Page 25 of Tall, Dark, and Grumpy

Her sigh is music. Exhausted, sated.

I shift her and stand, bringing her with me, and she only lets out a little squeak before nestling into me. I carry her upstairs, and tuck her into my bed, allowing myself the indulgence of kissing her forehead. Then I wrench myself away, and fall back into a chair. To keep watch over her until morning.

9

CASSIE

It’s dark when I wake, but my mind is full of last night.

All of it. Every embarrassing mistake is technicolour in my poor brain. I wish I had amnesia. In fact, I am not ruling that out as a strategy. Because not only am I in my boss’ bed wearing nothing but his shirt, I am not sure where he is. Tentatively, I feel around me. Nothing. I open my eyes, and they gradually adjust to the low light. I pick out shapes in grey against the black.

I asked my boss to take my virginity.

And he said,no.

Oh god. How am I ever going to face him again? I’ve never had a morning after the night before, but I feel confident this level of embarrassment could be the end of me. He made me orgasm, sure, but he’s not in bed with me, is he?

Crap.

That lie about him being my boyfriend is enough to make me crease like a soda can in absolute cringe. And my kind boss went along with it. And the condoms. Strawberry flavour ribbed condoms.

I press my head into the pillow.

I’m going to go to a hypnotist and have them remove these memories. Admittedly, that would get rid of the magical partwhen Vito made me come, but… Okay, instead could I learn hypnotism and make my boss forget?

Ughhh…

Sitting gingerly up, I look around the room. It takes me a second to see Mr Blackwood, sprawled in a chair. He has his long legs stretched out, casually crossed at the ankle, one hand on his knee and the other draped over the chair arm, and his head thrown back. His eyes are closed and his long dark lashes fan onto his cheeks and he’s breathing deep and even. Every line of him is like a sleeping panther.

I’ll let fate decide. If I can leave without him waking, I will. If he opens his eyes, I’ll stay and face the most awkward conversation since Noah had to deal with the gay King Penguins boarding his arc.

In the darkness, I creep to where I left my dress, bra, purse, and shoes. I flush when I think of my white cotton knickers discarded somewhere downstairs.

It’s a physical ache to unbutton Vito’s shirt and push it from my shoulders. It smells like him: citrus and sandalwood. I take a long sniff before I hang it next to his jacket.

My dress is still a bit sticky and artificial smelling compared to the delicate, sophisticated scent of Vito’s shirt. Instantly I’m less comfortable.

Gah.Welcome to the rest of your life, Cassie. Nothing will ever be as good as Vito’s hands on me.

I look at my sleeping boss, and even in the dark, he’s as beautiful as ever.

My feet take me to his side, to watch him like the psycho I am.

“’Bye,” I breathe, and allow myself the indulgence of touching my lips to his cheek in the ghost of a kiss.

I’m almost disappointed he doesn’t wake. But this is the right thing. Admittedly, also the cowardly thing, but trying thepatience of mafia bosses is not something people who want to live do.

It takes me a couple of wrong turns through his enormous house, but eventually I make it downstairs into the hallway. Has my heart always been this loud? The sounds of the city are very faint, and my footsteps echo as I walk to the front door where we entered.

It’s only as I try the handle that I realise my stupid error. This is the house of a mafia boss. Of course, the door is locked.

But as I glance across at the window and consider climbing out of it, there’s a whirr and snick, and as though this is a fairy castle keen to eject its unwelcome guest, the door swings open.

I blink. How…?

Must be on a motion sensor of some kind, and anyone inside is allowed out. Maybe a fire safety thing?

I step into the cool, fragrant night air, and drag it into my lungs in a shaky gasp. I’ve left. I don’t have to face my boss’ kind brush-off in the morning, or do my first walk of shame in the daylight.