Ch 36
Mark arrived at the Philadelphia airport early on Wednesday evening. He was anxious to get to Cape May and try to work out everything with Lisa. He had spent every minute sinceshe lefttrying to figure out the right words to say to her. He figured this was his last chance to make things right. The drive seemed like eternity to her cottage. When he pulled up his heart fell seeing it was dark, he looked at his dash clock seeing it was only 8. Could she already be asleep, Markthought pullingup behind her mustang shutting his engine off. He quietly went towards the cottage stepping on the porch taking a deep breathe before knocking on the door. He patiently waits hearing nothing but silence coming from the house. Suddenly the dull sound of music caught his ear as he went around the house. He peeked into one of the bay windows seeing the glow of candlelight coming from the bathroom. She must be here, he thought remembering the spare key she kept under one of the loose boards on the porch. He stumbled around in the dark finally finding the key. I shouldn't do this, he thought slipping the key into the lock, but then again this is probably the only way she'll talk to me. Mark shrugged his shoulders opening the front door. He went to the bathroom where the soft music was echoing from. He took a deep breathe peeking through the door seeing Lisa illuminated in the candlelight with her eyes closed in a bubble bath. She looks so peaceful and beautiful like an angel, Mark thought as he leaned on the door frame wondering if she was asleep.
Lisa wasn't asleep she was finally relaxing after the day she had. She was enjoying the warm water soothing the aching of her body. No matter what she did nothing calmed the aching of her heart as she wondered is Mark was ok. She was about to add more warm water when she felt like Mark was there. She softly laughed for being foolish when she heard the light rustle from the doorway. She slowly opened her eyes meeting Mark's piercing green eyes. She wanted to yell at him for being there but something stopped her. I can't deal with him right now, she thought not able to ignore how handsome and sexy he looked in the candle light.
"Did you ever hear of knocking and waiting to be let in?" Lisa stared at him.
"I knocked and you didn't answer. You probably would have slammed the door on me any way so this was the better way," Mark kept his distance even though he wanted to touch and hold her taking all the pain he saw in her eyes away.
"Do you mind turning around?" Lisa blushed as she reached for her robe.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your bath. I can wait while you finish," Mark turned his back hearing the swishing of the water as she climbed out wrapping a robe around her body.
"I'll finish when you leave," Lisa said brushing past him.
"I'm not leaving," Mark firmly said following her into the living room.
"Mark, I'm too tired to argue with you right now please just go. I promise if you come back tomorrow we can talk," Lisa couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes.
"Why won't you look at me?" Mark didn't move from his spot in the middle of the living room as she opened the front door.
"There happy?" Lisa looked up at him feeling the butterflies awaken in her stomach. "Now please leave if you need a place to stay I will call my mom I'm sure she has an open room in one of inns."
"I don't need a room. I'm staying with you," Mark sat down on the sofa making Lisa deeply sigh trying to figure out what to do.
"Fine you stay here and I'll go to my mom's," Lisa said surprising him at how fast she went out the door slamming it behind her. Mark raced to the door opening it up just in time to see her hurrying down the path leading to the beach. He had almost caught up to her when the sky opened up pouring rain down on them.
"Lisa, damn it stop! You're going to get soaked," Mark yelled after her.
"I won't melt," she said as he caught her wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.
"Stop being stubborn. You have two choices here go back to the cottage on your own or I'll carry you," Mark looked down into her eyes as the rain soaked them.
"I'll be fine please leave me alone," Lisa tried to stay firm as her voice started to crack feeling the warmth of his body against hers.
"I can't leave you alone," Mark reached out pushing her drenched hair back from her face.
"Why Mark?"
"Because I love you," Mark stared directly into her eyes seeing tears forming in them.
"How can you love me look at the way I treated you," Lisa rested her hands on his chest not able to fight him anymore.
"I made a mistake too by breaking your trust but we are strong enough to work through it if you just stop being afraid and give your heart to me completely," Mark wrapped her tighter in his arms as the both forgot about the storm.
"Can we really work through it? Or the next time Paul acts up are you going to be sneaking off in the middle of the night to even the score," Lisa calmly asked him.
"I won't do that anymore. You'll just have to find ways to keep me from leaving you in the middle of the night," Mark grinned at her.
"That's not funny," Lisa couldn't help smiling.
"So do you forgive me?" Mark stared down into her blue eyes running his fingers along her cheek.
