Chapter 18
It was hot and Jasina was burning up as she slowly opened her eyes, sweat beading her body. Who had turned up the damn heat? She froze when she felt an arm tighten around her body, swallowing hard, and looked up to see Mark's sleeping face. How in the hell did she wind up in THIS position? Not to mention she could feel...oh dear Christ! This was her ex-husband and he was...
"Mark..." She tried wiggling out of his arm, but that wasn't happening. This was awkward as hell as she bit her bottom lip, finally elbowing him in the gut, like she used to do when he wouldn't get up. "Mark!"
"Five more minutes, darlin'." He drawled sleepily, not opening his eyes. Instead he buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply and groaned, sleep making the sound husky. He moved a little, rolling her onto her back, a large hand skimming her bare thigh under the t-shirt, which somehow had wound up around her hips.
Jasina's eyes flew open when he did that, though it felt so good. She couldn't succumb to it though, knowing he was still asleep, and bit her bottom lip as her eyes drifted shut. Oh man, his big hands, she remembered them vividly. Every part of this man's body she remembered, but those were exceptional. No! She couldn't do this and pushed his hand away, knowing she had to get out of there.
"Mark!" She said a little louder, remembering the morning sex sessions he used to love. "Mark, get up it's Jasina!"
"Mmmmhmmmm..." He rumbled, moving lazily and pulled her underneath him, leaning down to kiss her throat, his hand back under the shirt, caressing her panty covered sex.
When he got hit again, his eyes flew open, pulling back. All he could do was stare down at her, sleep quickly evaporating. Mark took quick stock of what position he was in and where his hand was, then noticed...she was enjoying it. She woke him up, but she was still pretty wet. He leaned down and kissed her.
This was wrong, so very wrong, but damned if it wasn't wonderful. Jasina moaned as soon as his lips touched hers, her heart pounding a furious tattoo in her chest. For a moment, just a moment, remembering how it used to be. She felt his tongue swipe across her lips, her hand burying in his auburn tresses as their tongues entwined together, her entire body shivering at how exquisite it felt. She hadn't been kissed or touched in so long so her body was incredibly sensitive. Kissing him was always heaven on earth and this was no exception as she arched her body into him, completely giving into the desire that coursed through her body, screaming out for attention from him.
Growling softly, he used his thigh to nudge her legs apart, settling himself between them, his erection pressing into her, never breaking the kiss.
"Dad, did mom leave, cause I was hoping she could-" Arielle halted in the doorway, her green eyes widening and her mouth dropping. "What the HELL?"
So much for not breaking that kiss...Mark looked up at his daughter. "Don't you know how to knock?"
"Uh, no, since when do I have too?"
Jasina was breathing heavily as she shoved Mark off of her, stumbling to the floor, and popped right back up as she raked a hand through her hair. Her lips were slightly swollen, her hair tousled, and her shirt was...she quickly pulled it down. This was DEFINITELY awkward, especially with the conversation that she just had with her daughter the previous afternoon.
"What did you need Arie?" She quickly asked, refusing to look at Mark, her eyes solely on her daughter. "Your hair? Got it." She swiped her clothes from the floor and flew out of there, shutting the door behind her. That was her EX-HUSBAND and she almost...Jasina had to learn how to breathe as she shoved Arielle down the hallway.
"Uh hold up, Mom..." Arielle dug her feet into the floor, refusing to be pushed away from the scene of the crime. "I'm doing my own hair, I know how." She was trying not to grin at her mom's flushed face, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. "So...he doesn't think of you in that way huh?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest, arching an eyebrow.
"Arielle..." She groaned, needing to get out of there before Mark got up, not wanting to face him at the moment. "Look, it's REALLY complicated..." She said, quickly pulling her shorts up. How the HELL was she supposed to explain this one? "I am not discussing this with you." She finally stated, pulling her tank top on and took the shirt off, tossing it in the laundry basket that was in the hallway. "Now what did you need?" She asked promptly, crossing her arms in front of her chest, imitating her daughter's stance.
"I wanted to know where you were since you weren't on the couch." Arielle wasn't bothered in the slightest, just bounced past her mom and flitted back into her dad's room. "Daddy..."
Mark was in his jeans by now, glancing at her as he pulled a t-shirt over his head. "Yes, princess?"
"Why don't you make some pancakes and coffee, then we'll have a talk."
"How bout I make the pancakes and the coffee and we don't have a talk?"
"I have to go Arie." Jasina called, knowing she was going to be late, and reluctantly walked back into Mark's room. "I really have to go, I'm going to be late. Give me a hug." She stated, kissing her daughter's head before standing back up, staring back at Mark. "Umm...see you later?" She walked out and down the stairs, slipping her socks and shoes on before nearly jetting out to her car, getting in and peeled out of there. Her lips were still burning as Jasina felt the tears burn her eyes, her entire body trembling from pure desire, needing a desperate cold shower. She grabbed her cell from the passenger seat and dialed Trish's number, swallowing hard. "I-I'm going to be late. An hour at the most. Thanks hon." She hung up and drove home.
