18. Anton
CHAPTER 18
ANTON
DAY 2 – THAT NIGHT – LETTING THE WALLS DOWN
A groan escaped me as the final barrier between us was torn away. The moment skin met skin, a shudder raced through me. This was it—everything I’d been holding back, every ounce of restraint shattered in an instant.
Marcie’s body was a blaze against mine, every curve fitting perfectly as if we were made for each other. I couldn’t focus on anything but the feel of her skin—hot, soft, and trembling beneath my hands. My breath was ragged, each kiss, each touch, igniting an inferno I couldn’t control.
With one hand gripping her waist, I held her against the wall, the coolness of the surface a stark contrast to the fire burning between us. She was mine, and I was hers, in this moment, nothing else existed.
My head dipped to one of her gorgeous tits, and I sucked the nipple into my mouth. Marcie moaned, her back arching against my lips. I continued sucking and licking while holding her up with one hand under her luscious bum. Squeezing it, I imagined giving it a bite later, the way I always did whenever I saw it.
I suckled hard on her tight bud. Lord, I loved her sounds and the way she tasted on my tongue.
Little Miss Sassy growled in protest when I moved my lips away from her breast. Chuckling, I took the other one into my mouth and lavished it with the same attention. Marcie made a sound that was like a cat purring, and my lips quirked.
“Do you like that, honey?” I asked, my mouth still full of her. The tug of her hands in my hair as she pushed herself deeper into me was answer enough.
I could feel her heart pulsing rapidly, erratic, and alive, in sync with my own, as if we were two forces finally crashing together. The air between us was thick, charged, and every second that passed felt like a promise waiting to be fulfilled.
Pulling back just enough to look at her, I searched her face. The flush in her cheeks, the way her chest heaved with every breath, the hunger in her eyes… it was everything I needed to see.
“I want you, Marcie. Do you want me?” I asked, my voice rough with desire.
Her eyes lit with mischief, and she smirked. “Yes, sir,” she replied breathlessly, panting hard, her nipples rubbing against me so deliciously with every jagged breath.
My heart stuttered. My Little Miss Sassy had found a kink I didn’t know I possessed, not until she’d first replied in that cheeky way of hers, and I was more than happy to explore it.
“Then, kiss me. Show me how much. Don’t hold back,” I growled the command.
She did and I swear if a man could fly, I’d have been soaring to the heavens right then.
“You taste so good, honey,” I whispered in her ear, my breath gently caressing her before I sucked on her lobe.
“I need you, Anton,” Marcie moaned, and with her words, the last shred of my control snapped.
Turning quickly, I carried her over to the bed and lowered her onto it. Peering down at her, my eyes roamed her curves. She was breathtaking.
“Fucking beautiful,” I groaned the word. I longed to take the time to slowly worship every inch of the body that had consumed much of my thoughts and been the star of all my X-rated dreams since we’d met. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I’d spent far too long denying myself this. Denying us this.
Kneeling, I yanked her roughly towards me, pulling her legs apart in one quick motion that made her cry out. Her folds glistened, already wet for me, and the sight made me moan as I bent down to lick between them.
My Little Miss Sassy tasted better than anything else. The sweet, slightly musky scent of her intoxicated me.
Lapping her juices, I gently pushed a finger inside her. God, she was tight. I thrust my finger into her over and over while I continued sucking and licking.
Her hips bucked against my face, and I gripped her thighs, holding her still as I worked her. Adding a second finger, I spread her open, curling them inside until I found the spot that made her cry out my name.
“That’s it, honey,” I murmured against her, the vibrations making her shudder. I swirled my tongue around her clit, flicking it with just enough pressure to have her gasping and writhing. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling hard, but I didn’t care—I couldn’t get enough of her.
The taste of her was the sweetest nectar, and I wanted to drown in it. I sucked her clit into my mouth, teasing it with the flat of my tongue before releasing it with a pop, only to repeat the motion again and again. Her cries grew louder, her body trembling beneath me as she climbed higher and higher.
“Come for me, Marcie,” I growled against her, my voice rough and commanding. “You’re mine and I want to feel you fall apart.”
Her body stiffened, her thighs clamping around my head as she shattered, her cries echoing in the room. I didn’t stop, drawing every ounce of pleasure from her until she was a trembling mess beneath me.
“Please, Anton,” she begged.
