Sinner - A Bad Boy's Baby Romance Read online

  “Sure.” He went to the window that faced the ocean and looked out.

  “Make yourself comfy. Be right back.”

  In the kitchen, she pulled out one of the nicer bottles of red she’d been saving for a special occasion. Since this seemed as good as any other, bye-bye went the cork.

  With the full glasses in hand, she joined Markus in the living room. He still stood at the window.

  “Here you go.” Their hands grazed as she handed his wine over.

  “Thanks. Cheers.”

  Eyes locked, they touched wine glasses. Viv took her first sip, heart pounding in the base of her throat.

  “Pool?” he asked.

  “Huh?” She blinked. “Yeah. We have one downstairs. It’s closed, though.”

  But she would totally break the rules and sneak in for him.

  “No.” With a laugh, he nodded his head at the pool table in the center of the room.

  “Oh my God.” Viv buried her face in her palm. “That was weird. I was, uh, not thinking straight.”

  Distracted was more like it.

  “Let’s play.” Setting her wine glass down on the coffee table, she picked up a pool stick.

  Markus stood on the other side of the table, a nearly unavoidable presence in the quiet apartment.

  “You play this a lot?”

  “When I first got it.” She set up the balls. “Not much the last couple years. If my sister and her family come to visit, then sure. Got a coin?”

  Markus dug in his pants’ pocket. “Sure do.”

  “Heads,” she called as he flipped the quarter.

  Catching the coin in his hand, he squinted his eyes at it.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Hm,” was all he answered with.

  “What?”

  She put the stick down and made her way around the table.

  “What do you think this is?” he asked.

  “Huh?” She stopped next to him and looked at the quarter in his palm. “It’s tails.”

  Obviously.

  It was then that she noticed her shoulder brushing his. The woodsy scent coming off his skin. The rising and falling of his chest. The quickening of her breath.

  “Tails,” Markus whispered. “Then I guess I should go first.”

  “But I called…” She tilted her head up to look at him, but she couldn’t remember what she’d planned on saying.

  His face hovered inches from hers, his exhale teasing her lips. Viv swallowed hard, unnaturally aware of her heartbeat.

  “I go first,” Markus repeated in a whisper.

  His hand slid up the side of her arm, grazed her shoulder, and stopped at the base of her head. Fingers twisting in her hair, he locked his gaze with hers.

  Viv licked her lips, feeling tingly all over. It was late, way past midnight, but she was more awake than she’d been in months. Years.

  Markus lowered his face, his soft lips brushing against hers. It was the lightest kiss, but it woke up something deep and primal. Reaching up, Viv wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back to her.

  With a growing hunger, she kissed him deeply. His hands explored her shoulders and back, rising and dipping before repeating the pattern again.

  The kiss became more heated, and they spun around while still locked together. Viv’s back bumped against the pool table. Before she could direct them to move, Markus’ palms found her ass.

  Gripping her cheeks, he lifted her up and set her on top of the pool table. The whole move had been done like he hadn’t picked up more than a few pounds, and a thrill went through her at seeing how strong he was.

  With her legs dangling over the side of the table, he moved in closer. Naturally, her hips opened, creating the perfect spot for him to nestle between her thighs.

  They started kissing again, her hands on his shoulders and his fingers still digging into her ass. She felt his erection growing against his pants, pressing into the thin fabric of her silky panties.

  As their tongues danced together, they rocked, bumping into each other then back, mimicking the waves of the ocean just outside the apartment. Viv’s legs opened further, her skirt’s fabric protesting. Even when she heard a rip, though, she wasn’t deterred.

  Sliding her hands off his shoulders, she explored the hard contours of his chest. His body heat sank into her palms and spread through her whole body.

  When she touched the bulge between his legs, he groaned into her mouth. Hearing his pleasure made her smile. Made her want to do more things to make him moan.

  But Markus had plans of his own. Fisting her hair with one hand, he used the other to reach down and under her skirt.

