One Penny: A Marked Heart Novel

by M. Sembera

  Standing on the balcony right outside Penny's door, Seth reached down and wrapped his hand around hers.

  "Would you like me to walk you in?"

  Pursing her lips into a smile, she replied, "I'm sure Braden's on the couch already so..."

  Not wanting the moment to pass him by, he offered, "Would you like to walk me in, then?"

  "Sure," with a sweet expression on her face.

  Leading her to his door, Seth let go of her hand and unlocked it allowing her to go in first.

  Once they were both inside, he closed his door and turned to her. Taking her hand in his again, he lifted it, lightly smiling at her tattoo. Two interlocking hearts, one upside down and the other, right side up.

  "Did it hurt?" he asked focusing on the space in the center of both hearts.

  Drawing in a slow breath, she whispered, "Yes."

  Lifting her wrist higher, he leaned down and carefully touched his lips to the center where there was no ink just bare skin directly in the center of one heart pointing toward him and the other to her.

  Seth placed his thumb in the center of her tattoo where his lips had just been as he looked down at her softly sharing, "I can feel your heart beat."

  Penny let out a short breath as she closed her eyes tilting her chin up towards him.

  Keeping his gentle hold on her wrist with one hand, Seth could feel Penny's pulse quicken as he slowly brushed his fingers against her cheek and down the side of her neck with the other. He moved closer drawing out the moment as long as possible, just in case this was his one and only chance with her and it never happened again. As he watched her lips part in anticipation, Seth closed his eyes and touched his lips to hers.

  True to her nature, Penny's lips were warm and sweet as they moved against his. There was comfort in the feel of her smooth skin under his fingertips and the flavor of her lips when he took the opportunity to taste them. She was the cream and sugar that soothed and sweetened all the doubt and anxiety in Seth's otherwise embittered life. And he could only imagine what feeling the rest of her would be like.

  Sixteen

  Running until his lungs burned, Seth started to wonder how good of an idea it had been to kiss Penny last night. There was no way to gain a better perspective of the situation. It was as if he needed her to breath and there was no way around it. He needed to see her, talk to her, touch her or he would end up suffocating. His run was meaningless, pointless and did nothing to alleviate, it only added to the physical pain he was already in.

  ~

  Not knowing exactly what to do with herself, Penny sat in the center of her bed staring at the tattoo on her wrist. Every time she closed her eyes, Seth kissing her was the only thing there. The way his lips felt against hers, the soft touch of his fingers on her skin and in her hair. If kissing him had this kind of effect on her she couldn't help allowing her mind wander to what everything else would be like with him.

  Jumping a little when there was a knock at her bedroom door, Penny hopped off of her bed, flung her closet door open.

  "Come in," she shouted as she quickly started looking for something to wear.

  "You're not ready?" Charlotte fussed, walking into the room.

  With an apologetic expression, Penny replied, "Sorry, I don't know where my head is this morning."

  "I do," Charlotte assured with a smirk on her face.

  Quickly turning away from her closet, Penny exclaimed, "You have no idea! Last night he kissed me and it was, he was... amazing."

  "Full body tingles amazing?"

  Nodding, Penny swore, "Let's get naked amazing."

  Suddenly Braden's voice interrupted them from the living room as he spouted, "Gah, nasty! I can here y'all!"

  Charlotte made a face and swung Penny's door closed.

  Wishing her brother hadn't heard that, Penny flung herself back onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow.

  Penny lifted her head saying, "I can't think about anything else."

  Seating herself on the edge of Penny's bed, Charlotte asked, "So, no more let's be friends?"

  With a heavy sigh, Penny rested the side of her face against her pillow as she looked at Charlotte, pouting, "I don't know."

  "Friends with benefits?"

  "Ugh..." Penny groaned before reminding, "No sex wagon."

  Scowling at her, Charlotte said, "Well then, I say you blow off your plans with me today, get dressed, go knock on his door and see if he's worth a detour on your road to recovery."

