“God, I miss you, Cassandra.”
“I miss you too.”
“I know we’ll be seeing each other tomorrow, but how about I try to make you feel better right now?”
“Are you standing outside my door?”
“I wish.” The call switched from voice to video, and his gorgeous face appeared. “Hey, you’re a sight for sore eyes. But seeing you makes me realize how badly I want you.”
“Please don’t say things like that. It’s bad enough that you consume my dreams for me only to wake up in an empty bed. By the way, I’m canceling my no-workday-sleepover rule… indefinitely. One stipulation, we need to stay at my apartment. I know it doesn’t hold a candle to yours, but I like being close to work.”
His face lit up as if he had just won the lottery. “Sounds good, and I know you were bummed about missing the party. Next year, I assure you that trophy will be ours.” An explosive smile that matched mine sent my pulse racing. It wasn’t winning that sparked my reaction, but the fact that Dante was thinking a year ahead.
We had never discussed the future. But hearing his words had my mind envisioning all types of scenarios. “I’d love that.”
“Good, now about making you feel better… prop your phone on something so I can see all of you.” I leaned my phone against a tissue box. “Now lower that blanket.”
A tingle shot to my lady parts. Without hesitation, I did as he commanded, revealing my pink spirit-week T-shirt with the school’s logo scrawled across my chest.
“That’s cute, but take it off.” Knowing I was braless underneath, I hesitated for a brief second before yanking it over my head. “Shit. Now take your hair down, Cassandra.”
The rubber band holding my ponytail was swiftly tugged off and cast aside. My eagerness was apparent. With the knowledge of how good he was at giving instructions, my inhibitions fell away. “What next?” I watched as he set his phone against something, and his hand disappeared into his sweats. “Your turn, Dante. Take off your shirt.”
He grinned with pride. “There’s my girl.”
A bittersweet desire surged through me at seeing his spectacular naked torso. My hands craved to touch him… every dip and valley of his abs. If only I could flick his piercing with my tongue, which I knew from experience would drive him wild.
“I need more, Dante.” With no hesitation, he stood to remove his sweats. His manhood proudly stood at attention, almost teasingly. But when he began stroking himself, my nipples hardened, and my clit pulsed.
“Show me that cunt I’ve missed. I want to see how wet you are.” Normally, I hated the “c” word, but just like when he had used it in the past, it turned me on. Maybe it was the man who said it, or the lust in his voice, but whatever the reason, I liked it.
Repositioning myself, I tentatively tucked my fingers inside the elastic band of my yoga pants, lifted my hips, and slid them down, taking my thong with them. I spread my legs and waited.
“Fuck,” he said with a growl. “I know I started this to make you feel better, but this is painful.” I nodded because, looking at him, I felt the same way. “Touch yourself, Cassandra. Just like I do when you come on my cock. Dip your finger inside until you find that spot I know is there.”
Phone sex was new to me, not to mention video-chat sex. His eyes darkened, his chest rose and fell with each breath, and the working of his hand on his erection accelerated. Gathering all the courage I had, while releasing any wariness, I lowered my hand and pushed a finger inside. The only other time I touched myself in this way was at his command. I think—no, I knew—I would probably do anything this man asked. Not because of his dominance whenever he did, but because it excited me more than anything ever had.
Unlike Dante, whose eyes fixated on my actions, I closed mine to imagine it was him inside of me. “That’s right, picture me, Cassandra. I’m right there with you, filling you. My cock is so hard right now and it’s all because of you. Add another finger and circle your clit with your thumb. I can almost feel how your pussy pulls me in like a magnet. Can you feel me?”
“I do,” I said with a nod, all while knowing my fingers were a poor substitute for the pleasure his body could bring me.
“Let me taste you. Lick your fingers, then continue to fuck yourself.” His steadfast and lustful eyes flared my desire to please him. Obliging, my tongue met my raised fingers and stroked them as if I had his dick in my mouth. “Jesus Christ, Cassandra. I’m going to come. Are you there? Get there… come with me.”
