“Who shot the gun? Was it you?” she said, through her clacking pearly whites.
“Yep. When you took off running, I snagged my gun out of the glove box. You never know when you might need it.” He hurried her through the slush and mud.
“You didn’t aim it at me, did you?” she asked.
“Right. You’re on to me,” Marco said.
She could hear his eyes roll.
“Only thought to check. Damn, I’m cold.”
Marco stayed silent.
“Aren’t you going to lecture me or anything? Tell me it’s my own damn fault?” Now she swore she could hear him shaking his head. “No, you’re in full-tilt reasonable mode. You’re probably patting my head in your mind, right?”
“Gia shut the fuck up,” Marco said.
“Whoa, first signs of a pulse,” she said.
The flashlight beam bounced on his stiff, rigid jaw.
“I was beginning to wonder if you had a soul,” she said. “Or, a heartbeat.”
“Gia,” Marco said, through clenched teeth. “Stop.”
As the rain pelted them, Marco increased their speed.
“Not so fast. I can’t...” The toe of her Vans caught in a hole, and she fell, head first, twisting her ankle. “Ow. Fuck. Smooth move, Brutus. I can’t move,” she said, through clenched teeth.
“Oh, sure. This is all my fault.” He crouched next to her, jammed the flashlight under his arm, and proceeded to examine her ankle. “This hurt?”
“No,” she said.
“This?” he said, tenderly probing her with his fingers.
“Ow!” she exclaimed, jerking her foot away.
“How about here?” He gently prodded another area.
“Not as much as the last place.” Tears of rage pooled in her eyes.
“Its swelling. Let’s hope it’s not a bone break. We’d best get you somewhere safe,” he said.
“I’m so sorry, Brutus. I’m a shit about everything. Mostly I’m pissed because...because...”
He scooped her up and said, “Let’s get you somewhere dry. And I’m listening. You’re pissed because?”
“I was having a really good time,” she wailed. “The best time I’ve had in ages. And I blew it. I’m pissed at myself,” she said, surprised to be crying so hard.
“Shh,” Marco said. He kissed the top of her head.
A flash of lightning sparked a metal fence post directly in front of them.
“Oh, shit,” he said. He veered left and powered them down the hill toward their vehicle.
Another arc of lightning struck a tree, splitting it in two with an angry crack.
Gia let out a shriek, like a little bitch. She clutched Marco’s neck.
“New plan.” Marco turned and headed up the hill toward the rocky outcropping she’d seen when she started out.
The flashlight beam bobbed up and down, illuminating fleeting shapes, as Marco jogged along. “Here,” he finally said. “Let’s try this.” He ducked inside a cave.
Inside the stones, the air felt cool and damp. But at least no more rain pelted them.
Her arms gripping Marco’s neck, Gia peered into the shadowy cave. From what she could tell, it looked like it was fairly deep. She hoped a wild animal wasn’t huddled in the back, waiting to tear their throats out.
Marco gently sat Gia on the ground. He removed his wet jacket, revealing a small pack. Positioning the flashlight so it would light the cave, he began searching through the bag.
“What is that? Some sort of survival kit?” she asked, still sniffling. The stone wall felt cool and unforgiving, poking her back.
“Sort of. It’s not my full kit. I grabbed it last minute when we were leaving. But it has a few things we need at the moment.” He rooted around in the bag, producing an emergency thermal blanket and some blow-up thingie. He fiddled with a button on the transparent blow-up thing.
It shone like a lantern.
“Et voila,” he said, appearing pleased with himself. “Solar light.” He hooked the light over a crag in the wall where it made a pleasant glow. “Okay, honey. Let’s get you warm.”
“Don’t bother. I can deal.” Gia’s teeth were full on out of control.
Marco bent down to place the high-tech blanket around her shoulders.
She shoved it off and him with it.
He stood, the top of his head grazing the ceiling of the cave, and stared at her, hands on his hips in his usual superhero mode. “What’s this? Are you macho? Accept the help, girl.”
