The Corner Booth (20 page)

Sakis needed no more urging as he rained kisses on her bare skin. He wanted her. Groaning loudly as she pushed back against him—no, he needed her, more than air itself.

He turned her and pushed her against the side of the bar while he ran his hands from her shoulders, down her arms. Reaching her wrists, he moved them so they were against the edge of the bar. Sakis stared deep into her eyes as he gripped her hips tightly. Uncertainty filled her eyes. Kissing her softly, he pulled away before she could wrap her arms around him again. He put her hands back on the bar counter as he shook his head.

“No. I need you to hang on while I show you how much you mean to me.”

Cassie’s eyes widened as he dropped to his knees in front of her. His eyes never left hers as he slipped his hands slowly up her thighs and under her dress; he stopped, his own eyes widening, when he felt nothing underneath. His body tightened even more as he slowly lifted the fabric to her hips to bare her completely to him. She was so beautiful.

“Sakis, what are—? Oh my God!”

His mouth claimed her. Her legs weakened as he pushed his lips between the folds and nipped at the tiny bud that seemed to blossom with each touch. Sakis sucked her into his mouth in a rhythmic motion. He could feel her legs quiver. It was just seconds when he felt her explode. Reaching down, he undid his belt to release himself from his constraints as he continued to draw her into his mouth, afraid to even touch himself. Releasing her from his mouth, he rose to his feet.

She still gripped the counter, but this time with a desperation and fear of falling. Grabbing her face, he kissed her hard. Cassie could taste herself on his lips.

He lifted her and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips. Reaching between them, he guided himself into her, driving hard, up and in. Spinning, he laid her gently down onto the table, as he continued to thrust and gasped for air, overwhelmed with emotion. As he kissed her hard, he wanted to fill all of her; he wanted her to know how he ached for her when she wasn’t around. She had to know. Ripping his lips from hers, he stared at her face. Her eyes were closed, head thrown back.

“Cassandra, look at me.” Sakis could barely breathe. It took a moment for her to open her eyes. He placed her hand over his heart, pressing it hard against him. “Feel me, Cassandra. You take my breath away, with your strength; with who you are.” He could feel himself nearing the edge, and his hips moved again.

“I love you. I love you more than my own life. If I am an ass, that is my ignorance, not my love. Do you understand me?”

Cassie was so overwhelmed by his confession, she couldn’t respond.

Sakis couldn’t hold back any more; his hips thrust harder and faster. He needed her to understand. His head dropped to her chest as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

“I understand, Sakis. I love you too,” she whispered.

Hearing her say the words was too much and his whole body shuddered with release as he continued to thrust hard.

Moments later, they both lay gasping for breath, as they slowly came down from the heights they had never before been to. Sakis knew the others would be back soon, but he didn’t want their moment to end. Kissing her again, his eyes bored into hers, and he refused to pull out.

“My words were not said out of passion, Cassandra. I do love you. With that love comes a lot of shit, and I am going to apologize now for that.”

Smiling, she reached up and wiped the sweat from his brow. “I love you too, and I will try to forgive you in advance.”

He pulled her to a standing position; her legs still shook and she didn’t think she could walk.

Sakis laughed at her as he adjusted himself.

“I am going to go clean up.” Her tone was very matter-of-fact.

Kissing her on the nose, he stepped aside so she could pass. “You do that. I will be here waiting.”

CHAPTER 38

Cassie rolled in her bed and stared at the door. A light, incessant tapping could be heard. She hadn’t been hearing things. With a frown, she looked to her clock. Ten a.m. was too early for any visitor, or at least any who was part of their group last night. They didn’t get home until five. Brushing the hair away from her face, she tiptoed to the door and dropped her head in relief as she quickly undid the latch and bolts that secured the door.

“Do you ever sleep?” She groaned at Stephan but stepped aside to let him enter.

The bodyguard’s laughter filled the apartment. “No, actually, I don’t. Well, that’s not quite true. I should say I don’t need a lot of sleep. A good four hours is more than enough. I brought you coffee.”