We both let out feral moans. The moment left us drained and only instigated the longing that being apart created. Rather than satisfying my loneliness, it made it worse. Reading my mind as he normally did, he said, “Fuck, Cassandra, I need more of you. Go to sleep, beautiful. I decided to catch the red-eye. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Thank God. I’ll be waiting. Have a safe trip.”
“Dream of me, Cassandra.”
“Always.”
Chapter 22
Dante
The moment we drove past the Connecticut state line, I could practically feel her anxiety. I wasn’t much use relaxing her, since my own nerves had spiked to epic proportions… and I wasn’t the type to get nervous. But seeing her tense with each mile added to my unease, which I pushed aside for her.
The fall foliage made the tree-lined streets leading to Cassie’s parents’ house a picturesque landscape. Opposite the bland concrete jungle we had just left, taking this trip reminded me of locations I’d visited over the years and missed. But with each formal structure we passed, the pretension became obvious.
“It’s the next left.” Expecting to see a road once I made the turn, the iron gates on a palatial estate stopped us from going farther. “Please don’t judge me,” she said, half-joking, half-serious. Before I could ask how we were getting in, the gates slowly swung open. My raised brow prompted her to explain. “I have a sensor on my car.”
“Ah… makes sense, because every mansion needs Batman technology.” I threw her a wide smile and a wink.
“Don’t make fun of me.” The levity and sparkle in her eyes meant my presence might help her today.
“I’m not making fun of you. I’m making fun of them.” At that comment, the winding road opened to a huge… plantation? I had no other way to describe the estate before me. “Damn.”
“It’s ridiculous.” She pointed to where the brick pathway snaked around the house. “I’ll show you my secret hiding place later. It became my refuge, and the only other man who knew about it was my brother.”
I wiggled my eyebrows salaciously. “I can’t wait.” And then I remembered her brother was a cop. “Wait, your brother who carries a gun for a living?”
She laughed for the first time since we left the city. “Mark is harmless. Just don’t get into a discussion over football.”
“He doesn’t like soccer?” Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“American football. Just avoid all sports, and then you’re good.”
“Noted.”
I pulled the car up to the valet, refraining from looking at her. She beat me to the punch, and said, “So stupid.”
“Not really… less chance of fender benders. And we both know you’re a magnet for them. Good thing I drove,” I said before chuckling at her grimace. “Smile, beautiful. We’re together and everything will be fine.” Leaning over, I kissed her lips softly and hopped out of my side once the attendant opened her door. I met her at the edge of the cobblestone path, placing my hands on her waist. “Have I told you how stunning you look today?”
“Just today?” she teased.
“Every day. The way this blue dress illuminates your eyes…” I pressed another kiss to her lips and added, “But the way it skims over you…” A tiny shift of my hips into hers managed to convey the rest of my thoughts.
“Don’t work me up… yet.” Her expression turned serious as she stared into my eyes. “Dante, please don’t take whatever they may say or do personally. It
has nothing to do with you.”
I moved my hands to rest on the curve of her ass. “Cassandra, don’t worry about me. Besides, I keep telling you I’m irresistible.”
“Yes, you have said that a time or two.” She smoothed her hands on the lapels of my suit jacket. “By the way, I feel the same way seeing you dressed so professionally. And knowing what’s under all this conservative attire…” Her palm slid over my piercing, and with a firm press she caused a jolt to travel straight through me. “Makes me want to ditch this shindig.”
“Hold that thought until later.” Hand in hand, we walked up the massive staircase leading to the impressive entrance. No sooner had she reached for the brass scrolled handle when one door swung open on its own accord. I couldn’t help looking up and around, wondering if we hit another sensor.
“Miss Cassie!” A petite older woman, donning a traditional maid’s uniform, engulfed her in a crushing hug.
“Hello, Martha, how are you?”
“I’m great. Come, the festivities have started.” Martha’s spectacled eyes landed on my face. “Who is this handsome young man?”
