The Affair

Back at the House

John was driving to the hospital to see Marlena. It had been a week since Roman had left town unexpectedly. The look on her face after she read the note was burned in his memory. He could still see the panic in her face and hear the anguish in her voice. Every night, since that morning, before he closed his eyes he relived the moment he handed her the note and she read it. He replayed what happened next over and over in his mind.

THE MORNING AFTER

“Doc, you have to open it.”

“I’m afraid.”

”Do you want me to do open it?”

“No I’ll do it.”

Doc,

Had to leave town. I tried to find you last night. I know what happened. We need to talk.

Roman

Marlena stared off into space. “Oh my God! Oh my God! I can’t believe this is happening.”

John put his arms around Marlena in an attempt to calm her. “Doc, take a deep breath.”

“Don’t you understand? He knows. He knows we made love last night.”

”You have to calm down.”

Marlena was beside herself with guilt. “If anything happens to him because of me I’ll never forgive myself.” Tears began to run down her face.

“Marlena listen to me.” His voice was harsher than he meant it to be, but he had to make her listen to him. “You’re jumping to some pretty big conclusions.”

“What else could this mean? I didn’t want him to find out this way.” She took the note from his hand.

”Doc we don’t know what it means. We’re not even sure if he knows anything.”

Just then the doorbell rang. John realized Marlena was in no condition to see anyone. “Go upstairs and let me answer the door.”

Marlena didn’t bother to protest. She knew she couldn’t face anyone until she regained her composure. The look in her eyes was a silent thank you. She turned and went upstairs.

John waited until Marlena was completely out of sight before he answered the door. To his surprise Abe stood on the porch.

As nonchalantly as he could, he asked, “What brings you here this morning Abraham?”

Abe answered in one word, “Roman.”

John put on his best poker face. “Come on in. Marlena’s upstairs.” As Abe walked into the house John began speaking. “Doc and I were stranded in the blackout last night. We just walked in the house 5 minutes before you did.”

“That’s why I’m here. When Roman couldn’t reach Marlena he asked me to stop in and check on her.”

“To tell you the truth Abe, Roman left a cryptic note for Marlena and it really upset her. Maybe you can shed some light on it. All he said was he had to leave town and they would talk later.”

“Roman called me before he left town. He told me he couldn’t reach Marlena and he was worried. He figured she was probably stuck somewhere in the blackout. Half of Salem was out last night.”

“Do you know why he went out of town?”

“I don’t know anything. He and Rebecca were at the station last night, he made a few phone calls and before I knew it, he was out the door. Maybe Rebecca knows something.” He looked at his watch.

“Marlena should be down in a few minutes. Can you wait?”

“Actually, I need to be going. I’ve told you everything I know. I was just checking on her and if everything is ok, I’ll be heading home.”

John walked Abe back to the door. “Thanks Abe, I’ll fill her in.” As John closed the door, he called out to Marlena, “Doc, its ok. You can come down now. Abe’s gone.”

Marlena didn’t answer. “Doc?” Worried John ran up the stairs two at a time. He went directly to her bedroom. Marlena was sitting on the edge of the bed. He knelt down in front of her.

“Roman’s overnight bag and some of his clothes are gone”

“Doc, everything is fine.”

“What about the note?”

“Abe explained it, at least what he knew.”

Marlena looked at him utterly confused. “What do you mean?”

“When Roman couldn’t reach you last night, he figured you were stranded in the blackout. According to Abe, half of Salem was out last night. He asked Abe to stop by and check on you.”

”That doesn’t explain why his bag is gone along with his clothes.”

“Doc, listen to me. Abe said Roman was at the station last night with Rebecca and whatever case he’s working on is the reason he had to go out of town. His leaving has nothing whatsoever to do with you and me.”

A feeling of relief washed over Marlena. “Are you sure? You’re telling me everything?”

“I’m just telling you what Abe told me. He doesn’t know anything else.” He thought a moment before he spoke again. After their previous conversation, he hated to mention her name but if it would help ease Marlena’s mind he was willing to try anything. “There is someone else who might know what’s going on.”

“You’re talking about Rebecca.”

“I am. After all, they are working on the same case. Do you want me to try?”

Marlena didn’t hesitate to answer him. “I do. You’ll tell me everything you find out. I don’t want you trying to protect me. I need to know.” She knew John loved her and she trusted him. She wasn’t thrilled he would have to see her but she needed to know what was going on.

“What ever I find out, I promise I’ll tell you.” He kissed her forehead.

Now that Marlena was finally calming down, he took time to look around the room. The room he once shared with Marlena when they were married. The bed she was sitting on was once a bed they shared as man and wife. The family pictures sitting on the dresser. At one time he was the dad in those pictures. It was almost too much to bear. This was once his life and now it was over. That didn’t stop him from loving Marlena and those kids like they were his own. He would always watch over them. All of their memories together came rushing back to him. He felt like someone had punched in the gut and took all of the air out of his lungs. Tears formed in his eyes and slowly rolled down his cheek. He stood up and walked to bedroom door. John ran his hand on the surface until he came to a spot on the door. Unless you knew where to look, you would never notice the small gash in the door. The gash was made by the heel of his boot. He remembered the night it happened. He was still Roman, married to Marlena and on the police force. It was the night he remembered their first time together. The kids were out for the night and they were alone. He made dinner; they shared a bottle of wine and finally their favorite desert – strawberries and whip cream.

