dchone

�This is my Destiny��

Faith stood beside the tall, handsome figure and watched as he pointed out over the green, rolling valley. Looking at his face as the sun cast It�s setting shadows across his features and lit his jet-black hair with a fire that seemed surreal. He seemed so forlorn, so lonely. What could be so bad about a destiny like this, she wondered. She had only known Mike a short time, yet his life seemed like such a wonderland of excitement, travel, and even the occasional touch of mystery. He liked �childish� games, and played hide-and-seek with the press in a way that only those on the �inside� could really appreciate. She had had so much fun over the past three weeks that she had hardly noticed the pain in Michael�s liquid brown eyes when rumors swirled about and people pointed. They didn�t know him; they thought they did, after all, they had read all about his life. He had spent his life in front of them, hadn�t he?

She watched as he turned away from the view and the setting sun t walk back to the fabulous mansion that they had come home to only that very day after weeks of travel. She laughed at the way she had felt when they had first entered the house, she was sure she would get lost in it�s huge rooms and cavernous hallways� She followed him now through the sliding glass doors into the kitchen and sat at the counter while he rummaged through the refrigerator for a snack.

�Like a sandwich?� He asked looking quizzically at her over an armful of �loot� from the fridge. She nodded and watched as he worked with a serious purpose to make the perfect sandwich, that he presented to her like a masterpiece. Dare she not be proud of his accomplishment?

Hurt flooded his face as she couldn�t contain the laughter any longer, while the sandwich morphed into a salad-looking mess on the plate.

�That�s funny, is it?� He took a handful of the sandwich-turned-salad and looked at her with a menacing look of mischievousness on his face. Backing away, Faith tried to look terrified while she laughed, nearly tripping over the stool where she had been seated.

�You need more practice� That�s all!� She giggled at the thought of Michael practicing the fine art of making sandwiches. Then, before she could duck, mayonnaise and lettuce filled the air and she felt the cold splash on her face. �Hey! Not fair. I�m unarmed!� She laughed and tried to wipe away the gook from her cheeks and nose.

�Here, let me help.� He said as he pulled her close and tenderly kissed her, licking her� touching her� They hadn�t had hardly a moment alone together for the past three weeks, and he hadn�t made any moves that would rush her� She had been so overwhelmed by his very presence and the fact that he had seemed so interested in her, that as badly as she had wanted him� she was afraid. Even now, thoughts rushed through her mind, all the �what-if�s�� Those thoughts quickly dissolved as she felt his hands moving down her back, his fingers slipping into the snug waist-band of her jeans, probing, asking� as he kissed her. Then she gently pushed him back a step and began to unbutton the red, silk shirt he wore and to push it back over his shoulders. Before she knew it, they were standing in the middle of the kitchen, naked, caressing one another. Then he kissed her with such a force that she felt her knees buckle, and she felt him catch her with one arm around her back as she slowly drifted to the floor. As he lowered himself down to rest on top of her, she felt his body, hard against her. A moan escaped as he entered her and gently pushed his way fully in. With one hand cupping her head to protect it from the hard floor, the other explored her breasts, then he giggled as her hands stroked his sides� seemed fitting that he�d be ticklish, then as if to counter-act the laughter that threatened to end their encounter before it had a chance to reach it�s height, he pushed harder and kissed her with a passion that swallowed up every thought with it�s exploring warmth.

�Oh Michael� she moaned as she felt the energy escape her like quivering lightening. Slowly he let himself lay down in her arms as she folded them across his warm, wet back. Her fingers slowly running through his hair as it lay over his shoulders.

�Worth the wait?� He smiled, half asking, half making a statement. Faith nodded, feeling light-headed. Michael�s mood seemed to change ever-so-slightly as he looked into her eyes. �Now you are a part of my destiny�� There seemed to be a sadness to his words. �It�s lonely in here.�

�Not anymore.� She replied and hugged him tighter. �Not anymore.�

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Slowly, Mike sat up on the kitchen floor. He was a bit old for cold, hard surfaces, he supposed� �You could think like a kid all you wanted, the trouble was getting to feel like a kid when your bones were 42�. Glancing sideways at the woman lying beside him, he wondered how she could look so peaceful, she looked so comfortable, as if she were on satin sheets and surrounded by pillows. She couldn�t know how she had gotten to him. From the very first moment he had seen her, standing outside his hotel in the rain, she had somehow touched the darkness in his soul, and at times� made it slip away. Then reality began to descend like a cloud and he felt the familiar darkness creeping back into his heart. �How could he pull her into this? Be so selfish?� He had resolved himself years ago to living his life alone. Not a pleasant thought, but necessary. Who could life like this? He felt her hand on his shoulder and realized she had risen to kneel behind him and had begun to massage his shoulders, the back of his neck, and down his spine. Shivers of pleasure ran through his body� he wanted her, forever. �Stop it!� he demanded of himself, a foolish heart would only cause pain later. A light-hearted romance here and there, a kiss, a touch, even the thrill of love�s embrace� but it had to stop there, and it had to stop NOW. He just couldn�t quite bring himself to say the words.

