Was that why he’d been looking at her that way? “I guess that’s too bad for you.”
Patrick released her face and slapped one of her breasts. “Did you know how badly I wanted you?”
“No.” She hadn’t, and the knowledge made her heart pound in a completely different way.
“No?”
He hooked his hands beneath her underarms and heaved her to her feet. She was unbalanced, her panties still around her legs, her nipples and pussy tender and her knees stiff. He smiled as he stripped the rest of his clothes off.
“Well you’re gonna pay for it anyway.”
He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. When they reached the bed, he threw her facedown onto it. There was a pair of scissors on the blanket, but before she could shimmy away, he covered her body with his, smothering her with his weight. With one hand on her hip, he yanked her panties off and drove a finger deep inside her.
“Do you even know how wet you are?”
He drove it in and out, soothing that hungry ache and making it worse at the same time.
“Stop,” she moaned, but she didn’t mean it.
“Stop?” He added a finger and hit that spot that got her humiliatingly soaked. “You don’t really want me to stop, but it’s cute how you think you have a choice.”
Three fingers now, and his thumb brushed over her rear.
“No.” She tried to push up, and was rewarded with the intoxicating feeling of him shoving her back down.
“You can say no all you want. You can even think this spot between your legs belongs to you. But it’s not. It’s mine.”
It was. All of her was. And as he fucked her with his fingers, thumb putting more pressure against her ass, Cassie’s head started to spin. He was getting her to that point she’d been desperate for, the point when fear and pleasure mixed together, when she couldn’t refuse, couldn’t do anything but be pushed over the edge and feel.
“And I…intend…” The tie came loose. Something cold and hard pressed against her arms. The scissors. “To take…what’s…mine.”
A snap and the zip ties popped off. He flipped her over, one big hand on her middle, squeezing her breast, the other on one of her ankles, forcing her open. Forcing her to do nothing but lie there and take it.
His cock slid past her pussy lips, and there was nothing gentle about the way he rammed himself home. Cassie cried out, her hips lifting even as she tried to push him off, but he held her down and started to thrust. He was beautiful and fierce, muscles leaping as he reared back and drove forward. Their eyes met, and even through the farce, through this new mask, the one he’d put on for her, she saw him. Her Patrick, giving her what she needed.
“Something you want to say?” he asked through panted breaths.
I love you.
“I hate you,” she gritted out.
He grinned. “I hate you more.”
If he meant the same thing she did, Cassie didn’t know. But he picked up his pace, using his torso to wedge her legs wider apart. She tried to fight, but she didn’t want to anymore. Every deep, hard thrust was driving her closer to release. Closer to him. Patrick let go of her breast and brought a hand to where they were joined.
“Eres mío, Cassandra,” he whispered menacingly. “No importa lo duro que luchar, siempre va a ser cierto.”
You’re mine, Cassandra. No matter how hard you fight it, it’s always going to be true.
His thumb found her clit, and then yes, it didn’t matter how hard she fought. Her body belonged to him as much as her heart did, and she gave in, surrendering to an orgasm that took her breath away. He kept at it as she thrashed, didn’t stop even when she started shaking her head, unable to take any more. His thumb still thrumming, he brought his other hand to her throat and squeezed until her oxygen was restricted. Gasping, Cassie stared into his eyes, watching the meanness in his expression fall away and her Patrick returning as another sharp release took hold.
He let go of her throat and pulled back, leaving a slick, raw emptiness between her legs. She tucked her knees up at the loss and covered her face with her hands, her whole body shaking, although she wasn’t crying. It was simply the only thing she could do after the most terrifying, most sexually satisfying event of her life.
And Patrick had given that to her.
“Are you okay?” he asked. When she didn’t reply, she felt his hands at her face, gently urging hers away. “Did I push it too far? God, I’m sorry, Cassie. Please tell me you’re okay.”
