Marcus turned onto the street where Mary’s duplex was, throttled down, and cruised slowly down the block. He studied all the other residences, noting the block was an eclectic mixture of duplexes and single family residences. Mature trees lined the sidewalks, and one or two cars were parked curbside. It was a workday, and he had the feeling the majority of the people living here were off to the day job.
When he pulled up in Mary’s driveway, he shut off the engine and sat for a moment, studying the building. It was an unpretentious duplex, certainly very low key for Carl Miller, if indeed he was the gunrunner. Grey’s idea was he had a much more lavish residence someplace else, maybe even out of the country, and used this to keep a low profile. Average computer store, average resident, a little extra cash from renting out one side. Nothing to call unwanted attention to himself.
There was no vehicle in his carport, so Marcus assumed he was at work. After all, it was a normal workday. He had thought about casing the store himself during the day but ditched the idea almost at once. It had been his plan from the beginning to find a way to get an invite to Mary’s duplex. He didn’t want Carl Mitchel wondering how a casual customer at his store wound up hanging out with his tenant who worked at a bar where he had at least once facilitated an exchange of information. Brad had given him photos and, for now, that was enough.
At nine o’clock on the dot, he rang Mary’s doorbell. Should he have called first to make sure she was up? On the other hand, if she had just rolled out of bed, maybe he could roll her right back into it.
Finesse, you asshole. Do it right this time.
He was trying to decide whether to knock again or call her on his cell when the door opened and his jaw fell to the ground. Mary stood in the open doorway smiling at him. This morning she had her gorgeous raven hair pulled back into a ponytail and wore minimal makeup. He had to dig his nails into his palm to keep from tracing the line of her cheeks and her jaw and running the pad of his thumb over her plump, glossy lips. But it was the eyes that got him today, a very deep emerald fringed by the thickest lashes he’d ever seen. Her jeans showed off her elegant curves, and the green T-shirt fell softly against her breasts and enhanced the color of her eyes.
He thought he could stand here all day just looking at her. Except he was seized with a desire to grab her and kiss those plump lips until neither of them could breathe.
“Marcus?” Her voice was tinged with humor. “You okay?”
He blinked. “Ah, yeah. Fine. Good. Great.”
She peered at him. “Are you sure? Did you get enough sleep last night?”
Not by a long shot. He’d kept dreaming of a raven-haired beauty with green eyes, nicely rounded breasts slightly over a handful, and a hot pussy with a scent that drove him crazy.
“I’m good,” he repeated. “How about grabbing your stuff and we’ll get going. Oh, and bring a jacket.”
“Okay, but how about a hint where we’re going?”
“That would spoil all the fun. Come on. Daylight’s burning.”
He was pleased to see she already had a jacket out, tossed over the back of a kitchen chair. She grabbed it and slid her arms into it then pulled the strap of her purse over her head. With her jacket open, he could see where the thin strap nestled between her breasts, pulling the fabric taut against the outline. He had to restrain himself from reaching out and cupping them in his hands.
Jesus, Marcus. Are you twelve or what?
“Are we ready to leave, Marcus, or did you have something else in mind?”
He dragged his gaze to her face and saw a corner of her mouth turned up in a tiny grin.
“Oh, no, just…” Just what?
“It’s okay.” She laughed, a musical sound that made him feel warm all over. “I’m ready. Where are we going? And what about my tire?”
“How about this. We’ll stop and get coffee and a muffin, have them pack us a picnic lunch while we eat. Then we’ll hit the road to someplace I found I think you’ll really like. Later, while you’re at work, I can take care of the tire.” He winked. “Gives me a chance to bring you home again tonight.”
Had he pushed it too much? He really wanted to be here alone for a while to see if the elusive Carl Mitchell showed up. Maybe he’d have an unexpected visitor or two. Or maybe nothing, but he had an itch to check this place out.
“Oh!” She blinked. “Well, okay. That will work.”
“Good. Let’s get going.”
He took a good look around while he wheeled the bike out of her carport. Mitchell’s car had been gone when he arrived, but now it was parked on his side of the duplex.
“Your neighbor must have had an early morning appointment.” He tried to make it as casual and offhand as possible.
Mary glanced at the vehicle and shrugged. “I have no idea. I almost never see him.”
“What if you need repairs or something? Does he leave you on your own for that?”
“No. I call his cell and leave a message, and he calls me back.”
His cell? Marcus’s ears perked up. Was this a phone number they already had or one he kept for special purposes. But surely he wouldn’t have his tenant using a cell he used for his “other” business.
