Page 50 of Never Less
This man.
“Now you’re getting it,” he murmurs.
“Getting what?”
He presses my hand over his chest and brushes his nose against mine. “Just how long my heart has belonged to you.”
With both my hands splayed across his chest, my body melts into his. I try to say something—anything to convey how I’m feeling, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a pitiful whimper. If the sparkle in Marcus’s eyes is any indicator, he finds it cute.
“Go, Liliana,” he tells me more firmly. “Because my resolve is wearing thin, and if you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’m going to fuck you against this door hard enough that you’ll feel me during your entire trip—in multiple ways.”
At that, my eyes widen. I give him one last kiss before scrambling out the door and dashing to Char’s car. Halfway down the sidewalk, I bump into John.
“Evening,” he says, amusement playing across his face at my flushed cheeks. “Have fun.”
“Thank you. You, too.” I take a step before stopping short and turning. “Oh! Marcus, did you mean what you said?”
He leans against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets. “Mean what, little star?”
“About the no spending limit.”
His eyes get a possessive glint to them. “I’ve never been more serious.”
My stomach flips, and I grin before I turn back to the car. Lori and Char wave from inside, and I wave back. I have a feeling we’re about to have one hell of a night.
As I get in, I glance back to find Marcus still watching me from the front porch. I blow him a kiss, and warmth floods me at the approving smile he sends my way. I think he likes this—seeing me with his friends.
And I think I like it, too.
Chapter sixteen
Marcus
“You’re fine, Marcus,” John says as he lounges in one of the cushioned chairs I have out in the pool area. He takes a sip of his beer. “Yeah, everything is happening all at once, but your feelings for her have been a slow build, and the same is true for hers. It’s not like this came out of nowhere.”
“That’s true,” I say on a sigh. “I’m just worried, you know?”
“And I think that’s a good sign. Shows you care about her.”
I nod.
“As for Nate…” John shakes his head. “You did your best with the little time you had with him, but it’s not like you had much say in how he was raised. This isn’t your fault. And as for Liliana choosing you, that’s her decision.”
“Still think I should feel a little bad, though.”
“Why? Because you care about her ten times more than he does? Because you prioritize her when all he does is fucking abandon her? He’s being a selfish ass, Marcus. He should feel bad.”
I chuckle. “That’s pretty damn close to what I told Liliana the other day.”
“Good! It sounds like she needed to hear it.”
Again, I nod, but I don’t go into more detail. I don’t want to spill all of Liliana and Nate’s relationship to John. She gave me permission to talk about a lot of it, but I want to respect her privacy.
I glance at my watch. The girls should be back soon. Most of the shops closed fifteen minutes ago.
“Anxious to see her again?” John gives me a sly smile.
“So what if I am?”
