Forever Loved (Forever Lost Book 2) (15 page)

She was glad he seemed to be in one of his more agreeable moods, and soon realized she was listening to his answer as intently as her father seemed to be.

“I was offered a scholarship with NYU after college in the UK, so moved there when I was eighteen to pursue my degree,” Leo told him, and Timothy nodded in understanding. Cassie was sure she saw a renewed respect in his expression, as though he hadn’t necessarily considered Leo to be so highly educated. In all honesty, she couldn’t blame him. With a reputation as a notorious gangster and felon, Leo must have found it commonplace to receive that sort of reaction while meeting new people.

“Let me guess, football or boxing?” Timothy asked, refilling their glasses.

“No, civil and urban engineering,” he replied with a kind smile, surprising him with his answer.

Cassie caught the wry grin on Will’s lips beside her, and loved that her brother was enjoying this little show too. The many assumptions her parents had undoubtedly made about Leo were being proven wrong—left, right, and center. It was wonderful to watch, and when their mother returned to inform them dinner was served and to take their seats, she seemed taken aback by the change of atmosphere. All three members of the Taylor family were leaning forward, listening to Leo intently, and even Penelope took a second to compose herself.

Leo didn’t say another word; he simply left his revelation hanging while the small group followed her order. Each member of the Taylor family took their seats at the huge dining table, and then Leo accepted the chair at the end of the table opposite Timothy. Roger joined them and remained quiet, but he accepted the hostess’s offer of a home cooked dinner with a courteous smile. Penelope served up a delicious meal of roasted chicken with a variety of perfectly prepared and cooked side dishes.

“Cassandra, will you help me serve, dear?” she asked, and while she hated the old-fashioned way of it, Cassie agreed. She piled up a plate for Roger while her mother served both Timothy and Will, and then it was her turn to dish up some food for Leo. Care and attention to his preferences came as naturally as if she were plating up her own meal, and Cassie surprised herself by enjoying such a simple task as preparing his dinner for him. When she rounded the table and set the plate down in front of Leo, she realized he was watching her every move like a hawk, and she felt the rush of heat spread out from her core again. Their eyes met and she had to bite the inside of her cheek, afraid she might moan with the desire curling her insides and twisting her gut.

Cassie forced herself to step away, knowing they’d soon start making everybody feel uncomfortable again, and grabbed her empty plate. She’d just leaned over to start dishing up her own meal when Leo’s voice was in her ear, and she jumped in surprise. She hadn’t even noticed him stand.

“My turn to serve you, I believe,” he whispered, and he took the plate from her hands. He indicated for her to take a seat, and began doing the same as she’d just done for him while the others watched on in shock. Penelope seemed surprised beyond words, and took her seat with her mouth pursed and her plate only half filled. Will seemed to be enjoying it tremendously, and he even offered Cassie a wink when she caught his eye.

Being traditionalist, it simply wasn’t the way Penelope or women of her generation and class did things, and she’d tried to instill the same traditions in her daughter since birth. However, Cassie hadn’t been the type to give control of herself to anyone in the same way. She wanted respect but also wanted her chance to submit when appropriate. She adored how Leo was so ready to show her family how much he honored Cassie in those small moments of kind gentleness. Cassie knew it must be an odd dynamic for their parents to get their heads around, but one her mother would have to respect. Hers and Leo’s mutual respect for one another shone through any layers of indifference or iciness that plagued most couples, and he neither degraded nor belittled her by serving her in return for her having attended to him.

His rebellion against the prim and proper methods Penelope seemed intent on still living by didn’t seem to have been done with malice. It was more as if he simply wanted to remind her of the changing of the times. He clearly wanted to show them that while he was dominative, he wasn’t intimidating, at least not with Cassie. Leo cared for her, and had showed it in so many ways she wasn’t sure there’d ever be enough she could do for him in return to even the keel.

Leo delivered Cassie her meal with a kiss, and then took his seat without another word about it. The small group ate in silence at first, but soon enough the conversation began flowing again, and her now seemingly interested father picked back up where they’d left off in the sitting room.

“I must admit, I thought with your build you would’ve been a sportsman, Leo. But engineering you say?” he asked, taking a bite of his chicken.

