Chapter 10
“It’s okay to be scared sometimes Marshall, it’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. The most important thing you can do is understand that life sometimes throws something at us that we might not be completely ready for, but I think if you give it some time everything will begin to make sense.” Heather said, sitting down next to him on the bed and taking his hand, trying not to react when a wave of desire washed over her.
“I wasn’t ready for you.” Marshall said, quietly, looking into her eyes.
Heather opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but the look in his eyes told her everything. “You can’t mean that you…” She trailed off, jumping off the bed. “I think you’re just confused.”
Marshall got to his feet and followed her, “I’m confused about a lot of things but not about you.” He said, then went on. “I feel different when I’m with you. I don’t have to be perfect around you, I can just be myself.”
Heather’s heart was pounding in her chest, “Marshall, I think you’re confusing friendship for something else.” She said, wishing that what he was feeling was more than that, but knowing that it couldn’t be.
“I’ve never felt this way about a friend before. Heather I want you. I want you more than any woman I’ve ever met, it just took me a while to realize it.” He said, then walked over to where she was standing and took her face in his hands. “Don’t you feel that? When I touch you, something happens to me deep inside, something so wonderful that I can’t begin to describe it.”
Heather wanted to just go with the moment, but in the back of her mind her conscience was screaming at her to stop this before it went any further. “Marshall, you’re supposed to be in love with Simone and besides that we’re just not right for each other. We’re too different.” She said, then pulled away and went to stand at the window, needing some space between them.
“Heather, one thing I know for sure is that I was never in love with Simone, she showed up out of the blue with that play and I was so sure that she was going to save me, give me what I’d always wanted that I couldn’t see reality. But you stripped all that away, made me see the reality of my life and part of that reality is what I feel for you.” Marshall said, coming up behind her.
When she didn’t answer right away, he gently turned her around to face him. “If you can look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t feel the same way, I’ll leave you alone.”
Heather couldn’t believe that his was happening, wondered if it was some kind of dream, but then Marshall hooked his finger under her chin and tipped her head up. Looking into his eyes, she saw nothing but honesty and desire, a raw desire that spoke to something inside of her. As waves of desire washed over her, she knew that the next few minutes of her life would change it forever, if she followed her desire and slept with Marshall nothing would ever be the same. But if she chose to turn away from him, it could be equally devastating.
Pulling away from him again, she crossed the room, then whispered, “I can’t.”
Marshall closed the distance between them in a few steps and pulled her into his arms, “I’m so confused about my life, but one thing that I know is that we’re meant to be together.” He said, then lowered his mouth to hers, growling in his throat when Heather wrapped her arms around his neck.
Marshall parted her lips with his tongue and explored her mouth, sure that he’d never tasted anything as wonderful as Heather. He pulled her tightly against him, her breasts pressed up against his chest, then let his hands roam over her back. Heather’s nipples hardened under her shirt and delicious waves of pleasure washed over her as Marshall’s tongue explored her mouth.
When he slid one hand up to cradle the back of her head, fingers threaded into her hair, that pleasure increased until a hard knot began to form deep inside her. Marshall broke the kiss, scooped her up into his arms, crossed the room and laid her down on the bed. Heather still wasn’t sure this was the right decision, but couldn’t stop what was happening, she wanted Marshall too much.
When he laid down on the bed and pulled her into his arms, she could feel his erection pushing against her hip and desire raced through her. Suddenly all she wanted was to feel his naked skin against hers so she pulled his shirt off over his head. Running her hands over his chest, she couldn’t help the little purr that escaped her lips. Marshall moaned deep in his throat when he heard it and pulled her shirt off exposing her breasts which he quickly covered with his large hands, pleased to find that they fit perfectly as he’d imagined.
Unsatisfied with just the shirt, she began to pull at the button on his pants, but her hands were shaking so much she couldn’t manage it. Marshall released her breasts then quickly shed his pants, freeing his erection which sprang free to rub against her leg. It was more than she could resist so she took him in her hands and began to stroke him. He groaned her name, then dipped his head down and captured one of her hard nipples in his mouth. Heather gasped at the contact, the pleasure that flowed through her more intense than anything she’d ever felt before.
When his hand slid down her stomach and slipped into her panties, she realized that she was wet and ready for him. But instead of touching her, Marshall teased, running his finger over her folds but no deeper until she was writhing under him desperate for his touch. When he did finally delve between her folds, the knot of pleasure deep inside her grew until the pleasure was pounding in her blood, making her whimper with its sheer force.
Marshall slid her panties off allowing Heather to spread her legs for him, when she did he found her clit with his finger and began to rub her in circles until with a strangled cry the world exploded in a rush of pleasure. Trembling and whimpering, she clung to him, unable to move as her body convulsed, but Marshall wasn’t going to let her come too far down. Sliding between her legs, he positioned himself just outside her throbbing core, and waited only a second before driving himself into her in one long powerful stroke.
