Mark looked down at her where she was almost leaning against his chest and sucked in a deep breath. That made the situation even worse, putting his chest right up against hers. Swallowing a low moan he suddenly took a long step back putting some needed distance between his body and hers. Damn, he’d never been so close to losing control before. And it wasn’t like she was even being provocative. Well, that little skirt was tempting and that shirt had been so soft against his fingers, almost as soft as her skin . . . Bad thoughts Mark, he told himself. You’ll never walk away if you keep thinking these kind of thoughts. He tried hard to ignore the part of him that kept whispering how nice it would be to stay, how easy it would be to stay. Staring into those deep blue eyes was a damn good way to lose his soul.
Shaken by the thoughts he was having he backed up a couple of more steps. He barely knew this woman and already she was upsetting his life. He’d known it last night by the way she’d made him feel and yet he’d barely been able to wait for her to get off work so he could be with her again. Hell, she’d have to be special to have a grown man stand outside a strange building and wait on her for close to an hour. He’d been about ready to give up when he’d heard her voice coming from around the corner and then she’d been right in front of him. She’d looked as beautiful as she’d been last night, making his breath hitch in his throat. He hadn’t caught a good breath yet.
He looked down at her standing so still in front of him, her eyes wide on his. Her hair was pulled back and swept up off her neck except for the tendrils that had escaped, probably with the help of his hands earlier. Her lips were swollen and her throat was flushed from the rough abrasion of his beard. Damn but she looked good marked by his possession. He gave a smug smile and determinedly pushed the bothersome thoughts to the back of his mind, he’d think about what this all meant later. Right now he was with her and that was all that mattered.
Reaching out Mark took her briefcase in one hand and reached for her hand with the other. Lacing his fingers through hers he turned and started towards the porch. Even now he wasn’t able to keep his hands off of her, he had to touch her. Slowing his stride to match her much shorter one they slowly walked up the gravel drive. They were almost to the porch steps when he suddenly stopped and pulled her to a halt.
“Is that your car? The one from last night isn’t is?”
I looked over at my car and nodded. Robert had parked it a little cock eyed but he had fixed the tire. He was supposed to have taken the flat one with him as well to have it fixed. He was a good brother. Not that I would tell him that. No use him getting a swelled head or anything.
“You didn’t have to call a garage. I’d have fixed it for you. As a matter of fact I went back to the parking lot this morning looking for it and it was gone.”
I started to shake my head as soon as he started speaking but he kept going before I could even open my mouth. “I want to take care of you Dory.”
“I . . .uh . . . thank you. But Robert picked me up this morning and then went by for my car. He’ll drop the other tire off after he gets it fixed. But I appreciate you thinking of me. I’m sure you were busy enough this morning with your schedule but you thought of me. That was very nice.”
I squeezed his hand gently and smiled at him. How sweet that he’d thought of me this morning. And how fitting considering I’d tossed and turned last night thinking of him. I started back towards the porch. I was jerked to a halt when he refused to move. I tossed a questioning look at him. He was wearing a scowl and glaring at my car. Now what?
“Who is Robert?”
His voice was much deeper than it had been before, his eyes hard on mine now that he was gazing down at me again. I gave a futile jerk on my hand trying to loosen his grip but it was useless. He merely tightened his hold, it wasn’t painful but I wasn’t going anywhere until he decided I could. I debated for all of five seconds on not answering him but considering he still had a hold of my hand I gave him what he was waiting for.
“Robert and I are very close. I’ve known him for years.”
His scowl got blacker with every word I uttered. I knew I should be ashamed of myself and I knew I’d probably regret it but I figured what the hell—you only live once. Besides, he really needed to learn to be a little more careful about what he demanded.
“You’re very close with him?”
I smiled and nodded before elaborating. “Yes we’re very close. We even lived together for a long time. I’ve never known a time I haven’t loved him.”
I hugged Mark’s arm to me and leaned up against him a little, debating on whether or not to let him off the hook now or later. He made up my mind for me.
Mark looked down at her and tried to reign in his temper. Usually he was not possessive. Usually he was not so easily riled. Usually he had more control. Usually.
“You won’t see this man again. You’re mine. I will not share with any other man.”
He turned around to face her fully, his own body tense and ready for a battle. He knew the words were wrong, knew it was too soon to say anything like that. Hell, in this day and age those words would be wrong at any stage of the relationship but on the second date it would surely be a death sentence. He couldn’t allow that. As easy as it would be to go back to the way his life had been without her in it—was it only a mere twenty four hours ago—there was something inside that wouldn’t, couldn’t let her go.
Looking down cautiously he tried to read her expression. There was a little bit of anger (he’d expected that) but more than anything else was shock. He’d shocked her speechless. Not a great start to the night but at least she wasn’t telling him to get the hell out of her life. He wasn’t going to give her the chance either. Tugging her close to his body he dropped her briefcase and wrapped both arms around her.
