Page 64 of Made For Ruin

“Yeah. Which means I’ll be there.” His voice drops lower. “Making sure nothing happens to you.”

Relief floods through me. “You’d do that?”

“Baby, I’d do anything to keep you safe.” His grip tightens possessively. “And having eyes on that entire event means making sure you stay right where I can see you.”

The possessive edge in his voice sends heat through my body even as guilt churns in my stomach. Here I am, melting at his touch while keeping secrets from Axel. Still pretending nothing’s going on between us.

“We need to tell him soon,” I whisper. “I hate lying. Sneaking around. It feels wrong.”

Marcus brushes his thumb over my cheekbone, his gaze softening.

“I know, baby. I hate it too. And if you’re ready, we can tell the world. I’m not afraid of what anyone thinks.”

I suck in a shaky breath. He makes it sound so simple. So easy. But it’s not.

“Axel will never forgive us,” I say quietly. “You’re his dad. And I’m...I’m me. His ex-girlfriend. His childhood best friend. It’ll destroy him.”

Marcus is quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as he stares down at me. I can practically see the war raging behind his eyes--the push and pull between what he wants and what he knows is right.

“Then we wait,” he says finally. “Until you’re ready. Until we figure out how to do this without blowing up our lives in the process.”

I nod, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. “Okay. We wait.”

He leans down, pressing his forehead to mine.

“I’m not going anywhere, Lainey. I’m in this. I’m all in. No matter how fucking complicated it gets.”

I close my eyes, letting his words wash over me. Letting myself believe, just for a moment, that everything will be okay. That we’ll find a way through this mess we’ve made.

“I know,” I whisper. “I’m all in too.”

And I am. Despite the guilt, despite the fear and uncertainty. I’m in this. With him. Whatever that means.

Marcus’s hands slide down to my ass and he squeezes, pulling me flush against him. I can feel how hard he is already, straining against his jeans.

“Alright, enough talking,” he growls, nipping at my bottom lip. “I want you naked. Now.”

A shiver runs through me at the command in his voice. This is the Marcus I can’t resist. The one who takes control, who makes me forget about everything else but the way he makes me feel.

I let out a breathless laugh, my hands sliding up his chest. “Geez, you have quite the stamina for an old man,” I tease, my fingers toying with the buttons of his flannel. “What’s your secret? Yoga? Kale smoothies?”

His eyes heat instantly, that dominant edge I’ve come to crave flashing in his gaze.

“Old man, huh?” He steps closer, crowding me until my back hits the wall. “I’ll show you an old man.”

Before I can even respond, he scoops me up effortlessly. I let out a surprised squeal, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carries me down the hall to the bedroom. His strength never fails to make me feel small and safe, like nothing in the world could touch me when I’m in his arms.

He kicks the door shut behind us and drops me onto the bed with a bounce. I barely have time to catch my breath before he’s on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress. His beard scratches against my neck as he nips and kisses his way up to my ear.

“You think I’m old?” His voice a rough whisper that sends a thrill through me.

I bite my lip, trying to suppress a grin. “Well, you do have some gray in your beard.”

He chuckles darkly, his hands sliding under my shirt to grip my waist. “And yet you’re the one squirming like a teenager every time I touch you.”

I gasp as his fingers trail higher, brushing against the underside of my breasts.

“That’s because you know exactly what you’re doing,” I breathe, arching into his touch.

---