by Ali Parker
Marcus moved around to stand in front of her and slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. "Then get out of it. Sell it to Jeffery."
And what? Come with you? Ask me to come with you.
"Has he mentioned wanting it?" She reached out and untucked Marcus's shirt, wanting to feel his flesh against her fingers.
"No, but I know that he loves this place." Marcus brushed his hands up to cup her neck and forced her to look up at him. "You need a hit?"
"Yes. Get me one." She ran her hands under his shirt, brushing it by his tightened nipples and over the thickness of his chest. "Then fuck me."
"Anything you want." He leaned down and licked at her mouth. "I couldn't stop thinking about you last night. I wanted so badly for someone else to catch my eye, for someone else to matter, but even with you pissed and hating me, I was hard as a rock just hearing your voice."
"Fuck you." She tugged at his shirt, pulling it off of him. "I can't do this without a hit. I won't. I don't wanna know it's you."
He nodded as pain raced across his handsome features.
Good I hope it hurts like hell.
"I'll be right back with something." He nipped at her mouth and walked out, leaving her standing there, panting, needy, aching.
Kate moved to the last row of boxes and walked to the farthest wall in the storeroom before pressing her back against it and working to catch her breath.
One last time.
"Where are you, baby?" Marcus's voice was low and filled with lust. "You hiding from me, Katie."
She laughed, unable to help herself. "Lock the door, Marcus."
"Already done, lover." He walked down the aisle and extended the joint to her. "Toke up. I wanna play rough."
"Good." She pulled the tainted burn deep into her lungs and pressed the back of her head to the wall as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of him ripping at her clothes, undressing her with precision and gripping her flesh tightly.
"Turn around and lift your ass for me." He bit her ear as she let out a cry and turned around. After hitting the joint once more, she handed it to him over her shoulder and pressed her hands to the wall, sliding them up until her breasts were pressed firmly to it.
"God, you're fine, Katie. The hottest woman I've ever seen in my life." He moved up and ran something over her back, up her spine and over her shoulders. Silk.
She let out a soft sigh as he blindfolded her and the room went black. Perfect.
"Do you want Jon with us? He'll be here soon. I'll have him come offer you comfort after I fuck you up good." His dark chuckle left goosebumps running across her flesh.
"No," she whispered and pressed her ass against him, rubbing along the ridges of his zipper. "Shut up making promises and come on. Enjoy yourself, Marcus. Never again."
"Idle threats, baby girl." His strong hands moved up her tummy and cupped her breasts as his teeth grazed by the back of her shoulder. "Tell me where you want my cock, Kate."
"Inside of me. As far as you can go." She exhaled and pushed back as every cell in her body lit up. The high provided by the drug was nothing compared to the brute behind her, touching her, teasing her.
"Such a good girl, Kate." His kisses and tongue dragged down her back and over the curve of her ass before his mouth pressed to her center, his hands forcing her legs open wider as he sucked hard and played for keeps.
Pleasure danced along her nerve endings, and her moans filled the room as Marcus's fingers dug into the back of her thighs, and his moans skittered across her clit.
"Come and let me taste you." He lifted up and shook his face from side to side as she bent down and rocked against him, screaming her orgasm as the world burst into a myriad of color. She couldn't get her panting under control as a slight tremor shook her legs.
"More," Marcus grumbled against her swollen flesh, kissing at her slowly, softly.
"Fuck me," she groaned and pulled away from him.
"Yeah." He moved from her as she clung to the wall, never having felt so vulnerable. The sound of him pulling his pants off delighted her, thrilled the deepest parts of her, and left her mind bouncing with ideas.
The sharp slap to her ass was delicious, and she cried out as he gripped her hips and pressed himself into her.
"You should see how fucking hot this is, Kate. Your little pussy takes me so well, so beautifully, baby." He pushed in farther, and warmth filled her as his body stretched her open and demanded obedience.
