18. Marcus
Marcus
N ew Year’s Eve
I sit in the living room, the fire crackling softly, a warm glow filling the space, but my mind is somewhere else, wandering through the whirlwind of the last few weeks. Not long ago, I was seated at my desk, wrapping up work, pushing to get everything done so the office could have a proper break. Now, in what feels like a blink of an eye, so much has changed.
I smile. I’m going to be a grandfather.
The words still feel strange, almost surreal. I try to wrap my mind around it. Coco, my little girl, is going to be a mother. There’s a warm sense of pride swelling in my chest. The kind of pride that only a father can feel when he sees his daughter stepping into the next phase of her life. I’ve watched her grow, seen her face challenges and overcome them, and now she’s about to bring new life into the world. A grandchild.
The thought is still sinking in. I can almost see it; her holding the baby, cradling her child the way I once cradled her. It feels like just yesterday, she was small enough to fit in my arms. How is it that time can move so fast?
I exhale slowly. Coco, the little girl who once relied on me for everything, is now grown. Fully grown. A woman in her own right. I’ve always known this day would come, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I suppose it’s the way of things, the passing of the torch, the inevitable transition. But there’s comfort in it, too. Comfort in knowing that she’s ready, strong and capable, and more than prepared for this next chapter.
And she’s not alone.
My mind drifts to Ethan. Ah, Ethan… What a complicated history we have, he and I. The friction between us isn’t gone; I’d be lying to myself if I pretended otherwise. Years of tension does not dissolve overnight. But there’s something new there too, respect. It’s subtle, but still there. He loves her. I can see it in the way he looks at her, in the way he’s been by her side. He’s trying, and I suppose that counts for something.
No, it counts for a lot. I may not fully trust him yet, but I know he loves her. And that, at least, gives me some peace.
The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance up to see Nyree walking into the room. My heart stirs at the sight of her. It always does. There’s something about her presence that never fails to give me a sense of comfort, but also desire.
She’s practically glowing with excitement. Her steps are light as she comes toward me. I smile, sensing her mood before she even speaks. “Well... someone looks excited.”
Her eyes light up, and she’s almost breathless as she blurts out, “I finished it!”
I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward. “Finished what?”
“My book!” she exclaims, throwing her arms in the air with a triumphant grin. “I finished the whole thing! Every last chapter!”
I stand and cross the room toward her.
“After all those weeks of being stuck, the last few days just... I don’t know, everything started flowing, and I couldn’t stop writing. It’s done. I did it.”
I stop in front of her, placing my hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. The joy radiating from her is infectious, and I can’t help but smile. “That’s amazing, Nyree. I’m so proud of you.”
She lets out a soft laugh, her excitement bubbling over. “I really thought I’d miss the deadline, but now I’m done ahead of time.”
I pull her into a hug, feeling her melt into me. There’s something about the way she fits in my arms that always feels so right, like she belongs there. The hug is warm, but underneath it, there’s that familiar spark, the heat that’s always between us.
For a moment, I think about keeping her there, kissing her, telling her how much I want her. But before I can act on it, she pulls back slightly, still grinning. “I need to tell Coco.”
I blink, a little surprised. “Now?”
“Yes, now!” she says, laughing at my reaction. “I’ve been talking to her about this book for months. She’s going to be so happy for me. I have to tell her.”
I chuckle softly, nodding. “Alright, go ahead. I’ll be here.”
She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, her excitement spilling over as she turns to leave. I watch her go, admiring the way she moves, the energy that seems to radiate from her. As she disappears down the hallway, I can’t help but think about how much I need her. I know it, more than ever. I want her in my life, permanently.
Later that evening, the four of us gather in the living room. The air is filled with anticipation, the final moments of the year ticking away. The TV screen shows the countdown in bright, bold numbers, and we all stand together, waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
“Ten... nine... eight...” The numbers fall away, and I can feel the excitement building in the room. Coco stands close to Ethan, their hands intertwined. I can see the happiness in her eyes. It’s a good moment. A moment that feels like a promise of better things to come.
