by Dakota Black
“Running from? I’m not—”
“Bullshit.” Folding her arms, she stood her ground and could see the utter fear in his eyes. “I’ve always had visions, since I was a child. Some would call them premonitions. The majority came true, at least those I followed up on. After a few years, I ran away from them, pushing a boundary up to the point I was free of them for a peaceful few years. Then, recently, they came back with a vengeance. The painting was unexpected, much like many of them are. I don’t know how to explain what I see, except what my ancestors have told me. I had no idea who I was painting. I don’t hear names whispered to me or try and find out who the men and women portrayed are any longer. I just can’t tolerate the worry, the fear for them.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Let me finish!” she huffed. “You were brought into my life for some hidden reason. I’m certain of it. When I saw you at the café, I was shocked. I didn’t know what to expect and I certainly didn’t think we would get close. At all.” The words were difficult to say.
“What we shared was very special,” he whispered.
She shook her head. “Then you ran.”
“For your protection, which is why we can’t continue to see each other.”
Anger rushed into every cell, creating a blinding wave. She stormed toward his desk, slapping her hands against the top. “I had a vision, Zach. You’re going to be killed. Whoever it is you’re running from, well, he’s coming for you. I don’t know when and I don’t understand why, but I know what I saw. You will die by his hands.”
Zach moved around the desk, walking slowly at first until her body slumped, swaying back and forth. “Whoa. Slow down. What are you talking about?” He held her as he guided her toward a chair, but she pushed him away.
“I don’t want to sit. I understand you don’t want to see me, but you need to listen to what I have to say. You’re in danger. You need to leave town or maybe the country. Hell, I don’t know but you’re being hunted.”
“Hunted.” Exhaling, he shook his head several times then rubbed both hands through his hair. “What exactly did you see in this premonition?”
“A man holding a gun. He blamed you for some wretched deed in your past, something you’re hiding. Then he simply pulled the trigger.”
He seemed to crumple, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “Just a vision.”
“And you know they’re real. You understand because I saw you in that club, with the redhead. You know that because you were connected to me that very night. You could feel what I was feeling, understand what I was thinking. We were drawn together for a reason and I think it’s to save your life.”
A moment of raw tension floated between them.
“It’s not worth saving.”
The words were whispered, as if the admittance had haunted him for years. “What is going on, Zach? Talk to me.” She inched closer, longing to touch him, to help guide him through this nightmare.
He held out his hand. “Don’t. You can’t be with me. Take yourself off this job and never call me again.”
“I refuse.” She inched closer.
“I don’t want you. Can you understand? I have to keep you…” Zach didn’t finish the sentence. Turning away, he walked toward the window. “I’m not the man you think I am.”
Cassandra swallowed. “Then who are you?”
He remained silent, his body statuesque.
There was no way she was running from this, not when she’d found the man she’d spent her entire life looking for. She moved around his desk, placing the palms of her hands on his back, kneading the rippling muscles. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m tougher than you think and damn it, I refuse to allow you out of my life. I’m right here.”
Dropping his head, a long breath pushed past his mouth. “Please. Just leave. I don’t want you in the way. I have to see this through without worrying about you.”
She continued touching, her hands caressing as she leaned against him, pressing her face against his back. “Let me in. You own me. Remember?”
He groaned then dropped his head. “Cassandra. Don’t.”
“Yes.” Walking around him, she took his hand, intertwining their fingers. “Yes. Unless you lied to me.” She could sense his anger, confusion, but his need and hunger for her remained just under the surface. “I don’t want to let this go.”
Zach narrowed his eyes as he stared at her. “I can’t. I just...” His breathing ragged, he slowly lifted his head, the look in his eyes shifting, becoming the man from the night before. “God, I want you.” Jerking her forward, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, his fingers digging into her skin as he lowered his head. His mouth hovered over hers, his lips parted. Tilting back her head, he crushed her lips, thrusting his tongue inside.
Shivering, she pressed her hand against his chest, kneading his jacket and moaned into the kiss. He refused to let go, the intense passion creating a wave of heat. Her pussy muscles clenched as his tongue moved back and forth across hers. When he slid his arm under her buttocks, lifting and shoving her against the wall, she was overwhelmed with a kinetic energy.
He kicked her legs apart and slid his hand under her skirt, the touch rough and full of impassioned need. His fingers squeezed her inner thigh, the force shoving the skirt up several inches. Cupping her pussy, he wiggled the palm of his hand, pushing her lace panties against her pussy lips.
The friction spiraled, and she clawed at his jacket, fighting to slip the material off his shoulders.
Zach broke the kiss as he shoved two fingers through the thin lace, swirling the tips around her clit.
“Oh God…”
Moving his head under her chin, he pushed up and sucked on her neck, licking and biting her skin. His actions were unbridled, wild as he continued ripping her thong, plunging three then four fingers inside her cunt.
Panting, her chest heaving, she slapped her hand against the wall as the muscles of his arm, the pressure of his fingers, drove her up onto her tiptoes. Stars floated in front of her eyes as he continued finger fucking her and was lost to the rapture.
