Fighting for Redemption (The Elite Book 4)

by Nicole Flockton

  Frank’s tone had an edge to it. Cassandra’s focus immediately went from a bare-chested Brett to the man speaking in her ear. “Okay,” she said slowly. “What do you want me to do?”

  “We got an anonymous call this morning saying that Brett Hunter visits someone at a nursing home every Sunday. What do you know about that? And why aren’t you using it as a way to change his image?”

  Shit.

  Why hadn’t she pressed Brett for more information on his visit there? Once she’d known about it, she should’ve conducted her own investigation. The fact his visits hadn’t turned up on any of their own investigations was weird. How had he been able to keep something like this out of the press?

  There was no time think about that now. She had to deal with Frank. Put him off so she could question Brett and find out exactly what was going on.

  “How reliable is the source? It could be someone just trying to find their fifteen seconds of fame.”

  “She claims to work there and sees him without fail every weekend. Unless he’s away competing.”

  Cassandra drummed her fingers against her thigh. While she knew what Frank was telling her was true, she still wanted to find out why this woman had contacted Frank now.

  “Okay. How about you give me her name, and I’ll contact her to set up a visit, just to verify. I mean if it’s true, and Brett visits the facility on a regular basis, why is she only now coming out with the news. Why come to us and not a gossip website? They’d might pay big bucks for this type of story.”

  Frank snorted. “You know as well as I do those websites only want the scandalous stories. Him visiting a sick aunt isn’t that newsworthy.”

  “So you know it’s an aunt his visiting?”

  “No, if I did, I wouldn’t be calling you, would I?”

  Voices sounded in the background and Cassandra surmised Frank’s assistant had walked into his office.

  “Cassandra, I need to go. Just get on it and find out what you can. If we can use it, use it. I know you’re saying this show is going to be a big hit, but we can always use more help wherever we can get it.”

  He disconnected the call before she had a chance to respond. She looked over to where Brett and one of the young boys on his team were talking earnestly. She smiled. He really was excellent with the boys. All of the kids on his team worshipped him. She got the impression Brett enjoyed spending time with them, too.

  As though he sensed her watching, he turned in her direction, smiled and winked. A momentary action, over before anyone noticed, but it warmed her heart. It had been the first connection between them since the night he’d come to her place over a week ago.

  She was going to grasp this small lifeline the smile indicated and run with it. Tonight she’d ask him to come over to her place for dinner. In a private setting, with no chance of anyone overhearing what they talked about, hopefully he would be more inclined to open up and share with her all the details about his visits. Cassandra hoped it was something as innocent as him visiting a sick aunt. Anything else could be a veritable public relations nightmare.

  18

  Brett raised his hand and knocked on Cassandra’s door, her dinner invitation earlier a welcome surprise. After he’d turned up on her doorstep unannounced, and their subsequent conversation, he had no idea what was happening between them. All he knew was, even though he’d seen her every day at the school where they’d been filming, she’d kept her distance, and he’d kept his. Although there were the odd times when they would see each other and he could’ve sworn, and as clichéd as it sounded to his own mind, an electrical charge arced between them. Several times he’d wanted to take a step in her direction and had to pull back. The next move would have to be hers.

  The door opened and Cassandra stood in the doorway. The baby blue dress she wore kissed her curves, the V-neck not outrageously low, but deep enough to hint at the shape of her breasts. He tracked down from the glimpse of her cleavage to where the fabric skimmed over her hips and finished just below her knees. Brett laughed out loud at her flip-flops, each with a large blue flower on it that matched her dress. He never would’ve picked her as someone who would wear flip-flops.

  “I like your shoes,” he said as he leaned in and pressed a kiss on her cheek. He was hit with the scent of wildflowers. The need to sweep her up in his arms was something he couldn’t ignore.

  Brett grabbed by her shoulders and gently moved her away from the doorway and into her hallway. He kicked the door shut then swiveled her around so her back rested against the wood paneling. The next instant, he closed the distance and pressed his lips against hers. Worry at his impulsive action dissipated as her arms closed around his neck. The brush of her breasts against his chest had his dick twitching in his pants.

  He didn’t know why they were fighting this. It seemed the more they didn’t talk or interact, the more the moment they got close to each other, they practically exploded in each other’s arms.

  “Bedroom?” he muttered against her lips as his hand wandered to the curve of her ass, squeezing gently.

  “We really need to talk.”

  “We do too much talking, Cass.” He kissed the pulse point on her neck, her back arching in response. “You may want to avoid this attraction between us, but I can’t do it anymore.”

  Taking matters into his own hands, he scooped her up into his arms and strode down the hallway. If he had to look into every room until he found her bedroom, he would.

  “Up the stairs, first door on the right, so you might want to put me down.”

  Triumph surged through him and he laughed out loud as he backtracked to head up the staircase he’d walked past. “There’s no way I’m letting you go. I’m not giving you any chance to change your mind. I’ve got this.”

  A few moments later he had them in the bedroom. He loosened his hold on Cassandra’s legs and her body slid down his, igniting the passion that had been simmering softly within him into an all-out blaze.

