LARA:"You?" I asked, my surprise evident in my voice."Here," Mark said, handing over a steaming bowl of hangover soup, his eyes reflecting concern and relief after almost ignoring my question. But when I refused to take anything from him, without an explanation, he finally sighed. He explained how he had rescued me again from the bar tonight, becoming my unexpected guardian angel.For some reason, it was utterly tempting to see him only in his sweatpants and my brain was not at all processing any words her was telling me about my safety. All I could do was drool over him as the tattooed chest and abs were on display.And Damn he is sexy."You listening to me?" He calls me from my little daydream as I embarrassedly blink to the other side. "Thank you," I replied softly, accepting the soup. "You are welcome," He smiled. And I almost was lost in him. But gathering myself, I cleared my throat. "I mean," My voice trailed off, gratitude swelled within me as I looked at him. "Once again."Without any further word, he walked away towards the open kitchen, leaving me with the soup in my hand. I looked around. The spacious apartment was beautiful indeed. How can they say the Jonas brothers come from a mediocre background? The interior was black and white, reflecting the shades of his life. I had never seen him smile, never seen him make friends, apart from being with Lorenzo. Nobody did. He was always alone. At first, I used to think he was a psycho, but when I saw how different he looked from Lorenzo, the doubts cleared, stating he had a choice of people he wanted to be with.But then, what the hell was I doing here? Was I the choice of people he wanted to talk with? What? That sounds ridiculous. I mentally slapped myself. There is no way, I would be the choice of people he wants to talk with. He hates me. He came back and took the next seat beside me on the sofa, breaking the little voices in my head. His huge frame almost towered over me. I gulped. For the first time, I am feeling nervous!And when I turned towards me, I froze. I had a lot of questions to ask, and things to say, but none of them left my tongue. I was too stunned to speak when he was sitting right in front of me, looking right at me with his gorgeous brown eyes. What? What am I thinking?A beat passed.Another did.Almost a minute."I thought you were bolder in person. From what I have witnessed in your texts!" I frowned at him with a spoon of soup in my mouth. "What?" I asked. He raised his brows with a sly smirk on his face and then I remember. Holly shit. My eyes widened in realization of what he was talking about - the drunk texts. I looked up at him in shock, and noticed he was looking right at me without even blinking! For the first time on his stoic face, I found a hint of amusement. Maybe because of how funny I might be looking right now."Don't tell me you forgot about that!" He gasped a fake gasp. "If I remember it correctly, you were pretty much interested in comprising my abs with that bartender. No?"The soup spoon dropped from my hand, just like my jaw dropped to witness such a thing. The infamous, scary man of the whole campus was smiling right at me. Taunting me!He looked down before flicking over my eyes, ignoring the fallen spoon. Leaning closer, in a very damn husky voice he whispered, "I was thinking to clear your doubts,"And he is flirting with me!What the what?Am I dreaming?"I–" I began, but my words fell short."I thought we had a challenge, that you would take him home." My brows raised to my hairline. I wasn't sure if he was joking right now or teasing me. "But you failed." He taunted. "How..." His voice trailed off. He looked somewhere in the room as if thinking deeply before he said, "Not so Lara of you.""I- that's not what I meant, actually," I argued. But he ignored my words once again. Even though I am not sure how, I know the fact that he knows I failed."What was it?" he faked a concerned face with a grin on it as he asked before taking out his phone and began to read the texts, making me remember my horrible embarrassing moments on earth.Wish I could give you the best kiss you deserve and then leave you the next moment.I would kiss any random person in the bar rather than you. At least they would fucking taste better than a green eye monster.And right now, I am gonna find that handsome man and I am going home with it so that I can obsess over his delicious abs and get the fuck over yours.No lube, No protection, all night, all day, from the kitchen floor to the toilet seat, from the dining table to the church, from the front porch to the balcony, vertically horizontally..."Okay-okay... stop!" I abruptly shut him up from reading aloud those embarrassing messages. "I was drunk, okay?"I have never felt such nervous before any man. It has always been a quick fuck for me. Good. Fast. hard. But with Mark sitting in close proximity to me, his intoxicant smell of something smoky aquatic masculinity was doing something to my heart.Maybe because I have always liked him. A little more than anyone I have ever liked. But I also know the truth. He doesn't like me. He never did. And maybe today will be no exception."And does being only drunk make you text me such things mia cariño?" His brow raised. I could only look at him speechless. As he waited for me to reply, I was just lost thinking about how should I escape this. When he didn't get any reply from me, he withdrew himself. Popping off from his comfy sofa, he stood up, "What a wild