by Remy Landon
He felt her cool fingers brush against the skin just above his waistband. She fumbled with the button and zipper. Carlo lifted his hips and propped himself up while she eased his jeans down.
“Take out my cock, Cassandra.” Her chest was heaving as she tentatively reached out to the tented front of his boxers. He wanted to grope her breasts, thrust his fingers inside her again, but he would wait to touch her...this needed to be about him.
Carlo again fought the urge to groan as he felt her fingers wrap around the base of his shaft and bring forth his cock. A sharp intake of breath from Cassandra, and he smiled inwardly. It always pleased him when women were visibly impressed with the size of his manhood.
“Stroke me,” he instructed her, his voice thick with want. “Make me come.”
A long, shaky sigh escaped from her. She began slowly, her strokes long and even. Carlo watched her face, marveling once again at how striking she was. Her expression was focused and intense, but there was a raw hunger there, too—something he hadn't seen in her. Locks of her thick auburn hair slipped off her shoulders as she worked him, her beautiful mouth opened slightly with her labored breathing. She used just the right amount of pressure, reaching down to lightly touch and cup his balls, and then sliding back up to the head to use shorter, faster strokes there.
Fuck, he could hold back no longer. Cassandra continued stroking a few seconds after he'd exploded, his shaft slick and slippery. This time, he would only allow himself a brief moment to enjoy the afterglow of his orgasm; Cassandra had performed well and deserved to be rewarded.
Pulling up his boxers, he propped himself up on one elbow and brushed the hair out of Cassandra's eyes with his free hand. “You were very good, sweetheart. And now it's your turn.” Carlo shifted his body so it lay partly on top of hers, pinning one of her legs beneath him.
Cassandra drew in her breath as his hand trailed down her bare stomach to the top of her pants. He wasted no time. “I'm betting you're still wet for me,” he said softly. “Am I right?” He eased her jeans down her thighs. She was wearing silky white panties trimmed in lace. The young virgin look was making him horny all over again.
This time, he'd allow her to close her eyes and just enjoy his touch. He didn't want to overwhelm her with too much tonight. He slipped a finger in the leg of her panties and lightly stroked her lips which were engorged with arousal. No touching her clitoris just yet; he'd make her wait for now. The soft, velvety feel of her pussy made him want to yank down her panties and bury his face between her legs, torment her with his mouth. But that would be another time.
He slid a finger inside her wet opening, her pussy tightening in response. Pushing it slowly farther in, he watched her reaction. Her head was tipped back, eyes closed, fists gripping the fleece blanket. She moaned, and he silenced her with a kiss.
“Do you have any idea,” he breathed, “how much I want to fuck you?”
Her breath came in short, quick gasps. “My God. Carlo, please...”
He smiled in satisfaction and began to circle her clit with his finger—lightly and slowly at first, until she was writhing beneath him. Seeing a woman in this way—utterly powerless in her want for him—and knowing that he was in control of her, knowing that he could decide the when and the how of her release, gave him both exhilaration and peace.
Carlo increased the pressure and speed of his finger. Cassandra was groaning now, her hands gripping his bare shoulders. She was almost ready. He would give her one more command tonight. “Ask me to make you come.”
“Carlo...Jesus, why are you—”
“Ask me to make you come, Cassandra, or I'll stop touching you.” He slowed his strokes.
“Please...” Her voice was raw. “Please make me come, Carlo.”
Grinning in satisfaction, he began to circle her clit again, faster and harder, flicking the tip of his finger over it. He covered her mouth with his own and felt the bite of her fingernails sinking into his shoulders as she cried out, then quivered with her climax.
As Cassandra's breathing began to slow, Carlo slid himself down to lick the glistening skin between her breasts. She tasted pleasantly salty on his tongue. He fastened his lips around first one nipple, then the other, sucking gently until she quivered and squirmed. Chuckling, he lay on his back beside her and gave a contented sigh.
