by Red Velvet

Lugano’s streetlamps glowed in the late-evening air, but they served only as a decoration. The neon lights of the bars, clubs, and restaurants cast a colorful display full of light, music, excitement, and hunger. The busy restaurant was noisy, beautiful people, wearing fancy clothes were dining and wining, just happy to be alive. Low tunes enveloped her, making her feel desirable, as she felt the last time they were together in Salem. She took the red-eye right from Colorado.  The need to see him, to see that surprised look in his bright blue pools was going to be worth all the long hours she’d spent at the airport.

Last time they spoke, something about his tone was off, he was distracted, worried. She knew that voice, she knew it all too well, there was something he wasn’t telling her, and she couldn’t wait to ask him about it.

Adjusting her new red mini dress, she parted the crowd. Glancing around, trying to take the beauty in, trying to find him, she had to admit she wouldn’t even know where to start.

Men were staring, hell, women too. Too beautiful to ignore; she drew everyone’s attention, she always did. There was something about the way she moved, slow and mysterious as a gazelle, her hips swinging to the low melody as she walked, unintentionally of course, but when people watched her, to them, it seemed as though she was swaying only for them.

The hotel’s receptionist said he’d be there tonight and her timing was impeccable, for she noticed his meeting partner standing up to leave, firmly shaking John’s hand.

Stepping into the middle of the lively ballroom, with glasses clinking and people laughing, she ignored the speaker on stage when she peered over the crowd and spotted him again, his table was right by the tall double doors. He had on his blazer, and he looked in thoughts. She moved swiftly over to him.

*****

John’s eyes were smiling as he greeted the European man, as he made his way to leave. His eyes followed the man, thinking this meeting couldn’t get any better, he was finally getting some needed answers about his past, answers he couldn’t wait to share with her, his wife.

Scooping a piece of that decadent chocolate cake into his mouth, his eyes roamed the room, the smiling faces of men and women, dancing and laughing made his heart smile. It could have been perfect if she was there too.

When the crowd parted, he saw her. She was a vision for sore eyes.

Fixing her hair, he watched as her eyes searched, scanned the room, and he couldn’t let her wait one more second.

She was wearing a tight red mini dress, which complemented her curves. He knew this dress would be on his bedroom floor later that night.

Standing up, he strode towards her, wanting to put his arms around her, making sure everyone knew she belonged to him. He was an inch away before he saw a blonde tall man approaching her.

The man was smiling, well, who wouldn’t. John stopped, thinking of taking another step. He didn’t move.

All he could see was that rich man's hand cascading down the smooth skin of her back as he smiled.

God, she was beautiful.

The blood boiled in his veins. Every inch of him felt like he’d climbed into a hot, soothing bath, just by looking at her, but his racing heart was anything but soothed. He fisted his fingers, seeing her long, naked back, smooth and toned, and he wanted to touch every part of her, including that perfect, heart-shaped ass she was flashing. But first, he had to take care of the blond.

Putting his right leg forward, he stopped, noticing how her dainty hand sent to the man’s big palm, removing it from her waist, she said something, he didn’t care what it was, as long as that asshole stopped touching his wife’s body.

His body.

The man turned, his hands grasped her wrist gently, “Ciao Principessa, why don’t you stay, huh? One dance. What do you say?.”

There was something about his voice, his foreign accent, he stopped and listened.

​

Holy shit.

​

That was the man he was after, the man from the telephone calls, the one who was holding the key to his past, Stefano’s man, and his hands were all over his wife’s body.

Shit.

She said something, but the music got louder, there was no way to detect what. He recognized her expression, she was trying to get away, and the last thing he wanted was to put her in harm’s way, but there was absolutely no way he would let this crazy guy connect the dots, there was no way she could be in his arms as long as that blonde was around.

He was danger.

He was death.

Their eyes finally met, and she was about to say something, her lips started to curl into one of her beautiful smiles, but he shook his head, his face a mask of fear, eyes alert and wide open. It has been a long time since she saw that look. He gazed deeply into her eyes, and she knew what not to do, but she didn't know why, and now, she was scared.

“How ‘bout it Principessa, dance with me... C’mon...” she raised her eyebrows, was about to answer the man, when John’s voice made that man turn, “Hello, Fernando Geovanni, is it not?”

“Who are you?” he turned to watch John as he got closer, annoyance in his voice. John’s eyes never leaving hers.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I never introduced myself. I’m Jack Bonne; I’m with the alliance. I saw your picture last time I went to headquarters. May I get you and your lady a drink?”

Fernando nodded, not even asking her if it was alright by her, he took her hand and led her over to his booth, helping her up. John narrowed his eyes on her, and he could see the quick breaths that she was trying to hide.