“I will be honest, I was quite slim as a young man, Mr. Taylor. I only began weight-training and boxing in my late teens,” Leo informed him, and Cassie had to stop herself from grinning at the stereotypical jock her parents had clearly assumed he had to have been. “Engineering was always my calling, even as a child. When I was fourteen, I invented a water purification system that was later taken on by the government to treat areas of the UK where filtration is outdated. After that, I went on to invent, patent, and sell on other devices designed to enhance and improve on the methods used previously. I honed those skills over the years that followed before eventually being offered the scholarship to NYU.”

The room was suddenly eerily quiet, but Leo seemed either oblivious or indifferent to the fact that both Penelope and Timothy had stopped eating and were watching him with fascination. It was the best thing Cassie had ever seen, and she loved Leo even more for having successfully dumbfounded her folks. “Once I was immersed in the field, I completed my degree with honors, but changed course due to personal inclinations towards the business world. I still own the patents and earn royalties from my designs and their uses, which is why I was able to come back to the UK and start my company here.”

“So, you didn’t buy it with all your dirty money, baby?” Cassie asked, filling the silence that followed his impressive statement with a clear poke at her parents’ assumptions, and Leo shook his head.

“Not at all,” he agreed.

Chapter Thirteen

Cassie awoke late the next morning with a yawn. She tried to stretch out her arms, but was halted when she caught sight of a knot that still tied one of her wrists to the headboard. Her stockings were ruined, but she didn’t care, and let the nylon springiness pull her back toward the center of the bed. With her free hand, she tried to unwind the knot Leo had put in it the night before, but it was no use, so instead she fished around behind her in an attempt to locate the other end. Cassie found it after a few seconds of searching, and then giggled when she caught Leo watching her intently from his pillow beside her.

“And what do you think
you’re
doing?” he asked, untying the knot from around the wooden beam. He weaved the nylon around his lithe fingers. The over and under move wrapped the thick stocking around his knuckles and palm, pulling her closer and closer with every winding motion he made. “You’re not getting out of that unless I let you out,” Leo teased. He grabbed Cassie and pulled her close to his chest so that their naked bodies collided. He kissed her deeply, raking his free hand over her back, ass, and then down her thighs, which he then pried open. Leo took his place between her legs while turning her onto her back and commanding her body with his. “Tell me what you want,” he moaned into her open mouth, nibbling her bottom lip gently.

“You, Leo. I want you,” Cassie purred, arching her back so her core met his impressive morning-glory, but he resisted. “I’m so wet for you, baby. Make me come, please.”

“Like I did last night?” One dark eyebrow cocked as he peered down at her on the bed, and Cassie nodded. “I told you, didn’t I? I said I was gonna tie you to this bed and make you scream, Cassie. And you wanted it so badly, didn’t you?” Leo kissed her again and ran his hand over her cheek to her breast. He tweaked her nipple, caressing it with hard pinches that only left her wanting more.

“Yes, I did. I also wanted you to fuck me all over my parents’ house, if only I could’ve got them to leave us alone…” Cassie was silenced when Leo’s mouth covered hers again, and she knew she hadn’t been wrong—he’d felt it too.

The tease was over. Leo’s huge erection found its target and he was inside before she could take her next breath. He rode back and forth, hard and fast, and when she neared her release, Leo sat back on his heels. Her hips were soon pulled upwards to meet his deep thrusts, and he peered down at her now exposed body. Leo watched every stroke as he pressed himself inside of her, seeming so engrossed, and instead of turning shy, Cassie adored having his eyes on her. He didn’t stop staring, even when she came, and she too took the chance to watch his amazing body as he continued to pleasure her.

His pecs were huge and unmoving, whereas his amazing abs rippled with every curl of his spine as he impaled her. His incredible hip muscles were more pronounced than ever thanks to the exertion, and Cassie followed the curve down to where their bodies met. She watched him make love to her and was in awe of how perfectly they fit together.

With one last, heavy thrust, Leo shuddered his release and leaned back down to kiss and hold Cassie against his still slowly thrusting hips. She welcomed the heavy weight of him against her.

“Don’t ever leave me,” Leo whispered into her embrace, and his voice was so quiet she almost hadn’t heard it. “I’d die without you.”

“Never. I promise,” she replied, kissing his forehead tenderly.

When they’d finally pulled themselves away from the bedroom, and each other, Leo went for a run. Cassie took a shower then caught up with Roger, knowing he’d probably been up hours waiting for them to get out of bed. Her suspicions were proven right when she spotted numerous empty instant coffee sachets in the small bin in his room. She was surprised he wasn’t jittery as hell after having had so much caffeine.

