Dangerous Desires

53

Mark's heart lurched in his chest at my words, guilt and hurt flooding him. He hadn't realized that his reaction had come across as jealous. He had just been surprised and worried about Antonio's suitability as a father figure to me. He took a deep breath, gently reaching out to take my hand in his. "Babe, I'm sorry," he said, his voice filled with sincere remorse. "I didn't mean to come off as jealous. I was just... concerned."

"Antonio is not exactly the most nurturing or emotional guy," he continued. "I just worry that he's not the best... fit for that role. I didn't mean to make you feel like I was trying to control you. I just want what's best for you, and I know how much you've been through. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Fine, I won't do it then," I rolled away and cuddled into the blankets.

Mark felt a pang of guilt and frustration at my response, knowing that he had hurt my feelings with his reaction. He leaned over and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to coax me back towards him. "Babe, please," he said, his voice soft and filled with remorse. "Don't shut me out like this. Talk to me. Let me explain."

"No, it's fine. I won't make that choice then. I just want to sleep, it's been a long day,".

Mark sighed, his heart aching at the tension and hurt in my voice. He knew he had messed up, but he refused to let this go unresolved. "Please, just give me a moment to explain," he pleaded, his hand gently massaging my shoulder. "I don't want you to make such a big decision based on my reaction. I just want to understand where this is coming from. You never mentioned wanting Antonio to adopt you until now."

"I wanted to do it months ago but Arsenio threatened me not to. I thought you would be happy,".

Mark's heart dropped at my revelation, anger and protectiveness welling up inside him. The thought of Arsenio threatening me over something like this was making his blood boil, but he tried to keep his voice calm and steady. "He what?" He asked through gritted teeth, his grip on my shoulder tightening slightly.

"He's dead now anyways can't hurt us, I just want to sleep..." I closed my eyes.

Mark's jaw clenched as I mentioned Arsenio's death, a mix of satisfaction and anger stirring within him. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. My current state, both physically and emotionally, was more important than his anger. 

"Okay," he said, his voice gentler now. "We'll talk about this tomorrow, alright? But I promise you, I never meant to come across as jealous or trying to control you. I just... care about you. A lot."

He gently leaned over and kissed my shoulder, his lips lingering for a moment. "I love you," he whispered, hoping that his words would at least ease my hurt feelings a little, even if I didn't want to talk more right now.

"I love you too," I replied softly. Mark's heart leapt in his chest as I turned to kiss him. The tension and hurt between me were still tangible, but knowing that I still felt love for him gave him a glimmer of hope.  He returned the kiss with gentle affection, his hand cupping my cheek. "Get some rest, babe," he said quietly, his thumb brushing against my skin.

The next morning, Mark approached Antonio in his office, carrying Tenebroso in his arms. The look on his face was serious, the events of the previous night still weighing heavily on his mind. "Antonio," he said, getting the older man's attention. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Antonio looked up from his paperwork, his expression guarded. He could sense the seriousness in Mark's tone and demeanour, and his shoulders tensed slightly. "What is it?" He asked, setting his pen down.

Mark took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation. He knew he had to handle this delicately, given the sensitive subject matter. "It's about Indira," he began, shifting Tenebroso in his arms. "She... She suggested something last night."

Antonio raised an eyebrow, his expression turning slightly guarded but also curious. "And what did she say?" He asked, leaning back in his chair.

Mark swallowed, his lips pursed as he tried to find the right words. "She... She said she wanted you to adopt her," he said, watching Antonio's face for a reaction. 

Antonio's expression remained impassive, his gaze locked with Mark's. He didn't respond immediately, seemingly mulling over the unexpected bombshell Mark had just dropped. After a moment's pause, he spoke, his voice cool and even. "And what did you say?"

Mark took another breath, knowing that his answer was crucial. "I was surprised, to say the least," he admitted, his hand instinctively holding Tenebroso a little closer. "I didn't expect that coming from her, especially considering..." he trailed off, his gaze flickering to the side.

Antonio's eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on Mark's unfinished words. He waited for him to continue, his silent gaze prompting an explanation.

Mark cleared his throat, his expression shifting between conflicted and concerned. "Antonio, I'll be blunt," he said, meeting the older man's gaze directly. "We both know you're not exactly known for your nurturing nature. You've got a heart in there, but you're not exactly the fatherly type."

Antonio's mouth tightened a fraction, a hint of defensiveness in his eyes, but he didn't interrupt. He let Mark continue, his steady gaze prompting him to elaborate.

Mark took another breath, his words measured. "Don't get me wrong, I know you care about Indira in your way. But adopting her... That's a huge step. She's still healing, still trying to adjust to everything after all that's happened. She needs someone who can provide more than just protection. She needs a father, in every sense of the word."

Antonio's eyes darkened at the implication, his defensive aura growing stronger. But his voice remained steady when he spoke. "And you're assuming I'm not capable of providing her that?"