Romance: Love Dies Hard 2 (Billionaire Romance Series) (Hard to Love) (3 page)

Marcus

When Sophie first told me she was late, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of my lungs and I was suffocating. Freaking out was more like it. She still hasn’t gotten her period and this may become a reality which I keep trying to deny is happening to us. These thoughts running through my mind the last couple of weeks scare the hell out of me. Ever since I found out Sophie might be pregnant with my baby I’ve had all this turmoil floating around in my head. First it was anger, like maybe my Dad was right in warning me that a girl could try and trap me, after all I’m a damn good catch. I never believed it of Sophie, yet immediately I did wonder. But then I slowly realized that I love this feisty, headstrong woman and whatever happened I would stay by her side. Even though I’m still not sure how she feels about me other than just a good time between the sheets, her boy toy. Oh, the irony of it all. Over the past two weeks, the thought of marrying her even popped into my mind. Who would have ever thought I would want to settle down, certainly not me. But Sophie, she challenges me every single day and that’s what I love about her, I love just being with her, aside from the mind blowing sex. I’ve even professed my love to her, but she won’t return the sentiment. I don’t know if she’s just not feeling it or if she’s just afraid to admit it.

We’re at my place tonight and we just finished dinner. Needless to say Sophie hasn’t been herself lately. She’s been preoccupied and who could blame her.

“We’ll get through this Sophie. I’m falling in love with you and I swear I’m not just saying that because …you know,” I say. She remains silent as usual.

“Say something Sophie,” I demand.

“I’m scared.”

“Of what, letting me love you?”

“Of that and being pregnant,” she whispers.

“Damn it Sophie, you’re just more afraid of being pregnant. Do you even care about what I just said to you?” Met with silence again, does she care one ounce about me?

“Marcus I do care about you,” she replies as if to appease me, after all I may be the father of her baby. Shit, that’s a scary thought. We both are so unprepared to handle the consequences of our actions.

“Look babe, I know neither of us expected this to happen, but we will deal with it together.” She’s not acting like a girl who wants to trap me.

Sophie

I try to put this out of my mind. Marcus wants to take me to the symphony tonight. It will be a much needed distraction for us.

“You ready to go babe,” Marcus asks walking into my office.

“Yes, let me just log off and grab my purse,” I reply. We head out for the evening and have bad timing again. We ride the elevator down with Mr. Hunter. It’s awkward now the way Mr. Hunter looks at me.

“Sophie, son,” his Dad nods to us as we all step into the elevator.

“Where are you two off to tonight?” Mr. Hunter asks.

“The Symphony,” Marcus replies and I just try and put on my good girl smile.

Marcus takes me to a romantic restaurant in Downtown which boasts a magnificent view of Los Angeles skyline at night. We are dining by candle light and Marcus orders a fine bottle of wine.

“Your parents don’t like me now that they know we’re sleeping together. I’m not good enough for their precious son,” I say in a matter of fact voice.

“First of all, we’re doing more than sleeping together. I prefer to say we are seriously dating, alright? It’s not that they don’t like you per se. They just don’t want me dating within the firm,” Marcus tries to defend his parents.

“Well, it’s a little late for that,” I sigh out.

“Don’t be upset little one, they’ll come around,” he says reassuringly. I just try and shrug it off, this isn’t going to last forever so what do I care.

“Let’s not let my Dad spoil our evening together,” he says reaching for my hand across the table. Marcus can be so charming, I do have feelings for him.

“The view from this high up is breathtaking. I’ve never been here before, it’s such a romantic restaurant,” I say looking into his gorgeous eyes. He lightly strokes his thumb across my fingers. The way he is looking at me over the candle light makes me feel like the most desired woman on the planet. He’s so smooth, I wonder how many other women he’s brought to this romantic setting.

“I love you Sophie,” he whispers across the table at me, and I can’t help but swoon inside. It doesn’t mean I love him back, but I do swoon at the devilishly handsome playboy sitting across from me.

“Marcus, love is a big word for a big emotion.”

“I know, but I do.”

“I told you up front, months ago that I didn’t think I could do love,” I say softly.

“What happened to you, someone must have hurt you bad for you to say something like that?” he presses, as my gaze shifts down to my wine glass.

“Tell me babe,” he coaxes.

“It was years ago, I was young. Seventeen at the time,” I say remembering the pain like it was yesterday.

“Your first?” he asks gently.

“Yes.”

“I would never hurt you Sophie,” he says with feeling. All I offer is a half-smile.

“What time is it, do we need to get going?” I say wanting to drop this. Marcus checks the vintage Rolex on his wrist which was handed down to him from his grandfather.

“Oh yeah, let me get the check,” he says and I’ve succeeded in distracting him from asking me anymore about my past heartbreak.

*****

After we enjoy the Symphony Marcus drives me back to his sleek bachelor pad. Whenever I walk in there it just screams player’s lair of seduction. I can’t explain it. Whenever I lie in his bed and open his nightstand drawer and see the economy pack of condoms a sick feeling never fails to wash over me.

However, I try to block all of these things out of my mind. He really does treat me well, like he genuinely cares about me. I almost believe him when he tells me he loves me. I think he truly believes he does, as much as someone like him can love. We both brush our teeth and get ready for bed.

He punches the button on his BOSE clock radio and his seductive music fills his bedroom, see what I mean? I hear the
Happy
love song playing and I warm inside knowing he added it to his playlist. He rolls on top of me and starts kissing me as his fingers start rubbing my sweet spot that always drives me crazy with want for him and him only. Tonight he sinks his fingers in deep and I whimper into our kiss as I writhe underneath him.

