All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) (26 page)

“
There's no way in hell I can let
you leave this bedroom, much less this house dressed this way.” His
breath pants harshly across my face. “You are fucking irresistible,
and I will have to kill some poor bastard for just looking at you.”
Marcus’ words turn into a low growl, his eyes burning wildly stare
deeply and seriously into mine.

Hoping to break the intensity, I say. “Mm, I
think you would be overreacting just a tiny bit. Besides, no one
will notice me when there are a dozen beautiful women working at
Toxic for them to gawk at.”

“
You are the most beautiful woman I
have ever seen,” He slides his thumb over my cheek. “A man would
have to be blind to not notice you. As a matter of fact,” He
smirks. “I am going to send up a little prayer that every man at
the club tonight is blind.” He pauses, “I have a better idea, why
don't we just stay here and prevent several ass-whoopings or
possibly a murder.” Pressing me tighter against him, he touches his
forehead to mine. The sizzling contact between us evokes a sigh
from me. “You don't want me going to prison for life, do you?” He
asks teasingly, moving his thumb to stroke over my lips.

I am blazing with desire from his touch, but
luckily, his witty words and tone lighten the mood. My laugh
ultimately breaks our deep need. Stepping out of his possessive
grip, I drop my hands over my nervous stomach. I haven't eaten
tonight for fear of becoming sick. He begged me to eat earlier,
even offering some of his food, but I was already too far on the
edge, and just looking at it sent a wave of nausea through me. I
know Marcus worries about me. It touches my heart, but until after
I get to the club and find the guys who abducted my friends I won't
be able to put a crumb in my mouth.

I turn away from him and stare at my
reflection on the large mirror hanging on the wall. “I've never
dressed this way in my life.” I whisper. “You know I don’t have a
choice. I must do this for them.”

What wouldn't I do to have Anna and Waverly
back home? I'll step out of my comfort zone and take on a new
persona. I'll chase down bad guys and show them that messing with
my friends was a terrible decision. There are no limits as to what
I will do to get them back and protect all that I love.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watch as a
diversity of emotions play along his features while staring at me.
The most dominate displayed; Marcus is completely in love with me.
I found the truth lying in the depths of his eyes earlier this
morning after he shared a dark family secret. I could tell that
he'd never shared something so personal with anyone. He trusts me
wholly, and that means more to me than anything he could ever do to
prove his love for me.

When I went to him and crawled into his strong
protective arms I felt it in his touch. What we exchanged was more
profound than a simple hug; I was restoring something that Marcus
lost a long time ago. However strong all of that is, it's nothing
compared to his words. Although he's never said
those
three
words to me, he has said things that confirm the depth of his
feelings.

Any other person would demand that you prove
that you love them with actions. The whole, “prove that you love
me” thing it doesn’t work for me. Gifted with a very special
ability of reading expression and body language, I can tell when
someone lies. Marcus lied to me the night we met, but I missed it
because at the time my betraying body was so turned on from dancing
with him all night that I didn't even realize it was happening.
Lust was controlling my brain - or at least I thought it was lust
at the time - so I didn't notice his anxiety and tell-tale signs.
That night I was convinced that lust was the only thing between us,
but now I know that couldn't be farther from the truth.

The lie he told me was that he doesn't do
girlfriends; he only just has sex, lots of sex, with random women.
Since then he has confessed that he lied in an attempt to protect
me by keeping me at a safe distance to protect. Looking back, I
should have known that he was lying, especially since the whole
time I was shamelessly ogling him.

No longer confused from the desires between
us, I know one thing for certain; I care far more for him than what
he can physically offer me. Although his touch is magical and
restores me it's more about how he handles me with care and
adoration unlike anything I am acquainted with. Now that I've had a
taste of Marcus loving me, I know I can't go back. I want his love.
With all the hell that I’m currently going through, Marcus is all
that I have left and I will fight fiercely for us.
I’m falling
hard for him.