Grabbing the offered container, Cassie opened the cover and inhaled the steam deeply.

“God, you are a dream right now.” She reached over, wrapped one arm around his waist and laid her head on his chest in a side hug. Stephan didn’t even have time to reciprocate before she walked to the small table near the window. “I will ask you what you are doing here after I take my shower. Do you mind?”

“By all means, as long as you don’t mind if I smoke.”

Shaking her head, she stepped into the bathroom. “Of course not. The ashtray is on top of the fridge.” After she closed the door softly, she turned the water on. She knew he was here to talk about Greg and her reaction to what was said to her. Her mind raced as she stepped into the hot shower, trying to decide what she was going to do, but even more importantly, trying to decipher why she was so reluctant to tell him.

Not wanting to keep him waiting, she threw on her sweatpants and tank top, realizing too late that she had left her bra in the other room. Hoping he wouldn’t notice, she stepped out of the bathroom. He was reading something on his phone; the cigarette smoke lazily floated up and around him. He hadn’t heard her step out, which allowed her the rare opportunity to really see him.

He was dressed casually today: his faded jeans were ripped slightly around the knees; the figure-hugging white T-shirt’s short sleeves displayed lean muscles. Cassie suspected that his entire body was ripped the same way. His hair was the same dark color as Sakis’s, but Stephan chose to keep his much shorter, which suited him so much better. She could not imagine him with long hair.

“Cassie?”

Her face flushed bright pink at getting caught checking him out.

“Sorry, daydreaming.”

“About?” Stephan asked curiously. Cassie had the strangest expression on her face.

She shrugged as she sat next to him at the table and lifted her leg to rest on the chair as she took a sip of the still very hot coffee. Taking a huge drag from his cigarette, he stared at her through the smoke. Refusing to cave, and wanting to make him work for the information she knew she would end up giving him, she stared back.

“You are so fucking stubborn.” He stubbed out the cigarette.

“Yup, I know.”

“So, what happened last night, with you and the gentlemen you were dancing with?” Stephanous enunciated every word.

Heaving a sigh, she placed both feet back on the floor and leaned her arms against the table. “When Sakis and I left the dance floor to head back to the private area, Greg came over to say hi. I introduced Sakis as a friend of the family.” Her head shot up at Stephan’s snort.

He tried unsuccessfully not to laugh. “No, you didn’t!” he chortled.

“I most certainly did,” Cassie stated indignantly. “Two can play that game.”

So that was why Sakis came back to the room so pissed.
He had walked up to the window, his eyes never leaving the pair on the dance floor.
Served him right.
Coughing into his hand, he smiled at her. “You and I need to have another discussion about protocol, but not now.”

Nodding, she picked up his pack of cigarettes. She wanted one. It had been a long time since she had a cigarette. Stephan took the box from her hand.

“Continue.”

“It was nothing, really. He told me how good I looked, and then asked if we could go out sometime.”

His head shook as he frowned. If that were it, she wouldn’t have been shaking.

“And?”

“That’s it.”

“Liar.”

This time her face turned beet red. “Okay, I will tell you but you have to promise not to tell Sakis, Stephan.”

So that was why she wasn’t talking; she thought that he would share this information with her lover. “Cassie, let’s get something clear. Sakis didn’t see what I saw. All he could focus on was the man leaning in to whisper in your ear and the smile on your face. I saw past all of that. But, that is what I was trained for. This conversation is between me and you.” For emphasis, he placed his hand over hers. “I promise, Cassie.”

The relief that rose up in her was huge, which allowed the rest of her story to pour out. “I told him that I wasn’t interested and that I don’t date people I work with. He then threatened to fire me if I wouldn’t go out with him.” Cassie felt the same desperation she had last night. “You know, more than anyone, Stephan, how much I need that job, and quite frankly, I like what I am doing. I have no idea what I am going to do, because there is no way I am going to go out with him.”

