Marcus leaned in and kissed her gently. "I believe a shower is in order."
Tabitha glanced at the coverlet. Both oil and wax stained its wet surface. "The bed …."
"Don't worry about it. It's a casualty of ecstasy, but it was worth it."
Tabitha laughed. "I don't think the maid can clean that. They'll charge you for it."
"I'm sure they will and they should. Still, I maintain that it was worth it." Marcus guided her into the bathroom. Light travertine tiles covered the floors and walls. The space was as large as her bedroom in her tiny apartment back in New York.
Tabitha looked at herself in the mirror. Wax spirals in three colors adorned her body. It was coming loose where the oil had contacted it.
Marcus peeled the wax off one breast. "It comes off easily."
Tabitha nodded, still getting used to the carnal image of herself reflected in the mirror. Her skin was flushed, her eyes bright.
Is that me?
She joined Marcus in peeling off the wax. In places, faint traces of pigment remained.
Marcus opened the shower door and turned on the tap. Hot water rained out.
Tabitha stepped under the stream. "This is heavenly. When I take a shower at home, I have to wait ten minutes or more for the hot water to get to me."
"I agree, this is heavenly." His smile was tender and his eyes roamed over her body with an admiring gaze.
Marcus selected a cotton washcloth and body wash from the bathroom shelves as he stepped into the shower. He pulled the clear glass door shut. Steam hung heavy in the air. He wet the cloth and liberally applied the scented gel. "I got you dirty. It seems only fair I should help to make you clean." He wiped the cloth over the surface of her skin.
As Marcus gently washed her, he removed the remaining waxy residue along with the massage oil. After he'd explored every crevice, Marcus emptied his hands and took Tabitha in his arms. He fitted her to himself and kissed her deeply. His fingers caressed the strands of her hair separating them under the waterfall of the shower as he turned her around. He pushed her against the wall, trapping her with his body.
Tabitha felt Marcus hardening against her ass as his hands roamed over her wet, slick skin.
Marcus bit her neck and Tabitha quivered in response. "I believe we have an experiment to finish."
Tabitha shook her head in confusion until their conversation at the restaurant came rolling back.
He
wanted to come again? He wanted
her
to come again? She couldn't imagine it, her body felt languid and spent, utterly boneless.
Marcus widened her stance with his feet and reached between her legs. His fingers separated and probed. "Are you sore?"
"No … not really." Tabitha jerked in stunned surprise as her body softened again.
"No?"
"No, Sir." Tabitha pressed against his fingers.
"I know you want to please me, don't you?" Marcus pitched his voice low.
Yes … Sir." Tabitha gasped as he captured her most sensitive spot between two fingers.
"I've been very pleased so far. I love exploring your body. I love exploring
you
."
Tabitha's heart jumped in her chest.
"But I know you have more to give. Much more." Marcus was fully hard now and rubbed himself against the crack of her ass.
Tabitha was unable to resist wiggling against him.
Marcus stroked her clit with his fingers and circled her opening with his thumb. "I have more to give you as well."
Tabitha was trapped between the cold stone of the shower wall and the hard, muscled heat of Marcus's body. Her palms pressed against the tile, fingers spread, and Marcus covered her hands with his, entwining their fingers.
Marcus crowded against her and his erection slipped between her thighs, probing, searching for her warm haven. "I want you. I'm going to take you. I'm going to make you mine."
Tabitha gasped and trembled. She twisted against him, trying to aid him in finding the point of entry.
Marcus bit her neck and then soothed the spot with his lips. "Be still. Just take it. Accept it."
Tabitha froze, shaken to her core by his words. Her knees felt weak but Marcus held her to the wall with his muscled frame.
Marcus entered her slowly, deliberately, drawing out the pleasurable friction between their two bodies. Fully inside her tight passage, he paused. "Do you want me? What do you want me to do?"
"Marcus. Please … don't stop. You feel so good." Tabitha arched back against him.
"Tell me. There's just you and me. Tell me." Marcus demanded that she acknowledge his claim.
"Please … take me. Make me yours … I can't stand it. Please …."
"Yes … you're mine. You fit me just right. You
feel
just right." Marcus withdrew halfway and then thrust in to the hilt. Repeatedly he thrust with short, quick strokes that pushed them both toward a peak of pleasure.
Marcus's body speared Tabitha and her arousal crested. She felt herself twitch inside and the slow build began, up and up, long and drawn out, until she reached the precipice and flew over the edge. Her body was not her own, not under her control. It belonged to Marcus. It was Marcus who filled her with more pleasure than she imagined was possible. It was Marcus who claimed her.
As Tabitha returned to herself, Marcus released her hands. He grasped her hips, hard, and with one last deep thrust, reached his completion.
Marcus turned her around toward him and took her in his arms. They stood together, embracing, as the hot shower rained down on them.
"Marcus …."
He shook his head. "I know … I know."
Marcus led Tabitha out of the shower and engulfed her in an oversized cotton towel. Gently, he rubbed all the moisture from her skin. He dried himself and then stepped out of the bathroom, leaving Tabitha to dress and dry her hair.
After she finished, Tabitha entered the bedroom to find Marcus on the phone. She proceeded into the living area to give him privacy.
A few minutes later, Marcus joined her. "I have unexpected news."
"Oh?" Tabitha braced herself. Something was terribly wrong. Marcus's stiff posture and flat voice were not indicative of anything positive.
"Something's happened at the office. It requires my attention. I have to leave. Immediately."
"Leave?" Tabitha struggled to hide her disappointment. "Can I do anything to help?"
"No, my assistant has booked me on the next flight out. I'm just going to throw everything in my suitcase and head directly to the airport."
