CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
My Perfect Place.
The rest of the afternoon was uneventful, I went for a late lunch with Elle as I missed breakfast while Mark said he needed to see if he could get some anti-inflammatory tablets for his shoulder because he had ran out. I said I would get him some ibuprofen on the way back, but he said he needed stronger ones and would have to get them from a doctor.
I met Mark near Tower Bridge and we took a walk along the Embankment, before dark clouds threatened the unusually warm April weather.
"Why don't we go up there and wait out the rain?" Mark pointed to the London Eye but I chickened out.
"No! I'm scared of heights and that thing moves so slowly I would hyperventilate and pass out before we were half way around!"
"Come on! Don't be so melodramatic!" Mark playfully tugged my arm but I wouldn't budge from my perfectly rational fear!
"You go up and I'll sit down here with a coffee. That's the only deal I'm laying on the table. Take it or leave it!" I put my spoiled little brat face on and Mark gave up.
"Fine! You spoil my fun! And since when do you drink coffee?"
We got into a discussion about hot beverages but then the rain started to lightly fall, the kind of fine misty stuff that soaks you through before you realise it.
We decided on taking a walk around the London Aquarium as it was near by. We spent an hour in there before the rain subsided and headed back to Knightsbridge and strolled along there, just window shopping before we walked towards the Natural History Museum, or the Geological Museum as some people called it.
"Another museum, darlin'?" Mark looked bored before we had even got into the building.
"Sorry. I know I ramble on a bit about unimportant stuff! What do you want to do instead?"
Mark stroked his beard and was in full-on thinking mode as he looked me up and down. Tell me you want to 'do' me! "How about we go back to yours and plan what to do tonight? The evenings are so much more fun, don't you think?" Mark gave me a sly wink and it set my tingles on overdrive. I think I stuttered something, but I have no idea what. All I could think was that Mark could do what ever he wants to do this evening, as long as it involved me, him and no clothes.
I put the kettle on and made us both a coffee. "See, I told you I drink coffee when it's not that filtered stuff." I sat down and realised I have had lunch with Elle but I hadn't seen Mark eat anything. Not even breakfast this morning. "You haven't had lunch have you? Do you want me to make you something?"
Mark smiled at me as he sat opposite me at the kitchen table, saying he was fine then he went all serious. I hate it when he does this.
"You and me, darlin'...Are we OK?" Mark put his hand on mine, and I let him.
"How do you mean?" I took a sip of my coffee to calm my nerves before this turned into another 'deep and meaningful' that Mark seemed so fond of.
"I just mean about this morning. I know I got mad and I know it must have frightened you because..." Mark's voice trailed off and he looked a little pissed off, but then he continued. Because I didn't give him what he wanted? "I had no right to get mad at you like that and I didn't mean to scare you sweetheart. I'm really sorry." I felt bad now that he thought he frightened me, even though he did, but didn't mean to make him feel guilty for it.
I got up and, in an uncharacteristic endeavour to make him feel better, I bent over to hug him. "We are just fine." I felt Mark's arms around my waist as he rested his head on my chest.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." I told him to forget all about it and went back to sipping my coffee.
Forgetting about this morning was easier said than done. Now I knew what having his hands all over me felt like, it left me wanting more and he was well and truly in my system and I found myself thinking that I was right, my head childishly saying 'Told you so!' over and over again.
From the get-go, my gut told me that one night with Mark wouldn't get him out of my system, it wouldn't satisfy my craving for him and it wouldn't make me forget him. Now I knew for certain that one night wouldn't be enough. No where near enough. What if I didn't get the wrong end of the stick? Would we have …? I gave it some thought and was convinced that we would have had sex and I was even more convinced that it would have been great sex to boot.
"Sweetheart, you're off in your own world again." Mark was looking right at me as I blinked my way back to this dimension.
"Sorry. Was just thinking about what to do for the rest of the day." It wasn't a complete lie. I had thought about spending time in bed with him in great detail! Mark smiled that sexy little half smile he does and asked what I had come up with. I stuttered and turned bright red. I used to be so good at having a 'get out of this conversation' line, but Mark had sent my talent to a dark room I didn't have the key for. I got up and said I was off to get a shower.
"A cold one, darlin'?" Mark looked amused with himself. Oh crap...can he really read my mind?
"Yeah. A beer would be nice." I ran off upstairs and ran into the shower, trying to wash the embarrassment off me. At least I'm thinking well enough to get out of his cold shower remark!
