Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

  The wait staff began to remove all evidence of dinner as couples made their way to the dance floor. The music fell right in with a masquerade ball theme; dark and haunting classical melodies filled the air with the occasional gothic rock ballad. Mrs. Whitford was very serious when it came to her annual masquerade.

  I had just returned from the powder room and was admiring my handiwork from my spot in the corner; everyone seemed to be having a great time. I was suddenly startled when someone spoke in my ear from behind.

  “May I have this dance, Cassidy?”

  Startled, I turned to him. His hand was outstretched and he was holding out a blood red peony for me, which he had clearly pulled from one of the floral arrangements. I took it cautiously. Knowing I should refuse him, especially if he was attending with Jane, I carefully placed my hand in his and allowed him to lead me to the dance floor.

  I instantly recognized the song that began to play. Phantom of the Opera was my favorite musical. It didn’t matter how many times I saw the musical, I always hoped for a different ending; I’d always felt sorry for the Phantom. I thought if it were me, I’d pick the Phantom every time. Music of the Night played its dark seductive notes as James pulled me into a strong embrace and glided us across the dance floor with ease.

  The lights were low, his head bent and I could feel his steamy breath grazing my ear. “You look lovely, Cassidy.”

  The flutters rose up again and my senses were in overdrive. His gravelly voice raked over my being. I could listen to him read the phone book. I felt like a girl who just had her first kiss with a giddy ball of nerves and a flock of butterflies flitting about in my stomach. I rested my cheek on his shoulder and enjoyed the moment; a moment I wanted to last forever, knowing it couldn’t.

  Gazing around the floor, I saw Mrs. Whitford and Jane looking at us while they exchanged some words. I raised my head and stared into his eyes. He simply gazed back as I abruptly tried to pull away from him.

  “I’m sorry, I’m being terribly rude. You should be dancing with Jane, your date, Mr. Benedict.”

  His hold on me was unbreakable. He would not let go. “Jane is fine. I assure you, she’s not my date, Cassidy, you are. And I said to call me James.”

  “James, this can’t happen.”

  He pulled me tight against him again, whispering into my ear, “It already has, Cassidy.”

  I was lost in the music and in the warmth of his arms. His cologne had intoxicated me, again. I felt like we were alone in the room, that night only meant for us. The hand between my shoulder blades slowly traced its way to my lower back. He was on the verge of being inappropriate, but I didn’t dare stop him. It was beyond intimate what was going on between us.

  I whispered, “James, I apologize for the incident in the elevator and your office. I’ve given you the wrong impression. It won’t happen again.”

  “Cassidy, what are you worried about? We’re grown adults indulging in our attraction.” The song began its demise. I searched his eyes as the song completed its haunting melody. He pulled me outside to the terrace, dragging me to a corner not yet occupied by other couples. “Cassidy, I know you feel it, too.” He pulled his mask off.

  “Cassidy! Cassidy Charles.”

  I turned to see my boss headed my way. There was no avoiding her. I put on my best game face, flashing her a smile. “Yes, Cecily?”

  “I knew you had it in you. You did a marvelous job. I didn’t realize you were acquainted with James.” She smiled at James and he nodded in return. “We have a few things to discuss, but they can wait. I expect to see you first thing Monday.” She turned away before I even had a chance to respond. I still couldn’t figure that woman out even after working for her for three years.

  I was then bombarded by other guests and staff with compliments, questions, and other tasks regarding the entire evening. Getting time alone with James to digest all of what had happened would have to wait. Reluctantly, he left me to my work.

  The evening finally wrapped up and I looked for him in the diminishing crowd, but he was nowhere to be seen. Jane came over with a glass of champagne and a huge smile on her face. I happily took the drink and swallowed its contents whole.

  “James isn’t your date is he?”

  She smiled and said, “No, Cassidy, he’s yours.”

  “What is wrong with you people?!” I removed my mask and placed it in my purse.

