Lily's Surrender

Praise for the writing of Liz Andrews and Lena Matthews

Redemption: Steven’s Salvation

These two authors know how to build suspense and romance into an engrossing story. Steven’s Salvation is not to be missed and once again, these delightful writers deserve Fallen Angel Reviews’ highest praise, that of a Recommended Read. -- Sarah W., Fallen Angel Reviews This book is a great read and I couldn't stop until I finished it. The relationship between Steven and Sammy is intense and the chemistry is explosive. -- Angel Brewer, The Romance Studio The suspense in this story will keep you on the edge of your seat while the sensual romance will keep you turning page after page. The writing duo of Liz Andrews and Lena Matthews really knows how to write a story that will keep the reader totally captivated and feeling satisfied to the very end. -- Dina Smith, Romance Junkies

Steven’s Salvation is an action packed romance done at a fast pace, taking you on a continuous set of twists and turns before giving you the final answer. The sexual tension is sizzling, while the sex is hotter than a jar full of jalapenos. This is the second book in the Redemption stories, and this reader cannot wait for the third. -- Wateena, Coffee Time Romance It is full of twists that kept me guessing the whole time… I really enjoyed reading Steven’s Salvation, and look forward to the next book in the Redemption series. -- Nannette, Joyfully Reviewed

Redemption: Steven’s Salvation is now available from Loose Id.

REDEMPTION: LILY’S SURRENDER

Liz Andrews & Lena Matthews

www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

***** This book is rated:

For substantial explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable (some violence, BDSM).

DISCLAIMER: Many of the acts described in our BDSM/fetish titles can be dangerous. Loose Id publishes these stories for members of the community in which these acts are known and practiced safely. If you have an interest in the pleasures and pains you find described herein, we urge you to seek out advice and guidance from knowledgeable persons. Please do not try any new sexual practice, whether it be fire, rope, or whip play, without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Neither Loose Id nor its authors will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

Redemption: Lily’s Surrender Liz Andrews & Lena Matthews This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-29 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © November 2005 by Liz Andrews & Lena Matthews Excerpt of Loving Lola copyright May 2005 by Lena Matthews All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 1-59632-183-0 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Ansley Velarde & Karen Williams Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter

www.loose-id.com

Prologue

Lily Weller quickly walked through the sliding doors, trying her best to blend in with the other patrons. If any of the Collingwoods knew she was in their store, they would think it was their duty to come and harass her. Hamilton especially. He followed her around the store, trying to “keep an eye on her,” or so he called it, and that made her madder than heck. Just because she was poor didn’t mean she was going to steal anything. Sometimes she liked to come in just to walk around and look at all the stuff she’d buy her mom one day if she had the money. Collingwood’s wasn’t just a grocery store, it also sold trinkets. Pretty necklaces and glass birds -- things her mother would love to have if only they had the money. “If only” was a monologue eleven-year-old Lily knew like the Pledge of Allegiance. “If only” her dad could hold onto a job. “If only” Logan hadn’t left to move into town with the Grays, their mother wouldn’t cry for him because she missed him. “If only” Steven would stay home more and play with her instead of Sammy, who always seemed to upset her dad. “If only ...” “If only” were two words Lily was really tired of hearing. Wandering down the candy aisle, Lily paused in front of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and reached out and caressed them. They were her absolute favorite candy in the entire world, but unfortunately, she didn’t have enough money to get any. Picking the orange packet up, Lily brought it to her face, inhaling the chocolate essence that made her mouth water. “What are you doing, Weller?” Junior Collingwood said from behind her, scaring her into tumbling face forward into the shelf and dropping the candy to the floor. Righting herself, Lily turned and frowned at the young man. Junior wasn’t much older than Lily. He was in her brother Steven’s class, but he was under the mistaken impression

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that he was the boss of everything just because his stupid last name was on the front of the store. “I asked you a question.” “I’m minding my business.” Junior didn’t scare her. He just pissed her off. The bully wouldn’t dare bother her if Steven or Logan were around. He only did it when she was by herself. “You should probably do the same.” “This store is my business.” Plucking at the red apron tied snugly around his plump waist, Junior peered down cockily at her with a smug expression on his fat face. “And unlike you, I have a right to be in here.” “I have a right to be here, too.” “No, this store is for paying customers, not for people who can’t buy things.” “How do you know how much money she has?” The voice speaking from behind them had Junior’s cocky grin turning into a pasty grimace, and Lily perking up. Junior spun around and frowned at Marc Gossnor, who was tapping his fingers casually on an empty shopping cart. “Those glasses must be thicker than I thought if you can see inside her pockets.” “What are you doing in here, Gossnor? I thought my dad told you not to come back in here.” Looking around them comically, Marc smirked. “I don’t see your daddy, Junior. So I guess if you want me out, you’re going to have make me leave.” Crossing his arms, he stood up straight and peered down at the puny kid. “Do you feel lucky, punk?” “You’re no Clint Eastwood,” Junior sneered. An amused look flitted across Marc’s face. “And you’re not your father. Something you really should keep in mind. Stop bullying people and stand up to your old man. You’ll turn out much better if you do.” “At least my old man is still alive.” Lily clapped her hand over her mouth in horror. How could Junior say something so mean? For that alone, Lily hoped Marc kicked his butt. Marc stopped smiling and stepped towards Junior, who had become pale. “You’re right, my dad is dead, but even in death he’s a better man than your father is.” Picking up the stocky kid, Marc dumped him face first into the shopping cart, much to Lily’s amazement. She didn’t think there was enough room in there for Junior’s big head, let alone his entire body. Over Junior’s struggling and loud yelps, Marc laughed, and grabbed hold of the handle of the cart and pushed with all his might, sending Junior soaring down the aisle and straight into a canned food display.

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Lily turned and watched in horror as the cans came crashing down onto Junior as he screamed at the top of his lungs. “Oh, my God. You’re going to get in so much trouble,” she whispered in awe, still staring at Junior, who had now attracted a large audience. Marc just laughed and grabbed her hand. Lily didn’t want to leave, but she reluctantly let Marc maneuver her through the aisles and out the door. The image of Junior’s legs kicking in the air like a crab on its back would stay with her forever. By the time they had made it out of the store and halfway down the street, she was finally able to close her mouth. Turning to Marc, who was leaning against the side of the library, Lily stared at him in amazement. “You must really hate him.” “Junior? Nah, he doesn’t faze me. I just don’t like seeing him bully people; and besides, I couldn’t let him treat a pretty lady like that.”

A pretty lady. Lily’s eyes widened at the implication. “You mean, you did that just for me?” “Do you see another pretty blonde anywhere?” Marc asked with a wink. “I ... I guess not.” He had called her lady. Marc Gossnor had called her pretty. Oh, boy. “I didn’t think so.” Reaching into his back pocket, Marc pulled out an orange packet bearing the name of Lily’s favorite treat. “I think this belongs to you.” Lily looked from the candy to Marc’s grinning face. She hadn’t seen him pay for it. How did he ... “You stole that.” “Steal is such a strong word.” Opening up the package, Marc slid out a cup and pulled back the black wrapping. “Besides, this is the least you deserve.” Holding it out to her, Marc waited patiently. “Take it, Lily.” Stunned he even knew her name, Lily automatically took the chocolate, missing the look of pleasure that flashed across Marc’s face. “Now what do you say?” he chided. Lily looked down at the candy and then back up at him. “Thank you.” “You’re very welcome.” Marc handed her the package containing the other cup, and ruffled her hair softly. “If I were you, squirt, I’d stay out of Collingwood’s for awhile.” “You don’t have to tell me twice,” Lily said, mouth full of peanut buttery goodness. For some reason the candy tasted better than it ever had before. “Enjoy your candy.” Marc smiled one final time before heading down the street. Lily stared after him, watching him leave, understanding for the first time why girls giggled over boys. With his one single rebellious gesture, Marc had stolen Lily’s heart.

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Chapter One I feel like an idiot, Lily thought as she tapped her finger against the plastic wrap surrounding the basket she had made. What had originally seemed like a really good idea was now beginning to seem like the stupidest thing she’d ever done, and there was a list of things to compare it to. Her nails scraping against the cellophane seemed like a roar in the quiet outer area of the office, but she couldn’t help herself. She was nervous. Giving in to the anxiety ripping her in two, Lily stood up and quickly walked across the room, trying to make a break for it. “Excuse me, miss,” the secretary called, breaking Lily’s stride across the carpeted floor. “Mr. Gossnor can see you now.” Turning slowly, Lily looked back towards the hallway leading to Marc’s office. It was only a few feet away, but from where she stood, it seemed like an ocean. “This is a really bad idea,” she mumbled out loud. “Excuse me?” The secretary looked confused and perhaps a bit annoyed. Tossing the woman a faint smile, Lily just shook her head. Taking a deep breath she strode over the plush carpet and down the long hallway. It seemed a bit odd walking to the rear of the building that had most recently housed River Bend Federal Trust. Or had, anyway, until Grossman Corp shut it down. They had negotiated another national chain bank to come to town, but it was no longer under the control of Mr. Cortez, which, as far as Lily was concerned, was a good thing. That man had no business being in charge of other people’s money. It was probably mean-spirited, but Lily was glad he had been thrown out on his ass. She suspected Marc and his family weren’t the only people who had suffered under Mr. Cortez’s ruthless business practices. Butterflies slam-danced in her stomach, a condition always present where Marc was concerned. Who would have ever thought a silly childhood crush would last this long? Lily

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had intentionally worn her long, ash-blonde hair down today, wanting to garner Marc’s favor. It was actually quite sad how they had barely exchanged dialogue, and she was going out of her way to please him. Maybe she was as much of a doormat as her mother. Knocking tentatively on the huge oak doors, Lily jumped back with a squeak when they swung open almost immediately. Coming face to face with a complete stranger, she stepped back in surprise. The man in front of her was tall and imposing, with graying temples and a face that seemed as if it had seen too many wars. A weary smiled graced his lips as he held the door open for her. “Ms. Weller, I presume?” Blinking in surprise that this man knew her name, Lily nodded and followed him into the office. “Don’t mind him, Lily.” Marc stood up from behind his large oak desk and walked around it, coming to a stop directly in front of her. “Griffin likes to make an impression.” Lily felt slightly flustered. Marc’s eyes seemed to spear into her very soul, seeing all of her secrets, dreams, and fantasies, with one probing stare. “I brought you a basket,” she blurted out nervously, saying the first thing that came to mind. Oh, my God, Lily thought, slightly hysterically. Why didn’t I just say I carried a

watermelon? “A basket, huh?” He peered into the wicker container with a devious smile. “That’s a first.” “You think I should check for explosives, sir?” Griffin teased, coming up behind her. Lily froze. The two men surrounding her radiated so much testosterone she felt lightheaded. Even growing up with two rough and tumble brothers hadn’t readied her for so much power. “I don’t know.” Titling his head to the side, Marc lifted a brow questioningly. “Are you a Trojan horse, Lily? A pleasant package filled with devious designs, come to cause havoc?”

Say something, damn it, she ordered herself, hating the vast, empty-headed idiot she had morphed into. “Of course not.” Yep, that was reassuring. And the winner for the most convincing denial uttered in a single breath is: Lily Weller. “I mean, I thought you might like it. But if you don’t want it ...” “Oh, no, Lily. I want it.” His words were innocent enough, but for some reason Lily doubted he was just talking about the basket. “Is there anything in there for me?” Griffin asked, leaning over her shoulder. “I think this is one gift I won’t be sharing.” Marc’s possessive tone sent a shiver through Lily that she felt to her toes. “Enough said,” Griffin replied with a barely concealed smile. “I have a few phone calls to make. It was very nice meeting you, Lily.” Griffin left the room quietly, but Lily barely noticed, her eyes still on Marc.

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“So, are you going to let me have it or did you just bring it by to tease me with?” Flushing slightly, Lily stepped forward to hand him the basket and promptly tripped over her own feet, falling forward. Lily could feel her face flame with embarrassment. Why wouldn’t the floor open up so she could sink into its depths? This visit had gone horribly wrong. Her seductive plans were going awry. Instead of coming off like Marilyn Monroe she was acting more like Lucille Ball. Marc caught her by the arms, gently taking the basket out of her hands. Setting it on the desk, he leaned back, bracing his hip against the edge. Peering down into the basket once again, he gave a soft laugh as he looked back at her. “I have to say, this is a surprise. Pleasant as it is, it’s a surprise, nevertheless. I would have been willing to bet your brothers would have warned you away.” “I’m my own person, Marc. Way past the age when I need anyone’s consent for anything.” “But, Goldilocks, I’m the big bad wolf. The one all the villagers are sharpening their pitchforks to come after.” “That was Little Red Riding Hood. The Three Bears were after Goldilocks, thank you very much. And for the record, not everyone in River Bend is anxious to see you run out of town.” “Really? Name three.” “Samantha, Evelyn, and myself,” Lily rattled off in quick succession. Marc grimaced before replying. “Great, that’s really going to endear me to your brothers.” “Do you care what they think?” Lily asked, already knowing the answer. She could tell Marc didn’t care what anyone thought. “No, I don’t care. But I do wonder what you are really doing here, Lily.” “If I’m keeping you, I can leave.” Lily had known this was a bad idea. Feeling foolish, she turned to make her escape, halting only when Marc grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. “I didn’t say you should go. I’m just wondering why you came.” “Can’t I do something nice, just to be nice?” “In my experience people don’t do something without expecting something in return.” “That’s awfully cynical.” And kind of sad, too, Lily thought. “I’m a cynical guy.” Her breath caught in her throat as Marc rubbed her wrist softly with circular strokes, enticing her senses. Her body tingled with an awareness she had never experienced before. She wanted to lean into him and rub her face against his chest like a cat. Shaking her head slightly, Lily tried to break this spell Marc seemed to have over her.

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“So, cynical guy, do you celebrate the holidays? In particular, are you doing anything for Thanksgiving?” Lily held her breath, waiting for his response. “Of course,” Marc replied and Lily let out her breath with a rush of disappointment. Of course he had plans. It’s not likely a man as good looking as he was would be alone. “What, finding other small towns to dominate and take over?” Lily replied sarcastically, pulling her wrist away from his hand. “No, I’m saving that for Christmas.” Marc seemed to be laughing at her and Lily felt as if he knew something she did not. “Actually, I’m going to be working. I get a lot done when there is no one else around. I often work late into the night.” “You can’t work on Thanksgiving!” Lily exclaimed in shock. “It’s a time to spend with your family.” “I don’t have any family in town. My mom is down in Florida with her new husband and kids. And I don’t have the time to fly down.” “Spend Thanksgiving with me. We would love to have you.” Lily crossed her fingers and prayed Evelyn would be a willing conspirator. “Who is we?” Marc asked suspiciously. “My family.” Lily knew she was being evasive and hoped Marc wouldn’t be too inquisitive. “It’s not like it’s a date or anything. Just think on it for awhile.” Marc cocked his brow at her. “I don’t need you to feel sorry for me, Lily.” “How could anyone feel sorry for you? You own the town. Everyone is kicking their own ass for the way they treated you and your family. It’s a friendly gesture from one outcast to another.” “Outcast? You?” Lily nodded her head. “My father’s the town drunk -- who was on your payroll, allegedly, to torture the most beloved teacher in this town and her husband. Yeah, I’m on everyone’s Christmas list.” Marc was silent for a moment and Lily wondered if she had gone too far with the comments about her father being on his payroll. “Things aren’t always what they appear, Lily.” “Come with me; it’ll be fun. Anything will be better than sitting here plotting your devious plans and stroking your imaginary mustache.” “Is that what I would be stroking?” Lily looked at him quizzically. He couldn’t have just inferred what she thought, could he? Just then the intercom on his desk buzzed with a message from his secretary about an overseas call. “I have to take this call,” Marc apologized as he went around behind his desk.

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Talk about being saved by the bell. “No problem; just let me know your decision.” Lily backed out of his office and quietly shut the door behind her. Leaning back against it she took a deep breath. That had only been slightly painful.

***** Opening the door to her apartment, Lily was hit in the face with beer fumes. She closed her eyes tightly and slowly counted to five, hoping to stem the rising anger inside of her. She didn’t know how much longer she could take this. Her father was driving her crazy. Just then, the object of her thoughts walked in from the kitchen with -- surprise, surprise -- another beer in hand. “Dad, I thought you were going to be looking for a new place today.” Mike scowled at her before replying. “It’s that damn brother of yours, ain’t it? He turned you against me. You don’t want your father living on the streets, do you?” “Dad, Steven had nothing to do with this. I told you that you could stay one night. It’s been three weeks. I need to get my life back in order. And you need to, too.” Lily hated that he had guilted her into letting him stay in the first place. “Well, I tried. It’s not as easy for someone like me.” “It wasn’t a suggestion, Dad, it was an order. I’ve helped you out for as long as I can and it’s time for you to go.” Lily steeled her heart against her father, a chore easier and easier to do of late. Her father was dead to her. Lily didn’t know who this stranger was anymore, and she no longer cared. “If your mother would only come to her senses.” “Leave her alone. The last thing she needs is to be dragged further down by you.” Lily hated to say it, but it was true. Helen was finally putting herself first and Lily couldn’t be happier. Her mother deserved a little peace and her father deserved to burn in hell. “I want you out by tonight. Not tomorrow. Not the day after. Tonight.” Mike threw down the beer in disgust, spilling the malted brew all over her carpet. “Fine, I’ll get out. But you’re going to regret this.” He picked up his knapsack and started to fill it with his stuff lying around the apartment.

I already do, Lily whispered silently. Lily barricaded herself in her room, not wanting to be anywhere near Mike when he was in one of his moods. At this point she could care less if he took any of her things on his way out, as long as he got out. One small favor had turned into one of the biggest mistakes she had ever made, and she was more than willing to bet it wouldn’t be the last one where her father was concerned. Lily could hear her dad knocking things around and tried to tune out the noise. She was startled when suddenly there was a loud crash, followed by cursing and the slamming of

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the front door. Going out to investigate, Lily found her television set smashed in with her dad’s shoe wedged inside. “Serves him right,” she muttered to herself as she pried the shoe out. Opening the front door, she threw it out on the lawn before slamming it shut and locking it. The smartest thing she had done was only giving her dad the key to the doorknob and not to the deadbolt. Staring down at the destroyed television, Lily felt her eyes well up with tears. A broken television might not be much to most people, but Lily had had to save up for two months to pay for it. Being broke sucked, but being related to a destructive drunk was even more dreadful. Her father’s one act of rage was going to set her back another two months. It was just like him to not care about anyone else but himself. The phone ringing dragged her from her self-imposed funk. Picking it up, Lily dropped down onto her couch, downhearted. “Lo.” “Lily?” Marc’s cool voice brought her straight out of the chair. “Oh, hi.” She smoothed down her hair idiotically, as if he could see her disheveled appearance over the phone. “I wasn’t expecting you to call so soon.” “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “Lily ...” “Nothing, Marc; nothing you could help with, anyway.” “I just basically bought the whole town. How do you know what I can do?” “Money can’t solve everything,” she replied softly, gazing at her destroyed television. Of course, it could help out with this, but not with a deadbeat drunk father. Besides, she didn’t want to get into that with Marc. “I called to let you know I thought about your offer.” “And ...” “If I can bring Griffin, too, I accept.” “Think you’ll need your bodyguard at Thanksgiving dinner?” Lily wondered about the relationship between the two of them. “He’s not my bodyguard, but he’s alone, too.” Marc sounded slightly defensive. Lily immediately felt bad. “Of course he can come. The more the merrier.” Once again she crossed her fingers, hoping Evelyn wouldn’t disown her. “Fine; what time should we be there?” “How about noon?” She decided to wait to drop the bomb on him that they would be going to Logan and Evelyn’s until then. “Hey, by the way, how did you get my phone number?” she asked, suddenly changing the subject. Marc chuckled. “Lily, there’s very little I don’t know about you.”

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His words washed over her body. “I don’t suppose you need my address then?” she asked huskily. Damn, he was affecting her voice now, too. “No, I don’t. See you on Thursday at noon.” Lily hung up the phone, surprised to see her hand trembling. She was amazed that one little conversation with Marc could raise her spirits and her libido simultaneously. This was going to be one very interesting Thanksgiving dinner.

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Chapter Two “So that was the phantom Ms. Lily.” Griffin closed the door behind him. “Don’t start, Griff,” Marc said, setting the phone back in the cradle. “What’s to start? You like the pretty little thing, the pretty little thing likes you, and you want to destroy everyone in the town. Did I leave anything out?” “Lily has nothing to do with the plot.” “Ah ... the plot.” Griffin twisted an invisible mustache and wiggled his brows leeringly. “Could you explain to me our evil little plan again?” Marc winged a paper clip across the desk, hitting Griffin in the head. “Very funny. Fine, a quick recap, if you like.” Leaning back in his chair, Marc crossed his arms over his chest. “Part one, destroy the mill, the bank, and about damn near anyone else I have in mind.” “Check.” “Once the livelihood of the triumvirate is decimated, we go after their homes and their reputations. Then we send them packing on the last bus out of town.” “And how does Lily fit into this plan?” Griffin kept pushing. “She doesn’t. She is not part of the plan at all.” Marc didn’t like that Griffin kept going back to Lily. He wanted to keep her all for himself. “And what about her brothers and the Grays?” “They aren’t part of the plan, either. I never wanted them hurt. And besides, you know I thought I was helping them. Their neighborhood had gone downhill and I thought buying up all those old houses would be a good plan. Instead, it got out of control.” “You know what they say about the road to hell being paved with good intentions.” “Funny, I always figured it would be gold. Money is the root of all evil, you know.”

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“Not as well as I would like to, that’s for sure. “ Griffin leaned back in his chair with a smile. “Changing the subject slightly, what horse’s stall do you have Richard Evans cleaning out this week?” Marc laughed before answering. “I have him working in North Dakota, running statistics on some property.” “I didn’t know you were thinking about purchasing property in North Dakota. “I’m not, but I like knowing exactly where he is at all times.” “Keep your friends close ...” “And your enemies even closer,” Marc finished with a smile. “Isn’t that what you taught me?” “Now, don’t go blaming me for your Machiavellian ways.” “Don’t worry, Griffin. I blame the right people. And they’re paying for it.” “Is Lily part of the people you blame?” Griffin asked. Damn it, he was back to Lily again. “Why do you ask?” Marc was deliberately being evasive, not willing to delve too deeply into his feelings for Lily. “Better question, why do you keep going back to her? Is there something I should know about?” Griffin shook his head. “Come on, now. She’s young enough to be my daughter.” “That’s never stopped you before.” “No, what stops me is the fact the man I consider to be my son is interested, and that’s never happened before. Besides, she looks like a nice girl.” It never failed to affect Marc when Griffin referred to him as his son. Marc’s own father had died when he was a teen, but he didn’t have many memories of the hardworking man, other than the ones his mother had tried to instill in him. His dad had done all he could to provide for his family, but unfortunately that meant Marc barely saw him. So when Griffin, a man who had come into his life at Marc’s lowest point, called him son, it really meant something to him. “She is nice.” Marc stressed the last word, refusing to rise to Griffin’s bait. Griffin frowned when Marc didn’t say anything else. “Do you want me to spell it out for you, Marc? She looks like a ‘vanilla’ girl; not exactly your type, you know?” Marc knew exactly what Griffin meant. He had always been a man of select appetites and needs, desires a vanilla relationship wouldn’t satisfy. But something about Lily gnawed at him, and he wasn’t willing to let it go. Not yet. “I trust your instincts, I value your opinions, and I follow your lead on many things, but this is something I don’t need your help with, Griff.” “I’m just saying be careful. I can only protect your back so far.” “Understood. Now can we move onto something else that doesn’t involve my sex life?”

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“Sure. Here’s something that can deflate a hard-on.” Griffin handed him a manila folder. “All the background information on the triumvirate.” Marc read through the files, pausing at one particular bit of information. “It looks like Patrick Hines is running scared. In the last year he has been consolidating most of his assets and moving them into his wife’s name.” “Is there any way to get to her?” “The rumor was she liked young, studly guys. Want to go check it out?” “So now I’m fucking for you? What, does my dick get time and a half ‘cause it’s working nights and weekends?” “And you might score a bonus if you can keep it up all night. Should I order some Viagra for you, old man?” “Is there a way to touch her outside of the bedroom?” Marc tapped his fingers on the desk in thought. If he recalled correctly, the one thing Judith Hines cared about was herself. He seriously doubted the years had changed her. “I wonder if Judith knows what ol’ Patrick is up to. And what he’s been up to in the past. How supportive is she going to be when the money is in her hands right next to the proof?” “What proof?” “Of Patty’s infidelity.” “We have proof?” Griffin frowned. “We will.” “I’m not fucking some blueblood snob, no matter how much you pay me.” “Patrick could hardly keep his hands off of my mother. I doubt he’s changed.” Marc grimaced at that unpleasant reminder of his childhood. The way this town had treated his mother was the real reason behind his vengeance, much more than how they had treated him. “What about the other two?” “We don’t have to worry about trying to bankrupt Cortez. He’s doing that all on his own. He has millions in gambling debts. I wonder if his wife had a prenup; she married him for his money. She’s going to get a big surprise.” “We’re just saving marriages left and right today.” “I’m an entrepreneur, not a marriage counselor. These lowlifes couldn’t even be honest businessmen and loving husbands. They are almost too easy to take down. They’re taking all the fun out of it.” “Makes you wonder what kind of shady deals he’s been pulling at the bank all these years.” “I know what he did to my mother,” Marc spit out. “Made her beg for an extra month’s grace period on the mortgage. He’s a sadistic bastard who preys on the weak.”

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Griffin eyed him carefully. “If you’re going to be successful at this, Marc, you’re going to have to leave some of your baggage at the door.” Marc knew he shouldn’t allow these old injustices to affect him so deeply, but he could only show the true depths of his hatred with Griffin, one of the few people he trusted. “This can’t be just for revenge,” Griffin noted. Marc raised his brow, as if refuting Griffin’s claim. “A large part, yes, but in the end, if you keep this all about the past, you will never be satisfied.” “It’s not just about my mother. These men were shady before my father died. They’ve hurt many people. It’s justice, for everyone. I just have the pleasure of dishing it out.” “Okay,” Griffin said, letting it go. “So are you really thinking about changing Collingwood’s to Grossman’s Grocery?” “It would be poetic justice, wouldn’t it?” Marc knew he probably had a dreamy expression on his face, since he felt particularly satisfied about making sure the owner of Collingwood’s paid for his former acts. “I am just looking forward to seeing that sign come down. I don’t care what name goes back up. I think I hate Hamilton Collingwood the most.” “Why?” “The other two could pretend they did what they did for business. My mom was asking for credit so she could feed her family after my father died. He denied her, telling her he would extend it only if she slept with him. We ended up moving the next week.” “You know the bastards are kicking themselves now for what they did to you?” “No, they’re kicking themselves because I’ve made something of myself and I’m making them pay for what they did.” “Man, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall the day they found out the CEO of Grossman Corp. was Marc Gossnor, poor boy extraordinaire.” A slow smile spread across Marc’s face at the thought. There had been several times in the midst of all of that he’d wished the same thing. But he hadn’t needed to be in their presence to know they’d shit themselves blue. Shaking himself out of his vengeful contemplation, Marc dropped the bomb. “Oh, by the way, we have plans for Thursday.” “You mean other than TV dinners and working until midnight?” Griffin knew Marc always worked the holidays. “Those plans are cancelled for the new ones. Lily invited us to spend Thanksgiving with her.” “And you accepted? For both of us?” “Of course. Why not?”

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“Why not? What the hell am I going to do while you are making time with your girl? Talk to her mother?” Griffin asked sarcastically. “I thought you wanted to watch my back, make sure I didn’t get into trouble. Here’s the perfect opportunity.” “Oh, great. Thanksgiving with the Cleavers.”

***** Marc padded barefoot into the modern chrome kitchen fresh from his shower. As a teenager from the wrong side of the tracks, he would have never even been allowed to mow the lawn for the owners of this house. Now, he was the master of the domain. The bright cellophane wrapper of the basket Lily had delivered caught his gaze, and he decided to investigate. He was still amazed that after all the rumors in town about big bad Grossman Corp., she had shown up with a welcome wagon gift. Lily was something else; that was for sure. The jury was still out on whether she was sincere or not, but it was hard to look into her big blue eyes and not feel something. ‘Something’ was the right word for it, too, because Marc hadn’t been able to put into words exactly what he thought of Goldilocks. He only knew he wanted more. Steven and Logan were going to be a problem. He knew that without even having to be told, but Lily was worth the hassle. Especially if she was a submissive like he thought. He had been surprised at how well she responded to his subtle commands at the diner the day he had come back to town. Marc was willing to bet she would be a firecracker in bed; she just needed the right man to light her fuse. The phone rang, disrailing his arousing train of thought. The voice on the other end of the line instantly brought a smile to his face. “Hi, Mom.” “Just thought I’d make one final pitch to get you down here for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m sure you own a jet, know someone who owns a jet, or can blackmail someone into lending you a jet for a few days.” “Thanks, Mom, I appreciate the offer. But I have plans.” “I know what kind of plans you have. Working with Griffin all day when you could be visiting with your brother and sisters.” Marc laughed at Donna’s sarcastic tone. The years and heartache hadn’t changed the warmhearted woman his mother was. She was still gracious and perfect in Marc’s eyes, as she had been when he was a young boy. “You make it sound like I have Griffin chained to a desk.” “Ha, as if you could keep him from your side. I’m just saying maybe you both need to learn to loosen up.” “Actually, Mom, you’ll be happy to know I’ve accepted a dinner invitation.”

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“With people?” “No, Mother, with the inhabitants of the local zoo. Of course with people.” “Are these people who take their clothes off for a living and twirl on poles?”

Sheesh, spend one Christmas with a stripper and your mother never lets you forget it. “She was an exotic dancer, Mom.” “She was naked.” It wasn’t like she had done her routine in front of his younger siblings, but his mother couldn’t let it go. “No, Mom, it’s not a stripper. She’s a nice girl.” Man, he was repeating Griffin’s lines now. “Well, who is she?” “Lily Weller.” “Lily Weller. Hmm, Helen’s daughter?” “Yes.” Maybe telling his mother about Lily wasn’t such a good idea. “Oh, she is a nice girl.” His mother’s “hoping for a wedding” detector went off. His mom had tried to inspire wedding bells before, but he wasn’t ready to settle down. Not until he had his business with River Bend and the triumvirate completed first. “I love you, Mom, but I am not having this conversation.” “Marc, I just want you to be happy.” “Mom, I will be fine. Don’t worry, enjoy your Thanksgiving, and tell everyone I said hello.” Hanging up the phone, Marc’s gaze drifted back to the basket and his thoughts to the woman who had given it to him. If things went according to plan, he would have his vengeance and maybe Goldilocks, too.

