Incest/Taboo From the Ashes

"So he came, I'm happy for you," the waitress said, smiling, friendly, at Marge. "So what can I get ya?"

"Two eggs over easy, white toast, bacon, orange juice, and a coffee," Magnus said, rattling off his order.

"And you hon?"

"I'll have the same, and a refill," Marge said, holding up her cup.

"Sure thing, I'll get that in for you," she said, smiling at the two of them.

"So you haven't answered my second question," Marge said, her hand never leaving her son's.

"Twenty minutes south of Helena, Montana," Magnus said, matter-of-factly. "When I'm not in LA."

"Oh?! Why Montana? Are you living in an apartment or?" Her eyes followed the woman's hand as she set his drinks before him.

"Have a hundred acre plot, nice big house, bought it for a steal," Magnus said, pouring his creamer into the black coffee and two packets of sugar. "As to why... you really want me to answer that?" he asked, arching an eyebrow as he lifted the steaming cup to his lips.

"Yes baby, even if it hurts," Marge nodded.

"Wanted to get as far away from you all and Iona as I could, without paying out the ass in taxes," Magnus said, setting his coffee down.

"Oh, but doesn't it get really cold up there?" Marge asked, her eyes downcast.

"Yeah, there's already a nip in the air when it's still eighty degrees down here," Magus nodded. "Already got my winter gear sorted out. This rather friendly sales girl helped me pick out all the things I'll need to ride out my first winter there."

"Then... you have someone new in your life?" Marge asked, bringing her eyes back up.

"No, not at this point in time. Trying to work on me, you know? Trying to figure out why and what I did to make Iona cheat on me. Why she would hurt me as she did. You know I only kept that job so she could stay in school. Only worked myself to the bone to make sure my wife had everything she needed. Still that wasn't good enough."

"I know sweetheart. You don't know how proud I was that you were stepping up to be a good husband. That you didn't complain when your father gave you that job when I objected when he babied Bill. Sometimes I wonder what's going through that mind of his," Marge sighed. "It took strength of character to work all those hours and still do everything that Iona wanted to do. I know there were times that you didn't want to go to one of her company's events when you'd just worked a ten hour shift. Yet you did it anyway, because you wanted your wife to be happy. I'm just sorry that it took me so long to see the truth about that woman." Moving her arm out of the way as their waitress placed their plates down onto the table. "So tell me, how did you get signed onto a band?"

"Sent them an audition tape when I got out of lock-up," Magnus said, as his fork broke the yoke of his egg. It's yellow, gooey substance ran down onto his plate. Scooping it up with the corner of his piece of toast before taking a bite.

"And how was it? Being on the road I mean. You didn't get into any trouble I normally hear about rock stars, did you?" Marge asked, as she took a bite of her bacon.

"No, I didn't. Not that I didn't see a lot of that happening back stage. But I was normally in the bus once the show was over. Being on the road was actually fun. Brandan and George helped me out a lot. Haleema was there with me every step of the way when I met the band's agent."

"So I don't have to worry about some eighteen-year-old showing up on my doorstep with a child claiming to be yours?" Marge asked, a coy smirk appeared on her lips as her son choked on his food.

"That's not funny," Magnus said, red faced.

"Well... how would I know; you haven't called your mother in ten long months. Who knows what little tikes you got running around out there," Marge said, teasing her son.

"I... don't do that, okay," Magnus said, in a low whisper.

"Oh? So you're not running around being chased by those groupies that I hear haunt those kinds of shows?'

"No... that actually does and has happened," Magnus admitted.

"Yet you aren't partaking in them?" Marge asked, with a pointed look.

"No."

"So if you aren't being chased or the chaser, are you seeing anyone?" Marge asked, wondering if someone new had come to sway his heart. Yet her son was tight lipped about that subject, so she didn't push it. Before long, their meal was over, and she knew her son would be leaving. "Please, a few more minutes," she pleaded. Her fingers wrapped around his hand, giving it a light squeeze.

"Fine, you have until I finish my coffee," Magnus said, signaling the waitress that he needed a refill.

Noon that day...

"So tell me what's the deal with Iona?" Mary Lou asked, as they waited for their food. "Oh, Scott told me to tell you hello."

"Odd. I thought he didn't even know my name," Magnus chuckled.

