Chapter 17
In the morning, Marcus and I have a light breakfast and then jump in the pool together. The day is already sunny, hot, and bright, which is the perfect combination for an early morning swim. It’s also serving as a distraction to keep my mind off Nate for a little longer. I’ll have to face him later, but right now, it’s still just me and Marcus.
“I like this color on you,” Marcus tells me as I slip my arms around his neck. He glances down at the bikini I bought yesterday. “Which reminds me of something.”
“What?”
“I don’t remember you looking at nail polish when I took you shopping for Char and John’s party.”
“I packed some.”
“Some? Or just one shade?” He fiddles with the strap of my bikini. “This one.”
“Just burgundy,” I whisper.
“Mmm.” With a pleased smile, he kisses me. “And why’d you do that?”
“Because…” My cheeks heat, but I can’t deny where my head was at. I don’t want to deny it anymore. “Because deep down, I had hopes. Fantasies. That’s how they were supposed to stay, but I packed it anyway because it was a way to live it out without actually doing anything wrong.”
The thought was at a level I was scared to touch. I let it stay mostly subconscious so I wouldn’t be at constant war with my conscience.
“I didn’t think you’d noticed,” I say.
“I notice everything about you,” he murmurs.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he means it. Marcus is so attentive to me. Every detail, every expression, every movement—he picks up on it all. I’ve never felt so treasured in my life before, and that’s a big part of why.
Pushing some of my hair back from my face, Marcus sighs. “I know we want to ignore what’s about to happen, but Nate will be back soon.”
The words are like a pin to a balloon, popping the little bubble that I’ve been trying to preserve. My shoulders slump, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to wish reality away.
If I could manage it, I’d never see Nate again. But this situation is too messy, and I want to see the look on his face when he realizes what I’ve done. He’ll never be able to end things on his own terms with me. I’ll make sure of it.
“Liliana.” Marcus strokes my cheek tenderly, a sweet reminder of all the gentle, caring kisses he placed over my body yesterday. “Look at me.”
When I do, some of the tension eases from my muscles at the warmth in his eyes. He smiles at me, and I return it, even though I have a feeling today is going to be hell.
“I know this is scary,” he says, “but I’ve got your back. How do you want to go about this?”
“I don’t want to tell him.”
He nods. “I can be the one to handle that.”
“No, I don’t want you to, either. I want him to find out. Sort of… in a similar fashion to how I found out. But also different.”
It takes a moment for Marcus to catch on to what I mean. “You want him to walk in on us?”
“Not exactly. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he caught us, you know?” I laugh bitterly. “Even though there’s very little satisfaction that comes with that. But I feel like with him, it’ll be different. Like, he’ll feel vindicated, or… superior. I don’t know.”
Marcus’s smile is sly and proud. “You want him to finally realize how badly he’s fucked up with you. That’s it?”
I nod. “I want to be the one holding all the power over him for once. But…” I run my fingers through his wet hair. “Just because that’s what I want him to think doesn’t mean that’s what I actually feel. This isn’t just about revenge for me, Marcus. It’s so much more. You mean more.”
His hands skirt up my thighs until they’re resting on my hips, and he gives me a little squeeze. “I know, little star.”
“And I don’t want to do this if it’ll make you feel used. We can just have a normal conversa—”
“It won’t.” He tugs me close and presses his lips to mine in a hot, branding kiss. “Just so long as you know that you’re mine now, and that’s never changing.”
I smile. “I know.”
“Good.”
“So… you’re okay with this? Really okay?”
“What my girl wants, my girl gets.” He kisses me again, a gentle reassurance. “Now, I think it’s time to get out and get ready.”
“Not yet.” I hop up, the water helping to suspend me long enough that I can wrap my legs around Marcus’s waist. “Just a few more minutes.”
He grabs my ass with both hands. “Too much longer like this, and Nate will catch us in the act.”
I leave a trail of light kisses down the column of his throat. “We have time.”
“Goddammit, Liliana,” he groans. “How am I supposed to say no to you?”
When I rub myself against him, he swears under his breath. I can feel his cock hardening at the light friction, and he squeezes my ass, urging me to go faster.
“The things you do to me.” He nips at my ear. “I need to taste you again.”
He moves to one side of the pool and lifts me onto the ledge. Impatiently, he tugs at the strings near my hips, but once they’re undone, he lets out a frustrated sound.
“They’re decorative,” I say, laughing.