Deep laughter breaks me out of reflecting. I
glance up seeing his devilish smirk.

“
Damn,” He says, walking up behind
me and pressing his warm chest against my back. He draws one of my
blue pigtails around, letting it drape over my back and then places
both hands on my hips. He leans down and places a sweet kiss on my
shoulder. “They wouldn't recognize you if they saw you dressed this
way.”

“
That's the plan.” I confirm,
smiling back at him. “Are you ready?”

Marcus shakes his head, “No, I'm not ready,”
He holds out his hand and I take it. Walking into the hallway he
adds, “Unfortunately, as you put it 'I don't have a
choice'.”

***

Marcus

After seeing Breesan dressed this way, there's
no way I'm walking out of Club Toxic tonight without shackles and
cuffs. She's so fucking hot that I nearly devoured her, the instant
my eyes landed on her full chest, and that alluring cleavage
beckons for my lips. She's mine and the beast inside wants to keep
her at home and get her out of this outfit.

“
Baby, you look incredible.” I
groan, “And hot!” I place my hand on the small of her back guiding
her through the back access of Club Toxic. “Blue hair and all, you
are absolutely going to be the sexiest woman here, but will you
promise me that you won't bend over while wearing this tiny-ass
skirt, if you can call it that?” Tugging on the hem of her nearly
nothing skirt hoping that it will do some good to cover her ass. I
quickly discover that was a big mistake. The action causes the top
of her thong to show and my inner-beast grows feral. Tugging it up,
a dominating growl escapes my throat causing her to jump away from
me.

“
What are you doing?” She chuckles,
adjusting her strip of material partially covering her
backside.

Shrugging a shoulder, I don't want to scare
her off by telling her that I'm a fucking jealous idiot. She
already knows she owns me. I don't have to act like a girl being
all weird and shit.

“
Tone it down Tarzan,” She giggles.
“I don't want to see any chest pounding tonight.” She jokes, but I
seriously feel a strong desire to do just that so none of the
assholes here will touch her.

Walking into the main lounge area eyes shift
watching her stroll in and I can't help but pull her
closer.

“
Babe, it's going to be fine, I
promise.” She says matter-of-factly.

Continuing to escort us through the bar
holding my hand, she falters when I stop suddenly, jerking her arm
roughly. A curious look flashes across her face as she turns her
head, looking over her shoulder at me.

“
What's the matter?” Leaning in
close to me, her eyebrows furrow as she whispers. “Do you see
someone you recognize?” Staring unbelievingly at her, I slowly
shake my head because with my mouth hanging open in shock I can’t
speak. Breesan glances inside the club then says, “Marcus, what's
wrong? You're freaking me out.” Anxiously, she slides her hand up
my abdomen, landing on my chest and gripping my tee-shirt
tightly.

“
What did you…call me?” I stammer.
Searching her face I see confusion.

“
Marcus?” She answers
nervously.

“
No,” I shake my head. “You called
me Babe.” From the joy it brings hearing her call me that, I know
my expression may look goofy as hell, but I don't give a damn. That
is the best thing I’ve ever heard.

“
Yes, I called you Babe, and I like
the way it sounds.” Her eyelashes flutter uncontrollably while pink
tint rushes along her cheeks and down her neck. My god she's so
damn beautiful when she blushes. I can't help myself; I pull her to
me, wrap my arms around her neck and then cover her mouth with
mine.
She is mine
.

“
Call me anything you want.” I
mumble against her lips and she sighs. “I love it.”

Releasing a harsh breath, she opens her smoke
colored eyes and I know she's completely turned on, but she steps
back out of my arms.

“
We've got to stop.” She says,
licking her swollen lips and my already rigid dick jumps watching
her tongue’s slow movement. “You hang out for a bit. I've got to
get upstairs to let Ensley know I'm here.” Winking, she whips
around, walking away giving me the best view of her perfect ass. I
lick my lips watching that sway and thinking about how delicious
she tastes. I’ll need more of that soon.

