Page 6

Chapter Six

I wake the next morning to my phone buzzing on my chest. I pick it up and stare at it through very sleepy eyes. An incoming call from Cass.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Miss Summers,” Cass says cheerfully.

“Good morning. What time is it?”

“Seven o’clock.”

“Really Cass?”

“Yes ma’am. Really.” His laughter makes me smile.

“Why are you calling me so early? Don’t you know I’m a bartender?” I hope he can’t hear the grumpy expression on my face.

“Yes, I do know. And I’m calling you so early because it has been brought to my attention that you’re sleeping on the couch of my bar again. Did you get drunk last night?” he asks, and about that time he steps around the corner of the door that leads to the front of the bar.

I hang up the phone, staring at him. The smile that creeps onto my face is one I can’t control nor hide, even if I wanted to. Seeing this man does something to me. My smile fades quickly, though, as thoughts from yesterday cross my mind. Reasons why he may have left and ran off.

“What?” he asks, noticing the change in my face.

“Nothing.”

“No, something’s on your mind. What is it?”

“You keep leaving, disappearing without a trace or an explanation for that matter. What am I supposed to think? Because right now, I can tell you what I think.”

“What do you think?” he asks.

“I think you’re married. That you have a wife at home who probably has no idea what you’re out doing, or who you’re out doing things with.” I figure now is as good of a time as any to be honest.

“Lilly, I’m not married. I don’t have a wife at home. I’m the President of a fucking MC that needs my attention ninety percent of the time. I have a role to fill, and my club comes first.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Club I can handle. A wife? Not so much. I sit up on the couch, silently processing what he said. Now I can get that thought out of my head. Cass approaches the couch and offers me a hand up. I take it and Cass pulls me into his arms. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and opens YouTube and music bursts from the speakers.

“Tender Years?” I ask, my smile back with a vengeance.

“Yes ma’am. May I have this dance?” he asks, pulling me in close.

“Of course.”

I rest my head on his chest and wrap my arms around his neck. I’m still in the same clothes I wore to work last night, I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet, and I really want to shower, but none of that matters. All that’s relevant right now is the fact that Cass isn’t married and I’m in his arms once again.

Cass leads me across the room and spins me in circles, making me laugh when he nearly drops me.

“Well, good morning to you, too,” I whisper, my head back in its rightful place on his chest while we dance slowly again.

“I had to see you first thing this morning. You’re doing something to me that I can’t explain. I’ve never wanted to be around someone as much as I want to be around you. You intrigue me and make me feel alive.”

“Then stop disappearing so much, or at least let me know when you’re done with club shit so I can talk to you or see you if I’m not working.”

“Ahem.” A voice sounds from the doorway. Scott is standing there, arms crossed, staring at us.

“Can I help you?” Cass and I say simultaneously. We burst out laughing, which in turn makes Scott laugh.

“I need to talk to you about the pipes in the corner that you wanted us to change,” Scott says, talking directly to Cass.

“Give me just a minute, please,” Cass says. Scott nods and walks out the door.

“I want to see where this goes. No titles, no bullshit. Just you and me, figuring whatever this is out together. Are you in?”

I look up at him, unsure if I’m dreaming or if this is really happening.

“Abso-fuckin-lutely,” I smile, then tip-toe to kiss him. His hand lightly brushes my cheek, sending butterflies flapping in my stomach.

“Sounds like I’m needed up front,” he whispers.

“I know.” I sigh, pointing to the doorway.

Cass walks out and my stomach growls. Curiosity gets the best of me, so I walk to the front of the bar. The only two people here are Cass and Scott. It is only eight in the morning and the bar doesn’t open until noon.

“Hey. Did either of you happen to bring food?” I ask. They both stare at me and smile.

“What?” I ask, then catch a glimpse of my reflection in the new mirrors behind the bar. “Oh…” My hair is poking up in ten different directions. Laughing at my own silly reflection, I try to pat down the wild hairs. I finally get it under control and when I turn back a round, Cass and Scott are still staring at me.

“Are y’all going to answer my question or are you just going to let me wonder and starve in the process?” I ask, my hands on my hips.

