He hadn’t told her he still loved her or that he wanted a future with her. He’d only admitted he wanted her body. She swore she’d never give her love or her body to a man who couldn’t give her everything she needed in return. But this was Drake, and in the harsh light of honesty, she had to admit that she’d never stopped loving him.

  Could she give him what they both wanted while protecting her heart, or was that too much to hope for?

  He held his hand out to help her out of the limousine.

  Caleb was already rounding the rear of the car when Drake pulled Cassidy in to his arms. “I really should fire your ass for not taking better care of my woman while I was away.”

  Looking uncomfortable, Caleb shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m sorry, I—”

  Drake held his hand up to silence his employee. “No need to apologize. Just don’t let it happen again.”

  Feeling guilty for getting Caleb in to trouble with his employer, Cassidy spoke up. “It was my fault, not his, Drake. If you want to blame someone for what happened tonight, blame me.”

  “It’s okay, Cassidy,” Caleb said, smiling down at her. “You don’t have to defend me. I made the call, even though I knew Mr. Elliott wouldn’t be happy about it.”

  “Just so we’re clear,” Drake said to Caleb as he drew Cassidy closer. “This little lady is real important to me. If anything happens to her while she’s on your watch, you will have to answer to me. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” he said, tipping his hat. “I promise I’ll take good care of her.”

  “One more thing,” Drake said. “You need to respect the professional boundaries from now on.”

  “Drake,” Cassidy said, flattening her palm against his stomach. “Please, Caleb was just trying to be a friend when I needed one. You can’t fault him for that.”

  Drake looked at his driver a long time before he raised an eyebrow and asked, “I don’t need to spell it out for you, do I?”

  He looked from Cassidy to Drake before he said, “No, sir.”

  “Good.” He took Cassidy’s hand in his. “We’re gonna turn in now, Caleb. You’re free to go.”

  “Have a good night,” Caleb said, his voice sounding strained.

  “We intend to,” Drake shot over his shoulder as he led Cassidy up the stairs.

  Cassidy squeezed his hand. “What was that all about?”

  “Just marking my territory,” he muttered under his breath.

  She pulled back on his hand, refusing to take another step. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “Fine, I’m sorry, okay?”

  He didn’t look sorry, but Cassidy decided to let it go. She didn’t want to argue with him tonight.

  The house was still and quiet. Cassidy knew Dora’s routine by now; she had probably retired to her quarters with a good book hours ago.

  Drake turned Cassidy into his arms. “I should’ve thought to ask this before. Are you okay to…? I mean, would the doctor object to us…?”

  Her lips twitched as she watched Drake stammer. It wasn’t like him to pull punches. When he had a question or concern, he was always direct about it.

  “The doctor said I could engage in light physical activity… swimming, treadmill…” She batted her eyelashes as she smiled up at him. “Sex.”

  “Thank God,” he breathed, tipping his head back. Gripping her shoulders, he said, “I mean, if you’d told me there was any risk we obviously wouldn’t have…”

  His uncharacteristic discomfort made her feel better. He was obviously taking this seriously. It wasn’t just about satisfying an urge, it was about filling a void. “I want you,” she said, finding the courage to be bold. “If you feel the same way…”

  “I do,” he said quickly. Dipping his head, he brought her in closer, overwhelming her with an intense kiss that laid her fears to rest. When he finally broke the kiss, he looked her in the eye as he brushed her hair off her face. The way he was looking at her, as though he could scarcely believe this was happening. “I’ve spent so many hours thinking about you this past year.”

  “I can imagine,” she said, casting her eyes lower. “You must have hated me.”

  “I wanted to, but I couldn’t. I thought getting revenge would give me some kind of perverse pleasure, but in the end, I was disgusted with myself. If I’d just been able to let you go and get on with your life, you never would have been living at that damn place.”

  It still pained her to know he blamed himself for her attack. “Phil and Susan gave me a home when I needed one, and that center gave me a purpose. In spite of what happened, I wouldn’t have traded my time there for anything. Living there allowed me to grow and heal. It showed me that I could help people who were going through what I’d been through and that gave me the courage to keep fighting my addiction.”

  “You blow me away,” he whispered, leaning in to skim his lips across her cheek. “You’ve been through so much, but you haven’t let it destroy you. I can’t tell you how much I respect and admire you, Cassidy.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hearing those words from him again meant so much. After the depth of disappointment she knew he must have felt finding her with Lee, it meant everything to her to earn his trust again. She wanted to tell him she loved him, that she’d never stopped, but she couldn’t find the courage to voice the truth. She didn’t want his pity if he couldn’t return the sentiment. If one more night in his arms was all she was entitled to, she would gladly take it.

  “Let’s go upstairs,” he said, taking her hand. He brushed his lips across her knuckles as he walked her up the stairs.

  Pausing at the entrance to the master suite, she admired the space. She’d poked her head in a time or two when Drake had been out of the house, but she never expected him to invite her inside his private retreat to share his bed again.

