CHAPTER SEVEN
Brianna
Marshall’s apartment was located at an intersection close to the downtown area. The apartment building was a bit dingy, appearing to be a series of studio apartments all compacted together with the bare minimum effort. Yellow light radiated from the streetlamps in the parking lot, leading the way to the brick stairwell.
I peered up the cement steps and then glanced over my shoulder, sure that no one had followed me but checking all the same. I adjusted the bag of takeout in my right hand and climbed the stairs, smiling when I caught a whiff of Marshall’s familiar scent.
Amber and bonfires, I thought affectionately. I could inhale his scent all day.
The last of the steps spat me out on a landing. Three more doors and I would be at Marshall’s apartment for the very first time. I shivered nervously as I raised my fist to knock, alarmed when the lock clicked, and the door opened without my prompting.
Marshall grinned at me in the doorway. “Hi.”
“Hi, I…” I lifted the bag. “Do you like Chinese?”
“I love Chinese. Come in.”
He opened the door wider, ushering me into a compact living room with very little furniture. I turned around once to take in my surroundings. Though the furnishings were sparse, they were all Marshall—and his scent was strong in here.
I completed my circle and turned to him with a smile. I shrugged. “Where should I sit?”
“The couch usually is fine.”
“Right. Of course.”
I sank into the cushions, anxiety crawling up my spine as I set the bag on the coffee table. We hadn’t spoken about Friday. I don’t think we had seen each other much since then either. It felt like ages ago, yet it also felt fresh in my mind.
As I procured the plastic bins from the bag, I noticed his calm demeanor, his curious eyes, and his strong hands. I thought I saw him shaking, but it must have been a trick of the light. It was quite dim in here.
“Can’t afford much?”
He shook his head with a bashful grin. “I was never one for material things.”
“That makes you one of the good ones.”
“I don’t think collecting things is necessarily a bad thing. I just don’t have much use for them, you know?”
I nodded. “I understand. My family keeps everything.”
“Dragons sure like to hoard.”
I chuckled. “We do. It’s part of our nature. But they take it to extreme levels.”
“It must make living with them difficult.”
“Oh gosh, you have no idea.”
Silence drifted between us like a gentle tide. I relaxed into my surroundings, grinning when Marshall reached for the lo mein. We shared the container, taking turns lifting noodles with our chopsticks.
“This is...nice,” Marshall whispered, settling the container on my lap so I could have the rest of the lo mein. I smiled gratefully as he continued, “I like spending time with you.”
“I like it, too.”
He grinned sheepishly, running his fingers through his thick, black curls. “I also enjoyed what happened the other day in my office.”
I blushed. “We don’t have to talk about that if—”
He took my chin gently but with the kind of commanding touch that silenced me. Everything about the way he looked at me and touched me made me feel alive. I wanted nothing more than to give myself over to him.
His thumb swept lovingly over my bottom lip. “You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. May I have some more?”
“You never have to ask,” I whispered shakily. “Just take what you want.”
“Don’t give me that kind of permission.”
He drifted closer as I swallowed hard, my throat clicking with the motion. “W-why’s that...Daddy?”
“Because I’ll do it.”
Before I could articulate what to say, his lips crashed into mine, eons of desire exploding at once as if to create a new universe. Though we had been together like this before, this time was different. This time, it was filled with far more purpose—and promise.
My surroundings melted away as he stole my attention, my affection, and my heart. Bit by bit, Marshall took from me, and I willingly gave him as much as he wanted. His kiss turned hungry, ravenous, and he devoured me with an ease that sent shock waves of delight through my body.
I wanted him so badly that it hurt.
The container slid from my lap and landed with a soft thump against the carpet. As much as I wanted to reach down and clean up the mess I had created, I couldn’t. Marshall was my only focus right now—and I would gladly keep it that way.
His hands roved over my body, celebrating my curves, my chest, my neck. When his fingers drifted over my throat, I arched my back, exposing myself to him in a way only mates would do. Was he my mate? Is that why I did it?
“Baby girl,” he whispered to my skin. “May I mark you?”
“Yes, do it,” I begged. “I’m yours, Daddy. I’m tired of waiting.”
He exhaled slowly, hot waves of affection coating my jugular and spurring goosebumps to erupt in every direction. I shuddered under his weight, welcoming his heaviness and the lust that came with it. I parted my legs and beckoned him to shimmy between my thighs where he belonged.
A guttural growl rumbled in his chest and rose to his throat, leaving his lips as his teeth elongated, his cuspids, in particular, extending sharply and pricking my skin. Not enough to break my delicate outer shell, but certainly enough to engage my hips. I bucked uncontrollably, trying to merge with him once more.
Desire clouded my mind. A rhythmic banging echoed in the background, my heart joining the rhythm just as I was doing with my body.
Bang, bang, bang.
My eyes popped open. “Marshall, wait.”