15
Cassia
Sofia and I worked day and night until we had to get on a plane to New York City.
When she suggested we take the Davenport family jet so we could bring the clothing line without packing them into suitcases, my stomach clenched, remembering the time I spent on the jet with Chris.
But he’d gone off to follow his dreams, leaving me in the dust. I was going to do the same.
New York City was unlike anything I’d ever seen. And Sofia had a commanding presence here that exuded the power and confidence of her name, and of her position in society. She was the same woman I’d spent the last few weeks with, but at the same time, stronger.
I felt entirely out my league.
The convention center for the fashion show was decorated to the nines. Sofia grabbed my hand, grinning as she led me out to the runway.
“I can’t believe I’m about to be at a real fashion show.”
“Not just at it. In it. The who’s who of the New York fashion scene are going to be here. You’re going to rock this!” Sofia was practically bouncing with excitement.
I didn’t get a lot of time to ooh and awe over everything, but I made myself slow down to remember moments. I didn’t want it all to go by in a blur.
The models showed up our first day so I could get them fitted properly. Sofia was mostly gone working with her manager on contracts for commercials and whatever else famous country stars did.
My nerves were more frayed than some of the hems on my quickly assembled garments as the show started and my first model stepped out onto the runway.
“Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.” Sofia squeezed my hand. “But you have to change. You can’t take our final walk out there dressed like a schlub.”
I glanced down at the jeans and tank top I wore. I hardly looked like a schlub, although my hair had certainly taken on a Medusa-esque quality that I doubted even the most skilled of stylists could tame.
“Change. Now.” She shoved me toward the dressing area, where my outfit hung, waiting for me.
I quickly stripped out of my clothes and pulled on the tight, white and black dress that showed off my size and accentuated my curves. There would be no hiding my curvy body out there.
I was trying to ignore the fact that once again, Christopher Davenport had let me down. He’d made promises, let me believe there was more between us than just hot sex. And then, one conversation with his father, and he was gone so fast I was surprised there wasn’t a Chris-shaped hole through the front door of the estate.
Pulling my hair into a tight bun, I stared at myself in the overly lit up mirror. I doubted there was enough concealer in all of New York to hide the bags under my eyes.
“Fuck, you look gorgeous, Cin.”
His voice sent shivers down my spine.
I was afraid to turn around. “Chris?”
A bouquet of orange roses hit the makeup table to my left, and a paper cup smelling of pumpkin spice landed to my right.
But before I could pick up either, I felt Chris’s hands slide over my ass. “It’s too bad I don’t have time to properly relax you with a few dozen orgasms.”
I straightened, turning in his arms just so I could push him back a step or two. “You left.”
“I’m sorry, Cinnamon. My father just makes me so crazy. I had to get out of the house.”
“And apparently out of the country.” I picked up the latte, carefully drinking so that I didn’t end up in another pumpkin spice tie dye situation. “Look, Chris, I’m not mad. I know I should be. You left. But I can understand why you did it.”
His jaw dropped.
I didn’t get the chance to surprise him often, so I was a little proud that I’d managed to now. “Look, I have this thing I have to do really quick, but after, we’ll go out, get coffee. Talk.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.” He pulled me against him, gently plucking the coffee cup out of my hand before he seared a kiss to my lips. The sort of kiss that made my knees weak and my panties wet. I wanted more, but there wasn’t time.
“Be right back.” I slipped out from his arms and headed for the runway in a daze.
Sofia was standing right there and gave me a thumbs up as I followed the last model out for the final walk.
Camera flashes were almost blinding. The applause was deafening. Or maybe that was just the roar of my own heartbeat in my ears.
The feeling was incredible. Completely indescribable. Like the rush of my first kiss, and the sensation of that dream where I had to give a speech in front of my entire high school and I’d forgotten my clothes, all in one.
And as I stepped off the stage again, Chris was there.
“Your show was incredible.” He wrapped his arms around me and grinned. “Sof, do you need your talented designer any more tonight? Or can I take her out to celebrate?”
“Go. Have fun. I’ll fill you in on any rave reviews tomorrow, Cassia.” She hugged us both, mostly because Chris refused to let me go even long enough for me to hug his sister, and then nudged me toward the door. “Besides—the designer leaving on the arm of a supposedly attractive man, before she can even talk to any of the potential buyers? Very mysterious.”
Chris’s hand slid down to cup the curve of my ass as we headed out the door to a waiting town car. “Where would you like to go?”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I hardly know anything in New York. How about we just go back to my hotel? Then I can get out of these heels, take a breath.” I looked up at him. “Those were my designs. On a New York runway.”
“Hotel sounds good. But I might want you to leave those heels on.” He grinned as he opened the door. “Ritz Carlton, please.”
“Um, I’m not staying at the Ritz.”
“You are now. If you’ll stay with me.”
I looked up at him as I slid into the car, smiling coyly. “I guess that depends on how the night goes.”
He followed me into the town car, but rather than staying on his side of the back seat, or even buckling in, he invaded my space.