  He looked deeply into her eyes. The desire burning in them reminded him of melted dark chocolate. Apprehension also lurked there. He knew what they were about to do was going to cross the professional line between client and employee. She’d mentioned a divorce in her past. It was probably something he should’ve asked about, but considering he hadn’t shared his deepest secret with her, Cassandra didn’t have to mention her previous marriage.

  “I won’t hurt you, Cass. Please believe me. I know what you’re giving me and I only hope I can give you even half as much.”

  Not allowing her a chance to answer, he kissed her again, toeing off his shoes at the same time. Her mouth opened beneath his, her tongue teasing his into play while she fumbled with his belt buckle.

  Impatience at wanting to get naked with her had him ending the kiss and dealing with his belt himself. In seconds he had it, his jeans and socks off.

  “In a hurry, are we?” she teased him.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, seeing as all I have to do to get you naked is unzip a dress I thought I’d help you out. Now all you have to do is take my shirt off.”

  She chuckled and flicked her hair over her shoulder. Controlling the shiver that zoomed through him was impossible as her fingers tiptoed up his chest. “Is that right? Well don’t say I’m a person who doesn’t take hints.”

  “Never thou—”

  Kerplunk.

  Kerplunk.

  Kerplunk.

  The sound of his buttons hitting the floor swallowed the rest of his words.

  “What if this was my favorite shirt?” he asked as her hands smoothed the fabric off his shoulders.

  “I’ll buy you another one.”

  He closed his eyes and uttered a low moan when her mouth locked onto his nipple, sucking the small nub into her mouth.

  If someone had told him that Cassandra would be this aggressive with him in the bedroom, he would’ve laughed in their faces. Nothing about their previous encounters gave him the slightest hint she would rip his s
hirt open. He had to admit he liked it.

  He normally took the lead. The women he went to bed with were more focused on the fact they were sleeping with a well-known athlete. They weren’t worried about his needs or wants. It had never bothered him.

  This encounter with Cassandra was so much more powerful. He wanted it to be the start of something between them, more to her than a quick lay. Deep down, he hoped that something was a relationship. He wanted to know everything about Cassandra. Her likes and dislikes. What made her moan? What made her scream out his name? What made her laugh?

  His body was begging to bury itself in her softness. To feel her inner muscles clamp around his hard flesh. Her hands were so close to where he wanted to be touched. He flexed his hips, nudging his erection against her belly.

  She laughed. “You really are impatient, aren’t you?”

  God, she was so sexy when she let her inhibitions go and teased him with her sassy mouth.

  Brett adjusted his hold on her so they were eye to eye.

  “Baby, you have no idea.”

  His right hand found the zipper at her back and lowered the metal tab, while his left followed the path, caressing the soft ridges of her spine. When he could go no further, he pushed the fabric off her shoulders and it pooled at their feet in a swish of silk.

  Their mouths collided, feverish to lose themselves in each other. The time for preliminaries and slow seduction was over. Within seconds, they were both naked and on the bed, Cassandra lying under him. His erection rested between her legs. While the urge to plunge into her was strong, Brett had never been the type of lover who didn’t take care of his woman.

  He trailed kisses down her body, stopping to nuzzle each breast, swirl his tongue around her belly button, before finding what his was looking for—the treasure between her thighs.

  He inhaled deeply, her spicy arousal teasing his senses. He couldn’t wait to taste her. Not delaying any longer, he swiped his tongue up her slick folds.

  And smiled. Now he knew an action that made her moan. What would make her scream? He swirled his tongue around before sucking on her clit. He repeated the action after her thighs squeezed against his head. He didn’t mind. He could stay and savor her for hours. Her thighs tightened more and began to quiver as he feasted on her. He sucked again on the small bundle of nerves, her body shook, and a low cry burst out of her as her orgasm swept through her. He maintained his grip on her hips as he pleasured her through her climax.

  When she stopped shaking, he kissed his way up her body, nuzzling into her neck as he, once again, rested his hard cock where he’d just been.

  “Please tell me you have protection,” Brett whispered the words in her ear. He knew he had a condom in his wallet, but he didn’t want to move.

  “Uh huh.” She went to move from beneath him, but he hooked his arm under her and rolled over so she was on top of him.

  For endless seconds they looked at each other. Her lips were swollen from the kisses they’d shared. A faint blush colored her cheeks. He’d never seen her look so sexy. Needing to connect with her again, he tightened his hold on her and brought her face close to his again.

  “Are you sure about this?” The question popped out of him. He hadn’t been planning to say it, but now that it was out there, he had no regrets.

  Cassandra’s response was immediate. “Yes.”

  “Good. Now I think you were about to grab something?”

  As she reached across to one of the nightstands beside the bed, he rained kisses over her chest, before circling her nipple with his tongue. He sucked the nub into his mouth. He heard the crinkle of the condom she held in her hand as her nails dug into his shoulders. A long, low moan escaped from her.

  Brett was positive all his blood had pooled in his groin, he was harder than he’d ever been in his life. He released her breast with a pop.

  “I don’t know how much longer I can hang on here, Cass.”

  “Let me see what I can do about that.” As she leaned forward, her breast brushed up against his mouth again, teasing him. A shudder ripped through him as she put her lips against his ear. “I wouldn’t want you to false start.”

