by Angela Blake
“Why not?” He took her hand and began to kiss it gently, making his way up her arm causing her breathing to become labored.
“Because we want different things.”
Mark shrugged as he began to nibble on her neck. “For one night, we don’t have to.”
“I, don’t-oh,” her eyelids fluttered closed as he began to nibble on her ear causing her to grip the arm rest tighter.
“Try saying yes,” he murmured into her ear as he began kissing the very sensitive vein in her neck. Jenny shuddered helplessly as her mind began to scramble to remind her why she shouldn’t indulge.
Her hands came up to wrap themselves around his neck, completely of their own accord, and her traitorous body began to respond to his touch as she waged her inner battle.
“I never did forget the color of your hair,” he murmured as he twirled a lose strand between his thumb and forefinger. “The color of a fading sunset.”
Jenny had always hated her hair, but somehow he made her feel like it was glorious. One hand began to make idle patterns on her neck while the other rested on the small of her back doing the same.
One of her hands ventured down over the slope of his back and rested just above his hips. Her fingers hovered over the edge of his shirt before they snaked their way underneath.
He shuddered at her touch before capturing his lips with hers. She quietly moaned in the back of her throat as he gently kicked her legs open and stood in between them. She pushed herself closer as she felt that fire that had consumed her 5 years ago begin to rage once more.
“Mark,” she whimpered, as she clutched a fistful of his shirt when he began an assault on her breasts. Suddenly her eyes snapped open, and she pushed him off.
Mark stumbled back in surprise and eyed her warily. “Did I do something wrong?”
Jenny ran her hands through her hair as she tried to reel her hormones back in. “No, you didn’t, but listen. There’s something I have to tell you.”
Mark nodded for her to continue.
“The truth is that night you and I slept together 5 years ago, something happened, something you don’t know anything about, mostly because I didn’t know your name back then, and when I did find out who you were, I saw what kind of life you led, and I figured you wouldn’t want to know.”
“I don’t understand.”
Jenny gave him a sad smile. “No, of course you wouldn’t. I suppose it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense when you put it like that. The truth is nine months after we slept together, I gave birth.”
Mark reeled back as if he’d been slapped, his face turned white as he balled his hands into fists. “You what?”
“I gave birth,” she repeated. She eyed him carefully as she wondered if he was going to have some sort of panic attack. Mark plopped down onto the floor and stared up at her in a daze. “You gave birth,” he repeated as if he couldn’t quite believe his ears.
“To a beautiful baby boy. He’s amazing, Mark, and I wished you could meet him. Be a part of his life, but I never did find out your last name, and I didn’t have much to go on, so I raised him on my own until I saw you on TV a few months ago, I wasn’t sure, but once you came here, I knew it was you.”
Mark grew even paler. “Are you sure he’s mine?” he finally asked.
“Yes, he looks exactly like you.” Jenny gestured to the picture on her desk. Mark looked at it, studying it intently for a minute or two. “What’s his name?”
“His name is Noah.”
Mark stood up abruptly and began pacing the room. He’d stop every so often to stare at Jenny looking like he wanted to say something before he’d stop and begin the cycle all over again.
Finally, he opened the door. “I need to get out of here,” he mumbled as the door slammed shut behind him.
Jenny stared at the door in dismay wondering what on earth had possessed her to tell him at a moment like this. She should’ve planned it better, but now he was gone, and it was probably too late.
Jenny
Jenny sighed as she ran her hands through her hair, trying to untangle the knots. She had just gotten finished with a 14 hour shift, and she was beyond exhausted. She was so tired, she could barely see straight.
She yawned as she placed her coat on the coat rack behind her door before she grabbed her phone, purse and keys.
She made sure to lock the door on her way out, and she made her way down the hallway. She walked across the parking lot and got to her car and slid in.
She checked her phone and tried to keep the sigh of disappointment out of her voice when she noticed that Mark hadn’t called.
Not that she should’ve expected him to. She knew of course that he would need some time to process what she had said, but wasn’t 14 hours at least partially enough to know if you wanted to be in your kids life?
It was a no brainer surely, but then again, she didn’t really know Mark well enough to know if he’d make the right decision. The right decision to him could be staying out of his son’s life, so his son wouldn’t have to be in the press, but that would mean missing out on his childhood, and as exhausting as being a parent is, Jenny wouldn’t have traded that for the world.
She grabbed her seatbelt, switched on the ignition and drove towards her mums house where Noah was staying.
***
She inserted the key into the lock and stepped into her childhood home a few minutes later. The smell of freshly baked cookies immediately assaulted her senses, and Jenny inhaled the scent, wondering if she could possibly scoff down a few without being scolded by her mother.
“Noah, Mom,” she called out as she shrugged out of her coat and placed it on the couch.
“Mommy,” a little 5-year-old shouted as a warm body barreled into her. Jenny gazed at the face of her son, so like his fathers with his shaggy hair and green eyes, but he had inherited his mother’s red hair, and it suited his face perfectly.
