12. Marcus
TWELVE
MARCUS
Lainey’s eyes sparkle over the rim of her coffee mug. “I can’t believe that you like to garden. The big bad Marcus Ruins, growing his own vegetables.”
“What can I say? A man needs fresh food, baby.” I pull another weed from around the tomato plants. “Plus, it’s therapeutic.”
Lainey giggles. “Therapeutic, huh?”
“That’s what they say.” I toss the weed into the basket and stand up, wiping my hands on my jeans. “Cheaper than hiring a shrink, too.”
It’s the next morning, and Lainey and I are out in the yard behind my cabin. After we woke up, I made breakfast, and we decided to enjoy our coffee outside while I tended to my little vegetable patch. It’s a perfect day, with the sun shining and a light breeze rustling through the trees.
I glance over at Lainey, taking in her messy hair and the way my flannel shirt hangs loose on her curvy frame. She’s perched on the Adirondack chair on the deck, her legs tucked up beneath her, sipping coffee like she hasn’t a care in the world.
Meanwhile, I’m down here in the dirt with sweat sticking my t-shirt to my back, trying to keep my mind off how damn sexy she looks.
I’m not usually like this, so consumed by lust for a woman. But with Lainey, my appetite is insatiable. And after last night, it’s only getting worse.
I’ve never crossed that line before or explored my dominant side. But with Lainey, it was perfect. She submitted to me beautifully, letting me take control. But I know she’s sore and needs a break.
I force myself to focus on the plants, not the way the flannel rides up her thighs as she shifts in the chair.
“You okay over there, mountain man?” Lainey asks, a teasing lilt in her voice. “You’re looking a little tense.”
“Just trying to get a few things done before the day gets away from us.”
She stands up and walks over to me, her hips swaying. “Anything I can do to help?” She kneels down beside me, our shoulders brushing.
I clear my throat. “You don’t have to. I’m almost done here anyway.”
“I want to,” she insists, smiling up at me. “Put me to work, Marcus.”
I hand her a weed.
“Alright, you can start by pulling these then. Grab them at the base, as close to the dirt as you can.”
She does as instructed, her brow furrowed in concentration as she works alongside me.
“Seriously, this garden is incredible, Marcus. I can’t believe you grew all this yourself.”
The garden’s nothing fancy—a few raised beds that I built last spring with wood that’s seen better days. It’s got a smattering of herbs, a few tomato plants, some peppers, and a cucumber vine trailing along the back fence. It’s even got a small patch of wildflowers that my sister Emma insisted on planting.
But there’s no denying the satisfaction I feel, knowing she’s impressed.
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’ve had a lot of time on my hands over the years. And I like being self-sufficient. Being in the Marines taught me that.”
“And flowers?” She nods toward the wildflower patch I’ve been cultivating. “Are those also essential for survival, too?”
I sit back on my heels, unable to stop my smile at her teasing. “The bees like them. Helps with pollination.”
“Of course. It’s all very practical.” Her grin widens. “Nothing at all to do with how pretty they are.”
“You caught me.” My eyes lock with hers. “I’m secretly growing flowers because I like looking at pretty things.”
A blush creeps up her neck, but she holds my gaze. “So what made you decide to start this garden anyway? I mean, besides for the beauty and survival skills?”
No one’s asked about the garden before. But looking at Lainey now, the gentle curiosity in her eyes, I realize I want her to know.
Need her to know.
“My friend Shadow gave me the idea. He’d bring over these pathetic-looking plants and tell me they just needed someone to believe in them.” My lips quirk at the memory. “Half of them died that first summer, but he just kept bringing more. Said I needed a hobby that didn’t involve guns or power tools.”
Lainey grins. “He sounds like a good friend.”
“The best.” I swallow past the lump forming in my throat. “Shadow, Reign, and I served together. We started up Pack Security together when we got out. Shadow was a good guy. He was like a brother to me.”
“Was?”
I blow out a breath. “He died last year. Police found his body at the bottom of Cooper Ridge.”