“There’s donuts over there.” Scott points to the end of the bar. I rush over and grab two, as if they are going to disappear before I could get any.

“Oh, thank you. There is a god,” I say, stuffing a donut in my mouth. Cass and Scott stand in the corner of the bar talking and pointing around at the different changes for a few minutes. Once they finish their conversation, Cass walks over to where I’m sitting at the bar with my half-eaten donuts.

“I have to get out of here, I was supposed to be at the office twenty minutes ago.” He kisses my cheek and with that he’s gone again.

I walk into the bathroom and start the shower. The air in the building feels less energetic knowing that Cass isn’t here. I get dressed and rush out the door, or I try to. Scott stops me just as I am about to walk out.

“Hey, what are you doing?” he asks.

“Honestly, it’s none of your business. I don’t have to work today, therefore I don’t have to be here,” I stomp around him, but he’s bigger and faster than me. He steps in front of me again.

“Whoa, I was just asking. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You’re good. I’m sorry, I don’t know what my problem is lately. I’ve got a lot going on in my head.”

Honestly, I’m going to check out my house and find the new owner and discuss the possibility of catching up on rent and staying there, but Scott doesn’t need to know all of that.

“I understand. Have a good day,” he says and moves out of the way.

I make it to the house in time to find out that the new owner is a property managing company. The agent that’s over the property is standing outside when I arrive.

“You must be Miss Summers,” the woman says when I approach.

“Yes. Please, call me Lilly,” I say, shaking her hand. The agent isn’t much taller than me. Long, curly black hair rests just above her ass and she’s got a light about her that’s bubbly and bright. She’s dressed in a green collared shirt with a white logo on the right corner and a pair of blue jeans with black boots.

“I’m Carrie. I’ll be the one managing your account with us,” she says with a genuine smile.

“Nice to meet you, Carrie.”

“It shows here that your account was past due with the previous owner, but it was paid in full when we took over.”

“What?”

I haven’t made a payment. Until five minutes ago, I didn’t even know that a company had bought the property, much less who they were or how to pay them. There has to be some kind of mistake.

“Yes ma’am. It shows a payment made yesterday in the amount of two thousand dollars on your account. Looks like you’re paid up for next month, too.”

“That isn’t right. I haven’t made a payment,” I mutter, confused.

“No ma’am, it’s certainly right. I took the payment myself,” Carrie assures me.

“Do you know who paid it?”

“I’m not allowed to share that information. I know, it’s silly, but it’s part of our policy.”

“Oh. Well, thank you anyway. And thank you for letting me know.”

“Not a problem. Is there anything else I can help you with?” Carrie asks.

“Nope, I think that about covers it. I came here to try and talk you into letting me stay in my house, but it looks like I don’t have to. Can you tell whoever it was that paid it that I said thank you?”

“No, I don’t have their contact information. I’m sorry, Lilly.”

“Well damn. Okay. Thank you, again.”

Carries nods and gives me a reassuring smile.

“Anytime. It was so good to meet you,” she says, taking my hand between both of hers for a moment before walking to her.

“You too!”

I unlock the door to the house before grabbing some of the things I had loaded in the trunk. I pack everything back in and begin putting things way in their original spots. It’s weighing on my mind that someone has paid my rent, and I don’t know who. Mindy, maybe? Mom? I’m not sure. No one knows how behind I am or that I even needed it to be paid. I finally get everything unloaded from my car and sit on the couch. The couch at the bar is comfortable but there’s nothing like being at home on my own couch. This old couch came with the house when I moved in, and I’ve grown an odd emotional attachment to it.

I open my phone. It’s early, only eleven-thirty and I’m bored sitting here. I decide to get up and go see Mindy. I need some counseling after this morning and a drink probably won’t hurt, either.

I get to the bar just in time to catch Mindy before lunch.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” I say, walking through the door to find Mindy with a bowl of red beans in hand.

“There’s some on the stove in the back. Go grab a bowl.”

I fix myself a bowl and sit at the bar. It’s empty, mostly because it’s technically not open to the public yet. I can’t help but be in awe of how amazing it looks. The two different crews that came in and remodeled everything did such a fantastic job. It’s definitely not the same bar that it used to be and that’s a good thing. Hell, the driveway alone is going to be so good for business.

