Page 24 of Sorcia's Heart
“Thanks for the assist,” Sorcia replied, a flicker of pride warming her tone.
Saving the waitress might have been a minor feat, but it felt good.Moments like these reminded Sorcia why she used her powers—to help others.She knew Marcus shared that philosophy.
“How’s your office coming along?”she asked, steering the conversation in a lighter direction and thinking of the building he was renovating behind hers.
“Good,” Marcus replied, lifting his hand to signal the waitress for the check.“I won’t need it for long, but it will suffice for as long as I’m here.”
The casual comment sent a pang through Sorcia’s chest, sharp and unexpected.Of course, Marcus wouldn’t stay in Baltimore permanently.He wasn’t here because of her—he was here because of the tremors in thesphaera.His presence was a necessity, not a choice.
The realization weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow over the brief connection they had shared.She took another bite of her fish, trying to focus on the food instead of the ache tightening in her chest.
That was fine, she told herself firmly.She didn’t want to be with a man who would betray her, and Marcus’s supposed betrayal was the reason they’d broken up two years ago.His priorities were clear, and they didn’t include her.
Sorcia kept that in mind as she pushed her plate away, though the thought did little to ease the growing knot of conflicting emotions swirling within her.
Chapter 12
Marcustossedacreditcard onto the faux leather binder containing the check, silently berating himself for his poorly chosen comment.Sorcia would interpret his statement in one of two ways, neither of which would help his cause.She’d either think he was only here to help her find this demon before leaving again, or worse, she’d assume his need for a temporary office meant he intended to move in with her, just as they had done two years ago.
The truth was closer to the second assumption.He had been away from Sorcia for two long years.Initially, his anger had been blinding—he’d been livid that she had so readily believed he would cheat on her.Her accusation had felt like a slap, cutting deep in ways he hadn’t anticipated.So, he’d left, trying to banish her from his life and his mind, throwing himself into his businesses and his responsibilities.
But as the months stretched on, his anger gave way to frustration, then disbelief.Surely, Sorcia would realize the truth.Surely, she’d come to understand that he hadn’t cheated on her—hadn’t evenhad timeto cheat on her.Every moment he wasn’t running his businesses in Chicago, he was flying back and forth to be with her.She had been his entire world, and he thought she’d known that.
Yet, she hadn’t.She hadn’t come to him, hadn’t reached out, hadn’t demanded answers.And so, he’d waited, hoping, convinced that she would see through the lie, see the truth of how deeply he cared for her.
That clarity never came.
When thesphaerashifted recently, and he’d felt the tremors signaling a danger that he quickly realized was aimed at Sorcia, he hadn’t hesitated.There had been no second-guessing his decision to come back to her, to ensure her safety.But this time, he wasn’t going to leave once the threat was dealt with.
Marcus was determined to stay, to show her the truth, to convince her that whatever she thought she had seen two years ago was a fabrication, a cruel lie meant to destroy what they had together.He’d let her push him away before, but he wasn’t going to let that happen again.
This time, he’d fight for her—and for them.
He would never cheat on Sorcia.Not then, not now, not ever.She had been everything to him—his world, his reason to come alive every day.The whole office setup they’d shared before?That hadn’t been convenience; it had been necessity.They hadn’t been able to stay apart, not even during the workday.She’d had an office down the hall from him in Chicago, and he’d kept one close to hers here in Baltimore.
He wanted that again.He needed Sorcia.No other woman had ever come close.He’d tried—tried to move on, tried to forget her over the past two years.But nothing had worked.Being back now, helping her, being close to her again…this had to work.
“Where are we off to?”Marcus asked, pulling his keys from his pocket.The metallic jingle felt like a grounding moment, though his pulse was already quickening in her presence.“I’ll drive.”
Sorcia’s gaze dropped to the keys, then shifted as she looked around the parking lot.“What are you driving these days?”
He led her toward the lot, snapping his fingers with a casual flair.A sleek black Maserati shimmered into existence, already humming with power.Its glossy surface gleamed under the muted sunlight.
“Will this work?”Marcus asked, arching an eyebrow.
Sorcia stopped, her lips curving into a reluctant smile.“I like it,” she admitted, “but I think we should be a bit more stealthy.That car draws too much attention, and we need to stay under the radar.”
Marcus considered her words, then gave a brief nod.With another snap of his fingers, the Maserati transformed into a sleek black SUV.It was still elegant, but much more inconspicuous.“Better?”he asked, his tone edged with a quiet confidence as he walked to the passenger door.
Sorcia laughed softly, shaking her head as she slipped inside.“Much better,” she said, her legs sliding gracefully into the vehicle.Her black skirt rode up slightly as she adjusted her position, and her leather purse rested primly on her lap.
Marcus paused for a moment, holding the door open as his eyes roamed over her.She had always been stunning, but now...Damn, she had been working out.Her long, toned legs caught his attention first, but everything about her drew him in.The tailored skirt, the soft silk blouse with its delicate floral pattern, the curve of her neck as she glanced up at him.
His pulse thundered as his imagination got the better of him.He wanted to move closer, to let his hand rest on her knee and slide upward, discovering the heat she so carefully guarded.He wanted to unfasten the buttons of her blouse, to reveal the color of her bra, and then strip away everything to explore her completely.
“Marcus?”Sorcia prompted, her voice low and husky.
His eyes snapped to hers, and he froze for a beat.She felt it too—he could see it in the soft glow of her green eyes, the way her lips parted ever so slightly.The air between them thickened, heavy with unspoken desire.
