Coercion (The Cassano Series Book 3) (15 page)

Zev

I’ve been sitting outside Tara’s place for over an hour. I’m beginning to wonder if she will ever come home. This is also a first for me–pathetically waiting to grovel to a woman. It’s embarrassing how her neighbors have peeked out to look at me sitting on her step.

Damn, I think this is her. Yep. Let’s see if I can get myself out of this one. I wanted to lose my mind on Blanca for screwing up my night, but I didn’t stick around long enough to give her a piece of my mind. I literally left her alone in seconds.

“What are you doing here?” Tara’s hand is on her hip as her other holds a shopping bag.

I stand promptly. “Let me explain.”

“Tell me why I should?”

“First, because it wasn’t what it looked like. Second, I’ve never been so drawn to a woman the way I am to you.”

Her eyes lighten, and she resists a smile.

Come back to me, Daisy.

“OK, let me hear it.”

“Blanca is Adrian and Theo’s personal assistant. We had an
arrangement
, I guess you could call it, but that ended once you and I began talking. She’s having trouble accepting it. I was on my way out when she showed at my office, and I was attempting to get her off of me.”

Her head leans to the side as she regards me incredulously. An exhaled breath gives me a hint that her anger is subsiding.

“I don’t want her, Tara. With all honesty, I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“You swear on your childhood dog’s grave?”

I chuckle. “Wow, on Lucky’s grave. That’s pretty harsh, but yeah, on poor old Lucky’s grave.” I give her a sly smile, and she comes back to me, her grin as striking as I remember it.

“Well, hell, I just ate about a thousand unnecessary calories of mint chocolate chip ice cream.”

I prowl over to her and pull her into my arms.

“Then maybe we need to work off those calories.”

Blushing, she shifts her head away from me.

“Zev.”

“What?” My lips plant a kiss to her cheek and then her neck.

“I'm terrified you’re going to hurt me.”

Bringing her in for a hug, I put my mouth to her ear, mainly so she can’t see my face. “I'll try not to, Tara, and that’s more than I’ve ever offered a woman.”

“You’re honest at least. It’s why I believe your story about that woman. Do you want to come in? We can order pizza and watch a movie.”

I release her. “Like hang out?”

“Isn’t that what you do on a date?”

“I wouldn’t know. That kind of dating really isn’t my thing.” I can’t tell her that I only take to dinner the occasional hard-to-get women. I then fuck them and leave them after. “Hanging out” is definitely not part of the deal with any woman.

Taking my hand, she smiles as if she holds the key to the door of everlasting happiness, and I’m beginning to wonder.

“Come on. It’s time you learned, and I have cookie dough ice cream left.”

“Is this like foreplay?” I ask.

“Maybe it can be,” she says flirtatiously as she opens the door.

Wandering inside, I look around the room. My living room is about three sizes bigger, but her place is nice.

“Tara, how old are you?”

“I’ll be twenty-four in September.” Her eyes scan the room, too. “I know it isn’t much, but I’m saving up for something better.”

“It’s great, especially for your age.”

“I guess. How old are you?”

“I just turned thirty.”

“Ooh, you’re almost robbing the cradle hanging with me.” She winks. “So, what kind of toppings do you like on your pizza? I’m more of a meat lovers girl.”

She’s grinning again, and it doesn’t take much to make her smile.

“You’re my kind of girl then.”

“Are we still talking about pizza here?” She giggles. Crudeness. I like it.

“I can’t say I’m a meat lover. Sorry, can’t say it out loud.”

She giggles again. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Never have I felt so comfortable chatting with a woman. Her happiness is infectious, and I want to soak it all up like it’s sunshine.

Tara

Zev and I finished our pizza and are lounging in my tan, oversized chaise chair. I have changed into a comfy, black tank and cotton, pink shorts.

While I flip through the television channels, I feel his eyes on me. The better I get to know him, the more I feel like he’s studying me.

His fingers travel up and down my bare leg, and I think I see him smiling as the hair stands up on my arms.

“I see a lot of leg every day, but yours are by far the sexiest,” he utters into my ear. The air evacuates my lungs, so I try to breathe some back in as I turn off the television.

“I work in the lounge and now help you in your office. That makes this complicated. Whatever this is.”

He takes my chin and turns it toward him.

“Why do we have to say it’s anything? We’re extremely attracted to each other. Let’s spend our free time making the other feel good.”

“Am I supposed to be your next
arrangement
? Contrary to what you might believe, I don’t sleep with everyone, especially when feelings are involved. And with you, Xavier Cassano, I believe feelings might be joining this party.”