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Chapter Three Lily swiped her sweaty palms on her woolen skirt. For a simple family dinner she was feeling extremely nervous. Biting her lip apprehensively, she glanced at the clock again. Eleven fifty-three. This would be the first time her family -- minus her father -- had all been together for a holiday in over fifteen years. Hopefully it would end a lot better than the previous ones that had included Mike -- cursing, fighting and passing out at the dinner table. Some family traditions were meant to be broken. After the incident with her father smashing up her television earlier in the week, she had finally decided that cutting him out of her life was the only healthy option she had left. She couldn’t allow herself to be sucked under by such a controlling jerk ever again. Eleven fifty-four and counting. If she kept telling herself she was nervous because of her family, then she could pretend the fact that Marc was coming wasn’t the real reason for the butterflies and nasty sweaty palms. Yeah ... family getting together ... not Marc. Eleven fifty ... Stop it, Lily, she ordered, turning her back to the clock. He’s just a guy. A simple guy she had adored since she was a child. A loud knocking startled her out of her discussion with herself. Jumping up from the couch, she rushed to the front door, grabbing her coat and purse along the way. Pulling open the door she smiled quickly at Marc and began to struggle into her coat. Clearing his throat, Marc put his hand on her arm, stilling her pinwheel motions as she attempted to find the armhole. “Let me.” Flushing with embarrassment, Lily handed him her coat then turned her back to him. Taking it by the collar he gently guided her arms into the coat before turning her around and, one by one, buttoning her up. “In a rush for turkey?” he teased, as he fastened the last button.

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“Not especially ...” she hedged, more nervous now than she had been before he had arrived. “Do you meet all of your guests at the door like this?” Lily closed the door firmly behind her. “As opposed to meeting them in the bathroom?” Instead of smiling at her joke, Marc merely raised a brow. “Is there a particular reason I’m not allowed in your house?” “I don’t like to be late.” Yeah, late. Sure, that was it, and not the sad truth that people who lived in shopping carts had nicer furniture than she did. Lily wanted to escape the small confines of her apartment before he noticed the shabby furnishings and broken television. “Hmmm ...” was all he said. Taking a step back, Marc gestured in front of him for her to proceed down the stairs. Following behind her, he softly spoke. “Once dinner’s over, what will you come up with next, Goldilocks?” “Why would I have to come up with a story?” “Why indeed?” Griffin stood outside of a dark Mercedes as if the snow on the ground didn’t faze him. He smiled as they neared him, his imposing features lighting up. “I thought it was against the female code to actually leave on time. Don’t you know you’re supposed to make us wait at least fifteen minutes?” “Goldie, here, has a thing about being on time,” Marc said dryly, his disbelief in her excuses as apparent as the chill in the air. “What’s wrong with wanting to be on time?” Her defenses were up. So, not a good way to start a date ... or a not-date, in their case. Griffin glanced back and forth between the two of them before sweeping open the passenger door of the car and signaling for her to enter. “Oh, I’ll be fine in the back.” Lily tried to step back but Marc was standing directly behind her. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Get in the car,” before giving her a little push towards the front seat. “But what about Griffin?” “Griffin brought his own car.” “But why?” she insisted, refusing to just be pushed into the car. “I’m not normally in the habit of bringing extra men on dates with me, Goldie.” “This isn’t a date.” Marc slowly smiled, as if she was dimwitted. “It’s not,” Lily insisted again, noticing the amusement on the two men’s faces. Knowing she was not going to convince them, she flounced into the seat, arranging herself before leaning out and snagging the door handle. “Well, are we going or are we going to sit around

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here all day?” Frowning at their continued amusement, Lily pulled on the door, slamming it shut. Marc and Griffin spoke for a moment, and then Marc came around and slid into the driver’s seat. It was the most elegant vehicle Lily had ever been in. The leather seats, if she weren’t mistaken, were heated, and the dashboard looked like some kind of starship computer. “So, to your mom’s house then.” Marc started the car and smoothly pulled away from the curb. “Ahh, actually, dinner isn’t at my mom’s.” Marc turned and looked at her questioningly. “It’s at Evelyn’s,” Lily finished in a rush. “You mean at your brother Logan’s house?” Marc clarified with sharp precision. “They are married, so yeah, they’re having Thanksgiving together.” Lily usually made smart-alecky comments when she was nervous, and they were just flowing from her mouth today. “You know, that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble some day.” Marc turned the corner and headed towards their destination. “Steven always told me it was better to be a smart ass than a dumb ass.” “Your brother’s wit is extraordinary,” Marc retorted dryly. “Granted, he’s not rearranging the letters in his name to come up with an evil corporation title, but I think I’ll keep him.” Pulling up to a red light, Marc turned and put his finger under her chin. Tipping her head up, he moved in close. “I told you that mouth would get you into trouble.” Leaning in, he softly touched his lips to hers, pressing against her but not invading her mouth. It was the first time, since junior high at least, that a man hadn’t immediately shoved his tongue down her throat. It was nice. His lips were warm and soft, and she felt restless under his touch, as if she were expecting more. Suddenly the car phone rang, startling them both out of the embrace. Straightening up, Marc glanced into the rearview mirror before answering the phone. “Yeah.” Although Lily couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, she was sure it was Griffin on the line. He had probably seen Marc kissing her. Marc kissed her! Oh, my God, she had finally kissed Marc Gossnor. She felt like a schoolgirl. “Yeah, well, slight change of plans. Seems we’re going to a big family shindig. Uh huh, okay.” As he set the phone back into the cradle, Marc quickly glanced at her before turning his attention back to the road. “Griffin brought up a very valid point, just now.” “Did he?” Lily’s voice was husky even to her own ears. “Our change of plans seems a bit fishy.”

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Flushing a bit, Lily looked out her window. “The plans weren’t exactly changed.” “You don’t say.” The words were lighthearted but his tone wasn’t. There was sudden steel in his voice that had Lily looking over at him. “Yes, the plans were always to go to my brother’s house. I just didn’t mention it.” “And I wonder why that is?” Lily frowned. “Why do you think it is?” “Seems to go back to the Trojan horse again.” “Look, I’m flattered you think I’m so much of a temptation my brothers might use me to entice you over so they could bludgeon you with a turkey leg, but the truth of the matter, Marc, is I was afraid if I told you where it was, you wouldn’t come. And I really wanted you to come.” “Why?” He just had to ask why. “Good question; right now I’m wondering the same thing.” Marc suddenly pulled the car over to the curb, put it in park and turned in his seat, facing her. “Stop playing games, little girl, and tell me the truth.” Lily knew she was probably wide-eyed with surprise, and that was why she actually answered before censoring her mouth. “The truth is I have been fascinated with you since childhood and I wanted to spend the day with you to find out what you’re really like.” Marc stared at her for what seemed like a lifetime. Almost as if he was studying every line on her face, every freckle on her nose, every lie in her eyes. When the phone rang, he didn’t automatically pick it up, which unnerved Lily, who wasn’t used to being under scrutiny. “Are you going to answer that?” she finally questioned, when the noise became too much to bear. Marc waited another heartbeat while he pinned her with his gaze. Before picking up the phone, he said quietly, “Remember, don’t ever lie to me, understand?” Lily nodded jerkily as Marc answered the phone. “We had to clarify a few things.” There was a slight pause before he continued. “Yes, damn it, you will get some turkey sometime today, okay?” Putting the car back into gear, Marc pulled into traffic. The silence in the car was deafening, and Lily was unsure what to say. “It wasn’t exactly a lie,” she muttered. Marc had her feeling like a chastised child, and she didn’t like it one bit. It wasn’t like she had really lied. She just hadn’t been completely upfront ... completely. “You interest me, Goldilocks. More so than anyone has in a long time.” Marc pulled into Logan’s driveway and cut off the engine before he continued. “And the thought of you lying, hiding things from me, bothers me more than I care to admit.” It didn’t get more honest than that. “I won’t lie to you, Marc.” “Ever?”

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“Ever,” Lily promised, caught up in the storm in his green eyes. There was a sudden knock on Marc’s window as Griffin leaned close to the glass. “Turkey, now.” “Is he always like this?” “What, annoying? Yeah, always.” Lily started to fumble with the car door and Marc reached across to still her motions. “I will come around and open your door for you. Understand?” Again his powerful gaze caught her attention and she nodded, unable to form words in her dry-as-cotton mouth. Marc got out of the car and came around to open her door, helping her out before setting the electric locks. Happy the earlier tense moment was over, Lily strolled side by side with Marc up the snowy walkway. Everything was going to be okay, she told herself as she rang the doorbell. And she believed it for the entire five seconds it took for Logan to open the door. “Lily, happy Thanks ...” Logan trailed off slowly as his gaze slid over her to the men behind her.

***** Okay, so she’d had better ideas than this one. Ones that didn’t included stoic silence and weird breaks in the conversations. Apparently, her telling Evelyn she was bringing them to dinner didn’t necessarily mean her brothers would be informed of the addition. “I thought you were going to say something,” she muttered, taking the plate from the traitor in question’s hands. “Yeah, right. Like I was going to venture into No Man’s Land and tell Logan you were bringing Marc to dinner? You didn’t have the nerve to do it yourself. You’re crazy.” “Coward.” “Takes one to know one,” Evelyn sang in a childish tone. “What are you, two?” It wasn’t funny. “Ladies, ladies, ladies,” Samantha said, walking into the room with empty glasses in her hands. “And to think, I thought Nichelle was going to be the highlight of the evening. Ha.” “This is just horrible.” Turning around, Lily leaned against the sink. “It’s not that bad.” Evelyn walked over and tugged Lily into her embrace. “Evelyn’s right,” Samantha reminded Lily. “It could have been ten times worse. At least no one’s bleeding.” “Only in my family would that be considered a high point.” The women looked at each other before breaking into laughter.

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“Well, I don’t care what Logan says, I like Marc. I always have.” “You don’t blame him for what happened with your folks?” Lily couldn’t help but ask. It was her father who, after all, who had been the crazy lunatic in all of this, and if Evelyn and her parents weren’t going to blame her family for her father’s behavior, maybe they wouldn’t blame Marc. Evelyn tsked. “I know exactly where the blame lies, Lily. He, and only he, is the one I blame. Besides, I’ve always thought there was something ... different about Marc. Something ...” “Intense,” Lily added, not aware that her words and expression gave her away, until Samantha and Evelyn looked at each other with huge grins on their faces. “Intense, huh?” Sammy teased, with a wink. “Do tell.” Blushing, Lily turned away from their probing stares. “Come on, you can’t hide from us.” Evelyn pulled her down to sit at the kitchen table, and Samantha came over to join them. “So has he kissed you yet?” Lily knew her face must be on fire by this point. One of the hazards of being fairskinned was she could never hide a blush. “Okay, fine, yes, he kissed me. In the car on the way over. But it wasn’t like you think. The jerk thought he was teaching me a lesson. He said I was being mouthy.” Samantha just giggled, but Evelyn had a gleam in her eye. “Teach you a lesson, huh? Interesting; very interesting.” “What do you mean, interesting?” “Nothing.” Evelyn stood up suddenly and moved back towards the sink to finish drying the dishes. “No, now, come on. You said it like you know something. Tell.” Lily was too interested in her opinion to be coy. “Yeah, girl, you got me curious now. What gives?” Samantha added. “Okay, but you may think I’m crazy. You said he wanted to teach you a lesson and that he’s intense. Plus he seems a bit, well, dominating to me.” “You don’t think ...” Samantha trailed off, her gaze thoughtful as she turned back and sized up Lily. “What are you two talking about? I feel like I walked into the middle of a movie and I don’t know what happened in the first half.” “Your brother may have more in common with Marc than you know,” Evelyn said with a laugh, enjoying some private joke. “What do you mean?”

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Just then the kitchen door swung open and the three women jumped. “Hey now, there is way too much frivolity going on in here.” Evelyn’s dad stood in the doorway for a second before coming into the kitchen with an empty pumpkin pie tin. “Sorry, Dad, just a little girl talk.” Evelyn took the pie plate and gave him a big hug. “Well, don’t mind me. I just thought I better let Lily here know that her young man is getting the third degree out there.” Lily flushed with embarrassment at hearing Marc referred to as “her young man.” “Oh, no, they aren’t ...?” She headed for the swinging door. “Now, now, don’t you worry. He seems to be handling it just fine. More than fine, actually. I think he’s got them both in a twist.”

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Chapter Four This day was going about as well as he had been expecting. The funny thing, though, was Marc wouldn’t have it any other way. Something about the whole thing suited his perverse sense of humor, and instead of being insulted by the glares, he’d been amused. Steven had barely said two words to him, and Logan was even worse. Logan, who hadn’t changed much since high school, made sure to keep an eye on Marc all day. He still seemed as bullheaded as he had been as a teen. It was amazing a beauty like Evelyn had saddled herself with someone like him, but there was no accounting for some people’s taste. Here he was, sitting in the middle of Crane-Weller central with Logan and Steven both giving him the evil eye. To add fuel to the fire, Samantha Turner’s sisters were throwing in their comments left and right. And, to top it off, Griffin had pretty much abandoned him to go flirt with Lily’s mother. It was definitely a Thanksgiving to be remembered. And now it seemed as if he was about to become entangled in some sort of dominant pissing game with the brothers Grimm. Lovely. “So, Gossnor, how long are you planning on staying in town?” Steven dragged out his name mockingly, while Logan eyed Marc as if he were a piece of shit on his shoe. “I’ve decided to make River Bend my new headquarters.” Marc smiled sarcastically. “Just to give back to the community what they gave to me.” “I don’t give a rat’s ass about what you do to the ‘community,’ but you leave those I love alone, understand?” Logan poked him in the shoulder, accentuating his point. “And that definitely includes Lily.” Marc’s humor fled as soon as Logan touched him. Looked like Logan had inherited some of his stepfather’s bully tactics, after all. “This wouldn’t be the same Lily you

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abandoned for the last fifteen years, leaving her in the hands of an alcoholic asshole, now, would it? Is that how you treat the ones you love?” Logan stepped towards him threateningly. “You don’t know anything about my family.” “And you don’t anything about me, Crane, so back up.” “If you hurt her ...” Steven butted in. Raising a brow, Marc turned his cool glare in Steven’s direction. “Like you’ve hurt Samantha?” Anger exploded in Steven’s eyes. “Leave Samantha out of this.” “Listen, we can go back and forth all night trading insults or we can get to the heart of the matter and one of you can take a swing. Both, if it will make you feel better.” His cool tone was having the opposite effect on the two glaring men. “Then we can all get dirty, you two bloody, and I can spend all night being soothed by your lovely sister.” “That’s it.” Logan reached out to grab his shirt just as the ladies burst through the kitchen door, interrupting their tirade. Logan quickly lowered his hand but gave Marc a cutting glare that spoke volumes. “And how are things out here?” Evelyn stepped up to Logan and slipped her arms around his waist. At first glance it looked like a loving gesture, but then Marc noticed Logan’s grimace and realized she was pinching his side. “Why, I think the boys here are renewing their acquaintances.” Samantha slipped her hand into Steven’s and, if Marc wasn’t mistaken, started to squeeze really hard. He chuckled at the thought of these two ladies trying to pull their men off of him. “Something amuse you, Gossnor?” Logan asked bitingly, twisting quickly away from Evelyn before she caused more bodily harm. “Logan,” Lily chided. “That’s not very nice.” “That’s okay, Lily. I am amused. Ah, well, all good things must come to an end. We better get going.” “I think that’s a good idea,” Lily agreed readily. “Lily, you don’t have to go home with him,” Steven said protectively. “Yes, Lily,” Marc said, looking at his fierce golden protector. “You don’t have to go.” Marc stressed the word don’t, so there was no mistake to anyone that Lily would be leaving of her own free will, even if he had to drag her kicking and screaming. “No, I want to go. Let me go just say goodbye to Mom.” Lily moved towards the living room, then stopped as though having second thoughts. Grabbing Marc’s hand, she gently tugged him to her side. “Maybe you should come and say goodbye with me.”

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Chuckling, Marc tossed the boys one final victorious grin before walking out of the room. How amusing that Lily, who was a tiny bit of a thing, thought she could protect him. It was cute, and slightly insulting, all at the same time. “Just let me grab my coat.” “Lily.” Marc called to her, stopping her in her tracks. “Yes?” “What were you expecting to happen today?” “I don’t know; maybe for everyone to get along and enjoy a good meal.” Marc wanted to burst into laughter. His golden-haired beauty was quite naïve. “The possibilities of your brothers and I getting along are on par with hell freezing over. It won’t ever happen.” “Are you always this negative?” “Yes, but more importantly, I don’t want you ever stepping between them and me. I don’t need you to protect me from your brothers.” Suddenly, Lily burst out laughing. “Is that what you thought I was doing?” Confused, Marc replied, “Well, weren’t you?” Walking back to him, Lily smiled impishly up at him. “No, silly. I was protecting my brothers from you.”

***** Pulling up to the curb at Lily’s apartment, Marc glanced in his rearview mirror as Griffin pulled in behind them. “Wait here a second while I go talk to Griffin.” “Oh, there’s no need to walk me up. I’m fine.” Lily started to grab the door handle when Marc interrupted her. “What did I tell you before?” Lily blinked up at him in the dim recesses of the car, a confused look on her face. “What, about the car door?” Marc shook his head, appalled. “You haven’t had too many men treat you very well, have you?” “I definitely haven’t had any men bully me in the ‘name of” treating me well,” she teased, making a show of removing her hand from the handle. “The handle is poisoned. I won’t touch it again.” “Smart mouth,” Marc tossed back before getting out of the car. Shutting the door, he looked back through the window at Lily, who was teasingly touching the door handle with her finger. She was so silly. A welcome and refreshing change from the fake women he’d been used to in the past.

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Griffin had rolled down the window by the time Marc made it to his car. “So, am I waiting to follow you home, or should I call the agency to let them know you’ll be here until ... what ... tomorrow?” Glancing back at his car, Marc shook his head. “I won’t be here all night, but I don’t want you to have to stay out here, either. Call them and have them send a car to wait for me.” “Are you sure this is a good idea, Marc?” “Most definitely.” “If word gets out you’re seeing her, she’ll become a target for all the ghouls and goblins that haunt you.” “I protect my own, Griff,” Marc said coolly. Griffin wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know, but there was no way in hell he could just walk away from her now. “I was ...” “I know. I’ll see you in the morning.” Turning, Marc walked to Lily’s side of the car and pulled the door open. “I feel so silly waiting for you to open my door.” She rolled her eyes as she got out. “It’s not supposed to make you feel silly. You’re a lady, and this is how a lady should be treated.” “A lady, right,” Lily replied mockingly. Marc pulled her to a stop on the walk. “Don’t ever sell yourself short, Lily. You are a lady, and you deserve the best.” Pressing his hand to the small of her back, Marc urged her the rest of the way to her door. As she pulled the key out of her purse, Marc gently took it from her, unlocked her apartment, and ushered her inside. He could see her roll her eyes again as she preceded him into the room. Lily’s surprise at his gallant gesture amused him. Marc could understand not expecting the niceties of life. He had been like Lily once. On the other hand, she was such a little innocent, and Marc didn’t think he had ever been that naïve. “Okay, I’m home safe and sound. Nighty-night.” “Very funny. Now you’re going to tell me why you are so afraid to have me in your home.” “Afraid? I’m not afraid. I’m tired; that’s all.” “Uh huh.” Marc glanced around the room and spotted the broken television sitting in the corner. “What happened to the TV?” “That damn Bill O’Reilley gets me every time.” “You expect me to believe you broke the television watching the O’Reilley Factor?” Did he have stupid written on his forehead?

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“Believe what you like.” She shrugged, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Okay, then.” Easing out of his jacket, Marc tossed it onto her couch. “Then I choose to believe your father, who you’ve had living here until earlier this week, broke it on one of his binges.” Lily’s arms dropped to her side almost at the same time as her mouth dropped open. “How did you know I kicked him out?” “Better question is do you remember what I told you about lying to me?” A horrified look crossed Lily’s face before she gained control of her emotions. Coming back with the usual smart mouthed comment, Lily replied, “Oh, yeah, well you’re not the boss of me.” Marc sat down on the chair and casually unbuttoned his cuffs and began rolling up his sleeves before replying. “That can be arranged, you know.” He knew his words and actions were baffling Lily, if the bamboozled look on her face was any indication. “What are you talking about?” “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Marc leaned back in the chair, making himself at home. “Wait a minute, I’m confused.” Lily started to pace back and forth in front of him. “One minute you’re talking about my dad and then me lying and then, I don’t know what.” “You know that wouldn’t be such a problem if you stopped lying to me.” Marc snagged her hand and pulled her down onto his lap. “I ... I’m sorry. You’re right. I just didn’t want you to know about my dad.” While she was talking Marc unbuttoned her coat and deftly slipped it off of her shoulders and onto the floor. “You realize I’ll still have to punish you.” “Did my brothers hit you in the head with something when I wasn’t looking?” Lily gave a nervous laugh as she moved her hand to her hair. Marc was enjoying the feel of her sitting on his lap, almost as much he would enjoy the feel of her lying across it, he’d bet. “Let’s play a game, Lily.” “A game? What kind of game?” “Marc Says.” Placing his hand on her lap, Marc gently tapped his fingers against her thigh, watching the way her eyes dilated in the light. “It’s a knock off Simon Says, I take it.” “You’re a fast learner. I like that.” Marc gently removed her hand from her hair, so she wouldn’t twist it off in her nervousness. “It’s very simple, Lily. Do you want to play? Do you want to follow my commands?” Lily’s tongue darted out to moisten her lips as she stared hungrily into his eyes. Marc had known -- somehow he’d always known -- Lily would be a willing participant in all of his games. “Simple answer, Lily. Yes or no.”

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“Yes.” The word was practically a whisper, but her desire to follow his lead was clear as the desire in her eyes. “Marc Says: Lily, take down your hair.” She hesitated for a second before moving her hands slowly to her head and releasing her hair. It tumbled like waves against the shore, showering her back with the lovely golden strands. Marc slid his hands into the shining mass, lightly massaging her scalp. “You have beautiful hair, Goldilocks. You should always leave it down.” “You didn’t say ‘Marc Says,’” Lily reminded him huskily. “New rule for the 'Marc Says' game. Anytime we play ‘Marc Says,’ Lily must have her hair down.” “Are we going to play often?” Lily almost sounded hopeful. Lily wasn’t the only one affected by their encounter. “Oh, yes, Lily, as often as you can.” “Shall we continue?” Impatient little minx. “Yes. Marc Says: stand up.” “Stand up?” Wrinkling her brow, Lily stared at him, confused. “It’s not your place to question, Goldie, only to obey. You either do it or you don’t. There is no second guessing.” Lily stood quickly, but Marc could still see the questions in her eyes. She was a novice, something he’d have to continue to remind himself. And no matter how fast he wanted to go, he couldn’t. This wasn’t a thing to be rushed; it was something to be savored. “Do you have a large mirror?” Marc asked, standing as well. “Yes, in my bedroom.” “Take me there. Marc Says.” Much to his delight, this time Lily did his bidding without question. Marc followed behind her, allowing her some space to think about what they were about to do. She instinctively bypassed the overhead light; instead, she walked over to the lamp on the dresser and turned it on to the lowest setting. “Marc Says: stand in front of the mirror.” Lily glanced back at him and then turned to stand in front of the mirror, head held high. That’s my girl, he thought proudly. Stepping up behind her Marc stood close enough to hear her rapid breathing, but did not touch her. “Marc Says: unbutton your blouse.” Lily slowly moved her hands to the buttons on her blouse, easing them one by one from their holes. Marc reached around and gently parted the silky material, exposing her creamy breasts, barely covered by a lacy bit of nothing. Her dusky rose nipples were already

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beginning to harden in the cool air of the room. He bit back the groan that almost bubbled to the surface. “Marc Says: unclasp your bra.” Lily hesitated for a few precious seconds and he wondered if she was going to call a halt to their game. But surprisingly, she raised her hands and unhooked the front clasp, allowing the tiny scraps of lacy to fall to the sides. Marc controlled his urge to touch her. “I want you to touch yourself.” “You didn’t say ‘Marc Says.’” Lily’s quick rejoinder almost had him laughing. “Marc Says: I want you to touch yourself.” Lily moved with newfound courage as she brought her hands up to her breasts. With deft fingers Lily teased her rose-tinged nipples to rigid peaks. Her eyes watched his as she toyed with herself, arousing her body for both of their pleasure. With bated breath, Lily squeezed her nipples, closing her eyes for a moment, as if she was lost in her touch. “No, Lily,” Marc ordered softly. “Watch. Always watch.” “Is this a ... new rule?” Her words were shaky as she continued her self-pleasure. “Yes.” Marc moved closer to her, so the bulge in his trousers touched her bottom. “You are a thing of beauty. A woman, a lady, an object to be worshipped. Never doubt it, Goldie, and never be ashamed to see your pleasure.” Reaching out, Marc captured her fingers and stilled her movements. With her hands in his, Marc lowered them to her sides, releasing them to move to the back of her skirt to pull down the zipper. The zipper parted, revealing her lush ass framed by the sexiest red thong he’d ever seen. Pushing down her skirt, Marc watched as it slid down her legs and puddled around her feet. “You are beautiful.” Marc moved his hands back to her side. Resisting his own urges, Marc didn’t touch her newly bared skin. Instead, he placed his hand on top of hers, moving her hand until it rested on the waistband of her panties. “Marc Says: stop.” “Stop?” Lily’s face was a combination of arousal and shock. “This is your punishment, Lily. I want you to think about your body, but do nothing more.” “Punishment? Punishment for what?” “Don’t forget you lied to me, Lily. Don’t ever lie to me.” Turning to him, Lily’s face was filled with anger. “Is this some kind of sick joke? Is this how you get off?” Marc grabbed her hand and pressed it to the bulge in his pants. “Does it feel like I’ve gotten off to you?” “Then why stop?”

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“Because this isn’t just about getting off, Lily. It’s about building something more.” “Well, what if I just want to be fucked?” The crude word was so out of character for Lily, Marc wanted to laugh. She was aroused and angry. Perfect. “When the time is right, Lily, we’ll fuck, but we’ll also make love, have intercourse, and do things you’ve never imagined.” “But ...” Marc placed his fingers over her lips to silence her. “If you want to continue, meet me at my office tomorrow at four. Marc Says.”

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Chapter Five Lily was at war with herself. Part of her rebelled at the thought of obeying Marc’s commands, but another part was completely aroused by them at the same time. She was turned on that he wanted to control her, and even more turned on because she wanted to obey. She’d always been determined to be a strong woman, someone completely different from her mother. And she was worried her willingness to give in to Marc’s orders so quickly meant she was as weak-willed as she had feared. Growing up in the Weller house hadn’t been easy. Her mom had taken the brunt of the abuse from her dad. In fact, as long as Logan and then Steven were still at home, they had shielded her from most of it. But after Steven left, Lily began to realize just how much her dad belittled her mom. He practically treated her mom like a slave, always telling her what to do. Lily had vowed she would never allow herself to ever be pushed around by a man like that. And yet, here she was, waiting outside his door. Like a fool. Like an idiot. Like a woman who craved more. “It’s not the same thing. It’s not the same thing.” She opened her car door. Maybe if she said it enough, the rest of her brain -- the part that wasn’t mentally aroused -- would finally give in and shut up. “I can do this,” she whispered to herself as she closed her car door. “Do what?” Jumping, Lily turned around and backed up into her car, hand to her pounding heart. As if she had conjured him out of her doubts, Marc stood before her with an amused smile on his face. “How long have you been standing there?”

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“Not as long as you’ve been sitting here, that’s for sure.” Reaching forward, he lightly brushed his fingers against her hair, worn down as he had instructed. “I was afraid you’d back out.” Lily bit her lip to keep from telling him she almost had. There was no use in letting him know how much he affected her. Instead, she put on her smart-ass façade and tried to bullshit her way out of it. “What, worried I wouldn’t want to come play sex games with you?” Marc simply stared, not saying a word, yet his glare was as searing as any words could ever be. Lily felt instantly ashamed. There was no need for her barriers with him, yet she couldn’t stop erecting them. “If you feel forced, Lily, don’t let me keep you.” “I don’t feel forced,” she said hurriedly, hoping she hadn’t ruined things. “Just nervous.” “Nervous?” “I’ve never done this before.” As if it wasn’t obvious. “Done what?” he asked, his tone sincere. “Given myself to a man before, like this.” The slow, sweet smile she had become accustomed to gradually graced his face. “Not a man, Lily, a lover.” A blush stole across her cheeks. “We’re not lovers, yet.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Marc took her hand in his and pulled her closer to him. Leaning forward, he gently brushed her hair off of her shoulder and away from her ear. “You don’t think sex alone makes couples lovers, do you, Goldie?” “Ahh, no?” Lily didn’t know why Marc had to keep talking to her like this. It made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t a virgin, but she certainly had never had any long lasting relationships. Marc laughed and pulled her into a hug. Stepping back slightly he cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t think I have ever been so engaged by anyone. You are so refreshing. A perfect combination of innocence and lust.” “Lust? I don’t think I like the sound of that.” “Why not? Making love, having a sexual experience with someone, is not a neat little package. You need a little lust.” “All this talking about it, are we ever going to do anything?” Marc laughed again at her impatience. “Why don’t we go back to my place? You can follow me in your car so you won’t feel stranded there, okay?” He must have read her mind, although the thought of being stranded alone with Marc definitely had its perks. “You can just leave like this? It’s not even five.”

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“Goldie, I’m the boss.” “That must be nice.” Lily couldn’t help the sarcasm dripping off her words. She couldn’t even afford to replace her old twenty-four-inch television, and Marc, the boss, was just going to take the rest of the evening off. “It is.” And that was all he said before turning and walking away. Great, now she had offended the guy she was allowing to have control over her body. What a great way to begin the night.

