Borrowing of Darkness Read online

CHAPTER 4

  SHAME ON YOU

  “Where are you going?” Ian asked as he saw Jo getting ready to leave.

  “To the café. I’ve been leaving Anna in charge a lot lately and I think that I should at least stop by to check on things.”

  Ian admired Jo and then reached from the bed for her hand and pulled her down into his arms.

  “So you’re not just trying to get away from me?” He asked.

  “Are you kidding? I can’t stand leaving you, maybe you should come with me.”

  “Actually I have a few things to take care of around here,” he paused for a second then said, “If I ask you something will you give me an honest answer?”

   “Of course I will,” Jo turned onto her stomach and folded her hands on Ian’s chest; she laid her chin on them and looked him in the eyes.

   “You know my brother; you’ve met him before right?”

   “Marcus? Yes I’ve met him and Isabella; they’ve come to the café loads of times. Why do you ask?”

   “What do you think of him?”

   “Honestly?”

   “Yes honestly.”

  Jo considered Ian’s brother for a minute, “Well, Marcus is very sweet, he’s kind and romantic, caring and handsome,” she noticed that Ian was pouting. “He has a lot of great qualities.”

  “And what do you think about Isabella and the two of them together?”

  “I think they’re great together, they seem to be very much in love. I also think that Isabella is a very sweet girl, there’s just one thing I can’t figure out about her.”

   “Really, what would that be?”

  “It puzzles me, although Marcus is a great guy and all, I don’t understand how she manages to keep her hands off of you.”

  “What?”

  “I mean, how does she spend so much time around you and not want you as much as I do.”

  “She’s not very fond of me,” Ian scowled.

  “I don’t see why not, you’re every bit as great as Marcus.”

  “I hardly think I would qualify as sweet or kind or romantic.”

  “Well I beg to differ.”

  “Many people would disagree with you.”

  “Now who’s the one not giving themselves enough credit?” Jo sat up and gave Ian the mothering eyes, which she so often used on Clair. “Now you listen to me Ian Marcellus. You are the sweetest, kindest most romantic man I have ever met and I don’t ever want you to think otherwise!”

  Ian played with Jo’s hair. She leaned over and kissed him then got out of bed.

   “Do you have plans for tonight?” He asked her.

   “Nothing out of the ordinary,” she looked at him slyly, “why?”

  “I need a date.”

  “A date?” Jo asked surprised.

  “Isabella is having a birthday party for her sister. Everyone’s going to be there and Marcus keeps harassing me to go. I would be honored if you would join me.”

  “I would love nothing more than to be your date. What time is the party?” She smiled, noticing his relief.

  “Seven thirty. I can pick you up around seven.”

  “Actually, can I meet you there?”

  “Why?” Ian said looking puzzled.

  “Because if I have a date with Ian Marcellus I’m going to need some time to make myself presentable.”

  “You could come in your pajamas and still be the most beautiful woman there,” Ian told her as he got out of bed and pulled on his pants.

  “Be careful you almost sound romantic,” Jo teased.

  Ian was in the kitchen when Marcus came in with Isabella.

  “Hey Ian, I haven’t seen much of you these last few weeks.” Marcus looked happy to see his brother.

  “I’ve been busy,” he said, noticing Isabella scrutinizing him.

  “You seem different,” Isabella said staring at him sideways.

  “I haven’t changed in a over a hundred years Isabella, you know that.”

  “Hmm funny,” she said sarcastically, “you know what I mean.”

  Ian walked by her without responding and sat on the couch.

  “We picked up a movie do you want to watch it with us?” Marcus asked hopefully.

  “Sure, what the hell,” Ian agreed, “if you tell your girlfriend to stop staring at me.”

  Marcus gave Isabella a ‘what the hell are you doing?’ look and she pouted but lowered her gaze.

   “So,” began Marcus, “have you given any more thought about the party tonight?”

  “Not really,” said Ian, wanting to keep his brother in suspense just a little longer.

  “Come on Ian, you really should get out and mingle. Isabella has a friend…”

  “Oh no, don’t you dare! If you try and set me up with some wacky friend of Isabella’s I will be sure not to come.”

  Isabella opened her mouth to say something but Marcus shot her a warning look.

  “Will you stop tiptoeing around me Marcus? I’m really tired of you treating me like I’m going to explode if you say something wrong or if you look at me the wrong way like Miss Judgmental over here,” Ian said shooting a sideways glare at Isabella.

  “I’m sorry. I just want to see you have a little fun that’s all. I thought this party would be good for you.” Marcus looked so disappointed and Ian couldn’t stand making his brother feel bad.

  “Oh alright Marcus, I’ll go to the party but don’t you dare try and set me up. Now are we going to watch the movie or not?”

