<em>~ Building foundations in Mari's room ~</em><br/><br/><br/>Marcus' eyes closing, and the way he savored the taste delighted Nicci, the sensual promise of his reaction making her mouth water just watching him. She loved how Marcus seemed to have alongside his playfulness, a core of calm resolution.  She felt she could put herself in his hands and trust him implicitly.  She already responded to him in the way the project asked them to try and do, but completely naturally.  She could see his authority and gentle sense of rightness would be their guiding light so often in the future.<br/><br/>She sat back, turning, her eyes going to Bo's before she had even reached out a truffle from the bag, "Last but not least," she said softly, smiling gently. She was glad the girls had agreed, well it seemed to her as though they had, agreed to be with the men together the first time.  She felt such a disturbing deep tug to her heart when she looked at Bo, and she didn't want it to get in the way of what they were trying to build.<br/><br/>She knew how much heartache her trying to love just one person had caused in the past, how she had chosen the lifestyle she had, to ensure she had never to hurt anyone else ever again.  She had set aside her own needs for love, for cherishing, putting all that energy into her work and the rest of her life.  Now the word love was hovering in the back of her mind, but the loving, deep connection she already felt for the girls was just as important, as was the fragile bud of growth between her and Marcus, she mustn't let her feelings run away with her, now was the time for foundations to be laid, not castles in the sky.<br/><br/>Even holding herself in check though, as she reached in for the truffle and brought it to his mouth her smile fell away.  Drowning in his eyes again, his lips seemed to part so slowly, and her mouth tasted him again of it's own volition, her tongue aching to drag across the opening to his mouth and share the truffle's admittance to the delights inside.  She realised she'd stopped breathing only when she drew in a long slow breath. Her heart beating rather erratically, time seemed to flow back into place and a small tremor ran through her arm as gently placed the truffle against his lips