Stefan (The Marquette Family Book Three) (16 page)

Stefan didn’t miss the way she cut her eyes at him when she said it.
Wanna bet?

“But on some levels, I… oh, wow, I’m so embarrassed to say this.” She smacked a hand over her eyes and ducked her head. “I wish I was more girly. There I said it.”

“You don’t have to wish. Just do it.”

She looked at him. “Everyone would think—”

“Does it matter what they think?”

“What about you?” She lowered her gaze and picked at the sheet under them. “You went for me when I was all tough and angry. My hair is so short, I look like a boy. I’m rail thin, and the curves I do have wouldn’t show unless I have a skintight outfit on, which I don’t wear. In fact, I’m surprised you noticed I was a woman that first night we met. I mean except for my tone of voice and my name.”

“If you’re hinting that I’m gay…”

Her mouth dropped open and eyes went wide. “Never! Oh wow, I didn’t realize that’s how it sounded. No, Stefan, you’re all hetero. I’m sorry if I gave the impression I was saying that about you. I don’t think that way.”

He grinned. “I was teasing you. The one thing I know about myself is I’m not easily offended. People can say and think what they want. I already know how you see me. You’re much more feminine than you think, or anyone who doesn’t know you well. You know what, Licia?”

She blushed. “What?”

“The night I met you, I saw your eyes first. Deep brown, wide, and innocent.”

She pursed her lips. “I’m so not innocent.”

“You are because you don’t realize your womanliness. It’s as if you haven’t discovered the deepest parts of yourself.”

“Maybe you’re imagining things.”

“Am I? You said you wish you were more feminine. What does that make you?”

She hesitated. “It makes me a woman. All woman.”

“Maybe you’ve made certain choices to avoid being hurt.”

“Like cut my hair. I regret it so much. I thought I liked it really short. I just kept hacking it off every time it started to get long enough to curl. I didn’t wear dresses, but I have to admit I love that one dress you bought me. It makes me mad that I left it at the house.”

“I’ll buy you a lot more.”

She tried to hide a smile and muttered something about buying them herself. He knew it gave her a thrill to have someone willing to care for her, even if she fought him. Stefan planned to spend a great deal of time teaching her what she meant to him and convincing her it was okay to let go.

“Stefan,” she breathed after a few moments. Her chest rose and fell as if she were all of a sudden out of breath.

“Easy, honey, what is it?”

“I…I want to tell you something else.”

He steeled himself. “Is it bad?”

“No, not really. Well not for me, but for you, who knows.”

“I want you to always feel you can tell me anything.”

She faced him with an earnest expression. “Where are we going in our marriage? Are we together just because of that whim thing? Because if we are, we can at least get a legal separation. I’ll sign a form that says I will never demand any money from you if that’s what you want.”

“That’s not what I want.”

She sighed. “I’m saying I don’t want to burden you, but I do need to know what we’re doing. I don’t want to admit it, but it hurts to think when Colby is caught or dead, I won’t see you anymore.”

A huge grin spread over Stefan’s face, and as much as he tried, he couldn’t dim it.

“Stefan! I’m serious. This isn’t a laughing matter. I need to know.”

“You need to know what, honey?” He leaned closer to her until their lips almost touched. She seemed resistant to turning her head away, which he didn’t mind at all. “Whether I love you?”

To his supreme satisfaction and surprise, she trembled at the word love. He had thought to spend time showing her his love in the hope that one day she would come to love him. Arrogance had made him think he already knew so much about Talicia. He had missed the most obvious thing and what he desired above all else.

Stefan captured Talicia’s chin and raised it before he kissed her long and deep. He wrapped an arm about her shoulders and plastered her lovely body to his. While his cock throbbed in his pants, he ignored it. Right now, he had to get a couple issues straight.

“Licia, do you love me?”

“I…” She tried to pull away, but he held on.

“Because I love you very much.”

Her jaw went slack. “Stefan, you’re not just saying that to keep me from running off alone, are you?”

“If I didn’t love you, would I fight so hard to keep you? Talicia Clay, I love you beyond reason. I want to be with you and have you in my arms every single day. I want you to change your name to Marquette so I can claim you before the entire world.”