  Ian couldn’t help but admire the smile on Marcus’ face. He knew that his brother just wanted him to be happy and he loved him for it. But sometimes his brother’s persistence got on his nerves. Maybe once Marcus saw him with Jo he would lay off a bit. He knew that Isabella would be her normal questioning self but he really didn’t care what either of them thought.

   Marcus and Isabella cuddled up on the couch across from Ian, and he got comfortable in his own seat, and they sat in silence watching the movie. At one point Ian could tell that Jo must have had a few minutes to herself in the office because he felt her lips on him and her hands all over his body. He smiled contently to himself. He couldn’t wait to see Jo tonight; he hated to be apart from her. He once again felt her lips on him and his smile widened. He noticed Isabella’s questioning glare, then Marcus’.

  “The movie’s over Ian, “Isabella said.

  “Huh? Oh I’m going to go take a shower.” Ian stood and headed up the stairs without looking back at the two sets of curious eyes.

  “I swear he gets stranger everyday,” Isabella said turning to Marcus.

  “At least he was smiling.”

  “Yeah, but why?” Isabella asked wrinkling her forehead.

  Once Ian was ready he met Marcus and Isabella downstairs. He had put on a pair of dark jeans and a black button down dress shirt, which made his eyes stand out remarkably. Marcus insisted that Ian ride with them and since Jo was meeting him at the party, he didn’t argue. When they arrived, Isabella went to speak to the DJ while Marcus and Ian went to the bar and got themselves drinks. Marcus didn’t comment when he noticed that Ian did not have a second. Isabella joined them and Ian could tell she was trying hard to be nice to him, he figured she must have gotten one of Marcus’ famous lectures.

  Within a few minutes the club was full of people. The music played in the background and lively conversation was all around them. Isabella’s sister Patricia stood at the bar talking their ears off. Isabella may have been annoying but she was nothing compared to her energetic younger sister. Patricia talked non-stop and didn’t even seem to breathe between sentences. Ian got dizzy listening to her and when he opened his mouth to tell her just how much she was getting on his nerves, Isabella shot him a venomous look and he decided on saying nothing.

   Patricia stopped mid sentence as she looked towards the door. “Who’s that? I don’t think I know her.”

  “Isn’t that Jo Montgomery?” asked Isabella just as Ian was turning to face the door
.

  Ian couldn’t believe his eyes, he thought that Jo was stunning no matter what, but she looked so gorgeous it was beyond words. Her hair was piled loosely on her head with loose strands trailing down her face and neck. She wore a navy dress that hit just above the knee with a slit up the right side and the neckline plunged enough to tease but not enough to reveal any secrets. She had a pair of matching navy heels that buckled around her ankles and lengthened her beautiful legs. Ian felt a jealous twinge as he saw the open jaws of just about every man in the room.

  “I didn’t even recognize her,” Marcus said slightly dumbfounded.

  “Oh for heaven’s sake, close your mouth,” Isabella said shooting Marcus a reproachful look.

  “I think she’s looking for someone,” said Patricia

  “Who invited her?” Isabella asked.

   “That would be me,” said Ian, as he pushed passed them and made his was over to Jo.

  The three of them just stared after him.

   “Ian and Jo Montgomery? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Isabella exclaimed. “I didn’t even know they knew each other.

  Jo met Ian half way across the room. She almost ran in her excitement and had to talk herself into keeping calm. Jo reminded herself that although she and Ian had been seeing each other for over two months, this was the first time that they would be together in public. When she reached him, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. His lips lingered on hers for a few seconds and then moved to her ear.

  “You’re causing quite a stir.”

  “I think we’re causing quite a stir,” Jo said looking around at all the inquiring faces.

  He offered her his arm and led her to a table. As he pulled out her chair she gave a sly smile.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Ian said, taking note of Jo’s grin.

  “I am not thinking that you’re being sweet and romantic, if that’s what you mean.”

  Ian knew full well that Marcus and Isabella were goggling at them from the bar. He tried to ignore them. He wanted some more time before he was forced to give them the details of his relationship with Jo.

  The two of them sat uninterrupted talking and gazing at each other for close to an hour. Jo’s insides wriggled. She knew how she felt whenever she was near Ian and she had been wondering how she would be able to control herself in public. Even though they were in club full of people, to them it was as if they were the only ones in the room. Ian took her hand from across the table and kissed it softly, this sent shivers down Jo’s spine.

  “Would you care to dance?”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Jo whispered as she leaned closer to him.

  “Why not? Don’t tell me you can’t dance.”

  “It’s not that, it’s just…”

  “Oh come on,” Ian said standing and holding his hand out to her, “you don’t want to disappoint our audience do you?”

