Part 8 John looked up at Marlena, and saw her crying and laughing at the same time. She was his beautiful goddess sheathed in white satin. His angel! His soulmate! And by the end of today, he would make her his wife. Before beginning his proposal, he took a moment to collect his thoughts. This time wasn't planned as elaborately as he would have liked, but what was in his heart was what mattered. He looked at his future bride standing there laughing and crying, dressed only in a white silk dressing gown, and took her left hand in his own. He could feel her trembling and a certain amount of pride fill him, that he could make this woman feel so strongly. Deftly, he opened the ring box and lifted it up so that Marlena could see the jewel he had chosen for her. Her mouth formed an "O" as she rested her gaze on the glimmering diamond. Her brows lifted in the surprise of such beauty she was being offered. It was a perfect diamond in the shape of a heart. One each side of the heart was a smaller heart, each as perfect as the center.
"Oh John!" she gasped. "It's exquisite!" "One each side the small heart represent us Doc."John began."Those are our two hearts. The center heart is the one we form when our love is united. It is the heart that we share. Marlena Evans... You are the woman that I want beside me for all the days of my life. Where you go, I want to be. When you're happy, I want to laugh with you. When you love, I want to be the one who is receiving that love. I want to grow old with you. I want to raise Belle and Brady with you. I want to be your closest friend, and share your deepest emotions. I want to hold you every night, and wake up to your lovely face every morning. I never want to let go of you. I love you. I never want to hide that love again. I want everyone in the world to know I love you. So Miss Marlena Evens... Will you make me the happiest man in the world?" he asked beginning to slid the ring on her finger. "Will you marry me?" "Yes...oh...Yes. Yes! YES! John. I love YOU!" Marlena cried, joining him by dropping to her knees. His arms went around her automatically. "It's so wonderful!" she murmured. "No you're wonderful" he softly replied. She looked up into his eyes and they each saw the love they held for each other. Unable to control he desire he pulled her against him. His mouth descended upon her to claim a kiss. Passion and desire shot between them like electric currents. Marlena feverently kissed him back. His tongue touched her lips,making her gasp. His hands slid up her back along the silky material, till they found resting places that allowed him to pull her to him even tighter. At his insistence, her lips parted and his tongue lit her on fire. She moaned into his kiss, arousing him. His mouth moved from her lips and her traced a line of kisses across her cheek, toward her ear. Her hands began exploring the contours of his chest, and slowly she pushed back his jacket and peeled off his tie. John continued his exploring kisses, and his mouth moved downward so he could taste her neck. Eager to return the pleasure, Marlena began to unbutton Johns shirt. When his mouth reached her shoulders, Marlena gently lifted his head from her neck. "My turn." she whispered. Unhooking the last of the buttons, she slid his shirt off and tossed it aside. She gazed at his powerful, naked chest and lightly ran her fingers down from his shoulders, down passed his strong pecs, onto the hard plains of his abdomen. His breath drew in sharply from the softness of her touch, and she smiled to hear it. Slowly she let her fingers travel back up till they rested on his shoulders again. This time she let her hands travel down over his powerful biceps. Letting them linger there, she bent in to place a kiss on his collarbone. Reflexively his head fell back, and his breath began to take on a ragged quality. She began feathering kisses all over his naked chest. His heart pounded. Desire swelled higher and higher within him, but he held back, wanting to make this perfect for her. Her kisses trailed upward to leave kisses on his neck. His head still thrown back, began to slowly turn side to side. Like a man without control of his senses his hands went around her waist and drew her against his hard body. Lowering his head, he gazed into her eyes. "Doc, I want you." he murmured, his voice husky with unabashed lust. Then his lips returned to hers. Marlena hands found their way to the back of his neck and she passionately returned the kiss, as an unspoken reply. His desire to proceed slowly fled, and in one sudden movement he pull Marlena off her knee and into the cradle of his arms... never breaking the kiss. Climbing to his feet they drifted over to the fireplace. Gingerly he lowered her onto the white flotaki rug that was spread in front of the flames. Her gown lay partially open revealing her knees and shapely calves. She turned her head toward the flames and rubbed her cheek against the softness of the throw rug. Her face warmed from the nearness of the flames, and she closed her eyes reveling in the sensations of the moment. John kneeled beside her and gingerly took one ankle and lifted it toward his mouth "I want to kiss every inch of you Doc" he said lowering his lips to her ankle. "Ooh John..." Marlena cried, opening her eyes and look right into his face. "I don't think I can wait that long!" Quickly, John peeled away the rest of his clothing, warmed by the fire and his desire for her. Gently untied her gown and parted it. His eyes hungrily devoured the sight of her naked flesh. Bowing his head down he pressed a kiss on her stomach. And another higher... higher and higher he kissed till their lips met again and their arms went round each other. They clung to each other in their urgency. John rolled, pulling Marlena on top of him. Her gown slid from her shoulders and lay discarded, unneeded next to them. She bent her head down to his to capture more kisses from his eager lips. A fresh wave of lust assailed them both and they rolled again till John was atop of her. His hand crept down her abdomen till it nestled in the warm place between her thighs. Gently, he began to excite her. A moan of pleasure escaped her mouth, and a blush stained her body from head to toe. Now it's your turn, he thought, as her breath took on the ragged quality his had taken on a few minutes earlier. His hand continued its work till she cried out his name. Mad with lust, he positioned his body above her own. They whispered back and forth pledges of love. