Page 74 of Revealing Mark

“You want to come in?” he asked when I didn’t take a step closer.

I did but I didn’t want the physical part of us to override all else, but I also didn’t want any of his neighbors to hear a very personal conversation.

I nodded. He stepped aside and I entered. The door closed behind me and I turned to face him.

“It’s not safe to be out this late,” he murmured.

“I shouldn’t have come?” I asked softly, unsure if this was what I should be doing.

I wanted to be the woman in the painting, the one who took charge of her life instead of waiting for it to happen.

“I didn’t say that.” He moved closer.

There was a moment of silence.

“I need to know something,” I began and wet my lips nervously.

“Ask.” His voice was husky.

“You were jealous.”

He smiled, deepening his dimples. “I was.”

“What does that mean exactly?” Suddenly I felt out of my depth but this was important.

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” He moved closer and I found myself staring at him.

I nodded.

He cradled my face and brushed my lips with his thumbs as he stared deeply into my eyes. “I want you, not just in my bed.”

“What about Matthew?” I covered his hands with mine. His friendship with my brother hung in the balance. After how Matthew reacted to my parents’ secret, there was no way to tell how he might react to finding out about Mark and me.

“You were the one who didn’t want to say anything. I don’t like keeping things from him.” He sighed. “But there is a good chance he won’t take it well.”

“I know.” I closed my eyes, knowing there might be more drama in my immediate future.

“We can handle it,” he whispered, and I felt his lips on mine.

I let him kiss me before I managed to stop my head from spinning. I put my finger to his lips.

“Not so easy,” I said, determined to get my point across. “What you accused me of was terrible. I really thought you knew me, but after that I’m not so sure anymore. You hurt me. If you can’t trust me, then I don’t think this will work.”

His eyes darkened. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Even if it means you have to start trusting me with things you don’t like to talk about?”

He studied me for a few moments before he nodded. “It’ll take time.”

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. It was a small step I had never believed he would take and the fact that he was prepared to meant the world to me. His arms came around me and held me close. This was exactly where I wanted to be.

“I’d better get home,” I murmured, pulling away from him, but he refused to let me go.

He shook his head. “Stay.”

The heat in his eyes left me with no doubt there wouldn’t be much sleeping, and my stomach dipped. Suddenly my lungs didn’t hold enough air and I felt dizzy.

“I don’t have any clothes,” I whispered, unable to tear my eyes from his lips.