"Only after some careful prodding," Mary Lou smirked. "So spill, and don't leave out anything," she said, patting his hand.

"Caught her cheating on me with her boss a little over a year ago."

"Oh no! I can't believe that! I mean she was head over heels for you in high school," Mary Lou said, in stunned shock.

"I thought so too," Magnus agreed.

"What changed?" Mary Lou asked, taking hold of his hand as she saw those hard emotions in his blue eyes.

"The hell if I know," Magnus spat bitterly. "Just one day she slowly stopped talking to me and started working later. The last time we were even together was after this Halloween party we or more like she dragged me to. I had just worked for nine and a half hours out in the sun and I was dead tired. In hindsight it kind of felt like she was doing me a favor."

"That's just wrong," Mary Lou said, her anger rising.

"Tell me about it, then when I tried to initiate sex she would brush me off telling me she was tired, or that she wasn't in the mood. After a week of this I asked what was wrong. Why she didn't want to have relations with me after we had sex at least once a day, if we had time or if we were both off two or three times a day. After six years of this it was like she just simply slammed on the brakes and I was going without. I know now that was the first sign but at the time I didn't even register it as a sign of her cheating or whatever she was doing at the time.

So as the weeks wore on and Thanksgiving rolled around. We still hadn't been intimate, and it was really starting to piss me off. We had it out before we had to be at my parents. That was one cold holiday I tell you. After a few days of us giving each other the cold shoulder. I tried to bury the hatchet. Yet she wouldn't hear a word of it. Then the words just came out of my mouth: if you aren't going to be my wife you can sleep on the couch. I'm not sharing my bed with a stranger," Magnus said, before taking a sip of his sweeten iced tea.

"What happened then?'

"She just looked at me like she just pitied me. Like I was below her or something," Magnus said, his hands moved through the air.

"Below you?!" Mary Lou asked, in confusion. "Did she not understand what a marriage was?"

"Obviously not," Magnus said, rolling his eyes. "Then she just grabbed her bag and left the apartment. I don't know when she got back. When I woke up she was snoring on the couch. Bitching to me to be quiet, that her head was killing her. I told her if you don't like it leave. Telling me not to be an ass and just give her an hour. Oh, I wasn't quiet nor was I all that supportive as I slammed the front door as I left for work. Mind you this is all in hindsight. Now that I've had time to go back and see every little sign that was being thrown up. I was simply pissed that she walked out and stayed out until who knows when doing whatever it was that she was doing. That was about a week before Christmas. How I wish I knew then I would have saved a lot of money on gifts that year."

"I'd say, so did she get you anything?" Mary Lou asked, her heart going out to him. She had no idea what she would do if she found Scott cheating on her. Not that he would, she trusted him enough to know Scott would never do that. Not to her or the kids. He loved them too much to put them through that. Plus, she knew he had vehemently shot down the wife of their neighbor when she tried to seduce her husband. She couldn't have been prouder of him when she found out he sent that bitch packing.

"Nope. So all the gifts I got her, were quickly returned. You should have seen the look on her face when she thought I would waste my money on her when she didn't bother to do the same. Then she brought up a very curious question to me."

"Oh?! What did she ask you?" Looking up as their waiter sat her salad in front of her and his country fried steak before him. While her mouth watered at the smell of it, she still had to watch her calorie intake, and it wasn't her cheat day.

"What I thought about open marriages."

"What?!" Her fork falling from her hand and clanging against her plate as she stared at Magnus with a gaping mouth.

"Might want to close that or you'll catch flies," Magnus said, with a warm smile. "So I told her then what's the point of being married if you're fucking who knows what. I'm a one woman kind of man, you know. If I'm with you then I'm with you. Not running around town dipping my dick in whichever woman's ink that I got the favor of that day. Iona quickly clammed up after that. She never brought it up again. She certainly didn't like it when I asked her if she would like to come home only to find me in bed with another woman. And trust me, I know the looks I got before I left town. So I knew I could spread my seed, if you know what I mean, if I was into that kind of thing," Magnus said, seeing Mary nod as she took a bite of her salad as he cut up his steak.

"So... she was okay with herself fucking behind your back but the thought of you doing the same set off her ire?"

