No Such Thing As True Love (6 page)

            “So,” she said gently, “as much as I don’t want to say this, I think you should really rethink your whole quest for true love thing that you’ve been stuck on.” Markus looked up at her. He had taken offense, and dared her to continue with the furrow in his brow. She put her hands up in mock defense as she continued, “Look, I’m not saying that you won’t eventually meet a nice girl with whom to settle down, but I am saying that the woman you keep describing probably doesn’t exist. If you ask me, any woman who holds all the qualities you’re looking for is bound to have at least one challenging flaw. And, let’s face it, you have a difficult time with difficult challenges…” Maritess let her voice trail off. Even though she was trying to be nice, as usual, it didn’t come out that way.

            Thankfully, Markus caught her true intention and ignored the harshness of her words. He shook his head, and stared out the window. It was open, even though the nights were growing colder as winter approached. The chill was comfortable, invigorating, and held a nice contrast to the warm mug of tea in front of him. Maritess was a vision in purple as she sat with her back to her sparsely furnished living room. Her place was clean and tidy. Soon, Tike came sniffing around for dinner. The dog seemed indifferent to Markus’ presence. Maritess poured some food in a bowl for him, and welcomed Markus to sit with her on the couch.

            “I still think true love exists,” he said. Maritess rolled her eyes and interrupted him before he could take his thought any further.

            “Markus, that’s ridiculous!” she implored, “Look, fine, if you want to call it true love, then fine. But that’s like a Pagan and a Christian debating the existence of a unifying force within the universe. I think, personally, that they’re arguing over the different names to call the same thing. I will concede that two people can get to a point where they truly love one another, but I don’t think that it comes immediately in the form of some ridiculous notion, like love at first sight, or something.” She looked into his eyes to make sure he was still following her before continuing, “It’s just that you’re pouring all your energy into pursuing something that just doesn’t exist. You will not just find the perfect woman. You could have made it work with any of my friends, but you chose not to. That’s what I think is ridiculous. People can’t just come out and take responsibility for the fact that they don’t want to work too hard at things. Walking down the street, seeing someone and instantly falling in love, only to find out that they perfectly match you in every way possible; well, that’s just not going to happen.” Maritess finished her speech, and waited for Markus to reply.

            His eyes were hard, and his brow was furrowed. Markus had so many thoughts and emotions clamoring to get out first, but he could only sit there and stare at her while his mind was bound like traffic in a bottle neck. There was concern in her face, and a twinge of guilt like a messenger delivering bad news. The pity in her expression was what elicited the rage in his, as if she were somehow more evolved for having come to the conclusion that true love does not exist. Markus felt his heart rate rise, which was something he had gotten accustomed to being aware of during his training sessions with her. He searched his soul for a way to make her understand. He couldn’t wrap his brain around the thought of a woman of her beauty not having the capability to feel love. He watched her as she absent-mindedly scratched Tike behind his ears. He could sense the tension as it built between them in response to his silence.

            A million times a moment, it seemed, Markus failed to conjure something to say. He ran his fingers through his hair, and shook his head. Maritess just looked at him, completely clueless as to what he would do next. More than anything else, Markus felt frustration. There was no way that he would be able to let her prove him wrong on love. He needed love, he needed that goal in his life. To Markus, this life wasn’t worth anything if there was no one with whom to share it. He took Maritess by the hand, and tried again to say something. Again, words failed him. Markus reached out his other hand to her face, and caressed her cheek with his thumb. Maritess didn’t try to pull away.

            Markus took a breath, and pursed his lips together. He slid his hand through her soft, red hair and pulled her face to his. Maritess met Markus’ kiss with a sense of passion that she had nearly forgotten about. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him with her as she lowered herself on to the couch. Markus rolled his tongue in her mouth as excitement mounted in the core of his being. He held his weight on a hand above her head, and let his other hand explore the curves he had so often admired. Markus gripped her hip, and pushed his chest onto her before breaking their kiss. He nibbled along her jawline and down her neck. Maritess felt the muscles she had helped build along his back. She wrapped her leg around his waist as he lifted her sweatshirt and the tank top she wore underneath.

            Markus gently placed small pecks of kisses along her toned abs. Maritess lifted the clothing from her body. She shuddered as he spread his kisses up her chest. Markus was pouring everything he could onto her, hoping to melt the ice that surrounded her heart. He ran his hands along the back side of her ribs, and lifted her off of the couch. His strength surprised her as he brought them both to stand. Markus gently lowered her feet to the floor, and kissed her again. She melted into his arms, while a sudden surge of happiness propelled her as far up on her toes as she could get. Markus broke their kiss and looked at her. Maritess took his hand and led him to her bedroom.

            The few moment’s delay was enough to set her on fire. The mounting anticipation sent a tingling sensation through her entire body. Markus was an inferno behind her, threatening to set flame to anything he touched. Maritess twirled on her heels when they got to her bed. She pulled his collar down to her, and met his lips with an open mouth. She unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt and pulled away to lift it over his head. Markus pulled the cord on her sweatpants. The fabric fell to the floor, and Maritess stepped out of them. She sat back on her bed as she unbuckled and unzipped the pants that held Markus back from her. He kicked off his shoes and slowly crawled after her as they adjusted themselves on her bed.

            When Markus reached around her body and pulled her onto him, they fit together perfectly. Her warmth made him blind to anything else in the world for a moment. Maritess gasped for breath. She ran her fingers through his hair and along his back. Her legs hugged his waist, and they blended into a mellow rhythm. Each movement was a new discovery. Markus slid his hands beneath her back, and gently dug his fingertips into her flesh. The pressure pushed him farther into her, and she moaned at the sensation.