“Go ahead. You use the blanket.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “Why’d you take me on? As my sober companion, you know?”
“I’m beginning to wonder,” Marco said, retrieving the blanket and enfolding her in it.
“Ouch,” Gia said.
“You’re extremely stubborn. I suspect you’re not used to people being kind to you. You’ve got the emotional armor of a trained warrior.”
“Thanks for that, Dr. Phil,” she said, staring at her feet.
“Actually,” he said, reaching for a couple of branches on the ground. “I’ve followed the band for a couple years. You, in particular.”
“Really?” She brightened, feeling like a little kid. “You followed me?”
“Don’t tell, okay? There goes my street cred.” He retrieved a few more sticks and placed them on top of the others. Then, he procured a lighter from his pack and lit the kindling. “Wait here. I think I saw some under a ledge outside. Maybe some of them aren’t soaked.” He stepped away, returning a few seconds later with a small load of dry branches.
The smell of wood fire coupled with the heat made her want to relax. She refused to give in to the warmth.
“Wait, I see how this goes. You only wanted to be a sober companion for a rock star, right?” she said, back to her moody self. “So you could add it to your list of accomplishments.”
“Hell, Gia. Can’t you accept a compliment? Besides the fact I maintain strict confidentiality, I like you for you. I think you’re fun, funny, you’re incredibly dedicated to your craft...you’re an amazing, talented, sexy, gorgeous woman.” His words trailed off as she vigorously shook her head. “Is everything a fight with you? Are you always this pissy or only with me? Christ, you can be a pain in the ass.”
“Maybe you bring out the best in me,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.
“I’d hate to see your worst.” He tucked the blanket around her shoulders.
His soothing ministrations made her jittery, jumpy...as well as a little turned on.
“There. How’s that?” Marco said.
“Fine.” Her teeth began to calm their clackety-clack.
“Good.” He searched through the bag and tsked. “Damn. I wish I’d brought the full kit. We don’t have much in the way of medical supplies. Well...” He shrugged off his sopping sweatshirt and peeled off his Henley.
Gia stared at him. “Wow, Brutus.”
“Wow, what?” he said. He proceeded to tear his shirt into strips.
“What are you doing? That’s a nice shirt. It looked good on you,” she said.
He lifted his eyebrow and stooped in front of her, strips in hand. “So, what’s the wow?”
“Fishing for compliments?” she said.
“No, I wondered what the wow was for, is all.” He sat on the ground and placed her leg on his lap. He untied her shoe and eased it off with the finesse of a skilled and kind nurse. His jaw set, he proceeded to bind her ankle like a medic might do.
“You’re hot, okay?” she said, turning away from him.
“What?” He reached over and gently guided her face away from the wall, regarding her with those damn soft eyes. “What did you just say?”
She shoved his hand away with more force than she meant to use. “I said, you’re hot. You and all your muscles. Way to get my mind off the pain.” Heat crawled up her neck, spreading along her face.
A slight smile crossed his face. “Must’ve been hard to say something nice to me, h
uh?”
“Maybe,” she said, her face growing hot. She wanted to smack herself. How is it I can be all cool and tough with the losers I fuck but with Brutus I turn into such a hesitant girl?
“Does it hurt? Your ankle?” He rested his hands on her shins.
“Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know.” Her walls began to rise like a prison gate on alert.
“Wait,” Marco said. “I can see frost forming. Don’t leave me like this, escaping into one of your pissy moods.”
“Wait, what. You got your compliment. Don’t make me vulnerable again. I hate it. I hate to be soft.” She took a long, shuddering breath. Vulnerable people get beat up.
“Maybe this will change your mind.” He cupped her chin with his large hand and inclined his head toward her.
Before she knew it, his lips were on hers, tentatively exploring. She put both hands on his incredibly warm, amazingly muscular chest and pushed hard. “Aren’t you supposed to be my sober companion? This isn’t allowed, right? This wasn’t in the contract.”
He stared at her, breathing hard. “You’re right. It’s not in the contract. It could get me fired, actually. Do you want me to stop?”
