Bad Reputation

by Nicole Edwards

  “She’s got me to help her,” I tell her.

  “I’m not talking financially.”

  Yeah, I wasn’t either. Not entirely anyway.

  “I’m talking about from a job perspective.”

  “You know this is going to be big news, right?” Mark says. “It’s not as simple as giving her a pink slip. The company is going to have to publicly address the issue. I mean, this was the yearly keynote, yes? To announce all their breakthroughs and new product lines? It’s a huge thing for them. She’s going to get slammed for it.”

  Natalie’s face falls again and she wraps both hands around her coffee cup. “You’re right.” She lifts her head and looks at me. “It’s all over the news. It was…really bad.”

  Yeah. I saw the news. The company is coming under fire. It doesn’t help that they had a less-than-spectacular first quarter and now this.

  “Cassie’s strong,” I say. “She’s going to bounce back. It’ll take some time.”

  “I just—”

  Leaning back in my chair, I put my hand on the table and stop Natalie. “Look. We can’t sit here and talk about this forever. What happens now is up to Cassie. What’s done is done.” And I mean that in ways Natalie couldn’t possibly understand.

  Mark nods. “Let’s head to the airport,” he tells Natalie.

  “Fine,” she huffs as she gets to her feet. “But I’m not letting this go. This is our fault. Cassie is the most responsible person I know. We did this to her.”

  I glance down at the table as my guilt eats at me. I know this is my fault. I don’t need anyone telling me that. I screwed up big-time by kissing Cassie last night. Then I gave in when I should have pushed her away. She was drunk, she wouldn’t have known any different when she woke up. Shit, it’s a wonder she even remembers what happened last night at all.

  “We’ll see you when we see you,” Mark says as he grabs Natalie’s bag.

  “Tell Cassie to call me if she needs anything.”

  “I will.”

  I watch them walk away, heading toward the escalator that’ll lead down to the main floor. I know this means I have to go back upstairs, I have to get Cassie to talk to me. I spent most of yesterday watching television in my room. Seriously. Here I am in Vegas and I wasted an entire afternoon doing something I could easily do at home.

  Then again, the only thing I wanted to do was to go to Cassie, to strip her naked and get her beneath me one more time. Only, I know one more time still won’t be enough.

  Pushing to my feet, I make my way over to the counter and order a coffee for Cassie. It’s the least I can do, because if she doesn’t answer the door this time, I’m going to kick it in. It’s high time we talked. About everything.

  Half an hour later, I finally get up the nerve to knock on her bedroom door.

  “What?”

  My mind instantly tries to decipher the code of that one word. She doesn’t sound angry, so that’s a good sign. She answered, another good sign.

  “Let me in, Cass.”

  A few seconds later, I hear the lock disengage, but the door doesn’t open. I have to do that myself. When I step into the room, I notice several things at once. Cassie is wearing a robe, her face is puffy from crying, there are tissues on every surface, the lamp is on, and the curtains are closed. The woman hasn’t left this room for twenty-four hours.

  I deposit the coffee cup on the nightstand, then grab the tablet that controls the curtains. I open them, but Cassie doesn’t say a thing. She simply crawls back into the bed and pulls the covers up over her head.

  “It’s time to get up,” I insist. I’m not going to let her waste away in this room for another second. Not only because we’re in Vegas, but also because I can’t stand to see her like this.

  “Don’t want to.”

  “Too bad.”

  The covers fly back and Cassie glares at me. It would have been more effective if her hair weren’t flying out in a million directions and her eyes weren’t deeply shadowed.

  “Come on.” I take it upon myself to yank the covers off the bed and dump them on the floor. “I’m starting the shower for you.”

  “Chase—”

  “No, Cassie. Shower first, then you can argue with me all you want.”

  I turn on the shower, then head back to the bedroom. At least she’s sitting up now. That’s a good start.

  “You want room service? Or you want to go eat somewhere?”

  The look on her face says, What do you think?

