by Dani René
“I’m sorry baby do you mind?” With a sad smile, I nod.
“I don’t mind going with you?” My question is weary, hoping he doesn’t shut me out. He gives me a swift nod and makes a U-turn. I notice we’re headed for the Hollywood Hills. Lucien hits the gas and we speed up the road. When we pull up to a set of black wrought-iron gates, he presses a button on a remote and the slide open. We make our way up the long paved driveway, and I take in the incredible manicured gardens. Once we’ve stopped outside the main entrance, I open the door and get out. I wait for Lucien to come around to my side, slipping his hand in mine, we race up to the door.
He pushes the heavy wooden door open and let’s me walk inside first. The door shuts with a loud thud behind us, I hear clicking coming from the left and Claudia Verán steps into view. “Oh, you brought your friend.” Her face is plastered with a scowl and I feel out of place at her remark.
“She’s my girlfriend. Get over it. Where is my father?” She signals for us to follow her and we make our way up a sweeping staircase. The house is beautiful, with antiques and portraits of, I am guessing Lucien’s ancestors. The house has the atmosphere of a museum. I take it all in as we make our way down the corridor. The doors are all ornate and old looking. I am sure this house has been in the family for generations. It’s beautiful.
“He’s weak; I think you should go in alone.” She turns to us before opening the door.
“Cassandra will be at my side.” Lucien tugs me behind him as we step into the bedroom.
“Father?” Lucien walks up to the bed. There is a remarkable resemblance, his father an older version of him. Mr. Verán shifts and turns to his son and I notice the unconditional love in his father’s eyes. I miss my father, just being the room with both of them is an experience. They both have very dominating personalities, both being strong for the other.
“Lucien, son. I will be okay. I had a mild stroke. The doctor said I should just take time off.”
“I told you, you work to hard.” Lucien admonishes his father and they both chuckle. They both have the same dimples and it makes me smile.
“Who’s the beautiful young lady, Lucien?” His father turns and I flush at his compliment.
“Father, this is Cassandra Winters. She’s my girlfriend.” He holds out a hand and I step forward.
“Hello Mr. Verán, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I smile.
“Hello dear. The pleasure is mine, my son has excellent taste.” He gives me a grin and I giggle. “I hope Lucien takes care of you. If he doesn’t you tell me, I will sort him out for you.” Lucien’s head jerks to his father and I can tell he is embarrassed.
“Dad, please.”
“Oh shh Luca, I am talking to your girl, not you. Winters you said?” I love the way they are with each other.
“Yes, Mr. Verán.” I glance between him and Lucien, not sure why he’s asking about my last name.
“My God. That’s incredible. Luca, get me that box on the shelf?” We turn to an aged wooden trinket box next to the bed. Lucien grabs it and hands it to his father. I watch him unlock the antique latch. When he flips the lid, the room fills with a sweet melody and I recognize it instantly. It’s a lovely classical piece by Yiruma, called River Flows in You. Lucien’s father looks at me again, almost like he knows me, recognizes me. It’s strange, I haven’t met him before, at least I don’t remember him.
“Take this Cassandra Winters. I want you to hold onto that.” His father hands me a necklace, with a pendant on it. It’s an antique, that much is clear, but I don’t understand why he’s handed it to me. The pendant itself is silver, with an intricate design, almost as if there are vines holding it together. What is more stunning is the beautiful gem, as I move it around in the light, the color changes, an icy blue and then a shimmering orange. Etched into metal are two small symbols, one a snowflake, and the other the sun. I glance up at him curiously, it’s the most gorgeous piece of jewelry I have ever seen.
“Mr. Verán, this is—” My eyes flicker to Lucien and his gaze flicker at my words, I can’t help smiling. “I can’t possibly—”
“You can girl! I will have no debates. That is meant for you.” He grins and hands Lucien something. It’s an identical replica of the pendant, except his is more masculine, like a pocket watch. I am puzzled at the gift as beautiful as it is I am uncertain why he would give us these. “Cassie, our family has a rich heritage. We are from Galicia, and in Galician, Verán is translated to Summer. You and my son are polar opposites. You’ve been brought together, your childhood was intertwined a long time ago and now you’ve found each other again. So I am thrilled to see he has found you. There is a lot you—” Before he can explain what he means, we’re interrupted.
