Author's Note - Finally... chapter 8! Enjoy! It has Mark's favorite place in the city, deep talks, elevator make outs and... well, the rest of it...

The night sky was completely aglow with bright city lights and once again, the familiar feeling of being so small in a giant, unknown city settled down in a pit of her stomach, but somehow, this time it didn't make her feel nauseous like every previous one. In fact, being there, looking over the entire city that was spread out beautify in front of her, she had no doubt why this place, where he brought her, was called Skye.

Her lips curved into a shy smile and Lexie turned her head, meeting his eye. She wasn't sure what she had expected before, and she didn't know should she be surprised by him bringing her here or not. She didn't know how she should feel about it at all. And at last, she definitely didn't know why she couldn't list one single thing why sitting in silence with Mark Sloan, a person who was... or at least, supposed to be, her superior at work didn't feel, in any way, bad, wrong or unnatural. To the contrary, it felt soothing, appealing, relaxing... If she's being totally honest, he somehow became a lot more than just some guy from work, than just some person she would run into almost every day... Or maybe, part of her even felt like he was more than that ever since she moved to New York.

There was pride growing within her, pride with herself at how bold she had been just a few hours ago, kissing him and holding onto him and trusting him. And she was determined she wouldn't let her habits of overthinking and overanalyzing everything in her life ruin that. She had been bold, she had been forward, she had been daring... showing this kind of bravery probably for the first time in a while. It felt good. It filled her chest with a pleasant warmth, and with the strange confidence that she thought it had faded away after everything that had happened to her.

"I still can't believe that someone like you has a go-to place for when something bad happens." Lexie admitted in a quiet voice, her teeth biting on the yellow straw. They sat next to each other in a small booth in a corner, which was immediately shown to them the moment after they had stepped into the café. That only made her think he always sat at that same booth and hostesses apparently knew that, and they knew him. The question how often he came here also crossed her mind, but she didn't ask.

Lexie had never been this high up in New York and even despite that, she had barely any time for any sightseeing. And when it comes to thinking about how damn expensive this place was, up on the 34th floor, with huge windows that provide the perfect sight of the New York skyline... let just say, she tried to push all that thoughts away as far as possible. For a second, she even got worried if she was dressed properly for a place like this, even though there were only a few people there beside them and the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, and also kind of intimate, with some barely audible jazz melody humming through the air.

"Someone like me?" he raised an eyebrow at her, before he spoke huskily, pretending to be insulted, "What? Insensitive? Heartless?"

"I didn't say that." she immediately responded, as if in sudden fear that he really suspect that was what she thought about him. "I don't think that, either. Just... I don't know. Distant, maybe?" she let out a soft chuckle, her eyes searching for his reaction, but he only nodded, taking that as a good enough describing word for him. Still, she felt the need to explain a little further. "Just... you don't exactly seem like a kind of person who would... let himself be attached to a place."

"You don't have a place where you go when you just want to calm your nerves? A place where it's easier for you to cope with stuff?" he fired back quickly, so he wouldn't have to focus on her statement or how truthful it was. And he was also very curious. Everybody should have that place. The place where you just simply feel relaxed and safe and warm, the place where you can regain energy and reduce stress and tiredness, the place where you can't bring just anybody, the place that was simply just your place. The place where you feel peaceful.

He was absolutely sure she has that place. She was literally the type of person who simply had to have that place.

Mark took a sip of his scotch and look at her with the corner of his eye, a list of possible places forming in his head. She must have her place. Some park maybe, or a café, or a cinema, or some quieter place as a library. Yeah, for her, a library would probably be a good assumption. Or like his place was, maybe the rooftop of some building, New York has tons of those... But the sudden obvious realization dawned on him and almost at the same moment she confirmed it herself in a quiet tone, "Of course I do. Just not here."

Of course it's not. Mark cleared his throat as an attempt of silent apology and his left hand, the one she wasn't able to see, clenched into a fist as an expression of how angry with himself he felt in that moment. Of course she doesn't have that place here. She practically told you that a few hours ago. She didn't know New York. She moved here just a few months ago, and more than half of that time she had spent in a hospital. It was so stupid... thinking she has her place here.

He felt the palms of his hands began to sweat, even though the faint smile of her face hasn't disappeared. But he knew that his words stung. He knew that he just reminded her how lost she's probably feeling, living here completely alone.

