Marcellus & Sorina

Sometimes secrets can kill...sometimes they can save.

[marcellussorina]

9

**You’re sweetening the deal.  Fine, fine, I’ll go with you. XO** Sorina’s head shook as she sent her message and looked out at the ocean from the beach she was sitting on.  It was one of her favorite places in Imperium to go, and she’d decided to relax there before getting ready for her date with Marcellus.  Otherwise she knew she would fuss over herself till she was insane.  The previous night and the morning had been perfect, and perfect things rarely happened to demons.

One thing that was a definite bonus of being an Officer of the Royal Legion, was that you had contacts in the castle that many of those who worked within the castle even would not.  Regardless of the abduction of the throne of Lucifer and now Abriella and Cruz reigning supreme, Marcellus still knew who to talk to in order to get a suite in one of the towers of the Palace for the evening that had a spectacular view out over the Palace Gardens, the rolling hills beyond, and the beautiful lake that lay beyond that.  It was something that those on Earth would put on a touristy postcard.  It also meant that he knew who in the kitchen to talk to in order to get a meal fit for the Queen herself to be delivered at the appointed time with a bottle of finely aged blood wine.  Candles and soft music completed the ambiance, now all he needed was the stunning brunette demoness who would be his companion for the evening.  Thinius might also have helped, he and his Captain had a long and tight history, friends and brothers to the end.

Showing up early, he went over the suite and all the preparations as if he were doing so for a royal event.  While this was just for he and Sorina, to him it was just as important.  She was that important to him, on more than one level, and he was now kicking himself for not having done this long ago.  After he had assured himself that everything in the suite was perfect, he traced outside of Sorina’s apartment at the barracks.  Marcellus shoved down his nerves about the evening going well and knocked on her door.  It wasn't like this was a blind date with a stranger, but he thought maybe that made it worse.  If a date went bad with anyone else, even a stranger or random being he met in some random realm, then they rarely, if ever, had to interact again.  Sorina was his Sergeant and he wasn’t about to give up her tactical knowledge and skill, so if he fucked things up, work would be hella awkward.

For her part, Sorina was nervous as well.  She was pretty sure that they had been dancing around the attraction to one another for what had to be centuries; and now that they were actually taking this step, she could not help the butterflies that had taken flight in her stomach.  So when she heard his fist on her door, she tugged lightly on the hem of her dress, took a breath, and opened the door to see him standing there looking better than any male had a right to.  A dark grey sweater that didn’t hide those muscles that she had felt the strength of many times in training, and the gentleness of the night before as well,  atop dress slacks that fit him in a way she could more than appreciate let her know he was taking things just as serious as she was.  Marcellus dressed up for very few people.  She let her eyes fully drink him in before letting her eyes meet his, not hiding her appreciation for his form at all.  They were far past that now.  “Early, I do like a prompt male.”  She smirked at him, her voice sultry.

His breath had almost been stolen when she opened the door, her dress far less revealing than the night before but somehow it called to him more.  Thankfully his brain was still working, so he didn’t leave her standing there waiting for a reply. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint you, love.” His hand came up to the door as he pushed it a little wider open to let him slide through, making her back up a step; but his other arm hooked around her narrow waist to pull her flush against him and not let her get far.  “Not with you looking like this, and we have plans.  Any other male in these barracks sees you looking like this and I might have to fight them off and we’ll be late.”  Marcellus gave her a charming smile, making sure she knew he fully appreciated the red dress she was wearing that fell mid thigh.  Leaning back against the door he was now through to close it, he dipped his head for the first kiss of the evening.  

The night before their kisses had been heated with passion, but the one he gave her now was more sensual and slow,  and it started butterflies in her stomach.  Had anyone told her that he would one day do that, she would have called them crazy, but now she was fully reveling in it.  Her hands made their way up his broad chest and over his shoulders to get lost in his hair.  If this was how the night was beginning, she had a feeling that it was going to go perfectly.

“Are you trying to distract me because you forgot to actually make preparations?” She teased him.  He had been too nervous via text message earlier in the day for that to be true, but now that he could see her face as well as her voice so that there could be no misunderstanding, she had to tease.  “I mean, this IS a nice distraction, Marc, but I WAS promised dinner.”  She smirked and gave him a wink with a light laugh.

“Now, Sor, you know me better than that.” Whatever he had done to make Div happy, he was thankful for it, because he was obviously being blessed.  Never in the history of millennias’ worth of first dates had he had one start off this easy, not even a second date. Then again, this was Sorina, and this, he hoped, would be his last first one.  “But I do believe my lady said something about wanting to take an overnight bag?”  An eyebrow rose as he looked down at her beautiful face.  “I also assume that you’re going to want a change of shoes for the garden.”  He pulled her tighter against him.  “I can keep you from getting cold, but not from heels sinking in dirt.  I’m liking those heels though, a lot.” There was no misreading the grin and wink he gave her, which got him a laugh and a quick kiss from her.

“I can always put the heels back on after our romantic walk in the garden.” She smirked up at him as she almost purred and saw the blues of his eyes darken. “Since you like them so much,” Sorina teased him as she lightly picked at the neckline of his sweater, her eyes crinkling just a touch at the corners as she smiled at him.  The look he was giving her was turning her insides to jelly and giving her a flush across her cheeks.  There was no way he could miss the effect he had on her.

"Maybe just the heels…" He couldn’t help but grin down at her.

[marcellussorina]

8

Thinius needs to talk to Marcellus, but about what? And how will it affect his date with Sorina?

