by Nicole Vidal
Cash: At the risk of sounding eager, hell yes!
Me: Perfect! I’ll let you know my travel details when I have them.
Near lunch, I take a short break to book a flight to New York, gobble up my food, and push away thoughts of Cash. I need to focus on the plan. Focusing on Cash is a distraction, even if it’s a wanted one. I spend the rest of my day tweaking a developmentally accurate plan for my student. Just after three, Sheila reviews it, giving her stamp of approval. Unfortunately, that’s only half the battle. It doesn’t matter if Sheila approves. My job lies in the hands of M’s mother. Sheila suggests that I leave before Mrs. Sanfilippo returns to pick up her son. Without a second thought, I rush home to pack, then talk to Cash.
After chatting for a little while, I go to bed to hurry up time. Bright and early, I head to the airport. After settling into my seat, I promptly go back to sleep. The faster this flight passes, the sooner I’ll be in his arms. After deplaning, I text Cash.
Me: What’s your address? I can meet you there instead of you picking me up.
Cash: Turn around, tesoro.
Butterflies take flight in my stomach. I thought I had more time to prepare for this moment. Slowly I turn to my right. Cash is leaning up against one of the pillars holding a huge bouquet of yellow roses with red tips. I’ve never seen roses that color before. I resist the urge to run to him just barely. My feet carry me as fast as possible without seeming like it’s been ages rather than a week.
He wraps his arms around me. “I missed you,” he whispers in my ear.
“I missed you too. Thank you. These are amazing.” I take the flowers from him before kissing his lips lightly. He threads his fingers into mine, pulling my rolling carry-on behind us.
In the back of my mind, I know Cash lives in the same atmosphere as Nicholas. Like my brother, he doesn’t flaunt it. As we move through the parking lot, Cash opens the passenger door of a luxurious BMW. I can’t even fathom how much it cost.
“I’m so happy you’re here.” He starts the car and drives to his home.
13
Cassius
Every time I know I’m going to see her, my nervous energy ratchets up. Yet the instant she touches me, my nerves fade away. Driving toward my home, I intertwine my fingers with hers before kissing the top of her hand.
“Have you been to New York City before?”
“I’ve been here once, maybe twice for one of Nicholas’s premieres. Usually I attend the premiere, his afterparty, and then go straight home.”
“Is there one thing you want to do while you’re here?” I can see the wheels turning in her gorgeous mind. I decide to wait her out rather than press her for an answer. I pull into the parking structure of my building and into my designated parking spot. My SUV occupies the next spot. Although I prefer to walk, more practical than this car, especially in the city for daily driving. After I park, she still hasn’t answered my question. In fact she has been silent for the last five minutes. “Noelle, why are you spooked?”
“You can see that?” She doesn’t look at me.
“I can feel it.” I lift her eyes to mine with my other hand. Heat runs up my arm when I touch her. This is a true test of my restraint. I want to kiss her senseless right now. She smells amazing even after flying across the country. Her breathing is a tad shallow for my liking. “I can get you a room if you don’t want to stay with me.”
“It’s not you. Well, it’s you, but not in the way you think. Hopping on a plane for a weekend trip to spend time with a man is so far outside the norm for me. I think it just caught up with me.”
“How can I help?” I slowly drop my hand. Her gaze follows.
“I just need a minute.” She inhales and exhales while slowly lifting her eyes back to mine.
“Take all the time you need. I meant what I said; I’m not going anywhere, tesoro.”
“Cassius.” She leans forward, her forehead against mine. The moment her lips touch mine, I want to let go, to kiss her with everything I have—just not here in a parking garage. Either she senses my hesitation or she realizes where we are. “I’m ready when you are.”
I take that to mean, she’s ready to go inside. Deep down, I think she may mean something more.
“Stay there. I’ll get your door.” I hurry around the car and pull out her luggage and flowers before opening her door. She takes my offered hand and stands. Her mouth is a breath away from mine. I kiss her softly before closing her door behind her.
