My Billionaire Stranger (23 page)

Big hands surround my hips and move me back to stand before him, and he manages to rake over my body from head to toe with his eyes before sliding my panties down, I step out of them, leaving the stockings and heels. I begin to move to take my former position, but he stops me with his hand between my breasts and feathers his other hand over my face gently, closing my eyes with two fingers as he moves. Continuing down my body, both hands now clutch my hips, circling behind he cups my ass as he lays his cheek against my belly. I can feel his brow furrow; he eyes shut tight, his lips brush against my skin as he speaks, “I know this is moving very fast but I have always known what I want in my life Imani and I want you. I will worship you until the day I die, you have complete control over me, my heart beats simply for you. I’ll give you anything, follow you anywhere, take you everywhere, just promise to stay with me, never leave, be mine as I am yours Imani. I love you, I have loved you since the first time I heard your voice lying in that hospital bed.”

Oh God, my body explodes with desire and love. Thrusting my hands through his thick soft hair I say the words he want’s to hear, the same ones I want to say.  “Yes…. yes, I’ll never leave you…. I love you too Marcus, so very much…” I gasp as he takes control the way I crave him to, and a frenzy starts between us as he surges forward, lifting me up onto the edge of the table he stands on one foot thrusting inside of me so deep I yell out. Before I can think another thought he’s pounding into me. His hands and mouth everywhere at once; desperate to prove the words he has just spoken.

“Open your eyes now Imani, I want to see you when you come,” he grunts between thrusts and I obey, gripping his hair for leverage I lock my eyes with his and feel the heat build between my legs with every deep thrust; the only audible sound is our heavy breathing and the slapping of our bodies against each other with an unbelievable force- I can’t imagine how he manages this on one leg, I curl my legs around his hips, digging into his ass with my heels I encouraging him to go faster, deeper, harder. I know I can’t hold on much longer and he recognizes it in my eyes.

“Come for me baby, right now; I love watching you come.” His words send me into a spiral, a tornado tearing through my body destroying everything in its path as my orgasm consumes me. I can’t help but close my eyes and drop my head back in ecstasy. Marcus isn’t far behind me, four or five more thrusts and he’s gone as he presses into me once more before he stills.  His cock pulses inside of me as I come down from my own bliss he continues the release of his. We break eye contact to wrap ourselves up in each other, we’re a tangled mess of limbs, sweat, and wild hair, the smell of sex hangs thick in the air. My mind returns from rapture as we stand there gasping for air in the formal dining room, with a house full of people from Dominus that just prepared and served us a four-course dinner, I can’t believe I acted with such abandon.

“I know what you’re thinking, and you can stop, no one is here. I didn’t plan on this exactly.” He motions toward the mess I’ve made. “But I did want privacy after dinner, no worrying,” he murmurs into my neck and I relax. Good, I’m not sure I could face his staff after this, we weren’t exactly discrete and I’ve broken a lot of glass!

“I’m sorry about the mess, I don’t know what got into me.”

He thrusts his hips gently where we’re still joined together he smiling, and answers, “I do. Me.”

Chapter 29

Marcus has been on the phone trying to get me back to work at the hospital all morning, after several calls to his lawyer and human resources; he’s finally wrapped it all up. “You start back next week, Tuesday night to be exact. Now I am going to call the movers and my real estate agent and we also need to put your apartment on the market,” He announces as we sit across his mammoth desk from each other. I can’t keep my knee from bouncing up and down while he goes on efficiently rearranging my life. The news that I will be returning to work is comforting, but selling my apartment and moving into Marcus’s mansion is not. I’m still trying to figure out how I agreed to this so-called
compromise
. It was done in the heat of the moment and it didn’t help that I was a little tipsy and a lot turned on. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I should have known he would be full steam ahead with this arrangement first thing the next morning.

