Elvie
The mid-semester break was finally here. It was almost crazy thinking about it, but Gemma and I had actually sat down and written out a whole list of things we wanted to do over the two-week break. We had lined up all these fun plans—movies to catch up on, new places to visit, and long-overdue shopping trips of course that’s if we have the money. Even though Cassian had made it crystal clear that he preferred keeping me inside the house with him the entire time, I still felt a tiny urge to step out and try a few things I’d never done before.
Standing in front of the mirror, I wrapped a soft towel around my damp shoulders and used a smaller one to gently dry my freshly washed hair.
As I looked up, my eyes caught the large wooden frame hanging on the wall across from the bed. A warm smile instantly broke across my lips. Every time I looked at that portrait of me sleeping, a wave of deep emotion hit my chest. It still blew my mind that someone would go completely out of his way to paint something so quiet and personal just for me.
Painting was right at the top of my list. I really wanted to focus on it and perfect my skills, and I was even thinking about asking Cassian to guide me. But then again, I knew how that would probably end up. Knowing the two of us, a private painting lesson would devolve into a steamy situation within five minutes, considering we could barely keep our hands off each other.
I hadn’t seen Cassian all morning. Right after we had breakfast together, he went straight into his studio to work. I didn’t want to disturb him, so I had spent the past hour on the phone with Gemma, chatting back and forth about when we should start ticking off the items on our bucket list.
I leaned closer to the mirror, running a comb through my hair, when a light knock sounded on the bedroom door.
A second later, the door creaked open, and Cassian poked his head inside. "You busy?" he asked, his deep voice slicing through the room.
I paused with the comb in my hand and turned around to face him. "No, not really. Why?"
"Meet me in my study," he said simply, giving me a long, unreadable look before stepping back out and pulling the door closed behind him.
Cassian’s study room door was left slightly ajar when I made my way down the hallway. I pushed it open and walked right in. Cassian lifted his head from where he sat, his eyes immediately locking onto mine as I walked straight over to him.
"What’s up?" I asked, stopping right beside his chair.
"Come here," he said reaching out, and wrapping his hand around my waist and pulling me effortlessly down onto his lap. I nestled against his chest, wrapping one arm comfortably over his shoulder as I glanced at the glowing laptop screen open on the desk.
"Is everything okay?"
Cassian hummed softly against my neck. "Everything is fine. I just need you to select something."
"What’s that?"
He made a subtle gesture toward the laptop screen. I turned my gaze to the monitor, where pictures of a breathtaking resort was open. Clear turquoise water, white sand beaches, and stunning private oceanfront villas covered the screen.
"Are you going on a business meeting, or a trip?" I asked looking back at him.
"Our mid-semester break. We’re going to Bora Bora.
Pick whichever villa you like."
I blinked, completely stunned. My mouth opened, then closed right back up as I stared at him. Is this man actually for real?
"A trip for us? Are you serious?" I asked, my voice barely above a breath as the surprise hit me.
Cassian raised his hand, gently brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. His thumb lingered, brushing softly over my cheek as a small, smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Do I look like I’m joking, little birdie?" he asked, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten. "Pick one. We leave in two days."
"Cassian, two days is so sudden," I blurted out, my fingers unconsciously pulling at the hem of his shirt. "I mean... I love this, it’s unbelievable, but I literally just talked to Gemma this morning. We made a whole bucket list for the break."
He didn’t look bothered at all. He just casually scrolled down the laptop page, stopping at a photo of a luxury villa built right over the water, complete with a private deck overlooking the sea.
"We’re only going for five days, little birdie," he murmured, his deep voice vibrating against my back as his hand rested heavy and warm on my waist. "You have two full days before we leave, and several days after we return to do whatever you and Gemma planned. I’m not keeping you trapped."
I looked up at him, surprised by how considerate he was actually being. He was giving me my space, but making sure the time in between belonged entirely to him.