Stephan felt the fury rising.
That son of a bitch
. Cassie was staring at him, so he didn’t allow his emotions to show.

“What you are going to do is go to work tomorrow, ask to speak to him, and ask him if he was serious. If he says no, he just had too much to drink, you both laugh and walk out. If he says yes, then schedule a date with him a couple of weeks in the future and you can look for a job in those weeks. Simple.”

Cassie stared at Stephan, incredulous. “Were you a woman in your past life? You are so right. I just panicked. I couldn’t believe he was asking me and then my next thought was what is he going to ask from me next?”

“Which easily falls into what we need to talk about next. I promised that I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, Cassie. You said you trusted me. Why didn’t you tell me this last night when I first asked you?”

“I didn’t want Sakis to know. You know how he gets, Stephan.”

Nodding, Stephan agreed with her. “I do.” He stated cautiously, “But Cassie, I am not Sakis and even though I work for him, and my first loyalty is to him, you are also important to me. We can have secrets.” He thought of their lunch together. He knew that Cassie never told Sakis of their time alone, and even though he had nothing to hide, he also chose not to say anything to Sakis. Her confidence meant so much to him.

Cassie’s phone vibrated on the table, and both watched it move slowly over the surface. Reaching out, she read the caller ID, before she raised it to her ear.

“Hey.”

“Good morning, beautiful.” Sakis’s voice sounded heavy with sleep. Just knowing she was his first thought in the morning sent a shiver through her.

“Good morning, Sakis.”

“I hope I didn’t call you too early?”

“No, of course not. I have already showered and am just sitting here, relaxing and sipping tea.”

“Hmm, wish I was there to distract you away from the tea, or you here to distract me.” Cassie’s face reddened at the thought. She could picture him stretching as he did every morning, the phone pressed to his ear. “What if I send Stephan over and bring you back here to me?”

Cassie stared at Stephan, who was in the process of lighting another cigarette. Blowing the smoke to one side, he stared at her.

“You know what, that would be great, Sakis. I need to do a few things here. I can give Stephan a call when I am done, and then I will come over.”

“I will be waiting,” Sakis reluctantly agreed.

CHAPTER 39

“So, you are wanted. Why did you not tell him I was here?” Stephan asked gently.

“Secrets can be a good thing. I just need a bit of time to myself and then you can bring me over.”

Stephan rose to his feet while Cassie looked at him, startled. “Where are you going?”

“You just said…”

“I wasn’t talking about you. Of course, if you need to go…”

“No, of course not. I was just going to watch the soccer game. I can stay if you would like me to.”

“I would, if you can stand me puttering around.”

Stephan reached out and tugged at her ponytail. “You’re not too hard to take, Cassie.”

With a smile, she rose and pointed to the television. “Hopefully I get the channel you need.”

Cassie spent the next hour making up her bed, before putting it away, and cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. Every once in a while she caught Stephan staring at her, but it didn’t bother her. Cassie knew that he liked her, but she also trusted him enough that nothing would ever happen between the two of them. They seemed to have reached a new level in their friendship. She looked over at him as he shouted at the screen; he jumped to his feet and she smiled to see that he had taken off his shoes and placed them mindfully near the front door. Several times, her mind replayed the conversation and crazy lovemaking between her and Sakis. Every time she thought of him, she had the same fluttering in her stomach.

Cassie waited for the game to be over before she approached Stephan.

“Okay, I am ready.”

Stephan seemed disappointed, but rose. They rode to Sakis’s in comfortable silence.

“What the fuck,” Stephan muttered under his breath when they pulled into the driveway. Several cars were in the circular driveway that he did not recognize, and guards not employed by Sakis stood watch over the vehicles. He didn’t recognize the security detail. He had not expected company today. Glancing at his phone, he was relieved that there were no missed calls. Seconds later, his phone rang.

“Stephan, how far away are you?” Sakis barked into the phone.

“Pulling in now, Sakis.”

