My Billionaire Stranger (14 page)

“Oh God Marcus… !” I yell, as my body convulses pulsing violently with the first orgasm to be given to me by a man. Ten years of unrealized pent up need, lust and passion released at the hands of a man who is clearly an expert with not only my body but also my heart and mind. I relax my grip on his hair as I float slowly down from an ecstasy I never knew existed. Marcus props his arms on my thighs and looks up at me through his beautiful long eyelashes.

“I’ve wanted to do that from the moment I heard your voice in the dark calling to me.” The fact that I can speak at all at this moment is remarkable but the words that fall out of my mouth are even more bizarre. “What if I had been an ugly three hundred pound ogre who happened to have a sexy voice?” I ask playfully, I can’t believe I’m teasing him while I’m spread out naked on a hostess desk!

“I knew you weren’t, no one with that voice could be anything but angelic…that’s what you were, my angel pulling me from the darkness. I was ready to go you know, there was nothing holding me here. I’d done all I had set out to do in my life, honored my aunt, and I was ready to die.” Stunned by this sad admission, I stare at his beautiful face. How could such a vital, successful, loving man be finished living?

“Oh Marcus.” I pull him close, his head against my belly, and wrap my arms and legs around him as I press my cheek against the top of his head. “Why? How could you consider giving up? You’re young and strong, you have more than most people could ever imagine!” Dragging my fingers through his hair, I can feel him frown against my skin.

“My life is one dark, fucked up disaster after another.  You know nothing about me Imani, hell
I
don’t even know everything about me since the accident, but I’m sure if you did you’d run. When I’m with you I feel…. Naked- my soul and spirit exposed. You see it, you see
me, e
verything I’ve ever secretly yearned for, everything I’ve ever dreamed of having, but knew I would never be blessed with because of my wretched past.”
Wow
is an understatement; these are serious feelings he’s expressing. I knew we had a physical magnetism, but I didn’t dare to allow myself to consider something real happening between us. I wanted that, deep down I always have. All of my adult life I’ve wanted a honest beautiful relationship with a man, to have a partner to walk through life with, to be a best friend to and devote my life to. Just like Marcus I have secret wishes, ones I gave up on long ago. I never thought my fear could dissipate enough to allow a man into my heart…until now. We’re very much alike in one way, damaged.

“Stay with me,” he pleads.

“I will,” I whisper. We stay cradling each other until he begins to smooth the goose bumps from my skin. “You are cold.” He says more to himself than to me. He begins to untangle himself from me, I watch as he dresses me tenderly not allowing me to help I follow his hands as he buttons, clasps and zips me into my clothes and finally slips on each of my shoes.

Our next destination is the hospital and I’d love nothing more to speed through that CT and get Marcus home and back to bed. My intentions are void of any health related reasons, I’m a junkie for his love, I need more of him but not in public on a desk, I want him alone in his bed where I can explore and learn how to do to him what he has just done to me.

Chapter 18

Marcus is quiet on the drive to the hospital; maybe he’s tired, maybe he’s thinking about what just happened at Dominus and all the things he said to me, maybe he regrets it all. Worrying is a skill I have perfected and I am now officially worrying, freaking out, panicking… whatever. This relationship seems to be going in the direction that I want it to, but I’m having trouble believing a man like Marcus could have real feelings for me. I have no idea who he was before the accident, and what little I do know now is complicated. What if his current personality is temporary, something related to a brain injury? What if he changes back into
the beast
as his employees referred to him at the restaurant? A big fat tangled knot, that’s what this whole thing is and my current line of thinking isn’t helping me at all. I’ve never considered myself a woman with self-esteem problems but then again I’ve never been tested. I was a nose to the grindstone kind of girl in college, working hard on my studies, never going to parties or social functions. All I wanted to do was graduate and get a job, there was nothing else to hope for, no one to compare myself with, no one to compete against because I gave men, love and children a wide berth.

