Chapter 110 Short message

Chapter 110 Short message
I wake up to warmth.

It's not just the physical warmth of another body pressed against mine.

It's something that settles in my chest and makes it hard to breathe.

Marcus is still here, naked in my bed.. And so am I.

His arm is draped over my waist possessively, his breath fanning the back of my neck.

For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like if this was normal.

If I woke up like this every morning.

If Marcus was mine and I was his without all the complications.

The thought should terrify me.

Instead, it feels... right.

I turn carefully in his arms, not wanting to wake him yet.

In his sleep ,he looks different…he looks young and less guarded.

His face is relaxed and I find myself reaching out to trace the line of his jaw.

God, he's handsome.

I have always known he is but there's something about seeing him like this… vulnerable and in my bed… that hits different.

My fingers trail from his jaw to his cheekbone, then down to his lips.

Before I can stop myself, I am leaning in for a kiss.

Just one small kiss while he's still asleep and I don't have to explain why I want it so badly.

I am inches away when his eyes open and we both freeze with him staring at me and me caught red-handed about to kiss him like some lovesick teenager.

"Um," I attempt to say something but no words come from my mouth.

A slow smile spreads across Marcus's face. "Were you about to kiss me?" He asks.

"No," I deny so, pulling back.

That only makes me look more guilty.

"I was just... checking if you were still breathing." I cook up another lie which sounds so unconvincing even to myself.

" You do that by putting your lips on mine?" Marcus asks, clearly amused.

"I should get up," I say, trying to slide out of bed.

I am so embarrassed! God!

Marcus's arm however tightens around me, pulling me back against his chest.

"Stay,” he murmurs, burying his face in my hair.

"Marcus…" I call his name, breathless.

Does he know what that's doing to me?

"Just a few more minutes.Please. I want to remember this." He says in a voice that makes my heart melt. 

With that voice, how can I say no?

So,I relax into him.

It feels good, being held like this.

Like I'm something precious.

Like he doesn't want to let go.

"I wanted last night to be longer," Marcus admits quietly. "I kept waking up every hour just to make sure you were still here.”

Something in my chest squeezes.

"I am still here. This is real.” I say without thinking too much about it.

"Is it?" Marcus asks and I don't miss the doubt in his voice. 

“Talia,I know you told me earlier that I should not overthink about it but I need to know. Was last night just... scratching an itch? Or is this something more?" He presses on.

I could lie and tell him it was just physical, just us getting each other out of our systems.

But I'm so tired of lying to him and to myself.

"It's more," I admit quietly. "I don't know what it is exactly, but it's more than just sex."

Marcus's arms tighten around me, and I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head.

"Thank you for being honest to me." He whispers.

We lie like that for a while, just holding each other.

It should feel awkward since it's the first time we are doing this instead, it just feels... peaceful.

"I need to shower," I finally say.

"Okay," Marcus says, but he doesn't let go.

"Marcus." I call, faking annoyance.

"I know, I know," he sighs, releasing me. "I just don't want this moment to end." He confesses and I feel my heart warm up.

Then, an idea forms before I can stop it.

"You could join me," I offer him.

Marcus's head snaps up. "What?"

"For the shower," I clarify, feeling my cheeks heat. "You could join me if you want."

"If I want?" Marcus repeats, already getting out of bed. "Talia, how can I turn down that offer?”

I find myself giggling from how enthusiastic he sounds.

He wraps his hands around me and leads me to the bathroom.

Since we slept naked, I turn on the shower, adjusting the temperature while Marcus watches me.

When the water is hot enough, I step in and extend my hand to him.

He takes it immediately, following me under the spray.

For a moment, we just stand there with water cascading over us and looking at each other.

"Can I touch you?" Marcus asks softly.

"Yes," I reply in a whisper, clearly not expecting him to do that.

Marcus reaches for my shampoo, squirting some into his palm.

"Turn around," he instructs me and I do exactly that.

His hands settle on my hair immediately, massaging my scalp in slow, gentle circles.

The act is intimate in a way that has nothing to do with sex.

It screams care and tenderness.

It's the kind of thing I never let myself want from him before considering the rules he set for our relationship.

When he's done with my hair, he washes my body slowly and carefully.

It's like he is memorizing every inch of me.

"Your turn," I say when he is finished.

