by Liz Crowe
“No, please stop. Agh. James, please.” He was laughing, too, and I wriggled my way around to face him. He finally stopped his attack as I steadied myself against his chest. Suddenly everything was quiet and we weren’t laughing anymore.
He pulled me tight against him. “I mean it, woman. I’m going to miss you…terribly.” Before I could respond he kissed me. It was a kiss that I was meant to remember and knew that I would, just like all his kisses. Ever so slowly and softly he teased my lips with his tongue as he glided it across my lips before retreating. I begged for more as I felt him grow hard beneath me and I squirmed against him. We were insatiable. “You won’t be able to walk tomorrow, Cassidy.” He smiled against my lips.
“I don’t care to walk ever again.” I tugged on his hair and he deepened the kiss. That was his weakness; I’d figured it out by the way he reacted each time I would pull on it. I reached between us to stroke him as I continued the pursuit of his lips. His head then fell to my shoulder as he groaned while his hands were massaging my backside. I continued my playful tug of war on his penis and he shifted me slightly so I was straddling his thigh. I couldn’t help but move against it. I leaned down and began kissing his neck and shoulder. He was rocking me on his thigh while I increased the pressure of my hand on his cock. We groaned in unison as I bit down on his shoulder.
“Cassidy, the things you do to me.” He grabbed me tighter and tensed. “Shit.” In a split second he had moved me and thrust into my already swollen flesh. It knocked the wind out of me as I clung to his neck crying out. He stilled, waiting for me to relax around him.
When I could breathe again, I sought out his mouth and tugged on his bottom lip while I pulled his hair. I lifted slightly and slid back down, tensing as I went. Like a wild animal he unleashed on me while changing our position. My back was now against the other end of the tub and he was on top of me, pounding away. Only a few moments passed before he succumbed to his release.
“Cassidy, I can’t…” He was yelling and tensing over me as he shot into me.
He kept his head buried in my neck for several moments as he panted. I was shushing him while stroking his back. “Are you okay?”
“I’m great. A selfish clod, but I’m great.” His breathing was calming and he brought his eyes back to mine. “I’m sorry, I lost control.” He kissed my nose before separating us. I flinched a little from his brutal lovemaking. He looked to me with concern in his eyes. “You’re hurt.”
“Just a little tender. I’ll be fine.” He shook his head, stood and got out of the tub. “James?”
“Up with you.” I went to stand up and realized I was a little more than tender; I felt like I had just run a marathon. I tried to climb out of the tub and slipped, but he was there to steady me before I fell. “You’re not fine. I’m an ass.”
I smacked his shoulder. “You’re not an ass. I’m just not used to so much intense sex. Is it always like this with you?”
His eyes were hooded and I curled myself into him. “You’ve brought out the randy teenager in me, Cassidy. I’ll try to calm down on the intensity.”
“James, I like it this intense, don’t think otherwise.”
He pulled away from me, grabbed a washcloth and headed to the sink. He turned on the cold water and saturated the cloth before wringing it out and walking over to me. He knelt in front of me, “Spread your legs, this will help.” I spread my legs as he held the cold cloth to me. At first I recoiled before the cool sensation seeped into me. “Feel better?”
“Yes, it’s wonderful.” My hands were on his shoulders as I braced myself. He began wiping softly before heading back to the sink. The cloth was no longer cool so he ran more cold water over it and then repeated his task.
“To bed with you.”
I pouted as he smiled at me and pulled me to my tiny bed. He yanked the covers down and sat me down before bending down in front of me. “You’re not going to break me.”
He looked up at me, digesting my words, and I leaned down to kiss him. He stroked my mouth with his tongue ever so softly. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped past my lips. “You’re insatiable.” I smiled my agreement as he trailed kisses down my chest and abdomen. He pushed me to lie down on the bed as his lips kissed my hip bones. I convulsed as goose bumps danced across my skin. “Gentle this time, Cassidy.”
