“Yeah, thanks.”
He got up and walked naked to the bathroom, tripping in the darkness over our fallen clothes. I sat up against the pillows with a small smile and enjoyed the view. Between his jet-setting and all the time he spent at work, I had no idea how he had a body like that. It was the kind of thing you’d see in a magazine, not in your bedroom going to get you water.
“You know,” he grinned as he returned with two cups, “it hurts when you objectify me like that.”
I took a huge gulp. “I’m sorry, was I thinking too loud?”
He slipped into bed beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist. “I just don’t want you to think of me as a piece of meat now that I’ve ‘given it up’.” He flashed me a look of false modesty and I laughed aloud.
“Oh no—I’d never assume you’d be so easy. All I had to do was walk around in a bikini and shoot you a few flirty smiles.”
I started to kiss his chest and run my tongue down his body.
He flashed me a devilish wink. “Are you trying to turn me on?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
He considered for a moment, then shook his head. “You’re in my house, my bed, my rules. We go again this instant.”
We went for Round Two. And I saw nothing but fireworks.
When we finally calmed down, Marcus gathered me back up in his arms, and I lay my head across his chest, listening to his steady pulse as I shut my eyes.
“Seriously though, Rebecca.” For the second time that night, he seemed to hesitate. “I don’t know how this changes things. I mean, technically we’re engaged, our families are starting to get to know each other, you’ve already moved in, and I just…” He ran a hand up through his hair. “I don’t know how everything got so complicated.”
When I was quiet, he was quick to reassure me.
“But it’s good—I mean—of course, it’s good. Because I’m falling madly in love with you.” He kissed my forehead again. “We’re going to find a way to make this work. I’m just not sure how that’s going to happen yet. And I don’t want anyone we care about getting hurt, you know?”
I swear, I tried to listen to everything he was saying. I had a feeling that a good deal of it concerned me. But sleep was coming hard and fast, sweeping me along into a world of dreams.
“Rebecca?” He shook me softly. “Rebecca?”
But I was fast asleep.
Chapter 15
Morning came quickly. Marcus grinned as he rolled on top of me, burying his face in my neck with long, drawn-out kisses.
“I’m going to make you breakfast,” I said. “What’s your favorite breakfast food? I’m really good at making pancakes.”
“Silence, Rebecca,” he finally demanded with mock sternness, “you’re ruining my concentration.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist and did my best to roll us back over, but all that ended up happening was we both fell off of the bed with a loud thud.
“Shit!” He laughed, extracting himself from the tangle of sheets.
We started goofing around the way lovers do. He started tickling my sides, and we both fell against each other in a fit of laughter.
“Let me cook breakfast,” I said, sitting up in the pile of blankets like a queen.
He stroked his thumb against my grinning cheek, then hopped up to throw on some clothes. “Actually, I was going to make you something.”
“Really? That’s so sweet.”
“It would be my honor to make something for you. What would you like?”
“Surprise me.” I stretched back lazily against the bed. “Surprise me with some fruit and peppermint tea?”