<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">“You're not sorry,” Marcus told him flatly. “But you would have been if you'd have managed to get away from me. I wonder how long it would have taken you to calm crawling back to me, or if you'd have gotten lost and become nothing but a memory in the snow.” He wanted to frighten Luca. He didn't want him running ever again. He wanted to stress that he wasn't the scariest thing out there, just so long as Luca played by his rules.<br/>
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“Had you made the proper choice we could have spent some quality time together. You could have showered alone. I wouldn't have pushed you, Luca. I'm not a monster,” Marcus spoke, almost sad for what could have been. “That would have been better than this, wouldn't it? I didn't want to hurt you.” He hadn't, but with Luca naked now, he could see the result of his failed escape, most of which had come from Marcus dragging Luca roughly back into the cabin. “You pushed me to this, Luca. You are the one who ruined our first night together.”<br/>
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Marcus got into the shower behind Luca, closing the curtain and stepping close to Luca to allow the stream of warm water to hit them both. Steam emanated off their bodies, and at first the sudden change in temperature was uncomfortable, their bodies chilled from the icy water. Luca was in no position to wash himself, with his hands compromised, and so Marcus took that upon himself. He'd stocked the bathroom with simple essentials, using the soap to first lather Luca's skin with a soft sea sponge. The touch was indirect, but Marcus could still see the way it slid over Luca's perfect skin. He reached around to glide across the front of him, down his stomach and gently between his legs. It was a near clinical approach, neither seeming to avoid any particular area of linger anywhere longer than necessary. Marcus still was too displeased by the evening to be turned on, but there was no telling what Luca was thinking.<br/>
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Marcus washed his legs carefully, taking inventory of Luca's marks. He followed back up the line of Luca's legs, to his thighs, over his rear, and then across his back. The methodical movements were calming Marcus down some, but only marginally.<br/>
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“Tilt your head back,” Marcus directed, pulling Luca closer to his own body as he reached for the shampoo. He fisted a handful of Luca's hair. If he felt resistance he wouldn't hesitate to give a firm yank before he proceeded to shampoo the soft strands. His hands were trying to mimic the intimacy a typical couple would share, but it only seemed to make the falsehood resonate more distinctly. Marcus' nerves were too frayed to keep himself fully in check.<br/>
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“What happened, Luca? Did I scare you?” Marcus questioned, confusion in his voice. Clearly he was unaware of what he'd done wrong. He could only think back on the scene, trying to figure out where he'd pushed Luca too far. “Why did you run from me?” Things had been going well, and even if Luca was sorry now, it wouldn't stop things in the future if Marcus wasn't sure where things went south.<br/>
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“I need you to talk to me if we're going to do this right. Do you want it to be this way between us?” Marcus questioned, frowning. “You're supposed to be so much more than this. I need you to be more than this, Luca.” Marcus gave a sigh before turning Luca around, so that they were looking at one another beneath a steady stream of warmth. His arms came around Luca, first gently across his sides and then to his wrists.<br/>
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“I'm going to untie you now,” Marcus spoke, fingers slipping the wet silk free, unrestraining Luca. He thought it went without saying that trying to make another mad dash was a poor choice.</span></span>