He opened the closet and hung up their outerwear. He slipped off his shoes and she did the same.
“My dog walker gave notice. She’s moving. I have no idea how I’m going to find someone good, and willing to deal with Oscar’s … exuberant personality,” he said, giving his dog a pat.
Oscar who, on hearing his name, had raised himself up on his hind legs once more.
Cassie followed him into his apartment, Oscar on her heels. “There’s an app called Rover. It’s like Uber for dog walkers. You can find someone who is vetted and rated that way. I have friends who’ve used the service.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of them. As an app guy, I have to say I’m impressed. I’ll look into it. Thanks.”
“Happy to help.”
“So, do you like pizza? Downstairs on the corner is the best pizza ever. And they deliver.”
“Love it. Pepperoni if you don’t mind.”
“Exactly what I’d order.” He pulled out his cell phone and called a number he had on speed dial and placed the order.
He showed her the guest room, hoping she wouldn’t be using that bed, rather sleeping in his—without a lot of REM sleep being achieved—and they settled in his big family room/den in front of his big-screen TV, behind which was a wall of windows.
Snow came down in big chunks, creating a gorgeous vista in the background, but he couldn’t tear his gaze from Cassie. She curled her legs beneath her and settled into the corner of the couch, Oscar snuggled by her side.
Traitor.
Not that Derek blamed him. He wanted to be close enough to breathe in her warm scent and feel her body heat against his skin. His cock wasn’t happy being adjusted and forced to ignore the desire he felt just looking at the swell of her breasts in the formfitting sweater, but he managed to deal.
They made small talk about the apartments while waiting for dinner, discussed his business while eating pizza and drinking a beer—for old time’s sake. Even he couldn’t help but laugh at the reminder of her first taste out of the bottle.
After cleaning up and him taking Oscar for a quick walk, they resettled in to watch a movie. Oscar crashed on his doggie bed, giving Derek his first opening to sit close to Cassie.
He had every intention of making his move, when she cleared her throat and asked, “So I know you don’t want to talk about the family emergency you had earlier today, but I’ve been meaning to ask, how are your parents? It’s been so long since I’ve seen them.”
He froze, his hand halfway to the television remote. “My parents?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen them since I left for school. I know they left because they got another job but—”
Derek sat upright, all thoughts of touching her, kissing her, gone. “That subject is off-limits.”
She flinched and inched back against the seat. “I don’t understand.”
His first instinct was to revert to how he’d thought about her for years. A cruel girl only too happy to humiliate him, but he forced himself to draw a calming breath. And to remember that the Cassie he knew appeared to be kind and caring.
“My father … died years ago. I don’t like to talk about it.”
“Oh, Derek, I’m sorry. I know how close you were.” She linked her hands behind her head and leaned back, meeting his gaze, sadness and understanding in her eyes.
Shit. Now he felt bad for snapping at her. And when he looked into her warm brown eyes, another emotion took hold. Desire flooded his veins, all thoughts of anything but getting her into his arms gone.
She stared into his eyes, and his will to fight the attraction evaporated, and before he knew it, his mouth was on hers.
* * *
Cassie’s head was spinning. From his whiplash change in attitude to the news he’d given about his father to the kiss he placed on her lips, her emotions had been pulled in different directions. But with that one touch, she softened and fell into his kiss. She loved how he possessed her, with a combined forcefulness that turned her on and a gentleness that melted her panties.
He pulled at the elastic around her hair, releasing the ponytail so her hair fell over her shoulders. He brushed through the long strands with his fingertips, tugging at her scalp with each successive brush.
His tongue slid between her lips and tangled with hers, as he continued to seduce her with long, luxurious kisses that had her head spinning and her body going along for the ride. He grasped her hair in one hand, tilting her head to one side and trailing seductive sweeps of his tongue along her jawline, her throat, working his way down to her collarbone.
She trembled, her nipples tightening into hardened peaks, arousal gliding through her body in luxurious waves of desire. He nipped at her collarbone and licked his way back up her neck and throat, nuzzling at her ear. And all the while, all she could do was let him have his way, her body liquid in his arms.
Since Jeremy, she’d been selective to the point of not making it past one date before breaking up with a man, so it had been a long time since she’d been with a guy like this. In fact, she’d go so far as to say no man had made her feel so hot so quickly.
She slid her hands to his sides, pushing up his sweater and bracing her palms on his heated skin. She brushed her thumbs upward, and he groaned, his mouth coming down hard on hers once more. His kisses were hard, more feverish, and he pressed her back against the cool leather couch, his body coming down on hers. His masculine scent permeated her senses.
His erection aligned with her sex while his mouth did wicked things to hers. He lifted her shirt, pulling it up and over her head but trapping her arms in the soft wool.