“We’re good together, you and I. I don’t think it’s just sexual chemistry, although we do have that in abundance.” Just the thought of her sent feelings rolling through his body. His blood rushed in hot rivulets through his body at the thought and feel of her in his arms. He was rock hard with need due to her nearness and now that he’d caressed that soft skin, tasted those vulnerable lips, delved deep into the sweetness of that mouth, he had no desire to live without it. She awakened feelings in him that he hadn’t known existed, feelings that he’d left dead and buried. Just like his past.
“I want to see you again. I want you to be a part of my life,” he said abruptly.
He could feel her withdrawal even though she never moved an inch. Involuntarily his arms tightened around her waist and he pulled her closer against his chest.
His possessive actions and words threw me off guard. I’d been joking around with him and suddenly we were almost talking about our future. Our future. His and mine. Ours. A future. What in the hell was I going to do? Tell him who Robert really is was my first thought. That would definitely be a good place to start.
“Listen Mark, I’m not so sure about this. I, that is, well last night was fun. I had a great time. I mean how often do you get to meet someone you watch on TV?” Giving a nervous laugh and refusing to meet his eyes I continued, “I feel like I got to know you, not your character. But I think if this went any further we’d regret it.”
He almost growled before he caught the sound. Damn, he’d scared her off. Well, almost. He may be down but not out. Not out and not about to share either.
“Is it because of this Robert guy? Did he hurt you?”
I shrugged my shoulders, trying to subtly wiggle out of his arms but they just tightened and in the end it was easier to stay where I was than start something I couldn’t win.
“Actually it’s kinda funny what you were thinking. Umm, Robert is, well he . . .uhh . . .you do have a good sense of humor don’t you?”
I dropped my gaze to his chest just noticing the shirt he was wearing. It was his T-shirt that said ‘I’ll Make You Famous.’ Great, just great. Exactly what I wanted to see right now. Without waiting for him to answer my question I started my confession of my little joke. It had been funny when it started out but now even I couldn’t see the humor in it. It had led down a road I didn’t care to go down right now. The emotions were too new, too deep.
“Robert is my brother, Mark. I was just joking with you, letting you think . . .well, letting you think something else. I’m sorry.” Muttering under my breath I added, “At least I am now.”
For a minute he could only stand there and stare at her. She’d led him on, let him make a complete possessive ass out of himself and all the while he’d been picturing his hands wrapped around her brother’s neck. He was a little irritated to be honest. Not because she’d given him enough rope to hang himself, hell he’d admit (only to himself) that he’d been a little too possessive a little early in the relationship, a little demanding, so to be honest he might have deserved to be misled. He had a sense of humor and he could take a joke. But this particular joke had caused him to admit, if only to himself, some truths that he wasn’t ready for. She aroused feeling in him he’d thought lost in the past.
“You thought you were being funny?” He kept his expression stern, trying not to let his lips curve as she kept her eyes from his. She gave a vague shrug of her shoulders but didn’t look up, wouldn’t meet his gaze. He tightened his grip on her, crushing her up against his chest tight. He could feel her body tense. No telling what was going through her mind. He really should just tell her that he understood, that her little joke hadn’t bothered him. He really should. And he would but not yet.
“I don’t appreciate being the butt of jokes. As a matter of fact I didn’t think this little joke was very funny at all.” Abruptly he dropped his arms from around her and used all of his self-control to take a few steps away, to put some space between them. “As a matter of fact I’m not sure I believe you about this Robert person. What’s his last name?”
I looked at the broad back in front of me, trying to read him from the way he held his body but I couldn’t tell anything. His voice sounded flat, devoid of any emotion. Damn, what have I gotten myself into now?
“He’s my brother. It’s the same last name as mine – Sullivan. Why?”
Without turning around Mark shrugged broad shoulders and answered slowly. “Why so I can find him of course. I want to meet this man that means so much to you.”
“He’s my brother Mark. I told you that I was . . . I was playing a little joke with you. You don’t need to bring Robert into this. I am sorry.”
“I want to meet him. I want to see him face to face. Tell me where I can find him. Or I’ll just hunt him down myself.”
“Wh-what do you mean you’ll hunt him down? Mark, it was a joke. This is as far as it needs to go. Mark?” I knew he could hear the worry in my voice. I mean after all, Mark was huge and who knew how he was really going to react to things? Robert could usually take care of himself but against Mark . . . well, against Mark who really had a chance?
Deciding this had gone on long enough and not liking the real worry that had crept into her voice Mark turned around and scooped Dory into his arms, “What’s a matter darlin’? Don’t you want me to meet your family?” Giving her a smug grin he squeezed her tight before setting her back on her feet. “Maybe you’re right though. We don’t need to involve our families so soon. We can take some more time for it to be just us.”
