Chapter 15

"Mark? Mark where are you?" I asked as I looked around the house. He wasn't answering me so I went to the gym area only to find he wasn't in there. I sighed and walked to the den.

"Mark?" I called out. The TV was on but no one was in there. I sighed and went to the couch, picking up the remote and shutting off the TV. Once I did that I headed to the last place I expected him to be, the hot tub room. I could feel the heat radiating from the entrance before I even knocked so I knew he was in there.

I knocked gently, "Mark?"

"Come on in." he said

I opened the door and peeked in seeing him sitting in the hot tub with his back to me. He had his head leaning against his hand confirming my beliefs that something was wrong. I walked around to the side and sat down where he could see me.

"Hey." I said.

He glanced at me with a smile, "Hey pup."

"Pup?" I asked. "When did I earn that nickname?"

He shrugged, "Just now."

I giggled and then slipped off my slippers and put my feet into the water. "That feels so good."

He laughed, "I bet it does. So what's up?"

I looked at him with a soft smile. "I was just wondering if…everything was ok."

"What do you mean?" he asked as he moved a little closer to me.

"Well, I noticed that you seem real quiet and kind of upset about something." I said.

He sighed and then looked at me with the sexiest grin. Goodness…I was already having trouble being near him since he was half naked…or was he?

"You're right pup, something is bothering me." He said. "But I'm not telling you unless you get in here with me."

I chuckled and looked down at my outfit which consisted with black shorts and a grey beater, "I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion Mark."

He smirked, "You look good enough to me."

I shook my head and pulled my hair up into a ponytail. Next, I slowly slid down into the hot tub, keeping my eyes on him. "Alright…I'm in."

Once I was in he put his arm around me and looked into my eyes. I had a hard time fighting off a smile but his body being this close to mine was driving me insane.

"Ok…now tell me what's wrong." I said.

He licked his lips and sighed, "I haven't been completely honest with you Serena. That's what's wrong."

I nodded, "Ok, what haven't you been honest about?"

"A few things…like for one…I'm not that upset about losing your sister to someone else." He said.

"Why not?" I asked. "Didn't you love her?"

He looked away from me for a moment, "I thought I did…but I ended up meeting someone and I knew immediately that I was making a mistake being with Tracy."

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. "Who was it that you met?"

He sighed, "I can't tell you that…at least not yet, but I tried to stop myself from letting those feelings get deeper…and it didn't work."

I nodded, "Ok. Is that all you haven't been honest with me about?"

"No there is one other thing. When you were pregnant…I was mean towards you because I was a little jealous of you."

I chuckled, "Why?"

"Why else? I mean Tracy wasn't getting pregnant at all and yet there you were ready to have a baby." He said.

I shook my head, "oh Mark…I figured that was the problem."

"You did?"

I nodded, "Yeah. I mean I'm still not sure why you were such a jerk to me in the beginning but…I knew me having a kid was affecting how you treated me."

"Oh. Well I'm sorry for that. I really am." He said.

"it's ok Mark. I'm not mad at you."

He smiled, "Good."

I looked away thinking about how much he had done for me since I first moved to this state. He started rubbing my arm gently making my body brush against his. It was then that I realized he wasn't wearing any swim trunks….Oh…my…God. My body tensed slightly but I didn't bother to tell him I knew…

"What's the matter?" he asked me.

I shook my head, "Nothing."

"No no no…what's the problem?" he asked again.

I sighed and looked into his eyes, "I don't know, I just feel like…I owe you so much."

"How so?" he asked.

I shrugged, "Well I feel like you've done so much for me and Michael and I just feel like I need to repay you somehow."

He shook his head, "Hey, I wanted to help you two out so…you don't owe me anything pup."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "You know how I am about repaying people."

He laughed, "Yeah I know but…honestly I'm ok."

I nodded, "ok then. If you think of something don't be afraid to ask."

"I won't pup." He said before gently kissing my forehead. "Now you better go get ready for bed. You've got school in the morning."

I nodded, "Ok…and Mark?"

"Huh?" he said as he watched me stand up.

"The next time you want to invite me into a hot tub…wear some bottoms please."

He looked down and laughed, "Oh I'm sorry I completely forgot about that."

I shook my head and stepped out of the hot tub. "Goodnight Mark."

"Goodnight sweetie."

I smiled and left the room, shaking my head as water dripped off of my body. When I got upstairs, I checked on Michael who was still sleeping, and then went to my room to get some rest. I went into my room and quickly stripped out of my clothes. I then wrapped a towel around my body and started drying off.

All I could think about was Mark at that moment. He was so damn sexy especially when he was feeling vulnerable like that. I smiled to myself knowing that being with him would be a great idea. The only problem was…he use to belong to my sister. Sure she messed things up with him but, did that make it right for me to take him for myself?