The Marked One (The Marked Series Book 1) (14 page)

“Please, come inside,” he said lightly. She could see in his manner that what Vera meant was true.

She had hurt him far more than she had thought. She stepped in, and the foyer area was stretched out to the sides, while several hand-carved wooden archways, wooden floors, and perfect Persian carpets made the house feel comfortable with a classic mansion setting. It was enormous, and its warmth made her rampaging emotions settle.

“Tristan, this is breathtaking…” She turned and saw him admiring her while his hand smoothed over his subtly bearded chin. Awkwardly smiling, she tried to keep herself from getting distracted. “Sorry, I’m here to apologise and now I’m only seeing all the beauty in this place.”

“It’s understandable.” He moved to the side, showing one of the archways for her to walk toward. What she could see was the living room with a sunroom further along.

A brindle Great Dane came to greet her before she could move.

“Hello, baby,” she greeted the overexcitable dog. “What was her name again?”

“Isabella.” He was beaming and she returned it for a moment, before rubbing the large doggy’s ears.

Suddenly, Isabella swung around and headed for the room at the back, barking wildly at seemingly nothing. Aaliyah smiled and looked back at Tristan. Remembering she was heading for the living room, she continued with him at her side.

“I’m really sorry about earlier.” She shook her head as if shaking the memory away. “I know how insane I must seem to you, but…”

The side of her eye caught something familiar and as she turned her head, she faced
The Marked One
.

In the portrait, her chin rested on one hand, which slightly enfolded her cheek, and tears glistened on her fingers. She was looking away, as her other hand attempted to cover her exposed birthmark. Her eyes showed sadness and fear in the beautiful green, which stood out against her skin. The background was the green of her eyes and it brought the entire focus back to the woman in the portrait’s eyes, to show the pain.

To show
her
pain.

“It was you who bought it.” Stunned, she turned to Tristan. Confused pain stabbed at her heart. He clearly wanted to speak, but she interrupted him. “This is why you wanted to get to know me? You recognised me from the portrait and thought you could just—”

“Aaliyah, part of me felt connected to you when I saw it, but it didn’t mean…” She turned around and headed for the door. “Aaliyah, please, give me a moment.”

She gripped the doorknob as he came to stand behind her. She could feel his body’s heat, and she wanted nothing more than to step backward and have him embrace her. She was confused with all the conflicted emotions playing through her. Aaliyah wanted to trust, to give in and forget all her pains. Feeling him step even closer, she turned her head away from him.

“When I saw that portrait, I realised I had never seen anyone as beautiful as you. For a week I looked at it, obsessed over it, and then you stood in front of me. And it wasn’t your birthmark…” She winced as she fought unnecessary tears, which still pushed over her eyelids. She felt mislead, maybe even betrayed. “It wasn’t how you looked sad. It was the hope behind the pain in your eyes.”

His shallow breaths along her nape made her sigh. Tingles trailed down her arms.

“I’m in love with a woman I barely know and the harder I try to convince her that I won’t hurt her, the more she keeps running. Please, Aaliyah, I won’t hurt you. Stop running from me.”

“How do I know you won’t? I’ve been tricked before,” she said defensively.

“I am not a child. Aaliyah, please, trust me.” It was a plea. One so raw she felt certain he would never hurt her. Her face turned to his. Over her shoulder, his thumb smoothed her lower lip. He leaned forward and their lips locked. Her handbag made a loud thump as she abandoned it, along with her uncertainty. Drawing her tightly against his body, he held her hips, and the next thing she knew, she rolled them to show how much she needed him.

Feeling his hesitation, she broke the kiss, swallowed, and said, “I trust you.” She drew his hands, which were resting on her hips, toward her chest. When he reached her breasts, they both sighed as she pressed his hands tighter against her.

Her hands had let go of his and she steadied herself against the door. Her body drifted into a state so calming, her knees felt like they might buck. PVRIS was singing “Only Love” in the living room, and the lyrics echoed in her soul. She turned in his tight embrace and kissed him with complete disregard of what came next, while his hands moved over her skin aimlessly.

Breaking the kiss and facing him, it seemed the passion calmed, not at all subsided, but settled, so she could take it in, take all of him in. She removed the T-shirt he was wearing and sighed as she saw his muscular upper body. Across his chest was a large tattoo with the year
‘
1993’
, and she let her fingertips trail over his pectoral. His muscles were subtly defined in a way that showed he was fit without looking too bulky. The way his sweatpants hung on his hips showed the waistband of his briefs peeking out at the top.