“So, what’s up with you and mystery biker slash boss man?” Mindy asks between bites.

“He came in this morning after he called and woke me up. I was worried that he was married at first, but he cleared that up really quick, then told me he wants to see where things go,” I say, nonchalantly as if this isn’t a big deal at all.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope. I went to find him yesterday, started in on a complete bitch fest and he grabbed me mid-sentence and fucked me, then left. Then this morning he said that and now I haven’t heard from him because he’s working. Or doing club shit, but I’m thinking working.”

“You lucky bitch,” Mindy grins.

“Yeah, well, you know. My luck hasn’t always been like this. Oh! A property management company bought my house, so I met with the agent handling my account today.”

“What’d she say?”

“That I can stay…because someone paid my late rent from the last two months and paid next month’s rent, too.”

“Really? Did they tell you who?” Mindy asks.

“Negative. She said it was company policy that she couldn’t discuss it with me. Funny, huh. They can’t tell me who paid my rent.”

Mindy giggles. “That is kind of funny, actually.”

“Did you do it?”

“No, love. I didn’t. I wish I could have, but it wasn’t me.”

“Damn. I thought it was you. It could have been my mom, but I haven’t talked to her, and she doesn’t even know that the house got bought out.”

“I don’t know love.”

I sigh. I will have to call my mom soon. No one else is aware of my financial struggles.

“I’m nervous, Min,” I admit. I move my spoon around aimlessly in my bowl and try to process everything going on in my life in the last two weeks.

“I think you worry too much. So, what if someone paid your rent? Be grateful and call it Sunday. One less thing for you to worry about. As far as Cass goes, enjoy it while it lasts and have fun. Stop being so damn serious all the time,” Mindy says.

“You’re right. I need to stop overthinking and enjoy my life. What would I do without you?”

“Let’s not ever find out, because I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“This is why I love you.”

We finish eating and wash our bowls in the sink in the back. I’m so used to spending all my time at the bar that even on my off days, I’m here. The thought makes me giggle and I shake my head at myself.

I walk back out front and sit at the bar.

“Have you talked to him about the grand reopening?” Mindy asks.

“No. I haven’t thought about it, to tell you the truth. That’s the last thing on my mind when he’s around.” No sooner than the words fall out of my mouth, Cass steps out from the back of the bar. I look up in surprise. I was literally just back there. Where did he come from?

“So, mystery biker. Oh, sorry I mean boss man. When is this grand reopening?” Mindy asks.

“Everything is done, so I was thinking we could host the grand reopening on Friday. That gives us five days to get the word out and I’ve already had the flyers made up. There’s a stack of them on the desk in the office.”

“I guess that’s settled then. I’ll ride around and put them out around town today since the bar isn’t open yet,” she says. Mindy walks past him to the back, in search of the flyers Cass spoke of.

Cass approaches the bar and stands across from me.

“Can I help you?” I ask, quirking a brow at him.

“Yes, you can. Meet me here tonight, seven o’clock.”

“And why would I do that?” I grin.

“Because you want to,” he says, giving me his signature smile.

That smile makes me fucking melt. He’s right. I want to. I return a smirk of my own and nod my head.

“Good. I’ve got to get back to work, I only stopped to drop off the flyers and then I saw your car and I had to say hi. You look amazing today, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” he says and walks to the back just as Mindy rounds the corner with the grand opening flyers in her hand.

“Whoa boss,” Mindy says, barely avoiding colliding into Cass when he walked through the door.

“What was that about?”

“A date, maybe? I’m not really sure. I didn’t get the details because I was too excited that he asked me to meet him tonight.”

“That sounds interesting. You have to give me all of the juicy details later,” Mindy says, grabbing the stack of flyers. She walks around the bar, keys in hand, and kisses my cheek.

“I’m out of here. Have fun tonight.”

“Oh, I will.”

The day drags on. I came back home to sit on my couch and relax while waiting patiently for the day to pass. I’m excited that he invited me to see him tonight, but I’m aggravated that he automatically assumed I would show up. Maybe I’m that transparent. I hate that he was right, most of all. I spend most of the day on the couch and at five o’clock, I take a quick shower and freshen up my makeup. I don’t know what he has planned, but whatever the occasion, I will be dressed to impress.

