Casey
T he damn cat is a traitor. Like I wasn’t the one taking care of her fleabag ass for months, and what thanks do I get? She took a shit on my pillow.”
My hand flies up, covering my mouth as I choke on the bite of strawberry and granola parfait Dad had waiting for me when I got to his office this morning. He’s been on about Lily’s cat for fifteen minutes, and I haven’t stopped laughing. It feels good to laugh.
“It sounds like she’s pretty loyal to me, Dad.” I shovel another bite into my mouth to hide my grin. “Lily is the one who claimed her.”
He lifts a finger, pointing at me with narrowed eyes, though his mouth twitches. “You are a traitor, too.”
And that’s all it takes to kill my mood because he’s right. I am a traitor. It’s been a week, and sneaking around with Graham is eating a hole in my stomach.
I promised my dad a long time ago that I would avoid Graham, but Dad didn’t know the truth, only the lie I twisted.
But as much as I hate the idea of disappointing my dad, Graham is all I’ve ever wanted. The fairy tale I always dreamed of, however twisted and taboo.
Which leads me to my other dilemma. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to handle the looks and the gossip being with him will cause. At sixteen, I didn’t consider it, but I’m not that girl now, and the fear it causes grips me.
Technically, I’m a nobody. But I’m a nobody who’s linked to well-known people. There’s no getting around being talked about. And I know how superficial it makes me sound, but I swear it’s not like that. I don’t want to care what people say or think. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest. In fact, I want to stay under the radar. All the attention people crave—the accolades and praise they seek—I don’t want it. I’ve only ever wanted to be seen by one person, and now that I am, I’m drowning in fear that being seen by him will cause everyone else to look too.
“Where’d you go, Case?” Dad’s voice breaks me out of the spiraling thoughts.
The massive decorative clock hanging behind him—no doubt Lily’s attempt to make the office look less clinical—ticks. The second hand creates a lulling rhythm as I collect my thoughts. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him the truth.
Of course, I chicken out, but not completely. Instead, as I swirl my spoon in the crunchy pink mixture, I tuck my legs into the chair, making myself as small as possible, I decide on something else. “Dad, can I ask you a hypothetical question?”
“You can ask me anything, Case.”
“But will you answer?”
His lips roll between his teeth, hiding his grin. The grind of his rolling desk chair as he shoves himself away sounds through the space. Long legs eat the space separating us as he walks around his large desk and leans in front of it. If not for the adequate distance between us, I’d break my neck looking up at his six-and-a-half-foot tall frame.
In case you’re wondering where my height came from, blame him. I do.
He drags a hand over his scruffy face, then crosses his arms over his chest, turning those eyes a few shades lighter than mine on me. “Spit it out, Case. You’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
I take a breath, tucking my feet under me a little tighter, then pull my shoulders back like he expects. “If…” I exhale hard, trying to figure out how to ask without sounding like a brat or making him suspicious. “I know you and Lily were a thing before we met. I get that now.” I don’t add that he should’ve told me anyway, considering I’m now in his shoes. “But if you’d met her when I did, would you have asked me if I was okay with it?” He drags his hand through his hair, giving me a pleading look, and it’s all the answer I need. “Got it,” I say, trying to keep the anger out of my voice because it’s hypocritical to be upset.
He sighs, sinking further into his stance. “, let’s play this out. If I’d met her when you did, I wouldn’t have said anything for the same reason I never told you about any of the women I dated before Lily. There’s no point in mentioning everyone before you know where it’s going, even if that person is your friend. Especially if it’s your friend. Once I knew, and considering everything I now know, I’d like to think I would’ve told you, but if I had and you told me not to see her, what would’ve happened?” My shoulder lifts, but otherwise, I stay quiet. Dad smiles at me, his posture relaxing a bit. “Either we would’ve been miserable by denying what we felt for your sake, we would’ve snuck around to protect you, or we would’ve told you we didn’t care what you thought. None of those are great places to be in. This with Lily and I was going to be complicated no matter what.”
Complicated. That I understand. I just wish any of that helped me know what to do. Because it feels like Graham and I bypassed complicated the moment he took my virginity. “I would never want you miserable.”
“Right back at ya, kiddo.” He winks.
“How did you do it? Keep it a secret for so long?” I swallow hard, immediately regretting the question that passed my lips, but knowing it’s too late to take it back.
His eyes narrow, and the muscles in his jaw clench. “What’s with the questions, Case?” My eyes dart away, finding the partition wall dividing his desk from a sitting area by the window suddenly fascinating.
Get it together. You are better at lying than this.
I pull my attention back to him, staring him… well, not in the eyes. Never the eyes. I always stare at the space between his brows, hoping it looks like I’m making eye contact. “It’s nothing, Dad. Just some things that I’ve had on my mind.”
“, if this is about Graham…” His teeth grit as he scrubs his hand over his face.
“It’s not.” The lie tastes bitter.
