Chapter 30
“I’m sorry,” Sorcia blurted as soon as they were alone that night. She stood in the middle of her loft, her hands fidgeting at her sides as she stared down at the soft faux-fur rug beneath her feet.
Marcus froze, his jacket half-off his shoulders. Slowly, he shrugged it off and draped it over the back of a chair. “Sorry for what?” he asked, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
Sorcia didn’t answer immediately. She kept her gaze on the floor, trying to find the courage to say what she needed to.
Her thoughts swirled, each memory of the past week piling on top of one another.
Marcus—steady, reliable, infuriatingly calm—had been with her every step of the way.
No hesitation. No complaints. Just unwavering support.
He’d trusted her judgment when she’d ordered the coven to search in new areas. He’d stood back when she needed to take charge and stepped forward when she’d faltered. He’d worked tirelessly, helping her uncover every clue, and never once had he questioned her or sought recognition for his effort.
Those weren’t the actions of a man who sought validation from others. Those weren’t the actions of a man who would betray someone he loved.
Finally, Sorcia inhaled deeply and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. “I’m sorry for two years ago,” she said softly. Her voice wavered, but she didn’t look away. “I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry that I believed you cheated on me.”
Marcus stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, in two quick strides, he was in front of her, pulling her into his arms. “What changed your mind?” he asked, his tone gentle but probing. “You haven’t even spoken to the person who sent you those photos. What made you realize now?”
Sorcia bit her lip, her eyes stinging. She hesitated, struggling to find the words to explain the shift in her heart.
“All this time…you’ve been here with me through everything.
You dropped everything to help me and my coven.
You didn’t hesitate, Marcus. Not once.” She shook her head, her voice growing steadier.
“And today, when I needed to lead, you stood back. You didn’t try to take control or question me. You just…trusted me.”
He tilted his head, studying her. “And that made you believe I didn’t cheat?”
“Yes,” she admitted, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Because a man like you doesn’t need validation. You don’t seek attention or approval. You’re not insecure, Marcus. You’re…” She faltered, exhaling shakily. “You’re strong. And I was terrified of how much I loved you.”
Marcus’ eyes softened, and he reached up to gently wipe away the tear. “Sorcia…”
“No, let me finish,” she interrupted, her words tumbling out now.
“When I saw those photos two years ago, it wasn’t really about you.
It was about me. I was scared. Scared that what we had was too good to be true.
Scared that I’d never be enough for you, that you’d wake up one day and realize you deserved better.
” She sniffed, her shoulders trembling. “It was easier to believe the worst than to face my own fears.”
He pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. “Sorcia, you were always enough. You are enough. You’re everything.”
Her breath hitched, and she clung to him. “I don’t know if I can fix what I broke.”
Marcus chuckled softly, brushing his lips against her forehead. “You already are,” he murmured, his voice warm and soothing. “The fact that you’re standing here, apologizing, facing those fears—that’s all I need. We’ll work through the rest together.”
Sorcia let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding her chest like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. “You’re too good to be true.”
“And yet, here I am,” he teased gently, his arms tightening around her. “And I’m not going anywhere, Sorcia. Ever.”
She smiled through her tears, letting herself believe, for the first time in years, that maybe, just maybe, they could have another chance.
Marcus looked at her with tender curiosity, brushing a stray curl from her face. Taking her hand and leading her to the sofa. He could see that his assertions weren’t enough. “Talk to me, Sorcia. What was I doing that was so scary?”
Sorcia hesitated, sitting beside him and twisting her fingers in her lap.
She took a deep breath, then finally met his gaze.
“You…make me feel strong,” she admitted, her voice trembling.
“You let me lead when I need to lead. And yet, when I need you to take charge, like when I was so weak after pulling that trash out of the ground, you just…do it.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” Marcus asked, his tone light but curious.
She leaned her head against his chest, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calm her.
“No, it’s a really good thing,” she whispered.
“But it’s also terrifying. Marcus, male witches tend to…
they’re usually sexist jerks.” She pressed her face against his neck, as if trying to hide from the vulnerability in her words.
“They can’t handle a female leader of a coven. ”
“But covens were traditionally led by women,” he pointed out, his brows furrowing.
“You lead your coven,” she countered softly.
“Yeah, but only because I’m the strongest witch in my territory. There aren’t any witches who want to challenge me for the role.” He looked down at her, his expression open and curious. “Isn’t that the same in your territory?”
“Yeah, but…it’s different somehow. I can’t really explain it.
” She sighed and buried her face deeper into the crook of his neck.
“It’s not just the misogyny, though. It’s the way you make me feel all the time.
I get excited whenever I see you. I was sad when you weren’t close by.
” Her voice grew softer, almost a whisper.
“The sex was…” she groaned, feeling his hand on her back and smiled. “The sex was…is…phenomenal.”
“Glad you noticed.”
She laughed, delighted with his grumbling reply. “You know your way around a woman’s body, Marcus. That was never in doubt.”
“I know my way around your body because you tell me. You are never shy about what you like or don’t like.”
“I don’t really have a choice when you touch me, Marcus. I love the way you excite me and make me feel beautiful.”
“Like this?” he asked, and his hand moved down over her back, cupping her bottom.
She laughed and shook her head. “No, not like that.”
