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.
Cara’s breath hitched and she stilled instantly at the brush of his soft, warm lips on her skin. “Please Marcus, this isn’t right. You should stay away from me,” she whispered breathlessly. Marcus’s hold tightened around her waist and he whirled her around to face him.“Why should I?” He said, a storm of defiance building up in his eyes as they looked more gray than blue. They seemed to pull her in like a magnet and she was powerless to look away.“I work for you, Marcus. I don’t want to lose this job,” she said in an almost inaudible whisper.“Why should you lose this job? I need you, Cara,” he said, looking surprised that she should think so.“I don’t know what you need me for, Ma
Cara opened her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was late afternoon and she needed to go home but her body felt weak and the bed too comfortable to leave. She glanced at her side and saw that it was vacant. It meant that Marcus was still at his studio. Did he avoid coming into his own bedroom because of her? She felt a little guilty for occupying his bedroom. Getting up, she quickly freshened up and walked out of the bedroom towards the kitchen when her eyes fell on the open door of his studio. Should she take a peek and see what he was up to?Curiosity took the better of her and she tiptoed towards his studio. Peering through the gap, she found that Marcus was nowhere inside. Where did he go? She saw the mess around his studio and her eyes went wide with horror. There were canvases mounted everywhere and paint splattered across the floor and walls, stationery scattered on the floor. She shook her h
Marcus stared at her upturned face, her closed eyes waiting expectantly for a kiss. Despite her feverish state, she looked so radiant and beautiful in the dress she wore. There was electricity in the air and he was sure that she could feel it as well. It was as if they were drawn together like magnets. Why the f*ck was he so attracted to her? The se*ual tension crackled dangerously between them and he was powerless to fight it any longer. Although he had sworn to force her to initiate their second kiss, he just couldn’t wait any longer. It didn’t seem likely that she would ever initiate it at all. He dipped his head and grazed his lips against her soft ones. His hand went to her neck to draw her closer to his heart.A gasp escaped her mouth and he just smashed his lips to hers, biting and sucking at the same time. Cara clung to his shoulders to support her jelly-like legs as a surge of st
Marcus sat with his head in his hands unable to get any work done. Hurting Cara wasn’t his objective but she was being stubborn and refused him point-blank. Marcus felt insulted and her words pierced his heart more than anyone else’s. Did she think that low of him? Surely he didn’t have the best of reputations, but he couldn’t stoop that low! He would never force her to his bed. He liked her! Why was that so difficult to understand?The silence all around the house made him fear the worst. Had she left him? He slowly got up and walked out of his studio to check. He saw that she wasn’t there in the kitchen or in the living area. He walked over to his bedroom and found the clothes he had bought for her, neatly folded and kept on a couch. His heart sank with dread as his worst nightmare came true. Cara had left him forever! Where would he now get his inspiration to paint? He was
Cara climbed into the passenger seat of Ben’s car and he drove on with a grim expression on his face. “How did it all happen? He was fine when I left him.” Doubt crept into her mind, making her repent her decision. Was he really fine? Maybe this could have been avoided if she hadn’t left him that night. Guilt washed over her and he looked at Ben Duncan, waiting for an answer.“After you left, Mr. Donnelly left for New York. He handed the keys over to me to clean the place up and pack everything and send it over to his apartment in New York. I knew then that he wasn’t returning. But I was sick and couldn’t do as he had asked me to. When I went to clean the place after two days, I found him lying in a pool of blood in his studio with his wrist slit open. I immediately admitted him to the hospital. He was critical for the last two days. They just released him bu
Cara gazed at the angry and disgusted look on his face as she walked into his room. She had expected him to react this way. She placed the food on his bedside table and turned towards him. “I asked you something, Cara. What are you doing here?” Cara stood silently not knowing what to say to him.“I’m back at my job, Marcus. What else?” She shrugged. “So do you need to go to the washroom?”Marcus gazed at her with an angry scowl on his face. “Did Ben bring you here?”“Does it matter? I would have come anyway. You haven’t paid me for my services yet, remember?” Marcus smiled and tried to sit up. “Let me help you.” He shook his head.“I don’t need your pity. So don&rs
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