Seducing Phoebe: Lovers Unmasked: Book 3

by Flockton, Nicole

  He counted to ten, getting a reign on the anger that was starting to sizzle through him. “It’s not that hard of a question to answer.” He kept his voice neutral so as not to give

  any indication of what he was truly feeling. “Or is the reason you don’t want to answer and you want to get me out of here quickly is because you’re expecting someone else to turn up on your doorstep?”

  “I can’t believe you said that,” Phoebe gasped. “Why would you even think that?” “Quite easily; it’s not an unreasonable conclusion to come to.” He paused and finished

  off the final mouthful of his food. “After all, you broke off our engagement because of another man.”

  He quickly picked up her plate, as he had visions of the food remaining on the plate being dumped over his head.

  “I think you should leave.”

  Marco took the plates over to the trashcan and scraped the remnants of their lunch into it. He’d overstepped the mark. He’d let his anger and jealousy get the better of him. He couldn’t regret it though—what he’d said had been nothing but the truth. Phoebe had used the re-appearance of John back in her life as a reason to break off their engagement.

  He placed the plates in the sink and walked back over to where she was still sitting at the counter, her back so straight he was surprised it didn’t shatter.

  If he wanted to get things back on track he needed to make amends. He sighed and walked over to where she sat on the high kitchen stool, her back so rigid and straight he could feel the anger emanating from her. Anger he’d put there with his crass words. He placed his hands on her shoulders and swiveled her around so that she was facing him. She refused to look at him so he lifted her chin with his finger so that their eyes connected. The hurt shining in them pierced his heart.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. They weren’t easy words to say because he had spoken the truth before, but he didn’t want to hurt her. The last thing he wanted was to push her away when his only goal was to bring her closer to him again.

  When she didn’t respond, he said it a little louder. “I’m sorry. What I said was uncalled for.”

  She placed her hands on his chest and for a moment he thought she was going to push him away. It was what he deserved. Instead, her hands flattened against his chest. Her fingers tapped softly against his shirt, before moving up to his shoulders. He held his breath as he waited for what her next move was going to be.

  * * *

  Phoebe had no idea what she was doing trailing her hands from Marco’s chest to his shoulders. All she knew was that when he’d turned her around and apologized, all the reasons as to why they had gotten together in the first place fired to the forefront of her mind. She couldn’t deny the physical attraction that still flared and burned brightly between them. Slipping off the stool she closed the distance until she was flush against his hard body. She sighed when his arms closed around her, cementing their embrace.

  The hairs on her arms stood to attention and her skin quivered to life. This was their strong point. Physically, they matched. No matter how hard she tried to forget, her body remembered, and shouted at her to give in to its urges and wants and needs.

  They stood locked in an embrace, not saying anything for long moments. She pulled away; even though she wanted to stay where she was, she knew she couldn’t. It was clear Marco didn’t want to let her go, because he pulled her tight against him again. She looked up to ask what was going on and found her lips captured by his.

  His lips moved softly over hers. There was no arrogance in the kiss. It was full of promises, and she didn’t want it to end. She got up on her tiptoes and opened her mouth under his. The kiss became more and more intense with each passing second. She jumped slightly when his hands connected with her skin. She hadn’t even felt them move down and under her t-shirt.

  The need to feel his warm flesh overwhelmed her. She reciprocated the action and lifted his shirt until she could squeeze the muscles of his back. Her breasts ached for his touch, to have his hands caress them the way he always had. She pulled her lips away from his and angled her neck to allow him to trail hot kisses along her jaw line before nibbling at the tender flesh below her ear.

  “Marco,” she moaned as he sucked on her ear lobe. She grabbed his head so that his lips could torture hers again. The kiss had gone from sweet to erotic in a matter of seconds. Their tongues dueled, trying to get the upper hand in the sweet torment they were treating each other to.

  In that moment everything seemed right.

  “Why?” Marco asked as he pulled his lips away from hers and rested his cheek against hers, shivering in pleasure at the light stubble of his re-growth. “Why are you throwing all this away?”

  With those words, the mood was killed. The fire inside her doused in a coldness like that first dive into the cold ocean. She pushed him away as she wrestled with her

  shirt, pulling it down over her bare skin. She was surprised her bra was still intact. Marco was a professional at getting her bra undone with a quick flick of his wrist.

  Phoebe hated to think what would’ve happened if he hadn’t pulled away. She couldn’t believe she’d lost her head with just one touch of his lips. This was why she needed to be alone. She couldn’t trust her feelings or her thoughts when all it took was one kiss and she was a melting heap of hormones. If she was truthful with herself, she wasn’t dealing very sensibly with the situation they were now in. It was so unlike her to fly off the handle at every word or touch.

  She needed to get control back, and she was going to start now. No more acting like a whiny child who wasn’t getting her own way.

  “I think you should leave now.” She walked away, heading toward the front door to show him out.

  “No, I don’t think so, Phoebe,” he said with quiet resolve. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She wanted to scream in frustration at his refusal to do what she asked. All thoughts of changing and becoming calm and rational flew out the window with a couple of sentences. Why was he being so difficult? Why was she only now seeing this arrogant, stubborn side of him?

