10. Marcus
TEN
MARCUS
The next five days are absolute torture.
Every morning, I wake up reaching for her, expecting to feel her warm body curled against mine, only to find cold, empty sheets. The disappointment hits me each time.
I can't focus on anything - not work at the lumber mill, not chopping wood, not even hunting. All I can think about is Lainey and how badly I need her back in my arms, in my bed.
I pace around the cabin like a caged animal, my skin crawling with pent-up energy and frustration. I have no idea what I was thinking when I told her I would wait for five whole days. I should have demanded she stay, should have thrown her over my shoulder again and hauled her back inside.
Anything to keep her with me.
Fortunately, Friday finally comes. I wake up feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. I spend most of the morning cleaning the cabin from top to bottom, determined to make space for her. I clear out dresser drawers, making room for her clothes. I reorganize the bathroom vanity, leaving half the counter bare.
I'm just finishing up in the kitchen when my phone rings. Axel’s name lights up the screen. Instantly, my stomach drops. Axel never calls me.
I pick up the phone and press it to my ear. “Axel? Everything okay?”
“Hey, Dad. Everything’s fine,” he says, sounding distracted. “I was just wondering if I could stop by the cabin today.”
“Stop by?” My grip tightens on the phone. “What’s the occasion?”
“I left one of my amps in my old room,” Axel explains. “I need it for a gig this weekend.”
Relief washes through me, followed by a twinge of guilt.
“Sure, come on by. I’ll be here until about four.”
“Thanks. Be there soon.” He hangs up abruptly.
I drain the rest of my coffee and sigh as I stare out the window, already dreading the inevitable awkwardness of this visit.
I love my son more than almost anything in this world. But seeing him always stirs up a storm of emotions I’ve tried to bury.
Five years ago, moving to Cooper Heights had seemed like the answer. I’d gotten the wake-up call of my life when Axel ended up in the hospital after a car accident after his high school graduation.
The next day, I started looking for property in Cooper Heights. I convinced myself that if I was closer, if I really tried this time, I could fix what I’d broken.
That first year, things actually seemed better. Axel would stop by sometimes and play his guitar on the back deck. He spent that summer here after graduation, writing music and talking about his dreams of making it big. I thought we were finally finding our way back to each other.
But the more time we spent together, the more obvious it became that we had no idea how to be father and son. Every conversation turned into an argument, and every attempt at bonding ended in frustrated silence. By August, he was gone.
A car door slams outside, and I head to the front window in time to see Axel pull up in the beat-up Jeep he’s had since high school.
He hops out, all lanky limbs and messy hair. And even from here, I can’t help but notice how much he looks like his mother. Same dark hair, same lean build. But the restless energy, the way he moves like he’s got someplace to be—that’s all me.
He bounds up the steps and knocks twice before letting himself in.
“Hey Dad,” he says, barely glancing my way as he kicks off his boots.
“Hey yourself, kid,” I reply, shoving my hands in my pockets. “Doing alright?”
“Yeah, thanks.” He takes the stairs two at a time. I follow him up, trying to think of something to say.
“So, this gig,” I start as we reach the landing. “Big show?”
“It’s an audition, actually.” He pushes open the door to his old room and heads straight for the closet. “A girl I went to school with is getting married next month. Her wedding planner heard my band play and is thinking about hiring us to play at the reception.”
I whistle low. “That’s impressive.”
“Yep.” Axel emerges with the amp and sets it down with a grunt. “Landing this gig could be huge, you know?”
I nod, watching as he gathers up the cord and slings his guitar case over his shoulder.
“Well, I hope you get it. You’re talented, Axel.”
He glances at me, something unreadable flickering across his face. “Thanks,” he says after a beat.
“You, uh, want a cup of coffee before you go?” I ask, gesturing toward the stairs.
Axel hesitates for a second, then shrugs. “Sure, why not.”
We head back downstairs and into the kitchen. I grab a mug from the cabinet, the ceramic warm from the dishwasher, and pour the steaming coffee.
As I hand him the mug, Axel takes it with a half-smile.
“You haven’t changed a bit, you know that? Same coffee, same mugs, same flannel.” He gestures at my shirt with his free hand.
I chuckle as I lean back against the counter. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
He takes a sip, and as he lowers the mug, his eyes catch on something behind me. A slow grin spreads across his face.
“What?” I ask, turning to follow his gaze.
And then I see it.
A pink hair tie, lying on the counter next to the coffee pot. And in the sink, a wine glass with the faint imprint of lipstick on the rim.
Shit.
“Well, well, well,” Axel says, his grin widening. “Looks like the old man’s got himself a girlfriend.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “It’s not like that.”
