“I’m on a date with Cash.” I refuse to hide the truth from her. My relationship with him has taken a pleasant and surprising turn. After tonight, I’m thinking about accepting his offer to become his girlfriend. I hover a thumb over the keyboard, wondering if I should share the details of our date. “He flew me to Chicago in his helicopter for a dinner party.” I snap a photo of the glamorous foyer to accompany the text.
“Wow!” A surprised-face emoji follows her reply. “Calling you now.” Her designated ring tone plays within seconds. When I accept the call, she asks, “Are you having fun?”
“Yes. So much fun. I wish you were here.” The sound of her voice reminds me of how much I love her.
“I’m happy for you, Jag.” The sincerity in her voice brings a lump to my throat.
“Really?” I turn to face the window. In the reflection of the glass, I can see Cash leaving the other room, walking toward me. “Because your approval means a lot.”
“If you’re happy, I’m happy.” She sighs, her breath crackling against the phone. “I’m sorry I was so judgmental.”
“And I’m sorry for being such a bitch. You’re only concerned because you care.”
“Look, I’ve got to go, but I want to hear all the details when you get a chance, okay?” Maybe it’s my imagination, but she sounds close to tears. “Have fun. Be safe.”
“Em, are you—” The call ends before I can ask about the strangeness in her tone then I dismiss it as my imagination.
“Everything okay?” Cash asks as he slips an arm around my waist.
“Yes, I think so. That was Em.” I stare at the phone then drop it into my purse.
“Are you speaking again?” He guides me toward the front door, his hand on the small of my back.
“I think we are.” I smile up at him. This evening gets better and better with each passing moment.
“That’s great news, little girl.” The deep rumble of his voice sends pleasant shivers along my spine. I hover in the safe space of his shoulder as we descend the steps to a silver limousine, different from the one we arrived in. He gives my ribs a squeeze. “Annie loves you. She wants us to spend a long weekend at her cabin in Colorado some time.”
“That’s really nice. I like her.” Following the losses of his parents and sister, I’m so glad he has a support system.
“Good. That means a lot to me. She and Gage are my family. Matthew, too. Although we don’t see as much of each other as I’d like.” His fingers weave through mine. My thighs are slick, my body primed for sex at his merest touch.
The driver opens the limo door. “Evening, Jag.” At the familiar voice, my head snaps up.
“Jimmy?” I grab his arm. “What are you doing here?” The last time I saw him, he was stuffed into the trunk of a car, about to face Cash’s wrath for fencing my stolen jewelry. I had assumed the worst. Seeing his uneven features and crooked grin lifts a heavy burden of guilt from my shoulders. I pull him into an impromptu hug. “Oh, my gosh. I’m so glad to see you.”
“Back atcha,” Jimmy replies with a wink.
“He’s working for me now.” Cash nudges me into the cool, dark interior. “This way, I can keep an eye on him.”
“I thought maybe you killed him.”
At my confession, Cash’s eyebrows lower. “I thought about it, but I didn’t want to give you another reason to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.” The evening grows more convoluted with each passing minute. “Well, okay, maybe I hated you in the beginning.” I scoot across the smooth leather seat until my thigh rests against his. “But you’re starting to grow on me.”
“I like the sound of that.” The shadow recedes from his handsome face. He squeezes my knee, renewing the ache between my legs.
“How long until we get home?” Everything about him calls to me—his lustful gaze, the bow of his upper lip, the spread of his fingers on my thigh. I press my knees together, fighting the urge to place his hand on my sex.
“Less than two hours.” His gaze flicks to the pillowcase of jewelry on the floor. Jimmy must have retrieved it from the alley. Cash hoists the makeshift bag into his lap then peers inside. His eyes widen at the sight of the watch. “Wow. That’s an unexpected bonus.”
“I know. Right?” My self-control snaps at the sight of the stolen merchandise. The instant Jimmy pulls away from the curb, I’m in Cash’s lap. I fumble at his belt buckle, lower his zipper, and reach inside the fly of his boxers to find his rigid cock.
“What the—?” He holds his hands in the air, watching my fingers work.
“I’m so hot for you right now.” I tug the cotton panel of my panties to the side with one hand and guide the head of his erection toward my opening with the other.
