by KaLyn Cooper
Marcus pulled out her chair as she set her plate on the table, then sat down close to her. She could do little more than thank him before he got sucked up into a conversation with Zane. Their plates had barely emptied when Mr. Carlucci tapped on the microphone.
No one at the table missed the raised eyebrows when Rafe asked Harper, “Is the Master of Ceremonies part of the hall rental?”
She giggled and shrugged. “I guess so.”
Tori didn’t recognize the music that had started in the background. “At this time I call the bride and groom to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife.”
Harper and Rafe looked at each other and at the same time asked, “Did you pick the song?” With nervous laughs, both shook their heads.
“This should be fucking interesting,” Rafe said just above a mumble.
Harper turned back to the table and circled her pointed finger. “Thirty seconds and every one of you had better be on the floor with us.” Whispering as she walked away, everyone heard her say, “I hate this shit.”
A glance at each of their friends confirmed they wouldn’t leave her alone out there for long. Rafe spun Harper into his arms. Her look of surprise softened into pure love when he pulled her body snug against his, their hands clasped over their hearts as they moved gracefully to the slow rhythm.
Tori loved the words of the song but didn’t recognize it until the chorus began. All of Me by John Legend had just become her favorite song. As though given an unseen signal, everyone at the table stood. With Marcus’s hand on her back once again, they found space. She wrapped her arms behind his neck and dropped her face onto his shoulder. Heat immediately passed between their bodies. His leg between hers, her hips rocked against his growing erection.
“I’ve wanted to hold you like this forever.” The warmth of his breath washed over her ear as tingles ran down her spine and shook her clit. She pressed her sex against his leg as he picked it up to move them in a small circle.
She wanted him. Now.
Chapter 8
Marcus lowered his head and closed his eyes so no one could see the tumultuous emotions running through him. His entire being became focused on the woman he had wanted in his arms since the moment he’d met her. He had dreamed of holding her like this. He and Tori. Separated only by a few layers of clothing.
The only thing that could be even better was if they were naked. Alone. Sweaty. Hungry for each other. Tasting each other’s essence. Lost in their pleasure.
His cock was so hard it throbbed and threatened to leak every time her hip rubbed across it. She leaned her breasts against his chest. Hardened nipples poked into his pectoral muscles.
Thank Christ. She was equally as aroused.
He ran his hand up and down her back as their bodies moved in the small circle. Without realizing it, Marcus began to sing the song to her. “Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down.” He could have written a song about her. When she was around he couldn’t think of anything else but being with her.
“I’m on your magical mystery ride and I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me.” He thought about the guitars lined in a row in his apartment’s second bedroom. Although he preferred to strum away his feelings on the couch, he refused to display them where others might see his musical instruments.
Weekly piano lessons had been the bane of his existence as an elementary school kid. Changing to guitar in high school kept him out of the marching band. So did wrestling.
“All your perfect imperfections, give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you.” He couldn’t look at her as he quietly sang the words. He was afraid to see rejection.
“Even when I lose, I’m winning.” Truer words were never spoken, or in his case, sung.
Tori moaned.
“Are you all right?” Marcus leaned back so he could see her face, read the truth or lie in her eyes.
She held his gaze for a long moment as they stared at each other, their feet still shuffling. “You have a beautiful voice.” She swallowed hard. “I feel like…” She shook her head. “It’s just words to the song.”
“Most songs are heartfelt words put to music.” There was no way in hell he was going to tell her how he felt. Besides, the only four-letter L word he had for her was lust.
“I know.” She gave him a small smile. “And those are somebody else’s words.”
Marcus pulled her tight against his body, knees to knees, hips to hips, chest to chest. “Make no mistake, Tori, I can’t fake how much I want you.”
The music stopped.
He inhaled a long slow breath. Exhaling, he smiled. “There’s a lot of wedding celebration left, but when it’s over, it’s you and me.” The rejections of other women flashed through his mind before he swept them away. He refused to expect anything more than a few hours with her. Then he added wistfully, “At least for tonight.”
Tori tilted her face up and gave him a small peck on the lips. “Yes. Tonight is ours.”
Buttoning his suit jacket to cover the evidence of his erection, Marcus took Tori’s hand and headed toward the bar. He began calculating the hours, minutes, and seconds before he could drag her to his bed. He considered if they should go to her place instead of his. He would leave it up to her.
Since Harper’s father had never been in her life, the MC skipped the father-daughter dance. Instead, she danced with Rafe’s father while he danced with his mother. They switched partners before the song was half over.
Tori and Marcus set their drinks down on the table just as the DJ asked everyone to join the bride and groom on the dance floor.
Wanting to hold her again, Marcus stood. “Come on. Let’s dance.” He took her hand and once again led her to an empty section on the floor. She immediately stepped into him, aligning her body with his.
After a few moments of silence, Tori lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. “I liked it when you sang to me.”
