The food they had that evening was nothing short of delicious, and everyone had done their share of picking off of each other's plate. Jenny was less picky than Jasmine might have expected, though she supposed she couldn’t blame the girl for her reluctance to eat snails or squid. The red snapper had hit the spot just right for Jasmine, and a touch of weariness settled over her once the dinner was consumed. Jenny fared no better after her large portion of chicken, and Mark considered the two females for a long moment, stepping towards Jenny to scoop his daughter up in his arms. She yawned, curling against her father’s chest as he carried her away from the table. Jasmine rose to her feet as well, trailing behind the two and trying to force herself to remain awake.
“I swear, they put horse tranquilizers in the food they serve,” Mark hummed, bouncing Jenny a bit in his arms. She remained quiet, seeming content to fall asleep on her father’s shoulder.
“I would believe it. I’m surprised that I’m even conscious right now,” Jasmine announced sleepily. Mark laughed, pausing to allow Jasmine to fall into step beside him. “How are you not exhausted?” She demanded blearily, giving Mark’s shoulder a little nudge. He considered her from the corner of his eye, quirking his lips upward.
“What can I say? I’m a grown man, I’m used to eating more than my share,” he smirked. Jasmine rolled her eyes, leaning against the doorframe as the man slipped into his daughter’s room. He stepped towards her bed, laying the girl’s small frame in the center of the bedspread. He took a moment to tuck her in, kissing her forehead tenderly before stepping back. Jasmine watched the scene unfold with an increasingly familiar sense of adoration, drawing her lip between her teeth to smother her cooing at the precious scene.
“So you’re not tired, whatsoever?” Jasmine inquired softly as Mark edged out of his daughter’s room. The older man grinned, reaching out to caress Jasmine’s cheek.
“Not really. I suppose you’re ready to turn in for the night, though. I’ll walk you to your room,” he announced, taking her by the hand and guiding her along. She followed his lead, hesitating as they grew closer to her room and all but planting her feet to keep from progressing. “Something wrong?” Mark inquired gently, considering her expression carefully. She could feel the flush on her face, the betrayal of her eyes as they darkened in desire.
“I’d like you to take me to your room,” she said softly. His eyes widened, and he stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
“My… my room?” He repeated in a questioning tone. She nodded her head, fidgeting uncontrollably beneath his gaze. “For what reason?” He continued to prod, though he had paused in his path to her guest room.
“I think that’s pretty obvious, Mark,” she answered, her voice hoarse. He reddened at the implication, but gripped her hand more tightly and drew her in closer. He leaned in to press their lips together, his tongue brushing her lower lip before probing for entrance. She parted her lips, swiping her tongue across his they tangled where they met. She tensed a hand in his hair, gasping breathily against his lips as he reached around her. Mark rested his hands on her perfectly round rear end, squeezing slightly. He seemed all too thrilled by the sharp gasp that tore itself past Jasmine’s lips, and she glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were not being watched. As he squeezed her butt once more, she whined, pressing her face against his shoulder. “I said take me to your room, not take me in the hallway,” she breathed against him. He chuckled, swiftly moving to scoop her up bridal style. She swallowed a squeal, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her to his room with ease.
“Someone’s desperate,” he said softly, smirking as she leaned in to kiss at his jawline. She dragged her tongue along his skin, the salty taste doing no small wonders to drive her wild. He stumbled a bit as she took her teeth to the side of his neck, grazing the blunt edges of her molars to his neck. “Feisty,” he muttered.
“You have no idea,” she retorted, just before smashing their lips together to effectively silence him. He seemed torn between giving the embrace his full attention and managing to make a path to his bedroom. He rumbled as she drew away, a strand of saliva connecting their lips. She smirked, licking her lips and breaking the string. “Hurry,” she urged, her hands roaming what little skin was exposed on the man. She caressed his cheeks, drawing her fingertips down his neck with a breathy sigh. He rushed forward, closing the final distance between the two of them and his bedroom. He shifted his grip on her, reaching out to grip the doorknob and yank the door open. The two all but spilled into the room, and he tossed her onto his bed gracelessly before slamming the door shut behind them. She raised her arms above her head, reveling in the soft material of Mark’s bedsheets. He lingered near the door, watching her silently for a moment. She sat up slowly, tilting her head curiously.