Not being able to think about anything else in that moment, he suddenly remembered to refer to her previous words, just in need to change the subject. "You said I'm distant?" he asked, hesitating a little. But she nodded and smiled more widely, and then he exclaimed calmly, though it was clear he found his words more as a joke than as a serious statement. "Well, my 400-dollar an hour shrink does say that behind this rugged and confident exterior, I'm self-destructive and self-loathing to an almost pathological degree."

Her smile quickly turned into a laugh, and she pointed at him. "Almost being the key word there."

She took another sip of orange juice that she ordered and look around for the probably hundredth time. This place was absolutely incredible... especially because of the retractable roof and panoramic glass walls.

"It's really beautiful here." she commented nonchalantly, looking down at her glass. Lexie couldn't exactly figure out what, but there was something about the way he looks at her... something that tend to force her to look down every time they would make an eye contact. There was something so intense about him, that would even increase when they were alone, and she just couldn't bear staring back at him. Not without blushing, at least. It had nothing to do with who he was professionally to her, it was something about him as a person. And it was driving her crazy. "And it has a beautiful view. I mean, look at this. I would never get used to this view."

"Yeahh..." he mumbled his blunt confirmation, his eyes still deeply focused on her.

She could feel it. She could feel on her bare skin. Her skin was burning, her heart beat so fast it threatened that could explode inside her chest, and Lexie felt almost claustrophobic in her own body. She tried to control her steady breaths, but her lungs were burning as well, making her intention impossible.

Just when she thought she would completely melt right there in front of him, just because of the way he stared at her, a sudden unknown voice appeared as a saving bell. "Here you go, Mr. Sloan." Dark haired woman smiled, taking his empty rock glass off the bistro table and settling down a new, completely filled one.

Before she could walk away, he gave Lexie a prying look. "You sure you don't want a drink?"

"Yeah, I'm sure, thanks." she firmly nodded and woman walk away.

He furrowed, but didn't say anything.

"So, how did you even find this place anyway?" Lexie asked out of genuine curiosity, but for some reason she immediately felt like she's just intrude his intimacy maybe a little too deeply. "I mean, New York City spreads over 300 square miles, and there are around 3400 cafés in it, and you just like that chose this one in particular. There has to be a story."

"Yeah... a story. Very touching one." Mark nodded, but Lexie recognized the sarcasm within his voice. Mere seconds later, she found out from where did it come from. "I gave its owner's wife a face lift."

"Ohhhh that's..." she tried to come up with something to say, but burst into laughter before she could. He really liked that, he liked the way she laughed, he liked the sound of it. It ignited some sort of spark under his skin.

"Ohh and now it's funny?" he smirked at her, "He invited me for a few free drinks after his wife's surgical procedure, and I really liked it here, and I kept coming afterwards. But only when I want to be alone." he added at the end after the short pause, and Lexie's smile faded away as she tried to figure out was he actually aware of what he just told her.

Only when I want to be alone.

But he was the one who asked her to come here with him in the first place.

When they left the hospital, she didn't expect this... she didn't expect anything, but then again, at the same time she expected a lot.

Maybe she was reading into this too much. Maybe he just felt too lost in the moment, too pensive because of what happened with this patient, so he just decided to relive differently and that's why he kissed her. Maybe that moment passed. Maybe it simply lost its meaning. For everything she had heard about him, there weren't many things he would find meaningful.

"I lost you." His voice suddenly brought her back to earth and broke the line of her accumulating thoughts.

"Huh?" she huffed even if she instantly knew what he meant. "I'm sorry. I was just… Never mind." she slightly shook her head and smiled.

Mark waited a long second before speaking again, in sudden realization. "Wait, there are three thousand and something cafés in New York City? How for God's sake you know that?"

Her smile only widened as she answered, delighted at how impressed he seemed, "Well, I read a lot about New York City before I moved here. I couldn't just start living in the completely unknown city, before, you know... getting some information."

"Like..." Mark cocked an eyebrow at her, his tone teasing, "...how many cafés there are?"

"I simply read it somewhere... It's not that fascinating." she laughed at his slightly confused expression, and then continued, her voice firm and precise, as if she was completely confident in every single word that got out of her mouth. "But if you want some serious, important stuff I can also tell you everything about crime statistics of New York City including murders, sexual assaults, burglaries and robberies, in the last three years. I read about that too."

