Chapter Six
Apparently Cassie couldn’t be around Derek without kissing him. Which, in turn, led to a stupid grin on her face, which would be unprofessional when dealing with his partners. She walked out of his office, relieved when his assistant wasn’t at her desk. Cassie took a minute to compose herself. She placed her hands on her flushed cheeks and forced in calming streams of air.
Finally she felt ready to approach Kade, whose office Derek told her was in the far right corner of the floor.
She knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he called out.
She drew a deep breath and walked into the room. A tall, dark-haired, broad-shouldered man stood behind an immaculate desk, clear of papers and clutter. Unlike Derek’s which had been exactly what she’d expected of a busy business mogul.
“Hi, I’m Cassie Storms,” she said, striding over and shaking his hand across his desk.
“Kade Barnes,” he said rather formally. He gestured to an empty chair, and as she took her seat, he did the same.
She could tell by looking at him he wasn’t comfortable with this meeting, and she thought she understood. Kade had been through his own PR nightmare, and he’d had to bare his soul on national television.
Now he had to talk to another reporter, even though it wasn’t about himself. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I just want some insight into Derek in college. You and Lucas knew him best then.”
Kade nodded. “We were all similar, actually. We came from environments where we didn’t fit in, and when we met each other, we just clicked. A bunch of computer nerds who wanted to break out of their shells.” He raised a shoulder, maybe in embarrassment, she couldn’t be certain. Kade didn’t show his emotions and was difficult to read.
“So you’d call Derek a nerd?” she asked with a smile. “We talked once the summer before college,” she said, going back to that easy evening with a forbidden beer in her hand. “He didn’t strike me as overly nerdy.” He hadn’t been as built as he was now, but he did have muscles from helping his dad work outside.
She bit down on her lower lip. “He was determined, even then,” she mused, recalling how ready he was to go away to school. Just like she’d been.
“Definitely determined to succeed. Derek worked to pay for the extras above and beyond his scholarship. He was intent on making his parents proud. Especially his dad. Losing him took a toll.”
“I’m sure. I know they were close.”
“Right. You two have history,” Kade said, studying her, making her feel like a specimen to be examined.
“Right.” She refused to squirm. “Back to Derek’s drive to succeed.” She redirected Kade’s focus.
“We all had that. But in those days, I think we were all less … secure in who we were. More easily used and hurt,” he said, his words aimed directly at her, as was his fiery gaze.
“Aah. You’re going there,” she said, not surprised Kade knew her shared past with Derek, because the men were as close as brothers.
“I know you were a bitch,” Kade said.
She flinched but accepted the verbal punch because it had been true. She had treated Derek badly. But she didn’t plan to sit here and be insulted by his partner.
She rose to her feet. “I respect your honesty and how you’re looking out for your friend, but did it occur to you that Derek can handle himself? Or that I might not be the same person today I was back then?”
He didn’t answer.
“I didn’t think so. It was nice to meet you. I think I’ve gotten a sense of what Derek was like and who he surrounds himself with.” She turned and started for the door.
“Cassie, wait,” he said, in a deep albeit reluctant voice.
She paused and glanced over her shoulder, hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”
“Derek’s going to fucking kill me for being rude to you,” he muttered. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m sure you know I’ve been through a rough patch lately. Someone I once trusted did his best to destroy me. It makes me wary about people coming back into someone’s life. I questioned your motives and that wasn’t fair.”
She inclined her head, appreciating his apology and honesty. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m not looking to hurt Derek. In fact, I’m not looking for anything he doesn’t want to willingly give.”
“Good to know.”
She squeezed the handle tighter. “Derek is lucky to have such a loyal friend.”
“Right now, I’m not sure he’d agree with you,” Kade said and Cassie laughed. “Our conversation will be our secret,” she promised him.
He looked at her with what she hoped was appreciation in his gaze. At the very least, she saw a change from the wariness of earlier and she was grateful. Because Kade and Derek were close. And she wanted his friends to like her.
“Okay, on to the next adversary.”
A few minutes later, she found herself sitting beside Lucas on a couch in the corner of his office. Another good-looking, dark-haired man, but this one with an easy smile on his face.
“So how’s it going?” he asked her, reinforcing her impression that he was more relaxed than Kade, more like Derek in his demeanor.
“I’m having an interesting morning,” she said, putting it mildly. “I met with Kade earlier and he’s more intense.”