“Are you sure you want this?” He asked uncertainly, and she smiled to herself while pretending to give the question deep thought.
“Oh, I was so sure, but now that I’m here…,” she began, watching his expression shift from desperation to embarrassment.
“I… see,” he muttered, trying to play as if the bulge in his pants weren’t the most obvious sight in the world.
“I’m kidding, you idiot. Get over here,” Jasmine purred, gesturing for him to step forward. He obliged, staggering towards her with all the grace of a drunken gazelle. His eyes were dark with desire, and Jasmine flicked her tongue out to moisten her lips. Her heart pounded in her chest as he grew nearer, edging onto the bed and reaching out to her. She pressed towards him, dipping her head to lavish his exposed neck with attention once more. He growled, a deep sound in the back of his throat, tangling a hand in her long dark hair. She giggled, sinking her teeth into his skin just deep enough to leave a mark. He hissed in pleasure, tugging her hair to expose the column of her own throat. He lashed his tongue across her skin, and she felt as if white hot coals had settled in her gut. His hands were deft, moving with a nimbleness that was altogether unfamiliar to Jasmine, even in her own private explorations. He slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders, pushing it down to expose her bra. She grinned, a glint in her eye as he reached around her to unsnap her bra. The baby blue brassiere fell away with a slight shift of her body, and his eyes widened as he took in her voluptuous breasts. He hesitated for a moment, meeting her stare. She searched his gaze. She could see her own desire reflected in his eyes, but moreover, she could see a certain tenderness in his eyes. She had no intentions of fooling herself into thinking this moment was anything more than just sex, but her heart pounded at the almost loving attention he considered her with.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice tinged with something that almost sounded like awe. He reached out, his hands quaking as he brushed his thumb to one of her perky nipples. She shivered in anticipation, already having gone farther with him than she had gone with anyone before. His touch was soft, gentle, a warmth radiating from his palm out to the tips of his fingers. She longed to have him touch her more firmly, and she arched her back to indicate as much. His eyes were locked on her own as he lowered his head, dragging his tongue along the swell of a breast. She found herself whimpering in pleasure, especially as his tongue grazed the erect nub of her breast. She exhaled breathily, her breath coming out in shudders as she allowed her head to fall back on the sheets.
“Mark, please,” she whispered, though she had no idea what exactly she was pleading for. He continued to alternate from breast to breast, sucking a nipple between his lips as he worked the other with two fingers. Her toes curled in sheer pleasure, and she struggled not to yank his hair out as she tensed her hands there.
“Easy, sweetheart. We’ll take it nice and slow,” he murmured, grazing his teeth to the curve of her breast. She all but shrieked, muffling herself with her hand as she forced her eyes upon him once again. He winked as their eyes met, kissing a pattern down the front of her abdomen. She tensed her thighs, though it was an unintentional action. He shifted his hips, pinning her against the bed with his much larger body. The bulge of his manhood settled comfortably at the crux of her thighs, and it was all she could do to not become a blubbering mess at that moment. He jerked his hips just so, giving her a taste of what was to come. She rolled her hips in turn, desperate for that bit of friction between her legs. “What did I say? Easy. You can’t rush art, baby,” he purred, though his voice was obviously a bit strained.
“Art, huh?” She managed to gasp out, laughing breathily. He hummed, pressing his lips just below her breasts.
“If your body isn’t a living, breathing work of art, I’m not quite sure what could be,” he teased. He shifted his hips away from her, continuing to work the loose dress down her body. As each inch of skin was revealed, he all but salivated at the sight. Jasmine had never felt so attractive, so utterly erotic, in her life. He paused when her dress was pulled just below her bellybutton, leaning in to kiss a circle around her navel. Her skin twitched with each touch he graced her body with, and she could feel a rapidly increasing tingling in her most private area.
“It’s rather unfair that I’m nearly nude, but there you sit still fully clothed,” she muttered, and he lifted his gaze towards her with a sweet smile.
“This moment is about you, Jasmine. I want to make you feel as beautiful as you are to me,” he smiled. She reddened at the comment but shifted her hand beneath his chin to guide him into meeting her gaze.
“It’s about both of us. I want you to feel good too,” she murmured shyly. He smirked, pulling her dress down off her hips and down her legs before tossing it aside.
