Page 12 of Essence of his Soul

We wandered down State Street, winding through Dover’s historic district, and I tried to understand what was happening in my head. It was only our first date, but there was something easy between us, something that felt natural. But underneath all that ease, there was a current of something more—something deeper. It felt intense, but at the same time, I wasn’t ready to name it.

Mark’s whistle cut through my thoughts. “Man, look at that house.”

I turned to see what he was staring at. A grand Victorian-style home with a huge wraparound porch lit up under the moon's soft glow. It was straight out of a fairytale.

“It’s beautiful,” I said softly, picturing myself living in a house like that.

“I’m gonna buy a house on this street one day,” Mark said,his voice filled with that quiet confidence that was so him.

“These houses cost a fortune,” I said, more to myself than to him.

“So does my taste,” he shot back smoothly, meeting my eyes with a look that was anything but casual. Something was simmering behind his golden-brown eyes, making my breath catch.

For a moment, I was lost in the intensity of his gaze, the space between us shrinking without either of us moving. The night air suddenly felt thicker, and I could feel this pull toward him—like gravity. With Mark, everything felt heightened, like we were on the edge of something, just scratching the surface of what could be.

He leaned in, and my heart raced as he brushed his lips lightly across my forehead. The warmth of his touch, the softness of his kiss—it was enough to make my knees weak. My eyes fluttered shut, savoring the feeling. When I opened them, I tilted my head, staring into his golden eyes, reflecting the moonlight like something out of a dream.

Mark moved closer, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was soft, but the intensity behind it? That was anything but. My body reacted before my mind could catch up—I leaned in, drawn by the magnetic pull between us.

“Essence,” he whispered, his voice low, barely audible, like he was saying my name for the first time.

I felt my breath hitch. Something about how Mark said my name, the way it rolled off his tongue, made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. It made me forget, just for a second, all the walls I had carefully built around myself.

His lips hovered near mine, close enough to feel his breath warm against my skin. The space between us was nearly gone, and every nerve in my body was on high alert, waiting for that moment. That moment when everything changes.

And then, he kissed me.

It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was deep and full of the kind of passion that had been building between us all night. His lips claimed mine, and I melted into him, letting the world around us disappear. Mark’s lips were like an intoxicating drug, making me light-headed. His tongue was slow as it ran along my bottom lip before sliding inside. Our tongues merged, and I could taste the wine in his mouth. Somehow, it tasted better this way and was just as potent. The strength of his hands slid to the small of my back, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. His kiss was filled with everything we hadn’t said—desire, intensity, and something unspoken, something neither of us could name but both felt.

The night, moon, and stars faded into the background as the kiss deepened. My fingers found their way to his chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as I tried to hold on, feeling his solid strength beneath my hands. I could feel the heat of his body, the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and I knew I was in trouble. Serious trouble.

When we finally pulled back, both of us were breathless, our foreheads resting against each other’s as we stood in the middle of the quiet street. The air was still thick with tension, but now it was different, charged with the energy of something that had just been set in motion.

“I didn’t expect that,” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

Mark grinned, that same cocky but irresistible smile spreading across his face. “Neither did I, but I’m not mad at it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, though my heart was still racing. “You’re trouble, you know that?”

He shrugged, still holding me close. “Yeah, but I’m the good kind.”

We stood there for a moment longer, the silence between uscomfortable yet filled with the heat that made me feel like the ground had shifted beneath my feet.

“You want to keep walking, or are you ready to call it a night?” he asked, his voice low and full of suggestion, his thumb tracing slow, lazy circles against my back.

“I think... I should call it a night,” I said, even though every inch of me wanted to say the opposite.

Mark gave a slow nod, his hand still resting on the small of my back, like he wasn’t ready to let go yet. “Alright,” he said, his voice soft but laced with a challenge. “But don’t think I’m letting you off that easy.”

I smirked, stepping back but feeling the loss of his warmth immediately. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

We turned, heading back to the car in silence, but the air between us still crackled. When we reached my apartment, Mark walked me to the door. He was always the gentleman, but I could see that fire still burning in his eyes.

“Essence,” he said, stopping me before I slipped inside. “Tonight isn’t the end. I’m coming back tomorrow.”

I met the fire in his eyes as he leaned in for another kiss. My lips parted, a silent, seductive invitation as I whispered, “Yes, tomorrow.”

I felt a light tap on my shoulder, and as I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Mark sitting on the sofa beside me. His gaze lingered on my face, taking in every detail like he was trying to memorize it. My chest tightened, but I fought against how my body naturally responded to him being so close.

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