PROMISE THE SUN AND THE MOON
By
Floridawn Lewis
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Floridawn Lewis on Smashwords
Promise the Sun and the Moon
Copyright © 2011 by Floridawn Lewis
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover Art by Floridawn Lewis
Warning:
This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. FOR ADULTS ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable (m/m/m/m/f ménage).
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is coincidental. The same goes for business establishments, events or locales.
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission by the author.
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CHAPTER ONE
She saw him walking towards her and immediately thought that he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. Cassie Lynn Darlington looked behind her. Her older half-sister, Brianne, had also noticed his arrival. Bree was also stuck on a Saturday, selling their father’s software ideas to those who were attending a Los Angeles homebuilder’s convention in early April.
Cassie then turned around, looked up and saw the man she had eyed before. He was standing directly in front of her. She was flustered momentarily, but collected herself enough to say, “Hello. Welcome to Darlington Software. How may our company help you become even more successful?”
He looked at her for a millisecond and then his gorgeous blue eyes trailed past her to Bree, who was almost five years older than Cassie.
“I’m an architect and wanted to find out if you have any software that can further my business.”
Cassie smiled at him. He looked to be about her father’s age. He was a very wonderful looking forty-something man and she was about to tell him that they had the perfect solution for him, but Bree was right behind Cassie to take the man away. Cassie cursed under her breath at the luck she had with men. They were more likely to look at dark and exotic-looking Bree. It’s not like Cassie wasn’t just as beautiful as her sister, but Cassie just didn’t have that sex appeal that Bree had. That walk. That aura.
Cassie spent the rest of the day helping other business professionals, but none of them held a candle to that handsome architect that Cassie never got a name for. While in the limo going home, Bree gave Cassie all the juicy details.
“So, remember that dark, handsome architect early in the day?”
Cassie acted like she didn’t know what Bree was talking about. “Ummm, no, doesn’t come to mind.”
“Come on, Cass. This guy has the prettiest blue eyes.”
“Yeah, so.”
“He’s taking me to dinner tonight.”
“Really? That is kind of fast.”
“Oh, hush. I really think he is the one.”
Of course, he’s the one. He has a package in between his legs. If only I could find the one.
Bree had been going on and on, but Cassie was daydreaming about her “one.”
He’s blonde. Tall. Puts me first. Wants to take care of me. Preferably far away from here.
“Cassie, are you listening to me?”
“Huh?”
“Cassie, I swear, you are the biggest dreamer.”
“Someday my dreams will come true.”
Bree rolled her eyes. “I was saying that Justin is from a small town named Gold Hill, Idaho and his wife of twenty-two years just died earlier this year.”
“Justin?”
“His name is Justin. Listen up for heaven’s sake.”
“Justin what?”
“Justin Ray Brady.” Bree said his name dreamily, making Cassie want a man even more than before, if that was possible.
“And he’s an architect,” Cassie said in monotone.
“Duh. He’s picking me up at six.”
“That’s an early dinner date.”
“Not really. If you think about it, we have more time to spend together. To get to know each other.”
“You have more time to screw.”
“Cassie!”
Cassie smiled at her sister and then said, “What. Come on, you know it’s true.”
Bree looked irritated.
“So, do you know anymore about him?”
“Just that he has three sons. Apparently they are all about your age, give or take a year or two. Getting to know him better will all come in time.”
As the limo drove past the wrought iron gate of the Darlington mansion, Cassie continued to think about her knight in shining armor and hoped that he’d show up on her doorstep soon. Three sons. She didn’t want to spend any more time on just dreaming about her knight anymore. All about my age. Maybe she wouldn’t have to wait very much longer.
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWO
In late May, along the property at the Darlington mansion, the pale pink lilies, orange California poppies, white everlasting and California fuchsia lined the coast of Beachmore, California, just north of LA. It was late in the afternoon and Cassie was looking into her bathroom mirror. In two-and-a-half hours, Bree would be walking down the aisle to forever become Mrs. Justin Ray Brady. Almost two months. It only took her sister that amount of time to get engaged and land the man of her dreams.
His three sons hadn’t shown up to the mansion, yet. They didn’t attend the rehearsal party the day before. Didn’t get to eat the plum lamb chops at the rehearsal dinner. Apparently Justin’s oldest son was to be the best man, but he had to finish his final exams in college. So did the other two sons. Cassie wasn’t immune to such a lifestyle. She had just graduated college with a two-year degree, the weekend before.
Cassie finished curling her soft, shiny blonde hair hanging around her face and swiping the last bit of blush-colored glittery eye shadow across her eyelid. She stood at the vanity in her bathroom with her fuzzy pink robe on and did one more once over in the mirror. A few tears fell. Cassie wanted the man of her dreams to sweep her off of her feet. There is no man, Cassie yelled internally.
A knock then came at her bedroom door and she walked out of the attached bathroom to answer the door in her bedroom. Three gorgeous blonde hunks stood there looking perplexed. The doorman quickly left them standing there, just as he was instructed to do earlier by the very sneaky Cassie. Cassie tried to rub the tears from her eyes, but one of the men had his thumb on the edge of her eye before she could blink. Her insides melted into putty looking into his striking hazel eyes.
“We’ve brought her to tears, guys.” The man behind this one was soft spoken and looked like he belonged on one of California’s beaches not on the Idaho ranch that Cassie knew they all owned.
“This where we’re staying?” Another blonde asked, more jovial than the other two.
“Ummm, oh, so sorry, please come in.” Cassie stood back and let them all enter. Each one put one piece of luggage next to the door and then looked around the bedroom that looked like some teenage girl lived in it.
Everything in Cassie’s bedroom was hot pink, her favorite color. There were fuzzy, feathery pillows on her bed and pink and orange hibiscus printed on the bedspread. Cassie ran to get one of the tuxes. Cassie had them placed on her king-sized bed.
“We don’t have much time. We need to get you into your tuxes quickly so that we can go down and go through a quick rehearsal.”
