A Love Beyond Compare ch 20
Written by Sandra H. Bondelier
I Still Hear the Music Playing

I hear music when I look at you
A beautiful theme
Of every dream I ever knew........

At last, night had fallen all around the cabin in the woods and the children were snuggled up safely in their sleeping bags on the cots in their room, giving Roman and Marlena some time alone. It was a beautiful summer's evening, the sky full of bright and shining stars. Even though it had become fairly obvious throughout the day that they both felt the need to talk about their relationship and the way it was headed, there was a sense of nervous tension that filled the air as they sat down on the rustic looking sofa on the front porch, each holding a cup of coffee. Thankfully, they had brought along a radio/cassette player and among the tapes, Marlena had found a Frank Sinatra recording of several classic romantic tunes, one of which was The Song Is You.

As they both allowed the melody to tickle their ears, Roman sighed tiredly and made a comment about the kids to start things off, "They sure do have a lot of energy, don't they?"

"Yes they do... they wore me out. How on earth do you manage to keep up with them, Roman?" she asked incredulously.

He slumped down into the couch a little further and said, "I'll let you in on a little secret... I'm beat too... They can run circles around me, Doc...I just try not to let them know it. I collapse in bed at night sometimes."

"No... not Roman Brady... the invincible.... I don't believe it for a second, " she teased, smiling mischieviously and giving him a playful shove.

He laughed lightly saying, "Yea, right...well anyway..... how are you feeling? Are you enjoying yourself, Doc... do you feel closer to.. the kids?" It was gone for a second and then as he hesitated in saying the kids, instead of himself, it was back. That tension, that sense that something important was about to happen at any given moment; it was there waiting in the wings.

Sighing contentedly, she said, "It's been wonderful so far, Roman.. thank you so much for doing this. I know that.. it wasn't easy for you.. telling..."

Placing one fingertip over her lips, he gently interrupted her comments, "Shh... don't say it. It's okay.. the whole thing was my idea. I wanted to take this trip... I wanted us to find out.. what there is between us."

An awkward silence followed, neither knowing quite what to say about the fun-filled day and the very passionate kiss he'd initiated. Marlena was the one who finally felt brave enough to bring it up, "Well, speaking of that... you kissed me, Roman... and I'd like to talk about what it meant.. because I want us to be very clear on things." She gazed at him adoringly and reached out to take his hand. That simple contact, as well as the look in her eyes made his heart swell with emotions he thought he'd locked away forever. It was an amazing sensation to experience their return so swiftly following Marlena's reappearance.

Suddenly, Roman was captivated by the way her eyes sparkled in the soft glow cast upon her by the moonlight, the way her hair glistened.. and he found her words soon began to fade into the background in favor of the picture of lovliness before him. Then there was the romantic song that was playing, as if written especially for them on this particular night. She was talking about the kiss, and their relationship in general, where it was headed.. However, all he could focus on was her dazzling beauty.

The next thing he knew, she was punching him on the arm. "Ow... what was that for?" he yelped, recalling almost immediately how sexy she always was when she was irritated with him about something.

"For not listening to me... Roman, you were.." She stopped in mid-sentence, realizing that wherever he'd gone before.. he was right back there again. His face bore a dreamy expression... It was so.. familiar to her. Suddenly, she knew... it was the way he looked at her on their wedding day... and on that day in the park on their honeymoon. "Oh... Roman," she sighed quietly, "You do love me."

After another moment or two.. he seemed to come to full awareness again, saying, "Huh? What? I'm sorry, Doc... I wasn't listening.. I uh... got distracted there for a minute.. what were you saying?" he asked, sitting up straight and working hard to focus on something other than the wondrous beauty in front of him.

"Oh... nothing, Roman... you know.. I think I'll just go get ready for bed now... how about you?"

He was taken aback, thinking she was aching to talk about the kiss he'd planted on her unsuspecting lips. Though he didn't know exactly what he was going to say to her about it, retiring to their separate sleeping quarters was the last thing he wanted to do. "Bed? You mean... you want to go to sleep... when we have so much to...talk about?"