  She put her hands on her hips, hoping he could see she wasn’t in the mood for any more of his behavior. She should’ve realized her stance wouldn’t touch him. “I don’t believe I invited you here in the first place—you just turned up. I told you I needed some time out. Why can’t you respect that?”

  “Because I think you’re wrong. I believe we’re perfect for each other. You can’t deny that we have passion between us.”

  Phoebe resisted the urge to fan her face as a blush stole over it. She couldn’t deny it; they did have amazing chemistry. But she wasn’t going to let “amazing chemistry” rule her life. Chemistry fizzled out and you were left with nothing.

  “You’re right. But a relationship needs more than just hot chemistry to make it work.” “I thought we were doing a pretty good job with our relationship, before your friend

  came back to town. We were only a few weeks away from being married. I don’t think that makes our relationship empty.”

  “If I’d known you were this arrogant, I’d never have gone out with you in the first place. I can’t believe this,” she said as she walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. What she really wanted was wine, but she didn’t want to give Marco any indication that his presence disturbed her. “Why are you acting the way you are?”

  “I’m not usually this way,” he said on a sigh and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up, making him look much younger, and sexier. She definitely needed something cold to drink now.

  “Well, I guess it’s just dumb luck that I’m seeing you act this way then?”

  He laughed and the sound lifted some of the darkness that had pervaded her soul after their kiss. “Consider yourself privileged.”

  “I’d hardly call it a privilege, but whatever.” She drained the rest of her water, still itching for a wine. If only he’d leave then she could enjoy a glass of her favorite vintage on the back pat
io, gazing out at the ocean. “Are you leaving now?”

  She gripped the counter as he once again moved into her personal space. He placed his arms on either side of her, trapping her. She didn’t want to admit it, but she quite liked his more assertive Marco. She certainly wasn’t going to let him know—if she did, then he’d never leave her.

  “I told you before, I’m not going anywhere.” He whispered the words against her cheek.

  The shiver she experienced wasn’t from the cold water she’d just finished. It had everything to do with the six-foot-two male in front of her. If she moved her head a fraction to the left she’d be able to graze her lips against his cheek. Then a couple of more millimeters and she’d be able to kiss his lips. With his body pressed up against her, she could tell their close embrace was affecting him as much as her. She wiggled her hips slightly and his indrawn breath was the response she wanted.

  “I don’t want a quick roll in the hay with you, Marco.” Phoebe gave him a shove and slipped under his arms. She walked out of the kitchen.

  “Did I say I wanted a roll in the hay, as you so eloquently put it?”

  “You’ve heard of the saying actions speak louder than words?” She waved her hand around in the air. “It was pretty clear by your actions that you want something.”

  He threw back his head and laughed again. It was a rare sight to see him laugh so freely. Even though they were in the midst of an emotional upheaval they were joking around, as if they did it all the time.

  A thought struck her—she claimed that he didn’t know her, but she didn’t really know him either. Not the real Marco, and that was the reason she couldn’t marry him. No point denying she was still attracted to the man, because she was. But she wanted more than just attraction. She wanted to be able to do what they were doing right now. This lighthearted banter was something they’d never done. Between her work hours and his work functions, they’d never really done the casual date thing where they sat on the couch with popcorn and watched an action flick followed by a chick flick.

  That what was had been missing between them. It was why she’d rekindled ideas of perhaps getting back with John because they had done fun things together. Their whole relationship had been based on fun. How long would that have lasted? How long before fun wasn’t fun anymore?

  “You’re thinking really hard there, sweetheart. Are you coming up with any answers?”

  Phoebe hadn’t heard him move to her side. He didn’t touch her. His hands hung loosely by his side, but she could’ve been held in a tight embrace with the comfort she felt from him standing next to her.

  “We don’t know each other, do we? I mean really know each other.” She walked over to the couches and sat down. The sun glinted off the ocean and it looked like a blue piece of silk with diamonds sprinkled over it. “I got so caught up in the moment,” she whispered to herself. “Everyone around me was married and starting families. I wanted that too.”

  “Are you saying you feel nothing for me at all?” Marco asked as he took a seat on the couch beside her. “Because let me tell you, I wasn’t caught up in the moment. I knew exactly what I wanted then, and I know exactly what I want now.”

  Phoebe let her hands be enveloped in Marco’s larger ones. She wanted to believe that he felt more for her. But he’d never told her he loved her. He’d never told her much about his past or his past relationships, even though he’d known all about her sorry relationship with John. All Marco had said was that he’d had a couple of serious relationships but they hadn’t worked out.

  “And what is it you want?” she asked.

  “You,” he said simply as he brushed his thumb over her hand. Electrical currents zapped along her arm, causing her brain to short-circuit. “And I don’t plan on leaving until I have you back.”