It’s not that I don’t want to be with Marcus. Living here with him, sleeping in his bed, making him happy every day and more importantly every night is a dream come true. But I still want the safety net of my apartment. I worked hard for years to buy my own place, my parents were always offering to help me but it was part of the healing process for me. I needed to be independent and stand on my own two feet.  I love my little corner of the world and without it I’m afraid my life will have no anchor. What if something goes wrong, what if Marcus has a permanent personality change, what if he has complications from his accident or what if he falls out of love with me? This is all moving too fast for me, but apparently not for Marcus, he’s in full control freak mode.

“Um, about that.” I make a weak attempt to protest, but he’s not having it. 

“No, no, no, you agreed to all of this and I have you back on the hospital’s payroll, we had a deal.”

“I know Marcus, and I want to live here, I do, it’s just, I feel like I should keep my place, it’s my home.” I know as soon as the words leave my mouth that they were a mistake, his bright green eyes spark with anger and something else…vulnerability.

Imani…” Marcus clenches his jaw and grips the arms of his chair. “Why?” He speaks so softly it surprises me, I expected him to roar out some ridiculous commands or bully me into selling. But the tenderness he demonstrates in that moment throws me off balance, there’s no need to prepare for battle after all.

“I’m scared,” I admit, fiddling with the edge of my sweater in my lap.

“Look at me Imani… please.” He knows how to play me, I’m nervous about opening up to him and his rare use of manners eases my nerves.  “ Come here baby.” I stand and round the desk.” “Sit.” Scooting back he pats his desk in front of him and I slide on top and stiffen my arms as I grip the edge. He scoots closer to rest his palms on my knees and the scene of our rendezvous on the dining room table last night flickers through my mind.  “I thought I made my feelings perfectly clear last night on the dining room table, there is no reason to be scared. I love you, in fact it is more than that; the way I feel for you is intense, all encompassing… it’s madness Imani. Now that I have found you I can not, I will not live without you.” His eyes plead silently, while his words seduce me.

“That’s a huge responsibility Marcus, I’m not sure I’ll be able to live up to your expectations, I’ve never done this before. What if I disappoint you, what if you get tired of me? I know you love me, I feel it in everything you say and do, but we haven’t known each other long…”

“Stop. You feel the same for me, yes?”

“Yes.”

“You could never disappoint me…ever. And it is insulting that you would even think that I would get tired of you.”

This argument is going nowhere, he’s going to get his way, his home will become mine, and the only place I have to escape to will be gone. That is exactly what he’s planning on, complete control. And I’m going to give it to him, against my better judgment I will sell my home of the past six years and move into this ridiculously extravagant house to please him. I don’t say another word; it’s not necessary. I allow my eyes speak for me and he understands immediately.

“Much better, I will make you happy Imani, you may have your doubts but proving others wrong is my specialty. Together we are invincible, nothing can touch us, I promise you.

“That’s a promise you had better keep Mr. Castillo, or else…”

No one has ever made me feel so wanted, so cherished, and so special; not to mention absurdly turned on. A glimmer of excitement begins to grow inside me, we could make this work, couldn’t we? Marcus gathers me from the edge of the desk into his arms nuzzling into my neck as my mind wanders to that place again…the place of doubt and fear. I know life doesn’t come with guarantees and that people change, relationships fall apart every day but Marcus and I are up against some serious challenges. Your average couple will never have to deal with brain tumors, personality changes, tortured pasts and I have a feeling there are hurdles with Marcus I’ve yet to discover.

His brain scan results are disturbing; he has a very large vascular tumor in his frontal lobe. It’s been there for a long time not affecting him until the accident caused his brain to swell. He knows it’s there, they had to tell him, but he’s in total denial and that could affect my future, his future, or lack thereof. Fuck I can’t think like this, one day at a time is the only way I’m going to make it through. He is fine right now, I’m fine, we’re going to be ok, optimism is a bitch!

“You are doing it again, I will not sit here and allow you to worry about things that are out of our control. I’m fine, you’re fine, we are going to be fine, so stop thinking so damn much.” I fucking hate that word
fine!

