Because of Low

by Abbi Glines

  Marcus

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Marcus

  Larissa kicked happily in the pool as she bobbed in the shallow end with a life jacket on. Dad had called to let me know they were at the condo for the week and Larissa would like to see me. I wanted to see her too. He and Tawny went out shopping and left me alone with Larissa, since I still didn’t care to see Larissa’s mother. I didn’t like Tawny. I never would. She hadn’t just been the cause of my mother and sister’s pain but she’d mistreated Low all her life. I’d disliked her before I’d known her for that reason alone.

  “My lowlow,” Larissa squealed slapping at the water. I followed her worshipful gaze to see Willow walking out of the house in a royal blue bikini. Woah.

  “Hello sweet girl. I’ve missed you too,” Willow replied, grinning down at Larissa as she continued to squeal and slap at the water. Willow glanced shyly over at me and I was pretty sure I’d swallowed my tongue.

  “Hello, Marcus.”

  “Low,” I managed to reply.

  “I hope you don’t mind. Tawny called and said Larissa had woke up asking for me, and that you had her at the pool today if I wanted to come swim with her a little.”

  She was here.

  She was talking to me.

  She was in a bikini.

  “Uh, No, I don’t mind at all.”

  There was nothing in her hands. She wasn’t brining back the shirt I’d left her three nights ago. She was keeping it. I couldn’t help but smile.

  “My lowlow,” Larissa squealed as Low lowered herself into the water and made her way over to Larissa.

  “Look at you swimming all around like a big girl,” Low cooed at her. Larissa ate it up and started spinning in circles anxious to show off her new trick.

  “Wow! And you can do tricks.”

  “Martus ticks,” Larissa pointed a little finger at me.

  “I bet Marcus can do tricks,” Willow agreed. I wanted to show her just how many tricks I could do. Especially with her in that bikini.

  A frisbee zoomed close to Willow’s head and before I could open my mouth to warn her she had grabbed it.

  “Hey nice catch,” a guy with a buzz cut and way more muscles than was normal jogged up grinning at Willow like he’d just hit the jack pot.

  “Yes well be careful next time. You could’ve hit her in the head,” Willow chided him politely nodding her head toward Larissa.

  “Oh, yeah, sorry about that. The wind caught it. I’ll just move out further.”

  Willow shot him that heart stopping smile of hers and he looked a little shaken. I completely understood how he felt. But he needed to walk away. Now.

  “Martus ticks,” Larissa demanded.

  Willow cut her eyes at me smirking, “ I do believe you’re going to have to show us your tricks. The queen has spoken.”

  Standing up, I walked over to the diving board. I jumped up on it. I felt like a teenager again. I was excited about showing off in front of a girl. Willow’s appreciative gaze was traveling down my body. Well damn. Now I couldn’t concentrate and I was going to get a boner which would be obvious in these swim trunks. I needed to hurry up. I ran out and did a back flip and dove into the water.

  When my head broke through the top of the water both Willow and Larissa were clapping. “Bravo. I’m impressed. I wasn’t aware country club boys new any tricks,” Willow teased. She started to swim toward the ladder but stopped beside me.

  “Thanks for the shirt. I love it,” she said in a soft whisper then darted off for the ladder. She loved my shirt. She wasn’t going to give back my gift. My heart sped up at the thought of her wearing it.

  I watched in fascination as she climbed out of the pool. Her bottoms were hugging her butt like a second skin. The water running down her body glistened as the sun hit it. When she turned around to give me a front view, I was really glad to be underwater.

  “Let’s see if I can’t one up that. I didn’t grow up jumping off diving boards. I grew up jumping off bridge pilings into the gulf.” She winked. She actually winked. Was Willow flirting with me? Her hips swayed as she walked and I forgot everything but her almost naked body.

  “Lowlow ticks,” Larissa declared.

