"Swept away" written by VeGirl 2014 © All Rights Reserved

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That next morning they took the early train to the airport; from where they flew business class to Paris and checked into a luxurious hotel room.

Everything happened so fast that Isa could barely keep up. "This is not my usual life-style, you know..."

Morgan just smiled. "It should be."

With this gorgeous, sexy man by her side, how could she ever complain; even if there were fans following them around and screaming while paparazzi did everything to get the perfect picture of them.

Packing her suitcase had gone fairly quick the night before. The only hard thing had been to concentrate with Morgan lying on the bed with his hands behind his neck, watching her every move.

Isa had complained a bit that she had no fancy dress to wear, but Morgan told her that he intended to take her shopping for something to wear as soon as they got to Paris. So when they had checked in at the hotel, they got out on town to find some clothes. He sought the exclusive shops and Isa really felt like an elephant in a porcelainstore. They went into stores she would never even consider going in to, but Morgan was comfortable in that situation and the staff was really nice and forthcoming. Isa had to work hard to pretend that she belonged.

They found a short sleeveless dress that both Morgan and Isa liked; the color was a mix of blue nuances which enhanced the color of her eyes. The salesgirl measured her and told them it would be delivered to their hotel during the afternoon, when it was sewn according to her measures. Never in her life had she ever bought anything tailor-made like this.

They barely made it out of the store before they were being followed by people with cameras, and they were not discrete about it at all; in their faces, shooting flashes. It was way worse than when they were followed in New York.

When Isa and Morgan got back to the hotel, Eric and Lauren, Mary and Jacob had just arrived from Greenville and were about to check in. They were glad to see Morgan and Isa and that went the other way around as well.

They hugged each other, curious how the new couple were doing. Morgan slid his arms around Isa's waist and told them they were doing just fine. Lauren gave Isa a smile as to prove her point from that day of the convention and got a smile in return.

When the others had checked in, they all had a late lunch at the hotel together. They shared some news about work and Morgan and Eric spoke about the interview they did in Denmark.

"They were actually very respectful," Eric claimed.

"Didn't you expect that?" Lauren snickered.

"Sure, but... Sometimes they can be really in your face..." he shrugged and his coworker knew what he meant.

Isa mostly sat there, watching Morgan relate to his friends and co-workers, trying to focus with him so close and with his hand constantly searching for hers.

They would be going to the evening's event together, but had a few hours on their own before that.

The city of love, had no allure against the man beside her, Isa thought.

She wondered if she would ever get tired of gazing into those dark eyes of his? They were so dark she had wondered if they were actually black, or if that was a camera-trick.

He slid his arms around her while she looked into those dark pools of mystery. "Hello gorgeous." There was a wicked glitter in those eyes. "How do you want to spend these next hours?" His voice held so much promise that she bit her lower lip in anticipation.

"I have an idea," Isa smiled. All alone in a hotel room with no parents or roommates nearby to eavesdrop. She definitely wanted to seize the moment.

After the time they had spent together, Isa was still awe-struck by this man. Not because he was some hot-shot, but because he was truly beautiful from the inside. She hadn't known him for long, but the time they had known each other had been intense, and they did their best to see beyond the surface. Even if it was hard to see beyond that glorious face.

~ ~ ~

Isa walked out from the shower a couple of hours later, wrapped in a luxurius towel.

"It's a red carpet thing, so I'm glad we found that new dress for you," Morgan said as he walked past her on his way to the shower.

She spun around. "Red carpet?" Her eyes were suddenly huge.

Morgan looked a bit surprised at her. "Yes, is that a problem?"

She felt a little embarrassed. "No, I'm sorry. I've just never been to anything like that."

He walked up to her. "I have, and I promise to take care of everything." He kissed her and went to the shower.

Alone in the room, Isa allowed herself to dwell in brooding for a while. How would she ever get through an event like this, she thought. This was not her life how alluring it ever felt.

With nervous fluttering in her stomach, she put extra effort into the hair and makeup, and when Morgan complained that it took time; she simply said his makeup usually took longer.

He just laughed.

From the moment they got out of their limo, there were photo-flashes enlightening their way much worse than the convention in Greenville. Isa froze momentarily, but remembered to glue a smile on her face.

Her biggest fear was to embarrass Morgan, she realized where she stood, and that eased all other fears. Then and there she decided to really enjoy herself. She would not fall or say something dumb.

