by MJ Carter
Reality had different plans for him. One cruel twist of fate, mixed with a possessive friend and a plan he thought would be flawless, and his world had crumbled. He didn’t regret asking Layla to come to LA and help him. She had been light when his world went dark. But his ignorance in thinking things would go his way had been his undoing.
Never imagining that Caleb would turn on him was mistake number one. Trust your brothers. Leave no soldier behind. You go, we go. It was all engrained into his head. Throughout every tour overseas and the hundreds of men that had fought beside him, he never expected enemy number one would be a best friend. And even now, he refused to justify his actions to a man he had considered family his whole life. The yellowing bruise on his jaw was a stark reminder of the day it all changed.
As the music started, he glanced at Rich. Strong, powerful, loyal to a fault. And now, after all the years of feeling like his brother, he was becoming family. He smiled as Rich took a deep breath. “I’m really happy for you. You deserve this man. Thank you for loving her as much as I do.”
Rich smiled, a light sweat covering his forehead. “I just have to keep breathing. Passing out is not an option.”
Mark laughed. The world was at peace again. Ryan was still Ryan, chasing a new woman every night. Rich was still Rich, humble and dedicated. Mark was still Mark, bachelor to the end. And Caleb, well, he didn’t know Caleb anymore. And that was OK.
Sophie stepped into the sanctuary. Her hair was swept into a knot as the base of her neck, loose curls framing her face. She was everything he had wanted. Everything he still wanted. The walls around his heart were now reinforced and although he would have traded the world for one more night with her, her lack of faith in him was enough to keep him focused on the real reason they were here. Love. Love for two people who had each other’s backs. Love that knew no limits. Love that created trust and faith.
The music changed and his sister appeared in the doorway. She took his breath away. He would have fought to the death to protect her and now that right was going to someone else. His eyes watered as she winked at him and walked toward her future. He rubbed his hand across his chest, feeling like his heart would explode. The gesture was not lost on Sophie. He felt her gaze burning into him but he would not look. She had made her choice when she had believed Caleb without a second thought. She had broken him when she arrived with Caleb at the church. He would hold his head high, lose like a gentleman and never, ever fall again.
****
The reception hall was exactly what Sophie had imagined. The hotel ballroom sparkled. She took her seat at the head table, between Rich and Ryan. It had been torture to smile, despite her love for Molly. She had fallen for Mark and without giving him a chance to explain, she had believed the worst. Her fear of commitment had cost her the man she loved. She was her own worst enemy.
His reputation had been known from the start. But the man she heard about and the man she knew were two completely different people. Caleb had dropped the bomb on her and she had run for the hills. She couldn’t be mad at him. She had no one to blame but herself. She vowed if she ever had a chance to make it up to Mark, she would take it and spend the rest of her days proving she had faith in him.
She looked at her sister. Layla had been her only family for so many years. She trusted her completely. But the fact she had made a surprise trip to LA and was staying with Mark sat heavily on her heart. He had kept her trip a secret. She had helped Mark pick out a house that she would have made her home. She shivered as Layla’s words came back to her from the night before. “We picked out a really gorgeous ring. As a surprise.” He was going to propose. He loved her so completely that he had broken all his rules, fallen hard and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. And now, he was standing with her sister, his face grim and wounded and she had been the cause.
“Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to call the best man up for his toast. Mark, if you are ready.” The DJ interrupted her thoughts. She watched as Mark smiled at Layla and made his way to the stage.
****
The butterflies in Mark’s stomach disappeared as soon as he stepped on stage and looked at his sister. Grabbing the microphone, he cleared his throat and smiled. “Molls, you look beautiful. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of you.” He picked up a guitar that had been leaning on the DJ’s booth and had a seat on the stool in the center of the stage. “A million years ago, when Rich and I were hardly old enough to tie our own shoes, he saw my sister for the first time. And I could tell right away that he loved her. He spent countless hours convincing me he didn’t because he thought I wouldn’t take it well. And I admit, at first, I didn’t. Molly could have cared less, which just added to my satisfaction. But as time went on, I watched them together. Rich forever by her side, and Molly slowly realizing what they had was special. And in all the years I have known Rich, I have never seen him look at anyone else the way he looks at her. I kept waiting for life to catch up with them but as the years went on, I understood that what they had was very rare. I’m not going to lie, I was a little jealous. All those nights hanging out with me and Caleb turned into nights with her. Wherever you saw one, you saw the other. Today I get it. I see that you guys are two separate people that together are stronger and whole. I’m not sure I really believed in love until recently. But if you two have even a quarter of what I felt, I have no doubt that you will spend the rest of your lives making each other happy and living for the other. I love you both very much. I am honored to share the day with you. I wish you both an endless amount of love.” He raised his eyes to look at Sophie. “I hope that one day we are all able to feel what you feel and have it returned unconditionally. What you have is rare. Cherish it. Trust one another. Be best friends. But most of all, love each other fiercely everyday.”
