"So, you want to answer my question?" Craig's face is stony as he faces Grace.
"Question?" Grace arches her eyebrows in a passable imitation of confusion.
"What the hell was going on there..." Craig motions at the stairs, "...with whatever his name is?"
"Austin?" Grace shrugs easily. "He was down here on his run and he was telling me that my daughter is worried about me. That's all."
"It didn't look like that was all from my angle," Craig's eyes flash and they are accompanied by a heavy roll of thunder.
"And what angle would that be Dr. Wesley?" Grace asks, a little sharply.
"Marlena, I know I don't have any claims on you," Craig starts, a little more stridently than he had intended.
"No, that's right, you don't." Grace's jaw sets as she glares at him. "You'd do well to remember that, *Doctor*."
"Look, I'm sorry," Craig doesn't even know why he's saying this except that seeing Marlena talking with Austin Reed had elicited a burst of jealousy so intense that he had been unable to contain it.
This isn't like him, he's had flings before, but they were just that, flings. Nothing more, nothing less. But this is something different. This woman has somehow worked her way under his skin in a matter of days and the more he sees her, the more he possesses her, the more he needs her. She's like a drug and he can't wait to get his next fix.
"Marlena, I..." he shakes his head, trying to clear the fog that seems to have enveloped him as she stands there, watching him with scornful eyes. "You know full well that I can't stay away from you and you ask me to meet you down here. Then I find you coming onto some idiot whose bicep measurements are bigger than his IQ..."
"What I do, and who I do it with, is my business." Grace says carefully as she watches the flickers on his face that betray his reactions. "Just because I have sex with you, Craig, it is not a promise of a lifetime commitment."
"I *know* that," he replies hoarsely.
"Good," she smiles suddenly and it is like she has turned on the sun, despite the heavy cloud above them. "Because it might not be a commitment, but it is an awful lot of fun," she reaches out and wraps her fingers around his tie. She pulls him towards her and leaning into him, she trails her tongue gently along the line of his jaw until she reaches his ear. "Don't you think?"
"Jesus, Marlena!" Craig can barely see straight, he wants her so badly and he pushes her up against one of the upright pier supports, extracting a gasp from her. He takes the opportunity to pin her to the wooden structure with his own body and he takes her lips with his own, his tongue plundering her mouth as his hands roam her body.
Grace moans as she feels him moving against her and she realizes that she wants him almost as badly as he wants her. The thought of giving into her desires here, of all places is quite delicious as his hands grasp her warm thigh under her skirt.
"What the *FUCK*!?"
Craig pulls away from her as though he has been burnt as the voice comes from behind him and the first thing Grace sees is John Black's pallid face.
They are all too stunned to say anything for what feels like an eternity. All John wants to do, is to tear Craig Wesley's head from his shoulders as he stands in front of a dishevelled Marlena. He can feel the droning in his head again and it's becoming overwhelming as everything in front of his eyes starts to vibrate.
"Unless you want to end up as fish food Wesley, I suggest you stay the *fuck* away from my wife." His voice is harsh and guttural. "Get out of here before I break your fucking neck."
"Oh *grow* up John," Grace steps out so that she is level with Craig. She could just let John do his worst and destroy himself in the process, but that would take away all her fun. And besides, Craig is a little too enjoyable to see him sacrificed for John's capture. There are much more interesting ways to play that particular move. "The Neanderthal act is getting old. Why don't you try moving into the twentieth century for a change."
"Stay out of this Marlena," John doesn't even look at her. He's too busy imagining smashing Craig's head against the support to look at his wife.
"Craig," Grace turns to her lover. "You should go."
"Will you be okay?" Craig is much less than sure that he should leave Marlena here with her husband. Not with the rage that's burning in his eyes.
"I can take care of myself," Grace nods. "I'll see you later." She looks at him, the significance in her words conveyed by her eyes. She wants to finish what they started and despite John's arrival, despite every instinct that tells him he should get out of this as fast as he can, so does he. He wants her more than he's ever wanted her and he's not about to let an idiot like John Black stand in his way.
He nods and backs away from John, who is still glaring at him murderously. When he is gone, John and Grace turn to face each other.
"What the *HELL* do you think you're playing at Marlena?" he yells angrily as the first drops of rain start to fall.
"I'm not even going to have this conversation with you," she replies contemptuously as she turns to walk away.
