Your Love Is Mine

by Bella Andre

  “Your skin is so soft,” he murmured between kisses. “You feel so good.”

  Her skirt was at her upper thigh when he finally slid his hand to the aroused flesh between her legs. Her breath was coming in gasps as one light touch, one perfect stroke of his fingers over silk, drove her straight to the edge. Again and again, he caressed her, and her eyes fell closed as she relished the sinfully sweet sensations.

  “Look at me, Cassie.” He momentarily stilled his hand. “I need to see you.”

  She opened her eyes to find his blazing with heat. And then—oh God, it was so good—he slid his hand over her bare skin, swallowing her cries of pleasure with his mouth as she climaxed.

  Lifting her into his arms, he carried her inside the suite. In the bathroom, he turned on the shower, then stripped both of them out of their clothes. The glass-enclosed shower was all steamed up by the time they stepped inside, Flynn remembering to grab a condom at the last moment.

  She ran her hands down his wet skin, the muscles of his abdomen rippling beneath her touch. “I can’t believe I get to live out my secret fantasies with you.”

  “Tell me one of your fantasies, Cassie, and we’ll live it right now.”

  “We already are.”

  “You’re one of the most creative people I’ve ever met.” There was a sexy challenge in his eyes as he said, “You can do better than that.”

  She’d never felt more beautiful than she did with Flynn, but she’d never exactly been a sex goddess either. At least, not until he’d shown her that she had been one all along.

  Slowly, she turned to face the tiled wall. Putting her hands flat on the cool tiles on either side of her head, she looked over her shoulder. “This is one of my fantasies.”

  She’d never seen his eyes so dark, or so hungry, as he drank her in. And then the hard, muscled length of his body was pressed along her backside, his hands and mouth seemingly everywhere at once. Cupping her breasts, caressing the curves of her hips, brushing against her lips—then starting at the top all over again, until she was writhing against him and begging him to take her.

  At last, he sheathed himself, then gripped her hips in his big hands and drove into her in one powerful stroke. She cried out his name he took her to the peak of pleasure, then they catapulted into sheer bliss together.

  Her legs were still trembling slightly as he gently washed her hair and body. It was the nicest thing in the world to be taken care of like this, by someone who clearly cherished her. By the time he turned off the water, then wrapped her in a plush towel, she felt more relaxed than she could remember.

  “I’m not nervous about the awards ceremony anymore.” She smiled as she added, “Mostly because I can’t stop thinking about which fantasy I’m going to share with you once we come back to the room tonight.”

  * * *

  Flynn needed a good ten minutes to get his body back under control after Cassie’s comment about her next fantasy. When he finally won the battle with his arousal—as much as he could when, only a room away, Cassie was slipping into her dress and heels—he put on the black tuxedo he’d rented for the evening, then went out to the living room.

  He was staring out over the moonlit Portland cityscape when he heard the click of heels on the hardwood floor. Turning to face Cassie, he had to put his hand on the glass to steady himself.

  The sapphire-blue lace and silk slid over her curves like a second skin. At once demure and breathtakingly sexy, it hinted at far more than it gave away. She had pulled her hair up into a loose bun and wore a pair of sparkling sapphire earrings that her mother had lent her for the evening. She also wore the four-leaf clover locket around her neck that her father had given her.

  She looked like an angel.

  His and Ruby’s angel.

  He took her hands in his. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  Her smile was radiant. “And you’re so handsome in your tux that I’m wondering if we can get away with being a little bit late to the ceremony.”

  “Don’t worry,” he promised, “I’ll make waiting worth your while.”

  She licked her lips, looking sexier than ever as she asked, “How?”

  He laughed, amazed by how natural it felt to laugh with Cassie, when it was something he’d rarely done before. “That’s for me to know…and you to spend the next several hours anticipating.” He was about to put his hand on the small of her back to guide her over to the door, when he could see that she obviously wasn’t yet ready. “What is it, Cassie?”

  “I know being my date tonight will probably open up a lot of questions about you and Ruby. Especially if any of the bigger media outlets cover the awards.” She gripped his hands tightly. “But I’m going to make sure that no one ever hurts you or Ruby again. Not tonight. Not ever.”

  “I never knew someone could simultaneously be a fierce warrior and the sunniest person on the planet. Not until you.” He kissed her gently. “And I’m not worried about anyone bothering me tonight. They’re not going to be able to take their eyes off of you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The hotel ballroom was a crush of people in glittering dresses and black tie. Flynn had been to many similar events in Hollywood, but this one felt completely different.

  For starters, he wasn’t here for his own gain. Tonight was all about Cassie. She’d shown him the work of her fellow finalists online, and while they were excellent confectioners, he remained confident that she would win. Every time one of her colleagues heaped her work with praise, he felt so damned proud and lucky to be standing beside her. What’s more, while everyone in Hollywood competed with cutthroat intensity, these confectioners seemed very relaxed.

  A half hour after their arrival, one of Cassie’s friends pulled her away for a picture with several other finalists, leaving Flynn with the woman’s husband. “You wouldn’t happen to be Flynn Stewart, the screenwriter, would you?”

