by Marie Wathen
Not finding him at the front desk I set out to the back of the gym. The offices and private classroom where yoga, jujitsu and boxing classes are taught are located there. I hear a deep male voice coming from one of the rooms so I push open the door, but notice that the room is empty. Turning around to leave, I hear the voice once again and this time I recognize that it belongs to Parker.
“Fuck!” Parker bellows with a long satisfying roar to finish, “Hell yeah!”
“Ohgod Parker. Yes!” A female voice pants and moans low agreeably.
Dammit. I know for certain he is banging some woman other than the little redhead he brought with him this morning, so I shut the door eager to get the hell out of dodge. Unfortunately, turning around, I see the redhead walking straight toward me - toward the room. She is flushed, sweaty and sexy as hell. Whatever Parker is doing in that room is none of my business, but if she walks in that room she will be hurt. Formulating a quick plan, I stretch my arm out and place my hand on the wall effectively blocking her path.
“Hey, I’m Marcus. I saw you when I came in earlier.”
Ear buds blaring loud music sticking in her ears prevent her from hearing me. She lifts her eyes just as her chest slams into my arm. She tilts off balance falling backward. In a swift move, I grab her around the waist stopping her motion and gently prop her upright.
“I’m sorry, I thought you heard me,” I apologize, placing my hand on her shoulder. Not missing the squinted eye zeroed in on our connection, I remove my hand like it had been struck by a rattlesnake.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asks in a very thick French accent.
Pushing away from me, she runs her hands over her loose strands of hair falling around her face and tucking them in her ponytail holder.
“I was saying hello. I recognized you from earlier when I got here,” I explain, hoping like hell I can distract her long enough for Parker the prick to get his shit together before she walks in on him and the other woman. She stares curiously at me as if I am currently growing a second head. Wanting to jar her memory, I add, “We walked in together?”
“We did? I do not remember seeing you. I was with my boyfriend, Parker.”
I nod, feeling a little deflated that she couldn’t remember seeing me. Sucker punch to the ego. “I was actually looking for your boyfriend. Have you seen him?”
Smiling as I acknowledge her boyfriend, she shakes her head no then proceeds to walk around me toward the door marked “Office”.
Shit! I realize now that I hadn’t walked into a classroom, I had opened the door to Parker’s office. Strangely a panic rushes through me as I see her hand reach for the door knob. With no other options left, I immediately pull her against me. Our sweat soaked bodies crush together and without hesitation my mouth sears on hers in a hard forced kiss. Initially, she flinches attempting to pull away, but then she relents and melts into our powerful embrace.
Her lips are warm and taste sweet like peppermint mixed with sweat. She grabs hold of my neck forcefully grinding her hips into me. A fire burns deep inside of me moving south causing my hard dick to press roughly into her stomach. Gaining my brain function back, I pull my mouth away from her and step away while placing her safely against the wall then lean against the other one.
“What the hell?” she whispers.
Now that I’ve surprised her and myself, what the hell do I do next?
“That’s the standard greeting for a beautiful woman. It’s better than the cheek kisses in my opinion.” Ohjesus, she will never fall for this load of shit.
Pressing my ass against the wall, I bend at the waist placing both hands on my knees. We stay locked in a frozen gaze, until it’s broken by Parker’s office door being yanked open. I flip my eyes up to catch a young blonde walking out, adjusting her yoga pants and straightening her ponytail. She jumps at the sight of me and the redhead blocking the hallway.
“Oh, shit. I… um, you scared me. Uh, Parker is busy at the moment,” She blurts out with a nervous voice, frantically checking her clothes once more.
“Yeah, I’m sure he is Lila.” The redhead snaps at the blonde while her eyes are locked on me. Realization blossoms in her features as she turns away and slowly enters Parker’s office. Fuck, she understands that my kiss was a distraction and I that I knew he was in there with the blonde.
Watching her walk through the door to his office and slam it closed, my heart hammered violently in my chest. I remain standing in the hallway uncertain what to do for her now. The blonde rakes her eyes over me catching me rise back up and press off the wall to pace the hallway. She flips her just fucked hair over her shoulder and walks away with a little extra swing in her step.
Waiting for all hell to break loose on the other side of the closed door I pace nervously. As if she’ll even want to see me, a total stranger when she comes out. There is no yelling. There’s no sound at all coming from the office. After a few more seconds the door finally opens. She casually moves around me without a glance my way and not saying a single word. I want to follow after her, but caught in a lovers’ quarrel is not my idea of a good time. Plus, I’ve already done more than I should have - when really I should have just stayed out of it.
I poke my head into Parker’s office to see if maybe she quietly killed his ass. But no. He sits in his chair behind the desk, detached staring at a pile of paper scattered on top of the workspace.
“Hey man. Am I interrupting?” I ask stepping inside his office.
“Shit Marcus, I just had some crazy shit happen, but I’ll be out there in a few to get started with your training.” He remains seated, but finally turns his deadened eyes toward me. Understanding his request to be alone, I nod once and turn on my heels.
