Another Chance (11 page)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The music was pumping inside Mark’s house, and Cassie could see his friends on the balcony and inside the living room of the house. She would have to walk past them at some point. The thought made her nervous.

She didn’t have to worry, Mark greeted her at the door having watched out for her arrival. “Cassie. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“So am I, looks as if you are enjoying yourself.”

He shrugged. “It’s all just noise. To be honest, the party is more for Lauren than me. I’m not one for birthdays.”

Cassie stared at him. “You didn’t tell me it was your birthday. I would have bought a present or at least a card.”

“It’s fine love. I’m just happy to see you.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest as he guided her through the house. It had been a long time since she had been to a party, surrounded by people in a small space. He had taken her hand in his and squeezed it as she passed the first of his friends who smiled at her.

One walked past, checking her over appreciatively and Mark immediately put his arm around her waist, growling. “I want you to meet my sister first. That’s my mate Ian, and if he’s interested in you he’s barking up the wrong tree.”

She laughed. “I’m only here because of you, it’s not like I’m here for a hook up.”

“I know, but I can’t help but be a bit possessive of you. I’ve wanted to spend some time with you for a long time.”

Lauren was standing by the kitchen table. She poured herself a drink and grinned at the sight of him. “You must be the famous Cassie.”

Cassie blushed. “I don’t know about that.”

“This one is always talking about you,” said Lauren, pointing at her brother.

“I’m sure she’s exaggerating,” he said, scratching the back of his head. He was clearly ruffled by Lauren’s announcement, but Cassie thought it was cute.

“Do you want a drink?” Lauren asked.

Cassie shook her head. “I’m driving so I had better not.”

“Responsible as well, it’s not like you to find someone like that, Mark." Lauren slurred her words and Cassie wondered how much she’d had to drink.

He laughed. “Be quiet you. I’m sorry, Cassie as you can see my sister is a drunk and is talking a load of garbage.”

Cassie laughed. “It’s fine, maybe she’ll tell me more of your secrets if she’s had too much to drink.”

Lauren put her arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “Take care of him and I will tell you everything you need to know.”

“Thanks.”

“Well now Cassie is here it must be time for the cake.”

Mark pulled a face. “Do we really have to do this?

“It’s tradition.”

“Fine,” he said, “come on.”

He pulled Cassie by the hand into the living room where most of the guests were. They had been drinking for a while, and Cassie doubted they would be interested in cake.

Lauren followed with the cake lit up with candles.

“I’m sorry, Mark, I couldn’t put forty candles on it. I thought it might burn the house down,” Lauren said with a laugh.

“Cheeky minx.” Mark laughed.

Cassie raised an eyebrow. She would never have guessed that Mark was forty, it meant an age gap of fifteen years between them, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. There was such a strong attraction between them though, maybe she’d just see where things led.

He blew the candles out, and she laughed as everyone sang happy birthday to him. “Are you going to tell us what you wished for?” Lauren asked.

Mark met Cassie’s eyes. “No, but I think it has already come true.”

He moved back towards her and kissed her without warning. His tongue pressed into her mouth, and she gave in and kissed him back.

“I hope you have no objections,” he murmured.

“It’s a bit late for that.”

He grinned at her and kissed her again. There were a few catcalls from the crowd, and Lauren hugged him. “It’s nice to see you happy,” she said.

“I am happy,” he said, keeping eye contact with Cassie.

She spent the rest of the evening getting to know some of his friends before it got late and Mark pulled her close.

“This might sound forward love but do you want to stay the night? I can’t imagine a better end to the evening than going to bed together.”

She blushed. “Mark, everyone will know.”

“They’re leaving, there might be a few stragglers that sleep in the living room. No one will disturb us, I promise.”

He kissed her again. “You’re making it damn hard to say no Mark Burrows.”

“That’s my plan. Cassie, I’m not going to pressure you. If you want to go home, then I’ll walk you to your car and go to bed alone. But you had better believe that I’ll be thinking of you when I get there.”

Laughing, she slapped him. “Really? So what would you be doing while thinking of me?” she asked.

“Why don’t you stay and find out?”

Her heart was really pounding now, she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. “I think I would like that.”

He growled with delight and grabbed her hand, pulling her behind him as they exited the living room and went to the room at the end of the hall. Mark locked the door behind them, there was no way he wanted any intrusions.

“Are you really sure about this?” he asked.

“I am. You’re right, this would make tonight special.”

He kissed her again. She could taste bourbon and cola on his tongue. She didn’t like bourbon, but on him it was good. “Cassie,” he murmured, “beautiful Cassie.”

“Mark,” she whispered.

His hands were pulling at her shirt, raising it over her head and discarding it he cupped her breasts, still contained in her bra and made a sound that could only be a murmur of approval. Those calloused thumbs stroked her nipples through her bra, and they hardened at his touch.

“Let’s get you out of these clothes,” he murmured, putting his arms around her and unhooking her bra. As he dropped it on the floor, her breasts were released, and he made another sound in the back of his throat, which told her everything.

She jumped as his thumbs stroked her nipples again, her body responding to him. “That’s my girl. I really need to get you into bed.”

His tongue found hers again, and he wrapped his arms around her, gently squeezing her butt cheeks as he pulled her closer to him.

