Page 19 of Falling Fast
Marcus continues, telling me he’ll be on the first ferry in the morning and he’ll be able to stay for two weeks before he has to go back to the mainland again. I don’t love the idea of him going back and forth; I wish he were here permanently. But even that wishful thinking can’t dim how happy I am that I’ll get to see him again. I need to feel his arms around me, reassuring me that the feelings we share are real and not just some fantastical memory.
Happy tears are forming behind my eyes, and I blink furiously, trying to hold them back. My snack is forgotten and that’s saying something, because I love cookie dough. But my joy at knowing Marcus will be here tomorrow is even bigger than any joy that could come from a bowl of comfort cookie dough.
“Tomorrow,” I whisper, and he nods.
“Tomorrow, my sweet Ella.”
**
Naturally, I don’t sleep very well that night. The excitement and nerves over seeing Marcus again keep me tossing and turning for hours. All of this means that in the morning, I’ve got dark circles under my eyes that rival a racoon. Not exactly the look I’m going for.
Still, here I am waiting at the ferry dock, wearing a yellow sundress and sandals. My hair is hanging down my back, and I’m grateful there’s no wind today. I can’t stop wringing my hands together as I wait for the boat to turn the corner into the harbor.He’s almost here.
I’ve debated in my mind how to act when I see him. I know he’s driving, so he’ll have to park his car somewhere before meeting me on the pier like we planned. But do I run and jump into his arms like you see in the movies? Do I wait for him to make the first move? Will he kiss me? Wait, did I brush my teeth today?! I do the breath check and a subtle armpit sniff. Yep, personal hygiene is on point. The morning has been such a blur, I’m impressed I didn’t forget anything.
Just then I see the ferry turning into the harbor. Even as my eyes strain to try and see Marcus, my brain laughs at my stupidity. He’ll be in his car, waiting to drive off the boat by now. But then my phone vibrates in my purse.
MARCUS: I can see you, beautiful. I’m right at the front, and I’m going crazy knowing you’re so close.
Oh…my…goodness…
ELLA: I wish I could see you. Which car are you?
MARCUS: The silver one.
ELLA: I SEE YOUR CAR!
MARCUS: lol yep, that’s me baby. I’m almost there.
The boat is pulling into the docks now, the process seeming to take way longer than it normally does. Doesn’t the boat captain know he’s got the man of my dreams on board?
“Hurry up, hurry up,” I mutter under my breath, not caring who might hear me talking to myself like a weirdo.
Finally, the boat docks and I see Marcus’s silver sports car zoom off the ramp. In a couple of minutes, he’ll turn the corner onto Wharf Street and park. There’s a spot right near the entrance to the pier and then a short walk to the end where I’m waiting. Thankfully, it isn’t too busy today, because the butterflies in my stomach are doing acrobatics and I don’t think I want a big audience for our reunion.
Like a vision from a dream, he appears. He parks his car expertly in the space at the front and then he’s walking towards me as I stand frozen. No, Marcus isn’t walking, he’s running; then I’m in his arms and everything in my world rights itself.
“Ella, baby. Ella. I’m here.” He’s talking into my hair, because my face is buried in the crook of his neck to hide the tears that have suddenly started to stream down my face. He’s holding me tightly, stroking my hair, and murmuring reassurances to me.
After a moment, he pulls back slightly to cup my face, and I get my first close look at him in what feels like an eternity.
“Hi, beautiful,” he says as he wipes my tears away with his thumbs. Then he leans forward and presses a sweet kiss to my lips. But I need more than sweet. I need him to soothe my soul with his kiss. I press into him closely, crushing our bodies together as I deepen our embrace. He groans and when I feel his mouth open, my tongue tangles with his until I can no longer tell where he starts and I end. I can feel the hard ridges of his body crushed against mine. This is what I need. I’m home in his arms.
A cry from a seagull overhead breaks us apart and Marcus grins down at me. I lift my hands to trace his smile and his jaw, drifting down his neck to his shoulders and finally to his chest. He traps my hands there.
“If you keep going, things are going to get a little inappropriate for such a public setting. Every night since I left, I’ve been dreaming of having you again, and you’re even sexier than in my wildest dreams.”
I take his hand and give him what I hope is a sultry smile.
“Then let’s go somewhere private.”
Chapter eleven
Marcus
All of the stress and chaos in my mind disappeared the instant I saw Ella on the pier. And now, driving back to her cottage with her hand in mine, I know I’ve made the right decision. I still need to tell her how I feel and most importantly, what I’ve done. Briefly I wonder if I should do that before I make love to her again, but I don’t know if I can wait a second longer than I have to. My body is craving her and having her so close, but not close enough, is driving me crazy in the best possible way.
Thank fuck this island is small, because it’s only a short drive until we’re at Ella’s cottage. I jump out of my car, leaving my bag in the backseat. I open Ella’s door and pull her out of the car, straight into my arms. When I lift her, she wraps her legs around my waist, and I have to hold back a shudder at how good it feels to be this close to her. She’s wearing a short little dress, which is torture, and I can feel my cock pressing against my shorts, desperate to get inside of her.
