I gasped and my eyes flew upward to his as the words escaped my mouth. God, did I just say that out loud? By the slightly shocked look on his face, I would say that yes, I had said that out loud. I groaned loudly and with feeling. Please, oh please let the couch swallow me now! I heard a chuckle from overhead.
“Give it up Dory. You’re not going anywhere. No convenient hole in the floor to swallow you up. Besides, I think the blush looks nice. Pink’s your color.”
There was amusement in his voice now. At least he’d forgotten to be mad about me shoving him off the couch. He didn’t have to sound quite that amused though.
“Actually, if you want to know the truth I was picturing the couch swallowing me whole. It would be much more convenient. I wouldn’t have to move, just lay here and wait quietly.”
I felt him sit down beside me on the couch but refused to open my eyes. Geez, I was being a wimp this morning. What was that I was thinking last night? I’d deal with any consequences later and just enjoy myself? Well, it was later and I was not enjoying myself.
“I guess that would be one way to go.” He said this reflectively, pausing to see if she’d open her eyes. She didn’t. She merely laid there with her eyes squeezed tightly closed. Her hair was a tangled mess, probably from his fingers more than anything else. Her face still had some puffiness, some bruising from the other night. But to him she looked beautiful. Actually she’d never looked more beautiful than when she’d thanked him for wearing underwear. He’d almost laughed out loud at the look on her face. She’d thrown him off a little when she’d shoved him off the couch but she’d taken him completely off guard when she’d commented on his underwear.
“But it wouldn’t be the way I’d recommend. Why don’t we try this again? I’ll even go so far as to forgive you for shoving me into the floor. Yes, I do realize you thought I’d forgotten about that but I haven’t. Anyway, I’ll forgive you for that and I’ll even thank you for liking my underwear. How’s that for being off to a good start?”
He waited patiently but nothing happened. She didn’t move, she didn’t answer. He was going to have to get rough.
Quickly, before common sense could change his mind, he bent his head and gently claimed her mouth. His mouth slowly teased hers, begging for a response. Last night had not been a fluke. There was something real here, something they could build on. He was counting on it. He was dreaming of it.
His mouth burned over her skin. He kissed her eyelids gently before trailing kisses down over her bruised cheek, until his lips settled over hers again. With a warm tongue, he traced the outline of her lips, teasing her until she moaned, a tiny broken noise that drifted into the quiet morning. Caught up in passion he’d aroused, she turned her head and tried to follow his lips, tried to bring him back, to take her mouth again. Mark gave a quiet laugh. She might not be ready to admit it but she had feelings for him.
She gasped his name. Mark loved the gentle whisper of it. He looked down and smiled at her lazily, his hand stroking the silken strands of her hair. Then he wrapped his hand in her hair and tugged, gently, pulling her warm body against his. She was breathing heavy, her breath hot and sweet when he finally took her mouth again. God he loved the sweet taste of her mouth.
I felt his wicked, seductive tongue as it toyed with the delicate curves of my ear, his warm breath igniting a burning warmth, an unbearable tingle that spread throughout my body. Despite myself, I relaxed as Mark drew my face toward his. Oh, this was right, this was so right. I abandoned the tangled thoughts that had been running through my mind all morning and simply gave myself up to the sensations he was arousing. I reached for him, I reached for everything he was offering me.
The moment Dory’s soft, small fingers lightly touched his cheeks, running down the angles of his chin, something in Mark relaxed as well. He almost growled, moving to lie beside her, rolling over and pinning her beneath his body. He felt Dory gasp as his muscled male weight settled on her. Instantly, he rolled back on his side, lifting his weight.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” The words drifted to her ear through a cloud of disappointed sensation. “I forgot what a little bit of a thing you are.”
I didn’t bother to answer. There were no words, nothing but this longing, this ache, for his body to lie back on me again, to press me back down into the couch with his intoxicating weight. I reached up and tugged fiercely on his shoulders, straining up to meet his lips, my mouth open and inviting. I finally felt Mark move. He half rolled on top of me, one leg pinning me to the couch, his mouth caressing my lips.
