Taming the Bachelor (7 page)

Then he saw clumsy Sophie in the grocery store last week and his heart had leapt into his throat.  He had to get away from her right away because when he looked into her eyes, he felt something he had never felt looking at other women. Then in some sick twist of fate, she turned out to be the maid on honor and his sister’s best friend.  She was off limits.  He had promised himself that much.  But as soon as they hit that water yesterday and her skin touched his, the walls around his heart shattered.  After the disaster otherwise known as snorkeling, he knew what Sophie truly thought of him.  So he was done.  He was done sulking and done pining after her.  It was best this way.

The run had shattered all his stress into a mess of tears he couldn’t control.  Everything he felt from mourning the loss of his friends during the war, then leaving the Marines, to leaving his new friends to move home to LA, to his baby sister getting married, all seemed to come out at once.  He felt so at peace.  He was getting rid of years of stress and sadness and he had a feeling it was because Sophie had made him feel something for the first time in forever.  Someday he would thank her.  But for now, she was off limits.

His eyes caught Rich standing down the beach waving at him.  Perfect, he thought.  To add insult to injury, his best friend was about to see him cry.  This was the least manly thing he had ever done in front of Rich. He removed his ear buds and ran toward him.  He grabbed his hips, then his knees trying to catch his breath and control his emotions.

“I thought I might find you out here.”  Rich put his hand on his back.  “You alright buddy?  I’m sorry about yesterday.  That was some shit.”

Mark panted, “It’s fine.  It’s over.  I am ready to rejoin you guys today.”  He stood up and looked Rich in the eyes.  “Just needed to get some stuff out of my system.”

Rich noticed he had been crying.  “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.  In the mean time, I would love some company for breakfast if you’re up to it.”

“Ok,” Mark straightened up and turned to the hotel and Rich threw an arm over his shoulder.  “Let me grab a quick shower and I’ll meet you down here in fifteen.”

Mark ran up the steps, burst through the hallway door and smacked right into Sophie.  He grabbed her arms to catch her and made sure she was steady.  “Sorry Sophie.  I wasn’t paying any attention.  Did I hit you?”  He looked her over to make sure she was OK.

“I was actually coming to look for you.  I saw you running.  I was wondering if we could talk?”  Sophie’s eyes sparkled up at him and for a moment he was lost.  He didn’t answer.  “Mark?”

He snapped out of his trance and shook his head.  “I need some time Sophie.”  He let go of her arms and made the long trip down the hallway to his room.

****

Time.  She gave him all of five minutes before she changed her mind and walked down to his room.  She tapped lightly on the door and a minute later was met with Chad’s big grin.

“I’m sorry it’s so early.  I need to talk to Mark.”  She glanced around the room nervously.

Chad yawned and patted his hair into place. “Caleb still in your room?  I’ll give you guys some space.  Just let me know when it’s safe to come back.”  When Sophie nodded, he grabbed his swim trunks and flip flops and walked out the door.

She could hear the shower running so she sat down on the bed with the running shoes next to it and froze.  What if he came out of the bathroom in nothing?  What if he was mad?  She should have thought this through.  Too late.  She heard the door click open.

“Hey I’m heading down to…..”  His voice trailed off as he saw Sophie sitting on his bed.  She was still in her pajamas which didn’t leave much to the imagination.  Her sheer white tank top clung to every inch of her chest and her boxer shorts were so short and loose he could easily.. No. He had to stop thinking like that.  “What are you doing here?”

Sophie’s jaw dropped when he walked out of the bathroom.  He had a towel wrapped loosely over his hips, his dog tags around his neck and absolutely nothing else on.  He smelled like soap and mint.  She inhaled deeply and her hands shook. His chest was perfect.  He was covered in muscle, every inch more impressive than the last. His broad shoulders were still a little wet from the shower and she struggled not to stand up and lick the water from him. “Um..” She was struggling to put her thoughts together.  “I wanted to talk to you.”

