By the time Cassandra was standing in her tiny kitchen the next morning drinking her usual cup of tea, she felt much more in control. She only had to look around her small house to feel on firmer ground. This was reality. This was all she’d been able to afford after Brian had died.
Her mouth tightened. Contrary to what everyone believed, she hadn’t been left a millionairess after her football-star husband had died in the accident. She was still picking up the pieces emotionally and financially from her five years of marriage.
And, while her emotional scars might heal one day, the financial ones would be keeping her in this tiny cottage and working hard for every cent for a very long time. The truth was that Brian had left astronomical debts behind him and, because their divorce hadn’t come
The shock was rapidly wearing off by the time Cassandra had stepped back into her house, followed by a tall, stunning and magnificent Sébastien Monfort. She crossed her arms and rounded on him with a scowl on her face. Once again, he was demonstrating that ability to suck in the space around him and make everything seem small and inadequate. She tried to block out the fact that he was quite simply the most gorgeous man who’d ever stood feet away from her and looked at her with an intensity that bordered on being indecent.“That…Um… That phone call was a conversation that shouldn’t have had to happen. And, just so you know, it was all your fault.” He inclined his head slightly and smiled slightly. He looked huge in her tiny living room.“I apologize, but, as
Happy that she’d justified her actions to herself, and not willing to pay attention to the buzz of something in her blood when she heard the strains of her favorite blues CD coming from the sound system, she found it soothing rather than scary.“I hope you don’t mind?” Cassandra looked over to where Sébastien was bent down at the system, the material of his trousers and shirt straining over taut, hard muscles in his thighs and back. She shook her head, her mouth feeling very dry.“No… no… Cass, stop…” she whispered almost imperceptibly and took another quick sip of wine. The dinner was extremely pleasant and by the time Cassandra was taking his cleared plate from him, and apologizing again that their dinner had been on
He saw the cards that had accompanied the flowers neatly lined up to show the sentence they’d spelled out. Something forceful struck him then. He’d never gone to such trouble before. Women always said yes… It was always that easy to have every woman he’d wanted. Only recently his experiences with women had always proved somewhat unsatisfactory. And now merely kissing Cassandra was making him feel like a randy teenager again, like a schoolboy on his first crush. And it was wonderful, unsettling, and somehow bothering all tied up into one cool package. Cassandra welcomed the distance as she watched Sébastien put his coat on, accentuating his shoulders, his broad back. Those wonderful shoulders that she’d just been clutching with complete abandon, because if she hadn&rsquo
Trapped in that intimate space, Cassandra felt as if her entire body was on fire. Suddenly her shirt and tie were ridiculously restrictive. It was impossible for her to look at Sébastien. She was afraid that one glimpse would take her breath away forever. Silence thickened, but it wasn’t all that awkward. As they approached the city, Sébastien started pointing out landmarks in a neutral, deep voice. Just that alone had an effect on her body, the fine hairs standing up all over her skin. Yet it was also calming as if he was trying to soothe her. She still hadn’t looked directly at him, but then she felt his hand, warm and very real on her chin and jaw, turning her head towards him. Her eyes were huge, staring at him with a mixture of fear and trepidation.“Thank you,&rd
When Cassandra reached her room, she was panting. She went straight into her own bathroom and looked in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes over-bright. Her body was too sensitive, and an ache throbbed down low in her belly and between her legs. She dropped her head, hands gripping the edge of the sink. What was going on with her? Why was she so restless? She did the right thing by leaving Sébastien alone in the living room. Cassandra went back out into the bedroom and fooled herself into believing that she was doing what she wanted by unpacking her clothes and taking out her toiletries. A silk dress slithered out of her trembling hands to the ground. After mumbling with discontent, Cassandra picked it up. She’d pulled
‘I want to take it into my mouth until you come apart in my arms… Until you’re so wet that sliding into you will be the easiest thing in the world.’ Those were the words… Cassandra’s head fell back. She couldn’t stop the moan and wondered at this woman she didn’t recognize. As Sébastien sucked her nipple, a tight spiral of intense sensation connected directly with Cassandra’s groin. She found herself pressing closer, seeking, wanting more, arching her back. He had taken down the other cup, so now both her breasts were bared, upthrust, and framed by the satin black material. Sébastien was torturing her with his mouth, making it harder for her to breathe. He reached down, lifted her leg, and hooked it around his thigh. His other hand was on the leg that was barely able to keep her standing. &nbs
The expression on his face and his tone made Cassandra all at once feel like laughing and getting angry. She picked up a small cushion from the chair beside her and threw it at him, but Sébastien caught it deftly and kept coming. Dressed in a tuxedo, with his hair still damp from the shower, he was absolutely magnificent. Cassandra had to speak to try and deny the effect he had on her, the way his teasing wound through her and impacted a place that was so deep, so vulnerable.“I’m going to change right now! I knew this dress was a mistake.” She went to undo the zip that was under her arm, and Sébastien reached her and captured her hand.“Don’t you dare! This dress is beautiful.” Cass
Shivering uncontrollably, Cassandra stood on the steps. Once again, she found herself stuck in this situation… History was repeating itself. “Would you like me to get you a taxi, madam?” “Yes, please,” Cassandra said gratefully to the nice doorman. She had no idea where she would go… All her things were still at Sébastien’s, but she didn’t want to go back there. Maybe he had plans with the blonde. “The lady doesn’t need a taxi. She’s with me. Can you send for my driver, please?” a familiar deep voice, throbbing with anger, came from behind her and she stiffened in rejection. A harsh hand on her arm pulled her around. She met furious dark eyes and everything in her protested against his anger. The fact that the doorman had already hurried off to do his bidding made things eve