Lucas burst out laughing. “Did he put you through the wringer?”
“You could say that. But I understood his reasons.”
“We’re protective of each other. We’ve been given good reason,” he said, meeting her gaze.
She nodded. “I understand. And I’ll tell you what I told Kade. I have no evil intentions toward your friend.”
“Okay then. We can go on from there. So what can I tell you about Derek?” Lucas leaned back and grinned.
A little devil sat on her shoulder, and she heard herself asking, “Did he date a lot in college?”
“He was a player,” Lucas said, and burst out laughing again. “No, seriously, he dated. I wouldn’t say he worked his way through campus or anything. He was too busy working and studying. Then the idea of Blink came, and busy became an understatement.”
Which reinforced her opinion of him as hardworking, dedicated, and ambitious. She and Lucas talked for a while longer, allowing Cassie to get a feel for their friendship, how they’d met, and how the deep bond between them developed and strengthened.
A knock sounded on the door and Derek walked in. “I’m going to steal her for lunch,” he said just as they were wrapping up.
“We were finished anyway,” Cassie said, rising to her feet. “Thank you. You were wonderful. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.”
“My pleasure.”
As they walked through the main area, passing the assistants and other people, she took in the vibe in the office, the relaxed feeling, the laughter, noting it for more information she’d reveal about Derek West’s life.
Once they were in his office, he locked the door and she knew she’d passed from the professional area into the personal one. A blanket was spread out on the floor beside the window overlooking the city. On it were assorted Chinese food boxes and bottles of water. A makeshift picnic for two.
“What’s this?” she asked as she walked into the room.
“The last part of my apology and the first part of my seduction.”
She nearly tripped over her own feet before righting herself. “Seduction?”
“You heard me.” He swept his hands toward the setup on the floor. “But don’t worry. I don’t intend for our first time to be on the hard floor of my office. On the desk, once we’re in a groove … well, that can be arranged.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Derek?” she asked the easygoing man with sex on the brain.
“Have a seat, let’s eat, and we’ll talk.”
“Where’s Oscar?”
“I had Becky take him back to my place and gave her the afternoon off.”
“Aah.” She kicked off her shoes and lifted her skirt until she was able to lower herself to the floor, her legs bent to the side. “Awkward,” she muttered.
“Sorry. Guess I didn’t take clothing into consideration,” he said, his gaze zeroing in on the stretch of thigh she’d revealed. The lace on the top of her thigh-highs peeked out from the hem of her skirt.
“Quit staring,” she muttered.
“Want to move things up to the desk?” he offered.
She shook her head. “No, this is nice. I’ll manage. As long as you behave and keep your eyes where they belong.” Because if she shifted even a little, her skirt would lift so high she’d be baring her underwear.
As it was, she was warm from his heated, knowing gaze; those very panties were damp with arousal. Because he’d used the word seduction. And talked about their first time, something she’d thought about too. Often.
The smell of delicious food caused her stomach to rumble, and he began to open the box tops. From dumplings to lo mein, fried rice to shredded beef, they shared a variety of dishes.
“So how did things go with Kade and Lucas?” he asked as he lifted the lo mein, more adept with chopsticks than she’d have thought.
“They were very enlightening. I understand you were a hard worker back in your college days.”
“I had no choice. I needed to eat, so I needed to make money. And Blink was just an idea at the time, although one we were serious about creating.”
She nodded. “Your mom must be proud of you,” she said, pushing her boundaries with him—for good reason.
He swallowed hard but answered her quickly—and easily. “She is. She always believed in me, which I realize is a blessing not many people get from their parents,” he said, meeting her gaze.
“No. That’s true.” She took a bite of the last dumpling, pausing to chew and swallow before continuing. “Speaking of family, I ran into my brother after you dropped me off at the house this weekend.”
“Any chance he decided to leave you alone and let you stay in the guesthouse?” Derek asked.
She shook her head. “No, and I decided which apartment I want to move into. But we’ll get to that, okay?”
He nodded.
“I’m going to bring something up that’s bound to set you off. Except this time I want you to know I understand why.”
He narrowed his gaze, obviously unsure of where she was headed with the conversation.
“Spencer wanted to know who dropped me off, and I told him it was you. He told me your mother stole a necklace and my father fired her. I didn’t know. And I don’t believe it.”
