Disastrous: Cautious Part 9

He couldn't help himself as he twirled around in the stool and stared at her. His brows kneaded together as his eyes stared at her with so much pa.s.sion. His body slightly jerked as he stopped himself from moving toward her. Megan looked away, ran a shaky hand through her hair, and let out a breath. I patted Jeremy's shoulder one last time to a.s.sure that I would take care of it, and moved my way toward Megan. Every step I took, I began to come up with several scenarios of how it might play out.

I wrapped my arms around her when I reached her and pulled her into a tight hug. "You look so beautiful, Megan."

Her arms returned the gesture as she hugged me even tighter. "You do too, as always." Her voice cracked a bit.

"Let's go out back where it's quieter so we can talk. Okay?" I asked. We broke from our embrace after she nodded and walked toward the back yard side by side with our arms interlocked with one another.

As we stepped out onto the cobblestone patio, the cool breeze whipped through us, giving me a slight chill. There were a few guests in the tent where the band and tables were set up. Others were lurking around the patio, drinking or smoking cigars as they laughed and enjoyed the party.

Spotting an empty corner, I nodded my head towards a seating area. Megan led the way and then sat down on one of the wicker chairs. I took a seat across from her, crossed my legs, and leaned in, placing my elbow on my knee.

Megan leaned back into the chair as she crossed her arms, and turned her head to study a group of men that were laughing on the other end of the patio. "I guess he told you." She had finally spoken in a low tone.

"Not much, but he did, in fact, say that he told you about him and me."

A mocking laugh escaped her lips. "More like it slipped." She paused, shook her head, and then turned her chin to fully look at me. "You know, Mia, the fact that the two of you slept together doesn't bother me. Well, it does a little, but I know it happened before I came along. I think what bothers me the most is that, despite all of the women he's been with, the last person I thought I ever had to compete with was you."

It was shocking to hear her say that. I leaned in closer. "There's no compet.i.tion, Megan. None. Jeremy and my relations.h.i.+p can be a bit difficult for others to understand. When we slept together, it was after Michael's death, during a time that I felt so much sadness and loneliness." I forced a smile. "Jeremy even said he kicks himself in the a.s.s for allowing it to go as far as it did, because I was so vulnerable. Don't get me wrong. He did not take advantage of me, but I just wanted to forget about the pain, and at the time, I thought that was the only way to go about it." Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath, and after exhaling, I opened my lids. "Now, thinking back on it, it was dumb, wasn't it?"

"No, it's not dumb. I understand. I also see how close you two are. He opens up to you more than he does to me. I wonder if he'll ever be like that way with me."

Scooting toward the edge of my seat, I reached and placed my hand on her knee in a way to comfort her. "Don't you see how special you are to him? I've never seen him react towards any woman the way he has with you. He truly cares about you, Megan. He's frightened. That's all. Jeremy has issues with commitment. I think it might have to do with dealing with his parents' divorce at a young age. He's afraid if he lets all of his feelings out that they might get ripped away from him."

Megan sat there in silence for a moment, considering what I'd said. Leaning toward me, her eyes glistened as she held back tears. She placed her hand on top of mine, "Do you really think he cares for me as much as I do for him?"

A smile of a.s.surance touched my lips. "Yes, I truly believe he does. I know Jeremy, and he is completely strung out." She laughed out loud and quickly wiped away two tear drops that escaped. "Go talk to him, Megan." She pressed her lips together and nodded. Before standing to leave she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Thank you so much, Mia. I love you."

"I love you too. Now go get your man." We laughed together, gave one last squeeze, and then she left in search of Jeremy. Feeling a bit better and dazed from the alcohol, I sank into the chair, tossed my head back, and stared into the night sky.

Dinner hadn't been announced yet, and I was already exhausted. What a long day it had been. I was looking forward to snuggling in bed beside Marcus. I could hear his laughter coming from somewhere in the house. It wasn't hard to miss. It'd made me smile, knowing he was enjoying himself, and the exhaustion I was feeling was well worth it. When I thought of making my way back in, I heard a familiar voice come out of the darkness. "My night has just gotten better. Well, if it isn't the one and only Mia Sullivan."

My. Entire. Body. Froze.