***** Lily cautiously pulled into Marc’s circular driveway. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn someone was following them. Shutting the engine off, she looked into her rearview mirror with trepidation. And like clockwork, a black SUV pulled past Marc’s gates. Hurrying out of her car, Lily rushed over to Marc, who was walking towards her. “Couldn’t wait for me to open the door?” Marc asked dryly. “This is serious, Marc. Someone is following you.” “What makes you think they’re not following you?” “Well, I suppose they could be.” Lily thoughtfully turned back towards the driveway entrance. “But either way, we should go inside and call the cops.” Lily tugged Marc’s arm, trying to drag him into the house. Marc resisted with a smile. “And tell them what?” Tell them what? Had he lost his mind? “Tell them someone is following us. Hello?” “Lily, it isn’t against the law to drive the same direction we’re driving.” “Marc --” Marc silenced her with his finger over her lips. “And besides, I pay those particular men to follow us. Although, I thought I was paying them to do it discreetly.” Lily jerked her head back. That didn’t make any sense. “Paying to get followed? I’m confused.” “Don’t be. All you need to know is, when you’re outside these doors you’re protected at all times.” “And when I’m inside them?” “I protect you, of course.” “What are you saying? You’re paying people to follow me? Us?” Marc tucked Lily’s hand into the crook of his arm and began walking towards the door. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I pay people to follow me, to ensure my protection. And my protection now extends to you.”

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Marc quickly unlocked the door and ushered Lily inside. She wasn’t sure how she felt about this protection thing and these men following her, but inside the house some of those concerns seemed to melt away. She had never seen such a beautiful home. It looked like one of those houses in the magazines. “You have a very beautiful home.” Lily knew she probably looked like a country bumpkin, walking around in circles and staring, but it was huge. “Thank you.” Marc watched her as she wandered around his house, staring wide-eyed at all the beautiful art he had lining the walls. Strolling over to a beautiful cobalt-blue vase, Lily stared in wonder. It was the most precious thing she had ever seen in her life. She reached out hesitantly to touch it, but quickly yanked her hand back. Giving a nervous laugh, Lily took a big step back, making sure to put as much distance as possible between herself and the priceless glass. “That’s an accident waiting to happen.” “No, that is a vase -- beautiful, but just an object. If broken, something else as lovely will take its place, but nothing would be harmed.” Marc went to her side and took her hand in his, forcing her to caress the vase. “Objects are made to be seen, touched, and used. There is nothing in my home more important than you.” Lily was stunned by his words. Never before had someone made her feel so treasured. “If you’re not careful, Marc, I might take your words for more than they are.” “I never say anything I don’t mean, Lily.” Turning her around, Marc brushed her cheek softly. “Are you ready?” “Yes,” she whispered. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was surprised Marc could not hear it. She was more than ready. All night long, she had tossed and turned in her bed, feeling more awake and alive than she could ever remember. She wanted this. She craved this. She needed this. Lily saw nothing around her, just felt his hands at her back and his breath on her neck. Before she knew it, she was in Marc’s bedroom. The room was dominated by a large bed covered in luxurious fabrics and decorated in shades of black, gray, and silver. “I suppose we should start right.” Marc turned her in his arms, shackling her wrists at the small of her back with his hands. “Start right?” Lily was amazed at the breathiness in her voice. It almost made her sound seductive. “First, your punishment.” “Punishment?” “I told you I would always open your car door for you. You obviously don’t think I am trustworthy.” “I never said that.” Lily was indignant. “Actions speak louder than words. Do you trust me?”

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“Should I?” Lily was beginning to wonder. Wonder if she had made a mistake. Wonder what it would be like to trust someone. She stared up at Marc, but he didn’t respond. “I’m scared.” “Don’t be scared. I would never hurt you. I want you to know you can trust me to do what I say.” “Okay,” Lily whispered. She felt as if she had just taken a leap off of a huge cliff and she didn’t know yet if the parachute was going to open. Marc released her and walked to a dark-colored chair off to the left of his bed. Sitting down, he crossed his leg over his knee and beckoned for Lily to come closer to him. “Marc Says: undress. Do it slowly, unveiling yourself gradually, one piece at a time, like an exquisite work of art.” “I wouldn’t say I’m a piece of art,” she said shakily, moving her hands to the bottom of her pearl-hued blouse. “I would.” Lily looked at him, expecting to see humor in his eyes, instead finding only passion. Taking a steady breath, she pulled her shirt over her head, revealing her bare breasts before his eyes. Her chest wasn’t large, so she only wore a bra when she felt there was an absolute need, and tonight, there was no such need. Marc’s eyes feasted on her breasts, as if their small size wasn’t an issue for him, giving her courage to bare the rest of herself to him. Slipping out of her mules, she unbuttoned her jeans and slid the zipper down slowly, all the while watching his eyes. Marc never moved. He sat as if made of stone, with his unwavering stare. Lily stood before him only in her thong panties. She shivered slightly as she hooked her fingers in the waistband to pull them down. “Stop.” Lily stilled at his words. Marc laughed raggedly. “You didn’t even tell me I didn’t say ‘Marc Says.’” “I forgot.” “Marc Says: turn around.” Lily turned until her back was to him. “Okay, now go ahead ... Marc Says.” Lily slowly pulled the scrap of lace off of her hips and down her thighs, bending at her waist to pull them completely off. “Marc Says: don’t move.” Lily stilled, bent at the waist, waiting. She could feel the blush steal over her entire body knowing Marc was staring at her ass. Lily jumped as Marc glided a hand over the globes of her ass. She hadn’t even heard him get up. “You are very beautiful. Don’t ever forget that.” Pulling her upright, Marc snagged her hands and brought them up to his mouth, kissing them gently. “I want you to brace your hands on the edge of the bed.”

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Leaning forward, Lily braced her hands. She had a pretty good idea of what her punishment was going to be and she wondered how she would handle it. The strangest part was she wasn’t shouting “Hell no,” and running out of there with her panties around her ankles. She wanted what came next. The feel of his hands against the flesh of her bottom. The knowledge Marc was in control. Stepping behind her, Marc ran his hands up her arms, down her back, to the slope of her ass. “Listen carefully to me, Goldie. I want you to know I will never hurt you or do anything to you that you don’t want me to do.” “I know,” she said softly, squeezing the quilt between her damp palms. “Do you know what a safety word is?” Oh, God, she was going to melt to the ground. “Yes.” “Good. Ours is porridge. And any time you feel I’ve gone too far, or if something feels uncomfortable, painful, or just too damn scary, I want you to say porridge. Scream it at the top of your lungs, even. Marc Says.” Marc caressed her butt cheek, running his hand from one side to other, sending shivers up and down her spine. “Do you understand me, Goldie?” “Yes.” “What is the safety word?” “Porridge.” Moisture began to gather between her swollen lips. “Do you want to use it now?” “No.” God, please don’t let him stop now. “Then shall we begin?” Before Lily could respond, Marc brought his hand up and delivered a sharp smack to her upturned bottom. Lily gasped in surprise, her head coming up. Marc didn’t pause, however, and sent another sharp blow to her backside. Lily was slightly better prepared for the second smack and put her head down, allowing herself to feel the sensations that were beginning to spread throughout her body. She could feel the heat on her ass as Marc continued to deliver measured strokes, pausing at times before another smack landed, caressing her cheeks before spanking them. But it was the other sensations, as well. Her nipples, already swollen after she had stripped, were now painfully hard and sensitive. Her sex was soaked with the evidence of her pleasure. “Spread your legs,” Marc ordered, and Lily obeyed, not even caring he hadn’t said Marc says. She wanted whatever he had to give to her. And she wanted it now. Marc slipped his hands between her thighs and caressed her wet slit, making sure to coat his hand with her juices. Bringing his hand back, Marc delivered another sound smack to her bottom, this time with an added sting because of the wetness. Pushing his hand back between her thighs, Marc nudged her lips apart and stroked her engorged clit, teasing her aroused bud with feathery touches.

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Lily pushed herself against his hand, but Marc stilled her motions with another smack of his hands. “No, Goldie. You come when I give you permission, not a second sooner.” Lily wanted to scream porridge at the top of her lungs. Not because he was spanking her, but because he wasn’t spanking her enough. “Please, Marc.” Marc chuckled between swats. “I do so love the sound of please on your lips.” “Please, Marc, please let me come,” she begged. If please was what he wanted, please was what he would get -- anything to end the torture. “Please. Please. Please.” Marc’s hand sped up, sending smack after smack onto her tender flesh, before he finally slid his hand down between her sopping thighs and pushed two fingers into her tight pussy. The feel of something, anything, finally entering her body, made Lily cry out in relief. And when he began to pump his fingers into her, she damn near cried his name. “Please, please, please,” she chanted, over and over again as he fucked her with his fingers, loving every stroke of his hand inside of her Reaching around her shaking body, Marc pinched her swollen clit, milking her aroused bud until her knees buckled. Lily held on for dear life to the quilt, trying to hold herself upright as she cried his name. “Come, Lily. Marc Says.”

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Chapter Six Marc gently gathered Lily into his arms as her body shook from the force of her climax. As she shuddered in his arms, he had to restrain himself from ripping off his clothes and thrusting into her inviting body. The room was filled with her aroma, and Marc wanted her like he’d never wanted anyone before. She was so damn sexy. And the way she thrust her ass into the air, inviting the swats on her backside, had him fighting himself not to enter her flushed body. Lily’s response from the spanking was something to behold. Marc knew he would have to cultivate this relationship, slowly exposing her to the various aspects of his character. Stroking her hair away from her face he realized she’d been crying. “Are you okay, baby?” He knew submissives often had an emotional release after their first experience. “I ... I never thought ... I would ever want someone to spank me.” Marc smiled over her head. “It wasn’t just the spanking, Lily, it’s giving up control. It’s trusting someone enough to know they have your best interests at heart.” “It’s very confusing.” “I know, baby, we’ll go slow. Don’t worry.” While they were talking Lily began to lightly trace his collarbone through the neckline of his shirt. Lily’s finger paused in mid-motion. Lifting up, she eyed him warily. “How slow?” “As slow as I want,” Marc reminded her gently. “You have to trust me to know how fast to go. You’re a beginner.” “I may be a beginner, but I’m not a novice at sex. I want you, Marc. I don’t want to be the only one enjoying our encounters.” Tilting her head back, Marc smiled down into her trusting eyes. “Do you think you were the only one who enjoyed yourself, Goldie?”

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“Yes.” “Oh, no, sweet one. I thoroughly enjoyed your release. Just as much as I’m going to enjoy this.” With that, Marc grasped her chin and lowered his head to capture her mouth. God, she was just as sweet as he’d hoped, tentatively opening her mouth to accept his kiss. But as innocent as her kiss seemed, Lily was serious about wanting to be involved. She started unbuttoning his shirt, slipping her soft little hands inside to pet him. Breaking their kiss, Marc pulled back. “Ah, ah, ah, what did I say? I’m the one controlling this relationship. Got it?” “Am I going to get punished again?” Marc burst out laughing. “It almost sounds as if you’re begging me to punish you. Is that what you want?” “Is that what you want?” Lily answered back flippantly. “If it was what I wanted, you would already feel the flat of my hand against your tempting flesh.” “Do I tempt you, Marc?” “More than you should,” he admitted, silencing her sassy mouth with his own. Lily was a temptation he couldn’t afford, but one he couldn’t live without. Moving away from her alluring mouth, Marc unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it onto the chair. Sitting on the bed, he leaned against the headboard and motioned for Lily to come to him. She looked beautiful, her golden skin glowing in the dim lighting of the room and her blonde hair shining like a halo around her head. And best of all, here she was on her knees, crawling up the bed to come to him, a perfect little submissive. “Do you have any limits?” he asked, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “What do you mean?” Marc slid his thumb against her plump lips. “I mean is there anything you don’t do?” Lily took his thumb into her mouth, teasing it with her tongue, before she nipped him gently with her teeth. “A few minutes ago I would have said spanking, but now, I’m thinking I’m pretty okay with anything you want to do.” “Anything can be a very tempting offer.” “I’m yours, Marc. Teach me how to please you.” Marc shook his head. Lily had no idea what she was saying. “What if I wanted to tie you up and whip you or bring in others to share in our lovemaking?” Lily looked horrified at the suggestions. “I don’t think I could stand to be whipped, Marc. And as far as others, although it’s often a fantasy, I don’t think I really would like that, either.”

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“That’s okay, baby. I’m not into causing pain. Spanking, yes; whipping, no. And as far as others -- well, it can be an interesting experience, but I don’t think I want to share you, ever.” The relief in Lily’s eyes was tangible. “I guess I need to let you know my limits as soon as I realize what they are.” “That’s what the safe word is for. I may push you and ask you to do things you never considered before. But just remember you can always use the safe word and everything will just stop.” “Just stop? No matter what we’re doing?” “No matter what, Lily. I promise.” “I trust you, Marc.” Her simple words were almost his undoing. To know Lily was putting her safety, her body, her faith, in his hands was the biggest high in the world. “I want you to put your mouth on me.” “Where?” she asked, like the proper little student she was. “Everywhere.” Marc leaned back as Lily put her hand on his chest. Starting at his forehead she feathered light kisses across his brow and down his cheek. Lightly caressing his ear with her tongue, Lily traced the edges before biting the lobe. She glanced at him quickly to see if he was bothered by her little show of dominance. “Keep going,” Marc urged, grasping her hips and pulling her onto his lap. Lily giggled before continuing, tracing his jaw with nibbling little kisses. Marc wondered if she realized she was unconsciously rubbing herself against the rough wool of his pants. He certainly felt it and wondered if he would live through the little abrasive motions. Scooting herself down, Lily trailed her mouth down his neck to his chest, pausing to pay homage to his puckered nipples. Marc hissed as the little hellion took a turgid tip between her teeth, biting, then soothing it with her tongue. His Lily liked to play rough. Lucky for Marc, it was his favorite way to play. Teasing him, she moved back and forth, plying him with kisses and nips, each equally driving him closer to the edge. Giving Lily even this much control was hard for Marc, but he could tell from the coy looks and teasing nibbles Lily was enjoying it. So for her, he held himself back. Lily kissed down his stomach, stopping when she came to his pants. “May I?” “Please do.” Marc’s voice was a hell of a lot steadier than he felt on the inside. Lily’s eager little hands unbuckled his belt and then went to work on the button and zipper of his pants. Pushing the material aside she slipped her hands into his briefs. Marc bit back an oath when he felt her soft little hands glide over his cock. Her tentative strokes drove him crazy. He loved the feel of her hands slowly exploring his length, how she traced her fingers up and down getting to know every ridge and curve.

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“You’re teasing me, Lily.” “I know,” she whispered, leaning down to swipe her tongue across the head of his aching cock. “That’s a very dangerous thing to do.” Marc ran his hand down her head, gripping a handful of her lush hair in his fingers. “A very dangerous thing to do.” Lily’s eyes were filled with desire as she swirled her tongue around his shaft. “I like danger,” she teased, pushing up against his hand. “No wonder we get along so well,” Marc murmured as he pushed her mouth down to his waiting flesh. Closing his eyes, Marc moaned when Lily’s warm mouth closed around him. He had been waiting all night for her to taste him, and it was well worth the wait. Lily slowly rose up and then swooped down again, enclosing the tip of his penis in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the head. He loved how she traced her tongue around the ridge, finding all the sensitive areas. “Stop, Lily,” Marc ordered gruffly. The last thing he wanted to do was to come in her mouth. There were many other places -- tight, tempting places -- his cock longed to be. Lily released his shaft from her warm mouth, and replaced it with her hand. “Please don’t tell me we’re going to stop here.” “Oh, no, my dear. We have so ...” Griffin rushed in the room, startling them both. “Marc, we have to talk ...” Lily squealed at the top of her lungs, and dove to the other side of the bed, falling off in the process. “Fuck, Griffin,” Marc yelled at his flushing friend, who quickly turned his back. “Get out.” “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” “Lily, are you okay?” Marc called, struggling to stand and stuff his flaccid penis back into his pants at the same time. “No, and I never will be again,” she yelled from the floor. “Did you hurt yourself?” “Only my pride and my ass,” came the mumbled reply. “Marc, we have to talk now,” Griffin called over his shoulder. “There’s been an incident.” “An incident?” Lily growled, tugging on the bedspread. “Marc, can I please talk to you outside?” Griffin made his request as he left the room. Lily’s head popped up from the other side of the bed. “Is he gone?” “Yeah, he’s gone.” Marc sighed, running his hands through his hair wearily. Lily stood up, wrapping the bedspread around her tightly. “I am never going to be able to face him again. Oh, my God, he saw me naked, with your penis in my hand.”

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Marc was debating whether he should be laughing or hitting something. The fact Griffin saw Lily naked was a far worse sin in Marc’s book than the fact he almost caught Lily giving him head. Lily’s body was for his eyes and his eyes alone. Marc hated to say it, but Griffin was going to have to die. He wanted to comfort Lily, he wanted to fuck her brains out, but he knew he needed to go out in the hallway and talk to Griffin. There was no fucking way Griff would have come into his bedroom if it weren’t a big emergency. “He’s half blind.” Or he would be, Marc added to himself. “Let me go talk to him for a minute.” “And what the hell am I supposed to be doing while you’re having this little meeting?” “Simmer.” Marc winked at her before he walked out of the room, but his good humor fled as soon as he saw Griffin’s face. “What’s wrong?” “The town finally rolled out its welcome wagon.” Marc lifted his eyebrows questioningly. He was in no mood for the innuendo crap. “What happened?” “All the windows in your office building were shot out. I just got a call from security there. It seems he was doing his rounds when he heard the gunshots and hit the deck.” “Is he hurt? Did he see anything?” Marc felt frustrated. He should have known his welcome to town wouldn’t be smooth, but he had been drawn in by the lack of any problems. And then there was Lily’s little basket, making him think his hometown might have changed to be a welcoming place. What a sucker he’d been. “No, nothing. He wasn’t hired as muscle. He doesn’t even carry a gun. He probably pissed his pants when the shooting started.” “Great,” Marc drawled sarcastically. “Have the police been called?” “Oh, yeah,” Griffin replied, just as sarcastically. “I talked to Andy Taylor. He and Barney Fife are taking a police report from the idiot rent-a-cop.” “The first thing you need to do is get rid of him. We can’t afford to have people on the payroll who don’t know the game.” “Understood. I already called a place to get the windows replaced and another group to clean up.” “Out of towners?” “Of course.” “I want you to keep an eye on this,” Marc ordered, his frustration level rising. Fucking town. He should have leveled it all when he had the chance. “I will.” “Good.” Marc swiped his hand through his hair in irritation. This was not exactly how he’d pictured the evening ending.

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As Marc turned to go back into his bedroom, Griffin called to him again. “It’s awfully convenient that the office gets shot out the one night you’re occupied, wouldn’t you say?” Marc froze. “Don’t, Griff.” “All I’m saying is ...” “I know what you’re saying and you’re wrong.” Marc didn’t even want to think about what Griffin was implying. To do so would cast doubt on the best thing that had happened to him in awhile. “She has nothing to do with this.” “Can you be sure?” “Yes.” “Can you?” Griffin repeated. Marc turned back around and faced his best friend and most trusted ally. “Yes, I can. Trust me.” “I do trust you, Marc. You.” “Lily wouldn’t ...” “The Lily you knew as a child wouldn’t. But this is a different girl, Marc. I thought I taught you better than this.” Marc refused to get into this with Griffin now. This was not the place and it damn sure wasn’t the time. “I’ll talk to you in the morning, Griff.” Sighing, Griffin just nodded and turned to go. “Griffin.” “Yes?” “Have a car brought around to follow Lily,” Marc tossed over his shoulder as he opened his bedroom door. “Of course.” Marc walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. What had started out to be such a promising evening had turned to shit so fast his head was still spinning. To top things off, Lily sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed and looking as forlorn as Marc felt. “I kind of figured since you were taking so long, things weren’t going well.” Marc sighed. “Yeah, you might say that.” “Well, are you going to tell me?” Lily looked indignant, as if she couldn’t believe he wasn’t talking to her. Marc always held his cards close to his chest, and after Griffin’s comments he wasn’t in the sharing mood. It wasn’t that he believed Griffin’s claims; he just had to figure out what to do. “It’s no big deal. Just an incident at the office. Griffin has taken care of everything. He’s also bringing around a car to make sure you get home safely.”

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“Home.” Lily stood up, nodding her head slowly. “Oh, I see. I’m supposed to trust you in everything, but you don’t have to trust me. I get it.” Walking past him with her head held high she left the bedroom and headed down the stairs. Oh, yeah, this night was just getting better and better.

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Chapter Seven Lily kept looking in her rearview mirror at the blue car that had been following her ever since she left her house. She knew it wasn’t a coincidence because she’d purposely tried to lose the car in traffic. The car had been just one more example of why she was making this drive. Lily was going to visit Marc’s office and kick his ass. It had been almost a week since Lily walked out of Marc’s house, and he still hadn’t called her. She learned what happened to his office through the town grapevine the next day, so she didn’t expect him to call right away. But when she still didn’t hear from him a few days later she really began to get mad. But today’s incident topped the cake. She had been sitting in her living room, contemplating life -- okay, thinking up ways to kill Marc -- when the doorbell rang. It was a deliveryman with a very large package. She tried to explain she hadn’t ordered anything, but he left it anyway. Unwrapping the box, Lily discovered a flat screen plasma television. And she immediately had known who’d sent it. Lily was furious. Marc didn’t even have the decency to call her after their one night together, but he was going to send her a television. It was too much. She planned to drive over to his office to confront him. However, when she came out of her apartment she noticed the blue car parked across the street. As she drove through traffic it followed her without fail. And Lily just knew it was another little gift from Marc. Pulling up to his office, she stormed out of her car, resisting the childish urge to flip off the goon squad. Shoving open the office door, she ran straight into Griffin, who appeared to be on his way out. “Lily, what are you doing here?” he asked, frowning. “None of your business,” she fumed, moving past him.

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“Umm, this isn’t a good time.” Griffin grabbed her by her arm, stopping her in her tracks. Surprised, Lily looked up at the towering man. Who the hell did he think he was? “Get your hand off me. Now.” Releasing her, Griffin shuffled her to the side. “Marc’s not in the best of moods today. Why don’t you come by tomorrow?” “Why don’t you mind your business?” “Marc is my business.” “Then your job sucks.” Pushing past Griffin, Lily passed two gentlemen in suits and sunglasses who stood when she neared Marc’s door. “Don’t even think it.” Lily was in no mood. Looking past her to Griffin, the men nodded their heads and stepped to the side, letting her pass. Finally, someone with common sense. Without bothering to knock, Lily opened Marc’s door, slamming it shut behind her. Startled, Marc looked up, surprise etched across his handsome face. “Lily, this is a surprise.” “Oh, really.” Sarcasm dripped from her mouth. “I figured your goon squad would have put you on alert I was on the way.” “Goon squad?” “Whatever you want to call the morons you have following me.” “They are highly trained professionals. And they are there to protect you, not report to me.” “Well, they don’t do their job very well.” Marc stood suddenly at her words. “What happened?” “Nothing happened, except the delivery man who stopped by today could have been an ax murderer, but they let him come to my door.” “So you got the television.” “Yeah, I got the television. The flat screen plasma television.” Lily accented each word. “I take it you aren’t pleased?” Marc looked surprised, but he also looked tired. Lily had to steel her heart and finish what she had come to do. Tell him he couldn’t use her this way. “Gee, I don’t know, Marc. Should I be? I mean, is an almost blowjob worth a fancy television?” Marc’s face flushed, and then calm seemed to settle over him. Lily wasn’t sure what to make of this cool, controlled Marc. It was a bit unnerving, because she felt like he was mad, but his face showed a hint of a smile. Coming around his desk, Marc walked up to Lily as if he were stalking her. She had to control her urge to step back, but she was determined to hold her ground. Leaning in close to

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her face, Marc spoke. “Don’t ever talk about yourself or what we do in that way ever again. Ever.” “I’m sorry, Marc. I didn’t know we were playing ‘Marc Says.’” Marc’s eyes began to twitch. “Today is not the day, Lily.” “Oh, but it is.” Lily poked her finger in his chest. “I’m not a fucking toy. You don’t pull me out and play with me whenever you get a hankering.” “It wasn’t like that.” “The hell it wasn’t.” Grabbing her finger, Marc pushed her hand away from his chest. “Grow up, Lily. I won’t dance attention on you at your every whim.” Eyes widening, Lily placed her hands on her hips. “Screw you.” “Watch your mouth.” “Make me.” The words were out before she could pull them back, and they lay like a gauntlet between them. “Well, why didn’t you say you came here to get fucked, honey?” Marc walked around her and locked the door to his office. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing? And I did not come here to get fucked. I came to tell you off.” Marc stood in front of the door, loosening his tie. “No, baby, you could have done that with a phone call. You wanted the confrontation. You wanted me to take over.” “Stop it. You’re messing with my mind. This is not about sex.” “Yes, it is. It’s about sex and control.” Throwing his tie across a chair, Marc calmly began unbuttoning his shirt. Lily realized she was breathing heavily as Marc spoke. Her nipples had tightened as soon as he’d flipped the lock on the door and she could feel herself getting wet at his words. What the hell was wrong with her? “No, I don’t want this, Marc.” Lily couldn’t keep the huskiness out of her voice and she knew Marc heard it as well. Damn it, she never could lie very well. Marc slipped out of his shirt and draped it over the chair. “I have to disagree, Lily. Yes, you’re mad I sent you a television. You’re probably also mad I haven’t called.” Lily jerked at his insightful words. Damn him, she wasn’t even going to bring that up, but he’d guessed at her hurt. “But,” Marc continued as he toed off his shoes, “you enjoyed our time together and you definitely want more.” Lily licked her lips, and with that gesture Lily saw the heat flare in Marc’s eyes right before he sprang. Grabbing her, he pulled her into his arms.

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“Say the word, Lily, if you don’t want this. Say it now.” Lily parted her lips to say the very word he mentioned, but she couldn’t get it out. She didn’t want him to stop. She wanted him. “You’re an asshole.” “Sometimes, but asshole isn’t the safe word, so I’ll take that as a yes.” Dropping his mouth onto hers, Marc silenced any comment she had. He gently tugged her tee from the waistband of her jeans and slipped his hands underneath. The feel of his rough hands on the soft skin of her stomach almost sent Lily to her knees. She couldn’t believe just one touch affected her so deeply. Suddenly breaking the kiss, he grasped the shirt and pulled it over her head. “Take off your bra,” he ordered, stepping back from her slightly. Lily hesitated for a moment, wondering why she was even considering his demand. She realized she didn’t want to examine her feelings too closely right now; she just wanted to go with the flow. She would worry about this tomorrow. Reaching behind her, she unhooked her bra and let it slide off of her arms, exposing her breasts to his hungry gaze. If she thought her nipples had tightened earlier at his words, the look he was sending her was causing them to harden to an almost painful point. And he hadn’t even touched her yet. “Now the jeans. Slowly.” Marc leaned back against the chair and began to unbuckle his belt as he watched her slip off her shoes and then pull off her jeans. Lily stood before him in her panties. “Turn around,” he ordered harshly, his voice filled with need. On shaky legs, Lily turned around. She wondered if he was going to spank her, and glanced uncertainly at the office door. “Are you going to ...” she asked hesitantly. Marc’s silky laughter flowed over her heated flesh. “Am I what?” he asked, sending a sharp smack to her bottom with his hand. A moan escaped her lips before she could stop it. “No, Goldie, although your brazen behavior definitely deserves some action, I think I’ll save that punishment for another time. Instead,” Marc’s hand grasped hers and pulled them tightly together, binding them together with his tie, “I think I’ll do this.” Lily stood trembling, her hands tied securely behind her back. But she wasn’t trembling from cold, although she should be, standing like this. Rather, her skin was heated from the desire she felt from being bound by Marc. The position left her breasts thrust forward, as if she were offering them up to be sampled. Standing behind her, Marc gently brushed her hair back, exposing her neck. His breath tingled against her flushed skin. “My speed. My way,” he declared, before dropping a single kiss on her nape. Leading her to his chair, Marc pushed down his pants and kicked them off before settling into the seat and gesturing for her to kneel in front of him. Dropping to her knees,

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Lily eyed his member with greed. She wanted him inside of her, right now, and she didn’t care where. If he wanted her to take him in her mouth, then she gladly would. “I think you and I have some unfinished business.” Reaching towards her, Marc guided her face to his groin. Lily eagerly leaned forward to take his cock into her mouth. However, it wasn’t as easy as she thought with her hands behind her back and she had to try a second time. Pushing herself up onto her knees, Lily pushed his legs further apart. Leaning forward, again Lily captured him in her mouth, sucking his full length into her throat. She gagged and quickly backed off. “Slowly,” Marc encouraged, stroking her head. “There’s no need to rush.” Maybe he didn’t feel the need to rush, but Lily was burning with her desire. She could feel the dampness soaking the crotch of her panties. She wanted to taste him, and she wanted it now. Leaning forward again, she steadied herself and gently took him into her mouth, pressing her tongue under his cock as she sucked the head. She slowly inched more into her mouth, running her tongue along the underside of his cock, as she finally was able to engulf the entire length. Lost in the flavor of him, Lily sped up her movements. It was harder to be careful without the use of her hands, but she found the right motion that soon had Marc groaning her name. Lily had never understood what was so great from the woman’s perspective about giving a blowjob. The man got all the pleasure and the woman did all the work. But with Marc, she finally understood. Hearing him groan when she hit a particularly sensitive spot or the way he wrapped his fingers in her hair, pulling her towards him, made her feel potent and surprisingly aroused. “Stop, baby.” Lily released him reluctantly. Even though he was in control and she was tied, Lily still felt some level of power. Marc, her dominant lover, turned to putty when she had him in her mouth. A girl could get used to that. “Come here,” Marc ordered softly as he covered his shaft with a condom he had waiting on the arm of the chair before pulling Lily onto his lap. Lily heard the rending fabric as Marc ripped off her panties and pulled her onto his waiting cock. Moaning, she slid down onto him. Eyes closed, back arched, Lily savored every single inch as his penis pushed into her waiting flesh. It seemed like she’d been waiting for this moment forever, and it was well worth the wait. “Oh, God,” she groaned. “Not so loud,” he warned, pushing up into her. That was easier said than done. Lily wanted to throw back her head and yell like a banshee, but she wanted to be interrupted even less. “Hmm ... mmm ...”she moaned over and over again, trying her best not to scream. “So good,” Marc moaned, digging his hands into her flesh. The bite of pain just added to the pleasure coursing through her overheated body.

