Denouement (7 page)

“Fine, what’s wrong with your neck Ms. Parks?” Jessie
asked once more, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

“I didn’t sleep well. My neck is knotted up.” Marietta
pressed her fingers into her neck trying to massage herself.

“What, Toby’s muscles are getting too hard for you to
sleep on?” Jessie teased.

“That’s over,” she shot out. It had been the first
time she had said it out loud. It seemed so real, although for it to be, she
had to validate the existence of a relationship. “We were never together in the
first place.”

“That’s why you are in knots. No one loosened you up
this morning.” Jessie chuckled. But when she saw a note of despair in Marietta’s
eyes she changed her tune going for comfort and truth instead of jests. “You
had to know that you guys weren’t going anywhere. Is that why you are wearing
the shades? You want to hide the fact that you were crying over him?”

“I have my pride.” Marietta groaned when the pain in
her neck seemed to shoot into her head. A wave of dizziness washed through her.
She grabbed at the table in front of her to steady herself.

“Are you okay!”
Jessie’s
panicked tone caught the attention of everyone in the room.

*
* * *

Tobias looked in the direction of where the panic-stricken
voice seemed to emanate from. He watched as Jessie gently eased Marietta into a
sit and handed her a bottle of water. He wanted to go to her and find out what
was wrong, but he stopped himself. It didn’t matter what he felt for her or
vice versa, he wasn’t good for her. Tobias knew his wandering eye would prove
to be too much of a burden for Marietta to bear. Although in the last few weeks
he had managed to relegate himself to Marietta’s bed alone. But stuff always
happened and he had a gift for shooting all his relationship to hell in an
emotionally broken basket.

He held himself back as he watched the people around
Marietta fuss over her. He would only see if she was feeling better, he
convinced himself. He moved towards her and mixed in with the little crowd.
Tobias watched her as she shrugged off the millions of hands that were being
put on her shoulders in support. He chuckled, he had always known that she was
strong but he was more intrigued by how stubborn she was. Marietta was her own
person, her own source of strength and comfort. She didn’t need anyone to make
her complete and neither did
he.Their
similarity was
the one thing that kept them apart. How would two totally independent people
learn how to rely and lean on each other?

He noticed her kneading her fingers into her neck.
Instinctively he brushed her fingers aside and took over massaging her. He felt
her muscles submit under the pressure of his fingers. That single and
unintentional reaction got him aroused. He thought of all the nights they had
spent together and how she had surrendered her body to his hands. A sweet moan
emanated from her lips and that was it for him. He jumped back and his fingers drew
away from her.

*
* * *

A whimper escaped her lips as she wondered where the
source of her pleasure had gone. Marietta turned around to catch the needy look
in Tobias’ eyes. Of course it had to be him who had given her such comfort,
relief and pleasure. He had the magic touch. Marietta shot up to her feet and
walked away from the crowd, and as if on cue McKenzie called the whole set to
attention.

Once McKenzie yelled cut, the filming of the last
scene of the entire movie was met by tears and a roar of applause. Usually she
would be part of the emotional conclusion of her movie, but Marietta couldn’t
wait to get off of the set. She accepted a couple of hugs, each time taking a
step towards the exit.

“See you at the party,” McKenzie yelled at her.

“See you there,” Marietta yelled back, her eyes
locking with Tobias for a brief second, before Sarah called his attention.

Chapter Five

“Stop that!” Jessie slapped Marietta’s hands.

Marietta wasn’t sure how she had managed to let Jessie
talk her into her short tight dress. She stared at her feet and the velvet
black stilettos didn’t look like they belonged there. How did she let Jessie
talk her into
this
do
me
outfit?

“He’s going to kick himself for dumping you after he
sees how sexy you look.” Those were Jessie’s words of encouragement.

At first Marietta was comfortable with just going in
jeans and a T-shirt. Sure the ‘end of filming parties’ were usually a
semi-formal affair, with dinner jackets and dresses. But she had always seen
herself as an exception to the rule. Now it was different. She didn’t know when
the next time she would see Tobias would be and in what condition she would be
in. She wanted to leave a long lasting memory. With that she eased herself into
a bandage-style, red dress and black velvet stilettos. Her make-up was subtle
she managed to win that fight. She had no problems with looking foxy but she
wanted to look like herself.

She had second thoughts when the elevator doors
opened, but the reactions from the male occupants gave her confidence. They
fumbled over her, asking what floor she was going to and helping her off the
elevator. It felt good to be fussed over. Marietta made a mental note to follow
Jessie’s advice once in a while. Marietta didn’t know whose arm she was holding
onto, she was busy being impressed with the fact that she hadn’t tripped over
herself just yet. The banquet hall doors opened and she had to bid her escort
goodbye.

“How does it feel?” Jessie asked.

“Surprisingly good.
So is
this how you feel everyday of your life?” Marietta asked. Jessie was beautiful
and didn’t need much to accentuate that
beauty.Her
thick black hair cascaded down her back as the red lipstick stuck out from her
deep olive skin.