  “Yep, Low is gonna do some tricks,” I murmured unable to think coherently. Shit. She was going to bounce. All my school boy fantasies came rushing back and I wondered if drool was trickling out of my mouth. She ran and jumped into a toe touch then tucked her legs and flipped backwards and broke the water with a perfect dive.

  Dear God that image was going to come in handy later. Tonight. In my shower.

  Larissa was cheering as Willow swam back to us. I managed to shake myself out of my lustful thoughts and clapped.

  “I don’t think I can beat that. But by all means you go right ahead and show us some tricks,” I shot her a wicked grin and she blushed.

  I closed the distance between us and leaned down until my lips were inches from her ear.

  “I love you,” I whispered then without looking to see her reaction I swam away. I needed some distance. Because I was real close to grabbing her and kissing her until I was at least minimally sated. Which might be impossible.

  Willow

  “I love you”

  Those three words Marcus whispered in my ear repeated themselves all evening. Long after I kissed Larissa goodbye and left Marcus with a wave. Would it ever get easy? We would always be in each other’s lives. I wanted to prove we could be around each other and Larissa and it not be awkward. All I’d proven is that I wasn’t over Marcus Hardy. Not by a land slide.

  “What’s up with the frown?” Cage asked walking into the kitchen and jumping up to take a seat on the bar right beside where I was chopping vegetable for my salad.

  “Just thinking, move your butt over,” I nudged his leg with the back of my hand.

  “Talked to Marcus lately?”

  What kind of question was that?

  “Yes.”

  “When?”

  “Today”

  “He make you frown?”

  “No. He was nice. We were nice.”

  “Nice, huh. So you thinking about that not trusting him thing? Decided yet if you might can take one more chance?”

  I put the knife down and looked up at him.

  “Cage, what’s this about?”

  Cage rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I think you’re making a mistake.”

  Me too.

  “Why?”

  “Marcus did leave you. BUT he came back. He wanted to come back. Everyone else who left you didn’t want to come back, Low. They left because they wanted to. Marcus didn’t want to leave. It completely tore him up.”

  I gripped the edge of the counter with both hands. He’d come back.

  “He did,” I whispered.

  Cage reached down and squeezed my shoulder.

  “Yeah, he did.”

  “Do you think he’ll leave me again?”

  Cage let out a long heavy sigh, “Well, things happen in life, Low. Hell, I could die tomorrow then I’ll have left you. We can’t control the future. But I can promise you that Marcus Hardy loves you more than anyone else is ever going to love you. Other than me of course.”

  I chuckled, “Of course.”

  “Nobody loves you like I love ya baby,” he teased,

  Jumping back down off the counter he pulled me into a hug.

  “Take a chance, Low.”

  “What do I do? I told him no,” I mumbled into Cage’s shoulder.

  “I’ve seen the guy, Low. Walk up to him and say you love him. You changed your mind. You want to give it another go. I can promise you he won’t argue with you.”

  I leaned back and stared up at Cage. “You think?”

  “I know.”

  “Okay. I guess I’ll text him to meet me somewhere.”

  “That sounds like a really good idea.”

  Cage started to turn around and walk away but I reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. “C
age?”

  He let me pull him back with his trademark wicked grin firmly in place, “Yes?”

  “Why’re you doing this?”

  “Doing what?”

  I put one hand on my hip and cocked an eyebrow. He knew good and well what I was talking about. “Why’re you all for me talking to Marcus, giving him another chance? Weren’t you planning on marrying me eventually? I’d think this screws up your ten year plan.”

  Cage chuckled and draped an arm over my shoulders, “I guess it does kinda mess up my well thought out future but the thing is, Marcus makes you happy. He can love you in ways I can’t. I’m all kinds of fucked up, Low. You and I both know I’d never make a good husband,” he grimaced at the word and I couldn’t help but giggle.

  “Oh, I’m well aware you’d make a horrible husband but I’m just a little surprised you think someone else is good enough for me.”

