Exhaustion washes over me as I walk down the hallway towards the hospital’s staff locker rooms. The smell of disinfecting chemicals hangs in the air, while a lingering smell of blood is stuck in my nose. My legs wobble when I realize I still have to go home and fix supper for everyone. This is one of those times when I wish Shane knew how to cook. My mind wonders to the park near the house and my occasional little escapes. I wish I could go there tonight, but I can’t. It is already late and by the time I fix supper, it will be past Casper’s bedtime. Ugh… I drag my feet down the empty hall and into the locker room. As my mind goes through the list of things I need to do, I only feel energetic enough to fix a meal tonight, and it might push me beyond my limits. I slowly change before walking through the hospital towards the parking lot and my car. My feet drag the entire way as if I have bricks tied to them. Oh, I hope Shane didn’t have any problems with Casper tonight. M
I smile at Casper and then look at Mark as warmth fills my chest. “I’m very happy. Happier than you can even imagine.”Evan, Frank, Wanda, and Izzy all scurry towards us and huddle around while Wanda chimes, “We came, too. We have all missed you. When are you coming home?”With tears in her eyes, Izzy adds, “Yes, we want you to come back with us and I don’t think Mark is going to leave without you and Cass. Plus, we have promised to teach him how to cook so he can make a meal for his grandparents.”Frank sternly continues, “We all know your secret now, so there isn’t anything to hide. I believe Mark has proven himself that he is planning on staying with you. You better not try to stay behind or avoid him. If you try to, then we will just take Cass with us.”What? I shake my head and shout, “No, you can’t! Cass stays with me.”Mark tightens his hold on me and whispers, “You and Cass stay with me.”Heat rushes across my face at his words. I don’t know why. I have desperately
As I sit looking into Mark’s gorgeous brown eyes, I can’t believe this is happening. I have been wishing and hoping for this for six years, but I still can’t believe it is actually happening. Knock. Knock. Knock.Wanda’s soft, muffled voice slips into the room. “It is time for Cass to go to bed. Izzy and I have given him a bath, and I have to say he acts just like Mark used to act when we were kids and were swimming. Splashing and having more fun.”With our gazes still locked on each other, Mark and I chuckle. His red eyes flash with every emotion he has, like an open book.I’ve always wondered if our son’s excitement in the tub was something he has picked up from his father. I have never seen a kid have so much fun in the water. We both wipe each other’s tears away before we get up and go to the door. Mark unlocks the door and as we walk out and past Wanda, I softly whisper, “Thanks. You have no idea how much it means to me that you guys are here and helping me. Plus, I
KatieMark’s moist lips curl into a smile against my sensitive neck as he pauses for a moment. “I miss the sound of your moans.” His warm breath cascades against my skin, sending a wave of pleasure pulsing through my body.Closing my eyes, I lean my head back against his shoulder. “I miss your body, your touch, and your lips. I miss how your lips can send shivers throughout my entire body.”Before I realize what is happening, he swiftly takes my shirt off and has my pants undone as he pushes them down to the floor, leaving me only in my lace bra and panties.Desire ignites within me, and I can’t wait anymore. I want to ravage and feel every part of his godlike body. I spin around and grab the hem of his shirt. As if I’m a wild animal in heat, I nearly rip his shirt off him.My eyes rake over his sculpted chest, remembering all the naughty things we did the night of my going away party. My core aches, wanting to do more than look. I grab the front of his pants and my fingers w
Ring..ring…ring…ring..Whose phone is that? Ugh... What time is it?With my eyes barely open, I roll over and grab my phone to see it is my mom. I’m awake now. I blink a few times at my phone before the symbols on the phone register with my groggy head. It’s a video call. SHIT! I glance back at the nightstand and the clock. My stomach sinks as I realize it is a little after midnight. My previous message and picture I had sent them earlier with Casper suddenly pops into my head. What am I going to do? I’m sure she wants answers and right now, I have no idea what to tell her. Do I even have a choice?I swallow the lump in my throat as I lean over to the nightstand and turn on the lamp. I silently hope things go well and quickly answer the phone call. “Hello, mom.”Both my mom and dad eagerly greet me with smiles, but I can’t miss a spark of excitement in their eyes as they chime, “Hello, son.”My mom then takes the initiative and begins her pointed interrogation. “Mark, w
“You’re what!!” Izzy’s shrill voice startles me as I stand in the middle of the living room, hoping the floor would open up and swallow me whole. Casper happily dances around me, singing. “Mommy and daddy are getting married. Getting married. Mommy and daddy are getting married. Daddy kissed mommy.” The rest of our friends are scattered around the room. Mark walks over to me and drapes his arm around my shoulders. A small smirk spreads across his mouth as he calmly replies, “I thought you knew what I had bought, Izzy. I know you were there when I had talked about my plan. Katie was supposed to come back right after her internship. If you had heard me all this time, why are you so surprised?” A few steps away from us, Izzy shakes her head and stares back at him with disbelief in her eyes, but she doesn’t say a word. Shane is the first to walk over to me and hugs me. “Congrats! I hope you will be happy together. If it is any sign of how much you have missed Mark, then
Am I that easy to read? All morning long, people have kept telling me I have had something good happen to me and they wanted to know what. I’m not telling, though, and I’ve made Brenda promise not to tell anyone, either. I don’t know why, but I just want to enjoy it by myself. As lunch draws near, Brenda stops me in the hall and whispers, “So, is your fiancé coming to have lunch with you? I really want to meet him. Plus, I need a few questions answered so I can really get a rocking and a rolling on your wedding.”I shrug my shoulders and innocently reply, “I don’t know. I have told Mark I couldn’t talk while I was working, so we haven’t talked at all.”Her previously bubbly expression morphs into a deep scowl as she quickly slaps my arm. “Well, call or text him and find out. I need to know.” Her green eyes narrow, almost silently daring me to disobey. I quickly pull my phone out and send a quick text message to him asking if he was coming to the hospital to have lunch with
Shock washes over Dr. Smith and the nurses’s faces. The nurse that touched Mark’s shoulder slowly points between him and I as she mumbles, “You’re together?”Once again, Casper leaves everyone speechless as he sings, “Mommy and daddy are getting married. Daddy kissed mommy.”Mark puffs his chest a little and flashes his brilliant smile as he nods. “Katie and I are engaged, and we are getting married in 12 days. I just can’t wait. I have been waiting for this moment for over 6 years and I have been in love with her for over 8 years.”Dr. Smith furrows his eyebrows and slowly asks, “Dr. Katie, we didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”I look at Casper, still bouncing in his chair, and then at Mark, giving him a loving grin. “I love Mark and only him. No one else can compare.”From across the table, Frank raises an eyebrow and sternly asks, “Is there a problem with her not dating?”Dr. Smith nervously looks at Frank as my friend stares back. Casper proudly points to Frank and t