“So I guess he’s not around much.”
“Not really. I don’t pay much attention unless I have a problem.” She frowned. “Why all the interest in my landlord?”
He shrugged. “You’re a single woman living next door to a single man. I’m just concerned for your safety.”
Mary laughed. “If you met him, you’d put that out of your mind. He’s marginally friendly but polite and couldn’t be less interested in me if he tried. It’s all good.”
A nasty thought crept into his mind. Was this all just disingenuous on her part? Was Mitchell using his cell to communicate information with Mary and have her pass it along? Was the bar not a drop-off place at all?
Enough! He did not get those kinds of vibes from her. But, for his own sake, and for the situation, he needed to rule out all possibilities. Maybe today he’d find out more and could pursue it or cross her off the list.
“As long as he doesn’t bother you. Okay. Let’s roll.”
Mary climbed on behind him, pressed herself up against his ass, and wrapped her arms around him as she’d done the night before. He gritted his teeth as his cock, that couldn’t seem to lie down and behave when he was in her presence, tried to push its way out of his jeans. With fierce determination, he throttled down and headed out of the driveway.
Twenty minutes later, they were out of the congestion of the city and on a nice two-lane country road he’d found during his daytime explorations. The sun was bright, the wind soft in their faces, not too much traffic on the road, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a feeling of freedom. If only he hadn’t developed such conflicting feelings about Mary McCoy. He got no vibes from her that she was involved in this nasty business, but it was the only connection they had to Mitchell, tenuous though it was.
And she had cell communications with Mitchell. He wondered exactly how that would work. What excuse did he have to initiate a call to her? Was there something hidden in their little discussion he was missing? If she wasn’t involved, what would she think if she ever learned he’d suspected her? That she was the reason he’d come to Baltimore?
And why did he care? He had no intention of being tied down. Once he was out of here, she’d be history. Right? Right?
Thank god the place he was looking for was just around the next curve and he could shut down his mind for a while.
He’d found Sally’s, a combination country store and diner on a curve of the road, during his daytime explorations. Almost every parking space was taken, so Marcus was glad he had the bike. It was easy to squeeze into nonexistent spaces. A big porch stretched across the front, at least half of its rocking chairs filled. It could have been lifted right from the pages of a country calendar.
“Wow!” Mary’s eyes widened as she took it all in. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place like this before.”
“They didn’t have them where you come from?”
“I don’t think so.”
“And where exactly is that, anyway.” He realized she’d never actually given him that information.
“Oh, up north.” She waved a hand in the air. “Come on. I can’t wait to see the inside.”
Well, that was pretty generalized. Is she hiding something?
Jesus, he wished he could write her off as a suspect already.
Locking the bike and shoving the keys in his pocket, he followed her inside. As always, the aromas of rich coffee and blueberry and chocolate muffins teased at his senses and made his taste buds sit up and shout.
“Oh, my god!” Mary’s voice sounded almost reverent. “I’d weigh five hundred pounds if I could get here every day.”
Marcus watched her take in every bit of the place, from the racks and stands of country items to the big counter where mouthwatering pastries were displayed, to the kitschy designs on the walls.
“Wait until you taste their coffee,” he told her. “Come on.”
But as they made their way to the counter, the cell phone in his jacket vibrated. Damn! It had to be Grey, and at a very inconvenient time. He took the time to place their order, even when Mary dithered over the muffins. He finally suggested they get one of each and split them. He paid for their order then excused himself to go to the men’s room. That was always a good excuse.
“What?” he asked, when he punched call back and Grey answered.
“Bite my head off, why don’t you,” his boss said. “I’ve got Brad breathing down my neck like the dragon from hell.”
“I’m working on it. Right now, as a matter of fact.”
“Oh?” He could hear the skepticism. “That would be good, since you don’t seem to have found anything out yet.”
Marcus bit back his first retort. This wasn’t Grey’s fault. They could be barking up the wrong, tree, and he said as much.
“I hope not because, right now, it’s the only lead we’ve got. Everything else has been a dead end.”
“This might be, too. I’m telling you, Grey, if she’s passing along information, she’s a lot slicker than I give her credit for. Maybe she’s experienced at this and just putting on a good show, but my instincts tell me she’s not involved with this. Believe me, I’ve watched. I figured I could get to know her, play her a little, catch her in the act, and be done with it. It’s not easy hanging out for hours in a place like the pub without raising eyebrows.”
There was a short pause before Grey spoke again. “Do I hear a note in your voice that this is turning into a little more than playacting for you?”
