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Yes. Do you like it?
Very much.
Mark smiled. I m glad.
The waitress returned and asked if they d like anything
else. Mark shook his head and she returned promptly with the
check. He left money on the table and said, We ve got things
to do, places to go.
Like for instance?
Dancing. When was the last time you went dancing?
Kate loved to dance, but she couldn t even tell him the
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last time she d been on a dance floor.
I have a surprise for you, he said, as he took her hand
and led her from the restaurant.
He drove to the marina in Freeport. He had purchased
two tickets for a romantic moonlight cruise. There was a band
on board for dancing and a light buffet for a late dinner or
snack. Al Jankowitz, another teacher, had mentioned it to him
a while back. He had suggested Mark take a special date.
Dancing so close together nearly drove Mark crazy. It
was hard to disguise how he felt. He hoped it wouldn t ruin
her good time. Surprisingly, she said nothing, nor did she back
away.
Mark, this was a wonderful idea, Kate said when they
finally sat down to take a breather. Thank you.
I m glad you re enjoying yourself.
Kate s eyes twinkled as she said, I really am.
Mark sipped his wine spritzer and admired Kate s beauti-
ful face in awe. He never tired of looking at her finely chi-
seled, high cheek bones and those full sensual lips that he
ached to kiss.
Come, I love this song, Kate said, drawing him from
the table.
She leaned her head against his shoulder as they swayed
together to the music. He kissed the top of her head softly,
wanting the song to never end.
As the boat headed back to the dock, Mark feared that the
magic would end.
I can t believe how wide awake I feel, Kate mentioned
in the car as they drove towards her apartment.
Would you like to stop for coffee somewhere?
No, not really. I can always make some when we get
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back to the apartment. It s getting really late and we should
let Sandy go home.
Okay. I ll walk her home.
Kate leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, a smile
on her face.
I d like to go on a real cruise to the Bahamas or Mexico
one day, Kate said.
They make relaxing vacations.
Maybe when Paige is older.
Mark filed this new knowledge away for future use.
Did you guys have a nice time? Sandy asked when they
walked in.
Yes, we did, Kate replied, as she handed Sandy the
money she owed her for sitting. Did Paige give you any
trouble?
Nope. She s a great kid. I have a lot of fun watching
her.
Kate smiled. Thank you. I ll call when I need you again.
You re welcome, any time.
I ll walk you home, Sandy, Mark said.
Good night.
Sandy waved and Mark followed her out. While he was
gone, Kate checked on Paige, who was fast asleep with a tiny
smile draped across her pretty little face. Then she slipped out
of her dress into her terry robe. She came out of the bedroom
as Mark let himself into the apartment.
Shall I make some coffee?
No. I think I d like some wine if you have some.
I think there s some Chablis in the fridge.
Kate brought out two glasses into the living room and
handed one to Mark.
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Thanks.
She sat down next to him using him as a back rest as she
stretched out her legs.
You looked so lovely tonight.
Thank you, Mark, she said as she looked up at him.
A warm feeling began to spread through her. She sudden-
ly had this overpowering need to feel his lips on hers and his
strong hands on her body. Kate gently stroked the side of his
face.
Are you sure you want this, Kate? I don t want you to
regret it later, Mark asked, sensing where this might be head-
ing.
I want you to make love to me, Mark, she said as she
kissed him.
Mark didn t expect the night to turn out this way even
though he d often prayed that one day it would. He had no
idea that Kate had changed her feeling towards him. This was
a most inviting surprise.
Kate hadn t merely changed her mind about Mark over-
night. Instead, it had been a gradual change that she had been
hardly aware of herself until tonight. Mark had been a con-
stant factor in her life. Her love for him had grown slowly like
wine aging. It wasn t an earth-shattering love like she had with
Peter, but a more mature, comfortable one.
Paige s feelings towards Mark helped tip the odds in his
favor. Kate couldn t deny their close relationship. Even
though Paige knew that Mark wasn t her father, she always
made believe he was.
Kate had begun to miss having a man to hold her and
make love to her. As much as she thought that aspect of her
life had died along with Peter, she realized now that it hadn t.
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With Mark around, she was never lonely, but just his pres-
ence was no longer enough. She needed and wanted his physi-
cal love, as well.
Perhaps it was the wine that had made her heady and fi-
nally ready to break down the last inhibitions keeping her
aloof from Mark, preventing her from loving him. The actual
catalyst mattered little. What truly mattered at that moment
was the undeniable fact that she wanted him terribly. She
hadn t felt such a sexual hunger since Peter.
Oh, Kate, was all Mark managed to whisper before his
lips crushed hers in a passionate kiss.
Kate kissed him back with intensity now that all the de-
sire and longing she d held in check for so long had been re-
leased. They seemed to be devouring one another with their
kisses. She felt as if she was being consumed by her own rag-
ing desire. And each kiss merely stoked the flames.
Breathless, they stopped for a moment and looked into
one another s eyes. Then Kate took Mark s hand and led him
into her bedroom.
Falling back onto the bed with Mark next to her, she
drew his head down close to hers and kissed his face, his eyes,
and finally, his lips. She could feel her own breath shortening
and that dull, sweet sexual ache growing deep within her.
You have no idea how long I ve waited for this mo-
ment.
Breathlessly, she answered, I think I have. Please love
me, Mark.
There was no mistaking the sexual desire in her eyes. If
Mark could have saved that moment forever in a bottle, he
would have. At that instant he felt as if he d been reborn.
With such a sense of urgency, he couldn t get out of his
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clothes fast enough. Within moments, Mark was besides her
stroking her tender breasts. He suckled a nipple, eliciting a
quiet moan from Kate s lips. Moving to the other one, he
dropped his hand to her sex. Gently he slipped his finger past
the tender folds. Kate rubbed against that hand. He had sensed
she was ready, now he was positive.
Mark sought her lips once more and their tongues ca-
ressed one another. Kate had quickened her pace. He re-
moved his hand and replaced it with his erection. Kate closed
herself around him and they began to move at a fevered pace
until they collapsed in a spent heap.
They lay like that for some time, breathing in each oth-
er s air as they looked into each other s eyes. Mark looked for
any hint of guilt or remorse on Kate s part. Seeing none, he
smiled and kissed her nose. That led to a kiss here, a touch
there, and their passion began to build again. With the urgen-
cy behind them, they now made love at a slower pace.
* * * *
The sunlight streaming in awoke Kate. Unlike the last
time she and Mark had made love, she felt wonderful. Not a
hint of guilt. No remorse. Glancing at the clock on her night
table she knew Paige would be in any moment. Did she want
the child to find Mark in her bed? But before she could even
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