by Sara Orwig
Later, she lay in his arms, pressed against him.
“Lara, I feel I can trust you and I want to share something with you that’s worrying me. You have a sensible view of the world and I want your take on something. But what I tell you has to end with you.”
“Sure. It sounds serious.”
“It is serious. Because you’re pregnant and it’s not my baby, when I told my mom, she got very upset.”
Lara sat up to look down at him. “Oh, Marc. She doesn’t want me married to you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mom loves you and loves that I’m married to you. You’re already really a part of my family and I want your opinion on a family thing that I’m worried about. Just listen.”
They both sat up and she turned to face him. Her eyes had adjusted to the dim light of the one small table lamp that was on in the room. His eyes, she saw, were dark and somber as he related what his mother told him.
“Oh, Marc. Dirkson Callahan is your blood father,” she said. “I am so sorry, but thank heavens he wasn’t part of your life. Have you told Gabe?”
“No. Besides Mom and Dirkson, you and I are the only other people to know. Gabe is already my best friend so I don’t think I should tell him. This is what worries me, because I want to do what’s best for Gabe. What do you think?”
She looked away, thinking it over. She glanced back to see him watching her. “Thank you for confiding in me,” she said. “That makes me feel very close to you. Maybe even important to you.”
“You are important to me and you’re trustworthy and you’re levelheaded. I value your opinion.”
She lapsed into silence while she thought about what he had told her. “You said Blake is a half brother.”
“Yes, he is. He was good friends with Cade. Dirkson never acknowledged Blake until after he was married and even then, Blake called Dirkson. Cade drew Blake into the family circle of brothers. Cade isn’t quite as close as I am with Gabe. In a way, I feel like leaving them alone. We’re all close anyway.”
She sat thinking about it. “Well, you told me because you want my opinion, so I’m going to give it to you. I have no family, so family seems the most important thing there is for anyone. You and Gabe are blood brothers. I think you should tell him and let him decide if he wants to keep it to himself.”
Marc clamped his lips together. “Well, I wanted your opinion. I’ll still think about it, but you’ve got a strong point for telling him. I’ll tell you, as far as I’m concerned, my real dad is John Medina. He was a wonderful dad and I loved him, and I hate claiming Dirkson, even to tell Gabe.”
“I understand. You’ll make the best choice, I’m sure.”
“Enough about that. I think now we should talk about what makes me happy in bed.”
She laughed and kissed his throat. “I’m beginning to find out. Actually, you’re rather easy to please.”
“Am I ever,” he said, pulling her in for a kiss.
* * *
For the next two weeks she slept in his room at night. Marc wondered if he would ever tire of her. He couldn’t imagine that happening. One night, as he held her in his arms after making love, he toyed with her hair. “I’ve never brought a woman to the ranch until you. I mean, someone I was going out with. I’m not talking about Mom.”
Lara turned on her side to look at him. “Really? I’m flattered, I guess. Unless you didn’t bring them because you seldom came yourself.”
“Oh, no. I’ve been here plenty. I haven’t taken anyone home with me in Dallas, either. I go with them so I can leave.”
“That makes sense and sounds like you.”
“Well, I thought you might find that fact flattering, that I brought you home with me.”
“Not exactly, because you married me. You had to take me with you. We really have a business deal between us.”
He laughed. “I guess you can look at it that way.”
“You had no choice.” She ran her fingers along his jaw and when the moonlight caught the glitter of diamonds on her hand, she grew pensive. Finally she said, “How long have your grandparents been married?”
“A thousand years,” he answered. “Actually, how’s sixty-three?”
“Impossible. I can’t remotely imagine.”
He nodded. “A long time.” He pulled long locks of her hair through his fingers and let them fall. He loved the feel of her silky strands and loved when she wore it down for him. “I’ve been thinking about us. Lara, let’s just separate for a while instead of divorcing, and see how that works and if we want to go ahead with the divorce.”
She shook her head. “No. When it’s over, it’s over and we’ll each go on with our lives.”
“I have a feeling that I’m not very important to you,” he said.
“You’re incredibly important, but I know you’re not going to want to stay together.”
“I want to stay together now. I don’t want to get out of this bed today. Maybe this week,” he said, rolling over on top of her and letting his kiss keep her right where he wanted her.
* * *
That morning, when she stirred Marc had already gone. Lara slipped out of bed and went to her suite to shower and dress. She moved routinely, her thoughts on her husband. She was falling in love with him and every night she spent in his bed made that love just a bit stronger.
She had to end it before she was so in love with him it would hurt forever. He was everything wonderful—handsome, intelligent, sexy, caring, fun, strong and filled with energy and enthusiasm for life. She had intended to guard her heart, and then she had turned around and fallen into his arms and into his bed, and now she was in love with him.
He didn’t want a lasting marriage and she had to follow her plans, ones that he really didn’t like. She had to get off the ranch, get her life together. Marc wouldn’t change. And neither would she.
