Borden (Borden #1) Read Online Free Page B

about.
    “Let me know a little about you,” she then said. “I want to know. I’ve always wanted to know.”
    He held up a few of her long silky strands, letting it run between his fingers as he thought about what to say. Was there even a way to positively answer that?
    “Nothing really to know,” he settled with quietly. “I’m just a normal guy on the other side of the tracks.”
    She didn’t need to hear about his abusive father, and his uncaring mother. Or the fact he’d been kicked out of his home at fifteen with nothing but a backpack and a bag of M&Ms. Or that poverty had him turning to street crime just so he could rub a few pennies together for a hot meal. Now his life had been hard, but he didn’t care much to explore it out loud to a girl that would probably never understand that, and he hoped she’d never have to.
    She didn’t pry for a better response, and he appreciated that. Kate seemed to respect boundaries, and fuck, he wanted her to break them down instead. She changed subjects, and he listened to her sweet voice, offering responses just to hear her talk. They spoke for what felt like hours, and then her words trailed off, and she fell asleep in his arms.

Three
    Marcus
    A nudge on his shoulder stirred him awake. He opened his eyes slowly and stared up at Kate in the dark. She was standing beside the edge of the couch, completely dressed and holding her purse with one hand.
    “Sorry to wake you, but I have no way of getting home,” she told him. “I was hoping you’d drop me off.”
    He inhaled sharply and looked around in search of a clock. “What time is it?”
    “Almost five.”
    Fucking hell, it was way too early. “I’ll drop you off in a bit, babe. How about you lay down with me for a while first and we’ll grab some breakfast once we’re out?”
    Her hands nervously tugged at the strap of her purse. “I’d love breakfast with you and all but…I can’t stay. My father is meant to come around at seven for our ritual Sunday breakfast, and if he finds out I’m not there…” she paused and sighed.
    “What happened to not caring tonight?” he replied light-heartedly.
    She didn’t smile in return. Instead, her nerves grew. “I can just take a bus then, or something. I won’t make you get up, that’s not fair of me, and it’s so early –”
    “Fuck no,” he interrupted, sitting up now and rubbing at his tired eyes. “I’m just kidding. Not gonna have a girl like you riding public transport on this side of town. I’ll get my keys and we’ll go.”
    Her shoulders sagged in relief. “Thank you, Marcus. I appreciate it.”
    He stared up at her for a moment, taking in her just fucked look she still wore, and felt himself smile. “Did you think I’d be some jerk? That I’d kick you out or something?”
    She shrugged, biting at her bottom lip. “I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest. I’ve never done this before.”
    “Don’t do it again,” he found himself saying straightaway. He didn’t know why he said it, either. The girl could do whatever the hell she wanted to, but fuck, he knew she was worth so much more than just a one night screw.
    She looked at him strangely, and he cleared his throat and quickly added, “You know, there are crazy people out there around here. You don’t know the kind of person you’d end up in bed with.”
    “I guess I got lucky.” Her mouth spread out into a wide smile as she said this and he felt that smile burn into him. His chest stirred at her raw beauty. He stood up and tried to shake away his intense attraction to her. She wanted him for one night, and he strangely felt used for once, and it wasn’t all that great of a feeling.
    Avoiding her eye, he snagged the keys off the table and said, “Let’s take your beautiful little ass home.”
    *
    Kate wouldn’t turn her face away during the forty minute ride to her apartment building. Those green eyes were piercing, and he loved the burn he felt when she stared at