“Sorry, how do you  know when I’m worrying anyway?”

“I just do, if I tell you will try not to do it and then I will have lost my secret power, why would I want to do that?

“Well you’d be much more relaxed if you weren’t worrying about me worrying!”

“Shush. I do not need to relax, and I am perfectly capable of worrying for the both of us. I just want you happy, that is all I want for the rest of my life is to see you happy in every way.”  Warmth spreads throughout my body as I realize that I am his world, his reason for existence, I hold his heart in my hands just as much as he holds mine. We share the vulnerability of being able to crush one another hearts or care for them tenderly and watch them grow. He’s the captain of the ship, and I’m the helmsman, we’re headed into an uncharted, unpredictable ocean. But he believes we can weather any storm, as long as we do it together.

“I want that for you too Marcus, and I’ll let you do all the worrying from here on out, as much as I can anyway, sometimes it’s uncontrollable but I promise to do my best.” “That’s my girl, I knew you would see it my way,” He teases and pulls my ponytail playfully but with a hint of business. Even when he’s playing there’s some semblance of seriousness to what he says. “So, I have a lot of work to catch up on and since I have recently discovered it impossible to keep my eyes off of you when in your presence…”

“You need say no more, I’ll find something to occupy my time.”

“But before you go, I wanted to talk to you about planning a get-together for your friends and family here at
our
house. We could announce our plans and I will win them all over with my charm.”

“Charm huh?” I say laughing, like really laughing not just a little chuckle or giggle; this is all-out laughing. Marcus pulls away from me where I still sit on his lap. He looks at me with mock shock. “I do believe you are laughing at my ability to charm people Ms. Jefferson.” “Uh…yea…. I haven’t seen you work your magic on anyone yet, but the thought of it is rather hilarious! Every person I’ve ever witnessed you talking to shakes in his or her boots until you walk away! Maybe you have charm mistaken with something else?”

“You don’t think I can be charming? How do you think I became so successful? I know how to act in public… how to attract someone into my web.” He smirks that panty-melting smirk while cradling my face in his hands to kiss me so completely, so thoroughly it feels as if he’s put a spell on me. There’s no hope for my family and friends either, he will have them following him around like the Pied Piper in no time. “See…pretty convincing aren’t I?” I nod, unable to form words after that intoxicating kiss, I could be satisfied forever with his kisses alone. “Ok, off with you then, start calling your family and friends.” I don’t like being nudged away but I know it’s necessary. People can’t be joined at the hip
all
the time…. can they? Do I want to be?

Padding through the house on my way to my room I stop to admire the billion-and-one roses and I notice my dress from last night hanging where it was yesterday but now in a clear plastic bag; it’s been cleaned. My shoes sit on the floor under the dress, and the lingerie from Marcus is folded neatly on my bed. This shit is so weird it’s like having little invisible fairies that swoop in undetected and complete tasks that I’ve always done myself.

After putting the dress and shoes in my closet and lingerie in the dresser, I pull out my phone. Checking my calendar I wonder, when am I going to have this get-together? Maybe if I don’t make the plans he’ll forget about it…humph, yea right. If I don’t do it he will, that man is an amazing at  planning and coordinating; anyone who can run multiple restaurants all over the world could easily throw together little a dinner party. Planning is not my forte.  That’s when I get the idea; it makes me nervous but my curiosity is, as usual, stronger than my fear. I say a little prayer that this isn’t a mistake…

Chapter 30

It took a couple of hours to call everyone; mom was hesitant, she knows something’s up, mother’s intuition or whatever- she said she would tell dad about the dinner party. Lana went with her usual game of twenty questions; I did the best I could without actually telling her I was moving in with Marcus. She was ruthless and annoying, but I love her for caring. The other girls were just excited to come to Marcus’s house and meet my mystery man. My last call wasn’t answered; I left a message for Elena and crossed my fingers that she would hear it. I was a little surprised everyone was available this upcoming weekend, I hadn’t checked with Marcus on the date but I was pretty sure he would rearrange his entire life to host this party. Not sure who to check with about the actual dinner plans, I went to Maria first.

