by Nicole York
“I believe you, but I did get hurt, Marcus. Do you think I’ll ever forget what happened?”
“No.”
She was saying so many things. She felt like a fool standing there pouring her heart out to him. Did he even care? Did he just want this conversation to end?
No. If he felt that way, he’d have let her leave.
Keesha took a deep breath. “All I needed was you. But you weren’t there. You were with Kate.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You were the one who left, not me.”
“Because I obviously wasn’t wanted there.”
“That’s a story you’re telling yourself,” he grated. “It’s not the truth.”
Keesha swallowed and forced herself to stare back at him. “What is the truth then?”
The saloon doors to the kitchens swung open again. Dean stepped out, peered down the length of the bar, and held up an apologetic hand. “Sorry. Just making sure you were both still in one piece. Carry on.” He ducked back into the kitchen.
Keesha fought the small smile that tugged at her lips.
Marcus reached for her, but she stepped back. He let his hands fall to his sides. “The truth is that I haven’t seen Kate in a really long time. It caught me off guard and there were a lot of things we had to talk about. I needed to sort some things out, Keesha. I needed to look her in the eyes and—”
“And what?”
He remained calm and steady. “And see if I was still in love with her.”
Her stomach suddenly felt cold and heavy. “Oh.”
“I will always love Kate,” he said slowly. The coldness in her spread and she felt like she was getting pulled under deep, dark waters. “But I’m not in love with her anymore. She’s not the woman I think of in the mornings or the woman I see in my dreams. She’s a memory for me now. And a fond one. But nothing more.”
Keesha bit her bottom lip.
Marcus reached out, took her chin in his massive hand, and gently pulled her lip free with his thumb. “Ever since you walked into this club three weeks ago, I haven’t been able to fucking think straight, Keesha.”
It doesn’t matter. Don’t let him pull you back in. “I have to go,” she said firmly.
Marcus shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Keesha’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t own me, Marcus.”
A wolfish smile stretched his lips. “Don’t I?”
The next thing she knew, his lips were pressed against hers. He pulled her in close and kept his hand cupped under her chin until he worked it down to rest at the nape of her neck. He stepped forward, forcing her to retreat a step until the middle of her back hit the bar. He braced one hand against the bar behind her as the kiss deepened.
What am I doing?
His hand wandered down to her hip and he nipped at her lips. “Don’t turn your back on me now,” he said.
Why did she have to love this monster? Why couldn’t she find herself a good man, like this Kate woman had? A man like Jon. A straight shooter.
Sort of.
Because it’s always been Marcus, a steady voice said in the back of her head.
27
Marcus
Marcus finally knew what he wanted, and there was no fucking way he was going to let her walk out of his life. He’d let Kate leave but that was different. She’d been way over her head in this life. He could still make things work. He could keep Keesha safe—and close—all while keeping her out of harm’s way.
Sure, there were always risks. But that came with being with him. She was a smart, strong, capable woman. The last thing she needed was him pussyfooting around her and keeping her in the dark. He’d have to lay it all out in the open for her. She could make her own choice.
After he fucked her silly, of course.
She needed the release as badly as he did. All he’d been able to focus on since Saturday night was this beautiful woman in his hands. She was fierce as hell. She’d probably be able to give Kate a run for her money if the situation ever arose.
The thought made his balls tighten.
Don’t get ahead of yourself now.
Keesha melted against him and her hands slid up the inside of his shirt.
Yes, his little kitten needed this desperately. He could feel it in the urgency of her kiss. She was breathless already and her hands trembled.
She’d told him she was scared but not scared of him. Did she mean it? Or were those just words?
Is she scared now?
He caught her wrists as her hands slid over his stomach. The touch broke the kiss and she pulled back to look up at him. Tears still glistened on her cheeks and the tip of her nose was pink.
“What is it?” she breathed.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“I just told you I wasn’t.”
He needed to rephrase. “Are you afraid of what it might mean to be with me?”
She searched his eyes. “I’m afraid of you choosing something else over me again.”
“Something else?”
“I can’t keep picking up the pieces. I can’t keep putting myself in positions where I let people walk all over me. That includes you, Marcus. If you choose me, then you have to keep choosing me. And not just for a convenient fuck, either. I need more. I want more.”
“You deserve more.”
She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes, I do. Tell me whether or not you can give that to me. Right now. Before we let this go any further.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I know.”
“And unpredictable.”
“That’s half the fun, isn’t it?”
He smiled. “I won’t keep you in the dark. You’ll know everything down to the nitty-gritty. And I’ll protect you as best I can but Saturday night is proof that my best isn’t always enough.”
Keesha reached up and stroked his cheek. “It is for me.”
“You’re sure?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
That was all he needed to hear.
They crashed back together, this time knocking over a bowl of peanuts on the bar. It smashed into pieces at their feet and Marcus nudged the shards of glass and salty snacks away from them with the sole of his boot.
Dean came barreling out of the kitchen ready for battle. “Hold on. There’s no need to try to kill each other!”
