What?
"I don't understand," I said sitting up and watching her take another step in my direction.
"You see, Cage has never left me. My father left me. My mother left me. My sister left me. Cage never left me. When people would leave me, he was always there. He is the one person I've always depended on. I've always known no matter what he'll be there." She stopped and took a deep breath. "When I opened the fridge and my drinks were gone, well that's never happened. I thought he was letting me go. I thought he was leaving me too." Ah damn.
Standing up I closed the distance she'd been afraid to bridge.
"I'm here. You have me."
She gave me a sad smile.
"One day, whatever this is will end. Relationships always do. Then you'll leave me too."
She'd been hurt so much.
I took her face in my hands and held her gaze.
"Listen to me. I'm in love with you. Mad crazy in love with you. I'm not going anywhere. Ever. You can't get rid of me." A tear rolled down her face and I swiped it with my thumb then kissed the tip of her nose.
"I really want to believe you and I think you really believe that but Marcus where I come from, people leave." If it took me the rest of my life I'd prove to her I wasn't going anywhere. She just needed actions not words. Words she'd heard before.
"I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you." She closed her eyes, "I hope so," she whispered.
I reached down and grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the bed. I'd come up here thinking about doing a little more of what we'd done this morning but things had changed. Now I just wanted to be the one who held her. I wanted to make it all better. Just me.
I opened my eyes and the room was dark and I was alone in bed. Sitting up I ran my hands through my hair and stood up to go find Will ow. When I opened the bedroom door Larissa smiled up at me, "Martus," she announced loudly.
"Princess," I replied smiling down at her. Two little arms lifted in the air and I reached down to pick her up. I'd already learned that wordless demand.
"I didn't know you were coming to visit me." She clapped,"Martus pay."
"He just woke up Larissa, give him a minute," Will ow chided her as she walked out of the kitchen.
"I made some chicken fettucini alfredo if you want some.
Tawny stopped by unexpectedly about an hour ago and dropped Larissa off. I'm supposed to work tonight but if I didn't keep her she was going to leave her with this awful lady down the street all night long. I couldn't let her do that, so," she shrugged.
"I'll keep her."
Will ow froze and stared at me.
"You will?" the shock on her face hurt a little.
"Yeah, of course. I was going to stay here tonight anyway.
She and I will build blocks and knock them over, play with spoons, we'll have a blast."
A smile broke across Will ow's face that made me feel ten feet tall.
"Okay, um, thanks, I mean, wow, are you sure?" I walked over to her and leaned over to place a quick kiss on her surprised little mouth.
"Very sure."
"Martus tiss," Larissa said happily then leaned over and laid a very wet kiss on my cheek.
Will ow giggled, "Alright you don't go stealing my man." Her man. I liked that a lot. A whole damn lot.
"Impossible. Even for adorable curly headed blondes," I assured her and ruffled Larissa's hair.
"Martus pay," Larissa announced again.
"Yeah I heard you chic. Let's go play," I replied.
"Wait aren't you hungry?"
I'd forgot she'd cooked. My stomach rumbled and I looked at Larissa.
"Can I eat first then we'll play. You can sit beside me and eat too."
"Bite bites" Larissa responded.
Turning to Will ow for a translation, Larissa proceeded to chant, "Martus bite bites"
"Bite bites is what she likes to call eating," Will ow explained.
"Makes complete sense to me," I replied and both girls giggled.
Willow
The television ill uminated the dark apartment when I stepped inside. There was no sound coming from the T.V.
but The Tonight Show was on the screen. When my eyes adjusted, I found Marcus sound asleep on the couch with Larissa snuggled up on his chest also sound asleep.
Blocks scattered the floor and what looked like cookie crumbs made a trail from the living room to the kitchen. My heart swelled. I loved him. I never thought this would happen. I never expected to love anyone else. Not this way.
I picked up the blocks and stacked them back in the basket I kept here for when Larissa came over. Then I leaned down to whisper in Marcus's ear, "I'm home." His eyes blinked open then a sleepy smile greeted me.
"Hey," he mumbled.
"I'm just going to take her and put her in bed with me. I'll get you a blanket and pillow."
"I can take her," he said starting to sit up. I placed my hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down.
"No, you stay put. I'll do it." I kissed the small frown between his eyebrows and took Larissa from his arms.
After tucking her in and securing her with pillows I went back out to the couch with a pillow and blanket for Marcus.
He hadn't moved. He was exhausted no doubt. Keeping Larissa wasn't for the faint hearted. His eyes were closed.
Long blond eyelashes brushed his cheekbones. I bent over him to put the pillow under his head when two hands grabbed my waist and pulled me down on top of him.
"Mmmm, that's better," he whispered before claiming my mouth. His mouth was sweet and gentle at first but the more I shifted my body the more aggressive the kiss became.
The warmth of his mouth tasted like chocolate chip cookies and I couldn't get enough of him. I grasped the front of his shirt pulling him closer. His hands moved up my thighs and cupped my bottom squeezing and moaning as I pressed against him. We were going there again. Before we went any further I pulled back and looked down at him. The desire in his eyes undid me.
desire in his eyes undid me.
"I love you too," I whispered.
His eyes widened then his mouth was back on mine. This time wide awake and determined. I wanted all of him. There was no question in my mind. His hands were everywhere and I felt shaky all over from excitement. Breaking the kiss his hands started tugging on my shorts.
"Take these off," he demanded.
I stood up nervous but so incredibly excited I couldn't keep from trembling. I wasn't sure if he wanted everything off.
Raising my eyes I looked at him and he shook his head.
