by Ashe, Karina
He drove into her, hard and fast, taking her up and over in a few deep strokes. She clenched around him and he held her in place, thrusting into her until he found his own release.
They lay together, recovering, his cock still deep inside her. She liked feeling him there, liked the way his tall, muscled body wrapped around hers. He made her feel small and delicate, like the most beautiful, desirable woman he’d ever met.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he whispered. “I love waking up like this.”
“With me forcing myself on you?”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through her. “With you all soft and warm in my arms. I’m not letting you go, Leah.”
She swallowed. “Marcus—”
“Tell me,” he whispered, spreading his hand over her belly. Every nerve in her body tingled at the way he held her, the way he touched her with such tenderness. “Tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll step back.”
“I can’t.” She eased forward, missing the feel of him inside her before he was even out. Slowly, giving herself time to gather her jumbled thoughts, she turned to face him, one arm instinctively crossing over her breasts. “You are a force, Marcus Hawkins, one I avoided as much as possible.” He closed his eyes, and Leah couldn’t stop herself; she cradled his cheek, the rough stubble scratching her palm. “I avoided you because I knew, Marcus, that if I got a taste, I’d want all of you. Forever.”
He grabbed the arm hiding her breasts and pulled her in, those breasts now plastered against his hard, muscled chest. “Say the words, Leah. I need to hear them.”
“I love you, Marcus Hawkins. I think I have since the first time you looked at me.”
“Thank God.” He kissed her, slow and gentle, but his cock told her just how aroused he was by poking against her thigh, ready for action. “I told you,” he whispered. “You wind me up.”
“Since it’s my fault,” she reached down and adjusted him, sliding forward until he pressed into her. He swallowed, watching her hand as she stroked his length, his cock already hard and thick in her hand. “Let me take care of it.”
***
Marcus sat and watched the floor show as Leah scrambled to find clothes to wear to brunch. Her layers were scattered all over his apartment.
He smiled, remembering last night, and this morning. God, she was incredible, and insatiable. He loved that about her. He loved so many things about her, like the way her hips filled out the trousers she just tugged on, and the bare ass they covered. He loved that she wore thongs, that just a thin layer of clothing separated him from warm, soft skin.
He was going to take her to his favorite café, enjoy her company, her humor, her laughter, then bring her back here and spend the rest of the day making love to her.
“I’m ready,” she said, a little breathless. “I can’t find my bra, though.”
“You look great.” Delectable, lickable. He wanted to kiss her nipples through the cotton of her shirt, brand them with his mouth. His cock twitched in agreement.
“Of course a man would say that. I’ll wear my sweater.”
Marcus let out a sigh. “Okay.”
Her laughter wrapped around him, his cock even harder than it was a second ago. “I really don’t want my nipples saying hello to everyone we pass.”
“I agree.” He stood and caught her around the waist before she could go for the sweater. “I just want them to say hello to me first.” She let out a choked laugh when he started to unbutton her shirt. It escalated to a gasp once his mouth found her breast. God help him, she tasted so good. Warm, sweet, that floral, spicy scent he always associated with her like a shot to his senses. “Hello, my pretties. All perked up, just for me.”
“Crazy.” Her fingers slid into his hair, clenching as he traced his tongue around her nipple. “The man I love is crazy.” Her breathless words squeezed his heart. Damn, he wanted to pick her up and take her back to bed.
Instead he kissed each rosy peak, then buttoned her shirt. “We’ll finish later.”
“God, I hope so.” That low, sweet voice was edged with need. He watched her slip on her sweater, his cock pressing against the zipper of his jeans, wanting her now. “Let me get my purse. If I can find it.”
“Right here.” He strode over to the chair he dumped it on last night and picked it up. It felt even heavier than he remembered. “What do you have in here?”
A blush spread over her cheeks. Damn, even that made him twitch. He was in deep.
“Ten rolls of quarters, five rolls of dimes, and two rolls of nickels. My neighbor is a waitress, and I have a friend who rolls the coin that she gets as tips.”
