Love in the Dark

by 12 Book Boxed Set (epub)

  I gently gripped her chin between my thumb and forefinger and lifted it to look into her eyes. "You're too good to simply fuck in a fantasy room. You're perfect to spend some time alone with there, though. I thought it might be fun. Maybe see some more of the dancers."

  Flashing me another of her gorgeous smiles, she ran her hands over my shoulders. "By the way, you look incredible. I don't know how you do it, but you have a way of making a black dress shirt look so hot."

  Pressing my lips to hers, I slid my tongue inside her mouth, loving the feel of her in my arms. That conference room just a few feet away looked like a much better idea than spending time out in the bar, but Olivia pulled away just as I'd decided to go for another round on the mahogany table.

  "Time to go. Our first public appearance awaits."

  Even though we'd talked about this for days, suddenly the idea of dealing with Stefan and his questions or worse, his comments about my personal life, seemed like the worst idea I'd had in a long time. I'd worked hard to keep my personal life private, but now I was about to upend all that work to show Olivia how much I wanted to be with her.

  The rhythm of the music pounded through the club, matching our steps as Olivia and I walked toward the bar, my hand pressed lightly on the small of her back to guide her. The room teemed with people, but the crowd fell away to make room for us to pass. I spied Stefan do a double-take when he saw us, and instinctively I tightened my arm around Olivia's waist.

  She looked more stunning than every other woman in the place when she turned to look at me confused about my sudden possessiveness, her big brown eyes staring up at me as if to ask, "Is something wrong?"

  Stefan beat a path to us, pushing past people on his way to where we stood. Pulling me toward the end of the bar, he said in my ear, "How long have you been with Olivia?"

  I simply stared at him, amazed he thought he should ask anything about my personal life even now. He saw he wasn't going to get any information from me, so he turned on the charm and leaned down to say in Olivia's ear, "I see you let yourself get comfortable here. Good for you!"

  Unaware of my past with my brother, she beamed a smile up at him. "Thanks!"

  "So what are you two planning tonight?" he asked over the music. Before we could escape, his buddy Jake sidled up next to him with a look that screamed he couldn't believe his eyes. For a friend of Olivia's, he didn't look too friendly.

  "What's up, Liv? I didn't think this was your type of scene."

  "Hi Jake! Long time, no see," Olivia chirped sweetly at the jackass.

  He hadn't said twenty words and already I hated Jake Richfield. His gelled dirty blond hair and cheap ass watch and clothes made me want to knock him flat on his ass. My hold on Olivia tightened even further until she was pressed right to my body. Prying his stare off my date, he looked me dead in the eyes as if we were close friends and asked, "What's up, Cassian?"

  Olivia looked up at me, and I gave her a tiny smile. "See you later, Stefan. Have a good night. Looks like the crowd is great tonight."

  I didn't give him or his asshole friend a chance to answer or continue the conversation. Taking Olivia's hand in mine, I led her to the stairs and we made our way up to the fantasy rooms. Kane stood guard at his usual place at the end of the hall with one of his rare smiles on his face.

  Leaning down, I whispered low in Olivia's ear, "Wait for me in room ten. I'll be there in a minute."

  As I watched her walk down the hallway, I heard Kane say behind me, "So that's why you reserved a room. I wondered what was up."

  Olivia entered room ten and closed the door. I turned to face Kane, hoping he'd be a little more mature than Stefan. I needed a brother who could act like an adult now. "Thanks for not saying anything to Stefan. I appreciate it."

  "No problem. Olivia's a sweet girl. She's good for you, and since she's obviously okay with the whole Rachel thing, I have to give her credit."

  I looked away to avoid Kane's stare. "She doesn't know about Rachel."

  And in just those few words was the very problem that haunted every minute I spent with Olivia. Until that moment, I hadn't said them out loud, only allowing them to exist in my mind and torment me. I knew it was wrong not to tell her, and yet I couldn't bring myself to explain that part of my past.

  "That's not good, Cash. Women don't like finding out the man they're falling for still has a wife."

  "She's not my wife. We separated years ago. All that remains are legal formalities."