He kissed her cheeks, her shoulders—worried kisses peppered everywhere from her face to her wrists. Everywhere he might have injured her. She tried to find her voice, stuck in a woozy space she didn’t quite understand. It was hard to come back to herself, but Patrick was getting frantic.
“Cassie, talk to me. Did I hurt you? Did I fuck this all up?”
“I’m okay,” she mumbled. “I promise.”
His body stilled, and he lingered at her belly. His voice was small and quiet when he asked, “You don’t hate me, right?”
The words were a gut punch to her heart. How could he even think that?
She reached out for him. “C’mere.”
A soft exhale was her reply. Patrick crawled up her body, wrapped his arms around her as he buried his face against her neck. “You enjoyed that?”
“I did.”
His breathing was still fast and he was shaking. When she could finally think again, she touched his back, running soothing strokes with her fingertips until he calmed. His softening erection pressed against her thigh.
“You never came,” she murmured.
“I was too focused on you. Making sure you weren’t scared.”
“I was, but in a good way.”
He picked his head up. The look in Patrick’s eyes as they searched hers reached a point deep inside her.
“I don’t ever want to hurt you,” he said. “It terrified me that I might have.”
“You didn’t.” She stroked his cheek. “Kiss me, Patrick.”
His lips caressed hers, gently at first, then with more passion. Cassie shivered when their tongues touched. Shifting beneath him, she reached down and stroked his flesh until he was hard again. Patrick groaned and pressed his forehead to hers.
“You sure you’re ready?” he asked through grated breaths. “You haven’t exactly recovered.”
“I don’t need to recover,” she said, and guided him inside.
He inhaled sharply and his hips shot forward. “Christ, Cassie, yes.”
Patrick gripped her shoulders—not with the same brute force as before, but as if he were holding on to her now. Like she was his raft in a sea he didn’t know how to cross. She drew him in deeper with her legs around his, her heels he’d wanted to fuck her in dragging over his calves. He kept his eyes on hers until pleasure forced them shut, and she kissed him, drinking his groans like so much champagne, tasting the sound of his pleasure.
He rolled off her, and she quickly sat up to undo her heels, setting them gently on the floor as she lay back down. They huddled together in the dark. Cassie couldn’t believe how relaxed she felt after something so violent and passionate. She’d spent so long stifling what she wanted, but he’d given her a safe place to indulge in her most base, sinister longings.
Somehow, while making her completely powerless, he’d set her free.
She wanted to say all that and more—she knew they still needed to talk, and but her eyelids had grown heavy, the day hitting her and sapping her ability for cognitive thought.
So for now all she could say was, “Thank you. Not just for this. For everything.”
There was a pause before his reply came. “Thank you for trusting me. Not just with this. With everything.”
Cassie turned on her side and tugged on his arm until it was snuggled protectively around her. Their breathing was syncing, and she was so tired she wasn’t even sure what she was saying, but as she turned back to kiss him good night, the words tumbled out of her
.
“Eres mía también, ¿sabes?”
You’re mine too, you know that?
He kissed her cheek. “Sí, mi amor. Sí.”
27
Patrick put their suitcases in the trunk, tipped the valet and climbed into the car. Cassie was stretched out in the passenger seat, relaxed in a pair of sunglasses, a tank top and shorts. She was all long legs, bare skin and smiles, and he was going to be sad to lose this version of her when they got back.
But maybe he wouldn’t have to lose her.
Anxiety formed a knot in his stomach as they drove back to her parents’ house. He had so much he wanted to say to her—to ask about the future. To make sure last night was everything she’d hoped it would be. He’d wanted to talk when they woke up, but they’d slept in until right before checkout, and he didn’t want to discuss their future while cleaning up broken zip ties and checking over her bruises.
She wasn’t too worse for the wear. She’d said her scalp was tender, and her wrists and knees were a little sore, but that was all. She’d kissed him in the quick shower they’d shared before they left, and it had made any lingering worries disappear. Because there had been worries. From the moment they got back from the wedding until he’d woken up beside her this morning.
