Page 84 of Past Due

“No promises.” He closed and locked the door behind Zec. He left the pharmacy bag on the nearest table and carried his suitcase into the bedroom.

“Was that Zec?” Marley asked as she emerged from the bathroom in one of the hotel’s white robes.

“He brought my luggage.”

“That was nice of him.”

He laughed darkly. “I don’t think being nice was his motivation. He was looking for any reason to get away from Rina and Luka.”

“Why?”

“This morning, when everyone was fighting about what had happened to you, Rina dropped a bomb on Luka.”

Marley gasped. “She told him about Niklas?”

“She did.”

“Oh my God!” She winced. “How bad did things get after that?”

“It wasn’t good.”

“I was going to tell you,” she insisted. “I told Rina I couldn’t keep secrets from you.”

He waved his hand. “Even if you had, I would have understood. It wasn’t your secret to tell.”

Marley breathed out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you understand. I was so torn up about it.” She gingerly stepped across the floor, carefully avoiding putting too much pressure on her blisters. When she reached the bed, she slipped back under the covers. “How long have you been awake?”

“Not long.” He placed his suitcase next to hers but didn’t bother getting dressed. He had other things in mind right now.

“Do you think we could do room service in a little bit?” she asked shyly. “I’m starving, but I really don’t want to walk anywhere.”

“I think room service is a great idea.” He climbed into bed next to her and opened his arms, silently inviting her to move even closer. She happily did, pressing ticklish kisses to his chest and neck before resting her cheek against him. He combed his fingers through her soft hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” she said, “but I don’t plan to get out of bed anytime soon.”

“That’s a good thing because I don’t intend to let you out of it anytime soon.”

“Oh?” She traced one of the feathers in the dark wings of the black eagle emblazoned on his chest.

“I seem to remember a promise I made last night before you left the house.”

Her finger froze on his chest. She lifted her gaze to his hungry one, and the prettiest pink blush spread across her cheeks. “You don’t have to,” she insisted, obviously embarrassed. “I know you were only teasing.”

“I wasn’t teasing.” He tipped her chin, giving her no chance to glance away. “I want you to sit on my face.”

She gulped. “Right now?”

“Soon,” he said and captured her mouth in a tender kiss. She relaxed into him, and he relished the feel of her supple body pressing against his. He didn’t know how he had been so lucky to find a woman capable of such love and grace, such forgiveness. She wasn’t going to hold their fight against him for the rest of his life. She wasn’t going to use it to bludgeon him in future arguments. She forgave the way she loved—wholly and without reservation.

He took his time kissing her. There was no reason to rush, and he wanted to love her the way she deserved. After all the pain he had caused her, he owed her as much pleasure as he could provide.

He tumbled her onto her back and made quick work of untying the fluffy robe. She giggled as he slipped her arms free and insinuated himself between her thighs. He stabbed his tongue against hers and dragged his nails down her ribcage, causing her shiver and surge into him. He kissed along her chin and nipped at her neck, leaving little scrapes and bites that made her gasp and claw at his shoulder.

Mindful of her injured hand, he moved down her body, dotting kisses here and there. Her breasts earned most of his attention. Her nipples seemed especially sensitive today, and she gasped when he flicked his tongue over the tight peaks and suckled them gently. She combed her fingers through his hair, tightening her grip as he drew his teeth over her nipple. “B!”

He grinned and returned to her mouth, claiming her with a possessive kiss. His hand snaked down her belly, and her legs fell open as he cupped her mound. She was soaking wet for him, her pussy hot and ready. He stroked between her labia, lightly circling her clit before sliding lower and dipping into her vagina. She shuddered at the intrusion and rocked her hips. Their tongues tangled as she fucked her slowly with his fingers, curving them gently until she shivered and gasped.

“B,” she whined. “Please.”

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