"I know right! Like she thought no woman would want to have sex with me, and that all the men in the world simply fell at her feet. Whoever filled her head with that crap, kind of did me a favor in retrospect. If that douche hadn't talked his way between her legs, I'd never know what kind of person she truly is," Magnus said, before chewing his juicy steak.

"I... let me ask, tell me to fuck off if it's too personal. But when you did have sex, how was it?" Mary Lou asked, wondering if it was the reason why Iona cheated on him.

"If you're asking if it was poor sex, it wasn't. I knew all the buttons on that woman's body to make her writhe. Iona certainly didn't go to bed unsatisfied. I made sure of that like a good husband does. The sex wasn't the issue."

"But we can... you know, fake it," Mary Lou said, hoping he knew she wasn't taking her side.

"Yeah, I know, but trust me she wasn't faking. You don't leave that kind of a wet spot if you're faking," Magnus said, with a devilish smile as he took another bite as Mary Lou's cheeks rapidly heated. "And trust me I knew when she was faking I called her out on it numerous times. But that was in our early years when we first started having sex."

"How could you tell?"

"Her right eye twitches when she's lying. It's subtle if you don't know what to look for you wouldn't know. Then well... after weeks of fighting, hoping that we could work things out, because I did enjoy being married to her or I enjoyed being married to the woman I knew, not this thing that took her place. So after I bought us dinner, went to her work... and that's where I found them. And trust me, she was definitely faking with that man. So I kicked her ass out, hunted for a lawyer, who is great by the way, quit my job, told my parents to fuck off, went to jail for thirty days because I didn't want to spend another second on a lying whore. Then sent in my audition tape after I got out and left town. Spent the next few months on the road, then flying back and forth between my home in Montana and LA. But by tomorrow night I'll finally be rid of Iona for good."

"Why?"

"She's finally agreed to sign the papers."

"Damn. Well, I'm not glad you're hurting, but I'm glad you found out the truth about her before you spent twenty or so years on her," Mary Lou said, offering comfort to her friend.

"Me too," Magnus nodded.

"So... now the most important question. Are you seeing anyone now?" Arching an eyebrow when Magnus burst out in laughter. "What's so funny?"

"My mother asked me the same question," Magnus said, his sides heaving.

"And did you answer her?"

"No."

"But you'll answer mine, right?" Mary Lou asked, pointing her fork at him.

"Yeah, there is someone I have my eye on," Magnus said, going into detail about his first time meeting Haleema, the way she made him feel over the months they were on the road together.

"Then why haven't you asked her out yet?"

"She doesn't date married men, her words."

"Is that another reason you're so happy about tomorrow?" Mary Lou asked, pushing aside her empty plate. "I'm happy for you, that you can find someone that makes you feel that way after what Iona did to you," she said, once Magnus nodded. "Now if you and this... Haleema get married, I better get an invitation."

"Counting all your chickens before they come home to roost, aren't ya?" Magnus asked, while he did like the sound of that, yet he wasn't going to jinx himself.

"Nope." Shaking her head, smiling wide at Magnus. "I know you Magnus, you're the kind of man that most -- not sluts or cheating ones -- women want in a man," Mary Lou said, squeezing his hand. "And if she can't see that, then you send her to me and I'll straighten her out," she said, protectively.

"Awe. My hero," Magnus teased.

"And don't you forget it," Mary Lou nodded, taking a sip, finishing off her water.

"So now that we delved into my sex life, let's hear about yours." Magnus smirked evilly when Mary Lou almost spit out her water. "Aww. Poor Scott, does he know you don't swallow."

"Magnus!" Mary Lou, nearly shouted. The heel of her hand pressed against her forehead as she shook her head against it. Her face burning hot as Magnus died laughing. "I don't know why I'm still your friend."

"Because of all those dark little secrets I know about you," Magnus warned in a joking manner.

"I so loved this, we have to at least do another lunch or a dinner at my place before you leave," Mary Lou said, hugging her friend tightly.

"Sure, I'd love to see how your kids turned out. If they got weird tentacles..." Magnus's laughter filled the air as Mary Lou lightly stuck his chest. "You take care of yourself, Mary Lou," he said, bringing her into his arms once again.

"It'll be okay Magnus, if you ever need to talk. You call me, alright?" Mary Lou said, her hands lightly rubbing his back.