“Three... two... one... Happy New Year!”
We all cheer, our voices filling the room as the new year arrives. Ethan pulls Coco into a kiss, a smile on her face as they hold each other. I turn to Nyree, drawing her close, and pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is soft and tender.
We pull apart, smiling at each other, and then the champagne is popped. The cork flies with a satisfying sound, and the glasses are filled. Except for Coco, of course.
“To the new year,” I say, raising my glass.
“To the new year,” they all echo, clinking glasses before taking a sip.
The celebration feels light and easy. Everything feels right. Laughter fills the room, and we talk about the year ahead, the plans, the hopes, the dreams. But soon enough, Coco and Ethan start to fade, the long day catching up to them.
“I think we’re going to head to bed,” Coco says, stifling a yawn.
Ethan nods beside her, looking just as tired. “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
“Alright,” I say, giving her a quick hug. “Happy New Year, Kiddo.”
“Happy New Year, Dad,” she replies, hugging me back. She turns to Nyree, hugging her too. “And congratulations again, Nyree. I can’t wait to read the book.”
“Thanks, Coco,” Nyree says with a smile. “I’m excited for you to read it.”
With that, they head off to bed, leaving me and Nyree alone in the soft glow of the fire. The room feels quieter now, more intimate. The air is filled with a kind of stillness that makes everything feel heavier and more meaningful.
I turn to Nyree, my heart pounding in my chest. I’ve been thinking about this moment all night, waiting for the right time. Now, with the fire crackling softly and the world quiet around us, it feels like the time.
“Nyree,” I say softly, taking her hand in mine.
She looks up at me, her eyes filled with warmth and curiosity. “What is it?”
“I need to tell you something,” I say, my voice low, steady. I feel the gravity of the words pressing against my chest, but I don’t hesitate. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I repeat. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, and I can’t hold it in any longer. I want to be with you. I want us to be together, for real.”
Her lips part, and for a moment, she just stares at me. Then, slowly, a smile begins to spread across her face, a smile so genuine, so full of warmth, that it makes my heart swell.
“Marcus...” she starts, her voice soft, but I cut her off.
“I mean it, Nyree. I want you in my life. Always. I want to make it official.”
She blinks, her smile growing wider. Then she laughs, a soft, breathless sound. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
I laugh too, the tension in my chest easing. “Yes, I am. Officially.”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she says, her voice full of certainty. “Of course, yes.”
Relief floods through me, and I pull her into my arms, kissing her deeply. There’s passion in it, a hunger. But more than that, there’s love; a love that feels strong and solid, like it could last forever.
When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers, my heart still racing. “I’m so glad you said yes,” I whisper, my voice low.
She smiles, her fingers tracing the side of my face. “How could I not? I love you too, Marcus.”
Hearing her say the words makes everything feel complete. We stay like that for a while, wrapped up in each other.
The air between us thickens, charged with a tension neither of us tries to diffuse. It’s like we’ve silently agreed to let it simmer, let it build, until it’s impossible to ignore. I can feel it as we sit there, the crackling fire behind us a distant murmur compared to what’s happening between us.
I turn to her, and almost as if on cue, she turns to me. It feels planned, like a dance we’ve both known the steps to all along. Our eyes lock for the briefest second, and then the moment snaps. We kiss, hard and hungry. It’s a ferocity between us that feels like we’ve been starving for each other all night.
Her lips part, and her tongue slides into my mouth, warm and insistent, as mine meets hers with the same urgency. The need for her pulses in me, growing stronger with each passing second. Before I know it, she’s on me. Straddling my lap, her knees sink into the couch as my hands find their way around her waist, pulling her tighter against me. I press her deeper and harder, feeling the heat of her body against mine. The soft brush of her clothes only heightens the intensity of it all.