“I almost lost you because of—”
“Oh, my God, Dad!” My hands fly in the air as I leap from the chair, my parfait hitting the floor, making a colossal mess I don’t even care about at the moment. “How many times are you going to say that? He’s been back for three weeks, and I swear it’s been part of every conversation we’ve had.” Even I can hear the defensiveness in my voice, and the warning bells in my head tell me to pull back. The thing is, even if I weren’t hiding something, he would still ask because it’s been every single time we’ve met these past few weeks. “And for the record, you didn’t almost lose me because of him. It was me, Dad. Place the blame where it belongs because I’m the one who ran the car off the road that night.” My fists clench at my sides as my chest rises and falls with quick pants. Fire engulfs my face as annoyance and irritation eat away at me, but soon enough, the guilt returns, and the heat is from embarrassment and shame for lying to him—for yelling.
Dad’s hands come up as he takes a step forward as if he’s approaching a feral cat. “All right, Case. You’re right, I’ve picked at it too much. I’m just worried about you.”
“Stop,” I snap, and his brows fly to his forehead.
For a second, I expect a reprimand and a lecture about respect. When he wraps his arms around me, I wish he would’ve yelled because this is worse. “I’m your dad, . Maybe I wasn’t the best one, but the worry didn’t end just because you grew up. I’ll never stop loving you, which means I’ll never stop worrying about you.”
Great, now my eyes are leaking.
My arms wrap around his big body as I bury my face in his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“For what? Reminding me that I’m a pain in the ass sometime?”
I chuckle and step back. “You’re not any more a pain than I am. I know I don’t make things easy on you.”
“All I want is for you to talk to me, .”
I nod, knowing I can’t give him what he wants because everything I have to tell him will hurt or disappoint him. Fortunately, before I can make promises I won’t keep, his door opens. I swipe away a stray tear and turn to find Lily standing in thigh-high boots and what looks like leather underwear with only the smallest scraps covering the goodies.
“What in the hell are you wearing?” Dad growls.
Lily props a hand on her as she sticks out one booted foot. “You demanded approval on my wardrobe for the video; well, here I am.” With one arm over my chest holding the other arm’s elbow, I cover my mouth to contain my laughter because Lily looks ready to go to war.
“Aliana, so help me God, I’m going to bend you—”
“Nope!” My hands fly to cover my ears. “Do not finish that sentence. My ears can’t handle the trauma.” I bend over quickly to grab my bag and scurry as fast as I can out of the office, slamming the door shut behind me. I barely make it two steps when I’m snatched into a dark room. Heavy breaths fan over my face as I’m caged between a door and a hard body vibrating with anger. Rage ripples in the air like a miasma, stealing the oxygen from the room. Fiery fury heats the space until sweat trickles down my temples and spine.
“What did he mean I am the reason he almost lost you?” He growls the words as the tension continues to seep from his body, but I still hear the pain.
My eyes close as I take a deep breath. Guilt bathes me in its unending abyss of regret and remorse. “Graham,” I whisper, my voice cracking with a plea.
“No. Whatever you’re thinking of saying or doing to deflect, don’t. Tell me what he meant.”
I allow a single tear to slip past my lashes, then force the rest to evaporate. I look up, finding his eyes in the darkness, and lift my hand to his face. “The night I kissed you… The night of my accident…” I shake my head, square my shoulders, and rip the Band-Aid. “It wasn’t an accident. I ran the car off the road on purpose.”
He steps back, bringing both hands to his head. His eyes look tormented as he puts the pieces together. “You…” He stumbles over the word, his voice breaking. He clears his throat, drags a hand over his face, and points at me. “You did it on purpose? B-because of me?”
Whoever said the truth will set you free is a bold-faced liar because this doesn’t feel like freedom. It feels like torture. “Yes, I did it on purpose, but not because of you. Th-that’s just what I told Dad.” My head hangs as the shame I’ve carried for four years overflows.
“I don’t… That’s why he wouldn’t let me see you when you woke up, isn’t it?” I nod, unable to lift my head. “Why would you…” Thick fingers grip my jaw, tilting my head until I’m staring at his stormy eyes. “What the fuck did she do?”
Stupid tears fall the second the words leave his lips because I didn’t have to tell him. He just knows. I swipe at them viciously, then throw my arms around him. “I’m sorry.
He strokes his fingers through my hair, planning soft kisses to my crown. “You don’t have to apologize, Sunflower. Just tell me what she did.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
His chest rumbles. He doesn’t like my answer, but the way he releases a long breath tells me he’ll let it go for now. “Why didn’t you let Will drive you this morning?”
I smile, nuzzling deeper into his chest. He’s changing the subject for me, even if I know he wants answers. “I didn’t want anyone to see me getting out of your car and tell Dad.”
He hums low as his hand slips between us, dipping a finger beneath my chin. “That is unacceptable, Sunflower. I need to know you are safe.”
“Safe from what?” For all his insistence, he hasn’t told me why he’s so concerned with my usual means of transportation. “Why the secrecy?” My tone is teasing, but I’m serious. He’s keeping secrets, and it makes it hard to trust him.