"Count on it."

"Well, I have to get back before my hour is over," Mary Lou said, looking up at him as she pulled away.

"See you Saturday night," Magnus said, waving to her with a smile on his lips.

Pulling out her phone as she closed her car door. "Honey?"

"Yeah? How was lunch?" Scott asked, as he sat at his desk at the bank.

"How would you feel about helping me track down and cut a bitch?"

"For you babe, sure, let's go cut this bitch deep."

"God. I so love you," Mary Lou said, as she started her car.

"So... you going to tell me why we're going to commit an assault?"

"I will, once we're home, and not on the phone," Mary Lou said, as she backed out of her parking spot.

"That bad, huh?"

"Very."

Thursday, two p.m....

Magnus sat across from his wife, counting the seconds until he would be free from Iona. Their lawyers had left the room to give them privacy. Why? He didn't know. It wasn't like they were going to fuck on the table. He felt his cock retreating into his body at the thought of it. Glancing up at the clock as Iona hadn't said a word as they had been sitting there for the past five minutes. He didn't care, it could be a whole hour of silence, of not having to listen to the sound of her voice, he would have met his obligations for the stipulation she had set. His eyes ran down her light red hair. Her light brown eyes stared unblinkingly at him. He could tell she put on a few pounds given how her suit jacket was tight around her chest when just a year ago it was a little loose on her. Magnus could tell she was going to use her body to try to sway his mind as her blouse was unbutton enough to show the valley of her 36C breasts. Billie Eilish 'No time to die' popped into his mind as he looked upon his soon-to-be former wife.

"I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you why I did what I did," Iona finally spoke.

"Uh-huh."

"You look good... really good Magus," Iona said, her eyes running down his face and chest. Liking the new look he had. "You know there is still time to stop this. I can still be your wife, and I'll swear that if you take me back I'll never..."

"No," Magnus interrupted.

"I had to try," Iona sighed. "I had to see if you truly hated me like I read in that article," she said, looking defeated.

"I do, was that all it took for you to realize you are nothing but a..."

"Two-bit whore?" Iona finished for him. "I'll admit yes that's what I acted like. I just got swept up in it all. Thought I could do better, thought I could have a better life. I thought you weren't going anywhere in life and that if I stayed with you that you would just drag me down with you."

"You do realize I only stayed in that crappy job, working those long hours for you right? That I helped to support you, so you didn't have to worry about working while you were in school. Did you even think of the crap I sacrificed so you could get your degree? No, you only thought about your own fucking self. Did you even fucking love me?" Magnus asked, seeing Iona sinking into her seat.

"Of course, I did! I still do. I just let myself get blinded by Connor's words and my own deluded sense of self-importance. By the end of it all I didn't even recognize myself. It wasn't until I heard your voicemail, the anger in your voice, of how royally I fucked up," Iona said, laying it on thick. Not realizing that Magnus has had her under surveillance to know that she was still seeing Connor. Thinking that she could sweet talk Magnus into one last fling and pass off the child that she knew was currently growing in her womb as his. At least until Magnus wised up and had a DNA test done. Yet by then she would still be his wife and entitled to all that money he was now making, plus child support until the results came back. "Magnus, please, you have to believe me, I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you, I know I did, I hurt you so bad, baby..."

"You will never call me that again. I'm not your husband. I'm not your baby."

"Okay Magnus, can't you meet me half way here? I'm willing to give this another try if you are. You know how hot and kinky it would be with both our lawyers out there waiting for us as we fuck on this desk? Our bodies intertwined as I make it up to you for everything I did to you," Iona said, feeling her mound quivering at the thought of feeling his tongue back within her cunt. What that woman wrote was true, Magnus never once failed to give her an orgasm with his mouth or multiples with that cock of his, unlike Conner. Who struggled to give her even one, and the times he did was only because she was thinking about how Magnus would do it and how he would make her cunt gush in her orgasmic juices. Yet he showered her with gifts and money so she over looked all that. Still, the thought of being on top of Magnus once again, feeling that cock of his being coating in her juices made her thighs rub together.

"And just like that," snapping his fingers, "all is forgiven?" Magnus asked, he wasn't about to take her back. He just wanted to see how big of a hole she would dig for herself.