"Or," he added in a lower, darker tone, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear, "If you prefer, we can stay in this house for the next two weeks with no escape from my bed."
My cheeks flushed hot at his words, a shiver running down my spine. "You’re unbelievable," I whispered, leaning my back against his solid chest as I looked closely at the overwater villa on the screen. "This one... it looks incredible."
"Then it’s settled," Cassian said, reaching out with his free hand to click the reservation button without even glancing at the price tag. He closed the laptop with a quiet click, then wrapped both arms around my middle, pulling me back until I was completely trapped against him.
"Now that we sorted that out," he whispered, his mouth tracing down the side of my neck, "What are we doing for the rest of today?"
I rested my hands over his forearms, feeling the hard muscle beneath my fingers as his lips sent warm sparks trailing over my skin. "I thought you said you had urgent university matters to handle this morning?" I teased softly, tilting my head slightly to give him better access.
Cassian let out a low, rumbling hum against my neck. "They suddenly feel far less urgent."
"You’re a terrible professor, Professor Reed," I murmured, a soft laugh escaping my lips.
"Well, I can’t even focus or get anything done when you’re this close to me," he growled low into my skin.
His hand slid under the hem of my oversized shirt, his warm palm slipping directly onto my bare skin. He hooked his fingers inward, tracing up my ribs until his hand cupped my chest, his thumb rubbing over my hardened nipple.
A breathless moan escaped my lips, my hips instantly arching backward into him. A sudden wave of heat pooled low in my belly, my body betraying me instantly as I pushed myself closer against his broad chest.
Cassian let out a chuckle. "That’s it, little birdie... tell me again how terrible I am."
"I don’t think I will," I gasped out, my head falling back against his shoulder as his fingers continued their relentless, teasing pressure. "You’ll just... use it against me."
"Smart girl," he murmured, his teeth lightly grazing the sensitive spot right where my neck met my shoulder.
His other hand came up to hold my waist steady, anchoring me against him while his fingers under my shirt worked their quiet magic. My hands gripped his forearms tighter, my pulse thumping wildly in my throat. Every touch from him felt like a fire spreading straight through my veins, consuming every last bit of self-control I had left.
"Cassian," I whispered, my voice trembling as he shifted me in his lap, bringing my hips closer to the hard line of his own body.
"Tell me what you want, Elvie," he growled low against my ear, his thumb flicking over me again and sending a sharp shock straight down to my core.
"You," I admitted, turning my head to catch his lips.
He claimed my mouth in a deep, desperate kiss, swallowing my soft sigh whole. His hand beneath my shirt shifted, and he lifted me easily right there on the desk, clearing away papers with a swift sweep of his arm without ever breaking the kiss. The cool wood pressed against the back of my thighs as he stepped between my knees.
His hands moved to the hem of my top, pulling it smoothly up and over my head and tossed it on the floor. My skin pricked with goosebumps as cool air hit my breast, but the heat radiating off Cassian instantly countered it.
Without breaking eye contact, his hands slid down to the waistband of my leggings, peeling them down my legs in one fluid motion until they pooled at my ankles leaving me in just my lace panties.
Cassian’s eyes darkened as they traced down my exposed skin. He hooked his thumbs into the sides of the waistband, tugging just enough to pull my hips firmly against his, holding me pinned right at the edge of the desk. The contrast between his heavy, structured clothes and my bare skin made my pulse race wildly in my ears.
He leaned in, his lips hovering an inch from mine, his voice dropping into a low, raspy command. "Tell me what you want me to do to you, Elvie."
My mind was completely hazy, my eyes clouded with raw need as I looked up into his intense gaze. I bit down on my lower lip, my fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt. "I want you to fuck me senselessly," I whispered.
He let out a low growl. He gripped my hips tight, lifting me higher onto the edge of the desk as his mouth claimed mine in a fierce, overwhelming kiss, sliding his hands down to pull my panties away as he prepared to make good on his promise.