Beau is here. Dad clocked him a good one. LOL. Going out for lunch. TTUL.
Cassie changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a white silk shirt, fluffed her hair out, and put on a little makeup. When she was ready, she walked out into the living room of her apartment and found Beau talking to her mother. He didn’t look any the worse for wear yet, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She would love to know what had been said, but she doubted either of them would tell her all of it. “Hi, Mom. Everything okay here?”
“Everything is fine, Cassandra.” Oh, no. “Cassandra.” That’s not good. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me and your daddy that you’d run into Mr. Bainbridge on the cruise.”
Cassie knew she would be hearing much more about this later. What could she say to that? “Well, Mom, I didn’t expect to see him again, and I didn’t want everyone to get all upset.”
“I see. Well, bless his heart. Here he is when you didn’t expect to see him again.” Oh, this is not going well. She could see that Hedy was winding up for a hissy fit, and no one did a hissy fit better than Hedy.
“Mom, he just stopped by. We’re going out for lunch, probably somewhere down by the river. I’ll talk to you later.” They made their escape down the staircase that led to the front door and the entrance to Cassie’s shop. “That was close. What did she say?”
“Oh, she ripped me a new one, and then she kissed me on the cheek and said she was glad to see me. I don’t know if that part was true—I kind of doubt it.” He grinned at her. “I’m just glad I still have all of my parts, and we can still have children.”
* * * *
What? Cassie was shocked. “That certainly isn’t part of my game plan. Aren’t you jumping the gun just a little?”
“I don’t think so. It’s definitely part of my game plan, but we’ll talk about that another time.” They hopped into Beau’s SUV and headed back toward the Savannah River where any number of good places for lunch on a Saturday afternoon could be found.
Over a lunch of huge burgers, sweet potato fries, and glasses of hard lemonade, they made a tentative peace. “Please be assured any relationship I had with Stephanie is long over and will not be reopened under any circumstances no matter what happens with us. Also, I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, but I am sorry about what I did to you all those years ago. If I could take it back, I would. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, even take another punch from your daddy—but not your momma—that’s taking retribution a little too far.”
She laughed. “I guess that’s fair. Hedy makes even the strongest men quake. Devon will get such a kick out of this.”
“Glad I could provide some entertainment for y’all. Seriously, Cassie, can we table all of this bullshit and just go on from here?”
“I guess we can go on from here. I did have my revenge on Sadie Hawkins night, and that went a long way toward payback,” she said with a wicked little grin.
“Did you have to remind me? I’d almost forgotten about that.” He groaned in a bid for sympathy. “Really, Cassie, I can’t tell you how much you mean to me, but I intend to pretty soon.”
“It’s good to know I have something to look forward to.” She knew she was being snarky, but sometimes she just couldn’t help herself, especially when men said something stupid.
“Can I talk you into coming back to my hotel? I’d like to spend some private time with you, but I have no intention of getting naked anywhere in the same neighborhood as your parents.”
“They do know that I’m not a virgin any longer, you know.”
“Yeah.” He grimaced. “Let some other guy take the rap for that one. I’d like to maintain my ability to father children, thanks very much.”
“You’re too funny. Okay. We can go back to your hotel.”
* * * *
They walked through the door of the hotel suite and were almost knocked off their feet by an exuberant Sadie. Beau said, “Down, girl. Cassie, I want to introduce you to the only other woman in my life, Sadie. She’s only three and still a little bit of a handful—sort of like the new woman in my life.”
“Would you be referrin’ to me, Mr. Bainbridge?” She gave him her best Southern belle smile. “She’s beautiful. I love golden retrievers. They’re so much fun.” Cassie was busy hugging the beautiful if very excited dog.
Beau took Cassie’s hand and led her toward his bedroom. He picked her up, pushed the double doors open with his foot, and carried her to the bed. There was a tray with a chilled bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes on the bedside table.
