Chapter 16 Drink With Me
Five minutes ago, Cassian had been acting as though he would rather jump off the roof than go anywhere near Juliet. Now he was practically heading straight toward her the second she asked. Shaking his head, Xavier rubbed a hand over his jaw, thoroughly amused by the sight.
The man was hopeless.
If Juliet snapped her fingers and asked him to cross an ocean, Cassian would probably do it without hesitation and still convince himself it had nothing to do with her.
Meanwhile, Cassian descended the stairs and headed toward the garden behind the estate. His face remained expressionless, but his pace was noticeably faster than usual.
The moment he stepped outside, cool evening air brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of flowers and freshly cut grass.
Strings of golden lights hung from the trees overhead, casting a warm glow across the pathways, while elegant lanterns illuminated the garden below.
Soft jazz music drifted through the air from a small band performing near the fountain, blending with the distant sounds of laughter and conversation from the guests gathered around cocktail tables and drinks stations throughout the grounds.
Cassian barely noticed any of it.
The second he stepped into the garden, his eyes immediately began searching the crowd. His gaze swept across the guests once, then again, instinctively looking for only one person.
Juliet.
"Cassian!"
The familiar voice instantly drew his attention. His head snapped toward the sound, and for a moment, he simply stared.
Juliet was hurrying toward him, a bright smile lighting up her face beneath the golden garden lights.
Dressed in a midnight-blue gown that flowed around her with every step, she looked breathtaking.
Her long blonde hair fell in soft waves down her back, the curls catching the warm glow of the lights and making her look almost ethereal.
Cassian felt his breath catch.
Beautiful.
The word appeared in his mind with startling clarity.
He had always known Juliet was beautiful. But tonight, with happiness shining in her eyes and that radiant smile directed entirely at him, she looked devastatingly so.
Something inside his chest tightened unexpectedly.
She looked genuinely happy to see him.
"Cassian!"
She called his name again, her smile widening as she closed the distance between them. The next second, she threw herself directly into his arms.
Cassian's breath caught.
Instinct took over before thought could.
His hands immediately settled on her waist, catching her effortlessly as her body collided against his.
The force of the impact pushed him back half a step, but he quickly steadied himself, his arms tightening around her without conscious thought.
Juliet wrapped both arms around his neck as though she belonged there, settling comfortably against him while her familiar scent surrounded him and made his pulse stumble.
For a moment, everything else seemed to fade into the background.
The music.
The conversations.
The guests.
None of it mattered.
All he could focus on was the woman in his arms.
Juliet eventually pulled back just enough to look at him, though she made absolutely no attempt to climb down.
Her arms remained looped around his neck, her body still pressed against his, and there wasn't the slightest trace of embarrassment on her face despite the curious glances some nearby guests were sending their way.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming out?" she asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Before he could answer, her smile widened.
"I'm so happy you came."
The simple words struck him far harder than they should have.
"I was hoping we could have some drinks and food together." As she spoke, her fingers absentmindedly played with the collar of his suit jacket, smoothing down a crease before lightly tugging at the fabric. "You invited me to this party, but you haven't even come to see me once since I arrived."
A small pout appeared on her lips.
"I didn't even see you come in. Did you get here before me?"
Cassian stared down at her, momentarily unable to answer.
The golden lights reflected beautifully in her eyes, illuminating her face and making her look even more breathtaking than usual.
The longer he looked at her, the harder it became to think clearly.
His heartbeat had already become uneven, and the fact that she was still comfortably sitting in his arms certainly wasn't helping.
Heat slowly crept up the back of his neck.
Suddenly becoming far too aware of her closeness, he turned his head slightly away.
"I did."
His voice came out rougher than intended.
"I just came outside to get some air."
The lie left his mouth smoothly.
Juliet either didn't notice or simply chose not to point it out. Instead, her smile grew even brighter. Then, before he could react, she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
Cassian froze.
Every muscle in his body locked instantly.
His mind went completely blank.
