Cara’s words pierced Marcus’s heart and he started to repent his reckless ways. Although it had been over a year since he had stopped sleeping around, he knew that this would haunt him forever. Returning to New York brought him out of the blissful and happy bubble he was living in, compelling him to face the harsh reality of his life. He craved to rekindle the fire that he and Cara shared before. How can three weeks of separation turn his life upside down? He longed to return to his Southampton beach home, back to those carefree and blissful days, detached from everyone. He watched Cara’s stiff and hurt posture as she stood farther away from him, aloof, angry, and hating his presence totally. He wished he could convince her somehow that this is how his life is, dull, dismal, and hopeless.
They reached his penthouse and Cara looked around disinterestedly, not wanting to stay here even for a minute. She was deeply hurt that Marcus didn’t stand up for her in front of that bit*h. It only proved that he considered her at par with the likes of them. Maybe he would dump her the moment he lost his interest in her.
Marcus brought in her luggage and closed the door. “Cara, look at me,” he said, going closer to her as she stood like a statue in the foyer. He caught her by the chin and turned her face upwards to compel her to look at him. His eyes took in the hurt reflected in hers. “I’m sorry again that you had to face that. I’m sure that by now you’ve realized that all this is a part and parcel of my life, some, a result of my reckless past and others due to fame. It’s something new for you since you and I have stayed away from the public eye for the past few months but not anymore. I want you to understand and know me. I’ve never portrayed myself as a saint to you. I have lived a reckless life before I met you and you know the reason but please, believe me, Cara. I have left everything behind the day I met you.” Cara gazed at his turbulent eyes and saw the sincerity reflected in them.
She released a staggering breath and extracted herself from his hold. “I understand that these are a part of being a celebrity but you could have stood up for me in front of her. I know you don’t care much about me but at least you could have stopped her from hurling insults,” said Cara, in a disappointed voice. Marcus caught her arm and gazed deeply into her eyes, looking hurt.
“How can you conclude that I don’t care about you? If you look back, you’ll realize that I’ve always gone out of my way to show you how much I care. If you wouldn’t have left that day without informing me, we would have been here renovating this place together, setting the art gallery together. I wanted you to pursue your undergraduate degree and look for a good internship opportunity. I had it all planned, Cara but you didn’t trust me enough. Do you think it matters to the likes of Kaylee whether we’re serious or just playing around with each other? She is a professional escort, and is only interested in pleasing clients for money. She’s not interested in personal relationships and talks. She knows I have money and can afford her services and therefore always offers me. It’s a different matter that I never felt the need to consider her offers,” he shrugged, his eyes boring into hers.
Cara’s mouth opened and closed as words refused to come out. So the woman was an escort? Her heart started a happy dance knowing that Marcus had never had se* with her. “Oh, I thought you two were together,” she said, a small smile of relief playing on her lips. Marcus gazed at her, his arm going around her.
“How can I be together with anyone when I’m so crazy about you, hmm?” he asked hoarsely.
“Oh, you are?” she whispered, her eyes widening and her heartbeats accelerating with excitement.
“Why? Aren’t you?” he asked, pulling her closer against his heart making her feel how it was beating for her.
“Yes,” she whispered shyly. Marcus’s hand went to her head, tangling into her hair and he dipped his head closer, stopping inches away from her mouth.
“Show me how much. Kiss me, mia Cara,” he said in a raspy voice dripping with desire. It melted Cara’s resolve and she forgot all her grudges against him. She loved him after all! Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled his head closer to hers and claimed his lips lovingly. Marcus picked her up, wrapping her legs around his torso as he carried her towards the plush sofa, his mouth still fused with hers. The kiss was wild, hungry, and kindled a fire that had been dormant inside her for the last three weeks she had been away from him. His lips parted her mouth expertly and plunged deep inside, unable to wait for her to allow him in. Although they had kissed many times before, the separation made them desperate and unable to let go.
Cara kissed him back, devouring his mouth the same way he did. A sweet moan of pleasure escaped her and drove Marcus crazy and almost insatiable. His mouth at last released hers and he gazed at her with a sheepish grin on his face that took her breath away.
“See? I’m so addicted to you,” he whispered, tucking a stray curl away and before she could catch her breath he pulled her back into him and smashed his mouth to hers for the second time, kissing deeply and passionately. The kiss intensified, growing hungrier and more desperate by the second. His hand went to her lower back and he pulled her closer, sliding one of his legs between hers, pushing them apart so his knee could rub against hers. It was evident what he claimed was true. He was indeed addicted to her!
Cara felt his rock hardness and memories of the crazy se* they shared before came rushing back to her mind. His hand traveled upwards from her side with his fingers splayed as they worked their way towards her rib cage, grazing against her breasts, teasing them deliberately with his thumb. Although they had shared much more than this before yet the single touch made her moan his name against his lips. His mouth released hers and he stared at her with a look that took her breath away. She knew that hungry look. She knew exactly what he wanted.
He picked up her hand and led her inside, towards his bedroom, his body language asserting a strange possessiveness as if she belonged to him, totally and forever. Cara gazed at the luxurious interiors and wondered how exactly she would fit in here amidst all this mind-blowing opulence. His Southampton home was dull compared to this grand place. He led her inside a huge, tastefully decorated master bedroom suite, the likes of which she had seen only in the movies.
“Welcome to our room, mia Cara. I had the whole place renovated only for you. Do you like it?” he asked, leading her towards the bed. Cara gazed at him with wide eyes, and nodded, her mind already in overdrive seeing him carelessly open and toss his clothes off him. Her whole body tingled seeing him again, the way she was used to seeing, bare, exposed, and vulnerable. He slid in beside her and pulled her on top of his body.
“I missed this, I missed us. You have no idea how much!” he whispered, as he slowly got rid of her clothes. Words failed her and she just drifted along, both amazed at the magic that their touch could invoke, at the pleasures that only they could give each other. It seemed as if they were never separated; as if they were fused together for life.
Marcus made love to her again and again. He was as insatiable as ever. It was only when Cara’s stomach grumbled did he realize what exactly she needed. He ordered pizza and in the meantime, they wore their clothes and he showed her his penthouse. There were five majestic bedrooms offering panoramic views of the New York skyline and beyond. Marcus led her outside to the wraparound private balcony adjoined to the master bedroom.
“I’ll show you something you’ll absolutely love,” he said excitedly, leading her to his deck with a customized built-in swimming pool overlooking the jaw-dropping Manhattan skyline and water views overlooking Flushing Creek and East River. Cara gasped with surprise, having never seen such luxury in her entire nineteen years of life.
“This is so exciting. I haven’t had a chance to swim in ages!” she grinned, clasping her hands with glee.
“Now you can now swim with me,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and drawing her closer to his side. “I had this built especially for you. Now, do you like your new home?”
“Oh yes. I love it,” she said happily. Their food arrived and they enjoyed the delicious pizza. Later Marcus took her to his duplex rooftop private terrace with his own built-in BBQ area and grill on the roof deck. Marcus’s words rang in her ears. Why did he call this place her new home? Will she live here forever with him? Could she hope now of a happily ever after with him?