The jovial man laughed and said, “Listen, Honey, we don’t need pointers on walking down the aisle.”
“Oh, you’re married?”
He laughed even harder. The other two, right along with him.
“Jayce would never consider such a possibility, would you brother?” The other man, so lovely to look at, asked.
“Jayce,” Cassie said absent-mindedly.
The jovial handsome man stood in front of Cassie and took her chin in his hand. “Yes. Jayce Ray Brady. Who are you?”
Cassie was awestruck. Lost her ability to speak. He had also had lovely hazel eyes that pierced her soul and she felt wet in between her thighs. She had felt wet down there once before, when Justin Ray Brady walked into her life. Scratch that. Walked into her sister’s life. She had never had an orgasm. Never even thought of touching herself. Until now.
Thankfully the Brady boys had their names on the hangers. She had picked up the one for Taylor. A lucky guess brought her to the oldest Brady boy. She brought the garment over, put it along her arm and then started helping him undress. She brought his white T-shirt over his head and then looked at the perfect specimen in front of her. Hard abs and a solid chest. She licked her lips unconsciously and then looked into his amazing hazel eyes, once again. He was so very nice to look at. His smile curled up and then he brought a hand to the side of her face.
She secretly whimpered while she closed her eyes and let her cream settle down her leg. Hopefully it would stop short of the terrycloth fabric of her robe.
“Who are you?”
The soft-spoken one said, “Maybe she’s a maid.”
“Wearing a fuzzy pink robe?” The one called Taylor asked.
“Whatcha got underneath the robe, Honey?” Jayce asked.
She knew what she wasn’t wearing. Cassie still couldn’t find her tongue.
She handed Taylor his suit and then Jayce asked, “Could you help me with my zipper, Honey?”
The only zipper he had would be to his blue jeans. Without even thinking, Cassie kneeled down and started helping Jayce with his zipper. He guided her hand to his hard-on and then she almost shot up, but another hand went to her forearm to bring her into his hold.
The soft spoken one held her close to him and then said, “Don’t mind him, he’s always joking around.” This one’s eyes were blue. So blue. She let Jayce pull her tight against his body as he held her around the waist. The wetness on her thigh now scented the room and she was afraid that all three men knew what they were doing to her.
“Please.”
“Please?”
She couldn’t get her head unclouded. She started walking towards the bathroom and then turned around. “Please just get ready. I’ll be in the bathroom, finishing up. By the way, my name is Cassie.”
She left the room and then heard Taylor say, “Isn’t that Bree’s sister?”
Jayce then said, “Maybe she’s a little slow.”
Dayton took exception to that remark and said, “I think we’ve rendered her speechless and brought her to tears.”
Cassie tried to catch her breath. She looked at herself through the vanity mirror. Curious, she trailed one of her fingers through her flesh on her smooth labia. She then brought the finger to her nose and then tasted the substance. Never before had she known what she had possessed all along. She wanted more. She wanted to taste each and every one of those Brady boys and they were going to let her. All together or one at a time, but they were going to teach her how to love them.
She cursed to herself. “They think I’m mentally challenged. They’re never gonna let me touch them again. What a spaz I am.”
She never could figure out why she ever wore makeup. Her face was always wet with tears. The same kind of tears that streamed down her face now. It mostly had to do with the loss of her mother, but Cassie was also predisposed to crying on a dime.
Cassie finished up at her vanity and then went into the bedroom. All three gentlemen were dressed and looked nothing like the long-haired gods that showed up at her doorstep. They now all looked like male models.
“Can we use your bathroom, Cassie?” Taylor asked her.
“Sure, I need to put on my dress and shoes.”
“Need help with that, Honey?” Jayce asked her.
“Got it. Can handle it myself.” No need getting wet again.
The three hunks left the bedroom and Cassie went to her walk-in closet. Her thoughts raced. Not how I wanted this evening to start. How I wanted to meet Justin’s sons. Damn, we haven’t even formally introduced ourselves and I hate Jayce calling me “Honey!”
She slinked into her blush pink sparkly evening gown. A slit ran up the right side but stopped short of her derrière. At the neck, the spaghetti string confection “V’d” to reveal her substantial cleavage. The body of the gown flowed down from an Empire waist. She put on her diamond beaded high-heeled sandals and then found her diamond cascade earrings.
As she came out of the closet, the three men were sitting on her bed waiting for her. Okay, now is the time to start all over again. Stop being so green when it comes to men. Oh, heavens! They are all so gorgeous. How could I choose?
They all shot up off the bed when they saw the lovely woman walk back into her bedroom.
“Can we start over?” Cassie asked them.
Taylor walked forward to take her hand, “Whatever you want, lovely lady.”
“Hi, my name is Cassie Lynn Darlington. I guess that makes me your aunt?”
“Step-aunt,” the soft-spoken god said.
Taylor looked into her green eyes and said, “Taylor.”
“Taylor.” There she was again, speechless.
“Taylor Justin Brady.”
“Justin.”
Taylor’s eyebrows shot up. “My father. Remember, he’s marrying your sister?”
“Yes.”
Dayton stepped forward and nudged his brother over. “Dayton James Brady.”
“I like that.”
Dayton smiled and his pearly whites caught her off-guard. “Mmmm, I’m glad.”
She smiled and then diverted her eyes to her feet. She shifted and then blushed. What are these men doing to me? Don’t make me wet. Don’t make me wet.
Then Jayce came up to her and whipped her around away from Dayton.
“Do you remember me?”
“Jayce Ray Brady.”
“That’s right, Honey.”
“Could you stop calling me Honey?”
Jayce looked at her and then said, “What would you prefer?”
“My father calls me Beauty.”
“That’s perfect for a woman so lovely.”
Cassie blushed again.
“Beauty was one of the characters my mother played in the movie, Hampton Hill.”
“Your mother is an actress?” Dayton asked.
“Was an actress. She died two years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Taylor said, sounding concerned. “My mother died from ovarian cancer earlier this year.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“She died a slow and painful death.”