I wash him the same way, taking my time, and I can feel the tension building between us with each touch.

When we're both clean, Marcus backs me against the shower wall, his hands framing my face.

"Can I kiss you?" he asks and I nod, still confused why he is suddenly asking permission for everything.

The kiss is nothing like last night's desperate kisses.

It is slow, sweet and tender.

His hands slide down my body , worshipping every inch of my skin.

"Talia," he murmurs against my mouth.

"Yeah?"

"I need you," he says.

“I need to make love to you.Let me show you what this means to me."

My heart does something at the words "make love."

We have fucked countless times.

But made love?

That was once when I requested it. Never again.

"Okay," I whisper.

Marcus lifts me carefully, my back against the tile wall.

He then slides inside me in one smooth motion and we both gasp.

He feels different like this…deeper and more connected.

"God," Marcus breathes. "You feel perfect."

He moves slowly, each thrust deep and intense.

"Look at me," Marcus says softly and I do, meeting his eyes.

What I see there terrifies me.

It's an emotion so raw and unfiltered.

"I love you," he says, his voice cracking. "I love you so fucking much, Talia. I know I don't deserve you. I know I fucked up but I love you.”

Tears prick my eyes because I am not ready to say it back.

But God, I want to.

I want to shout that I love him too, that I have never stopped loving him even when I was hurting inside because of him.

"You don't have to say it back," Marcus continues, still moving inside me with that maddening slowness. "I just need you to know. I love every stubborn, beautiful and frustrating part of you." He continues.

"Marcus," I manage to say.

"I'm close," he admits. "Are you?"

I nod, unable to form words.

"Come with me," Marcus says. "Let go, baby."

Those words trigger my glands and I come apart in his arms.

Marcus follows immediately after, his face buried in my neck as he shudders against me.

We stay like that for a long moment, just holding each other under the spray.

When I finally look at his face, I see tears mixing with the water.

"Marcus?" I ask, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he says, but his voice is thick. "Nothing is wrong Talia and that's the problem."

"I don't understand," I say gently.

"Everything is so fucking right," Marcus says, more tears falling.

"Talia, I almost lost this. I almost lost you because I was too scared to admit I loved you."

I've never seen Marcus like this.

He is vulnerable in a way that makes my chest ache.

I know I asked him to be vulnerable to me but this…

"I don't want to lose you again," he continues, his hands gripping my hips. "I can't lose you again, Talia. Please don't push me away. I'll do anything. I'll be whatever you need me to be."

"Marcus…" he is spiralling, I can feel his emotions all over the space.

"Make me yours," he says desperately, his voice breaking.

"I don't want to just change…I want you to mold me into what you need. I want you to mold me into the man you deserve. I don't want a life away from you. I just want you. However you'll have me."

Something inside me cracks wide open.

He is offering me everything.

"Okay," I whisper without thinking.

Marcus's eyes widen. "Okay?" He repeats, as if he doesn't believe I readily agreed.

"I'll make you mine but you have to promise me something." I tell him.

"Anything you want. I can provide anything." Marcus says immediately and the desperation makes my heart ache.

I can't help but wonder if I have been too hard on him.

"I want you to be honest with me even when it's hard or you're scared. Don't shut me out when things get difficult." I inform him.

"I promise," Marcus says, pulling me into a kiss and I taste his tears.

"I swear to you, Talia. I'll be better. I'll be what you need."

We stay in the shower for a little longer, letting the water cleanse the moment.

When we finally get out, Marcus wraps me in a towel with such care that it makes my throat tight.

After we are dressed, he turns to me with a reluctant look on his face.

"I should probably go," Marcus says, but he doesn't move toward the door.

"Or you could make us breakfast." I propose.

Marcus's entire face lights up. "Really?"

“ Of course, that is if you want.” I confirm.

“ I want to.”

Marcus says, already heading toward my kitchen.

I follow him, watching as he moves around my kitchen, opening cabinets until he finds what he needs.

While Marcus cracks eggs and searches for a pan, I lean against the counter.

This feels domestic in a way we have never been.

It's comfortable, like something we could do every morning if I let us.

Marcus is humming softly as he cooks, looking more relaxed than I've ever seen him.

That's when I realize something.

Home feels like this. Marcus is undoubtedly my home.

I grab my phone and shoot a short message to Austin.