With his hand still on the door John said, “I wanted to fix that spot on the door but at the same time, every time I saw it, it was a reminder of that night. I never wanted to forget it.”

Marlena walked up behind him, put her arms around his waist and placed her head in between his shoulder blades. “I remember.”

He turned to face her. “We were on the couch. I was kissing your neck. You were questioning me.”

“I was asking you what specifically triggered your memory.”

“It was you. At least I thought it was you. Turns out it wasn’t even my memory.”

“It might not have been your memory, but what happened between us that night; that is a memory we will always have.”

With a smile that carried over to his blue eyes, John said, “I have to agree. That night was different.”

Marlena’s face turned a light shade of red. “We never quite made it to the bed.”

“Doc we barely made it up the stairs. I wanted you so badly.”

Her voice was now a whisper, “I wanted you too.”

Both John and Marlena remembered that particular night with clarity. John was kissing and nuzzling her neck. She was leaning back on the couch running her fingers through his hair. Just the feel of his mouth on her neck made her n*****s harden and a wetness seep into her panties. Slowly her hands traveled down his body until they rested on hips. She had an uncontrollable desire to feel his skin underneath her hand and began to pull his shirt out of his pants. After his shirt was out, she still felt the undeniable need to be closer to him. Marlena straddled him and placed her hands underneath his shirt. John leaned back into the couch and assaulted her mouth with his. This was a bold new Marlena and he loved every second of it. Marlena broke off the kiss and began to nuzzle his neck. Feeling the constriction of his buttoned shirt, she withdrew her hands from underneath and placed them on the outside. Without any warning her hands flew to the top of his shirt and ripped it open. Buttons flew everywhere. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders onto his arms. Her hands traveled from his chest to the buckle on his pants over and over. Surprised and extremely pleased by Marlena’s aggressiveness, John brought his hands to the top of her blouse and ripped it opened. He grabbed and pulled her breasts through the lacey material of her bra. A moan escaped from her mouth. As her hands continued their journey up and down his torso, she began to rock back and forth on his lap. She could feel the rising bulge in his pants and it was making her wetter. Her panties were soaked through. No longer content with seeing her breasts confined by her bra, John ripped it in half. As they spilled out, he pulled her head back by her hair to give him better access to them. This time it was her turn to be surprised by his action. Now that they were free, he pulled and sucked her n*****s until he heard both pain and pleasure from her moans. By the sound of her voice, he knew she was close to having an orgasm even though he hadn’t entered her yet. His pants were tight due to his erection and it was beginning to be painful. Seeing how close she was, he would not deny her. He put his hands on her waist to help her ride him faster. Marlena knew she was close and she also knew it was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for John. Because he was such an unselfish lover, she knew he would not stop until she was through. Before she could move her hands to his belt buckle he grabbed her hands, put them around his neck and shook his head from side to side to signal no. John kept one hand on her waist to help guide her and he slipped the other one underneath her skirt. Marlena sensing she was on the verge of exploding closed her eyes. He placed his hand on top of his erection palm up and inserted his fingers in her panties to make contact with her sensitive area. She was so wet his fingers easily slipped inside of her. As soon as she felt his fingers inside of her she opened her eyes. John began to thrust them in and out of her making contact with her c******s with each stroke. And suddenly the room started spinning. Her moans came from somewhere deep inside of her. She couldn’t focus. Her walls tightened and she began to tremble. Her juices flowed out of her. Her skin was on fire. He continued to push his fingers in and out of her until he felt her orgasm begin to fade away. When she finally finished trembling, he withdrew his fingers from her. Even though her orgasm had just ended, she knew he needed her and she was ready. He was so hard he felt like he would burst. Again she went to unbuckle his belt and again John refused. He knew what he wanted. He tried to get up with her but she pushed him back down on the couch and knelt before him. This time she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Staring into his eyes she pushed his hands aside and unbuckled his belt. Carefully she unzipped his pants. Gently she pulled his throbbing erection out through the opening in his boxers. John leaned back and closed his eyes. She leaned over and inhaled deeply. She loved the smell of him, but more than that, she loved to taste him. Marlena licked her lips in anticipation. Every time she saw him she was amazed at his size and thickness. She placed one hand underneath his testicles to gently caress them and with the other hand she held his stiff member at the base. As she began to stroke his testicles she gently blew on the tip of his erection. John let out a long moan. He was powerless and she knew it. He didn’t know how long he would last. Marlena sensing his urgency licked the tip of his member. He nearly jumped off the couch the minute her tongue made contact. Ever so slowly she began to take him deeper and deeper into her mouth swirling her tongue around him. She was the only woman who could take all of him into her mouth. John began to move his hips to the same rhythm as her mouth. He was so close. It wouldn’t be much longer. The minute he felt the first signs of his orgasm, he grabbed the cushions on the couch for support. His hips were in the air and his body was stiff as a board. He couldn’t move. Wave after wave rolled over him. Marlena took every thing he gave her. Finally he finished and collapsed on the couch. Marlena looked up at him and smiled. He was speechless. This beautiful amazing woman was his wife. With her blouse ripped open and her bra torn in half she was the sexiest woman he had ever known. He reached down and pulled her up until she stood before him. He leaned forward and placed his hands underneath her skirt. Slowly he made his way up her thighs until he reached her panties. Just as slowly he began to pull them down her legs until they reached the floor and she stepped out of them. Once again she straddled him. His lips brushed her neck. At first it was gentle kisses but as his desire for her grew, they became more demanding. Usually whenever she felt him begin to mark her, she would stop him, but tonight was different. She wanted him to claim her. She would just have to use makeup to cover it up. As his mouth made its way around her neck she placed his hands on her breasts. Her n*****s were already hard. She needed him to touch them. Following Marlena’s lead, John began to pull and roll them between his fingers. The harder he pinched them, the more aroused she became. Feeling his desire to make love to her overtaking him, he stood up. Marlena wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked to the stairs. He wanted to make love to his wife in their bed. As they climbed the stairs, Marlena ran her fingers up and down his back and kissed his neck. She could feel his erection growing. Each time he climbed a step she shifted her weight so that the tip of him would barely touch her. She knew if she kept up her actions it would cause him to lose control. And that’s what she wanted tonight. Maybe it was the wine along with the strawberries and whip cream that put her in this mood or maybe it was the simple fact that he remembered a part of their past together. Whatever it was, she didn’t care. She wanted him. The more Marlena teased him, the more difficult it became for him to walk. At one point he thought he would have to stop and take her right there on the stairs. Finally they made it to the top. As luck would have it the bedroom door was closed. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t in the mood to wait any longer. He swung his leg and kicked it open with his boot. As they walked through the doorway he used his other leg to kick it closed again. Expecting him to walk to their bed Marlena was surprised when he turned around and pushed her against their bedroom door. Placing his hands on the door and without saying a word, he entered her hard and fast. Marlena was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected him to take her that fast. Giving her just a couple of seconds to adjust to him he began moving inside of her. This was new to her. His thrusts became harder and harder. The harder he pushed, the more she enjoyed it. Just when she thought he couldn’t go any harder or deeper he proved her wrong. The sensations she felt were pushing her over the edge. He felt so good. This was a new level of passion between them. In between his thrusts she began to suck his neck and shoulder. The harder he pushed the harder she sucked. She wouldn’t be the only one with territorial marks on her body. As wonderful as it felt to take her against the wall, John wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurting her. When he looked into Marlena’s eyes he saw raw passion. She was enjoying this as much as he was. Her hair was matted to her head by sweat. Her bottom lip was quivering. He could see she was close and so was he. Faster and faster he went. He could feel her legs begin to tremble. She held on to him with all of her might. Because he was sweating profusely, her hands were sliding down his back. Her eyes closed tight. At the same time, John felt himself losing control. He held on to her as tight as he could. He didn’t know how much longer he would be able to stand. His vision was blurred. They called out to one another at the same exact time.

