A Sanctuary for Elle (15 page)

Mark knew he was about to come, had thrown his head back in se
arch of release.  He wanted her with him when he came though so reached one hand to her cleft and rubbed and circled her taut little peak with deliberate movements.  Elle  ground down against his adventurous fingers and then cried out as her orgasm hit fe
v
er pitch.  She continued pumping up and down on Mark's length as he cried out his release too.  She rode and circled her hips gradually slowing down until they both had ridden their peaks. 

Elle and Mark lay together, arms encircling their waists.  A blis
sful reverie for both of them.  They gradually drifted off, sleeping together in comfort. 

Chapter 12

Elle woke to the sunlight streaming in the windows and a body that ached all over.  She stretched lazily, easing the kinks out of her muscles. 

Mark w
oke as Elle shifted, surprised to see daylight so soon.

'Oh, crap,' he muttered.  'I have to be at work.  I didn't mean to fall asleep like that!'

Elle was a little disappointed that Mark had to get up and go to work, and also that they couldn't have woke
n each other in a much nicer way.  Mark threw the covers aside and dressed in a rush.  Elle followed suit as she would need a lift home.

'I'm sorry to rush off Elle.  It's just that I have an important meeting to be at today so I can't be late.  I'll drop
you back at the house and maybe see you later?'

'That would be nice.  You could come for dinner.  I'll cook if you like!'

'Great, it sounds perfect. Come on now, we better get moving.'

Mark hurried Elle out of the door and into the car.  He tore away in a
flash and they drove back along the country roads to 'The Sanctuary.' 

'I'll see you later then sweetheart.' Mark leant over and kissed Elle briefly before pulling away.  Elle got out and waved him off feeling annoyed at herself for letting herself feel s
o down.  She had had such an amazing evening with Mark that it was a let down to be suddenly dumped back in reality where jobs and work play a major role in life.

Elle let herself into the house and sat down heavily on the sofa.  Would Mark always be rushi
ng off for a job if they became involved in a relationship.  What would he put first?  His work? Or her? Elle mused on this till she drove herself crazy.  She decided to do something with her time to stop herself constantly thinking.  It was driving her n
u
ts. 

Elle took a short drive the local mini supermarket and stocked up on lots of luxurious foods for the evening.  She would cook him an amazing meal.  That was sure to please him, she thought.  And then they could spend lots of quality time together.  I
t would be great.  Elle smiled at the thought.

Elle spent most of the afternoon finishing jobs for The Sanctuary.  She phoned the contractors and arranged some last minute details, contacted a local plumber and arranged for the electrician to work the foll
owing week.  At 5pm she bathed and changed, carefully dressing again for Mark's benefit.  She wore a long sleeved black woollen dress which hugged her figure well.  She wore her hair up with softly, curled tendrils hanging at the front. 

Elle then spent t
he next hour preparing a three course meal for Mark to enjoy.  With everything bubbling away nicely, she poured herself a glass of wine and sat down to wait for Mark's arrival.

Elle waited.  She checked her watch, 7.15.  He was fifteen minutes late.  Well,
that wasn't too bad was it?  Elle waited a little longer.  She then turned off the dinner when it reached half past.  Elle went to the front window and looked out for him.  8pm came and went.  Elle tried phoning on her mobile.  It went straight to voice
m
ail.  Elle began to feel angry.  Annoyed.  Had she been stood up? Could he not have let her know?!  How dare he treat her like this, she thought, cross now. 

9pm came and went.  Till no Mark, still no phone call.  Elle went past anger.  She was furious wi
th him.  She was also confused.  Things had been so wonderful between them the night before.  Maybe he had changed his mind, had second thoughts.  Maybe she had come on too strong, scared him off.  Whatever the reason, why had he not had the common courte
s
y to call and say he wasn't going to make it.  Where an earth was he?  He had to come home to sleep sometime didn't he?

Elle microwaved a portion of the ruined dinner and ate it without pleasure.  She was still stewing on Mark's absence.  It was rude of hi
m. Very rude. Unless..unless, he couldn't phone she thought suddenly.  What if he was hurt?  Had an accident somewhere.  He did drive like an idiot she thought aggressively.  Fear coiled in her gut at the realisation that he might be in pain or hurting.

A
beeping sound broke Elle from her thoughts.  It was her mobile she realised.  She jumped up and rushed to her bag.  She was disappointed to find only a text waiting for her on her phone.  She opened messages and found it was indeed Mark.  The text read, '
N
ot going to make tonight. Sorry. Back 2m.'

Elle almost threw the phone a
cross the room. Not going to make it! Could he not have sent that message 3 hours ago or before she had prepared herself and a beautiful meal? Well, he could lump it.  That was it.  If he was going to treat her like that then she would find someone else t
o
go on dates with.  She frowned suddenly though.  It just seemed so odd. So out of character.  Why had he even arranged to see her if he wasn't going to able to make it?

'Uh!' Elle exclaimed frustrated and went to bang some kitchen equipment around to ease
her tension.  All the banging around didn't help her though so she grabbed her purse and slammed her way out of the front door.  Elle drove away from the house, still feeling furious.

Elle wound down the country roads a little fast, a little bit reckless.
  She couldn't get him out of her mind.  How dare he?  It seemed so rude, so out of character.  Was this the same man who had treated her so well, tried so hard to make their first date so special.  Was this an indication of what it would be like once the
y
were together?  Would he stand her up often?  Would he be a good boyfriend/partner? 