            Maritess felt tension mounting in her body. She had never before felt anything as exquisite as his touch. She pulled his face from her neck, and looked into his eyes. The soft night light of her room cast a glow across his face. From it, she sensed an enormous amount of energy. When Markus looked down at Maritess, he knew he had reached her. Her eyes were soft, and glistened like emeralds. He kissed her lips, her cheeks and forehead. He pressed her face to his chest, trying to bring her as close to his heart as their physical bodies would allow. Maritess clung to him as an orgasm rocketed through her body. Her fevered skin and heaving breath sent Markus over the edge. For a split second, Maritess was the only other person in existence, and he bathed in her beauty.

            They collapsed on the bed, curled up in one another’s arms. Markus held her as her breathing returned to normal. Soon, he felt her calm wash over him. He ran his fingers through her hair, and kissed her gently on the forehead. Maritess had her eyes closed, and relaxed in his touch. For a moment or so, she thought Markus might have fallen asleep, but he spoke to her as she went to leave the bed.

            “Where are you headed?” he asked, sleepily and happily. She bent down and kissed him before saying that she was going to get them something to drink. She donned her robe after she refreshed herself in the bathroom, and returned with two glasses of ice water. She sat on the bed and handed one of them to Markus. He was looking at her adoringly, and a blush crossed her cheeks. Maritess reached out and rubbed him on the shoulder, comfortable with their silence. Markus seemed comfortable too, but it was only a short time before a jitteriness spurred him to talk.

            “I think I’m falling in love with you, Maritess,” he said. He knew that he would get nowhere with her if he fell into a mushy, emotional display of his newly felt affection. So, he stated his fact with seriousness, but he wore a smile on his face.

            Maritess shook her head at him. She put her glass down on the end table, and turned to face him. Markus rose to his elbow, but let the rest of himself stretch out. “Markus,” she said, “you’re hopeless.” Markus laughed at her, but stopped when he noticed that irritating look of pity she had on her face. “You’re hopeless,” she repeated, and stretched out alongside him.

            “No, I’m not. And I don’t think that you are, either. So, there,” he said. Maritess called his bluff. She couldn’t believe that he still thought love would be that easy. He was starting to agitate her. Even though she had truly enjoyed what they had just done, there was no way that she was going to let him think that she was hers just because he had been incredible in bed.

            “Markus,” she said in the same tone he used on her, “that’s impossible. Keep in mind, you pretty much hate me normally, and even did just a little while ago. Remember?” Markus shook his head in protest, but she continued without stopping. “Plus, even if you are suddenly falling for me, that still doesn’t make it true love. So, keep looking sweetheart, because…” she paused, checking the bitchiness in her voice, “because… I don’t feel anything for you. Please, don’t get me wrong, that was quite enjoyable, but I’m still not getting the butterflies, or hearing angels singing, or anything like that.”

            Again, Markus stared at her, stunned. Quickly, he shielded his heart from the insult, and let it roll off into amusement. “That’s okay,” he said, recovered, “love takes work, right? And after everything you’ve put me through at the gym, and with those three nut jobs you call friends, you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.” He laid back, and brought her head down to his shoulder. Maritess relaxed into him, and inhaled his scent. He comforted her, but she still pitied his undying, immature ignorance about human behavior.

            “This does not mean that we are in love,” she said, fighting every urge her body felt to fall asleep.

            “Fine,” he answered. He pulled the blankets over them, and soon they were both dreaming their own dreams.

…

CHAPTER 10

            When Maritess woke up, the first thing her eyes saw was Tike’s nose. She stretched and rolled over, reaching a hand out to Markus. When her hand landed on the bed, she turned to see that he was gone. She listened, but there was no sound of him anywhere else in the apartment. Maritess rose, confused, and a little jaded. She got up and put some clothes on so that she could walk Tike. She poured some food in his bowl while she downed a glass of water in the kitchen. Anger was beginning to replace the concern she initially felt when she noticed he was gone. He hadn’t even left a note. She looked at the front door, it was still unlocked. He hadn’t even had the decency to lock up when he left.

            As Maritess went to reach for the leash on a hook, the door opened. Markus walked in holding a box of doughnuts and a handful of daisies. She smiled, shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. Markus smiled back, and leaned down to kiss her. She let his lips press against hers, and breathed through the jolt of happiness it sent through her. He set the doughnuts down on the counter, and Maritess looked at them.

            “Do you think I eat doughnuts?” she asked, looking down her nose at them. Markus just laughed and popped open the box. He handed her one, which she did not reject.

            “Everyone eats doughnuts. I don’t think that you, in particular, eat them often, but I still think you eat doughnuts,” he waited to take a bite until she did.

. . .

            When she was back from walking Tike, she found Markus clicking away on his laptop at her couch.

            “When did you grab that?” she asked him. He told her that he had been out for about an hour. He went home to feed his cat, and grabbed them breakfast. “And the daisies? When did you pick those?” Markus laughed out a bit of embarrassment when he told her that an apartment building a block away has them growing at their entrance. “Well, thank you for stealing me flowers,” she said as she took a seat next to him, “I am still not in love.”

            Markus didn’t bother to acknowledge her last comment. “You’re welcome for the flowers. Do you have any plans today?” he asked. She nodded. Her day was packed. She looked at his work on the laptop, and asked him the same. He was pretty bogged down with work, too, so they decided to part for the day with a promise to meet a few minutes early before their training session the next morning. Maritess joked that she would still be charging him, and he said that it was worth it. A minute or so after he left, she was still standing at the door. She heard the sound of his footsteps going down the stairs. Suddenly, she rushed to her window. Maritess stood back a foot or so, but still caught sight of him as he bounded onto the sidewalk. Even from a few floors up, he seemed confident. Maritess couldn’t help but smile.