Marcus turned when Annie entered the kitchen. Her face was blank, and he didn’t know what to say, so he remained silent. He poured her a glass of wine and slid it over to her. She gulped it down and pushed the empty glass back to him for a refill. He complied, guessing that their parent’s revelation had been a shock to her.
He had set the table in the kitchen, and he turned to fill the soup bowls and take the bread out of the oven. He put the bowl in front of Annie and took his seat across from her.
They both finished their dinner in complete silence. Marcus, however, suspected they might talk tonight about what had happened thirteen years ago. Since leaving the house earlier, he had walked around, his mind lost in the past. When he returned home, he still did not know what to expect.
Annie got up to pick up the bowls and take them to the scullery. Marcus also got up, opening another bottle of wine. He didn’t ask Annie but took their glasses and the bottle to the family room where he had lit the fire earlier.
He filled their glasses and set the bottle and Annie’s glass on the side table. Picking up his drink, he slid down to the carpet in front of the fire.
The heat of the fire warmed his skin that hadn’t warmed up yet. He had been stupid, going outside without a warm jacket but he didn’t think straight then.
He should’ve remembered that The weather had deteriorated during the afternoon, announcing that winter was here to stay. It wouldn’t surprise Marcus if the snow covered the mountains in the morning.
He looked up when Annie came in. She surprised Marcus when she joined him on the floor.
Marcus handed her the glass, and for a long time, they sat in silence, staring at the flames. Their only interaction was when Annie refilled their glasses. When the bottle was empty, she played with her glass. Before she broke it, Marcus took it from her and put it on the table with his. The silence was now becoming uncomfortable, but he didn’t know how to start. He didn’t have to as Annie asked, “Why did you do that?”
Marcus demanded with a frown, “What the hell are you talking about?”
Annie’s face was rebellious, “You know what I’m talking about, Marcus. I thought you loved me.”
Marcus clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. How the hell must he answer this one without giving his feelings away?
He opened his eyes and glanced at Annie. At least it didn’t look like if Annie would remember this conversation tomorrow. She had more than her share of wine tonight. Well, so did he, but she had always been a light-weight.
Her head lolled against the couch, her lids half-closed. She was gorgeous, even in this half-drunk state.
He wanted her.
Hell, having this discussion tonight was not such a good idea. Being alone with Annie was not such a good idea, but the kids had fallen asleep, and his mother had instructed Marcus to leave them at their house for the night.
“And?” Annie interrupted Marcus’ thoughts.
Marcus took a deep breath. To play for some time, he stoked the fire again and sat back, watching the flames, “I had no choice,” he mumbled.
Annie frowned, only opening her one eye to look at him, “Why not?”
Marcus looked away, “They haven’t told you?” he managed.
Annie flushed her cheeks a brighter red than what the wine had caused, “They had told me what they’ve done, but it’s not the answer I need. I want to know why you sent me away.”
Marcus turned back to her, “It is an answer, Annie. The best you’ll get tonight.”
Marcus should’ve remembered that Annie would not let it go. She was like that. Tenacious like a terrier and he guessed that was what carried her through the ordeal with Kent.
What she did next shock Marcus, but it shouldn’t have. Annie was drunk and his body shouldn’t react as it did, but hell, Marcus couldn’t help it. He hadn’t been with a woman for more years than he could remember. The last time Marcus could remember was being with Annie. The rest of the time he made sure he was too drunk to remember it the next day.
He couldn’t touch another woman—not even after Linda died. Annie always slipped into his thoughts at the most inopportune times and then it was over. He sure as hell tried, but the moment Annie was back on the farm, Marcus gave up. He couldn’t, not knowing she was there.
Before Marcus figured out what she planned, Annie was on his lap, straddling him. Her hands were on his shoulders—probably so she wouldn’t fall off in her intoxicated state. And she stared at him, those blue eyes expecting answers.
Marcus couldn’t think when Annie did what Marcus had hoped and craved for and wanted for years. And he couldn’t resist. He should have known… Hell, he had been aware of her the whole night. She hadn’t put a bra back on since her shower because he could see her breasts through the thin, long-sleeve t-shirt she was wearing.
Was he going to tell her?
Hell no, he was not that stupid—it doesn’t matter how painful it had been watching her throughout dinner. His hands reached up, finding a resting place on her hips.
“Look me in the eyes, Marcus Anthony, and tell me you didn’t want me,” she demanded.
