What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (65 page)

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.”

THE END

(or is it?)

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Books 2 – 4 in the
Dominating BDSM Billionaires Series
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HIS DESIRE, HER SURRENDER

(Tabitha and Marcus, Part 2)

HER WISH, HIS COMMAND

(Anna and Jonah)

HIS PASSION, HER TEMPTATION

(Monica and Ben)

DOMINATING BDSM BILLIONAIRES – THE COMPLETE SERIES BUNDLE

(All four stories in one volume.)

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His Need, Her Desire
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“Tabitha?”

She tilted her head, waiting.

“Take off your clothes.” Dominance filled his voice. This was the Marcus she remembered. This was the Marcus her heart refused to release. Tabitha unbuttoned her blouse and shrugged it off. Her back still toward him, she slid her skirt down over her hips, along with her panties. She stepped out, revealing stockings and garters instead of pantyhose. Her fingers reached for the garter.

“Leave them. I like the stockings. They look quite lovely on you. And your shoes. Don’t they call those fuck me heels?” His teasing conveyed a hint of challenge.