I've Loved You Before

Chapter 37 - Something 'Bout a Woman

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Well, there's something 'bout a woman with my t-shirt on

Hair in her eyes and no makeup on

Standing there smiling with my coffee cup

Yeah, there's something 'bout a woman that's easy to love

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The cool air of the refrigerator swirled around Marlena's bare legs the following morning as she rummaged around for eggs. "I thought we had eggs," she mumbled.

"We do," John said in a husky voice behind her. "But I don't mind watching you lean into the refrigerator like that. Even though you're supposed to be resting, and I'm supposed to be taking care of you."

"I am rested, and now I'm hungry." She bent over again, and John couldn't stop himself from running his palm over the curve of her hip where it met her thigh. He loved every part of her, and wanted to memorize every angle. Marlena stopped moving, shivering from more than the cool air on her legs.

"Brady's asleep," he said in a husky voice. "And I was forced to sleep next to you all night in nothing more than my t-shirt. I think I deserve a kiss for my effort. Maybe two kisses. It takes a lot to keep these hands off of you."

Marlena turned in his arms, lifting herself up onto her toes, and she brushed her lips over his briefly. "Like that?"

"No, I need more than that," he told her, pulling her body firmly against his.

Another soft brush of the lips, and Marlena teased, "Like that?"

She was teasing him, and while he absolutely loved it, and wanted to touch her everywhere, he was more concerned about the bruising he'd seen on her hip the night before. Flipping her around, John lifted her t-shirt.

She gasped in surprise, "John!"

Her bare ass, rounded and smooth, begged for him to run his hands over her. He trailed his palm softly over the bruise which had become much more discolored overnight. Mottled hues of purple and red created a thick line where it was obvious she'd hit into something. Quietly he breathed out, "Fuck, Doc... how hard did he push you?"

She tried to lie, and she wasn't sure exactly why. "He didn't actually–"

" –I want the truth," he growled, laying his palm gently over her marred skin. It felt warm to touch, and he was furious. Softly caressing her skin, he told her. "You are enough, Doc. You will always be enough. You didn't deserve this, and you certainly don't deserve any of the blame for Roman's affair. Stop lying for him."

She gave up. Tension drained from her body, and she knew John could feel it. Leaning against the kitchen island, she whispered, "He was holding my arm. I asked him to let go, but he wanted to hurt me. He was digging his fingernails into me, and when I told him security was probably coming, he shook me roughly and then shoved me away. I lost my balance."

"Because he shoved you." Rage coursed through every cell in his body. "He won't fucking touch you again."

"John... I don't think it will happen again." She could barely hold herself up. "Abe... was there... and well..."

She attempted to turn around, but he told her roughly, "Don't move. I'm still checking you."

Falling forward, she rested her elbows on the kitchen island, and then allowed her head to lay against them. She couldn't fight him anymore.