I jog out of his office with a burning desire inside my chest fearlessly drawing me toward the front of the gym. All of a sudden I have an overwhelming need to find her and make sure she is okay. It hadn’t been more than a couple of minutes since she walked past me so she couldn’t have gotten too far. Pushing open the door, I’m assaulted by daylight and the noisy Saturday morning traffic rushing by in the streets. I look to the right and spot the red ponytail bouncing with purpose down the sidewalk. I take off after her and catch up quickly.
“Are you alright?” I call out. She stops abruptly and shifts toward my direction. Expecting to see her crying, I’m surprised that she actually looks very calm.
“Me? Oh yes I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be alright?” She replies, confusion filling her eyes.
I move to stand closer as if I am drawn to her. She glances down at my hand that slowly moves to her face. Enchanted by a bouncy red corkscrew that popped free from its restraint, I automatically push back the wayward lock, tucking it gently behind her ear before I cup the side of her face. She glances up and I am lost in deep chocolate eyes. She is intoxicating and I feel a rush of drunkenness absorb me from her unequivocal beauty as well as the controlled look in her eyes. She just discovered her boyfriend cheating and yet she is unaffected by his infidelity. It must not be the first time he has done this to her.
“You don’t have to pretend that didn’t just happen. Do you want to talk about it?” My voice is soft and low.
She drops her gaze from my eyes to my mouth followed by her lips. The kiss is methodical; she’s using it to tell me that she is in fact alright. There is no sadness or pain in this kiss. I pull her into me and groan as she responds with pushing her chest into mine. Greedily, I force her body backwards against the brick wall of the building and wrap my arms around her waist.
Suddenly reality nudges it pesky way back into my brain and I realize we are standing in public view, and she just broke up with her boyfriend, and I don’t even know her name.
“Yeah, you’re alright,” I confess, smiling against her lips. I pull away, needing to look at her face. She lifts her lids that penetrate me with desire and heat. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m not sorry for that kiss,” I whisper, dragging the back of my fingers across her c
heek.
Breasts rising and falling, she pants, “Come home with me.” It’s a command, one that sends a pulse through my body that demands I comply with her order. Accepting her offered hand, I escort us to my car. There is no guilt for either of us as we walk past the front door of Parkers gym.
For the past year, remembering what was between me and Elise weighed heavy on my soul after what she and Morgan did, but I finally realize that there never really was love between us. However, what I have with Breesan can only be labeled as an all consuming love. She reflects my heart and is my other half.
Seeing Sam staring at me, I shake my head and offer a lopsided smile that provokes her sweet one. “Sorry, I think I’m just tired. Are you ready to hit the hay?”
Laughing at my southern slang, she pokes me with a pointed finger in the ribs eliciting a unified roar of laughter between us when I damn near jump across the room.
“You are the most ticklish person I’ve ever known,” she chokes through bouts of laughter.
“No. I. Am. Not.” I walk back over to my bed, collapsing like a dead weight from exhaustion. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pray that I can push the thought of Morgan and Breesan together and the memory of Elise out of my head.
“I’m here when you’re ready to talk. Goodnight baby brother.”
God, keep Breesan safe. I silently pray, closing my eyes to the day.
A shrill breaks the silence almost immediately. Cringing because I forgot to silence my phone, I glance over at Sam and release a heavy breath when she doesn’t even stir from the obtrusive noise. Before retrieving my phone, my heart lurches with a small wave of fear, I can’t imagine why someone could be calling at this late hour. Noticing the name on the display is exactly the one person I may not want to, but need to speak with at any hour of the day, I answer without hesitation.
“Hello Mrs. Maxwell.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Breesan
Marcus has been gone for a week. We spoke once and it was so brief that it really can’t count as a conversation. It was more like checking in. I hate it; but what I hate more is feeling like some pathetic girl missing her boyfriend. I mean damn, we just started this relationship, and I now miss him. Where the hell has my fortitude gone? I was so sure that I was strong. Then Marcus Walker tangoed his way into my life and has rocked me to my core. Ugh, it’s so unfair for me to dump everything on him, like I did to my parents, after losing them. Marcus doesn’t diminish my strength. In fact, being with him adds another layer of stamina, both physically and mentally, allowing me to deal with the fact that someone is out to get me or could be using my relationships with my new friends to get me. Drawing from his confidence and certainty makes me better, I can’t belittle that fact.
Until this morning, I was essentially okay with the time apart. Lying in the bed that we have been sharing together for a few weeks, I found myself searching out his scent as a source of reassurance that I didn’t just imagine that we are a couple. It’s stupid, I know, but for some reason, being without him makes me physically feel like a big disgusting boneless ragdoll.
Having Kole substitute as my trainer while Marcus is away has been a fairly decent distraction. Except for one nasty bruise on my back from his elbow catching me daydreaming about me being with Marcus on the mat instead, I can comfortably say that my skills have improved drastically since the abduction. The next time someone comes at me or my friends, I am prepared to kick ass, not just survive the moment. Kole is making sure of that personally with his relentless daily workouts.