Marcus couldn’t stop himself; he reached across the bulky purse between them and kissed her. His beautiful, generous Leah, taking care of other people, like she’d taken care of him since the day she walked into his life.
“Let’s go eat,” he said, his voice raw. “Before I start getting ideas.”
“I like your ideas, Mr. Hawkins.”
Damn. His cock was at full attention. “Okay—move.”
She laughed, slinging the ten ton purse over her shoulder like it weighed nothing, and headed for the door. Marcus beat her there, opened the door for her.
“Why, thank you, kind sir.” She laid a soft southern accent over the words and he wanted to drag her back into the bedroom and relearn that luscious body all over again. When she stood on tiptoe and kissed him, he had to clench his hands into fists to keep from tossing her over his shoulder. “I’m starving.”
“So am I.”
Surprise flared in her eyes. “Later.” She whispered against his lips, her breath warm, and minty from his toothpaste. “Feed me, Marcus, and I’m yours.”
“Deal.”
He was never letting her go.
***
Since his favorite brunch café was only a few blocks from his apartment building, Marcus suggested they walk. He held Leah’s hand, enjoying her face as she studied the neighborhood. It was an eclectic mix of high rise apartments, Victorians, and bungalows turned into businesses.
“I love it here,” she said, smiling up at him. With her flat shoes on, instead of the heels she wore at the office, he could tuck her under his chin if he pulled her into his arms. He would never get enough of feeling her warm, soft, curvy body against him. “What are you thinking, Marcus? There’s quite a gleam in your eyes.”
“What I want for brunch. Who I want for after brunch.”
She blushed, and his already hard cock strained against the zipper of his jeans.
Down, boy. She’s all ours.
Marcus had left his glasses at the apartment, wanting to be able to lean in and kiss her on a whim, and not have them get in the way.
They turned on to the street where the café stood, and on impulse he pulled Leah into the narrow alley that ran alongside the kitchen.
“Marcus—”
“Need a kiss.” He pinned her against the brick wall, brushed loose curls off her cheek, then traced her beautiful lips with his finger. The light sheen of the lip balm she’d applied in the elevator enhanced their natural pink. “What flavor?”
She swallowed. “Vanilla mint.”
“My new favorite.”
He framed her face with his hands and captured those sweet, full lips. Her low moan had him deepening the kiss, taking her deeper into his heart. God help him, he loved her. He never thought he’d ever feel like this, or find a woman who brought his heart to life like Leah did. She was everything to him, and he planned to—
“Creature of habit, aren’t you, Marcus.”
The familiar voice spun him around, and his heart pounded. “Tanya.” Leah gasped, and he made sure to keep himself between her and the crazy woman standing in front of him, a knife in her hand. “There’s no need to do anything—”
“Stupid? Crazy? I am a woman scorned, Marcus. You forced me to watch you as you cheated on me, with her,” she sneered at Leah. “In front of all those people!”
Marcus foug
ht to keep calm. He wanted to jump Tanya, but the knife forced his hand. Leah’s protection came first.
“We are not a couple, Tanya. We haven’t been for more than three years now.”
“You know I love you.” Her dark eyes looked wild, though the rest of her was as outrageous and colorful as usual. “It’s time to leave her, Marcus, and come home.”
“No.”
Leah gripped his arm, leaned up to whisper to him. “Go with her. I’ll call the police—”
He shook his head, once, his gaze never leaving Tanya. Fury twisted her face, and she stared at Leah’s hand on his arm.
“Let me go, sweetheart.”
Leah did, her breathing fast and scared.
Tanya’s face relaxed. “Come on, lover. We have so much time to make up for.”
“I told you, no. This ends here, Tanya.”
“We finally agree.”
She lunged forward. Marcus twisted and shoved Leah to the ground. That second cost him. Sharp pain exploded in his lower back. He grabbed Tanya’s wrist, and she smiled up at him as she drove the knife in to the hilt.