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
Until he says things like that. Though arguably my biggest secret was just revealed, even if he’d disagree, the rest doesn’t matter anymore, does it? Yet, his point is proven when my lips seal shut. I know for this to work, we will eventually need to reveal our darkest truths, but the thought of him looking at me like I’m more broken than he already is makes me want to keep it all buried.
“Okay, Sunflower. You can keep your secrets, and I’ll tell you all of mine if you walk out of here and tell your dad you belong to me.”
My brows furrow as my hands shove against his chest. “A week isn’t long enough, Graham,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “I told you…”
He wraps his hands around my wrists and then pins them over my head. My breath stalls as he dips his head to my ear. “No, baby, I told you . I’m just giving you time to get used to the idea.”
“That’s not how this…”
“It’s exactly how it works.” His teeth graze the sensitive skin behind my ear as his free hand gathers my long skirt, pulling it up achingly slowly until his fingers dip beneath, stroking my outer thigh.
A shudder wracks my body as he slides toward my center. “N-not here,” I stammer, snapping my legs shut.
“You are always fighting for control, .” His hot breath makes goosebumps erupt from my scalp to my toes. “Give it to me. You know I will protect you from everyone . Let go.” My body relents to his command even if my mind still resists. He dips a finger beneath my panties, slipping a finger between my lips. “Fuck, baby, I haven’t even touched you yet, and you’re soaked.”
Flames rip through my body, half embarrassment and half arousal, as a soft whimper escapes me. My body and mind are at war, one telling me to run out of this room because this is wrong. My dad is less than a hundred feet away, and I’m tucked in some… I don’t even know where. It could be a freaking closet, for all I know. That alone should be enough for me. I’m not daring—not a rule breaker.
But when he slides two fingers inside me, my hips buck and another low moan escapes. “Looks like I need to keep this mouth busy.” He releases my hand and slips two fingers between my lips. My hands grip his shoulder, nails digging into his suit as he pushes them deep, testing my gag reflex.
My lips wrap around the fingers in my mouth as the others caress my G-spot. Knees weak and eyes rolling to the back of my head, I can barely think beyond the slow build in my belly. “Take it, baby.” His thumb presses down on my clit as my hips continue to gyrate. My tongue slides between his fingers, swirling them as I picture it’s his dick that I’ve wanted to taste but have been too scared to try. “That’s it. Suck them, Sunflower. Imagine it’s my cock like I know you’ve thought about. I’ve seen how you look at it licking your lips. Maybe I’ll let you taste while I lick this pussy tonight.”
The image of his mouth between my legs while his bedazzled cock plunges into my throat sends me over the edge. If not for his fingers in my mouth, my moans would alert everyone on the floor to our rendezvous.
He slips his fingers from between my lips, replacing them with the ones just inside my pussy. “See how good you taste when you come.” I lick just as I did before, earning a rumble. Then his fingers disappear, and they’re replaced with his tongue, devouring my mouth as if he’s starved. “Shit, I can’t share you even with you.”
He leans back, softly stroking my cheek, then brushing a thumb over my lip. “This obsession of mine is getting dangerous, Sunflower.”
“Y-your obsessed with me?”
“, I’m beyond obsessed. I’m possessed. I’m fucking unhinged. I want to keep you beside me every second. I’ve only just barely restrained myself from micro-chipping your ass.”
“Like a dog?”
“Like you’re mine , .”
I know I shouldn’t like that.
Fear, anger, wariness—any of those are what I should feel, but all I really feel is wanted and chosen.
I always knew Graham would be my undoing. Fighting this is absurd when he already owns my heart. He’s owned it since the day I met him. But fear still holds me back. When this inevitably ends, I will be destroyed, and I won’t survive if I lose everyone else because of it.
“Did you need me to…” My eyes drop where his erection strains, but it and the question earn me a growl.
“Don’t do that. I’m being patient, but I’m not letting you backtrack.” I chew my cheek and nod, but I know he’s not convinced when he huffs. “You’re going to be late.”
My face twists in confusion as I look at him. “I don’t have anything today until two.”
“If you wouldn’t have ditched Will, you’d know I made arrangements for you.”
“What arrangements?”
“You need to expand your resume so you can audition for that dance company. I have a job to add to it.” He sees the panic in my face before he finishes his statement because he’s already gripping my face—his way to make me focus on him and not my anxiety. “It’s just in Maverick’s music video. You won’t be anything more than a backup dancer for the ballet scene.”
“Y-you should’ve asked me,” I snap.
“Why? So you could refuse? That’s not happening, Sunflower. You are your own worst enemy. I’m here to run interference between you and your demons.” He pulls me behind him, cracking the door, and peeking his head out. When he’s satisfied, he grabs my hand, kisses it, and shoves me out the door. “Better run before your dad comes out.”
And with that, I race toward the elevators, praying Dad doesn’t appear and mentally preparing myself for my first real dancing role in years.