“My mother never knew what was coming. Her psycho producer shot her three times and then used the gun to off himself.”
“That’s awful,” Dayton said, taking her shoulders in his hands.
“What was your mother’s name?” Cassie asked any one of them.
“Leah.” It was Taylor who offered his mother’s name.
“Do you look like her?” Again, Cassie asked any one of them. “Because none of you look like your father.”
“I have my father’s eyes,” Dayton said.
Cassie agreed, but what about the other fair features of the three Brady boys? Their father was dark.
“Our mother had light hair and hazel eyes. Before the cancer overtook her body, she was a beautiful woman,” Taylor told Cassie.
“They say that I look like my mother. Only, she had blue eyes. Bronwyn O’Connor was her name. Wynnie, to my father. She was gorgeous, but she had a penchant to be naughty. They say she was having an affair with that fat, ugly producer of hers, but I never believed it.”
“So then, you are straight-laced and completely opposite of your mother in personality?” This coming from Jayce.
“That’s how my father brought me up. My mother never had much to do with how I was raised. My father has sheltered me all of my life. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in this place.”
“How old are you, Cass?” Dayton asked her.
“Twenty and I know what you’re going to say that I’m old enough to go out on my own, but my father holds my money over my head and I can’t get out of here until I’m twenty-five.”
“What happens when you turn twenty-five?” Taylor asked her.
“My trust fund.”
“The rich and their money.”
“It’s not just the money, Taylor. It’s my father’s approval. His emotional support. He could make my life a living hell outside of these walls, if he wanted to. Instead, he chooses to wield his authority over me inside of these walls. It’s easier for him that way and to tell you the truth, I’m not sure I could handle the real world.”
“How much money are we talking?”
“Twenty-five million. My mother also left me an inheritance of ten million.”
Taylor was flabbergasted. He grew up middle-class.
“Can I ask you how old you are?” Cassie asked Taylor.
“Twenty-one. I’ve just finished my junior year at Paradise.”
“Paradise.”
“Paradise, Idaho. We own a forty-acre ranch, there. The fifty acre parcel right next to it, too.”
“I thought you were from Gold Hill.”
“Yeah, grew up there. Got state honors in football all four years of high school. But we all go to college in Paradise, which is in North Central Idaho.”
“Is it really Paradise?”
“You’ll have to come and find out for yourself.”
Oh, yeah, sure, that will happen. She almost started crying. She hated when people teased her. Taylor had no idea how badly she wanted to get out of the Darlington mansion. The mansion with the expensive features. Marble. Granite. Brass fixtures. Ten bedrooms, twelve bathrooms and even more rooms than she could count. More servants than she could count. She hated all of it.
“What’s your major?”
“Agricultural business. My best friend, Dylan, and I are going to run the ranch while Jayce handles the horse side of things.”
“Dylan?”
“Dylan True. We’ve been best friends forever. We’re on the football team together.”
“Impressive. So what’s your major, Jayce?”
“Animal science. I will be a junior next year.”
“I just graduated with an associate’s degree in business administration. Are you in the same program as Jayce, Dayton?”
All three of them laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Dayton is a genius, Cass. He’s going for a double major in agricultural science and engineering.”
“A genius?”
“Yes, Cass, he’s a nineteen-year-old genius. He’ll also be a junior,” Jayce said, patting Dayton on the back. “Not sure what he’ll contribute to the ranch, but the man can fix anything.”
“Thanks a lot, Jayce,” Dayton told his brother.
“So are you nineteen, too, Jayce?” Cassie assumed.
Jayce laughed some more and said, “Yes. Our mother had us right after the other. In fact, Dayton was a preemie, but that sure didn’t hold him back none. Unfortunately I’m a little slower than Dayton is.”
“A little slower, like me?”
Taylor touched Cassie’s face and said, “He’s a nut, don’t listen to a thing he says. His birthday’s in July. Then, the two of you will be the same age. That is, if you don’t have a birthday coming up.”
“Not until February.”
“Are we staying in here with you for the rest of the summer, Beauty?” Dayton asked.
“Huh?”
She looked lost, again.
“Our luggage. Is this where it stays?”
She looked at the three bags, which now occupied a place on her bed.
“No, but we can move it later. I need to get you down to the terrace before our guests start showing up. Just a quick rehearsal.”
“If you insist, my beauty,” Taylor said, taking Cassie’s hand and kissing the top of it.
His touch sparked something deep inside of her belly. “Oh, my.”
It looked as if she was going to faint. Dayton hurried towards her and steadied her at her shoulders.
“Cassie.”
Surrounded by all three men, Cassie felt safe and even loved, strange as that was. If she was ever going to get to know them better, she needed to start talking coherently. When Dayton whispered her name, her spine tingled and once again she was rendered speechless.
“Dayton.”
“Show us where to go.”
Cassie shook her head, trying to clear the clouds.
“Right.”
“Doesn’t your sister need you?” Jayce asked her.
“She has her mother, Nicole. My father’s first wife. Then there’s Pixiedust and Trixiebelle.”
It sounded like, to the three men, that Pixiedust and Trixiebelle could be Pomeranians or Poodles. “Dogs?” Jayce asked.
“No, her two best friends. They are twins. Pixie has pink hair and Trixie has green hair.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m serious. They are ex-models. They have nothing better to do than color their hair and party. You have to remember that this is Hollywood. People love to stand out and call attention to themselves.”
“This ought to be interesting,” Jayce told her.
Out by the terrace, the French doors were already open. Cassie took in the ocean air through her nose. Salty and fragrant. It was a pleasant evening. The sun was setting and the sky was now a medium purple with shades of blue and yellow. Cassie took the three Brady boys underneath the portico, decorated with hanging fuchsia plants at each column. They walked to the opening of the aisle that led to a heart-shaped arbor that sat in front of the infinity pool, which was illuminated by lights all around it. On the side of the pool, the sunken spa was being used as a fountain. A spray of water shot up from a circular ring in the middle. To the left side, where the balustrade kept onlookers from plunging down the steep cliff, lights could be seen from the ocean where buoys were kept on the private beach.
