Page 59 of Captivated

“I value family, honesty, and loyalty more than anything else.”

“I agree,” Cassie says, and we share a silent moment with our eyes locked. It’s one where we say more than what was said.

“Any other questions?”

“I have one more. But to be fair, I didn’t get through the entire envelope. Only until your father’s death.”

“Why?”

“It was a lot for one sitting. Going through 32 years of someone’s life isn’t exactly light reading. I didn’t realize you were so old.”

“Old?” I choke out. Cassie looks at me all innocent, but then smiles and laughs. “You think I’m old?”

She shakes her head and eats another fry. “No. You’re ten years older than me, though. You don’t think I’m too young for you?”

“Not at all. Am I too old for you?”

“Not at all,” she says, a little smile dancing on her lips.

“And I may be older, but I have as much experience with a serious relationship as you do.”

“So, none?” she asks, the hope in her eyes making me glad I never gave another woman a chance.

“You’re correct,” I confirm, and the hope in her eyes turns to happiness. “I don’t date, Cassie. I don’t get possessive over a woman and not want anyone else to see her the way I do. A woman has never made me want to murder a room full of people before. Aside from my family, of course. I’ve never shared my life with a woman or handed them an envelope of my secrets.I’ve never had a woman consume my every thought, waking and sleeping, from the moment I met her before. I’ve never before felt the way I do right now, Cassandra.”

“Nico.” Cassie blinks rapidly and I see the glassiness to them she’s trying to hide.

“Come here.” I push my chair back and tap my leg. Cassie stands and scurries over to me, and climbs onto my lap. I run my hands up and down her back. “All we need to do is feel what’s right. That’s how we’ll navigate what’s new for the both of us. Okay?”

“Okay,” she says softly, sealing the deal with a kiss equally as soft, but still manages to rock my world off its axis.

I stand with her in my arms and walk us back to the bed. I think she’s finally starting to realize how deeply she’s planted herself into me, and I’ll keep telling her every chance I get until she believes it without a doubt.

~ Chapter 21 ~

Cassie

Carefully and quietly, I sneak out of bed and into the bathroom. After sorting myself out and forcing my hair to look at least semi-tamed, I tiptoe back out and look at Nico fast asleep in bed.

He looks relaxed and at peace, and I’d like nothing more than to slide right back into bed with him, but I can’t.

I leave him there and walk out into the living room of the suite to get dressed where I left my clothes earlier.

Nico knows I love when he orders me around and takes control, and I love that I never had to tell him that. He could read it from me right away.

Sneaking out is not what I want to do, but I also don’t want to tell Nico I can’t stay because I have to work tonight. He doesn’t know I found another job, and I know by his reaction the first time he saw me at Dark Horse, he’s not going to like that I’m still dancing. Especially after today.

I don’t want to do it at this point, but it’s a necessary means to an end. I don’t even know what I’ll say to Nico when he asks me why I snuck out, but I need to think of my brother and getting him out from under the McLaughlins’ thumb. Tomorrow is the deadline, and I need as much money as I can scrounge up to buy a little more time until I can get the full amount.

I have to compartmentalize my priorities.

Nico will have to understand when I explain things to him, and I hope he does. He’ll probably just tell me I should’ve asked him for the money, but I don’t have that in me. I’d never do that.I know he’s used to solving his family’s problems, but this ismyfamily’s business, not his.

I slept longer than I meant to after Nico gave me my sixth, or maybe seventh, or tenth, orgasm of the afternoon. I lost count. And if I didn’t have to work, I would be ready to go a few more rounds with him.

Heading back to the house, I have just enough time to shower, change, dry my hair, and heat up some leftovers to scarf down before my taxi arrives to take me to Pandemonium.

When I’m up on stage, I think about Nico. It makes it easier to imagine it’s just him sitting in front of me and not a bunch of strangers ogling me.

---