The room is filled with the sound of our fierce kissing and our soft breathy sighs. The fire behind us is completely drowned out, irrelevant. I move my mouth to her neck, and it’s like tasting something I’ve craved for too long. I kiss her there, then lick, savoring the softness of her skin, the heat beneath it. She lets out a moan, low and soft, and it only spurs me on. I bite her gently, feeling the way she shivers against me.
But then, suddenly, she pulls back. A finger comes to my lips, silencing me before I can ask why. Her eyes are locked on mine, and what I see in them nearly undoes me. Raw, burning lust. There’s no mistaking it, no holding back. It’s in the way she looks at me, the way her chest rises and falls with each breath. I want her right here, right now. I want to tear her clothes off and lose myself in her.
But instead, she rises, adjusting her rumpled clothes as she does. She reaches down, takes my hand, and without a word, I follow. I’m on my feet in an instant, my body moving as if she’s pulled me into some hypnotic trance. My need for her is almost unbearable now, pressing uncomfortably against the fabric of my trousers as she leads me down the hall, her hips swaying with every step.
It’s all I can do to keep my composure. I’m captivated by her, but I also know what’s waiting for us behind that door.
As soon as we walk past the door, we’re like animals let loose.
I pin her to the door. It clicks shut behind the weight of her as we devour each others lips. She pulls at my shirt, ripping it with a force that surprises me, the buttons scattering all over the floor. I follow after her, pulling at her trousers, tearing off the button, ripping it off of her and revealing the sweet succulent thickness of her thighs. They’re so alluring, I can’t help myself. I drop down immediately, planting wet kisses all over her thighs.
I feel her twitch as I tease her, my tongue inching closer and closer to her warm center. She digs her fingers into my hair, trying to navigate my attention to the spot she needs me the most. But I hold off just enough, savoring each flick on her thighs.
It isn’t till I see her juices seep through her lace panties, evidence of her desperation, that I finally give her a sample of what she needs. My hand grazes over her panties, and they’re soaked. I pull them aside, and see her center… pulsating and needy. It begs for me.
I thrust a finger into her, and it slides in easily. Her pussy juices dripping from my finger down to my wrist. “Marcus…” she moans slightly, right before I bury my face under her. I suck on her thick clit with every bit of hunger she’s built in me. She gets wetter and wetter with each sip of her I take in. I thrust in two fingers. She moans loudly, and it gives me a quiet satisfaction. She pushes my head deeper into her, as if willing my very being inside her as she vibrates.
“Please, Marcus… I need you right now. I need your cock inside me.” When she talks like that, it’s like a switch goes off in my head. I rise immediately, and move her to the bed. She bends over on it, arching on all fours. The way she arches, so needy, like she surrenders it all to me. I feel my cock throb at the sight of it. Her ass is so soft and bouncy. Having it pointed in my direction makes an animal out of me. I slip out of my trousers in an instant and sink into her. A moan escapes my lips as her pussy takes me in like a welcomed guest.
For a moment I just stand there, and she controls the pace, moving her hips back and forth across my hard, craving length. Her moans are soft, but I can only take so much of her looking so good. I dive into her, over and over again. The sound of our skin slapping filling the room, along with our moans. “You’re so fucking perfect… I want you like this forever,” I say. She tries to respond, but her words come out in an inaudible mess as her body stiffens. She vibrates so furiously that I slip out. The orgasm taking her with an electric force.
The sight of her like that only spurs me on. I want mine too. I turn her on her back, and without a word, she spreads herself. Her thick legs look so delicious, forming like a gate welcoming me into her wet, now creamy center.
I dive into her again. The thrust sending her eyes into the back of her head. When they settle, they’re locked on me. We don’t take our eyes off each other’s eyes. I drive into her, watching her take it, getting closer and closer to my brink. “I love you…” she says, her voice coming out breathless.
I snap.
“I’m going to come!” I roar. She wraps her legs around me like a python. Her hand reaching for my face, staring down into my soul as she does. “Come inside me, Marcus.”
If the orgasm was powerful before, it’s absolutely earth shattering now.
I explode into Nyree. Every. Last. Drop.
***