Isa was surprised over how many people were walking back and forth on that red carpet. Here were a lot of celebrities being interviewed, but also staff, ushering people around, agents and assistants, she realized. And of course security.

Morgan kept his promise to stand by her side, with his arm around her, or holding her hand during this entire ordeal. Isa did her best to smile and pretend that this was her every days work.

Surprised she found that there were a lot of curious questions about her.

"So is this the end of the rumors of your and Amanda's relationship?" Several of the journalists asked and Isa watched Morgan with a curious expression on her face as he answered that there had been no relationship other that friendly. She felt him intertwine his fingers with hers and just smiled. At this point she was really glad that he had told her the truth in the matter or it had been hard to hide her jealous side.

Even though it was a fairly short walk, it took a long time to pass all the photographers and journalists, who tried to get their attention and Isa did her best to smile and look interested at the particular journalist Morgan was talking to at the moment, and not what was going on around them.

"Who are you wearing?" was a question Isa heard a lot of times and Morgan gladly let told them that he was wearing a John Varvatos suit and then he held her hand to show off her in the beautiful dress from Carlos Mieles collection.

She smiled and turned where that was required. They kept asking who Isa was and Morgan kept avoiding the question.

"I don't want paparazzi outside your house," he explained whispering to her when he noted the question reflecting in her eyes. Isa hadn't even imagined that. They smiled intimate to each other and the photographers loved it.

When they got inside the door they were met by waiters, offering glasses and they mingled while sipping champagne. Isa realized fairly quickly that she was not free from the press just because she had made it through the door. Inside were a whole new set of photographers asking them to pose for photos.

She was so glad to have the others from the cast there. Lauren came and gave her a cheek-hug. "Girl I was watching you out there; you're a natural!" she exclaimed discretely.

Isa looked surprised at her. "Me; I was a wreck. I was so glad to have Morgan and hold on to, or else I have no idea what could have happened," she hissed at her.

At dinner, the six of them were placed by the same round table and they had a blast together. Joyous discussons and laughter filled the room. Nobody seemed to think it was strange that Isa was here with Morgan, even if she had been hanging onto Roberts arm earlier. That made her wonder a little about how things usually happened in this exclusive type of society.

The food was fantastic and the company was amazing as always. After a while Isa totally forgot that she had been nervous and uncomfortable outside.

When they were half trough the main course, Morgan leaned closer to her. "I keep thinking about the naughty song on the radio in Wilma's car," he whispered and Isa exhaled sharply, almost choking on the wine. That brought out a different agitation.

He laughed darkly.

There were a lot of famous people in this establishment and Isa felt starstruck again, but the conversation around their table was interesting enough to ignore all other.

Morgan was delighted.

Before the dessert, a man and a woman presented the awards for the writers and producers of fantasy-shows like 'Possibilities' that had been invited. Isa felt very proud to be there and celebrate Mary and Jacobs awards. Even if she hadn't known them for so long she certainly knew about their work. She had been a fan of the show since it first aired in Sweden and thought they deserved all the praise. The storyline and the plotting was intriguing, it wasn't just the beautiful cast that had allured her.

After dinner there was music and dancing in the other room and they stood by the bar with a glass of wine when one of her favorite songs started.

"Oh, this is my favorite, we have to dance!" Isa started to drag Morgan's arm, but the just shook his head.

"I don't dance."

Isa looked expectantly at him as if he was joking, but he shook his head slow for a with a serious expression.

"But we've danced before!"

"This is job; sorry sweetie."

That really ticked her off. She got annoyed and hurt and she wouldn't let that ruin this evening. Isa turned to his friend. "Eric, won't you dance with me?" she asked with a vengeful glance at Morgan.

"Sure, I will," Eric said, took her hand and swept her out on the dance floor with a smile. Isa was surprised to find out that he was really good at dancing, and they had a good time there. Photoflashes revealed that they were not alone, everything was public and that slapped Isa back to reality for a moment. She had no intention to do anything else than dance, so she thought she had her back free.

"Your boyfriend does not like this," Eric said confidentially.

The word boyfriend made her stomach jutter and when she saw a grim Morgan by the bar, she might have been a little too provocative. In her slightly intoxicated state she didn't realize how that wasn't such a great idea. Eric gave her a questioning look, but played along. A couple of songs later they got back to the bar, laughing, to join a definitely displeased Morgan.

