Thank you for the reviews..here's a bonus chapter for you..enjoy!
Mark looked over at Josie snuggled under the covers and wondered if sleeping in the same bed was a good idea, after all he wanted to be friends, not that he had forgot the mind blowing sex they had, it was just he wasn't feeling like such a hot item right now, his ego was still bruised from Michelle and he didn't think jumping into a relationship right now was smart, and he thought to much of Josie to use her for sex, no matter how good the sex was. Mark walked over to her bed and smiled, she looked so damn cute, what the hell was wrong with him. She looked up at him suddenly. "Did you bring Tom up?"
Mark sat down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, he's right over there on his bed."
Josie smiled and looked over to check on him, he was sound sleep. "Thank you."
Mark cupped her cheek. "You're welcome, ya know I can sleep in a spare room or on the couch.
Josie felt like a idiot, of course he was with Michelle now, he wouldn't want to be sleeping in the same bed with her. "Uhh yeah, if you want too." She stuttered out.
Mark frowned at the look on her face, he said fuck it and slid in the bed beside her and reached over to turn out the lamp.
Mark pulled her close to him, he was to damn tired to fuck anyway, might as well enjoy just holding her. "Mark?"
"Yeah honey?" He asked tightening his big arms around her.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, I mean I know you're seeing Michelle, if you don't want to sleep in here with me, thats fine." She said laying her cheek on his warm chest.
Mark sighed. "Things didn't work out with us, she informed me that she wasn't in love with me, she's in love with John." The words still stinging his ego, now Josie would see how pathetic he was.
Josie realized he was hurt, she heard that ringing through the words, she scooted up and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Michelle is a fool." She said and cuddled back down next to him.
Mark felt the words wash over him and smiled, maybe Michelle didn't think he was so special, but Josie's words made him feel like Josie thought he was.
He watched her drift off to sleep, Josie was a prickly little thing, she was scared of men, relationships, of giving up her control, all things that stood in his way, he liked her a lot, but he wasn't looking for a fling, he was looking for a lifetime, besides he had married women for passion before and their was definitely heat between him and Josie, that would be a bad reason to jump back on the marriage bandwagon again, what happened when that fizzled out, he doubted Josie wanted to have kids and settle down, she loved working.
Maybe they should just be friends, he liked having her around, she liked him, he could tell that. Mark sighed it was too soon to jump into a new relationship, maybe he should just stop worrying and let whatever happened happen. He finally fell into a deep sleep, his dreams that night filled with Josie, not one about Michelle.
Josie awoke the next morning, remembering it was Sunday and she didn't have to get up, then she realized there was a big warm, hard body pressed tight against her back and she grinned as she realized his big arm was wrapped firmly around her waist.
Josie snuggled happily against him and she knew she shouldn't be happy, Mark wasn't for her, but she could enjoy him for a while, she was sure he wouldn't stay unattached long, but she could maybe borrow him for a while. She grinned when she heard Tom meowing and she slid from underneath Mark's big arm and walked over and picked up the kitten snuggling him in her ams. "C'mon Tom, I'll feed you breakfast."
She took him downstairs and put him in his litter box and walked on to the kitchen pouring him some food in his little bowl and putting out fresh water for him.
Josie washed her hands and smiled when Tom came in and started his breakfast, she had always wanted a pet, but Margery thought they were germ ridden little beasts.
She pulled out the stuff to start pancakes and made a pot of coffee, she felt happy, the last two weeks without Mark had been depressing, she hummed as she fixed breakfast, she decided she wouldn't over think her relationship with Mark, she would just enjoy it for now.
Mark woke up to the smell of food and coffee and stretched. He had slept like a baby last night, not even waking up once, could have something to do with who he was snuggled up with, he thought smiling.
He got up and went and jumped in Josie's shower, he had some clothes still in his truck, he hadn't even went home last night, he had went and got the kitten and cake for Josie and then come straight to her house.
He got out and dried off and just pulled his boxers back on, he would run out to the truck and get his clothes after breakfast.
He stopped in the kitchen door smiling. "Morning."
Josie turned and just stopped, he was naked, okay well not naked, but close enough. "You don't have clothes on."
Mark just grinned. "My clothes are in the truck, I'll get dressed after breakfast."
Josie shut her mouth and turned back to flipping pancakes, he was killing her, the hell with breakfast she wanted him for breakfast. Mark walked over and poured himself some coffee, he bent to pet Tom who was laying on one of the kitchen rugs. He grinned when the cat started purring.
