After her performance, Cara was about to leave the club when her eyes fell upon Ben Duncan waiting for her in front of the main gates. She gasped with surprise and rushed forward to meet the kind, old man.
“What a pleasant surprise, uncle Ben? I thought you’d forgotten me,” said Cara with a warm smile. Uncle Ben gave her a hug and smiled back.
“Did you really expect me to forget my favorite jacket?” He asked fondly. Cara’s eyes widened since she didn’t have the jacket with her.
“I don’t have it with me, uncle Ben. I didn’t know that you would be coming over today,” said Cara, looking embarrassed. Uncle Ben laughed at her naivety.
“I’m just kidding, my dear. So are you do
Cara quickly took a shower and entered the kitchen to make breakfast and lunch for her siblings. She still couldn’t decide whether to take up Marcus’s job offer or not. Without aunt Maggie’s support, she couldn’t leave them alone here yet she needed this job badly. It was the strangest dilemma and she didn’t have an answer to that. After an hour, Liam woke up and walked in for his milk.“Are you going somewhere, Cara?” he asked, seeing her hurrying with the work.“I don’t know. Mr. Donnelly was here last night. He has offered me a job at his house. I need to leave right away but I can’t leave you three alone here. Aunt Maggie isn’t well and I don’t want you to bother her,” said Cara. Adam too woke up and sat down to listen to them.
Cara’s eyes widened with apprehension as she took baby steps towards him. Placing the tray in front of him on a coffee table, she wrung her hands together nervously. “I need to do the dishes and then the laundry, sir,” she said, turning to go.“Wait,” said Marcus in a hoarse voice getting up from his chair. Cara took a step or two backward with nervousness, wondering what he was up to as he approached her slowly. Stopping inches away from her, he gazed at her face as if committing her features to his memory. His hand tucked a stray curl away from her face, the contact, making a tremor run down her spine. With his hot breath fanning her face and the tingling scent of his cologne lingering on her nostrils, Cara was more nervous than ever before. She had to get away before she melted at his touch. She turned around abruptly and ran out of the room, unable to take in the ten
Before Cara could rush towards the wrap-around balcony to make her escape, the door was pushed open, and in walked a furious Marcus Donnelly. He glared at her as she stood like a statue with the tray in her hand, like a deer caught at the headlights. From a distance, she could feel the anger and fury emanating from him. A tremor ran down her spine and she gulped with fright as he approached her like a predator. Would he punish her? Cara gulped more and looked down at her feet, trembling like a leaf by now.“I-I'm sorry, Mr. Donnelly. I just came to get the tray,” she mumbled out of fear. He came to a stop right in front of her, his eyes like burning coals as they bored right into hers.“How dare you come here without my permission? Get out,” he said with clenched teeth. Cara looked up and gaped at him with shock. Was he the s
“Marcus, please,” she murmured at last just as his lips grazed her soft lower lip in a feather-soft touch. She herself had no idea what exactly she was pleading with him for, to be kissed or not to be kissed. Marcus stilled on hearing her whisper out his name. It sounded very intimate, almost like an endearment. He closed his eyes for a split second to calm himself and then abruptly released her, striding off towards his closet. Cara stared at the rippling muscles on his back, suddenly missing the warmth of his touch. She slowly dragged herself towards the door, feeling a little disappointed by his dismissal. A tiny part of her had wanted him to kiss her. She had wanted to experience how it felt to be passionately kissed by someone. Not by anyone else, but Marcus Donnelly.Marcus scowled more as a frustrated grunt escaped his mouth hearing the click of the door shutting behind him. She had esca
Cara opened her bleary eyes and looked around the place where she was. The room was dark with all the curtains drawn close yet she could sense that she was in a familiar room that wasn’t her own. Blinking with surprise, she immediately recognized the room. It was Marcus’s bedroom and she was lying on his bed! She tried to sit up but couldn’t. Her whole body was aching badly and her head felt tremendously heavy. It seemed that when she had lost consciousness in his arms, he had brought her over to his bedroom. Her cheeks flushed with heat at the thought. Why did he have to bring her over to his own bedroom?She had no idea how long she had slept but there was a lot of work to do. Looking at the digital clock on the nightstand, she gasped seeing that it was almost 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Did she sleep all morning? She could feel the fever returning but there was a lo