Mark was stunned, almost smirking at the sight of undeniable, confident glow that rose in her eyes. "Right..."

"I have a photographic memory." she announced almost shyly, her eyes looking down at her glass again. He noticed she had a habit of doing that. At the hospital, every time she would get a praise from anybody, including him… she looked down, curved the corner of her lips into a shy smile, pushed a few front strands of her hair behind her ear and mumbled a quiet but genuine thank you, the bright red blush on her cheeks more than evident. "So everything I read is always there... somewhere." she tried to explain, "And I can't really split things like... things I want to remember and things I want to forget... everything is always there."

Mark listened to her thoughtfully, absorbing her every word, surprised and amazed. He never thought that was actually a real thing. The ability to recall something you read from your brain easily like that. It was indeed fascinating. Suddenly it wasn't surprising anymore why... even though she was still just an intern, she was the intern that residents and attendings actually loved having on their service. He loved having her in the plastics department. Professionally of course. And non-professionally...

He already figured she was incredibly intelligent. But this was something even more. "Tell me something else." he blurted out, the words getting out of his mouth before he even gave them permission to. God, he couldn't even hide how impressed he was.

"Like what?"

"Like anything."

Lexie bit her lip and just stared at him for a minute, part of her hoping he would let it go. What the hell he wanted her to tell him? It was the truth that she knew hundreds and hundreds of random facts... But with him staring at her like that and expecting her to say something... something interesting, mind-blowing, unexpected... she couldn't think about one single thing like that. Everything that she came up with in that particular moment... she felt like he would laugh in her face for saying it out loud.

Mark widened his eyes at her in anticipation, reassuring her, "Anything."

Lexie swallowed, clearing her throat. She could do this. She could think of something. Her gaze fell on the beautiful view of the entire city once again, when she finally stated confidently, "New York has more than 6,000 skyscrapers. The most worldwide."

"Nice." Mark complimented with a slight nod. "And... something else?"

His replicated question made her involuntary roll her eyes, wondering was he really so impressed, or did he just like playing with her like this. Knowing she would again need some time to think about something interesting, she repeated her question, this time with a playful warning. "About what? And don't say about anything, cause when you say anything, I literally cannot think about... anything."

"Okay. About..." Mark licked his lips as if in deep thought. Just a second later, he said the first thing that his brain came up with. And the ecstatic surprise that spread over her face made his amusement grow even bigger. "Pandas."

She needed a long moment to register that. "Pandas?" she repeated in an attempt to check if she perhaps heard it wrong, but the joyous grimace on his face stayed the same, so she shook her head in disbelief. "The first thing you could think of... are pandas?"

"What? They're like weirdos amongst the bears... It's noticeable." Mark shrugged, as if in need to defend himself, even though that wasn't really necessary.

"They're also really cute tho." Lexie added shortly, before taking a deep breath. "Okay so... pandas. I know that they eat consistently for 12-14 hours a day, mainly bamboo, and I know that unlike most other bears, pandas do not hibernate... cause they are unable to store energy over long periods of time, but instead they head lower down their mountain homes to warmer temperatures when winter approaches. And also pandas are kind of... shy, they don't venture into areas where people live... Oh, and newborn baby pandas are pink!"

She finished with a wide smile, her gaze falling down at her glass again, and Mark was this time even partly grateful for that, because if she looked at his face immediately, he would have to face the embarrassment of being seen so stunned that he was temporarily unable to react.

He tried to remember how he got there. He tried to figure out how after a terrible day and unsuccessful surgery and dead patient, he ended up smiling and laughing at one of his favorite places in New York with Lexie Grey.

He remembered kissing her.

He remembered having her face framed between his hands and her lips moving against his. And that helped him escape it. He managed to escape the burden of the horrible day, the smell of blood, the faces of his patient's family. He closed his eyes and kissed her, and everything he wanted to be gone... indeed disappeared. And he wanted to keep it that way.

Whatever that was between them... he didn't want it to end.

