Chapter 43
Marcus
The time I spent with Lily at Mama’s farm was the best day of my life.
Spending time with her and seeing how well she got on with my Mama and Paulo was just perfect.
And when we left, Mama gave her Churros recipe before wrapping her up in a loving hug.
The moment cemented in my mind that Lily is all I want.
We only have today here in Spain, and then we head back to England, and I’m going to make sure she knows this doesn’t end when we get home. But we haven’t spoken about what we are or what we will be when we’re back.
That all changes tonight.
“Okay, let's get this final show on air.” Leanne struts into the studio, a huge smile on her face. I realize I’ve been staring at Lily this whole time while she studies her notes.
She looks breathtaking in a tailored scarlet pantsuit, with a crisp white t-shirt underneath, and her wild red hair tamed in sleek waves that shine underneath the studio lights.
“This has been an amazing tournament, and we need to go out with a bang. So I need you two—” She motions between me and Lily “—I need you on your A-game.”
“Of course,” we say at the same time, smirking across the desk at each other.
“Excellent.”
Niall enters the room a little flushed. “I’ve got them,” he says breathlessly, as he hands Leanne what looks like football shirts.
“Brilliant. Here.” She passes us the shirts. One England strip and one Spain. I take the Spanish strip and Lily the England. “A little token of our appreciation.”
“Thank you.” I run my fingers over the lettering of my name and my official number 7 on the back. I look over at Lily, who is doing the same. “Ready to watch my team thrash yours?”
“Doubtful, Diaz. Harris is on fire this tournament. I’ll be letting him know you don’t have any faith in him.”
“One man doesn’t make the team, you know that.”
“Stop the bickering. Keep it for when the camera is rolling.” Leanne chuckles, a feral smile on her face. “Seriously, you two, I’m obsessed.” She holds up her hands in surrender before leaving the studio, but not before shouting. “I want an invite to the wedding.”
“Guess we haven’t been as secretive as we thought.” I turn toward Lily, who has moved from her seat behind the desk and is staring out of the huge glass window that looks down at the pitch below. People have started to fill up the stadium.
“Guess not.” She’s quiet and subdued. Standing by her side, I sigh.
“Can’t believe we’ve made it here. After all these weeks, this is it.
” Placing my hands in my pant pockets, I ask.
“You ready?” It’s a two-ended question. I’m asking if she is ready for this match and for us to go home, but also if is she is ready to make us work when we get back. Because I’m so ready.
“I think so.” She turns to me, and I think I see the answer I want in her eyes.
The match is a close one, and Spain win on penalties.
It was bittersweet watching my boy, Harris, step up to take his penalty against my home country.
He hit the top corner. The ball sailed straight past the keeper, and I couldn’t hide my happiness and pride for him, but England lost in the end: four to five.
I stumble into my room after the after party that Leanne set up for us.
It was huge, I barely saw Lily all evening, but my eyes never stopped looking for her.
Harris was with me all night and chuckled about how gone I was for her, but I couldn’t care.
I am completely gone for her. She has consumed my every thought.
“Mierda.” I fall over my suitcase, which I’m sure I didn’t leave lying around when I left earlier. I bend down to put it out of the way, and as I straighten, I spot it.
The door.
It’s open.
She left the door open.
I slowly walk toward it, not believing what I’m seeing.
Looking through the dark open space, the curtains blow in the breeze, and I head toward the open balcony door. And that’s when I’m rendered speechless.
Lily is standing, looking out at the clear night sky.
Her hair, which I’m obsessed with, is draped over her shoulder.
She rubs one of her bare feet against the back of her calf, and I trail my gaze up her lean, bare legs.
She’s wearing one of my shirts. A wave of possessiveness hits me as I take in exactly which shirt she’s wearing.
My football shirt with my fucking name and number on the back.
Joder.
Gripping her hips gently, I trail my nose up the column of her neck. “You look fucking perfect in my shirt. I wondered where this went.”
“Shouldn’t leave it lying around then.” She closes her eyes and leans back into my chest.
I nip her ear, whispering, “You left the door open.”
