by Erika Rose
She didn’t think of herself as the princess in the Ivory tower, but isn’t that exactly where her father had put her? Anyone she dated had to pass her father’s high standards and although it had never been said in as many words, Sasha knew that no one with a background or a slightly tinged reputation would do. Not only for the senator’s daughter but for her father’s baby girl.
Her shoulders racked as she sobbed. Did this mean her father would be determining her relationships for the rest of her life? Sasha shook her head furiously; she couldn’t let her father hold that power over her for the rest of her life. She needed to make her own choices, her own mistakes. And at this point the only thing in her life that felt like a mistake was avoiding Stefan.
She missed him; she had been so excited to see him today and yet she had gone and made him feel worthless. Sasha grabbed her phone and remembered she had deleted his number. Scrolling through her past messages she found his number and hit the dial button before she could change her mind.
Sasha Morris was done worrying about her father’s approval or what the world would think, for once she was doing exactly what she wanted.
After a few rings Stefan’s voice answered briskly. “This is Stefan, you know what to do. Beep.”
Sasha sighed, she couldn’t blame him. She wouldn’t want to speak to her either after what she had said to him. Taking a deep breath, she left him a message.
“Stefan… You’re right, although it’s hard to admit. You’re right. I am that princess in the ivory tower, but not by choice. And I’m changing that right now by making a different one. I want you in my life… I can’t blame you for being mad after today, but I’d really like to talk to you.”
As Sasha set down the phone it felt like she was balancing on a tightrope. On the one end were her parents and her father’s position and on the other end Stefan and her own future. It was a balancing act, but Sasha inched closer to Stefan. Now she could only wish he would be there when she missed a step.
The kettle whistled on the stove a few minutes later, Sasha blew her nose and headed to the kitchen, hoping the tears would stop. Just as she set a cup down to make herself some tea something hit her window. With puffy eyes Sasha walked towards the window when another nut slammed against it and bounced back towards the street.
Sasha opened the window and leaned outside, Stefan was standing on the sidewalk already aiming with the next nut when he spotted her.
“Stefan?” Sasha called through the fresh set of tears.
“You mean what you said?” Stefan called back.
Sasha bobbed her head up and down.
“If you open that door now Sasha, I’m not stepping out again.”
In the few seconds it took Stefan to reach her door, Sasha tried to make herself presentable; a futile task considering her eyes were swollen and red, her lips puffy and her whole face was covered with red patches.
She took a deep breath and opened the door where Stefan was already waiting. He stepped into her apartment, slamming the door shut behind him. He framed Sasha’s face with his hands, his pale green eyes locked on hers. “Are you sure about this?”
Sasha sniffed and nodded, loving the feel of his strong hands on her face. “I’m done dancing to other people’s music Stefan, I’m done. I want you…”
A charming smile split his face in two. “I’ll help you shovel the shit that will be coming your way for it.”
Sasha laughed at his careless words as she threaded her fingers into his hair. Her tummy tied into knots of anticipation as Stefan’s eyes darkened, focused on her. His one hand slid around her back pulling her flesh against him before his mouth ruthlessly feasted on hers.
Sasha had never known that you could crave for someone, but as Stefan’s tongue danced with hers, his hand kneading her back, the craving she had had for weeks quieted. She needed him and tonight she was going to show him just how much.
Her hands tugged at his shirt; Stefan broke their kiss for a fraction of a second to pull it over his head. Her hands slid over his muscled back, his skin warm and smooth.
The air between them was laden with desire, unspoken soft words and raw hunger. As their tongues dueled and their hands caressed, something snapped.
Soft caresses turned hard, slow kisses turned hasty; tonight would be more than just making love. It would be an acknowledgement of their feelings for each other. As if on cue the next song started and I put a spell on you made the moment perfect as Sasha felt her heart explode with love.
“I’ve never felt this way before.” She whispered against Stefan’s mouth.
“Never.” Stefan confirmed. “Because we were waiting for each other.”
Their kisses turned hungry as Stefan started backing her towards her bedroom. Within seconds their clothes were a disheveled heap on the floor. Stefan pulled Sasha towards the bed; instead she took control and shoved him onto it. She slowly slid her hands up his legs, as her mouth followed in a blazing trail of hot wet kisses. As her hands reached for his cock Stefan gasped. Sasha smiled as she closed her hand around him before taking him into her mouth.
“Sasha, you don’t have to…” Stefan gasped.
She twirled her tongue around his tip smiling up at him looking sexy as hell. “I want to.”
Sasha watched his head fall back as she sucked and swirled her tongue around his cock. He grew harder in her mouth, his muscles tensing. Just as Sasha wanted to take him over the peak, Stefan flipped her on her back nudging her legs apart with his knees. He slipped on protection, his gaze traveling over her naked body before he plunged.
Sasha gasped at the overwhelming sensation of him filling her. Within seconds she felt herself climbing the wave towards the crescent. His hands drove her higher, his kisses making her crazy as his hips bucked towards her again and again.
She felt herself slip over the crescent at the same time that Stefan grabbed her hips and plunged a final time.
