Page 92 of Revealing Mark

He looked so tired, I pulled him to the bed. I got in and heslipped in beside me. When we were lying together and facing each other, I switched off the light.

He didn’t put an arm around me, very aware of my injury, but he kissed my forehead lightly on the side that wasn’t covered by the bandage.

I hadn’t been brave enough to look under the bandage, I hadn’t wanted to make a big deal out of the superficial side of having a scar.

“Does it look bad?” I asked quietly, trusting he would tell me the truth where others would try and soften it.

“Stitches are sexy,” he murmured, which made me smile for the first time in what felt like forever.

“Really?” I asked, loving the smirk he gave me.

“It makes you look tough.”

I laughed and my ribs hurt. I put a hand to them. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’ll be fighting off the competition,” he continued.

“As if,” I murmured. I had yet to find anyone else who could hold a candle to him.

He trailed his fingers along the side of my face.

Sometimes I hoped it was because he was perfect for me but then there were times I allowed the doubt to enter my thoughts.

I was giving Mark space until he was ready to open up about his grandfather. He hadn’t mentioned anything else other than the fact he had died. I didn’t know what had happened or even when the funeral was.

It had been two days and still he hadn’t revealed anything. I didn’t want to be the one always pushing him, at some point he had to do it on his own.

We were going to Matthew’s for dinner. I believed it was to soothe any friction that still remained. I didn’t want to get in theway of Mark’s friendship with my brother, but I also didn’t want my brother meddling in my relationship with Mark. I knew he still wasn’t completely comfortable with it, but I hoped seeing us together might change that.

“You ready…?” The words died on his lips when he entered my room.

He had been waiting patiently for me to get ready, without complaint.

“And?” I asked.

I wore a simple skirt and shirt with some makeup. It wasn’t over-the-top but I wanted to look nice, especially for our official outing as a couple. With each step with him, I felt the anxiousness of what the outcome would be, with each measurement a hope that it would be enough.

At some point I had to realize it was my own insecurities rearing their heads and not only Mark’s inability to trust or open up.

“Beautiful.” His gaze was intense as it wandered from my head to my toes. I felt my stomach flip and I loved how he was looking at me right in that moment, like I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

“The bandage…” I touched my head, feeling very self-conscious.

“There’s nothing that would make you less beautiful, nothing.”

He took my hand to his lips and he brushed it with a kiss, which sent a fizzle of electric chemistry through me. I felt breathless. He could take my breath away with one look or a touch. I had it bad for this man. I wanted to lose myself in my growing feelings, but a fear kept me from leaping off the edge into the unknown.

“I can’t wait to get better,” I said, moving close so my lips nearly touched his.

“And why is that?” he asked with a smirk.

“So I can do all the naughty things I want to do to you.”

He grinned and put his hand on my hip.

“I think I’ve created a monster.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing,” I teased.