Apparently too impatient to pull the bikini bottoms down my legs, he shoves them to the side and moans, his gaze fixed on my pussy. “So fucking pretty. Now spread your legs wider.”
I do, leaning back on my arms and tilting my hips to give him better access. “Like this?”
“Just like that. Such a good girl, Liliana.”
He parts me with his tongue, and I gasp. We both flirted with each other over breakfast, and it was enough that he had me squirming in my seat. In such a short period of time, my body has become attuned to his. It’s like I constantly need his hands on me or else I’ll wither away like a plant without water.
“Marcus,” I gasp when he flicks my clit with his tongue. If this ends up being like yesterday, we’re in trouble. “You can’t make me come six times again.”
“If I’m fucking you, I’m making sure you’re satisfied.” He lifts his head, staring up at me with determination. “So lay back and take it.”
My lips part in shock as he dives back in. The things that come out of this man’s mouth are going to drive me to an early grave. Still, I do what he says because whatever he’s doing with his tongue feels heavenly.
With one hand holding my hip, Marcus uses the other to slip two fingers inside me. He curls them just right, eliciting a moan from me. My back arches, the rough concrete digging into my skin. I barely feel the pain, though, especially when Marcus lets out a deep, gratified groan. He sucks on my clit, still massaging my g-spot with his fingers.
All of a sudden, I couldn’t care less if Nate walked in on us like this, just so long as Marcus doesn’t stop. He eats me out until I’m coming so hard I have to stifle my screams with my hands so the neighbors don’t hear.
Once I’ve come down, Marcus yanks me back into the pool. His lips meet mine in a fierce, demanding kiss that has me dizzy and aroused all over again. When he pulls away, his pupils are blown.
“Upstairs, Liliana. Now.”
I scramble out of the pool, and Marcus follows closely. We both dry off, and then he leads me inside the house and up the steps. Once he’s shut us into his room, he takes me into his arms and kisses me deeply. I slip a hand into his swim trunks and wrap my fingers around his dick. Slowly, I stroke up and down, relishing in the silkiness of his skin.
“Get on the bed,” he tells me, trying to hold back a moan.
I don’t. With a coy smile, I drop to my knees and pull his swim trunks down.
“I thought we didn’t have a lot of time,” he teases, and his voice is so low and relaxed that it sends a shiver through me.
Instead of responding, I run my tongue along the underside of his dick before taking the head into my mouth and sucking. He groans softly and gathers my hair into his hands, keeping it away from my face. When I take as much of him into my mouth as I can, he tips his head back and swears.
I suck harder, moving up and down his dick and teasing the underside with my tongue. The taste of his skin mixes with the saltiness of precum, and satisfaction blooms inside me. I’ve wanted to do this for so long.
“Liliana, stop,” Marcus says tightly.
I release his cock and sit back on my heels. When I look up at him, Marcus is panting, and his eyes are dark with desire.
“You’re too damn good at that.” He helps me stand before slamming his mouth to mine. His tongue delves into my mouth, the tangy taste of my arousal still on it. When he pulls away, his hands are still grabbing at my waist, and mine are gripping his shoulders. “On the bed. Don’t make me tell you again.”
Backing up until my knees hit the mattress, I smile. Seeing Marcus like this—wound up, breathing hard, and struggling to find control—feels good. I feel good. Not just desired but worthy of it.
“Tell me what you want.” He’s already stepped up to me, and he kneels, trailing kisses down my stomach until he reaches my hipbone. His fingers latch onto my bikini bottoms, and he pulls them down slowly, following the material with more soft, worshipful kisses. “How do you want me to fuck you, my sweet Liliana?”
When he stands, I grab his shoulders and gently guide him so he’s closer to the bed, and then I push him onto it. “Get in the middle.”
He does as I say with a knowing smile. Once he’s situated, I climb on top of him. His dick slides against my pussy, and I rub myself against it for a minute.
Marcus’s hands come to rest on my thighs. “Don’t tease me, Liliana. Either put me inside of you, or I’m taking charge.”
I quite like this view, so I take hold of his cock and line it up. As I lower myself down, we both moan, and I love the way Marcus’s eyes flutter shut once I’ve taken all of him. I let myself sit there for a minute, enjoying the sensation of being filled up by his cock, and then I start moving.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Liliana.” Marcus grips my thighs. “Don’t you dare stop.”
A pleased smile takes over my face as he twists one of his hands so he can rub my clit. I set a steady pace for myself, staring down at him while he tries to keep his eyes open.
