Love hurts ...

[DeliciousMaiden]

Phillipa Russell

Phillipa sipped her wine glass and flicked mindlessly through the channels.
OK … so it was a Friday night and she was home: home being her apartment that took up the first and top floor of the old Victorian house situated in a convenient London Borough. The remnants of the take away lay discarded in the kitchen whilst Phillipa lounged dressed in a sky blue nightshirt, an outfit that was “cute”, but hardly “femme fatale” stuff, after all, who did she have to please but herself right now … and comfort was the main concern here.

Almost by default, Phillipa let the remote control remain on the news channel as she half listened to the local news whilst sipping at her wine. It was 10 pm but the streets outside were quiet. The artificial flame danced in the electric fire drawing her eyes as she lay on the sofa relaxing after a taxing week.

This is what Phillipa valued, her independence. She was beholden to no one and no one kept tabs on her. She wasn’t short on friends and had enough offers for dates … and more … but she was wary, wary about letting anyone close. She was in control. She made all her own choices … and that was the way it would be from now on.

OOC:
Looking for one male player to play Phillipa’s long lost ex.
In brief my idea is that she fell heavily for a guy a couple of years/18 months ago.
Suddenly, inexplicably he disappeared, without word or explanation.
She was terribly hurt at the time … but has moved on … although emotionally his desertion left its mark.

If you would like to play this out you’d need to make decisions as to why the character left in the first place, why he has shown up "now" without warner and what he wants now he has “returned”.

Look forward to hearing from any interested parties.
Please PM any ideas you may have.

{{{huggs}}}

Marianne xxx

Tamara: http://klassylady.com/FP285.jpg

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

OOC:

Thank you Msboy for agreeing to share this story with me. x

Lead in post to follow.

Mari x

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Phillipa Russell

The doorbell cut through the serenity of the evening.
Phillipa looked up and froze, wondering who it was that would call at ... 11 pm! She was not expecting a caller and in this part of town, she considered not answering the door.

Again the bell sounded out.
Reluctantly she arose, pleased that she was still wearing her leggings and tshirt, classic navy and white, casual but decent.
She eased towards the front door and turned the key, making sure the chain was fully secured.

"Yes? Who is it?"

Even to her own ears, her voice sounded timid.

"Pia...?"

Phillpa froze.
Only ONE person called her that - used to call her that...

 

[msboy8]

Mark Quatrain

Mark rang the doorbell again. A voice he had not heard in a long time said, "Yes? Who is it?". It was her.

"Pia...?", Mark answered hesitantly. It had been a long, long time, and he had left her, not the other way around.

"Pia.", he said, stonger, more assured, "It's me, Mark. I'd... I'd like to talk. I'm sorry about the time, I just got into town."

Mark put his palm against the door, as if she could feel his sincerity. "I just need to talk to you, then I'll leave if you want."

OOC: Mark Quatrain was a tall man of medium build. His frame was a little stooped and his face, though handsome was weathered. His hair, originally jet black, was peppered with gray. He looked like he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for quite some time. If you had seen him 18 months ago, you would realize that he had aged. His body had toughened up and he had lost some weight.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

"Pia."

The voice itself struck a chord in Phillipa as she stood staring numbly at the door.

"It's me, Mark. I'd... I'd like to talk. I'm sorry about the time, I just got into town."

Emotions surged through her, her mind raced.
He'd just disappeared off the face of the earth.
Not a word, no note, no call just ...
And now he just expected her to ...

"I just need to talk to you, then I'll leave if you want."

Not knowing why, Phillipa's hands moved to release the chain and pull back the door.
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw him standing there, the ready retort frozen on her lips.

"Mark..?"

She shook her head trying to take it in.
This man was a stranger, it had been so long, surely they had nothing to say now.

And then he smiled.
The soft expression of his eyes, the way they crinkled up at the corners and the way he used to meet her own gaze with a directness that was all-seeing.

"You.. you'd best come in ..."

She offered breathlessly.
She closed the door behind him, automatically locking and bolting it.
She turned facing him where he stood.

