CHAPTER5
Cassie
His touch had ignited something deep inside, an awakening I hadn’t anticipated. He’d left me aching to my very core, his scent shifting into every cell, lingering on what seemed like every inch of my skin. He’d given me an earth-shattering orgasm, driving me into the outer limits of ecstasy.
And I’d allowed him to do it. I’d encouraged his brutal actions, my body providing the okay when my voice had faltered.
Goddamn it.
His thrusts had been violent, unforgiving. He’d taken me like the savage I’d believed him to be, but I’d seen more to him. Or maybe it had been wishful thinking. A knot formed in my stomach, my emotions all over the place. His touch alone had shattered a part of me I’d protected for so long.
No. My ridiculous thinking had to stop. He was just a man, not a god, even though his carved body indicated otherwise. He was beautiful, exquisite in every way, a temptation I refused to accept. I was exhausted, my body aching, but the hunger for him remained gnawing inside of me like a starved animal. I wanted to laugh then cry.
I’d left him there to die.
Oh, God. What had I done?
Think. He’s the enemy. Remember your vow. Remember…
Sweetheart.
The bastard had called me sweetheart. He’d gotten what he deserved. I was furious, angry enough I cursed as many horrible names as I could think of under my breath. To hell with him. To hell with all of them. They all deserved to…
No, I couldn’t think the word, let alone say it out loud.
Control yourself. Don’t be an idiot.
My inner voice wasn’t doing me any good. I wasn’t certain anything would at this point. I had to be out of my mind but scratching him with the ring had felt damn good. When I’d rushed away from the scene of the… crime, I was reminded with every step that he’d spanked me, the horrible savage.
I’d ripped off my stilettos before walking very quickly down the hallway. The last thing I needed to do was to draw unnecessary attention. I huddled in the elevator, praying that no one had seen me. I could barely breathe, my heart thudding so badly the echo was louder than the damn elevator music in the cold steel box. My thoughts continued to deny my control, betraying me much like Brogan had insinuated my body had already done.
He was so rough, a dark and controlling man with the most beautiful eyes, two-day stubble that tickled my sensitive pussy when he…
Oh, God. I’d allowed the entire situation to get way out of control. I hadn’t planned on being that attracted to him or to crave his touch. Or his kisses.
Or to have him take full advantage of me.
Jesus. Now I was panting.
I tried to control my breathing, closing my eyes and concentrating on the music. Even the strains of Donny and Marie or Elvis or whoever the hell it was couldn’t soothe the dull ache in my stomach.
Or my heart.
I doubted anything could at this point. I fingered my curls with the index finger on my other hand then glared down at the ring on my finger, turning my hand over and staring at the glisten of blood covering the sharp point. His blood. What the hell was I doing?
You can’t stop now. Just one more.
I’d traveled from New York to Las Vegas, grabbing the first flight before I’d lost my nerve. One more trip. One more adventure. That’s what I kept telling myself. Whether or not the good girl believed me, I wasn’t certain.
You’re not a good girl any longer.
Hissing, I closed my eyes until the elevator pinged, forcing a squeal from my throat. I rushed off the damn thing before I realized I wasn’t in the lobby, the elevator doors closing again before I had a chance to jump back inside. The longer I was in the building, the more likely it was someone had seen me. I ripped off the mask, shoving it into the bodice of my dress then searched for the stairs.
When I found them, I burst through the door, feeling woozier than before. Two flights. Then I could catch a breath of fresh air.
I rubbed my finger across my lips, still able to feel the roughness of his kiss, the man brutal and dominating and so unlike the boy I’d kind of met only once. I shoved aside the memory and concentrated on getting the hell away from the hotel. When I hit the ground floor, I cautiously opened the stairwell door, half expecting to see police swarming into the building. I hadn’t calculated the poison to the hulking mass of a man I met in the casino.
He’d beefed up by at least forty pounds, every inch of him solid muscle. His chest was like a rock, beautifully carved and solid and the way he looked in faded blue jeans was incredible.