McClellan Billionaires: The Complete Series

by North, Leslie

  Cassandra hid a laugh behind her hand and then waved to the two cameramen who were following close behind Rory and Kendra—now holding hands and gazing adoringly at each other once more—

  "Good job," Arthur murmured in her ear, making her shiver excitedly. He put his hand on her shoulder and waved as well.

  Then scooped her right back up again and dashed into the house.

  "What if Amy sees?" Cassandra asked. But her fretting was little more than a reflex at this point. Right now, she didn't care one bit about whether they got caught. She just needed to see exactly what Arthur had in mind when he said he wanted to get her “all cleaned off.”

  She shivered in anticipation again.

  "Cold?" Arthur asked as he hurried down the hall. Cassandra was impressed at how he didn't break his stride or act winded in any way, and then she was even more impressed when he held on to her with only one hand while opening their bedroom door with the other. "Looks like someone needs a hot bath to warm up."

  "I'll get sand in that beautiful tub."

  "Would you rather we take a shower?"

  "Wait a minute, ‘we’?" Cassandra squeaked.

  Arthur's answer was to twist both knobs in the shower to full blast. He turned back to her with a raised eyebrow. And then, without breaking eye contact, he pulled his shirt over his head.

  Cassandra made an inadvertent noise in the back of her throat when she caught sight of his body.

  "I suppose that's fair," Arthur chuckled, then struck a bodybuilder's pose. "It's not like I'm not checking out your ass at every opportunity."

  "You are?"

  "Hell yeah, now let's see it." He let his pants fall and then lifted his chin at her. "Stop stalling and get naked with me, Cassandra."

  She blushed, suddenly shy. "Arthur," she said, hesitatingly. "Do you realize this is the first time you've actually seen me naked?" A hysterical little giggle rose like a bubble in her throat, making her voice go high and strange. "It makes no sense, because I'm having your baby, and you haven't even seen my whole body yet, and now that I am having your baby, my body is getting all thick and weird, and I don't even recognize myself in the mirror any more—it's like I'm a different person and you never even saw the person I was and—"

  Arthur was at her side in two strides, pulling her close with one hand while pressing his finger to her lips with the other. "Hush, doll," he ordered, pressing a kiss to the place where his finger had just been. "I think I've proven I'm a pretty big fan of your body, but I'm also a pretty big fan of you." He held her shocked gaze as he steered her towards the steaming shower. "Now, I have plans on getting you wet one way or another, so whether it's by shower or by tongue, it’s your call. But I'm going to have you naked either way." She gasped as he cupped the still-throbbing place between her legs.

  He stepped back with a grin, tugged at his boxer briefs, and let them fall to the floor. Cassandra swallowed a gasp when his cock bobbed free. How had she never actually looked at him before? He was so thick and long and perfect, with the perfect curve…

  Oh my god, no wonder he makes me feel like no one else ever has…

  "My eyes are up here, doll," Arthur chuckled. "I'm already naked. Your turn."

  With a deep inhale, Cassandra marshalled her courage and let her dress fall to the floor. Arthur made a low sound in the back of his throat that thrilled her, but he didn't make a move. Just stared at her with open lust that set fire to her skin. She'd never had a man just look at her like that, and the effect was intoxicating. Feeling sexier than she'd ever felt before, she quickly stepped out of her panties and unhooked her bra, then nervously ran her hand over her stomach. "See right here, I don't have a true bump yet, but it's like I've eaten too much Mexican and—"

  He silenced her with a kiss that took her breath away. Cassandra yielded to him with a sigh, savoring the heat of his skin as he steered her into the shower. The hot spray felt amazing, but what felt even more amazing was Arthur's hand between her legs.

  "No," she moaned against his mouth. "You already made me feel good like that, I want a turn."

  "Holy shit," he hissed as she closed her hand around his length. He rested his forehead against hers so that her vision was filled with the sight of his wide eyes taking her in as she stroked her hand up and down his cock. Mesmerized by the way it twitched and hardened in her hand, Cassandra couldn't stop herself from dropping to her knees. As the water drummed on her head from above, she kissed the very tip of his length before opening her mouth wide to slide her lips down and back up.

