SEALs of Honor: Markus (23 page)

“Markus, you’re going to need a second job,” Swede said blithely and bit into the first piece he came to. He closed his eyes, seemingly unaware of the sucked in breath at his side.

Markus knew. And knew Swede knew. He just couldn’t resist pushing things along. Then he had Eva and wanted the whole world to be as happy as he was.

Not a bad wish.

And Bree? She was studying her piece of pizza. “You know, if I went back to work at my old job, I could afford to make Markus a kept man.”

Several men choked on their pizzas. Grins flashed and disappeared. Silence reigned.

Swede settled back to watch the sparks fly.

Typical of Bree – she dove in where angels fear to tread. But as he’d already told her, he was no angel. He shook his head gently. “Sweetheart, I’ll be keeping my job because we already know what the stress of your job did to you.”

She sighed. “Good point.” She smirked at him. “Besides, pizza is cheap.”

Markus kept an eye on her as she worked on eating her way through the food in front of her. Movements were getting slower, her eyes heavy. He cleared a spot on the bed behind him and removed her plate from her lap as her head nodded forward once again. She tucked up beside him with a grateful smile and closed her eyes.

Within minutes her breathing slowed.

“Is she badly hurt?” Shadow asked.

Markus shook his head. “No, nothing that won’t heal.” He reached over and stroked her shoulder. “A good night’s sleep tonight and she’ll be much better tomorrow.”

“You okay with this?” Shadow asked as he got up to leave.

“I have to be,” Markus said. “I think I’m past the point of having a choice.”

Markus closed the door behind the last of the men. Bree slept quietly on the far side of the bed, curled up at the top by the pillows. His coat lay over her shoulders. The rest of the room was a mess. He quickly stacked the pizza boxes and napkins that they’d all used. The takeout coffee cups went in the same direction. Within minutes the small room was as clean as he could make it lacking a vacuum. His pack was here and her small bag. He took a quick shower. It had been a long day for him too. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he returned to the room.

She hadn’t moved.

He reached over and removed his jacket then gave her a shake.

A mumble escaped.

“Bree, wake up. Let’s get you under the covers.”

A grumble was his response this time.

He grinned.

And decided the easiest way was to do this himself. With an efficiency that surprised him, he stripped off her shirt and jeans and socks. He left her underwear on. Frowning at the colorful ribs, he ran a gentle finger along the cracked one. She sighed and rolled over onto her belly, her arms and legs spread wide.

His little lady was a bed hog.

Still, she was a tiny one. He dropped the towel and lay down beside her and pulled the covers over them both. If she didn’t like the arrangements, she could tell him about it in the morning. In the meantime he needed sleep too.

He closed his eyes.

S
he was finally
warm.

In fact, for the first time in a long time she was damn hot. Bree rolled over and came up against a solid block of…furnace. Her eyes popped open. She bolted upright. And looked around.

Markus slept beside her. The room was empty but for the two of them. She glanced down to see her bra in place. No wonder she was uncomfortable. She could only see Markus’s chest but it was bare except for his bandage. She wanted to lift the covers and peek but that so wasn’t going to happen. She slipped off the side of the bed and walked to the bathroom. After using the toilet she washed up. What time was it?

She peered out the window to see the moon high. She’d guess at close to three maybe four in the morning. She’d had a shower earlier but had been forced to put on dirty underwear. If she gave them a quick wash now, would they dry by morning? The morning was going to come fast, and she knew the men would be back into the room early, but she really wanted to ditch the bra and have washed underwear for morning.

Her muscles ached like she’d run a marathon. Who knew? There was a deep exhaustion that would take days to ease. But clean clothes would help. She quickly washed them in the sink and hung them over the shower railing. Just as she finished, there was a knock on the door. “Bree, you okay?”

She wrapped the towel around herself and opened the door to find Markus staring at her.

Then she was doing some staring of her own.

He was buck naked.

Then she saw the long thin scar across his abdomen.

“What happened?” she cried.

His frown deepened. She reached out and traced the scar tissue.

“A knife fight.” He grinned. “I won.”

She shook her head. “How is this a win?”

“The other man is dead.”

“Right. Then that’s a huge win.” She smiled at him then walked to the bedroom, the towel secured under her arms. She turned back to see him studying her quick attempt at laundry. “I never got a chance to buy more,” she said with a note of apology. “I’d rather have slightly damp but clean underwear for morning.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything. Still, there was a look in his eyes as his gaze dropped to the towel wrapped around her.

She swallowed. Jesus he was hot. And sexy.

And very obviously interested.

“Are you still cold?” he murmured, his gaze locked on her.

She shuddered remembering his earlier suggestion on how to warm her up. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m still cold.”

And she made a decision. She might not have much, but she had this moment. This night. And she wanted it – all.

She slowly unhooked the towel and dropped it to the floor.

“I’m not much in the way of eye candy at the moment,” she started to say, but he held up his hand forestalling more words. He reached her in seconds. “We’re not about bodies. We’re not about the shape, color or condition of our bodies. This is about what’s inside. Who we are…at the heart of these bodies.”

