Page 16 of His to Keep
Rory’s fate tore at her heart. “I’ll have to call Amanda. She needs to know where I’ve been. What time is it?” Her gaze drifted to the window, noting it was daylight. “Could you call her for me? I don’t feel like talking.”
The shock was seeping into her bones. A shiver made her teeth chatter. Marcus raised her ankles back onto the bed, then covered her body with the flimsy blanket.
“I’ll call Amanda later and tell her you’re staying with me.”
“We barely know each other, Marcus,” she mumbled as tiredness swept over her body.
Her eyes fluttered shut as Marcus ordered, “You’re coming home with me. No arguments.”
“Okay,” she mumbled into the pillow.
He leant forward and pressed his warm lips to the curve of her jaw. “That bastard will pay for what he did to you, Lana. He’ll fucking rot in hell.” His words rolled around in her brain amidst the flashes of Carl’s menacing smile.
9
Lana’s eyes pinged open.
She bolted upright and held the bed sheet to her tight lungs. A bead of sweat trickled down the clammy skin at her temple. Scanning the dimly lit corners with the same speed as her racing heartbeat, Lana recognised the large room. She was back in Fermanagh.
“Lana.” Marcus’s voice rumbled from the armchair beside the bed. His torso hunched forward and his elbows rested on his knees. “You’re safe. I’m here.”
Her breathing was ragged, each little intake of air rasped in the stillness. Pulsating adrenaline jumped in her throat and her chin wobbled. “Marcus?”
The pale moonlight peeked through the wooden window slats, shadowing half of his features like a mask and sparking the gold flecks in his eyes, making them glisten like shards of amber. Her eyes narrowed to slits, fixated on his broad powerful form.
Marcus yawned, rubbing his prickled jaw with both palms. “It’s okay, beautiful.” His tired voice was husky.
“It’s you…thank fuck.” Lana breathed in his familiar musky scent and detected his perfect white teeth behind a warm smile.
Palming the bedside table, she fumbled for the lamp. The edge of the bed sank down and Marcus leaned over, flicking the switch. Light flooded the room, casting shadows on the walls like monsters.
“Go back to sleep.” He ordered with a calmness to his rasp. “I’m right here.”
She gulped, cowering under the protective sheet with only her face peeking out. “Are you sure he’s not here…hiding in the house?”
“He’s locked up.” His face was pale, almost grey, and dark crescents hung under his sleepy eyes.
Even though his jet-black hair was messy and his unbuttoned shirt hung loose, he still looked sexy as hell. She desperately wanted to crawl onto his lap and curl around his muscular torso for safety, but she couldn’t fathom why he was sleeping in a chair when she was lying in a king-sized bed, alone.
“Why were you sleeping in that chair, Marcus?” She slid him an uncertain look.
The corner of his mouth raised with a sexy smirk. His hand drifted to a lock of hair that hung in front of her face. Gently and carefully he tucked it behind her ear.
“I didn’t want to crowd you, Lana. I heard your screams and wanted to stay close.”
Her face pinched. “Why don’t you share the bed with me?”
Marcus brushed his knuckles across her jaw, his eyes soft. “We haven’t worked out what this is yet.”
His gentle touch prompted a seductive shiver that stirred an unexpected heat between her legs.
“Us?” she asked, curling her fists.
The look on his face was dark and dangerous as his eyes drifted down her body. “I was giving you time before…”
“What?” she barely whispered.
His hand retreated and he sat tall. “It’s been a long few days.”
