“A cabin sound wonderful. Since I’ve been living here, the city doesn’t hold that much appeal to me. Besides, I’m always so busy I never get to enjoy what’s right outside my back door,” she said, excited about the weekend.
“I was also hoping that you’d spend the night here with me. I can’t think of a better way to spend the first night in the finished apartment. I’ve been sleeping on an air mattress, but I have a brand new bed waiting for us,” he said, pulling her to her feet.
She let him lead her back to the bedroom where there was indeed a huge king sized bed covered with plush pillows and a soft comforter. Her heart was hammering in her chest, her mind suddenly telling her that this was happening too fast, but Marc pulled her into his arms and her mind stilled. In his arms, that feeling of security and comfort spread through her, her intuition telling her that he was exactly what she needed.
Looking up at him her breath caught in her throat when she realized that she was definitely falling in love with him, it scared her so much she stiffened in his arms. Marc, thinking that she was suddenly changing her mind, pulled back a little and said, “Hey, there’s no pressure. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to be ready. I’m not exactly experienced when it comes to women, so if I’ve come on too strong then I’m sorry, it’s the last thing I wanted to do.”
Those were the exact words that Scarlet needed to hear; the last of her resistance melted when she saw the concerned look on his face. Her heart seemed to melt and a sharp flare of desire raced through her taking her breath away. Marc searched her eyes, then cupped her face with his hands and kissed her on the forehead.
“I want you, Scarlet, more than I’ve ever wanted another woman. I can’t promise that I’ll be good at this, but maybe together we can create something wonderful,” he said, lowering his mouth to hers in a demanding kiss that took her breath away.
He pulled her roughly to him, smashing her breasts against his hard chest, making them swell with desire. As his mouth explored hers, tasting and teasing, her body began to vibrate with sensation as the pressure began to build deep inside her. She reached between them and began unbuttoning Marc’s shirt, loving the feeling of his muscular chest under her hands.
Growling deep in his throat, he reached behind them and unzipped her dress and slid it off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a shimmering heap. Scarlet slid his shirt off his shoulders, then reached for the buttons on his pants, while Marc ran his hands over her body, his tongue still exploring her mouth. When he gripped her buttocks in both hands and lifted her to rub his erection between her legs, she practically soaked her silk panties, holding onto his shoulders so her legs wouldn’t buckle.
He backed them up to the bed, then pulled back to look at her, his eyes roaming from her head to her toes. “Do you have any idea how sexy you are?” he asked, the look in his eyes making her head spin.
Scarlet had dressed carefully that night, putting on her best underwear including a pair of stockings held up by garters. She could see that they’d had the effect she’d been looking for. When Marc’s eyes returned to hers, his pupils were dilated and his breath was coming in short gasps. He sank to his knees in front of her and slipped her feet out of her shoes, then slid his hands up her thighs until his fingers found the clasps on her garters. After unhooking the stockings, he rolled them down her leg and off her foot. Sliding his hands back up her legs, his thumbs on the inside of her legs, he found her clit and stroked her though her panties making her gasp with pleasure.
He rubbed her with his thumb until her panties were soaking wet and her knees were unable to support her. He reached up and stripped off her panties then rose to his feet. She quickly removed his pants, releasing his erection, and taking it into her hands she stroked him several times until he pulled her hands away with a low growl.
He tumbled them to the bed, then removed her bra and pulled one of her hard nipples into his mouth while his fingers teased the other. Scarlet was frantic with need; her body spinning through space as Marc’s mouth on her breast began to create a fire storm of pleasure deep inside her. When he slid his hand down her belly, she spread her legs and arched her hips wanting and needing his touch, the pressure becoming almost unbearable.
Gripping his shoulders as his mouth continued to tease her nipples, she was lost when he parted her folds with his finger and began to rub her clit. Her orgasm was immediate and consuming, rocking through her like a blast from an open oven door. As the spasms began to fade, she recognized a need deeper than any she’d ever felt before, a need that could only be fulfilled by Marc.
Panting, she pulled his head up and kissed him, her tongue sliding into his mouth, exploring him like he’d explored hers. “I need you, Marc,” she said, panting with her need.
Marc moved between her legs and pulled her to him, his throbbing penis resting just outside her dripping core. When he lifted her hips and slid inside her, she cried out with pleasure as his throbbing length filled her, stretching her with his size. As he drove himself into her over and over, the pressure deep inside her began to build again, spreading outward with each stroke of his powerful hips. He drove himself deeper and deeper, until he knew that his control was all but lost.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him inside her even deeper, grinding her hips against him as her body began to tighten around him deep inside her. He found her mouth with his, then grinding his hips against hers, he buried himself deeper inside her and lost control, knowing that she was ready for him. Scarlet felt Marc swell and stiffen even more inside her, sending her over the edge again, her body clenching around his as he emptied himself inside her.
