Chapter 24
After sitting up for most of the night, kicking myself for being so damn stupid, I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore. Tossing and turning, I finally managed to pass out around two in the morning. But of course, by seven, my phone started ringing. I ignored it, pulling the pillow over my head, hoping whoever it was would go away. But no, they called right back. Without opening my eyes or moving my head, I stretched an arm out and blindly grabbed the phone.
“Hello?” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.
“Essence, how could you?” Tamara’s voice shrieked through the receiver, cutting through my haze like a knife.
Oh Lord, I moaned internally. Mark must have told my sister about our breakup. Just what I needed first thing in the morning—Tamara, all up in my business.
“I’m grown, Tamara,” I muttered, regretting picking up the phone. “I can do whatever I damn well please.”
“But you’re making a huge mistake!” she practically shouted.
“I’m not marrying Mark,” I whispered, unsure if I was telling it to her or convincing myself.
“So, what? You’re going to marry Malcolm instead?” she shot back.
I rolled onto my back with a groan, staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers. “I’m not marrying him either.”
“Then why is there an announcement in the morning paper?”
“What?” My eyelids flew open. “What paper?”
“We only have one local paper. The Delaware News Journal ,” she replied, sounding way too smug for my liking.
I shot upright in bed, my heart racing. “How could that happen?”
Tamara snorted like she couldn’t believe I was even asking. “Let me guess. It probably had something to do with Malcolm proposing and you accepting his grandma’s ring,” she said, lacing every word with sarcasm.
I kicked the covers off with a huff. Why did I always have to tell Tamara everything? “But I didn’t say yes,” I argued, even though it sounded weak, even to me.
“You didn’t say no either,” she snapped back, and damn it, she was right.
I let out a long sigh, pressing a palm to my forehead. I’d made a complete mess of things. “I was planning to talk to Malcolm when he returns.”
“Well, he’s due back today. And wait until Mom sees this,” Tamara continued, clearly enjoying herself. “You know she and Dad still read the paper every morning. Goodness, Essence! You shouldn’t have accepted his ring in the first place. How hard was it to say no?”
Harder than you’ll ever know , I thought and closed my eyes momentarily. Why was my life spinning out of control so fast? “What does the announcement say?” I asked, bracing myself for the worst.
Tamara cleared her throat dramatically before reading. “Let’s see. ‘Mr. and Mrs. Cole would like to announce the engagement of their son, real estate attorney Malcolm Cole, and his fiancée, Essence Monroe. The couple plan to wed next fall in South Carolina.’”
“How could I be so stupid?” I murmured to myself, the weight of it all crashing down on me. I’d wanted to spare Malcolm’s feelings, but instead, I’d given him false hope. And now he’d gone and told his parents everything before I could set things straight.
This whole situation was a disaster. I groaned, praying that Mark didn’t see it.
* * *
I woke up with my head pounding, the hangover hitting me like a freight train. Last night’s drinks caught up with me, but I needed to clear my head, so I headed to IHOP for breakfast. I parked the car, stepped out into the freezing morning air, and hurried into the restaurant, hoping some food and coffee would help me think straight.
The hostess took me to a small table in the corner, away from the morning crowd. I ordered pancakes and sausage, then sat back, sipping my coffee while I tried to sort through the mess I’d gotten myself into. I had forty-eight hours before I had to leave for Texas, and Essence still wasn’t speaking to me. I’d screwed up bad, and I knew it. But I couldn’t leave Delaware without making this right.
The truth was, I loved her—deep, real love—but I hadn’t told her yet. I thought it would be obvious that my actions would show her, but maybe that wasn’t enough. I needed to confess my feelings and lay it all out there. Either she would believe me, or she wouldn’t, but I had no choice at this point. I had to take that chance.
As I was sitting there, a couple at the table next to me got up to leave, and I noticed they left their newspaper behind. I grabbed it, hoping to distract myself, maybe find a place to take Essence for New Year’s Eve, and show her how serious I was.
The waitress returned with my food, and as I reached for the syrup, my hand froze.
Right there, staring back at me from the society section, was the one thing I never wanted to see.