“Dayton will go next to last. Right before my father brings Bree down the aisle.”
The four of them were the only ones out on the terrace at the moment. Taylor wanted to seize the moment.
“Cassie.”
Cassie looked surprised. It looked as though Taylor was about to kiss her. He took her around the waist and then asked, “Why are they getting married in the dark?”
“Ummm. Their first date was at six in the evening.”
“Oh.”
“Your father was only here two more times before they got engaged.”
“I know. He was helping us finish the ranch house when he met her in April.”
Cassie looked away and saw that there was some bustling about under the portico.
“Anyway, Jayce, you’ll be right after Taylor and me. With Trixie. Dayton with Pixie.”
“With the pink hair,” Dayton repeated.
“Right. So, Taylor and I will pretend your father is standing up there already and he’ll take my right arm. Walk slowly up the aisle and then Taylor will stand in behind Justin on the right side of the altar. Shall we begin?”
Taylor took Cassie’s arm and then the two of them started walking down the aisle. After a minute’s time, they were waiting for Jayce to walk down the aisle alone and then Dayton.
“Boy, that was hard, maybe we should do it again,” Jayce joked.
“I better get you boys to the men’s room to be with your father.”
“Boys?” Jayce asked.
“It’s just a general term.”
“Well, like you, Cassie, I don’t like the term, much.”
“What would you prefer?”
“Jay.”
“Stop giving her shit, Jay,” Taylor told his younger brother.
“Okay, all right already.”
Cassie led the Brady clan to where their father was waiting for them in his personal office. Come tomorrow, Justin would have all of his dreams come true, when he would suddenly become the vice-president of Darlington Software, one of many perks of being Steven Darlington’s son-in-law.
Taylor stopped Cassie before she went on to the bride’s holding room in the women’s reading room that used to be Bronwyn’s when she was alive. “See you shortly, Beauty.” He kissed her softly and then closed the door.
Cassie stood there flabbergasted. What in the world has hit the Darlington clan? These Brady men have literally invaded our lives. My life. She smiled and then went to find the bride-to-be.
After the ceremony, the wedding party had their pictures taken around the heart-shaped arbor, the pool, the portico, and then at the Juliet balcony that was inside of the mansion near the front entrance. Round tables replaced the chairs on the terrace.
Taylor and his brothers all sat with Cassie throughout the salmon dinner and then the cake cutting. Cassie had offered to make the wedding cake, but Bree never paid her any mind when it came to her passion of baking and decorating cakes.
Cassie picked at the chocolate cake and Taylor could tell that something was bothering her. Ever since her speech as the maid of honor, she had closed down and remained quiet.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong, Cassie?”
She twirled her fork in the beige frosting that tasted like hazelnut, but certainly not as good as she would have made it.
“My cake is better than this.”
“What?”
“I bake cakes.”
“This one?”
He wasn’t following her. “No. Bree refused my offer to bake her a cake.”
“I’m sorry. That’s not why you are distant, though.”
Cassie nodded and then said, “You’re right.”
Dayton leaned in, waiting to hear what was wrong with her, as well.
“I’m a virgin.”
That got Jayce’s attention. “That’s a problem for you Beauty?”
She blushed. “You don’t understand.”
“Okay, Cass, please try to explain. You know we’d all like to help. Wouldn’t we guys?”
Dayton and Jayce nodded looking eager to figure out what was wrong with this complicated woman.
“I’m never going to find my knight in shining armor. I’ll be an old spinster. I’ll never have sex or children and it isn’t fair that Bree is married. She doesn’t even want kids!”
“It’s a good thing because my father has already had a vasectomy right after Dayton was born.” Jayce tried to set a lighter tone, but Cassie cried even more.
Jayce stopped a server with a tray of champagne and handed the pretty blonde a glass. She started sipping and then said. “This is good.”
“Haven’t you ever had champagne?” Dayton asked.
“No. My father prohibited my fun.”
“Will he get mad, now?” Dayton asked, looking around for Steven Darlington. He spotted him on the make-shift dance floor with his ex-wife, Nicole.
Cassie also looked for her father. She spotted him, as well. “I don’t understand what he ever saw in that woman.”
“Bree’s mom?” Taylor asked.
“She’s a knock-out for an older woman,” Jayce admitted. The woman out on the dance floor was just as dark and beautiful as her daughter.
“Well, she was only eighteen when he married her, but she is a vampire. My mom was only eighteen, too. He loves the young ones. He’s not bad looking, either.”
Steven Darlington was also dark and sexy looking. His charisma was ever present.
“Nicole still owns part of the company. She helped him build it into the ‘empire’ that it is today.”
“Don’t you have any girlfriends, Cassie?” Dayton asked, curious.
“I did in high school. Jessie and I were cheerleaders together.”
“Jessie?” Jayce asked.
“Jessica Bradford. After graduation, Jessie moved to New York to work on her dancing career. I haven’t seen or talked to her since.”
“We’ll be your new best friends, Cass,” Jayce told her.
She smiled and sipped some more champagne.
“Dance with me, Cassie,” Taylor said, looking into her green eyes.
Cassie hesitated. “Save two more dances for us lackeys, Beauty.” Jayce said this with a smile wide and it was then that she agreed. She was looking forward to having fun with the three of them. All night long.
Taylor took her out to the dance floor and never stopped holding her hand. He put one arm around her waist and had her hand up, pushing her body into his. Almost salsa-like. Cassie looked for her father.
“You’re afraid of what your father might think about you having fun with me?” He whispered into her ear and then nuzzled against it with his chin. “Just let yourself have fun, Cassie.”
“Why would you want me to have fun, Taylor?”
He looked at her confused. “You have no idea how lovely you are, do you?”
Then it was her turn to be confused. “My father calls me Beauty. What do you think?”