But he had no idea how not to end it. Everything in his life had an end... every fling, every affair, every attempted relationship... Everything ended before he was even aware of that. Most of the time, Mark liked that. Flings weren't supposed to last longer than one short night, hell... they weren't supposed to last longer than a few hours. Affairs he was a part of ended before they even started. And attempted relationships... well, they never even had a beginning, so they could end.

So how the hell he was supposed to keep this from ending? He didn't know how to do that. It was kind of terrifying. Thinking how far he would go in order to make this last longer.

When she finally looked at his face again, her eyes searching for his reaction, all he could give her was an impressed smile and slight shaking of his head in undeniable awe.

His hand reached for his glass, when she mumbled another interesting fact in the way that made him regret doing so. "Also... I read that the word whiskey actually means water of life. Which is kind of ironic, right?"

"You read about that as well?" His question was more of a statement, actually, and suddenly everything he could think of... was how well she was actually informed about alcoholic drinks. How much she had to learn about that as a result of her father's habits. Probably more than she should. Her uncomfortable nod easily confirmed his assumption. "Yeahh, a lot."

"For example..." Mark's grin faded away when he heard those words of hers, wondering should he stop her right there. He was impressed by her incredible knowledge... yes, absolutely, probably more than he would like to admit, but he didn't need her to recite some facts that would only make her feel sick to her stomach. Unfortunately, he couldn't come up with the right words to stop her, before she started to enumerate, her voice anguished, "The most common characteristics of adult children of alcoholics are the need for high achievements, perfectionism, conflict avoidance, hyper-responsibility, prioritizing the needs of others above your own, high tolerance for inappropriate or poor behavior in others..."

"Well, that last one explains it." he sharply cut off her rambling.

"It explains what?" Lexie wondered, secretly thankful he didn't let her say out loud everything she could say.

Mark tilted his head to the side as if he was trying to indicate an obvious answer. Part of him wanted to think of it as a joke, as something that could change the subject. But the truth was, when he said it out loud, when he heard it himself, his chest tighten in fear of how truthful it could be. "Well, you know... my presence being bearable to you."

Lexie furrowed, not getting his point. No matter how much he found it obvious, it didn't make any sense to her. "What?" But then, she rolled her eyes as she realized what he meant. "No, that's not it." she quickly exclaimed, her tone firm and sharp, almost on the verge of insulted. "None of those things really matter anyway. What my dad put himself through, what he put me through... it didn't change me as a person, it didn't change who I am, and it didn't change the way I treat people."

Mark almost let out a sigh of relief. Part of him really couldn't figure her out... part of him still couldn't understand why she was even there with him. Why she agreed to it. He knew she wasn't naive, she couldn't be.

And now, listening to her, Mark realized he literally lost count of how many times she managed to leave him speechless in one day, and thankfully, this time she didn't let the silence linger longer than a second before she asked, "So can you just stop assuming that I'm here out of pity or cause I didn't know how to say no to you or..."

"So why are you here?" He couldn't help but to cut her off. He had to ask. His voice was firm, emphasizing every word, making sure she won't mishear him, even though that was pretty much impossible.

It was easy before, it was casual, inviting her to come here with him... He didn't hesitate, he didn't question his words or actions... but somewhere along on the way it seemed like that easiness disappeared, that the sureness he had somehow faded away, and he couldn't help but notice that.

He slightly furrowed at the sight of her lower lip tightly stuck between her lips, as if she was trying to pop up with an answer. Or rather, as if she had an answer, but she was doubting should she said it. Although all she told him just a few seconds ago gave him hope that it couldn't be something he wouldn't like.

"Because..." Lexie stretched that one word in the way that made his impatience grow bigger, but hearing what she had in mind resumed his calmness. "I'm on my New York City tour?"

Mark chuckled, silently agreeing. Even considering her humorous manner, she was kind of right. And to be honest... it would be such a shame to literally live in New York and not see some things. Some places. This place in particular... it wasn't really anything special. It was just a café. It was just special to him.

When he suddenly leaned in just a bit, he could swear he heard her breathing sped up and acted on impulse. He surged forward, not even sure if she was expecting that or not, but his hand easily slipped onto the back of her neck and he slanted his head, ready and impatient to catch her lips, to taste them again, when her warm breath and confusing words left him just hovering over her face.

"You should think twice before doing that."

