CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CASSIE
The city lights blur past the windows of the black car, the hum of the engine soothing beneath the low murmurs of traffic.
Rafael’s driving us, with Luca in the seat beside him.
We arrive at the restaurant and it looks pretty amazing.
It’s the kind of place that sits like a crown jewel on top of a gleaming high rise.
A smile flits over my face when Damien asks Rafael and Luca to wait down here for us while we enjoy our date. I don’t miss the brief look Luca throws my way. I don’t think he likes me very much. But he seems to tolerate my presence for his beloved boss.
Rafael’s my guy though. We leave them both and the bodyguards who followed us in the second car.
I’d say Damien’s a little paranoid but from what I know about his world, you can never be too safe.
Which is why it’s surprising that he asked that Luca and Rafeal wait.
Either he’s very confident in the security measures already put in place at the restaurant, or he simply wants me to be comfortable which I appreciate.
He's been different since the wedding. Softer. He touches my back when I pass him and the way looks at me sometimes takes my breath away. It’s unsettling and irresistible at the same time. Which is why I agreed to this date. I’m curious about him, and a part of me craves this connection.
The lobby is all sleek marble, gold accents, and understated opulence. This restaurant is obviously a place for the most high class people in the city. A concierge leads us to a private elevator. Damien’s hand rests at the small of my back as we walk, warm through the silk of my dress.
One of my favorites from the brand new wardrobe. It’s an emerald green gown that fits like a second skin, off the shoulder, with a thigh high slit and just enough shimmer to catch the light every time I move. I put a lot of outfit into my appearance this evening. I felt like dressing up. For him.
My hair’s in soft waves, lips painted a berry red that makes me look older, more confident than I feel.
Damien of course looks like sin in a tailored black suit and charcoal shirt, no tie. Just enough buttons undone to make my stomach flutter. His cufflinks catch the light as he presses the elevator call button.
He turns to me, gaze flitting over me, caressing my skin. I fight a shiver.
“Have I mentioned how incredible you look tonight, mi vida ?”
I nod, “Twice now. I’m flattered.”
He smirks. The elevator dings and we step inside, alone surrounded by mirrored walls and low golden lighting. As the doors slide shut, I shift uneasily, adjusting the slit of my dress.
“I hate elevators,” I murmur.
Damien glances at me, “Why?”
“I got stuck in one once. When I was fifteen. Power went out and I was alone for hours too much time and too many dark thoughts.”
His expression shifts, jaw tightening ever so slightly. “Don’t worry, I’m here to protect you, sweetheart. Besides, the odds of the elevator breaking down are slim to none. Just relax.”
Which was probably the absolute worst thing he could have said.
The universe decides to choose that exact moment to be a jackass.
And the elevator lurches. Hard. A metallic groan echoes through the shaft as the lights flicker.
My stomach drops. I grab the side rail instinctively, the breath knocked out of me.
Then everything stops. Dead still. No humming. No movement. Just silence.
“Fuck,” Damien breathes, looking annoyingly calm except for the worry in his expression as he stares at me.
Cold panic rushing through me, crashing over every nerve ending.
“I think we just jinxed it,” I manage, exhaling a shaky breath.
“Cassie. Hey, look at me,” Damien says, stepping closer to me.
I shake my head, pressing back against the mirrored wall.
“I really, really hate this..”
“Cassie,” he says again, firmer now. His palms settle on either side of the wall near my shoulders, caging me in.
Not to trap me, but to serve as an anchor. His voice lowers, the seductive purr spreading through me.
“Remember what I said earlier. I’m here, I’ll protect you. You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone again. I promise.”
My eyes lock on to his and I feel my heartbeat start to settle at the look in those blue eyes.
“That sounds like a threat,” I murmur shakily.
His lips twitch, “Come on, just breathe.”
My first breath is a little shaky, but the second one comes easier.
“There you go,” he says softly. “You’ll be okay, sweetheart.
His hand comes up slowly and he tenderly tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. When his fingers graze my cheek I feel a thrill go through me.
“I’m going to make a call now, get us out of here,” he informs me.
I nod slowly, “Okay.”
The feel of his hand on my skin disappears as he pulls his phone out of his jacket pocket. He dials someone’s number and whoever it is must pick up on the first ring. He’s close enough that I hear the string of apologies on the other end.
“Get us out of here now,” Damien snaps.
