Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
Cas parks, and we run all the way inside the theater. The teenage boys at the front desk recognize him instantly.
“No way. It’s Cas Wilder.”
“Hey, so we’re trying to ditch the paparazzi and eat our dinner in peace. Are there any theaters with all the seats open starting soon. I’ll make it worth your help.” He winks.
“Heck yeah.” The kid at the computer says, typing into the kiosk. “I just reserved every seat in theater thirteen. The movie starts in ten minutes. It’s the last weekend this one is playing, and it’s a kids’ movie, so everyone’s already watched it at least once.”
“Perfect,” Cas says, whipping out his card to pay without even asking how much.
“That’s four hundred and—“ Cas cuts the kid off.
“It doesn’t matter.” He taps the card reader. “This is our little secret. You haven’t seen us. After the movie, I’ll do autographs and photos.”
“Deal. We got you, bro.” They hand Cas all thirty-five ticket stubs, then wave us down the hallway.
We stroll hand in hand to the theater. Cas only lets go to open the door.
He’s sweeter than I expected him to be. I cast him a sideways glance.
He’s watching me. When our eyes meet, he flashes that shit-eating grin.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and a soft tingle runs down my spine.
Damn him for being irresistibly hot. Something about all those tattoos and the way he just knows he can do whatever he wants.
“Where do you want to sit?” I ask, walking into the theater. “Do you have a weird must-sit spot?”
“I like sitting in the very back row,” he answers. “What about you?”
“Same. I like the back. It’s iconic.”
“Oh man, I just realized we forgot drinks,” Cas says, turning to head back out.
“Wait. I can go get drinks. No one’s going to recognize me like they will you.” I turn to leave, not expecting him to follow me.
“Wait. I don’t want you to just go alone. What if something happens?”
I give him a funny look. “Nothing’s going to happen to me, Cas. I’ve been coming to this theater since it was built.”
I try to explain away my possessiveness. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want the paparazzi to do anything. They can get crazy. Sometimes bad people pose as paparazzi, and I don’t trust them.”
I can’t imagine living like he does and not having a security team around when he’s probably used to having at least a bodyguard. I cock my head to one side. “Cas, why don’t you have a bodyguard?”
He laughs. “Darling, I’m fine. I don’t need a security team for stuff like this. No one knew I was here until a little while ago, and I fly out tomorrow morning. It’s not that serious. I can take care of myself. I promise.”
I shrug him off. “Roxy can still kick your ass.”
Cas laughs and hands me his card. “If I find out you paid—double trouble, and I’ll punish you later.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I make my way to the concession counter. There’s not a line. At the counter, I order two sodas. Everything’s fine. The paparazzi probably has no idea we’re even here. I’m halfway down the hall when I hear them.
“Hey, kids, have you seen anyone famous come in here?” one of them asks.
“Um no,” one of the kids replies. “If someone famous was here, do you think we’d just be standing around bored?”
“Security!” another kid at the front shouts. “We have some weirdos looking for famous people again. They’re disturbing the lobby.”
I laugh quietly to myself as security escorts them out and tells them not to come back or they’ll call the police.
Cas is waiting at the theater door. He looks at me eagerly, awaiting an update. “How did it go?”
I smile, brushing past him, then spin so I’m walking backwards. “The paparazzi are here.”
“Oh shit! Did they see you?”
“Nope.” I shake my head calmly. “Those boys did a great job covering and even called security.”
“Nice!” he says a little too enthusiastically.
The lights begin to slowly dim, indicating the movie is about to start.
“Come on.” I continue up the steps to the back row, sitting in the center seats.
I love these seats—nice, overstuffed leather recliners, and they turn into the perfect loveseat for two.
We settle in. Cas sets up our food on the empty seat next to him.
He clears his throat. “Get over here and sit on my lap.”
I laugh, unmoving, but he doesn’t take no for an answer. He hooks me under the knees and pulls until my legs straddle his lap. I’m in his arms in a flash. “If you want to have dinner, you better listen. I didn’t fly all the way out here not to spend every second possible touching you.”
The blush creeps slowly up my neck and over my face.
I’m glad the theater is dark enough to hide my embarrassment.
I’ve never been with someone as cocky as Cas.