His gaze rose from her delicate lips to her eyes, soundlessly asking for an explanation. When he didn't get one immediately, he stiffened and slowly pulled himself back. "You didn't mind it a few hours ago." he stated the obvious, hoping he didn't sound too accusing, even though... maybe he really was accusing her. A little part of him, at least.

It was she who leaned in this time as she whispered, "It's not that. It's just..." One heavy breath left her mouth, before she continued, "This is your place. And you said it yourself... it's important and special to you. So if you kiss me here now, I think it's gonna be pretty impossible for you to walk in here again without that memory crossing your mind. And I'm not sure if you want that."

After another short pause, she added, "That could ruin your picture of this place."

"Why would that ruin it?" he asked right away, but the answer dawned on him just a moment after. She was absolutely right. There was no way he could sit here again without remembering…

What she said had so much sense. More than he could admit.

Mark was literally living his life under that one rule... The rule was to never connect people with dates and places. And places... places never had a meaning for him. There were a few exceptions, of course, Skye being one of them, but every other place, including his own penthouse... it was just a plain space. It was just that... an apartment. It wasn't home, it wasn't filled with warmth, with love, with joy, or with a feeling of safety. It was just a large, expensive space, just a lot of square meters that had no real meaning to him. It just happened to be the place where he was spending a lot of time. And that fact... the fact of being so meaningless, so hollow, was the reason he didn't mind bringing anyone up there. That was the reason he didn't care how many women spent a night there with him. That was the reason he didn't remember any of them. Who would he remember some meaningless person in some meaningless place?

The hospital was as well on that list. On-call rooms, supply closets... there were all meaningless. So why would screwing the random nurse in there mean something?

That was what made it so easy. Not connecting women with dates and places was what did in order to keep himself unattached.

But this place... this café had a meaning for him. And Lexie was right. He broke his own rule by bringing her here. What the hell he was thinking? How could he give himself a permission to show her this place? He couldn't even find the actual reason why he did it. It almost felt like she was some sort of fog slowly encasing his brain, rendering him blind and hopeless. That was literally the only explanation he could come up with.

And he didn't even need to kiss her to attach her to his memory of this place. It was already a lost cause. She already got cemented to it.

Lexie let out a small, gentle gasp when his hand slowly slipped back onto her neck, his thumb raising her chin a bit. She was looking at him tenderly, as if she was having the same thoughts, same wishes. Color rose to her cheeks more and more every second under his intense gaze, and that made him smile.

His thumb slowly brushed over her lower lip, before lips easily pressed against hers, kissing her softly, and it surprised her. The gentle, subtle way he did it, more than kiss itself. She had expected from him to kiss her again, but not like this. It lasted only for a moment, his lips barely brushing over hers, barely touching her, and before she even knew, he pulled back, hovering only centimeters afar.

She didn't pull back. That thought was the first that occupied his mind. Why the hell he always expected her to? Well, maybe cause you still cannot believe she's really there... Mark thought to himself.

His arm wrapped around her, and he hauled her body to his over curved booth seat. Lexie tilted her head away from his just a few inches so she could look into his eyes, a genuine smile across her lips. Her gaze then fell from his eyes to his lips, and another quick, inaudible gasp escaped her mouth.

She wanted him to kiss her again.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she tried to remember the last time she has been kissed like he kissed her just a few hours ago at the hospital. She tried to remember the last time she has been kissed for real. But she couldn't. She couldn't remember the last time her body was trembling in anticipation like this, the last time her stomach was knotting and fluttering like this... and she suddenly wondered how visible that really was. Probably a lot. It was definitely undeniable. Especially for a man like him, it was definitely easy to notice when a woman's literally melting in front of him.

And still, he made no signs of moving, no signs of leaning in again. His nose was just softly brushing against hers, and she could feel his breath ghosting over the skin of her chin. He smelled like whiskey, like scotch... but for the first time in months, she didn't mind sensing that too familiar smell. It didn't make her sick to her stomach, it didn't make her furrow in disgust. Instead, it felt intoxicating... almost thrilling. It felt so good to the point where her mind became so hazy, that she didn't even see when he grabbed his wallet and tossed a few bills down onto the table. And apparently, she didn't hear him whispering that they should get of there, either.

