There was something about beautiful weather, and not having plans, that made me feel more wired than a triple-shot latte. I popped out of bed, pulled my hair back in a messy ponytail, washed up, brushed my teeth, stripped out of my pajamas, and decided to wear my black string bikini. Normally, I’d be a little more reserved, but everyone having left, and not knowing anyone on the beach, gave me the confidence to wear something a little skimpier.
I slathered on sunscreen, tied the strings around my hips, back, and neck, and pushed my boobs up to give them maximum fullness. I slid on my sheer cover-up and flip-flops, and twirled in front of the mirror, ensuring all necessary places were covered. Snagging my beach bag and romance novel off the side table, I headed out to the kitchen.
Whistling caught my attention, causing me to stumble. I wasn’t familiar with the tune, but it was a happy one. When I peered around the corner, my heart stammered just like my feet had. Dante. What the hell was he doing here? Rather than announce myself, I took a moment to appreciate the man—low-hanging black board shorts, no shirt, and the sexiest bedhead that only someone with his good looks could pull off.
He leaned casually against the kitchen island, drinking a cup of coffee and peering out the window. The vee in his hips had my tongue poking out of my mouth to wet my desert-dry lips. Glancing down at myself, I cringed. Yes, he’d seen me naked and complimented my body, but I was sans makeup, and knowing the type of women he was used to, I couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.
Despite my reluctance, I did my best to tiptoe into the room… not an easy accomplishment given my footwear. His head spun in my direction and that smile that could make a woman stupid flashed across his face.
“Good morning, Cassandra. I didn’t realize anyone was home. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
I straightened my spine, hoping my boobs, which I’d just positioned, didn’t flop out of the small triangles. “Good morning. What are you doing here?” When his eyebrows arched to his hairline, I amended my statement. “What I meant was, I didn’t realize you were coming here this weekend. I thought you had work to do. We haven’t spoken in days.”
“I finished earlier than planned and hoped we could talk this weekend. I’m not here to pressure you, just to enjoy your company and to relax. Everything else we can play by ear.” I had to admit hearing that calmed me a bit. It was the unknown of our relationship playing out in front of our friends that gave me pause. But having him there, looking all sexy and irresistible, rebuked my concerns.
With a stunning smile, he pushed himself off the island and walked to the coffee maker. Pulling the pot out, he held it up. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please. Black.”
His muscles flexed as he tipped the pot to fill a mug. When he turned to face me, his eyes raked over my body. Looking back, there was never a time in my life when a man made my body temperature rise the way Dante had. He was a human flame and I was a taper of paraffin wax. I took a step toward him and reached for the cup of the steaming beverage. He turned it so I could grab the handle. “Thank you.”
“You look beautiful this morning.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Not that you don’t look beautiful all the time.”
‘Thank you,” I repeated. The man was a talking-book boyfriend. Yes, I loved romance novels, and I had one in my hand that I was ready to devour. Who could blame me for wanting to escape into a fantasy world? All the heroes I’d read about knew just what to say and treated their women like princesses. Maybe that was my problem. I wanted to fall in love like the heroines in a steamy romance. Was it a practical way of thinking? No, of course it wasn’t, but it also didn’t matter.
“What do you have there?” He tipped his head toward my book. “Ahh, yes, I heard you’d be happy relaxing and reading.” A devilish grin sprouted. “It looks sexy.”
Glancing down as if I hadn’t memorized the cover, I looked at the man and woman embracing. Okay, they were doing a bit more than embracing. Her legs were wrapped around his hips as he pinned her against a wall. Sue me for wanting a little excitement on the pages.
Not wanting to make a big deal of it, I merely shrugged. “It is.” I mimicked his move and motioned toward his camera. “Planning on taking pictures today?” Memories of our walk in the park and of Dante taking pictures of obscure objects flew into my mind.
“You never know when inspiration will strike.”
