by nikki blaire
“No, you just want drama.” She pushed her bang out of her face. “You could have called, texted me, but no, you show up here.”
“Divine intervention,” He shrugged. “And, you wouldn’t have even answered if I called you anyways. I'm here now, so why doesn’t this count as me showing that I care?”
Charlisse didn’t respond. She just crossed her arms and turned away from him.
“I’m sorry, Charlisse. I went to go see my father out of anger, but I thought I had convinced him to resign. I didn’t know that he’d use you against me. I was going to tell you, but it all happened before I could. I never kept anything from you.”
“Marc, let’s not rehash it. Please.”
“But, you don’t believe me.” His arms slumped to his side. “You think I’m just like him, don’t you? Is it because I didn’t tell him not to step down?”
He moved closer to her. “I was faced with an impossible decision, Charlisse. What was I supposed to do? What would you have wanted me to do?”
“I don’t know!” She yelled then quickly covered her mouth. “I don’t know.”
She repeated it more calmly. “I keep trying to figure out what I would have rather had happen, but I just don’t know.”
She looked up at the ceiling and then back at him. Marcus wanted to hold her , but he knew that now wasn’t the time to try.
“I just kept thinking that I’d be the laughing stock of the city. If that got out, ya know.”
She moved her stare to the floor. “It felt like every worst case scenario was coming to life. And it was just made worse by you confirming it.”
“Confirming what?” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her.
“That I’m everything that I’ve tried so hard not to be. That I got where I am because men find me attractive. Because you want to sleep with me. That’s all it is and that’s all it ever was.”
She let out a dry laugh. “It’d be easier to brush off if it was just you, but it’s you, Brandon, and God knows how many other perverted men who were more concerned about my skirts than my strategies.”
“No one thinks that of you, Charlisse. You are one of the best. You got us through this scandal and found out the truth. The firm will still exist because of you.”
But Charlisse wasn’t listening to him. She was too caught up in her own negative thoughts to care about what he was saying. He needed to throw out a hail mary to get her attention. He needed to say something that truly showed her that she meant the world to him. His pride be damned.
“I love you, Charlisse.” He paused to make sure that she was listening. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Her eyelashes flutter and then she stared at him like she was trying to decipher if he was telling the truth
“I’ve never lied to you,”
“An omission is a lie.” She retorted, which made Marcus throw his hands up.
“Fine, yes, but I’m being honest as hell right now.” He adjusted his cufflinks just to have something to do with his nervous energy.
“Too damn honest.”
“And what now?" She huffed. "I’m supposed to fall to your feet, Marc?"
"Am I supposed to jump for joy because Marcus Forde, Jr. says he loves me? Is that supposed to make it all better? Well, it doesn’t. Thank you, Marc, but it just doesn’t.”
She put her clutch bag under shoulder then turned to walk away.
He watched her, while his chest caved in and his heart felt as if it might burst. He had never told any woman that he loved her before. And now, the one who he had finally said it to was walking away.
“Then what will?” He called after her, his mouth moving on its own.
His heart was talking for him. “What will fix it, Charlisse? Because I have to fix it.”
She was almost at the entrance, but stopped once he called out to her.
“I don’t want to do this here.” She said to him then pushed open the door and walked out.
But, he still didn't give up. He followed behind her and found her standing near the valet service. It was ironic, given that was exactly how he had met her.
“So, then where do you want to do this?” He calmly asked her once he was by her side.
"Can you stop, please? I just want to go home. I'm tired. I'm annoyed." She looked down at her stomach, which grumbled.
"And clearly, I'm hungry."
"Not a lot of vegetarian options?" He chuckled, feeling caught in an instance of deja vu.
"Yea," She looked up at him with a mixed emotions.
He could tell that she was upset with herself, but she could never be more upset with him than he already was.
Marcus peered down at her and a small smile found its way to her lips. “You wanna grab something to eat?”
He motioned to the valet to bring his car around.
“I don't know” She shook her head. “Getting in the car with you after some schmancy dinner was how I ended up in this mess.”
Marcus grinned, as his car was brought to them. He opened the door for Charlisse and helped her inside then got into the driver’s side.
“Well, we can switch it up this time if that makes you feel better.”
“How so?” Charlisse pulled on her seatbelt.
“We can end up at my place instead of yours.”
He pushed the button to start the car and then pulled off.
Twelve
Walking into Marcus’ home felt completely different to Charlisse now. She was anxious and her palms were slightly sweaty. Dinner had gone well enough, but Charlisse had intentionally avoided talking about Marcus’ use of the “L-word” earlier. But now, alone in his home, there was no way around it.
He held the door open for her to walk through then motioned for her to sit down in the living room.
I'm going to say my peace, hear him out, and then I'm out.
That was her plan, as she slowly sat down on the sofa.
“You okay? You barely spoke during dinner. I thought we had at least made amends.” He placed a glass of wine in front of her.
"A temporary truce for food."