“Champagne, Cassie?” he asked, smiling at this beautiful woman he hadn’t been sure he could talk back into bed with him—never mind into a future with him.
“Oh, I’d like that, Beau,” she said as she kicked off her sandals. He smiled at her as she watched him pour the champagne. She was so beautiful. He could look at her all day and not get tired of the view.
He handed her the tall, stemmed crystal glass. How beautiful she is. So tall and sleek. He grinned to himself. He knew he had a challenge in front of him if he wanted her for a lifetime, but he wasn’t daunted. He was ready to fight for her, for their future happiness.
She smiled up at him as she sipped the champagne. “What’s on that mind of yours?”
He sat on the bed next to her and casually ran his hand up to the waist band of her jeans. “Can I help you out of these?” he inquired in a low suggestive voice as he flicked the snap open.
“You absolutely can.” She laughed. Cassie began to unbutton his shirt. She ran her hand over the muscles of his chest and abs. Beau had her out of her clothes and naked on the bed in seconds. He stretched out next to her after he quickly disposed of the remainder of his clothes. She giggled. He could tell she was a little tipsy from the champagne and the residue of the hard lemonade they’d had at lunch.
“I like to make love to you in the daylight, baby. Then I can see your beautiful body. I hope it’s all mine.”
“It’s been all yours for quite some time, Beau,” she replied, “even if I didn’t want to admit it.”
“I knew you were still hurting and holding your emotions back. It almost ripped my heart out. I hope that’s all behind us now,” he said. “I love you, Cassie. I hope you’re ready to hear those words and forgive me for the past.”
“Let’s not talk about the past anymore.” She was smiling at him, but she hadn’t said she loved him again. He had to hold onto the slip of the tongue she had made in her workroom that morning. He wondered how long he would have to wait for those words to pass her lips voluntarily.
“Okay. We never will again,” he responded with his heart full of love and hope. He knew his emotions as well as his arousal were spinning out of control, and he wanted to make this last.
* * * *
Cassie moaned as Beau licked and nipped at her dusty-pink nipples. They were hard and erect. Emotions were swirling in her head along with the champagne. She sighed as she spread her thighs for him. He kissed his way down to her waiting pussy. Lightning flashed though her body as he nibbled at the center of her desire, and he lightly flicked her aching clit with his tongue. She could tell that he wanted to make this memorable for her. His talented fingers stroked her slick folds, and he spread her lips wide. He plunged his tongue into her hot channel again and again. She was helpless to keep the moans of ecstasy from pouring from her throat and the moisture from flooding her pussy.
When he had her writhing with need, Beau mounted her and pushed his solid erection into her waiting pussy while he gazed deep into her eyes. He slowly stroked his hard, thick cock into her slick flesh making her his—she needed him to claim her. She begged him for more—harder, faster, but he resisted the temptation to speed up his strokes. She knew he was determined to keep it slow and easy for as long as he could, and he wanted to savor this moment. Cassie wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him on as he slowly stroked in and out of her tight sheath. Finally he picked up the pace and pounded into her
, making her body soar. She flew over the edge, taking him with her. A stream of molten semen shot into her, and her inner muscles convulsed around his pulsing shaft as her orgasm flashed through her nerve endings like lightning. With his semi-erect cock still cradled in her tight passage, the exquisite pleasure continued to roll through her as she slowly floated back down. She watched the play of emotions over his expressive face as their breathing returned to normal. Slowly he hardened again, and with infinite patience he began to stroke her to a second stunning orgasm, and joining her, he rocked her world again.
“There really isn’t anything to say after that, baby,” he said, rolling his considerable weight to one side. He pulled her into a tight embrace and nuzzled her neck as he settled her comfortably against his chest. She relaxed as she listened to his breathing and the pounding of his heart. It was the sweetest sound.
A month ago she never would have imagined she would have the chance to be in his arms again. She had to laugh to herself. She never would have imagined she would want to be in his arms. They drifted off to sleep.