Afterwards, spent, they lay in each other’s arms, both quiet and overwhelmed. Stefan was the first to speak.
“Are you going to tell your dad?”
“I don’t think he has to know you just gave me multiple orgasms and I sucked your…”
“Whoa! No, please don’t tell him that. I’d like to live another day. You know what I meant.” Stefan said pushing up on one arm to look into her eyes.
“I will, just not right this minute.” Sasha said as she started scraping her nails up and down his arm. Stefan didn’t have to know she didn’t plan on telling her father at all.
CHAPTER 20
Stefan woke up feeling the small body warm against his and a smooth leg lying over his abdomen. Waiting for the haze of sleep to clear he stroked the smooth skin of Sasha’s lower leg struggling to believe he was in her bed on a Thursday morning. Realizing it was Thursday he softly pressed a kiss against her temple and whispered, “Sasha you’ve got to get up baby, you’ve got classes.”
She snuggled closer to him. “I haven’t got classes today, I’m all yours.”
Stefan laughed and pressed a kiss against her fragrant silky hair. “I’d like nothing more than to make you mine right now, but I’m ravenous.”
Sleepily Sasha opened her eyes and looked at him. “We missed dinner.”
“How about I go see if I can make us something.”
“You do that.” Sasha said before turning around, slumbering.
Stefan got up and pulled on his jeans and headed for the kitchen. He searched for a coffee machine but only saw the kettle on the stove. He picked it up and accidentally slammed the cup off the counter.
He cursed and hastily picked up the pieces of the broken cup.
“Well now, here I was thinking we were being burgled.”
Stefan snapped up straight at the husky voice and found Kris leaning against the counter.
“Hey Kris. You got coffee?”
Kris laughed. “Pretty boy we drink tea, different varieties, but only tea.”
>
Stefan nodded and filled the kettle before putting it back on the stove and turning on the burner.
“I take it you spent the night with Sasha?” Kris asked biting into an apple.
Stefan nodded confirming the obvious.
“Well I’m not going to play Senator Morris and burn you with twenty questions, but I do have one.”
Stefan met her gaze and nodded for her to ask her question.
“Do you care for her?” Kris asked seriously.
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” Stefan answered soberly.
“Good.” Kris smiled. “Because if you didn’t I’d have to kick your butt. And I could since I’ve got quite a few martial arts belts but I’m not really in the mood this morning.”
Stefan smiled. “Good, cause I’m not in the mood either.”
Happy with his answer Kris grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to her room.
Stefan, alone with his thoughts, realized he had spoken the truth. He had never felt this way about any girl.
His phone buzzed on the counter we he had placed it the night before; he saw Cole’s caller identity and answered the phone heading outside.
“Cole, what’s up?” He said as he closed the apartment door behind him.
“Not much, haven’t heard from you in a while so I thought I’d make sure you’re still amongst the living.”
“Alive and well thank you.” Stefan grinned as he strolled up and down the hallway.
“Great, after your stunt with the senator’s daughter I was wondering if you were taken out.”
Stefan laughed. “Nope, I didn’t take any hits.”
“Good. I take it you’ve moved on then?”
“No, don’t think I’ll be moving on for a while.” Stefan said glancing at Sasha’s apartment door fondly.
“What? You’re still seeing her?” Cole asked surprised.
“Let’s just say it’s been complicated but as of last night we’re going to face the complications together.”
“Stefan, you’re playing with fire.” Cole warned.
“I know, but I like her heat Cole. I don’t know how to explain it, but I really like her.”
“Shit Stefan, if this blows up she’s going to hate you and her father’s going to make your life a living hell.”
Stefan smiled. “Like I said, I like the heat.”
“Shit! You’re falling for her? Stefan, this is a really bad idea.”
“Cole, actually this is the first good idea I’ve had in a long while. Leaving the magazine was another. I know this won’t make sense to you, but she makes me make sense of my life. I’ve decided to go into photography and start making my own way.”
“What? You left the magazine? Stefan what did your father say?”
“He’s supportive of me following my own dream.”
“You really have to get out here man; we really need a proper catch up.”
“I know and when I do I’m bringing Sasha with. I think you’d like her.”
“No, you won’t. I don’t want her father blaming me.”
“Cole stop being such a wuss and go kiss your girl, because I’m going to do just that myself.”
Stefan ended the call and stepped back into the apartment where Sasha was sitting at the kitchen island with her head in her hands. She looked up as he closed the door.
“I thought you’d left?” She asked surprised as he walked towards her. She was wearing his shirt, her beautiful legs bare and her long hair caressing the collar. How he wanted to be that shirt right now.
“Leave? I told you, I’m not leaving again. I just had a call and didn’t want to wake you.”
“Oh.”
Stefan moved towards her and planted a firm kiss against the ‘o’ her lips had formed. “How about we go out for breakfast instead?”
Sasha giggled. “Are you asking me to breakfast, Stefan Kelson?”
“I am, Sasha Morris, so what’s it going to be?”
Sasha’s eyes traveled over him and met his gaze again. “When a man still hot from my bed asks me to breakfast wearing only his jeans, half buttoned at that, it’s a touch choice between breakfast and dragging him back to bed.”