Well, hell. Talk about putting him on the spot. “Sorry, but I don’t know the words to the song.” He didn’t recognize it but thought perhaps Frank Sinatra sang it in the nineteen-forties. He listened for a solid minute to the lyrics and still had no clue. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know this one.” Smiling, he added, “the words are definitely appropriate for a mother and son dance. I promise you, though, that I’ll sing to you if I know the song.”
She grinned at him. “If you’re not going to charm me with a song, the least you can do is talk dirty to me.” Then she ground her hip into his cock.
This woman was unbelievable. He pulled her close, so his lips were less than an inch from her ear. Her hair smelled citrusy, but he couldn’t distinguish the fruit. Her perfume was similar, light and fresh. Such a contrast to the thoughts running through his head. He’d give her what she asked for. “I want to worship your body, kissing you everywhere, starting right here.”
He placed a kiss right under her ear at the end of her jaw. Then he gently nipped at the spot.
She rocked her hips into his and she let out a low moan.
He catalogued that spot for revisiting later.
“Then I’m going to kiss my way down your jaw.” Using only one finger he drew an invisible line that he would later follow. He stopped when he came to the spot where her pulse beat rapidly. He traced the vein down to her collarbone. “I think I’ll lick here.”
Tori’s ragged breathing was all the encouragement he needed.
“I’ve wanted to taste your beautiful breasts all night, sucking those hard nipples into my mouth.” He’d swear those tiny points drilled holes through his shirt when she arched into him. “I think I’ll try to make you come from just sucking and rolling your nipples between my fingers. Are your breasts sensitive?”
“Yes.” She panted.
“How sensitive?” Now he was curious. “Have you ever orgasmed from manipulation alone?”
“Yes. And I want you to do that to me.” It was more like a mandate than a request, and he liked it.
“I think I’m going to make you come at least twice before I bend you over and take you from behind.” He was liking this plan, and if her heavy breathing was any indication, so was she.
“I can guarantee you it won’t take long. It’s been a while.” Tori admitted.
Shocked, Marcus leaned back to look at her. “Really?” He was afraid she was just saying that to make him feel better. He didn’t want a pity fuck from anyone, least of all her. “Don’t lie to me, Tori. I know you have needs, especially when you come back charged up from a mission.”
She cocked her head to the side. “You’re right. Coming off the adrenaline high of a mission, I want a man when I get home. The last few months though, no one has interested me. I come home from clubbing and let Channing take the edge off.”
Anger and envy filled Marcus. He started running faces and names of the men he’d met at their parties. He couldn’t place anybody by the name of Channing. Before he thought better of it he asked, “Who’s he?”
Tori burst out laughing. “He’s my battery-operated boyfriend.”
Marcus had to think about that for nearly thirty seconds. When he finally realized she was referring to a vibrator, he joined her laughter. Then it struck him. “Channing is going to have to join us.”
Her pupils enlarged. “Most men don’t like to share the spotlight.”
“I’m not like most men.” He’d do anything to make her happy. He was well aware of his own recovery time, and if Channing could keep her primed, he was in favor of toys.
She pushed into him, her hip grinding into his throbbing cock. “We might need to do something about this very soon. I’m sure you’re uncomfortable.”
The final chords of the song faded away.
Tori took him by the hand and nonchalantly headed toward the restrooms. She walked past both the men’s and ladies’ rooms and tested the handle on the last door before the exit.
It was unlocked.
Simultaneously they both checked the hall before stepping inside the small office. He turned and locked the door before spinning her around and shoving her against it. The safety light outside the back door cast a yellow beam of light through the small rectangular window close to the ceiling. He could barely see the flash of need in Tori’s eyes, but it was there. Plunging his fingers into the wisps of hair at her temples, he stared at her, asking without words for permission to continue.
She grabbed his head with both hands and pulled it down. He stopped, their lips less than an inch apart. “Tori, are you…” He hated his hesitation, but he’d hate to see regret in her eyes tomorrow even more.
“Shut up, Marcus, and kiss me.”
He crashed his mouth on hers, and she immediately opened for him. As his tongue passed over hers, he tasted wine, and red sauce, and woman. It was as though his heart was coated with her and she was now in control of every beat. He dropped his hands to her shoulders and traced her collarbone with the pads of his thumbs. She shivered when he ran his index fingers over the top curve of her breasts.
He reached into the front of the low-cut dress and freed one breast, then the other. Bending his head, he took one in his mouth and sucked hard and deep while rolling the other nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He released her and blew a thin stream of cold air across her wet breast. Tori’s whole body shook as she let out a ragged breath.
“You are so absolutely perfect.” He switched sides and increased the ferocity of his ministrations. Within minutes she was whimpering, her hips rocking as she gasped for breath.
Marcus lifted his head, so he could watch her pleasure. “Come for me, Tori.” He roughly rolled her nipples then lightly pinched them. Before she could scream her release, he covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue in and out, a promise of what they would do later.
