by I. T. Lucas
She glanced at him over her menu. “Do you get a discount because your cousin owns the place?”
He chuckled. “No, but don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just curious. There are no prices on the menu. Does he charge a lump sum no matter what we order? Or is the cost included in the membership? How does it work?”
Onegus leaned forward. “Frankly, I have no clue. It’s my first time here.”
That was surprising. “I know that this place is not new. Why only now?”
He flashed her one of his panty-melting smiles. “I’ve never met a woman whom I wanted to impress as much as I want to impress you.”
“I see.” Leaning back, she stifled the urge to fold her arms over her chest.
Should she feel flattered that the guy was so desperate to shorten the wait until he had sex with her?
“What does that mean?” Onegus asked. “What do you see?”
“A guy who, for some reason, can’t wait to get into my panties.”
“I don’t think your panties will fit me.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“That’s not why I brought you here.”
“Oh, yeah? You admitted that you wanted to meet my mother as soon as possible just so you could cross off that item on my list of prerequisites.”
“I don’t deny that. But I didn’t bring you here expecting to wow you into dropping your panties for me.” Smirking, he leaned closer. “You will drop them, but only because you find me irresistible.”
“Overconfident much?”
“No. Just confident.”
Damn. Why did she find his cocky attitude so sexy?
Usually, that sort of response would have annoyed her because it would have been empty boasting. In Onegus’s case, though, it was just a statement of fact.
The way her body was fighting her resolve to wait, she might only hold off until the end of dinner and then drag him to the nearest hotel and have her way with him.
His nostrils flaring, Onegus sucked in a breath. “What were you thinking about just now?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She lifted the menu to hide her flaming cheeks.
With her dark coloring and the amount of makeup she had on it was doubtful Onegus would notice her blush, but she needed a moment to catch her breath and think.
Should she lie? Try to play coy?
Men didn’t like to catch their prey too easily. If they didn’t have to work for it, they didn’t appreciate it as much.
Then again, Onegus had come to her house so he could meet her mother, which none of the men Cassy had ever dated had offered to do on the second date. Then he had taken her to the most exclusive members-only restaurant, which was probably going to cost him thousands.
Guys these days didn’t expect to work as hard for a hookup, especially not men like Onegus, who had women throwing themselves at them left and right.
The thing was, Cassandra wasn’t playing games to make herself stand out from the crowd. She just didn’t want casual sex. She wanted a relationship that led to intimacy, and not premature intimacy that would leave a bad taste in her mouth.
When she lowered the menu, he was still staring at her.
She arched a brow. “What?”
“You asked if I would like to know what you were thinking about, and the answer is yes, I would.”
Smiling, she reached over the table and put her hand over his. “I’ll tell you after dinner.”
He groaned. “You are evil. Why not now?”
She shrugged. “A lady should always be a little mysterious. Otherwise, where’s the fun?”
39
Onegus
Unexpectedly, Cassandra’s hard-to-get act was indeed fun.
Onegus loved that she wasn’t all over him and was making him work hard to gain her approval. He loved that she challenged him on every front, forcing him to bring forth the best version of himself.
It was like a blast from the past, and it was refreshing, especially since she wasn’t doing it just to be difficult or to play games. Cassandra wasn’t willing to compromise on what she wanted from a man, and he applauded her for it.
Except, he couldn’t give her that, and if he were truly a gentleman, he would have walked away.
Cassandra wanted a relationship, she wanted love and closeness, she wanted a partner she could trust.
Onegus could be none of those things. He might be able to see her a few more times, but eventually, he would have to move on. Unless, of course, he was incredibly lucky and Cassandra was a Dormant.
She hadn’t exhibited any paranormal talents yet, and the raw energy he could sense in her could be just a physical manifestation of her assertive character. Some humans projected their feelings with such force that it was uncomfortable being around them, but that wasn’t the case with Cassandra. To Onegus, the energy was like an aphrodisiac, an irresistible pull.
Unless she could somehow shape it and wield it, though, it wasn’t a paranormal talent.
When they were done with dinner, and they ordered coffee and dessert, he leaned forward and smiled. “You said that you would tell me after dinner.”
“Tell you what?” She pretended not to remember.
They’d talked about many things throughout the evening, but he doubted she’d forgotten that flare of arousal he’d scented coming from her.
“I’ll jog your memory. When we discussed whether I was cocky or confident, a lovely blush coated your cheeks, and you hid behind the menu. The entire evening, I’ve been waiting not so patiently for you to tell me what caused that blush.”
She glanced around, checking if anyone was listening in. “I’ll tell you when we are in the car.”
“Na-ah, Ms. Cassandra Beaumont. Stop being a coward. Out with it.”
Her eyes narrowed, sending jagged daggers his way. “I’m the opposite of a coward.”
She was even more magnificent when her feathers were ruffled. Sexy lady, so full of fire. He couldn’t wait to feel the burn.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Onegus challenged her. “Prove it.”
