Two by Day, Three by Night Page 7

  Bathed by the morning light, he noted that she was dreaming and hoped it was about him. He knew she felt the instant pull as strongly as he, but that she struggled with her own sensibilities against the connection. Time, he reminded himself… but I want her now… Focus! What were the words she used? Oh yes, turnabout is fair play. With an over-sized grin, he smacked her exposed cheek and jumped onto the bed to shake her.

  “Wake up, sleepy head. It’s time to go.”

  Courtney groaned, covering her face with the pillow and curling her knees into her body. “Damnit, your hands are like ice cubes! Stop it, Marcas! I don’t do mornings.”

  “Today, you do mornings. Up now,” Marcas demanded, smacking her rump again and hearing her muffled yelp.

  “You’re a jerk. Lemme alone. And keep your hands off my ass.”

  “We must go now. I’ll dress you,” Marcas announced boldly.

  Courtney sat up with a scowl. “You aren’t going to drrrress me,” she said, mimicking the rolling sound of his speech. “It’s bad enough you keep undrrrresing me. I was not wearing these clothes last night.”

  “Why do you speak like that? You sound strange,” Marcas asked as she snatched the jeans out of his hands. Ignoring his keen eyes, she yanked them up over her feet.

  “Are you serious? That’s how you sound. You have a very thick accent.”

  “I have no accent in my country. Do you need help?” he asked, hungrily watching her silky thighs slide into the pants legs. Grunting, she turned her back to him as she eased the cloth over her tiny panties and zipped up.

  “What I need you to do is either leave or turn your back. I don’t need you to ogle me like that.”

  “I appreciate beauty. You will make my country seem an old hag when you grace her lands.”

  “Who taught you how to speak so romantically? Our friend, the monk?” Courtney asked, shoving him out of her way and entering the bathroom. She closed the door in his face so she could finish dressing.

  Marcas sat on the bed, holding her brush in his hand and running the broad, flat surface across his thigh as he pictured how pink her bottom would turn under the wood. “Romania is filled with beauty and romance. Even our folklore is bathed in mystery and passion. We learn at an early age to express ourselves in not only words, but in deeds. We show our feelings by how we care for one another. Did you know that we rarely use words for affection, like the Americans do?”

  “Gee, I couldn’t guess. I think the only thing you’ve called me was my name. Even Sebastian has been more congenial,” Courtney said sarcastically, coming out with her hair pulled back.

  Marcas stood, towering over her tiny body. He touched her chin with his index finger as his thumb caressed her lower lip. “When we use your first name, it is in deepest intimacy. That is our way. Every time the name Courtney passes my lips, it expresses my longing for you.”

  Courtney panted crisply as those lips found hers once again. He mumbled her name into her mouth as he probed her with his tongue. Courtney felt her legs wobbling, once again taken aback by his power over her senses. He caught her up in his arms, not releasing her, and waited for her to slowly wrap her arms around his neck in return. He pulled his face away, staring down at her closed eyes and crushed mouth, red and swollen from his insistent touch.

  “Don’t stop…” she whispered.

  “I must. We have a trip to make. There will be time to steal more kisses from you later. If you behave,” he teased, effortlessly carrying her downstairs.

  “If I BEHAVE? Are you kidding? Who do you think… hey…” Courtney retorted, suddenly breaking the spell of his kiss and finding herself being plopped down on the seat of the car.

  “You stay here while I get your bags. Sebastian, please keep our young lady entertained.”

  “I would be honored. He is toying with you, little one.” Sebastian chuckled, patting her hand as she glared at Marcas’ back, her face red. “He enjoys seeing you blush. As do I.”

  “It’s mean.” Courtney leaned back, her arms crossed. “I swear, he makes me feel like I’m a stupid teenager sometimes.”

  “Perhaps there is something within you trying to escape? Tell me, were you as you say, a stupid teenager?”

  “Of course not! I never got into trouble or did anything foolish until I joined the Navy. And then… only once. But that’s irrelevant.”

