17. Faye
I’m so engrossed in the code I’m working on that I barely register the knock at my door, until there’s a second one.
After saving my work, I stand from my desk.
My body is stiff from hours of being in the same position.
Flexing my fingers, I roll my neck from side to side, my muscles protesting with each step I make toward the door.
I spot a tall shadow through the top glass, and I don’t even need a peek to know who it is. It’s Mark. I just know it. Without hesitation, I swing it open.
The moment our eyes lock, a slow, sexy grin spreads across his handsome features, as he blatantly looks me over from head to toe.
I’m sure I’m a hot mess. My hair is barely contained in a top knot, I’ve put on an old cozy burnt-orange cardigan, and I’m wearing my large blue light glasses to take away some of the glare from my computer screens. My eyes are so dry, I’m blinking like crazy to bring some moisture back.
“Hey, sweetheart. Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No,” I say on a yawn, stretching my body fully. “I’m at a good stopping place for the day.”
“Have you eaten?” Mark asks, cocking his head to the side to study me.
“Not since…” I glance at my watch. “Shit… Breakfast, I think?”
Brow raised, he asks, “Do you make a habit of skipping meals?”
“Only when I get locked into a project,” I admit. Which is way more often than I’ll ever concede to him. When I’m on a roll, nothing gets in my way.
“Do you like pot roast, potatoes, and carrots?”
“I like anything I don’t have to cook,” I admit, suddenly ravenous for anything I can get my hands on. I’d thought about making something earlier, but obviously, I got sidetracked.
“Well, you’re in luck. I brought you something for dinner,” he says, handing me a container of food I didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you,” I mutter, reaching for the dish.
“The bar is fairly low if you’re impressed with leftovers,” Mark deadpans. “Mind if I come in?”
“God, where are my manners? Of course. Wait…” I stop, glancing toward his house. “Where are the boys?”
Waggling his brows, he smirks. “At home…” He pauses dramatically, then adds, “With their dad. They left a few minutes ago. Since I haven’t heard from you today, I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced.”
My stomach rumbles when I take the top of the Tupperware container off and lay it on the kitchen counter. “You’re always welcome, Lancaster. Especially if you come bearing gifts as delightful as this.”
“Somebody’s gotta make sure you’re fed… Apparently.” He smirks, then a wicked grin quickly appears. “I’ll happily volunteer as tribute if it means making you smile like that more often.”
Leaning in, he quickly kisses me on the lips.
If I weren’t suddenly starving for actual food, I’d consider getting lost in him for a while. When I pull back and glance at the steaming pot roast, he points to the tub. “Eat.”
Since it’s still warm, I do as I’m told. Pulling a fork from my drawer, I stab a piece of meat with it. It’s so tender, it falls apart effortlessly. Popping it into my mouth, I moan in satisfaction. “Mmm… Mark. This is wonderful. Did you spend all day slow-roasting it? It’s utter perfection.”
“Nope…” He grins with delight. “I’ve got a magical pot that cooks it in minutes.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“An InstaPot. Ever heard of it?” Mark waggles his brows adorably.
“Yes,” I scoff, then admit after taking another bite. “But never knew it could cook a roast like this. I thought you could only get food to taste this savory from cooking it all day in a crockpot.”
“My daughters gave me the gadget a few years ago, and it revolutionized my meal planning. Even though it’s only me most nights, I still use it regularly.”
“I never think that far in advance,” I admit.
“Hey, perpetual bachelor here… I get that more than you’ll ever know, trust me.”
“You and I are on the same page, Lancaster. Though it’s easier to get takeout than cook for one… Unless you’re in this small town. Then, your options are quite limited.”
“Seaside is much better than it was when we were kids.” Mark shrugs as he brushes a piece of hair back from my face while I take another hearty bite.
“No kidding,” I snicker. “There’s something to be said about living in big cities.
New York had every kind of takeout imaginable.
God, I remember there was this one Italian restaurant right around the corner from my dorm that served six different kinds of homemade pasta, with twelve different kinds of sauce.