  His fingers found her warm, aching center. With his gentle strokes, pleasure coursed through her. Her legs shook, and she could hardly catch her breath.

  Even sitting on the pool table, she had to grab hold of his shoulder so as not to fall over. The feelings Markus’ touch caused were that intense.

  Just as she was nearing the edge, seconds from explosion, he picked her up.

  “Bedroom?”

  “There,” she gasped, nodding her head in the direction.

  Again, he carried her like it wasn’t any work at all. Depositing her on the queen-sized mattress, he climbed on top. With her back flush against the bed, he kissed a trail down her neck.

  Viv closed her eyes and arched her back, needing more and needing it right away. He took his time, though, sliding her skirt off and undoing her blazer.

  With the moonlight coming through the window and shining on his face, he palmed her breasts through the white button-up. Even through her bra, Viv’s nipples responded to the touch by turning hard.

  Button by button, he undid her shirt. Thankfully, he was a little quicker with the bra. Chest finally exposed, he leaned down and drew a nipple between his lips.

  Thanks to his gentle sucking, pleasurable shivers coursed through her. Closing her eyes, Viv relaxed further into the mattress. The feeling of his fingers against her slick opening made her moan.

  He finally pulled her thong off. Then, slipping a finger into her, he found the most tender spot inside of her. Viv quivered from the pleasure, grabbing hold of his hair by the roots.

  She couldn’t take it anymore. No more waiting.

  Flipping Markus over, she climbed on top of him, legs straddling his hips.

  “I’m in charge now.”

  The heat in his eyes said there’d be no arguing with that.

  Viv worked at his belt buckle, getting off of him only long enough to pull his pants and underwear down. His length emerged from its restraints with a pop. Wrapping her palm around it, she gifted it with lethargic, gentle strokes.

  Markus’ moan filled the room—exactly the thing she’d been looking for. Smiling with glee, she stroked him a little harder.

  He got even stiffer in her hand, the sight making her mouth water. Licking her lips, she bent over and swallowed his length whole.

  He tasted like heaven, salty and sweet. The kind of treat you got addicted to after one lick. She bobbed her head up and down, stroking his base while taking the rest of his length as deep as it would go into her mouth.

  Finally, she couldn’t take it any longer. She needed him inside her before she exploded. Straightening up, she opened the nightstand drawer and felt around. There had to be a condom somewhere…

  Hopefully. It had been a while since she’d brought a man home. Way longer than she even cared to admit to herself.

  Say, over a year.

  Her fingers grazed something that crinkled. Yes!

  Smiling big, she grabbed the condom and ripped it open. With Markus’ help, they rolled it onto his girth.

  “Teamwork,” he whispered.

  She giggled and stripped off the remainder of her clothes. “We make a good team.”

  His lips pressed against hers, and the next thing she knew, she was on her back again. Markus’ hands roved her body, lavishing attention on each inch.

  He had a gif
t: every spot he touched her in, he made feel special.

  His lips found hers, the kiss hungry yet gentle at the same time. As their teeth clinked together, he slid deep into her, burying himself completely.

  Viv gasped from the abrupt, aggressive pleasure. Markus’ arm slipped under her back and he held her flush to him. With a perfect rhythm, they rocked against each other.

  She felt him everywhere. His hands on her curves. His lips against her mouth and neck. His girth filling her completely.

  With a shudder, the pleasure ripped through her. Viv cried out the release, and right on top of it, Markus pumped into her one last time.

  Rolling off of her, he pulled her into the crook of his arm. They gasped for breath together, happy and satisfied.

  “Mm.” Viv closed her eyes and watched spots of light dance through the dark.

  Markus ran his hand up and down her arm. To her surprise, she felt desire growing in her again. Lifting her head, she caught his eye in the moonlight.

  “Amazing,” she whispered.

  “Ditto.” His grin made his dimples deepen.

  Viv walked her fingers up his chest and to his lips. Capturing her hand, he planted a kiss on top of it.

