Page 16 of Marc (Men of Forbidden Temptation #2)

MARC

What am I thinking?

I can’t get involved with Staci.

Sure, she’s the perfect woman for me, but the two of us agreed this relationship was fake and only temporary.

We are strictly platonic.

There are no real feelings involved.

I can’t let there be because in the end we will go our separate ways and move on with our lives.

Staci plops down on the couch and continues to cry.

Watching her grieve breaks my heart. I want to pick her up and take her back to the beach. I want to help her forget all about her ex-husband.

There’s nothing I can do to make things better, but if I could, I’d turn back time and figure out a way to prevent this from happening.

Her body shakes as she continues to sob.

She shouldn’t have to sit here with all of her stuff ruined. She can’t stay here tonight with a broken front door.

An idea pops into my head. “How about I pack you a bag and we deal with this tomorrow?”

She nods her head without glancing away from the picture of her sister.

I make my way down the hallway, peeking into the rooms as I walk past them. Papers, towels, pictures are all thrown around like a tornado flew through her house.

A tornado named Jared.

At the end of the hallway is the master bedroom. Like the other rooms, her stuff is ripped and thrown all over the place.

Her covers are hanging off her bed in shreds and the stuffing from her pillows covers the carpet surrounding her bed.

It’s going to take hours to go through everything and clean up the mess, but she shouldn’t do it while she’s this upset.

Heading into her closet, I find a suitcase sitting on the floor under a row of shirts that are still hanging up.

Opening it up, I laugh as I open it up and see there is a smaller suitcase inside. It’s like those dolls where there are several smaller ones inside larger ones.

Staci’s voice sounds from the bedroom. “They aren’t Matryoshka dolls.”

Turning around to look at her, I ask, “Huh? ”

Her small smile is a welcoming sight, but her tear-stained face breaks my heart.

“You know Russian nesting dolls.”

I’ve never heard of them by their official name.

“Yeah, I was just thinking that.”

“Well, there’s only two suitcases, so you won’t find more.”

My expression changes to a more playful, less serious one.

“Damn, I was hoping you would have an entire stack of them.”

I laugh, hoping to bring her mood up. She joins in and grabs the smaller suitcase from me.

“I’ll help pack some of my stuff. I’ll start with the bathroom.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

Maybe having a movie night filled with junk food will help perk her up a bit. I’ll even let her choose whatever movie she wants.

I watch as she unzips the smaller suitcase and pulls out a small duffle bag.

“Hey! I thought you said there weren't any more.”

“This doesn’t count as a suitcase. This bag is barely big enough for my bathroom stuff.”

“Is there a bag inside that bag?”

I ask, even though I know the chances are slim to none.

Her face blushes as her smile gets bigger.

I grin and yell, “Oh my God! There is, isn’t there? ”

She turns away from me and heads towards her bathroom. “I’m not going to answer that ridiculous question.”

I follow after her, like a puppy wanting attention. “Oh, come on. I need to see the smaller bag. Please?”

She suddenly stops and spins around, colliding with my chest. Her tiny hand wraps around my arm to regain her balance.

My heart pounds in my chest as she looks up at me. I want to tell her how gorgeous she looks, but I don’t.

I have to force myself to hold back.

Luckily, she speaks before I can confess my growing feelings for her.

“I’m not saying there is a smaller bag inside this one, but if there was, it would just be a tiny travel makeup bag.”

Her touch distracts me. It sends my blood flowing straight to my nether region, forgetting all about the importance of my brain.

I try to calm my racing heart by speaking slowly. “A makeup bag still counts.”

Staci squints her eyes and thinks for a moment before grinning.

“Well, lucky for me, there isn’t another bag in this one because my travel makeup bag is currently in my weekend bag that is still in your car.”

“But it usually is in that bag, so that means they are just like the nesting dolls. ”

She rolls her eyes and smirks. “I guess you are right, Marc.”

I love the way my name rolls off her tongue. Groaning, I push away before I kiss her and carry her back to my house with no clothes.

“I’ll get started in your closet.”

I turn away from her disappointed look and head back to her closet. My body instantly misses her touch.

Did she want me to kiss her?

