60. Vivienne
Vivienne
“If I put my hands on you, I won’t be taking them off again.” Cass’s words echo through the empty foyer.
“Good,” I whisper, sliding my palms up to his neck. “I can’t imagine anything better than being touched by you for the rest of my life.”
He groans as I press against him. He has yet to lift his hands, which hang limply at his sides.
I long for him to claim what’s already his, what’s always been his, what will always be his.
He told me weeks ago that I was his, but it didn’t feel like it then.
Now, I know I’m his, and I’m desperate for him to prove it.
“I’m not going to change my mind,” I murmur. “This is what I want.”
He inclines his head, searching for my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Tentatively, as if he’s giving me time to back out, he moves a hand to my waist. His fingers flex against me, an assurance that this is real. I can feel the strength he’s withholding through the fabric of my sweater.
My breath rushes past my lips as I soak up his touch, gentle as it is. “Cass, please.”
The words undo him. He pulls me against him abruptly, bringing his other hand up to cradle my jaw. “Last chance to back out,” he says, his voice hoarse.
I shake my head. I’m standing on the precipice of the thing I’ve wanted more than anything else in my life. There’s no way in hell I’m backing out.
Burying his fingers in my hair, he strokes my cheek with his thumb. “Your skin is so soft,” he says reverently.
My eyes flutter shut as I drink in the delicious feeling of finally being touched by him without an ounce of guilt. For the first time, we don’t have to worry about someone catching us.
His palm burns hot against my face, and I lean into it. “Vivvy,” he murmurs, resting his forehead against mine. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted this?”
“Not as long as I have.” I tangle my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck.
Brow furrowing, he scoffs. “Summer, ten years ago. We were thirteen. I hadn’t seen you since Christmas, and for the first time, I was nervous.
The girls at my school had gotten weird about boys, and I was afraid you wouldn’t want anything to do with me either.
The second I saw you climb out of the car, I felt sure you were the same as always.
You gave me a huge hug just like before, and that’s when I realized I was wrong. ”
I let out a snort. “Because I got boobs?”
“Yep,” he says pensively. “I didn’t know a fucking thing about boobs, but I knew yours had to be fabulous.”
“They are pretty great,” I say, pressing against his chest. “Wanna see them?”
“Vivvy,” he growls. “You know I do. You’ve tormented me in a bikini more times than I can count.”
“You always seemed so oblivious.” Every time I chose a bathing suit I was sure would catch his attention, he looked everywhere but at me.
He huffs out a little laugh. “I was ignoring you so that I didn’t do something stupid.”
“Like what?” I whisper, threading my fingers further into his hair.
His eyes close in ecstasy, and heat grows in my belly. “Like taking you to the pool house and fucking you into next week.”
I gasp as he grips my chin and tilts my head up. We’re both breathing hard. His mouth brushes against mine, a whisper of a kiss, before he pulls back. I whimper at the loss of him.
He sweeps his lips against mine again, and I catch a taste of him: smoky, minty, and masculine. I want more; I need more. Pressing my fingertips into his scalp, I try to drag him closer, but he resists me. “God, Vivvy,” he says breathlessly. “I want to consume you.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” I’ve never been more desperate for anything than I am for him to take me right now.
“I don’t want to rush it. I want to savor every single second of you.” His lips capture mine, this time sucking with a sweet gentleness.
I moan and rise on tiptoes to get closer to him. This kiss is nothing like the one we shared in the hospital, or in the stables. Those were frenzied, a race against the clock and a world out to keep us apart. This one is unhurried, bestowed by a man who has the luxury of time.
Panting, he breaks it off and rests his forehead against mine. Firm fingers slide across my jaw, dragging me closer. He kisses me again, deeper this time, muffling my whimper.
His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and I part them. When he pushes inside my mouth, I let out a cry of relief. He explores it greedily, swallowing all the sounds I can’t help but make. If this is real, I want to live here for the rest of my life.
Pulling back, he looks down at me. Heat smolders in his gaze, and my mouth drops open.
His eyes fall to my lips, then he claims them once more, as if he can’t go more than a few seconds without them.
Moving his hand down from my waist, he squeezes my ass and presses me against him until we’re touching from lips to thighs.
The only thing better would be feeling the weight of him on top of me.
Tightening both hands around me and dragging me impossibly closer, he lets out a groan. “It’s time to make you mine.”