“Be my guest. Ah—fuck.” The declaration turns guttural as I lower onto him. He draws the spaghetti straps of my dress down my shoulders, lowers the bodice to expose my breasts, and bends to suck a nipple into his mouth. The wet heat of his mouth creates a direct hotline into my core.
I rock back and forth, my rhythm furious and sloppy. His hands go to my ass, clutching, kneading, squeezing, pressing me down until he’s unbelievably deep. Beyond the tinted glass of the windows, Chicago sparkles in the darkness. Music by Dirty Honey plays on the stereo. Cash releases my butt long enough to turn up the volume. I fist a hand in his shirt, demanding his attention. I want him. All of him.
“I don’t know what happened back there, but I’m all for it.” He jerks his hips upward, stabbing into me. The music barely disguises our grunts and gasps. I hope the Jimmy can’t hear us through the closed partition or at least gets an amazing bonus for the inconvenience.
“Someone came into the bedroom when I was up there. I’ve never been so scared or so thrilled. It was amazing. Like sex but even better.” Pleasure coils deep in my belly. I squeeze all my muscles, concentrating on the warring sensations of friction and slickness.
“You did great.” He tips his head back against the seat. The tendons of his neck stand out in the column of his throat. I grip his shoulders. He braces a hand against the ceiling. The beat of the music accelerates. With his free hand, Cash grabs my face, forcing me to focus on him. “Give me your mouth, Jagger. Kiss me.”
We dissolve into a blur of clutching fingers and slippery body parts. The side slit of my dress rips along the seam. Cash pushes the hem up to my waist, twists a hand in the front of my panties, and yanks the delicate silk off my hips.
Jimmy’s voice floats through the intercom. “Five minutes, boss.”
I’m too lost in sensation to comprehend. My muscles clench and flutter. Clench and flutter. Clench. Flutter. Clench. I cry out, undone by the power of my orgasm. Cash growls, coming with me. He rides out the endless waves of my release, milking every last drop of pleasure from my body. My head falls forward onto his shoulder. His hands smooth up and down my back.
Cash presses the intercom button. Although he’s buried deep inside me, his voice is business as usual. “Change of plans. Take us to my apartment.” He holds me close, keeping me in his lap. “I need more of you. In a bed where I can fuck you the way you deserve. We’ll fly back to Indy in the morning.”
Fourteen
Jagger
Cash turns on his side to face me, propping his head up on an elbow. The tips of his fingers trail down my sternum, circle my navel, then tease each nipple until they stand at attention. I have no idea what time it is—early morning, I think. We’ve had sex three times since we arrived at his Chicago apartment. Once in the foyer, once in the living room, and finally in his bed.
The bedroom is dark, but I can make out the shapes of sleek, modern furniture in polished woods and shiny metal. Unlike his Geist Lake mansion, the color palette of his apartment is gray, brown, and black. Masculine. Earthy. A little dark. Like him.
His fingers circle my navel again then drift lower to the cleft between my legs. I catch his hand. “No more. I’m sore. You’re going to wreck me.”
“I can’t ge
t enough of you.” He draws my hand to his mouth and kisses my fingers. “We’re going to have to build up your stamina.”
I yawn, not bothering to cover my mouth. “I’m so tired. And it’s going to be my first day at your store. I don’t want to embarrass you by falling asleep on the job.”
“You can call in. After all, you’re the boss. And I’m your boss, so there you go.” The warmth of his body seeps into mine. I glide a hand along the ripples of his abdomen. He’s long and lean, hard and muscular. Everything a man should be.
“What are you going to do with the jewels we took?” Until now, I’ve been too preoccupied with his body to care, but reality looms beyond the rising sun, and I still need answers. Answers he’s avoided.
“Diamonds are an international currency. Some of them I sell. Some of them I trade for services.”
“Like what?” I ask. His jaw clenches. I can feel the tension spread through his body. I cup his chin in my palm. “Don’t shut down. Tell me. You promised to try.” The struggle to comply shows in the pained furrow between his brows.
