After breakfast, Marcus dropped her at her house to collect the necessary documents she needed for admission formalities at Suffolk Community College. While Marcus and Ben Duncan went to the market to buy stationery for his upcoming art project, Cara was glad to be able to spend a few hours with her family.
“That’s wonderful news, Cara. I’m so happy for you,” said Aunt Maggie.
“Yes, it is. I’ll have a bank account soon. So I can transfer money into your account now on a regular basis, Uncle Joe.” Cara couldn’t tell them her scope of work and thankfully they didn’t question her further. The children were overwhelmed to see her.
“Thanks, Cara. That would be a great help,” said Uncle Joe.
“Rudolph Sterling came to ask for you last night. He wants you to perform there as a permanent employee of the club. He has left behind a contract for you. I’ve gone through it and found the pay half of what he was offering you before,” informed Uncle Joe. Cara shook her head. She wouldn’t waste her time at the Kingston Club. Getting an education and working for Marcus were her priorities now.
“I’m not interested, Uncle Joe.”
Since it was Saturday, all three of her siblings tried to make her feel special in different ways. Adam got ice cream for her from the neighborhood store. Liam helped her pack her documents while Vera combed and tied her hair up in a different hairstyle she learned.
“Wow, you look so cool in this hairstyle, Cara,” squealed Vera, admiring her handiwork. Cara looked at herself in the mirror and appreciated Vera’s efforts. Even aunt Maggie, Adam, and Liam had to agree that she indeed was looking great.
“Thanks, cupcake. I hope you all realize that since Mr. Donnelly is spending so much on me, I wouldn’t be able to come home on a daily basis? He’s working on a new Art Series for his upcoming exhibition. Till he completes it, I have to manage the entire house for him. So I might visit you for a few hours whenever he gives me leave.”
“I think he wants to marry you,” said Vera with a knowing smile. Cara’s jaws dropped seeing all of them agree and chuckle knowingly.
“No, he doesn’t. He’s just my employer, that’s all!” corrected Cara but couldn’t stop the blush from spreading all over her. Vera giggled and so did aunt Maggie as they caught each other’s eye.
It was lunchtime when Marcus arrived to pick her up. After promising to visit them soon, Cara left with him and Ben Duncan. They ordered lunch and the entire time, Marcus set up his studio with Ben’s help while Cara completed her work around the house. Finally, it was evening and Ben Duncan left, having completed setting up everything. Cara walked over to Marcus’s bedroom to shower and freshen up. Now that Marcus was better, she was contemplating shifting over to the bedroom next to his.
Finally, she emerged from the en-suite, feeling fresh and human. To her surprise, she saw Marcus lying on the bed and watching her with hooded eyes. He looked very tired with dark circles under his eyes after the strenuous day. Cara walked up to him with the first aid box.
“Let me change your dressing.”
“I’m too tired now. Later.”
Cara looked annoyed. “You shouldn’t have overdone it today. Let me take a look at the wound. We can have dinner and retire early.”
“Fine. Do what you want and stop behaving like my wife!” he groaned, extending his hand out to her. Cara scoffed at his words. Was it a bad thing? She wanted to be his wife!
“Heaven forbid! I’m happy with what I am.” Cara sat tending to him with a scowl on her face. Marcus gazed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. In fact, he liked the idea immensely as his mind conjured up images of them naked in bed together, consummating their marriage. It was a blissful thought indeed.
“Is that so? There are millions who would kill to be my wife!” he teased her. Cara stiffened but avoided glancing up at him.
“Great, why don’t you marry them all!” Marcus laughed at her response but his experienced mind noted the underlying jealousy in her words.
“You’re just jealous, I’m sure.” Cara gave him a displeased look. She knew that he was right but she would never admit that to him.
