* * *
Mark waved to the guard as he passed the security gate that marked
the entrance to his neighborhood. Madeline, worn out from the night's
adventures, rested her head against the soft velour of the car seat. Her
eyes felt dry and tired, much in need of the re-wetting drops she'd
forgotten when she switched to a smaller handbag. She almost never
forgot them, especially when going out to a smoky bar, but her excitement
over seeing Mark this evening had interfered with practicality. She quickly
pulled out her compact to inspect her make-up. As suspected, her eyeliner
and mascara were smudged on her pale skin, an inevitable side effect of
hours of making out. She blinked her eyes in an attempt to moisten them.
In the darkness it was difficult to distinguish the characteristics of
Mark's community, though it appeared very secluded and quiet. Palm
trees and hibiscus lined the main road, encircling alternating buildings of
condos and villas. At this late hour, she was sure he'd send her off with a
final goodnight kiss. She'd have to see his place another time.
But as they pulled into a parking space, Mark shut off the engine.
"Here we are," he announced. She quickly glanced at her watch. Two a.m.
Had they really been together for five hours already?
"Want to come in?" he asked, softly.
"It's late. What about your brother and the baby? What about my waning
self-control?
"I don't want to wake anyone."
"We'll be quiet," he whispered. "They won't even know we're here."
* * *
Madeline followed Mark's lead into a ceramic tiled foyer. In the dim
light, the villa was quiet and still. She stepped gingerly as he held her hand
behind him, bringing her into a large kitchen. Madeline felt the swirling air
from a ceiling fan gently play with her slightly disheveled hair. She
watched as Mark opened a door and peered inside. "John's out cold," he
announced.
He then led her into the den, a huge room with a light oak
entertainment center on one wall and beautiful white leather sofas on the
other. Most striking to Madeline, though, were the many decorative
picture frames adorning the room. From them, smiling faces of family and
friends put the finishing touches on an already warm and cozy
environment.
Still holding Madeline's hand, Mark carefully opened another door,
revealing a small figure in the semi-darkness. The young girl was fast
asleep in her bed, her long brown hair falling to one side. She looked so
quiet and peaceful, completely oblivious to their presence. "That's my
daughter, Lindsey," he whispered.
Madeline smiled as he closed the door. Arm in arm they walked out
to the screened-in patio. She closed her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze
against her cheeks as Mark slid the glass panel back into place. He turned
and caught sight of her smooth, shapely legs. She stood with her back to
him, unaware of his appreciative gaze as she surveyed the golf course and
palm trees. He imagined running his hands over her soft curves, feeling
every inch of her sweet-smelling flesh, placing kisses upon her thigh and
ultimately exploring the area that defined her womanhood, first with his
fingers and then finally-
"It's such a beautiful night, isn't it?" she commented, interrupting his
fantasy.
"Yes, it is," he agreed, slipping his arm around her waist as he joined
her in star-gazing. Puffy clouds adorned the tropical sky and the full moon
shone on the lake in the distance. Madeline still marveled at the lightness
of the Florida sky at night. Back home, the darkness had an almost
oppressive quality. But here, as day turned into night, an aura of romance
and tranquility settled in.
"Let's sit down," he whispered, leading her to a wrought-iron chaise
lounge. He sprawled out on the floral cushion first, and then reached for
her, pulling her down to rest on top of him. As he wrapped her in his
arms, she longed to stay in his embrace forever. Suddenly, she wished they
were alone.
Madeline smiled as the warm water surrounded her, enveloping her in the rise and
fall of its gentle tide. Adrift on the ocean, she looked up at the cloudless sky, feeling the
rush of wind through her long hair as the sun's rays painted blush on her cheeks. Her
body, firm and beautiful in a hot pink bikini, felt nearly weightless as it mingled with
the waves. She closed her eyes and inhaled the salty sea air. Drifting, floating,
dreaming-A sudden movement startled her. Mark shifted on the lounge chair,
lying on his side so that his face and body were closely aligned with hers.
He put his arm around her waist and pulled her snugly against him. Her
body trembled as the excitement of his manhood grazed against her thigh.
"Hi," he whispered seductively.
"Hey," she responded softly, smiling back at him. "What time is it?"
she then asked in a sleepy voice.
