Guardian Bears: Marcus

by Leslie Chase

  “Nah, not yet,” Jack answered, those clever little eyes of his watching Marcus carefully. “If you’re gonna go for it, though, better make your move. Cal’s interested, ain’t you?”

  Cal, another of the Serpents at the table, bristled at that. “I staked my claim, Jack. New blood here can fuck off.”

  “She isn’t wearing your jacket,” Big Jack’s smile would have looked friendly, if not for his hungry eyes. “Ain’t a thing till she puts that on, you know the rules. And you be polite to our new friend here, he’s bringing in big business for us, right?”

  Cal snorted at that. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll believe that when there’s money on the table. But you think you can take my girl, you got another thing coming.”

  The bear inside Marcus growled, and it took all his self-control not to do the same out loud. He leaned across the table and looked Cal dead in the eye.

  “There’ll be enough cash to keep you all happy if this deal works out. As for the girl, well, if you want her, put your jacket on her. If she’s not your old lady, she’s free to be claimed - isn’t that right?”

  Unwillingly, Cal nodded his head and sat back. Marcus glared a moment longer before he smiled and straightened. A mix of feelings rushed through him, and he felt tangled up inside - on the one hand, he wanted to keep Cal away from Lisa, but on the other, he didn’t want to drag her into his plans, not when that would put her in danger.

  In the end, Marcus knew he couldn’t back down from that challenge and keep the respect of the gang - respect he’d need if he was going to make his plan work.

  Taking down the Serpents’ leadership and ending their control of the town was the prize here, and he needed to keep his focus on that. On why he’d come home. Not Lisa.

  “Okay, that’s settled then,” he said, casually. Stepping back from the table, he nodded. “Time I bought my hosts a round anyway.”

  That should get him some goodwill, he thought, as he headed for the bar.

  Lisa looked at the man approaching and tried to get her mind back in working order.

  It can’t be him, she thought, staring at Marcus. It had been so many years since she’d seen him, since she’d heard from him. She’d almost given up on the idea that they might ever be in the same place again. Now here he was, back in town, and twice as handsome as she remembered.

  His eyes were the same, though. She couldn’t mistake those. No one else she’d ever seen had those piercing intense blue eyes that saw straight through to her core. And watching him, she could see something familiar in the way he moved. This was the young man she’d sent off to the military with a kiss, eight years ago.

  She tried to tell herself that it was impossible, that he’d never come back to Coldwood and if he did, he’d have let her know he was coming. But the eyes were unmistakably Marcus’s.

  He’d grown up some in the Army, clearly. When he left, he’d already been tall and broad-shouldered, but he’d filled that frame out with muscle, and he moved with a casual confident grace as he approached the bar. She found herself pinned by his attention, unable to move and unable to look away.

  Marcus’s calm was ice-cold and she couldn’t read any emotion on him as he walked straight up to her. She couldn’t even be sure he’d recognized her. Eight years was a long time, and a man this handsome would have had plenty of opportunities to forget her in someone else’s arms. He must have, since the letters had stopped coming soon after he’d finished basic training, and she hadn’t heard from him since. Lisa still had every one of those letters carefully tucked away in a box under her bed, but she’d given up hope of ever seeing another.

  Something in his sapphire gaze told her that he knew exactly who she was, though. He didn’t speak, just walked up to the bar and looked her in the eye for a long, long second before reaching out one of his big, strong hands and pulling her to him for a kiss.

  There was no doubting that kiss. His lips were firm but tender, his hand on the back of her neck powerful but not forceful. She could have pulled away if she tried, she knew, and he wouldn’t have stopped her.

  She didn’t try.

  The rough stubble on his face grazed her, and his hand held her still as his tongue pressed against her lips, parting them. A fire lit within her as their tongues met, and she leaned into him. The kiss felt like a promise made, or perhaps one fulfilled - Marcus was back, with her again.