Cassie regarded me with a smug, possessive smile I knew well. “This is Dante Benedetto. My boyfriend. Dante, this is Martha, my dear friend and favorite confidant while growing up.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” I offered Martha my hand, and once she accepted I brought hers to my lips.
“Oh, Lord,” she said, fluffing her hair with her free hand. “Italian and gorgeous. I can’t wait for you to meet everyone. Cassie, please let me do the honors.”
“I just might, Martha,” Cassie quipped, and then said to me, “No joke. This woman supplied many an alibi during my teen years.”
Leaning in to Martha, I lowered my voice and said, “I’ll have to hear all about the trouble my girl had gotten herself into.”
“For the right price, I’ll sing like a canary.” Still holding my hand, she pumped it, sealing our deal.
“Martha! You traitor.” And before Martha could respond, an older version of Cassie, dressed in an off-white conservative silk suit complete with pearls, strode right toward us.
“Cassandra, you’re late.” The clacking of her heels on the marble floor muffled her words. Assuming she would embrace her daughter first, she instead focused her attention on me. “You must be Dante. I’m Sandra Brooks.” Her slender arm stretched toward me and I accepted the formal greeting. “Welcome to our home. I’ve heard so much about you.”
My eyes cut down to Cassie. “I may have bragged a bit,” she said with a shrug… and damn if that didn’t spark a desire to throw her over my shoulder in pursuit of her secret hideout.
“Thank you, Mrs. Brooks. And congratulations on your award. That’s an amazing achievement.”
“You’re so kind. I had much help, but thank you.” She turned to her daughter, and my heart thumped against my chest bone. “You look lovely, Cassandra. I’m glad you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’m very proud of you, Mom.” Cassie’s mother beamed. My first thought was that her mother should be proud of her daughter, but something in the way she embraced Cassie told me she was.
“Come, many are eager to see you both.” We followed her mother into a great room sprawling across the back of the home. White-gloved servers milled about carrying silver trays laden with hors d’oeuvres and flutes of champagne. Cassie slipped her hand into the crook of my arm and brought me to an astute-looking man, whom she tapped on the shoulder.
A smile to rival the sun caused crinkles to form around the same cornflower-blue eyes as Cassie’s. “Sweetheart, you made it.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
“Hi, Dad.” Cassie released me and wrapped her arms around her father.
He peered over her shoulder and we locked eyes. All I could do was smile in response. Cassie let her arms drop and replaced her hand where it had been before. Rather than wait, I extended my right hand. “Hello, Dr. Brooks, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Dante, Cassandra’s boyfriend.”
Cassie’s beaming smile at my using her full name was met with her father’s shocked expression. “Please, call me Edward.”
Before Cassie could say a word, she was hoisted in the air and spun around in a circle. Her giggling made other party attendees turn to see what the commotion was. “Mark! Put me down!” She smacked his shoulder and then adjusted her dress. “Geez, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry, sis. I couldn’t resist.”
“He’s awful.” A woman said, giving Cassie a hug.
“You loved him by choice, Jenna. I didn’t have one, seeing as how we have the same parents.”
“You must be Dante,” Mark said, carefully appraising me. “Do I need to give you the big-brother lecture?”
“Not necessary, but how ’bout them Broncos?” Cassie gasped and Jenna’s eyes squeezed closed as if she were in pain. “You live in Colorado, right?”
“Yes, but I’m a Patriots fan.”
“Oh… sorry.”
With a shake of her head, Cassie patted my chest. “Good job. Way to score points with my brother.”
“Don’t sweat it, Dante. You caught me on a good day.” He tapped his ribs. “I’m not carrying today.”
Cassie chided, “Seriously, Mark?”
“So no cuffs either?” I quipped, feigning disappointment that was meant for Cassie’s ears only, but loud enough for Jenna to laugh and Mark to grimace. “Sorry, that was a joke.”
“Yeah, a bad one.” At my worried expression, Mark’s hearty chuckle negated his stern words, prompting the rest of us to laugh along with him.
