Taming the Bachelor (8 page)

“Have you seen Soph?”  Caleb’s whole body was tense.

“I did,” Chad got up from the table.  “She was leaving your room about an hour ago.  I’m heading back up to brush my teeth.  You want me to find her?”

“Speak of the Devil,” Rich waved as Sophie and Molly rounded the corner.  They were both wearing bikinis and carrying towels. 

“Mark, these were at the front desk for you.  Do you need to tell me something?”  Molly shoved a bunch of papers in front of his face. “Are you leaving us?  You stayed with us all of two nights.”  Molly pouted and took a seat on Rich’s lap.

Mark grabbed the papers Molly had thrown and looked at the faxes as he ate some pineapple.  “No offense Molls, but when you and Rich get back from the honeymoon, I don’t want to be aware of anything you two may be doing.”  He looked up at Sophie and patted the chair next to him.  “Hi.”

She blushed.  “Hi.”  She took a seat next to him and smiled at the rest of the group.  She was sure she imagined the stare she got from Caleb. No need to be nervous now.  She wouldn’t keep it from him if he asked.  But she would not intentionally bring it up.  Her eyes scanned over Mark’s body and up to the papers he was so carefully examining.  “What is that?”

His eyes met hers.  He pulled her chair a little closer and handed her the top sheet.  “This, my dear, is a house that I am looking at next week.”  He studied the second sheet and her gaze dropped to the paper.  She gasped when she saw the 2.4 million dollar price tag.  Reaching under the table, his free hand found her knee and she settled.  “You like it?  Or this one maybe?”

Why he was asking her, he had no idea.  Two times in the heat of passion did not a relationship make.  Relationship?  He froze.  Did he want that?  She took the second page from him and looked it over.  He felt her body completely relax under his touch.  He liked touching her. 

He jumped when Ryan’s hands came crashing down onto his shoulders.  “Package delivered bro.  Now let’s go and check out the nude beach.” 

“I’ll be right behind you.  I have a couple calls to make.”  Mark handed Sophie the third sheet and smiled at her.  “What do you think?”

“Um, I don’t know.”  Sophie cleared her throat.  “It’s hard to tell from the pictures.  They look nice.”  She offered Mark a sexy smile and he took the hint.

“They have a business center here, right?  Come on, let’s go look at the virtual tours.  I need a woman’s opinion.”  Mark grabbed her hand and pulled her a little too quickly from the group.  “We’ll be back.”

When they hit the stairwell, he slammed Sophie against the wall and lifted her off the ground.  She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him hard.  He cocked one eye brow and looked at her “Again?”

“Again.”  She held him tight as he carried her up the stairs.

****

She was completely satisfied.  She had never been touched like that.  She had never been kissed like that.  And her body had certainly never responded like that.  All those stories from her friends about how great sex was and she finally understood.  Mark was nothing like Shawn.  Heat poured from Mark’s fingers, his eyes were hungry, and his skill was unmatched.  She knew she was in trouble.  They only had one more day in Jamaica and she would have to let him go.  The instant connection she felt with him scared her. 

“I lost you for a minute,” Mark rubbed his hands down her arms and pulled her closer.  “You ok?”

She traced her finger over his dog tags and down onto his muscular chest.  “I am better than OK.  I was just thinking about how crazy it will be when we get home.”

“A lot will happen.  Molly is going to be married.”  He took a deep breath.  “I haven’t seen my parents in a few years.  And I have got to find a house.  Hell, my office isn’t even unpacked yet.”  Her trailed kissed down her neck and into the crook of her collar bone.  “Tell me more about you.  I want to know everything.”  The words were out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying.  Did he want to know everything?  His head spun.

“Well, I have a sister, Layla.  She lives in Atlanta.  She practically raised me.  My dad left when I was little and my mom didn’t handle it well.  We moved around a lot until she had enough heartbreak and started drinking.  Layla was in high school by then so she took over being the parent.  We haven’t had any contact with her since I graduated from high school.”  She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.  “I went to a small college in Georgia and met Shawn.  You pretty much know the rest.  I love my job.  I love LA.  And I have a huge fear of becoming the crazy cat lady.”

