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Just the thought of it stirred his desire to a rod of iron.
“No, really,” he forced out, crossing his legs, inwardly cursing and trying in vain to coax the beast back into its cage. “What are you doing here with me? Why didn’t what’s-his-name come along, ugh... you know, that guy with the funny hair...”
“Nathan.”
Just saying his name brought the taste of ash to her mouth. No, she didn’t want to think about him, not here, not with Mr Street, when she’d just been starting to forget him. But the dam had cracked, and no sooner had the words left her lips, her eyes had begun to burn with hot, salty tears as all her buried emotions suddenly boiled to the surface. “He dumped me.”
“Oh God, Cass, I’m... I’m so sorry.” David didn’t know what else to say. What else was there to say?
He’d never met the boy, but Stacey had told him about Cassandra’s new boyfriend once or twice and there had been a few pictures of the two together on Facebook.
He’d rather reminded him of Justin Biber.
He had a face he just wanted to smack.
Somehow however, he got the feeling voicing that thought wouldn’t help very much.
He’d never really been a great one for dealing with emotions. It was one of the reasons his ex-wife had listed as grounds for divorce. Siting him as a cold, unreachable iceberg of a man who had sucked all the joy and happiness from her life. She had even gone so far as to use it to justify her rampant extramarital nymphomania, saying it was just a way of seeking the warmth of human comfort. The honourable judge Blackwood had been sympathetic but expressed the suggestion that if that was the case, he would have thought one lover would have been enough, rather than five. For his part, David had just said he was one of old school and as such, an ardent follower of the philosophyactions speak louder than words. With the dedication and spirit of all true believers, heedless of his body’s treacherous desire, he wrapped an arm around her and drew her close.
She was shaking as all of the unsaid hurt and emotion that had welled up inside her suddenly burst its banks. “He said I was dull and boring and passionless and couldn’t-” Her words dissolved into thick wet sobs as the tears came and she just buried her face into the crook of his neck.
David couldn’t bear it.
“Then he’s a fool,” he promised, crushing her to him. “You’re a wonderful person Cass. You deserve better than that and you should be with someone who knows how special you are, who knows how lucky he is to have you.”
She didn’t respond, just kept sobbing, so he held her close and waited for the storm to pass. Yet hislittle braincouldn’t help but notice how well she fit in his arms, the sun-warmed softness of her skin, and the way the heavy weight of her full breasts were squashed against his chest.
No, dammit, don’t think like that you dirty old sod!
He chided himself, but when he took a breath to clear his brain, he only inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair, still with hints of her wild berry scented shampoo.
Then it was suddenly over. She was still, her breathing deep and even as she looked up at him from beneath her dark bangs, the last wet tear sparkling down her cheeks in the sunlight. “Thanks, Mr Street... er Stacey told the same thing.”
“Well she’s not often wrong.” He forced a reassuring grin.
She blushed and looked away, out towards the coast, unable to meet his eyes, while resisting the urge to snuggle closer. Cassandra revelled in their closeness, the feel of his arms enveloping her, holding her close and tight.
She never wanted the moment to end. “I’m sorry... I don’t know what came over me.” She made to pull away...
Except David wouldn’t let her go. “It’s okay, we all need to let go sometimes,” he soothed gently, cupping her chin and gently turning her to face him, before gently brushing the tear away with his thumb. “Break-ups can be tough.”
They were so close, Cassandra felt like she was getting drunk on him. His scent, his warmth, his very presence was enveloping her, intoxicating her. All it would take was one little push onto tiptoes, and she would finally know if those lips tasted as good as she’d imagined.
“Was that how it was for you? With your divorce?” The words were out before she could stop them, and when his hand dropped away she would have done anything to take them back. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have... forget I said anything. It’s none of my business.”
Again he held her fast, refusing to let her pull away, denying her any chance of escape.
“No, no it’s fine,” he urged, sighing and running a hand through his hair. “My marriage was over years ago, it just took me a while to figure it out. Then I just didn’t want it to, so I threw myself into my work to avoid it, but it was only a matter of time. After that, well I just didn’t really care anymore.”
She couldn’t help herself. There was an edge to his voice she’d never heard before. It sounded darkly dangerous, and very sexy. “So it doesn’t bother you at all?”
“It did, at first,” he growled. “When I found out, but not because of what she’d done. Only that she’d done it behind my back, rather than just come out and tell me she wanted a divorce.”
“Did she say anything after?”
“No, what was there to say?” he said simply, before reaching down for his cocktail and bringing it up to his mouth. Cassandra’s mouth dried as he swallowed the colourful contents of the glass, his head arching back and the muscles of his neck rising and falling while the first drops of perspiration rolled down his skin.
Cassandra’s nails bit into her palms. They were close enough for her to lean in and lick up the drops.