“Oh boy, oh boy.” Her voice quivered. “All that did was make me a shaky mess. I’m so embarrassed, happy, and nervous all at the same time.”

She rung her hands and looked everywhere but at him. He burst out laughing. Never had he seen a woman behave so oddly at a declaration of love. Of course Talicia would. She was all woman, but she hadn’t allowed herself to be one except in bed. He captured her wild hands and held them against her thighs. With her back against his chest, he nuzzled her cheek and shut his eyes. At last, she began to settle down and turned her face into his.

“I love you,” she whispered against his skin. Her breath warmed his face while her words fired up his heart.

“Say it again, please, with my name.”

She smiled. “I love you, Stefan, very much. I want to be your wife in every way.”

“That’s my girl. So you won’t run from me?”

“Nope. Never.”

“And you will take my name?”

“Yes. Talicia Marquette. It has a nice ring it.”

“Absolutely.”

Chapter Seventeen

Talicia touched her husband’s face. He stretched above her on his hands and knees, staring into her eyes. Stefan was so sexy and so muscular. Wonder of wonders he was hers. Talicia Marquette. She kept repeating the name in her head and replaying his voice saying he loved her. Unlike Stefan, who was bold enough to ask her to say it again, she was too nervous to get him to repeat himself. Still, she had heard it the first time.

He loves me.
Me!

Stefan’s gaze slipped over her body. They had removed their clothes, so she lay naked before him. She realized as he lingered on her breasts that Stefan had seen her as a woman from day one. Hell, she’d have had to be blind not to spot his desire. The way his big cock got so hard and the way he liked to suck her nipples, plucking at them, the man knew what he was getting.

Talicia arched up, offering him her body, and his eyes seemed to blaze hotter. He leaned down and snaked his tongue over one nipple. She tried to suppress a groan, but it slipped out. Her pussy clenched.

“Your nipples are so tight,” he murmured.

“They tend to do that when you lick them.”

“I haven’t started yet.”

He pinched a bud between two fingers and pulled gently. Desire shot through her. She squirmed. The stimulation was too much and not enough. She started to cover her other breast to give it some action herself, but Stefan knocked her hand away.

“That belongs to me. Leave it alone.”

“You like when I play with myself.”

“Not when I’m playing.”

The selfish man sucked one nipple into his mouth and pinched the other between his thumb and forefingers. He rolled the tip of one and flicked the other. She drew her knees up and arched closer to him.

“Stefan, you’re killing me. Feels so good.”

He murmured something against her skin that sounded like, “tastes good too,” but she wasn’t sure. The pressure increased until the tiniest of aches started in her nipple. He pinched harder, so not like Stefan. She was on the edge of an orgasm with just him messing with her boobs.

Stefan began to lick and suck faster. He plucked her peak at a rate that drove her insane. She pushed at his shoulders then pulled on his arms. “I think I’m going to come, Stefan.”

She shouted his name, but before she crashed over the other side, he pushed a hand between her legs to cup her mound. The heel of his palm pressed against her swollen bud. She was losing it fast. Talicia began pumping up to his hand, but he moved it again.

“No, please, Stefan!”

“Honey, I’ll never leave you unsatisfied.”

He moved down her body and slipped his hands under her hips to grasp her ass cheeks. Raising her hips off the bed, he delved between her legs with his tongue and homed in on her pussy. One slice of his tongue over her folds, and she bit down on a screech. Another, and she shuddered from her head to her feet.

Stefan raised her higher. He sucked hard at her opening and licked the cream that had already wet her entrance from the first moment he began to stimulate her body. His moan sent vibrations through her system.

“So delicious.” He delved deeper and burrowed into her heat. She wiggled her hips to get him as far as he could go.

Eat me.
She wanted to say it out loud but had never spoken that dirty to Stefan.
Eat my pussy, please, Stefan.

He stopped and gazed up at her. She balled the sheets in her fists. His lips were moist with her come. What a turn-on to look at this sexy man, crazy over her. She saw the love and lust in his expression, and her heart threatened to burst. That aside, dirty words still trembled on her lips, and she decided to test them out.