She’d spent the weekend upset by the news. And no matter how many times she played out scenarios in her mind, she couldn’t come up with one where she believed his mother would take something that wasn’t hers.
Not the woman who had cookies and milk waiting for her in the kitchen after school—something the adult Cassie realized she must have wanted to do for her own son and daughter. But she’d had to work instead. Marie had been kind, caring, and giving. And Cassie considered herself a good judge of character.
Plus, she finally understood why Derek had such a difficult time putting the past behind them. Which meant it had to be discussed. Now, especially, that she knew he still wanted to be with her, despite their history.
Even if opening this dialogue led to more difficulties between her and Derek, she had to clear the air between them.
* * *
Derek paused, the water bottle halfway to his lips, as Cassie’s words bounced around in his brain. I didn’t know. And I don’t believe it.
He’d spent the weekend putting the past where it belonged, and she brought it up all over again. He searched for the words that would let him have this conversation and not be a jerk about her father or the past.
“Derek? I’m sorry to bring this up, but I thought you should know. My father told me your parents left and took new jobs. That’s all I knew until I asked you the other day.”
“What do you mean, you don’t believe it?” He grasped on to the most unlikely part of the scenario.
“I know I was young, but your mother was so good to me. The woman I knew wouldn’t steal. But … my father would lie. I just don’t know why.” Her wide-eyed, honest gaze met his, and he tumbled headlong into more than lust. This was the part of Cassie that called to him so deeply.
“I don’t know what to say but thank you. I don’t believe it either. I never did. I spent time with her this weekend. I guess I wanted to get her take on the past too. She’s a lot like you. She’s honest and she doesn’t hold a grudge.”
“I appreciate that,” she murmured. “It’s quite a compliment.”
“I blamed your family for my father’s death,” he said, unable to meet her gaze, so he began to close up the empty food cartons as he spoke. “After they were fired, they had no health insurance. By the time he saw a doctor, it was too late to save him. I hated your father for that.”
“And by extension, you hated me.”
He shook his head. “No. I misunderstood who you were, but we cleared that up pretty quickly. But the rest? I was shocked when my mother insisted she didn’t feel the same way. Because my dad was stubborn, and there was no certainty he’d have seen a doctor anyway.”
“She’s forgiving,” Cassie murmured. “And I’m so sorry about everything. I wish I could change it. At the very least, I wish I could give you answers as to why he accused Marie.”
“I’m not sure it matters anymore.” He’d felt lighter since leaving his mother’s house and unburdening himself. He was able to talk about their past today without rancor.
“My mother had only good things to say about you,” he told her.
She smiled at that.
“I take it your brother didn’t have great things to say about me though?”
“I take the Fifth.” She wriggled herself into a position where she could push herself up without flashing him in the process, and together they tossed the garbage into the trash can.
He decided to let the family issues go.
He lifted the blanket, folding it and placing it on the nearest chair. “So,” he said, turning to face her.
“So.” She leaned against the desk.
“Let’s not discuss family.”
“Good idea.”
He stepped closer, backing her against the desktop, his pelvis coming into contact with hers. She sucked in a shaky breath. “I thought I was here to work.”
“You are. You’re shadowing me, remember?”
“I don’t think I’ll be writing about how you’re trying to seduce your interviewer.” A teasing smile lifted her lips.
He reached out and pressed his thumb against her lower lip, causing a full-body tremble. “Good. I’d hate to think you were the type to kiss and tell.”
“I’m not.” She swallowed hard, the long line of her throat moving up and down. “If you don’t want something printed, it won’t be. And I don’t want anything personal between us up for public consumption.”
“Fair enough,” he said, bracing his arms on either side of her body and sliding his lips along her jaw. The scent of her perfume assaulted his senses, going straight to his cock, which hardened as if on command.
“Mmm. How do you do it?” she asked.
“What?” He worked his way up her jawline, enjoying the taste and scent of her as she arched into him, her breasts pushing against the sweater he now regretted wearing. He’d prefer to feel the press of her hardened nipples against a light tee shirt. Weather be damned.
“How do you engage my entire body with a simple kiss?” Her hands came to his waist. She pulled up the sweater, her hot palms touching his skin.
“It’s us. This chemistry. It’s unique to us.” Mimicking her moves, he slid his hands inside her blouse, let his palms glide up her sides, until his thumbs grazed her nipples and she moaned out loud.
All he wanted to do was make her feel good. Watching her eyelids flutter closed, her lips part, the light flush cover her cheeks did something to him.
