by Kelly, Marie
Slowly Marc had raised himself from her to slide sideways so that he could lie cradling her in his arms while they looked deeply into each other’s eyes. He always knew from the first time he had set eyes on her that it would be like this, and his heart soared as he held her, feeling her melding against him totally relaxed and happy. Kelly’s eyes had shone with an inner light which made him grin back with one of his heart stopping smiles which had her now rested heart jumping again. At that moment she had no words to truly express how happy she felt; basking in the way he looked at her, his eyes so warm and tender as she tried to say the words that she knew had to be said
She loved him so much and although she was sure that her body had already given away her feelings, she still needed to voice those words, not yet sure of his feelings for her. His love making proved that he wanted her, their bodies had bonded so dramatically that there was no argument or room for doubt. However, for how long would he feel this way, was she really just the next in a long list of women?
“Kelly” he said before she could talk
“I have been such a fool”
She had looked at him with surprise
“Why…” She asked softly, seeing as a small wry smile had twisted his wonderful mouth
“You and Philip”
She had groaned in frustration
“Marc there was never a Phil and I” she began before he had placed a finger on her lips to quieten her
“I know” he sighed softly
“I was so jealous of him… I actually wanted to do him harm”
Kelly had giggled
“Marc he’s your best friend”
“I know” he groaned again “and I am such a bad person”
She had shaken her head
“But tonight when he and Theresa arrived all I could think about was you, about how much this was going to hurt you.”
With a twinkle continuing
“And then I wanted to kill him”
Kelly had giggled gently
“Marc there is something you should know. I already knew about him and Theresa. I wasn’t seeing him, I was helping him”
Marc had nodded his head
“I know” he said
“When I took Phil out I nearly thumped him for stringing you along”
Kelly had looked at him in surprise, her eyes full of concern as he had chuckled back.
“You’ll be glad to know that he put me straight and will now no doubt make sure that I know what a jealous fool I was for the rest of my days”
Giving a small laugh
“Not that I don’t deserve it”
Suddenly he had become very serious
“I’m so sorry Kelly. I have behaved so badly to you. I am ashamed of the way I’ve treated you” looking deeply into her eyes, his had shone brightly as he added
“But I plan on spending a long time making up for it”
As she opened her mouth to speak he had pulled her in closer to gently fill his sudden desire to kiss her luscious lips again. With a soft shiver she gave up trying to speak and joined him in the need to be once more together. Unlike a few moments ago his kiss was soft and gentle, almost a whisper against her own and she sighed with pleasure feeling her body once more react to his touch.
This time their love making was slower, each exploring the others body with hands mouths and tongues which licked, stroked and caressed in unhurried pleasure. Time and time again they brought each other to the brink, each lost in the need to please the other until with an unspoken signal between them he once more raised himself over her as her legs had parted so willingly for him, needing him, as slowly he had penetrated her, feeling as he had been held so warm and tight within, their sweat soaked bodies driving the other to new heights of pleasure. This time they had climaxed together, carried away on such sweet and pleasurable sensations that even surpassed the first more frantic orgasm they had shared, their cries reverberating around the room, and spent, exhausted and blissfully happy they had finally lain still in each others arms.
As she slowly felt herself drift into sleep Kelly had heard his drowsy voice against her hair
“Well miss Brown” he whispered “I think you can well and truly take yourself of the market”
And with that sleep had taken them both.
The next morning he was awoken by the gentle vibrating against his wrist. Having set the alarm on his watch the previous night to 6 in the morning he knew he had to get up for his meeting, for the first time wishing he could turn it off and stay in bed. Beside him he could hear Kelly’s soft breathing as she lay so peacefully in sleep. He felt his heart skip a beat looking down on her and his body had reacted to the memories of the previous evening, wanting so badly to turn her over and wake her with a kiss which he knew would turn into more so much more. However with a soft groan, he also knew that this meeting was one which could not be missed and sighing gently he had pushed himself out of bed careful not to disturb her.
Marc had showered and dressed as quietly as he could his mind still full of Kelly, not wanting to wake her. Although he had not slept for long, their need for each other taking up much of the early morning, he felt energised and more alive than he had felt for a long time. Looking down at Kelly he marvelled at the way her hair framed her face and how beautiful she looked, admiring her skin imagining it covered in diamonds, making a mental note to himself to make sure that he found out, before kneeling down and gently kissing her hair, his kiss causing her to stir gently as her eyes had fluttered open.
