Fiction/Young Adult/Betrayal

Worth the Risk — Chapter Fifteen

Are you willing to lose it all

I woke up with a pounding headache and started to panic. I couldn’t move my legs or arms.

Did I have a stroke?

Was I in an accident and now in the hospital?

I looked around the room and didn’t recognize any of my surroundings. The bed moved ever so slightly, and the blanket on me was tugged away. My eyes slid over, and I sighed a breath of relief.

Marcus lay curled up on the edge of the bed. One foot was on the floor, an arm hung down to the ground, and his head was all cockeyed as it looked like we fought for pillow space.

Thoughts of the previous night came rolling back, and I slowly started to remember where and why I was there.

The party, the dancing, the disagreement, the makeup, and the alcohol—lots and lots of alcohol.

I watched Marcus sleep, he looked so peaceful. I remembered him taking care of me as the wine coolers and shots caught up to me before the clock hit two. He carried me—well, actually, he staggered with me in his arms—to the bedroom. He laid me down carefully on the bed and placed a soft kiss on my temple.

If I remember rightly, there was a whisper of ‘I think I’m falling in love with you’ before I blacked out.

I closed my eyes, not out of tiredness, but more so because I was fighting back the tears that wanted to spill over. Most girls would be jumping up and down, spinning around in circles, to have a guy like Marcus proclaim he was in love with them.

That was if I heard him correctly.

Maybe it was an alcohol-induced dream.

Maybe it was something I wanted and needed to hear.

What had started as something that was supposed to be casual, a senior fling so to speak, was now something that had both of us fighting to be with one another every second we could.

A rustling on the other side of the twin-sized bed caught my attention. Marcus batted his eyes open and closed a few times before setting on me. A sleepy smile spread across his face, and he looked so adorable that I wanted to snuggle beside him and waste the day away.

“You’re awake.” Marcus’s voice sounded dry.

I nodded. “Yeah, I only got up a few minutes ago.”

I got tugged over to his small section of the bed and ended up laying on top of him. I couldn’t help but rock my hips back and forth, making a groan of desire echo from Marcus.

“Chels, you’re not playing fair.” Marcus closed his eyes as I began to nibble on his neck.

His morning friend became even harder with my subtle play of enticement. I loved the fact that I made him this excited.

Well, I got excited too, but wanting to please him was more important than me giving in to my desires.

I kept kissing my way down his body until my head was below the blanket. The hairs that ran down Marcus’s stomach and underneath his boxers tickled my lips. I licked at the top of his thigh and a moan filled the silent room.

Marcus suddenly went still, and he pulled me back up to eye level. “Chelsey, you better stop while I can.” His breathing was labored like he had just run ten miles at full speed.

“What if,” my fingers gently ran over his tightened nipples, “I don’t,” I kissed his neck, “want to stop.” I made small whisper-like kisses all along his jawline.

A loud growl erupted from Marcus and I was scooped underneath him in a blink of an eye. “I think,” Marcus said, doing the same thing to my chest as I did to his. “We need,” he said, lightly running his tongue up my neck, “to place this on hold.” His lips traveled from ear to ear. “For now.” Marcus jumped off the bed and pulled on his jeans.

I let out a large sigh of defeat. This was the first time I’d been rejected, it was always the other way around.

“Okay.” I tried not to let my disappointment show through.

“Ugh, it isn’t what it seems like.” Marcus sat down on the bed beside me. “ I want to, I really do, but..."

There’s that ‘but’ word again.

“Like I said last night,” Marcus put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. “Yes, I still remember all those moments that seemed to get interrupted.”

I had to smile back at the night.

Oh, what a night it was.

“I want our time together to be." Marcus ran his hand over his face like he was searching for the right word. “I want it to be special.” I nodded. I understood his reasoning.

“Having you so close beside me, especially dressed in one of my t-shirts," Marcus tugged on the red shirt I was wearing. “I don’t think I’m gonna make it much longer.” He leaped up from the bed once again. “I’m gonna check out, make sure everything is good out there.” He motioned outside the bedroom door. “You can go ahead and get dressed.” Marcus grabbed my clothes off the dresser top and set them down beside me on the bed. “I’ll be right out there.” He shut the door softly on his way out.

One month after the party, I decided it was time to introduce Marcus to my parents.

Not that it was going to be fun or exciting, more like painful and nauseating, but Marcus kept insisting they all meet since I’d met his mom, sisters, cousins, and everyone else three times over.

Plus, Amber told me she introduced Ricky to her mom and her boytoy and it wasn’t bad.

So, there I was with Marcus in my car, coming back from my Saturday dance rehearsal. I knew both my parents were going to be home today since they had a huge art gala to attend tonight.

Marcus looked edgy, like he was nervous about the upcoming meeting. He kept clenching his fists and biting on his lower lip. He hadn’t spoken much since we left the studio, he concentrated on the same old settings we passed by every time we drove back to my house.

I told him maybe another time, but he was persistent in getting it done today.

I glanced at him one last time before I pulled into the driveway. He looked mighty fine in his worn-out jeans and t-shirt—not something one of my dad’s multimillionaire friend’s sons would wear, but he was quite tempting to me.