Cassandra flashed him a shy smile and exhaled deeply as they lay together in comfortable silence. After a few moments, she got to her feet, pulled on her panties and went to retrieve the rest of her clothing. He slid on his jeans and watched as she walked, admiring the sexy, feminine curve of her back sloping into the firm, round shape of her ass. After dressing, she gathered her hair back into its low ponytail and returned to their makeshift bed.
He patted the spot next to him. “Lay down with me.”
“Just for a few minutes. I really should get home. Early day for me tomorrow, remember?”
“Lay down with me.”
Sighing, she flopped down rather unceremoniously beside him and onto her side to face him. “Do you ever take no for an answer?”
“No.” He grinned at her and stretched, amused to catch her staring at his crotch and then hastily avert her gaze. He looked around at the neatly-stacked bales and his eyes fell upon the fire extinguisher. “Ingrid still paranoid about barn fires?”
“Oh yes. She's had me up here with the probe tester checking random bales for moisture, like every few days since we got the hay in.”
“Sounds like a wise idea. I know I always enjoy probing and checking for moisture.”
“Stop,” she protested, laughing.
“This place brings back some memories.”
“Other hayloft conquests?”
“None until you. I was thinking in terms of childhood memories. I was about eight when my stepfather bought the stable for my mom. Gianna and I used to play hide and seek up here. She'd dare me to climb to the very top of the stack, and of course I always did. Even though I was scared of heights.”
“I can't picture you being scared of anything.”
“I've overcome all my childhood fears. Except for one.” Immediately, he regretted his last statement. It had slipped out before he could stop himself.
As expected, Cassandra pounced on it. “And what's that?”
“I don't share that with anyone, sorry. Back to what I was saying about the memories of this place...I had some wonderful times here, but nothing will compare to tonight with you.”
She blushed, lowering her gaze. “Well...thank you. I have to say, you definitely know what you're doing.” A pause as she picked stray pieces of hay from the blanket. “Carlo...we didn't have sex tonight.”
“No.”
“Why not?
He was pleased to see that she was disappointed. “I have my reasons. There was still hesitation and a little resistance in you. Even though it was less than before, I need you completely ready for what I want to do with you, and you aren't. Not yet. There are certain... conditions that must be met in order for me to be with you.”
“What kind of conditions? And what do you mean, 'what I want to do with you?' Having sex with me?”
“I don't mean to be mysterious and secretive, Cassandra, but I don't want to say any more about this. Not right now. I'm not like other men. I'm complicated, and if you want to be with me, you'll need to accept that. I hope that you can.”
She smiled ruefully. “Complicated is actually the opposite of what I need right now. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see you anymore.”
“I'm glad to hear that.”
“It's just...I respect that there are things you don't want to tell me. It's obvious you're a private person, and I totally get that, but I need to be able to trust you, Carlo. I've been hurt in the past, and I don't want to be hurt any more.”
In the gray light of the loft, Cassandra's eyes were large and lustrous. She was the picture of youthful, untarnished innocence, her expression so earnest that he felt his throat close. The
sharp barbs of guilt pricked at him.
“I seriously need to leave, Carlo. Thank you for a very memorable night. I don't think I'll ever view this hayloft in the same way again.”
“I'm glad. And I appreciate the new memories as well.” Putting on his shirt, he contemplated what she had said. I don't want to be hurt any more. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He would do whatever he could to prevent that from happening, which unfortunately included keeping things from her.
I need to be able to trust you, Carlo.
Once again, her gaze was upon him, her eyes filled with hopefulness as they searched his for answers. He found himself making a silent apology, for the promises he was unable to keep.
chapter twenty-three ~ Cassandra
“I'm really glad we are doing this,” Teal sighed blissfully, slathering sunscreen on her arms.
“By this, you mean 'nothing?'”
“Exactly. This is like my last hurrah before classes start.” She handed the bottle of lotion to Cassandra. “Do my back, please. And take your time—I have some major tension knots.”
“You're needy.”
