Unlikely Hero (Atlanta #1) (22 page)

Bill had just confirmed for her what she already knew
—
she was safe with him. She leaned her cheek against his chest and wrapped her arms around his ribs. She listened to his heart beat rapidly from his fighting. She knew he had been fighting only against himself. She felt his sweat on her face and she didn’t care.
 

Marcus still just stood there with his arms dangling at his sides, not holding her. Erin reached up to his shoulders and encouraged his arms to wrap around her. He hesitated, conflicted, but then moved his arms slowly around her and he held on tightly. He placed his cheek down on top of her head and held her there for a long time.
 

“Why are you still here,” he said quietly and almost like a child.

“Because I love you,” she answered just as quietly. “All of you.”
 

He tightened his grip around her and held her head against his chest. His fingers found their way to gently grip the sides of her face, still full of emotion. He slowly tilted her head up and looked in her eyes again, still looking for fear. He didn’t find any, so he leaned down and kissed her softly.

“I don’t understand you,” he said quietly.

“Yes you do. Just come home with me, please?”

Marcus nodded after one more kiss. “Let me shower first.”

Erin waited for a few short minutes before Marcus came out in a pair of black gym shorts and a loose tank shirt. His hair was still wet from the shower and a tiny portion of his smile was back on his face. He walked over to her, put his arm around her, and kissed the top of her head as he walked her to the door.
 

Bill peeked his head out of the office to wave goodbye to them. Marcus just nodded at him and mouthed the word “thanks” as he left.

Chapter Ten

Marcus held Erin against him again the entire, silent way home. Neither of them knew what to say after an experience like that. The silence was comfortable, though, and there seemed to be a new understanding between them.
 

He pulled up to Erin’s apartment and pulled her over with him to exit out the driver’s side door. He couldn’t let her go now. He really needed her, and for the first time, he liked needing someone. She had seen him at his worse, and she was still there with him. He had no idea why, but he was so thankful that she was.

When they got inside, he finally turned to her. “I never wanted you to see that. I’m sorry you did.”

“I’m not,” she said truthfully.

“Why not?”

“Because…I don’t know…because it’s part of you. I haven’t hidden from you at all. Now, you aren’t hiding from me. You were terrifying, but you didn’t scare me…did that make any sense at all?”

“No.”

Erin laughed a little. “Um, let me see…I can imagine how terrified a person would be on the receiving end of that. But I wasn’t scared, because I knew I never would be. Better?”

“Yes.”

“You’re talking like a caveman,” she said, trying to tease him enough to lighten the mood.

“Ugh,” he said deeply, finally smiling back at her.
 

“Marcus, I want you to stay with me again tonight. Please? Will you stay?”

“I can’t believe you want me to.”

“Now who’s insecure?” she teased again. “I want you to. Very much.” She looked down, and asked him softly, “Do you remember after your nightmare?”

Marcus only nodded and looked down, too, embarrassed by that weakness he had shown her, too.

“You let me take care you after that. I want to do it again.”

She saw the emotion on his face again, and then she took his hand and led him upstairs. When they got to her room, she kicked her shoes off and went to the bed to lie down.
 

Marcus did the same and stretched out beside her. Erin surprised him by removing her shirt, and then removing his. Still in her satin bra, she pulled his head against her breasts and then pulled the rest of him against her.
 

She wanted him to feel the warmth of her skin against his, and she needed the feeling, too. She was surprised that he let himself be held by her, and he held her so tightly in return.
 

“You’re the one who’s perfect, you know,” Marcus said after a long silence.
 

Erin just ran her hands along his shoulders and rubbed through his short hair. “Definitely not perfect…just maybe perfect for you.”

He began kissing her breasts after her words, and brought his hands around to gently cup them as he did. His motions were sweet and relaxing, and only served to make them feel close.
 

She stroked his hair, his neck, and his back, enjoying the sweet, captivating feel of his lips. She held his head there, encouraging him not to stop. After a long while of his gentle attention, during which he removed her bra, he kissed up to her neck and then moved himself to the pillow beside her.
 

