The Pianist

Chapter Sixteen

 There were ten doves. They fluttered past the long wall of glass windows, cooing and paying no mind to the sleeping woman on the inside of the skyscraper. The sun had set on Empire, moonlight dancing in through the window. It cascaded across the black bed where there were two lumps of bodies, glowing off the two very pale people.

Molly Valentine yawned as she lay naked on her stomach, face turned towards the window. She blinked slowly, pulling herself out of the extremely groggy state she was in. Outside, the city of Empire was sleeping. Not a single hover car, nor jet pack toting person hovered by. Molly inferred it must have been very late.

She stretched her arms and memories of the night before came back to her, and she blushed. Had that really happened? Had that honestly happened? She sure felt like it happened. Molly was aching. She could feel bruises on her shoulders. Was that normal?

In a rush of excitement, she turned on her other side to see such a beautiful creature lounging beside her. Gerard was sitting on the bed, wrapped in the black robe he had tried to get Molly to wear earlier, reading a book, his legs concealed beneath the black blankets. Molly only lay there for a second, giggling to herself and letting the sight set in. He was beautiful, utterly beautiful. Even as he sat there, reading silently, there was something so elegant about him that made Molly almost want to jump his bones again.

However, she was not exactly sure she'd survive that again. Molly grinned shyly, and that seemed to alert Gerard of her presence. He looked to his side to see Molly watching him, and he reflected her small smile. "Hello, love," He whispered softly, holding his place with his right thumb and then moving his left hand towards her face. Gerard graced his fingers across her forehead, brushing back her dark hair, "How did you sleep?"

"I slept okay," Molly responded, and she scooted closer to her lover, nesting beneath his arm as he picked back up in the book where he left off, "What are you reading?"

"The Great Gatsby," He said, kissing the top of her head softly. Molly wrapped her arms around his chest and buried her face in his side. He smelled wonderful, and Molly wondered if he had showered recently. How long had she slept?

"Never heard of it," Molly muttered, nuzzling her face against the soft cotton of the robe. She almost regretted not wearing it previously. It was so soft and warm.

"I did not figure that you would have. It's old," Gerard said, laying away the book. He pressed his hands around each side of Molly's cheeks and turned her face up towards him, kissing her lips for a moment and then pulling away, "I love you, Molly Valentine."

Molly blushed as she pulled away, looking back into the dark eyes of the man who had her cheeks in his cold hands. "I love you too," She said, pulling out of his hands and sitting up against the headboard like he was, except she didn't have a robe. Molly was still naked, and she had forgotten that. She yelped, pulling the blanket up and hiding her pale chest.

Gerard laughed when he saw that, hand over his lips. Molly blushed, turning her head towards the smiling man. She could never forget the way he smiled. How his lips pulled back and revealed the tiny, white teeth that desperately needed correction. How his eyes lit up, and for a moment, just a moment, they didn't seep darkness. It was a reassurance to Molly everytime she saw it that someday things would be better.

"Stop laughing!" She snapped and jokingly slapped Gerard on the shoulder and holding the blanket to her chest with her other hand. For a moment, the young woman allowed herself to simply watch him laugh and smile as he looked away, picking back up his book, but she could tell he didn't really wish to read anymore. Molly moved closer, laying her head on his shoulder, "That was so wonderful, Gerard... Really."