He chuckled, his smile making him so very handsome and striking a chord in her heart.
“Even then. Are you ready?”
Nodding, Melissa closed her eyes and grasped his shoulders closely. She could feel him pressing forward, his length sheathing itself within her, stretching her skin. It wasn’t painful as much as it was simply uncomfortable, but he stopped before he was completely inside.
“Are you all right?” he said, groaning as beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
“Yes. Marcus, I… don’t stop.”
“There’s no chance of that, baby,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I just want you to hold on.”
Without waiting for her to answer, he plunged forth, breaking through her maidenhead and burying himself deep inside her. Melissa’s cry of pain was swallowed by his mouth as he kissed her hungrily.
“Hold on to me,” he said through his kisses, and Melissa did.
Gasping for breath, she held him close as her body became used to his.
“Don’t let go, Lissa.”
Clinging to him, she did as he said, gasping when he began to move. As he pulled back and pushed forward, she moaned with pleasure. Having him fill her didn’t hurt any longer, it felt wonderful, as if this was what her body had craved all along.
“Marcus! You feel… you feel so… good!”
“Oh, honey, so do you.” His mouth was on hers as he plunged deeply into her.
She groaned with every stroke but did not release his lips, and that was when she realized she was in love with Marcus McCaide. The man was magnificent in every way. He was rough yet gentle with her at the same time, exciting her beyond words. Lifting her legs, she found he could thrust even deeper.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” he whispered, continuing his rhythm. “Just like that, my sweet, beautiful Lissa.”
With tears in her eyes, she again plummeted into pleasure, bringing Marcus right along with her.
Eleven
Marcus reclined against the pillows, absently stroking Melissa’s incredible dark red hair. It spilled across his chest, and he marveled at its silkiness as it slipped through his fingers. She’d snuggled close to him and fallen almost instantly asleep the moment he’d lay next to her. He didn’t blame her. He’d kept her awake long into the night.
The sky was just beginning to pinken in the twilight before the dawn, and Marcus sighed as he gazed out the small window. A scowl crossed his features as his thoughts raced, wondering what the hell he was going to do now.
Melissa shouldn’t have come to his room the previous night, but more than that, he should have had more self-control. He should have tossed her out into the hallway kicking and screaming. He should have dragged her back to her father’s store and left her there. But he hadn’t, and now he was going to pay the price.
Marcus knew damn well he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off Melissa now, not when he knew exactly what she tasted like, what she felt like warm and naked in his arms. And that couldn’t be allowed to happen. There were consequences to making love, one of them babies. And Marcus would be damned if he’d leave Melissa with the shame of taking care of his bastard. Hell, she could even be pregnant right now, then what would he do?
Scooting out from under her, Marcus stood from the bed and searched the floor for his jeans. He found them just as Melissa awoke.
“Good morning.” She smiled sleepily, gazing at him with those wondrous green eyes.
“There’s nothing good about it, Lissa. Get up and get dressed.”
Propping herself up on an elbow, she didn’t even try to cover her breasts that bobbed at the sudden motion. Marcus groaned and looked away.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?” he snapped.
“Because you ripped my dress to shreds last night, Marcus. Or did you forget that?”
Running his hands through his hair, he growled low in his throat. “It shouldn’t matter. It’s still early yet. I doubt much of anyone is awake. You can dress in your underthings, and I’ll take you back to the shop myself just to be sure no one sees you.”
“What if I’m not ready to leave yet?”
“I don’t care one way or the other. You’re leaving.”
“What are you so afraid of, Marcus?”
That stopped him cold as he hopped on one foot to pull his other foot into his pant leg. Glancing over his shoulder, he grumbled, “What are you talking about, woman?”
“Why are you so afraid of us--of this?” Moving her hands to indicate the room, Marcus knew she was talking about their lovemaking. Letting his jeans drop back to the floor, he turned to face her.
“Damn it, Lissa! Don’t you get it? If we keep this up, you’ll get pregnant. Then where the hell will we be?”
She had the nerve to shrug at him. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Well, that’s obvious.”
She rolled her eyes at him, making him sigh once more.
“But that’s not the only reason, is it, Marcus?”
When had this little girl suddenly gotten to know him so well?
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he grumbled.
“Oh, I think I do,” she countered, sitting up fully and letting the sheet fall to her hips.
Oh God, he couldn’t keep looking at her. Turning his back, he tried to get a hold of his raging libido. He wanted her again. After all the times they’d made love last night, he still wanted her again, and it consumed him. When he heard the bedsprings creak behind him, he knew she’d gotten off the mattress. The squeaking floorboards confirmed his thoughts.