“Marc! Hold up, bro!” Thinnius’ voice rang down the hall and Marcellus wanted to disappear.  His Captain would just find him no matter where he went; and since he and Thinnius were friends, best not to do that and ruin both their days.  Playing hide-and-seek with either of the Captains normally put them in less than stellar moods, and since he had a date that night with Sorina, he wanted both of the Captains in good moods and off his ass.

“Yeah, Cap T, what’s up?”  He tried not to look annoyed.  It hadn’t been long since he’d left the cafe where he’d been talking to Sante, and he was still pissed.  What to do about that situation would wait till later though.

“I need you to work tonight.”  Thinnius saw the tick start in Marcellus’ jaw and knew something was up.  He had a pretty good idea what too.   “Date?” Marcellus nodded.  “Great, you can take her along.”  The tick got worse.  “Before you get too worked up, I just need you to be in the garden from midnight to 2am.  Princess Kailyn and Asher showed up.  She was beat up and he looked like he had literally been put through a meat grinder.  Now we can add Damien to the list of those to be on the outlook for to come for a *visit*.  Do you think you can manage two hours in the garden with your date?  You don’t even have to be in uniform and you can star gaze or whatever, just keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.”

This he could do.  The hour was late enough that it wouldn’t interfere with dinner.  They could walk and talk, then spread out in one of the alcoves and enjoy the quiet.  He was pretty sure he could sell Sorina on it without seeming like an ass for having to work.  “I think I can convince her to work with me tonight since it’s in the garden.  You would have to pick our first date to pull this on me, way to add to my nerves.”

Thinnius’ brow rose at the way he’d phrased that.  There wa only one female that he knew of that made Marcellus nervous, had Marc finally done it?  “So my favorite lieutenant and sergeant will be on duty?”  The expression on Marcellus’ face said it all.  “I was afraid you’d never get the balls up to ask her before someone else took her off the market.  I’m sure that there are,”  he carefully looked all around them to make sure they were alone, “others who are not thrilled.  Be careful.  And if you need help…” He gave the other male a look that finished the sentence for him.  They had fought long and hard together.  Words were often no longer needed to convey things.

“Very displeased. Just keep an eye on her when she’s not around me for a bit.  I can’t put a finger on it…” Marcellus’ lips thinned and he took a deep breath, he didn’t trust Sante as far as he could throw him, his boss even less.  

“Always.  We’ll talk more…later.”  Thinnius winked and Marcellus nodded before they made their way now in opposite directions in the hall.  Both completely understood the situation and what was at stake, and implicitly trusted the other.  Things with the Princes were delicate to manage at the best of times, and after what had happened earlier in the day, these were not the best of times.

~~LATER~~

**Sor gotta slight change in plans. Don’t hate me.**  Marcellus had been pacing in his apartment ever since he’d met up with Thinnius.  Part of him wanted to wait till that night and surprise her, but he knew it was a jackass thing to do.  If he lied and made it seem like the garden had been part of his plan, she could find out.  It would fuck shit up.  He hated it when shit was fucked up.  

Waiting for her reply seemed to take forever, but according to his phone it was three Imperium minutes. **It’s ok if you have to cancel.**  FUCK!  He had fucked it up and tried not to.

**NO! Not cancel**

**Not delay either**

**Give me a second**

Sorina stared at her phone.  Was Marcellus okay?  The last three texts had come almost on top of each other.  Normally she was lucky if she got one word back.  Maybe this date did mean something to him, which made her smile a little.  **Take your time, handsome**  She threw in the last word to soften things and let him know she wasn’t mad or upset.   She had been disappointed when she got the first text thinking he had to cancel, but had hoped to reschedule. After their morning, and knowing Marcellus the way she did, she didn’t think he was outright canceling permanently on her.  Now she was just confused.

**Thinnius needs me in the garden from midnight-2.  Join me after our date?** After he’d hit send Marcellus was quite sure that was what he should have sent the first time.  Why the fuck was he so damn nervous?  He knew the answer.  She was his friend, a good one, and a warrior he trusted at his back in a fight.  Had been for centuries and he wanted to keep it that way.  Somewhere that had morphed into deeper feelings it seemed on both their sides, and if he fucked things up, he’d lose everything.

Sorina looked at her phone and almost laughed.  He’d been worried about that?!  Had he thought she’d be upset that Cap T needed an extra guard for something, and that he wanted her along?  Was he okay?  Sorina’s fingers flew over the screen on her phone, erased it all, entered something different, erased it all again, then finally put her message in and hit send.  **I might be persuaded to do that, but only if I get a kiss by the fountain.**  Her first two messages had been less clear and more teasing, and given his now obvious nervous texts, she decided not to freak him out with a miscommunication.  Maybe he wasn’t the only one nervous.

**By the fountain, the roses, AND the wading pool if you’d like.**  Now he could relax.  He had been worried for nothing.  If things were going to go right on the date, he seriously needed to relax.  This was Sorina, but that was also the problem.  

**You’re sweetening the deal.  Fine, fine, I’ll go with you. XO** Sorina’s head shook as she sent her message and looked out at the ocean from the beach she was sitting on.  It was one of her favorite places in Imperium to go, and she’d decided to relax there before getting ready for her date with Marcellus.  Otherwise she knew she would fuss over herself till she was insane.  The previous night and the morning had been perfect, and perfect things rarely happened to demons.

[marcellussorina]

7

“So you made a mistake and fucked her, we all make lapses in judgement.  It was a one time thing.  Not again.” The olive skinned male with fine romanesque features wearing the expensive suit said as he sat in the coffee shop in New York, Marcellus sitting across from him.  It was clear he was displeased, not that Marcellus gave one single fuck.

