"Bullshit, sweetheart. I'm touching you right now, and you're not stopping me. Nothing's preventing you from taking a step backward, is there?" He pull her closer to him, his hand now closing over her lower back, just above the waistband of her skirt.
"Even now, you can stop this, if you really want to."
"Implying that I don't want to?" she said.
"I'm not implying anything, my Mermaid. I'm flat out stating it. You don't want me to stop." He pulled her against him tighter, but he did it slowly and gently, giving her plenty of opportunity to put the lie to his words. Only, she couldn't. Because she was stupid, and he was right, damn him.
"You want me to touch you. You don't want me to stop." He smiled.
She finally took a step back even though she did not want to. "Wrong, no touching!" She buttoned up her shirt.
"Fine but we both know we want each other. But I will be the bigger man and say I'm sorry. It was just so hard to resist having you here with me like this."
She walked to the other side of the room and turned. She was flushed. "I'm not saying I could not feel the attraction we have for each other. And I not saying I am not tempted to give in. I feel the pull to be with you. But it is to soon."
"Says who?"
"Says me. I don't want to be another notch on the bed post for someone. I have saved myself for the one. Just because I really want you doesn't give you the right to force me to give in. I thought you said you knew me." She then walked out.
As she got to the front door a tall mousey brunette dressed in a business skirt and blouse came in.
"Who are you?" She sneered.
Ariel just walked past her and out the door before calling a cab.
Mandy walked into the bedroom and when Marcus heard someone he said, "Please forgive me. I promise to take it slow."
"Forgive you for what?" Mandy asked.
Marcus froze then turned towards the door to see Mandy standing there.
"I thought you were someone else. Get me a suit and wait outside please." He said.
Mandy got his cloths laid out and noticed he was naked. She could not help but blush at the sight of his naked body.
When she left the room he quickly dressed and got into his chair. He had to get his strength back quickly.
"Get a nurses aide here starting tonight to help me with daily needs. Shower dressing. Things like that. Hire them till PT says I can do everything on my own." He said getting into the car.
"I can just move in and help you if you need."
"No, I want a professional plus it would be weird if you help me clean myself. Make it a man please." He then flipped through the files on his tablet.
When he got to work he sent Ariel a quick text.
[Baby, please forgive me. I promise to take it slow if that is what you want. Please can we talk this out over dinner?] Marcus.
When Heny came in for his meeting Ariel still had not replied. After the board meeting still nothing. Had he lost her before they could of started.
Ariel got to work early and swam until she was tired. She had three classes today. It wasn't until 5 when she pulled her phone out of her bag she seen all the messages he had left.
Marcus [Baby, please forgive me. I promise to take it slow if that is what you want. Please can we talk this out over dinner?]
Marcus [Baby please just talk to me.]
Marcus [I promise I won't ever cross the line again. Just give me a chance.]
Marcus [Call me when you decide to give us another try. I will be waiting even if it takes forever.]
"Ariel, There was a delivery for you earlier." One of the staff said.
"For me?" She then handed Ariel a beautiful periwinkle plant. She smiled when she read the card. She then picked up the phone and dialed his number.
"Hello?" A womans voice came over the phone. Marcus had gone into an important meeting and left his phone with Mandy. She usually just let things go to voice mail but when she seen Mermaid light up she answered the call.
"Is Marcus there?"
"He had to use the little boys room but then his thing is not little if you know what I mean."
"Who is this?"
"His fiancee. Who is this?" She smiled at her lie. Others had believed it.
"Oh, Sorry I just wanted to confirm the appointment for Wednesday at 6 to go over the fundraiser. Just have him give the office a call. Kevin will be meeting with him and Chief Harper."
"I will. Oh sexy you ready for another round" She then hung up the phone with an evil smile.
Ariel looked at her phone. She then opened up the text messages and wrote a reply.
[Sorry just seen the messages. I think it would be best to stop all this. Kevin will take over for me on planning the fundraiser. People like you are why there are no happy endings for people like me.😢] Mermaid
Marcus just stared at his phone. She would not forgive him. He was so stupid. He then threw his phone and it shattered.
The week went by quickly. Harper met with Kevin and Marcus worked overtime on therapy. He had gotten a new phone but rarely even looked at it.
When Saturday finally came they guys met at the club to drink.
"Have you tired to talk to her yet?" Harper asked.
"She made it clear."
"Richie, she must of misunderstood something. You know you can read into text sometimes. You need to talk it out face to face." Mickey said.
"I don't understand. She wanted me as much as I wanted her and when she said stop I stoped. Why won't she give me a chance?" He downed his drink and ordered another.
Heny just shook his head. Marcus was always the one to help them out. He put his life on the line many times for each of them. He stole Marcus phone and slipped out of the room.