Reaching His Heart: The Sartoris Book Three

by Tressie Lockwood

  He moved across the room as far as the small space allowed him. Solette was shocked to see the raw expression on his face. She tried to figure out what it meant but couldn’t.

  “Neil, wait outside,” he ordered.

  Her throat dried.

  “A once through of the house, sir?” the bodyguard asked, and Cason gave him permission. Neither of them asked Solette, but she didn’t have the presence of mind to complain right then. Getting her heart to stop pounding while scrubbing away embarrassing tears was bad enough.

  Neil checked her entire place, including her bedroom, nodded to Cason, and then left. Solette prepared to tell him what she thought of him, but he cut her off before she could get a word out.

  “I never want to make you afraid of me,” he said.

  She stilled. A lot of possibilities of what he intended to say had popped into her head but not that. “I’m not.”

  He stared at her from across the room but made no move toward her. “You cried.”

  “I was frustrated not afraid.” Why was she defending his overbearing attitude? She should let him think he’d scared her and let him go back home and stop tempting her. “From the first time I met you, I could tell you’re the kind of man who would never raise your hand against a woman. I was never afraid you would hurt me, not really.”

  “Then why are you denying me?”

  She blinked at him. “One has nothing to do with the other.”

  “Explain how it doesn’t. You want me. I know you do.”

  “Does arrogance run in your family, or is it something you buy with enough money?”

  He grinned. “I like how you’re more apt to speak your mind now that you’re not working for me.”

  “So you want a woman to tell you off?”

  “If the mood strikes her. What I like most are people who aren’t afraid to be themselves.”

  “Anyway, what you like is no concern of mine. If you’ll please leave and take your men with you, I’ll get on with my life.”

  “No.”

  “What?” Her mouth fell open.

  He moved toward her, and she stumbled backward. Cason didn’t hesitate for a second, making her regret telling him she wasn’t afraid of him. At least if he thought she felt threatened, he would have kept his hands to himself. He seemed bent on proving how she felt about him.

  His blue gaze swept her from head to foot and settled on her heaving chest. Why in the world did he have to make her lose her common sense?

  “I’m not giving you up because I know once you move past your fear, you’ll enjoy yourself. As we both will.”

  “I told you I’m not afraid. You don’t understand.”

  “Explain it to me.”

  “I can’t.” She looked away. How could she admit all bold and out loud that she wanted him to love her. The thought alone struck her between the eyes and made her feel faint. Love. Somewhere along the way of taking care of him, she had fallen in love with Cason. How could she let that happen? It had never happened before. Sure, she had come to care for her patients in the past but never outright love.

  After she left his employ, she had begun to think everything over. She came to the conclusion that Cason sealed the deal when he defended her against Joe Sr. using his cane. She’d never seen a man so weak and so strong at the same time. He was unbelievable, and she hadn’t been able to get him out of her head. Yet, none of that mattered when all he wanted was to sleep with her. Once it was done, he would move on, and her heart would be shattered.

  “I just want to get back to my normal life, Cason. Can’t you understand that?”

  He moved to stand directly in front of her. Mere inches separated them, and Solette struggled to even out her breathing so she wouldn’t give her state of mind away.

  His hand came up, and he caressed her arm. Goose bumps popped out on her skin. His fingers stilled for a second and then moved to her cheek. A thumb tipped her chin higher. She couldn’t feel more vulnerable as he stared into her eyes. He moved closer so that his body brushed hers. She shut her eyes and then forced them open.

  “That,” he said.

  “W-what?”

  He did it again, and she shook.

  “When I touch you, I can feel your desire. Give in to me, Solette.” His lips brushed her cheek and moved to her throat. That’s when she realized she had shut her eyes again. “Give in to us.”

  Chapter 14

  Solette pulled the sheets up over her eyes to block out the sight of Cason, but then she couldn’t take it anymore. Just a few more minutes of feasting her eyes on him, then she would get up. She let her gaze slide over his bare chest on down to his belly.