They lay together, neither able to move, both shocked by the intensity of their love making. But finally Marc rolled off her and pulled her into his arms, her head resting on his chest. She laid there for a long time listening to his heart beat as it slowed. There were really no words to express the depth of what they’d just shared, and she knew without a doubt that Marc had felt it as well. Scarlet fell asleep listening to Marc’s heartbeat, feeling safe and secure in his arms.
Chapter 7
When she awoke early the next morning, the bed next to her was empty, but she could hear Marc out in the kitchen. She was tempted to just roll over and go back to sleep, but her body wouldn’t let her, so instead she got up and put on Marc’s shirt. He was in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes from the night before, but when he saw her he stopped what he was doing and crossed the room to pull her into his arms.
“You look better in that shirt than I do,” he said, giving her a kiss. “I’m sorry if I woke you, but I thought we might want to get an early start.”
Scarlet realized what a good idea that was. “Good thinking. I’d just as soon not come stumbling into the restaurant in last night’s clothes, although it might to worth it to see the look on Kevin’s face. Want some help?” she said, smiling up at him, thinking how wonderful he looked still rumpled from sleep only in a pair of boxers.
“I don’t know how much help you would be, especially if you keep looking at me like that. Sit down and I’ll get you a cup of coffee, it should be ready,” he said, pushing her toward one of the stools.
She sipped at her coffee, which was strong and dark just like she liked it, watching Marc wash dishes and clean the kitchen. It was oddly erotic to watch him, and by the time he was done, it was all she could do not to throw herself at him, her body was virtually vibrating with desire. When he’d put away the last dish, he finally turned to look at her, obviously completely unaware that she’d been sitting there watching him.
One look at her however and a big grin spread across his face. “I’d love to know what you’re thinking right now,” he said, pulling her up off the stool.
Looking up at him she blushed, but managed to stammer, “It’s hot watching you do dishes.”
Marc roared with laughter. “If I’d know that, I would have insisted on that dishwashing job you o
ffered me,” he said, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her back to the bedroom.
He laid her down on the bed, then laid down next to her and nuzzled her neck. “I think we have a little time to spare before we need to get out of here and I’m going to need this shirt back,” he said, beginning to unbutton the shirt.
They barely made it out the back door as Kevin was coming in the front, laughing as they ran to her car which they’d decided to take instead of his truck. Scarlet was carrying her shoes as well as small bag Marc had quickly packed this morning. Marc was weighed down with bags full of food he’d bought for the weekend, some shipped in from the city. After making a quick stop at Scarlet’s house, they headed up the mountain for the cabin that Marc had rented.
She’d expected that they’d be staying in one of the commercial cabins that stretched to the top of the mountain, but instead they turned onto a little dirt road that dead ended at a little cabin tucked back in the woods. It was small but looked snug with a huge pile of firewood stacked in front, curtains at the windows, and rocking chairs on the little front porch.
Scarlet was charmed by the little cabin and again looked at Marc in amazement; this had taken more than just a phone call to arrange. “How did you find this? It’s adorable, I can’t wait to see inside,” she said, stepping out of the car and taking a deep breath of the pine scented air.
“I might have had some help. Hiram sure does know a lot of people,” Marc said, getting a load of supplies out of the car.
“Hiram knows we’re up here? I’ll never hear the end of it,” she said with a grimace.
Marc set down the bags and crossed over to where she was standing, “He really cares about you, you know. He gave me a half an hour lecture about the right way to treat a woman, but he came through in the end,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her until her knees began to get weak.
“He’s still going to tease me, but I think it’ll be worth it,” she said, looking up at him and smiling.
The cabin was just as cute on the inside as it was on the outside, but Scarlet couldn’t have been more pleased with its rustic charm. The simple living room with a fire place, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom would have all fit inside the dining room of the diner, but part of its charm was its size. It was chilly in the little cabin, so Marc lit a small fire and they collapsed onto the couch, neither having gotten much sleep the night before.
Scarlet curled up in Marc’s arms, her feet curled behind her, content to sit quietly and just enjoy the moment, but Marc interrupted her thoughts. “Scarlet, we weren’t very careful last night,” he said, trying to think of a way to ask if they should be worried about pregnancy, knowing that she hadn’t been involved with anyone since her divorce.
“There’s nothing to worry about, I won’t get pregnant,” she said, her heart pounding in her chest.
“So, you won’t...” He trailed off, finding the words difficult to say, remembering that this subject had made her uncomfortable in the past.
She sat up and pulled away. “I guess I should explain, it’s only fair to you. I don’t know where this it going...” She trailed off, emotion getting the better of her. She’d already been rejected by a man because of her infertility once and she couldn’t stand it if it came between them.
Scarlet was looking at her lap, unable to meet his eyes, but he pulled her chin up and looked her directly in the eyes. “What is it? You can tell me,” he said, taking her hands in his.
“I can’t have any more kids. After Sean, the scarring was so bad that the doctors say it will never happen,” she said, trying to suppress a sob, all the pain of that day coming back to her.
