Chapter 28

"Sit up." He instructed huskily, moving back to give her room.

She did as he asked and felt him pull her shirt from her body, over her head, and watched the fabric fall to the floor, her eyes immediately locking with his again. She was still wearing strapless bras due to her tattoo. It hadn't fully healed yet, but it was near completion. Grace felt her breath catch in her throat, seeing how big and muscular he was. Swallowing hard, Grace ran her hands up and down, feeling the muscles contract against her soft touch, the feeling simple, yet delicious at the same time.

Muscles rippled under her touch, a groan escaping his lips at the feel of her small hands caressing him. "Still torturing me, Grace." He murmured, catching one of her hands and resting it over his furiously beating heart, a smile playing his lips as he stared down at her. Letting go of her hand, his own slid behind her back, unsnapping her strapless bra and gently tossing it aside. His palms skimmed her ribs again, upwards to her breasts, lightly letting his thumbs graze her nipples, the slight gesture bringing them to rosy peaks.

Her head tilted back, her eyes closing, her hair cascading down her back as she lightly dug her nails into his skin, the feeling of him touching her almost too much for her to take. Grace moaned when she felt his lips on hers again, their chests pressing together, the sweet skin contact the most erotic feeling Grace ever experienced in her life. "Mark..." She moaned against his lips, sounding almost agonized, and trailed her hand down his chest to the button of his jeans, opening her mouth for access to his sweet tongue. A sigh escaped her as they tasted each other, feeling his hand bury in her blood red tresses, her head moving back and forth as the kiss intensified to almost breaking measures.

Over the pounding of his heart and rushing of his blood, Mark could hear the zipper of his jeans being pulled down, groaning when he felt her deliciously warm hand just resting against his skin, her fingertips so close...Growling from the back of his throat, he guided her down onto the bed, pulling away to undo her own pants, tugging them down her beautiful legs, discarding those as well. His eyes roamed her body hungrily, fastening on her panties. The way she was lying there, all disheveled and so ready to be ravaged, the panties were almost obscenely innocent. It made him want her even more.

Her own heart was beating a furious tattoo against her chest, feeling like it might explode with how much passion, feeling and love that absorbed it. Grace was breathing ragged, her body heated to the point where she would either need the fire put out or a very cold shower. She knew option two wasn't happening and smiled up at him, her blood red hair splayed all around her, body flushed with desire for him. Only him. He's the only man she would ever want, ever need, in her life. Grace watched as Mark stood up and removed his jeans, the room darkened except the faint moonlight spilling through the open curtains of the room, and she could make out the sculpture of him. When his lips captured hers again, Grace pulled him on top of her, feeling him remove her panties, wanting him more than air, water and anything else she couldn't live without.

The feel of her bare body pressed against his could have driven him over the edge if he wasn't keeping himself on a short leash, knowing it wouldn't take much at this moment. This was the most turned on he could ever remember feeling and it was because this beautiful woman underneath him was Grace. She was the only one for him, she always had been and always would be. All his passion, desire...it was for one woman and he had just been waiting all these years for her to come back into his life. It must have been fate giving them a second chance.

For nearly twenty years, Grace thought Mark was dead. She thought she would never hear his voice or see him again. For years she mourned over him, even branded herself to somehow deal with her inner pain. None of her relationships worked out, not even with Steve, and she knew why. It was because of Mark, because of the hold he had on her. Even at the tender age of ten, Grace knew she loved him. She would do anything for him and he for her. That night when he broke into her hotel room, he could've taken what he wanted. Even if she didn't fight him off, he wouldn't have taken it because he knew somewhere down the road things would change. She knew it too and had been fighting it all this time. Now there was no more running, no more hiding. Mark was back with her, in her life, and Grace was never letting him go.

Rough, slightly calloused hands roamed her feverish body, his own burning with need, but for her he could and would wait forever. Though forever was tonight. "I love you, Grace." He murmured, his Texas drawl finally shining through, emotions choking the words a little. "Always you, darlin'." Coming to her thighs, he gently parted her legs, settling himself against her, the fit of them perfect. She had been made for him and vice versa.

Her eyes closed when he called her that, his southern accent washing over her, and tears began cascading down her cheeks as his lips met hers again. It really was him, she recognized that accent anywhere, even though his voice was much deeper and huskier. "I love you too Mark. Not a day went by I didn't think about you, not a single minute." She whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment for fear of it cracking. She felt his lips brush against her cheeks, her hands clutching his arms before passionately kissing him, wrapping her legs around his waist as he brushed against her. A soft moan escaped her as Mark's lips left hers and began blazing a trail of fire down her jaw line to her neck, her fingers burying in his hair, wanting this moment to last for all eternity.

