Marcus

Chapter Twenty Six

**I included the song I listened to while writing this chapter in the header - feel free to ignore if you can't read and listen at the same time** (I don't own the rights to the music)

Caroline ~

The drive back to Marcus' house was agony and ecstasy all wrapped into one. Caroline's side was absolutely killing her and sitting in the front seat of the car wasn't helping her pain level in the least, but Marcus' sweet words had dulled the pain even if it was for just a few minutes.

He loves me. He actually said the words.

She hadn't realized how badly she needed to hear those words until that very second, but they fell off of his lips like honey and made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

"I'll come around and help you out of the car." Marcus said, climbing out of the car and jogging around the front end toward her door. He opened it for her and reached in, offering to take as much of her weight as she would give him as he helped her out of the car and onto the gravel.

Normally if a man would have tried to dote on Caroline like that she'd turn him away, wanting to exude power and control and a profession that is so largely dominated by men. She had pushed through so many injuries that were more serious than she had let on because she had to, because if she didn't she'd be eaten alive and disrespected by her peers and subordinates. But with Marcus everything was different.

Caroline could be vulnerable and submissive around Marcus with full confidence that he didn't view her as weak or less than. With Marcus, being submissive was more about trust than it was about power and they were perfectly balanced in that aspect. He knew she was strong, he knew she was capable, but he also knew that she was too stubborn to ask for help.

"Gimme that hand sweetheart. Wrap it here around my neck and let me take your weight while you get your legs under you." He instructed.

Without a rebuttal or protest, Caroline did exactly as he said, letting him help her so she didn't have to engage her core as she rose from her seated position in the car.

"Thank you." She grunted softly as she straightened her spine and felt the tug of her muscles against her ribs.

Marcus wrapped his arm around her, helping steady her as they made their way up the steps toward the house, but leaned down and whispered to her as they walked.

"Stop thanking me for taking care of you, Red. There's nothin' else I'd rather do." Marcus said against her hair.

"Well I can think of a few things." Caroline joked, causing Marcus to toss his head up and laugh loudly.

"We got plenty of time for that." Marcus chuckled.

Caroline knew that was true, but she was impatient, even more so with Marcus' large hands on her, but she did have to admit that it wouldn't have been her best performance. 

He helped her into the house, locking the door behind them and engaging the alarm before leading her to the bedroom. Caroline went to the dresser, opening the drawer that Marcus had cleaned out for her, but stopped mid-motion, changing her intended course and pulling open one of his drawers instead.

Letting her hands run over the soft worn cotton of his t-shirts, Caroline stalled at one that piqued her interest and pulled it from the drawer, unfolding it to get a better look. It was gray and worn like he'd had it for years and wore it every day, with big letters across the front that read "Semper Fi".