As Mark answered he slid the curtain aside and stepping out of the shower wrapped a towel around his waist not bothering to dry off. Once again I noticed how tired he looked. Maybe I could get him to come back to bed. I wouldn’t mind a little more sleep myself.
“You needed that didn’t you little brother?”
I also stepped out, right into the towel Mark was holding up. I smiled as he wrapped it around me. He had been doing that for me since we had started playing and it was one of those little things that always made me feel spoiled.
“I did.” He said, and then added. “I don’t think you minded either.”
I turned to face him and smirked.
“Hell no. This nasty girl is always up for a good hard fucking from that beautiful cock.”
“Yeah?” Mark asked smiling. “You like when I fuck you like that, hard and nasty?”
I returned his smile. Feeling like I had really given him what he needed. Maybe we would be able to sleep a little then talk about last night.
“Like it? Little brother I love it!” I told him.
“Good.” Mark said his smile changing from the one he always gave me to a smug little smirk. The one he used in court when he had just crossed up a witness. My heart sank as he finished;
“At least you love something about me.”
With that he shook his head, and turning walked out of the bathroom.
“Mark please don’t talk like that!” I called after him as I followed him towards his bedroom.
“You know I love you Mark it’s just that…”
I stopped, as reaching his bedroom door he turned to face me.
“It’s just what Meg?”
I stood there looking at him, realizing I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I tried anyway;
“Well you know we’ve always loved each other, but..”
“I know.” He cut me off. “We love like brother and sister, but fuck like lovers.”
“Mark I’m sorry I…”
“Don’t be.”
He looked at me for a minute as if trying to decide what to say. Our eyes met, and I could see he was hurt. Swallowing hard he looked away from me and whispered;
“I guess I forgot the rules.” He laughed softly without humor. “Forgot my place.”
“Oh Mark come here.”
I put my arms out to hug him, but he shook his head and opening his bedroom door took a deep breath and said softly;
“Don’t worry sis it won’t happen again.”
I tried to take his hand but he pulled away.
“I need to be alone for awhile.”
As I stood there with tears in my eyes, my heart aching for him he entered his bedroom, and closed the door behind him.
Turning away from the door I made my way into the living room and sat on the couch. As I tried to control my emotions I turned to look at the glass coffee table next to me. On it was a framed 8×10 photo of Mark and I when we were teenagers. The picture was just of our heads our faces pressed side by side. At that age our resemblance was unmistakable. I was flashing my best big crooked smile and Mark was smiling as well but it was a shy nervous one that I found adorable. It had been taken the day he had officially come to live with us. The day fate brought us together to take care of each other.
That was more than I could handle. I burst into tears putting my head in my hands to try to muffle my sobs so Mark wouldn’t hear me. Not only had I broken his heart last night, but had just made it worse. I should have never fucked him. Mark had been right in the shower; I never took no for an answer, and even more when he had said that I had needed it to. I hadn’t just fucked him for his benefit I had done it for me. To make myself feel better about hurting him, because it’s what I wanted, and I always took what I wanted, at least where Mark was concerned. Megan you self centered bitch! I yelled at myself then just sat there and cried myself out.
When I had stopped I realized I had to get moving. I had to leave. Go see mom. It seemed like a terrible thing to do but staying here would just make things worse. Neither Mark nor I were good with dealing with emotions. Things could only go downhill from here. I went into the bathroom and took an actual shower, letting the hot water hit me and trying to let the steam clear my head. After I had finished I went into the guest bedroom where I had unpacked my things and put a bag together for the couple of days I would spend with mom and dad. Keeping in mind I would be with my parents I packed a couple of conservative outfits and dressed in a plain white skirt with a tank top and a white blouse to go over it to cover up my tattoo that mom had never been a fan of.
I put the bag by the door then went into Mark’s office to grab the keys for the Lexus. I took them off the hook and was turning when a manila envelope on Mark’s desk caught my eye. I didn’t think it had been there yesterday but then again I had been more interested in the pictures on the desk than anything else. The envelope was addressed to Mark, but what had caught my eye was the senders address; Bloch and Price.
I knew that name. Bloch and Price was one of the largest law firms in Chicago and had represented Abigail several times when every once in awhile some overzealous politician or church group tried to shut the Black Flame down. Glancing out towards Mark’s bedroom to make sure he hadn’t come out. I quickly picked the envelope up and slid the letter out. The first part of it thanked Mark for coming out to see them last month. I narrowed my eyes last month? That’s right I had gone to LA with Laura to visit her parents for a week.