He gentled the kiss and held her as her whole body shook. When she went limp in his arms, he released her lips. Her head rolled to his shoulder, but she remained until her breathing steadied. He would stand there and hold her like that forever if he could. He glanced down at the sated woman in his arms and wished that she was his. That was nothing more than a fantasy.
At least he’d had her for a while tonight. If she lifted her eyes, pulled herself together and walked out of the room, he could live for years on what he’d already had with her.
She stirred, taking deeper and longer breaths, recovering an inch at a time. She smiled before she opened her eyes. “You have no idea how much I needed that.” She stood, and fear shot through Marcus.
Was that it? Was their time together over? Done?
She leaned in and gave him the sweetest kiss he’d ever experienced. Lost in her soft lips, the gentle way she kissed, he didn’t immediately notice that her hands had dropped to his belt buckle until she had taken him in her silky hand and stroked his shaft.
He almost exploded right then.
“Let me help you out.” Tori started to kneel in front of him. He couldn’t count how many times he had this fantasy. Even though the room was dark, he was afraid she would see his scars and turn away.
“No.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up. He laid his lips on hers in what he hoped was understanding. “The first time I come with you, I want to be buried balls deep inside your hot wet channel.” To lighten the situation he reminded her, “Besides, I was going to make you come twice before we got to the good stuff.”
She ran her tight fist from the base to the enlarged head and swiped her thumb across the top. “I want a taste of the good stuff, now.”
When she started to go down to her knees again, he ran his hand up the inside of her thigh cupping her sex. She stopped. He ran his thumb over her sensitized clit, and she rocked into his hand, moaning.
“Time for the second one.” Sliding his fingers down the side of her panties, he worked them underneath. “You lied. You are wearing panties.”
“I never gave you…” Pant. “An answer.”
Christ. She was soaking wet. “Spread your legs a little.”
She did as ordered, giving him more room. What he really wanted was to throw her on that desk, rip her panties off, and look his fill before he parted her pretty little folds and he licked her until her juices coated his face.
Nimbly, his fingers worked over her swollen clit, circling and stroking, as he walked backward to the desk. As though each step increased the intensity, she pressed hard against his hand. He slipped two fingers inside her. He knew she was close when her internal muscles started to clamp around his fingers. His cock throbbed in unison.
He wanted inside her so bad that maybe he would take her after she came around his fingers. Working his thumb against her clit and pumping his fingers in and out, the minute she hit the desk, she laid back, allowing him complete access.
Light from the ceiling reflected across her gorgeous face as she closed her eyes. Enjoyment, anticipation, expectation, all flashed across her features before she arched her back. This time he wasn’t fast enough to catch her screaming his name, but he captured any other noises.
She recovered quickly this time, sitting on the edge of the desk, energized. “I want you, now.”
Once again, he hesitated. The desk was illuminated in blues of reflected light. “Are you sure you want me?”
“Hell, yes.” She pulled him to her as she spread her legs.
No. He couldn’t let her see his body. “Jump down. Put your chest on the desk.” He’d take her from behind so she couldn’t see all his scars. She gave him a wicked smile and did as he requested. Her ass was flawless and completely exposed by the thong. He rubbed his palms over her baby-soft cheeks then drew the panties down, dragging his fingertips the length of her legs. Goosebumps appeared in their path and she struggled to control her breathing.
“Step out.” She presented him with first one high-heeled foot, then the other. Stuffing the panties into his pants pocket, he debated grabbing a condom then or waiting. He needed to be sure she was still ready for him, so he ra
n his fingers from her clit to her opening before sliding them inside.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t want your fingers, I want your cock. Now.”
“Demanding aren’t you.” He lightly smacked her cheek. “You’ll get my cock when I’m damn good and ready to give it to you.”
She licked her lips. “If you need encouragement, I’ll gladly help.”
Voices filled the hallway.
They both froze.
Glancing between the door and each other, they waited in silence, hoping the intruders were headed for the restrooms.
As the footsteps grew closer and the voices louder, Tori stood and whispered in his ear, “Give me your phone.”
He reached into his pocket pulling out her panties tangled around his phone. He smiled as he handed her the cell and stuffed the panties away. There was no way in hell he was going to give her those back right then. Maybe never.
“Lights. And unlock the door as quietly as possible.” Tori slid into the office chair and picked up the desk telephone, all while disassembling his cell phone. “Act bored.”
Marcus’s shoulder hit the wall just as the door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Carlucci entered.
Chapter 9
“No, sir.” Tori paused as though she was listening to someone on the other end of the line. “Sir, I called you back as soon as I could. I’m sorry that I didn’t receive your text or answer your call.” She reassembled Marcus’s phone. Glancing at him leaning against the wall near the door, she mouthed I’m sorry as though the phone call had interrupted their night.
He ran his wet fingers under his nose then shoved them into his mouth. Ecstasy washed over his face. She crossed one knee over the other and wanted to smile at the heat in his eyes. He pointed toward the phone. She had totally lost her place in the fictional conversation.