As she ran her hand toward the centre of his torso, she felt his heartbeat thumping, and as she reached lower, she felt his stomach muscles respond to her uncertain touch. She bit her lip and looked him in the eyes again. The soft gold flecks in the dark brown seemed to have disappeared as he looked at her in fascination.

His hand came to her cheek, and his thumb smoothed over to her parted lips, now a little swollen from their kiss. She let her hand glide lower, and slightly gripping his briefs’ waistband, she pulled it down, only to be pulled back against him.

His kiss was far more passionate than before. He was devouring her, and she worked faster in drawing away the restrictions. Her dress slipped from her shoulders in unison with his sweatpants and he followed it by picking her up, kicking the discarded clothing to the side, and carrying her to the staircase.

As he broke the kiss to find his way, she nipped at his neck, tasted his flesh, and felt her body awaken with lust and love so new to her she was slightly afraid of it. They entered the master bedroom. The room had wooden floors, a wooden seat filling the three large windows, and a bed of blue silks. Somehow it all felt too perfect.

He set her down on the bed, hovering over her. She immediately met his lips, as the absence felt foreign. His hands caressed her skin with long, soft strokes up and down her sides and reaching her chest he pulled her tightly against his own. Their tongues tangled and teased while her body was heating up and her breathing felt erratic.

Tristan smoothed his hands against her back and slowly worked on unclasping her bra. A second of uncertainty hit her again, but as she lifted herself away from the bed, to allow her bra to be removed, she found his eyes locked with hers. They showed so many emotions she even felt.

When her bra slid away, his took in the rest of her as he looked down at her body for the first time. The parts she never showed were bared, and over her left breast, down to her midriff, a second, larger birthmark painted her skin, while down her right thigh, a third marked her.

Like a moth to a flame, he leaned closer, whispering, “You are perfect.”

She released the breath she had been holding. She believed him. Aaliyah could see it in his manner staying unchanged, see it in the way he still admired her, and she could feel it in his touch. His hands were once more searching her, to feel every inch of her skin. To make contact with every part of her, so it wouldn’t feel like a dream.

Her response came as fervent as before. She wanted him, needed him to set her free. Their tongues danced seductively in sweet strokes without pretence, and the perfection of the moment was to forever be captured in her memory.

They kissed for a long while before Tristan broke away. “Scoot up higher.”

She did as he said and he left her with a kiss on her mouth. His lips left perfect promises over her forehead, eye, and then her cheek. As he moved lower, she anticipated his kiss more than ever as he teased along her clavicle and down her breast. The near, unfamiliar feeling of his mouth enveloping her breast made her entire body buck and she moaned out loud. The pleasure bolted through her core.

He took his time exploring the expanse of her chest, and his beard left tingling sensations all over. She was left breathless as he moved lower to her midriff. The eyes that met hers were fascinated. He traced the lower part of the birthmark with kisses.

An excited giggle left her as his boyish smile appeared, and in that moment, she stepped into a freedom she had never felt before. She actually felt confident and beautiful as his mouth caressed and pleased her skin. As he moved down her thigh, he slipped her underwear off, and with a sudden burst of excitement, she felt her flesh come alive. Her breathing became constricted with anticipation.

Yet, he teased down her thighs and over her core, aimlessly worshipping her body and essentially her. When his lips touched her mound, a strangled moan left her and she felt like she was drifting off into space while he slowly moved her leg to the side. He gave soft bites along her inner thigh and when he kissed her silky folds, she fisted the sheet beneath her.

His tongue crawled over the flesh, and her body bucked to meet him in the beautiful connection. She craved more and so did he. His tongue slithered over her sensitive flesh a few more times, causing her to lose most of her control. Her vocal cords being the first, then her hips’ countering movement. Her hands grabbed his hair and she lost herself completely to the moment.

By the time she tasted herself on Tristan’s lips, she wasn’t sure how many minutes had passed or how many times she had moaned out loud, but her body was quivering, seeking more and begging for another release.

His kiss was calm and building, and as the rush from moments before began to build up once more, his hand, caressing her sides and thighs, slipped between her legs. Tristan’s nimble fingers caused another unfamiliar moan to echo in her mouth as she reacted to his ministrations.