After my shower and managing to avoid any kind of conversation with Mark that would leave me flustered, I checked the football scores, but remembered my team wasn't playing until Monday.
"You said you would take me to a soccer game." Mark had a wicked smile on his face, knowing full well that referring to football as 'soccer' pissed me off!
"When they invent soccer, I will. Until then you will have to make do with football!"
We continued our weeks long debate about sports and I had a brain wave!
"How about on Monday, I give you a taste of England?"
"Is that what you call pussy over here?" Mark looked down to my jeans and I was absolutely outraged!
"I HATE that word! And no." I knew what Mark was referring to, but I wasn't keen on the idea at all. I didn't want to disappoint him by being disappointed. Men have tried and men have failed. They were too inexperienced and too influenced by porn to really know how to please me.
"Sorry sweetheart. I should watch my language, not just that word, but I really shouldn't cuss in front of a lady." Mark slid across the sofa towards me and looked half amused, half sorry.
"One- I'm not a lady! And two - as far as swearing in front of me goes - have you met Stewie?" Mark started laughing, knowing that it only takes thirty seconds of meeting Stewie to know he has a mouth like a docker!
Mark asked what I actually meant and I gave him my idea,
"I thought we could do the stereotypical English things. Go to the pub, have fish and chips for dinner and then watch the footie."
It was getting close to six and I was starting to get hungry.
"What do you want for dinner?" I asked Mark, who was looking at his mobile phone.
"Well, I actually have an idea of my own! Why don't you sit here and watch TV and I'll be back down in a while." Mark looked like the cat that got the cream and it set my spidey senses tingling!
"You're freaking me out. What have you got up your sleeve?" Mark just grinned and said he was just being a gentleman. "Now I am worried!"
"Don't you worry about a thing, sweetheart. You just sit here for a while and I'll be back!" He finished that in his best Arnie impression, which wasn't up to much!
I turned the TV over and got bored. I went to make a cup of tea for me and a coffee for Mark, who was taking forever at what ever it was he was up to.
About ten minutes later, Mark came downstairs to find me sat on the sofa watching a programme I actually found interesting.
"There's a coffee for you there." I pointed to the coffee table and drank the last sip of my tea.
"Thanks, but I'll have it in a bit. You need to come with me." He took my hand and pulled me off the sofa. "I've got a little surprise for you!"
He led me up to my room and stood blocking the door to my bathroom, like a bouncer at a nightclub.
"What are you up to?" It was obvious that he had done something in there. "Oh...have you re-grouted the tiles?" I faked being excited with that idea and Mark laughed at me.
"Sorry to disappoint, darlin' All I did was this..." Mark opened the door and I walked in to find candles surrounding a bubble bath. I was speechless. Well, almost.
"What the fuck is this?" I turned to Mark, who's smile faded fast.
"How has this pissed you off?" I realised he thought I was mad because I swore at him.
"Sorry, I swear when I'm a bit...overwhelmed, too. What have you done this for?" Is he getting in too? My tingles came back with reinforcements at the thought of having a wet, soapy and very naked Undertaker in my bath!
"I just thought you might learn how to relax. Now get in and I want you to stay up here until I come get you!" With that, Mark closed my bathroom door and left me in absolute astonishment. Well, it does look inviting... "I'll only need half an hour, but stay in there longer if you want to."
I undressed and got in, the water was just the right temperature and I slid down under the bubbles.
How much longer do I have to be kept prisoner in my own room? It had been well over an hour and I finished in the bath ages ago. What is he up to? This better not take long, I'm starving. The curiosity was getting the better of me and I went out of my bedroom and crept to the top of the stairs to see or hear of anything that would give me a hint, but the only hint I got was a 6 foot 8 tattooed American at the foot of the stairs.
"I told you to wait until I come got you!" Mark shook his finger at me as he climbed the stairs.
"You said it would be half an hour an hour ago and I get bored easy!"
"Get back to your room, Ms Delgado!" I followed his instruction, but I wasn't happy about it! "Now, close your eyes and don't move."
"You're being quite bossy to someone who's about to kick your arse." But I did as he said anyway.
I felt Mark behind me and his breath on my slightly damp hair gave me chills. "Like you could take me!"
I argued with him that I had some skills, but he just laughed it off.
"Why am I stood here like an idiot with my eyes closed?" This little charade of his was fun at first, but now I was getting a sinking feeling.
