Chapter 8
Cassie rubbed her eyes and continued to stare at the computer screen, before giving up and leaning back in one of the comfortable chairs present in Chris's office. It had been a week since they had returned from that weekend at the cabin, and Cassie had never had a lovelier week in her life.
Chris made her feel important and special, but most of all, he made her feel beautiful. Cassie had always been insecure about the way she looked. Having grown up in a world where the meaning of beauty was to be extremely thin, she had been teased and hurt throughout school and college for being on the heavier side.
But when she saw Chris look at her, she felt all those insecurities melt away. He looked at her as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world, and as though no one would ever be able to compare to her.
She yawned and closed her eyes, resting them for a minute before opening them to the softly lit room. Chris was working late and Ann and James had gone to bed. She looked at the clock on the desk. It read 11:30 in large, lurid green numbers. Barely suppressing another yawn, Cassie closed her eyes again, and before she knew it, was asleep.
---
Chris parked the car in the driveway and let himself into the house, careful not to make any noise. He knew that his father and Ann would be asleep, but was quite sure that Cassie had stayed up for him again. It was the thought of her waiting up for him that had finally forced him to abandon his work and drive home.
He checked the dining room and the kitchen before heading to his study. He found her there, asleep on the comfortable chair, her computer on behind her.
Chris grinned and switched off the system, saving all her files before he did so, and picked her up from the chair. She was heavy, but it was a pleasant weight, and Chris did not mind. Cassie stirred against him, and opened her eyes. Chris felt a sharp stab of desire when she looked up at him from beneath her long lashes with sleepy, startlingly green eyes.
"I fell asleep again," she mumbled, before she realised the Chris was carrying her. "Put me down," she said, fully awake now, and wiggling in his arms. "I'm too heavy!"
Chris just held her tighter and carried her to their bedroom, which was opposite the study. He gently laid her on the bed before stepping back and stripping off his clothes.
"You complain too much," he teased gently as he undid his shirt. "I'm going to take a bath now. Join me?"
The look of pure lust that he sent her had Cassie speechless with desire. She nodded and they undressed each other before they walked into the large bathroom. Chris began to run the bath while Cassie added a few bath salts and a generous portion of bubble bath to the water.
When the tub was full, Chris lowered himself into the tub and brought Cassie down with him. The warm water helped wash away the tension is his body.
"How was your day?" Cassie asked, leaning back against him.
Although he wanted to make love, he wanted to sit still for a while with Cassie pressed up against him.
"Tiring, and very, very stressful," Chris replied, his arms tightening around Cassie. He bent his head down to her neck and gently kissed her, sucking on the small spot until she let out a small gasp.
"Mallory and Co. have pulled out of the City Centre financing, so we need to find a new financier and fast," Chris told her, his hands stroking her dimpled stomach.
"Why?" Cassie asked her voice slightly breathy as she felt the sensations caused by Chris's slow and sensual stroking engulfing her.
"Oh, some problem with the board. But that's not the issue. Still, I think someone will come forward soon. It is an excellent project. Investing in it is worth it."
Chris was now stroking her inner thighs; feather light touches that made her tense up in his lap.
"Of course," Cassie managed to gasp out, her hands tightly holding his thighs. "What about the designing of the project? Wasn't Emily's team working on it?"
"Yes," Chris replied, now moving his hands to her breasts. "But I think I'll assign George to it too. She'll need the extra hands."
"She won't like it," Cassie said, her voice a whisper. "She doesn't..."
She trailed off when she felt Chris pinch her nipple gently. She pushed her soft bottom into his lap, and felt him, throbbing and hot, against her.
"She doesn't what?" Chris asked, a smile on his face as he turned Cassie around on his lap. It was an uncomfortable manoeuvre, and water sloshed outside the tub.
"She doesn't like working with George," Cassie said, deciding that it was high time she did the tormenting. She slid a small down stroke to Chris's harness. She gave it an affectionate squeeze, and smiled when she felt in jerk in her hand. "They have their differences."
"Really?" Chris gasped, his arousal reaching its peak. "Well, she should sort out their differences don't you think?"
"Oh, definitely...." Cassie trailed off again as Chris pushed his finger inside her. She was wet, ready, and needed him desperately. But she wouldn't give in. "George should make an effort, too."
