Guardian Bears: Marcus (6 page)

It looked as though she needed him as much as he’d needed her. And he wasn’t going to deny her that. He wasn’t sure he could.

Slowly, carefully, not moving fast enough to pull away from her hands, he stood up. Letting her watch, he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. Her gaze devoured his body as he bared it. Lisa gave a little moan as his muscles flexed, and she raised one hand to stroke over his abs.

The look of desire in her eyes was like fire, and he found himself growling a low, hungry sound. His bear was awake and needed her touch.

She freed his cock from his jeans, gasping at the sight of it. Sitting up on the couch, she stroked it gently, wonderingly, and Marcus felt his heart pound at her caress. Her eyes were wide, and a flush spread from her cheeks, down and across her breasts.

“You don’t have to do this,” he ground out. It took an effort of will, but he wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want to. “We can wait.”

“I know,” she said, voice husky, slightly shaky, but determined. “I’m not doing this because I think I have to. I’m doing it because I
want
to. I don’t think I
can
wait.”

She leaned in to kiss his hard shaft, and he felt himself stiffen further. She moaned against him, looking up, eyes bright and eager, and his resolve melted. They were meant for each other, he knew that, and she was drawn to him as much as he was to her.

Pulling down on his hips, she guided him back to the sofa beside her and curled up against him. Her hands guided his cock to her mouth, and she licked the length it, first exploring shyly, then with more confidence. He groaned and swallowed, and her blush brightened as his fingers slipped into her hair.

“Is this okay?” she asked, her voice full of an odd mix of desire and embarrassment. “I’ve dreamed of it… of you…”

He tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. Nodding, he stroked her cheek, feeling the heat of her blush.

“Of course it is,” he managed at last. “As long as it’s what you want.”

“Turnabout is fair play,” she said with a smile. “And… this feels right.”

She slipped her mouth over the head of his cock before he could reply, and he moaned with happiness. She felt better than he’d imagined possible, and looked so perfect. It was hard to restrain himself, and he felt his muscles tighten as she sank her mouth down, then pulled up to kiss the tip again. Her breath was hot on him, fast as his own, and her voice was low and husky.

“I’ve wanted you for so long, Marcus.”

He found he couldn’t answer. This was too much, almost overwhelming his self-control as her small hands caressed him. Words couldn’t express his feelings for Lisa, he’d never had the talent for them.

Instead, he lifted her face to his, kissing her passionately, trying to show her how much he’d missed her too. All those long years apart, he’d been dreaming of this moment, and now it was here. Lisa’s mouth was hungry on his, her soft lips trembling as he bit them gently, making her shiver with delight. The feeling of her breasts against his bare chest made him shudder too, pulling her closer.

She stroked her fingers across him, and he could feel her uncertainty as they caressed his hard abs. It was delightful, and all the more so when she gently encircled his erection with her fingers, kissing him again passionately as she stroked him.

“I won’t be able to control myself if you keep that up,” he growled at her, unsure if that was a threat or a promise. She giggled, shy but determined.

“Good,” she whispered. “We’ve both had enough self-control. Just once I want to give in. And you made me feel so good, Marcus. Let me do the same for you.”

His answering growl was wordless, but that was answer enough for her it seemed. She kissed her way down his chest, lips, tongue, and teeth playing with him until she found her way back to his cock. Marcus grabbed hold of the sofa, fingers tensing as she slipped her mouth over him again. Her tongue dance around him and his breath quickened. It felt unbearably wonderful.

It took all the self-control he had left to keep himself in check. The frame of the couch creaked under his inhumanly strong grip and with a conscious effort, he relaxed and let her have control. Lisa might not know what she was doing, but she was driving him wild. Every move she made was perfect for him, and he felt his cock swell at her urging, his breath shallow, his muscles tense.

Lisa moaned around him, and he threw back his head, roaring her name as he came. He heard a splintering
crack
as his fingers tore into the wooden frame of the couch, his body arching as his senses exploded in delight, and for a moment, all thought was gone, washed away by the intensity of the joy exploding through him.

He didn’t know how long that moment lasted, but when he opened his eyes again, Lisa’s face was close to his, flushed and happy and concerned all at once.

“Are you alright?”

“Oh
hell
yes,” he said, his voice rough. He grinned at her, panting for breath. “Better than alright. Lisa, that was wonderful.”

A proud flush brightened her face and she hugged him. Marcus carefully folded an arm around her.

“I was worried I’d done something wrong,” she told him, pressing her face into his shoulder and kissing him. “You were… pretty intense.”

“Yeah,” he admitted, glancing at the splintered and broken arm of the couch with a touch of embarrassment himself. “That was a lot more powerful than I’d expected.”

Lisa snuggled into him, and he smiled. The problems were still there, the dangers and difficulties he faced were no less daunting than they had been an hour ago, but for now, everything was right with the world.

“Come on,” he said, standing and lifting Lisa in a single easy motion. She clung to him, and he carried her through to her bedroom carefully. “Let’s get you to bed.”