After a short elevator ride, we exit in the lobby. Arthur greets us.
“Good evening, Mr. Morgan.”
“Good evening, Arthur. Did Ella have her daughter yet?”
“Still waiting. This one is stubborn.”
“Your newest granddaughter will be here soon. This is Noelle Barnett.”
She extends her hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Arthur says before kissing her hand.
“You as well. Such a gentleman. You might learn something from him.” She winks at me.
I smile. Arthur laughs softly.
“If you need something and I’m not available, Arthur is your best bet. I’ll give you his information when we get upstairs,” I inform her.
“Here are the items you requested, Mr. Morgan. Have a wonderful evening.”
“Thank you, Arthur. You as well.” I slide the envelope into my pocket and guide Noelle to the elevator.
As the door closes us in, she mumbles something under her breath.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she replies immediately. The tone and sharpness of her reply indicates she didn’t want me to hear her. Stepping into the alcove, I open the door to my home. If she weren’t Ellis Barnett’s sister, I would be worried about bringing her here. In fact, I would have rented a hotel room for the weekend instead of sharing my personal space with her.
“What do you say to authentic New York style pizza for dinner?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Anything you don’t want on your pizza?”
“I’m game for anything except anchovies. Yuck!”
I laugh. “One pizza with extra anchovies coming right up.”
“Bathroom?”
“The bathroom is the first door on the left.”
“Thanks.”
I order our dinner and pour two glasses of white wine. When I hear the water turn off, I hustle down the hall to grab a hoodie for her just in case she didn’t pack one. When I return, she’s gazing out the French doors.
“Cash, this is amazing!” she gushes when I stand next to her.
“It’s why I bought this place. The outdoor space is spectacular. Come on.” I reach for her hand. Every time, I marvel at the feel of it twined with mine. How perfect it is, her hand in mine. I hand her a glass before leading her outside.
Settling into the corner of one couch, I open my arms for her. She curls into me like at her condo. I kiss the top of her head as she wraps her arms around me.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you more than I should admit.” I drag my thumb up and down her upper arm.
“I’m glad I came too. I apologize for before. Not only is coming here a big deal but work yesterday was awful. The fate of my job is in someone else’s hands.”
“Please tell me, sweetheart.”
“I will, just not now. I want to enjoy being here with you. I don’t want to worry about my job, M, or anything else that’s going on outside of your four walls, at least tonight. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” I pull her even closer to me. All too soon, our food arrives. Too soon for me to let her go, but not for my hunger pangs. She joins me in the kitchen.
“Where are the plates?”
“To the left of the stove.”
“Do you need silverware?” To most, this is an innocuous question.
“You can’t eat New York style pizza properly with silverware. Please tell me you don’t use silverware.”
“Is that a deal breaker?”
“Crisis averted. It’s sacrilege to use silverware for pizza. What is a deal breaker?”
Plates, napkins, and a bottle of wine in hand, she follows me back onto the terrace. I place one slice on each plate and refill our glasses before taking a seat next to her with one leg bent on the cushion facing her.
“Oh my God! This is so much better than pizza in California,” Noelle states before taking another huge bite.
After inhaling an entire slice, I pull another out of the box.
“Most of my deal breakers wouldn’t apply to you.”
“Why?” she asks as she grabs a second slice of pepperoni for herself. I appreciate that she actually eats food—hers and mine.
“I have a checklist, which sounds callous, but as you already know, my parents’ marriage was a business deal. I don’t want that. I want the fairy tale. Nothing short of blissful happiness for myself and my wife. I realize how that sounds coming from a man whose parents’ marriage is basically loveless. The vows didn’t mean what they should, at least to my parents. As far as I can tell in the time I’ve known you, none of my deal breakers apply to you. You believe in monogamy, you don’t want my money, you love your career and children. It scares me and makes me hopeful at the same time.”
