The Eyes Have It
Chapter Twenty One - Hot Cocoa
The next four weeks were so hectic that John & Marlena never had time to sit down and discuss the subject of children. John had every intention of bringing it up again, but not until after they were married and settled in their new home.
They spent every moment they had making final arrangements with the caterer, the florist, the minister, the musicians, the jeweler. They were having matching platinum rings made with their wedding date and initials engraved inside. Marlena took care of her dress so that John wouldn't see it and John took care of the honeymoon plans because he wanted to surprise her.
Mrs. Bowman was a big help. She helped with all the phone calls and appointments, filled out paperwork, addressed the invitations. She was thrilled to be involved. She had never seen two people more in love than John and Marlena and she felt like her own son was getting married.
Eugene and Calliope were also helping out. They were so happy for Marlena that they asked if they could host the rehearsal dinner party for John and Marlena. They were so excited about it, that Marlena just couldn't say no, but she did beg them to keep it small and not too outrageous. John just laughed when Marlena told him about it and suggested that they ask Eugene and Calliope to stand up with them.
Marlena threw her arms around John's neck, "And that is why I love you so much Mr. Black."
In addition to all the wedding preparations, Marlena was also very busy at work. In between patients, Marlena had started work on the Children's Center. She was in the process of interviewing counselors and assistants and sending letters out to hospitals and doctors all over the country with invitations to visit and hopefully volunteer their time once the Center opened. She was also trying to get caught up on all her paperwork, so that she wouldn't have a total disaster on her hands when they returned from their honeymoon.
John had also been busy at work. He was making sure that everything was running smoothly and that any and all problems were taken care of. He didn't want any phone calls during his two week honeymoon and he made sure that everyone knew that. He was also working on a side project of his own that very few people knew about.
Ever since the problems at his office in Dubai, John had a feeling that there was a lot more going on with Victor Kiriakis than just business rivalry. At first, John was just keeping an eye on the competition, but the more he discovered about Victor Kiriakis, the more he was convinced that Victor was involved in illegal activities. John had some spies on the inside and was hoping to get some definite proof so that he could put him away. John did not like men like Victor. They gave big business a bad name. So far, John didn't have anything concrete that he could take to the police, but he knew it was only a matter of time.
Just a few nights before the wedding, Marlena was cleaning up the living room. She smiled as she gathered up all the papers and files that were spread all over the desk, happy that all the wedding planning was finally over. As she tried to carry them all, she ended up dropping a file. As she bent down to pick it up, she noticed the name Kiriakis written on the file. She wondered what John was doing with this and hoped that he wasn't doing business with that man.
"John?" she called out towards the kitchen.
"Just a second..." he called back. A moment later, John appeared from the kitchen carrying two mugs of hot cocoa, covered with whipped cream. "Care to join me?"
He noticed Marlena holding up a file. "What's that?"
"That's what I want to know. John, are you doing business with Victor Kiriakis?"
John set the cocoa down on the coffee table and took the file from Marlena. "No, I am not doing business with Kiriakis. I would never do business with him. I am simply keeping an eye on him."
"Be careful of him, John. I don't trust him. He makes me think of a mobster."
John laughed. "He's not a mobster. He's just a rather shady businessman who is trying to get hold of some of my companies, but who never will. Don't worry, there's nothing sinister going on."
John felt a little guilty lying to Marlena about Victor, but he didn't want her worrying about him, not now. She had too many other things to think about right now.
He took Marlena's hand and led her over to the couch. "Now, we have much more important things to discuss...like this whipped cream that is melting as we speak."
Marlena couldn't help but smile. John always knew what she was in the mood for. She settled herself on the couch as John handed her the hot cocoa. John sat on the couch and pulled Marlena's feet up onto his lap. He began to rub her feet and calves as she sipped her drink. Marlena let out a very contented sigh.
"So, I was wondering," began John. "We have the wedding rehearsal tomorrow, right?"
"Umm-hmm," Marlena nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
"So, when is the honeymoon rehearsal?" He glanced at Marlena sideways as he raised that now very familiar eyebrow.
"You really think we need a rehearsal for that?" she chuckled.
"Well, practice makes perfect," John answered as his hands moved a little higher on her leg.
"Actually," Marlena began as she pulled her legs away from him, "I was thinking that maybe we should….abstain….until the wedding night."
"Oh, you were, were you?" John set down his cocoa and moved closer to Marlena.
"Don't you think that will make it even more exciting?"
"It might just kill me if it gets any more exciting, Marlena." John took Marlena's cocoa and set it down on the table. Then he stretched her legs back out and lay down next to her.
"What are you doing, John?" Marlena asked, trying not to giggle.
"Nothing," he replied innocently. "It's okay if I just cuddle up next to you, right? Is that allowed?"
"I suppose there's no harm in that."
"Oh, but you do have a little whipped cream on your lip. Let me get that for you." He softly licked the cream off of her lip.
"It looks like you got some on your neck too. How did you do that?" He proceeded to lick and nuzzle her neck, working his way up to her ear.
Marlena closed her eyes and began to breathe deeper. She couldn't even pretend to resist John.
"So you think we should wait until our wedding night, huh?" he asked her as he continued to nibble on her ear.
"Umm-hmm…" Marlena answered absently.
"So, I suppose that I should stop doing this?"
"Yea, I suppose…."
"And I definitely shouldn't be doing this," John stated as his hand found its way underneath her sweatshirt.
"No, you shouldn't do that," Marlena answered as her arm went around his neck and she held him tighter.
"And this would definitely be out of the question." John added as he rolled over on top of her and spread her legs open with his knee.
"Out of the question," Marlena mumbled as she pulled John's mouth down to hers.
Just as she began to kiss him, John pulled away. "Hey, what are you trying to do? I thought we weren't allowed to do this."
"Oh, shut up and kiss me," demanded Marlena.
"Is that an order?" John asked with a definite gleam in his eye.
"Yes."
"I honor and obey…" John took possession of her mouth hungrily as Marlena's hands went under his sweatshirt and began pulling it up. John ripped his sweatshirt off over his head and began attacking Marlena's neck. Marlena wrapped her legs tightly around John's hips as her nails began scratching his back. They managed to undress each other completely without ever losing contact. It was like they were one mind, one heart, one body. They moved in perfect unison as they satisfied each other, both knowing exactly what the other wanted and needed.
As they lay in each other's arms, cuddled under a blanket, Marlena softly rubbed her cheek against John's chest. She had never in her life imagined such happiness as she was feeling right now. She sighed contentedly as she hugged John tightly.
John smiled and kissed the top of her head. "What are you thinking?"
"I was thinking that every time we make love, I think it can't possibly get any better…..and then it does." She lifted her head and looked into John's face. "How is that possible?"
"Hmm?….I'm not sure….maybe we should do some more research on the subject to investigate this further." John rolled Marlena over onto her back and began kissing her softly as his hands began to roam under the blanket. Marlena moaned as she opened her mouth to meet John's tongue. Suddenly, John lifted his head, "Wait a minute, what about the abstaining thing you wanted to do?"
"We can always start that tomorrow," Marlena said as she pulled his mouth back down to hers.
"Yea, sure we can." John smiled as he took possession of her mouth …..again.