He walked over to the top dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of black boxer briefs.  His back was just as muscular as the rest of him.  There was a tattoo over his left shoulder that she hadn’t noticed.  Before she could stop herself, she stood and walked toward him.  Her hand reached out and lightly traced the tattoo.  His whole body shivered.  He froze but didn’t pull away.  She traced it again and then leaned in and kissed it.  He didn’t move. His towel was still around his waist and his boxers in his hands. She wanted to reach around and take the towel off just to get a look at the rest of him.  “What does this mean?”  She lightly traced the tattoo again.

He turned around so slowly at first she didn’t know if he would answer her. His voice was raspy and quiet.  “The dates in the middle are my tour dates.  The names around the outside are the names of all the buddies that I lost over there.”

“It’s beautiful.”  Sophie swallowed hard when she realized her hand was now on his chest.  His eyes burned into her and her legs became weak.

“Soph, what are you doing here?”  His whisper was barely audible and he covered her hand with his.  “I said I needed time.”

“I know.”  Tears formed in the corner of her eyes.  His skin was so warm and she wanted to melt into his arms.  “I gave you five minutes.”

He bent down to her ear.  “That isn’t what I meant.” His breath tickled her ear and her nipples instantly hardened.  He took a step closer to her and pulled her chin up to meet his eyes.  Her eyes were teary and he couldn’t help himself.  His mouth brushed her lips so lightly she wasn’t sure it was real.  He stepped back and waited for her response.  She crushed her mouth back into his, her tongue running along his lips asking permission for entry.  He opened his mouth and the kiss deepened.  His hands tangled into her hair and she ran her hands down his sides and around to his back.  A small moan escaped her lips and he smiled.  He was a goner.

Mark broke the kiss and took a step back.  “Where is Chad?”  He asked out of breath.

“I sent him to my room for a few min…”

He threw her on the bed and the kiss became frantic. Flipping onto his back, he pulled her on top of him.  The towel came loose but he never broke the kiss.  His hands ran up the back of her legs and cupped the most perfect ass he had ever touched.  She rocked her body against his erection and he sucked in a gasp of air. She sat up and wiggled to where she wanted to be.  The boxers she wore were so loose, his erection slipped into one of the stretched out openings for her legs.  He could feel her hot skin and the moisture pooled there just for him. He rubbed himself lightly through her folds and found the hard nub waiting for his touch.  She rocked hard and he almost entered her. 

“Stop.”  Mark’s hands grabbed her hips and held her in place.  Her eyes were glassy with need and her lids heavy over them.  She wiggled in protest.  “Sophie, Stop.  We have to think about this.  You know how I am.  And I don’t think this is you.”

She stroked his face.  “This is me with you.  Something about you drives me nuts. And you aren’t the person you think you are.  You are a good man, Mark.”

“I don’t do relationships.  I can’t.” Mark’s heart thundered through his chest.  Was that true?  He didn’t know anymore.  She drove him crazy and he didn’t want her to leave his sight.

She gave him a small reassuring smile. “If you don’t want to do this, I understand.  You drive me crazy and I will take whatever I can get from you, even if it’s just this trip.” 

He scrubbed his hand down his face.  Was he going to turn her down?  If he did this, could he walk away?  His brain spun.  He wanted her.  Hell, he wasn’t even in her yet and he was ready to lose it.  She was so wet for him and she was so innocent.

He rolled her onto her side.  “Give me a minute.”  He grabbed his phone and sent the text as fast as he could.

Can’t make breakfast.  Please remove Caleb and Chad from Sophie’s room and keep them

busy.  I need one hour - M

Chapter 8

“You are OK with just this?  Just Jamaica?”  Mark held tight to her hips watching her nod her answer. “And, what about Caleb?  He’s my friend.”

She sighed and nuzzled against his neck.  “I know.  He’s great.  But I don’t feel the same way he does.  Does that make me have to stop going after what I want?”  She traced the line of muscle along his shoulder and down his chest.  “Just Jamaica.  And after that, you have no ties to me if that’s what you want.”