He’d had to psych himself up for it, before she returned from getting the ice. But once she walked in the door, he’d been swept up in the scene, acting as awful as he could. No filter. Just punishing words and angry, mean sex. He had no idea he could be that horrible and enjoy it, so lost in what he was doing he wasn’t sure where the act ended and the two of them began again.
When it was over and she’d covered her face and curled up in a ball, he’d yanked himself out of the role, sure he’d screwed it all up. Certain she regretted it. Convinced he’d wake up in the morning and find her gone.
None of that had happened. Instead she’d burrowed into his arms and told him she was his.
Now he needed to solidify that.
The bride and groom’s family were all together for a brunch at Cassie’s parents’ house. Paper plates were balanced precariously on every flat surface. Patrick had a feeling this was how it usually was there, with family on top of family, always something going on and the house full up with people and life. He envied the closeness, the love that was evident there, even in their teasing and yapping, but if all went as planned, he’d still be a part of it, even after they returned to New England.
When they sat down to eat, Cassie’s father asked her for an update on things at work.
“I have a big meeting tomorrow,” she said. “If everything works out, you’ll be looking at Forrester, Schaeffer and Pierce’s next partner.”
“That’s great. I’m proud of you, Pumpkin.”
Patrick smiled through his bite of food. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who had nicknames for her. He leaned in to Cassie and whispered, “Pumpkin, huh? I’m glad he doesn’t call you princess.”
She elbowed him in the ribs.
“Patrick,” Cassie’s mother said from across the table. “What do you think of that?”
“Of Cassie making partner?”
“Sí.”
He tried to read the subtext. Was she asking if he was proud of her too? Or if he was okay with her having a position of authority? “I think Cassie’s drive and determination is the sexiest thing about her.”
It was true, and a chorus of awwws were the background to their short, sweet kiss.
Later that afternoon, after they’d said their goodbyes and headed to the airport, Patrick’s heart pounded in his chest. She’d been busy with her niece and nephew when he’d spoken to her father, and now there was a sense of urgency. He couldn’t let this weekend go, couldn’t allow her to get on a plane without him without making this happen.
Their flights were a few hours apart, but when they got through security, hers had already been announced. They ducked into restrooms to change into the heavier clothes they’d stashed in their carry-ons. When they reached her gate, Patrick put their bags down and pulled her against a column.
He took a breath. “I know we said we said this was going to be short-term, that it was only about sex and living out your fantasies, but…”
She looked up at him, her smile open and willing. “But?”
That face. Those eyes. Only she could make him this tongue-tied. “But I don’t want this to end.”
She exhaled heavily. “Neither do I.”
“You don’t?” His heartbeat was choking him.
“No. Not at all. I—”
Too elated for words, he kissed her. Everyone in the terminal had to be watching, but Patrick didn’t care. Let them look. She was his. Cassie slid her fingers into his hair, laughing through their kiss. He smiled and pressed his forehead to hers.
“I know we weren’t supposed to have feelings. I know that was the rule but—”
“Rules are overrated.”
“Fuck the rules. I don’t want any more rules. I just want to be with you.”
“Me too.”
“Good. ’Cause we’re gonna do this.” Patrick wasn’t sure he’d ever felt joy like this. “I didn’t want to feel this way again about anyone, but you’ve changed me, and I can’t hold it back anymore.”
“You fell for me against your will?” she asked with a touch of sarcasm. “How romantic.”
“It’s true. You won me over. You’re the most intelligent, beautiful, pain-in-the-ass woman I’ve ever met, and—” She smiled wide, blue eyes shining as bright as the ocean. He was going to say it. Right here in the airport. “I want to marry you, Cassie. I want all that crazy stuff I never thought I’d want. The house and white picket fence and dog and kids. I’ve already talked to your father, and he gave his blessing. I love you and I want it all, if you’ll have me.”
Her face changed. Her smile dropped off, and a little V formed between her brows. “You…what?”
