Page 61 of Essence of his Soul

Oh no, he didn’t.

“We’ll see about that,” I muttered under my breath. Tightening my robe around my waist, I marched out of my room, through the hallway, and straight into the guest room like I had a bone to pick. And I did.

Mark was lying flat on his back, hands behind his head, looking all calm and relaxed like nothing just happened. Like he hadn’t just rocked my world and then ran off like a coward.

“How dare you!” I shouted, feeling the heat rise in me all over again.

“Not now, Essence,” Mark said, his voice low and full of warning.

I wasn’t going to be brushed off like that. “Oh, yes, now!” My nostrils flared as I took a deep breath, my chest rising and falling so fast I could barely keep up. I stormed over to the bed, standing over him, glaring. He didn’t even flinch. Just lay there, naked, looking like the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen with the stubbled jawline that made my knees weak. Thick thighs and muscular calves tangled in the sheets. My eyes trailed over him, down his broad chest, his flat stomach, to where the sheets barely covered what I knew was underneath.

God, he was distracting as hell.

I shook my head, snapping my eyes back up to his face, furious all over again. “I want an answer, Mark, and I want it now!”

He groaned, running a hand over his face like I was the one stressing him out. “Woman, if you don’t give me a minute to think, I swear—”

“A minute?!” I scoffed, my voice rising. “How dare you make love to me like that, like a damn savage, and then—”

Before I could finish, he grabbed me and pulled me down onto the bed beside him. In one swift move, he rolled on top of me, pinning me beneath him like he knew exactly how to shutme up.

“Did I hurt you?” His voice was softer now, but his grip on my chin was firm, making me meet his eyes.

I stayed quiet, the anger still swirling inside me, mixing with something else—something I didn’t want to admit was there. He tightened his hold on me, his eyes searching mine. “Essence, answer me.”

“No,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. No, he didn’t hurt me. Not physically, anyway.

His grip softened, but he didn’t move. Just kept staring down at me with those intense eyes that had me melting and furious all at once. I couldn’t look at him any longer, so I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the confusion and the pain that was bubbling up inside me.

Why couldn’t he just let me be?

“Before I explain my actions, answer one question.”

His voice was steady, but I could feel the tension behind it. My heart thudded in my chest as I swallowed the knot of fear that had formed in my throat.

“What is it?" I asked softly, unsure of where this was headed.

Tilting his chin, Mark gave me a sidelong glance, his dimple momentarily appearing before his expression turned serious again. “Are you engaged to Malcolm?”

That question hit me hard, even though I’d already decided. “No.”

“Then take his ring off your finger.”

“Alright,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Now, Essence,” he demanded, his tone firm but not harsh.

I reached for my finger, my heart racing. Fumbling, yet the ring slid off easily this time, almost like it knew it didn’t belong there. I set it on the nightstand beside me, letting out a small, shaky breath. “Satisfied?”

Mark’s eyes softened just a little, though his expressionremained serious. “Yes,” he replied.

I pressed my lips together, my pulse still hammering in my chest as I waited for what he would say next. There was something different in his demeanor, something raw and unguarded.

“This is very difficult for me to say,” he began, his gaze locking with mine, “but here goes.” He paused for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. “I thought I could keep things simple and be an arrangement without emotional involvement. But that’s not the case anymore. You gotta brotha hooked.” His voice wavered slightly, the weight of his confession hanging in the air. “At first, I thought it was just because of Tyler, but it’s more than that. I felt it even before I saw dude’s ring on your finger.”

I felt a lump forming in my throat as he spoke. “Me too,” I admitted, my voice small.

Mark’s eyes darkened, his voice dropping as he continued. “What just happened in your shower… scared the hell out of me. But I want this to work, Essence. I want a real relationship, no games, no holding back.”

---