by Gretchen Wilson

Mark was in the middle of his usual workout at the gym, when he heard the plates clanging on the bar for the bench. He turned to see a small woman was making all the noise. She put the lock back on the bar, then laid on the bench with her hands on the bar. She lifted it off the stand, and began pressing it. He didn't see a spotter around, so he went over behind her, and grabbed the bar from her. "Darlin', if you don't slow down, this will be a worthless workout."

"It doesn't matter. I only come in here to blow off steam."

"It does matter, 'cause if you get tired you could drop this on your chest."

"Nobody would give a damn."

"What's your name?"

"Jordan."

"Well, Jordan, I would." He set the bar back on the stand, and looked down at her. "The name's Mark."

She sat up as he came around to her side. "It's nice to meet you, Mark." She let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, it's just..."

"Don't tell me. Let me guess. Your husband pissed you off?"

"How did you..."

"Dishpan hands mean you're a housewife, and the wedding ring." He chuckled. "I used to piss both of my wives off."

"Are you still married?"

"Nope. The last one left me a month ago. Now, if you want to go back at it, I can spot you. Maybe help you put this thing to some good use."

"That would be sweet of you." She laid back on the bench, and he retook his position behind it. He helped her lift the bar off of the stand, then helped her get into a good pattern.

"If you don't mind me askin', what'd he do?"

"It's what he hasn't done. He hasn't paid any attention to me, hasn't touched me in weeks..."

After a moment he asked, "do you think he's cheating on you?"

"Yeah. With that damn idiot box he sits at all the time."

"I'll take it that's a computer?"

"Yep." She set the bar back in the stand, then sat up and turned on him. "You're a man."

He smiled. "Glad you noticed."

"If I dressed up in a nighty, would you still sit there, and tell me I had to wait?"

"Darlin', I wouldn't think of anything but getting the nighty off of you."

His answer made her blush. "I uh... Thanks."

"No problem." He pointed at the bar bell. "Are you done with this?"

"Yeah. Thanks for your help."

"I'm here every Wednesday."

She watched as he went back to the butterfly press machine. As she watched him she thought, "now why can't John be more like him instead of constantly watching his stocks?" She shook her head as she went over to the rowing machine. "There has to be something wrong with him, if he's lost two wives," she thought to herself. As she took her position she looked at him again. "He's damn fine, though."

Every day, she would get tired of being the only sign of life in the house, so she would go to the gym. Only now, she heeded Mark's advice. By the time Wednesday came back around, Mark was surprised when he saw her.

"Hey, Jordan. I'm already seeing an improvement." He squeezed her bicept. "There's more deffinition up here."

"Well, thank you. I've had plenty of chances to use your advice."

"Still an asshole, huh?"

"Yep. But, atleast I'm getting in shape, while he deteriorates."

"I was just about to brave one of their shakes. Care to join me?"

She giggled. "Sure."

They went into the juice bar, and ordered a couple drinks. "Look, the reason why you workout should be just as important as how you workout. Working on your body means nothing if you don't work on your mind."

"Ok. Your advice has done some good so far..."

"Why did you join the gym?"

"To work on my body in hopes that he'll pay attention. When I realized that didn't work, it became to releive stress."

"So, you need a new goal."

"What's your's?"

"I have to stay fit for my job, so it's to stay at the top of my game."

"Okay... Well, with the way things are going, it could be to get a job, or to start dating again when I leave his ass."

He smiled. "I'm only offering suggestions. As for what I think..." He reached out, and pushed a stray hair behind her ear, then slid his thumb down her cheek. "I think a woman like you shouldn't have to beg for a man's attention. It should be willingly given."

She gave him a bittersweet smile. "Like you do?"

"No. You need more than I've given you."

"Today, I will workout for finding a job. Saturday is our anniversary. If I don't get some attention out of him before Sunday morning, I'm leaving." She laughed. "Why am I telling you this? I don't even know you."

"Because I'm someone willing to help."

"But why?"

"Because your ol' man is being a limp dick." He smiled. "Pardon my language."

She giggled. "I'll agree with you, there."

"Here... Put this number in your cell," he said as he nodded toward the phone on her hip. She programmed the number into her phone as he called it out. "Call me if you need anything; a ride, a place to stay- anything."

"You know, for a guy that looks like a major hard ass, you're very sweet."

He gave her a sideways grin. "Soft spot for ladies." He winked at her.

"I better get to the machines."

"Hey, you've hardly drank any of that."

"You haven't drank any of your's."

"'Cause I already know it tastes like shit."

