CHAPTER TWO
HOPE
We’ve been in this car for what feels like ages but I can’t deny how much I have loved every moment of our time together. I’ve started to notice the signs for college for a while and then suddenly it comes into view, like a beautiful beacon on the horizon. I can’t hide my smile as my eyes focus on the building as it gets bigger and bigger the closer we get to it.
This is my chance and I’m going to take it with open arms, with the man I love beside me. My heart leaps in excitement as we pass and I know we are getting closer to our new home.
“Just down this way?” I question, just trying to take in everything that is around me.
“That’s what it says on my cell my love.”
I can feel his eyes looking at me as they take me in, his wicked grin that sends goose bumps down my spine when directed at me making me blush in response. I can feel his eyes undress me, the way they do every time we’re alone, and I can’t help but wonder if tonight will be it. We’ve been together for so long that I know it’s the right time for us. I want to feel his hands on my naked body, I want to feel him feel me and bring me pleasure like I’ve read in books. I can’t wait for him to make me his completely. I love him so much and I know that we will be together forever. I look over at him and he’s still looking at me and I give away a small giggle.
“Why are you giggling at me?” He asks me with a serious look on his face that I just find adorable.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? I think you do really.”
“I don’t, I promise.” I say as I try to gesture an innocent look. I hold up a hand in surrender but quickly have to replace it back on the wheel as the car moves into the middle of the road and Mark just laughs at me again. I go around a small corner and in front of us is an old apartment building with a small hut to the left with lots of car spaces all around it.
“Just park up in one of these spaces.” He says as he points to the left of us. I do as I’m told and quickly park the car in a space near the entrance before cutting off the engine. I rest my hands on my knees and look around, it isn’t quite what I was expecting but it will have to do.
“Are you ready to see your new home? I know it doesn’t look perfect but..”
“We’re together.” I take his hand and smile at him as he smiles back, breaking the tension on his face, calming my racing heart. I can tell he’s worried but this is all apart of the adventure and that’s what I wanted. An adventure with Mark.
“Come on let’s go.” He lets go off my hand and gets himself out of the car and I follow suit. I walk around to him and he takes my hand and leads me towards the hut. As we step inside there’s a little desk with an old man sat behind it and as I step through I can feel his beady little eyes take me in with a hungry look before going back to his computer. I feel almost sick and hold onto Mark’s hand tighter, but he just carries on walking towards the desk.
“What do you want?” The man asks, without even looking up at us.
“I phoned a few weeks ago and paid a deposit on one of your apartments.”
“Name?” The man asks, only looking at me now. I know Mark notices, but he doesn’t seem to be worried about it. Me, I can feel my blood begin to boil as I’m left in the lion’s den just waiting to be consumed by this animal.
“It’s under the name Jones. Mark Jones.” We stand and wait for a little while as the man looks through his computer until he reaches behind and gets a small key.
“Apartment 4C. I’ll take you now.” He stands up on unsteady legs and walks past us to the door. He leaves it open as we follow him through and we walk past to the other end of the building where he leads us through a side door and then we climb three flights of stairs before he stops at another door.
“We don’t have any rules, just that you don’t cause any problems for anyone else and you pay your rent on time but you’ve paid a few months in advance so that ain’t going to be a problem.”
He leads us through a hallway and stops in front of door 4C. This is our new home, together.
“Here you are. You can paint if you want, put pictures up. It’s up to you.” He hands Mark the keys and gives me one last look before walking away before stopping.
“I only have two keys. If you lose that one you’re paying to replace it.”
“Ok.” Mark says as he puts the key in the lock. The door creaks as it opens but the apartment isn’t as bad as I thought it would be when I first saw the building. The walls are all painted in a fresh beige and to the left is a very standard kitchen that has all the essentials. The cupboards which are up high and ground level are an off white and the sides and cooking area are grey tiled. In front of us is a small open space with two doors, the bathroom is the same colour scheme as the kitchen but there is even a bath. Our bedroom isn’t too big but there’s a wardrobe and we’ll be able to get a double bed in. It’s basic but that’s all we need, if anyone came over they would have no idea who I could really be. This is great.
