We Will Always Have Paris

Chapter Two

The rain clouds had returned. The moon was hidden and the blocks back to my apartment were shrouded in an uncomfortable darkness. I almost wished Gerald was here to make sure I got back okay, but I didn't want to admit my fears and I certainly didn't want to go back to him.

That wasn't something I should be doing.

A can rolled in the street and I jumped but kept going. It's okay I told myself no one would be out this late in the rain. But even that thought didn't comfort me. I was almost home when I heard a snickering laugh. I spun around, desperately hoping that my ears were playing tricks on me.

They weren't.

A large man was ambling towards me, his eyes were the only thing I could see under the wide brim of his hat. They shone like the butcher's knife did just before the meat was cleaved in half. I turned back around and continued my walk back home. Maybe he and I were just going the same place. I turned onto my street, my second story apartment was dark and I began worrying that that guy behind me would catch me before I got to my door.

I was right.

He rushed at me, I could hear his heavy footsteps slapping the concrete. I broke into a run toward the entrance only to see another large form step towards me. There was nowhere to go. I turned to see how close the man behind me was when I was slammed to the ground from the side. The breath was driven from my longs and I gasped in pain. The man on top of me reached for my chest when another man slung him to the side.

My eyes had to be deceiving me; it was Gerald. He had the guy that knocked me down in a choke hold and he was screaming profanities at the guy in front of the door. I was still trying to breathe when Gerald scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder.

"Did they hurt you?"

I couldn't respond, his shoulder was digging into my stomach and making breathing even harder.

"Did they fucking hurt you?!" Gerald screamed

"Cant...breathe..." I gasped out

"Oh." He slid me down into his arms and I started coughing but I was able to breathe again so that was good.

"Did you hurt you?" he asked softer

"Yes, a little bit. Nothing bad."

"Nothing bad?" he scoffs, "Like hell nothing bad!"

"I'm fine." I stated

"Whatever Marilyn. I know plenty of girls and none of them would be alright after being jumped in a street and felt up by a stranger."

The fact that he "knew plenty of girls" made me uncomfortable so I just said, "You're a stranger."

He cocked an eyebrow up at me, "I'm also not feeling you up right now."

"But you want to."

"Uh, yeah." He sarcastically snapped at me

"Well then." I tried to climb down from his arms but he held me tighter

"Gerald, let me down."

I felt him stiffen slightly, "Don't call me that."

"Fine! G let me down." He set me down carefully, but didn't let go of me.

I noticed then that we were walking back towards his hotel room. I stopped.

"I'm not going home with you again."

He gave me a cryptic look, "Okay, you can go back to those guys then." I shuddered at the thought and his arm tightened around my shoulders, "That's what I thought." He whispered, "You are a big, brave girl until someone takes your innocence away."

I pulled away, "I'm still innocent."

"You are?" he gave me an incredulous look

"Yes I am, thank you very much for your concern." I walked ahead of him.

"Marilyn! That's not what I meant." He caught my wrist and I flinched. Gerald took a step back and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Hey, I'm sorry, its just that I don't want to lose you."

"Lose me? Is that why you followed me home?"

He smiled sheepishly, "Yeah, that and I wanted to make sure you got home safe. You told me I couldn't find you again and I wanted to prove you wrong. And I'm glad I did."

I was glad he did too but I didn't want to say that, let alone admit that to myself.

"Come back to my room and you can sleep there and then I'll take you to work. Deal?"

"You won't make a move on me?"

"Never."

"Okay, deal." I watched him try to hide his smile from me but fail. He took my hand again and we walked back to his hotel, past the snobby concierge, again, and into his crystal chandelier lit room. It was 3:30 and I would have to be awake in three hours for work. I went into Gerald's room and crawled beneath his covers. The bed felt heavenly. I felt Gerald crawl into bed with me.

"I thought you weren't going to make a move." I mumbled with my eyes closed

He chuckled, "I won't, but I didn't say that I wasn't going to sleep as well."

"Fine." I sighed

"Who's paying for this bed, Frenchie?"

"You."

"Good girl." He cooed

I was almost asleep when his searching hands found my waist and pulled me against him. Then his hands moved up to my shoulders and he repeated the action. I started to pull away when he stopped me by wrapping his legs around mine.

"You're not going anywhere."

"Why not?"

He sat up and looked at me, "Because I usually get laid by several adoring fans after the show and all that's happened tonight is saving you and laying in a bed fully dressed with you."

"You forgot the part where you undressed me and made me listen to you singing."

"You liked it." He teased and then I couldn't stay awake another moment and I was asleep in his arms.

A dream come true.