“That sound,” he muttered against her lips. He picked up a beat.

A more strangled sound left her and she gained back some control of her body. She slung her arms around his neck, pulled him flat against her, and soon he was propped up on top of her. Their kiss broke and he looked down at her with hungry eyes.

She couldn’t resist anymore. “Tristan,” she begged. With a quick kiss on her forehead, he moved away. She immediately felt the loss of his heat, but, as he returned a moment later, she saw he was sheathed and ambition all but left Aaliyah. He leaned over her once more.

Their kissing had turned feral and at the moment of his entry, their connection became physical. Aaliyah looked into Tristan’s admiring eyes and knew that from that moment forward in her life, she wouldn’t be able to deny that her feelings for him already went beyond what might be considered normal. She felt care, compassion, and love so strongly, she simply kept her eyes glued to his.

His hips began to rock back and forth, setting a tempo that showed no haste. He would kiss her, and in those moments, the emotions inside her only grew greater. It was like Wonderland, and Aaliyah had already followed the rabbit down the hole. She was now falling endlessly in that dreamy state.

The release they shared was ridden out until it felt like the world was standing still and she alone was still left to orbit into the unknown. As he laid a final kiss on her brow, while she heaved, it was a sure sign that she was doomed in the best way possible. The disengagement made her softly moan and her eyelids became heavy.

Tristan had disappeared and with his return, he wordlessly pulled a blanket over them both, kissed her sleepy face, and whispered, “Please stay forever.” Then there was blissful darkness, followed by a peaceful sleep.

Chapter Nine

Aaliyah woke as warm sunlight began falling in through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the room. Tristan’s embrace was comforting, and his hand smoothed over her side as he sighed in delight. She turned on her back and met his sleepy eyes staring back at her.

He leaned in and laid a kiss on her cheek, then her lips. They both stayed quiet as his hand explored her skin with soft, caressing kneads. She smiled, only to receive the boyish grin she was silently calling her own.

She looked from his handsome face with the gold-flecked eyes and beard, down his neck, and she saw the tattoo on his chest. “Why do you have this?” Her nimble fingers traced down the one, then the two nines and before she was able to reach the three, his quietness made her look him in the eyes again.

Gloominess looked back, but his guard was down. “It was my sister’s birth year.”

She bit her lip. Trying to guide him away from the sadness, she whispered, “It’s mine as well.”

He gave a gravelly chuckle. “I know.” His facade relaxed, and his shining soul showed on the surface once more.

“So, what are you planning to do today?” Aaliyah asked, rubbing her head against his chest and enjoying their tender embrace.

“Do you have anything you need to do? I would like to spend the day with you.” He looked a little excited and it pleased her quite thoroughly.

She blushed. “Madeline and I are getting together tonight.” She didn’t want to admit it was for more drawings, because somehow she felt too shy about it, especially knowing the one that started it all was downstairs. “But…spending some time with you would be great.”

“Well then, after I make us some breakfast, I would like to take you somewhere.” He looked pleased with himself, almost too pleased.

“I’ll first need a change of clothes,” she said. “Are you planning something weird or will it be a normal Saturday date?”

He leaned in and kissed her. It was enough to make her hope they’d be spending the day locked up in his house and continuing to have these sweet exchanges. “It will be whatever you make it to be, but I want to share it with you.”

She was puzzled as he laid a peck on her cheek. He jumped up and out of the bed, much quicker than she herself would’ve managed, and then slipped on some shorts.

“Now, I’ll start breakfast and when you’re ready, you can join me. We’ll go to your…” he groaned for the obvious reasons, “…place and then I’ll take you on the weird Saturday date.”

She chuckled as he walked to the door, stopped, turned around, and faced her once more.

“Oh, the kitchen is to the left at the end of the staircase.” He closed the distance, leaned in for a quick kiss, and then, like a South African child who got to open their presents the night before Christmas, he sauntered away with a smirk. “Let’s hope Isabella hasn’t destroyed the house.”

Aaliyah laughed into the pillow, as the thought of the poor dog made her feel a little embarrassed. She’d probably disturbed her normal routine. When the giggles faded, all Aaliyah could do was sigh in complete delight, stretch out over the bed, and then smile at her situation. But before she could appreciate the moment fully, her mind finally gained back its wit, so she grabbed her bra and underwear, got dressed in those, and dashed out of the room.