  Arthur groaned and rested a possessive hand on her head in a way that thrilled her. It made her feel claimed, protected, and it inflamed the part of her that needed to be needed. She moved her mouth faster, savoring the silky feel of him until he jerked his hips and pulled back with a gasp.

  "You keep going, I'm not going to be able to do all the things I have planned for you," Arthur growled, his voice thick and utterly charged with lust. "Come here and kiss me."

  She obeyed eagerly, letting her tongue dance with his, until once again, he pulled back with a growl. "Turn around, doll."

  Cassandra turned and pressed her body against the shower wall but was surprised when Arthur pulled her back against him. He lifted her leg so that she was barely braced on one foot, and then in one smooth thrust he entered her from behind.

  Cassandra gasped and sagged against him. Her back was against his chest, her head against his shoulder, and every time he thrust inside of her, his body curled around her, filling up her senses with him. His hands seemed to be everywhere, kneading her thighs to open her wider, cupping her breasts, pinching her nipples to make her gasp and then finally rubbing her clit in short, assured strokes that had her mindless with pleasure.

  With every thrust, Arthur let out a string of filthy promises, dirty talk that at one point would have made her blush and run from the room, but now only made her burn hotter for him. She believed it when he told her he could fuck her like this all night long. She complied eagerly when he begged her to scream louder. She welcomed it when he ordered her to come all over his cock, and then she did exactly what he told her to.

  When the orgasm took her, she went boneless, surrendering to the sensations completely because she was secure in the knowledge that Arthur would catch her. He held her braced against him as she screamed his name over and over again. Then he pushed her so that she was bent nearly in half, and he surged inside her. Cassandra yelled as he came with a roar, seemingly lost in his pleasure, but seconds later he had her gathered in his arms again. She shuddered against him as he kissed her neck, her shoulder, the place behind her ear that made her quiver, then pulled back.

  Profoundly satisfied and profoundly sleepy, Cassandra yawned hugely, then startled when Arthur's hands went to her hair. "What are you doing?" she slurred.

  "Washing the sand out of your hair," he said, intently lathering her scalp. "Putting sand in it was kind of a dick move."

  "I don't mind the end result," she purred as his thumbs worked across her forehead. "Oh my god, that feels amazing."

  "Everything I just did, and you're saying a hair washing feels amazing?" Arthur mock-frowned.

  She went upon her tiptoes, then nearly lost her balance as she tried to kiss him. "I've never had a drink of hard liquor in my life, but I'm pretty sure this is what drunk feels like." She laughed against his chest. "You fucked me drunk."

  "Did my perfect Cassandra just drop the f-bomb?"

  "Why, do I sound like a bad girl?" She grinned up at him.

  He kissed her hard. "You sound like you're being yourself. And that's the best thing to be. Or so I've heard."

  * * *

  His hand was warm and heavy on her stomach. Cassandra held her breath, tightening her abs reflexively as he brushed it down.

  "Are you holding your breath?" he wondered. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her.

  They'd been lying in bed all afternoon and into the evening, kissing and touching and m
aking love twice more. Cassandra was pretty sure she'd fallen asleep a few times, sliding deliciously between wakefulness and dreams. But now that Arthur was touching her stomach so deliberately, she was fully awake.

  "No," she gulped, then instantly betrayed her lie by exhaling and letting her stomach go soft again.

  Arthur smiled. "You were. Stop that. I'm trying to feel our baby kick."

  "You're nuts—it's way too early for that."

  "I bet it'll kick for me. Come on you little nugget, where are you?" He moved his hand lower, pressing into her skin. "Are you playing hide and seek with Daddy?"

  Cassandra bit her lip, then quickly blinked away the happy tears before they could betray her by falling. "You're not going to feel anything yet, but maybe soon?" She wanted to keep that soft smile on his face.

  His eyes widened. "No! Wait! I feel something! What was that?"

  "I didn't feel any—" Her stomach let out a huge, angry rumble, and Cassandra clapped her hand over her mouth. She widened her eyes in horror as Arthur burst out laughing. "Oh my god. How mortifying."

