The Facade

Chapter 6

After about an hour of interviewing, we were through. The whole time my mind played with the thought of being with Marlon— wrapped up in those arms of his. Still, I kept my professionalism while he kept his. "Thank you for speaking with me, Mr. Brando." 

"No problem..." We both stood up at the same moment, however I stumbled into him. To keep me from falling back onto the couch, he quickly caught me. There we stood, him holding me close as if I hadn't already gotten my balance. My eyes were totally mesmerized by his, we stared at each other for what felt like forever. My senses came back to me, I cleared my throat and backed away.

"I'm such a klutz." I said as I smooth the fabric of my dress.

"I wouldn't mind if you were a klutz with me more often." Marlon rose a brow. I looked to him, then looked down at my shoes.

"You managed to behave yourself for the length of this interview, don't break your golden streak now." I joked as I stepped away from the tight space between the couch and table.

"My goal was to impress you." Marlon said to me. I had my back turned to him, only looking at the pictures on the wall. It was a mixture of both vulgar and sophisticated images, a pure reflection of Marlon himself.

"Impress me? Why? I'm only a journalist." I turned around to walk toward the door, but Marlon was standing right by me. His body was inches from mine, he was in my space although we stood in the middle of the room. My chest rose and fell dramatically as I looked at him, trying to find the words to cut through this silence. He thankfully did it for me.

"You'd forgotten your notebook. I figured that'd be pretty important." He said as he revealed my notebook from behind his back. I slowly reached to his hand and took it from him, our fingers brushed against each other in the exchange.

After attempting to step toward the door, he blocked me once again. Now I knew exactly what he was getting at. Outside, the sun was beginning to set.

An orange glow shines through an attractive circular window. I walked over into the direction of the window instead, looking out on the city that was cooling down. A man in a dark blue suit slowly went to each street light, stood up on a stool and allowed a flame to ignite. Now I felt Marlon's breath on my neck behind me.

"You and I aren't from the same kind." I spoke up. "This could never work. Especially for you."

"Seems to be working just fine for me." Marlon said as he placed his hands on my shoulders. Slowly he removed the my short blazer off of me, leaving me only in my sleeveless dress.

"I've heard many things work fine for you." I told him, then turned to face him. "I hear stories of you frolicking in Harlem. Playing in places you shouldn't."

"Those are the best places to play." Marlon's eyes were filled with hunger. I took my blazer from his arm and walked further into the room.

"It just wouldn't be appropriate." I told him.

"Why? Because you're colored?" Marlon asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Because I'm doing my job." I tilted my head toward him, he still stood quite a distance behind me. "I have a conscience, you know. I'm the only negro in my office, I can't give up my reputation."

"It won't hurt your reputation if no one knows." Marlon lowered his chin.

"I'm leaving." I insisted, walking toward the door. I stood there for a moment, but I wouldn't open it to exit. Marlon walked over nonchalantly, then opened the door for me.

"You're fine to go." Marlon told me as he rolled his tongue in his cheek. "Just tell me this: do you feel the same sensations for me that I feel for you?"

"Yes Marlon, I feel every sensation that a woman can feel for a man like you." I finally admitted. "But that won't change the fact that you and I could never be together."

"If that's how you feel... if you don't even want to try, then walk through that door." Marlon challenged. Once again, we stood in silence. My high heel clicked on the floor as I took a step forward, then shut the door.

Marlon grinned as he walked toward me, then placed his arms around me again. I wrapped mine around him as well, shutting my eyes as his lips connected with mine. Suddenly, all of my belongings that I held in my hand dropped to the floor.

It wouldn't be long until my dress dropped to the floor too.

Marlon held my hand as he led me across his apartment toward his bedroom. In the doorway, he pressed me against the open door and kissed me again. The satin fabric of my silk dress rippled along with his touch as he felt every curve of my body.

We broke our kiss, then both of us fiddled with his t-shirt in an effort to get it off of him. I softly kicked off my heels, swiftly pushing them to the side with my stocking wrapped toes. He placed both of his large hands on my cheeks, kissing me deeply some more. Suddenly one of them reached for my bottom, except this time I allowed him to wrap my legs around his torso.

Marlon carried me into his bedroom, my arms wrapped around his neck. My hand squeezed on his muscular shoulder, my nails dug into his back as he laid me down. He walked over to a large picture window in his bedroom. Through the cracks of the fire escape, you could see the man in the uniform lighting the last street light on the corner of the block. The blinds crackled as Marlon swiftly lowered them.

His silhouette moved toward me in the dark room. I could hear the clank and swish of his belt being removed from his pants. With an exhale, I allowed Marlon's body to pour over me greatly. With closed eyes, both of us crackled together.