"Of course not! I know it will take time for me to earn your trust again. Time that I'm willing to take if you give us another chance."

"Yet you didn't seem to care about our marriage when you were stepping out on me..."

"Like I said Magnus, I was stupid and blinded. I honestly thought I could do better than you, yet now, as I see you sitting there. Looking so... mmm... good, I know that I already had the best thing in the world."

"You mean now that I'm famous, that I'm now worthy of you? Is that what you mean?" Magnus asked, narrowing his eyes.

"What?! No, no, no, you're twisting my words all around," Iona said, shaking her head vehemently. Knowing that she had to be very careful with her words from now on. Especially if she wanted to worm herself back into his life and get her fingers on everything she could. "It's awesome that you finally followed your dream. I know how much you always wanted to make a living with your music," Iona said, laying on the charm. She knew if she could just sway him, just an inch, that would give her a way in. She knew her husband well enough to know just how to get into his head. "What I meant was that I was very stupid in that I would ever risk the best thing in my life..." Her cheeks heated in annoyance as she heard the buzzing of his phone. She definitely didn't like the smile she saw on his lips at whatever was on the screen of his phone. "How about this Magnus," sitting straighter in her seat, "since I know you've slept with that reporter woman..."

"Like you haven't been spreading your legs for that ass?" Magnus shot back. He kept his smirk hidden at how Iona was taken aback by that. Like she thought he didn't know about her months of lining Connor's bed.

"You left Magnus, you tossed me out of our home..."

"And I was what, supposed to keep sharing my bed with a sleazy woman?"

"Hey! I might have done some things but I'm not sleazy!" Iona said, her cheeks heating in her anger.

"And that was months after I left you, you on the other hand didn't wait a day to fall into the arms of your fuck toy."

"And I'm supposed to believe that?! That you haven't been fucking whomever while you were out on the road," Iona said, her anger showed in her eyes. She had honestly thought he had fled with his tail between his legs thinking he was weak due to how he allowed his father to walk all over him. That Magnus was hiding out in a small apartment somewhere pining away for her. However, the moment that woman showed up at her work asking for an interview, which she found odd, she didn't think they would be doing an article on Connor given who the woman worked for. To say she was shocked when she started to ask questions about Magnus was an understatement.

She knew then she had to get back with him. She had to be there soaking up all the fame he was procuring once he had been on the road. Something that she knew was building since she had been stalking the fan page that had popped up for him. How she hated reading about all the female commenters detailing what they would do if they were lucky enough to get a night with him. "Look. I'm willing to overlook all that, I'm even willing to look the other way should you need some relief on the road. I can't ask you to be faithful to me when I wasn't. I just want my husband back. I want to show you how sorry I am for everything."

"No. You don't get to dictate anything anymore. I put up with a lot of your shit when we were married, why? Because at some point in time I did love you," Magnus said, rising from his seat. Knowing her time was up and he wasn't going to sit there and listen to any more of her lies. "You killed any ounce of love I once had for you when I saw you on that table. You only have yourself to blame. I asked time after time for you to stop. To cut down the hours, to be my wife yet that was too much for you. Yet you wouldn't, you never cared enough then to save our marriage and I don't care enough now to do the same. The thought of being touched by you, much less sharing my bed with you, I find repugnant," Magnus said, not caring if his words hurt her. She had torn out his heart and stomped it into the ground. He saw it only fair that Iona felt the same pain.

"But Magnus!" Iona nearly shouted quickly getting to her feet.

"But nothing, you wasted your chance with me. You threw away everything I was willing to do for you. All for what? A sad lay with a mid-forties something lawyer," Magnus said, shaking his head as he walked towards the door. "I do hope it was worth it. Hope it was worth destroying two marriages, and four different lives, all because you weren't happy. You didn't have the courage or the wherewithal to divorce me before you did this. No. You thought you could string me along and I wouldn't fucking notice. How fucking stupid do you take me for?! Did you honestly think this would go your way?" Thrusting open the door, stilling the two lawyers as they spoke in hushed whispers. "This the end of us, this is where I finally get you out of my life and start something that doesn't, and won't, ever involve you." Turning to look at Dan, "Let's finish this," Magnus said, hearing the sobs of his ex-wife behind him.