“You should ask Mr. Castillo, Ms. Imani; he sometimes has us prepare for parties but he might want his chef from Dominus to come again, like last night….” She’s looking at me with concern but I’m not letting on that I know she or someone on Marcus’s staff had to clean up all the glass on the floor in the dining room last night. Maybe I should say something…she probably thinks that we had a fight, better to clear it up now and avoid  any rumors.

“I’m sorry about the mess last night Maria, it was my fault, I got a little…carried away.”

“You okay Ms. he didn’t hurt you did he?” Whenever I hear the unease in someone’s voice when they speak of Marcus I wonder what the hell he used to do to all of these people. She does think we fought, shit.

“No, no Maria, it wasn’t like that at all.” I have no idea how to tell her I was so overcome with passion that I walked the dining room table like a runway and fucked her boss at the end of it after destroying everything in my path.

“Oh okay, it’s none of my business I just wanted to make sure you’re ok,” She says with her thick Spanish accent, obviously not believing a single word I’ve said. Well I can’t do anything about that, she’ll just have to see he’s changed; he’s a different man now, and he loves me. “

Ok I’ll check with him, thank you Maria.” Mr. Black enters the kitchen silently, catching the end of our conversation.

“Everything okay Imani?” he asks, pouring a cup of coffee. I wonder what he does all day when he’s not driving Marcus, and how he feels about my taking over that job temporarily. From his tone I suspect he thinks Marcus and I fought last night as well.

“Yes, of course, fine Mr. Black, how about you?”

“Good.” He’s a man of few words, but his expression says it all; he’s concerned, irritated, and curious.

“Well that’s good to hear. Hey good news! You can have your driving job back soon, I’m going back to work at the hospital next week,” I announce.

Two very surprised faces gape at me momentarily before quickly regaining their composure, Mr. Black is first. “So…you’ll not be working for Mr. Castillo anymore?” he asks.

“No, he doesn’t really need professional care. He’s pretty good with those crutches and as I’m sure you know, fiercely independent.”

Should I tell them I’m trading the nursing gig for the girlfriend gig? Maybe Marcus wants to be the one to tell his staff? Fuck it, I’m telling them, Maria looks worried and Mr. Black smug, screw him. “I won’t be leaving though I’m just not working as his nurse.  Marcus has asked me to move in.…to live with him.” So how ya like that Mr. Black?

“Oh my God, my Jesus and holy mother Mary, my prayers have been answered!” Maria exclaims, making the sign of the cross over her body while Mr. Black remains void of all expression. Maria’s enthusiasm surprises me, I wonder what exactly her prayers were….

“Well welcome then Ms. Jefferson, no going back now,” Mr. Black comments cryptically. He’s just trying to rattle me, isn’t he? Yes of course he is… He doesn’t like me, or my being here.

“Thank you Mr. Black,” I say smiling sweetly, I’m not giving him the satisfaction of knowing that I’m wondering what the hell his comment meant, no way! But I
am
…wondering and worrying. If Marcus were here I’d be in big trouble, he’s supposed to worry for both of us, maybe I should bring it up? Honesty is the best policy right? I dun no, maybe not. After the way Marcus went off on Mr. Black when he accidentally walked in on us the other day, I think I’ll be cautious. Better just wait and see how it all plays out; maybe it’s nothing, I hope. “I think I’ll take a walk outside through the garden, it looks so beautiful.”

“Yes, yes, Ms. you want me to ask Mr. Castillo about your dinner for you?” Maria asks. “No that’s ok, I’ll ask him about it later, he said he had work to do, and I’d hate to bother him.”