Just the way his messed-up hair touched the bottom of his neckline, the darkness of his eyes showed that he was in deep thought, and the way he could pass for a model made it hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

The sound of heels clicking in the hallway signaled that my mom was up and moving when Marcus and I entered the house. I think I was more nervous than him. His swagger and the way he held himself were nothing short of pure confidence, he would easily win an Academy Award with his act.

“Chelsey, is that you?”

My mom’s voice echoed down the hallway. The sound of the clicks got louder, signaling she was walking this way.

I let out a deep breath, grabbed hold of Marcus’s hand, and led him in the direction of the commotion.

My mom stopped putting on her necklace in mid-step when she saw I had someone with me.

“Now what’s the issue? I know our accountants have the gardeners paid up for the year.” Her tone was as snotty as her sneer.

Marcus’s hand squeezed a bit tighter, enough I recognized he was annoyed with her insinuation.

“Mom, this is Marcus. We go to school together. We’ve… Um, we’ve been dating for a few months.”

Mom’s jaw about hit the floor. She quickly recovered and put on her stone-faced act, which she gave others she didn’t approve of but had to show some sort of cordiality towards.

“Marcus, this is a surprise. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mom held out her hand for Marcus to shake.

“Nice to meet you too.” Marcus let go of my hand and gripped my mom’s.

She didn’t give him the friendly handshake and fake hug that she did with other people. It was more like a one-second touch and she retracted her hand rather hastily.

Marcus stepped back in line beside me but didn’t make any advances to take my hand once again. It seemed Mother had silently put him into the place where he stood with her.

“Allison.” The sound of my dad’s overbearing, thunderous baritone voice resonated down the staircase.

“In the hallway, Tom.” Mom gave him directions on where to find us.

“Where the hell is my dark red tie? You know I need it with this damn suit.” Dad came around the corner and the squeakiness of his tight leather shoes halted on the hardwood floors. “Now what are you having done with the garden, Allison?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marcus’s jaw tighten. He kept his face calm about being mistaken for the hired help at my house. This had to be eating at him.

“Tom.” Mom linked her arm through Dad's. “This is Martin, Chelsey’s friend from school.”

Dad looked Marcus up and down and gave him a look that signaled he wasn’t in his class or even worthy of speaking to.

“Dad, this is Marcus.” I made sure to accentuate the correct name, unlike my mother. “We’ve been dating for several months.”

Marcus stepped forward and held out his hand. “Pleasure to finally meet you.”

Dad pursed his lips together and a constricted smile made its way out. For a moment, I thought he was going to walk away, but he placed his hand on Marcus’s and squeezed tightly.

“You too.” Dad let go rather hurriedly and Marcus stepped back beside me.

Mom pulled on Dad’s shirt sleeve. “C’mon, Tom, I know where your tie is.” She glanced back at me and Marcus. “Chelsey, I expect your visitor to leave before we do.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Which will be in about one hour.”

Both my parents walked down the hallway, and whispers came from both, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Then Dad turned back around. “Marcus, can you excuse my daughter for a second.” His stare and expression indicated this wasn’t a question but a demand.

“Give me a second.” I squeezed Marcus’s hand and then joined my parents. “What?” My attitude showed I wasn’t too pleased with their welcoming of my boyfriend.

“This will not happen.” Dad gave me arrogance right back. His voice was loud enough that Marcus had to have heard him.

I glanced over at Mom, her face showed she was in total agreement with him.

“Are you kidding me?” I kept my tone low so Marcus wouldn’t be able to hear my whisper. “You don’t even know him.” I had to take a stand. This was the first time I was happy with a guy. Marcus was so much more in my life in these past couple of months than my parents had been for my entire life.

“It’s just not right.” Mom had to get her two cents into the conversation.

“Chelsey, are you willing to risk it all?” Dad put his arm around Mom’s shoulders and they disappeared around the corner.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the wall ahead of me. How could they act this way around the first guy I ever brought home and introduced them to? What was I going to tell Marcus about my parent’s behavior?

Two strong arms went around my waist and a warm pair of lips nuzzled at my neck. I leaned back against Marcus’s rock-hard chest.

“I think they like me," Marcus whispered in my ear.

I had to giggle, only he could bring humor to this awkward moment. I turned around and stared up at those dark brown eyes that had sadness written behind them. I ran my finger over his bottom lip, down his chin and neck, and rested my hand on his chest. I gripped his shirt and pulled his mouth down to mine.

My body trembled when Marcus’s hands skimmed along the outside of my shirt. Every nerve came to life and fire ran through my veins.

Then he stopped and backed away. A playful smirk played on his lips. "Are you trying to get them to really not like me?” Marcus looked down the hallway to make sure we were still in the clear.

He was right, but if the coast was clear, I would’ve probably attacked him right here and now in the hall.

“You’re right. We need to play nice with the parents.” I clasped my hands together behind my back so I wouldn’t be tempted to touch him again.

“Should I call someone to see if they can pick me up since your parents want me gone before they leave?” Marcus took out his cell phone and ran through his list of names.

I put my hand over the screen. “I will take you home, just not yet.”

Marcus put his phone away as I took hold of his other hand and pulled him towards the entryway.

“Let’s go do something." I gave him a sultry smile and winked, “Something fun.”

A look of shock and amusement rolled over his face. “Okay, you lead the way.” Marcus followed behind me as we left this horrible circumstance behind.