Essence Monroe and Malcolm Cole—Engaged.
The words felt like a punch to the groin. Essence was engaged to Malcolm. Official.
I sat there, staring at the paper, not even noticing the food in front of me. It felt like the world had stopped spinning for a second, like everything I’d been holding onto slipped through my fingers.
She was really going to marry that clown.
I thought about all the moments I had to tell her how I felt, how I’d put it off, thinking I had more time. Thinking I could fix this. Now, I was sitting here with a plate of pancakes, and my whole world was slipping away.
* * *
After I hung up the phone, I loaded Tyler into the car and headed to the convenience store on the corner. I needed to see the announcement with my own eyes. The second I got back, I turned straight to the social section, and there it was—the engagement announcement staring back at me like a slap in the face.
Malcolm and I, engaged ? Part of me wanted to tear that paper to shreds right then and there, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Mark. What would he say if he saw it?
I loved him, even though a big part of me wanted to hate him for lying, for proposing like he was checking off a box. But deep down, even after everything, I still wanted to be his wife. As crazy as it sounded, I couldn’t shake that feeling, tearing me up inside.
When I got home, I noticed I had missed a call from Mark. I felt my heart race as I scrolled through my phone and hit play. His deep voice came through, and I sighed without even realizing it, but as soon as the voice message ended, my chest tightened again. He didn’t say anything about the announcement. Instead, he wanted to know if I’d drop Tyler off at Kelly’s place so the three of them could bring in New Year’s Eve together. I played the message three times before finally erasing it, standing there in silence, feeling empty. He either hadn’t seen the announcement or didn’t care. Either way, I knew what I had to do.
Later that evening, I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the scarlet velvet dress I decided to wear to the corporate New Year’s Eve party. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, my cleavage was on display, and the slim skirt stopped just below my knees. My auburn curls were swept up, and I’d forced an artificial smile onto my face, but inside, I was conflicted. I had almost turned down Malcolm’s invitation, but after Mark’s message… well, what else did I have to do? I decided I might as well call off the engagement in person and then bring in the New Year with Tamara and her husband. Anything was better than spending the evening alone.
I drew a sigh as I stared at my reflection. I’d give anything to go back to what Mark and I had over the weekend. Everything was perfect, so right like we could’ve been a family. But reality had a way of crashing down hard.
“You look nice.”
I whipped around, startled, to see Mark standing outside Kelly’s bathroom door. My heart jumped, racing in my chest as I took him in, his towering frame commanding the space. I had hoped to drop off Tyler and leave before he showed up, but here he was, and I prayed for the strength not to fall into his arms.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, my voice tighter than intended.
His eyes locked on mine, and for a split second, I felt the pull, that magnetic force that always drew me to him.
“Listen, Essence, can we talk?” Mark stepped forward, his hand finding my shoulder.
I felt myself getting swept up in that familiar feeling. But then I remembered his “cheaper to keep her” comment and quickly shook it off, stepping away.
“Now’s not a good time.” I moved past him, hoping to escape the situation altogether. “Before I leave, let me check on Tyler. He’s been running a low-grade fever, but I think it’s just teething.”
I headed down the hallway, and Mark followed me into Kelly’s guest room, where Tyler was sleeping. The moonlight from the window illuminated the room just enough, so I didn’t bother turning on the light. I stroked Tyler’s brow, feeling relieved that he was cooler. Turning to Mark, I kept my voice steady. “I gave him some Tylenol an hour ago, so he should be fine. If he gets fussy, try giving him a Popsicle. They help with his gums. I put a box in the freezer.”
Mark nodded but didn’t say a word. Instead, he just stared at me, causing my body to heat, matching the need I saw in his eyes. I hoped to find a way to tuck my emotions away to avoid deepening the heartache I was experiencing. For now, Mark and I would have to come to some terms for Tyler's sake. There was no way we could keep tiptoeing around each other.
He stood before the door, creating this thick tension that made it clear he wouldn’t let me leave yet.
“Uh, Mark, please call my cell if you need me.”
“I need you now,” he said, his voice low and full of determination.
