MARCUS: A Desdin County Romance Read online

  MARCUS

  A Desdin County Romance

  By Skylar Platt

  MARCUS

  A Desdin County Romance

  By Skylar Platt

  Copyright © 2020 by Skylar Platt

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without written permission from the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design by Romance Book Cover Designs https://romancebookcoverdesigns.com

  For more about this author go to www.skylarplattauthor.com

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  CHAPTER ONE

  MARCUS

  She grabbed my beer and took a long pull on the bottle while she waited for her own order. I watched the liquid flow down her throat and my pulse quickened.

  “Hi,” she said, sliding the beer back to me, a sly look in her eye as she grabbed a French fry off my plate. I found myself entranced and amused. I’d had never seen this side of her, in fact honestly for as long as I had known her, which was decades, I felt I knew more of her than really her. She was my boss, Wesley Lancaster’s daughter, had thick flaming red hair, a Division I college cross-country runner back in the day, and was Henry's Goddaughter. She was a writer or editor of some sort I think I recall someone saying. Her father is a royal pain in my ass and sadly I’d never given her credit for being anything other than the same, although she had never offered me anything but kindness in the very few interactions we had ever had over the years.

  “You’re drunk,” I said with a smile, intending to make sure her keys were no longer in her possession.

  “You're hot,” she replied, her green eyes shining brightly as they locked onto mine and a jolt of electricity ripped through me.

  With a chuckle I slid my beer back toward her. I wasn’t going to do anything to discourage that thinking. Another long pull rippled down her throat. Her fingers grazed mine as she handed it back to me. I locked my eyes on hers and drained the beer, running the tip of my tongue along the bottle where her mouth had just been. Her breath caught, she cocked an eyebrow at me, and bit her lower lip. She winked and returned to the table occupied by her friends. Skin tight jeans, her shirt plain in front, but with a twisted knot at the top in the back and then a ribbon laced to the waist, begging to be untied. My fingers twitched at the thought and I laughed to myself. Where on earth had this come from?

  Henry brought me another beer.

  “Do you have her keys?” I asked motioning toward Cassidy.

  “In the basket,” Henry nodded. “She handed them over when she walked in. Trying to drink the latest heartbreak away I think.”

  I looked at Henry and he just shook his head. “My Goddaughter has not had the best of luck with men lately,” he said.

  “They must be idiots,” I said more to myself than Henry, but it got his attention.

  I watched her laughing, her mass of silky red waves falling across her shoulders. The bar was filling up, but I managed to keep the seat opposite me on the corner unoccupied so Cassidy would keep visiting. And she did.

  A group of men had swooped in on the girls' night and while the others seemed not to mind, Cassidy was not interested and sought refuge with me, squeezing tightly into the bit of space remaining next to me as patrons sought any available space along the expansive wooden bar.

  A shot of tequila suddenly appeared before her. I eyed Henry, he shrugged and pointed to the table where the girls and guys were toasting with shots. A stocky man with close-cropped sandy brown hair approached us, or rather, Cassidy. He sidled in next to her, leaning on the bar, she practically had her back to him, facing me with pleading eyes. The man tried to encourage her to do the shot with him, she politely, too politely, refused. His brow furrowed and the look he gave her caused a cloud to fill her eyes, something possibly deeply rooted by past experience.

  “Dude, I'm not interested. I'd like to be left alone here with my friend,” she was stern, not quite hostile, but that would be next and I couldn't help but grin a bit. Don't mess with a redhead.

  “Fine,” he said and mumbled “Bitch!” as he walked away. She hung her head, took a deep breath and squeezed my knee under the bar. Fire flew from her fingertips up my thigh and into my groin. Good Lord!

  When she raised her head all clouds had lifted and her eyes sparkled again. I placed my hand over hers, my large hand engulfed it and I pinned it to my leg, heat pulsing between our entwined fingers. The shot of tequila remained in front of us. She eyeballed it. She didn't need it. But I wasn’t here to judge, and I would get her home safely.

  She raised the glass to her lips and took a small sip, closing her eyes and letting it burn the whole way down. She pushed the rest of the shot to me. All I could think of was licking the tequila off her still-wet lips.

  “Someone has to drive you home,” I said.

  The realization that I was volunteering for that duty filled her face with a look of delight, but the look quickly turned delightfully devilish. I felt her hand begin traveling up my leg. Instead of thwarting her, I smirked watching her eyes closely. I know I should not be enjoying this so much. I know I should stop her fingers from reaching my crotch. But I just couldn’t bring myself to deter her.

  This had been so unexpected. Such a fun surprise and the attention was flattering. My thigh was growing hotter under her touch, I shook my eyes from her stare as those fingers drifted below the inseam of my jeans. The erection forming was making it difficult for me to sit still. I fidgeted just slightly in the chair, causing her grin to widen and unintentionally giving her better access. Blush filled her cheeks as she reached the bulge in my jeans, her mouth opened slightly, then she froze and her eyes filled with lust which caused me to throb. She felt it and pressed her palm down harder, then trailed the tips of her fingers up and down my jeans.