Mark’s laugh was deep and he kissed her on the mouth.  “There is absolutely no way you are becoming the cat lady.  Don’t ever let what the prick did to you doubt yourself.  You are gorgeous and you are smart and my guess is you’ll never even own one cat.”

She laughed, “Well, that’s good because I don’t think they allow cats in my building.”

****

Mark spent the better part of the afternoon talking with his Realtor and trying to get Sophie out of his mind.  He knew this needed to remain a secret so nothing would tarnish Sophie’s reputation.  And they still had one day.  His phone buzzed and he looked down at the screen.  “Can’t reach my back.  Where are you?  Getting burnt.”

Mark smiled as he sent a message back.  “Not your back I want to reach.”

A minute later she responded.  “Mr. Moretti, Are you getting fresh?”

His smile grew.  “Meet me in the ocean in ten minutes and find out.”

Bing.  “The waters warm.  Come find me.”

Mark grabbed his key and headed down the hall.  He was almost in a jog when Rich yelled from down the hall.  “Marco, we are heading out to parasail.  You down?”

He stopped and turned to see Rich, Ryan and Caleb looking at him.  “I would love to boys.  But I have something I need to do.  I will catch you after.”  As he turned around and picked up his stride, he swore he heard Ryan say something rude but he didn’t care.  He had somewhere he needed to be.

Stepping out onto the beach, he noticed the dark clouds rolling in.  It had rained for a half hour every day here.  People were beginning to pack up and head inside.  He noticed a beautiful blond about waist deep in the water and couldn’t help himself.  He kicked off his shoes, threw down his towel and sprinted into the water.  The splashing caught her attention and a big smile appeared on her face. 

Without even looking around, he grabbed her into his arms and kissed her passionately as the rain began to fall.  She wrapped her legs around him and he walked her deeper into the ocean.  She rocked against his erection and he moaned.  “What are you doing to me Sophie?  I can’t get enough of you.”

She smiled as the rain fell hard around them.  “Should be go in?”

Mark laughed.  “Hell no.  This is exactly how I like you.  Hot and wet.”

****

“What’s with the shit eating grin?”  Caleb smiled at Mark as he took the stool next to him at the swim up bar. 

“I’ve been looking for you guys.  Guess parasailing was out, huh?”  Mark ordered a Red Stripe and winked at Rich.

“Now you with the shit eating grin.  What am I missing?”  Ryan shoved Rich off his chair.  “What’s up Marco?  You finally get some?”

Rich came sputtering out of the water.  “Can I not just be happy my boy is back?  When the rain clears, we’re going to try to go up.  Guy says he can take us up whenever.”

“Sounds great.  Sign me up.  I’m yours for the night.” 

“No more house hunting?”  Caleb gave him a questioning look that had Mark feel his first wave of panic.

“Nope.  I’m leaving that for when I get home.  Have someone in mind to help me look.”  Mark tipped his beer to the bartender and was served another one.

“Let me guess.”  Ryan laughed.  “You already have a chick back in LA.  Three nights home and my dog’s still got it.”

“Actually, no.  This girl’s on the east coast.”  Mark ignored the looks the men were giving him.

Rich choked on his beer.  “I’m sorry.  What?”

“Don’t read too much into this.  It’s just someone who is going to have a much better opinion on houses than I would.”  Mark faced them all as they stared.  “Ok if I bring a date to the wedding?”

Chapter 9

Mark jogged down to meet Ryan at the nude beach.  “Two days in a row?  There has to be more to do than lie here checking out the competition.  It’s our last day.  Let’s go do something else.”

Ryan settled on his elbows.  “No competition baby.  You’re late.  You’ve been missing the show.”  He pointed a thumb over to where Molly and the rest of the bridesmaids were sunbathing topless.

“Holy hell, don’t ever make me look at my sister if she isn’t wearing a top.”  Mark buried his head into the towel.  He grabbed his phone and shot off a quick message.   “I see you.”

Bing.  “I see you too.  You’re wearing too much.” Eye contact and sizzle, Mark licked his lips.

