Red, White and Beautiful (3 page)

“You lied, you hired me just to make me into your little project.” I whisper, staring at his chest instead of his eyes.

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” he growls. “That is not the only reason I hired you.”

“Oh really? What were the reasons, Marcus? And save the ‘you’re so smart, you have good grades’ junk.”

His lip twitches. “For my professional, sweet, girl to use the work junk, she must be angry.”

“Can we get to the point?” I snap.

“And what point is that?” he purrs, pressing his hand to the wall beside my head and bringing his body close. Fuck, I wish he would move back. He smells so damned good when he’s this close.

“I know Chayne is still there.”

“What would you have me do, throw her out and start a war?”

“See, this is what I mean. You don’t want to hurt her, but she continually hurts you. You’re playing with me, Marcus, you never really wanted me. You never…”

He cuts me off with a bark of words that come so loudly and harshly, that I flinch. “Don’t you tell me what I feel, Sierra. I know what I wanted, I know what I want still. I wanted you, I still want you. I can’t just throw Chayne out because she has done wrong, you and I both know that won’t work. It’s not a situation I can get out of easily.”

“You refused to leave her in fear of hurting her, Marcus, even though she’s awful to you. I can’t be expected to come second to that. It was a mistake, what we did, what we…”

He grips the back of my neck, bringing my face closer to his. “It wasn’t a fucking mistake for me. It was everything to me. You ran from me, you didn’t give me a chance to explain and you’ve ignored my calls for days. I kicked Chayne out of my suite, I kicked her out and have told her we’re taking a break. The reason I haven’t gotten rid of her completely is because I’m trying to find proof. You and I both know I can’t just throw her out on the street without her taking everything I have worked for. So yes, for now I am keeping her around until I can sort out what it is I need to do. I have to protect myself and what I care about. The bit you missed, in all your dramatic bullshit, is that what I care about is not just my job, but it’s you. I’ll do whatever it takes. If you answered your damned phone, you would know that.”

I feel my heart thud against my chest as his words sink in. He wants me? He’s going to leave Chayne? He. Wants. Me?

“You…you want me?” I whisper.

“How could you even ask that?” he murmurs, leaning so close I can smell his divine breath.

“I thought…you said…”

“I was trying to protect her because I thought maybe there was some good left in her, but now I see there isn’t. The minute you ran out the door, I realized the mistake I had made. I don’t want to hurt her, and I won’t leave her with nothing, but I want out of this without losing everything I have. So I’ll do what I have to, to make sure that happens.”

“You could get rid of her by showing proof of her cheating, but you won’t do that.”

“I don’t want this to get messy, Sierra, I’m trying to do the right thing. Can’t you understand that?”

“I do understand, but at the same time I really don’t know why you would try to do anything the right way by her after what she did.”

“Look, if it comes down to it I will do what I have to do but for right now, I’m trying to make this as smooth as possible. Not just for me but for you too, Sierra. Can you just trust me, for a moment, and understand I’m doing what’s best?”

“And us?” I whisper.

“I want you, Sierra. I don’t care about the rest. You should have never run from me, you should have answered your phone, because if you did, you would know my choice by now and you would have saved us both the heartache. You’re what I want, and it’s you I want by my side, not her. Sweetheart, you should know that.”

Before I can answer, his lips close over mine. With a deep, long groan, I wrap my arms around his neck and press my body to his. I’ve missed him, god I’ve missed him. He grips my neck and uses his other hand to push at my lower back so his cock is riding against my stomach, showing me just how much he wants me. His tongue slides into my mouth, taunting and teasing, while his hand slides up and down my back.

My clit tightens, desperate for his touch. I need his touch, so when he pulls away, all I can do is whimper helplessly.

“You ran from me,” he says, flicking my bottom lip. “You didn’t think you would just get away with that, did you?”

I bite my lip and stare at his. Big, full, and wet from our kiss. I want them. I want them on my body. I want them on my pussy. I want them inside me, around me, on me. Marcus grips my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. His brown gaze searches my face a moment. “How will I punish you, sweet girl?” he murmurs.

“Don’t make me wait,” I whimper, gripping his shirt. “Please.”