Josie turned the watch him, the big man was so gentle, his actions put to rest any thoughts that he was some tough guy, Josie was sure he could be, but he was a gentle loving soul, she knew that just by the way he treated her.
Mark got up and seated himself at the table. "Sleep good?"
Josie nodded. "Yeah like a log, you?"
Mark smiled as he sipped his coffee. "Best sleep I've had in a while."
Josie was trying not to look at him, seeing his chest just made her want to go over and start nibbling on him.
Josie put the food on the table and smiled as Mark went at eating it just like he did with everything else, with gusto. Josie sat down and fixed her a plate of food. "Mark, are you okay?"
Mark looked up from eating and seen the worried look on her face, he knew she was worried about the whole thing with Michelle. "Well I tied on a two week drunk, I was pretty pissed, but I guess my pride is hurt worse than my heart, I'm fine, don't you worry about me none."
Josie hoped he wasn't pining for Michelle, hell he could have any woman he wanted. "Okay."
Mark scarfed most of the food down and they got up, Mark helped her clean up the kitchen, she could barely concentrate with him standing so close to her in nothing but boxers. When they got done, Mark went out and got his bag out of the truck and disappeared upstairs to change.
Josie wondered out to her living room and sat down with Tom, grinning as he curled up in her lap and went to sleep.
Mark came down a few minutes later in jeans and a t-shirt and sat down beside her. "I guess I should go, and let you rest, I'm sure you have a busy week at work ahead of you."
Josie kept her head down, she didn't want him to leave, but if he was ready to go, not much she could do about it.
Mark sighed, the girl wouldn't give a inch, she would rather eat glass than admit she wanted him to stay. Sooner or later Josie was going to have to learn she needed someone and it was okay to need someone. Mark got up. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Josie lifted her head to look at him. "Okay, and thanks Mark, I really love the kitten."
Mark bent and kissed her quickly. "I'm glad."
Josie watched him leave, she should have invited him to dinner or suggested they could go play basketball or something. She closed her eyes, she wanted him here but there was no way she could admit that to him or say the words out loud.
Wednesday found Josie , Jenn and Sammy having take out for lunch in her office. "So, have you heard from Mark since Sunday?
"No, he's probably busy or something." Josie said.
Jenn laid her sandwich down, Josie had told them about Mark showing up for her birthday and the kitten had had gotten her. "Phone works both ways, call him."
Josie shook her head. "No, I don't want to bother him, I mean its not like we're seeing each other or anything."
Sammy looked at her friend. "Josie lets be straight, we have never seen you act this way over any guy, you like him, so go after him."
"No, its not right, he wants marriage and kids, I don't, it wouldn't be fair to date him, knowing we want different things."
Jenn sighed. "Girl, you just think you don't want those things because of that dragon lady mother of yours, you have to let go of that crap she feeds you and live your life."
"You guys don't understand, I would never marry a man and have kids, knowing I couldn't give either of them what they need, I like working, I'm not going to dump my kids like my parents did, so I can have a career, its better not to have any." She said looking away from them.
Both of her friends were stumped as to how to get through to her, maybe Mark was going to be the only one that could, but he had to call her or come see her first.
Josie was sitting in her office going over some new brochures she needed to have printed up, it was after six and time for her to head home for the day. Jenn and Sammy were already gone. She put the brochures in her briefcase and got up to head out to the main office to shut out the light, when the front door opened. She looked up and seen Mark and couldn't stop the smile that lit her face. "Hey Mark."
"Hey darlin' you leaving for the night?"
She nodded, Mark noted she seemed please to see him and took that as a good sign. He had been thinking the last few days and he had a plan of action, he was going to ease in Josie's life without seeming pushy about it, well not too pushy anyway.
"C'mon I'm taking you to dinner."
Her brain told him she was busy, that she couldn't go to dinner tonight, however when she opened her mouth. "Sure okay." Came out. Josie wanted to kick herself, what the hell was wrong with her.
Mark smiled and wrapped a arm around her giving her a warm hug. "Great, I've missed you."
Josie had to resist the urge to climb on him and kiss him senseless, it was getting harder and harder to resist her impulses.
Mark slid his chair close to hers. "I hate to shout across the table." He said putting his hand on the back of her chair.
