With a heavy heart I crawl into bed in my own room. I miss him already. There’s a dull ache inside of me. I only wish we could have fallen asleep in each other’s arms tonight, but he was right to kick me out. Why prolong the pain? I toss and turn all night long, never really falling asleep. When I wake up, I feel hungover, even though I didn’t drink last night. This must be what they call a love hangover. I drag my wrung out body out of bed and get in the shower, trying desperately to wash away the sins of last night. I scrub hard, hoping to erase his scent and his touch that still linger on my body. Why did I torture us by giving into his touch? No good could come from this, nothing but pain. I’m toweling off when I hear my phone chime in the other room. Why am I hoping it’s Marcus?
John: I’m downstairs in the lobby, where are you?
NO.WAY. This isn’t happening. My heart jumps into my throat and my pulse starts racing.
Sophie: Give me 10, I’ll be down.
Shit, what is John doing here? I’m in total disbelief that he would fly up here. It’s a good thing Marcus kicked me out last night, I’m freaking out right now big time. God, imagine if John caught us together. I frantically blow dry my hair and get dressed before getting on the elevator to the lobby. When I get into the expansive lobby, I have no idea where to find him. He spots me first because he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me from behind startling me.
“Surprise, gorgeous,” he says and I can hear the smile in his voice before I turn around.
“John, this is a surprise,” I turn around and give him a hug that he tightens. He holds me close.
“I missed you and thought I would surprise you. Let’s stay the weekend,” he says.
“You surprised me alright, when did you decide to do this?” I say with a forced smile, still getting a handle on the shock of this and shaking with nerves at almost getting caught with Marcus.
“At the last minute, I almost came last night, but I had to finish up some work to get the weekend off to spend with you,” he replies. Damn, if he came last night, it would have been the end. Just when I think things couldn’t get any worse, I see Marcus out of the corner of my eye, walking through the lobby with Christopher. Christopher waves, but Marcus doesn’t make eye contact, he’s seething. “Who’s that?” John asks as he see’s me wave and acknowledge them.
“Some guys I used to work with at Hunter,” is all I volunteer.
“Let’s go to your room,” John says, taking my hand. We walk into my room and John goes to look out the window.
“This is a nice room, too bad you don’t have a view of those magical fountains. Shall we move to a suite overlooking the fountains?” John asks and I cringe inside. If he only knew I was in the best suite in the house last night.
“No, this room is perfect, I don’t want to go through the trouble of switching rooms.”
“Sophie, aren’t you happy to see me, you seem a little distant?”
“I’m just tired, that’s all. I haven’t been sleeping well on this trip.”
“Come here,” John says and I walk into his arms and he gives me a tight embrace. I breathe in his familiar scent. I do love John, I do. You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy, but at the moment my heart isn’t here. I’m beginning to realize just where my heart truly lies.
Chapter 4
Marcus
Sophie is a walking, talking, living, breathing contradiction when it comes to us. She let’s me make mad, passionate love to her, but she won’t let me anywhere near her heart or her soul. Then she gives her lifetime to someone else, not me. I keep taking one last night from her and it’s literally tearing me apart inside. Then she has the nerve to tell me why she chose the other guy over me while we were so intimately entwined. It broke me. I couldn’t look at her anymore. Let her go Marcus, you have to let her go right now for own self preservation. I had to get myself away from her, away from her touch.
This morning, when I came down to the lobby of the Bellagio to meet Christopher for breakfast, it just about killed me to see Sophie with her fiancée. I knew immediately who that big hunky good-looking guy was. He looked like her type, the kind of guy I would imagine my stunning girl with, only she isn’t mine is she? I feel like such a schmuck, she chose him over me because of my drinking and partying.
“Hey look, there’s Sophie, who’s the guy?” Christopher questions.
“Must be her fiancée.”
“Big guy,” Christopher remarks. He waves to her and all I can do is scowl. Do you blame me?
We get seated in the restaurant for breakfast and I’ve lost my appetite. I feel sick to my stomach after seeing her with HIM, he was draped all over her. I can’t wait to get back to London and be 5,ooo miles away from her and my memories of us together here.
“So what’s up with you and Sophie?” Christopher asks.
“Nothing, why do you ask?”
“It’s obvious that you two still have your love, hate, thing going on,” he observes.
“What does it matter, she’s getting married soon,” I clip out and take a sip of my hot coffee.
“Is she?”
“So she told me in no uncertain terms.”
“When did she tell you?”
“Last night.”
“You saw her last night?”
“Yes,” I answer pointedly. I saw all of her last night.
“You two…?” Christopher questions.
“I’m not saying,” is all I offer by way of details.
“She still loves you, can’t you see it?” Christopher shakes his head.
“It doesn’t matter whether she does or not, she’s getting married to someone else.”
“It’s painful to see you two together,” he says giving me a sympathetic look.
“Tell me about it, she’s painful.”
“You can’t change her mind, stop her from marrying that guy?” he asks.
“Look, I’ve tried. Sophie has a heart of stone, colder than my own.”
“I never thought I would see the day when Marcus Hunter didn’t get what he wanted,” Christopher chides me.
