The Eyes Have It
Chapter Eighteen - Paris
Marlena woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon floating into her room from downstairs. She smiled at the thought of John in the kitchen fixing her breakfast. She stretched lazily and realized how sore she was, but she didn't mind. Every ache and pain was a reminder of the amazing time she spent with John last night. As she stretched out her arms, she noticed the new adornment on her left hand. The ring that John had given her was even more breathtaking in the daylight. It was truly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She held her hand close to her heart, feeling like the luckiest woman on the planet.
She got up and brushed her teeth, washed her face and ran a brush through her hair. As she was pulling on her robe, she noticed John's suitcase and decided to make some room for him in her closet. She started pulling clothes out and tossing them in a pile. "Sheesh," she thought to herself. "It's been way too long since I cleaned out in here." Her pile continued to get bigger and bigger.
When John came back up to the bedroom, he found a huge pile of clothing in the middle of the room. "What's going on? Are we going somewhere? Or is it just laundry day?"
Marlena came out of the closet and threw herself into John's arms. "Nope, I'm just making some room for you so you can officially move in." She planted a big kiss on his mouth.
"Well, thanks, but I only have one suitcase right now and even when I send for my other things, I probably won't need this much room." He laughed and hugged her tight. "Are you hungry?"
"Starved!"
"Good, I've got a big breakfast all ready for you downstairs."
"I think I could get used to this Mr. Black."
"You better...cuz I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her nose and led her downstairs to the kitchen where he had a beautiful breakfast all laid out for her.
"Marlena...," John began as they were lazily enjoying their breakfast, "I had an idea. I assume that we're going to the big opening of the Children's Wing at the hospital tomorrow night."
Marlena nodded and smiled as she realized that she wouldn't be going alone now...she wouldn't be going anywhere alone anymore.
"Well, I thought it might be fun to announce our engagement there. All your friends from the hospital will be there. Heck, almost everyone in town will be there. What do you think?"
"I think it's a marvelous idea, but I don't know how I'm going to wait until then to tell anyone...maybe I'll just call my folks, and Eugene and Calliope?" She sounded like a little girl on Christmas morning.
John laughed. "Why don't you go ahead and call them while I clean up these dishes?"
Marlena got up from the table and walked around to sit on John's lap. "Are you always going to spoil me like this?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'll do my best, Ma'am."
"Oooo...and your best is just the best there is." Marlena took his mouth in a long, slow kiss.
As they pulled apart, John wiped his mouth, "Umm...bacon."
Marlena swatted his arm.
John laughed as he pushed her up and swatted her behind. "Go on and make your calls, and then get dressed. We have things to do today."
"We do?" Marlena asked. So much had happened in the last 24 hours, Marlena didn't even know what day of the week it was. "Oh, yeah, I guess I should go to work," she said laughing. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going back to my office before they clear it all out. I have a little...uh...reorganizing to do."
John sent Marlena upstairs to get ready for work while he cleaned up the kitchen.
When John came upstairs, Marlena was still on the phone with her mother. "I don't know yet Mom...this just happened last night." She covered the phone with her hand when she saw John. "My mom wants to know when we're getting married."
John kissed her and replied, "As soon as humanly possible," and then he disappeared into the bathroom.
Marlena smiled, "It will be very soon, Mom. I'll let you know as soon as we set a date. Give my love to Daddy. Bye Mom." She ended her call and started getting dressed.
John drove Marlena to work since she had left her car there the day before. When he dropped her off with a kiss goodbye, Marlena giggled and said, "Have a nice day Dear. I'll see you at home for dinner."
John took her in his arms and planted a big, sloppy kiss on her mouth. "Yes, you will...in fact, I have a little surprise in store for tonight."
"You do?... What?" Marlena asked, she never could wait for surprises.
"You'll find out later." He kissed her nose. "Bye, Dear." He left her standing there and drove off to his office.
Marlena spent her day seeing patients and avoiding everyone else at the hospital. She knew she couldn't hide the very large ring on her finger and the even bigger grin on her face and she didn't want to spoil John's big announcement on Friday night. She kept watching the clock...just waiting until she could go home to see what John had planned. He had called her once during the day, but she couldn't get anything out of him. So now she was just waiting for 5 o'clock, not very patiently.
Finally, Marlena was heading home. When she got there and was getting off the elevator, she could hear music, very faintly, coming from her apartment. She couldn't make out what it was. As she began to turn her key in the lock, John opened the door. He was dressed in a tuxedo, holding a single red rose.