"Please Magnus, think about this, don't make me sign this. It's not too late," Iona pleaded with teary eyes.

"Sign the damn papers Iona. Don't pretend you're broken up about this," Magnus said, incensed that she was stalling.

"Okay Magnus," Iona sniffed after her lawyer whispered in her ear. "I'm truly sorry that it had to end like this."

"No you're not, you haven't been sorry for a damn thing you've done," Magnus said, quickly signing his own name before pushing the paperwork to his lawyer. Shaking Dan's hand once he nodded that all was in order. "With that I am officially divorced from you. Go live your life, because I honestly don't give a fuck," he said, waving goodbye forever over his shoulder as he walked out.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuuck!" Iona screamed out as she sat in her car. The palms of her hands beating against her steering wheel. Her hair flying about as she vented her anger on the object. "God damnit Magnus! You were supposed to kowtow to me! Now I have to go... back to that man!" Screaming bloody mur*er once again knowing how her life was going to go now that Magnus had tossed her away. She wasn't about to raise this child all alone. So that meant only one thing...

Later that day...

"Hello?" Magnus answered his phone as he sat on his bed. His back resting against the wall of the motel room he had rented. His guitar rested against his chest as he had been practicing the songs for the new album.

"Hey! How did it go?!" Haleema asked, as her voice came over the line.

"Well... I'm not married anymore, so there's that," Magnus said, with a broad smile. "You wouldn't believe what she tried to do."

"Oh?!" Haleema's interest perked as she curled her legs beneath her as she sat on her couch in her apartment in LA. "What did she try to do?"

"She had the nerve to think she could just lie her way back into my life," Magnus said, telling her everything that had went on in that conference room.

"Well... she sounds like a lovely woman," Haleema said, feeling herself growing upset at the thought that this woman could be so crass to think she could have Magnus again. Also pleased that Magnus had seen through it and now was free. Free for her to show him that there were better women out there. "Tell me, did you like being married?"

"Honestly, yeah, I kind of did."

"Maybe... the next time you do it, it will last," Haleema said shyly, her hand gently rubbed her left thigh as her cheeks heated. Her dark brown eyes flickered over to the bags she had packed last night then to the clock. Knowing that she had eleven hours before her flight. While she wanted to fly there immediately and take Magnus into her arms. To finally taste what those lips were like, she thought she would give him a day before she made it known that they were dating.

"One can hope, although the question is: just who the lucky woman will be?" Magnus said, hearing the smile in his voice as he sat his guitar to the side.

"I don't know, maybe," her voice took on a cute, soft tone, "you'll meet this person soon," Haleema said bashfully, as she bit her lip.

"Hmm... I don't know. She has to be awful pretty, and have this sweet voice," Magnus said, hoping that she was getting the hint.

"I see. What else does this woman need to sweep you off your feet?" Haleema asked, feeling her face heating.

"She has to have this flowing ebony hair. These stunning brown eyes, supple soft lips. A smile that could light up the heavens, if they were so inclined in making her a star. These long, smooth, shapely legs that leads one's eye to her... can I say ass?!"

"Yeah, say it," Haleema giggled feeling her heart racing knowing he was speaking about her.

"This tight little ass that makes a man's mouth water at the thought of just biting it."

"Oh, mmm... I hope that there's a woman out there like that," Haleema said, her fingers ran along the silver chain her father had bought for her to hold the locket with her mother's picture. She had told them all about Magnus, minus his difficulties with his now ex-wife. Her father had often teased her about how her little girl had fallen for a southern gentleman. He had often threatened, in that fatherly manner, to fly to whichever city they were in at the time and see what this man's intentions were with his little girl. Haleema wondered if he would like to meet them. She sure hoped he did. She was a very family orientated person; family means everything to her. It was why she took Bobby's death so hard. Even if they were no longer together he was still family to her.

"Again, one can only hope," Magnus said, stretching out on the bed. His hand slowly running up and down his chest as he looked up at the ceiling.

"What motel you staying at anyway?"

"The Sunset motel, room 213, why?" Magnus asked, his eyes darted back and forth. His heart raced, shaking the thought from his mind.

