by Angie Derek
"Tell me what you're thinking."
She didn't want to go into the thoughts gnawing on the edge of her consciousness. It made them too real. "What would have happened if you hadn't found me?"
"It wouldn't have happened," Marc said with certainty, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I will protect you."
"I know. How did you find me, anyway? I don't think they wanted you finding me so quickly."
"They underestimated Jio. And me. Did you really think Jio would let you return with no protection? His mistake was keeping them low-key so you wouldn't know. John saw you grabbed and followed them to the warehouse."
Lessa frowned. "It's creepy to know I was being watched and had no idea. Two sets of eyes following me with different intentions."
"The ones to be concerned about were the men who grabbed you. We don't know yet who hired them, but we will."
"You sound very sure."
"When I need to be." He took both of her hands. "You're safe here."
"I know." He was so handsome. She wasn't sure why that was now the center of her thoughts except she wasn't exactly thinking clearly at this point. "Marc."
"Yeah?"
"Will you kiss me?" She needed to know where they stood. How he felt about her. Did he resent her for having to come and save her?
His eyes flashed and his hands tightened on yours. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure." Her heart pounded when he didn't say no.
His expression didn't change as he leaned in to take her lips in a gentle kiss. Lessa leaned forward and waited for him to take control, but just as he deepened the kiss he pulled back. His face was an expressionless mask again, and she had a moment of unease before resting her hand on his chest. His heart beat strongly, and she knew he was feeling what she was.
"Better?" Marc asked.
"Almost." She leaned in to press her lips to his.
As she did, she realized that for the first time she'd taken control and kissed him. Marc received her overture for half a minute before his muscles rippled and his arms tightened to pull her closer and take command. She relinquished control easily, sliding into his lap and opening her mouth for his assault. His breathing was ragged as he pulled back. He loosened his embrace, then ran his fingers ran through the hair around her face.
"Leave us." Marc didn't turn as he issued his order.
Mortification flowed into Lessa as she darted a glance at the guard she'd completely forgotten was in the cabin.
The large man opened the door of the cockpit and squeezed in, shutting it behind him.
"Sorry," Marc whispered.
His apology pulled her out of her embarrassment. "For what?"
"You need to rest, not be pressured."
"What if I want to be pressured?"
He narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I promised myself I wouldn't cross that line again. Yet, here I am touching you, kissing you, again. My protection has no strings attached. You are not obligated to do anything you don't want to."
"I want to."
"I don't mean just the sex." The professional mask dropped, and his face softened as his gaze held hers. "I mean us."
The last of her uncertainty about his desire for her evaporated. "I want us."
Marc closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, you don't. You don't understand what you're saying."
"Are you going to argue with me or make love to me?"
He stilled a moment, eyes searching, then he scooped her up to help her straddle him, and his lips locked on to hers for a searing kiss. She relaxed into the embrace even as her heart rate increased and her skin sensitized to his touch.
Her body knew where she was safe.
It didn't take long for his fingers to find their way under her shirt and pull it up over her head. His lips fastened to her throat and she let out a sigh as his hands made quick work of unhooking her bra. His fingers slid over her nipples. Her belly clenched in response. He scooted her to her feet to strip off her stretchy pants, then stood himself to make quick work of stripping off his own pants and shirt. It took less than a minute for him to be standing magnificently naked in front of her.
She slid her finger sensually across his chest. He caught her wandering hand and kissed her fingers, sucking them into his mouth as he sat back down on the chair and pulled her down on top of him. His strong-muscled thighs urged her own wider apart, and his hands pulled her tight against him. She was surprised when he didn't immediately surge into her but tipped her head to kiss and lick along her throat.
"Marc?" Lessa tried to settle her hips on him.
"Sshh. I just want to taste you."
Lessa gasped as his lips closed over one nipple, and her head fell back as she let herself stop thinking and just feel. This was what she needed. Totally absorbed in what he was doing to her body, she didn't realize he'd shifted until she felt him probing her opening. With one quick thrust he'd invaded her.
She moaned and closed her eyes as he stretched her farther then she thought possible.
Marc's breathing grew ragged as he used his hands to raise her up and down along the length of him. Lessa settled her knees and took control. She felt a flicker of surprise when his hands released her and let her set the pace. After their first time together, she'd figured he was into control not submission.
His fingers went to her breasts and began to play with her nipples. Heat flashed through her body and a hard climax took her over the edge. He swallowed her cry of release with a deep kiss. A groan rumbled deep in his chest, and his hands gripped her hips to hold her tight against him as he found his own release.
Satisfaction flowed through her as she snuggled against him and pressed a kiss into his neck. He whispered something against her hair as his hands smoothed over her back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lessa climbed out of the car and looked up at the silhouette of the Tazio house, softly illuminated by security lights. A few windows glowed with lamplight. She glanced back to smile at Silvio in thanks. He'd greeted her at the airport with a gruff hug which had surprised her. Marc was surprised, too, judging by the glare he had shot at his friend.
Nina and Clarissa rushed out the front door and down the steps, guided by the spill of solar lighting disguised as bronze gas lamps. She found herself in another hug, but this one from happy, crying women.