“I know. And I wish I didn't have to use the damned stuff, but I burn so easy, I can just about feel the melanoma setting in.”
Cassandra squirted a glob of lotion into her hand and began rubbing it into Teal's upper back. The two were enjoying the end-of-August sunshine and eighty-five degree temperatures at Teal's apartment complex pool, Cassandra in a seafoam green bikini and Teal in a yellow one. The only other person there was a rather rotund bald man in a Speedo, swimming laps.
Teal hunched over as she sat on the chaise lounge, her head drooping as Cassandra worked the lotion in. “So what's the latest with Carlo? Did you end up seeing him Thursday night?”
“I did.”
“And...?”
“We met at Bull Feeney's for drinks, and then we met somewhere else.” Cassandra couldn't hide her smile.
“Tell me, you tease!”
“The hayloft of Windswept.”
“Seriously? The hayloft?!” Teal was practically squealing. “That is so fucking sexy!”
“It was, actually.”
“Was it hot up there? I mean, I know it was hot as in sexy, but were you like all sweaty?”
“No. It was just right. The loft windows are always open.”
“Okay, I have to ask...how big was he?”
“Teal! Jesus.” Cassandra closed the cap of the sunscreen bottle and put it down.
“Well?”
“Out of respect for Carlo's private parts, I will decline to answer.”
Swinging her legs around to stretch out on the lounge chair, Teal looked at her, eyes narrowed. “He was big, wasn't he?”
Cassandra paused and then grinned. “Huge.”
“Oooh! I knew it.” She opened up the small cooler beside her and took out two Twisted Teas, offering one to Cassandra. “So was it amazing? It was like the best you've had, wasn't it?”
Cassandra hesitated. How to answer this, because she knew Teal would be all over the fact that she and Carlo didn't have sex. It would be hard to try to explain, since Cassandra didn't understand it herself. “We didn't actually do it, but what we did was amazing.”
Teal's blue eyes reflected her confusion. “Wait...you didn't fuck him?”
“No.”
“But did you want to?”
“Um, yeah. I did.”
“Was he into it?”
“Totally.”
“I don't get it. You were alone in a hayloft with a gorgeous guy who clearly wants you, and you didn't fuck? What is this, eighth grade?”
“Teal. Believe it or not, there are some people who wait a little bit to do it.”
“Agreed. But you have waited—you guys already had a little pre-game action that night at his house. Don't you think this is kinda weird?”
Cassandra shrugged. “I don't know. Maybe. Carlo isn't like other men. He told me he didn't think I was quite ready. I felt ready, believe me, but he said he wants to see certain things in me before we can do it.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Why is he making you wait?”
Okay, this was starting to stress her out. Not only because she didn't have the answers to Teal's questions, but because it felt too personal, too private, to be talking about this, even though Carlo hadn't asked her not to share. Plus, Teal had been all about wanting her to go out with him. “Hey. Aren't you the one who keeps telling me to give him a chance?”
Teal flung an arm across her face to shield the sun and squinted at Cassandra. “Yeah. You're right...sorry. I'm just trying to figure out what he wants from you.” She rummaged through the cooler, held up a snack-sized bag of corn chips and tossed it to Cassandra. “Here—this'll make you love me again.”
Cassandra pulled open the bag and began to crunch. “How's your sex life, anyway?”
“It's fanfuckingtabulous. Garrett's kind of an exhibitionist, which I have decided is way cool. We had a little romantic getaway the other night in Harrisburg and did it in the hotel elevator.”
“So he's quick.”
“Or not. Depending on the mood.”
Remembering Carlo's slow, deliberate touch made Cassandra tingle. She settled back in the lounge chair, tipping her face to the sun and relaxing in the delicious warmth. She found herself fantasizing about his mouth on her breasts, drifting down her belly and nestling between her thighs, imagining how it would feel to have him inside her, filling her up...
