Marlene starts to realize what Abel was asking, and gets up from her bed to look at herself in the mirror.

“Two years ago.” She starts. “I went to an appointment at my job to see my blood work. I asked the doctor, who was a friend of my mother’s, what type of blood did I have. He said there were unknown factors in my blood that couldn’t be determined. He saw it within my mother as well. It’s in all my sisters, too. It’s not a defect or anything bad, that I know, and it has a few perks.”

“Back at our date, you did bring up your mother.” He explains. “What happened to her?”

“She disappeared. We never knew where she went…We all came home from school one day. She wasn’t home. Her things were gone. It was as if she vanished, but the only thing left was a letter saying she loved us, she had to stay somewhere for a while, and we would see her again.”

Tears started to roll down Marlene’s face. “Her name was—”

“Natalina.”

Marlene turns around and looks to Abel curiously surprised.

“How… how do you know her name?” She asks.

Abel stands and walks toward Marlene, holding her hands.

“She used to work at a facility when I was a boy; I lived there.” He explains. “I was four years old when I first met her, and she treated me like I was her own. My birth parents died when I was an infant, I stayed at the facility with other children. I remember her telling me she was going to be a mother to twins. It’s amazing to know she was pregnant with you.”

He begins to touch Marlene face, caressing her cheek as he looks into her eyes.

“Her eyes changed color depending on her mood; and they glowed. Determined, disciplined, motherly. That’s what I saw from her eyes.”

His eyes glow behind his shades as he expressed this treasured memory.

“You remind me of that side of her. When I first saw you at Ophelia’s, you looked familiar; you look exactly like her. Even when I was a child, I remember seeing you as an infant, you had a beautiful smile, and still do.”

Marlene blushes at his compliment, then has the strong urge to take Abel’s sunglasses off. When she reaches for them, Abel did not object to her taking them off. She takes them off his face and places them on her dresser.

“You don’t have to be afraid to show me your eyes. You can show me.” Marlene speaks in a sweet voice.

She touches his face, caressing his cheek as both of their eyes glow in sync with each other as if they were resonating; the temperature now rising between them.

‘This is it. This is the night we seal the deal.’ His inner voice speaks happily. ‘Make this the night you both won’t forget. Make every moment count, Abel.’

Abel was close to closing the gap between their lips, until knocking was heard on Marlene’s door. Marlene and Abel felt annoyed by the interruption, so Marlene goes to her door and opens it slightly to see Nikita at the door.

“Hey, Mar. It’s Nikita.” She speaks. “Can we talk?”

“What’s the matter?” Marlene asks.

As Marlene and Nikita were talking, Abel feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. He goes inside of Marlene’s closet and finds out it is Erika calling. He sighs with annoyance and answers.

“What is it, Erika?” He asks whisperingly.

“Hello to you too, Abel.” Erika greets sarcastically. “I just wanted you to know the board from the 7^th updated that they’ll give us the confirmation on the 20^th.”

“Good.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. And if you want to on the 17th, we can have a recap of the other night?”

“That’s if I really feel like it, don’t push it, Erika. Goodbye.”

He then hangs up the phone and gets out of Marlene’s closet, hearing the twins still talking.

.   .   .

“So, are we still taking Marcus to the rehab center?” Nikita asks Marlene.

“Yes, we are. I haven’t changed my mind.” Marlene replies. “We don’t want him to do any more harm than he’s already done, especially with Ilena and Dina. Bullying them because they don’t know how to use their gifts yet is so damn low of him.”

“You’re right about that. Also, we’ve should’ve done that a long time ago. Mama would’ve done the same.”

As they continued talking, Abel trips over something which Nikita hears. Nikita looks at Marlene with a grin on her face.

“Is there a certain somebody in there?” Nikita asks.

Knowing she could not hide anything from her twin sister, Marlene opens her door to reveal Abel. Nikita grins at Abel.

“Well, how nice to see you again, Abel.” She greets.

“Nice to see you too, Nikita.” He greets back.

“Well, I won’t bother you both anymore tonight. I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Marlene.”

As Nikita leaves, Marlene closes her door and turns to face her window and sees it is still pouring outside, then looks to Abel looking out the window as well.

“I guess I’ll be staying here for a while.” Abel comments.

“Yeah…” Marlene replies. “Well, I don’t know where you’ll sleep in here, but I have some clean blankets.”

As she opens one of her drawers to take out a blanket, Abel asks.

“Can’t I sleep with you?”

Marlene blushes and feels uneasy with Abel’s suggestion, he chuckles at her expression.

“I won’t do anything wrong. You have my word.” He reassures. her looking her in the eyes.

Knowing he was telling the truth, she nods and decides to get comfortable in her queen-sized bed, wrapping herself in the sheets. Marlene sees Abel taking off his damp shirt, and his boots. Marlene was amazed when she sees Abel’s fit and muscular chest and abs.

‘I… I am not ready for this… What if… one thing leads to another?’ Marlene thinks frantically.

Abel sees the look on her face and chuckles.

“You’re thinking too much into it again.” He speaks.

He walks over to Marlene’s bed and lays in a free spot next to Marlene, looking at her.

“Just relax, Marlene. I said I won’t do anything… Unless you want me to.”

Hearing this made Marlene quiver, Abel smiles at her reaction and looks to the ceiling with Marlene. In the minutes of silence, Marlene slowly turns to look at Abel who was still staring at the ceiling with a calm face. Without Marlene noticing, Abel decides to hold Marlene’s hand. Marlene was quietly shocked as he did. He then turns to see Marlene’s face. He had the sudden urge to come close to her; so, did she. They then close the gap between them as they kissed.

Abel begins to immediately have the thought of making the first move, so did Marlene. To Abel’s surprise, Marlene slowly climbs on top of him as they were kissing. Her fingers make their way to his shoulder and his chest and Abel catches a glimpse of Marlene’s gaze, seeing the lust inside of her.

“So…” He speaks. “You had this persona hiding inside of you?”

Marlene chose not to answer Abel and starts kissing the nape of his neck. As she does, Abel decides to hold Marlene close, feeling the curve of her back all the way to feeling on her backside. He decides to pull up her nightgown to touch the shape of her backside and touching the silk panties Marlene was wearing. Once Abel grabbed a handful of Marlene’s rear, she lets out a moan. Feeling this pleasure, she sits atop of Abel and attempts to unbuckle Abel’s belt, even feeling the bulge in his pants, making him breathe out with pleasure. But in that moment, they both realized what they were about to do. Marlene moves her hands away from Abel’s belt while Abel moves his hands away from her hips. They look to each other, their eyes glowing with shock on their faces still in their positions.

“I guess… I missed you pretty bad… I’m so sorry.” Marlene speaks embarrassed.

Abel chuckles and caresses her cheek.

“So, I see.” He replies. “There’s no need to apologize. I’ll admit, I’ve missed you as well. I take it you’re not ready for… what was about to happen?”

Marlene slightly shakes her head. “No.”

“But you feel it calling. Don’t you?”

Marlene nods in response.

“Down the line,” Abel continues. “We’ll reach that part in a different time and in a much… soothing and comfortable setting. Is that okay for you?”

“Sure…” Marlene replies smiling. “It’s late. I have to work tomorrow. I’m pretty sure you’re going to be busy as well.”

“Yes.”

Marlene gets off Abel and lays next to him to face him. She lays her head on Abel’s shoulder while Abel holds her close.

“Goodnight, Abel…”

“Goodnight, Marlene.”

The two go to sleep cuddling together as it rained throughout the night.