"Come through .."

She led him through the hallway to the front room, knowing that he was as familiar with the layout of the appartment as she was ... and yet she guided him and invited him to sit down with a gesture of the hand before settling herself into an adjacent armchair.

"You wanted to talk...?"

Her voice was distantly polite as she took refuge behind a wall of emotions and inclined her head as if ready to listen.

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark sat where Pia had indicated. She said' "You wanted to talk...?"

Mark looked her and met her eyes. "I... I... I'm not sure where to start. God, I missed you." He began to cry, almost breaking down. "I'm sorry, I'll stay in control." Mark took out his hankerchief and wiped his eyes.

"It was an accident that started it all. I can remember that, now. For the longest time, I couldn't remember. I couldn't remember my life, you, anything. Once I could remember, I rushed straight to you."

Mark took her hands in his. "I want you to know everything, and then, if you want me to, I will go and never bother you again"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Phillipa tensed, watching Mark, thinking how rough he looked how ...

"I... I... I'm not sure where to start. God, I missed you."

She watched in shock as tears brimmed over.
Her heart lurched unable to understand what had made him so distraught. Surely he had chosen to ...

"I'm sorry, I'll stay in control."

She nodded mutely her eyes wide ... stricken ...

"It was an accident that started it all. I can remember that, now. "

Her mind raced. Accident?

She eased over to sit beside him on the sofa.
Listening ... trying to understand.

"For the longest time, I couldn't remember. I couldn't remember my life, you, anything.
Once I could remember, I rushed straight to you."

It was he who reached out and took her hands.
She looked down to see his strong, roughened hands surrounding hers.
The touch, the sight made her heart race.
His desertion had torn her apart.
She had been so in love with him and then ...

"I want you to know everything, and then, if you want me to, I will go and never bother you again"

She looked up then, searching his eyes for explanation, tears swimming as she finally allowed herself to remember the pain.

"What accident? I ... I don't understand Mark..
You just left me ... not a word ... nothing ... even if you couldn't remember at first ... surely someone ... "

She shook her head fighting the impulse to wrap her arms around him, to kiss him, too ...
She didn't understand but there was something strangely ... broken ... about him.

"You hurt me so much Mark ... "

She whispered.

"I never got over you ... "

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark heard Pia say, "I never got over you ... "

He brought his head down to wipe his eyes. When he raised his head his eyes were clear and piercing, looked straight into hers, peering into the depths of her soul.

"I was walking to my car near the railway after a business meeting. Just as I reached my car, I heard the screech of tires. Looking up I saw a car headed straight for me. I jumped up on the hood of my car to avoid being run over."

Mark paused as his breath caught in his throat. He swallowed, then continued, "The other car ran into my car and I flew through the air. The rest I put together later. I apparently landed on a flatcar of a train headed to the south west, because that is where I ended up.

Mark's breath caught in his throat again. "May I get a drink of water please?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Phillipa searched Mark's eyes as they met hers.
The intensity of his gaze made her shiver.
Her hand trembled in his grasp as he continued:

"I was walking to my car near the railway after a business meeting. Just as I reached my car, I heard the screech of tires. Looking up I saw a car headed straight for me. I jumped up on the hood of my car to avoid being run over."

Phillipa's eyes widened in horror.
The story he related was ... unbelieveable... and yet she knew he could not be making this up ...

"The other car ran into my car and I flew through the air. The rest I put together later. I apparently landed on a flatcar of a train headed to the south west, because that is where I ended up."

She moved her other hand instinctively laying it on his shoulder in a wordless, futile gesture of comfort.

"May I get a drink of water please?"

Pia eased upwards.

"Ohh .. yes... of.. of course Mark ... I'm sorry I should have ...
just water ... I can get you ... "

His nod brought her words to a standstill.

"I'll get it ... won't be ... "

She moved quickly from the room and down the hall into the kitchen directly opposite the front room where Mark sat.