Watching the family dynamic unfold in front of my eyes made me wonder what Cassie had been worried about. Aside from the language barrier, our families would probably get along well. The thought of our parents meeting one day didn’t seem far-fetched. In fact, I looked forward to it.
I snagged two glasses of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray. Handing one to her, I lifted mine in a toast. “Thank you for bringing me today.” When I brushed the crest of her ear with my lips, a flurry of goosebumps covered her neck. “I can’t wait to see your secret hideaway. Where is it?”
“At the east end of our lawn between two rows of arborvitae shrubs. I spent many afternoons lying on a blanket reading romance novels I stole out of Martha’s room.”
“How old were you when you began this covert operation?”
“Fifteen.” She blushed and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“That’s young, isn’t it?” Cassie shrugged. “When can I see this secret place of debauchery? I’d like to put those romance heroes to shame.”
“Is now too soon?”
“Lead the way.”
Cassie
After last weekend in Connecticut, although fun and much better than expected, I was happy to be back in my element. The normal Saturday crowd chatter and DJ-driven music resounded through Dispatch. I knew my feet were touching the wooden floor, but my cloud nine euphoria had me walking on air. Women appraised the man who had my hand clasped in his, but rather than let it bother me, I relished the fact that he was all mine… every delectable inch belonged to me.
Dante guided me through the room to where our friends were sitting. Brae flipped her hand in the air, waving at us.
“Hi,” I greeted everyone, smiling as if I didn’t have a care in the world, because I didn’t.
“Hey, lovebirds,” Vanessa said with a shit-eating grin. “You two are always the last to arrive. Why is that?”
All I could do was shake my head at my sex-crazed friend. It didn’t matter what I told her; she’d still conclude that we were rolling around between the sheets. In all actuality, we had been working on my Sunday chores so I wouldn’t be stressed out come tomorrow.
The fact that the three of us were all coupled off had me forgetting what it was like without the guys around. Even though Dante had been part of the group for only a couple of months, it seemed
like he had always been there.
“So,” Brae said with curiosity, “what happened at your parents’ house last weekend? Did you both have fun?”
“Yes, we did. Here I thought my parents would be giving Dante the third degree, but they didn’t. For the first time since I can remember, they actually treated me like the adult I am rather than the one they groomed me to be. And as far as this guy goes”—I nudged Dante with my shoulder—“he was a hit. Even my father liked him, which was a shock.”
“I told you they would love me… I’m irresistible, remember?”
“Well, at least you’re not dating a stripper. Although that could have livened up the party.”
My jaw dropped as I stared at Vanessa, while Luca, Jude, and Kyle started cough-laughing. Did they all know? When I glanced at Dante, he just shrugged. Maybe Luca told them, but Dante didn’t seem to care one way or another.
Conversation flowed effortlessly between all of us. When the waitress brought our cocktails, I noticed Brae was sipping a glass of water. “What’s wrong, Brae? Are you not feeling well?”
“I guess this is as good of a time as any to tell you all.” Jude exchanged a glance with his wife before wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “We just found out we’re expecting a baby.”
A chorus of congratulations erupted. Brae’s eyes welled as she continued to look at her husband adoringly. He bent and kissed her lips long and hard, not caring that we all watched. For a second, I thought his kiss would turn into a full-blown make-out session, but then Brae pushed him away with a nervous giggle.
Unfazed, he glanced around the table with a smug smirk. “And no one knows but our families, so keep it to yourselves… especially you, Cleary,” was Jude’s contribution to his wife’s announcement.
Kyle raised his hands. “What? Everyone I know is here. Don’t single me out. Luca could spill the beans at the office.”
“Don’t bring me into this,” Luca said with a glare before raising his glass. “Congratulations, and may you have a daughter to drive you insane. I’m buying your little one the biggest teddy bear I can find.” He glanced at Dante with a sinister grin, causing me to laugh. No one else knew why, and I wasn’t going to supply the information.
The Mr. Wrong Series Page 98