Never Less: A Boyfriend's Dad Romance, page 11
“Fuck!” Liliana grabs at my hair, and I relish the burn of her pulling it tight. Even if she’s overstimulated, she still doesn’t want me to stop, and I fucking love it.
“That’s it,” I say, only pulling away for a second. “Show me how much you love watching me eat this pretty pussy of yours.”
She gasps as I go back to sucking on her clit and flicking it with my tongue. I chuckle at her squirms. My girl has no idea of the things I plan to do to her. This is nothing.
Liliana’s moans go straight to my dick. It aches to be inside her again, but my need to fuck her isn’t nearly as strong as the need to hear her come again. So I work her with my tongue until she’s sobbing out my name and writhing on the table.
Once her legs are trembling again, I stand and slam into her. She cries out, grabbing at my arm, and I freeze.
“Did I go too hard?”
“No,” she gasps. “Do it again. Please, Marcus.”
So I do, fucking her hard and rough. I tease her clit with one hand while gripping her hip with the other to make sure she can’t get away from me. Her lips are still parted in shock, like she’s fucking surprised that I’m making sure she’s satisfied.
“Did you forget what it’s like? Hmm? Did you forget how it feels for a man to take control and wring all of the pleasure out of your body?”
“Mar—Marcus!” she chokes out.
As her orgasm overtakes her, my body finally gives out. Leaning down, I shudder as I come deep inside her, and I can’t help the breathless moan that leaves me. Last night was good, but this? Having her body against mine while we both come together? It’s almost more than I can handle.
“You come so beautifully for me,” I whisper in her ear.
Liliana screams into my shoulder, her body straining to find some way to release all the pent-up tension inside her. I’m still playing with her clit, not quite ready to let her wind down yet, and she clenches around my cock. Fuck, I’m too sensitive for this, but I’m not ready to pull out yet. All the air rushes from my lungs, and my grip on her hip tightens as I ride out the overwhelming sensations from still being inside her.
I let my hand fall from her clit, and Liliana relaxes some. As I finally slide out of her, I groan, the sound ragged and breathless. She watches me with an unreadable expression before kissing me softly.
Even though I’m worn out, I want to do it all again. I doubt my body could handle it, though, so when she pulls back, I let her.
“I should, um…” Liliana clears her throat. “I should go pee.”
When she slides off the table, her legs immediately give out, but I was expecting it. My arms are already around her waist, and I keep her from falling. She groans as I lift her and place her back on the table.
This. This is how I want to keep her. Freshly fucked, breathless and sweaty, and unable to stand on her own.
“Maybe give yourself a minute,” I say with a chuckle.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to take more than that,” she mumbles, nuzzling her face against my chest. Something in her voice sounds off, but I can’t quite place it. “So… so tired.”
“You can.” I caress her hair, smoothing it over and holding her to me. “And mark my words, Liliana, you will.”
With an exhausted noise, she lets herself fall back onto the table, hitting her head on the wooden surface with a thud.
“Careful,” I murmur, brushing her hair out of her face.
“I’m okay,” Liliana whispers, and the reassuring smile she gives me contradicts the tears in her eyes. She presses her lips together and looks away, trying to control it, but the tears fall onto her cheeks anyway. When her face scrunches up, she places a hand over her mouth and shuts her eyes.
“Hey.” Gathering her into my arms, I tug her into a sitting position. I keep my voice gentle and soothing as I say, “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
My first thought is that this was too soon, but I push that worry aside. There are many reasons people cry after sex, and not all of them are bad.
“It just—” She’s broken off by a sob that wracks her entire body. “I—I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”
“It’s all right, little star.” I stroke her back. “It’s all right.”
That only seems to make her cry harder. While she does, I rock her back and forth. Panic threatens to overtake me, and this time, my thoughts win.
You’re a damn fool for thinking she was ready for this.
You’re just as selfish as Nate.
Why couldn’t you just wait?
Guilt settles over my shoulders, heavy and painful. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to focus on the softness of Liliana’s skin as I run my hand up and down her back. She needs me to comfort her right now, not to get lost in scolding myself.
So I hold her while she clings to me. I don’t say anything until she goes quiet, the only sound coming from her an occasional sniffle. When I pull away to get a good look at her, her eyelashes are clumped together, and her cheeks are soaked.
“Little star,” I whisper.
Her bottom lip begins to tremble, but she gulps in a breath to keep herself from dissolving into tears again. “You’re just… you’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Marcus,” she says shakily. “And everything I didn’t think I’d get.”
Dipping my head down, I lean my forehead against hers, closing my eyes in relief.
Liliana reaches up to touch the star tattoo behind her ear. “I used to think I would. I told myself I’d never settle, that I’d never tolerate someone who didn’t respect me. But then…”
My heart aches for her. We may be here now, but that doesn’t erase the past. It makes perfect sense that she’s mourning what could’ve been. It’s something I had to do, too, years ago.
“I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to come to you,” she whispers. “I would’ve saved us both from so much pain. So much loneliness. We could’ve…”
“I know.”
