12: A Real Kiss
Would he have honestly listened to her? Sine didn't think so, Mark very rarely listened to anyone. He had made her run her business out of his basement, operating through agents and the Internet. Human being… that was rather funny. Considering he hadn't talked to her about his decision to marry her, he just did it and told her she would eventually get used to it. He hadn't given her a choice on anything, she just had to deal with it, 'accept' her lot in life.
Sine spent the next few days not speaking except to coo to her children, more than aware that her husband was watching her every move. When he returned to work, he took her and the twins with him, forcing them to remain in hotels with guards, his guards.
It was rather pathetic. She was being babysat by two oafs, ones she vaguely recognized from New Orleans, Bradshaw and Farooq, which she was assuming were not their Christian names. Once past the initial fear –helped immensely by the fact that Mark was not speaking to her- Sine began to suffer from boredom. Other than caring for the twins, being stuck in either a car or a hotel suite didn't leave her a lot left to do besides watch TV.
She didn't even have work to keep her mind off of anything, not like it mattered at the moment. Reneire's seemed to be closed for good this time.
The twins were currently sleeping in their adjoining room and she was standing on the balcony outside the room she shared with Mark, staring down at the city. She would never leave him, she couldn't. He wouldn't let her take the twins, and if she made a serious effort too, he would probably kill her.
Groaning softly, Sine sank down onto a stone bench, resting her head against the ledge.
"Stop that crying." Mark ordered. It was midnight and he was tired, in pain and not in the mood to come back to the suite and find Sine sitting on the edge of the bed bawling. Trying his best to ignore her, he sat down in a chair and began removing his tennis shoes, throwing them into a corner. His shirt was next to follow, joining the shoes. "Sine, I mean it."
"Go to hell, Mark." She muttered, glancing up at him angrily. "Then stay there and burn."
He stood up slowly, feeling his muscles screaming in protest.
She watched as he took a step towards her, arching an eyebrow. "What? Are you going to beat me? Go for it, I dare you." She challenged, knowing he wouldn't, well… hoping he wouldn't. "You said I should have talked to you like a human being."
He stopped, wondering where the hell that had come from, remembering vaguely saying something along those lines the night he had gone to retrieve her.
"Why? When have you ever listened to me?"
He remained where he was, clenching and unclenching his fists. "All you had to do was tell me you were going to New York and I would have let you." He said finally, sternly. "You made a choice and now I can't trust you." Not that he had ever trusted her to begin with. "Believe it or not, I do love you. You, Kalea and Gavin."
He was twisted, seriously twisted. Sine didn't even bother pointing out the contradictions he had just made, between his words and his actions, the man was fucking insane. "No, you're obsessed with me." She corrected in an angry snarl, reaching back to grab her pillow and then hurled it at his head.
He easily batted it away.
"You don't listen to me, you never have! That's the reason I'm married to you, because you don't listen, you just take and do!" She stood up, glaring at him, her eyes red from her previous crying jag. "You're insane! If I would have asked you to go to New York, you would have sent me to Florida! Because you have to have me under your thumb!"
"That's right!" He shouted, not caring if he disturbed anyone or even woke the twins up, taking another step towards her. "You know why that is Sine? Because you belong to me! Until the day you die, you are mine! Deal with it!"
She looked torn between screaming or violence, finally just wrapping her arms around herself, knowing neither was going to do her any favors. She flinched when he was suddenly right in front of her, gripping her chin in his hand, forcing her to look up into his face.
"If you ever try leaving me again, you won't like what I do to you." He stared down at her, nodding when she simply sighed and stepped away from her. "I'm going to go take a shower, before you irritate me anymore." He stormed away from her, disappearing into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him.
Which woke the babies up.
Sine spent the next hour with the twins, trying her best to tend to them both at the same time. When she finally got them calmed down, she was crying all over again. Carrying a baby monitor with her, she returned to the main room, the room she shared with Mark and froze.
Speaking of Mark… he was sitting behind the bar, his wet hair hanging over his shoulders which in turn sent trails of water running down his bare chest. As she headed towards the bed, she glimpsed the towel he wore around his waist. Trying her best to ignore him, she slid beneath the blankets, burying her head under her pillows.
Snorting, Mark finished his glass, draining the whiskey in one polished swallow before standing up, not bothering to catch the towel when it slid down his hips. He wasn't surprised when she tensed, looking out from beneath the pillow at him.
Sine flipped over and automatically threw her hands up in a protective gesture when he joined her on the bed, cursing when she found those hands being pinned over her head in a familiar, hated position.
"It's been months Sine, tonight you're not telling me no." He informed her, nudging her legs apart with a forceful knee, bending down to capture her lips with his when she opened her mouth to scream. He was done waiting.
Sine didn't sleep at all that night, even when her husband had finished with her. She just lay with her back to him, a pillow between her legs and her arms tucked against her chest, trying not to cry because he hated it and she didn't want to wake him.
