Chapter 58

"Well, technically, if you were to Bind yourself to me, we could probably extend our lifespans by quite a bit…" Mark informed her, his eyes flashing wickedly, though his tone was serious. "Not sure how the look thing would play out, give me some time." He reached out, fingering a strand of the silver. She had quite a bit of them. Curiously, he changed all her hair, all of it silver and considered it. "It looks like starlight, Lynn." And there was life back in those beautiful amber eyes of hers. Stars and the sun.

"It does? And you like it is all silver?"

He nodded, and her curiosity was peaked as she walked into the bathroom to look in the mirror, sliding her fingers through her hair. She'd taken the bun out in the car since it was starting to give her a small headache. Thankfully, it was gone as soon as she took the tight bun out and now her silver hair hung down her back to hug her waist. Brooklynn hadn't bothered cutting it in over 2 years, but she never went above mid-back anyway.

"Okay, I'm sold. I'll keep it like this since, eventually, it's gonna change this color anyway. Now, what's this business about Binding me to you? Would I have tattoos like you, if that were to happen?"

"I don't know, darlin', I'm a born Warlock, just like Claira. It runs in my veins, magic does. So, when they started coming on, it was a bit of a surprise, but interesting. Now, I could put a small one on you and we could see what happens." Mark was curious and also quite fond of his magic again. "It might just be something hereditary in my blood, but I think…" He traced a finger down her face and then the curve of her neck. "I think my magic would recognize you and take… for this…" Reluctantly though, he pulled away. "But… I don't want to do it right away, Lynn darlin'. I want you, and myself, to be sure that this is what you want. No more communication issues between us." He wanted to do it right this time.

"I understand, I was just curious about it, that's all."

Brooklynn smiled to show they were on the same page and cupped his face to bring his mouth to hers, softly kissing him. Before she moved in, they had a lot to talk about since he wanted to start over. What exactly would that entail?

"Come sit with me on the couch."

She brushed past him and took his hand, guiding him back into the living room to sit on the couch. Taking her heels off, Brooklynn sighed with relief since her feet were killing her and tucked them beneath her. Her head rested on her elbow that dug into the back of the couch slightly.

"So, I get you want me to move back in with you, to come home. I need to know what that means though, Mark. Do we share a bed together or do we stay in separate rooms until we're both comfortable again?" This was all new to her and him, so they had to communicate and hear each other out.

"You're not going to punch me if I'm totally honest, are you?" Mark laughed at her look. "Darlin', when… shit went downhill, I saw some of those looks, you were seriously considering it. I probably deserved it, a few times." He kept himself on the opposite end of the couch, studying her as he stroked his chin. "I've always been all or nothin', you know that, but this isn't that kind of deal, is it? I want to pin you to that couch and fuck you until you scream to heaven how much you've missed me and it can't be that way. What do YOU want?"

"Yes, it can, actually. You already know what I want. I want you. I want all of you and, if you feel we need to wait and take things slow, then that's what we need to do. But…that being said, if I'm sleeping in a separate room, then I might as well stay here until you're actually ready for me to come home. And I'm not being mean when I say that, I'm being genuine." She respected what he wanted to do, to take things slow, even though every inch of her body was screaming at her to jump him.

"Darlin', now you got me worried you only missed me because nobody else is going to be able to fuck you the way you need to be." He said with a smirk. "Lynn, an hour ago you were planning on moving back to that ass backward place way out in the middle of nowhere. Now you want to be bent over the couch, which I will happily do, providing I know you're not going to change your mind again." Reaching over, Mark pulled her abruptly right across that couch and onto his lap, guiding her legs so she was straddling him and rested his hands on her hips, leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers. "I want you, Lynn, all of you. Mentally, emotionally… fuckin' physically…" Dear god, he wanted her. "But I'm trying, darlin', to do this right, so we don't have the same issues as before. I need to know what you want, not what you think I want."

"Forgive me, but up until a couple hours ago, I thought this wasn't possible. I thought we were done and then you kissed me, and everything changed." More like healed, actually. "This is what I want, so pay attention," Brooklynn smirked, cupping his face in her soft hands. "I want you in every possible way humanly and magically. I want to sleep in the same bed as you, in your arms, skin on skin, preferably. I want to wake up in your arms every morning, make you breakfast, take care of you and Claira if she's still living with us. And after a hard day at work, I want to make you dinner, maybe share a few beers together and talk about our day, no matter how shitty it is. And then, I want you to fuck me or make love to me, your choice, anywhere in that house or even outside. I don't want to spend the second half of our lives being bored out of our minds. I want to go on adventures with you, as we talked about, see the world and let you sex me up all over the globe. Eventually, I'd like to get married again, but that doesn't need to be rushed since I never changed my last name after the divorce. And even before that, I want to be Bound to you, the same way you're Bound to me… Emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually…mind, heart, body, and soul – I want it all, just like you. And the rest of it, we'll figure out as we go." Pressing herself further against him, Brooklynn could feel him hardening in his jeans beneath her and let out a soft purr. "One more thing…no other man will ever fuck me the way you do, the way you know I need and crave. So, take me home, Mark. Take me home and fuck me until I scream how much I've missed you and love you."

Mark stared at her for a long, long time, reading everything she had just said in her eyes. It was all there. She had told him what she wanted and her gaze mirrored it. He let her go, nudging her up.

"Let's pack up, you're comin' home, Lynn." He grinned at her, rising to his feet. "I'll help." Because he wanted this apartment to be a thing of the past as soon as she left it. "And… should we tell Claira now or let her be surprised?"

