Page 60 of Mark

“She’s good at compartmentalising,” Nanna declares.

I let out a breath. “He dredged up old memories, whether purposely or unconsciously. I’m not okay with that. It’s like both of them want a reaction out of me so they keep pushing.”

“It seems to me you do react. It’s just not the reaction they are hoping for. It’s probably why your sister keeps pushing you. Cheating is only fun when it’s forbidden. It’s no longer forbidden for them. I will bet money on the fact he knew where that poem came from and he was hoping to play mind games with you. I see the way he looks at you.”

I shrug. “Cheat often?”

He narrows his eyes at that. “Cheating is for the weak. And I can assure you, I don’t need to cheat to spice things up in the bedroom.”

My cheeks flame at the tone in his voice. It shoots right down to my clit and I have to clench my thighs.

“I’m sure she could handle anything you throw at her,” Nanna muses, and I jerk from the pull he has me under to glare at her.

“Nanna!”

She holds her hands up. “I’m just saying.”

We reach the cart, and as Mark helps Nanna into the front seat next to the driver, I climb onto the back, taking my seat.

I don’t want to think about what he does to spice things up in the bedroom. I won’t let my mind go there.

I won’t.

Damn, it’s already there.

*** *** ***

Now that dinner is finally out of the way, and the speeches have been made, the lights are dimmed and the DJ begins his set for the night.

“When will the food be brought out?” Mark asks as we walk over to the bar that runs along the entire back wall.

“I think they have something being put out a little later. Why? You’ve just eaten,” I remind him.

His brows pinch together. “That wasn’t the starter?”

I laugh as he orders our drinks. “Dude, it was a five-course meal.”

“A five-course meal? It was more like snacks. I thought it was, like, appetisers or something.”

I laugh harder. “No, it wasn’t.”

“Babe, I know my food. That was not a meal,” he scoffs, leaning against the bar.

“They’ll be bringing out more later. Don’t worry,” I assure him, patting his arm.

“You promise?” he asks, and those eyes... I bet he got away with a lot with those puppy dog eyes as a teenager.

My lips twitch. “I promise.”

“Freya! Freya!”

“What the fuck does she want?” Mark growls.

My sister hasn’t made a friend in Mark at all tonight. Her speech was just more of a dig towards me. He doesn’t realise I’m not at all bothered by it, but watching him get overprotective is pretty cute. If this is how she wants to begin her marriage, it’s no skin off my nose. She’s put so much effort into making sure I know where my place is, she’s forgot where hers is. Which is next to her husband. But Mark’s dislike grew when she made a joke, asking him how much I paid him to attend the wedding as my date. Like I couldn’t get my own. I didn’t tell her we were both blackmailed and forced into it. I’m worried he’ll leave once the gig is up, especially now people are out of their seats and can approach me.

“It’s her wedding,” I remind him and turn to my sister, who is linking arms with her husband. I paste on a smile. “Everything okay?”

“We need photos with you. You ran out to make sure the room was ready before we could get some with you on the beach.”