Chapter 10
Waking up in Marv's arms was probably one of the best ways to wake up. In a way, it was like I was still dreaming. Marv was naked from the waist up, having discarded his shirt when we crawled into bed after returning from the student union center. His arms were coiled tightly around me, and I couldn't have felt safer if I tried. Quietly and as gently as I could—so as to not to wake him up—I moved forward and pressed my nose into the column of his throat. He smelled like he always did, like his favorite dark roast coffee. I wasn't sure about the taste of the stuff, but it smelled divine, especially onhim.
"Are you sniffing me?" I froze, caught in the act. "Um...no?" Itried.
Marv chuckled low and it started a fluttery feeling in my stomach spreading out through my limbs. "It's okay," he said, leaning his head back to look down at my face. "As long as I smellgood."
I nodded quickly. "You do," Ipromised.
Marv's eyes dropped down to my lips. My mouth went dry as my eyes returned the favor. His lips were barely a few inches from my face. I had already felt them against me. His kiss was like a sweet embrace the first time and a bolt of lightning the second. Without thinking about it—or maybe that's just how these things worked—my tongue came out to wet my bottom lip. Marv's gaze followed the movement, his pupilsdilating.
"Harlow..."
I couldn't say who moved first, him or me. Maybe we both moved for each other at the same time. But as my name disappeared on a whisper in the quiet of his temporary bedroom, our mouths touched, and my lips parted. I gasped as the earlier fluttering feeling sprung back to life, not in my stomach this time, but all over and all at the same time. I closed my eyes and relished in the feel of Marv's lips on mine. He claimed me with a sweet reverence and yet, there was something new there. Adesperation.
When I moved back to take a breath, he followed, keeping my lips trapped with his. His hand cupped the back of my skull, long fingers sliding between the strands of my hair as he crushed his mouth to mine. His chest pressed down against mine. My legs scissored on the mattress, trapped by both him and the sheets. I couldn't breathe, but a part of me didn't want to. I reached up as well, running my fingers along Marv's jaw, feeling the short, coarse stubble embedded in the skin there. I didn't even notice when Marv's other hand moved down until I felt his fingers on my stomach, just beneath the fabric of my t-shirt. I pulled my mouth away and opened myeyes.
Marv stared down at me, not moving. He didn't press any further, but neither did he pull away. After what felt like an eternity of waiting in silence, it was broken. "Can I?" As he spoke, his fingers moved slightly, stroking back and forth across my flesh. I fought the urge to arch up into histouch.
I didn’t know what to say. Yes or no. It was that simple and that hard. I wanted it, but would it complicate things further? That was almost agiven.
A loud crash sounding from the front of the house saved me from having to answer. Both of our heads jerked up as an unfamiliar voice cursed and railed. Marv dove off the bed and snagged a shirt, quickly tugging it over his head. I glanced at the clock on his bedside table and noted that we had only been asleep for a little under twohours.
“God damn it!” the voice yelled. “Enough with the handcuffs! I’m not gonna runaway!”
When Marv opened the door and stepped out into the hall, I followed, listening as Grayson’s voice came from somewhere in the living room. “Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it.” He did not sound happy and that second voice was starting to sound just a bit morefamiliar.
Marv and I rounded the hallway corner and I realized why. Sitting in the middle of the destroyed coffee table was Grayson’s older brother—Joshua Caruso. He looked much different than the last time I had seen him. His hair was longer, and it looked like it hadn’t been washed in days. Joshua Caruso looked like someone had put him through hell. There were dark crescents under his eyes and though he still had some muscle mass, he had also obviously lostweight.
A moment later Texas came through from the kitchen, carrying a glass of water and a package of bandages. He paused and looked down at the mess on the floor before shooting Grayson an irritated look. "We have to pay for that," he said, nodding to the now destroyed piece of furniture. Iwinced.
"I'll fucking pay for it." Even though Grayson spoke to Texas, he kept his gaze fully trained on his brother and it was none tookind.
"Where did you find him?" Marvasked.
"Roach motel off of Interstate 77," Texas answered as he stepped gently through the bits of glass and broken pieces of wood that surrounded the area. He set the glass of water on one of the side tables next to thecouch.
Grayson jerked his brother up and—uncaring of any possible glass shards that may have embedded themselves in the couch—shoved him onto the nearestcushion.
"What were you doing at a motel, Caruso Number Two?" Marv asked darkly, moving forward. Grayson shot Marv an irritated glance and rolled his eyes before continuing to glare at hisbrother.
"Was Erika there?" I asked. Texas shot me a look and gently shook his head. My shoulderssagged.
"Just him," Grayson confirmed, landing a hand solidly on his brother's shoulders and clenching down hard. "But don't worry, he'll tell us where she is, won't you, brother?" Grayson hissed the last word as though it both angered and pained him to sayit.
"Fuck, man! Let up!" Joshhissed.
I looked from the bandages in Texas' arms to the coffee table before tilting my head curiously. "Texas," I said quietly. He looked up, meeting my gaze. "Why were you getting bandages before Josh gothurt?"
Texas' brow furrowed for a moment before they quickly rose. "Oh! Josh is already—" he paused, looking over and I noticed that Josh's previously pallid skin had taken on a flush and sweat dotted his brow. "Actually," Texas said, shoving the bandages into my arms. "You can handle it. I'll clean up themess."
"Handle what?" I asked, but Texas was already getting up and going into the kitchen. I turned to Grayson. "Handle what?" I repeated sternly. "Is Joshhurt?"
"Fuck yes, I'm hurt!" Josh snapped. Grayson clenched down on his shoulder again causing him to cry out inpain.
"Don't fucking talk to her like that," hesneered.
"Grayson." I stood there, shocked by how venomous his words were. Shaking my head, I pushed my way between him and Marv as they stood over Josh. "Back off, let me seehim."