  So far, no one had seemed to recognize him, and he’d been hoping he might make it through the whole night simply as Cassie’s plus one. Flynn worked to keep his expression easy as he nodded. “I’ve written a few movies.”

  “I’m a huge fan.” The guy looked like he couldn’t believe his luck. “I know we’re supposed to be keeping to small talk,” he continued as Cassie and her friend returned, “but I’ve got to tell you how much of a difference your movies have made for me.”

  Before Flynn could say thank you, then change the subject, Cassie slipped her arm around his waist. “If you don’t mind sharing,” she said, “I’d love to know how Flynn’s work has made a difference for you.”

  The other couple shared a look, their fingers threading together as the man said, “I had a terrible childhood, which I’m finally able to say out loud after years of therapy. But when I was still struggling, your movies were my go-to when I needed a boost. The way your heroes always manage to rise above their pasts, even when it seems impossible, made me feel I could do the same for myself.”

  Flynn was stunned. He hadn’t realized he’d put so much of himself into his movies. Nor had he thought that his work would ever help anyone deal with something difficult in their past.

  The master of ceremonies announced that it was time to take their seats for dinner, but before they did so, the other man shot him an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just wanted to say thanks for doing such great work. I can’t wait to see your next film.”

  “I knew it,” Cassie said to Flynn once they were seated. “I knew anything you created would be beautiful. As beautiful as you are.”

  Before he could respond, the emcee greeted everyone. And as waiters circled the tables filling wine glasses and putting plates of food in front of them, Flynn deliberately pushed the man’s comments into the back of his mind for the time being.

  He’d never wanted anyone to win so badly. Cassie was so talented that her business would surely continue to grow by leaps and bounds without the award. Nonetheless, she deserved t
o know without so much as a flicker of doubt that she was the very best at what she did. Flynn, her siblings, her parents—they could tell her again and again that she was incredible, but it was still important for her to hear it from impartial judges.

  Cassie wasn’t the kind of woman who picked at her food, but she barely ate anything as the organizers gave a string of speeches, and then the cake and chocolate categories were awarded.

  Finally, the candy category was up. Flynn clasped her hand tightly as the nominees were announced, their confections showcased on the large screen behind the podium. He would never have guessed so many innovative things could be done with candy—from lollipops that looked like little planets, to large blooms that looked exactly like flowers, to a three-foot-tall bear made entirely from sour straws.

  “And the winner is…”

  Though Cassie looked outwardly calm, she was nearly crushing Flynn’s fingers while they waited. Out of the blue, Flynn was hit with a vision of the future where she gripped his hand as she gave birth to a little boy or girl.

  Both the clarity of his vision—and his longing for it to come true—meant that he was nearly caught off guard when the presenter leaned into the microphone and said, “Cassie Sullivan!”

  Cassie was clearly stunned as she remained in her seat, staring at the stage with wide eyes as the audience applauded her win.

  Flynn put his hand gently on her cheek. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”

  His voice and touch snapped her out of her surprise. With her typical exuberance, she flung her arms around him. “I can’t believe it.”

  “I can. You’re amazing, Cassie. Never forget it.”

  She was positively glowing as she walked to the stage. Everyone she passed had a kind and congratulatory word for her. Flynn pulled out his phone to videotape her acceptance speech so that her family could see it all when they got back to Bar Harbor.

  “Thank you.” Holding the glass statue as tightly as she’d gripped his hand a moment before, she beamed at the audience. “I can’t tell you how honored I am even to have been considered for this award. I admire each and every one of you so much, and I’m always hugely inspired by the work you do. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved candy. Eating it, of course—” She grinned even wider as the room collectively laughed. “And making it in the kitchen with vats of sugar and food coloring and plenty of burning saucepans. Most parents would have worried about cavities and steered me in a more traditional direction. But my mother and father encouraged me to follow my dreams. This year, my siblings insisted I enter this competition. Love has always propelled me forward and given me a safe place to land.” Cassie searched for Flynn in the audience. Her eyes were glittering with emotion as she said, “But never more than tonight, with the sweetest love of all.”

  In that moment, it was as though they were the only two people in the room. He mouthed, I love you, and Cassie gave him a radiant smile before turning her attention back to the room. “Thank you, again, for this honor.”

  All the nominees were brought up on stage as the emcee wrapped up the ceremony. The audience leaped to their feet as they applauded the talented group of confectioners.

  When the house lights came up, Flynn went to find Cassie, who was being photographed with the other winners. While he didn’t want to claim any part of her spotlight, he did want to make sure she knew he was there if she needed anything. As he watched her shine, not one of the models he’d dated over the years could compare. Cassie was the most stunning woman in the world, on every single level, inside and out.

  And he was the luckiest guy in the world to get to be with her.

  “Excuse me.” A woman in a sharply tailored blue suit touched his shoulder. “Are you Flynn Stewart?”

  He could spot an ambitious journalist from a mile away, one hungry enough for a scoop to turn any sound bite, no matter how small or irrelevant, to her advantage. His instinct was to shut the woman down and walk away. But he’d promised Cassie and her father—and himself—that he was done running.