I opt for the same black lace underwear that Cass keeps ripping off of me so easily, a black mini skirt and I pair it with a one-shouldered long-sleeve black shirt with holes down the sleeve. I check my look in the mirror. Perfect. Now to style my hair. Whatever Cass’s plans are, he isn’t going to be able to keep his hands off of me for long. I smile at the thought of his expression when he sees me tonight. Mindy was right, I have to live a little and not worry so much.

I make it to Creek’s just before seven. Cass’s pretty blue bike is parked by the front porch. Cass is dressed in dark blue jeans, black boots, and a black shirt with purple and gold lettering on it that I can’t make out beneath his cut, and he has on the same hat he wore when I met him in Houston.

The sight of him standing there, looking so fine, has me tingling between my thighs. I could rip his clothes off on this porch, right now. No. Stop. Focus. It’s hard to think straight when he’s walking around looking like that. I make a mental note to check for drool when I am able to tear my gaze away from him.

“Hello, Miss Summers,” Cass says as I approach the front porch.

“Hello, Mister Sonnier.” I walk up the stairs until I’m nose to nose with him. I feel cat-like, sexy and seductive. I place a hand in the center of his chest and press lightly until his back is against the wall.

“You wanted to see me?” I whisper.

“Yes ma’am.” He grabs me by the hips and lifts me up.

“Hey, now. I was in charge,” I protest. But as soon as my legs wrap around his waist, I no longer have any thoughts of rebellion. He carries me inside through the door and locks it behind us.

He sets me down and takes a step back, sizing me up. “You look like a fucking model right now.”

“Thank you. You look pretty hot yourself,” I say.

He walks back over to me and spins me around. Placing a soft kiss on my shoulder, he grips my hair and pulls ever so slightly, giving him access to my neck. He peppers soft kisses from my collarbone to my ear before stopping and letting go. I turn around to face him with a pout on my face. Cass laughs at me, not the reaction I’d hoped for.

“Oh, now that is too fucking cute,” he says, trying to stifle a laugh without much success.

“Come see, I have something for us.”

He leads me to the back of the bar. I enter the lounge area to find dinner is set up on the dining table with a candle in the center of it. He pulls a chair out for me and kisses my temple before walking around the table to take a seat.

“I wanted to have dinner with you tonight for a few reasons. We’ve yet to have a meal together, we’ve yet to be on an actual date, and I wanted to see you before I go out of town tomorrow.”

Dinner is a ribeye steak, baked potato, and steamed broccoli served with a side of ranch.

“How’d you know I’d need ranch?” I ask, surprised, though nothing from this man should surprise me anymore.

“I may have asked Mindy for a few pointers.” He smiles. “How long have you been bartending?”

“Two and a half years. Way too long.” I cut into my steak and dip it in the ranch on my plate. Putting the first bite into my mouth, my eyes widen.

“Oh, my God, this is amazing,” I exclaim through a mouthful of food.

“Thank you.”

I finish chewing the food in my mouth before I ask Cass a question of my own.

“You said you were going out of town tomorrow. Where to?”

“California.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to California. Pack me in your suitcase!” I joke…well kind of. California sounds free and there’s nothing in this world I want more than freedom.

“I think I could fold you up and throw you in there,” he says, smiling at me.

“My company has a job that needs a tool, the government says no, so I have to convince them that they do need the tool.”

“You’ve got that handled all day long. You can be very convincing when you try.”

“I’m not so sure. Some of the people we do business with are ruthless.”

“Well, I have faith in you.”

“Thank you, even though I’m not sure faith will work.”

“It will. So, I have a question. One that I probably should have asked when I met you, but I was too distracted to think. How old are you?” she asked.

Cass chuckles. “Thirty-seven and you aren’t the only one who was too distracted. There was some smoking hot woman shooting pool with me and I can’t tell you hardly anything about her. What I can tell you, though, is I want to know anything about her. How old are you , Miss Summers?”