Now this situation with Marcus has thrown me off kilter, I’m supposed to be this man’s nurse, but so many lines have been crossed. Somehow I have to do the impossible… find a way to separate my feelings and physical attraction for Marcus from my professional nursing responsibilities. Yea right. Nursing is caring for someone minus they intimacy. What just happened between us at Dominus and this morning in his shower was immensely intimate. The admission of his feelings for me, his need to be together constantly, the way he makes me feel special and beautiful and cherished, all are blatantly obvious signs of intimacy. According to the romance novels that I read and the loving example my parents have been all my life we have jumped right past the first and maybe the second stages of a normal relationship, but what if in the blink of an eye, it all changes? I’ve occasionally experienced the odd signs that I imagine are traits of the old Marcus, the Marcus I don’t think I ever want to know. When he dismisses me abruptly, the way his employees seem terrified of him, how people fall all over themselves to please him, those are big red flags waving madly right in front of my face yet I keep hiding my eyes.

“How about a wheelchair?” I ask Marcus and smirk already knowing the answer.  The look I receive is borderline hilarious sending me into a fit of giggles. “I didn’t know you could be funny.” I sputter between hiccups of laughter. “You have a lot to learn about me lady.” I’m grateful for the playful moment, I’ve been a ball of nerves thinking about what we might find today on his CT scan. I have waited with many patients and their family members for important results but these results affect me personally and even more importantly Marcus. Today we finally find out what’s going on inside that beautiful complicated mind of his. The tarnished side of that coin however would be finding out my Marcus, the one I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with might not be a permanent entity. If there is nothing negative on his scan I can be reassured within reason that what is happening between us won’t suddenly go up in a puff of smoke.

Marcus landed like a meteor in my life bringing an addictive feeling of completeness and passion that I’ve never experienced before. Had I not been attacked in high school I’m sure my life would have taken a totally different path, a normal one with many relationships and learning experiences. I have worked hard for years not to let my attack define my future or me but when it comes to relationships it always has. Marcus came along and unknowingly transcended consciousness to bring me to a new plane in my life, no one else could have done it and no one else ever will. In my soul I know he is my one and only chance at love. Marcus is such an important part of my world now, if something were to happen to him, if he were taken from me, my old life would simply not be enough. Never having been through a break up somehow I know losing Marcus would be devastating beyond belief. If the CT scan today finds a serious brain injury I have already decided without really even thinking that I’m in this for the long haul, as his nurse or his something else it doesn’t matter, I am his.

  In a small room right outside of radiology I help Marcus change into a hospital gown while I enjoy the last moments of our unknown and try to assess his mood. I catch his eye once or twice and somehow I feel like he can hear my thoughts. It’s the way he looks straight through me as if he is reading my brain wave activity. “What are you thinking?” he asks. Shit, I suck at lying. “And don’t lie,” he continues without a beat. Goosebumps cover my skin; he really can read my mind! But if so he shouldn’t have to ask what I’m thinking.

“The MRI,” I answer, and it’s not a total lie. I’m worried that a brain injury may have altered his personality, but I’m careful not to bring that up right now. He has to lie in there, perfectly still for a long time and keep calm. This isn’t the best time to have a deep conversation about who he is and what we are together. Marcus stops my hand covering it with his as I tie his gown behind his neck.

“Nice try. Actually, shitty try, you are an open book Imani, no sense in trying to keep things from me, you’re worrying aren’t you?”

  I skirt the edges of my concern again, giving a half-truth, “Yes. I guess I’m worried. I just hope we find out what’s causing your blackouts.”

“It’s not serious Imani no worrying.” He has no way of knowing that but I appreciate that he’s trying to reassure me. “How do I look?” Really?  Marcos Castillo could wear a garbage sack and still be the most gorgeous man for miles.

“Stunning,” I answer honestly. I hold the door for him to enter the hallway leading to the MRI room. Silently I pray that nothing abnormal is found today and that my Marcus, the one right here, right now, is the real Marcus.

When the test is over and we’ve returned to the house I climb out of the car and we struggle inside, he’s worn out but he won’t admit it, which makes everything more difficult. I’m one-third his size and it’s obvious he’s having trouble so I shoot Mr. Black a frustrated look but he just stands next to the door never offering his help. What the fuck is wrong with that man?

