"Don't apologize," she said, placing her index finger over his lips. "I-I'm not offended." She shook her head to concrete her answer. "I think you need your head examined, though."
He looked at her with an odd expression. "Because…"
She closed her eyes, fighting off old memories. "Why would you want to kiss someone like me?"
"Don't," he growled, making her head jerk up. "Don't compare me to him." A hand cupped her cheek, and his thumb stroked her bottom lip. "I kissed you because you're an available, attractive woman, and I wanted to."
For the first time in her life, she took what he said at face value. "It's so hard to trust someone," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
"I know, believe me. Or did you forget I walked in on my wife with her-"
She took his hand. "I didn't forget. I'd like to pound her for it."
He promptly burst into laughter. "Come here, my little bodyguard," he said, pulling her into his lap.
"Why do you keep calling me little? I'm six-foot-three."
He kissed the top of her head. "You're a lot smaller than me." He was quiet for a minute, then added, "You've got a few hang-ups about being tall, don't ya."
Chewing her lip, she nodded. "My dad used to call me his son." She smiled sadly to herself. "I guess I was a tomboy." She shrugged. "I don't know how to be a girl."
"That's bullshit. I don't go for all that lace and frills. I think your leather is sexy."
She looked up at him, startled. "Now, that's bullshit."
His eyes widened at her use of the word then he gave her a wicked grin. "I don't know if I wanna kiss that mouth, considering the filth coming out of it."
She tried to look innocent. "So, if I promise not to do it again, your going to shut up and kiss me?"
His mouth moved closer. "Maybe."
Talia's lips parted with anticipation. "I'll never do it again," she whispered. Her eyes slid shut, her mouth brushing against his beseechingly.
With a low, devilish chuckle that nearly curled her poker-straight hair, he slanted his mouth over hers, her lips flowering open immediately for his tongue.
The kiss was hot, languid, and Talia arched against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her fingers in the warm, dark tresses that laid against his nape. They separated for air, Talia's forehead against his as they shared breath.
"Damn, that's good," he said, running the backs of his fingers over her cheek.
He smiled suddenly, and Talia straightened, sending him a suspicious look. "What?"
He grinned. "You have this little smudge of oil on your cheek and it makes you look cute as hell."
Blushing, she buried her face in his shoulder.
"You've never been called cute before, baby?" His laugh was amused and smug.
She shook her head, slapping his arm lightly.
He hugged her tight and she enjoyed the moment. "It feels good to be with you like this."
She buried her nose in his neck, placing a kiss there. "Mmm hmm. I've always felt close to you, but I think this was missing."
He nodded. "Let's go inside. I'll deal with this mess later."
He stood her on her feet and a feeling of loss washed over her as soon as they stopped touching. He took her hand in his larger one, escorting her inside to the kitchen.
He went to the sink and washed his hands. "I wanna go out for a while. Maybe find someplace to eat out."
She kissed him on one stubbly cheek, heading upstairs to change.
She took care of the splotch on her cheek and slipped into a pair of jeans, tossing her track pants into the hamper. A black Undertaker t-shirt, boots, and her leather jacket topped it off along with some lip-gloss and black eyeliner. She grabbed her gloves as an afterthought.
Mark was waiting in the truck and he looked her over several times before meeting her eyes. "Damn, little girl."
She looked at him expectantly. "What?"
"I've never seen one of my t-shirts filled out like that."
She rolled her eyes and got in the truck. "You're hopeless."
They found a restaurant in town and shared dinner, chatting about nothing in general. Talia was surprised to find herself completely comfortable with him, despite what they'd shared. Usually, she would've felt an underlying pressure to move things beyond a kiss, but Mark could only be described as… calm.
"I'll unlock the gym tomorrow. What time do you want to go in?" he asked as they walked through the front door at the end of the evening.
She smiled up at him. "Seven A.M., thank you."
"Nose to the grindstone, eh?"
Giving a nod, she headed for the den and her usual method of unwinding. "Come relax with me." She was getting used to him chilling in front of the TV with her, and she was going to miss it when he went back on the road.
He followed her in, taking her jacket and slinging it over the back of a chair, then began sorting through the DVD's in the big ebony cabinet that housed the entertainment center.
Talia lifted his left elbow, slipping under his arm so she could get a better look. "Ooo, that one!" She snatched the square case from him.
"Talia…" He sighed, putting his hands on his hips. "Gimme that. I've seen it twelve-hundred times."
She clutched the case to her chest like it was gold. "Please." She made her eyes big and stuck her lip out a little.
Another long sigh and his shoulders slumped. "Damn lip, gets me every time," he grumbled, taking the case and slipping the disc into the player.
Talia grinned.
He dropped onto the plush couch and pulled her against him. "I should bust yer ass, ya know," he said good-naturedly, his grassy-colored eyes twinkling.
Talia just laughed and kissed him on the cheek, looking at his handsome face with adoration. "You can try."