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Her bound hands were once again an inconvenience, but Lily loved the feel of the silk against her skin. It was as sexy as it was naughty, much like the man pumping inside of her. Speeding up her rhythm, Lily pushed down onto Marc, wanting to come with everything inside of her, but Marc put a hold on that, gripping her waist with his hands. “No, Lily.” “What?” “This is a punishment, not a love fest.” Panting, Lily’s body cried out in protest. “No, Marc. Please, just fuck me.” “My way, Goldie. My way.” Marc braced his hands on her hips, controlling the rhythm of her rise and descent, forcing her to milk his cock at his pace. And his pace was killing her. She wanted it hard and fast. “Faster ... please,” she added, knowing how he liked her to beg. “No,” he groaned, keeping her at his pace. “This isn’t about you, Lily.” “Fuck you.” She wanted to scream. She wanted to kill him. She wanted to come so bad she could taste it. “Don’t tease me.” “Then don’t forget your place.” Rocking into him, Lily rode him at his slow pace. He was killing her. “And where is that?” she finally got out between panted breaths. “With me.” Leaning forward, Marc took an aching nipple between his lips. “Dear God, I don’t think I can hold out much longer.” Lily was trembling with her need to climax and Marc’s teasing of her nipples was driving her over the edge. It must have affected Marc as well, because he began thrusting faster, no longer able to continue his controlled movements. Lily rode his cock, pressing herself forward with each downward motion, frantically trying to reach that which seemed just beyond her grasp. She was sobbing with her need, begging Marc to allow her release. Reaching down between her legs Marc circled her clit with his thumb, rubbing it until she was in a frenzy. “Now, Lily!” Marc cried out as he thrust one final time. Lily sobbed her release as she exploded around him.

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Chapter Eight “Wow.” Marc couldn’t help the lazy chuckle that escaped his dry lips. If he could talk, he might have exclaimed the same thing. “Um ... this was great and all, but can I please have my hands freed now?” Lily sat up, leaning back slightly from his chest. “Well since you asked so nicely.” Marc reached around her and untied her restraints. “Is that better?” Smiling, Lily nodded her head yes, before moving forward and lying back down on him. Marc was a bit surprised by her docile behavior, but he liked it nevertheless. If Lily wanted to cuddle, he’d sit there until doomsday. Dead legs or no dead legs. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re great in bed ...” Eyebrow cocked, Marc couldn’t help but to ask, “How can I take that the wrong way?” “I wasn’t finished. You’re great in bed. It’s out of bed you need to work on.” “I’ll take that into consideration,” Marc replied dryly, tightening his hold around her waist. If she wanted to nitpick, he could nitpick. Two could play her game. “And since we’re discussing the in and outs of this courtship, your gratitude could use a bit of work.” “I’m sorry, should I have thanked you for my orgasm? I’m still new when it comes to these D/s types of things.” “No, but a thanks for the television would have been nice.” “I haven’t decided if I’m grateful for it yet.” Marc slapped her ass playfully with his hand, the brat. “Let me know when you do.” “I will.” Lily lazily trailed her fingers across his collarbone and down his chest, unconsciously petting him. Marc enjoyed her delicate touch. It was something he didn’t

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often have in his relationships. Usually it was more, “whip me, fuck me,” and then “see you later.” Running his hands through her hair, Marc sat with a slight smile on his face. He’d imagined making love to Lily many times, in many different ways, but never had it involve his office chair in the middle of the day with guards posted outside. Leave it to his Goldie to pick the most inopportune time to ask for a little loving. Done with her little post-coital snuggling, Lily began to unbend herself from her awkward position on his lap. It was a good thing he’d bought expensive leather chairs that a person could sink into or this might have been a little painful. “So why were you so pissy when I got here?” Leave it to Lily to get right to the heart of the matter. “I could ask the same question of you.” “I came right out and told you why I was mad. I don’t see the same kind of sharing from your corner.” “I’m not really the sharing type.” Oh, yeah, snuggle time was over. “Really, because normally I’m not the ‘tie me up and fuck me in the office’ type, but I made an exception.” Standing up, Marc slipped his pants back on before walking across his room to his bar. Tidying himself up, he faced a dressed Lily, who, despite the thorough, stress relieving workout, still seemed as mad now as when she’d first entered. Women. “You know,” Marc began to fix himself a drink, “you’re not turning out to be a very good sub.” “Excuse me?” Lily’s eyebrows rose so far on her head they damn near disappeared into her hairline. “Don’t confuse our sex life with our ...” “Our what?” Marc wondered what she would term their relationship. It was more than sex -- not quite dating, but he’d be damned if he’d allow her to see other men. Waving her hand between them, Lily frowned. “I don’t know what you’d call this thing we have going, but if you think fucking me is going to appease me, you’re wrong.” Appease her, no, but right now he’d settle for her calming the fuck down. “And you couldn’t have mentioned that twenty minutes ago.” “So I was right, this was a ‘let’s shut her up’ fuck. I see just where I stand.” Lily grabbed her purse, ready to storm out. But she’d obviously forgotten about the locked door and was stopped when she tried to wrench the door open and almost ripped her arm out of its socket. Marc knew he definitely couldn’t start laughing, even though he wanted to. No, now was the time for diplomacy if ever it was called for. “Did I ever say I was trying to shut you up? Look, Lily, you need to start accepting some things about yourself. One of which is you want to be dominated and that’s why you keep coming back to me.”

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Flouncing over to the chair, Lily had a mutinous look on her face. However, her words belied that thought. “I never thought I would want someone controlling me, but you’re right, I do crave it. But it doesn’t mean I want you to use it against me.” “I’m not using it against you, but don’t try to use it against me.” Either she was purposely trying to pick a fight or completely naïve. “You come in here ready to raise hell over something so silly it doesn’t even warrant a conversation. Do you really think I was going to let you get away with it?” “Did you really think I was going to let you get away with not calling me and then delivering a television which cost more than my car? You can’t buy me, Marc.” Marc wasn’t surprised she saw it that way, even though it wasn’t his intention. That damn pesky road was going to be the end of him. “I wasn’t trying to, Lily. Heaven forbid I try to do something nice for you. I know you couldn’t afford one, so I bought it. Truth of the matter is, I ordered it the day after Thanksgiving, before you gave me the wonderful gift in my bedroom.” Lily’s face began to redden. “It was just a blowjob.” “I wasn’t talking about the blowjob,” Marc replied gently, walking across the room to her. “I was talking about the gift of your trust. Your trust is priceless to me and no amount of televisions would ever compare to it.” “Then why can’t you trust me? I know what happened the other night. I know about the broken windows. Would it have been so hard to tell me?” “What would have been the purpose?” Marc was frustrated. He wasn’t used to sharing his business life with his love life. Never the twain shall meet and all that jazz. “I can see this is getting me nowhere. You have no idea how normal relationships work, do you?” “You don’t want normal, baby, so just accept me for who and what I am.” Her blue eyes clouded over as if she was going to cry. “Why can’t you be a dominating man in the bedroom or office or whatever, and then a perfectly normal guy in every other aspect?” Marc watched her sadly. She really didn’t know. “Because I can’t.” Holding his arms out, he continued, “This is me, Lily, twenty-four seven. I can’t change who I am, just because it upsets you.” “I’m changing for you.” “No, you’re changing for you.” Marc cupped her cheek lovingly. “I would never ask you to change who you are. Don’t ask it of me.” “Fine. Don’t change, but don’t shut me out either.” “I’ll try, I’ll really try.” Marc didn’t want to disappoint Lily, but he wasn’t so sure he could be the knight in shining armor she seemed to be looking for. He was more like the

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villain in the fairy tales; didn’t she know that by now? Marc rubbed his thumb gently over her soft, satiny skin and he leaned in to kiss her. The knocking on the door interrupted what might have proved to be a very tender moment. Marc knew instinctively it was Griffin. Who else could totally fuck up his day? “Look, I better get going.” Lily straightened up, breaking the connection flowing between them. Marc flipped the lock and swung open the door just as Griffin was about to start his pounding again. “What now?” Marc was exasperated and didn’t really want to hear about any more problems today. He’d barely waded through the mini meltdown on his love life. “I have to go,” Lily repeated, slipping out the door before he could say a word. Marc stepped in the hallway to watch her leave. “I’m leaving now, goons. Chop, chop,” she tossed to the two men trying to blend in against the wall. Maybe she was right; maybe he needed to hire some new goons after all. They weren’t even fooling her. No wonder people were getting away with shooting up his office. Turning to Griffin, Marc watched his friend and mentor smirk at him and instantly wanted to throttle him. “You have perfect timing,” Marc sneered sarcastically, walking past the grinning man. “And you seem to be without a shirt.” Picking up his shirt, Marc slipped it on before leaning down to grab his shoes and headed back around his desk. “I thought we agreed about this, Marc.” Griffin shut the door behind with a firm slam, all amusement gone. “We didn’t agree on anything.” Marc loved Griffin like a father, but he wasn’t willing to give up Lily and the possibility of what they could have for anyone. “Lily is not now and never will be up for discussion.” With a sigh, Griffin walked across the carpet. “I’m just trying to protect you.” “I don’t need protection from Lily,” Marc thundered, tired of this conversation already. “You want to do something for me, get me something on the triumvirate we can use. Something solid that will have their asses on the line.” “We can’t prove any one of them did it. And to be honest, Marc, you’ve pissed a lot of people off. Any number of them wants to see you dead.” Words to warm a tyrant’s heart, Marc thought sarcastically. And it was about time. Marc was beginning to feel like if he didn’t piss anyone off, he wasn’t having a good day. Well, now Lily was pissed and so was Griffin. He was up on today’s goals. “Yeah, but only one of them was ballsy enough to shoot up my building.” “And deliver Lily a box of dead roses.” “What?” Marc felt as if a cold hand reached inside of his chest and grabbed his heart. “When did this happen?”

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“I’m thinking somewhere between foreplay and intercourse.” “This is no joke, Griffin. What happened?” Anything involving Lily was dead serious to Marc, nothing to make jokes about. “The guys watching the house saw a delivery van arrive and checked it out, per your instructions. They gave the delivery guy hell for it, let me tell you. The guy was scared shitless.” “And of course no idea who ordered them, I suppose?” “Something has got to break soon, Marc. You just have to give it time.” “Time?” Marc repeated loudly, astounded at Griffin’s lackadaisical attitude. “Fuck time. Find out who paid for it. Buy the fucking store if need be, but get me some answers.” “Hey, boy.” Griffin slammed his hand down on Marc’s desk in a rare show of temper. “I’m not one of your fucking lackeys.” “I didn’t say you were.” “Then don’t start treating me like it. I’m doing the best I can. We’ve greased palms, threatened, and damn near bankrupted the entire fucking town. I’m on top of my game. Maybe it’s time you got on top of yours.” “What is that supposed to mean?” Marc replied coolly, a whole lot cooler than he felt, glad he had someone to yell at now. He always felt better when he got pissed off. Strange but true. “It means stop thinking with your dick. You need to get back on speed here. Hines has been bankrolling investors. I think he’s going to try to buy the mill back.” “Mr. Gossnor.” The voice over the intercom broke through Marc and Griffin’s yell fest, startling both men. “You have a Mr. Hines here to see you.” Marc and Griffin both looked down at the phone with dual expressions of shock. Marc expected a lot of things from the triumvirate, but one-on-one contact wasn’t one of them. “Send him in,” he replied stiffly, yanking his tie from the floor and slipping it on. “This is an interesting development.” Griffin moved behind Marc’s desk to stand at his side. Even though they’d barely argued a few seconds ago, Marc knew Griffin would have his back. Together they could figure this out. Marc slid into his cool business mode, no expression but mild amusement on his face. There was a brief knock at the door before it opened and Patrick Hines stepped into the room. Marc hadn’t seen him in almost two years, and time had not treated him well. He had the look of a man who drank too much and was paying for it. “How can we help you, Mr. Hines?” Griffin was all suave businessman, but the look on his face made one think he was viewing garbage. It was a look, like Marc’s attitude, they had perfected with time.

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“I’ve come to talk about the mill. You took over almost two years ago now and it’s sat empty. There are a lot of men out of work.” As if he cared. Marc remained silent, waiting to see what else Hines had to say. He’d learned that you learned more in business when you listened than when you talked. Marc didn’t have to wait long. Hines was nervous and sweaty and looked liked he needed a drink really badly. There was no way he would ever win a waiting game. “Look, I have powerful backers and we want to buy the mill back. How much is it going to take?” “It’s not for sale.” Marc leaned back in his chair, enjoying seeing Hines squirm. He wondered briefly if Hines had made his mother feel like this. Hines pulled himself up, confident now. “You’re a smart man, Gossnor. I’m sure you’ve heard of a hostile takeover. We only want the mill. If you’re not careful we could take a whole lot more.” Marc laughed sharply before replying. “Do you really think comments like that will have me shaking in my shoes? I’m not some little boy you can push around. Or some desperate woman,” he added for good measure. Patrick’s eyes flared for an instant before the cowed look returned. “Just remember what I said. We’re willing to negotiate. You better think about it.” “I better think about it,” Marc repeated, humor laced throughout his voice. “Well, here’s something for you to think about. With a snap of my finger I can have your house, your car and your wife. And with a blink of my eyes I can have you dead. There’s no coming back from that.” Patrick’s lips tightened in anger. “Don’t you think you’re taking this vendetta a little too far?” “I don’t think I’ve taken it far enough.” “Look, Marc, what happened all those years ago was an unfortunate mistake.” “Oh, yes, it was unfortunate, and it was your mistake. And as for your offer, I don’t take kindly to threats of any kind. Go tell that to your powerful backers.” Marc spun his chair around to stare out the window, effectively dismissing Hines from the room. It seemed to take the man a moment to get the hint, but soon he was shuffling across the room. Marc heard the door slam before he looked up at Griffin and smiled. “Well, do you think I’m back in the game?” “It’s about damn time.” “Always there with a kind word,” Marc added dryly. “You know they’re not going to take that lying down.” “I hope not.”

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“If you’re going to insist on seeing Lily,” Griffin paused when Marc shot him an evil look. “Then I suggest you beef up her security.” “I agree.” Looking down at his phone with a frown, Marc debated on something else plaguing him. “I also think something drastic might be called for.” “Drastic. Like what?” “I’m going to call Steven Weller. I think if I can at least get her brothers to be on guard, she will be effectively covered.” “Do you think that’s such a smart idea? They don’t exactly like you.” “True,” Marc said, as he picked up the phone. “But they love their sister.”

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Chapter Nine “That’s it.” Lily stormed into the diner. “I’m giving up dick.” Samantha and Evelyn turned around on their stools and burst into laughter. Frowning, Lily shut the door behind her. Her comment might have sounded amusing, but she was definitely serious. Well sort of serious. Okay, maybe serious was too strong of a word. So instead of all dick, maybe she would just give up River Bend dick. It seemed to be the brand doing the most harm. “I’m so glad we’re closed today.” Samantha handed Lily a shot glass and gestured for her to have a seat. “Or you might have scared off a few customers.” “Or won you a few,” Evelyn replied, wiggling her brows, “depending on who was here. Those would have been words to warm Ms. Lincoln’s heart.” “First, yuck,” Lily said, drinking the shot in one gulp. The liquor went down as smooth as silk. “I could have gone my entire life without having to know that.” Evelyn sent her an evil grin. “You should see some of the books she checks out.” “I’m never going to look at her snapdragons the same way again.” Samantha shuddered, pouring them another round. “So, the rumors are true then. You’ve been seeing Marc Gossnor since you brought him over on Thanksgiving.” Evelyn leaned forward and Lily knew she was just waiting to hear all the good stuff. “And obviously you’ve just been in a fight. So what’s going on, Lily?” Samantha swirled her drink around in the glass as she spoke, but she looked at Lily intently. “Are you asking because you’re ready to give me good girlfriend advice, or because Steven sent you on a hunting expedition?” “A little of both,” Samantha admitted. “But Steven is worried about you.”

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“They both are,” Evelyn added, coming to the men’s defense. “Logan feels especially guilty because he wasn’t around for so many years. Now he is trying to make up for lost time by playing the overprotective big brother.” “I’m an adult now. I don’t need my older brothers telling me who I can and cannot date.” “It’s not so much the dating but the extracurricular activities they are more worried about.” Evelyn looked guilty as she spoke, and Lily had a sinking feeling she knew why. “Evelyn, please tell me you didn’t happen to tell Logan about your suspicions from Thanksgiving?” Lily had been confused that day, but since spending time with Marc she realized now Evelyn had somehow recognized his dominant nature, and it was something she didn’t want her brothers knowing about. “Logan tortured it out of me. I swear. Plus I didn’t know anything for sure.” Evelyn got a sly look on her face, “But if you’d like to confirm any of my ideas ...” Samantha started laughing uproariously and Lily realized the two women had been drinking a bit more than she’d first realized. “You’re both a bad influence on me, I swear.” Lily figured if you can’t fight ‘em, then you might as well join ‘em and tossed back another shot. Samantha poured another round, then got a serious look on her pretty brown face. “I promised good girlfriend advice, so let’s hear the problem.” The problem, wow. It wasn’t like she could just blurt out “Marc likes to tie me up and spank me, and I like it.” Something like that needed to be worked up to. “Marc, he’s a little bit on the ...” Evelyn reached across the table, and caressed the fading red lines, which were still evident on Lily’s wrist. “Dominant. Oh, yeah, we’d know nothing about that.” Shocked, Lily looked from Evelyn to Samantha, who were both wearing similar expressions of amusement. “My brothers like to ...” Lily trailed off uncertainly. That was a bit more than she wanted to know about them. “I think I need another drink.” “Hell, girl, you might need two.” Samantha handed her the bottle with a smile. “But get over your shyness and ask your question, because if you can’t ask us, who can you ask?” Samantha had a point there; these women were the closest things she’d ever had to sisters, and from their knowing smiles they probably could answer her questions better than anyone else she knew could. “Okay, but first, let me just say this is embarrassing and gross, all at the same time.” “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about or grossed out about, so get with the talking, already,” Evelyn said, trying to rush her. “So this dominating thing, do you guys think something’s wrong with me because I like it?”

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Samantha patted her hand empathetically. “If there’s something wrong with you, then there’s something wrong with all of us.” Taking a deep breath, Lily rushed on. “So you like it, too? You like for them to be in control?” “The more control the better.” Evelyn added with a wink, “And there’s nothing wrong with liking it. To know your lover and you share a trust few people know is something to be proud of, not embarrassed about.” “That’s just it.” Lily frowned. “Marc doesn’t trust me.” The two women glanced quickly at each other before turning back to Lily. “Why do you say that?” “Because, I know he’s hiding things from me. Like the night his building was vandalized. We were together when it happened, but when I asked him about it he just brushed me off and sent me home. And I just sense there’s something else going on he’s not telling me. But when I try to talk about it I get ... nothing.” “That’s not a dominant thing, girl, that’s a man thing.” Samantha smirked, cutting into the chocolate cake on the counter. “Nothing will cure him but a foot up the ass.” “You both make it seem so ... normal. But I’ve always been afraid of letting a man have that much power over me.” Lily picked at the cake Samantha handed to her, too weary to even eat. “Normal is whatever works best for you. Don’t let other people dictate to you what you should and shouldn’t do. Hell, if I did, then Steven and I never would have gotten together.” Samantha licked her fork to get all the chocolate icing. Evelyn nodded her agreement. “Plus, you need to keep in mind you are the one who has all the power, Lily. You can always say no. Plus, a dominant man wants to cherish you and please you. And if things work out right, it’s he who will end up wrapped around your little finger.” Lily giggled at the thought of Marc at her beck and call. She sincerely doubted that would ever happen. “So is that why Logan moved back into town and has turned into such a family man? Cause you have him wrapped around your little finger?” “Of course,” Evelyn said, before sheepishly adding, “It just took him fifteen years to realize I had him wrapped around my little finger.” The three women looked at each other before they all broke up with laughter. “So what do you think it’s going to take to get Logan and Steven to be nice to him?” “An act of God,” Helen said from behind them, startling them all into turning around. “Mom!” Lily practically screamed, rushing across the room to hug her mother. “When did you get back in town?” “This afternoon.” Helen hugged her daughter to her tightly before releasing her.

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Pulling back, Lily stared at her mother in wonder. She looked wonderful. After weeks of badgering, Helen had given in to her children and taken a mini spa vacation, and now she practically glowed. Her once dull and lifeless eyes now shone with happiness. The lines of worry time and an alcoholic husband had etched into her face seemed to have melted away, revealing a beautiful woman. “You look great,” Lily gushed, happier to see her mother than she would have thought. “I feel great.” “You do?” Helen nodded, giving her a little squeeze, before peering past Lily to the other women. “Well, is there enough cake for me, too?” “Of course.” Samantha smiled, grabbing another plate. “Welcome back, Helen.” “Thank you. Evelyn called me and said you all were having a girl’s night out. Hope you don’t mind me crashing.” “Heavens, no.” Evelyn said, walking over to them and embracing Helen. “We just got started a bit early.” “How early?” she asked, walking over to the counter hand in hand with Evelyn. “Did I miss anything good?” “No!” Lily practically yelled. She’d rather watch John Tesh live in concert than tell her mother they’d been talking about D/s relationships. “Just stuff.” “Yeah, nothing too binding.” Samantha winked at Lily, causing her to blush. “Tell us about your trip.” “There’s nothing to tell, really. I slept, I ate, I had some strange Swedish man slathering me with oil.” Fanning herself jokingly, she added in a breathless voice, “It was wonderful.” “Sounds like it.” Lily was over the moon that her mother’s vacation had been great. If anyone needed a break in life, it was her mom. “So do you like your new apartment?” The light dimmed a bit in Helen’s blue eyes. “It’s all right, but it’s strange to be starting over at forty-eight years old.” “It’s not starting over. It’s a renewal.” They were startled out of their discussion by a loud ringing. Samantha jumped off the stool and grabbed the phone. Listening to the one-sided conversation, Lily could tell it was Steven on the other end. “Yes, she’s here. Why?”

Uh-oh, Lily thought, watching Samantha’s smile slowly slide off. “Wait for you? What’s going on? Fine.” Samantha hung up the phone with a puzzled look on her face. “What’s wrong?” Evelyn asked, concerned.

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“Steven asked if Lily was here and then told us to wait for him because he was going to make sure she got home okay tonight. Didn’t mention me getting home okay, the bastard.” Samantha clapped her hand over her mouth and glanced at Helen, who just laughed. “Don’t worry on my account.” “Ugh, big brothers are a pain in the ass. My car is just parked across the street. I really don’t want to deal with him tonight.” “Lily, don’t go; you’ll get me in all kinds of trouble,” Samantha pleaded. “Well from our conversations, it sounds like you like to get into trouble.” They all laughed again as Lily got up to leave. Hugging the three women, Lily said her goodbyes and left the diner. She walked out the door and across the street to her car, still parked in front of Marc’s building. As she dug around in her purse for her keys, someone touched her arm and she screeched before realizing it was Griffin. Lily hauled off and smacked him on the arm. “You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing skulking around out here?” “I was waiting to talk to you.” Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, yeah, let me guess. Stay away from Marc, right?” “Actually, I have a proposal for you.” Griffin pulled a manila folder out from beneath his coat. “I have some information I’d like to offer you.” “What kind of information?” Lily felt really out of her depth here. She had no idea why Griffin would want to talk to her. “Information about Marc and his business deals. I have his financial records for all the transactions he has done here in River Bend. You could take this to the right people and put him out of business.” “Right people? Who do I know?” Lily was really confused now. Why would Marc’s best friend be offering to sell him out? Anger poured through Lily’s body at his actions. How dare he betray Marc like this? And what the fuck made him think she would even listen to this crap? “Well, your brothers probably know the kind of people I’m talking about. Those people who could stand to lose a lot if Marc keeps doing business the way he has been.” Griffin was tapping the manila folder in his hands while watching her with his probing gaze. “Look, I don’t really care about whatever information you have on Marc, so you can take your proposal and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. You’re supposed to be Marc’s friend. He’s going to kill you when he finds out you pulled this shit.” Griffin started to speak, but Lily cut him off. “Oh, and don’t think he won’t know, because I plan to tell him as soon as I get home.” Lily was fuming. She knew she and Marc had argued, but he could do nothing that would make her turn on him like Griffin had.

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Griffin watched her as if trying to decipher her or something. “You looked pretty mad at him when you left the office today.” “How I was or wasn’t isn’t any of your concern, Benedict Arnold.” Pulling back her fist, Lily put all of her rage and indignation into it and slugged Griffin in his stomach for all she was worth. “I hope he fires you. No, kills you, then fires you. Traitor!” Lily turned away, intent on getting in her car and running over the bastard when she heard Griffin chuckle from behind her. “Bravo.” Griffin started clapping his hands as Lily turned back to face him. “You passed the test.” Flipping open the folder, Griffin showed her the inside, which was filled with blank papers. “Test.” Her rage returned tenfold. “Test. You bastard. How dare you? I’m not some stupid little ...” Lily froze in mid-speech. A horrible thought popped into her head, forcing tears to her eyes. “Did Marc send you to do this?” “No.” “I don’t believe you,” she shouted, ready to punch him again. Of all the low down, dirty things. If Marc thought she was going to take this lying down, he had another “think” coming. “When I get my hands on him ...” “Calm down,” Griffin said, reaching for her arm. When Lily pulled back from him and sneered, he held up his hands as if to admit defeat. “I swear, Lily, Marc had nothing to do with this.” “Then why?” Either Griffin was the most efficient bodyguard she’d ever met, or he had some serious issues. “Because it’s my job to protect him.” “From me?” “No, from himself.” Griffin ran his hand tiredly through his dark hair. “I’ve never seen him throw caution to the wind like he does with you. He should know better than to trust anyone ...” “Who isn’t you?” Lily questioned. She watched Griffin cautiously. There was something about him that made her want to comfort him and beat him in the head at the same time. As if she would ever betray Marc. As if she could. “It’s not what you think.” “I think you love him.” Griffin flushed. “Not like you’re implying.” “I wasn’t implying that.” She couldn’t help but see the humor of the situation. Men could be such homophobic idiots. “I think you love him like a brother, or a son. And you only want what’s best for him.”

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“I had to know,” he stated firmly, staring into her eyes, beseeching her to understand. “I had to know if I needed to protect him from more than financial harm.” “Betrayal is the only thing that could harm Marc.” Lily stared at Griffin thoughtfully for a moment before making her decision. “So it’s a good thing we’re going to keep this just between the two of us.” Griffin nodded his understanding. Just then the door behind her opened and Lily heard her mother call her name. Turning, she saw her mom, silhouetted in the light from the diner. “Is everything okay?” “Yes, Mom, everything is fine. You remember Marc’s friend, Griffin Powers?” “Mrs. Weller.” Griffin nodded politely to her mom. Helen walked across the street to where they were standing. “What are the two of you doing?” “Just getting a few things straight,” Lily said pointedly to Griffin, who gave her a small grin. “I’m getting ready to head home.” Helen nodded her head in understanding. “I should be going home, too. I’m beat.” “I’d be more than happy to drive you,” Griffin offered, shocking both the women. “Oh, no, my car is parked in the diner parking lot. But thank you.” “I’ll just walk you to your car then.” The two women looked at each other in confusion, but Lily just shrugged and figured it was Griffin’s need to protect everyone in his general vicinity. After hugging her mom once again, Lily opened her car and slipped into the seat. As she grabbed her seatbelt to buckle it she noticed the infamous blue car pull in behind her. Oh, goody, the goon patrol was going to follow her home; she felt safer already.

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Chapter Ten Walking into Logan’s house was as comforting as walking into a pit of vipers. Marc figured he’d be more welcome in hell than he was here. “Evening, gentlemen.” Taking off his jacket, Marc laid it across his arm as he walked through the door. “Thank you for seeing me.” “Don’t thank us yet,” Steven stated, still standing. With his arms folded across his chest, he peered over at Marc angrily, but Marc didn’t let it faze him. He was used to looks like that. “I’m not thanking you for having me. I’m thanking you for listening.” Gesturing to the couch, Marc asked, “May I?” Logan snorted. “Stop with the pleasantries, Gossnor, and get to why you’re here.” This was going even better then he had imagined. “Lily.” Steven’s scowl deepened. “If you call yourself asking for her hand ...” “I wouldn’t dream of asking you two for her hand.” Their relief was almost tangible. “When I’m ready to solidify our union, you two will be the last people I approach.” Steven made a move forward, but Logan intercepted him. “Then what are you here for?” “I think Lily might be in trouble.” Marc sat down on the couch. He might as well make himself comfortable. “What kind of trouble?” Steven asked suspiciously. “Someone delivered dead roses to her house today.” Marc figured he might as well get it right out in the open and not beat around the bush. “Why didn’t Lily mention this to anyone?” Steven paced across the living room while Logan stood propped against the fireplace, giving Marc the once over. “She has no idea and I’d like to keep it that way.”

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“And how is it you know and she doesn’t?” Logan straightened up from the fireplace as he spoke, continuing to stare at Marc as if he could burn a hole through him. “Because my men intercepted the delivery.” “What men?” both men exclaimed. “The men I have had following Lily ever since my office was vandalized.” “What the hell do you think you’re doing, having men follow her? Are you some kind of a deranged stalker?” Marc could tell Steven was irritated, but truth be told, he was more interested in Logan’s reaction. It was a bit too much like his own would be -- all quiet and reserved and seething on the inside. “I’m protecting her.” Marc was wondering if this had been such a great idea after all. Logan stepped forward, blocking Steven’s pacing from Marc’s view. “Perhaps if she stayed away from you she wouldn’t need protection.” “That’s not going to happen. Look, the reason I came to talk to you was to let you know what is going on so that if you saw anything suspicious you would be aware.” “Well, I would thank you, but seeing as how she wouldn’t be in trouble if it weren’t for you ... you see my dilemma.” Steven’s voice was filled with mockery, a bit more than Marc was in the mood for. “So you suggest that I just leave town and never talk to her again.” “It would be a good start,” Steven thundered back. “Here’s the part I have a big problem with, Stevie. I don’t recall you running with your tail between your legs when Sammy was being harassed. Actually, if my report is correct, you’re the reason she was beaten up and kidnapped.” “Fuck you, man.” “No, fuck you.” Tired of this, Marc stood, readying himself for battle. This courtesy call he was extending just wasn’t going over in the spirit it was intended. Stupid bastards. “Fuck both of you numbskulls,” Logan said, stepping in the middle. Despite the desperate scene, his face held a hint of amusement. “This isn’t a pissing contest. So none of us are very good at backing away from the women we want. But I was really kind of hoping that Lily might avoid the whole kidnapping, attempted rape, bad luck charm that seems to follow the Crane/Weller women around. Just once, it would be nice not to go to the hospital before a proposal.” Marc couldn’t help himself, he had to laugh. “Okay, that’s pretty funny.” “It’s not funny, it’s sad.” Steven sat down wearily. “Our family puts the fun in dysfunctional.” Logan chuckled for a second before he turned back to the conversation at hand. “Look, Marc, I don’t like you.” Words to warm a man’s heart. “And I’m okay with that.”