“Good morning” he whispered softly, looking deeply into her gentle blue eyes, as she had looked confused for a second before realisation had dawned
“Good morning yourself” she purred back sensually with a smile, before noticing that he was fully dressed her heart flipping at how good he looked
“Where…” she began, a small look of surprise on her lovely face
Marc had groaned gently “Meeting darling” he said huskily “Can’t get out of it” as she had stirred sleepily “What no breakfast” she muttered a light of mischief in her wonderful eyes
He had chuckled
“Tomorrow, I promise” he said softly
“Marc…” she began suddenly serious as he shushed her with a gentle kiss on the lips
“Go back to sleep Kelly” he said softly “We’ll talk tonight” tracing his finger along her throat
“God you are so beautiful” his voice husky “a neck like yours should be draped in diamonds” and with another look into her eyes and a smile on his lips corrected himself “will be…”
A strange look had entered Kelly’s eyes, but he had risen to his feet and crossing the room to leave missed it
“Tonight” he said, with one last look back throwing her a dazzling smile, as he moved out of the room and was gone.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kelly had lain on the bed, her eyes filling with tears. What a fool she had been. “Stupid, stupid, stupid” she chided herself. Had she really thought that one night of passion would make him love her the way she loved him.
Closing her eyes she remembered his words from the previous night “off the market” he had said and now he was already planning on ensuring she had all the trappings of her new position….that of his mistress.
By now tears were streaming down her cheeks as her whole heart and body yearned for him, her head mocking her. Kelly had known that she couldn’t live like Trudy waiting for the day he tired of her and moved on to the next woman, and another tear had slid its way down her face, questions flooding her mind.
How short was his attention span?
What had happened to Olivia?
Did she even know that she had been replaced?
When would it be her turn?
and what then?
Return to her role of …..What was her role….. mother to Max?, unpaid nanny to the child that was his?.
A wretched sob had escaped her. Would he want her to go, after all she had no real right to
stay. Max was his child, and although she had brought him up from birth he and his lawyers had made it perfectly clear that he had all the rights. She pictured Marc with Max and knew that he loved his son more than he could ever love any woman – including her, and with a heavy heart she realised that Max’s place was with his father, also realising that hers was not.
Kelly had remained in Marc’s bed for another half an hour, her mind making plans as she forced her body to ignore the smell of him which still clung to the bedding and the crumpled pillow in which his head had rested on, resisting the urge to hold the pillow to herself and breathe in his musky aroma. When she was calm enough she had stood up, retrieving the towel from the floor and making her way back to her own room.
Silently she had taken a shower before retrieving the suitcase she had brought with her only weeks ago and slowly she had began to pack her clothes, neatly placing them carefully in the old beat up case. The dresses which he had insisted on purchasing for her against her better judgement were left hanging in the large closet, as with a wry smile she knew that she would never need them again. Finally she was ready, her insides cold and calm all her plans now in place.
Carefully Kelly had carried her case down the stairs, ensuring that she met nobody on the way, silently letting herself out before placing it inside the boot of her borrowed car before returning to her room. After making several phone calls she had sat to write a short note, her hands shaking as she had written the few words which disguised her feelings, dashing back the tears from her already stinging eyes, before sitting on the bed and waiting.
It was at this point that Max began to stir and she had risen to see to him for one last time. Holding him in her arms her tears had once more began to fall as she had looked into his face and her resolve had nearly crumbled. How could she leave her boy, her heart breaking as her head had countered with how could she not. In the long term it would be better for Max if she left now, he would miss her to start with but would forget her soon enough, biting back yet another sob realising that she would never forget him.
Kelly had spent the rest of the morning enjoying her last day with Max, knowing that nothing was going to ruin this time with him. By lunch time Max had become sleepy and after eating she had lain him back down in his cot for his afternoon nap. As she had kissed his forehead one last time, her eyes had soaking in every detail of his vulnerable and beautiful sleeping face, before standing with resolve she had gone looking for Beth finding her busy in the kitchen.
“Hi “she said
As the housekeeper had flashed her a warm smile
“Hello Kelly” she had said before fixing her with a sharp look
“You OK, you look a little pale”
Kelly had given a small laugh “Just tired” she said brushing off the remark
“Beth would you mind watching Max this afternoon, he’s sleeping just now. I need to go into town for some things. I don’t know when I’ll be back”
The older woman had smiled
“I’d love to hon. That child is a little angel” she said with a grin
“You go enjoy yourself. He’ll be safe with me”
Handing over the baby monitor she always carried, Kelly had thanked the woman, surprising her by giving her a hug, before leaving Marc’s house for the last time, stopping only to leave a note on his bedside table. Manoeuvring down the long driveway she had taken one last look at the building which she had grown so quickly to love, along with the people in it.
Reaching the town square Kelly had parked the car, before removing the case from the boot and walking into the small newsagent store. After exchanging pleasantries with the owner she had asked if he would hold onto the keys until they were collected, the owner agreeing, his face showing his surprise at the strange request.