“I asked your father for your hand in marriage.” He was proud of it too. Figured if he was going to do this, he should do it the right way.
“I heard that part,” Cassie said. “It’s the kids part I’m not sure about.”
Patrick laughed. Yeah this had to be disorienting as fuck for her. “I know you said you were putting kids on the back burner—”
“And you said, ‘kids aren’t for me.’ Those were your words.”
Always fighting him. Oh, Cassie. “I know what my words were.”
“So, what? You…changed your mind?”
Why was she fixating on that? Did she not hear him say he loved her? “I did. After this weekend being with your family, seeing you with them, it changed everything for me.”
Cassie’s expression shifted. Her mouth pressed into a thin line and her eyes went icy cold.
“I said I wanted this to continue, and see about having a relationship. Not that I wanted to be the mother to your children. But I don’t even think this is about me. I think you spent a weekend with ‘Latina Cassie,’ and it reminded you of Sofía. And now you’re projecting a fantasy on me that has nothing to do with me at all.”
He stood stock-still, his face burning as if she’d slapped him. The most humiliating thing to ever happen to him, the thing he’d trusted her and no one else with, and she’d thrown it in his face.
“Is that what you think? That I’m reliving the past?”
Cassie shrugged and crossed her arms. “Am I wrong?”
He thought so, but who cared? She’d cut him too deep for him to fight her anymore. “I think you’ve made your own decision, so it doesn’t matter what I say.”
Her flight was called over the loudspeaker. Cassie picked up her bag and retrieved her boarding pass. “Look, we had our thing, and it was great. But if children are what you want, you should feel free to pursue that with someone else. You’ve fulfilled my fantasies, and now my claim on you has ended.”
“Thank you for clarifying that.” He picked up his own bag. “I hope you have a safe trip home.”
“You too.”
Patrick walked away without another word. He’d done it again. Handed his heart to a woman and she’d thrown it back in his face. There was no point in telling her having children wasn’t what mattered. That wasn’t what had changed.
Having her claim him for good was what he’d really wanted.
28
Cassie typed up what was going to be her last official email to Hudson and hit send. Staring at her screen, she sat back and breathed a sigh of relief. Grant Books was finally solvent. A slew of new authors had sold their books to him. All the house’s titles had been re-released using the new e-book software he’d appropriated, and his investors were satisfied. To put an extra cherry on top of her cake of legal badassery, Bruce and Reynash had also signed on with the firm, adding to Reginald Pierce’s roster of incredibly wealthy clients.
She’d done her job. Done it well. No matter how crazy Hudson had made her, she kept his company together. She’d retained its value, with her client’s best interests in mind.
If only she’d been smart enough to do the same with herself.
A week and half had passed with no contact from Patrick. In the time since, she’d tried to look at things as a bankruptcy lawyer would—one who’d failed at her job. Cassie knew from her years of experience that you never fucked with the deal. You get in, solve the problem, and get out. She and Patrick had entered into negotiations in an attempt to navigate the labyrinth of her desires, and once that was done, they were supposed to wrap things up and move on. She hadn’t, ignoring all the warning signs that hollered she was on a sinking ship.
That ship had become the Titanic in Miami International Airport.
She slowly swung her chair around until she faced the window. The entire situation still aggravated her. They were supposed to have been on the same page. They had been on the same page before he went and dropped that bomb on her.
He wanted children? What the serious fuck?
She shouldn’t have gotten so angry, but her fight reflex had come charging in. Maybe she’d gone too far saying what she did about Sofía, but it made no sense that he suddenly wanted babies with her. The idea that he wanted to marry her in itself was insane. They’d barely known each other a year. Had hated one another for months. The only rational explanation was that he’d seen the family he’d wanted to be a part of in Spain in her family. Saw the woman he’d proposed to in her. That made a shit-ton more sense than him suddenly wanting things he’d railed against for half his life.
Her Claim: Legally Bound Book 2 Page 26