Mark slowly moved his hands over her body, sliding beneath the soft knit of her sweater, exposing the perfect cream of her breasts to the cool morning air.
“Oh God, Dory, you’re so beautiful, so sweet,” and then Mark’s voice trailed off as it was smothered against her soft flesh, and the next sound was Dory’s whimper as his mouth followed his hand. She was writhing against him now, uttering weak murmurs that set Mark’s blood on fire. He swept a hand down her belly, pausing to explore her belly button before sliding his fingers under the loose waistband of her jeans. His fingers finally found the dewy heat they were seeking.
Dory’s body went rigid.
“What are you doing?” My voice was panicked, shaky with passion but afraid, and my small hand gripped his wrist like steel. I knew I only held him still because he wished it. There was enough strength in him to do what he wanted. We both knew that.
Mark stilled instantly, but left his fingers where they were. The sensation sank into my bones like wildfire and my eyes blurred, looking at him through the pale, incandescent sunlight that was filtering into the room.
“I won’t do anything you don’t like, sweetheart.” His voice was a husky promise, his lips sweeping over my face, licking my lips apart, plunging into my mouth with a gesture that made me understand exactly where his thoughts were, exactly how he wanted to spend this morning. I heard myself moan, could feel myself being caught up in his passion. Could feel his passion ignite my own again. His fingers moved, dipping restlessly, driving me into a frenzy of sensation. The touch was so unfamiliar, yet caused such pleasure I couldn’t bear to end it yet. Instead I allowed myself to be swept into his passion, into his kiss.
Mark’s mind was leaping from fact to fact, putting together Dory’s untutored caresses, the surprised leap of her flesh every time he touched her somewhere new, and the shocked amazement in her blue eyes. He’d made the mistake of thinking she was experienced, that she had belonged to any man before him . . . He let his fingers drift to the soft flesh of her thighs. She would be his and only his. He’d never taken a virgin before. He’d never really given it a lot of thought. Usually the women he was with knew the score, were looking for shallow relationships – not love.
The thought brought him up short and he ended the kiss, slowly drawing his lips from hers. Putting his weight completely on his elbows he raised up enough that he could look down at her, meet her dazed blue eyes.
“How you look at me!” I whispered, half angry and half hesitant at the look on his face. I sat up abruptly, pushing him away with one hand and tugging at my sweater with the other. The passion was fading as soon as his lips left mine. My thoughts were clearing, at least a little. I needed desperately to think.
Mark let her have her space and sat up. She had some breathing room but he was by no means done with her.
“I look at you the way a man looks at the woman he wants more than anything in the world,” Mark said, his tone light but the look in his eyes was fierce.
I sat there, speechless. Now what could I say to that? No man had ever said anything like that to me in my life. One part of me resented the possessiveness in his tone, but the bigger part of me still hadn’t recovered from those kisses. That was the part I was worried about.
“I’ve never had a man touching me like that, being this close to me.”
Heat flared in Mark’s eyes at my words. Damn, why did I have to be so honest? Couldn’t I have just kept my mouth shut?
Mark’s hand slowly reached out and covered mine, bringing it to rest on his bare chest. I spread my hand wide as soon as he let it go and brought my other one up to meet it, exploring the hard muscles of his chest. I couldn’t help myself. The feel of his skin next to mine, the musky smell of him that surrounded me invited me to explore. My little finger rubbed across his pebbled nipple and I heard the breath rush through his gritted teeth.
My eyes darted to his and I felt a little smile curl my lips. I liked knowing how much I affected him. I repeated the movement, slowly, watching the expressions cross his face. I could feel Mark’s heart beating, pounding underneath my hands. I liked feeling the effect my touch had on him.
Mark groaned as her small hands traveled over his chest. He saw the small smile that curled her lips. She liked to play games as long as she felt in control. He’d let her have that pleasure . . . for now.