~!~
"So, let me get this straight...you shared a bed with your druggie ex-wife and then almost fucked her?"
Why was Steve his best friend? And why did he always confide in the guy? "She's not a druggie anymore, but other then that yes."
"So fuck her and get it out of your system. Then you can go back to being Arie's single parent dad and life will go on."
Mark threw his screwdriver at Steve.
~!~
"I can't believe what happened..."
Trish had to blink, seeing how badly her friend and co-worker was shaking, placing her hand on hers for comfort. "Sweetie, it's perfectly natural..."
"No it isn't! He's my ex-husband and I thought he didn't have feelings for me!" She snapped, then immediately apologized, biting her bottom lip. "Jesus what am I going to do?"
"Maybe you should have a talk with him."
"I'd rather shoot myself in the damn skull than do that, Trish."
~!~
"Ouch!" Steve wailed, getting hit with his third screwdriver of the day. "What'd I say this time?"
"Nothing." Mark grunted from under a truck. "You just annoyed me by being there."
"Look, do you still love her?"
"It's complicated."
"Oh, but waking her up for some early morning delight ain't?"
"Sex is different."
"Not when it's with the former love of your life, moron!"
"Arie will be here soon, you mind dropping it?" Mark growled, regretting ever telling Steve about what had happened. "I think Trish has gotten to you, you're talking like doctor fucking Ruth."
"Well...when you come in here needin' laid and I'm the only option, I feel the need to speak up and save my ass. Literally."
"You best call Trish and let her know she's about to be a single mother."
~!~
"Maybe I should pretend it never happened." Jasina reasoned, raking a hand through her hair.
"You know damn well Arie isn't going to let it go, Jas." Trish reasoned, sighing as she looked up at the clock. "I say you should talk to him."
"Oh and what do I say huh? Mark, I love you with all my heart and I want you back?" Jasina snorted, rolling her eyes, though that was the truth. "I don't see that going too well, Trish, do you?"
"Does he still love you?"
"I don't know."
~!~
Later on that day, Jasina left the Houston Journal and walked to the parking garage, wearing a pink and gray skirt suit, black pumps on her feet that matched her purse. She was still so confused about what happened between her and Mark, knowing she would eventually have to face him. Groaning, Jasina slid in her car and turned the ignition, pulling out of there and headed to her penthouse. She had some serious thinking to do.
Jasina decided she wasn't going to mention what happened between her and Mark until he did. Not that she hadn't enjoyed. She could still feel his hands on her...Jasina groaned, turning the air conditioner on, and wondered briefly if HER period was on the way. No, she just got over it a few days prior, which was why she had those extra pads in her car. These weren't hormones, this was her body SCREAMING at her to have sex. It wasn't happening as she walked over and took an ice cube out of the freezer, rubbing it around her neck, her hair up in a clip to keep off of her neck. Time for a haircut definitely.
~!~
Mark would take Steve back over Arielle in a heartbeat. He was trying to get supper around while she did her school work at the table, or was supposed to be. She was barraging him with a shitload of questions.
"Arie, schoolwork." He ordered, tossing a dish towel over his shoulder.
"Are you and mom getting back together?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Why not? You have to make an honest woman of her."
"Have you and Toni been sneakin' Lashonna's books again?"
~!~
The next Saturday, Arielle was at her mom's knocking brightly on the door. She had gotten permission from her dad who had then asked Lashonna to drop her off. When Jasina opened the door, she walked right in, dropping her bag on the floor.
"Dad said if you didn't mind, I could spend the night with you." She didn't add he was currently giving her what she wanted on a lot of things just to shut her up.
"Well, I'm always happy that you're here." Jasina smiled down at her, hugging her before kissing the top of her head. Jasina had gotten a queen sized bed for her guest room and made it Arielle's. She painted the walls a deep blue that went well with the beige carpeting. "Your father DOES know you're here right?" When she nodded and explained Lashonna had brought her over, Jasina physically relaxed. "Good. I was getting ready to make dinner, do you want to help?" She grinned as Arielle bounced into the kitchen, after putting her bag in her room.
"So, what are we making?" Arielle asked eagerly, washing her hands thoroughly in the sink before drying them off, looking around the kitchen curiously. She always loved her mom's kitchen. It had a lot of things in it that made cooking easier, like an electric mixer for example. She hadn't been able to talk her dad into buying one yet. "So...you and dad talk yet?" She asked innocently.
"No we haven't and we're probably not going too." Jasina stated evenly, letting her daughter know right off the bat that topic was barred from discussion. "I was thinking about making some stuffed shells. It's Italian and really good. What do you think?" She grinned when Arielle nodded eagerly before walking over to grab the ricotta cheese out of the fridge along with a few other ingredients they would need. She needed a distraction and cooking along with her daughter would do the trick.