“And Marcus, I’m so scared.” Her voice is small and shaky. “I’m scared I won’t be enough again. Please just… please tell me this is going to last. Tell me that’s what you want. Tell me you won’t…” She looks away again.
“Oh, we’re lasting, Liliana. I’m yours until the day I die, and until then—and after then—you never accept less than what you deserve, you hear me?”
“Not even from you?”
“Especially not from me. Never less, little star.”
“Never less,” she whispers.
Lowering my head, I kiss her tenderly. I wish I could take everything Nate did to her and make her forget. Better yet, make it so it never even happened. But I’m only a man, and all I can do is hold her close to me and do my best to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart.
“I know this is all fast,” I murmur as I stroke her hair, “but I promise you, my feelings for you have only grown over the years. That’s not going to change. I want to love you for an eternity, but I’ll take however much time fate decides to give us. And I will never, never think that you’re not enough.”
“I want that, too.” Her arms close around my waist, and she leans against me. “I want… I want us to work.”
I don’t think she realizes it yet—just how far I’m willing to go for her. If she didn’t want to move down here, I would’ve picked up and followed her anywhere. Still will if she changes her mind. And that’s just the beginning. I’ll stop at nothing to remind her of what she’s worth.
Liliana stifles a yawn. I wore her out, and if I’m being honest, she wore me out, too. That nap earlier wasn’t enough.
Carefully, I lift her into my arms and carry her upstairs and into my room. She stays silent while I clean both of us up and make her comfortable in my bed. I crawl in next to her, making sure to pull the covers over her shoulders.
Having her naked body tucked into mine like this has something settling inside me. I’ve been waiting for this, praying that it would happen—holding an empty space in my heart just for her. Now that she’s here, everything finally feels right.
“What’re we doing?” she finally asks. She moves, nestling in even closer to me.
“I want to hold you.” I clear my throat. She’s mine now. The time for holding back is over, so I tighten my arm around her waist and admit the truth. “Need to.”
She makes a small noise—one of contentment and happiness. “No complaints from me.”
After that, she falls asleep so quickly I think she might’ve broken a world record. I listen to the sound of her soft breaths while my mind drifts to our conversation downstairs.
My Liliana needs reassurance. Not just that I care for her and that I always will, but that she’s not about to make a huge mistake. Coming down here and being with me is a lot of change all at once. Especially after what Nate did to her, of course she feels unsure.
Hell, I wouldn’t mind some reassurance myself. For all intents and purposes, I truly did steal my son’s girlfriend, and I don’t feel a single ounce of remorse. Maybe that’s not good.
With a sigh, I shoot off a couple texts, and then I settle in next to Liliana and drift off into a light sleep.
Chapter fifteen
Liliana
Waking up with Marcus twice in one day feels too good to be true, but there’s no denying the reality of it. The sheets and pillows smell of teakwood and spice, and I’m warm from his body being pressed up against mine.
I lift my head to glance at the clock. It’s midafternoon, so I think we only slept for about a half hour. I feel refreshed, though, and my head is a lot clearer.
“Hey.” Marcus nuzzles his face into my neck before pressing little kisses to my skin. “How’re you feeling?”
“Better.” I turn around to face him, my legs tangling with his, and I can’t help but smile. Being in bed with him like this carries a kind of intimacy that I’ve missed. The sleepy kisses, the warm looks, the soft caresses. It feels good.
It feels like… home.
Safe. Easy. Natural.
My lips meet his, and I run my hands up his body, cementing in my mind that this is actually happening. That this caring, kind, thoughtful man is all mine.
“I know this is kinda last minute,” Marcus says once we’ve pulled away, “but Char and Lori are going shopping in an hour or two, and they told me you’re more than welcome to join them. I figured you might appreciate spending more time with them.”
“That sounds really nice.” I brush my nose against his. “I like them both a lot.”
“They like you, too.”
She smiles. “Tell them yes? And then I should probably get ready.”
Marcus keeps me in bed for a couple more minutes, and then he sends off a quick text. I’m not sure if Char and Lori actually invited me along, or if Marcus asked them to, but I trust him when he says they want me there.
In the bathroom, Marcus leans against the doorframe, his eyes tracking my every movement as I sort through the makeup he bought me the other day.
“What’re you doing?” I ask.
“Watching you.”
Pausing, I look over at him. “Am I… doing something wrong?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t I watch my girl get ready?”
Oh. An involuntary smile takes over my face as I start applying makeup. “I think that’s really sweet.”
With his head tilted, he watches as I go through my normal routine. We chat idly, not about anything in particular, and it’s nice—the same easy intimacy I felt when we were in his bed.
“Which lipstick should I wear?” I ask.
Marcus comes up behind me and rests his chin on my shoulder, staring at the two sticks I have in my hand. Then he taps the one I put back the other day. “This one.”
“Of course you’d pick that one,” I say with a playful smile.
“Mmm.” He places a kiss to my neck before backing off so he doesn’t bump me. “I like it when you wear things I’ve bought for you.”
