Page 16 of Destiny

Several hours go by before he and the girls come back. I listen as he carries them up to their beds and then comes back downstairs—absolutely soaking wet, with all of the muscles in his arms and abdomen on full display.

“Are you okay?” I ask, sitting up on the couch a little.

“I’m not sure.” He combs water out of his hair with his fingers and then shakes it off on the ground.

Then, without missing another beat, he storms over, kneels before me, and grabs my face in his hands.

“Please tell me to stop.” I can feel his hot, deep breath against my skin.

I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but his proximity has every nerve ending on my body, and I am standing at attention to see what happens next.

“No,” I say, out of breath while closing my eyes.

Part 2

Chapter 1 – Bea

“Shit. Bea, it’s six. The girls are going to be up at any minute,” Marco says as he gently shakes me awake.

“Oh, no. My alarm must not have gone off.”

He gets up first and is completely naked. I know I have to hurry, but I can’t help but marvel at his back muscles as he bends down to pick up clothes that are scattered on the floor.

“Bea?”

“What? Oh, sorry.” I follow his lead and get dressed. After that, as I have every other morning after staying the night at his house, I quickly check the hallway to make sure his young daughters, Aurora and Alessia, are not around to see me leave.

Then, I tip-toed out the door. He follows close by, and I steal one more peck before actually leaving.

“I’ll call you later,” he whispers.

“Sounds good. See ya.”

He playfully slaps my ass. In response, I look back at him with a shocked face and laugh.

I just rolled down the driveway and started to drive off when I got a call.

“Miss me already?” I say after answering.

“Always.” His deep and raspy voice booms from the speakers, and it makes me want to melt.

“But in all seriousness, did I forget something?”

“No. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

I smile. “Aw.”

“And I also want to say sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“Yeah. That we have to sneak around like this.”

“Oh. It’s okay. If you think it’s what’s best for the girls, then that’s the way it will be.”

He sighs. “At least for now. I just don’t want them to get all excited and then—”

“Well, I don’t plan on going anywhere. But I understand where you’re coming from. Especially after Clara left.”

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