Stefan loved it when she playful and witty, so he scooped her up and carried her to bedroom. “How about we do both, first bed then breakfast.”
“I always thought that phrase meant more than sleeping.” Sasha giggled as she started undoing the buttons on his jean.
After bed and a long shower Stefan felt thoroughly loved. He had never had a steady girlfriend, but there was something about learning more about one person. Knowing what shampoo their hair smelled of, knowing their morning routine and knowing when their eyes asked to be loved and when their touch was playful.
As he and Sasha walked through the streets of Manhattan hand in hand, Stefan squeezed her hand knowing he had spoken the truth last night. He wasn’t going anywhere.
CHAPTER 21
“Stefan, I really have to go,” Sasha giggled as Stefan’s hands sneaked up her skirt.
“Not before I give you a goodbye present.” Stefan whispered against her ear as his fingers tugged her panty aside and slipped his fingers inside her.
“Stefan!” Sasha said on a gasp. When was he ever not going to have this effect on her? For close to three weeks they had spent almost every free minute together, ravishing each other before going to sleep at night, making sleepy love in the mornings. And every time he touched her, her whole body fizzled with sensations. Knees weakened, breath quickened and her hands groping for him even as he made her fall apart.
“Your dad can wait, Sasha.” Stefan said with a rough voice as Sasha felt the world cloud with passion.
“Oh God,” Sasha gasped as the world tilted off its axis before straightening again.
Stefan laughed in her ear. “Now you can go.”
“Shit! I’m going to be late.” Sasha complained straightening her clothes and giving herself a final glance in the mirror. She touched up her lipstick and added another layer of mascara noticing the twinkle in her eye. She knew why it was there but hadn’t yet had the nerve admit it out loud.
She grabbed her bag and rushed downstairs to where her father’s driver was waiting for her. Sasha hadn’t spoken to her father in three weeks; she knew she was avoiding him but she couldn’t avoid him today. It was the Manhattan fundraiser for his campaign and even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t let her father down by not showing up.
Climbing into the limo, she dug in her bag for her phone wanting to text Stefan and realized she had left it behind. Too bad, she thought she was already late; she couldn’t go back for it now.
The driver zigzagged through the busy streets of Manhattan towards the upscale hotel. The sidewalk was crowded with supporters and press, Sasha took a deep breath and got out of the car. Within seconds one of her father’s security guards was at her side, guiding her into the hotel straight to where the fundraiser was being held.
The room was crowded with supporters and Sasha couldn’t help but smile at the banners hanging from the walls with her father’s handsome face and campaign slogan. She spotted her mother on the other side of the room and made her way towards her mom.
“Hi mom.” Sasha said touching her mother’s arm. “Sorry I’m late.”
Tisha Morris turned around, an example of elegance. She wore a lilac suit with a white chiffon blouse and pearls. Smiling she pulled Sasha into a hug before holding her at arm’s length.
“Let me look at you, you’ve been so scarce. We’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too mom, I’ve just been busy.”
“Well whatever you’ve been doing, you look absolutely radiant. Studying definitely agrees with you Sasha.”
Sasha blushed and smile. If only her mother knew it was Stefan Kelson that agreed with her. “Thanks mom. You look beautiful.”
“Oh please, this old weathered face is boasting a new vau
lt line each morning.” Tisha said shaking her head.
Sasha narrowed her eyes searching for the imaginary lines. “Mom, you’re imagining it. I could only hope to be as beautiful at your age.”
“Here she is!” JB Morris said pulling Sasha into a hug.
Sasha hugged her father back, wondering if he was still mad at her. Ever since their lunch she hadn’t spoken to her father at all. She thought of Stefan asking her last night when she was going to tell her father and decided today was not that day.
“Sorry I was late, dad.” Sasha apologized as her father smiled down at her.
“It’s alright baby, I’m just glad you came. Today is a big one.”
“You’ll do great!” Sasha said encouragingly just as she spotted Stefan walking into the fundraiser on the other end of the room.
Her father turned and followed her gaze just as Stefan held up her phone in his hand smiling broadly at her
Sasha wished for the ground to swallow her, this was not good.
JB Morris turned to Sasha with a cold glare, “I thought you’d taken care of this.” His voice was soft, smile in place.
“JB? Taken care of what?” Tisha asked confused.
“Nothing Tisha, could you hold the fort for a few minutes? I need Sasha’s help with something.”
Tisha nodded but glanced confusedly at Sasha. Sasha shook her head and felt her father’s hand firmly on her elbow. “Come.”
Sasha knew all hell was about to break loose and for once in her life was grateful for the press which meant her father couldn’t make a scene.
Sasha followed her father towards Stefan where her father curtly said. “Follow me right now.”
Sasha shrugged at Stefan who frowned at her.
JB led them into office at the end of the hallway. He opened the door and led Sasha inside by her elbow; after Stefan had joined them JB slammed the door shut and glared at them both.
Sasha swallowed, her father had never directed that icy stare in her direction, she suddenly felt empathy for his opponents.
“Dad, I can explain.” Sasha pleaded, knowing nothing she said would make a difference.