by Amber Heart
“I am not going anywhere and they can wrap things up without me.” I was not going to let her put distance between us. Not anymore. “I don’t want to keep you from your work or other things you are busy with.” Her tone had that hint of jealousy. By other things she meant Elsa. “Cassandra, that day you saw me and Elsa you have it all wrong. She tried to kiss me, but I forced her away.” “Then why was she between your legs?” “I pushed her away from me and she fell onto the floor, you walked in at the worst possible time, I promise.”
“I couldn’t care less about anything right now, Cassandra. I am here because I want to be with you,” I said in a soft tone and an emotion flickered on her face. Hope? But then she turned her face away. “I appreciate the thought, Mr. Maxfield. But it’s unnecessary. I’ll be leaving for home in a bit anyway.” Her resistance and that stupid staying professional attitude was pissing me off.
“You are coming with me.” She snapped her face in my direction with disbelief and panic. “No, I am not.” “Yes, you are. I’ll go check with the papers and see if we can leave now.” I gave her a hard stare, challenging her to refuse my offer. “I am telling you, Mr. Maxfield, I am going nowhere with you. You can leave right now,” she sat up. Her expression surprised me. It was more of panic and fear rather than anger. What was she afraid of? I sat on the bed, facing her and cupped her cheek. “I’ll take care of you, babe, I don’t want you to be on your own. Not after this. Why don’t you trust me to look after you?” She looked away and pulled from my touch. “I don’t want anybody to take care of me. I can do that on my own. I don’t want you. You are my boss and this is highly unprofessional,” she said and I decided to end this professional charade right now.
“To hell with the professionalism, Cassandra! Stop fighting the attraction that’s between us. We both know that we want each other. Why do you keep bringing this boss employee thing between us? Why are you pushing me away when I want to take care of you? What are you afraid of? Why aren’t you willing to give me a chance?” I burst out. She looked at me, stunned. Her eyes were filled with raw emotions. But then she looked away, hiding herself, her soul from me. “I cannot do this,” she said. I had already made my decision. “Give me one good reason why you can’t and I’ll back off. And I am your boss is not one of them.” I waited for her to answer but nothing came out. “We are having it my way until you provide me with a reasonable answer. You are coming with me now. Either you willingly walk on your own or I’ll be more than happy to pick you up on my shoulder.” I didn’t allow her to think of an answer and left the room.
Chapter 10
Cassandra
His words scared me. My feelings scared me. All of this was scaring the shit out of me. The way he looked at me when he entered the hospital room; it was as if he had found his purpose in life. Then he released his stubbornness over bringing me to his place to take care of me. I was losing it. I wanted to run away and protect myself. I have never been taken care of, not in a long time and I had grown to be fiercely independent. But Aaron was taking that away from me. Now I was sat in his living room, wearing his shirt, wrapped in a blanket with a steaming hot bowl of soup in my hands. He was right there in front of me working in the kitchen fixing me a healthy dinner for later. When was the last time anyone did that for me? I honestly can’t even remember, it’s been that long.
Why is he doing all this? He’s just going leave me stranded like I did to him. There is no way this is real, it’s Aaron. He isn’t this caring. He’s a bad boy lady killer who doesn’t have time for the same girl twice. Can I really trust him? Shall I wait and find out? Or do I leave now with some dignity still intact?
I stepped out of the blanket and walked to the kitchen counter. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Aaron immediately turned to me and asked. Oh, how I wanted to curl my arms around him and hug him, ask him to take me under his wings and protect me. But I had to stay strong, for myself. “Cassandra?” his soft whisper of my name left his lips. Oh God. I closed my eyes briefly and cleared my throat. “I need to go back home, please. Thank you for your hospitality. But I think I should head back now.” He didn’t say a word. “I am sure you are feeling crowded and I don’t want to invade your privacy anymore.” Why wasn’t he saying anything? “I really am okay and can take care of myself. Thank you for … everything. That was very kind of you,” I was mumbling and he was just staring at me from the other side of the counter. “Cass?” Aaron calling me by my shortened name was strange. “Yes?” “Shut up.” His face was straight and eyes pointing. “Oh, okay,” I haltered a bit. “But I don’t want to burden you with my presence. You must have a hundred things to do,” I said. He glared at me and then in a blink of an eye he had captured my face in both of his hands and was kissing me.