  “He knows what he wants and that’s you!”

  She kissed me on the cheek and congratulated me on a successful night before leaving. I was speechless and didn’t have a chance to ask her meaning. I proceeded with some cleanup duties for what felt like hours.

  Long after midnight I made my way back to the terrace and the balcony. The lights of the city sparkled like diamonds on the water and it made me remember how Holly loved walking by the river at night. The tears snuck up on me, at the thought of her, and started rolling down my face. I missed her so much. I began to shake from pure exhaustion, or the cold, I wasn’t sure which.

  My feet were killing me, and before I had a chance to remove my heels, I felt his presence. I didn’t need to turn to see his face, I knew it was him. I felt the weight of his jacket fall around my shoulders. The jacket was warm, like him and my shivering began to subside.

  I let him pull me to his side as his arm wrapped around me. I didn’t have the energy to fight him off and I couldn’t explain the overwhelming tug at my heart that told me this was where I belonged. I didn’t know this man and I had never expected to see him again. Call it fate, destiny, whatever you wanted. At that moment every trivial thing telling me to run from him seemed to fall away.

  I was vaguely aware of the elevator doors opening and realized he was carrying me. Did I fall asleep? I reached up and touched his face as the elevator doors closed. He looked at me like the promise of a million stars was in his eyes. “How, what…?”

  He gently whispered, “In due time, Cassidy.” His response was to a question I wasn’t asking. He punched a few buttons on the panel and the elevator started moving.

  He leaned down and placed his forehead on mine. I closed my eyes and lifted my chin, welcoming his kiss. It was soft and tentative, almost seeking permission to possess me. I ran my hands over the stubble beginning to form on his cheeks and pulled him closer. He accepted my invitation and his tongue assaulted my mouth. A hint of liquor was on his breath and had me wanting to taste more of him. My entire being was vibrating with need. He released his hold on my legs and I slid ever so slowly down his body as he held me up against him, my feet barely touching the floor.

  Our tongues continued dueling and exchanging blows. He traced my upper lip then greedily sucked on my tongue before pulling my lower lip between his teeth. Aphrodite herself must’ve taught him to kiss. He ruined me; no other kiss had ever compared and never would. I moaned my appreciation into his mouth. Before I was aware of it, he had pivoted and I was now up against the back wall of the elevator. I ran my hands up to the back of his head and wrapped his hair around and through my fingers. He growled in appreciation.

  The elevator stopped and alerted us that we had reached our destination. With the speed of a bullet he pulled Stop on the panel and we were suspended in air. James pulled me to him and removed his jacket from my arms, throwing it aside. I noticed that his tie was already undone and hanging around his neck. The top few buttons of his shirt were open too and my hands were itching to touch his chest. I could see the muscles in his neck tensing before he lowered his mouth to my jaw and kissed a path to my ear. His hot breath on my earlobe had me reeling.

  I grabbed his arms, desperate for something to hold onto. His mouth traveled along my exposed collar bone as my chest began heaving. His hands then encircled my waist. I wasn’t used to a man making me feel small and being able to easily overpower me the way he did. I loved it. Even through the layers of my dress I could feel his arousal against my lower abdomen. I gently swiveled my hips which immediately caused him to curse.


  “Cassidy?” He pulled back and gazed into my eyes, looking like a starving man in front of a buffet.

  It was a question and I answered him. “Don’t stop, please,” I begged him.

  “I don’t want to do anything you’re not prepared for. If you ask me to stop, I won’t lay a hand on you.”

  I was panting but managed to breathe out, “But I want your hands all over me.”

  He smiled that devilish smile and pounced on his meal. We were nose to nose, winded like a couple of marathon runners.

  “Those eyes have haunted me for months.”

  His hands cradled my face while his thumbs traced my cheekbones. I was shaking as he wrapped his hands around my neck and feathered them down my shoulders and to my arms. He intertwined his fingers with mine and slowly raised our joined arms above my head. “Don’t move.” He pulled away and stood to his full height. “That dress is exquisite, like it was made for you.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle and his eyes immediately questioned me. “It’s a rental.” He was amused and tilted his head at me. I really needed to learn how to keep my mouth shut.

