Chapter 15
Fifteen
Ismooth down the front of my black silk three-piece suit, walking toward Cinder’s room.
I’m nervous for the first time since I proposed to Maude over a year ago. Almost to the point of being jittery.
A lot is riding on tonight. At least it feels that way. I want Cinder to enjoy herself and remember this birthday for years to come. I want her to want to stay at the manor. She hasn’t mentioned leaving again, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. And I want her to see what it could be like between us if we both allowed ourselves to fall into this attraction we feel for each other.
I knock on her bedroom door and wait for her to answer. As soon as the door opens, and she’s standing in front of me, all the air leaves my lungs in a rush. I stagger back, so struck by her beauty, I can’t stop staring.
“Cinder, you look like a queen.”
Her hair is down in waves, and the blue silk dress reveals a decent amount of cleavage, but it’s her right leg sticking out of the slit in the dress that draws my attention. I want to run my hands up her leg, trail kisses up her inner thigh until I reach the apex of her thighs, then I want to make her scream with my mouth. I want to unravel this beautiful package in front of me until she’s a begging, wanton mess—for me.
I shift my stance to hide the evidence of how my body reacts when I see her.
“Thank you.” Her cheeks pinken, and it’s fucking adorable. Amazing that giving her a compliment makes her blush, but dancing naked in front of a bunch of horny men doesn’t do much.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” I hold my arm out to her, and she loops her arm through it.
“Do I need to bring anything with me?” she asks before we leave the room.
“Just yourself.”
She smiles, and I lead her through the manor. If she has any idea of where we’re headed, she gives no indication, but when we head down the hall with the ballroom, her hand twitches on my arm.
Music is already playing at a low level inside. I put together a playlist that I thought she might like and one we can slow dance to after dinner.
“We’re going in here?” she asks.
I push open the door and lead her inside. She stops on the spot when she sees what awaits us.
I’ve had the entire room decorated for a birthday party. Spared no expense between the flowers and the balloons, the ice sculpture, and everything else the event planner suggested. The room appears as if we’re expecting five hundred guests, but it will just be the two of us tonight.
She walks in front of me, twirling around, her eyes scouring every nook and cranny. “Nero… I have no words.”
“Happy birthday.” I lead her by the hand to the table in the center of the cavernous room, which is set for dinner for two. I hold out the chair for her, and I hold back the urge to kiss the nape of her neck.
I slide into the seat across from her and pick up the bottle of wine. “Would you like some wine?”
“Yes, please.” She can’t keep her gaze on one place, taking in the room, and I smile as I pour her a glass and pass it to her. She takes a sip. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“You say that like you’ve never tasted wine before.”
Her gaze dips to the table. “I haven’t. I… my stepmother wouldn’t let me. I didn’t even get to eat dinner with her and my stepsisters. I had to eat alone in my room. And I make it a rule not to drink at the club or the bar.”
Anger fires up in my veins that someone could treat her like that. But I don’t want to get into the shitty things she’s had to endure. Tonight is for Cinder to be happy and carefree, not worrying about anything other than enjoying herself.
“Well then, I’m glad you like it, and I’m glad your first experience was with me. Shall we toast?”
“Okay.” She raises her glass.
“To beginnings and whatever the future holds.”
She clinks her glass to mine, a smile playing on her lips. “To beginnings.”
We each take a sip, then one of the staff enters with our appetizers, setting a plate in front of each of us. As we work our way through the courses, we chat about nothing of much significance. Cinder asks about my job and what I do for Voss Enterprises, and I find out that she used to compete in dancing and that contemporary dance was her favorite.
She sets her spoon on her plate beside the half-eaten chocolate mousse. “I can’t possibly eat another mouthful.”
I chuckle. “Stuffed?”
“Completely.” She places her hands over her belly. “Nero, thank you for today. Everything was so amazing. Thank you doesn’t even feel adequate. This is the best birthday I can remember in a long time.”
A buoyancy bounces inside me at her words. “What did you do for your birthday when you were a child?”