Down the stairs, she heard Tristan’s worried question, but at the door she found what became forgotten the moment her lips had locked with Tristan’s. Her handbag, and within it was her phone, which she suspected would be filled with messages from Madeline, worrying where she was. Yet, there was nothing, which made Aaliyah worry about why Madeline hadn’t been freaking out like usual. Aaliyah immediately began a call.

“Is everything okay?” Tristan’s concerned eyes met hers when she turned, still half-naked at the front door and on the phone.

“Yes, I just remembered that Madeline was likely waiting for my call and—Oh, wait.” She turned her back on him as the beep of the message tone sounded. “Hey, Maddy. Uhm…I’m sorry I hadn’t gotten back to you, but, well, Tristan and I are…” she turned and faced him casually leaning against the archway, while mixing something in a bowl and eagerly awaiting her next statement, “…together now. Well, officially at least, I hope.”

He smirked at her, winked, and walked away, which made her cheeks burn. She shamelessly watched his muscular backside disappear.

“So, I just wanted to say hi. I know it is early so I surmise you’re still sleeping, but I’m spending the day with Tristan and I’ll still see you tonight. You seem a little quiet, but, anyway, call, okay? Bye and love you.”

She ended the call and pondered over how Madeline was going to react to the news. Getting her dress back on, she then made her way to the kitchen and chuckled. She found Isabella standing tall enough to see onto the already neatly set kitchen nook.

“Is your friend okay?” Tristan asked with a bite of concern, while Isabella came closer to greet her.

She rubbed Isabella’s floppy ears and said, “I think so. I believe she likely just had a too good of a time with her ex-boyfriend.” The acid rolled off Aaliyah’s tongue as she spoke.

Tristan reached at the spice rack and spiced the omelette he was making. “It sounds like you aren’t a fan.”

“Stating or asking?” she teased and continued, “He’s just…I don’t know, and it’s none of my business, but he does sometimes seem a bit too intense.” Her phone beeped and it was a message from Madeline saying she is glad that Aaliyah had finally
officially
gotten together with Tristan and that she would see her later that evening.

She set her phone on the kitchen nook and walked to Tristan’s side. His arm easily wrapped around her hip, and he kept cooking the omelette with his other hand.

“Happy?” he asked and it caught Aaliyah off guard, but she smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, hugged his side, and silently nodded. The moment felt complete as it was.

***

Tristan

Tristan couldn’t help but feel his excitement pour over as he watched Aaliyah’s face when they had first arrived at Point State Park. He remembered she said she had never been, and to show her that he really wanted to be part of her life, part of the special moments, he felt like taking her there would prove that desire in some odd way. It felt strange, such a simple date when he wished to have rather given her more.

But then he was reminded that it was
her
, the beautiful dark-haired woman who mesmerised him whenever he came close enough to look into her eyes. They were a little watery at that very moment as she looked back at him. The fountain spurted several metres above them.

“Thank you, this is…wow.” She was in his arms a moment later, her supple lips once more meeting his and then her smile broke it. She looked shy for a moment, then pulled away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Picture perfect
. Mount Washington stood mighty to her left, the fountain’s water right behind her and the rivers endlessly pushing on to complete the portrait of her. He felt small in this setting, but greater than ever before as Aaliyah took his hand and faced the enormity with him. There they stood, silent, and Tristan was overwhelmed at how right it felt.

After a while, she said, “Back in South Africa, almost every place with water would have a little kid running around in it. Several on a good day.” She chuckled. “I think I miss the people the most.”

He turned and faced her. “I’m sure some kid is likely to dodge the parents and take a quick run through, but missing home is normal.” He took a quick breath to settle his fear. “Do you plan on going back?”

She squinted like she was thinking awfully hard, and then she began laughing. It was quite unnerving. She held her hand over her mouth and gestured for him to wait until she was done, which took more time than he appreciated.

“Tristan.” She chucked and had a bright smile. “I’m here now.” Her hands smoothed up his arms, until she laced them together behind his neck, looking him in the eyes. “I don’t want to go back and leave all I have here behind. And for the worry you showed at that thought…I can’t tell you how much I loved seeing that. It might be a little sadistic, but I really do like you, and I wanna be wherever time takes us.”