"Good God ... "

She stood in the kitchen and breathed deeply, her mind running.
Shaking her head she moved automatically to the fridge and took out the mineral water ... she took out a glass... filled it ... returned the mineral water ... the moves wooden like that of an automaton ... and all the while her thoughts and emotions were in turmoil.

He'd had an accident ... how could she have thought that he'd just leave... but how was she to know ... 18 months... 18 months he'd been gone ... why hadn't he been able to find her again until now ... he knew of this flat ... but if he couldn't remember ...

She took up the glass and turned to make her way back to the front room.

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark thanked Pia and took a long drink of water.

He continued, "I would not be here today, but for Mamma and Pappa Johansen.

"I was still unconcious on the flatcar. The train was going to stop at a railyard in Arizona. Some rail-hobos rolled me off the car to keep the 'Bulls' from becoming suspicious."

Mamma Johansen saw them roll me, broken and bleeding, off the flatcar and onto the ground. She called to Pappa and he came and got me. It took a couple of months, but they nursed me back to health; however, I still had no memories."

Mark paused in his story. " I wish you would meet them, they are the most wonderful, loving people I have ever met, besides you."

He took her hands into his again and smiled. It was a sad, sad smile. His eyes looked into hers from his weathered face.

"I am a changed man, but I still care for you Pia."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Pia handed Mark the water with a soft smile and sat beside him watching as he drank.


"I would not be here today, but for Mamma and Pappa Johansen..."

Pia listened with increasing horror as she heard about Mark rolling unconscious .. being taken in ... cared for ...

"I wish you would meet them, they are the most wonderful, loving people I have ever met, besides you."

His hands surrounded hers once more and their eyes met.
He was so different ... not only in appearance ... but in what he'd been through ... and all without her ... a year and a half... she could not know who or what he was anymore ...
And yet as he looked at her ...

"I am a changed man, but I still care for you Pia."

Slowly she nodded.
Beneath it all he was still Mark ... the man she had loved ... had never really stopped loving ... she had merely hidden that love ... too hurt to admit that she could still feel that way about a man who had desserted her ... only he hadn't...

"Ohh... Mark ... "

Her voice broke as she leaned forward to kiss him softly on the lips.

"It's been such a long time ... "

If only they could rewind ... start again from the point they had left off ... but could that be possible?

"We've both been through ... so much ... "

She relaxed back into the sofa and eyed him carefully.

"But ... how can it be that you've only just arrived in town?
Where are you staying?"

Glancing at the clock she saw it was heading for midnight.
She couldn't imagine letting him out of her sight again and yet ...

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark was beside himself when Pia kissed him. He had missed those kips, so much. Even when he couldn't remember anything, he knew, knew deep down, that he was missing something.

He heard Pia say, "It's been such a long time ... "

"We've both been through ... so much ... "

"But ... how can it be that you've only just arrived in town?
Where are you staying?"

Mark saw her glance at the clock, it was almost 12AM. "Pia, I came straight from the Bus Station. I... I did not think that far in advance. I can always find a motel. Are you tired or just tired of me?

Mark looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. "This is too much for you, I'll call you in the morning Pia."

Mark got up to leave.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

"Pia, I came straight from the Bus Station. I... I did not think that far in advance.
I can always find a motel. Are you tired or just tired of me?"

Pia opened her mouth to object.
How could she be tired of him when she had missed him so much, for so long.

"This is too much for you, I'll call you in the morning Pia."

She looked up as Mark stood, unable to believe he was actually going again.

"No! ... I mean ... don't go Mark..."

Her eyes pleaded with him. She was so scared that if he left the appartment, she'd never see him again.

"You look exhausted. It's far too late to go treking round to find a motel. Stay here ... we'll have the whole weekend to ... talk... to catch up ... and for you to find your own place if you want ... "

She took a tentative stop towards him and put a hand on his arm

"I don't want to lose you again ... before we even get any time together ..."

She brushed his cheek with a kiss.

"We're both exhausted ... please stay..."

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark heard Pia say, "No! ... I mean ... don't go Mark..."

