With Me In Seattle: Bundle Two (72 page)

“We’re just making up for lost time, baby.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tight, buries her face in my neck and squeezes. “I’ll go.”

I grin and hug her back. “Look.” She pulls back and follows my outstretched arm. “The sun’s coming up.”

“Holy shit, we were out here that long?”

“We had a lot of catching up to do,” I reply and lie back on the dock, cradling Mer on my chest. I wrap the blanket tightly around us and kiss her head as we watch the sky begin to wake up.

“I should get home. Jax probably tried to call. I left my phone in the Jeep.”

“You’re a grown woman and Jax can stay out of it,” I reply. “But you’ll need your sleep.”

“Come home with me,” she says spontaneously. “No sex, I swear.”

“Well, that’s no fun.”

She laughs and pinches my arm. “Let’s take a nap and then I’ll cook you breakfast and we can go to a movie or something. Unless you had something else planned for your day off?”

I think of all the things I need to get done today, including the touch up work on my bathroom, and then shove it all aside.

“I don’t have anything more important planned than that nap and catching a movie with you.”

“Let’s go.” She stands and helps me fold the blankets.

“How firm are you on the no sex part of this plan?” I ask her with hope in my eyes.

“Meh.” She shrugs and tilts her hand back and forth, as if to say
so-so.

“So you’re saying there’s a chance,” I reply with the most charming smile I can muster.

“I always loved that naughty smile of yours.”

“Oh, baby, just wait until you see all the other naughty things I can do.”

Chapter Four

~Meredith~

I wake slowly and blink at the sunlight falling over my face. I’m warm. Too warm, but I realize it’s not just from the sunshine.

There’s a very big, very warm man pressed up against my back, his arm wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly to him even in sleep. As warm as I am, there’s no way in hell I’m moving out of his arms.

Last night rushes back to me, and all I can do is sigh. It’s as though a heavy burden has been lifted. We’ve put the past behind us and can look forward. He’s a rocket scientist. He’s lived in Alaska and had so many amazing experiences since I last saw him.

He’s grown up. But so have I, and I can’t wait to start getting to know each other all over again.

There were days I would have traded a year of my life to touch you again.
My eyes fill with tears again, and I can’t help but turn to face him, waking him up. He inhales deeply, his eyes still closed, and kisses my forehead.

Is he really here?

His chin is covered in stubble, begging for my hands to rub over it. His lips are full and soft, and his blond hair is a riot of mess, even messier than normal.

We’re both still fully dressed. Even as exhausted as we were, I didn’t trust myself to sleep in my skivvies with him. I’m finding it impossible to keep my hands off him. I’ve always been attracted to Mark, from the moment our eyes met across that science classroom all those years ago. But Mark as a grown man is a sight to fucking behold.

I sweep my hand down his neck, over his shoulder and down his arm, pausing where his T-shirt ends over his biceps.

Jesus, the man’s arms should come with a warning label. May cause panties to spontaneously combust.

“Go back to sleep,” he whispers and kisses my forehead again. I lift my eyes to his to see his bright blue gaze peering down at me through heavy eyelids.

“You have great arms.”

He growls and quickly rolls on top of me, resting on his elbows at either side of my head, brushing my hair off my face with his fingertips lazily. He sweeps his nose against mine and kisses me softly, still not quite fully awake.

“You’re gorgeous in the morning,” he says and nibbles his way down my jawline. I feel his dick grow hard against my core through his jeans and I can’t help but wiggle, just a bit, trying to get closer. “And if you keep that up, we won’t leave this bed today.”

“I want to cook you breakfast.” I glance over at my alarm clock. “Make that lunch. And I want to go to the movies.”

“I want to strip you naked and kiss every inch of your incredible body.” My nipples pebble and I bite my lip as he pushes back to look down at me. “I want you, M.”

“I know, and trust me, I want you too.” I bury my fingers through his hair and smile up at him softly. “Let’s just take today and play. I want to laugh with you today. We used to laugh all the time.”

“That’s because you’re silly,” he says and kisses my palm twice before rolling us back to our sides.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say seriously. His eyes jerk back to mine, and I know that there is doubt there. I drag my fingertips down his rough cheek, over his bottom lip. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m all yours, M.”

