Checkmate (The Cassano Series Book 5)

by Scarlet Wolfe

  “I must say I like your honesty. Unlike with Adrian, I never worry you’re lying to me.”

  “I am an honest man, Kim. I’m a person you can trust with information.” I regain a serious composure. “Tell me why the FBI hasn’t crushed our empire.”

  Her eyes flit to the table, and she fidgets with the white linen table cover. “Let’s enjoy dinner, and I’ll consider it.”

  “Fair enough.”

  ***

  “Fuck, you smell sensational,” I say as I trail kisses down Kim’s neck. My body is pressing her against the hotel room door, and I’m fumbling to get the key card in the lock next to us.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she says as she leans her head back, giving me more of her intoxicating skin to kiss.

  “Oh, but that’s so much more of a reason to do it,” I mutter between the sucks along her neck.

  Her hands are clinging to my hips, and when the lock beeps and the door finally releases, I walk her backward into the room.

  As the door slams shut behind us, I don’t stop moving her until she’s standing at the foot of the queen-size bed. Her purse drops from her forearm to the floor as she releases my hips and gazes at me.

  “Seriously, we should discuss the ramifications of crossing this line.”

  “Discussions are for business hours. We’re not working.”

  She grins. “Your wit is funny.”

  “I think that’s how it’s supposed to work. Don’t overthink this. We’re adults blowing off some steam. It’s been a long time for me.”

  She looks up at the ceiling. “Oh, god, it’s been forever for me. OK, let’s do this.” Hurriedly, she begins stripping off my jet blazer and unbuttoning my grey shirt beneath.

  So we can speed up the process of getting naked, I help her out. Once my shirt’s removed, she grabs the bottom hem of her dress and peels it off in one swoop.

  I admire her fabulous body in a matching lacy bra and panty set as I unbuckle my belt and strip off my pants.

  I fish out my wallet so I can find a condom. As I’m doing that, she yanks back all of the covers on the bed.

  Our actions are urgent, our attraction to one another off the charts, and all I picture in my head is being buried inside of her petite, shapely body.

  Once I reach her at the side of the bed, I toss the condom on the nightstand. Licking her swollen lips, she grazes her fingers along the side of her short chestnut hair.

  The sophisticated woman suddenly seems terrified, and although my head’s buzzing and I’m horny as hell, it registers with me that she hasn’t been with a man in a long time.

  It’s also the moment I realize I haven’t been with a woman besides Karen in years. I need to slow it down. I’m likely only getting one night with this gorgeous being, so I should make the most of it.

  I glide my hands down her arms, feeling the bumps rising beneath them. Her body quivers, and she closes her eyes.

  “I’m lucky enough to get a night with you, so I want to take my time to enjoy every second of it,” I say, reaching behind her to undo her bra. As it falls to the floor, I soak in the lovely sight of her perky tits and hardened nipples.

  “Do you have another condom?” she asks.

  “Yes,” I reply, smirking.

  “Then you can take your time the second round. I’ve wanted you to fuck me hard since the first time I stepped inside your office.”

  “Damn, that’s hot.” Wrapping a hand around the back of her head, I bring her forward to crash our lips together. Our tongues collide, tracing and sweeping, her whimpers drowned out by my groans.

  She reaches out for my boxer briefs, so I release her lips to help remove them. Her gaze falls to my stiff cock, and she licks her lips. Damn, I want her sizzling mouth to suck me off, but I have a craving to taste her more.

  I squat down and tug on her panties, dragging them along her shaky legs. Once she steps out of them, I glide my palms up the backside of her thighs until they’re grasping her ass cheeks. I push her pelvis forward and inhale the scent of her arousal.

  “I’ve got to fuck you with my tongue first.”

  A guttural moan from her mouth fills the air, and she digs her nails into my shoulders.

  “Yes,” she utters with purpose.

  In a matter of seconds, I have her on her back, her legs dangling off the side of the bed and pussy positioned right where I need it.