Slowly he brought his hands up to cover hers on his chest, hesitating to end her pleasure or his, but knowing he needed to end it soon or he wouldn’t be able to end it at all. He’d taken about all he could take this morning, without taking it all. Slowly drawing her hands from his chest he held them tightly in his lap. When her fingers twitched in his, so close and yet still so far away from where he desperately wanted them, he groaned. He quickly moved her hands away from his groin and onto the couch between them.
“Sweetheart, let’s not start something we’re not going to finish.” Mark said the words gently, not wanting to inhibit her shy exploration. He just needed to put it on hold until a later time.
I looked up at him at those words, only then realizing where my hands had been and what they’d been so close to. I jerked completely away from him and stood up. I ran a hand distractedly through my hair and looked around the living room. What now?
“What exactly happened last night?” I could’ve bitten my tongue as soon as the words were out of my mouth but considering that intense kiss – I wanted to know exactly what had went on last night. I took a few steps away from him, away from the temptation of his bare chest. I looked at the rocking chair and thought about sitting down but hesitated. This would probably be the one and only time that I could look down on him. I liked it that he had to look up at me – all of four inches or so, but he did have to look up.
“What are you talking about? You don’t remember last night?”
I quickly shook my head, then regretted the action immediately. There were little devils with pick axes right behind my eyes. They were damned determined to dig their way out this morning.
“I mean yes I do remember last night. Most of it. Some parts. Just tell me what happened.” I looked at him setting so silently, staring at me through those hot green eyes. I felt a shiver run down my spine and almost, almost wished I was anywhere but here. “Please,” I added, hoping to gain his cooperation. I just wanted to know how far last night had went.
Mark looked at her where she stood, so silent and pale. The bruise on her face stood out in the morning light. She’d mostly been in the dark last night and he’d never gotten a good look at it, but in the bright light of day it looked like it hurt like hell. And she was probably a little hung over. He could tell by the way she moved so her back was to the window and the way she was squinting at him even in the pale morning light. He really shouldn’t torment her. He really shouldn’t. He shrugged and smiled to himself. This opportunity was just too good to pass up.
He quickly stood up and noticed immediately how she frowned at him and took a step back. Oh, she’d liked being able to look down at him. She didn’t like losing that advantage either. He grinned and took another step towards her. He quickly lost his smile when he got a better look at her face. That one side was really bruised and ugly. Evidently that woman had been wearing a hell of a ring on her hand. Dory’s cheek was not only bruised but had a rough scrape on the side near her hairline too. Feeling a little more sorry for her, he stepped past her and pulled the drapes in the living room closed. The room was immediately dark, the only light coming from the windows in the hall near the door. He turned around and met her gaze again. She was no longer frowning at him and the pain lines around her eyes had eased, almost disappearing. Time to play.
“You don’t remember last night?” He turned away from her to hide his grin. It was going to be tough keeping a straight face. “I can’t believe it. You don’t remember us . . . spending the night together.” He turned to look at her, wanting to see her face. He forced his voice to drop and injected a note of sadness, dejection into it. “I can’t believe we slept together and you don’t remember.” Mark wanted to laugh out loud as Dory’s mouth fell open and she abruptly sat down in the rocking chair that was luckily right behind her. Instead, he rushed over to her side and fell to his knees, “Sweetheart, are you ok? Feeling alright and everything?”
I looked at Mark where he sat, thoughts running through my mind so fast I couldn’t latch on to any one of them. I glanced down and just noticed that he’d wrapped my hands in his own, his voice so full of concern. It should be. I’d slept with the man and didn’t remember it. How cruel was that? Having a dream come true and not even knowing it, not even having a memory of it? God, I’d been kissed senseless last night and then I’d lost what little sense I’d had by drinking too much. Now I was going to have to face the morning after without any memory of the night before.
“I-I-I’m not sure what to say. I really don’t remember. I-I-I don’t remember any of it.” I stood up, jerking my hands from his and started to pace. What in the hell was I going to do? How could I not remember?
