Chapter 94-Déjà vu

I stood outside his hotel room debating on if I should knock or just leave. I knew I had to knock because I had no doubt he would come back to the house. Things were bad enough when Dunham called to inquire about the strange man Grammy had at the house. I laughed when he struggled to get out that he didn’t think it was appropriate for me to have my ‘special visitors’ coming to the house when the kids were there. Once I finished laughing, I was offended he would think I would do something like that. Of course he apologized profusely and then tried to inquire as to who the man was. I hated lying to him, but I didn’t have a choice. Now I was about to send him away, then forget any of this ever happened. Taking a deep breath, I lightly knocked on the door secretly hoping he wouldn’t hear it. The door opened just as I turned to walk away. I couldn’t stop myself as my eyes roamed over his naked torso. This was a bad idea, a very bad idea. He was on the phone but motioned for me to come inside.

“No non I’ho ancora trovato.” (no I haven’t found her yet)

He sounded very sexy speaking in Italian and from the tone of his voice I knew he was speaking to her. Florence he called her but never made a distinction as to the status of their relationship.

“Mi manchi anche tu.” (Yes I miss you too.)

I tried to divert my eyes as he walked around talking to her but they were drawn to him. The slight ripple of his muscles when he moved, I was so very thankful he couldn’t read my thoughts because that would be bad for both of us.

“Sarò a casa presto Ti amo anch’il. Ciao” (I’ll be home soon. Love you too. Bye).

He clicked off the phone and gave me a little smile. The loving tone of his voice as he spoke to her gave me a ping of jealousy. She had what I wanted, and what I was getting ready to set it free.

“Sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

“Yes well I thought it best to get this done as soon as possible so you can get back to your…”

“Fiancé.” He completed with a smile. I inhaled sharply hearing that word. He has plans to marry her, possibly have a family with her.

“Well then, let’s get this over with so you can get back home to her.”

“Why are you so quick to get rid of me? Was I not a good husband?”

“No you were, he was. Not you. You aren’t him. God will you put a shirt on. It’s distracting.” I blurted out. A sly smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and it took every ounce of will power I had not to run my hands over his naked chest and kiss him.

“Sorry. Like I said, I wasn’t expecting you so early.”

I turned my back to him as I attempted to whip my wayward thoughts back under control.

“I’m decent now, you can turn back around.”

Slowly I turned but the shirt made little difference in my feelings. I needed out of here and quick.

“I haven’t eaten yet.” He commented walking towards me looking like I was supposed to be on the menu. “Are you hungry? I can order room service.”

“No I’m good. Thanks for asking.” I replied a little breathless moving to go over to sit on the couch as he pulled a fruit from the mini fridge.

He walked over to join me, sitting closer than I was comfortable with.

“Do Italians not believe in personal space?”

“Does my proximity bother you?” He asked slowly taking a bite of his snack.

 I swallowed hard, licking my lips as I tried not to watch his mouth in action. A slow smile spread across his face. “Would you like a bite?” He asked holding it out to me.

“No.” I said standing up fanning myself. “Look you said you had some questions but I don’t think there is much I can tell you. I was wrong for reacting the way I did when I saw you at the café that day. You reminded me of someone I lost and I shouldn’t have done that. I had no idea you would stalk me halfway around the world but you aren’t who I wanted to believe you were so you can go home now, get married and have a nice life. Goodbye Marcus.”

I turned to leave but he was in front of me blocking my way before I could even take a step.

“Not so fast Mrs. Smith.”

“It’s Ms. Vinson. I went back to my maiden name.”

“Why?”

“Because my husband is presumed dead and considering my situation I didn’t feel right continuing to carry his name.” I replied attempting to side step him only to be blocked again.

“And what situation would that be?” He asked taking a step forward forcing me to take one back.

“One that doesn’t concern you.”

“I think you’re lying to me.” He said taking another step forward.

“I am not.”

“You are too. Your eyes divert every time you mention your husband and try not say me. The way you look at me isn’t a woman seeing a stranger that resembles someone she knew, it’s a woman who knows me very well but is trying hard to keep whatever thoughts and feelings she has for me at bay. And from the way you were looking at me when you walked in I have a small idea as to what some of those thoughts may be. I don’t have to read your mind to know that. It’s written all over your face.”

He loomed over me staring at me with such intensity my mouth went dry. His green eyes glowed and although I wasn’t afraid that he would hurt me I still got little butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t resist any longer, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. 

