Just as he was about to log in, Marcus's phone rang. He pulled it out, and the number on the screen made his stomach drop. Oh, man. He really did not want to answer this.
"Big bro, phone! Big bro, answer the damn phone!" Amber's voice chirped again.
He knew he couldn't dodge it. Well, whatever's coming is coming. Can't run forever.
Time to face the music, he decided. 'The worst she can do is yell at me.'
"Hello, Ms. Moran," Marcus said, his voice laced with apprehension.
"What's the matter, Marcus? Scared to pick up? Or just not interested?"
A familiar, stunning face filled his video screen. It was a woman with a killer figure, alluring curves, and a captivating, dangerous kind of beauty. The view of her neckline, her waist, and her full hips, combined with those deep, expressive eyes, was enough to get any guy's heart racing.
This woman carried herself with a polished, high-society elegance, but it hid a magnetic, almost electric appeal. The way she carried herself, with a kind of mesmerizing confidence that left men captivated, wasn't something you could learn. It was a world away from anything a naive girl could ever possess.
This breathtaking beauty was Willow Moran, the famous "it-girl" of Crestwood University, the fantasy of pretty much every guy on campus.
Back in his university days, Willow was the most popular topic of conversation after dark. She was the absolute gold standard for a certain kind of desirable, sophisticated woman.
It was a running joke that over half the male student body had a thing for her. She had a reputation for being the kind of woman who was a knockout in a little black dress and the life of any party, the kind who could make a guy lose his cool just by smiling.
Of course, Marcus had once been right there with them, fantasizing about this woman. If it hadn't been for Serena, he probably wouldn't have been able to resist her magnetic pull.
But it was because of Serena that he was one of the few guys who actually got to know Willow Moran, one of the few who got to call her "Willow" like they were close. That connection had made him the target of serious jealousy from every other guy he knew.
Willow Moran was a few years ahead of Marcus and Serena. When Marcus was a freshman, she was working on her Master's. By the time he graduated, she was deep into her Ph.D. program. Right after his graduation; and right around the time he and Serena broke up, Willow had left for a study-abroad program in the UK. By his math, she should be finishing up soon.
Marcus never did fully understand how Willow and Serena knew each other, but they were closer than sisters.
'Please don't let this be about Serena', Marcus prayed silently. He truly had no words for that whole situation.
But seeing the usually unflappable Ms. Moran looking so stern, her expression cold and tinged with anger, he knew this was serious.
"Marcus. Start talking."
"..." Marcus had nothing.
"You little shit, I asked you a question. What happened?"
"..." He stayed silent.
"Cat got your tongue? How could you do this? After everything you promised me about taking care of her?"
"..." He had no defense.
"Marcus, I swear to God, if you don't speak..."
"Ms. Moran, I..." The words wouldn't come.
"Ms. Moran, it... it is what it is."
"What is that supposed to mean? Explain it to me. I called Serena last night and that's when I found out. But she just starts sobbing every time I bring your name up. What did you do to break her heart like that?"
Serena. The name sent a fresh ache through his chest.
"Ms. Moran, it's over. Just... just drop it, please."
"Over?! Marcus, you idiot, nothing is 'over'! Don't you dare tell me to drop it. You are not getting off that easy until you give me a real explanation."
Willow's temper, usually on a slow simmer, was now at a full boil.
"Ms. Moran, I'm sorry. It's my fault."
"Marcus, 'sorry' doesn't cut it. I'm flying back in a few days. If you don't have a satisfactory answer for me and haven't fixed whatever is going on with Serena, you are going to regret it."
With that, Willow hung up, clearly done interrogating him long-distance. She was coming back from the UK to deal with him in person.
Marcus put his phone down. Thinking of Serena, a wave of sadness crashed over him. His mood bottomed out, and he sank weakly onto the sofa, a sharp, familiar heartache taking hold.
Because of her family's opposition, compounded by some of his own family's issues, he'd been forced to break things off with Serena. The decision had left a permanent scar on both of them.
'I'm such a failure'. He was disgusted with himself, gripping his hair in frustration.
"Marcus, don't. Try to relax."
A slender hand rested gently on his shoulder, her voice soft and comforting.
It was Lily. He hadn't even noticed her approach. She must have overheard the whole call, her eyes now filled with tenderness and concern.