Mark crossed the room in two strides, wrapped his arms around my waist, and pulled me against his chest. I tried to bring my arms up to push him away, but he had me pinned, and when I opened my mouth to protest, he silenced me with a kiss. It wasn’t a soft, gentle kiss. No, this one was full of fire and urgency, and it took everything in me not to melt completely. I should’ve fought back, should’ve stopped him. But I didn’t. Instead, I let myself go, the anger and the love mixing together, leaving me breathless. When he finally pulled back, I leaned against the wall, dazed and confused.
“I thought I’d give you something to think about while you’re spending the evening with your fiancé,” he said, throwing me a cocky wink before slipping out of the room.
A groan of pure frustration escaped my throat, and I heard Mark chuckling as he made his way toward the kitchen to join Kelly.
Damn him. He wasn’t playing fair. Not at all.
* * *
As soon as I handed my keys to the valet, doubt hit me like a wave. Maybe meeting Malcolm in person to end the engagement wasn’t the best idea. When he called to pick me up, I told him to go ahead without me. I had to ensure Tyler’s fever was under control and said I’d meet him there. Now, I was standing outside this extravagant New Year’s Eve party, wondering if I was making the right move.
The second I stepped inside, the greeter took my coat, handed me a coat claim ticket, and walked through the grand foyer toward a set of elegant double doors. As soon as I entered the ballroom, it was like stepping into another world. The soft glow of crystal chandeliers lit the room below with a warm, golden hue, casting shadows that danced across the glossy marble floor. Silver vases overflowed with white roses and hydrangeas, and twinkling lights hung from the ceiling, mimicking a starry sky. It smelled expensive—like flowers, fresh linen, and perfume that cost more than a mortgage.
The whole place was breathtaking, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city skyline like a picture-perfect backdrop. Soft jazz from the grand piano in the corner blended with the laughter and murmurs from the well-dressed crowd. Women in gowns that looked straight out of a fashion magazine and men in tailored tuxedos moved around the place, champagne flutes in hand.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. My scarlet velvet dress hugged my curves just right, and the deep V-neckline definitely drew a few wandering eyes, but I wasn’t here for all that. I had dressed to impress myself—this night was about reclaiming me. But now that I was here, the weight of what I had to do made me feel like my knees might buckle.
As I descended the sweeping staircase that led to the heart of the ballroom, I felt all eyes on me. Curious, maybe judging, but I kept my head high and my steps slow. My heels clicking against the marble echoed faintly, reminding me of why I was here—to end this thing with Malcolm once and for all.
The room was stunning, with an ice sculpture swan glistening under the lights, satin tablecloths, and couples gliding across the dance floor like they were part of some old Hollywood movie. I scanned the room for Malcolm. I knew he’d be somewhere, charming his colleagues, playing the part of the perfect man. But tonight wasn’t about him. It was about me taking back control.
I grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, took a slow sip, and tried to relax. Glancing around the room, I spotted Tamara and Dennis. I headed their way, my fake smile firmly in place.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Tamara said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Didn’t decide until this afternoon,” I replied, shrugging like it was no big deal, even though everything about tonight felt like a big deal.
Tamara gave me an appreciative once-over. “You look good, Sis.”
“So do you,” I smirked, eyeing her long green satin gown. “How long did it take to squeeze into that?”
She laughed, patting her flat stomach. “Five pounds of water weight gone, just to zip it up.”
We exchanged more small talk until she dropped the question I dreaded. “Have you talked to him yet?”
I sighed. I knew Tamara was going to bring it up. “Not yet. But I will before the night’s over.”
Tamara rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about Malcolm.”
My chest tightened at the mention of Mark. I shook my head. “Mark saw the announcement, but we haven’t talked.”
“You need to tell him the truth,” she pressed, looking me dead in the eye. “Have you told him how you feel?”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “No.”
“Sis, you need to. You might be surprised.”
Before I could respond, I spotted Malcolm and Dennis approaching us. Malcolm looked sharp in his black tux, all polished and perfect. If only I could wave a magic wand and transfer all my feelings for Mark to Malcolm. But life didn’t work like that.
“May I have this dance?” Malcolm asked, holding out his hand like the gentleman he was.