It always hit the spot when I needed it most. I’d even make the trek from my apartment on the Upper West Side years after graduation, when I craved it. ”
“Do you still stop by if you’re in the city?”
“When I can. Though if I’m there on business, I rarely have time.”
“Speaking of business. There’s something I feel I should tell you.”
A tingle sprints up my spine, and I’m suddenly on full alert.
“What’s that?” I ask hesitantly.
“So… Remember my three-day disappearance after running into you earlier this week?”
“Ha…” I practically snort. “How could I forget?”
“Your assumption was right… to a point. Although I’ve officially retired from the Air Force, I haven’t fully clipped my wings.”
“Okay…” I draw out, wondering where he’s going with this.
“In the spirit of full disclosure—or at least to the point I’m allowed to share—you need to know that since I retired, I’ve been working for a private contractor.”
“Good to know my instincts were correct.” I smirk knowingly. “You tried to skate around it when I asked about it earlier. Guys like you just don’t retire.”
“No, I don’t suppose we do….” he muses with an impish grin. “The point I’m failing to make is that I’m transporting my boss to DC. If all goes well, I’ll be gone for less than two days.”
“I assume you don’t disclose this info freely?”
His expression turns stoic. “Nope. Mostly on a need-to-know basis.”
Quirking a brow, I can’t help myself. “And you think I need to know?”
“Yeah. I’m not about to disappear twice on you within a week. I may be out of practice, but I’m far from stupid.”
“Out of practice?” What the hell is he talking about?
His lips quirk to the side, and his eyes never leave mine. “I made a vow to you years ago that I’d always give it to you straight.”
“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” I admit, feeling my chest warm at his sincerity. “But what exactly are you out of practice from? It doesn’t make sense. You fly regularly, I presume.”
Drawing in a heavy breath, he reaches for my hand and squeezes it gently.
“Faye, aside from those few years I was married, I haven’t been in a serious relationship with… well, anyone.”
“Oh.” That’s certainly unexpected .
But where’s he going with this? Why this sudden change of tone?
“What I’m saying is, you’re important. We literally just reconnected days ago, and I don’t want to push you away or have you thinking I’m not interested when I leave town again in such a short time.”
“Okay…” I draw out, still unsure what to say in response.
This earns me an eye roll and a heavy sigh.
When I don’t say anything further, he continues.
“I’m not sure where you are with this situation…
” He slowly points between the two of us.
“But I, for one, would like to see where it goes. I’m not trying to sound cocky or anything, but our connection is stronger than I ever could’ve imagined after all this time apart.
I can’t be the only one feeling this way… Am I?”
Thank God, I’m not going crazy.
I haven’t wanted to put much stock into our intense connection.
I’ve tried keeping things spontaneous and doing my best to just go with the flow.
But this is Mark Lancaster; I should’ve known I’d never be able to accomplish casual.
It’s like every feeling I’ve ever had for this man has resurfaced without even being aware they existed in the first place.
I always thought it was just because Mark was my first love that I never felt such an intense connection like ours with anyone else. Hell, when I really clock my feelings, I spent nearly a decade with a man I was barely lukewarm with. Nothing has ever measured up since Mark and I broke up.
But after less than a week back in contact with Mark, I know without a doubt, it was simply us . No further explanation necessary. I have no idea what the hell this means, but I’m glad he doesn’t want to see this end just yet either.
“Faye? You gonna say something?”
“Oh. Shit. I guess I didn’t share my thoughts aloud….” I impishly snicker. Only Mark would have me so tongue-tied I’d forget to respond.
“Ha… Nope, you’ve left me twisting in the wind over here.”
Reaching out my hand, I cup his face and assure him, “We’re on the same page, Mark.”
His features immediately relax, and for the longest moment, neither of us says anything. His perceptive hazel eyes stare deep into my soul. It’s like he’s reset time, and there’s never been any distance between us.
Instantly, I’ve been transported to those carefree days when we were teens.
