Chapter 22
Mark opened his eyes and gave me this soft, sleepy smile. “Hey.”
I couldn’t help but tease him a little, smirking back. “Hey yourself, Captain.”
He squeezed my thigh just enough to remind me of his presence, his fingers warm and steady. “I should be worried about what’s on your mind right now.”
I could tell he was half-joking, but his voice had a real edge as if he wasn’t sure what was coming. I leaned in, playing it cool. “I’m not talking myself out of anything, Mark.” But deep down, I wasn’t ready to say, I love you , even though it was right on the tip of my tongue.
His eyes locked on mine like he was trying to read my mind. “I know you’re thinking about something.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to deflect. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“Yes, I do. You’re still trying to talk yourself out of marrying me,” he said, half-smiling, but I could see the seriousness behind his eyes. “How do you feel about me?”
His question caught me off guard. I wasn’t ready for that. The truth was there, sitting heavy in my chest, but I couldn’t just throw it out there when he was holding back. “My feelings are all over the place, I admitted, my voice quiet. “I’ve been trying to figure them out since you returned.”
I slid out of his arms, sitting in bed because I needed space to think. “I care about you, Mark. A lot. And I know it’s not just because of Tyler. I’ve built a life for him; now it's your turn. You came back to a ready-made family.”
Mark leaned over and kissed the tip of my nose, his touch light and playful. “Yeah, my ready-made family.”
I rolled my eyes again, but I smiled despite myself. “It’s not that simple, though.”
He sighed, leaning back. “No, it isn’t. I mean, finding out I had a son? That was a shock. But the second I saw him, that was it for me. I was all in. And you… you do things to me I can’t even explain.”
I couldn’t look at him when I said, “How will I know if you care for me because of him or because of me.”
“You know how I feel about you.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped my lips. “I know how your body feels about me. But what about you?”
I watched him struggle with the words like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to get it out.
He met my gaze, his voice serious. “You’ll have to trust me.”
Trust. That was the hardest part. I wasn’t sure if I could do that. Not yet. Even if he stood on the roof and screamed that he loved me, I wasn’t sure I’d believe it. My past had taught me to keep my guard up. The last time I let it down, I got hurt and wasn’t about to let that happen again. Even with Mark and all his promises, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to trust him with my heart.
Mark must’ve seen the doubt in my eyes because he softened. “I know we can make this work.”
“Why?” I asked, my voice sharp. “Because I’m Tyler’s mother?”
“No,” he said without even hesitating. “Because you’re the woman I want.”
His words hit me hard, right in the chest. I couldn’t stop the smile from creeping across my face, even though I wanted to play it cool.
Mark smiled back, but then he got serious again. “I promise to make you happy, Essence.”
I wanted to believe him. I needed to believe him, not just for me but for Tyler.
But the truth was, I wasn’t there yet. Not all the way. And until I was, I’d keep walking that thin line between hope and doubt, trying to figure out if I could trust Mark with my heart.
Mark captured my lips in a long kiss, and I became a victim of pure sensuality. I came apart in his arms, my fingers slid across his buttocks, my body pressed firmly against his. I inched up, running my tongue over the seam of his mouth before I kissed him. He groaned, trapping me in his arms.
“We’re amazing together, aren’t we?” I whispered.
He shifted to the side, running his hand over the curve of my hip. “True that...true that,” he murmured against my mouth.
From his position, my bare breasts were a temptation. He tipped his head and took a nipple deep into his mouth.
My sharp, indrawn breath filled the room, followed by a low, throaty moan. It was hard not to be vocal when Mark touched me like this. He cupped my breasts, kneading them as he sucked. The pull sent spirals of sweet sensation out to my fingertips. My toes curled.
Only him , I thought, scrubbing my hands over his chest and then lower. The muscles of his stomach flinched, and I smiled to myself. He nuzzled between my breasts, and I shifted lower, leaving hot, grinding kisses in my wake. His breathing labored, and his grip on me tightened.
“Essence.”
I met his fevered gaze, stroking his stomach, my hand gliding over his skin, then slowly closing my fingers around his arousal. He was already hard. I arched a brow.