He filled to almost to the point of pain, but in that instant a connection between them was born, a connection that fused them both body and soul. Heather gasped as the feeling washed over her, one that she’d never experienced before, one that all women dreamed of finding someday. Looking into Marshall’s eyes she could see that he felt it too, first his eyes widened almost as if he was in shock, but then he seemed to understand what had happened.
Buried deep inside her, he lowered himself until his mouth was just inches from hers and said, “Heather, I was definitely ready for you.” Then kissed her, stealing her breath and her heart with only those words.
Heather was only dimly aware of the world around her, so wrapped up in what was happening between them that nothing else mattered. When he began to thrust his hips, sliding in and out of her, even that awareness disappeared as another tight knot of pleasure began to form deep inside her. Marshall too was beyond thought, his only awareness of the woman underneath him, so slick and hot, he knew that it wouldn’t be long before he’d lose control.
When Heather wrapped her legs around him and began to grind her hips against him, he knew that there was no holding back, but he wanted to feel Heather writhing under him in pleasure once more so he reached between them and began to rub her swollen nib. With each gentle stroke the pleasure spread, fanning out in waves from deep inside her, each wave stronger than the last until the last wave crashed over her like a dam breaking. Digging her nails into his back, she cried out his name as her body shuttered and gripped him deep inside.
Marshall let go then, drove himself into her over and over, until his pleasure washed over him, so intense that for a moment he couldn’t breathe and the world went dark. When he emerged from the fog, it took all his strength not to collapse on Heather, his body was limp and his breath came in shallow gasps. Laying down on his back, he pulled her with him and nestled her on his shoulder, then let oblivion take him, marveling in the pleasure that was still coursing though his body.
Heather woke with a start when the door of the cabin banged open. The sun was streaming through the window and she realized that she’d overslept, and then she remembered the night before and sat up in bed. She looked over to where Marshall had finally collapsed after they’d made love, dismayed to find the bed empty. But she was distracted by Tyler who came bounding over to the bed, clearly raring to go.
“This is your official wake up call.” He said, then began to make a noise like an alarm. “Breakfast is in half an hour.”
Heather smiled at her son, who was hoping from foot to foot clearly ready to take on the day. “You look like you had a good night’s sleep. Come over here and give me a hug.” She said, holding out her arms.
Tyler rolled his eyes, but came over and hugged her. Then he looked at the empty pillow on the bed and his eyes got wide. “What’s that?” He said, pointing to a piece of paper on the pillow.
She hadn’t noticed it before, but quickly picked it up and stuffed it under the covers. “It’s…it’s a note from the tooth fairy. I sent her a message that you were about to lose a tooth.” She lied, knowing that the lie sounded stupid but unable to think of anything better.
Tyler gave her a strange look and opened his mouth, but just then a chorus of voices called out his name. “Oh, I have to go. We have more lazy parents to wake up. See you at breakfast.” He said, then ran out of the cabin, slamming the door so hard the little building shook.
Heather retrieved the note from under the covers and read it, smiling to think how much things had changed between she and Marshall. That first moment of panic when she’d woken up and he’d been gone had faded, replaced by a warmth that told her she was in real trouble. He’d left so that the kids wouldn’t find them together, explaining that it might be better if they talked to them first and she couldn’t have agreed with his assessment of the situation more. Chloe wouldn’t be that much of a problem, she wasn’t used to having her father’s attention all to herself, but she and Tyler had been alone for a long time, it might not be so easy for him.
Getting out of bed, she threw on some clothes, deciding that a shower could wait until after breakfast. The kids would be going out on an adventure with some of the villagers that day, leaving the rest of them with some much-needed time to do laundry and get ready for the next leg of their trip. They wouldn’t be leaving for several days, but the rest of their time here was going to be spent learning more about how to live a self-sufficient life.
As she made her way to breakfast in the women’s lodge, she couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off her face, she’d been smiling so much that her face hurt, but she decided that it wasn’t a bad thing to be this happy. But that happiness didn’t last, just as she was about to go into the lodge her phone rang, it made her jump since she’d gotten so accustomed to being without it. Frowning she pulled it from her pocket looking at the number on the screen, it was a number she didn’t recognize, but she answered it anyway.
“Is this Heather?” A woman’s voice asked.
“Yes. Who is this?” The voice sounded familiar but she couldn’t place it.
“This is Simone Peters and I want to know where Marshall is. He was supposed to call me days ago.” Her voice had gone from smooth as butter to holding a sharp edge.
“I don’t know exactly where he is at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll see him at breakfast. Can I give him a message?” Heather had slipped into professional mode, but her heart was hammering in her chest.
“Yes, you can tell him to call me.” Simone hissed, then added, “And don’t even think about trying to steal him, don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at him. He’s mine and he’ll always be mine, besides he wouldn’t give someone like you the time of day.”
Heather wished that she could set the awful woman straight, but knew that it wasn’t her place to do so, “I’ll tell him that you’re looking for him.” She said, then deliberately hit the end button disconnecting the call.
