Every Memory Repeats

Chapter 15

Waking up with Marlena in his arms had John feeling like everything was right in the world. Crouching in front of the fireplace, he glanced over his shoulder watching her. The last few months had been hard. A lesson in mental fortitude. They had been spending so much time together, that he'd known he was falling deeper in love with her, while planning to move forward in a life with someone else. He'd watched Marlena as she moved, ready to catch a whiff of her perfume if she happened by. He'd dreamt of holding her, kissing her. He'd dreamt of their life together before Orpheus had destroyed it all. Being able to watch her sleep, and knowing that things were falling into place for them, was so much more than he could have ever hoped for.

He turned back to the fire, when he heard Marlena said softly from behind him, "Hey, Sailor."

"Sailor?" he asked her with a soft smile.

"You came after me during one of the worst storms of the century. I think it's fitting," she murmured. "The sweatpants look good."

"I can't believe you still have my clothes."

"I—they make me feel close to you," she told him, sliding her naked body behind him.

John groaned at the feel of her breasts along his back, and he said, "Doc...G-d you're a distraction."

Looping her arms around his neck, she kissed him, and whispered, "Good."

"C'mere," he told her, reaching behind himself, and pulling her body around to lay in his lap. "Having you naked in my lap is the best way to start the day." Tracing his fingers over her lips, and then around her nipples, had Marlena moaning softly when he leaned down to kiss her. He whispered, "You're amazing. You know that, lady?"

"I want to wake up with you everyday," she told him quietly.

"I think that could be arranged," he murmured against her neck. "That could definitely be arranged." Smoothing his large palm over Marlena's thighs, he told her, "Open your legs, baby."

She couldn't refuse him, allowing her legs to fall open, as a gentle sigh escaped her lips, and she stared up at him with trusting eyes. His hand cupped her gently, squeezing with just enough pressure to make her moan. His middle finger slid along her slit with a featherlight touch, barely grazing her clit, but making her hips buck in search of more.

The fire was blazing, heating the room around them, and lighting it with a soft warm glow in the early morning light. Marlena touched John's face lightly, and said, "Make love to me."

Rolling her onto her back on the rug in front of the fire, John pushed the curls back from her face, and whispered, "We're going slow this time, baby."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Roman arrived at the house around ten o'clock in the morning. Finding his mother in the kitchen with the twins, he said, "Where's Doc?"

Caroline looked over, and saw Eric staring at his father with wide eyes. She reached for Roman's arm, pulling him out of the room, and said quietly, "Roman, you can't be around the twins right now."

"What? They're my kids, Ma!"

"I know, but Marlena didn't press charges for what you did. She didn't even call Abe, and he's one of her best friends. She asked me to keep you away until she returned," Caroline said. "She's worried about what Eric saw. You hit her, Roman."

"I didn't mean to! It was an accident. I was angry!" he said. "I'm not the kind of person who goes around abusing women. You know that!"

"I wouldn't have thought you would, but the fact remains that you did!"