  Finally, he spoke, “We can fix that.”

  Before I had a second to question him he attacked my mouth once more. He then lowered himself so that he was kissing the top of my chest. He wedged his leg between mine and I shifted slightly, eager for the pressure of his thigh against my pussy. Damn dress and all its layers. He knew just what I needed. His hands pulled down on my shoulders so that I was rocking back and forth on his thigh as his groin pressed into my hip. I was humping his thigh like a horny teenager and it was miraculous.

  Before I could object, he spun me around to face the elevator wall. The cool steel against my cheek was a sharp contrast to how hot I was feeling. My hands lowered to my sides.

  His hands were on mine again and he guided them up once more, “You make me want to lose control. I told you not to move.” I had never been so turned on in my life. One more touch from him and I was likely to explode.

  He buried his head in the back of my neck. I let my head fall back to him and his mouth was there, waiting for me. I felt his hand in my hair while the other traveled down my side. His hands were like liquid fire on ice and soon all that would be left of me was a puddle on the floor. He started pulling pins out of my hair while running the other hand along my side and under my breasts. I was trembling with a need I didn’t know existed until then. Once he had all the pins out of my hair he circled my hair around his wrist and pulled back before massaging my scalp.

  “Oh, God.”

  “You can call me James, though God is nice, too,” he panted in my ear.

  I let out a chuckle that was immediately silenced when he bit the curve of my neck. He was still massaging my scalp while his other hand moved down my stomach to my hips. He hit along the inner curve of my hip and I bucked against his arousal. His hand abandoned my scalp and joined the other on my hips as they started trailing down to my thighs. I pressed my thighs tightly together seeking some form of relief as he pressed harder against me. There was nowhere for me to go—pinned between him and the elevator wall—and I was grateful.

  His left hand spanned across the space between my hips while his right hand vanished under my dress gaining access to my body. My pussy was a pool of want in my satin panties. Ever so slowly, he trailed his hand back up my leg to my panties. I felt his knee behind me, nudging my legs apart, and I happily obliged. His thumb brushed against my mound while his fingers dug into my thigh. I could already feel the inevitable spiral of my release looming and I took in a sharp breath. He continued massaging my mound, causing my womb to tremble, while running his hand back down my quivering thigh to my knee. He left a sizzling trail of desire behind his fingers. He then skimmed across the back of my knee and it took all of my being not to break out into giggles. My breathing quickened and he instantly heard my body’s confession.

  “Ticklish are we? Just here or are there other places?”

  I simply nodded, unable to form words, and I could feel his smile on my neck. His hand continued to travel the expanse of my leg. Before I knew it, my dress was hiked up around my waist and pulled to the side as he pressed his cock against my rear. Why was he clothed? I wanted him naked! Every muscle in my body was flexed. I was going to be sore tomorrow and it would be sweet misery.

  His hand possessed my soaking center as he cupped my aching sex while his other hand spread across my breastbone. My entire being tensed even more and I ground into his fingers greedily.

  “You’re wearing satin, I love satin. You’re so wet for me Cassidy. I’m wet for you, too. Do you feel that? My cock is so hungry for you.”

  His tongue glided across my exposed shoulder blades with the precision of a surgeon’s blade. My head was tossing from side to side. I couldn’t take much more of this, and the way he talked to me was making me lose control. I was immediately aware of what I had been missing all those years. His hand moved up to circle my neck.

  “Don’t hold out on me Cassidy. Just let go.”

  His fingers found their way inside my panties as a shiver ran up my spine. His long fingers ran over my lips to find me wide open and waiting for him. He slid his middle finger inside my trembling core while applying pressure to my pulsating nub, and so began his expert assault. I let out a scream and jolted back against him. I couldn’t get close enough to him.