Heat pools in my core, and I press my legs together.
He removes his hand from my hair and grasps my wrist, pulling me toward the stairs.
As our eyes catch, my heart stutters over a beat.
How is it possible that this is happening?
I’ve dreamed of it for so long that the whole thing feels like it’s shrouded in fog.
As we reach the landing, a loud explosion sounds outside. We both glance toward the window to see a brilliant display of colors light up the darkening sky.
“They must be on a timer.” I completely forgot there were fireworks planned for the wedding. The next one forms the letters V and L as it goes off.
Cass tugs on my hand. “Come on. We’re not watching this.”
Holding back my smile at the jealousy in his voice, I let him lead me up the staircase. When we reach the top, he pulls me into his arms as if he couldn’t stand that I was ever out of them.
“I’m completely captivated by you,” he whispers. “You set my world on fire and never looked back.”
“That’s not true. I’ve never been able to tear my eyes away.” I press my lips to his, and he greedily consumes me. Stumbling down the hall, mouths hungry for each other, we manage to stop in front of the right bedroom. Cass flings the door open and pushes me inside, his hands never leaving my body.
Shutting the door with his foot, he urges me further into the room. I’ll do anything he wants. I just want him.
The fireworks continue going off, but I barely hear them. When Cass breaks off the kiss, I reach down to tug my sweater over my head. The soft fabric snags on something, and I pull it back down to untangle it. Tiny threads are caught on the prongs holding the diamond in place on my ring.
Cass curses under his breath when he sees it. His hands are still on me—on my waist, on my neck, in my hair. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d never stop touching me once he started. A fresh wave of desire washes over me.
“Get rid of that thing,” he hisses, as if it brings him physical pain. “I don’t ever want to see it again.”
“Of course.” I slip it off and twist away from him. “I’ll just go return it.”
“Not right now you fucking won’t,” he growls, grabbing my wrist and spinning me back around until I’m in his arms again. He takes the ring from my hand and tosses it onto the dresser. “I have plans for you.”
Biting my lip, I gaze innocently at him. “Such as?”
“Such as getting you naked as quickly as possible and making you regret you ever agreed to marry that bastard.”
I scoff. “I regretted it before I ever said yes.”
“Then why the hell did you?” he asks, burying his nose in my neck.
“I already told you why. Are you going to keep talking about Landon or are you going to make love to me?”
Cass growls and presses his teeth against the tender skin of my shoulder. “What do you think?”
I squeal as he hoists me over his shoulder and deposits me onto the bed. When I’m sitting on the edge, I reach for the hem of my sweater once more.
Resting his hands on top of mine, he gives me a look that could thaw the Arctic. “Let me do it.”
I take a shaky breath and let go. He slips his fingers beneath the fabric, and goosebumps spread across my stomach. His touch is warm, but his rings are cool. Slowly, as if he has all the time in the world, he slides his hands up my body, lifting my shirt and exposing my bare skin.
“Fuck,” he murmurs as he tugs it over my head. “You’re beautiful.”
I warm from the heat of his gaze. He drops his mouth to mine, capturing my lips in a scorching kiss that bears promises of things to come.
At his direction, I scoot backward on the bed, and he follows, crawling over me like a hunter stalking his prey. Adrenaline fills my veins as our gazes lock. This is really happening.
When I reach the pile of pillows in front of the headboard, I collapse into them. Cass keeps coming, only stopping once he’s hovering over me.
“Vivvy,” he breathes. He stretches out his hand, but it’s trembling so much he pauses. “I can’t believe I get to do this.”
Grabbing his wrist with both hands, I place his palm over my heart. “Believe it.”
Releasing a shuddering breath, he moves his hand over my chest and up to my neck. I swallow as he curls his fingers around it, not enough to be tight, just enough for me to feel the strength in them.
He drags it back down, lingering at my waistband, a question in his eyes. I respond with a brief nod as my lungs constrict. His fingers slip beneath the band, tickling the sensitive skin there and causing me to gasp.
“What have you done to me?” he murmurs, letting his hand trail until it reaches the heat between my thighs.
“I think the question is, what are you going to do to me?” I say against his lips.
He kisses me deeply as he slips a finger into my underwear, running his knuckle against my seam. I arch into him and feel his chuckle rumble through his chest.