22
Mark
My family sits around the big table, laughing and sharing stories with Ava on my behalf, yet I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
Despite the embarrassing facts and moments being shared, Ava squeezes my hand under the table on top of her thigh in support.
She knows how nervous I’ve been for my father to meet her.
The minute he stepped into the room, I felt my lungs constrict, and I prayed for the first time in quite a while that God would grant me some mercy.
I’m a believer, but I ashamedly admit that I don’t pray as often as I should.
Well, the Big Guy came through. My dad is taken with her.
After asking what seemed like a hundred questions about her last name, her grandparents’ immigration, and basically how many pairs of underwear she owns, you could see a smile of contentment flitter at the corners of his mouth.
He’s happy about this. He’s happy for me.
I’ll be damned. It didn’t hurt when she shared about her partnership at the law firm.
I cannot wait to get back to her place so I can fuck my gratitude into her until she melts into the mattress.
In fact, I’m going to leave work early tomorrow and cook her a nice dinner to surprise her.
I let go of her hand and skim my fingers up the inside of her thigh, sliding down ever so slowly where her thighs meet her panty line.
Hot pink thong. Mmmm. For some reason, it just makes me imagine her with hot pink lipstick sliding down that pole at Colin and Sydney’s party.
That is something I will never fucking forget.
Maybe she’ll put some on to match that thong and spin around a couple times on the pole installed in her room.
I expect her to clamp her thighs together as my fingers play with the hemming, but she surprises me and shifts them apart.
Hot damn.
I slip my fingers across the front of her panties as Dad asks Bryn about work and life in general, turning the conversation away from us.
Ava’s damp already, and my blood boils with lust. I lift my glass of wine and take a sip as I shift slightly forward in my chair toward her as if I’m going to discuss something with her.
It gives me more maneuvering room and puts my hand at a less noticeable angle.
She takes a sip of her wine, listening to Bryn speak, but flits her eyes to mine for a second as I stroke her gently with my thumb.
She takes a deep breath before a slight pink tinges her cheeks.
I lean on my elbow, letting my gaze wander back and forth between my sister’s conversation and this gorgeous, adventurous creature spreading her legs for me at the table.
She trembles slightly when I tease the edge of the panty and graze my middle finger underneath it.
I won’t be mean enough to sit here and make her come, but I’m pretty sure that’d be one hell of a show if I did.
I tease up and down her slick slit, biting back a groan from how wet she’s gotten in the last minute or so.
I slide my finger down and slip straight in.
She swallows hard, setting down her glass of wine so nobody can see it shake.
I only see it because I know what’s happening under this table.
I slip my finger in and out of her slowly a few times before I pull out and circle her clit once, twice, and on the third time she quietly clears her throat and grabs my wrist. I ease out of her panties when she gives me a pleading look that almost has me combusting with laughter.
“Please excuse me. I’ll be right back. I need to use the ladies room.”
Yeah, I’ll bet.
As she pushes her chair back, my mother cuts in.
“Marcus, why don’t you show her where the family one is in the back? That way she doesn’t have to use the public one.”
BINGO.
“Sure thing, Mama. We’ll be back in a few.”
I make sure I’m properly situated before pushing my chair back.
I allow Ava to rise before me and push her chair in.
I lead her by the small of her back out of the room before snagging her hand in the hallway and pulling her to the back of the building where a bit of a living area is.
Mom and Dad had an old apartment upstairs, but now it’s mostly used for storage.
In the early days of the restaurant, we sometimes would spend the night here if Mom and Dad had a lot to do.
I pull Ava into the bathroom, pressing her soft body up against the door as I twist the lock.
“This reminds me of the last time I had you up against a door in a bathroom,” I remind her with a dirty smirk, which she returns.
“You naughty little thing, spreading your legs for me under the dinner table,” I murmur against her soft pink lips.
She’s already breathing heavily. I love seeing her whole body light up for me.
“How close were you?” I ask, slipping my hand back up her skirt and down the front of her panties again.
She feels so slick and warm. I groan against her neck as I spear her with two of my fingers.
“Mmmm… too close…” she practically moans in my ear.
“You’re doing so good tonight, baby. I’ve been sitting there thinking about how, when I get you home, I’m going to fuck my gratitude into you so hard.” I swirl my thumb around her hardening clit, and she bites her lip and whimpers.
“But before that, you’re going to put on some music and that hot pink lipstick from a few months ago and do a few tricks on that pole of yours for me in this thong.” I snap the band against her ass for good measure.
She nods, her pupils blown wide, and I’m not even sure she fully comprehends what I just said.
Her hips are bucking against my fingers, chasing her orgasm.
I slant my lips over hers and pick up my speed to help her along.
She cries out into my mouth, and I swallow it with a masculine groan of my own.
This woman undoes me. I press my hard cock against her hip just to enjoy the little bit of pressure it provides.
Her breath catches in her throat when I twist my wrist, and I know she’s done for.
I tell her what a good girl she is in her ear as her walls suction and ripple around my fingers, and she whimpers against my shoulder.
After she calms, I resituate her clothing as I kiss her, then go to wash my hands after she pulls away from the kiss with a smile.
“I’ll be outside the door waiting for you.”
???
Ava
Holy moly, I just let him finger me under the dinner table then finish me off in the bathroom of his parents’ restaurant.