Mark sat on his knees where she’d left him and watched as she paced. This wasn’t as funny as he’d thought it would be. She looked entirely too upset, too worried. He got slowly to his feet, his knees protesting his quick drop to the floor as much as his conscience was protesting his lame joke. Catching up to her on her fifth trip across the rug, Mark pulled her into his arms. She struggled for a minute or two before laying her head on his chest. The trusting gesture made his gut tighten with guilt.
“Dory, I’m sorry. I was trying to be funny. It was a lame joke. We slept together on the couch – slept and that was it. The most that happened was those kisses this morning, that’s it. Honest.” Mark tried to look at her face but she wouldn’t raise her head from his chest. He felt her shoulders start shaking and then he felt the warmth of tears on his bare chest. Oh God, he’d made her cry.
“Dory, listen, honey I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I wouldn’t hurt your feelings for anything. It was just a joke. I was just joking with you.” Absently he ran a hand through her hair, trying to soothe her as much as himself with the caress. “Oh, baby, don’t cry. Please don’t cry,” he almost crooned the last words as he lowered his head, placing his mouth right next to her ear.
I could feel Mark’s heart pounding beneath my ear, could feel his moist breath against my other ear as he whispered his apology. I shook my head silently, not raising my head from his chest yet. He thought I was crying because I was upset. Mostly it was relief—I hadn’t done anything stupid last night, nothing I needed to regret. Also, if I looked up he’d see that I was laughing, not crying. And it was too early to let him off the hook. He needed to be humble for a few minutes, needed to apologize—served him right. He deserved to be punished for those few minutes when my thoughts had been buzzing, horrified at what I’d done when I’d been drunk.
“Oh, darlin’ don’t cry.”
I could barely hear Mark’s whispered words, but I could feel his lips as they placed feather soft kisses in my hair, trailing down my cheek. I felt his fingers gently grasp my chin, forcing my head up. I quickly closed my eyes against the intense look in his green eyes. Moments later I felt his tongue gently lapping away my tears. With a gasp, my eyes snapped open to meet his. Quickly, before passion sucked me into its vortex again I stepped back, out of reach of his long arms. I quickly reached up and wiped away the last of my tears.
“Mark, I wasn’t really crying. I mean, I was but not for the reason you think. I was laughing and then I was crying from relief. I was very relieved that we hadn’t slept together.”
I smiled at Mark, happy now that I had my explanation out in the open. He didn’t smile back.
“What’s wrong?” I wrapped my
arms around myself, trying to figure out why he’d gone from whispered apologies to scowls in a matter of minutes.
“You were so relieved we HAD NOT slept together that you were crying?” His scowl grew darker if that was possible. “That says a lot for me. A lot for us. Thanks.”
He turned with a jerk and headed toward the couch, looking for his shirt and yanking it roughly over his head when he found it. Refusing to look at her, he sat on the couch and reached for his boots. He had every intention of leaving as soon as possible. He’d thought she might have felt something for him, some of the same things he’d felt. Evidently not. He’d had a lot of reactions from women, but rarely did he make them cry in relief at having not slept with them.
I looked at him, noticing how angry and jerky his motions were. His shirt was inside out but I wasn’t going to tell him that. He was yanking his boots on without his socks. I’d say the man was highly pissed. Now I just had to figure out how to fix this.
“Mark,” I took a small, placating step towards him but stopped when his hard green eyes met mine. I swallowed hard and tried again.
“Mark, this is a mistake. It wasn’t relief that I hadn’t slept with you. It was relief that I hadn’t done something stupid when I was drunk.” He’d stopped trying to put his boots on. I thought I’d won a point in my favor until I saw him switch boots. He’d been trying to put his boots on the wrong feet. Oh, yeah the man was pissed.
“Mark, did you hear me? It wasn’t you. I was just glad I hadn’t made a mistake. That’s all.”
Slowly, he quit jerking on his boots and looked up at me. I couldn’t read anything in his gaze, no emotion what so ever. It was that same look he gets when he’s wrestling on TV sometimes, the one he gives his opponents right before he hammers them. Geez, I wish I hadn’t thought of it in quite those terms.