She knew he didn’t approve of the time she put in to become a doctor. But she’d never give up her goal because it was so tied to her love for her mother. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d failed her mother when she hadn’t been able to stop the disease that killed her. Mark didn’t get how important her career was to her, yet his career was essential to him. He thought she was a workaholic like his mother, but ironically he was one himself, but he didn’t recognize that.
She needed to go back to Dallas for a while and get some space between them before she was hopelessly in love with him. And she prayed that hadn’t already happened.
* * *
A few days later Lara was pouring over a book when the phone rang. It was Marc’s landline and only his mother and grandparents used it. She answered and thought someone had the wrong number because the noise was garbled. She started to hang up and then realized someone was crying. There were scrambling noises, words she couldn’t catch, but then someone spoke clearly. “Is Marc Medina there?”
“No. Have you tried his cell phone?”
“Yes, and he didn’t answer. This is the nurse and we need to get in touch with him.”
“I’ll text him right now and get him to call you,” Lara said, replacing the phone. She grabbed her cell phone to send Marc a text. She couldn’t shake the chill that overcame her, afraid that something had happened to his grandfather.
In minutes Marc called her. “I’m on my way home. My grandpa died this morning. I’ll come home and get you, and we’ll go over there to see Grandma. Mom’s on her way, too. You don’t have to go, Lara, if you don’t—”
She interrupted him. “Marc, I’m getting ready now. I’ll be ready when you get here. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No. See you soon.”
Then he was off the phone and she quickly went to change, pulling on a tailored black dress and putting her hair up in a bun at the back of her head the
way she used to wear it to the office.
She heard his pickup and heard him running to the door. He swept inside and she ran to him. “I’m sorry, Marc.”
“Thanks. I want to get over there as soon as I can and I hope I can get there before Mom does. Someone is driving her out here. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
“Can I do anything?”
He just shook his head as he left the room.
They spent the next couple of days with relatives and getting ready for the service. It was a whirlwind of activity leading up to what was a solemn funeral.
When they walked into Marc’s darkened house after the burial, he switched on the lights. She crossed the great room to him and slid her arms around his waist. “There’s nothing else I can tell you, Marc, except that I’m sorry for your loss. I know how much you loved him.”
He placed his head against hers and stood in her embrace. “Thank you,” he whispered, and from the sound of his voice she realized he was finally giving in to his grief.
After a few minutes he raised his head while he still held her. “Thanks for going with me and for all your help through this.”
“Of course. I’m glad I got to know him.”
Marc released her and wiped his eyes. He walked over to the window and looked out at the lighted pool. “I think he hung on to get home to the ranch and to see me married. You’re probably right. He probably guessed we just had a marriage of convenience. He seemed happy enough, though. You impressed him. He liked you.” As he talked, Marc shed his coat and tie, and partially unbuttoned his shirt while he kicked off his shoes.
“We didn’t have much time with each other, but I hope he liked me. I liked him.”
“I promise he liked you. I think he wanted you to stay in the family.”
“That’s nice, Marc. Well, now you’ll have your ranch and your inheritance. And your mom will, too. Will she retire?”
“Put yourself in her place. Would you retire?”
She smiled. “Be glad she’s active.”
“Neither you nor my mom know how to let go and enjoy life.”
“I have to do what I have to do. I know we will divorce.”
His gaze was stormy and she shivered, suddenly feeling as if the marriage was already disintegrating. “You’ll have your divorce and you can go to med school, but tonight I want to say goodbye.” He crossed the room to pick her up, carrying her to a bedroom while he kissed her, a demanding, possessive kiss that made her heart race. He stood her on her feet, peeling away her black dress as he kissed her and then flinging aside his shirt and belt. He stepped back to look at her.
“You take my breath away. You’re so beautiful—every inch of you. I want you. I don’t want you to go, but I know you’re going to school no matter what and we’re going to have to say goodbye. Tonight I need you. I want your kisses and I want to touch and kiss you.”
Her heart thudded and desire overrode all her other feelings. It had been an emotional day and tomorrow might even be more emotional because, any time now, she knew they would part. She wanted to give Marc a night that would make him remember her. And she wanted to take memories with her when she said goodbye. She loved him and she knew he wasn’t in love with her. Tonight he was hurting and angry she was going, but she couldn’t stay. There had never been words of love from him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, pouring her feelings into her kiss, wanting to drive away both his demons and hers.
He made a sound deep in his throat and his right hand tangled in her hair while he cupped her breast with his other hand, his thumb circling lightly, slowly around her nipple, making her moan with desire and pleasure.
Running her tongue over his male nipples, first one and then the other, she wanted to heighten his pleasure. He gasped and his hand was still tangled in her hair while he caressed her breast in feathery strokes that made her tremble with longing for more. As she ran her tongue over him, she slowly slid down until she took his thick rod in her hand, stroking him with her tongue, taking him in her mouth. She felt him shudder and gasp while she slipped one hand between his legs to caress him. He grew even larger with every touch.
