Chapter 14
Mark stayed in the kitchen out of habit since Arielle wasn't allowed to cook without an adult present and he was usually the only adult in her life. He sat down on a stool at the kitchen island, grinning when Arielle placed a beer in front of him and a Sprite in front of Jasina. "Sometimes I think I have you trained and others-" He ducked a Hershey Kiss that came flying at his face. "I think you have me trained."
"Thank you sweetheart." Jasina giggled, shaking her head and took the Hershey's Kiss from Mark before he could have it, unwrapping it and popped it in her mouth.
It'd been so long since she had chocolate, so long since Jasina felt this happy, and had a big smile on her face. It was genuine and full of life, her eyes sparkled, and she was getting her curvy figure back since she was eating properly. Having Arielle in her life did that and Jasina owed her little girl her life. She would give it up in a heartbeat for her too.
Mark was taking a drink of his beer when the next Hershey's Kiss came flying, getting the corner of eye, which in turn made him drop the can. The can EXPLODED.
"Wow...Mom...What kind of underwear are those?"
He glanced down at Jasina's soaking wet shorts, arching an eyebrow. "Yeah, what kind?"
Jasina was as red as a strawberry, the beer covering her, and cleared her throat as she stumbled off the stool. "That really is none of your business." She grumbled, peeling her shorts off her thighs and groaned. "Do you have a towel?" She asked, seeing Mark was laughing, and smacked him in the arm. "Marcus William Calaway this is not funny!" She shouted, completely humiliated. Her panties were lavender and were now see-through until they dried. "Arie, I'm gonna have to go home and change, honey..."
"No..." Arielle's face crumpled.
"She's not going." Mark rolled his eyes, standing up. "Come on, Jasi." He walked out of the kitchen, turning when she didn't follow. "Bring your purple panty covered ass over here and let's go, woman."
"I'm going to shove my foot up your ass in a minute, Mark!" Jasina growled, not amused and reluctantly followed him as she plucked the cotton fabric from her thighs, sighing heavily. She couldn't believe she was soaked in beer, thanking god none got in her hair...that she knew of. "What made you drop that damn beer anyway?"
"Off hand Arie throwin' another piece of candy right into my damn eye." Mark grunted, leading the way up the stairs and into his bedroom. He didn't think anything of crossing to the closet and pulling out one of his t-shirts. Hesitating and switching the white out for black, Mark turned to hold it out to her with a grin. "Just in case."
"This is nice of you and everything, Mark, but my garments are soaked through too..." She trailed off, turning redder, and swallowed hard as she touched her cheeks, which were a deep crimson red. "Let me just run home really fast and change..." Jasina knew damn well he didn't have any panties and she wasn't going to fit in any of Arielle's.
Arching an eyebrow at her, his green eyes roamed her wet body, smirking wickedly. "Hmmm...That shirt is gonna probably fall down past yer knees and as long as you don't go spreadin' your legs, there shouldn't be a problem. Washin' your clothes ain't going to take that damn long woman."
Jasina shook her head back at him, clearing her throat awkwardly. "Thanks." She mumbled before walking out, going into the bathroom and slipped out of her clothes, groaning when she seen her bra was soaked through too. 'This is bad.' She thought before slipping the pure black t-shirt over her head, inhaling the scent and closed her eyes. It smelled just like him, Jasina always loved his scent. She waited until her cheeks weren't flaming anymore before walking out, the t-shirt indeed going past her knees, carrying her wet clothes. Mark was waiting for her as soon as she walked out, raising an eyebrow. "You're letting Arie cook alone?"
"No. I called down on her to hold on till we're back." He said, smirking and looking down at her. "Should I turn up the heat?" It was off, it was a nice warm night.
"Hurry up, I'm waitin'!"
"Mmmm."
The look in his eyes set her heart racing as Jasina swallowed hard, hearing their daughter calling for them, and handed him her clothes. "No, it's nice in here." She softly replied, beginning to walk past him toward the stairs. His shirt clung to her body, even though it was a little big, for obvious reasons. Mark was huge and, if people didn't know him, they wouldn't approach him. That's just the type of aura that surrounded him. "Coming Arie!"
Arielle arched an eyebrow when she seen her mom, taking in the black shirt and began cracking a smile that she had definitely gotten from her father. "Wow mom, that thing is huge on you." She studied her parents thoughtfully. "How did you two even make me? Dad is so big and mom is tiny."
Mark had to turn around and walk right back out.
Jasina blinked at her daughter and felt her cheeks burn even more, raking a hand through her hair. "Umm..." Jasina watched Mark walk out of the kitchen and stopped him by grabbing his arm. "Oh no mister! I had the talk to her about her period. YOU can talk to her about sex." She stated, seeing Mark's eyes widen, and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Fine, we'll do it together. Fair enough?"
"I know what sex is you two." Arielle made a face, wondering what the hell they were on about. "I mean you two don't match up physically."
"How do you know what sex is when you didn't know what your damn period was?" He demanded, trying not to remember just how damn well he and Jasina had matched up physically.
"Toni and I asked her mom."
"Sweetheart, it doesn't matter the size..." Jasina was trying really hard not to think the same thing, her entire body flushing and sat on the stool, crossing one leg over the other. "This really isn't the best conversation during making dinner." She finally said, smiling at her clueless daughter who was busy finishing up the lasagna before popping it in the oven. She was glad her daughter had someone to turn too regarding that subject, knowing Mark wouldn't be able to handle it.