I stop gawking and step into the open room
already alive with the usual Goth crowd. Surveying the noisy club
packed with hundreds of gyrating, sweaty bodies I look for a
familiar face. I spot Kole completely decked out in his costume for
the night, sitting at the side bar with a leather-clad blonde
wrapped around him. Going along with our plan to spread out, I make
my way to the other side of the room. Rhys has the upper level
covered and from his vantage point he can see everything on both
levels. Unfortunately, Tac had to leave again on a Stealth mission,
but feels confident he will be back in a couple of days with more
information on the second shooter. I hope he gets a positive ID on
the inside person. Breesan hasn't had a chance to meet Tac yet, but
he knows everything on paper about her. That kind of bothers me. I
don't want him, or anyone knowing everything about my
girl.

Frustrated with that thought I stalk around
several couples, tangled together in full make-out sessions, and
angle my way to the furthest back corner, which allows me to have
the entire room under observation. The waitress takes my order,
quickly returning with a beer moments later and I do my best
blending. Dressed this way is a completely new experience. I hope
it's enough of a disguise that no one will recognize me. After the
way Breesan reacted I may just have to do it more often. Smiling at
the way her eyes devoured me, I'm momentarily lost in the memory of
commanding her into that sizzling kiss.

A soft hand snakes up my arm, pulling me from
my daydreams and I quickly move my hand to my side where my gun
rests before I see a smirking face, slowly beginning to back
away.

“
Hi,” A beautiful woman dressed in
ultra-goth clothing says. “You look so familiar to me. I wanted to
come over and ask if we've met before.” She pauses. “Damn, that
really sounded like a pick up line, but I swear it's the truth.”
She giggles, covering her hand over her mouth, and lowers her head
apparently embarrassed by approaching me. I can't help laughing,
too, because I know as well as she does that it is
totally
a
pick up line.

“
No, I don’t think we have. I just
moved to the island.” I lie. She doesn’t need to know anything
about me. Moving her hand away from her face, she slants her head
to the right slightly and narrows her eyes, studying me.

“
Are you sure? Because you have the
kind of face a woman can't forget.” She continues sizing me up,
letting her eyes roam over me.

Smirking at her flirting with me, I lean back
into my chair, folding my arms over my chest. I cut my eyes and
look over her shoulder, seeing Raithe making his way over. Spotting
me and the girl he grins like a Cheshire cat while taking the empty
seat beside me. Propping his elbow on the edge of the table
casually, he addresses the woman now staring daggers at
him.

“
Miller.”

“
Raithe?” She seems thrown off with
him sitting down. “I didn't think I would see you back at the club
again.” She glances between us and asks, “Are you two
friends?”

“
Oh yeah.” Turning to me he
gestures with his hand between us, “We are old friends.” He smirks
and she glares at me again. “Don't you recognize him or does the
Goth look throw you?” Raithe chuckles while staring at my spiked
hair and heavy makeup.

He's enjoying teasing the girl, who I
recognize now as a blur from my past. My body instantly stiffens
with him giving away my cover. Doesn’t he realize that no-one can
be trusted?
Especially her.

“
That's why I'm here Raithe,” She
snaps. “I thought he looked familiar, but he says that he just
moved here. Which one of you is lying to me?” Quirking an eyebrow
at me, she props both hands on her hips and pierces me with a
glare.

He better know what he’s doing.

“
Miller, huh?” I ask, familiar with
the name, but she doesn't look like the same girl I met nearly a
decade ago. “As in, Miller Adams?”

Her black hair is a short blunt cut, but when
I knew her it was long and dark blonde. Her body has definitely
filled out from the scrawny tomboy look I remember; and those
sapphire blue eyes don't match their normal brown and gold.
Obviously she's wearing contacts. She's masked herself completely,
but recognizing the name suddenly causes my casual stance to become
ridged.