“He knows better, no need to be angry.” Frowning I turn my face directly into his profile, I uselessly have my arm around his waist trying to help him and I am prepared to give him a dose of sass but instead I’m completely distracted by the five o'clock shadow covering his chiseled jaw line and the way his perfectly shaped lips part with each breath he takes. “See something you like?” He lifts one brow looking down his nose at me and I reply silently with a severe rolling of my eyes. “So cocky.” I sigh “My cock? Well I thought you were looking at my handsome face but if you are more interested in my…” “Stop! That’s not what I said and you know it!” He chuckles and I consider dumping him on the bed when we come close to his bedroom. “You know I’m holding you up, feel like being dropped?” I ask. Now I’ve done it, we are leaning against each other at the end of his bed when he surprises the shit out of me by dropping his crutches to roll us onto the bed together. “Ahhh! Shit Marcus you’re gonna hurt yourself!” I yell as we tumble together onto the mattress. “You are asking for trouble lady, I should bend you over my knee and spank you and your smart mouth.” I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle. “Is that why Mr. Black won’t lift a finger to help you? Have you been spanking the help?” “Are you challenging me? I have no desire to spank Mr. Black but you…you are a different story.” Nothing could shock me more than the desire that stirs deep in my belly at the thought of his hands on my ass, any violent act even one as mild as spanking has always nauseated me. Marcus brings out feelings and desires that I never would have considered before. His arms circle my waist to pull me against his chest and I feel him softly press a kiss me on the top of my head. “I am teasing…well for the most part. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” I snuggle in absorbing his warmth; right now I can’t think of anyplace better to be. “I’m not scared of you.” “That is not what your face just told me Imani and every muscle in your body locked up just now.” “I’m just…I don’t know…curious I guess.” “Curious…well I can work with curious. You have to promise to always be honest with me, if something I say or suggest brings negative feelings or memories tell me. Got it?” I nod in agreement. “Yes, thank you Marcus, I’m sorry…” He moves so that we are nose to nose on our sides “Do not ever, ever apologize. I understand triggers, just make sure you tell me about yours and we will be fine.” “Ok.” So he knows about triggers, more mystery, now I’m sure we have serious things in common.

“We are napping now.” “Oh yea?” “Yes, scoot.” He orders nudging me to move up the bed onto the pillows. “I don’t think nurses nap with their patients.” “Well you are my nurse and we are napping, I don’t care what other people do.” He sounds like a father talking to his children but it’s not offensive quite the opposite, it’s a total turn on. I find myself wishing I could figure out a way to tell him the spanking was too. “What would you like to do for dinner?” He asks like we are an old couple, the lines of this relationship are becoming more blurry by the minute. “Relax, you have to eat yes?” “Yes.” “And you have to stay and wait for the hospital to call with the results of the MRI.” “Yes.” “So does it not make sense to rest with me a while and eat together?” He’s right or he’s manipulative or both but I’m easily swayed when I’m bathing in this addictive scent, wrapped in his strong arms and staring into his bright crystal green eyes. “Cheeseburgers?” His smile brightens my world instantly, if a nap and dinner make him this happy then I’m blurring the fucking lines, what the hell? “Cheeseburgers huh? I think I can make that happen.” I have no doubt that he can, in fact it wouldn’t surprise me if they magically appeared without him even asking, extra sensory perception seems to run rampant around here. After arranging pillows for his leg and fussing with blankets Marcus becomes inpatient and pulls me down my back to his front. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever had my pillows plumped by.” He teases. “Yea? How many pillow plumping nurses have you had in here?” “Just one.” His tone changes from playful to serious and I lay wondering if I’m the only nurse or the only woman that’s been in here. “The only woman.” He amazingly answers my unspoken question. “I know what you are thinking and to be clear you are the only nurse and the only woman to ever lay in my bed or enter this room for that matter, other than my staff of course.” “Not even…” I begin and think better of mentioning his dead friends name. “Not even her.”  With that incredibly comforting information I close my eyes and doze off in a state of near bliss. How can this possibly be happening?