by Lexi Ostrow
“Always, Marshall.” She leaned up, gently placing her lips to his and kissing him.
It took everything in him not to turn the kiss into something more, something hungrier. “I wanted to tell you something.”
She pulled back, arching a brow. “There’s more?”
“Leena told me about what happened with Adam. I should have known better than to think you’d be so flippant about anything. But, I want to hear it from you. That might sound strange, but I feel like I cheated us out of a conversation by hearing it from Leena.”
She nodded, completely agreeing. “A part of me wants to say no and just be happy that we’ve reached an understanding about one another. The more mature part of me knows that communication is important and that we kind of suck at it.”
He couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. “We suck at a lot of things when it comes to being an us, but I have a feeling that’s all in the past.”
He motioned for her to sit at the table, but she shook her head and moved to the sofa. “I think being comfy for a conversation like this is in order.” Sitting down, she patted the place next to her.
When he sat, she turned and lifted her legs, draping them over his body before giving him a cheeky grin. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done something so mundane with another person, and he liked it.
“I know I messed up. I was so shocked to see Adam standing in front of me at the door when I was expecting you that I froze. I’d already been beaming like an idiot, thinking I was about to see you again. All I could think of was how horrible his timing was and that I was sorry he’d come all that way to have it not work out.”
“And I saw your happy grin and immediately reacted incorrectly.”
Her lips quirked into a small smile. “That would be a grievous understatement. But I forgive you for that. We’ve had damn near a lifetime to screw this relationship up. It’s about time we both learn to trust the other.”
“You do realize that I’ve been the idiot every single time.”
She grinned at him and nodded vigorously. “Mhm, but don’t forget, I didn’t say it. You did.”
Laughing, he reached over and took her hand in his. “I took a job in Toronto, trying to outrun or misgivings. Say the word, and I won’t take it.” Say the word, and this time, I’ll move to London.
A look of hurt crossed quickly over her features. “Don’t take it. You don’t belong there.”
“Where do I belong? Here at the resort?”
“Or in London, with me.”
“Are you asking me to come with you?”
“I’m fairly certain I asked you to come with me last time too.”
It was impulsive, but there was only one thing left for them. He rubbed his thumb in a lazy, circular motion on the top of her hand. “I’m sure I’m doing this wrong, but I’m not interested in waiting. Anna DeMarco, I’ve loved you for nearly two decades. I’ve nearly lost you too many times to count, times that I don’t ever want to happen again. I don’t have a job, or a sparkling ring befitting a proposal. What I do have is all the love we’ve been missing out on and a heart more than ready to start my life again.”
She was staring, eyes wide as saucers and mouth slightly agape.
“Anna Michelle DeMarco, will you marry me and make me the happiest man ever?”
“Yes. Oh my goodness, yes.” She practically flew off the couch, draping her arms around his neck. Kisses rained down on his forehead, cheeks and finally one on his lips. “I cannot believe how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.” She kissed him again, a lingering kiss, but nothing to heated.
“I should have followed you to London and asked you back then. I was an idiot, but now I’m your idiot.” Giving her a side smirk, he lifted her up off the couch.
Her legs wrapped around him as if instinctively. He moaned as her hands sunk into his hair, twisting the strands and kneading his scalp.
“If you don’t stop that, I’m going to take you into your bedroom and finish what we started in there over a decade ago.” He growled the last word as her hips gyrated against his groin.
Her breath was a hot whisper against his ear. “That’s what I was hoping for.”
Growling low, he damn near dropped her as he took strides from the living room to the third door down the hall. Momentarily, he took note of how different it looked from the teenage version before dropping Anna onto the bed and closing the door with his foot.
“I’m going to enjoy every second of this.” He looked at her as he let his body drop to the floor, balancing on his knees. His fingers wrapped around both her sweatpants and underwear at once and jerked them to her ankles. “I have a lot to do to you, my soon-to-be-wife.” He dropped a kiss on her inner left thigh as he pulled off her boots and socks, dropping them a few inches away.
She squirmed from his kiss, and he felt his cock harden further, knowing that he could undo her so easily. Using his fingers to spread her folds, he drew his tongue across her center, reveling in her wetness as he did. She was primed, and he wasn’t interested in waiting.
Licking her again, he slipped his tongue inside her center, spearing it while picturing his shaft burying deep inside of her, over and over, for their rest of his life. His pants tightened uncomfortably. Pulling back, he blew across her wetness, watching as her mouth opened in pleasure as her eyes slid shut.
“In honor of the new year coming, and your family likely arriving home any minute, I take back my previous statement.”
She opened her eyes and locked them onto his.
“There’s only one thing I’m going to do, and I’m going to do it very well.” He tugged at his zipper, feeling his prick spring out of his boxers before he hastily tugged them down.
Anna had risen off the bed, and wrapping her hands around the hem of his shirt, she pulled it off in a swift motion before doing the same to hers. Her breasts spilled out, unhindered by a bra under the purple cashmere sweater, and he swallowed hard as he stared at her.
“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” He took her in his arms and slowly lowered her onto the bed, draping his body over hers.