Oh god, I missed this so much. I should have fought him but instead I kissed him back with equal force of longing and passion and desire. Just one kiss and I’ll leave. I said to myself and poured everything I had into that kiss. He groaned and then his arms snaked to my torso and he pulled me across the counter so I was sitting on the cold marble. He stood there between my legs. I clutched his hair in my hand and caressed his hard jaw with the other. All in attempt to prolong that kiss. Just a minute more. He broke away from my mouth and started pressing small kisses on my chin and jaw. “You are right,” he said between the kisses. That’s it. My time was up. Sadness and disappointment filled inside me. “I do have a hundred things to do right now,” he murmured as he got closer to my ear. He was asking me to leave. I loosened my grip on his head. “Starting with losing myself in you,” he said into my ear and then bit the lobe making me moan in pleasure. “Aaron, we can’t,” I said. “Yes, we can. I don’t remember you giving me any reason not to yet. So until then, I am not letting you go. I have waited long enough.” He picked me up from the counter and started walking, without tearing his mouth away from me. When I tried to protest he silenced me with his kiss.
He laid me on his bed and then stripped out of his shirt, his eyes remained on me. They were dilated with such desire and passion that I could feel it in the air. My eyes followed his perfectly inclined broad chest, structured beautifully with masculine abs with a trail of hair disappearing into his pants which entertained a huge bulge; stating his arousal. My mouth watered at the sight. When my eyes went back up, he was smirking at me. “Like what you see, baby?” And then he climbed beside me and helped me out of my shirt and trousers. I was numbed by his features that were all too clear from our last encounter.
“Stop thinking too much, Cassandra. Let everything go for today. Let me make you feel good. Let it go, baby,” he said in a feather light voice and then lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me. It was soft and sensual, it faded every other thought from my mind and all that was left was him, me and our connection. His hands traveled all over my body in light touches, teasing me and building anticipation. “Aaron,” I moaned his name as he lowered down his mouth to my shoulders and then to my breasts which ached for his attention.
“Do not fight me, Cassandra. I want you so much,” he said to me looking into my eyes. There was no hardness in them, no stubbornness to get the upper hand. Just desire, pure desire – for me. My heart flipped because I knew nothing would be the same after this. I caressed his cheek and said, “I want you too, Aaron. Only you.” His face lowered as he kissed me again. “Look what you do to me” he said between the kiss and then reached for his own pants. He pressed his forehead against mine. “I have never met anyone like you, ever. You complete me, Cassandra.” And then he pushed inside me, making me his.
I was so his. Body and soul. I was in love with Aaron. With every thrust I said to myself how perfect this was. “Look at me, Cass.” He ordered me softly. I looked into his eyes. “I want to see you when you cum for me, baby, only me,” His fingers found my clit and I exploded around him in an intense orgasm crying out his name. He mirrored me and I felt his cock pulsating inside of me, the rubber catching his load.
I lay on his chest with
his arms wrapped around me and his chin above my head. We lay like this for a few minutes. It was absolute heaven. I never wanted this day to end.
*
As we cuddled up together in bed “Why are you so afraid of water?” he asked me and I stiffened. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I am sorry if I made you remember something bad.” He pressed a kiss on my head and tightened his arms around me. For the first time I wanted to share my secrets. “I was seven and we were on my Dad’s boat,” I began. He circled his thumb on my bare arm and he listened closely.