His hand stayed in slow motion along her breasts. “Erin, I know I scared you today. I didn’t want to, but you know you’re safe with me, right? I need to know you still trust me.”

“I do still trust you,” she said, now feeling the warm motions from his hands turn to a feeling of heat. She pushed herself into him. “I do completely.”

She saw the look of relief on his face right before he leaned in to kiss her very passionately. She pulled herself against him desperately, needing the release from all the tension of the evening. Everything was going to be ok with them, and she needed to feel that with her body as much as with her heart.
 

She tugged down his shorts, revealing his already hard cock. He removed her jeans as quickly as he could, needing her as much as she needed him. He tried to move over her, but she held him back. He looked at her suddenly, trying to understand her hesitation in the middle of all their desire. He realized she wasn’t hesitating. She was crawling on top of him.

“God, Erin,” he said as she leaned down over him, kissing his neck forcefully and straddling his hips. He could feel her wet sex grinding on his cock while she ran her tongue along his pecs and sucked at the skin on his shoulder.
 

She even grazed him with her teeth once and the contrast between her teeth and the soft caresses of her hair on his skin was maddening. Her hard nipples were brushing against his chest roughly as she moved over him with need and passion. His hands dragged across her back and down to squeeze her butt and thighs. “Baby, you feel so good.”

“Do you want me on top like this?” she said through her heavy breaths.

“I want you every way,” he said, gripping her hips to hold her against his hips and cock. Then he lifted her up and pushed her back down over him, feeling himself wrapped completely in her hot wetness. He let her move against him, and guided her hips rapidly with his hands, bringing them both intense pleasure from the motion.
 

She threw her head back and arched away from him, lost in the sensations. She had no experience like this, so she just let herself do whatever felt right. She gave herself over in complete abandon and he groaned at the sight of her breasts swaying with the motion of their love-making. “Oh fuck, you are so hot…” he moaned at the sight of her.

She rode him until he exploded into her and continued on, not having reached the height of her own pleasure yet. The noises from her throat told him that she was close, so he moved one hand from her hip and pushed his thumb over her clit, rubbing in firm circles to help bring her to climax.
 

She nearly screamed at the sensation and moaned loudly as her orgasm hit her hard. She collapsed down over him when the feeling washed over her, breathing heavily along with him.
 

Marcus kept himself inside of her and eased her over and settled them on their sides. Her legs were still around him, one of them pinned under him. He held her there and kissed over every inch of her forehead, cheeks, eyes, and chin. His touch was intimate and beautiful and filled with as much passion as the sex they just shared.
 

They didn’t need any words at this point. Just kisses, caresses, and the look in each other’s eyes. When he finally pulled out, they were exhausted and slept deeply.

Sunday morning Erin leaned over and kissed Marcus just barely before heading for the shower. She didn’t want to wake him up if she didn’t have to, but she had to help herself to a moment on his lips.
 

She went and got herself fresh and primped in the bathroom before heading back into her room to get dressed. When she walked back in to the room, she saw Marcus awake and lying there on his back, looking at her in her towel, his hands laced behind his head.
 

God, did that show off every muscle he had. She was amazed again by the hard, thick arms, broad chest and narrow, muscled abs and hips.
 

“Stop looking so sexy,” she said, grinning. “I’ll never make it downstairs to brew us coffee.”

“Sorry. Can’t help it,” he said grinning unapologetically.
 

Erin rolled her eyes at him, glad there was no tension left from the night before. They had come to a deeper understanding between them she hadn’t realized was possible. She pulled on her favorite cotton clothes under his watchful eye.

“Come here,” he said, reaching for her with both arms. He pulled her down on the bed in a swift move. He kissed her lightly and rubbed his hands along her frame. “Thanks for not running away last night.”

She smiled at him. “Not a chance.”

