Page 83 of Beautiful Small Things

We sit silently for a few beats before she continues.

“I keep waiting for you to tell me that I was stupid and immature with the way I left,” she admits.

“I’m not going to say that,” I reply. “I’ve made my fair share of mistakes regarding relationships.”

Laughter erupts from her chest. “That’s true. I guess that would be the pot calling the kettle black.”

“What can I say? I’m good at fucking up important things,” I quip.

“If you’re talking about us, then you can’t blame yourself. I did a spectacular job of fucking things up as well,” she sighs.

James is suddenly serious as she says, “I really lost myself after that.”

I give her my full attention as she continues.

“I used to be this force, you know. I mean, my nickname as a kid for a while was ‘The Smackdown,’ for fuck’s sake. Somewhere in there, I forgot who I was. I lost my spark.” She leans her head back, and a single tear spills from her eye down her cheek.

James

I finally said it out loud. It feels good to admit it to another person. It’s somehow so fitting that Marcus is that person. I feel him shift beside me, and suddenly I’m hit with a giant splash of water as he hops into the tub, fully clothed.

“What are you doing?” I screech, laughing in surprise.

“Helping find your spark,” he replies, with a devilish smile on his face.

The next thing I know, he lifts me under my legs and sets me on the edge of the tub. My eyes widen in surprise and meet his blue ones. They gleam with wicked excitement.

I’m still trying to decipher what’s happening as he steps between my legs and places his hands on my hips, his lips dragging over the shell of my ear as he speaks.

“You and I have always burned together,” he says, causing a shiver to rack my body. “Let me help you find it.”

I bite my lower lip and nod, looking at him through lust-filled heavy lids. Maybe he shouldn’t have this effect on me, but he makes me feel alive and excited like no one else. He always has.

“How long has it been since you’ve been fucked properly?” Marcus asks in a deep, masculine voice while still maintaining eye contact that I feel in my soul.

“Since you,” I whimper, my throat suddenly dry. I don’t even recognize my own voice. It’s desperate and dripping with need.

“I’ve got you, Baby,” he growls as he places his hand in the center of my chest and pushes me back so I’m lying flat against the cold concrete slab.

He looms over me and slowly traces his finger from my chin, down my neck, and the center of my chest, causing my skin to pebble under his touch. His touch feels like fire everywhere, trailing over my body. There’s reverence in how he touches me; he excites me like no one else ever has.

A moment of clarity overtakes my lust-filled thoughts. “Marcus, anyone could walk outside.”

“So?” he says, moving his hands and cupping my breasts with both hands. He slowly begins to circle my nipple over my triangle bikini top. “That’s never bothered you before.” Leisurely, torturous circles cause me to arch my back into his touch, but he pushes me down with one hand.

My skin flushes as he moves the fabric of my top aside, exposing my hardened nipples to the cool air.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, leaning down and taking one in his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hardened point. How had I forgotten how talented he is with his mouth?

“You taste like the best thing I’ve ever had,” he says, causing me to moan and thread my fingers through his hair.

“But this,” he says, as he drops one hand and cups my pussy “is what I really want to eat.”

This man and his dirty mouth.

“This beautiful pussy needs more attention, Baby,” he says breathlessly, making his way down my body with a series of kisses, licks, and nips.

He gently pulls me forward by the hips with his face between my legs. Kneeling in the hot tub, he pulls the string on one side of my bikini bottoms, causing that side to open.