Stefan (The Marquette Family Book Three) (10 page)

“You do, Ty, but you don’t have to prove it.”

Her brother’s lips poked out, and she cut her eyes to Stefan. Her husband grinned. “I guess we’re in for Ty’s gumbo tomorrow then. And in answer to your question, Ty, no Mary won’t mind. This is your home now. You have free rein of the place. Both of you.”

Tyjon whooped, and Talicia sighed. She didn’t have the energy to fight Stefan on the matter. Then she figured it would make no difference one way or another. When she was ready, she would just go, and Stefan wasn’t cruel enough to force her to stay. Some of the money she had saved in the bank would go to a lawyer who would draw up the papers, and she would be a single woman again. Letting Stefan go was for the best anyway. This situation proved it. She’d held on too long, but it was really good while it lasted.

Chapter Ten

Talicia wandered over to the closet in Stefan’s bedroom. He called the room both of theirs, but she still felt like this was his home. She had been there for a few days, and grew more comfortable. Too comfortable, she thought. In fact, it didn’t even seem weird that the closet she entered was all hers and across from it was the one that belonged to Stefan.

On both sides of her were long spaces equipped with rings at the top for placing hangers, and at the bottom tons of shoe space. She had only a few of the rings occupied because it had taken her shouting at Stefan to get him to quit buying her clothes.

“Are you trying to say what I own isn’t good enough?” she had yelled at him.

“Of course not. You always dressed well when I saw you at the club.”

“Well, if you won’t let me leave right now, then go get my clothes, and you can save your money!”

He’d fallen silent then, and she got worried. She kept prodding him, and in the end he’d admitted the truth. When they first checked her place, it was fine. Probably after Colby couldn’t find her, he’d sent his men to trash the place looking for signs of where she’d gone. That news had shook her to her core because she really thought he would let it go after he destroyed the club. The man was crazier than she imagined.

“It was one arrest. Not like they convicted his ass,” she grumbled, touching the dress Stefan bought. The piece was fancy if cut a bit deep in the front. A curvier woman would set off the folds better, but once again Stefan had gotten her size just right. He claimed he would take it back when she argued with him, but she’d hidden her joy at seeing it and said this was the last time. She could purchase her own clothes with her own money.

Talicia left the closet and returned to the bedroom to walk over to the dresser. She opened it to pull out a nightie she had ordered online. Up until now, she had worn T-shirts and men’s boxers to bed. Stefan held her against his chest and not once did he try anything. She intended tonight to be different. Her aches and pains had lessened quite a bit.

Since she was getting to the point that she thought she could leave, she wanted to spend a few nights having sex with him. Who knew, she might be crying over Stefan for a long time, so she should have something to remember him by.

Talicia showered and pulled the nightie over her head. The silky folds fell to mid-thigh, and she looked at herself in the mirror. Lace and folds in the fabric at her breasts accentuated them and made them appear fuller. She rested hands on her hips and turned left and right.

Wait, what if Stefan hadn’t tried anything because he lost interest? After all, there must be tons of thicker women with big boobs throwing themselves at him in the restaurant. Plus, he had started going back to work after two days of staying with her. He was there now and working late. She chewed her lip thinking about it. Maybe this was all for nothing.

Talicia turned her head to the side and touched a small area at her jawline that was still purple. The spot was tender where one of those goons had punched her. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She’d been punched before, grabbed, thrown down, stomped. That wasn’t the first time, but she hoped with everything she had in her it would be the last.

I’m still a woman, damn it.

“Licia! You shouldn’t be wearing that.”

She jumped at Stefan’s voice and looked toward the door. He’d moved so silently she hadn’t heard him on the stairs. His words registered, and she hugged her middle. “Why not? What’s the big deal? I don’t deserve soft things?”

He didn’t appear to have heard her. His gaze was locked on her body. A suspicion washed over her, and Talicia looked down. Yup, sure enough. Stefan’s work pants were tented. He frowned and shoved at his cock as if it annoyed him.

“Honey, please go change. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands off you. Just the material will give me ideas if it brushes my skin while we’re in bed. I’ll take a cold shower.”

Talicia started laughing. “Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

She had to be sure she understood him. “You’re
trying
not to touch me?”

“Of course. You’ve been hurt. Some spots are still bruised, and there’s no way I’m going to make them worse by climbing on top of you. It’s not right, but please don’t make it harder by wearing that nightie.”

“What if I just take it off?”