  I waste no time in getting a taste of her bare flesh, wet from the anticipation. I push my tongue inside a few times and stroke her repeatedly.

  “Oh, god, yes,” she chimes, shoving her fingers through my thick hair and bringing me in closer.

  “Do you like that?” I ask before I ravage her pussy again, relentlessly flicking her clit and soaking my face with her juices.

  “Yes, right there–don’t stop.” Kim’s words and my hair squeezed in her grip intensify my lust for her, so I don’t let up, eating her out voraciously.

  I’m surprised when she comes undone before me in only a minute, her hips lifting and body writhing in pleasure. Swiping the condom off the nightstand, I put it on and edge my knees onto the bed.

  I position her legs up around my hips and plunge inside her. Her head flings back as I fill her full, her drenched pussy stretching for me.

  “Fuck,” I exclaim with a loud groan. She’s tight as ever and feels insanely good. Holding still, I savor the sensation and the erotic picture beneath me.

  Flushed cheeks.

  Fisted sheets.

  A parted mouth struggling to feed her lungs oxygen.

  Hell, my dick couldn’t get any harder.

  I fall over, holding myself up by my locked arms. Her sultry breaths billow across my face, her blotchy chest within reach. I lean down to suck on one of her stiff nipples, and she moans as it pops free from my mouth.

  Needing to grind against her pussy, I pull back and slam into her. I do this again and again, her body arching to take more of me. Spikes of pleasure stab every one of my nerves until they’ve splintered my control.

  As I’m coming unglued, her muscles grip me tight, the sensation to my cock like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. My head falls over, and I growl as the dizziness threatens to take me down.

  Fuck, what kind of orgasm was that?

  Letting my body fall over to the side, I lie on my back next to her. Our pounding heartbeats are almost as loud as our urgent breaths.

  “That felt so good,” she says.

  “I concur.” Recalling I’m wearing a condom, I reluctantly get up to dispose of it. Not having worn one in years, I worried sex wouldn’t feel as good, but that wasn’t the case tonight.

  Kim remains sprawled out and bare when I return from the restroom. Still short-winded, she covers her chest.

  “I’m going to have to step it up at the gym.”

  “Does that imply you’ll need it to keep up with me when we engage in future sexual activities?” I grant her a roguish smile.

  “After that sex, I might consider it.”

  Pulling on my boxer briefs, I gaze at her with the same grin.

  “How about a wager?”

  “Let me hear it.” She sits up but leans back, her weight resting on her arms, which pushes her amazing tits out before me.

  “If I bring you to an orgasm in round two, meaning with penetration, you have to spend a night with me again.”

  “I can’t orgasm that way, but you’ve got a deal.”

  “Challenge accepted.” I glance to the clock, and it’s only nine-thirty. My dick needs a little recovery time, so I offer to order dessert from room service to pass the time.

  Kim freshens up in the bathroom and returns in only her panties. Her firm tits rest high on her chest, her nipples still pebbled and rosy.

  Her flushed skin and just-fucked hair only add to her sexiness. Yeah, it won’t be long at all until I’m ready to fuck her again.

  She crawls in bed and sits against the headboard, pulling the sheet up over her chest. I take t
he spot next to her, and we make small talk until room service arrives.

  “So, what’s your brother’s deal? Why is he so much more high-strung than you?” Kim asks before she shoves a bite of cheesecake into her mouth.

  “Adrian’s a few years older than me. Agatha is his twin, but he’s the oldest of five. Our father was a workaholic, with a long commute, and our mother was mentally ill. Adrian took on a lot of the household responsibilities when we were young. He always looked out for us.

  “It’s the kind of person he is. Don’t let his hard exterior fool you. He’s a caring person. It’s why he was so passionate about avenging our father’s death.”

  “Interesting. I guess we all have a side only those closest to us know.”

  “Kim, we aren’t bad people. We only ran the lounges the way we did to fund our anti-terrorist mission. It might’ve been wrong, but it was right in so many ways, too.”

