James

When the door swings open, I am glad to see her strut in her usual attire, except something different stands out.
Her green eyes shine but they show a hint of deep dissatisfaction, perhaps anger, as if she didn't plan to be here.

"Well well well, look who wanted me to come tonight" she glowers, coming forward placing her delicate slender hands on my chest as I stand against my chest of drawers.
"This better be worth it, I left my best client for you"

"I thought I was your best client" I smirk, staring at her slim face as she starts to rub my shoulders.
As soon as she hears this, she places a finger under my stubbly chin and tilt it upwards, making me look directly into her eyes.
"Oh darling" she pouts as I am drawn in to her pool of shamrock coloured eyes. "You think you can charm me with that"

I receive a forceful slap across the cheek by her other hand. I bend down and rub my hand against the soaring pain as she starts to walk away, her high heels mounding the carpet.

"You can't just get me to perform in bed when you don't get your own way"

I don't know how to react to her hurtful words but I roll my eyes to displease her.
She stand a few feet away, her hands on her broad hips.
Her lock locks of black hair is tied up but a few loose strands of hairs make her face appear more slender.
With her plump lips coated in a dark shade of scarlet red, she looks irresistible.

"Look I know it was last minute but I swear, I promise this won't be an once off" I assert but she only presses her lips together as she stares hard.
"How do I know this isn't a trick, I mean you said the exact same thing but once Gerard discovered us you abandoned me"

I can only shudder at the mention of his name. That night, that moment when he discovered us, always replays in the back of my mind.

I remember it so clearly. As I started to learn the ropes in mastering the bed, I became so close to Marlene, so close I had her over every single day a month before the incident.
I yearned for her touch and her fiery passion.
It wasn't long until we were hosting a banquet as Gerard made an important alliance with the Pferdains as we got an acceptance of medical assistant and ship trading along the Pacific Northwest territories. 

It was a great achievement to say the least, we even had the party down in the town hall, everyone could look and watch us come in, simple wonders.
But throughout the night I became restless, I needed her touch, to feel something inside of me stir.
So I called Marlene and we rushed away to the coatroom.
We were getting into it when Gerard intruded. Of course he was outraged I would put on such a display on the one night, plus since it was a prostitute, out of all people.

Before I could even apology, Gerard went away as he wanted to clear his head and get away.
That's when he went home with Odessa and then...well the accident occurred that night.

Whenever I think of Marlene, I think of how I caused Gerard to swiftly leave.
He died because of my foolish actions and I can never forgive myself.

I brought back to the room when Marlene speaks again. "I saw your image in the newspaper with that other girl at the banquet, and after all we've been through!"

I push away the thoughts of Gerard and try my best to smirk at her.
"Well she's nothing compared to you, and besides you've taught me the best"
She isn't convinced as she stands still, licking her lips and batting her huge eyelashes.

As more thoughts of Gerard appear, I try to push them away. That's when the urge of walking over and pushing Marlene forward.
I press my lips into hers, trying to tell her without words how I feel and finally after a moment of hesitation, she responds.

We both stand there embracing each other until she steps back.
"James, you can't simply lure me in with a kiss. I am not a toy just for you"
Even though her comments hurts, It's painfully true. I have mistreated after all we've been through.
I suppress my lips together as I wait for something to come.

"Look Marlene, I know I mistreated you but please" I intertwine my fingers in her loose locks of raven hair. "Please stay, I need you here"

I wrap my hands around her waist and an instant later she wraps her hands around my head, pulling me in closer.
Marlene kisses are direct and slow and she makes it impossible for me to think about much else, actually what I need.

We turn and topple onto my bed, holding each other as we continue to kiss. She now plays with a button on my collar and I run my hands through her hair between kisses and the world shrinks to just the two of us.

Her hands are now at the base of my neck as pulls me in closer. She crushes her lips to mine and I simultaneously hate and adore her for it. All I can think of how her lips muses and how I seem so fragile in her hands.