“Licia.”

She drew the material up as if she would remove it but just let her pussy show. He looked stricken. Again his big hand tried to tame his dick, and she’d never felt so sexy. Talicia walked over to the bed and leaned back on it then raised one leg while running fingers along her slit.

“But I’m so hot tonight, Stefan. I can’t help myself. You spoon me every time we’re in bed, and I can feel your dick. All I want is to get it inside me.”

“I never meant to tempt you.”

“But I mean to tempt
you
.” She smirked and turned over, pushing her ass in the air. Raising the nightie again, she looked back. Just as she hoped, the man was mesmerized. Oh, she was getting hers tonight all right. Let him deny her now. “You can take a cold shower, but I’m wearing this nightie to bed. Or I’m not wearing anything at all. It’s your choice.”

He tried again but his voice was so ragged, she knew he was gone. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She lay atop the comforter. “I have a few spots that are sore. You can kiss them and make them better. Like right here.”

Talicia raised her chin and ran fingers along her throat. She moved to her left breast. He choked. “Your breasts hurt?”

“My nipples are a little tight. Maybe if you suck them…”

“Hell,” he muttered. In seconds his clothes were on the floor, and he climbed on the bed. He leaned down and kissed her belly while grasping her hip with a gentle touch. “You can lay on top of me. That way I won’t make a mistake.”

“You prefer the top.”

“You said you’re hot, right?” In one smooth motion, Stefan rolled over and pulled her on top of him. His thick shaft throbbed between them, and she rested her cheek against his chest and shut her eyes. For a few moments, Stefan didn’t move even though she knew he struggled with his desire.

Talicia wanted to tell him she loved him and look into his eyes to see the same response. She might be bold and strong, but not that much, especially if what she saw there was revulsion. Love her? She was a whim, nothing more, and the whim would end at some point.

No, don’t think about that. Think about how good it is to be in his arms now.

He always called what they did making love. That was his way. She called it sex, but in her heart, she made love to him with every caress and kiss. Talicia slid down his body, dropping kisses along the way.

“No, Licia. You can’t,” he protested.

“My mouth doesn’t hurt,” she lied. Her jaw was sore, but she intended to do enough licking to give him pleasure not take him too far into her mouth.

She licked the tip of his shaft and tasted precome. Parting her lips, she took the head a short way in and sucked, but Stefan jerked his cock away from her. She blinked up at him, surprised at the frown on his face.

“Don’t lie to me,” he snapped.

She gasped.

“You think I don’t know every part of your body? I saw that bruise on your chin, and I know it was swollen not long ago. Come up here.”

His anger threw her for a loop, and when she didn’t move fast enough, he sat up and reached for her to slide her along his body to rest on his chest again. Stefan’s huge hand covered the right side of her face, but the touch was light enough, it didn’t hurt.

“Don’t ever lie to me. I can’t express how much I hate it.”

“Stefan, I… I’m sorry.”

He nuzzled her lips with his. She opened to him, and they tongue-kissed for long wonderful moments. When he broke it off, he whispered, “I can forgive anything.”

“Except a lie?”

“No, I can forgive a lie, but I won’t accept it. Please don’t do it, Licia.”

“Okay.” She wasn’t sure if she intended to keep her word or not. Up until now she just didn’t share everything with Stefan. If she didn’t choose to tell him a detail of her life, she just refused to talk about it. Lying wasn’t an issue. What about later when she had to leave and if he asked her if she cared about him? No, he wouldn’t ask that.

Stefan drew her legs apart and ran his hand over her ass. He slid her higher so he could reach her pussy and stroked fingers into the slick wetness. Talicia moaned and gripped his shoulders. She pressed her face into the pillow beside his head and shut her eyes. Stefan reached farther and brushed her clit. A quake rocked her body.

“We’ll take it very slow and easy,” he said.

“I can take it harder. Really, I’m not lying.”

“I know, but we’re taking it slow and easy.”

He sounded like a broken record, but she got it loud and clear. Stefan was sweet until he was pushed too far. Then it was his way or his way. His alpha attitude kind of turned her on, and it wasn’t like he didn’t get her off with his fingers. Like he was doing right then.

Talicia cried out his name and arched her hips, pushing her ass up. Stefan’s fingers sank all the way in her heat. He squeezed her ass cheeks and wiggled his fingers inside her. She thought she would pass out it felt so good.

“I want to pump so bad, Stefan.”