The crowd clapped as he settled the microphone into the stand. Rich wiped tears from Molly’s eyes and kissed her gently. When Molly looked up, she mouthed ‘I love you’ to Mark. Mark winked.
“Molls asked me if I would sing at the reception. I hesitated because it has been a long time since I have done anything like this. Originally they asked me to sing ‘God Gave Me You’ by Blake Shelton. But seriously Molls that song sucks.” The crowd laughed and He strummed a few notes. “So two nights ago, Molly and Rich came over for dinner with me and the lovely Layla Barringer and although things have not happened even remotely close to how I expected, I played this song for them and everything just clicked. So Moll and Rich, if you would head to the dance floor, I will now make a fool out of myself. Ladies and gentleman, ‘Marry Me’ by Train.”
Forever can never be long enough for me
To feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now, we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do
Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Mark finished the song and smiled at his sister. Tears fell from her eyes as she held onto Rich. He dared a glance at Sophie and his breath hitched. She sat transfixed, her eyes full of tears and her face in agony. He looked away quickly, needing distance to keep his heart from breaking even further.
The next hour passed by in a blur. Mark made his way to all the tables to say hello to the people he hadn’t seen since he had left home and his shots of Patron had settled his nerves. Being numb was better than feeling anything. The music slowed and Mark felt a hand on his arm. “Dance with me, pretty boy. Come talk to me.”
Mark led Layla to the dance floor and took her into his arms. “Thank you for coming with me Layla. You have been a respite for me the past two days. You will never know how much that has meant to me.”
“I hate how this has all gone down.
I have faith in you. I think everything will work the way it’s supposed to.” Layla laid her head on his shoulder and shut her eyes.
Mark’s hands trembled as he saw Sophie and Ryan heading to the dance floor. Seeing Caleb with her was difficult but knowing what Ryan would be thinking as he held her sent his temper into overdrive. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.
“Hey gorgeous, mind if I steal you away for a minute?” Ryan held his arms out to Layla.
Mark stiffened as she left his arms. Sophie took a hesitant step toward him. “Dance with me?” Her voice shook.
Despite his heart’s protest, he wrapped his arms around her. Her body fit against his perfectly and it felt like home. His body instantly responded to her. Her body snug against him, her familiar smell, her soft skin against his hard muscles. He groaned and shut his eyes. “Jesus, Soph. You are killing me. I can’t do this.” He backed away from her but she caught his arm.
“Mark, I’m so sorry. I know words won’t ever mean anything but you are everything to me and I would do anything to take it back.” She leaned against him once more. “I understand that forgiving me may be out of the question, but please don’t shut me out completely. I have missed you so much.”
“It all seems like a terrible idea now. But everything I did this week was for you. I love you Sophie. But I don’t ever think I will be enough for you. I would have done anything for you.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Desperate to make him understand how she felt, she rubbed her body against his. “Please come upstairs with me. Please. Let me show you how much I love you. And then you can walk away if you still want to. Just give me one more chance to be with you. Even if it is goodbye.”
His pants became uncomfortably tight. He rubbed his hand down her back and she arched into him, her breasts rubbing against his chest. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I have been drinking. A lot. And I have to drive your sister to the airport early tomorrow morning. There are a million reasons we shouldn’t.” He couldn’t believe what he was saying. Where was Mark Moretti and who was this person he had become?
Sophie surveyed the crowd around them. When she was sure no one was looking, she ran her hand down his erection and cupped him in her hand. “I don’t care. I know you want me. And I want you too. So, let’s go.” She bit his bottom lip and pulled. The pain sent him into a dizzying spiral.
“This is just sex Sophie. I can’t give you anything else. I can’t get hurt.” He locked eyes with Layla and she nodded. “Do you understand that we are not together? That this is just us needing a release? Do you understand that I am going to make you come, I’m going to get off and then leave?” There he was. The old Mark had returned.
“Yes,” She was breathless. “I want you.”
Upstairs, things went from fast to frantic. Mark unzipped Sophie’s dress in record time. He growled when he saw the new lingerie underneath. Black silk with a red lace overlay barely covered what he couldn’t wait to get his hands on. Black garters and more black silk leading to black heels that made her legs go on for miles.
Pushing the cups of her bra aside, he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. They tightened in his mouth and she moaned. Her body arched into him as moisture pooled between her legs, soaking the new panties she had purchased in case she got just one more time with Mark. He unbuttoned his shirt and threw it onto the dresser. His pants and boxers hit the floor and he shoved her onto the bed.