Sometime later, Cassie smiled as Beau kissed her awake. “How about if I drop you off at home and pick you up again at eight tonight for dinner? Wear something nice. We’ll do up the town.”
* * * *
Beau was nervous when he walked up to Cassie’s front door and knocked. The door was immediately opened by Cassie’s father. Mike let him in and followed him up the stairs to the apartment. He was a little nervous with the big guy behind him in the close confines of the staircase. He could see Hedy sitting on an antique settee in the parlor with a glass of wine in her hand. That could either be good or bad. He had no idea of what to expect. There was a fire in the little marble trimmed fireplace and the room was cozily lit with antique lamps.
Mike turned to him. “She kicked your butt, didn’t she, son?”
“Yes, sir. She did indeed kick my butt.”
“Good. Can I get you a glass of wine or something stronger?”
“No, thank you, sir. I’m fine. Is Cassie almost ready?”
“Almost. About this morning. I’m sorry…”
“No need to apologize, sir. I earned it. No hard feelings. I hope you know that Cassie means a lot to me and always has.”
“Call me Mike. Cassie has told us a little about what happened on the cruise. That must have been a shock for you to run into her after all this time.”
“Yes, it was.” He really didn’t want to tell Mike exactly how much of a shock and under what circumstances.
He turned as Cassie came into the parlor. She looked beautiful. The long, black silk halter dress with the high, twisted teardrop neckline skimmed her opulent figure and her hair had been tamed into a sleek chignon at the back of her head. She wore diamond stud earrings, and a diamond drop pendant hung in her cleavage. His mouth went dry. He kissed her on the cheek. “Hi. I couldn’t wait to get over here again—even if it is enemy territory.” He could see that Mike looked a little chagrinned.
She smiled and said, “Hi, yourself.” He could see she was a little uncomfortable with her parents sitting there. He wondered how much she had actually told them about the cruise. He knew that they were extremely close.
He picked up the small box he’d set down on a table and took out a beautiful little wrist corsage of pink baby roses and orchids. “I brought you these. I know I’m about fifteen years late, but I owed you some prom night flowers.”
“Oh, Beau, what a sweet idea. They’re beautiful.” He could see the moisture in the corners of Cassie’s eyes, and he saw the soft smile on Hedy’s face. Mike looked away for a moment, and when he turned back, Beau saw him swallow hard.
“Let’s go. We have a dinner reservation, and then we have some dancing to do.” He saw Cassie look back over her shoulder and wink at her parents.
* * * *
When they were seated at the elegant little table for two in the private dining room of the antebellum house that had been converted to a restaurant, Beau looked across the candlelit table at her. The soft light highlighted her cheekbones and arched eyebrows. Her eyes were the same color as the ocean around the Florida Keyes, a clear turquoise blue with a dark rim around the irises. He thought she was so beautiful—even more beautiful than she had been as a girl. He had a lump in his throat, and he had trouble swallowing. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he was afraid she would back off again if he pushed her too hard.
They ordered their dinner, and when the waiter left the room, Beau got up and pulled Cassie into his arms for a slow dance to the music playing softly in the background.
“I love you, beautiful girl, and I hope you will be able to say the same to me soon.” He didn’t want to rush her, but he was having a hard time holding his emotions back. He knew what he wanted, and it was this woman. He was used to getting what he wanted. He continued to sway to the music as he held her close to his body. His desire for her was becoming painfully obvious, so he backed off a little. Finally, they sat back down at the table.
“I have very strong feelings for you, Beau, but I’m not ready to make a commitment. I think we should take our time getting to know each other again.”
“I can wait for you, baby, and I understand your reluctance to make a commitment right now even though I know what I want. You can take your time deciding what you want, but I think you should know that I’m going to be here pulling you in my direction every chance I get.”
“I’d be disappointed if you weren’t.”