  “You’re not about to kick me out, are you?” he asked.

  He said it like it was a joke, but she heard the fear there. It about melted her heart.

  She’d been too afraid to face it head-on, but now, she was filled with relief. It was good that Markus wasn’t the kind to screw and run, because she was anything but that.

  “No.” She kissed him lightly. “I don’t want you going anywhere.”

  Chapter 5

  Markus

  The delicious feel of morning sun spread across Markus’ legs. Opening his eyes, he found Viv’s bedroom curtains partially open. Morning light poured across the lower halves of their bodies.

  Viv slept on her stomach, her arms hooked under her pillow, and her face turned toward him. She breathed slowly, her features smooth and relaxed.

  Markus’ chest expanded, and he grinned.

  The night before had been amazing. Since it was Sunday, he hoped Viv wouldn’t be in a rush to get him out of her place.

  He’d had one-night stands before, but this didn’t feel like one of those. Not for him, anyway. Hopefully, she felt the same.

  As much as he wanted to put his hands all over her and worship her body, he also wanted to wake her up with soft kisses. Wanted to cook her breakfast and see how many times he could make her laugh in one morning.

  Carefully, so as to not wake her, he rolled out of bed. Judging by how deeply she slept, it would be a while before she woke up. That would give him time to survey her fridge and run to the grocery store.

  Like the rest of the apartment, the kitchen was simple. A blender, along with bananas and protein mix on the counter, revealed a taste for smoothies. The fridge, however, didn’t have much other than a couple old boxes of takeout and some apples.

  A quick grocery run was definitely in order. And a coffee stop, too. The lack of sleep was making his temples pound.

  Quietly as he could, he slipped from the apartment and took the elevator to the parking lot. The neighborhood was a familiar one. Another five-minute walk and he could be at his mom’s front door.

  But he had another destination in mind. Popping into the grocery store a block down from Viv’s, he grabbed eggs, bacon, and a fresh loaf of bread. Because of the ribs last night, he knew for sure that she wasn’t vegetarian.

  Hustling across the street, he got into line at the coffee shop there. Viv really had picked a perfect spot to live. Everything a person needed was within a half-mile radius.

  While he stood in line, his phone buzzed. Pulling it out, he found a text from Ryder.

  R: Call me. Gig.

  Markus’ chest stretched from a deep inhale. They didn’t usually move from one job to another this fast. Often, weeks stretched between them. Not only was that a more cautious way to go about things, but it also provided Markus with the ability to be selective about his hits.

  Ryder had the same philosophy, so if he was eager to jump onto another job, it must be a great opportunity.

  Leaving the coffee shop, Markus went around the side of the building. A narrow alley with a smoking bench provided a private enclave. Pressing his phone against his ear, he took a seat on the edge of the bench.

  “Hey,” Ryder answered.

  “What’s going on?”

  “You know Dagger Rossi?”

  Markus guffawed. “Heard of him. If he’s even real.”

  “He’s real.”

  “O-kay.” He glanced up and down the alley, double-checking to make sure there was no one to overhear the conversation.

  Dagger Rossi was a Florida crime boss. Maybe. Some people argued that he didn’t even exist. That his name was used as a cover by other criminals looking to pin their felonies on an imaginary boogeyman.

  If Dagger was real, he was smart and good at what he did. Unlike every other crime lord, some whose faces and addresses were well known by everyone, including the police, Dagger had managed to fly completely under the radar.

  “What’s up?” Markus asked.

  “He has a stash of diamonds in Jacksonville. They gotta be worth over a million.”

  “Where are you getting this from?”

  “I saw the pictures. They’re in a warehouse off of Highway Ten.”

  Markus took a moment to chew over that information. Ryder would probably never tell him who showed the pictures. Likely, though, the rat would want a cut.

  Fine by him.

  Except...

  “No.” Squeezing his eyes shut, he shook his head. “I can’t do it.”

