Played.

38: "The Fortress."

After what I assume was hours, Marcus and I excused ourselves from the group and began walking along the shoreline.

"Today's been awesome." I smiled, resting my head on his arm.

"Maybe we should do it again."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea."

We continued walking in a peaceful silence until Marcus turned, leading me down some steps near the side of a rockface.

"Where are you taking me?" I laughed, moderately confused.

"You'll see."

"Can you even see? It's so dark."

"Trust me. Watch your step." He pulled me closer.

"I would, if I could see where I was going." I mumbled.

"We're nearly there." He ducked around another corner.

"Nearly where? Marcus, what's going on?" I giggled.

"It's here, I think. Come."

I obeyed, following him through a small opening between the rocks. He led the way down the stairs as I stumbled along behind him.

"Are you alright?" He drew an arm protectively around my waist.

Coming to the bottom of the steps and sliding out from behind him, I was met by unfamiliar, yet breathtaking, new surroundings.

We stood inside a large cave, lit up only by the lanterns and fairy lights which lined it, and the reflection of the moon through the open roof on the glowing pool in the centre. On the floor, a makeshift bed was set up out of covers, blankets and pillows, with food neatly arranged adjacent.

"You like?" Marcus grinned.

"You set all of this up?" I asked, astonished, as he nodded. "It's amazing."

"It's all for you." He kissed my forehead.

I tilted my head back, reached up, and kissed him. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, sweetheart." His grip around me tightened, pulling me into a close hug.

We remained like this for some time until abruptly Marcus shifted his arms, sliding them around me and sweeping me off the ground.

"We're going for a swim." He carried me toward the oversized pool.

"No we're not." I said, shocked, as I managed to struggle out of his arms and land back on the ground. Impressive.

I was now in front of him, watching him as he stared back at me with a smirk, head tilted to one side.

"You are." A cheeky laugh escaped my mouth as I shoved him backward.

He plummeted in, arms flailing, water splashing. As he resurfaced, I couldn't help but feel bad. Out-stretching a hand, I offered to help him out. "Aw, I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He tugged my hand and I toppled noisily into the warm, clear waters.

"Just when I started to feel bad for you." I swam over to where he was leaned against a wall laughing, slapping him on the chest.

I found his hand underneath the water, leading him away from the wall into the centre. He took his free hand, using it to play with one of my wet strands of hair as he studied my face.

"You look so beautiful in the moonlight."

His fingers gently found the side of my face, slowly sliding across it and down to my chin. Softly, he leaned downward, his lips pressed against mine. My hands, finally mobile again, discovered the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and throwing it off somewhere into the pool. Returning the gesture, he tugged at my wet shirt willing it off my body.

"You are so, so beautiful." He breathed, lips still against mine.

Hands that were not my own embarked on a journey down my spine and thighs, ending at the backs of my knees and lightly pulling them so they wrapped around the owner. From here, he began to swim toward the stone ladder at the side of the pool, lifting us both out.

Not stopping there, he continued to make his way across the cave to the fortress set up on the floor, careful to move the delicate food arrangement further to the side. I, on the other hand, was gently deposited in the middle of the cloud of blankets and pillows, with Macus hovering over me.

"I am so in love with you, Maddison." He whispered against my neck.

                                                                  ****

My consciousness joined me again the morning that followed when I awoke, still laying, tangled, in Marcus' arms. He, however, was already awake and peering down at me.

"Were you watching me sleep?" I groaned, rubbing my face.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"I'm undecided."

"You are a very beautiful sleeper, Miss Court."

I flushed, looking away from him.

"Are you hungry?" He leaned up on an elbow, reaching over and grabbing the food that was still to the side of the 'bed'. "Open up." He smirked, dropping a grape into my mouth.

"I feel like an Egyptian princess." I layed back, folding my arms behind my head.

"You may not be Egyptian, but you're my princess."

"Shit, you must get all the ladies with that one."

"Sure, it works every time." He winked. "But there's only one lady I need."

"Well isn't she a lucky one."

"She certainly is, but I think I'm luckier."

"Shut up and feed me."

"Always polite, Maddie, one of the many things I love about you."

After a considerable amount of eating had taken place, we layed back down in the bed.

"I could stay here with you forever." I breathed in his heavenly smell, closing my eyes and tracing patterns on his chest.

"Ah, me too."

Suddenly remembering what day it was, my eyes shot open. "Oh my God, Marcus!" I jumped up, quickly looking for some clothes.

"What, honey, what is it?" He slowly sat up.

"What time is it?" I slid on my underwear, shaking on my shirt.

"I don't know, why? What's wrong?" He rubbed his face.

"School! We've got to go. Now!" I tried to tame my truly fucked hair.

"Shit!"