Exaggerating a yawn, she said, "Oh... I know we do.. but, I'm so tired, Roman... the kids really wore me out.. I'm afraid I'm going to fall asleep sitting up. I'll be right back with my pj's on," she said with a sly smile he didn't quite pick up on. He was still fixated on figuring out where he'd read her incorrectly, reviewing the conversation in his head. 'It must have been when I tuned her out because she was looking so beautiful that I couldn't help but stare at her... maybe she thinks I'm not interested.. maybe I blew it.. Oh, great Roman... way to go.. Now, she thinks you don't even care enough to listen to her... that's just great!' he yelled at himself as she slipped soundlessly out of the room.

In the restroom, Marlena was busy making herself look as pretty as she knew how... washing her face... putting on a touch of makeup and a dab of perfume... and the finishing touch.. the very tasteful but also very sexy white nightgown she had brought along. Satisifed with her appearance, she placed her robe over the gown, put on her furry and distinctly not very attractive slippers, so as not to tip her hand, and then stepped back out of the restroom.

Roman appeared to be lost in thought... 'Probably trying to makes sense of my apparent change of heart, no doubt' she said to herself, as a warm smile of anticipation graced her pretty face.

Even in an old terry cloth robe, she was stunning and Roman found his breath catching in his throat as he tried to speak to her. Finally, he managed to say, "Woah.. Doc... even in that beat up old robe, you're so.. beautiful!"

Hearing him talk about her like that was more proof of the love he was feeling for her again. She found herself enraptured by him, as he was with her. He was as handsome as ever, his body lean and muscular as she remembered it, his hair just as dark and thick, his brilliant blue eyes as intoxicating as always. Roman crossed the distance between them, saying nervously, "Marlena... I'm really sorry about... fading out on you eariler.. I uh.. I.. was just.. thinking about how... little you've changed, Doc." As he spoke, she began to open her robe, revealing her shapely figure..

He subdued a gasp and tried to continue, but found himself fighting a losing battle to maintain his train of thought as his eyes fixed on her heavenly body, "You're uh... even more beautiful than ever before and I... I uh... lost my concentration for a minute.. that's all. I hope I didn't upset you because...."

Rather than let him rattle on, she finished removing the robe in one swift motion, an act which rendered him completely speechless. His eyes went wide open and his jaw almost hit the floor, as his mind and body tried to react to the incredible image of natural beauty standing before him. Roman felt his heart begin to race; his breathing quickened and he labored to stay upright, she was so incredible looking in the silky fabric that flattered her ample curves.

With an enticing whisper, she said as she came nearer, "Roman.... honey... I'd like to talk about that kiss now... how about you?"

He could barely put two coherent thoughts together, but somehow managed to tell her what he was feeling at the time, "Uh... yea... sure... I.. uh, I just... looked over at you.. I was feeling so... close to you and I.. followed my impulse."

Slowly and deliberately, she stepped even closer. After dropping the robe off her shoulders, she ran her hands up and down his chest, then leaned in to whisper in his ear, "And how about now... Are you.. experiencing any impulses right now, Roman?"

He swallowed hard, not able to think clearly at all, as his body began to respond even more powerfully. "I.... uh.. oh..Doc.. I.. don't think we should...." he tried to say as she threaded his hair with her fingers and blew on his neck.

She wasn't going to let it end that easily; she knew he loved and wanted her. "Why not... you're my husband... and you love me... what's the problem, Roman?" she asked, making him think about his true feelings.

Still struggling to cogitate, he said, "The problem is.... uh.. it's..." he was saying as she began to unfasten the buttons on his chambray shirt. As she undid each button, she leaned in for a kiss and it was all he could do to maintain control of his body. Just breathing in the sweet and sensuous aroma of her perfume was enough to make him dizzy with desire, let alone what her soft moist kisses and her tender touch were doing to him.

"What were you saying, honey? Earlier today.. you told me that you loved me and that you weren't going to run from the moments when you felt something for me.... Do you feel something for me now, Roman?" she said, in another breathless whisper.

Marlena was making it virtually impossible for him to resist her advances.. she knew just what to do to arouse him and he found himself lost in sensation... his body aching to meld in ecstasy with her... his breathing was becoming more and more ragged with the need of her, his heart pounded inside his chest and his pants were suddenly much too tight. "Oh... Doc.. yes.. I do... I want you.. I want you so much! But, I..."