“Do you like my lady friend, Mr. Bonne?” Fernando crawled over to her on the seat cushions. He ran a finger over his lips as he looked at her.

“What’s not to like?”

“I don’t know,” he answered, stopped, and sat back, looking at him. “You look at her and you look... what's the word? Tense.”

“Fernando" she breathed, "could you get me a glass of water please?” creating a distraction, her sexy voice was filled with fear only John could hear, and he suddenly felt like he wasn’t sure of what he was doing. This was not a game. This was her life.

Someone had to stop it. Right?

“I’ll get you something stronger, Principessa,” Fernando looked over to her, tipping her chin up. “You are beautiful,” he breathed.

"Mr. Giovanni" he tried again.

"Why are you still here?"

“Mr. Giovanni, I was talking to Mr. O'hara a week ago, he told me you’d be here tonight. He said you would show me all that I need to know about the underground alliances.”

Fernando's fingers grazed up and down her back as he kissed the back of her hand. “Work, work, work... Mr. Bonne, I’m not here to discuss work tonight. I’ve started taking time to enjoy the sweet things in life,” he answered.

“Mr. Giovanni, I’m leaving town tomorrow night. Please, I won't take too much of your time.”

Her body shook with nervousness. It was all she could manage; she was so tense. Mentally and physically. She needed a plan, and she needed it now.

“Ok, fine” He snorted. “Well, listen-” he shot back. Noticing her trembling, John couldn't take it anymore. Fernando's hand moved forward to her exposed thighs, his touch made her shiver, she didn’t want to blow his cover, but she couldn’t help it.

“Are you okay?” John asked her gently.

“Hey, don’t talk to her,” he barked. “Ever.”

John breathed hard, his nostrils flared.

She was sick with disgust.

“I’ve had enough with your interruptions, Mr. Bonne. Come over tomorrow to the alley behind this block if you want answers”. Turning his gaze to Marlena, he didn’t even notice the disgust in her eyes, ”and how ‘bout we go to my place.”

It wasn't a suggestion.

She couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat.

“Huh, Principessa, what do you say” completely ignoring John’s presence.

Before she knew what was happening, he dipped his head to her neck, kissing the soft skin under her ear. He heard Marlena’s sharp intake of breath and saw how the Italian caught her skin in his mouth, dragging it between his teeth.

“Fernando…” her voice was low but filled with tension, “please, we have company” she tried, seeing him out of the corner of her eye as he hesitated, and then, slowly, he reached out and took her by the neck, bringing her in, their lips meeting. She squeezed her eyes shut as he took hold of her, trying to own what was not his.

The sounds of their kissing and her moaning turned John’s blood cold and made his heartache.

He was kissing her, he thought. This needed to stop, and he quickly spoke. “I could really use the image Mr. DIMera gave you on your last visit to the states” he urged. “Let me have it, and I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

Fernando’s tongue was in her mouth, and his other hand palmed her breast over her dress, and John could already envision it; The Italian taking her home, he would pull the top of her dress down as he would plant her ass on his desk and fuck her rough and dirty. Or maybe he’d take her to his bed.

Fuck, he needed to stop this madness.

"Mr. Giovanni-" he tried again, assertively.

He stopped and looked at John. Her eyes were closed still; he wasn’t looking at her. He started reaching across the sofa in search of his briefcase, pulling away from Marlena he pushed her off, glaring at John, who stopped breathing, realizing that he was pissed.

He was really pissed.

“I need my briefcase,” he breathed, “I left it for safe keep at the reception.”

Taking the role of the seductress, she curled the side of her lips and spoke in the sweetest voice, trailing her fingers at the hair on his nape, “why don’t you keep on talking, while I’ll go get it for you” moving over the leather cushions she was ready to stand up, John exhaled deeply, he wanted her out of there.

“Hey Principessa, where are you going?” the Italian closed his fingers around her forearm, his grip was firm, and their collective breaths caught.

“I’m just trying to be useful, Sir.”

To hear Marlena using the word ‘Sir’ outside of the bedroom and to someone else, made John’s member twitch in his pants with need and anger, but he knew why she was using that term, he knew what it did to a man to hear that.

“You can stay here and be useful...let Mr. Bonne go and get it; he is so eager to see that picture; I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Wouldn't you, Mr. Bonne?”

Her red lips spread in a beautiful smile.

“Please, Sir, I really want to do..something for you...” clearly she knew what she was doing, and the Italian growled when she smiled. John hated every minute of it, but he knew it was necessary for him to let her go.

“Oh beautiful, you will. Now, stop with the nonsense, I’m starting to think you’re, what’s the word...afraid of being alone with me, huh?”