“Let me think about it, and we’ll see what I think of to punish you for running off with that little hot temper of yours.”

I bite my lip again.

“Stop biting your lip, Sierra, or I’ll have you on your knees, with them around my cock in seconds.”

“Maybe that’s what I want.”

He growls and it’s a low, deep sound. He takes a step back, and his fiery gaze turns to me.

“You’re mine, do you understand? Before we leave this room, I want us both to understand something. Once we step out this door, you belong to me. Think long and hard about that, Sierra, because once you’re mine I won’t let you go again. I will cherish you, love you, fuck you and pleasure you, but I won’t share you. Is this what you want?”

I meet his gaze and I know in that moment, it’s exactly what I want.

Marcus has a life I was frightened of and thought I couldn’t live with, until I was forced to live without him. I don’t want to do that again. I stepped into this with him, I’ll step out of it with him. He awakens something deep inside me that I can’t find with anyone else. I won’t give it up for anyone or anything. We’ll deal with Chayne together and I’ll step into his world beside him, because he’s exactly what I want.

“It is.”

He steps forward. “You know what I am, Sierra. I am a dominant. I don’t like to share. I don’t like people touching what’s mine. If you’re with me, you need to accept that.”

“I can, but it goes both ways.”

He strokes a finger over my cheek. “I’m only yours, Sierra. I’ve been only yours since the day I laid eyes on you.”

“And Chayne?”

“We’ll sort it out together, but until then, we can’t be public.”

“I understand,” I whisper.

“Now, go back out and enjoy that party. I’ll have a limo ready to pick us up at eight sharp. I hope you’re ready, sweet girl, because I’m going to make you wish you never ran from me.”

The heat in his gaze frightens me almost as much as the threat in his voice.

“You won’t hurt me, will you?” I whisper.

He steps forward, cupping my cheek in his hand. “Have I ever hurt you?”

I shake my head, swallowing. “No.”

“Then you already have your answer. Now, shall we?”

I hook my arm through his and in a small voice, I whisper. “We shall.”

“What happened?” Quinn asks when Marcus and I walk out and he goes back to his group, but not before giving me a heated look.

“We…ummm…”

“Oh my god, did you fuck him in the storage room?” Quinn gasps.

I let out a nervous, loud giggle that has some people turning. Marcus turns his eyes my way and gives me a devastating smile.

“No,” I whisper. “We talked and…I think…I think we got back together.”

“You think?” Quinn says, his mouth close to my ear, so no one else can hear.

“Yeah, I think. He told me I’m his and that he doesn’t like to share.

He told me he’s asked Chayne to leave and he’s gathering proof to make sure things don’t go sour for him and then he told me he never left me, that it was me who left him, before he even had a chance to tell me his choice was made.”

“Aw see, you jumped ahead of yourself.”

“Yeah, anyway, we are keeping it under wraps for now. If Chayne finds out we’re still seeing each other, it could make the process harder.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“I’m going with him tonight, he wants to see me.”

Quinn waggles his eyebrows. “Oh?”

“Do you think I’m jumping back in too fast?” I say, feeling my chest grow heavy.

“Only you know that answer, Sierra. Only you know if you can deal with the next few months, because they won’t be easy with Chayne. If you can deal with it, then no, I don’t think you’re moving too fast. I’ve seen you in the past few days, and I’ve seen how you’ve been without him.”

“I don’t want to be without him, but I’m scared too.”

“It’s ok to be scared, honey. If it gets too much, at any time, you know where I am.”

I grin at him and pull him closer for a hug.

“Is he going to feed you the fat?” he whispers.

I punch his arm and smother a giggle. “Quinn, that’s gross!”

“It is fat, isn’t it? God, tell me he’s well hung? I’d be horrified if he had a tiny one.”

I roll my eyes and take his hand, pulling him to the dance floor.

When we’re dancing slowly together, I whisper, “It’s big.”

He squeals happily. “How big? Six inches? Oh oh, nine?”

I chuckle. “I haven’t measured it, Quinn.”

“It’s nine.”

My cheeks flame red and a strangled gasp leaves my throat as the sound of Marcus’ sexy voice fills my ears. Oh sweet Jesus, he heard us.