He winked, and like a few moments ago, I began to heat up from my insides out… and it wasn’t because I had just taken a sip of my coffee. I plucked a muffin off the platter that sat on the island. “Yes, well, as long as you don’t point it at me.”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I can’t promise you that—you’re extremely inspiring.”
The vast room started to feel like a broom closet. “Well, I guess I’ll see you later.”
As gracefully as I could, I maneuvered the sliding door open before stepping out into the salty humid air. When he called out, “Sooner than later, Cassandra,” our eyes met, and he grinned at my playful smile.
I set up my tanning area, chaise lounge positioned perfectly so the sun would hit my body, a small table to hold my coffee, and no other chairs around me. Perfect. With my earbuds in, Rob Thomas’s soothing voice brought a smile to my face as I enjoyed my breakfast in peace.
Finally, being able to breathe, I let out a sigh, slid on my sunglasses, and started my new book. It was time to get lost with a billionaire and his assistant. I couldn’t help but giggle at the cliché, but this was so much better than reading to five- and six-year-olds. Not that I didn’t love reading to them about the little engine that could, but my little engine needed to get revved up… and not by a drop-dead-gorgeous sexy photographer.
As I turned the page to begin chapter four, the sun started to make my body sweat. I untied my cover-up so it fell to the sides, making it easy to free my arms. My skin had started to redden. I set my book next to my now-empty coffee cup and began reapplying my sunscreen.
When I sat up and glanced at the water, people had gathered on the beach. Some were just lying on towels or chairs; others were frolicking in the water. There weren’t many, but enough to tease me to want to do the same.
Leaving Rob Thomas and my sexy billionaire on the teak deck, I headed toward the shoreline. Grains of sand filtered through my manicured toes as I left small footprints behind me. I preferred Jude’s heated saltwater pool, but how could I come to the Hamptons and not dip my toes into the ocean—no matter how much it freaked me out?
As I slid my index fingers under the bottom of my swimsuit so it would no longer feel like a thong, I heard a distinct click. Dante. Trying to act cool, I ventured forward far enough that the surf hit me mid-calf. Scooping the ocean water with my hands, I cooled off my arms and again heard that sound. Shit.
I peered over my right shoulder, and sure enough, there was Dante standing ten feet behind me with his lens pointed in my direction. My glare was enough to make him chuckle.
“Stop taking pictures of me,” I said in what Vanessa called my teacher’s voice. But he was not deterred, eliciting several more clicks. Damn him. I fisted my hands on my hips. “Dante, I mean it. You better knock it off.”
He lowered the camera and teased, “Or what?”
“I’ll hurt you.” His deep chuckle forced me to stomp toward him in the most unladylike fashion. Water splashed all around me until my feet hit hard-packed sand. His continued laughter fueled me. “Aren’t you afraid your camera is going to get wet?”
“Nope, it’s waterproof.” He casually pointed it at me, and once again I heard a click.
“Give it to me.” My hand darted forward, but he lifted it above his head. With one of my hands on his arm, I jumped like an idiot trying to grab it. The jackass pointed the camera down and continued clicking.
It was clear I amused him. His lips quirked to the side before letting out a howling laugh. That’s it! I twisted my sandy leg around his, lining up our ankles, and in a swift move pulled my leg f
orward, causing him to fall backward. What I didn’t prepare for was his hand grabbing my arm, taking me down with him.
We both landed with an oomph—him in the sand and me on top of him. Then he pushed the button on his camera one more time. Our eyes met, and suddenly the humor in his gaze was replaced with lust.
“Cassandra, if you wanted to be on top of me, all you needed to do was ask.”
“You wish.” It took all I had not to grin… because that was exactly what I wished for.
“I do,” he said with a seductive timbre in his voice and a subtle shift of his hips. This time, it took all I had not to moan.
Ignoring the fact that other vacationers were around, I could feel the excitement growing in his shorts. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that the hot billionaire just took his assistant on his desk that had me riled up or because the most gorgeous man I’d ever known was beneath me.
Dante cupped the side of my face with his free hand. “Kiss me, Cassandra.”