  Kane wasn't buying my excuses. Leaning forward, he leveled his gaze on me. "You're either married or divorced. Separated means nothing to a woman like Olivia."

  "I can't divorce Rachel. I never had her sign a pre-nup. We divorce and this club is one of the first things she'll go after. I know her."

  Kane's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "No pre-nup? What were you thinking, Cash?"

  "I wasn't thinking. I was a kid in love."

  "And now you're a grown man who if he doesn't tell Olivia the truth is going to lose her."

  I looked down the hall at the room where Olivia waited. "I'd planned on telling her tonight. I just don't know how to."

  "You know me, Cash. I'm all about leaving the past in the past. Nobody should have to deal with what I was. But Olivia's going to find out, and if she doesn't find out from you, you're done. You can't come back from that kind of lie, even if it is just a sin of omission."

  I nodded, knowing every word he said was right. I needed to tell Olivia everything, and all I could hope for was that she'd understand. There was nothing between Rachel and me anymore. There hadn't been for a long time. I just needed to make sure Olivia knew that too.

  16

  Olivia

  I sat on the couch in the fantasy room waiting for Cash, anxious for us to finally spend time together here as a couple. No, I didn't plan to sleep with him in this place where God only knew what had gone on before us, but it felt sort of naughty to be here again. I liked how sexy being with him made me feel, and hanging out in a fantasy room in Club X fulfilled at least one of my fantasies of Cash.

  The door opened, and he stepped in looking just as stunning as always, but for the first time in one of these rooms, I got to see the man before he seduced me. Taking a seat next to me, he leaned back against the couch cushions and took my hand in his. "A little different this time, isn't it?"

  "Sort of like the first time you and I came to one of these rooms that night you gave me the grand tour of the club."

  Bringing my hand to his lips, he placed a tiny kiss in the center of my palm. "That's right. I didn't think you liked this world of mine then."

  I shrugged, remembering that night a little differently. I'd been crazy about him even then. I just didn't have the nerve to let him know like I did now. Climbing onto his lap, I hiked up my dress and straddled his hips. "I liked you then. I wasn't sure what to think of your world, though."

  He slid his hands over my ass and around to rest on my legs, making my pussy run wet when his thumbs began gently stroking the insides of my thighs. Looking up at me with those ice blue eyes, he asked, "And now?"

  I tilted my hips and inched up against his already hard cock. A slow sexy grin told me he liked what I was doing. "I like the way I get to be with you and your world."

  Cash closed his eyes and moaned as I rubbed against him. "Things aren't always what they seem, Olivia. Sometimes there's a lot more going on beneath the surface."

  I sensed he wanted to tell me something but was hesitating. I waited, slowing my hips, and hoped he knew he could say anything to me. He grimaced for just a moment and then his expression stilled before he opened his eyes and gave me a forced smile. I leaned in to kiss him and whispered, "I like the surface already, but I'd love to see what's going on beneath."

  Cash seemed to consider what I said, and I wondered if he was trying to tell me those three incredibly scary words. Was he planning to say "I love you"? I didn't know if I was ready for him to go there, but I knew how terrifying it was to s
ay those words when the other person might not feel the same. Things had moved pretty fast between us, but even though I might not say I love you yet, that didn't mean in many ways I wasn't already crazy about him.

  "Olivia, I never thought I'd meet someone I could really be myself around like I am with you."

  "I like that, Cash. You don't have to pretend to be anything but what you really are with me. I hope you know that."

  I waited for him to say something, but instead he pulled me down and kissed me like I'd never been kissed before. His mouth captured mine and possessed it like he was claiming me. Every inch of my body came alive, and I wanted him right there in that room. My hips bucked against him as my clit throbbed with need and my fingers raced to get his shirt open. I wanted him naked under me as I rode his cock until there was nothing left in either of us.

  "Olivia…not here."

  Even as his words said no, he stroked the pad of his thumb over my clit, nearly sending me over the edge with just one touch. "Yes…" I moaned as I slid his tie from around his neck and opened the last button on his shirt. "Right here."

