Cassian
Elvie’s body was soft and pliable in my hands, leaning back into me without a shred of resistance.
I was fucking hard. My erection pressed firmly against the curve of her lower back through my pants, making sure she felt every inch of the effect she had on me. I tilted my head down, burying my face into the crook of her neck to inhale her scent. The fragrance invading my senses was sweet, warm, and utterly addicting.
"What perfume are you wearing?" I murmured against her skin, my lips dragging over her pulse point.
"It’s... it’s the one in your bathroom," she whispered, her breath hitching as she tried to keep her composure. "You have a whole bunch of them in the cabinet. I just picked one..."
I smirked, remembering the lineup of luxury toiletries in the guest suites. I hadn’t paid attention to them before, but on her, the scent felt entirely original. I wouldn’t mind pouring the entire bottle over her skin just sniff every last drop off her body.
My hand slid down from her waist, settling on the low curve of her belly before tracking even further down.
"Ah... Cassian..." A soft moan escaped her throat, her head falling fully back against my shoulder.
I leaned in, biting her earlobe just hard enough to make her gasp. "Yes. Moan my name while I touch you."
I slid my fingers beneath the hem of the black dress, gathering the silk in my grip to pull it upward. Just as I was about to lift it past her thighs, the soft thud of footsteps echoed outside the curtains.
Elvie went rigid in my arms instantly. "Cassian... someone’s coming," she breathed out, her voice a breathless mix of panic and lingering pleasure.
I didn’t stop. The risk only made my blood run hotter. Without missing a beat, I parted her legs slightly, slipping my hand under the fabric of her panties. She was already slick and warm against my touch.
"Look at you," I whispered into her ear, my eyes locking onto hers in the mirror as I stroked her through the damp lace. "All wet for me."
She bit her bottom lip hard, her chest heaving as she stared at our reflection. "She might... she might see us..."
I chuckled softly at the sweet contradiction. Her lips were telling me to stop, but her tight pussy body was pleading for more.
"Miss? Do you need any help with the sizing?" the salesgirl’s voice called out.
I took my time, enjoying the way Elvie held her breath under my hand. Slowly, I withdrew my fingers from beneath her dress, but not before delivering a solid, stinging slap across ass.
"We’re finishing this at home later," I murmured directly into her ear, letting the dark promise sink in.
I stepped back, adjusted the obvious bulge in my pants , and pulled open the velvet curtain. The salesgirl was standing right there, her hand raised to lift the curtains.
Her eyes widened in absolute shock as I stepped out of the fitting room, her cheeks flushing bright red as her gaze darted around.
Before she could stumble over a single word, I cut her off with a cold, unbothered look. "Wrap up all the dresses and bring me the bill," I commanded, walking right past her toward the front counter.
I paid the absurd bill and within minutes, three large luxury shopping bags packed with every dressed and shoes were loaded into the back seat of my car.
Elvie walked out shortly after, her face still flushed a deep, gorgeous crimson, her eyes avoiding mine as she slid into the passenger seat. The black dress was gone, replaced by her previous clothes, but the scent of her filled the quiet interior of the car.
"Fasten your seatbelt," I said, starting the engine and pulling out into the afternoon traffic.
She obeyed , clicking the buckle into place. "So... where to now?" She cleared her throat, trying to regain her usual composure.
"We’re stopping by to eat, then heading straight back home," I said, shifting gears as we turned down the main avenue. "Dinner will be at home tonight."
I caught the subtle shift in her expression immediately—the way her eyes widened slightly and her lips parted. Sometimes it genuinely baffled me how her mind worked.
Every time I said the simplest thing, she managed to twist it into a dirty meaning, instantly assuming my words were a prelude to another round in my bed. Which I fucking like.
A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth, but before I could call her out on her filthy thoughts, a chime broke the quiet interior of the car.
Elvie phone pulled out her phone from her bag, her eyes scanning the screen. Almost instantly, I watched the color drain completely from her face, her fingers tightening around the device.