“No? Then what’s with the hair tie and the wine glass?”
He sets his mug down, crosses his arms over his chest, and raises an eyebrow at me.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “It’s… complicated.”
“Complicated how?” Axel prods, clearly enjoying this. “She married or something?”
“Fuck, no.” I grimace at the thought. “She’s single. Things with us are just new.”
Axel laughs at that, a real laugh that catches me off guard. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard him sound so genuinely amused.
“Alright, I get it. You don’t kiss and tell.” He picks up his mug again, taking another sip as he surveys me over the rim. “But seriously, Dad. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s about time you had someone in your life besides me, Reign, and the bears out back.”
Something in my chest tightens at his words.
“Thanks, son. That means a lot.”
He nods, a flicker of understanding passing between us. For a moment, it feels like we’re actually connecting, like we’re finally on the same page after all these years of missed signals and crossed wires.
“Well, I better get going. Got a lot of practicing to do before this audition.”
“Good luck.” I push off the counter, walking him to the door. “Let me know how it goes.”
“Will do.” He pauses on the threshold, guitar case in hand. “And hey, maybe next time I’m over, you can introduce me to this mystery woman of yours.”
I force a chuckle, trying to ignore the sudden knot in my stomach. “We’ll see.”
With a final wave, he heads down the steps and back to his Jeep. I watch him go, one hand braced against the doorframe.
As he pulls away, I can’t help but feel like something has shifted between us. Like maybe we’re finally starting to find our way back to each other.
But then I think about Lainey, about the way she feels in my arms, the way she looks at me like I’m the only man in the world.
And I know that if Axel ever found out about us, it would shatter whatever fragile peace we’ve managed to build.
By some miracle, I manage to make it through the rest of the day without completely losing my mind.
The hours drag, each one feeling twice as long as it should. I keep finding myself staring at my phone, willing it to ring, to buzz, to give me some sign that she’s thinking about me, too.
But all day, it stays stubbornly silent.
I’ve never been like this before—obsessed, restless, impatient. By the time I finally pull up to Lainey’s apartment, my hands are gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles are white.
I take a deep breath as I step out of my truck, trying to shake off the tension that’s been building all day. Just as I’m raising my hand to knock, the door to her apartment swings open, and there she is.
That blue dress molds to her body like a second skin, showing off curves that make my mouth water. Her hair falls loose around her shoulders, and she’s added something to her lips that makes them shine.
Her voice carries a teasing lilt as she smiles up at me. “Hey, handsome.”
“Evening, gorgeous.” I close the distance between us, drawn to the way she practically glows. “Trying to kill me with that dress?”
“Maybe.” She peers up at me through her lashes. That innocent look, combined with the wicked curve of her smile, makes my blood burn. “Is it working?”
“Definitely.”
I can’t resist pulling her close for a kiss. I try to keep it quick and appropriate for a parking lot. But she melts against me with a soft sound that tests my control.
When I pull back, her lips are slightly swollen, her eyes hazy with want.
“Get in the truck before I forget we have dinner plans.” I open the door, helping her up into the cab.
I shut her door and walk around to the driver’s side, taking a deep breath to steady myself. As I slide behind the wheel, I catch Lainey watching me, her eyes dark with desire.
“So, where are we going?” she asks, her voice husky.
I start the engine, a slow grin spreading across my face. “It’s a surprise.”
We drive in comfortable silence, the tension between us electric. Every so often, I feel Lainey’s eyes on me, and it takes all my willpower not to pull over and take her right there on the side of the road.
Finally, I turn off the main drag onto a gravel road that winds through the woods. The trees part, revealing a weathered wooden building with a neon sign flickering in the twilight.
Lainey leans forward, squinting at the sign. “What is this place?”
I chuckle, pulling into a spot near the entrance. “It’s a bar called Bottom of the Barrel. Local makeout spot.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Makeout spot?”
“Mhmm.” I kill the engine and turn to face her. “Figured we could be alone without the whole town watching.”
A slow smile spreads across Lainey’s face. “I like that idea.”
We head inside, and I watch Lainey’s reaction carefully. The bar is dimly lit, with booths lining the walls and a small dance floor in the center. Couples occupy most of the booths, and more than a few are getting handsy.
I expect Lainey to blush or look away, but instead, her eyes widen with interest. She takes in the scene, her gaze lingering on a couple in the corner who are practically devouring each other.
“See something you like?” I murmur in her ear.
She jumps slightly, as if she’d forgotten I was there. A delicious pink tinge spreads across her cheeks.
“I-I was just...”
“Enjoying the show?” I finish for her.
Lainey bites her lip, nodding almost imperceptibly.