Josie who was beyond a case of the nerves anyway, started shredding napkins to calm herself, but damn he smelled good, she peeked over at him and wanted to lean up and nibble on those sexy lips. She jumped when she felt his big hand start to rub her shoulder. "So, what have you been up too?"
Mark grabbed the glass of tea and took a drink. "Well I went fishing." He said and grinned when he seen the look of horror on her face. "and I had a all night poker game."
"Well You can keep the fishing, never again." She said sipping her tea. Mark scooted closer to her and his hand came up to rest on the back of her neck, he started gently rubbing the skin there , and Josie melted practically, the man was making her insane. "I have a proposition for you, and I want ya to hear me out before you say no." Mark whispered close to her ear.
"Umm what kind of proposition?" She asked barely able to speak. Mark smiled, good he wanted to keep her off balance at least until she agreed. "You like me right?" He breathed close to her ear.
Josie jumped. "Uhh yeah sure, you know I do, I mean we're friends."
Mark nodded. "Yeah we are friends, but you know there is a spark between us, hell more like a forest fire."
Josie nodded, she could agree with that. "Yeah I know." She said looking down at her hands.
"Well, we're both unattached, why should we deny what is going on between us, I mean we wouldn't be hurting anybody, we're friends, we like each other, the sex will be spectacular, we'll keep it casual, I know with your career, you don't want anything serious right now, I just got out that fiasco with Michelle, we could have a real good time, no strings, what do ya think?" Mark asked keeping his fingers teasing her skin.
Josie thought about saying no, but the thing was it made sense, it was perfect for her, she couldn't commit, to a man like Mark, he wasn't right for her,not to mention, her mother would keel over if she found out Josie was seeing a wrestler, but she couldn't deny, she liked him, she couldn't deny she had a buring desire for him, they could be friends, hang out and have sex, it was perfect. "Okay."
Mark was shocked it had been that easy, he was about to reply when the waitress brought there food.
Mark sighed, they would eat and then discuss the arrangements, let Josie think it was just sex, thats what he wanted her to think for now, but he knew if she just gave the two of them some time, she would see the two of them were perfect for each other, he really liked Josie, he was sure she would make a good mother, he would even stay home with the kids so she could work, he had a new plan of action, but he would have to ease Josie into it, otherwise he would scare her off.
After dinner, Mark followed her home, they grabbed a beer and sat on the couch, Josie had been quite ever since her answer at the restaurant. "Josie, I want this to be comfortable for you, I figure we just hang out like we do now, maybe sometimes you stay at my place, sometimes I stay at yours, if you ever feel like I'm smothering you, just say so, we don't have to hang out everyday, whatever you feel like, I just want you to be happy and content." He said.
Josie looked up at Mark, he was such a sweet man, she knew why she liked him, he was a considerate and caring man. "Okay, I mean that sounds good, I'll give you a spare key to my place, I like having you around."
Mark had to suppress a impulse to yell a victory yell, this was going way better than he thought, Josie was all for it, he didn't even have to convince her. "That sounds good, I'll give you a spare key too, I want you to come over when ever ya want, okay?"
Josie nodded, it sounded good to her so far. "well when I stay over can I bring Tom?" She asked of the kitten who was laying beside them on the couch.
Mark grinned. "Of course.
Josie smiled. "Its settled then." Now all she wanted to do was start the sex part.
"One more thing." Mark said sliding his arm around her pulling her close to him. "Yeah?"
Saturday nights are going to be special, we always spend them together, no matter what, its going to be fantasy night?"
He had caught her off guard. "Huh?"
Mark just smiled. "Sometime during the week, either you or me, this week you, will write down a fantasy for the other to fulfill, Saturday night, is the night, this week since its your fantasy, we'll do it here, but it already Wednesday, so write it down and get it to me soon, you can leave it in my mailbox if you want."
Josie looked at him, wondering if this was a good idea, she wasn't used to sharing her secret fantasies with anyone. "I don't know Mark.."
Mark rubbed her arm. "Thats why we write them down, if its a little embarrassing, writing it down will be easier, okay, just try it, it will be fun..hmmm?"
Josie looked at at the big man, she had no will to say no to anything to him. "Well okay, but if I don't like it we stop, okay?"
Mark nodded. "Yeah, but you'll like it, I promise."
The deep timber of Mark's voice sent shivers down her spine, she was afraid she was going to end up likening it too much.