“I’m doing fine.” He blew out a breath. “Look, I’m spending most of the day with her, and, while she’s at work, I’ll have a chance to nose around the landlord’s side of the duplex. By tomorrow, I should have something for you, one way or another.”
“Okay.” Grey’s tone was clipped. “Make it happen.”
Make it happen? He was doing his best. At least, he thought so.
Mary was sitting at one of the small tables for two when he found her.
“Oh my god, Marcus,” she moaned. “This is nirvana.”
He glanced at the two plates on the table and grinned. “I see you’ve already eaten your share of the muffins.” He pointed to a quarter of one. “And part of mine.”
“I’m so sorry.” She brushed crumbs from her lips. “I couldn’t help myself. Let me get another one.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve eaten more than my share the past week.”
By the time they finished their coffee, their picnic basket was ready, and then they were off down the road again.
Make it good, buddy. Get your info without pissing her off.
*****
Mary leaned into Marcus and inhaled his scent. God, she wanted to lick him all over. And riding locked up against him like this, her sex pressed hard to his very fine ass, her hands beneath his jacket against his hard abs, did nothing to calm her senses. She’d had a very hard time falling asleep last night. All she could think of was Marcus’s mouth on hers. Marcus’s hands on her body—her breasts, her hips, between her legs to her very wet, very hot, very stimulated pussy. She finally fell asleep on her side with her hand clenched between her thighs.
Would they get back in time today to pick up where they’d left off? God, she certainly hoped so. She didn’t ever remember being this hot for a man, or this willing to let loose all her inhibitions and give over complete control. She’d never been like that with any man, ever. For the first time in her life, she could do things for herself. To make herself feel better. No deadlines, no clients, no sixteen hour days.
Not that she expected it to last. Marcus was only here temporarily. He’d made that clear in the beginning. But she’d take what she could get then live in her memories.
They’d been riding about an hour when he made a left hand turn into what looked like a wilderness area. In Baltimore? Mary looked at it in wonder as they rode past trees and a grassy area, the air filled with the sounds of the birds in the trees and other creatures rustling in the underbrush. Here and there were open spaces, but Marcus kept riding past them, the bike moving very slowly.
At last, he made a left turn, drove a few feet through a copse of trees, and emerged into a clearing so beautiful Mary caught her breath. The grass looked almost as if it had been mowed and was bordered by tall trees with heavy foliage. Straight ahead it looked out into what appeared to be either a large pond or a small lake. Marcus stopped the bike, turned off the engine, and balanced it with his feet while she dismounted.
“Oh lord, Marcus.” She stood at the edge of the clearing, looking at the water. “This is so gorgeous. But what is it? Isn’t it somebody’s land?”
“It is.” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “It belongs to a man I met at Sally’s.”
“You’re kidding.” She looked over her shoulder at him.
“Not a bit. We got to talking. I was looking for someplace I could take you, private, if I could coax you to ride with me. He lost his son in Afghanistan, but he said he used to come here a lot with his wife. And he’d be honored if I used it for my picnic.”
“Wow! What a great guy.”
“That he is. Now, hold on just a second while I get everything set up.”
He pulled a folded quilt from one of the saddlebags, shook it out, and spread it on the grass.
Mary stared at it, a crazy mix of colors that looked old but could have come from a thrift store. Of course, why would he buy a brand new one for only a few hours?
“Please don’t tell me you bought that just for today.”
He chuckled. “I could say yes, but the truth is, I carry it with me for the nights when I decide to camp out.”
“You don’t like staying in motels? Oh, wait. I guess that could get expensive, depending on how many nights you plan to be on the road.”
“Sometimes I just like to be in the open spaces.”
A look of pain flashed across his face, but it was gone so fast she wondered if she’d just imagined it. She knew returning veterans who, PTSD or not, still grappled with nightmares of what they’d seen and done. Was Marcus plagued by them? Was sleeping outdoors his antidote?
“You’ll bust your brain if you think any harder,” he teased. “Camping out is fun. I used to do it when I was a kid. Don’t tell me you’ve never slept under the stars.”
Actually, no, she hadn’t. Her family had all been just as tight-assed as her, overbooked and always racing the clock.
“I…uh…”
“Never mind. I’ll see if I can arrange it before I leave here.”
That was the first time he’d mentioned leaving, and she got a sudden knot in her stomach.
“Will you be leaving soon?” God, she sounded so prim.
He stopped setting out the picnic items to study her.