  I shook my head and finally put my hand on hers before things became obscene.

  I downed the rest of the tequila.

  “Are you hitting on me?” I asked, leaning toward her, her sweet lips right there and I desperately wanted a taste.

  “Is it working?” she gave a wry grin.

  “I think you already know the answer to that.”

  She gave a satisfied smile. “Take me home please,” she leaned to my ear, her lips grazing it as she said she was going to the restroom.

  Henry had been busy, but not too busy to shoot me a look of warning when he handed over her keys. “Behave, Marcus. Behave.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  CASSIDY

  He held the passenger door of my SUV open for me.

  I paused and pressed myself against him, reaching around and grabbing his oh so perfect ass.

  “Get. In.” He growled with a smile and shake of his head, his long stick-straight hair getting caught in the evening breeze. Half Italian and Native American, you’d be hard pressed to see the Italian heritage. Standing here now, his long black hair shining under the parking lot lights, those dark eyes set deeply hooded under dark brows. Not toweringly tall, but thick broad shoulders made him visibly imposing, as did his chiseled features, sharp cheek bones and square jaw. He didn’t give the impression he would put up with much bullshit, which served him well as a deputy for my father.

  Brother's Osborne blare
d from the speakers as Marcus turned the key.

  “Sorry,” I winced and instantly killed the music. A couple miles down the road my fun was quickly turning sour in my gut. I rolled the window down, and came just shy of sticking my entire head out like a hound dog.

  “Are you OK?” he asked.

  “I don't know.” I tried taking a deep breath and gulping in the cool outside air. He pulled over and was at the side of the vehicle cradling me as I slid out into his arms. “Sorry. Everything is spinning, please make it stop,” I whimpered.

  He tossed his jacket down on the ground and gently urged me to sit.

  “Sorry,” I said as the tears started to fall.

  “No need to apologize,” he said softly.

  “I didn't think I was this drunk when we left,” I stood, woozy, the world still spinning out of control as was my stomach. I was ready to puke and Marcus moved with me, clasping my hair in his hands. My stomach lurched and I leaned forward unloading a huge belch and then a hugely painful dry heave. He still had a hold of my hair as I slumped back into his arms.

  “Well, that feels better,” I tried to laugh, but tears still streamed down my face. “I’m so sorry...” he pressed a finger to my lips.

  “Stop that. What do you feel like you need to apologize for?”

  “Killing the mood, ruining your evening, being an idiot...it's a very long list.” I hung my head in my hands.

  Marcus pulled me back into him pressing my head against his chest and kissed the top of my head so lightly, I just might have imagined it.

  “Let's take the last part first. You are in no way shape or form an idiot. And drinking too much, feeling sick and needing some air, does not make you one. Second,” he pulled my head away from his crushing my hair in his hands, forcing me to meet his eyes. “I have had more fun with you tonight than I have had in years.”

  I smiled at him doubtful and feeling suddenly drained.

  The earth was no longer spinning beneath my feet when we got to my house, but my head was not exactly clear. I pointed the house key out to Marcus and leaned against him as he opened the door. I made my way to bedroom to pee and splash water on my red splotchy face. I returned to find Marcus in the kitchen pouring me some water and looking for aspirin.

  His jeans weren’t cowboy tight, but they just couldn’t conceal the roundness of his ass and the strong solid thighs testing the limits of the denim. I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and inhaled. My head filled with the scent of leather and was that hay? He took a deep breath and gently unwrapped my arms from around him, I grumbled in protest and reached for his lips, suddenly ravenous for this man. I kissed him, felt his warm lips against mine, parting slightly. He took my shoulders in his hands and moved me away from him. I bowed my head and pressed it against his chest. His large hands rubbed along my back and he kissed the top of my head. I pulled away, reluctantly reaching for the glass of water on the counter.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled about to cry again.

  “No need,” he said so sweetly. “Come on, let's find you some aspirin and get you into bed.” I grinned at him. “Alone,” he whispered his warm breath on my ear.

  As he was fumbling around the drawers in the bathroom for aspirin I striped down to nothing searching for a t-shirt. It had not been my intention to give him a show, but as I pulled the t-shirt over my head, I was not disappointed to see him frozen in the bathroom doorway.

  I moved to him, took the aspirin from his outstretched hand and drank some water. He remained at arm’s length, a “safe” distance from my bare skin, but he didn’t avert his eyes. Holding his hands in check he let his eyes do all of the wandering, the slightest smile to his lips. He didn’t need his hands to transfer the heat filling his eyes to my now throbbing mound.

  MARCUS

  Turn around Marcus. Move away. Do it now.

  My brain was screaming. But my body refused to move. She had not expected me to be standing there. I watched the t-shirt fall over her small breasts, nipples standing at attention underneath the thin cotton cloth. My eyes followed the flow of the shirt as it stalled just below her belly button leaving her glistening pussy exposed to me. I had to bite my tongue to keep from outright licking my lips. I ached, physically ached, to taste her.