“Oh, I’m sure I’ll feel plenty good before this is over,” he purred, sending jolts of arousal spiking through Jasmine’s body. He curled his fingers in the waistband of her panties, and it was all she could do to not cry out his name. As he dragged her underwear off, she self-consciously pressed her thighs together to mask her obvious arousal. She was absolutely dripping, more soaked than she had ever been in her entire life. He curled his lips into a grin, leaning in to part her thighs. “No getting nervous now. You don’t want to stop, do you?” He inquired softly. Jasmine shook her head fervently, biting her knuckle to try and smother her shuddering gasps. He looked primal, leaning in to drag his tongue along the length of her slit. She moaned, unable to swallow the desperately aroused cry. He hummed, peering up at her from between her thighs. “You taste sweet as sugar,” Mark grinned toothily.
“Oh hush,” she gasped, throwing her head back as he traced his tongue along her entrance. “Oh god, don’t stop,” she said in shuddering tones, bucking her hips up with every stroke of his tongue. He didn’t seem to intend on stopping anytime soon, pinning her hips to keep her from squirming too much. She growled gutturally, trailing off into a half-sob as he reached up to press a finger into her.
“You’re so tight…,” he gritted out, his voice strained.
“I can think of a way of fixing that,” she said almost demandingly. He met her gaze, chuckling in amusement as he worked a finger in and out of her. She drew her lip between her teeth, spreading her thighs as wide as she could in a lewd show. He took this as a cue to slip a second finger inside of her, working the two invading digits at a leisurely pace.
“We can’t go from zero to sixty without a little preparation,” he murmured, caressing the tiny nub at the apex of her womanhood with the pad of his thumb. She grabbed a pillow, muffling her cries into it before sinking her teeth into the fabric. “Wow, you’re a sensitive one, aren’t you?” Mark mused, continuing to swipe his thumb in a circular motion around her clit. She clenched around him, feeling as if she were teetering on the edge of some cliff, struggling to keep her footing while resisting the desire to take the plunge. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, he drew his hand away and rested back to observe his handiwork.
“What’d you stop for?” She hissed, mouth hanging agape as he kissed his way back up her body, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.
“Well, I had a feeling you were ready for the main event,” he grinned. He shrugged his shirt off, and she nearly flew out of the bed, lurching upright. She pressed her palms to his muscular pecs, dragging her fingertips along the skin of his abdomen. He raised up, guiding her hands to the button of his slacks. She hesitated, nervously fiddling with it for a moment. Then, she steeled herself and unbuttoned his pants, shifting them down on his hips. All that separated their bare skin from touching was the thin layer of his briefs, and she was both nervous and eager to get him out of them. “Last chance to back out,” he said huskily, lacing his fingers with hers and bringing her hand closer to palm his clothed manhood. He sighed as she took the initiative, slipping the waistband of his briefs under his package. His manhood sprung free, bobbing slightly in the warm air of Mark’s bedroom. Jasmine’s eyes widened at the size of it, hands clenching just short of touching him before drawing back once again.
“I’m scared I’m going to hurt you,” she said nervously, and he laughed huskily.
“You won’t hurt me. Just the opposite” he assured her. She nodded, reaching out a quaking hand to grip him. As her fingers wrapped around him, she could feel his pulse throbbing against her palm. She gasped, experimentally running her hand along his length. “We can stop if you want, or you can just--,” he cut himself off as she pushed him onto his back. She shifted on top of him, grinning down at him as he struggled to keep his composure.
“I want you inside me,” she whispered, looking to him for permission. He seemed rather baffled that she thought she needed to ask, but he nodded slowly, allowing her to shift her hips just above the head of his length. She braced herself, meeting his gaze and holding it as he slid inside her. Her mouth parted, her eyes squeezing shut in what seemed simultaneous pleasure and pain. She had never imagined the sensations feeling quite like they did at that moment, but she wouldn’t have traded the feeling for anything in the world. She wouldn’t have changed the person she was with for a million dollars, either. “I’ve never felt like this about someone before,” she admitted, watching his expression as she shifted back onto her knees. He looked briefly remorseful, gripping her hips and guiding her up and down on his length. She couldn’t help feeling as if he looked remarkably troubled considering what they were doing, but she remained silent, focusing on her pleasure.