My heartbeat quickens as the uncertainty of what his reaction to this number will be.

“I’m twenty-four.”

“I had no clue you were so young. I never would have guessed it. You don’t carry yourself like other women your age. No offense, it’s not that you look older, you just don’t act like you’re twenty-four.” Cass fumbles through his last few words, trying to dig himself out of the imaginary hole he had evidently thought he dug. He didn’t dig one, though. I smile at the thought as well as the compliment.

“It’s fine. You didn’t dig yourself a hole. I take that as a compliment, thank you.”

Our plates are both almost empty.

“You owe me a few games of pool, by the way.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then rack ‘em, boss man.”

Tonight, I’m confident and it shows, as it radiates off of me more than it likely ever has. I’m not sure if it’s because of how Cass makes me feel or if it’s simply because I’m happy. Either way, I’m here for it. Zero complaints. Something about our time together puts me in such a fun and playful mood. He makes me feel light. Alive. He smirks at me as he retrieves the key to the pool table and unlocks it.

“Oh, free pool. I guess that’s just one of the perks of being the boss man’s play toy,” I joke as I duck into the broom closest to grab my pool cue.

“Oh, you’re being all fancy now?” he asks, eyeballing me as I put my stick together.

“Yep,” I say, leaning my stick against the wall. Cass disappears to the back and returns holding a black pool cue case.

“Someone else is going to be fancy with me,” I note.

“Break ‘em up,” he says, putting his cue together.

I take a deep breath, lean down, center the cue ball, then break.

One of each drops, then I miss the shot on the striped ball I shot at first.

“Your shot. Open table, babe.” Cass approaches the table and checks out the spread. He leans down and shoots out all but two stripes.

“You better shoot like a man with one bullet,” he says as I step up to the table. I won’t let him get inside my head. I got this. I so got this. Smiling a bright, unbothered smile at him, I start shooting. Aiming carefully, I take all the necessary shots to line up on my next few shots. When I have only two balls left, I get hung up behind one of Cass’s stripes.

“What you gonna do now, MacGyver?”

“I don’t know yet.” I read the table, analyzing my next shot. I have a hard two-rail bank on the three-ball and I’m not sure I can make it. Talking myself out of it, then back into it, I take the shot. The three-ball teeters in the pocket before dropping.

“Damn good shot!” Cass claps.

I have a straight in shot on the two ball and sink it with ease. Left with only the eight ball, I look up and meet Cass’s eyes. He’s standing beside the table smiling as he watches my every move. He doesn’t think I’m going to make it, or at least that’s what that smug look on his face says. He could be right. I choke shooting the eight, nine times out of ten because of the pressure. It takes two attempts, at a minimum, majority of the time. There’s no way I’m going to make this.

I point to the corner pocket and shoot the eight ball. It sinks directly into the desired pocket. I jump up from the table and squeal. “Yes!”

“Damn it, girl. Great shooting.”

“That’s the first time I’ve ever done that.”

“Done what? Won?” he asks.

I slap him on the arm. “No, thank you very much. That was the first time I’ve ever had an eight-ball run!”

“And it was against me. That’s awesome.” He walks around the table and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Hi,” I say, looking into his gorgeous pair of gray-green eyes.

“Hi.” He smiles so big his eyes are half closed.

“What?” His smile, though amazing, is mischievous.

“Why don’t you grab us a few drinks since I’m the rack boy? I have an idea.”

“What you want to drink, boss man?” I ask, slipping behind the bar.

“Whatever you bring me.”

I fix myself my usual and grab a Dos Equis for Cass. I hand it to him and grab my stick to break.

“What’s this idea you have?” I ask.

“Oh, just wait,” he says, still smiling that up-to-no-good smile.

I break and the cue ball takes to the corner pocket like a magnet. I hand the little white orb over to Cass. “Open table.”

“Lose a piece of clothing,” Cass says.

“Do what?” I stare at him, not sure I understood him.

“You heard me.”

I raise an eyebrow then smirk at him. I slip out of my shoes. “Happy?”

“It’ll work for now. We’re playing strip pool.”

“Oh really? So anytime we scratch, we lose an article of clothing?” I ask, wanting to make sure I’m clear on the rules.

