“Holy shit,” I moan as my knees begin to buckle. “I’m coming. Marcus, I’m coming.”
Marcus groans, the sound heightens the intensity of the moment to the point I almost can’t stand it. With one deep thrust, my legs quiver and my pussy contracts tightly around his cock. I come undone, and, soon, so does he.
Panting, I manage to find my equilibrium once more, but then tears spring from my eyes. They keep flowing freely.
Holy shit. Mike was never my first.
It was Marcus.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Hell Hath No Fury
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, showered and redressed, my head whirls with the realisation that somehow, at one time, Marcus was a part of my life, and not just a part of my life, but the man who claimed my virginity. But why can’t I remember? My legs shake as if a boulder weighs heavily in the pit of my stomach. He knew. He knew who I was, and he said nothing. Why did he keep this secret? Anger fires rapidly through my core. I need to get some air.
Stomping towards the front door, I cringe when I hear Marcus clear his throat.
“I’m sorry, Abigail.”
“What for, Marcus? Lying to me? Keeping secrets? Or both?” I spit with my back still turned.
“Neither. I’m sorry for this.” As the words leave his lips, the front door bursts open and a face filled with fury appears.
“Sammy.” Shock rattles through my bones.
“Get out of my way,” she snaps, brushing past me. “Marcus fucking Klein, you complete arse, get down here now!” She’s screaming at him from the bottom of the stairs.
“Samantha.” His tone is controlled and calm. “It’s good to see you again.”
“What the actual fuck?” My eyes dart from him to her in confusion.
“Stay out of this, Dorothy.” Sammy holds her hand up like a stop sign behind the back of her head. To me. What is going on? “I’d like to say the same, Marcus, but I think you can tell I’m far from happy to see you. Nice touch with the driver and the sign on my arrival. You think you’re too clever, don’t you?”
Marcus grins as he takes each step until he reaches the bottom. “I heard Abi on the phone with you last night, so I knew you’d be coming. It wasn’t hard to figure out which flight.”
“You were supposed to remain invisible, you prick, but here you stand. Well … how much does she or doesn’t she know?”
“Calm down,” Marcus commands, the two of them now standing face to face.
“I won’t calm down. What the hell are you playing at? You promised.”
“She found me.”
“Fuck off she did.”
He smirks before he runs his hands through his hair. “She doesn’t know much. She has only had one real memory.”
Sammy twirls on her heel and stares at me. “ I’m sorry.” Her tone is racked with guilt.
“You know why I can’t remember, don’t you?” I find it hard to say the words.
She nods.
“And it’s obvious you two know each other well.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers before her eyes narrow. Watching her face grow redder and her body tense fills me with a sense of panic.
Marcus walks towards me and stops by my side.
Sammy stamps one of her heels against the flooring. “Get away from her. Abi, get your stuff. We’re going home now,” she shouts.
“Babe, stop.”
Mosby.
“I won’t, Jackson. I’m seething. Why, you arse, why?” she demands, her attention back on Marcus.
He doesn’t answer. He just stands still.
“You, me, privacy, now.” Sammy stabs her finger in the air towards Marcus.
“Right this way.” I can hear the sarcasm in his tone. He moves his hand in the direction of the kitchen.
“Stay here, Abi,” Sammy orders.
“Like fuck,” I reply.
“Jackson, please.” Sammy’s eyes beg Jackson to help her, and he offers a nervous half smile in return.
“Abs, come on, just let them talk this out, okay?” When Mosby’s hand reaches for mine, I grab hold of it with every ounce of strength I can muster. I don’t know why I do, why I allow Marcus and Sammy to leave my sight to talk behind closed doors. I’m not one to be kept in the dark anymore. I’m not a pushover. I’m not this girl. Panic sears in my gut, travels to my throat, threatening to strangle me.
“Mosby,” I murmur, trying to rein my tears threatening to fall. Before long, I hear the slamming of a door, and then there’s complete quiet.
“I can’t breathe,” is all I say as my legs give out and Jackson catches me mid-fall.
“Come on now.” He cradles me in his arms. Softly. Protectively. Safely.
I cry, hard. I fight desperately to stop the feeling of utter doom from plaguing me, but I can’t. Sammy knew too. Sammy’s been keeping secrets.
“It’s going to be okay. It’ll all work out,” Mosby offers in comfort as he lowers me onto the lounge.
“It won’t. Apparently, I have no memory of a huge chunk of my life, and nobody will tell me what in the hell is going on.” I’m so breathless, I suck in a noisy mouthful of air.
“Come on now, Abs, just breathe. I’ll find you a tissue.”
“Okay.” I snort, trying to clear my nose. I drop my head between my legs. I will my breathing to slow the fuck down.
When Jackson returns, he sits beside me, and rubs small circles on my back.
“How about we get your tears to stop and we talk through this some, hey?”
“Okay,” I cry out, opening an even larger floodgate inside my heart.
I’m not sure how long I cry, but by the size of the pile of tissues gathering in my lap, I’d say it’s a while. Jackson stays quiet the entire time, never resting his hand as he continues the small circles on my back.
“They’re coming this way,” he whispers before handing me another tissue and standing.
There’s no longer any anger between Marcus and Sammy as they approach. Their postures are relaxed, their faces mirror each other’s in contentment.
“Take care of my girl.” Marcus’s tone sounds distant. “I’ll be back soon.”
“God, you’re cocky,” Samantha states.
“If I remember correctly, that’s a quality you once found endearing.” Marcus winks at Sammy.
“Now I’m not so sure.” She smiles wearily before Marcus puts a quick kiss to her cheek. “You promised, Samantha. She’ll be here in the manor when I get back. You won’t take her away.”
“She will be. Now you’d better go. I’ve got this.”
“Okay.” Marcus passes by Mosby, never acknowledging he’s standing there.
“Abigail, I’ll be back soon. Everything will seem much clearer then. I’ll return when I can.”
I can’t look at Marcus, so I keep my eyes focused on Sammy, my best friend, who up until now I never really thought would betray me in any way.
Marcus huffs … I hear the front door opening.
“Miss Dermont, Mr Mosby, here are your bags,” Grady says.
I turn just in time to see Grady placing their bags onto the floor inside the door.