He placed his hand right above her breast. On her heart. “Here. Right here, Cassie.”
She blushed and then the tears started.
“Cassie, you’re beautiful. On the inside, as well as the outside. I’ve only just met you, but I feel like I’ve known you all of my life.”
“Stop.” She shook in his arms as he pulled her closer to him.
“Ssshhh. Oh, damn, Cassie. Oh, what you’re doing to me right now.”
His erection pushed against the soft material of her gown. Burning into her like a hot branding iron.
He took her head in his hands and kissed her with urgency. “Ummm, oh, Cassie.”
She wiggled out of his grip and walked back to the table where she took a glass of champagne out of Jayce’s hand. She downed it in one complete shot and Jayce steadied her as she swayed a little bit.
“Hey, Beauty. Slow down, Baby.”
“Not baby. Hate being a baby.”
“How much of that stuff did you give her?” Dayton asked, just as Taylor came up behind her.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around.
“Cassie.”
She fell against Taylor’s chest and tried to breathe. “I don’t want this feeling to ever go away.”
Taylor kissed the top of her head. “Just have fun, Cass. Go dance with Jayce.”
Jayce took her hand, but her arm extended out as he walked her towards the dance floor because she didn’t want to stop touching Taylor. She looked to Taylor and he shooed her away. His heart breaking in the process.
A country song played and Jayce took Cassie around the floor in a two-step. “You’re good at this, Beauty.”
“One thing my mother taught me was how to dance.”
“So, you haven’t danced for real?”
“I never went to my prom. The only times I ever really danced was on New Year’s. My father’s clients aren’t my style, though.”
“I love seeing you smile.” He kissed her cheek and swung her around. At the end of the song, he kissed her again and then his father put a hand on his shoulder.
“It seems that everyone else has danced with the maid of honor but me.”
“You have your bride to worry about, Pops.”
Justin chuckled and then said, “Yes, but I’m also about to dance with my sister-in-law, Jayce.” Jayce conceded and stepped back while Justin took Cassie in a warm embrace.
“You’re having fun, Cassie.” It wasn’t a question, but she was left to wonder whether or not she should be having fun.
She said nothing. She didn’t want to start crying.
“Bree and I are getting ready to leave.”
“I’ve never been to Hawaii. Bring me back something.”
“Yeah, I’ll bring you back a pineapple.”
“You’re hilarious. She’s already seen the rest of the world, you know. There won’t be anywhere you can take her that she hasn’t already been to.”
“How about you?”
“I’ve never been out of California.”
“Your father owns his own jet. You could go anywhere in the world.”
“No. It’s Bree my father spoils. He never wants me to leave his prying eyes.”
They both looked over at Steven, who was busy talking to some of the guests. Cassie could feel his ever-present gaze upon her, though.
Justin ignored his father-in-law’s scrutiny. “While I am away, I want you to promise me that you’ll be good and try to stay away from my boys.”
“Why?”
“We both know why, Cassie. I don’t want to have to have a show down with your father when I get back. I’ll tell my boys that you are off limits.”
Cassie was on the verge of crying again. “Why am I off limits?” She asked it in a whisper.
“You certainly aren’t ready for the Brady men.”
“I’ll never be ready for life if you and my father continually treat me like a child.”
“You are far from a child, Cassie. You are like a special jewel and all your father wants is to keep you safe.”
“You both act like you want me all to yourselves. I’m a grown woman who deserves to find someone to love.”
“That won’t be with my sons, Cassie. Promise me.”
“Stop treating me like child, Justin.”
“You’re impossible.”
Dayton came up to his father and asked, “Is there something wrong, Dad?”
“It’s not a good idea for you or your brothers to hang around Cassie this summer, Dayton.”
“It’s your wedding, Dad. I think she’s allowed to have some sort of fun.”
Justin handed Cassie over to his youngest son. “Protect her virtue, Dayton. I’ll explain it to your brothers, too. She’s not to become involved with any of you.”
She held on to Dayton’s neck and then spotted a server with a tray of champagne. She snatched up another glass and gulped it down.
“Why do they treat me like a child? Your father must be on a mission for my father.”
Her head on his shoulder, she began to feel dizzy. Her vision became blurred and she broke away from his embrace and ran inside to the restroom. Taylor and Jayce had seen the confrontation she had with their father, as well, and went after her.
Why can’t I have fun like everyone else? Why can’t I fall in love and start my own life? Why? Why does my father treat me like this? Now he has Justin treating me the same way. She cried, watching herself in the mirror when a knock came on the door.
“I’ll be right out!” Cassie yelled.
“Cassie, open the door, it’s Taylor.”
Cassie unlocked the door and then let him in. Then Jayce and Dayton pushed themselves in, locking the door behind them.
Taylor had her up against the door in an instant, holding her head and asking her questions.
“What did my father say to you? Why are so upset? Tell me, Cassie.”
“He wants me to stay away from you. Away from Jayce and Dayton, too.”
“Dammit, Taylor, I told you,” Dayton was upset, already knowing what his father had told Cassie.
Dayton and Jayce flanked both of her sides and it was then that she felt almost complete. If someone were at her back, maybe it would have been perfect. All three of them gave off such heat. Such passion. She could see it in all of their eyes.
Taylor brought up her arms and interlaced his fingers with hers.
“Have…have you ever done this before?” Cassie was breathless. Maybe Taylor wouldn’t know what she had meant by her question.
“I’ve shared with Dylan before, but she wasn’t the one.”
That startled Cassie. “The one?”
“You’re the one, Cassie.”
“You want to share me with Dylan?”
He kissed her and pressed his body into hers.
“Yes.”
He must have been teasing her. It didn’t feel like he was teasing. Maybe he just wanted to get into her pants and then leave her high and dry after she gave herself to him. Was he that kind of guy? Jayce then got closer and kissed her cheek. Dayton, too.
“What do you want from me?” Cassie asked, trying to stay calm. “Don’t play games with my heart!”