"Lily, it's nothing. It was Ms. Moran. She was asking about Serena," he said, turning to take her hand.
"Marcus, that's so cruel to Serena. And it's not fair to you, either," Lily said, slowly sitting beside him and leaning her weight against his side.
"Life works in strange ways, Lily. Even though I lost Serena, it led me to you."
Lily always put him first. He'd already lost Serena and caused her so much pain. He would be damned if he let anything hurt Lily; he couldn't lose her, too.
He looked at her beside him, then shifted, gently lifting her onto his lap and pulling her into his embrace, letting her delicate face rest against his chest.
"Lily, I love you. I won't let you get hurt. I need you to feel what's in my heart, that I truly, genuinely love you and can't live without you, just like I loved Serena."
He held her tighter.
"Marcus, I know. I can feel it. I know I'm as important to you as she was. You have no idea how happy I was today. In the square... I almost started crying right there."
Lily nodded against his chest, wrapping her arms around his broad back. They held each other close, with no space between them, sharing warmth and love.
"Marcus, but it's still not fair to Serena. It's truly cruel. As a woman, I can imagine how she feels. But if you were to push me away now... I don't think I could bear it."
Lily relaxed into the comfort of his chest, a pleasant warmth spreading through her. She nestled against him, instinctively seeking more of his touch.
"Marcus, I won't make any demands about Serena. Whatever you decide to do... it's your choice."
Lily said it with a heavy heart. It felt like a concession, but she truly couldn't bear to see the man she loved in so much pain. His happiness was her happiness. He was her one and only.
"What happened with Serena is in the past. Let's just leave it there. Talking about it won't change anything."
Feeling Lily's subtle, sweet scent and the warmth of her body, Marcus's hands began to slowly roam over her beautiful, soft form. A wave of pleasure made him feel lightheaded.
"Lily."
He couldn't hold back any longer. The feeling of Lily's full, firm breasts pressed against his chest was intoxicating. The way her body shifted on his lap sent another jolt of desire through him, pulling a low groan from his throat.
"No... wait... please..."
'God, what am I doing?' Lily thought, a flicker of panic rising. But then she remembered the man holding her was the one she cherished most, her only man.
Forget it. She would let him have his way. Who cares? He was the man she loved. Lily held him tighter, surrendering to his affection, and gradually let her guard down, wanting to please him.
"So beautiful..."
"Lily, I need you."
Marcus couldn't take the torment any longer. He scooped Lily up into his arms, kissing her deeply as he carried her toward the bedroom.
Lily was overwhelmed with shyness. She squeezed her eyes shut and curled up on the bed, yielding her body completely to him.
Marcus quickly helped her out of her clothes. A breathtaking scene unfolded before him. Soon, only a set of pale pink lingerie remained, guarding her final secrets. Her body was fully revealed, her graceful curves mesmerizing in the soft lamplight. Her delicate face was flushed with a mix of shyness and anticipation, making her utterly irresistible and stirring a powerful, possessive urge in him.
Unable to wait, he hastily stripped off his own clothes and moved over the body of his beloved, beginning their union. From this moment on, they belonged to each other, completely.
"Lily, I want you."
Feeling his familiar breath so close, Lily opened her eyes and saw the man she loved looking down at her with deep, unwavering affection.
"Okay..."
Lily gave a slight nod, wrapping her arms around his back, allowing him to remove the last delicate barriers between them.
"Lily, you are mine."
"Marcus, I am yours."
Both Marcus and Lily had the same thought almost simultaneously, their intense love soaring to a new, unimaginable height.
In a storm of passion and overwhelming intimacy, Lily peaked twice. She was utterly powerless against his intensity. If he hadn't deliberately held himself back, she wouldn't have been able to keep up.
'Is this because of the Human Rock technique?' Marcus wondered privately. 'Does it actually have this kind of effect?'
Finally, they could no longer withstand the intense pleasure, and they climaxed together.
"So beautiful..."
He never knew such a feeling existed in the world. He held Lily tightly, letting her curl up against his chest.
So the Human Rock technique can be trained this way.
Just as they reached their peak, in that moment of perfect fusion, the Human Rick energy within his body began to circulate wildly.
After completing two full cycles, it suddenly pulsed with a new intensity. According to his understanding of the technique, he had just reached the Fifth Stage.
It was incredible. The technique, which had been stagnant for over three months, had advanced a full level through their union.