  Hard muscle as if it had been carved from steel, ripped abs, he’d worked into submission, his body looked so amazing. She had explored every inch over the last few months and knew him well. In fact, she knew that there was a small spot on the side of his face, just in front of his ear that hadn’t healed as well as the other spots. There was a tiny scar there that left his otherwise flawless face less than perfect. She loved that spot for some reason and had traced it many times with her fingers.

  Sighing and rising before she started touching him again, she climbed out of bed and walked into the bathroom. A quick shower and she would get out of the house before he woke up. She had already gone with Joseph to see him to school, and when she came back, Cason had lured her back to bed. She couldn’t afford to give in again. It was a good thing that she didn’t need to be into her job until eleven.

  Once she was dressed and had grabbed one of the croissants Cason bought the day before, she headed out of the house. Neil leaned against the BMW and nodded to her.

  “Good morning, Neil,” she said. “He’s not up yet, but I left the door unlocked.”

  “Thanks, Ms. Solette. Have a good day.”

  She continued to her own car, but of course she didn’t have the keys. Her personal bodyguard, which Cason had insisted she keep, had taken them and readied the car. He held the door open for her, and she climbed inside. The argument that she could drive herself had been lost months before when she decided to give in to Cason and become his lover.

  Cason spent more time at her duplex than at the mansion because that was the one thing she put her foot down about. She refused to move into the mansion, and she refused to let him pay for any of her bills. She supported herself, and he could like it or lump it. To her surprise, he hadn’t fought over her decision. No, he picked his battles, and he won most of the others, which included her and Joseph having a bodyguard. Period.

  “Solette, I didn’t think you would be in today.” This was from her friend Qui Qui. Up until recently, Solette had avoided working at the same place as her friend because Qui Qui’s work ethic left a lot to be desired.

  I’m one to talk.

  Solette called Qui Qui friend, and she liked to get her advice sometimes, but she took it with a grain of salt. Qui Qui could be pretty selfish a lot of the time, and her interest in Solette seemed to come too often as a means of entertainment more than real affection. Solette would have preferred no one at work, including Qui Qui, know about Cason, but that wasn’t Cason’s style. Whenever the mood struck him, he arrived at her job with flash and presence to take her to lunch. The first time it happened, the news was all over the center in seconds, and Qui Qui actually behaved as if Solette had betrayed her in not telling her about him. Solette had to spill everything, especially with a bodyguard following her around. One could then cut the jealousy in the air with a knife. None of the other ladies she worked with knew how Solette would give anything to have Cason love her, even if he was dirt poor.

  “Don’t start, Qui Qui. I’m always here and on time. My personal life has never gotten in the way of my job.”

  “Girl, you know I’m only kidding. Besides, wasn’t it your personal life mixing with your job that got you with him in the first place?”

  Solette glared at her, and Qui Qui laughed as if it was another joke.

  “
I thought you were thinking about marrying Joe Sr.”

  “We’ve had this conversation—months ago.”

  Qui Qui popped a stick of gum into her mouth and began popping it. “All I know is, Cason is all for getting you into bed, but has he ever asked you to marry him? Did he ever tell you he loves you? I heard Joe Sr. tell you he loves you so many times. He even went to counseling for you to try to be a better man. Plus, he might not have millions, but he has always taken care of his son, and that’s a fact.”

  “Then maybe you should marry him!” Solette snatched a folder off the counter where she laid it and stomped down the hall to make her rounds. She’d had enough of Qui Qui’s digs at her. Right from the first, Qui Qui never let her forget she was just a body to Cason. Well, she was sick of hearing it. The question was, how long was she going to stay the way she was now?

