“Down girl!”
“Hey, you’re standing there all sexy without a tie,” she lifted an eyebrow, her fingers brushing the bare V of this throat. “How come Phil let you come without a noose around your neck.”
“It’s a new thing. COO can do what he wants, including not being restricted by the tie. Like it?” he asked, putting his hand on her waist.
She pursed her lips, and stared at the open collar. “It’s…distracting,” she breathed, and then turned away. “Coming? I need a drink.”
He blinked. Distracting? What was that?
He followed behind Cass, taking in how her hips moved, and he caught the looks of a few men in the room. Sure, in a business suit, she might hide those ample curves, but tonight, she showed them off in all the right ways, and people were noticing. Not all of them, but enough that made his jaw clench.
“Are you Maddox Paul?” a tall brunette in a strapless, white mini dress stepped in his path, breaking him out of his train of thought.
“Yeah, and you are…” His eyes traveled up and down her lean form, the woman’s raw sexuality pushing Cass right out of his head.
“Cecily Porter. CEO of Porter, Inc.,” she grinned, her red lips framing her perfect white teeth. She looked up at him through long eyelashes, and touched his sleeve.
“Ah, yes. I heard you were working on some new software. Supposed to change how we view database management,” he grinned, leaning into her.
Her sultry laugh followed by her tongue stroking her lip stirred his dick. Whoa, boy.
“Yes. And it will. I’d love to set up a meeting to talk about it. Over dinner, maybe?” she stroked her hand up his arm, and he shifted to make his pants more comfortable. “I mean, it’s a pretty powerful thing.”
“Powerful, you say,” he grinned.
“And quite flexible. You’d be amazed what it would be willing to do. Skillfully,” she squeezed, and leaned forward. She was tasty, this one, and so so ready for the taking. He didn’t know how she did it, but she’d managed to maneuver him into a dark corner. Her grip on his arm loosened as she began running her hand over his chest.
Well, this could turn out to be a very, very good night, he thought as he leaned back into her as she went to work licking and nibbling the side of his neck.
A familiar giggle broke the spell.
“Mr. Jackson, please. You know that’s not the case!” Cass’ voice brought him back to reality. His eyes traveled over Cecily’s shoulder and watched his Cass touch the man’s arm. Laughing, genuinely laughing, with the shorter businessman. His eyes were glittering, as they traveled up and down her body, settling on her breasts. When the guy kissed her hand, a growl rumbled from his throat.
Unfortunately, Cecily took it as him being turned on by her slobbering on his neck. Not anymore.
“Cecily,” he pushed her away.
“C’mon baby, you know you want it,” she purred, and her hand slid down to the zipper of his pants, grabbing his length.
He placed his hand on hers, and pulled it away. “Not tonight, honey. But we’re still on for dinner?” he grinned, apologetically, and she pouted. He put his hand on her chin. “I’ve got business, babe. But I’ll take a raincheck.”
She grinned, leaned in and bit his bottom lip. “Can’t wait to collect,” she slithered away.
Maddox ran his hand across the back of his neck. Again. Fucking Cass. Always the cock block.
He composed himself, and strode over to where Cass was flirting with another businessman. No one interested her his ass. But not this asshole. He knew this jackass, and Cass couldn’t handle him. Not after all this recent shit with the idiot Lo tried to push on her. Chris was a fucking dick, known for stringing a host of women around. And he was proud of it. He preyed on the weak and needy, and right now Cass, as much as he adored her, fit the bill.
Time for some cock blocking of his own.
* * *
“Hey, babe,” Maddox whispered in her ear, putting his hand on her waist. “Chris, great to see you,” Maddox slid around Cass and shook Chris’ hand. Darkness shaded the man’s face as he glared daggers at Maddox.
“Oh, you guys know each other?” Cass asked, sipping her drink wide-eyed and curious.
“Yeah, we’ve met a few times,” Chris grumbled, not missing Maddox’s familiarity with his target.
