Marly's Choice (Men of August 1)

Marly ignored the rough disbelief in Greg’s voice as she still watched the empty doorway.

“Hmmm, just curious,” she said thoughtfully. “I better go down and see what his problem is. I’ll meet you outside in a little while. Maybe we can go swimming.”

Since there was no longer any need to try to hide the belly ring, she could enjoy the pool. Marly licked her lips nervously as she left the bedroom. Cade had nearly flipped when he saw the ring. It had been there in the flush on his cheeks, the disbelief in his eyes. She liked it, though it had hurt like hell getting it. She especially liked the thin gold chain that went around her body and connected to the ring. It made her feel sexy, even if no one else ever glimpsed it. Until Cade.

He was waiting on her in the study, where she had known he would be. She closed the door softly behind her, watching him as she neared his desk. He was standing at the sliding doors, staring out at the pool. The liquor on his desk was opened, and he was holding an empty glass in his hand.

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a little bit, Cade?” Her voice was soft, questioning. “It was just a joke. Greg is easy to tease—”

“So you tease him?” Cade turned to her slowly. “How far do you go to tease him, Marly?”

Marly blinked. He was really furious. She felt a small flare of unease, but mixed with it was an excitement she couldn’t define. It made her knees weak, made the muscles of her stomach clench in anticipation. She could feel the tender portal between her thighs heating, readying itself.

She shrugged uneasily. “I’m not mean to him Cade. And I don’t tease him badly. You know I wouldn’t do that.”

“Do I?” He refilled his glass. “You’ve changed Marly, while at school. How much have you changed?”

Marly licked her lips, trying to ignore the flare of hurt feelings his tone and his look caused within her.

“I’m not a child anymore, Cade,” she whispered. “ I don’t do anything that would embarrass the family, but I’m not a kid.”

Marly had always been very conscious of the family’s good name. She had always fought to make certain she brought no shame to it. To Cade. She didn’t want him to be ashamed of her, yet he was acting as though he was.

Cade didn’t answer her. He threw back the liquor as though it were water, causing her to swallow tightly. She had never seen Cade so upset.

“Are you having sex with that incompetent little prick?” he finally asked her harshly, refusing to look at her.

Marly swallowed tightly, suddenly nervous in Cade’s presence. She had never seen him like this, enraged in this way. His emotions seemed to pulse just under the surface, ready to erupt.

“I haven’t had sex with anyone, Cade. And Greg is a nice guy. He’s very lonely, and he’s my friend.” Marly heard the tremble in her voice and hated being so weak in front of him.

The pupils of his eyes dilated at her announcement. A hard breath racked his chest and his hands clenched.

His gaze speared into hers. “Never?” He asked her harshly.

“Never, Cade.” She shook her head.

“Are you going to have sex with him?” He turned away from her as though he couldn’t bear to look at her.

Marly felt tears well in her eyes. He was so handsome. His jeans rode low on his hips, belted with wide leather, and emphasizing his hard stomach and broad shoulders. His legs were long and muscular, and he had a smooth, rolling walk that made her crazy. She needed him, wanted him, but he still saw her as a little girl.

“I’m a woman,” she whispered again, ignoring his flinch. “I don’t know how to answer your question. If I fall in love with him, yes I will. Do I love him now? No, I don’t, except as a very dear friend.”

Cade sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair as he turned to her. The look on his face was agonized.

“Marly, don’t cry,” he groaned, and only then did she realize the tears were running down her face.

She was dying. Marly knew she was. She wanted him so desperately she couldn’t stand the ache. She wanted him to touch her, hold her. How much longer did she have to wait? She had waited a lifetime already.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she wiped at her cheeks, shaking her head. “Maybe I should go back to school. I don’t cause any trouble there.”

She had been causing trouble at home since she had started dating. As though Cade expected any minute to walk into his home and encounter an orgy.

“God no. Baby, I’ve missed you so much.” He pulled her into his arms, and the pain of needing him was like a physical blow to her stomach.

Her arms wrapped around his waist, her hands holding tight to his back. He was so warm and hard. So male she wanted to scream out her need for him. His scent, a combination of spice and pure male heat wrapped around her, infusing her. She felt her breasts swell beneath the lace cups of her bra, her nipples hardening. She held onto him tighter, knowing how desperately she had missed his rare hugs in the past two years, the feel of his hands stroking over her head.

“The belly ring was a surprise,” he whispered at her ear, his lips barely caressing the lobe, making it nearly impossible to suppress her shiver. “And that chain is decadent, Marly.”