Chapter 24
Mark came out after an hour, gingerly feeling his nose. He glanced at her and inwardly rolled his eyes. Pity party. He was wrong for constantly throwing it in her face, but what else did she expect from him? His total love and adoration? It took time, which he now had, thanks to three soon to be dead kids. Sighing, he held out a hand, staring down at her.
"Come on Jasi, get up."
"I can't change what I did, Mark." She whispered, looking up at him through tear filled teal eyes. "Don't you think I want too? Don't you think I WISH I could turn back the clock and do things differently? I beat myself up every single day and night because of what I did to not only myself, but my family. I can't keep apologizing for the past. I've apologized enough and I'm tired. I'm so tired..." When his hand remained there, Jasina sighed and closed her eyes before sliding hers into his, feeling him pull her up on her feet, wiping the tears away, feeling completely drained.
"I'm not askin' ya to apologize anymore. I'm not apologizin' for myself either." Mark said bluntly, guiding her over to the bed. "I care about you, I always will. But I'm not going to just dive into somethin' with you head first and nobody seems to understand that." Actually, all he had gotten was 'how do you think Jasina feels?'. Didn't anyone remember he was the one who'd been left with an infant? No. Because he had been strong and forged on. He didn't have strength to do it again, he simply didn't. He needed time to make sure things weren't going to crumble. "C'mon, lie down, darlin'."
"I don't want you to apologize to me and I'm not asking you to dive into this. You would be a fool too after what I did..." She whispered, not able to use her real voice because it was too hoarse at the moment from all of her screaming.
Jasina felt him gently guide her down on the bed and scooted over to her side, pulling the comforter up over her, and rested her head against the pillow. She loved him and he cared for her, she was willing to accept that. She ripped his heart out and put it in a blender, what did she honestly expect? Jasina closed her eyes and let the silent tears fall, his scent calming her down.
Sighing, Mark pulled her against him, draping an arm over her. "Let's just get some sleep and we'll figure out what we're doin' about everything in the morning." He murmured in her ear. He groaned when he heard shrieking from downstairs. "And how we're killing those three hooligans."
She sniffled softly, nodding, and turned over on her back to gingerly kiss his nose. "I'm sorry." She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him briefly. She slowly pulled back and turned back around to lay on her side, spooning against him, and rested her cheek against his hand as her eyes closed. 'I love you.' She thought, embracing his warmth and comfort, hoping tomorrow would be better, even though they were locked up until Monday.
~!~
"I think they're asleep."
"Finally, did you hear them screaming?"
"Yeah...it was bad."
"So...where am I sleeping?"
"Couch. Toni is with me."
"Aw man."
~!~
The following morning, Jasina was up before Mark and staring out the window. The sun was rising over the horizon as she raked a hand through her hair, knowing she would need a shower. Her head was killing her from how much crying and screaming she'd done. Jasina hadn't screamed that badly since...rehab. She rarely got angry and when she did...well the results were currently sleeping behind her. Jasina sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose, she would kill for some aspirin right now.
Mark groaned, rolling over, his arm groping for the warm body that had been next to him. Sighing, he rolled onto his back and reluctantly opened his eyes. "Jasina?" Not like she could escape. He grinned sleepily, that could have some perks. Damn it, bad morning thoughts. He sat up slowly, spotting her at the window and frowned. "Headache?"
"Yeah." She whispered quietly, feeling his hand reach out and pull her back into bed, sighing as she snuggled back against him under the comforter. "I'm sorry if I woke you." In truth, Jasina was used to being up this early because of her job and she'd gotten used to enjoying the days instead of the nights. She sighed and closed her eyes when his nose nuzzled her neck, feeling his goatee tickling her skin, and smiled in spite of herself.
"There's Tylenol in the bathroom cabinet. Unless the kids took it." He snorted, wondering what the trio was doing now, then frowned. Where the hell had Gary slept? They were running rampant with no adult supervision. Mark groaned when his stomach rumbled, having been locked before he could eat. "This prison bit had better come with meals." He growled, arching an eyebrow when she giggled at him. "Quiet, wench."
Jasina giggled harder and then snapped her eyes open when a drill suddenly went through the door. "What the-" She gaped and watched as a hole was made big enough for plates to slide through with food on them, raising an eyebrow when she seen the French toast that her daughter made - she'd taught her how to make it the last time Arielle had stayed over at her penthouse - slid through the gape on a contraption, setting it perfectly on the floor. "What other damn concoctions do you brats have?"
"Paintball guns if you two try widening that hole." Came Gary's cheerful voice, standing watch as Arielle next slid in glasses of orange juice. He had escorted her with said gun just in case they tried grabbing her. He had an overactive imagination and watched way too many movies.
"You two behaving in there? Cause we can make this go past Monday, not a problem."
Jasina couldn't even speak as they placed a black steel bar against the hole, shaking her head. They really WERE being kidnapped! That Gary kid would NEVER see her daughter again after this. She was banking on it, though Mark looked thoroughly amused.