"But what, Roman.. you are my husband and I love you... and you have admitted that you still love me too... Let me make you feel good.. let me help you remember how good we were, Roman... how special our time together could be... "

She was nibbling on his ears and running her hands all over his body, up and down his back, rubbing the area around his zipper... a move that made him moan with desire.. "Oh.. Marlena... please.. stop.. I'm not.. ready." Even as he said those words, there was a part of him that knew it wasn't really true. He *was* ready, but he was afraid.. Afraid that if he let go... he would fall hard and fast again and then someone or something would snatch her, something from his unremembered past would come along and cause her to be taken from him again. That was in large part why he was hesitating; he knew he simply couldn't bear to go through that again.

She was becoming breathless too... her desire rising as she heard his breathing change, and felt his body responding to her touch. "Yes... you are, Roman... you're ready... you know in your heart that it's me you love... that it's me you want to share your life with.. and me that you want to make love to... Let's do that, Roman... let's share our love again..."

She kissed him before he could answer, and the rapid flickering movements of her tongue all around his made him tremble with the aching passion that begged to be fully expressed. "Mmm... Oh.. Doc!" he cried, as his body progressed further along the path toward lovemaking.

"Oh... Doc... it feels so good.." He wasn't resisting her at all now. He was held captive by all she was doing, falling under her spell completely. She took his hand and guided him toward the bedroom. Once inside, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him again; it was a fiery kiss, full of heated passion and then she unfastened his belt buckle, releasing some of the tension he was feeling there. Roman moaned in anticipatory pleasure as she helped him off with his pants and then proceeded to take off his undershorts. Within another second or two he was standing naked before her at the foot of the bed, except for his socks. He was almost panting, feeling an urgent need to take her, and yet he was essentially paralyzed, mesmerized by everything she was saying and doing, but especially by her bold sensuality. This was a departure from their past when he had initiated their lovemaking most of the time. "Roman... honey.. I lost five years....no.. *we* had five years stolen from us, five long years when we could have been together. I don't want to waste any more of our time... do you?"

All he could do at this point was shake his head slightly... realizing as he did so that he was surrendering himself to her commanding presence. She had taken total control and he could no longer find a reason to deny what he felt, "No... No, I don't...I don't want to waste any more time, Doc..."

The knowing expression on her face was delightful, and she said as she leaned in close to blow in his ear and kiss his neck as her hands began to rove all over his muscular physique once again, "Good... then.. let me... make love to you, Roman... let me please you.... I want you to remember it all, how it felt to be in my arms, how your body felt when we kissed... and what it was like when I touched you... Let me love you tonight, Roman... right here and right now." Her hands were massaging him in a way that removed all thoughts from his mind in favor of the burning sensation in his groin... And then she kissed him again... her lips lingering less than an inch from his for a moment or two, her tongue teasing him... not letting him capture her mouth as he wanted.. He was utterly helpless under her powers of persuasion; sweat beads were popping out on his forehead and on his chest, the moisture generated by his internal fire, the temperature rising rapidly.

Again... he only nodded and she gently pushed him down onto the bed, straddling his body as they went down in unison. Roman was in shock and all he could manage was a desire filled stare of admiration and astonishment as he looked up at her wonderfully made body still clad in the sexy nightgown. He raised his hands slightly toward her, as if to remove it, but she shook her head, pinning them down for a moment. Roman left his hands where she put them as she moved with agonizing slowness to take off the last item of clothing for herself. By the time she was pulling it over her head, he could no longer resist his impulses and captured her breasts in his mouth, first one and then the other... using his tongue to arouse her. Her sharp intake of breath and the soft moaning that followed were enough to bring a slightly triumphant smile to his face as well. "Oh... Roman.. Roman... I love you."

"I love you too, Doc.. " he was saying as he prepared to enter her heavenly body and take them on a magical journey into a place called sheer ecstasy, in some ways still uncertain of what the future held in store...

Just as they were immersed in the throws of heated passion, a familiar sound broke the quiet stillness of the night......