He might just break me, because I don’t think I can live without this kind of dominance now that I’ve experienced it.
The previews come on, and Cas serves me up a huge bite of chicken penne.
I eye him warily like there’s no way it will fit in my mouth, and he laughs.
“What? There’s seriously no way. My jaw doesn’t unhinge. I want to see you do it.”
“Challenge accepted.” He shoves the bite in his mouth without a struggle.
“Yeah, well, your mouth is bigger than mine. I’m dainty,” I tease.
“Okay, let me get a dainty bite for the princess.” He snickers, holding up an one-inch section of noodle.
“Not that dainty,” I scold.
He rolls his eyes, playing along, and makes a small, very normal-sized bite, which I happily accept. “Mmmm. So good.” I close my eyes, savoring the familiar taste.
“I don’t understand? There’s gotta be some kind of girl secret to this.”
“It’s comfort food, Cas. It’s safe, doesn’t make you sick, and it’s oh-so satisfying.”
“Do you secretly work for BananaBees?”
“No. No. No. It’s obviously a girl thing you won’t understand.”
He shrugs. “I don’t have to understand. I’m taking notes on what makes you happy.”
I don’t know what to say. How can this man be so obsessed with me? I feel so undeserving. For months I’ve been sulking around.
The previews start, and Cas continues to feed us each alternating bites of food, which sets a perfect pace of bite-chew-swallow-drink.
We finish both boxes, even though I skipped several turns.
When we’re done, he cleans up, then wraps his arm around me, pulling us closer together.
I fall into him perfectly. His hand grips my thigh firmly, like he’s too afraid of letting go.
Mine creeps over his ripped, muscular stomach, which earns me a look down his nose, as if he can’t possibly let me get away with touching him without turning a smoldering hot gaze on me.
I’m busted, and he wants us both to know it.
He smirks, gloating like he’s won a Grammy. He releases my thigh and lifts his shirt so my hand drops against his skin. He’s burning hot—my brain makes a cheesy werewolf joke, then tucks it away to tell Roxy later.
Well, that escalated quickly, but who am I to refuse a perfect set of abs the attention they deserve?
Before I have time to think about it, his mouth is on mine.
Urgent and demanding. His tongue parts my lips, and when he swirls it around mine, I submit fully to his conquering.
Time stands still, and all sense of everything is lost. My body against his is all I know—electricity pulses at each place we’re touching.
My fingers drag over his abs, which only encourages him more.
We remain ensnared with one another until he finally breaks away when the lights come on.
My lips are swollen, my pussy is soaked and aching, and all I can think about is climbing into bed with him later, when he whispers, “I can’t wait to take you home.”
I feign a yawn. “I’m ready. Take me home, Cas Wilder.”
“And then what?” he practically growls.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” I tease.
“I need to do those photos, and then we can be on our way.” Cas jumps into action.
Once he throws away all our trash, he leaves me at the bathroom to freshen up while he takes his photos and signs his autographs.
I touch up my lips so they look less swollen, brush my hair with my fingers, and smooth out my clothes.
When I’m finished, Cas is still taking selfies with the teenagers, so I hang back, sitting on a bench while I wait for him to finish.
It only takes him a few more minutes. He thanks them again, and one of the teens even offers to check out the parking lot to make sure no one is waiting.
Once he gives us the all clear, we walk to the car hand in hand.
A comfortable silence surrounds us. Things just feel right when I’m with him. Nothing feels forced.
On the way home, Cas says, “So you grew up here. Tell me about all the places and your memories.” He gestures around.
I’m grinning ear to ear as I begin giving him directions.
We drive by my old house from before my dad became famous.
I show him the private K-8 school I attended before switching to art school.
We’re headed back to my place when I gasp, pointing out the window.
“Oh my gosh, it’s the merry-go-round park with the spider climber and swings. ”
I look at Cas, and he’s staring back at me with a sexy half-smile. “Do you want to go to the park and play, Vivienne?” he asks, his voice coated in pure, dangerous seduction.
“Yes!” I squeal. “There’s a small parking lot around the block. Turn right at the stop sign, and then you’ll see it. There’s only a few parking spaces.”
We pull up to the empty park. It’s another warm night, and plenty of old-timey, gas-lantern-type lamp posts splash splotches of color over the park. The stars are bright in the sky this close to the mountains and farther away from Denver. When Cas opens my door, I point them out to him.
