An Old Flame

by Raquel Belle

  “How long does it take you to walk from one end of the house to the other?” I asked, while I followed slowly behind him to the front doors.

  “I’ve never timed myself, but it takes a while,” he said. I shook my head slowly.

  “Mark … you’re one person,” I said, honestly flabbergasted that he lived in such a huge place by himself.

  “The guys come over … you’re here,” he said and grinned at me. I stepped into the foyer and took off my fur. As I looked around at the modern elegance of the place, the wood tones, the shades of masculine blues, I could say that it was a place where a billionaire would live. I just never imagined Mark in such a place. Then again, when I thought about Mark and a house, I was in the picture as his wife, and I would never let him get a house so huge.

  “Do you want a tour of the place?” he asked after hanging up his coat in the closet.

  “Uh, yes please,” I said. “I feel like I’m in Disneyland, Modern Style edition.” Mark cracked up. He took my hand and led me first into the formal living room. The inset lights on the vaulted ceiling turned on automatically. Through the huge balcony panels was a deck that looked like another living room in itself.

  “Mark this is nuts,” I said. I was in disbelief. He led me outside to see his huge pool, outdoor kitchen, and of course, the lounge. Then we went back inside to see his chef’s kitchen. “Do you even know how to cook? Do you have a chef, or something?” I asked.

  Mark chuckled. “I did at one point. Then … well, it got weird. She had a crush on me. Now I just have a culinary service that comes a couple times a week.”

  The dining room was big enough for a twelve-person family and then some. As he showed me more of the house, I realized it was indeed three stories, not including the basement, which served as a gym and man cave. Mark’s bedroom—his Master Suite—was on the third floor, and that was conveniently where the tour ended. The entire right wall of his room was an expanse of window panels. He had a balcony, and I stepped outside to see his pool from above, and he had a nice view of the city beyond his backyard trees.

  “Can you see yourself living here forever?” I asked when he joined me outside.

  Mark leaned on the balcony and folded his hands together. “I’m not sure. I think I got it just for the grandiose feel of the place. Last year, when we each officially hit the billion-dollar mark for our worth, I went all out on investing, and this was one of them.” I shivered in the freezing air, and Mark stepped behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close. Even his cologne smelled expensive.

  “I like that you still seem to be you, though,” I said. I turned around and put my hands on his chest. “Even with the helicopter and fancy clubs and your own palace,” I said.

  Mark laughed. “You always brought out the best in me. I’m the most grounded when we’re together.”

  Since I still had my heels on, it didn’t take that much for me to stretch and kiss him. He held me tight against him, even though it was cold outside, I felt warm and protected. Until a breeze so cold blew up my dress and caused me to squeal and run inside. Mark cracked up, and he followed me in and closed the panel. He put his suit jacket around my shoulders.

  “I’ll light a fire,” he said. The fireplace was a few paces across from his huge bed. There were a couple of high-backed reading chairs in front of the fireplace. Over the mantle, was a flat screen TV. Surprisingly, his bedroom was the simplest room in the house, apart from its size and the fact that a small study and ornate bathroom were attached to it.

  “Can I ask you something?” Mark said as he crouched in front of the fireplace.

  “Sure,” I said and drifted closer to him across the carpet.

  “How come it was so cut and dry when we ended? How come you didn’t put up a fight?” The logs lit, and Mark stood. He put the box of matches on the mantle and rested his elbow on the chair beside him. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. What was I going to tell him? I didn’t think it was the right time yet to tell him about the miscarriage.

  “Because I thought … all the time we spent together I’d misjudged what I was to you, and how you felt about me. Everything just shifted,” I said. “Like I said, I blamed myself,” I added. Mark undid his cufflinks, his jaw kept flexing, his eyes were locked on the fireplace that cast an orange glow across his face.

  “You look like Thor,” I said, just to break the tension.

  Mark laughed. “And you look like Scarlett,” he said. “Do you want some coffee, or tea, or something?”

