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 until 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 costs. 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.
“No, you’re not,” he said, reaching out to touch her cheek, her forehead. Just as I had thought, they were still hot. Cara gasped at his cool touch on her hot, feverish skin. It felt so soothing! “You still have a fever,” he scolded her. Picking her up in his arms, he strode back to his bedroom. Cara sighed as she wrapped her hands around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder again. It seems to be her favorite thing to do now.
“Why do you always have to defy me, Cara? Can’t you let me take care of you?” he asked impatiently.
“I thought that I shouldn’t impose upon you,” she said in a small, guilty voice.
“You aren’t imposing at all,” he told her gruffly. Cara’s heart skipped a beat hearing the words rumble from deep inside her heart as she laid her head against it. Was she strong enough to stop her own heart from falling more for him? No, she wasn’t since her young, innocent heart started beating faster and faster, ready to fall for him. She had absolutely no control over it!
“I don’t know how to thank you, Marcus,” she whispered, making him smirk. This was exactly what I wanted. He was no saint. He wanted her to pay him back in other ways. He wanted her to kiss him of her own free will. He wanted to feel her soft, curvy body in his arms. He wanted to embed deep inside her tight, juicy core.
“You can when you’re better,” he said, depositing her again back on his bed, his eyes burning into hers. Cara smiled at his kindness, not understanding the underlying meaning of his words.
“Okay, I’ll make your favorite dish,” she said innocently, making Marcus gape at her. Was that all she could conclude from his words? Who wanted food when all he could think of was to devour her? He had never felt so frustrated in all his twenty-nine years of life as he felt now. He could see her right in front of him yet he couldn’t get a taste of her sweetness. He had never been in such a state before. He had always been throned by women too willing to warm his bed. Therefore, it was the first time ever that he met such an innocent young girl who was oblivious to his charms and just tried to escape from him. Couldn’t she realize how much he wanted her? Couldn’t she realize how much he liked her for her genuineness?
“Who wants it?” he said impatiently, rolling his eyes and walking out of the room. Cara’s eyes widened at the implication. So what exactly did he want? A blush stained her cheeks as all sorts of sinful thoughts began to pour into her mind. Why hadn’t she thought of these before offering to repay him? Did he want a kiss or did he want to have sex with her? A gasp escaped her mouth and at that moment she wanted to flee from her room, her house. She wasn’t ready for the latter at all. Of course, she liked him and had started softening towards him but not enough to agree to have sex with him!
She got up slowly and decided to do a little work today. There was no point in lying in his bedroom and fretting over useless things. She walked into the kitchen but to her horror, she found a shirtless Marcus there instead, busy making breakfast. She was about to flee when he looked at her. “Good that you’re here. Breakfast is ready,” he said with a smirk, noting the way his eyes were busy checking him out. He pleased him immensely and his face widened into a smile as he served the food up onto two plates.
“Umm, thanks. I’ll manage the rest of the work today. “I’m used to working even with a fever,” she told him.
“I won’t allow you to do that here. There’s not much work left. “It’s all done,” he shrugged, carrying the plates to the table. Cara meekly followed him, feeling guilty that she wasn’t able to do anything for him. He doesn’t pay her to do all the work himself!
“It doesn’t seem like you need me much, Marcus. “You are so much more efficient than I am,” she said in a dull tone. It was true! He completed everything so effortlessly. He hardly needed any maid, that too for the whole day! He could save so much! Marcus shrugged but didn’t answer her. She sat down opposite him as he pushed her plate towards her.
“Stop fretting uselessly and start eating,” he said, devouring his own. Cara ate the delicious pancakes he had made. They clearly were fluffier and tastier than what she made. She frowned as a nagging thought gnawed at her mind. Marcus didn’t need any housekeeper yet he was paying double of what she deserved. He could cook better yet he paid her to cook for him all his meals. He didn’t need to yet he sent his chauffeur-driven Mercedes for her every day. However, the most important question was why was he taking so much care of her, when he could have easily sent her home to recover? Why was he going out of his way to show her how much he cared? Why was he forcing her to spend time in his bedroom when the whole mansion was vacant? All these questions made her restless and she needed a proper answer to them. Surely Marcus had a motive behind it and she needed to know that motive.
Marcus noticed the frown that marred her flawless face, the way she bit onto her pouty, pink lips as if deep in thought. “Is anything bothering you, Cara?” he asked, unable to control himself. “Isn’t the food to your liking?” he asked, observing her like a hawk. Cara blushed at being caught.
“No, I love the food, thank you. I’m feeling better today. “I can make lunch for you,” she told him. He shook his head impatiently.
“I don’t want you to. Take your medicine and rest,” he said, finishing his food. He leaned back onto his chair and stared at her with hooded eyes. Cara didn’t look up and tried to concentrate on her food instead but her unblinking stare was unnerving her. She didn’t argue anymore as there was no point in it. He didn’t want her to cook for him. Then what did he want her to do? Just sleep on his bed? A blush crept up her cheeks and she felt like an insect under a microscope.
“I think you’re better off without me. You can do everything better than me,” she pointed out in a whisper yet I have heard her.
“I’ve always lived alone. I’m used to doing everything myself,” he shrugged as he kept on staring at her without batting an eyelid.
“Oh, then why are you paying me so much to work for you?” she blurted out, her eyes flying up to his. He sat there in silence, his face solemn, his eyes dark as he gazed back at her. Cara waited for his reply but he didn’t even attempt to answer her. Sighing, she got up to rinse the dishes. Picking them up, she walked towards the kitchen, acutely aware of his hawk-like gaze following her around. Cara now had a very fair idea that maybe he did want to have sex with her as he had with countless women before her. After Maria’s advice, she had seen a few articles of him in the magazines and newspapers at Aunt Maggie’s house. Uncle Joe had the habit of reading them and always bought the latest issues. So she knew how notorious Marcus Donnelly was! But she was nothing like the women he usually was seen with. They were all rich, spoiled women or celebrities, not a maid like her! Then why was he taking an interest in her?
Marcus walked up to the kitchen and stood behind her. “Leave that, Cara. You’ll fall sick again,” he said in a strict tone. Cara could feel his hot breath at the nape of her neck.
“It’ll be done in a minute, Marcus. I’m really better,” she said stubbornly. She could feel him coming closer behind her, his bare body almost brushing with hers. Her breath got stuck in her throat. What exactly was he up to now?
“How much better?” he asked, his arm went around her waist. Cara gasped at his touch and a tremor went down her body. He dipped his head and placed a soft kiss at his neck, below his ear. “Better enough to start thanking me?” I have whispered against her skin. Cara’s heart started racing as she realized her motivation at last. He wanted her, he desired her and he wanted to have her!