Kole is great and I know he is attracted to me, but thankfully he doesn’t get all creepy about it. I really care for him too, in a big brother kind of way. He strictly forbids me to take a step toward the front door without his permission, and really I wouldn’t try. I’m not stupid. After a weak moment last week, I let my guard down and Tac scared the hell out of me at Toxic. I will never take anyone or anything for granted at work again. I just wasn’t prepared to encounter Waverly’s brothers. Afterward it seemed like Morgan caught more hell from them than I did. Poor guy.
I know he is struggling with Waverly being gone. He just hasn’t admitted anything to me; and I still don’t like digging into other people’s privacy. If he wants me in, he will let me in. I know personally how difficult it is to bare yourself raw and hope that you don’t get shredded in the process. People have so much power to inflict deep lifelong hurt over others; and it’s like some soulless humans truly enjoy it, like my stepmother, Julia and Miller Adams.
It is completely normal for Julia to go an entire summer without contacting me, but considering everything that went on a couple of weeks ago with the shooting and then the abduction, I would have thought that maybe she would have at least tried to find out some information about me. The last bit of hope that I had about Julia being a descent person–somewhere way down deep–is dissolved.
Miller hating for sport, to be a supreme winner over others and never caring about who she might obliterate in her wake is a different story; or at least that’s how she was in middle and high school. Watching her lately, I can tell that something about her is different. She is still beautiful and attracts hoards of men. She still has a dangerous vibe encompassing her, but there is also a new melancholy sheen lying over her high-energy facade. I watch her every night on stage as front man–or front woman–for the band. I’ve also spied her crying once in the dressing room. I was slightly freaked out by being in there alone with her. Thankfully, she did not recognize me. Since then I’ve quit avoiding her. Do not get me wrong, I don’t feel sorry for Miller. That emotion will never be linked with her in my book, but there is a noticeable difference from the hater that nearly succeeded at destroying me.
“Hey sweet thang,” Morgan slurs, approaching me sitting on the sofa in the living room–my source of solace from the torment of Marcus’ scent. Plus, I can’t stop watching the television for any updates on Anna and Waverly.
Morgan is still staying at Rhys’ even after telling me about smoothing his disappearing act over with his mother. I’m not sure I like the idea of him being dragged into my deadly world, but it’s not like I have a choice. Seeing how the people I care about have become targets, I want him close and safe.
“Hey Morgan,” I reply, glancing up from the television and catching a wry smirk sneaking across his face, “what’s up?”
“Do you want to make a break for it?” His eyes twinkle as he reveals his mischief, but a sense of doom leaps to the forefront of my brain. “Kole’s in the shower, Rhys is gone and Tac won’t be back until tomorrow night. We could get out of here for a couple of hours, just you and me. What do you say?”
“You’re crazy,” I laugh. “I know that Marcus asked you to join in on the babysitting brigade, but I won’t let you risk your life by sneaking me out of this compound. Besides, Kole knows you’re planning something and made me swear not to fall for your trickery.”
“Ha! That bastard just wants to get into your pants. I will give Marcus credit, my brother was smart pitting us against each other when it comes to you.” He shakes his head playfully before adding, “Come on. I promise to be nothing except cautious, and I only have one place I want to take you. It is actually a pretty secure place so there is no fear of getting attacked.” He notices that I freeze at his words and quickly adds, “I’m sorry. That was shitty for me to say. None of this is a joke and I don’t want you thinking that I am taking it as such.”
Watching his somber expression, I see honesty in his eyes and I am convinced that he is telling the truth. Even though I haven’t known him long I can tell that whatever happened while he was away shook him up. It is so weird seeing so many changes in the people I now call friends.
Sighing softly, I avert my eyes to my hands crossed over my lap, “If something happens. If someone gets hurt…”
“I’ll take every precaution necessary,” he reiterates. I nod yes, hoping that we are not making a terrible mistake.
“Cool. We’l
l take my car.” He is actually giddy about getting out of the house. I just hope he has the same attitude when we have to face the music with Kole once we return.
For the first twenty minutes Morgan drives carefully and like he is a secret agent. We have looped over several streets a few times. Eyes jumping from the roadway to the rear view and side mirrors every few seconds, he keeps a stern glare and only regards me once the entire drive. His peculiar behavior tells me that he thinks someone may be following us or that he is practicing up for out maneuvering said followers in busy downtown traffic. I sit nervously fidgeting with my thumb ring hoping he knows what the heck he is doing.
Letting out a harsh breath, he cranks his neck around toward me. “It’s safe.”
“For who?” I giggle weakly, feeling a bit alleviated with his assurance. “You scare me sometimes. What exactly is going through that thick skull of yours?”
“I promised you I would take precautions. This is me doing just that. Do not mock me.” His voice is playful, but his features are still very tense.
“So…was that it, Agent M?”
With a flash of pearly whites, he quirks an eyebrow up as he glances back over to me with an intense need for me to explain. While trying for a sober tone, I stifle my laugh before rewarding him.
“You know, Men in Black? Seriously though, after that little display I might be more nervous now than before when I was sitting around waiting for some paid hit man to get me at Rhys’.”
“No one is ever going to get you, Breesan!” He demands. Gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles turn white with tension. Minutes pass before he finally releases his hold and speaks again. “I’m glad you trusted me to go on this little road trip. I won’t let anything happen to you. I swear it.”