Page 88 of Missed Steps
“Mark!”
“Are you too sore to go again?” He strokes my hip. Then reaches between my legs to touch my spent cock. “I want to spill inside you more.”
There is no world in which I could say no to that. I wiggle, still impaled on Mark’s cock, and nod my permission.
Chapter Thirty-Two
My stomach knots in anxiety as Mark offers his hand. We were late arriving to the hall; everyone is already dancing, spinning their way around the dance floor, and Mark is clearly ready for us to join them. His posture is relaxed, his palm waiting patiently in the air for me to find my courage and take it. I’m not sure I find my courage, but Mark is handsome, everyone is dancing, and I don’t want to be sitting on the sidelines. I want us to join them too.
I step forward, taking his hand. I focus on remembering what I learned at the dance lessons only a few days ago…what was that again? As I begin to panic, I realise that I’m moving. There’s a step and a spin and nobody crashes into anybody else. Mark is warm and solid under my grip, and I blink, seeing that I’m crushing the collar of his green waistcoat in a fist. The one that he picked out because it matched my eyes.
I relax that crushing grip and raise my eyes from Mark’s chest to his face. He’s focused on me. Not worried, but watchful. Waiting for me to figure things out. Giving me the chance to do that before offering for us to sit this one out.
“I’m good now,” I tell him.
Mark smiles reassuringly. “I figured you’d get a bit of stage fright dancing with me in front of so many people.”
Oh. I blink. Mark misunderstood. He thought I was shy, not worrying about how I’d manage with my prosthetic. I relax further, following Mark’s expert lead, enjoying the live band playing on a raised stage right next to the floor. Enjoying being guided around the hall.
“I feel like we’re being watched,” I say, noticing pale faces following us as Mark leads us through a corner.
“Oh, I’m sure,” Mark says, sounding amused. “They’re wondering why I rocked up late again this year, most likely. Wondering who the pretty boy in my arms is.”
“You made us late,” I grumble, growing antsy at the “pretty boy” comment.
“Imade us late?” Mark challenges. “I pulled over so I could suck your cock. You’re the one who wanted to be mounted.”
“Mark,” I die, and he laughs. Mark steps back, still laughing. He slides his grip and makes me spin, and his dark eyes are filled with merriment as I turn to give him my best dirty look. Back in his arms, I end up caving and matching his smile.
“It was pretty hot,” I admit, keeping my voice low so nobody overhears. The actual fucking was pretty quick, even that second round. The problem was we both fell into a near coma right after and didn’t move for a long while. So long that I feel funny down there…like I’m still being pierced open.
“You know,” Mark draws me to his front, abandoning the hold he had on my hand for my waist again. He plants a hand on the small of my back and I tilt back my head to keep eye contact. “You’ve been in good form all day.”
I know exactly what Mark is getting at. He’s been teasing and provocative, and it’s not overwhelmed me once—even in front of an audience. I haven’t had to fight down the instinct to snap at him or want to storm off because my emotions got too much for my mind to make sense of.
“In a weird way, Ronan coming back…he’s stopped being this awful monster in my head, and instead I can see he’s just a person. An awful person, but not someone who can hurt me. And, I don’t know.” I shrug. “I’ve stopped being scared. It probably sounds silly to say I was scared of being gay, but I was. I was taughtthat it was a horrible thing through experience.” I flatten my hands on Mark’s chest and rise onto my toes to plant a soft kiss on his lovely mouth. “And now I’ve gotten to see that it can be a pretty damn good experience, too.”
Mark’s arms tighten as I sink back on my heels and he draws me into a tight embrace as the song comes to an end. “Kyle,” he murmurs into my hair. “I am so glad I saw you slip on the ice that day. And that you let me worm my way into your life.”
“Worm?” I laugh.
Mark is still hugging me tight. “I don’t like that you had to see that man ever again, but I’m glad you’re able to see him for what he is now. And…” he kisses my ear. “Let’s forget the party. I just want to curl up in bed with you.”
“We can curl up in bed later,” I promise. “For now, let’s stay. I want to thank Damien.”
I pull away from Mark. “I’m pretty sure that’s him glaring at us over there.”
Couples break away from the dance floor and others take their place as the band jumps into a quicker-paced song. Mark turns his head, glancing at where Damien is staring right at him. Mark turns away with a shrug and snags my hand, pulling me in the opposite direction. I object with a laugh, but Mark pulls me to a buffet table where everyone else is gathered. Sebastian sets up cups into a pyramid shape, Bethany is gorgeous and all smiles at Eddie’s side, and Tommy is toying with a small white ball.
“Beer-pong?” Mark asks as we join them all.
“This is a high-class party. It’s champagne-pong,” Sebastian corrects. “You in?”
“Degenerate,” Mark says fondly. “Your dad watching?”
“And my mom, and my evil sisters,” Sebastian confirms.
Mark chuckles as he breaks away from Kyle. “I’ll set up the other side.”
