Between Hearts: A Romance Anthology

by Alexander, Erica

  “Cassandra Devane, woman of international mystery and intrigue. I’d say sign me up, but I’ve already offed everyone else on the list to become number one.”

  “Benedict Thorton, public enemy number one. Don’t worry I won’t tell Scotland Yard where you’re hiding.”

  Ben’s deep laugh made shivers go up her spine. I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with a couple of bases being rounded tonight, she thought.

  “Ben, could we be exclusive?”

  Ben noticed that Cassie seemed very nervous and figured that exclusivity was new to her. Cassie, are you asking if I’ll be your boyfriend?”

  Cassie nodded her head and held her breath. Ben held her a little tighter and whispered into her ear, “I’d be honoured to be your boyfriend, Cassie. You are the only woman for me.”

  “Thank God.”

  “ Is it me or is this lift taking forever?”

  “It does seem to be running slowly. I don’t mind being in your arms, though.” As Cassie finished speaking the elevator stopped. Ben let go of her just long enough for them to get off the lift then his hand was planted firmly on the small of her back.

  Cassie loved how they fit together. Ben’s height made her feel protected. When he’d tucked her under his arm earlier, she had felt cherished and sensed that they belonged to each other. Once inside her room she sat down on the bench at the end of her king bed and patted the spot beside her. When Ben sat down in the plush armchair, she pouted.

  Ben chuckled, “I can see you better from here, why talk to the room or your profile when I can talk and gaze at you in full?”

  “Point taken. Dinner was fantastic, thank you.”

  “The meal paled in comparison to your company, but you are welcome.” Ben took a large sip of his coffee. He wanted to taste the bears, but coffee and vodka did not complement each other in his opinion.

  Cassie nursed her coffee until it was getting cold. She stood up and placed the cup on her dresser and went over to the mini bar to take out the glass of bears. A few of them were so saturated with vodka they looked more like blobs than bears. She planned on eating those ones. “Are you finished with your java?” Ben nodded so she took his cup and placed it beside hers. When she had her back to him, she popped two blobs into her mouth forgetting how potent they could be. She brought the glass over to him and jiggled it a bit to get another large blob. “This is what happens when a few bears get greedy. They blow up until they don’t even resemble bears anymore. Try one.”

  “Is there any etiquette to eating them?” Ben teased.

  “I usually bite the heads off first.”

  “You just popped one in your mouth.”

  “I’m used to them.”

  Ben picked up a red one and treated it as the regular candy. “Wow, very interesting, I can taste the vodka, but then there is the slight flavour of the gelatin bear. Does each colour have its own flavour?”

  “Yes, the flavors are ever so slightly different.”

  Ben tried one of each colour before popping a yellow one in his mouth. “I like these way too much. Can you put them back in the fridge until I go home?”

  “Sure.” Cassie was thrilled that they had something else in common and went over to get her box of chocolate. She sat back down on the bench and opened the lid. Cassie started with a Sea Salted Caramel, bit into it and shared half with Ben. She didn’t share the Dark Chocolate truffle or the Raspberry one. Cassie offered the box to Ben, but he declined. “More chocolate for me!”

  Ben loved watching Cassie savour every morsel, and her tiny moans of delight made him want to be the one making her moan. He took his suit jacket off and rolled up the sleeves on his white dress shirt which caught Cassie’s attention.

  Cassie stood to put her chocolates on the dresser and glanced at herself in the mirror. Time for bold Cassie to come out and play, she thought and walked right over to the armchair. “Benedict stand please.” Ben stood eagerly and smiled as she ran her hands up his muscular chest, removed his tie and undid the first three buttons. “Much better. I’ve wanted to do that all night.” Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped right against his body. She noticed his hardness and then his body went tense. “Don’t worry Ben, I’m flattered, and quite frankly I’d be devastated if you didn’t react to me. Now, tell me how to kiss you for a very long time without putting a crick in your neck.”

  “Let me sit on the bench. You sit sideways on my lap.”