He threw his arm around her middle to hold her still and began pumping his fingers in and out of her pussy faster. The stimulation had her moaning and panting, pleading for more. He took her to the point that her orgasm was about to crash down all around her. Then he pulled his fingers out and shoved his cock into her pussy instead. Talicia screamed his name through clenched teeth.

Stefan kept sharp control of her movements while grinding his dick into her heat. He arched his hips into the mattress and drove up. Again and again, he thrust, and all she could do was hang onto him, letting him give her pleasure.

“Stefan, let me go. I want to ride you.”

“Not yet.” He squeezed her ass and massaged it as he took her. The orgasm grew to fever pitch and then tore through her body. Talicia whimpered until it gentled, but Stefan continued to stroke into her pussy. When his hand on her back tensed, she knew he was ready to come. She clenched her internal muscles, squeezing his dick with everything she had. A sharp cry was all he uttered, and she felt his hot seed inside her.

Talicia panted as Stefan rubbed her back. He loosened his hold so she could get down. Instead, she stayed where she was, soaking up the feel of his hard body, his scent, the sound of his soft breathing, and the aftermath of him making love to her.

“Now you sleep,” he said.

“We usually go all night.”

“If you think I’m going to let you, you’re wrong.”

She grumbled, but she was worn out after one session. Maybe she should stay with him a little longer, until she was back up to snuff. Then they could have sex for hours. Yeah, then she could say good-bye.

Chapter Eleven

Talicia looked out the car window at the restaurant. Tall forest green letters spelled out the word Marquette’s above the entrance. The glass doors sparkled in the sunshine as if someone had just that moment finished Windexing them. A couple in fancy clothes stood outside, the man checking his watch every so often. Were they that eager to get into the restaurant that they had arrived before it opened?

Jerome held the car door for her, but she didn’t move. Her heart hammered in her throat. Stefan had said he would bring her today, but a situation at the restaurant had caused him to send the car and Jerome. He said he would be waiting, and she had hoped he meant on the curb. Now that she thought about it, she supposed he wouldn’t wait on the curb. Not when his bodyguard attended to her. She’d have to make sure he didn’t do that again.

“Ms. Talicia?” Jerome called when she didn’t move.

She cleared her throat and climbed out.
Never let them see how scared you are.

“They’re good people,” Jerome said as she passed him. Talicia didn’t respond but kept moving. At the door, she paused, and Jerome leaned around her and rapped heavy knuckles on the glass. Almost right away, the lock clicked, and the door swung outward. The man in dark slacks and white shirt with an apron about his waist didn’t look anything like Stefan, so maybe he was just one of the waiters.

“Hello, I’m—”

The man nodded and backed up a little. “Mrs. Marquette. Come in.”

She stiffened. “Talicia Clay.”

The man’s face reddened, but she moved into the cool interior of the restaurant. Her first impression was more luxury. This was like a five star restaurant with chandeliers and pristine tablecloths, shiny wooden floors and expensive artwork on the walls. Soothing music was pumped over the speaker system, a good one. Nothing canned and cheap for Marquette’s.

Talicia stopped in the small lobby area directly off the large dining room. She glanced to her right and noticed a short hallway to another glass door. The sign on it also read Marquette’s, but under the fancy font was the word bakery. Did they also own a bakery? Tyjon hadn’t mentioned it.

“That’s her?” someone said. “Looks just like the brother. I can’t believe Stefan married that.”

“Tiffany!” a woman barked with authority in her tone. “Go home for the day.”

Talicia raised her chin and stiffened her spine. She strode farther into the dining room. Too bad she couldn’t have worn the dress Stefan had purchased for her. The afternoon shift at the restaurant wasn’t the right time for an evening outfit. She’d gone instead for simple gray slacks, but she had paired them with a soft pink blouse that she had liked on sight. If this was how they were going to judge her, well, it didn’t matter anyway.

She walked over to the woman in the chef’s outfit, who’d told the blond to go home. Was this the woman Stefan kept speaking about who taught him how to cook? She was pretty. Worse, she was hippy with unnecessarily big boobs. Then she turned, and Talicia realized she was pregnant. With whose baby? Talicia couldn’t draw in a breath.

“I’m just starting my shift,” Tiffany complained. “And you’re not my boss anyway. Creed is.”

The chef folded her arms over her chest. “Oh, you think you’re staying here when I tell Creed I want you gone?”

