Page 94 of From Duke Till Dawn
“That’s not what I want,” he answered.
“What is?” Desperation edged her voice. She had to finish this, before she lost her strength.
He gently closed her fingers around the cash. “I want you to be happy,” he said softly.
She gazed at him, bewildered.
“Take it.” He held her hand between his. “Take it and start over. A new life. Wherever you want to go. Anything you want to do.”
“I...” Her eyes grew hot, and tears threatened to spill. He was giving her this. Releasing his hold on her. “Alex.”
“I’ve got one requirement.” He looked at her with such sadness, such tenderness. “Stay away from gaming hells and racetracks.”
She gave a small laugh, but knew that his words held so much more than what he’d spoken. “I will.”
“Now put that money away so I can make love to you good and proper.”
Her pulse throbbed, and heat spread through her at his words. Cassandra did so, tucking the cash back into her reticule. “And your revenge?”
Alex stared at her for a long time, and she felt the shock reverberating through him. “Good God, Cassandra, after everything? You’d ask me that?”
“You’re a man of your word,” she countered. “When you say you’re going to do something, I believe it.”
Alex continued to hold her gaze, looking into the eyes of the woman he loved but who had been hurt many times. Mistrust might always be part of her. He couldn’t be angry with her for that. Not when everyone she had ever cared about caused her suffering.
“Words of a man deeply wounded and lashing out in pain.” He looked at this strong, powerful woman who had turned his life into chaos, and he loved her for it. “You cut me. Severely. I needed some way of balancing the scales. But if I once felt that way,” he continued firmly, “those feelings have changed now. I swear to you, Cassandra, hurting you is the last thing I desire.”
A flush rose up in her cheeks. “Whatdoyou desire?”
“You,” he answered simply. “Your safety. Your happiness. That is all I want now.”
“I...” She swallowed. “I’ve been so bad for so long. I don’t know if I’m worthy.”
“But you are,” he said fiercely. “You deserve security. And joy. And—” He stopped himself, the wordloveperilously close to his lips. “And caring,” he finally added.
Her eyes took on a sheen, and she blinked furiously. “Maybe I do,” she allowed, though she did not sound entirely convinced.
There was only one way to reach her, one way to show her what she deserved.
He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close, and kissed her.
Cassandra sank into him, feeling his warmth, his protection, the solidness of his body, and the strength of his heart. Hot and needy, they devoured each other, lips and tongues searching and claiming.
He pulled back slightly. “I want you so much,” he breathed, his gaze fiery and his hands burning as they curved on her waist.
“Let’s not wait a minute longer,” she whispered.
They pulled off clothing, letting garments drop heedlessly to the floor. She held his look as she stripped, their gazes locked. He stared at her as if she was the center of the world, as if she was all he ever wanted. Inch by inch, they bared themselves. He was so lean and strapping in the firelight, tightly muscled and very aroused. His cock curved up toward his belly, and it twitched when she dropped the last of her clothes and stood before him, nude.
He strode toward her, animalistic and raw in his nakedness. His mouth captured hers in a long, drugging, wet kiss. She felt the press of his hardness against her belly and loved that she could make him feel this primal, visceral desire. Her own need was a wild thing, clawing her from the inside out as she ran her hands all over his taut body, tasted his mouth, and heard the rumbles of need and pleasure resonating deep in his chest.
She felt herself being walked backward, until the wall met her back. He took hold of one of her thighs and hitched it high over his hip, his fingers digging wonderfully into her soft flesh. Her quim pressed snug against his cock. It was thick and firm against her wetness. And when he dragged the length of it through her folds, she gasped aloud.
“That’s it,” he growled. “That’s my love.”
Holding tight to his shoulders, she clung to him as he teased her with his cock, stroking her but never delving inside. He would circle her opening, yet didn’t thrust in, rubbing her clit with the head of his cock, driving her into a frenzy of need.
“Alex, now,” she moaned.