"Because I want to do something." Finally! With eyes still closed, I could sense Mark right in front of me. I felt his breath in my face and the tingles were wreaking havoc on my body.
"I wanted to do this the first time I met you." I felt Mark's lips softly touch mine and pull away. His fingers tangled in my hair as he placed another gentle kiss on my lips. "I want to do things right and I want for you to let me in." As in...sex?
Mark kissed me again but didn't pull away this time. I felt myself ready to rip his clothes off and I kissed him deeper, but Mark stopped me.
"I said I wanted to do this right. Let me savour this." Mark lightly and teasingly kissed my neck as his hands glided down my arm and gently caressed my waist before running his hand up my back, giving goosebumps and insanity a free for all. Christ on a crutch, I think I'm going to stop breathing now. The gentleness of it all and the sensuality of it all was doing more to me than if he just threw me onto the bed and screwed me.
"So much for baby steps!" I smiled but when I felt Mark take a step back, I opened my eyes and found him not looking happy. "I don't want..."
"No, you're right. We should take things slow. Anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to give you." Mark cut me off before I could tell him I didn't want him to stop. Spoil sport. "Can you dress up for me and come downstairs? I have a surprise for you."
"I don't think I could take another one of your surprises right now."
"Are you hungry?" Not for food... "Come downstairs and I promise I will be a gentleman." I don't want a gentleman. Right now, I want a bad boy.
Mark left my room and I was more than a little frustrated. Why can't he just be a man and get me into bed? I know I bitched to myself before that I wished he would want me for something other than sex, but now we had taken steps in the direction of a relationship, I wanted the sex! Oh sod it. If he's so determined to be a gentleman, then I'll have to make him stop and think!
I got dressed in my sexiest underwear and put on my favourite dress, the one I reserved for very special occasions. I had never worn it! It was a long red satin dress that had a corset like body and diamond spaghetti straps. The balconette cut of the neckline showed off my chest a little more than I would have liked, but if Mark still insisted on being a gentleman, then I would give him pause for thought.
OK, deep breaths. I made my way to the living room and Mark was the one who made me pause for thought. Mark was wearing a pair of black trousers and a dark blue silk shirt. I remembered how good it felt on his skin the last time he wore something similar and I wanted to feel it again. Mark looked me over and even that gave me tingles!
"You look fucking edible!" He smiled that sexy little smile and I didn't care my stomach was empty, I wanted something other than food to fill me up. I took a few steps toward him and felt the silk smoothly slide over his chest. Yummy! I stood on my tip toes and gently kissed him. Give in to me..
"You taste edible too, darlin', but I'm hungry." So am I! "Come on." Mark pushed his elbow out and waited for me to hang on to it.
He led me through to the kitchen and held open the back door for me.
"What the Hell are we going into the garden for?" I was getting a bit puzzled and a lot frustrated.
Mark walked me over to the foliage where my little garden was hidden from view and told me to close my eyes again. What the Hell is he up to? I hope this just means he likes it outdoors.
I heard him rustle around at something and heard what sounded like a lighter being fired up. I forgot he smokes. But as Mark took my hand and blindly made me walk ten steps forward, I couldn't smell any cigarette smoke.
"OK, sweetheart. Open your eyes." He better be naked. I opened my eyes and wasn't in the least bit disappointed that he was still fully clothed.
My little part of the world was littered with lanterns and a blanket full of food was laid out in front of the fish pond where floating candles gently swayed on the ripples of water.
"Fuck a duck." I'm in deep shit.
"I hope that's a good swear and not a bad one." Mark gripped my hand tightly. I couldn't speak. I had never been big on romance, I thought it was a load of crap used to get laid. Or maybe I wasn't big on it because no one had ever done something like this for me. What I was feeling was incredible, I had never felt this happy and this...safe.
Mark kissed the top of my head and told me he wanted to do things the right way. I didn't really know what he meant, but I wasn't bothered in the slightest!
"I was going to take you out for dinner, but I thought you would prefer it at your favourite place." Mark smiled and in the light of the lanterns and candles, I saw how truly handsome he is. I felt something in my chest thump with something other than fear. Don't think...feel.
"This isn't my favourite place." Mark looked confused but as I nestled into his chest, finding the place I fit into perfectly and feeling his arms and the happiness surrounding me, I let on that I was in fact part human. "This is my favourite place."