It was extremely unusual for Marcus not to answer his cell. Only a very limited number of people had the number and if they abused it, Marcus promptly blocked them, so when Ty’s call went to voicemail for the third time, he became concerned. Marcus and Susan were combustible in Ty’s opinion, and they wouldn’t be the first couple who got into trouble trying out some new bondage technique, he thought with a grin.
Brushing Kelsey’s hair off her cheek, he leaned down to kiss her, waking her gently.
“I’m going to run over to Marcus’s place, Sweet Pea,” he whispered in her ear.
“Huh?” she replied sleepily, opening one eye.
“It’s nothing important. I just haven’t been able to reach him on the phone and I want to tell him our plans. He has a ton of connections and may be able to get us a flight quicker than I can. Go back to sleep baby,” he ordered gently, patting her bottom. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” Kelsey sighed, snuggling back under the covers.
Lord, she was beautiful, Ty thought as he left the room, closing the door softly behind him. He couldn’t wait to make her his, permanently.
The drive took less than ten minutes and Ty stood at the door knocking for another five before he used his key to let himself in. He immediately punched in the security code, disabling the alarm and headed to the office.
Before Susan, it was not uncommon for Marcus to write late into the night and crash on the leather sofa, but he wasn’t there. Ty noticed the pillows on the floor and picked them up. Marcus’s desk was abnormally messy, which was also out of character. There were clumps of used tissues on the floor, a wine bottle and two glasses that looked untouched and a glass of whiskey on the desk without a coaster that had already left a ring in the finish. No, there was definitely something wrong with this picture. Marcus had that desk custom made the first time he hit the best-seller list and he would never be so careless with something he treasured. It was a symbol of his success and it meant more to him than any of the awards he’d received.
Leaving the room, Ty made his way slowly through the downstairs before moving quietly up the staircase. He checked several rooms and all were empty. There was an eerie stillness to the place at a time when he should have smelled coffee brewing and heard Susan bitching about having to make an egg-white omelet or some such thing.
Reaching the bedroom, he knocked several times before turning the lever and opening the door. To say he was shocked would be putting it mildly. The room looked like a tornado had gone through it. Even now, he wasn’t sure something terrible hadn’t happened.
Marcus was in bed, well mostly, although one naked leg was actually hanging off the bed and on the floor, a very unusual sleeping position. The only part of Susan, at least he thought it was Susan, Ty could see was her naked, cherry red ass. The rest of her was completely buried under the comforter, including her head. Clothes were strewn everywhere and as he took a step intothe room, softly calling Marcus’s name, he tripped over his size 14 shoes, stumbled and crashed to the floor with an oomph.
Now that he was on the floor, he noticed the handcuffs, blindfold and assorted other items including a silver object several inches away that suddenly started dancing all over the floor, rapping the wood sharply as if possessed.
“No Marcus, no more,” Susan moaned as Marcus scrambled around the bed trying to find the remote.
That damn thing, outside the body, was louder than hell he thought, prying his eyes open.
“Jesus,” he swore as he spotted Ty getting to his feet. “What the hell time is it?” he whispered, sliding out of bed and rubbing his face. “What are you doing here?”
Ty couldn’t tear his eyes away from the toys on the floor. He was torn between embarrassment, awe and a touch of jealousy. His brother was incredible.
“I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour,” Ty whispered back. “Sorry, I thought something was wrong over here. You never ignore your cell.”
“My cell is now a paperweight and I’m tired,” Marcus shot back, striding naked across the room, grabbing a pair of jogging pants and pulling them on. Noticing Susan’s bare butt, he strode to the bed and covered her up as her soft snores brought a smile to his lips.
“You should be,” Ty grinned.
“Just go make some coffee while I clean up will you?” Marcus ordered, kicking a plug under the bed. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
“Hurry up,” Ty said, heading out the door. “I have news.”
Marcus took the coffee Ty handed him and inhaled the aroma. “This better be good, Bro,” he warned darkly, “and if it’ssomething Susan shouldn’t hear, make it quick. She’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around your bedroom,” Ty laughed, sipping his own coffee.
“My bedroom is no concern of yours, and I would appreciate it if you would forget every detail of what you saw in there.”
“Hell no,” Ty replied. “I want to know where you got that silver monster and that fancy-ass hair brush too. I may have need of them now that Kelsey has agreed to marry me,” he drawled.
It took Marcus about five seconds before he set his coffee down and hugged his brother, pounding him on the back.
“That’s great, Ty. Kelsey’s a good girl and I know you’ll be very happy. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, I think she’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” Ty replied grinning. “I gotta tell you man, I was totally against going to that party. Thanks for talking me into it. Meeting Kelsey has given me a whole new appreciation for pretty pink bottoms,” he continued with a wink as Susan walked through the door.
Susan scowled as she made her way to the coffee maker and popped in a K-cup. Wearing one of Marcus’ long-sleeved dress shirts and a pair of ankle socks she looked tired and tousled.
