Free ChasingCassie by Lorna Jean Roberts Page B

other woman.
    The place stank of stale cigarettes and carpets damp with
alcohol—and that was just the building. The residents were worse—rough, loud
and odorous. He wanted his woman far, far away from them.
    But he knew he couldn’t storm off with her. He was trying to
woo her, to build up her trust in him. It was taking all his patience not to
grab her, steal her home, claim her. He had to go slowly, ease her into the
idea that she was his mate. The last thing he wanted was to overwhelm her,
scare her off.
    What he needed was to get her to open up to him, to talk to
him about her feelings, her concerns.
    “She’s at the food bank.”
    Of course she is.
    “Thanks.” He’d turned when her hand grabbed his arm.
    “Listen, I was prepared to dislike you, on principle. But,
well, you don’t seem that bad, I suppose.”
    “Thank you,” he said drily.
    She scowled at him. “Cassie seems to like you, so there must
be some good in you. Just remember, you do anything to hurt her and I’ll kick
your ass.”
    * * * * *
    It didn’t take him long to find her. She was out back,
sorting food into boxes. Even dressed in scruffy jeans and an old t-shirt, she
was simply the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen in his life. He stood and
watched, drinking in the sight of her.
    Then she turned and stared straight at him.
     
    She knew he was there. It was hard to miss his presence. His
gaze seemed to eat away at her, stirring her insides up, sparking arousal that
never completely disappeared.
    Her clit tingled as he strolled closer.
    “Hi,” he spoke quietly.
    “Hi,” she replied, smiling at him.
    “Would you like a hand?”
    “Really?”
    He chuckled. “You don’t need to look so incredulous, you
know.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t really think this would be your thing.”
    “Maybe not, but it’s yours.”
    Her smile grew wider. “Come on then.” She gestured to the
boxes beside him and for the next hour they worked together, packing up food.
    Over the last few days, he’d given her some space, he hadn’t
pressed her, hadn’t tried to talk to her about them. Instead, he’d simply been
there for her, escorting her to and from work, bringing her flowers,
chocolates. Yesterday he’d even dragged her away on a picnic.
    He’d never once let her down, never once promised to do
something and not followed through. Even though she knew he was needed back at
the estate, he hadn’t mentioned it, nor had he used it as a reason to rush her.
Slowly, she realized, she’d been trusting him more and more.
    They worked together easily, smoothly. When they were
finished, she peered up at him before taking his hand.
    “Come home with me.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Cassie moved into the living room and turned to look at Jay.
    “I’ve gotta take a shower.”
    He frowned, looking confused. “Oh, okay.”
    She held out her hand and, putting herself out there, asked
him, “Come shower with me?”
    His eyes lit up. “You sure?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    He grinned as she pulled his t-shirt off. She clumsily
attempted to undo his belt. He brushed her hands away, stripping the rest of
his clothes off himself.
    When they were both naked, she tugged him into the bathroom.
He clasped her waist, setting her up on the counter before turning the water
on. Moving back to her, he crouched before her, splitting her legs wide.
    Using his fingers, he opened her, blowing lightly on her
clit. Cassie fell back against the wall, moaning.
    “You’re gorgeous. You know how attractive I find you, don’t
you?” He leaned in and licked her folds delicately with the tip of his tongue,
sweeping slowly up and down.
    He stood and dragged her off the counter, sliding her down
his smooth, taut body. She stared up into his gaze, amazed at the dark, deep
sensuality she saw there. She placed her arms around his neck and let him carry
her into the shower.
    As he washed her shoulders, the sight of his chest became
too tempting. Leaning in, she licked his nipples. She felt