All three of them looked at each other and then laughed at the situation. Taylor pulled away and the other two took his lead and held back.
“Don’t be scared, Cassie.”
She pulled away and knelt towards the toilet, throwing up the contents of her stomach.
Taylor picked up a washcloth and ran it underneath the cold water. He wiped the terrycloth fabric over her forehead and Dayton handed her a glass of water. She swayed to the sink and tried to wash her mouth out.
Scared? She wanted them all to flank around her again and hold her. “I’m not scared, Taylor. Justin doesn’t want to see me get hurt.”
“He doesn’t want to deal with your father’s wrath, is all it is.”
Cassie cried again and shook her head. “So, he’s being a prick?”
“Shit, Taylor, stop. Cassie, that’s not what Taylor means.” Dayton couldn’t bear to see her cry.
Dayton stepped closer to Cassie and wanted to hold her until the end of time. All three of them were starting to feel something real for her.
“We want you to have a good time this summer, Cassie. Forget what your father wants and let us show you how to have fun.”
“What kind of fun?”
“Hmmm, well, we could teach you things you’ve never experienced before.”
“You all want to share me, too?”
All three of them looked at each other and then laughed again to ease their nerves.
* * * * *
CHAPTER THREE
Taylor sat there wondering why he was watching his step-mom swim in the indoor pool naked in front of him and some of Steven Darlington’s clients, as well. Those older men didn’t seem to be paying any attention. Taylor knew that Cassie was in her father’s office. His own father was probably in his own office after only six days in Hawaii.
Bree gave all of them an eyeful when she sexily walked out of the swimming pool, seemingly in slow motion, up the cement stairs from inside of the pool. Water droplets fell all around her, clinging to every naughty little part of her body, making her honey-colored nipples pucker up.
She was knock-out gorgeous, no doubt about it. She had a wide strip of dark pubes, which matched the color of her long auburn hair. She also sported drop-dead gorgeous brown eyes.
She sauntered out of the pool, grabbing a white terrycloth towel off the back of a lounge chair. She then started walking towards Taylor, who was sitting at one of the patio tables reading the latest edition of a sports magazine.
She smelled like a tropical breeze and looked like she was sun-kissed from the Pacific islands. She stood in front of him and he was eye level with her belly button, which was pierced with a silver belly ring. She had sleepy bedroom eyes and then she licked her lips, not saying a word, just walking deliberately very slowly back into the house with the towel around her shoulders. Her delicious bare-naked ass swaying as she left him.
“Cassie, I noticed your affection for all of Justin’s boys at the wedding.” Steven and Cassie were in his home office together. “Especially Taylor.”
“I’m falling in love with him.”
“You only just met him.”
“Bree hasn’t even known Justin for six months and they just got married!”
He had always been partial to Bree over Cassie. For some reason, he still loved his conniving selfish ex-wife, Nicole, and it was like Bronwyn O’Connor never existed to him. He believed that Wynnie was having an affair with her producer right before she died. So, his love for his youngest daughter was lukewarm compared to the fountain of devotion to his oldest.
“Cassie, Taylor is a member of this family. He’s your step-nephew, now. I forbid you from continuing any kind of relationship with him except one as aunt and nephew.”
She had dropped her jaw and the tears started to fall. “We aren’t related by blood, Daddy.”
“If you continue this relationship, Cassie, I will write you out of my will. There is nothing I can do about your trust fund you’ll still get that when you turn twenty-five. Taylor, Jayce and Dayton have their ten-million-dollar trusts set up for them, as well. You can say good-bye to living in this house and coming home for Christmas, though.”
She narrowed her eyes at the hateful things her father was saying to her. “How is any of this fair? I’ll have Momma’s inheritance anyway. What…you’re saying you’re going to disown me?”
“I hate to, Sugar.”
“Don’t sugar me!” She ran out of the office and raced toward her bedroom.
Down in the pool area, Taylor got up and thought he’d try to find Cassie. She should have been with him already. He walked up to her bedroom and entered without knocking.
“Get your bikini on, sweet cheeks,” Taylor said to Cassie.
She got up off of her bed and as she walked past him, he slapped her bottom.
“Are we swimming in the pool?” Cassie asked, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying for the last half hour.
“I thought maybe we could swim in the outdoor pool.” Taylor smiled at his step-aunt, as he forgot all about his step-mother, Brianne Darlington Brady.
Taylor’s hazel eyes opened even wider when Cassie slipped behind the rice paper screen to shrug off her white denim hot pants and hot pink halter top. They had no secrets between them. They had become, in fact, the best of friends, just being ten-months apart in age.
Taylor casually sprawled down on Cassie’s very pink bed.
“Jessie is coming over tonight. My father has agreed that we can have a little party at the indoor pool.”
Cassie thought that was strange because her father wanted her to stay away from the Brady boys. Just her luck that Jessica Bradford was back in California for the summer. She was afraid to introduce any of the Brady boys to her pretty friend now that her dad had forbid her from going out with any of them.
“Why the indoor pool?”
He got up off the bed and strolled over to the screen. She came from around the corner, holding two strings from her hot pink bikini top, to the back of her neck. He grabbed the strings, and she pulled her hair up and out of his way, so that he could tie the strings together. She turned around and let go of her hair. She smiled and touched Taylor’s cheek with one hand and the other hand landed on his very bare chest, just below his right nipple. Cassie felt the hard, muscular abs and smiled even wider.
“The bar. He’s letting us drink beer.” She glided past him, gathered her brightly colored beach tote and started packing the essentials.
“Don’t forget your tanning oil. Can’t wait to lather it all over your body for you.”
She smiled, picturing him doing just that. Of course, she was still a virgin so she wasn’t sure she even wanted to do all of those things that she thought of constantly where Taylor and his brothers were concerned.
Cassie grabbed her hot pants and placed them on her body again, and then she found her sparkly flip-flops. She placed a hand on Taylor’s arm, as she slipped one and the other shoe on her feet.
