Marcus

Chapter Twenty One

Marcus ~

Caroline went to grab a large t-shirt from her bag, wincing with every step she took which was painful for Marcus to watch.

"Will you let me help you?" Marcus asked, moving toward her.

"Yeah, I don't think I'm going to be able to lift this arm." She said honestly.

Marcus hated to see her in pain, but he was thrilled that she was going to accept his help. She was so used to being in charge and operating on her own that accepting help from others was going to be something she needed to get accustomed to again.

"I'll help you get changed and then I'll grab some of those pain meds that Caleb left for you."

"That sounds amazing" Caroline said, moving toward Marcus with her shirt in hand.

It was obvious that Caroline was in a lot of pain and for her to be admitting it out loud meant it had to be pretty unbearable.

"Let me do all the work okay, sweetheart?" Marcus said, pulling at the hem of the shirt she was wearing. He slowly lifted the hem of her shirt, moving slowly and preparing himself for her to protest or stop him at any point, but to his surprise and delight, she didn't.

He cautiously maneuvered the shirt over her head and pulled it around her arm so she didn't have to lift it and engage the muscles on that side of her body.

The action left Caroline in nothing but a sports bra and shorts and he noticed her nervously bite her bottom lip as they both reached the same conclusion that the sports bra needed to go, but that there was no tasteful way of achieving that.

"I'll leave it there if you want me to." Marcus said softly.

"No I've been wearing it since the hospital and I feel gross, I just...it's been seven years and if I...if I look different than you remember..."

Hold on a second, is she doubting my attraction to her? Is that what this is? She's not worried about being naked in front of me, she's just worried that I won't like what I see.

"Wait a second, if there's any part of you that thinks the way you look under your clothes has any effect on the way I feel about you, you couldn't be more wrong."

Caroline looked up at Marcus with more insecurity in her eyes than he'd ever seen before and it pulled at his heart in the worst way. She was wrestling with herself, questioning whether or not she should undress in front of him and he hated to see that kind of conflict in her eyes.

"Answer this for me Red, are you hurting?" He asked.

"Yes." she admitted softly.

"Then let me help you baby. Hell, I'll close my eyes if you want, but I want you to be comfortable in my bed, not standing here anxious and afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you." Caroline said in a voice that was barely over a whisper.

"I know that, Red, but like you said, it's been a long time and this is going to take some getting used to. I'll go as slow as you want sweetheart and I'll follow any rules you make, but please...please let me help you." Marcus begged.

"Okay." She said softly. "But I'm going to close my eyes so I can't see your reaction."

"Whatever makes you comfortable." Marcus confirmed as his heart cracked down the middle.

You don't have to hide from me baby. I love everything about you.

Once Caroline's eyes were closed, Marcus dropped his shoulders, letting his arms hang at his sides at the sight in front of him. She was so vulnerable and seemed so small and meek. The tough exterior that he was so used to seeing had fallen away, leaving behind the sweetest soul who didn't want to fight, didn't want to do battle - she just needed to be cared for. And that's exactly what Marcus was prepared to do.

"You can keep your eyes closed if you want, sweetheart." Marcus said. Leaning forward and kissing her on one cheek and then the other, then planting a soft kiss on her lips before he started to undress her.

He ran his hands down her arms, loving the trail of goosebumps that peppered her skin in their wake before he reached for the bottom part of her bra.

Sliding his finger tips beneath the tight fabric, Marcus gently pulled it away from her skin and started to lift it, allowing her to move the arm on her good side and slide it through the small opening.

With her eyes squeezed shut, Caroline's breathing started to pick up speed as Marcus continued the task, pulling the bra up and over her head before sliding it down her arm, leaving her completely exposed to him.

His eyes soaked up the sight and reveled in the absolute perfection of Caroline's body.

"So fucking beautiful." Marcus whispered, leaning down and placing his lips against the side of her neck.

"You don't ever have to hide from me, Caroline. You never have to wonder what I think about you." He continued, speaking the genuine words against her skin as if they'd sink down to her heart quicker that way.

Feeling one of her hands slide into the back of his hair, Caroline lifted her chin, giving Marcus more room to explore the side of her neck.

That's it baby.

Her eyes that were once closed as tight as she could squeeze them had softened, and the muscles in her face and neck weren't nearly as strained and tensed.

"I love everything about you sweetheart." Marcus said, placing tender kisses up and down her neck until he felt her take a small step forward, pressing her body against his.

"Mmm there you are, Red." He said, wrapping one of his massive arms around her while being conscious of her injured side.

She stood there with her body pressed against his and her face buried in his shoulder as she slowly melted in his arms. Every insecurity she had was slowly unraveling the longer she stood there and Marcus was willing to stand like that the entire night if that's what she needed.

Taking a small step back, Marcus cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed each of her eye lids as softly as he could.

"You don't have to hide from me Caroline." He soothed.

His softly spoken words, prompted her eyes to slowly blink and open, looking up at him with hope and fear in her eyes.

"You're fucking perfect, do you hear me?" Marcus said with firmness in his voice as he cupped her face and lowered his stance.

Her smile was all he needed as she nodded in his hands.

Grabbing the shirt off the bed, Marcus slid it over her head, loving that she felt safe enough to keep her eyes open as he dressed her.

"There." He said confidently.

Caroline's insecurities had melted away and her deep concern and uneasiness had been replaced with a bright smile.

"I um, need some help with my shorts too." She said, asking for help unprompted on her own for the very first time.

"Absolutely." Marcus said with excitement as he dropped down on his knees, letting her steady herself on his meaty shoulders as he tugged the denim down to her ankles so she didn't have to bend at the waist.

Stepping out of her shorts, Caroline put her weight on his shoulders and let out a small hum of contentment when she felt his lips against her thigh. He kissed and tongued a small trail up her thigh before standing, holding her in place as he righted himself.

"Thank you," she hummed as he wrapped her in a one armed hug.

"You don't ever have to thank me for taking care of you, sweetheart...you're my girl."

"Yes I am." she said softly.