by MJ Carnal
Mark pulled out of her, threw her onto the counter and eased into her again. He held her close, his lips meeting hers with urgency. He tilted her head back and his tongue thrust deeper in her throat. She moaned. She took his hand and put it on her over sensitive bundle of nerves. She circled his fingers with hers and threw her head back. “God yes. That feels so good.”
Her release was almost immediate and she screamed his name as he thrust into her two more times. His orgasm was so powerful; he grabbed the counter to keep from losing his balance. His body shuttered with each final thrust.
He lifted her from the counter and carried her to the bedroom. Their bodies were slick with sweat. He winked as he climbed on top of her on the bed. “I know we should probably clean up. But, I’m not done with you yet.”
She pulled him down and kissed him hard. She nibbled on his bottom lip and ran her tongue down his neck. “I know you might not be ready to hear this, but I love you.”
He sighed. “I am always ready to hear that. I love you so much Sophie.”
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
His smile lit up his face. “Sophie, as far as I’m concerned, you never have to leave.”
Epilogue
3 months later
Mark stood on his front porch. The sun was beginning to set earlier and the evenings were becoming cooler. His briefcase fell from his hands and he pressed his head against the door. The day had been filled with one work crisis after another and he couldn’t wait to throw on his swimsuit, lap out his frustration, then spend the evening holding Sophie.
Her morning sickness had completely resolved and as she hit the second trimester, her energy had come racing back. She hadn’t given up her apartment but her things had slowly made their way into Mark’s home. Aside from Mark’s trip back east for business, Sophie had spent every night making love to him and reminding him why they belonged together. The relationship had become more than she ever imagined.
Mark stepped into the dark foyer and took a deep breath. The sounds of footsteps on the stairs made him look up. “Why are you here and more importantly, why were you upstairs?”
Caleb tensed as he noticed Mark standing in the doorway. He looked around and stuttered. “I, uh, just came by to say hello to you guys.”
“Ok. Doesn’t explain why you were upstairs Allen.” Mark set his briefcase on the bench by the door and loosened his tie. “Start explaining before I take the frustrations of my day out on you.”
A second pair of feet appeared in Mark’s vision and Ryan stumbled into Caleb’s back. “What’s up Marco?” Ryan, always calm and collected, looked around in a panic.
“Start explaining you two. And I mean now.” Mark rubbed his hand over his face and tried to take a few steps upstairs. Ryan blocked his way. “Dude. I am seriously exhausted. I just want to put on my swim trunks and relax.”
Caleb jogged past them both, into the living room and out the back door. There were hushed voices and a loud crash. Mark turned toward the sliding glass door as Ryan stepped into his face. “Give it just a minute man. Please.” Ryan loosened his grip.
Mark groaned. “It’s been a shit day. What’s going on?”
Sophie stepped through the back door, her smile radiant. Her hair was pulled off her face in a low ponytail and her tanned legs ended in a pair of strappy sandals. She fixed the waist of her sundress as she stepped toward Mark. “Hi baby. I missed you.” Her kiss was soft and she melted into his embrace.
Smiling against her neck, he whispered. “You smell good. What’s going on?”
She laughed. “My pathetic attempt at a surprise. You are early.” She took his hand and led him out the back door.
Candles floated in the pool and the large dining table was set. Rich cooked steaks and vegetables on the grill and the bar was set up with every drink imaginable. Molly, Caleb, Layla, Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman, his mother and Chad sat at the table. Mark looked around at his guests and then back at Sophie. “What is this?”
Sophie led him to the seat at the head of the table and sat down in his lap. “You have been working so hard and I just wanted you to know how much we all love you. I wanted to have everyone over for dinner and drinks. Kind of a housewarming. Are you mad?”
Mark smiled and kissed her. “No baby. I’m not mad. I’m thrilled.” He stood and greeted all his guests and grabbed a beer from the bar. Ryan handed him a shot of tequila and he threw it back. His exhaustion disappeared with each sip.
Looking back at Sophie, he relaxed. She was beautiful. If he had been able to ask for everything he had ever wanted, it would have been wrapped in a package just like Sophie. His life was complete.
He ran his hand over the engagement ring in his pocket. He had taken the original ring and had it reset. There had been too many bad memories surrounding the first one. His plan was to ask her to marry him tonight during a moonlit swim. They loved the pool and he couldn’t think of anything more romantic than under the stars in their own private paradise.
Sophie stood up and grabbed a folded paper off the bar. “This is for you.”
He opened it. “Your lease?”
She laughed. “My broken lease. I’m moving in this weekend.” She squealed as Mark picked her up and swung her around. “I take it you are happy?”
Ryan gagged. “Seriously bro. I don’t know how the hell this happened to you. I honestly miss my wing man. But I couldn’t be happier for you.”