"So do I," she laughed as she walked toward the gym.

When she finished her workout, she went home, and decided to give it her best shot to save what was left of their marriage. She took a shower, powdered her body, then wrapped herself in cellophane. She carefully slid into her high heels and walked down the hall to his office.

"Oh, Johnny... I brought something for you to eat," she cooed.

"I'm not hungry," he said without even looking.

"Will you look at me!?"

"What?" He looked her over. "What the hell is that for?"

"Maybe to get you in bed. Hell, you lock yourself in here so much I hardly see you."

"I'm too busy, baby."

"It's been a month, John! One month since we've had sex. God only knows how long since you actually made love to me."

"Can we talk about this later?"

With a disgusted growl, she left the room, pulling off the cellophane as she walked down the hall. She pulled on a pair of jeans when she reached the bedroom, then a t-shirt. She grabbed her purse and keys before walking out the door. She took off in her truck, not knowing where she was headed. When tears clouded her vision too badly to watch the road, she pulled over by the bridge. She got out, and sat on the hood, her feet propped up on the grill bars. After a few minutes of tears flowing freely, a tan Silverado pulled over in front of her.

She smiled slightly as she saw who got out. As he walked toward her, she asked, "are you stalking me?"

"I was gonna ask you the same thing. What's wrong?"

"He's pushed me away too many times, Mark. I can't..." She choked on a sob.

"It's okay," he whispered as he wrapped his huge arms around her.

She buried her face in his neck. "I can't sit around and wait anymore, Mark. It's not home. It's solitary confinement."

"You said you'd wait until Sunday... Do you still want to?"

"I... I don't know."

He petted her hair. "Look, it's up to you, but if you don't want to go back you can come home with me." He looked up as he heard a car door behind her truck. "The sheriff is coming this way."

"Oh, hell..." She pulled away from Mark.

"Jordan, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Luke. Everything is fine."

"Is this guy bugging you?"

"No. He's... He's a friend of mine."

He let out a humorless laugh. "Taker ain't nobody's friend." Mark made a move towards the sheriff, and he laid his hand on his gun. "Don't try it."

"I'm her friend. If you don't like it, you can kiss my ass."

"Mark, this is my brother-in-law, Luke."

"Jordan, does John know where you are?"

"More like does he care where I am?"

"Not this again," he sighed. "He's trying to make money to support you."

"Silver threads and golden needles will not mend my heart. Money means nothing to me." She jumped off the hood of the truck, enraged. "It sure as hell doesn't keep me warm at night. Then again, neither has your brother."

"You're not havin' an affair, are you?"

"No. I'm not. Not that I haven't had plenty of time to have one."

"Go home, Jordan. I'll have a talk with John."

She looked down at her tapping foot. "I'll go home, but he leaves first."

Luke sighed. "Fine. Taker, get back in your truck, and be on your way. This is a family matter."

"You gonna be okay with him?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. I'll see you at the gym."

"Alright. See ya later." Begrudgingly, he turned, and went back to his truck. It wasn't until he left before she spoke again.

"Luke, take off your hat and badge, will you?"

"Why?"

"Because then I'm not hitting an officer."

"Go home."

She got back in her truck, and headed for the house. As she walked through the door, he was waiting for her. "Where the hell were you?"

"I went for a drive."

"I just got off the phone with Luke."

"So what?"

"He said he saw you with another man."

"I pulled over, and a friend of mine saw me. He stopped to help."

"Does this friend have a name?"

"Mark. I met him at the gym."

"Big guy with a bunch of tattoos?"

"Huge man with arms that are damn near black. What do you care?"

"That's Undertaker. He beats people up for a living!"

"Yet he's the only man that has shown me any damn consideration in the past month."

"Don't you turn this around on me."

"Maybe if you spent some time with me, I wouldn't. Hell, if you did that much, I wouldn't have even met him."

"I have to get back to work."

"Oh, fuck you and your work."

John just walked back up the stairs, and to his office.

That night, as she got in bed, she was surprised when John went to bed with her. As they laid in the dark, she heard John say, "I'm sorry, baby. I know I've spent a lot of time away from you. I'll make up for it."

Tears welled up in her eyes. She laid there quietly, waiting for him to touch her. Then, she heard him softly snoring. She turned to the wall, and cried herself to sleep as she thought of Mark.

Two days passed, and nothing changed. It was finally their anniversary. She purposely didn't remind him. She wanted to see if he would remember on his own. He was hidden the entire day, until dinner. She had fixed all of his favorites. When she called him to eat, he said, "I'm not hungry, baby. Stick my plate in the oven. I'll eat later."

