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“We’re safe. This is German technology, specially designed for such situations. Do you believe I would place people in an unsafe environment?” I take a moment to study her this close to me. Cassandra’s such a small thing, and yet she’s impossible to ignore.
“Mark,” she breathes out my name, and my chest expands as I cradle her.
Her pink tongue peeks out to wet her nude lips while she melts completely into my hold. Spellbound by her, I trace her plump outer lip with my thumb, watching her pupils dilate.
What I am doing?
All blood leaves my brain, responding to her scent and vulnerable look on her face. Before I realize it, I wind my fingers in her silky hair, tilting her face toward me for my taking. She gasps, feeling my demanding grip. Only when I have her full attention, I lean down, ready to taste her sweet whimpers, until she surrenders to me.
“This is the operator, could you please confirm your identity?” We jump apart as if someone poured ice water over us and stumble toward the speaker at once.
“Hello, I’m Mark Lawson and with me is Cassandra Cade. We got stuck here on the way down. Is anyone coming to let us out?”
“Sir, the city had a power shortage. They’re fixing it as fast as they can, but it might take a few hours to bring it back up. You should get comfortable; it might take a while.”
“Keep us updated on the progress,” I bark an order, making sure they won’t forget us here.
“I should call my family.” She dives for her purse, tumbling around until she finds her phone. “Dammit, there’s no signal. Can you check yours? I need to notify the au pair.”
“Same.” I show her the screen, and she lets out a curse.
“Can they contact our families and tell them we’re okay?”
I nod, and she relays the info to the operator.
Since there’s nothing to do but wait, I make myself comfortable on the floor and so does she. Cassandra’s cheeks are flaming red from the intimate moment we shared. It makes my blood run hot thinking about her earlier reaction.
“You should stop worrying your lip this much, it’s getting raw.”
She snorts at that, letting out an amused chortle at my subtle order.
Instead of heeding my advice, she kicks off her heels and starts massaging her calves, wincing as if they’re sore.
“Need some help?” I ask, worry gnawing at me. The injuries she has suffered didn’t disappear. They’re still there under the jaded skin, etched in bone marrows. Those five-inch heels must be hell to walk in all day.
“There’s nothing you can do.” She smiles sadly as I loosen up the tie and take off my jacket, getting more comfortable, hating the idea of me sitting and watching her endure another moment of agony.
“I never asked if you’re married or have a girlfriend.”
So, she noticed I haven’t asked the operator to contact anyone on my behalf.
“I’m not. My work schedule’s way too hectic to have one.”
She draws her legs closer to her chest, her dress stretching around her curves as she regards me.
“And you?”
“My heart has been battered enough as it is. It has space only for work and my children.”
Those words, written in piercing sadness, stir something inside my chest. Something familiar and potent. I have to curb an undeniable instinct to fill that aching void.
“How about your family, Mark? Mom, dad, brothers, or sisters?”
My eyes snap to hers.
“Wouldn’t they be worried about you?”
Ignoring her question, since it’s way too complicated to explain, I decide to distract her from this topic. Family is a hard limit for me. She wouldn’t understand why and I’m not ready to shed light on it.