Every sound around me went faint. All I could hear was the sound of my heart thras.h.i.+ng against the cage of my chest. It burned as I tried to gasp air through the tightness of my throat. My mouth went dry, the palms of my hands beaded with sweat, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Every thought about the man behind that voice sped through my mind. I wanted that moment to pa.s.s, for him to go away. I sat with my eyes shut tightly, dreadfully hoping and wis.h.i.+ng that that moment was a nightmare. But it wasn't. The sound of his shoes treading against the cobblestones came to a halt. Fear had crept into my veins as I felt his presence directly beside me.

Then rage.

A wrath of emotion erupted deep within me. I was fuming with anger, my shaky breathing became heavier, and my skin seared with heat. I fought against my will and my eyes flashed open. His frame slightly hovered over me as he stared down at me smiling with a grin that I wanted desperately to smack off his face. Removing the cigar from between his teeth, he let out a quick puff and gave a curt nod. "Don't you remember me, sweetheart?" Oh, I remembered him alright. I remembered him with every fiber of my being. Anyone who was ever so unfortunate to meet him could never forget.

Lou Sorrento.

At that moment, I stood to face him. He tilted his head aside, and his lips curled into a full-toothed grin. He looked exactly as I remembered: his salt and pepper hair was his only age indicator. Although he wasn't taller than Marcus, he still stood as a powerful man-a man with a power that came from years of barking off orders. A man that could put a gun to someone's head and pull the trigger with a smile splashed across his face. A man without a care in the world except for himself, not even my brother.

Angrily, I bit down on my lip as I stared at him with nothing but hate. Although I stood calm, my mind was screaming and racing with so much rage. I visualized myself shoving him to the ground and pounding my fists into him until I saw blood. That bothered me. I was never a violent woman or wished harm against anyone, but being in the presence of Lou possessed me to be one. Who gave Lou Sorrento the right to walk this earth? He deserved to be six feet underground, not my brother. Michael deserved to be alive, not Lou.

Who gave him the right!

I slightly shook my head as I tried and fought back the tears. I would not give him that. I would not show one ounce of fear or the effect he had on me. Lou Sorrento, did not value any of my emotions: good or bad. He deserved one thing and one thing only: death.

I wished him a long and painful death.

His eyes slightly squinted as he took another puff of his cigar. "You're bleeding, sweetheart." He glanced at my lips.

His remark distanced me from my trance. Confused, I wiped my hand along my chin. Blood was dripping from my lip. I'd bitten down so hard that I'd punctured through the flesh. The metallic taste of the blood was potent as I sucked my bottom lip in, squeezing as much as I could. "Excuse me." I mumbled as I made my way past him. I rushed away from Lou, as fast and far as I could.

I rushed through the crowded room in search of anyone familiar. I finally spotted Megan and Jeremy by the bar, laughing and flirting, in a much better state than earlier. I headed toward them. As I got closer, Marcus came into view. He was beside Jeremy, ordering more shots. "There's my girl." He said with a huge smile. "Where you been? I missed you."

After a few deep breaths, I forced a smile and leaned into his open arms. "I've been around. Are you having fun?" I tried to steady my voice.

"I'm having a blast. Thank you for everything. I love you." He leaned in and planted wet kiss on my cheek.

I wanted nothing but to join in his happiness at that moment, but after the encounter with Lou, I couldn't push him away from my thoughts. Clinging to Marcus, I tightened my eyes and desperately tried to rid myself of the memory of the man I hated more than anyone or anything.

"Hey." Marcus placed two fingers under my chin and lifted my face so that he could look at me. "Are you okay?" Although he wasn't slurring, I could tell how much alcohol he had consumed by the bloodshot look in his eyes. That was exactly where I wanted to be, in the same drunken state of mind as him.

"I don't think I'm drunk enough." I mumbled.

A smile formed along his lips. "Well, let me take care of that for you." He reached over to the counter where there were a few filled shot gla.s.ses and grabbed two. Handing me one, we clinked gla.s.ses, smiled, and downed the shots. The warmth and burning sensation that the shot of whisky caused was a better reaction than I'd antic.i.p.ated. Nodding, I glanced at Marcus and asked for another one.

That night, I would get rid of the pain, the bad memories, and allow alcohol and Marcus to take it all away.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

MARCUS.

"Dinner is ready. Sorry for the delay." My mother announced.

By that time, there were so many guests in my home, and all I wanted was the night to end. I looked around as all the guests followed my mother's directions toward the back where dinner would be served.

