by Toni Aleo
Looking to her left, she found Libby coming toward her, camera in her hand. “I have a lot to be happy about,” she said, eyeing her aunt who, for the first time since yesterday, wasn’t glaring at her. “What are you doing? Are we trading off?”
Libby shook her head. “No, everyone is seated, waiting on Lucy and Benji. So I decided to come talk to you since I’m sure they’ll be a little longer. Thank God the wine is flowing.” Mekena didn’t say anything as she looked down, tinkering with her camera. Libby leaned against the wall before letting out a loud sigh. “I was an asshole yesterday.”
“You were,” she agreed and Libby sighed again.
“I’m sorry for that.” Mekena looked up, holding her gaze. “I got used to you being with me. Being all pathetic and lonely with me. What can I say, kid? I’m a poor excuse for a human. I’m holding on to something that happened almost thirty years ago, still so bitter, and I was happy to have someone who was bitter and upset like me. But I had no right to judge or be a bitch to you when you decided to get your head out your ass and take what makes you happy. For that, I’m sorry.”
Mekena nodded. “You don’t have to hold on, Libby. Let go. Be happy.”
“Eh, I’m set in my ways. I’ll grow old, be alone, and I’m okay with that. But you have such a long, beautiful life to look forward to, and my God, the way he looks at you. It’s breathtaking.”
“He’s amazing.”
“He is,” she said with a smile. “I’ve watched him, and he loves you, Mekena.”
“He does,” she agreed, her heart skipping a beat. “I want you to meet him.”
“I want that too.” Coming closer to Mekena, she asked, “Do you forgive me?”
Mekena didn’t even hesitate. “Of course.”
“Good,” Libby said as an exhale. “I felt horrible for being a dick to you.”
“It’s okay, it happens. And I should have told you about the job.”
“Yeah, but it’s such a great opportunity. You’ll do great, you love shooting games.”
“I do. A lot.”
“It’ll be excellent, I just know it,” Libby decided with a nod. “You won’t fly out tomorrow, right?”
“Nope, I don’t know when I will. I might fly later, and drive back with the rest of my stuff. I don’t know yet.”
“Okay, well, I’ll start packing up for you. I have nothing else to do.”
“You could make an eHarmony page.”
“Or join Tinder.”
“Or Match.”
“Or Plenty of Fish.”
Mekena gave her a dry look. “I’m trying to get you a relationship, and you just want sex.”
Libby shrugged. “Hey, sex is enough for me.”
Rolling her eyes, she leaned into her aunt, laying her head on her shoulder. “I want you to be happy.”
“Eh, how about you be happy for both of us?”
Mekena smiled, knowing her aunt wouldn’t budge. She was right; she was set in her ways, and the sooner everyone accepted that, the better. “Done.”
They stood in silence for a moment before Libby exhaled. “She moved out.”
Mekena’s breath stopped. “Who?”
“Skylar. Your parents told her she had to get help or get out. She got out.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, they’re worried.”
“She’s a big girl.”
“You’re right, but she needs help.”
“And she’s the only one who can help herself,” Mekena said, looking to Libby, and she nodded. As much as she knew she should feel something more, she couldn’t shake the anger. She couldn’t believe what her sister had done, but one thing was for sure, she wouldn’t make excuses for her.
“You should call your mom, though, tell her you love her. She’s struggling.”
Mekena averted her gaze, chewing on the inside of her lip. “Okay, I will.”
“Hey.” Hearing Markus’s voice, Mekena looked past Libby to see him coming toward them with his hands in his pockets. “Have you guys seen Lucy and Benji?”
Mekena grinned as she hooked a thumb to the door. “She’s ‘changing.’”
“Ew, freaks,” he commented before going to the door and banging his fist on it. “Hey, you sex fiends, people are hungry!”
“Ten minutes!” Lucy called, and Markus scoffed.
“Please, Benji can only last thirty seconds,” he called back before grinning over at Mekena and Libby.
Reaching for him, she took his hand and brought him closer before holding her other hand out to Libby. “Markus, this is my aunt, Libby. Libby, this is my boyfriend, Markus.”
Markus grinned as he held out his other hand and Libby took it. She wasn’t smiling but she wasn’t glaring either, so Mekena took that and ran with it. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
Libby nodded. “You too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Markus’s face filled with nervousness. “Good, bad, or both?”
“Both,” Libby said with a wink before she cupped his shoulder. “But I’ll stick with the good.”
“That sounds great to me,” Markus decided and Libby nodded.
“Me too.” Looking to Mekena, she smiled. “I’m gonna head out there.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Mekena said, and then she heard laughing from behind the door once more. “Or maybe an hour. Who knows?”
Libby laughed. “Do you think we’ll get paid more if we get hurt in the brawl for food?”
“Is it in the contract?” Mekena asked, and Libby paused.
“Shit. No, I should put it in the next one,” she said with a wink, and Mekena grinned as she walked away, leaving her with Markus.
“Looks like you guys worked everything out.”
“Yeah,” she said, tearing her gaze from her aunt and onto Markus. “She apologized.”
“Good,” he said, kissing her temple.