Her own appetite lost, she grabbed a notebook, and wrote down everything she wanted to tell him, but couldn't because he would push her away.

Before going to bed, she put on the red nighty she wore for their wedding night. She laid down, facing the wall, and cried herself to sleep again. She awoke at three in the morning. John was laying next to her, sound asleep. She grabbed her notebook out of the nightstand, and laid it on her pillow as she got up. She grabbed the bag she packed the day before out of the hall closet, and her long black leather jacket. She picked up her purse and keys before going out to the truck. She tossed the bag in back, then put the jacket on.

She climbed up into the truck, then grabbed her cell phone. She found Mark's number, and pushed send, before cranking the truck up, and pulling away.

"Yeah?" he answered groggily.

"I just left him, and could really use a place to stay."

"Jordan?"

"Yeah."

"I'll give you directions..."

by Great White

Sweet little baby,
you don't have to go
Little baby,
tell me you won't go
We'd be so good together
if we had the time
Bein' alone's
a nowhere state of mind
Lovin' ain't no crime, oh no
I see your man ain't here.
He don't care
The way of the night has gone.
We'll move on
Got to find a way
to face another day

I search the world
for someone I'll never find
Someone who ain't the hurtin' kind
If you stay the night.
We'll make the wrong seem right
So come on now...

Rock me
Rock me
Roll me through the night

We'll burn in love tonight

Sweet little baby,
oh don't you go
You ain't so innocent, I know
I know your heart's like mine, oh yeah
And I will find the time
to make you mine
And if your love goes bad,
if it makes you sad
I'll be back for more
at your door

Before the mornin' light,
we'll burn with love tonight

And when your man don't care,
I will be there
Still be lovin' real good love...

There's nothing left to do,
but make sweet love to you

As she made her way to his house, the clouds let loose with a torential down-pour. She pulled up to a gate, and read the number on the brick pillar. "This can't be right," she said to herself. She picked up the cell, and called him again.

"Are you lost?"

"I think so. I'm outside this huge gate."

"Do you see the keypad?"

"Yeah."

"Punch in 2-6-3-3. It should open."

"Alright. Hang on." She rolled down the window, and hung out to punch in the number. Lo and behold, the gate rolled open. "I must be in the right place. See you in a minute." She closed the phone, then rolled up the window as she drove through the gate. The rain came down harder as she went down the long driveway. She could hardly see anything, but what seemed to be a porch light. Then, motion lights came on, guiding her to a stop out front of the house.

She got out, and grabbed her bag out of the back. As she went up the steps, the door opened. She looked upon Mark in a whole new way; as more than a friend. His long dark hair hung loose, and he wore nothing but a pair of shorts, exposing more of his tatoos. His face unshaven, his goatee blended with the shadow. She shivered as his pale green eyes looked her over.

He stood in the doorway taking her in. Her wet hair dripping onto her leather jacket that hung open, revealing her neglige. Her brown eyes darkened as he looked at her, revealing what else she wanted from him. He opened the door wider, inviting her in. As she entered he took the bag from her, and set it aside. He watched as she shivered. He closed the door, then peeled the jacket off of her, his eyes never leaving her's.

Without a word spoken, he claimed her lips so fast and hard it nearly scared her. But soon, her arms wrapped around his neck. He parted her lips with his tongue, and she eagerly opened for him. Mark lifted her off her feet, and her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. He carried her up the stairs, then into his bedroom. As he laid down with her under him he said, "just so you know, this isn't why I invited you here."

She gave him a seductive smile. "After that kiss downstairs, are you going to tell me you don't want this, too?"

He answered her by kissing along her neck, then across her shoulder. As he adjusted his hips, she felt his length against her thigh through his shorts. Her curiousity got the better of her. She slid her arm under his, and reached down into his shorts to grab his hard shaft. She felt the moan rumble through his body. As she slid her fingers up and down his velvety skin he asked, "how much do you like this nighty?"

"I hate it. Why?"

"Great." He sat up, grabbed it between the lacy material that covered her breasts, and ripped it open.

She gave him a wicked grin as she sat up, and shrugged it off. She tossed it to the floor, then said, "there's a matching thong..."

He raised a brow at her, as the corner of his lips slowly rose in an almost evil looking grin. She closed her eyes as he slid his hand in the front, then gasped as he ripped the panties off. Using her toes, she pushed his shorts down to his knees. He raised them off of the bed, so she could push them past. Once kicked to the floor, he slid two fingers along her opening, to be sure she was ready. She was so wet, she left a puddle on the sheets. He slid the fingers inside her, and she sighed his name. He captured her lips as he settled into position. He aligned his length, then slowly made his entry. Once in to the hilt, he ended the kiss. "Oh, hell..." His eyes were closed as he strained for control.