“What do you think? I know it’s no..” I stop him from saying anything else by placing a finger over his lips because he looks so worried and I can’t stand for him to be worried because of me. He’s silent as my finger lingers over his lips. I love his lips, they look ready to be kissed. His eyes just look into mine and I can see the same need I have in his beautiful chocolate-coloured eyes, building with the same intensity.
I want today to be the day.
I want Mark to take my virginity.
“It’s perfect Mark.”
“You’re used to perfection.” He looks around us with a sheepish look. “And this isn’t perfect. It’s a dump.”
A cold hand rests on my cheek as he pulls me close to him.
“I’m sorry.” His lips are so close to mine as he looks down at me begging for forgiveness, but he has nothing to be forgiven for. His chest is so close to mine I can feel his heart beating against my breasts. I move slightly in the hope of lessening the feeling that’s causing my nipples to point.
“This is perfect.” Keeping my face towards him I use my eyes to take a quick glance all around me. “Everything is perfect because you are here with me.”
“Is that right, my love?”
I love the way he calls me that, my whole body tingles as his tongue works around the words. I see the way it moves as the words come out and I want to just delve in there and stroke my tongue along it. I get myself all heated up as I think about my tongue and his and before I can stop myself I go in. It starts as fierce as I want it to be, I go with it on full speed as if I have been hungry for him for days and this is my first meal. He gives my tongue a quick bite as if to say that’s enough and I wrap my arms around his neck to keep him close as I pull my lips away.
“Everything is perfect. I couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you sure?” He asks, moving his face to one side and I can only nod my head in return.
“Then so am I.” He gently starts to pull himself from my arms and I struggle with the loss as he walks away.
“I love you.” I say as he gets to the door.
“I love you too. Come on, let’s get our stuff.” And he walks out the door and I follow like the faithful puppy I am because I love him and I would do anything for him.
****
It doesn’t take too many trips up and down to the car to get our stuff up in our new apartment but it’s enough. We work together to take things up and then we take bags and boxes up simultaneously on our own. By the time we are done we are both dripping in sweat, I see the way Mark wipes his face with the bottom of his shirt, showing off his tanned and firm stomach. I watch him with silent eyes, I wet my lips as my brain conjures up ways we could freshen up together in the shower that is calling both our names. Our shower in our apartment and we have done it ourselves, without any help. It is ours. For at least a year we have both managed to save some money before leaving New York and later that day we go out to get some furniture. Our own furniture. As we are shopping around a second hand shop like every other normal college person I can’t believe it. I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do and it is so compelling and refreshing as I walk through the warehouse with Mark by my side. I know my parents would have helped me, I know my name and finally working for my family business could have given me so much more, but that wouldn’t have been me. That would be the Bryant name, my family legacy, this is me. I am finally doing it. I am doing it on my own merits, I am being normal and I like how it feels. There is no credit card pushed into my hand with demands to put anything I want on it, to get anything my heart desires.
I’ll admit it’s handy when you have older brothers who are daddies because you get asked to do lots of babysitting, I saved all that money and even doing the odd things for Mum and Dad around the house or offices I managed to save that too. When I first discussed colleges I told my parents that I wanted to do it on my own, that I wanted to make a mark without my name being known, not having everyone around me knowing who I was, that I was a Bryant. And even though I could tell they didn’t want to go with it they did, so that meant not having a big amount of money. I scrimped and I saved whatever money I could get hold of and it was so satisfying to do it on my own. I always knew that once I was here I would need to get my own job to help me through college and I knew that it would be hard but it would be enough, there was no reason why I would need anymore.
We get the basics we need from a local warehouse and although I know my parents won’t be happy with what we have, they have always only wanted the best for me but I couldn’t be happier. I am just like every other girl starting out at college and hopefully with just Hope Smith being out there I can make friends and get the job I want and I can finally show my worth.