Dangerous Games

Marlena’s head rested against John’s rock hard chest. His powerful arms engulfed her, holding on to her as tightly as he dared. Leaning forward, he kissed the top of her head and let out a heavy sigh. He knew this was the last time he would ever be with her again, the very last time he would hold her in his arms.
Marlena’s head was spinning, she refused to accept that this was it, that it was over just as quickly as it had begun. She knew there had to be some way of making it work, however she had no clue what it was. “What are we going to do?” She said, her voice a raspy whisper. She tried to fight back the tears, but to no avail, they burst their dams and rushed over her cheeks, trickling onto John’s chest.

John wracked his brain, but he couldn’t come up with a single alternative that didn’t involve getting them both killed. If he could have his wish he’d take her and run away, just as far from this island and from Stefano DiMera as they could get. But John knew that wasn’t possible, Stefano had a long reach, that extended to the ends of the earth. John couldn’t bear the thought of being the cause of something happening to her. He knew Stefano would try to do them both in for their betrayal and John wouldn’t have it.

“There isn’t anything we can do.” He said.

Marlena lifted her head and looked at John. “There must be some way. There has to be, I can’t let you go. I’ll tell Stefano everything. I’ll make him understand.” She said, while her brain continued to search for answers.

“No!” John instantly shot back. “I can’t let you do that. Don’t do that, there is no way he will accept it. He’ll kill you. He’ll kill us both.”

Marlena’s eyes fell to the ground, and the tears continued to fall. She really didn’t remember her husband, just tiny bits and pieces here and there of a past together. Surely he wouldn’t go that far, he loved her, he told her so everyday.

“We just have to make peace with it and go our separate ways.” John said, trying to sound convincing, but he didn’t believe a word of it himself, and he didn’t dare look her in the eye when he said it. How was he supposed to forget her? How was he just supposed to walk away? How could he not?

John stood up, looking around for his clothes. “The boss will be home in a couple hours.” He was trying to push his feelings aside, and prepare for what was ahead. It wasn’t working very well, he turned his head away from her to hide the tears that now flowed from his eyes.

Marlena just sat there, feeling numb. Trying desperately to come to grips with the fact that it was over. They might never see each other again, after tonight. Her heart was pounding and she felt waves of panic rushing over her. The thought of Stefano coming back gave her a chill. She knew Stefano wanted her, one thing or another had always put it off until now, she knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer any longer, he would have what he wanted or damned well know why.

The idea of Stefano’s meaty hands on her, now sickened and panicked her. This made the tears come in torrents, she didn’t want to be with anyone else but him, John. She didn’t want to have to pretend to love a husband she barely remembered, to give herself to him, while wanting another man. She couldn’t go through with it.

Marlena looked up to John nearly dressed. Her tear filled eyes searched around for her own wardrobe, which lay on the rocks of the opposite shore.

John slipped his shoes on and looked down at her, she still hadn’t moved. She was just sitting there with her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs while she silently cried her eyes out. John walked over to her and got down on his knees beside her.

He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, then he took her chin and gently turned her face towards his. Slowly Marlena lifted her eyes to look into his. “I will always love you, don’t ever forget that. If there was a way that we could be together without signing both our death warrants, I’d do it so fast.” John said, stopping himself.

Marlena began to cry harder and she put her arms around John’s shoulders and he drew her to him. “I can’t do it John, I can’t.” She cried, clutching him tightly.

“We don’t have any choice.” John said, as he stroked her hair and held her.

“He wants me. He wants to be with me. I can’t do it. I can’t pretend to love him, when it’s you I love.” Marlena said, pulling back to look at John.

“I can’t stand the thought of him touching you.” John whispered as he gritted his teeth. He wanted her to be his, and his only, but she belonged to the boss. John leaned down and took her mouth with his, forcefully, possessively. The way she succumbed to him so readily, matching his ardent passion with her own, told him that she was his, and his alone. No one could ever take that away from them.

At last John tore his lips from hers, and looked down at her. “You get dressed and go back to the mansion and get ready for him. I have to go back to the airfield.” John said. He grasped her shoulders and pulled her to him again. Pressing his lips against hers, hard, but not too hard. His tongue fretfully searched out hers, lapping and tasting, swirling around and around hers.

Marlena felt weak and dizzy. She clung to him, her tongue danced with his. She never wanted to let go of him, she didn’t want to go back, but she knew she must. She could feel John trying to pull away, but she wouldn’t let him go.

John held her even more tightly, he was positive he was hurting her, but she said nothing. Clinging to him, desperately working her tongue over his, trying to hold on to this moment with everything she had. John deepened the kiss, slowly pulling them both to their feet. He knew what she was feeling, the toll it was taking on her, but they had to let go, they had to pretend like nothing ever happened and go on with their lives, as planned out by the boss.
It took all his strength, all his might to pull away from her, but they had to. He had to literally pry her from him. “You’ve got to go back now. Swim over and get dressed. I’ll wait for you.” John told her looking across at her clothes.

Marlena touched his cheek, and smiled up at him through her tears. With an aching heart she turned and dove into the water, swimming all the way across to the other side and then surfacing. She crawled out, onto the rocks as John watched.

He committed every move to memory, watching as her lean form, moved nimbly as she scurried to put on her clothes. She sat down on a rock to slip into her socks and hiking boots. Never once did she take her eyes off John on the opposite shore, just standing there watching her. Once she had laced the last boot, and tied it off. She stood, up, picking up the camera. Resisting the urge to snap a photo of him.

They stood there, facing each other, neither of them saying a word. After a few minutes, John motioned for her to go. With tears in her eyes, Marlena blew him a kiss and turned to climb out, over the rocks. When she reached the top, she turned to look at John again. He hadn’t moved, still standing there, watching her go. He pretended to catch her kiss and brought his hand to his lips.

Marlena’s heart felt as if it were about to explode, she turned and ran down the pile of rocks and back down into the underbrush. Blinded by tears she stumbled off in the direction of the mansion, tears and snot running down her face.

John stood there, even after she’d gone. His legs felt like cement, feeling that if he moved from this very spot, the reality that she was truly gone would sink in and tear him apart.