Page 61 of Always Mine
“Marco, is there more I should know?” Instead of answering the question, he launches into “Mr. Fixer” mode.
“I’m telling you now, I never want you left alone with him,” he says adamantly. “Actually, I’m going to text Raf and demand that he be there any time you’re required to meet with him.”
I roll my eyes at him.
“Yeah, ’cause Raf has time to add babysitter to his plate. He barely shits and sleeps as it is.” Marco growls in response, biting me hard enough on the shoulder to leave his teeth marks.
“Ow! Marco, what the fuck?” I giggle, looking down at the mark he’s left behind on my shoulder. It’s a perfectly straight row, bar one tooth poking out just a little further than the others.
“Just marking what’s mine.”
“At this rate I’m going to look like I was mauled by Edward Cullen,” I tease.
“This conversation is far from over, but for now we’ll agree that Avery will continue to drive you wherever you need to go, and you’ll always tell me times you’re meeting with him. If for any reason the plans change, I need to know,” he demands. “And no matter what that fucker tries to pull after what happened tonight, Vault Enterprises will get the security contract for the Law Gala.” An unreadable look passes over his face. “I don’t trust anyone associated with Arty. He’s bad news, and it’s only a matter of time before I can adequately do something about it.
“Oh, and one last thing. Will you attend the photography exhibition with me?” He emphasizes the first two words to show me he’s changing tack—asking and not commanding me, though as I discovered tonight, given the right situation, I love taking a command from Marco.
“Jeez, not asking for much,” I joke, turning in his arms and pressing myself against him.
Marco gives me a withering look. “I promise,” I say. “Yes and yes. Request granted.” He grips my ass and pulls me closer to him. My nipples pebble. His dick twitches in return.
I giggle at our horny teenage antics. “As much as we’re all down for round three, I’m absolutely starving!”
He places a chaste kiss to my forehead before leading me back into his bedroom. “Come on, pretty girl. Let’s get you dressed and reenergized. Then we’ll see about making good on your promise of round three.”
He grabs one of his soft white cotton t-shirts and dresses me. It smells like fresh laundry and the remnants of his crisp cologne. It swallows me and I feel like I’m drowning in the best way. Marveling at his work, he lets out a satisfied whistle. “I look good on you.”
Then he picks me up, fireman style, slaps my ass for good measure, and carts me off to the kitchen.
Chapter thirty-eight
The Secret Ingredient
Marco
“Awwwmigawd!Thistastesgood!What exactly did you put inMarco’s famous cheese toastie? This is not your regular run-of-the-mill grilled cheese sandwich.” To prove her point, she takes another bite, closing her eyes to savor every second.
I look down into her face. Peaceful. At ease. No makeup. The little beauty spot above her lip is like a homing beacon for my lips. I marvel at how the ordinariness of it all feels so magical. Holding her in my arms after experiencing intimacy on such a primal level has irrevocably altered my perception of what it truly means to love unconditionally. Now I know what it feels like to hold her, have my hands all over her body, and be buried inside her. There’s no before. There’s just now and what’s next with her by my side and in my bed.
“When you take the first bite, it’s all lovely and creamy. Smooth with the crunch of the toasted bread,” she explains like she’s aMasterChefjudge. “Then bam, an explosion of salty and sweet, with a hint of spice. The whole thing mixed in a delicious orgy of flavors.”
“Well thank you, Nigella.”
She gives me a coy smile that I file with every other one she’s ever given me.
Looks like I’m going to need a bigger library.
A string of mozzarella hangs perilously from her lips. And in this moment, with her sitting barelegged on my couch, wearing my clothes, plate balanced on her knees, her back against my bare chest, I’ve never felt so at peace.
The fire roars in front of us, the hum of Labyrinth’s “Power Couple” in the background. I lean over her and use my tongue to swipe the string of cheese left behind.
“That tickled!” She giggles, swiping at the spot I just lapped at.
“You can’t leave a man hanging by a thread like that,” I joke, going in to swipe at her lips again.
Finishing the last morsel, she leans over to put the plate on the coffee table, then turns around and straddles my lap. I’m acutely aware that she’s completely bare under my t-shirt, and it’s already doing things to my dick. It won’t be long and my jig will be completely up.
“If this is going to work between us, Marco, there can be no secrets,” she says, pinning me with her big, glistening caramel eyes and a voice laced with mock seriousness. “Tell me the secret ingredient. It’s a deal-breaker.”