Cassius Read online

  They’d been chatting back and forth over their meal, nothing serious or deep. CJ was better at information gathering than Julius gave him credit for. He mostly let her talk about herself, from her childhood to the rise of her show in more detail than earlier. As expected of an internet video star athlete, she wasn’t that shy.

  CJ liked the confidence, the warm personality. He’d half-wondered before if she were just putting on a show, but as the night stretched on, and he pressed more and more, he grew more confident that the ambitious but kind woman in front of him didn’t harbor a secret dark side.

  “The truth is,” Kendra said, slicing off a piece of roasted chicken, “people always get it backwards with me.”

  “Backwards?” CJ asked.

  She nodded and downed her chicken. When the muscles in her neck twitched with her swallowing, CJ couldn’t help but imagine what other things he’d like to put in her throat. He hid behind his glass of water trying to focus on what he was there for.

  “A lot of people think that I’m all about the show, the fame, that sort of thing.” Kendra shook her head. “They think that athletics is just my internet niche.” She lowered her utensils, and her shoulders slumped. “Even Graham was talking about me becoming a fitness model.”

  “But it’s not about that.” CJ nodded, not minding the idea of her in sexy model poses, but understanding her discontent. “The show and the fame just make it so you can do what you really want to do, challenge yourself.”

  Kendra smiled brightly. “Exactly. You get it. It’s hard to make a living doing sports and athletics outside the more standard team sports. A lot of people doing the kinds of things I do have a day job running gyms. I get why they do it, but I feel like I can devote more of my time to myself this way. Eighty percent of the show is just Graham recording me doing my thing and us thinking of clever voiceovers later.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” CJ said, trying to keep up his smile.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy talking with her. The problem with the exact opposite. Every minute he spent with her, he was more drawn to her, not just her words or her beauty, but all her small gestures. The way she tilted her head or wrapped a curl around a finger when thinking deeply, the way she wetted her lips on occasion.

  CJ tried to keep his breathing normal despite his tightening pants. The guilt about lying had only grown. She was obviously not an Ouroboros spy, and he burned for her. More than that, he allowed himself to believe the impossible, no matter how much his rational side said it was stupid. The evidence had piled up.

  Kendra could be his Vestal. He had to be careful for her sake and protect her until he knew for sure.

  Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it out with a grimace. “Oh, yeah. My bedtime warning alarm.”

  “Bedtime warning?” CJ raised an eyebrow.

  “When you’re prepping for a big event, you have to be careful about a lot of things. I don’t want to lose because I’m exhausted. I should have thought about things more. I better get going soon.” Kendra sighed. “I just realized like how much I spent talking about myself. I didn’t mean to dominate the conversation like that.”

  “It’s okay,” CJ said. “I liked hearing what you have to say, and it’s not like I can spend a lot of time talking about my cases. It’s hard not to give out identifiable information even when you’re being careful.”

  “Of course.” Kendra nodded sagely. “Client confidentiality.”

  “Exactly.” CJ inclined his head toward the door. They hadn’t gotten as far as he needed to convince her to perform a scout mission with him. “Care for a PI escort back to your room?”

  Kendra stared into his eyes, a hunger there that mirrored his own. Julius hadn’t placed any limitations on how CJ was supposed to complete his job.

  “Yes,” Kendra all but purred. “I’d like that.”

  Chapter Ten

  Kendra tried not to squeal with glee when PI Super Stud followed her into her room, especially after admitting she had an alarm to tell her to hurry up and get to bed. She was also grateful she had her own room and wasn’t sharing with Graham like they often did to cut down on expenses. Sure, he’d get scarce if she needed, but it also wasn’t like she’d had to ask in a long time.

  She sat down on the edge of her bed, unsure of how to proceed. CJ didn’t try and leave, so they must somewhat be on the same page, but she didn’t want to seem too forward. It’d been a long time since she’d been so attracted to a man. Had she ever wanted a guy so badly?