  She got to the end of the hall and ducked around the corner. Instead of entering her patient’s room, she leaned against the wall and shut her eyes. Was Cason using her, or were they using each other? Yes, she loved him, and she enjoyed every second in his presence, both making love and going out with him. Although Solette hadn’t admitted it to Qui Qui, Cason never once told Solette he loved her. That hurt most of all. He didn’t try to convince that he would never love her and would never ask her to marry him. He just never approached the subject at all. As far as Cason was concerned, she was his—no definition, no length of time, just his.

  “I have a feeling he likes keeping people guessing all the time,” she muttered, annoyed. “Let them wonder while he enjoys himself!”

  Her cell phone buzzed, and she looked down at it. A text message from Cason.

  Little Mouse, you left without waking me again. Very naughty of you. Send me a selfie to make up for it.

  Her heart ached. It seemed like Cason couldn’t get enough of looking at her. She wondered when it would change. Sighing, she took a picture of herself and sent it to him.

  Now shirtless.

  She rolled her eyes.

  Don’t hold your breath. I have work to do. Talk to you later.

  He didn’t respond, but she knew he would get her when she saw him again. This was their game. Cason made a demand. She gave him what he wanted. He had offered to reward her in gifts and money. She refused, but it didn’t stop him from making demands. Her love for him made her give him exactly what he wanted.

  * * *

  Later, Solette left work to find instead of her bodyguard Cason and Neil waited for her. Neil’s posture showed his alertness to their surroundings, and Cason stood with both hands in his pockets as he chatted with two young women. The ladies giggled and flipped their heads like horses every few seconds. Solette was used to this as well.

  Cason seemed to sense her approach. He looked up, and those beautiful blue eyes locked onto her. He muttered something to the ladies and scooted them aside to meet Solette. She started to speak, but his big hands grasped her at the waist and dragged her to his chest.

  “You made me wait all day,” he growled and slanted his mouth over hers. His tongue invaded her mouth, and she was lost. He took her with such aggression and enjoyment, all she could ever do was hang on for the ride, overwhelmed at how much he made her feel with the simplest of touches. When her lips were good and numb, he raised his head just enough to move to her neck and breathe deeply. “Why do you make me wait, Solette?”

  Her heart slammed against her ribs. “I h-have to work.”

  “I could take care of your every need, and you could be waiting for me at the mansion.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  Something glittered in his eyes as he released her, but he didn’t say anything. Sometimes she felt she could read his mind and know his moods. Then there were times like now when she didn’t fully get him. Solette greeted Neil, and they were off.

  Cason still loved to drive, and even after his accident, he enjoyed speed. However, there were times when he just wanted to ride in the back of the car and let Neil take over. At those times, she was required to sit as close to him as possible without being on his lap. He would hold her hand, his fingers intertwined with hers and resting on his thigh.

  “How are you doing, Cason?” she asked, even though they spent every night in bed together. “Any pain?”

  He had dipped his head back and shut his eyes. At her question, he slitted his eyes in her direction. “I’m thinking about taking you shopping.

  “Cason.”

  “I like seeing your legs. Maybe shorter dresses. Those work clothes aren’t sexy at all.”

  She grumbled. “Are you going to answer my question?”

  “Do I ever?”

  No, he didn’t. Not since he had let go of the canes and released her from being his nurse did he ever complain about pain. She had seen his meds in the overnight bag he brought to her place, and she had counted the pills. All of them were there, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have pain. Cason was so stubborn. She had the feeling he would never show weakness in front of her again now that he was fully recovered.

  “I’m only asking because I’m concerned. We’re seeing each other, and it’s only natural that—”

  He raised his head and opened his eyes fully. “You’re trying to be my nurse. I’m well, Solette. That’s enough.”

  “Sometimes you’re so cold to me! It hurts!” She turned her head to look out the window as she blinked away tears.

  Right away, Cason wrapped his arms around her from behind and drug her backward to his chest. His cheek aligned with hers, and she felt the warmth of his breath. Struggling to get out of his hold would do nothing, so she didn’t try. Yet, her anger didn’t cool.

