Looking out the large bay window of their living room he could tell the morning would be crisp and cold. He could see the fog swirling over the bridge and the grey cast of the sky gave him a slight shiver. It was a Monday, and a holiday, he wouldnât be working today. Heâd risen early and dressed in khaki Dockers and a black cotton pullover sweater. The sky reflected in his blue eyes making them stand out even more than usual, especially on a day that looked as stormy as this one would turn out to be. Recalling this bad news about the weather he was doubly glad he didnât have to face it to get to work. But as for her ⊠a different story. Her boss was an idiot and insisted there were no such thing as âpaid holidaysâ ⊠she would be facing the elements this February morning. Silently in his head he cursed her employer and wished she would call out, knowing she wouldnât. She was too reliable for that ⊠too loyal, even when there were no reward for her devotion.
She came from the hallway and brushed passed him toward the kitchen. A quest for coffee he guessed correctly, as he watched her pull her favorite mug from the cupboard and fill it with cream and brown sugar, and then, the brew from the pot. He turned and leaned against the cold window frame, then crossing his arms across his chest as he studied her. Sheâd dressed a bit more casual than usual today. He imagined it were her silent protest to being forced into the office on a holiday. A slight defiance. It was so her. She was wearing a deep crimson colored dress. All soft linen like a rich wine flowing down her body. Short sleeved and knitted fine with a square neckline. It hardly clung to her form at all, just gave hints of her hip curves and stopped an inch above her knees. It had a sweater that matched exactly which sheâd already hung by the door to pick up on her way out. Her stockings were silk and hardly shaded her ivory skin tone, it looked as if she werenât wearing them at all. And modest black shoes with hardly a heel, but they gave off a classy shine. Soft brown hair was loosely clipped with a silver barrette in a fanlike fashion. Wisps were already falling along her nape and over her ears. She looked exquisite and smelled even better. He wished again for more time with her today.
He knew she was running late as well. Not like her at all. It surprised him but he wasnât about to shun the extra time with her. Sheâd been working most of the weekend as well, trading her rightful âoff timeâ to visit clients in jail and others in their own private homes. A lawyer ⊠he still couldnât believe heâd married a lawyer. And even more startling that this intelligent, sassy, silver-tongued champion of the courtroom put all of her trust in him the minute she was home. How did that happen? How could someone so independent and so brutal among her peers submit to him as she did? God, what made her tick? He knew heâd never understand it, he was just grateful for what theyâd had.
While fixing her cup of coffee she had the feeling he was watching her. Nothing new, he usually was. Not thinking much of it she reached up to her shoulder and straightened her bra strap, it kept slipping but she didnât have the time to change it and didnât want to risk wrinkling her dress in the process. She absently brushed a strand of hair from her face and sipped more of her drink. From where he stood at the window he locked his eyes to hers. She froze in place and a small smile turned up the corners of her mouth, sensing the connection. âWhat?â She asked? He didnât reply with words, but uncrossed his arms and entered the kitchen. He walked straight up to her and put his hands around her waist and then leaned in to kiss her. A soft brush of his lips on hers and then straight to her ear where he whispered softly, âStay with me today.â
More than anything, she wished she could. But there was a hearing scheduled for Wednesday and she needed all the time she could get to run information past her client. Make sure everything was going to patch together. She couldnât afford a day off. And the managing partner in her firm wouldnât allow it anyway. She was trapped. She had to go. But he felt too good wrapping himself around her to deny a quick embrace this morning. Barely five feet tall she needed to stretch herself as much as she could to lock her hands around his shoulders. He was a bit over six feet tall. She tightened her arms up around his neck and kissed under his ear in turn. âYou know I canât ⊠â
âOh, I know you could ⊠if you wanted to,â and his arms tightened about her waist.
âItâs not about âwantâ,â was her reply.
âEverything is about want.â
She sighed. He was right. About most things, and definitely about this. And she did want. Enough to hug him closer and press herself to his body. Feeling her begin to melt he slipped his hands down her body and caressed the backs of her thighs with just his fingertips while his mouth sought out hers. He loved the taste of her tongue, even with coffee. Her mouth tasted like sweet, creamy espresso. He couldnât complain. But now that heâd deepened their kiss she began to pull back, to try and untangle from his arms. âMark ⊠please, I canât.â
He let out a sigh and released her. Not really willing to let her go. Sheâd spent too much time away lately. Where was his time? Suddenly it occurred to him that heâd never have time with her unless he made it happen. Though he didnât really prefer to demand things of her it was becoming difficult to avoid this. She wasnât giving of herself, heâd been letting her slip on too many occasions. His own fault really. That was about to change.