I didn’t want to dance. I wanted to go home and forget this whole night. But I couldn’t. Smiling, I slipped my hand into his. “Of course.”
As we swayed to the slow, sweet melody of the Nat King Cole, I tried to focus on the moment, on Malcolm. But my mind was stuck on Mark—the mess we were in and how it all felt so impossible.
“You love him,” Malcolm said quietly, breaking through my thoughts. It wasn’t a question. He already knew.
I looked up at him, startled. “How could you tell?”
He let out a small, sad laugh. “It’s all over your face. You’ve never looked at me like I saw you look at him.”
I bit my lip, feeling the sting of guilt as I met his gaze again. The disappointment in his eyes hit me hard. Gently, I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and placed it in his palm.
“I’m sorry, Malcolm. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
He closed his hand around the ring and smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “No need to apologize. The heart wants what it wants.”
He was too good for this. Too good for me. But he didn’t fight, didn’t beg. He just held me as we swayed to the music. And even though I knew this was the right thing to do, I couldn’t shake the feeling of loss settling in my chest.
“He doesn’t love me,” I confessed, my voice barely a whisper.
Malcolm tilted his head, frowning. “Then he fooled me. From what I saw, he acted like a jealous husband.”
“Yes,” I said, more to myself than him. “He fooled me too.”
* * *
I was leaving in two days, and I wasn’t closer to getting what I wanted than when I found out I had a son. Hell, it was worse. Instead of Essence being engaged to me, she was about to marry some clown because she’d rather lie to herself than admit she still loved me. And that cut deep.
I’m not used to rejection. I stared down at our sleeping son, my thoughts racing, my frustration growing by the second. I’ve never been the type to sit back and do nothing when something was bothering me, especially when it was something I wanted. I’m a soldier. My job is to infiltrate, to take what’s mine. So why was I sitting here, letting some dude take what already belonged to me?
Five minutes. That’s all it took to get the location from Kelly. Essence was at some bougie New Year’s Eve party at the Maximillian Hotel, hosted by Malcolm’s law firm. Perfect. I already had a tux, tailor-made from my time in Korea, and I wasn’t about to let the night pass without making my move.
When I pulled up to the hotel, nobody stopped me. I walked in like I owned the place. I thought about storming in, beating my chest like King Kong, and scooping Essence over my shoulder like she was mine to claim. But that approach? That might get me slapped or escorted out. Nah, I had a better plan.
First stop: the bar. It was an open bar, and I couldn’t miss that. While waiting for my drink, I scanned the room and found her sitting with him at a table to the right. Tamara and Dennis were there, too, but my eyes were locked on Essence. She looked breathtaking in that long gown. I should’ve paid more attention earlier when I saw her at the house, but now I was soaking it all in. The dress hugged her curves, her hair pulled up just right, showing off a neck I love kissing.
Women stared at me as I moved through the room, but I didn’t care about that. My focus was on Malcolm leaning close to Essence, whispering something in her ear that made her blush. His lips brushed her skin— my skin. That was a violation. I had to unclench my fists to stop from knocking his teeth out.
Tamara was the first to spot me. I saw her eyes widen before she tapped her sister on the arm. When Essence turned, our eyes locked. Without hesitation, I grabbed an empty chair, slid it between her and Malcolm, and sat down. Straddled it like I owned the space. The look of horror on Essence’s face was priceless. Malcolm? He looked like he was waiting for an explanation.
“Really?” Essence said, her voice tight.
I leaned forward, reached for a carrot stick off her plate, dipped it in ranch dressing, and popped it in my mouth. My eyes never left her as I chewed, taking my time to notice the diamond-studded earrings she was wearing. “You look exceptionally beautiful tonight,” I said, cool as ice.
She snorted. “You saw me earlier, Mark.”
I looked around the table. Malcolm had this blank stare, not even sure what to do. Tamara was grinning. Dennis gave me a nod like he knew what was up.
I turned back to Essence, whose eyes narrowed as she hissed, “What are you doing here?”
“Bringing in the new year,” I said, holding up my glass with a mock toast. “Same as everyone else. Celebrating.”