When Kalea began fussing around eight AM, that was her signal to get out of bed and pretend everything was fine, knowing Mark would be up soon as he was a light sleeper. "Hush ma fille, maman has you." She whispered, cradling Kalea in one arm while attempting to fix a bottle of formula with her free hand. She didn't think she was capable of smiling today but felt one tugging her lips when Kalea's eyes fastened on her face.
Mark was awake, he had woken the moment she left the bed, and was content to listen to her talk to Kalea, even if she did slip of her damn French into the sentence. When Gavin's sharp cries sounded from the open nursery door, he slid out of the bed, reaching down to pick up a pair of jeans he had left on the floor. After tugging them on, he went to pick up his son. "Alright little man, come on." He murmured gruffly, taking the bottle Sine passed him, neither exchanging words to each other as they each took a respective seat on the couch, feeding their children.
Sine just kept her attention on Kalea, sparing a quick look for her son who seemed to be content in his father's arms. Once Kalea was done with her feeding and burped, she was taken back into the nursery for a change and then popped into her crib. Sine felt a tad bit guilty, knowing Kalea and Gavin both needed some tummy time but she had to have a shower first. She had to have a moment alone.
Mark followed in her footsteps, burping and then changing Gavin. However, when he seen Kalea lying in her portable crib looking at the mobile, he knew she wasn't tired. Gavin didn't appear to be either. Frowning, he lay Gavin down besides his twin before carrying a blanket out into the main room, spreading it on the floor. He retrieved the twins and gently put them down on their stomachs.
"Something is missing…" He murmured, closing his eyes and picturing the last time he had seen Sine doing this. A second later he was retrieving some small toys and placing them just within reaching distance. "There." Feeling rather pleased with himself, Mark set about to ordering up breakfast for him and Sine before settling himself on the floor, laying out gingerly –he was still a bit sore, and that vigorous round with his feisty wife hadn't helped matters- on the floor with Gavin and Kalea, watching them intently.
He only looked away from the babies when he heard Sine coming out of the bathroom, taking her in out of emotionless eyes. She was wearing a black skirt and a pale green tank top, her hair was twisted at the nape of her neck in a rather elegant fashion. The only thing he noticed missing was make-up, which only showcased her pale complexion and the circles beneath her eyes. He frowned at that, noticing how gaunt she was truly looking.
Sine ignored him, sparing a look at the twins as she headed for the door when it was knocked upon, stepping aside to let the breakfast trays be brought in. She was interested in only the coffee and proceeded to pour herself a cup, settling down in a chair and stared blankly at the nearest wall, mug in hand.
He had watched her the entire time, sitting up and drawing his knees up, loosely clasping his arms around them. "Were you happy?" He asked quietly.
Sine merely looked at him, her lips parting only to close a moment later.
"I asked you a question Sine, I expect you to answer it."
"I was happy." She said after a moment, her voice firm and her eyes hard, staring down at him almost arrogantly. Who the hell did he think he was? Talking to her like she was a child! Of course she had been happy, both before him and then when she and the twins had gone to New York. She had been happy before he had decided to totally throw her life off balance. But then… if he hadn't, she wouldn't have her beautiful children either. "I was very happy." She finally admitted, knowing he was referencing her time in Manhattan.
"Were you trying to run from me? Honest answer."
She shook her head, actually looking amused with the question. "Running, from you? To New York of all places? Hardly."
He ignored the disdain in her tone, mostly because he was pleased to hear that she had finally acknowledged the fact that there was nowhere she could run too. Mindful of Gavin, who had somehow scooted himself around, he pushed himself to his feet and stared down at her intently. "Take the twins and go back to New York."
Sine nearly choked on the sip of coffee she took. "I beg your pardon?" She sputtered, hastily wiping the liquid off her chin.
"You heard me woman, don't ask me to repeat it." He growled, hardly believing he was doing this. "I'll come to be with you and the twins when I can. Now quit that damn crying and moping. You're leaving tonight."
Sine stood up, nearly spilling the coffee on her top in her haste, ready to make the arrangements and pack. She didn't know where this goodwill had come from but she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by either. She set the mug down on the table before walking over to him. Hesitantly, she stood on her tip toes and kissed his jaw.
"All things considered," He drawled, gripping her chin firmly when she started pulling away, forcing her to remain on her toes. "I think a real kiss is in order, don't you?"
She studied him thoughtfully, gray eyes locking with hazel green and her lips suddenly curved upwards into a genuine smile. "Perhaps." She allowed, just a hint of teasing in her tone.
Mark arched an eyebrow. "Perhaps?"
Snaking her arms around his neck, Sine drew herself flush against him.
Maybe there is hope for us yet, Mark thought as she proceeded to give him a 'real' kiss.