“How’s that girlfriend? What was her name? Sally? Betty? Jane. Her name was Jane, right? Blonde, big boobs?”
“Girlfriend? You didn’t tell me that? How long have you been together? Is she here?” Cass smiled and winked at Maddox.
That little minx. Of course she knew who, and what, Chris was. Who was the dumbass now? He remembered telling her stories about this asshole. Cass never forgot a good story.
“Uh, no. No. No girlfriend right now,” Chris denied and leaned into Cass. “I’ve got an opening, if you’re interested.”
Cass’ open and unfiltered laugh caused more than a few heads to turn. “Oh, sweetie. Thanks, but my heart is taken,” she smiled, glancing at Maddox.
Taken, really? She was kidding right? Did something happen with Toph? When did that happen?
His heart sunk.
Why was his heart sinking? He should be happy for her.
Then he remembered—this was Cass, Queen of Deflection. The tight grip on his heart loosened.
“But I’m sure some other woman here would be honored,” she consoled, putting her hand on Chris’ arm. “Let me help. Maybe her?” Cass started pointing at other women in the room. Okay, maybe she only cock blocked him.
Maddox put his arm around Chris, who looked a little taken aback. From what he knew about the asshole, he wasn’t used to being denied, and Cass’ nonchalant willingness to get him laid confused him. Hell, it confused Maddox most of the time, too. The woman wouldn’t have sex to save her life, but she wanted everyone else to hump like bunnies.
“Dude, inside scoop? I hear Cecily Porter is single and on the prowl tonight,” he whispered, matching like with like.
“Recent breakup?” Chris’ eyes sparked and he licked his lips. Maddox had to suppress an eye roll. Asshole.
“Think so. Might want to get over there before she gets her claws in elsewhere,” he turned the man toward the bar where Cecily was unashamedly staring at his ass.
Maddox and Cass watched in awe as Chris strutted over to Cecily, and within seconds the two were whirling off to their own dark corner.
Cass breathed out a relieved sigh.
“What were you thinking?” Maddox turned on her, anger burning hot. Cass backed up, confused.
“What?”
“Chris Jackson? Seriously, Cass?” he chastised.
“Maddox, I knew who he was. I had it handled,” she dismissed him.
“He’s a dickhead, and you let him…” Maddox lost his words. His hands fisting and flexing with his rising frustration.
“Let him what, Mad? Flirt with me? No big deal. People flirt. I wasn’t going home with him. I’m Frigid Bitch Queen, remember? And even if I wasn’t, I’m not that stupid. You’re not calling me stupid, are you?” Cass’ voice hardened and she put her hands on her hips.
“No,” Maddox pouted. “But I don’t like it.”
Cass laughed. “Always the big brother,” she smiled, putting her arm through his. Right. Big Brother. That explained his reaction. He just wanted to protect his Cass. That was all. Yes. That was it. Wasn’t it? That had to be it. This was Cass, after all.
“And sorry you had to give up your piece of ass tonight. You didn’t need to come to my rescue.”
“I-, I-“ he stammered. She squeezed his arm.
“Want me to find you a new one?” she grinned, scoping out the room again. “What about her?” She pointed to a tall redhead in a silver dress that barely covered her bits and pieces. “I know you like those redheads. And that one looks like she may be a real one. Maybe her curtains match the drapes??”
Anxiety melted off of him as he laughed. Leave it to Cass to diffus
e his confused anger by trying to get him laid. “God, I missed you this week.”
“Missed you, too, love muffin.”
* * *
Maddox couldn’t concentrate on the computer. He was randomly answering emails that mostly contained information he couldn’t give a shit about, and responding to people he couldn’t give a shit about was just making his edginess worse. His mind kept going over what happened at the cocktail reception.