"You look exhausted. It's far too late to go treking round to find a motel. Stay here ... we'll have the whole weekend to ... talk... to catch up ... and for you to find your own place if you want ... "

"I don't want to lose you again ... before we even get any time together ..."

Mark could hear the desperation in her voice. It matched the desperation he felt. He did not want to go, not again. Something might happen. He didn't want to take that chance.

She brushed his cheek with a kiss and said, "We're both exhausted ... please stay..."

Mark looked relived. He let out the breath he had been holding in.

He said, "Thank you. I can stay on the couch. I won't be a bother and we can talk more tomorrow.

He kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"I'll see you in the morning, say you didn't keep any of my old clothes here, did you? I got on the bus so fast, I didn't even pack a bag."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

"Thank you. I can stay on the couch. I won't be a bother and we can talk more tomorrow."

As he kissed her lightly, Pia ached to have him in her bed.
To be able to hold him, to comfort him.
The intensity of that longing held her numb.

"I'll see you in the morning, say you didn't keep any of my old clothes here, did you? I got on the bus so fast, I didn't even pack a bag."

His request finally stirred her into action.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch."

She saw his expression and rushed on.

"I've renovated the flat since ... since.
The bedroom's upstairs now ... the old bedroom ... well .. it has a futon ... it's easy to pull out and more comfortable than the couch."

She led him into the neighbouring room which had been dominated by a double bed. It had been brightly painted and was crammed with bright ornaments, windchimes, beanbags, the almost bohemian clutter contrasting starkly with the warm but classic decor of the rest of the flat.
Pia blushed in embarrassment.

"This is my refuge ... my ... space ... "

She moved hurriedly and pulled out the futon and directed him to a large wicker basket in the corner stacked high with colourful cushions.

"There's a load of your stuff in there Mark. I .. never threw it out. I'll get some bedding... one minute ... "

She left him to look around the room and went upstairs to take a duvet, pillows and a bottom sheet from the cupboard above. She smiled ruefully. She rarely had houseguests, but she was well organised ...

"Here you go ... you remember where the bathroom is ... help yourself to anything you want ... there's a stack of new towels so ... "

She broke off awkwardly.

"Everything else is as it was."

Surely he remembered?
God ... he'd been through so much.
She moved towards him and kissed his lips lightly, letting her arms encircle him and hold him tightly to her before releasing him and stepping back unsteadily.

"You're welcome to stay here ... until you get yourself sorted ... at least take the weekend to .... "

She smiled softly.

"The offer's there ... no strings ... "

She turned to go.

"'Night Mark.."

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Pia hugged and kissed him. Oh, how he had missed that.

Pia said, "You're welcome to stay here ... until you get yourself sorted ... at least take the weekend to .... "

"'Night Mark.."

She turned to go, Mark took two steps forward and took her into his arms from behind. He kissed her neck and whispered, "Sleep well Princess, I'll still be here in the morning and we can get reaquainted."

Mark let her go and watched her as she walked to her bedroom.

He partially shut the door, leaving it adjar in case she called for him. He then stripped and got into the bed. The clean sheets felt good and he was soon sleeping restfully. After all, he was back with his Pia.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

It was so difficult to just walk away, to leave him in that room.
His arms surrounding her and the light kiss on her neck made her ache for what had been.

"Sleep well Princess, I'll still be here in the morning and we can get reaquainted."

Wordlessly she nodded, not trusting her voice.
She walked away and up the stairs to her own room, trying to get her head around what he had told her.
She undressed almost like an automaton, her usual routine totally forgotten.
She loved the luxury of her double bed, but suddenly it seemed much to big and much too empty.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

*bump*

Still interested msboy?

DM x

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark awoke early the next morning. Only half awake he stumbled to the bathroom to relieve himself. Once he finished, his footsteps led him along the familiar route upstairs.

He padded, still naked, to the bedroom. He brushed aside the partially open door and stumbled to the bed. He saw what his sleeply consciousness expected, his Pia fast asleep in the double bed.

Mark crawled into bed beside Pia, his arms holding her as sleep overcame him once again.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Pia lay for what felt like hours, her mind and body painfully aware of Mark's presence on the floor below.