  That was insane, putting it mildly. She barely knew anything about him other than he was friendly, gorgeous, and a private investigator. For all she knew, he was helping out some sketchy client.

  CJ pulled out a chair in the corner and sat down. Despite being a decent-sized chair, it looked comically small when his massive body sank into it.

  He chuckled and gestured to some workout tops and pants lying on the other side of the bed. “Getting ready for tomorrow?”

  “Something like that.”

  CJ smiled. “If you don’t mind me saying so, you look damned good in those outfits.”

  Kendra turned her head, her cheeks burning. “I have to thank Graham.”

  It was stupid. People complimented her all the time, and she didn’t care this much.

  CJ looked confused. “Graham? Does he make them?”

  “No, nothing like that.” Kendra laughed. “Graham’s terrible at that sort of thing. No, most are supplied by advertising partners, but he’s the one who convinced me to, uh, dress a little sexier in my videos.”

  “Sexy’s in the eye of the beholder,” CJ replied. “They do show off your body, but they’re functional.”

  “That’s true. It’s just been weird.” Kendra shrugged. “I’m not ashamed of my body. I spend a lot of time training, but I also don’t want people only viewing me as a sex symbol or model. I want them to understand this body is the product of both hard work and good luck.” She offered him a sheepish grin. “That like sounds totally greedy, doesn’t it? I want people to find me attractive, but on my terms.”

  CJ shook his head. “I don’t think that’s greedy. That’s just how things work, right? Doesn’t everyone want people to find them attractive on their own terms?”

  “What about you?” Kendra asked.

  “Me?” CJ flexed an arm, highlighting one of his perfect biceps. “I started in a good place, like you, but you know how it goes. Potential isn’t everything without training, and I’ve spent my entire life training.”

  Kendra patted the side of her bed. Her heart sped up. “Mind if I get a little greedier?”

  CJ’s brow lifted. “You don’t have to get ready for bed?”

  “Not for a while, no.”

  “Then it depends on what you’re greedy for.”

  “I’d like to feel some of those muscles,” Kendra said breathily. “If it’s okay with you.”

  CJ stood, a grin sweeping away the confusion on his face. He walked over to the bed and sat beside her, flexing his arm. Kendra ran her fingers slowly over the muscle, tracing it and enjoying its firmness.

  “This is almost the size of my head.”

  CJ laughed. “I’m glad you approve.”

  Kendra rubbed slowly up and down his arm, licking her lips. Her center warmed. She didn’t care if he could see the obvious desire on her face. He came back to her room for a reason. She’d not sent him away for the same reason.

  Her hands trail down his sides until she found the hem of his shirt. She waited, her breath held, looking into his eyes for any sign he wanted her to stop. He stared back at her, smiling.

  Kendra slipped her fingers under the shirt, slowly rising up CJ’s body, enjoying the hard abs before spreading out to trace his pecs. The shirt was annoying because it wasn’t tight enough to show off everything she drooled over.

  CJ’s nostrils flared, and he inhaled deeply. “Would you like me to take it off?”

  “Yes,” Kendra breathed, removing her hands.
“Please.”

  CJ yanked the shirt off with one fluid motion before tossing it to the side. He grabbed her and pulled her into his lap. She yelped in surprise, before a gasp came out over the massive bulge poking into her.

  “Don’t you want to be fair?” CJ asked with a playful grin.

  Kendra lifted her arms and let CJ pull her shirt off. He threw it to the ground before unfastening her bra. The simple white affair annoyed her. She’d wanted something sexier for the occasion, but she hadn’t thought she’d end up on a date that morning.

  CJ stared down at her exposed breasts, a low rumble coming from his chest. Kendra’s nipples hardened at the sound. Wetness pooled in her center. He’d barely touched her, and she was already almost undone.

  This was ridiculous, but she didn’t want it to end despite a building concern in the back of her mind. The competition was coming up, and going to dinner was one thing, but sex another.

