Free My Billionaire Stranger by Shae Black Page A

hesitates, “Yes please come back.”
    “Since you asked me nicely I will,” I tease, but then seriously I ask. “Why did you ask for me when you woke up?” The question has been nagging at me all night.
    “I don’t know…I just needed you,” he admits.
    “You needed me? But you hadn’t even met me…” His brow wrinkles into a frown. “I don’t fucking know. I just woke up and I needed you. I have been listening to you but it was so dark and I couldn’t respond, I was paralyzed.  I knew you were there though and when I could finally move and speak all I could think of was your voice…your touch, it was all I could remember.”
    I don’t know how to respond to his outburst of honesty. Silence hangs between us and my heart constricts; he seems so alone right now, and it’s then I realize he is alone. He has no family other than his sister, whom he has some serious problems with. He has employees that are petrified of him, and no girlfriend or wife at his bedside. Marcus Castillo is completely alone in the world, and I have a feeling he’s made it this way on purpose. Until now that is…until his mind wasn’t in control of his body; until me…

Chapter 9
    I sit on the edge of Marcus’s bed and stroke his arm while I hold his hand. He tenses slightly staring at our hands as he caresses his thumb over my knuckles slowly, his touch burning like fire and electricity combined. How am I going to get out of here and home to shower, I can hardly make myself leave the room to get him breakfast, let alone go all the way home. Marcus is looking at me with anticipation in his eyes; the flashing emotions that continuously cross his face worry me.
    “Marcus, I’m going to try and run home to shower and eat, but I promise I’ll come right back.” 
    “Do you have to? What do you mean by try ?”
    Ok decision time- do I let him know how he affects me? Like a super nova, exploding in space, outshining the entire galaxy? Should I explain why it’s been an effort to leave his side every second since I first lay eyes him in that bed? Or should I keep my heart safe and stay quiet? I’ve never had feelings like this before, and for a virtual stranger at that! It’s ridiculous that I’m having trouble tearing myself away.  Men have pursued me throughout my life, and I’ve shot them down immediately every time, even if my body reacts positively my mind rejects anything more than friendship from a man. Marcus unknowingly stormed the stone wall around my heart demolishing it thoroughly. Maybe that was the key, the slow progression of my introduction to him while he was unconscious. I was allowed to explore his physical presence without fear, with no response or judgment. I don’t know how it happened but it did, so I plunge in feet first and admit my feelings….
    “It’s hard for me to leave you, it has been since I first saw you in that bed, so when I say try , I mean it takes a conscious effort to go.” So there it is, let’s see what he does with it. He’ll probably think I’m a needy, clingy nutcase. 
    Marcus, props himself on one elbow letting go of my hand. Shit, this isn't good, but it’s only for a moment before he reaches out to tuck a long strand of loose hair behind my ear. He feathers the back of his fingers down my cheek, resting his hand right above my breast.  My heart stops beating, I don’t think I’m breathing…. “I do not want you to go, I can’t explain it, I don’t know a thing about you, but I am drawn to you. I realize you cannot hold vigil at my bedside, but I need you to come back today, soon if you can…. Please,” he says please like its foreign and painful, but he said it. Breathe Imani, shit my heart is pounding so hard he must hear it. But he feels the same way, or at least it sounds like it. Relief spreads through my body, warm and comforting.
    “I’ll be back in an hour, one hour, I promise.”  I hold up one finger for emphasis. Being a nurse I know that it eases a