She struggled to get her mind around what he had told her.
She had run through so many scenarios, but nothing prepared her for the strange course of events he claimed to have undergone ...

... claimed ... !?!?

She hated herself for the doubts that entered her head.
He seemed so ... broken ... lost ... and yet ...
What did that mean for "them"?
Would it be possible to rebuild things between them?

He had said that he had missed her and yet ...

Turning over yet again. Pia fastened her eyes shut and determined to sleep ... it must have been well past 2 am when she finally succeeded.

So fast asleep was she that she was not even aware of Mark moving around on the floor below. Neither did she hear him mount the stairs, or open the door to her bedroom.

When he slid into the bed beside her, she murmured softly and eased herself back against the bulk of his body, allowing herself to nestle instinctively into the circle of his arms.

With a soft sigh she slept on, oblivious to any conflict of emotion that would no doubt surface when she awoke to the reality of her erstwhile boyfriend in her bed.

 

[msboy8]

OOC:sorry it took so long to reply

Mark

Mark was dreaming of Pia again. He dreamed of her every night since he had recovered his memory. Before that his dreams had no name.

Lost in his erotic dream, Mark began to caress Pia and his lips found hers, kissing her passionately. He was still deep asleep, but his member was rapidly waking up.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Pia was aware of the hands travelling over her body ... and yet she was not. Trapped in deep sleep the touch was familiar, skilled, confident and felt right. She murmured softly as Mark's hands wandered deftly over her body awakening nerve endings and making her moan softly in response.

By the time his lips captured hers she was more than willing to give herself to the eroticism of the dream. Her nameless, faceless lover, the one who had come to comfort her in her confusion and loneliness and unhappiness.

His lips were hungry as they claimed hers. Eagerly she pressed against him, her exclamation gagged as his tongue slipped deeply into her mouth. Eyes pressed shut, Pia gave herself up to the sensation of that mouth and those hands as they made love to her.

 

[msboy8]

Mark dreaming

Mark

He finally had her, after years of wandering, not even knowing that he was missing her, missing Pia. Her body was so soft, he had missed touching her, making love to her with his eager hands.

Mark rolled onto his back, pulling Pia on top of him enjoying the weight of her naked body on his. His mouth fastened hungrily on one of her earlobes, she loved that, he sucked as she moaned in response.

He was starting to wake up, but he wanted to stay in this dream, stay her with Pia forever.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Pia

Even when she felt him pull her on top of him, she didn't truly stir; it was when his mouth locked onto the sensitive lobe of her ear that she moaned loudly at the familiar erotic sensation of the act.

Her eyelids fluttered open, only to find Mark laying beneath her, eyes pressed shut, mouth moving from her ear downwards kissing greedily along her neck making her shiver and squirm as he always had.

"Ohhh ... uhhhmmm... God ... Mark! ... No!"

She struggled in a vain attempt to pull away from him even as Mark's arms locked around hers pressing their bodies closely together as they lay cocooned in her bed.

Her body wanted to surrender to his touch once more, but her head spun trying to make sense, to decide.

She wanted him. He was "her" Mark and yet ... surely it wasn't quite ... right ... not yet ?

 

[msboy8]

Mark

Mark heard a familiar voice from outside of his dream, "Ohhh ... uhhhmmm... God ... Mark! ... No!" That and the struggling of his dream Pia, woke him as if a pail of icy water had been dumped on him.

This was no dream, his mind finally processed. He was here, in Pia's room, in her bed and she was fighting him. Mark pushed her off him forcefully, as if she had initiated this and she was repulsive to him, which she wasn't.

Mark rolled off the bed and fled down the stairs, his voice kept repeating over and over, "I'm sorry Pia. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me." His voice faded as he moved down the stairs.

How could he face her? She would think he was an animal, wanting only one thing. He had to give her space, let her decide their future. If she still loved him, she would come to him.

Mark quickly got dressed and stuffed his clothes in a shopping bag. He was ready to run, to go back to the simple, yet lonely life he had endured in the desert.