“Some go toward my retirement fund.” He rolls onto his back and clasps his hands behind his head. I follow him, turning onto my side, resting my cheek on his chest. Beneath my ear, his heart beats in a steady rhythm. I toy with the smattering of hair covering his sternum. His deep voice rumbles through his ribcage. “The rest goes toward finding them—the men who took Chelle. The people who deal with these kinds of things—snipers, mercenaries, hunters—they like diamonds for payment. Diamonds are untraceable and easily converted into cash.” The anger in his voice is frightening. “And every time I located one of those motherfuckers, I took him down.” His fingers tickle along the length of my arm. “But I found the last one a few weeks ago.”
“Is Reaper on your list?” The memory of his cruel words at Cash’s bar sends a shiver down my back. And maybe I’ll tell you how your beloved Chelle begged for her life, right up to the very last breath in her delicious body.
“He talks big, but he wasn’t a part of it. Do you think I’d let him live this long if he was?” The ominous threat behind this statement reminds me of the uncivilized side of Cash’s persona. Although he can be callous, he loves deeply. Those two conflicting facets of his character must be a constant source of inner turmoil for him. “I tolerate him because I don’t want to start a gang war at this late juncture in my career.”
“Annie says you’re loyal to a fault. I’m beginning to believe it. One thing I don’t understand is why you stole from your friend tonight.” This tidbit had been bothering me.
“Arnaud isn’t a friend. Like I said, his allegiance always lies with the highest bidder. The jewels you took? Arnaud stole them from me about a year ago. Not the watch—we’ll call that interest due.” His lips twitch in amusement. “He’s attached himself to Matthew, hoping to have a friendly face in the Senate. Up until a few months ago, he was aligned with the DOR. I owe him nothing.”
Satisfied by his explanation, I roll onto my side and prop my head on an elbow. I appreciate this peek into Cash’s complicated life. His fingers continue their delicious exploration of my arm. Although I want to give into my desire, I’m going to take advantage of his willingness to talk. “How long have you been planning tonight?”
“A few weeks. It was Annie’s idea. She met Arnaud years ago through her service. We’ve been waiting for the right time. Using him as a political supporter serves multiple purposes. It drains Arnaud’s bank account, puts money into Matthew’s campaign funds, and allows me to steal a million dollars in jewels out of his safe—right under his nose.” Cash grips my biceps and hauls me on top of him. The movement takes little effort on his part, reminding me of his strength and size. Our bodies align perfectly. I stretch out, resting my face on his shoulder, enjoying the glide of his palms along the curve of my back. “He can’t call the cops because that would open the door into his private affairs. He’ll suspect it was me, but he won’t be able to do anything about it.”
“You’re an evil genius, Cash Delacorte.” My eyelids grow heavier with each passing rise and fall of his chest. I’m comfortable, warm, and safe. Two sensations that have been rare in my world.
“I know.” His lips curve into a smile against my hair. “None of this brings Chelle back. I thought I’d feel better once I’d gotten my revenge, but I don’t.”
“I’m sorry.” I kiss his bare skin where my cheek has been resting.
“So am I,” he replies.
“What was she like?” I’m not going to waste this rare opportunity to explore his past. The door could slam shut at any minute. Understanding his perspective softens the last of any misgivings I’ve had about him. I empathize with his situation, and I appreciate his need to avenge a sister who died too young and for all the wrong reasons.
He’s quiet for a long time. “She had long hair and pretty dark eyes. Sometimes when she laughed, she’d snort and then laugh harder.” He chuckles. My body relaxes beneath his roaming caresses. “She was smart and funny. Sometimes I think about how she might be today—married, kids, happy.” The sadness in his tone breaks my heart.
“I’m so sorry, Cash.” I hug his chest tighter, hoping to take away some of his pain.
“Me too.” He wraps both arms around my back, holding me close. His lips brush the top of my head. “Better get some rest, baby girl. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.”
I don’t want to waste this rare opportunity to learn more about him, but I hold back the dozens of questions whirring through my head. I won’t ask for more than he’s willing to give. Life has dealt him some bad blows. I wonder if Callie knows about Chelle and his parents. Would it have made a difference in their relationship if she had? They’re both damaged souls. The line between love and hate is a fragile thing. Maybe his darkness was too much for her wounded heart to handle and turned her affection to dislike. Unlike my sister, I can’t hate him for who he is. He’s done the best he can under the circumstances.