Yanking her panties down, he buried his face in her center. The urgent strokes of his tongue told her he meant business. He circled her clit while two fingers pumped in and out of her. She arched off the bed. Panting, she grabbed Mark’s head and tangled her hands in his unruly hair. Her response was all he needed. He twisted his fingers and applied pressure to that spot she loved so much. Her eyes closed and he stopped. “Open your eyes Sophie. I don’t want you to have any doubt who is making you come.” Her eyes locked with him for just a moment and then he sucked hard on her sweet spot and her world shattered into a million pieces. She screamed his name as the waves of pleasure overtook her.
He shoved into her and hissed. The walls of her core squeezed him as her body continued to pulse. “Shit, always so wet and hot for me.” He didn’t take his time. He pounded into her as she clawed at his back. Grabbing her leg, he bent it forward so he could thrust deeper. Her body began to shake and he knew she was close. He withdrew and shoved back into her with force and she shattered. His balls tightened and his spine tingled. He moaned as he exploded and emptied everything he had into her. “Shit,” he hissed. “I’m going to miss being inside you. You feel so damn good.”
Her face was flushed and gorgeous. She grabbed at his head to bring him down for a kiss but he resisted. Pulling out of her, he made his way to the bathroom to clean himself up. A piece of his heart shattered with each step he took. He dressed quickly and fixed his hair in the mirror. “I’m going to go. I can’t miss Molly’s reception and if I don’t leave now, I am never going to want to. We both know we can’t go back. Trust is an important thing, Sophie. Without it, we had nothing.”
A tear escaped from her eyes. “I’m so sorry Mark. I never meant to hurt you. I have no excuse for believing Caleb. It’s the biggest regret of my life.”
He pulled something from his jacket pocket. His face fell. “Tonight was supposed to be so different.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. He sat on the edge of the bed and she sat up. She touched his arm but he pulled away. “I have to go. But I want you to remember this. And us. I have never been in love before and I will not allow myself to do it again.”
The light hit the ring he held in his hand. The beautiful Asscher cut diamond took her breath away. The halo of diamonds around it sparkled and she closed her eyes. He studied it for a long moment in silence. His shoulders slumped forward. “Keep this. I have no reason to hold onto it. It will just be a constant reminder of the woman who didn’t love me enough to trust me. Look at it often and remind yourself that there will be people who love you so fiercely that you need to take the gamble on them.”
Standing and straightening his jacket, he threw the ring on the bed and walked away.
Chapter 17
Sophie sat in her cubicle feeling like the walls were closing in on her. Tomorrow would be a week since Mark walked away from her in the hotel room. She didn’t blame him at all. She had destroyed their relationship in one morning when she had chosen Caleb over him. Her chest hurt and breathing was the hardest thing in the world. She had been attempting to edit the same book all week and was making very little progress. She put her head onto her desk, shut her eyes and took a deep breath.
Molly was on her honeymoon so she didn’t have her best friend and her only connection to Mark. Layla was pretty quiet. A handful of text messages had done little to reassure her that it wasn’t her against the world. Caleb had withdrawn, closing his office door during the day and leaving work before her to avoid confrontation. Her only saving grace had been a dinner the night before with Ryan. She had cried on his shoulder for hours. Despite his womanizing, he had been warm and caring. He was a lost soul and understood she had screwed up. He had been clear about never taking sides and had told her Mark was pretty destroyed. But somehow knowing he had spoken to Mark made her feel better knowing he was out there and OK.
She looked down at her hand. Yes, it had been stupid to put the ring on. But it was on her right hand so she told herself there was no harm in enjoying it. Knowing Mark and Layla, the two most important people in her life, had picked it out together meant so much to her. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. She knew one day she would need to take it off. It wasn’t right to keep it. One day Mark would forgive her and maybe there was a chance they could be friends again. When that day came, she would give him the ring back to give to the next woman that stole his heart.
The wave of nausea hit her hard. Her head spun and she gripped the side of her desk. She stood to run to the bathroom but her legs wouldn
’t cooperate. Her cubicle blurred and her balance was destroyed. Her last thought before she passed out was of Mark singing at the reception. A song she knew had been for her.
****
Caleb paced the hallway outside the exam room. The smell of alcohol and antiseptic would be permanently engrained in his brain. Sophie had been awake for about thirty minutes and so far, no one had come out to talk to him. The double doors opened and Ryan rushed forward to join him.
“What happened?” His eyes shot in every direction, trying to make sense of the scene before him.
Caleb ran his hand down his face. “I don’t know. She had been leaning on her desk and when she stood up, I saw her go down hard. I thought maybe she just tripped but when I came out, she was totally out of it. She was soaked with sweat. The doctor said that she was extremely dehydrated and her pulse was erratic. They are giving her fluids and running some tests but they won’t let me in there right now. She is exhausted and hasn’t slept for almost a week. I haven’t seen her eat anything either.”
Ryan put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “Have you called Mark?”
Caleb shook his head. “He won’t take my calls. I don’t blame him.”