  "What about bouquet shopping?"

  "I'll get Liv to come with me," Charlotte replied before ordering, "Now, put on something cute and go seduce the neighbor."

  "That's not..." Penny started to argue before Charlotte stood up saying, "I'm still holding out on your brother so at least one of us should be getting some."

  With a disgusted expression, Penny made a gagging sound as she pulled the side of her pillow in front of her face.

  Penny heard Charlotte laugh before leaving her room. Why did she insist on bringing up her and Auggie's sex life? Shaking off the general ickiness of that subject, Penny slid off of her bed. Back in front of her closet, she pulled out a sweater and a pair of jeans as she considered Charlotte's suggestion.

  ~

  Pacing back and forth in his living room, Seth wanted to go next door and see Penny but was unsure how on the right approach to take. Once he had ruled out kissing her again as a good reason to visit, he'd also decided asking her to a movie was a bad idea. Wishing he had left something of his next door or had something of hers to return, there was a knock at his door.

  A heart pounding anxious feeling filled Seth as he walked to his door. Thinking it had to be her, no one else would visit him, he reveled in his nervousness for a moment before opening the door.

  The excitement of seeing Penny slowly faded into nausea when he saw his father standing there instead.

  "Do you plan on letting me in?" Leonard snapped as Seth stood there staring at him.

  "Yes sir, sorry."

  Moving to allow his father inside, he had no idea what he was doing there.

  After a disapproving scan of Seth's living room, his father stated, "My will has been drawn up and I have been advised to have you sign an acknowledgment form."

  "Are you alright?"

  Narrowing his eyes at Seth, Leonard assured, "I am perfectly fine. Unlike you, I am invested in this family's future as well as my own."

  "Yes sir."

  Seth's father opened the folder he was carrying, pulled out a paper that had a red 'sign here' tab, closed the folder and handed it to him with the form on top.

  Pulling out a pen from the breast pocket of his suit jacket, he handed it to Seth saying, "I would appreciate it if this did not take all day."

  Nodding, Seth took the pen from his father before reading the form header that read, 'Acknowledgment and Agreement of Intent to Disinherit'.

  There was a sharp pain in the pit of Seth's stomach as he looked over at his father.

  "Is there a problem?" Leonard questioned in a cold manner.

  Shaking his head, Seth skimmed down the contents of the page as he heard his own voice slightly crack while replying, "No sir."

  It wasn't the fact that he was being disinherited. That had already been clarified by the multiple times Leonard had stated that he disowned him. Seth wanted approval and nothing else from his father, but he couldn't deny how badly it hurt him either. This was intentional and he knew it. His father could have simply stated his wishes in his will. Instead, Leonard was taking the opportunity to remind him of every slight, calloused remark and overall regret of having him as a son he had uttered as far back as Seth could remember.

  Seth could feel his breathing pick up as he signed the form and handed it back to his father. Leonard appeared pleased for a moment as he slid it back into the folder, then cringed slightly as he pulled an envelope out.

  "Your mother assures me you will be able to rent a tux if you do not have one," he stated handin
g the envelope to Seth.

  As he took the hospital benefit invitation from his father, Seth heard another knock at his door.

  "I will let myself out," Leonard shared, heading to the door.

  Waiting for the slight relief that would come when his father left, he stared at the wall, this time hoping it wasn't Penny at his door.

  A cheery, "Oh, hi! Is Seth home?" followed by a stern, "Excuse me," caused his teeth to clench as the door closed.

  "Was that your dad? You look a lot like him."

  Nodding, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

  Of all the embarrassing things that had happened since he'd moved in, this was the worst. He didn't want her to see him like this. His breaths were growing shorter by the second, Seth could feel himself repeatedly blinking while shaking his head and it was possible he was going to throw up.

  Before he knew what was happening, Penny's arms were wrapped around him.

  Pressing her cheek to his chest, she held him tight, soothing, "It's okay."