Sophie hit him in the arm. “Like you aren’t sniffing around a certain brunette that shall remain nameless? Please. You haven’t been out in two weeks.”
Mark looked from Sophie to Ryan. “Who?”
Ryan chugged his beer and looked at Layla. “Another story for another night.”
“Steaks are done. Come to the table kids.” Rich laughed as he put a tray of steaks in the center of the table.
Mark looked at all the faces that were most important to him in the world. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman were like parents to him. They had helped raise him and helped make him the man he had become. His mother was there with a smile on her face despite the fact that his father was once again on the road. Ryan had taken a seat by Layla and was currently getting the cold shoulder. He wondered about those two and he looked forward to whatever the future would bring them. Molly and Rich had settled into married life beautifully. They were completely in love and had found out several days before that they were expecting a baby. Mark and Molly would have children that would grow up together, just like they had. His heart swelled and his eyes watered.
He realized Sophie was standing up and the rest of the table was quiet, looking at him. “I’m sorry. What?”
Sophie smiled. “I was wondering if you could have a seat. I have something to say.” Her hands shook as she straightened her dress.
Mark walked to the table and sat down. He looked up at Sophie. She was breathless and blushing fiercely.
She looked down at him and began. “A year ago, I had given up on everything good in my life. Then a really stubborn woman pulled me up from the gutter and made me open my eyes to all kinds of wonderful things. Asking me to be her maid of honor has proven to be the most important thing in the world.” She cleared her throat. “It was an accident that I was at the grocery store that day. I was running late and wasn’t paying any attention, when I rammed my cart into the ankles of the most amazing man I had ever seen. Since that day, not one second has passed that I haven’t thought of him or missed him or loved him. He became the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me and the absolute most important person in my life. I love you every single minute of every single day. I would be nothing without you.”
She knelt down next to him and his eyes widened. “I have made some mistakes. I have been dumb and blind. But through everything, you have been my rock. I don’t know how I got so lucky but if you will let me, I am going to spend the rest of my life thanking God that you took a chance on me.”
She slipped a gold ring from her thumb and held it u
p to him. “In front of everyone that is most special to us in the world, I am asking you the most important question I will ever ask anyone.”
Mark dropped to his knees and put his finger across her lips. “No Sophie.” As the table gasped, he continued. “I am the lucky one. The day you hit me with that cart was the day that I completely lost my heart to you. I never thought I would find love. I never even knew I wanted to. But that day, with your messy hair and your workout clothes and your clumsy apology, I knew my life would never be the same.”
He pulled the diamond ring from his pocket and held it to her. A shower of light spilled onto the pavement as the candles reflected off the diamond. “I love you Sophie Barringer. And I love this wonderful life we are going to bring into the world. I love waking up next to you and holding you as you fall asleep. I love fighting over the crossword or who gets the last bite of ice cream. But most of all, I love the man I am because you took a chance on loving me.” He looked around the table at all the people who had made him the person he had become. “Life has truly blessed me. And without you, I would be lost. Sophie, will you do me the amazing honor of becoming my wife?”
She pulled him in for a kiss. “Yes,” she whispered. And as the world disappeared around them, he knew that his life would never be the same.
The End.
Acknowledgments
This book was an emotional journey for me. I wrote it in bed while I was recovering from my second back surgery in two months. What a blessing that time turned out to be. (Thank you Dr. G for giving me my life back after my injury) In such a short period of time, I learned about who I am, what I want and who would stand by my side. It was an amazing journey and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.
I want to thank my husband who single parented through my recovery and allowed me to steal his laptop every night. Thank you for giving me the time to heal. Thank you for allowing me the quiet moments to write. And most of all, thank you for our gorgeous daughter. (Who I hope will never ever ever read this) Thank you for the past nine years and I look forward to growing old(er) with you.
To my mom, my favorite writer in the world. You gave me a life that people only dream about. You opened your heart and adopted a little baby girl and our bond far exceeds any bond of blood. My life has been amazing because I was chosen to be yours. Your unconditional love made me the person I am today. Thank you for sharing your love of art and books and encouraging me to dream big. I love you.
Dad & Chris. I hope you don’t ever read this book. But thank you for being OK with me writing under my maiden name, the one you have to live with everyday while I can hide behind my married one. After all, Carnal is totally appropriate. It was write Adult fiction or be a doctor. I think I chose wisely. I had amazing men to look up to growing up. Thank you for that. Thank you for the millions of times you have both saved me and all the lessons I learned from you. (Even if some of them came with some big brother torture)
I also would like to thank Ashley, my beta reader, fashion advisor and superwoman extraordinaire. Thank you for stalking me every night for new chapters and for keeping all the characters straight for me. Thank you for all the dinners and visits during my recovery and for standing by my side through everything from the first day we met. This was an adventure and I would not have wanted to take it with anyone else but you.