“Fuck yes, you are.” He kisses me with dominance, claiming me like he never did before, and it makes my body come alive against him, but he slowly backs away and glides his hand down my neck, to my breast, over my nipple and to my ribcage. “We’d better get out of this bed before I say fuck it and strip you naked, baby.”

I smile wickedly and bite his chin gently. “Yes, sir.”

He slaps my ass playfully as I roll away and step out of bed. I immediately stretch, like I do every morning, reaching my arms up to the sky, then bending to press my palms flat on the ground next to my feet.

“Showing me your perfect ass isn’t helping, Mer.”

I toss a smile over my shoulder and shake my head. “Do you only think of sex?”

“No, sex is not all I think about.” That naughty smile spreads across his handsome face. “I also think about you naked.”

“Come on, horn dog. I’ll make BLT’s.”

“You eat bacon?” he asks in surprise as he pulls himself out of the bed.

“Turkey bacon.”

“What the fuck is turkey bacon?” He wrinkles his nose like I just told him it was tofu bacon.

“It’s bacon made out of turkey.”

“Then it’s not bacon.” He props his hands on his hips and I start to salivate.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph the man fills out a pair of jeans nicely.

“You’ll like it.”

“Just call it a TLT,” he insists and follows me out to the kitchen.

“A what?” I laugh.

“A turkey, lettuce and tomato.”

“Whatever makes you feel better,” I reply and smile when I see Jax sitting in the kitchen sipping water and reading a fitness magazine. “Good morning.”

“It’s afternoon. What time did you get home?” he asks and eyes Mark suspiciously.

“Does she have a curfew?” Mark asks coldly, glaring at Jax.

“No, but she does require respect, and keeping her out all night and then sleeping with her isn’t respecting her, dude.”

“No one,” Mark replies with fire shooting from his eyes as he advances on Jax, pushing his face close to his, “respects Meredith more than I do. You don’t know our history.”

“I know plenty,” Jax replies softly, never breaking eye contact with Mark. “And I know I’m watching you.”

Surprisingly, Mark sticks his hand out to shake Jax’s. “Thank you for protecting her,” he says quietly.

“I love her,” Jax replies honestly.

Mark nods, glances at me and then leans in to whisper something to Jax that I can’t hear.

“Fair enough,” Jax replies with a nod.

“Uh, can we forgo the pissing contest, boys?” I ask dryly. “No need to worry,
Jax. We got in early this morning.” I pin him with my best
butt out, everything is fine
glare and turn to the fridge to find what I need to make lunch. “We’re going to a movie later. Wanna go?”

“I’d love to, lollypop, but I have a date.” He grins and throws his magazine on the countertop, then leans back and crosses his arms.

“I haven’t got my
Men’s Fitness
in the mail yet,” Mark says and reaches for the magazine, but I put my hand up, halting all conversation.

“Wait. Back up. A date with who?”

“You don’t know him.” Jax shakes his head and starts to walk out of the kitchen, but I grip his T-shirt in my fist from behind, bringing him to a stop.

“Wait. I need details. I can’t just let you go out with some guy off the street.”

“I don’t think he’s homeless, Mer,” Jax replies sarcastically and Mark snickers.

“You know what I mean.”

“Leave it alone. If it turns into anything other than sex, I’ll tell you more.”

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at my friend. We always talk about who we’re dating. “Use condoms.”

“Always.” He winks and saunters out of the kitchen, then turns back abruptly. “Don’t forget, we have rehearsal for Starla’s piece Monday before class.”

“I won’t forget,” I reply and wave him off. “What did you whisper to him?”

“Guy stuff,” Mark replies and leans his hips against the granite countertop, watching me slice a tomato.

“You’re not going to tell me?”

“Nope.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes and assemble our sandwiches. “Do you want some watermelon with yours?”

“Sure.”

We eat in silence, watching each other. When he swallows, his neck muscles flex, and I can’t help but want to lick him there.

I’m so gonna lick him there.

“What are you thinking?” he asks as he tilts his head to the side.