His breathing slows, and his embrace relaxes as he drifts into sleep. I continue to cling to his warm body, nuzzling my nose into his neck. “I’m here for you, Cash,” I whisper and surrender to dreams of Cash and a room filled with priceless jewels.
After breakfast, we fly back to Indianapolis for my first day as the general manager at Dark Desires. I leave my car in the nearby parking garage and walk to the building. On the way, the hairs on the back of my next stand up. I glance over my shoulder, half expecting to see Kyle on the sidewalk behind me. Thankfully, the sidewalk is empty.
The uneasiness ebbs away as I ring the doorbell to Dark Desires. Kyle has no idea where I live and work. If he wanted to find me, he could’ve done so a long time ago. Instead of dwelling on my ex, I force my thoughts to Cash. Last night was exhilarating. I finally feel like I understand Cash and the reasons behind his dual personalities. I smooth nervous hands over the front of my dress, clearing my thoughts of his sexy smile to focus on my new job. I have no idea what’s in store for me. On the other side of the security door, I hear light footsteps, the metallic click of the locks, and the door swings open.
“Hello.” The familiar voice carries a note of icy discord. Athena, once my sister’s partner in crime, frowns down at me from her towering height. In her strappy stilettos, she’s at least six inches taller than I am.
“Hi.” The contents of my stomach curdle. How is this happening? She’s the last person I expected to see here. Our history consists of one brief but complicated encounter. One that didn’t end well for her or Cash.
“Don’t you look surprised.” A sadistic sneer curls Athena’s red lips. “I take it Cash didn’t tell you that I’d be training you.”
“Um, no.” The last of my confidence explodes and fizzles into nothingness. Why didn’t he mention Athena?
“Typical man.” She wrinkles her nose in a playful smirk. I hate her overconfident grin, her perky breasts, and her model-like stature. “Bad for you, but good for me. I hate doing this shitty job
when I should be out kicking ass. And I do love a good surprise. Especially when it works in my favor.”
“I’m sure he just forgot. He’s been preoccupied lately.” I can’t bear for her to think she’s got the upper hand. I have as much reason to carry a grudge as she does.
“Cash never forgets anything.” She places a hand on her hip. “If he didn’t tell you, he had a reason.”
Maybe Cash never forgets anything, but I had forgotten about Athena. The night we met had been one of the best and worst events of my life. Callie had taken me to London then left me. Afterward, I forced everything about the evening from my mind, including Athena. I never dreamed I’d see her again. Not here. Not so close to my hometown. In retrospect, it was a stupid assumption. She works for Cash. We were bound to run into each other eventually. I lift my chin. “Maybe Cash didn’t think you were important enough to mention.”
“Oh, snap.” Her eyes flash. “Still got a mouth on you. Just like your bitch of a sister.”
“Don’t start on Calliope, or we’re going to have a problem.”
“We already have a problem.” She takes a step toward me.
I hold my ground, chin raised and shoulders squared. My temper flares. I don’t care how scary this woman is—I won’t tolerate abuse of my sister. Cash and I have that in common. We’re loyal to our loved ones. “Come out here and say that.”
Her laughter rings through the doorway. “Aren’t you adorable? As enticing as that sounds, let’s save our squabbles for the bedroom.” A hint of southern accent lingers in her words. “Well, don’t be shy. Come on in.” She steps aside to allow me through the door. Her high heels tap on the floor as she leads me down the hall. “Let’s start in the office, shall we? You can tell me all about what you’ve been up to since we last met.”
“I’m sure you already know.”
“I know the basics, but I’d like to hear the details from you.” Although her words are polite, her tone carries subtle undertones of sarcasm. The office is cool and dark, decorated in muted shades of beige and gold. “We have plenty of time. The client won’t be here for at least an hour.” She claims the seat behind the desk, crossing her long legs at the knee, and gestures toward the chair across from her. I sit, feeling pudgy and awkward next to her aloof blonde chic. “Goodness. The last time we were together, you had your tongue halfway down my throat.”
Absolute Trust Page 9