When he felt her small hands on his bare back, he sucked in his breath. His erection ached almost painfully, and he wanted so badly to feel her warmth wrapped around him once again. Her fingers seemed to trace trails of fire up and down his skin, from his backside up to his shoulders. He knew he should walk away from her, should get dressed and flee the room if he had to, but she began kissing his skin and he was rooted to the spot.
“Lissa--”
“Shh,” she said. “Marcus, open your heart to me. Tell me what you’re afraid of.”
He wanted to. God, he wanted to so badly, but would she reject him? If she knew exactly what he’d done in the past, would she look at him in disgust? He couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t tell her.
“You want to know what I’m afraid of?” He growled as he turned to face her. “I’m afraid of babies, yes, but I’m also afraid of what your father might do to me if he ever found out what’s happened here.”
“He won’t--”
“And I’m afraid this might be our only time together.”
A strange light appeared in her eyes, something akin to disappointment. His heart caught in his throat as he gazed at her, knowing full well that she realized he’d avoided her heartfelt plea.
“Well, Marcus, if this is to be our only chance to be together like this, then come back to bed and love me one last time.”
Her green eyes shone with unshed tears as she whispered those words to him, and he knew he couldn’t resist her. This woman had the power to bring him to his knees, and she didn’t even know it.
Advancing on her, he pushed her back on the bed and covered her body with his. She opened for him, receiving him with a gasp of pleasure. Hearing her moan underneath him made him even harder inside of her as he thrust forward slowly yet forcefully.
Melissa wrapped her arms around him and kissed his lips with such passion that he almost fell over the edge right then and there. Her tongue tangled with his, feeling like hot silk in his mouth, and he groaned her name. Her fingers dug into his hair as she rocked wildly against him, crying out her release into his mouth. He followed her only moments later.
Collapsing on top of her, Marcus rained kisses on her face and silently wondered how he’d ever get Melissa Bloom out of his heart.
~ * ~
Melissa sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyelids drooped and her body groaned whenever she moved, but still she smiled. Making love to Marcus had indeed been strenuous, and she looked at her bed longingly. The sun peeked over the horizon just as she made her way quietly back into her room above the general store.
Without bothering with her nightgown, she sank into the soft quilts and sighed once again with contentment. Shirley was still sound asleep, and Melissa knew it would be hours yet before she awoke. Rolling over to face the wall, her thoughts returned to Marcus McCaide.
Just thinking about him made her body tingle, the memory of his mouth upon her skin still fresh, but a pang of sorrow suddenly shot through her heart. She’d hoped he would open up to her, that he would tell her what was haunting him, but he hadn’t. Did she think making love to him would change him? He was a hardened man who took what he could get, and he’d told her he would break her heart.
Remembering that he’d told her they wouldn’t make love again, Melissa could feel hot tears sting her eyes. How could she see him day after day knowing exactly what loving him was like? She’d have to avoid him at any cost, but could she? Would she be able to pretend there was nothing between them?
She would have to. There was nothing else to do. Marcus would never marry her, and he could never love her.
That thought had her crying into her pillow long into the morning.
~ * ~
When she finally emerged from her room, it was well past noon. Her feet felt like bricks as she descended the stairs with her hair pulled back in a long braid.
“You feeling all right, Lissa?” her father asked as she made her way behind the counter.
“I’ll be fine,” she answered with a small smile. She knew her eyes were still puffy from crying, but, fortunately, her father let it drop.
The store’s back door swung open, and Marcus strode in kicking the dust off his boots on the doorframe. Just seeing him sent a shock of excitement through her, making her shiver. Biting her lip, she tried her best to look busy.
“You got anything else for me to do, Mr. Bloom?” Marcus asked, barely giving Melissa a glance.
“Yes, I do, son. Just got a new shipment of canned goods I’d like you to stock on the shelves. Right over here.”
Swallowing hard, Melissa clutched the edge of the counter so hard her knuckles were white. She had no idea how she remained standing. Being in the same room with Marcus was electric, and her eyes darted to him of their own volition.
Cursing herself, she wished she could flee, but she saw how slowly her father moved today and knew she couldn’t. His joints were hurting him, and he obviously needed her help around the shop, at least until Shirley came down the stairs for the day. Sitting on a stool, Melissa was so lost in thought that she didn’t hear the front door open and didn’t realize anyone had come in until a customer was standing right in front of her.
“Good afternoon, Lissa.”
Looking up with a start, she gazed into the soft eyes of Dr. Newcomb. “Good afternoon... Timothy.”
He smiled and she returned it weakly. “How are you this morning?”
“Tired.” She chanced a glance at Marcus and could have sworn she saw a slight grin on his face as he stocked the shelves.
“I’ve come to ask if you’d still like to take that ride with me. We didn’t get to last time due to your horse spooking and all.”
“Oh, well, today isn’t a good day. My father isn’t feeling well.”
“I’m fine!” Chuck called out from the far side of the shop.