Both of them straightened and hugged in a tight manly embrace. Romeo muttered something while they were locked together. Marcus patted his back and assured him everything would be okay. It only lasted a few seconds, and Romeo flew out of the kitchen with his head lowered and went up the stairs. It took a moment for Marcus to compose himself. He looked everywhere else before looking at me. I watched as he put the first-aid kit away and pushed the chair back underneath the table. He also sprayed down the table with sanitizing spray and wiped it. It was his way of avoiding a breakdown.
When he reached the point where it was okay for him to acknowledge me, he didn’t say anything; instead he walked over to the island where I was. Burying his head into my collar bone, he sighed. I wrapped my arms around his neck. Pulling me in by my waist, we didn’t say a word, just sheltered each other, feeling safe and relieved. The only thing that came to my mind was, “What is he thinking right now?” He always wanted to know my thoughts when he could sense I needed to talk or if he didn’t know how to comfort me.
Marcus tells me how he’s feeling when it involves me. He never holds back in telling me how much he loves me, and how much I have changed his life. He never talked about how he felt regarding the stress and the emotional conflict working for Lou brought. He kept everything all bottled up. I was afraid one day he’d explode, and when that day came it might be on the wrong person.
He took my hand in his grasp, and we silently make our way up the stairs. I stopped in front of Elle’s room. When I entered, she was lying on her bed, arms behind her head, watching a movie on her small flat screen. I felt terrible for how I acted earlier, and at that moment I realized the reasons behind Marcus’ outburst. He never meant any harm; he was just simply trying to keep me away from witnessing terrible circumstances. I apologized to Elle several times, and she assured me time and time again that it was okay. I promised to take her shopping the next week at the mall for a girls’ day as a way to make it up to her; she quickly approved.
Marcus went ahead to his bedroom while I spoke with Elle. After she and I made amends, I left her room. When I entered Marcus’ bedroom, his back was facing me. He stood over the nightstand. Empting his pockets, he placed the items on the nightstand. Walking up behind him, I wrapped my arms around the middle of his stomach. I squeezed tightly against him, and he sighed lowering his head and rubbing the back of my hand with his fingertips.
“Talk to me, Marcus,” I pleaded, using the words that so easily worked on me. I pressed the side of my face on his firm back. He eventually turned in my arms and faced me as I still held him tightly. His hand gently cupped my face, and leaning down, he planted a small, tender kiss on my forehead. The feeling of his soft lips sent a warm sensation through my blood. My body instantly relaxed, and I closed my eyes.
“I can’t do this anymore, Mia,” he whispered.
My eyes shot opened. “Do what?” I searched his face. He can’t do us anymore? The job, the stress, the second life, what can’t he do anymore?
“This … Look at me. I’m slowly breaking … with a baby on the way and you … the thought of either of you hurt or even …” He didn’t finish; he didn’t have to.
“Marcus, then leave … why are you still involved with the Sorrentos? Just leave.” I begged. Hoping and wishing he could, I wasn’t sure why it was so hard to walk away. Did he owe Lou Sorrento something? Was it money? I was sure he could pay him off with all the money that he had in the vault.
“You don’t understand; I can’t …” His hands firmed against my face.
“Why don’t you talk to me, Marcus? I thought we were a team here. How can I possibly know what’s going on up here?” Pointing a finger to his temple, I said, “If you don’t let me in, I’ll probably never understand.”
He didn’t say anything as always. He just stared at me for a long time as if holding back something he so desperately wanted to say. Instead of using his lips to talk, he forced them onto mine. Keeping my eyes open, I watched as his eyes were tightly shut. This was his way of coping? To fuck his way into forgetting? I wanted to be angry with him, to smack him away and tell him we needed to talk, that sex wouldn’t solve his issues, but he grew hungry and twirled his tongue along mine. His slight moans made the pit of my stomach twist with sensation. Giving in, I closed my eyes and allowed him to take over. The moment I relinquished myself to him, he forced me onto the bed.
Aggressively he ripped my clothes off as he stood by the edge of the bed. He watched me with his wicked glare as he threw his clothing to the floor, and my breath hitched at his violent stare. I wasn’t scared. No, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Instead I was extremely turned on by his instant need to take his frustrations out with wild, hair-pulling, lip-biting, moaning, groaning, crazy, incredible sex.
No, I didn’t mind at all. I allowed him to bruise my hips with the firm grip he held at each thrust. I allowed him to hungrily bite my lip till we tasted the metallic flavor of blood as my flesh slightly tore. I allowed him to ball a fist in my hair as he cried out my name when our bodies joined.
He was in control. I wanted him in control, and he needed to be in control.
****
I woke up with Marcus hovering over me. He was in a deep, senseless sleep, snoring along my chest. The heat from his bare skin made my temperature rise, and I became instantly uncomfortable. I inched over, trying to avoid waking him. His breath hitched and then went back to normal.
He shifted his leg onto my upper thighs. My bladder felt completely full, and the pressure of his heavy weight made it feel as if it were going to explode. Scooting over a few more times, I managed to break free. He grunted then smacked his lips twice before returning to his loud snore.
Standing by the bed, I admired his beauty as he slept peacefully. He was lying flat on his stomach with only the right side of his face showing. His hair was an adorable mess, his lips were partly open, and his shoulders rose, evenly matching his breathing. His right hand was inches away from his face, his right leg slightly bent, while the left side of his body lay completely straight under the sheets.
His well-built back teased me as it flexed and perfected each muscular line as he inhaled and exhaled. Instantly I became aroused again…even his back turned me on. What the hell was wrong with me? I could’ve stood there and watched him for hours. He was a stunning piece of art, and he was mine.
Sighing in contentment, I forced my eyes away. I felt a slight cramp from the full bladder. Tiptoeing, I made my way to the bathroom and gently closed the door behind me. I stopped and giggled at my bare reflection in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess, and my lips were swollen and bruised. Pressing my fingertips against my sore lips, I laughed to myself, remembering what we’d just done a few hours ago.