Asking for Andre (12 page)

“I like all types of food.” Andre pulled into the underground parking of his building and punched in a security code to gain access. After they parked, he climbed out and came around to help her out of the car. She had trouble getting out because she was so low to the ground.

“I’m actually curious about what you eat most of the time. Do you even know how to cook?” She couldn’t help teasing him.

He tucked her hand in the curve of his elbow as they walked. She heard a strange sound behind them and turned to look. She thought she saw something move behind the next row of cars.

“What’s wrong? Did you drop something?” Andre examined the ground around her feet.

Shaking off the feeling, she shook her head and allowed him to lead her to the elevators. Once inside, he hit the button for the penthouse level and then turned back to her. “In answer to your question, I am a passable cook. I can handle making pasta and chicken but not much else.“

The elevator chimed as the doors slid open on the top floor. He unlocked the door and led her into the living room. Casey walked past him and set her purse down on the kitchen counter. “I guess that means dinner is up to me.” She pulled open the refrigerator and whistled softly under her breath. It was crammed with food, enough to feed an army.

“I think you went a little overboard with the groceries.” Casey gestured to the overflowing shelves.

Andre peeked over her shoulder and chuckled. “I have a part-time housekeeper who stocks the fridge for me whenever I'm coming to town. I guess she figured I’d be hungry.”

“I’ll say. This is more food than you could eat in a month”

She shrugged and rolled up her sleeves. After a quick glance through the bottom drawer of the refrigerator, she lined up onions, bell peppers and garlic cloves. The cabinet next to the stove was also crammed full, stocked with an array of spices.

“Jason, this can wait until tomorrow, no? I have company. Very beautiful company.”

Casey looked over her shoulder to see him on his cell phone. A warm glow spread through her as she watched him fiddle with his tie. When he noticed her looking at him, he winked.

“Cassandra is here and I would very much like to get back to my guest. You understand, of course.” There was a moment of long silence before his face twisted into a scowl. “Yes, we’re at the penthouse and no, you cannot come over.”

He looked up and caught her eye. “I want her all to myself.”

She pulled out a package of meat. Filet mignon. She didn’t know how to make anything too fancy so she could only hope it would taste good broiled with onions, the way she usually made steak.

“How about this?” She held it up and he nodded absently.

“Jason, I’m hanging up now. The woman I love is cooking for me and I’m not missing a moment of that to talk about business.” He placed the phone on the side table and started pulling at his tie.

Casey felt as if she’d just been punched in the chest. “What did you just say?”

He looked at her quizzically so she pointed at the phone. His brow furrowed and then he froze, his hands still stuck in the knot of fabric at his throat. “I said I love you. Although I probably would have done that differently in hindsight.” He smiled sheepishly.

There was nothing to stop them from being together, Casey thought.
It could be like this every day.
Plenty of people would disapprove. His mother would probably have a fit. But in the end if Andre wanted to be with her, his mother couldn’t do anything to stop it. She could take online classes from anywhere so it didn’t have to interfere with her degree. There was nothing to fear and everything to gain.

“Yes. My answer is yes.” Casey crossed to stand directly in front of him. “This whole thing is crazy but I’m not fighting it anymore. So yes. I’ll move in with you. For as long as you want me.”

He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him. “I guess that means you won’t be leaving any time soon.” He pushed her hair back from her face and kissed her. “My beautiful Cassandra.”

She smiled then because she
felt
beautiful, standing in the rapidly fading sunlight with the man she loved.
Mya was right.
Once she moved past all her fears and insecurity, the solution to her problems was clear. She was glad she hadn’t pushed him away. She wasn’t going to be dumb about something that mattered this much.

Not every man was like Sean. Not every man was a threat to her independence, to her education. Andre had been nothing but attentive to her needs and would probably cheer her on until she finished school.

He was the classiest man she’d ever known.

Elegance wasn’t just about the clothes he slipped into. It was him, it was his nature. His clothing was just an extension of the way he naturally lived his life.

“That’s what’s wrong with the campaign.”

She looked down at him, casually sophisticated even while wearing a slightly rumpled suit with his tie hanging open around his neck. A picture of him like this would sell anything.

“I just figured out what’s missing from your advertising campaign.” It was such an obvious solution that she laughed out loud. “You.”

“You think that I should be in the ad?” He frowned, his eyes searching hers. A second later a smile broke out over his face.

She kissed him softly. No matter what happened between them she would carry this moment with her always. “You are the true face of Lavin Couture. It’s not just a style, it’s your life. No one else can represent it better than the original Lavin man who started it all.”

“You’re brilliant. Not that I didn’t know that already. Have I mentioned already that I’m in love with you?” Andre asked.

“I love you too. Now take me to bed.” She squealed when he raced toward the bedroom with her bouncing in his arms. Dinner could wait.

Chapter Six

“Say my name.” Andre’s voice came out harsher than he intended but Casey seemed to enjoy it, arching her back and taking him deeper. She was on all fours taking him from behind but he wanted her to acknowledge who was bringing her pleasure. Andre thrust forward, every muscle twitching, every nerve ending screaming. Making love to Cassandra felt like coming home every time. This was where he was meant to be.

He gripped her long hair, pulling until she exhaled on a moan. His sweet little Cassandra liked a little pain with her pleasure. It was something he was more than happy to provide when she needed it.

He closed his eyes as her pussy encased his dick, the hot, wet mouth sucking out the last bit of restraint he had. His entire being was consumed with being inside her, finally letting go and coming inside the woman he’d dreamed of for months. The woman he wanted with him for all time.