Why did Maddox give up that easy piece of ass to go rescue Cass? He knew better. She’d never give into a dickhead like Chris. He’d been out with her a number of times and saw her take down her share of assholes who thought that, because she wasn’t some Victoria’s Secret model, she’d be an easy target. Little did they know the girl had a chastity belt made of the world’s strongest steel.
Fucking idiot. She was no damsel in distress.
He slammed the computer closed and leaned back on the couch, stretching out his tense muscles.
Still, it might have been worth it to see Chris taken down a notch or two. It wasn’t like Maddox wasn’t his own form of male whore. He liked getting laid, just like any other man. But he didn’t prey on women’s vulnerabilities, and he most certainly didn’t lie to them about what sex meant for him.
A growl rumbled in his throat from just thinking of that jerk hitting on Cass. Even if she didn’t need him. She was his.
What?
Oh, fuck. What was he thinking? She wasn’t his. She was Cass. She was his friend. Just his friend.
Wasn’t she?
Yes, she was the first person he thought of when something happened. The person he wanted to spend every Friday with curled up on the couch. He loved their hugs and harmless flirtation. It was just easy with Cass, and he didn’t want to mix up friendship with something else. He couldn’t. Thoughts of jealousy and possession…those would get him into some serious trouble, and he’d had enough trouble to last a lifetime and more.
11
Cass
As was becoming their weekly routine, they curled up together on his oversized couch, watching the tv. She’d started looking forward to Friday nights in, where she could watch a good movie in comfortable clothes, eating comfort food that was washed down with good wine, but not have to do it all alone. From time to time she and Lo used to do this—without the snuggling, though she was pretty sure Lo would’ve snuggled if she’d asked, and that would have been weird. But Lo was spending more and more nights with Dan, leaving Cass on her own most weekends. She had other friends, but none that she enjoyed as much as Maddox, and the thought bothered her a bit.
She should be out there trying to find a real someone to fill the void. Someone that could be more to her than a friend who would disappear when he found the love of his life. Instead, she was laying on his couch, curling up against him, and falling for the illusion that this was a good idea.
Instead of dwelling on how bad an idea it was for her to be at his place every Friday, she decided to concentrate on the movie they were supposed to be watching. But his absentminded strokes on her arm were distracting. She closed her eyes and sighed quietly as another tingle followed the brush of his fingers.
“You okay?” he asked, peering over at her.
Was she okay? No, she wasn’t okay. She thought she was okay. She thought she could handle this. She thought she was setting aside the little crush she had on him and just being his friend; that being in his arms was just comfortable companionship. Nothing more. But the electricity that coursed through her from each caress exposed her lie.
“Fine,” she choked, but tears brimmed in her eyes.
“No, you’re not,” he turned down the tv, and faced her. His hand stroking her cheek.
“Stop, please.” Her whisper was barely audible as she pulled his hand away.
“Cass-“
“No, no. Please.”
“What’s wrong, please tell me,” he begged, taking her face in both his hands. She finally looked him in the eye, his distress evident.
“You-, you can’t touch me like that,” she admitted, shame searing her cheeks.
“Like what? We’ve sat like this a hundred times.”
They had sat like that a hundred times, and half the time she was fighting off a need to touch him more. But she’d finally had enough. Her body craved what her mind feared the most. She swallowed the lump in her throat and closed her eyes.
“Cass, c’mon. What’s really going on.”
“Touch. It’s touch.”
“We always touch. What’s the big deal.”
“It’s always been a big deal. I just-“
His eyes widened.
“I’m lonely, okay. And touch, it just…it just does something sometimes.”
He hugged her, and pulled her back to his side.
“You really need to get laid,” he kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t I know it.”
“I can help,” he grinned, looking down at her. Her eyes widened, horrified. That was not a direction she needed to go. Temptation was always there, but action was a different thing. She’d never recover if she went there. Never. And while she knew this Friday night thing was a terrible idea, and she knew it had to end soon, she wasn’t giving into what he appeared to be offering.
He laughed. “No, no. I mean, I can help you find someone.”