Humor invaded him. “It’s your fault.”
Then I bent and licked. He howled, and I took him in between my lips.
“Aaah!” Mark was sinking fast and furious beneath the sensation of my mouth. Power rushed and churned inside him. His hands fisted in the sheets. I tasted and felt him on the verge of losing control. He grabbed my arms and dragged me on top of him.
“You need to do something about this,” he growled, “Now.”
“I thought I was.” I smiled as I rolled on a condom and then straddled his hips. He didn’t give me a second to breathe, pushing into me and bucking. I laughed and spread my hands over his chest, riding him, rocking hard, and watching his face. He rose up, pulling my legs around him, then quickened our motion. Gazes met and locked as our bodies beat a frantic rhythm. Sweat trickled, damp flesh melted. I gripped his shoulders while he pumped his hips.
“You are so hot,” he said against my mouth.
“And you feel good,” I moaned and then told him what his touch did to me, what he felt like inside me, thick and pulsing. Mark tossed me on my back and thrust harder and faster as I begged for more.
“Essence,” Mark chanted over and over. Then we both came; glorious spasms roared through us, leaving our pulses pounding.
Sapped of energy, Mark shifted to his side and collapsed.
* * *
The morning kicked off with us grabbing breakfast at Capriccio’s Café. It was one of those spots that still had holiday wreaths hanging in the windows, twinkling lights strung up around the counter, and the smell of cinnamon in the air. Essence had picked it out, and I couldn’t have chosen better. It was cozy, laid-back, the kind of place where you could enjoy a slow morning. The coffee was on point, and the breakfast sandwiches hit the spot. Essence was all smiles, looking relaxed like she was vibing with everything around us. I loved seeing her like that—just living in the moment.
Later in the day, we hit up this African American museum, and that place had a different kind of energy. The halls were still decorated with red, green, and black ribbons, and there were Kwanzaa displays mixed in with the art. The museum was about the culture—fine art, memorabilia, stories about family life, and the Civil Rights movement. The best part? We caught a tribal folk dance performance. Essence was all in, her eyes glued to the dancers, taking in every move. Seeing her like that, so connected, it did something to me. She was glowing, and it wasn’t just the lights from the holiday decorations hanging in the lobby.
After that, we made our way to Philadelphia Mall. The place still had holiday vibes going strong. There were giant candy canes, oversized ornaments hanging from the ceiling, and Christmas music playing in the background. We wandered in and out of stores, checking out sales, talking, and enjoying the day. But I had a plan, and it wasn’t just about window shopping. I led her into every jewelry store we passed, determined to find the ring.
When I pointed out that two-carat diamond solitaire surrounded by rubies, I saw reality hit her. She tried it on, and I knew the second it slid onto her finger. The sparkle in her eyes matched that ring perfectly. No hesitation, no second guessing—I bought it right then and there. And while they sized it, we celebrated with food. The lights from the restaurant’s Christmas tree reflected off the glasses as we toasted to our future. I couldn’t help but feel like everything was falling into place.
By the time we got back to the hotel. It was after eight, and we were weighed down with shopping bags, but I could only focus on the diamond sparkling on Essence’s finger. We were stepping into something new, something real. I suggested we celebrate in the Jacuzzi, and she was all for it.
“You sure you like it?” I asked, catching her staring down at her hand again. The holiday lights from the window reflected off that diamond, making it shine even more.
“I love it,” she said, her voice soft but steady.
I poured us both a glass of champagne, raising mine to her. “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness.”
She blushed, her eyes dipping down as I leaned in and kissed her. It was soft at first, but then I let her feel what I was really thinking. This was it for me. Seeing her reaction, I knew she felt the same.
We settled into the warm water, the bubbles swirling around us, and she sipped her champagne. “So, what’s it like being an officer’s wife?”
I couldn’t help but tease her a little. “It’s like being a doctor’s wife—dress up for fancy events, keep your man satisfied.” I wiggled my eyebrows, making her laugh and swat at me.
“Be serious, Mark,” she said, but I could tell she was still enjoying it. “I want to know what military life is really like.”