Keesha and Marcus pried their lips apart to spare Dean a confused glance.
The bartender laughed nervously. “Oh, my bad. As you were.”
Marcus chuckled. “Maybe we should go someplace a little more private.”
“Lead the way,” Keesha said softly.
Marcus didn’t want her walking over all the broken glass, so he scooped her up in his arms. She wrapped her arms behind his neck as he carried her across the dance floor and back to the stairs, which he took two at a time. The wound in his shoulder twinged a bit, but Keesha was mindful of it.
Besides, the pain was nothing compared to how good it felt to have her in his arms like this.
She peppered his neck and jaw with kisses when they reached the second level. He continued upward onto the third level and went straight for his office. He shouldered the door open and carried Keesha to the sofa before unceremoniously dropping her down onto it.
She giggled and gazed up at him as he tore his shirt off over his head.
Her attention immediately went to the bandage over his wound. She sat up straight. “Does it still hurt?”
“It’ll take more than a little bullet to slow me down, baby.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Marcus reveled in her concern. It was a big change of pace for him. Kate was the only person he’d let get close to him like this. She’d known all the darkest parts of his soul and loved him anyway. So did Keesha.
Kate had only seen Keesha for five minutes and the pair of them hadn’t even exchanged words with one another on Saturday night. Yet she’d been right about everything. Kate had known Kees
ha cared deeply for Marcus and she’d known the feelings went both ways.
It was time to get his head out of his ass and stop worrying about what might happen in favor of choosing what would happen. He did that with business all the time.
Why not with Keesha too?
“It hurts,” Marcus admitted, “but not enough to stop me from fucking you halfway to oblivion.”
Keesha giggled. It sounded like music to his ears.
He watched as she lifted her ass off the sofa and unbuttoned her jeans. She took her time, smiled coyly at him, and teased him with a flash of pink lace panties. She nodded at him. “Your turn.”
He undid his fly and pulled his jeans down to step out of them. Now in nothing but his boxers, Marcus went to his knees in front of her. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her jeans and worked them down over her ass and thighs. Holding herself up for him had the muscles in her legs standing at attention. He kissed his way down her thighs and over her knees and trailed more kisses down her shins and calves. He took her boots off before pulling her jeans off the rest of the way.
Keesha pulled her blouse over her head and tossed it aside. She wiggled her hips to settle back into her spot on the sofa. The leather squeaked under her bare ass, eliciting more sexy giggles from her.
She curled her finger in a come-hither motion.
Marcus obeyed and leaned in with his hands resting on her knees. As they kissed, he spread her legs apart. Keesha held his face in her hands and kissed him like she loved him. Every kiss they’d shared since she was hired at Kadia had been hot and needy. This one was different. It was steady and intimate—confident.
She tasted like chocolate and coffee and smelled like vanilla. Her breasts rose and fell between them with hurried, needy breaths, and he yanked her bra down, letting her tits spill out. She pinched her lip between her teeth as he descended upon her nipples for kisses and playful pinches.
Keesha flinched and squirmed.
She loved it.
Her nipples were hard in seconds and he made his way down the length of her lean, strong stomach. He paused at the piece of jewelry in her navel, flicked it playfully, and continued down to her pink panties. With a sharp tug, he pulled them aside. Stitching tore.
“Marcus,” she scolded. “I like this pair.”
“I’ll buy you new ones.” He tore them the rest of the way. The seam came undone at the hip and between her thighs, and he yanked them free, discarding them on the floor near her blouse and jeans.
“Damn straight you will.”
He was still chuckling when he took his place between her legs and tasted her. She let out a breathless sigh above him and he watched as she rested her head back and reached behind herself to grip the top of the sofa cushions. Her grip tightened. The leather creaked under her fingers. Marcus ran his tongue up and down her swollen pussy, pausing only to worship her clit, at which point she whimpered softly.
That’s it, baby. Enjoy it.
He eased a finger inside her. She was tight and ready, and within seconds, she’d lifted her ass back off the sofa. He pressed in deeper, wrapped an arm under her backside, and held her up while he fucked her hard and deep.
She screamed with her release in a matter of seconds. He gave her a rough slap between the legs. She flinched and grinned seductively up at him before running her tongue along her upper teeth.
He knew what she wanted without having to ask.
Marcus stood, leaving her dripping wet beneath him. She shimmied to the edge of the sofa while he took off his boxers. His cock sprang free and Keesha’s expression shifted from aroused to downright sinful. She reached for him and drew him closer. Marcus followed even when she slid off the sofa to sit at his feet, her bare ass on the cool floor. Keesha settled back and rubbed him with one hand.
“Fuck my mouth, baby,” she pleaded. She tilted her head back and opened her mouth for him.
Marcus didn’t know what he did to get so lucky. He bent at the knees, dropped his hips, and slid his cock into her open mouth. Her tongue applied pressure to his shaft as he slid deep in her throat. Like the good nasty girl she was, she took all of him. Her throat swelled. He groaned deep in his chest and the pain from the bullet wound was all but gone. Keesha moaned around his thickness and held his gaze.