Sophie squirmed on her towel as the butterflies took flight in her stomach.  This was their last day in Jamaica and her heart hurt.  After their tryst in the ocean yesterday, she knew she was gone.  The power that this man held over her heart in such a short time was incredible.  And he had said she was doing something to him too.  She couldn’t dare dream this could last longer than this trip.  He had been very honest with her about what he wasn’t looking for.  She returned Caleb’s wave and lay back down.

Caleb came back out of the water and took a seat next to Ryan.  “He notice Molly yet?”  He laughed and took a long swig of his beer. 

“We need to leave here. I cannot have you guys staring at my sister.”  Mark got to his knees and Ryan laughed.

“We aren’t looking at your sister.  Dude, that chick was made to have me inside her.” Ryan lifted his sunglasses.

“Stop,” Caleb shut him down.  “Don’t talk about her like that.  Seriously, that is totally disrespectful.  And haven’t you learned anything from your time out with her?”

“This is different.  We’re in paradise, she’s almost naked. Look around you.  This place is sex.”  Ryan shifted his swim trunks.

“The place may be different but the girl’s the same.  And let it go already.  She’s got feelings for someone else.”  Caleb shot a glance at Mark.

Feelings?  Mark wanted to throw his fist in the air and yell but he had promised to keep it quiet.  And if Caleb was talking about someone else, he would look like a fool.  Where was the hard ass bachelor he worked so hard to personify?  Gone.  He was in major trouble. 

“Look at her Man.  She’s hot.”  Ryan whistled and all the girls looked.  He waved and they ignored him.  “Right now may be the only chance you get.  Drink it in.  You may never see this again.”

Mark’s fists clenched at his side.  He saw red.  Never had he been so affected by someone.  Was it fear?  Was he scared he was going to lose her?  The answer in his brain was a resounding YES!  Seven days was all he had known her.  Certainly not long enough to feel anything.  But now he knew she had feelings for someone and he couldn’t help but think it was him.

His desire to punch Ryan in the jaw was overwhelming.  He tried to tune his voice out and he took deep breaths as he settled back onto his towel.  Grabbing his phone he typed as quickly as he could, “I hear you have feelings for someone.  Care to elaborate?”  His hands shook as he watched her look at her phone.  She blushed.

“If you don’t go talk to her, I will.”  Ryan shoved Caleb to get his attention.  “This is Hedonism.  You are supposed to be balls deep in someone here.”

“Really?”  Caleb shoved him back.  “She’s been pretty clear how she feels about me.  And she’s my friend so please, stop.  You take shit way too far.”

Ryan stood up, slipped on his Red Sox cap on and smiled.  “You snooze you lose brother.”

Mark became hyperaware of Ryan’s every move.  He watched him like a hawk as he walked toward the girls and took a seat in between Amber and Sophie.  Amber shoved him in the back and Sophie just started laughing and covered her face.  He couldn’t hear what he was saying but knew it wasn’t going well for him.  The moment he reached a hand out and rubbed it down Sophie’s leg, Mark was on his feet.

His sudden movement got Caleb’s attention.  “I’m sorry man.  I’m really sorry.”

“Just go,” He waved Mark away.

Mark’s footsteps pounded in the sand as he approached the group.  Ryan’s hand was still on Sophie’s leg and he was furious.  Sophie had not made any move to brush him off and was still topless and covering her eyes.  This was not happening on his watch.  He marched right into the middle of the group and slapped Ryan’s hand off her leg, “Excuse me brother.”  Ryan jumped back and Mark plastered his body on top of hers.  His kiss was hard and demanding and she smiled against his lips. 

Everyone’s jaws dropped and Molly stifled a surprised squeal.  Ryan sat there stunned.  The world disappeared around them as she wrapped her arms around his neck.  “Wondered how long it would take you.”  Sophie laughed against his lips and Mark knew he was falling in love.

****

Everyone gathered at the beach the last night on the Island.  The breeze was strong and slightly chilled. Drinks were flowing freely and the conversation was easy. Music blared in the background and the sounds of wild parties surrounded them. Sophie huddled closer to Mark and smiled.  “You smell nice.”  She nuzzled her face into his neck.