  "Hardly. You have to know that sound is music to a chef's ears." He placed a deliberate kiss on her belly before springing from the bed and extending his hand. "Come on, I'll make you something."

  They dressed hurriedly, and then Arthur poked his head out the door. He signaled that the coast was clear, then gripped her hand tightly as he led her down the hall, both of them scooting past the blinking disk camera with their heads down.

  The cavernous kitchen was empty, the steel appliances aglow in the moonlight that streamed in through the windows. Arthur moved to the refrigerator and began pulling ingredients out with a frown. "Not much here except prepared stuff, but I can throw something together." He set the armful of ingredients down on the kitchen island as Cassandra perched on a stool to watch him. "Why are you smiling at me?" Arthur asked when he caught her eye.

  Why was she smiling? She was happy. Watching him, being with him, made her happy. "Because you're fussing about this like you're about to cook a 5-star dinner," she laughed. "Instead of a midnight snack."

  He waved a wooden spoon at her menacingly. "This isn't just a midnight snack. This is necessary nourishment for our baby. You're doing all the work of carrying it, I think it's only fair you let me handle feeding it."

  "You mean feeding me?"

  "Hell yeah. Now what do you want?"

  "Anything you make will be delicious, I'm sure."

  Arthur raised one skeptical eyebrow. Then came around the island and bent down low. "Hey!" he shouted at her stomach. "What do you want to eat in there?"

  Cassandra thought she was going to bust a gut laughing. Cradling her stomach with one hand, she held up a quieting finger with the other and pretended to listen. "Baby wants Chinese food," she finally said, unable to keep the trace of longing out of her voice. "Greasy, generic lo mein, that comes in a paper take out bag.”

  Arthur shook his head. "You're hurting your father, baby." Then winked at Cassandra. “But, I can't help spoiling you anyway." He stood back up and planted a kiss on her mouth.

  Amy burst into the kitchen. "Tell me you got that!" she yelled into her headset. "I will set fire to every precious childhood memento you ever had if you don't talk to me right now, Sam. Tell me you got that they're pregnant!"

  11

  Amy snatched off her headset with a huge smile that made Arthur's blood run cold. "Holy shit, babies, you're having a baby? This is great!"

  This was the opposite of great. This was the worst possible thing.

  He wanted to smash his fist on the counter and send all the carefully arranged ingredients flying. How could he have been so stupid? He'd been so wrapped up in the magic of being with Cassandra he'd forgotten that there were cameras everywhere, recording everything he said and did. He'd let their huge secret drop with barely a thought.

  He'd let Cassandra down in the worst possible way.

  And the last thing she needed now was for him to give in to his rage.

  He dropped his gaze and stepped forward. "I'm sorry," he said as he shielded Cassandra with his body from the cameramen who seemed to be swarming in from every angle. "I should have never said anything. I'll take full responsibility for that footage if you strike it from the show. I'll forfeit my fees, whatever you need just…"

  Amy's eyebrows zoomed upward. "Are you kidding me right now?" She looked at Arthur and then leaned way over to catch Cassandra's eye around Arthur's back. "This is such good news. We've been running raw footage for test audiences and babies, you're the show. The audiences love you, and they love the will-they/won't-they, push-pull thing you've got going on. To know it's real and not fake? Ho-ly shit."

  She clapped her headset back onto her head. "Yeah, did you get her? You did? Put her on, right now. Yes. Yes, ma'am, you saw it?" She paused as she listened to the response. Arthur held his breath and reflexively reached behind him to grip Cassandra's hand. She squeezed it back, and his heart squeezed along with it.

  Amy snatched her headset back off again. "That was Adele Crowley."

  "It's the middle of the night?!" Cassandra gasped.

  "She doesn't need sleep, she's Adele Crowley, but that's not the point. The point is this is even better." She clapped again. "Oh, my babies, this is so, so good. Let's finish up this shot here—don't worry, we can cut the part where I interrupted you—just keep going as you were and don't mind us at all, you hear me? I have some more calls to make, but I want you both well-rested in the morning. We've got a big day tomorrow; I can feel it."