"Are you okay?" Clarissa leaned back. "You look okay." She turned to Marc. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine," he answered.
"I'm okay," Lessa confirmed. "I'm sorry you were worried."
"She's apologizing too much," Marc said firmly.
"Well, we'll stop that," Clarissa said. "Come on. Everyone's anxious to see you."
Lessa was even more taken aback by the warm welcome than by Silvio's hug. She'd formed a bond with Clarissa and Nina in the short time she'd been there, but hadn't thought it went any deeper than casual friendship. She looked at Marc to see his take on the greeting, and he smiled at her. She smiled back, happy to see him somewhat relaxed and smiling naturally.
Clarissa hooked her arm through Lessa's and led her up the stairs. "You have no idea how worried we were."
"Probably not as much as I was."
Clarissa gave her a sharp look. "Yes, I would think so." She shot Marc a look as he followed. "But Marc took care of it."
Marc inclined his head to Clarissa, but didn't take the hint to leave the group of women. He trailed behind them into the softly lit kitchen where Virginia had tea and cookies set up on the buffet counter.
Beaming, Virginia gave Lessa a big hug. "You must be hungry."
Lessa started to shake her head, but stopped when she saw the anxiety on Virginia's face. "The cookies smell wonderful."
"Good, sit." Virginia shooed her to the small table and brought a plate of cookies and cup of tea.
Lessa sat down then looked across the large kitchen to where Marc lounged against the counter polishing off one of Virginia's cookies. He'd yet to leave, which made Lessa wonder if he was still worried eve
n with her secure at the estate. Before, he'd been busy and left her in the women's company whenever he could. But he didn't seem to be in any hurry to run off today.
Clarissa also appeared to notice Marc's unusual behavior. She walked up to him to say something softly in his ear. He looked down at her with a frown, and she sidled away, smiling. Marc shifted his gaze back to Lessa, and his frown loosened to a half smile.
Nothing had been settled between them during the flight back to California. She was safe here for now, but her life was in Florida while his was here. And that didn't even address the problem of what he did for a living. What he'd done to save her.
Just then, the sound of running footsteps could be heard in the hallway. Jio dashed into the kitchen and stopped, gaze on Lessa.
"You're here," he said in exasperation. "No one thought to tell me."
Marc laughed, but didn't say anything as Edoardo walked in behind Jio.
"You got her," Edoardo said. "Now what?"
"We find who orchestrated the kidnapping and make them pay," Marc said.
Lessa looked from Edoardo to Marc, noting her lover's expressionless face. She missed the relaxed one that had been there a moment before and, standing, went to him. Slowly, his expressionless face got more animated as she drew closer. It dropped completely as his arms wrapped around her.
The room was unusually quiet at the gesture and Lessa rolled her eyes to herself. Probably not the smoothest way of announcing to everyone that they were involved, but she didn't have any desire to hide their relationship
Jio's disapproving gaze locked on them. "Marc, we need to talk."
Marc smiled down at Lessa. "I'll be back."
"I'll be fine." She returned his smile though she didn't want him to leave. "Go do whatever it is you do."
The men left, and the women all stared at Lessa. A blush crept up her cheeks.
Clarissa's eyebrows rose. "Well, well. That explains a lot."
"I'm sorry," Lessa said.
"For what?" Clarissa asked.
"Breaking the sister code." The girlfriend code was pretty strict about dating ex's, and she figured it was even more strident when it was your sister.
Clarissa smiled slowly. "Sister code? I guess you did, but don't worry, I won't take offense. I already told you we never felt that way, but it does bring up an interesting question. Are you really sure you want to get involved with someone like Marc?"
"She already is," Nina pointed out.
Clarissa crossed to lean against the counter next to Lessa. "Look at her face. She's already in deep."
Lessa frowned. "What do you mean, look at my face?"
"What you feel for him is clear," Nina answered. "But that doesn't mean you have to act on it."
Nina's tone surprised her. From the start, Clarissa had made it clear she wanted out of the family, but Nina had never revealed her feelings about her role. "I can't change how I feel."
"No, but you can control how you act. I'm just saying if you have any fondness for your current life, I'd seriously rethink this. Take that step, and you'll never be able to go back." Clarissa looked apologetically at Nina. "You'll end up like Nina, locked in a grand house, a fairy princess never being able to go anywhere without a living shadow. Always knowing that the person you love is walking a thin line of morality." She scooted closer to Lessa. "I don't want to see you hurt. Make sure he's worth what you'll have to give up."
"You don't think he's worth it," Lessa said.
Clarissa considered for a moment. "Maybe. Marc's decent. He isn't cruel to be cruel. He doesn't enjoy what he has to do, as some of them do. But he's damn good at what he does." She paused. "But you saw that."
She pictured the kidnapper kneeling at Marc's feet before Marc shot him. "Yes, I saw."
"I guess the question is, can you live with it." Clarissa nodded to Nina.
"Clarissa and I were born into this life," Nina stated. "No matter what we do, it will always follow us. You weren't. Your mother got you out and you have a choice. You can go."
Lessa didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected them to be jumping up and down about her and Marc, but she had enough of her own doubts occupying her thoughts without adding theirs.