“It wasn’t a mistake and it won’t be a one time thing. We have a date tonight. You will back the fuck off, or you will find someone else to do your dirty work.” Marcellus’s voice lowered, a menacing tone coming into it as he leaned across the table towards the male.  His hands flattened on the table, the blue of his eyes going ice cold. “If anything happens to her, anything, Sante, you will not like my response.”  His head tipped to the side and his expression made it clear that he was not in a mood for negotiations on the matter.

“There were to be no distractions, Marcellus, and yet you have become entangled with her of all people.” Clearly the male had figured out that to keep pushing Marcellus was to chance an encounter with pain, but he also needed to make his point.  If he returned to his boss without some kind of answer, then it would not be pleasant. He was less than pleased, himself, being stuck between the two stubborn males.

“Who I fuck is none of your business, nor your boss’. And if I do more, as long as I keep my mouth shut, it’s still none of your business.  Or, you can both fuck straight off.” He wasn’t going to give an inch on this.  Sante was a low level imp who thought he was going to intimidate a cataclysm demon?  Had the male forgotten who he was dealing with or what Marcellus could do?  “Or do I need to remind you what I’m capable of?”  His lips thinned as a malevolent grin formed on his lips.

“No, Marcellus, that is not necessary.  It is just that there are concerns that you will lose focus and that the mission…”

“No one said a word when I was fucking anyone else.  Even my relationship with Gian didn’t get this much attention.  Tell your boss that jealousy doesn’t become him.  And next time, next time he can come personally.  Otherwise, Sante, I’ll send you back to him in pieces, along with his fuck toy that is still in Imperium.  We clear?” Marcellus was done with the conversation.  He stood and disappeared.

For a minute Sante sat in the quiet cafe and tried to figure out how he was going to explain any of this to his boss.  He liked his body in one piece.  It was always so hard to get all the pieces lined up right when the boss decided to slice and dice.  If he wasn’t just as scared of Marcellus, he’d find a way to take care of Sorina, maybe he’d have to find one that didn’t come back to him.

[marcellussorina]

6

TW - SPICY...light smut

Dawn’s light filtered through the blinds over the windows of Marcellus’ bedroom, casting a dull light over the room.  Normally he was up by the time the first of Imperium's two suns crested the horizon.  Today was different.  He had nowhere to be, and he knew that the brunette who was asleep on his chest had nowhere to be either.  Had she not been there when he awoke, he might have considered that the previous night had been a drunken dream.  Their clothes littering the floor next to the bed and her in it mean that it had been reality.  He liked that, more than just a little bit. Then he heard his phone buzz on the nightstand, which he grabbed before it woke her up. **Need to talk about your bed partner.** It came from a familiar number and his eyes rolled.  Of course, but he’d handle it.  He wasn’t going to let things be ruined.  He’d come to a few conclusions the night prior and while he’d have to talk to Sorina, he had a few changes in his life he wanted to make. **I’ll let you know when I’m free.**  He sent back

**Soon.** Came back almost as soon as he’d sent his response.  

He glanced over at Sorina, her head nestled on his chest, curled into his side.  **Fuck you**  Then he turned the phone off.  He had better things to do than argue. His fingered dancing over satin soft skin was much more enjoyable than getting some kind of lecture via text.  He’d get around to the discussion, but not now.

This is perfect

Come kiss me one more time

I couldn't dream this up

Even if I tried

You and me in this moment

Feels like magic only

I'm right where I wanna be

Sorina felt the rough pads of Marcellus’ fingers over her skin, and memories of the night before flitted behind her still closed eyes.  She also remembered something he’d said that she still wondered about.  The fact he was still in the bed with her and not at the gym or just somewhere else in his apartment gave her the idea he might not have just been spouting semi-drunken bullshit.  There was a part of her that liked that, liked it a lot.  Whatever was happening between them felt like a natural progression of their centuries long friendship.

Slowly tipping her head back, her eyes slitted open to look at his face.  Even with his hair mussed up, she couldn’t deny he was gorgeous.  She’d always known it, anyone who looked at him knew it, but there was something different about it that morning.   “I hope I’m not keeping you from anything.”  There was a hint of tease in her voice.  She knew he had the day off.  Somewhere during the festivities of the night before he’d revealed that.  

Marcellus let out a soft chuckle as he rolled to his side, keeping her head resting on his upper arm. “Now what could I be wanting to do that would be better than making sure I delivered on my promise of making sure you were nice and sore?” His lips found hers, the kiss slow and sensual, there was no hurry at all.  They could spend all day in bed if they wanted, although he did have other ideas.  And that damned conversation he knew he’d have to have.  

Everybody's talkin' 'bout heaven like they just can't wait to go

Sayin' how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lyin' next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this

She chuckled against his lips as Sorina’s fingers played in his hair, and when their kiss broke she was once again looking in those blue eyes of his that seemed different this morning than they had in the past.  “Oh, that you did, sir.  Very well, but I must admit I am not going to complain..at all.” She gave him a teasing wink and now it was her fingers that were dancing along the skin of his exposed chest above where the sheet covered him.  It was not lost on her how relaxed around one another they were, now natural this felt, and how they just seemed to “fit”.

“Good, I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed, Princess.” His free hand slid under the covers to find her hip, pulling her side tight against him.  They were both relaxed, but part of him was also nervous.  While she’d been sleeping, he’d been trying to figure out how to ask the next part.  He still hadn’t figured out what he’d set out to the night before, but he also had a desire to continue things with her for completely personal reasons.  He had meant it when he’d asked about it only being a one time thing.  So he’d been trying to figure out how to broach the subject of it being anything but.  Here went nothing. “Sor, I really enjoyed last night.”

