“Chelsie. Will you get away from me? I’m not interested.” Mark swatted his hand towards the annoying blonde and kept his eyes focused on the book he was reading. Or trying to read, when Chelsie wasn’t sticking her face over the top of the book, or pushing her hand in front of it, preventing him from seeing the words.

“You know you are.” Chelsie giggled.

“I’m not.”

“Oh, yes you are.” She repeated.

“Look, Chels. I rarely have time to read anymore and that is the only thing I want to do right now. Read. In peace. Without your face in the way.”

“You love my face.” Chelsie leaned over him and grinned.

“I love your face.” Mark smiled and then pointed across the room. “Over there. Or in the kitchen. Or out shopping. Anywhere but here.”

“But, Mark.” Chelsie pouted, collapsing at his feet. “I know you want to. It’ll be great, trust me.”

Mark stuck his index finger in the book and bent down towards Chelsie. “Do you know what I’d really love to do?”

“What?” She gazed up at him, breathless. Finally!

“I’d love to get kicked off this show so I can live by myself again!” Mark slammed the book down on the end table and moved towards the kitchen.

“Mark.” Chelsie studied his features as he turned to glower at her. The dark eyes flashing in annoyance, his eyebrows twisted in frustration, his full mouth turned down ready to holler at her again. Wow, he looked kind of hot.

“What?”

“You’re cute when you’re mad.”

I’m not mad, I’m annoyed.” he corrected her, with a smile playing on his lips.

Chelsie grinned again. “Got you. You were smiling.”

“Wasn’t.”

“Was.”

“Wasn’t!” Mark lifted the slight woman from the sofa and carried her kicking, screaming and giggling to her shared bedroom.

“Put me down, you idiot!” Chelsie rained light blows across his back, as Mark continued to hold her aloft.

“Is that what you really want?” Mark turned his face upwards to smile at her. Chelsie tried to suppress her laughter and nodded. Mark shrugged, extended his arms slightly so she was as high as he could possibly hold her before he released her with a grin. Chelsie hit the bed with a scream and then more giggles.

“You…you…idiot! You could have broken the bed!”

“I thought that was your plan right from the beginning.” Mark cocked an eyebrow at her.

Chelsie sat up and folded her arms across her chest. “Well…yeah…but not that way!”

“Look Chelsie.” Mark crawled onto the bed, stretched out and pulled her down to him. “This just isn’t right. Living like this, anyone can walk in the door at any minute, Gev is home, somewhere, and he probably thinks I’m killing you or something.”

“But Mark.” Chelsie began to protest.

“No. Listen to me. What you asked me…it took all my willpower to ignore you. Because honestly? I want nothing more…just…not yet.”

“Mark. I need you. I’m tired of all the other girls talking about being with this boy and that boy and how great it was. I’m ready.” Chelsie struggled to get out of his grip and then settled as he kissed her cheek softly.

“And I want you Chelsie. But we can wait.”

“I can’t.” she pouted again.

“You can, you won’t die.” Mark chuckled and dipped his head to kiss her pouting lips.

“I might.” she shot back.

“Just kiss me.” Mark commanded. Chelsie tilted her head in thought; they’d only challenged her to get him in her bedroom. She’d done that. Even got him on the bed and got him admit he wanted her. Not too bad for an innocent Mormon girl from Utah. The bet Courtney and Kherington made her never said she had to do anything with him. But kissing that face didn’t seem like such a bad idea. So she did.