“What’s Jayce and Dayton up to?” Cassie asked him.
“I think they are just chilling down in the recreation room. Will you come out and live with us, Cass?”
That came out of left field.
“Wow, really? What about my father?”
“Not sure, but couldn’t we find a way to make it work?”
“Not if my Daddy has anything to say about it.”
“Does he have something to say about it?”
“You know he does.”
“What did he say to you, exactly?”
“He’ll disown me. Leave me out of the will. I’ll still get my trust fund when I turn twenty-five. I’ll still have my inheritance from my mother. I’ll have to find another place to live. He even said you’d still have your trust fund to look forward to.”
“That’s a bit of news.”
“You haven’t been told that when you turn twenty-five you and your brothers will get ten million dollars each?”
“So, come and live with me. You’ll have your own money. You can work with me on the ranch or start a cake decorating business. Sounds like I’ll have my own money in a couple of years, as well.”
“It sounds like you don’t really care if you get ten dollars from him.”
“Grew up without a lot of money, Cass. I can live without it. What I do know is that when my father married your sister, he packed us up, sold our family house in Gold Hill and bought a ranch house underneath a gorgeous mountain. My dad signed the deed over to the three of us. It’s all ours. No one else’s. It's home now.”
“Sounds like Paradise.”
“It really is beautiful there.”
“But my Daddy.”
“Forget about your Daddy, Cassie.” Taylor cradled her head. “Ssshhh, Cassie, please stop crying. I’m not sure if I can handle any more crying, Cass, please stop.”
“I can’t help it, Taylor. After the wedding Daddy said that I couldn’t be with you because you’re now my step-nephew. It’s just like Bree to mess this up for me. Just because she married your father, I’m not allowed to be happy. You know I saw your father first.”
“So, you wanted him?” He looked a little disappointed.
“Well, I thought he was damn good-looking, for an older guy. And those blue eyes.” She said that dreamily and Taylor felt jealous. Then she looked up into Taylor’s eyes and Justin’s couldn’t even compare. “You know, you almost have yellow eyes.” The blue and green mixing?
“Yes, Cassie, I’m a cat.”
She thought about pouncing on him when he said that. “Cunning, always thinking. Your eyes are amazing, Taylor.”
Cassie’s eyes were green with specks of blue. “So are yours. I’m not going to be able to hold you like this forever, Cass. I guess you won’t be able to come and live with me, if your father objects to us.”
“I have to be with you, Taylor.”
“You will find someone else to run to with your problems. In fact, I might have a solution.”
Cassie quit crying and looked up to him. “What?”
“Dylan is coming to California soon, Cassie.”
Cassie had never even met Dylan before, but she’d heard all about the handsome curly dark-haired hunk. Sure, maybe there would be someday when she’d give him a whirl. Maybe when hell froze over.
“Yippee.”
“He’s a great guy.” He looked down into her cleavage and she pushed him back.
“Then you marry him.”
His smirk was priceless. “Have you lost your virginity, yet?”
“No. When would I ever have a chance?”
“Why haven’t you? There are the servants that would gladly accommodate you.” He looked into her emerald eyes and brought up her chin with his fingers.
“You just say the word, Taylor and all my problems will disappear.”
“Haha, very funny.”
“Well, if I do decide to come and live with you, when I hear a coyote or smell a skunk, can I pop right into your bedroom and snuggle under the covers with you?”
He smiled, just picturing it with her flimsy hot pink negligee and her fuzzy slippers. Gawd all mighty, that picture was tantalizing in his mind. Taylor placed a hand on her cheek and then a moment later kissed the spot where his hand had been.
“Well, you could just stay in my room instead of living in the bedroom next to it.”
“I’d have my pick of bedrooms from what I’ve heard.” He smiled and it melted some of Cassie’s worries away, but not all of them. “Wait, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Dammit, Cassie. I’m in love with you. I want you close to me.”
“But my father.”
“Then let Dylan in. He’s not your father’s step-grandchild. He’s been my best friend all of my life. We share everything or would in this case.”
“What if I don’t want to be shared?” But she did, she really did. Not with just Dylan, either. “I want you, Taylor. Whether you’ll be my first or not, I guess that depends on you. I want all of you. I’m certain.”
Cassie took his hand to get him out of her bedroom and down to the swimming pool. Her father wasn’t going to spoil her summer fun.
* * * * *
CHAPTER FOUR
Cassie got ready to shrug off her white hot pants, poolside. Taylor watched with some amusement. He smirked and his eyes sparkled as Cassie got comfortable on her hot pink hibiscus towel. Then Cassie got the suntan oil out of her bag. She handed him the bottle and laid herself down with her belly on the towel.
Taylor poured oil into his hands and he then got on top of her, sitting on her bottom as he gently massaged the coconut smelling oil on her back. She had an excellent body, as she loved to lift weights. She also had a nice round bottom, but she wasn’t very tanned. In fact, her skin was creamy white, like she had never lazed about in the sun. Her golden blonde hair splayed all around her shoulders and she made little whimpering noises because Taylor’s back rubs were to die for.
“Mmmm, Taylor, gawd, that feels sooo good!”
He smiled. He loved this, but hot damn, he loved this.
“I can’t wait to feel the same way when you pour this hot liquid all over my body!” He said with emphasis on his last letters.
She smiled, although he hadn’t seen her. She then fluttered her eyes open and looked out past the pool and into the ocean. It was a mild day in the California sun, but she hated the sun on her skin.
“My turn.” He got off of her and then gave her that I-get-whatever-I-want smile of his and plopped down on his belly.
She shook her head and instead of placing the oil directly into her palms, she poured the hot liquid directly on the small of his back. She straddled him deliberately slowly, like one of those professional lady wrestlers did, going across the rope into the ring. Then she shook her behind, rubbing her bikini covered vulva up against his bare skin, just below the small of his back where the third sacral spine was located. He was packed with hard rock abs and nice looking biceps.