“Just a little sadistic?” he teased her and leaned in to kiss the cherry lips he ever-craved, but before their lips locked, he whispered, “I like you too.” The tightness of her lips in a smile was evident and as they kissed.

The laughter of a child echoed around them. Aaliyah all but ripped away to see, and there was her moment; the child running around the fountain’s spout while a parent was aimlessly calling. She laid her head against his shoulder—like she had that morning in the kitchen—and sighed in delight, while the word
perfect
softly sounded in the momentary chaos around them.

***

Aaliyah

Aaliyah wasn’t too enthused when she saw Madeline’s apartment block nearing while the sun set behind them. When Tristan had to take her home, he suggested he take her to Madeline, which Aaliyah wanted to refuse, but the extra time with him was welcomed.

“Here it is.” She pointed toward the brick faced building and Tristan double parked in the quiet street. “Thanks.” She was invaded by sombre feelings.

“Well, I hope you enjoyed our day together,” Tristan said as he peeked at the building. “Should I walk you up?”

“No, I think saying goodbye here would be easier.” She meant it. “I really had a lot of fun today.” After they had been at Point State Park, he’d taken her for lunch to Primanti Bros.
,
where they had sandwiches and it had become one of her favourite places to be. “I especially enjoyed the part where we washed Isabella.”

He sighed. “You really didn’t need to help.” He said it in a way that made it sound like she had complained.

“I wanted to, Tristan.” She took his hand, looked into his eyes, and reassured him his odd notion was unnecessary. “I love dogs, and though Isabella is a bit large, she is so much fun. And she likes me, which is a plus.”

He analysed her for a moment and seemed to settle. “Well, if it counts for anything, you chasing after her was quite comical. It was one of the best parts of the day for me.” The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes were both perfect.

“You should tell me some of the other things when I see you again.” Aaliyah couldn’t believe how flirty it sounded and it boosted her confidence, because this was why she loved being with Tristan. He already made her much more comfortable in her own skin, and it only once bothered her that her birthmark was revealed, but even then it seemed minute. “Well, I should go.” She paused, leaned over, and as she kissed him goodbye, it felt surreal that the amazing day was over.

Once she was out of the car, he finally said, “I’ll call you tomorrow. There is something I want to ask you.”

“You tell me this now, after we just spent the day together?” she teased, but she was curious now.

“I guess I was a little shy.” He smirked boyishly as she leaned forward.

Slanting her eyes, she looked at him and countered, “Yes, sounds like something a mogul would do. I’ll just wonder and make up very elaborate scenario in my mind, until I get that call then.” She gave him a half-smile. “Bye, Tristan.”

“Goodbye, Aaliyah.” He looked how she felt when she closed the door. As he drove away, at least she knew that she would now be able to tell Madeline of it all. Her excitement bloomed once more as she buzzed Madeline’s flat.

As Aaliyah entered the apartment, Madeline eagerly asked questions. Aaliyah, who was equally rapt, answered them all, but something about Madeline seemed off. She didn’t mention anything, but later, as they were discussing what to have for dinner, Aaliyah caught sight of a black bruise on Madeline’s hip when she had awkwardly bent down to get some frozen veggies from the fridge, as her shirt had ridden up.

“Maddy.” Aaliyah could hear the tremble in her tone, as she moved closer.

“Liyah, what on earth? You look downright scared! Like paler than I am.” Madeline was at her side.

Aaliyah took a breath, closed her eyes and opened them again, fighting the fear. “What happened to your side?”

Madeline’s face went blank. She took a split-second to recover and shook it off like it was nothing. “I walked into—”

“No!” Aaliyah raised her voice far higher than she intended. “It was him, wasn’t it? It was Rick? I always suspected, but—”

“Aaliyah…” Madeline looked broken for the first time since she had known her. Her eyes welled up and her shoulders began to shake. “He was mad because I wouldn’t take him back. It was right after you called. I pled with him to just leave, and the next thing I knew, he pushed me down and then I felt his foot holding me there.”

Aaliyah moved closer to Madeline. “Did he…?”

“No. No, nothing like that, he just kicked me a few times and then left.” She took a breath. “It had hurt so much and I wanted to call you, but you had just told me you were fixing things with Tristan and I didn’t want to interrupt.”