“How about we leave that for another time and just concentrating on enjoying today, okay?”
She swallowed. “Okay. Sounds good to me.”
No, it didn’t sound good at all, but she didn’t want to tell him that and ruin the day.
Marcus took off his jacket and draped it on the seat of the motorcycle, so she did the same. She helped him finish unpacking the food then lowered herself to the blanket, sitting cross-legged across from him.
“I’m not usually one for drinking in the morning,” he said, as he pulled a bottle of wine from a knapsack, “but, today, I think we can make an exception. Don’t you?”
He held the bottle up, a corkscrew in his other hand, waiting for her answer.
Mary blew out a breath. Wine in the morning?
“Well, it’s actually almost lunchtime,” she joked, “so I’d say it’s a go.”
His grin nearly melted her panties.
“Wine it is.”
He filled two paper cups and handed one to her. “To a great picnic.”
“A great picnic,” she nodded, and touched her cup to his.
She sipped on the crisp white wine, wondering if the fizzing in her blood was from the alcohol or the expectation of whatever was to come here. Well, she’d wanted a wild ride with a hot biker. Here it was, and her entire body hummed with anticipation. He watched her over the rim of his cup, his blue eyes darkened almost to navy.
Finally, she said, “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“You do. The most gorgeous lips I’ve ever seen. You have no idea what I want you to do with them.”
“Oh!” An image flashed through her mind of her lips wrapped around his cock.
The pulse in her sex went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat, and she was sure her panties were instantly wet.
“Oh, indeed.” His voice had taken on a husky quality, and need flared in his eyes. “Do you think you’d starve if we postponed our picnic for a bit?”
“N-not at all.”
He took the wine from her hands and set it along with his own on a flat tree stump. Then he moved the food to a corner of the quilt and nudged her so they were as far away from it as they could get.
“Take off your blouse, Mary.”
The way he said it left no room for refusal, not that she would anyway. She rose to her knees and pulled the shirt over her head, dropping it at the edge of the quilt.
“Now the bra,” he told her, his eyes eating her up.
She reached behind her to unfasten it, thinking she really should get the kind that fastened in the front. If she was going to be doing this more. If.
Marcus rose to his knees, also, and reached out to cup her breasts. The skin of his palms was slightly roughened, creating unbelievably electric sensations where they touched her skin. He kept his gaze locked with hers as he rubbed his thumbs back and forth across her nipples, the friction sending heat coursing through her. She squeezed her thighs together to control the heavy throbbing reverberating through her body.
“You have gorgeous breasts,” he told her. “Magnificent.”
He lowered his head and took one stiff nipple into his mouth, sucking on it hard.
“Ohhh.” The moan drifted from her mouth.
“Your nipples are like cherries,” he said, lifting his head. “Red and ripe and sweet. Do you like this?”
“Yesss.” She hissed the word, arching her back.
“Tell me,” he ordered. “Say it. Tell me want you want me to do.”
Mary had never been in this position before. The men who had been her lovers didn’t go in much for the erotic or for finesse. No wonder it never excited her so much.
“S-Suck my nipples,” she stammered.
“Again,” he ordered. “Open your eyes and look at me when you say it.”
She forced her eyes open and stared into his dark blue ones.
“Suck my nipples.” Then she added, “Hard.” God. Was that really her?
“With pleasure.” He wrapped his lips around one nipple and drew it into his mouth with force, clamping it between his teeth. With thumb and forefinger, he pinched the other one. Hard.
“Oh god!” She closed her eyes and threw her head back, arching into him.
Marcus slid one hand around to cup her ass and hold her in place while he tormented each nipple until she was ready to come just from the intensity of it. His mouth was hot against her skin, her nipple as hard as stone and aching. Then, without warning, he released her.
Mary blinked. “What—”
“I want to see all of you. Now.”
“Do I get to see you, too?” she asked as she rose unsteadily to her feet.
“In good time. If I take off my pants now, it will all be over before we reach the chorus.”
“Your shirt, then. I want to see your chest. Touch it.”
Was that her talking? She could not believe she was getting naked in the sunlight of day with a man she hardly knew and about to have what would probably be the most stupendous, most erotic sex of her life. Ever. Right out here in the open. And she wasn’t going to regret one single minute of it, no matter what happened afterward.
He hesitated a moment then gave one brief nod of his head.