�Not anymore�� her words echoed in his head. �Not alone anymore?� Could it be possible? He touched the hand that rested on his shoulder and crouched to rise, helping her to her feet as he stood. Funny how no matter what the circumstances, no one ever looked ridiculous after such a heated passion� even standing naked in a brightly lit kitchen seemed perfectly normal.
�When does Mona get here?� Faith bent to retrieve her clothes that were flung about over almost every part of the kitchen. She was sure she would faint dead away if the cook walked through the door now as the sun began to show itself lazily in the East. Turning to beckon a response, her mouth fell open to find herself standing alone in the cold, red kitchen.

Standing there with a sort of �deer-in-the-headlights� look, astonishment so overwhelmed her it was minutes before she realized how she must look, standing there, and what time it was 6:30 am. Mona would be there soon. Mike had spoken often of his beloved housekeeper and cook, her gentle, affectionate �mothering�, her soft-spoken Mexican accent. Faith was sure she wanted to meet her, but definitely not like this. Her clothes that had landed in every part of the kitchen bespoke of last night�s passion. As she bent to retrieve them a smirk crossed her face when she saw Mike�s clothes, crumpled in one single heap; then her smirk turned into a silly grin as she pictured him tip-toeing about the stately mansion with it�s wood-paneled walls and vaulted ceilings, stark naked.

Just then, she heard the sound of a car door slamming and humming coming up the walkway. Faith reached to grab her panties that were hung-up on the back of the high-backed wooden chairs that surrounded the butcher-block table. She caught her breath and ran from the room� just as she heard a key being inserted into the door of the service way that led to the kitchen.

Through the spacious living room, around the corner and into the grand entranceway, she fled to the stairs that led from where she stood to the bedrooms above. Glancing up, she felt herself reel as her eyes caught the huge dimensions of the chandelier that hung from the ceiling high above. Grabbing the railing for support she jumped to begin the climb to the top of the stairs.

�OOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!� Faith covered her mouth hoping she hadn�t been heard � at least not by Mona. From behind her she heard a soft voice ask.

�Are you okay? That was a nasty trip.�

Turning on one foot, still holding tight to the rail with one hand, with her free hand Faith began to pound on the chest of the man who now stood, casually clothed, in front of her.

�Where have you been? You left me standing there on the kitchen floor, alone, NAKED � I just managed to get outta there before Mona came in.�

A sparkle twinkled in Michael�s eyes as he grabbed the hand that was beating a rhythm on his chest.

�I was just coming to get you.�

�You�d have been TOO LATE!� Tears began streaming down her checks and her muscles went limp as he held onto her hand.

�Are you finished?� He asked as he cradled her in his arms, lifted her off her one good foot, and ascended the stairs to the master bedroom at the top.

�No. I�ve just begun�� she sighed as she hugged his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. �We�ve just begun��

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�You can hang your clothes in here�� Mike said, casually pointed to the closet as he walked past to the bathroom in the enormous master suite. �Are you hungry?�

�Yeah.� �Starved, was more like it�� Faith thought as she looked at the silk dress, ruined from the food fight of the previous night. Greasy spots covered the soft material. �Not gonna get this out, Damn!� �But I�d rather eat it than wear it, if you don�t mind� She sounded angry, but her eyes danced with mischievous sarcasm at him when he glanced over his shoulder as he turned into the doorway of the bathroom.

�Gee, if you�d rather. It�s a novel concept, maybe I should try it. You think?� His voice sounded hollow coming from the tile room.

Faith walked to the doorway and stood there unashamed, watching the man millions screamed for, taking a piss.

�Do you mind?� he asked, blushing slightly. Faith liked a man who could blush� it belied a certain sensitivity.

�I�m not taking pictures; I just don�t like talking between walls.�

�Not taking pictures, huh? You wanna picture? I�ll give you a picture!� He smiled and tried to look lecherous, �Come here little girl, I got something for you�� he let go an evil snicker that turned into a giggle when he looked at her standing in the door way, posed as a little girl in an innocent pose.