  “Works for me,” Cassie said and quickly mounted Ben. He let her control the kissing session and after twenty minutes he pulled away just enough to scatter kisses all over her exposed skin. Cassie’s skin was on fire from his touch, and she stood up to take her dress off.

  When he saw her hand go to her zipper, he couldn’t stop his reaction. He stood right up and wrapped his arms around her stomach, holding her firmly against him. “Cass, may I undress you?”

  Chapter Five

  “You’ve never called me Cass before.”

  “Sorry, lots of affection was behind it.”

  “I liked it, Ben. Feels a little more intimate to me. Standing here in your arms right now is exactly where I want to be.”

  “How about we move over to that mirror so I can watch and you can see my reaction.”

  “I’d like you to undress me.” Cassie walked over to the mirror and stood sideways.

  Ben left a few soft kisses on her back and slid his hand up to the start of the zipper. He curved his index finger and traced the line down her skin as the zipper revealed it. “Blimey your skin is soft.”

  “Let me help you with the sleeves.” Cassie held her left arm up and inhaled when Ben kissed his way from her inner elbow to the spot where the short capped sleeve ended.”My heart is racing, you are giving me goosebumps Ben.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “God no!”

  Cassie felt her dress slip from her shoulder and then Ben treated her right arm in the same fashion. Moving her hair, he showered her shoulder with kisses before fingering the thin strap of the bra. “Such delicate fabric.”

  Ben tugged the dress down, let the fabric go so it pooled at her feet and muttered something unintelligible as he gazed at her in the sexiest bra and brief set he had ever seen. The combination of the nude silk and black lace robbed him of his senses. Looking down her body, he discovered a sliver of skin from the peekaboo black lace flap. He traced the skin beneath it still looking for words.

  Cassie leaned back into his touch and smiled, mission accomplished. “Cat got your tongue?”

  Ben nodded and stepped back to turn her to face him. He fingered the crepe bow between the cups and the one on the center of the brief. “I like these little bows, very playful.”

  Cassie loved how his clear blue eyes looked gray. The way he was looking at her said it all. “Would you like me to give you a mini fashion show?”

  “No need, the vision in front of me has been seared into my memory forever. I need a drink to steady my nerves. Can I have a vodka with drunk bears?”

  “Sure, I’ll join you.”

  Ben took a long sip of vodka, letting two of the four bears fall into his mouth. Cassie was the ultimate buffet in his mind, and he didn’t know where to begin. The fact that Cassie was looking at him with a sexy grin wasn’t helping matters very much. He watched her make short work of her drink and pluck the last red gummy bear out of her glass. She put it between her lips and moved over to Ben, offering it to him. Her lips tasted like vodka and candy.

  She took his glass away from him and finished his drink, putting the third bear between her lips and encouraged him to come and get it. Ben kissed her with intensity, and she engaged him in a long French kiss that left them both gasping for air. Cassie sucked on the last bear and placed it just above the bow on her skin. She watched Ben’s jaw drop and his eyes cloud even more before he scooped it off her and started leaving small kisses along the lace of the bra. Cassie reached behind her back, unhooked the bra and tossed it on the armch
air.

  “Oh, my.”

  Cassie got up and laid down in the middle of the bed, “Come and taste me, Benedict.”

  Ben toed off his shoes, slowly crawling onto the bed and slid next to her body. “Your breasts are gorgeous Cass. Do they like attention?”

  “They are very sensitive.”

  “How about this?” Ben asked as he pinched her left nipple and sucked on her right.

  “Oh yes, that will have me calling your name.”

  “I need to do a better job if you can speak to me rationally.”

  When Ben’s lips were not on hers or blazing a trail down the valley of her breasts, they were attached to her nipples bringing intense pleasure. He licked, bit then blew on the pebbled peaks. Cassie arched her back off the bed while chanting his name. He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m regretting my no sex declaration right about now.”

  That was all Cassie needed to hear. “I passed regret. Ben, I want sex right now. I only agreed in the first place because I didn’t want to risk losing someone I truly started to care for; dumping me because I was horny.”

  “Sorry Cassie but you are going to have to wait a tiny bit. I can make you euphoric if you are willing to get naked.”