"Just... wondering, is all," Haleema said, in an aloof manner. Feeling her body trembling in her nervousness, wondering if Magnus would be happy to see her when she lands in the morning. "Well... I need to get off of here, got a big dinner at my parent's house in a few hours. Can we talk tomorrow?"

"Okay, have fun, and you know you don't have to ask. I don't mind listening to that voice," Magnus said, wondering if she was blushing and how hard.

"Magnus, if you keep talking like that I might just fall for you," Haleema said, in a low whisper.

"Then I guess I need to step up my game, huh? I must be rusty," Magnus chuckled lightly. Biting his lip as he heard her quick breathing over the line.

"I... have..." Magnus was on cloud nine at the sound of her flustered voice.

"Go. I know. I look forward to tomorrow," Magnus said, his fingers drummed on his chest. A smile reached from ear to ear.

"Only if you knew," Haleema said, staring down at her phone. Bouncing on her couch in her giddiness, biting her nail as her elbow rested on the armrest. Her eyes lustering as she stared off into space. Her hips swayed as she walked towards her bedroom, knowing she was going to have to go to bed if she wanted to be up at three, to shower, get ready, and make her five a.m. flight in the morning. She so didn't want to miss it.

Friday, eleven a.m.....

Magnus had just taken a shower, changed into his nice clean clothes before he went to visit his grandmother. A smile raised the corners of his lips as he thought back to the phone call he had with Haleema yesterday. All through dinner last night he had thought back to it. Wondering if her flirting would lead to somewhere. He sure did hope so. Now that he had finally rid himself of his cheating wife, Magnus was eager to spread his wings again. Turning his head as he heard a knock on the door to his motel room.

"Yes..." His breath stilled in his chest as Haleema stood on the breezeway. Her white and red Westbrook lace Spanish skirt swayed gently in the breeze. Her white linen top allowed her dark caramel colored skin to bleed through. He could barely make out the darker shade of white of her bra through her top. He had wondered how those 32C breasts would feel in his hand. How they would taste on his tongue as it moved along her nipples. How her hands would feel on his skin as she held him close as she allowed him to experience that glorious body of hers. Her two black suitcases sat on either side of her, her red flats matched her skirt. Her ebony hair was down allowing those silky stands to brush along her soft cheeks.

"Hello Magnus," Haleema said softly, her lush lips held a warm smile on them. "Can I...?"

"Of course!" Magnus said, his mind snapping out of its befuddlement. Opening the door, stepping out of the way, his nose wiggled as the flowery scent drifted on the air as she passed. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you not pleased to see me?" Haleema asked, peering over her shoulder as she set her bags on his bed. Softly giggling into her hand at how red his face was getting.

"No, I'm not saying that. You just surprised me is all," Magnus said, as he closed the door. "So... where are you staying?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Haleema replied with a coy smirk.

"H-h-here?!" Magnus stammered.

"Mmmhmm," Haleema nodded. Her fingertips dragged along the surface of her bag as she sashayed to him. Her skin heated as her hands ran up his chest. Her eyes stared into his wondering if he could see the growing love within their depths. Her hair dangled down to her lower back as the two of them stood silently in that room. Biting coyly on her lower lip as she felt his hands on her shapely hips. "You don't have a problem with that do you?"

"Nope. Not one bit," Magnus said, feeling the heat of her body pressing in on his as they stood only a hairsbreadth between them.

"Good. You should always share your bed with your girlfriend," Haleema said, her hands ran up his neck. Her fingers weaving through strands of his hair as her lips inched closer to his. Her heart hammered in her ears as his arms slowly encircled her body. The moment their lips touched it felt like a bolt of lightning raced up her spine as that passionate kiss lingered.

"So... girlfriend, huh?" Magnus muttered once Haleema had pulled away.

"Mmmhmm. Don't pretend you haven't been checking me out all sly-like," Haleema said, with a twinkle in her eye and a devilish smirk on her lips.

"Can you blame me? You are a beautiful woman, I'd have to be gay or dead not to," Magnus said, holding her close as her arms slipped around his neck.

"Oh, go on," Haleema cooed enjoying hearing that he found her beautiful. Her cheeks heating to a darker shade of red as Magnus rattled off a whole list of items he found enticing about her. She couldn't hold back attacking his lips. Her tongue rolling in his mouth. Loving the taste of his warmth upon it. For some odd reason it just felt right to her. That never happened to her before. Sure, she's been attracted to a number of men, yet with Magnus it just felt... different. Haleema was eager to find out why. "So... are we going to stand here all day, not that I would mind that," Haleema said, bashfully.