Oh. Okay. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or hurt. Of course he didn’t want her. This was Maddox Paul. He slept with models and women whose bodies were to die for. He wouldn’t want someone like her. She was like his little sister. Even though she wasn’t planning to give into the temptation he presented, she had allowed herself to hope the illusion was real—just for that one second. A moment when she thought maybe he was struggling with the same attraction that tore her apart. Now she was no better than those other women who thought they had a chance with the beautiful man in front of her.
“You’ve promised that before, jerk,” she play-slapped his muscled chest, hiding her emotions behind her game face once again.
“Well, it’s been a few years. I’ve met more people. Tell me what you want,” he stroked her arm. He was serious. She didn’t want to discuss this with him. Not now. Not with her desires like raw nerves.
“A man,” she gave him the vaguest answer she could. She knew what she wanted, and she knew what her body craved. She couldn’t admit it. Not even to him. Especially not to him. Hell, she could barely admit it to herself.
His laugher rumbled in his chest as Cassidy played with a button on his shirt. “Yes, I get that. I mean, I figured you didn’t change sides. Cass, what do you want in that man? Tall, blonde, successful, funny?”
Could she admit it out loud? There were so many depraved things in her head. No one would really understand, would they?
“Sure,” she mumbled.
“That’s not a real answer, honey. You’ve been tied up in knots for years, and there has to be a reason.”
“It doesn’t matter, Mad. It really doesn’t. It’s not like they’d want me, no matter what my preferences are,” she admitted, the tears starting to flow.
He hugged her tight, and got up.
“Where are you going?” she snapped. She starts to cry and he just gets up? Jerk!
“Getting more wine. I think we’re going to need it.”
* * *
A new pour and another hug later, he wasn’t open to changing the subject. “Why is it so hard for you?” he got straight to the point, as he always seemed to do.
She should have given him the answer she gave everyone. That she was just waiting for the right person, that sex was hard for her if she didn’t trust someone. But really, that wasn’t it. If people knew what she really wanted, what would they think? She was so strong, so forward. She had her own power. She led and managed people with authority. She preached and lived feminism, so how could she admit this out loud?
But this was Maddox. He would know if she was lying. He always knew when she hid something fro
m him. Damn his persistence.
“Just say it, Cass. Just-“
“Because most men aren’t enough,” was all she could spit out. She couldn’t even look at him when she said it. God, she was acting like a child. This wasn’t how women her age acted.
He cocked his head. “What?”
“Mad, you know this. Why haven’t you remarried? You can’t tell me you just haven’t found ‘her’ yet. You border on ‘male whore’ territory. C’mon.”
“I haven’t. That’s the truth.”
“But you’ve never defined ‘her,’ have you?”
He paused. He hadn’t, and she knew it. How many times had she asked him, and he never, ever answered. Sure, he fawned over every pretty girl he dated. Flaunted a few of them. And who wouldn’t? She would have flaunted them, too.
“But at least I’m out there. You hole yourself up. You put up these walls, Cass. Why? There are plenty of guys interested…”
“There aren’t, but even the ones who are, they aren’t…they just can’t…”
“He really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“What? Who?”
“Your ex. What did he do?”
She laughed. Sure, she could have blamed Blaine. She could have just looked at Maddox and put her whole fucked up sex life on Blaine’s shoulders. But it wasn’t him. She had dated after him, including Toph in her body count. She’d had sex after Blaine. For a while she tried to blame him, but really, this was on her. This was all about her own little brand of crazy.
“Nothing. I told you before, it wasn’t him.”
Maddox adjusted himself on the wide couch and pulled her down next to him. They faced each other, propped up on their elbows.
“Close your eyes.”
“Mad-“
“Just close them.”
She did. He ran his fingers of his free hand along her arm sending shivers down to her core. He really needed to stop doing that. They were having a heart-to-heart conversation, and the pulsing in her core was making it difficult to think about anything but straddling him.
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