“Must you rub salt in the wound?”
“Just making an observation.”
“Ok Casanova, what would you do?”
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“Yes.”
“So you’ve told her those three words they always want to hear from us?”
“Yes,” I reply and Christopher’s eyes go wide with surprise. He knows I usually don’t do love.
“Alright, then you’ve done all that you can. It’s up to her. All I can say is, I can tell she still has feelings for you.”
“Like I said before it doesn’t seem to matter to her. Let’s drop it. When are you coming to visit me in London? I really enjoy living in London, I can’t wait to get thousands of miles away from here, away from her.”
“How about I come next month? Have your Father send me over to work for a couple of weeks,” Christopher suggests.
“I think that can be arranged,” I reply. I remember when Sophie came to visit, I loved having her enjoy the vibrant city of London with me. I shake my head trying to clear the memories from my mind. I need a drink and it’s not even noon yet.
Chapter 5
Sophie
When John showed up and surprised me in Las Vegas, it just started feeling more and more wrong between us. My love for him was beginning to feel forced, if that makes any sense. It even felt wrong sleeping with him. I couldn’t be intimate with him that weekend, after coming from Marcus’s bed. I’m sure he noticed a shift in me, but he didn’t question it.
Once we got back to LA, and I had time alone to do some serious soul searching, I came to the difficult decision. I couldn’t marry John. The day I had to tell him was one of the most difficult days of my life. Second to the night I told Marcus I was marrying John. Those last two nights with Marcus in Las Vegas, he captured my heart all over again. I gave my soul to him, letting him have me again. We had the most inte
nse lovemaking of my life. I felt ever touch, every kiss, heard every sound deep down in the depths of my soul. He had me believing he loves me, I want to believe he loves me. I want to believe that we are about more than just amazing sex. He made me crave more than one last night with him. I want every night with him, and I’ve turned the future I had planned for myself upside down, for him, for us. I hope I’m not too late and I didn’t just make the biggest mistake of my life letting my dear, sweet John go.
Now that I’ve broken the news to John, I need to go and see Marcus in person. Admit my true feelings for him, put it all out there. If he throws it all back in my face and tells me he has moved on, I will take it like a ‘man’. But at least in my heart I will know I did everything I could to save us. It’s urgent that I go as soon as possible, before it’s too late. It will take a lot of nerve to go and ask Mr. Ward for time off when I practically just started working here, but this matter of the heart is urgent. When I realized that I want to spend every waking moment with Marcus, then I want it to start as soon as possible.
“Mr. Ward, do you have a moment,” I ask before venturing into his office.
“Yes Sophie, please sit down.” He motions to the chair across from his desk.
“Something has come up unexpectedly. A bit of a personal crisis and I need to go to London for a few days. I know I just started and I wouldn’t ask unless it was dire, but may I have next Monday through Wednesday off?”
“Are you alright?” Mr. Ward asks with furrowed brows.
“Yes, I’m fine, physically I’m fine.”
“So it’s not your health.”
“No, I’m fine. It’s of a personal nature.”
“Oh, I see.” He pauses for a moment, scrutinizing me. “Well, I suppose, but just this once I will make an exception.”
“Thank you Mr. Ward.” As soon as I get back to my office I pick up the phone and book the next flight to London, and even then, I could be too late. Tonight I pack a carry on for my short trip to London. This trip will determine my fate.
*****
I’ve boarded my Virgin Atlantic red-eye flight and am flying over 5,000 miles across an ocean to find out if Marcus and I have a future together, if he still wants a future with me. I’m out of my mind crazy, but I have to know. It’s now or never. I manage to get some sleep on the flight. Once I land, I have a London black cab take me directly to Marcus’s flat. In my heart, I know I’m taking a chance just showing up like this on a Saturday night unannounced. I realize that there is a high likelihood that he could have another woman over. Another woman to meet his needs, we’re talking about Marcus Hunter after all, the consummate player. How could I be upset if he did? He is free to do as he pleases. He does as he pleases quite often from what I’ve heard from Christopher. I give the cab driver his address. Once we pull up in front of his building, I’m a bundle of nerves and my heart starts thumping loudly in my chest.
“Can you please wait?” I find myself asking the driver because I’m unsure if Marcus will be home, not certain if he will be alone. I know I’m taking such a huge risk here, maybe I should text him first, give him some warning. No, I want to surprise him. Just do this Sophie. I walk up the flight of stairs to his flat. Before I knock on the door I hear music. He is home. I knock softly at first, but no one answers. I almost lose my courage, when I decide to ring the bell this time. I wait expectantly. Just when I’m about ready to leave he opens the door shirtless. My breath catches at the sight of him and I know I’m smiling at my man.
“Sophie,” he says eyes wide with shock and surprise.
“Who is it?” I hear a very feminine voice call from the interior of his flat. Shit. Just what I was afraid of, my heart sinks. I’m too late. He’s moved on. He freezes, panic flashes across his handsome face.
“It’s okay Marcus, I understand. Goodnight,” I say softly and start down the hall and back down the stairs to the waiting cab. I swallow back my tears. I refuse to cry.