“Yes ma’am.” Cass takes his turn and after two balls he misses. I shoot, and scratch again.

“Lose a piece,” he says. I debate for a moment and drop my shorts.

“Mmm,” Cass groans before he walks back to the table. He shoots again and this time he scratches.

“Lose a piece,” I say, a little too cheerfully.

Cass stares at me hungrily as he removes his cut.

“Oh, that’s not fair. If that’s fair, then your shoes don’t count,” I protest.

“No, no, no. They count.” Cass laughs. “Your shot, Miss Summers.” I shoot, make two balls, then miss. Cass’s shot and he misses again.

“Lose the shirt,” I demand.

“Nope.” He takes off his jeans instead, leaving him in only his shirt and boxers.

I shoot and miss. Cass does the same. We go back and forth without scratching until Cass wins. “Rack ‘em, rack girl.”

I bend over a little more than necessary while racking and it doesn’t go unnoticed by Cass. The heat of his gaze sears into my skin with every little move I make.

Cass breaks and the cue ball goes flying off the table. “Damn it.”

He slips his shirt over his head slowly and tosses it on the floor. I stare at him, taking in the sight of him standing there. I’m a sucker for this man without a damn shirt. To hell with this pool game.

I walk over to him and get straight to the point. I tug his boxers down and begin kissing my way from his neck to his cock. He gasps as my lips touch his skin, teasing him the way he so thoroughly teases me. I make it my mission to get as close as possible to his cock without touching it with my mouth. I kiss his thighs, his lower abdomen, his pelvis. Unable to withstand my torture any longer, Cass grips the back of my head and pushes into my mouth. I welcome him, my tongue circling his head.

“Oh, fuck yeah.” Cass moans. The sound of his voice turns me on even more. I move up and down slowly, making sure to drag out every stroke. The sounds he makes have me wet and aching for him. Almost as if he can read my mind, he lifts me by my thighs and turns me upside down. He’s holding all of my weight upside down. Cass grabs my underwear and rips them, again, tossing them across the room.

Cass’s mouth finds its way to my wet pussy while I suck him half-upside down. Moans that threaten to escape are stifled by his throbbing cock in my mouth. His tongue moves faster, encouraging me to pick up the pace. It’s a never-ending cycle of pleasure. The feel of his tongue sliding up and down my clit makes the nerves in my legs twitch and sends chills dancing across my skin. When I shiver, my balance is tested, and I wobble. For a split second I think I may tumble over but Cass catches me and repositions me just in time. There are no words to describe the pure enjoyment that I get out of Cass’s hot mouth on my pussy. Without any control over myself, I try to move my hips, helping Cass bring me to that place of bliss that I so desperately desire to be, but it’s difficult to move at this angle.

Cass begins moving his own hips with the same motion, pumping into my mouth. As he fills my throat, I manage to refrain from gagging. Cass whimpers as I make a low hum around his cock.

“Stop.” He manages to get the word out in a breath.

His cock pulsates in my mouth and I know he’s close and holding back. He flips me upright and sets me down on the pool table. I whine in protest when his mouth is no longer on me, but I’m silently grateful to be back in a normal position. Cass pulls my legs to his shoulders and slams into me, turning my whine into a moan.

He pounds in and out of me and with every stroke I’m on the brink of exploding, but I want to ride the edge of this orgasm. The feeling of being so close, yet not, is fucking exhilarating. Cass caresses my face as he leans in closer, his face close to mine as his tongue grazes the inside of my bottom lip. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear his lips shocked me. People speak of sparks all the time, but I’ve never experienced it, nor did I believe in anything of the sort until this moment. Something in that simple movement ignites a fire inside of me that the devil himself would envy.

I feel like a ravenous shark who’s just had a taste of blood, Cass’s lips sending me into a frenzy. I want more, need more. He lifts me off the table and flips us around, lying in my place before positioning me on top of him. His head rests on the rail of the pool table. I look down at him and a smile filled with more than pleasure spreads across my face. Even if that’s all this is, or will ever be, at least I will be able to say that in moments like this I am the luckiest woman in the world.