  He flicked the switch and dimmed the lights, casting a warm glow over the room before doing the same to the gas fireplace tucked into a built in wall nook facing the bed.

  “It’s perfect,” she said. It felt like they were in a luxury hideaway, safe from prying eyes. Here they could explore their relationship at their leisure before having to explain it to the outside world.

  “You’re perfect,” he said, setting her in front of him as he brushed her hair aside to kiss her neck. His fingers flew over the buttons lining the front of her shirt before he slipped it off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.

  She rolled her head back against his chest and closed her eyes. Nothing had ever felt more heavenly than the gentle scrape of his whiskers abrading her sensitive skin. Moaning, she leaned in to him, revelling in the hard evidence of his arousal prodding her back. There was no doubt about it. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  He flicked his thumb and forefinger over the closure at the front of her bra and her breasts fell free of the lacy garment. Filling his hands, he began to roll and tweak her nipples as he continued to lick and kiss her neck, focusing his attention on the areas he knew she was most sensitive.

  Her breathing was raspy as she struggled to maintain some semblance of control over her body. Her skin was on fire, her tense muscles finally relaxing as she gave herself over to his expert touch.

  “That’s it,” he whispered in her ear. “Just relax. We’ve got all night.”

  She wasn’t sure she could survive this exquisite torture for another minute, much less the rest of the night. Steeling her resolve, she decided to abandon her concerns and let herself fully experience every caress in case this night would be their last.

  She could feel him undoing the buttons of his shirt and casting it aside before he turned his attention to her jeans. Helping her ease them down, she toed her high boots off and turned to face him wearing only a pair of black lace panties.

  “You are so beautiful,” he breathed.

  He glided his hands over her body and she tried not to dwell on the imperfections that remained. Raised scars from surgery would fade with time, but never completely heal. They would serve as a reminder that life was precious and she should learn to appreciate every day as the gift it was. According to doctors, she should’ve died that night. When she learned she was living on borrowed time, she vowed to seize every opportunity and live every day like it was her last.

  “Even more stunning than I remember.”

  His hushed words were like a balm to her wounded self-image. It was difficult for her to feel beautiful when she looked in the mirror and saw only swelling, bruises and scars she feared would never fade. Knowing he still found her attractive bolstered her self-confidence and she knew that no matter what happened tomorrow, tonight would help her to heal.

  He reached for his belt buckle, but she pushed his hands aside, taking over the task.

  He grinned as he watched her slowly undressing him until she dropped to the floor at his feet. He sucked in a sharp breath, reaching for her arms to help her up, but she was exactly where she wanted to be. In the perfect position to remind her man what he had been missing all those months without her.

  She set about loving him in a way she’d never indulged another man. Worshipping him with her mouth, moaning her pleasure as she took him deeper, she could feel the tension in the solid muscles of his legs as he fought for control.

  “Oh Jesus, Cass, I…” He groaned through clenched teeth as he threaded his hands through her hair. “Baby, we gotta stop. I can’t…” He tugged her head back gently, tipping her face back until she was looking him in the eye. “I need to make love to you… now.”

  She let him escort her to the king-sized bed and ease her back gently against the pillows before reaching in to the nightstand for protection. Watching him sheath himself, she opened for him, desperate to feel a pleasure beyond anything she’d ever expected to experience again.

  Her teen years had been punctuated with wild parties and meaningless sex, but it wasn’t until she met Drake that she realized what it meant to make love. He was the only man who’d ever touched her soul while claiming her body, and she prayed it would be everything she remembered.

  He straddled her, staring down in to her eyes as he braced his hands on either side of her head. Lowering himself to his elbows, he kissed her slowly and sweetly as though he was as intent as she to savor every moment of their time together. “Are you sure about this, baby? If you’re having any doubts, I understand.”

  She loved that he was putting her needs above his own, proving to her yet again that the man she’d fallen in love with had been hiding behind that brusque exterior all along. “I’m positive.”

  Drake slid into her slowly, allowing her time to adjust to his invasion as he continued to kiss her thoroughly. Groaning, he deepened the kiss and held himself in check as she clenched him mercilessly.

  Her favorite part of making love to Drake had always been watching him lose control. Knowing that the world saw him as this ultra-powerful music mogul, but in her arms he was a prisoner to his body.

  “Are you okay?” he asked in her ear. His breathing was labored, as though the painstaking task of controlling his body’s urges was already taking its toll. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut, praying she could prevent the tears from falling. She was so in love with this man, trying to hide that from him was harder than she ever expected it to be.

  “Hey,” he said, pulling back to look her in the eye. “You need me to stop, baby?”

  “No,” she said, wrapping her arms around his back to draw him closer. “Please, don’t. I need you.”

  Satisfied with her response, he began to pick up the tempo. “Jesus…” he whispered. “I love the way you feel.”

  She didn’t trust herself to speak so she just held him tighter, burying her face in his neck. Her body was imploring her to release the moan building in her throat, but she was aware of the fact they weren’t alone in the house. Thousands of square feet may separate them from Drake’s staff, but she knew if she voiced her pleasure, it would reverberate through the house.