  “So Marcas is awakening the rebellious young woman who never gave herself the chance to challenge her world. To explore, let us say, her deepest wishes, da?”

  “Oh my God, did he tell you about the other night?” Courtney jeered in disbelief and mortification. “I had no choice!”

  “Shhh, no need for explanations. I know Marcas and his needs very well. The house does not hide sound as well as the manor. He can be very…persuasive.”

  “Sebastian, this is really inappropriate for us to be discussing. I mean…”

  “Why do you deny your attraction to him?”

  “I’m not denying it… I’m trying to ignore it. He does not make that easy. I have a job here and I can’t afford to be distracted by my own interests.”

  “He will make it impossible for you to deny him. I see his reflection in your eyes. You struggle, but not because you don’t feel, but because you do and it frightens you. Please, tell me why.”

  “Now’s not the time, Sebastian.”

  “Promise you will before we arrive home.”

  “I promise, if the opportunity arises. Did you get my purse?” Courtney asked sharply as Marcas climbed into the driver’s seat. He glanced at her in the rear view mirror and frowned.

  “Yes. Why are you angry?”

  “I’m not.”

  “You lie. We will discuss that later.”

  “Oh no, we won’t. I do not care for your description of what entails a discussion.”

  Marcas chuckled, pulling out onto the road. “You lie again. I know for fact that you enjoy it very much.”

  * * *

  Sebastian quickly fell asleep during the silent ride to the private airport and was carefully placed in a reclining lounger in the small jet. Courtney settled him comfortably and then leaned over to watch him carefully.

  “You poor thing, this is wearing you out. Are you in pain?” she asked with concern, seeing the old face grimace.

  “My darling, the only pain I have right now is over the fussing you are giving me. Let me rest.”

  “Ok. And just so you know, I’m going to keep fussing, so get used to it,” Courtney chuckled, kissing his forehead and stroking his cheek. She yelped as Marcas came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the floor. “Put me down, you big gorilla!”

  “Is this a good place to put you down?” he asked, plopping on a lounge and pulling her on his lap to squeeze her tightly. “You are much fun to hold, Courtney. Very warm and soft.”

  “You seriously should consider getting yourself a cat. Stop petting me.” Courtney squirmed as his right hand stroked her hair, neck, and shoulder, and his hot breath whispered Romanian endearments in her ear.

  “Marcas, let the child go,” Sebastian scolded. “I don’t want to hear you two argue right now.”

  “Yeah, wait until he falls asleep and then I’ll kick your ass. And I’m not a child, Sebastian.”

  “To me, you are both children. Let me sleep now. Both of you, behave yourselves.”

  Marcas chuckled, poking Courtney in the side and grinning at her return glare. “I think we were just chided, yes?”

  “I’m glad you’re amused. Will you stop touching me? Marcas, cut it out,” Courtney ordered, trying to avoid his finger as it continued to poke at her. Sebastian raised his hand and snapped his fingers, bringing them both to an abrupt stop. Courtney turned to Marcas and covered her mouth to prevent a giggle from escaping.

  “Don’t do that or you will snort like a boar hog again,” Marcas whispered in her ear, nipping her lobe.

  “It’s a warthog. Why are you trying to make Sebasti
an upset?” Courtney asked, pushing him away from her as they went to the back portion of the cabin and sat down, buckling into their seats as the engine began to roar.

  “It was a favorite pastime of mine as a young boy. It made the time go faster during my lessons. He continually threatened the cane, yet never ventured to use it,” Marcas chuckled quietly, reaching for her hand. She pulled away.

  “He taught you?”

  “He was my teacher, mentor, father, friend… After my father was killed, he was the only family left to me. I will miss him greatly,” Marcas said, his face dropping in sadness. Courtney said nothing, watching the man struggle with his emotions. “His illness is my doing. I will never forgive myself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I made him travel the world with me, looking for items for my collection as I worked as the cultural ambassador to increase tourism for my country. I ignored his age and his failing health, wanting to please my own needs. After my accident,” he pointed to his eyes, “he was the strength I needed to keep myself together. It drained him. Now I have you, but for him, it is too late.”

