Chapter 11 #2
He was quiet for a bit. “I think I’m just in my head a bit. I know I’m behind when it comes to the rest of the guys—”
I stopped him. “There’s no rating system,” I corrected him gently. “There are no placings.”
“I know, but I am behind, and that’s okay. I just wanted to let you know that I’m all in. I love you, and I want to help you with the Archers. I know I reacted poorly before, when I first learned about them, but I support you, and I just wanted you to know that.”
I shifted, so I was straddling him and could face him directly. “I know,” I said softly, cupping his chin. “I didn’t have any doubt. And you’re not behind. This isn’t about rankings. I told you I understood why you were upset, and I meant that, truly,” I emphasized, trying to get him to understand.
He stared up at me, and his body relaxed under me. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I think I just needed to hear that. I don’t want to screw this up.”
“I get that, but here’s the thing: we’re going to screw up at times. We’re human. This is a complex relationship with multiple people in it, and we’re going to fight and disagree. But that doesn’t mean I lo—I’m not in this for the long haul. I’m all in.”
Was it too early for love? Maybe for a normal relationship. But ours had never been anything but normal. Still, I wanted to tell all of them together.
Marcus blinked up at me, his face unreadable.
He ran his hand up my spine, pulling me closer to him.
His hand wrapped around the back of my neck, then his lips crashed into mine.
A soft moan escaped my lips as the fire ignited between us.
I was drawn to Marcus in so many ways, and now I did what I could to show him how much he meant to me.
I pulled back, looking at him for only a second, and was rewarded with his gorgeous smile.
“You okay?”
“Fucking amazing.”
He leaned forward, nibbling at my neck just under my ear. I closed my eyes and took in the sensations that ran through me. His hands shifted from my hips to my breasts, and I ground myself into him, feeling his hard length beneath me.
“I need you, Marcus, all of you.” I needed to show him what he meant to me. He wasn’t behind. He was right here with me.
He pressed his hips up in agreement, and I made quick work of undoing his belt and slacks. I gripped him tightly and pumped his cock.
“Careful, or this will come to an end faster than you are ready.”
I released him with a grin. His hands ran under my skirt and pulled at the waist of my panties. I shifted to stand, sliding them down as he leaned back and watched. His green eyes darkened as he took me in. The heat of his gaze ignited my core.
“Hand them to me.”
“What?” I cocked my head. Here?
“You heard me. Hand them to me. Now.”
I did as he asked, and he lifted them, taking in my scent with his eyes closed, then opened the drawer of his desk and tucked them away.
“Very nice. Now come here.”
I wasted no time. I straddled him again and hovered over his cock. I needed him inside me now; I was practically dripping for him. His fingers dipped into me, thrusting once, then twice. I wasn’t going to last either if he kept it up.
“Now who’s playing?” I panted.
He raised his eyes to me and lined himself up with my opening.
I gripped his shoulders and lowered myself onto him.
Fucking hell. He pulled me to his chest and thrust up into me as I rocked my hips and ground my clit into him.
Once. Then twice. It had been too long since one of them was inside me, and I was rapidly hurtling towards the edge.
“Fuck, Marcus. I don’t think I can last.” My voice was breathy, trailing off on a gasp as he thrust up inside me.
“Then don’t.” He grunted, continuing the punishing rhythm that I loved so much. “Come for me.”
He slipped his hand to where we were connected, pressing and circling my clit as he let me fuck him.
Without warning, my body gave in. I bit my lip, trying not to cry out as Marcus threw his head back, giving into his own release.
Wave after wave of sweet pleasure ran through me, and I collapsed into him
I rested my forehead on his shoulder as we both caught our breath.
Aftershocks still rippled through me. Everything was way more intense with them than anyone I had ever been with previously.
Marcus ran his hands up and down my back, his touch warm and comforting.
His chest rumbled beneath me with a chuckle.
I pulled away slightly so I could see his face.
“What is it?”
He smiled, his handsome face softening. “I was just thinking of how much shit Alexander is going to give me. Did you know he lectured Sebastian for an hour and a half after what you two got up to in the kitchenette room?”
My eyebrows shut up. “He did?”
Marcus laughed. “He did. I’ll probably get at least two hours. Worth it, though.”
“He didn’t say a word to me,” I said, thinking back.
“Of course not. You could probably burn this building to the ground, and he would hand you the matches for next time. We all would.”
“I’m starting to believe that,” I said softly.
He kissed me softly, then groaned when I clenched around him. “Okay, we have to stop.”
I giggled. “You’re right. I’m already going to get some shit from Liam and Izzy.”
Marcus helped me off his lap, then reached into a desk drawer and produced some wipes to clean us both up. He refused to let me help, and I basked in the feeling of being taken care of.
Once he disposed of the wipes, he pulled me close, his hands on my hips. “Sleep in my bed tonight?” he murmured, then leaned down and kissed my forehead.
“Yes,” I breathed.
I meant what I said earlier. There were no rankings in these relationships, but I was enjoying getting to spend some one-on-one time with each of them.
It was a lot to balance, and I was worried that, one day, they would want more out of a relationship than I could offer—their own person they didn’t have to share time with—but that was a worry for another time.
“Good. Get back to work before I keep us in this office all day.”
I slipped back into the conference room.
Izzy and Liam flashed me twin smirks, which I pointedly ignored.
I stopped next to Dominic at one of the whiteboards.
I couldn’t read his expression as he handed me a marker and a stack of files.
I didn’t feel guilty about taking time with Marcus, but I did feel weird standing next to Dominic now.
We stood at the whiteboard for another hour. Dominic pointed out patterns, and I wrote them out on the board. Liam called out numbers and locations from his laptop, and Izzy asked questions when we needed to clarify something. It was fine. Normal.
Except every time Dominic’s hand came close to mine to move a file or adjust something on the board, I noticed. Every single time.
I didn’t know what to do with that yet.