Ghosts of the Past

Ghosts of The Past; Chapter 13: Seduced

Chloe wakes up still half in her dream, not opening her eyes yet she snuggles further into the covers enjoying the soft warm sheets, as she slowly lets go of the dream and re enters reality she realizes where she is. It had been a long night and opening her eyes her smile grows as she takes in Marshall's room. It's simple, a desk with countless notes sits opposite the bed, hoody's tossed over the chair, a large wooden set of drawers across from it, clothes poking out the top of the openings and off to the side what she assumes is the en suite. Its after taking in her surroundings she discovers that Marshall isn't next to her, in fact his side of the bed is cold implying he'd been gone a while. Chloe wraps the doona around her tightly, the smile disappears as she tries to make sense of it, clearly it had been a mistake, she sits up, tucking the blankets under her arms and looks around for her clothes, mentally kicking herself. The door opens and Marshall tip toes in, until he sees that she is awake.

*******

Her hair falls lazily over her face and her cheeks are flushed, he smiles as he takes in the sight of her in his bed, in between hating her all these years there had been the odd occasion where he had thought of nailing her again. The white blankets tucked under her arms show off the golden brown of her naked shoulders, he pulls his shirt over his head and all but runs back to the bed.

"Finally awake hey"

He says climbing in next to her, in one swift motion with his hand under her back and around her waist he positions himself on top of her, dipping his head to slowly kiss her. Chloe's arms circle around his neck and she leans up into to the kiss, Marshall pullsslightly away and looks down at her

"So no regrets?"

She shakes her head then falters

"Other than the fact I will have to leave to go to work at some point today. You?"

He leans up on his elbow and gently tucks her hair behind her ear, god she is beautiful, he's leaning in again when there's a knock at his bedroom door and he hears Kim call his name.

She waits all of ten seconds before she walks into the bedroom, Chloe pulls the covers up over herself and it takes a second before recognition flickers across her face when she realizes who it is.

"Ah that's why you weren't answering the door then?"

Kim leans against the door frame casually,

Marshall rolls off Chloe and leans back in the bed, hands behind his head not at all phased.

"Yeah but feel free to let yourself in and come up to the bedroom Kim"

"Well when Lainey told me your friend Chloe was here I had to see for myself"

Chloe sits up a little and leans across Marshall, tucking the covers further under her arms,

"Hi Kim,"

Marshall grins as Chloe lamely salutes Kim

"Well Chloe Taylor, hello. You two getting dressed? I will make the coffee"

She doesn't wait for an answer she turns and walks down the hall.

"Right well that's the morning ruined"

Marshall says throwing the covers off, he cups her face in his hand and leans in to kiss her again, his breathing quickens as she pulls him back down onto the bed, his hand hastily runs down her body and his lips move to her neck

"Don't get sidetracked"

Kim yells from downstairs, forcing them apart again.

Marshall leans his forehead against Chloe's

"Yeah she aint going away"

******

Marshall sits on the edge of the bed and reaches down for his shirt, Chloe stares at his naked back, taking in his tattoos again, throughout the years she had gotten pretty good at repression and right now the fact that she was married was buried deep, she was all consumed by the nape of his neck and shoulders.

He pulls his shirt over his head and then turns back to her, grinning cheekily at her

"So I'm all for you staying naked but it might make this fun little coffee thing a bit more awkward."

He ducks down and then returns with her bra dangling off his finger

"You might need this...or not"

She snatches it off him and then swings her legs out of the bed, she spies her dress on the other side of his bedside table and reaches for it,

"God, I've gotta go downstairs before I get sidetracked again"

She turns around to see Marshall watching her with a pained expression, his eyes running up and down her naked body

"Ok we gotta go downstairs"

She agrees waving him out of the room, he begrudgingly nods and and backs out of the room, not taking his eyes off her as she hunts for her underwear.

Chloe walks down the final stair to hear Kim finish with

"I know its your life Marshall but you remember what it was like when she left"

"We were kids Kim, you wanna talk mistakes as kids"

"So knock knock"

Chloe breaks into their conversation

Kim offers a warm smile and a cup of coffee, as she is reaching for it Chloe notices Kim's eyes go to her wedding ring and she raises her eyebrow

"So still Chloe Taylor is it?"

Her question is pointed

"Actually no its Martin now"

"Mhm"

Kim nods dragging out the m, her smirk turning smug.

"So much to catch up on"