Page 25 of Submit

“Thank you.”

I take my leave of the women and head back down the hallway. I can’t hear any of the men’s voices and the silence is eerie. I’m not sure if they’re whispering, but I thought I’d at least hear some jovial - iffake- laughter, or perhaps a heated argument.

Before I make it to the end the hall to turn right, strong hands grab me and pull me into an empty room. My heartrate has kicked back up and I briefly think this can’t be good for the poor muscle – oscillating back and forth between sixty and a hundred beats per minute so often. I don’t try to scream because the faint scents of coconut and gun oil linger on Casper’s skin, giving away his identity. Without consciously doing so, I lean back into his embrace, goosebumps breaking out across my flesh from the contact of my bare back against the sling across his chest. God, what I’d give to lift his t-shirt just a hint and feel his skin against mine.

He lets go of me almost as quickly as he grabbed me causing me to wobble in my heels.

“What are you doing here?” he hisses as he spins me to face him, oblivious to my burning skin.

“My fiancé had a business dinner with his boss and the governor.”

Obviously.

“Your fiancé is Willem Van Den Tweel?” he asks, his eyes wide, showing an emotion other than indifference for only the third time since I’ve known him.

“Yes, you know that. You saw him at the gym,” I say likeno duh.He waits patiently and silently as he lets my brain circle around to the bigger question. “Wait.” I feel my features scrunch in confusion. “How do you know Will by name?” I ask.

“If you remember, I only saw the back of his head at the gym,” Casper clarifies before continuing, “And the second part’s not relevant at the moment --”

I cut him off before he keeps talking, panic rising in my voice. “Not relevant? The hell it isn’t. What’s going on?”

His eyes soften and he leans down to whisper in my ear. “Shh. You look incredible tonight.” His voice floats across my skin like silk. “I don’t know which version I like better: a bikini on a board, or a dress and heels.” His eyes are boring into mine and I melt at his words. Briefly forgetting about his unexplained connection to my fiancé, I play along because God help me, I want this man and this stolen moment is too good to pass up.

“Did you justcomplimentme?” I tease, using the same tone as when I asked if he’d made a joke, trying to diffuse the electricity surging between us. It’s so palpable you can taste it in the air.

His face is wearing a combination of anger and desire and I have to look away before I maul him like a rabid animal. “I’d like to do a helluva lot more than compliment you.” He places his fingers under my chin and forces me to look back up at him while his other hand hits my bare back and starts to travel lower. My heart is beating too hard and I’m afraid I’m going to pass out. Searching my eyes he asks quietly, “Me permitirias?”Would you let me?I don’t think he knows that I know Spanish so he’s probably not expecting an answer but I nod anyway. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to lick the proud smirk off his face.

My mouth falls open against his fingers and his thumb brushes my bottom lip and I know somewhere in my head and my heart that my consent makes me a terrible person, but at least I’m telling him the truth.

Now, if I could just figure out where the fuck this change in attitude toward me came from, I’d feel slightly more steady.

“What changed?” I whisper. “A couple of days ago, you couldn’t stand me.”

He shakes his head and trails his fingers down my jaw to my neck, his eyes following the movement at a torturously slow pace. When he finally speaks, his voice is low and menacing right next to my ear. “Princess, a couple of days ago your face was all I saw while I tried to eradicate you from my system.”

“Did it work?” I ask at last, holding my breath and looking up at him through my lashes because he’s so close.

“Not even a little.” I start to breathe again right as he adds, “In fact, my bruised cock would argue it made things worse.”

I’m pretty sure my ears are melting. Nothing is sexier than hearing Casper reference his own cock. Which also means it’s all I’ll think about for the next several days.

When I start to press him for more information, he lowers his eyes back to the neckline of my dress and says, “We’ve been here too long already.” His breathing is shallow and he hasn’t dropped his hand from my face. The desire to pull his thumb into my mouth is powerful. He’s so close that when my chest expands from a rapid inhale, it almost collides with his solid frame. “I’ll see you Saturday,” he pauses and looks torn before adding, “Libby, be careful.”

I’m not sure who I’m supposed to be careful of: Will, or him. He slips out the door and back into the hallway before I can ask for clarification, moving around this house like a shadow.

Like aghost.

It’s then that the name clicks…Casper.

Ten

MY MIND IS SPINNING two hundred miles an hour with questions being thrown from everywhere. What does he meanbe careful?

Am I in danger?

Is Will?

Is the governor dangerous?

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