Page 39 of Hers to Love
A short time later, he escorted her back to her hotel room, pausing at her door while she touched her key card to the locking mechanism.
“Goodnight, sir.”
She gasped as his arms went around her, circling her back, and crushing her into his chest. His mouth crashed into hers, taking what she wanted so desperately not to deny. She felt the door press firmly into her back, as though Marshall was trying to shove her right through the material. Her entire front flamed as he allowed for no separation from pelvis to bosom.
Her moans filled her ears accompanied by Marshall’s own satisfied groans and whispers of her name. When he pulled away, she slouched against the door, feeling in her legs having abandoned her.
His dark gaze kept her trapped, even as he retreated. “No. No it won’t be a good night.”
She watched as he marched to his room, across the hall and a few doors down. Without a backwards glance, he entered the suite and slammed the door.
Chapter 17
Kori’s palms sweated as she heard the fourth ring. If Sabrina didn’t pick up, then her stomach would finally be able to rest. Then again, if she didn’t pick up, that would only delay the inevitable.
She had to tell her best friend the truth. There wasn’t any way around it. Kori had to go through. Jarod saw her and Marshall kiss on the plane. If Jarod was a spy for the board, then it was only a matter of time before Kori would get the call that would put her on a plane back home. Sabrina would want to know the truth: if her father had anything to do with it.
Yes. Yes, he did. He had everything to do with it, but in the most beautiful way possible. Too bad it was a dream that couldn’t ever come true.
“Oh, so you finally call,” Sabrina answered in a clipped voice. “It’s only been a couple of days.”
Kori went cold, the sweat evaporating. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called sooner, but it’s been so hectic. We got back only a few hours ago—”
“I managed to hear from Marshall. Your plane crashed into the Atlantic, and you were stranded in Ghana for a day.”
“Good! Then you knew we were okay.”
Kori stopped talking. She didn’t have a ready excuse for why she hadn’t at least texted her friend that she was okay. She didn’t know Marshall would’ve phoned her, but of course he would’ve—he was still in Sabrina’s life. He’d want to tell her that he had just survived a harrowing experience.
Truthfully, she Kori had been avoiding looking at her phone. As they deboarded the plane in Italy, Marshall stated he was going to see his doctor about his hip. It had been bothering him since the plane crash. Kori recalled their kiss at her bedroom door in Ghana, and how their bodies had melted into each other. If his hip was severely injured, he hid the pain well.
She wanted to know if he was okay, but she wanted to avoid him as well. A futile resistance because he was her boss. How long did she think she could avoid him?
“You’ve got something to tell me, don’t you?” Sabrina asked after a few moments of silence. “Why don’t you cut the small talk and get it out.”
Kori’s mouth snapped shut. Sabrina was sharp around the edges, but she’d never spoken to her in this way—unless it was to motivate her. Kori didn’t feel motivated at all. She felt like a cornered mouse about to get slaughtered by a cat.
Besides, how do you tell your best friend that you’re in love with her father?
Sabrina laughed harshly. “Oh, come on. You can’t be this much of a coward. Not when you were sostrategicin setting things up for yourself.”
“Excuse me?” Kori whispered. Now, she had no idea what her friend was talking about. Strategic? “Sabrina, I do have something to tell you, but I don’t know whatyou’retalking about. I think I’m about to lose my job.”
“Really? That’s a shocker. Have something to do with my dad?”
The question hung between them, and Kori felt Sabrina knew exactly what she was about to say. “Yes. Yes, it does. Sabrina…” Kori cleared her throat.
Sabrina laughed again. “Oh, this should be good.”
Kori’s eyes burned. What was happening? She shook her head. She couldn’t think of that right now. One issue at a time. “Sabrina, your father and I are…”
“You’re sleeping together. Yes, I know.”
“What!” Kori cried. “No! No, we’re not. We’re—”
“My father told me the two of you were in love. Didn’t I tell you not to fall in love with him?”
He loved her? Kori’s heart pounded, and her lips twitched upward. Marshall was in love with her?
