Legally Bound 2: Against The Law (10 page)

“Would you believe me if I said I proposed by mistake,” Marcus grimaced.

Bobby threw his head back and laughed. “Oh wait you’re serious,” Bobby snorted. “How the hell –.”

“Don’t ask,” Marcus cut him off. “It’s a long story I’d rather not get into right now. Besides you haven’t responded to my comment about the princess. What is going on with you two? You can cut the tension in the office with a knife.”

“It’s complicated,” Bobby heaved a sigh.

“So make it uncomplicated for me. Trust me I am in no rush,” Marcus chuckled.

“Remember a few weeks back when you were in my office, and I got that call from Desire,” Bobby started, and Marcus nodded. “Well, I sort of overheard Camille trying to get Paige to join. I pulled some strings to be her advisor.”

“You’re shitting me,” Marcus groaned. “And you’re supposed to be the smart brother.”

“Yeah, well I wasn’t using my head at the time. I saw a way to get her in my bed, and I went after it. She figured it out in my office within minutes,” Bobby sighed and rubbed his eyes with his palms.

“This is Paige we are talking about you should have known she would figure it out. Dude, I told you go after her not screw up any chance you ever had to date her seriously.”

Bobby sighed and lifted his drink to his lips. “If I can keep mom and dad from meddling maybe I can get her to give me a chance to fix things on the island,” Bobby mused almost to himself.

Bobby missed the grin that pulled at the corners of Marcus’s lips. Bobby had no idea how much meddling their parents were really doing. Marcus felt a ping in his chest. He wished his parents’ meddling had worked out for him, but he was sure things would be different for his stubborn brother and the woman he was crazy about.

“You have two weeks to try,” Marcus said with a smile.

“Yeah…” Bobby said with a distant look in his eyes. “If I had it to do again I don’t think I would change what I did. Just the way I did it.”

“You’re a creep,” Marcus laughed.

“Maybe, but I’m not the biggest one here tonight. Listen, I have been a little distracted with all the Paige stuff and these cases. I talked to Nate, and I’m having a full report done on Pennywell and Julia. Dad has probably had some digging done already, but I want it all. Something about that guy doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from you,” Marcus chuckled and shook his head.

“Let’s get you back out to your party and make sure that my best friend hasn’t stolen my girl,” Bobby grunted before downing the last of his drink.

Chapter 14

Two weeks later Paige and Bobby’s wedding

“
S
ay cheese,” the photographer called as Paige and Bobby stared lovingly into each other’s eyes. The other couples in the wedding party were standing around them with smiles.

Marcus felt like his was forced. It was killing him to have his arm wrapped around Rita and not be able to enjoy it. She was ramrod straight every time he touched her.

“Beautiful, you with the lovely green eyes and handsome man,” the photographer called. She pressed her lips and dropped her camera back around her neck, walking over to Marcus and Rita. “Baby brother yes…you two look like you want to run from each other. Relax, place your hand here. Now you, place your hand on top of his. Yes, beautiful, now relax.”

“Don’t worry Marcus I won’t kick your ass. We’re all being good sports,” Nathan laughed and tightened his hold on Pamela’s waist.

“If you want those hands Mr. Briggs you will restrain yourself from groping me,” Pamela hissed as she turned her face up to look at Nathan.

Marcus allowed his shoulders to relax before everyone picked up on the weird tension between the two of them. He splayed his fingers against Rita’s belly and pulled her closer. Her breath hitched, and her fingers laced in his. Her body relaxed, but the tension was now in her grasp.

“Yes, now that is perfect,” the photographer chirped.

Marcus was assaulted by the scent of Rita’s perfume. She still smelled the same, sweet and innocent. The smell was so arousing to him. He felt himself hardening and there was nothing he could do. His erection was pressing right into her behind.

Marcus groaned softly. “Sorry,” he murmured into Rita’s ear. His breath tickled her skin and sent a shiver up her spine.

She smiled to herself.
At least, he is still attracted to me
; Rita thought to herself. She shifted in his arms a little then craned her neck to look up at him.

“It’s fine,” she said coyly.

Marcus’s eyes dropped to her full lips, and he impulsively licked his. He wanted to kiss her so badly. He wondered did she still taste the same.

Rita turned back toward the camera and chided herself not to squirm. When Bobby asked her to be in the wedding, she had no idea she would be forced to be this close to Marcus. His large hands were so warm and comforting.

“Baby brother, lean forward some. Over her shoulder…yes perfect,” the photographer called.

