Page 24 of Essence of his Soul

Growing up, I had many friends who didn’t have their fathers around. I remembered those baseball games where Pop was always in the stands, cheering me on, while their dads were MIA. I wasn’t going to let Tyler feel that emptiness. Not now, not ever.

I gently placed Tyler in his crib, pulling the blanket to his chin. Looking down at his little face, I saw my future staring back at me.

Dammit. How do I make her see this? They needed me. And I needed them. Being around them had me feeling more alive than I had in years. I wasn’t about to let that go.

I glanced out the window in the corner of his room, watching the snowflakes swirl in the wind. There wasn’t much snow expected, but the moment it piled up enough, I was buying a sled and taking my son to the park.

My son.

The thought of not seeing him every day? Not even an option.

I returned to the living room and found that Essence had turned on the Christmas lights around the windows and the small tree. She was bent over, turning on a wireless speaker, andall I could see was that perfect ass of hers. Memories of our past heated my loins, but I pushed them back.

Essence grabbed her phone, and within seconds, an R&B Christmas jam filled the room. The smooth melodies started to take the edge off my mood.

“I’ll back off if you want,” I said, breaking the silence.

Her head shot up, surprise written all over her face. “What?”

“I’ll stop bugging you about marrying me.”For now.“But I’m gonna be here every day, and that’s non-negotiable.”

Our eyes locked, and after a moment, she nodded. “Okay.”

“Good.”

She straightened, pulling her shoulders back, unaware the motion outlined her breasts, pushing them against the cotton fabric. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and her nipples had hardened. “I don’t mind you being here during the day, but once I come home…”

I walked toward her and noticed her take a step back. “You can’t handle being near me?” Mark interrupted. “Afraid you’ll like it?” I knowingly took another step closer.

* * *

I stared up at Mark, studying the strong lines of his jaw, the shadow of stubble on his chin, and the soft curve of his wide mouth. Everything in me ached for him to reach out, to grab hold and pull me into his arms. As if he could read my mind, Mark’s hand lifted, and he gently caressed my face. His touch was like a wicked jolt of lightning, surging through my veins and igniting a raging inferno inside me.

It would be a disaster to give in to this desire, to let old memories and lingering emotions weaken my resolve. But standing this close to him, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine, I found it harder to remember why I had been so determined to keep my distance. I could almost feel thepull of the past, the echo of what we once had, drawing me in and tempting me to forget everything but this moment. But I couldn’t let myself go there.

I couldn’t let him kiss me again. And yet, as I thought of him I tingled with reality. Kissing him was what I wanted him to do and more. And it was because of that temptation I took another step backward. Otherwise, I might do something stupid like ask him to make love to me.

His gaze roamed over my face, studying me intently. “Are you all right?” he asked, his smile warm but his eyes serious, questioning. He was standing so close I could count every dark lash framing his eyes, every hair that shadowed his jaw.

“I’m fine,” I finally managed to say, though my voice sounded shaky, even to me. “Just tired, that’s all.” It was impossible to think clearly when he was this close.

“That’s because you’ve been doing it alone for too long. Now I’m here to help you.”

A long silence hung between us as he cupped my cheek, his thumb gently stroking back and forth across my jaw. This time, his touch wasn’t just a spark—it was a hot bolt of lightning that set every nerve on fire. I instinctively stepped away, trying to regain my composure.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he said softly but with a determination that was impossible to ignore.

I shook my head, trying to form a protest, but the words wouldn’t come.

“I said I’d be here,” he repeated, his voice a comforting promise.

I could see the resolve in his golden eyes, and I knew—before I even started to argue—I would lose this battle.

When I felt his strong arms circle my shoulders, I leaned into his strength, grateful for his presence. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head, the tenderness of the gesture making mychest tighten with emotion. “I’m gonna be there for both of you.”

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice thick with unspoken feelings.

Mark stepped back slightly, his hands falling to my waist. When I looked up, I saw a slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips.

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