Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series) (2 page)

“You been crying all this time?” His sculpted lips turned down at the corners.

She nodded and lowered her head.

“Oh, Avery,” he sighed and lifted her chin to brush firm lips softly across hers. Moving back slightly, he studied her face while the backs of his fingers skimmed over her wet cheeks and then brushed across the tips of her ears.

She shivered.

He threaded his fingers into her hair, sifting through the copper shoulder length strands. “I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this,” he murmured, deep voice rumbling as he tucked her head into his chest.

She relaxed into him. Being in Marcus’ arms always made her feel safe, protected, and loved. The reappearance of her father had entirely the opposite effect. A plethora of old insecurities had resurfaced, making her feel like she was in danger of sliding back into the role of the victimized teenager again. “Is he gone?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah. He didn’t really put up any fuss,” Marcus answered softly, smoothing his hands down her back.

“Thank you.” She let out a shuddering sigh.

“Ace.” He said her name like it was a question.

She tensed. “I don’t want to talk about it, Marcus.” She pulled away and squared her shoulders. “You know the story. He’s an alcoholic. He was neglectful and abusive to Justin and me. Period. End of story. It’s old news that I don’t want to relive. Not after I’ve worked so hard to forget.”

Avery went over and stood in front of the floor to ceiling windows, one of her favorite spots in the apartment. The view was the primary reason the twenty five hundred square foot condominium was valued at well over six million. The sun was setting over West Vancouver in the distance, red and pink ribbons of color trailing across the darkening sky above the sapphire water of the Burrard Inlet below.

Ignoring the tears that tracked silently down her cheeks once more, Avery wrapped her arms around her slender waist.
Damn him!
Why did her father have to come back into her life right now? His presence was a poison that tainted everything, even her excitement about going out on her first tour.

Marcus came up behind her and placed his warm hands on her tensed shoulders. He turned her around, his expression somber. “Avery, this is me. I of all people know how hard you’ve worked to put your past behind you.”

“No. You don’t know,” she returned still prickly. “You think you do, but you don’t. Not really.” Opposition laced her voice. “Knowing is one thing. Experiencing it is another. You’ll never understand. There’s no common ground between your childhood and mine.”

“You’re right,” he agreed sadly, tucking a coppery strand of her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what it was like growing up like you did, and it makes me mad to even think about it. But I’m here, and I love you, and I want you to let me help you deal with this.”

“I’m sorry.” She closed the distance between them, and dropped her head onto his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“It’s ok.” He stroked her hair silently for a moment. “If you should change your mind about seeing him, he wanted me to tell you that he’s staying in town this week.”

She pulled back, her expression hardened. “I’m not changing my mind.”

“I’m ok with whatever you decide. I won’t push either way. But if you should decide to meet him, I don’t want you going alone, ok?”

“Ok.” She blew out a breath that stirred her bangs.

“Good.” He gave a satisfied nod. “Why don’t you go take a hot bath? I’ll make some rooibos tea and bring it to you.”

“That would be really nice,” she confirmed, weariness weighing her down as she shuffled back to the master bathroom.

Reclining against the back of the garden tub with her eyes closed, she knew the moment he stepped into the room by the way her body reacted, tingling with an awareness that had always been there between the two of them. Even when she’d been disguised as a guy.

Heat that had nothing to do with the temperature of the bath flooded her veins. She opened her eyes to find him leaning back against the door frame looking at her with a heavy lidded gaze. Steam billowed from the white porcelain mug cupped in his masculine hands. Slowly, the focus of his gaze lifted from where her breasts peeked out above the surface of the bubbles to her face. Looking pointedly at the mug, she arched a brow. “Is that for me?”

“The tea you mean?” Marcus asked suggestively, giving her a sexy half smile.

Avery reached out with a soapy arm to take the mug he offered her. “The tea will do… for now,” she said, playing along. Blowing over the top before taking a sip, she sighed with pleasure at the first taste of the rich exotic brew. Warmth from the tea slid down her throat while the passionate expression on Marcus’ face fueled warmth of a different sort.

Purposefully, she sat up further in the water, feeling the bubbles sliding down to her waist. Eyes darkening to deep sapphire followed their path with focused concentration. She started to bring the tea to her mouth again when he abruptly reached for it and removed it from her hands.

The mug clattered as he set it down on the black granite countertop. He grabbed a thick white bath towel off the warming rack. Wordlessly, he unfolded it and held it outstretched for her to step into. “You are so beautiful,” he said watching her rise from the tub.

He wrapped her flushed body in the soft heated towel and swept her off her feet. Cradled tight to his rock-hard chest, she found herself swiftly carried to the bedroom. Her heart hammered excitedly against her ribs as he laid her out on the king sized bed and began to caress her body. With calloused fingertips he expertly stroked her like an instrument that he had mastered. She’d never had a lover like Marcus. Not that there had been many before him. But she could never have imagined anyone making love to her the way he did. Like it was a physical expression of what he felt inside his soul.

He ran his hands across every inch of her sensitized creamy white skin plucking lightly in certain areas, circling teasingly in others, always seeming to intuitively know where and how to touch in a way that would give her the most pleasure. By the time he covered her body with his own she was trembling and ready. She moaned deep in her throat at the exquisite feeling of completion she felt when he finally brought their bodies together.

Over the past week she’d sensed his lovemaking taking on an even higher level of intensity than usual as if he was savoring each moment. Now he made love to her so tenderly and so patiently that it took only moments before he’d coaxed from her the ultimate crescendo. And as it always was between them, after she cried out his name, he soon followed, dampening her vocal release with his mouth over hers, as if he were drinking in her essence.

