Page 123 of Prized Possession

Once we make it into the garage in the basement, I look around to where Miles usually has the car waiting, but it’s not there. I glance over at Marcus, who begins walking towards the row of cars.

I’ve been in this garage more times than I can count, but I’ve never really paid much attention.

Miles has a car that he uses, and that’s the car I’m used to going in whenever I go out with Marcus, but Kim also has her own car, which she uses to take me to my classes.

I just assumed that all of the other cars belonged to the people who live in the apartment block, but the way Marcus looks at them makes me wonder if that’s true.

“Where’s Miles and the car?” I ask.

“I gave him the night off. I don’t really want my best mate coming on a date with me. We’ll still have security following us, and I can’t do anything about that, but if I drive, and it’s just the two of us in the car, it’s the best I could come up with to make it feel personal,” he explains, wincing a little as he stares at me, almost like I might not be happy with his explanation.

“Marcus, I know you need to have security with you at all times. It’s not a big deal. In fact, I rather like knowing they’re around to keep you safe. But I do appreciate you trying to give us some privacy,” I say with a smile, before adding, “You drive?”

Marcus chuckles. “It would be a waste, owning all of these cars if I can’t drive them.”

Even though he’s only confirming my suspicions, I can’t keep the shocked expression off my face.

“You own all of these?” I waft my arms around the large garage, signalling to the cars.

Marcus shakes his head with a laugh.

“No.” I breathe a sigh of relief, before he adds, “I own all of the cars on the right. The ones on the left either belong to my staff or the people who live in the building.”

My mouth literally flops open as I take in the cars on the right sideof the garage. I may not know a lot about cars, but it’s not hard to miss the differences between the two sides.

The cars on the left seem affordable, more practical, whereas the ones on the right are flashy and expensive, one sports car after another.

“I don’t even know what to say. Do you need this many big flashy cars? If I didn’t already know the answer, I’d ask if you were trying to make up for lacking in other areas.”

Marcus throws his head back and laughs, a full belly laugh that I’ve never heard from him before, and it makes him look so much younger, lighter.

I decide in that moment that it’s going to be my life’s mission to make him laugh like this as often as I can. He needs a little bit more laughter in his intense life.

“Come on, I don’t want us to be late. But I’m going to make a note to prove to you how much I’m not overcompensating when I get you naked later,” he replies, pulling me towards a sleek black sports car.

He opens the door for me and I climb in, listening as he tells me all about what type of car it is.

Although the information goes in one ear and out the other, making zero sense to me, I smile at how passionate he is, talking about the car. It’s clearly something he enjoys, and I’m grateful he’s showing me another side to him.

We’ve not been driving for long, before he pulls into what looks to be an industrial area, confusing me further. Then, as he turns the corner, a bright sign lets me know exactly where we are.

“You brought me ice skating?” I ask, completely thrown by this.

Of all the dates I’d been imagining, this wasn’t even on the list.

Marcus looks almost a little shy as he nods. “I don’t know if you remember, but I used to play ice hockey when I was a teenager.”

How the fuck could I forget?

Other than his skateboarding phase around age thirteen, I happen to think this was one of his sexiest hobbies. Since I can’t say that, I just nod and he continues.

“I had to give it up when Father decided I needed to pay more attention to my role as his heir, instead of wasting my time with sports that did nothing more than distract me. I’m sure you can imagine his annoying voice saying that.”

I laugh, because I can picture it. “I’m sure he loved you playing hockey.”

“He hated me doing anything that wasn’t related to this business, so I begrudgingly gave it up, despite it being something that I love. I’ve always missed skating, and then you burst into my life.

“You had the strength to ignore the person your parents wanted you to be,and you’re doing what makes you happy. The night you took your first class, I came here. I’ve been skating regularly since then, and I thought I’d share it with you.”

---