"I don't know. It must be pretty late….or early, depending upon how
you look at it." He proceeded to run his hands over her curves, tracing the
length of her body from the nape of her neck to the back of her thighs. It
was sweet torture for him, knowing that his desire for her would not be
satisfied tonight, yet he had to touch her.
"I should be going. It's probably four a.m. by now. We must've both
fallen asleep and lost track of time." She moved to get up but his powerful
arms held her in place.
"Please don't go yet, Madeline." His breath was warm against her
skin. He softly kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and her neck before seeking
out her soft lips again. She ran her fingers through his hair and massaged
his neck and shoulders, feeling the rising passion mounting within her
again.
"You excite me, you know that?" His voice was deep and husky.
"You excite me, too," she admitted.
His strong hands continued to caress her back and she wondered
where she would find the strength to leave. Their tongues met again in a
sensual dance. Hands that seemed to have a will of their own lifted his
shirt. This time, they did not belong to Mark. He willingly complied,
lowering his head as Madeline pulled the garment from his body. Heat
emanated from his skin as she touched his chest. She was situated on top
of him, her silky auburn hair spilling over her shoulders.
He ran his fingers through the length of it, unable to get enough of
her. In the moonlight, her pale skin took on an iridescent glow. As she
leaned over him, her sundress opened slightly, tempting him with the
curve of her breasts, which were still bound by black lace. Mark struggled
for control but was quickly losing the battle. He began to undo the
buttons of her dress, slipping it off her shoulders so that it pooled around
her waist. Madeline did not resist when she felt the black bra fall away,
though she was still self-conscious about her body. And when his warm
hands reached up to caress her and she closed her eyes, losing herself in
his touch.
Then suddenly, as if jolted into wakefulness by a blaring alarm clock
in the middle of an exquisite dream, she abruptly sat up. Reaching for her
bra, she began to dress herself as her composure returned.
"What's wrong?" Mark asked, still holding her firmly to him by the
waist.
"Nothing…well, yes, something is wrong. Everything you are doing
to me feels so right, but it's just too soon. And we both know if I stay any
longer, neither one of us will be able to stop before it's too late. Besides,
your kids are in the next room, for crying out loud! I'd be completely
mortified if they were to walk in on us. Or, worse, if I were still here in
the morning when they wake up. I'm sorry, I-"
"It's ok, Maddy. I understand," he replied, helping her to her feet.
He had to admit it would create an awkward situation if Brian and
Lindsey saw her there, especially since his break-up with Gina was still so
recent. Even though their mother had no inhibitions about parading her
contingent of suitors in front of them, he was determined to have a little
more regard for their feelings. Besides, it was not his style to date more
than one woman at a time. Though he'd been married at a very young age
and could choose to "play the field" as so many of his friends advised, he
had no interest in casual flings. And from what he now knew and sensed
about Madeline, neither did she. He'd have to tread lightly.
Mark led her back through the villa to the parking lot. They
wordlessly walked into the early dawn, each lost in their own thoughts.
Madeline turned to face him before getting into the car.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening," she said with a smile as she
looked up at him. Then she placed a light kiss on his lips and opened the
driver's side door. She was about to get in when his hand on her shoulder
prevented her from doing so.
"Wait a minute."
She looked at him quizzically.
"When are you going to invite me to your show?"
"You really want to go?" For some reason, his interest surprised her.
"Of course I do….if you want me there."
"Ok, I-I'd love for you to see it. We've all worked so hard. But are
you positive you want to sit through two hours of Broadway show tunes
and dance traditions? You seem like more of a rock n' roll kind of guy to
me."
"Hey, I've seen you move on the dance floor, now I want to watch
you on stage. And believe it or not, I like show tunes, especially if you're
the one singing them," he responded.
"You are full of surprises, Mark Donnelly," she said, feeling the
butterflies in her stomach at the thought of seeing his handsome face in
the audience. "But it makes me happy that you want to come. I'll drop off
a ticket to your office on Monday-or rather, tomorrow," she promised,
realizing that it was now early Sunday morning.
"Great," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. "You OK finding your
way out of here?"
"I think I can manage."
He kissed her lips firmly and quickly. "Be careful driving."
"I will."
As he watched this strange and beautiful new woman drive away, he
wondered what he's just gotten himself into.