“Play with your nipples,” he says hoarsely. “I wanna see you come while you’re riding my dick.”
Slowly, I slide my hands up my body and squeeze my breasts. I run the pads of my thumbs over my nipples, and it shoots sparks of pleasure through my body.
“That’s it. God, just like that. You’re doing so well.”
My stomach tightens at Marcus’s praise. He always knows just what to say. And the way he’s looking up at me makes me feel so beautiful—like a goddess.
“You’re utter perfection,” he says as he watches me greedily. “And from now on, you’re all mine, you hear me? My son is never getting his hands on you again. No one is.”
Oh my god. I swear, this man could make me come with his words alone. It’s like he’s getting off on the fact that I chose him. Hell, we both are. Marcus’s possessiveness is making everything more intense. I find myself gasping for air as I ride him, trying to fight off the orgasm that’s barreling toward me.
“I bet he hasn’t fucked you right in a long, long time,” Marcus says. “My girl is needy, isn’t she? Needy for me to take my son’s place and make you come harder than he ever did.” He thrusts upward, holding me down so I take every inch of him.
Fuck.His words and the way he drives into me force the orgasm on me. It crashes down, snatching the oxygen from my lungs and wracking my entire body. My legs still, but Marcus takes over. Even though his hand has fallen from my clit, I still stay lost in the heady, almost-too-much sensations.
“That’s my girl. So pretty when she comes for her boyfriend’s father.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I breathe out, barely managing to hold on for dear life. I’ve gotta admit, though, him saying it makes me feel filthy, and not necessarily in a bad way.
“Damn right he’s not.” Marcus sits up and pushes me down so I’m laying flat on my back and he’s in between my legs. “This pussy is all mine, little star.”
His thumb goes back to my clit, and I let out a choked moan. This is supposed to be quick, and he’s already made me come twice.
How long has it been? What time is it?
I turn my head to look at the clock, but Marcus grabs my chin.
“Eyes on me, Liliana. When I’m fucking you, nothing else matters. Just us, you hear me?”
“Just…” I gasp when he adjusts angles and hits the perfect spot inside me. “Just us. Oh my god, Marcus.”
“Yesterday I was the devil,” he says, pulling out and thrusting back into me, “but today I’m your god? I’d advise you to make up your mind.”
All I can manage is a whimper. I push myself up onto my elbows so I can watch him sliding in and out of me. He’s right—Nate hadn’t fucked me right in a long time. In fact, compared to Marcus, I’m not sure he ever did. I only got to come most of the time with Nate, but with his dad? Oh my god.
Marcus keeps fucking me. His cock hits the right spots inside me, and it feels so overwhelmingly good that all thoughts but him empty from my mind. I reach up and run my fingers down his stomach, unable to speak.
He stares down at me, that same possessive fire from earlier burning in his eyes. “You have no idea how much it turns me on that once we’re done here, he’s going to see you red-faced and freshly fucked, and he’s going to realize that he never did you right. That he never satisfied you the way I can.”
I let out a loud moan, my fingers gripping his arm as he drives into me harder. So good. So fucking good.
“You like that, don’t you?” he says. “You want my cum dripping out of you while you tell my son you’re leaving him for me, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I cry. “Oh my god, Marcus, please.”
He keeps playing with my clit with one hand while gently applying pressure to my lower stomach with the other. It heightens everything I’m already feeling and shoves me over the edge into a blissful mindlessness.
“That’s my girl,” he murmurs, his words barely registering in my mind.
“Marcus,” I moan, grabbing at the blankets while he rubs my clit gently. It takes my orgasm to a whole new level, causing my body to tense and release all over again. “Marcus!”
“Oh, fuck. Liliana, shit.”
Marcus’s movements slow, and I open my eyes just in time to see him close his. As he comes, his lips part, and a gust of air rushes from his lungs. He falls forward, catching himself before he crushes me, and buries his face in my neck.
Shakily, I slide my arms around him to hold him close. His body is warm and sweaty against mine, his softening cock still inside me. I’m not ready for him to pull out yet.
While he presses tender kisses to my neck, I blink, going over what he just did to me. It all felt amazing—better than yesterday, somehow, which I didn’t think was possible.
“Where… where did you learn to do that?” I ask breathlessly.
“Do what?”
“The hand—the hand on the stomach thing.”
His body shakes against mine as he lets out a silent laugh. “I’ve been having sex for longer than you’ve been alive. If I didn’t pick up a trick or two, I wouldn’t be doing my job right.”