The passion slows as she starts taking off her top and mine, leaving us both bare-chested.
She struggles with the last few buttons of my shirt but once my shirt is off, we both get under the quilt longing for eacho ther's warmth.
We collide into one as she places her hands all over my body, her touch pulsing throughout as I place kisses on her neck and on her chest.
She moans and pulls me in closer.
Oh how I've missed all of this.

We are so caught up I do not hear the rapid knocking on my door. We both stop and stare.
"Who's that?" She asks through her teeth. I prop myself up with my shoulders. I cough and then shout "Who goes there?"
I kick Marlene as she giggles. There isn't any reply at first until I hear a slight murmur "It's me James, Xavier"

Instantly I get up and rush to grab my clothes thrown on the floor. Marlene lounges on the bed, spreading her legs apart as she twirls her now let down hair.
Once I'm fully dressed I whisper sharply "Ger out!"
She is appalled. "Where do I go you idiot?" She snaps back, covering the sheets over her body.
I need her gone in a matter of seconds before Xavier gets suspicious.
I look around for an idea; the only thing that pops into my head is the wardrobe.

I swing open the door and fling all my clothes off their hangers. As soon as it's empty I point at her to get in.
Her only response is to throw her hands up in the air.
"I am not going in there!" She hisses. I go over and tug at the duvet. "Yes you are or so help me!"
She doesn't budge until I say "I'll give you most of Odessa's jewellery. It'll get you a lot of money in the black market!"
Soon she obliges as she grabs her clothes. Dragging the duvet with her, she steps in bare naked, stuffing the duvet in as she crouches inside.
As soon as she has settled in, I turn the key on my door and announce "You can come in Xavier"

The door creaks open to see a timid Xavier, his eyes showing self doubt and regret.
He looks at my surrounding to see all my clothes on the floor behind my bed and my bed bare with only two pillows.
"Where's your duvet, and why are your freshly ironed clothes on the floor" he questions not looking directly at me.
I bite hard on the inside of my cheeks as I try to come up with a reasonable explanation. As I over think, he slowly mumbles "are you angry with me?"

Suddenly I have to stop and stare hard. Angry?
Why would I be angry? Then it hits me. He's on about his kiss.
So many emotions swept through my mind when it happened but anger never crossed my mind.

I take in a few deep breaths in and my gaze narrows. I can now see his slim face look colourless when usually his pigmenentation is salou.
His thick glasses overshadow his furrowed eyebrows as I try to come up with an answer.

All I can say while I shrug is "No Xavier, I'm not angry, it was just a kiss, it just happened. We can simply forget it never happened"

I watch his reaction.
At first his tighten chest loosens as he quickly sighs relief but he pauses and over thinks what I just said. Now I see hurt forming in his oaky coloured eyes.

Before I can say no more he walks to the door.
Gripping the door handle tightly mutters back "That's the thing James, I don't want to forget" and leaves before I can even say "wait!"

I slowly let out a sharp breath as I stand, recollecting what he just said.
So be actually meant it, it wasn't a sudden spur of the moment. When did he start having feelings for me?

So many thoughts spiral through my head, I have to stop when I hear sharp thumping on my wardrobe door.
As I open the door, Marlene is crouching down neatly dressed back into her attire.
"Fun fact, I'm an expect of dressing myself in tight confined spaces"
She struts out, tying her hair into a loose ponytail.

"Thank you James for such a short fucking" she grins as she finished thing up her hair.
"But I believe I am no longer needed here"

I grab her hand and stop here.
"But Marlene wait please!" My voice comes across quite desperate.

She slips her hand away and starts to walk away. She even tied her shoes in the wardrobe.
Before she leaves, she leans in against the door frame.
"I thank you for all our time together"

"Wait you're leaving for good?" I cry, holding my arms up in the air in protest.
"Yes James, I think there's someone better for you"

I gasp at her accusation. "Someone better? Are you joking?!"

Now she opens the door and before she leaves, she gives me one last gazeand says with her soft voice, "I think lover boy has got you covered now" 

So this is Chapter 22! Honestly I'm so happy knowing I've made it this far, thank you all for the support, it means so so much!

Anyways, please vote and comment, It would mean so much!
Thanks :D xx