“But…” She cut him off before he could complete his sentence, trying not to let disappointment or hurt cloud her face.  She had been afraid  it would be coming, things said in the heat of passion should be ignored.  Those were the rules, even if just for a moment…somewhere in her mind, her heart, she had hoped that he had been serious when he said it.

“I’d like to have more than just that with you.” He saw the surprise on her face and it gave him a little bit of smug satisfaction.  He wasn’t the manwhore some thought him to be, even if he was a demon.  “You know we’ve danced around it, teased, but what if we tried?” his hand slid slowly along her side, raising goosebumps on her flesh.  Leaning over her slightly, he continued, “How about a real date?  Blood wine, dinner, no loud music and drunken coworkers?  Tonight.  Just you and me?  You rarely seem to be off work, Sor, I want the real you the you no one else sees.”  He paused to brush his fingers over her cheek. “Unless you want this to just be a one time thing…”

I swear you're an angel

Sent to this world

What did I do right to deserve you, girl?

I could stay here forever

I'd be fine if we never had to even leave this room

So he had been serious the night before.  Sorina wasn’t sure why that surprised her a little, except that things men said when they were seducing you often were said for solely that purpose.  There were some things that Marcellus took extremely seriously, and his relationships were one of them.  She should have known better than to doubt.  “I don’t share, and the reason I’m rarely off work is..” she paused trying to figure out how to say it, “that’s where I feel wanted.” Her hand stilled over his heart and she could feel how hard and fast it was thundering inside his ribcage, which told her that they both were masking their nervousness well.  At least that was reassuring.

“I don’t share either.” Marcellus rolled a little more atop her, one of his thighs dropping between hers.  “I wouldn’t ask YOU too, Sor.” He swallowed, trying to keep his nerves over what she was going to say in check.  He’d realized last night watching the other males lusting after her that if she had gone home with any of the rest of them he’d have hated them, and even worse, he’d have hated himself more. “I’d be more than happy to give you somewhere else you feel wanted..often.”  He let the statement hang in the air, meaning it.

“Then you have yourself a date, LT.  I’ll make sure to pack a bag this time.”  Her voice was taking on a sultry edge as she winked at him. He had almost slid completely between her legs again, his erection pressing against her between them.  “This will definitely make training interesting.”  She smirked, unable to resist the tease.

Everybody's talkin' 'bout heaven like they just can't wait to go

Sayin' how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lyin' next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this

Could be better than this

“We might have to figure out which of us on top is more enjoyable…” His head dropped down to capture her lips as their bodies once more joined.  Waking up every morning to fucking her would be its own form of heaven if he could maneuver it.  Unlike the night before, it was slow and gentle, but he was enjoying it just as much and her moans indicated she was as well.  This is what he wanted, needed, for what they had before to just be made better, and by The Source of All, this was beyond what he had hoped for.

“Might take a lot of experimenting to find out,” her legs slowly wrapped around him as her hips rose to meet his with each thrust. “And I think our morning meetings will be a lot more fun…”

“You won’t ever have to worry about being late and I have the best way to stop drawn out conversations…” Once more they kissed, his tongue sweeping her mouth as his hand fisted in her dark hair.  Fuck his contact, there was no way he was giving her or this up.  

Everybody's talkin' 'bout heaven like they just can't wait to go

Sayin' how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lyin' next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this (heaven)

Could be better than this (heaven, heaven)

I swear this is perfect

Come kiss me one more time

[marcellussorina]

5

TW - Smuty smut smut

Both Sorina and Marcellus knew that they were heading towards a line that if they crossed it would mean a change to everything between them.  It was one that they honestly had been skating along the edge of for a while, getting close then backing away from.  Whether it was tiring of the back and forth game, or the amount of liquor they’d both had over the course of the night, neither one of them was backing away now.  The desire, and something more, something deeper, was burning just as brightly in both demons and neither was willing to deny it any longer.

He’d started out to find out if she was one of the spies for Leviathan or someone else, but now it was something more, something far more personal.  In the end he’d still find out, but it would change nothing.  Not now.  If she was, he’d get her out of it, what he wanted took precedent in his mind.  His loyalties warring with one another once more as they had when both Abbadon and Leviathan left.  Sorina had been a constant and no matter what he found out, what was happening now meant more to him in the moment.

One of Marcellus’ hands in Sorina’s hair tightened to a fist, his lips just barely dancing over hers while his other hand found its way down her body, making sure to tease all the skin exposed on the way down.  The whole time his kisses teased at her lips, the tension and the desire building between the two of them.  “Tell me to stop, Sor, or I’m not going to.” His breath was ragged and his voice slightly horse from the smoky air of the bar and the building passion between them.  How long had he been lying to himself that he didn’t want this, didn’t want her?  

“What makes you think I’d want you to?” Her own voice had dropped in pitch and was now sultry as her eyes never left his.  He might be her commander, but she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t imagined a similar situation between them, wanted it even.  Wanting and expecting were two different things, but she was not about to reject him now, as her fingers teased at the short hairs at the back of his neck while her fangs lightly nipped at his lower lip.  He tasted of whiskey and something deeper, something that called to the most primal part of her demon being. 

Every touch of her silken exposed skin had Marcellus wondering why he had avoided this exact situation for so long. It wasn’t like he hadn’t wanted to explore things with her before, even possibly had an opening, but had pulled back.  Tonight that wasn’t going to happen again. “And if I want more than just tonight?” Before she could answer, he kissed her, palming one breast and catching a pebbled nipple between his thumb and finger to gently pull.  