  There was no telling how long the kiss lasted. Nothing seemed real except the two of them. The rest of the bar faded into the background, forgotten until he finally finished the kiss and pulled back.

  His eyes met hers and the intensity of his gaze belied his cool, calm exterior. That look was the only window into the passion she’d felt in his kiss, the only sign that he felt anything at all.

  Behind him, the gang cheered raucously, snapping her attention back to reality. Lisa felt a blush spread across her cheeks, eyes flicking from Marcus’s to the bikers he’d been sitting with. That was who he’d come to see when he returned, not her.

  The gang controlled everything about the town, everything they wanted to at least. They were big men in leather who didn’t care who they hurt or broke to get their way. They’d destroyed any opposing voices long ago and the businesses they didn’t outright control in Coldwood were living on their sufferance.

  The Serpents always made that clear to the folks in town. You paid them and maybe they’d leave you alone; or you didn’t, and they definitely wouldn’t. It had been getting worse all her life, and now it was almost intolerable.

  They hadn’t hurt her, not directly, but after what they’d done to her family, she wouldn’t have anything to do with them. She was one of the lucky ones who’d stayed out of their way until recently, but now that Cal had taken an interest in her, she saw all too much of them. She knew it was only a matter of time before something bad happened.

  What on Earth was Marcus doing with them?

  For that matter, why was he back in Coldwood at all? He didn’t have anyone here anymore, not apart from her. No one who managed to leave the town came back, so why had he, and why would the Serpents greet him like a long-lost brother?

  Frozen in place, she stared as Marcus spoke to the bartender, ordering a round for himself and his friends. Several of the gang were cheering him as he returned, clapping him on the shoulders and congratulating him, but she could see the way Cal glared daggers at him.

  It was a little satisfying to see that look on his face, but it was scary as well. Cal was a big man, nearly as big as Marcus, and he seemed to always be around her these days. Always pressuring her, bothering her. It was horrible, and seeing him pissed off was a small pleasure. But she couldn’t help worrying that he might try to do something about it.

  Marcus looked like he could take care of himself in a fair fight. The trouble was that the Serpents didn’t fight fair and Cal had a lot of friends to back him up. She didn’t want to see Marcus hurt, especially not over her.

  Lisa wondered what it would mean to have him in town now. Would she see him strutting around with the Serpents? She wasn’t sure she could take that.

  It was all too much for her. Lisa turned abruptly, heading for the door. It was all she could do to keep from breaking into a run. Janet could make her own way out; she needed to get home, to process what had happened tonight, and she couldn’t wait.

  Marcus glanced back to see Lisa leaving, and frowned. It was probably for the best that she got out of there, but he didn’t like leaving everything unsaid. On the other hand, he could hardly speak to her now, not with the Serpents waiting.

  He’d done what he could. He’d claimed her, for everyone to see, and he had to hope that was enough to make it clear that she was under his protection. If Cal didn’t listen to that message, it could wreck everything. Marcus wasn’t going to let him harm one hair on Lisa’s head.

  Thinking of her hair made him smile. Her unruly blond hair was the same as he remembered it, long and soft and messy. Her lips had been pliant, yielding, an
d the feel of her warm breath had awoken memories of their last kiss. He remembered those lips parting into a smile so cute that just the thought of it took his breath away.

  Of course Cal was interested; anyone with a brain would be. Everything about her was perfect. Her pretty face had matured into true beauty while he was away, a sweet and innocent flower looking out at the world with bright curious eyes. Her heart was pure, full of love and light for everyone. There wasn’t a single thing about her that he’d change, given the chance.

  Lifting his drink to cover the smile he couldn’t suppress, he tried to pretend he was interested in what the other men had to say.

  Lewis was still talking about him and how close they’d been in the days before he left. The tales grew taller as he told them, mostly stories about the fights they’d gotten into together when they were boys.