  I shoot her a grin to lighten the mood. “It’s sort of like the night we’re having.”

  Smiling, she takes another bite of her dessert. With our backs to the headboard and our legs stretched out in front of us, we sit in silence for a couple of minute.

  Damn, a good fuck is a great ice-breaker. I’m now calm in her presence and beginning to like her. Adrian would be so pissed. Or maybe proud. I’m on the fence with that one.

  “Harold Marsh,” she says. My head turns to look at her.

  “I’m fully aware the FBI has a list of our lounge members. Why are you bringing him up?”

  Exhaling a lengthy sigh, she lowers her fork to her plate and sets it on the bed.

  “He’s been playing illegally in your Royal lounge.”

  “Yes, and he’s also the CEO and founder of Marsh-Cantor Global, a multi-million dollar corporation. One that’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange.”

  Kim releases another sigh. “He has a son.”

  “OK. A lot of our members have kids.”

  “This isn’t just any child, Theo. Don’t ask me for a name or title, because I can’t disclose it, but I will tell you that Harold Marsh has a son who holds a high-level position within the FBI. Let me emphasize high-level.”

  “Damn. What was Harold thinking?”

  “That he wouldn’t get caught. Maybe he thought if he did, his son would get him out of it.”

  “It’s why the FBI hasn’t busted us. His son is trying to get him out of it.”

  “If this comes out, the corporate shares would plummet, and his company would be put under scrutiny. His son is concerned tax evasion at your casino is not his father’s only indiscretion.”

  Kim shakes her head. “Harold Marsh has basically kept you out of prison, and now we’re the ones breaking the rules. Explain to me why someone with his amount of wealth would want to play in your lounge? He didn’t need to do it.”

  “It’s power and exclusivity. The Royal lounge. Just think of what that name means. Playing illegally is a thrill and a gamble in itself.” I glide a hand over my messy hair.

  “Gamblers typically live for that kind of rush. Playing cards in our lounge was his escape from the harsh demands of the corporate world and his method of getting one over on the man, who caused him so much stress in his day to day life.”

  Pulling her knees up, Kim glides her hands down the front of her smooth legs.

  “Hmm … I never thought of it that way.”

  “I’ve determined since opening this hotel that most people with copious amounts of money believe they’re above the law, and they are often able to get themselves out of trouble.”

  She directs her gaze my way and smirks.

  “Are you speaking about yourself, Mr. Cassano?”

  “Think what you want, but I’ll never believe I’m a criminal. If you truly knew me and were aware of what my brothers and I have accomplished to make our country safer, you wouldn’t perceive me as one, either.”

  She swallows, her expression now sincere. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and the next thing I know, she’s straddling me and thrusting her tongue inside my mouth.

  Squeezing her ass, I rub her against my rapidly growing erection … forward and back, until she’s moaning into my mouth.

  Needing to feel her tight pussy around my cock again, I put her on her back and climb off the bed to find another condom.

  I accomplished my goal in getting her to trust me, but it’s not the only reason I wanted to spend the night with her. I like her, and I plan to make the most of our time together.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Simon

  In the afternoon, Sadie arrives home from school and strolls inside our bedroom. Having just showered, I’m in my boxer briefs getting ready to accompany her to the obstetrician. I grab my watch off the nightstand and eye it. She wasn’t supposed to be here for another hour.

  “Hi, doll. You’re early.”

  “Hi.”

  After pulling on a pair of jeans, I put my arms into the sleeves of a deep purple button up shirt and roll them up to my forearms, studying her the entire time. She’s wringing her hands, and along with the silence and lack of eye contact, they trigger my anxiety.

  Sadie is my healthiest form of nicotine, which I need before this appointment, yet she’s the furthest from calm.

  “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

  “I came home early because we need to go meet with Adrian and Theo before the appointment.”

  “What the hell for?”

  “I’d rather not get into that here. Can you please not ask me any more questions until we get there?”

  My forehead wrinkles as I take a seat on the bench at the end of the bed. Needing to do something with my hands, I begin putting on my loafers.

