Chapter 14- ALMOST CAUGHT AGAIN

I heard the front door burst open like someone was breaking in. My heart jumped. Marcus and I were in the middle of a deep stretch. He had my legs stretched wide in a gymnastic position, pressing gently on my thighs to help open my hips. It was completely professional, but from the doorway it probably looked intense because of how I sounded.

Ryan stood there breathing hard, eyes wide like he expected to catch us doing something.

“Ryan?” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Is everything okay? Were they chasing you or something?”

He blinked, looking confused for a second. Then he forced a laugh. “The door was stuck. I thought something was wrong inside. So I had to push it hard.”

Marcus slowly let go of my legs and stepped back. He picked up his water bottle and took a long drink, giving us space. I sat up on the mat, wiping sweat from my forehead. My body was still warm from the stretch.

Ryan walked over to me. His face softened. He reached down and took my hand gently.

“I’m sorry about last night, Bella,” he said quietly. “I was out of line. I shouldn’t have said those things… or done what I did. You didn’t deserve that.”

I looked at him, still feeling the ache on my cheek. Part of me wanted to pull away, but another part was tired of fighting. “It really hurt, Ryan.”

“I know. I feel terrible.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a box. “I got you something. For your content. A new camera. The good one you’ve been talking about. Thought it might help with your videos.”

I stared at the box. It was expensive. The exact model I had shown him weeks ago. For a moment, the gesture touched me. I stood up and hugged him. His arms wrapped around me, and for a second it felt like the old Ryan.

“Thank you,” I whispered against his chest. “This means a lot.”

Marcus watched us from the side, his expression unreadable. He took another sip of water and stayed quiet.

Ryan kissed the top of my head. “We’re going to my sister’s wedding tomorrow. Let’s try to enjoy it, okay? Just us.”

I nodded, still holding the camera box, Marcus looked at us and cleared his throat.

Ryan gave me one last look before heading upstairs. “I’ll freshen up real quick.”

The moment his footsteps faded, Marcus moved. He pulled me close, arms wrapping around my waist. His body felt warm and solid against mine.

“We were almost caught again,” he whispered, voice low and urgent. “How about we take this somewhere else? You got plans for tomorrow?”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah… Ryan’s sister is getting married. I have to go with him.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t let go. “Then let me have you for a minute now.”

He leaned in and kissed me again. This time it was deeper, hungrier. His hands cupped my heavy breasts carefully through my top, thumbs brushing over them. I moaned softly into his mouth, pressing closer. The risk made everything feel electric. My body responded fast, heat building between my legs.

Marcus groaned quietly. “You drive me crazy, Bella. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

I kissed him harder, hands gripping his shirt. For a few seconds, nothing else mattered, not Ryan upstairs, not the wedding tomorrow, not the mess we were making.

Then we heard it.

Footsteps coming down the stairs.

We pulled apart instantly. Marcus stepped back, breathing hard. I quickly wiped my mouth and fixed my top. My heart raced like it wanted to jump out of my chest.

Ryan reached the bottom of the stairs. He looked at us, eyebrows raised slightly.

“Everything okay down here?” he asked.

Marcus nodded smoothly. “Just giving your wife some cool-down tips.”

Ryan’s eyes moved to Marcus’s chest. His expression changed. There, on the dark fabric of Marcus’s shirt, were clear shiny marks of my lip gloss.

Ryan stared at the marks for a long second.

“What’s that on your shirt?” he asked slowly, voice dangerously calm.

Marcus glanced down. I froze.

My stomach dropped. This time, there was no quick lie that could save us.