Tyger sat in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to brew. She felt like an idiot. Mark probably thought she was psycho. Well who gives a shit what he thinks anyway she asked her self. She realized she did, but she didn't know why. What kind of effect was this man having on her and why. Hell Tyger this is the man that's been hunting you for 6 months and will turn you over to the police when he gets the chance. In spite of her fear of men she found herself fascinated with him. Okay Tyger stop playing with words she told herself. You think he's cute. She put her head in her hands. You are a idiot she told herself the first man you are ever attracted to is being paid to turn you into the police. Good going Tyger she told herself. Mark walked in and saw her sitting there with her head in her hands. "What's wrong?" he asked. Tyger jumped she didn't here him come in. "Nothing." She managed to mutter. She got up and poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "Thanks Darlin." He said. Tyger blushed her face turning red. God when he called her that it melted her. Mark grinned. "What ya all red for you overexert yourself outside." He teased. "No…Yes…I mean …Ohh leave me alone." She stuttered. Mark laughed. "Okay I guess I tortured ya enough for now." He said grinning. Tyger got up and went to the living room. She got her Cd player and put on her headphones. She got out her note book and began writing. She had always kept a journal. She had never had anyone to talk to, so it helped her get out her feelings. Marcus walked in and seen she had her headphone on and she was writing in that notebook of hers. He was guessing it was a diary or something. He went over and fiddled with the TV and found a football game and settled back to watch. "Hey Tyger." He yelled so she could hear. She slid the headphones down. "What?" she asked. "You wouldn't have any beer stashed would ya?" he asked hopefully. "I'm not old enough to drink." She said. Mark snorted "yea like that ever stopped you before. I heard you was a real party girl." He said. Tyger swallowed hard. She was tired of defending her self against lies her aunt had told. Mark looked at her. If he didn't know better he would say she looked hurt, but then the look was gone replaced with a look of complete anger. "I'm not going to keep defending my self against the lies you've been told. You're going to believe what you want to." She said quietly. She put her headphones on and went back to writing. Mark wished he had never opened his mouth.
Tyger was washing up the dinner dishes. Mark came in and made himself a cup of tea and watched her. She hadn't said two words to him since their little exchange earlier. Tyger dried her hands and went to the bedroom to get her blanket and pillow. She changed into a tank and boxers and went out to the couch. Mark was sitting there watching TV. "I'll sleep out here, after all it's your place." He said. "Your to big to sleep on the couch. I'm cool with it. Don't worry about it." She said. Mark noticed a tattoo peeking out from the back of her tank top. "Can I take a look at your tat?" he asked. Tyger didn't really want him to, but she couldn't think of a good reason to say no. She sat down facing away from him and pulled her shirt up so he could see. Mark saw she had two he looked at the one that was on the back of her shoulder first. It was a child sitting cross-legged with tears streaming down her face. A huge demon loomed over her with his mouth open ready to devour her. It was a beautiful tat but intense as hell. The one on her lower back showed an older girl slaying the demon with a sword. "Those are some beautiful tats darling." Mark said. "Thanks." she said pulling her shirt back down. "What they mean." He asked. "Don't mean nothing there just tattoos." She said. Mark raised a brow at that. "Now I know better than that Tyger, you don't ink your self for no reason. He said. She just shrugged and said nothing. Mark slid down to the floor in front of the couch so she could lie down. "Will it bother you if I watch the TV?" he asked. "No." she said. Mark got up and turned off the light and sat back down in front of the couch. Tyger laid there and looked at him. What was bothering her was him sitting so close to her. She could smell the scent of cologne and leather. God he smelled good. She flipped herself over facing the back of the couch and away from him. Shit she could still smell him and here the sound of his breathing. Damn she thought why can't he just go to bed. She sighed and flipped back over trying to get comfortable. Mark turned around. "Cant get to sleep?" he asked. She didn't answer him. "Want me to rub your back, might help you relax and get to sleep." He said putting his hand on her back. Tyger instantly freaked out. "Don't touch me!" she screeched at him. She slapped his hands away with hers. Mark was angry she could be such a little bitch sometimes. "Well excuse the hell out of me. Ya know you got a real mental problem girl. I don't need to rape a woman. I got women beating down my door. I sure wouldn't make a move on a scrawny kid like you. I like my women full grown. Don't worry your completely safe." He said angrily. He moved to set further away from her. Tyger flipped over and pressed her face into the pillow. He was right. He could have his pick of women. Why would he want her? She was damaged goods anyway. She was humiliated. Tears begin to slowly roll down her cheeks. She tried to stop them but she couldn't. She never cried anymore. She hated showing weakness. But his words had pierced the armor she held around her self. Why was she letting him get to her? Once the flood gates opened she couldn't stop. The tears just came harder. She buried her face in the pillow. Mark glanced her way. She had her face buried in the pillow and her shoulders were shaking. He heard her sniffle. Oh great he had made her cry. Oh good Mark he thought now do you feel like a real man you gone and made her cry. He sighed. "Tyger." He said. She didn't answer him. He got up and went over to the couch and flipped her over. "Don't deck me or nothing." He said. Tyger looked away from him humiliated he had seen her crying. Mark sat down on the edge of the couch. He turned her head to look in her eyes. She flinched but she didn't pull away. "Your too pretty to be crying sweetheart." He said. "On second thought your pretty when you cry too." He said smiling. "You said I was scrawny." She said her lip trembling. "Oh girl I say a lot of things when I'm mad. Don't mean them." He said wiping away her tears with her finger. "I'm sorry." He said. She looked in his eyes. "I'm sorry I yelled too. I just kinda freak out when people touch me." She said. Mark nodded he didn't think now was the time to get into why she was scared of him or men in general. Mark got up and got her a tissue. "Sit up." He said. She did and he wiped her face. "Now dry up those tears." He said. He sat down on the couch and pulled Tyger against his chest. She struggled to push away. "Now none of that nonsense. I aint going to hurt ya." He said patting her back. She lay stiff against him scared to move. "Relax darling." He said stroking her hair. She felt her body relaxing with his touch. Hell she thought this feels good. She felt safe and protected something she had never felt. Mark felt her relax and smiled. He continued to rub her back. Tyger sleepily cuddled onto his chest. He heard her breathing become steady and knew she was asleep. He laid her down on the couch and covered her up. He watched her curl up and settle into a deep sleep. Mark sat watching her. Damn this is not good he realized he was attracted to her. Great just great Mark. You got the hots for a killer. But the more he knew Tyger the more he was starting to doubt her aunt's version of the story. Either that or Tyger was on hell of an actress. He got up and tucked the blanket around her and headed off to bed.