His head sank down beside hers, and they took large, gasping breaths, trying to recover. They came down slowly, and he lifted away from her, and dropped her back to her feet. As he disposed of the soiled condom, wrapping it in a tissue and shoving it into his pocket, she knew he'd had every detail of the encounter planned. It didn't make her angry, it was just an aspect of his character that she was beginning to know very well. He was the consummate planner.
She adjusted her clothing with hands that trembled and leaned back against the elevator wall in silence as she waited for his next move.
He observed her quietly as well and finally, the silence became too much for Natalie and she had to break it. "How'd I do?" she asked softly, attempting a light-hearted effect she was far from feeling.
A glimmer came over his eyes that she couldn't interpret and his words when he spoke sounded sarcastic to her. "Excellent, sweetheart."
Confusion attacked her. "Are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be mad at you? You haven't done anything wrong, have you?"
"Not that I know of."
"Then I couldn't be mad, could I?"
Marco watched Natalie as she gripped the railing behind her with both hands and tried, unsuccessfully, to control the fine trembling of her limbs. He knew he was being an ass but he couldn't stop himself. He was mad, and it was her fault he was mad, at least that's what he was telling himself. He felt as if he was caught. Caught in her hold that he couldn't shake. He didn't want to shake it, damn it. He'd been perfectly happy before yesterday. He'd been able to monitor her movements and he knew exactly when she left the penthouse and where she went. Or so he had thought.
It hadn't really been that way, but he hadn't known it. And now, now she was asking him to trust her, to trust her for God's sake, when he'd never trusted a woman in his life. He didn't know how to trust her. But evidently, if he wanted to keep her, and he did, he'd have to learn how to trust her, and quickly. So yes, he was a bit pissed. Pissed at her for her demands, pissed at himself because he wouldn't just relinquish her. Just let her go. He knew if it had been any other female that's exactly what he'd do. She'd be gone. Gone in a heartbeat. That quickly.
But not Natalie. He was addicted. Completely. He knew it. And goddamnit, Natalie probably knew it as well. He knew he was sexually addicted to her; there was no other explanation. He was addicted to her scent, enthralled with the sweet sounds she made when he slid inside of her. He was completely intoxicated with her taste. Her skin was so soft, so sweet he almost couldn't stand it. He physically wanted to lick her; sometimes he wanted to actually bite into her flesh. But he couldn't, at least, not beyond a certain point. He loved it when her thighs would clench around him in need, it set off a ravenous hunger inside of him that he didn't think he'd ever be able to quench.
As she watched him warily now, he felt himself calm down a bit. She had been excellent, had given him exactly what he wanted. And he shouldn't be taking it out on her now. "Come here."
Her eyes flared and he realized she was agitated by his demand. Did she think he was going to rip her pants off again? He damn sure wanted to. But not now. Now he had something to prove to her.
He only hoped it would do the goddamn trick.
Natalie eyed him as he held out his hand to her, silently demanding she take it. She took the few steps needed and put her fingers in his palm. His hand gripped her hard and his fingers entwined with hers as he pushed the button to complete the downward descent.
The doors opened and Natalie realized they were all the way down in the underground parking garage. He pulled her over and led her to his car and pointed. "What do you think?" he asked her.
Her brow furrowed. "About your car?"
"No--about yours," he announced.
"My what?"
"Your car."
Natalie felt nothing but confusion as she looked around for the small green compact that her cousin had previously lent to her. "Where is it?"
"Next to mine. The grey Lexus."
Natalie almost choked. "The grey what?"
He pulled her over to a beautiful, brand-new car with sleek grey lines. "The Lexus. This one." He pulled a remote key from his pocket and pressed a button. Natalie heard the subdued double-click of the doors automatically unlocking.
She shook her head back and forth and mumbled, "I don't understand."
"What is it you don't understand?"
Her voice became stronger. "How is this going to prove you trust me? You bought yourself an additional car, equipped it with another GPS locater, and you're going to allow me to drive it?" The sarcastic, biting question had barely left her lips when he moved the few inches that separated them and stood in front of her, glaring down at her.
"That's your one free pass. I truly don't like sarcasm coming from those pretty lips when it's directed at me, you understand?"
She studied him intently, holding herself stiffly. "This is one of those moments, isn't it, Marco? One of those moments when you get to be you, and I'm not supposed to be scared or feel intimidated, right?"
His hands fell to her upper arms and his thumbs kneaded her flesh. "That's right, sweetheart. I don't want you to be scared, but you will do as I say. Capisce?"
Her lips tightened. "If you don't want sarcasm from me, I expect the same from you."
He gripped her arms. "Do you like the damn car or not?"
"It's very pretty, if that's what you're asking me."
"I hope you think so, because it's not mine. It's yours. I bought it in your name. I'm going to give you the title. And there's not a fucking locater in it."
His words both shocked and pleased her. She sensed he was telling her the truth. "Mine? You bought it for me? Really?"
"Yes."
"And can I actually drive it?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?" He all but roared the question.
"An honest one."
"Yes, you can drive it. But you have to promise me a couple of things first."
Her eyes left his and landed on the car again, suddenly itching to get inside and drive it. "What?"
"You'll always wear your seat-belt and drive within the speed limit."
"Yes, of course," she agreed simply.
"You won't text and drive. Or drink and drive."
She turned back around to face him with a scorching look on her face. "I'm not an idiot."
He ignored that. "You'll come home every night."
Natalie heard the slight trace of vulnerability behind the hissing menace of his voice that he couldn't quite disguise. She didn't acknowledge the subtle threat in his tone, the rigid demand or the hint of anger this situation was causing him. All she focused on was the vulnerability as it slid through her and landed with an irresistible need to touch him and reassure him. She lifted her hand to the five o'clock shadow that graced his face every evening when he came home. "I'll be safe--"