drunk you are!"I huffed. Anger, embarrassment and frustration coursing through me, making me altogether, nervous, kinda sick and angry. With hands in his pocket, he turned his head towards me, "Then I must say I made a mistake rescuing you tonight. I would have enjoyed your wild side," He chuckled, leaving me a blushing mess.Looking up, I noticed, his eyes were locked onto mine, challenging me. It was a stare I never thought I was craving all along. Desire, craving, and fire surged within me instantly. There had always been an uninvited tension between us, silent yet powerful enough to pull me towards him every time, no matter how hard I tried to deny it.We had long forgotten the fact that he had just saved me a few hours ago and that I had a terrible day. And above all, he doesn't like me one ounce, no matter how much I crush hard over him all these years. But all that mattered now was him standing before me. I couldn't back down from this, I could never be able to, because I had been wanting this for a long time.He stepped a little closer making me sink more into the sofa, his beautiful hazel eyes deeply locked onto mine. Slowly with predatory steps, he leaned closer and I forze at our close proximity. Our breaths mingled, and I could feel the warmth pooling in my core. I wouldn't want anything less than this.So licking my lower lips, I finally gained my confidence, keeping eye to eye."I... could be wilder than this..." I whispered. I have no idea what I was doing by now. He had taken over the control of my body, mind and everything else. I was just reacting to his every move.He blinked looking at me. His face was hidden from any emotions as he whispered back with the same intensity, "Then I must admit, I would die to see that, Ms. Garcia."Maybe this was the chance.I stood up, almost matching his stare. Even though I was a few inches shorter than him, right now, standing before him, somehow I felt empowered."You sure you could you handle the fire?" This time, I taunt, holding his gaze.He grinned. "I have been playing with one for so long now, Ms. Garcia."Hearing my name in such a formal tone from his lips made something churn in my stomach. I must agree I am getting these churning a lot when I am with him."What I am too much for you to handle?"He grinned a sly and confident smile. "I would be asking you the same when you'd be screaming my name."Shit.I breathed. Focusing on his luscious, sensual, and utterly irresistible lips, momentarily forgetting everything else. The temptation was too overpowering to resist any longer. As he drew closer to me, I found myself unable to hold back. I closed my eyes trying to find that thread of self-control but there was nothing.As I opened my eyes all I could see was him. Fuck it. Letting go of everything I had been holding to, I pulled him in, our lips meeting in a passionate kiss.For a brief, blissful moment, everything felt perfect. His lips are on mine. Mine on his. The world shifted. They fit so perfectly. he tastes so fine. Like a sin erupted from my long-lost desire. Our bodies crashed, closing the gap there had ever been.It felt so good.Is this really happening? Am I kissing the great Mark Jonas? Opening my eyes I realised everything was true. And I closed my eyes again, pulling him by his neck and deepening the kiss.But how can everything in my life be so smooth?And then reality came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. I abruptly broke away from the kiss, my wide eyes meeting his, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment and mortification.He hadn't kissed me back!"I-I'm sorry, I..." I stammered, my voice trailing off as I turned away from him. In a hurry, I turn away from him, my shame too much to bear. I whispered to myself, my frustration and embarrassment bubbling over, "What is wrong with you?"I smacked my forehead with my hand, the weight of my actions settling in. It wasn't that I was ashamed of expressing my feelings; it was the awkwardness of not receiving a response from him that left me feeling exposed.He hadn't kissed me back!The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and a sharp pang of hurt gripped my chest. Had I misread the signals? Was he not really interested in me after all? Then why did he not push me while I was kissing him? Was it because of that viral video of me? Did he despise me like others did? Was he silently judging me? A whirlwind of questions swirled in my head, and I was left in a state of profound uncertainty.Suddenly, the bed shifted, indicating Mark's presence. I turned around, my body covered in a sheen of sweat, my breathing erratic from the confusion and disorientation."Mark," I exclaimed, my voice catching in my throat as I tried to make sense of the situation. He moved towards me, his eyes intense and unreadable. I instinctively pushed back, my words stumbling out, "What-what are you doing...?"My heart thundered in my chest, the rapid beats echoing the tumultuous uncertainty in my mind. What was going on? His proximity sent a shiver down my spine, a strange mix of sensuality and intimacy hanging heavy in the air, leaving me both intrigued and apprehensive.Before I could even process anything, he walked up to me and pinned me against the bed stand, as he replied in his husky tone, "I am here to finish what you have started,"And then his lips crashed onto mine in a wild, hungry, urgent kiss.A/N: What the what? She kissed him? He kissed her back. Team Lara and Mark anyone?