But even as he thought it, he knew he wanted more. He didn’t want unthinking obedience. Not from her. No, what he wanted from her was so much more complex.
Lifting her foot, he slipped the first shoe on and fastened it, caressing her ankle and her calf. The chance to get his hands on her again was too tempting to pass up.
He worked on the other one while Cora leaned on the balustrade. She was silent, but by the occasional hitch in her breath, his touch was affecting her.
When he finally straightened and stood, she swallowed hard before finally managing a tremulous, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Their eyes caught and held a moment before she dropped hers and took a small step back from him. As if any amount of distance could stop the blazing furnace of their chemistry.
“Armand tells me you helped him with most of the preparations,” he said. She was like a skittish bird and she’d flee if he wasn’t careful. “He says you’re indispensable. Your company is taking off.”
“Well,” she croaked before clearing her throat and trying again. “I’ve been working hard.”
“Not too hard, I hope. You need to remember to sleep and eat.”
Cora let out a brittle chuckle. “You should take your own advice. I learned my business habits from you.”
“I want to apologize.” It was suddenly out of his mouth and she looked taken aback.
He might not be on his knees anymore but hell, he realized only now that this was what he’d come here to say. This and more, but it had to begin here. He had so much to atone for where his wife was concerned.
“I need to ask forgiveness for the violence at the restaurant.”
Her eyebrow raised, maybe at the bare description of the shooting that had blown out the windows and terrorized at least a dozen guests, killing three and wounding another handful.
“I never thought AJ would be so bold. I underestimated him and put you in a dangerous position. I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Her eyebrows were drawn together. “But, if it makes you feel better, I forgive you. I never thought you were to blame.”
“Then I apologize for leaving you alone at the Estate the next day.”
She looked down at the fabric pooling around her feet. “It’s alright. You would’ve stayed if you could’ve.” She took a deep breath. “I accept your apology.”
Did she? Did she really?
He still didn’t know how AJ had gotten to her the night everything had gone to shit, but in the end it didn’t matter. The responsibility was Marcus’s. If he hadn’t left her alone, she never would’ve been taken. She was his wife and his business was never meant to touch her.
He wouldn’t say more on the subject, though. He would never put her in that position again. He would protect her and keep her safe. Something he could only do when she was by his side where she belonged.
“Good.” He couldn’t help looking her up and down again in admiration. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” she said, and Marcus grinned outright. “Marcus—”
“Cora, we need to talk things out. I’ve given you time.”
“Almost two months,” she said softly.
“Have you been keeping track? Counting the days?”
“No,” she lied. He didn’t need her words, just her expression, to know the truth.
Their gaze locked. She looked both a little lost and a little like she hoped she’d been finally found. So much was said, and unsaid, in one simple look. She was his and she always would be.
“I’ve given you space, as you requested,” Marcus said again.
Cora crossed her arms. Almost as soon as she made the move, she dropped her arms again as if aware of her every vulnerable gesture. “You admitted to getting my friend to spy on me. And I’m sure you’ve had your men trail me.”
“Or I could’ve bugged your apartment.”
“You didn’t. Did you?” Then her brows came together angrily. “The flowers.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Cora, I was kidding. I didn’t bug the apartment. Have the programmer check.”
Cora glared at him, clearly unamused.
“Listen.” He ran his hand through his hair. This wasn’t going how he’d envisioned. He wanted to be straight with her for once. No games. No bullshit. “I want to talk to you. To get everything out in the open.”
“Everything?”
He thought about it. “Okay, no, not everything. You know some of my secrets are better off kept. It’s not just about me, it’s about my business—”
“Your business is the thing that’s keeping us apart.”
“Is that why you left?”
She clammed up, shaking her head and looking down again, hiding her eyes from him.
He took a step forward. She stepped back automatically and he stopped in his tracks. “Tell me why you ran. Talk to me.” It was infuriating not knowing what was going on in her head.
“Still giving orders.” She shook her head but didn’t look at him.
“I remember you liking when I gave orders.”
When she didn’t take the bait, he sighed. “What are you afraid of?”
The silence rose again between them.
“Is it AJ? Because he’s gone.”
“Gods.” She turned her back to him, shoulders suddenly tense.
“I know you felt threatened.” If Marcus could kill AJ all over again, he would. And he’d draw it out this time. “But I can keep you safe.”
Cora stared across the garden. The wind whipped the tops of the trees; the leaves shivered below them. She leaned forward onto the stone balustrade and Marcus couldn’t read her body language. He didn’t like it.
He came and leaned on the railing next to her. “When AJ called and said he had you, nothing else mattered anymore. You mean so much. You know that, right? You know you’re everything to me.”
Her eyes closed like his words pained her.
His arm brushed hers and she flinched away. Marcus pulled back, chest cinching tight.
“Don’t ever be afraid of me, Cora.” His voice came out more rough than he intended, but hell. “I’d never hurt you. I was angry, but mostly I was worried about you. I tried so hard to keep the ugliness of my world far away from you.”
“You failed,” she choked out, finally looking at him and there was such pain in her eyes. It sliced him to the bone.
“I’m sorry. I never wanted to put you in the middle of things. And when AJ took you…” He broke off, shaking his head, not able to continue. He still didn’t know everything she’d endured that day. She’d come to him covered in blood.
His hands shook, thinking about it. AJ had done something to her, made her witness something—not only brought her into their world but drenched her in it. And of course she’d run. If Marcus were any kind of good man, he’d send her away instead of luring her back.
“It’s ok,” Cora whispered. The wind blew hard enough that even though she wrapped her arms around herself, chill bumps were still visible on her skin.
Marcus frowned. So much for taking care of her. “Let’s go back in. Get you out of the cold.”