He sucks in his breath for a moment. “Wow, it’s really pretty here.” Then he shouts, “Race you to the swings!” and takes off running.
I chase after him, but there’s no way. When I arrive moments after him, he’s standing, arms crossed, triumphantly in front of both swings. “Loser has to give the winner a kiss,” he declares.
I stand on my tiptoes, and he bends down so I can kiss him. Cas pulls away first, then sits on one of the swings, and I follow. He pulls out a joint, holds it up, and asks, “Do you want to smoke?”
I shrug. “Sure. It was fun last time.”
“Oh, I can promise it will be just as much fun this time,” he replies in a cocky tone.
He lights it and takes a few drags before offering it to me. He holds it up, and I take a long, slow inhale.
“It’s nice here. I like it,” he says, taking another puff and blowing the smoke out.
“Are you moving?” I tease.
He holds the joint to my lips and waits for me to take a hit.
“I might be,” he replies.
“Where to? California?” I guess, since that’s where so many famous people live.
“Here.”
My jaw drops open in surprise. Cas tilts it closed with one finger, then brings the joint to my lips. “What’s wrong, Vivienne? I want to be closer to you once the tour ends.”
I don’t know what to say. I shrug. “Why?”
He laughs. “Why not? Are you hiding some deep, dark kinky secrets I should know about?”
“All kinds of kinky secrets,” I tease.
“You’re on the hook to tell me at least one.” He winks, holding out the joint for me.
I take my turn, and blow the smoke out. I’m getting remarkably better at this, and honestly, I don’t mind smoking with Cas. It’s fun.
“That’s not fair. You tricked me.”
“Sounds like a you problem,” Cas snickers.
I shake my head. “This feels so crazy.”
“Why shouldn’t I be obsessed with you after one night?” He’s suddenly standing in front of me.
Cas offers me another turn, and I shake my head. He brushes my cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m going to move here whether you like it or not.”
“What does that mean?” My question is met with a wicked smile from Cas.
“It means you’re mine now, Vivienne, and you owe me one kinky confession. I’m going to fulfill every single one of your fantasies. Where do you want to start?” There’s that cocky attitude that makes my pussy clench with need, remembering how good it felt to take him.
I bite my lip, filled with nerves. I’ve never told another single living soul one of my fantasies. Not Jackson. Not Roxy. Not anyone. I shake my head.
“Don’t make me force it out of you. Be a good girl, little muse. I want to make our one night together unforgettable. It has to last until next time.”
“Tell me what’s something you’ve always wanted—anything,” he demands.
“I don’t know what makes you think I’m scared of anything you can do to me,” I challenge, my bratty personality making its signature debut.
“Oh darling,” he tsks. “You’re going to tell me, then beg me to make you come. I have my ways, and I’m not afraid of playing dirty to get what I want.”
I smile defiantly.
“Last chance. Let me give you this as a gift. I want to do this for you—to keep you thinking about me day and night while I’m gone.” His voice is husky, laced with frustration from not getting his way.
He’s scowling while his eyes dominate mine with a stare that sends goosebumps erupting over my skin and leaves every hair on my body standing on edge.
My pussy is on fire, desperate for the things he’s offering.
My body screams at me to agree to the terms of his game.
“Fine, but consider it a gift from me. A token of my trust in you that you promise not to break my heart, Cas Wilder. I’m not consenting to that. ”
He softens in understanding, but in a flash, it’s gone, replaced with nothing but calm. “I promise, little muse. I always protect what’s mine.”
“I’ve always wanted to be chased through the woods by a masked man, but I suppose a park will do, and you are, in fact, a masked man, aren’t you?” I quip, my brow raised at him, hoping he’s not equipped with a mask for my impossible request.
Silence stretches between us for a few seconds, and I instantly regret telling him.
Cas chuckles, a low, menacing laugh that suddenly makes my blood run cold through my veins. His entire demeanor changes. Everything about him feels dangerous. “Oh, baby girl, you better enjoy running. I’m going to have so much fun chasing you.”
A sensual shiver rolls through me, awakening every nerve in my body as I watch him walk away to retrieve the mask I banked on him not having.