Isa slid an arm around his waist and he put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"Later." His whole body was tense and he didn't relax or smile.

Finally she had to ask again. "Are you mad at me? 'Cause I was just teasing you with Eric."

He turned his beautiful face and studied her face with those captivating eyes for a long time, they were deep and blazed sadness; before he answered. "No, I'm not mad, more sad actually."

It felt like he had slapped her across the face. She could barely stand upright.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I'm not the right girl for you after all." The words came out weak and she was surprised her voice didn't tremble. "You have a lot of girls here to choose from, instead of me," she said almost whispering.

Morgan just glared at her for a long time. She had never seen him mad before, not at anybody else and certainly not at her. His eyes were flashing with anger now and Isa almost couldn't stay on her feet. He grabbed her hand and walked away with her and she had a hard time keeping up in her high heels.

Outside the door, he got them a cab in an instant and they headed back to the hotel. He didn't say a word and Isa did her best to look out the side window, but after a while the silence was unbearable.

"Are you breaking up with me?" The words came out as nothing but a whisper.

He looked appalled at her. "No! I don't want to break up! That's crazy!" His voice was hard and Isa didn't understand his reaction at all.

He didn't want to break up? She looked surprised at him, but he didn't say anything else during the ride. By the time they got to the hotel Isa had a big knot in her stomach and cursed herself for the stupid dance. She was a total mess. She headed for the bathroom as soon as they entered the room, but Morgan grabbed her arm and stopped her. By now tears were embarrassingly enough flowing down her cheeks.

"Are you crying? Why are you crying?" He turned her around.

"Can't I be sad; I managed to make you sad," she forced out, while tears streamed down her face. So much for that makeup!

"Please don't." He pulled her closer and stroked her hair while she sobbed against his chest. "What makes me sad is that you don't see what an amazing girl you are."

"There are so many beautiful girls who wants you," she murmured. He had started to mean so much to her during their short time together and her heart was bleeding at the thought of letting him go.

He took her chin and turned her face up to his painstricken, but smiling face. "I don't want them!" he said. "I want you."

She couldn't believe that.

"You see right through all my bullshit. I don't know how you do that, but you seem to see beyond all this..." He made a gesture around them. "This crazy business and all this publicity crap."

Isa looked at him as if he was talking in some foreign tongue she had never even heard of. "But why; how can that be? Why me?" she asked totally bemused. "I don't understand that!" Her voice cracked and was nothing more than a whisper. "You're like some God and I... I'm just plain."

"Plain?" he yelled, but lowered his voice. "You are anything but plain my sweet, sweet Eysa," he said soft and pulled her along till they stood in front of the beautiful full length mirror on the wall. His face was visible over her shoulder and he tucked her hair away to whisper soft to her. "Tell me what you see."

At first Isa saw nothing but her red and swollen face and that the makeup was totally ruined, more suitable for some horror movie. After that she saw the amazing blue dress he bought; a cocktail dress that snuck tight at the right places and billowed in layers upon layers of thin fabrics. She saw his strong slim arms and fingers snaking around her waist and she wanted to cry again; she couldn't look up at the reflection of his glory face.

"Let me tell you what I see."

She watched him through her eyelashes and the tear-blurred vision as he started to explain.

"I see a beautiful girl with a great posture," He touched her shoulder. "With a figure to die for," He continued while his hand slid slowly along her side to the hip. "Who has legs that just keeps going and are fabulous." He kissed her neck and turned her to face him. "And beyond that she is generous, smart and she has humor."

Embarrassed, she looked down, but Morgan surprised her.

"What I don't understand is why she picked me? Why did you?" he asked and Isa snapped her head up and her eyebrows almost reached the hairline in surprise. "I don't have anything to offer you. I'm all work and no play." His voice was suddenly sad and tired and his gorgeous eyes were filled with pain.

Isa turned to face him, lifted her hand and stroked his face. "You love your job!" she said, trying to be supportive. "You do a great job and you're respectful to your fans." They kept looking into each other's eyes, almost to search for the truth in them. "And besides, I fell for 'Vincent' before I fell for you." Isa smiled, feeling embarrassed.

Morgan couldn't believe how he had hurt this amazing girl. He had been so incredible proud of her out there in front of the press. She had been a natural, just like Lauren said.