  CJ’s rough hands skimmed her sides up to her breasts where he tweaked her nipples. She let out a quiet moan. She’d worried that he might want a bustier woman, but the hunger on his face didn’t show that. He continued exploring her exposed upper body, his fingers light, like the caress of the summer wind.

  Kendra leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Is this what PIs do? Seduce women?”

  “It’s what any hot-blooded man would do with a woman like you,” CJ said. He reached around her back and slipped his hands into her pants to squeeze her ass.

  She needed to stop. She’d started it, but it was a mistake. Sleeping with a man right before a competition was a bad idea for many reasons. It just so happened she hadn’t been forced to make that choice in a long time.

  “Your body is magnificent,” Kendra whispered. Her lust overwhelming her willpower.

  “Same to you.”

  Kendra slid off him, lowering herself to her knees. She stared into his eyes, slowly licking her lips as she undid the buttons on his pants. Her heart thundered, and her entire body throbbed with desire.

  One button. Two buttons. Three buttons. The prison failed, and a mountain formed underneath his boxers. Her breath caught in anticipation before her fingers curled around the top and she tugged down freeing the massive erect beast below.

  “Wow.” She shuddered in excitement and swallowed. “I knew it’d be big, but I didn’t think it’d be that big.”

  CJ smiled down at her. “I’m usually… not like this with women.”

  Kendra laughed. “It’s been a while for me, but you’re worth it.”

  Excitement mixed with nervousness. She leaned forward and took a deep breath before grasping the base of his cock. CJ sucked in a breath and half-closed his eyes.

  Kendra darted her tongue across the tip while stroking him slowly. He moaned. His cock twitched in her hand.

  She pumped him for a moment before sliding her mouth over him. Her mouth and hand moved in time, her tongue lapping away.

  CJ groaned. “You’re killing me.”

  Kendra smiled around him as she continued, her mouth moving off him with a pop. She looked up at him. “Glad you’re enjoying this.”

  She sped her hand and mouth up. CJ was so massive she could only get part of him in before he bumped into the back of her throat. His groans and moans changed to a feral growl.

  It should have scared her, but it summoned a tingle that passed through her entire body. Her center throbbed, and she was already soaked for him. She’d never met a man who turned her on so much.

  There was nothing she could say to explain it. Being her type was one thing, but it was like he’d been hand-carved and delivered personally for her. She never went this far on a first date.

  CJ squeezed his eyes shut. For a brief moment, she almost thought she could see a hint of light, but ignored it. It had to be nothing more than the excitement of the moment catching up with her.

  Kendra relaxed her throat to take in more of CJ’s cock, enjoying the salty taste as her tongue slid along him. Her hand glided up and down his slick shaft, and she moaned around him, imagining what it’d be like to have him inside her.

  CJ grabbed her shoulders and gritted his teeth before releasing inside her and coating the back of her throat. She let go and smiled. The next thing she knew he’d thrown her on her back on the bed and straddled her.

  He lowered his mouth to her nipple and lapped away like a hungry wolf. She shuddered in pleasure. With a skillful touch, he tugged her sweatpants and panties half down her legs with a single motion. He climbed down the bed and licked her swollen bud.

  Kendra gasped and arched her back. It’d been far too long. He spread her legs further and continued probing and licking her, the slight bristle of his five o’clock-shadow against her thighs adding to the pleasure building in her center.

  The sensation of long, strong strokes from his tongue on her pussy traveled up to her clit. Her entire body was on fire. She gripped the blanket beneath her. They’d not even bothered to throw it off yet.

  CJ growled into her wet center. The zing made her gasp. His tongue ministrations flowed along her, deep and steady. He reached up to squeeze her breasts hard. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. All she could do was moan loudly as he plowed into her with his too skilled tongue.

  The dam burst. A blast of pleasure shot through as she came undone, her inside muscles clenching for a cock that wasn’t there. Her toes curled, and she shivered with pleasure. She’d already come, and her pants weren’t all the way off.