  Jo stood and suddenly felt self-conscious. She took Ian’s hand and followed him out to the dance floor. He spun her around then caught her around the waist in his arms. He held her so close that she could feel his warm breath on her neck and smell the scent of his skin. Her body trembled.

  “You’re not cold are you?” Ian asked.

  “No, it’s just hard for me to be so close to you.”

  “Am I that hideous that you can’t stand to be near me?” Ian teased.

  “Ian, it’s not funny, being this close to you is agony.”

  Ian chuckled and nibbled playfully on her ear as they swayed in unison.

  “Maybe I should even the playing field a bit,” Jo said slyly.

  “And how, may I ask, do you intend to do that?”

   Jo gave him her most devious smile. Then she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. As their bodies rocked back and forth to the music Jo let her mind wonder. She unbuttoned Ian’s shirt and slid it off of his shoulders, biting him playfully. When she felt the Ian in her arms stiffen slightly she smiled to herself and continued her daydream. She was undoing the button on his jeans. He reached up to undo the clasp in her hair and it fell teasingly down over her shoulders. She slipped off her dress and let it fall to the floor. Her hands returned to his pants and she began to slide them over his hips.

  “Alright, alright, point taken. Let’s go!” Ian said exasperated.

  “I just need to use the ladies room before we leave,” Jo said smiling in triumph and turning to get her purse.

  Ian pulled her back and kissed her. “Don’t take too long.”

   “I’ll hurry, I promise.”

  When Jo came out of the ladies room Marcus and Isabella were standing close by.

  “Hi Jo,” chimed Isabella, “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

  “Ian invited me, I hope that’s alright.” Jo knew Ian could hear their conversation and she saw him glaring in their direction. She tried to send him a vision to stay where he was; Isabella did not intimidate her. He didn’t move but stared intently at them from across the room.

  Marcus spoke up, “Of course it’s alright, we just didn’t realize that Ian had asked any one to come.”

  “Are you disappointed that he did?”

  “No not at all,” piped up Isabella, “it’s just that Ian…”

  “Ian what?” Jo asked glaring at Isabella.

  “Ian is not exactly the kind of guy you take home to your mother, you know what I mean?”

  “Well I guess since my mother’s dead, it won’t be a problem.”

  Marcus interjected, “Isabella just means that Ian doesn’t usually have very long relationships.”

  “Well Ian and I have been seeing each other for months now so that doesn’t really concern me either.”

  Marcus and Isabella both stared at her as if they hadn’t heard her properly. Jo could see Ian fidgeting from the corner of her eye and tried to relay to him that she didn’t want him to come and interrupt.

   “Months?” Asked Marcus, cocking his head. Jo did not miss the subtle glance that he directed at her neck.

  Isabella looked as if she were trying to figure out if Jo had been making everything up or not. “Do you expect us to believe that you have been seeing Ian…Ian Marcellus, for months?”

  “You’re free to believe whatever you like, but yes, Ian…Ian Marcellus and I have been seeing each other for over two months now.” Jo saw Ian smile and his body relaxed. He leaned against the wall and waited patiently.

   “With all due respect Jo, Ian is not…well he…” Marcus stammered over his words.

  Jo interrupted him, “With all due respect Marcus, I know exactly what Ian is and what you are for that matter, and no he hasn’t bitten me any more than you have bitten Isabella. Shame on you Marcus! Aren’t you the one that has been harping on Ian, wanting him to be happy and now that he is, you’re not. Shame on both of you for not thinking that Ian can be just as loving as either of you, not thinking him capable of caring for someone other than himself and for cornering me at your sister’s party to discourage me from seeing him. Shame on you for not thinking he deserves the happiness that the two of you have.” She shot each of them an outraged look. “Shame on both of you! Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve kept Ian waiting long enough!” and with that she pushed passed them and made her way over to Ian.

  “Now you’ve really turned me on,” Ian whispered in her ear.

  Marcus and Isabella stared after her, “Over two months?” Marcus questioned.

  “That’s what she said.”

  “And he hasn’t bitten her?”

  “Apparently not,” Isabella replied.

  “What’s going on with him?”

  “That’s a good question.”

  “He does seem happy though, doesn’t he?” Marcus smiled a little.

  “Yeah he does.”

   “She’s right you know?”

  “About what?” Isabella was still staring at the door.

  “Everything really. I have been
on his case for years telling him to slow down and begging him to find someone who’ll make him happy. And I’ve noticed how happy he’s been lately, but I didn’t know why. I never thought…I guess he just needed to find the right person,” Marcus turned to Isabella, “and if she makes him as happy as you make me then she’s right, shame on us. He deserves it more than anyone.”