“No need to flatter yourself!” she replied, walking out of the room with the first aid box. Marcus was excited beyond words. He wouldn’t have hurried at all but the prospect of starting work was too exciting to postpone. He wanted to start at the earliest. He had the idea of creating a whole collection of paintings based on Cara’s emotions and form. He had never done human form before as abstracts were more his forte but now he wanted to make use of his limitation to his benefit.
Getting up, he walked over to the dining table to see that she had already laid the table. “I was about to summon you for dinner,” she said, serving him.
“Where’s yours?” Cara shook her head shyly.
“I’ll eat later.”
“No, bring your food, or else I won’t eat.” Cara brought a plate and served herself as well.
“Good. We will always eat together.”
“No, we won’t. Who’s behaving like a husband now?” Marcus was stunned by her sarcastic remark. His lips twitched with amusement.
“Whatever! You’ll eat with me and that’s final.” She didn’t argue and a small victorious grin brightened up her face. Marcus was glued to her radiant face. Being her husband wasn’t a bad idea at all. Too bad that he didn’t believe in relationships anymore after Cassie’s betrayal.
“We will start working tomorrow morning. Be ready by 7 o’clock. We will take a break only at 12 noon.”
Cara nodded but her heart started beating rapidly even thinking of spending that much time with him locked up in his studio. “That long? I should wrap up the cooking before that!”
“After lunch, we will go to Suffolk College to get you admitted.” Her heart sang with excitement since he was keeping his end of the deal.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” she said excitedly thinking about going to college. Marcus pinned her with a piercing gaze.
“Neither can I.”
For the rest of the meal, Marcus gazed at her with simmering eyes making her squirm and wonder what was on his mind. No way could she read his inner thoughts with his hooded eyes shielding them well. “Do I need to make any preparations for tomorrow? I don’t know what my scope of work is.” Marcus rubbed his lips together as if he was trying hard to control his laughter. Cara’s gaze was instantly drawn to his lips. What was so funny about her query? She had no idea what art models needed to do.
“No, nothing. Just pose as I ask you to.” After dinner, while she completed the cleaning up, she wondered what lay ahead of her tomorrow. She walked to Marcus’s bedroom to find him lying on his bed, shirtless and waiting for her. With his rippling muscles inviting her for touch, it took all her willpower to train her eyes to look away. Her heart thumped with excitement while her mind warned her against sleeping with him. Although she was in love with him, she didn’t want to end up having se* with Marcus Donnelly. She went to the closet to pick up her pajamas. The moment she turned, she collided with his bare chest. Her eyes widened with dread and she placed her palms on his feverishly hot chest to create some distance between them.
“Let me go, Marcus. Go to sleep.”
“Again the wife!” He chuckled but Cara tried to push him away. “Hurry up and come to bed.”
Cara noted his husky, thick tone denoting what he planned to do with her. “I’ll be sleeping in the next room since you’re better.” Marcus scowled as if ready for war on the issue. His arm wrapped around her body and he held her against him.
“No need. The bed is large enough.” He lowered his head, his gaze falling to her luscious lips.
“I didn’t agree to sleep together, Marcus. Let’s keep this professional between us. I’ll help you paint and you’ll pay me, that’s all.” Marcus frowned at her words, not liking them at all.
“You’ve slept with me before. What’s the big deal now? Don’t make me force you, Cara.” Cara trembled a little at his menacingly low and angry tone. She knew that even with his injury, he was capable of carrying it out.
“Why would I sleep with you? I’m not your wife.” With that, she extracted herself from his hold and dashed out of his room to the next one, leaving Marcus gaping after her. Although she showed a lot of courage in front of him, Cara cowered in her room, expecting Marcus to come storming in to carry out his threat. If one thing she was learning, it was to stand up for herself. It was fine to have slept with him when he wasn’t fit but now she needed to draw the line. She was his inspiration and they had nothing personal between them.
Marcus smiled at her boldness. He loved it extremely. “It’ll be fun to make you mine, Cara. And I definitely will.” He gave her the space she wanted and tried his best to catch up on sleep. Tomorrow was a new day and he would make a brand new start!