“It might sound callous to someone who doesn’t know the truth about your parents’ marriage or who has never seen a truly love-filled marriage. I want the fairy tale too. Even though I only had them for a painfully limited time, my parents were happy. It’s what I want for myself.” After a gulp of her wine, she continues barely above a whisper. “How well we fit scares me too.”
Taking the glass from her hand, I set it on the table. Cupping her flawless face in my hands, I draw my thumb across her lips. Her gorgeous eyes flutter closed. She pulls in a breath before setting her hands flat on my chest. I can feel her through my shirt. Each time I kiss her, the anticipation of how it will feel is intense. So far, each kiss is incrementally better than the last. I press my lips to the tip of her nose, forcing her to open her eyes. Her eyes tell me everything I want to know. She wants me as much as I want her, but like me, she’s scared out of her mind it won’t work.
Sealing my lips over hers, I kiss her like I wanted to when we were in the parking garage. She tastes like wine and hope. Hope for the possibility of happily ever after. The possibility of forever. As I withdraw, her tongue surges forward, exploring the depths of my mouth. I slide her thin cardi down her arms to her elbows. Her skin is soft under my fingertips. I kiss along the curve of her elegant neck and across her shoulder. Her fingers move quickly down the column of buttons on my shirt. Before pushing the shirt off, she draws her hands over my chest, sending sparks straight southward. After discarding my shirt, I pull her into my lap while guiding the cardi to the deck. The heat of her core against me teases my arousal. Her chest rises and falls in an increased rhythm. We pause for a slight moment before her mouth returns to mine.
After exploring her mouth again, I move over her chin, down her neck, to the sweet-smelling valley between her breasts. I draw my tongue back upward before gripping the hem of her tank top. Lifting it over her head reveals a black lace bra with split cups.
“Holy f… you’re—” If I lean forward an inch, I could take her nipple into my mouth. She interrupts me by pressing her lips to mine. I tear my mouth away before moving down to her breasts. I nip, kiss, and mark the swells of her chest while rolling one of her nipples between my fingers.
“Cash.”
I tease her nipple with my tongue. Latching on with my teeth, I gently pull forward, so it’s fully exposed through the cup. I suck it to a taut peak as her head falls backward. Arching forward, she grinds against me. Her heated core rocking against my hardened cock feels spectacular. The fireworks are real and continue to increase in intensity.
I glide my hands around her back, unclasping her bra. Flattening my hands against her heated skin elicits a soft moan. As I draw my hands down her back, I feel her shiver.
“Your hands and mouth feel incredible on my skin,” she whispers near the shell of my ear before nuzzling my neck.
“Your skin is so soft.”
She slides the straps of her bra down her arms, allowing it to fall to the deck. It’s as if time stops for a moment. This stunning woman is in my arms, and the rest of the world falls away. It’s just us. There is no work drama, no family drama, just me and her. Exactly how it should be.
Breaking her gaze, I palm her breasts while kissing a path down between them. A heavy sigh slips from her lips. Shifting to the left, I lower her to the cushions. I return to my quest of marking her with my mouth, starting at the underside of her breast, over her rib cage, and down to her waist. I freeze watching her hand slide from view into her jeans.
Popping the button, I shimmy her jeans off her creamy, toned legs. The scrap of lace covering her matches the sexy bra on the floor. I see a flash of uncertainty in her eyes.
“I want to watch you make yourself come apart.”
She nods before moving her hand deeper into her sexy panties. I draw my tongue around her nipple before biting it. Her fingers plunge in and out of her folds as she gets closer to her release. Pulling back, I roll her nipples between my fingers. Her breathing reduces to hard pants. Increasing the pressure, I pinch her harder. Her skin is flush, and her hips arch off the couch as she convulses under me, her hips rubbing against my arousal.