Alex Michael Turner!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU. For being my cover model and my muse and a huge inspiration to me while I was going through all the hell with my back. You ARE my Mark Moretti. There is no one else I would have wanted on this cover. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the cover shoot and for the most amazing time in Portland. It is an honor to call you a friend. You are the most humble, trusting and loving person. I have told you before that I think you are an old soul. The perfect gentleman. THANK YOU. You are pure inspiration. I can’t wait to see where life takes you. Find Alex on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alexmichaelturner
Eric Wainwright. I love our daily chats and all the pictures I get to see before they are posted. You make me laugh everyday. Thank you for the red couch picture that honestly started all of this. You are so talented (and tall) and I cannot wait to watch your career sky rocket! You rock! Thank you for the cover photo. (And the covers yet to come) My life is better because you are in it. You amaze me. Find Eric on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wainwrightimages
A huge thank you and cyber hug to Nickie Seidler, author of A Lucky Second Chance. This was so much fun to share with you. Even though it was sometimes the blind leading the blind, I loved having someone reading my book from an author’s perspective. And I can’t help but giggle at how jealous I got that you loved Mark so much. Thank you for trusting me with your manuscript (and Nathan!) and for keeping mine safe.
And to all the readers, Facebook followers, new authors and book lovers. Everyday I wake up and meet someone amazing that I hadn’t known the day before. Your support is felt and I appreciate you more than you will ever know. Thank you for loving Mark Moretti and I look forward to sharing the other Moretti/Dickerman brothers with you. Authors write to create the world of their dreams. Thank you for supporting us and for wanting to be a part of the world we create. YOU ARE LOVED!
About the Author
MJ Carnal lives in Lexington, South Carolina with her husband, gorgeous daughter and two loving and super furry dogs. She spends her days in the world of neurosurgery but her nights in a world she creates on paper. When she isn’t writing, you can find her watching episodes of The Walking Dead with her hubby, having tea parties with Princess Caroline, Singing karaoke for anyone that will listen and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. “Taming the Bachelor” is her first published book but her first series was written at the age of eight and illustrated with crayon. Look for the next book, “Taming the Playboy” early fall 2013.
She loves to hear from fans, fellow writers and book lovers. Find her online at www.facebook.com/mjcarnalauthor or on Twitter @mjcarnalauthor.
Stay tuned for more in the Dickerman Moretti series
“Taming the Playboy” – The story of Ryan West, late summer 2013
“Taming the Boy Next Door” – The story of Caleb Allen, Fall 2013
“Taming Casanova” – The story of Kevin Merck, Winter 2013
Taming the Playboy – Late Summer 2013
Taming the Playboy – Chapter 1
Ryan pulled his shirt over his head and wrapped his towel around his neck. His ten mile run did little to clear his head. His muscles ached but nothing compared to the ache in his chest where his heart beat its betrayal. Pulling a bottle of water from the refrigerator, he opened the cap and chugged the entire thing. Her memory haunted him.
He ran his hand through his sweaty, dark hair and threw his Red Sox cap onto his desk. He knew this was nonsense. His days of partying with multiple women were his trademark. There was never just one that stuck with him. He growled as he sat down at his desk. “This is ridiculous,” he mumbled to himself.
It was simple. He lived by three rules. The first and most important rule, never get attached. The second rule, work hard but play harder. And the third, one night stands meant one night. He didn’t do relationships. That was plain and simple. The only commitments he made were to his family and to his group of friends. If you didn’t fit into one of those groups, Ryan West was not a permanent fixture in your life.
“I know that look.” Kevin Merck threw his towel at Ryan. “And I have never seen that look on your face before. Who is she?”
Ryan looked up at his coworker and laughed. “You have lost your mind, dude. There isn’t a woman in this world that could make me have whatever look you think I have.”
“It happens to the best of us, man.” Kevin laughed as he sorted the mail into stacks.
“It doesn’t happen to me. That is a well known fact. You forget who you are talking to.”
“Give me a break, West. I haven’t seen you hit a club or a chick in months.” Ryan shrugged
and picked up his mail. “Here. Enjoy.” Kevin threw a magazine on his desk and left the office.
Ryan held the August edition of Los Angeles Confidential Magazine and smiled. Staring back from the front cover was a picture of him, taken during a photo shoot a few months prior. He chuckled as he read the article.
Ryan West had moved to Los Angeles at the age of eleven. After his diagnosis of Leukemia, his parents felt that they should leave the suburbs of Boston for a more holistic approach to a cure. He had spent the first six months of his time in Los Angeles visiting healers, having acupuncture and massage and becoming more ill. When the doctors gave his family the grim news that the Leukemia was not responding, he underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. His life had been turned upside down. A whole year had been lost to aggressive treatments and after spending his sixth grade year in a hospital bed, he vowed to never take life for granted.