Chapter 8 #2
“No. No problem. Just got caught in the storm, but no big deal.” Ethan stepped the rest of the way out into the hall and closed the door behind him. That got Marcus’s attention. He released Ethan and glared at the door for a moment before looking down at Ethan.
“Who is in your apartment?” he asked quietly.
“Umm…no one…just an old friend. We kind of made a mess and I’d rather you not see it. It’d be kind of awkward.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed on him and Ethan’s heart sped up even more. He was going to have a fucking heart attack. Marcus could not freaking see Carl. And Carl could not be allowed anywhere near Marcus.
“Are Meryl and Cain in there?”
“What? No! Of course not.”
Marcus stunned him by lifting both of his hands to gently cup either side of Ethan’s neck.
Thumbs pressed under his jaw, carefully tilting his head up so that Ethan had to stare directly into Marcus’s stunning blue eyes.
His breath caught in his throat as he stared at Marcus as if he were trying to peer straight into his soul.
His eyes fluttered closed as those strong fingers stroked down his neck in a tender caress.
The most delicious tingles danced along his skin and sent blood rushing down to his cock. He couldn’t fucking think.
Before releasing him, Marcus pulled him close, pressing his nose into Ethan’s hair and drawing in a deep breath as if he were trying to draw Ethan into his lungs.
Just as quickly as it all started, Marcus was releasing him.
Ethan struggled to open his eyes, but when they focused, he was surprised to see Marcus pacing the hall, gripping his hair with both hands.
It was only then Ethan realized Marcus had been checking him for bites on his neck and smelling for the scent of Meryl and Cain.
But he didn’t believe that Marcus thought he was lying. Not with such a gentle, caring touch. No, he was worried about Ethan’s safety. Worried that the two vampires would try to hurt him.
“Marcus?”
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” Marcus said softly. “I don’t mean to frighten you.”
“Right now, I’m more worried about you. Who are they?”
Marcus turned back, his frown in place but there was also sadness in his eyes. “I can’t explain. Only that my life sometimes brings me into contact with ruthless and uncaring people. I don’t want them to fixate on you. To threaten you to get at me. I’m sorry.”
Ethan stepped close to Marcus again, placing his hand on Marcus’s forearm and squeezing. “Don’t. You are not responsible for the actions of others.”
“Thank you.” Marcus gave a little sigh, his frown easing somewhat but there was no touching the sadness that lingered in his gaze. “I am hopeful that Meryl will direct her attention elsewhere and forget about you.”
“Well, I am quite forgettable,” Ethan joked, but Marcus only shook his head.
Reaching up, Marcus touched a bit of Ethan’s blond hair, and Ethan was sure he was going to melt into the floor.
“There is nothing forgettable about you. I only hope that Meryl and Cain are too blind to realize it.” Marcus’s voice was warm and rough, wrapping around him as if he were weaving a spell.
But this had nothing do with him being a vampire. This was desire.
Holy fuck.…Marcus was gay. There had been little hints earlier in the day when they’d talked over their meal. Marcus had been particularly interested in his dating habits and his life. It had made Ethan wonder, but then their unexpected guests had shoved those thoughts to the back of his mind.
“Marcus…”
As if realizing what he was doing, Marcus released Ethan and took a step away before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Ethan.
“What’s this?” Ethan asked as he opened the paper. There were four names and phone numbers scrawled on it in Marcus’s beautiful handwriting.
“I wasn’t sure if Janice gave it to you, but this is my cell phone number, as well as the numbers for all three of my brothers.”
Ethan smirked up at Marcus. “Rafe isn’t going to start sending me interesting texts, is he?”
“I will strangle him with my bare hands if he does,” Marcus growled and gave a quick shake of his head.
“No, this is for emergencies. If you are ever out and see either Meryl or Cain, I want you to call me immediately. If you can’t reach me, call my brothers.
Keep calling all of us until you reach someone. ”
“Okay.”
“Then I want you to stay in an area surrounded by people until we can reach you.”
“But what if it’s during the day?”
Marcus gave him a weak smile. “We’ll figure something out. I promise. You will be safe.”
The promise warmed him. Ethan walked Marcus to the elevator and ended up riding it to the lobby, even though they didn’t speak again.
He didn’t want to say good-bye to Marcus, not when he could see the worry weighing so heavily on his shoulders.
The truth was that he agreed with Marcus’s original assessment—there was no reason for Meryl to come after him.
He was just an employee to Marcus. A lowly assistant.
But then, it felt like things had changed since lunch and that silly picture. It was the touch of Marcus’s hand and the look in his eyes when he was standing in the hall. He couldn’t believe that he meant nothing to Marcus. It wasn’t just that Marcus was a good, honorable person. He cared.
The elevator dinged as it reached his floor again. Ethan stepped out and stopped.
Carl was waiting for him in his apartment. Marcus cared about him…and Ethan was plotting with a dangerous group to destroy Marcus and his entire family.
This was wrong. All of it was so fucking wrong, but he didn’t know what to do. He had no proof Marcus was a vampire. Well, no really solid proof.
He definitely had no evidence he had anything to do with the murder of his family. If Marcus and his family truly were innocent, he wasn’t going to do a damn thing to them. He wasn’t going to let Carl and the League hurt the Variks.
But would Carl let him walk away from the Human Protecting Humans League? Just pretend that none of it happened?
Fuck. He needed to figure things out. Find a way to come clean to Marcus without convincing the man that he’d lost his mind. And he had to figure out the best way to get free of Carl and the League.