As The World Turns

Chapter 15

Marshall had his fist up to the door ready to knock when it suddenly burst open nearly causing him to fall off the porch. He was met with a rather distressed looking Taylor, who had her phone clamped to her ear.

''Oh shit sorry, Um Jodie's in the kitchen you might as well just go it,'' without waiting for him to answer she hightailed it down the driveway jumping into what he had figured was Jodie's car, but he came to the conclusion that along with the house she also shared the car with Taylor.

After maintaining his balance he shrugged off Taylor's strange behaviour and stepped across the threshold via the door Taylor had left wide open for him. Immediately he was met with a small hallway that situated the stairs to the upper level of the house. He also could help but notice the cluster of different shoes pushed to one side next to the door, the difference in size made him wonder if one of them had exceedingly massive feet or if it was the other way around.

Closing the door softly behind him, Marshall tried to figure out where the kitchen would be; with a quick dart to the room to his left, he found the living room. Which, meant he needed to wander towards the back of the house passed the stairs and what he assumed was a little office or bathroom, before he found the arch doorway that led into the kitchen, with the dining room just opposite.

''Are you going to be a good boy and not bother me if I feed you know huh,'' Jodies's voice made his ears prick up as he passed under the arch and into the kitchen. When she finally came into focus the words she'd said and voice she'd used made sense as in her arms he spotted a fluffy black cat, who was rather content as it rubbed its head against her neck, ''I take that as a yes then,'' he heard Jodie mumble as she set the ball off fur, which to Marshall's surprise sat down patiently as Jodie prepared its food. He watched her for a while taking in the long-sleeved cropped top she wore and jeans that fit her in all the right places.

It wasn't until she was about to turn around that Marshall realised that he should make his presence known since he figured she'd flip if she turned around to see him just stood staring at her. So without trying to scare her, he cleared his throat, although, the response he got was not the one he thought he'd get.

''I know you're there I saw you in the window's reflection,'' Jodie replied pointing at the window she was currently stood in front of. Sure enough after taking a closer look, Marshall saw himself looking back at himself in the window.

''Oh yeah,'' he shook his head letting out a chuckle due to his slowness, ''Taylor let me in by the way,'' he added.

''Yeah I figured that. Sorry, I'm a little busy. but Blink can be an arse if you don't pay attention to him,'' Jodie giggled because as soon as she bent down to place the pet bowl full of food back down for Blink he'd stood up on his legs to what Marshall interpreted as some type of kiss.

''Man I can't compete with that,'' he protested as Jodie stood back up letting Blink get to his food.

''What do you mean?'' She questioned as she inched past him to get to the bin so she could through away the packages Blink's food came in.

''I got competition with you're cat Jo,'' Marshall pointed out as he placed the bag he had been carrying on the counter, the contents had gotten too heavy for him to hold.

''Aw don't worry about Blink there's plenty of things he can't do that you can,'' Marshall's ears perked up at that comment.

''Yeah like what?'' He questioned raising a brow.

''Well you can go outside for starters,'' Jodie replied, moving to grab a couple of plates and glasses out of a cupboard, while Marshall took it upon himself to unpack the food he'd brought with him.

''I'm sorry what?''

''Blink's a house cat he doesn't go outside, you're not; you're not are you?''

''Do I look like a fucking cat Jo?'' He exclaimed causing Jodie to burst into a fit of giggles.

''I dunno, you're kinda rough on the outside but cute and cuddly on the inside, so that's something,'' this time Jodie shrieked as Marshall wrapped his arms around her waisted and lifted her up slighting, ''Marshall put me down.''

''Not until say I ain't no cat,'' his breath was hot on her neck, causing her breath to hitch.

''Fine you're not a cat. Happy,'' she remarked, but clearly, it wasn' enough because he still didn't put her down, her feet hovering above the floor tiles.

''Now say I ain't cute.''

''But...''

''No buts say it,'' Jodie sighed before she said the words. The last thing Marshall did before setting her down on the ground was that he kissed her on the cheek.

''Now can we actually have some food cause I'm starving,'' Jodie requested.

''Fuck yeah, me too.''

+++

Marshall shook his head as Jodie covered her mouth to stifle a giggle that threatened to fall past her lips. He'd told her countless times that it wasn't funny, but she just couldn't stop laughing.

''I'm sorry, it's just...'' Jodie snorted this time and it caused Marshall to go over the edge because he ended up laughing too, ''see it was funny,'' she added after they'd both calmed down a little.

''No I was laughing at that sexy little snort you did, a real big turn on,'' it was Jodie's turn to sigh and shake her head this time.

''I can't help it, it just happens,'' she defended herself as she pulled the sleeves of her top over her hands. Marshall caught the action; in fact, he'd caught it the last three times she'd done it.

''It's boiling in here, how are you not roasting in that,'' Jodie shrugged as he monitored to the top she was wearing. It may have been cropped so it stopped just below her belly button, but it was made of wool and so he figured she must have been boiling in it since he'd taken off his coat and hoodie hours ago.

''We made out once and now you wanna take my clothes off. You move fast Mr Mathers I'll give you that,'' Jodie skirted around his question. It bothered him a little but put it on her being the type of person who feels the cold more.

''Maybe I do,'' he smirked as he shuffled closer to her.

''Hmm really, cause maybe I'm not that type of girl.''

''Well guess I gotta find out,'' he leaned in capturing her lips, to which she gladly kissed him back. However, just before he could slip his tongue past her teeth, the doorbell rung and Jodie immediately pulled back.

''Sorry,'' she mumbled as she pried herself out of his arms, ''I shouldn't belong I'm not really expecting anybody,'' standing up she leaned down to place a quick kiss on his lips before she made her way over to the front door.

''Jodie, I'm sorry to bother you like this, but is Taylor available for a little chat,'' Jodie tried to stop her jaw from dropping. The man in front of her was the same man who'd wanted to speak to Taylor just a couple of days ago. Jodie just stared at him the words getting caught in her throat, how'd he find out where they live and how'd he know her name now especially when last time he didn't.