Page 41 of Hooked on Marshall

“As did I,” I smile as she moves to get dressed. “But I’d rather not take any more risks tonight. If someone were to come back for something…”

“I know,” she says sadly. “One close call in my life is enough.”

I frown, remembering how she was almost caught in the act with Jonas. In two steps, I have her in my arms. There are tears in her eyes and I hate that I’ve put them there.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her quickly. “I didn’t mean to bring that memory back for you.”

She tilts her head and brushes her hand over my cheek.

“That’s a bad memory because I knew I was doing something wrong. Willingly,” she sighs. “What I’m doing with you isn’t wrong. And honestly? If someone caught us, I wouldn’t be embarrassed in the slightest.”

I kiss her again and then let her get dressed while I put my desk back to rights. When I’m finished, she has her purse and her laptop bag over her shoulder. I grab her third bag with her sketchbook and other materials, and then we’re on our way. When we get to my place, she sets down her things and heads straight for the master bathroom. I make sure things are locked up and follow her lead of washing up for bed. After I crawl in beside her, she pulls me toward her, and I happily make love to her for the next hour.

Tonight, however, we take our time exploring each other. With our hands and our mouths. I’ve never known such incredible intimacy with a woman before. Not to mention passion. When we’re sated, she drifts off in my arms almost immediately. I quickly join her, but only after I whisper my love to her.

Wednesday and Thursday pass in much the same way. Lana works almost constantly on the rebranding while I run things and also bartend when necessary. The only reason shetakes a break is because I always insist that she stops for lunch. But when Jonas calls, she ignores it. I can tell that it’s ramping up her anxiety, but I do my best to calm her. Both with my touch and my words. By the time I get her back home Thursday night, I can tell that she’s looking for a reason to leave. So, I grab her by her shoulders and ask her some hard truths.

“Do you still want Jonas?” I ask with as much calm as I can.

“No,” she snaps. “I wantnothingto do with him! You’re the only man I want.”

“Then why do you look like you’re ready to bolt?”

Tears prick her eyes and her head falls forward. When she answers me, her voice is barely a whisper.

“Because I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

My heart soars. If that isn’t a declaration of love, I don’t know what is. Very gently, I touch my fingertips to her chin and force her eyes back to mine. When a tear slips down her cheek, I kiss it away.

“Lana,” I say as I meet her eyes again. “I’m not leaving you to face him alone. I’m not leaving you foranyreason. The most important thing to me in all of this is thatyoustay safe.”

“But what if-”

I cut off her protest with a hard kiss. She moans and opens for me. In mere seconds, I’m hard. She feels it and roughly palms my crotch. I growl into her mouth as I slide my hand into her hair and pull her head away from mine.

“Marshall.”

One name. Two syllables. Yet all I hear is her need. Forme.

“Take your clothes off,” I demand.

She obeys without hesitation. When she’s naked, she stands as close to me as she can without touching me. Her eyeslocked with mine as her expression begs me to continue. And I will.

“On your knees.”

She sinks to the floor in one fluid motion as her hands immediately start to undo my pants. I smile as I watch and offer her the praise she seems to crave.

“Such a good girl.”

She smiles and looks up at me from under her lashes. Her expression damn near enough to make me come on the spot.

“What if I want to be a bad girl?” she purrs.

“Then you’d bemybad girl,” I smirk. “So I could spank that sexy ass of yours until you were wet for me.”

“I’m already wet for you, Marshall.”

“Prove it,” I challenge.

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