The warmth of her lips lingered against his skin long after she had already pulled away, while Juliet looked entirely pleased with herself.
"I want cocktails," she announced cheerfully. "But I don't want to drink alone."
Blinking up at him expectantly, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Will you drink with me?"
Cassian simply stared at her.
The spot she had kissed still felt warm.
His heart was pounding so hard it felt ridiculous.
"You can drink. I'm not in the mood."
Cassian's answer came out flat and dismissive as he tried to step away, clearly intending to end the conversation before it went any further.
Yet despite his words, his body betrayed him.
There was a faint tension in his jaw, and his movements carried a subtle hesitation that suggested he wasn't particularly eager to return to the party either.
Juliet noticed immediately.
She caught the way he avoided looking directly at her, the way his gaze kept drifting toward the crowd as though he was trying very hard not to give in. The realization made a mischievous smile spread across her face.
Before he could react, she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.
Then another.
And another.
One affectionate peck quickly turned into several as she continued showering his face with kisses. When she had thoroughly attacked one cheek, she moved to the other without the slightest mercy, her laughter bubbling softly between each kiss.
Cassian froze where he stood.
His eyes widened slightly as he stared down at her, completely caught off guard by the sudden assault of affection. For a man who rarely lost control of a situation, the sight of him standing there speechless was almost amusing.
Only after she seemed satisfied with her work did Juliet finally pull back enough to look up at him.
"Come on," she coaxed softly, reaching for his sleeve and giving it a gentle tug. "I really don't want to drink alone. Can't you join me? Just a few drinks."
Her voice softened even further as she smiled at him.
"I promise I won't get you drunk. I know you have important things to take care of later, so I'll behave."
Tilting her head slightly, she blinked up at him with wide innocent eyes that looked entirely too sincere.
The sight nearly destroyed what little restraint he had left.
The warmth of her kisses still lingered against his skin, and being this close to her was making it increasingly difficult to think clearly.
His chest rose and fell a little deeper than before as he struggled to regain control of himself, his gaze lingering on her face far longer than it should have.
For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.
Juliet simply waited patiently, still holding onto his sleeve while looking up at him with obvious expectation.
Eventually, Cassian let out a slow breath.
"Fine."
His voice came out lower than usual.
"I'll have a few drinks with you."
Juliet's entire face lit up.
The smile that immediately appeared made something tighten unexpectedly inside his chest.
Before he could say anything else, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Cassian reacted instinctively.
Before Juliet could pull away, his hand slid to the back of her head, fingers threading through her soft curls as he pulled her back and captured her lips in a deep, demanding kiss.
The moment their lips met, something inside him snapped.
Weeks of longing, fear, and frustration poured into that single kiss.
His mouth moved over hers slowly at first, savoring the feel of her soft lips beneath his. Then, unable to help himself, he deepened the kiss, coaxing her lips apart with a gentle sweep of his tongue.
Juliet let out a soft gasp, and Cassian took full advantage, kissing her more thoroughly, more possessively.
One arm tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against his hard body, while his other hand remained buried in her hair, holding her close.
He tilted his head, angling her face exactly the way he wanted before capturing her mouth again, kissing her with an intensity that stole the breath from her lungs.
Juliet clung to him, her fingers tightening against the back of his neck as she kissed him back just as eagerly.
A low, rough sound escaped Cassian when she responded, and he drew her even closer, his thumb brushing softly along her cheek as his lips continued to claim hers.
For those few precious seconds, the world around them disappeared.
The music.
The guests.
The conversations.
None of it mattered.
There was only Juliet in his arms.
Only the taste of her.
Only the overwhelming relief of finally holding her again.
Reluctantly, Cassian eased back, resting his forehead against hers, clearly unwilling to let her go.
Juliet laughed softly, breathless, and slipped from his arms before he could pull her back for another kiss.
The sudden loss of her warmth made his brows tighten almost imperceptibly.
She, meanwhile, looked entirely pleased with herself.