Mark was making plans to call Lashonna after Jasina was gone and Arielle was in bed, wondering just what else his daughter had been learning about that he wasn't aware of. Women...
"Yep, Lashonna told us that the stork comes and that's sex." Arielle said innocently. "Though I coulda sworn there was something about eggs and tadpoles in there, I didn't catch too much of it, she was pretty flustered."
"Storks?"
Jasina put her head in her hands, shaking it back and forth and silently began laughing, her shoulders shaking. "She...She actually said storks?" When Arielle nodded, looking clueless, Jasina cleared her throat, knowing she would have to talk to her daughter. "Sweetheart, that's what most adults say to kids. The truth is, sex is something that you will learn about when you're older and in school. You'll understand why your father and I were compatible and you'll also learn about what you went through today. Now, how about a different topic, hmmm?" She suggested, seeing Mark was more than flustered and so was she.
"No, if it's not storks, eggs and tadpoles, then what the hell is it?"
Mark arched an eyebrow, retrieving himself another beer and took a long swallow, staring at her intently. "Sex is a man and a woman, naked, in a bed together."
"That's it?"
"You know how animals mate?"
"Yeah, kinda, our- Ooooohhhhhhhhh." Arielle made a face. "You two are sick!"
"Sex is not a bad thing, Arie." Jasina conceded with a smile, her teal eyes sparkling. "If we hadn't had sex, you would've never been born. Though, it will be awhile before you even get the...urges...to want to do that with a boy." She cleared her throat when Mark growled, rolling her eyes. "Of course that is if your father doesn't chase every boy away that you date." Jasina couldn't believe she was having this conversation with her daughter with Mark around, and cracked open her Sprite, taking a long swig of it.
Arielle was considering that, her head cocked to the side thoughtfully. "Even Gary?"
"Especially Gary. You're not allowed to even date until you're at least...fifty."
"Won't you be dead by then?"
"Just wait until you're at least a teenager and let me worry about your father." She stated, ignoring Mark's deathly glare, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "How long until dinner is ready?" She asked with a smile, hugging Arielle when she came toward her, and kissed the top of her head.
"Half hour. Let's do something." Arielle tapped her chin thoughtfully, studying her parents. "Hmmm...a game?"
Mark arched an eyebrow and asked, "What game?"
"Twister! I'll go get it."
Now he was grinning, shooting Jasina a look.
"Arie, honey I can't play that game." Jasina protested, sliding off of the stool, ignoring Mark's grin as she stopped her daughter. "Sweetheart, I...this is the ONLY thing I'm wearing right now. Maybe after my clothes are done?" She suggested with a smile, not liking the grave look on her daughter's face. "Or you and your father can play while I watch."
"Dad, can't she wear a pair of your boxers?"
"Honey, Jasi is...like...three of her could fit in my boxers." Maybe an exaggeration, but...they'd fall off of her, a lot.
"What about that pair that Melina woman left here?"
"I thought I threw those away?"
"No, they're in a box in the hallway closet. Where I put them when you DIDN'T throw away that stuff you were supposed too."
"I don't feel comfortable wearing another woman's clothes, Arie." She stated gently, but firmly, that smile never leaving her face. "I'm not good at Twister anyway. You and your father can play, I don't mind watching." She shot Mark a look when he went to open his mouth, smirking when he decided against saying anything before going back to sit on the stool. It was HIS fault she was in this predicament after all by dropping his beer like a damn fool.
"Whatever happened to Melina anyways?"
"I don't know, think she moved, why?"
"I was just wondering." Arielle looked at her mom. "Melina used to come clean the house for us. And my old dog attacked her on her first visit, shredded her skirt. It was kinda bad."
"Yeah it was. I had to go buy her new damn clothes."
"I'm sure you didn't enjoy that." She giggled and stood up, walking over to look in the oven, raising an eyebrow. "It looks delicious, sweetheart." She kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly, sighing gently. "Thank you for making me stay, even though Trish is going to have my butt on a silver platter for not getting my article done." She shrugged when Arielle raised an eyebrow. "She loves me, I'll sweet talk her like you do to your father."
"Hey, she don't sweet-"
"Daddy, could you set the table please?"
"Sure thing, princess."
Arielle winked at Jasina as he got up.
Jasina laughed and shook her head. "Mark, she has you wrapped around her finger, just admit it."
She walked over to the cabinet, where she knew the dishes were and pulled some plates out, handing them to him before getting the silverware, their fingers brushing together, sending a shiver down her spine. Jasina helped him set the table while Arielle finished with the lasagna, popping some garlic bread in the toaster oven to go with it. She sat at the table and watched her daughter admirably, knowing she would never be able to repay Mark for how well he took care of their daughter.
Once everyone was seated, Arielle smiled. "Okay, say grace." She giggled at the shocked look on Jasina's face. "It was a joke."
"I'm saying grace anyway, just to make sure I survive this meal." Mark joked, studying the lasagna like it might kill him, his green eyes twinkling, enjoying joking with his daughter.
"You're not serious are you?"
Jasina shook her head with a smile, crossing one leg over the other, and wished her clothes would dry already as she began serving first her daughter then Mark before herself. "I'm sure it's delicious sweetheart. Here, mom will take a bite first." She did it and grinned before beginning to eat more, knowing she had her mother's cooking skills.
"Of course it is, I made it myself."
"Good thing you're not cocky." Mark said deadpan, watching as Arielle began eating, digging in himself. "Delicious sweetheart."
"I know." Arielle grinned, beginning to inhale like usual. "HOT!"
"Well...yeah."