"Only if you promise me you'll never go behind my back again and no more lies or secrets between us," Lisa said as Mark ran his caresses along her chin.
"I promise you that but I want a promise in return. I want you to promise you'll never run away from me again. Any problem we deal with it together," Mark searched her eyes.
"I swear I'll never run from you again," Lisa bites her lip. "You were right I was afraid of what was happening between us. Mark, I'm scared to give you my heart completely I have been hurt so much with my past relationships. Everything feels so right with you. I'm afraid that will go away after we are together for awhile."
"Don't be scared that will only hurt what we have. You can give me your heart and I will cherish it for the rest of my life," Mark leaned over her seeing a glimmer in her eyes. "Tell me what you're thinking baby girl."
"Mark, you made me believe in something I thought was only a fairy tale."
"What is that?" Mark held her tighter as she started to shiver.
"The first time I met you and you shook my hand it sparked something in my heart I never felt before. I wanted to deny my heart but as we spent more time together it was impossible. Mark, the feelings you give me are amazing and like nothing I ever felt before. I believe it was love at first sight," Lisa softly said staring deep into his eyes. "I love you Mark." Mark couldn't help kissing her passionately after hearing her say she loved him.
"I love you too. I was trying to tell you that last night," Mark kissed her again. "Sweetheart, our love is all we need. Don't fight or doubt it and we will always be alright. I know without a doubt you are the one."
"I'm sorry I ran away from you and acted like such a fool," Lisa caressed his face.
"Let's just leave all of it in the past. Let's consider tonight the first night of our new future together," Mark kissed her forehead softly.
"That is a perfect idea," Lisa ran her hands behind his neck pulling him into a deep passionate kiss.
"Come on sweetheart let's go warm up in the house," Mark gently picked her up carrying her towards the house.
The warmth of the house felt good to both of them as Mark put her down on the sofa. He noticed she was still shivering getting an idea.
"I'll be right back," Mark smiled at her heading into the other room. I wonder what he is up to, Lisa thought trying to sneak a peek at what he was doing. "Hey sweetheart, can you come here for a minute."
"Sure," Lisa found him in the bathroom lighting more candles. "What's wrong?"
"Not a thing," Mark came towards her resting his hands on her hips. "I interrupted your bath earlier so I ran you a new bubble bath to warm you up."
"Thanks sweetie but," she ran her hands down his chest. "It would be a lot warmer if you joined me."
"That could lead to trouble."
"I'm sure you can handle it," Lisa reached around him turning on the radio getting a smile on her face. "Unless you don't want to join me." Mark didn't answer her just leaned down kissing her getting lost in the feeling of having her in his arms as the music filled the room.
"You get in first baby girl," Mark undid the sash of her robe breaking their kiss. He tried not to look as she let the robe fall to the floor climbing into the Jacuzzi tub.
"Come on big boy, I won't bite," Lisa smiled at him as he tugged off his shirt.
"I'll be right back sweetheart. We forgot something," Mark leaned over the side kissing her before leaving. Lisa closed her eyes listening to the music waiting for him to return. He returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses stripping the rest of his clothes climbing in next to her. She could feel his legs against hers as she stretched letting the warm water soothe her skin. Mark was enjoying the calming massage of the water but his greatest pleasure was coming from being so close to her. He was enchanted by her as she pulled her hair into a ponytail letting the shimmering of the candlelight illuminate her pretty face even more.
"You're so beautiful," Mark huskily whispered reaching out his hand to gently caress her soft cheek. "I love you Lisa."
"I love you too," Lisa leaned over giving him a long seductive kiss before turning and leaning against him. The feel of her naked body so close to him was driving Mark crazy as he lightly kissed her neck feeling goose bumps rise on her skin. "This feels so good."
"Baby girl, the night is just beginning," Mark whispered in her ear pouring a glass of wine and gently holding it to her lips for her to take a sip. "Just relax and enjoy."
"I've dreamed of being with you like this," Lisa caressed his strong arms.
"I've dreamed many nights of making love to you," Mark kissed her shoulder.
"That is one dream I really want to come true," Lisa whispered reaching back to caress his face.
"Let's make our dreams come true right now," Mark tilted her chin kissing her deeply. His tongue explored her mouth as his hand lightly ran down her body. She turned in his arms kissing him deeper as his strong hands caressed her back. He kissed her neck slowly running his hands along her sides. They kept kissing and exploring one another's body till Mark swiftly picked her up carrying her to the bedroom to continue their night of lovemaking.
