by Anara Bella
“Why did you want me to see him? You used to help me avoid seeing him.”
Lexi piped up. “We thought it was time you got a clear view of what Davis is really like. It’s time for you to put what happened behind you.”
Only half listening, Asia observed Davis like someone would a test subject in a lab. And as she watched him, it hit her that his polished good looks had lost some of their luster. His smile was too wide, his laugh too loud, his eyes too close together. Maybe it was just her, but she’d never noticed any of those things before.
As she continued to watch him interact with others, she saw him with whole new eyes. Eyes that weren’t blinded by love. And what she saw shocked her. It was obvious he’d come with his current girlfriend. It was also obvious that he ogled and flirted with any female who came within range. But he was so cunning about it his girlfriend wasn’t even aware of it. She was just as clueless as Asia had been.
“What a complete jerk. How did I not see that before?”
Thea snorted. “I tried to tell you. You didn’t want to hear it.”
Asia wanted to deny it but that would have been a lie. Thea had tried to tell her, as had Gram. But she’d been in love, blind to his faults, and in her usual stubborn way, hadn’t wanted to hear it. She had in fact dismissed their concerns because, fool that she was, she’d been so certain they were wrong.
Asia looked back at Davis again, just in time to see the obnoxious creep pinch a waitress and let his hand caress her ass, dropping his hand the moment his girlfriend glanced his way. Disgust shuddered through her. He was so revolting she couldn’t even stand looking at him anymore.
She turned back to her friends. “This was a good idea. A real eye-opener. Looking at him is like looking at a stranger.”
And so he was. Because she’d never really known him.
Davis was a cheating bastard at heart and always would be. She was well rid of him.
Something else was glaringly obvious. Marcus was nothing like him. She’d seen Marcus when he didn’t know she was watching. He didn’t flirt or encourage women’s attention. They offered, but he didn’t take them up on it. Unlike Davis, who actively sought other women.
Marcus sure as hell didn’t deserve to be slotted into the same category as that jackass.
If only she could be certain she could always trust him. And trust herself to handle whatever came her way.
Chapter Thirteen
Asia had spent a sleepless night trying to figure out what she should do. Her fear of getting hurt again was very real, but if there was ever a guy who was worth taking a chance on it was Marcus.
Unfortunately, fear was winning so far. Every time she tried to imagine herself back with Marcus again, the panic rose into her throat, taking away any desire to give it a try.
“So when do you plan to stop moping around and fix the mess you’ve made?”
Startled, Asia looked up from the book she hadn’t been able to concentrate on enough to read. Her grandmother stood in the doorway that led to the back storeroom with her arms crossed and eyes glaring at Asia. Gram was more than ready for battle, her intent plainly written on her face.
Asia sighed, tired of defending what she’d done. “What mess would that be?”
“Don’t be coy with me, girl. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Asia put down her book. “I’m sorry, Gram. I’m just sick of everybody nagging me about this.”
Gram dropped her arms and crossed over to where Asia was sitting behind the counter. “And still you do nothing about it. Doesn’t the fact that everyone thinks you’re wrong even register with you?”
What did she think? “Everyone wouldn’t have to live with my broken heart. I’d be all alone in that one.”
“That’s not the point and you know it. Marcus is a terrific young man and he likes you. More to the point, you like him too. I never thought I’d say this about any blood kin of mine, but you’re being stupid and a coward.”
Wow. Gram was very upset with her. Her temper rose a bit in defensive response. “Don’t hold back. Tell me what you really feel.”
“Don’t sass me. I’m telling you what I think because you need to hear it.”
“The only stupid thing I did was to get involved with Marcus in the first place.”
“No, that was the first smart thing you’ve done since Davis showed his true colors. You’ve done nothing but lick your wounds ever since. I tried to give you time to get over it, but you just aren’t. You’re set in cement.”
Asia’s anger deflated and she shrugged. “So what if I am? I’m comfortable with things the way they are.” Well, not really, but she wasn’t going to own up to that one.
Gram harrumphed. “Comfortable is just another word for boring.”
Asia grumbled. “I’m not boring.”
“You’re that and worse, a coward.”
Asia didn’t touch that one, because deep down she suspected Gram was dead on with that particular observation.
“Ha, you know I’m right. I didn’t raise you to hide from life. I raised you to live it to the fullest and I can’t stand seeing you like this anymore.”
There was nothing Asia hated more than disappointing her grandmother. Her shoulders sagged. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“Yes, you do. You need to stop being so afraid to put your heart out there. If you hold onto it too tight, it’ll shrivel up and die. That’s no kind of life.”
“But look at what happened to you and to Mom. You were both abandoned and left to raise a child on your own. The women in our family suck at picking men. Look at our track record.”
Gram snorted. “You can’t live your life based on that. Sure things can go wrong, but nothing will ever go right either if you don’t take some chances. Life is all about taking chances, putting yourself out there, going for it. It’s not about hiding away from men and doing nothing fun and exciting.”
“You don’t wish you’d made different choices?”