“Before my mom died, she would take me to a spa and let me get my nails painted. Even when I was little. I remember the feeling of being pretty. She’d let me pick out a new dress, whichever one I wanted, then we’d meet my dad for dinner at a restaurant. I was a princess for a day.” The expression on her face tells me what the memories mean to her.
“And after she passed?”
Cinder sighs. “My dad tried for the first few years. He’d let me have some friends from school over for a birthday party. I missed the day of pampering with my mom, and it was never the same, but it was better than spending the day alone. Those parties stopped after my stepmother moved in. She claimed all the noise from the kids made her too stressed and anxious. Then after my dad passed, she stopped acknowledging my birthday altogether.”
My hand tightens around my spoon. “You’re never going back to that place.”
She gives me a sad smile. “It’s the only home I’ve ever known, but I’ve realized over the past few months that it may not be the place for me anymore.”
Our gazes meet, and I want so badly to tell her that this can be her home, but I stop myself, not wanting to scare her off.
“Your mom sounds like a special person,” I say.
She nods. “She really was.”
“My mom died when I was six.” Why am I telling her this? “I only remember little snippets of her, vague impressions. Sometimes I don’t know if that’s worse than remembering every little thing and grieving the loss.”
Cinder takes my hand. “That must be really hard. It’s painful, but I wouldn’t give up my memories of my mom for anything.”
I squeeze her small hand. “We don’t talk about her a lot, but when my brothers do speak of her, I often feel like the odd man out. They have such vivid memories and speak so highly of her, but me… my memories are more feelings than anything else. How I felt when she was around me. That’s what I miss most.” God knows I never got the feeling of unconditional love from my father.
Cinder pulls her hand from mine, and I have an obsessive need to reconnect us, but I hold back.
“How did she pass? If you don’t mind me asking.”
I force my voice to sound lighter to not ruin this night. “She was murdered here at the manor, in the garden.”
Her hand goes to her chest and sympathy floods in her eyes. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”
I nod. “It is.” Getting sick of the heavy weight in my heart, I push my chair back and stand. “Care to dance?”
Her eyes sparkle, and she nods. Let’s push that shit away for tonight.
She tracks me as I round the small table, going to the back of her chair and pulling it out. Then I extend a hand. She stands, and I lead her to the dance floor as a new song begins.
I take her hand and wrap my other arm around her small waist, tugging her into me, and we circle around the dance floor. I can’t look away from her as we move perfectly in sync.
Something feels vaguely familiar, but I can’t place why.
She moves effortlessly, and for the first time in a long time, I feel centered and whole with her in my arms. I’m starting to think this is more than just an obsession.
The song ends, and my present for her in my jacket pocket grows heavy. I brought it with me, but I wasn’t sure I should give it to her. I don’t want to come on too strong and scare her away. But I really want her to have it.
Another song starts and I pull back enough to look into her eyes. “I have a present for you.”
She blinks a couple of times. “I think this whole day was present enough.”
I shake my head. “Almost.” I let go of her and step back. “Turn around.”
Her forehead creases. “What for?”
I chuckle. “Do you want your present?”
She does as I ask, and I step closer to her, breathing in her jasmine and sandalwood scent. Reaching into the inside pocket of my jacket, I pull out a diamond necklace with a huge center sapphire that dangles down. With my free hand, I position her hair over one shoulder.
It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss the spot where her neck meets her shoulder, to taste her skin. Somehow, I find the willpower to resist once again.
“Close your eyes,” I whisper in her ear, and her skin prickles with goosebumps.
I wind the necklace around her neck and attach it with the clasp, then walk around so I’m facing her again.
“You can open your eyes now.”
She does, slowly, and looks down, reaching up with her hand to hold the necklace so she can see it better. She gasps. “Oh my god!” Her gaze flies to mine. “This is too much. After everything you’ve already done… this is too much.”
“Nonsense. I want you to have it.”
“But it must be worth a fortune.” She shakes her head.
