The History He Didn’t Know A Quiet Pressure Short

By J.E. Nickerson

“People hide the parts of themselves they aren’t ready to show. By the time we discover them, we’ve already decided those parts don’t belong to the version of them we’re comfortable believing.”

Marcus stared at her, his hand resting on the letter on the table. 

“I can’t tell you what you’re asking. Esther said. Her voice did not rise. 

“You told me you wanted us last night,” Marcus said, his eyes moved to the window behind her, as if he expected someone to step into view. 

“That was… I didn’t mean we could…” Esther paused. “I’m married. This isn’t…”

Marcus stepped forward. “So I’m good enough for you to pick up at a bar and screw but that’s all.”

The words hung between them. 

Esther shifted her gaze from Marcus’ eyes to the table behind him. 

“I didn’t tell you everything. There are things that you don’t…” she paused, struggling to put the last five years’ of experiences into something she had never fully named. “My husband is very possessive. He wanted a certain life. A certain image. I didn’t know that when we met.”

Marcus moved toward her. He paused when he entered her space. 

“I don’t care about him. You’re a different person than you are with him. You told me that. 

Marcus leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. Her perfume filled his nose, the scent of lavender and vanilla. 

Esther’s hands came up to touch his neck. She pressed her forehead against his chest. 

“We can’t…” she whispered. 

Marcus gently tilted her head up, forcing her gaze on his. He gently pressed a kiss to her mouth. 

She did not pull away. 

When Esther looked into his eyes, the hunger there made her pulse tick up. 

“I want…” her words were cut off as Marcus captured her lips again, his tongue pressed against her teeth until she opened her mouth fully. 

Marcus gently guided Esther back toward the bed. The mattress, dipping under their weight.

“You don’t know… everything about me.” Esther said as her hands came up to cradle Marcus’ face. 

“Then tell me,” Marcus paused as his lips traced the delicate line of her jaw. “Tell me everything.”