  “I never said Marcus was good enough for you. Don’t go getting all carried away. All I said was he made you happy and I think if anyone could love you as much as I do it’d be Marcus. He’s so love sick when it comes to you baby it’s kinda pathetic to watch.”

  I hoped he was right.

  Chapter Twenty- Six

  Marcus

  “I want to talk to you. Could you come over to the apartment?”

  I stared at the text from Willow. Standing outside the apartment door again I had a horrible case of deja vu. Last time I’d come here she’d completely dashed every dream I’d ever had. Now I was back. I raised my hand to knock and I froze. Did I want to do this? Could I take much more of this? If she had decided we didn’t need to be around each other at all until I learned to control my need to profess my love for her I might go jump off a damn bridge. No. She wouldn’t do that. I was being as dramatic as a damn girl. My knuckles hit the smooth wood and it was done. I was here.

  The door opened almost immediately and Willow stood there smiling nervously.

  “You came,” she said. I could hear the relief in her voice. Had she really thought I’d turn her down?

  “You ask. I come.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip and I looked away. I couldn’t think about her lips.

  “Come in. Do you want a drink?”

  She was wringing her hands and biting her lips, Willow was nervous.

  “No. I’m good.”

  I wanted to get on with this. Our combined nervous energy was driving me crazy. I wanted to grab her and reassure her. But I couldn’t. Not anymore.

  “Oh.” She looked around and then back at me.

  “Okay well then would you mind sitting down?”

  This was getting more fascinating by the second. I walked over and sank down onto the worn couch where so many of my favorite moments with Willow had taken place.

  “You gonna sit?” I asked as she paced a few times shooting nervous glances my way..

  “Uh, no, don’t think I can.”

  Okay.

  “Low, what’s this about?”

  She stopped and stood directly in front of me with the coffee table between us.

  “I love you.” My heart almost stopped beating in my chest. She hadn’t spoken those words since the last time I held her in my arms.

  “And you did leave me. But... but you came back. No one’s ever come back. They leave me and that’s it. They want to leave me. You didn’t. And you came back.”

  I wanted to stand up and reach across the table and jerk her into my arms but I wasn’t sure I could stand up just yet. I needed to hear everything she had to say.

  “Yes, I came back. My heart never left you.”

  “I miss you.”

  This time I stood up and walked around the table.

  “I miss you. Every second of every day,” I whispered. Her eyes followed me until I was inches from her.

  “I trust you.”

  I needed more than that.

  “You trust me,” I repeated.

  She nodded and her hand came up and caressed the side of my arm.

  “I want to try again.”

  Those were the words I needed to hear.

  Willow

  His mouth was on mine before I could respond. I gasped in surprise and his tongue took advantage of it and tangled with mine. Tasting everywhere. I gripped the hair on the back of his head as he pulled me up, hard against him. Then we were on the couch. His mouth left mine and he began raining kisses all over my face and down my neck. He told me how much he loved me over and over again as he ran his hands down my back cupping my butt and tucking me up against him.

  Moaning into his mouth I nibbled and tasted every smooth inch of his mouth. I felt my shirt begin to lift as Marcus fingers brushed against my skin.

  “Lift your arm,” his demand was needy. I didn’t argue. I lifted my arms and my shirt was ripped off my body, and then Marcus’s hands were back on my face kissing me. His hands slowly traveled down my neck and traced my collar bone. I moaned in frustration. Then his hands covered my bra. I cried out from the sensation. The front clasp came undone and my bra fell away, slipping down my arms. Marcus stopped kissing me and sat back while he slowly pulled the bra off my wrist and tossed it aside.

  “I love you,” he breathed lifting his gaze from my naked breast to my eyes.

  “I love you too,” I replied breathlessly.

  “I want you, Low.”

  I nodded. I couldn’t form words.

  Pulling me up against him he kissed me and I fumbled with the hem of his shirt.