“So, Dory, what you’re saying is that it would have been a mistake if we’d slept together last night?” His voice was no longer soothing, he wasn’t crooning endearments or apologies in my ear. He was coldly determined to have it out, right here and now.
“Yes, it would have been a mistake.” I looked at him closely but there was no softening. Well, he’d asked me a question. “It would have been wrong, not only because I had drunk too much, but I don’t know you. As much as I’ve loved watching you on television, as much as I’m a fan of the Undertaker’s, I don’t know you all that well. And I don’t sleep with men I don’t know, no matter how attractive they are.”
I watched him digest my words. I was relieved when his face lost that cold expression. Slowly he set his boots back over to the side of the couch and leaned back against the cushions. What was going through his mind now? At least he didn’t appear so gung ho to leave.
“Ok. You’ve got a point. We don’t know each other that well. Forty eight hours is not really all that long a time,” he paused here and gave me a speculative look. It could mean anything. I was past trying to interpret the man. Every time I tried, I said something that had him either dressing or undressing. Either one was not good right now.
“No, it’s not long,” I agreed. I looked at him expectantly, waiting to see where the conversation was going now. Should I tell him his shirt was inside out? Nah, it was kinda amusing to see him being so serious wearing his “I’ll make you famous” T-shirt inside out.
Mark watched her standing there, she had such a serious look on her face. Well he had to admit, it had been a tense couple of minutes there. He’d let a little bruise on his male pride almost kill this relationship before it got started. And it had all been for nothing. Words, just words. For a few minutes there he’d seen all of his beautiful dreams going down the drain and it had left a bitter taste in his mouth. He really hadn’t meant to have any kind of serious conversation this early with her. He didn’t want to scare her away. He’d scared her enough yesterday when he’d said something about them having a relationship. The only way to hold onto her had been to back away and giver her some room. But now it looked like they were going to have to talk. He was just going to have to make sure she didn’t run.
“Come over here and sit down, Dory. We need to talk.”
Mark watched as she warily crossed the floor and went to sit down on the opposite end of the couch from him. At the last minute he reached a long arm out and grabbed her wrist. With a little tug, she landed in his lap. Quickly, before she could squirm away, he wrapped both arms around her waist. “Sit still Dory. Don’t start something you don’t want to finish.” She stilled immediately. He watched the blush paint her cheeks and grinned. It was good he could see the humor in the situation now. He had his emotions back under control. He had the situation back under control.
“Good girl.” Without thought he settled her more comfortably against him and wrapped his hand in her loose hair.
“What do you want to talk about Mark?” I asked the question guardedly. The last few minutes had been weird, he was blowing hot one minute and ice cold the next. And they say women have mood swings.
“Us.” He was silent for a minute, letting her digest that before continuing. “I was telling you the truth yesterday. I want a relationship with you. I want there to be an us.” He paused and looked at her, running a hand down the length of her hair. “Do you?”
I had to control the urge to wiggle off his lap. I wanted some space between us. It was too hard to think with him touching me. Did he even have to ask? Who wouldn’t want him? Yes, who wouldn’t want him. That’s a good question. I wondered if he had a good answer.
“I don’t share.” Without even thinking, the words slid out of my mouth. Yes the man was hot, yes he was a walking dream come true. At least for me. But I didn’t want him if he came with a string of women. I’d rather have the faithful dream, than a reality I had to share.
A grin curled his lips. “Neither do I. I thought we established that yesterday when we discussed Robert.” Mark poked fun at himself, reminding her of the misunderstanding about her brother, hoping to put her at ease. He could feel how tense she was, could tell her nervousness by the constant movement of her hands in her lap.
I felt him move beneath me, shifting his weight so he could look at me. I raised my head and met his gaze squarely. This was a serious conversation. It had all been fun up until now. I took a deep breath, trying desperately to find the right words. How could I even be thinking of saying no to this dream come true? Because I’m a coward, that’s how. Just the thought of him walking out of my life, of only seeing him on TV, made my heart clench. How much worse would the pain be if he became a part of my life?