He jumped a little when the dark golden oil dripped onto his body. Cassie let it slowly start trickling down his sides and then scooped up the excess with her palms and rubbed his lower back first. She worked her way up and continued to rub her groin against his gluteus maximus.
“Damn, Cassie.” He groaned low in his belly, almost to the point where she couldn’t hear him. “Are we making a scene, yet?”
“What do you think?” Her tone was dripped with honey as she pushed her boobs against his skin to whisper in his ear. “Who do you think we’re a making a scene for, though?”
“Maybe the servants. Jayce and Dayton could be watching from the window. Judas, even your father could be watching.”
Judas is what Leah Brady told her son to use instead of taking the Lord’s name in vain. He quickly turned his body and kept her on top of him. She was now straddling him on top of his groin. He smiled and sat up, holding onto her thighs. She should have felt the hardness there, but she didn’t say anything about it.
“Gawd damn, Cass, you are beautiful!”
He was just as hot. He should be a model or something. He had powerful hazel eyes that made Cassie melt. He was the single most beautiful man she had ever seen before in her life. Well, except for his two brothers and his father, for that matter.
“You know, Taylor, I think, while you are visiting California, you should do some modeling or acting. You could be the next DreemZeen teen idol.”
He laughed at that, as he kissed her slowly.
“Who was the teen idol you were all gaga for?”
“Logan Thatcher. I had his posters all over my bedroom and kissed them all good-night.”
He rolled his eyes.
She got off of him and she settled back down on her towel, lying on her belly. A moment later she felt the back of her bikini bottoms snap. Taylor had his flip-flops off, his sunglasses on the top of his head and the biggest smirk on his face that she had ever seen.
“You, I’ll get you!” She would have a hard time catching him, as he was already to the middle of the infinity pool.
She took her glasses off and strolled to the built in steps of the pool. She wanted to get even with her tormentor. She ran towards him, but he was already waist deep in the water.
“Taylor!”
She didn’t want to go in, not really. Taylor was always tricking her. By the time she was completely soaked, she’d start enjoying it more. It was just the initial getting used to the water that she hated. Taylor knew that and started wading towards her.
“Chicken?”
She laughed, “Ha, ha. You know I hate getting wet.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He stood right in front of her and kissed her directly on the lips. Then he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
“Taylor, Taylor, put me down, you brute.” She was making a scene. She started spanking his behind and wildly kicked her legs into the air, as Taylor got deep enough to throw her in.
She went under for a millisecond and then started splashing all about trying to get her bearings. She wasn’t deep enough to tread, but her head was just above water level. She couldn’t see Taylor. She looked right, left, in back.
“Taylor!”
He reached up and pulled her around the waist from the front, while she was looking in back.
“Gotcha!”
She jumped and threw her arms around his neck. “Taylor, you scared the bejesus out of me.”
“The bejesus, huh?” He smiled and kissed her cheek.
She settled into him and held him around the neck. He pulled her as close as possible to his body. He was getting hard in lukewarm water, what a concept. She noticed this time and sunk one of her hands down to squeeze his hard-on. His eyes grew wide and he looked like he was in shock.
“Judas, Cassie, what the?”
She stopped and pulled her hand away. “Just thought I’d see if that was a turtle or something.”
“A turtle, huh?”
“Judas, Tay, you’d think you were hot for me.” She smirked and kissed him on the lips.
His instincts told him to pull her closer, and then push back, no, pull her closer. “Dammit, Cass, stop teasing.” He had pulled his mouth away, but kept her in his arms.
“Then let me go.” She was serious and looked hurt, tears formed at the corners of her eyes. It wasn’t the chlorine in the water.
He wanted to calm her down, kiss her some more on the cheek, but he loosened his grip a little. Then he let go of her completely, pushing himself back, away from her.
That was enough for the tears to start falling. But, he had to find a way to push her away from him. For her own good. Her father didn’t want her associating with him and he needed to make sure that happened. Besides, he needed to focus on college and football. He kept telling himself that she was only a summer infatuation. That her billionaire father would never let him have her. That’s not who she was to him, though. He knew that the minute he saw her, not that long ago, at his father’s wedding, it felt like he had known her all of his life. He knew that what he felt for her was real.
“Judas,” he said under his breath and he waded back to her, pulling her around so that she was facing away from him.
He held her by the waist, but wasn’t as tight with her as he had been before. He kissed the back of her head, closed his eyes and almost started crying himself. She went limp and held her head back on his shoulder. He had to pull her closer to him, something he didn’t need, but damn it, he wanted it.
He kissed her neck and whispered to her, “You have to quit this Cassie. I need to start thinking about football, graduating college. Gawd, you are so fragile right now, what am I going to do with you?”
“I love you, Taylor.”
Judas. Instead of looking at his feet, he looked to the heavens. Of course he loved her, it was impossible not to. But, Cassie loved deeply. She was the most sensitive person Taylor had ever known.
He turned her around towards him, again and cupped her face with his hands. “I love you, too, Cass. Let’s get out of the water. Are you hungry, thirsty?”
She looked at him with those pretty green eyes and nodded. He kissed her lightly on the lips and picked her up to carry her out of the water. Cassie was carried all the way back to her towel in the strong arms of Taylor, with her head nuzzled against his strong shoulder. He gently put her down, pulled his glasses on over his nose and then walked towards the house.
* * * * *
CHAPTER FIVE
It was just her luck that Justin came over to her while her eyes were closed. Taylor had been gone for only about five minutes to get them something to eat and drink from the house.
“Whatcha doing pretty lady?”
“Oh, Taylor went in to get something to eat and drink.”
“I know your father doesn’t want you getting all chummy with my son, Cass. We’ve had this discussion before.”
“It’s not my fault that Bree decided to marry you, Justin. Besides, Taylor loves to spend time with me just as much as I love to spend time with him.”
“I want you to leave Taylor alone, Cassie. He has college and football and the ranch back home to worry about. He doesn’t need to be worrying about you. Besides we wouldn’t want your father getting pissed off, now would we?”