The kiss he gave me made my toes curl in my heels. As his tongue plunged into my mouth, the car rolled forward.
I couldn’t tell how long we were driving. I was too distracted by Chris’s hands on my body, his mouth on mine.
Craig opened the door, and I blushed as Christopher fell back into his seat.
Chris just grinned like he was proud.
I shook my head at him as we got into the elevator. “You don’t have to look so smug, Davenport.”
He pinned me up against the elevator wall with his hips. His erection was obvious, pressed against me. “I am smug. I’m taking the most incredible woman in all of New York City up to my hotel room.”
“I can’t believe you actually came.”
“I promised you, didn’t I?” He cupped my cheek in his palm. “I made Tony rearrange our whole schedule, so I could be here tonight. I couldn’t let you down again.”
I leaned up and kissed him softly, keeping it as chaste as I could with his body still pressed against mine. “Thank you.”
“I couldn’t miss your big debut. The clothes looked amazing. But can I be honest?”
Here it was; the criticism.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
“I much prefer stripping you out of your clothes, to watching other people model them.”
“There you go again…”
The elevator chimed, and the door slid open.
I slipped from my spot between him and the wall, and smirked as I stepped off the elevator. “Making me wet with just a sentence.”
Chris groaned as he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall to his room.
As soon as the door closed, he pressed me against the door and kissed me again, hungrily.
With a sigh, I pushed him away, needing a little space. “Chris, I want you. I do. But I think we need to talk first.”
He immediately stepped back and nodded.
“Okay.”
I wished we’d gone to my hotel, so that I’d have something more comfortable to change into. Instead, I crossed the room to the bed, sitting gingerly on the edge.
Chris sat next to me and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me in close. “I’m sorry I left.”
“I get why you did. Nash only stuck around for a couple of days, but I got more than enough from the encounter to understand.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “But all your siblings had your back. Even James laid into him for chasing you off. I think it was the most I’ve ever heard him say.”
Chris chuckled. “I would’ve liked to see that. What did Nash do?”
“He left. I guess he didn’t want to stick around and have his faults thrown in his face.” I turned and faced him. “You’re nothing like that man, Christopher. You’re kind and caring. And so considerate. You learned how to operate an espresso machine, just to make me lattes. You went out of your way to be here for me, for my show.” I stood, hiking up my skirt so that I could straddle him. “You’re the first man I ever let into my bed. The first man I ever trusted.” I leaned down and kissed him slowly, tenderly. “I love you, Davenport.”
“Cin, don’t say it unless you mean it.”
I reached back and tugged down my zipper, letting the straps of my dress fall off my shoulders. “I mean it, Christopher. I love you. And I want to hear all about Japan, all about your deal. But first, I need your big, thick cock inside me.”
He grinned and grabbed my hips. “I like it when you speak your mind. Especially when your mind is all about getting naked and into bed.” He popped the hooks on my bra and tossed it into the floor. “And I really like hearing you say you love me.” He cupped my breasts in both hands, holding them together. “I love you, Cin. And I’m going to make all of you mine. Every inch of this hot, curvy body is mine.”
As he stripped me of my dress and my panties, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been his for seven years. From the first moment he touched me, from the first moment we kissed, I’d belonged to Chris Davenport. And he belonged to me.
Epilogue
Chris
One year later…
“I’m glad you called me for this.” Sofia leaned over the jeweler’s case. “I can’t imagine you have half the taste it would take to pick out the perfect ring.”
“I could’ve managed on my own, I’m sure. Besides, I didn’t call you for help. I just needed to know where she was going to be this week. She’s been so busy; she usually forgets to text me back.”
“Not that you’re complaining.” She nudged me with her hip. “She’s got a show on Saturday. We’re still looking for the perfect retailer to carry her line. Someone who will respect the brand, and not treat it like just another plus-sized line that gets hidden in the back of the store. Not that I’m particularly in any hurry. I love getting to wear exclusive CC Designs for my shows and for the red carpet.” Sofia pointed at a ring in the case. “That one.”
I looked at the diamond and shook my head. “I’m not here to shop. I’m actually just picking up the one I had resized.”
As if on cue, the jeweler came out and smiled. “Mr. Davenport, I’ve got your ring right here.” He pulled it out, holding it up in a velvet box. “We also had it washed and polished.”
“Oh, Chris.” Sofia sighed, a wistful look in her eyes. “Grandma Sofia’s ring?”
“I had them engrave it too. You don’t mind, right? I know you’re her namesake.”
“Not at all! Cassia’s part of the family. Or will be soon enough. And you were always closer to Grandma than I was.” She hugged me tight before she picked up the ring and held it up. “She’ll love it. Really.”
I grinned and took the ring from her, reading the inscription. First and Last, Forever.
“I just hope I can get her to say yes.” I set the ring back in the box and pocketed it. “So, a show on Saturday, huh?”
“She’s got a whole new collection. Some really incredible stuff.” Sofia smirked. “I’ll text you the address.”
She hugged me again, and then we parted ways.
Before I headed home, I booked a flight to New York.