“Rick, my brother and I, we never got along well back then. We’re fine now though. He was twelve and we were always fighting. That day he kept threatening to push me into the water,” I shuddered as the memory of that day returned. “I dared him and called him a coward. Then he actually picked me up and dropped me into the water. I knew how to swim, but I wasn’t confident in the water at all. I cried for him to help but he stood on the deck and laughed. All the fight and energy left my body and I was so close to the propeller, it was almost hitting me before my Dad finally brought me back just in time. The fear has never left my mind since then. I feel suffocated in water. I never go swimming.” When I finished, Aaron pushed me on my back. His face was impassive. Obviously my childish story wasn’t to his taste. Embarrassment took over me and I turned my face away but he caught it my jaw and made me see him again.
“I am sorry I sent you to that shoot,” his face was now earnest. “I am sorry I kept you working late and exhausted you. I am sorry I wasn’t there to save you sooner.” My heart melted at his apology. He was apologizing for what wasn’t his fault. “That’s not your fault, Aaron.” “Even then, Cassandra. I was an arrogant asshole to you,” he said seriously and I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, you were,” I confirmed and he looked at me quizzically and then smiled himself. “Where’s Rick now?” he asked. “In DC. He joined the FBI.” “Good thing he isn’t near,” he said with a frown and my heart warmed. He was willing to stand before my brother for something I went through ages ago. “Yes, but I am and let’s do something about it,” I said to him and then climbed on top of him and whispered into his ear, “Round two, babe.” And then lowered myself on his already hard length. “You are going to be the death of me,” Aaron groaned and then took my mouth for another kiss that cried protection and possession. I was willing to surrender.
*
We sat in comfortable silence and ate the delicious pasta he’d fixed earlier. His phone buzzed and he looked down at the caller ID. His face turned hard and he silenced the phone, ignoring the call. Moments later it started buzzing again. “Pick it up. It may be something important,” I said between chewing. He looked up at me and gave me a small smile, “Nothing is more important than this.” He brought his face closer and gave me a chaste kiss. God, he was a born romantic. His phone kept buzzing relentlessly. “Give me a second. I’ll get rid of this,” he said to me apologetically and picked up his phone and walked towards the foyer, out of my hearing range.
Curiosity burned inside me. And I put my plate away and walked a few steps closer to the foyer. He was on the phone. “It was stupid of me to listen to you, Elsa. This isn’t ever going to happen. I told you earlier and I am telling you now, it’s over. I don’t want you around.” He was talking to that brunette? Jealousy enveloped me. “Say one word about her and I’ll make you regret it. I am damn serious, Elsa. Stay the fuck out of my life.” I heard him growling. I quickly came back to the counter and stood against it. He walked in moments later, his face filled with rage.
“All good with the call?” I asked him trying to sound casual. He looked at me in a fierce gaze and I cringed back. He advanced towards me like a tiger stalking its prey and kissed me passionately. My knees began to go weak and I grabbed him for support. “Now everything is good.” He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against mine. “Cassandra, I have done things in my life that I am not proud of. I have objectified women for a long time.” His confession scared me. Where was he going? “But with you, I want to try everything. I can only hope that you’ll be there with me to test the waters.” Was he saying he wanted more between us? God. What should I say to him? “You don’t have to say anything. I don’t want your answer now. Take all the time you need but always remember, Cassandra, if you run away from me, I’ll chase you down to the ends of the earth. Always.” If this wasn’t a declaration, then I don’t know what else was. I was royally fallen under the spell casted by Aaron Maxfield and I wasn’t complaining.
Chapter 11
Aaron
I was smiling like an idiot all morning and the entire office knew something was up. Waking up next to Cassandra was the best damn sight I had ever seen. She was a pure goddess lying naked across me with her platinum blonde hair fanned on my pillow with her hands draped on me possessively. Yeah, she possessed me. And as strange as it sounded, I wanted her to be possessive of me. A trait I formerly despised but now it swelled my heart when that came from Cassandra. I had opened my heart up to her yesterday and I hoped that she had taken it seriously. Because now the ball was in her court. I had left her at my home to rest for the day despite her insistence on coming in to work. I had to write her an official allowed absence letter before she agreed to take the day off. But now I was missing her terribly. Hell, I had it bad for her.
The phone in my pocket buzzed and I pulled it out. It was a text from Cassandra.