  “Are you and the baby OK?”

  “Yes.”

  Sighing, I finish tying my shoe and walk to the dresser to retrieve my keys and wallet.

  “Then I guess I can wait.”

  ***

  Theo’s office door is open when we arrive at Submission. He stands and smiles.

  “Hello. Let’s go into Adrian’s office to talk.”

  “What’s going on, Theo?” I ask.

  “We’ll discuss it in a minute.” After he taps on Ace’s door, we follow him inside.

  “Simon, Sadie, hi,” Adrian says.

  “What’s this about? And why does Sadie need to be here?”

  Adrian gives Sadie a weak smile and nod, so I look to her, my brow furrowing from confusion.

  “Um, recently, Professor Edward hired a guy, Russell, to work closely with me. It was odd, and he reminded me of Noah Sanders. Since Noah kept showing up at the science building before his death, I became suspicious of Russell and my professor.

  “To make a long story short, Victoria and I did some snooping, and Professor Edward is doing something illegal, and it appears to involve drugs.”

  I give Adrian and Theo a glance before I narrow my eyes on Sadie. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”

  “I was afraid you’d flip and insist I quit my job before I knew the facts.”

  Still confused, I look at my brothers.

  “Where do you two come into this equation?”

  Theo’s eyes avert to Adrian’s before flickering to mine.

  “Since Noah disappeared, the FBI reneged on our agreement. We have to figure out who Noah was getting his drugs from, or they’ll likely bust us.”

  My racing thoughts go straight to the future. I’m kissing our baby’s forehead before Sadie takes it from me so I can be handcuffed to go to jail.

  Squeezing my palms against the space just above my ears, I look to the ceiling and blow out a breath.

  “Simon, after reviewing the evidence, we believe Sadie’s professor might’ve been the ringleader over Noah and those who were dealing beneath him. If so and if we can prove it, we’ll get out from under the FBI once and for all.”

  I shoot each of my brothers a glare.

  “You should have told me this shit sooner. Does Zev know?”r />
  “We’re telling him this evening,” Adrian says.

  “So, what now?”

  “Theo’s working closely with the FBI, and Victoria and Reggie are helping, too.” Strolling around to the front of his desk, Adrian leans against it and crosses his arms. “If Carl Edward is doing what we suspect, he’ll be arrested, and this will be put to rest.”

  “And what if he’s not guilty?” I ask.

  “Trust me, the FBI does not want to bust us,” Theo interjects. “They have a paramount reason not to, so we’ll come to some sort of an agreement.”

  “Yeah, and I thought we already did that.” I turn to Sadie. “You’re quitting your job today.”

  “No, not until I’m sure my help isn’t needed in this case.”

  I shake my head as anger builds. My heart is thundering in my chest, and I want a fucking cigarette.

  “No way. You’re pregnant with my child, and I’m not going to step aside so my wife can spend her days with criminals.”

  Taking hold of my hand, she stares at me, the worry and passion painted in her bluish-green eyes.

  “Simon, I’m not going to step aside and be a bystander to you going to prison. Our baby needs its father. I’m certain my professor and Russell are clueless of me, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Fuck, I hate this, and I feel like Noah is haunting us from the grave.”

  “Victoria is a tough woman and a damn good investigator,” Adrian says. “She’ll solve this case and keep Sadie safe.”

  While huffing, I move my bangs from my face. I turn to her and squeeze her hand.

  “OK. I know how important your research is to you, so you can continue working and spying while we see how this plays out, but you better be careful and keep me informed every day. No keeping shit from me.” I point to my brothers. “You two better not, either.”

  “We won’t,” Theo says reassuringly.

  I glance at my watch. “We better be going. After this news, I especially need to know our baby is healthy.”

  Sadie

  Simon’s knee is bouncing up and down as he sits next to me in the waiting room of my obstetrician’s office. I’m filling out paperwork, and when I look up at him, his eyes are darting from one pregnant woman to another.