“Lucien, I think it’s time for you to leave, your father needs rest.” Claudia strode into the room and I slipped the necklace into my purse. Lucien’s dad locked the box and passed it to his son.
“Hold on to this for me son.” Giving his father a slight nod, he rose and walked over to me.
“Okay dad, get some rest. I will come by tomorrow.”
We said our goodbyes and made our way out to the car. Lucien asked me to hold onto the box as he opened my door. I slid into the seat and put the box on my lap. I was intrigued to see what was in it, but I knew it was Lucien’s decision if he wanted to show me the secrets locked inside or not.
Lucien
Cassie is the first girl to meet my father. The first girl that means something to me. I had never taken a girl to meet him before, besides Sasha. When he gave her the necklace I thought about my mother. I don’t have many memories of her, but hearing my father speak so fondly of her, with so much love made my heart ache. Since the first day I saw Cassie at the coffee shop I was drawn to her. I saw a light in her that I don’t think she ever knew was there. She got under my skin, inside my veins and I knew I had to have her. One way or another.
The idea of not being near her used to tug at me. Every fucking day. That’s why I ended up at that coffee shop every morning. To see her. It was as if I needed her to survive, there was something so tangible between us, I couldn’t let it go. I had to make her mine. As fate would have it, she stepped into my office and my heart.
I decided to make us dinner tonight. The first night I ever cooked for her was lasagna, and after everything that’s happened, the need to make our situation right again. We need a fresh start, a new beginning. “Sweetness!” I called to her from the kitchen. When she joined me, I smiled. “Taste this, tell me if it’s too salty?” I held a spoon up and I watched her lick the sauce, the act sent a surge of pleasure straight to my groin and I wanted her licking sauce off my hard cock.
“That’s incredible! It’s perfect.” I smiled and nodded. Turning back to the stove, I turned it to a low heat to allow it to simmer.
“Good, now I can start the rest of dinner. Should be about twenty minutes. Do you want wine my sweetness?” She nodded and got the glasses out.
“Yes, want me to pour it?” I nod, concentrating on the food again. “Your dad is wonderful.” In the corner of my eye, I watch her leaning against the sink. I know she’s trying to gauge my reaction. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted her to meet him just yet, but it seems that it worked out well.
“Yes, he is. He seems to be taken with you.” I turn to her and smile.
“He does, I like him. Not sure what he’s doing with your step-mother though. He sounds like he loved your mom very much.” I still at the mention of my mother. For years I wondered the same thing, why my father married Claudia, she’s just so different to how he described my mom. I turn to face Cassie, there is so much I want her to know about me. About growing up in Spain, France, and even spending time in New York. With a deep breath, I decide to tell her about what I remember.
“My mother was his first and last love. They met in Spain, on vacation. Her family lived in the US and so did my dad’s. They were inseparable, at least that’s what my dad tells me. I recall fragments of her.�
� I lean back against the counter. “She always had a scent of flowers around her.
Her smile was bright, and even brighter when my father walked into the room. At least, as a child I recall seeing her face light up. After,” I turn to the stove stirring the pot, “my dad became quiet, but he never neglected me. He always told me he loved me. He supported everything I wanted to do. When I rebelled from him and Claudia, I could see the hurt on his face. I didn’t care at the time. It was like he tried replacing mom with her.” I glance at Cassie, “I know now he didn’t. He could love no one like he loved my mother. She was his lumiére.” My eyes locked on hers as I said the word. She flushed, crimson and stepped towards me, wrapping her arms around my waist. She always takes my breath away when she touches me. “And you are mine.” I lean down to kiss the top of her head. It’s perfect, being with her.