“I really apologize sir,” the person on the other end says, “The elevator seems to be in need of unexpected maintenance. But we’re already working on restoring it. It’ll be about twenty minutes before we can get it functional again.”
I feel my heart pound at that admission, shutting my eyes and trying not to think about the feeling of the walls closing in around me.
“Someone’s going to answer for this once I’m out,” Damien threatens before hanging up.
A couple seconds later, I feel his presence. He’s move closer. His thumb brushes the edge of my jaw and my eyes flit open.
“I need a distraction,” I say to him.
His eyes burn with their intensity. “What would you have me do, mi vida?”
I shrug. “Anything.
“I have some ideas,” he murmurs, and the space is suddenly filled with heat.
The air between us shifts and I’m suddenly painfully aware of the fact that we’re alone. That his body is inches from mine. His hand is near my waist and he could close the gap between us so easily. I freeze, heat rushing through me.
Neither of us move for what feels like ages. His eyes drop to my mouth and his fingers twitch ever so slightly.
“Tell me, Cassie. Would you like me to distract you?” he asks.
I swallow softly before opening my mouth and damning the consequences.
“Yes.”
He doesn’t hesitate. One of his arms snakes around my waist and his palm comes up to cup my cheek.
My eyes fall shut as his lips descend on mine, devouring me.
My entire body melts into his. I didn’t know that was possible.
I fist the front of his shirt, forgetting everything.
Where we are, where we are going. It doesn’t matter.
Everything else falls away, except for him and the desire. Damien thrusts his tongue inside my mouth kissing me deep and slow. He rubs his pelvis against my stomach and I can feel his hard, erect cock. A shiver of pleasure goes through me.
The knowledge that I did that setting me alight.
“You like that, don’t you, bella ,” he whispers against my lips, before thrusting forward. “Look what you do to me.”
My throat dries and I’m incapable of a single coherent thought.
All I can do is moan in reply still holding on to him.
He’s terrifying, even right now. The thought of all the things he could do to me scares me.
He release my waist and I tremble as his hand snakes downward toward my thigh, right where the slit of the dress starts.
“You wore this for me, didn’t you, Cassie?” he questions, fingers tapping against the bare skin he finds. “This sexy as fuck dress.”
“Yes,” I moan softly, seeing no reason not to admit it.
“That’s a good girl,” he purrs, slowly lifting the dress up, his fingers inching closer to my panties.
Some tiny part of me that’s not completely enveloped in Damien tries to warn me that this is a bad idea, but I shut it down because it feels so good right now. My heartbeat skyrockets and goosebumps spread across my flesh.
There’s nothing innocent or soft about the way Damien touches me. It’s claiming, salvage and overwhelming.
“You’re trembling, bella ,” he buries his nose in my hair, inhaling me while continuing his path. “Will you also tremble like this when I fuck you? When you’re riding my cock.”
My temperature shoots up. I like the dirty words he’s saying a little too much. I grab onto his shoulder, digging my fingers into his bicep as he slides his middle finger against my folds over my panties.
“So wet and throbbing, sweetheart.”
His finger strokes against, this time finding my clit. A sound of desperation escapes my throat.
“Damien,” I say his name in a desperate effort to speed things along.
“Impatient,” he murmurs, slapping my pussy over the wet panties.
I can feel the wetness seeping through as he circles my clit. A gasp echoes in the air, but it’s interrupted when he pushes my panties to the side and thrusts two fingers inside me all at once. The intrusion makes my leg shake so hard, I’d fall over if it weren’t for his arm around my waist.
He drives in and out a few times with a calculated rhythm.
“So wet. Tell me, Cassie. Is this all for me?”
I don’t reply, my eyes practically rolling as the pleasure starts to overwhelm me. Which is when it stops. My eyes fly open, meeting his blue ones.
“Answer me when I talk to you, sweetheart,” he states.
My jaw tightens in annoyance, I was so close, “You talk too much, Damien. All you have to do is make me come.”
His lips curl in a dangerous smirk, “I look forward to fucking that mouth. But for now, your wish is my command.”
He thrusts into me suddenly again and I moan loudly uncaring about who hears.
I grip him tight as he scissors his fingers inside me.
And the he angles my thigh and adds pressure to my clit with his thumb.
An electric shock shoots through my limbs.
My toes curl and my eyes roll int the back of my head as I momentarily disconnect from the physical world.