"Bonsoir, Madam, welcome to Paris." John opened the door wider to reveal Marlena's transformed apartment. There were small, white lights hung everywhere. There was a small table and chairs in the middle of the living room with an ice bucket and champagne next to it. There were posters on the windows of the Eiffel Tower and the Paris skyline and there was soft, French music playing. Marlena walked in and spun around in a circle as she took it all in. It was truly magical.
John closed the door and approached her, handing her the rose. "For the most beautiful woman in this world and the love of my life."
Marlena could hardly speak, "You are the most amazing man..." She fell into his arms and held him tight, resting her cheek next to his. "I love you so."
"I love you too, Baby. And I'm going to show you every day for the rest of your life." He lifted her head so he could look into her face. They just stared at each other, sinking into each other's eyes before he finally took her mouth with his. He kissed her deeply, exploring and tasting every part of her mouth. He kissed her until she felt like her mouth was melting into his and she couldn't catch her breath. John finally pulled away and rested his forehead against her.
"I think we should eat now before our dinner gets cold."
Marlena smiled and shook her head, "Is part of your plan tonight to torture me?" she asked.
"No more than you do to me on a daily basis," he said with a grin.
Marlena pushed him away and stood and admired him. "You do look dashing tonight John Black."
"Thank you very much," John replied, standing up to his full height.
"And I am horribly underdressed," Marlena continued, looking down at her business attire. "I'll be right back," she took off upstairs with a gleam in her eye.
"Don't take too long," John yelled after her. "Dinner really will get cold."
Not more than 15 minutes later, Marlena made her appearance, walking slowly down the stairs. She was wearing a very tight fitting, nude colored evening gown that sparkled in the lights. When the light hit her just right, it looked like she was wearing nothing at all. John's mouth literally dropped open.
"You're gawking, Dear." Marlena commented as she walked past him.
"Umm...yeah. Where did this little number come from?"
"You're not the only one who did some shopping for Paris." Marlena pulled out her chair and sat at the table. "Sit down, Dear. Your dinner is getting cold."
Marlena teased John all through dinner...which she really did enjoy. John had picked up dinner from a local French restaurant, Chez Vous: roasted apricot Brie, coq au vin with saffron rice and sautéed zucchini Provencal. It was absolutely sinful. Marlena enjoyed every bite, licking her lips, licking her fingers, reaching over and feeding John. She was enjoying it even more because she knew what she was doing to John.
Finally, John couldn't take it anymore. He got up and came around the table. He held out his hand to her, "I really need to dance with you right now."
Marlena just smiled as she wiped her mouth on her napkin and then placed her hand in John's. He pulled her up and held her tightly against him as they began to sway to the soft music. "So, I was getting to you, huh?" she asked sweetly.
"Uh...yeah. Can't you feel how much you were getting to me?" John pulled her closer.
"Oh...oh, I can feel it." Marlena whispered huskily.
John began to nibble on Marlena's neck and traveled up to the spot behind her ear that he knew drove her crazy. Marlena moaned and leaned her head back, giving him better access. Her hands began pulling John's jacket down his arms, until he was able to drop it on the floor. Then she quickly removed his bowtie. As she began to struggle with his buttons, John grabbed his shirt and ripped it open, sending buttons flying across the room.
Marlena smiled as she moved in to attack his neck, biting and sucking on him as her hands began to unfasten his pants. John removed Marlena from his neck so he could attack her mouth voraciously. They were both in a frenzy now, needing each other so badly. John found the zipper on the back of Marlena's dress and forced himself to pull it down carefully. As he slipped the dress off her shoulders and it fell to the floor, he discovered that she had nothing on underneath. Marlena took his hand and pulled him over to the stairs.
"No Marlena, we're not going upstairs." John quickly kicked off his shoes and finished removing the rest of his clothing. He gently pushed Marlena down on the stairs and kneeled in front of her. He grabbed her legs and pulled her up against him. Marlena wrapped her legs tightly around his hips as his mouth began making love to her neck and breasts. It didn't take long before they were both exhausted and gasping for breath. When they were finally able to move again and John felt like his legs would support him, he scooped Marlena up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs and into the bedroom. He made love to her again, slowly this time, enjoying the touch and feel of her body against his, knowing that they belonged to each other and would be like this for the rest of their lives.