  Seth stood still as his emotions merged from conflicting stages of anxiety to the anxious feel of having her arms around him. Letting out a slow breath, he leaned his head down to rest his chin on the top of her head. When her arms started to loosen from around him, Seth dropped the invitation he was holding and crossed his arms across her back, holding her tight against him. The suffocating distress his father's presence had brought was gone and he could breathe with Penny in his arms.

  ~

  Acutely aware that Seth had serious problems with his father that exceeded her own parental issues. Her mom had not spoken to her since Auggie decided to propose to Charlotte. This was obviously a far worse situation. Penny wasn't exactly sure what to do next.

  While she was glad to be able to be there for him, she felt like more than a hug was needed at the moment.

  Tucked firmly against his chest, Penny asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

  "No," Seth replied before questioning, "Why did you come over?"

  A little disappointed by his tone, she replied, "You want me to go?"

  She felt him sigh as he answered, "That came out wrong."

  "I wanted to see you," she shared giving him an extra squeeze.

  As Seth let go of her, she moved back slightly allowing space between them while keeping her arms on his sides.

  Smiling down at her, he bit the side of his bottom lip saying, "Me too."

  Pursing her lips up into a smile, she could feel excitement radiating through her entire body.

  Seventeen

  It was getting late in the evening when Seth suggested they sit on the couch and watch a movie. After talking about what he did on a day to day basis at JPT and Penny talked about working at Legacy Ink over turkey sandwiches while sharing a plate at his kitchen table, it was one of those times where you either call it a night or wait to see what will happen next.

  While Seth flipped through cable stations looking for a good movie, Penny sat as close as possible to him wondering why he hadn't kissed her yet. She thought for sure he would have earlier but nope, nothing.

  "What about this one?"

  Glancing at the TV, she wasn't really paying attention to what was on it as she replied, "Sure."

  Seth seemed pleasantly surprised as he asked, "You like documentaries?"

  Who watches documentaries for fun?

  Shrugging a shoulder she said, "I don't think I've ever watched one."

  Settling back, he seemed excited as he assured, "I think you will enjoy it. This one is about how ancient civilizations have impacted the modern world."

  Oh dear Lord...

  Five minutes into the documentary, Penny could feel herself falling asleep. It was hard to believe he thought she would enjoy it? She didn't know whether to be irritated or feel sorry for him. But she did know for sure, a few more minutes of this and she'd be out like a light.

  Rolling her eyes as she saw how interested he was in what he was watching, Penny tapped him on the shoulder saying, "Umm, Seth?"

  Leaning his head towards her while keeping his eyes focused on the TV, he replied, "This next part is really..." before she cut him off blurting, "Seth."

  Turning to her, he had a confused expression on his face.

  Tired of waiting for what she had been thinking about all day, Penny scooted up and kissed him.

  ~

  There was something about Penny taking the initiative to get things started that nearly drove him out of his mind. Gripping the sides of her sweater Seth pulled her closer as he kissed her back. Feeling her hands slide up the sides of his face to his temples as her fingertips caressed the sides of his head while she deepened their kiss put an incredible strain on his ability to utilize self-control. She was relaxing him and stirring him up all at the same time.

  He wanted to say things to her. Tell her how pretty she was, how good it felt to have her so close but when her lips left his, she slid onto his lap and faced him.

  "What do you like?" Penny questioned in a soft whisper.

  Fighting every instinct, even Seth's brain was screaming 'Now!' as he took her face in his hands.

  "This..." Placing a gentle kiss against her lips he shared, "This is what I like."

  There was a slight scowl to her expression as if she was trying to figure out what he meant.

  "I want more than this moment from you."

  Penny glanced down before asking, "How much more?"

  Good question.

  Scanning the sweet expression on her face, Seth could easily see spending the rest of his life with her. On the other side of his thought was the knowledge that he did nothing for her.

  "I think that's one of those things that gets figured out with time."