"Well, I was about to head to the hospital to see my grandmother when you showed up," Magnus stated.

"Oh?! Then let's go!" Haleema said, taking hold of his hands.

"She... does want to meet you," Magnus said, feeling a frog in his throat.

"I'd love to meet her. As I want you to meet my parents," Haleema said, leading him down the breezeway as the sound of the door closed behind them.

Magnus felt a lightness in his step as his eyes followed how those stands of hair were lifted in the air. The way her eyes sparkled as she peered back at him. To the smile she flashed him as she held his hand leading him down that concrete walkway. The way her ass swayed as she held onto him like a kite fearing that he would float away in the breeze. Magnus was determined that, that lovely smile of hers would always touch her face.

"Magnus what are you doing?" Haleema asked, as he popped the trunk of the car. Tilting her head to the side as he pulled out his guitar case.

"Well... since I can't come play for her at sunset I have to do it now," Magnus said, matter-of-factly.

"You play for her?!"

"Mmmhmm," Magnus nodded. "Ever since grandpa died I've taken up the habit of playing for her at sunset like he would always do for her. That was the case until I moved away."

"That's so sweet," Haleema sighed lovingly, as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her right arm looped around his left as they walked towards the entrance of the hospital.

Mary Lou was once again working the front desk. Looking up, her eyes took on a joyful nature to them as she saw her dear friend, the smile that appeared mirrored her glee. Then her eyes slyly glanced at the woman on his arm. She wondered who it could be. She had to be no older than he was or a year younger. Still, it was good to see that smile on his lips.

"Hello Magnus," Mary Lou said, rising from her seat. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were stalking me."

"Well, if you'd gave me the recipe for those cookies, I wouldn't have to camp out in your backyard," Magnus joked hugging his best friend the best he could from over the desk.

"Magnus?!" Haleema said, feeling her jealousy rising.

"Right. Introductions. Mary Lou, Haleema, Haleema, Mary Lou."

"Oh, so you're the Haleema that Magnus here spoke so highly of," Mary Lou said, flashing Haleema a friendly smile. "Knowing Magnus, he hasn't told you about me. We used to be as thick as thieves, he and I, before I went off to college. If you ever want all the juicy dirt on him, you come to me, as his childhood friend and best friend I know where he keeps all his skeletons," she said, holding out her hand to her. Mary Lou could see the relief on the woman's face. "Trust me, there was a time that I might have wanted to date him, but those days are long gone. But if you hurt my friend..."

"Trust me, after what he's been through. I wouldn't dream of it," Haleema said, glad that Magnus had someone to fight for him. "We must have coffee some time, I would definitely love to hear everything about how raucous he was when he was a kid."

"Now, now, you shouldn't ask questions you don't want answers too," Magnus said, turning up his nose.

"Don't listen him, I'd love to sit down and shoot the breeze with you. You are coming to dinner with us tomorrow night, right?"

"I just arrived, but I would have thought he would have told me along the way," Haleema said, playfully poking him in the ribs.

"What?! You got a way of making a man's mind go blank," Magnus said, bashfully.

"My, I haven't seen that look in years," Mary Lou giggled. "It's good to see it again. I should warn you your parents are visiting," she said, gently laying her hand on his right arm.

"Bound to happen," Magnus said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You still not talking to them?" Haleema asked, watching how he shook his hand silently telling her 'So-so'. She knew if this went the long run, then she wanted them to know about any children that came to be. She would just have to see if she could slowly help heal the wound. Any faster would only show that she was trying to manipulate him, and she didn't want him thinking she was anything like Iona. "It was a pleasure meeting you, I look forward to tomorrow night," Haleema said, smiling warmly at Mary Lou.

"I'm just going to have to keep Scott's tongue from wagging," Mary Lou chuckled. "That's my husband by the way."

"Yeah, Mary Lou here lucked out and married the high school football star. Why I will never know. I think she lost a bet," Magnus teased his friend as she slapped his arm. "What happened to your hand?" he asked, noticing the abrasions on the knuckles of her left hand.​