The blond’s mouth fell open. Then she snarled. “All of you think you’re so special, taking our men. Now there’s another one! You should stick to your own kind.”

All eyes were on the young woman who must have lost her mind. Talicia wondered what kind of restaurant they ran here that the staff acted like this and mouthed off any way they liked.

The chef put her hand on her hips. “Oh, it’s like that? Well how about this, Tiff? You can get your stuff and clean out your locker. You’re fired.”

“I don’t care anyway. I was about to give my notice. I already found another job.”

Several voices rose saying she was ungrateful of what the Marquette’s had done for her. Some said she was just mad none of the brothers wanted her. No one seemed to support the woman in her outburst, but Talicia knew a few probably felt the same way. They just needed their jobs, unlike her.

Deep voices sounded nearby, and another door with a porthole in it opened. A huge man, slightly bigger than Stefan, stepped through the door. His gaze first locked on the chef and lingered. She must be his woman, Talicia thought with relief. Then he looked at her and didn’t say a word.

“What’s all the shouting,” the big man asked. “We’re opening in less than half an hour.”

“Creed, I fired Tiffany. I don’t want her back here.” The chef swung on her heel and marched across the room. The way she barreled down on Talicia, she wondered if she needed to raise her fists but thought better of it. The woman wasn’t likely to throw any punches when she was pregnant—hopefully. “I’m Shada, Creed’s fiancée. You must be Talicia.”

“Nice to meet you.” Talicia held out her hand to shake. She wished she could feel the greeting from Shada was friendly, but there hadn’t been much emotion in the words, unless one wanted to call ice an emotion. In her head, she must be saying she wanted this other bitch to follow the first out the door and never see either again. Shada had the authority to fire Tiffany but not Talicia. “You can call me Licia if you want. Everyone does.”

Shada eyed her up and down. “So what’s your angle?”

Talicia didn’t get to answer. The porthole door burst open again, and this time it was Stefan. He rushed over and moved around Shada in a flash to take Talicia’s hand. “I’m sorry I was late. You’re doing okay? Tired?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shada frown and look from Stefan to her and back again. She pulled her hand from his. “I’m fine, Stefan. Where’s Damen? I want to thank him and get it over with.”

“Oh, he only saved your life, and you want to get it over with?” Shada snapped.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she growled back. “And he hardly saved my life when I was just bruised a little.”

“Bruised? People died in that mess you dragged my brother-in-law into, bitch.”

There was that bitch she was waiting for. Talicia stepped into Shada’s face, but Stefan pulled her away and led her to the back of the restaurant. As they headed down a hallway, she tugged on his hold.

“Stefan, let go. I’m going to tell her about herself. I don’t want her to think I’m scared of her. Apparently, she thinks she’s the shit the way she told your brother she didn’t want to see that woman anymore.”

He said nothing but shuffled her through another door and shut it behind them. When they were inside he drew her close, but Talicia shoved his chest. He looked surprised at her rejection, and she compressed her lips.

“Licia, calm down. We knew this wouldn’t be smooth, but I’ve been preparing them for—”

“Preparing them for what? Me?”

The door burst open, and the big man barged in. She recalled his name, Creed, the oldest one. So Damen was in the middle, and Stefan was the youngest. Behind Creed came two more men, the last two looking like twins with their similar sardonic smirks. The one twin wore glasses, but the other didn’t.

“Is this an ambush?” she said, balling her fists and positioning herself for a strong stance. Inside, she wanted to throw up. This was too much like the club that night with Colby’s men ready to beat her for daring to defy him. No violence he’d said. What a load of crock.

Stefan swung to face his brothers. “Whoa, we don’t all need to be in here at the same time. You’re scaring her.”

“I’m not afraid of them!”

The one twin grinned. “She doesn’t look scared, Stefan. I admit I’m surprised though. I thought it was the other one.”

Talicia glared. “Who are you?”

He shouldered through the group of big men and stuck his hand out grinning. “I’m Duke Marquette. You must be Talicia Marquette, Stefan’s wife.”

She had the feeling he got pleasure from rubbing her existence in to the others and resented him for using her for entertainment. He might smile, but he didn’t care about her any more than Shada did. What did he mean he thought it was the other one, what other one? Another woman?

“My last name is Clay not Marquette,” she said. “I thought there were only three brothers.”

“Clay,” Duke said. “That’s interesting. I’m the cousin.”

“Leave her alone, Duke.” Another man stepped up, the one with the glasses. “I’m Damen.”