“Yes Ma’am.” Mr. Black nods as I head off to get my coat from the closet in the foyer. I haven’t explored outside at all other than the front driveway and the steps going back and forth to the car and ambulance. It’s not too cold today, chilly but bearable. Wearing a knee-length dress with a sweater that’s the same length and brown riding boots, I set out on my spur of the moment walk. I needed to get out of that kitchen and stay busy but I don’t feel like changing my clothes. Wrapping my scarf around my neck twice I step into the brisk, fall air and choose the stone path on my left that leads around a stone tower to the back the house. Even in the fall the gardens are stunning, I crunch through the amber- and yellow-colored leaves wind whipping my hair back. I inhale the smell of a fireplace burning; it’s probably Marcus’s. That thing’s going to burn a hole through the ozone someday. When I look out past artfully sculpted shrubs to the cold ocean water a vision of Marcus sinking into the freezing water of a river trapped inside his car with his dead friend floating next to him fills my mind. A sudden shiver travels through my body and I stop to sit on a bench at the center of the garden. Marcus has recently been through such a traumatic event, how does he just breeze through the death of the women he was sleeping with, a coma, a brain tumor and broken leg? This is such a bad time to be getting involved, post-traumatic stress disorder could be part of the reason he is so attached to me. He may need me right now, but when he’s through the PTSD and back to himself, God forbid, will he feel differently? I know my own experience took years and years of therapy and I’ll never get over it. But now I’m able to look back and see it as my past. I’ve dealt with it and moved on as best as I can. Does Marcus need therapy, would he accept it even if he did? Would he still love me if he knew exactly what happened to me? He knows I was kidnapped, raped and tortured, but not to what extent. He doesn’t know about the surgeries I had to endure to repair the physical damage, hell I don’t even look like I used to. I’ve had plastic surgery on most of my face, my parents took out multiple loans to pay for the surgery that repaired my perineum and rectum, allowing me to go to the bathroom like a normal woman, to have sex without pain; even though I had never chosen to test that out until now I was made whole again physically, but no surgery could heal me emotionally.

My attackers were pure evil, and one of them is still out there. I thank God I don’t look the same, it’s the only reassurance that keeps me from being completely paranoid. Intensive therapy helped me overcome some of my fears…and the surgery, of course the surgery. Ok enough; I’m up to continue my walk, but before I can take a step I feel his eyes on me. I turn to see Marcus standing at a window in the house upstairs looking down at me. He’s dressed in a charcoal suit with a lavender shirt open at the collar his brow is furrowed and his mouth is in a straight line, as he was watches me worry. Caught again, shit. He looks good enough to eat even with the frown, but no way am I going back inside now.  I smile and give him a little wave, which has no effect on his expression, and then turning I head in the opposite direction from the house, away from him. I’m in trouble and I know it.

In the distance I catch sight of a beautiful wrought iron and gate surrounded by heavy stone that matches the house. It’s placed at one end of a garden path with just a stone wall mirroring it on the opposite end. The iron is fashioned into flowers half way up with an open circle through the top half it’s so unique. I can imagine vines and flowers covering it in the summer. Making my way toward the gate, my thoughts drift to summer, my favorite season. This place must be amazing in full bloom what a gorgeous place to entertain. I wonder if Marcus has ever had a get-together out here? If not we should,
we,
so weird to think of us that way in the future, together, living here. I step up to the gate ready to explore and I nearly jump out of my own skin screaming when Marcus appears there, on the other side. He opens the gate for me.

“Shit, shit, shit Marcus, you fucking scared me!” I say, jumping up and down shaking my hands loosely with the adrenaline rush pulsing through my body. He reaches for me and I walk into his arms, hampered only slightly by the crutches as I wrap my body around him

“I didn’t mean to startle you, but you know I saw you from the house, worrying again. I thought we had that all handled.” Keeping my face pressed into his chest, I raise my fists to pound pathetically on him a few times, along with my signature foot stomp.

“YOU had this all handled.”  I say,  I am doing the best I can, which obviously is not very good!” “Shhh, tell me what you are worrying about so I can do it for you.”