But he grabs her arm and yanks her back roughly as he scowls at her. "You are going to have this conversation whether you like it or not." John tightens his fingers around her wrist. "You pushed me away the other day, you damn well *hit* me, and now you're acting like some bitch on heat with Craig Wesley. Down *here*?" He looks around him and then back at her. "What in God's name is *wrong* with you Marlena?"
"*You*!" Grace shoots back furiously. "*You* are what's wrong with me you pompous self-absorbed jackass! How *dare* you talk to me like that! I pushed you away because you destroyed whatever faith I had in you, in our love with your betrayal and your lies. Our marriage was nothing but a *sham*, and I'm *glad* it's over!"
"I don't believe you," he shakes his head, his lips set in a thin line.
"God, how *thick* is that skull of yours?" she demands incredulously. "How many times, how many ways do I have to say it? I can't *stand* to even *look* at you any more. I want you out of my life. And I don't *care* what you believe or don't believe. Get it John. It's *over*."
"Dammit, Marlena," John becomes even more determined as his piercing blue eyes bore into her. "I don't know *what* the hell is going on with you, but I'm not buying it. You and I *both* know how good we are together. I won't give that up without a damn good fight."
"You want a fight?" She wrenches her wrist free. "I'll give you a fight, you *bastard*." She swings at him, but he's quicker than her and he grabs her arm again and forces her back up against the pole behind her. She struggles but although Stefano's people trained her, they trained John too and he's a good deal stronger than her.
"You can fight all you want Marlena," he pins her against the pole, her wrists gripped with iron fingers above her head. "But you're not going to win this one, baby. You can count on that."
He dips his head and takes her mouth with a kiss that sends Grace's senses reeling. All she can feel are his lips and the heat of his body where it moves against hers. She moans softly as his mouth penetrates hers and she can't even think of fighting him as his presence overwhelms her. It is as though she has no will as she submits to her unexpected desire for him and she begins to return his passionate kiss, her tongue exploring his mouth fervently.
Her heart is drumming wildly in her chest as she feels one of his hands take over the task of holding her arms above her head and the other slides down over her bare skin. He drifts his lips across hers again as the rain becomes heavier, the sizeable drops dampening John's shirt. Grace moans again as his touch grazes her breast and continues over the curve of her waist. John can feel the vibration of her mouth against his as she continues to moan and it makes him want her even more.
"Doc. Oh God Doc," he whispers in between shallow breaths. "I love you so much."
Grace freezes as she realizes exactly what she's doing and she quickly takes advantage of the fact that John's defences are down. With a distinct lack of compassion, she brings her knee upwards and John grunts loudly as he staggers backwards, his eyes wide with agony. A moment later, he doubles over, his breath completely deserting him.
"Stay *away* from me!" she hisses before she storms from the pier, her fury trailing her almost palpably.
John squeezes his eyes shut and moans audibly as the intensely searing pain slowly starts to subside just a little. But by the time he is capable of lucid thought, Marlena is long gone.
Stumbling over to a seat, he sinks onto the wet surface and groans as he hunches over. The rain is pouring now, the raindrops running in rivulets down his face as he squints at the river. This is all so crazy.
Every time he sees Marlena, things get more and more bizarre. And more surreal.
He knows Marlena so well. He has known her for most of the years he can remember. He likes to think he knows her better than anyone. Or he used to, at least. This anger, this fury that she has developed is like nothing he has ever experienced before. He knows she has every right to be hurt and angry, but this isn't like her at all. Not this complete unwillingness to try and work things out. The Marlena he knows will fight until her last breath to make things right with the people she loves.
No, something is seriously wrong here. He is not quite sure *what* that something is yet, but he can feel it in his gut like the storm that is brewing overhead. However much Marlena maintains that she doesn't want him around, he can't believe that she's telling the truth. He can't believe that she would turn her back on everything they are to each other, not after the hell that they fought through to be together.
No, there is a deeper problem here. Marlena, or at least the Marlena he knows would fight to keep her family intact. And she would *never* stoop to trying to turn Belle against him. Maybe he deserves it, but Belle doesn't deserve the pain that her mother's revelation has caused. That proves it even if nothing else does. Something is happening to Marlena and he is damned if he is going to let her push him away when she needs him most. For now he just needs to work out the best way to reach her....