“I want to come so bad, Stefan. Please, eat my pussy.”

His fingers spasmed on her butt. Was it a positive or a negative? His green eyes darkened to the point that they almost looked black. He lowered his head and started licking her clit, sucking it between his lips, teasing her until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” she shouted. Oh, hell, yes, she could. Her orgasm raged over her. She shouted his name loud enough for anyone in the hall or the surrounding rooms to hear. They might have heard it on Mars for all she cared.

Vibrations rumbled through her body, and Stefan kept sucking all the way through it. She grabbed the back of his head and pumped into his mouth, feeding him all he wanted. When she at last collapsed, he eased off and let her catch her breath.

Slowly, he crawled up the bed to arrive where he started, on his knees above her. “Look at me, Licia.”

She had shut her eyes, but at his prompting, she focused on him. He ran a thumb over his lips and sucked it clean. Damn man. She loved him so much. He sat up and grabbed her hand to settle on his cock. The thick tool throbbed under her fingers.

“After that I’m about to burst. Sit on my lap.”

He helped her to climb up as he sat on his haunches. Talicia wrapped her legs around his waist as she faced him and held onto his shoulders. Stefan started off slow and easy. Then he began to bounce her like he hadn’t done before, hard and fast, rough and absolutely amazing. Within a few minutes, he was calling out her name, almost as loud as she had been, grinding into her pussy.

Hot come flooded her channel, and Talicia sagged onto Stefan’s shoulder. Even a gentle man had untamed sexual needs. She couldn’t be happier with him. They stayed connected with him inside her and her on his lap. Neither moved, and Talicia scarcely drew a breath. No one knocked, and she was just happy to stay in her man’s arms as long as possible.

* * * *

“I’m not going, sis,” Tyjon said for the fourth time.

“You’re not serious, Ty. It’s dangerous to stay here, and who’s going to take care of you?”

He flushed. “I’m the same age as you, and you’ve been doing it all my life. Enough is enough. I’m a man, and I can make the decision for myself. I’ve decided. I’m staying.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she grabbed her brother’s hands as they all stood in Creed’s living room. “Tyjon, please see reason. Stefan, tell him.”

“Ty, you’re free to come with us. I don’t have a problem supporting you and Licia.”

“Well I do,” he snapped, but Talicia could see he was nervous. Her brother was trying to be independent at the worst possible time. They had already delayed leaving by hours, waiting until nightfall. Now he was putting up a stink when they were ready to walk out the door.

Tyjon cut his gaze to one of the bodyguards, and she groaned. “Ty, there are plenty of men in the world. You can’t make stupid decisions that could lose you your life based on one.”

Everyone’s heads swiveled from Tyjon to the bodyguard and back again, and Talicia could just feel Tyjon digging his heels in. She’d handled it the wrong way and embarrassed him in front of everyone.

“I’m sorry, Ty.”

“It’s fine.” He raised his chin, his lips pursed and fake lashes fluttering. “I’m going to take care of myself from now on, Licia. You can go or stay, but I’ve said my piece.”

Tyjon pranced out of the room, and Talicia heard his steps on the stairs heading to the second floor. She rolled her eyes and rubbed a hand over her forehead. “He made a big production, but he didn’t decide to move out of Creed’s house.”

Stefan chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll set someone to watch over him, and he can live at my place as long as he wants.”

The four Marquette men came together, each shaking Stefan’s hand. Creed was the one to speak first. “Are you sure about this?”

Stefan pushed his hand aside and hugged Creed. “You don’t sound like you’re trying to change my mind anymore.”

“No. I think it’s pretty clear how you feel about her.”

“That’s right.” Stefan raised his voice. “I love my wife.”

Talicia shook her head. “Okay, the world knows, Stefan.”

He winked at her.

Jerome opened the front door and walked in. “We’re ready for you guys.”

Stefan nodded and said good-bye to his brothers again. Damen strode forward and gave Talicia an awkward hug. “Take care of him for me.”

“Sure,” she said.

Creed nodded at her but kept his distance. Duke raised her off her feet in a bear hug, and Stefan tried to remove his arm from the socket.