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“But,” Logan continued as if Marc hadn’t said anything. “I think my sister cares for you, despite all rhyme or reason, and in your own twisted, perverse way, I’m sure you care for her. Or you’d better.” “Would I be here facing you two if I didn’t? We’ve never been friends, and I’m okay with that, basically, because I don’t like you. But I do like Lily, very much, and the last thing I want to see is this Weller/Crane curse carry on to her. I can protect her when she’s with me. I have men following her every step, but when she’s with you I need you to protect her.” “I can still hope you’ll just go away,” Steven muttered under his breath. Marc shook his head. He knew that because Steven and Lily had grown up together they were very close, unlike Logan and Lily. Logan was more pragmatic and able to think logically about the situation. But Marc also knew that neither brother would shed any tears if he disappeared. “It’s not going to happen,” Marc stated emphatically. Grabbing his coat, Marc prepared to leave. “You don’t have to worry about Lily when she’s with us. We know how to protect her,” Logan said, opening the door for him. “And we will.” “That’s all I wanted.”

***** Sitting in front of Lily’s apartment Marc knew he had made a good decision in talking with Logan and Steven. Although they didn’t give a rat’s ass about him, Marc knew they would make sure Lily was protected, and Lily was all that mattered. Thinking about Lily and how they had left things this afternoon, Marc wasn’t too sure of his reception. But he knew he couldn’t keep playing the waiting game with her. He just had to throw caution to the wind and let the relationship develop. Just then Lily pulled up in her car. Marc sat watching her as she got out of her car. Her hair shone in the moonlight and her ass had the cutest little wiggle when she walked. Marc was growing hard just sitting there thinking about her and she almost had her door unlocked and opened before he woke up from his daydreaming. Snagging a bag from the front seat Marc slammed his car door and startled Lily, who turned suddenly. “Marc, what are you doing here?” “Why don’t we go inside and talk,” Marc suggested. He didn’t like her standing out here in the open where anyone could look their fill, kind of like he just had, he thought with a wry grin. “No, why don’t I go in and you call me when you learn some manners?” Damn, she was cute. “I’m sorry, Goldilocks, let me rephrase.” Dangling the bag in front of her to get her attention, Marc tried again. “In the mood to play?” Lily’s eyes widened a bit as she moistened her lips. “Play what?”

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“’Marc Says,’ of course.” Marc loved the way her eyes glazed over with passion. She was his, no doubt about it. “’Marc Says’ with the added bonus feature of the little brown bag?” “Yes.” He chuckled, his arousal growing the more he was near her. “Do you even have to ask?” Lily asked with a slight smile. Turning, she placed her hand on the doorknob, but then froze. Looking back over her shoulder, Lily wrinkled her nose at him. “Does this door count as one of the ‘doors’ you should be opening?” Laughing, Marc placed his hands over hers. “Damn, and here I was hoping you’d forget and I’d get to ... punish you.” Looking up at him, Lily softly said, “You can spank me even when I’m not bad.” Lily’s words had Marc hustling her into the apartment in record time. “Woman, do not say things like that when we are standing out on your front porch.” “When should I say them?” Lily licked her lips, bringing a groan to Marc’s throat. “When you’re naked in the bedroom and bent over with your ass in the air.” Marc helped her out of her coat and threw his own down beside hers. Lily gasped with surprise as he swept her up in his arms and strode purposely into the bedroom. After dropping her into the middle of the bed, Marc moved to the brocade chair in the corner and sat down. “Marc Says: Lily needs to strip.” Chuckling, Lily scooted to the edge of the bed. “Just jumping in tonight. Didn’t the office quickie tide you over a bit?” Marc unbuttoned his pants and slid his hands slowly inside, watching the way Lily’s humor evaporated quickly as her eyes zeroed in on him. “Do I need to repeat my command?” Standing up shakily, Lily shook her head. “No.” “Good. I hate repeating myself, Lily, but I promise you that you’d hate it even more. One way or the other, I will come tonight. It would be a pity if I was the only one.” Lily’s eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. Marc wanted to laugh as he pulled his hands out of his pants. If looks could kill she would be calling nine-one-one right now. “Maybe I should shower first.” Lily voice was muffled as she pulled her T-shirt over her head, but Marc understood her. “Why?” “Because I didn’t have time to shower since this afternoon.” “And?” he asked, amused. “Well ... I’m probably a bit ... tart.” “Tart. You mean you smell like us.” “Yes.”

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“Then you’re definitely not showering,” Marc said, sitting up a bit in the chair. Lily threw him another glaring look before slipping out of the rest of her clothes. She stood at the edge of the bed, looking at him expectantly, awaiting his next command. She had never looked more beautiful. “Get up on the bed and kneel in the middle. Marc Says.” As he spoke, Marc reached down and grabbed the bag he’d brought in with him. He had ordered a few items online and they had been delivered today. Lily knelt in the middle of the bed, then sat back on her heels. Stepping around behind her Marc gently pulled her hair to the side and kissed her neck softly. Lily shivered at his touch and Marc could see her nipples beading. Pulling a blindfold out of the bag Marc slipped it over Lily’s head and tied it on. “Can you see anything?” Lily shook her head silently. “Good, I just want you to feel tonight.” “This feels a bit ... scary,” she whispered, as her fingers nervously fluttered down by her sides. Leaning forward, Marc took her hands in hers. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Especially from me. I would never hurt you.” “I know.” “I may push you tonight, baby, but just remember, you can always use your safe word.” “I won’t,” she admonished arrogantly. Chuckling, Marc brushed her hair off of her shoulder, and placed a gentle kiss there. “But you can, and that’s the point.” Marc stood up, and moved away from the bed. “Lily, I’m going to ask you a series of questions and I want you to be honest with me. Marc Says.” “Okay.” “Besides scared, how are you feeling?” “Nervous, excited ... aroused.” God, he hoped so, because he sure was. Marc began to undress as he pressed on. “Have you ever had anal sex?” Lily’s expression, blindfolded and all, was amusing. Frowning, she acted as if he’d asked her if she’d ever intentionally run over a dog. “No.” “Not exactly on your list of things to do, huh?” he asked with a grin. “I’m not opposed to it, but I’ve never given it much thought.” “Why?” Wearing only his boxers, Marc walked back to the bed. “Is it a thing good girls don’t do?”

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“As opposed to allowing their pseudo boyfriend to tie them up in his office and have his wicked way with them?” she chided, with a smile of her own. “That almost sounds like a smart-ass remark. You wouldn’t be trying to get a punishment from me, now, would you?” Lily paused coyly before answering. “Not deliberately.” “I’ll take that under consideration. Next question, have you ever masturbated in front of someone before?” “Ah, no.” Although Lily had been gamely kneeling the entire time Marc was talking her body slowly seemed to begin to wilt. He decided to give her a break. “Marc Says: to lie down on the bed, face up.” Lily sighed with relief as she sank into the softness of the bedding before rolling over as he had instructed. “I want your fingertips touching the wall at all times. All times, Lily. Marc Says.” Watching her comply, Marc felt his organ begin to swell beneath his boxers. Lily was sexy and sweet, and she took orders like a soldier. “If you move your hands even for a second, I will take that to mean you don’t want to play anymore. Do you understand?” “Yes.” Her words were a mere whisper in the quiet room, but they came out clear as a bell. “Pull your legs up until your feet are flat on the bed and your legs are spread.” Lily hesitated for a moment before obeying, offering herself for his viewing pleasure. “How do you feel now?” Marc asked, opening the bag and pulling out the single white feather. “Exposed.” “Do you feel any less aroused?” “No.” “Excellent.” Lily jerked as Marc trailed the white feather along one foot, dipping into her instep before stroking around her ankle and up her leg. Snaking the feather over her knee, Marc drew intricate designs along her thigh, moving ever closer to the junction between her legs before skipping across and painting her other thigh with the feather tip. “That tickles.” “Take it,” he ordered, continuing with his exploration of her body. Trailing the feather over the curve of her belly he dipped the tip in her navel before sweeping it up to her chest. Whirling it over each breast, Marc studiously avoided her berry-red nipples. “What are you feeling?” “Frustrated,” she grumbled as she pushed her body into the bed, as if trying to escape his teasing torture. “Ah, poor baby.” Marc slipped the feather down to her mound, lightly brushing back and forth, teasing her clit with every stroke.

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“Marc ...” “Yes, Goldie?” “Please ...” “Yes, you do. You please me very much.” Running the feather down to her slick opening, Marc brought the now damp feather back to her clit. “See how much I please you as well?” “You’re killing me!” “What, is it too soft?” “Yes.” “All right then.” He tossed the feather down on to the bed. “Let’s try something a bit rougher.”

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Chapter Eleven Lily lay on the bed, eagerness making her heart race madly. She never thought she would be laying here, arms stretched above her, body open and throbbing, just waiting to be dominated by Marc. The anticipation was driving her crazy and she just knew Marc was dragging it out, making her wait for it. The sudden buzzing at the end of the bed made her lift her head slightly before she realized what a dumb move that was. First, she was blindfolded, and second, she was sure Marc would take it as a violation of his directive not to move. She didn’t have long to wait for confirmation. “Ahh, ahh, ahh, you are just begging for punishment, aren’t you?” Marc chuckled deeply and the buzzing became louder. Lily jerked, almost losing contact with the wall as Marc ran the vibrator lightly across the tips of her breasts. “Oh, dear God.” Her sensitive nipples were on overload as she unconsciously strained to retain contact. “Do you know a vibrator can bring you to the edge of an orgasm time and time again?” “Marc, please.” Lily didn’t care if she was begging. It felt as if she’d been waiting forever for this. She knew the bed beneath her was soaked with the evidence of her arousal. One touch and she would probably go off like a bottle rocket. The buzzing noise disappeared, replaced instead by Marc’s voice. “Wet it for me,” he ordered, placing the still toy against her parched lips. Lily wanted to shout that she was wet enough for him, the toy, and any amount of gadgets he’d brought with him, but instead she opened her mouth, accepting his gift. The smooth tip slipped past her lips as she slid her tongue out to greet it. Running her tongue over the head, she saturated the crown, until the tip of the shaft was as moist as her throbbing pussy.

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“That’s a good girl.” Marc pulled the toy from her lips and slid it down her chin, down to her chest to circle her erect nipples. “You wanted something rougher, right?” Marc ran the vibrator down her stomach, but avoided her clit, which was begging for his touch. Instead, he rubbed the tip of the vibrator along the lips of her pussy, coating it with her honey. Lily pushed her feet against the bed, trying to encase the vibrator within her. She groaned with despair as he moved back slightly, taking the vibrator out of her reach. “Have you ever thought about getting shaved or waxed?” Marc’s sudden change of topic threw her for a loop. What was he talking about? she wondered. He lightly combed his fingers through the tight curls covering her mound. “You would be so pretty here, all soft and sensitive.” Lily moaned and rubbed herself against his hand. Marc pulled back and smacked her mound slightly before petting the hurt. “You didn’t answer me, Lily,” he reminded her gently. “Yes, yes, I’ve thought about it,” Lily admitted breathlessly, willing to do anything for him to go back to touching her. “But it’s not something you can easily get done in River Bend without the whole town finding out about it.” “I can do it for you if you like.” Stroking his hand down her dew-coated lips, Marc tangled his fingers in her slick curls and tugged lightly at them. “Although this is just as appealing.” Heat shot straight through her center as she arched up into his hands. Moaning, Lily undulated her hips, surging them up in the air. “Marc,” she cried, at a loss as to what else to say. “You asked for rougher, I’m just trying to comply.” “You’re just teasing me,” she shouted, aching for him to fill her. “This is foreplay, my dear. A certain amount of teasing is required.” The laughter in his voice infuriated Lily, who wanted nothing more than to rip the blindfold off and force him down to the bed so she could satisfy her desire on his hard cock. “You’re evil,” she muttered instead, willing her trembling body to stay still. Marc tsked. “It’s not nice to insult the man responsible for pleasuring you.” “Then pleasure me, damn it.” “As you wish.” The tip of the vibrator grazed her clit, causing Lily’s frustrated body to instantly climax. As she cried out her release, Marc slid the buzzing toy straight into her slick entrance, forcing her pleasure to last longer than any orgasm she had ever experienced before. “Oh ... oh ...” Lily couldn’t help the guttural moans escaping from her. She had never felt anything like this before, and the fact that Marc was watching made it ten times better.

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Lily felt Marc adjust the speed on the vibrator pulsating deep inside of her body, and almost died. He would speed it up, slow it down, all while moving it in and out of her body. “Now about your punishment ...” “What punishment?” Her voice was as shaky as she felt. “You just came without my permission.” “What!” she exclaimed. He had to be fucking kidding. “You don’t come unless I give you permission to come. Is that understood?” Hell no, it wasn’t understood, but she wasn’t stupid enough to admit it. “Yes, Marc.” “Good girl.” Lily heard the bag rustle before she felt the first of many stinging swats of soft leather across her nipples. Marc rained blows down on her trembling body. Never once hurting her, only heightening her senses as he concentrated on different areas of her body. He teased her nipples, first running the leather over them lightly, and then gently swiping her beaded tips with the flogger. As she cried out, Marc moved his swats down her stomach to her erect clit, raining the blows on her aroused bud as he fucked her with the vibrator. Just when she thought she was about to come again, Marc stopped, and then gruffly ordered, “Marc Says: roll over. You can move your hands, but put them back.” Lily slowly lowered her arms, desperately wanting to reach between her legs and manipulate the toy driving her mad. But she knew that was not what Marc had intended. Gingerly rolling over, the vibrator still deep within her body, Lily’s sensitive nipples scratched against the comforter. Reaching above her, Lily again touched the wall with her fingertips as she waited for Marc to continue with his torture. “A woman’s back, the way it curves down to her ass, is one of the most erotic sights on earth.” Marc’s large hands stroked down her back and hips, accompanying his gentle words. Reaching down, he spread her legs wide. She could feel the bed dip as he settled himself between her thighs. Lying on her stomach like this Lily could push her hips towards the mattress and bury the vibrator just a bit deeper as she rubbed her clit. Unfortunately a sharp swat to her ass stopped her motions. “You aren’t going to come again that easily.” Marc gently fucked her with the vibrator before pulling it out, leaving her feeling empty. Lily buried her head in the pillow before she screamed and really earned a punishment. The rustling of that damn brown bag roused her from her pity party and set her anticipation in high gear again. Damn, it was getting pretty bad when she was looking forward to the next bit of torture Marc was going to give her. The glide of a finger down the seam of her ass was not all that unexpected.

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“I won’t fuck you here tonight.” Marc’s words were punctuated by his finger circling her rosette. “But soon, very soon.” His finger was soon removed and replaced with a smooth object, obviously smeared with slick, cool gel. Slipping his hand under her hips, Marc pushed her up. “Raise up a bit.” Lily complied, pushing her hips up until her back was bent and her ass was tilted in the air. “Beautiful. As I slip this in, I want you to push out. Like you’re going to the bathroom.” “What?” Heat seared her face as his words penetrated through her aroused fogged mind. “Push out. Trust me, Lily.” Squeezing her eyes shut, Lily pushed as Marc did the same, and the toy slid smoothly inside her forbidden hole. Gasping, Lily sucked in her breath, unfamiliar with this new sensation. She felt oddly full. “Does it hurt?” “It doesn’t feel great.” But it didn’t hurt. “Can you take it?” “Yes.” Marc lovingly caressed her backside. “That pleases me, Lily. You please me. How can I return the favor?” “Let me come.” His chuckle slid over her body like a warm caress. “My lady’s wish is my command.” Gently rolling Lily over onto her back, Marc pushed her legs up and apart, once again exposing her sex. “Please.” Lily didn’t think she could take any more teasing. “It’s okay, baby. I’ll give you what you want.” Lily could feel Marc’s breath on her thighs and sighed with relief as his mouth closed over her clit, sucking the sensitive bundle of nerves. Drawing back he swiped his tongue along her slit before plunging it into her heated depths. Lily felt like she was on fire, wanting and needing something. “More,” she cried, as she pushed her hips towards him. Moving up along her body Marc gently kissed her forehead before parting her slick folds and beginning to push into her welcoming body. With the butt plug still lodged deep within her ass, the tightness was unbearable, even more so than when she had been a virgin. “It’s too much,” she gasped, the feeling of fullness overwhelming her already overloaded senses. “No, it’s never too much,” Marc growled, determinedly continuing to push forward. Suddenly her muscles relaxed and parted as Marc gave a final push, seating himself fully within her. Lily sobbed with the feeling of having the plug in her ass and his cock pulsing in her pussy. But still she wanted -- no, needed -- more.

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As if sensing her restlessness, Marc gently stroked the hair away from her face. “What is it, baby? What do you want?” “Move, please, Marc. Fuck me, now.” “Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” Marc laughed but complied with her demands, pulling back before pushing ever so slowly back into her hot sex. Lily tried to push back, to gain the friction she needed to come, but Marc was refusing to hurry, driving her out of her mind with his slow, steady thrusts. “Faster, Marc, please; I need to come so bad.” Marc finally began to speed up his thrusts, pulling almost completely free of her grasping pussy before sliding back home. Lily pushed back with every thrust, racing towards her climax. The sensations began to overwhelm her as she fought back the urge to climax then and there. Lily didn’t want to earn another punishment, but she so badly wanted to come. “Please, Marc, please.” “You want to come, baby?” he groaned, sounding just as close to his release as she was to her own. “God, yes.” Please, please, please, her body begged as she ground against his cock. Lily had never felt so full, so aroused, so utterly depraved, in her lifetime. Reaching underneath them, Marc grasped the end of the plug and pulled it partially out, before thrusting it back in. Lily screamed as her body began to quiver under the strain of her arousal. “Come for me, Lily. Come.” Moaning, Lily came, her body shaking uncontrollably under Marc’s powerful thrusts. “You’re mine,” Marc growled as he furiously fucked her, finally releasing his seed inside of her, before collapsing. Lily blinked quickly as Marc removed her blindfold. Smiling he told her, “You can put your arms down now, Marc Says.” Lily was amazed to realize she had done as he commanded and hadn’t lowered her arms the entire time. Her arms were even burning, something she hadn’t realized until now. Apparently her mind had been on other aches coursing through her body. Marc must have sensed her discomfort because he raised himself off of her and moving to her side, massaging her arms, working out the kinks in the muscles. “Oh, God, that feels wonderful,” Lily exclaimed, closing her eyes at the pleasure. “I don’t know if I should feel jealous or not.” Sitting up suddenly, Lily opened her eyes. “Jealous of what?” “You sounded almost orgasmic when I was just massaging your arms.” “You have great hands, what can I say. No matter what you’re doing with them.” Marc laughed and returned to his massage.

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Lily was enjoying their banter, but realized she would have to go to the bathroom soon and take care of the plug still filling her ass. Scooting to the side of the bed, Lily started to get up. “And just where do you think you’re going?” “Ahh, to the bathroom.” Lily had let Marc tease and torture her, shove the butt plug into her ass and fuck her silly, but she was too embarrassed to tell him she needed to get it out and right now. Once again it was like Marc read her mind. “Come here,” he ordered, pulling her over his lap. Lily struggled for a scant second before deciding it was just easier to give in and let him have his way. Marc smacked her once firmly, her ass jiggling and the butt plug lodging more firmly, if that was possible. “That’s for refusing to obey me immediately,” he said, answering her unspoken question. Reaching down between her ass cheeks Marc slowly pulled out the plug. “Better?” “Yes, thank you,” she mumbled into his lap. “I like you this way,” he teased, caressing her bottom “I bet you do, perv.” “And you love every minute of it.” Just as much as she was beginning to love the man, Lily thought. Unable to help herself, Lily burst out laughing. Only she would realize she was falling love with a guy, ass high in the air, anal plug lying shining on the floor. “What’s so funny?” Marc asked, pulling her up until she was sitting on his lap. “It’s a Murphy’s Law kind of thing.” “Figures.” Smiling, Marc stood, and laid her back on the bed. Disappearing out of her room, he came back a few minutes later with a washcloth for her. After Lily tidied herself up, Marc slid under the covers with her, pulling her back until she leaned against his chest. “I’ve been thinking a bit about what you said earlier, about trust.” Lily nodded, not saying anything. “So I’m going to do something I haven’t done in years.” Marc took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out. Lily could tell whatever it was he was going to do was hard for him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, giving him the little comfort she could. “After my dad died ...” Marc began to fill Lily in on the painful memories of his childhood. He spoke for over an hour, bringing her up to date on everything that had happened in his life in the last fifteen years. Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes as she learned of the suffering Marc and his family had gone through, and although she sincerely believed revenge was wrong, she could understand why Marc felt the way he did.

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“Thank you for telling me all this. I really appreciate how you opened up to me.” Lily was stroking the muscles of his stomach and she could feel him tensing beneath her hand. “But can’t you see living life for revenge isn’t living at all? What will happen when you’ve destroyed these men? Will you leave River Bend and all you’ve built here?” Will you leave me, was her unspoken question. “I haven’t wanted to live for anything but revenge. I never really thought past that point.” Lily could feel Marc pulling away from her, physically and emotionally. She wasn’t going to allow him to retreat back into his shell after finally opening himself up to her. Throwing her arms around him, she wouldn’t let go. “Just think about it, Marc. Remember, if you want to talk I will always be here for you.” Slowly she could feel him relax and they lay together, not speaking but just touching. As time eventually passed, Lily realized Marc had fallen asleep. “I think I’m falling in love,” she whispered aloud, wanting to hear the words in the air before she, too, let sleep take her.

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Chapter Twelve Marc stood next to Griffin on the sidewalk outside of the grocery store as the Collingwood’s sign was slowly lowered to the ground by the crane. He smiled with satisfaction as the workers brought in the new sign. “I can’t believe they were able to get the sign done in one week.” Griffin was rubbing his hands together and stomping his feet as they stood outside together, trying to ward off the cold. “Anything can be accomplished when you throw enough money at it.” A crowd had started to gather on the sidewalk, watching the work and wondering what was happening. Too bad Marc was not one for sharing. They were just going to have to wait for the unveiling. Griffin glanced around at the crowd before lowering his voice and asking, “So, have you had any more contact with Lily’s brothers since that first meeting?” Griffin had not been a big fan of getting Lily’s brothers involved in the whole protection thing and had predicted a major confrontation would ensue. Marc knew Griffin was probably feeling threatened, since his major role was security. But Marc was pleased Griffin had been proven wrong, and in fact, Marc hadn’t spoken to either one of them since he’d met with them two weeks ago. “No, it’s been surprisingly quiet. Maybe there was no need to worry.” Marc really wanted to believe what he was saying, but he could tell just by looking at Griffin neither one of them was that naïve. Just then, Marc noticed Lily walking towards them, carrying a container of steaming hot drinks. His heart lifted as she caught him looking at her and she blushed prettily. She loved everything they did in the bedroom, but she always looked like an innocent angel

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outside of it. Finally reaching them, Lily offered him and Griffin their choice of coffee or hot chocolate. They both chose coffee, knowing how Lily loved her chocolate. “So, boys, are we having fun yet?” Lily blew on her hot chocolate before taking a tentative sip. “Oh, yeah,” Griffin replied sarcastically, “I love to stand outside in the freezing, slushy snow.” “Then why are we out here?” Lily held onto her cup as if the heat in the cup alone would keep her warm. Amusement sparkled in her blue eyes as she watched Griffin, a hater of cold weather, stomp his feet to keep warm. “We could have watched them take the sign down from your car or on the local news.” Gesturing to the TV crew setting up, Lily continued, “I mean, is this sad or what? This town is so small a name change on a stupid store warrants the news.” “Or maybe they’re hoping to capture some bloodshed.” Marc smirked. “You know, ‘if it bleeds, it leads.’” Their chuckle was interrupted by the site supervisor. “Mr. Gossnor, the sign is ready to go up. Would you like to inspect it once more before we raise it?” “Yes.” Turning to Lily, Marc asked, “You want to go see the new name?” “I didn’t get all covered up just to hang out with you two, that’s for sure,” Laughing, Marc took Lily’s hand in his as they walked over the snow-covered ground. He couldn’t wait to see what her reaction was to the new name. Hell, his ears were still ringing from Griffin’s laughter when he’d told him what he had decided to call it. When they came to stop in front of the large covered sign, Marc squeezed Lily’s hand. “You ready?” “Oh, yeah, I’m just as excited to see Collingwood come down and Gossnor go up as you are.” “Well, sorry, love, you’re going to have to wait a bit longer for that.” With a nod of his head, the tarp was pulled back and the new name was revealed. Lily’s smile of excitement was quickly replaced with a squeal of surprise when her name stared back at her in red neon lights. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” Her cry of astonishment was only superseded by Griffin’s laughter and the crowd’s murmurs. It was everything Marc had hoped for and more. “Do you like it?” “Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” “Can I get a little more than that?” he asked teasingly. Turning to him, Lily threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his neck. “You are so crazy.”

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Laughing, Marc twirled her around as the camera zoomed in on her and the crowd applauded. It was silly, it was crazy, and Marc loved it, because he knew Lily did. And that was all that mattered to him. Marc set her back down so he could watch her face. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speechless like this. I’ll have to surprise you more often.” “Marc, you are insane. This is so embarrassing.” Lily’s skin was glowing a deeper red than the sign that bore her name. “Couldn’t you think of calling it something else?” “Nope.” Marc was enjoying this far more than he ever thought possible. To think he had bought her a six thousand dollar television and she’d gotten mad. But putting five little letters up on top of a store was making his little Lily shine. “And I’ve added a new store policy, which states that you are entitled to as many Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as your heart desires. Without paying for them, I might add.” Lily’s eyes widened comically as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my God,” she murmured through cloth-covered fingers. “I can’t believe you remember that.” Brushing his hand against her berry-red cheeks, Marc smiled. As if he could forget anything about her. Lily was just as adorable now as she had been as an eleven-year-old grubby imp. “I remember.” “I’m ...” at a loss for words, apparently, Lily finished silently as she turned back to the sign and shook her head in awe. “I mean really, three months ago that little prig told me my checks were no good here, and now ...” “Your checks are still no good here. That hasn’t changed.” “Oh.” Surprised, Lily looked back up at him, a bit of her joy gone from her face. Marc realized from her lackluster expression she didn’t get what he was saying. Taking her hands in his, Marc continued with a small smile, “Everyone has been instructed not to take your checks or your money. Anything you want, you get. This is your store. You can manage it if you want or just live off the proceeds.” Reaching into his jacket pocket, Marc pulled out an envelope he’d placed in there specifically for this moment. “Lily’s doesn’t just bear your name. It’s yours.” Lily stared back at him speechlessly. If he thought she’d been at a loss for words before, he could tell now she really had no idea what to say. “Lily, baby, are you okay?” She was just staring at him with those big blue eyes as if she was Alice and she’d just fallen through the rabbit’s hole. “I ... I don’t believe this. It’s too much. You can’t.” Lily spoke in a rush, as if all the words she had held in earlier were flooding out. “Believe it; nothing is ever too much for you.” Pushing the envelope into her stiff, frozen hands he added, “You will never have to wait on anyone else again, unless I command you to, of course.”

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If possible, Lily’s face became a deeper shade of fiery red and she buried her nose in the opening of his coat. Marc thought he might have even seen a few tears on her face before she had hidden it. “Well, girly girl, seems like you must be coming up in the world.” Marc whirled around with Lily still in his arms to see her father, Mike, swaying drunkenly on the sidewalk. Immediately Marc shoved Lily slightly behind him as Griffin appeared by his side. Lily spoke up from behind him. “What are you doing here?” “It’s a public street. I have every right to walk down it just like all these fine people here.” He sneered as he waved his hand at the crowd. “Public drunkenness is against the law. If you like, I can assist you to someplace else.” Griffin was trying to separate Mike from Marc and Lily, but Mike wasn’t falling for it. “Let ‘em come and arrest me. See if I care. Damn kids have abandoned me ...” Marc could feel Lily burying her face in his back, probably embarrassed at her father’s display. But what was really surprising was Griffin’s reaction to Mike’s next words. “... and my bitch wife ran out on me.” Griffin’s arm shot out and he grabbed Mike. To the rest of the crowd it looked as if Griffin was holding him up, but Marc could see Griffin had Mike’s arm jacked up so far behind him his toes were barely scraping the ground. Mike was quickly pulled away from the scene by the guards Marc had hired for just such an occasion. It was sad, really, how no one in the crowd offered a word of protest in his defense. Everyone simply turned deaf ears to his complaints and screamed threats. “I’m so sorry,” Lily whispered into Marc’s back. Pulling her around to face him, Marc tilted her chin up when she refused to look up at him. “Do not apologize to me for him. Do you understand me?” Lily nodded her head before wrapping her arms around him once again, hugging him tight. “Uh-oh, here comes more trouble.” Griffin shifted his position, moving into security mode, blocking Lily and Marc from the big black car pulling up to the curb. Son of a bitch. This town was seriously getting on his nerves. Moving Lily until she was behind him again, Marc turned to see what the newest ruckus was and cursed again. He had expected at least one person from the Collingwood family to show up at his little unveiling sooner or later, but Marc would have preferred if it had been later than sooner. “Like a fucking bad penny,” he muttered, much to Griffin’s amusement. Hamilton got out of the car, flanked by his two sons, Junior and Drew. Marc couldn’t help the sense of satisfaction he felt at the look of disgust Hamilton threw his way. The three men started towards Marc but were stopped by Griffin’s security men, who had begun to circle around them after Mike’s confrontation.