  Cassie lifted her hips immediately, “Get these briefs off me!”

  Ben chuckled then pulled them down her legs and tossed them on top of her bra. He was climbing back on the bed when she stopped him. “I’m naked, and you are dressed. The shirt and pants have to go now, and the socks ‘cause that would just look ridiculous.”

  Ben smiled and quickly followed her orders. Cassie could get bossy, but he liked how she went about it so it didn’t bother him. He admired her body as she kneeled up on the bed and he quickly joined her.

  Cassie rubbed her hands up and down his chest, over his arms and traced the V that disappeared under his boxers. There was no doubt Ben was in shape, but he wasn’t rocking a six pack. She could clearly see definition, but he was a tad soft which made her feel better about her own curves. Cassie planted a kiss over his heart before going for his lips.

  As they kissed, Ben swept up her legs so he could put her back on the bed.”Cass, your body, is so beautiful. I love your breasts and the fact that you have curves. I want to cover your body with kisses, you need to be worshiped. I promise you I’ll take care of you. Let’s slow down a bit to really enjoy tonight. Tell me which sounds better: manic sex or a night we’ll both always remember?”

  “I assume I’ll get more orgasm out of slow sex, so I’ll let you control the fun.”

  “Thank you, Cass.” Ben went slowly as humanly possible given his state and showered her with every type of kiss in his arsenal and a few made up on the spot. Cassie’s little responses guided him on until he knew she was ready for more. He kissed her as his index finger found its target and he began circling her clit applying a bit more pressure with each pass. Cassie was moaning and thrust herself against his palm to get more friction. Ben kissed her shoulder and slid in two fingers and began to work them grazing her sweet spot after a few tries.

  “More!” Cassie demanded.

  Ben worked in a third digit and began thrusting while he sucked on a nipple. Cassie could feel a tight coil in her stomach, and five minutes later she was so caught up in his ministrations that she didn’t hear him tell her to let go. Ben pinched and twirled her other nipple with intensity, and that sent Cassie over the edge. Ben kept working her until he felt her body go slack, and he smiled against her breast.

  “Ben that was just…I mean…Holy shit that was such an awesome orgasm or two. I noticed how large your hands were, and those long fingers on the plane and figured you’d be talented. Talented doesn’t aptly describe your finger prowess. Your hands should be insured and not just for drawing.”

  Ben chuckled, proud of himself for giving her such pleasure. “Glad to be of some service My Lady.”

  “Ben, I need you inside me now.” Cassie sat up in bed and ran her hand over the bulge in his underwear. “Spend the night with me? I’d love nothing better than to have amazing sex, take a quick shower and then curl up in your arms to drift off.”

  “How about I join you in that shower? I promise I’ll just wash you and maybe…OK, who am I kidding,? I will be licking beads of water off you.”

  “Down Tiger, you have to give me the sex first,” Cassie teased.

  Before Cassie could do it herself, Ben was out of bed shimmying off his underwear. She flicked on the bedside lamp and asked him to let her appreciate his body. Cassie sensed that even though he was a man, Ben wouldn’t want her to zero in on his package which she really wanted to do. Have some restraint woman, she told herself as she started at his messy locks courtesy of her fingers before looking deep into his eyes. She licked her lips and gave him her sweetest smile before she let her eyes slowly roam down his body. When she landed at her target, she couldn’t help a little gasp escaping. Ben was perfect, a good length and girth. She let her gaze finish, and a small snicker escaped. “Benedict, is that Ben’s Eyes, on your right big toe?”

  “Fuck, I forgot about that. I was looking at the bottle last night and figured it would be a very covert way of having you on me until we were reunited.”

  “Ben, that is the sweetest, dorkiest thing a man has ever done for me. Well, actually it was for yourself but still. Our polishes are legendary for being long-lasting. It will still be on your toe when I see you in New York. Now get in this bed so I can be on and in you.”