  “What?” Ryder asked. “Why not?”

  “Because…” He exhaled heavily and ran his palm over his hair. “You know. I’m ending all that.”

  “I didn’t know that went into effect today.”

  Markus stared at the grocery bag sitting on the bench next to him. He should have been walking back to Viv’s, minutes away from cracking eggs and making her breakfast.

  Had she woken up yet? Did she wonder where he’d gone? She didn’t have his number.

  “Markus?”

  He clamped his jaw shut. This job sounded dangerous. Really, really dangerous. But if Ryder had an accurate estimation of the payoff, the theft would provide him with that extra amount he wanted to retire on.

  Which is what made it so tempting.

  Was this a sign? He’d been holding his breath, waiting for the final job to come along. Now, here it was.

  If he didn’t take it, he’d regret it. Add this new money with what he had, and he’d be able to buy one of the nicest houses in the city.

  “Shit.” Markus rubbed his mouth. “Okay. I’m in.”

  “Yessss. Where you at?”

  “I’m, uh…” He glanced at the alleyway’s mouth. “Out.”

  “Close to your place? I need to come by. This requires planning ASAP.”

  Markus’ chest hurt. “I can be home in twenty.”

  “Sweet.” Ryder paused. “Hey, man. Everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” he lied. “Great. See you soon.”

  Hanging up, he put his phone away and bit the tip of his tongue. Anger coursed through his veins, but he didn’t know where to direct it.

  Mostly, he wanted to punch the brick wall across from him. Experience as a young hothead had taught him that wasn’t such a good idea. Instead, he cussed under his breath. A long string of every curse word he knew.

  Still, he didn’t feel better.

  He did, however, realize that the only person he had to be mad at was himself.

  Cooking Viv breakfast was no longer an option. And what had he been thinking, really? He couldn’t welcome a woman into his life. He already took enough risks with his mother, as it was.

  Things were too dangerous. Viv didn’t know what she was getting into, and it wouldn’t be fair to her if he kept the truth hidde
n.

  There was only one thing to do. It didn’t matter if it twisted his gut to do it. Viv was something special, the coolest girl he’d met since… hell, maybe ever.

  But whatever it was she wanted, he was sure he couldn’t give it to her.

  Picking up the grocery bag, he walked swiftly in the direction of his car.

  Chapter 6

  Viv

  “Did you look him up online?” Farren whispered.

  In the middle of downward dog, Viv hesitated. “Yeah, but he’s not on socials.”

  It was embarrassing to admit that she’d searched for Markus after he’d vanished from her apartment nearly a week before. She shouldn’t have given him so much as a second thought.

  Clearly, she wasn’t on his mind.

  “Now relax into child’s pose,” the yoga teacher said.

  The class of twenty or so women complied. Turning her head to the side, Viv caught Farren’s attention again.

  “I should have known better,” she whispered. “How could it go anywhere? God, we met at a bar.”

  The woman on the other side of Farren frowned.

  Viv mouthed, “Sorry.”

  “Rise to standing,” the teacher instructed. “Hands to your heart. Thank you for joining me today. Namaste.”

  “Namaste,” Viv echoed along with everyone else.

  She and Farren rolled up their yoga mats and headed outside.

  “He sounds like an ass,” Farren said as they exited the yoga studio.

  “Yeah,” Viv agreed quietly.

  Trouble was, Markus had been anything but an ass. He’d been kind, attentive, fun, and sweet. His taking off before she woke up didn’t make sense.

  Then again, maybe she was crazy. Or desperate. Could be that she’d seen what she wanted to in him.

  “Viv.”

  “Huh?” Blinking, Viv stopped at the edge of the parking lot.

  “I said, see you next weekend. Will you be here?”

  “Yeah. I should be. Unless I get sent out unexpectedly by work.”

  “Right.” Farren’s attention had moved to her phone. “Sorry. I gotta go. Dan has his hockey thing in twenty minutes, and I have to get the kids from him.”