She let out a low, somewhat erotic giggle, it seemed the blonde loved it, because he pulled her closer to him, “Of course not” she breathed.

“Really? Because the way you’re looking at Mr. Bon-“

She kissed him, pressing her luscious lips to his mouth, and ran her hand across his cheek, needing to do something to divert his attention. He pulled her close and kissed her back roughly. Fernando pulled away and looked at Marlena through tunnel-visioned eyes, “That settled” he breathed out, not taking his eyes away from her as he took to John, “Come on, Mr. Bonne, move it. Me and the lovely, what’s your name?”

“A-Ann.”

“Ann and I will be waiting for you, right here.” amusement tilting his lips up into a smile.

John twisted his head, eyeing Marlena but speaking to Fernando. “Okay.” He tried to keep the fear off his face. “And I’ll be back shortly.” Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and she glanced at John, looking half nervous and half scared.

“I should really get back to my room, it’s getting late,” she suggested nicely when the image of John disappeared at the sea of people — pulling away. But he reached out and grabbed her hand, narrowing his eyes. “Not yet,” he urged, looking behind her toward the ballroom. She stopped, not making a move to take away his hand, although she wanted to. He stood in front of her, pulling her to her feet, his chest nearly touching hers. “You know,” he whispered, his breath falling over her. “I don’t really like dancing, I never did.” His voice turned hoarse. “But I want you in my arms, Ann.”

(“Black Hole Sun” - Vintage Soundgarden Cover) 

She swallowed, hearing the soft trickle of a slow jazz tune drifting out from the ballroom. “Dance with me,” he commanded. He didn’t wait for a response. Sliding a hand around her waist, he guided her in, and she sucked in a sharp breath, her body meeting his. Raising her arms, she put her right hand on his shoulder and her left hand in his as she let him lead her in a small circle.

Chills broke out down her arms, but she didn’t think he noticed. She let her eyes fall closed for a moment, not understanding what that night had become. Her hands tingled, and her legs felt weak. She found herself begging for this evening to end one way or another. She just wanted to be far away from him as possible; she couldn’t wait to see John parting the crowd, on his way to take her out of there. She met Fernando's eyes, seeing the craziness. She needed to say something to break the awkward silence “Are you coming here often?” she started, “It’s a beautiful city.”

He nodded. “My work challenges me; It takes me to all kinds of different places. I like that,” he admitted. “I don’t like staying in just one place, when you move around you get to meet new beautiful places and of course, new beautiful women, just like you, Principessa .” she instantly slowed, nearly stopping their dance. He kept calling her the same thing all the time. She didn’t like that.

“What does it mean, Principessa?” she asked him.

“Princess.” He cocked his head and brought his hand up to her face, running his thumb along her cheek. “Yeah,” he pondered, leaning in while his hand circled the back of her neck possessively. “Because that is what you are. Beautiful as a Princess, but I bet that in bed” he said quietly, “you’re a real tiger.” She closed her eyes.

Jesus.

“What’s your last name?” he asked. She opened her eyes, blinking. Her last name? She had to think fast.

“Anderson?” he pressed. She narrowed her eyes.

“Why do you want to know that?” He stepped forward, charging her slowly and pushing her backward. She had to keep backing up so as not to fall. “Just making conversation, Principessa. Why are you so tense? ” he asked. It sounded like a threat.

“Oh, no, I’m not tensed.”

“Bene,” his voice thick with a chuckle he was holding in. She hit the wall behind her and stopped, glancing over at the people sitting at the table across the balcony. He closed the remaining distance between them and dipped down until his face was a couple of inches from hers.

Marlena locked her hands behind her back, instinctively tapping the wall with her fingers and counting the seconds in her head.

One, two, three— “Do you like me?” He cut her counting off, a playful curve to his lips. She was really tired and couldn’t keep the smile on hers. She turned her head, but knew he saw it anyway.

“I don’t know,” she answered casually. “We’ve just met.” The corners of his lips curled to a smirk, looking vicious, and he threaded his hand around the back of her neck and through her golden hair, gripping her waist with the other and pressing his body to hers.

“You must know that I am a man of many skills,” he whispered against her lips, making her breath shake. “And there’s only one place where my skills come to play.” A whimper escaped, and she felt his hand tighten in her hair. He stared at her mouth, looking like he was ready to devour her.

“I think you like me, Miss Ann” he whispered, and Marlena could almost taste his hot breath, he smelled of liquor. “I think you even want to know what I can do to you, in bed.” He inched in, and she braced herself, so ready to face him, but then suddenly he stopped and looked up.