Marcus was sure they were paying this woman to torture him. Leaning forward brought Rita flush with his body and she fit perfectly. He couldn’t help himself from holding her tighter. His heart was racing and his throat dried. His pants were incredibly uncomfortable.

Rita repeatedly told herself,
he has a fiancée
, as she alternately told herself not to move. Her heart was ready to pound out of her chest as his bulge dug into her backside. She was growing wet and uncomfortable. She was so embarrassed. She tried to tell herself she was being foolish it was impossible for him to know her reaction to him.

“Okay, I think we have enough, for now,” the photographer announced.

“Please don’t move,” Marcus breathed in her ear and spun Rita to face him. “Just give me a minute.”

Rita swallowed passed her dry throat and nodded her understanding as she fought not to look down. Marcus stepped in closer to her and this time, his arousal was pressing into her belly. He looked into her eyes searching. Rita didn’t know for what but she couldn’t take the probing of his grey orbs on hers and looked away.

“You are so beautiful,” Marcus breathed against the side of her face.

“Is your fiancée here?” Rita asked looking around at the guests making their way into the tent.

“Rita, I wouldn’t be engaged to her if you didn’t leave me or did you forget,” Marcus bit out more harshly than he meant to.

“Just forget it, Marcus. It’s too late now,” Rita said with trembling lips and turned to rush off.

Marcus growled at himself and shoved his hands in his hair. He did not mean for things to go this way again. It was the second time they’d spoken, and he wasn’t getting any closer to working things out. He cursed under his breath and turned for the tent.

“Don’t hurt her again,” Marie threatened as she stepped into her brother’s path frowning at him. “You two are running in circles. You need to just tell her how you feel.”

“So you know,” Marcus sighed.

“Yes, since you came to Italy. You two never give each other a chance to explain. If you want to fix things tell her the truth,” Marie offered. “I see the way you look at Julia, and then there is the way you look at Rita. I don’t know what made you ask Julia to marry you, but it is easy to see she is not the one.”

“I wish it was as uncomplicated as you make it sound,” Marcus grumbled.

“It can be if you make it,” Marie said with a small smile.

“I love you, sis,” Marcus crooned and threw an arm around her shoulders before kissing her forehead. “Do me a favor. Next time you fall for a guy make sure he is worth falling for.”

“I’ll do my best,” Marie said with a nervous smile.

Marie could feel a certain pair of green eyes on her that were making her nervous. She’d been confused all day from his simple words. ‘
Your mine now, Marie,’
just the thought sent chills running through her.

“Well you can bet we’ll be keeping a close eye from now on,” Marcus grumbled.

“I’m a big girl, Marcus. You just worry about making Rita happy,” Marie chirped and nudged him in the side with her elbow.

Marcus looked at her and pressed his lips. Marie nodded her head slightly, to where Rita was standing. Rita was watching his every move. When his eyes met hers she quickly turned away as if she wasn’t looking in his direction at all.

The reception went pretty much the same way. Marcus stealing looks at Rita and Rita pretending she wasn’t stealing looks at him. It didn’t take long before Marcus was hitting the bar. He figured he could drink the pain and frustration away.

He smiled at all the right times and talked to everyone like nothing was going on, but he was dying inside. He couldn’t even get close enough to Rita for a moment to get her to talk to him. He cringed each time someone asked him where his fiancée was.

As guests started for their hotels, it turned into more of a family affair, with laughter and stories of their childhood between their parents. When James and Thomas cornered Bobby and Nate taking them off, Marcus saw Paige and all the younger women disappeared down the beach. It was a risk to go after them and try to get Rita alone. He watched the direction they had gone in for what seemed like hours. When they returned about an hour later, they were all smiling, but their eyes were swollen and puffy. Marcus wasn’t sure if that was a good time to approach her either.

He was so glad when things started winding down. He went behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He hadn’t been to his room since he left two days ago. Once he arrived at the house this morning, his mother was ushering him into the guest house with Bobby and the other guys. He just wanted some sleep.

Marcus stumbled toward the house and ran into his mother and father kissing in the family room. Marcus groaned and covered his eyes with his forearm. Minnie and James laughed at him.

“TMI mom and dad, get a room,” he grumbled.

“Speaking of rooms,” Minnie said slyly. “You are in the same room you were in before you left. I had it cleaned and prepped for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that mom, but thanks.”

“Not a problem dear, but you should go now. Nathan will be doing his rounds before he turns in for the night. You don’t want to be moving around making his job harder. He’ll be checking to see that all guests have gone,” Minnie warned.

“Okay mom,” Marcus nodded. “I’m beat anyway, goodnight.”