I stared up at him with a dumb expression, “More us time? Before we involve our families? Mark, what are you talking about? This whole conversation doesn’t make sense. What’s going on?”
Reaching out a huge hand he cupped my cheek causing a little tremor of emotion to run along my nerve endings. His slightest touch could bring me to my knees. I finally pulled away from him at that thought. I didn’t like the knowledge that anyone could so easily bring me to my knees.
“Nothing bad, darlin’. I was just answering your question. You wanted to know if I had a sense of humor didn’t you? It’s a little warped at times but it is there.”
He spread his arms wide, a boyish grin on his face that I’d never seen before. I stood there for a minute, a little stunned and a little ticked off. I had been getting seriously worried about my brother there for a minute and he’d been joking around. Damn was I gullible. Finally I smiled back – if you can’t take it then don’t dish it out was my motto. Besides my sense of humor was a little warped too.
Finally seeing her body relax and a little smile come over her face, Mark let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Everything was going to be ok. Deciding to get on with the evening he’d planned before picking her up he leaned down and picked up her brief case and then laced his fingers through hers, pulling her towards the front porch.
After a minute I stepped forward and followed him towards my front porch. He was in possession of my hand once again so it’s not like I had a lot of choice in the matter. I had the familiar view of his broad back once again and caught myself staring and licking my lips as my eyes traveled hungrily over the broad expanse before dropping slowly to follow the indent of his spine towards his waist. A narrow waist, not as narrow as it used to be but I found that I liked even that. I curled my free arm around my own waist to keep it from reaching for him. I hadn’t forgotten how good it had felt last night to have both arms wrapped tight around him, to have my body cradling his as we raced along on his bike.
Tripping lightly up the front steps behind him I ran smack into his broad back when he stopped abruptly.
“Shit,” I mumbled from behind my hand. Stepping away from him, I gingerly brought my fingers away from my nose, expecting to see drops of blood. My jaw was stinging from the abrupt stop and my nose was throbbing. This man was not good for my health. But oh what he did for my heart. Looking down I was glad to see there was no blood, just pain. And embarrassment. Am I graceful or what?
Mark felt the hard smack just below his shoulder blades and turned abruptly to catch Dory’s elbow as she stumbled back a few steps. Seeing her small hand cradling her nose and catching the curse she’d mumbled he could guess what had happened. He’d stopped to turn around and get her keys and she’d run smack into him.
“Dory, are you ok? Nothin’ broke?”
He reached out and gently pulled her hand down before reaching up and tilting her chin up so he could see. Her nose was red but there was no blood. That was good. It would not have boded well for a second date to bloody her nose.
“Ahm phine. Nuffin to worry about.” I shook my head when he reached over again and backed out of his reach. I sounded like I was holding my nose and trying to talk at the same time. Trying to tell him I was fine and there was nothing to worry about and it sounded like I had a mouth full of marshmallows. Oh yeah, now there’s an attractive picture. I gave a defeated sigh and just held out my keys for him. I waited through his intense scrutiny, which seemed to take forever and closed my eyes briefly when he finally took the keys and turned away from me. Reaching up I pinched the bridge of my nose hard – which hurt like hell—but at least allowed me a clear breath. Keeping my fingers pinched tight I tried out my voice again.
“Maybe –“ I had to stop and clear my throat when my voice came out as a squeak and start again. “Maybe we should just give this up.” Giving a slightly hysterical laugh –after all I was trying to give up the man of my dreams—I said, “I don’t think my face can take too much more time in your company.”
I heard the quiet click of the tumblers in the lock turning, heard the drumming beat of my heart in my chest while I waited for him to answer.
Instead of saying anything to me he reached over and grabbed my hand again, leading me behind him as he stepped into the foyer of my house. I could easily get used to this. I liked having his large hand wrapped securely around mine, made me feel safe and cared for. It was a nice feeling, one I didn’t realize I craved, didn’t realize I missed until I’d found it and noticed how empty I’d felt before without it.
We by passed the living room and the guest room, the bathroom downstairs got a quick glance but he stayed the course for the kitchen. Sitting down my briefcase on the counter he finally released my hand and turned to face me. Lifting a hand he brushed the loose strand of hair from my cheek, tucking it gently behind my ear. I liked the casual way he had of touching me, as if it was necessary to him, natural for him to want to have the feel of my skin against his in some way. I just wished I had the nerve to touch him the same way. His hand stroking my hair almost made me miss what he was saying.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes ok? We’ll have some hot food, watch a movie or two and get to know each other.” Leaning forward he pressed a kiss to my forehead and drew back looking down at me with an unreadable expression. Before I could move he pulled me into his embrace with a rough groan, pressing a string of whisper soft kisses leading to the corner of my mouth.
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