He spread my legs as he continued kissing his way across my hips. “Yes, please.” I felt his hand feather down my lips to the back of my leg as he spread me even wider.
He started blowing cool air all over me and I could feel myself open for him. I was rolling my head from side to side, reveling in the sensation. “James, please.” I was rewarded by his scorching hot tongue. One long stroke pierced my opening and glided up to my clit. “Mmmm, James.”
He began circling my clit with expert precision. Soft, yet so direct, as my juices flowed. He licked back to my opening and his tongue dove in. My back arched off the bed as he held onto my hips. He used slow heavy laps up and down my lips several times and then he started sucking on my clit. One finger gently slid in and began circling.
I felt like I was floating. Every nerve ending was tingling with desire. I didn’t know being so gentle could feel so good. “Breathe, Cassidy.” He started circling his tongue around my nub again while his finger did the same to my vagina while slowly moving in and out.
Just a little more pressure. I started rocking into him needing more and I carefully felt him add a second finger. The inevitable spiral began to unfold inside me. “Oh God, I’m close.”
He began flicking my clit and humming against it. His fingers pumped a little harder and it set me off. I started to buck against him, but he held me down and found my breast. He was pinching a nipple, sucking my clit and pumping me as my body exploded with pleasure and I screamed out his name. My toes were even tingling. He was a god. How was it possible to be so good? I didn’t care. He continued working me until I was twitching all over and pleading with him to stop.
~ JAMES ~
She was absolutely beautiful and a more giving lover than any I’d had, and there had been a lot. She liked it rough, whether she knew that or not was the question. I wasn’t looking forward to being away from her for so many days. What was wrong with me? Cassidy was what was wrong. I should have run in the other direction that first night I saw her at the bar. She was a witch and I was definitely under her spell.
She was still coming down from her orgasm and twitching against the sheets. Her hands were clenched on my head, trying to pry me off her. Once her breathing slowed I peeled myself out and off of her. I swung her legs into her bed and climbed in next to her. I grabbed the covers and laid down with her, rolling her to her side as I curled my chest around her back. She was mumbling incoherently as I held her, soothing her until I was sure she was sound asleep. I kissed her head before I left.
I made my way back to the hotel and packed my suitcase. Dad and I tried to visit with Mom at least once a month and I hadn’t seen her in several weeks. Dad mentioned that it wouldn’t be long now before we had news. Everything was packed and by the front door. I headed to bed for a few hours of sleep before I stopped in at the office.
*****
Sleep was pointless. I made it into the office by seven a.m. Jennifer came in as I was going through my emails.
“James, you’re here early. I wasn’t expecting you this week.”
“Morning, Jennifer. I just want to check on a few things before I leave. The jet’s on standby.” She nodded in understanding. “If Miss Charles from B & C calls this week please get her anything she needs.”
“Yes, Miss Charles. She’s a lovely girl! No problem, James.” She headed to her desk just outside my office and got to work.
I set my automatic reply in my email before I shut down my computer and packed up my laptop. As I walked out of my office I set a box down on Jennifer’s desk. “Please see this is delivered by courier today. See you next week.”
“Sure thing, James. Give
your mother my love.”
I nodded as I headed to the elevators. The doors opened and Calvin was standing there in his uniform screaming into his phone. He flew right by me and headed to Jennifer’s desk. “I’d like to see Mr. Benedict.” He put the cell phone in his pocket.
“I’m sorry, sir, is there a problem?” Jennifer was looking at me, expecting me to make my escape or to intervene. Calvin was looking all around, completely oblivious that I was who he was looking for.
“Officer Charles, I believe you’re looking for me.”
He turned and glared at me, unaware he had just walked by me. “Mr. Benedict. Yes, a moment of your time, if you don’t mind.”
“Jennifer, call Smith and let him know I’ll be down shortly.” I walked back into my office as Calvin followed and I motioned him to sit on the couch, then shut the door behind him.
“This won’t take long.” I set my briefcase down and turned to him. He had closed the distance between us and was pointing his finger in my face. “Stay the hell away from my sister.”
