Page 38 of So I'll Know
“The general store is. They have shortened morning hours. I checked.”
We step outside, and I lock the door behind us. Marcus eyes the dark, thick clouds as he tugs on his black rain slicker.
“Well, would you look at that? Hedoesown a raincoat,” I murmur.
Marcus scowls. “We can take my truck if you want.”
I put on a similar coat, but mine is a bright yellow. I may love the gloom, but as my aunt always says, sometimes we need a little color in our lives. “I’m okay walking.”
“Yeah, okay,” Marcus responds, eyeing the clouds distrustfully.
I give him an amused smile. “You don’t melt in the rain, do you?”
His only response is a noncommittal grunt and an eyeroll.
Classic Marcus.
We start our walk into town, and for once, the silence between us doesn’t feel awkward, at least not until we reach South Hemlock Street and the narrow sidewalk forces us to walk close enough to touch. Even through layers of clothing, I’m hyperaware of Marcus’s body heat, and it makes my heart pound painfully hard.
I glance over at him, and when he looks back, he trips over a crack in the sidewalk. I grab his elbow to steady him, but he flinches like I burned him. I huff in annoyance, the reaction souring my mood.
I try to remind myself that he’s not doing it on purpose, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if bringing him here was worth disrupting my peace. But I consider his vulnerable expression when he told me that he needed to leave Seattle, and I soften a bit. He seemed so alone. Working with him over the past few weeks has made me realize that when Marcus isn’t guarded, he’s actually a lot of fun. He may be a prickly bastard, but maybe he’s worth it. Well, the jury’s still out on that one.
We reach the market, and before we enter, I turn to him and cross my arms over my chest. “Look, we’re not here for a romantic getaway, so I don’t think we should plan meals together or whatever. It’s three nights, so just buy whatever you want to eat and I’ll do the same. Sound good?” He nods, his face neutral, and it annoys me even more. “Great,” I snip and walk inside.
It only takes about fifteen minutes for me to get my groceries, and when I walk outside, Marcus is already sitting on one of the wooden benches, frowning at his phone. He glances up when I approach and stuffs the device in his pocket.
“Is everything okay?”
He looks around quickly, his eyes catching on a black SUV in the parking lot. “Uh, yeah, all good.”
His tone is clipped, like my concern is unwanted, and I glower at him, dropping my groceries on the ground with a little growl. And Ido notgrowl.
Marcus stares up at me, surprised. “What’s wrong, Jeremy?”
“You.” I wave my hands in his general direction. “You’re what’s wrong. Your hot-and-cold bullshit is driving me crazy. If you don’t want to be here with me, then why did you come?”
He places his forearms on his knees and studies me. I hate how calm he seems. “I needed someplace to go, remember?”
“Well, you could’ve gone anywhere else. Whyherewithme? I came here to get away from the city and destress.”
“I thought you came for a meeting.”
“That was an added bonus. But this place is my happy place.” I press my hands together and give him a pleading look. “Don’t ruin it.”
He sighs, running a large hand through the longer strands of his hair. “I’m sorry. As much as you probably don’t believe me, it’s not you?—”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Please, for the love of God, don’t sayit’s me.”
He grins sheepishly and raises his hands in surrender. Some of the tension leaves my body because seeing him smile does stupid things to my stomach. I pick up my bags, and we make the trek back to the beach house.
After we’ve put away our groceries, I excuse myself to take a shower, leaving Marcus to brood on the back porch. Honestly, brooding seems to be his default setting, so it’s hard to tell if something is actually bothering him, but he has seemed grumpier ever since I caught him hiding from Ryan.
Speaking of which, I definitely need to loosen him up with a few drinks and get more of that story. I smirk at the idea of getting Marcus drunk. After all, the last time we really drank together, I sucked his cock.
At that thought, my own dick takes notice, and I undress quickly and get into the shower. I’m always thinking about that damn night, which has been living in my head rent-free. The feel of his silky-smooth skin on my tongue. His musky scent and the delicious groans that fell from his lips. The salty tang of his cum. I grab my cock, give it a few pumps, and bite back a moan. Knowing Marcus is feet away is making me even hornier, and my erection aches for release.
I press my head to the cool tile, tugging from base to tip, and it only takes seconds for me to come all over my tensed abs. Breathing hard, I wait for the tingling sensation to leave my limbs while I watch my semen wash down the drain.