“Mr. Geovanni, there you—” John’s voice stopped mid-sentence. She twisted her head to see him; he was like her very own private angel. John.

And she shifted, forcing his hands to drop away from her. Fernando straightened and looked at John. “I’m going to powder my nose,” she told him, clutching her hands in front of her.

“You look beautiful, nothing to powder, Principessa.” He stated. “Come with us.” John cast her a quick look before spinning around and walking back with them inside the booth.

The Italian stopped, taking her small hand in his,

“Go, have a seat. I will get us something from the bar, the service here is awful” gliding his thumb on her lower lip, he left them alone, making his way through the sea of people.

His lips formed into a tight line before speaking quickly, “Are you alright?.” He placed his hand on her lower back and steered her away from the dance floor, helping her onto the leather cushions. She cocked a brow at him  “Alright? Are you asking me if I’m alright? What in the world is going on here? Who is this man? ”

“Doc, we don’t have much time, I will explain it all later. I’m so sorry, baby, but this is the kingpin of this entire operation, he worked for Stefano while I was his mercenary. I didn’t mean to drag you into this...I love you. ”

“John…”

“...I love you.” He hushed her, covering her mouth with his, his kiss full, deep, bewitching. For a moment, all the voices in her head shouting the reasons she shouldn’t let him kiss her before she had all the facts. “Once he’s back, I’m getting you out of here.”

“Okay,” She murmured, still breathless from his kiss.

“Good.” He gave her a tense smile, guiding her into her side of the booth.

*****

“Giving you the photo? Mr. Bonne, how do you Americans say? ‘You have got to be kidding me.’ This picture stays right here,” The blond smirked, taking a long sip, he finished his brandy. John’s eyes narrowed, this was taking far too long, he needed that picture, and he wanted to get her out of there. Fast.

“Mr. Giovannie” he started, “I’m sure that a man of your power is more than capable of getting himself another cop-” he was cut off.

“You know something, Mr. Bonne, I admire your persistence, I really do, but you see, as much as you think we are not that different you and me, in reality, we are. I have everything I have ever wanted, plus,” his eyes wondered to her bare thighs, “her.”

The bile in John's stomach churned, his eyes bore a hole into hers. “You, on the other hand, have nothing, so, I see why you are clinging to that photo so much” his low chuckle elicited his meaty lips. She noticed how John's nostrils flared and knew it was only a matter of time before he was going to lose it.

“Excuse us for a moment.” she grabbed Fernando’s hand and pulled him away out of the booth, rushing out. John remained there, half shocked, half raged.

“Ann,” Fernando urged her as she led him back into the dancefloor. “Ann, what are you doing?” He pulled her along, hearing her heels clicking as she kept going.

Reaching the floor, he pulled her to his body. The dance floor was filled with people. She scanned the area, and she could still see John, that made her feel safe, so she continued to dance with him. He pulled his hand out of her grasp, stopping her.

“Ann!” he burst out. “What is going on? I was—” But she interrupted him, taking his face in her hand.

“I wanted to be in your arms, alright?” she rushed. “Oh...baby” he breathed hard, moving his hands to her waist. Bowing his mouth down to her ear, he kept his voice low. “Keep saying things like that, and I won’t be able to stop myself,” he told her. “I want to take you back to my hotel, to bend you over the minibar, and fuck you senseless.” he layered his lips to hers, breathing in her breath and feeling her shake. He didn’t know why, nor he cared, but he pulled her in close and wrapped his arm around her waist. The heat from her mouth and the way her lips quivered drove him wild.

John watched as she ran her hands up his chest and circled them around his neck. He hated every second of it, and she was playing a dangerous game.

“People can hear you,” she whispered.

“Are you scared, Principessa ?” he grinned. She laughed quietly, and her sweet smile made his blood rush.

You can do this, she thought, looking at him, and you get the thing done, captivate him, make him give John that photo. John had told her Fernando was dangerous, he was a criminal who had killed men.
She could do this.
For John.

“No,” she answered, and she knew she was lying.

“Are you?” he added with a smirk, he shook his head, she was playing with him.

“Not a chance.”

Marlena was scared shitless, but that was the best plan, the easiest way to get John that photo. No risk, no reward.

“Why are you holding on to that picture?” she asked sweetly. His eyebrows raised in response,

“Don't you worry your pretty mind with that,” he shot back, closing the gap between them

“Fernando, it seems as though that picture...I don't know; it seems like it means a lot to Mr. Bonne,” she worried. But he pressed her against his torso. “I don’t care,” he whispered. Reaching behind her neck, gazing at her gorgeous body and beautiful face. Grazing his fingertips down her round ass, meeting her eyes, so she could see his.