Jordan laid her hand on his cheek. "Mark?"

He leaned into her touch. "You weren't joking, were you? You're as tight as a virgin."

"It happens when I go without." She kissed his Adam's apple. "Then again, you're the biggest I've ever had, as well."

He laced his fingers with her's, and pressed them into the mattress. He thrust, slowly and methodically into her. She wrapped her legs around him, allowing him to drive himself deeper within. "Oh fuck... Mark..." She moaned just before her orgasm washed over her, leaving her floating in a sea of pleasure she had never known. A growl worked it's way through his body. It escaped his throat as he released his seed within her.

He kissed her slowly and softly, before pulling out of her, and laying beside her. He gathered her in his arms, and held her close. "You know, your ol' man and Luke are going to know where you are."

"Then I can tell him to his face that I'm not going home." With her head on his chest, she fell asleep.

He kissed the top of her head. "I won't let him have you back," was his whispered vow. Then, he drifted off to sleep, as well.

When they awoke the next morning, it was because someone had pressed the call button on the front gate. "Hell, I'd hoped they'd let us sleep in," he joked. He pressed the button to answer the call. "What?"

"Sheriff Johnson. Let me in, Taker. We need to talk."

"Kiss my ass, Luke. I'm trying to sleep."

"Open up, or I'll open it with my car."

"Keep your pants on." Mark pushed the button to open the gate. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Shit... All my clothes are down there."

He gave her an evil grin. "Put on one of my shirts."

She laughed. "You think John's with him?"

"If he ever gave a damn about you, he is." He leaned over, and kissed her before getting out of bed.

She found a blue plaid shirt laying in a nearby chair. She slipped it on, and buttoned it up. Mark had already slid back into his shorts, and went down the stairs, so she followed. As he opened the door, she grabbed her bag and carried it to a nearby couch. She smiled as she dug through her bag when she heard, "where is she?"

"Go to hell, John," she said. She found what she was looking for, and popped three pills out of the foil pack. She looked up as she felt him in front of her. "I'm not going home."

"What are you... Three pills? You only do that when..."

"When I've had sex? You're right. I'm surprised you remember. It's been so long since you scratched that itch."

John reached out and slapped her. Mark came up behind him, grabbed a handful of hair and slammed him into the wall. "Touch her again, and I'll kick your little bitch ass."

"Let him go!"

Mark looked up to see Luke aiming his gun at him. He pulled John away from the wall, then pushed him towards his brother. "She came here on her own, so why don't you dicks leave us alone?"

"Because she's still my wife," John spat at him.

Mark chuckled. "I can't tell, man. What kind of man makes his wife go without a high hard one, when she's practically begging for it?" He pointed at Jordan. "That woman needs a man to take care of her physically. Hell, I've been helping her get in shape for you, and from what she said you haven't even paid attention."

"I have too!"

"Really, John?" she asked. "What was yesterday?"

"I don't know. What?"

"Our second wedding anniversary, DUMB ASS!" She popped the pills in her mouth, and swallowed them down. "Remember that little red outfit you got me for our wedding night?" She gave him a wicked grin.

He looked at her, thoroughly confused. "Yeah."

"I ripped it off of her last night," Mark said.

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"It's called passion, John. The type of thing that excites a woman." Jordan said. "Maybe his way of claiming me as his."

"Damn straight, darlin'." He turned to John. "You ain't getting her back without one hell of a fight."

"Alright then, neanderthal. Let's fight."

Jordan and Luke said, "what!?"

Mark just laughed. "Go home, boy, before your brother has to take you to the hospital."

Jordan wrapped her arms around Mark's waist, and he slid his arm around her shoulders. "It's pointless to fight, John. I'm not going home with you. I'm staying with Mark."

She could see the heartache on his face as John turned and walked out the door. Luke looked after him, until he was down the steps. He turned to Mark and Jordan. "This isn't over."

"I'm shaking. I really am," Mark said, completely deadpan.

"You can't do anything to us," Jordan said.

"Oh, no? If you two slept together, that's adultry on both of you." Luke smiled. "You are still married, aren't ya, Taker?"

"I haven't signed the papers yet, but the bitch walked out on me."

"Doesn't matter. I suggest you sign those papers quick, before her lawyer finds out." With that, he left.