“Oh, you mean like this?” he said, and tipped her backwards, then he shifted so that he was on top of her. He shifted their positions so that he was between her legs.
Sorcia laughed again, her hands resting on his shoulders as she adjusted her hips, cradling him more perfectly. “Yes,” she sighed. “Just like this.”
Somehow, his hands were already underneath the wool sweater she’d worn today. “I love touching you, Sorcia,” he groaned, then pulled her sweater over her head. “I love the little sighs and squeaks you make when I do something that you enjoy.”
“I don’t squeak!” she gasped, jokingly pushing at his shoulders.
But then one of his hands pulled the strap of her black lace bra down, exposing a pink nipple.
For several long, enticingly annoying moments, he simply traced her breast, teasing the nipple by not touching it.
Then, with a slight squeeze, her nipple came to life when he pinched that sensitive tip between his thumb and forefinger.
Sure enough, Sorcia squeaked and proved him correct.
She didn’t care! “Do that again,” she pleaded with a breathless sigh.
He did and Sorcia could barely keep still. He smiled as his mouth lowered, taking in the tip as he soothed her with his tongue.
“Marcus!” she gasped, her fingers diving into his hair.
“What do you need?” he asked, his voice low and growly.
“You!” she whispered, rolling her hips against him. “Now!”
He chuckled as his mouth moved lower, hovering over her stomach. “Will you marry me?”
Sorcia thought she’d misheard him. Lifting her head, she stared at him.
But his fingers were quickly pulling at her pants, the zipper already lowered.
With deft hands, he pulled her pants off and tossed them onto the floor.
Her panties were gone too because…well, because Marcus was efficient like that!
“You’re beautiful, Sorcia,” he said, spreading her legs wider. He adjusted her so that one of her legs hung over the back of the sofa and her other foot was now propped on the coffee table. “Stay just like that,” he commanded, then lowered his head.
For a brief moment, Sorcia felt exposed and vulnerable.
But when his mouth covered her, his tongue lashing out while his fingers teased her nub, she gasped and arched into him.
Her hands wove into his hair, her fingers tangling in his surprisingly soft locks and she held him there, his tongue and thumb flicking against that nub back and forth.
One moment, his hard thumb teased her, then his hot, raspy tongue made her sigh.
She couldn’t hold back and Marcus didn’t want her to.
His fingers and mouth were relentless, pushing her closer and closer until…
she cried out with her release, her body shuddering with pleasure.
A long moment later, she sighed as Marcus pulled away.
Smiling, she watched as he stood up, stripping off his clothes.
She loved watching Marcus. His tall body rippled with muscles and she shifted so that she could slide her hands over his chest. “You’re magnificent,” she whispered, kissing and tasting the skin along chest muscles.
“I’m glad that you think so,” he replied, then hissed when her fingers wrapped around his shaft.
She stroked him while kissing her way lower.
And lower! She was just about to wrap her mouth around him when he pulled back, shaking his head.
“I can’t do that right now, Sorcia,” he growled, picking her up and carrying her over to the bed.
“Not this time. I need to be inside of you.”
Sorcia agreed, wanting to feel him thrusting into her, filling her up and making her complete.
When he laid her down, she spread herself wide for him, then wrapped her legs around his waist when he thrust into her.
She’d always delighted in the fact that she didn’t need to use birth control.
The opposite, in fact. Witches had to take a potion in order to get pregnant.
But this…she sighed as he moved deeper into her.
“Yes!” she whispered into his ear, then nipped at his earlobe.
She felt him jerk at the touch, smiling as she lifted her hips, taking him even deeper.
The rocking motion of his body against hers was slow at first, almost gentle.
But as their bodies tightened, the motion became faster, more insistent, more demanding.
Sorcia held onto Marcus, closing her eyes as she arched, needing more of him.
And he gave it to her! Every thrust, every rock against her body sent her spiraling towards another climax and she cried out again, rejoicing in the beauty of making love with Marcus.
When he thrust into her again and stiffened, she whispered, “Yes!” into his ear. She knew that he didn’t understand, but that was okay. She was still trembling from her latest pleasure and it felt…amazing to accept all of him.
When he collapsed against her, his arms pulled her with him as he rolled over. She straddled him now, still intimately connected, and he thrust his fingers into her hair, looking up at her. “I’m taking that one word as an answer to my earlier question.”
Sorcia was startled for a moment, but then she slowly smiled, nodding. Slowly, she leaned down and kissed him, sealing their engagement.
“And you won’t run this time?” he asked, half sitting up to nuzzle her neck.
Sorcia gasped at the movement, and at the fact that he was already growing hard inside of her again.
He nipped her neck at the same time that his body surged into her again. “I know,” he groaned. “I thought that I was satisfied, but then I realized what your yes answer meant and…now you’ll just have to face the consequences.”
She laughed, feeling joyous! And she pulled him closer, kissing him deeply as he slowly rocked again and again, not really thrusting this time.
This was more of a teasing, taunting movement.
But that torment built up and, after several minutes, she was gasping and their playful movements turned serious.
When she couldn’t stand his teasing any longer, Sorcia took control, shifting her hips until… !
“Yes!” she cried out, arching her back. Marcus pinched her nipples, exactly the way she loved, which intensified her pleasure. She shuddered, then felt his own climax rock his world.