  Oh fuck, she was going to be the death of him. He gritted his teeth when she rolled the condom down his hard length. Before giving him a chance to do anything she rose and slid down his hard length.

  A breath hissed out of him and his eyes slithered shut. He concentrated on not blowing his load in ten seconds. Her warmth surrounded him, her muscles clenching and unclenching.

  “You feel so good, Cass.”

  “Mmmmm.”

  If he could’ve smiled at her response he would’ve, but she started to move again, rocking before she started to ride him in earnest. Her breasts swayed with the movement. Every time she rose, he lifted his hips, chasing after her, not wanting her to escape his clutches.

  Her pace increased and he could feel her inner muscles tightening around him, signally another orgasm was imminent. It would be so easy to give in and join her as she let herself go once again. But he didn’t want to. He wanted to watch her come unhinged. He reached down to the place where they were joined and found her clit. He rubbed it with his thumb, her cries becoming louder as her movements above him became more erratic until he applied a little more pressure and she screamed out his name.

  While her body still pulsed around him he rolled them so that he was on top. He started thrusting into her, prolonging her orgasm until, with a final push, his release surged through him and he joined her in the ultimate release a couple could share.

  Brett collapsed on top of her, his heart racing, his breath coming in short gasps. He’d never experienced anything like what he just had with Cassandra. He didn’t understand it. All he knew was, he couldn’t wait to do it again.

  19

  A pleasant buzz enveloped Cassandra. She couldn’t regret the last hour she’d spent in Brett’s arms. Even with Michael, she’d never experienced such an intense release. Before tonight, she’d thought she’d had a pretty good sex life with her ex, but now she knew she’d been so wrong.

  “What’s that buzzing sound?” Brett asked.

  “Huh?” Wasn’t the buzz the afterglow from what they’d just shared?

  Slowly the sound penetrated her post-orgasmic glow. She sat up quickly. “Oh shit, dinner.”

  Untangling herself from Brett’s arms she reached for the first piece of clothing she could grab, which happened to be the shirt she’d ripped off Brett. She slipped her arms into the sleeves, pushed them up and clutched it closed with one hand as she skipped down the stairs to the kitchen.

  She prayed the lasagna she’d made wouldn’t be ruined. It depended on how long the timer had been going off.

  A small amount of relief flowed through her when she rushed into the kitchen and didn’t find it full of smoke.

  Within a minute, she had the dish out and cooling on the top of her freestanding oven. Apart from the edges looking a little overcooked, the cheese in the middle was bubbling nicely.

  “I take it we won’t need to order pizza?”

  “No, dinner is saved.”

  The next second, a pair of strong arms closed around her. “Good, then let’s go back to bed for round two.”

  Cassandra closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The temptation to give into Brett’s idea was strong. However, there was still the matter of Frank’s phone call. The reason she’d invited him over for dinner in the first place.

  But one little taste of his lips again wouldn’t hurt, would it?

  Can you stop at one taste though?

  Damn that little voice in her head. She knew if she kissed him, dinner and talking would be forgotten. God, she really wanted to go another round in Brett’s arms. See if what they’d experienced had been a one-off thing or would sex with him always be that intense and out of this world.

  She turned in his arms and placed her hands on his chest. His bare chest.

  “As tempting as it is, we really need
to talk.”

  “It’s never good when a woman says we have to talk.”

  She went up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “I’ll go put something else on and then serve dinner. Once we’ve finished eating and talking, then we can adjourn to the bedroom. If you still want to, that is.”

  Brett laughed. “I can guarantee nothing you say will deter me from spending the rest of the night in your bedroom. And,” he looked her up and down, her skin burning beneath his gaze. “You don’t need to change on my account. I have to say my shirt looks good on you. Even if it’s a little worse for wear.”

  Cassandra looked down at his wrecked shirt and then back at him. “I guess I owe you a new shirt.”

  “Nah, it wasn’t one of my favorites.” He reached out, hooked his fingers under the material and pushed it off her shoulder a little. His brushed her bare skin. “Although it could be my favorite now.”

  It took willpower she didn’t know she possessed to stop herself from falling into a heap at his feet. Not even when Michael had been at his romantic best had he been able to weaken her with seven words. Everything she’d assumed about Brett was wrong. It made her more determined than ever to find out who the real Brett was. There was no doubt in her mind that his visits to Spring Mountain were the key to solving the mystery surrounding him. She just had to work out how to unlock them.

  “You tempt me to forget the very reason I invited you over to dinner, Brett Hunter. And that’s not good.”

  He moved the shirt again, exposing more of her skin. This time his lips caressed her. “You’ve got to admit this is much better than what you originally had planned.”

  It would be so easy. So, so, so easy to rip the shirt off and then do the same to the jeans he’d pulled on before coming downstairs. But she couldn’t. If she didn’t find out what the visits were all about, then Frank would make sure someone else did. At least she could control the fallout from the revelation. Well, she hoped she could.

  “As I said, you’re very tempting but,” she injected a resolve she wasn’t feeling into her tone. “This can’t wait any longer.”