What was Marcellus asking? It was hard for Sorina to concentrate on that question as his hands worked over her body and his kisses caused her brain to go fuzzy.  The alcohol added on top of it wasn’t helping a thing.  The cacophony of stimulants to her senses were threatening to overwhelm her in the most euphoric way possible.  She couldn’t truly even remember how they’d gone from standing next to one another flirting to the position they were in now, not that she was going to focus on that too much when one of the sexiest demons in the whole of the legion was making it clear that his interest was in her.  How was completely unimportant.

Once his fingers found her inner thighs and he felt her breath hitch, his lips found hers more firmly.  Still he teased with his kisses, enjoying her fingers pressing more firmly against his head and back, the taste of her mouth, and the heat he could feel between her legs.  When his fingers slipped inside her, his tongue plunged into her mouth, claiming her mouth as his fingers claimed her hot and wet core. Fuck, she was tight around him and they moaned together.

“Fuck Sor..” Marcellus groaned against her lips, his eyes still closed as he imagined taking her with more than just his fingers.  Right there in the bar, on that stool, just like others around them had done, were doing, and would do by the end of the night.  Her slick and tight heat had his head reeling. 

As if to answer him, Sorina’s nimble fingers made quick work of the button and zipper on his pants, freeing his thick member into her waiting palm.  Long fingers wrapped around him firmly, earning her a groan as he passionately kissed her once more, his tongue sweeping her mouth when her hand stroked him. Soon their hands were moving in rhythm, working them both up more.

Their kiss broke and Sorina looked into Marcellus’ eyes, but it was like she was seeing him for the first time.  Maybe she should have seen him like this earlier, but she did now and there was no going back. “What are you waiting for, Marc?” Desire and seduction dripped from her voice.

He needed no further encouragement. His fingers slipping from within her, his hand went to her firm ass to pull her forward and his hips moved forward to replace them with his cock, guided by her smooth and soft fingers.  One swift move took him deep inside her, all the way to his base.  As good as he’d imagined she’d feel sheathed around him, it didn’t even hold a candle to reality.  

Marcellus brought his forehead to Sorina’s and looked deep into those eyes that were familiar yet all new to him at the same time. Her long legs wrapping around him, the heels of her shoes pressing against the back of his thighs and moving up and down slightly with each thrust into her was even more of a fucking turn on and made him take her harder. “You may be sore in the morning, sweetheart.” He leaned forward and growled in her ear before thrusting harder into her and lightly biting her neck.  And of course her skin would taste as close to heaven as a demon like him was going to get.

“You think you’re male enough to do that, Marc?” She purred back in his ear, knowing that he probably was.  His earlobe caught in her teeth as her head tipped back, her heels digging in more to the back of his thighs.  

If the lady wanted to challenge him, then he needed to be in the right arena.  Marcellus was more than happy to indulge. With a smirk he instantly traced them into his quarters and now had her back up against the door as he fucked her. “I know I am.” 

Now she had a smirk of her own, “good.  You’d better be.”  His teeth on her neck again had Sorina’s back arching against the door as her legs tightened around him.  She could feel her nails lengthening and fangs dropping now that they were in private.  The sound of fabric ripping joined the sounds of their breathing and bodies coming together, which earned a growl from Marcellus.

Both of their orgasms hit them fast and hard.  They were left panting and looking into one another’s eyes, a sense of challenge still being reflected back at one another, but also something more.  

“You know I could have taken the shirt off, sweetheart.” Marcellus chuckled as he carried her over to the bed.

“I like my way better.  Complaining?” Sorina smirked, desire still reflected in her eyes and expression as she lightly bit then pulled on his lower lip.

“Mmmm..mm..” He chuckled as he got them to the bed and dropped back on it. “But we both have too much clothing on, beautiful.”  His hands ran over her back, lifting the slip of a dress she had on over her head as she straddled his lap, keeping him sheathed inside her.  “But I don’t want you going anywhere.”

“I don’t plan on it.” Her lips were once again against his, hands in his hair and running over his shoulders and chest.  The rest of the night and into the early morning was spent in a similar fashion as hands, lips, and tongues explored every inch of one another. While both might have regretted not giving into the temptation earlier, they were enjoying making up for lost time. 

[marcellussorina]

4

Hours later, Marcellus was leaned up against the bar in the tavern that his squad of the legion frequented talking to one of his friends.  He was still on his first whiskey and wondering where Sorina was.  She was the only one that hadn’t shown up, and he wondered if she had changed her mind about coming out.  It wouldn’t surprise him.  While she was one of his best Sergeants, she was one of the most closed off as well.  There were some that even called her secretive.  

“Well, damn!” Koregan, the male next to him exclaimed out of nowhere.  It had Marc looking up with a “huh?”  There coming in the door was Sorina in a dress that was far from anything he’d seen her in previously.  Damn was a good way to put it.  There wasn’t a male in the tavern that was going to miss the length of her legs or the curve of her breasts, something that she normally camouflaged with her clothing well.  As she headed over to where their group was gathered, the Lieutenant couldn’t help but admire the view.

It wasn’t lost on Sorina that there were many sets of eyes on her when she walked into the bar, and as she made her way to where Marc and the others were gathered she wondered if this had been a wise idea.  She had almost backed out and had changed her dress more than once before settling on the one she was currently wearing.  It wasn’t much different than one the other females in the bar were wearing, but it was different from anything she was known to wear..  If she had been able to remember the last time she had been out and just relaxed, she might have canceled, but she couldn’t.  So in the end she had picked the dress that was her favorite, shoes she knew wouldn’t kill her feet, and just gone with it.  From the looks she was getting, even from Marc, her choices had been pretty decent.