Zach licked up and down her neck, mouthing her flesh as he reached her chin, then the side of her mouth. “Do you want to come for me?”
“Oh, yes. God…” Her entire body was wet, drained as her legs began to quiver.
Yanking at her blouse, he pulled it up and over her head, dark and dangerous growls erupting from his throat. Reaching around her, he unfastened and removed her bra then tugged her arms over her head, wrapping one hand around her wrists.
She arched her back as he mouthed down the length of her neck, licking between the swell of her breasts. He fingered her nipple as his lips moved down to her other breast, sucking until the bud was rock hard. The second he pinched the other between his thumb and forefinger, she bit back a squeal. “Ah… Zach.”
“Shh… No talking. Keep your hands over your head.” He continued peppering kisses against her skin as he dropped to the ground, fumbling with the button and zipper on her skirt. Grunting, he yanked down the material, ripping away her panties until she was standing naked.
Her breathing came in short pants and she tilted her head toward the office door, a smile crossing her face.
He widened her legs, gripping her thighs, and buried his face in her pussy, thrusting his tongue inside.
“Ooohhh…” The moan escaped her mouth and she struggled to keep her arms in position. She was tingling and aching all over, her entire body shaking as he feasted on her cunt. She was so wet. So hot.
His tongue wiggled back and forth, sucking on her cream. He pivoted his hand, driving his fingers in beside his tongue, thrusting in hard and fast.
Her head lolled down, strands of hair sliding into the beads of perspiration trickling down both sides of her face. She could no longer focus, no longer think clearly as he continued. Writhing, she could feel the climax rushing, creating ripples as the desire built. Increasing. She could no longe
r hold back. “Oh. Oh!”
He dug his fingers into her leg as he continued to lick, nipping her clit and rolling his tongue around the swollen tissue.
“I can’t…” The words slipped from her mouth and the moment her entire body tensed, she could no longer hold back the wave. “Ah!” Exploding into his mouth, her body jerked, swaying forward and backward.
His fingers continued to thrust, his thumb replacing his tongue, swirling around her clit.
When she was reduced to only quivering, he wiped his mouth across her upper thigh before standing, his eyes deep and penetrating. “You disobeyed me.”
“Yes… Yes, sir.” The words were barely audible. She blinked and lifted her head, studying his pensive face. “I’m sorry.”
He raised a single eyebrow then grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward and over the edge of his desk.
Leaning over, he planted his hands on either side, allowing his hot breath to cascade across her shoulders. He used a single finger to ease her hair from her neck, pushing it to one side then pressed a series of kisses along the base. “You will learn.”
“Yes, sir.” She placed her face onto the cool wood, gripping the other edge of his desk, as he eased back.
He rubbed his fingers down the crack of her ass then patted both ass cheeks.
Smack! Pop!
Using his naked hand, he slapped her ass, one cheek after the other.
She bit back a yelp and closed her eyes, envisioning everyone in his office seeing them, exposed to their kinky games.
Crack! Pop!
“Disobedient. You came without asking.”
The husk in his voice was sexy, yet demanding. He was in another zone, embracing the darkness.
Smack! Slap! Pop!
She shivered, her head jerking up as he peppered her ass with hard spanks, yet the sound of his hand slapping her skin was so powerful, a breathless aphrodisiac. And she wanted more.
Crack! Pop! Slap!
He continued, smacking one then the other.
The pain was delicious, anguished and she was lulled into her special place.
Pop! Smack!
“Are you going to learn to obey me?” he asked as he rubbed his fingers across her ass.
“Yes, sir. I…”
He wrapped his hand around her hair, pulling back as he continued, his hand moving rapidly.
Smack! Crack!
“Oh!”
Pop! Slap! Crack!
The sound seemed to reverberate, creating an echo in her ears.
Whap! Smack!
A slow growl escaped his mouth as he rolled her over. “Open your legs for me. Wide.”
Obeying without question, she wiggled when he rubbed his fingers down her pussy. She could smell her own sex, the wetness slickening her thighs.
Smack!
“Oh!” The slap on her cunt was unexpected, leaving her tingling, her heart racing.
Slap! Pop!
“Such a bad girl.” He bent down, nipping her lower lips.
Smack! Whap!
Opening her mouth, she panted and darted her eyes back and forth. This pain was intense, shocking but she was so alive.
Crack! Smack!
His eyes never left her as he unfastened his belt, slipping the leather from the buckle, then unbuttoned and unzipped. He yanked her ass until it was off the edge of the desk then crouched over her. Thrusting the entire length of his cock inside her pussy, he hung his head, his entire upper body trembling.
She allowed her hands to drape off the desk and as he bent down, capturing her mouth, she clenched her eyes shut.
He drove in and out, his legs slapping against her ass. The kiss was soft, gentle as he began to pump harder, the force pushing her up further on his desk. He slid his tongue inside, French kissing her as his hands squeezed her legs.
The feel of him inside, the forbidden aspect of their heated event drove her into a wonderful and freeing moment of bliss.
Sliding her legs over his shoulders, he broke the kiss and leaned back, grunting as he continued. He fucked her hard and fast, growls roaring from his throat.