“Leo handled himself well yesterday,” her protector told her over his coffee mug, and seemed to be back in friendly mode for the time being. “Your folks are pretty intense, but he won over your dad. It’s just your mum who doesn’t seem completely on-board, and she was definitely shocked by his actions at the dinner table. I don’t think she’d ever let your dad do something so chivalrous even if he tried.”

“That woman takes feminism to the extreme,” Cassie agreed, grabbing a bagel from the room-service tray. “She seems to think that being a doting housewife is fine as long as it’s on her terms, and yet she’s tried so hard to turn me into her protégé over the years without a care for the exploitation some modern men are capable of. In her view, if a man starts to expect being taken care of, he’s a sexist pig, but at the same time the woman should take pride in serving her man, looking after him, the house, the children—blah, blah, blah. It’s an impossible standard these days. I’m too busy trying to run my own business and deal with everything life’s thrown at me.” Cassie knew she was having a rant about her mother’s impossible expectations, but was glad she was able to get a few things off her chest to someone she could trust. She took a breath and laughed off her mood. “I honestly don’t think she was prepared for my and Leo’s strange way of balancing out those parts of our relationship, but I have to admit I liked shocking her.”

“Good, I was glad. When we first got there I was sure I saw you wilt a little under their scrutiny, and I was pleased to watch as you climbed back up again. You are who you are, Cassie. Leo or not, you’re much stronger than either of them might ever give you credit for,” Roger told her matter-of-factly. Cassie launched herself at him. She threw her arms around the hulking man and hugged him tight, whether he wanted to or not.

“I bloody love you, Rog. Don’t ever forget that,” she told him, and when she didn’t let go, he wrapped his arms around her in return.

“I guess you’re okay,” he teased, but held on until she released him.

Cassie’s cell rang in her purse, and she jumped off the bed to grab it in time before the call went to voicemail.

“Hello?” she chimed, listening intently. “Will?”

“Hey, sis. Glad I caught you. We’re all sorted for tonight, do you wanna pick us up at eight?” Her brother’s deep tones echoed down the line, and Cassie grinned.

“Sure, but there’s something I need to do first.” Before he could ask what, she burst into song. Cassie sang “Happy Birthday” loudly, and with so much energy that all Will could do was laugh. When her rendition was over, he thanked her before saying goodbye and hanging up the line.

She turned back toward her bodyguard with a smile, and Cassie jumped when she discovered a sweaty Leo standing just inside the connecting doorway. He and Roger were both watching her with open-mouthed stares, and she felt her cheeks burn.

“I’ve never heard you sing like that before, Cassie,” Leo told her. “Your voice is beautiful.”

“Why the hell would you paint theater sets and make costumes when you have a set of lungs like that?” Roger added, shaking his head.

“Not everyone who runs away with the theater dreams of being center stage. I love what I do, and never even tried out for the leading roles back in my early days in London. Drawing is what I love, art and design,” she told them, but appreciated the praise. Cassie had played many roles over the years when it’d come to her personal life, and knew she wouldn’t want to do it every day in her professional life too. No matter her love of fairytales, she didn’t want to play the part of the young heroine locked in an ivory tower while the beast below fought to win her affections. She’d lived it for real with Victor, and hadn’t set her heart by those fairytales ever since.

Shaking off the eerie chill that’d swept down her spine with the sheer thought of her dear departed ex, she informed Leo and Roger of the plans Will had just confirmed with her. Cassie then busied herself with getting ready for an afternoon of shopping with her mother, and deliberated over her outfit for far too long. Roger insisted on accompanying them, while Timothy had arranged to play a round of golf with Leo at his local club, and he’d not been offered the choice to refuse.

“I’ll miss you,” he told Cassie when she was finally ready. She grabbed her things, informing Roger that she was good to go.

“Me too, but it’ll be nice just you and my dad getting some time alone to bond, and hopefully you’ll not come back hating each other. I’m not sure the same can be said for me and my mother,” Cassie grumbled. Leo didn’t answer. He simply held her close and planted a powerful kiss on her still tender lips, and she loved the bruising sting it left behind.