  4

  Phoebe wrapped her arms around her body as she gazed at the setting sun. After Marco’s declaration she’d given up trying to make him leave and had gone to her room where she’d fallen asleep. When she’d woken a few hours later she’d found the house empty, and a feeling of desolation had come over her. So much for him saying he wasn’t leaving until he had her again.

  Now, as the sun said its final goodbye to her, she wondered what she was going to do that evening.

  With a sigh she turned—and stopped. Leaning against the doorframe stood Marco.

  He’d changed from his earlier t-shirt and shorts into jeans and a button-down shirt. She’d never seen the jeans before, they looked well-worn and soft, and hugged him in all the right places.

  “I thought you’d gone,” she said, and then wished she could take the words back.

  Even she heard the hurt in her voice.

  “I went back to the hotel and freshened up.”

  Finding out he was staying at a hotel should’ve relieved her concern that he wouldn’t demand to stay with her. Except it wasn’t relief flowing through her but disappointment.

  “How long have you been standing there?” The thought of him watching her and her not being aware of his presence was a little disconcerting. Then again, her internal radar had always been a little off with him. Another sign that perhaps they weren’t meant for each other. Sophie always knew the exact moment Alex walked into a room. She could’ve been in the middle of a conversation but Sophie would always turn her head and smile in Alex’s direction. Ironically, Marco had always known where she had been, especially at his various work functions. It had been comforting to know that he always came to her rescue if she’d ever needed it.

  “I haven’t been here long. I took your keys. I hope you don’t mind. I left you a note so you wouldn’t worry when you couldn’t find them.”

  “You left me a note? Where?” Phoebe couldn’t recall seeing a note anywhere when she’d come downstairs from her nap. Admittedly she hadn’t been looking for a piece of paper, she’d been looking for a six-foot-two man.

  Marco closed the distance between them and took her hand, leading her back inside. She noted that the lamps on the side tables had been turned on, giving the room a soft glow as dusk settled into night. Marco must’ve turned them on before he’d come outside, because she certainly hadn’t thought of it.

  “The note’s right here,” he said as he pointed to the piece of paper propped up on the kitchen counter. It was in plain sight and she couldn’t believe she’d missed it.

  “Oh, right, well I didn’t come into the kitchen when I came downstairs. But thank you for leaving it. I probably wouldn’t have missed the keys. Being the only house for miles there’s no real need to lock doors.”

  She shivered as he brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ears. “There’s always a need to be careful.”

  It took every ounce of her willpower not to take a couple of steps to close the distance between them and lay her head on his strong chest and feel his arms wrap around her. She took a step away, widening the distance, but still facing him, trapped by his gaze.

  “So why did you come back?” How many times had she said that already? She then remembered that he hadn’t told her how he’d found her. “You never did tell me how you found out where I was. You said you didn’t speak to Sophie and I believe that.”

  “You should know I don’t lie. I hate people who lie.”

  That was news to her. “Umm no, you’ve never mentioned you have a thing for liars.”

  She noticed his shoulders seemed to tense before they relaxed, as if he was remembering something truly unpleasant.

  “Anyway, I found you by using this.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and as his fingers moved over the touch screen she wondered what the heck he was doing. He held out his phone. “Here, this is how I found you.”

  Phoebe took the phone from him, her fingers brushing his, lingering momentarily to make a connection between them. She looked at the screen and recognized the application. There had been times, in the past, when she’d been at work and pulled her phone out, tempted to see where he was. But she hadn’t. She’d
forgotten that he’d be able to find her. She should’ve deleted the app, but she hadn’t given it a thought. In fact, she had turned her phone to silent mode, plugged the charger in and put it on top of the fridge the moment after she’d sent a text to Sophie to let her know that she’d arrived safely. She’d been worried that John would continue his text and calling campaign. She never expected that Marco would come searching for her. She’d broken their engagement—if the roles had been reversed she would’ve been burning everything he’d ever given her.

  She handed back his phone. “I’m not sure what to say.” “That you’re happy to see me?”

  Phoebe laughed. For some reason, at this moment in time, things didn’t seem so overwhelming. “Yes, Marco, I’m happy to see you.”

  “Good.” His overconfidence should’ve bothered her but she was coming to accept it as part of him. A secret corner of her heart was thrilled that he was chasing her. Was it because he more than just cared for her, or was it because his ego was bruised that she’d broken off their engagement? There was only one way to find out.

  “Well now that I know why you’re here and that, yes, it is good to see you, care to answer why you chased me down?”

  She stood her ground as he closed the distance between them. “I came because I couldn’t stay away.”

  “Is your ego hurt because I broke off our engagement?”

  He shook his head and pulled her into his embrace. As he wrapped his arms around her she held herself stiff. She didn’t want to let him know she was getting used to being held by him again.

  “My ego isn’t hurt, but I believe I told you it wasn’t over and it isn’t. I’m not planning on letting you go.”

  He shifted and she knew he was going to try and kiss her. She couldn’t think when he did that. Phoebe moved quickly out of his embrace. She could tell it was the last thing he expected. Obviously, Marco thought she was going to go along with everything he said or did. And after the kisses they’d shared that afternoon she could understand why he would think that.