Agony roared through him. He barely heard Leah’s scream as it consumed him. His knees buckled, and he fought to breathe, clutching the knife hilt. Part of him knew not to pull it out, as much as he wanted to be free of the source. He forced his head up, and saw a second knife in Tanya’s hand.
“No,” he whispered.
“You’re mine, Marcus Hawkins. No one else will have you.”
The knife in his side shifted and he dropped to the ground, fighting for the breath that wouldn’t come.
***
“Marcus—” Leah caught him as he fell, just able to keep him head from smacking the ground.
“Get your hands off him, bitch!”
Rage Leah had never felt before spiraled through her. Cold, fierce, focused. She eased Marcus down and stood, facing Tanya. They were far enough down the alley that shadows covered them, and the sparse Sunday morning walkers would never notice them from the street, not unless she screamed.
“You’re not going to touch him again, Tanya.”
“What are you going to do about it, you fat bitch? Sit on me?”
“No.” She clutched the strap of her purse. Her heavy, coin loaded purse. She was terrified of what might happen. But this wasn’t going to end well if she didn’t try. “I’m going to do this.”
Leah swung the purse off her shoulder and aimed it at Tanya’s head.
Impact snapped her head around and she stumbled. But she still held on to the knife. With a furious snarl she ran at Leah.
“Oh God—” Leah stumbled backward—and tripped over Marcus’ leg.
She hit the ground hard, and looked up in time to see Tanya push off the wall, the knife arcing down, aimed right for Leah’s chest.
With a desperate shout Leah lunged up and tackled her.
They toppled, and Leah screamed as pain scorched her left arm. She ignored it, dragged her purse up and slammed it into Tanya’s left cheek.
The woman let out a low cry and collapsed, the knife falling out of her hand. Gasping for breath, Leah kicked it away and crawled over to Marcus. Her scream finally brought help—two men and a woman sprinted down the alley, halting when they saw Tanya.
“Please call 911.” Leah sounded surprisingly calm. She waited just long enough to see one of the men start tapping on his cell phone before she leaned over Marcus. God—there was so much blood. “Marcus, open your eyes for me.”
She reached for his wound, knowing it would hurt him, but she had to do something to stop the bleeding—
Her sweater. She yanked it off, folded the blue cotton into a thick square, and pressed it against his wound, trying her best to avoid touching the knife.
He gasped, trying to arch away, his hand scrabbling over hers.
“Marcus, it’s me. It’s okay—Tanya’s not going to touch either of us again.”
“Leah.” His voice barely reached her.
“Shush—paramedics are on the way. Just hold still.”
His lips moved, but she couldn’t hear him. That scared the hell out of her. She leaned in and caught the last part.
“Love you, Leah.”
“Don’t you dare, Marcus Hawkins. Stay with me, you’re going to be fine. Don’t close your eyes—Marcus—” He relaxed under her hands, his eyes closing, his face white. “Damn it, Marcus, stay with me.” She pressed harder on the wound, blood already soaking her makeshift bandage. “Hold on, Marcus, please—don’t leave me now, not now. Marcus—”
Sirens filtered down the alley, not nearly as loud as her pounding heart.
“Stay with me, Marcus—please stay with me—”
Six
Leah didn’t remember the ride to the hospital, after her arm had been bandaged by one of the paramedics. She refused to wait long enough for him to do more than that. She rode with the man and woman, John and Jenny Neil, who turned out to be the owners of the café, and friends of Marcus.
They helped her get through the nightmare of ER, and Jenny led her to the private waiting room while John parked the car.
“Thank you,” Leah whispered, her throat raw from unshed tears.
“Marcus is our friend, and I remember that woman. She was relentless, even after he broke it off with her. In public.”
What Leah had done was finally sinking in, and she shivered, wanting to sit, wanting to cry, wanting to see Marcus, hold him, know he was alive—
“Leah!” Fantine rushed in and made a beeline for her. “Good God.” Her hand hovered over Leah’s bandaged arm. “Did that crazy ass bitch get arrested?”
