Page 44 of Revealing Mark

I nodded angrily, not wanting to spend any more time talking to him. Besides, I couldn’t find my car keys but it was probably best not to drive when I wasn’t feeling as alert.

He released my hand. I went to the guest bedroom and closed the door. I just needed a quick shower and to brush my teeth. Then I would try and get some sleep. It was seven in the morning but I didn’t have any appointments. Thank goodness. I wouldn’t be able to cope with that on top of the lack of sleep.

I had a quick shower and put the same clothes back on before I brushed my teeth with a spare toothbrush I found. When I climbed onto the bed and curled up, I was asleep before I could form another thought.

I shifted slightly and stretched. The sun was shining brightly into the room so I strained my eyes when I opened them. It was only when I saw the familiar surroundings of the guest bedroom in Mark’s apartment that I remembered what had happened the night before and this morning.

I blinked. Mark was seated in a chair, watching me.

“I thought you would have better things to do than watch me sleep,” I retorted, feeling a lot less grumpy than our earlier encounter. I sat up. “What time is it?”

“Late afternoon.”

“Why are you here?” I asked, still trying to wake up. I rubbed my eyes. Feeling self-conscious, I smoothed my hair. I must look like an absolute mess, still dressed in the clothes I had worn the night before. At least I was clean and I had managed to brush my teeth.

“Why did you stop me?”

“Stop you from what?” I managed a frown. “Drinking yourself to death? I’m not sure my presence had any impact on that. I was more watching from the sidelines than trying to stop your spiral into a glass of whiskey.”

“In the bedroom.” His tone was husky. My stomach dipped and I felt very conscious of the way he was watching me.

I felt the heat in my cheeks as I remembered what had transpired in his bedroom before I had put a halt to it.

“Drinking makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do.” I shrugged. Did I really have to spell it out for him?

“And you thought I would regret it?” he asked, sitting forward.

I shrugged.

“The last time that happened, you made it very clear you weren’t going to cross a line when it came to my brother’s friendship.” I made a disinterested face despite the fact it was still ego-denting. “I didn’t want you to regret it.”

He looked at me thoughtfully. “So, you did that for me?”

“Yes,” I breathed, not liking the feeling that came along with admitting it.

When he remained silent, I slid out of the bed. “Well, I’d better get going. You don’t need me anymore.” To keep myself busy, I straightened the bed. “Next time Matt calls, pick up thephone. I don’t want to have to come over to check on you again.”

Then I turned to him standing in front of me. I hadn’t even heard him move. He was so close I lifted my eyes to question his. His hand touched my cheek and I found it more difficult to breathe. This time his eyes held more meaning than they had the night before. This time it was different.

He leaned closer and kissed me. I closed my eyes to focus on what I was feeling instead of what was going on in my mind. I didn’t want to listen to the warnings going off in my head. I wanted to be just where I was, with the guy who was making my world move beneath my feet.

But no matter how much I wanted to just go with it, I couldn’t stop thinking of what it would entail for him.

I broke the kiss and put my fingers to my lips while I drew in a breath. “What about Matt?”

“I’ll deal with it when the time comes,” he whispered. My eyes drifted to his lips. I had him here, waiting for me. It felt unreal, like I was dreaming.

There was nothing more stopping us, but I hesitated. “Why now?”

What had changed?

“Some things are worth breaking the rules for,” he whispered.

I was hypnotized, unable to look away or break the spell that held us bound to each other.

“I want you,” I admitted, still feeling like something was going to stop us.

“And I you.”