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“It’s okay,” Marc called, walking closer to the men. “Let them in. I was going to call you later today, Hamilton, to see if you wanted me to have the crane drop the sign off at your house. I thought you might like something for ... nostalgia’s sake.” “Are you happy now?” Hamilton spewed, his face crimson with anger. “This store belonged to my grandfather. You’re ending four generations of tradition, all for the sake of vengeance.” “I’m ending it two generations too late from what I can tell.” The whole thing was amusing. Did they really expect him to cower at the sight of them? “Ripping down this sign isn’t going to change anything,” Junior interjected, trying to smooth things over. Apparently, his memory was shorter than his receding hair line. “I disagree,” Marc replied coolly. He felt better already. “How so?” Hamilton questioned with a smirk. “You’re still trash. And so is the whore you named my store after.” Marc reacted without even thinking. Swinging with all his might, he dropped the other man to the ground with a single punch. “Bastard,” Drew yelled, charging at him. “It takes a real man to hit an old man doesn’t it?” Acting quickly, Griffin moved between the two, pushing Drew backwards. “Your father isn’t a man,” Marc spat, still seeing red. “He’s a coward.” Getting up with the aid of his other son, Hamilton yelled. “You’re trash. Just like your momma, who was willing to spread her legs for a loaf of bread.” “Griffin, get out of the way.” Despite Marc’s order, Griffin refused to budge. Instead, he turned to the Collingwood men. “I suggest you three leave immediately before I turn him loose.” “We’ll be pressing charges,” Junior screamed. “Don’t think you can get away with this.” Griffin smiled back coldly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. First, we would file countercharges of defamation of character.” Drew laughed and replied, “Do you think we couldn’t fight that lame ass charge?” Griffin continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “And, during the trial, other information we have in our possession just might become public knowledge.” Hamilton’s face went white and then blotchy red, as if he were having a stroke. “Boys, help me to the car.” His sons shot Griffin a look as if to say, ‘this isn’t over yet,’ but Marc knew damn well it was. Hamilton would never dare allow the information to come out that he’d been selling drugs in the grocery, using his delivery truck drivers as pushers. As the black car pulled away from the curb Griffin nodded to the two security men to finally let Marc go. Marc knew Griffin was only protecting him, but right now all he could think about was Griffin had stopped him from killing Hamilton, something he’d wanted to do for years.

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“Marc, man, I ...” “I don’t want to talk to you right now.” Marc turned his back on Griffin before he could see the look of disappointment in his eyes. Knocking Hamilton down had been damn near orgasmic, but wringing his narrow little neck would have been paradise. Marc had waited years to have it out with the bastard, and Griffin had interfered just at the moment of truth. Right now Marc didn’t know who he was madder at, Hamilton for his parting comment or Griffin for blocking his blow. Marc needed some space. Some time to clear his head, but just as he began to walk away he spotted Lily, and immediately felt like shit. Today was supposed to be a special day. A day for she and him both, and in a span of five minutes, it had been ruined for the two of them. Turning to go to Lily, Marc spotted the cameras still rolling. Great, they were going to be on the fucking six o’clock news. Now he’d get to relive this moment over and over. It was damn near poetic justice. Quickly pulling Lily into his arms, Marc held her trembling form against him. “I’m sorry, Goldie,” he murmured into her ear before calling over to Griffin. “Can you make sure Lily gets home?” Griffin eyed him coolly, as if Marc were a mere stranger on the street. “Sure thing, it’s what I get paid to do, right?” “Griff ...” Marc hated himself for hurting Griffin. He knew he shouldn’t blame Griffin for trying to protect him from himself. Griffin ignored his overtures and walked over to the car, opening the passenger’s door and staring off into space, refusing to look at Marc. Instead of climbing into the car like he wanted, Lily pulled back. “I’m not leaving you here, Marc.” Tightening his grip on the car, Marc let out a long, slow breath. “Lily, please get into the car.” “No.” She pulled his hand into hers, beseeching him with her eyes. “The only way I’m getting in that car is if you get in with me.” “Stubborn fool,” he muttered, pulling his hand away. Marc didn’t want Lily to get caught up in this. Not any more than she already was, that was for sure. “Listen ...” “No, you listen.” Hands on hip, Lily faced him with a frown. Marc could swear that Griffin bit back a smile, before he turned his back to them, granting them a little bit of privacy. “This isn’t just about your wants or your needs. I’m in the relationship, too, damn it, and I’m not going to sit back and watch you beat yourself up. If anyone’s going to beat up on you, it’s going to be me.” “You’re the sub here, remember, not me.”

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Crossing her arms over her chest, Lily refused to budge. “Get in the car and we can leave.” “Lily,” he growled, more amused than annoyed. Leave it up to his golden-haired beauty to take charge at a time like this. “Lily, my ass. We’re playing a new game. Lily Says.” Grabbing his lapel, Lily jerked him to the side, and saved his life in the process. A shot rang out as Marc jerked and spun around. A bullet hit him squarely in the shoulder. Sliding down the side of the car, Marc looked around to see Lily crying and pressing her hands over the bleeding wound as Griffin screamed into his cell phone about needing an ambulance. “Griff ...” Trying to talk through the pain, Marc had to speak louder to get Griffin’s attention. “Don’t talk.” Lily was still crying and looking around frantically as she knelt at his side. “Got to get you out of here.” Marc coughed suddenly and his body was wracked with pain at the motion. “Press hard on that,” Griffin ordered Lily harshly, as he knelt down on Marc’s other side. “Griff, you got to get Lily out of here. Now!” Marc implored, trying to hang on to consciousness. “Marc, everything’s going to be okay. The cops and ambulance are on their way. Don’t worry. I have it under control.” Griffin was holding his hand tightly, but to Marc it felt as if Griffin were slipping away.

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Chapter Thirteen Lily sat in the waiting room of the hospital, wondering how things had gone so wrong. One minute she was embarrassed but happy, spending time with Marc and really enjoying his doting on her. The truth was she liked that he cared enough to do little things for her. Of course Marc, in his usual way, never did anything small, but Lily had realized that to accept Marc was to accept his gifts. Unfortunately, it had all started to go so very wrong. Staring down, Lily imagined she could still see Marc’s blood staining her hands. There had been so much blood. Lily shuddered just thinking about what it might mean. Fortunately her morbid thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Griffin. “I just got a hold of Marc’s mom in Florida. She’s going to try and catch the last flight out tonight.” Griffin looked like a mad bear with his foot caught in a trap. He kept pacing in front of her, searching the nurses’ station every five minutes for the doctor who’d talked to them both before taking Marc into surgery. “Good. I’m sure Marc will be happy to see her.” Lily felt like an idiot making small talk when she didn’t know what was happening with Marc. “Where’s that damn doctor?” Griffin finally exploded. “He said it was a simple operation, but it’s been almost three hours. What the hell is going on?” Lily snagged his hand during his next pass and tugged him down to the chair next to her. “Stop stalking and causing trouble. You’re making me nervous.” Griffin buried his head in his hands. “I should have been protecting him,” he mumbled. Lily knew exactly what he was going through. If only she had been able to convince Marc to get into the car with her he might never have gotten shot. “It’s not your fault. There’s nothing we could have done.”

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Griffin lifted his head and stared at her with pain-filled eyes. “I’m his security; I’m paid to protect him.” Lily knew he was still thinking about the argument he and Marc got into right before Marc was shot. “Griffin, it will be okay. And you and Marc will be okay, too.” “It’s my fault. I should have had more men there or ...” “Or what if Judas never sold Jesus out? Then he wouldn’t have been crucified, and blah, di, blah, blah, blah. Life is full of what ifs. But this isn’t your fault. It’s the fucker’s fault who shot him. And he’s going to pay.” Gripping Griffin’s hand, Lily held on tight, doing something she hadn’t done since she was a child. Lily closed her eyes and prayed. “Please, please, please,” she whispered aloud as she made promises to every deity ever known. Lily would have sold her soul right then and there if it meant one more moment in his arms. Because of one cowardly act of rage, her mind instantly went from falling in love with Marc, to head over heels in love with Marc. And she would go mad if he died without her being able to let him know. The emergency room doors swooshed open, startling Griffin and Lily as her mother and Steven rushed in. Lily stood, desperately wanting to be swallowed whole by the sanctuary of her mother’s arms. She needed to feel safe again, to feel as if everything was right in the world, if only for a moment. “Mom,” she cried, rushing towards that familiar safe embrace. Helen held onto Lily, comforting her daughter as Lily cried against her shoulder. “It’s going to be all right,” she promised, brushing her hand over her daughter’s hair. It was a gesture older than time, and one Lily needed desperately. “Mom, he has to be okay.” The brave front Lily had put on for Griffin crumbled under her mother’s loving caress. With Helen she didn’t need to be strong. Helen wasn’t going to break like Griffin seemed on the verge of doing. With Helen, Lily could show her fear, and be comforted. “He will be, honey.” Helen’s blue eyes were filled with tears as she smiled at her daughter. “Marc will pull out of this.” “Do the police have any suspects?” Steven directed the question at Griffin, who had once again resumed his pacing. Griffin let out a harsh laugh, devoid of all humor. “A suspect. The whole fucking town is full of suspects.” Steven flushed. “I mean do they have any strong leads?” “It’s been less than four hours. If they have anything they’re not sharing.” Lily broke away from her mother and went back to Griffin, who looked as if he was hanging on by a thin thread. “I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.” “I have my own guys on this as well.”

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Reaching into his pocket, Steven pulled out a business card and handed it to Griffin. “Here’s a number to a friend of mine. He’s a PI. A bit unorthodox, but he gets the job done.” Surprise flashed across Griffin’s pale face as he took the card. “Thanks. I have to say I’m a bit shocked.” “Yeah, well, a few inches over and it would be Lily lying in there.” If possible Griffin’s face became even grimmer. “You don’t have to tell me how close it was.” “Apparently I do, since your ‘guys’ didn’t see this one coming.” “Steven, stop it.” Amazingly, it was Helen who spoke, surprising both her children. “This is not Mr. Powers’ fault.” “I’m just trying to make sure my baby sister doesn’t wind up in the hospital. If that makes me a jerk, so be it.” “Can we all stop playing the blame game here? It doesn’t accomplish anything.” Lily was starting to feel feisty. “Griffin, why don’t you and Steven go bother the nurses and see if you can find out anything?” Motioning for her mom to sit down with her, Lily lay her head on her shoulder as her mom wrapped her arms around her. “Thanks for coming to the hospital, Mom. If Steven had come alone or, God forbid, with Logan, I think I would have died from the testosterone overload.” “Well, don’t thank me too soon. Logan’s parking the car.” Lifting her head, Lily stared at her mom in dismay. “Oh, no.” Just then the doors opened again and Logan stomped through with thunder in his eyes. As soon as he saw Lily sitting with their mom his face softened for a moment. “Lily, are you okay?” Logan rushed over and pulled her into a rough embrace. “I’m fine, Logan, just fine.” Lily hugged him back, sorry she’d ever let herself lose contact with Logan. This shooting had made her realize that in life there were no guarantees. Lily decided right then and there that she wasn’t going to take things for granted ever again, even her overprotective, knuckleheaded brother. “I’ve missed you, big brother.” Logan squeezed her so tightly Lily thought she might lose her breath. “I’ve missed you, too, baby sister.” Griffin and Steven returned from the nurses’ station with no further news other than the doctor would be out soon to talk with them. Lily wasn’t sure if that meant bad or good news as they all sat around not saying much. Griffin had resumed his pacing and Lily thought she would explode if he didn’t sit down soon. Thankfully, the surgeon strolled into the waiting room right before she could do any bodily harm. “Mr. Powers, Ms. Weller.” He nodded at them both. “Is this Mr. Gossnor’s family?”

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“No, doctor, this is my family,” Lily announced. “Marc’s mother will be flying up from Florida tonight.” “How’s he doing, doc?” Griffin’s eyes were wide with worry. “He came through the surgery just fine. There was some major blood loss and we do ask family members to donate blood if they can do so. Marc had some clotting issues we needed to deal with. It was one of the reasons the surgery took so long. But he’s young and healthy, and he will be fine.” “Oh, thank God.” Lily offered up additional prayers of thanksgiving for Marc’s safe recovery. “How soon can we see him?” Griffin looked anxious and worried still. “Well, he is in recovery, and as soon as he wakes up we can allow one person back there at a time. I’ll send a nurse out when he’s ready.” “Thank you, doctor.” Lily looked up at Griffin to share in the wonderful news, and saw tears pooling in the older man’s eyes. She wasn’t the only person in the room who loved Marc. “I ...” Griffin cleared his throat and tried again. “I know you want to see him, but I ... I really ...” Pulling Griffin to her, Lily’s own eyes filled with tears. Never again would she doubt his devotion to Marc. “You go in first. I’ll be here waiting for my turn.”

***** In her dreams, the bullet didn’t miss Marc’s vital organs. He died in slow motion continuously through the night, and nothing Lily could do would stop it. She played the scene out in her head like a black and white vintage film, viewing the shooting from every angle. Lily was able to rewind, fast forward, and even pause the bullet in mid air, but never was she able to stop it. And the blood. The blood was the worst part. It was thick and dark, and never ending. No matter how much pressure she put on the wound, Marc continued to bleed out right before eyes. And that was why, after thirty-six hours, Lily had only slept seven. Too exhausted to move, but too afraid to go to sleep. She couldn’t watch Marc die again. She wouldn’t. The door to his room opened, and Donna walked out. She smiled tiredly at Lily as she took the seat next to her. Donna had come straight from the airport twelve hours ago, and hadn’t left the hospital yet. Even though Marc was improving, and had regained consciousness, neither woman budged from his side. “Are you tagging me?” Lily joked, handing Donna a coffee cup.

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“The nurses are checking on him. They said we can go back in about twenty minutes, but actually, I think it’s time you went home, dear. You’ve been here longer than I have and neither one of us are doing him any good.” Lily smiled. She was tired -- no, she was beyond tired, but only an act of God was going to move her from the hospital. “I may not be doing him any good, but I’m doing me a world of good. I can’t leave Marc. I won’t.” The older lady smiled and patted Lily’s leg. “I didn’t think you would, but I had to try.” “I know and I appreciate it, but my place is with him.” “Does my son know how lucky he is to have you in his life?” “I’m the lucky one.” Especially right now. “You love him, don’t you?” “Since I was eleven, and he stole a peanut butter cup for me. He was my own version of Robin Hood.” Laughing, Donna shook her head in mirth. “Robin Hood. Now there’s a story I’d love to hear.” Thankful for the change of subject, Lily spoke of the first time she had truly met Marc, filling Donna in on their past and present. The women exchanged tales of Marc’s exploits, taking both of their minds off the serious situation at hand. It was time well spent for Lily, because she learned more about Marc and his mother, which helped shape her image of the man she was in love with today. “So how do you feel about him being back here, doing what he’s doing?” Lily couldn’t help but ask. Donna’s smiled dimmed, but she answered anyway. “I don’t agree with it. I know you’re probably surprised to hear me say that, but it’s true. I’ve learned to move on, to move forward with my life, but Marc hasn’t. I understand why he’s doing it. Part of me, a small part, is happy, but revenge isn’t worth this. Nothing is.” Lily couldn’t have agreed more. Looking down at her watch, she noted the time. “It’s my turn again.” She stood up and approached the two guards that were standing outside of Marc’s door. “Has the nurse left yet?” “About two minutes ago, Ms. Weller.” The two men looked like linebackers and frankly made Lily nervous, but she knew Griffin had hired them to make sure the person who had shot Marc didn’t get a second chance. Softly opening the door Lily crept into the room, not sure if Marc would be sleeping or not. The medication the hospital gave him made him pretty woozy and he often wasn’t even awake when she was sitting with him. Lily didn’t care, though. At least she could be with him and know he was alive. “Hey, baby, come here.” Marc spoke gruffly, his voice still raw from the breathing tube he’d had during surgery.

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“Hi, how are you feeling?” Lily leaned over and kissed his cheek lightly. Before she could step back, though, Marc snagged her hand and tugged. He was weak as a kitten and Lily could have easily pulled out of his grasp, but she let him have his way and sat on the edge of the hospital bed. “Better now that you’re here. The nurse is a sadist. She keeps sticking me with needles.” Marc’s grousing was good-natured, though, and Lily knew he appreciated all the work the hospital had done for him. She wouldn’t be surprised if they got a big anonymous donation. “Your mom was telling stories about you,” Lily revealed, her fingers tangled with the bed sheets. She really wanted to throw herself into Marc’s arms and beg him to put a stop to this stupid vengeance, but she knew it would do no good. So instead she sat next to him and made small talk. “Oh, yeah?” Marc looked tired and Lily figured he would be falling asleep soon. She wasn’t expecting his next words however. “I want to play ‘Marc Says.’” “Ha ha, very funny.” “No, I’m serious.” “You aren’t up to playing ‘Marc Says,’” Lily said with a leer and a waggling of her eyebrows. “Woman, you’ll get a punishment for teasing me. Don’t think these drugs will make me forget. Plus, you have another punishment coming, too.” “What other punishment?” Lily was indignant. Here she was worried about his well being and he was thinking of spankings. “I ordered you to go home and you fought me about getting in the car. I certainly hope you don’t think I’m going to let you get away with that.” “Marc, I am totally not going to argue with you about this.” Lily was getting mad. How dare he punish her for such a stupid thing? Of course she was no angel. As soon as he mentioned ‘Marc Says’ and punishment, her nipples began to tingle. What a pervert she was, getting hot thinking about a slap on the ass when her boyfriend was laid up in the hospital. “Good, I’m not going to argue with you either. I’ll just be biding my time.” “I have no idea why I am even listening to this nonsense.” “’Cause you care.” Marc’s voice had turned from teasing to serious and Lily was back to wanting to throw herself in his arms. Damn, her emotions were a wreck, and with no sleep it seemed as if she were jumping from highs to lows within the span of seconds. “Yes, I do.” Being careful to not jar his wound Lily lay her head down beside him. “So, just what does Marc think I should do?” “I think you should go home and get some sleep. You are dead on your feet and I’m worried about you.”

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“You’re worried about me?” Lily was amazed. Here he was in the hospital and he was worried about her. It made her heart constrict and made her want to smack him over the head at the same time. “Well, you can forget it. I’m not going home.” “Yes, you are. I don’t want to worry about having to visit you in the hospital.” “I am not going home and that’s final.” “You are going home, you are going to take a hot, steamy bath and wash your hair, and then you are going to go to bed and get at least twelve hours of sleep. Marc Says.” “Damn it, Marc, don’t do this.” Lily started to weep silently at Marc’s words. A bath and bed sounded wonderful, but she would feel disloyal if she left him. He must have realized that and was taking the decision out of her hands. God, she loved that he already seemed to know her so well. “I don’t think you want to have three punishments coming your way so you better be a good girl and do what I say.” Marc was softly stroking her hair with his good hand. “Now go get some sleep and come back here tomorrow looking as beautiful as ever. Marc Says.” Lily slowly got up from the bed and turned to look at Marc. “Okay, I’ll play ‘Marc Says.’ But one of these days we’re going to play ‘Lily Says,’ damn it.” “It doesn’t work that way,” Marc replied with a chuckle. Leaning down to kiss him goodbye, Lily whispered, “I love you.” Brushing the tears from her cheek, Marc kissed her back. “I know, Goldie, I know.”

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Chapter Fourteen Getting shot sucked. And not just for the obvious reasons like a bullet ripping through his shoulder, taking muscle and bone with it on the way out. But for less obvious reasons, like the immobilization required after a bullet wound. The worse part was that he had been shot on the right side. Marc couldn’t write, he could barely feed himself, and masturbation was completely out of the question. And Marc was a man who enjoyed a good jerk. To top things off, they hadn’t even caught the bastard. So Marc was shot, horny, and a victim of an unsolved crime. Everyone was right. Karma was a bitch. “Marc,” Griffin called, knocking on the bedroom door gently as he opened it. Seeing Marc up, he motioned behind him and entered the room. He was followed closely by an older looking gentleman who looked like he’d seen better days. “How you feeling?” Marc threw him what he hoped was an evil glare and turned off the TV. “I was shot four days ago. How do you think I feel?” “Grateful for company, I see.” Griffin’s smarmy comment almost made Marc feel bad. Almost. He was in a shitty mood. He knew it, but he wasn’t about to curb his attitude. “What’s up?” Gesturing to the gentleman in the trench coat, Griffin replied, “This is Ron Summers, the PI Steven recommended.” Great, a recommendation from one of the men who probably wanted to see him dead. This should work out like a charm. “Summers, right, you worked on the Sammy picture case.” “And I solved it just in the nick of time,” Ron replied with a slight smile. “Or would have been in the nick of time, if he hadn’t attacked her first. I probably should work on my definition of nick of time, huh?”

Great, a fucking comedian. “Have you picked up any leads?”

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Ron nodded his head as he looked around the room. “We have a couple leads.” “Like?” “Like you were shot with a gun. We’re checking into that.” The older man’s humor seemed to amuse Griffin, who was silently chuckling, but to Marc, the actual victim of the crime, it wasn’t the slightest bit funny. “What exactly are we paying you for?” “Sorry, but you have a lot of enemies. The list of who shot JR was smaller than this.” Holding up his hands, Ron silenced Marc, who was about to explode. “But I am giving it my all.” Somehow that wasn’t very reassuring. “You think you can solve it a bit faster than you did the Sammy case, like before I get attacked again?” Ron guffawed aloud and Griffin smirked before walking over to the window to hide his expression. Damn it, they were laughing at him. Marc was the wronged man here. Didn’t they have any sympathy for him at all? Ron was finally able to overcome his humor. “Seriously, Mr. Gossnor, we are working hard and I have some good leads. We will find out who’s after you.” Griffin returned from his stance at the window to add, “And I have my guys following up on everything he gets for us.” “Fine, so you both are the hardest working men in America and I am safe and sound.” The sarcasm rolled off of his tongue. “Marc, you are a horrible patient and I hope you get well soon so I can kick your ass.” He and Griffin had talked soon after he’d come out of surgery and ironed out their previous disagreements. They would never see completely eye to eye on everything, but they had been able to repair their relationship and were joking around with each other again. That is, except for when Marc was feeling moody, like today. “So do I get to find out who the top contenders are, at least?” Ron settled into the nearest chair before pulling out his well-worn notebook. “Your top three candidates are Huey, Duey and Louie, of course.” “The triumvirate,” Griffin added for clarification. “I know who he’s talking about.” Marc was starting to feel pissy again. “And then you have Mike Weller.” Ron flipped through his notebook as Griffin and Marc exchanged looks, knowing that if Mike were the culprit it could kill Marc’s relationship with Lily. “The only good news is I’ve eliminated Logan and Steven from the list of possibles.” “Surprise, surprise.” Marc didn’t seriously suspect either one of them anyway. They were the types to come at him face to face rather than try to shoot him in the back. “Solid alibis, both of them,” Ron added.

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The knocking on the door interrupted their conversation. Lily peeked around the door. “Sorry to interrupt the fun, boys, but it’s medication time.” “Damn it, I told you before I didn’t want to take that shit.” The words were out of Marc’s mouth before his brain could think to call them back. Ron and Griffin took one look at Lily and then at Marc and hightailed it out of there. “Talk to you later,” Griffin yelled as he slipped around Lily and out the door. “Sorry,” Marc sheepishly said. It wasn’t the pills. It was the fucking situation. With a raised brow, Lily walked across the room. “You’re lucky you’re hurt, buddy, or I’d kick your ...” “I know.” Reaching for her hand, Marc tugged her into his lap, only wincing lightly at the jarring motion. “Forgive me, Goldie. I’m in a shitty mood.” “And that would be different from any other day how?” she asked with a teasing smile. “Who would have thought that shooting a man would have turned him into such a baby? Maybe I should call your mom and have her come back up here.” “God, no.” Marc blanched at the thought. He loved his mother dearly, but even she had begun to get on his nerves. “I just need some TLC.” Lily stroked his jaw. “Some tender loving care.” “Hell no, some tasty Lily’s cu--” Slapping her hand over his mouth, Lily flushed. “Don’t you dare say that word. You know I hate it.” “What?” The devil inside him couldn’t resist. “Cunt!” “Yuck. I have a vagina, thank you very much.” It was so fucking funny. Lily would let him tie her up and spank her eight ways from Sunday, but a single dirty word embarrassed her. Go figure. “Yes, you do, Goldie. A very sweet, sexy, tasty vagina. Also known as pussy, and cu--” “Don’t say it.” “Okay, you say it.” Wiggling his brows leeringly, Marc teased, “Say it for me, baby.” “No.” “Marc Says.” “Damn you,” she fumed, not mad in the least. Marc knew her mad look. Lord knows he’d seen it enough over the past couple of weeks, when he refused to do as the doctor ordered. “Let me hear it, Goldie. Say cunt for Daddy.” “Take your medication first.” Lily was playing with fire, but she was just a baby when it came to the domination game.

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“This isn’t negotiable.” Marc deliberately made his tone firm and sat up higher in bed. It was hard to look in charge lying in bed, but he was going to do his damnedest. Lily stared at him a moment before dipping her head and mumbling something into the curve of her hair that she was hiding behind. “Uh, uh. You’re not getting off that easily. I want you to go sit at the other end of the bed.” Lily glanced at him curiously before going to sit at the foot of the bed, her back against the footboard. “Now, look me in the eye. I want you to say it. Say cunt, and let me hear it.” Marc knew he was intentionally making it difficult for her, but he had the need to dominate and that meant anytime he told Lily to do something, he wanted it done. And he wanted to hear her say cunt. Lily stared at him, the seconds passing into minutes before she suddenly looked him straight in the eye, a blush staining her cheeks and said, “Cunt.” It wasn’t really loud, but he heard her all the same. He knew the smile on his face was probably a mile wide. Lily started to move and Marc decided he wanted to have a little more fun. “No, stay there. I want to play.” “Marc, you need to take your medication.” “Lily, I want you to unbutton your blouse.” Marc ignored her comment about his medication. Lily licked her lips and with that little gesture Marc was a goner. “Come on, baby, unbutton your blouse for me.” Lily lowered her eyes and looked up at him through her lashes and then slowly slipped the buttons from their holdings. Inch by inch her creamy skin was revealed, a thin sliver of flesh at the opening broken only by the lace of her bra. “Slip the blouse off and toss it here.” Lily sat forward and pushed the blouse off of her shoulders before pitching it to him. “Is this the part of the doctor’s orders?” she asked, smiling shyly at him. “Of course, Dr. Marc’s cure for gunshot wounds and incurable cases of horniness.” “If horny is a problem I can fix that.” “You are as we speak.” Marc crossed his ankles and watched her with a grin. He was a freaking genius. Why didn’t he think of think of this sooner? “I want you to get up, open up your nightstand drawer and bring the vibrator and nipple clamps to me.” “Marc, you’re too sore for this,” Lily protested weakly. “Let me worry about that. You just do like I say.”

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Rolling her eyes, Lily eased herself off of the bed and did as he bade. Marc was amused by her resistance. She did what he wanted, but in her own sweet time. Someone was just begging for a spanking. Lily moved to climb back on the bed, but Marc stopped her. “Undress first. I want you nude before you climb on the bed.” Complying, Lily quickly undressed, stepping closer to him once she was bare. “Now what?” “Come here,” Marc ordered firmly, patting his lap. “Your shoulder ...” “If you contradict my orders one more time, Lily, you will regret it. I promise you.” Startled, Lily stared at him for a moment. “You already have two punishments coming to you. Don’t make it three.” Without saying a word, Lily climbed up onto the bed and straddled Marc, her eyes saying everything her lips did not. “You’re being very insolent with me today, Lily. Have you forgotten what you are to me?” “No,” she whispered, her eyes lowering as her nipples began to tighten. Eyeing her erect pebbles, Marc smiled. “What are you, Goldie? Looking up at him, she smiled shyly. “Yours.” “And what do I do with what is mine?” “Anything you want.” “That’s right. Anything I want.” Marc stroked her thigh with his left hand, enjoying the feel of her silken skin. It was hell that she was naked and straddling him and he was clothed. “Touch your breasts, baby. Lift them up and pull on those nipples for me.” Marc’s voice dropped as he spoke, gaining a husky quality as his desire grew. Lily slipped her hands under her breasts, gently raising them up before stroking her thumbs over the hardened tips. The tip of her tongue slipped out of her mouth as she grasped the engorged nubs and pulled on them, eliciting a groan from herself and Marc as well. “That’s it, baby, pull them out there.” Marc grasped the nipple clamp in his left hand and gently affixed first one and then the other. Lily threw her head back as the greedy little teeth snapped closed on the second nipple, and shifted her pelvis down hungrily over his groin. Damn, this was torture, he thought. “Tell me what it feels like,” Marc ordered, grasping her hips and pulling her towards him. “God, it hurts.” “Bad hurt?”

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Shaking her head, Lily’s eyes were smoldering. “No, good hurt. They’re so sensitive, but at the same time it’s almost like the pain is going away.” Marc gently tugged on the clamps, taking care not to pull, but just cause a sensation. “Oh, God, Marc,” Lily ground herself on him, rubbing her sweet pussy over his straining cock. “I’m going to release these in a minute and then you’re really going to feel some pain. Are you ready, baby?” “Will it be really bad?” She sounded worried. “No, baby, not too bad. And I’m here to soothe you.” Grasping the first clamp firmly in his hand, Marc watched her face as he released her nipple and the blood pooled back in. Lily’s back arched and she pushed down onto his aching cock, but she didn’t cry out in pain. Taking the abused bud into his mouth, Marc laved it with his tongue as he released the other one. “God,” she cried out, digging her hands in his hair, pulling him closer to her breasts. Marc paid the other nipple equal attention, before pushing Lily off his dick. He was hard, aching, and about to come in his shorts. Not exactly the way he’d pictured ending the evening. “Move back, baby,” Marc ordered as he opened his legs, allowing Lily to sit between them. Handing Lily a few pillows Marc had her prop her back up with them. “Spread your legs. Put one on either side of mine.” When Lily complied, Marc almost died. Her pretty little pussy was still trimmed in light downy fuzz, but it was moist and open for his visual delight. “So pretty, Goldie.” His voice was rough and his cock was hard. Marc wanted nothing more than to dive between her legs and pound them both into a stupor. “Turn the vibrator on and tease your clit with it. Rub it all around your tasty little nub.” Lily groaned his name as she did as he ordered. Her hand shook as she held back, only touching the toy to her clit. “Please, Marc, I need more.” “More what, Goldie?” “I need you inside of me now, please, Marc. Fucking my cunt.” Groaning, Marc reached out to her. He couldn’t resist her, especially when her pretty lips uttered the word cunt. Struggling with the ties of his pajama bottoms, Marc tried his best to take them off. Lily scrambled up onto her knees, her hands desperately grasping at his pants. With her help, Marc was able to take his pants off and soon had her straddled above him, inches away from his eager cock. Lily grasped his cock with one hand, and spread her lips apart with the other as she began her slow descent.