Her tears had broken his heart only for her words to heal it again. That's how he knew he truly loved her. Her pain had the power to destroy him while just one simple smile could rebuild his life. "We have forever now, darlin'." He whispered, the head of his cock brushing against her, pushing in for a moment before withdrawing, hesitating. He closed his eyes, praying this wasn't a dream that he was about to woke up from, finally positioning himself, slowly beginning to sheath himself in her.

Nodding, Grace had the same thoughts flowing through her mind and felt a gasp hitch in her throat, gripping his arms with her hands, feeling the power and strength emanating from every pore in his body. She hadn't been with a man since her ex-boyfriend -aside from Steve- so it was going to be tense. Grace closed her eyes, drinking this moment in and opened her eyes when he pushed further inside of her.

"Don't stop..." She panted out, knowing if he stopped and slid in again it would hurt worse. "Keep going..." She moaned, his lips finding hers, and broke it as their foreheads pressed together. "I'm yours forever, Mark." She whispered, her walls stretching farther than they ever dreamed possible, her chest rising and falling faster and faster with every second that ticked by. The slow burn rushed through her and Grace tilted her head back against the pillow, nearly ready to explode already.

It was sheer, exquisite agony for him. His body longed to drive forward and just end the torture, bury himself so deep in her he would never be able to pull back. But the tightness told him all too well that she hadn't been with a man in a long time and Steve simply did not count in his mind, so he took his time, never stopping but going slow enough not to hurt her too badly. When he was completely sheathed, his body trembled, burying his face in her neck and just breathed, his breaths coming out ragged.

Grace was doing her best not to tense, her eyes closed tightly shut, and felt his hot breath on her neck. Just from the sheer anticipation alone was causing their bodies to break out in a thin perspiration. The burning sensation within her slowly subsided and all she was left with was the feeling of Mark deep inside of her. She slowly pulled his head up, smiling into his eyes, so much emotion and love coursing through her amber orbs. His were the same way and it sent her heart racing again. No words had to be said, their eyes told the entire story. Slowly, Grace slipped her legs from around his waist and bent her knees, spreading her legs wider for him and heard him hiss out. When he slowly pulled back and snapped his hips forward, Grace let out a cry of pure ecstasy and passion.

His hair was already damp and that was just the warm up, flicking his locks back from his face, he stared down at her, his lips parted slightly. "Goddamn darlin'..." Mark whispered huskily, his voice washing over her like warm honey, deep and lusty. Holding her knees gently, he began pumping into her, slow, smooth strokes, feeding the already out of control inferno.

"Oh Mark!" Grace cried out softly as he drove in and out of her at a slow, methodic pace, taking his time. It amazed her how much control he had considering how much they both wanted this. Grace ran her hands down his chest, her nails barely grazing flesh, and whipped her head back when he found her sweet spot. "Oh yes...oh right there..." She moaned out. "Oh just a little harder..." She sounded almost pained when she begged, the feeling overwhelming her. He felt so incredible, huge and strong, and he was being so gentle with her that it made her heart swell while it pounded furiously.

How could he deny that? Her pleading was beautiful, a choir of angels serenading him would have paled in comparison to her passion filled voice. "How's that, hmm, darlin'?" He murmured, keeping his voice soft so it wouldn't break, that was what she was doing to him. Through the dim moonlight he could see her toss her head back, the sight permanently etching itself into his mind, her blood red hair splayed about the pillow, a strand clinging to his wrist when he reached down to gently pulled her head up, capturing her lips with his.

Kissing him was like a drop of the heaven she was experiencing at the moment. Grace could kiss him for the rest of her life and she would be the happiest woman in the world, in the universe. She moaned softly as he leaned back on his haunches, wrapping her legs around his waist instinctively, their chests pressed together as they kissed feverishly while Mark increased the pace with his thrusts. She loved this position, though she'd never experienced it before. He didn't need to know that though.

"Mark..." She mumbled against his lips, nipping his bottom lip before kissing him again, her release slowly building. He was trying to make it last and she honestly didn't blame him, never wanting this moment to end. Her lips left his as her mouth trailed across his cheek to his ear, hands gripping his powerful arms. "I love you, I love you so much..."

Those words were a sweet aphrodisiac feeding his desire for her, his passion, all the more. "I love you, darlin'." He managed to get out in a hoarse growl, his teeth gritting. He could feel her body approaching release, the way her muscles would tense, her inner walls contract wildly, holding onto him, trying to stop him it seemed from withdrawing from her. Even if it were only to plunge back in; always brushing against that sweet spot he had discovered, her moans and cries driving him on.