I ride him slow at first in long, drawn out strokes. I’m enjoying every inch of him in slow motion and he’s letting me have all the control I want. There’s no complaint from him, either, which is evident in the hungry look in his eyes and the way they flicker close when I take all of him.

Cass grabs my hips and thrusts upward. I let out a half-scream at the sensation filling me with both pleasure and pain. The pain is always the most pleasurable when it comes from Cass, sending chills down my spine as he pushes into me. The felt from the pool table rubs rough against my knees and I know that all-too familiar feeling. Carpet burn. I change positions, my nose touching his, and pick up the pace. With one hand behind his head and the other on his chest, I ride him harder.

I can’t help but think about how lucky I am and how I never dreamt that I’d be experiencing something like this in my life, much less with someone who is so sweet, gentle, yet rough. As the thoughts race through my mind, I press my lips to his. I can taste the sweat on his lips, and it pulls me from my fleeting thoughts, replaced now with wild desire. I want my own sweet release.

I sit straight up on Cass and begin bouncing harder, feeling that sweet unraveling inside me beginning.

“Fuck, Lilly. Yeah.”

I allow myself to continue to build, holding on for as long as I can.

“Come with me, baby. Please,” I plead.

“Yeah, baby. Make me come. I’m coming with you,” Cass moans and I feel his release inside me, making me come undone around him. My legs tighten around his waist along with every other muscle in my body as I come…hard. He moans with me as I let out a defeated, yet satisfied whimper.

After he drains every bit of the orgasm from my body, I relax and lay my head on the center of his chest, a place that I’m now beginning to think of as my spot. Cass does just as he did before, stroking his hand through my hair. It just doesn’t get any better than this. I lie here, eyes closed, mouth gaping open in a cheesy smile. There are so many emotions and feelings in this moment. Satisfaction. Pleasure. Happiness. Realizing Cass is probably a bit uncomfortable beneath the full weight of my body, I sit up. I forgot that we were in the bar. Hell, I forgot that the bar even existed.

“Wow,” Cass says from beneath me. I glance down at him. The view from up here is pretty spectacular. I stare down into those gorgeous pools, filled with pleasure that I caused, and a smile that’s absolutely stunning.

“What?”

“You. Just you.” His eyes close and his smile remains.

“I’m fixing to make a run for it.” I say playfully and wiggle on top of him. He laughs and sits up with me still straddling him.

“Here.” He moves to the edge so I can step down easily. Such a gentleman.

“Thank you.” I walk to the back in search of a towel to clean the mess we made.

“Look at that ass,” Cass says, making me shimmy my hips from side to side as I walk away. I can hear him still laughing to himself when I come back out with a wet towel. I toss it across the bar, and he catches it with ease.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he says as he cleans himself up.

“Well, looks like I can scratch that off of my bucket list.”

“What’s that?” he asks.

“All of the above: strip pool, sex on a pool table, and sex with my boss. Three firsts for me,” I confess.

“Really?” he asks, a look of astonishment on his face. “You’ve never done any of that before?”

“No. Come on, it’s not like that’s something I do with every guy I see,” I say, my tone dry and cold. I’m a little caught off guard by his insinuation. His insult. I storm across the bar and pick up my clothes. Cass is hot on my heels, grabbing my wrist and whipping me around to face him.

“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by that. I just figured a woman as beautiful as you has had her fair share of experiences. I wasn’t judging you and I’m sorry if it sounded that way baby,” he says with one hand securely on either side of my face.

He leans in and touches his lips to mine ever so slightly.

“That didn’t make it any better, huh? I’m bad with words, so bear with me.”

I smile and kiss him. “You’re good. It’s fine.”

“Okay.”

I lean down and retrieve my shirt and shorts, staring at another ripped and ruined pair of my black lace underwear.

“I think I get the hint,” I say, pulling my shirt over my head.

“What? What are you talking about?” he asks.

“Sorry. Okay, here’s my train of thought. Every time I wear underwear you rip them off. I get the hint now. I’ll stop wearing them when I know I’m going to see you,” I explain. His eyes shine with a light in them I haven’t seen much of. Mischief? Is that what I see there?

“It’s about damn time,” he cheers.