  No, No, NO! Boss’s daughter!

  She locked her eyes on mine, erased the distance between us taking my hand in hers and placing it between her legs. She was hot and so wet. My finger slid so easily between her soft folds and into her, a low moan escaping her lips. Her chest heaved against mine and she dropped her head back when I began the slow deliciously tortuous circles around her clit with my thumb.

  “Marcus? Kiss me, please.” I removed my hand from between her legs and traced my thumb across her lips. She opened her mouth taking my thumb inside, tasting her own arousal. Unable to suppress the groan this elicited. I’d been rendered powerless to stop her from unbuttoning my jeans. My rock-hard cock was escaping the top of my briefs. When she ran her thumb across the top of it, I granted her request and kissed her hard and deep. I pulled her hips to mine so she couldn’t move her hands anymore. I was so close to coming right then and there.

  Pushing her across the bed in one deft move I could be inside of her. As if reading my thoughts she tugged my briefs down and raised herself a bit higher. The smooth skin of her belly against my cock. I could feel the heat radiating from between her legs against my balls. Her legs wrapped around my waist. I kissed her again, the tip of my cock so close to her entrance.

  Finally, my brain won out and I stopped.

  “Not like this,” I breathed into her. “I can’t.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  CASSIDY

  I slipped his flannel shirt, which remained tossed on the chair in my room signaling thankfully that he was still here, over my t-shirt, tugged on some sweats and made my way to kitchen to find Marcus pouring hot water over the coffee in the French Press – not the kind of man I had expected to know how to use one of those.

  The evening was foggy but I remembered enough of it to have a hard time looking him in the eye.

  “Hey,” he grinned.

  “How many apologies do I owe you?”

  “Not a single one.”

  I sat at the table, my head starting to pound.

  “Cream or sugar?”

  “Just cream.”

  He handed me the coffee and just inhaling the scent was heavenly. “Thank you.” I said. “Thank you for all of it.”

  He sat across from me. “I'm glad I was there.”

  “You didn't need to stay all night,” I said.

  “Actually I did,” he smiled.

  “Right, you don’t have your car.”

  “Henry will be by in a little while to get me.” He gave me that little Marcus grin.

  I stretched my arm out across the table and let my suddenly heavy head sink to it. I fixed my eyes on his hand and took hold of it. Certain snippets of the evening were coming back to me as I sat at the table with my head down on my arm looking up at him. His hands. Suddenly the last part of the evening filled my head.

  “Oh God,” I said. “I’m so, so sorry.” I buried my head again. He took my hand in his, the same hand that had been inside me. A little flutter hit my stomach as I recalled how his fingers felt inside of me. “Thank you for your restraint.”

  “I wasn't as restrained as I probably should have been...you did NOT make it easy.”

  I looked at him and returned his smile. All embarrassment and shame evaporated as I looked at the warmth in his eyes.

  I could hear footsteps outside and then the knock on the door, but neither of us made a move. He ran his fingers across my lips, I responded by taking one into my mouth and biting softly, smiling. The night might be a blur, but not completely gone.

  I giggled a bit when he stood wincing as he made an adjustment to his jeans, I cocked an eyebrow at him as a flood of wet heat filled my pants, he cocked a brow right back at me.

  Henry greeted
us with a scowl, glancing at me clad in his shirt, standing too close together. Henry hugged me, but I saw the look he fired at Marcus as he pulled away.

  I reached for Marcus as they made their way to the door and pulled him in an embrace. “Thank you.”

  We held on a beat too long. “Anytime,” he whispered.

  MARCUS

  “I told you to behave,” Henry fired at me as I climbed into the passenger seat of his vintage Chevy pickup.

  I laughed. “I did,” was all I offered.

  “Damnit Marcus, she is my Goddaughter...Wes will kill you.”

  “For what, getting his drunk daughter home safely?”

  “Be serious for a second, and that is my point, she was drunk Marcus. I know you, but I would never have expected you to take advantage of a drunk woman, especially Wes’s daughter.”

  I shot Henry a look, fury building within me. “Well thank you so much for your high opinion of me. You have no idea what went on last night and it is none of your business. We are both adults. Nothing happened, but I shouldn't have to tell you that. I don't owe you any explanation.”

  Of course, something did happen, and I was still trying to process the fact that there was a throbbing in my heart when she walked into that kitchen wearing my shirt, a smokey line of mascara under her eyes. A throbbing I’d not felt in many, many years, possibly ever, and yes, it scared the crap out of me.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  MARCUS

  Even from a half mile away, the flash of red was unmistakable.

  Her fiery red pony tail swished from side-to-side like a beacon calling me as she jogged down the road. I slowed the SUV as I got close to her, flipped the flashing lights and ticked the siren once which had the expected and unavoidable effect of rudely jolting her out of her running trance.