“Son, I think you put away enough of that stuff for one night,” James said looking at the bottle dangling from Marcus’s fingers.

Marcus nodded and placed the bottle down on the coffee table before stumbling for the stairs. He tugged off the blue vest from the wedding and started on the buttons to his shirt as he climbed the stairs. Tonight he would get a good night’s sleep, and try to start over again with Rita in the morning.

~B
~

Rita wanted to stay as far away from Marcus as she could. It was crushing her heart to be so close to him and know he belonged to someone else. The thought was making her sick. Being in his arms and hearing him tell her she was beautiful didn’t help. She just missed him so much.

As soon as Paige and Bobby took off for the villa James and Minnie secured for them Rita was off to her own room. She needed a hot shower to wash away the day and get all the sand off her legs and feet. She knew she was lost in thought when she stepped out of the shower to find that she left the towels she put out on the bed in the room.

She sighed at herself and wrung her hair out in the shower. With her, curls still damp and dripping she walked out of the bathroom to retrieve the towels she left. Rita yelped and almost jumped out of her skin when she saw Marcus stumbling into the room, closing the door behind him.

Marcus stood stiff, drinking in the sight of a naked Rita. She had one arm covering her breasts and the other arm crossing her body to cup her sex. Her eyes were wide with shock.

“What are you doing in here,” she hissed.

“This is my room,” Marcus said more harshly than he intended.

“No…it is not. This has been my room for the last two days,” Rita snapped back at him.

Marcus groaned and rolled his eyes. This was his mother’s doing. “Look, I’ll just find another room,” Marcus sighed.

“Rita is everything okay,” Nate called through the door.

Rita’s eyes widened. If her brother found Marcus in here, things could get ugly fast. “I’m fine,” Rita rushed.

“Who are you talking to,” Nathan said and turned the knob.

Rita rushed across the room still covering her front. “Nate don’t open that door I’m naked. I said I am fine. I was on the phone,” Rita blurted out.

“Well if you are naked the door should be locked,” Nathan grumbled. “Hey, I’m going for a walk after my rounds you want to come.”

“Um, no not really, I’m tired,” Rita called back through the door.

“Okay, if you can’t sleep or change your mind call me,” Nathan sighed. “I love you, sis. Good night.”

Rita pressed her forehead to the door and listened for Nathan’s footfalls as he moved away from her room. With a sigh of relief, Rita looked over her shoulder at Marcus to catch him staring down at her rear. She took in his opened shirt and his ripped chest. Marcus had filled out more than the last time she saw him in Italy.

Marcus couldn’t pull his eyes away. His mouth was suddenly dry, and his nostrils were flaring as he felt his whole face flush. He tried licking his dry lips, but it was no use. Rita had always had curves, but this was something totally different.

Her body was toned to perfection, and her backside was bottom heavy giving her a lush seat. The curve of her hips was perfect for his large hands to grip tight. Just thinking about it made him stifle a groan. Then there was the glow on her skin; she was like a perfect goddess standing before him.

Rita tried to fight the smile that tugged at her lips as Marcus blushed. “See something you like,” Rita teased feeling her wicked side wanting to come out and play.

Marcus was in motion before his brain could tell him to stop. He pressed his body to hers and placed his hands on her hips to bring her flush to him. Grinding his bulge into her butt, he groaned when a tiny moan escaped Rita’s lips. The droplets of water dripping from her hair and skin called to him. Flicking out his tongue, he trapped a bead of water and licked a trail up to her ear.

Rita shivered in his hold as she felt her intimate folds moisten. Her heart was pounding in her chest. This was the first time Marcus had ever touched her like this, the first time she’d ever been naked in front of him.

“I see something I like and want very much. If you want me to go, Baby, tell me now,” Marcus breathed against her ear. His hands slid up her sides, and his thumbs brushed the undersides of her full breasts. He nuzzled her neck taking in her scent that he missed so much.

Rita could smell the alcohol on his breath, but she was too turned on to pay it much mind. Besides, she wanted him. If he was too drunk to realize what he was doing, she couldn’t find it in her to care. Apart of her didn’t care that he belonged to someone else, because he should have been hers. Her decision was made, for tonight, for just one night he would be.

She had waited for this night for what seemed like all her life. Nothing was going to stop her from having her man just once. She would just figure out how to walk away in the morning.

“No,” Rita panted huskily. “Don’t go.”

Marcus growled and turned her around pinning her to the door with his hips and capturing her lips. Rita opened to him right away pulling another groan from deep in his throat. Cupping her curves he lifted her from her feet.