They were both panting when the knock on the door occurred. She snapped her head upwards, he was still inside her body. Quickly he drew away from her. “Who is it?” She asked with a loud voice, trying to sound like business is usual.

“ aye, Doc, it’s Roman, are you busy?”

Her eyes grew wide, frantically, she turned to look at John. He looked agitated as well “shittt” her lips moved without a sound “ mm Roman? I’m finishing a session. Could you wait? I’ll be right out” quickly, she hovered around the room, picking up her scattered clothes. John acted the same “ yeah, sure Doc. I’m right here” they heard Roman sitting on the waiting room sofa. She was relieved she took some clothes with her this morning, she knew she’d stay late and might take a shower at the hospital.

Marlena straightens her new skirt after throwing the torn one into the trash bin. He looked at her, he just wanted to hold her, to tell her how wonderful their encounter was, to fuck her yet one more time tonight. “Bye,” she said, again without uttering a sound, an apologizing look in her eyes. He smiled and fixed her hair, kissing her cheek.

She left the office.

“Roman, what are you doing here? I thought you’re working tonight?” She smiled and gave him a quick hug, he looked puzzled “ I did, I am, but wait, where’s your patient?” He looked at the closed door behind her, it took her a Millisecond  

“ oh, no” she smiled “ it was a phone session, an emergency, my patient is not at the states right now, he’s traveling” she just pulled the lie out of her sleeve. She felt bad, really bad.

“ Oh, I see. Well, so I guess it was good you were working tonight then” he touched the tips of the hair around her face “ yeah, you’re right. You didn’t answer my question though. What are you doing here?” She crossed her arms and smiled, trying to mask how she really felt, which was awful, she was lying to him again.

“ I’m afraid I have some bad news..” John could hear each and every word from inside the room, when Roman reminded, bad news, he was all ears. “Oh?” She pulled her hair behind her ear

“ yeah.. you see, Stefano was spotted in Salem”

Her mouth dropped open “ he’s.. he’s here?...” She turned and began to pace nervously, he followed her with his eyes. John was shocked too. He couldn’t believe that bastard would return so fast back here and he was impatient for wanting to find that beast and kill him for what he did to Marlena.

“Doc, I’m here. That’s why I came over, to escort you home” he tried to stop her but she moved his hands with a small hand gesture.

“No” she turned to face him “ no, I won’t do that. I won’t leave in fear from that vile man. I will not” she stood tall, believing in every word that’s coming out of her mouth.

She then stopped, lowered her gaze to the floor, a sigh slipped from between her lips “ he already got what he wanted” she headed back to her office’s door.

“Doc?” Roman laid a soft hand to stop her, “where you’re going?”

“ I am not done here yet. I promised Lexie that’ll be here until midnight. Stefano will not stop me from doing my job Roman, I’m sure you can understand that” she was hoping John was hiding, she almost forgot that he was there. “ ok then, but, I’m gonna send a policeman to escort you on your way home”. She nodded, she just needed him to leave now “ fine.. sure..” he got closer and placed a small kiss on her lips “ I’ll see you at home ” he smiled and she stepped back into her office.

 

I am going to kill him, was what he wanted to say but he didn’t. He knew that she was too upset right now, after hearing the news and he just wanted to be there for her. Not saying anything, she sat on the couch. She knew he has heard everything.

“ he’s up to something John. Of that I’m sure. Why would he return to Salem?” She looked at her hand and then back at him. John came closer and sat on the couch next to her, their legs slightly touching. “I don’t know Doc.. but I do know that Roman is right. You need protection right now, at least until he’ll leave the city” she wouldn’t have it, didn’t want to even hear it. “ I’m sure you’ve heard my words to Roman. I won’t put my life on hold, I will not do that. My patients need their privacy, I can’t have a third person constantly standing at my door!” She stood up, agitated.

John placed a soft hand on her cheek, she closed her eyes for a second, seemed to want to say something but gave up and closed her mouth again. “ hey.. listen... I know that you’re exasperated, so am I.. but after what happened.. you can’t be too safe when he’s around”

He was right, she was exasperated and right now she also felt misunderstood but then he said it, the words that made her understand how John and she were really connected “ I know you need things to get back to normal. I know you’re having a very difficult time with all that has happened but Doc, you need to keep safe. If not for yourself, for your children…” jackpot. He knew he had her when the kids came up.

She stood up and he’s after her, turning her to face him, he spotted tears in her eyes “ I’ve got you.. it’s ok..I’m here” she threw herself into his warm embrace, feeling secure and content.

John inhaled her hair, she always smelled so good. She pulled from his tight arms, looking into his eyes, he just smiled towards her, his grins always used to assure her, to make her believe that everything’s going to be just fine. It’s still worked like a charm.

At that moment it felt as though time has stopped and everything was moving slowly. She could feel his warm palm on her face, he nuzzled her nose with his, her eyes closed in response. His lips found her mouth and he placed a soft kiss on her sexy lips and then yet another kiss. On the third time their lips met, she opened up her mouth to him, letting him probe it with his tongue.

He was getting hard again and she could feel it against her lower stomach, but she knew they needed to stop this at once.  

Pulling away from him was the hardest this she did all night, even harder than lying to Roman.

“John..” she muttered “ we ..can’t.. I have.. to work..” she panted between words. John knew she was right “ besides” she added “ we need to talk about what happened here tonight.. but not right now.. I have to go” she needed to step away from the situation, to gain some clarity. There was nowhere she needed to be at the moment but she knew she can’t stay in that office any minute longer, she left before he we able to say a word.