She placed her hand on the back of his beefy neck and drew him close. She kissed him hard and deep, forgetting everything except the consuming feel of his mouth on hers. When they pulled apart, they both looked at one another, breathless, eyes bright.
“Now that was one fine kiss,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him. “Care to see what I can do for an encore?”
Chapter 12
Gia ripped away from her blanket, heedless of the cold, damp air. Then, with eager fingers, she peeled off her jacket, insisting that Marco do the same.
Their tiny fire sputtered and smoked, trying to become a bona fide blaze. The rain continued its relentless tempest outside, but inside they were dry and safe.
“We really shouldn’t do this,” Marco said, reaching behind her.
He retrieved a stick which he used to stir the fire. He kept at it until flames licked at the branches, creating shadow puppets on the stone walls. Then, he cupped his hand behind Gia’s neck and brought her in for another searing kiss.
“I know,” she said when the lip action paused. From her seated position, she spread the blanket on the hard ground. “My king,” she said, with a flourish, gesturing to the silvery emergency wrap.
“Is this you agreeing with me, saying we should stop?” He settled his bulk on the unforgiving ground and gestured with his fingers for her to climb on top.
“Absolutely,” she said, accommodating his request. “Not,” she added. “Who’s going to spill the secret? The cows?” Simply sitting on top of him aroused the hell out of her, especially when she rocked against the heat he packed between his legs. “Oh, my fucking God, Brutus. You’ve got enough wood to heat the valley.”
He flashed her a wicked grin, and said, “Think you know what to do with that wood, little girl?”
She matched his grin and said, “Think you can deal with the ways I know what to do with that thing, boy?”
“I’m game if you’re game,” he said, his face lit by the dancing flames. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“You first. Clothes off.” She couldn’t wait to see his body.
Her ankle began to throb, drawing her out of the pleasure ahead. “Wait a minute. I’ve got to...” She straightened her leg, but the expertly wrapped ankle still hurt. “Nope. Fuck.”
“Don’t give up yet, sweetheart,” he said. “Climb off. I’ve got an idea. This will only take one quick sec.”
She rolled off and gingerly maneuvered to sitting.
Marco peeled off his damp shirt.
She hugged herself against the chill, unable to keep her eyes off his magnificent chest.
He folded their outerwear, along with his shirt, into a soggy makeshift mattress. Then, he spread another emergency blanket on top. “This thing’s waterproof. It will keep you dry and somewhat comfortable. My queen,” he said, gesturing at the rustic bed, in the same manner, she’d done.
She crawled on top and settled in. “It will do. At least my ankle won’t complain. Is being a Marine like an enhanced boy scout?”
“Way enhanced. I’ve got skills you don’t even want to hear about. Now relax.” He knelt between her legs. “Let’s get that top off, shall we?”
She sat up and almost died of pleasure as his hands stroked her skin. “Oh, god, Brutus, this is heaven. So this is what it’s like to do it sober.”
“And we’ve barely begun,” he said. “Think you can handle it?” He peeled her shirt from her body. “Lay back, beautiful.”
A wave of shyness passed through her. She bit her lip.
“What?” he said, stroking up her sides. “You’ve been doing that lip biting thing more and more. What’s going on?”
His hands curved around her breasts and he massaged them, before starting his sensual journey again. Up the sides, around the breasts, and down again.
She let out a deep sigh.
“I’m like a virgin,” she said. Her head rolled slightly to the side.
“How so?” He clearly enjoyed touching her as his erection pulsed through his jeans.
“I’ve never, um...fuck. This is hard.” She chewed her lip some more and gazed toward the cave’s ceiling. “I’ve never done this sober, Marco.”
His hands stopped. He looked at her, wonder shining through his warm eyes. “No kidding?”
“No kidding. I started drinking when I was twelve. The neighbor boy and I had an exploration party... a party of two.” She guffawed.
“So, you didn’t drink for the first half of your life,” he said thoughtfully. “Second half, you let ‘er rip. Let’s start a new chapter, what do you say?”