“You bought both,” I remind him.
“But you wouldn’t’ve gotten that one if it hadn’t been for me grabbing it.”
“Fair.” I have no interest in fighting him on this. I like being dependent and buying my own things, but I can’t lie, it sent a thrill through me when he paid for everything the other day. Then, I tried to ignore it, but I don’t feel the need to deny it anymore.
By the time I’m ready and we’ve gone downstairs and made ourselves a quick dinner, it’s time for me to head out. Apparently John is coming over here to spend time with Marcus, which I think is nice. Marcus has been so focused on me, and while I’m the one who’s been an emotional wreck, I don’t want him to neglect himself. Spending time with friends will be good for us.
“They’re here,” I say when I see Char’s SUV in the driveway. “I should—”
Marcus catches my wrist. “You have my number? Just in case you get separated?”
“I’ve had it for years, Marcus.”
“Right. Good.”
With his hand on the small of my back, he walks me to the front door. I’m wearing the third dress I got when I was with him. It’s a light pink with a high neckline, and Marcus seems to like it. He hasn’t been able to stop touching me since I put it on. Although I suppose that’s been true for most of the day.
“Take my card.” Marcus pulls it from his wallet and holds it out to me. “The PIN is 0319. No limit, spend however much you want.”
I freeze, my gaze flitting between him and the card. “0319.”
“That’s correct.”
“When… when did you set it to that?”
“When I got the card,” he says dryly, placing it in my hand.
“Marcus.”
“Have fun shopping.” He kisses my forehead. “Don’t keep Char and Lori waiting.”
“Marcus, that’s my birthday.”
Letting out an amused breath, he nudges me toward the door. “You think I don’t know that?”
When he reaches for the doorknob, I bat his hand away and throw myself into his arms. I seal my lips to his, and his arms lock around my waist in what feels like an instinctual movement. He holds me while I deepen the kiss and thread my fingers through his hair.
This man.
“Now you’re getting it,” he murmurs.
“Getting what?”
He presses my hand over his chest and brushes his nose against mine. “Just how long my heart has belonged to you.”
With both my hands splayed across his chest, my body melts into his. I try to say something—anything to convey how I’m feeling, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a pitiful whimper. If the sparkle in Marcus’s eyes is any indicator, he finds it cute.
“Go, Liliana,” he tells me more firmly. “Because my resolve is wearing thin, and if you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’m going to fuck you against this door hard enough that you’ll feel me during your entire trip—in multiple ways.”
At that, my eyes widen. I give him one last kiss before scrambling out the door and dashing to Char’s car. Halfway down the sidewalk, I bump into John.
“Evening,” he says, amusement playing across his face at my flushed cheeks. “Have fun.”
“Thank you. You, too.” I take a step before stopping short and turning. “Oh! Marcus, did you mean what you said?”
He leans against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets. “Mean what, little star?”
“About the no spending limit.”
His eyes get a possessive glint to them. “I’ve never been more serious.”
My stomach flips, and I grin before I turn back to the car. Lori and Char wave from inside, and I wave back. I have a feeling we’re about to have one hell of a night.
As I get in, I glance back to find Marcus still watching me from the front porch. I blow him a kiss, and warmth floods me at the approving smile he sends my way. I think he likes this—seeing me with his friends.
And I think I like it, too.
Chapter sixteen
Marcus
“You’re fine, Marcus,” John says as he lounges in one of the cushioned chairs I have out in the pool area. He takes a sip of his beer. “Yeah, everything is happening all at once, but your feelings for her have been a slow build, and the same is true for hers. It’s not like this came out of nowhere.”
“That’s true,” I say on a sigh. “I’m just worried, you know?”
“And I think that’s a good sign. Shows you care about her.”
I nod.
“As for Nate…” John shakes his head. “You did your best with the little time you had with him, but it’s not like you had much say in how he was raised. This isn’t your fault. And as for Liliana choosing you, that’s her decision.”
“Still think I should feel a little bad, though.”
“Why? Because you care about her ten times more than he does? Because you prioritize her when all he does is fucking abandon her? He’s being a selfish ass, Marcus. He should feel bad.”
I chuckle. “That’s pretty damn close to what I told Liliana the other day.”
“Good! It sounds like she needed to hear it.”
Again, I nod, but I don’t go into more detail. I don’t want to spill all of Liliana and Nate’s relationship to John. She gave me permission to talk about a lot of it, but I want to respect her privacy.
I glance at my watch. The girls should be back soon. Most of the shops closed fifteen minutes ago.
“Anxious to see her again?” John gives me a sly smile.
“So what if I am?”
“You’re acting like a lovesick teenager.”
I raise a challenging brow. “You’re one to talk considering you’ve been texting your wife every fifteen minutes.”
“She’s been sending me outfit pics!” He grins. “They’re almost back, by the way. Oh, and Char says Liliana has been having a great time.”
“Good.” I stand. “Maybe we should wait out front.”