Someone kill me now. I wish the floor would just open up and swallow me. Quinn stares blankly, then bursts out laughing and reaches around me to shake Marcus’ hand. I don’t want to turn, my cheeks are burning red and I am horribly embarrassed, I can’t believe he heard me talking about his parts in a public place. Jesus.

“Quinn, good to meet you officially, last time wasn’t so great, eh?”

Quinn chuckles.

I turn with red cheeks and face an amused Marcus. He gives me a devilish smile then turns back to Quinn and nods. “Nice to meet you too, it seems we know a lot about each other now.”

Quinn grins and lets me go. “We do. I’m going to get a drink. You two kids dance and enjoy yourselves. Oh…and Marcus…nice…”

I flush again as Quinn nods his head in approval at Marcus’ nine inch comment. Marcus chuckles and when Quinn walks away, he grips my hips and spins me into him for a dance. I look into his brown depths and I can still feel my cheeks flaming. I can’t believe he heard me say that.

“Would you like to measure it so you’re surer of your answer next time, Miss Walters?”

I give him a sour look and he grins, sweeping a stray strand of hair from my face.

“That’s not funny,” I grumble.

He smiles. “Just another thing I have to punish you for later.”

I pout and look up at him. “You’re not going to go easy on me, are you?”

“No, sweet girl.”

“But you swear you won’t hurt me?”

“I swear and besides, you have a safe word. You know you can always use it, and I’ll always stop when you do. I’d never hurt you, Sierra.”

I nod, and we move slowly across the dance floor.

“So, have you resumed studying?” he asks.

I look away and flush. What do I say to him? I have been wallowing in my bed for five days and sulking? No, I can’t tell him I over reacted instead of acting like a mature adult and speaking to him. It would have saved me so much heart ache. I look back up at him and smile.

“Yes.”

He narrows his eyes. “That’s three.”

“What?”

“Three things I have to punish you for.”

I gape, “For studying?”

“For lying about studying.”

Dammit. How did he know? The man is far too good at reading people.

“I…was hurting ok?”

“So you should have said that.”

“I…fine…I’m sorry.”

“Now, I’ll ask again, have you resumed your studying?”

“Asshole.”

He smirks. “Don’t be feisty baby, I’m only asking.”

“Has anyone ever told you, that you have a personality disorder?”

His smile widens and he looks truly devastating. “All the time.”

“Well, you should listen.”

“Marcus, there you are.”

We turn to face Rose, she smiles at me and I give her my best smile back.

“Sierra, how are you? Are your family problems all sorted?”

Marcus must have told Rose that I quit because of family problems. I am grateful to him for that, because he was protecting me even when he didn’t need to.

“Yes, thank you.”

“It’s a shame you couldn’t continue with the job, are you sure you don’t want it back?”

I shake my head. Even though the job was great, it was far too close to the drama for me.

“Oh no, it’s ok, I really do need to focus on my studies again.”

“Are you going to take another job while you finish your final year?”

she asks.

“Yes, I think so. I just don’t know where.”

Marcus is giving me a look. I know he wants me to go back by the expression on his face, but he needs to understand I can’t. I don’t want to go back, it’s just too risky and working so close to him is really not a good thing.

“Well good luck,” she says to me, then turns to Marcus. “Sir, we have some people wanting to speak with you.”

Marcus nods at her and then turns to me. “We’re going to talk about that job.”

“Marcus…”

“Later, Sierra.”

He turns and walks off with Rose. God dammed stubborn man!

~*~*~*~*

SIERRA

I meet Marcus out back near his limo at eight sharp, as requested.

When he opens the door for me, I slide in across the cool leather. Marcus slides in beside me and orders the driver to take him home to his apartment. Then, he turns to me. He reaches up and grips the clips in my hair, pulling and letting the soft locks spill over his fingers as he tangles them through my hair and brings me closer to his slightly parted lips.

“Sierra, I have been aching all night to touch you.”

I swallow and meet his gaze, then turn my eyes down to watch as his fingers slide up and down my thigh.

“I thought you were going to punish me, sir?” I whisper, focusing my gaze on his lips.

“Oh, I am, but I’m going to fuck you first.”