My eyes narrowed as I kept one hand on the steering wheel, my protective instincts flaring up hard and fast.
"What is it?" I asked, my tone instantly shifting to cold, dangerous steel.
She didn’t answer, her gaze stayed glued to the glowing screen in utter shock.
"Elvie," I called out in irritation. "Give me the phone."
She flinched slightly at my tone. "It’s... it’s nothing, Cassian," she stammered. "Just a spam text."
"Don’t lie to me," I snapped, reaching across and snatching the device out of her hand.
I kept my left hand on the steering wheel, glancing down at the phone.
Enjoy your little moment Elvie. Very soon you will come crawling back to me by the time he’s done with you.
That fucking asshole Asher. A surge of pure rage slammed through me. I fucking hated that those bastards thought they could reach out and touch what was mine.
"Cassian..." Elvie whispered.
"I’m dropping you off at the restaurant," I said, my voice deadpan and dangerous as I shifted gears. "You’ll eat, and then you’re going straight back home." I was already pulling up to the curb of the nearest restaurant.
"Cassian, please, it’s nothing," she said quickly. "I can actually ignore him. It’s really not worth—"
I turned around and glared at her, my jaw locked so tight it pained me. I hated how despite what the asshole did she was still trying to cover up for him.
My eyes burned into hers with a look so sharp it cut her off mid-sentence. I was pretty much fucking pissed, and the restraint keeping me from tearing Asher apart was threadbare.
"Don’t argue with me," I growled. "Like I said, you eat, and you go back home."
Elvie swallowed hard biting her lip and gave a quiet nod. "Okay."
She took her phone from me, grabbed her bag from her lap and reached for the door handle, then paused, looking back at the back seat. "What about the shopping bags?"
"Don’t worry about them. I’ll bring them later," I said flatly, keeping my eyes on the road ahead.
She opened the door, stepped out onto the pavement, and shut it behind her. The second the door clicked closed, I slammed my foot onto the gas pedal. The engine roared, and I sped off into traffic, leaving her standing in front of the restaurant.
**
I drove straight to the Norman’s office. Bypassing the front desk entirely, ignoring the receptionist’s startled attempt to call after me as I rode the elevator up to the top floor. I pushed open the door to Norman’s office without knocking.
Norman was seated behind his mahogany desk, dictating instructions to an elderly man. "...and make sure you send the printed copy to the marketing team office immediately," he was saying, handing him a stack of files.
"Right away, Sir," the man replied. He turned, catching sight of me standing in the doorway. He gave me a brief, respectful nod before quickly ducking out and shutting the door behind him.
Norman adjusted the files on his desk and looked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Oh, brother," He started, his voice dripping with false warmth. "Seeing you in my office for the first time in a while... it must surely be a serious something."
The reminder that this greedy man and I shared a blood relation send my heart ablaze with rage. I didn’t bother returning the pleasantry. I walked over to the visitor’s chair and sat down, leaning back into the leather and steepling my fingers. I looked at him with cold, deadpan eyes.
"A storm doesn’t bother warning the tree it’s about to uproot, Norman," I said, my voice smooth, quiet, and razor-thin. "Consider this the only courtesy you’re getting. I’m here to have you give a warning to your son, Asher."
Norman chuckled, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned against the desk. "Asher is a grown man, Cassian. He makes his own choices and he can take care of himself."
"And I suppose that includes him harassing and bullying people who no longer belong to his circle? And his father using his power to clean up his mess? I countered, my eyes narrowing.
Norman raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting at?"
"Elvie," I said plainly. "The girl who lived under your roof for years, only for your family to cast her out like trash."
A low, amused laugh broke from Norman’s throat. He straightened up, a glint of curiosity lighting up his eyes as he looked at me.
"Ah, Elvie?" Norman echoed, intertwining his hands. "I’ve been hearing rumors that she’s living under your roof. Is that true?"