The logical side of me knows that’s impossible. There’s obviously so much I still don’t know about him. The last few days have been such a whirlwind, I’m not even sure which side is up when it comes to Mark Lancaster.
Squeezing my free hand, he regains my attention. “What’s going on in that head of yours? I can tell your wheels are spinning again.”
“How is it, despite our years apart, being with you is as easy as breathing?”
“Ha… Ain’t that the truth.” He exhales deeply.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I ran into you the other morning.
I loved spending time with you and the boys last night.
” Leaning closer, his voice deepens, “Listen… I know you’ve got an early morning, but any chance I could talk you into hanging out tonight, if I promise to get you in bed at a decent time? ”
“Depends on what you have in mind,” I tease, pulling him in for a kiss.
There’s nothing sweet or slow about this kiss.
No, it’s primal, searing, and the kind of kiss that could make you forget your own name. I’m vaguely aware of him pulling me closer. Then he lifts me and sets me on the counter of the island in front of him. When he steps between my thighs, I lock my heels around his waist and hold on tight.
God, he feels amazing.
The heat from his body against mine makes me burn with desire.
Tugging at his shirt, my fingers itch to feel his skin against mine.
In one fluid motion, he breaks our kiss to remove his shirt. Then, his gaze nearly incinerates me as he watches me quickly tug off my cardigan and rip my T-shirt over my head.
When I’m left in only my lacy bra, he wraps his arms around me and closes the distance between us. Burying his face in my neck, the hairs on his muscular chest tickle my skin. After squeezing me tight, he trails hot kisses along my collarbone and down my chest.
“God, you taste incredible. I can’t get enough.”
When he rolls my nipple with his thumb through the lace, a guttural moan I barely recognize as my own escapes.
“God, Mark… More.”
Trailing hot kisses down my torso, my body pulses with desire.
With a firm hand, he presses my back against the cool granite.
I barely register the chill that races up my spine as his hands make quick work of unbuttoning my jeans and tugging them off.
Running his tongue along my hip, he moans, “Christ, Faye, you always wear the sexiest panties. Someday, I’ll take the time to appreciate them, but I need to taste you more than I need my next breath.”
Within seconds, he’s got my panties past my ankles and has pulled me to the edge of the counter. His wicked grin captivates me as he murmurs, “Fuck, you’re beautiful, sweetheart… But those sexy thighs will look even better wrapped around my shoulders.”
“God, you’re ridiculous.” I laugh as he manhandles me to the place where he wants me.
“No, I’m efficient.” His words are the last thing I register before that sensual tongue of his licks up my center.
“Fuuuuckkkk….” I moan, gripping the edge of the counter, needing something to keep me anchored to earth.
His warm breaths and quick strokes around my clit have me rolling down a runway, ready for takeoff. When two long fingers slip inside, he quickly finds a relentless rhythm, and before I know it, I’m teetering on the edge.
In and out, in and out. He keeps a steady pace, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. When his tongue flicks my clit, my body tightens and electricity tingles deep in my spine.
“So close…” I pant out. “More… Mark. I need… more…” I beg.
Adding another digit, he presses deep and curls his fingers to massage my inner wall.
“Holy fuck… Right… There…” I fist my fingers into his hair and grind my pussy onto his face. The moment he sucks the nub of my clit into his mouth and flicks it with his tongue, I see fucking stars.
My entire body convulses, and it’s all I can do to just ride wave after wave of this endless pleasure. When my tremors eventually still, I can’t help but wonder, “What. The. Fuck. Did you just do to me?”
Pushing my thighs further apart to make room for his shoulders, he grins down from above me. “I can’t be certain, but I think I just found my new favorite pastime. That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
“You’re ridiculous, Lancaster,” I feign nonchalance, but truth be told, my body zings to life at his declaration.
That was freaking hot.
I may never look at this countertop the same way again.
Brushing loose strands from my face, he kisses me tenderly.
Gah, this man knows just how to melt me from the inside out.
When he pulls back, he says, “I truly did have plans to take you somewhere. Care to get dressed so I can steal you away?”