She pushed the glass away. She didn’t need to drink anything. It would get her feelings going and she needed to think logically.
“Alright, well, let’s get into it.” He stretched out on the sofa across from her.
“Get into what?” She cocked her head up at him. “This isn’t the time to be an asshole, Marc. I know you can’t help it, but,”
“Get into your ripping me a new one. I know you’ve been holding it in all night. So, go ahead and tell me everything that I’ve done wrong.”
“Wow.” She shook her head. “Forever your crisis manager, huh? I’m just the help.”
“More like my conscience, baby.” His mouth formed an arrogant grin.
“You always know what’s right. You work hard to do good...and I’m still learning. So, tell me, what are all the things that I’ve done wrong. I’ll apologize in advance if you want me to.”
Charlisse couldn’t quite tell if Marcus was being sincere or patronizing her. His casual stance and demeanor was off putting.
“Is this a game to you?” She now felt like she could use the wine.
“Hell no, in fact, this is the most serious I’ve ever been about anything other than my career.” He looked right into her eyes.
“So, forgive me if I’m not very uptight right now, but I’ve put my heart on the line and you haven’t even responded. I’m at a point where I feel like I have nothing left to lose.”
“Oh, yes. You love me." She rolled her eyes.
"How? Tell me how you came to this conclusion?”
She had to know. Marcus had put her in the most precarious circumstances of her career. He had pricked her deepest realms of attraction and she was defenseless.
All she wanted to do was walk away. She wanted to leave right now, but she couldn’t get her legs to move. Her heart was blocking every sensible thoug
ht that came from her brain. That's how she ended up having dinner with him tonight in the first place.
So, she needed to know how Marcus, the most logical person that she had ever met, had come to such an illogical conclusion.
“Hero syndrome. That’s it.” The thought suddenly came to her. “You think that you love me because I’ve been working with you through all of this. You’re idolizing me, you’ve got rose-colored glasses on,”
“Stop, Charlisse.” Marcus reached out and placed his hand over hers.
“You’re so smart.” He chuckled. “That you’re about to convince yourself that I don’t love you.”
“You may have love for me, but Marc, it’s impossible, we,”
“Don't say we haven't known each other long enough." He studied her.
"We have spent nearly every day together since I met you. And yes, your work through my dad’s scandal has been exceptional, but honestly…”
He paused to gather his words. “I’m just taken by the fact that I even know you. That you’re real. Shit, that you’re here with me right now. That you exist. It blows my mind.”
He sighed. “Look, if someone could make me finally believe in love, even in the midst of parents’ marriage falling apart, then that person has got to be phenomenal. You’re phenomenal, Charlisse and I haven’t even scratched the surface.”
She kept her eyes on him as he moved over to where she sat on the sofa. Her heart beat rapidly, as he came closer. He placed a hand on each of her thighs .
"Tell me to stop and I will." He began to gently pull them apart.
Charlisse didn't make a move or say a word, so he kneeled down and placed himself between them.
“I’ve still got so much to learn about you, but I’m already mesmerized. I want to learn your favorite color.”
He ran his hands up her body to grab her hands.
"Yellow, like my mother." Charlisse’s breaths were short and quick.
Marcus gave a low chuckle at her answer, while goosebumps gathered at every place that he touched. She looked down at her hands in his then unintentionally squeezed her thighs around him when he left a soft kiss her palm.
“Your favorite food. Where you want to travel, your dreams, your biggest fears.” He kissed up her hand to emphasize each point, which drove her wild.
But she couldn’t get so caught up that she forgot reality. “Why, Marc?” She meekly whispered.
“Because you cared to learn those things about me. That’s the most selfless thing anyone has ever done for me and because you deserve it."
His lips had traveled their way up to collar bone. Her dress left one side of her shoulder exposed and Marcus took full advantage. He stuck out his tongue and flicked against the skin just above her breast. A tiny whimper escaped.
“And what kind of fool would I be if I let anyone else on this Earth have that honor?”
His kisses turned into sucking and nips that made Charlisse milky at her center.
“Will you let me?” He moved from her collar bone to her neck. “Please let me.”
His voice was muffled, but she understood him. She also understood exactly what he was feeling because she felt the same. It had been an immediate feeling that she had cautiously dismissed as mere attraction.
Acknowledging it as more too early would have put her at a disadvantage. She had too much to lose to do that, but now, she could admit to what drove many of her actions since she met Marcus.
She loved him too. It had caught her off guard, but now it was pouring over her.
“I love you, too.” She took his head in her hands and met his mouth with hunger.
She was starved for his taste. She had been addicted since her first dose. Now, she could finally over indulge.
Their connection was enigmatic, yet electric. Marcus slid the strap down on her dress, but she stopped him. He glanced at her with a slight annoyance until she smiled.
“You know, Marc. I’ve never seen your bedroom, but you’ve seen mine.”
“Right.” He reached for her hand to help her stand. “Glad you said something because I was about to have you on this couch.”
He shook the lust from his mind. “Follow me, beautiful.”
