9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
C assie
My heart pounded at the sound of Marcus’ solid footfalls against the wooden floors. The shower had been refreshing, but now my nerves were getting the best of me. I’d had lovers before, but I’d never played the seductress.
Hell, I hadn’t even brought the right clothes.
I couldn’t find the teddy he’d sent me. I remembered having it in bedroom when I packed.
I was sure I packed it. Then I remembered the white box was sitting on my dresser.
The oversized T-shirt wasn’t exactly seducing material, but I couldn’t greet him naked.
Nope, that wasn’t me, and he’d see right through my ploy in a half-second if I did that.
Instead, here I was in his bed with the covers pulled up.
Maybe the covers were not a good idea. I needed to show some skin, but before I could lower the material, he entered the room. His gaze settled on me, and a smile played around his lips. Heat filled my veins, and my nipples tightened.
“I like the sight of you in my bed.”
“That’s good, since we’re going to be spending a lot of time here.”
“We might.” He rubbed his chin while he stared at me. “I’m going to take a shower. The TV remote is on the nightstand.”
I stared at his back as he made his way into the bathroom. What the hell was wrong with him? I was sitting here, with only a T-shirt and panties on, waiting in his bed, and…
I blew out a breath. There was nothing wrong with what he was doing; he probably wanted to be fresh and clean. But still he acted like it’s nothing unusual to have me in his bed.
Maybe for him it wasn’t, but for me… My fist hit the mattress. Damn the man . He was destroying my control, and he did it easily. I wanted him in this bed, taking me the way I chose. Fast and hard. Then we could get on with the weekend without this first time hanging over my head.
Reaching out, I snagged the remote and hit the power button. A large flat-screen TV lowered from the ceiling. Men and their toys. The screen flickered to life as Marcus strode into the room wearing a pair of black boxers. Damn, that was a quick shower. I hadn’t even heard the water come on.
I stared at him. His black hair was slicked back. My mouth watered at the sight of his muscular chest, trim waist, long strong legs, and damned if I couldn’t see his cock bounce with each step he took. I licked my lips.
“Anything in particular you want to watch?” He settled next to me on the bed and took the remote from my now lifeless fingers.
“No. Whatever you want.” Breathe. Don’t drool. Oh, but there was so much to drool over. Marcus was one fine male specimen. Six-pack abs, a chest to die for, shoulders I ached to touch, and…
His cock pressing hard against the fabric of his boxers?
My pussy throbbed with need. This was not good. Not at all. I closed my eyes, trying to find my control. It wasn’t working. I wanted to jump his bones.
His arm brushed mine. His heat called to me. I threw back the covers and jumped out of bed.
“Are you okay?” He glanced at the empty spot next to him.
“No.” I marched across the room and stood by the window. Frustration filled my veins. Why wasn’t this going like I wanted?
“Nervous?”
I shook my head. It wasn’t nervousness causing my upset. I was out of sorts. Off-balance. I’d had lovers before, but those times had been spontaneous, not a deliberate arrangement to have sex, and never for a set timeframe.
Oh God, how would I have reacted if Josh had arranged anonymous sex for me as we had discussed? Everything was so confusing right now.
“Come back to bed, Cassie.” His husky voice drew me to him.
I slowly padded to the bed. Marcus had propped up several pillows and gestured for me to use them.
“Why?” I asked. I needed some answers before I really lost my mind. “Why are we not having sex right now?”
“Because I’m the one in control.” He looked at me. “This weekend is about pleasure. Right now, you’re strung so tight, you wouldn’t enjoy anything.”
“You’re the one who caused that.” I was perfectly aware I was as taut as a bowstring. My nerves danced, and my muscles twitched.
“I had hoped that dinner would calm you down, not make you tenser.”
“I should leave.”
“No.” The word burst from him as he snagged my wrist.
“This isn’t going to work.” He didn’t understand. I didn’t have a clue how I could relax with him. I couldn’t give up my control. Not to a dominant man like him. Not to any dominant man. Never again.
“It will.” His grip on my wrist loosened, and our gazes clashed. “Relax a bit and realize nothing is going to happen that you don’t want to happen.”
“Even if I say no to sex?” I didn’t understand why he was being so reasonable.
“Sweetheart.” Tugging me to him, he cupped my shoulders, his heat sinking into my skin. “I’m not into force. And I don’t think not having sex is the issue.” His cheek touched mine as he leaned close. “You want me as much as I want you.”
Might as well acknowledge it. He could read the desire in my anyhow. “Yes,” I whispered. I did want him.
“Not while you’re afraid.”
“I’m not.”
“Bullshit.” He moved his lips to my earlobe and then bit it gently. I shivered in response.