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“Stop, Lily,” Marc ordered. “Why?” she groaned, looking up into his eyes. The eye contact was what he’d been waiting for. “Keep your eyes on me, baby. It’s been so long. I want to watch you as your pussy swallows my dick.” Smiling, Lily slowly eased down, teasing him inch by inch, until she fully engulfed his cock. “I love how deep you are inside me,” she whispered, and Marc silently cursed his inability to fuck her like he wanted to. “Ride me, baby, ride me hard.” Lily took him at his word, lifting herself up before slamming down on his cock again and again. Marc could feel the tightening in his balls and knew it was only a matter of time. Reaching toward her cunt, Marc rubbed her clit furiously, bringing her climax crashing over her. The spasming of her cunt was too much for him and he yelled out as he spewed his seed deep inside her. Lily collapsed on his chest, and although it jarred his wound slightly Marc was too happy to care. “Just what the doctored ordered,” Marc said with a harsh laugh.

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Chapter Fifteen The police knocking on her door in the dead of night was a visit Helen had been expecting for years. No one could live with an alcoholic for over twenty years and be surprised when they showed up to say there had been an accident. The only thing she was surprised about was the indifference which settled into her heart. She honestly thought that after all these years she would have felt sad, at least a little bit. But after all this time, the only thing she felt was relief. It wasn’t right. In fact, it was very wrong, but Helen didn’t care. She had outlived her own personal devil. She had survived. Sitting in the hospital waiting room, Helen waited calmly for someone to come and take her back to see Mike. The doctors informed her earlier that there wasn’t much they could do. Even if Mike hadn’t driven into a tree, he still wouldn’t have had long to live. For a forty-seven-year-old man, Mike possessed the liver of an eighty-year-old. Hard living and booze had taken its toll. Just like he’d taken his on everyone around him. The only thing Helen was grateful about was that Mike hadn’t injured anyone else in the accident. Lord knows he’d hurt enough people in his lifetime. “Helen,” Dr. Tanbir called to her, breaking Helen out of her self-imposed trance. “Do you want someone to call your children?” “No.” There was no need to call anyone. Helen knew the kids would come for her, to offer her comfort, but she didn’t need comforting, and they didn’t need to be bothered just yet. There would be time to call them after Mike was gone. “Can I see him now?” “Yes. He’s heavily medicated, and going in and out of consciousness. We don’t think he’ll last through the night.” The doctor spoke slowly. Sympathy clouded his eyes as he delivered the news.

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Reaching out, Helen patted his hand. She was okay. She’d only come there to say goodbye to Mike, not to mourn him. “I know. I won’t stay long.” “Stay as long as you need, Helen.” Standing, she smiled sadly. It was horrible that the doctor felt sadder than she did. “I don’t need long.” Opening the door to Mike’s room, Helen could see him lying on the bed, hooked up to a number of different machines. She could barely see the boy he used to be in his face. At one time she’d thought he was her hero, rescuing her when she’d needed someone the most. Of course, she soon realized that he was no hero. But by then, it was too late. Her parents had given up on her and she was alone with a young child and another baby on the way. Just then Mike turned his head and opened his eyes. Noticing Helen standing in the doorway he tried to speak. Helen walked closer to the bed, looking down in disgust at the man she had allowed to run her life for far too many years. “Helen, you came back.” There was a dazed expression on Mike’s face and Helen could tell that he wasn’t really sure where he was or what had happened to him. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was amazed that she could still smell the alcohol on him. The police had told her he tested at almost twice the legal limit. “We’re still married. I guess I’m your next of kin.” Helen felt like she was at a bad party, where she was stuck making small talk and all she wanted to do was leave and get home. It was a pathetic way to sum up a marriage. “Helen, you gotta understand. It wasn’t my fault. I was trying to lose that tail Gossnor put on me.” Mike’s pleading only infuriated Helen. He had always been like this, cajoling and pleading, and forever trying to place the blame on someone else. “Mike, I need to know something. Did you shoot Marc?” Helen figured if she could do her daughter one favor it would be to ask this question now, before it was too late. “Why you asking?” Helen could tell Mike was suspicious of her question. Once again, she would have to trick him to get his cooperation. “Well, since he and Lily are dating I figured we could ask her to get him to call off the people following you.” Helen nervously crossed her fingers behind her back, amazed that she was still so superstitious. “But I just wanted to know for sure.” “No,” he grunted, his eyes going in and out of focus. “I wish I’d thought of it first, though. He turned my baby girl against me. He ruined everything.” He was always blaming a phantom person for his woes. “Okay, Mike, I believe you.” And she did. Mike didn’t look like he could point a gun these days, let alone shoot someone and get away with it. “I’m going to leave now.” “No, wait.” Mike made a feeble attempt to grab her arm, but Helen stepped away from him. She didn’t want him to touch her ever again. “What?”

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“I need you to do something ...” Mike paused for a second, as if gathering his thoughts together. “I need you to do something for me.” Helen was done doing for him. “No.” “Wait ... Helen ...” Mike coughed, and Helen instinctively moved towards him. Years of training overruled her newfound courage. Seeing his opportunity, Mike grabbed her hand and pulled her even closer. His grip wasn’t as strong as it used to be, but Helen allowed him this one last show of power. “I need you ... I need you to forgive me.” Startled, Helen looked down at him in shock. Of all the things she would have expected, this was not one of them. “What?” “I’m not going to make it. I know it. But I’ll go happily to the other side if I know you’ll forgive me for everything.” “Everything.” The word fell coolly from her lips. “Everything is a lot, Mike.” “I know. I wasn’t the best husband or father.” Now that was putting it lightly. For the sake of a roof over her and Logan’s heads, Helen had sacrificed herself to this man, who’d abused and humiliated her for years. And now he wanted her to forgive him. “Just tell me you forgive me.” His words began to get fainter, and Helen could hear the heart monitor slowing down. Mike didn’t have long. And all he wanted was her forgiveness. Helen took Mike’s hand in hers and leaned forward, until his dim green eyes were solely focused on her own. “Mike.” All he wanted was forgiveness. It would make his passing easier. All she had to say was, I forgive you. Yet she couldn’t. She didn’t forgive him, any more than she forgave herself. “I don’t forgive you. You will burn in hell for what you did to me and my children, you worthless pile of ...” “Helen,” he cried out, trying to hold tighter to her. “Please.” Releasing his hand, Helen stepped away from the bed and eyed him with distaste. Hell would be richer once he passed over. “Goodbye, Mike.”

***** Lily gently replaced the receiver of the phone and stood as if in a daze. She could hear Marc yelling from the other room, asking who’d called, but she just stood there. Marc finally walked in from the other room and when Lily saw him, she burst into tears. “Baby, baby, what is it, what’s wrong?” Marc rushed to take her in his arms, wrapping her with his warmth. “Mom … Mom just called ...” Lily blubbered, barely able to speak. “Is your mom okay? Does she need us?” Marc’s words made her start to cry even more. He was barely up and out of bed after being shot and he was ready to jump in to help and get her whatever she needed.

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Shaking her head, Lily again tried to speak. “My dad was drunk and driving and got into an accident. Mom just called from the hospital.” Marc continued to stroke her hair, holding her close and letting her speak. “He’s dead, Marc, my dad is dead.” Lily started crying again. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. Just let it out.” Marc led her over to couch and they sank down onto the cushions. “Oh, God, Marc, I’m a terrible person.” “What are you talking about? You’re not a terrible person. You have every right to be upset that your father is dead.” “But that’s just it, I’m not crying because I’m upset. I’m crying because I should be upset and I’m not. I gave up on my dad a long time ago.” Lily wasn’t happy about her dad dying, but she couldn’t help but think of how much better things would be now. Her mom wouldn’t have to go through a messy divorce. There would be no trial with her sister-in-law having to testify how Mike had attacked her. And no accusations about Marc hiring Mike and starting the whole thing. It was horrible, the sense of relief filling her, and for that Lily cried harder. What kind of daughter felt relief when her father died? “And my mom, she was there the whole time by herself. I should have been there.” “Honey, if Helen had wanted you there she would have called you,” Marc murmured into her hair. He lovingly stroked her back as he whispered words of love. “You are such a loving, caring person, Lily. I mean, look at you. You’re in the arms of the most hated person in this town. You’ve managed to overlook what anyone else has ever said, and see me for me. Your big heart is one of the many things I love about you.” With tears pouring down her face, Lily pulled away from Marc and stared at him in surprise. This was the first time he’d ever mentioned the word love to her. It was no surprise to her that he did love her. Marc was one of the most loving people she knew. Lily was just surprised he’d finally said it. She knew how hard it was for him to open up and share his feelings with anyone, and the fact that he did now, when she needed it the most, just made her love him all the more. “You don’t think I’m horrible.” Marc smiled softly. “Far from it, honey.” Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Marc continued. “I care so much for you. I know that I don’t always say the things ...” Reaching up, Lily placed her fingers over his lips. “I don’t need the words.” Marc moved her hand away. “But I need to say them. I love you, Goldie.” Taking a page from his book, Lily simply responded, “I know.” Chuckling, Marc pulled her back into his arms. “Does your mom need you to call anyone? I can have Griffin make all the arrangements for her. I’m sure your mom is torn up.”

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Staring into the fire, Lily frowned. Her mother hadn’t sounded upset. Her voice had been cool in a detached sort of way, but nowhere near what Lily would have expected. “I asked her, and she said no. She didn’t even want me to come over. But I think I should anyway, what do you think?” “I think your mom needs time.” Marc leaned his head against hers. “You’re right.” Lily felt lost. She and Mike hadn’t been close for years, and even though he’d done some horrible things in the last few years, he was still her father. “He wasn’t always bad, Marc. I remember good things.” “And that’s what you need to do, concentrate on the good, Lily. Nothing else matters.” “Tell that to Steven and Logan.” “I’m telling that to you. You’re allowed to have your own feelings, separate from those of your brothers. It’s okay to remember the good times. At least you have some to remember. My father died when I was sixteen and I only have a handful of memories of him.” “Really?” “Yeah.” Marc stroked her hair as he talked. His soft voice was lulling her. “He was always working. Double shifts, swing shifts, it didn’t matter. If there was money to be made, my dad was there. And when he wasn’t at work he was at the bar. My parents married so young, and got nowhere. Even if we weren’t run out of town, I would have left. That wasn’t the life I wanted for myself.” “And yet, you’re here, back in the same town you vowed to get out of as child.” “Yes, but it’s under different circumstances.” “Not really.” Marc looked down into her face and smiled. “Oh, yes, it is definitely different circumstances. I’m not slogging away in a factory while the fat cat collects all the money.” “You’re the fat cat?” Lily was imagining him as the Cheshire cat in the Alice in Wonderland movie. Nope, it just didn’t work for her. Marc laughed. “No, not the fat cat exactly. I don’t treat my employees like crap.” Sobering for a moment Lily wondered if she dared tell Marc her thoughts. “I’m worried about you, Marc.” “Hey, now, where did this come from?” Marc took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. “I used to love my dad and I saw him destroy himself. He was always blaming the other guy for everything.” “Okay, baby, you lost me.” “Don’t let your hatred and vengeance destroy you, Marc. I wouldn’t be able to stand it.” “Baby, you don’t need to worry. We’ll find the moron who tried to shoot me and this will be a faint memory.”

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Lily didn’t know if Marc was deliberately being obtuse or if he really didn’t see the difference between him being shot and how his vengeance would affect his overall being. Yes, she was afraid for him physically. But she was also afraid Marc would become obsessed with his revenge, so much so that it would swallow him whole, and he would become a shell of his former self. She didn’t want him to go the Anakin route. Looking into the fireplace, Lily allowed Marc to continue to soothe her. It made them both feel better, but Lily couldn’t tamp down those thoughts that told her this was not over, not by a long shot.

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Chapter Sixteen Marc rested at his desk after the conference call with his offices in Columbus. His first day back at work and a fucking conference call left him tired. He was actually looking forward to getting home tonight. Of course home meant Lily. She’d been staying with him since the shooting and Marc had decided he wasn’t going to let her leave. Yep, that was it, he was kidnapping her and keeping her hostage in his house, and he was damned pleased about his decision. Marc sighed as the phone rang. He was really enjoying his train of thought. “Yeah.” “Great customer service you have there,” Griffin teased. “So do you have anything for me?” Spinning his chair around so he could look out the window over the town square, Marc leaned back, waiting for the excuses he was sure were coming. “We haven’t been able to nail down any more on our original leads, but we have some ideas.” “Ideas?” Marc was not worried so much about himself as he was about Lily. He knew she didn’t like the restrictions he was forcing on her and he didn’t want to do it. But he knew the best way to hurt him was to hurt those he loved. “Griffin, I am getting sick of this. When are you guys going to come up with something substantial? What about my idea of drawing them out?” “I don’t know, Marc, I think it’s too dangerous.” “Damn it, Griffin, you and that PI you hired have got nothing and it’s been weeks. We need to be proactive and draw him out so I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.” “I’m just worried, Marc. There are so many variables if we go about it that way. We would have to watch all of the possibles, and it would be impossible to completely protect

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you.” Marc could hear the worry in Griffin’s voice. He knew how much the shooting had affected Griffin, especially considering security was his job. Griffin felt like he’d let Marc down, despite Marc’s constant reassurance that it wasn’t the case. “Griffin, no more discussion. We’re going to do this. Now let’s talk logistics.” Marc heard Griffin sigh and knew that although he wasn’t happy about it he was going to do whatever Marc wanted. “Well, we know the triumvirate wanted to buy you out of the plant. We could push up the grand opening there.” “Good, the grand opening is a great idea. Lots of news crews again and the whole Grossman Corp. image machine can do their stuff. Get the word out and make sure all the interested parties hear about it.” “Is it too late to say that I think this idea is stupidity in its highest form? I mean if you’re in a hurry to die, why not just paint a bull’s eye on your forehead and march down Main Street?” Irritated, Marc frowned. “Look, I don’t relish the idea of being anyone’s target boy. But until you and Detective Clouseau figure out who’s behind all of this, Lily is in danger, and I won’t have it, Griffin.” “There is an easier way, you know, Marc.” “If the situation was reversed, could you forgive and forget so easily, Griff? If it was your family hurt, would you pass the peace pipe?” “My family was hurt.” Griffin’s words humbled him. “I don’t want to bury you, Marc.” Sighing, Marc closed his eyes. When had his cold-hearted mentor become so damn feminine? “Griff, I’m not going to die. You’re beginning to sound like Lily.” “Maybe you should listen to her.” “If this goes right, I won’t have to listen to either one of you. I want the plant ready to open in a week’s time. I won’t live my life under a microscope any longer.” “Fine,” Griffin growled. “But if you get killed I’m going to go work for Elliot Sobe.” “That hurts, man. That really hurts.” Marc laughed, amused that Griffin would threaten to work for his biggest competitor. “His health plan sucks, you know.” “I know, but there’s less gunfire there.” “Touché.” Sitting up, Marc stretched a bit, trying to relieve some of the tension in his shoulder. “So let’s mark our date. Operation Marc as Bait to commence in one week’s time.” “If that’s what you want.” “It is. I’ll talk to you later.” Finally, things were going his way. Griffin would have the bastard hogtied before he knew what happened to him. Smiling, Marc turned around to hang up the phone and jumped when he saw Lily standing in front of his desk with a picnic basket and a frown. “Hey, Goldie. How long have you been standing there?”

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Setting her basket down slowly on the desk, Lily responded. “Since right around the time you were chastising Griffin for sounding too much like me.”

Ouch. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” “Really?” Arms crossed at her chest, Lily seemed less than amused. “What exactly is Operation Marc as Bait?” Sighing, Marc stood up. “I don’t suppose you’d buy it if I told you I said Operation Masturbate.” “You’d suppose right. Tell me I’m wrong, Marc. Tell me you’re not going to do what I think you are.” Evading her question for a little while longer Marc tried to change the subject to food. Walking around the desk he tried to poke into the picnic basket. “So is this another welcome wagon present -- you know, like welcome back to work?” “I am not a child, Marc, and you can’t just change the subject and expect me to go along with it. Answer me, damn it.” Sighing, Marc ran his fingers through his hair. He’d hoped -- no prayed that he could pull this off without Lily ever knowing anything about it. God still wasn’t answering his prayers. “Yes, it probably is what you are thinking.” “Are you crazy?” Lily was practically screeching. “This is the stupidest, most idiotic idea I have ever heard. Why don’t you just walk down the middle of the street and ask someone to shoot you?” Marc shook his head. She and Griffin must have gone to the same snappy slogan store. “Lily, it’s not like that. I am already in danger. This will just be in a more controlled environment. Griffin and Ron can be prepared. Instead of waiting around for what might happen, we can force something to happen.” Marc thought his logic was very sound, but Lily must not have thought so because she threw up her hands and muttered, “Men!” Rounding on him, she poked a finger into his chest. “Don’t you think I know that you are in danger every day? Don’t you know how hard it was for me to let you go to work?” Let him go, Marc thought, okay, now that was going too far. But Lily wasn’t finished yet. “You and I both know how to stop this once and for all.” Enough was enough. First Griffin and now Lily. Marc was just too through with the whole damn subject. “I’m sorry you don’t agree with my plans, but I’m not changing them now. I have come too far to let those bastards off with a ‘good luck’ and a handshake.” “I never said you should let them go. But why do you think you need to be judge, jury and executioner? You can turn over all the evidence you’ve gathered to proper authorities and let them handle it.” “Yes, because the system always works.” His sarcasm wasn’t lost on Lily. “No, not always, but neither does vengeance.” Lily went from poking him to holding onto his shirt. “Marc, you have to stop. I’m begging you.”

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Stepping back, Marc felt his heart freezing. “Don’t ask me to do that, Lily.” “I have to.” Tears welled in her eyes, making them shimmer like sapphires. “For me, Marc.” “Damn it, Lily, you knew what I was doing before you got involved with me.” “I’m not just involved with you, you arrogant ass. I’m in love with you. And when you’re in love, nothing else matters.” Lily beseeched him with her eyes. “Please Marc, I can’t stand to see another man I love throw his life away. I don’t to want let another man I love die.” Marc tried to pull her into his arms, and she struggled a bit before finally allowing him to hold her. He couldn’t believe she was going to allow something like this to come between them. “Baby, it’s not going to happen that way. We will do this thing, draw the bastard out, and then it will all be over.” He stroked her hair softly, hoping against hope she would understand. Pulling back from him, Lily looked up with tears streaking her face. “Marc, I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. I have tried to understand you and love you for the man you are. But this is killing me inside, knowing you can throw away our love so cheaply.” Marc tried to interrupt her but she put a finger to his lips. “No, let me finish. You once told me if you ever did anything that scared or frightened me all I had to do was say the word. Well, I’m saying it. Porridge.” Marc was in shock. Turning, Lily stumbled away from him. He tried to grab her arm and steady her, but she wrenched free and ran out of the room. “Son of a bitch!” Marc yelled, kicking the chair from in front of his desk. Of all of the things he’d expected her to say, porridge was nowhere on the list. Two men burst through his door, guns drawn. “Is everything okay?” Startled, Marc just stared at them. Were they fucking crazy? “Where the hell were you two when she came in here? She could have had a weapon.” “Lily Weller ... your girlfriend?” one guard said, looking at him, surprised. “The point is you just let her walk in here.” And now she was walking away from him. Damn it all to hell. Pushing past the stunned guards, Marc stormed out of his office and down the corridor. If Lily thought she was just going to yell a safety word and he was going to back off, she had another “think” coming. This wasn’t sex. This was their lives, and Marc wasn’t going to just let her walk away. Hurrying out of the building and into the parking lot, Marc scanned the cars, looking for Lily. She had to have been really pissed off because she was nowhere to be seen. Clenching his fists at his side, Marc wanted to throw his head back and scream at the sky. Fucking karma sucked. He needed to start going to church or donating to orphanages, or

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something, because it seemed like every time he turned around, God was jabbing him in the ass. “Marc Gossnor,” a voice called from behind him. “What?” he fumed. Turning around, Marc looked into the barrel of a gun. Marc stared stupidly at Judith Hines, trying to reconcile the woman he remembered from his childhood with the woman standing before him holding a gun. “I think we need to talk. Let’s head over to my car. It’s the black CRV.” She stepped behind him and poked him in the back to accent her words. Walking towards the car, Marc mentally shook his head. They’d never considered one of the wives; they had always focused in on the husbands. Damn stupid-ass move. He should have known women could be as vindictive as men. He had a mother, for Christ’s sake. Pointing her remote control at the car, Judith unlocked the door and motioned for him to enter on the driver’s side as she slipped into the passenger’s seat. Sticking the keys in the ignition, she started the vehicle. “Start driving. Out to the plant.” Marc stared mulishly ahead, not moving. “I don’t take orders very well.” She surprised him with her viciousness. Taking the barrel of the gun she dug it into his shoulder wound, forcing the air out of his lungs. “I don’t care what you want. Start driving, now!” Marc could barely lift his arm up to put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb, heading for the plant. The burning in his shoulder was intense and Marc was wondering how much longer he was going to have mobility in that arm. “You thought we should talk, so talk.” “Are you kidding me?” She laughed. Her chuckle sounded as insane as she did. “Do you really expect me to monologue you like some dime store villain? You’re the villain here, asshole. I’m the victim.” Well, it would have been nice. It might have tied up a few things, that was for sure. “Can you at least tell me why?” “Why? Why? You stupid prick.” Leaning over Judith poked him again with the gun. “You ruined everything. Just like your bitch of a mother did all those years ago.” “My mother?” “She couldn’t just leave well enough alone. So her fucking husband died; big deal. People die every day. She wanted sympathy, and she wanted my Patrick. And if it wasn’t for Adam agreeing -- for a little favor I might add -- to not give her a loan, she would have stayed here, and taken my Patrick away.” “I sincerely doubt my mother wanted anything to do with your husband,” Marc bit out through clenched teeth. He could tell the wound had opened back up. The blood was slowly seeping down his arm and he had to seriously concentrate to stay focused on the road. His shoulder hurt like a son of a bitch.

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“It doesn’t matter what you think. I got rid of you before, and I’ll do it again. There are lots of places in the plant to put a body.” She talked as if she knew that for a fact. “They’re going to figure it out, Judith. I have security cameras surrounding my office. It’s only a matter of time.” Marc had also hit his GPS tracker when he was sliding into the driver’s seat. Now he only hoped that Griffin was on his game and heading this way. “Time is one luxury you no longer have.” Marc wasn’t scared, although he probably should have been. No, he was seriously pissed off. First, they had totally missed Judith Hines as a suspect. This bitch was calling his mother a whore. His arm felt like a lead weight, and to top it all off Lily had walked out on him. This was so not a good day. “You think you are so high and mighty, coming back here. All Patrick can talk about is getting the damn plant back. You fucked up our lives and I won’t have it.” Marc didn’t even bother to respond. She was venting to herself and barely paying attention to him right now. If he had full use of his arm he would have tried for the gun. Unfortunately, he was at a bit of a disadvantage. He just hoped that someone was looking for him.

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Chapter Seventeen Slamming her hand on the steering wheel, Lily cursed fate for making her fall in love with Marc again. He was just so stubborn, so arrogant, so everything she didn’t want in her life. Yet at the same time, he was so loving, so caring, and so the one man she did want her in life. But the way he was going, he wouldn’t live out the year and Lily couldn’t survive if she had to bury him. She wouldn’t want to. Lily was at a complete loss as to what to do. She loved him; that she was sure of, but she couldn’t sit idly by and watch him destroy his life. Marc was owed his vengeance. He deserved it. But he deserved a lifetime of happiness as well. One she could give him in a heartbeat and the other she wanted nothing to do with. Despite her declaration of porridge, Lily wasn’t going to leave him; she just needed time to think. The vibration of her cell phone startled Lily, who had to wrestle her purse open to get to it. Hoping it was Marc, Lily spoke quickly, praying the caller wouldn’t hang up. “Hello.” “Lily?” The voice was muffled a bit, but Lily could just about make it out. “Yes, Griffin, is that you?” There was happiness in his voice that instantly made her want to smile. “I got great news, baby girl. We got ‘em.” There was only one ‘them’ who Griffin would be that excited by. “Put Marc on the phone real quick and I’ll explain it all.” Frowning, Lily tried to maneuver the car off the street so she could talk to Griffin, but wasn’t able to get over because of the heavy flow of traffic. “Marc isn’t here.” “What do you mean he isn’t with you? He’s not answering his phone.” “We just got into a little bit of a ...” Not wanting to go into it with Griffin, Lily redirected the conversation. “Who is it?”

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“Ron was able to pull some footage from the day of the shooting. The damn news crew wouldn’t give up the tape, but Ron was able to get around that, and there she was as clear as day.” “Who?” Did he say she? “But I have to talk to Marc. He won’t believe that Judith ...” “Judith!” Lily’s heart stopped cold, as she swerved over two lanes, to stop the car at the curb. “Do you mean Judith Hines?” “Yes, she ...” Lily heard a loud beeping going off before Griffin cursed loudly. “Son of a bitch. Something’s wrong with Marc. His GPS just went off.” “Fuck his GPS, Judith was pulling into the parking lot when I was pulling out.” “Damn it, if she showed up at his office there’s no telling what the hell is going on.” Griffin sounded worried and so was Lily. This was the very reason she didn’t want Marc to set himself up as bait. Dear God, what would she do if she lost him now? “This doesn’t make any sense. His GPS has him heading out of town.” “Out of town? Which way?” Lily was frantic, wondering what was happening to Marc. At least he was on the move, which meant he was alive. “East. Why would he be driving out of town?” “The mill is out east. He must be going out there.” Lily immediately turned her car around, much to the dismay of the oncoming traffic, and started in the direction of the mill. “Ron and I will head out there. You stay put.” Now Griffin was trying to give her orders. “Screw you. I’m closer than you are, plus I might be able to reason with her. She is a woman, after all.” “A crazy psycho bitch, you mean. Ron found out that she has been hospitalized a number of times. She’s not stable.” Weaving through traffic Lily finally made it onto the road that headed to the mill. “Griffin, this little dialogue is not helping.” “I’m sorry. Damn it, we’ll be right there.” Griffin hung up and Lily threw her phone back into her purse as she pushed the pedal to the floor. God, where was a cop when you needed one? She could use a speeding ticket right now and a nice police officer with a gun to go with it. Lily was shaking by the time she caught sight of the mill. Ever since it had closed it made her think of ghost movies and things that go bump in the night. It was a huge, scary building and she was going in to find, as Griffin put it, the ‘crazy psycho bitch’ who’d shot her boyfriend. Sounded liked a wonderful plan.

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Pulling into the parking lot, Lily spotted Judith’s car right away. Quickly parking next to it, she hopped out of her car and felt the hood like she’d seen in some old detective movie. Yep, it was still warm. That meant she wasn’t far behind them. Opening the door, Lily peered into the darkness, trying to see if she could spot Judith or Marc. She thought she heard some noises up on the second level and tried to figure out how she would get up there. The only feasible thing Lily could see was a freight elevator, but if she took it she might as well wave a sign that said “please shoot my boyfriend.” Following the wall around, Lily came to a set of stairs, which led up to the second floor. Making sure to keep flush with the wall, Lily took the stairs as quickly as she could, praying all the while for the Lord’s help. If ... no, when she got Marc out of this she was going to tell him she loved him, then bash his head in with the largest item she could find. Then she would pick him up, and repeat the process until he got it through his thick skull that his life belonged to her, just as much as hers belonged to him. Lily was never going to let him out of her sight again if she could help it. Peeking around the corner, Lily looked for any signs of them, but other than muted voices, nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. With a deep breath, and more courage than nerves, Lily slowly made her way across the room, stopping to pick up a crowbar off a wooden box in the process. The voices got louder the closer Lily came to a room with no door. It wasn’t until she was right at the doorway of the room that she noticed that it wasn’t two voices, only one. Judith was not only talking to herself she was answering herself, and she sounded spooky as hell. “He thought I couldn’t do it. But I showed him.”

Who was she talking about? The lack of Marc’s boastful voice was beginning to worry Lily. She knew if Judith, in all of her craziness, had hurt him, that Lily was going to kill her. Suddenly the vengeance thing made a whole lot more sense. Silently praying, Lily slowly peeked around through the open doorway and almost cried out in relief. Marc was there, and alive if his stubborn expression was anything to go by. But his white shirt was darkened by blood, and he looked a lot paler than Lily liked. He was sitting in a chair, tied with rope, but he looked like he was some royal despot sitting on his throne. Standing back up, Lily brought the crowbar up to her shoulder like a bat, just praying for guidance and the opportunity to swing like Babe Ruth. “Everything will go back to normal when you’re dead. Patrick won’t want to leave and we’ll be happy again. I can make him happy again, just you see.” “I thought you promised no monologuing.”

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Lily cringed at Marc’s bored tone. The idiot was going to get himself killed, but damn, it was good to hear him talking. Unfortunately, that wasn’t all she heard. Stepping back quickly, Lily glanced out the nearby window to see a car skid into the parking lot. Ron and Griffin jumped out and ran towards the building. Damn it, if they weren’t careful they were going to give away that someone else was here. Lily decided that she better act fast, before common sense made her change her mind. Peeking around the doorway again she realized that maybe she was wrong and Judith wouldn’t hear if a bomb went off. She was too busy talking and answering herself. “Oh, yeah, he never thought I was pretty enough, but I gave him two children. He should have appreciated me.” Swinging the gun wildly, Judith looked back at Marc. “How come he was so interested in that whore when I was at home, huh?” Marc suddenly looked right at Lily, eyes widening before quickly turning his head away. “Maybe your husband is a letch and he doesn’t deserve you.” Lily realized Marc was trying to draw Judith away from the door. “No, Patrick is a wonderful man. How could you say something so hurtful?” Judith’s voice sounded almost childlike for a moment. Lily crept closer, deciding to make her move. Just when Lily thought she had the drop on Judith something must have tipped her off and she turned. Making a split second decision Lily threw the crowbar right at Judith’s hand, hitting her arm just as the gun went off. “Lily!” Marc screamed her name as a look of terror washed over his face. Judith dropped the gun to the floor as Marc shoved her with his legs from behind. Lily quickly kicked the gun out of reach before hauling off and punching Judith in the face. Judith dropped like a lead weight, crumpling at their feet. Lily’s knuckles were killing her and she didn’t know why she had decided to do something so childish, but it sure did feel good. Lily started giggling nervously to herself as she heard Griffin and Ron racing up the stairs behind her, calling her and Marc’s names. All her pent up energy was going off like a bomb inside of her body. “The cavalry has arrived.” “Lily, baby, are you okay?” Sober for a moment, Lily nodded her head before attempting to untie Marc. When she went behind the chair, she realized Marc was almost untied. “What’s going on here?” she asked, indicating the rope. So much for her grand rescue. “Judith was never in the Boy Scouts.” “Like you were.” She grimaced at the blood pooling at his wrist. It must hurt like hell. Good. “So tell me, dear heart. Was this all part of Operation Masturbation?” Now that Judith was out like a light, Lily was feeling pounds lighter. Marc was going to be okay. “I can honestly say that this was not part of the plan.”