There was a reason he called her princess … maybe the pedestal he’d put her on years ago. Maybe the fact that there was a vulnerability beneath the strength she exuded. Or maybe everything about her just did it for him. Which made him want to give to her.
He plucked at her nipples, and she tilted her head back, pushing her breasts forward and into his hands. They felt like a fucking gift, and he treated them that way, cupping the heavy mounds and continuing to roll her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. Her grip tightened on his hips. She liked what he was doing to her.
He intended to give her more. Add to the sensations. He eased a leg between her thighs, and soon she was rocking her pussy into the hard muscle of his thigh.
“Feel good?” he asked, continuing the nipple play. She was sensitive there, and for sure she felt the contractions deep in her sex.
“So good,” she said, her body shaking and on the edge.
Fuck. His cock was hard, his balls had drawn up, and he wasn’t the one who would be getting off from this. And that was okay. Another thing that made her unique. His desire for her pleasure over his own. Again.
He began to rock his thigh into the vee of her legs, and she rubbed herself against him, seeking harder, deeper pressure. He released her breasts, needing to kiss her. When she came, he wanted to taste her moans, to have his tongue tangled with hers, thrusting inside her mouth the way he couldn’t do with her body.
His lips caught hers. At the same time, he shoved her skirt up and slid his hand into her soaked underwear, his fingertip finding her clit.
At the initial touch, her fingers pinched his flesh so hard he’d have bruises on his sides later, and he didn’t care. He slicked her juices over the tight bud, and she came apart, her entire being a beautiful, quaking mess, her breaths lost in his kiss.
She rode out the waves, and he continued to slide his finger over her sensitive flesh until she was arching away from him, unable to take the sensations another minute.
When she collapsed against him, he was ready, taking her slight weight and pulling her into his arms. “You keep giving without taking in return,” she said, her breath warm against his ear, her tone in utter awe.
What was wrong with the assholes who’d come before him? Not that he wanted to think about them, but she seemed truly stunned.
She reached for the button on his jeans, and he grasped her hand, stilling her before she could free his aching cock. If she so much as touched him, he’d come like a teenager first thing in the morning.
“But…”
“But nothing. Today was for you.”
“And last time?” she asked, easing away so she could meet his gaze.
“Also about you. Remember what I said. I’m not about to fuck you for the first time on the floor or my desk.”
He had a hunch he wasn’t going to fuck her at all. Messy emotions were destined to make his life a hell of a lot more complicated. And he couldn’t stop the feelings if his life depended upon it.
He stepped away, taking in her disheveled appearance. “C’mere.”
She wrinkled her nose in confusion, and he leaned forward to kiss her there. “Let’s get you fixed up.” He helped her tuck her blouse back into her skirt, and she smoothed her hands over the wrinkled material.
“My hair is a mess.”
“It’s fine,” he assured her. “But let’s smooth it out a little.”
She blushed and began to run her fingers through the tangled strands.
He didn’t think she’d want to do a walk of shame through his office so everyone looking would know what they were up to in here. Not that she’d have a choice. All the adjusting in the world wouldn’t hide her flushed cheeks and well-kissed lips.
He snapped his fingers. “I have an idea.” He headed to the phone on his desk and dialed Kade’s office. “Do me a favor? Call a meeting of the assistants in your office.” Those were the people who’d notice them walking to the elevators.
“Why?” Kade asked.
Derek rolled his eyes. “Don’t ask me questions. Just keep everyone busy for a little while.”
Cassie’s lips parted in surprise. “Derek!”
He held up one finger, indicating she should wait.
“You’re going to owe me,” Kade muttered. “Tell me what to say to them.”
“I don’t know. Give ’em a raise. Or a Valentine’s Day bonus.”
Kade muttered a curse. “You’re fucking crazy.”
“I’d do it for you.” He hung up the phone, turned to Cassie, and grinned. “We’re leaving in five minutes.”
“I look that bad?” she asked, horrified, her hands coming to her hair again.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, meaning it. “But you deserve better than to have everyone know what we’ve been doing.”
She blinked, silenced at least for the second. “You’re a true gentleman,” she murmured.
He shook his head. “I’m not.” At least, he hadn’t been. She brought out the best in him. “Come back to my place?” he asked.
As far as he was concerned, they weren’t finished. Not by a long shot.
“Okay.”