"Keep your panties on. I don't want our first time to be on this couch and if you take those off I'm a goner." Smiling I crawled back on top of him and straddled him then once again got lost in Marcus Hardy.
Chapter Seventeen
Marcus
I'd just had the absolute best week of my life and now I had to end it with a family dinner. One where my father would be present. I wished I hadn't promised my mom I'd bring Will ow. This was the last thing I wanted her to witness.
Will ow came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders and leaned down to kiss my cheek.
"Almost done with that paper?" She asked standing up and walking around the table to sit across from me. My University of Alabama t-shirt looked good on her. She no longer wore Cage's shirts around the apartment. I wanted her in mine. Maybe it was a little caveman but I didn't care.
And neither did she. I was almost positive she liked it.
"Almost but I could use a distraction," I replied.
She smirked and shook her head no.
"Nope. I've distracted you all week. You need to finish."
"Please," I begged and she giggled.
"I'm going to get ready to meet the folks and you need to finish that paper. We can work out your reward for a job well done later."
I loved how relaxed she'd gotten with me. Her teasing was so incredibly sweet.
"And there's the distraction I need right there. You've given my fantasies some fuel."
Laughing she closed the bathroom door behind her.
Shaking my head to clear the images of Will ow straddling me and crying out my name I studied the screen in front of me again. She was right. I needed to finish this. Like yesterday. But I'd spent every spare minute I had with Will ow and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
The apartment door opened and in walked Cage followed by Preston. They'd been at baseball practice. Both of them were dirty and sweaty.
"Marcus, what up," Preston called out as he came inside and made his way into the kitchen behind Cage.
"Writing a paper," I grumbled knowing I wasn't going to get anything done with these two here.
"I pay smart chics to do those for me," he bragged and I rolled my eyes. He'd been "paying" smart chics to do his homework since middle school. However, his paying normally didn't involve cash.
"Where's Low?" Cage asked before taking a swig of beer.
"Getting a shower. She's going with me to meet my family tonight."
Preston let out a whistle, "The family. That's serious shit right there."
Cage grunted his displeasure and took another drink of beer.
Preston's eyes shifted between the two of us. I could see the curious questions in his eyes. How were we getting along? Did we ever fight? Wasn't it uncomfortable? And the truth was no. Cage was rarely here.
The shower cut off and I jumped up. Both guys stared at me like I was crazy. The idea of Low walking out in her towel thinking it was just me here scared the shit out of me. I ignored them and made my way to the door.
"Low"
"Yes"
"Preston and Cage are out here"
"Okay, um, could you bring me my things. They're on the bed." That's what I'd been afraid of.
"Yep"
I didn't look back at either of them but I could feel their eyes boring into me. No doubt Preston was amused and Cage was pissed off.
A pair of pink silk panties that consisted of very little materiel and a matching bra lay on top of that brown sundress that reminded me of chocolate. Picking them all up I headed back to the bathroom making sure to keep her underclothes hidden from prying eyes.
I knocked, "Got them."
She cracked the door and reached out and took them from my hands. Smiling bashfully up at me I wanted to push my way inside but kept my cool.
She closed the door back and I turned around to face the firing squad.
Preston started up first, "A little possessive there aren't ya bud. Afraid I'm gonna get a peek at Miss Low in her towel." I shot him a warning glare and sat back down.
"I've seen her in a bath towel many, many times," Cage said smugly.
Taking a deep breath I forced myself to remain calm.
"The difference is, she's mine now."
"No, she's just yours, for now," he replied.
I turned and glared at him. He was leaning against the counter looking so damn sure of himself.
"Forever," I corrected him.
Cage shoved off from the counter and raised his eyebrows,
"We'll see."
I started to stand up and Preston grabbed my arm as Cage walked into his bedroom.
"Don't. Just let it go."
I sat back down. Not because Preston told me to. But because Low would want me to.
"He's a jerk. Always has been. Just ignore him." Easier said than done. "She's mine," I repeated mostly for myself than anyone else.
"Got it bro. She's yours," Preston agreed.
Willow
"He's not here," Marcus hissed glaring straight ahead as we sat parked behind an expensive little Mercedes outside his parents house. It was just as big as I had pictured in my head. The pale yellow color of the house was set off by large white hurricane shutters. It was beach front and the main part of the house started on the second floor. The bottom was all garage. Which made sense for the Mercedes King of the Gulf Coast to have a large garage.
The wide staircase was intimidating as it led up to two large front doors.
Marcus let out an angry growl and opened his door.
Something was bothering him but I was almost afraid to ask. Instead of walking around to get my door he slammed his door shut and stood glaring up at those large glass paned doors as if he wanted to rip them off their hinges. As quietly as I could, I opened my door and made my way around the front of his truck. Maybe he was having second thoughts. I knew he was back home due to family issues.
But this was much more intense than I'd expected from the perfect family I pictured him to have. Especially after meeting his bubbly sweet gorgeous sister. He jerked his head toward me when I stopped beside him and the angry scowl melted and he frowned.
"I'm sorry Low. I didn't mean to leave you just sitting in there."
I squeezed his arm, "It's okay. I actually know how to open a car door."
My teasing only brought a hint of a smile to his troubled face.
"My dad was supposed to be here. He's not." Okay. Missing family meals must really rank high on the shit list around here.
"Mom was expecting him. She was excited," he let out a sigh and reached down to clasp my hand in his.
"If she seems odd or upset just overlook it. Nothing that happens tonight has anything to do with your presence.
Everything is really screwed up right now."
"Trust me, I wrote the book on screwed up families. I can handle it."
Marcus brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it.
"Let's go see what we're in for tonight," he muttered and we headed up those massive stairs.