“I need you,” he growled low. “Right now.”

Dear God.

He groaned. “You’re not wearing panties?” he looked at her hard in the eyes, like she’d shoot him or something. Why was she not wearing underwear? Her hazel eyes behind the mask flashed with excitement, and she remembered how she wanted to surprise John, wanted him to caress her on the dance floor only to learn she was naked underneath her dress.

“I like the feel of clothes against my skin,” she taunted with a smirk.

“Like your dress.” And then she started rolling her hips against him in small circles, and he groaned. “Fuck,” he breathed out.

She slid her hand down between their bodies to his hardening cock, rubbing it slowly and teasingly through his pants as he bit his lip. “Fernando.” She quivered when he slipped a hand on her round ass.

“Yes,” he answered, rubbing her ass. He sucked in a breath and squeezed his eyes shut.

“That photo?” she pressed. “Let that man have it.” he grinned.

“Bene” he breathed hard.

Bingo.

“Could you make it now? So he will leave already”, her hand moving slowly on his hard member, hating she had to degrade herself, but this was working. He was too easy. “I want to be with you alone already” she added and she felt how his cock twitching in her palm.

“Ok״, but he tipped her chin back up, locking eyes with her hazel ones. “You’re perfect, Ann” he growled. “Everything about you is perfect.” But then he gasped as he spun her around and forced her back to his chest. She had time only to twist her head to see what he was doing behind her before he lightly slapped her on the ass.

“Wha—!” He pulled her back to him, her ass pressing into his groin as he smoothed her dress down and palmed her behind, breathing against her neck.

Rolling her eyes, she smacked his hand away. He laughed, whispering, "feisty".

She wanted to be mad. She wanted to be furious. He just smacked her ass in front of every pair of eyes on the dancefloor. But she couldn’t make herself be angry when John’s past and her life were at the balance.

"Fernando," she muttered, forcing herself to smile, "People are watching."

He did not notice the hint of nervousness as her body tended. He was too busy looking at her hair, her neck, the softness of her breasts. He tightened his hold, “Don’t think that I don’t know what you’re up too, Mrs. Ann,” he growled low in her ear, and she shivered, not so brave anymore. “But I don’t care, for it’s very amusing to watch. I’ll give him the photo, and after he leaves, you’ll be all mine.”

And then he let her go and walked to the table, stopping once he’d put his hand on the wooden surface, flattening his palm on the photo he took out of the inner pocket of his jacket. “I’ll see you soon, Mr. Bonne.” He smirked as the waiter got closer, “Sir, you have a phone call at the front desk”

John watched Marlena; both were alert. Fernando nodded, “ Thank you”.

The waiter waited as the blonde man got closer to her yet again, “don’t go far”, he winked and walked out, leaving her on the dance floor.

She stared at his back as he left, her stomach churning at his commands and confidence, and she let out a long breath as she walked quickly back toward John.

“Great job, sweetheart, but that was stupid.” John crawled over to her side of the sofa, ready to apologize. “What the hell is going on here, John?” she barked, her voice hoarse. He shook his head, taking her face in his hands. “I’ll tell you all about it later, baby,” he mumbled.

“Just get out of here, Doc, before he comes back. I shouldn’t have asked you to do that.” And he kissed her softly, her whole body shaking with the sobs she tried to hold back. He didn’t want to let her go. Her angry breaths slowly calmed, and after a few moments, she wrapped her arms around him like a steel band and kissed him back. Taking his room key out of his pocket he placed it in her cold hand.

“Go. I’ll be up in a few. Hurry.”

She gripped her purse, he didn’t even hear her walk away as he closed his eyes.

*******

He finally had the photo. Lucky after Fernando left it there, he got a phone call at the reception, they did what they needed to do and left in a hurry.

The nightmare was over, and she was finally in his suite.

When he was just a whisper away, his eyes glaring down at her like she was an errant child, he reached for the purse in her hand. She allowed him to take it.
“I won’t ever leave your side again. I promise. It’s my job to take care of you.”

“I’m not some tiny little thing in need of protection, John,” she reminded him. “I am more than aware of that fact. But after tonight, I want to take care of you. I don’t want you to have to worry about a single thing. Okay?” He stared at her, the devotion in his blue orbs all-consuming.
She nodded, wanted to look away, but couldn’t, as if his mere presence had commanded her gaze to remain on his. He ran a finger down her cheek, her teeth chattering from the chill enveloping her. Pinching her chin, he forced her head back, his meticulous stare seeming to analyze every inch of her.

“Tell me, Marlena,” he began, licking his lips.

“Yes?” She breathed.
“Were you scared tonight?”