T
he woods were
dark around her, shadows deep and threatening.
I’m dreaming again, aren’t I?
Lisa shivered, walking forwards and feeling the cold dirt under her feet. Something was wrong here, she could feel it with the certainty that comes in dreams. There was a light ahead, a cabin in the woods, but the lit windows weren’t welcoming. Whatever was wrong, she could feel it there. A menacing hissing sound warned her not to come any closer, but Lisa couldn’t stop walking.

She stepped out into the light of the cabin’s windows, and through them she could see something moving. Something big and sinuous and scaly.

There was something else outside with her, though. Something big and strong moving out of the woods beside her, a huge looming dark shape. It should have been frightening, but instead, it made her feel safe, protected.

She reached out for the shape, and found her fingers running through fur. The shape moved closer, and she could see it clearly. A huge bear, a grizzly, looking her right in the eyes.

The menace of the cabin was forgotten as she threw her arms around the bear’s neck. Even in the dream she knew that was a crazy thing to do, but it didn’t matter. She felt safe, even as the bear pulled her close. He would protect her from whatever menaces were threatening her, she could feel it.

Lisa blinked awake from the dream, frowning as she looked at the clock. It was just past 3am, no time to be awake. Part of her wanted to blame Marcus - he was the first man she’d shared a bed with, after all, and her bed wasn’t really big enough for the two of them. But that wasn’t fair to him. He felt so
right
against her, his body a solid warm reminder of how she felt for him, of the fact that he was real and here. He felt perfect.

And she had a nightmare the night before, without him being there. Maybe it was his presence in town that was stopping her sleeping, but not his being in her bed.

He, of course, was sleeping without trouble, and they’d both been worn out enough that she should be too. But no. He’d managed to quiet her doubts long enough for her to get to sleep, but now she felt them swirling around her again, moths drawn to the flame of her anxiety.

What am I going to do tomorrow? He’s still going to be with the Serpents, and I’m going to want to do that again. Am I going to be some gangster’s girlfriend?

Even without that, the thought of what she’d done made her blush. She’d been so wanton, so drawn along by the feeling of his body against hers. It was easy to say that she would be stronger next time, but the truth was, she didn’t want to be. She’d dreamed of being with Marcus so often since he’d left, and the reality of it was even better than her fantasies had been.

Snuggling against his solid, muscular body, she couldn’t help wondering what he’d feel like inside her. The idea scared her, but not nearly as much as it excited her, and she knew that if he’d pushed her, she’d have let him take her already. And then she’d be even more tangled up than she felt now. If that were possible.

His chest rose and fell in a slow, calming rhythm and she could feel his heart beating a steady pulse as she rested her head on him, smiling a little.

“I’m glad you’re not pushy,” she whispered, letting her fingers trail across his chest, playing gently with his chest hair. “I don’t think I could deal with being any more confused than I already am.”

He didn’t respond, deep in his sleep. Lisa kissed him softly on the lips and sank back down, letting her head rest on his chest.

But I kind of wish you had gone further, too,
she admitted in the quiet of her mind, not willing to speak that thought out loud. Thinking about what that might have been like, she smiled and drifted back off to sleep.

* * *

M
arcus snapped
awake as the first dawn light leaked in through the windows. Long practice kept his eyes shut and his breathing easy while he oriented himself - this wasn’t his room, and there was someone sleeping next to him, a body pressed against his.

Oh yeah
, he thought, memory coming back to him, and with it an expansive wave of happiness.
I’m in Lisa’s bed.
She was curled up against him, warm and asleep, and he couldn’t have felt happier than he did in that moment.

Letting his eyes open, he looked around. The bedroom was small, tidy, and comfortable for one, though the bed would have been a little on the small side for him sleeping alone. Oddly, having her next to him made it feel more comfortable rather than crowded. He couldn’t move, and was on the edge of the bed, and the covers were pulled up around her leaving his leg in the cold, but he wouldn’t have traded it for any other bed.

As he looked around the lightening room, the shadows crept into his mood too. This was wonderful, but there was still tomorrow to face, and the Serpents. Cal had taken his beating, but that wasn’t going to keep him away for long, or his friends in the club. This was going to escalate things too quickly, and put Lisa right in the middle of his trouble.

I’ll kill them all before I let them harm a hair on her head
, he promised himself, and then sighed. If only it were that simple. If violence were the answer, he’d have sorted things out as soon as he’d arrived and he and Lisa could be moving on with a shared life by now.

Okay, then. I’m going to have to move up my own timetable. I’ll go see the Serpents, and I see if I can get what I need to shut them down. Then it’s back to the important business, making Lisa happy.

He sighed again, loud enough to make Lisa stir in her sleep.

“Whussa?” she mumbled, and he stroked her hair gently.

“Nothing important,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head gently. “Go back to sleep.”

“’Kay,” she said, already slipping back into her slumber.

