Under the Influence

XXI.

January 23rd 2001.
Detroit, Michigan.

Chapter Inspired by: Beyoncé- Crazy in Love (Remix) *let me know if you'd want this to become a regular thing!*

Thankfully I did manage to secure a flight from New York to Detroit, even though it was incredibly last minute and the staff were not pleased that I'd held them up. Once I'd exited the plane I saw the message that Marshall had left on my voicemail and eagerly opened it.

"Cass I just got you're message, I'm at the studio right now, but I'll be home soon. What's going on?"

Excited didn't even begin to describe how I felt. The anticipation was past the point of eating me up, it had devoured me. As I walked up the steps of Marshall's, our, house the thought of laying my eyes on his perfect self made me clamber to get inside even more. With a jiggle of the key I was in and quietly placed my bags at the door, I didn't want to wake him up, it was nearly 3.00am. I tiptoed my way through the house to our bedroom but stopped as I saw a head peeking just above the couch in the lounge. The T.V was on low and the rest of the room was pitch black, he must of fallen asleep watching it. I knelt down on the ground beside him and smiled fondly as soon as I saw him. "Marshall" I whispered. He didn't reply, only hummed at my response, still blissfully asleep. "Marshall, I'm home" I whispered again, softly stroking his cheek. He began to stir awake and grabbed my hand in shock, his eyes shooting open. I laughed lightly, "Honey, it's just me".

He sighed in relief and tiredly rubbed his eyes with his fists. "Jesus I thought you were a murder or some shit" he mumbled.

"Did you stay up for me?" I asked as he pulled me onto his lap, hooking my legs on either side of him. He shuffled up the couch until we were eye level and his hands rested on my back, the warmness of them relaxing me.

"Of course I did" he said, his forehead creasing. "I didn't know what was going on. I still don't actually?"

My fingers caressed his amazing jaw line as I pondered his question. "Honestly?" he nodded and brought my hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle individually. "I realized going to New York was a mistake" he cocked his eyebrow at me in surprise. "I thought running away from our problems and giving us distance would help us, but it just made things harder".

"Why did you come back so suddenly though?"

"Because, I missed you. I missed being in your arms and talking about weird shit for hours on end. New York isn't my home anymore, you are".

"You really mean that?"

"More than anything". He smiled and his hands held me just that little bit tighter as if he was reconfirming my words and keeping me here with him.

"What about all that stuff?" He asked, not directly addressing our recent problems.

"Let's just forget it. I'm so sick of people getting in between us. I just want to focus on each other-our relationship should be ours and ours alone, right? We don't have to explain what we have to anybody".

"Right". We stared into each other's eyes for a moment, and then I lowered myself, gently placing my lips against his. He grabbed onto the sides of my face and kissed me hard, with a desperate need. I moaned into the kiss as my senses ignited from the first proper touch I'd received in forever. Pressing my hands firmly against his chest I squeezed the skin and noticed how it made him briefly lose his rhythm. My mouth effortlessly moved against his, like they were made for each other. Do it now. I pulled away running my thumb along my swollen lip and he smiled, loving the affect he had on me. He sat up further and latched his lips onto the base of my neck, making me moan again as he found my sweet spot he knew all too well.