"It's a two-way road huh? Everyone needs to give and sometimes, give in..." Chris said as he lifted Cassie slightly and positioned his erection at the edge of her opening. He let her slide down, her velvet sheath slowly engulfing him.
"Really?" Cassie managed to breathe out as he began thrusting slowly in her. The friction caused due to the water just increased the pleasure of their gentle lovemaking. "You'd give in?"
"George silly," Chris said, before bending his head to suck on one of her puckered nipples. "I never give in."
Too shattered to even speak, Cassie didn't say anything, just closed her eyes and savoured the sensations that he was making her feel. She slid her arms around his neck and began undulating on his lap, her face buried in his neck.
Slowly, his thrusts increased and he began slamming into her as his orgasm approached, but he held back, determined to give her pleasure first. Cassie came moments later. Spent, they both let themselves become limp, and held on to each other.
"That was nice," Cassie mumbled into Chris's neck, suddenly very sleepy. "But very uncomfortable for you, I think."
"My butt is feeling a bit flat," Chris admitted, a rueful grin on his face. "Making love in the bath isn't all that it was cut out to be, hmm?"
"Mmm," Cassie said, and closed her eyes.
Chris chuckled gently and rose, carefully lifting Cassie up with him. It was difficult to do so, as the slippery water swirled around him, almost making him slip. He quickly set Cassie down on the edge of the bathtub.
"C'mon," he said gently. "We need to get washed up."
Cassie rose unsteadily and leaned on Chris while he turned on the shower and washed away all traces of soap. After, he rubbed them both down and after looking at the messy bathroom with despair, burrowed into bed with Cassie.
"There's a charity ball next weekend," he said, softly, pulling her against him so that she was pressed to him. "We need to attend."
"Why?" Cassie asked, not wanting to attend at all. She still disliked large parties.
"Because we sponsor the charity." Chris said dryly. "Besides, it's a fund raiser and all proceeds go to charity, so why not?"
"I hate you," Cassie mumbled. "But I'll still go because I love you."
Chris breath stilled when he heard the words, but he forced himself to think that she had meant them jokingly. "Isn't that a contradiction?" he asked, amusement in his voice.
"No." Cassie said firmly before turning so that her back was nestled against his back and pulling his arms around her. "Now go to sleep."
Chris chuckled gently and closed his eyes, wondering whether she had really meant what she said. Suddenly, it mattered to him. It had never mattered when numerous other women said it, but it mattered when Cassie said it.
Cassie's eyes were wide open, and she was cursing herself. She relaxed when she felt Chris's steady breathing.
"You little idiot," she admonished herself. "Why did you have to tell him that? It's only been a week, you'll scare him off!"
But she had meant what she had said. Incredible as it seemed, she had fallen in love with Chris and would do anything for him. She wanted to protect him, and be protected by him in turn. She wanted to share his life in every way. She wanted to grow old with him.
Troubled by the intensity of her emotions, and what she felt was a foolish admission, Cassie allowed herself to sink into the comfort of his embrace and go to sleep.
--- Chapter 9
"I look fat," Cassie said in deadpan when she saw herself in the mirror. The jade green dress she was wearing outlined every curve she possessed and made her look voluptuous and beautiful. The combination of the dress, her eyes and her long, curly, mahogany hair was excellent.
"You do not," chorused Melissa and Ann in unison, who had come shopping with her. They were trying to find suitable clothes for the fund raiser.
Chris had managed to get tickets for Melissa and Gavin, but Gavin had declined. Melissa, on the other hand, was excited at the prospect of meeting so many people and was raring to go.
"I do," Cassie said defiantly. "I liked the brown dress better."
The brown dress in question was made of chiffon and looked as elegant as a sack. It effectively hid all of Cassie's curves and made her look like she was wearing a half-sewn caftan.
Melissa and Ann looked at each other and sighed.
"What about the other one?" Melissa asked. This dress was black and had a corset style bodice that managed to squeeze Cassie's voluptuous figure into hourglass proportions. It ended just below the knee.
"It's okay I suppose," Cassie said doubtfully, looking at it. It did manage to flatten her stomach a bit.
"Fine," Ann said, cashing in on the opportunity. She wanted to buy it before Cassie changed her mind.
"Get this one too," Melissa said, holding out the green dress. "A backup."