I moved away and sat down on the other couch across from where he stood and ripped my hands through my hair. “Calvin, if you’d calm down and give me a moment to explain; I think I deserve at least that.”
He was battling with himself as he took a few strides before sitting down across from me. There really wasn’t much of a family resemblance except for their eye color. “Talk.”
“Officer Charles, or can I call you Calvin?” I was goading him when I knew I shouldn’t. If I had a sister I would have been fuming mad about her dating me, too.
“Officer Charles will do. What the hell were you doing at my sister’s place?”
I raised my eyebrows at him. I knew he didn’t really want the answer to that question.
“Dammit, that’s not what I meant. Stay away from her.”
“Officer Charles, calm down. I know what you must think.” I let out a deep sigh. “I’m not who you think I am. I care deeply for Cassidy. There are some things you should know.”
~ CASSIDY ~
“God dammit, Cal. CAL?!” Shit. I couldn’t believe what he was doing. I was on my way to my office and had to pull over. I tried dialing James but he didn’t answer, so I called Lena who answered immediately.
“Lena, can you get me the number to Benedict Holdings, I can’t find it in my phone. No, not the hotel, ok thanks.” Once the text came through I dialed the number and headed back into traffic.
“Benedict Holdings, Jennifer speaking.”
“Jennifer, its Cassidy Charles. Yes, I know, ok, that’s not why I’m calling.” Shut up lady! “Did a tall blonde cop just walk in, by chance? Yes, shit, ok. Umm, no I’m on my way.” I disconnected the call and threw my phone down on the passenger seat. I started hitting my steering wheel while shouting, “Shit, shit, shit! Damn you, Cal, you overbearing ass.”
I pulled up to the office building almost twenty minutes later in sheer panic. I had no idea where to park, forgetting about the underground garage. I hoped and prayed they both still had their teeth. I glanced across the street and saw Andy doing valet at the hotel. I squealed my tires as I did a U-turn and pulled into the valet at the hotel.
“Miss Charles, nice to see you.” I threw him the keys without a word and dodged a few cars while I ran across the street.
I was greeted by the security desk and a man in uniform I didn’t recognize. I asked to see Mr. Benedict and in return got a suspicious look at my request. “Jennifer is expecting me.” He got on his phone and pressed a couple of buttons. A short moment later he hung up the phone and pointed to the elevator while he mentioned I needed to go to the 23rd floor, unaware that I already knew that. I could only imagine what threats Cal used to get past the security desk.
It seemed like forever before the doors opened to the floor I sought. I rushed out and saw a desk with a woman in her fifties sitting behind it. “You must be Miss Charles?” I nodded as I recognized her voice. I started looking around in a panic. “Dear, you look like you’ve seen a ghost, are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Is James still here?” She waved toward his office doors, doors that were closed. For the first time I noticed his name on the door. Jackson James Benedict III, God that was a mouthful. I looked back to Jennifer who motioned me in. Hesitantly I pushed on the door. The scene that greeted me had my stomach turning. What the hell was going on?
They were both sitting forward, opposite each other, laughing. Cal spotted me first and jumped to his feet. “That’s my cue. James, it was a pleasure.” James stood and they shook hands. “I’ll see you on Friday.”
I was dumbfounded. What had just happened? Cal kissed my cheek and whispered, “He’s one hell of a guy, sis.” I was left staring after him as he left.
“Morning, Cassidy.” I turned to James who was smiling like he knew the best kept secret in town and was waiting to see what I would offer to find out what it was.
He gathered up some papers from the coffee table and put them in his briefcase before he turned back to me. My hands were on my hips and I was utterly baffled.
“What the hell is going on?” I was genuinely concerned and he just shrugged his shoulders and strode over to me.
“Your brother likes me. He’s a smart guy.” He pulled my hands off my waist and brought them to his lips. He kissed each in turn. “Cassidy, you’re going to be late for work.”
“I’m already late. I thought for sure I’d walk in to a brawl. What did you say to him?”