  He stopped my hands as they skimmed down from the black and red words tattooed on his chest over the chiseled cuts of his abs just above his belt. "You need to know…"

  I stared down at him as I waited for him to continue. He didn't have to explain that this room wasn't private or that he didn't want me to think he saw me as some cheap thing if we did this. I knew that, and still I wanted him inside me right there in that room just like I'd fantasized about all those weeks.

  Whatever he wanted to say never came from his lips, and slowly, he loosened his hold on my hands until they were free. He stared up at me with hooded eyes that told me he wanted this as much as I did. I reached into his pants and palmed his hard cock. "I want you right here. Right now."

  Cash lifted me off him and with both hands gripped my hips tightly. Hesitating for a moment, he opened his mouth to speak but said nothing again and lowered me down onto him. Already sopping wet, I gasped at how full I felt as he slid into me. Finally, our bodies completed joined, and he held me still there on him.

  "You feel so fucking good. Ride me. I want to see you ride my cock, baby."

  With his hands guiding my pace, I slid up and down on him slowly, loving how sensual this thing between us was. Pressing my lips to his neck, I inhaled the scent of him as he slid in and out of my slick pussy, loving the masculinity that filled me. Cash grunted low in my ear, and it registered deep inside me in a place only he'd ever reached.

  In a husky voice, he commanded, "Lean back. I want to watch you, Olivia."

  I sat up tall on him and lifted myself off his cock, only leaving the head inside me to tease him. His thighs tensed against my calves and his fingers dug into my hips, and then he lifted his hips and pushed his cock hard into me. I watched his face twist in a mixture of power and need, loving the control he possessed over me.

  This was my fantasy come true.

  With every thrust into me, Cash overwhelmed my senses. The sound of our fucking echoed around us, moans and whimpers that grew louder with each moment as we raced toward that sweet oblivion I'd only ever experienced with him. The sight of those blue eyes so intent as they stared down at the spot on our bodies where his cock stretched my opening to take all of him. The musky scent of his cologne tinged with the smell of sex filled my nose. The sensation of him filling me more completely than I thought possible made me want to give him all of me.

  Our lovemaking pushed every thought of anything but Cash out of my mind. I rode him with abandon, desperate to give him what he gave me. My body exploded into a million pieces, and I clung to him even though I barely had the strength to hold on. In my ear, I heard him moan my name, and then he came with one last thrust into me, flooding my insides with heat.

  I stilled in his arms and buried my face into his neck, the subtle saltiness of his skin making me lick my lips to taste him. His hands gently stroked up and down my back as if to comfort me, but I didn't need comforting. Being with him was all I needed.

  Pressing a tiny kiss on the shell of his ear, I whispered, "You okay?"

  He inhaled, expanding his chest against me, and let the air out of his lungs slowly. "That was incredible." Gently pushing me back away from him, he smiled that sexy smile that never failed to thrill me. "Was this your fantasy?"

  I bit my lip. "Part of it," I said coyly, unable to contain my smile.

  "Just part?"

  "Yeah. I'll save the rest of it for another time."

  Cash leaned up to kiss me and then lightly ran his tongue over the seam of my lips. "I'll have to keep that in mind."

  "Livy, you sound utterly exhausted."

  I smiled at Josie's entirely correct description of me. My time with Cash in our fantasy room had exhausted me physically and emotionally. In just a short time, he'd become such a huge part of my life, and our first time out in public had shown me how much he was into me too. "I got to bed late last night, so I'm a little beat."

  "I hear that you and Cassian made an appearance at Club X last night. Seems you two are the new hot couple there."

  "I wouldn't go that far, Josie. We just took our dating public last night. That's all."

  "Erin said Jake couldn't talk about anything else last night. I'd expect a call from him anytime now, Liv. Can you say jealous?"

  The way she said jealous in a sing-song voice told me she was enjoying herself. "Jake and I are friends. Period. He knows that. I'm going to grab a shower and a bite to eat. I'll give you a call later."

  "Call me the second you get off the phone with Jake. I'm dying to hear his tale of woe."