In one quick move, he had her shirt off and was kissing her from her neck to her stomach.  Her nipples grew hard as he gently sucked each one, giving them the attention she was craving.  She arched into his touch.  He groaned when his hand traveled into her boxer shorts.  She was so wet and it was all for him.

“Can I take these off?” Mark’s gaze burned into her.  She nodded and bit her bottom lip as he slowly removed her shorts.  “Oh Sophie, You are so beautiful.”  He bent down to kiss her.  The kiss was slow, breathing her in, memorizing every part of her mouth.  She wrapped her arms around his neck, heat shooting to every part of her.

His hand trailed down her belly and stilled.  Her whole body trembled.  “Are you sure?”  His breathing was jagged and his voice was low and sexy.

“Yes.”  She smiled but her body continued to tremble.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t know what’s happening.  I have never felt like this before.  I need you to touch me.  This is already so much better than anything I have ever felt.”

His fingers caressed her folds and one slid slowly into her core.  He hissed at how hot and tight she was.  He needed to please her first because he didn’t know how long he could hold on.  His thumb found her hard nub and rubbed it slowly.  Her hips bucked and she dug her nails into his arms.  He smiled at her and continued his sensual torture.  Her eyes were wide and bright and never left his.  As he slid a second finger in, she moaned.  His pace increased as her eyes began to close.  His thumb rubbed harder over the bundle of nerves begging to be touched.  She threw her head back and yelled his name, eyes shut, room spinning, as her release overtook her.  Her body clamped down around his fingers and he growled.  He had to have her now.

He reached into the drawer to grab his wallet.  He prayed he still had a condom in it.  Sighing in relief, he pulled out the foil packet and ripped it open.  Her eyes were wide and satisfied and she pulled him on top of her.  “I’ll go slow.  I promise.  And if you want me to stop, I will.”

“No,” Sophie was out of breath.  “That was amazing.  I don’t want gentle.  I want all of you.”

He entered her in one slow stroke.  She was so tight he had to stop and take a breath.  She wrapped her legs around him to allow him to sink deeper and met him stroke for stroke.  Her body was so responsive to his every move.  As he picked up his pace, he kissed her mouth, then her breasts and she fell apart again, more moisture pooling around him and he couldn’t hold back any longer.  With one final stroke, he threw his head back as his own release shot through him with more force than anything he had ever felt. 

He collapsed against her on the bed, his breathing erratic and took her mouth in a kiss more frantic than when they had started.  “Holy hell Sophie.”  He gasped.  “You are amazing.”  He pulled out of her, his body instantly regretting the separation.  He tugged her into his arms and nuzzled her neck.

Her whole body shook as she hugged him back.  His eyes met hers with a look of panic.  “I’m ok.” She smiled. “I have just never.. It’s never..”  Her eyes dropped to his dog tags.

He put his head into his hand, leaning up off the bed to get a better look at her.  His smile widened at how shy he had become.  “You are so responsive to my touch.”

She smiled and met his eyes.  “It’s never been like that.”  A deep blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.  “Can we do it again?”

Mark laughed and leaned down to kiss her.  “We can if I have another condom in my bag.”

“If you don’t, you better text your boy Ryan because you aren’t leaving this room until we do that again.”

Her sudden self confidence made Mark jump off the bed and fish through his bag.  When he found what he was looking for, he held it up to her.  Her grin widened and she held her arms open to him.  “Come back to bed.”

****

“There’s the man of the hour.”  Rich yelled and waved to Mark as he entered the restaurant.  There was an unspoken secret between them that Rich would never betray.

“What took you so long?  I thought you were just showering?”  Caleb glared at him.

Mark smiled.  “My real estate agent called.  She found a couple places she wants to show me and it took longer than I thought.  She’s faxing them over now.”

“Are we losing you already?”  Rich winked as he finished his last bite of breakfast.  “Molly will be sad when she hears you are already moving on.”

Mark just laughed as he signaled for the waitress.  “Well, she found me two places in Beverly Hills and one in the Hollywood hills so it’s not a done deal yet.  I have to like something first.”  He took a sip of his juice and noticed Caleb still glaring his way.  “What?”