When Marshall walked into the lodge, the smell of breakfast made his stomach growl and he realized that he’d never been as hungry in his entire life. He saw Heather and the kids over in the far corner and made his way over to them, but when he saw the look on Heather’s face he stopped for a second. She looked angry and upset, a look he hadn’t seen since the night she’d confronted him at his house. A wave of fear washed over him, what if she’d changed her mind about them, what if last night hadn’t been as wonderful for her as it had been for him.
When he got to the table, he sat down next to her and gave her a questioning look. “Simone called my phone looking for you and she didn’t sound very happy.” Heather said, a wave of jealousy washing over her mixed in with a little bit of regret.
She should have made sure that he’d finished things with Simone before she’d let things go as far as they had. Just because she was totally in love with him didn’t mean that he felt the same way. Only a week ago he’d been sure that he was in love with Simone, maybe it had all happened too fast. Maybe Marshall was the kind of man who flitted from woman to woman. She really didn’t know, and it hadn’t been important until now.
His face fell at her words, “Oh, I forgot about her.” He said, quietly. “I guess I better go call her.” Then he got up from the table without another word and disappeared out the door.
Heather was headed out of the lodge wondering what she was going to do with her day, earlier she’d thought that she and Marshall would spend it together but he’d disappeared over an hour ago and not returned. She was beginning to question what had happened between them last night, dark thoughts creeping into her head when she realized that Marshall might have just been drunk or playing her. She’d gotten swept up in the moment and it was possible that he had too, now she was left with a hollow feeling she didn’t like at all.
She was so wrapped up in her dark thoughts, she didn’t see Seth approaching from down the street until he was right upon her. “Hey, I’ve got news. Let’s go someplace private and I’ll tell you what I found out.” He said, then really looked at her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just a little tired I guess.” She said, shrugging her shoulders, the last thing she wanted to do was talk to Seth about her love life, especially since it involved his brother.
Seth led her down a path to the stream that ran on the far side of the village, “The sound of the water will muffle our voices.” He explained sitting down and patting the seat next to him.
Once Heather was seated, he pulled a folded-up page of paper out of his pocket, unfolded it and handed it to her. “Is this Simone?”
It only Heather a second to recognize the woman in the picture. “That’s her.”
“Well then I’d like you to meet Bridget Powers or at least that’s the name she’s been using for the last few years.” Seth said, taking the page back and turning it over and handing it back to her.
On the back there was a long list of crimes that the woman in the photo was connected to, they ranged from shoplifting to grand larceny. “Wow, this is one busy woman.” Heather said. “Did you find out who the man is, because I’d swear that they were together.
“His name is Marco Duarte, he’s wanted for most of those crimes as well. From what I understand, they’ve been traveling around to the hot spots in the world and scamming people out of their money. The last place they were seen was Rio where they ran a shop that sold fake antiques.” Seth went on to explain.
“I take it someone found them out.” Heather stated, turning the page over to look at the picture again.
“They managed to get away and haven’t been seen since.”
“Because they’ve been hiding out in Anchorage and scamming Marshall.” Heather said what she knew Seth didn’t want to.
“I guess they thought he’d be an easy mark, but it’s not going to work. I’ve alerted the authorities in Anchorage and as soon as they can get a warrant they’re going to arrest them both.” Seth said, “I don’t know how to tell Marshall all this, he’s going to be so upset.”
“He left the lodge to call her an hour ago, I thought he was finished with her but he’s been gone for a long time.” Heather said, unable to hide the hurt in his voice.
“Did something happen between you two?” Seth asked, worried about Heather and wishing he’d never sent her to Anchorage.
“It was nothing I guess, it’s my mistake for thinking that it was.” Heather said, then added, “Don’t worry I’ll be fine. When are you going to talk to him?”
“As soon as I can find him.” Seth said.
Marshall hung up the phone thinking that he’d just had the longest conversation of his life. Simone had been impossible, first resorting to tears then when that didn’t work she’d turned venomous on him. The worst part was that he’d told her that he was only postponing his plans, but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he’d known that it was a lie. He had no intention of going through with buying the theatre and putting on her play, his night with Heather had changed him, had shown him that his life wasn’t on the stage but doing something else and suddenly he knew what that something else was.
By the time she’d gotten to the point that she was threatening him, he’d stopped listening to her, wondering what he’d been thinking when he’d gotten involved with her. Clearly, she wasn’t the woman that he thought she was and now that he was looking at it from a different perspective, he could see that it had all been an act. The one thing he couldn’t understand was what she’d expected to gain from the whole thing, but then he understood, play or no play he had been ready to marry her.
That thought made a cold sweat break out on his forehead, he’d already made one huge mistake in his love life, a second would have been devastating. With Dee he could use the excuse that he’d been young, and she had been pregnant when they got married, but he had no excuse for not seeing the truth about Simone from the very beginning. Feeling like a fool, he finally just hung up on her, then called his business manager and told him to cancel the contract to buy the theatre.