“Hell, no. And your mother didn’t either. If I hadn’t married your grandfather, your mother wouldn’t have been born, which means you wouldn’t have been born. The two most precious people in the world to me wouldn’t have existed. I can’t even bear to think of that kind of loss.”
Asia’s throat tightened and tears threatened to spill. “I love you, Gram.”
“I love you too. But right now I’m not very happy with you.”
“I’m sorry about that, Gram. I really am. But I can’t help the way things are.”
“Of course you can. You can suck it up and go for it. Now do me proud and show some courage.”
All of a sudden she was six years old again. Vulnerable. Unsure. Scared. “But how do you fight back the fear? I don’t know if I can.”
“Course you can. Haven’t you figured it out yet? Courage isn’t the lack of fear. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway.”
Asia blinked, taken aback. She rolled the thought over, looking at it from different angles. “I’d never thought of it that way before.”
“It’s the only way to think of it. You have to acknowledge that you’re afraid and decide to do it anyway. It’s the only way you’re ever going to be happy.”
A part of Asia leapt with hopefulness, another part held back. Afraid to take that first step. But then that was the point, wasn’t it? To take that step in spite of the fear.
But was Marcus even interested in her anymore? After all, it had been a week since she’d sent him packing. He might have been so angry he’d decided she wasn’t worth the effort and moved on. No one could blame him. Least of all her.
There was only one way to find out.
“So, in other words you blew it.”
Marcus gave his sister a withering look. “How do you figure that?”
Jen returned his look with one of her own. “She’s not here, is she? You two aren’t talking. It’s pretty self-explanatory.”
“To you.”
“Well, you
can’t leave things the way they are. I can tell you really like this woman. You need to go talk to her again.”
“I plan on it. I’ve just been giving her some space, a chance to figure things out.”
“Don’t wait too long. A woman needs to know she’s wanted.”
“I know that too. I didn’t grow up in a houseful of women and not learn at least that much.”
Jen chuckled. “I guess that’s true enough.”
She got up from the couch and stretched. “I wish I didn’t have to go already, but I have to meet Eric.”
Marcus stood and walked Jen to her car with an arm around her shoulder. “Thanks for coming out.”
Once they reached her car, she enclosed him in a huge bear hug. “You know I couldn’t stay away. I was worried about you.”
He squeezed her back. “Don’t worry about me, sis. I’ll figure out a way to get past the walls Asia’s erected.”
She squeezed him again and stepped back. “You do that. I’ve never seen you this interested in a woman before, so don’t you dare let her get away.”
Marcus chuckled. “You’re determined to get me married off, aren’t you?”
She nodded with a firmness that showed just how determined she was. “We all are. You don’t stand a chance.”
Marcus grinned ruefully. “Don’t I know it.”
The sound of an approaching car caught his attention, and he turned to see a familiar red Pontiac G5 coming toward them. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but fresh hope washed through him. “Well, look at this. You’re going to get to meet her after all.”
Jen strained to catch a glimpse of Asia through the car window. “You’re kidding.”
He tried not to let his hopes get too high while he strove to catch a glimpse of her himself. “Nope.”
Damn.
Asia thought she’d have a bit of time to mentally prepare once she got to Marcus’s place, but there he was standing in his driveway.
And he was hugging a beautiful woman, no less.
A jolt of pain lanced through her heart, followed by the jealousy that had turned into a knee-jerk reaction thanks to her ex. It roared to life fresh and raw, ready to rip her hard-earned common sense to shreds. The unwelcome green-eyed monster urged her to turn and run, get away. It was so strong she almost did. But the need to fight her fear was still stronger. She was nothing if not determined. And logic was her friend.
Don’t be such a ninny jumping to hasty conclusions. You don’t know what’s going on here. It was stupid to assume this was another woman. She might be, but even if she was, Asia had broken things off with Marcus so he had every right to see someone else if he wanted.
But she also knew he had four older sisters. This could easily be one of them. She was of similar height and coloring, after all. Come on, woman, have the decency to ask questions first and draw conclusions later.
Feeling in control once again now that the jealousy had been bumped down to a background hum, she pulled up beside the Buick Enclave in the driveway.
Nerves fluttered like leaden butterflies, making her slightly queasy as Marcus walked over to her car, followed by the mystery woman.
Don’t panic, take one step at a time and you’ll get through this.
She hoped it was true as she watched him reach out and open her door.
Her hungry gaze drank him in. She hadn’t seen him for almost a week and she couldn’t believe the way just seeing him made her feel. He looked so good. Strong, solid and sexy as hell.
He took hold of her hand and helped her out of the car. He didn’t look angry, just a bit wary. Watching her closely, no doubt wondering what was on her mind. Or if she was going to scratch his eyes out.
“It’s good to see you, Asia. You look beautiful.”
“It’s good to see you too.” And it surely was. A sight for sore eyes and a balm for her soul.
She looked over to the woman beside him and took the bull by the horns. Holding out her hand to the other woman, she said, “Hi, I’m Asia. A friend of Marcus’s.” Her gaze flicked over to his. “At least I hope I still am.”