Tears glimmered in the corner of her eyes. “Do I get to say that I’m feeling very shallow and love your body?”

He laughed and gently picked up her up in his arms. “You are lovely inside and out. You also have
very
lovely bones.” He cradled her gently in his arms as he walked the few feet to the bed. With a tenderness she hadn’t expected he lay her down on the bed. “Now a little flesh to cover them, and you’ll be a spectacular package.”

He collapsed beside her. In fact, he was too damn far away for her. She rolled closer, snaking her arms up around his neck, flattening herself against him.

His gasp made her smile. “Told you I was cold.”

“I told you I knew how to fix it.”

She tilted her head back and stared into those magical eyes. “Prove it.”

He lowered his head and kissed her. That same magic she felt stir before sparked into fire. Passions that had been dormant for a long time. A lonely time of pain and suffering. Now like a phoenix rising from the ashes, her passion rose in a wave of loving emotion. Longing and heat mixed in volatile combinations. To be close to this man…to be in his arms…

Precious.

She slipped her hands over his body, stroking, caressing, learning. The scar on the right shoulder. The long one across his abdomen. “This would have hurt.”

He slid his hot palm across her surgical scar. “This would have too.”

“Not physically,” she whispered, her fingers stroking the edge of the bandage from his latest injury.

He glanced at her, that deep knowing in his eyes that said he understood. All the loss and relief that had filled her upon awakening. He dropped gentle kisses on her temple, on her cheeks, her chin, and her nose. Finally, he kissed her lips, his tongue sliding deep inside as his hands caressed her body. Exploring the dips and curves. His fingers rising to cup the soft weight of her small breasts.

Then he slid his fingers into the soft damp hair in the triangle right below. She gasped, her hips lifting toward his touch. Those damn knowing fingers. Her body pulsed and shuddered, awakening nerves she’d forgotten still existed. She reached up and pulled him down toward her.

She moaned. “More, please.”

“Easy,” he whispered. “We have time.”

A half laugh and a groan escaped. “Maybe, but my body seems to have a mind of its own.”

“That’s a good thing, enjoy.”

And those fingers did something else… She cried out, her back arching as ripples of mini explosions blasted up and down her body. “Markus,” she demanded.

“I’m here,” he said in that deep dark smoky voice that made her insides melt.

“But you’re not with me,” she whispered. “I want you with me.”

He rose over her, that massive body supported on his arms to keep his weight off her. She understood. He didn’t want to hurt her. Slipping her arms up around his shoulders, she smiled through the tears. “I’ll be fine. I’m not that fragile.”

But she hadn’t convinced him. Fine. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground her pelvis against his. And was rewarded with a guttural sound. A faint mist of sweat slicked over his skin, making her realize the effort he was putting into staying in control.

Perversely she wanted him to lose it – in a big way.

She changed tactics and pushed at his shoulders. Instantly he rolled onto his back, gently dragging her over with him. With a big grin she smirked down at him. “Much better,” she said.

“Why’s that?” he asked in a pained voice.

“Better access,” she said smoothly and grasped him gently in her hands. Lord he was big. And hot. And so damn ready. She reached down and kissed the tip, loving the way his hips jolted upward at her touch and his strangled exclamation he couldn’t hold back.

Using her hands, she explored the massive thighs, rock hard abs and rounded sac hanging between his thighs.

He hissed, then moaned and shuddered.

With more grace than she expected she straddled his thighs, her hands wandering in different directions, anxious to explore all of him. He lay acquiescing. Letting her do what she wanted, how she wanted.

“You’re a gift,” she murmured.

A broken laugh was all he could manage.

She drew her hands down his chest and back toward his erection, wrapping her fingers around it and giving a gentle squeeze.

“Fuck,” he whispered in a guttural moan.

She laughed. “Yes please.” And slowly she lowered herself down on top of him.

Instantly his hands slid up her belly and ribs to cup her breasts.

Perfect.

She threw her head back and started to ride. With her hands clasped over his, she moved slowly at first, then faster and faster as she drove them both to the finish line. With a cry, she spun out of control, dimly aware of him grabbing onto her hips driving up once, twice, a hoarse shout erupting as he collapsed back onto the bed.

With her body trembling like a wild thing, she collapsed back down on his chest trying to catch her breath. That’s when she realized tears were streaming down her face. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?” he murmured in surprise, humor tingeing the exhaustion in his voice.

“For being you.”

And she closed her eyes and let the fatigue finally take her.

*

Markus knew she
needed the rest, her body crying out for her to look after it in a big way, but he didn’t want to move. He didn’t want this moment to end. He wanted to hold her. Keep her safe in his arms. Like he hadn’t been able to do for Fiona.

And for the first time realized – and quickly followed that up with acceptance – that he couldn’t have protected her
all
the time. She loved traveling and she had friends she did things with. It had been an accident. Damn bad luck. He wasn’t to blame. He could walk forward with a clear mind and guilt-free heart. But not an empty heart. Right now it brimmed to the top with love for the sprite in his arms. He hadn’t thought to be so lucky again.

And he’d do whatever he could to have as many years as she had available to give him. She was just that special.

With her cradled in his arms, he closed his eyes and slept.