Jenny ran her hands through his russet hair and smiled as he gazed up at her.
“How was your day, my darling?”
“Grandma and I made cookies,” he announced proudly as he held up one to his mother for inspection. Jenny pretended to inspect it before she nodded in approval.
“Great job, honey. It looks delicious.”
Noah gazed around as if wanting to make sure they were alone before he gestured for Jenny to lower her head. Jenny crouched down in front of him, and he put his lips to her ear. “Mummy, I’m going to give you a small piece to try out.”
He gazed around one more before he broke off a tiny piece and slipped it into his mother’s mouth. Jenny chewed slowly, her heart swelling with love for this little boy who was the light of her life.
“Why are you so quiet in there?” A female voice came from inside.
Jenny and Noah froze as they both took in the sight of Jenny’s mother-Clarisse-standing above them with a mock frown on her lips. Her red hair was hanging in loose curls around her heart shaped face, and her hazel eyes sparkled with mirth.
“Now, now, Noah, you know what I said about sneaking in a cookie before dinner,” Clarisse said disapprovingly.
“I’m sorry, grandma,” Noah hung his head shamefully as he shuffled awkwardly from one foot to the next.
“Go wash your hands and go to the kitchen, so you can help me bring in the food.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he tore out of the living room and made a beeline for the bathroom.
Clarisse shook her head as she embraced her only daughter and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Really, honey, must you spoil him?”
Jenny tossed her head back and laughed. “Actually, he was spoiling me, I was the one who took a piece of that cookie.”
“You don’t say.” Clarisse placed her hands on her hips as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. “So the boy isn’t afraid to cover for someone he loves, an admirable trait no doubt.”
Jenny grinned. “He’s one of a kind, isn�
��t he?”
They both shared a knowing smile as they made their way to the kitchen, and the three of them set up the table as they waited for Jenny’s father to walk in.
He walked in a while later and dropped a quick kiss on Jenny’s head before he poked Noah in the side.
They all sat down and a steady stream of conversation began as they all indulged in a nice family meal.
***
Jenny juggled the keys and her son’s sleeping form as she tried to get the front door to open. She had finally succeeded in getting the key into the lock, but couldn’t quite make the door budge open.
She huffed in irritation as she wondered if maybe she could lay Noah down on the grass for a second then pick him up again when the door was open.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice said. “Let me.”
Jenny wheeled around in fright, her heart pounding in her chest before she noticed that it was just Mark, standing there looking sheepish.
“Jesus, Mark, you scared me,” she whispered. “At least announce yourself next time.”
“Well, I was just about to offer my help, but I was watching you fumble adorably for a few minutes.”
Jenny scowled at him as he pushed the door open and gestured for her to go through. Jenny walked in, and Mark helped her switch on the lights.
Once his eyes took in the sleeping form, his entire stance softened, and he stared at him in wonder as if he couldn’t quite believe that this little boy was his.
“Can I be the one to carry him upstairs?” Mark asked quietly.
Jenny stared at him quietly for a minute before she handed him Noah. She helped him adjust Noah before leading the way to the bedroom down the hall.
They worked quietly together, making sure Noah was in his pajamas and tucked in safely. Mark brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled a soft smile that had Jenny’s heart hoping that maybe, just maybe, he actually did want to be a part of this little boy’s life.
She motioned for him to come outside, and he cast one last lingering look before he exited. She left the door open just enough to hear him if he needed her and beckoned Mark into the hallway.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the help earlier, but what are you doing here, Mark?”
“I’m sorry I ran out so quickly earlier. I was just in shock, but I had some time to think about it, and I want to be a part of Noah’s life.”
Jenny watched him carefully. “Are you sure you’re not just saying that because you want to sleep with me?”
Mark laughed. “Well, I won’t deny that I want you as well. I want to be in both your lives Jenny, if you’ll let me. I don’t know the first thing about being a father, and I know you deserve so much better than me, but I want to try. Please let me try.”
Jenny looked at him for a long moment without speaking. Long enough that Mark began to fidget. His green eyes met hers in a direct stare, and Jenny could see the sincerity reflected in them.
“I’m going to go take a shower, then how about we have some dinner?” she said finally.
Mark nodded cautiously. “I’d like that.”
Jenny gestured towards the living room. “Make yourself at home.”
Mark plopped down onto the couch and grabbed the remote and began channel surfing. Jenny hurried up the stairs wondering what on earth they’d talk about, but she knew that she wanted to try, and even if it didn’t work out between them, she’d make sure he stayed in Noah’s life. He needed his father after all.
Jenny stripped and as she waited for the water to heat up, she began to wash her face carefully. She stepped into the shower a while later, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as the hot water cascaded down her back.
She began to lather her hair with shampoo and running her hands down her body to wash herself. She gave a startled gasp when a pair of hands began to massage her shoulders.