“I don’t mind it, though. It’s sexy as hell, so now I’m torn. Do I stop wearing them or do I keep wearing them?” I ponder aloud.

Cass chuckles. “Whatever you want. How about some dessert?” he asks.

“What? I thought that was dessert.” I feign shock.

“That was the beginning of dessert. This,” he says, opening the cooler to reveal a pie, “This is dessert.”

“Oh, you really do know the way to my heart.”

I turn around and grab two plates and spoons from the back. There are few things that excite me anymore, but sweets is definitely one of the few.

“Here I am thinking I was the only fat kid around here,” he says, picking on me. I’m nearly salivating over the thought of this pie. Dessert followed by dessert? Yes, please.

“You are absolutely not. Fat girl gotta eat. Gimme!” I squeal, snatching the tray of pie away from Cass.

“Give it back.”

Cass rises from his barstool but I’m already halfway across the bar and behind the pool table before he can take the first step.

“Never!” I shout, holding the tray up and running a hand over it.

Cass jukes, moving one way then the other before he thwarts himself onto the pool table and over the top of it, tackling me when he lands. He at least has enough sense to put a hand behind my head as we tumble to the ground together, giggling like school children on a playground. I’m laughing so hard I can barely breathe when I realize we both have pie on our faces, making me laugh impossibly harder.

“Damn it to hell,” Cass laughs.

My laughter softens as I stare at the man hovering above me. His smile is so bright and stirs feelings deep inside my soul. His laughter has also all but stopped, and without passing a word between us, he kisses me more passionately than I’ve ever been kissed before, even by him. I can feel the words he won’t say, the hunger inside him. I feel the sparks fly as our bodies connect, electricity zinging between us on the soft flesh of our lips.

In this moment, there is not a world outside. There is nothing but us, Lilly and Cass, lost inside each other. My mind races as I try to process whatever feelings that are swirling around inside my chest. Cass pulls away all too soon. He grips my face with one hand while mine find their way to idly play in his hair.

“You are so beautiful, even covered in pie.” Cass leans down and licks my cheek.

“Thank you.”

I lean up and lick a piece of pie filling from his cheek, returning the favor.

“You taste just like pie!” I say, over-dramatically.

Cass laughs hysterically above me. His eyes are closed, his smile is wide, and his face is starting to redden. His laughter is contagious, and I can’t stop laughing at the fact that he’s laughing.

“I need to get going. I have to get some sleep so I can be at the airport bright and early in the morning.”

I poke my bottom lip out. “Fine.”

Cass stands and holds a hand out to help me up. Together we walk to the staff bathroom in the back of the bar and clean the pie off our faces.

Standing in front of the mirror with Cass behind me, I can’t help but stare at our reflection. We pair well together. Cass wipes his face with a wet towel then leans his head over my shoulder to wipe my face, my eyes never leave our reflection in the mirror. I lock in on his hands, watching intently to each move his fingers make.

“What are you thinking when you look at me like that?” he asks, his head cocked to the side.

“Honestly?”

“Well, yeah. Do you know how to be any other way?”

“It amazes how your hands are rough, yet so gentle when they’re on me,” I say.

“That’s sweet.” A soft smile spreads across his face. I regain my composure from that moment of transparency and finish wiping my own face before walking out of the bathroom.

“You better get going,” I say softly as I toss the wet, pie-covered rag into the hamper.

“Yes ma’am. Keep in touch with me while I’m gone?”

“Abso-fuckin-lutely,” I lean in and kiss him on the cheek.

Cass grabs my hand and begins to walk me out, but I pull back.

“You go ahead, I have to stay and clean up. I can’t leave the place like this.”

“I’m not leaving you here alone. I’ll help, then we can both leave.”

I simply smile and begin picking up the bar. While I wash dishes, Cass cleans the pie from the floor. I dry my hands and finish turning out most of the lights.

“Ready to get out of here, boss man?” she asked.

“Yes ma’am.” He opens the door for me, and we walk out together, hand in hand. Cass walks me to my car and kisses me one more time before getting on his bike. He follows me until I turn down the road to my house and I watch in my rear view as he keeps going and disappears into the night.