The truth was, he knew he should have finished his job before making a move with Lisa. There were too many complications here, too many variables to throw sand in the gears of his plan. But that didn’t matter to his bear, and now that they were lying together in Lisa’s bed, the animal inside him was finally sleeping peacefully, leaving him in a quiet he hadn’t known for years.

L
isa’s alarm
finally roused the two of them together, and they got up reluctantly. Showered and dressed, they sat together at her kitchen table, eating breakfast and smiling at each other in silence.

“I really enjoyed last night,” she said at last, blushing.

“I noticed,” Marcus replied, grinning at her. “So did I, in case that wasn’t clear. I’m looking forward to doing that again.”

She blushed brighter and nodded, and he laughed, pushing back his plate. Then she sobered, looking at him. “I guess I am too.”

“You ‘guess’?” He frowned at her.

“Marcus, I’m serious about not wanting to have anything to do with the Serpents. They’re bad news, and they scare me! I don’t know if I can do this if you’re going to be in business with them, no matter how good it feels to, um, to be with you.”

She looked stricken, glancing up at him and then looking away, but her voice was firm. He grimaced, unhappy that he’d caused her pain.

“I know what they are, I promise. It’s just for a little while, and I’m keeping myself safe.”

“That’s not good enough, Marcus. I’m serious about this. They’re not just a regular gang of bikers, that would be bad enough, but you hear these awful things about them. Even if you’re safe, I won’t - I
can’t
- be involved with someone who is helping them out.”

Marcus looked at her, seeing fierce determination. Could he risk telling her the truth? One of the most important lessons he’d learned in the Special Forces was that even the smallest mistake could compromise security, and that could be really dangerous. Deadly. Not just for him, either - he’d take a chance with his own life, but risking hers was out of the question.

No, I can’t take the chance she’ll let something slip
, he told himself, feeling awful about misleading her. But not living up to his cover story could get them both killed.

“What kind of stories?” he asked, buying time to think about what he was going to say.

Lisa didn’t look happy about answering that. Collecting the plates, she took them to the sink in silence and started to clean them. Only then did she answer.

“People go missing sometimes. You know how it is here, some people just up and leave and no one hears a thing, but sometimes - too often - they were seen near some Serpents just before they vanish.”

Damn it, that’s too close to the truth
. Marcus felt himself tense up, anger bubbling to the surface and then ruthlessly pushed back down. This was not the time or the place for it and he didn’t want to scare Lisa any more than necessary.

“Some folks say they’ve seen some of the gang bring in strangers, too,” Lisa continued, busying herself with the washing up. “Only the strangers never come into town. They just pass through to the club’s compound out in the woods, and we never see them again. Maybe it’s nothing, maybe they’re just bringing in girlfriends in or something, but I don’t like it, Marcus. And you know how the police are around here.”

“Didn’t seem that bad when I left,” Marcus said, shaking his head. “But I heard it got worse since then.”

“It has. The police won’t do anything if there’s a Serpent involved, and who else are we supposed to go to for help?”

Her shoulders tensed, and her movements were jerky as she rinsed the plates and put them down to dry. Marcus got up from his seat and walked around the table to her, putting his hands on her back gently, feeling her relax a little at his touch. The connection between them let him lend her his strength, but it wasn’t enough, he could feel that.

“I have to finish what I started,” he told her, feeling her tense up again. “But that’ll only take a couple of days, I promise. That’s all, and then I’m done with the Serpents.”

And they’re done for good,
he finished silently. No more trouble for the town, or for anyone else, at least not from this chapter of the club.

“So you’re happy to do business with them? You can’t just stop?”

“I didn’t say that,” he rumbled unhappily. “I have to get this done, okay? If I back out now, they won’t be happy, and they’ll take it out on you. So unless you’re going to pack up and leave town with me today, I’ve got no choice here.”

She turned towards him, meeting his gaze with hurt and confusion. He couldn’t blame her, but he wasn’t going to put her more at risk by telling her something that could get her killed. The edited truth would have to do, for now.

“Why did you have to get mixed up with them?” she asked, plaintively.

“I have reasons. Good ones. I just can’t tell you, yet.”

She nodded, and he saw a decision crystallize in her eyes. “Then… I’m not sure we can be together until you are willing to be honest with me, Marcus. I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do this.”

There were tears in her eyes, and he felt a knife in his chest. Steeling himself, he nodded.

“If that’s how you want it, Lisa. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. I’d never do that. And it will only be a few days, I promise.”

She hugged him tight, and he could feel her tears through his t-shirt. Feeling helpless, he put his arm around her and held her.

“You’d better be back, mister,” she said indistinctly into his chest. “I don’t want this to be the end of us, okay? Get whatever you’ve got to do done, quickly.”

“I promise,” he said, solemnly. He’d never meant anything more in his life. Lisa squeezed him fiercely and then let him go, pushing him away. Marcus took a couple of steps backward and turned, reaching for his jacket.

“I’d better get out of here then,” he said. “I’ve got a lot to do, and a hell of a good reason to get it done quickly.”