“You ready for me babe, you’re so wet,” he whispers, swirling his tongue in my ear.

“Always,” I murmur to my lover boy. He covers me with his lean, toned frame as I part my legs for him and he rises up on his knees and pushes the tip right into my entrance slowly I can feel his bulbous head penetrate me.

“Oh Marcus,” I let out a high pitched feminine whimper. I want all of him, filling me, right now.

“You feel so good baby,” he says finally sinking all the way into my depths. His stroking feels amazing, I love going bare with him, all of my senses are heightened. “Oh yeah baby.”

“Let me ride you,” I say sultrily.

“You sure that’s ok?” he asks.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” I ask questioningly.

“You know, just in case you are…” he trails off worrying about the baby.

“Oh yeah,” I purr out, as I pull him down to me and kiss him hard, I don’t want to think about it, I just want to lose myself in him. He is actually gentle and tender tonight. He’s not banging my head against the headboard, I think to myself wickedly. He’s pumping into me with slow and deliberate strokes as he rubs his thumb expertly along my sweet spot taking me close to the edge.

“Marcus,” I cry out as I get closer and closer to oblivion knowing he loves to hear me call his name, my naughty boy. He has me whimpering in the most intense pleasure imaginable. This is why I am so addicted to him.

“I’m coming babe,” he warns as he lets out the longest cry of ecstasy while he’s releasing into me. He doesn’t collapse on me like he usually does, but rolls off to the side and wraps his arms around me as we gasp for air.

“I love this song. It’s about our passion…,” I say looking at the ceiling listening to
Sex On Fire
by the Kings of Leon play through the darkness after our lovemaking. He nuzzles his face up along the side of my cheek kissing me and holding me tight. I love being in his arms, there is no better feeling in the entire universe. I turn to look into his eyes and he kisses my nose.

“What are you thinking beautiful?”

“I love being in your arms,” I admit softly.

“I love having you in my bed. I want you here every night with me. Move in with me.”

“What?” I laugh.

“Move in with me.”

“You haven’t even thought about it,” I scoff.

“I have thought about it.”

“Don’t be so impulsive, your Dad would croak if he knew.”

“I don’t give a shit what he or anybody else says. I only care about what you say and I hope you’ll say you will,” he says.

“Marcus, honestly, you don’t know what you’re asking,” I say with a big smile on my face because I’m flattered, but my answer is still no.

“I do know what I’m asking.”

“It’s not a good idea Marcus,” I say caressing his cheek to try and soften the blow.

“Why not?”

“I like to maintain my independence and I love my apartment. Don’t look sad baby, you know how fiercely independent I am.” Living together is the next step to an even bigger commitment.  A commitment I don’t think I’m willing to make with a man like Marcus, a man who drinks way too much and dabbles in the occasional recreational partying.

“Yeah, I know, but do you know how many girls would jump at the chance if I asked them to move in and you flat out tell me no. I’m not used to being told no.”

“I’m happy with our arrangement the way it is. The player should be happy I’m not pushing for more,” I reply then give him a passion filled kiss to try and distract him from pouting any further. Besides, I don’t believe in living together. Why would I ever want to limit my freedom? Plus, I want to keep my options open until the bitter end.

*****

Saturday morning I awaken to the smell of coffee brewing and Marcus has left the bed. I stretch and pad off to the bathroom to take a tinkle. Oh my God. I started…thank God! I breathe out the biggest sigh of relief…being late scared the living daylights out of me. I need to set a daily reminder in my cell phone to remember to take my pill. Never again do I want to have to go through this stress again.

I walk out into the kitchen and see Marcus leaning against the counter looking so sexy in just boxers.

“Hey sleepyhead,” he teases with a smile before he takes a sip out of his coffee mug.

“I’m not pregnant!” I squeal out in relief as the biggest smile spreads across my face. I walk up to him and wrap my arms around him and stand up on my tippy toes to give him a kiss.

“Oh great,” he says without much enthusiasm. That’s weird.

“God, I am so relieved, I can’t even tell you,” I say as I pour myself a cup of coffee. “I was freaking out, so stressed, never again. You have to remind me to take my pill every day or else we need to start using condoms.” He just stares at me. I must be rambling.

“Would it have been so horrible to have my baby? I guess I don’t have to worry about you trying to trap me,” he says grumpily walking off into the living room.

“Marcus, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Aren’t you relieved I’m not pregnant? How scary would that have been?”

“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?”

“Why are you acting so weird? I know I’m not ready to have kids,” I say almost in disgust.

“Do you ever want to have kids?”

“That’s a good question. I haven’t given it much thought, I’m not sure,” I answer honestly.

“Look Sophie, I’m thirty and at first the thought of a kid freaked me out too. But you know what, I actually do want a family someday. A wife and kids, the whole nine yards. I know what you’re thinking, unbelievable coming from me right? I’ve thought about it these last couple of weeks when we thought you were…,” he continues. You could literally knock me over with a feather right now, I’m so blown away by the player’s declaration.

“You’re serious aren’t you?” I ask in wonder.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along babe,” he says exposing his vulnerability.

“I don’t know what to say.” It’s true I don’t.

“Come sit over here,” he says. I wander into the living room from the kitchen and straddle him on the sofa, “I’m crazy about you.”

“I know,” I say with a sweet smile.

“Where do you want to go for breakfast?”

“I’m in the mood for a great big stack of pancakes,” I gush.

“Honestly woman, where do you put all of the food you eat and still keep that sexy little body of yours,” he teases grabbing me by the waist and I lean down and tease him with a kiss. All is right in my world again.