“I care a lot about you too, Jasmine,” he said quietly. She grunted in response, clenching her inner muscles around his length as she felt herself nearing her peak. She gasped for breath, all but panting as the sensations built up inside her. Mark’s jaw was clenched, and he repeatedly gasped her name each time their hips met. When it seemed she could take no more, he grabbed her and slammed into her, hilting himself fully inside. He groaned, spilling his seed deep within her as she spasmodically clenched and unclenched around him. She met his lips in a kiss, desperately trying to convey the pure emotion she felt at that moment. He returned the embrace eagerly, both drawing nearer to each other as they basked in the afterglow.
“Oh, Mark. Oh, I… I… Thank you. Thank you so much,” she whispered, peppering kisses all across his face. He smiled uncertainly, pressing their lips together in a final kiss to seal the deal.
“Thank you, Jasmine. You were wonderful,” he said gently. She slumped on top of him, burying her face in his shoulder as she tried to steady her breathing.
“I… I’ve never felt so complete. So whole…,” she trailed off, kissing his bare shoulder. He stiffened beneath her, and she drew away to meet his gaze. He looked troubled once again, and she was nearly overcome by the thought that she must have done something wrong. He averted his eyes, clearly not wanting to talk about whatever was on his mind. Jasmine was reluctant to let it go, however, gently resting her hand on his cheek and forcing him to look at her. “Did I do something wrong, Mark? You look… unhappy. Was I not good?” She stammered, afraid of what his answer would be. His eyes widened, and he leaned in to press a swift kiss to her creased brow.
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. You were… all I could have asked for, and then some,” he assured her. She pouted, rolling off of him and settling at his side.
“Then… what’s wrong?” She implored. He hesitated, staring intently at the ceiling as if meeting her gaze once more would tear him to pieces. Mark breathed a sigh, turning to face her and grip her hands in his own.
“I assure you that what’s bothering me has nothing to do with you, and especially nothing to do with the moment we just shared. You’re wonderful, and making love to you was something I’d kill to experience a thousand times over. It’s simply that… there’s a problem that lies within me. Something I’ve avoided coming to terms with for some years. Now, here with you… I want to be a better person. And that means having a deep conversation with myself, and deciding what direction to go from here,” he rambled, looking altogether uncomfortable to be having such a talk with her.
“Would it be better if I left?” Jasmine asked softly, her expression vulnerable. Mark made as if to shake his head, but paused, locking eyes with her. His expression was melancholy, and it was clear that he was more upset than she had initially guessed. She drew away without waiting for an answer, rising to her feet and shuffling around the bed to gather her clothes. Deciding that finding her underwear was a lost cause, she settled for shimmying back into the dress she’d been wearing. She glanced towards Mark, who looked as if he wanted nothing more than to beg her to stay. It was obvious, however, that something was stopping him. Until he came to terms with his feelings, she couldn’t lay next to him and pretend everything was okay. As much as she had enjoyed being in his arms, holding him in hers, she knew there was a deeper story to delve into.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Jasmine,” he said, his tone pleading.
“I know. So am I,” she whispered, turning her back on him and slipping out the door. It felt as if she were on some roller coaster from Hell, with the emotions she’d been thrown through. The highs of feeling as if she loved Mark, and could, in turn, be loved by him… they were the highest she’d ever felt. Perhaps she was moving too far, too fast, but love made you do crazy things. She could only hope that whatever he was feeling, Mark could come to terms with it. If not… she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay in this house.
She felt as if she had ruined something great. She felt as if she had ruined her short-lived relationship with Mark’s daughter, and would just be another woman who came abandon the two of them. As much as she didn’t want that, she had to take care of herself too. If that meant ultimately packing her things and never looking back, it was a possibility she would have to consider.
For now, she slipped away from Mark’s bedroom, walking what felt a sort of walk of shame back to the guest room that she called her own. She was certain that she would be unable to sleep, and if she managed to close her eyes and drift away, knew that it would be a restless sleep. All the same, anything was better than being stuck in a room with a man who had dragged her through so many unbidden emotions. Especially when that man had emotions of his own to deal with. She stripped out of her dress, putting on a pair of pajamas more for modesty’s sake than anything else. Then, she tucked herself into the comfortable bedspread, staring at the ceiling as if it could provide the answers she so needed.
If only things were ever that easy.