His thumb brushed by her ass, and she cried out again. "Yes."
His strong hand gripped her shoulder as he worked himself out of her in long, deep thrusts, forcing her to take more of him each time.
"Push back and take what you want." He rubbed softly against her tightness, urging her to take his thumb as far as she could. Pleasure burst across her stomach as she screamed and jerked against him.
"Goddammit, Kate. I don't want to come yet." He moved his hand from her shoulder to grip her hair as he fucked her harder, deeper. The delicious sounds of their sex combined with the smell of lust infiltrating the air left her lost to him as she always had been.
"Don't. Not yet." She took a quick breath and pressed her hands to the wall before arching her back and bouncing on his cock, working him hard and fast.
"Not fair." His fingers tightened around her hair as he jerked her head to the right and pressed his mouth to her neck, mumbling his adoration. "There's no one like you, Kate. No one ever, baby. There never will be."
Pain ripped through her chest and a sob left her. "Don't talk. Not another word."
"I need you to know that I love you. This is about you more than it is me. Please see that. Please." He smacked her ass again before reaching down and gripping her hips.
She pressed her hands to the wall as emotions built inside of her. So many. Too many. Swirling around and assaulting her.
The power of his thrusts lifted her off the ground slightly, but she held on, needing to feel him lose control with her once more.
His arms wrapped around her, squeezing the air from her lungs as he cried out and came. She joined him, letting him use her for anything he needed to feel pleasure, warmth, love.
"Fuck," he groaned and set her down before pulling out of her and turning her to wrap her in a tight hug.
She pulled the blindfold from her eyes and pressed herself against him, kissing at his neck and face. So many things needed to be said, but she couldn't verbalize any of them. He was being the bigger man, the stronger person, and where she hated him for it, he'd always been the one to pick her up when she fell.
Why would now be any different?
"So fucking delicious." He brushed his lips by hers. "I'm going to get to the front. You need my help getting dressed or need a bottle of water?"
"No. Get the fuck outta here and stop babying me. I need air." She pushed at his chest and watched him get dressed as she held herself tightly together.
He chuckled and worked to pull his pants on. His thick erection had gone down hardly any, and the idea of taking him upstairs for a long night together teased her. It would be bliss, but she'd not emotionally survive it. The thread inside of her was once again unraveling. Quickly.
"All right. I'll see you up front. Fucking hot, Katie." He winked at her and walked out, leaving her standing there.
She dressed quickly, and grabbed a bottle of vodka before walking to the back door of the club and pushing hard. The alleyway appeared empty and the chilly night's air was exactly what she needed on her skin.
A good life with Jon and plenty of love and lust? Wholeness and serenity? Goodness and peace?
Or a violent life with Marcus with more passion than anyone should have access to? Love that could span the brinks of time, but always coming in second to his career, to his darkness?
"Someone looks a little occupied." Billy moved down the alley as Kate froze in place.
She had time to get back into the club before he could grab her, but the tight hand that clamped down on the b
ack of her neck said that it wasn't him she needed to be worried about.
"Kate. Nice to see you again, pretty girl. I owe you one for the warm welcome at Cafe Dumont." Reni gave her a tight smile.
"About that... I sure am sorry." She gave him a cheeky grin and pulled from him before setting down the bottle. "I'll meet you in the club if you want to talk. I'm not standing in this alley. People die out here. I'm not in the mood to meet my end just yet."
"Kate. Enough of the tough girl bullshit. You owe me information on the supplier in New York."
"I've been busy. I'll get it." She shrugged, trying to slow her racing heart.
"No, you won't, but the same pathetic thug that keeps giving his life up for yours will." Billy laughed and nodded to Reni. "Grab her. Let's go."
Reni wrapped his arms around Kate and clamped something over her mouth as she kicked and screamed.
"Does she know?" Reni asked as he pushed her against the wall roughly, knocking the air from her lungs.
She had no choice but to breathe in deeply, staining her lungs with the chloroform.
