"Davie we got a new lead." Bobby said coming in. "What? Davie asked. "Well we had some of the guys go checking hotels within a hundred mile radius of the turnpike. They stayed at a hotel in Mount Airy last night left early this morning." Bobby said. "The only thing we know is the guys name is Mark." Bobby said. Davie rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Anybody going to the beach is going to stop in one place if they got a long drive." Davie said. "Raleigh." Bobby said. Davie nodded. "But why do you think there going to the beach?" Bobby asked. "Because Jessie is mine body and soul. I know everything about her. If she in North Carolina, she will find a way to get to the beach. She's always wanted to go." Davie said. "Davie are you still going to let me have her?" Bobby asked. Davie sighed. "I made that promise when I was mad, but I'll keep it. She does need to be punished." Davie said. Bobby was looking at Davie strangely. "But after that you never touch her again and don't damage her." Davie said. "Get the car and Tommy. Were heading for Raleigh. I'm going to find her myself." Davie said. Bobby went and had the car brought around. Davie scared him sometimes and he had a weird gleam in his eye. He almost felt sorry for Jessie when Davie got a hold of her.
Mark leaned against the truck. They had stopped at a rest stop to stretch there legs and go to the bathroom. Jessie came out of the rest stop carrying two cups of coffee. "Here Mark." She said handing one to him. "Thanks." he said taking the coffee. "So where are we heading today?" she asked. We'll drive straight through to Raleigh." Mark said. "Where after that?" Jessie asked. Mark laughed. "You're full of questions, aren't you?" Mark asked. "Well it's a surprise so you just have to wait." Mark said. "Mark come on tell me?" Jessie whined. "Nope. You'll just have to wait and stop whining or you can forget the surprise." Mark said "Oh okay." She said smiling again. "Come on let's get going we got a long drive." Mark said. "Jessie hopped in the truck and Mark got in on the drivers side. Mark pulled out on the highway. "Mark what if Davie comes after me again?' Jessie asked. "We'll go to the police." Mark said. "It won't do no good. Davie will walk away." Jessie said. Jessie had seen him walk away from trouble to many times untouched by the police. "Look at me Jessie." Mark said. Jessie turned her eyes to his. "Do you trust me?" Mark asked. "Yes." She said without hesitation. "If the police don't take care of him, I will. I will never let him hurt you again. Understand?" Mark asked. Jessie felt a chill go down her spine. She had never seen Mark look like this he looked deadly and dangerous. "Okay Mark." Jessie said. Mark grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "I will do anything to protect you Jessie." Mark said. Jessie looked at his face the scary look was gone replaced with the Mark she knew. Davie might want to think twice before messing with him Jessie thought. The look on Mark's face had been pure predator and deadly. There was more to this man than met the eye. "You look tired." Mark said. He pulled a small pillow from behind the seat and laid it on his lap. "Lay down for a little bit. We got a long drive." Mark said. Jessie laid her head in Marks lap and stretched her legs out in the seat. "Do ya need a blanket?" Mark asked. She nodded. Mark grabbed the blanket from the back and covered her up. Mark rubbed her head with one hand. Jessie felt her self dozing off. Mark's steady stroking in her hair relaxed her. She felt like no one could ever hurt her as long as she had Mark.
Mark gently shook Jessie. "Wake up kid." Mark said. Jessie sat up. "Are we there already?" She asked rubbing her yes. "No we got a couple of hours yet. I thought we would stop and eat." Mark said. Mark laughed as Jessie tried unsuccessfully to push her hair out of her face. "That's it the next hotel we get to I'm cutting this shit off." Jessie said aggravated. "I don't think so." Mark said quietly. He reached up and ran his hand through her hair. "I love your hair, it's beautiful." Mark said. Mark leaned over and kissed her on top of the head. He lingered for a minute breathing in her scent. Jessie once again felt the fluttering in her stomach and the quickening of her heartbeat. She held her breath as Mark's head moved down to rub his cheek against hers. His goatee scratching against her skin awoke nerve endings that she didn't know she had. Jessie lifted her hand and rubbed his cheek and ran her hand down to his chin to caress his goatee loving the feel of it. Mark rubbed his face down the long curve of her neck leaving her breathless wanting something but not knowing what. Mark found the pulse on her neck which was beating wildly and placed a warm kiss on it parting his lips and letting his tongue moisten her skin. Jessie had wound her arm around his neck holding him to her. Mark laid there against her neck feeling the strong beat of both there hearts. Hell he hadn't even kissed her lips or touched her with his hands and he felt more on fire than he ever had in his life. It scared the hell out of him. "Mark what I am feeling?" Jessie whispered in his ear her warm breath teasing his ear. Mark caught his breath resisting the urges to crush his mouth to hers. "Darlin I don't even know what I'm feeling." He whispered against her neck sending warm vibrations through Jessie's body. Mark pulled back slowly looking into her brown eyes seeing the awaking passion in her. He knew this was new feeling for her that she had never felt this before. "Come on, let's go eat." Mark said. Jessie nodded and got out of the truck. Mark came around and took her hand in his. Jessie was emotionally fragile. Mark knew he had to take it slow with her. He wanted her so bad but as he looked at her he seen she still had bruises from that bastard not to mention the emotional scars that would take longer to heal. Mark knew he had to be patient. "Mark why are you looking at me like that?" Jessie asked still breathless after there encounter. Mark smiled at her. "I can't tell ya now. But someday soon I will." He said. "Now get your ass in gear I'm starving." Mark said. Jessie grinned and fell in step beside him still holding on to his hand.