  “Whoa, wait one second, buddy. You don’t have me. Now I appreciate you needing support, however…”

  “Courtney, look into my eyes and tell me the truth. How long have we known one another? Hmmm? It feels like many years, da? Or a lifetime?”

  “Um, I don’t know. I’m not keeping track of time.” She resisted the urge to lean into his welcoming arms. “Ok, I admit that we seem to be very familiar with each other, despite the fact you drive me nuts, but that’s simply because we are both focused on helping Sebastian.”

  “No, it is not. It is because we are the same. Our loves, our hates… Our wants, and our needs. Tu esti sufletul meu pereche, you are my soul mate. You have stolen my heart.”

  “Marcas, please… you are grieving right now and…”

  “There is no grief in dragostea, love.” He lifted her hand and gently kissed the backs of her fingers. “You have made my heart sing once more.”

  Courtney blushed, torn between wanting to pull away from his advances and swooning in delight. As her lifetime habit, she chose the appropriate, and safe, path. Gently, she drew her hand away. “Marcas, you are making me uncomfortable. Please stop.”

  “For now, I will. But once we walk under the Carpathian moon and under the blanket of the Transylvanian forests, you will hear these words again.”

  “Before or after I get bitten by a werewolf?” Courtney asked with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

  “I promise, the only wolf that will devour you is me. Do you play chess?”

  “I do, and I will kick your butt.”

  “Good, let us see.”

  Several games later, Courtney leaned back in her chair, arms crossed and with a triumphant look on her face. “Oh stop pouting. You suck. And before you make a silly comment, I’m not talking about your mouth. Who the hell taught you how to play chess?”

  “The monks. They were very competitive.”

  “Probably because they play as badly as you do. Chess is a war game, I don’t think they would really concentrate on the strategies,” she chuckled, putting the board away. She saw Marcas suppress a yawn. “Sweetie? You look tired. Why don’t you take a nap? I swear you never seem to sleep.”

  “I have slept little since you stepped into my life. That term? Does it mean…”

  “It’s an expression of mine that I use all the time, nothing more. And you aren’t sleeping because you’re probably worried. Please try to sleep while you can and save your strength for Sebastian. Don’t worry, I will watch over him while you rest.”

  “You have a good and kind heart. I thank you. Please, awaken me in four hours. Do not allow me to slumber more than that.”

  “You need to sleep…”

  “Obey me!” Marcas rumbled, grabbing her wrist. Her startled look made him loosen his grip. “Four hours, no more. Understood?” His low, rich voice was stern and unyielding.

  “I hear you.” Courtney yanked her wrist from him, alarmed by his tone. She rubbed where his hand had gripped her and quickly moved to where Sebastian was resting as she tried to control her trembling.

  “Do not mind his bark, sweet angel. He is tired and tends to be very irritable. How are you traveling?”

  “The trip was going well until Dr. Jekyll turned into Mr. Hyde. Butthead. How are you feeling? Can I get you some food?”

  “Just water. The pain is controlled. I feel… better,” Sebastian said, pulling himself up in the lounger. “You owe me a story. Now is a good time. Why do you run from your feelings? What frightens you?”

  “You never let anything go, do you? Very well. I was involved in a relationship that was very destructive. I thought I was in love, but he wanted nothing more than to use me for his own pleasure. I was very young and impressionable, and believed everything he told me.”

  “He lied to you, yes?”

  “Yes. We served together overseas and he had asked me to marry him. I agreed and just before I was transferred back to the States to join him, I discovered that he was married and had three children. I was also… pregnant. I lost the baby due to a complication of my diabetes. It devastated me. I felt so… so out of control of everything.” She held back tears as the haunting memory returned to her. She had never told anyone about the pregnancy, not even the child’s father. Why Sebastian? What was it about this sweet, kind man that made her trust him?