He winces. “No feelings. They only crash parties.”

I shake my head. “Why do you have to be so charming and cute?”

His hand slips over my thighs, and he pulls me onto him. I’m straddling his lap, his fingers shoving into my long hair.

As he stares into my eyes, my mind sees him for what he is; a vulnerable man, guarded by hours of work and insignificant sex. But my heart sees a hint of what’s behind his wall of distractions. He’s loyal, protective, and I’m beginning to believe kind.

His eyes stray to my lips like they often do.

“Kiss me,” I whisper.

“I–I can’t,” he says quietly through a labored breath. My gaze drops. He’s confusing. “But it doesn’t mean I can’t kiss you here.” He plants a kiss right beside my mouth. “Or here.” Lips move to my cheek and then to my ear.

“And here,” he whispers, dragging my earlobe through his teeth. I catch a sharp breath and hold it in. I’m so responsive to his touch, and I want him to touch and taste me in all my sensitive spots.

“If you can’t kiss my mouth, then kiss me everywhere else.” Zev brandishes a pleased smile before he’s pulling my tank top over my head.

Eyes stay locked on my chest as he undoes my lacy, black bra, his fingers teasingly slipping it off my shoulders.

“
Fuck
, your tits are magnificent.” His round eyes and use of his favorite dirty word have me giggling. My fingers slip into his shiny hair, and he wets his lips. “Are you sure you’re ready, because I’m going in?”

I burst out laughing, and he gives me the sexiest grin, his eyes finally meeting mine again.

Squeezing my ass, he pulls his upper body away from the chair and circles his tongue around one of my nipples. It hardens and tingles.

Zev laps and sucks, paying each of them immense attention as I whimper and let his hair repeatedly coast through my fingers.

Magnetizing. Invigorating. Zev’s mouth and fingers are his pen and ink to express his emotions. He claims feelings only crash a party, but his absolute patience and reverence over my body have me questioning whether or not he brought some as guests.

Cradling the back of my head and waist, he lays me back onto the lengthy chaise lounge. Piercing me with his hazel eyes that are greener tonight, he removes his black dress shirt.

I battle the urge to gasp over his virile body. His chest and shoulders make a medieval wall of a Roman warrior’s castle, and his biceps are the towers of added protection.

A tattoo of a sword in a swirl of flames is bold coming off of his right pectoral muscle, and his waist tapers to a slab of chiseled fibers.

Maybe a Greek god is a better depiction of his exquisite, dominating physique. “Like what you see?” That sexy ass grin is the cherry on top of a dessert I’m ready to dig into.

“You better believe it.” I giggle like a silly tween. Yes, Zev and I are going to have a lot of fun.

Zev

“Time for running backs. I pick Steven Jackson,” Tara says. We’re playing a game where we try to outdo the other with our choices of the most fit football players.

I shrug. “OK, muscular guy for sure. I think I can do better. Melvin Gordon.”

“Hmm … smaller biceps but definitely more definition.” Tara grants me her gushing grin for the zillionth time tonight. I guess I should say morning. “OK, now for safety. Adrian Wilson.”

“I’m going with Laron Landry.”

“Oooh, you got me there. He has huge muscles. I think you might be a meat lover after all.” Her chuckle roars, so I thoroughly tickle her.

Somehow, once Tara saw my body, the topic of football came up, and I found out she’s a major fan. I couldn’t love a sport more, and she’s as obsessed with it as I am.

We’ve been discussing it for at least an hour, and I can’t help but picture her in a jersey with paint under her eyes, ready to cheer on her favorite team.

I bet it would be a blast to watch a game with her. The energy she projects while only breathing is unsurpassable, so I can only imagine her exuding excitement over something she enjoys.

I played college football and gave it up to move here with my brothers. I lift weights to help with my anxiety, but I think I also do it to feel closer to a time in my life I miss so much.

If I told her about my playing history, I guarantee I’d see a disappointed expression for the fact that my football days are over, and I’m enjoying her happiness.

***

My eyes flip open, and I lower my chin. Tara and I are lying backward on her long chair with our feet toward the seat end. Her head is on my chest, her arm wrapped snugly around my waist.

She’s topless with only her shorts on, and I’m still shirtless. She has to be cold. We talked and laughed for hours, and I didn’t even try to get into her pants. I lift my arm to glance at my watch. Six in the morning.

What the hell? I have to get out of here.

“Tara, wake up. I need to get going.”

Her head lifts and she smiles. Of course she’s smiling. She’s always fucking smiling.

“What time is it? I could fix you breakfast.”