She swallowed. “You said that you’re just confident, not cocky, and you are right. Your confidence, in addition to everything else you are, makes you very attractive to me.” She swallowed again but didn’t back down. “The thought that caused that blush was that it would be difficult to force myself to keep you waiting much longer, and I debated who would win the battle, my body or my mind.”
Her honesty and courage impressed him, and he wanted to repay her in kind.
“What is your mind telling you?”
Unfolding her arms, she put her hands on the table, her long, elegant fingers splayed, the red nail polish like drops of blood on the white tablecloth. “It tells me that I should get to know you better first. That if we jump straight into intimacy, it wouldn’t be as satisfying as having an emotional connection first.” She let out a breath. “I’m not built for hookups, but the pull I feel toward you refuses to be denied.”
“Then don’t.” He reached over the table and gripped both of her hands. “I feel the pull and the connection as well, and if I were a better man, I would have taken you home, kissed your cheek, and said good night.”
She tilted her head, the dangling silver earring catching the light from the candle. “But you are not going to do that.”
He smiled, letting the predator inside of him peek through the thin civilized veneer he wore. “I want you, Cassy, with an intensity that I haven’t felt for any other woman, and I’ve been with many. I feel like I will burn if I don’t have you. I won’t make empty promises just to seduce you, though. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Hell, I don’t know if I will still be here a week from now. My boss might send me to Europe or the East, and I might be gone for weeks.”
The last part wasn’t true, but he needed a ready excuse for when he would have to say goodbye and stop seeing her, which was inevitable. But unlike all the ot
her times he’d done so, the thought caused a dull pain in his chest. He hadn’t lied or even exaggerated when he’d told Cassandra that he’d never met a woman who intrigued him and ensnared him as completely as she had.
40
Cassandra
Onegus’s message was clear. And honest.
They had just met, and he couldn’t promise her forever, but the thing between them was too powerful to deny.
He was strong, physically and mentally, and perhaps with him she could for once lower her shields and let the storm swirling inside her loose.
No, she could never do that. What was she thinking?
She wouldn’t risk damaging this magnificent male just to test what happened if she let go of the tight leash that she had over the darkness that swirled and churned inside her.
“I can’t make any promises either,” she said softly. “Maybe I won’t like you the next morning.”
His smile was predatory. “Does it mean that you will spend the night with me?”
She nodded. “Your place or mine?”
Wow, talk about a surprise. Onegus had been pushing hard, but until the words left her mouth, Cassandra hadn’t expected him to win.
He looked just as stunned at receiving the invitation as she was at issuing it.
“Is your place even an option with your mother there?” he asked.
“Good point. What about your roommate?”
“I have an apartment downtown.”
She arched a brow. “A shag-pad?”
He laughed. “It’s a brand-new place, and you are the first guest I’m going to take there.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask where he’d brought the many other women he’d been with, but it was none of her business. She didn’t own his past or his future, she could barely stake a claim on his present.
After Onegus paid the bill without batting an eyelid, they were escorted back to the valet station, where his car was already waiting for them.
“I’m afraid to ask.” Cassandra reached for the seatbelt after the valet closed her passenger door.
“Ask what?”
“How much was the bill.”
Onegus chuckled. “Do you ask all of your dates how much they paid for the meal?”
She cringed. “I can’t help it. I hate wasting money even if it’s not mine.” She cast him a sidelong glance. “Kevin gave me a ten grand budget to buy the dress and accessories for the gala. Guess how much I ended up spending?”
It was probably the least appropriate topic of conversation she could choose on the way to a hookup, but she was nervous, and talking about budgets and money was safe and took her mind off what she was about to do.
“Double,” Onegus said. “That dress was almost as exquisite as the woman wearing it.”
She snorted. “My mother was right. You’re such a charmer. But thank you. Anyway, I spent less than half, and Kevin was mad at me for not spending all of it. I didn’t even tell him that the dress I bought was once worn by a celebrity on the red carpet.”
God, she was babbling what Onegus probably considered nonsense. What did he care about where she’d bought her dress or how much she’d spent on it?
“Which one?” He smiled. “I can’t think of any actress that could look as good as you in that dress.”
His compliment sounded utterly genuine, and it made Cassandra feel a little less embarrassed about her nervous prattling.
“I didn’t ask.”
“But if you bought the dress secondhand, how did you still manage to spend five grand?” There was no judgment in his voice, only curiosity.
“The shoes cost nearly three thousand.” She smiled shyly. “I have a weakness for shoes. That’s the only wardrobe item that I don’t buy at a bargain.”
“Kevin is paying you well. Are you saving for something special?”
“I bought the house my mother and I live in, and I want to pay off the mortgage in ten years. I’m also investing in stocks to grow my money.”
“Your mother looks very young,” Onegus changed the topic unexpectedly.