“You sexy little bitch,” he grated.
Had she been able to smile, she would have.
Keesha reached up and gripped his ass, encouraging him to thrust. He started nice and slow, letting her warm up, but he lost control quickly and took hold of her hair to hold her in place. Soon, she was spreading her legs and rubbing herself while he fucked her throat. The sight of her fingers in her pussy drove him wild.
He pulled back. Keesha sucked in great breaths of air and licked her lips, then went to her knees and attempted to follow him.
She was a greedy little slut for his cock and he loved it.
But he loved her pussy more.
Marcus told her to stay where she was. She waited for him as he moved behind her and went to his knees. She dropped down to her elbows and looked back over her shoulder at him. He teased her a little before slipping inside her. Her eyes rolled back in her head. She whimpered and went lower still so that her cheek rested on the hardwood floor. Her pussy tightened around him and he put a hand on the small of her back as he pushed in as deep as he could.
She let out a short cry.
“Too big for you, kitten?” he taunted.
Keesha worked herself on his cock, bouncing her ass. “You wish.” She pressed back, filling herself up, and stifled another whimper.
He grabbed her hips and held her in place as he bucked against her. Her cries soon morphed into delirious moans. Her toes curled and her thighs trembled. When he spanked her ass, her entire body spasmed.
“Hold it,” he demanded.
Keesha mumbled something incoherent.
He fucked her harder.
She smothered her cry in her own forearm and left teeth marks in her skin.
Marcus felt a hot wave of lust wash over him and he slapped her ass again. She flinched and pushed herself up. Her back stayed dramatically arched and he reached out with one hand to take a fistful of her hair. He forced her head back so he could kiss her upside down. She could hardly keep her eyes open, she was so far gone.
He slipped his thumb in her ass.
Her eyes fluttered open and he tightened his grip in her hair.
“Not yet,” he managed through clenched teeth.
Her jaw flexed and she reached behind her head to grip his hand in her hair.
He pulled her up higher still. His hips slapped against her ass as he kissed her neck and shoulder, pausing to press his teeth into the groove between her neck and shoulder. She gasped. Her pussy tightened.
She was going to come.
He released her hair and instead wrapped a hand under her chin. “Did I tell you that you could come?”
Keesha gripped his forearm. “Please.”
He slowed his hips. Keesha moaned desperately.
“How bad do you want it?” he whispered in her ear.
“So bad.”
“Show me.” He released her and pushed her forward. She caught her fall with her hands and immediately dropped low so she could arch her spine and control her movements. Her hips worked and she bounced on his dick like her life depended on it.
Her arms and shoulders trembled. Every muscle was pulled taut. Her body glistened with sweat and the whole room smelled like vanilla and pussy.
His pussy.
“That’s it baby,” he growled. “Fuck it.”
Keesha fucked him until he leaned over her, held her down with a hand between her shoulder blades, and drove himself in and out of her until she screamed his name and came hard. He lost control seconds later but he had no intention of stopping yet.
The night was young and he had to show her what she was in for if she wanted to be his woman.
She thought her thighs were strong now?
>
He was still hard inside her at the thought of how well he was going to train her.
She mumbled something beneath him that he couldn’t understand. He squeezed her ass and slowed his thrusts, loving the sounds her pussy made. “Too much, baby?” he asked.
Keesha pushed back and shook her head.
“Good girl.”
28
Keesha
Keesha unzipped Beth’s on-the-go bag and double checked that she had everything she needed for the day. She’d already gone through this routine three times over, but she didn’t want to risk missing something important, like an extra outfit in case there were any messes, snacks for potential hangriness, and water to stay hydrated. Marcus had a plan for the day ahead and Keesha knew it would be essential to be prepared if she wanted to have a good day.
There was a lot of pressure for this to go well. It was the first time Marcus was going to meet Beth. He didn’t seem in the least bit nervous. Keesha had been picking his brain about it for the last four weeks while she worked up the nerve to bite the bullet and introduce them.
Was he good with kids?
Did he scare them?
Was he capable of watching his foul language?
Did he promise not to teach her anything unsavory?
Marcus had laughed off all of her concerns and assured her that he could be a perfect gentleman when he wanted to be. Key words being wanted to be. When he took Keesha’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes and promised he wouldn’t screw something up as important as this, her worries ebbed away.
Of course, he’d be on his best behavior. He was a criminal, not an animal.
He saves that for the bedroom, she mused as she rummaged through the bag, confirming that there were in fact two spare outfits for Beth to change into should the occasion arise, as well as water, animal crackers, cut-up veggies, and a small bowl of strawberries.
While Keesha brought her bag to the front door of her mother’s apartment, which she’d moved into a mere five days ago, Renee poked her head out of the kitchen doorway. “Are you going to come sit down for breakfast, or keep running around like a chicken with your head cut off?”