At this point, I’d gladly let that man do anything to me, anywhere he deems appropriate.
I do indeed still have that tube of hot pink lipstick at home he was talking about.
I check in the mirror to fix my lipstick and remind myself to check his mouth before we head back to the table. Hopefully, we can get out of here soon.
When I open the door, he’s sitting on the arm of the couch with his ankles crossed checking his phone. He looks like something out of a magazine. Wistfully, I blow out a breath of air. He’s mine.
“How much longer do we need to stay?” I ask, checking his lips for my lipstick and seeing that he’s presentable.
“Bryn just texted that my dad brought out some fresh cannoli for dessert. We better hurry before she eats them all.”
“Then home?” I ask, noticing how his eyes warm when I say ‘home’. It wasn’t intentional, but I don’t hate the idea. I could picture it.
“Yeah, Firecracker. Then home.”
We get back to the table, instantly absorbed in more conversation as we all dig into the cannoli. It’s fantastic, and I sing praises to his father over them. You can tell that he takes great pride in what he makes.
“Thank you for coming back,” Bryn whispers to me with a mouth full of cannoli. I smirk because she’s just adorable with just about everything she does and says, even with a mouth full of food. “You saved me from the third degree my dad was giving me about Ted. They really don’t like him, do they?”
I shake my head in answer, and she frowns, contemplating her situation.
“I’m not so sure I’m crazy about him either, but I’m not convinced to end it yet.”
“You’ll figure it out. It’s not their love life, it’s yours,” I answer after I finish chewing my bite of gooey deliciousness. “But I wouldn’t put it past all the guys to try and talk you out of seeing him. They’ve all been talking about it.”
Bryn chokes on her drink, and everyone at the table looks over to see if she’s okay. She waves them off, and the three of them go back to their discussion.
“All of them? As in–”
“All four of them. They’ve even got Garrett in on it,” I cut in. Her eyes round, and she finishes her glass of wine.
“That’s just freaking perfect.” She sits back chewing on her bottom lip while crossing her arms.
Mark nudges me, leaning in next to my ear.
“You finished eating? Ready to get out of here?”
“Definitely.”
He kisses my cheek, and I see all three of his family members gawking. Bryn has a sly smile spread across her face, and his parents look taken aback by the sweetness of his actions. His mom sighs again, clearly happy with our match.
“Mama, we’re going to take off for the evening. Thank you for dinner,” he says, setting his napkin on his plate and standing.
“Yes, thank you for the lovely dinner. I’m so glad I got the chance to sit down with all of you,” I add in.
“Oh, sweetie, you are welcome anytime. Come have lunch with me one day. Marcus will give you my number.”
“That sounds nice. I will definitely do that.”
My answer pleases her. Mr. and Mrs. Marcketti both stand and round the table to say goodbye. I wave to Bryn right before Nora pulls me into a hug.
“I’m so glad he found you. It’s nice to see him step up as a man.
He’s been restless for too long,” she whispers into my ear, squeezing me a little tighter as she finishes speaking.
She pulls back with a smile and tucks my hair behind my ear with motherly affection.
It makes me miss my mom. I give her a genuine smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Gianni hug Mark and pat him on the back like he’s proud. The smile on Mark’s face melts my heart. Gianni then holds his arms out for a hug from me. I step in and give him a hug as well.
“I like her for you, Marcus. Don’t let her get away.”
Mark looks at me with a gleam in his eye that makes my heart start to race.
“I have no intention of letting that happen.”
Mark leads me back out to his truck, helping me up into the seat.
The air around us is thick with tension, but it’s not just our chemistry.
I think the weight of his parents’ words is settling in.
I think we’re both thinking about what this means for our future.
The fact that we’re thinking about a future.
The fact that what is going on between us is so much more than just attraction.
The feelings swirling in the air are heavy and neither of us know how to voice it. Or if we even should voice it yet.
“They loved you, just like I knew they would,” Mark says as he reaches to grab my hand.
He lifts it to his lips, pressing a kiss to my palm as he turns the wheel with one hand and pulls out of his parking spot along the street.
The action feels intimate, and it warms me to my bones.
He sets our entwined fingers on his thigh and drives back toward his place instead of mine.
“I know we were planning on me coming to stay the weekend, but I don’t want to leave you tonight. That okay?”
My pulse quickens, and I nod my assent.
“Of course. I’d never say no to cuddles.”
He hums in agreement, turning into his drive.
“I’ll just be a couple of minutes. I practically have my bag already ready to go. You can either come in or wait here.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“Okay,” he leans over and pecks me on the lips.
I watch as he jogs up to the house and disappears inside.
He doesn’t want to leave me tonight. I feel jittery like a high school girl experiencing love for the first time.
It’s exhilarating. It’s terrifying. Shit.
How am I going to tell him? It’s way too soon right?
I mean, we’ve known each other for basically a year already, but it’s too soon right?
I hear the door to the truck shut and realize I’d completely zoned out in my thoughts and didn’t even hear him come back.
“Babe? You okay?”
“Oh yeah. I’m good. I was just a little distracted, I guess.”
“Do we need another ‘secrets in the dark’ moment, even though it’s not fully dark out yet?”
Yes.
“No, I’m good. Just replaying the evening in my head. I like them, Mark.”
His boyish grin is enhanced by the lights of the dash as he backs out and speeds off toward my place.
“I’m glad to hear that.”