“You clean up pretty good there, Malchenko.” Marc didn’t even hide his eyes once more roaming the form of  the long and lean female in front of him.  If she was going to dress like that, he was going to appreciate it openly.  How many times had those long, lithe legs of hers been wrapped around him in training?  He wasn’t sure of the answer to that, but as he looked at her now, he could think of them wrapped around him in a different way and it took a good drink of his whiskey to get his mind back where he was trying to keep it.  Although, from the look on her face, she wasn’t minding him looking.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Liotti.” Sorina winked and ordered a demon’s brew on the rocks.  He did look good in the slim cut dress shirt, sleeves rolled up exposing muscular forearms and a pair of dress pants that were cut just right to highlight his athletic frame. There wasn’t much of him that wasn’t muscular.  In their years of working and training together, she’d been close enough to him enough to know that for certain.  He might be her superior, but he was also damn good looking.  There wasn’t one female in the entirety of the legion that didn’t acknowledge that, and half of the males did too. 

“I can occasionally get out of battle gear, you know?”  He teased her and ordered his own demon brew, indicating to the bartender hers should be on his tab.  He may have told her earlier that she was paying, but that had been in jest.  With all that was coming, all of them were going to need downtime and he was glad that she was taking it, and was going to reward her for that, even if it was just covering her drinks for the night. Of all of the NCO’s under him, she was the only one that never seemed to be off duty, something he had been meaning to get to the bottom of.  

“I was beginning to wonder,” her eyes lowered to take him in once more before returning to those frigid blues of his, “but you should more often, Marc.”  She teased back as one of her other friends came over and conversation began to shift, a bit to both of their chagrin. 

The bar was full of different members of the legion in all manner of being, and all genders.  They mixed freely with friends that they didn’t get to see too often, being off duty and out of battle gear made everyone equals for the night.  There was no formality, no rigidity, and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.  Despite the large crowd, neither Marcellus nor Sorina let the other out of their sight.  Both felt something had suddenly changed between them, or maybe their flirtatious teasing over the years had been more than either wanted to admit and now that they weren’t on duty, they both were considering giving into that something.  For a few hours they drifted around to different groups that were on opposite sides of the expanse of the bar, but did manage to find their way back to being near one another at the bar to order more drinks soon enough.

“Keeping tabs on me, LT?” Sorina teased him, looking at Marc from the corner of her eyes with a smirk on her lips as she leaned against the bar to order another drink.  The music had started an hour prior and her hips were slightly swaying with the rhythm of it.  

“Someone’s got to.  Need to make sure that you don’t get into too much trouble now.  You are a handful for anyone to look after, you know?”  He indicated a refill of his own and stepped in closer, letting one hand come to rest in the middle of her lower back.  There was no missing the size difference between them; the length of his hand almost spanning her slim waist. He was all bulk and muscle, where she was long and lean.  Maybe it was time for him to look into why she seemed to always be on duty, never relaxing with the others.  They did have spies afoot from Leviathan, Abbadon, and the other Princes after all.  Or that was at least the justification that Marc was telling himself for the thoughts that were going through his brain at the moment, thoughts that he hadn’t allowed himself to consider previously towards the stunning brunette.  Others had begun to relax and let more carnal desires take hold as the evening wore on, it might not be such a bad thing to use that to get information.  

The warmth of Marc’s hand could be felt through the thin, silky material of Sorina’s dress and it definitely caught her attention.  It was unexpected, but not unwelcome.  Had he ever paid her much attention outside of training or assignments?  She wasn’t sure.  They had a teasing rapport, but it had been built over having been in Abbadon’s regiments together for centuries before the current regime.  Could there have been more on his side than just flirtatious friendship?  It was a possibility.  She could not deny her own attraction to him.  One would have to be blind not to find him physically attractive and their personalities were as compatible as chocolate and peanut butter.

When their drinks came, Sorina took a rather large sip of hers before turning to speak to Marc.  They had been standing in a comfortable silence waiting, but whatever had been on her mind to say was wiped clean away when she was pulled firmly against him and her gaze met his intense one.  He moved both their bodies to the music, which had a heavy beat but not a fast one.  That smug smirk of his was in place, but now Sorina found that she found it more sexy than irritating.  How many demon’s brews had she had?  How many had he? Did it matter?  They were demons in the legion and this was still hell, rules were hardly rules and he was a very good looking male.

The moment that Sorina pressed against him harder, Marc’s hand slid lower from her back and onto her firm, curved ass.  When she’d turned to face him, she’d been not directly in front of him, so now one of his legs was between hers and as they moved more to the music, his thigh was moving higher between hers.  The response of her pupils to each brush against her told him that the attraction and lust was not one sided. Being taller also allowed him the perfect view to see that there was nothing under the slip of a dress she wore, something that only fed his desire and hardened his cock.  

“I always did think you liked grappling with me because you ended up between my thighs.” Sorina’s voice was husky with the booze and the attraction to the handsome male who was so close.  She set her drink on the counter so both arms could loop up and around his neck, her fingers playing with the short hairs there.  Those blue eyes of his gazed down at her, a smirk tugging at his lips and Sorina wondered how they’d never ended up like this before.  Probably because she’d kept herself closed off in her quarters or working.

“And you’re going to pretend you didn’t like me there when I ended up on top of you, pinning your arms to the ground.”  Marc’s smirk grew.  He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t enjoyed those moments just a little, but before now anything more than just training had been a fleeting thought in the male. He’d spent too long in the legion.  Now, he was wondering what she would feel like under him, or even on top, and why he hadn’t found out earlier.