The sound of her plea sent a jolt through me, a low growl rumbling in my chest as I positioned myself over her. Her legs parted, inviting me in, and when I slid into her tight channel, everything disappeared but us. The sensation of being inside Marcie, of truly being one with her, was overwhelming—a feeling so perfect it was like coming home after a lifetime lost.
The old wooden bed creaked beneath us, its sturdy frame barely keeping pace with our frantic rhythm. The sound blended with her gasps, each thrust sending vibrations through the headboard as it tapped against the wall. The rough edges of the wood grounded me even as we soared, the physical world a stark counterpoint to the raw, transcendent connection we were creating.
Marcie cried out with each thrust, her voice a melody that drove me higher, harder. Her hands gripped my shoulders, nails biting into my skin as if she needed to hold on to something solid amidst the tumult of frenzied passion. The scrape of her nails only fuelled me, her every sound a spark igniting something wild in me.
“You’re perfect,” I growled, my lips brushing against her ear as I drove deeper. The words spilled out, unfiltered and raw, as if my body demanded she knew. “Every part of you. Mine, Marcie. All mine.”
Her hips rose to meet my own, our movements instinctive, like we’d been created for this moment. The bed groaned beneath us, an accomplice to our passion, as her body arched and pressed tighter to me. Her skin was damp with sweat, her hair a dark halo against the blankets, and I couldn’t stop myself from tasting her again. My mouth found her neck, her collarbone, leaving a trail of heat and possession in its wake.
Marcie’s breath hitched as my teeth grazed her pulse, her back arching as if offering herself to me entirely. The motion pushed her breasts against my chest, and I took a second to savour the feeling before sliding my hands to her hips. I pulled her against me, deeper, harder, until I could feel the tremors of her body beginning to tighten around me.
“Honey…” My voice was hoarse, my control slipping as her legs locked around my hips, pulling me impossibly closer. The feel of her, the way she clenched around me, left no room for thought—just instinct, primal and unrelenting.
Her cries grew louder, each one more desperate than the last, until she broke, her body shaking as her climax consumed her.
“Anton,” she moaned my name, and the sound of it shattered what little restraint I had left.
My thrusts became erratic as I chased the edge, her trembling body urging me on. “Marcie,” I groaned, my voice guttural as the heat coiled tight in my core. Her eyes, hazy and glazed, locked on mine as I reached my breaking point.
I pulled out just in time, shuddering as I released across her stomach and breasts, marking her as mine. The sight of her beneath me, flushed and radiant, her body glistening with sweat and my release, was enough to sear itself into my memory forever.
Marcie let out a breathless laugh, her chest heaving. “Oh my god,” she gasped, chuckling through the words. “That was bloody awesome.”
I grinned like a fool, and she beamed back, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
“You’re grinning like a man who’s just won a battle,” she teased, her voice low and warm.
“Maybe I have,” I murmured. Her gaze softened, and she reached up, her fingers brushing over my jaw with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. I turned into her touch instinctively, letting her warmth seep into me.
Leaning down, I pressed a lingering kiss to her lips, savouring the way they parted so naturally for me. When I finally pulled back, her eyes were half-closed, exhaustion catching up with her.
I tucked us both under the blanket, adjusting her so her head rested on my chest, her hand splayed over my heart as if holding it close and the imagery wasn’t lost on me. Marcie Matthews owned my heart.
My arm curled protectively around her, pulling her closer until there wasn’t an inch of space between us.
“Rest, honey. I’ve got you,” I whispered in her ear.
She let out a contented sigh, the sound filling the room like the soft hum of a melody. My lips curved into a smile, satisfaction settling over me.
Outside, the storm began to quiet, the wind no longer rattling the windows, and the thunder rolling faintly in the distance. I combed my fingers lazily through her hair, the strands still damp from earlier, their coolness a sharp contrast to the heat of the fire warming the room. Her breaths evened out, her body slackening as sleep claimed her.
But sleep eluded me.
I stared at the ceiling, watching the flickering glow of the wood burner cast shadows across the beams. The quiet lull of the storm and the feel of her in my arms were deceptive—danger still loomed just beyond this moment. Yet for now, I let myself believe in its calm.
A tiny snort escaped her, and I bit back a laugh, shaking my head slightly. God, she was perfect.
My thoughts lingered on her—this incredible, unpredictable woman who had bulldozed her way into my life. My Little Miss Sassy had turned everything upside down, her bubbly energy and unrelenting boldness breaking through every wall I’d built. I ran a hand slowly down her back, the curve of her waist fitting so perfectly against me.