"Make me yours..." She pleaded, her breathing coming out in harsh breaths and wrapped her arms around his neck, their foreheads pressed together. Grace felt herself beginning to come apart around him, moving with him as the thrusts intensified, the sounds of flesh smacking flesh echoing through the hotel room. The headboard banged against the wall and mixed with their sounds of passion. It was the most beautiful sound in the world. Her walls began to tighten around his hardened shaft in a vice grip that left him nearly breathless and she could feel this was ending. "Mark!" She cried out, trying to hold on, but it wasn't happening. With one more brush against her sweet spot, Grace finally cracked and shattered against him, shrieking out his name as her sweet essence completely swallowed him, drenched him to the core, and wrapped him in a tight warm cocoon.

Riding out that first orgasm was sheer torture, bliss, but torture and he knew he wouldn't last through a second, determined to bring her to climax once more. Though the first one had been earth shattering in itself. "One more time, darlin', I wanna feel you cummin' around me again." He whispered harshly, driving into her like a man possessed. Beads of sweat coated his entire body, his hair hanging over his shoulders. Mark could feel his own end approaching, his eyes closing as his body stiffened in anticipation. "C'mon darlin'..."

Grace swallowed hard, her entire body still trembling from her first release, and knew her second one was mere seconds away. Her body was already sensitive to the point where just the slightest graze and she would shatter again. Sweat coated her body as well, mixing with his, and it was delicious as she locked eyes with his, darkened green and gold mixing in a swirl of passion and desire. "MARK!!" She screamed his name this time, her entire body convulsing as she came again, intensely, shuddering around him in an almost suffocating grip.

That was it for him, Grace literally screaming his name was the last thing needed to push him right over the edge. "Grace!" He grunted, gasping out her name repeatedly as he wrapped her up in his strong embrace, burying himself one last time in her. Feeling her walls once more caving in around him, this time accepting the vise grip as he came filling her with his seed, completely making her his own. Breathing raggedly, he buried his face in her neck, taking a long, shuddering breath.

Feeling him explode inside of her sent Grace's mind spinning, the passion haze completely engulfing every other thought except him and what he was producing inside of her body. Her third and final orgasm tore through her, causing her to hoarsely scream out his name, finally collapsing against him, knowing if his arms weren't around her she would've fell back on the bed. Her chest was pressed against his, their hearts drumming melodies at a fast pace, both of their breathing sporadic. Grace rested her head heavily against Mark's, every ounce of energy and strength used up in this bout with him.

"Mark..." She whispered softly, kissing him, and buried her face in his neck as she inhaled his scent and kissed his soft flesh, trying to get him to calm down.

Chuckling, he rolled and was on his back, taking her with him so she was laying sprawled out on his chest. His green eyes glittered in the darkness as he stared at her, his fingertips dancing along her back, sweeping against her skin. "I love you." He rumbled when he could finally talk without pausing to catch a breath of air.

"I...love you too..." She managed to gasp out, still trying to catch her own breath, and snuggled against his chest as the biggest smile crossed her face.

That was incredible, everything about what they just did absolutely beautiful. Grace knew she would be feeling it in the morning too, but for the moment, she was completely content to lay on top of him, staring into his eyes, her own sparkling back at him with such raw and intense happiness. He was the love of her life, her best friend, her soul mate. Everything about him she loved, good and bad, he was hers and he completed her.

Reaching down, he somehow managed to untangle the sheet from the comforter without moving her too much, pulling it up to drape over them, settling his arms back around her. Something told him he wasn't going to need to stretch tomorrow night, not if the tingling in his legs were any indication. Smiling slightly, he bent his head forward, brushing his lips against hers.

"Get some sleep, Grace." He whispered, a rumbling laugh building in his chest. "You'll need it."

"Mmmm, I look forward to it." She murmured in reply and closed her eyes, loving the feeling of their naked bodies pressed together.

He was real, not an allusion, and he was with her. It was almost surreal, but Grace was slowly getting used to it. She hoped this lasted, this side of Mark, though she knew he also had a dark side. He rarely ever showed it with her though and that's what mattered. Grace went to sleep that night with a smile on her face and hope for the future for them, knowing heaven couldn't last and she was prepared for anything that came their way.

Mark waited until the sounds of deep and steady breathing told him that Grace was asleep before gently rolling her onto her side, moving onto his own as well, wrapping an arm around her and spooned against her pliant body. Planting a lazy kiss on her dragon tattoo, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, her scent filling him, a heady sensation. A slight smile on his face, he drifted off as well.