Page 121 of Reckless Hearts

“We should go back to the club to pick up the Maserati,” I say.

Marcus waves his hand dismissively. “It can stay there overnight. It’s more important to get you home to rest.”

Home. The idea of having a home with Marcus hits me like a wave of nostalgia for a place I’ve never actually been.

Because we don’t have a home. We have a hotel suite Marcus is renting by the week.

I drag my mind back to focus on practicalities.

“It’s an expensive car to leave in the carpark.”

“That’s what insurance is for,” Marcus says.

When we reach the suite, it’s a repeat of the other day. Marcus looking after me, caring for me. He fusses over me, bringing me water, pain relievers, and even a cool compress for my head.

It gives me a glimpse of what life would be like if Marcus wasn’t just a visitor in my life but a permanent fixture.

Suddenly, it’s not just my head that is hurting, but my heart as well.

27

Marcus

Seb falls asleep quickly, his dark curls spilling onto the pillow like a halo.

I hover over him, watching the flutter of his eyelashes against his cheeks, resisting the urge to brush a stray curl from his forehead.

If I wasn’t here, who would be looking after him?

The thought sobers me.

I like being able to care for Seb when he needs me. But equally, I’m the last person he should ever rely on.

Being here these last few weeks has made me feel like I’m playing another part, a devoted boyfriend, where I get to pick my boyfriend up from the hospital, where I get to check him for signs of concussion, look after him, care for him.

But I know, deep down, that it’s all just playing pretend.

I head back into the lounge. The laundry service has dropped off a bag of my clean clothes. I don’t want to disturb Seb in the bedroom, so I begin sorting my clothes into piles on the coffee table.

My phone chirps with a call from Saskia.

“Hey, it’s me. Can you tell the security team it’s okay for me to come up?”

My stomach plunges. Saskia. Saskia here. Saskia here when I have her little brother asleep in my bed.

“How about I come down to you, and we go out somewhere?” I say.

“Yeah, I’m not really in a state to go out.” It’s then I hear the edge in Saskia’s voice.

“What happened?”

“I’ll tell you about it when I come up.”

Shit.

I’ve got no other option but to clear her with the security team.

I unlock the door to my suite, then race back to my bedroom to check on Seb. He’s still asleep. What can I do? There’s no way to smuggle him out of here. And I don’t want to wake him to warn him. He needs to sleep.