  “Off,” I whispered against his mouth. In one swift movement he jerked it off and I pressed against him sighing at the feel of his warm skin naked against mine.

  “Low,” he groaned in my ear as he trailed kisses down my neck.

  I stopped breathing watching as he stopped kissing at the top of my chest. His warm breath tickled my nipples making them even harder.

  When his mouth finally pulled one into his mouth. I screamed out his name and let myself go. I was ready to trust Marcus. Completely.

  When I opened my eyes, I was staring at the smooth defined pecs on Marcus’s chest. I inhaled him. Wrapped in his arms our legs were tangled together. Which I thought was rather delicious. I wasn’t sure how much clothing I had on or if I had any. I was definitely topless. This much I could tell.

  I buried my face in his chest to muffle my giggle.

  “What’s so funny,” Marcus sleepy voice asked amused.

  “I’m naked,” I said against his chest.

  His chest vibrated from his chuckle.

  “Yes, and it’s incredible,” he replied.

  He reached down and pulled the quilt up over us.

  “I can’t believe we both managed to sleep on this couch,” I whispered wondering if Cage had come home and seen us like this.

  “I need to talk to Cage about buying this couch. It now holds some pretty intense memories for me. I want it.”

  Unable to hold back my grin I tilted my head back and stared up at him. I loved his sleep mused hair.

  “How do you feel?” he asked studying me carefully.

  “Wonderful,” I replied honestly.

  A sexy smirk touched his lips, “Me too.”

  His warm hand moved down my back and began to caress my hip.

  “You’re so soft,” he murmured. His heavy lidded eyes made my insides do all kinds of funny things.

  “Cage may be here,” I reminded him sliding my leg up between his legs.

  “Hmmm... he is.”

  My eyes flew open wide.

  Marcus chuckled, “Relax he didn’t see anything. I had you all covered up when he walked in.”

  “What did he say?”

  I believe his exact words were, “Well it’s about fucking time.”

  Giggling I leaned up and kissed his chin.

  “What did you say?”

  Marcus kissed my head, “I agreed, wholeheartedly.”

  Chapter Twenty- Seven

  Marcus

  Cheers, clapping, and whistlin
g ensued when I walked into Live Bay two nights later with Low tucked closely to my side.

  “Hot damn!”

  “Hallelujah”

  “It’s about time.”

  “Finally!”

  Willow glanced up at me smiling. “I guess they’re happy about this.”

  She had no idea.

  “Yes I’m pretty sure nothing short of our marriage would make them happier. They weren’t a fan of the Willowless Marcus.”

  “Oh”

  “Yes, Oh.”

  Willow kissed my cheek and our crowd went wild.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. Lick all over him,” Preston hooted as we came up to the table.

  “I’d even be okay with some PDA at this point,” Dewayne drawled.

  “Hello to all of you too,” Willow piped up.

  “You have no idea how badly you were missed,” Preston said.

  Willow glanced up at me, “I have an idea.”

  “I’m taking my girl to dance and away from all of you. You’re making me sound pathetic.”

  “You were pathetic,” Dewayne responded.

  I was. No point arguing.

  Pulling Willow into my arms I enjoyed her soft curves and sweet honey scent. Nothing in my life had ever felt as right as she did in my arms.

  Willow

  “I can’t believe you’re moving out. If I’d known you’d leave me I’d never have helped the jackass out and convinced you to give him another chance.” Cage stood in the living room frowning.

  I had my suitcase packed and the key he’d given me in my outstretched hand.

  “Don’t say that Cage. I’m not leaving you. I’m releasing you.”

  “Who the hell said I wanted to be released?”

  “I did. You’ve been my best friend, savior, family, safe haven for so long. I’ve always come first in your life. You put your wants and needs on hold to make sure I’m happy. I love you. And it’s time I let you go. You’re free to just be my friend. You don’t have to drop everything to come save me or pick up the pieces. I’m a big girl now. If my world falls apart again I’ll handle it.”