Leaving the shop she had flagged down a taxi to take her to the airport, having planned everything down to the last minute and just making it to the checkout before it closed. This had been a god send to Kelly as she did not have to wait long before she was boarding the plane which would take her back to Scotland, the journey passing in a haze as she had stared out of the window trying hard not to think about Marc and Max, her heart totally broken.
At the airport in arrivals, Kelly’s old school friend Claire was waiting nervously.
“Good God Kelly” she had exclaimed
“What happened? You call at some ungodly hour in the morning in tears” her voice full of concern as she had scanned her friends face
“Please” Kelly had pled
“Not now”
Claire had taken in her tired drawn look and closing her mouth had helped her to the car park, quickly depositing her case into the boot of her car. As they drove off she had known that her friend would tell her everything, but only when she was ready and not before, looking over to see as Kelly had stared unseeing out of the window a mournful look in her eyes.
Marc had spent the entire morning in a meeting, with things moving smoothly as they usually did. Marc De Santo was not a man who could be accused of indecision or lack of focus and he expected nothing less in his employees. Today however he had often during the meeting found his mind wandering to the previous night, so unlike him, but he just could not get her out of his mind, a small smile on his handsome face. When his mobile phone had began vibrating Marc had frowned in concern especially when realising who was calling, and excusing himself he had quickly left the room to take the call
“Yes Beth” he began “Is there anything wrong” his voice full of concern
“I’m sorry Marc” she had blurted out.
“I wasn’t sure if I should call or not”
“What’s wrong?” he had asked sharply “Is Max OK?” a note of panic creeping into his voice
“No, no” she had assured him
“It’s Kelly”
Marc’s heart had sank abruptly into his stomach
“What’s wrong with her?” the worry so evident in his tone
“I went into your room to clean and found a letter for you from her. When I went into her room I found her clothes all gone, and she asked me to look after Max earlier…….I think she’s gone Marc”
There was silence for a few seconds as Marc had tried to take in what she was telling him
“When did she leave Beth” he asked willing his voice to be calmer
“About three hours ago” came the answer
“Could you open the letter and read it to me please”
Beth a little uncomfortable about this, had complied and he could hear the sound of the envelope being opened before she began to read the letter
“Dear Marc
Please understand I can’t stay. It would never work. Please don’t let Max forget me I’ll always love him.
I am leaving the car outside Browns Newsagents and you should be able to pick up the keys from them
Take care
Kelly”
He had ended the call with his housekeeper and cursing under his breath marched quickly into his office much to the surprise of his secretary.
“Get me Browns Newsagents on the phone” he had barked at her
“And make it fast. Also tell everyone the meeting is over” before he had slammed the door of his office behind himself
With her usual efficiency his secretary had picked up the phone and within seconds he was speaking to the bewildered newsagents owner, from whom he discovered that she had left over two hours ago, having already deposited the keys with them. After further probing and discovering nothing more, he had called his detective, making it clear that his number one priority was to find Kelly Brown and after phoning everybody he could think of to no avail, Marc had sat back in his chair his hands covering his face. Why he thought to himself. Why had she left?
For the first time in his life Marc felt real fear – the fear of losing Kelly. Holding up his mobile he had replayed the video he knew to be there, as he watched it often. He watched as Max had taken his first step and Kelly had s
miled at him with that wide wonderful smile of hers, before sticking out her tongue, his insides feeling numb.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kelly sat at her canvas staring at the oil she was working on. For just over two weeks she had remained in Claire’s apartment, leaving only to bring back food. Claire who had only been there for the first couple of days before leaving for her holiday to New Zealand had been kind and patient waiting for her to be able to talk about what had caused her friend so much pain, not even asking where Max was, knowing that the two were connected.
When Danny had died, it had been Claire who had sat with her and helped pull her from the black abyss that had been her life. She had made her see that Danny would want her to be happy, and she had been the one who had forced her to go on. It had been a terrible time for Kelly and she had pulled through thanks both to her friends support and to Max coming into her life. However, now Kelly was dealing with two losses, the loss of her beloved son, and the man with whom she had fallen so deeply in love with.
Now as then, Claire had insisted that she stay with her, concerned at the deep depression her friend seemed to be in, as she had waited for her to open up. For the first day Kelly had stayed curled up in her bed sobbing quietly. On the second day she had finally told her everything, lying curled up in a pathetic ball on the chair, her voice emotionless, her lovely eyes so dead.
“You did the right thing” Claire had consoled her friend softly. “It might not feel it now but you know you did” holding her as Kelly had once more started sobbing
That had been nearly a fortnight ago and Claire had wanting to cancel her holiday to New Zealand, Kelly insisting that she go, begging for some time alone
“Please Claire, it will give me some time to get my head together” She had said, before Claire had finally agreed to continue with her plans ensuring she had all of her contact information if she needed her.