“As much as I’ve enjoyed being with you Mark, I don’t see how this will work. You’re on the road so many days, seeing so many different places, meeting so many different . . .people.” I felt my tongue trip over the last word. I didn’t want to nag about the fidelity issue. Who am I to say that he wouldn’t be faithful? I guess I just didn’t understand what he wanted. Was he playing a game? How could he want one woman, inexperienced and far from being the most beautiful, rather than one of the string of beautiful women throwing themselves at him on the road? I couldn’t understand.
“Darlin’, I want you. If you want me, then everything else will fall into place. I guarantee it.” He reached out a hand, gently cupping her jaw and forcing her gaze back to his. “Do you want me enough to give it a try?”
The intensity of his gaze made my breath catch in my throat. I’d never felt this way about anyone in my life. It had crossed my mind more and more often that maybe there wasn’t one special person for everyone, that maybe everyone didn’t have a soul mate. But the minute I’d met him, I’d had an answer for all of my questions, all my wondering. I’d met my soul mate. After knowing him for two days, I knew that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Oh I had it real bad. The real question was did I have enough courage to grab the opportunity when it comes?
I could feel his hand stroking through my hair, gently tugging the tangles out and smoothing the length of it against my back. His touch sent shivers through me. And the man had to ask if I wanted him? God, did he even have to ask? But we’re back to the question, what if it didn’t work? What would happen if we started a relationship, if I let myself get even more involved and then he was gone? Hesitantly, I looked up at him, unsure what I’d see or what he could read in my own eyes.
There was an emotion in his dark green eyes that begged me to trust him, to give him a chance. I reached up and ran my hand over his jaw, the rough bristles of his morning stubble scraping gently against my palm. His eyes closed at my touch and before I knew what I was doing I was leaning towards him, and placing my lips against his I whispered my answer, “I want you more than anything.”
“Darlin’, what you do to me,” with a deep groan, his mouth opened beneath mine.
Gently, oh so gently, I ran my tongue around his lips, retreating when he tried to dominate the kiss, tried to take control. This was my time, my kiss. I ran my hand up his chest, resisting the temptation to linger, and settled my palms on his stubble-coated cheeks. Rubbing my thumbs back and forth, I smiled at the sting of his beard against the tender flesh of my palms. I loved his goatee.
I loved the way it felt when I rubbed my fingers over it and I loved the way it felt against my lips. Leaning closer to him I braced myself against his chest, leaning into him. I felt his arms tighten around me, felt his hands tangling in my hair. The man definitely had a hair fetish. I grinned and looked into his eyes, nearly on level with my own. There was a flame burning deeply in their depths, singeing me with the heat, and promising me warmth for the future if I was brave enough to make a grab for it. Giving into my own desire, giving into his, I slid my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair and settling my lips on his. The passion flared to life instantly, engulfing my senses.
He took control of the kiss immediately and I surrendered. His lips rubbed moistly back and forth before settling on mine. There was no hesitation this time when his tongue demanded entrance. I opened my mouth to his demand, gently stroking his tongue with my own. His arms tightened around me, a groan coming from the depths of his chest at the gesture. His arms were crushing me but I couldn’t get close enough to him. I wanted to be beneath his skin, to be the very beat of his heart.
Mark lifted me a little closer, a little higher on his chest. A low groan escaped my throat at the touch of his chest against my aching breasts.
“Mark . . .”
I could feel the hardness of his arousal, thick and rigid, against my hip and knew he was just as affected as I was. I could feel his heart pounding against my breast. I could feel the tenseness throughout the big body pressed so tightly against mine.
“Mark . . ” I gasped his name, desperately trying to think of what I wanted to say. Before I could even form a thought, his lips were back on mine. My thoughts fled before the pressure of his lips on mine. I felt his hands on my back, pressing me tightly to him, crushing us together chest to breast and hip to hip. One big hand moved slowly around my ribs, I could feel him hesitate forever before finally reaching up to cup my breast. Oh my god. His thumb rubbed gently over the tip, arousing it to a tight peak against his taunting fingers.
