Page 31 of His to Keep
She padded to the moonlit kitchen. The pale glow shifted shadows into threatening shapes. Her pulse jumped. He wasn’t there.
Darting through the house, she finally heard his deep sexy voice behind the door to his office. She pressed the shell of her ear to the lacquered wood, hearing muffled footsteps like he was pacing.
“I’ll admit, it hasn’t been easy. Her head is messed up. She’s clingy as fuck.” His voice was stern. “It’s suffocating but I’ll stick it out.”
Lana clutched her stomach, dipping forward.Clingy? Suffocating? Stick it out? What the hell…
She sucked in a gust of air the exact moment her knees weakened. Leaning her shoulder into the wall for support, her palm flew up to cover her mouth, hoping to muffle her whimper but a shuddering gasp burst into the silence.
The door flew open. Marcus dragged his hands over his speckled jaw and trailed his fingers through his inky black hair. A heavy sigh tightened his features.
His bare chestnut coloured skin seemed darker in the dim light and taught muscles contracted like a shield locking into place.
“What are you doing?” He planted his feet in a wide stance and stared at her oversized tee and messy hair. “Are you okay?”
She stared at him blankly, mulling over jumbled words that would fit how she felt.
“Lana?” He leant forward.
She flinched, scooting back from his magnetic pull. His concerned gaze lingered on her twitching muscles and the quick rise and fall of her chest.
“What’s wrong?” he added, resting his hands on his hips. “Nightmare?”
She turned away, her head dizzy, but his hand flew out and grabbed her elbow with a firmness that bordered on unyielding.
“Did you have a bad dream, beautiful?”
She opened her mouth to speak but the words stuck to her tongue, unable to flow. Pounding panic swirled in her belly and the words finally stuttered out, “I’m just an obligation. Clingy, Marcus?”
Marcus looked to the ceiling and let out a long puff of air from his nose. His grip softened until her arm fell away.
“Look, you didn’t hear everything. I’ll admit that’s how I was feeling at one point. It’s not an issue, Lana.”
Her eyes stung. “Of course it’s an issue, Marcus.”
He threw his hands up in the air. “I knew it. I just knew this wouldn’t fucking work.”
Her brows snapped together. “Really? You don’t think this will go anywhere?” Her voice pitched. “So you’ve just been biding your time before kicking me out on my clingy ass…” She sucked in a steadying breathe but her chin wobbled. “I can’t believe this. Why couldn’t you just be honest with me? I didn’t ask to stay here.”
“I never promised a happy fucking ending, Lana – but when have I not been honest?” His tone was clipped.
“I’ve been suffocating you, apparently. Keeping you away from all those other women you want to fuck. After all, that’s what you’re all about, Marcus. You’re the owner of a sex swapping club. Your morals are fucked up.” She swiped away a tear before it left her eye. “I thought you wanted to help me. To be my rock, Marcus.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed and his sultry look hardened. “Mymorals are fucked up?” His temper twitched his fists. “I met you in that fucking club, Lana. I got you off in my office while your boyfriend was fucking someone else. Or did you forget that? We can’t keep arguing like this.” His hands snapped to his nape, raising his elbows to the air and his fingers locked together. “Lana, I really want you in my life, but I don’t think we should be together right now.” He stepped back and exhaled quietly.
His statement reached out and slammed her in the chest. She scanned his impassive face, hoping and praying this wasn’t the end. The rash reaction was wrong, and her accusation had scalded him more than she anticipated.
Although she was no longer held captive by Carl, her heart was imprisoned by the man before her. His gaze fell to the floor and his hands slotted into the pockets of his joggers.
Her mouth trembled but he still retreated into his office, leaving her all alone in the shadowy hallway.
“Marcus, please.” She flew into the room like a demon was on her back. “We can talk about it. We have to talk this through.”
He faced the window with his shoulders pulled back. “I’ll arrange for my driver to collect you in the morning. Goodnight, Lana.” His tone was like ice - business like.
“That’s it?” Her voice cracked.
His silence was louder than words. She bit back a sob. The distance between them was cold and silent like no mans land after ceasefire. He didn’t turn around to gift her with a forgiving smile or give her any subtle sign that he wanted her to stay.
