| Michael moaned softly as Maria’s knee came in contact with the bulge in his pants. It had been so long. So long since he’d held her in his arms. Felt her soft lips, caressed her sweet tongue and heard her soft moan. At that moment Maria moaned, wrapping her legs around his waist. She pulled back slightly for breath before leaning into him again, revelling in his taste, his touch and his smell. She moaned again as he found that spot on her neck which never failed to make her feel more aroused. Michael carried her over to the sofa and laying her down climbed on top of her and hovered above her beginning his exploring again. Before either could blink both had lost their tops, and Maria her bra. Michael had her erect nipple in his mouth and Maria was moaning loudly with arousal. As Michael made the descent down her body touching the zip on her jeans she came to her senses. She sprang up, covering herself modestly with her top saying, “No, it’s not right.” Michael paused but did not look up at her. He sat on the other end of the sofa as she slipped on her bra and top. She got up to leave and with her hand on the doorknob she paused and said without turning around, “Please don’t take her away Michael.” Michael looked up at her and glared. “Is that what that was about? You were willing to sleep with me just to keep her? You’re sick!” he said in disgust. He reached for his own top and put it back on. “And I actually thought you might feel something for me still. Obviously I was wrong.” Maria turned to face him, confused. He was making his way to a door. “What do you mean?” she asked. He ignored her and walked through the door. She followed after him and said, “What do you mean?” “Just go Maria,” he said with a sigh. “Just go. Wait for a letter from my lawyer.” Tears pricked at Maria’s eyes. She put her head up high and walked swiftly out of the apartment, tears quickly streaming down her face. *** Maria arrived home shortly before dinnertime. She had wondered around aimlessly. Glancing in through shop windows but not really seeing anything. After a while she had spotted a taxi and hailing it had given the address of Isabel and Alex’s. So there she was, walking through the door to the smell of cooking and the sound of giggles not far away. She pasted a fake smile onto her face and walked in the direction of the giggling. In the living room she found Alex on the floor with her daughter playing a game with some dolls. She noticed the old doll of Cassie’s, Holly along with two new ones. There was also a tea table along with some accessories. She smiled, happy to see her daughter happy. Cassie didn’t deserve the life she had had so far. “Hey guys,” Maria said. Both looked up towards the voice and Cassie jumped up, run to her mother, jumped into her arms, hugging her tight. “Hello mommy. I had such a great time with Auntie Isabel. We went to lots of shops and I got some new clothes and Auntie Isabel bought me two new dolls and some things to go with them and we went and got Pizza for lunch. It was so nice mommy. Auntie Isabel is so cool. Uncle Alex and I were playing dolls and it was so much fun. He was a little bit silly though. He put Holly’s clothes on back to front.” Maria laughed and smiles as her daughter continued to tell her about her day. It was great seeing Cassie so happy. “Hey Alex,” Maria said when Cassie had finished talking. “How was your day?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh great Ria,” he said smiling and giving her a hug and a kiss. “Went into work for a couple of hours. Came home about three and got to play with my niece. We had a great time.” “Thanks for looking after her,” Maria said gratefully. “Our pleasure.” Isabel walked into the room at that moment and was surprised to find Maria home. “Hey, you’ve been gone a long time,” she said embracing Maria. “Yea,” Maria said hugging her back with one arm. “I just needed some time to myself.” Isabel nodded understandingly. “You wanna talk about it?” Isabel whispered in her ear. “Maybe later,” Maria murmured. “Okay,” Isabel said turning to Alex. “Dinner should be ready in about five so if you want to start making your way through now?” “Yea, sure thing darling,” Alex said with a small smile but did not quite hide the worry in his eyes. He wondered what had happened with Michael and Maria. Had they got into another fight? He started to make his way through to the dining room, deep in thought. After dinner Alex sat Cassie down in the living room to watch a video and rejoined his wife and friend in the cleared dining room. “Maria what happened?” Isabel asked holding her friend’s hand when all were seated. “Well I called round,” Maria said trying to keep her voice as steady as possible. “And we talked and it just seemed like we were getting nowhere so I thought it best if I leave….” She drifted off and bit her lip. “What happened next Ria?” Alex whispered soothingly. He too placed his hand on Maria’s, on top of his wife’s. Maria glanced up at him and smiled. “Well as I went to go he stopped me and, well, we kinda kissed.” Isabel’s eyebrows shot up. “You kissed? Who kissed who?” “Yea,” Maria said blushing. “He kissed me but I didn’t exactly stop him.” Isabel squeezed Maria’s hand encouragingly. “What happened next Maria?” “Well I just didn’t feel right. I mean we hadn’t sorted anything out. We still were arguing and we more than likely were on our way to having sex. And I just thought …” she broke off and looked away. “I thought it wouldn’t have been the cleverest thing to do under the circumstances.” “I think you did the right thing Ria,” Alex said encouragingly. “Thanks.” “What did he say Maria that upset you so much?” Isabel asked after a few moments silence. “I know you. I know that something else has upset you.” At this tears came to Maria’s eyes. “Well, when I told him I thought it wasn’t right he didn’t say anything but when I was leaving I asked him not to take her and he, he ….” She broke off again, the tears streaming down her face. “He accused me of being willing to have sex with him just to keep Cassie. He, he said I was s-s-ick!” Alex and Isabel gasped in shock and looked at each other in disgust at what they had just heard. They looked at their friend, clueless to what they should say to her. “Maria,” Isabel murmured. She hugged her friend and rubbed her back soothingly. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get this sorted. We won’t let you lose her.” “I still love him so much,” Maria sobbed. “That’s what makes it so hard. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to be with him again. I just didn’t think it was the best option at that time.” “You did the right thing,” Isabel told her hugging her tighter. “Shh, me and Alex are here for you, we’re here.” *** The phone rang around 8 o’clock later that evening. Michael walked over and picked the phone up and said sharply, “Hello.” A man laughed on the other end and said, “Good to know you have such a great telephone manner.” Michael’s tone lightened and he replied, “Hi Maxwell. You’re back then. You and Liz have a good holiday?” “Yea it was great. How’s everything with you?” “Well,” Michael said. “Let’s just say things aren’t the same as they were when you went away.” “What do you mean?” Max asked puzzled. “Can you come over tonight?” Michael asked. “Yea, sure. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes okay?” “Yea, I’ll see you then.” Michael placed the phone back. He rubbed his head before heading to the kitchen. He opened the fridge and opened a beer up. He made his way through to the living area and glanced at the settee receiving flashbacks of earlier in the day. He felt tears come to his eyes and he blinked them away angrily. Why was everything going so wrong? TBC |
| Part 7 |
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