* * *
Cassia had moved from one studio to another. But this one was in Midtown. And more than twice the size of the one in Jubilee Falls.
I let myself into the apartment we shared and set down my bags. I knew she wouldn’t be home until after the show, so there was no rush to unpack.
Instead, I focused on making sure everything was perfect for when we came home together. Hopefully engaged.
Candles by the bed? Check.
Music cued up on my phone, ready to set the mood? Check.
Rose petals from the front door to the king-sized bed that I frequently rocked her world in? Check.
Everything was set. Now, all I needed to do was make the perfect pumpkin spiced latte, with a little something extra inside.
I waited to show up until after Cassia’s models had already started their walk.
The new collection was perfectly on Cin’s brand, and the luxury of the fabrics, the cuts, and the styling of the models spoke to her confidence as a designer. She’d completely blossomed in the last year, and even though she’d never admit it, I had a feeling her sexier designs had something to do with me.
I stayed in the shadows, watching one model after another take to the runway.
Cassia paced in the wings, fussing over each outfit before the model went out. Her dress for the evening was made in that same dark green from our first real date and hugged her ass so perfectly I wanted to take a bite.
When she took her place for the final walk, I could feel my heartbeat pick up slightly.
She strode out, her smile wide as she took her bows.
As she came backstage once more, I held up the paper cup with her latte.
“Your coffee, my love.”
She took a sip, letting out a groan as she swallowed. “How is it that I can always tell when you’ve made my latte? What do you do to it that makes it so much better than one from any shop I’ve found?”
“I make it with love.” I grinned and leaned down to kiss her. “We’ve got a few minutes before your adoring fans are going to be looking for you, right?”
She nodded, taking another sip. “And I need to sit. I’ve been pacing in these heels for hours; I need a minute.” She pointed at a chair. “And my favorite place to sit is on your lap.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I thought your favorite place to sit was on my face, Cinnamon.”
She licked her lips, glancing down at my crotch. “Well, one of my favorites.”
“Drink your coffee.”
I sat and pulled her into my lap. I needed her to finish her latte, if this proposal was going to happen tonight.
Letting her sit in my lap was a bad idea though. It gave me a perfect view of her cleavage, and just added pressure to my already hardening cock.
I waited nervously as she got to the bottom of her cup.
“Christopher, what else did you put in this?” She popped off the plastic lid and looked down into the cup. “Is that a…”
I poured it out onto my palm and slurped the ring into my mouth, cleaning off the pumpkin spice before I held it out. “Cassia Cinnamon Carter, I want you to be my wife. I want you to be mine, forever.”
She gasped, gently taking the ring from me. “Davenport, this is…” She slipped it on. “I don’t need a ring to be yours forever. I already am.”
“Yeah, well, call me old fashioned, but I want to make it official.” I nudged her off my lap and dropped to one knee. Taking her left hand in mine, I kissed her knuckles before saying, “Say it, Cin. Say yes.”
She laughed and tugged me up, wrapping her arms around my neck for a steamy kiss. “Hell yes.”
I heard Sofia before I saw her. “Oh my God, Cassia, congratulations!”
A moment later, my sister hugged us both tight, practically bouncing in excitement.
“We shou
ld go celebrate.”
Cassia bit her lip and looked up at me. “Tomorrow, Sof. Tonight, I think I need to just celebrate with my fiancé.”
She chuckled and held up her hands in defeat. “Okay, okay. But you better believe we’re going to start designing your wedding dress ASAP. And my maid of honor dress.”
Cassia laughed. “You could’ve at least let me ask first.”
“I’m pushy. I know it. You know it. Deal with it.” Sofia grinned. “Go. We’ll talk first thing tomorrow.”
I didn’t have to be told twice. I scooped Cassia into my arms and carried her out to my waiting town car.
The drive back to the apartment took way too long, with her sitting there, wearing my ring, looking somehow even sexier now that she was my fiancée.
I stopped Cassia at the door, barring her entrance. “Give me two minutes.”
“Christopher, this is my house too.”
“I know. Two minutes.” I kissed her, both hands grabbing her supple ass as I firmly pulled her against me. “Keep those panties wet for me.”
I slipped into the apartment before she could say anything else, hoping she’d give me at least a thirty second head start.
Lighting the candles and starting the music took next to no time, which was good, because Cassia came in almost immediately.
“Christopher…”
I pulled off my shirt and smirked. “Yes, Cin?”
“While I appreciate the seduction tactics, I really want you to get naked and let me ride your cock hard until we both come. And I don’t intend to stop fucking you tonight until we’ve both passed out from so many orgasms that we can’t see straight.”
“God, I love it when you get all assertive. Take off your dress.”
Instead of listening to my command, she just hiked her skirt up and slowly slid her panties down her thighs before she tossed them at me. “Wet enough for you?”
I caught them and groaned. “Fuck, Cin, you’re going to be the death of me.” I quickly undid my pants and dropped my jeans and boxers to the floor, stroking myself as I climbed onto the bed.
Billionaire Barista: Love Demands a Holiday Page 14