  “I’m not going to be weak in front you again,” he said, echoing her thoughts. “You need me to be strong, and that’s what I am.”

  She frowned. “I need you to be real with me, and I don’t want you to shut me down every time I’m concerned. If I broke my arm, wouldn’t you care?”

  “That’s different.”

  She pulled out of his hold to face him, and he let her go. “How so?”

  His expression looked so matter-of-fact. “I would make sure you had the best doctor, even for a broken arm. As I said, you need my strength, not me to be whining over every ache and pain of my own.”

  “Sometimes I don’t get you.”

  He kissed her and wiggled his eyebrows. “You’d get me more if you moved into the mansion.”

  There was no arguing with him, so she let the matter drop. When they arrived at the mansion, Solette found her son already sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework and eating a snack Clara prepared for him.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey.” She hugged him and kissed the top of his head. “You had a good day today?”

  “Yup. So, Mom, when can we live here since I’m always over here?”

  “Not you too.” Solette stomped out of the kitchen. She had left Cason chatting with Romy, so she took the opportunity to go find Shakarri to talk to her. She found her in the theatre room with her feet propped up on a footstool. Her son played on the carpet with a few toys. “What are you watching?”

  Shakarri reached for the remote and paused the movie. “Something sappy about a man going to war and leaving his new wife at home. I’m not sure because I caught it in the middle. What are you up to?”

  Solette hesitated and then closed the door. She dropped into a loveseat in the row behind Shakarri and kicked her shoes off. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “Hm, trouble in paradise?”

  Solette cocked her eyes at her. “Did you forget you live in paradise? I’m back in the real world, messing with things I probably shouldn’t.”

  Shakarri moved her son to a spot she could watch him after she swiveled her chair around to face Solette. “Sweetie, you’re on easy street. Ezio didn’t make a fuss at all when you and Cason started seeing each other. That shocked the entire household. If you want to know about battling and the real world, a
sk Sonya. As far as I’m concerned, you’re in, and I liked you right from the start. Cason’s nuts about you. So what’s the deal?”

  “Nuts?” Solette scoffed. “He does nothing other than try to get me to move in here.”

  “Again, the problem?”

  “He doesn’t love me.” Tears flooded Solette’s eyes, and she hiccupped. Embarrassed that she would get emotional that quickly, she scrubbed her face and worked to compose herself. “I know he wants me. Nobody knows that better than I do, but…”

  “But he hasn’t made any declarations?”

  “No.” Misery threatened to consume Solette. “You’re probably going to say it’s too soon, and I should be patient.”

  “Nope. I wasn’t.”

  Her calm demeanor stumped Solette. She couldn’t figure out what Shakarri was thinking any more than Cason. Maybe she wasn’t as good at reading people as she once thought. Then again, it could be her emotions running rampant. She wasn’t thinking clearly on several points.

  Shakarri stood and moved to sit beside Solette. She raised Solette’s feet and set them on her lap then patted her leg. “Solette, you’re so sweet and innocent in your own way.”

  Solette bristled, and her friend laughed.

  “You have no idea how crazy that man is about you. Okay, so Cason hasn’t said it, but I’m telling you, he’s mad about you.”

  “Why do you believe that?” Solette fought the feeling of elation hearing the words. Shakarri might be fooling herself.

  “I know my brother-in-law.”

  Doubt erupted.

  “I see you don’t believe me.” Shakarri grinned. “When I first met Cason, he seemed so insincere. He’d flirt with me constantly, and Ezio didn’t say one word.”

  “And I’m supposed to feel better about that?”

  She laughed. “No, hear me out. He kept everything on a surface level all the time, so people who don’t know him well would think he didn’t care about anything. But then bam! He would do something so serious in protection of his family you wouldn’t believe it. All three of them are so family-loyal, and trust me. They will go to extremes in protection of their family.”