Mia stumbled into my chest. I wrapped my arms around her to stay balanced. I'd been drinking since this afternoon with Jimmie, and I still wasn't as intoxicated as she was at that moment. Leaning into the side of her face, I brushed a few tendrils of hair behind her ear as I whispered, "Let's go upstairs."

Her eyes flashed up toward me. "No, your mother will be angry if we miss dinner." She hiccupped.

Smiling, I ran the back of my fingers along her soft cheek. "She'll be fine, Mia. Let's go upstairs." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and maneuvered her toward the stairway.

Mia came to a stop, causing both of us to slightly jerk. She turned to face me. "But, Marcus, it's your birthday. We can't end it early." She swallowed and stared at me with beady, gleaming eyes. "We haven't even sung happy birthday yet."

Megan came up beside us. "Do you need help, Marcus?" I quickly glanced around and saw that Jeremy had remained seated by the bar.

"Yes, please. Can you take Mia up to my room? It's the last door at the end of the hall." Nodding, Megan tossed Mia's arm around her shoulder. "I'll be up in a few, Mia." She caved in with a simple nod and allowed Megan to guide her up the stairs.

I ran a hand over my face as I let out a deep sigh. I was beyond drunk. But I was able to handle my liquor better than Mia, obviously.

"Marky! You're a hard man to get a hold of." I felt a hand clasp my shoulder and turned to see who it was.

"Lou, I didn't think you would make it. Did you just arrive?" Thankfully, Mia was upstairs and had just missed him. I relaxed my shoulders.

"And miss my nephew's thirtieth? Ah, that hurts." He placed his hand over his chest, pretending that he was wounded. "Nope, I've been here for about an hour now. I was catching up with a few old friends." He looked around me. "So where's that gorgeous girl of yours? We ran into each other earlier. She seemed upset and left. I hope I didn't scare her off." Lou's eyes squinted, and he focused on my reaction to that comment.

f.u.c.k. That was the reason why Mia wanted to drink. It wasn't like her to lose control unless something was bothering her. Why didn't I realize that earlier?

Shrugging, I patted his shoulder, "She's been like that for a few days. Personal issues she's dealing with. Don't take it personally. Thank you for coming." I played it off. He nodded, and I gave his shoulder a tight squeeze when I caught sight of my mother. Curious, I excused myself from Lou and made my way toward her.

"Mom, are you okay?" I asked as I reached her.

She blinked a few times, let out a deep breath, and then glanced up at me. "Oh yes, baby, I'm fine. You seem drunk." She smiled lightly as she reached out her hand and cupped my face. "I'm guessing you're having a good time?"

"Yes, thank you. It was great, but I'm going to call it a night."

Her brows bunched together, "Oh? It's still so early, Marcus."

"I know. I'm sorry. Mia is upstairs. She drank a little more than usual and so have I."

She smiled with understanding and then nodded. I leaned down, squeezed my fragile mother in a tight hug, and thanked her one last time before heading up the stairs.

While I was walking down the second floor hallway, Megan had exited my bedroom with her head lowered as she laughed to herself. When she looked up, she burst out laughing again at my questioning stare. "Oh my G.o.d, Marcus, she's so drunk." She patted my arm when we met in the middle.

"How drunk?" I asked, concerned she may have been sick.

"Let's just say that she had something planned for you and she insisted she wanted to still go through with it. I had to help her get ready."

With a raised brow, I quickly glanced at the closed bedroom door and back at her. "Thanks, Megan."

She laughed again, shook her head, and headed back down the hall toward the stairs.

I closed the door behind me as I entered my room. The lights were dim, candles burned all around, and soft music played in the background. My lips curled into a smile as my eyes scanned the room, but I couldn't find her. I was slowly making my way further into the dark room when she stumbled out of the bathroom. My heart raced at the sight of how beautiful she was: her hair down in waves tossed over her shoulders and a short thigh-revealing red silk robe wrapped around the curves of her body. She stood in black heels that caused her to seem taller.

Mia let out a barely noticeable smile as she slowly and seductively made her way toward me. In the few steps it took for her to reach me, my heart pounded with each one. I couldn't get enough of her. Every single aspect of her drove me insane with want, desire, love, and so much more.

