She left the lights off and snuggled into the armchair in the corner of the room. She pulled a blanket around her and curled up her legs, turning on her tablet to play solitaire until Mark came to bed. She knew she might have a while to wait, but that was okay. She wasn’t tired. Not when her heart was beating so fast and adrenaline was coursing through her veins. She wasn’t a confrontational person, so this was kinda scary for her.
She could’ve gone downstairs and asked Mark what his deal was, but she wanted to see how long it would take him to come to bed.
Two hours later—the longest two hours of Zoey’s life—she finally heard footsteps on the stairs. She put the tablet aside and waited. She watched as Mark eased into the room, being careful to stay quiet. Normally, that would’ve made her appreciate him all the more, but now, all it did was irritate her.
He went into the bathroom, closing the door all the way before turning on the light. Once more being considerate. When he exited, Zoey couldn’t keep quiet anymore.
“It’s late,” she said softly.
He jerked in surprise, then turned to the chair she was sitting in.
“Zoey?”
“Yeah, who else would it be?”
“Are you all right? Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. Mark, we need to talk.” She winced as soon as the words left her mouth. All guys hated to hear those four words, but they’d popped out without her thinking.
In response, Mark clicked on the lamp by the side of the bed and walked over to her. He was wearing a pair of boxers and that was it. His body was absolutely beautiful, and it actually made Zoey’s heart hurt looking at him. He was sleek and toned and the V muscles near his hips that pointed downward made her swallow hard. She wanted to put her hands all over him. To feel him under her and over her as they made love.
Knowing she had to concentrate, Zoey forced her eyes up to his face.
He was looking down at her in concern, seemingly not worried that he was practically naked. “What’s wrong?”
“Us. This,” she blurted. “This isn’t working anymore.”
Kneeling down in front of the chair, Mark put his hands on her calves. “You want to leave?” he asked softly.
Zoey shook her head. “No. Not at all. But you’ve made it more than obvious over the last couple of weeks that you don’t want me here.”
He frowned. “What?”
“Don’t deny it, Mark. You’ve spent as little time here in the house as possible, and I can’t help but think it’s obviously because of me. You get up at the ass-crack of dawn and don’t come back until right before dinner. Then we spend a few hours together, and I come up to bed and you purposely stay away until I’m asleep. If you want me to leave, all you have to do is tell me. I’m a big girl, I can handle it.”
Mark sighed and looked down at the floor. Zoey’s heart sank even further.
“I know Tex hasn’t figured out who was behind everything that happened up in Alaska, but I promise I’ll be fine. Nothing’s happened since the reading of Colin’s will, so I’m guessing that whoever arranged that shit is resigned to the fact that Colin gave us what he gave us. I’ve got enough money to rent an apartment. I’ll keep helping Jess, because I love it. I love her. I’ve been looking online, and I can get a certificate in Gerontology. You’ve helped me realize that I can make a career out of something I love doing. I’ll always be thankful for that.”
Mark’s head came up, and he pinned her in place with a look so intense, she froze.
“I’ve fucked this up,” he said.
When he didn’t say anything else, Zoey didn’t know if she should agree with him or deny his words. So she said nothing. Just waited.
“It’s true that I’ve been avoiding you, but not for the reasons you think.”
Zoey could hardly breathe. Her heart hurt. She didn’t like hearing confirmation of her fears.
“Zo, the last thing I wanted to do was rush you into a relationship you weren’t ready for. Things happened very fast between us. They were very intense. And I didn’t want you to feel beholden to me, or like you had to start a physical relationship with me because you were thankful.”
“I’m grateful that you were the one stranded with me, but the last thing I’d do is go out with you, or have sex with you, as a result,” she said softly.
Mark winced. “I’ve been staying away from you as much as possible because it’s literally the only way I can keep my hands off of you.”
Zoey’s eyes widened in surprise. He kept talking.
“I knew I needed to give you time. To let you make friends and acclimate to your new situation without pressure from me. So I left early in the mornings because if I had to sit across from you and watch you eat breakfast with a smile, and talk about all the fun things you had planned with Jess, I wouldn’t have been able to keep from taking you right there on the kitchen table. I’ve been waiting until you’re asleep to come to bed because if you were awake when I got up here, I would’ve taken advantage of you and seduced you before you were ready. I wasn’t strong enough to sleep in the guest room, otherwise I would’ve done that too.
“The best part of my day is when I can come up to bed and climb under my sheets with you. Hold you against me. Hear your heart beat and feel your warm breaths on my chest. Not want you here? Zoey, I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.”
His words took a moment to sink in, and then every muscle in Zoey’s body sagged in relief. He hadn’t been putting distance between them so it would be easier to let her down when he told her she should move out. He’d done it because he didn’t want to rush her.
Jess had been right. She should’ve done more to make sure he knew she was ready for a physical relationship. Both of them had suffered needlessly over the last two weeks.
Her heart beating out of her chest, she uncurled her legs and scooted to the edge of the chair. She reached out and put her hands on either side of Mark’s neck and leaned into him. “I’m ready, Mark. More than. Touch me. Make me yours. I want it. I need it. I need you.”
One second he was crouched in front of her, and the next, she was in his arms and he was dropping her on the bed behind them.
The urgency in his actions was echoed in her own. Their mouths met, and she moaned deep in her throat. He speared his tongue into her mouth and devoured her. He kissed her as if he’d never kissed anyone before and never would again. As their tongues dueled, his hands reached for the T-shirt she was wearing. He backed away just long enough to tear the cotton over her head, then his mouth was once more on hers. Urgent desire drumming through them both.
Zoey’s hands slid down his muscular back and slipped under his boxers to clutch at his ass cheeks.
It was Mark’s turn to moan, and he picked his head up just enough to stare down at her. His pupils were dilated with lust, and she could feel puffs of warm air from his rapid breathing against her face.
Instead of leaning down to kiss her again, Mark inched his way down her body.
Zoey tried to grab his shoulders to keep him where he was, but he was too strong, and he ignored her nonverbal pleas. He settled on his stomach over her, and his lips latched onto one of her nipples so strongly, she gave a little cry and arched her back, pressing herself up and into him even harder.