Reason # 12: You are stubborn, arrogant and you have the evilest smile that makes me want to slap you.
I grinned at her words. She was sending me the reasons I had previously asked for in the hospital room when she was refusing to come home with me. Every reason was lousy. Just like her resistance to my touch. I typed back.
Try again, baby. I know you love my smile and slapping me is the last thing on your mind. ;)
Her reply came just as quickly.
Definitely arrogant! Arrogant face, arrogant mouth and arrogant you.
I chuckled and faces turned to my direction in surprise. I ignored them and walked to my room, typing.
I definitely like what my arrogant mouth does to you. I’d love to put my mouth back to use right now.
Damn, she had a tendency to work me up through texts. I wanted her right now. I sat on my desk and logged into the computer. Her text came in again.
You are insatiable.
I wrote back;
I don’t remember you complaining.
I remembered her asking for more. She replied;
Because you never allowed me to speak?
I grinned at the memory. Yeah I was definitely addicted to her delectable mouth.
Blame your luscious lips for that. Now I am missing the taste of them.
I waited for her to reply but minutes passed and my phone remained silent. I text her again asking if she ran out of reasons. Still no reply. I decided to give her a few minutes. Ten minutes later I hadn’t received anything. I tapped her number into my phone and hovered my thumb over the call key, wondering if I should give her a call or not. Just then Melinda knocked on the door and informed me of a client’s arrival.
An hour and a half later, I still hadn’t heard anything from Cassandra. I called her number. It rang three times and then went to her voice mail. “Hey, it’s me, Aaron. Uh… Just wanted to check on you. Is everything okay? Call me.” God I was acting like such a pussy. But was I to blame? Given her flight nature, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d ran away from me. But heck if I was going to let her slip away from me again. Not after what happened yesterday. Everything had changed now.
I called the land line of my apartment but that too was left unanswered. Now my worry was getting to me big time. What if something had happened to her? All sorts of assumptions fogged my mind and I just wanted to see her for myself. I wanted to check on her, I couldn’t resist.
“Mr. Maxfield, your eleven o’clock is here,” Melinda called but I waved at her in dismissal. “I’ll check in later. I have
to go somewhere. Tell Mark.” I didn’t wait to hear her answer. I drove past the speed limit to my apartment. What if she wasn’t there? What if she had decided to run away? It was stupid of me to leave her like that in the morning. So damn stupid. I rushed towards the elevator, ignoring the doorman who was saying something to me. I just had to go up and see her. For the second time in twenty-four hours, Cassandra Levant had made me desperate enough to give up everything. She was capable of making me do anything. Let’s not forget she made me a stripper in our first encounter. It seemed like ages ago. I stepped out of the elevator onto my floor and went to my apartment’s door.
I rang the bell. Once. Twice. And then reached for my own set of keys. But the door wasn’t locked. She left the door open? I frowned and then entered. It was dead silent and cold inside. “Cassandra?” There was no one in the living room. I checked my bedroom. Empty. “Cassandra, are you in here?” She had left. She had run away. Again. I was beginning to get upset.
I pulled my phone out to dial her number again as I walked back towards the kitchen. My gaze fell on a paper note that was laid straight on the counter. I reached out to it. It was a note;
I had an amazing time, Aaron, but I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be with you. So I am ending this now and leaving you for good. I will send my resignation to you soon. Cassandra
“Fuck!” I growled and crumpled the paper in my fist and thumped hard on the counter. Damn her! She didn’t have the decency to say that to me in person? My blood began to boil in rage. She was a coward and she was resigning. Like hell I would allow her to get away with it this easily. I called her again and stormed towards the living area. She didn’t pick up. I tried again. That’s when I heard a phone buzzing somewhere. I turned around to see a phone lying on the couch, vibrating. I went to it. It was Cassandra’s. What the hell? She left her phone here? Why on earth did she do it? I unlocked the screen. She didn’t have a password, thankfully. The screen opened to the texts from earlier. There was a half written message;