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Griffin racing into the room cut off any comment Lily might have been about to make. The look of worry on the older man’s face instantly sobered her. Looking down at Judith, who was passed out on the floor, Griffin muttered a curse, and strolled over to where the gun lay on the floor. “I’m okay, Griff.” Marc groaned as he eased up from the chair with Lily’s help. “The GPS thing worked like a charm.” “Uhh, hello.” Lily pinched his side, earning her an evil glare. “I’m sorry but I don’t recall the GPS thing throwing a crowbar at Lizzy Borden over there.” “Lily ...” Marc growled her name, tossing a nod at Griffin, who looked extremely pale. Lily instantly felt bad. She should have known he was trying to reassure Griffin, who looked like he was about to lose his lunch. Lily had almost lost a lover, but Griffin had almost lost a son. “No, she’s right.” Griffin looked over at them with a sheepish look on his pale face. “I think I need to be re-assigned or something. I’m beginning to think I really suck at my job.” “No, you don’t,” Lily intervened. “Judith was just crazy. No amount of preparation can account for that.” Ron laughed as he handcuffed the woman. “Well if it helps, we have the proof we need to make sure she gets locked up for a long time to come.” “Yes, I feel loads better.” Marc’s dry voice held a hint of pain in it. “I think we need to get an ambulance here, though.” “It’s already on its way, along with the cops.” Ron sat down on the chair Marc just vacated and watched Judith for any signs of movement. “Well, it better get here soon.” Marc swayed as he spoke. Rushing to his side, Griffin used himself as a crutch. Anchored between Griffin and Lily, Marc made his way out of the room. “Lily.” “Yes?” “Did I say thank you for saving my life?” Tears welled up in her eyes, as she held onto him tightly. “No, I don’t believe you did.” Leaning over he lightly kissed her, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and love. “Thank you for saving my life. And thank you for not saying I told you so. I guess I owe you one.” Lily had to bite back a smile. She had planned to sing I told you so at the top of her lungs, but now that he said that, she might hold back for a day or two. “Don’t worry. I’m already thinking up your punishment.” “I can’t wait.” Marc’s sweet laughter was like music to her soul.

*****

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Lily finished speaking with the doctor and walked over to Griffin and Ron, who were talking with the police. “The doctor said Marc will be discharged tonight. They are just going to bandage him back up and give him some pills for the pain.” “Thank God. Lily, I’m serious, maybe you should talk to Marc about hiring some new security.” “Griffin, don’t be an ass. You just are feeling this one a little bit more because of how close you are to Marc. It’s a one-time thing, okay?” Lily had really gotten to know Griffin since she and Marc had begun dating and she liked him a lot. He was like Marc’s father and she knew that it would kill Marc if Griffin left. “I gotta get a life.” Griffin ran his hands through his hair. “Marc’s got you now and hopefully this stupid vengeance thing is over. I need to relax for five minutes.” “Hey, old man, you want to go trolling the bars with me?” Ron leered at Griffin, and Lily burst into laughter. “Oh, boy, two men on the prowl. I better go check on Marc before you suck me into your evil ploys.” Still laughing Lily turned back to Marc’s room and quietly knocked on the door before peeking inside. The nurse was just finishing the dressing change. “Hey, baby, come here.” Marc held out his good arm and Lily went to him willingly. Snuggling against him Lily breathed in the musky male scent that was Marc. She wasn’t sure if she would have been able to handle it if she had lost him. “I love you, Marc.” “I love you, too, baby.” Marc stroked her arm, sending shivers down her spine. “Don’t ever do anything as stupid as that again. Do you hear me?” “Get kidnapped? No, I don’t ever plan to do that again.” Leaning back from his embrace, Lily poked a finger into his chest. “I’m serious, Marc. This is all just a culmination of your stupid revenge and I want it stopped, now. I love you, damn it, and I don’t want to be alone because you are being a lunkhead.” “A lunkhead?” he grinned. “Yes, a lunkhead. I throw a mean crowbar, don’t you forget.” “Like you’d let me.” He was taking this way too casually for her peace her mind. “I’m serious, Marc. You scared the crap out of me. I can’t take it.” Marc tightened his hold with his good hand, and held onto her. “Lily, I swear to you, I’m not taking this lightly. It could have been you she hurt.” “You act like my life is more important than yours.” “It is.” Lily could tell Marc was completely serious, but she couldn’t get mad at him, because she felt the exact same way.

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“Just think about the way you feel when you imagine me hurt, and then double it, then triple it, because while it’s just a thought for you, I’ve had to live through it twice.” Stepping away from him, Lily took a deep calming breath. If they were going to go on, then Marc needed to really understand what he was asking of her. “I’ve had to sit through ‘what ifs’ twice now, and I don’t think I can do it a third time.” “If you even say porridge ...” Marc growled, slowly standing up. Holding up her hand to ward him off, Lily continued. “I’m not saying porridge; I’m saying be fair. Put yourself in my shoes, Marc. Your life means as much to me as mine does to you. Think long and hard about your vengeance. Your mom is happy. She’s moved on and has a great life. All that is left is for you to do the same thing. I’m here for you, Marc, when you’re ready to move on, but I won’t sit idly by and watch you court danger. I love you too much to do that. Call me when you’re ready.” With that announcement, Lily kissed him briefly before walking out of the hospital room. A girl could only take so much in one day.

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Chapter Eighteen Marc stood outside Lily’s apartment, contemplating his future. He knew as soon as Lily had walked out of his hospital room that he would be calling her. Hell, not just calling her but pinning her down and making sure there was no way she would ever get away from him again. He briefly wondered if Lily would still be mad at him before he leaned forward and pressed her doorbell. Lily whipped open the door a few seconds later. “So what are you doing here?” “Hello to you, too.” Marc chuckled as he stepped into her apartment. He wanted to pull her into his arms and just love her, but he could tell from her expression that this was not going to be one of those times where he just said “sorry, baby” and it would be all over. Marc wasn’t the type to play those sissy boy games. "Fine then, hello. Now what are you doing here?" "Still mad, I see." "I'm not mad." Lily sighed. "I just don't know what else we have left to say." “A lot.” “Like ...” "Like a lot." This was frustrating as hell. "You could act like you’re happy to see me alive and well." "Of course I am, Marc, but I’m not sure I should get my hopes up too far. I mean, what's the likelihood of you staying that way?" "Nothing is going to happen to me, Lily." "Again?" Lily arched her eyebrow in question. "Damn it, Lily."

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"Damn it, Marc." Her voice held a hint of amusement that was annoying and relieving all at the same time. If she was this mad, she still cared, and that's all that mattered. "I love you." "And I love you, but that has nothing to do with anything." "The hell it doesn’t." Pulling her body in tight, Marc captured her mouth in a bruising kiss, sweeping his tongue inside. As usual, Lily immediately responded to him, slipping her arms around his neck and molding her body to his. It felt like weeks instead of days since he’d felt her touch, and for that alone, Marc wanted to curse. The little vixen had avoided him, not returned any of his calls, and if she thought she was going to get away with it, Lily had another “think” coming. Breaking away from her tempting mouth, Marc stared down into her lust-filled eyes. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one suffering from their abstinence. "Tell me you can live without that." Lips wet, eyes wide, Lily appeared as flustered as he felt. But still she didn't back down. "Tell me that you're willing to change." And that was the entire problem right there. Lily was asking him to do something Marc didn’t think he was capable of. To give up the thing that had fueled him for the last fifteen years. All for her. “And that’s the only thing keeping you from me, my lust for revenge?” “No, the fear of losing you.” Caressing his face, Lily peered up into his eyes hopefully. “I can live with you hating them. I can live with you giving them evil glares when we run into them, but I can’t live without you.” “I’ve lived my life for years knowing that I was going to make them pay.” Marc still wanted to make them pay, even though he could feel all the control slipping from his grasp. Lily continued to stroke his arm, as if sensing his weakening resolve. “No one is saying you haven’t made them pay, Marc. You just need to realize when it’s okay to let go. And I’m telling you, it’s okay.” Breaking away from her, Marc began pacing. “I’ve been my own boss, making my own decisions. Why should I start taking orders from some little slip of a woman?” “’Cause you love me, that’s why. And you know I’ll make it worth your while.” As she spoke she reached for the hem of her sweater and pulled it off, revealing her white, creamy skin. Marc groaned at the sight. Now this was just wrong. She wasn’t playing fair. How was he supposed to stay resolved when she tempted him like this? “It’s not that easy, Lily.” “It is that easy,” she countered quickly. “You give up control, let them make a mess of their own lives all by themselves, and get to punish and love me for the rest of our lives.” Marc gathered her in his arms, enjoying the feel of Lily’s body pressing against him. He was going to let her tempt him just a bit longer. He knew before coming over here today that

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he would most likely be giving up the ghost on fifteen years of revenge. It just wasn’t as fun anymore when you got shot and kidnapped. Plus he was ready for it to be over as well. Lily had made that possible. The love he felt for her was all encompassing, and really didn’t give him much time to plan evil plots. “Sounds like a win-win situation to me. But can I gloat when they fuck up and laugh maniacally when they come begging me for help?” Lily leaned back and looked at him quizzically before breaking into a huge smile. “Of course you can, baby.” She hugged him tightly before leading him into the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, Marc pulled Lily towards him. “You know we still have a little matter of your punishment to attend to.” Marc gripped his hand in her hip, squeezing her full cheek. “I want you out of these pants and across my lap.” “I don’t remember any punishments.” “Let me refresh your memory. One for refusing to get in the car the day of the grand reopening and the other for teasing me,” he said as he stroked her lightly rounded bottom. “But I’m willing to overlook them just this once.” “Gee, thanks,” Lily muttered crossly. Raising a brow, Marc interrupted her. “Marc Says.” Lily muttered under her breath as she stood and did as he requested, dropping across his lap with a pout on her pretty lips. Marc had to bite back a chuckle at her wanton display of temper. It was amusing but something they would have to work on. Good thing they had the rest of their lives. Bringing his hand down sharply over her upturned cheeks. “And since I’m being so nice, I think you owe me a thank you.” Lily turned to look at him with a frown. “Hey, I saved your life. Raising a brow, Marc delivered another smack, causing her to jerk on his lap. “And I said thank you, brat. Now it’s your turn.” When Lily just continued to stare, Marc slapped her cheeks again. He continued administering her spanking, until Lily surrendered, crying out his name in passion. “Yes?” he inquired teasingly. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” she shouted out, thrashing on his lap. Marc raised his hand from her warm bottom and looked down into her passion-filled eyes. Running his tingling hand between her legs, Marc smiled when he felt her moist pussy, slick from her excitement. “Dirty girl,” he murmured, lovingly caressing her mound. Arching up into his hand, Lily slowly smiled. “And you wouldn’t have me any other way.” Feathering his fingers between her moist lips, Marc zoned in on her erect bud, squeezing it gently between his fingers. Lily moaned, gripping her nails into his thighs.

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“I’ve missed this.” Marc groaned, his own arousal heightening from the touch of her. Coating his fingers with her dew, Marc slipped them between her cheeks to her awaiting virgin hole. Lily shifted restlessly on his lap, as if in anticipation of his impending foray. Marc stroked along her crease, coating her with her own sweet nectar. Rubbing tiny circles around her hole, he slipped the tip of his finger inside. “Is this how you like it?” Marc ran his finger around her silken walls. “Oh, God, it’s not enough,” Lily cried, bucking against his invading digit. Marc gritted his teeth at her responsiveness. Knowing how much she wanted him and what he did to her made it all the better. Never in a million years would he have guessed at what lay beneath her cool exterior. He was only glad he’d decided to find out. “Shhh, baby, I’ll give you all you need.” Marc gently removed his finger and rummaged around in the bedside table, finding the lube he’d left there. Coating his fingers, he gently covered her puckered rosette. He was able to slip one finger easily inside and carefully added a second, thrusting them back and forth. Lily was digging her nails into the pillows on the bed, alternately grinding her pussy against his leg and thrusting her ass back against his probing fingers. She was whimpering with need. “Tell me what you want,” Marc urged, pushing her further by adding another finger. “You know what I want,” Lily sobbed. Pulling his fingers from her ass, Marc slapped her bottom soundly. “No backing down. You tell me.” “Fuck me, Marc, fuck my ass. Please.” “I plan to, Goldie, I plan to.” Marc gently moved Lily off his lap and made her kneel in the middle of the bed. Going back to the bedside table he found the vibrator and brought it to her. “I want you to use this on yourself as I fuck your sweet ass.” Lily circled her clit with the vibrator before rubbing it along her slit. Grabbing the lube, Marc coated his cock with the gelled substance before once again preparing her ass. Marc gently rubbed his cock around the outside of her ass, easing it in a little at a time. Lily tensed for a moment before relaxing slightly, allowing him to ease the head in her entrance. Moving just inches at a time, Marc slowly slid in, gritting his teeth as he fought against his need to push all the way in. God, she was tight. So fucking tight. Marc eased back, bracing his good hand on her hip. As he pushed forward again, Lily moaned with pleasure. “Are you okay, baby?” Marc eased back, noticing that she was still rubbing the vibrator back and forth. Tossing her hair over her shoulder like a mare in heat, Lily moaned to him, “In. Go all the way in.”

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The desire on her face was Marc’s undoing. Still going as slow as he humanly could, Marc pressed forward gradually until he pressed past the tight ring and into her warm passage within. Lily’s cry of pleasure spilled throughout the room. God, she was so tight that he groaned as her warm tunnel surrounded his cock. Releasing her hip, Marc reached around her and grabbed her hand, forcing her to hold the vibrator to her clit. “No more teasing. Hold this to your clit and don’t let go.” Lily moaned, but did as he ordered, holding the vibrator tight to her clit. Pulling until only the tip remained, Marc thrust home again, pausing when Lily groaned. “Am I hurting you?” “Yes,” she moaned, pushing back on to him. “Do it again.” “Gladly,” Marc promised as he pushed down on her back, forcing Lily to lay her chest on the bed and keep her ass up in the air. Biting his nails into her hip, Marc began to pump into her ass with shallow thrusts, taking care not to push too far in, until her body could adjust to his cock. When he felt as if Lily was finally meeting him thrust for thrust, Marc picked up his pace, sinking more of his cock into her snug depth. “More, please ... more.” Marc shivered at the need in her voice, concentrating hard on not coming before it was time. But it was damn hard; her soft little guttural moans were damn near driving him insane. “What do you want, baby?” “You. I want you to fuck me.” “Harder or faster?” he teased, through clenched teeth. Marc didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold out. Just thinking of coming in her ass was making his balls tingle. “Both.” Lily’s voice shook with need. The same need driving him out of his mind. “Such a greedy little baby.” Thrusting faster, Marc released her hip, and brought his hand down on the curve of her ass. “Ohhh ...” Lily moaned low in her throat, pushing her ass back for his dick and hand, begging for more. And Marc gladly delivered both. Spanking her ass again, Marc rained his palm down on her cheeks, alternating his strokes to coincide with his thrusts. Lily’s moans of pleasure poured throughout the room as he fucked her how he’d only dared dream of before. Fierce and free. She was his. She would always be his, and he now possessed her entire body. With that thought in mind, Marc pumped faster into her wanton body. Digging his fingers into her side, he held onto her powering hips, and fucked her hard and fast. Marc knew he was probably going over the line with someone who was too new with backdoor loving, but he couldn’t stop himself. He wanted Lily too much. And from the sounds she was emitting, Lily felt the same way.

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“Yes ... Marc ... yes, fuck me,” she cried, her voice taking on a shriller tone, close to that of the humming toy vibrating between her legs. “Are ready to come, baby?” “Yes, God, yes.” “Then come,” he groaned, feeling his cock swell as his own orgasm overtook him, forcing Marc over the edge as he came, pouring his hot seed into her waiting ass. Their joint moans of pleasure filled the room. Marc braced his hand on her hip to keep himself from pounding Lily into the mattress. His orgasm was so intense he thought he was about to pass out. “Good Lord, woman, I think you’re trying to kill me.” Sliding his softened cock out of her ass, Marc dropped back on his heels, taking a deep breath. He felt lightheaded, and for some strange reason, extremely hungry. “Kill you.” Dropping completely down on the bed, Lily turned on her side and smiled. “You were the one hammering away in my ass. I think I was the one who was in danger of dying here, buddy.” Arching a brow, Marc lay down next to her, amused by her take of the situation. “And you liked every second of it.” “Loved it.” Wincing a bit, Lily moved her head until it was pillowed on his good shoulder, and began to lightly caress his chest. “I just have one question for you.” “Yes?” “When is it my turn to play ‘Lily Says’?” “When Hell freezes over.” Looking up at him with a devilish look in her big blue eyes, Lily replied, “I’ll see what I can do about that.”

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Epilogue Lily flitted around the tent, arranging and rearranging the items on the tables. The warm spring breezes made it a perfect day for an outdoor party. She was praying everything would go flawlessly. Her family and Marc had lived with a kind of unspoken truce over the last few months. Her brothers were especially difficult when she’d moved in with Marc. It had taken the combined efforts of herself, Evelyn, Samantha, and Helen to get them to eventually come around. They still were not happy about the arrangement, but it was no longer an armed combat situation. “Why don’t you let the caterers deal with this?” Lily turned, smiling at Marc’s voice. She still couldn’t believe how happy she was. Marc had been true to his word and given up his quest for vengeance. Oh, it hadn’t been a simple task. Lily constantly kept him in check. But she was glad to do it and over time he’d gradually gotten less and less involved in his reports on the triumvirate. That was when Lily accepted his proposal. They planned to announce their engagement at the party today. “Because I want to do it. I like the control.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him, subtly reminding him that he’d not yet given up his control over her and allowed her to play ‘Lily Says.’ Marc chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. “You’re never going to get a turn.” Lily wrinkled her nose in disgruntlement. “You’ll see. You shouldn’t doubt me.” Marc’s chuckled turned into a bellow. “Give it up, Lily, you’re never going to get to play Lily Says. On the other hand, if you want to play ‘Marc Says,’ I’m available at any time.” Before Lily could think of a smart-ass retort, and possibly get a bottom warming punishment, she was interrupted by Griffin walking down the steps from the house and out to where they stood at the edge of the tent set up in the backyard.

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“Don’t tell me that was laughter I heard?” Griffin joked. “The Marc I know would never smile or laugh. Lily, have you got him whipped?” Lily smiled, and, disengaging herself from Marc’s arms gave Griffin a big hug and kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you made it.” “Hey, first my best friend insults me and then my woman deserts me. Where’s the love?” Marc shook Griffin’s hand. “Thanks for coming, man. I need all the allies I can get today.” “I’ll let you boys play. I want to check on things in the kitchen.” Lily smiled as Griffin and Marc walked over to the bar to get a drink and she headed into the house. Griffin was finally over his issues after the whole kidnapping incident. He was changing the focus of Marc’s security from bodyguards to electronics. There were still some guards, but they no longer needed to have armed guards following them around day and night. Lily checked with the caterers in the kitchen but they had everything in order. There was no way she could have done it all herself, even though she’d briefly contemplated it. Marc had invited half the town. Of course half the town now worked for him, since he’d reopened the Mill. In addition to Griffin and her whole family, Marc had invited all of his top executives. Lily heard the doorbell and hurried to the door. Her family was supposed to get here early. Opening the door she found Logan, and Evelyn and her parents standing on the stoop. Evelyn lingered in the atrium after she shooed Logan and the Grays out to the backyard. In a conspiratorial whisper Lily asked, “So, is everything on track?” “Operation ‘Lily Says’ is a go,” Evelyn answered with a giggle. They were interrupted by more arriving guests and Lily got caught up in playing hostess. She wasn’t able to talk to Samantha when she arrived with Steven, but as they walked outside Samantha turned and gave her a quick thumbs up signal.

***** During dinner Marc continued to taunt and tease her about playing ‘Marc Says’ and the new handcuffs he’d bought for them to play with. Lily was restless with anticipation by the time dinner was over. As the caterers took the dessert dishes away he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Are you ready, baby?” Lily nodded and watched as Marc stood to make a toast. She looked over the crowd, seeing her family sitting together at a table. Lily was amazed with the feelings of love and warmth that swept over her knowing her family was all together. Yes, there was a small twinge of regret that her father wasn’t there, but Lily had accepted the fact her father had been gone from their family for a long time now. Steven and Samantha were finalizing plans for their wedding. Lily was excited they’d been able to work out their problems and gotten back together. Logan and Evelyn had

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recently learned they were expecting a baby. Lily was happy that both she and her mom had reconciled with Logan. And her mom. She certainly didn’t resemble the same woman she was a year ago. Lily was pleased her mom had really started to blossom. Lily brought her attention back to Marc. “Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank everyone for coming today. Returning to River Bend has turned out to be a major event in my life. But most importantly I am pleased to be back in River Bend because of one special woman, Lily Weller.” Taking her hand, Marc helped her to her feet. “You are all witnesses here today. Lily has agreed to become my wife.” The crowd erupted in applause. Lily glanced over at her family again and noticed Evelyn and Samantha whispering to Logan and Steven. She hoped that they weren’t going to cause any trouble. At that moment Marc swept her into his arms and Lily forgot about her brothers for a while. “Congratulations, peanut. I hope you’re very happy.” Steven had snuck up behind her and pulled her out of Marc’s arms to give her a hug. “Oh, she’ll be happy, all right. I know Gossnor will make sure of it.” Logan stared pointedly at Marc, and Lily knew he was letting Marc know that if she wasn’t happy Logan would be happy to do something about it. Marc was startled when Helen reached up and kissed him briefly on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Marc.” Lily was almost brought to tears when Marc hugged her mom back. Evelyn and Samantha both congratulated Marc and gave Lily a big hug. Then it was just Steven and Logan facing Marc. If Lily thought Marc was surprised when her mom kissed him he was shocked when first Steven and then Logan held out their hands. “Welcome to the family, Marc.” Steven shook his hand. “Yeah, welcome.” Logan proceeded to do the same. Lily smiled as her family spoke to Marc for a few minutes longer before wandering off to enjoy the music and after dinner dancing. Walking up to him, Lily slipped her arms around Marc’s neck, tugging him down to her. “Looks like hell is freezing over.” “What are you talking about?” “Don’t you remember I once complained that I wished for everyone to get along and enjoy a good meal? You responded that it was as likely as hell as freezing over.” “So?” Marc had a slightly worried look on his face. “We enjoyed a good meal and everyone got along. Looks like hell is freezing over,” she repeated. “You cheated.” Lily could tell by the look on his face he realized she’d planned the whole thing with Evelyn and Samantha. “And cheaters never win. I’m going to tan your hide.”

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“It’s going to be kinda hard to tan anything with your hands cuffed above your head,” Lily mused with a twinkle in her eye. “Brat,” Marc growled, reaching for her. Lily slipped out of his grasp and danced away from him. “You have to catch me first.” “I already did.” At Marc’s words, Lily rushed into his arms, because he was right. He had captured her, body and soul. Lily surrendered to his embraced, home at last.

Liz Andrews I am an Ohio native who loves rooting for the home team. When I can manage to unlock myself from the ball and chain that connects me to the Internet I enjoy reading, going to the movies and hosting dinner parties for my friends. In the real world I have my MBA and work in the hospital business. However, I much prefer to escape into the world of books. I have admired and read various writers for many years and am happy to have finally joined the rank of author. Visit Liz on the Web at www.lizandrews.net.

Lena Matthews Lena Matthews spends her days dreaming about handsome heroes and her nights with her own personal hero. Married to her college sweetheart, she is the proud mother of an extremely smart toddler, three evil dogs, and a mess of ants that she can't seem to get rid of. When not writing she can be found reading, watching movies, lifting up the cushions on the couch to look for batteries for the remote control and plotting different ways to bring Buffy back on the air. Visit Lena on the Web at www.lenamatthews.com.

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Loving Lola by Lena Matthews Available Now from Loose Id

Loving Lola “No. No more words.” Pulling her close, Marcus crushed her mouth under his. Sliding his tongue through her parted lips, he stroked his tongue against hers, and despite herself Lola began to respond to his kiss. It was impossible not to. The man was gifted. There were just no two ways around it. He tasted just as she would have expected him to -- like sin. Her nipples tightened as her pussy began to swell. Everything was crying out inside of her to reach down, unzip his pants, and claim his body as hers. To worship his cock, to take it deep inside of her mouth, tasting his flavor and drinking in his essences. Lola wanted to feel him hard and deep inside of her, but she knew it was wrong. Wrong to like this, wrong to feel this way about him, all wrong. Marcus was the last thing she should want, but she couldn't stop kissing him. Lifting her up, Marcus set her on the counter and moved between her legs, all without breaking away from her mouth. Trying to pull back, knowing she should, Lola wedged her hands between them, trying to separate their bodies but instead ending up placing her palms against his nipples, which hardened at her touch. Marcus inhaled and broke away from her mouth as she ran her fingers loosely down his chest. Grabbing her hands, he pulled them behind her and gripped both with one of his. The position forced her back to bend a little, making her breasts push up. Throbbing and aching, her nipples hardened against her bra. Poking through her thin shirt, they betrayed her, revealing her arousal to him. “Marcus, we can't.” “Not only can we, but we will, because I'm done with pretending. I know you watch me, Lola, the same way I watch you. I know that it's this,” he said, eyeing her aching breasts, “I think of every night when I'm jerking off. It's your name I cry out when I finally find my release.” Lola moaned her denial, but Marcus wasn't listening. Instead, he tightened his hold on her wrists. Lola couldn't help the way her body responded, any more than she could help Marcus seeing the way her pupils dilated and darkened with passion. She was turned on beyond belief by his words, and creaming from the feel of his fingers around her wrists. There was an awed quality in voice as he spoke. “Who would have ever thought my little sadist liked a little pain herself?” Licking her lips nervously, Lola tried to steady her rapidly beating heart. “No, I don't.” “Little liar.” He chuckled, releasing her hands and digging his fingers into her hips. The feel of his nails biting into her jean-clad thighs sent a chill of desire running down her back. The quick, sharp, tingling pain caused her nipples to harden further and her clit to swell. It was like Marcus had found a secret trigger that made her want to come, and come quickly.

Lena Matthews

Marcus must have sensed her arousal, because he chuckled and squeezed a bit harder. “You like that, baby?” “No,” Lola lied. She would rather die a slow, painful death than admit she liked it. “Really? 'Cause I could have sworn that you did. Let's try something. You continue to play hard to get, while I sit here getting hard, and we'll see who breaks first.” Running his hands up her thighs to her full chest, Marcus squeezed her breasts through her thin cotton shirt. Palming her heavy mounds, Marcus sought out one nipple with his thumb and index finger while his mouth moved over the other one. Capturing the peak, he circled it, pinching it gently at first, increasing the pressure while he sucked her other one through her shirt. The feel of her nipple, hard and aching, scratching against the lace as he sucked steadily, had Lola arching up into him. Never had she felt this good from mere nipple stimulation. Maybe it was because guys were always careful, never wanting to hurt her by tugging too hard, but with Marcus that wasn't even a question. He wasn't treating her like a china doll, with soft kisses and caresses. Marcus was touching her the way she had always wanted to be touched -- with more pressure and with an intensity she couldn't describe. Lola wasn't able to deny the way her eyes had glazed over with passion the more dominating he became, any more that she could deny the way her body craved his touch. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as she pulled his head closer to her breasts. She wanted to cry out with pleasure, but despite how moist she was growing between her thighs, she couldn't let go enough to get into it, because of who was doing it. It was Marcus, the man who had besieged her days and tormented her nights. She couldn't understand how she could be enjoying this as much as she was. Why was her body betraying her like this? Gripping his ears with her fingers, Lola tugged, pulling his mouth from her aching nipple. His breathing was just as harsh as hers, leaving no doubt that he was just as turned on as she was. “Marcus ...” Marcus moved his hands down her waist and gripped the bottom edge of her T-shirt, moving to pull it off of her. “Wait.” Lola pushed him back so she could slide off the counter. This was going too fast and too far. “For what? For you to come up with another reason to push me away?” “Marcus, we're bad for each other. You bring out the worst in me, and I know I bring out the caveman in you,” Lola said pointing out the obvious. “We'll kill each other in a week.” “But what a way to go.” He chuckled, nipping her earlobe between his teeth. “Just admit it, chére -- you're mine.”

Loving Lola

“I'll never be yours,” she said breathlessly as Marcus released her breasts and slid his hand down her stomach to the waistband of her jeans. Unfastening her pants, he slid his hands into her panties, slipping past her trimmed mound and centering on her clit. “You've been mine for years, Lola; it's just taken you this long to figure it out,” Marcus replied as he found and teased her clit with his thumb. It was a tight fit with her jeans still on, but Marcus managed to slip his hand far enough into her pants that he was cupping her sex with his palm while he fingered her at the same time. “What do you want?” she moaned, her knees almost buckling from the intense pleasure. Marcus used his free hand to cup her breasts and torture her nipples with pinches and pulls, working her up to an intense climax. “Just you,” he replied, pulling her tightly against him as he fingered her.

***** What people are saying about

Loving Lola Ms. Matthews has created a group of wonderful characters that you will not want to say goodbye to. The deep sexual and emotional connection that Lola and Marcus share cannot help but end in love. This book should not be missed! -- Tewanda, Fallen Angel Reviews

Loving Lola is a sweet and definitely erotic story about a woman who has everything she needs right in front of her, but thinks she should be wanting something else… With subtlety and humor, Lena Matthews does a convincing job of showing how Lola changes her mind about what she wants out of life. -- Sarah, A Romance Review

Loving Lola by Lena Matthews is a sensational short story that showcases a great, luscious, spicy hot romance that will capture your heart from the first page. Lola and Marcus are a unique couple that will have you laughing one minute and quickly fanning your blushing face in the next. -- Contessa Scion, Just Erotic Romance Reviews