Malcolm still hadn’t said a word. Dude was weak. I wasn’t worried about him at all. Essence, though? She was furious, and it made her even more beautiful. Her cheeks flushed, and her lips were pursed in a way that almost tempted me to kiss her right then and there.
“Mark, this is a private event,” she snapped, her frustration boiling.
“It’s a fundraiser, right?” I asked, glancing around for confirmation. Dennis nodded.
I pulled a check from my pocket and slid it across the table toward Malcolm. “Consider me one of tonight’s donors. It’s for a good cause, right?”
Essence’s eyes flashed with anger. “Go away.”
“Sorry, but I can’t do that. Unless your date here has a problem with that.” I looked straight at Malcolm, who was pocketing the check.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Essence whispered harshly.
“Well then, I guess we’re all bringing in the new year together,” I said with a smirk.
“Why would I go with you? So, you can keep lying to me?” Her voice cracked with frustration.
“I don’t need to lie. The expression ‘cheaper to keep her’ means nothing to me because money’s not an issue. I’ve done quite well for myself. But none of that means a damn thing if I don’t have you by my side.”
“I’m going home with Malcolm,” she declared.
The thought of Essence— my woman —with Malcolm pushed me to the edge. I turned to Malcolm, locking him in with the same look I gave my soldiers when I was serious. “You need to leave.”
Malcolm shifted uncomfortably. Essence shot him a look, eyebrows raised. “Malcolm, aren’t you going to say something?”
He downed his drink in one gulp, then stood up. “I wish you all a happy New Year,” he said to the table. He glanced at me, then back at Essence. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“No, you won’t,” I cut in. “Lose my fiancée’s number.” Malcolm left without another word.
Essence turned her fiery gaze on me. “How dare you?”
“You agreed to marry me,” I reminded her. “There’s no coming back from that.”
"I deserve to have a husband who wants me for me, not because it’s ‘cheaper to keep her,’" Essence snapped, her voice sharp, cutting through me.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Next time you decide to eavesdrop on my conversations, maybe listen to more than the tail end," I shot back, keeping my tone light, but I knew it stung.
Essence's eyes widened like she couldn’t believe what I said. "I wasn’t eavesdropping!"
"If you’d given me a chance to explain, you’d have heard the whole conversation. Diamere was saying his girlfriend is pregnant with twins, and he’d rather marry her than pay child support." I paused, watching her reaction, knowing her next question before she even asked it.
Essence nibbled her lower lip as if processing what I said. "Is that how you feel about me?" she asked quietly, her eyes searching mine for the truth.
I reached over, my fingers grazing her cheek as I leaned in. "No. I want to marry you because I know it’ll work between us. You and me? We fit."
“Well, I changed my mind. I no longer want to marry you.”
My thumb brushed against her chin, tilting it up so I could look into her eyes. And damn, there it was—hunger, raw and undeniable. “Stop lying to yourself.” I grabbed her, pulling her close and crushing my lips against hers.
That kiss? It was explosive, like a fire that had been waiting to ignite. The second our mouths connected, it was over for me. She didn’t push me away. I growled deep in my throat, pulling her closer, one hand slipping to her waist while the other cradled her face. Her lips parted, and I wasted no time, sliding my tongue into her mouth like I’d been dying for this—because I had. I’d never wanted to kiss anyone so deeply, so desperately, that it felt like my knees were ready to buckle under the weight of it all.
Essence melted into me, her body trembling, and it only made me kiss her harder, hungrier. It wasn’t just passion—it was possession. She was mine, always had been.
Tamara’s laughter broke the spell. "Why don’t y’all go get a room?" she teased from across the table, and I could feel Essence tensing up again, probably embarrassed.
I pulled back slowly, my eyes still locked on Essence's face, and I could feel the tension between us like a live wire. She was breathless, like me, her lips swollen from the kiss, but that wall was still up. I wanted to smash it, break through whatever held her back. She wasn’t just fighting me; she was fighting herself, which had my frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Yeah, it’s definitely time for us to go." My voice was tight, almost daring her to say something else.