  Her expression was now hesitant as she questioned, "The kind of time where we see other people?"

  The thought of Penny being this close to anyone other than him sent a surge of jealousy through him as he replied, "I hope not."

  Nodding she shared, "I think this moment just made my all-time top ten."

  Her words were inspiring as he offered, "Well, let's see if I can make in the top five."

  As she started to laugh, Seth pulled her into a long passionate kiss.

  ~

  One last soft kiss from Seth before he said goodnight, made Penny wish they weren't standing at her apartment door. She didn't want the night to end.

  Stepping into her apartment, she turned and smiled seeing Seth waiting for her to close her door before he walked back to his door. As soon as she shut the door Penny peered out of her peephole just in time to see Seth bite the corner of his bottom lip as he smiled at her door.

  Sighing at his smile and the thought of his kiss, she heard her brother tease, "And what have you been doin'?"

  Whipping around to give him a dirty look, she fussed, "Shut up, Braden."

  Laughing off her order, he shared, "I think he's a nice guy, Pen."

  Shrugging a shoulder at her brother she replied, "I think so too."

  Then with a stern look, he advised, "Don't get tired of it, appreciate it."

  Penny took a long hard look at Braden before walking over and sitting down on the couch next to him.

  "Any idea when I'm going to get my brother back?"

  Shaking his head he answered, "I'm the same as I always have been."

  Feeling herself tear up she questioned, "Oh yeah? What was the set list tonight?"

  Frowning, he looked away, saying, "Things change."

  "But some things shouldn't. You're letting her..."

  Cutting Penny off, Braden looked at her explaining, "This isn't about Lily. That night she showed up with Keven, maybe he knocked some sense into me when he was beating my ass. 'Cause after that, I was done with her."

  "What is it then?"

  "It was always the five of us. Then, Will died, Ailin moved and now Auggie's getting married."

  Tilting her head to the side Penny stated, "Braden."

  Leaning back against the
couch, he shared, "I'm happy for Auggie and Charlotte, they're good together."

  "But you kinda feel like you're getting left behind," Penny offered starting to understand more what was going on with him.

  Nodding, he replied, "Mom's not talking to me either."

  Rolling her eyes, she said, "At this point, I don't even know if she's coming to the wedding. She didn't stay mad this long when she found out about Sophia and Ailin."

  "I think she's getting crazier the older she gets," he laughed.

  Popping him on the arm, Penny laughed too before correcting, "She got over it because Dad was here then."

  They both sat silent for a moment.

  It was easy for Penny to see where Braden was coming from. His life was getting turned upside down while everyone around him was going on with theirs. Patting his arm she gave an understanding smile as she stood up.

  "See you in the morning," she said when it looked like he wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

  As she turned to walk away, Penny stopped, hearing him say, "You ever wonder what Liv see's in Kieran."

  Taking a deep breath, she turned back to him saying, "No and why are you?"

  "I'm just sayin'. Liv's cool as hell and he can be kind of a jerk to her sometimes."

  Penny stared at him wondering if he knew about what Kieran had done and whose mark he had.

  "Liv's a hand full, you know that and as wild as Kieran was he's always been more laid back."

  "Nah, this is somethin' else."

  Shaking her head at her brother, she fussed, "If you're starting to have feelings for her because you're lonely or whatever, you need to stop spending so much time with her. She's Kieran's wife."

  "I'm not into her like that, it's just..."

  Holding her breath Penny worried what he was going to say next.

  When he continued to hesitate seemingly unable to find the right words, Penny warned, "You need to leave their relationship to them."

  "Alright, Pen. Geez, I was just sayin'," he griped at her as he leaned over and stretched out on the couch.

  Shaking her head at her brother, Penny headed to her room.

  Changing into her pajama's Penny dwelled on her conversation with Braden for a moment before concentrating on her feelings for Seth. Out of all the guys she had been with, this was the first time she genuinely felt cared for.