Tabitha waited for him to say he'd call, but he didn't. "I see." Shyness and insecurity attacked her, and she didn't offer her number.
Had it all meant nothing?
"Whoever is responsible better hope my mood improves on the flight back because right now I'm pissed. I wanted to spend more time with you."
Tabitha experienced a glimmer of hope, but Marcus still made no mention of the future. "Okay … I guess I should get out of your way then?"
"I'm sorry. My mind is whirling. What's going on … it's urgent and it's hard to think about anything else." Marcus gathered her into his arms and kissed her. "The suite is paid for. If you want to stay here, that's fine. I'll arrange it."
"No. That's okay. My room is fine, and it's just for sleeping anyway."
Marcus started stacking up papers and gathering his belongings.
Tabitha had the urge to offer to pack his clothing, but she didn't. Slow anger was building within her.
If this is it, can't he just say so?
But anger wasn't her style and it evaporated away as quickly as it had come. They'd had fun and to be honest he hadn't promised her anything more. In fact, he'd done her a favor by showing her the depth of her sensuality. She wasn't going to embarrass herself by being clingy and demanding.
Marcus went to the bedroom and Tabitha heard him tossing his clothing on the bed. She followed behind him and observed him, taking in his tall form and broad shoulders. She memorized the way his hair curled slightly at the ends. She concentrated on the hands and fingers that had brought her so much pleasure and burned his ice blue eyes into her mind.
"Marcus?"
"Yes? Huh?" Marcus turned to face her.
Tabitha walked to his side and curled her arm over his shoulder. She arched up toward him and their lips met. Marcus's arms came around her in a tight embrace and their tongues met in a duel of desire. Tabitha pulled back and then rested her forehead against his chin. He kissed the top of her head.
Tabitha took a deep breath. "I enjoyed the time we spent together. I hope everything goes well when you get back."
"It will." His determination was clear. Marcus brushed her hair back off her forehead. "Enjoy the rest of your time here in Hawaii. I'm sorry I won't be here with you." He turned back toward the suitcase.
Tabitha turned and exited the bedroom, walking across the living area toward the door. Every step her legs became heavier and heavier. She had to force her feet to continue. As she exited the suite, Tabitha filled her mind with blankness. She couldn't think about this right now. She couldn't
deal
with this right now.
The elevator ride was a blur and soon Tabitha was stumbling into her own room. She closed the door, collapsed on the bed and lay there, numb. As images of her time with Marcus flooded back into her mind, tears began to leak from her eyes. Had she been so stupid as to give her heart to this man? As Tabitha realized the answer, she dissolved into sobs.
*****
Tabitha had been back at work for two weeks when she finally managed to push Marcus from her mind for more than an hour at a time. People were still inquiring about her Hawaiian vacation, and she simply told them that it had been lovely. It had been, right up until the end and that pesky little being abandoned thing. But what were you supposed to say when you'd been to Hawaii? People didn't boast of bad times in Hawaii and she didn't care to elaborate on the details.
Tabitha wondered if Marcus thought of her. Her heart still longed to see him and her body still ached to feel him. She pushed him out of her mind, but he kept sneaking back in.
Time.
That's what she needed. Getting through the days right now, today, tomorrow, and the day after would be hard. Once people stopped asking about the trip, perhaps it would fade away into distant memory.
Tabitha looked up as her coworker, Kim, approached her desk. "Tabitha, can you take these copies to Conference Room C? There's a client waiting there."
Tabitha rose from her seat, welcoming the break. "Sure, no problem." She took the papers from Kim and made her way down the hall to the elevator. There were all sorts of bigwigs in the building today. A major deal was in the works, there had been scrambling and rushed document production.
The door to the conference room was closed. Tabitha knocked gently before opening the door and stepping inside. "I have your …." The words died in her throat as she saw who was seated at the table.
Marcus.
It was Marcus. Tabitha simply shook her head. Speech was beyond her.
Marcus.
The man who tormented her days and haunted her nights.
Marcus rose from his seat and approached her. "You didn't think I'd forgotten about you, did you, Tabitha? After all, I collared you."
Tabitha found her voice. "What?"
Marcus pointed to the choker around her neck. "You accepted my collar. Did you think that meant nothing?"
Tabitha's spine stiffened. "I didn't realize the significance."
Marcus nodded. "Fair enough. But you're wearing it, aren't you?"
She was. Tabitha had been wearing it since he'd given it to her, only removing it to shower. She hadn't wanted to think about what that meant. Now he forced her to examine her actions. "It was a gift."
"It was, but it was also more. We have unfinished business you and I, don’t you think?"
Tabitha looked into his eyes. She traced the familiar planes of his face and her heart swelled. Did they have unfinished business? Could she open herself to him again? There was only one answer. "Yes … Sir."
~ * ~ * ~
Please continue reading below for an excerpt from The ABCs of Erotica - G is for Gigolo.
~ * ~ * ~
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About the Author
Malia Mallory lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She's been working with words since alphabet blocks rolled into her crib, not only writing her own work but copy editing and proofreading the work of others. She has loved to read about relationships since she first sneaked off with her mother's Harlequin.
Malia Mallory is the best-selling author of
The ABCs of Erotica
series, which covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released the
Mia's Cop Craving
series and
Santa's Backdoor Baby
. Malia’s books have hit the bestselling erotica lists at both Amazon and iTunes. Her books are available in electronic format at major retailers like
Amazon
,
Barnes & Noble
,
iTunes
,
Kobo
,
Sony
,
Diesel
,
Smashwords
and
AllRomance Books
.