�No sir! My mommy said NEVER take nothin� from strangers� her �child-like� voice was comical, and she milked it to perfection.

�Come on in, sweet thing� I won�t hurt you� he leared at her, �want some Candy?�

�Got any suckers, Mister? I like suckers.�

Mike could feel the laughter threaten to spoil the moment� he took a breath, looked over at her with his head slightly down and his eyes trained up at her in a wanton stare�

�Oooooh yeah baby, I got a sucker for ya� He rubbed his hands against his blue-jean covered thigh. His zipper was still undone, the top of his jeans open as his lust-filled eyes searched the woman in front of him standing like a child playing �coy�.

�What flavor is it, Mister? I hope it�s chocolate, I like chocolate��

She licked her lips and nearly sent Michael to the floor, he choked back the laughter and wiped his eyes, wet from tears of laughter that were building up inside of him.

�MMMMMMM, deep milk chocolate, just for you.�

�You so bad, you know that?� she giggled as he grabbed her shoulders.

�uh huh, uh huh� a dirty old man, sweet thing.� He groaned as he pushed her down to the carpeted floor, on her knees in front of him, he stood there and pushed against her closed mouth. �Well, I found one way to keep your mouth shut.�

Her sarcastic come-back was cut short� Her mommy also told her, never to talk with her mouth full.

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In the kitchen, Mona watched the two of them shoveling eggs and cheese into their mouths like food had just been invented, and shaking her head in mock disgust.

�Michael, how many times have I told you. CHEW your food, you�re eating like a race-horse running for the wire.�

�Yes,� gulp, �ma�am� Mike said, glancing up, pausing only long enough to give her a smirk that let her know his humility was not sincere; before shoving in another heaping mouthful. �She�s doin� it too!� he complained, without swallowing.

�Michael, that�s gross!� Faith scolded, watching his expression as eggs dripped back onto the plate. Mona slipped her an icy stare, and Faith realized just how unwelcome she was to this woman. �Who the HELL�.� She thought angrily, �Who the hell did this woman think she is anyway?� Ignoring Mona as best she could, Faith continued. �What�s on the plate for today, hotstuff? Besides half eaten eggs, that is.� She smiled at Mike, as his eyebrows raised.

Michael quickly tried to swallow the last mouthful of eggs as the cheese dripped down his chin. �Gotta go in to the office� Check on some things��

�But it�s SATURDAY, Mike� Her lower lip pushed out in a pout, she�d been hoping to spend the day doing something romantic. Michael reached his body across the table as he stood and kissed her pouting lips.

�No rest for the wicked, you know.� Smiling, he picked up his plate, and headed toward the sink.

�You are wicked, you bad boy you.� Smiling once again, Faith got up to follow Mike to the sink with her dish, �he could�a taken all the dishes�, she thought to herself, �boy wasn�t she asking for the world!�

�Not before you pick up your mess.� Mona admonished pointing to the heap of clothes on the floor. Faith blushed at the sight of evidence from last nights rendezvous blatantly displayed on the kitchen floor for all to see.

�That�s your job, isn�t it?� Mike asked. Faith wasn�t sure if she saw humor in his eyes or not. Surely he was joking.

�Don�t talk back to me, child. You�re not too old to turn over MY knee.� Mona swung and gave Mike a swift, sound, swat on the rear with the spatula she held in her hand. Feigning injury, Mike rubbed his behind and �limped� pathetically.

�OOOOOOOhhhhh, you old witch you, you evil, got that! Might half�ta take you down a notch or two��

Before he could go any further, Mona raised the spatula again.

�EEEEEEEK!� Mike�s eyes were wide with mock horror. �I�m goin�, I�m goin�� and he spun around so swiftly he nearly knocked Faith to the floor in his rush for the door.

�GET BACK HERE AND PICK UP THESE CLOTHES!!!!�

Faith heard the old woman yell so clearly, she�d have thought they were still in the same room with her, rather than half-way up the stairs.

Mike reached the top of the stairs and doubled over, gasping for air, as he drew in deep breaths, and laughing hysterically. �Damn, she can get to ya!� Rubbing his backside again, this time not quite faking, he could still feel the sting of the metal through his jeans.

�She doesn�t like me.� Faith stood, two stairs down from the top where Mike was, still trying to catch his breath. �Did you see the ice she was throwing at me?�

�Yeah� Hate to tell you this cookie, but she never will. Just the way she is, protective, I guess. She�s been here for almost 18 years now. Women come, and women go, but she stays�� Mike stopped himself, instantly he regretted the words. He say the pain in her eyes. �Not that you�re like any of the others, darlin��

Faith pushed away his hand when he tried to pull her closer, and turned to hide the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

�I�m sorry.�

Faith�s head dropped, she wasn�t going to be able to control the tears much longer. In fact, she could feel them beginning to make their way out of the corners of her eyes already.