“Say it.” Andre slammed into her so hard she lost her balance and fell forward on the bed. He didn’t lose momentum, taking advantage of her position to cover her, stretching her arms over her head and trapping them there. She was completely at his mercy now, flattened by his weight. He lifted up slightly to pull back but didn’t press forward again, determined not to reward her with any more cock until she obeyed.

“Andre.” It was a whisper, muffled against the sheets. He pulled back and gave her one long, penetrating stroke before stopping again. Her breath sobbed out as she clenched around him. He held himself poised at the entrance to her pussy.

“Andre, please.” Casey screamed it, her wail turning to a sound of pleasure as he rewarded her with several thick lunges, his cock tunneling through her sensitive tissues to nudge her cervix. He tempered his strokes a little, worried he might be hurting her but she mewled and wiggled her hips, her pussy eating up every inch he gave it.

She screamed his name again and then he lost it. His hips went wild, ramming home with all the power he had. He released her wrists and slid his hands under her bottom, taking her like an animal, his cock stretching the tight walls that welcomed it so lovingly. Her pussy spasmed around him as her orgasm broke, her internal muscles clenching him rhythmically as she bucked and shuddered beneath him. He bit her shoulder as his cum pulsed into her, the last tremors of her orgasm igniting his. They strained together in perfect harmony, joined as they rode out the waves of shattering pleasure.

He collapsed atop her, careful not to crush her with his full weight. She was perfect, warm and wet. He smiled thinking of their original deal. One night would have never been enough.

One lifetime wasn’t enough time for him to show her what was really important. That he loved her and always would.

A soft chirp came from the bedside table. He lifted his head and saw the flashing blue light of his cell phone.

“You should probably answer that, huh?” Casey’s husky laugh flowed over him, the sexy sound making him hard again. He nuzzled her neck and her throaty laugh melted into a sigh.

“Oh, I’m sure it can wait.” He nipped her shoulder just as the chirping sound started again. He groaned. Apparently whoever it was wasn’t going to give up until he answered.

“It’s okay. If it’s business you should take care of it. I really should be studying anyway. I have a statistics quiz in two days.” She rose and slid gracefully from the bed. The delicate line of her back was to him as she stretched. He leaned over and grabbed for her, intent on pulling her back into the bed. She moved just before he reached her.

“Damn, you make it hard for me to think about work.” He stood too and grabbed his cellphone. There were three calls from his mother. That definitely could wait. There was one call from his brother Philippe. He hit the button to return the call. Philippe answered on the first ring.

“Please call Mama. You know how she gets when you ignore her. She’s still upset that you and Lucia had a fight.” Philippe pleaded.

“You just don’t want to deal with her. And I didn’t have a fight with Lucia, I broke up with Lucia. Whether Mama wants to accept it or not, I’m not marrying someone just because she thinks they’re socially acceptable.” Andre laughed at the exasperated snort that came through the line.

“I understand that, hell, I don’t want to get married at all. But you still need to call Mama. She’s already upset that you’re spending so much time
over there
with an
Americano
at that. Next thing I know, she’ll turn all that attention on me. I hope this rebellion of yours has been worth it. I’m pretty sure she’s planning a full-scale attack to marry you off as soon as you come back.”

Andre looked behind him. The light under the door of the bathroom was on and he could hear the shower. His mind conjured an image of Casey standing under the streaming water, her profusion of dark curls hanging in ropy, wet tendrils down her bare back. The desire he had for her was almost frightening in its intensity. He’d had beautiful women before, probably more than his share if he was honest with himself. But he’d never
craved
a woman the way he did Casey. He had to learn to dial it down or he’d scare her off.

“It’s been more than worth it. There’s a chance I may not come back for quite some time, little brother.” Andre smiled at the stunned silence on the other end of the line.

“I won’t pretend I understand but I’m happy for you. She must be quite a woman.” Philippe sounded bewildered by the idea of settling down but at least he had his brother’s support.

He hadn’t thought he needed or wanted anyone’s approval but knowing his brother was on his side made him feel a lot better. Especially since he was sure his mother was going to make his life hell before she accepted his decision to move to the States and live with an unknown American woman.

“She’s amazing. The kind of woman I didn’t even know existed. Do me a favor though and don’t mention what I said about moving,
per favore
? The last thing I need is Mama to find out and start her scheming. You know how she is. I won’t subject Casey to her sharp tongue if I can help it.” Andre wished he could somehow exempt himself from his mother’s harangues but he at least he had a lifetime of experience in ignoring her. Someone as softhearted as Cassandra would be in tears in minutes.

“Andre, you realize she probably already knows, right? She has spies everywhere. But I’ll do what I can to distract her. I don’t want to see her ruin this for you.”

“No worries, little brother. I’m a grown man. There’s nothing she can do to ruin this for me. She’ll just have to accept my decision when the time comes.”

After they said their goodbyes, Andre thought back to his brother’s warning. Cassandra was skittish enough about relationships. It wouldn’t take much to scare her off so he could only hope his brother was wrong.

* * * * *

Casey whistled as she set her lunch bag down on the reception desk. Andre had helped her move most of her clothes to the penthouse the week before. It was such a short commute from the penthouse to the agency that she’d started arriving at work a little early each day. It gave her time to get settled before everyone else came in.

She came around the desk and plopped down in her chair. She had time to log in to her online class dashboard and check her grades. She had just pulled it up on her computer screen and entered her password when she heard a noise behind her.

“Oh, you startled me.” Harold Meyer, an older man in the accounting department, stood watching her. He’d asked her out a few times and, after running out of excuses, she’d finally just told him she didn’t date. He was easily old enough to be her father—if she knew who her father was. Not to mention the fact that he kind of gave her the creeps.