But the lights had gone out in her eyes when he didn't want to dance with her. It had been so mean, but he knew he was a crappy dancer. The dance floor was Eric's element and Morgan had been really jealous, just like he had been in New York when Robert danced with her. Damn it; I really need to take some dance-classes, he thought.

"Could you ever forget me for being a jerk?" He knew it was a question he had no right to ask.

She looked at him with those gorgeous blue eyes and he was totally compelled by them, and quite frankly by her.

"Can you forgive me?" she asked and he couldn't believe it.

"You didn't do anything." he needed her to face facts; he could be a jerk.

"But I ruined your evening and made a scene and all." It was barely a whisper. She looked amazing even though her mascara was smeared like a raccoon.

He felt a smile crack up his face and got a warm feeling throughout him. "When will you marry me?" he asked exasperated and saw her face light up in a huge smile.

"Well... I'm kind of busy this weekend..." she snickered and Morgan pulled her close in for a tight hug.

~ ~ ~

At breakfast the next day Eric was reserved, to say the least. Morgan knew his friend had seen the murderous look by the bar and he had seen the hasty departure. It wasn't rocket science to get that there had been arguing. Today everything was fine again and Morgan was not getting into that discussion.

Isa though, walked right up to him in the breakfast restaurant and hugged him. "Thank you for the dance yesterday. I'm gonna have to send Morgan to a dance-class so you don't have to body-double every time." She nudged Morgan who rolled his eyes.

Eric's tense posture relaxed and he smiled at her. "It was great fun dancing with you. I don't think it's necessary to put him in dance-class just yet," she said smug, glancing at his friend.

"Okay, enough making fun of me now!" Morgan growled and had to work hard not to let the anger over their closeness overtake him.

Eric laughed relieved as Isa and Morgan walked up to the breakfast bar and loaded up some breakfast before they sat down next to Eric and Jacob. Morgan felt Eric's eyes on the couple throughout the meal, and he tried to be as natural and at ease as it was possible. He had made up with Isa again and that was the most important to; he didn't care if the entire world hated him as long as she didn't.

The press conference wasn't until two o'clock, so he took Isa out on town; she had never been in Paris and he couldn't think of a better place to be with her right now; the city of love.

Morgan didn't know if it was the setting or last nights fear that he might lose her, but he started to think that he was really falling in love with her. He couldn't even remember when he last even thought about that word.

There had been girls, now and then, even two at a time, if he was honest. He had been on dates and had one night stands, but could hardly say he had been in love since Sandra in high school. Offers he had; almost once a week he had different girls and women proposing marriages.

Last night he had asked her to marry him.

"What are you smiling about?" Her chiming voice snapped him out of it as they walked hand in hand among the tourists.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "I just love this; you and me walking here together." He didn't care if the paparazzi found them, making them headlines in all the papers.

They took the opportunity to go up the Eiffel tower; Isa had never been to Paris and Morgan really wanted to be the first who shared this with her. She was a little scared of height and he quickly put his arms around her, promising to protect her.

Isa wanted the time to stop; this was just as perfect as that day in New York. The view was breathtaking. Up there, Morgan pulled out his phone and took a couple of shots of them close together with the Parisian skyline in the background. Isa imagined them high up under the stars, even though it was just noon.

Their moment of paradise didn't last long; soon a couple of girls recognized Morgan, giggling and with suppressed squeals they wanted to have their picture taken with him.

However much he wanted Isa to himself, he would never refuse the fans; they were the ones that made this dream come true for him. If he lost their support, he would soon lose the job offers and what would he do then? Of course he wrote autographs and posed for some photos.

It was a little harder than usual to put his arms around the different girls and pose next to them, Morgan thought. There was only one girl he wanted his arms around and she stood there, patiently watching. How long would she do that?

The first few excited girls left giggling, but when two had recognized him, more did. Soon they had a whole entourage following, and Morgan started to get tired. He wrapped his arm around Isa and waved as they tried to escape. The elevator-ride turned into a crowded photo-shoot.

Once on the ground, the paparazzi found them and the protective side of Morgan quickly got hold of a taxi that took them back to the hotel again. "I think I want to go back to Sweden again," he mumbled as they got safely inside again in the flickering light of the camera flashes.

Isa looked surprised at him. "I thought you'd be used to this."

"That's what I thought," he muttered. "Would you hate me if I wanted to go home? Well, to your home that is," he added quickly when he noted Isa's confused face. "Have I robbed you of a night in Paris?"