Elle swung into the local town and found a parking space easily.  She needed some time to think and wandering around the local area may help her she thought.  She couldn
't stay home, where everything around her reminded her of his rudeness tonight.  All that wasted food, wasted effort.  Elle huffed and puffed to herself as she locked up her car, eyebrows knotted in a frown.  She started to walk, or rather stomp down the
h
igh street.  She walked past shops and restaurants, past couples holding hands which made her even more furious. She glanced up as she crossed the road and noticed a property agents advertising local homes for sale, as she looked to the name above she saw
it said 'Mark Hunter Properties.' Perfect. That was just perfect. Just when she didn't want to be reminded of Mark there he was again.  She turned away and walked past, down the high street.  Suddenly she stopped dead in her tracks.  It was Mark, he was e
x
iting a restaurant with a woman.  They were both laughing and she watched in horror as the woman linked her arm through his and they strolled down the walkway still happy and joking.  What on earth?  Was Mark playing her?  Was he seeing another woman behi
n
d her back?  Why would he do that?  Why would he bother to chase her, to date her, to sleep with her if he was seeing someone else?  Was he one of those men who were serial philanderers? 

Elle was angry.  She saw red.  She turned and headed for her car, b
lindly mad.  But all of sudden her eyes cleared, he vision clarified.  No.  Don't walk away, she thought.  Don't let him get away with this, confront him.  Say your piece.

So Elle reversed her direction and jogged down the street after them.  She caught up
with them quickly, they were still arm in arm, still smiling. 

Elle ran up till she was right behind him then none too quietly shouted, 'Hey!'

Mark turned and his face registered surprise.  Elle was too angry to stop her tirade, too angry to notice that
he didn't look at all guilty.

'What in earth are you doing standing me up like that?  I waited for hours.  And for what? A lousy little text.  You're a coward Mark.  A cheat and a coward.  How dare you stand me up for her, how dare you cheat on me with ano
ther woman.  This morning you spoke of a future and now you're off with someone else!'

Mark watched confused and shocked as Elle went off on her tangent on completely the wrong end of the stick.  Once she had calmed down he would explain but not with her i
n this state of fury.

'Excuse me for one moment Marjorie,' he spoke to the other woman. 

He then walked to Elle and spoke to her in low, flat tones.  'I am not a cheat, I am not a coward.  You have managed to get this all wrong.  I know I need to apologis
e for not being there for dinner tonight but what I was doing tonight was important.  I wasn't cheating on you, I was selling part of my business. I was making it so that I can work from home, build a life with you if you gave me a chance to.  I've had en
o
ugh of it, the ruthless buy and sell of this business.  Marjorie is one of my business partners, the fiance of my brother.  Brother.  She is not and never will be more.  Now I will speak to you soon. For now, I'm going to go and excuse your rudeness.'

With that final comment, he walked away, clearly annoyed.  Elle understood now but still felt incensed.  She had every right to be angry, she believed.  Maybe she had been wrong to accuse him of cheating but that was how it had looked to her.  How did he
e
xpect her to react after he stood her up and then walk out a restaurant with a beautiful blonde?  Elle decided to go home.  She got in her car and drove the winding route home, slower this time, thinking all that way.  She felt confused now, calmer so she
was thinking more clearly. She wished she hadn't said all those things in such anger, wished she had found out what Mark's absence had been about before she reacted.  Elle felt angry with herself now.  Mark had been trying to do something for their future
and look how she had reacted.  Elle arrived home and immediately went to bed.  A restless night followed as Elle tossed and turned over the days events.

Chapter 13

Mark stormed up the path to the stone white cottage.  He felt angry. Annoyed that she coul
d so easily ignore him after everything that had happened between them.  Heady emotion swirled through Mark's blood and he didn't know quite how or what to do about what he was experiencing.

No answer at the cottage door made Mark's blood boil even hotter.
  Shoving at the pretty little door he was surprised to find it open.  Without a second thought for her privacy, Mark stomped in calling her name.

'Elle!  Elle! Where are you.  You're going to talk to me whether you like it or not.  I'm not taking no for a
n answer this time.'

There was still no response so Mark continued through to the back of the house.  Through to the elegant conservatory Mark suddenly caught sight of her.

Elle stood in the garden, gloves covering her hands.  She was chopping at a rose bu
sh, pruning it to within an inch of its life.  She was completely oblivious to his presence and he drank in her profile as she went about her day.

Mark headed out the back door and once again called her name, 'Elle!'

Elle started violently as her name was
called. Her head whipped around and her eyes narrowed as she saw him. 'What are you doing here?  I'm not ready to speak to you yet.  I haven't invited you in, please leave.' Elle's eyes were blazing, anger now simmering within her.

'We need to talk.'

'I ha
ve nothing to say to you.  I want you to leave.'

'Elle.  Please.  I haven't been able to think, to sleep.  I needed to see you.  Did what he have together really mean so little to you?' His voice was still angry and gruff but a subtle difference appeared i
n his face as he asked the question.

Elle didn't know how to answer him.  How could she tell him that what they had experienced together had moved her beyond words and how easily she could love him, maybe already did.  On the other hand she felt  afraid. 
She didn't know if it would work between them.  She was looking to settle down, build a sanctuary, build a family and friendship group. 

Unsure of how to answer him, she pulled of her gloves, threw them to the garden floor and headed to the house 'You nee
d to leave,' she uttered as she started past him.

Just as she walked past him he grabbed her wrist roughly and pulled her against him.  She landed flush against him, head snapping up to give him a peace of her mind.  The look on his face stole her breath a
way.  His eyes were hot with anger and desire.  His mouth pulled tight as he struggled to contain his temper.  Elle's large brown eyes flickered from his eyes to his mouth and back again a his intent became clear.