  “Leave the door open,” I tell her as I head out of the room.

  “Not going to happen,” she mutters before I clear the doorway.

  For whatever reason, that’s the exact second that I snap. Spinning around, I stomp across the room and close the distance between us. As gently as I can—which takes a concerted effort because of my anger—I pull her to her feet.

  “What are you doing?” she yells. “Quit, Chase. I don’t—”

  “I don’t give a fuck, Cassie. You’re getting in that goddamn shower. Either you walk, or I fucking carry you.”

  Her mouth is hanging open as she stares up at me and I’m so damn tempted to kiss her.

  So I do.

  Cupping her jaw firmly, I tilt her head for a better angle and lower my mouth to hers. It’s probably a stupid thing to do, but damn it, I can’t help myself. I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours thinking about this, about us. Not even sure there is or even could be an us, but I at least have to try.

  Yes, that’s where my head’s at. I don’t have any regrets about what we did. Being with Cassie…Everything about this woman feels right. Every. Single. Thing.

  I spent hours thinking about it. All the things I love about her. And that’s when it hit me. I’ve never found a woman who comes close to comparing to Cassie because there isn’t one. It’s not that I’ve been infatuated by her all this time, I’ve been in love with her.

  Yeah. That wasn’t an easy thing to accept, but there it is.

  Cassie’s hands slowly slide up my chest, but she doesn’t pull away. With the shower running behind us, I walk backward until we’re both in the bathroom. Because it’s easier, I skip the part of removing our clothes and move right into the stall fully dressed.

  I’m assuming Cassie doesn’t mind because she doesn’t pull away, even when I drag the robe off her shoulders and let the drenched fabric plop onto the tiled floor.

  Ah, damn. She’s naked. Gloriously fucking naked.

  Like homing beacons, my hands seek her breasts, plumping them as I continue to kiss her. I love the way she moans, her body undulating against me, trying to get as close as possible. When she tugs on my shirt, I help her out, although I’m reluctant to let go of her tits.

  I’ve provided the perfect distraction, but the last thing I want is for Cassie to regret doing this later. Because of that, I manage to still her roaming hands long enough to get her to make eye contact with me.

  “You sure about this?”

  Cassie nods. “It’s the only thing I’m sure of right this minute.”

  That’s good to know. However, she could have left off the last part and I would’ve felt better.

  “I know we shouldn’t be doing this,” she continues, “but nothing has ever felt this good before.”

  That pulls a smile from me and I resume kissing her, this time pressing her up against the wall, grinding my thigh between her legs, my hands cupping her breasts while she writhes and moans.

  “Chase…Please…”

  “Please what?” I stare down at her. “Tell me, Cass. Whatever you want. It’s yours.”

  Cassie

  I need Chase.

  Right here. Right now.

  That’s the only thing I know.

  Whether we will feel the repercussions later, I don’t know, but I can’t bring myself to care. Not only does he make my body burn hot, but he also makes me feel safe. Safer than I’ve ever felt before. I need that. I need the security he offers because otherwise, it’s pos
sible I will shatter.

  “Tell me,” he murmurs against my neck. “What do you want, Cass?”

  “Everything.” I inhale sharply when he nips the sensitive skin on my shoulder. “I want everything you’ll give me.”

  Clearly I surprise him with that declaration because he lifts his head and stares back at me. It’s as though he’s searching for the hidden meaning, his eyes raking across my face, studying me. There isn’t a hidden meaning. I want everything this man will give me for as long as he’ll give it to me. If he wants to go back to being friends tomorrow, I’m good with that. I will have to be because no way am I going to pass this up. I’m not an idiot.

  Chase takes a step back, the water pouring down over his chest. I’m mesmerized by the sight as he undresses right before me. With every article of clothing that disappears, my body coils tighter, ready and aching for him.

  The man is sheer perfection when he’s naked, no doubt about that. Perfectly sculpted from spending his life as a professional athlete, Chase Barrett has a body that deserves to be worshipped and I’m the first in line.