Watching her come apart is exquisite. I look forward to giving her the same pleasure in the future. I’ve never seen a woman take control like that. It’s alluring and captivating.
14
Noelle
With the pace of a snail, I regulate my breathing. I haven’t come that hard… ever, and Cash didn’t even touch me. He’ll ruin me if his hands and mouth are any indication of how well he uses his hard, sculpted body.
“That was breathtaking, tesoro,” Cash murmurs against my neck. His weight on top of me makes me want to forgo all notions of decency and decorum for waiting.
“The pressure was too much. I needed to let go.”
“How long?” he asks, lifting his head to look into my eyes.
“Depends on what you’re asking. If you mean with someone else, it’s been years.”
“How is that even possible?” Surprise crosses his eyes.
“It was my choice. I didn’t set out to limit my sexual experiences, but it turned out that way.”
Cash pulls me against him while turning us on the couch so we’re on our sides facing each other. I tuck my left arm under my head, resting my right hand in the middle of his rippled chest. His left hand moves up and down my back from the curve of my ass to my shoulder blades, chilling my skin with each pass.
“When most people were experimenting in high school and college, I was grieving. It took me just over a year to accept that we were orphans. When I went to college, I started feeling abandoned again because I felt like Nicholas left me too. I know it isn’t true, but it’s how I felt at the time. I didn’t go on a date until I was a junior in college.” I’m surprised that I can lie here with him basically naked and talk about this.
“It makes sense. At the risk of sounding like a guy, the men you did go out with were fools for failing to treat you well. I’m glad they messed up.”
“I am too.” I slide my hand up to his cheek before brushing my lips lightly across his.
“Have you given any more thought to what you want to do tomorrow?” he asks.
“Not at all. I came to see you. I don’t care what we do.”
Cash nods before slowly getting up from the couch. After locating my tank top, I pull it on. While Cash gathers the clothes, I make a trip inside with the dishes. When I return, he’s staring at the sky. I look up and note it’s overcast; he couldn’t possibly see any stars tonight. Then I recall the last time I found him staring upward. I grab his shirt and throw it on over my tank top, fastening some of the buttons. It hits high
on my thighs.
“Better?” I draw his attention back to me.
“Somewhat. You look hot in my shirt and little else.”
I feel my cheeks redden at his comment. I grab the pizza box and the glasses for another trip inside. I wash the dishes before setting them to dry.
“Where are the plastic wrap or bags?” I ask the empty kitchen. I start searching in the drawers but fail.
“What do you need, sweetheart?”
“Plastic wrap or plastic bags.”
“I probably don’t have either. Generally, there aren’t leftovers when I eat pizza.” I nod before wrapping the pizza in paper towel and setting it in the fridge. “Ready?”
I follow Cash to what I presume is the master bedroom.
The room is huge with at least two closets. The furniture is more comfortable than I expected. The large wooden bed boasts gray and navy linens. There’s a small sitting area with a fireplace. French doors lead onto the terrace.
“The bathroom is through there. There is room in the closet on the left if you need to hang anything.” I set my bag on the dressing bench and pull out a dress I brought with me. After hanging it in the closet, I grab my necessities and head into the bathroom. Feeling Cash against me clothed did not prepare me for seeing him naked.
“Holy hockey!”
Cash looks up as he’s pulling on a pair of boxer briefs.
“I’m sorry. I’ll come back.” He’s… sweet mercy. Carved abs, coveted V, thick, round….
“Tesoro.” As I turn to leave, he wraps his arms around me from behind. “I should be sorry. I should’ve closed the door. Very few people know where I live for a host of reasons. I have never had an overnight guest. Even Arthur was surprised when I added your name and requested a card for you.”
“It’s fine. I wasn’t thinking.”
He turns me in his arms, and I see concern written on his face.
“Truly, I’m fine.”
He nods. I’m not entirely sure he believes me. I don’t believe me. Heat rushes to my core at imagining how he’ll feel buried inside me.