“I can’t tell you that, Annie,” Marcus granted.
“So you admit you wanted me?” Annie wanted to know.
“I never denied that.”
Sudden tears sprung in her eyes, and she asked, her voice not so sure now, “Then why? Why did you push me away? Why did you sleep with Linda? Why?”
Marcus exhaled. He had always been a softie for her tears. His one hand lifted to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks, “I didn’t sleep with her, Annie. I’m so sorry I gave you that impression. I didn’t want to, and it is something I regret to this day, but I had to…”
“Why?”
“Because our parents were right. You needed to fly, Baby. You needed to find your wings and learn how to fly on your own,” Marcus whispered.
Annie shook her head, “I didn’t want to fly. Not alone. I wanted to fly with you.”
Her expression changed almost immediately when she demanded, “That still did not explain why you pushed me away. Could you not have just told me? You were so cruel, Marcus.”
“I know that now, Baby, but I was young and stupid. I should never have Linda convince me it was a good idea. I should’ve known it might backfire. I thought if you pleaded with me, I wouldn’t be strong enough. I wish now I had never done that, that I never left you. I should’ve stayed. If I had stayed, you would never have met Kent. You would never have married him and…”
Annie dropped her head on his shoulders and whispered, “Though I had been hurt and angry and I thought I hated you, I hoped you would save me. I only got engaged to him to make you jealous, but it didn’t seem to bother you, and then Linda was pregnant, and I then accepted that you didn’t love me and never wanted me.”
Marcus cursed. The words rolled over his tongue until Annie put her fingers over his mouth to stop him. Marcus closed his eyes, taking deep shuddering breaths. When Annie whispered, “Marcus?” he opened them.
For long moments they stared at each other before Marcus mumbled. “I was jealous. I was so jealous I could’ve killed him, but I thought you made your choice. You’d grown up and spread your wings, just as I wanted. So the night of your engagement party I got drunk and ended up in bed with Linda. I couldn’t remember the next morning what had happened. When she announced she was pregnant, I didn’t want to marry her, but my Dad said that no grandchild of his would be illegitimate. He told me I could always get a divorce later. I had no choice. I had to marry her. You would anyway marry Kent, so I married her.”
They stared at each other and then Annie leaned in, brushing her lips over his, once, twice, each time lingering a little longer.
Marcus clenched his jaw and grunted, “Annie, you’re playing with fire.”
“Am I?” she smiled. “Is it working?”
“Damn right, it’s working,” Marcus grunted, grinding his body upwards so she would know what effect she had on him.
Annie dropped her eyes down to where Marcus could feel his arousal straining against her. Her hands slid down and under his t-shirt. Slowly she reversed the action, moving her hands back up over his abdomen, slipping his shirt at the same time.
Her hands were burning his skin, stoking a fire deep in his belly. Marcus swallowed and whispered, “Are you sure, Annie?”
She lifted her eyes to meet his and then she nodded, “I’m sure. Make love to me, Marcus.”
Marcus lowered his head. Against her lips, he whispered, “I could never resist you, Baby,” before his mouth claimed hers.
Annie opened her mouth underneath his. Marcus lost control of the kiss, the situation, and reality. He didn’t know how it happened, and he didn’t care, but their movements were frenzied, ridding each other of their clothes. Only when they were both naked, did Marcus stop Annie when she moved against him, “Slow down, Baby. Please, have mercy because if you don’t, it will be over before it began. I don’t want to rush it. I’ve waited too long…”
Annie heard his pleas, and she stopped her movements. For a moment or two, she lay against him, stretched out on his body and then she lifted her head, whispering, “How long has it been for you?”
Marcus flushed. It was stupid but hell, he was so out of practice making love to a woman. He rolled them over so that Annie was lying underneath him, feeling what she was doing to him, “I haven’t been with anyone since… To tell you the truth, I can’t remember. I was usually too drunk. And you?”
Her eyes widened and then she stayed quiet for a long time before she admitted, “The last time I made love was to you. With Kent… It wasn’t making love. It was horrible.”
“Oh, Annie…” Marcus whispered. “Are you sure you are ready for this?”
Annie nodded, “Yes, please, Marcus. Please make love to me. Please remind me of how good it can be.”
Marcus smiled, “It will be my pleasure. I’ve been dreaming of making love to you for years. I will not let this chance slip by to love you as you deserve.”
And Marcus did. More than once. And afterwards, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.