"Food." She slid from bed and smiled when Mark stopped her, going to retrieve it. "What am I supposed to wear, Arielle?" She called through the door reluctantly. "I didn't bring a change of clothes and I have an article that's due on Monday thanks to your convincing phone call to Trish."
"Write it by hand and we'll fax it to her for you." Toni said sweetly.
"You can borrow dad's shirts."
"Or go naked."
"GARY!" Both girls screeched.
"You're not hanging out with him anymore when we are out of here, Arielle Marie." Jasina stated, hearing her daughter whine, and rolled her eyes. "You're not going to be hanging out with ANYONE when your father is through with you." She seen Mark nod emphatically, too busy horking down his breakfast before beginning hers. Taking her time, her stomach still somewhat tensed by what happened the previous night between them.
"I hope there's more comin', one plate ain't enough, Arie."
"Promise she can see me again and we'll feed ya all you want big man."
"I'm going to feed you your own balls kid."
"He doesn't mean that, Gary." Arielle said when her friend paled.
"Yes he does. You kissed his precious baby girl, boy. You're going to die." Jasina stated sweetly, laughing when she heard retreating footsteps, and shook her head before taking another bite of her French toast. She had to admit, it was pretty damn good. She taught her daughter well and felt a swell of pride overtake her before sipping down her orange juice.
Mark snorted, shooting Jasina a grin as he finished his plate, rolling his eyes when he seen the smiley face in red syrup on the bottom. Those kids had a wicked sense of humor. "You know, considering the amount of thought and planning that went into this...they did a good job." He couldn't believe he was saying that, but it was true. Damn kids these days.
"I hate agreeing with you, but you're right. They planned this out carefully and made sure every base was covered." Jasina finished her own plate before walking both of them over to the door with the empty glasses, knowing the contraption would pick them up, shaking her head. "It makes you wonder what lengths our daughter will go through to make us be together." She said that amusingly before walking back over to crawl into bed, feeling better now that she ate something.
"Amazin'...simply amazin'." Mark was in agreement with her, shaking his head as he watched her. "Course I'm still gonna have to paddle her little ass for all this. And Toni's." Gary he was outright killing. "Do you really think he kissed her?" He demanded, looking cross. Just imagining someone kissing his little girl, who apparently wasn't so damn little anymore, made his blood boil. She had grown up and moved on to committing felonies.
"Yeah, I heard Toni confirm it while they were locking us in here yesterday." She sighed when Mark grew angry, touching his arm, and forced him to face her. "She's growing up Mark. Her hormones are going a million miles a minute and she's both confused and excited. Hell, I had my first kiss when I was ten..." She cringed when Mark started ranting, rolling her eyes, and finally pulled him down on top of her, passionately kissing him to shut him up. She didn't let up until he began responding before pulling back, breathing heavily. "She's growing up and there's nothing you can do to stop it from happening. You need to let her experience life experiences, after her year of grounding from kidnapping her parents."
"Oh I'm going to let her experience all of life...She'll get to experience the most painful ass whooping in all the known world, the longest grounding, her first boyfriend's closed casket funeral..." Mark growled, staring down at her out of darkened green eyes. "Then on top of all that, she'll get to experience prison and becoming a lesbian!"
Jasina was laughing so hard as she shook her head, smiling up at him. "You are too adorable when you're overprotective. I don't foresee our daughter becoming a lesbian, Mark." She wouldn't care if Arielle was one or not, but she had a feeling her daughter was going to respond to boys the same way she did. She was going to be a heartbreaker with her father's green gems and her mother's hair. "And if you keep growling, I'm going to kiss you again." She threatened sweetly, knowing how turned on she got when he did that.
"Bet you don't hear me complain about it either." Mark snorted, smirking as he looked her up and down. "They were right about the wearin' my shirts though...or you could feel free to go naked if ya like, won't hear me complainin' about that either, darlin'." His green eyes were glittering wickedly. "I need a shower though so..." He pulled off his t-shirt and headed for the bathroom.
"Oh no you don't!" She zoomed past him and tried shutting the door, laughing when he got in, smirking. "I'm taking a shower first." She stated, seeing his eyebrow raise, and proceeded to peel her tank top and bra off right in front of him. He wasn't the only one who could tease as she removed her shorts, seeing him watch her every move and started the shower, acting all innocent as she stepped into the sprays. "You're welcome to join me if you want." She offered with an evil giggle, knowing he wouldn't before letting the water rush down her body.
Mark arched an eyebrow, knowing damn well she expected him to turn around and walk right back out. Instead he peeled off his jeans, always going commando anyway and stepped in after Jasina. They could shower together, didn't mean they had to do anything else. Besides, it's not like he hadn't seen her naked before. But damn if she wasn't curvier then before...He studied her appreciatively, watching as the water streamed down her body.
If she was shocked he joined her, she didn't show it. Her body was much curvier than before, she wasn't pencil thin like she used to be. Her ass was firmer from running and her stomach was leaner with a little muscle along with her legs from the kickboxing. She had completely changed throughout the years and was proud of her body as she poured some shampoo in her hair, lathering it up. Herbal Essence. She got him hooked on it and smiled, her back to him the entire time. She could feel his warm body behind her. The man was a furnace, always had been.