"No, but you should tell her. That's as good as a kick in the balls." Billy turned and walked away from them as Kate continued to struggle.
"Marcus sold his soul to the devil for you. Did you know that? Your freedom for his slavery. Oh fuck... the things Billy made him do as repayment. Makes me wanna cry in the corner when I think about all of it."
Kate screamed past the napkin as the truth set in. Marcus hadn't said no to joining her all those years back. He'd given up the right to say yes.
"No! No!" She screamed over and over until the drug pulled her down toward the warm darkness.
"That's a good girl. He'll come for you, Katie. He always does, right?"
Tears dripped down her face as she let herself go. This was the one time she prayed like hell that he wouldn't. Neither him, nor Jon. They'd be walking into their deaths. All because of her.
It was always because of her.
Chapter 18
Marcus
There was no pleasure like Kate Jarret. Nothing even came close.
Marcus ran his hand down his chest and repositioned himself to try and make his erection less noticeable. He glanced toward the bar and nodded at Jeffery, who waved him over.
"What's up, dude?" Marcus pressed his hands to the bar top between a large group of people.
"How did it go? Any decisions made about Chicago?" The frat-boy looking bartender had a smile that didn't fit his face.
"It went well. I think I'm going to take it, but I just need to get Kate to sign off on the transaction." Marcus rolled his shoulders. "I'm not sure leaving her here to deal with everything is the best way to repay a friend for so many good times over the years."
"I'm here to help her." Jeffery offered Marcus a shot. "And with you outta the way, maybe she'll finally take me up on the date I've been begging for."
"Not a chance, man." Marcus took the shot and glanced up to the front door to see Jon checking IDs. "She's got her heart set on the cop I think."
"Yeah, I've seen the way she looks at him." Jeffery shrugged. "Oh well, you win some and lose some. Keep me in the loop on the Chicago stuff. I'm interested to see what happens."
"Will do. I'll check in later." Marcus moved from the bar and walked up toward the front, catching Jon's attention as he moved closer to the door.
"Hey. Where's Kate? I thought I saw her walking to the back door." Jon's eyes moved across Marcus's face, as if trying to discern some hidden secret.
"She went out for a breath of fresh air." He pursed his lips and moved back a little as a few more girls came in, flirting with Jon, but the cop gave them nothing.
Impressive.
"What's been going on? Anything new?" Marcus crossed his arms over his chest and glanced back down toward the belly of the club, scanning the floor for Kate.
"Yeah, my fucking partner on the force was the newest rat for Billy. I'm sure that bastard has it out for me now that I've turned him in." Jon chuckled.
"I'm pretty sure old Billy has it out for both of us, and you turning in a rat is the least of his worries." Marcus smiled at a pretty blond that glanced over at him.
"So what's next? How do we shut him down without going to jail for life?" Jon moved away from the door as another girl moved up to help check IDs.
Marcus moved back and shook his head. "I'm honestly not sure of the details, but the guys I was talking to in Chicago said that we need to get him to a place that's busy with people in public, but has a private balcony or something with outside access. I think they're going to send a shooter to help us."
"Really? Fuck, that's great news." Jon turned and looked down at the club. "Are we thinking the masquerade ball thing tomorrow night or what? I don't think we have much time."
"I agree completely." Marcus pulled out his phone. "Let me put in a call to the guy and see what he thinks about the location and timing being so quick."
"All right. I'm going to go find Kate." Jon turned and paused, looking back. "Does she know?"
"About tomorrow night?" Marcus lifted his eyebrow. "Yeah."
"No, you idiot. About you leaving." Jon shook his head.
Had it been a few months back, and Marcus would have retaliated with something less than pleasant, but somehow the fucker in front of him had grown on him enough to force him to hold his tongue.
"Yeah. She's upset, but we've been partners for a long time, Jon. You're going to have to help her get over it. I'm leaving because it's for the best. Not because I want to." Marcus shrugged and turned on his heel, walking out into the crowded streets of New Orleans’s booming nightlife.