The other woman gave her a warm and welcoming smile as she took her hand and shook it. “Don’t worry, you are. I’m Jen, his oldest sister.”
Of course she was. The relief flowing through Asia was profound. As was the pride that washed through her because she’d talked herself out of running away again. “I thought I saw a resemblance.”
“Yeah, Marcus and I took after our father. The other two look like our mother.”
Asia thanked her lucky stars it hadn’t been one of them. “I’m glad it was you then, otherwise I might have jumped to the wrong conclusion.” She glanced at Marcus again. “I’m afraid I have a slight issue with jealousy.”
Marcus reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “With good reason.”
“Okay, that’s my cue to leave.” Jen kissed her brother on the cheek and tossed Asia a cheeky wink. “It was great to meet you, Asia. Take good care of him for me.”
They waved his sister off, then Marcus took her hand and turned to face her. “I’m going to guess and say that your being here is a good sign.”
“That all depends on you. I’ve been informed by everyone I know, most especially Gram, that breaking things off with you was both stupid and cowardly. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I think they’re right.”
She searched his face, and all she saw there was encouragement and warmth, and she knew she’d done the right thing by coming here. “I came to apologize and ask if you’d consider overlooking my momentary insanity and start again.”
He cupped her face. “You came just in time. I was only going to give you until tomorrow before heading over to your place to talk some sense into you.”
Happiness soared through her that he hadn’t given up on her so easily. “Yeah, well, you would have had to stand in line behind Thea, Lexi and Gram. They were nagging me every day.”
His mouth kicked up on one side. “Remind me to thank them.”
“I won’t have to. They will.”
His laugh rang out, warming Asia’s heart. Then he turned serious and leaned in close to brush his lips across hers. “I’ve missed you.”
She leaned into him with relief and gratitude. “I’ve missed you too.”
She returned his kiss and started to deepen it, loving the feel of his lips on hers, the warm smell of his skin. How could she have gotten so used to this so quickly? It was crazy, but there it was. She went to pull him even closer and then pulled back. “Wait.”
Startled, he dropped his hand from her face. “What?”
She held up a finger. “Hold that thought. Give me five minutes and then meet me inside.”
He looked puzzled but looked at his watch. “Okay. You’ve got five minutes, no longer. And then I’m coming in after you.”
She kissed him hard on the mouth. “I’m counting on it.”
With a carefree laugh, she ran into the house and upstairs to the bedroom.
Chapter Fourteen
Exactly five minutes later, Marcus headed inside.
All kinds of possible scenarios as to what she was up to had run through his head while he waited. Most of them revolved around sex in varying positions so he was already half-hard as he headed up the stairs. He sure as hell hoped she was on the same page as him and was right now waiting in the bedroom. Ever the optimist, he went there first.
The moment he stepped through the door he stopped dead in his tracks. The most beautiful thing he’d ever seen was before him, and he drank in the sight like a thirsty man in the desert. Asia, naked and lush, was deliciously draped across the center of his bed with her hands gracefully arranged above her head.
And they were tied to the headboard.
His cock jumped from semi-erect to fully armed and ready for action in a nanosecond. His jaw dropped almost clear to the floor. At that exact moment speech was beyond him.
Looking luscious and inviting
and more than a little nervous, she blew a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes. “The day of the robbery, I’d vowed never to let myself be tied up again unless it was my idea. Well, this is my idea. Ever since that day I’ve had this persistent little fantasy to do with you and me. Naked. With ropes. I’m hoping you’ve had the same fantasy.”
At last his throat muscles opened, letting him croak out his amazement. “How did you know?”
“How could I not? I fought it with everything I had, but there were so many sparks between us that day it’s a wonder we didn’t burst into flame. Besides, I thought this might be a good way to show you how sorry I am.”
Amazed that she knew how he’d felt, humbled by her honesty and awed by her openness, he swallowed down the emotions that threatened to choke him. “There’s no need for you to apologize, or do this.”
“I know. But I want to.” She wiggled her hands around to show him the ropes were loose enough for her hands to slip through without any problem. “You’re going to have to tighten these ropes, though. There was only so much I could do one-handed even using my teeth.”
After what happened in the store, he could well imagine just how difficult it would be for her to trust him to do this. Knowing that was enough. He didn’t need more. “They’re plenty tight enough.”
“But I want you to.”
He shook his head. It didn’t matter how much the idea turned him on. “No way. I don’t want to chance the ropes cutting into your soft skin again.”
“Please, Marcus. I want this. I need this. I need to superimpose something good over the unpleasantness of the robbery. I need it so I can move on. At least tighten the ropes a little bit and tie a knot in them.”
The genuine look of pleading in her eyes was his undoing. He wasn’t sure this was a good idea but he doubted he could deny Asia anything. “Okay, but only because you want it. Hang onto the headboard for me.”
She did as he asked, grabbing onto the wooden slats, stretching sensuously, offering herself to him in complete abandon. Her lush breasts with their pebbled nipples pointed to the ceiling, calling to him in tempting invitation. Her thighs parted suggestively, letting him glimpse the heaven that lay between. His cock jumped, wanting back inside her hot, tight core.