  Ben jokingly got on the bed and extended his arms as if to say you do all the work. He wasn’t counting on Cassie flipping so quickly and sheathing him with a condom before lowering herself on to him. “You are the perfect fit too Ben,” Cassie stated before she began riding him and moving her hips to also rotate. Ben used his arms to press himself upward so he could kiss her and play with her boobs. Cassie could feel him getting close, but she needed a slight adjustment. After she made him lie back, she planted her hands on his biceps tilted her body up a bit and bang she was hitting her own sweet spot. Ben tried but couldn’t outlast her and came very hard. Cassie kept riding him for a few minutes and got her own powerful orgasm. She collapsed against his body, while still in him. Ben ran his hands down her spine while he worked to catch his breath while Cassie licked his right nipple as she waited for her heartbeat to slow down. Ben wrapped his arms around her, and they stayed still for half an hour.

  “Are you ready to move yet, Cass?”

  “I guess a nice warm shower would be soothing before my muscles start to seize.”

  “Go set the water to the temperature you like and I’ll be there in a jiffy.”

  Ben gently used a soapy washcloth to indulge Cassie rather than trying to turn her on again. When he washed her hair, he massaged in the shampoo for a good ten minutes, smiling when she expressed her delight. As the conditioner sat in her hair, Ben rubbed her shoulders before rinsing the conditioner out.

  Cassie felt like she was at the world's most luxurious spa. The level of care Ben took with her made her feel cherished for the first time in her life. When he started to massage her head she could have sworn she was in heaven. Even her hairdresser back in New York didn’t give such satisfying and relaxing treatments. Cassie even forgot about her libido realizing that Ben was showing her true intimacy which she had also never experienced before. As he started to softly kiss and suck the water off her shoulders, collarbone and neck Cassie wished she could start the shower process all over.

  “All finished my beautiful lady. Let me wrap you in a towel and give me five minutes to take a shower and I’ll dry you off. If you will permit me, I’d like to put that lotion on you too.”

  “I’ll wash you, Ben.”

  “Thank you for the offer, but the shower was all about you.”

  “Then I’d love you to put the lotion on me. Ben, I’ve honestly never been treated so lovingly in my life. I can see and feel how much you care about me, and the feeling is mutual.”

  “I’m glad Cass and
I love treating you like a princess sometimes,” Ben replied and was grateful that Cassie couldn’t see the enormous goofy grin on his face.

  Cassie dried herself off put a comb through her hair and started drying it while she waited for him. Ben came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist, causing Cassie to growl in approval which made him laugh. “Thank you for the compliment. I’m going to get ready for bed. Come out when you are ready for your lotion.”

  “I think it’s a good thing you are leaving me alone in here because I want to jump you and never let go. I bet my short legs are just long enough to wrap around your waist.”

  “We will check out your theory, Cass.”

  “Oh, you better believe we will be testing my theory.”

  Cassie dried her hair and wrapped herself in the plush hotel robe. She went out to the room and took out a cute pair of deep purple briefs with criss-cross ribbons on the sides. She put them on under her robe and walked over to give Ben the container of Cerise Pink Grapefruit lotion.

  “Damn this stuff smells good. Where do you want it applied?”

  “Everywhere except my breasts, it leaves a build-up on my bras.”

  “Damn!”

  Cassie chuckled. “Let me lie down, I may fall asleep on you.”

  Forty-five minutes later, Ben had worked the lotion into her taking his time to kiss neglected areas like her shin, the back of her knee and the small of her back before covering them. Cassie finally changed into her flannel sleep shorts and a T-shirt while Ben had his boxer briefs back on. Cassie called for a wake-up call and then made herself comfortable in Ben’s arms. She felt safe and protected and knew she would miss the feeling when she went back home. Cassie wanted to know what to show Ben when he visited her in New York, and their quiet chatter topped off by Ben rubbing her spine, put her to sleep within half an hour.

  Ben watched the slow rise of her chest as she slept and the fluttering of her eyelashes every so often. He was sure she was dreaming and hoped he featured prominently in her dream. Falling asleep with Cassie in his arms was something he already knew he wanted to do as often as possible. He finally felt tired, kissed Cassie on the top of the head and dozed off.