by Cassia Leo
When I’m certain she’s out of earshot, I whisper to Cash, “Is she really seventy-two years old? If she is, I want whatever she’s having.”
“No, you don’t. Celia manages to look young by subsisting on nothing but the heads she bites off of live puppies.”
I shake my head as I grab onto his arm again. “She definitely didn’t like me.”
“She didn’t even speak to you,” he replies fiercely. “Don’t let these losers under your skin.”
“Easy for you to say. And easy for you to call them losers, because you’re probably richer than her and she’s almost three times your age. Why do you think she hates you? You’ve flouted that in these people’s faces for years, and they’re just supposed to believe you’re suddenly ready to settle down?”
He stares at me with a look I can’t decipher. Is it confusion or anger? Or both?
I shake my head and turn away. “Don’t do that. When you stare at me like that it makes me think I did something wrong?”
He steps closer until he’s right behind me, grabbing my hips as he leans in to whisper in my ear. “If they watch you verbally decimate me and still fail to believe we’re together, then they’re idiots. You just dialed up your acting to a ten,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my earlobe. “I’m going to have to reward you for that later.”
As difficult as it is to stop him, I pull his hands off my hips and turn to face him. “I’m not acting,” I whisper, glancing around to make sure no one is close enough to hear us. “You don’t just have to convince them you’re engaged. You have to convince them you’re going to stay engaged. And after that, you’re going to stay married.”
The hunger in his eyes dims and his features soften. “How do you know these people better than I do?”
I let out a soft sigh as I lower my gaze to his chest. “Because I know what it’s like to live with an addict. After a while, you stop believing any promises they make…to save yourself the inevitable disappointment.”
He pinches my chin softly and tilts my head up to look me in the eye. “Do you think I’m lying to you when I promise you’ll be taken care of?”
I draw in a slow breath and shrug.
His gaze falls and he lets go of my chin as he steps back. He seems to be having some sort of realization. I want to ask him what he’s thinking, but I’m afraid to interrupt his train of thought. Finally, he blinks a few times and steps forward, placing a kiss on my forehead as he folds me into his muscular arms.
He doesn’t attempt to explain his thoughts. As I wrap my arms around his waist, he tightens his hold on me, practically crushing me with his embrace.
He exhales a loud breath through his nose as he kisses the top of my head and whispers, “Thank you.”
I don’t know if he’s thanking me for admitting my distrust in his promises or for making him realize how untrustworthy he’s been to the people in his life, including the board of directors. Either way, I’ll see this as a victory. It possible I didn’t get through to my father until it was too late. But I don’t think it’s too late for Cash.
God, I hope it’s not too late for him. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost the two most important men in my life.
The rest of the luncheon goes about as well as our chat with Celia. Cash’s mother calls him to apologize that they’re running late, so I won’t get to meet them before the “Casino Night” gala in the ballroom tonight. None of the board members seem particularly impressed with Cash’s attempt to settle down. Most are polite with their skepticism, but a couple are as cynical as I’d expect, after everything Cash has put the company through.
When we arrive at our suite around three p.m., Dex and Hector post themselves outside our door. I head straight for the veranda, which boasts an outdoor bed similar to the one on the roof of Cash’s penthouse, where Cash and I had sex the night we met at the Billionaire Club. The view of the lake from up here is stunning. Surrounded by shimmering water and sand on one side and tiled roofs on the other, it’s a true oasis.
I glance over my shoulder as I hear footsteps behind me. Cash and I have three and a half hours to get ready for tonight’s dinner and gala. But judging by the feral look in his eyes as he unknots his tie, I don’t expect we’ll utilize all that primping time.
He slides the silky fabric out from under his collar and loops it over my head, wrapping it around the small of my back to pull my body against his. I grab the lapels of his blazer as he kisses me hungrily, nipping my lips as he tosses his behind him and reaches for the zipper on the back of my dress.
I pull my head back and slowly unbutton his shirt as he lets his hands fall to his sides. Without uttering a single word, he knows what I want.
Undoing his belt and unfastening his slacks, I slide my hand inside to feel his rock solid erection. He sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth as I move my hand farther down, and down, until I find the head. For some reason, it’s seems bigger than I anticipated. He really is more majestic in the light of day.
I tug my dress off and fold it neatly as he pulls his shirt out of his pants. Placing the folded dress in front of his feet, I kneel down on top of it and look up into his eyes as I tug his slacks down. As I reach for the waistband on his boxer briefs, I place a soft kiss on the trail of hair below his navel. Pulling them down slowly, I gasp and my pussy throbs as the size of his cock is revealed to me.
He runs his fingers through my hair, gently moving it back and away from my face so he can watch.
Curling my fingers around the head, I slide my hand down to the base to gently stretch the skin taut. I look up and into his eyes as I trace my tongue around the tip of his cock, moaning with pleasure as I taste the slightly salty pre-cum. My other hand slides over his ass and down the back of his leg, and I smile as his erection gets even harder with just this brief touch.