  I shook my head. It was pretty obvious what he wanted, I hadn’t made up my mind yet. “Tea sounds good, actually,” I said. I sat down in front of the fireplace, and he said he’d be right back. When his bedroom door clicked close, I glanced behind the chair at the bed. I thought about going home, but that was deeply unappealing. The more we hung out, the more I wanted to be with Mark. I guess I was just nervous to be with him again that way. It felt like, if we had sex, then there was pretty much no going back. It felt like I’d be saying yes, I’ll marry you, all over again. I rubbed my temple and forced myself to stop thinking so hard about it.

  I walked around his room, looking for the TV remote. I found it on his night stand. It was next to a picture of his parents on a beach somewhere. I’d just sat back down and turned on the TV when Mark came back with two steaming mugs.

  “Hope you like chamomile, it’s the only tea I have actually,” he said and handed me a cup. He sat down next to me and took a sip from his.

  “This is good, thanks,” I said. Mark picked up on my nervousness. We watched TV like two old people in front of the fire but eventually moved to the bed, he changed into pajama pants and gave me a t-shirt to wear, and we fell asleep just cuddling.

  I woke up feeling hot and uncomfortable, it was still dark in the room. Mark was wrapped around me. He had my breast in his hand and his other was practically between my legs. I tried to pick up his hand but as soon as I did, he woke up and moved his hands, as if I were made of fire.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hold you like that,” he said groggily.

  “It’s okay, I’m like … sweating is all,” I said. I turned to face him and he pushed my hair out of my face and kissed me. His lips were warm, and his tongue was even warmer. I pushed my fingers into his silky hair, and he pulled my leg around his hips. Mark was already hard when our hips met. His cock pressed against my cleft, and my body reacted to him immediately. Lust curled through my belly, and my nipples hardened under my shirt—his shirt.

  “Are you okay if we keep going?” Mark asked. His lips pressed against my neck, and he nibbled the sensitive skin just under my ear. My hands splayed across his chiseled chest and abs.

  “Yes, I want to keep going,” I said in one breath. He pushed my shirt up and over my head. His green eyes met mine, as he filled his hands with my breasts and pinched my nipples. My sex clenched, and I slid one hand over his cock to rub the hard length through his pajama pants. He lowered his head to suck and nibble on my breasts. He left virtually no part of them untasted. My skin flushed, and the sensations he elicited made me want him that much more. He slid down on the bed so that he could kiss my side and then my hip. I bit my lip when he moved my leg over his head and settled between them.

  When he moved my thong aside, I held my breath. He kissed my cleft and slid his tongue between my folds and around my clit. A moan escaped my lips, and I arched my back. Mark’s hand moved to cup and massage my breast. He nibbled on my clit, and I cried out as sharp pleasure swept through me. I ran my fingers through his hair, as he continued to lick and suck, remembering all the ways that he used to drive me crazy. My orgasm came fast. It crashed over me, but before I could recover. Mark quickly took off my thong and pulled out his cock. Since the first time we had sex, I always thought he was the perfect length, and he was quite girthy too.

  “You okay?” Mark asked. He sounded out of breath. I nodded quickly and reached for him. His hips settle
d between my legs, and he pushed into me slowly at first. I relished the sensation of him filling me up. He pressed his forehead against mine, and we settled like that for about a minute. My pussy quivered and clenched around him. I grazed my nails along his waist and over his back. “I forgot how good you feel Steph,” he murmured hoarsely. I kissed his neck and his jaw. Mark started to move his hips back and forth.

  “Don’t … don’t be gentle,” I whispered. He was all too eager to take my advice. Mark wrapped his arms around me and thrust into me hard and fast. The room filled with my moans and cries of pleasure. I came before he did, my sex clenched and pulsed around his, and he soon found his own release. He put his full weight on me as we both caught our breath.

  “Okay, you’re crushing me now,” I said and tapped his side. Mark chuckled and slowly rose off of me. I turned toward him as he caressed my waist and hip. “How soon until you can go again?” I asked.

  Mark laughed. “Uh … give me a few minutes.”