Cassie’s fingers trembled as she unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the brown, toned chest she had glimpsed earlier. As she ran her hands down his chest, he growled his arousal and his tongue pressed more urgently into her mouth as if to possess it.

“I’ve wanted you for weeks, Cassie, I should have told you earlier.”

“Yes you should have.”

His lips caressed her neck, covering her in soft little kisses. Her stomach flipped with nerves. “Mark,” she murmured.

“Yes love?”

“I’ve only ever made love once before, and that resulted in Sophie. I was young and didn’t have a clue what I was doing, just like I don’t have a clue now.”

He grinned. “You don’t need to have a clue, I’ll take care of everything.”

His hands reached her waistband, and he unbuttoned her jeans. “Mark, stop,” she whispered.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this. My body isn’t exactly the best, and I have scars I’ve never shown anyone.”

“Scars?”

“It’s a long story. I want to be here with you, but I don’t think I’m ready to be naked.”

“Cassie, you’re gorgeous. I don’t care about scars, and I’m no oil painting.”

She ran her hands down his chest. “I would argue with you there.”

“So I want you, and you want me. What’s the problem love?” he asked.

“Nothing. Sorry.”

He put his hand to her cheek, and she closed her eyes as his thumb grazed her lips. “There’s nothing to be sorry about love, now let me show you how much I want you,”

He leaned in to kiss her again, and she surrendered to his gentle kisses that belied his strength. The tenderness of his kiss made her feel loved, and she wanted to be lost in this forever.

Mark led her to the bed and she sat beside him, her heart pounding at being so close. “Cassie,” he murmured.

Their eyes locked. Just one look and she saw her world, her future. He was it.

The music thumped in the background as the party continued without them and Mark kissed Cassie’s neck, fondling her breasts while murmuring his appreciation.

Gently, he pushed her back onto the bed until they were lying together and his hands reached again for her waistband, this time meeting no resistance.

She swallowed hard as he pulled at her jeans until they were at her ankles with her panties following in close pursuit.

“You’re so beautiful, Cassie,” he whispered, his hand stroking her body from the neck down, slowing when it reached between her legs and making her gasp when he touched that spot that no one else bar Patrick ever had.

“Mark,” she whispered, her body arching to meet his hand.

“That’s it love.” Of all the women he had been with over the years this one was worth taking the time over, and he watched her face intently as she experienced the touch of a man who knew what he was doing for the first time. She shuddered as she climaxed, crying out for him, and his lips were on hers in a moment, his tongue searching her mouth, probing to get her reaction to what had just happened to her.

Her tender response touched him as her tongue tentatively met his, her caress bringing him to life and he hardened at the promise of what was to come.

As he moved between her legs, he ran his fingers through the red tinged curls touching their softness before plunging his tongue into the wetness that lay below. Cassie gasped as the previously unknown sensation hit her and Mark felt her body stiffen before relaxing into his touch.

He spread her legs further to get in deep, and when she rose to meet him he murmured his approval.

When her fingers raked through his hair, he pulled her closer to him rewarding her action with frantic lashings of his tongue. She gripped his hair as her climax came and he emerged from between her legs with a grin on his face.

Lying beside her, he touched her face with his hand, kissing her cheek and down her neck. “That was amazing, you are amazing.”

Cassie shivered, and he pulled the blanket up. “Are you cold love?” he asked.

“No,” she said, lifting her hand to touch his face. Her green eyes were filled with awe as if no one had ever touched her before, and he guessed it was the first time anything like this had happened to her.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“You could say that.”

“Do we need protection?”

Cassie blinked. She hadn’t even thought about that, not having planned to sleep with Mark.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He retrieved a condom from a drawer beside the bed, rolling it on while she watched. He was big, and she wondered what it would be like before realising she was about to find out.

His lips were on hers again and he moved back between her legs, guiding himself into her slowly. “I’ll take it slowly love. I promise to be gentle.”

“I know you will,” she whispered as he filled her. He pushed deeper and she let out a moan, closing around him.

“You feel so good,” he said, stilling himself to give her a chance to get used to his being inside her.

“So do you,” she whispered.

Slowly he thrust, and she let herself go, pushing back to bring him in deeper.

“That’s it. You’re so damn gorgeous, Cassie.”

All her concentration was on him, and how he moved in and out of her, it was hard to focus on anything else and she barely heard his words. “Mark,” she whispered, “Mark.”

“Love,” he kissed her again. Her skin was scented with vanilla, and her lips were sweet from the lemonade she had been drinking.

He dropped his head to her breast, taking her nipple in his mouth and biting down gently on it.

Overwhelmed, Cassie reached up, placing her hands on Mark’s shoulders and running them down his arms feeling his muscles flex as he put all his effort into maintaining his slow thrusts.

“Cassie,” he murmured before biting down gently on her other nipple.

His pace quickened as he got closer to his own climax, and he came with a groan, pushing hard into her as she dug her fingernails into his arms.

Tenderly he kissed her. “Are you all right, Cassie? I wasn’t too rough?”

“It was perfect,” she whispered.

As he pulled out of her, he rolled to her side, pulling her into his strong arms and she nuzzled his chest with her nose before planting a kiss on it. “I like that,” he said tenderly.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Cassie opened her eyes. The sunlight peeped through the gap in the curtains, but the room was still and dark. The bed was toasty warm, and she realised she was still enveloped in Mark’s arms.