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 head on his broad shoulder.
“I called Maria for her number,” he just said, walking towards his bedroom. Something shifted in his heart for the vulnerable, young girl in his arms and he had no idea what it was. He felt himself warming up towards her, his heart thumped and he felt alive all over again. A fierce wish to protect her with all his life engulfed him. He pulled her closer to his heart as he stared at her angelic and innocent form resting against him.
Cara wrapped her arm around his neck and closed her feverishly hot eyes with relief as his warmth engulfed her, calmed her. “Thank you, Marcus,” she breathed into his neck. Marcus’s breath hitched and he walked into his bedroom and lay her down on his bed. The feel of her soft, curvy body against his own was so intoxicating that it took a valiant effort on his part to release her. At that point, all he wanted was to climb into bed with her and sleep there, cuddled up against her but he knew that she wouldn’t ever agree. So with a sigh, he covered her with the duvet.
“Go to sleep now,” he told her, and switching off the main lights, he just walked out of the room. After completing the painting that he was working at, it was late when he walked back into his bedroom to sleep. Under the soft lights, he could see that Cara was fast asleep on his bed. The wish to sleep with her was so strong that he quickly changed into his sweatpants and freshened up for bed. Walking back to the bedroom, he lay down beside her as quietly as possible so as not to wake her up. As he lay down staring at her, he was faced with a huge dilemma. Should he listen to his heart and pull her close into his arms or should he listen to his sane mind and keep his distance from her?
He kept staring, longing to give in to his heart but what if she woke up and insisted on returning home? He didn’t want to scare her away. He wanted her to stay with him. Holding her against him had stirred feelings that he had never felt before, not even when he was with Cassie.
He now realized how shallow his feelings were for Cassie. He was hurt by her betrayal but it wasn’t so much that would destroy his reason for living. Surely his ego had suffered a setback but more so, he was hurt at his childhood best friend, Bryan’s betrayal. They had grown up together, always saving each other’s backs. While he could expect Cassie to do such a thing, he could never expect Bryan to do this behind his back. It shocked him to the core and ever since he had no friend to call his own. He had detached himself from his one and only best friend, leading a disturbed life, losing his focus. He sighed and closed his eyes, opting to listen to his mind at last. After so many years, he had finally found some hope. Cara’s presence around him, her sweet melodious voice inspired him to paint again. Although he was only able to sketch her, he was hopeful that with time, he would be able to get over his obsession and maybe paint something else as well. So it was important that he restrained himself as much as possible. She was his inspiration and he couldn’t afford to lose her.
A soft sigh escaped from Cara’s mouth as she stirred and rolled over, stopping inches away from him. Marcus’s eyes flew open and he gazed at her soft dewy parted lips with longing. With her soft and silky chocolate brown hair sprawled all over the pillow, her long never-ending creamy legs exposed to his eyes, sleep was the last thing that was on his mind at the moment. All his determination to listen to his mind flew out of the window and he turned to face her, his hawk-like eyes feasting upon her hot, seductive form. He wasn’t a strong man. He didn’t have the willpower to stop his hand from sneaking up to her face, to trace her cheeks and trail downwards to her neck. It was a gentle touch and he was amazed to see her tremble a little even in her sleep. Could she feel his touch? Could she feel how much he wanted her?
“Marcus,” whispered Cara in her sleep. Marcus stared, mesmerized by her pink, kissable lips as a soft sigh escaped her mouth. He groaned, feeling himself harden already at the soft, breathy sound. He knew at that moment that he had lost all his self-control. He needed her in his arms to sleep, just like he needed water to live or oxygen to breathe. His arm went around her waist and he pulled her into his arms. Cara stirred and snuggled closer to him, her arm going around his bare torso. Soon she fell into a deep slumber while Marcus stared at the even rise and fall of her breasts. Although he had seen her before, the view of her cleavage and her breasts, made him harden more. This was the worst torture possible. He should close his eyes! It’s difficult to sleep when you’re rock hard and totally aroused but strangely Marcus fell asleep, breathing in Cara’s sweet smell.
The next morning, Cara opened her eyes and was horrified to see herself entangled with a very hot and se*y Marcus, clad only in a pair of sweatpants. Her glance went to the huge arousal that was clearly visible through his clothing. She blushed to the roots of her hair and tried to extricate herself from him. Then she gasped seeing her own lack of clothing. The light blue transparent shirt with four buttons popped open on the top left nothing at all to the imagination. Her cheeks flamed with color and she wanted to die of shame. What Marcus Donnelly might have thought of her! She had meant to wear his shorts as well but they were too big for her. She remembered how she had walked down to his studio wearing this.
The fever had reduced and she was feeling a little better but with Marcus mowing her down on the bed with his weight, it was impossible to get up. She wanted to get up and freshen up and just go home while Marcus was asleep. How could she face him after this? He would definitely misunderstand her as he had done before.
She somehow escaped his hold and rushed towards the washroom. Her head swooned and she caught onto the door to steady herself. Somehow she wore her clothes and emerged from the washroom. Marcus was still fast asleep and she felt a tug at her heartstrings to be leaving him this way but she was helpless. However sick she might be, sleeping with her employer wasn’t the right thing to do. She had to look for another job. She couldn’t be professional again with him. In fact, she couldn’t face him now!
Cara walked out of the room but her heart seemed to constrict with pain and she felt a strange dejection having to leave this place. It felt as if her heart was breaking as if she was going to lose something or someone forever. Her feet felt heavy refusing to cooperate with her and she felt the fever again returning. It seemed as if the Heavens were plotting against her, to prevent her from leaving.
Why did she feel so dejected at the thought of leaving this house? Was it because of Marcus? There was no denying the attraction that she felt towards him and after the way he took care of her, she knew that she had started developing feelings for him. Feelings that she had never felt before for any other man: feelings that were intense, frightening as well as overwhelming; feelings that were burning her yet warming her heart. She had no idea what those feelings were but she knew that she didn’t want to go away from this house. She wanted to stay in Marcus’s arms, she wanted to experience a lot of things with him, but first, she wanted to kiss him, taste those sinfully hot lips at least once.
Sighing, she shook those thoughts away. It could never happen. He slept with so many women that it didn’t mean a thing to him. He was used to it unlike her. He wasn’t the one for her. He desired all women and had a bad reputation. Maria had tried to warn her before. She couldn’t afford to fall for him. She had to get away before he woke up.
“Cara, where the hell do you think you’re going?” growled Marcus’s voice from behind her, making her stop in her tracks.