  “Come here,” he urges as he takes my hand.

  I move the few steps toward him and watch as he lowers himself to the tiled bench.

  “Turn around.”

  When I’m facing away from him, Chase’s hands grip my hips and he pulls me down on his lap, my back to his chest. His lips resume their ministrations on my neck, his hands coming around me to cup my breasts. He kneads them firmly and I find myself squirming in his grip. I need more than this. I want to feel him moving inside me, brushing that perfect spot that will make me see stars.

  While he continues to fondle and tease, I reach between us and grip his erection in my fist. He sucks in a sharp breath, then lets it out roughly against my neck.

  “God, yes,” he moans. “Keep doing that.”

  For several minutes we remain like that, groping each other until the temperature in the shower rises and the glass door fogs up.

  “Put my cock inside you, Cassie.”

  Chase’s gruff demand sends electrical sparks through my nerve endings, and I find myself doing his bidding. I lift myself up, then guide him right where I need him most.

  His hands leave my breasts and grip my hips as he helps me to ease down on him. My body stretches to accommodate him, delicate nerves coming alive as he fills me.

  The deep, rumbling growl that reverberates in his chest makes my clit throb. I love that I’m doing this to him, driving him as wild as he’s driving me.

  Never in my life did I think I’d be here, riding Chase’s cock, enjoying the way he fucks me so exquisitely. But here I am and I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.

  “Cass…Baby…Damn you feel good.”

  I rock against him, taking him deeper. Although I’m on top of him, he’s controlling the pace with his hands on my hips.

  “Tell me,” I urge.

  He pauses momentarily, probably caught off guard by my request, but seconds later he’s once again moving inside me.

  “You like when I talk to you?” His voice is a rough whisper against my ear.

  “I do.” I definitely do.

  “You’re so fucking tight,” he groans, his lips on my shoulder. “Tight…wet…Goddamn, you make my dick so fucking hard.”

  A strangled moan escapes me as my insides flutter with what I expect to be the beginnings of one hell of an orgasm. I’m not ready to come yet though. I don’t want this to end. I want to make this man lose control the way he did last night up against the wall. I will never forget that for as long as I live.

  “Harder,” I whisper. “Fuck me harder, Chase.”

  The next thing I know, I’m on my feet, bent at the waist, and Chase is positioning me so that my palms are flat against the wall. He enters me from behind, all the way to the hilt.

  “Keep your hands on the wall,” he growls.

  I brace myself when he slams into me and then my mind is obliterated by pleasure as he fucks me harder and deeper, faster. It’s so intense, I’m scared my legs are going to give out, but it feels amazing.

  When his hand twines in my hair and tugs my head back, I turn and his mouth is on mine. It’s a strange angle, but that doesn’t seem to stop him. His hips jerk forward then back, my body rocking with the movement. He holds my head there, his lips hovering close to mine.

  “Come for me, Cassie. Come all over my dick.” His lips move to my ear and his voice lowers. “I want to hear you scream my name when you come.”

  He slams into me hard enough that my feet shift, but I keep my hands braced on the wall. It’s then that I realize I’m moaning, begging him to fuck me harder, faster.

  “Chase! Oh, fuck…oh, fuck…” He doesn’t let up and I feel my orgasm building to a crescendo. Seconds later I’m screaming his name, crying out as I come harder than I ever have in my life.

  Chase grunts behind me, one arm wrapping around my waist as he thrusts again and again until my name is a whisper on his lips. He stills, pulsing inside me.

  It might take several minutes for me to catch my breath, but I get the feeling it’s going to take several years for me to get over this man.

  Chapter 21

  “You spend a lot of time in the penalty box. Some claim you have anger issues. Is that true?”

  When I made my list of questions to ask Chase, that was at the top. Commentators enjoy making assumptions and when it comes to Chase Barrett, the question of whether or not he has anger management issues is a hot topic.