“She said she’s gonna start packing my things up. I guess she thinks I have the job.”
“I know you have it.”
“How?” she giggled, getting chills from his lips tickling her temple.
“You’re the best,” he said simply. “And Elli Adler isn’t an idiot. She wants the best. Just make sure you always shoot the left side of my face, it’s my best side.”
Giggling, she smacked his chest. “You’re silly, and plus, both sides are great.”
“Stop sucking up, I’m still going to sleep with you,” he whispered against her jaw, and her head fell back as she laughed.
“How lucky for me.”
“Exactly, and if you don’t stop being so hot, I’m going to take you against this wall.”
“Markus Reeves! I’m wearing a black dress that shows off nothing.”
“But I know what’s underneath,” he whispered, nibbling on her neck. “And I want it all.”
“Jesus, man, I’m working. Control yourself,” she demanded, breathless as his hands snaked around her, cupping her ass.
“Never,” he said before capturing her mouth with his. She knew she shouldn’t get lost in his kisses, but that wasn’t possible, no matter how hard she tried. As he drew the kisses out, her insides went to mush and the spot between her legs filled with heat. Pulling away, she gasped for breath as he started to pull her away.
“Markus, I’m working.”
He stopped at the door. “Time check!”
“Markus! Please!” Lucy complained, but then she laughed. “Ten minutes!”
“We got ten minutes,” he said to her before pulling open the door to the room beside Lucy’s, a room that appeared to be a coat closet. “Which is really twenty.”
Closing the door, he pushed her into the wall, his body crashing into hers before she said, “And what in the world do you think is going to happen?”
He grinned, his teeth so white in the dark closet. “I mean, I can tell ya, or I can show you.”
Her breath caught as he took her camera and set it carefully on the ground before taking
her body in his hands. It was completely dark. She couldn’t see a thing; she could only feel him. For some reason, that thrilled her even more than the fact that she knew she shouldn’t be doing this.
But she wanted to.
So damn bad.
Moving his hands down her body, he caught her mouth with his as he pulled her dress up and then over her head, leaving her in only the black bra and thong she wore. Not that he could see it, but that didn’t stop him from pushing her thong to the side and sliding his fingers between her legs into her center.
“God, you’re so fucking wet,” he groaned against her lips as she cried out.
“Only for you,” she said, and instantly, she was proud of her sex talk.
Especially when he moaned her name, finding her clit before ruthlessly flicking his fingers against it. Crying against his neck, she clung to him as he took her out of this world and into the next. Her body shook, thrashed against his as he kept on, wanting her to find her release. She had never experienced such a rush of emotions in her life until the moment that Markus’s hands touched her in her most private spots. She had masturbated before, it wasn’t that she hadn’t ever come, but it was different when Markus was the one taking control. It shook her to her core, and as she came, her body clenching tight as she squeezed her lips shut, she knew she had never experienced anything like this before.
It wasn’t just the fact that she was getting her release; it shook her because of who was doing it.
A man she loved, wholeheartedly.
“Fuck me,” he groaned as her pussy throbbed, her release taking away her breath as her body flushed with heat.
“Okay,” she gasped, and his laughter was strained as he held her, kissing her neck. It was so dark, but she could sense his grin, his dark eyes on her before she heard the tear of a condom packet and then his zipper. She couldn’t see him coming, but when he lifted her leg, she knew where he was and braced herself against the wall. She prayed it wouldn’t hurt like it had before, but she really didn’t have any time to prepare before he entered her with one thrust, filling her completely. To her surprise, though, it didn’t hurt as much as it had. It was uncomfortable but only for a second before he started moving in and out of her with a need she couldn’t see but could definitely feel. He wanted to be gentle, she knew he did, but she didn’t think he could. His hands were shaking, his breath was coming out in spurts, and his cock was throbbing inside of her as he moved urgently.
“Are you okay?” he grunted out and she nodded.
“Yes,” she whispered when she realized he couldn’t see her.
When he suddenly tilted her pelvis up, she moaned softly as he started to thrust in and out of her faster and a bit harder. Each thrust felt as if it had more meaning, his body shaking even more, and it felt better and better. She never wanted him to stop. It felt so damn good, and soon she was asking herself why she had waited so long to do it. But she knew why.
Because she only wanted him.
When he stilled, coming with a guttural moan, she captured his mouth, drawing out the kisses as he thrust once more and then again before he finally stopped, his fingers biting into her hips. Their hearts were pounding as their breaths came out in whooshes, but all Mekena could do was smile as she really realized what she had just done. Leaning her head into his, she wished she could look into his face to see if he saw the hilarity in this.
“Did that really just happen?” he asked, and she had to hold back her laughter.
“You attacked me that time.”
“I did.”
“Does this make me risqué?”
He scoffed. “What?”
“You know? Like those super naughty girls? Am I naughty, Markus?”
That had him laughing from his gut as she fought back her own laughter. “I used to think you were too innocent to be naughty, but then you let me take you in a coat closet. So, really, what do I know?”
Grinning, she leaned her nose into his chin as she breathed, “That you love me?”
“Oh, that’s a given,” he whispered, gathering her in his arms as she closed her eyes. “And that will never change.”
