Things aren't as bad as Tammy's mind's envisioning, leading up to when Mark showed up and the initial weeks of adjustment.

Tammy washes the dishes and reflects over the past months. She can't believe it's been months of living with Mark.

The main complaint she has, Mark's on and off personality, but even that is better than some of the things she'd tried to prepare for my imagination. If Tammy is honest with herself, she's enjoying being away from it all.

Her family life isn't great.

Looking inside from outside, things would appear perfect, but Tammy has had to live the secrets and lies of her parents. Her skin begins to itch at the unpleasant memories that flood her mind. In actuality, she felt trapped in her family dynamic and couldn't wholly justify leaving her family, but at the same time has felt she needed to progress in life.

Tammy doesn't know what possessed her to come out of that closet because she doesn't love her father; she doesn't even like him.

Her mother is another story; there is
a thin line of love and hate, she walks carefully because she can't bring herself to forgive her mother; yet can't hate her.

Her parents have both failed her in their ways.

Tammy blames her father's alcoholism and domestic violence for the bulk of things. She accuses them both of being so wrapped up in each other and their careers that she fell through the cracks and was harmed by so many people and so many ways.

Mark changes the channel to something else, and it brings her back into the present moment.

The water coming out of the sink is scalding hot, and Tammy cries out after the sensation returns to her limbs; she lost track of time. Grabbing a hand towel, she presses it against her bright red skin. She's always struggled with feeling like her body is numb, along with the vivid daydreams that made her forget her surroundings.

Mark, perceptive as ever, comes over, and Tammy lets him look at the skin on her wrist. "It's not that bad. Come on. . ."

"It's not that bad. It's just red right now. "Tammy plays off the moment as the clouded feeling subsides.

She isn't truly harmed. Besides, she doesn't want Mark to know about the daydreaming. She doesn't want to explain to anyone how sometimes she doesn't feel 'real,' or outside her own body, just watching.

Mark takes Tammy's hand and shakes his head. "Better to be safe than sorry. Remember the scratches?" He refers to the faint scars left by the incident of her arrival.

Tammy is thankful Mark doesn't ask questions.

They enter his bedroom and then his bathroom.

There Mark opens his medicine cabinet and takes out some cooling burn gel. They return to the bedroom, where Tammy sits on the bed. He takes care of the superficial wound with careful concern. It feels kind of nice for this attractive man to be taking care of her.

She finds herself looking at his dense, curly hair and sharp shape up. Her eyes trace the 'either way; it's my way' tattoo along his hairline.

The tattoo is very different and maybe, in some ways, corny. Her favorite thing about Mark has to be the delicate freckles that dust his nose and disperse slightly onto his cheeks as though spray-painted on. His lips purse, and she decides she likes his dahlia bites too. He has perfect pouty lips to carry that off.

"All done. " He says and looks up at her. He's knelt before her on the floor.

"Thanks. " Tammy numbly says. She still doesn't feel quite herself.

"Don't worry about it. You gotta be careful." He almost mumbles, as though he's speaking more to himself as he stands, moving to the computer chair.

Mark looks her over; once seated, Tammy warms at his gaze because it's become more than just a good feeling.

She no longer gets butterflies just because Mark finds her attractive. Their eye contact isn't that superficial. Yes, attraction is a part of the whole thing. Tammy isn't foolish, but sometimes it feels like their eyes say more than their words can.

There's been a very thick air of tension surrounding them since a month ago when Mark brought home that woman. He completely halted bringing women over. Tammy thinks he still sees those other women, but he doesn't bring them over. Cookie still is around enough, but not as much as in the beginning.

They never spoke about that night or anything said again. Tammy has tried to avoid physical contact with Mark. Mark has respected the space.

It's challenging because they spend time together and sometimes high-value time together.

When Mark is in a good mood, they watch movies, go out to roller skate, bowling, or spend random days out doing whatever calls to them.

They build forts and eat treats inside and tell stories from their younger years. Honestly, the last sixty days have crossed boundaries and made things blurred because she doesn't know where them being emotionally involved and her being here by the agreement end and begin.

Tammy hugs herself in a self-soothing motion, feeling overwhelmed.

When they don't have those moments, there is this present tension. It's always there, and Tammy knows it's not a daydream or in her mind.

Her privates feel tight and slick, and in her mind, he knows, and it feels exciting, daring, and just a pinch embarrassing because she doesn't want Mark to know she finds him highly fuckable. Her eyes roam over his frame in the chair-so many indecent thoughts in her mind.

"I need to go take a shower." She says the words, but the numb feeling is there, and she finds herself unmoving.

Mark gently scoffs, moving the chair closer. He's now in front of her and leaning forward. "Why are you always leaving?"

Tammy scoffs at the confrontation. "I can't leave; I can't go anywhere without you. "

Mark smirks. "You know what I mean. If Cookie isn't around or we aren't doing some activity, you avoid me and stay in your room. "

Tammy takes a shallow breath. He's giving her that look, looking over her body as though he could taste every part of her.

"Well, I think we established that we don't want anything happening that would be inappropriate. " Her inner thigh quivers as he approaches.

Mark knelt in front of her, smoothing the palms of his hands up her thighs, and without her realization, she opens them more expansive, so his body fits between them. Now, they are too close for comfort. Tammy begins to think over and knows he's going to kiss her. She wants to kiss him, but she wants to do what's right too.

"We never talked about it, so, so I don't know how you came to conclusions about what I want. " His voice is raspier and more sensual.

