“So, how’s everything going? All good?” asked Marcus as he perched himself on the ottoman beside her. Cara looked up from the mobile phone and nodded shyly, quickly deleting the browser window in case he wanted to check.
“Yeah, I was saving the numbers I could remember.” Marcus nodded disinterestedly
“Dinner’s ready.” He stared enraptured by her radiant face and her flushed cheeks wondering what was going on in her mind. Was she eager to get back to bed the way he was? “But I’m eager to eat you instead.” Cara gasped and blushed even more at his admission.
“You shouldn’t think of that all the time or else the paintings would take years to finish,” Cara pointed out, the heat rising slowly up her body. Marcus chuckled, totally loving her response to him.
“Then what should I think? Would it be okay to think how se*y you’d look when you’re naked and on top of me?”
“Oh, my God, no you absolutely can’t!” Cara was shocked beyond words. He didn’t say that aloud, did he?
“Okay, I’ll stop thinking how se*y you’ll look when you’re naked and on top of me. What about when you’re naked and writhing underneath me?” Cara, stood up to run out of the room and get away from his teasing. After listening to his words, she was acutely aware of his intense gaze. They made her want to peel off her clothes and throw herself at him. She knew that it was just her mind playing tricks with her since there was no reason why Marcus seemed to look hotter and more drool-worthy tonight than ever before.
“Not at all,” she scolded him, making him chuckle. He caught her by her wrist to stop her from escaping. “Dinner shouldn’t get cold, right?” she made a valiant attempt to stop her wayward thoughts.
“I can enjoy a cold dinner.” He pulled her slowly towards him and then surprisingly let go of her wrists. “Go out with me, mia Cara?” His raspy tone, his intense gaze, the way he addressed her as his beloved, all made her melt. As if knowing the effect he had upon her, his fingers caught hold of the top that had bunched up a bit in front of her, maybe to torture her further. A tremor shot through her body when his fingers brushed against her skin while he straightened the top, smoothing it down.
“Oh!” was all she could gasp out.
“Is it a yes or a no?” he asked curiously, still holding onto her top.
“Umm, I’ll think about it.” Marcus leaned in, making her eyes widen at what he was planning to do.
“I can’t wait that long. Think about it now and give me an answer.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Marcus.” Cara looked a little apprehensive since he was a celebrity and she didn’t want her pictures splashed all over the media linking her with him. It wasn’t good for both of them. Her past would surface and he would know everything about her. Maybe he would start to hate her just like his mother did. Marcus looked a little taken aback by her answer but he quickly recovered and gave her a quizzical look.
“Why not?” His gaze tried to gauge what made her decline but couldn’t come up with any plausible explanation.
“I don’t want our pictures to leak out and the media start maligning us. It will have a bad impact upon the paintings.” Marcus stared at her with incredulity. Of course, she was right. He hadn’t even thought that far.
“What if we go to some isolated and distant place for a few days? No one will know Cara. Just you and me?” asked Marcus hopefully, not giving up at all. He didn’t at all care about the media maligning his name but he didn’t want Cara’s name to be dragged into it. She was innocent and might consider leaving him in order to escape the trauma. No, he didn’t want her to leave, ever. At the same time, he couldn’t forget the idea at all. The wish to go out with her was so strong that he knew he could do anything to have his way.
“Yes,” she answered longingly, feeling her heart jump with joy at the prospect of going away somewhere with him. Marcus’s eyes sparkled with excitement and he got up, pulling her along towards the dining table. He had no idea why his heart was so jumpy as if it would fly out of his chest out of excitement. It seemed as if he had become a horny teenager again, deeply crushing on the first girl who kissed him! He made her sit at the table while he walked into the kitchen to serve the food. Cara felt excited at the prospect of going out with Marcus. Were they going out on a date? So, were they dating then? She had no idea what sort of a relationship they shared since Marcus had specified that it would be a no strings attached sort of a thing between them. Then why was he taking her out on a date? Did he take all the women he slept with, on a date?
Marcus emerged with two plates and set them on the table. “I hope you like them. I’ve never cooked for anyone else apart from myself so I have no idea if it’s up to the standard.” Cara gaped at him, stunned by his admission.
“That’s strange. Didn’t you sleep with a lot of women?” she couldn’t help but ask, digging into the juiciest steak ever.
“No. I didn’t sleep with any of them. It was just s*x.” Cara gaped at him with shock.
“You didn’t offer them dinner or sleep with them afterward?” she asked with her mouth hanging open. Marcus shook his head as he scarfed down his food.
“What about going out with them?” she asked with curiosity. Marcus shook his head, giving her an amused look.
“Never.” Her mouth hung more and she just sat thinking why it was different with her. As if sensing her direction of thoughts, he chuckled.
“Isn’t the steak to your liking?” he asked, watching her sitting still. Cara came out of her reverie and glanced at his expectant face.
“It’s too good but I don’t want to get used to this. I’ll cook tomorrow.”
“Why not? I can make it again if you like it.”
“I’ll miss your cooking after a year and then what will I do?” she asked helplessly, looking up at him.
“I’ll keep you with me, mia Cara, forever and always.” A giddy yet shy smile lit up her face as she continued to eat. She couldn’t help her heart from beating faster and faster as a newfound hope started welling up deep inside her. Marcus couldn’t help but stare at her radiantly beautiful face. If he had his canvas in front of him, he could have captured this expression for his next painting. They ate quietly, staring discreetly at one another when the other one wasn’t looking. Marcus had no idea what his heart was up to. He didn’t seem to have any control over his mouth, mind, or heart these days.
“I want you to pack up for a few days. We’re going on a beach vacation.”
Cara froze and gaped at him. “I don’t have any swimming costume or beachwear. I don’t think it’s a good idea, Marcus.”
“You don’t need a lot of clothes. So, whatever you’ll need, I’ll get them.” Cara stared at him not knowing what he meant by that sentence. Of course, she would need clothes. She couldn’t carry her tattered clothes, could she?
“What about college? I don’t want to skip.”
“They’ll take at least a few days to process your application before accepting it. I’m sure we can return before that.”
Cara sighed and gave up arguing. There was no point as she could never win against him. He seemed to have an answer to every objection she put up.
“So, when do we leave?”
“Tomorrow evening.”
After dinner, Cara insisted upon cleaning up while Marcus went to his studio to pack up for the trip. His heart skipped a beat even thinking of spending a few days alone with Cara on an exotic island with no one to disturb. He wanted to be free and not be locked up in a house the whole time. It took him some time to pack his stuff and by the time he reached his bedroom, Cara had already retired to her own.
His whole body was ignited with annoyance and he wanted to storm into her room and bring her into his. How could she even think that he would allow her to sleep in a separate room? Freshening up, he was about to go to her room when his eyes widened seeing her standing at his door. “I think there’s a mouse in my room, Marcus. Please can I sleep in yours?” she asked with wide, petrified eyes.
Marcus grinned, thanking the mouse in his mind. “Sure.” His organ started twitching to life and he knew that maybe he couldn’t control himself this time.