by Laura Morgan
“You’re so beautiful,” he sighed, stroking her clit with his fingertip, and she bucked in response to his touch against her sensitive bead. “I want to watch you take me all night, love. I need to see this perfection,” he said, before finally leaning back down to give Cassie a deep, longing kiss.
“I’m far from perfect, Leo,” she mumbled, finding it hard that he could love what she still considered to be a mutilated body.
“Perfect. Even if you don’t see it, you’re absolutely fucking flawless, Cassie. I love you,” he whispered in her ear, nibbling his way down to her throat and back up to her swollen lips. “I’m never leaving you again, baby. Never, ever.” He thrust deep and emptied into her, shuddering and panting for breath when he was finally spent.
Cassie let a tear escape her eye and fall down her temple into her hair, but it wasn’t a sad tear, it was the happiest one she’d ever shed in all her life.
Chapter Three
Leo didn’t leave Cassie’s apartment until three days later. They simply couldn’t give each other up, and blocked out the world while they reconnected again, both physically and emotionally. Leo pushed every one of his meetings back, and she ignored her calls for as long as she could, but they knew the time was coming when they’d have to be apart again. The bittersweet knowledge that he’d always come back made it easier for her to let him go, though, and Cassie couldn’t hide her constant smile.
Cassie flushed, thinking back to all their hot and steamy antics, and she felt bad for having ignored the world outside. They’d had no choice other than to let their hearts and bodies become one in the only way they could, through pure and endless love. Letting him see her naked after so long took some getting used to, especially seeing as they’d only actually spent one night together after months of dating and tiptoeing around her hang-ups when they were together before. Even with everything that’d happened between them, the scars from her first husband’s frenzied and addiction-fueled attack made her hate her body. Her dominative second husband had helped cure her of her insecurities regarding those scars, but by sheer force more than compassion. Through Victor, she’d lost her modesty, but not her fear, and it was hard letting go, even for Leo.
She hadn’t had much luck when it came to men, but she hoped her luck might just be about to change. She had Leo back and their whole setup was far different to how it’d once been. Neither of them had the upper hand, except where the other let them, and she saw it as the fresh start they both desperately needed.
She also had a new man, and friend, in her life—Roger. Despite Cassie’s regular text messages informing him that she was okay, he’d turned up halfway through the second day to check on her, and she felt her cheeks burn at the memory of him finding them the way he had. He was furious at her for not having kept him properly up to date, but after seeing her happy face, it was clear he couldn’t stay mad. He’d simply reminded her to answer her calls in future, and went on his way again. It’d seemed as if he didn’t want to be the one to burst their happy bubble and she’d been grateful for his discretion.
“What’s next for us?” Cassie asked as she watched Leo pulling on the only clothes he had at her apartment—his suit from the night of the play. She knew he had to go. He had his empire to get set up, and had already kept his associates waiting long enough, but it didn’t make it any easier contemplating spending the rest of the day alone. Cassie had already decided to touch base with Siobhan and Roger, though. They’d overseen the aftermath of the theater’s opening night for her, and she owed them both an explanation as well as a huge thank you.
“Everything,” Leo replied with a wide smile. He leaned down onto the bed and kissed Cassie with everything he had, driving her wild. She was tender, satiated, and exhausted, but her body still responded to his kiss like it was the first time, and she had to force herself to rein it in. “The world’s our oyster, Cassie. I’m gonna do everything in my power to make you the happiest woman alive, I promise. I’ll die before I let anyone hurt you or take you away again.”
“You and me against the world?”
“Absolutely,” Leo agreed, sliding away and blowing her a kiss before he shut the door behind him. Cassie flopped back with a sigh, and could tell without even checking in the mirror that she had the cheesiest grin on her face.
***
“Let’s call it fifty grand and you’ve got a deal,” Leo offered the man sat opposite him, who, although he clearly hated accepting the low offer, accepted. Dennis Sampson, current owner of Sampson’s Billiards Hall, shuffled forward in his seat and stretched out his hand. Leo took it and grinned across at his aging companion. Not only had he finalized his first purchase of a casino that morning, but he’d also gotten wind of a certain pool-hall owner with some serious gambling debts owed to his newest establishment. Leo had then made a point of visiting Mr. Sampson in person to discuss the full repayment. He didn’t want to inherit bad debtors after all, so focused on cleaning up their balance sheets from the get-go.
As it happened, Dennis was so far under that his only option had been to sell Leo his business. The pool hall was worth a few hundred thousand pounds, minus his debt of course, so he was lucky to even have the opportunity to walk away with money in his pocket at all. “Don’t screw me over on this, Dennis, otherwise I’ll be visiting your home next time. What is it, two sons you’ve got?” he said, and Dennis paled as he gave a slight nod of his head. “Seeing as I’m in a good mood, you’ve got until the end of the week. Get your shit together, the paperwork signed, and leave my lawyer the keys. Got it?”
“Of course, Mr. Solomon. Thank you,” he replied, and squirmed in his seat. Leo had made it quite clear he wasn’t against sending in the heavies, and how he would be happy to teach Dennis a lesson with his fists if necessary. Although his days of whores and drugs were behind him, Leo figured there were only so many new tricks an old dog could learn.