She wiggled, her pussy clenching. When he was close to coming, she clamped down.
The moment she did, he shuddered then his entire body tensed. “Fuck!”
As he fell on top of her, the weight of his body on hers, she realized there were tears in her eyes. There was nothing she could do to stop what would occur. There were no homages to the Gods to cease the inevitable.
Zach Goodman, the most amazing man she’d ever met was going to die.
Chapter 7
As Zach handed Cassandra a drink, he realized his hand was shaking. He refused to admit to her that the haunted words were not just frightening, they were a relief. He could no longer live with the terrible burden, padlocked away. He studied her reflection in the glass, the way she pretended as if everything was normal, and wanted nothing more than to alleviate her fears. The draw, the vibrant and dark draw they shared was all consuming.
He took a swig of bourbon and glanced out into the parking lot. She wasn’t seeing a premonition but a telling moment from the past. “I know you’re nervous.”
“You know I’m right,” Cassandra gave him a heated expression. “We need to talk about what’s going on. You need to trust me enough to divulge what you’re dealing with.”
What the hell was he supposed to say to her? “This isn’t about trust. I trust you with all that I am.”
“Then what is it about?” She rose to her feet, stepping into her shoes and closing the distance. “What is so horrible that you can’t tell me? You were obviously in a fight. Don’t lie to me.”
“Not a fight.”
“Right.” You stated in exacting terms that you were going to kill me, and I know whatever you were sent on your phone earlier today scared you to death. Maybe my visions can help you.”
As she cupped his face, rubbing her thumb across his skin, he leaned in, savoring the sweet touch. “I was in a car wreck and I’m fine.”
“A car wreck?” She exhaled before looking away.
“Yes, nothing more.” Now, he was lying to her. He wanted nothing more than to share his fears, his life, his… “Look, I have a meeting tonight. Maybe I can come over after? I’ll do what I can to explain.”
Her eyes darted away, and she shook her head. “Unfortunately, I have an appointment as well, but maybe tomorrow.”
He studied her for a solid minute. “I have a ranch outside the city. Why don’t you come by in the morning? We can go riding. We can talk.” He wanted nothing more than to take her away somewhere private. “I want to get to know you.”
“I’d like that. I really would.” She leaned toward him, kissing his lips. “You’re very special, Zachary Goodman. I think you need to be reminded of that.”
When she grabbed her things, and headed out the door, he slumped against his desk. Anger boiled within him. The damn picture. He’d kill the fucker who’d threatened her. He slammed his hand down on his desk, groaning when papers and folders scattered onto the floor. One way or another, he would find out who was behind this bullshit.
Except I’m not-
“Entertaining. I must admit,” Mitchell interrupted as he sashayed into the room, a wide grin on his face.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Whoa.” He held his hands up as he walked further inside. “I thought you’d be in a good mood after your meeting with Cassandra.” The grin remained. “You obviously took my advice to heart. Good for you.”
“Just leave it.” Zach jerked the papers off the floor, dropping them in a pile on his desk. “I was a fool.”
“Uh-huh. You are a fool, but…” When Zach glared at him, Mitchell lifted a single eyebrow. “Seriously, what’s going on? You want her. You don’t want her. I did hear you given the fact our offices are against each other.”
“Fuck.” He grabbed his jacket.
Mitchell shook his head. “You tell me you can’t see her
then you fuck her in the middle of your office. Did you talk to her about the picture? Did you show her?”
“What don’t you get about letting this go?”
“Nope. I won’t. I’ve known you for a long time. We’ve seen each other through thick and thin. You know the worst about me and you’ve been the voice of reason every time, keeping me from losing my mind, by business and in truth, my life. Talk to me. Allow me into this vacuum before you fall prey to the effects of succumbing to a level of darkness you’ll never be able to crawl out of.”
Zach held his tongue and clenched his fists. Mitchell was right, but if the man knew what he was capable of, there would be no turning back. Their friendship as well as their partnership could be over. He wasn’t prepared to lose everything he worked so hard to achieve. “No, I didn’t tell her. I couldn’t. I did think about what you said.”
“But?”
“You’re a good friend but I need to do this alone. Just for now. Just until I figure out what I’m dealing with.”
“I don’t understand you and I guess I may never have the opportunity. All I can say is reach out before it’s too late.” He remained glaring at his friend, unblinking.
He allowed a slow breath to escape before nodding.
“Let’s go have that drink because at this point, we both sure as shit need it.”
He remained in his car, nothing more than a shadow, his view filtered by the few remaining cars in the parking lot. Yet he could see her. He could even tell she was pensive, her body language indicating frustration or worse. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he leaned forward in an effort to catch every detail. A snicker left his lips and he shifted in the seat, cognizant of his attraction to her.
No, he wasn’t interested in anything more than the end result, what seemed like a lifetime of planning, preparing for his moment. What the fuck was he thinking. What moment? He simply wanted revenge, a taste of the same bullshit that had been dealt on a wretched winter’s night almost a decade before. Everything he’d worked so hard to achieve had been ripped away, given to the asshole. The stupid kid wanted no part of it. Whatever. He would have his day, his retribution.