“Yes.” Graham stood in the doorway, unshaven and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Leah didn’t think she’d ever seen him out of a suit. He stalked over to her, and she braced herself for his temper, more than aware she was partly to blame for what happened. He shocked her by framing her face, his voice gentle. “Are you all right?”
The tears she had been holding in slipped free. “I think so.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her cheek. “John saw what you did.” A smile tugged at his mouth, eased the haunted look in his blue eyes. “I wish I had been there. I’ll never look at a woman’s purse the same again.”
Fantine raised her eyebrows. “You took her out with your purse?”
“It had some—rolled coin in it.”
She lowered her head, unable to keep in the fear. Graham sat her down and gathered her in his arms as she cried, rubbing her back, his deep voice calm and soothing. By the time she cried herself dry and pulled away, the shoulder of his t-shirt was soaked.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Happy to lend a shoulder.”
Fantine and Jenny stood in front of them, looking concerned.
“Why don’t we get you cleaned up,” Fantine said, holding out her hand. “You can’t see Marcus looking like you rolled around in an alley.”
Leah let out a choked laugh. Leave it to Fantine. “Okay.”
Graham helped her to her feet, brushing a kiss over her hair before he let her go. He was a revelation. She barely saw him smile when she saw him in the office, never mind show such care for someone he hardly knew.
A doctor appeared in the doorway, wearing bloodstained scrubs. She froze, her heart skipping.
“I’m looking for the family of Marcus Hawkins.”
“I’m his brother.” Graham moved to Leah’s side, his arm around her shoulders. “And this is his fiancée.” She stared up at him, and he winked at her. Graham Hawkins, the stone lawyer, was lying so she could see Marcus. She fell a little in love with him. “How is he?”
“He lost a great deal of blood.” The doctor raised his eyebrows, like they were to blame for not getting him to the hospital as fast as possible. “He’s stable for now, and heavily sedated. If he does well overnight, I believe he will make a full recovery. Eventually.”
Graham stiffened. “What do you mean, eventually?” There was the lawyer she knew�
�hard, biting, direct.
“The blade damaged nerves. I won’t know until the swelling goes down just how permanent the paralysis is.”
Her knees threatened to buckle. Graham spoke the words she couldn’t get out.
“Where?”
“His left leg.” The doctor was brusque, but kind. “Like I said, swelling can cause pressure on the nerves, and it will take time before I can determine the true extent of the damage. I’ve called in the best doctors for him, Mr. Hawkins. Your brother will receive the finest, most knowledgeable care available to him.”
“I want to see him.”
“He’s asleep, but that will be fine, for a few minutes. Two of you at a time.” He crossed his arms. “I’m assuming you all are—family.”
“Yes.” Graham spoke for them. “Lead the way, Doctor.”
“Richards.” He uncrossed his arms and held out his hand. “Dan Richards. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hawkins. My wife is an attorney, and she’s crossed paths with you several times.”
“Nancy Richards?” Dr. Richards nodded. “She is a worthy adversary. I have enjoyed sparring with her.”
A smile lit the doctor’s face. “I’ll be sure to tell her. This way.”
He led them back into the ICU unit, and to a private room at the far side of the half circle of beds, closest to the nurses’ station. Graham kept his arm around Leah, and Fantine walked on her right side, gripping her hand.
They halted outside the door, and Dr. Richards kept his voice low. “There’s a family waiting room behind the nurses’ station. Please feel free to stay there as long as you like. The nurses on duty will provide any food or drink you need. We keep a stock in the break room, for those who don’t want to leave their family members. Two at a time, and only five minutes.”
“Understood.” Graham held out his hand. “Thank you, Dr. Richards. Thank you for saving my brother.”
“I believe the pretty little lady at your side did that.” He took Leah’s hand, and she blushed. “I just finished for her.” He patted her hand and freed it. “Go on in. I’ll let the nurses know you’re here.”
Graham guided her to the door and opened it, letting go of her long enough for her to walk into the room. Her first sight of Marcus froze her.