Lainey reaches out, placing her hand over mine, where it rests on my knee. “Oh Marcus, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. After he died, I threw myself into this garden. Figured it was a way to honor him, you know? Keep something of him alive.”
“I think that’s beautiful.” She squeezes my hand. “And I’m sure Shadow would be proud of what you’ve built here.”
“Yeah. I like to think so.” I clear my throat, trying to shake off the heaviness.
Lainey is quiet for a moment.
“I’m glad you told me,” she says finally. “I want you to be able to talk to me about this stuff. About Shadow. I know it can’t be easy.”
“It’s not usually, no. But with you...” I trail off, holding her gaze. “With you, it feels right somehow.”
A pretty blush stains her cheeks as she smiles. “I’m glad. I want you to feel like you can open up to me.”
I flash her a wicked grin. “Careful what you wish for. You may not like what you find if I let you in too deep.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Her blue eyes sparkle with invitation.
Lainey has no idea what she’s asking for, the demons that lurk inside me. But I’m beginning to think I’d do just about anything to keep her looking at me like that. Like I’m not a lost cause. Like maybe there’s still something good buried deep down worth believing in.
I reach up to brush a loose strand of hair from her face. Her breath hitches at my touch, but she doesn’t move.
“We should get you out of the dirt,” I murmur, my thumb grazing her cheekbone. “I’ve got other plans for you today that don’t involve gardening.”
Her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip.
“Oh? And what exactly did you have in mind?”
“Moving you into my cabin, for starters.”
Lainey groans. “Marcus, we’ve talked about this. You promised to give me time to think it through.”
“I said I would give you until Friday. It’s Saturday.” I turn her hand over in mine, tracing the delicate bones of her wrist. “That’s more than enough time for you to overthink it. To talk yourself out of what we both know you want.”
“But I have my own apartment. My own life.” Her voice wavers. “You can’t just take over everything.”
“Can’t I?” I brush my lips across her knuckles, feeling her shiver. “After last night, you really think I can let you go? Let you sleep anywhere but in my bed?”
“This is all moving so fast.” Her voice softens. “We’ve only been together a few days.”
But her body betrays her, swaying toward mine like she can’t help herself.
“And yet you already know exactly where you belong.”
I tilt her chin up, holding her gaze.
“You felt it last night when you submitted so beautifully for me. And you feel it now in how your body responds to my touch.” I brush my lips against her ear. “Some things you don’t need time to know, sweetheart.”
Lainey’s fingers curl into my shirt. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Not a chance.” I brush my thumb across her lower lip. “I need you here, Lainey. Home with me where you belong.”
She studies my face, searching for something. “Say it again.”
“Which part?”
“The part about home.”
Something inside me cracks at the vulnerability in her voice, at the hope shimmering in her eyes. I know how long it’s been since Lainey has truly felt at home. How long she’s been searching for a place to belong, to be cherished and protected.
I want to give that to her. Need to give that to her.
My arms tighten around her. “This is your home, sweetheart. Here with me.”
Something shifts in her eyes, like pieces clicking into place.
“Fine. I’ll move in on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“You have to teach me about the garden.” Her smile turns wicked. “Since I’ll be living here, I should know how to tend your pretty flowers. We can start today.”
“Later.” I catch her hips, lifting her against me. “Right now, I need you in our bed.”
The way she shivers at ‘our’ drives me wild. I capture her mouth with mine, already carrying her inside. Need to claim her again, mark her as mine, make her feel exactly what she does to me when she yields so sweetly.
I walk us through the cabin, my mouth never leaving hers. My hands grip her thighs as her legs wrap around my waist, the soft fabric of my flannel shirt brushing against my abs where it’s ridden up her hips.
I navigate the familiar layout easily, even with Lainey distracting me with her sweet little moans and the way she tugs at my hair. Through the living room, past the kitchen, down the short hallway to the bedroom that will now be ours.
Ours.
The word echoes in my mind, primal satisfaction humming through my veins. Lainey is mine now in every way that matters. And I’ll spend every day proving to her that she made the right choice. That she belongs here, with me.