“Took you long enough to get up here. I was ten minutes from shutting it again.” I spin her round. With the backdrop of Madrid behind her, not a scrap of makeup on her flawless face, I’m struck in the gut. This feeling is something I have never felt before. A sense of belonging and peace.
“Don’t ever shut the door on me.”
“I won’t, as long as you don’t on me.” Her voice is laced with vulnerability as her eyes bounce between mine.
“Never. I could never because…” I release a stuttering breath, resting my palm against her cheek.
“I love you, Petardo.” She leans into my touch.
“Hell, I think I fell in love with you long before I felt your touch.” Brushing my thumb across her jaw, the moonlight bounces off her porcelain skin.
“Love is such an easy word to say, but feeling that love is something else entirely. The love I feel for you consumes me. It has wrapped around my every thought and every movement. My heart was always powerless in your hands.” Reaching down, I take her hands in mine, placing them on my chest. She spreads her palms, her touch warming my skin through my shirt.
I keep my hands on top of hers. “It never stood a chance. It will only beat for you. As long as you allow me to love you, it will keep beating. Nothing, and no one will make it stop. You’re mine, Lily Chambers, even when you hated me, my heart sped up whenever you were near.
It was like it knew that its other half was near, just waiting.
Waiting for yours to beat alongside it.”
“Marcus,” she whispers before she takes my lips in hers, kissing me so passionately before she pulls back slightly, resting her forehead on mine.
“I love you too.” My heart is completely full at her words.
“I think I fell when you made sure I had my cuppa on the plane.” A soft chuckle falls from her lips.
“I’ve been fighting to keep hold of my heart, but you took it anyway.
I’ll gladly let you look after it for me. ”
“I’ll take care of every part of you.” Hooking my arms around her back, I lift her, and she wraps her legs around my back. Her hands go to my hair, tugging slightly, pulling my mouth to hers. I walk us back into her room. We have never been in here together, and something about that feels special.
I gently place her on the edge of her bed and gaze down at her. “You really love me?”
She smiles warmly up at me. “It’s hard not to when you look at me like that.”
“I’m always looking at you, or for you.” I lean down to take her lips briefly.
I step back and begin to rid myself of my clothes, wanting to feel every inch of her against me.
Watching my every movement, Lily stands to help me with my belt and jeans, the backs of her knuckles lightly brushing my skin before she drags my jeans and boxers in one go down my legs.
Lily stands with a look of desire, lust, and love in her deep green eyes.
She reaches to lift the material of my shirt she’s wearing over her head, dropping it down next to the bed.
A feral part of my brain snaps at the image; it’s almost like I have claimed her properly by her wearing my name.
Breaching the small distance between us, her soft curves push against my hard edges as she pulls my face down to hers, whispering against my lips, “Make love to me.”
Embracing her completely and walking us back toward the bed, we crash down together.
I crawl over her body until I’m settled between her thighs.
“I’ve made love to you every time, Petardo.
” Kissing her forehead, I admit. “And every time I did, you took a piece of me, and I’m ready to give you my last piece. ”
Lining up my cock with her already dripping pussy, I push slowly, never taking my eyes off hers. Not until I’m fully inside her. This is the first time she knows exactly how I feel, and by the look in her eyes right now, she sees every part of me.
She bucks her hips against me, and it encourages me to move. But each movement is slow and deliberate. Taking her lips in mine, I kiss her so passionately, pouring my whole soul into the kiss.
“I see you, Lily. Every perfect part.”
Packing everything into my case the next morning, I can’t wipe the ridiculous smile off my face.
Especially as I see the door I teased Lily so much about on that first day is wide open.
Last night was beyond perfect. Everything has slotted into place.
When we get back, we’re going to talk to Damen and explain that we are now together.
Together.
That word has never felt so good rolling around my head.
Zipping my case up, I do a quick scan of the room before I take my case through to Lily’s room, where I find her grunting as she sits on top of her case, trying to close it.
“I’ve not bought anything. Why can’t I get this damn thing to close?”
“Need a hand?”
“I want to say no because I should be able to do this, but considering you kept me up most of the night, I think you need to help.” She jumps off and spreads her arms, presenting her case to me. “Have at it.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining about the lack of sleep when I had my face between your thighs.”