Cara was too stunned to utter a single word. She stared at his determined face as he carried her towards the bed. From so near, he looked so gorgeous; his eyes were more blue than gray and his lips glistened more than ever before. The way he was forcefully taking care of her, the way he lovingly held her against his chest, and the way his heart was beating so fast, all made her deliriously attracted to him. She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling his breath hitch.“But..,” she started as he laid her down on the bed and stood staring at her with a strange expression on his face.“No arguments,” he told her grimly, as he walked over to the table to get her food.“How can I stay here? The flu will take at least three days to get better,” she croaked, looking clueless and los
Marcus instantly realized how worried she was! In her feverish state, the concern for her family might be the utmost thing on her mind to realize what she was wearing.“Cara, you should be in bed. What are you doing here?” He asked gently.“Please give me your phone, Marcus. I need to call Aunt Maggie and inform her,” said Cara, her wide eyes pleading with him. Marcus walked towards her and in one smooth movement, he picked her up in his arms.“Shh, Don’t worry. I’ve already called Mrs. Smithfield and informed her. They won’t expect you for the next two days,” he said, his eyes taking in the shocked look on her face.“Oh, but where did you get her number from?” asked Cara, with relief, as she lay her
Cara slowly turned around to look at him. He took long strides and reached her in a split second. “I thought I told you to stay till you’re better,” he asked impatiently, searching her eyes. Cara looked down at her feet not knowing what to say. She couldn’t tell him that she was escaping because of him! Neither could she tell him that she couldn’t face him today out of sheer embarrassment. Nor could she say that she was afraid of developing deeper feelings for him if he showed more of his caring side to her! So, what could she say? Tongue-tied, she looked at her feet.“Umm, I’m better, Marcus,” she just whispered, avoiding his probing eyes at all cost. Marcus’s heart started beating faster and faster hearing her call him by his name. The way it rolled on her tongue made him come alive and want to kiss her senseless.
For the next few days, the whole family was busy with the wedding preparations. Although Marcus had hired a wedding planner, his mom and aunt Maggie were very much enthusiastic to get everything perfect. As for Cara, she went along with the flow, enjoying her break and getting pampered. Lucas arrived with Sienna and the kids three days before the wedding and the house seemed to come alive with so many children around. Liam seemed to be bowled over by Alexia and went out of his way to help her with everything. He showed off his artistic skills and even attempted to paint her.Since Cara didn’t want any pre-wedding parties, they just had a single party two nights before the wedding day. Nicholas arrived the same day with Alyssa and Cara wondered if they would announce their wedding next. Alyssa apologized to Cara and asked for her autograph to which she gladly obliged. This time everything change
Her heart raced with excitement as she walked out of the house, through the meandering path towards the gazebo. The lights cast a pale glow all around while the crickets sang their song with more enthusiasm but Cara’s eyes were glued towards the swimming pool, searching for Marcus. As she approached the pool, her eyes fell upon the beautifully lit up gazebo where the man of her dreams stood leaning against a pillar, looking hot and drool-worthy in a pair of beige chinos and an off-white linen shirt. She could feel the intensity of his gaze even from where she was. Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met and she couldn’t wait to get into his arms. He held them out to her as always and she flew into them as fast as her legs could carry her.His arms immediately engulfed her in a warm embrace, while she clung to him as her life depended upon it. “Oh, Marcus! I’ve missed you
The moment Marcus and Cara entered the house, Liam jumped with joy. “Has he?” he started to ask and then his glance fell upon the ring on her finger. “Oh, he has!” Cara grinned at his enthusiasm and so did Marcus. Vera and Adam came rushing out hearing him.“Are you engaged to Cara, Marcus?” asked Vera, clasping her hands together with eagerness.“Yes,” acknowledged Marcus, making her squeal with delight.“What’s going on?” asked aunt Maggie, coming out from inside. Before Cara could announce their engagement, Liam blurted it all out.“Aunt Maggie, Cara, and Marcus are engaged at last,” he broadcasted, making aunt Maggie smile and hold out her arms to Cara.