Just hearing those words proved this had nothing to do with the billionaire and everything to do with the photographer—not that I didn’t know that already. I leaned forward and out of the corner of my eye spotted his camera. This was my chance. Our lips were just a breath away when I popped off of him, snatched his camera, and laughed as I ran back to the house.
Chapter 13
Dante
If she wanted to play, I’d play. The tiny black fabric perfectly highlighted the curves of her ass as she ran ahead of me. When she craned her head back to see how far behind I was, her tits looked as though they were ready to escape the scraps shielding them.
Her laughter sounded like a melody as she made it to the deck stairs. It would have been easy to catch her, but seeing Cassie carefree and playful was worth her thinking she’d bested me.
When we were both standing next to the pool, breathing heavy, her a little more winded than me, she snapped my picture. “How does it feel?” she said with friskiness before bringing my camera to her face again for another shot.
Glancing down, I spotted her book. There was no way she could grab it before me, unless she dropped my camera, which I knew, or hoped, she wouldn’t do.
Cassie’s eyes narrowed as I opened the page just before her bookmark. “Ahem.” My eyes scanned the words, and I couldn’t help but grin. Was this the stuff she was into? Who knew?
“Here,” she said with a nervous voice, and extended my camera toward me. “Take it and give me my book.”
“No way, this is too good.” Cassie’s glare turned into a wide-eyed look of horror. “Ethan pushed my body over the edge of his expansive desk, forcing papers to fly to the floor. Heat pooled between my legs, wetness coated my panties as my boss shoved my skirt up to my waist. With gentle force, he grabbed my wrists in his hand before the cool metal of cuffs bound my arms together.” I glanced up, and Cassie’s face was beet red, but I continued. “The thought of getting caught by another employee should have scared me, but instead, it thrilled me. I knew of Ethan’s history, his love of BDSM, and if that’s the way he wanted me, then that’s what I would give him. His deep voice rumbled, ‘I’m going to fuck you like you’ve never been fucked. Spread your legs and show me how wet you are… ’” I arched a brow and looked at Cassie. “Wow, Ethan’s a kinky fucker.”
She reached forward, offering me my camera. “Can I please have my book back?”
“Will you let me take a picture of you?”
She let out a resigned sigh. “Okay, if you stop reading.”
“Deal.”
Once we made the swap, my camera for her romance novel, she crossed her arms in front of her chest while still hanging on to her book. “How do you want me?”
“That’s a loaded question, but for now set the book down and lie on the chaise.”
Like a good model, she did as I asked. Cassie’s creamy skin, now tinged with a bit of sun, contrasted perfectly with the dark-blue cushion.
“Let your hair down.” She pulled the rubber band out and shook her head. Errant strands framed her face. I stood at the end of the lounger, bringing my camera to my eye. “One arm up, and with the other, take your fingers and grip the string of your bikini bottom.”
I wasn’t going to have her pull it, because unlike her book heroine, I didn’t want anyone walking in on us. Everyone could be back soon, and there was no way I was going to put Cassie in that position. Plus, I decided, her body was for my eyes only.
“Don’t tug on it, just hold it out to the side.”
She let out another resigned sigh but did as I asked. “Now look at me.” Like before, she glared. I let out a chuckle. “Not like you want to kill me, but like you want to fuck me.”
Surprisingly, that was all it took, because the expression on her face morphed into something I didn’t know existed. It was different from the way she looked at me when we were on my couch. This was a woman who knew how good we were together. How her body came when I plunged deep inside of her. It was my money shot.
“Perfect. Now smile, beautiful.” A brilliant smile lit up her face, causing my breath to catch. Fuck, she truly was perfection, in the most natural of ways. After a few more shots, I lowered the camera. “Okay, we’re done.”
Cassie sat up with a flourish. “Did I do it wrong? I looked stupid, right?”
Wrong? Stupid? This woman had no idea the effect she had on me. “No, Cassandra, just the opposite. Unless you want me to take you upstairs and fuck you, then I’d like to go for a swim in the ocean. Join me?”