"Well, either she's going to know I'm back, by the screaming I'm going to be doing later on with you, and that will surprise her, or you can text her and let her know. I'll leave it up to you." Brooklynn chuckled at his groan and hightailed it to her room, beginning to lift boxes to set them by the door. There wasn't much honestly, the furniture was staying, so all she really had was personal belongings. "I think everything will fit in your truck and my car. We won't have to make a second trip. I've been packed up for days." She explained when he gave her a puzzled look.

Well, that actually made sense, she had been planning on leaving. "I texted Claira, she and Dean are going to go see a movie and then she'll head home." Which meant he had plenty of time to ward the bedroom, make it soundproof and nobody would be able to get in. He didn't doubt for a second Claira wasn't going to try when she saw her mother's car. "All right," He dropped another kiss on her forehead. "I didn't tell her, not yet… figure it'll do the snoop good to suffer."

For the first time in over a year, Brooklynn found herself laughing and it felt…good – foreign and good. Ten medium-sized boxes later, she walked out of the apartment with Mark and said goodbye to the apartment. It was nice enough, but she honestly missed the house…her house…her home. It never really felt like she was home here, and Brooklynn knew why. Mark wasn't here. Claira wasn't here. Her family was where her home was, it didn't matter the roof over their heads.

"See you at home, Mr. Calaway." Brooklynn was snatched up again to where her feet actually left the ground and Mark kissed her hard and passionate, sending her heart racing. "E-Easy big man, I'm all yours…" She mumbled against his mouth, feeling her feet touch ground again and Mark backed her up against the truck, his hands on her hips, massaging them through the dress she still wore.

"Mmmhmm, I know you are." He chuckled, keeping her pinned to the truck while he focused on his right hand and her right hip. "Hold still, Lynn, this might feel weird."

Mark focused, glancing down and watched as his hand began glowing and concentrated on that. He heard Brooklynn gasp and met her eyes, searching for signs of pain or discomfort. Finally, he was done and he was a bit curious about what it would look like so…. he hitched up her dress, just enough to get a peek.

"If it takes, and if you're committed… it'll vine."

Magic really was fascinating, and Brooklynn had no idea what he just did, but…it had only seared her skin for a few seconds. Then, his words flooded through her mind and she realized what Mark had just done, her amber eyes widening more. Did he just…were they Bound together now?

"I've been committed to you all along. I haven't been with anyone else. In fact, when we get home, I – uh – I'm gonna take a shower to…freshen up a bit." Since she had gone celibate, Brooklynn didn't worry about proper grooming below the belt or even shaving her legs. Though she didn't have hairy legs, to begin with, it still made her feel gross with the little prickles now that she was getting back on the saddle. "I love you, Mark." Without her realizing it, the binding spell had taken effect and a black rose formed, looking like a professional tattoo artist had done it. Brooklynn wouldn't notice it until she was naked or at least removed her dress to expose her hips.

"I love you too." He watched as she stepped back, an amused smile quirking his lips. He had not missed her tone when she said freshen up a bit. Brooklynn hadn't been with anyone since him – good. "Go on, let's get home."

He'd unpack while she hit the shower, trying not to smile. Later, after a full and proper reconciliation, they'd talk more. She had been planning on going back to Wyoming, maybe she needed a recharge on the batteries. Maybe, if she wanted, they could take a trip together.

It wasn't that she WANTED to go back to Wyoming; however, living in the same state as the man she loved, and thought she could never be with again, was too much for Brooklynn to handle. Brooklynn had planned on a clean slate devoid of anything Mark Calaway. She hadn't been able to heal while living in the same state, the same city, as him and needed a fresh start with the remainder of her life. That had been her mindset until he kissed her at Dean's graduation party and…it was almost like the breakup never happened.

Almost 30 minutes later, due to heavy traffic, they finally made it home and Brooklynn parked her car in the driveway alongside his truck. She stepped out with purse in hand and looked at the house she had called home for so many years, taking it in. She felt Mark walk up beside her and took his hand, letting him guide her inside after unlocking the front door. The moment she stepped inside, Brooklynn closed her eyes and couldn't believe it still smelled the same. Nothing had changed either.

Well, yes and no. He hadn't changed the furniture, but certain pictures had come down because, at the time, he hadn't been able to deal with them up. Certain little knickknacks. And the kitchen now had a permanent deep fryer, though Claira had convinced him to switch to olive oil for health reasons and they ate a lot of stuff on the grill. Veggies off the grill, bread, propane grill, so it was like having a stove top sometimes.

"Go grab your shower… I'll get your stuff out of the truck, darlin'."

"Are you sure? It won't take long to carry that stuff in and…" Brooklynn blinked when Mark waved his hand and she was going up the stairs against her will. Apparently, he'd become WELL-adapted to his magic since merging and she rolled her eyes when the bedroom door shut behind her. "Now who's pushy?" She muttered good-naturedly, looking around the bedroom on her way to the master bathroom, groaning as something suddenly occurred to her. "I don't have any of my stuff here…" A box came floating into the room and landed at her feet, which was all of her bathroom belongings and toiletries. "What an ass…" Brooklynn smiled, pulling out everything she needed and then removed the dress. "What the fuck?" On her side, right on her hipbone, was a beautiful black rose with small deep green vines slowly coming out of it. "Oh wow…"

"I thought you were going to see a movie?" Mark wasn't surprised at all by his daughter and Dean pulling up alongside the curb as he manually toted in the boxes.

"Uh, we are, but I needed to change first." Claira was eyeballing the boxes and her Mom's car. "Is she… is she moving back in?"

"Nope. I just stole all her shit."

Snorting, Dean began helping.

"OHMYGODSHEIS!"