  "Talk to you later, Josie."

  I ended the call and shook my head at her not-so-secret desire to see Jake miserable. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned indeed. Checking the time on my phone, I mentally chastised myself for spending the entire morning in bed. It may have been Saturday, but sleeping in until noon wasn't my style. Another side effect of dating Cassian March.

  That sounded so strange as I repeated those words in my mind. Dating Cassian March, the owner of the hottest club in town and one of Tampa's most eligible bachelors. Stretching my arms and legs, I enjoyed the sweet ache between my legs from our lovemaking. A girl could definitely get used to a man like Cash.

  A knock on my door put an end to my memories of our time together, and I shuffled my tired self out to the living room to see who it was. I saw Jake's face through the peephole and opened the door to find him standing there with flowers in his hand.

  He stuck the bouquet out toward me. "Hey, Livy, I thought I'd come over and see how you're doing. It's been a long time."

  "Thanks! Come in. I just got up, so don't mind the fact that I look like a bus hit me. Late night, you know?"

  Jake followed me into the kitchen as I found a vase for the wildflowers he'd brought. From behind me as I stood at the sink to fill it with water, he said, "It was great seeing you last night. I didn't think I'd ever see you at Club X."

  Arranging the flowers, I chuckled. "I didn't think so either, but I guess everyone ends up there." Turning around, I showed him his gift. "These are beautiful, Jake. Thank you."

  "So now you're with Cassian March? I wouldn't have thought he was your type, Livy."

  Jake's pale blue eyes flashed anger. I'd never seen him as anything but a good time, but now he was frightening me. "I don't know if I have a type, Jake."

  "He's quite a player. Not exactly the type of guy you usually go for. Or was that just an excuse why you never wanted to be with me?"

  Suddenly, my galley kitchen seemed entirely too small for our discussion. I moved to walk out into the living room, but he stuck his arm out in front of me and stopped me cold with a hard forearm to my midsection. "Jake, let me out. Now."

  He pulled me fast against his body. "Stop being such a cock tease, Liv. You like players now, so why shouldn't we have a good time finally? You know I've wanted to get inside those yoga pants for years.
"

  I looked up and saw him smiling down at me, like this was fun for him. "Jake, let me go. You know I only like you as a friend. It has nothing to do with Cash and me. You and I have always been friends. You, me, Josie, and Erin are the four musketeers."

  Jake slid his hands down to grab my ass and pulled me against him so I could feel his erection. His fingers pressed hard into my skin, hurting me. "Jake, let me go NOW! You're hurting me!"

  He pulled my hair hard and jammed his knee between my thighs. "What is it you like? The money? I've got as much or more. The fact that he's fucked more women than he can remember? Me too. So no more fucking teasing me, sweetheart. I've waited long enough."

  Tears burned my eyes, and I cried out, "Don't do this!" He looked down at me and gave me a sinister smile, so I begged, "Please, Jake, you don't want to do this."

  "Oh, yes I do. All these years you've been sweet little Livy, too good for me. Your friends weren't, but you were always out of my reach. I've been patient and stuck in the friend zone for way too fucking long, but no more."

  I twisted out of his hold and ran to get my phone, hoping that if I could call 911 the cops might get there before Jake really hurt me. He grabbed me just as I reached it, yanking me back by my hair so I fell back against him. His hands clawed at my breasts, squeezing them painfully. I screamed, but he stifled my call for help by covering my mouth with his palm.

  The phone was too far from me, and there was no way anyone had heard my screams. Fear tore through me that Jake was going to rape me right there in my apartment and nobody would be there to stop him. He jammed his hand down the front of my panties, bruising my skin, and I knew I had to do something. Opening wide, I bit down on the fingers covering my mouth until I tasted the metallic tinge of blood on my tongue. Jake howled in anger and sent me flying with a backhand to my cheek. I fell hard to the floor but instantly scrambled for my phone as he stood looking at his bloody hand, stunned at what I'd done.

  My hands trembled so badly I could barely hold the phone. "Get the fuck out of here before I call 911 and have your fucking ass arrested. Get out!"