Page 50 of Cassio

The elevator door slid open and both of us stepped through, then the lift started its descent into the private gym. I ensured every one of my hotels had a private gym for us. Only my brother and I had access to those, along with selected special guests. There was another gym for general guests.

We walked in silence and I swiped my finger print across the pad, the door immediately opening. That’s when I saw her.

“Seems you have something in common with that girl,” Luca mocked me.

My eyes locked on the woman on the treadmill. Áine was jogging, wearing nothing but tight, sports shorts that hugged her butt and a sports bra. She must have been at it for a while, because sweat glistened off her light skin, her red hair up in a high ponytail. She had wireless headphones, watching a show on the screen.

Even from here, I spotted her butterfly birthmark. Against her pale skin it was impossible to miss it. Somehow it fit; she had gone through some struggles and prevailed.

Strong!The word that came to my mind each time I thought of her.

Soft humming traveled over, her whole posture relaxing despite her physical activity. She looked even younger than her twenty-five years. I watched her maintaining her running speed, her breathing even, and I wondered how long she had been in the gym. It was barely five in the morning.

My eyes roamed down her body. She wasn’t skinny but had a strong slim body with curves exactly where you’d want them on a woman. And now that I knew how those curves felt under me, I was hooked for life and never letting go. Being around her made me forget my blood stained hands, my black marred soul, and bask in her presence.

Áine was able to stir things in my chest that no other woman ever had. She was all I needed in my life - my redemption and my salvation. And over the last two years, she has been my obsession. I longed to trace her curves, touch every single inch of her body, and take my time knowing her likes and dislikes.

Two nights ago, our touch was hungry and greedy. Next time… and by God, there would be a next time even if it killed me… I’d take my time with her.

Soft words stopped my train of thought, realizing she was singing along to whatever she was listening to on her headphones as she watched the show on the screen. The tunes sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite place them.

Is it too good to be true;

I want this so much…

I’m stuck in the blue

The words struck and the scene from two years ago flashed in my mind. Same song, different place. The night I realized why we ever crossed paths. I saved her and she saved me.

Two years ago, I finally knew what I wanted from Callahan. I should feel guilty about what I was about to do, but I didn’t. Áine stirred something deep inside me that I long thought dead. I wanted to preserve it; I needed to preserve it. Otherwise, I feared I’d become just like my father.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice she stopped her treadmill and stepped off of it.

“Holy shit,” she exclaimed, stumbling back upon spotting both Luca and me. “Where in the fuck did you come from?”

I felt my lips curve into a smile at her not so delicate words. “Through the door,” I told her. “Good morning.”

Her hand was still on her chest, trying to calm her heart. “You scared the daylights out of me.”

“Sorry.” Truthfully, I didn’t expect to see her so early. This made it obvious that I only knew facts about Áine, but not her habits and likes.Soon!

“Did you have a good workout?” Luca asked her. “I thought this dude was the only lunatic that got up at the crack of dawn to work out, but apparently there was another lunatic around.”

She smiled, despite her hand still being on her chest and slightly labored breathing.

“Well, you are up as well,” she retorted dryly. “So you must be a lunatic too.”

Her eyes flickered my way, and honest to God, I wanted to knock my brother out cold so I could stalk towards my woman and claim her all over again. Right here and right now! So much for taking it slow.

“He woke me up, so I’m not in the same bin as you two looneys,” Luca muttered, bumping his shoulder against mine. I was too tense though so he didn’t get the desired effect. He stumbled instead of me.

Áine’s eyes twinkled as her gaze traveled to me. “I think you should make him run an extra ten miles for calling us looneys.”

I grinned. “I intend to.”

“I would totally watch,” she teased. “But I have to shower and catch a plane.”

The image of her in the shower was totally what I didn’t need. Yet, here I was imagining it anyhow. Goddamn it, I had to talk to her first. I needed another kiss to carry me over the next few weeks.