In just one morning’s work, Leo knew he was already establishing himself in the city as someone not to be messed with, and he liked it. He’d had associates in London for years, as well as his extended family, so walking into his role as business mogul had been relatively easy, but he wasn’t going to waste a moment not enjoying his spoils. People all across the city had apparently heard of him and his US empire, and foolish nobodies like Dennis Sampson were already cowering before him, which Leo loved. According to his new right hand man and cousin, Brian, stories of his time spent as gangster-turned-crime-lord in prison had preceded him. Leo was the notorious drug-lord who’d taken on the Mexican cartel and won, and he knew he could use his notoriety to his advantage.
He left the pool-hall and climbed into his new ride. His wheels were a flashy black sports car with every added extra, and more than a fair share of horses under the bonnet. Leo’s days of being driven around by his men might be behind him for now, but he was going to enjoy the in-between time with another of his new toys.
“Brian, have the manager in my office waiting for me, will you?” Leo barked into his cell phone as he parked in the lot behind his new casino. He was eager to show his new employees he meant business, but that he was also approachable. Brian had been there all morning, and had made sure everything was already set up for his sit-down with the manager, Stuart Smith.
“Sure thing, boss. I’ll grab him now,” his steady voice replied via his hands-free speakers, and Leo ended the call without another word.
Although he was family, Brian was still a relative stranger after all Leo’s years spent in the States, and it’d still be a while until he was more comfortable with the guy. For now, though, his cousin was the closest thing he had to a trustworthy ally, so he’d have to do.
Leo locked up and headed inside, keeping a watchful eye on everything going on around the lobby area of what would soon be renamed Solomon’s Casino and Bar. He nodded to the reception staff, and had to laugh when one of the women went to stop him as he pressed the button to call the elevator reserved only for management. Her colleague shu
shed her and whispered in her ear, clearly informing the young woman that he was the new boss. The poor girl went a deep shade of crimson, and Leo found himself amused by it all the way up to his new office.
“Mr. Smith, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person at last,” Leo said as he came inside, and Stuart started, but quickly stood to greet him. “I get that there will have to be a transitional period, but know this—I’m no fool. I understand this business better than anyone. Do not teach me to suck eggs and never lie to me,” he added, taking his seat.
“Absolutely not, Mr. Solomon,” Stuart replied shakily. “I would never,” he began, but halted when Leo raised a hand for him to stop. He wasn’t interested in Stuart’s ass-kissing routine. In fact, he’d only said it because he wanted to deliver a warning to his new employee right from the start. Let it be known, you do not fuck with Leonardo Solomon, he thought with a smile.
“Tell me about this place. Do you have any issues with the staff? What repairs or updates are required? I need specifics.” Leo went straight into figuring out his new establishment from the inside out, and Stuart seemed shocked that he was even interested.
“Most other owners haven’t bothered learning my name, let alone cared about the rest of the employees,” he said, his eyes widening. “Since before I took over, the owner’s office has only ever been used once a month for financial meetings, nothing more.” Leo couldn’t tell if Stuart appreciated his promise of a more regular presence or not, but he didn’t care. This office was going to be his daily base of operations from now on, regardless of whether his manager and the others were used to things working that way.
“Well, that’s not how I like to run my business. I’ll be using this office every day, so get used to seeing me around. You’re welcome to come in and speak with me about anything, anytime,” Leo said, dangling the proverbial carrot after his initial threat. “But I want to know everything about everything first, understand? No cutting corners. If someone fucks up, including you, they need to come clean right away or they’re out. I’ve no time for weakness.”
Stuart paled at Leo’s harsh words, but then sat taller in his seat, clearly appreciating his chance to be heard by the new boss. He proceeded to tell Leo all the ins and outs of his new venture, the positive and negative, as well as outlining the members of staff who he’d had his eye on for one reason or another. Leo wrote notes the entire time, staying quiet while Stuart spoke.
“And lastly, there’s Suzie, the barmaid and receptionist,” he said, his expression turning darker. “She’s a fucking tease. All short skirts and smiles, and she isn’t a team player. I’ve had to keep her late numerous times for not doing her share of the work.”
Leo stared at his employee, reading between the lines, and he didn’t like what he found. He considered himself quite an expert at reading people. In fact, it was one of the ways he’d survived so long in a profession most ordinary guys would only last five-minutes in. If a predatory manager was exploiting his employees, he wasn’t against using every tool in his box of tricks to nip it in the bud. Having spent years taking care of his girls back in New York, he knew exactly how to handle situations where men thought it was acceptable to take advantage. The location and type business he was in had changed, but Leo could still bring out the big guns if necessary.
“Now then, Stu. You wouldn’t be trying to get this girl into trouble would you? I wonder if perhaps she wasn’t interested in showing you personally just how much she wanted to keep her job, am I close?” he asked coolly, his dark brown eyes boring into his employees. “I don’t want to walk in here and find a sexual harassment case on my hands.”