“Are you ready to conquer the room?”

“I don’t have anywhere else to be.” Marietta said as
she grabbed a glass of champagne to settle her nerves.

*
* * *

Tobias’ eyes hadn’t left Marietta since she’d entered
the banquet hall an hour earlier. His heart was still flittering in his chest
as his blood thrummed in his veins from his desire. He wanted to kick himself for
breaking it off with Marietta too early. He wanted her to come near him, that
way he could mark a territory around her. She had only acknowledged his
presence once that night and only because he happened to be standing next to
McKenzie.

“McKay.” She smiled as the director twirled her around
a lustful whistle sounding from his lips.

“That’s called the wolf’s call,” the director had
remarked. “If I wasn’t such a gentleman I would devour you on the spot.”

Tobias winced at the comment as the anger boiled in the
pit of his stomach and rose to his chest. His hands itched to touch her body.
He wanted to hook his arm around her waist and press her curvaceous body
against his own. But he couldn’t. He had to be satisfied with just looking. Her
laughter cut through him and at the same time, warmed his blood. He wondered
why she hadn’t been in the room pining after him, instead of being down here
turning each and every red blooded male’s head.

“What would wife number seven say?” Marietta teased.

“If you give me a kiss, you could be number seven,”
The old man piped in.

“Hi,” he said to her.

Marietta leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Her body rubbing ever so lightly against his.
“How are you?”

He was just about to answer, not sure if his answer
was going to be lustful and miserable without you, or just fine. But Jessie
came to pull her away before he could answer.

‘The elevator guy is here,’ he had heard Jessie say to
Marietta. He wondered who that was and a possessive call from within wanted to
order her to stay at his side, especially when he saw the excited expression on
Marietta’s face. Since then he had been watching her move around the hall on
the arm of another man. When they got out of sight he would wander around the
room until he found them. Now he leaned against a wall as he watched Marietta
and the mystery man dancing.

He growled in sexual frustration as he watched her
body sway side to side. Her hips and breasts seemingly taking on a life
of their own
. He watched as the other man put his hands
around her, as he rubbed against her with the clear intention to conquer.
Tobias didn’t know how much more he could take. He turned away and just as he
did he locked on Jessie’s condemning gaze.

“You broke her,” she accused.

“Excuse me?”

“Marietta never drinks. She hates alcohol,” she
whispered into his ear. “Her father was an abusive drunk. Her mother offed herself
with a combination of pills and alcohol, although they don’t know what killed
her first. The loss of blood when she slit her wrist or all the poison she had
just dumped in her body. Marietta is a warrior and there is no challenge she
won’t face head on. Nothing she can’t overcome, that is until you came along.
So yes, you broke her.” Jessie shoved him out of the way and headed towards
Marietta.

Tobias had been known to wield the power to ruin
women, but never the strong ones. He took pride as his ego fed off their pleas
and opportunities to be with him ‘for the last
time.’But
he didn’t like the fact that Jessie just
accused him of ruining the one person he cared about. Her past wasn’t unknown
to everyone who had the internet but it pained him to know he was another
source of her pain. Tobias turned towards Marietta in time to see her kiss the
other guy.

Rage he had never felt before built up inside him.
With a couple of long strides he was at her side. Tobias grabbed Marietta’s
elbow and dragged her along with him. He could hear the other man’s footsteps
as he pursued them, but he wasn’t going to stop.

*
* * *

Marietta winced in pain as her hand slowly grew numb.
She looked up at Tobias in confusion as he dragged her along with him like a
rag doll. “What’s wrong with you? What’s going on?”

She wasn’t sure who had seen the mad man drag her out
of the hall but she was aware that her dance partner was in hot pursuit. With
one strong tug, Marietta pulled her elbow free only to lose her footing and
land in the other man’s arms. Glad to be on her feet and not on a floor in an
indecent heap she stood beside her hero.

Marietta glared at Tobias but her expression soon
turned soft when she was finally able to see his face. Sure the anger was
there, his fingers balled into fists at his side were a clear give away. But
what she didn’t expect to see was the look of regret and remorse. She felt the
other man hold her arm and without looking at him she pushed him aside. She
quickly realized she wasn’t good at this cat and mouse game. Marietta strode
past Tobias and rushed into the elevators, and just as the doors closed she
caught a glimpse of his eyes.

Once she was in her room, Marietta pulled out her
suitcases and emptied the contents of her draws into them. A loud banging on
the door scared her out of her wits. Her hand flew to her chest as she tried to
steady her breathing. But before she could catch a breath the banging started
once more. Marietta stood by her bed, staring at the door watching it about to
come out of its hinges. She knew it was Tobias on the other side of the door,
what she wasn’t sure of was whether she wanted to see him or not.

“If you don’t open this door I swear I will break it
down,” she heard him shout from the other side.