“I don’t think you have.” She breathed huskily as her hand reached between them and took hold of his shaft. “But I don’t think I’ve told you how impressive you are either.” She stroked him with just the tips of her nails and nipped at the base of his neck. “So we’ll just call it even-steven.”
Her hand clasped around his length and guided him to her body. Like a vixen, she rubbed the head of his shaft against her before rolling her hips and taking his length inside. Bucking his hips, he finished the process, seating himself balls deep. Their eyes met again, and she stroked a hand down his cheek before smiling at him.
“I’m going to enjoy doing this, every day for the rest of my life.” Leaning up, she placed her mouth to his and flicked her tongue across the seam of his lips.
He opened for her, growling as her tongue dipped inside just as he began to thrust into her body. Instinct took over, drowning out his desire to draw the moment out when she moved her hips with his, taking him deeper than he’d thought possible. Kneading his hands in her hair, his head spun as he took control of everything. Greedily, his mouth moved against hers, tongues interlocking and stroking together at the pace of their bodies.
Every plunge of his cock sent pleasure spiking through him. Anna’s arms ran down his back, scouring him as she quickened her pace to match his. His thrusts were fast, hard and hungry as he took everything she had to offer. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to get lost in the slide of their bodies, the rocking of their hips and the rhythm of their breaths. Nothing existed, save for the woman beneath him, and nothing ever would again.
“Marshall,” she gasped, digging her nails into his ass and angling her hips up to the ceiling so far he slid in so deep she groaned.
He tried to speak, to say something profound to her about how she made him feel, but he couldn’t. Thrusting wildly, he crushed his mouth t
o hers in a punishing kiss as he tugged her hair, desperately seeking his release.
She was wild beneath him, matching him stroke for stroke, her body squeezing and releasing around him.
“That,” he grunted, “is a naughty trick.”
Her tongue swirled against him one last time before she went rigid, her head tossed backward, and a scream sounded between them.
The knowledge that she had found her release pummeled through him. He was late to the party, and he wasn’t going to let her orgasm go to waste. Speeding up his thrusts, his index finger flicked over her clit. Over and over, he let his digit and shaft move in tandem, feeling her body enjoying the release he’d given her.
All at once, his release over took him. In one rush of action, he came, his body pumping furiously as the sensations rolled through him harder than anything he’d ever experienced, even with Anna. He felt the tremble of passion as it shot from his head and traveled the course over his body until his hips began to slow.
His chest was heaving nearly as quickly as they’d been coupling and it took a great deal to not collapse on top of her when she leisurely drew on his back with her fingertips.
“That was a rather inspired performance, Mr. Huck.” She dropped her fingers into his thick hair, twirling it.
“I had a wonderful muse.” He nuzzled against her neck, breathing in deeply and just soaking in the moment. “We’ve done it.” He carefully pulled from deep within her and rolled to the side.
“I would certainly say we have.” She giggled and turned to lay with her back against him.
Holding her tight, he let his laughter rumble through him. “That, you naughty girl, was not what I meant.”
“I know, but every once and awhile, it’s nice to remind you I’m not some untouchable, perfect-mannered woman.”
“You’re going to have a lifetime to show me that.”
“And a lifetime to teach you some of those manners.” She leaned her head back, showing off a giant grin.
“How long do you think we can just lay here, like this?” He sounded positively winsome.
“Oh, I think we’ve got a little longer.” She pointed at the window. “The sun is only just beginning to set, and if they’ve been out this long, they must have grabbed a late lunch before coming back to get ready.”
Squeezing her tightly against him, he sighed in utter contentment. “Good because I’m not ready to let go.”
She stiffened at the sound of a door closing. Her family was home.
“Do you have the ridiculous urge to throw clothing on and kick me out of the bed?” Marshall asked from beside her, an amused look on his face.
Shaking her head, she couldn’t stop the smile on her lips. “Maybe just the kicking you out part.” Dropping a quick kiss to his lips, she used the distraction to push her feet against his calves and move him just a tiny bit off the bed.
His arms wrapped around her, tugging her against him in such a quick motion they both tumbled off the bed, landing in a heap complete with teal top sheet and blanket. Laughter bubbled up, escaping in loud, squealing gasps as she laid her head on top of Marshall’s chest.
“Anna? Is everything all right in there?”
Elaine’s voice drifted through the door and was just audible enough over the giggling. Gasping for air, Anna shoved off the ground—or possibly Marshall’s chest—and tugged the sheet out from under him.
He looked up at her with utter panic in his eyes, not feeling as confident as he’d been when he was teasing. Sticking her tongue out, she wrapped the sheet around herself and opened the door. She heard Marshall curse and bump around, likely wrapping the blanket over himself.
“Everything’s fine, Mom.”
Elaine’s face went from confusion to delight the instant she looked past Anna to Marshall. “Well, well, well.” Snickering, she shook her head, eyes closed with amusement. “I see some things are just too irresistible to pass up.” She tsked. “Marshall, navy blue isn’t your color, but please be dressed before you both come out to the family room.”