“No, of course not!” Stuart’s voice was a little too high-pitched to be the whole truth. “She won’t be any trouble, I’m sure. I was just making you aware.”
Leo slammed his hand down on his desk and stood, making Stuart jump.
“Very well then, let’s go and you can introduce me to everyone,” he told him, walking out into the hall, and his eager new helper quickly followed. Here boy, be good and you’ll get a treat, Leo joked to himself, but also had to admit he enjoyed having his new lackey hot on his heels.
Leo spent the next few hours meeting the staff and memorizing their faces and names. He chatted with them all in relaxed and calm tones, ensuring they felt comfortable with him as a first impression, but he also ensured he let them know he wasn’t going to put up with any nonsense. It went well, and by the end of his first afternoon, Leo already knew he was going to enjoy having a busy new project to focus on. He began making plans for gala events and other revenue enhancers, and his mind wandered over which other businesses might be worth his money and effort now that he was finally back in the swing of things. London was his now, and Leo was planning on taking her for everything she had to offer him.
***
Cassie spent her entire day catching up with the reviews and follow-ups from their opening night, and was overwhelmed by the positive response to both the play and her theater. The playwright, Alex, had left her a basket filled with gifts as a thank you for helping his dream become such a success, and she beamed as she opened them. He’d been incredibly observant and had given Cassie a bottle of the perfume she wore every day, some posh wine, a stunning silver necklace from her favorite jeweler, and a gift card for a massage at an amazing Thai place around the corner from the theater. They were each the sorts of things she’d treat herself to here and there, but he’d chosen them all with such care and attention to detail that she simply had to ring him up and thank him profusely. They’d both been in tears by the end of the call, and she loved how she had only cried happy tears in such a long time.
Siobhan skipped in and out of her office with messages, coffee, and even a fresh baguette at lunch when she’d lost all track of time. Cassie had to admit, she enjoyed being busy. It stopped her thinking of Leo too much, and helped calm her overwrought thoughts about how scarily wonderful it was to have him back in her life. She’d worked hard to stop the nightmares from creeping back in the past year, and the worry from invading her everyday thoughts and emotions, but now that Leo was back she had a whole new set of fears to add to her already huge load. She wasn’t scared of him, but was frightened to lose him. Cassie was terrified that he might change his mind or find someone new, and a huge part of her wanted to turn full-blown stalker and find out everything about his new life in London in order to try and settle those worries.
She was already fighting imaginary scenarios in which the “big, bad Mr. Solomon” was bending a new voluptuous stunner of an assistant over his desk and having his fun, all the while laughing at his foolish girlfriend for naively believing his promises. Cassie had somehow managed to convince herself that she wasn’t enough for him, and knew it would take a lot to change her low opinion of herself. When she’d kept him waiting so long to be intimate before, he’d gone elsewhere for the release she wasn’t giving him, and it made her want to vomit even contemplating that he might ever feel that way now that they were back together. Leo had promised her that he hadn’t slept with anyone since before the night of his fateful birthday party, and she believed him. His imprisonment helped her trust that story, but there would always be a teensy bit of doubt. She knew he wouldn’t have been using the other men around him to relieve that pressure in prison, but struggled to believe she could be everything he needed going forward.
Cassie pushed the despair away. She had Leo in her life again and knew that it was a time for celebrating, not for dwelling on her fears. The pair of them had barely left her bed those few days after getting back to her place following the play’s opening night, and it’d been wonderful. Cassie knew she had to get over her hang-ups and trust Leo to keep his word. They had a lot of making up to do, both in and out of the bedroom, and she couldn’t expect it to happen overnight.
“Who pissed on your chips?” Roger said with a cocky grin as he came into her office and took a seat without bothering to ask permission. Cassie giggled, but screwe
d up her nose in disgust at his rough British tone. He was clearly letting his Cockney accent out more than usual for comic effect, and it worked.
“Nice.” Cassie shook her head, but continued to laugh. “And, you don’t make any sense, by the way!” she added with a smile.
“I don’t know. You live away for a few years, come back with a weird accent, and now you seem to have forgotten all the Great British slang!” She really did like Roger, and loved the playful side he only showed once he’d done all of his security checks and had let his guard down a little. He was right though, and she hadn’t realized it while still across the pond, but her accent was now a mixture of British with the odd inflection in tone or American word. She was still struggling to drop her New York lilt even after having been away for so long, and being with Leo again didn’t help matters either, as his accent was even more of a mixture.
“You’re a good man, Rog. But you’re talking to a lady, and I would never say such vile things before or after my time spent living away,” she said, sticking her nose high up in the air with a cheeky smile.
“Yeah, yeah. Come on, Lady Cassandra, the theater’s about to open and you said you wanted to be there to greet the guests,” he reminded her, standing and ushering her outside.
The day really had flown by, but Cassie was glad for the busy time spent doing what she wanted to do with her life at long last. No one was telling her what to do, well, aside from the obvious with Roger, but he was doing it for her benefit. Despite their budding friendship, she was his employer, and knew all she had to do was say the word and he’d back down in a heartbeat.