Marietta mulled it over, there was no way that he
would hurt her physically, emotionally that was a definite yes, but never
physically. The banging grew louder and louder as if Tobias was building
momentum to knock it completely off its hinges. Marietta gave
in,
she unlocked the door and left it ajar before going back
to her packing. She could hear his heavy breathing. She glanced at him for a
second and gasped at how red he looked his chest heaving, his shoulders sturdy,
and his fingers fisted and pure rage burning in his eyes. He looked like a bull
and her hotel room seemed like it was about to be the china shop.

“What do you want?” He didn’t answer.

Marietta looked up when she heard the door bang
closed. She gazed at him inquisitively wondering what point he wanted to make.
She soon realized what it was when he slowly begun to ease his jacket off. She
averted her eyes back to her suitcase and busied her trembling fingers with folding.

“What are you doing?” his voice sounded gruff and on the
verge of losing any patience he had in reserve.

“What does it look like?” Marietta retorted, “I’m
leaving this place as soon as I can.”

“What were you doing down there, on the dance floor
with that guy?”

“What did it look like? You can’t be that—,”

Marietta couldn’t finish what she was about to say,
all of a sudden she felt him grab both her arms and pull her against his chest.
Just then, for the first time since they had started their relationship, she
wished she was taller than he was. She cursed the fact that she had taken her
shoes off to soon. That would at least have given her four inches, raising her
to be at eye level with Tobias.

She struggled to get free but he only held her
tighter. She winced when the pain shot in now numbing arms. He pulled her
against his hard frame and she found herself leaning against him. Marietta
wanted to fight for her sanity before his kisses or his touch made her shuck
them away. He had a talent for driving her to the edge of insanity and she
wanted to hold on to the smallest chance, she had to fight him.

“You need to let go of me.”

Marietta felt the waves of desire build up inside her.
His low chuckle vibrated inside her, breaking down any sort of resolve she had
managed to create. His warm breath scorched her skin. Her body seemed to go
against her mind as her head tilted to the side allowing him room to get to her
throat. His open mouth kisses along her throat made her shiver as his hot
tongue came into contact with her skin. Tobias’ grip on her arms eased giving
her the chance to bury her fingers into his thigh muscles.

It was just this one time, she convinced herself as
her body hummed from what his lips were doing on her skin.

“You are mine. No one can make you shiver the way I
do.” The smugness in his voice was what knocked Marietta back to her senses.

She stepped out of his embrace and turned to face him.
“What exactly is it that you want from me?”

“You.”
He shot her a devilish
grin as he pulled his shirt out of his waist band. The buttons were already
undone as he tugged on his buckle, eased off his belt and unbuttoned his pants.
Marietta froze as the object of her desire stood before her. Her gaze traced
the six pack muscled abdomen, his desire for her barely contained in the loose
hanging trousers. Moving higher still, she noted his strong broad chest and the
firm set of his jaw and dark hair that neatly fell over his forehead. His brown
eyes seemed to glow when he looked at her. Tobias Harden was pure sex on legs
and she kicked herself for wanting more.

As she watched him ease his shirt off, Marietta
wondered what exactly she wanted from him. His intentions were
clear.Sex
was the only thing she was going to get out of
the relationship. She had to balance it out, pure pleasure or a connection
beyond any ones understanding. As he moved towards her she took a step back. At
first his expression was that of surprise and amusement. He looked like he was
enjoying this cat and mouse game. But when Marietta’s evasion tactics proved
superior all the patience in his face dropped and was replaced by frustrated
desire.

Tobias charged at her and instead of tackling her on
the ground he forced her up against the wall. Marietta feet couldn’t touch the
ground. He had moved so fast, one second she was on the ground and the next her
back was up against a wall, one leg dangling in the air while the other curled
around Tobias’ hip. Something else that seemed to have happened during the
confusion that she didn’t realize was that her dress was now gathered around
her waist. She felt Tobias’ finger slip in between the elastic of her panties
and her skin.

She smiled smugly waiting to see what trick he had up
his sleeve to get the barrier out of his way. Marietta’s smile dropped when she
heard the tear of fabric. But the disappointment of defeat was soon replaced by
a gasp of pleasure as his fingers soon found her center. His thumb rubbed on
her nub as two of his fingers dove inside of her. Like a flower her delicate
center opened to him, welcoming his generous efforts to give her pleasure.

Tobias balanced her with his hips as his free hand
made a mad dash for her breast. He forced her dress down, having searched for a
zipper, and not finding one, he decided to go directly to the source. Marietta
gasped at the feel of his hand grasping her fleshy globes out of rough need and
desire. Just as she opened her mouth to sound out her pleasure he captured her
lips and his tongue slid inside hungrily stroking hers. His lips teased and stoked
the fire he had just set inside her. Involuntarily she found herself replying
and urging him on, gripping at his biceps, pulling on his hair and pressing her
aching body into his. A quiver of excitement shot through her as she felt his
pulsating, hot, erection against her thigh. Her hand smoothed over his
shoulder, chest and abdomen before fishing after what she really wanted and
needed. She slid her hand under the waistband of his shorts and gently wrapped
her fingers round the velvety length of him.