Cassandra had been wondering when he would bring that up. Everyone who ever met her mother said the same thing.
“If you’re asking me how old she is, the answer is that I don’t know. The number changes every time I ask.”
“What does her driver’s license say?”
“She lost it years ago and never bothered with a replacement.”
Onegus arched a brow. “How does she get around?”
“Nowadays, she uses Uber. Before I bought the house, we lived in an apartment building that was close to a bus station. She just used the bus.” Cassandra glanced out the window, noting the wide boulevard and the high-rises on both sides of it. “My mother has a memory problem. I don’t think she would be able to get a new license if she applied for it.”
“She’s too young to have Alzheimer’s.”
Cassandra didn’t like talking about her mother’s condition. It was no one’s business. But for some reason, she felt like it was okay to tell Onegus about it. He would never use the information to taunt her or hurt her like some of her school friends had done.
“It’s not Alzheimer’s. My mother suffered a head trauma a long time ago and had total amnesia. She had to relearn everything from scratch, including speech, and she did, but she still suffers from periodic memory lapses. She tries to cover up for that by making up stories, so if she tells you something outlandish, it’s probably made up. The best thing to do is to just nod and pretend that you believe her. Confronting her with the truth just makes things worse for her.”
Onegus nodded. “How did she manage to raise you and do such an excellent job of it?”
Cassandra smiled. “She and I are proof that love is more important than anything else. I knew from a very young age that my mother forgot things and that I needed to be alert and help her out. But I also knew that she loved me unconditionally and would do anything for me. She would eat ramen for weeks so she could buy me the art supplies I needed for my drawings and paintings. She also made most of our clothes, buying fabric remnants and creating beautiful things from them.”
“No wonder that you are so frugal as well as creative, which is an unusual combination.” Onegus turned into the underground parking of one of the high-rises. “Your mother instilled both in you.”
“That and many other good qualities. You won’t ever hear me complaining about my childhood.”
41
Onegus
The apartment Ingrid had designated for Guardians’ use during the wedding celebration was fully stocked and ready for Onegus to move in, which was why he’d decided to bring Cassandra there. Usually, he took his partners to one of the keep’s apartments or to a hotel.
The upside was that for now, he was the only one who had access to the apartment, so there was no risk of one of the Guardians claiming it first. The downside was that the surveillance cameras had been already installed, the feed going to the security office in the keep. There was no avoiding the guys seeing him taking Cassandra up to the apartment.
Normally he didn’t care, but she was unlike any of the others, and it infuriated him to think about the lewd remarks the guys might make when they saw him with her.
He even considered disconnecting the security feed and sneaking her up there somehow. Except that would bring the Guardians running to investigate, which would achieve the opposite of what he wanted.
“Does anyone live here?” Cassandra asked as they exited the elevator on the nineteenth floor. “Everything smells brand new.”
“Not yet. It used to be an office building. The conversion to apartments was just recently completed.” He unlocked the door with his phone. “After you, my lady.”
Sauntering on her spiky heels, her slim hips sashaying enticingly, Cassandra looked around the professionally decorated living room and then walked up to the wall of windows. “You don’t live here,” she said, facing the glass.
“No, no
t yet. But I will be staying here starting Thursday.”
Turning around, she arched a brow. “What happens on Thursday?”
He’d misspoken. The upcoming wedding and the clan members, who were arriving soon and would be staying in the building, needed to stay confidential or as confidential as possible.
Fortunately, he'd had many centuries of practice in coming up with convincing lies. “The semi-official opening of the building is this Friday. We have a large list of preferential clients who get to experience the apartments during the week before we open them to the public. I’m their host, and I need to be here to entertain them.”
As Cassandra narrowed her eyes at him, the energy vibrating under her skin intensified. “You’re not a real estate agent, Onegus. Why are you feeding me stories?”
“I’m not.” He pushed his hand into his pocket. “Can I offer you a drink?”
The energy crackled. “What’s really going on in this place?”
“Precisely what I told you.”
As a faint rattling noise snagged his attention, he started to turn, catching from the corner of his eye a crystal vase swaying on top of the pedestal it was precariously perched on. Lunging for it, he could have caught it before it hit the floor, but instead of falling it exploded, the shards flying toward him like pieces of shrapnel.
Onegus’s lightning-quick reflexes had him lift his arm to shield his face, at the same time grabbing Cassandra’s arm and flinging her behind him.
He groaned as a volley of shards hit his forearm and thighs, penetrating the fabric of his suit and embedding in his flesh.
Behind him, Cassandra trembled. “I’m sorry. Oh God, I’m so sorry.”
Turning around, he inspected her from top to bottom. “Are you hurt?”
Cassandra’s eyes were the size of saucers, and instead of the fresh scent of ozone he associated with her, he smelled fear.
“I’m fine.” She looked at his arm. “Are you hurt?”