  “My sweet angel… your poor heart…”

  “It recovered. Please, it is a subject I choose not to dwell on. Nothing can be changed so I have no choice but to move forward,” Courtney said, regaining her self-control and, with that, her sense of power. “That’s when I decided that life was what I would make of it and immersed myself into grief counseling and hospice care. I could give my heart and my love to my patients and their families, and no longer had to be concerned with myself. I don’t have time for relationships, even if I wanted them.”

  “You have no family?”

  “My parents died a couple of years ago. They were loving, good people who left before their time. I was able to be with both when they passed and it was a beautiful event. I miss them at times.”

  “Da, I see that. Marcas lost his mother as a young child and his father was assassinated. His grandmother passed shortly after that. He, too, had a love that did not fare well. She did not care for his… peculiar interests. He refused to marry her when she demanded he abandon them, and she threatened to destroy his career. He’s lived a lonely life since that time, afraid of love. His heart went into his work as he worked to dispel the misconceptions about his beloved Romania.”

  “She should not have judged him so harshly. His lifestyle, although not the norm for most, isn’t based on violence but on personal strength and dominance. Those are some of the basic characteristics of a leader. I mean, she knew what she was getting into, right? Poor guy… he’s not a bad sort, when he’s acting like a gentleman,” Courtney commented, eyeing the sleeping man in the back of the cabin.

  “Are you a different person when you are no longer acting like a caregiver?”

  “What do you mean? I’m who I am.”

  “As he is. Both of you must learn to release your need for control and allow life to take you as it desires. We have an expression in our country: Cine-mi place eu nu-i plac, cui plac eu nu-mi place mie. Follow love and it will flee thee; flee love and it will follow thee. It means that if we force something that is not to be, we will never find what we need. Allow your heart’s desires to come after you and cease trying to hide what you are.”

  “Do the monasteries work on teaching monks how to speak in riddles?” Courtney scowled.

  Sebastian laughed heartily, a pink glow rising to his face. “My Brotherhood is very gifted in this skill. What do the Chinese say about Confusions?”

  “Ha-ha, it’s Confucius. And they are just as bad. You got some color in your face. I need to get you laughing more.”

/>   “I laugh often, particularly when Marcas acts the Baron. I find it… amusing. Especially with you when he cannot get his way.”

  Courtney snickered as she agreed. “I intend to continue down that road, just so you know. Can I get you anything?”

  “I am good for now and will sleep some more. Please do not forget to awaken him as he requested.”

  “I won’t. I’m not in the mood to get hollered at again.”

  * * *

  Courtney growled as Marcas pulled her roughly into his arms as she went to rouse him. His eyes were on fire, his desire hot and raging inside of him. She could not pull away as he crushed her against his chest and tightly embraced her small frame as he stole another kiss from her soft mouth.

  “You obeyed me. I am pleased,” he purred into her neck, his hand creeping under her shirt and touching the bare skin of her back.

  “Marcas, you need to stop this. It’s not appropriate. Especially here,” Courtney protested, although her struggle lessened as he kneaded the muscles in her mid-back. He chortled, not releasing her but instead pressing her chest down against the arm of the large chair, forcing her to fold in half while sitting on his lap.

  “This feels good, da? Truth, little Courtney.”

  “Ok, you have wonderful hands and… ow… are quite gifted with finding knots.” Courtney groaned as he worked away on the muscle of her shoulders, his long, broad thumbs pressing into the hidden spots that always seemed to bother her.

  “Then allow me to reward you for your obedience. Relax and enjoy my wonderful hands,” Marcas teased, lightly running his palm along the silky smooth back and along her tight shoulders. Courtney slumped, hypnotized by the sensations his hand stirred within her. She found herself slowly starting to drift under his ministrations and forced away the haze.

  “Marcas, it’s time for dinner. You need to eat and maybe get some more sleep.”

  “You will not always end our time together. Soon, I promise you…”

  “Yeah, yeah, under the Carpathian moon and through the werewolf forests… what is that?” Courtney asked as the attendant brought the meals.