She spent the day following her mother around various shops in which Penelope insisted on choosing Cassie an array of new outfits. They chatted some, but not about any of the important issues, like her daughter’s recovery or how she and Leo were managing being back together. Penelope insisted on gossiping about the local residents and their exploits, while only asking about her life in London to determine whether the theater was bringing in enough money for her to deem it an adequately reputable business for her daughter to be involved in. Within a couple of hours, Cassie felt tired and achy. She wanted to call it a day, but Penelope seemed intent on carrying on.

“Ms. Taylor, please excuse my intrusion, but we need to get going,” Roger informed Cassie politely while checking his watch in an overly obvious manner. She could’ve kissed him, but simply nodded her head in agreement and made her excuses to her mother about needing to get ready for Will’s birthday night. The matter sorted, Penelope gave her a small hug. They said goodbye, and Cassie was soon on her way back to the hotel. “You’re welcome,” Roger added, watching her through the rearview mirror with a smile in his eyes.

That evening, Cassie and Leo climbed into the four-by-four with Roger and were driven across the small village to where her brother lived. They collected Will from his apartment, along with his girlfriend, Lana. She seemed a little shy at first, but quickly shook it off when Cassie pulled her into an affectionate hug. She gave her no choice but to let her get on with it, and within seconds the young woman relaxed. Cassie then watched as a more natural, genuine smile took the place of the forced one, and she was glad Lana seemed to settle in with them so quickly. The guys greeted each other, and Leo wished Will a happy birthday before handing him the big bag of gifts they’d brought with them.

“You didn’t have to!” Will exclaimed, but soon started digging in excitedly. Cassie let go of his still quiet girlfriend and watched as he began unwrapping their array of gifts. The first was a small box, and inside were a set of diamond cufflinks that sparkled brightly despite the fading sunlight. “These are too much, I can’t…” he began, but Cassie stepped closer and wrapped her hands around his.

“You can and you will. We wanted to spoil you, and I’ve lost the receipt anyway so you’ll just have to keep them,” she told him, winking over at Lana, who grinned back. Will nodded, admitting silent defeat. He simply kissed his sister’s cheek, and then started on the other presents. Cassie knew she’d gone a little crazy this year with the elaborate arrangement of trinkets, especially when she’d usually just send him loaded gift cards or small presents. This time she got to watch him open them and spend the day celebrating together, so she’d indulged her generous streak. Will seemed absolutely astonished by his assortment of presents, but also incredibly appreciative. Cassie had bought him designer clothes, tickets to see his favorite band in concert, a driving experience day with one of his idols of the racing world, and an IOU for a weekend trip to London for him and Lana whenever they wanted it.

Lastly, Cassie reached behind her for one more gift, which she gave to Lana. Inside was a stunning designer handbag she’d picked up that afternoon, and she watched with satisfaction as the young woman’s eyes lit up in surprise. Cassie didn’t even give her the chance to object or make a fuss, she simply headed back to the car, climbed into the front seat, and shouted for them all to join her.

After carefully putting the presents away inside Will’s apartment, they all piled in and Roger drove them the short distance to the restaurant, where he dropped them at the door before parking around the back.

Leo took Cassie’s hand in his as he led the way, and before long they were sat enjoying plate after plate of incredible tapas while the wine flowed freely. Roger joined them, but once again stayed quiet as he ate. Cassie had hoped he might relax a little, but could see him watching the doors and other customers constantly, rather than keeping track of the conversation. She could understand it, though, and welcomed his careful attitude and attentiveness toward her. He truly was an incredible asset, and Cassie knew she couldn’t have found a better bodyguard even if she’d searched high and low. She thanked whichever forces of fate had sent him to her that day she’d contacted the elite security agency he’d been registered with, and was sure she’d never need another protector as long as he was around.

The others chatted effortlessly, and Cassie enjoyed getting to know Lana, as well as having the chance to see her and Will together. They were clearly into one another, and she was sure that in time they’d both realize it and take the next step.

Once their bellies were full and they’d had enough of the rustic restaurant, Leo paid the check and they climbed back in the car. Roger soon delivered them to another doorway, but this time to a huge warehouse-style building they’d not discussed visiting when plans had been made earlier that day. Cassie was about to ask where they were when Roger opened the door and she heard the thumping music coming from within. After climbing out, she could see the sign over the doorman’s head that said
‘
Casanova
,’
and was immediately confused. Leo noticed, but held his finger to his lips to shush her. He then led the way toward the burly guy manning the door at the front of a queue that lined the street as far as she could see.