Marly's Choice (Men of August 1)

“Get the hell out of that bed, Marly.” She jerked in surprise at Cade’s furious voice as he spoke from the bottom of the bed.

She frowned. “Don’t you get tired of skulking around?” she asked him irritably, but didn’t move from Sam’s arms.

“Last warning.” She was amazed to see his face flushed, his eyes dark with fury. “Get the hell out of that bed and let’s go.”

“Damn, Cade, I can’t even have sympathy now.” Sam was more than put out with Cade’s attitude as well if his rough voice was anything to go by. “What the hell is your problem anyway?”

Cade’s eyes flashed with dark fire.

“Eager to start already, Marly?” he asked her coolly, his look suggestive as he flung his threat in her face.

Marly tensed with her own anger, and felt Sam do the same. It wasn’t jealousy. It was need. She could see the lust riding Cade, the inner fury at himself, not at her. But it hurt all the same.

“Damned good thing I’m laid up, Cade,” Sam bit out. “Cause we’d fight for that one.”

He hugged Marly tightly for a second, then lifted his arm from her shoulder.

“Remember what I told you, sweet thing.” He winked slowly, but there was no amusement in his smile. “I’ll be home in a few days, I promise.”

“Thanks, Sam.” She kissed his cheek softly, then rose from beside him, moving quickly past Cade. “Maybe when you come home, asshole will be in a better mood. Or I’ll be gone.”

She heard Cade curse behind her, but continued until she was outside the door, and standing silently in the hall, staring in silent determination at Rick and Brock as they blocked her way. She sighed deeply, fighting for patience and tolerance as she faced them.

“One of these days,” she mused. “Some big dumb man is gonna stand in my way at the wrong time.”

“Long as there ain’t no crazies stalking in the shadows at the time, then I’m with you, honey.” Rick’s lips quirked in amusement as he watched her.

Breathing out as she raised her eyes heavenward, she sat down in a hard plastic chair and resigned herself to waiting, if a bit impatiently, for Mr. Ass to decide to leave.

* * * * *

Cade wanted to hit someone. Preferably Sam. But how do you hit a man that took a bullet for you? He escorted Marly into the waiting limo, watching as she moved to the far corner of the seat. He sighed wearily, entering and closing the door behind him.

He allowed his head to fall back and rest along the seat, closing his eyes tiredly. Marly was, once again, not speaking to him. She sat in stubborn silence, staring outside the tinted window, her arms crossed over her breasts. Her long hair was tied back, falling over her shoulder, shielding most of her face, and her expression. She was beautiful in her anger, but he was getting tired of seeing her so damned mad. He couldn’t make her understand, no matter how hard he tried. Hell, he didn’t understand his feelings sometimes himself. All he knew was that he needed her. Needed her unlike anything he had ever needed in his life.

“What do you want, Marly?” He was tired of fighting with her. He wanted to hold her; he wanted her close to him. Just in his arms if nothing else. He hated frightening her. He hated pushing her. He wanted her, needed her.

“I don’t want anything, Cade.” Her voice was calm, cool. She didn’t look at him, didn’t acknowledge his presence in any way other than to simply answer him.

“I’m tired of saying I’m sorry,” he sighed. “I’m who I am, Marly. I warned you of this.”

“A liar?” She turned to look at him with haunted eyes. “I never thought you would lie to me, Cade. Until now.”

“I didn’t lie to you.” He raked his fingers though his hair impatiently. “I couldn’t have resisted much longer, Marly. You know that as well as I do. But the threat against you terrified me. It just sped things up.” Frustration and aggravation lined his voice.

“This isn’t even about that anymore, Cade,” she told him hoarsely.

Cade knew what it was about. She was worried, concerned. But she wasn’t running.

“Is it about the sex?” he bit out. “Dammit, you enjoyed it. I know you did.”

He knew women could be confusing, but this defied anything he had faced before.

“And that’s all that matters, isn’t it, Cade?” Her voice sounded understanding, so why did he feel she wasn’t the least bit understanding?

“What else matters?” he questioned her roughly. “Dammit, you said you heard the rumors a long time ago. You suspected what it would be like Marly, you can’t deny that. Do you think I don’t love you? That I don’t want you? I told you, this wasn’t the fairy tale you needed.”

“How do you know what I need, Cade?” she bit out furiously. “You’ve never tried to give as well as to take. Maybe that’s what I need.”