Although I was only half kidding, by biting the corner of her lip, without words Cassie conveyed that was exactly what she wanted as well.
“How about we take a walk on the beach instead? The water was so cold,” she said with a small smile. Her seemingly innocuous comment forced my eyes to focus on her breasts. She’d been out of the water for a while, yet those perfectly pebbled nipples still taunted through the slinky black fabric of her bathing suit.
I slid my gaze back up to her face in time to witness a rosy tinge spreading over her cheeks. “Okay, beautiful, a walk it is.” I picked up my camera and vowed no more pictures of her would be taken without her permission.
Cassie reached into her bag, tucked her book away, and shrugged on her cover-up. I hated seeing that little black bikini hidden beneath fabric, even if it was sheer, but it was probably better for my sanity.
In two swift movements she had her ponytail refastened on the top of her head. “Ready?” she asked, looking so young and… I didn’t want to use the word innocent, as I knew there was a streak in her that could bring any man to his knees. I’d seen it, a conspicuous hunger that made me want to do filthy things to her and then hold her the rest of the night.
Side by side, we headed down the deck stairs toward the beach as I subtly adjusted myself. Nylon board shorts weren’t exactly ideal at hiding a man’s truth.
Cassie
The narcotic power of his words and actions made the ache between us grow. Even him joking about my book and taking pictures of him lit a fire within me. Damn this man and his sex appeal. The thing was, it went beyond that. Below the brawn and cocky attitude was a kind man—one who could make me lose all sense of reason.
Warm salty air fluttered around the hem of my cover-up. Everything about my feet in the sand, the sun shining, and the sound of the ocean made me happy. But the way Dante looked at me rivaled all other things. His eyes held a possessive quality, one I’d never seen aimed in my direction… it was one that defied reason, but I oddly enjoyed it.
“This was the perfect end to my summer vacation. The next ten months of my life will be spent in a stuffy classroom.” It wouldn’t be long until the air cooled, leaves turned different shades of red, and sweaters replaced sleeveless shirts.
“I thought you loved being a teacher,” Dante said with curiosity.
“I do. It just takes me a little bit to get back into the swing of things. By October, I’m ready for fall, but summer is my favorite time of ye
ar.”
“I can understand that. I’m not a fan of the winter months either. That’s why living in California was right up my alley. Even at its coldest, it didn’t compare to November in Chicago.” Dante shivered at the memory.
“I’m assuming that in your line of work you would be on the West Coast more often than Chicago. Unless, unbeknownst to me, Chicago has turned into a fashion mecca.”
“I was under contract with Flair magazine but much prefer to freelance. There’s something to be said about making your own schedule and deciding what and who to photograph.”
“To me the entire world of fashion photography seems exciting. Was that what you always wanted to do?”
He let out a hearty chuckle. “No, that’s just half right. I’ve always wanted to be a photographer, but the fashion part fell into my lap… sort of.”
“How so? Did you know someone in the fashion business?”
“Not exactly,” he said, coming to a stop beside me.
“What?” I asked, grinning at the guilty look written all over his face.
“Let’s sit.”
“Oh… I need to sit down for this?” The trepidation in his eyes caused me to plant my ass on the sand, anxious to hear what he was hiding.
Dante turned to look at me. “One other person knows about this. Can you be trusted?” His words were teasing, but the question was straightforward.
Not knowing who the other person was, or what he was about to confess, there was only one way to answer. “Yes, you can trust me.” A shot of heightened anticipation touched my spine. “But I’m dying to know. So spill it, Benedetto.”
His mocha-brown eyes crinkled with amusement but continued to gauge my expression. “While in college, Luca and I were lucky enough that our parents footed the entire bill. However, my extracurricular activities were on me, and California wasn’t inexpensive. My time was limited, so I needed a job that didn’t take a lot of hours but made me a decent amount of money…”
The Mr. Wrong Series Page 90