  Kendra stared up at the ceiling, her breathing ragged. She’d never imagined anything like this when she came to New York for the race. Never imagined meeting anyone like CJ.

  His hot breath caressed her wet center. “I think it’s ready for me.”

  She wanted to. Oh Lord how she wanted to go to the next step.

  Drawing on every shred of self-control she could manage, Kendra pulled her legs up and swallowed. “I-I can’t. I shouldn’t have gone this far.”

  CJ gritted his teeth. She felt bad for him, but they were even for the moment, one to one, a good match.

  “You’re serious?” CJ swallowed and looked away. Again, there was a hint of something, a glow. It must have been a trick of the light.

  “I… have a policy. It’s silly superstition, but I don’t have sex a couple of days before a competition. It’s not that I don’t want to go more, but I think it should wait.” Kendra scrubbed a hand down her face.

  This was insane. She shouldn’t be stopping herself, and in truth, the superstition was a cop-out. The problem was she knew if she let CJ into her, she wouldn’t be able to stop. They’d screw all night and all morning and the next night. The race would be off, and Graham would have put in all that effort for nothing.

  CJ pulled up his underwear and took slow, deep breaths. “What was that, then?”

  “Not sex. An appetizer.” Kendra whimpered. “I want you, CJ. I do, but I can’t… lose focus, not so close to the race.” She shuddered. “I… you hate me, don’t you?”

  CJ stared at her, his jaw tight. He buttoned his pants and shook his head. “No, you’re right. I shouldn’t have gotten carried away, even if it was with such a beautiful woman. You’re not the only one who needs to focus.”

  “I’m not?” Kendra covered her chest with her arms, suddenly self-conscious.

  “I’m a PI, remember?” CJ grinned, but it looked forced. “The race might be related to a case I’m working. I’m not sure.”

  Kendra frowned. “Drug dealing or something like that?”

  CJ shrugged. “Yeah. I can’t say more.” He averted his eyes. The large bulge in his pants was a reminder of how ready he’d been to go farther. “I… damn.”

  Kendra rolled off the bed to grab her shirt. “I could help you. Some courses don’t let you get anywhere near them before the race, but this event isn’t like that. You could use someone familiar with things. I might be able to help spot trouble.”

  She shrugged. He had a resource in front of him if h
e chose to take advantage of it. She knew it’d be awkward, but she didn’t like the idea of some scumbag corrupting the race by using it to conceal crimes. Any small thing she could do to help sounded good. She understood not going and riling everyone up until he had evidence even if he hadn’t said that.

  CJ gave a shallow nod. “Okay. That works.”

  “I’m sorry.” Kendra sighed. “I wish I hadn’t invited you back. I’d offer you another blowjob, but I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from going farther.”

  CJ let out a low growl. Kendra almost came at the sound. Her knees wobbled, and she plopped onto the edge of the bed, her hand to her chest.

  “Yeah,” CJ let out, his voice low. “I’m not going to complain about that wonderful mouth on me just now, but I think we should both focus on our jobs, and then once this is over, we can have a nice, long, sweaty reward.”

  Kendra shivered. “I’d like that.”

  Chapter Eleven

  CJ stumbled into his motel room, trying to bite down a growl. It’d been a long time since he’d dealt with such a challenge to his self-control. Things hadn’t ended the way he wanted. They’d gone on just long enough to give him a taste of what he could have had.

  Whatever special powers he might manifest in the future, time travel wasn’t likely to be among them. There was nothing he could do about being shutdown earlier. The only thing he could do now was move forward. He slammed the door behind him, earning an amused look from Julius.

  CJ had hoped time and distance would cool his ardor, but it didn’t matter he had taken a rideshare to his motel. He couldn’t get Kendra out of his mind, the glory of her pert breasts on display, the feel of her lips and tongue on his cock. Her taste. It’d taken all his self-control not to growl and rip off the rest of her clothes when she pulled back. He’d never felt like that, let alone during foreplay.