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he drove himself into her warm willing body. Marlena gasped in pleasure. He remained still for a moment, taking the time to reach for and grasp her hand. Her thigh slid along his, tormenting him. Then she arched her body against him. There, holding hands in front of the fire, John began to make slow gentle love to Marlena. Tears trickled from both their eyes. The took turns kissing the salty tracks from each others faces. As their passions grew, their love making took on an urgency. Soon enough, their love exploded against each other, as they whispered tender phases, kisses and looks. Exhausted they collapsed onto the ground, John on his back, Marlena lying with her head on his chest. Marlena laid her hand on the side of Johns face and spread her fingers along his cheek. He stroked he hair and ran his fingers through it, enjoying the silkiness of it. A shiver ran though her body. Immediately, John asked her, "Are you cold?" and drew her robe up over her body. She shook her head. "No, my love... You could keep my warm all day! Besides the fire feels so nice." And she snuggled closer against him. His arms encircled her. Both felt like they had found paradise. "I would love to stay like this forever but..."John said. "But what?"Marlena immediately asked. "I knew that would get your attention!" John chuckled. "I still have a surprise for you! Want to know what it is?" Marlena turned over onto her stomach and lifted herself onto her elbows. She gave him a dazzling smile, and nodded her head. "Ok wait here..." John got up and walked over to the table. Marlena admired his naked form as he went to retrieve whatever it was he had for her. When he picked up the box and the note, she couldn't help but admire his naked form from the front too. Smiling at him as he sat down with her, she had to take his hand again. "First read the note... then you can see what's in the box." Marlena took the note from his hands and opened it. Inside she found only flight plans, from Salem airport to Lake Tahoe...4 passengers. Marlena was about to ask him what it was for when he handed her the box. When she opened, she saw two wedding band each with the same three heart pattern engraved on them. "John... You want to get married today??" she asked surprised. "Why not?" he replied. "Well... I don't have a dress, Carrie doesn't even know. I would like to find a way to get Sami and Eric to agree to this... I want a perfect wedding... like we deserve!In St. Lukes.. with family and flowers and all the trimmings. I want Laura to be my matron of honor... Oh John... I want a big elaborate wedding! Could we wait just a short time? Please?" John looked at her for a moment, and saw her desire for a big family wedding. Giving in he said,"You're right Doc. This is new for us... this time I'm gonna make you Mrs. Black. We will have the finest wedding Salem can offer. On Valentines Day... because I refuse to wait any longer than that!" Marlena threw her arms around John. They shared a few more minutes of passionate kisses. "So how about we go to Lake Tahoe anyway? We could ski... make love...we could take the kids with us...they would love it!" John asked. "Lord knows, we could use some time away! And that's a fact!" Marlena quickly agreed. "It's settled then... Now my love come have a seat by the table while I cook you some breakfast! I'll call Sean and Caroline and tell them we'll be married on Valentine's Day. I told them last night what was going on, so they should know that we're having a large wedding instead. And, I'll ask them to get the kids ready for the trip." Later... As the Black jet leveled off at 30,000 feet, John walked over to Marlena. Brady and Belle were playing quietly on the floor nearby. From behind she felt his strong arms go around her and pull her close. Together they watched the children play. Soon though John realized that Marlena was lost in thought. "What is it Doc?"he asked, brushing a kiss on her ear. "Oh I was just remembering a dream I had last night... I saw you in the moonlight over my bed. But it had been so real... " her voice trailed off. "That's because it was... When I came to the penthouse last night, I found you asleep on the couch. I put you to bed, my love. " was his laughing reply. "And you called me 'your hero'... and you said 'I luff yooou soooo mushhhhh!" He said mimicking the drunken voice from the previous night with a huge smile on his face. Baited, Marlena immediately spun around and tried to give him a playful smack on the arm. But he twisted away from her. She chased after him, but he was to quick for her. Suddenly, he turned and caught her around the waist and playfully dragged her down to the ground. Tickling her, he asked if she gave up. She was about to answer yes, when two little shrieks of delight indicated the children wanted to get in on the fun... Belle and Brady came running over and jumped on their mother and father. And that's how the Black family spent the rest of their ride to a well deserved vacation. The End of New Year Epilogue... Earlier at the pub... No one noticed the single figure listening from outside when the phone rang. Sean and Caroline happily discussed the events that were going on in their to sons lives... John and Marlena were getting married Valentines Day and Roman had found love with Laura. They couldn't be happier. Kristen slid the gun into her pocket. No need to wait here for Marlena now... she had plenty of time to take care of her. She could wait a bit... plan better...find a way to blame someone else. Kristen smiled and climbed into her car. She drove to a townhouse on the other side of town... somewhere she could stay out of site and plan... New Years will be continued in a new story about Valentines day... Chapter Page