We were halfway across the ballroom, Tamara waving goodbye like everything was normal. Nothing was normal. Not anymore. I handed the valet my ticket, my mind racing. This back-and-forth with Essence? It was getting old. I needed answers. I needed her to stop playing games. When the car pulled up, I helped her inside but didn’t even look at her before shutting her door and climbing in on the driver’s side.
“What about my car?” she protested, her voice sharp, but I wasn’t in the mood for her pushback.
“I’ll pick it up in the morning,” I shot back, not giving her a choice. Not this time.
“Where are we going?” Her tone was all attitude, but I could feel the doubt creeping in like she dared me to make this real.
“We’re going to your place.”
“No,” she said, her voice edged with defiance. “I need to be with my son.”
I gripped the steering wheel tight enough that my knuckles turned white. “ Our son is fine, Essence.” She started to argue, but I cut her off. “Call Kelly if you don’t believe me.”
She whipped out her phone, and I waited, tapping my fingers on the wheel while she spoke to Kelly. Sure enough, Tyler was fine. Essence hung up, her lips pursed tight like she wanted to snap, but she didn’t.
“Now,” I said, turning to face her, my voice low and firm, “we are going to your house to have a serious conversation.”
She rolled her eyes at me, a gesture that had my temper flaring up, but I bit my tongue. I wasn’t about to let her attitude derail this. She stayed silent the entire ride, her arms crossed, staring out the window like she had something better to do than face what was between us. Fine. Let her stew in her silence. My intentions were crystal clear.
I shut off the engine in her driveway, my jaw clenched tight. I wasn’t playing tonight. I stepped out, walked around to her, and opened the door. Before she could say a word, I scooped her into my arms, and for a split second, I saw her guard slipping. Her breath caught, her eyes locked on mine, and I saw the fire in them. She wanted me. She didn’t want to admit it, but the desire burned beneath the surface.
“Mark, put me down,” she whispered, but there wasn’t any real fight in her voice.
“No,” I growled, my frustration slipping out. “You’re not running from this. Not tonight.” I held her tighter, making sure she understood I wasn’t backing down.
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but nothing came out. She knew as well as I did—this conversation was long overdue, and I wasn’t leaving until we settled it. I wasn’t going to let her keep pushing me away.
Not anymore.
“I’m getting ready to make love to you.”
“You really think that’s happening after the stunt you pulled?”
“Actually, I do.” I took the keys from her, opened the door, and lowered her to the floor.
“Malcolm’s never going to forgive me,” she said, stepping back.
“All’s fair in love and war, sweetheart. He could’ve fought for you, but he didn’t. Some fiancé you had.”
“He’s not my fiancé,” she admitted, finally. “I ended it before you even got to the party.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “Good. Because you’re mine.”
“Why do you want me so badly? Why do you even care?”
“Because I love you. Damn it, Essence. I love you.”
She blinked, staring at me, shocked. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love you. I’ve just been too stupid to admit it.”
Her arms wrapped around my neck, her lips brushing against mine as she whispered, “Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear that? I love you, Mark. I always have.”
I lifted her into my arms again, carrying her to the bedroom. Nothing else mattered. It was just us now, and I wasn’t letting her go.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, Essence was already sliding the dress off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. I dragged in a sharp breath, and she heard my reaction. I saw her body language shift, striking that pose like she knew exactly what she was doing to me. “You see something you like?”
I was staring at her, eyes glued, taking her in, standing there in nothing but a thong and high heels. My eyes traveled up her long legs and stopped to linger at her belly button before rolling up to salivate at her breasts.
“Yes, I like everything I see.”
Essence bit her bottom lip. That looked so sexy. I closed the distance and took her into my arms.
My mouth covered hers, demanding and possessive. Then my tongue was dancing while my hands were skimming down to my legs, tracing along the edge of her panties, right there in the crease of her thighs. “Mine,” I growled as my hand moved to caress her ass before slipping under the elastic. She felt so good I could barely think straight. I was supposed to be in charge, but somehow, Essence was in control. I teased and squeezed her ass before my hand traveled lower and caressed her sweet folds. Essence trembled beneath my touch, and her arms draped over my shoulders were the only thing keeping her from falling. My tongue was wet and wild, and my fingers fast and furious. The intensity was too much and not enough at the same time. The feel, the taste. She was so delicious.
