Mr. Dark 5 (Tamed #5)(16)

"We have a former mental hospital, remember?" I said, indicating the larger building. "It's not as clean as a chem lab, but we don't need it to be. Mark assures me that just a regular room will be just fine."

"Then why use the old outbuilding?" I asked as I pulled the SUV we were driving that day in front of it. "Why not just the house?"

"Mark said that making this stuff smells like crap," I replied. "Maybe not cooking meth bad, but still not exactly an odor you want lingering around the kitchen. This outbuilding will work just fine, and as long as we're careful."

Taking our bags inside, I saw that Mark already set up his materials. "Okay guys, thanks, but I'm going to need to make this stuff myself," Mark said. He was dressed in a set of coveralls and had a rebreather around his neck, and all I could think of was Walter White crossed with a fitness model. "Some of these steps are a bit nasty, and I don't want you guys to risk getting injured."

"Are you sure?" I asked nervously. "We can't help at all?"

Mark shook his head and smiled. "Not this time, babe. Maybe I'll teach you how at some point, but I'll take care of this."

I nodded, worried. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will. This one's actually easy. Plastique is pretty easy, and the poison's not that hard to control. But still, you two get inside, and I'll be in for dinner."

Tabby and I left, leaving Mark alone. "So what should we do?" Tabby asked as we walked across the overgrown grass that separated the outbuilding from our house. "I don't suppose you're in the mood for another cheesy movie."

"No, but I could do something to distract myself," I said, thinking. "I know. Mark and I have some workout equipment here, how about joining me in working up a sweat? I remember you used to drag me to the university fitness center all the time."

Tabby grinned and nodded. "Okay. But I suspect that it'll be me dragging ass trying to keep up with you this time. I've heard the stories from your place downtown, you're turning heads for more than just your hair and boobs."

"They like my ass too?" I teased, cocking a hip. I was a little surprised when Tabby reached back and slapped my butt, rather hard too. "Ouch!"

"Sorry, couldn't resist," Tabby said while grinning wolfishly. "Now I just have to figure out what to wear. I didn't exactly pack a full wardrobe for my stay here."

"You're still a size four, right?" I asked, knowing already that she was.

"Yep, why, you going to loan me your stuff?" she said with a cocked eyebrow.

"You might have to cinch the waistband some, but I think I got your hookup," I replied. "I'm a size six now, so we're pretty close."

As it was, one of my tighter pairs of shorts fit her just fine, and we had a fun workout that left both of us sweaty, Tabby more than me. When we finally finished, I lay back on the hardwood floor of our little home gym and smiled. "Thanks. You really helped me push."

Tabby grinned from her position leaning against the wall, shaking her head. "You were the one pushing me. I think you were sandbagging to make me not feel bad."

I shrugged. "A little. I still got good work in though."

"That's good to know. So when you come back, think I can start joining you and Mark for your workouts? I may not turn into a sexy ninja girl like you, but I certainly could use the push and the company.”

"I'd love that," I said. "I was thinking, since Mark and I can't go back to the other gym where we are now once we come back, either setting up a room here with more stuff, or maybe you can invest in another place closer to here while we're gone would be good. What do you think?"

"Sounds good. Let's go get washed up though, unless you want Mark to walk in on two sweaty hot women lying around waiting for him."

I laughed. "We do that, and he'll faint from lack of blood to the brain as it all goes somewhere else."

Tabby grinned. "Don't tempt me. I may be getting my emotional needs met having you two around taking care of me, but there's some itches that aren't being scratched, if you know what I mean."

I grew more serious and looked over at Tabby. "Are you okay with that for now?"

Tabby's own face grew contemplative, and she thought for a moment before nodding. "Actually, I am. I've been a flirt for so long, maybe a bit of forced celibacy other than what I can do for myself is helpful. It's maybe time that I start really looking for Mister Right rather than just Right Now."

"Sounds good," I said, coming over and helping her to her feet.

"It's going to be a bit difficult," Tabby said as she climbed up. She looked me in the eyes, her gaze filled with meaning. "Whoever it is, they're going to have to be willing to share my heart, you know."

I nodded and patted her on the shoulder. Acknowledging the depth of her feelings for me was a great thing. "I know. And Mark knows he's sharing my heart too. He's cool with it."

"He's a great man like that. Think they make another like him around?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. But I'm sure there's someone out there for you. Now, let's go get washed up."

After my shower, I waited in the kitchen for either Tabby or Mark to come in. Mark was first, his coverall unzipped to his waist and carrying two bags. "Done," he said, his hair damp and sweaty. "You look refreshed."