“Nothing.”

“You just blushed and blinked fast. You were thinking something.”

I lick my lips and then just smile and shrug. “I was thinking about licking your neck.”

He stops chewing and stares at me for a long minute, then swallows hard, like the food in his mouth is suddenly dry and tosses the rest of our lunch in the garbage.

“We need to get out of here.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m two seconds away from carrying you back to your room and saying fuck the movie. Let’s go.” He holds his hand out for mine, and when our fingers lace, he leads me out of the apartment and down to his Jeep.

“What movie do you want to see?” he asks as he drives into downtown Seattle and finds parking.

“Hmm… something either funny or full of action.”

“No chick flicks?” he asks in surprise.

“No way. Nothing mushy.”

“You’re my kind of girl.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” I reply with a laugh and follow Mark into the movie theater. He buys our tickets for something called
Waterfall
.

“I’ve heard good things about this one! It’s the new action movie with Mark Wahlberg, right?”

“Yep,” he confirms. “Luke produced it.”

“He did? Holy shit, that’s cool.”

Mark smiles proudly and waits in line with me for some popcorn. “Do you still mix M&M’s in your popcorn?”

“Of course,” I reply.

We gather our snacks and choose seats toward the back of the theater.

“So Luke’s been producing for a while,” I comment casually and pour my plain M&M’s into the bucket of popcorn. “You used to bring me M&M’s to school every single day.”

Mark grins and steals one and pops it in his mouth. “I thought I was so clever, coming up with that play on our first initials.”

“You were clever,” I insist. “I thought it was incredibly romantic.”

“You were easy to please.”

“I was sixteen.” I shrug. “Tell me about Luke.”

“Yes, he’s been producing for a long time. He mostly recruits the lead actors and finds funding for the projects, so he can work mainly from home.”

“That’s awesome.” I shove some popcorn in my mouth.

“You’re such a lady,” he says with a laugh.

“It’s popcorn,” I say, but it comes out sounding more like
it’sh pocorn
. “I saw Luke’s
Nightwalker
movies.”

“Did you have his poster hanging on your wall too?”

“No, I was too old for that, and I’d already slept with his brother,” I reply without thinking then gasp and stare at Mark in horror. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m glad you didn’t have his poster on your wall, and that you’d already slept with me.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I still have no filter around you. What is that all about?”

“I like it that way.” He leans in just as the previews start. “We don’t have secrets, M.”

I meet him halfway and press my lips to his, then sit back to enjoy the movie.

***

“Sam’s gonna be here, isn’t she?” I can’t bring myself to open the Jeep door. Mark just parked in front of one of the biggest homes I’ve ever seen, in an exclusive neighborhood of North Seattle.

I’m at Will Montgomery’s house. The
football player.
The super sexy and talented Will Montgomery.

Holy fucking hell.

“Yeah, she’s going to be here.”

“She hates me.”

“No, she doesn’t.” He cups my chin in his hand and makes me meet his gaze. “Sam’s mellowed a lot over the past few years. Besides, I don’t give a shit what Sam thinks. Remember?”

I nod and look back to the house, swallow hard, and try to think up a viable excuse to go home.

“It’s gonna be fine, M.”

I nod again. I can just nod. Why am I so fucking nervous? I’ve danced before audiences of thousands. Tens of thousands. The super rich and famous and everyone in between.

But these people matter to Mark and in the past forty-eight hours, Mark has grown to matter more than anyone else ever has before.

After the movie, we went back to my place and watched TV all evening. At around midnight, he kissed me thoroughly and then went home.

He went home without making love to me.

Because we’re getting to know each other again.

I don’t want to screw this up with the people who mean the most to him.

“Okay, your brain is moving way too fast, baby.” He jumps out of the Jeep, jogs around to my side, and pulls me into his strong embrace. “Take a deep breath, M.”

“I’m breathing.”

“No, you’re not. Just breathe. You’ll have fun. You’ve already met almost everyone here.”

I nod and smile bravely. He’s right. This is no big deal. I’ll make conversation and the next few hours will pass quickly and then I’ll have Mark all to myself again.

“Better?”