“Sophie,” he says softly. He catches up to me in the hall and places his hand on my arm as I turn to face him. “Go check into the Savoy. I will come to you.” All I can do is nod.
“To the Savoy please,” I tell the cab driver.
When I walk up to the reception desk to check in, I am greeted by name.
“Good evening Miss Shawn,” the distinguished looking clerk greets me.
“Yes, hello,” I reply, startled that he knows my name. I don’t even have reservations.
“We have your suite ready for you,” he informs me.
“My suite?”
“Yes, Mr. Hunter has arranged it for you.”
“Oh, I see,” I stammer out in surprise.
“Allow me to show you to your suite.” When we arrive at the door to the suite, I realize it’s the exact same one I stayed in before with Marcus. I walk into the entrance foyer and admire the elegant décor of the richly appointed suite, my memories of us loving each other in this room flood my senses. I’m uncertain if we will ever have that again. He may just be coming tell me that he has moved on, that there is someone else warming his bed, someone else warming his heart. I let out a long, exhausted sigh as I sit on the bed and slip off my shoes. I didn’t imagine sitting in a hotel room alone when I came to London. This is depressing. I could use a long hot bath. It’s possible he may not come until the morning. After he has had his night of passion with the girl who’s voice I heard calling for him. A sick feeling washes through my body, but there’s not a thing I can do about it. All I can hope is that I’m not too late.
I walk into the luxurious marble bathroom and draw a warm bath in the claw-footed bathtub. I strip all of my clothes off and admire my reflection in the floor to ceiling mirrored wall, seeing what Marcus will see, I hope. I twist my long hair into a loose bun and sprinkle some sweet lavender scented bath salts into the tub.
“Ahhhhhhh,” I sink into the water and close my eyes. This feels heavenly, so relaxing. I could fall asleep in here, this is just what I need to soothe my tense muscles from the days events. Am I too late? Who was the girl, is he serious about her? Knowing Marcus, that’s doubtful, but is she enough of a distraction to have him turn me away? I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he did. Done with me he may well be, moved on without a second glance back, that’s Marcus Hunter’s style.
All of these questions run through my mind and I’m on pins and needles waiting expectantly. I will be dying inside until he shows up here. If he waits until tomorrow morning to come to me I will know the answer. With each ticking minute on the clock, I am well aware that my chances of winning him back become slimmer and slimmer. The window of opportunity to find my way back into is heart and into his bed is slipping way like sand through my fingers. I’m torturing myself in the worst possible way, envisioning him in bed with HER right this minute, doing things to her that I wish he were doing to me. I can’t stop these thoughts from running through my head. What a fool I was to fly all this way and arrive unannounced. It felt like a good idea at the time, crazy, but a good one none the less. I regret it now, having to practically witness him in the arms of another woman felt like the air was being knocked out of my lungs. Then now, anxiously waiting for him and his touch kills me inside. It feels like a knife to the heart.
I will take whatever piece of him he is willing to give me. If it’s just living together, I will be content with that. Anything just to have him in my bed every night loving me as only he can.
Chapter 6
Marcus
I get on my plane heading back to London. I sit in first class and all of this means nothing to me. I will need to lose myself in my work and a string of women to distract me like before I went to Las Vegas.
Now I’m back in London and happy to be thousands of miles away from Sophie Shawn and the pain she causes me. I’ve been distracting myself, trying to find the woman who can be a satisfying distraction. So far not one of them has held my attention for more than a handful of dates before I get bored and move on to the next beau
tiful woman. Tonight it’s Camille Dubois, a French beauty. We have been out a few times. On top of her beauty, she has an incredible body that won’t quit. But she pales in comparison to Sophie. Sophie was the whole package for me, she stimulated my mind and my body, I gave her my soul. I won’t let that happen again, with any woman. She crushed me.
Camille and I met through a business acquaintance of mine here in London. There are many attractive females in the Hunter office. Many who have let me know in no uncertain terms that they would be happy to warm my bed at night. But we both know there is only one girl who I want in my bed, but she never will be again, as long as we both shall live. So I heed my father’s warning about not dipping in the office pool.
Camille and I have just returned to my flat after a sumptuous dinner at one of Gordon Ramsey’s fine dining establishments. I’ve poured us some wine and we’re sitting on the sofa in my living room. I have some seductive mood music playing softly in the background.
“Marcus,” Camille whispers sultrily, as I trail kisses down her neck and start to unbutton her blouse. Once I remove her blouse, I strip off my dress shirt, I want to feel her skin to skin. Feel the heat of our bodies warming each other. I feel cold inside. My heart feels cold, almost dead in fact, since I’ve been home from Las Vegas. I can’t seem to shake my memories of my reunion with Sophie. They still haunt me night and day. Then I hear my buzzer. Who could that be at this time of night?
“Let me see who that is,” I say pulling myself off Camille.
“Must you?” Camille questions, caressing my arm, trying to coax me back to her.
Love Dies Hard 4 - Book 4 (Billionaire Romance Series) (Hard to Love) Page 3
