Obstacles (A Sequel)

Chapter Three

Stepping into Mark's apartment still took my breath away, just because I was in the place I wanted to be again. I dropped my bag by the door and slid onto his sofa from the back and took in my surroundings, flinching when I felt his presence next to me a few minutes later.

"Are you happy to be back? You look like you're in a daze." Mark smiled and kissed my cheek softly, prompting me to turn to face him and snap out of my trance.

Without saying a word, I linked my hands around the back of his neck and kissed him on the lips very softly before hugging him close to me, nestling in the crook of his neck. "Of course I am," I mumbled. "I love you so damn much."

He sighed and hugged me tighter, shuffling his hands around in his pocket. "I love you too, more than you could ever know..."

"So, what's first on the agenda?" I turned around and leaned against his shoulder, looking up at the ceiling.

"Probably not the thing you're thinking of." He mumbled, intending for me to hear; he received a slap on the shoulder and an eye roll before I retook my position of resting on him. "You'll be tired, babe, and you won't feel it now but trust me - I've been there."

I sighed. "Well, sorry Mr Travelled-The-World!" He scoffed and squeezed my shoulder. "I do enjoy our cosy movie days though..." I smiled sweetly at him, letting him know that since I had just flown in, I should be in charge of the movies and he be in charge of the snacks and making me comfortable.

He rolled his eyes and I smirked, giggling as he tried to fight the urge to smile back. "Fine, but this won't be a regular thing!" He winked and took my bags to his bedroom, returning a few minutes later with his king-size duvet. "Will this be good enough for you, m'lady?" He tipped an imaginary hat and threw the duvet at me after I pulled a face.

I gasped and swaddled myself in the duvet. "Is this all for me? You're too kind!" I ducked as he playfully swiped for me and he moved into his kitchen to get some snacks. "Any popcorn?"

I grinned as Mark appeared at the doorway, rattling a box of microwavable popcorn. "I stocked up!" He disappeared again and I could hear him rummaging around. "Who's got the best boyfriend ever?"

"Probably lots of people, but not me!" I joked and shrunk back slightly as Mark headed towards me slowly with a cunning smirk on his face; as he got closer, his eyes dared me to say it again. "I don't have the best boyfriend ever." My heart began to pound as I anticipated his next move, which sure enough would be a tickle fight.

"Are you regretting those words now?" He raised his eyebrows as he knelt on the space next to me. "I can't remember how ticklish you are."

"Get your friggin' hands away from me!" I panted in between laughs. "I will hurt you!" He shook his head and I tried to protect myself with the duvet, not that that was much use. "Mark!" I screeched as he attacked my sides with tickles and I kicked my legs in protest. He had to dodge my feet a few times to avoid getting kicked in the crotch and I breathed a sigh of relief when he stopped after what felt like hours to an extremely ticklish person.

"Yeah, I get it," He rolled his eyes at me and trudged into the kitchen to ready more snacks, before changing into his sweatpants and cuddling next to me as he put a film on. "I recall you like this one, you giant nerd!" He grinned as the menu for District 9 was displayed on the TV.

"Says you, Mr. Plays-Games-For-A-Living!" I giggled as he cuddled me close with one arm and draped half of the duvet over him.

"You gotta stop with the formal titles..." He laughedas the film started and I laid my head in the crook of his neck, to which hecouldn't resist stroking my hair - it was moments like this that I alwaysprobably missed the most.

*

"A lunch date, eh?" I smiled as we sat at the table in Mark's kitchen the next morning. "Sounds good to me, although you'll have to lead the way."

Mark nodded and held my hand across the table, squeezing it tightly before letting go and finishing his breakfast. "I have a place booked, and you'll love it I promise." He bit his lip for a second before shaking his head quickly. He noticed my puzzled look and cleared his throat before picking up both of our plates to the sink to be cleaned later.

"Don't think I didn't see that," I giggled as he jumped when I appeared behind him. "What are you hiding?"

He frowned on a smile and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Mental block - I nearly forgot the place I'd booked!"

I shook my head on a smile before giving him a peck on the lips. "What are you like?" I laughed before walking towards our bedroom. "I'm gonna have a shower then and make myself look pretty then, if it's so special!" I grinned before disappearing.

After I had gotten out of Mark's sight and I heard the water running for the kitchen sink, I breathed a deep breath and began rooting through my wardrobe for the best outfit to wear - this obviously sounded like a special occasion to Mark, so I had to look my best.

After what felt like an age of looking, I decided on a floral skater dress with red wedges. "What time have you booked it for, babe?" I called to him in the kitchen, as I got ready for a shower.

"1:30, you have loads of time!" I smiled to myself as I hopped in the shower - had he not learned by now that I could take at least two hours to get ready to go out with him?

After about fifteen minutes of showering, I wrapped a towel around myself when I got out and opened the door to be greeted by Mark, which made me jump a little. "Jesus Christ!"

"No, my name is Mark, and what a beautiful shower singing voice you have..." This earned a quick whip of the edge of my towel, as I tended to over-exaggerate my shower singing quite a bit.

"You're in my way." I folded my arms, trying to wipe the smug grin of his face. Without saying a word, he grabbed the edges of my towel that were wrapped around my chest and pulled me close. "Is this your solution to everything?" I looked at the short distance between us, trying my hardest not to smile.

"It seems to work though, and it always gets me off the hook!" He winked and seemed to have closed the distance between our faces. His eyes moved up and down my face, waiting patiently for my next reaction.

"You need to shrink that ego of yours." I said quietly as he pressed his nose against mine. He stared deeply into my eyes and smiled, and I pressed my lips to his, not being able to take his torture - when could I, though; he was irresistible to me.

Throwing my arms around his neck, I heard my towel drop to the floor and he ran his hands through my hair, kissing me with more passion than I did initially. Opening my eyes briefly as he began to kiss my neck, I caught a glimpse of the clock behind Mark and reluctantly stopped him.

"Mark, it's almost twelve thirty," Growling in frustration under his breath, he looked at the clock and pushed his hair back. "Sorry." I shrugged and he chuckled.

"We'll definitely finish this later!" He slapped my bare ass as he went into the bathroom to have a shower. My shoulders sagged and I ran my fingers through my fringe, sighing to myself before finishing getting ready.

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Again, sorry for the long hiatus, but see my previous note. Here's a long, slightly steamy one to make up for it hopefully!