He pulled me close and kissed my nose. “I told him the truth.”
“Which is?”
“The truth.”
“For the love. You seem quite pleased with yourself.” He kissed me chastely. “I thought you were going out of town?”
“Smith is waiting for me downstairs.” Our hands were entwined as he held them behind my back, leaning into me seductively. “Did you sleep well?”
I blushed immediately and smiled. “You know I did. When did you leave?”
“Late. Let me walk you out.” We headed out of his office and past Jennifer after he grabbed his briefcase. Her head was buried in her work as we entered the elevator. He pulled me tight against him. “You in an elevator with me, tsk, tsk, tsk.” He bit my ear and I giggled as I grabbed onto his suit jacket. “I can’t get enough of you, lady.”
“Good, that means you’ll keep coming back for more.”
He jerked back and looked at me, “Always!” The doors opened and he was all business again as we walked out the front doors. “Where’s your car?” I pointed across the street. He laughed as I explained my parking dilemma. He waved to Andy who responded by hopping in my car and driving it over. “I don’t want to jeopardize your job. I’ll be in touch.” He embraced me and kissed me deeply.
I was vaguely aware of Andy’s reaction after he pulled my car up. When James was done kissing me, Andy acted like he hadn’t seen a thing. I then saw James’s Rover pulled up behind my car and a man in black shades was standing by the driver’s side door. He simply nodded to me.
“That’s Smith.” I mouthed ‘oh’ as James shuffled me into my car. He leaned down, “Think of me.” He kissed me again as he ran his hand up my leg before buckling me in. He cupped me gently and I clenched my thighs around his hand before he quickly pulled away.
“You’re the devil,” I glared at him. He smiled, closed my door and I drove off once I’d regained my composure. It was going to be a long lonely week. Thank God work would keep me busy.
~ JAMES ~
I watched her drive off and then climbed in next to Smith before he headed to the airport. Calvin was more than receptive to what I had told him, more than I thought he would’ve been. He was a little shocked and told me that Cassidy should know, but he would let me handle that. It couldn’t have gone any better, really. It was going to be a long week. Friday couldn’t get here soon enough.
Chapter Thirteen
Revealed
~ CASSIDY ~
I walked into wo
rk thirty minutes late. Lena rushed into my office asking, “Everything ok?” She handed me my coffee.
“All good. It’s still warm.”
“I ran it through the microwave.”
“Thank you, Lena. Is she here?”
“Not yet, you’re in the clear.” I plopped into my chair, relieved by her words. Though Cecily was late to work on numerous occasions, she didn’t appreciate tardiness from her employees, and she always seemed to be on time on the days we were late. The joys of being the boss.
“Have we collected all the auction items for Friday?” Lena sat down at the other side of my desk as we dug into work.
A couple hours later, we were both on calls; Lena was on her cell and I was on my desk phone when Linda came in. She dropped a package on my desk, and behind her, a pair of legs carrying a massive bouquet of peonies walked in. I ended the phone call and couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
“Flowers for Miss Charles.” The delivery man poked his head from behind the floral arrangement.
“That’s her!” Lena chirped as the flowers were placed on my side console. I came out from around my desk and signed for them. “They’re beautiful. Who are they from, Cassidy?”
“Thank you.” The delivery man made his way out, followed by Linda who was scowling at me. The old bag needed to get laid, I thought as I opened the card.
Blackbird,
I’ll never forget our firsts.
Miss me.
XO ~J
“Well?”
Blushing, I examined the peonies closer. The bouquet was a mixture of purple, pink, red and blood red peonies with some greenery. They were stunning. I closed my office door before taking my seat. “Lena, this has to stay between you and me.” I’m not sure why I even bothered to preface the conversation with that statement. One great thing about Lena was her ability to keep a secret.
She was squealing with delight. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw you in his office with him. O.M.G. Cassidy. He’s a big fucking deal! A big fucking hot deal!” Her enthusiasm was contagious and I started laughing with her. “Does Cecily know?”