tucked her hair back behind her ears, trying to find her control, her equilibrium. It was a hard battle, especially since he wouldn’t step back to give her space. He watched her with amusement, trying to understand what was going through her mind. The emotions flashing over her soft, lovely features changed from frantic to nervous to confused and ended with what seemed like anger, but Nasir wasn’t sure if that anger was directed towards him or herself.
Before he could translate her expression, she shook them off and straightened her shoulders, smoothing her features into that bland look that he knew was her business-face. He was fascinated!
Cassy inhaled slowly. She couldn’t look him in the eye quite yet, still consumed by the lust, desire, and confusion that had overwhelmed her only moments ago. When she failed to rein in her feelings, she suppressed them ruthlessly, just as she’d done so many times in the past. She’d learned over the years to control her feelings, to ignore the desire to cry, which would only give her enemies satisfaction.
In the past, their words had hurt, their belief in who she was had caused wounds that hadn’t fully healed. But Cassy had vowed to never let anyone see how deeply she’d been hurt.
This moment was no different. Nasir was just trying to control her, to hurt her the same way those mean, hurtful girls had done so many years ago. To what end, she wasn’t sure. And yes, Cassy grasped that her past misery might be influencing her present thinking. But because those wounds were still raw, she couldn’t quite suppress the urge to hide away. Lifting her chin, Cassy reminded herself that she was strong. Stronger than anyone realized.
She tightened her jaw and took a deep, cleansing breath. For a long moment, she stood there, her eyes closed as she forced herself to push down the pain and humiliation. She wasn’t that person, she told herself. She might have reacted to his touch but…she wasn’t that person!
Opening her eyes, she nodded sharply. Glancing at the documents, she buried her pain deep down inside of herself. “I have many questions for you,” she replied, acknowledging his point about the red notes scribbled all over the margins of the contract. “If you have the time, I’d like to get some clarification and perhaps add a bit more detail to this contract and then get the information included in the language.”
Nasir watched Cassandra fight whatever inner demons lurked just below the surface, surprised that she’d gone from a relaxed, sensuous woman to a hard, tense professional. It might have taken her several moments to accomplish that transformation, but the professional mask was now firmly in place.
In response to her request for clarification, he nodded even as his eyes narrowed. This was more than just anger. There was something dark and tragic lurking behind those beautiful eyes. Something sad that he wanted to understand. He’d ask her about the brief flash of pain in her eyes soon. After their business issues were resolved. He suspected she needed to move away from whatever it was that bothered her.
She wanted to hide her sensuous nature behind a stiff, tough exterior, he realized. She wanted to ignore that softer, more feminine side to herself, the side of her that was more sensually beautiful than anything he’d ever seen.
He’d held her hand in his that first time in her office’s conference room and felt her trembling. He’d seen the attraction in those lovely dark eyes. And moments ago, he’d watched as she climaxed in his arms, felt her body shudder and writhe against his. He knew that she wasn’t always a prim lawyer who wanted to focus solely on business. She was so much more, although, as he watched her trembling fingers tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, he wondered if she knew that she was also this amazingly erotic, sensuously glorious woman. Yes, she was professional too. But now he suspected that she tried to suppress that other part of her. He suspected that she knew that both parts existed, but she didn’t like the other half, the sensuous half.
He swallowed a chuckle, thinking about how erotic it was going to be to teach her to embrace her sensuous nature. She was such a passionate little thing. So hot and yet, so stiff and formal now. The contrast was enticing!
She sat down in the chair, her back so stiff, it didn’t touch the cushions. He watched, mesmerized,