  By now, Lewis had built them all up into grand struggles where the two of them had taken on half a dozen or more men and won. Marcus shook his head, finding it difficult to imagine how his old friend had ended up in the MC life. It didn’t seem to suit him much, but then, there wasn’t much to do in the small town.

  Getting out had been the best thing he’d ever done. The Army had given him direction, and a new start. The tour in special forces had given him skills and strength. And meeting other bear shifters had taught him who he was and how to use the talents he’d been born with. Luckily, that included teaching him how to control his bear’s rage when he saw how Cal was watching Lisa.

  “Gotta admire a fine figure,” Cal said with a nasty laugh.

  Anger burned through Marcus, and despite his focus he almost responded. He might have, if it hadn’t been for the restraining hand Lewis quietly put on his forearm under the table. That was enough to let him remember the importance of keeping things subtle, no matter how much fury flowed through him.

  He’d met enough men like Cal, men who saw women as objects to be taken, used, and discarded. It pissed him off every time, but nothing had prepared him for how he’d feel when one looked that way at Lisa. Shifting into a bear and ripping these assholes limb from limb was so tempting.

  That would make a mess of everything, though. Both the plan and Lisa needed him to be a lot more careful than that if everything was going to work out. He doubted that she’d be interested in him if she saw him tearing people apart like that, and it would end any chance he had of getting close to the Serpents’ leadership.

  He was grateful to Lewis for holding him back, even if his old friend thought he was keeping Marcus safe from harm.

  “Always was something to look at, hey, Marcus?” Lewis asked with the slightly edgy tone of someone trying to stop a fight before it started. Marcus nodded, shaking his hand free.

  “You know her then?” Cal’s eyes were cold and hard. Shark’s eyes. “Got a history?”

  “Yeah,” Marcus admitted. “I knew her growing up. Looks like she’s turned out pretty good while I’ve been away, figured I’d pick up again where we left off.”

  “Not a chance, she’s mine now.”

  Big Jack rumbled a laugh and took a deep drink of his beer. “Don’t be unfriendly, Cal. She ain’t your old lady, so if Marcus wants to try his luck, that’s no business of yours.”

  Cal shot the big man a look of pure rage, and Marcus knew that Jack wasn’t being friendly. There was something else going on here. Whatever game Big Jack was playing, though, it didn’t matter. If it gave Marcus a chance to keep the Serpents away from Lisa, he’d take it.

  “When do we get down to business, then?” It seemed like a good time to change the subject, at any rate.

  “We aren’t going to talk about that here,” Big Jack said with a grin. “This is a get-to-know-you. Lewis here speaks highly of you, but you have to understand we’ve got to be careful who we work with.”

  Yes, you do, Marcus thought, making an effort to keep his smile from being predatory. However careful they were being, it wouldn’t be enough to keep him out. As long as he didn’t mess things up himself, that was.

  “We ought to get going anyway,” Lewis said. “Got a long ride tomorrow, after all.”

  Good. That would give Marcus time to see Lisa while the club was out of the way, and see how much he could tell her. The more she knew the more danger she was in, but he knew he’d feel unbearably guilty keeping her in the dark. Even if it was for her own good.

  If she let him speak, of course. He’d seen the shock in her eyes when she saw him, and she didn’t look happy with the company he was keeping. Not that he could blame her for that, after seeing how the Serpents were treating the town. He didn’t like that she might think he could be part of that.

  Maybe I should take it as a good sign, he thought. It means I look the part.

  It still hurt.

  The conversation went on around him, his new ‘friends’ talking away as he ignored them. He nodded enough to be polite, but his attention was elsewhere. His mind was fixed on that kiss, the sound of Lisa’s breathing, the feel of her lips on his. It was something he wanted to experience again as soon as possible.

  2

  The rest of the night was a blur for Lisa. Janet caught up with her after the short walk home, but she could hardly focus on her friend’s happy stories now. Not while her mind was full of that kiss.