She slightly tripped into me and let out a light snicker as she tried to straighten herself. She didn't say a word as she ran her hands under my s.h.i.+rt, taking it with her as she went up. I lifted my arms as she pulled it over my head. She held the fabric of my s.h.i.+rt on a finger, allowing it to dangle there for a few seconds before she tossed it over her shoulder. Mia kept her eyes locked with mine as she ran her finger across my bare skin, and then she leaned in and pressed her lips along my chest.

The warm touch of her lips shot an electrifying current through me. Mia pulled back and continued to stare at me as her finger slowly made its way down, past my abs, down my torso, plunging toward the rim of my jeans. She teased and twirled her finger along my lower abdomen, causing a tingling sensation in my groin. She smiled as she took notice of the goose b.u.mps that formed along my skin.

Impatient, I leaned down to kiss her, but she shook her head as she waved a well-manicured finger in my face. I couldn't help the smile that crept along my lips from amus.e.m.e.nt. Mia glanced up through her long lashes. Her eyes were the most beautiful I'd ever seen: big emerald green eyes, with long curled brown lashes. "Not yet." She whispered through luscious red lips.

She began to unbuckle my belt and jeans. "I want to make love to you, Marcus." She lowered herself, bending and bringing my pants down with her. I slid out of my boots and removed my jeans completely. As she stood straight again before me, she wrapped her hands around my neck. "Will you make love to me?" She asked her eyes back on mine, though they seemed to sadden for a mere second. Confused, I framed her face with my hands.

"What's wrong?" I asked, and then it dawned on me. "I saw Lou downstairs. I know you ran into him. Do you want to talk?"

Her eyes snapped up. "No, I don't want to talk about him." Her face softened. "I want to forget about it." She brought her hands down and pressed them along my chest and began moving me forward. I took a few steps back with every step she took. She stumbled a few times, so I placed my hands on her elbows to keep her balanced, until the back of my legs touched the bench in front of my bed. I took a seat on top of it. Mia ran her fingers through my hair. With her eyes closed, she stumbled out of her heels. I gripped her waist as she slightly swayed.

"I'm supposed to give you a striptease." She slightly pouted.

I bit back a laugh. "Says who?"

She shrugged. "That was the plan for tonight." She stated as she leaned into my lap and straddled me. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pressed her forehead down to mine. "But all I want is for you to pull me in close to you, kiss me, love me, and hold me." She brought a hand around and grabbed my face, lifting my chin, our lips mere inches away. "It's just you and I, always. When you touch me, there's no one else in this world. No one. It's just us." I knew that she was drunk, but Mia's declaration tugged at my chest. I loved that woman more than anything, and to hear that she felt the same way about me triggered an emotion stronger than I'd ever felt for her, if that was even possible.

Her eyes flashed toward my mouth. She puckered her lips and lightly kissed me. "Make love to me, Marcus. Make me forget where we are." She whispered against my lips. I groaned at her request and opened my mouth, allowing her access as she drove her tongue right in. I savored every bit of her taste as she thrust her tongue deeper with a slight moan. I couldn't help the growl that escaped at the scent of her perfume, the feel of the tug as she gripped into my hair, and the way her body molded into mine-as if we were meant for one another in every way possible.

Breathless, she pulled away from the kiss. I tried to catch my breath as she stood in front of me and slowly pulled on the strings of her robe, allowing the thin fabric to fall on the floor, revealing the most perfect naked body. I stood to face her and looked down at what was mine. She was mine. Mia wasn't afraid to let go. She wanted to be taken, to be possessed, to lose all control, and I did that for her.

Mia shut her eyes as I ran my fingers up her arm, twirled them around her shoulder, and made my way toward her collarbone. Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I pulled her in and crushed my lips against hers. She weakened in my arms. Still kissing, we slowly made our way toward the edge of the bed; I guided her as she stepped back. Once we reached the bed, she tossed herself on top of the mattress.

Admiring her once again, I slightly hovered over her as she leaned up, bringing her lips back to mine. Our tongues twirled and twisted into another pa.s.sionate and scorching kiss. Then something came over her: Mia pushed me aside, forcing me to lie on my back. There was a burning desire in her eyes as she traced her tongue down my torso and toward my groin. She pulled my briefs off, and my lips slightly parted as she grabbed me and slowly jerked her hand up and down my length.