I break eye contact as I enthusiastically lick along his shaft as if it were a tasty, dripping popsicle. My free hand gently cradles his balls as I look up at him again, pumping my fist over his erection a couple times until my grip is nice and tight around the base. Then, I dribble a good amount of saliva onto the head and cover my teeth with my lips before I take him into my mouth.
“Fuck,” he hisses, his head falling back in ecstasy.
I bob my head and fist slowly at first as my other hand caresses his sac and the tender flesh behind it. His grip on my hair tightens every time his body twitches, but I maintain a slow, steady pace as I rev him up for the finale. Wrapping both my hands around the base of his cock, there’s still a few inches exposed at the top. I pump my fists up and down a few times before I take him all the way into my throat.
I slide him out quickly, my eyes streaming tears as I fight my gag reflex. Looking up into his eyes, I grab onto his ass cheeks and take him all the way in again. He yanks my hair to pull my head back as I start to gag. Tears running down my face, I smile and he shakes his head as I do it over and over again, all the way in until he yanks my hair back. He can only endure this a few times before he explodes in my mouth. My body trembles with a surge of adrenaline as I caress his ass and lick up every last drop around his twitching cock.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he hisses as I push his hand away when he attempts to pull me up.
I don’t stop licking until every bit of cum is swallowed and his cock begins to stiffen again. As I rise to my feet, I step out of my heels and remove my bra while Cash tosses aside his blazer and shirt and sits on the edge of the outdoor bed to remove his socks. When he’s finished, I straddle his lap and wrap my arms around him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, gasping as his cock burrows inside me. But I don’t move my hips up and down. I want to savor the sensation of being one with him for as long as possible.
He doesn’t move his hips either. He gently caresses my back as he holds me. “I know this isn’t the right time to say this,” he says, placing a tender kiss on my shoulder. “But I don’t want to regret not saying it. Look at me, Kara.”
I loosen
my hold on him and sit up straight to look him in the eye.
He reaches up and brushes my hair out of my face. “I… I fucking love you,” he says, shaking his head as if he can’t believe he’s saying this. “I don’t know how this is possible. I’ve been really trying to pretend this isn’t happening, but I don’t want to pretend anymore. Not with you. I love you. I love the fuck out of you.”
I chuckle as he kisses the tip of my nose. “I love you, too. And, yes, this is really fucking crazy. And stupid. But I don’t care.”
He kisses me greedily, wrapping a thick arm around my waist as he flips me onto my back. Lifting my good leg, he places my calf on his shoulder and braces his fists against the mattress as he digs deeper inside me than any man has ever been. Grunting as he pounds my cervix with the head of his cock, my high-pitched moans come out like rhythmic whimpers. Sliding my hand between my legs, I massage my clit as he hammers me, like a true caveman. Finally, I let out a guttural wail as I come hard, my pussy clenching around his hot cock. Within a couple minutes, he comes again and collapses on top of me.
His face is buried in my hair as he growls in my ear, “What the fuck have you done to me?”
I laugh as I coil my good leg around his ass so he can’t pull out. “I could ask you the same thing.”
But the longer we lay like this, the more my euphoria fades as I realize I have to be honest with Cash. I can’t tell him I love him without telling him the truth about my father’s gambling debts. By the time I’m done explaining my situation, his face has morphed from sheer ecstasy to pure rage.
He shakes his head as he sits on the edge of the bed. “You let me leave you in that hospital room without a bodyguard after you were attacked? You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“And your father and—and his caregiver—
“Jacie.”
“Jacie. They’re home alone right now. What if something happens to them?”
I shake my head as I move to sit next to him. “I have sixty days to come up with the money. They wouldn’t…” I’m about to say they wouldn’t do anything before the sixty days is up, but they did throw a brick through my window. “Oh, God. What if something happens to them?”
“I’ll send Hector to check on them,” he says, heading inside the suite and straight for the door without attempting to put any clothes on first.
I can only imagine that Hector and Dex are not at all surprised to see Cash’s nakedness as he orders Hector to check on my dad. As he closes the door, he stands there for a moment, thinking with his hand on the door handle. Finally, he turns around and heads straight for the veranda, his eyes locked on me.
He kneels down in front of me and spreads my legs as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me toward him.
Pressing his cheek to my chest, he holds me fiercely. “You’d better tell me everything from now on, because there’s no fucking way I’m going to lose you.”
I kiss the top of his head and caress his back as I hold him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
When we finally manage to start getting ready, Cash lets me shower first while he makes a call to Knox Security to request a special team, though he won’t tell me what this special team is for. I assume he’s devising some crazy plan to scare off Benny and his goons, but I hope he knows what he’s doing. Though my father has never admitted it, I suspect Benny already got away with taking one parent from me. I believe he’s fully capable of making my father’s — or Cash’s — death look like an accident.
As I step out of the shower and begin towel-drying my body, I hear muffled voices outside the bathroom. One voice is definitely Cash, but the other voice sounds like an older version of him. I tiptoe closer to the door to better hear them.
“So you lied when you said you were engaged?”