Mary kicked off her shoes and shimmied slowly out of her jeans. Her eyes were glued to Marcus as he yanked up his T-shirt and tugged it slowly over his head, and she bit her lip to stifle her gasp. He had a six-pack unlike any she’d ever seen, and it definitely did not come from a gym. Dark hair was sprinkled liberally across the hard wall of his chest, and beneath it, two bronze nipples peeked out. But that wasn’t what made her swallow her gasp. It was the two thin, white jagged scars, one going from just above his left nipple across his chest to his navel, the other from his navel disappearing into his jeans.
She couldn’t help herself. Still wearing her bikini panties, the hot pink ones she’d bought and been saving for something such as this, she leaned forward and ran her tongue over each scar, edge to edge. Marcus grabbed her upper arms, fingers digging into them as he pulled her back. He started to reach for his shirt, but she slapped his hand.
“They’re part of who you are. You don’t have to tell me about them, but I refuse to let you hide them. Have you hidden them from the other women you’ve been with?”
“No.” He blew out a breath. “But they—” He stopped.
“They what? If you want this striptease show, Marcus Tyree, spit it out, because the mood is fading.”
“Because they meant nothing, and that’s all I’m saying. Now, come here.”
He reached for her and yanked her toward him, toppling her forward. In the next minute, she was flat on her back, her legs spread wide, and Marcus was lying between her thighs. His educated tongue drew circles on her skin, around her breasts, and then down to her navel He traced the circle of flesh again and again with the tip of his tongue before continuing downward. When he reached her pussy, he lifted her legs to rest on his shoulders and proceeded to lap every inch through the fabric.
Using only the tip, he tongued into her slit, pressing the fabric into it, creating even more friction. Which made her even hotter. Every time he dragged the tip of his tongue up and down, rubbing across her clit, her body jerked in response. She arched her hips to him, thrusting her pelvis, but he held her in place with his hands while he tormented her over and over. She was so close to the crest, so close, so close…
And then, without warning, he lifted his head.
“No.” The cry popped out of her mouth. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
“Oh, I’m not done,” he assured her in a voice filled with rough hunger. “I just want to better taste you.”
He lowered her legs, grabbed the edges of her tiny panties, and yanked them off, tossing them to the side. Then he positioned her again, opened the lips of her pussy, and took a long, slow lick. Electricity shot through her, and her body arched up to him. His tongue was a live wire as he lapped and licked, swirling the tip around her now very sensitive clit. Every nerve in her body was firing, the need for release so strong it consumed her.
When he finally gave a last, slow lick with his tongue and thrust it inside her waiting channel, she dug her heels into his back to push herself closer to his talented mouth. With measured strokes, he dragged his tongue in and out, scraping her sensitized flesh with each movement.
She was close, so close, her body straining for fulfillment, yet he took his time, tormenting her, teasing her until she nearly lost her mind.
“Please,” she begged. “Please, please, please.”
“Please what?” His words were muffled against her flesh.
“Please let me come.”
He laughed, a low, rumbling sound that echoed through her body. He replaced his tongue with two fingers then added a third, fucking her hard and fast with them.
“Oh, oh, oh,” she cried, eyes closed as she reached for that ultimate ledge.
Then he bit down on her clit, thrust once more, and she came, body jerking as spasms racked her, riding his fingers for all she was worth. Everything fell away, and there was nothing but the incredible sensations shaking her. The walls of her pussy convulsed, gripping his fingers and riding them, riding them, until finally, the last spasm subsided and her muscles relaxed.
Marcus slid his fingers from her body and lowered her legs from his shoulders, placing light kisses on her mound and the inside of her thighs. He slid until he hovered over her, catching himself on his forearms and placed a light kiss on her lips. She could taste herself on his mouth, a taste more intoxicating than she ever would have thought, and, unbelievably, as spent as she was, the first sense of arousal teased at her. That had never happened to her before. No wonder she’d never thought sex was all that much. She’d picked the wrong men as lovers.
As if he knew exactly what was happening, he chuckled, a knowing sound that vibrated against her lips. She smiled, breathless, and raked her fingers through his hair. “Is that a smug look I see on your face?”
“Might be if we were finished, but hell, we’ve just gotten started.”
“If that’s the case, one of us has too many clothes on.”
Still wearing a shit-eating grin, he rose to his feet in one graceful motion, removed his boots, and unzipped his jeans. Mary thought she’d die of anticipation as he took his time pushing the fabric down his thighs. Beneath the denim, he wore boxer briefs, and the stretchy fabric did nothing to hide the monster erection trying to push its way out.
Then the briefs were gone, and his cock stood out proud and thick from his body.
Mary’s eyes widened.
Holy shit!