Obviously, I know Marcus has slept with other women, but I’ve been avoiding the thought. I expect jealousy to curl around my heart, but none comes. It takes me a second to realize why—there’s no need for it. Because out of all the women Marcus has been with, I’m the one he chose.
I’mthe one he wants forever.
. . .
When the front door opens and slams shut, I’m in the kitchen making two cups of coffee. I’ve found that I quite prefer wearing one of Marcus’s button-downs to Nate’s T-shirts. It makes me feel sexy, like I’m in a movie or something. The way Marcus looked at me when he saw me in his shirt helped, too.
I stir half and half into my mug as Nate’s footsteps get closer and closer. When he’s finally in my peripheral, I give him a quick, disinterested glance.
“Good morning, Nathan.”
He slows to a stop, his gaze traveling down my body. “Where did you get that shirt?”
“From Marcus.”
The color drains from his face as he sets his keys on the island. “Lily,” he says slowly, “why are you in one of my dad’s shirts?”
I take a sip of my coffee. After what he’s put me through, he can endure a few seconds of suspense.
“Lily—”
“Doesn’t feel too great, does it?” I ask. “Not only did I go running into the arms of someone else, but I went to your father.”
“Is this some kind of sick joke?” he demands. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Getting what I deserve.” I set my mug on the counter between us and meet his gaze, keeping my voice steady and calm. “We’re done, Nate. I’m sick of your bullshit.”
“You—what the—Lily, you can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious. I never should’ve stuck around for you. You were cheating on me for years, Nate. Years! And then you promised to fix everything, and all you did was get worse. You led me on so you could end things on your own terms. Do you not get it, Nate? How incredibly shitty that is? How incredibly shitty you are?”
“On my own terms? What the fuck are you even talking about?”
“You butt dialed me.” Crossing my arms, I stare him down, satisfaction warming my skin as realization sinks into his features. “I heard what you told Levi and Matthias—about how you were planning on breaking up with me after the trip.”
His eyes widen, but the shock is quickly replaced by anger. “So you slept with my dad. Real mature, Lily.”
“Oh, I didn’t just sleep with Marcus. I’m moving in with him, too. He treats me much better than you ever did.”
“You think what you have with my dad will last?” He scoffs. “An older man dating a younger woman. We’ve all seen it thousands of times before. He’s only with you because you’re young. The second you turn thirty, he’ll dump your sorry ass and find someone to replace you.”
A day ago, his words would’ve stung. Now, they sound almost laughable. It’s like he’s forgotten who his father is.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously, Nathan? That’s the best you’ve got?”
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” He steps forward, and the hatred dripping from his tone is like a slap in the face.
Has he always felt this way?
“He probably won’t even wait until you’re thirty. You’ll most likely bore him to death before then with all your fashion and business talk and the fact that you never do anything fun. You’re always—”
“That’s enough.” Marcus’s voice echoes through the room, deep and firm. He steps into the kitchen, his eyes hard. “Speak to her like that again, and I’ll put you in the hospital, boy.”
“Dad, what the fuck? This can’t be happening. This can’t—”
“Get out, Nathan. Pack your things and go home. And if you touch any of Liliana’s stuff when you get back, you’ll have hell to pay. You understand?”
“Dad! I’d never do something like that. You know I wouldn’t.”
Marcus shakes his head. “I don’t know who you are anymore. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
I stare at Marcus in shock. This part—the part where he kicks his son out of his home—we didn’t discuss. It warms something inside me. I like when his protective side comes out.
“You’re actually choosing her over me?” Nate asks Marcus. “Your own son?”
“I’ll choose her every time. Now get out.”
It finally seems to click with Nate that his father isn’t going to change his mind. With a disbelieving huff, he turns on his heel and marches upstairs, slamming the guest room door. I’m glad I already moved all my stuff into Marcus’s room, because with the mood Nate’s in, I really wouldn’t put it past him to pull some shit.
He’ll have time to cool down on the drive home, though. Between that and Marcus’s threat, he should leave my stuff in our apartment alone.
“You all right?” Marcus asks lowly, hugging me from behind.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
And I think I mean it. All the shit Nate just threw at me didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. He’s hurt me so much, and I just want to be done with him.
I smile, turning in Marcus’s arms and kissing him softly. Because I am done with Nate, and the future that’s in store for me and Marcus is much brighter than my past with him.