Page 50 of Little Fury

In the years of our friendship, I have been on the receiving end of his anger, hurt, humour, and indifference. I have witnessed this man murder, maim and hurt others just to hurt them. I have felt and witnessed it all and participated in most of it, but I have never been on the receiving end of this. This claiming, this want and need, this tangible desire he has for me.

He deepens the kiss, his tongue finding mine. I moan when I feel his tongue against mine. It feels almost forbidden to me, the intimacy of it all. I open my mouth and give him more of me. Wanting to feel him take more of me. His hand snakes into my hair, gripping it tight, holding me in place.

My knees grow weak with every stroke of his tongue. His want of me makes my core clench and my wetness pool. The sounds coming from him as he claims my mouth for his own are feral. His hand tightens in my hair, eliciting a moan from me at the sting. My moan snaps the last bit of control he had. He runs his hand freely over me sending currents of electricity throughout my body.

He pulls his mouth from mine, making me whimper with its loss. Moving to my neck, biting and nipping my skin. Each one sending another rush of heat to my belly; his fingers glide over my shoulder, dragging the straps of my dress down with them. His mouth follows the dress as it slides down my body. The cool air on my breasts, and then his hand running lightly over them, causes my nipples to harden.

“So, fucking perfect,”he says, teasing my nipple with his tongue, sucking it into his mouth, his tongue playing with it. I hiss at the sharp sting of his teeth. That beautiful twinge of pain delivers another rush of heat to my pussy. He releases my nipple and kisses across my chest to trap my other one in his mouth; I let out a shuddering breath when he bites down,soothing the sting with his tongue. I try to reach up and touch him, but my dress traps my arms.

“Marcus, I want to touch you.”

“Not yet, Ava. I've been waiting to touch, to taste you for years, so I think I'll take my fill first.” His tone is very matter of fact.

Years? He's wanted me for years.

He feels my body stiffen, feels my breathing change.“Where did you go, Ava?”

“Years?” I whisper.

He looks at me carefully considering his next words. He takes the slightest step back from me, and I see the hesitation that wasn't there a moment ago. I pull my dress back up, waiting for him to speak.

He takes a deep breath, steadying himself.“Yes, Ava, years.”

He sounds exasperated, like I’m the only one who didn't know this.

“But? I, I, what?”I stammer, trying to wrap my head around this revelation.

He runs his hand through his hair, mussing his perfectly messy look.

“Best friends, Marcus,”I sayquietly, my brain working fast to process and remember what it missed.

“You are my best friend, Ava. You have been since I was seven, and I arrived at Harry’s and met you. You shook my hand and then offered me a fucking squirrel.”

“Mr. Waffle,”I correct him.

“Offered me Mr. Waffle. You were mine.”

Mine? His?

“But you didn’t tell me.”

“Why did you think none of the guys asked you out in school or the town? They all knew you were mine, so they stayed away.”

“But I dated guys, Marcus. I dated Finn for like six months.”

“Yeah,'' Marcus says, running his hand over his face. “That guy wouldn't listen to me. We got into two fights over you, but that asshole would not give up. So, when he finally got you to say yes, I knew I couldn't stop it without hurting you, so I let it be. I even tried to get Harry or Sebastian to interfere and run him off, but neither felt it was necessary. Those six months were some of the shittiest of my life. Every time you went on another date, it made me crazy.”

I think back to the six months I dated Finn. Looking back, Marcus was quiet and never came with Finn and me to parties or anything we asked him to do with us. Finn was my first everything: date, boyfriend, kiss, and I lost my virginity to him. And then it hit me.

“Oh, fucking hell! Marcus! You were my best friend, and I didn't know. Why did you let me tell you all that stuff? I told you when I lost my virginity!”

Darkness flashes across his eyes at the mention of my lost virginity.“Because, Ava, you’re my best friend, and I’m yours, and I never wanted to be a reason you didn't smile.”

“When I went out with Tommy?”

He grabs the back of his neck, looking down to the floor.“Yeah, that was not a good look on me. Tommy knew how I felt about you. We were friends for a while. But he still pursued you. I fucking hate that guy.”

I feel my heart ache for him. I think of all the pain I must have caused him, but he still just took it.“The fight a few months ago? That was because I went out with Tommy?”

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