  I snuggled close to him and kissed him just under the ear. “A few minutes?” I murmured. His hand tightened on my waist and I pushed him flat on his back. I ran my tongue down to his navel and kissed just beneath his belly button.

  “Oh, fuck,” he said breathlessly. I gripped his cock in my hand and pumped it slowly. I rubbed the underside with my thumb before replacing it with my tongue. I ran my tongue around the head of his cock and cupped his sac while massaging his balls. He groaned and his cock lengthened in my mouth, getting hard again. A pleasured thrill ran through me and I reached down to rub my clit.

  I ran my tongue around the length of his cock before taking him fully into my mouth. Mark cursed and pushed his fingers into my hair to hold my head. He pumped gently into my mouth and the tip of his cock went to the back of my throat. Before I could gag, he pulled out of my mouth and stood up. Mark kept his fingers in my hair as I went down on his cock again.

  “Shit, Steph…” he groaned and swayed forward a little as I ran my tongue around the tip and took him deep into my throat again. His cock grew rock hard as he held himself at the back of my throat for a few seconds. I pulled back and he quickly turned me around and bent me over on the bed. Mark rubbed my clit with his fingers and then slid his cock back and forth through my folds before he slowly pushed into me.

  “Go deep, Mark,” I whispered and arched my back so that he could. Mark pushed fully into me and I felt him at my very core. My body shuddered and he held me around the waist so that I wouldn’t fall. Mark pumped his hips and pounded into me. I cried out as shockwaves of pleasure rippled through me, making even my scalp tingle.

  “You’re so tight,” he said gruffly and then bent over me to kiss the back of my neck and shoulder. Every memory of what it was like when we were together coalesced in my head. I remembered that sex was never as good with anyone else as it was with Mark. We just fit so perfectly together. My body shook with a wave of intense pleasure as my climax started to build.

  “Don’t stop, Mark,” I begged. He cursed and his thrusts got faster. I cried out as my pussy clenched tight around his cock. I felt Mark shudder and then we both collapsed onto the bed. He stayed inside and laced his fingers with mine as we ground our hips together. His cock rubbed against my g-spot and in a second, I came hard. My body shook underneath his and he moaned, going still inside me as my sex massaged his. His body jerked and he came again.

  “Fuck, Steph…” he chuckled and pressed his forehead against my shoulder. I laughed too, lightheaded from the intensity of my orgasm. He gingerly pulled out of me and kissed both of my butt cheeks.

  “I don’t think I can move,” I murmured and pulled a pillow under my head.

  “Wait,” he said and disappeared for a moment, he came back with a warm damp towel and cleaned me up. Then we righted ourselves on the bed and he spooned behind me. I felt drunk and smiled deliriously as sleep pulled me under.

  ***

  I woke up with a start. My chest felt heavy with the vague memory of a nightmare. For some reason, I couldn’t get the image of having the miscarriage out of my head. Then my blood ran cold, and I sat up to look at Mark, who was still asleep. We hadn’t used a condom.

  “Shit,” I murmured and put my head in my hand. Then I fully woke up and remembered that I was on birth control. I breathed a sigh of relief, and Mark finally woke up.

  “Babe, what’s the matter?” Mark asked. He peeked at me with one eye and then sat up.

  “It’s nothing … I’m fine,” I said quickly. If he started to pry, I wouldn’t last. It just wasn’t the time to tell him yet … I didn’t think it would ever be.

  Mark rubbed his eyes and then searched my face. “Are you sure?” I nodded. He smiled. “What can I make you for breakfast?” He kissed my temple and then got out of bed. He stood naked and stretched.

  “Um … French Toast?” I asked.

  Mark smiled. “You really haven’t changed, huh?” he said fondly. I stretched and then sat up.

