Reclaiming His Wife

CHAPTER TWELVE: PICNIC DATE

“Mark—” Jessica began, fidgeting in her seat.

She wanted to know what Mark was thinking and where he was taking her, but she didn’t know how to ask.

She was ashamed to say that despite how she felt about Mark and Veronica, she was relieved he’d rescued her from having to continue to respond to Gavin. She’d always been awkward around guys, especially those who were interested in her romantically. During her college years, she’d mastered the art of disguising her awkwardness by doing a lot of fake smiling and pretend interest. So while she’d been laughing and conversing with Gavin, she had been cringing on the inside. She’d actually been debating with herself whether or not to tell him she was married (since she’d felt it was wrong to say so as she’d asked for a divorce) when Mark arrived. She'd been so grateful for his arrival, she was more than willing to go wherever he was taking her.

“I know we need to talk, but let’s wait until we reach our destination. I did some research, but I’m not too familiar with the city as yet to be confident I won’t get lost,” Mark said, cutting her off.

Well, that’s one of the things I wanted to ask you. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise, so you will just have to wait and see.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? No further questions? You’re just going to let me drive you to wherever?” He questioned shocked.

“Yes, Mark. Despite everything, I still consider you my best friend. And for the record, I trust you. I know you would never do anything that would physically hurt or harm me.”

“Jess, you say you trust me. But your words imply that you believe I would or already have hurt you in other ways.”

“As you said, we have a lot to talk about. We will do so when we arrive at this mysterious place you are taking me to. A place we could reach faster if you told me where it is and allowed me to direct you. After all, I am Guyanese and know these roads like they are the back of my hand.”

Laughingly he said, “You trust me. So trust me to get us where we need to go.”

Looking for a safe topic they could discuss while they headed to wherever they were going, Jessica said “When did you rent this vehicle? I thought you didn’t have any means of transportation last night that’s why you relied on Dewayne’s generosity to drop you at the restaurant.”

Mark smirked at her. “Here’s the thing. I was so preoccupied last night that I’d actually forgotten that I had asked Veronica to arrange for transportation when we arrived. The SUV was actually in the parking lot all along.”

“Now there’s a surprise,” she said sarcastically.

No wonder he looked pleased with himself, she decided. He’d orchestrated the “helpless foreigner in a strange land” routine last night over not having a safe means of transportation, and now he’d put a stop to her interaction with Gavin. Not that she was interested in Gavin.

“It was to me, too,” he drawled, smoothly guiding said SUV through the busy streets of Georgetown.

Jessica was impressed with his driving skills and how well he had acclimatized to the Guyanese driving culture. It couldn’t have been easy. Guyanese drove on the left side of the road – a by-product of once being a British colony. Mark was accustomed to driving on the right side of the road – as was done in America. Also, Guyanese didn’t pay much attention to traffic lights, nor did they bother to follow basic road etiquette. As a matter of fact, only a few traffic lights in the capital city were working and other areas in the country had no traffic lights installed at all.     

“I’ll bet.”

He sent her a knowing look. “Can you blame me, with the way you were dressed last night? You’re lucky I only infringed on the car ride. I had to talk myself out of stalking you on your ‘date’. It took all of my self-control to let you go off with that tour guide last night…especially dressed the way you were.”

Turning in her seat to better look at Mark and gauge his reactions, Jessica said “you keep stressing about the way I looked last night like it’s the first time I’ve worn something so...”

“Jess, you always look sexy. No doubt. But I can’t help noticing that since you made your grand statement of leaving me – which you’re not doing, by the way, you’ve seemed freer…more relaxed in your dressing. Last night was the first time I’d seen you in such a revealing dress. You were freaking braless and your entire back was exposed for Christ sake!”

“I guess you are right. I do feel somewhat freer now that I don’t have to live up to the expectations of being your wife.”

“f**k Jessica. When did I ever make you feel you had to be anyone else but yourself? I had no such expectations of you. You’re perfect the way you are,” he said with much vehemently.

“You didn’t have to say anything. Your mot –“Jessica stopped herself from completing her statement. She had spent the past three years avoiding talking to Mark about his mother and she was not about to break her record. 

“My mother? That’s what you were going to say? You were toning down the way you dressed and god knows what else all because of something my mother said?”

Mark was livid. He could not believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe she was stifling herself all this time. Yes, he’d noticed she’d changed over the past few years. But he’d honestly thought it was self-made changes. Not Elaine influenced changes.

“Mark today is a beautiful day. I honestly don’t want to talk about your mother.”

“Fine. Just know it’s a topic we will be discussing at some point.”

“Duly noted,” she said dryly.

“For the record, I love the way you dress…your sense of style. Never change who you are for no one. Not even me,” he said earnestly.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“And…I especially love this dress you are currently wearing. It’s been giving me countless ideas and fantasy scenarios. I’m beginning to realize that your preferred choice of attire si to go braless – and I’m all for it.”

Blushing, she replied, “well when your boobs are as non-existent as mine are, going braless is a breeze.”

“Jessica, listen to me and listening to me carefully,” he said with all seriousness. “Your boobs are far from non-existent. They are the perfect size. THE PERFECT SIZE. If I wasn’t driving at this precise moment, I’d show you just how perfect they are.”

Arriving at their destination, he brought the car to a stop and parked.

Mark undid his seat belt and brought Jessica’s hands and placed them over his heart.

“Feel it…feel how my heart is beating, how my pulse is racing from just thinking about your perfect tits.”

“Mark -“

Before she could continue, he had her halfway out of her seat and in his lap – where he proceeded to kiss her into agreement. As his lips devoured hers, his hands greedily stroked her breasts – his thumbs grazing her pebbled n*****s through her dress.

It took them a while to come up for air. Barely remembering they were in broad daylight in a public place going heavy on the physical displays of affection. 

Detaching herself from Mark’s grasp, Jessica slipped back into her seat.

“Wow! I think you proved your point…whatever it was.”

Looking around, she tried to get her bearings.

‘Oh my God!” She exclaimed. “You brought me to the Botanical Gardens? It’s one of my favourite places to visit in the capital city.”

“I remember,” Mark said, finally able to catch his breath and calm his raging libido down.

 Jessica beamed beautifully at him before bouncing out of the car, without giving him a chance to open her door for her.

Laughing, Mark got out behind her.

“Slow down Jess. You are acting like a kid in a candy store.”

“I’m just so excited. I haven’t been here in ages. This place has so many great memories for me.”

Taking her hand in his, they walked hand in hand to the entrance of the garden.