Page 68 of Essence of his Soul

I leaned back in my seat, covering my face with my hands. “Please don’t tell me you told him I refused your marriage proposal!”

Mark chuckled, and that low, deep sound sent a little shiver through me. “Okay, I won’t tell you.”

I peeked at him from behind my fingers. “But you did, didn’t you?”

He caught the worried look in my eyes, and without hesitating, he grabbed my hand and kissed my palm like it was the most natural thing in the world. “No,” he said softly, “but I did tell him we talked about marriage, and we haven’t figured it all out yet.”

I sighed, feeling the weight of those words sink in. That was just as bad. I already knew my father wasn’t going to let that conversation go. I could see him calling me up by the end of the week, talking about “we need to talk.”

I turned my gaze out the window, trying to relax, but thick tension hung between us. And it wasn’t just regular tension—it was the kind that made your skin tingle. It was Christmas Eve, and whenever I thought about what happened between us the other night, my body reacted remembering, too. I tried to tell myself it was a mistake, but now I wasn’t so sure.

When we pulled up to the house, the snow fell heavily, covering the streets like a blanket. It was good we got home before the roads got too bad. Tyler was knocked out in the back seat, sleeping hard after a long day of being passed around fromone family member to another. Mark scooped him up while I took care of the leftovers, putting everything in the fridge.

I wandered into the living room and turned on the TV, trying to distract myself.It’s a Wonderful Lifewas on. I hadn’t seen it in years, but something about it made me feel calm, like it was a tradition I didn’t even know I needed. Tyler was out for the night, which left just Mark and me. And that thought alone made my heart race.

“I love that movie,” Mark’s voice interrupted my thoughts, returning me to reality.

I glanced over my shoulder, seeing him standing there in the doorway, looking so damn comfortable. “I haven’t watched it in forever,” I said, turning back to the screen, trying to play it cool. But when I looked at him again, he was sitting beside me on the sofa, and I could feel the heat from his body like he was sending out signals.

“Ready to play Santa?” I asked, trying to change the energy, but my voice came out shaky.

His eyes lit up, and that smile of his was back. “Yeah, I’m ready. But how ‘bout we change into something more comfortable before we start hauling toys out of the closet?”

“Alright,” I said, nodding too fast, practically jumping up from the sofa like I was running away from my thoughts.

Back in my room, I slipped into a satin gown, tying the robe tight around my waist. I stared in the mirror, took a deep breath, and returned to the living room.

When I walked into the room, I had to pause. Mark had changed into flannel pajama bottoms, his chest bare. A fire was going, making the room feel cozy and warm. My heart did that thing again, that quick flutter he made happen without even trying.

“How ‘bout some hot chocolate?” I asked, my voice a little unsteady.

“Sounds perfect,” he said, his eyes locking on me.

I entered the kitchen, my heart beating fast, like running a marathon. The tension between us was thick enough to cut with a knife. I filled the kettle, trying to steady myself, but there was no denying it. We were both feeling it—the anticipation, the pull. It was like we were both waiting for something to break.

A few minutes later, I returned with two mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of cookies. I set them down on the table and sat beside Mark on the floor, handing him a mug. Our fingers touched, and the jolt that ran through me almost made me spill the drink. I looked up at him, and he was feeling it, too.

* * *

As I sat there, sipping my cocoa, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Essence. The way the firelight bounced off her skin, giving her this soft glow—it hit me differently, like a punch to the gut. She had on one of those short gowns that barely grazed her thighs, leaving her slender, toned legs on display. And man, she looked good. Sweet, soft, like I could break her with a touch. But at the same time, just looking at her like that sent me a wave of pure heat. I was trying to keep my cool, but it wasn’t easy.

“You ready to get started?” I nudged her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin.

She glanced up from the TV, her eyes meeting mine, and something flickered between us. I could tell by how her gaze softened, and the blush crept up her cheeks that she felt it, too.

I put my mug down and headed to the spare room to grab the bags of toys, taking a deep breath. When I came back, Essence was watching me with those narrowed eyes, ready to call me out.

“Those aren’t the toys I bought,” she teased, her voice light and playful.

I smirked, nodding toward the bag by the sofa. “Nope, these are the ones I bought. Yours are right there.” I pointed to thesmaller bag.

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “That little boy is going to be spoiled,” she said, shaking her head.

I shrugged, feeling proud about it. “Last year doesn’t count. My son was too young. This one? I want it to be special.”

Her smile shifted and got a little softer, more real. “Just you being here makes it special.”

Those words hit me like a gut punch in the best way. “Thanks,” I said quietly, trying to keep it together.

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