  “I am.”

  “You’re here with Cassie Sullivan, is that correct?”

  If she’d seen Cassie’s acceptance speech, she knew damn well he was. “I am. Her work is extraordinary, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” The woman gave a cursory glance toward Cassie, who was standing beside her winning candy heart, surrounded by photographers. “I’m assuming her cousin Smith Sullivan is responsible for introducing you two?” Before he could reply, the woman looked around the room. “Is the baby here tonight?”

  Flynn had never liked doing interviews. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t well aware of how the game was played. “Smith and Valentina are good friends,” he said first, followed by a crystal clear, “My daughter is off-limits. Period.”

  “Of course,” the journalist said, slightly chastened.

  He knew it wouldn’t last, though. Not when there was a major scoop to be had. Just as he was about to shift the conversation to Cassie’s brilliant work, she broke away from her photo call and slipped her hand into his.

  “Hello, I’m Cassie.” She extended her other hand to the journalist.

  “Jasmine Gordon from the Portland Press Herald. Congratulations on your win.”

  “Thank you.” Cassie’s smile was sweet as could be as she said, “If you don’t mind my stealing Flynn away, I need his assistance backstage.”

  The journalist hesitated before nodding—and pressing a card into Flynn’s hand. “If there’s anything you’d like to share with your fans, I’m available to talk whenever it works for you.”

  Cassie waited to speak again until she had pulled him into the deserted backstage area. She looked fiercely protective as she asked, “What did she say to you?”

  Flynn responded with a kiss. He’d told Cassie she didn’t have to fight his battles for him, but she’d been adamant that he shouldn’t have to fight them alone. Fighting them together was a new concept for him, but one he found he really liked.

  “I love you, Cassie.”

  “I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around him. But then she scowled. “I’m serious—do I need to give that woman a piece of my mind?”

  “No.” He kissed the scowl from her lips. “She’s just doing her job.”

  “I know you want tonight to be all about me,” Cassie said softly. “And I love you even more for that. But I meant it when I told you I won’t let anyone hurt you or Ruby.”

  “They won’t,” he promised her. “Talking with the journalist made me realize, yet again, how imperative it is to finally come clean. The longer I hide the truth about Ruby—and myself—the more the press will probe. I’ve spent the past twenty years feeling hunted. I refuse to have either you or Ruby feel that way. Just as I refuse to let my past get in the way of your win tonight. The world is yours, Cassie. And nothing would make me happier than seeing you grab it with both hands.”

  “Well, if it will make you happy…” At last, her lips turned up at the corners in that beautiful smile he so loved to see. “Let’s go grab the world.” She lifted his hands to her lips. “Together.”

  * * *

  Cassie sparkled all night long. Even when she’d been ready to duke it out with the journalist, she hadn’t lost her glow. Hours later, when they were back in their suite, Flynn could see how tired she was.

  He led her over to the couch in the living room. “Time for you to relax.” Once she was seated, he slipped off her shoes, then rubbed the soles of her feet.

  A blissful smile on her face, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the plush cushions. “I may never let you stop doing that.”

  “Anything you want, consider it yours.”

  She opened one eye to look at him. “Do you really mean that?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Well, that’s good, because…” She bit her lip. “I want to watch one of your movies tonight.”

  He nearly dropped her foot, he was so surprised. “Why would you want to d
o that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I, when everyone who has seen them has raved about how great they are?” Before he could protest, she added, “I know you said you never wanted me to see one, but I was hoping you might be persuaded to change your mind about that. Plus, the TV in here is so huge it will be almost like watching it in the theater—and they’ve even left us microwave popcorn and Milk Duds.”

  Flynn hadn’t yet unpacked the man’s comments from earlier about how his thrillers had helped him deal with a bad childhood. Could that be right? Could Flynn have been wrong about the worth of his own work?

  “Okay.”

  She threw her arms around him. “Thank you.” Too soon, however, she was moving away. “I love Lola’s dress, but I’m dying to put on leggings and a T-shirt. Be right back.”

  Flynn worked to squash his apprehension over what they were about to do as he put the popcorn in the microwave. Millions of people had seen his movies, but no one’s opinion had ever mattered so much before. If Cassie didn’t like what she saw—

  He was so lost in his head that the microwave had beeped a good half-dozen times by the time Cassie reappeared beside him and pulled out the steaming bag.

  “You don’t have to worry,” she said, reading his mind. “I’m going to love it.” She tugged him back to the couch, turned on the TV, then typed his name into the search box for the streaming service. “Do you want to choose, or should I just pick one at random?”

  Flynn’s nerves were choking him so tightly that he could barely get out the words, “The Dark Drive.”

  From the first note of the soundtrack, Cassie was clinging to Flynn. By the time the seventeen-year-old protagonist walked on-screen, she was watching the movie through the fingers of the hand she’d put over her eyes. If they had been watching someone else’s movie, the little yelps she gave every few minutes might have made him laugh. Tonight, he was too busy praying she wouldn’t hate his work to find anything the least bit funny.