She went downstairs and made a pot of coffee and waited for Marcus to come downstairs. She smiled when she heard the shower, happy that he felt so at home. Marcus came down shortly after and kissed her deeply before grabbing a mug of coffee and settling into the couch.
 

Erin settled in right next to him and sighed. They spent the morning on the couch together, talked to Cassie, and worked out at her rec center again in the afternoon. By evening, Marcus had to excuse himself.

“I have to train tomorrow early. Bill will have my ass if I’m not awake and ready,” he grinned.
 

“Ok. I’ll see you next weekend, right?”

“You don’t even have to ask.”

Erin drove into downtown Atlanta Monday morning and pulled into her parking structure. Unfortunately, she pulled in just as the creep from the audit department did. She offered him a cold smile and a terse, “Good morning Aaron.” She then walked quickly toward the elevator, trying to avoid anymore contact with him and his leering eyes.
 

“Well don’t you look nice today,” Aaron said, looking her up and down.

In spite of the kind nature of the words, there was no kindness in his statement. Erin felt nothing but uncomfortable around him. “Thank you,” she replied, shorter than before. She was relieved when they got to the elevator and people were already inside. She was hoping she wouldn’t be trapped alone with him on the way up. She still felt his eyes on her, though, and his leer made her stomach turn.

She walked into the office on the eighth floor, glad that he worked a floor above her. She shook off that awful feeling, and then kept her chin up to head to her desk.
 

She was floating from the intensity of her weekend, and then smiled when she saw her notebook on her desk, waiting for her. A piece of Marcus was there with her. So much for the break from the intensity, she thought with a bigger smile.
 

Scott walked by her and laughed. He and Erin had always gotten along well as co-workers. He had asked her out once, and they both ended up glad that she hadn’t accepted. They maintained an easy friendship at the office and the simple nature of their work relationship would have been complicated by dating. Besides, Erin knew now that she had been waiting for Marcus this whole time anyway. Any dates she could have accepted would have been pointless.
 

“What’s got you so smiley?” Scott asked her, seeming happy to see that relaxed look on her face.

“Is it that obvious?” she asked, a little laughter in her voice, too.

“Yep. Who is he?”
 

“A guy a met a while ago. He’s great. I feel a lot better all the time now, even when he’s not here, you know?”

“That’s great, Erin. I’ve noticed a spring in your step for a while now. It’s good to see you happy.” Scott smiled his usual overly-charming smile at her.
 

“Thanks,” Erin said, warmly. Even though Scott always acted a little too-perfect, she knew he was sincere.
 

“Other people have noticed it too, you know. People have been asking me what’s up with you. People who never thought a thing about you have noticed you now. You’ve got some life in you. They like it.”

Erin blushed in response. “Really? That’s um, making me feel awkward.” She laughed at the thought.
 

Scott laughed in return. “Don’t feel awkward. Feel good about it.” He flashed her his charming grin again.

“Thanks, Scott. Now you have to let me attack this pile of memos and files on my desk. It’ll take me all day just to get through the Weller account.”

Erin was right. By lunch she had only made it through her email and one file folder. She took a break to go eat at her cafe and smiled happily as she took her notebook and the little pewter strength charm with her. She couldn’t wait to write Marcus again.

M~

Every weekend I spend with you gets better. And I want to tell you what I saw when you took me to the gym. I saw the most incredible physical specimen lose himself completely in the best way possible, causing harm to no one. I heard your trainer tell a horrific story, helping me understand why you have the rage that you do.
 

I also saw you make a clear choice not to be the same bastard as the father that raised you. I saw nothing but the man you decided to become and the heart you have to achieve it. So, at the gym, I found more reasons to love you. Nothing else. That’s why I wanted you to stay with me.

~E

Satisfied with her note and hoping her words described exactly what she needed them to, Erin headed back to work. She didn’t leave the office until almost 7:30. She knew Marcus would be sleeping and getting ready for his shift at her office tonight, so she went to her gym in spite of the evening hour.