She wheeled around and came face to face with Mark who was standing there, dripping wet and fully naked.
“What are you - ” she trailed off as he grabbed a loofa and began to gently scrub her body.
“Let me take care of you,” he said simply.
Jenny let her head roll back as he carefully washed every nook and cranny over her body making her grow more and more aroused by the second.
Jenny noticed, much to her chagrin, that he was careful not to touch her breasts nor her center, and she was feeling rather frustrated at that.
He bent down and began to kiss her center, and a moan escaped Jenny’s lips as he began to lick. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked him up, so he was kissing her lips instead.
Mark groaned as he pushed her back against the wall. As the hot water slid off their bodies, their kissing began to grow more and more fervent, and their hands began to grow bolder.
Jenny placed her hands on his hips and shoved him closer hoping he’d get the hint. He growled in the back of his throat before he wrenched his lips away and began to kiss his way down her neck. He took one nipple between his mouth and began to suck on it so hard that Jenny’s eyes were rolling in the back of her head.
Meanwhile his other hand was making its trail down south. Jenny left one hand playing with the hair on the nape of his neck, while the other hand made its way down and began to stroke him until he stopped what he was doing and bucked against her hands.
He grabbed both her hands and raised them over her head, so she was helpless to his touch. He began to kiss her neck slowly, sucking and biting until he left his mark. He moved down and began to kiss and suck on her breasts till Jenny’s body began to writhe in pleasure. He moved down and kissed her stomach until he finally stopped above her center.
He released her wrists and brought one leg up, so it was hooked around his. He gently nudged her legs apart and looked her directly in the eye before he thrust into her with one quick movement.
They both moaned at the contact, and at first they set up a steady pace where Mark would slowly pull out then slam back into her causing both of them the maximum amount of pleasure.
Eventually, Jenny began to claw on his back letting him know that she wanted more, and Mark wanted more too. He began to grind into her, harder and harder until they both began to scream in ecstasy.
Mark carried her out of the shower a while later, both of them getting dressed and crawling into bed next to each other as they lay there feeling completely and blissfully spent.
They drifted off knowing that tomorrow was a new start for all of them.
THE END
SWEAT
Chapter 1
David Westley grunted as he swung his controller to the right.
He knew he was getting his ass kicked in the zombie game they were playing.
At 6 ‘2’ he towered over most of the other guys on the team, so whenever he was standing up, he had the luxury of looking intimidating so no one would dare question him. He had floppy red hair, freckles on his nose and a set of deep blue eyes that one woman once called cerulean. With his defined cheekbones, strong jaw and formed physique, he usually had his pick from women.
It helped that he had a slight Scottish accent courtesy of his Scottish parents, so once his Scottish lilt found its way into a conversation, most women were drawn to him.
With his easy-going smile, he knew exactly what he was doing.
He had spent quite a bit of time in Scotland playing basketball until he got transferred to America. He was reluctant at first preferring Scotland’s mountains and general feel until he got here and realized that they adored Scotland and Scottish men.
They practically idolized them, and that was in part due to the series Diana Gabaldon wrote. Outlander or something.
David didn’t care how or why they adored him; all he cared about is that they did.
He wasn’t a woman at a time kind of guy, and everyone knew that about him, and no one cared. That’s why he loved America, everyone was free to do what they wanted, and the women
here, all he had to do was smile at them and say a few things in that Scottish accent, and then bam hook, line and sinker.
He could’ve been out there tonight, partying, but when his teammates suggested they come over for poker night, a round of zombies on PS and getting trashed, he happily agreed because there was nothing he liked better than a good round of zombies.
It was an hour later, and the guys were still sitting around playing zombies, smoking or drinking. They were supposed to get up and play a round of poker, but somehow, they couldn’t get around to that.
He frowned as a puff of smoke obscured his vision making his teammate Lucas able to get ahead of the game.
“Hey, man.” he yelled. “You’re going to make me lose.” He titled himself to the side and bit his bottom lip in concentration.
“You’re going to lose no matter what, hombre. No amount of fussing over smoke is going to change that,” Lucas tossed out as he landed yet another blow.
David cursed under his breath. “That’s just luck Ramirez.”
Lucas tossed him a look over his shoulder that let him know exactly what he thought of that.
David knew he was yanking his chains, but he had no more strategies left except to bad mouth Lucas, and hope that it would be enough of a distraction to get him to lose the game.
“Come on, Ramirez. Bring it hombre,” he smirked as he managed to land a shot that evened out his score with Lucas.
Lucas grimaced. “You’re on.”
The game continued for twenty minutes, both of them trying to beat the other, none of them succeeding. Till all of a sudden, the doorbell rang. They paused the game and stared at each other wondering who was outside.
David uncrossed his legs and hopped up to the door. He opened the door and smiled when he noticed a group of scantily clad women walk through.
One of his other teammates called out and introduced them. Kami and the other women were all huge basketball fans, and they knew everyone on the team, and everyone knew them.