Page 63 of Ruthless Secrets
“I…” I can’t seem to think of a good enough reason.
Normally, I would have used Zoe as an excuse, but it seems Marco is already one step ahead of me.
“Fine.”
“Fine?” Marco laughs. “You could say it with a little more enthusiasm.”
I smile. “Ask me again when I’ve had another cup of coffee.”
Marco gaveme no clues as to where we’re going except that it’s outside.
Under normal circumstances, I would have been excited at the idea of leaving Andre’s house, but the fact that there’s a blacked-out Range Rover following closely behind us with two armed guards has my stomach threatening to empty itself.
I’m not sure if it would make me feel better if I didn’t know they were armed, but Marco made a point of askingthem about their weapons in front of me before we left the house.
He likely did it as a way of easing my anxiety, but it’s only made it worse.
But I don’t have the heart to tell him how worried I am when he seems genuinely excited about wherever it is we’re going.
We drive for over an hour, listening to the radio and talking about anything and everything.
It feels easy being with Marco like this. It makes me wonder what it would have been like if I’d woken up all those months ago in my hotel room at the plaza to find him still sleeping beside me rather than gone.
He seems more at ease too. He’s ditched his usual black attire for a pair of tan slacks and a pale blue shirt, which brings out the golden tones in his skin. He’s rolled the sleeves up to his elbows to expose his muscular forearms, which has me practically salivating.
To be honest, he could wear a paper bag, and I’m pretty sure I would still be salivating. The man is insanely gorgeous, but completely off limits. Or so I keep trying to convince myself…
I roll down my window and lift my face to the sun to warm my skin.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been out of the city. I was born and raised in New York, and I never feel like I’m missing out on anything by not leaving. But right now, as thick green forests surround us on both sides and the smell of the fresh air hits my nose, a sense of calm washes over me that I haven’t felt in a very long time.
Marco brings the car to a stop. “We’re here.”
I frown as I glance around at the thick forest surrounding us. “Have you brought me here to murder me?”
Marco turns his body in his seat so he can face me. Hisexpression is unreadable and for a moment, I’m worried that I’ve crossed a line.
But then he leans forward so that his face is close enough to mine that I can feel his breath tickle my cheek.
“There are many things I want to do to you. But they all involve giving you pleasure, rather than pain.”
I almost choke on my own breath.
Marco grins before reaching across me to open up my door. He doesn’t even touch me and yet somehow, being so close to him has me subtly shifting in my seat as warmth starts to spread between my thighs.
“Everything okay?” Marco’s body still leans over mine.
His lips are twitching, and his dark eyes have a mischievous glint to them as he regards me with curiosity.
He knows exactly what he’s doing to me, and yet he makes no attempt to move.
“Yep.” I try not to breathe through my nose.
He’s wearing that cologne that makes him smell like sandalwood, and I want to smother in it, inhim.
“We should get going,” I blurt out.
I swear Marco chuckles under his breath as he gets out of the car.
