This was a first.
Having a woman in his home was a first.
Wanting to keep a woman was a first.
Fuck sake, Lana was a damn first.
Nurturing wasn’t exactly a quality he expected to have, nevermind nurturing a woman, but Lana had this unknown way of revealing multiple facets to his otherwise one-dimensional personality.
The intense need to protect her, awoke a whole new depth to his character, other than working hard and playing even fucking harder.
Over the past few days it had been a challenge for him to not tear off her clothes, especially at night when she was lying in bed wearing skimpy shorts and a barely there top with no bra, or when he knew she was in the shower, lathering her perfect breasts and softly rounded hips.
It took all his will power not to barge in and scrub that bastard, Carl, off her skin because he thought his touch would scare her.
Now, with her cheek pressed to his chest, his fingertips stroked the hollow of her back. Her shallow breathes were the giveaway sign that she had fallen asleep.
It was oddly comforting to feel her warm puffs against his skin and smell the fresh soapy scent of her lavender shampoo.
Just as his eyelids became heavy, his mobile phone vibrated. He’d left it on the nightstand earlier, flicking it to silent so it didn’t wake her. He carefully reached out, snatching the noisy device before it buzzed off the shiny surface to the floor.
“Everything okay?” He tried to whisper but his deep voice reverberated in his chest.
“This is it. Varia is having her pups – right this minute!” Roger yelled down the phone.
“I’ll be right there. Don’t leave her,” he said in a rush, knowing full well his staff were diligent.
Lana stirred like a sexy siren. Maybe she felt the excitement bubbling in his chest or sensed the nervousness he harboured for his little dog. Her black lashes fanned her pale skin and a tiny moan left her lips when he slid his arm away.
“Hey.” He stroked her jaw. “Varia is having the pups. Do you want to come with me to the stables?”
She propped herself up on her elbow with tousled hair tumbling over her shoulders and her smooth skin warm and inviting. She gazed at him with a dreamy, half-asleep smile.
Her fucking little tongue moistened her lips before she croaked, “I’d love too!”
His dick twanged. She was so sexy with that just fucked sleepy look. He wanted to suck her wet tongue right out of her mouth. Closing his eyes briefly, he tried to realign his dirty mind and return his focus back to Varia.
“Let’s go,” he urged.
They scrambled off the bed and tugged on jeans and hooded tops. She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and dragged the hood over her head. Under all the layers she looked lost and scared.
Marcus halted her in the doorway. “You okay?”
Her mouth twitched. “I’m okay, when I’m with you.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead and sought out her small hand, wrapping it with his. Whatever was happening between them had rapidly picked up pace, almost skidding out of control.
The fear dilated in her eyes, plucking at the same heart strings that Jamie once had.
* * *
Marcus took a steadyingbreath when Roger updated him on the situation. Varia was happy and content. All of the pups had survived the labour.
Knowing Varia was in the stable, only a metre away, should’ve spurred him inside, but he couldn’t trail his eyes away from Lana.
A light wind danced with her hair while the moonlight gilded her blonde tresses making the strands appear almost white. She peered over the stable door, the corners of her red lips reaching her wide sparkling eyes.
She laid a hand over her heart, watching Varia meticulously clean her new born puppies.