“What is going on?” Cassie stared at him, wide-eyed. The men outside didn’t even try to hide their weapons as they pulled in.

He shut off the engine. Stephan contemplated what to do with Cassie before he made his decision. “Look, I am not sure what is going on so I really need you to go to your room.”

“Okay.”

Stephan cursed under his breath at the fear in her eyes.

Grabbing her hand, he squeezed. “Everything is okay, Cassie. People can’t just enter the grounds or the house, for that matter. They are just protecting whoever is here. I just need you out of the way until I get everything figured out.”

Both jumped out at the same time but separated as they entered the foyer. Stephan waited in the hallway until he watched Cassie run up the stairs quietly before she disappeared around the corner towards her room.

Quickly making his way down the hall, he heard voices raised in anger. One was in broken English.

When he opened the door to the office, he stepped in quietly and waited for Sakis to speak to him.

“Andre was shot this morning when he returned to his hotel. He didn’t make it.” Sakis spat out the words. Stephan felt sick to his stomach. Turning to the two men next to him, Sakis made the introductions.

“Pascal and Jeremy are representing his family.”

Stephanous nodded to both men, not missing a thing. Pascal was packing and fully loaded. Stephan guessed with several different types of guns. Hidden behind his back would be several knives, along with some around his ankles. Depending on the outcome, someone could die if the right answers were not given. Jeremy, on the other hand, was the spokesperson. This person was not a relative to Andre, but a close confidant yet dispensable to Andre’s family. The one to watch was Pascal. Stephan read between the lines: bottom line—the family wanted to know whether it was Sakis who made the hit.

“I was just explaining to both what had transpired through our evening.”

“Emily?” Stephan asked.

“We are unclear if she ran in fear, or if whoever shot Andre took her. The details are sketchy at best.” At Emily’s name, Sakis looked pointedly at Stephan.

At Stephan’s nod, Sakis understood that Cassie was safe without having to be told.

“These documents that you finalized. May we see them?”

“Of course.” Sakis walked over to his desk, unlocked the top drawer and removed the folder on top. He placed it on his desk before he stepped away. Pascal and Jeremy sat to go over the file, while Sakis approached Stephan.

“Where is she?”

“I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I told her to go to her room, and not come out until one of us got her.” Stephan was glad he could ease Sakis’s fears.

“What do you think happened?” Stephan whispered in Greek as he watched the two men carefully. They were speaking in their own language, and he hadn’t a clue what they were saying.

“I think that these little episodes that we have been experiencing are someone trying to make a point that they are not happy. Several of my deals have fallen through, as you well know. We need to revisit them, and see who has been unable to secure another deal elsewhere, but my guess would be that it may be the Havarti family.”

“Sakis.”

Sakis turned to the two men who had moved and stood several feet away.

“Yes?”

“Our deepest apologies on the line of questioning. But you understand our position.”

Sakis held up his hand to stop them. “Please, no apology necessary.”

“We do understand that the gravity of the situation needs to be addressed, but the family would like to assure you that this contract will be held. The business that transpired between you and Mr. Conan must be fulfilled.”

Sakis shook his head in agreement. “Of course. Your family’s honor must also be protected. I promise you that I and my staff will do whatever we can to assist you in finding out who committed this horrific act.”

As they shook hands, the enormity of the situation seemed to hit them all. “That would be much appreciated. Please stay in communication and we will as well. We must return to the family.”

“Of course.” Stephan and Sakis walked them out to their vehicles. No words were spoken until both cars had turned and could no longer be seen.

“That was too easy, wasn’t it?” Stephanous asked.

Sakis laughed. “Oh, they are not done. They left without killing me, which says to me that they are on their way to believing me.” His face darkened. “Find out who did this, Stephanous.”

“What do you want me to do with Cassie?”

“She stays for the afternoon. Come back tonight and get her early evening.”

Stephan waited until Sakis entered the house before he sped out of the driveway to find Phil.