“So are you.” I cup her face. I step closer, gaze never wavering.
“Nero, thank you for the best birthday ever. Not because of all the things you’ve given me, but because of you. You make me feel as if I’m worth something, and I haven’t felt that way in a long time.”
Cinder pushes up on her tiptoes and brings her mouth to mine. I don’t know if she meant for it to be a chaste kiss or not, but the moment her lips touch mine, it devolves into something more primal.
My arms tug her close, and when I lick the seam of her lips, she opens for me, moaning into my mouth as our tongues slide together. Her hand pushes into my hair at the back of my head, and when my hard cock presses against the fabric of my pants, I slide my hand to her lower back and press her harder into me.
A needy sound slips out of her, and my willpower breaks, no longer able to hold back the instincts I’ve been denying. I need to know what she tastes like. I want to hear and watch her come when my face is pressed between her thighs.
I pull away from the kiss and smirk when I see the disappointment on her face. “Don’t worry, princess, we’re not done here. I have one last present to give you.”
I bend and pick her up, carrying her over to the table we just dined upon. Time for my second dessert. She doesn’t protest as I set her on her feet beside the table, then with one swipe of my arm, I send everything on the table crashing to the floor.
If Cinder’s disturbed by my show of aggression, she doesn’t show it.
I lift her by the waist, setting her on the edge of the table. “Lie down and spread your legs. I need to know what you taste like.”
Her eyelids lower, and she does what I ask without argument.
“Princesses get rewarded, Cinder. Let me show you how.” I push her legs further apart and move the fabric of her dress out of the way.
Seeing the expensive lingerie—a pale blue lace thong—wrapped around her pussy, knowing I provided it, makes me want to beat my chest like a fucking caveman. I rip the lace to shreds, discarding it behind me. Maybe I’ll beat off with it around my cock later when I relive this moment.
Cinder looks at me with wide eyes, but there’s no fear in them, so I drop to my knees and yank her hips toward me so that her pussy is front and center. Leaning in, I inhale deeply and kiss her inner thigh, groaning into her flesh at her sweet scent.
How the hell did I manage to resist for this long?
The first swipe of my tongue is like a hit of heroin—I’ll be a slave to this addiction for life, always chasing the dragon.
I suck on her clit, and her hand slides through my hair. She tries to close her legs around my head, but I keep them pressed open with my hands.
She moans and grips my hair to the point of pain when I flick her clit several times then suck. Desperate to taste more of her, I move my attention to her entrance, fucking her with my tongue the way I want to with my cock. My balls are heavy and aching, but I ignore the desire to tug on myself. This is about Cinder and her pleasure.
Her musky sweet scent fills my mouth as she moves her hips.
That’s right, princess, use me. Get your fill.
I move back up to her clit, bringing her close to coming before pulling her back from the edge. Her chest heaves as she tries to drag air into her lungs. Ready to bring her home, I push two fingers into her and curl them, moving them back and forth, then suck on her clit.
She explodes with a cry, gyrating her hips, and I use my free hand to keep her pressed to the table as she rides out her orgasm. She’s panting on the table, dress hiked up with her legs splayed open as I lap up every last bit of her release. When I’m satisfied, I stand. She watches as I bring the two fingers that were inside her to my lips and suck on them.
Cinder licks her lips. She looks sated and as if she could fall asleep any minute. I reach down for her discarded panties and shove them in my pocket. Then I bend over the table and pick her up in my arms.
“C’mon. You’ve had a long day. Let’s get you to bed.”
She says nothing but leans her cheek into my chest as I walk through the manor to her bedroom. Once we’re inside, I lay her on the bed and look down at her.
I’m about to help her dress for bed, but she gives me a sleepy smile, rolls onto her side, and drifts off to sleep. I don’t have the heart to wake her, even if she’s still wearing her dress.
After I turn off all the lights in the room, I sit in a chair in the corner and watch her sleep for longer than I’d admit to anyone.
Tonight has only increased my obsession with Cinder, not satiated it.