Chapter 18
Lucien
“Would you like breakfast, Sir?” When she rolls over to face me, a naughty glint in her eye tells me she’s been awake for a while. I pull here against me, my hand slides over her belly. Slowly dipping into the waistband of her panties, I stroke her slick entrance. Fuck, she’s so wet for me. My finger plunges inside her warm wet pussy easily. Her tight warm body, has my cock hard and ready to drive into her. She always does this to me. I can’t imagine ever not being inside her. Mine, all mine. Forever. My lumiére.
“Breakfast is definitely a pre-requisite before work, Ms. Winters.” I roll over and pin Cassie below me. My lips find hers in a heated kiss, in less than five seconds flat this girl can bring me to my knees. Her lips part and her tongue tangles with mine in lush strokes. Her taste is addictive, there’s never a moment where I don’t want her, or need her. She’s inside my veins, like a drug. She’s crawled inside my heart, consumed my every thought, she’s found the darkest parts of me and added the light I never had. Or never realized I would have again.
My hand travels down her soft skin, finding the heat between her thighs. I tease her through the material of her panties and her breathing hitches. She’s always so responsive. Wet and ready. There has been nothing in my life that could give me what she does. Happiness. I need to fuck her. Now. There is always a need to connect us in a way that makes her eyes flutter, her heart rate spike and her body tighten around me.
I roll my hips into hers and a small moan gets muffled by the kiss. All I need is to do is be inside her, the ache drives me crazy. As soon as I break contact, she whimpers, sitting back, I tug her panties down. I watch as she pulls the tank top she’s wearing up, before she can take it off completely, I grip it and knot it around her wrists. My own pants find the carpet in record time and I am back between her soft thighs. My cock at her entrance, teasing her. “Please Lucien?” Her begging only makes me harder, painfully so. Her pussy quivers around the tip of my cock. I slide the head in, and pull out, again and again. Her whimper makes me smile. She’s ready, so fucking ready.
“Please what, baby?” I tease her again, she has to beg me for it. She has to ache for me as much as I ache for her. The need to drive deep into her is unbearable, but I need to remain in control, even though she has me so out of control all the time.
“Fuck me! Please? Fuck me hard and make me scream.” Her eyes are black with lust as she wraps her legs around my waist, trying to pull me inside her. “Please?” Her soft moans and pleading have my head spinning and I slam into her, balls deep inside her sweet, tight little cunt. Oh God she feels good! Tightest, hottest little pussy I have ever been inside. I pull out almost all the way and drive back in.
She cries out as her head drops back. Her bound hands come down and her nails dig into my shoulder, spurring me on even more. The bite of pain makes my cock throb and harden inside her. Her heels push my ass, trying to get me deeper. My mouth finds her pebbled nipple, laving it, sucking it into my mouth. As I give attention to the other one, her pussy tightens. With a dark smirk I bite down on her nipple and she cries out my name, the most erotic sound ever. “Come for me, lumiére, give me all your pleasure.” My words are her undoing as her orgasm splinters through her. I drive into her, again, as I fill her with my own release.
Our bodies still and her tight little cunt pulses around me. Her body takes everything from me, milking me. Our bodies are still intertwined as I catch my breath. “I love you baby.” Planting soft kisses on her neck, sending a shiver over her skin.
“I love you too. Always.”
“Always.”
As soon as I slip out of her, she moans and rolls over. Her leg wrapped around me. “Baby, we need to get to work. Your boss won’t appreciate you being late.” I chuckle at the cute pout she gives me. Maybe she needs those lips wrapped around my cock. The image in my mind makes my cock jump.
“He will have to talk to my boyfriend, it’s his fault I am late.” Her fingers lightly stroke my abs. I feel the stirring of another hard on, but before she can continue, I roll out of her grasp.
“And your boyfriend has a meeting with the board today, so you have to behave.” Her giggle makes me smile and I walk around the bed to the bathroom. With her hungry gaze burning a hole into my skin, I leave the bathroom door open, and turn on the spray. As soon as her arms are around me, I tug her into the shower for our second round of breakfast.