Her puzzled face turned into a smile. "I don't care where I am, as long as I'm with you."

They had just reached the elevators and he just stared amazed at her. "Really?" Her smile was contagious, erasing his worried lines. "You are the most interesting girl I have met!"

Morgan called and rescheduled their flights before they got ready and a car took them to the the press conference. Isa followed him inside the building, while the press outside tried to get as many shots of them as possible.

She was guided to a room just next to where the press conference was held. From her hideaway, she could see Morgan and the others, being questioned by the crowd of journalists. Isa sat in a couch and did her best to relax.

Several of the questions were the same she had heard the night before and she finally tuned them out.

When the time was up, all five of them came into the room Isa had been hiding, or perhaps hidden? They all got back to the hotel together.

Morgan announced that he would be going back to Sweden with Isa. The others had promised to attend another convention and were sad to part already. Isa got the feeling that they thought Morgan would stay, but they hugged and Isa and Morgan packed their stuff and headed straight to the airport; in the flashing camera lights, as expected.

Inside the airport, they got something to eat and found a distant corner to pass the time before departure.

They sat close together and tried to get to know oneanother a little better. Isa was surprised to find out that Morgan wasn't popular in school. "I was never the one who got all the girls," he admitted with a snicker and thought about how that had changed. He told her about his parents and younger sister who lived in New Orleans.

"Mom really wants me to find someone special and settle down," he said quiet. "She would be ecstatic if she knew I've met you."

Isa chuckled. "Well, I have already forced you to meet my mother," she joked dryly but he kept looking straight at her with those serious eyes.

"Don't you really think you'll get fed up with me and my work?"

"Are you sure you won't find someone with better looks and smarter than me?" she retorted.

They simply sat there watching each other with serious faces.

"You didn't answer."

"Well, neither did you."

That was unfortunately when a couple of teenage girls found their hideaway and came giggling with their cameras and autograph-pens. Isa noted how Morgan took a deep breath and got his professional face on. She had never seen or heard him be anything but nice to his fans, but this time it was obvious that he would rather be left alone. Politely he wrote autographs, did some small-talk and smiled. He posed for photos, but by then even more girls had noticed him and came over to where they sat.

Oh Yay!

Shortly after, the gate opened and Morgan and Isa could pretend to reluctantly leave the fans to board the flight. They slumped down in their seats and snuggled close as much as the safety belt allowed.

"This is so much better than that horrid flight to New York." Morgan mumbled, making Isa sit up straight.

"Yeah... talk about giving someone the cold shoulder," she realised they had never really talked about that.

"I thought you were Robert's girlfriend," he exclaimed but with a smile on his face.

"That's why you ignored me?"

"Yes." He sighed, but with a smile on his face. "I'm so glad he set me straight as we got to your mother's house."

"Yeah, me too." Isa snuggled into Morgan's arms again.

Surprisingly the time flew by quick and soon they landed and managed to get undetected on the train and hide. That seemed to work just fine and soon they were back in Isa's house again.

~ ~ ~

Their suitcases were simply dropped inside her door, the jackets joining them and then the couple was in each other's arms. They were both tired. The emotional experience mixed with the celeb-incidence on town and they felt blessed to be in solitude. It was so much more than the bodily hunger that accompanied them in bed; it was a profound need for closeness and comfort.

She was really cradled in his arms when she dozed off.

That night Isa dreamed Morgan left her and took the plane back to the States. She woke up from Morgan shaking her in the middle of the night. "Wake up honey, I'm still here!"

Her drowsy blinking was in total contrast to the wideopened eyes. It took almost half a minute for her to fully understand that it was only a dream. Morgan wrapped her tighter in his arms. "You were having a nightmare, sweetie." He held her tight, trying his best to comfort her.

Isa was panicked as well as embarrassed, but was grateful his chest to hide her face in. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. Sorry for waking him, sorry for being such a clingy little dweeb, et cetera.

With his hands on her face he held her on enough distance to look into her sad eyes. "I get it," was all he had to say and the same look of separation anxiety colored his eyes. That was probably the most intimate thing anyone had ever said to her.

Did he really feel the same, she wondered. Could he?

A sweet smile warmed her soul and he kissed her forehead. "Now sleep!" he ordered and Isa rested her head on his chest and dowsed off again.

.