John and Marlena looked at one another. It was hard to believe how long ago that night happened. Back then he believed they would always be together. They would always be a family. Once Roman came back, it was if their marriage never happened. Their love for one another never existed. That was a hard pill for him to swallow.

John was the first to speak, “It was real wasn’t it? We were a happy family once upon a time.”

“Yes, my love. We were very happy.”

Again John looked around the room and felt the anguish of knowing all of this was once his. Marlena could see the pain in his face. John turned to leave.

“Doc, I’ll wait for you downstairs.” It was too painful for him to stay in this room. The room he once shared with her and now she shared it with Roman.

“John, wait.” She reached out to him. “Stay.”

“Doc, I’ll be downstairs waiting for you. I can’t stay here. It’s too hard. Too many memories.”

Her voice was so soft, “I know.” He began to pull away from her. “Make love to me.”

John wasn’t sure he heard her correctly. “Marlena, what did you say?”

She looked into his eyes and said, “Make love to me.”

John didn’t move a muscle. As much as he wanted to take her in his arms, he had to be sure. The longer they stayed in this house together the bigger the risk of someone discovering them together.

She could read his mind. She knew why he was holding himself back. It was because of her. He didn’t want to cause anyone to become suspicious.

Her voice was full of passion. “John, listen to me. You were right. We shared many happy times in this house, in this room, in that bed. We were a family; you, me and the kids. I remember the night we made that gash in the door, just like you. I remember lots of nights we spent in this room together. What I don’t remember is the last time we made love in this room. One minute we’re a happy family, the next minute everything is different. Just like that, it’s all over. I’m married to Roman and you’re with Isabella. I want there to be a last time for us in this house. If this is the last time I make love in this house, I want it to be with you.”