  Arthur had no idea how long he stood there after she left. His thoughts were spinning at a thousand miles an hour, but his feet were nailed to the floor.

  He hadn't gotten this far in his career by being naive. He knew exactly what the tomorrow would bring. News of their "fake" relationship being real—with the built-in drama maker of a baby on the way—wasn't going to end the show like he had thought. Or even hoped. No, he'd just witnessed, or inadvertently caused, the premise of the show to change completely.

  He and Cassandra were no longer the supporting characters. The little moments of privacy they'd managed to carve out of their day, not to mention the lack of cameras in their bedroom, were things of the past. They were the main characters now.

  And that was the problem. They were characters. In spite of their promises to be themselves, he and Cassandra both had to admit that they'd been playing a role this whole time. And now, they were the story. He'd be on camera all the time now. His whole life would be up for consumption. His character would be under even more scrutiny.

  And what about her character? Was Cassandra playing a part with him?

  Cassandra's hand on his shoulder startled Arthur out of his brooding. "Hey, I can just eat a bowl of cereal. You look like you could use a rest."

  Slowly he turned back to her. She still looked at beautiful as ever—that wasn't surprising. What was surprising was how completely unrattled she seemed in the presence of the cameras. Amy's intrusion seemed to have barely registered with her.

  Why?

  He pulled away from her. "I'll sleep when I'm dead," he growled, then glared at the cameras. "Too much living left to do."

  He cupped his crotch, sneered, and swaggered from the room like the bad boy chef he was, as the cameras trailed closely behind him.

  * * *

  Cassandra barely slept all night, but she didn't want the producers to catch on to that fact. So, she gritted her teeth and kept the yawn inside, then opened her eyes even wider. No matter how tired she was after a night of tossing and turning and fretting over Arthur's sudden change in demeanor, she had to keep herself awake during this meeting. It was too crucial to miss a single moment.

  Adele Crowley's image on the laptop screen was so perfect, it looked beautiful even frozen in place from a poor connection. Arthur shifted in the seat next to Cassandra and swore under his breath, but she shushed him without looking in his direction.

  Good thing too, beca
use Adele was still talking when her image unfroze. "A whole show about love," the executive said crisply. "The newlyweds' love and your love, too. It was only supposed to be a limited run, but we're looking to expand to a full series with the same premise as before." The executive leaned back in her chair and primly folded her hands.

  Adele's offer was on the table, now they both had to decide if they were going to bite. Cassandra's instincts screamed at her to say, “Yes! Of course! This is a huge honor and thank you so much for the opportunity!”

  But she bit back her enthusiasm and swallowed down the knee-jerk agreements that sprang to her lips. Resting her hand on her stomach, she counted backwards from ten. This wasn't just her own life she would be agreeing to put on display. Before they knew she was pregnant, they'd had no interest in expanding the series. Which meant that this baby was the whole reason for the offer and the excited gleam in Adele's eye that even the poor internet connection couldn't hide.

  No, not excited. Predatory.

  Maternal instincts she wasn't aware she possessed until just then kicked in, and she shook her head, slowly at first, then faster. It was too much, she wanted to say. Her baby's life was the crucial storyline.

  She'd been vying for this opportunity her whole life. She'd pushed, she'd prodded, she'd called late at night and early in the mornings. She'd prepared countless pitches and listed a thousand reasons why she should be given exactly what she was being handed right now. Only to realize she didn't want it at all.

  How could she ever say no? She couldn't. Not after pushing so hard.

  But maybe Arthur would.

  He'd told her how hard it was to play a part for the cameras, how exhausted he was by the persona he now saw as a prison. This was his baby, too. His life too.

  "Well," she said carefully. "I’ll need to consider, of course. Arthur? What do you think?" She turned to him. Part of her hated how much she wanted him to play the asshole-card and shut this whole thing down. But the bigger part hoped he would cover for her, say the words she couldn’t bring herself to say, even though she knew they were the right ones. Tell them all it was too much to ask, that it was all happening too quickly. That the two of them still had to figure out their relationship without a camera recording every hard conversation and intimate moment.