“Yes, but I didn’t lie about settling down. I’m going to propose to her tonight. I want everyone to know this isn’t an act. I’m… I’ve never been this serious about anyone, Dad. She’s changed me.”
My heart thuds loudly in my ears as I clutch the towel against my chest.
“Well, you certainly look and sound different. I look forward to meeting her.”
“Her name is Kara.”
“I look forward to meeting Kara. Your mother was very pleased when you asked for your grandmother’s ring. Take care of it, son. Don’t let her down.”
“I will take care of it, and I promise I won’t let either of you down.”
I grab onto the edge of the marble vanity top and attempt to breathe. Cash is going to propose to me tonight? I look up at my reflection and realize I have a goofy grin on my face.
Why am I happy about this? I barely know him.
Do I?
He claims I’m the only person, other than his father and the first responders, who know what happened with Vanessa on that beach. He’s the only person other than my father who knows about Benny and my father’s debts. I haven’t even told Suzie about my dad’s bookie. Not to mention, Cash and I just minutes ago confessed our love to each other.
I grip the countertop harder as my knees get weak. Oh, my God. Cash is going to propose, and I’m totally going to say yes.
15
Cash
I’ve never been so fucking nervous in all my life as Kara and I head down to the Grand Ballroom on the third floor. The charity dinner and “Casino Night” will both benefit clean water initiatives, so I plan to gamble away a ton of money before I propose to Kara and leave gambling, booze, and women behind me.
“Are you okay?” she asks as we approach our table at the head of the ballroom, where my parents are already seated. “You look tense.”
I attempt to swallow, but my mouth is dry. “I’m fine, baby,” I say, adjusting my bowtie uncomfortably.
She doesn’t look convinced, but she maintains her composure as I introduce her to my parents.
“Mother, Father, this is…” I pause for a moment, as if I’ve forgotten her name or how to introduce her. “This is the love of my life, Kara Langley.”
“Smooth save,” she whispers, turning my mother, who’s seated at the table, wearing a sparkling silver dress. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Westbrook.”
“Please call me Anne,” my mother replies, rising from her chair to pull Kara into a brief but warm embrace. “Oh, none of that shaking hands nonsense,” she insists, grabbing Kara’s hands as she lets her go. “Look at you. You’re absolutely marvelous. Just as beautiful as I imagined. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you, dear.”
Kara’s face is flame-red as she smiles back. “Thank you. I… I didn’t know what to expect, but this is a very warm welcome. Thank you.”
My mom offers her the seat next to her, and my chest swells with pride as they proceed to chat all throughout dinner. They discuss Kara’s gorgeous red dress and how we met at the Billionaire Club. I’m surprised at how Kara maintains her enthusiasm when the conversation shifts to clean water initiatives, my mother’s favorite charity topic. As much as I enjoy watching them get to know each other, by the time we’re finished with dinner, I want my girl back.
“I hate to interrupt this gab-fest, but I believe Kara owes me a dance,” I say, grabbing the napkin off her lap and placing it on the table as I stand up. “Shall we?”
She smiles as she puts her hand in mine. “We shall.”
Her hand trembles as we walk toward the small dance floor, where a half-dozen other couples dance to the sweet sound of “Black Coffee” by Sarah Vaughn. As I place my hand on her hip and take her other hand in mine, she’s frozen as she stares at my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, tilting her face up.
“Nothing,” she replies, wrapping her free arm around my neck. “Everything is perfect. I’ve never…felt this happy.”
I kiss her forehead as we sway to the music. “I’m just getting started, baby.”
After a few more dances, Dex interrupts us to tell me he’s meeting the new security
team in the lobby to lead them inside. Kara and I retreat into the adjacent ballroom, where a dozen tables have been set up for “Casino Night.” We purchase some chips from the cashier station, then I lead Kara past the poker and craps tables, heading straight for the blackjack tables near the bar.
“Teach me how you play blackjack,” I say, pulling out a stool for her to sit.
“You already know how to play blackjack,” she remarks with a look of sheer skepticism. “Besides, I thought you were giving up gambling.”
I chuckle as I straddle the stool next to her. “I am. After tonight, my gambling days — and nights — are over,” I say, tracing a cross over my chest. “Cross my heart. I just want to see how you play.” I lean in to whisper in her ear, “It’s sexy as fuck and you know it.”
She smiles as she shakes her head. “I need some chips,” she says, holding out her hand.
I dig four $10,000 chips out of my pocket and place them in a neat stack in her palm. “Show me how it’s done, sensei.”
She places the stack of chips on the table and bets one on the next hand. As the dealer places two cards in front of her and the man sitting on her other side, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I’m surprised to see a text from my father.
Dad:
Meet me on the terrace. Celia and Warren want to discuss the terms of keeping you on board.
I glance around to see if Dex is coming back yet, but I don’t see him anywhere.
Me:
Can we discuss this later?
Dad:
It’s good news. This should be quick.
“Who’s that?” Kara asks as the dealer pays out her $10,000 winning bet. “You didn’t even see me play that hand.”
“It’s my dad. He says the board has good news. Dex should be here any second. I’m just going outside to chat with them. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
