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***Mark's POV***

I woke up late. Okay. That's a fucking lie. I woke up. I took one look at my empty bed and cried myself to the point of exhaustion. After a nap, I decided to get up. If I don't show up at work, Grey will send Daddy Parker to find me.

Not that I mind. The man is a sexy mother fucker.

But, I shouldn't worry Martin over nothing.

It's nothing, right?

It doesn't feel like nothing.

The ache in my chest is so painful, it's tangible.

I go to the bathroom. Slowly, I slip off my clothes. I turn on the shower. As I step in, I remember.

We kissed in this shower.

We touched in this shower.

We were intimate inside of these very walls.

I hastily scrub myself clean before rushing out of the shower.

It's too fucking much!

Without taking in my surroundings, I get dressed. I speed walk thru my house. Suddenly, the structure is no longer worthy of being called a home.

I get to my car in record time. I love my baby. She's a beauty. But, being inside of her doesn't feel the same. I can't fib, even the glossy finish of my black Audi R8 can't bring a smile to my face.

I drive, mindlessly thru the Manhattan streets, desperate to walk thru the doors of Parker, Inc. I need Grey. I need Mak. I need something to use as a distraction. Being inside my own head is painful.

As I step off our private elevator, I head to Grey's office. My eyebrows raise when I see Mak's empty desk.

Weird.

I raise my hand to the door knob, turning it. Realizing it's locked, my interest is immediately peaked.

Grey doesn't lock his office unless it is after hours.

I press my ear against the door, because I'm Kermit. I could use a good cup of tea.

My face forms in a smirk as Mak's raspy, breathless voice bounces into the air.

"Mr. Parker." Mak moans.

I shake my head with a little smile.

Fucking office affairs.

Groaning, I open the door to my office. I close the door quietly so as to not disturb the Boss's important morning meeting.

I sit in my chair. I rest my forehead on the edge of my desk.

It's going to be a long day.

My heart echoes my pain at me like a scream down a long corridor.

I silently rub my chest, hoping for any reprieve.

A few minutes later, I accept that the intense constriction of my piercing muscle is permanent. I lift my head opening my laptop. I lazily scroll thru emails. I answer a few in what I hope comes across as professionalism.

My mind tries it's best to wander. I pull it back to focus on anything else.

Grey marches into my office. He sits in my leather wingback chair.

"Mark what is the matter?" Grey asks.

"I miss him." I whisper.

"Sebastian?" Grey asks. His face shows pity.

"Yes, I know I'm being ridiculous. I'm sorry." I say the words so thick with emotion as my heart constricts painfully.

"Mark, just text him." Grey shrugs.

"He didn't give me his number." I whimper.

"We will find it." Mak pipes up from the door he just propped himself against.

"Maybe, he doesn't want me." I say. The words sound ludacris against the memories dancing in my mind.

"Baby, don't get upset." Mak stares at Grey with a sweet smile.

"Mark, you are prime real estate. Sebastian would be a fool not to invest." Mak winks over at Grey.

"That comes from a genius that happens to have excellent taste." Grey smirks in my direction. I roll my eyes in amusement.

"It was the goodbye." I breathe out as my head falls into my hand.

"What happened?" Grey asks. He stares at me worriedly.

"He whispered I could have loved you so fucking hard. He said it like it would never happen." I explain. The reminder is so painful that I wince.

"This absolutely makes no sense. I mean I'm not claiming to be a genius here, but seriously, this does not add up." Grey argues. He shakes his head in complete disbelief at my recap of my early morning goodbye.

"Mark he was 💯 all about you. I mean he was eating, sleeping and breathing you." Mak co-signs.

"I don't want to let him go." I cry out. A fat, hot tear spills from my filled eyes. It trickles down my face.

Grey reaches over. He wipes my tears with the pads of his thumbs. He cradles my face as he pulls me into his arms. I break down in his tender embrace. All my shattered pieces threaten to crumble.

"It's okay. Get it out." Grey whispers. His large, warm hands rub up and down my back, pulling sobs from my open mouth.

"Why don't we go to lunch and then see how we feel?" Grey offers. He gently pulls back from me, giving me time to clean myself up.

Once I am mildly presentable, we head out of the office.

We end up strolling down to our favorite Philly vendor. We walk into Central Park. We stroll and eat as we discuss how I am feeling.

I'm lost in my own thoughts as I walk beside my two best friends. Everything around me seems fuller. Nothing holds the beauty it once did. Three days and Sebastian had consumed me. Every thought centers around him. Every small thing reminds me of him.

Every moment he is away puts pressure on the fissures that have settled in my soul.

He is my own personal addiction. I am definitely having withdrawals.

"Where is he modeling next?" Grey interrupts my internal thoughts.

"He said he would find out when he sees the contract?" I respond without emotion.

"He is Sebastian Fucking Royals. He is the leading male super model on Italy's cat walk. His contracts are set years in advance." Mak states, surprising both Grey and me.

Grey and I cock our heads to the side. The kid knows everything.

"I am an investigator. I wanted to make sure he was who he appeared to be." Mak confesses.

"Thank you." I pat Mak on the shoulder. In everything, that kid always has my six.

"Mark, I don't think he wanted to leave. Something must be going on." I listen to the promise from my best friend.

"I guess I just have to wait and see if life finds a way to pull us back towards each other." My eyes sway to the side. I roll them toward the sky, blinking away the fresh tears.