  “James, oh God.”

  I threw my arms behind me desperate for him, grabbing the first thing I came into contact with; it was his hair and I pulled it. He continued biting, sucking and kissing my shoulder, neck and my ear. He was grinding into my behind vigorously and I was like a knotted rope ready to unravel. In and out, in and out, my hips met every thrust of his hand.

  “More, James, give me more,” I mewled, shocked at my own words.

  He knew exactly what I needed without asking further and added a second finger. “Fuck, Cassidy, you’re so tight. I can’t wait to bury myself in you.”

  I didn’t want this to end—ever—but my body was racing to the top of the hill so fast and I couldn’t stop it. It was only a matter of seconds before I fell down and tumbled over the edge. My entire being fell apart panting his name.

  Chapter Five

  Exposed

  ~ CASSIDY ~

  He carried me over the threshold of the elevator and before I knew it we were at his hotel door. I vaguely recalled him scooping me into his arms and nuzzling my neck; I was way beyond spent. The day had caught up to me full force and I was still feeling the tremors of my previous orgasm reverberate through me.

  “My key is in my breast pocket,” he breathed into my ear.

  His voice pulled me from my trance and the realization of what just happened hit me. He saw the alarm in my eyes as I took in my surroundings; I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights. He probably thought I was a complete tease since I was the only one who got off. Of course, he may have thought I was a slut for so easily succumbing to his advances.

  He stroked my cheek as he said, “Pleasing you was all I wanted. I’m not that guy, Cassidy.” He saw the question in my eyes and elaborated, “I don’t have to take every time I give. That’s not how I work.” I was well aware that things very well would likely never be the same again.

  We walked into his suite which was almost entirely dark. Setting me down on a stool next to the kitchen island, he went to the fridge and took out two bottles of water, handing me one of them. I took the bottle and started drinking and couldn’t help but feel awkward. I just ‘kind of’ had sex with a man I hardly knew. And the things he did to me in that elevator! No one had ever done that me, not like that anyway. What must he think of me? I was a cheap, wanton hussy. Oh, God. I had to leave.

  “I shouldn’t be here…”

  He moved like lightning. “Cassidy, don’t be embarrassed…” How did he do that? He could read me like a book. “I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but you’re exhausted and you need to rest.” I start
ed chewing my lip and gazed up at him questioningly. He closed the distance between us and placed his hands on my shoulders, gently rubbing up and down. “You can trust me, Cassidy; I’m not going to hurt you. We won’t do anything that you don’t want to do.” His voice was low and breathy.

  Wanting to believe him with every fiber of my being, I hoped beyond hope that my faith in him was well-founded. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his chest just as he wrapped me up in his arms and kissed my temple. Several moments later he took my hand and led me to the staircase.

  We reached the top of the stairs and a long hallway lay ahead of us. I was so exhausted I didn’t notice how many rooms and doors there were. Walking us into his room, he turned the lights on low.

  “I’ll get you some more comfortable clothes.” I stood awkwardly by the bed as he walked over to a chest of drawers. “Are you a t-shirt girl?”

  “A t-shirt is fine.” He pulled out a gray t-shirt and walked back to me. I looked up at him as he cupped my cheek and turned my face into his touch, savoring it.

  He pulled away quickly and handed me the t-shirt, “Let me help you. Turn around.”

  I willingly obliged him. He expertly released the clasp on my dress and slowly pulled the zipper down. I heard him inhale sharply and a shudder ran through me.

  “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?” He was running his fingers over my back where the zipper had fallen open and laid a kiss on each shoulder blade. “Put the shirt over your head, Cassidy, before I go back on my word.”

  I understood his meaning and pulled the shirt over my head. I put my arms through the sleeves of the shirt and placed it down over the dress. The shirt practically hit my knees and I chuckled.

  “It fits you well,” he said sarcastically.

  “Maybe if I was ten!” We both laughed.