly became more passionate. She grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer. She opened her mouth and kissed him hungrily, passionately until she couldn't breathe. She whispered against his mouth, "I think …you should take me …to your place."

"My place?" John questioned, knowing exactly what would happen if they went to his place.

"Um-hmm," Marlena mumbled as she began exploring his neck with her mouth and tongue.

John was quickly losing his ability to form any rational thoughts. He was completely turned on by her aggressive behavior. "I thought we agreed to slow things down a bit," he managed to get out before totally giving in to his desire.

"That was your idea," she whispered into his neck, "..but slow can be good," she continued as her hands slowly traveled down his chest and then continued down the front of his pants.

"We have to get out of here now, Marlena," John answered, barely under control. They quickly returned to the car and made the short drive to John's apartment both eager with anticipation. They made it to the elevator, but as soon as the doors closed, they were in each other's arms, kissing and touching and grabbing frantically. Marlena pushed John against the wall of the elevator and began pulling his jacket off while her mouth clung possessively to his. John got his arm out of his jacket and quickly found the slit in her skirt and grabbed her upper thigh, pulling it up so her leg was wrapped around his side. Marlena was busy working on the buttons of his shirt so she could get her hands on his bare chest. John grabbed her hair and pulled her head back so he could get at her neck. He licked and sucked on her delicious white skin until he was sure it would leave a mark. Marlena moaned and began moving her hips, rubbing herself against John.

John switched their positions and slammed Marlena up against the opposite wall, reaching out and hitting the stop button at the same time. The elevator jerked to a stop, but they didn't. They were frantic, they were out of control and there was no turning back. They managed to remove just enough clothing, so John could take her right there, against the wall. Marlena digging her fingernails into his back and wrapping her legs around his body. John holding her up with one hand while leaning against the wall with his other for support. They finally collapsed on the floor together, both panting, their legs shaking, totally exhausted. They rested against each other for several minutes, waiting for their bodies to recover.

John was the first to speak, "Oh my God."

Marlena smiled, "You can say that again."

"Lady, you're gonna kill me if you keep this up."

"I'll try to go easier on you next time."

"Next time?" John teased. "Are you planning on us doing this regularly?"

"I plan on us doing this quite often, John Black," she said as she began to kiss him again.

"Oh no, you don't," he said as he disentangled himself from her and managed to get up. He helped her to her feet. "We need to get out of this elevator." They pulled themselves back together and John started the elevator again. "You still haven't even seen my apartment."

Marlena laughed. "No, I haven't. I hear you have a lovely view."