Wetting her lips, she dragged her teeth along her bottom lip, and then she glanced up at me one last time. She then traced her tongue around the tip of my c.o.c.k. f.u.c.k. I tossed my head back as soon as she sucked and took me in her mouth. In consistent strokes, she continued to work her way up and down, topping it off with a flick of her tongue, and then sucked me in again. The pleasure was uncontrollable. "f.u.c.k, Mia." I gripped the back of her head and forced myself deeper in her mouth. She moaned and began jerking her head at a faster pace.

"Mia, I'm 'bout to f.u.c.kin' explode." She ignored me and continued with her strokes. I felt it coming, so I gripped her head with both hands and forced her down on me again and again. I throbbed inside her mouth, and she let out loud moans that forced the pressure to build in me. With each glide up and down my c.o.c.k, she tightened her grip around me again and again until I couldn't take it anymore.

Slamming my head back into the mattress, I groaned as I released the building pressure. After a few seconds, Mia lifted her head and climbed her way on of top me. I tried to turn over so that I could exchange the favor, but she stopped me. "No, I want this to be for you." Puzzled, I rose on my elbows but sank back down the moment she slid me into her. She caught my wrist and brought my hands to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I traced my fingers along her hardened nipples. Mia tossed her head back and began rotating her hips in slow motions.

I'd never seen her like that. It was as if she wanted to get lost in herself, in us. It was also a f.u.c.king turn on. Leaning up, I took her breast in my mouth and sucked on her nipple. Mia gasped as she picked up pace, wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and lifted herself, tightening her walls around my c.o.c.k and slamming back down. f.u.c.k. She continued doing it over and over again, until her eyes rolled with pleasure. She slammed her mouth into mine and sucked on my tongue.

Not able to take it anymore, I needed to be in control. I rolled us over so that I was on top and pounded my hips into hers. "Oh, G.o.d." She cried out and continued to whimper as I kept pounding into her. Her mouth opened in antic.i.p.ation as she began to pant heavily. "Marcus." She called out my name as she dug her nails into my shoulders. Her nipples peaked with desire, and I sucked one into my mouth again, twirling my tongue around, tugging with my teeth. Her body arched into mine. She cried my name out again and it made me insane. I drove my hips into hers profusely, until neither of us could take it. Before I knew it, her body convulsed beneath me. I tightened my grip on her hips and jerked my hips into hers a few more times until I released hard and long for the second time.

Breathless, I sank on top of her as I left kisses along her lips. With worn-out eyes, Mia smiled and rolled her head side to side in pleasure. I adjusted us so that she was lying beside me under my arm. We lay in silence as our breathing and heartbeats steadied. I traced my fingers up and down Mia's arm, and before I knew it, she was sound asleep.

I abruptly awoke from a dream. Sitting up, I tried to collect my thoughts. I couldn't remember the d.a.m.n dream, yet I woke with my heart racing and my skin beaded in sweat. Frustrated, I stood from my bed and headed toward the bathroom. I rinsed my face with cold water and took a quick glance in the mirror. I couldn't help the uneasiness I felt from the mysterious forgotten dream. I shook it from my head and decided to grab a water bottle from the fridge.

As I entered the kitchen, I froze when I saw my mother at the table, her head slouched as she sniffed and whispered into the phone. "I told you no. You can't do this to me. You need to leave it alone. If either of my boys find out . . ." She shook her head as she sniffed a few more times. I stepped in closer and she looked up. Her eyes widened. She didn't say another word. Instead, she ended the call, hanging up on whoever was on the other line.

"What was that about?" I asked sternly.

Swallowing a lump from her throat, she rose from the chair. "Marcus, what are you doing up?"

Ignoring her, I continued to question her. "Who was that on the phone?"

"No one. Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat."

"Are you going to pretend I didn't just walk in on your conversation?" She pressed her lips together and then headed toward the fridge.

"I can warm you up some leftovers or make you a sandwich. Which do you prefer?" She pulled out containers from the fridge. "I hope you don't mind if I sleep over. The guests left a couple of hours ago, and I was straightening things up so you wouldn't wake up to a mess."

"G.o.d d.a.m.n it, Mom." I spat out frustrated.

She twirled around and gave me a cold stare. "You watch your mouth, Marcus. I'm still your mother." She continued to stare at me until her expression softened. Letting out a heavy sigh, she leaned against the door of the fridge. "That conversation has nothing to do with you. I would appreciate it if you can respect my privacy."

"Interesting you say it has nothing to do with me, but whatever that conversation was about, it was about something you didn't want either Jimmie or me to find out. Why is that?"