She'd never been this preoccupied with sex before. Then again, she'd never enjoyed it this much, and hadn't had someone who turned her on the way Carlo did. Why was she so drawn to him? It was more than just his Adonis-like appearance and suave charm; it was his deep, penetrating gaze with eyes that could be surprisingly soulful, his voice that changed in an instant from rough and commanding to soothing and tender. It was the constant seesawing of emotions he always brought out in her: timid, then daring... perplexed, then captivated...insecure, then protected. He'd shake her up and let her settle, like the crystals inside a snow globe—and then he'd shake her up again.
He wanted to have sex with her, no doubt. But there was something more he wanted—or needed—from her, and he was being purposefully ambivalent about it. Maybe things would become clearer with time, but for now, she was being kept in the dark. It occurred to her that the not knowing was part of Carlo's plan. As long as she was in this state of uncertainty, she would be unbalanced, and more susceptible to his wishes. And as shocking as it was to admit, Cassandra didn't totally mind.
chapter twenty-four ~ Carlo
The CEO and president of Miller Valve were meeting to finalize plans for the sales meeting in San Antonio when Brock slid a box across the gleaming oak conference table and leaned back in his chair. “Check this out.” He folded his arms behind his head as he waited for his colleague's reaction.
Carlo opened the cardboard flaps. The object inside appeared to be a digital alarm clock. He eased it out and set it on the table in front of him, looking at Brock with one eyebrow cocked. “A clock?”
His green eyes twinkling, Brock held up his index finger. “Ah, there's more to it than that, my friend. Read the insert.”
Carlo unfolded the paper inside the box and skimmed. Recon night vision alarm clock cam. He looked up at Brock's beaming face. “Well. This is certainly discreet.”
“I know, right?
“How much did this set you back?”
Brock gave him a dismissive wave. “Four hundred bucks. I found a couple others disguised as an electrical outlet and a smoke detector. If you're interested, I can send you the links. I thought we'd liven things up a bit and do video this time, rather than still shots. With your consent, of course.”
Carlo felt something inside him clench. “'Liven things up?' Like it isn't stimulating enough already? You never cease to amaze me, Dall. Video seems like it's crossing a line.”
Brock snorted. “A line? I think we've cros
sed more than a few of those, friend.”
“This is true. But you and I haven't been in the photos—it's just been the women.”
“What are you, playing modest now? We've seen each other in the locker room, for Christ's sake. Besides, I'm not exactly going to focus on you when I watch the video. And we can destroy the evidence afterwards, just like we usually do.”
“I'll think about it.” The idea of Brock seeing pictures of Cassandra in that kind of situation was unpleasant enough, but showing him a video of the event felt almost obscene...still, it wasn't as if he could protest without coming across as sounding emotionally invested in her. Dall would mock him relentlessly, and Carlo had enough shit on his mind without his colleague adding to it. He'd have to suck it up and treat this like the spirited competition it was intended to be.
Brock was studying him almost suspiciously. “I thought you'd like the video idea. And I'm getting the impression you aren't as into this particular one as you have been the others.”
“You caught me off guard. A video is a lot more intimate and intrusive than a photo. But I can see the advantages—you'd be able to get the full effect.”
“Nothing was as intrusive as the time we had adjoining hotel rooms and had a quick viewing session.” Brock laughed. “That was one wild fucking night.”
“Some alcohol involved on our part.”
“And quite a bit of luck, getting them both available and in the hotel the same night. I believe I won that round, didn't I?”
“I'm still not convinced she wasn't inebriated.”
“Hey, I follow the rules, friend—a one drink limit for the women. She was sober, I'm telling you. What can I say...she was totally into it, hot candle wax and all.” Brock got up from the table and went to the water cooler for a drink. “Look. The video kicks it up a notch. The cell phone pictures were fine at the beginning, but that's getting old. Plus, there's no need to blindfold to take the picture when you have a hidden camera.” He filled his cup and drank thirstily, then snapped his fingers and pointed at Carlo. “Just thought of another idea...I'm on a roll. What do you say to actually meeting each other's women this time?”