I leaned back, getting comfortable. “Well, for starters, we’ll live on post.”
“Wait, I thought it was called a base?”
“Nah, that’s the Air Force. Army calls it a post.”
She nodded, taking it all in. “Okay, I didn’t know that. What else?”
“You’ll do your grocery shopping at the commissary.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why not just go to a regular grocery store?”
I chuckled, running a finger down her nose. “You can, but once you see the prices at the commissary, you won’t want to shop anywhere else.”
She nodded again, and I could see she was thinking this through. “Sounds like the base is its own little world.”
“Exactly. It’s a little city—movie theaters, gyms, drugstores, department stores—everything’s right there.”
Her smile lit up her whole face. “Have you thought of a date?” she asked, her voice soft but full of hope.
I grinned. “How about the spring?”
The thought of it hit me hard. It was finally happening. “Don’t make me wait too long, though. I don’t want to be without you longer than I have to. I’m gonna make you happy, Essence.” I leaned in, kissing her slowly and deeply, letting her know how serious I was.
But then she did something that stopped me in my tracks—her hand slid down, wrapping around me, her fingers stroking me slowly. I groaned, barely holding it together.
“Keep that up, and you’re asking for trouble,” I muttered, my voice rough with desire.
“Another one of your promises?” she teased.
“Yeah,” I growled, “and I’m gonna keep it.”
With a wicked grin, I set my glass down, watching the bubbles swirl around us. Picking up the soap, I lathered my hands and massaged her breasts in a slow circular motion with lingering tenderness. Sliding my hand over her damp skin, I feathered my thumbs lightly over the sensitive peaks. Her body was so relaxed that she had to hold onto the tub to keep from sliding into the water.
My hands moved lower, blazing a warm trail, while I gently washed her belly and thighs. “Even after giving birth to our son, your body is still perfect.”
I moved my hand exactly where she wanted it, my gaze holding hers while I touched and caressed her. Essence rocked her hips and then rewarded me with a gasp of delight. I slipped a finger inside of her, and she met each stroke. I gritted my teeth when her lips parted and heavy breathing when I increased the speed and intensity. A second later, an orgasm ripped through her, shattering the last of her control. I reached for the condom sitting on the side of the tub and rolled it on. I then carried her over so that she straddled me, her hard nipples pressed against my chest. Groaning out her name, I caught her hips and pushed into her slick, wet body until I was buried deep inside. She sucked in her breath in exquisite ecstasy. Closing her eyes, she struggled for control.
With a deep breath, she rode me, her hips moving in a slow up-and-down motion.
As she moved, I trailed my hands from her shoulders to her buttocks. She established a rhythm that left both of us gasping for air. She rode me so hard that the water sloshed around us. But I didn’t want her to slow down. With her knees braced on either side of my body, her breasts gently bouncing, I took her by the waist and pushed harder and harder. Her contractions squeezed me and pushed me over the edge until her body convulsed, and she dropped against my chest.
When it was over, she lay weak in my arms. My mouth drifted along her neck and shoulders, tasting and leaving a trail of hot kisses. After a few long moments, I lifted her from the water, holding her upright while I wrapped her in a soft towel. I lifted her into my arms, walked over, and gently laid her on the bed. I settled myself beside her, bringing her close to the heat of my body. The linens felt cool against my moist flesh.
Drowsy and contented, she cuddled with me in the darkness, her head tucked onto my broad shoulder. My arm lay heavy and possessive over her stomach. As if in a dream, she felt my mouth against her brow, my lips gradually searing a downward path until I parted her legs for the most intimate kiss of all. I caressed her with my tongue, slow and gentle, while she moaned from the beauty of it all.
She tossed her head from side to side, trembling beneath my touch. She called my name repeatedly as the tension gathered in her body. Then, suddenly, her body was taken over with the need for release. She cried out in pleasure as I held her close. The frantic hammering of her heart was reflected in my own.
Feeling like I held the whole world in my arms, I murmured, “Essence, you’re incredible.”
She opened her eyes and smiled. “Yes, I am.”
As we drifted toward sleep, I held her within the strong circle of my arms as if I could not bear for the night to end.