Free Marly's Choice by Lora Leigh

fraying at the ends. Entering the kitchen, he found Marly and Greg seated at the kitchen table, laughing at some joke as they finished breakfast. Eggs, ham, biscuits. He was starved.
    “Well, at least the two of you are comfortable,” he snapped, eying them suspiciously.
    Once again, Marly was dressed in only one of his shirts and a pair of his socks. Her legs were crossed, in the boy’s line of vision and it infuriated him. Especially considering the fact that it was all the James boy could do to keep his eyes off them. Marly blinked in surprise.
    “Um, I need to shower, Marly.” Greg jumped to his feet, uneasy in Cade’s presence anyway, the sight of his anger was enough to leave him scurrying.
    “What’s your problem?” She frowned as she rose to her feet.
    “What could be my problem?” he growled, stomping to the coffee pot. “You leave your balcony door open all night then awaken me screaming like a banshee. Some moron let the cattle out, and I walk in here to find you two cozying over breakfast. At least be good enough to do it in private.”
    He watched the surprised hurt that crossed her face.
    “I don’t have time to baby-sit you today either,” he bit out. “I have work to do.”
    “I didn’t ask you to.” Her lips trembled, but she held her tears carefully in check. That made him even angrier. Damn her. He’d had her screaming out into the night with her orgasm, and here she was the next morning acting as though it had never happened.
    “Make sure you don’t,” he growled.
    “Damn, Cade, go get laid or something. You’re an asshole,” Sam bit out. “Leave Marly alone.”
    Marly paled, blinking in shock as her gaze flew back to Cade.
    “Maybe that’s just what I need,” he said furiously. “A woman for a change.”
    Lora Leigh
    Marly’s Choice
    41
    He didn’t wait to see the tears building in her eyes fall to her cheeks. He turned and stomped from the kitchen, disgusted with himself, furious at Marly, and unable to make sense of any of it. He knew if he didn’t get away from her, before he took her, then it would kill him later to see the fear in her eyes. He stalked through the house, his body trembling with lust, fatigue and fury. She was too young, too innocent and the wrong damned woman. Dammit, when was he going to convince himself of that?

    “Ahh hell, Marly, he didn’t mean that.” Sam grabbed her as she made to run out of the kitchen in tears, pushing her head against his chest as he rubbed her back soothingly. “You know what an ass he can be when he’s stressed.”
    Marly’s breath hitched as she fought the tears. She knew why Cade was attacking her; she just didn’t know it would hurt so badly. She held onto Sam, feeling his hands at her back, petting her through the silk of Cade’s shirt. He was warm, comforting. She liked the way he soothed her, holding her. She blinked, sighed. She was so hot for Cade that even Sam’s touch was turning sexual. His big hands roamed her back, pressing her against him.
    She moved away nervously. Rumors, sexual and otherwise reared their ugly heads, but didn’t terrify her as they should have.
    “I’m okay.” She rubbed her arms quickly, fighting back the ache between her thighs.
    She had been waiting on Cade, hoping to tempt him, to experience the breathtaking heights of pleasure he had taken her to once again. Instead, she was allowing Sam, her beloved friend and confidant, to only stoke the embers higher.
    “Sure you are, honey.” He hugged her close, his arm wrapped around her waist, his fingers lying below her unbound breasts. “And you will stay just fine. Just you wait. Cade will get over his little mad spell and everything will be fine.”
    Had his fingers accidentally raked over her nipple as he moved away, or had it been deliberate? Suspicion raised its ugly head even as she beat it back ruthlessly. Cruel rumors, that was all they were. Wasn’t that what Cade had assured her years ago when she questioned him