She left the kitchen and headed back to the bedroom, he knew she was brushing her teeth and would be applying her lip gloss. Last minute things before leaving him for the day. The entire day! After a whole weekend without her as well. No, this couldnât happen. He picked up her cup and began rinsing it in the sink. Even though sheâd only taken three sips and the liquid was still piping hot, he knew she was done. In the years heâd known her, sheâd never once finished a cup of coffee.
Oh, and about unfinished things, frowning, his mind returned to the night before. When sheâd finally come home from the office (extremely late) she was drained. But that didnât stop her from climbing into bed next to him and kissing him, spooning against him and holding herself to his body. Having not seen her for over a day he was instantly aroused and when he turned to her to return the affection she pulled her mouth away from his. Even turned on her pillow a bit. At the time he felt sympathy for all of her long hours ⊠for how tired she must really be and he spent a better part of an hour caressing her hair and kissing her temple until she slept.
Today he felt rage. He felt teased and led on. Now that he thought of it he suddenly couldnât recall their last truly intimate time. Last week? Last month? When had she taken on this new client anyway? He was so determined to let her be successful that it was wearing even him down. What about his need after all? And for crying out loud, it was a holiday still. Suddenly he had a need unlike heâd felt in a great while. A need to just ravish her. Something he hadnât done in an extremely long time âŠ
***
She was coming down the hall preoccupied with the task of clasping her wristwatch in place when she heard his muted voice as she reentered the living room. It stopped her in a dead panic under the threshold.
âHello, Mr. Kendall? Good morning, Iâm calling for Belle ⊠Yes she will be in but Iâm afraid sheâs running awful late, her car is acting up âŠ,â he paused, listening.
In shock she cried out at this untruth falling on her employerâs ears, âMark!â
Cold blue eyes pierced hers from across the room and he held up his index finger silencing her. In addition, he gave his head a slight shake, warning her to not push further. She bit her lip, knowing he was serious. She listened as he picked up the thread of the conversation ⊠âNo, I donât think itâs too major, probably just the cold has frozen it up overnight âŠ,â he was quiet again a few moments and she watched in slight horror as a wicked grin she knew so well began to play across his face and his amused eyes held hers as he told her boss, âYes, I am absolutely certain Iâll have her all fixed in no time ⊠All right then, thanks.â
He hung up the phone on the table by the couch and crooked his finger at her. Two more words uttered. âCome ... now.â
In a daze she did as he bid. Walking slowly up to him and once she arrived she cast her eyes down toward his feet. Noting he was barefoot. For a moment all of it struck her as absurd. The thought gone in an instant when he caught her chin with his fingers and leaned down to kiss her again. Immediately she pulled back and he caught her wrist firmly in his hand. âDonât,â he said, âYou will not deny me or tease me again.â His other hand found the nape of her neck keeping her still as he crushed his mouth on hers, now more clinical, she tasted of toothpaste. Still not bad, but nowhere nearly as sexy as the coffee flavored tongue heâd enjoyed not ten minutes before. Still, she was his, he devoured her mouth anyway.
After a long moment he moved his hands to her hips and spun her around pulling her back tight to his chest. Dropping his lips once more he found the flesh of her neck and began to suck. He knew she detested marks there, something sheâd always protest ⊠others possibly knowing he adored the skin of her throat. Feeling his mouth assaulting her neck she began to wiggle away to avoid having a mark from his sucking. She was no match for his strength. He tightened his arms holding her captive. Now he said, âIf you continue to fight me Iâll leave a mark on you that would embarrass even a 16 year old cheerleader after the prom.â She whimpered knowing this was not a false threat and immediately relaxed in his grip. He let out a chuckle of satisfaction and nipped her throat hard, one small bite, just for good measure. To remind her of this promise. Just a small bite, it would probably bruise her ivory skin and that would be with her a few days, but at least it wasnât the sucking she so adamantly hated. He smiled again as she groaned in despair. This was better, now they were playing his way.
Now that she was lax in his arms he decided to seek some answers for her recent detachment at home. He gently kissed her shoulder and then her cheek as his hands caressed her arms softly. Then he folded them around her clasping her hands in his. He spoke tenderly as he lightly fingered the platinum band on her left hand. âWhat is this?,â he asked.
âMy wedding band,â she whispered.
He nodded, âAnd what does it mean?â
She stammered, âOur marriage, our love and devotion to each other,â she risked touching his hand in exactly the same spot, a feather touch to his matching, yet slightly wider band. âOur lives.â She finished.
âYes,â he said. Then slowly he slipped his fingers up her forearm and gently over her elbow, then the smooth skin of her bicep to her shoulder. Slowly, he slid his fingers along her collar bone and gently pressed the skin in the center hallow of her throat. After a moment his fingers tripped up a fraction of an inch higher and connected with the similar platinum choker she wore. âAnd this?,â he asked.