  “It’s not about anger,” he informed me. “It’s about throwing my opponent off. Catching them when they least expect it. It works for me. And yes, sometimes, it pisses them off, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

  —Excerpt from Sports Unlimited’s Bad Boys of Sports edition

  Chase

  “Your stomach’s growling,” Cassie tells me as we lie in bed a few hours later.

  After our shower, I ordered room service and managed to get her to eat something. It wasn’t much more than a salad, but it was more than she had yesterday, so I’m happy. Of course, I devoured my steak and baked potato and what was left of her salad, but admittedly, I’m not getting nearly enough calories to sustain me right now. Especially when you consider the amount of energy I’m burning when it comes to sex.

  Not that I’m complaining. Not even a little bit.

  “It happens.” I continue stroking her hair as she spoons up to my side, her cheek pressed against my chest. I’ve never been the cuddling type, but perhaps that’s because I never found the woman I would want to spend hours in bed with like this. Fucking is one thing. My dick has a mind of its own, so sex is always front and center for me. This though…this is intimate and I usually steer clear so I don’t send the wrong message.

  “Should we get more food?”

  I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll be fine. We’ll get something later.”

  She’s quiet for a moment, but I can practically hear the wheels turning. I know Cassie wants to talk and I know what she wants to talk about, but I’m not sure it’s necessary. I mean, what am I supposed to say? That I want to keep fucking her because she’s the only woman who has made me feel like this? That, even when I force myself to think about it, I can’t imagine being with another woman right now? Or, that when we get back to Texas, things will return to normal and we’ll nix the sex and get on with our regular programmed schedules?

  I’m not sure any of that would go over well. And I’m damn sure not ready to hear her say that this thing between us is going to end. I’d rather go on pretending otherwise for a little while longer.

  Cassie’s cellphone rings, which interrupts the potential conversation I don’t necessarily care to have. She rolls over and grabs her phone from the nightstand. I figure it’s Natalie, but I’m proven incorrect when Cassie’s face turns white and she locks her eyes with mine.

  I lift my eyebrows skyward, hoping she’ll give me a hint, but she doesn’t.

  �
�Hello?” She scoots off the bed and reaches for a robe. “Yes, Tom.”

  Tom? Her boss? I sit up. This can’t be good.

  “Yes, sir. I understand. Yes. I can be at the office tomorrow morning.”

  Wait. How can she be in the office tomorrow morning? We’re not leaving Vegas until tomorrow afternoon.

  “Absolutely. I’ll be there.” She disconnects the call and clutches her phone in her hand.

  I watch as Cassie slowly lowers herself to the bed. She leans over as her shoulders begin to shake.

  Son of a bitch.

  I was hoping that I could keep the real world from intruding for a little longer. A day shouldn’t be too much to ask, but clearly Cassie’s boss thinks otherwise. And now Cassie’s crying, which only pisses me off because I want to protect her from all this fucking heartache, but I know I can’t.

  Before I can even decide what to do, Cassie jerks upright and shakes it off. Then she’s on her feet and reaching for her laptop.

  “I need to change our flight,” she says, no hint of a breakdown anywhere on her expression or in the tone of her voice.

  “Okay.”

  She finally meets my gaze, but looks away just as quickly. “You should go pack.”

  “Cassie?”

  This time I meet the eyes of the no-nonsense woman I know. It scares me a little, if I’m being honest.

  “I don’t have time for this,” she tells me in that straightforward manner she’s known for. “I’m going to change our flight….” She pauses before opening her laptop, her eyebrows shifting up closer to her hairline. “Unless you want to stay until tomorrow, then I’ll just change mine.”

  I sigh as I get off the bed. I don’t bother with clothes. “I’ll go with you. But, Cassie—”

  “No, Chase. No more talking. No more…anything. I need to get home so I can deal with the fallout that is my life.”

  Okay, so the woman has done a complete one-eighty in the last few seconds. I can tell there will be no more cuddling, much less fucking. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but I’m not going to stand here and let her talk to me like I’m one of her employees.