Does she feel the chemistry between us, or am I imagining all of it?

Before I can get too caught up with my thoughts, I grab the bigger suitcase and pack whatever I can find that’s not ripped or full of glass.

I pack several weeks' worth of shirts, shorts, skirts, and dresses before grabbing a couple pairs of sandals.

Carrying the suitcase and bathroom bag to my car, I leave Staci alone to pack her own bras and panties.

My heart and body can’t deal with knowing how little she is wearing under her clothes and I don’t want to feel perverted while going through her underwear drawer.

The thoughts have already been running through my mind, but seeing those tiny scraps of lace will be my doom.

She is standing on the front porch with the smaller suitcase when I finish loading the other bags .

Grabbing the suitcase, I throw it in with the others before closing the trunk lid. I jog back to her as she gives her house one last look.

Her voice sounds hopeful for the first time in hours. “Ready?”

“There’s only one more thing for me to do. You can get settled in the car and I’ll be right there.”

Her front door is broken, so there’s no quick fix for it, but I manage to close it the best I can.

Some privacy is better than none.

Before heading back to the car, I scoot a rocking chair over until it is blocking the front door and move her welcome sign so it is right next to the rocking chair.

She is quiet the entire ride to my house, despite me trying to make small talk.

I park my car in the garage and carry her bags into the guest room.

She sits on the edge of the bed and lets out a loud sigh.

“Thank you. For everything. The trip, helping me pack, fixing my front door, and letting me stay here.”

I squat in front of her so she can see me. “You are always welcome here. Whenever and for however long you want.”

Tears fall down her cheeks as she cries.

Shit.

Did I say something wrong?

“Hey, it’s no big deal. I’m here for you.”

A sob gets caught in her chest. “There’s so much I need to do and with work, I barely have any down time.”

Using my fingers, I lift her chin until she is looking at me.

“We can figure everything out later. Take tonight to process everything. Be emotional and vulnerable, and then tomorrow hold your head high and show that fucker that you are stronger than he thinks.”

She swipes the tears from her cheeks and sits up straighter. “Yeah, you’re right. I can do this. Thank you.”

Staci is incredibly strong; she just needs to believe that she is.

“I’m here for you. How about I whip us up some food?”

She shakes her head. “I’m not hungry. I think I am just going to shower and then go to bed.”

She hasn’t eaten since this morning, but I don’t want her to make herself sick by forcing herself to eat.

“Okay. If you need anything, you know where to find me.” I stand and head to the bedroom door. “Good night.”

She whispers, “Good night, Marc.”

I grab a protein shake out of the refrigerator and head to my bathroom to shower. After chugging the shake, I start the warm water.

The warm water feels great, but I turn the temperature a bit cooler to make sure Staci has all the hot water that she could want .

I shower quickly and dry off before slipping on a pair of shorts and climbing between my sheets.

My muscles are tense with the hatred I feel towards Jared.

How could anyone do something so heinous?

Especially to Staci.

That woman is so kindhearted and caring.

She deserves the world on a silver platter. She doesn’t deserve the shit he is putting her through.

Grabbing my phone, I dial my agent’s number.

He answers on the first ring.

I don’t give him a chance to talk. “Hey, I need to push back my appointment tomorrow morning. There’s something I need to do first and it will take me a couple of hours.”

He clears his throat. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything will be. Something came up and you know I am never late for a meeting. I just need a couple of hours.”

He doesn’t answer.

I grow impatient and am about to hang up when he speaks.

“Fine. I can push the meeting back until ten. Do whatever needs to be done, but don’t be late.”

“I never am.”

Hanging up the phone, I place it on my end table and turn off my lamp.

Laying back, I feel riled up, like I could use a workout, but I need rest for tomorrow’s busy day.

I’m scheduled to have another shoot with Kelly and Adam, as well as my meeting. I should be nervous about the meeting, but this is what I’ve been working my ass off for.

My hard work is finally paying off.

The door knob on my bedroom door jiggles before the door is pushed open.

“Marc, are you awake?”

Her voice is so soft and quiet.

I sit up slightly and rest my back against the headboard. “Yeah. I’m still awake. Are you ok?”