“Good.”
“Good,” he said, kissing her nose, but they both stilled when they heard Lucy’s voice.
“Huh? I thought Mekena was out here.”
“Shit!” she whispered, and he chuckled softly. When the closet door opened, she almost screamed but then Markus popped his head out.
“What the hell, Lucy? You said ten minutes!”
She wasn’t sure what Lucy was doing, but soon Mekena heard her and Benji laughing. “We rushed,” Benji said, and Markus jerked his head to the side.
“Go back in there, give us five.”
As the newlyweds laughed, Markus shut the door. Mekena shook her head, her face beet red. “If I get fired, I’m going to kill you.”
“Eh, you’ll have a new job in a few days.”
“Oh, so no big deal?”
“Right? You’ll be good in a couple days.”
“So you’re basically promising this will never happen when I work for the Assassins?”
Markus laughed as his lips moved against hers. “No way in hell I’m promising you that. Tell me something, Mekena Preston. Have you ever wanted to join the Mile High Club?”
Mekena’s brows pulled together. “What’s that?”
She was met by his laughter. “Oh, I’m so excited to live my life with you.”
“While I feel the exact same way, I really need to know what that is.”
She could see his grin as he gathered her in his arms. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”
The reception was something out of a fairy tale.
Everything was picture-perfect and flawless, even Mekena had been swept away by all of it. Or maybe it was the hot closet-sex high she floated on through the whole event and well into the next morning. One thing was for sure, she aspired to have love and be loved the way every single one of the Sinclairs loved in that building. At one point, all the couples took the floor, swaying and looking into each other’s eyes, and all Mekena could do was stand there, fighting back the emotion that wanted to escape.
It was so beautiful. Jace and Avery, the young ones, who were totally unrestrained in their love. They were sickening but oh so beautiful. Baylor and Jayden, the reserved ones, but so much in love that no matter how much they held back, it still burned anyone who stood around. Jude and Claire, the ones who fought to make their love perfect. Nothing would come between them, not even space, and the way they looked at each other was awe-inspiring. Then Lucy and Benji, the last to be married but the older and wiser ones. The ones everyone looked up to and strived to be. They were the definition of relationship goals, and Mekena wanted everything they had.
She wanted it all.
She wanted Markus.
It was a beautiful reception that ended way too late, and Mekena was surprised she had woken so early. Rolling over in the bed, she pressed her chest into Markus’s back as she sighed softly. She felt so refreshed, so relaxed, and she knew it had everything to do with him. She had been attracted to him for a really long time, but he was the hot jock and she was the nerdy, smart girl who thought he wouldn’t even see her. But he was more than the hot jock; he was kind, smart, and he made her realize she was more than what she thought she was. She was beautiful.
The time apart had done them both good. While, yes, they were miserable without each other, they grew. The pain of the circumstances and the separation made them realize how much they really wanted each other and how much they missed each other. How she would now follow him to the ends of the earth, when before, she would have held back.
He excited her. He made her want things she hadn’t even dreamed of. She was ready to live. To love him unconditionally. As her hands snaked around his waist, tucking into the waistband of his shorts, she let out another sigh as her heart beat for him. She never wanted to leave this bed, his side, nor did she want to face the world.
In only a few short hours, they’d have to leave and go to the hotel she had booked for the remainder of the week. Since she didn’t know what would happen the following day, she didn’t want to rush to get an apartment, which was really all she wanted to do. She wanted to replant roots in Tennessee, but it wasn’t time for that yet. She had to be patient, even if she wanted to rush in and live. With Markus.
God, she loved him.
From the depths of her soul.
“Your nose is cold,” she heard him mutter against his pillow. She smiled, nuzzling her cold nose into the crook of his back as he groaned in distress, though he didn’t move away. “Why are you up?”
“’Cause I want to hold you.”
“Do that and sleep,” he mumbled and she smiled.
“I don’t want to, I want to be awake. I don’t want to sleep when I’m with you.”
He didn’t say anything, he just rolled over, taking her in his arms and wrapping them around her so that she was encased in his strength. “Well, when you put it that way, I want the same thing.”
She grinned against his chest, moving her nose along his collarbone as her eyes drifted shut. She was overwhelmed with the love she had for this man, this sweet, funny man who made her heart soar. How was it possible to love someone so much when you fought so hard not to? Fate was a funny, funny gal, but Mekena didn’t want her to change anything about herself. “Plug your nose.”
Her brows came together. “Huh?”
But before he could answer, he farted so loud she swore the bed shook, and even Mr. Right cried out in distress. “You’re so nasty!” she yelled, smacking him and trying to get away, but he held her tight, his body shaking with laughter.
“Let me go!”
“No way. We want to hold each other, spend every waking moment together. We don’t want to sleep, Mekena! We want to be together,” he teased, holding her close as she gagged from the god-awful smell.
“I take it back,” she yelled as he laughed hard.
“Bask in it, baby, it’s the smell of your lover.”
“Oh, my God,” she cried out, gagging as she smacked him, but then she couldn’t help it, she started to laugh too. He was such a dork. “I hate you.”