  It was too familiar and too strange at the same time. She couldn’t even start to work out how she felt about it. At least Janet hadn’t seen it. That was a small mercy; it saved Lisa from having to talk about it when she didn’t even know where to start.

  Before she knew it, the bottle of wine was empty and Janet was leaving. Lisa hugged her goodbye and wished her a happy trip. As soon as her friend was out of the door, Lisa threw herself onto her bed and let the room spin around her as she tried to work out how she felt.

  The next thing she knew, morning light streamed through the window, the night long gone. She vaguely remembered dreams - Marcus with the Serpents, a deep hissing noise from the darkness of the woods, something coming for her. A terrible feeling of being trapped and crushed.

  Shuddering, she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

  I hate nightmares, she thought.

  A glance at the clock told her she’d overslept, and she rushed to shower and grabbed some breakfast before stumbling downstairs.

  Of course, the first day that Janet’s away, I’m running late.

  At least it was a quiet morning in the store, with no customers to interrupt her as she tried to wake herself with a strong cup of coffee. Usually that would have worried her - it wasn’t as though the shop was doing that well on its best days - but today she welcomed the slow start. It gave her time to think, and to do the books which she’d been neglecting for too long.

  The bell on the door finally rang sometime around eleven, and she looked up with a start. A flash of remembered dream filled her mind’s eye: Cal, looming over her, a slimy smile plastered across his face and hunger in his eyes.

  Stop it, Lisa, she told herself. You’re letting them get to you.

  He’d been visiting her in the shop all too often. It was the one place that she couldn’t get away from him. That was another reason she wasn’t looking forward to being on her own here for two weeks: she wouldn’t be able to avoid him at all.

  To Lisa’s relief, this time it wasn’t Cal standing silhouetted in the morning light.

  Marcus still wore his leather jacket, which looked bare without club patches. She swallowed, looking him up and down instinctively. She couldn’t help noticing how his dark jeans fit him so perfectly.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice dry and croaking.

  “I thought I’d visit an old friend, that’s all,” he said, stepping inside and looking around. “And I need to pick up a few things.”

  “I wasn’t expecting a visitor,” she said, glaring at him. “You didn’t tell me you were going to be back in town.”

  “Now you know,” he said, sounding unconcerned. He paced around the store, lo
oking it over with a careful, critical eye that made Lisa feel nervous, though she couldn’t say what she was afraid he’d find.

  Lisa looked up at him as he approached the counter, unable to decide what to do, what to say. Part of her wanted to kiss him again. Part of her wanted to shout at him. And part of her wanted to run away from her confused feelings.

  She settled for glaring.

  “Are going to tell me what’s going on,” she said. “It’s been nearly eight years, and this is the first I see of you? I assumed you were making something of yourself, doing something real. What are you doing getting mixed up with the Serpents of all people?”

  Marcus’s eyes shone in the morning light, and she found she couldn’t look away. He leaned forward, looking her in the eyes. “What do you mean, making something of myself?”

  “I don’t know!” Lisa felt her cheeks heating and shook her head. “That you’d gotten a proper job, gotten married, settled down to raise a family?”

  “You ought to know better than that,” Marcus replied, voice light and eyes sparkling as though it was all a joke. “Like I’d settle for anyone but you.”

  Lisa turned her back, gritting her teeth. That wasn’t fair. She’d given up on seeing him again years ago, but at least she’d been able to believe that he’d gotten out of this town and found something good to do with his life. Now here he was, coming back and making friends with the people who were dragging the town into the dirt! And he treated it like some kind of joke, like she should be glad to see him.

  Maybe he didn’t know how bad things were around here. How the police were useless now and how the good businesses were being bought out and ruined by the Serpents one by one. It hadn’t been as obvious before he left, after all. But no, he was doing business with them - Lisa wasn’t going to extend the benefit of the doubt to anyone like that. Not even Marcus.

  “I can’t have this conversation,” she said. “I won’t have a friend of the Serpents in my store.”