Well, well. Looks like my girl’s a bit of a voyeur. The realization sends a fresh wave of heat through my body.
I guide her to an empty booth in the corner, my hand on the small of her back. As we slide in, I make sure to sit close enough that our thighs are touching.
“So,” I say, watching her face carefully. “What do you think?”
“I like it,” Lainey says, her eyes sparkling as she takes in the dim lighting and intimate atmosphere. “It’s cozy.”
“That’s one word for it,” I reply with a smirk.
A waitress approaches our table, her pen poised over her notepad. “What can I get you two?”
I open my mouth to order my usual whiskey, but Lainey beats me to it.
“I’ll have a double shot of tequila, please,” she says confidently.
I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Make that two,” I tell the waitress.
Once she leaves, Lainey turns to me, her expression softening. “So, how was your day?”
The question catches me off guard. It’s been a long time since anyone’s asked me that with genuine interest.
“It was interesting. Axel came by the cabin.”
Lainey’s eyes widen. “How did that go?”
I lean back, running a hand through my hair. “Better than expected, actually. He needed to pick up some equipment he’d left behind.”
“I hate this,” she whispers. “Sneaking around. Lying to him. He’s been a good friend since the breakup. He doesn’t deserve this.”
“We’ll tell him. Soon.” I shift closer, drawn by how she looks at me, vulnerable but trusting. “But tonight isn’t about Axel.”
Color floods her cheeks, but her eyes darken. “Is that so, Mr. Ruins?”
“Very so.” I shift closer, the booth’s high back hiding us from view. The couple in the next booth over is definitely not focused on their drinks, and the thought of having Lainey similarly distracted makes my blood burn. “Though I have to admit, seeing you in this dress makes me question why we’re in public at all.”
She bites her lower lip, and the simple gesture nearly breaks my control. “Because you promised me dinner?”
“I did.” My hand finds her knee under the table. “But I’m starting to think takeout would have been a better option.”
The way she shifts closer tells me she’s thinking the same thing. The air between us feels electric, charged with possibilities. The rest of the bar fades away until it’s just us, wrapped in our own private world of shadows and wanting.
Her fingertips trace lazy patterns on my thigh, each touch sending heat through my blood. The jukebox switches to something slower, and she sighs, melting further into my side.
“This is nice,” she murmurs. “Being here with you like this.”
“Just nice?” I tease, running my fingers along her bare shoulder.
She giggles and burrows closer. “More than nice.” Then, her voice takes on that thoughtful tone that always makes me pay attention. “Different than I expected.”
“How so?”
“You’re...” She pauses, choosing her words. “Gentler than I thought you’d be.”
The observation catches me off guard. “That disappointment I hear?”
“No, not disappointment.” Her fingers still on my thigh. “It’s just that night at the Summit, when you carried me out, there was nothing gentle about that.”
Christ. The memory of her in my arms, soft and willing, makes my muscles tense. “Had to get you out of there.”
“I know.” She shifts slightly, looking up at me. “But it wasn’t just about getting me out, was it?”
The question hangs between us, loaded with possibility.
I study her in the dim light, this woman who’s gotten under my skin so completely. Who looks at me like she sees past every wall I’ve built, every mask I wear. The urge to possess her, to mark her as mine in every way possible, grows stronger every moment I’m with her.
“That night at the Summit,” I say carefully, “I showed you a glimpse of who I really am. What I really want.” My fingers trace her collarbone, feeling her pulse jump. “Most women run when they see that side of me.”
“I didn’t run.” Her voice is steady, even as her body trembles under my touch.
“No.” The word comes out rough. “You didn’t.”
“And I won’t.” She meets my gaze directly. “I see how you hold yourself back. How careful you are with me. But Marcus...” She takes a shaky breath. “What if I don’t want careful?”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for, Lainey.” But my hand tightens on her shoulder.
“Then show me.” Her words are barely a whisper, but they ignite something primal in my chest. “I’m not scared, Marcus.”
For the first time in my life, I actually believe those words. There’s no manipulation in her eyes, no hidden agenda. Just pure trust and a hunger that matches my own. The beast inside me, the one I’ve kept carefully caged, stirs at her acceptance.
“Baby, the things I want to do to you...” My voice comes out rough. “The ways I want to possess you...”
“Please, Marcus. Please.” She breathes the words against my neck.
All around us, other couples are lost in their own worlds of shadow and wanting. But all I can focus on is Lainey, warm and willing against me, asking for the parts of myself I’ve always kept hidden.
“Okay, sweetheart. When I take you home tonight,” I growl in her ear, “I’m going to show you exactly what happens when I stop holding back.”
Her whole body trembles. “Promise?”