Chapter 23
CASSANDRA
An hour later, they step out of the bathroom, both flushed and satisfied from a steamy shower and passionate sex. Emilio has really taken it out of her, and the bed is practically singing her name.
“You look beat,” he says, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Go to bed. I’ll be there soon.”
Cassandra knows he won’t. They’ve never slept or woken up together. After they make love, he always finds a reason to leave. She can’t help but wonder why. Is it her, or does he just not like sharing a bed?
She slides under the covers and drifts off to sleep.
***
The next morning, Cassandra wakes up to a room filled with bright sunlight. Emilio is gone.
Sitting up, she feels the ache in her legs and the rumble in her stomach, but that’s just the aftermath of last night’s workout. She swings her legs out of bed and heads to the bathroom, a smile playing on her lips as she remembers what Emilio did to her in the shower.
Thinking about all the ways he made love to her makes her feel hot all over again. She didn’t even know there were so many things you could do in a shower, but thanks to her new husband, she does now.
After a bath, Cassandra still doesn’t see Emilio, so she gets dressed in white skinny jeans, a black floral blouse, and matching wedges. She leaves her hair loose and keeps her makeup light, only applying eyeliner, some blush, and cherry red lipstick.
When Cassandra walks into the living room, she finds Emilio sprawled out on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table. He’s shirtless, wearing only pajama bottoms, and she takes a moment to admire his sexy body before sneaking over to him. She can’t openly drool over him when he’s awake, but she can while he’s asleep.
Suddenly, Emilio’s eyes snap open and meet hers. Without warning, he grabs her wrist and pulls her toward him, flipping their positions so that she’s lying on the couch, panting, and he’s on top of her. He leans in, taking a deep breath.
“You smell amazing,” Emilio says, stroking her cheeks. “And you look good enough to eat.” Then his mouth is on hers, his tongue coaxing her lips open.
Cassandra opens for him, moaning as he explores her mouth and threading her fingers through his hair. Emilio grinds his hips into her, making her aware of his hard length, and she grinds back. She’s wet and hot and ready for him.
Emilio starts to kiss her slowly, taking his time, and pins both of her hands above her head with one hand. His other hand strokes her through the fabric of her blouse, and all the while, his mouth never leaves hers.
Her skin is on fire, and she wants to feel his touch on her bare skin.
His skilled fingers unbutton her blouse, revealing her skin, and then his mouth trails kisses down her throat, to her chest, to the curve of her breasts, all the way to her stomach. His tongue dips into her bellybutton, and her body arches against him.
Emilio looks up at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes, clearly enjoying her reaction. Oh, damn him! He’s teasing her, making her pant and squirm under his touch.
Cassandra feels her button pop open and her zipper being pulled down, and Emilio kisses her right on her lacy thong. She shivers at the contact, heat pooling between her thighs.
In the distance, Cassandra hears a phone ringing, but then it stops. After a few seconds, it rings again. With a frustrated groan, Emilio stands up to answer the call.
Cassandra sighs. If his phone hadn’t rung just now, he would be deep inside of her.
She heads to the kitchen and makes herself a cup of coffee. Emilio is speaking in Spanish, but the worry in his voice is clear even from the next room. A few minutes later, he joins her, looking troubled.
Cassandra starts to worry. She hopes nothing is wrong with Alex or his mother.
Several minutes pass without him saying anything, so she reaches out to touch his arm. “Emilio…?”
“We have to cut our honeymoon short. I need to get back to New York; something important came up.”
Cassandra’s heart sinks. She had hoped they would get to know each other better on this honeymoon, in the city of love. Not wanting him to see her disappointment, she looks away. “When are we leaving?”
“Now. You’ll be going back home alone, and as soon as I’m done in New York, I’ll meet you there.”
“I’ll go pack,” she says, pushing past him.
Her heart aches. How long will he be gone? And what happened that he needs to go to New York so urgently? Just when things were going well between them, this had to happen.
Two hours later, she’s on a flight back to Barcelona.