She hesitates. “I uh, I can’t sleep.”

Leaning over, I turn on the lamp on my end table. Staci has her head poked through the slightly open door.

“We can watch a movie in the living room if you want or I can whip us up something to eat.”

Staci slips into my bedroom and glances around at my simple furnishings. “Can I lay in here? I only feel safe when you are close by.”

My heart swells and makes me feel like a God, but the anger and hatred towards Jared boils up again.

I pull the covers back and pat the mattress beside me. “Of course you can.”

Staci looks down at her body and I can’t help but to allow my gaze to follow. My eyes skim over her tiny sleep shorts and her almost see through shirt.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, trying to scan her expression for any hint of what is bothering her.

She doesn’t look at me. Her gaze stays locked to the floor. “I think I should go. ”

“Go where?”

“Back.”

I don’t have the patience for riddles right now.

“Back where?”

She whispers, “Home.”

Is she serious? After what we just had to deal with, she still wants to go back?

I try not to let the anger come through my tone.

“Why do you think you should go back home? Jared’s not afraid of breaking in or destroying your stuff when you aren’t there. He won’t hesitate when you are home and the next time could be much worse.”

I don’t want to freak her out, but she isn’t thinking clearly. Jared is unstable and she shouldn’t be alone when he is on a warpath to her destruction.

“I am starting to feel things.”

I pull off the covers and jump out of bed before walking over to her.

“It’s normal to feel things. Your system has just gone through a shocking discovery. Your safe place is no longer safe. You can hang out here with me and let your emotions out. I’m a good listener.”

She shakes her head. “No, Marc. That’s not it. I mean, yes, I am emotional about my house being broken into and my stuff being destroyed, but my feelings aren’t related to that.”

“I don’t understand.”

Is this about her sister?

“Just forget it. ”

She turns to walk away, but I reach out and grab her hand. I don’t want her leaving before telling me what’s on her mind.

“I don’t want to forget it. Clearly something is bothering you and I want to-”

Staci presses her lips to mine, effectively cutting me off.

My brain is telling me not to go down this road. Don’t kiss her back, but dammit, I need her as much as I need air to breathe.

I dive head first into this kiss, pulling her smaller body against mine. Staci arches her back and presses deeper into my chest.

Reaching around her, my hands squeeze her perfect ass before lifting her.

She moans against my lips and wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her over to my bed.

I lay her on the edge and kiss my way down her neck.

She wraps her hands around my biceps and pulls me on top of her.

“More.” She begs.

My dick jumps in my pants, eager to get closer to her sweet spot.

Her core rubs against my straining erection, and a soft sigh comes from her slightly swollen lips.

Fucking hell. The things I want to do to her right now.

Taking a deep breath to calm my raging boner, I pull back slightly and look at her.

“Are you sure? ”

She looks at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes as her lips form a smirk. “I’ve never been more sure.”

My body freezes as my brain tries to process what she just said. She wants me and she wants this.

Staci flips us over, straddles me, and rubs her core along my entire shaft.

I’ve imagined this moment more times than I care to remember, but feeling her in person is way better than any picture I could conjure up.

My balls tighten and my dick gets harder than ever before. I let out a groan before my body decides to move.

My hands grip her hips to stop her movements.

She looks down at me with hooded eyes and frowns. “Why’d you stop me?”

I chuckle. “Because I don’t want it to be over before it even gets started.”

Her eyes widen as she realizes how close I was.

“Well, we do have all night, so I guess there isn’t a reason to rush things.” Her eyes narrow as a determined look crosses her face. “But I’m needy right now, and I want to see how quickly you can recover.”

She leans forward to kiss me while expertly freeing my cock and slipping it through the leg hole of her shorts.

With one quick thrust, I am deep inside her warmth.

Staci leans her head back and moans. “So good. ”

There are barely any words to describe this feeling in my chest. One word comes to mind, but it’s too early for that.

Instead of speaking from the heart, I say, “I hope you are prepared for very little sleep tonight.”

She rocks her hips back and forth before replying. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

I might not be able to tell her how much I’ve fallen for her, but I can keep her moaning my name all night.