Free The Bound Bride by Anne Lawrence Page B

smiled.
    “Mr. Chambers? Just great. I think he’s looking forward to seeing you again.”
    Jeff thought. He wasn’t deep enough into the inner circle to know for sure. But Cassandra would take his guess for gospel and hope that the good word was true.
    They pulled up to a high rise. Even from the outside, it suggested amenities that she could barely dream of. She suddenly regretted her too casual attire and wanted to order Jeff back so that she could change into something more appropriate. The words remained trapped in her throat as Jeff put the car into park and carefully ushered her from the back seat. They rolled though the revolving doors, and Jeff slapped hands with the concierge. He moved her towards another elevator bank.
    “Top floor. It’s all his. He’s waiting.”
    He patted her cheek and turned to go. Cassandra reached for Jeff’s arm as he stated to leave.
    “What’s he waiting for?” she asked.
    Jeff looked her up and down and cocked his head with a smile.
    “You. Now get on up there.”
    Cassandra touched the necessary button with a trembling finger as the doors opened. She stepped into the car and watched Jeff disappear into the street.
    The elevator opened again upon a candlelit space that took her breath away. In many ways, it was deeper, more massive than the lobby of the Met. There were more sofas than she could count and a table threatening to collapse with buckets upon buckets of wine and champagne. She took one step forward when Oliver appeared from another room. He was wearing a brown suit, crisp and glowing under the flames. Cassandra hugged her poor choice in wardrobe closer. She wanted to hold him, but she was beyond embarrassed at her bad call.
    Oliver neared her. She could smell his aftershave and what she thought was his desire. He lifted her face to the light of his eyes.
    “So. You waited.”
    Her answer was devoid of words. She just nodded.
    “That’s good,” he said.
    She found his eyes. Now there was no questioning his intentions. He had been as anguished as she in their absence from one another. She took it as a cue and reached for her face. Cassandra found his lips and clasped him close. Oliver was stiff under her arms, but Cassandra continued to kiss all of his mouth, all of his face that she could find. When she finally had to come up for air, she saw him looking down at her with a gaze that betrayed no emotion. Maybe that was his game.
    But this was hers.
    Cassandra pressed him past the table of drinks, and they fell to the nearest sofa. She started to strip her tee shirt from her quaking form. Her hands were at her bra clasps and then he reached around her neck. Recent evidence steeled her for a bruise. She flinched and closed her eyes. She felt Oliver’s hand fall from her throat. But she wasn’t without his touch for long. Oliver wrapped one gentle arm around her waist and ran his free hand through the stray strands of her bound hair.
    “What? Did I hurt you?”
    She met his eyes and found them full of worry. If he had been longing for this moment as much as she had, he deserved better than her fears.
    “Cassie? Are you okay?”
    He deserved her desire , and that’s what he would get.
    She answered his question with another taste of her mouth on his. Oliver finally relaxed and undid his tie. His tongue mingled with hers, and she moved to hold him closer. Oliver in her arms felt right. It felt even better as he pressed her into the cushions. Her eyes were on the bit of his chest that was exposed. She lifted her face to kiss him there. Oliver moaned at the feel of her lips on his flesh. Cassandra nipped at his skin and sucked in all of his sweat.
    “Cassie.”
    “Yes?”
    “I just like saying it. Cassie .”
    He pulled off her bra. He was gentle about it. Cassandra expected hislips there, but he arched up and kneaded her flesh with careful fingers. He curved them about her nipples and glided his hand up to her cheek. His eyes returned to her throat with an