Kate Hoffmann - Marcus

Marcus kept his pace slow, knowing that he wouldn’t finish on his own. He opened his eyes and looked at Eden. She ran her tongue along her lower lip, and he smiled, imagining her tongue running along the length of his shaft.

As if she could read his mind, Eden crawled off the bed and handed him the camera. She knelt down in front of him and tugged his boxers and khakis to the floor. Marcus kicked them aside, and a heartbeat later she took him into her mouth, her tongue caressing the tip of his penis with every stroke.

Marcus held up the camera and watched her through the view screen, his attention completely focused on Eden’s lips and his cock. He’d watched the occasional porno, but this was something much more tantalizing. It was happening to him.

Eden glanced up and smiled. “Tell me what you want,” she said. She ran her tongue along the length of his shaft. “You’re the director now.”

“Take your underwear off and lie down on the bed,” Marcus ordered. He walked over to the dresser and set the camera on top, focusing the lens on the bed. When he returned, Eden was lying across the sheets, her hands skimming over her body.

Marcus watched her for a long time as she touched herself, his fingers clenching with the urge to take over. But she was still performing for him, bringing his desire to a fever pitch. He’d never wanted a woman this badly, and when he finally spread her legs and pushed inside of her, Marcus was almost mindless with need.

The camera recorded every sigh, every stroke, but Marcus wasn’t aware of any of it. The moment he entered her, he was lost in a whirlwind of pleasure, Eden’s body responding to his every movement. He was rough and then gentle. She came twice without his touch, and it was only then that Marcus allowed himself to join her.

His orgasm sent uncontrollable tremors through his body, as if every nerve and muscle had been waiting for release. When he was spent, Marcus lay down beside her, his leg thrown across her hips, his fingers tangled in her hair. Though his mind was void of rational thought, one thing broke through the haze.

How was he supposed to live without this? Without her?

THEY HADN’T SLEPT AT all. They’d spent the night making love and then talking and then making love all over again, caught in an intimate cocoon. Eden curled into Marcus’s body and closed her eyes against the early dawn’s light at the windows.

“Promise me something,” she said.

He turned and pressed a kiss to her temple. “What?”

“Don’t bring another woman into this bed for a while. I don’t want to have to imagine that. If you promise me, then I won’t.”

“I promise.”

Eden knew he’d keep his word, at least for a little while. She trusted him completely. She pressed her lips against his chest and smiled. They’d watched their home movie, giggling over it at first but then allowing themselves to enjoy what they’d done.

Eden wasn’t sure what had possessed her to do it, but in the end she was glad that she had. Now this night would come to memory when she thought about a sex tape. This night full of unbridled passion and complete satisfaction with a man she loved.

She didn’t know how long it would be before they saw each other again-or even if they would-but perhaps when he needed her he might watch the tape again and remember how good it had been between them.

Eden pushed up on her elbow and looked down into his eyes. “Do you ever wonder what it would have been like? If I hadn’t been Eden Ross and…you know. How do you think it would have ended? Would we have been different together?”

Marcus picked up her hand from his chest and studied her fingertips, twisting her fingers between his. “I don’t know. You are Eden Ross and things are exactly as they are. We can’t change that.”

“When we began, it was all about sex. It was very uncomplicated and I thought that’s what I wanted.”

“But?” Marcus asked.

Eden sighed. “Do you ever think it might have been better if we’d believed there could be more between us?” She reached out and slowly ran her hand along the ridge of his collarbone, then traced a line down the center of his chest. Pressing her palm to his warm skin, Eden felt the slow, steady beat of his heart. What would it take to possess Marcus’s heart? Did she have it already or had he just lent it to her for the time they’d been together?

Marcus kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know.”

He grew silent and Eden cursed herself for bringing up the subject. He didn’t answer because he didn’t want to hurt her. It was obvious he had resigned himself to her leaving.

He slowly pulled his arm out from beneath her head, then sat up. “I’m going to get us some breakfast. There’s a bakery in town that opens in a little while. If I get there when they open, the cinnamon rolls are still warm.”

Eden drew the sheet up to her chin. “All right,” she said. “Do you want me to come with you?”

Marcus ran his hand along her arm, his gaze following his fingers. He shook his head. “I won’t be long. You could make some coffee.”

Eden smiled sleepily. “I know how to do that,” she said with a trace of pride. Of all the things she’d attempted so far, coffee had been a success.

She watched him get dressed, admiring the masculine beauty of his body, the long legs and well-formed arms, the wide back and flat belly. She’d touched him so many times, in so many places, that she’d lost sight of how the pieces fit together. Eden took a mental picture of him, then closed her eyes and tried to imprint it on her memory.

When he was dressed, he bent over the bed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back in a bit.” A few seconds later the door latched shut, and Eden rolled over, burying her face in the pillow.

Saying goodbye to him at the airport would be impossible. The moment he touched her, she’d lose herself in his embrace. And then it would be awkward and frustrating. He’d feel compelled to kiss her and make some promise that they’d see each other again. And she’d be forced to do the same. And then she’d cry and the tears wouldn’t stop.

Eden crawled out of bed and walked to the kitchen. She grabbed the coffee from the cupboard next to the sink and poured the ground beans into the filter. Then she added water and flipped the switch. Her eyes fixed on the stream of hot liquid as she tried to rid her mind of the worry.

But it was no use. Eden turned and grabbed the phone, then rummaged through the drawer for the directory. There had to be an airport shuttle. She flipped to the back and found a service listed under ‘Limousines,’ then dialed the number, hoping there would be someone in the office but content to listen to a schedule. To her surprise, someone answered.

“Good morning, Newport Shuttle.”

She cleared her throat. “Hello. I’m interested in getting a ride to the Providence airport today. I’m in Bonnett Harbor. When does your shuttle run?”

“We have a shuttle that leaves Newport in about ten minutes,” the woman said. “And then we have one every hour on the hour. And we do have a pickup in Bonnett Harbor this morning for our 5:00 a.m. shuttle. Are you interested in leaving right away?”

Eden hesitated for a moment, glancing around the loft. It would be better this way, she mused. No goodbyes, no promises and no regrets. “Yes, that would be fine.”

“And where will the pickup be?”

“There’s a diner right on the main street. It’s called the Harborview. I’ll be waiting there.”

“The shuttle will be there in about fifteen minutes. I’ll radio the driver and let him know.”

“Fine,” Eden said. “I’ll be ready.” She gave the dispatcher her name and Marcus’s number, and after she’d noted a confirmation number, Eden hung up the phone. She hurried over to the bed and began to gather her clothes from the floor. Most of her luggage was still on Victorious, along with some of the things she’d brought from Europe. But she had her tote and stuffed what she could inside it. What didn’t fit, she tossed into a shopping bag, and five minutes later she was dressed and ready to go.