“Enough, Duke,” Creed barked.

Heaven strode closer. “I didn’t really get to know you, but maybe when you come back and this is all over. We can talk.”

“I’d like that,” Talicia told her and couldn’t help her gaze sliding to Shada. The woman stood beside her husband, rubbing her belly and looking bitter. At last she wandered next to Heaven. To Talicia’s shock, she leaned in and hugged her.

“Hurt him, and I break you,” she whispered. “But…um…love him, okay?”

Talicia drew back and sniffed, nodding. “I will.”

In the car, Talicia held onto Stefan’s hand tight enough to crush it. He let her hold him as her stomach rocked and rolled with each bump in the road. She was terrified at any second they would hear a shot and Jerome would shout, “Get down.”

Two cars escorted them, one in front and one behind. They had planned out the route to the airport, and so far everything was going smoothly. Once they were on airport grounds, Talicia breathed a little easier. Stefan rubbed her back.

“Okay?” he said.

“I’m fine.” She moved to climb out of the car, and on the sidewalk she faced him. He drew her to his side.

“Let the guys handle the luggage. We’ll check in.”

She moved like a robot. Talicia had never been anywhere outside the United States or for that matter outside Louisiana. She should have been excited about the trip, but she was a ball of nerves. When they approached the long line of people waiting to get through security, she saw the guards and it somehow made her feel better.

Talicia started to get onto the end of the line, but Stefan shook his head and tugged her away. “Not there. We have express service.”

“Oh.” She found herself in a private lounge after security was a breeze. Stefan set a drink before her, and she downed it in a couple gulps. The alcohol burned a little but started right away to calm her. “Do you have a private jet?”

He chuckled. “No, but I suppose I could have one. I always enjoyed being around other people. First class was good enough. You look disappointed.”

“I’m not.”

“Shall I buy one just for you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Stefan.” She grinned and kissed him. “Thanks for the offer. I just can’t believe we’re going to be together from now on. It feels like a dream come true. Every time you left the club and I knew you wouldn’t be back for a while, it killed me.”

“Never again, honey.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I had stupid reasons for staying away. I didn’t want to remind my brothers of that life, the club and you being a club owner.”

“That life? Were you performers?”

“No, our dad. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”

“Bad memories?”

“Yes, but not all bad. It drew Creed and Damen and me closer together.”

“You’re going to miss them.”

“I’ve flown all over the world, but I’ve always returned to my brothers. Yes, I’ll miss them, especially not knowing how long this trip will last. What I wanted most was to never be tied down, but all of a sudden I miss it. I want that life—with you.”

“The restaurant and the guys, all of you working together at Marquette’s?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, Stefan.” She stroked his face. “Don’t be sad. I’m so sorry for bringing this on you.”

“I’m not sad. I’m with my beautiful wife, and it’s not forever.”

Talicia dozed while they waited for the boarding call for their flight. A man’s deep voice woke her, and she squinted across the way to see Jerome talking on his phone. She hadn’t noticed him before, but of course he would travel with them. Where Stefan went, he went.

She sat up and stretched. Stefan’s hand roamed over her back. “Nice sleep?”

“Yeah, are we boarding yet?”

Before he could answer, the announcement came over the intercom. He stood and held out his hand, and she took it to rise.

“Stefan, hold on,” Jerome said, urgency in his tone.

Talicia’s stomach knotted. Stefan’s cell phone rang, and he fished it from his pocket to check the display. She looked too. Damen was calling. “He knows we’re about to board,” Stefan said, but he answered. “Damen, what’s up?”

Talicia pressed closer to him to try to listen. Damen’s voice came out too tinny to understand, so she stretched up to the tip of her toes. She heard him this time, and her world tilted.

“Say that again,” Stefan urged.

“I said Marquette’s is on fire, and Shada just went into labor,” Damen explained. “We’re on our way to the hospital, but Duke went to the restaurant to check things out about an hour ago. I can’t get him on the phone. I’ve sent a couple guards. We’ll keep you updated.”

“The hell you will,” Stefan growled.

“Calm down. We’ll get this straightened out.”