Essence was so sexy, and her body was soft and warm that I felt like I was in a trance. Not that I was complaining. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I enjoyed it so much I wanted more. My fingers slid along the elastic of her panties again, this time hooking into the corner, and then yanked hard, ripping the fabric.
“I’ll buy you a new pair,” I whispered. Moving fast again, I pulled her panties away and discarded them on the floor. “Let me look at you.” I took a step back. The sight of her body caused my dick to jerk in my briefs. She was gorgeous! My eyes followed the curves of her hips to the patch of brown curls. Damn, she was so delicious I was ready to speed through the foreplay, bend her over the bed and slip inside of her. “You’re so beautiful.”
“All yours for your sexual pleasure,” she cooed, eyes dark with lust.
I took her hands and pinned her back against the wall. “You sure know how to make a man beg. The smell of you is driving me crazy,” I growled.
The next kiss started off fast and demanding. I wasted no time slipping my tongue inside. “You’re mine,” I murmured against her lips.
Locking my hands behind her back, I dragged her closer until we were pressed together, and my tongue went deeper into her mouth.
Essence whispered, “I want you.”
I jerked out of the tuxedo jacket, unbuttoned my shirt, tossed it away, and discarded everything else. In record time, I was back, standing in front of her. I cupped her ass, drawing her against me before my mouth traveled downward to her nipples, then sucked one into my mouth.
“Mark!” Essence cried while my tongue circled her nipple. “Please …”
“Please, what?” I grazed the peak with my teeth. “Do you want me to stop?” I trailed my hand down across her abdomen and then toward her core.
Her head rolled back when she felt my fingers caress her clit. “No, don’t stop.” Essence bit her lip and then moaned again.
“You like that?” I asked as I parted her folds and delved deeper.
She whimpered in response. The sound was arousing, sending heat racing in every direction. I dropped to my knees. Essence’s eyes fluttered open.
“What are you doing?” she asked, staring down at me.
“I’m about to make you feel good.”
* * *
His voice held a hint of a promise.
Tremors ripped over me while Mark licked a path up my thighs. Looking down, I began trembling when I noticed he was staring up at me.
“You smell so good,” he moaned.
Before I could respond, Mark’s tongue slipped out and stroked my kitty. I started whimpering. With a mind of its own, my body rocked and followed the rhythm of his tongue, meeting his strokes. “Yes,” I panted. I rested my hands on his shoulders while my body quivered and shook. “That feels good.”
Mark sucked and licked some more, then flicked my clit between his lips. I tried to pull away, but he grabbed onto my ass, immobilizing me. I twisted beneath his tongue and held on as my body began to contract. “Mark … don’t … stop … I’m about to…” A cry ripped from my lips as I exploded. “Yesss, oh yesss .”
I whimpered his name as I was hit with one wave and immediately met by another. He continued to suck me until my muscles relaxed and my breathing slowed. Mark then gripped my ass and lifted me off the floor.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
There was a wolfish glint in his eyes. I held my breath, then released it in a slow exhale as he spread my thighs and pushed inside me. Mark gave me a few seconds to adjust, and then he was riding me so hard I started chanting his name.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he coaxed, and, with his assistance, I crossed my ankles just above his ass then he was plunging deeper and harder. I was moaning and crying at the same time and was seconds away from the moment ending when I felt his erection tighten and then pulse.
“Fuck!” he hissed.
“ Yes … yesss!” I wailed, then exploded around him. Mark groaned and thrust long, hard, and deep before his body bucked and drove home with release. Sagging against the wall, I exhaled.
Mark steered me over to the bed, and we both fell onto the mattress, laughing and panting. The silence of the night stole over me as his heartbeat slowed and my breathing eased. Confusion erupted at the pit of my stomach with the overwhelming urge to lean in close, desperate for the warmth and comfort of his body.
Bringing his lips to mine, Mark trailed light kisses while whispering words of endearment. The sound of his voice had my body heating for round two. I drew back to look at him. Mark was gazing at me, eyes filled with pleasure and something else I couldn’t decipher. He then shook his head as if trying to find the words to say what was on his mind.