�Stop, please. I can�t bear it. I can�t bear the thought of having hurt you� I didn�t mean you. Please, don�t cry.� The more he pleaded forgiveness, the harder the tears came, until she was seated at the top of the stairs with her head in her hands sobbing like a baby. She heard Mike�s footsteps as he shuffled up behind her, dragging his feet, feeling so bad. She felt his hands touch her shoulders when she heard Mona call out from the kitchen.

�Michael! Phone. It�s your father!�

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�You should be nicer to her, Mona� Michael admonished. His much loved housekeeper had been busy picking up his clothes and was getting ready to throw them into the laundry-room when Mike came back into the kitchen to retrieve the phone. �She�s sitting at the top of the stairs, right now, crying�� Okay, he said to himself, so it wasn�t her that had caused the torrent of tears � still, he could make it work for him.

�So she cry, what�s that to me? She�ll make YOU cry too.� Wagging her large finger at his face. �You listen to me, now. That girl will make you cry. I can�t stand the thought of you breaking apart like that again. How much torture do you need, boy?�

Michael lifted his eyebrows to look at her as he lifted the phone.

�Hello, Joe.� He said into the receiver. But his thoughts were on Faith� and, Mona�s words.

The doorbell rang and startled Faith from her tearful solitude. She listened for the footsteps that would herald the arrival of Michael, or ughhh, Mona, to answer it, but heard nothing as the doorbell sounded again. �Well, where the blazes was everybody?� She crept down the stairs, looking over the banister as she descended, to watch for signs of anyone coming to answer the door. When she was almost to the bottom, she heard the sounds of dishes clanging as Mona stacked them to dry, and Mike�s voice on the phone. He sounded angry, Faith was wondering what the call could be about when the bell rang again, almost accusing her of neglect.

�Would SOMEBODY please answer the door?!�

Faith cringed at the impatience in Mike�s voice. �Somebody my ass�. I�m the only one here except for him and Mona, and if he meant Mona, he wouldn�t be yelling, would he?� A growl escaped her lips as she stood straight and walked indignantly down the last two steps and across the foyer to the door. She reached for the knob and � it rang again.

�WOULD SOMEBODY�.�

�I GOT IT! You don�t have to yell!� The last part she muttered under her breath as she turned the knob.

Faith froze in place in the doorway as she found herself face-to-face with Debbie. Slowly looking down she saw �them� at Debbie�s side. A tow-headed imp, and a raven-haired angel. She had seen pictures, of course, of Mike�s kids, and his ex-wife� somehow it hadn�t prepared her for meeting them in person.

�Mike home?� Debbie looked directly at Faith, whose eyes were still glued to the children by her side. �Excuse me? Is Mike home?� The voice was more demanding now.

Faith new darn well that this woman knew Mike was home� and still, impatience seemed to run rampant in this house this morning. Faith shifted her feet and moved from the doorway to allow room for the three to enter. Her eyes still on the two children, she watched as they bolted through the living room and into the kitchen. Obviously at home, and comfortable� the point was brought home swiftly, this was their home, she was a guest � or maybe, an intruder.

�DADDY!�

Faith heard the high-pitched voice of a little girl and then the laughter as she imagined Mike lifting the child into his arms. Suddenly, Faith became aware that there was still someone there in the room, she knew Debbie hadn�t left, but subconsciously had chosen to ignore that fact and hoped she would go away. Faith wasn�t sure she was up to pleasantries with one of the �other women� of this morning�s conversation. Still, it was becoming painfully apparent that the blonde-haired mother of Mike�s children, wasn�t going to leave.

�Mike�s in the kitchen.� Faith said hoping Debbie would just move along.

�MMMMMMMMMMM.� Debbie�s eyes slowly looked Faith up and down.

A chill ran through Faith as she felt Debbie�s critical gaze examining her.

�Excuse me, I was on my way upstairs when the doorbell rang.� Turning to go, Faith was sure she heard a snicker, but when she turned back on the steps, Debbie has disappeared into the kitchen.

Falling onto the bed, Faith pulled the covers up and over her head as she stifled a scream. What was she getting herself into? Everyone obviously saw her as an intrusion, unworthy to be there. Everyone except Mike, and what exactly he saw her as, she wasn�t sure anymore either.