In the morning she woke and stretched out her arm to find his spot on the bed empty and cold. Wrapping the sheet around her naked body, she padded down the hall following the harmonious sound of the acoustic guitar into the studio. Shirtless, jeans half buttoned, he sat with his bare feet on the top rung of the wooden stool. His head bowed, she watched his arm muscles flex as his fingers picked out a complicated melody. His long dark brown hair shielded his strong jaw from view. Without speaking, he stopped playing, looked at her, and reached out his arm.

She moved forward, the sheet falling abandoned to the floor. His gaze raked appreciatively over her form and her body immediately responded. Blue eyes dark and smoldering with intent, he slid off the stool, twisting at the waist to carefully set down the guitar on a nearby stand. He deftly undid the buttons to his jeans, sliding them down. Fully nude, he stepped forward, pressing his warm hard body against hers. He cradled her face in his hands. For a moment, she saw worry flicker in his blue eyes that she didn’t understand. She covered his hands with her own, a frisson of unease sliding down her spine. He scooted back on the stool, drawing her to him, lifting her body so that it straddled his. With his hands cupping her bottom, he began moving her in a practiced rhythm that made her entire body burn from the inside out. Lingering concern slipped away as the combustible heat between them fanned quickly into a roaring flame.

When Avery stepped out of the shower, towel tucked between her breasts, Marcus was already gone. She found a mug of tea cooling on the nightstand next to a note: Sorry not sorry you didn’t get to drink your tea earlier. Coleman torture/workout. See you later. Love you, Marcus.

She smiled to herself as she took a sip. Though he wasn’t the best at verbalizing the way he felt, Marcus showed her over and over again with the things he did how much he cared. A quick glance at the clock brought her lazy musings to an end.

Justin.

Her twin brother’s plane was due to land in forty-five minutes. Hastily, she rummaged through the dresser drawer, pulling out the first lacy black bra and matching pair of panties she found. After her brief stint disguised as a man, at the first chance she had gone out and purchased the most feminine undergarments she could find, many more sets than she actually needed. Never again would she take wearing lingerie for granted. Being a guy had been a lot harder than she had ever imagined.

Finger combing her shoulder length copper tresses smooth, Avery slipped on a green t-shirt and jeans, and stepped into her worn Converse sneakers with the mismatched laces. Her new friend and admitted fashionista, Samantha Daniels, would not have approved. On the way to the elevator she grabbed a hat and sunglasses from the chrome bowl on the glass topped trestle table, unfortunate necessities now that she was as easily recognizable out in public as Marcus.

Once she exited the elevator into the underground parking garage, she saw Ray. Uncrossing his thickly muscled ebony arms, he pushed away from the side of the familiar grey Mercedes where he’d been leaning. “Don’t look so worried,” he greeted, opening the back door. “I’ll get you there with plenty of time to spare.”

Weaving in and out of the early morning traffic, Ray soon left the congested city streets behind. Impatiently, Avery squirmed around on the leather cushion in the back seat, watching the scenery change from sidewalks overflowing with scurrying pedestrians to serene tree filled lanes with large houses and beautifully landscaped yards. She glanced down at her watch and sighed with relief when they crossed the bridge into Vancouver International with fifteen minutes to spare.

“Thanks, Ray,” she said with a broad smile as she hopped out onto the curb.

He rolled down the passenger window. “Put your hat and sunglasses on,” he admonished.

“I will.” Head down, she hurried through the terminal, stopping at the VIP checkpoint to show an electronic pass to the security guard so that she could pass through.

In a reserved waiting area, she absently took off her hat and sunglasses and began pacing back and forth. She was way too keyed up to consider sitting, and the view out on the tarmac didn’t provide anything interesting to distract her. A couple glanced her way after whispering her name but didn’t approach her.

It had been twenty-one days since she had last seen Justin. Though they had talked on the phone nearly every day that he’d been in drug rehab, she hadn’t been able to see him since the facility didn’t allow visitors. She checked her phone again. The web app indicated that his flight had landed.

When the door to the jet way opened, Avery’s eyes locked on it expectantly. A handsome man, height a couple of inches taller but with red hair and features strikingly similar to hers, appeared among the disembarking passengers. He flashed a big smile that she returned.

“Avery!” He closed the distance between them quickly, dropped his duffle, and lifted her to her toes with a tight hug.

“Justin.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“You too, sis.” He took a step back to appraise her. “You look good. Much better than when I last saw you in LA. Hair’s grown out some,” he commented, flicking a strand playfully.

“Yours is shorter, but I like it.”

“I had it cut.” He grinned. “Thought it would be a good idea.” He ran a hand along one close cut side. “I don’t want there to be any more cases of mistaken identity between the two of us. From what you tell me Marcus seems like a nice guy and all, but I don’t want him to kiss me.”

She managed a feeble smile.

“Something bothering you?” Justin tilted his head to the side. “Everything still ok with you and Marcus?” His green eyes narrowed as he studied her. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Gosh no!” she blurted. “And don’t say things like that in public,” she admonished, lowering her voice. “Someone might hear you and print it.”

“Yeah, I saw you two in the magazines at the airport. You really do live in a fish bowl now, don’t you?”

She nodded ruefully.

“How is the old man, anyway?”

“What?” Avery’s head snapped up. “Who told you?”

“Told me what?” His brow creased with confusion. “I don’t understand. Is something wrong with Marcus?”

“No. He’s good.” She avoided his eyes as she put her hat and sunglasses back on. “He’d have come, but he had a work out scheduled with his trainer.” She tugged on his arm. “We’d better get going. Ray’s double parked at the curb.”