My eyes widened as I read on. The letter was a detailed job offer. Salary, benefits, vacation, company car, and a signing bonus that was staggering. The letter ended with them saying they respected his honesty that he wasn’t sure when he could give them an answer but they would appreciate it by the end of the month.
I put the letter down and sat there shaking my head in disbelief. Last night was no game, nor was it him rebounding from Samantha, my little brother had been waiting for me. Not just waiting but planning. Prepared to pick up and leave the only life he had ever known to go back home with me, to be with me. I carefully put the letter back where I found it knowing Mark would notice if they had been moved even a little bit.
I quickly got up and left his office in case he came out. My mind was racing as it had last night. I walked over to the door and put my hand on the knob. No, I couldn’t just leave without saying goodbye to him. I went back over to his bedroom door and knocked softly.
“Mark?” No answer. I knocked a little louder.
“Hey little brother, you gonna come kiss your sister goodbye?”
I sighed then reaching down turned the knob half expecting it to be locked. It wasn’t so I pushed the door open partway and stepped inside. The pungent aroma of nightshade incense struck me as soon as I entered the room. Because of the tapestries and black drapes Mark’s bedroom was pitch black even during the day. The candelabra’s were lit as well as a half dozen candles spread out around the room. Mark was sitting naked cross legged on the bed his hands resting palm up on his knees.
Mark’s eyes were closed and he was chanting softly in Latin. I quietly approached the bed and listened. Mark was reciting the Inno A Satana; a long poem that he usually sang. I closed my eyes focusing on his words. Mark and I had both become fluent in Latin by our late teens. Mine was a bit rusty but Mark used it all the time even taking all his notes in court in Latin so no one else could read or use them.
Hearing where Mark was in the poem, I waited until he started the next verse and joined in. At the sound of my voice Mark’s eyes opened halfway to look at me. I got onto foot of the bed sitting in the same position he was in. Mark didn’t miss a word, and the two of us sat chanting looking into each other’s eyes. After another verse Mark put his hands out. I put my hands into his and closed my eyes. I continued to sing softly but Marks voice grew louder, and stronger taking the lead. His Latin was flawless and I could feel the strength emanating from him.
I let myself get lost in Mark’s voice, I was singing along but my focus was on him. The song reached its climax and I raised my voice with his for the last stanza. We stopped and I took several long deep breaths, when I opened my eyes Mark was staring at me. Still holding his hands I leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. Mark closed his eyes, and sighed.
“Going Meg?” He asked.
“Yeah, I told mom noon.”
“Okay.” He nodded and getting off the bed slipped on the black robe that was on the bed next to him.
We left the room and I turned to look at him. He seemed better, well calmer at least. We looked at each other silently. I was not used to things being awkward between us.
“Hey Mark I’m taking mom to lunch you want to come?”
“No, you go alone she’s missed you.”
“She misses you too you know.”
Mark shrugged and I asked;
“Mark what’s going on with you and dad?”
“Better you don’t know.” He said simply.
“Mark…” I started.
“Let it go sis.” Mark sighed and looking away whispered. “I’m sorry Megan.”
“Why are you sorry?” I asked.
“I was kind of rough earlier and I got carried away and I…” He exhaled loudly. “It made me think of that night that…”
I instantly put my finger to his lips.
“First off little brother,” I began. “We don’t talk about that night. Ever. Second you didn’t do anything I didn’t want you to…” I put my arms around his neck.
“And last of all Mark I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to upset you I just…” Once again I was unsure of just what to say.
“Megan I…”
Mark started then stopping put his hands up in a helpless gesture. I simply hugged him tight. At first Mark put his arms around me, but seemed stiff. I continued to hold him refusing to let him go. After what seemed like an eternity I felt his body relax into mine, and he hugged me back putting his face into my neck.
“Listen Mark,” I whispered in his ear. “We’ve both got a lot to say but don’t know how to say it. And I’ve already screwed up twice. I don’t want to hurt you or fight. I’m going to go with mom and dad and that will give us time to clear our heads. I’ll come back Tuesday and we’ll go out to dinner and talk okay?”
“Okay.” He stepped back.
“You going to be alright Mark?”
“I’ll be fine sis. I always am.”
I smiled and told him;
“I love you little…” Shit! I thought as I caught myself. “Mark.” I finished.
He returned the smile sadly.
“I love you to… sis.”