But this time, instead of finding herself with a man who turned away from her, Scarlet found herself enveloped in Marc’s strong arms. She’d thought that she was over the pain, but sitting here with Marc, she realized that the pain was still there, fueled by her growing love for Marc. He rubbed her back as she cried, whispering comforting words in her ear until her sobs ceased and she could breathe again.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I reacted that way. I’ve known for a long time, but it still hurts,” she said, trying to smile at him. “I’ll understand if this changes things. Most men eventually want children of their own.”
“If and when the day comes that we’re ready for a family, we’ll deal with it then. There are lots of kids out there who need a good home. I really like you a lot, Scarlet, I might even be falling in love with you, but it’s you I want, not the potential family you might give me in the future,” Marc said, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her.
Scarlet could do nothing more than let him kiss her, relieved to have at least one secret out in the open. When he pulled her to her feet and led her into the bedroom, she went willing with him, surprised when he just pulled her into his arms and cuddled her, but she felt loved and protected as she fell asleep.
They only slept for a few hours, but Scarlet felt much better when she woke up, a small weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Marc hadn’t been upset or dismissive of her pain; he’d held her and let her cry. Something her ex-husband would have never done. Thanks to that, she felt some of the old pain easing, knowing that she’d found a man who wanted only her, not what she could give him.
It was well after noon before they’d managed to roust themselves and get out of bed, but the sun was shining and Marc had planned a picnic for that day. “I thought we’d take a hike and have a picnic for lunch, but how about we have a picnic dinner instead?” he asked, unpacking the cooler which had been completely forgotten when they’d gotten there.
“That sounds good. Did you bring a flashlight?” she asked, starting on the bags of supplies piled on the table.
“There should be a couple in one of those bags and bug spray, sunscreen, and a first aid kit,” he said over his shoulder, his head stuck in the refrigerator.
“Wow, you’re prepared,” she said, putting food away in the cabinets, then making a pile of the other supplies on the table.
“I’d eventually like to try camping, so that’s the first of my gear,” he said, stuffing food into a backpack, then adding the other supplies.
Scarlet watched him, thinking he looked like a little kid ready to set off on a grand adventure. “How far are we going?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t dragging her on a five-mile hike.
“It’s only a couple of miles. The guy who owns this place built the trail so he and his wife could watch the sunset from an overlook. He said it was worth the trip. Will you find the sleeping bag I brought? We can take it to sit on.”
Scarlet went back into the bedroom and found the rolled up sleeping bag, amazed to find that it was light as a feather. She’d never been one for camping, her time in the outdoors had always been spent in her garden, but she liked the idea of sleeping outside, especially if she knew she’d be nice and warm. Shrugging her shoulders at how much life could change in such a short span of time, she went back out to the living room looking forward to their hike.
The trail was an easy one snaking its way through the forest, the gentle rise nearly undetectable as they walked. It had been built big enough that they could walk side by side holding hands, an intimacy that Scarlet found almost as erotic as Marc’s kisses. Just holding his hand made her think of the other wonderful things those hands had done to her and she couldn’t stop the tingle of desire that flared in her groin.
They’d been walking in silence for a while when Marc said, “I’ve been thinking about inviting my brother to visit. He was such a big help when I was working on the apartment, I’d like him to see it.”
Scarlet was a bit surprised to hear that. She’d thought that he’d had a major break with his brother, but if they’d made up that was good, although her heart was telling her different. If he made up with his brother, he might go home again and that was the last thing she wanted to happen.
“I though you and your brother had a falling out?” she
asked, her heart rate increasing.
“No, that was my other brother. This is my younger brother, Michael. Scott is the one I had the fight with,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s a long story, but I’d like to tell you about it if you want me to.”
“I’d like to hear it,” she said, then gasped when they reached the overlook. “Wow, this was definitely worth the walk.”
Marc came and stood beside her, and in silence they looked at the miles and miles of forest in front of them then up to the peaks of the distant mountains, the highest peaks still covered with snow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it,” he said.
“It really is beautiful country, it’s one of the reasons I love living here. I’m from Texas and no matter where you go in the state its flat, either solid trees or barren land. I never want to go back,” she said, conviction in her voice.
“California is different, especially where I was in L.A. It was all about the beach there. But when I was in Colorado at my cousin’s last winter, I fell in love with the mountains,” he said, setting down the backpack and taking the sleeping bag from her.
She helped him spread it out and they made themselves comfortable. “Suddenly, I’m starving. It seemed like you brought a lot of food, but now I’m not so sure,” she said as he began to unload the food from the bag.
“It’s being outside. I always heard that food tastes better out here. Let’s find out,” he said, handing her a huge turkey sandwich, which was her favorite.
After they’d eaten as much as they could, they put the rest of the food away and laid back on the sleeping bag, sleepy from their full stomachs. “So, tell me about your brothers,” Scarlet said, not about to let him out of explaining his earlier announcement about asking his brother to visit.
Hold Me Close: BWWM Romance (Brothers From Money Book 6) Page 7