She nodded. “This feels so...so...” She searched for the right word but came up empty. “I don’t know. I’ll muse on it later. Don’t stop. I like the way you make me feel.” She scrunched up her face.
“Well, then,” he said, resuming the caresses. “I’d best make this extra special for both of us.”
“Why so for you?” she asked.
“It’s been a long time, honey. Far too long since I’ve felt this way about anybody. And don’t think I missed the fact that you called me Marco,” he said.
“Shoot. I thought you might have let it slip on by.” She grinned at him.
“You’ve got a beautiful smile, girl,” he said. “And these tits. Love these tits.” He cupped both in his hands, and then tweaked both nipples, stimulating unbelievable pleasure.
“They’re tasty morsels of goodness,” she said, nearly panting.
“And I need to taste them. Hope I don’t get a spider in my mouth,” Marco said, winking, tracing the delicate inked filaments along Gia’s neck. “I saw that wicked web on your back.”
“Nah, my spider’s extremely cooperative when she likes the guy,” Gia said, feeling uncharacteristically shy.
“Good,” he said. “I’d hate to make her mistress upset.”
His head dropped to her nipple and he suckled it, swirling his tongue around and round. He made throaty moans as he sucked, making her extremely wet.
When his mouth sought the other nipple, her hands kneaded and tugged the survival blanket. Her back arched into him. Everything felt all tingly and wild, like her skin was being struck by lightning. Her hands grabbed his solid upper arms, but her fingers couldn’t come close to wrapping around the bulging muscles.
“Mouth, Brutus. I need your mouth up here,” she begged. “Kiss me hard.”
“Someone’s a bit impatient. I need time. Lots and lots of time to savor you.” He licked and sucked his way up her neck, pulling the tender skin into his mouth and releasing it with a loud pop.
“You’re going to give me hickeys,” she said, laughing. “I haven’t had a hickey since I was thirteen.”
“I haven’t given one since I was fourteen and got slapped,” he said. He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, and her nose.
<
br /> She squeezed her eyes shut. Everything felt new and exciting. She’d never had an encounter like this, not in all her sucking, fucking years on the road, not living on the streets, not in high school, never. She brought her arms around Marco’s back and explored his muscled physique, feeling like she’d won the sex partner lottery.
He brought his mouth to hers, kissing her gently and teasing her with the tip of his tongue.
She nibbled on his lower lip, enjoying his mouth expertise. Their kisses deepened naturally. Soon their tongues were tangoing, sensual, on fire. Gia loved every second, finding him as good a kisser as her. All the while she ached for him to be inside her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, ignoring her throbbing ankle.
Finally, unable to stand it, she said, “Get your pants off, Brutus, now!”
He laughed. He had such a deep, masculine laugh. He wasn’t anything like the rockers or roadies, bar boys or other losers she’d fucked through a haze of alcohol. She folded her arms behind her head as he stood to undress.
First, he retrieved a condom from his wallet. He waved it at Gia. “Protect and serve, that’s my motto.”
She grinned. “I thought it was ‘Always faithful’.”
“That comes later. Let’s not rush things.” He returned the grin. Then, he did a coy striptease move, turning his back to her.
“Aw, hey, now,” she said. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“I’m shy,” he said.
She laughed. “You’re lying. You’re so not shy. You probably admire yourself in the mirror. Show me.”
He bent forward, sliding his jeans from his mighty legs, revealing one very fine ass.
“You’re the best eye candy I’ve ever feasted my eyes on,” she said, blinking hard. “Damn. You’re like a god, Brutus.”
He stood and stepped free of his pants, still keeping his back to her. His hands moved out of sight, and he presumably stroked his erection. “Oh, yeah, this feels good.”
“Oh my God, Brutus. You’re killing me. It’s not like I can leap up and tackle you.” She let out another laugh, mindful of the joy in her heart.
He turned his head and gave her a winsome look, putting his hand over his mouth like some demure geisha girl.
A Twist of Love Page 8