“What’s wrong?”
He shook his head again and said, “Essence, I never knew how important family was until I met Tyler. I know in the beginning, I said I wasn’t into commitments, but I dreamed of you for two years. The second I heard that I had a son, I ran to you, hoping to have both of you in my life. Then I started to want you in all the ways a man wants a woman. In my bed every night, waking up beside you every morning. I wasn’t going to tell you that, Essence, because it scared the hell out of me.”
“But Mark, I’m not going—”
He clasped my face between his hands. “I should have focused more on telling you how much I love you.”
I sighed. Those words were magic to my ears.
“I have always loved you and simply chose to deny my feelings. It took thinking I had lost you to another man to realize how stupid I have been. All I’m asking for is a chance to prove that I can be a good husband and a father.”
My heart shuffled into my throat. Mark stared into my eyes, and I finally saw it, an emotion I had never seen before. It was there… a love as strong as his handsome face. “And this isn’t because of Tyler?”
“Tyler only adds to the package.” He sighed. “I realize how much I hurt you, Essence. I know you’re probably scared, and I’m scared, too. But I promise to do my best to make you happy.”
“Mark, you are a wonderful man, and I’d be honored to have you as my husband.”
He studied me with soft, loving eyes. “Then you’re saying—”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“You heard me, silly.” My joy bubbled out in a laugh. “Yes, I’ll still marry you.”
Mark brushed a gentle kiss over my lips. “Thank God. I thought you might tell me to go to hell.” He stroked his thumbs back and forth over my cheeks. “I’ll always be honest with you from this point forward, Essence. I swear it.”
I laid my palms over his hands. “I’ve realized that to trust you, I have to trust myself and my feelings. And right now, I’m feeling quite comfortable with my decision.”
Mark laughed then, and I reveled at the joyous sound.
“You said yes to me.”
Flashing a grin, I answered, “Why wouldn’t I? I love you, Mark.”
His hands tightened. “Would you please repeat that?”
I laughed. “I love you, Mark Saunders. I’ve loved you for two years.”
“Again,” he commanded.
“I love you, Mark.”
He eased me backward on the bed until I lay beneath him and kissed me with every bit of the love I felt. I looped my arms around his neck, feeling the heat of his skin burn into mine, glorying in the thrust of his tongue and fierce pressure of his mouth.
Mark lifted his head long enough to glance over at the clock. “We have ten minutes to midnight. How about we bring in the New Year with that bottle of champagne I spotted at the back of your refrigerator?”
“That’s a wonderful idea.”
We scrambled into the kitchen. With the aid of a stepstool, I reached for a pair of crystal flute glasses while Mark found the champagne. After he popped the cork, we returned to my bedroom. While he filled each glass, I flicked on the television just in time to hear the crowd at Times Square counting down. We joined in.
“Seven-six-five-four-three-two-one… Happy New Year!”
Mark kissed me, a powerful kiss that left us winded when we parted.
We clicked our glasses together and then took a drink.
I took another sip and said, “Here’s to the start of a fabulous new year.”
“I agree,” Mark said. “Any New Year’s resolutions?”
“Only to marry my soulmate.”
“Me too, sweetheart. I’m getting everything I could have ever hoped for this year.” He reached over, took the flute from my hand, and placed both over on the nightstand. Scooping me up into his arms, he laid me at the center of the bed. “You know what they say; whatever you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll be doing all year,” he murmured, covering my body with his.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and met each kiss. “And what would that be?”
“I should show you.” He palmed my breasts with one skilled hand. “It’s been too long.”
“Mark, it hasn’t even been an hour.”
“Too long, in my opinion.” Mark’s deep voice vibrated against my cheek.
With enough said, he planted kisses from my lips down to my toes. By the time he spread my legs wide enough to accommodate him, I was on the verge of exploding. Mark entered me with a leisurely glide and a powerful kiss.
“You’ll never regret your decision. I plan to love you the way a man should love a woman,” he said as he moved slowly.
We quickly rode the storm. I shattered with a long shudder, adding another declaration of my love to him that he answered with one of his own. Even after our bodies parted, I knew we would never be separated again.