Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 88

The way she looked at me with desperate hope… so close to me that she was all I could smell…

The way she’d said the word anything…

My mind raced with wild, dark thoughts of what a mother might do to get her son back. Even now, as she clutched my knee with those pleading eyes, an image flashed—too vivid, too real—of her sliding off the couch…

I squelched that thought. I’d done some questionable things in the past, but this was Phoebe—sweet, kind, lovely Phoebe Lucas, who was desperate to see her son again. She had been nothing but a saint to me, and even entertaining those kinds of thoughts made me feel a little sick.

Something in my face must have clued Phoebe in that the wheels in my head were turning. She stared up at me expectantly, and as I pushed down my dark thoughts, some of her microexpressions suggested that her mind was drawing its own conclusions. The flicker of her honey-brown eyes to my lips… a slight tightening of her grip on my knee. Was she considering providing me with an incentive?

Was she afraid that I was about to make an offer that she literally couldn’t refuse—even if she wanted to?

“I have resources that can probably track Jim down quickly. Only… I don’t know if they’re all legal and—”

“Yes!” she said before I could continue. “Please!”

“I mean, if the police are already looking for him, it might cause problems.”

“I don’t care,” she said, her grip tightening on my knee. Her voice cracked. “I just want my baby back.”

“And Jim?” I asked.

“What about him?” she asked.

“He could make trouble if we don’t do this by the book.”

She looked away from me in thought as she chewed on her lip, then back at me. “Marcus, Jim isn’t a good father. Nate’s a really sweet boy, and I can’t stand the thought of Jim being the only one in his life! I… Marcus, if I had to shoot him to get my boy back, I wouldn’t hesitate. I’ll do anything.”

Again with the anything.

We stared at each other in silence for a long moment, and then I nodded. “Alright.”

I extracted my arm from around her shoulders.

Phoebe sat up straight, looking a little confused. “Alright?”

“Alright,” I said, standing up.

“You’ll help me?” She asked, slowly standing up as she stared at me. I felt like she was measuring me up… trying to figure me out.

I felt my brow furrow, a little confused by her bewilderment. “Of course I will! I just wasn’t sure what kind of help you wanted.”

I had a hard time looking her in the eyes, afraid she might see some of those dark thoughts lurking inside.

“Oh,” Phoebe said. Her eyes darted around the room as if she were looking for something. Her confusion was palpable. “Oh… okay. I just…”

Or, maybe she’d picked up on some of that primitive desire and was surprised that I hadn’t… asked for anything.

Then she looked back up at me with those warm brown eyes full of trust, and it was like that moment of doubt never even happened. “What are you going to do?”

“I have a guy who can probably track Jim. He’s good at retrieving things. Don’t worry. He’ll make sure Nate’s returned safely to you as soon as possible.”

She looked like she was about to cry again, but this time, I could see signs of relief mingled with the grief. It was a beautiful addition that softened the faint lines of care on her lovely face.

“And Jim?”

“Let me worry about Jim,” I said. I placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t worry, Phoebe. We’re going to get Nate back as soon as possible, and the only thing you need to worry about is making sure he has all his stuff here for when we get him back to you.”

“His stuff?” Phoebe looked confused again.

“This place is yours, if you want it,” I said.

“Marcus? I… can’t afford a place like this.”

“It won’t cost you a thing,” I said. “Phoebe, you were always good to me and Emily.”

She blinked several times.

“And stop looking for a job,” I said. “Just focus on getting this place together for your kid. I’ll have Jessica bring you some meals until Emiko can get your kitchen stocked.”

“Marcus,” Phoebe said, her voice tight with emotion. “I can’t accept this.”

“Yes, you can,” I said. “You can because it’ll be good for Nate.”

“I—”

“Look,” I said, already sure I knew what she was about to say, “I know you’re uncomfortable accepting this much charity. I would be, but I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. At least until we get your kid back. After that, we can sit down and discuss getting you a job or something, but Phoebe, let me do this for you. Please?”

Honestly, as strong as my libido was, the bright, teary smile she gave me was worth more than some of the most powerful climaxes I’d ever experienced. It warmed my freaking heart.

“Oh, Marcus!” she said as she fell into me, her arms flinging around my neck as she buried her face in my chest. She looked up at me, tears streaming, but a smile on her face. “Thank you so much!”

I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her tight. It had the added effect of drawing her face infinitesimally closer to mine. Once more, I was reminded of the soft kiss she laid on me the last time we saw her. It was all too tempting to lean in and press my lips to hers, and I was almost positive that she wouldn’t turn me down if I did.

But I didn’t want to take advantage of a grieving mother who was missing her child— especially when that grieving mother was Phoebe.

“My pleasure, Phoebe. I’ll get started right away.”

She lifted herself on her toes and pressed her cheek on mine, and I felt the corner of her lips brush near my ear as she gave me a phantom kiss.

And then she stepped out of my arms, her hands sliding down my shoulders, down my chest, and then retreating slowly, her fingers lingering a touch longer before falling away. Then she scrubbed at one of her cheeks with the corner of her sleeve and gave me a weak but genuine smile.

I spent the next ten minutes arranging for movers to pick her up tomorrow, take her back to her apartment, and start the process of moving her things in here. When I left, I promised to get started on getting Nate back immediately. She shut the door, giving me one last look before she did so—one that I’d never seen from her before… full of warmth, gratitude, and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on… something that was gone almost before I noticed it.

I breathed deep and walked down the hall, feeling weightless. For the first time in days, I wasn’t fighting for my life. I wasn’t playing mind games with a spoiled brat. I wasn’t dominating anyone or jockeying for control. What I was doing for Phoebe felt good—viscerally human.

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