Closing the door behind her, Elaine laughed more. Anna knew her mother had been expecting to find them together again for years, she wasn’t the least bit embarrassed because it had already happened years ago. Plus, Leena had told her that her mom had nearly walked in on her Nick before she’d gotten with Jake.
“You’re terrible!” Marshall accused good humoredly as he stood up, dropping the blanket to the floor.
Her eyes followed his steps, more than happy to know that the man before her was all hers for the rest of her life.
“Keep looking at me like that. I dare you.” He wiggled his brows and bent to grab his jeans off the floor. “I’m not in any mood to go sit with your family and be taunted right now, but I’m pretty sure your mom will come back.”
Nodding in agreement, she grabbed her sweater from the floor and slipped it on over her head, not caring that it shoved her bun even more off center. “Well, a little good-natured ribbing is in order after all this time. Besides, we did it to Leena and Jake at Passover.” Pulling the gray sweats up, she blew him a kiss. “See you out there, fiancé.”
Slipping out of her room, she closed the door behind her. Marshall deserved a little privacy. She could hear everyone talking in the living room, and when she turned the corner, she found Nick and Jake playing some motocross game.
“Ahem.” Clearing her throat, she tossed her left hand out as if she were showing off an engagement ring.
All at once, everyone but her brothers turned to look at her.
“I said, ahem.”
“We heard you. We also heard how mom just found you and Marshall, so we don’t really need to stop playing to tease you both when he gets out,” Nick said just as his car slammed into a wall. “Damn it!” He turned and gave her a dirty stare. “What?”
Jake chuckled, but didn’t put down his controller, obviously still aiming to win.
“Are you saying what I think you're saying?” Tasha asked skeptically as she walked closer.
Anna beamed so hard she hurt her cheeks. “I do!”
Both Leena and Tasha let out excited squeals.
“I assume there’s going to be more than air there one day?” Leena teased, grabbing at her hand and pretending to look at a ring.
“I have no idea, and you know what? I don’t care.”
“Don’t care about what?” Marshall said as he walked to stand beside her.
“If you get her a ring or not,” Peter quipped as he patted Marshall on the back. “Welcome to the family.”
“You told them?”
“Wait, what?” Jake demanded, finally dropping the controller. “What the hell did I miss?”
Leena rolled her eyes.
“Marshall proposed!” Anna squeaked, loving the way the words sounded. “And I said yes.”
“Dear lord, the saga finally ends,” Jake said, grinning as he jumped over the back of the couch. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” He playfully punched Marshall in the shoulder.
“See, it’s not just DeMarco men that are a little slow,” Nick said rather triumphantly from his place on the couch. “Congrats, sis. It’s about damn time.”
Elaine let out a small laugh. “No, that would be all men in general.”
Anna snuggled against Marshall, reveling in the way it felt to stand with him in front of her family after so many years of basically fleeing when he entered a room. She hadn’t comprehended how much she’d been missing. There had been a Marshall-sized hole in her life that had only just been filled.
“I fully plan on putting a ring on that finger as soon as she takes me to a swanky, jewelry store in London.” He took her hand in his and dropped a kiss on the back of it.
“Oh, so I’m paying then?” She grinned up at him, poking him in the stomach.
“Well, I wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I allowed that, and I’m sure you won’t take me for everything I’m worth on just one ring.”
“Oh, boy, you
don’t know my sister,” Nick goaded.
“Hey! All women like sparkly things.” Looking back at Marshall she grinned. “I promise not to take all your life savings. Maybe just a huge chunk of it.”
Everyone laughed, and out of nowhere, Leena practically jumped out of her skin. “I know what we need to celebrate!”
“Oh, no,” Tasha groaned, waving her hands emphatically in front of her face.
“I think we’ve had enough for one holiday season,” Jake added gently.
“What’s going on?” Marshall leaned down and whispered in her ear.
“I do believe my wonderful sister-in-law is about to make us all drink more hot cocoa.”
“I heard that!” Leena chided as she walked around everyone into the kitchen. “And I’m not making you….”
“Good, in that case, I’ll take some eggnog.” Jake smirked.
“Everyone but Jake can have something else.” Leena glowered at her husband.
Marshall slipped his hand into Anna’s, entwining their fingers together and giving a little squeeze. “I’ve always been partial to hot apple cider, if you have it.” He added the last part hastily as Leena brought two mugs out for Jake and Nick.
“Welcome to the family, Marshall. You’re in for a long ride.” Nick joked as he took the mug and set it immediately down on the table. “I’ll just save mine for later.”
Passing Anna a mug of cocoa and Marshall a cold glass of cider, she shrugged. “Sorry, the crockpot is loaded with hot cocoa.”
“I think I see what you mean.” He raised his glass in a toast. “To the wonderful DeMarco family and those of us lucky enough to call them family.”
“About that,” Tasha said, pegging Nick with a look. “Don’t wait too long, mister.”
He looked away, flustered.
“Looks like we’ve all gotten our Christmas wish now,” Leena said, raising her mug of hot cocoa in cheers.
Anna looked at Marshall, at the loving way he looked back at her, and turned back around to lean against him. “Yes, I think we finally have.”