“Oh.” She accepted his hand and smiled this time. “Thank you for helping Stefan to find me. I could have handled it eventually, but I’m sure he was worried. So thanks.”

“My pleasure.” Damen smiled, and it looked genuine. He might just be a different kind of charmer or it was an illusion of his glasses. She reserved judgment. He didn’t even try to pretend he wasn’t studying her. “So you’re really my baby bro’s wife? You said your last name is Clay?”

Her gaze slid from him to the biggest man who still hadn’t walked over. He radiated anger, but he never stopped staring at her. She resisted shifting under the accusation plain in his expression and tried to stand taller. That was hard to do when all four of them towered over her and made her feel like a dwarf. No, a troll, an ugly one because these men were the beautiful people. All four of them could have any woman they wanted, multiple women who were willing to share if they could get one night.

Talicia fell to her old standby, the tough shell she had been using all of her life to survive. “Yes, if you’re wondering if the marriage is real or fake, I don’t care. Look me up. Check into my background. I can tell you the gist right now. Poor, black, and from the wrong side of town. High school education.”

“I bet there’s more to you than that,” Creed said, coming forward.

“And I’m sure you already know,” she shot back.

“Of course.” He bared even white teeth, but it wasn’t a smile. “You married my baby brother, who I would kill for to protect him. I’m going to dig up every kernel of information I can about you. So if there’s anything you want to reveal, do it now. Although, the incident that got you hurt is bad enough. If my brother had been there at the time…”

He left the rest unsaid, and Talicia felt the same threat she’d felt from Colby’s men.

“Creed.” Stefan shoved Talicia behind him. “We talked about this. I told you I wouldn’t let her come if you were going to threaten her. I mean it. She’s my wife, and she won’t be disrespected!”

“Baby
bro
has balls,” Duke teased. “A woman will do that to you.”

“Shut up, Duke,” Damen growled. The way he said it made Talicia wonder if Damen didn’t like Duke. If Damen didn’t like him, the most decent of Stefan’s family so far, her view of the man wasn’t much better. He was an asshole and seemed like the type to start trouble. She’d hired a couple people like him before, but they didn’t last long. Talicia didn’t stand for it, but family was a different matter. Well, he wasn’t
her
family.

“I’m making my position clear,” Creed said. “We’ve dealt with this kind—”

“This kind!” Talicia moved around Creed. “Who the hell do you think you are calling me a kind? You don’t know me, and don’t think I’m going to cower because you threatened me either. So what you’re big. I’ve taken down men like you and barely broke a sweat.”

“Whoa,” Duke crowed, grinning.

Talicia went on, ignoring Duke. “You don’t scare me, and like I said I don’t give a fuck what you think—any of you. I’m leaving, Stefan. I don’t need Jerome to take me. I can find my own way.”

She started for the door, but Creed grabbed her arm. “Hold it.”

Talicia didn’t think twice. She assumed he was about to attack her, so she let him have it as hard as she could. Jarring pain raced through her fist and up her arm. Nausea rolled through her system, but she kept swallowing to keep her breakfast down.

Creed’s head went back, and then his big body followed. He staggered and smashed into a table holding a printer. The printer hit the floor with a crash, and the stack of papers that had been atop it flew everywhere. No one in the room said a word, but she felt every one of their eyes on her.

Talicia kept her fists up, one foot just ahead of the other. Before the attack, the hit wouldn’t have fazed her, but she swayed a little, and her vision blurred. She wasn’t all the way back one hundred percent. That and the fear of meeting them all threw her off her game.

Creed caught himself and worked his jaw, rubbing it. If he was angry before, he was liable to catch fire now. He looked at her and then to Stefan. “You married her, Stefan?”

Talicia glanced at Stefan, who hadn’t said anything or moved since she attacked his brother. He wore a stricken expression, eyes wide, jaw slack. Then it switched to sharp disappointment, and her stomach dropped. Damn, why couldn’t she control herself?

“She’s violent, unladylike, dangerous…” Creed ticked them off on his fingers.

“Creed,” Stefan began, and Talicia couldn’t believe the conciliatory tone in his voice.

She swung on her heel and wrenched the door open. In the hall, two women were rushing toward them, one being Shada. The other woman, also black did a double-take on seeing Talicia. She had a softness to her and was of course pretty. Behind the woman a boy and a girl followed, eager and nosy expressions on their faces. Talicia moved around all of them to keep going.