Page 78 of Essence of his Soul

After dinner with Calaine and David, we pulled into the garage Friday night, still laughing at something David said about the tacos. They’d be heading to San Antonio tomorrow to bring in the new year. That’s when Mark looked over at me, catching my eye in the dim light of the streetlamp, and hit me with a question that caught me off guard.

“How about we get away for the weekend?” His voice was low and serious, making my heart skip a beat.

“Go where?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. How he looked at me, I could tell that this wasn’t just some casual suggestion. This was something that really mattered to him.

“Philadelphia,” he said, his eyes not leaving mine. “Nowhere far. I want some time alone with you before I leave.” The way he said it, with so much intensity behind his words, I couldn’t helpbut nod.

“Yes,” I said, my excitement bubbling up. “I’d love to. When do we leave?”

“As soon as I make all the arrangements.”

By the next afternoon, we were on our way to Philly. Mark had pulled out all the stops and booked us a suite in one of those hotels that is like a hidden gem, the kind of place where every room feels like a mini getaway. When we walked in, I couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. It wasthatnice.

“Wow,” I said, looking around, taking it all in. “I could definitely get used to this.”

Mark smiled as he set down our bags, watching my reaction. “So could I,” he said, his voice softer and more thoughtful.

Something in the way Mark looked at me made my chest tighten just a little. Like maybe he wasn’t just talking about the room.

I wandered around, checking out the suite. A cute little kitchenette, a cozy living room, a king-sized bed, and a balcony gave us a perfect view of the city. It felt like we’d entered our little world, where everything outside didn’t matter.

I turned back to Mark, still smiling. “So, what do you want to do first?”

He didn’t hesitate. He pulled me close, his hands strong but gentle as he kissed me, and that kiss—it was the kind that made me forget everything. The city, the hotel, all of it melted away, and all that was left was him. When we finally pulled apart, he was grinning, his breath warm against my skin.

“If we stay in this room any longer,” he murmured, his voice low, “I’m going to end up ravishing you.” His grin widened. “Let’s make dinner reservations and see the city before we get too carried away.”

I laughed, my heart still racing. “Sounds perfect.”

We took a cab to Chestnut Street and hopped into a horse-drawn carriage to tour the area. I leaned into Mark, wrapped in a thick blanket, as the carriage rolled through the tree-lined streets. I’d lived in Pennsylvania most of my life but never really experienced Philly like this. The history, the lights—with Mark, it was like seeing it all for the first time, and it felt magical. Like we were in a movie, everything was playing out just how it was supposed to.

By the time we got back to the hotel, the room felt even more inviting than it had earlier. My eyes landed on the Jacuzzi tub, and for a second, I was tempted. But then I saw the look in Mark’s eyes, and I knew if we got in there, we wouldn’t make it out for dinner. So, I suggested a quick shower instead.

“Quick” turned into something else entirely. We stayed under that sprayer longer than we planned, laughing, kissing, and getting lost in each other like we always did.

While standing under the warm water, my body pressed against his, I couldn’t help but feel like this weekend was more than just a break from reality. It was a glimpse into something bigger, something I hadn’t even let myself fully hope for. And as much as I wanted to live in the moment and not think about what came next, I couldn’t shake the feeling that what we had was real.

I thought I was going to combust as Mark found several new ways to bring me pleasure. I was on the brink of exploding when he dragged my legs up around his hips and entered me slowly. After I collapsed in his arms, Mark carried me into the room, where he laid me gently across the bed and kissed the water from my skin.

“Mmmm, you’ve got to stop, or we’re never making it to dinner,” I teased, barely able to get the words out as Mark’s lips lingered on my neck, making it hard to think straight.

“When I’ve got you, food’s the last thing on my mind,” he murmured, his voice low and warm, sending a wave of heatstraight through me.

I laughed softly, reluctantly pulling back from his hold. “I wish I could say the same, but I haven’t eaten since lunch, and this girl is starving.”

He groaned, clearly not happy about letting me go. “Alright, Ms. Monroe. If food is what you want, then food you shall get. But don’t think for a second that I’m done with you. We’re picking this up right where we left off.”

I smiled, knowing we both wanted the same thing—to stretch this night out for as long as we could. I changed into black dress slacks and a gray turtleneck sweater, something simple but sleek. At the same time, Mark came out of the room in navy slacks and a royal blue sweater that made him look almost too good to be real. My heart did a little flip when I saw him dressed like that.

“You look so handsome,” I said, giving him an appreciative once-over.

“And you’re looking good yourself,” he replied, his slow smile weakening my knees. He took my hand, kissed me lightly, just enough to keep me wanting more, then led me out the door and down to the hotel lobby, his grip warm and steady in mine.

We had reservations at this steakhouse in the hotel, where the atmosphere was fancy but comfortable. The smells hit me as soon as we walked in—sizzling steaks, seafood, and that mouth-watering scent of freshly baked bread. I could already tell we were in for a treat.

We started with a shrimp cocktail, and when that prime rib came out, perfectly cooked, paired with a baked potato and steamed vegetables, I was in heaven. But that cheesecake we had for dessert? Oh, that was everything. Melt-in-your-mouth good. I swear, I could’ve stayed at that table all night.

After dinner, we wandered to the hotel lounge, and things got good. Mark led me onto the dance floor as a slow ballad played,his hands fitting perfectly at my waist, guiding me like we’d been doing this forever. I had forgotten how much I loved to dance. It felt so good to move, let go, and feel the music and his body next to mine.

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