“Uh, I have some things to take care of before I have to be back at Submission.” Damn, that’s such a lie.

“Oh, OK.” Sitting up, she frowns. Her tits are in my face, and I feel my cock stirring. “I’m freezing.” Swiping her tank top from the other end of her chair, she swiftly pulls it on. Now, I see her perky nipples through it, and my pants bulge.

Staying up all night having pillow talk is definitely going to give her the wrong idea. I’m not a morning sex kind of guy, meaning I’m not supposed to be here in the morning.

I button up my dress shirt and put on my shoes. She follows me to the door and blushes.

“I’m sorry I fell asleep. I hope I get a chance to make it up to you.”

Dammit, her blonde waves are trying to hide her tits again, but it isn’t working. She’s sexy as hell in her little shorts I could remove in a heartbeat.

I can tell she’d let me, too. Maybe we can pick up where we left off, but I need to put some space between us first, so she doesn’t have expectations I can’t fulfill.

I kiss her cheek. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight in the lounge.”

“Right. Bye, Xavier.” She grins, and I feel the pull to stay. The thought of her smiling over bacon and eggs is appealing. So is showering with her and taking her to bed. Fuck.

Victoria

I phone Adrian on Monday morning before I leave for the station. He’s quiet on the phone, barely making conversation. “What’s bothering you?” Hearing his prolonged sigh, I know exactly what’s wrong.

“I swear I didn’t stare at the cameras all weekend, but I saw the way Noah was examining you at the poker table and flirting with you after each night. He’s definitely going to take the bait. I also miss you.”

“I miss you, too. It isn’t pleasant being in a different bed as you. I thought I could take the elevator to your penthouse this afternoon before I take it up to the Royal lounge. Unless Noah tries to get into the elevator with me, he won’t know my whereabouts.”

“True, I hadn’t thought of that. Please, come see me before.” The excitement in his voice tells me his mood has lifted.

“You’ve got it. I love you.”

***

Reggie picks me up inside the gated community I’m now residing in. Noah shouldn’t have a clue of my whereabouts this early in the game.

Once we’re at the command, I give Bishop an update on my progress at Submission. I’m back at my desk when Megan approaches me. She’s undercover in the lounge under the name Marcy.

“I see you’ve been winning a lot in the Royal lounge,” she says with a smirk.

“Yep.”

“You know, it’s not safe for you to be in there.” She tucks a wayward strand of her short, dark hair behind her ear. Dropping my pen, I lean back in my chair.

“I have to hear this. Why is it safe for you yet not for me?”

“I don’t stand out like you do, Victoria. I’m a server. Sanders isn’t going to suspect a thing by me being in there. You on the other hand … let’s just say you’re drawing a lot of attention to yourself.”

“That’s the point, Megan, and I can handle it. Uh, are you having any luck getting info out of the other servers?” Am I ever curious to hear her answer to this question.

“No, I’m not. Other than a few of them mentioning that they spend time with the clients outside of the lounge, they aren’t giving anything away.”

“That’s a shame,” I say. Actually, it’s the best news ever.

“If you weren’t in there to keep an eye on, I would call it quits. The perverts are getting harder to ignore. They’re always trying to get me to see them after hours.”

I scowl. “I don’t need you keeping an eye on me. I’m perfectly capable of handling things myself.” My arms cross as I stand. “Maybe I need to go have a word with Bishop to get you out of there.”

“Good luck with that. He doesn’t jump when you say how high, Victoria.” Her voice has raised, and she’s leaning over toward my face.

“OK, OK, ladies, break it up,” our coworker, Tucker, says. “Actually, maybe I should let you go a round first. That would be pretty hot.”

“Fuck off, Tucker,” I say without glancing to him.

“Damn, calm down. What are you two even bickering about, anyway?” he asks.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say.

“As usual, Victoria thinks she’s a badass and doesn’t need my help at Hotel Submission.”

“We’re not supposed to share those details.”

“Tucker isn’t going to say anything.”

“I’ll get a few beers in Megan at Stopper’s, and she’ll spill the beans.” He winks at her, and she gives him the finger. That’s all I need is her blabbing to everyone else about what we’re doing. The Commissioner cannot find out we’re investigating his son.

“Like I said, I don’t need your help in the lounge, so back off.” I glare at her before I take a seat and go back to doing my work.

Without another word, she storms off. She needs to keep her damn mouth shut, too, but Tucker’s probably right. He’s so nosy. He loves to feed everyone beers at the local bar, so they’ll tell him what they’re investigating. I don’t trust his spoiled ass.