"Do you need some time off? I'm sure Mak could fill in for you?" Grey offers.

"No, I can't be at my apartment right now. Everything smells like him. Every space reminds me of him." I admit.

"Okay. Work, the bar and then you crash in our guest bedroom." Grey offers, causing me to smile thru my tear stained features.

"Our?" I ask with a watery smirk.

"My." Grey corrects. He shoots me a playful glare. "Mak stays over so much. I just automatically deem it our home."

"You two should just move in together. No offense Mak but, you are making too much to live in that building." I elbow Mak.

Mak doesn't say anything.

"Mak is more than welcome to move in on his time table. No pressure. No disappointment." Grey explains while staring at me evilly but I can see the hope in his eyes.

"We can discuss it." Mak smiles widely at Grey. I can see Grey's tense shoulders suddenly relax.

"So we going out after work?" Grey asks with a cheerful glee.

"Yes!" Mak and I fist bump. I need this.

"Let's head back to the office and do something productive." Grey instructs.

"I thought your early morning meeting was quite productive." I cackle, wiggling my eyebrows.

"How?" Grey chuckles.

"Well, I was going to let you know I had arrived. But, I heard Mr. Parker come out of someone's mouth sounding like sex and sin. I walked quietly away. You were obviously doing something extremely important." I laugh heartily and it feels refreshing.

"I was helping Mak with a problem." Grey clears his throat. He straightens his tie out of pure habit.

"Sounded hard." I jeer thru my chuckles.

"Extremely. I licked it though." Grey smirks cockily.

Mak coughs. I go into a fit of hysterics.

"Fucking office affairs." I shake my head in deep amusement.

"Strictly professional." Mak crosses his arms and lifts his head toward the afternoon Manhattan sun.

We head back to the office. I hurry towards my office. Mak and Grey mosey along on the way to theirs.

I grab my phone and shoot Grey a text:

His Royal Hineass (Me): I hope you cleaned that desk you whore 😂😝🍆💦

Boss Man (Grey): Jealous? Don't worry, we cleaned yours after we christened it. 😏😉😘

His Royal Hineass: I swear to God Grey. I will masturbate with your dish rag. 🤬🤬🤬

Boss Man: Calm down Mark. I'm still a Cherry. 🍒🍒🍒

His Royal Hineass: I don't care about your asshole. I care about your children being smeared across my desk. 👶🏻👶🏻

Boss Man: I hope to hell you are working in between bothering me. I'm calling HR. 😈

The Whole Package (Mak): Both of you get to work and put those fucking phones on silent. 👑👑👑

Boss Man: Yes Sir.

His Royal Hineass: Yes sir!

We got back to work. Not that I really give to shits about pissing Mak off. It's like taunting a kitten. But, the faster we get thru the day the quicker we get out of here.

So, like the awesome employee I am, I scroll Facebook and Instagram. I hit up Pinterest. I stare at pics of Sebastian. Eventually, I manage to scour thru a dozen financial documents that make their way to my desk.

When we finally leave the office. I'm exhausted. But, the excitement of going out with Mak and Grey outweighs my physical state. I need a distraction.

A distraction I get.

We spend hours cutting up and drinking at a local pub. It was not the one where I met Sebastian, thank god.

But, it was good to be out with my people. They know how to veer me off the path of depression.

By the time I make it home for the night, I am wiped. I practically crawl into Grey's guest bedroom. I lay across the bed completely clothed.

I close my eyes waiting for sleep to find me.

"Baby, where are you?" I call out to the love of my life.

"In here." I walk towards his sexy voice. My breath comes out in sweet whispers at the sight in front of me.

Sebastian lays across the couch with our son nestled on his chest. I quietly awe at the sight before me. Our son's chubby fingers are clasped against Seb's chest. My son's other hand is cupping Seb's beautiful jaw.

I lean down kissing Sebastian on the cheek while stroking the cheek not covered by tiny fingers.

"Da. Da." Tiny hands pat my thigh. I look down. Smiling, I whisk our daughter into my arms. I raspberry her chubby cheeks and cover her with delightful kisses.

Seb pops up, kid free. I look over the couch. I see our son lying on Seb's belly against the leather. The coffee table is already pushed against the side to act as a barrier.

Sebastian walks over. He wraps his arms around my waist. His breath washes over my neck. I sigh comfortably.

"I love you." I whisper over my shoulder.

"I love you, Mark." Seb kisses my cheek. He cradles my head to his shoulder.

Our daughter squirms in my arms. I set her down watching as she waddles to the fridge. She slaps her palms against the door. "Ba. Ba." she claps as she hears her own announcement.

I chuckle. Walking over to the fridge, I grab her sippy cup from the fridge. I lift her up and place her in her high chair. Seb grabs her choppped fruit plate from the counter. He places it on the tray in front of her.

I walk to the coffee pot. I fix both our cups. I smile when Seb kisses my lips as a silent thank you for his morning addiction.

Fuck, I love this life.

I groan when I wake up to find my arms void of Sebastian. I let my head fall as I curl back in on myself. I wrap up tightly in the covers. My legs rock gently to lull myself back into the beautiful dream I had experienced during my sleep.

My heart yearns for something I can't even locate. I want Seb. I need Seb.

I whimper and close my eyes.

One day! I promise.