“Maybe I did.” Her voice was a purr as her body snaked against his. One of his hands in her hair and one on her back.

“You know I could have made it more enjoyable.”

“But you never did.”

“It’s never too late to correct a mistake…” He smirked as he backed her up to the barstool they had been next to and lifted her up onto it, letting it slide her short dress up so nothing was hidden.  His eyes feasted as he looked down at her, his body blocking anyone’s view but his own.  Fuck, he was going to enjoy tonight even if he learned nothing and just got to fuck her. And if he did, he doubted it would just be one night.

[marcellussorina]

3

For the next two hours Marc and Sorina took turns training the recruits, and for the most part handing them their asses.  There were a few that almost gave them a challenge, but the class was green and while it was clear that they had been listening to Sorina’s instruction during previous classes, they were still no match for the elder demons.  By the end of class, all of the students were exhausted and the instructors were feeling a bit pessimistic regarding how quickly the students would be ready for any kind of action.  Sending the students to the showers, Sorina and Marc headed over to one of the benches that lined the walls of the large training room to talk and rehydrate.

“I can understand Mithos’ concern a little more after seeing how slowly they’re progressing.”  Marc commented before taking a swig of water, then holding up a finger when he saw Sorina start to protest.  “I’m not saying it’s your fault.”  He clarified once he had swallowed.  “This is just not our normal standard for as long as they’ve been in training.  Are you able to identify anything that seems to be holding them back?”  He was hoping she had because he wasn’t, which bothered him.  Nothing was sticking out at all.

“They’re younger than the previous classes we’ve put through their paces, LT.  You and I were well past our maturity when we enlisted, these recruits have barely past it.  Some literally entering the legion just days after.  They have no experience in life or anything for that matter.”  She shrugged and made a gesture with her hand not holding her water bottle.  “They haven’t even fully come into their powers, let alone their strength.  With the split that happened when those loyal to the Princes left, our pool is smaller than before.  Our armies are still manage to be larger and better trained than theirs though.  Maybe we don’t need to shove them through as fast as we did before.  We’re holding our own right now.  The front lines aren’t hurting.”  If it had been anyone other than Marcellus sitting next to her, Sorina would not have been so frank, but she knew that he valued honesty above all.  She respected him, and he was a friend, so she was going to say everything that was on her mind.  He may not like it, but he’d know.   “All that keeping at this pace is going to do is set us up for failure.  Unless that is what someone above us is wanting.  You know that there is talk of at least one double agent.” She gave him a look with raised brows before taking a drink.

“And that is all that it is, Sor, talk.  Let’s not give in to speculation and rumor.”  Marc’s eyes met hers seriously, this wasn’t a discussion that he wanted to be in at the moment.  He’d heard the same things she had, and also knew that they were true.  The same way that she did.  Neither of them were naive.  “Regardless of the tea, you may have a point about slowing down the training due to the age of the recruits.  Originally I think that the idea was to quickly replace those who left with the Princes, but we’ve done that and more.  I’ll talk to Mithos and Thinius, or maybe just Thinius.”  He chuckled and lightly elbowed her before drinking.

“What is it with you and Mithos anyway?  Did you turn him down for a date or something?” Sorina asked with a smirk before taking a drink from her water bottle.  There was a teasing gleam in her eye that also made its way into her voice. 

Marc choked on his water, not having expected that question.  Sorina ended up pounding on his back till he cleared his lungs of the water.  “Haha.  No.  We are not each others’ types.”  He shook his head at her and rolled his eyes.  “I don’t cower to his shit like some do.  Our personalities just clash.”

“Awe, that’s too bad, you’d make a cute couple.”  Sorina laughed as Marc elbowed her teasingly. While she knew that he liked both males and females, she also knew that he preferred both to be very feminine, which Mithos was NOT.  Marcellus WAS Mithos’ type, but she doubted that counted for much because their personalities would be like a lit match and gasoline, and that was on a good day.

“That’s it, Sor, you’re buying the first round tonight.  That was uncalled for.  No backing out tonight, you’re going to have to show up.”  He chuckled as he stretched his neck from side to side, and got ready to go get cleaned up.  All the NCO’s were going out to the tavern, and a few of the Lieutenants had been invited along, Marc being one of them.  

“For just you or for everyone?  I think you overestimate my pay there, Marc.”  Sorina screwed the cap back on her water bottle and dropped it in her gym bag with the clothes she’d worn earlier.  She wasn’t going to shower at the gym, since she was going to have to change for the night out anyway it seemed.  It had been a consideration to show up, have one drink with a few friends and duck out in an hour or two, but it seemed Marcellus had other plans.  

“Make another comment like that one, and it’s the whole damn bar.  For now, just me.”  Giving her a wink he stood up and stretched, then waited for her to rise too.  They’d both be heading in the same general direction if she was headed back to the barracks, so he’d walk with her.  

“You going to let me live in your apartment and pay my way after that?”  Zipping up her bag, she threw the strap over her shoulder and stood shoving him lightly in the middle of his chest.   “You, I can handle, but a bar full of the legion?  You might have to support my ass for a year or more to pay that bar tab back.” Laughter danced in her eyes and voice, before bubbling up and through her lips.

