TWO
Ash
Marnie’s curiosity about the little girl she met the day before has roused my own and I find myself in Data’s office. While I’ve kept an eye on my family, it was more or less very peripherally, because that was my past. When my parents all but disowned me, my siblings were too young to really take sides since they still lived under my father’s roof. Still, both are definitely adults, and if they wanted to reach out, they would.
“Hey, brother, what’s up?” Data asks after he finishes inputting something in his computer.
His office is a techno geek’s dream, that’s for damn sure. He’s got a laptop that he carries around, but his desk looks like the command center of NASA. There are huge monitors that line the walls, as well as two different desktop computers. On another wall is a bank of additional monitors that show every angle of the cameras we have on the property. He can switch over to any one of the businesses that the club owns, and video runs twenty-four/seven.
“Okay, so Marnie said something odd last night and I wanted to see if you could find out a little bit of information for me. I just want to put her mind at ease if at all possible.”
“Tell me what I’m searching for,” he commands, his fingers already on the keyboard.
“I’d like information on my birth family,” I reply. “Father’s name is Asher Stanton, Sr., mother’s name is Mary Stanton. My brother’s name is David, and my sister’s name is Alice.” I then give him the last known address I had for them and say, “Whatever you get, whenever you find it, brother. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, Ash. As soon as I get it all together, I’ll come find you.”
“Works for me.”
Today’s inventory day at the bar, so we’re closed until later tonight. That means I can wait to see what Data can ferret out and act accordingly.
“Marnie, I told you I’d get those,” I say as I hurry to her side and grab the box she’s trying to move.
“And I toldyouthat I’m able to handle my own,” she sasses, sticking her tongue out at me. “I’m not a porcelain doll, Ash, and I’m tired of being treated like one.”
I blow out a breath as I look at her and see the frustration practically rolling off her in waves. “Okay, what’s reallybothering you?” I ask, my arms now crossed defensively over my chest.
She huffs then stomps her foot at me in a tantrum. “As if you don’t know,” she grumbles. If her eyes had lasers in them, I’d probably be vaporized where I stand.
“I don’t know, that’s why I asked,” I reply.
Her finger pokes me in the center of my chest as she snarls. “You won’t touch me!”she shrieks. “Ever since those assholes hurt me, you act like you’re repulsed by me or something. Oh, I know we’ve fooled around a little bit, but you won’t bring it all the way home and I’m getting tired of being patient.”
My eyes close as she berates me. I can still see her lying there in a pool of blood, her life essence leaving her with every beat of her heart. Then, when the doctor told me about everything they had to do to save her life… yeah, I pushed what I wanted to the back burner.
“Are you even listening to me?” she questions, poking me again. “Because I don’t think you’ve heard a word I said.”
Pulling her into my arms, I slam my mouth onto hers, pouring every bit of fear that’s been riding me for months now into the kiss. I finally pull back and lean my forehead against hers. “I didn’t hear all of it,” I quietly admit, “because I got lost in my head. Marnie, it really hasn’t been that long ago since you had extensive surgeries.”
“Ash, I was clearedby the doctorover three weeks ago to ‘resume all daily activities including sex’,” she whispers. “Is it… it’s because of all the scars, isn’t it,” she states. “That’s why you won’t go any further than what we’ve done.”
“What? God, baby, no, that’s not it at all. Each and every single mark on your body, while I hate that you have them, shows how hard you fought to stay alive. They’re battle scars because you’re a warrior, Marnie. I’ve just…fuck, I’ve been afraid I’d hurt you. You’re my ol’ lady, why wouldn’t I physically want you?”
“Because I’m broken,” she mumbles, silent tears now trickling down her face.
Grabbing her hand, I head upstairs to the apartment she used to live in before she became my ol’ lady. It’s time to set the record straight with my woman, that’s for damn sure.
“What are we doing up here?” she asks as I close and lock the door behind us.
The apartment is empty except for the furniture, waiting for a fresh coat of paint before we decide to offer it out for rent. Since it’s a club-owned business, we’ll take our time, but right now, I’m glad there’s still a bed on the premises.
I smirk as I scoop her into my arms and head to the bedroom, not stopping until I set her on the bed, grateful as hell that there are clean sheets on it at least. “What do you think?” I query as I take my cut off and hang it on the hook that’s on the back of the door.
She doesn’t immediately answer, so I continue undressing, getting my boots and socks off, then pulling my shirt off over my head. “Why are you getting naked?”
Chuckling, I undo my belt buckle then pop the button on my jeans before I slide the zipper down, my dick pressing painfullyagainst my boxer briefs. Once my pants drop to the floor, I step out of them and stalk toward the bed. “Seems you’re a little overdressed, Marnie,” I tease as I reach over and slip her shoes and socks off, followed quickly by her pants.
Those fucking yoga pants have beenkillingme today. I’ve walked around with a hard on all damn day, especially since she’s been constantly bending over in front of me. Seeing her curvy hips swaying back and forth has driven me absolutely crazy. Her temper tantrum is honestly long overdue, and maybe somewhere deep inside, I’ve been waiting for it to know she was finally ready for more.