I tore my lips from his, trying to catch my breath. I felt his lips trail down the side of my neck, felt the moist heat of his tongue as it curled around the sensitive lobe of my ear. Who knew ears were so sensitive? I felt like a puddle in his lap.
He lifted his head, his lips leaving me feeling bereft, deserted. I pried my eyes open, trying to figure out what he was doing. He merely reached up and gently brushed my hair back, away from my throat before lowering his head. His lips brushed against mine gently before possessing them in a passionate kiss. My eyes slammed shut and my brain shut down. His lips trailed wetly down my throat, I felt his tongue lapping gently at the pulse that hammered there. I felt the moist suction of his mouth and knew the force of it would leave a place. I didn’t care. I wanted to mark his mark on me, I almost craved it. Proof later that this hadn’t been a dream.
Desire washed over me in waves, drowning me in the dark sensations of his mouth against mine, his hands caressing my aching breasts. I was so caught up in my desire, in his, that I didn’t notice him drawing away at first. My sense were confused, unable to deal with this desertion.
Mark gently began easing away, if Dory only knew how close he was to losing control. She didn’t want to make love with him until she knew him better. She was worried about being a one-night stand. That was a laugh. She had every night of the rest of his life, if she only knew.
Slowly, bit by aching bit, he pulled away from her. Easing his hand away from the soft fullness of her breast was one of the hardest things he’d ever done but he did it. Taking a deep breath, he leaned back and looked down at her. Her soft cheeks were flushed from passion and the scrape of his beard. Unconsciously he ran a hand over his chin as he studied her. He needed to shave. He’d have to be more careful in the future, he didn’t want to scrape her tender skin. He waited patiently for her to open her eyes, giving her the time she needed to gather herself. God knows he could use a few minutes. His heart was still pounding, his breathing coming in deep gasps, his body still burning with a passion only she could quench. It was shaping up to be a hell of a morning, he thought with a grin. He reached out a shaking hand, brushing her hair from her cheeks, smiling when she automatically leaned into the warmth of his touch. She was already learning. And he had so much more to teach her.
Getting my breathing under control, I finally opened my eyes waiting for my blurry gaze to focus. I blinked rapidly but he was still sitting there, a bemused look on his face. His hand was wrapping one strand of my hair around his finger and watching it slide free to rest on my shoulder. He kept rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger as if he was fascinated with the feel, the texture of it. I watched him do this a few times before realizing he seemed to content to stay this way for the rest of the day. I wasn’t.
“Mark,” I had to stop and clear my throat, embarrassed when my voice came out as a mere squeak the first time I tried. “Mark, what, I mean, where do we go from here?”
I hated how unsure of myself, of him, that I sounded but I couldn’t help it. I was unsure of myself, of what I wanted, of him. Now that my mind was clearing, now that the haze of passion was fading away, all the doubts about this came roaring back. What in the hell did I think I was doing? This was the Undertaker, a man who was on TV every week, who had probably had women in every town. What in the hell had I been thinking?
Mark watched as the emotions chased across Dory’s face. He read the passion in the kiss-swollen lips, the half closed eyelids and the unfocused blue eyes that met his. Then the passion began to fade, clearing the way for the doubt that was written in big bold letters across her face as she stared at him. He shook his head. Even after what he’d told her, after the time they’d spent together and the feelings that erupted any time he touched her, she still doubted him.
“First of all darlin’ you need to realize I would never lie to you.” He waited for a minute, and then continued when she nodded hesitantly. His arms tightened around her in approval. “We’ve only known each other for a couple of days but already you’re an important part of my life. I want to make you a big part of that life.” He met her eyes, holding her gaze. “We can make a relationship work between us. But we both have to work at it. We’ll have problems, everyone does. But I’m not going to give up on you.”
He tightened his arms around her, nudging her head onto his chest. Bending his head he placed a soft kiss against her silken hair before whispering softly, “Please don’t ever give up on me.”
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