Two Different Roads

Hard Habit To Break

"I can not believe I agreed to this," Ellen complained once they were ensconced at Kenwood.
"I can't believe Mike and John are behaving as if they're practically best friends now."
"Men are strange creatures."
"How are YOU handling it, seeing John I mean?"
"I'm not sure. Now that I'm happy with Michael, I feel as if I've let go of a great deal of the anger. I haven't forgotten what John did, but I suppose I've forgiven him."
"That isn't exactly what I was asking."
She sighed. "You want to know if there are any residual emotions there."
"Well ARE there?"

"If I didn't know better I'd think you WANT there to be something between John and me."
"Not necessarily, but I can certainly tell that HE does."
"And your point is? We're BOTH married to other people now."
"You don't actually think John would let that stop him do you? He doesn't let much of ANYTHING get in the way of what he wants, and he doesn't give up until he gets it. I think you know better than I do that he's also quite capable of fighting dirty when need be."
"Well this is one time he isn't going to win."
"Just be prepared that's all I'm saying.

"I'm not worried."
"Maybe you should be."
II
Ellen was reminded of her sister's words almost immediately when that afternoon while Vicky was out shopping and her husband was off looking at a British Mini Cooper car he was thinking of buying, John sauntered in unannounced to her room where she had been curled up on the bed with a book. She couldn't seem to help noting that he looked much better than he had a right to in the glasses he'd recently adopted, his mustache and colorful, psychedelic clothes.
Again without being invited, he sat beside her on the bed and she was instantly confronted with the familiar, nostalgic scent of cigarettes, chewing gum, marijuana and something else that was just John.
"Cyn says dinner will be ready in a few minutes."
"She asked you to relay the message?"
"I volunteered." He glanced around the room as if noticing the absence of her husband for the first time. "Mike isn't back from buying his mini yet?"
"No, but I'm sure you knew that."
"Are you suggesting I have ulterior motives?" He asked as he grasped a lock of her hair and began twirling it around his fingers as he'd always loved to do.
"Do you?"
"Why are ya asking? Do you WANT there to be?"
"John your wife is within shouting distance," she pointed out.
"Pity that. I suppose I should be careful I don't do anything to make you scream then."

"John stop taking the piss."
"Who ever said I was doing that?"
He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath against her cheek. "I don't usually tease Little Girl. Don't have the patience for it. You know that."
All at once his mouth was on hers, insistent determined. He definitely DID play dirty. Despite herself, an immediate jolt of desire swept over her, and she found herself eventually not only accepting his kiss, but returning it.

"Ellie," he breathed, his hands curled in the hair at the back of her head now, holding her in place as his tongue sought hers.
Well that question had been answered definitively. There was most assuredly something remaining between them. She wondered with a certain despair if there always would be. After all, this WAS the first man she'd ever loved, the first with whom she'd shared her body. She tried to cling to thoughts of her husband, but at the moment it was nearly impossible to think of anything but John, his familiar embrace, his unbelievably talented mouth.
She was actually disappointed when he ended it abruptly, simply rested his forehead against hers. "You do know that If Cyn wasn't here I'd already be fucking you."
"Sure of yourself aren't you?"
"You wanted it just as much as I did."
"John I love my husband."
"I know you do, but that doesn't mean you weren't just dying for a bit of the old in and out with me."
"John..."
"You still want me," he crooned.
"That doesn't mean I'd act on it."
"Oh we'll see about that we will."
"I thought you liked Michael."
"I do, but that doesn't mean I still won't try and take you away from him if I can...speaking of which, are you going to tell him about this?"
"Why should I? It was just a kiss after all."
"Keep telling yourself that Little Girl."