Alex or Marcus

Chapter 18 Derek’s POV The coffee shop was cozy, with warm lighting and the rich scent of espresso in the air. Sophie sat across from me, her curly hair framing a bright smile as she talked about her sociology classes. She was kind, funny, and genuinely interested. A normal date. Exactly what I needed to prove I could still be normal. “I’m glad you finally said yes,” she said, stirring her latte. “You always seem so focused on your studies. It’s nice to see you outside the classroom.” I forced a smile, nodding along. “Yeah, I've been busy with the research project and… family stuff.” The date was supposed to be my reset button. A way to push back against the chaos with Marcus. To remind myself I wasn’t completely lost to whatever this thing between us was. Sophie’s hand brushed mine on the table. It was soft. Gentle. Nothing like Marcus’s firm, possessive grip. There was no spark. No heat. Just polite warmth. As the evening went on, I tried. I really did. I laughed at her jokes, asked questions about her life, even walked her home afterward like a gentleman. At her door, she leaned in hopefully. I kissed her cheek instead of her lips. “Thanks for tonight,” I said. “I had a good time.” She looked a little disappointed but smiled. “Me too. Let’s do it again?” I nodded vaguely and escaped into the night. The walk home felt endless. Every step reminded me how hollow the date had been. Sophie was perfect on paper, sweet, smart, interested in me. But my body and mind kept drifting back to Marcus. His rough hands. His low voice called me his. The way he filled me completely. By the time I reached the apartment, it was late. Mom was already asleep. The living room light was still on. Marcus was waiting. He sat on the couch, arms crossed over his broad chest, wearing only sweatpants. His dark eyes tracked me as I closed the door. The jealousy radiating from him was palpable. “How was your date?” he asked, voice deceptively calm. “It was… fine.” I set my keys down, avoiding his gaze. “Sophie’s nice.” Marcus stood slowly, stalking toward me. “Nice.” He backed me against the wall, one hand bracing beside my head. “Did you kiss her? Touch her? Try to feel something normal?” I swallowed hard. “No. I couldn’t.” His other hand gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Because you’re already mine.” The kiss that followed was punishing, possessive, angry, hungry. He devoured my mouth, tongue claiming every inch as his body pressed me into the wall. I moaned into him, hands fisting his shirt. The date with Sophie had proven nothing except how deep I was in this. Marcus lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to his room. He kicked the door shut and dropped me on the bed. “Strip,” he ordered. I obeyed quickly, arousal overriding guilt for the moment. He watched with dark eyes, shedding his own clothes. When we were both naked, he crawled over me, pinning my wrists above my head. “You went on a date to prove you don’t want this,” he growled, biting my neck. “How did that work out for you?” “Not well,” I admitted breathlessly. He thrust inside me without warning, rough and deep. I cried out, muffling the sound against his shoulder. He f****d me hard, punishing, each stroke a reminder of who I belonged to. “Say it,” he demanded. “Tell me who you want.” “You,” I gasped. “Only you.” The admission broke something in me. Pleasure mixed with deeper guilt as he drove into me relentlessly. I came first, spilling between us with a choked moan. Marcus followed soon after, burying himself deep as he filled me. Afterward, we lay tangled together, breathing slowing. Marcus traced lazy patterns on my chest, but his expression remained tense. “I don’t like sharing your attention,” he admitted quietly. “Not even for a normal date.” I stared at the ceiling, the weight of my failed attempt at normalcy crushing me. “This is destroying me, Marcus. I can’t keep lying to everyone. To Mom. To Alex. To myself.” He kissed my forehead. “Then stop fighting it.” But as I slipped back to my own room before Mom could wake, the internal war raged stronger than ever. Sophie represented the life I thought I should want. Marcus represented the one I couldn’t escape. And right now, the pull toward him was winning.