  “With you, I guess not,” I said. Mark walked to the bathroom first. I dozed off and woke up as he left the bedroom. I took my time getting out of bed and then showering. I put on a pair of Mark’s boxers that I had to roll up around the waist and another t-shirt of his that I found. I figured, by the time he brought food to his room all the way from the kitchen, the food would be cold. So I walked downstairs. It took me—what felt like—ten minutes to get to the kitchen. It smelled like cinnamon and bacon. Mark stood at the stove, bare-chested and wearing pajama pants. He kept flipping his hair out of his eyes as he cooked.

  “You’ve always been good at breakfast,” I said.

  “It’s the only meal I know how to cook,” he said.

  I stepped behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “That’s not true …”

  “And, anyway, I only know how to make our favorites,” he said. I walked to the island bar and sat down. There was a plate of bacon waiting in front of two place settings. He had already made and poured coffee for us. I forgot how perfect he could be sometimes. I was glad that he hadn’t lost the sweet side to him that I fell in love with. As I brought my coffee mug to my lips, I paused for a moment. My eyes widened. I didn’t want to fall for him so easily again. Sure, I’d decided to give him a chance. But I didn’t want to slip into the old memories of Mark and fall in love with that guy again. I wanted to love the guy right in front of me.

  “So the mixer tonight …” Mark said, slowly. He glanced over his shoulder, and I perked up, excited to see Jimmy and Neil again after so much time.

  “Yeah, shoot … I have to text Leena and Shane,” I said. “It’s gonna take me forever to get upstairs and back.”

  “I know … I know. The house is a monstrosity,” Mark said, as I got up.

  I shrugged. “Well, as long as you’re fully aware.” I hurried upstairs to get my cell phone and texted Shane and Leena on my way back downstairs. By the time I sat down again, I felt like I’d gotten a workout. A plate of French toast and bacon was waiting for me.

  “Thanks,” I said, as Mark sat down next to me with his plate. We ate in a comfortable silence for about a minute, before my phone chimed. “Shane is in for tonight, and Leena is too. But I have to warn you, she still doesn’t like you. Even after all this time,” I told him. Mark nodded his head and pushed the hair out of his eyes.

  “Understandable,” he said, “so, what do you have planned for the day?”

  I cut into my French toast. “I have to grade a few things. Maybe do something with my dad, or nothing. I don’t really know yet.”

  “I gotta get a haircut and catch up on some correspondence and, at some point, look over the coding on a new program Jimmy is cooking up,” he said.

  My eyebrows rose. It was still weird to hear him talking all business-oriented. “What kind of program?” I asked.

  Mark shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. He was kinda sounding like Neil when he was trying to explain it to me. It’s supposed to be a ‘dynamic browsing security’ of some sort.”
Mark sighed. “Which means it’ll be complicated as hell to try and figure out.”

  “Have you ever tried reading a second grader’s handwriting?” I asked.

  Mark cracked up. “Actually, that sounds worse than what I have to do. Don’t feel sorry for me,” he said, still chuckling.

  “I took one coding class in college, so maybe we could trade jobs for a day,” I said.

  “Running a company sounds pretty close to running a classroom.” Mark laughed again. “Imagine, we’d end up falling in love with each other’s jobs.”

  “Actually, no I love my kids too much,” I said. He smiled at me. The fond expression was intimate, and it made my chest feel all warm and gross. I looked at my food instead of his ridiculously handsome face. Yeah, I knew it wouldn’t take long until I was head over heels again. The thought sent my heart racing with odd uncertainty.

  ***

  Leena and I picked up Shane from his place later that night. She wore white, skinny jeans and a dark blue, oversized sweater and tan heels. I wore a sweater dress over warm tights and boots. Shane looked good in anything he wore. He had on a simple sweater and jeans. His hair was perfection, of course. As soon as he left his house and got in the car, he and Leena were talking as if they’d been friends for years.

  “So, can you believe we’re doing this right now?” Shane asked Leena.

  She snorted. “I actually want to see him, so that I can give him a piece of my mind. I already told Steph that I think she’s nuts,” Leena said. I rolled my eyes and glared at her.

  “I’m thinking long-term here,” Shane said. “Mark is a billionaire, and if they get married that has trickle-down effect.”