Mark grumbled to himself as there was a knock on the door. He'd just been about to get in the shower. Instead, he pulled his jeans on and answered the door shirtless. To his relief and happiness he saw Lexie standing there. She seemed momentarily thrown by his lack of shirt but regained her composure quickly. "What the hell are you trying to do to me!"
"What do you mean?"
"You can have a husband if you want?" Lexie said, quoting him. "Firstly, if you're not serious that isn't funny. Secondly…"
"I was serious," he interrupted, trying to speak calmly. "Do you want to come in or keep shouting at me on my doorstep?" Lexie paused and then stepped into his flat, ignoring the fact his eyes on her felt like spotlights. "Secondly?" Mark prompted.
"Er…" Lexie couldn't seem to stay angry when he looked at her like that. With so much want and passion that her thoughts became all jumbled and confused. Then she remembered how she'd felt when he told her those things. "Secondly, how dare you. How dare you propose to me like that? Nothing romantic, nothing special, just in the hallway of a hospital. Where we work! What the hell were you thinking?"
"I miss you," he said honestly. "I can't bear to see you slipping away from me. I don't want to sleep with every woman I come across. I want you. No one else." She felt her breath catch at that, hating what this man did to her just with his voice. "And you came here tonight," Mark said slowly. "Which makes me think… you might have feelings for me too. Otherwise, why are you here?"
Lexie paused, debating what to say to that. Of course she loved him. Deeply. But she wasn't sure she was ready to admit that. Staying away from him after those wonderful things he'd said to her was intolerable. Simply put, she'd had to see him. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, as if knowing the internal struggle she was having. He didn't say a word. Instead he closed the gap between them and kissed her hard. He held her close and her hands drifted down his back. His bare back, skin so tempting as his mouth joined hers. His fingers worked their way under her shirt and that sent a message to her brain. Backing away she murmured, "stop."
"Why?" he asked still holding her. From the way she'd responded to him, he knew she wanted him.
"Mark, I'm not a cheater. I have to deal with Alex. I can't do this now." She was breathing heavily and her eyes were sparkling with what they'd just shared and he smiled, pleased to have had this effect on her. He kissed her again, this time slow and lingering. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said.
"You're not coming back here?"
"No, Mark. I'm not," she said quickly, finding it both irritating and charming they way he was smiling at her. "I'm going to think about what you said, and I'm going to sleep in my own bed. Alone," she added at the unspoken question.
"In a minute." He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her passionately once more. She didn't object, rather enjoying the unexpected kiss. In fact, she could stay here all night long.
"No, I really have to go," she said, pulling away from him quickly. "If I don't, I'll just stay here all night."
"That sounds like a plan," Mark said.
"Shut up." Lexie turned around and quickly left, knowing that if she stayed there any longer her resolve would vanish into the atmosphere of longing and want. Mark stood watching the door for a few minutes without moving, deep in thought. Then he went back to have his shower. Better make it a cold one too.
I know these are short chapters, but I can update quicker this way. Hope you liked this instalment, and thanks for the reviews so far.
