A Dark Beginning: A China Dark Novel by Hawkes Paula

Author:Hawkes, Paula [Hawkes, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2015-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

China needed to work from home on Friday, so didn’t get a chance to see Mark for three days. Despite managing to engineer daily sex with Philip, for which he was almost shamefully grateful, something was missing. Sex with Philip was lovely, loving even, and very safe. She liked loving and safe, but by Sunday evening she needed edgy and thrilling. The two halves of her life were in stark contrast, the dichotomy a wide gap that she was happy to maintain.

On Monday she was more eager than ever to meet Mark, and she told her work that she needed a long lunch in anticipation. The need generated on Thursday night by unfinished business with Esta had certainly not been quenched by Philip over the weekend.

Her and Mark had decided to stop meeting in the café. Whether he had become tired of Devak’s constant disapproving looks, or whether it was just to generate more time together alone she didn’t know. Either way she went straight to Mark’s flat.

Mark met her at the doorway wearing his stone-washed jeans and the tightest white t-shirt she had ever seen. His torso was posed liked a Greek statue, all perfectly proportioned muscles and rippling six-pack, and he had a particularly soppy grin on his face. As soon as the door was shut they kissed passionately at the foot of the stairs. When they broke off from kissing he dragged her swiftly up the stairs.

“You’re keen today, big boy.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

She wondered what that could be. Was he going to ask her to pose for him again? Did he have a present for her? She rather hoped not. She liked the fact that they were friends with benefits and nothing more. A present would indicate an escalation of feelings on Mark’s part that would not be welcome. “It’s not a present is it?” she asked breathlessly.

“Well, kind of.”

Her heart sunk. How could she politely refuse, explain the boundaries of their relationship, which hadn’t needed explaining before, without changing the whole dynamics of a relationship that she was enjoying so much. She didn’t want him sulking again. Once was enough.

When they got to his front room, China was shocked and strangely excited to see Esta sitting there on the sofa.

“Ta da,” said Mark gesturing towards Esta.

“Hi Esta,” she said. “But I don’t understand. Why are you here?”

“Mark invited me. I’m your present. He said you like to take charge but was a little nervous. I can help with posing. I can help with taking charge.”

She turned angrily towards Mark. “You told her about us,” she shouted. She had never been truly angry with Mark before. This was a new emotion and the irritation seemed more potent and quicker to rise. Extremes of emotion were an integral part of this stream of her life.

“It was hardly a surprise that we were together. After that night. What would she think? That you were my sister?”

“Not the fact that we were in a relationship. You

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