He moaned and reached beneath her arms to pull her to her feet. She gazed into his dark eyes, which blazed with so much desire she couldn’t get her breath.
“Marc,” she whispered while wrapping her arms around him and kissing him. Her heart pounded so violently she wondered if he felt it as he held her pressed against him. His strength, his maleness, his caresses and kisses all drove her wild. She loved him, but she wasn’t going to tell him when he didn’t love her in return.
She put one leg up around him and he slipped his hand beneath her thigh to pick her up and lay her on the bed. He moved between her legs, caressing her with his fingers before using his mouth. He drew his hot, wet tongue over her, taking his time. Her hips arched beneath his touch.
“Marc, I want you,” she whispered.
He stretched on the bed beside her and easily lifted her on top of him. She sat astride him as he caressed her breasts.
Closing her eyes, she gasped with pleasure. For a moment she was still, relishing his hands on her body, his caresses that heightened desire. Finally, she leaned down to kiss him while he held her hips and moved her over him, his thick manhood easing inside her slowly. Crying out with need and pleasure, she tossed her head, her hair swinging over her shoulder as she rode him and he held her.
Her eyes flew open while he toyed with her breasts and then both of them were moving, faster and faster, as he pumped inside her. Need for release, for all of him, hot and wet, consumed her. The spiral increased until she cried out as she went over the brink. Seconds later, he reached his climax, shuddering and thrusting fast and hard, driving her to another climax. Finally she fell on top of him, turning her head to look at him as she shifted her hips and moved so they were no longer one.
When she did, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
“You can’t know what a gift you just gave me,” he whispered, leaning closer to brush a light kiss on her forehead. “You’ve demolished me, but you drove away the demons for a little. You’re a fantastic woman, Lara,” he whispered.
“I wanted to make you forget your hurt for just a little while. And I wanted to make sure you’ll remember me.”
“I couldn’t possibly forget you. Tonight you took me to another place, and our loving held the pain at bay.”
“I’m glad,” she whispered.
Silence came and in the quiet her thoughts were in turmoil. She had to face the truth. She had fallen in love with him and there was no future for them except divorce. Their last kiss was her kiss goodbye.
* * *
Hours later, after Marc had gone to sleep, she lay awake in the dark, thinking about the changes that would be coming. They’d go ahead now with the divorce and she would move back to Dallas. There she’d keep taking chemistry courses that would count toward a doctorate in chemistry in case she didn’t get into med school. When her baby was six months or a year, she would see about going to school, but at this point, she felt she needed to give her attention to her baby.
Tears stung her eyes because she loved Marc with her whole heart. She had never been in love to this extent before. Breaking her engagement to Leonard Crane had been relatively easy because she hadn’t been that deeply in love, and when he wanted to have an abortion, she’d known he wasn’t the man for her. But Marc had really captured her heart. Until she left the ranch, she was going to have a difficult time keeping her true feelings hidden from him, but she had to. Nothing good could come from him knowing how deeply in love with him she was.
She hurt all over at the thought of telling him goodbye. But there wasn’t any reason for her to stay on the ranch now. He had said he wanted to be there when she had her baby, but she couldn’t live mont
hs with him or into more than a year and then say goodbye. That would be far more devastating than now and this was terrible. She had to face him and tell him she was leaving.
* * *
At breakfast the next morning, she got to the kitchen early so she could catch him. Shortly after, he came in. He usually brought an energy and vitality into the room, but this morning he wore a slight frown.
She wasted no time but went straight into the speech she’d prepared in the wee hours of the morning. “I wanted to talk to you. I know you have a lot of legal things to do to settle your grandfather’s estate, but this is important. We’re still headed toward divorce, but there’s no reason now for me to stay on the ranch. Whether we divorce now or not, I’m going back home to Dallas, Marc.”
His frown deepened and he gazed at her in silence for a moment. “I suppose I should have known that’s what you’d want to do. When do you want to go?”
She hurt inside, a tight knot in her throat, and she battled tears. He didn’t even try to stop her or say he wanted her to stay a while longer. She might have been able to compromise if there was love and acceptance, but he’d simply asked when she wanted to go. That hurt, but it shouldn’t have surprised her. He was letting her go as he’d always said he would.
“I’ll get your things moved, so don’t worry about that. Just pack and leave them. You can take the limo to Dallas. I’ll get your car loaded and one of my guys can drive your car. That’ll be easier for you.”
“I’m ready,” she managed to say. “I don’t really have that much here at the ranch.”
He crossed the room to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I know you have to go. I’d like to be around when your baby is born, but life may change a lot by then.”
She nodded, because she couldn’t speak. Tears had blocked her throat.
“I’ll miss you, Lara.”
She looked up into his stormy dark-brown eyes and wondered what he was really feeling. Would he just miss her in bed? She had to get away from him before she started crying and couldn’t stop.
