Question Mark by S.E. Culpepper Read Free Book Online Page B

stepping back and tucking Mark in behind him. He faced the people clamoring for attention and, as far as Mark could tell from his vantage point, flashed a bright smile.
    A twenty-something girl stepped forward and asked for a picture and Zane agreed. “One picture, but then I’ve got to get out of here. I’m on vacation, too, you know?”
    Everyone in ear shot laughed and he posed with the girl, never releasing Mark’s hand. Flashes from cell phones were nearly blinding, but it was over quickly and before Mark got too nervous, Zane turned them both toward the door and blocked him from view until they were outside.
    “Whew,” he breathed. “Sorry. It’s just better if I cater to it for a minute so they let me off the hook easier.” He hadn’t let go of Mark’s hand, a subtle signal that wasn’t missed.
    “I understand.” Mark hesitated, actually not understanding much of anything that just happened. “You’re uh… really good at dealing with that. I kind of froze.” He tried to hide the quaver in his voice. All of that caught him off guard, which proved he was a dumbass. Everyone knew who Zane was. Even on a small island like Bora Bora, he was getting all sorts of attention. In the span of time since they’d sat down to eat, Mark had forgotten all about the celebrity status thing. What a wake up call.
    “I really am sorry. It happens sometimes, but usually if you’re nice, the fans back off once they realize they’ve sort of invaded your personal space. Believe me, this was nothing compared to some stuff I’ve seen.”
    Mark didn’t want to think about it. He wanted to preserve the evening, and he reminded himself that not everything that happened in the bar was all bad. By taking the lead, Zane pretty much said that Mark mattered to him. That was definitely something worth tucking away to think about later.
    They moved slowly down the path into the night air and Mark found himself smiling.
    “What is it?” Zane asked, that eyebrow of his popping up quizzically.
    “I was thinking about the advice you said your friends gave you and I was wondering what it was, actually.”
    “Oh. You mean the advice that exploded in my face? That advice?”
    Mark smirked and laughed again.
    “Gah,” Zane blurted in resignation. “They told me that if I was too nervous to talk to you like I wanted, than I should try to act confident—like one of my characters—and it would come a lot easier. Mikey was like, ‘You gotta be The Mercenary, man.’ I tried it and we both saw what happened.” Zane squeezed Mark’s hand and let it go. “Ridiculous right?”
    Mark recalled the way Zane cut through the water and looked at him in that open, strong way, his whole body an invitation, and shrugged. “I wouldn’t use that word to describe it at all. It got us here, didn’t it? Besides, once you gave up the act, you really had my attention.”
    “No kidding?” Zane asked huskily, coming to a slow stop in front of Mark’s bungalow.
    “Word of honor,” he answered, his own shyness creeping out and forcing him to look away. “You’re too hard on yourself. I thought you were…really nice.”
    Zane ducked his head and stepped into Mark’s line of sight so he could see his face. “Do you mean nice as in sweet, cuddly teddy bear ? Or nice as in you’d go out with me again?”
      Scrunching up his face like he wasn’t thrilled at the prospect, Mark eventually shrugged. “I guess the second one. Maybe.” When Zane’s lips spread in a slow, meaningful smile, Mark considered dying a happy man.
    “Then, maybe tomorrow you might like to do something with me? Explore the wonders of Bora Bora?” Zane stepped in closer, effectively blocking Mark in the entryway of his bungalow.
    Mark sucked in a breath. “I’m scheduled to risk my life on an underwater expedition at ten. Interested in possibly inhaling water through your snorkel to get a glimpse at some fish?” Mark was good at keeping things light and he was trying