  “Don’t do that,” he whispered, digging his hands in to his hips as he plunged in and out, harder, faster, deeper with every stroke. “Don’t ever hold back with me.”

  She didn’t know how he could tell she was being cautious, but as he continued to stoke the fire the building inside of her, she had no choice but to let go, freefalling, hoping he would be there to catch her when she landed.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Cassie woke up the next morning, she tried to quash the disappointment. She was alone. Again. She reminded herself that Drake was a busy man, that his time was valuable, but in her idealistic mind, he’d woken her with a kiss, if only to tell her that last night had been as magical for him as it had been for her.

  Before she had time to feel sorry for herself, her cell phone rang. Scrambling to find the purse she’d dropped on the floor the night before, she tried following the sound, tossing aside clothes and pillows in her haste to find it. If it was Drake, she didn’t want to miss his call.

  She glanced at the screen. Unknown caller. “Hello.”

  “I’m looking for Cassidy Ross.”

  “This is she.”

  “Cassidy, my name is Elsie. I live across the hall from your mama. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but she’s had a stroke.” When Cassidy didn’t respond, she continued. “I didn’t know who else to call. She talked about you and your sister all the time. I found your numbers in the book by the phone… I just thought someone should be there for her. I would go to the hospital myself, but I have to go into work soon.”

  Deafening silence prompted her to say, “I’d, uh, call in, but there’s no one to take my shift at the diner.”

  Cassidy sank to the bed, trying to process the news. She hadn’t spoken to her mother in over a year. Phil encouraged her to sever the toxic bonds in her life so she could begin to let go of the past. Her mother had always been a harsh reminder of why she’d been trying to escape in the first place. Still, a part of her remained hopeful that her Elizabeth would find the strength to fight her own demons someday.

  “Is she…?” She cleared her throat. “Going to be okay?”

  “I don’t know, honey. They just rushed her to the hospital around the corner.”

  Cassidy remembered that hospital well. It was so close she could hear the sirens from her bedroom when she left the window open in the summer to escape the stifling heat and stench of stale booze and cigarettes. “Thank you for calling. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Her hand trembled as she let the phone fall to her lap.

  Elizabeth Ross had lived in the same rundown apartment two blocks from the hospital for as long as Cassidy could remember. The only other home she remembered was a run-down trailer they’d lived in with one of her mother’s boyfriends when Katie was just a toddler.

  That apartment was the dungeon that housed her worst childhood memories and now she had to go back and face them again. She only prayed she was strong enough to face it alone.

  ***

  Drake bounded up the stairs leading to his front door just before dinner. He couldn’t wait to see Cassidy. In spite of how busy he’d been in the studio, memories of last night had been taunting him all day, making it difficult for him to concentrate.

  He wandered in to the kitchen, expecting to see Cassidy sitting on a stool at the counter, helping Dora chop vegetables. In spite of Dora’s protests, she insisted on helping and he suspected both women enjoyed their daily chats.

  “Hey,” he said, smiling at his housekeeper. “Where’s Cassidy?”

  Dora focused her attention on the prime rib she was slicing, not responding right away.

  Drake couldn’t explain why Dora’s subtle evasion made him nervous, but it did. “I asked you a question, Dora. Where is she?”

  She sighed as she pulled a white envelope out of her apron. “She’s gone. She asked me to give you this.”

  Drake reached for the letter as a sick feeling of dread overcame him. “What do you mean, she’s gone? Don’t tell me she went back to that hell hole.”

  “No, nothing like that,” Dora said, looking sad. “She had to deal with a family emergency.”

  “What kind of family emergency?” He knew she didn’t have a relationship with her mother or her sister and she didn’t have any other family.

  “It’s all in the letter, I assume,” Dora said, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

  “Just tell me one thing.” He wasn’t sure he had the courage to ask the question, but living in denial wasn’t an option for him. “Is she planning on coming back?”

  “I don’t think so,” Dora said softly, looking up at him. “I’m sorry, honey.”

  He sank down on a stool, unable to believe what he was hearing. He’d let himself fall in love with that woman all over again and last night she’d shown him in every possible way that the feeling was mutual. Why would she leave him now when fate was giving them a second chance?

  “I don’t get it… why?”

  “Read the letter,” Dora said, rounding the counter to pat his back. “I’m sure she explained everything.”

  He didn’t want to read the damn letter. He wanted to see her face to face so he could convince her to stop running. This was her home, or at least he wanted it to be.

  He waited until Dora left the room before tearing in to the non-descript envelope. His hands were trembling as he unfolded the single sheet of paper. How the hell could she explain her reasons for walking out of his life on one lousy piece of paper?

  Drake,

  I’ll never be able to thank you enough for welcoming me in to your home and taking such good care of me.

  Drake was getting angrier by the second. She was addressing him like he was a stranger instead of the man she’d made love to last night. Forcing himself to continue, his eyes scanned the words.

  The time I spent with you allowed me to heal physically and emotionally. I feel stronger than I ever have and I know I’m going to be just fine now.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19