MoniqueA missing person?My mind couldn’t hold it. I stared at him, trying to make sense of the words, but they kept slipping past.“I… I’m not missing,” I finally said, my voice barely there. “I’m right here. I’m fine.”“I know,” Marcus said gently, keeping his eyes on me like I might shatter if he blinked. “But to them....you disappeared. No phone calls. No emails. You haven’t checked in with anyone. You didn’t even take your charger.”I blinked. “So they think I’m… what? Dead?”He shook his head. “Not dead. Just… gone. Vanished. And when someone like you vanishes, people start to pay attention.”That hollow feeling opened in my chest again. The kind I hadn’t felt since… Ryan.“What are you saying?” I whispered.Marcus touched my arm. “I’m saying we need to think, Monique. Carefully. Because your family? Ryan? They’re not going to take this quietly. You didn’t leave a note. You didn’t explain. One day you were there...and then you weren’t.”“But I’m not theirs anymore,” I said shar
MoniqueWe were a week into a new place I never wanted to leave, a place where I wanted to be with Marcus forever. I knew it in my bones. But reality waited. We had to go back. He kept getting calls, urgent ones—from his office. I knew he wanted to go. But he didn’t. How do I know that? Because I still couldn’t believe he wanted me around, so I stayed near him every chance I got. And he let me. More than that, he wanted me there. Every second.Still, I felt a little guilty. That he was putting work behind for me. But I also marvelled at it. At the way he chose me, over and over. The way he let me into his space, didn’t tire of my presence, didn’t ask for breaks or solitude, just wanted more.That morning or afternoon, I felt someone shake me gently. I opened one eye. I was exhausted from our workout the night before and I planned to sleep in.Marcus stood in front of me, wearing shorts and an unbuttoned shirt. “What is it?” I asked, my voice soft and lazy. “I’m tired,” I added, playfu
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