Kate wouldn't be the only one suffering. He'd echo her pain from wherever he was too. She had Jon to help her move past it, and once she did, she would realize how right the decision was. He, on the other hand, was going to have to find a good weed supplier and an all-night liquor store. Enough shit pumping through his system, and anyone would look like Kate, or so he told himself.
"Demetri DeMarco." D's voice was low and his tone a warning of sorts.
"It's Marcus. We're looking at tomorrow night at the Masquerade Ball they throw down here at the Marriott. That too soon?" He brushed his hand over his head and glanced around as people danced in the streets and acted like fools.
"That's perfect. I'll have Izzy on a flight in the morning. Look for a text from me tomorrow with details. I need you to have Billy at a certain location at a very specific time, but we'll work that out. Izabella will have to get there and scope out the best location from across the street. We'll talk tomorrow."
"Great. I appreciate it." Marcus paused. "And I'm taking you up on the offer. Give me the week to close everything down, and then I'll be in Chicago as soon as I do."
"Good. Best decision you'll ever make. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that." Marcus dropped the call and slid the phone back into his pocket as he let out a long sigh. It felt like the right decision, though holding Kate against him only moments before was something that seemed quite possibly the worst thing to let go of.
"I don't see her, Marcus." Jon tapped him on the shoulder and gave him a look that said he was close to losing it.
"How are you a fucking cop when your first response to anything is to freak the fuck out?" He patted Jon's chest and moved past him. "She's fine. We fucked in the storage room, so she's probably up in her room taking a shower. Check there and I'll search the club."
"Fine." Jon's tone darkened, but he didn't follow Marcus back into the club.
Kate knew better than to go after Billy, and with as high as she was, she couldn't have gone far. Marcus moved around the club, checking the backroom and leaving the storage room for last. He walked in and breathed in deeply, loving the delicious scent of their fucking that still lingered in the air.
"God, you're good, baby." He walked around the room, poking his head down each aisle and trying not to get a full-on erection as his mind moved back into their
fucking. Maybe she could come visit in Chicago every couple of months.
"Months? Fuck. Days…" He rearranged himself and let out a growl. He wanted her every night, a few times a night. Marcus stopped outside her office and pressed his back to the door before taking a long breath and stilling his racing heart.
She was fine. Nothing had happened to her. She was there only a few minutes ago. Chances are she was upstairs just like he'd said.
His phone buzzed and he pulled it out. Billy.
"Really? Shit." He hit the call button. "What's up, boss?"
"Not too much, Marcus. I think you and I need to have what the church folks would call a come to Jesus meeting. Tomorrow night. You bring the information on the Zandra supplier and your cop friend. I want him dead and I want you on our side for good. You're riding the fence, and I'm tired of it. I don't like being tired. It's, well, tiring."
Original.
"All right. I'll wrap up here at the club and head out to Victor's to find the information." Marcus yawned and looked down the hall as the door opened. Jon walked in, looking more agitated than he was only moments before. "Where are we meeting? How about the big ass party at the Marriott? It's always a load of fun. Free liquor, loads of food and horny bitches."
"Sounds delightful."
"I'll bring Kate with me too." Marcus held up his hand as Jon stopped in front of him and grimaced.
"No... no need to. I'll bring her with me if she's still around."
Ice water raced through the center of Marcus's chest. "What are you talking about?"
"She's here. With me and Reni. Bring the shit I asked for, or your sacrifice all those years ago won't be for anything, big boy. Your girl's in trouble. Think about that tonight while I'm fucking her over and over again."
"Don't you fucking touch her! I'll kill you and everyone you fucking know." Marcus moved out into the back alley as rage burst through him, consuming every part of him.
"Right. Tomorrow night, Marcus. Sweet dreams, little buddy."
The phone went dead as Marcus swallowed the lump in his throat.