“I guess you better watch your mouth then, shouldn’t you, Princess?”  He grinned at her, tapping her on the nose,  and loved the narrowing of her eyes in return.  “Hey, I could just write you up for insubordination and insulting a superior if you’d prefer.”  He held his hands out to his sides, tilting his head, and grinning even more.   When her mouth fell open and she just stared at him, he couldn’t help but full out laughing at her reaction.  “Lady’s choice.” He grinned and put two fingers under her chin to shut her mouth, still laughing himself.  “Now come on, let’s get home and get changed or we’ll be late and then you’ll buy two rounds for me having to deal with whatever gossip your ass gets started on me.”  Marc turned on his heel and started walking off, leaving her staring at his back.  He knew she’d follow, and he loved that he’d left her speechless.  It was a rare feat and when he was able to do it, he always relished it in the moment.

[marcellussorina]

CHAPTER 2

WARNINGS - Not Real, Fiction, Swearing

“This new group of recruits seems to be taking you longer to train, Marcellus.” Mithos was leaned up against the wall and clearly perturbed as Marcellus was taking out his frustrations on the black bag hanging from the ceiling.  He’d come in when Marc had been sparring with one of his Sergeants, but after he’d almost broken the other demon’s jaw, the sparring had ended.  Safer to be hitting something inanimate while Mithos talked.

“Well, I got handed a bunch that are greener than spring grass, Mithos.  What would you like me to do with them?  Send them up against the trained warriors of one of the Princes to be mulch?”  There was a solid thud as one of his gloves hit the bag.  Marc wasn’t sure who it was that had chosen this new crop of recruits but humans might have been better in his opinion.  Most of them barely had a grasp of their mystical abilities, let alone anything resembling hand-to-hand abilities.  And cocky?  Oh they were that in spades, and then some.

“It’s your job to make them ready and to do so in a hurry.  You know that Mammon and Beelzebub have also gone AWOL in the war that the Princes are having against one another and us.  This can only mean that they are planning something and we are not going to have the luxury of time forever.”  Mithos’ words were clipped and his tone slightly annoyed.  He would have preferred that Thinius have this conversation with Marcellus.  The two got along better, but the chaos demon was otherwise occupied and so it fell on him.

Marc stopped and faced Mithos.  “I do not need YOU to tell me what MY job is.  I’m fully aware of what it is.  I’ve been doing it for some time, and if you have a problem with it..”

“Yo!  LT!  Class is about to start.  Are you going to do this with me, or do I get all the fun of kicking their asses by myself?”  Sorina’s head was popped around the doorframe of the training room that Mithos and Marcellus were in.   When both men’s annoyed faces turned to look at her, she waved. 

 “Well?”  She prodded when no answer came,  The class was supposed to be hers alone, but hearing the fight about to go down between the two elder demons, she was throwing him a lifeline.  Mithos was on edge because of the women who would soon be in Imperium.  The last thing anyone needed was Mithos and Marcellus going head to head.  They were both too important.

“You know better.  Get your ass in there and I’ll be there in a second.  I just lost track of time.”  Marcellus jerked his chin in the direction he knew that class was going to be, catching what she was doing.  He’d have to thank her for it later.  

Turning back to Mithos, he brought his tone back down to a respectful one. “Captain, I know my job and I assure you I’m doing it.  I have good staff like Sgt. Malchenko helping me.  If you have a problem with any of them, please let me know and I will address it ASAP.  Otherwise, I do need to go to that class.”

Mithos hated this part of his job.  Supervising the Royal Guard, that was easy.  Taking on the legion and those he knew less, that he was less comfortable with.  He was still learning them and he did not have Thinius’ personality, so it was made harder for that.  “I have nothing more to add at this time.  If Captain Thinius or I do, we will let you know.  Go to your class.”  A curt nod was the only reply he got before Marcellus turned and headed out of the room.

By the time that Marc had made it down to the class, Sorina had already taken two of the cockier recruits out.  One was getting healed for a broken femur and one had a head wound.  Marc had to chuckle as he shut the door behind him and threw his boxing gloves on a bench.  She knew how to make an impression, and there was still misogyny in the demonic world as there was with humans.

“Take five everyone, our Lord Lt. Liotti has daned to grace us with his presence, so we’ll let him have a minute.”  Sorina teased the class, which got groaning.  They knew what was coming, and it was more of the same fun she had been dishing out.

“Manage to get yourself demoted, LT?” Sorina asked as she sauntered over, a sassy smirk playing at her lips.

“Not today.  This beautiful distraction popped in and saved me from it.”  Marc winked at her, not having missed the way her hips swayed when she had walked over.  Then again, he never missed that, only a blind man could. “Always trying to help, boss.  Someone has to keep your ass out of trouble, Lucifer knows you’re not able to do it yourself.”  Her head tipped back to look up at him, smirk still in place.   She lived for teasing him.

“What do you think I keep you around for, Sgt?  Just your looks?”  Now he was the one smirking as his eyes took in the trainees in the class.  The male and female demons looked decent, but he had a feeling they weren’t.  None of the recent classes had been.  “It takes more than that to handle these hooligans, not to mention the idiot Princes.” His eyes rolled before looking back down at her.  “So, I guess I’ll keep ya for now.”

“For now?  Well, if you decide that I’m too much work, I’m sure that there’s another Lieutenant who needs a First Sergeant out there.”  Now her smirk took on a smug air that was mirrored by her expression and the tone of her voice.  They both knew she had been offered other positions, but one thing that Sorina was, was loyal.  

“Not a chance, Malchenko.  You’re not getting out of working for me that easy.  Nice try though.”  He winked at her.  If another Lieutenant tried to steal her, they’d go missing.  “Now, let’s see what these students of yours are made of.”  He grinned and looked up at the class.  “Okay, which one of you wants to be first?”