Escape

Chapter 1

Sunday afternoon, sunny. The sun was beginning to drop behind the New York skyline but it still managed to filter through the large windows of my bedroom in Mark's apartment. My bag lay open on the bed as I carefully folded my clothing at the foot of the bed. The door opened but I didn't turn, instead letting Mark come behind me and slip his arms around my waist.

"Are you sure you have to go?" He breathed, nuzzling past my hair and pressing his lips close to my ear. I grinned, continuing my folding.

"Yes, we agreed I had Sunday nights off." His hands trailed from my waist to my hips, slowly making their way to my ass.

"True, but technically it's not Sunday night. The sun is still out so I think," he paused, kissing my neck, "I still have you for at least another hour." His hands made their way back up to my chest, slowly massaging my breasts and pinching my nipples. I closed my eyes, my head rolling back despite myself. I let out a sigh, pausing my folding and turning to face him. His hands immediately dropped down to my ass, his lips picking a new spot on my neck to press against.

"Technically you only have me until 6 on Sundays. And besides, I have plans." I grabbed his wrists, moving his hands from my ass to my hips.

"Plans?"

"Dinner, with a friend." He frowned, pouting at me and scrutinizing me with his eyes.

"A friend? And who is this friend?" 

"Just a friend", I rolled my eyes back at him, turning and putting the pile of folded clothes into my duffel bag. "How's your divorce?" I asked, smirking to myself. Mark let out a defeated sigh, releasing his grip on me and laying himself across the bed, throwing his arm over his face.

"It's fine, just taking longer than expected." He rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes as if trying to dispel an ex-induced headache. "But at least she came and got the rest of her things on Thursday. You know, now that she is gone I wouldn't mind increasing the number of days I get to see you..." Mark trailed off, grabbing my hand and halting my packing.

"Mark, 4 is my standard number of days and it is what we agreed upon. Besides, I have my own life and my own things to deal with. I can't be at your beck and call every day." I gave him a stern look, as if talking to a child. He sighed dejectedly. "Now, I have to go so I'm not late."

"To see your friend?" He interrupted, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, my friend." I emphasized, shaking my head. "Can you call my driver for me? Get him to take my bag and pull the car around?" Mark sighed, pulling himself off of the bed and stalking out of the bedroom, grabbing my packed bag and giving my ass one last slap before he left. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes men can be such children.

---

A few minutes later I joined Mark in the foyer of his apartment, my heels clicking across the floor to signal my arrival.

"Did you call the car?" I called, dropping my phone in my purse. My duffel was gone, the only thing that remained of mine was my jacket on the coat rack. 

"Yes, it's waiting downstairs. Can I walk you down?" Mark grabbed my jacket, holding it open for me. I slipped my arms through, ranking my hair to the side so it didn't get caught under the collar.

"I can manage." I turned around, grabbing his chin and looking into his pouting eyes. These divorcees were all the same, outwardly overly confident, hiding the hurt heart of a child who lost his favorite toy - most of the time due to their own neglect. I gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. He groaned, more from dread than from pleasure as I opened the door and walked out.