…

The elevator was empty and as soon as the doors slid shut behind them, trapping them alone in a small, dimly lit box, Mark quickly hit the button for ground level, before boxing her against one of the mirrored walls, pinning her body with his. Lexie threw her arms around his neck, and bringing his head close to hers, she firmly pressed her lips against his.

Mark shuffled closer, one of his hands trailing over her backside and settling on the small of her back. His other hand found its place pressed against the mirror right beside her head, supporting his body as he hovered over her.

Every previous time he came here he hoped that the elevator ride up from the first to the 34th floor, as well as the ride back, would be as quick as possible, that he would waste as less time as possible, but now, the only thing he wished for was that the elevator never reaches the ground floor. He didn't even want to think about the possibility of someone stopping the elevator on the way down.

Her fingers curled around the collar of his black leather jacket, keeping him close as his mouth thoroughly moved over hers, his beard sensually scratching her face. The eager, longing way she was clinging onto him seemed to spurn him on, and his kisses gained more and more force and pressure. With a soft moan, she opened her mouth for him, accepting his almost desperate plea, and once he pushed his tongue through the seam of her lips, her hand trailed up his head, her fingers tunneling through his hair.

In the back of his mind, he thought she was crazy for wanting him. She wasn't stupid, not in any possible way, she knew very well who he was, but she still wanted him anyway. Both of his hands cupped her cheeks, separating them and making her look at him. "You want me?"

Lexie glared up at him at his sudden question, partly confused, partly intimidated, and everything she could give him as an answer was a simple nod. But this time, for him, that wasn't enough. "Say it." he demanded, taking a small step back, still staring at her, splayed against the wall, her chest heaving as she panted for air, her face flushed, eyes glowing and lips slightly swollen from his insistent kisses.

His hand abandoned her back only to reach underneath her still unbuttoned coat. His fingertips easily found her hip, rubbing over it for a few seconds, before traveling up over her side, feeling the curve of her breast, finally reaching the side of her neck. "Say it." he demanded again, after what it could be seconds or minutes, he wasn't sure, when he felt her fingers tugging on his jacket collar, pulling him down for another kiss.

Hearing it finally, even if it was almost inaudible between all the heated kisses and breathless moans, just three words falling off her lips, "I want you." hit him like an electric shock. He was already teetering on the cliff of self-control, and now when he was completely sure of it, with every fiber of his being, he felt like he would go crazy if he wasn't able to have her within a few minutes.

She wants me. Me. Repeating that to himself, he wasn't able to fight the urge of glancing at his own reflection in the mirror over her shoulder, before he dipped his head down to the crook of her neck, latching his lips onto her skin.

"Do you want me?"

For a second he thought he imagined hearing that. But it was real. It was asked in a soft whisper, so quiet and unsure he barely heard it, but it was real. She could clearly see and feel the way his body was responding to her, but she still had to make sure.

Mark lifted his head and widely smiled down at her, the smile she breathlessly returned regardless of the ridiculous question she had just asked him, as his hand came to her face and his thumb began to caress her cheeks, so gently and tenderly that Lexie felt her heart twisted in her chest. She felt like it was going to explode right there inside her rib cage. And for her, that was more than good enough answer. He didn't need to say nothing more.

The elevator stopped at the ground floor and the doors opened with a ding, but it took them nearly a whole minute to realize it. Once finally aware of it, Mark grabbed her hand and she laughed as he tugged her down the hallway.

…

Mark growled in frustration when he realized the keys of his car got stuck in his pocket, on what Lexie just giggled against his lips, amused because he strongly refused to pull away from her to make things a lot easier. Instead, he decided to keep struggling to unlock his car, as long as he had her right there where she was, tightly boxed between his body and the back door of his car. They were in the nearby parking lot, back at the more abandoned section. Mark parked there before just because there really wasn't any free space anywhere nearer the building, but now he couldn't be more thankful because of it.

Figuring that if it was up to him... they could stay like that forever, Lexie detached her mouth from his, moving down over his jaw onto his neck, what made him swore under his breath, but at the same time he opened his eyes and looking down into his pocket, he finally managed to get his keys.

Lexie couldn't fight the sigh of relief when he hit the unlock button. Her lips were relentless against the skin of his neck, gently nibbling on it, as her nose nuzzled against his scruffy jaw. He took a long moment to enjoy the feeling of her tongue slowly running over his pulse point before he opened the door of the back seat, realizing he was no near state to drive them anywhere at that moment. Maybe he could... maybe, if he could ignore the itching feeling on his palms in need to be all over her body, as well as the fact that his jeans were getting tighter and tighter every second.

