MONIQUEThe next morning, I woke up to the smell of fresh croissants, warm eggs, and cinnamon-sweet coffee. Marcus stood beside the bed with a tray in his hands and that cocky smile on his face like he knew exactly what he was doing. He set it down in front of me with a little bow that made me roll my eyes and then kiss him anyway.Of course, the breakfast didn’t stay untouched for long not because I wasn’t hungry, but because somehow his mouth ended up on my skin before I could even pick up a fork. And mine was on his soon after.It happened again. And again.Insatiable, that was the word. That was how I felt around Marcus. Like I couldn’t get enough of him, like my body had been dormant for too long and was finally allowed to crave.But some part of me, the quieter part, knew this feeling wouldn’t last forever. I remembered a time when I thought Ryan couldn’t get enough of me either. When we would sneak away in the middle of a dinner party just to be with each other. When he used t
MARCUSI cupped her cheek, tilting her head back, and stared into her eyes. They were so wide, and a little shade of blue. Without another word, I slammed my lips down on hers, silencing any protest, and I heard her moan as she gave in to me. Sliding my tongue across her lips, I plunged into her mouth and deepened the kiss. I pushed her back against the bed and followed her, climbing between her spread legs.Resting one hand beside her head, I stroked down her body, and tore of the nightdress she wore. Then pressed my lips against her neck. I trailed my lips down her body, going to each full, ripe nipple, taking one, then the other between my teeth. She cried out, arching against me. I moved to the other breast, teasing her hardened bud. I loved her tits, and knew I was never going to get enough of them. They were full and ripe, and ready to be sucked. My mouth watered for a taste. I could gladly spend all night sucking her nipples and full tits, but instead, I began to slide down.Ki
I nodded, but the truth was, I wasn’t really thinking about his question.He kissed my forehead, stood up, and walked toward the door. Just before he left, he turned around and gave me a look I couldn’t quite name. And then he was gone, leaving me there… with hope. And fear.As I sat there, time moving slower than it had in days, I kept thinking. What if Ryan wasn’t just out to steal from me? What if he wasn’t satisfied with just taking the company or the money? What if he dragged me into something worse? Into something criminal? Jail? I had no Idea what he’d done, what he’d signed, what deals he’d made under my name.I had been an idiot. For too long.And then, there was Marcus.What do I really know about him? Do I trust him because he’s kind? Because he looked at me like I was worth protecting? Because he says the right things and makes me feel safe?How can I trust him? After all Ryan did to me, am I just going to hand over my faith from one man to another? Is that really who I am
I sat back on the couch, my hand on my forehead“Oh my god,” I breathed. “It’s bad, right?”Marcus sighed.“Monique.”I turned my head to look at him, my voice shaky.“There’s something else I need to tell you,” he said carefully, “and I’m gonna need you to be strong for this, okay?”My eyes narrowed. “Oh my god, what is it now?” I asked, feeling my chest grow heavier.“If you signed documents.... and I don’t know yet, but if you signed things you didn’t read or didn’t fully understand… he might’ve forged more than just shareholder agreements,” Marcus said slowly, like he was choosing every word with caution.“What do you mean?” I asked, my throat going dry.“It means Ryan could’ve used your signature for more than just building that new company with his parents,” he said, locking eyes with me. “If he did anything illegal… if he moved money, opened accounts, signed deals in your name… and you don’t remember doing any of it…”He paused.“The law might come knocking on your door if anyt
I thought I would get bored watching Marcus work on his screen as he went through his video call, but it turned out to be the exact opposite.I remembered my dad working, and how I was never really interested in what he was doing. I’d always find something else to do. Whether it was chatting on my phone, doodling in my sketchbook, or just zoning out, I rarely paid attention. I mean, he was my father, after all. Ew. Nothing interesting to see there.And then… There was Ryan. Ryan, who never wanted me to take a peek at his work. Never wanted me to know anything about it. Should that have been a red flag? The Bennett Corporation was half mine too....oh so I thought. So if it were our company, why didn’t he ever let me in? Why was it always a closed door, a firm “don’t disturb”?Was it because he didn’t want someone hovering? Didn’t like people in his space? Or… was it because if I had looked closely, I might have seen something that would've woken up my spidey senses?I wonder. As I'm st
Now determined, I went to test my theory. I went upstairs to the bedroom, had a shower and got changed into something sexy. Soft fabric that clung to my body and showed my curves. I put on makeup, darkening my lashes, painting my lips the colour of dusk. Yes. If I were testing the waters, I’d make them ripple. If he was pushing me away… he’d have to look at me while he did it. Then I walked back down, my steps steady on the cool tile. The hallway to his office felt longer now. I paused outside the door, my hand hovering, nervous all of a sudden. This wasn’t just an office. It felt like a threshold now. I took a breath, turned the knob, and stepped inside. The office door felt heavier than I expected. I turned the knob and pushed the door. Warm, woody light greeted me, so different from Ryan’s cold, sterile space. Marcus sat behind a broad teak desk, laptop glowing, papers spread like a map of his mind. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, painting stripes across the floor.He l