He was shocked at first but I felt his arms wrap around my waist pulling me closer as he kissed me back. His tongue teased my bottom lip asking for entry which I willing gave. His arms tightened around me. The thin fabric of his pajama pants made it easy to know just how he felt about the kiss. It felt so good to be in his arms, to feel his lips on mine again I didn’t want it to end but I felt myself being pushed backwards when he broke away. My head collided with the wall and I slowly slid down crumbling to the floor.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you that hard. It was just a knee jerk reaction.” He said rushing to check on me. “I don’t understand what came over me and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I need go.” I mumbled trying to get to my feet. The room felt like it was spinning causing me to sway. Marcus wrapped his arms around me to keep me steady.

“You can’t drive right now.” He said guiding me towards the bed. “You hit the wall pretty hard, you could have a concussion and I can’t let you go until I know you are ok.”

“I’m fine.” I said fighting to get free of him. “I’m not your concern.”

“Yes you are. You need to see a doctor.”

“I’m f…”

Marcus POV

I sat on the bed waiting on her to wake up. The doctor they sent up said he wouldn’t be able to tell if she had a concussion unless she went to the hospital. Either way she had a nasty bump on her head and I felt like shit for causing it. I don’t know what came over me but it was either push her away or take her to bed and the longer I kissed her the more the latter became a possibility. It was unnerving how comfortable I seemed with her. Her lips, her smell, the feel of her body in my arms, all were so right and wrong at the same time.

“I’m not that guy. I have a fiancé. I wouldn’t cheat on her.” I muttered to myself laying down on the bed beside her, but it didn’t feel like cheating.

She keeps telling me I’m not her husband but she’s holding back something and I needed to know what that was. She’s the first link I’ve had since before the accident. When I looked her up online I found links to her wedding announcement to Marcus Smith. They looked so happy. I could be that man, Marcus Smith, Marc Smythe too close to be a coincidence.

Having her here gave me a chance to really study her. She was beautiful but even in this state of unconsciousness I could see the sadness. I let my fingers trace the contours of her face, leaning down I inhaled the soft scent of her perfume. Chanel No. 5. I bought her, her first bottle of it as a Christmas gift when we were in high school. 

I had saved up from cutting grass over the summer so I could get it for her after she commented how much she loved the way it smelled. She’d worn it ever since. I smiled at the memory

“Ow!” I groaned grabbing my head as intense pain shot through it.

I stumbled off the bed dropping to my knees. It felt like my head was in a vice and the pressure mounted and mounted and just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, it stopped.

Amari POV

My eyes opened slowly and my head was pounding; gingerly I fingered the bump on the back of it and winced. The room was dark and I sat up trying to get my bearings.

“You were really starting to worry me. I thought I was going to have to take you to the hospital.”

I jumped at the sound of his voice and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I spotted his figure sitting in the chair across from the bed.

“You got a text from a Mulo saying he would take care of the kids."

“You went through my phone?"

"No, well yeah sort of. It went off shortly after you blacked out. Which was a bit odd, it was like he knew."

Marcus looked at me as if he was waiting on an explanation but he didn't need to be dragged in any deeper so I moved to get off the bed. My legs were unsteady and the sudden movement made me feel woozy. I sank back down onto the bed to let things settle before attempting to move again. Marcus was by my side in an instant and I shut my eyes against the light when he switched on the lamp.

"I have to go."

"I need you to stay. That was one hell of a kiss you laid on me. A lot of things came flooding back. Not everything, but enough.”

I sat quietly not having a good feeling about this. He didn’t seem happy or excited to have at least partial memories back. Instead he seemed cold and almost angry.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone looking for you. When I saw you with her, I was preparing to just let you go. You looked happy but when I ran into, I was just, you were so close and I just reacted.”

“She can’t have kids. Well she can get pregnant but she hasn’t been able to carry to term. We’ve lost three. The last one being about three months ago. She’s just getting better after that. I can’t leave her."

“I’m not asking you to. I don’t know what you got back and what you didn’t but I tried to push you away because life with her will be better for you. You should go back to Italy Marcus.”

“How the hell do you expect me to just walk away as if none of this is real? We have children you think I can just ignore that?” He yelled.

“No, I don’t know ok. Dax and Dunham are grown they’ve accepted your death so to speak. The triplets don’t know you so…”

“Triplets?”

“Yes when you went missing I was pregnant. We have triplets, two boys and one girl. Elton, Edson, and Elphie.”

“I’m the father of five.” He said dropping onto the bed. “How am I going to explain that to Florence?” Cautiously I moved over to embrace him.

“What happened to me? Why don’t I remember anything?”

“Me. You had the misfortune of loving me.”