Cassandra
When we arrived at the office this morning, Lucien walked me to my office and then disappeared upstairs for his board meeting. Once I had set up my laptop and logged into my email program, I turn to the window to take in the view below. The city looks incredible from up here, and sometimes it’s unreal that I am here. My mind flits back to meeting Lucien’s dad, the necklace he gave me and what he said about us. Summer and Winters. Light and Dark. Although at times I am not sure who is the dark one. There are so many things in my life that would make me argue that I am. Lucien has brought love back into my life. He’s brought me back from the dead, just about.
I am about to get up to make coffee when my phone buzzes. “Cassie Winters, how can I help you?”
“I told you to stay away from him, but you obviously don’t listen.” An icy voice sends fear racing through my veins. This is not Sasha because I have spoken to her a few times, and I would recognize her voice immediately. Who the hell can this be?
“Who are you? I asked you to leave Lucien and me alone!” As I am about to hang up, she says the words I have been dreading since I first started dating Lucien.
“He will learn about your dark secrets. I will make sure of it!” The line goes dead and I am staring at the receiver. What the fuck just happened? Shit! Lucien can’t find out about the darkest part of my story. I buried it for a reason. Knowing that I should have told him the night I confessed the rest of my story tugs at me. Didn’t we say honesty is the way to go? I should have listened. He can’t be angry, he should understand. I mean, I am sure he will. Won’t he? No, he won’t. The dread that’s hanging in my chest is making it difficult to breathe. My heart is constricting and I flop into my chair. Nothing will bring us back from this. No amount of fairytales, and no amount of pendants.
“Cassie, babe!” I glance up to see Jayce walking into my office. Did he knock? I must have been so deep in thought that I didn’t hear the noise.
“Hey Jay, how are you?” I offer him a small smile. He closes the door behind him and turns to meet my expression. A frown creases his brow as he walks towards me.
“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He strides closer to the desk and I can’t find the words to tell him anything. “Cassie?” I sit and stare at him for a long moment before finding the strength to even think it, let alone say the words out loud.
I nod. “I…” How the hell do I even start? “Lucien is going to break up with me.” I stare into his sky-slue eyes, worry etched on his face.
“What do you mean? Why?” Placing his hands on my desk, he leans over struggling to figure out what’s got me so overwhelmed. “Cassie, princess, talk to me?”
“My past Jay, there is
something I hid from him. It’s something I did, if he finds out, he will never forgive me.” I glance up as the tears spill from my face.
“How do you know he will find out?” He cocks his head to the side.
“I got a warning from some girl. She believes that Lucien loves her and they’re meant to be together. She said she will tell him about my past.” Jay looks confused.
“What did she sound like? Was this Sasha?” I shake my head; it was the only thing I was sure about. Unless she somehow gained an accent in the last few days. “Can you be sure?”
“Yes, she had a European accent, Jay.” Color drains from his face, and fear rips through me. He knows something. “What?”
“Shit! There is only one person it can be. I met a girl a few years ago. When Lucien and I were at Uni. She moved from Spain, to stay with Lucien. Well, not really stay, she kind of landed here with nowhere to go. My guess is she came to win him back, but he was never interested in her. I can’t remember her name. It can only be her, she was thoroughly in love with him, but he was not interested in anything long-term at the time. He told me that they were a fling and he left her. This was a long time ago why would she resurface now?” Jayce walks around the desk and pulls me up, holding me in his arms I can’t believe this is happening. I will lose the man I love over some stupid jealous psycho who can’t let go. Maybe I can talk to him before she has time to say anything to him. I should go up there after the meeting.
Lucien
As soon as I walk into the office Stacy is nipping at my heels. “Mr. Verán, you have an important call. The person has been calling non-stop for the past hour.” I glance at the time on my wristwatch, it is only fucking 9:30 am. Who would want to even think of doing business before ten?
“Did you happen to get a name?” My annoyance for her is skyrocketing.