Tammy instinctually puts her hands up and against his chest. He only looks ever so slightly up at her, and she looks down, barely. He's tall enough where even on his knees, they are a compatible height with her sitting on the bed. His hands slide into the back of her sweats, and she feels her body break out in goosebumps.

"Mark, I like Cookie. She's a nice person, and I don't want to do anything to make her hate me. Please. . ." Tammy is wrapped in a spiraling sensation as Mark pulls her closer to his own body.

Her crotch is pressed right above his belly button. Mark is still running his hands over her thighs, butt, and now her lower back, all underneath her clothes. He looks her in the eyes, and it's not intense this time. She doesn't even need to try to figure out what he's thinking; Mark's expression is unarmed. He thinks she's beautiful.

"Put your hair down. " Mark gently lifts the oversized sweatshirt she's wearing and looks at her stomach, and her bottoms have moved further down than she realized.

"Mark. . . Stop. " Tammy tries to push him, but he doesn't move.

Instead, he kisses her. Tammy's eyes drift close as his pouty lips run over her own like silk before he deepens the kiss. The kiss is brief before he kisses her neck.

"I'm not going to do anything. Let your hair down. " His tone rough and just a hint of pleading, not apathetic pleading, a sound of the need of desire.

With shaky hands, Tammy removes her bun, and her thick textured coily hair falls around her face and lays on her shoulders. Mark's mouth is left in a pouty "o" shape as he looks over everything about her at this moment. Her widespread thighs that he still occupies the space between, he looks at her make up free face and kiss swollen lips. He looks at her exposed midriff and the cotton thong he exposed the top of from the tiny space he's pulled her sweats down.

"I already told you, Cookie and I aren't the way you are thinking. " He finally says and looks right at her. "you want me to break up with her?"

Tammy feels panic when he says that. He's saying that is shattering any fantasies she's had. "No, no, that's not what I'm saying. "

Mark looks like he's barely holding back from kissing her. "Tell me what you want me to do. . . "

Tammy has to take a deep breath. She's not hearing what he's saying correctly. He's using that begging tone again, and it's turning her on. "I don't know. . . "

Mark grabs her chin. "Well, think about it."

Tammy nods. "We shouldn't do this. Mark, we can't be together. "

He doesn't think. "You wanna go home? You want me to ask you out?" He kisses her. "Tell me what to do. . . "

Tammy feels him lifting the sweater over her head, and she feels exposed. She hadn't worn a bra but just a white spandex tank top that he quickly moves to expose her breast, which he begins kissing and sucking on her nipples. Her clit feels like it's throbbing. She finds herself laying on pillows behind her head and her hands in his hair while his teeth gently graze her right nipple.

"Tammy. . ." He kisses her neck.

"Yeah. . ." She answers, slightly worried she's lost control of the situation and what he's going to say next.

"I wanna watch you touch yourself. " He says before sucking on her neck and toying with her aching nipples.

Tammy feels shy. "I don't know. . . I never did it with someone watching. "

Moving the hair out of her face and then smooths it back, Mark presses a kiss to her forehead. "You can keep your clothes on. Just close your eyes and act like I'm not here. You're so beautiful, and I just wanna see what your face would look like if you let me make love to you. "

Tammy feels his hands slide inside her panties as he kisses her. The kiss is slow and sweet and makes her feel conflicted. He's kissing her like she's his girlfriend. It's not a passion-led kiss. His hands begin rubbing her, and she moans as she starts feeling relief. Her mind begins to fantasize about letting him fuck her.

"You want me to suck on your clit?" Mark kisses her by her ear.

"Yes. . ." She responds breathily.

"You want to bounce on my dick?" He kisses her neck.

"Mmhmm. . ." She moans as a tiny tremor flows through her body.

After a while, Tammy is lost in the feelings of her body, Mark places her hand over her privates and she's so horny she no longer worries about why shy she felt. She's rubbing herself.

"Do it slower. " He says, and it makes her open her eyes.

"Like this..." She moans, liking what she's doing to herself as she switches from stimulating her clit to rubbing her gspot and imagining his dick instead of her fingers.

"Yes, baby. " His voice is deeper. "You're so beautiful. You're more beautiful than I imagined. "

"You thought about me. . . " She can't close her eyes again. She likes the way he watches.

Mark bites his lip, still playing with her hair. His thumb traces her lips. "All the time. "

Her walls clench around her fingers tightly due to his admission. She moves slower, not wanting to cum yet. He kisses her again, and Tammy almost wishes she'd let him make love to her. Touching herself doesn't feel like enough.

"You want me?" He asks in almost a whisper, and it's a vulnerable question. For a moment, it seems insecure, as though he waits for her to say no, but she shakes her head, yes, not trusting her voice. "Tell me, baby, let me hear you say it. "

Tammy swallows, feeling her orgasm building. "I want you."

"Say my name, let me hear you say my name. " He prods her.

"I want you, Mark. " She breathily says the words and switches back to rubbing her clit. She should have cum by now.

"You want me to make it better, baby?" He raises an eyebrow, and he can tell she's becoming frustrated.

"Make it better, Mark. . . please. " She pants the words.

"Lemme see that pretty pussy. " He moves and begins further undressing her.

Tammy now has no clothes and feels vulnerable. "you have your clothes on. "

He smiles, pushing her to lay back. "because this isn't about me, now lemme see. "

He opens her legs wide. He must like what he sees because he fully spreads her lips and inner lips and looks her up. Tammy relaxes when his lips make contact with her body.

"Mark. . ." She's ready to beg.

He stops kissing her inner thigh. "yes, baby, tell me what you want. "

"Suck on me. " She instructs him.

"Whatever you say. " He says before doing what she asks.