After an hour Marcus drove over to Long Beach harbor where a huge pristine white luxury yacht featuring three beautiful levels was waiting for them. As soon as they reached the parking area, Cara was stunned to see the place teeming with paparazzi. How did they know that she was about to arrive here when she herself had no idea where she was off to?Marcus emerged and soon they were surrounded by their bodyguards who had been following them all the while without Cara’s knowledge. They led Marcus and Cara to the yacht while reporters flocked around them for their photographs.“Rohesia, is it true that you’re uninterested in appearing at live performances?” asked one of the reporters. Cara smiled at him and took the microphone from his hands.“Not at all. Stay tuned for
Cara was ready in fifteen minutes and waited eagerly for Marcus. In his haste to surprise her, he hadn’t even taken a shower since morning. After the delicious breakfast, he had asked her out on a date formally but left all the other details out since it was initially intended to be a surprise date. Cara wasn’t complaining since his surprises were quite different and totally worth the wait. She wasn’t much concerned about leaving Marianne the whole day since there were others to look after her and Marianne were used to her absence. Marcus didn’t want to whisk her away for an overnight stay because of his attachment with Marianne. The two of them had bonded so well that Marcus couldn’t survive without seeing his baby. The same with her siblings. He was like a pillar of strength in their lives. They were so dependent upon him for everything that it felt as if he was the one related to them by blood.
Cara woke up and stretched her limbs, feeling extremely lazy but a smile brightened up her face as memories of what they shared last night played across her mind. She turned her head to check upon Marcus but strangely, even at 5 o’clock, he wasn’t there. In his place, there was a single rose stem and a little note laid out on his pillow. Did he wake up already? What did the note contain? Did he leave for some reason? Did he forget that it was a special day for them today?Curiously she picked up the note and opened it to check. There scribbled in his artistic handwriting was a sweet note.Good morning my love! A thornless rose stem to prove my true love for you. It signifies love at first sight just like I felt for you. If you want to start our special day in a special way, just follow the instructions. Go to the en-suite to freshen up first!
Cara felt a little bolder and pulled him towards her. In her excitement, she had quite forgotten how heavy he was and lost her balance and tumbled onto the bed with him. “Oh, did you get hurt?” she asked, looking worried. Marcus laughed and pinned her with his weight, his eyes dancing with mirth.“Nope. I’m fit as a fiddle,” he breathed, his hot breath fanning her face. With his face inches away from hers, she forgot to breathe. A crazy sense of need surged through her body making her desperate for fulfillment.“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to exert so much pressure,” she whispered, gazing back at him.“No worries, babe! You’ve made my work easier. We’re already there where we belong, in each other’s arms,” he whispered
For the next two weeks, Marcus and Cara were insatiable around each other. While she helped Marcus heal better, they explored their relationship to new heights. With physiotherapy, Marcus could start walking around in clutches. His ribs were healing and looked better with each passing day. Adam, Liam, and Vera were overjoyed to have Marcus around. He pampered them and played with them, helped them with their homework, making them completely crazy about him. He bonded well with Marianne and slowly learned all her work, taking care of her like a pro, making Mrs. Davis upset. Marianne on the other hand started demanding his attention more and more with every passing day. The pressure on Aunt Maggie and uncle Joe reduced a lot with the presence of Marcus and Cara in the house and life became bearable and worth living. Every day Marcus made sure that they all enjoyed themselves the most!Cara had to retur
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” whispered Marcus while his fingers worked their way inside her dripping wet folds. A moan of sweet surrender escaped Cara’s mouth as he worked up a tempo, making her open wider to give him more access. He thrust in and out of her, his eyes devouring her as he watched her melt at his touch. Soon she came undone, sagging against the cushions behind her. Feeling overwhelmed at last to be touched by the one she loved, Cara closed her eyes with happiness. “Did you miss this? Did you miss my touch?”“Yes, Marcus. You have no idea how much. I wish I could erase the last three months of my life. Every time Frederick forced himself on me, I wanted to kill myself but couldn’t because of Marianne and my little siblings,” she whispered, as a sob broke out of her mouth. Marcus immediately pulled her closer and held her i