Marcie Matthews wasn’t just the feisty woman who matched me wit for wit or the impossibly sexy woman who starred in all my fantasies—or even the friend I’d pretended her to be. She was everything I hadn’t known I was missing. A force of nature—unyielding, steady, unforgettable. My lifeline. The spark of light in my darkness, the grounding force I hadn’t realised I needed, and the reason my heart finally felt whole again. And now that I had let her in, let the walls come down, there was no going back.
Thinking of how close I’d come to losing her made my jaw tighten. I’d been an idiot, pushing her away because I was too afraid to open my heart. My fingers flexed gently on her shoulder, trailing over the smooth curve of her bare skin. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake, her lips parting on a long sigh, as if she sensed my unspoken emotions.
A half-smile tugged at my lips as I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, her scent filling my senses—a mix of sweet vanilla a and the faint hint of smoke from the fire.
Marcie was mine, and I was hers. From now on, I’d make sure she knew it—every day, in every way. As soon as I had the chance, I’d tell her everything: why I’d kept her at arm’s length, and how deeply I felt for her.
The decision settled over me like a promise, a resolve calming the tension in my chest. I held her closer, my hand splayed against the curve of her back, savouring the steady rise and fall of her breathing against me.
Sleep finally claimed me, the feel of her body pressed so perfectly against mine, the soft scent of her hair, and the rhythmic pulse of her heartbeat a lullaby I couldn’t resist. My mind quieted, and for the first time in a long while, I felt all my worries blur into nothingness.
Sleep didn’t last long. A noise, not far off, jerked me awake. I glanced at Marcie—she stirred, her eyes wide with fear.
“What was that?”
“Get dressed,” I whispered.
My instincts taking over, I stood and grabbed my clothes, tugging them on as I moved toward the door.
“Anton, is it them?” she whispered, her voice thin with fear as she hurriedly pulled on her dress.
“Not sure. Get your boots on and be ready to move,” I said, easing the door open just a crack. That’s when I spotted him—one of the hunters, sitting astride a quad bike, not far from our hiding place.
My gaze locked on him. A smirk tugged at my lips. We needed that bike.
The guy stopped and spoke a few words into his walkie talkie, before climbing off and heading our way on foot, scanning the area as he moved cautiously towards the buildings where we hid, gun in hand.
“Marcie!” I hissed, my voice sharp with urgency.
She rushed to my side, her breath quickening as the realisation hit. “How many are there?”
“I can only see one, but I doubt he’s alone. Even if he is, the others can’t be far behind. We need to ambush him—quietly. No noise, or we’ll alert the rest. If we take him down and grab his quadbike, we can use it to get out of here.”
Marcie nodded, her fear still evident but overpowered by determination.
The guy was poking around the large barn, but it wouldn’t be long before he moved our way. We had to act fast.
I motioned for Marcie to stay silent, then we slipped outside, moving quickly and quietly to the far side of the building, out of sight of the barn.
“When he gets close, I’ll take him down. You stay back until I say otherwise.”
As I spoke, the guy reemerged and turned toward the stone building we’d just left.
When the hunter stepped close to the door, I moved quickly, slipping around the side of the building. I approached from behind, charging at him and shoving him into the small room. The impact sent us both crashing to the floor, the force of it knocking the air from my lungs. His gun slipped from his hand, skittering out of reach.
Recovering quickly, I knelt on his back and punched him in the head. He grunted as his face slammed into the ground and before he could react I locked an arm around his throat and with one swift, precise twist, snapped his neck.
I glanced at Marcie standing in the doorway, her wide eyes fixed on me.
“Come get his weapons, honey,” I whispered, my voice steady. She clamoured to do so, her hands trembling slightly as she worked while I turned quickly back to the door, intent on checking for others, when a voice shouted from nearby, “John!”
“Hide behind the bed and stay down,” I hissed at Marcie, before dragging the guys body to the side and ducking behind the open door to wait.
A few moments later, the barrel of a rifle edged into the room. I grabbed it, yanking it out of his hands, and as the hunter stumbled forward, I drove the butt into his face. Cartilage crunched under the blow, and he let out a guttural howl, his hands immediately flying to his nose. Blood gushed between his fingers as he staggered back, his eyes narrowing with murderous intent.
