The only way Michael could cover up his bruises completely was if he went for the little brunch with his father's associates, looking absolutely ridiculous, covered from head to toe. That was it, and it was impossible. He wasn't about to do that. So he wore his regular suit and tried not to think about anyone's reactions.

His cheeks had light bruises. There was an unusual coloring on his wrist which anyone would see if he raised his hand. At least two hickeys could be seen trying to hide just beneath his collar. He liked the way he looked, in fact, he preferred it that way...he just wasn't so sure everyone else would think the same.

His dad's eyes tried to pierce a hole through his skull the entire time. It started with the look of shock from the moment he arrived, until now that they sat at the table.

His body still hurt a little, like an echo of the way it had been pushed the night before, with the promise of more that was yet to come. It felt so fucking good he couldn't even be in a bad mood if he tried.

Finally, as something he had already anticipated and was just waiting for to happen, his dad couldn't help it anymore it seemed. He pushed off his chair and got up. "Michael, a word outside," he said and proceeded out to wait for his son.

"Did you walk out on me yesterday to go and get beat up?" Michael shrugged. "Why are you looking like that?"

Michael gaze simply shifted around as his silence drove the old man crazy.

"How could you come here covered in all those bruises?" His father's lips curled back in disapproval.

His son only smiled. "I've never felt better," he said.

"What?" His father questioned, a condescending look in his eyes as he processed the bold answer.

"You wouldn't get it," Michael replied.

His father sighed and shook his head. "Go home, you're done here for the day."

He didn't need to tell him twice. He was out of there in the next two minutes and already driving back to his penthouse. Thinking of what to do in the car when he got back wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, and once he was finally inside, he still wasn't sure. He showered again, and this time knowing that he had the rest of the day off, he took the time to admire his body in the mirror, the evidence of all the pain from the night before. He loved it.

Michael dropped onto his couch and wondered how to kill his time and before he knew it, he was already dialing Jen's number. She picked up and before she could even say anything, his face was already hot.

"Hello? Michael?" She asked skeptically.

Right.

"Yeah, hi Jen," he asked, all the while unsure of himself.

"Hey! How are you?"

"I'm- I'm okay... uhh, what about you?"

"I'm great, honey, thanks for asking."

Michael could hear the smile in Jen's voice, and he could feel his heart beating in his throat. He must have been really distracted in his own awkwardness because he didn't say anything for a long time. Enough time for Jen to speak again, this time with concern laced in her voice. "Are you really okay?" Her voice asked.

"Uh, yeah yeah," he replied. Damnit, he should just cut the call but he wanted to hear her voice a little more.

"Okay, but you should tell me why you called, don't you think?"

"To be honest, I don't know..." Michael admitted.

"Oh," Jen seemed surprised. She chuckled and he closed his eyes and bit his lower lip at the same time. "Well Michael, in that case, I'm going to ask you to wait a little longer. I have to scrub in for a surgery in the next five minutes, but right after I'm done, i'm going to call you back, okay?"

"Oh! Um, yeah sure...I mean, I'm sorry for calling. No I mean I'm getting in the way of your work," Michael jumbled his words while silently praying for the ground to swallow him up. "Okay."

"Michael," Jen said firmly, enough to make him feel calmer inside.

"Hm?" He answered in a small voice.

"Just relax, I don't bite..." she said. "Unless you want me to."

Jen hang up the phone.

The phone didn't leave Michael's ears immediately. The heat traveled to every part of his face at once, then down to his toes. At that particular moment, he'd never wanted Jen more.

...

By the time Jen was done, it was getting late and Michael was really eager to hear from her. Maybe she had to get home first but Michael just couldn't wait for when she was going to call. The call came eventually and it made his insides swirl in anticipation.

"I wish I could see you right now," said Jen. Michael imagined she was on her bed, and totally relaxed because she sounded very seductive and calm.

Michael was more than ready to indulge her. "I really understand the way you feel Jen, so if you don't think of me as a creep, I can make it to where you are in fifteen minutes."

He heard a very deep sigh come from the other side. "The last thing that you are is a creep. Come over."

...

Michael was in his car with only Jen in his mind.

Immediately she opened the door for him, Jen was backed against the wall as he kissed her, before even taking a proper look at her. He just grabbed her as soon as he had a chance to, his arms wrapping around her middle and squeezing tightly, as if she could get away.

Jen was quick to understand his desperation, or she was just as desperate as he was, because she opened up for him and their tongues collided, creating several sparks flying between them as their bodies attempted to fuse into each other.

Michael turned them around and used one hand to close the door, as the other remained securely wrapped around her, backing her up against the door. He finally pulled away and took a deep breath.

Michael smiled and finally took a proper look at her and then blushed, slowly letting go of Jen. "I'm sorry, I was too desperate."

"Desperate is hot. I like it."

"Really?"

"Really. And your voice is so sexy."

Michael arched his brows and put a hand to his nape. "It's uh...it's a really deep voice, I've heard."

Jen couldn't get over how shy he was. "Do you know how cute you are?"

"It's nothing compared to how beautiful you are," Michael replied immediately.

Jen wasn't expecting her heart to skip a beat but it did. It was the serious expression on his face, like he was stating something so obvious, and something that he had no doubt was a fact.

Jen pulled him down to meet her lips, then out of immense pleasure and contentment, she bit it hard and he moaned. Michael's lips could possibly drive her crazy, but Jen always made sure to be careful whenever his lips threatened to devour her. She always had to summon quite an amount of will power just to make sure that Michael didn't get any ideas of trying to get away from her and yet they've only just met and everything was perfect.

"Get on the couch and wait for me. close your eyes. I'll be right back," Jen said and Michael closed his eyes, "okay."

________________

The chapter is not supposed to end there. Sorry for the inconvenience, here is a free fact to read for the moment.

Did you know...

Fact: The circulatory system is more than 60,000 miles long

If a child's entire circulatory system—we're talking veins, arteries, and capillaries—were laid out flat, it would stretch for more than 60,000 miles, according to the Franklin Institute. By the time we reach adulthood, our bodies have become home to approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels. That's just one of the mind-blowing facts that sound made up (but aren't).

2. Did you know

Fact: German chocolate cake was invented in Texas

The "German" part of German chocolate cake comes from an American man—not a European country. Specifically, it's named after Sam German, who in 1852 created the formula for a mild dark baking chocolate bar for Baker's Chocolate Company, which was subsequently named Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate. Fast-forward to June 13, 1957. The Dallas Morning Star published the recipe for the cake, invented and submitted by a reader identified as Mrs. George Clay, according to What's Cooking America.

3. Did you know...

Fact: Human beings can use only a small fraction of Earth's water

In school, we were taught that most (specifically, 71 percent) of the planet's surface is covered in water. While that's true, humans can use only 0.007 percent of that water, according to National Geographic. That's because only about 2.5 percent of Earth's water is fresh water, and only 1 percent of that is accessible. The rest makes up glaciers and snowfields. By the way, have you ever wondering why we can "smell" snow?