They sat there for long while, not speaking, luxuriating in the warmth of skin on skin.
The early morning chill could claim little credit for Jennys hardened nipples as Marina parted her hair and kissed deeply her on the neck..So, Jenny, have you had ***** on the beach before? Marina asked huskily as she reached inside Jennys sweatshirt to cup her breast. Jenny could only moan in response.

Jenny giggled as she remembered how she had to avoid undressing in front of Tim for next few days and make sure that they only made love in the dark. Marina had marked her. Marinas love-making had taken a feral turn that morning on the beach. Sniffing her, licking her, biting her. The specter of Tim still hung between them and Marina seemed almost desperate to dispel any notion of him. It was as if Marina wanted Jenny to have a physical reminder of their love-making before she returned to Tim. Closing her eyes, Jenny gently stroked her skin at the parts where Marina had marked her, growing moist between her legs at this recollection.

It was sheer heaven – her and Marina, Jenny thought. Even when she was sneaking around behind Tims back. And when Tim had thrown her out, when she had sought Marinas help, Jenny started to harbor thoughts of starting a new life with Marina – now that she was free to love Marina without reservation, without the guilt of hurting Tim hanging over her.

But it all came crashing down when Marina said: But Francescas coming back tomorrow..then a primal rage enflamed her.No, no, no.Marinas my demon and I have to cast her out! I have to tear her out of my consciousness!, she wailed.and she did it the only way she knew how.by writing.snatching some paper, she being scratching away furiously as the venom gushed out .every spiteful remark, every insult she could draw out of her writers bag, she threw at Marina.but at times, her eloquence failed her and she would fall back on ***** you Marina! ***** you for ***** up my life!

This exorcism of Marina on paper drained her and it wasnt long till she settled her head on the desk and sleep claimed her.But even then, her sleep brought anything but peace.
She dreamt.and in her dream, she was standing over funeral pyre and she emptied every thought, every sensation she had of Marina into it.
With a torch in hand, Jenny stepped forward set the pyre ablaze. It burned with a white intense heat, the flames leaping out and singeing Jennys fringe. Yet Jenny was paralyzed, fixed to the ground as wave after wave of emotions washed over her. Just as quickly as it ignited, the flames died down and evaporated into a column of smoke.
Theredone! Jenny thought..She had finally exorcised the demon that was Marina – wrenched
it from her soul. As she stared at the ashes of their love, she tried to make sense of what she was feeling – victorious? …peaceful? relieved? …EMPTY?…
Jenny looked around at the people standing around her in a circle around the pyre – Alice, Shane, Tim, Bette, Dana, Kit, Annette and even Francesca but they stared back at her with vacant looks. Only Nick was shaking his head and although no words escaped his lips, Jenny could read his mind, as he quoted Nietzsche, Be careful in casting out your devil lest you cast out the best thing about you.

Jenny awoke with a jerk, perspiration streaming down her face, Oh *****, what have I done? she said aloud as she flew out the door.