“Marcus there are some things you just can’t do for me, I have my own worries, they’re mine, I have to deal with them myself.”

“You looked so forlorn,  I will not see you like that Imani, it kills me to see you troubled.”

“I understand you want to protect me from everything, but it’s just not possible or realistic. And if you want to know one of the things I was thinking about I’ll tell you. I think you need to see a therapist about your accident, that was a very traumatic, and Megan’s death, I think you should talk to somebody about it.” I bite my lip looking at him. This could go so many different ways. He continues to stare over my head toward the water.

“Yes, maybe.” My mouth pops open, shocked that he’s agreed so easily. He lifts his finger to my chin, closing my mouth. “Don’t look so surprised baby, I told you nothing could hurt us, as long as we’re together, I’ll do whatever it takes. I refuse to see you worrying though. What else were you thinking about? You said ‘one of the things’.” This one is a little harder to talk about, but if he’s willing to do whatever it takes then so am I.

“I was…I was thinking about the effects of my attack on me and how much therapy it took for me to get past it. And that I haven’t really told you everything about it, not exactly anyway.”  He wraps his big hand around the back of my head, pressing my cheek against his chest. “You are the strongest woman I have ever known, along with my Aunt Angelica, the obstacles you have overcome so far in your life would have crushed any other women. But you went on to build a good life, you’re successful, healthy and stable, it’s a miracle you’re even here right now,
my
miracle. And if you had not fought so hard I wouldn’t have you, you would not have been there in that ICU to save me. I don’t need to know the details of the horror you endured, unless you want me to. I’m just grateful to have you.” We stand there a while just like that, holding each other in silence until I make a decision. Pulling away, I look up at Marcus, and he lowers his gaze to mine.

“I want you to know, I need you to know. If we’re going to be together you have to know my fears, my limits….”

“All right then, you can tell me anything and everything, but right now I have other plans for you,” he says, winking as he backs me toward the garden gate with amazing grace considering he’s on crutches.

“You do?” This conversation just went from deeply serious to flirty and sexy in a flash, only. Marcus could do that.

“Yes Ms. Jefferson I do indeed, and they include you pressed against this gate, skirt around your waist with me between your legs, chasing away your worries.” He isn’t serious is he? Outside in the garden, in the cold, now!

“I can still read your mind baby and yes, right here, right now.” How the hell did he do that? We step together until my back touches the cold iron of the gate. Without a single part of us touching, he leans down covering my mouth with his, the heat of his breath warming me against the cool fall air. He’s tender at first, exploring with his tongue, as if it were our first kiss, but then again every time feels like the first time with him. His baby kisses the corners of my mouth alternating with deep soul searching plunges. I move to touch him, I want to put my hands on his chest but he takes my wrists and moves them down on either side of me, working my fingers around the iron bars of the gate.

“Stay,” he rasps in my ear, returning to my mouth before working his way down my neck, occasionally he nips and bites and every time it’s followed by a whimper. Finally his hands are on me, and even through my thick wool coat and my sweater his touch sets my skin on fire, smoothing down over my shoulders, down to my breasts, my waist and then the hem of my dress. Oh God, we’re really going to do this right here in the garden aren’t we? My breath comes in quick pants as I tried to verbalize my concern about public displayed of affection, but he stills me with his lips on my neck until I relax and obey the command he communicates with only his body;
stop worrying and let it happen.
It’s loud and clear, and I respond by thrusting my hips toward him. I may have to keep my hands on these bars, but he never said anything about the rest of me.

“Mmmm so responsive, even through all these clothes I feel your need baby,” he murmurs, working my dress up he runs his hands over my bare ass. I suck in a breath when the cold gate presses against my skin and Marcus leans harder on his crutches to reach behind me. He slides one hand down my leg pulling it up from behind my knee to his waist and I wrap it around him eagerly. “I’m going to fuck the worry right out of you Ms. Jefferson…. up against this gate…outside in this garden.” he whispers.  Promise or warning I don’t care which.