I carry her into the bedroom and kick the door shut behind us. Then I lay Lainey down gently on the bed as I hover over her. She looks up at me with hooded eyes and spreads her legs slowly.
My cock hardens instantly at the sight. “You’re wet for me already, aren’t you, baby?”
“Always,” she purrs, reaching down to part her lower lips and give me an even better view.
“Goddamn.”
I lower myself to my knees in front of her, pushing her thighs even further apart.
“I’m gonna lick this pretty little clit until you come for me, as many times as it takes. You just lay back and take it like a good girl, okay?”
“Yes, Marcus,” Lainey whimpers. “I’ll be good for you.”
With a growl of approval, I lean in and run my tongue along the length of her slit, savoring that first taste of her essence. Lainey cries out, her hips bucking up to meet my mouth. I pin her down with one large hand on her mound, holding her in place.
“Keep those legs spread for me,” I order gruffly before diving back in.
I focus on her clit, flicking the sensitive bud with the tip of my tongue before suckling it between my lips.
Lainey hands tangle in my hair as she grinds herself shamelessly against my face. I slide two thick fingers inside her slick channel, pumping in time with the strokes of my tongue.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck, Marcus!” she keens, her thighs starting to quake around my ears. “Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”
I double my efforts, tongue working her clit mercilessly as I crook my fingers to find that spot inside her that I know will make her unravel. Lainey writhes beneath me, her moans growing higher pitched and more frantic. But I can sense she’s struggling, hovering right on the edge but unable to let go fully.
“I need more, Marcus,” she whimpers desperately. “Please, I need...”
I know instinctively what she needs.
Still licking steadily at her swollen clit, I trail my other hand down, finding the tight bud of her back entrance. Gently, I circle the puckered rim with the pad of my thumb.
Lainey gasps and a fresh coat of wetness coats my face.
“Is this what you wanted, sweetheart?” I murmur darkly. “You need me to play with this virgin ass while I suck on your greedy little clit?”
“Oh, yes!” Lainey sobs, shameless in her need.
I press my thumb more insistently against her tightest entrance.
“Relax, baby. Open her up for me.”
Lainey takes a shuddering breath and bears down, allowing the tip of my thumb to breach her. The velvety heat is incredible, and I groan appreciatively as I work the thick digit deeper.
“Your ass is gripping me so tight. Such a good girl, opening up this tight little hole just for me.”
I pump my thumb shallowly, letting her adjust to the new sensation as I continue my dedicated assault on her clit.
“Marcus, Marcus!” she chants breathlessly. “Oh fuck, it’s so much... You’re going to make me... Unnngh!”
Her words cut off in a strangled cry as I carefully press my thumb all the way inside the vice of her ass. At the same moment, I suckle her clit hard between my lips, fluttering my tongue rapidly over the tip.
It’s the final push she needs.
With a keening wail, her body goes rigid and then convulses almost violently. I feel her release gush over my hand as her pussy clamps down rhythmically, her ass squeezing my thumb in fluttering pulses.
I work her through it, gentling my touch but not letting up, wringing every last shudder and aftershock from her.
Carefully, I ease my thumb from her still fluttering back entrance and slip my fingers from her drenched channel. Lainey whimpers at the loss, oversensitive and trembling. I press tender kisses to her mound and her inner thighs, soothing her with my lips and murmuring words of praise.
“You did so well, sweetheart,” I rumble against her heated skin. “Took everything I gave you like such a good girl. I’m so proud of you.”
Lainey reaches down, threading her fingers through my hair to urge me up. I go willingly, crawling over her body to take her lips in a deep, claiming kiss.
She moans into my mouth, no doubt tasting herself on my tongue.
Finally, Lainey breaks the silence with a breathless giggle.
“Wow. If that’s the kind of housewarming you had in mind, I should have agreed to move in weeks ago.”
I chuckle against her neck, nuzzling the soft skin there.
“Sweetheart, we’re just getting started. By tonight, there won’t be an inch of you that doesn’t know it belongs to me.”