Once they were both settled over the black leather seats, he managed to lock the car again, before he nearly froze at the sound of his name quietly escaping her lips for the first time. Her voice was a bit shaky, scattered with the threads of insecurity, as is she was doing something forbidden. "Mark." she whispered, reaching for him and fusing their lips again, kissing him passionately, and for a moment he kept his eyes opened. Just to make sure there was no possibility of him waking up... just make sure this was, indeed, a hundred percent real.

He grabbed her hips, pulling her over his lap, and she rested her hands over his shoulders and looked down at him, shifting her body a bit, just to make herself more comfortable with her legs on either side of his body.

Mark couldn't help but to stare at the redness of her cheeks, redness that only increased as she pressed herself more firmly against him, feeling him hard beneath her.

"Can you tell me something about blushing? Why do people blush?" he asked, his throat almost dry, as he roughly removed his jacket and then pushed her coat off her shoulders in the way that made her shiver. Lexie raised her eyebrows at him, but immediately understood. It looked like that became some sort of game between them.

Inhaling deeply in order to be able to produce some coherent words, considering that one of his hand was gently kneading her breast and the other played with the button of her jeans, Lexie managed to mutter in gasps, "Blushing mainly arises from psychological causes. It happens cause the blood vessels in the face get wider and increase blood flow to the skin, which leads to the characteristic redness."

Mark mumbled a quiet mhmm somewhere in between wet kisses he was leaving all over her neck and shoulders, his fingers slowly unbuttoning her jeans and lowering the zipper, as she kept whispering right into his ear, "It's a natural reaction, and it can be triggered by the onset of a powerful emotion, such as attraction, anticipation, delight... also, shame and embarrassment..."

"And which one you're feeling right now?" he grinned up at her, and she suddenly whimpered, her eyes falling shut, as she felt his hand diving beneath her panties. She wanted to do something, she wanted to take his clothes off, she wanted to be consistent as he was, but it was like she had no control over her body and the only thing she could do... was to obey to his actions.

She lowered her lips to his, completely ignoring his question as something else occupied her mind. The last man who had her like this, just a few months back, broke her heart. Then she kissed Mark harder, clenching her eyes tighter, determined to think about him, and only him. She was squirming against his hand, as he steadily stroked her, literally feeling the wet heat emanating from her. He almost groaned out loud against her lips.

The scrap of cotton between her legs was soaked, and she wiggled on his lap, giving him better access, pushing her jeans past her hips. Mark clenched his jaw and pulling his head back to watch her, he slowly, so slowly as if he wanted to savor it, pushed two fingers in past her wet folds. Lexie loudly gasped and gripped his shoulders, instinctively thrust her hips against his hand.

She hasn't been this intimate with someone in so long, she felt like she was about to melt down right there in his arms. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't create any words to ask him for more.

She knew he was staring at her, even with her eyes closed, she could feel his burning gaze all over her face, as he slowly eased his fingers in and out, firmly rubbing against her inner walls.

Without blinking, as if he was hypnotized, Mark watched her, listened to her mewling, focusing on how tight she was. He knew she would be. He just knew. With just enough amount of pressure, he moved his fingers, thrusting them thoroughly, as his other hand went to the back of her neck, pulling her down for a kiss. He kissed her slowly this time, almost tortuously, and when Lexie groaned into his mouth, wanting more, his fingers sped up, pumping in and out of her, his thumb trailing across her clit.

Crying out at the sensation, her head fell down, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, her fingers curling into his shirt, as her entire body exploded into a million tiny pieces. She gasped for air, her chest heaving up and down, and she was almost sure Mark could hear the loud thumps of her heart.

When her body slowly but surely stopped trembling, Lexie lifted his head from his shoulder with another heavy sigh, feeling his hand slipping out of her. His lips were parted, curved into a slight smile, his eyes were glowing with excitement, but he didn't say anything.

A moment of complete silence occurred, before their lips rejoined again.

I hope you enjoyed… Honestly, I've had such a blast writing this! Let me know what you think, I adore all of your comments…

Btw they're not going out of that car any time soon…