* * * *
Devon rolled over in Sy’s arms. After a scene at the club that afternoon, they had returned to her restored loft on the top floor of a warehouse on the Savannah River. “I wonder how things are going for Beau and Cassie. I’m a little worried about that text she sent me. She said her dad hit him. Mike is a huge guy who works with his hands. He’s a restoration architect and master carpenter. He restored this loft and half the vintage houses in and around Savannah.”
“Don’t worry about Beau. He can take care of himself. One good shot isn’t going to put him down. If he didn’t retaliate, it’s because he didn’t want to. I guess he felt he deserved at least one good punch.”
“Well that’s true. He certainly did deserve a good one—or two or three…”
“Come on, babe. Give the guy a break.” He gave Devon’s brand new collar studded with small diamonds a tug. Then he rolled her under him and started on round two or three…
Epilogue
November 29, 2014
Six months later
Beau had spent the last six months driving back and forth from Atlanta to Savannah. He was ready to put an end to the constant commuting. Although Cassie occasionally flew up to Atlanta for a weekend, she had her business and her work in Savannah, and weekends were a busy time for her. Beau had finally talked the management of his firm into letting him relocate to their Savannah office to start a new public offerings department there. He was ready to pop the big question. He just hoped Cassie was ready to hear it and answer in the affirmative. He was on edge and nervous and had looked at the three-carat solitaire engagement ring he had bought so many times he thought he might wear it out.
He had booked the private dining room at the Pink Lady again in the hope that the romantic atmosphere and sentimental memories would work in his favor. He wanted every advantage he could get for the most important question of his life. When they were seated and the champagne had been poured, and they had toasted, he stood up and came around to her side of the table. He knelt down by her chair.
“Cassandra Caitlin St. Clare, will you marry me? I really can’t wait any longer. I love you, and I want us to start our lives together. I’m going to move to Savannah so we can live here. Maybe your dad can renovate one of those old Victorian houses on the Square for us—with a nice big nursery on the top floor. We can live in the carriage house until it’s done. What do you say?” He was starting to get nervous when she didn’t immediately answer him.
“Beau, about the sub
mission thing. I don’t know if I can do that all the time. I’ve spent the last fifteen years trying to be my own woman—my own person and I can’t give that up. It’s fun to play with BDSM, but I don’t think I would want to live it full-time. It’s hot and sexy, but I’m sure I would never be the perfect sub.”
“Who is? Do you think Devon is the perfect sub? That’s what Sy loves about her. She’s a constant challenge.” He chuckled. “She’s never the same two days in a row.”
“That’s true. She definitely is a constant challenge.” She laughed nervously. “Beau, I love you, and I love having you in control in the bedroom, but I’d hate it in everyday life. If we can work that out, I’d feel a lot more confident about our relationship.”
“Babe, you’re a constant challenge as well. Who wants a doormat? Where’s the fun in that? We can work anything out as long as we’re together.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “Yes, submission is important to me, and you know why, but those reasons don’t apply to you and me. I don’t have the same need to control the relationship that I used to have. We can enjoy the lifestyle as much or as little as we want to. We can keep it just in the bedroom or at the club. It shouldn’t be the deciding factor.” He was starting to get a little desperate here. He really hadn’t thought that BDSM would be a factor in her decision. “You’re more important to me than any sexual lifestyle. I love you and want to be with you. I’ve spent the last six months trying to prove that to you. I want us to be together—and not just on weekends. I need you in my life all the time. I want to have a life and a family with you, and I want it now.”
He pulled the little black box out of his pocket and opened it. Her eyes popped wide when she saw the ring. The candlelight bounced off the three-carat D flawless stone in the high Tiffany setting. “I couldn’t decide on a fancy setting, and I thought you should pick one out. We can have the stone reset later. What do you say, baby? Please don’t keep me waiting.”
Cassandra's Revenge [Golden Dolphin 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 19