Unwilling to fire the gun and alert any other hunters nearby, I went to swing it at his head, but he anticipated the move. He bent low and lunged toward me, his shoulder slamming into my stomach, driving me back a few steps and winding me in the process. The rifle clattered to the floor. He chuckled as he kicked it out of reach.
“I’ll fuck you up for that,” he spat, wiping at his nose with the back of his hand as he reached for the knife strapped to his thigh. He took a step forward, his posture aggressive, his chest heaving as he glared at me, teeth gritted, eyes filled with malice. I could see his muscles flexing, ready to strike.
But then his gaze flickered to the dead body on the floor. His eyes flashed with anger, at the sight of his dead friend.
“You bastard. You killed my mate. I think I need to teach you a lesson. I’m going to gut you, and then, as you bleed out, I’m going to find that sweet little bit of ass and make her scream before I do the same to her,” he sneered, his words laced with a leer that made my blood boil.
The red mist of fury surged through me and I charged at him, my body crashing into his in a brutal tackle that drove us both to the ground. The impact knocked the knife from his grip, and I pinned him beneath me. His fists swung wildly, one connecting hard with my jaw, and the taste of blood bloomed in my mouth.
The guy bucked beneath me, but the adrenaline gave me extra strength and I couldn’t be moved. He continued to flail, but I leaned in close, avoiding the blows and grabbed his head between my hands. The fucker had threatened my woman, and he needed to die. Rage screamed in my ears as I slammed his skull against the ground. The first impact stunned him, his body jerking beneath me, but I didn’t stop. Again and again, I smashed his head into the stone floor, each sickening crack echoing in my ears until his body went completely still.
“Anton,” Marcie cried, her voice cutting through the fog of bloodlust.
Panting hard, I froze, staring at the carnage in front of me. Blood and brains pooled around the remains of his shattered skull, a mess of gore that turned my stomach even as the satisfaction of vengeance lingered. When I killed up close and personal, I preferred to do so cleanly, but the bastard’s words had unleashed something primal.
I forced myself to move, grabbing the last of our water to wash the blood from my hands. Drying them on his shirt, I took his knife and rifle. He wouldn’t be needing them, but we sure as hell would.
Turning to the doorway, I scanned the area outside. It was quiet, but that didn’t mean there weren’t other hunters lurking nearby. The two quad bikes sat a short distance from us, beckoning me, but stepping beyond the stone walls would leave us exposed. Still, staying here wasn’t an option.
My stomach knotted at the thought of Marcie being put in any unnecessary danger, and I considered going out to retrieve a bike, leaving her behind until I knew it was safe for her to come out. But one look at her pale face—her eyes fixed on the second guy’s bloodied, smashed in head—made it clear that I couldn’t leave her, not even for a minute.
Her whole body trembled, and I quickly crossed the room and pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly until the shaking in her body began to subside.
“Sorry you had to see that, honey,” I murmured against her ear.
She managed a shaky smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Marcie wasn’t used to death, and my heart went out to her, but I didn’t have time to comfort her the way I wanted to.
Moving to the first hunter’s body, I pulled the thigh strap free, slid his knife back into it, and strapped it securely to Marcie’s leg beneath her dress.
“Well, I got my conceal-and-carry garter after all. Though the black is a bit boring,” she quipped, the tiny quiver in her voice betraying the upset she was trying desperately to hide.
“Next time, I’ll get you one inlaid with diamonds,” I replied with a wink, playing along and earning myself another small smile for the effort.
After grabbing the other gun and stuffing it into my waistband, I took her hand. “Let’s get to those quad bikes and get the hell out of here,” I said, scanning the area one last time before tugging her toward the bikes.
I quickly slashed the tyres of the first one with my knife, making sure it wouldn’t be of any use to anyone. Then I helped Marcie onto the second bike. Climbing on in front of her, I twisted the throttle.
“Hold on tight,” I shouted over my shoulder as the engine roared to life, shooting us forward. Marcie’s arms locked around me, holding on as we shot into the forest’s cover.
We bounced over rocks and uneven ground, zigzagging between trees, dodging fallen logs and hidden ditches. Riding the quad wasn’t easy, but it was far better than running, especially for Marcie, and we covered a lot of ground in no time.
So far, we seemed to have shaken off any pursuers, but I knew this brief respite wouldn’t last. Soon enough, we’d be facing danger again. I just hoped we could reach the village and get help before it found us.