As if reading her thoughts, Nina suddenly hugged her close. "Don't misunderstand, Lessa. We love you. You are our family and always will be. If you choose to stay." Nina shot Clarissa a challenging look. "I'd be happy if you stayed. But I also know we can't pretend you don't have a choice. Make the one that's best for you."
"You have something going with my sister," Jio said curtly as he shut the door to his office.
Marc didn't try to deny it this time. "Yes."
"You lied." Jio turned on him. "I asked you point blank what was going on, and you said nothing."
"That was the truth at the time. She ran away, making it very clear she wanted nothing to do with me. So, it was nothing, then."
Jio glared at him.
Looking from Marc to his brother Edoardo shifted uneasily. "Marc can keep her safe."
"Always," Marc promised, trying to dial down his own tension.
"That's not the point," Jio stated. "I have no doubt her safety will be a priority, and you'll protect her as I protect Nina and my children. The question is loyalty and honesty. I expect that from one of my lieutenants."
"You want honesty." Marc sucked back a curse. "Fine, I intend to marry her if she'll have me. But I don't know if I can be one of your lieutenants and have her at the same time. She'd be better off walking away from all of this. However, yesterday proved she can't."
Jio didn't react to Marc's declaration right away. Instead, he studied Marc quietly. "What if she doesn't want you and goes back to Florida without you?"
"It's her choice." Despite their interlude in the airplane, he knew nothing was settled between them. "I'll arrange for people I trust to guard her instead of me."
"Why didn't you leave her with her mother and the guards in the first place?" Jio asked.
Marc hesitated. He'd told Lessa it was a matter of safety and, yes, it was easier to protect her here. But he could have done it there. He'd wanted the time with her to try to convince her to stay with him. "She can go when we find out who grabbed her."
"We might not find out," Jio pointed out. "You still haven't found out who killed my father."
That statement jarred Marc's memory of the conversation he'd had with Lessa. "They're connected."
"What?"
"Her kidnapping." Marc glanced at Edoardo, considering the youngest brother's trustworthiness. He'd just have to risk it. "I think whoever had her grabbed is connected to your father's murder."
"Are you sure?" Jio asked slowly.
"Lessa overheard a phone conversation. The man on the line had her grabbed to keep someone preoccupied. Who else but you or me? She recognized his voice." Marc shook his head, before Jio asked the question. "No, she couldn't say who it was, but it was familiar. There was something off about the voice which prevented her from being able to identify the man."
"One of those voice generated machines," Edoardo suggested.
"She thinks it's someone she knows or has briefly met. It has to be someone she's come in contact with here. Just spoken to enough to know the voice, but not enough, like the family, to immediately recognize who it is."
"Then it has to be an inside job. She hasn't had any contact with competing families." Jio paused. "Have we totally ruled out her stalker?"
Marc nodded. "You were the one who dug up the background on those two. It has to be connected to us."
"Has she figured out who it was yet?"
"No. She was . . . upset. I wanted to give her a breather. Let her feel safe for a little bit."
Jio nodded as he moved around to his desk. "Do we know who she's talked to?"
Marc shrugged. "I can make a list of everyone she's talked to with me, but she was here at the house a couple of days. There's no telling what staff and guards she's spoken with."
"
Fuck," Jio cursed. "Work with her. This stays among the three of us. We don't want whoever it is to be clued in that she overheard anything. She knows and remembers nothing from being grabbed."
Edoardo nodded. "I can spread it around."
"Good." Jio made a dismissive gesture. "Go hang out in the kitchen when the staff is eating. Mention it to Virginia. It'll spread from there."
"What about the transient?" Marc thought about the lead he'd gotten just before he'd learned Lessa had been grabbed.
"He's stashed at one of the safe houses. I went and talked to him. No help."
"He saw it," Marc said.
"He was too far away."
"But the killer doesn't know that," Marc insisted. "How many people knew I was looking for the witness or that I'd found him?"
Jio thought about it. "We weren't concealing the information."
"It might have been what made them grab Lessa," Marc said. "They wanted us distracted."
"So, let's get undistracted. We focus, get the bastards behind my father's murder, and hang them all out to dry."
Lessa excused herself from the kitchen, claiming fatigue though she was wide awake. She headed up the stairs, a guard trailing her. She shot him one nervous look, but relaxed when she saw he didn't follow her past the stairwell. Instead, he took a seat in one of the overstuffed hallway chairs as she let herself into her room. She shouldn't be surprised she was being guarded even inside the house.
She'd thought the purpose of returning here was for her safety, but Marc obviously wasn't taking any chances. Not even looking around, she made a beeline for the bathroom. Quickly undressing, she soon stood under the hot water, washing off all the terror and filth of her kidnapping experience. She scrubbed herself at least five times before turning off the steamy water and stepping out of the shower.
Wrapping a towel around her head, she secured a second one around her body before entering her bedroom. It was exactly as she'd left it, including no clothes to change in to because they were all back in Florida. Plopping down on the pillow-top mattress, she slipped in between the sheets as the fatigue she'd claimed earlier seeped into her body. She'd lie down while she waited for Marc, she told herself . . .