He took her by the hand through his house until they made it to the master bedroom. He led her inside the expansive room and Charlisse gasped. She could almost fit her whole condo in here. The contemporary decor of light grays and browns were softly lit by dim lights. She stepped in further to see his suits lined up perfectly in a custom walk-in closet that featured glass panes as walls.
“Is this okay?” Marcus tapped a button on his watch and a fire sprung up on the electric fireplace behind his bed.
“Yeah, sure.” She tried not to seem outdone by the grandeur.
Slowly, she sat down on his king-sized bed and her skin brushed against his incredibly soft comforter.
“What kind of fabric is this?” She ran her hands over it.
“I’m not sure. Ayda decorated everything. It better be baby hair for as much as it cost me.”
He came over hen hovered above her.
Marcus had shed his suit jacket a while ago, but still had on his shirt. He quickly undid the buttons, pulled off his undershirt and stared down at her. His pants and underwear were next to go before he lowered himself onto Charlisse.
“Can I take my time?” He whispered to her, as he lifted himself up and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Playfully, he pulled down the sleeve and strap of her dress. He pulled it down to her belly button then kneeled down to kiss her stomach. He went lower and lower until he was tugging the dress below her waist. She let out another whimper once he slowly placed a finger inside of her, gently pushing and pulling.
“Dammit, Marc.” She let her head cock back and that’s when she saw the giant mirror that stood on the other side of the bed.
Oh my goodness.
She thought to herself, just as Marcus replaced his finger with his mouth. Her arms thrashed around at the sudden sensation. He was making her body melt. And then he was filling her with deliciously thick inches. Her arms wrapped around his neck, while she dug her nails into his skin. She tried to let up, but he kept pushing her over the edge with each stroke. Each one was deep and needy.
“Turn around. Let me see you.” He moaned in her ear while he flipped her over.
Marcus positioned them perfectly in front of mirror.
She wanted to think of who else he could have possibly done this with before, but she was overtaken by a rush of pleasure that pummelled her.
“Marc, please.” His sheets were tufted in her hands, anything to keep her from flying away.
“Please, what?” He smacked her bottom. “Please, what?”
“Marc, just please…” Charlisse wasn’t sure whether she was begging for mercy or for more.
Her first orgasm crept up on her then sent her into a tailspin.
“That’s right. I feel you, baby.” He leaned forward to whisper in her ear then pulled her up to watch them in the mirror.
They rocked together, rhythmically, until she combusted again. He held her through the torrent, but continued his assault on her body until she gave him another shaking approval.
“Shit.” Marcus squeezed her tightly then released her, as they both toppled over onto the bed.
*****
Marcus felt like a fool for watching Charlisse sleep, but he could not help himself. She was his unicorn. Her drive, her charm, her grace, she was all of the things that he thought he would never find. But she was here with him now, lying next to him, snoring like she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.
“Coffee.” The thought jumped out at him.
Charlisse needed a cup to start her day. He thought about getting up and trying to figure out how to work that machine in his kitchen, but knew that would be a bust. He made a mental note to buy a simpler one then slowly crept out of bed to head to the nearest coffee shop.
“I want a cup of
everything.” He told the barista after looking over each of the options.
He wasn’t sure how she liked her coffee and didn’t want to chance getting the wrong kind. He grabbed the cupholder and a bag full of cream and sugar then headed back to his house, hoping that she wasn’t awake yet.
He spread the options out on the table then went to wake Charlisse up.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He gently shook her.
Her eyes popped open and she looked around at her unfamiliar surroundings.
“What time is it?” She hopped up and reached for her phone.
“It doesn’t matter.” He pushed the phone out of her reach. “I got you some coffee.”
She still wasn’t trusting him. He could tell by her suspicious expression. If he was being honest, he was unfamiliar with this version of himself as too. He had let Vanessa buy the coffee machine to keep from having to get it for her. But now, here he was, offering up a coffee buffet for Charlisse. He could admit that it wasn’t like him, but he wanted to be something different for her.
“Thank you. Um,” She looked under the covers. “Do you have anything that I can put on?”
“Will you stay naked if I say no?” He had to ask because he loved seeing her that way, but Charlisse just snorted and reached for her dress that was crumpled on the floor.
“I’m kidding.” He stopped her then disappeared into his closet. “See if this works.”
He returned with a T-shirt.
“Thanks.” She pulled it over her head. “Howard, ugh. I should take this off. I went to Southern."
“I know.” His lust grew at seeing her in his clothes.
Charlisse looked up at him with curiosity. “You do?”
“I know more about you than you ever told me.” He smirked.
“I told you that you’re not the only one who can find things out. C’mon before your coffee gets cold.”
He motioned for her to follow him to the kitchen.
“Oh, wow.” She stared at the spread that he had laid out for her.
“I wasn’t sure of what you liked.” He pulled out a stool for her to sit at the kitchen counter.
“So, you bought everything?” She laughed lightly, while she made herself a cup.