Checkmate (The Cassano Series Book 5) Read online

  Checkmate

  Scarlet Wolfe

  Copyright © 2016 Scarlet Wolfe Books

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  ISBN-13: 978-1534729636

  ISBN-10: 1534729631

  Contents

  Notes

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  End Notes

  Acknowledgements

  Notes

  Checkmate is the fifth novel in The Cassano Series. The first four novels, Concealment, Consumed, Coercion and Conviction, must be read prior.

  Checkmate is told from the points of view of Tara, Zev, Aggie, Victoria, Kruse, Sadie, Simon, Adrian and Theo.

  It is for a mature audience due to harsh language and descriptive sexual scenes, including aspects of BDSM.

  Cover Photography by Ron Reagan Photography

  Cover Design by TOJ Publishing Services

  Cover Model Ivan Gabriel

  Dedication

  This novel is dedicated to photographer Ron Reagan and model Ivan Gabriel. Thank you for being a part of this project and journey. You’re both so kind and were a pleasure to work with.

  Chapter One

  Tara

  “To show how serious I am about giving it my all, I have a favor to ask of you. Tara, will you marry me today?”

  My mind is a funnel cloud, the thoughts swirling around in it, picking up speed, much like my heart rate. I cover my chest with my hand.

  “Tara, please, say yes.” Zev’s expression is a concoction of anticipation, remorse and affection.

  “Yes, I will marry you but not today. I need some time to be certain you’re all in.”

  He holds his smile. “That’s only fair, and you’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

  Zev slides the gorgeous ring onto my finger. Taking hold of his hand, I pull him up.

  “I’ve missed you,” I whisper. Our fingers entwine the way I believe our hearts have. Our personalities are polar opposites, yet our tangled souls are sewn together by threads of longing, passion, hope and love.

  “I’ve missed you, too. Thank you for giving me another chance. The most important chance a man could ask for.”

  He kisses me, and it escalates to a caress of immense passion. My fingers reacquaint with his thick raven hair, and his hands squeeze my ass.

  “Zev, we need to go.”

  “You’re right. I want to make love to you.”

  Grinning at him, my eyes blink slowly, the moment allowing me to soak in the afterglow of his adoring affection. His sweet words make my heart mushy, yet his fiery gaze rekindles the lust between us. “Take me home.”

  Zev

  “I have another question to ask you.” I’m driving down the road with Tara’s hand securely in mine.

  She’s mine.

  “Will you move in with me? I hope I’m not pushing my luck today.” I take several glances her way.

  “Yes, I would be happy to move in with you.”

  “Damn, I love you. I love when you smile, too, and I want to be the main reason it happens.”

  “My smile is all yours.” She presents me with another grin, and my heart could fucking burst. She’s pure sunshine. I still smell her strawberry shampoo and daisy perfume. If she’s the closest I get to heaven, then all my sins have been forgiven.

  Once we’re inside the elevator, we make out, and the feel of Tara’s fingers playing in my hair and the warmth from her sugared mouth have me rock-hard.

  We manage to pull free from each other’s grip once the doors open, but as soon as we’re inside the condo, Tara whips around and plunges her tongue inside my hungry mouth.

  I work the buttons on her black top while she unbuttons her denim shorts. She pulls free to kick them off, along with her panties. Her grabby hands tug at my grey t-shirt until it’s over my head.

  Picking her up, thighs hook around my waist and heels dig into my ass cheeks. My sweet Tara has crushed her reservations, her appetite now unbridled and at the forefront, her tongue voracious and hot.

  She’s grinding herself against me, my fingertips molding to her ass to bring her pussy even closer to my throbbing cock. I can’t wait to bury my length inside of her.

  “Fuck, you’re killing me here.”

  “Then take me right here.”

  Damn, she’s all mine, and Kruse better stay the hell away from her.

  Pushing her against the closest wall, I hold her to it and make quick work of my button and zipper. I yank down my pants enough to get my stiff cock free and move it across her soaked entrance. In seconds, she’s sinking onto it.

  “Christ, I’ve missed this.”

  “Zev, fuck me hard.”

  With her back shoved against the wall, I drive into her, each stroke a reminder of how she fits me like a glove. We hold each other’s gaze as much as we’re holding each other’s sweaty body.

  Her pink lips and creamy chest turn redder with every thrust until she clamps down on my dick with her slick muscles. I’m buried deep, sheathed by her tightness as we come together, the pleasure spreading throughout my body like lava.

  I nuzzle my head against her neck, and her fingers clutch the back of my hair. Our breaths are steamy and loud as I make her another promise to never fuck this up again.

  I’ll be there for her no matter what, the strength she needs to lean on. I’ll love her with voracity and guard her heart with mine.

  “That was mind-blowing,” she says in my ear.

  “It’s because it’s us, baby. We fit together perfectly.”

  She squishes my cheeks and grants me one of her glorious smiles. “You’re right. We do.”

  Pulling out, I lower her to the floor. My legs tremble as I yank up my jeans and pick her up into my arms.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I bought bubble bath.” I give her a wink and start down the hallway.

  “You’re a sweetheart. I love you, Zev.”

  “I love you, too, Daisy.”

  Chapter Two

  Aggie

  “A vodka tonic please.”

  The bartender at Caged, Charlie is his name, gives me a smile and nod before he moves down the bar to make my dri
nk. Zev introduced him to me this evening before he took off to profess his love to Tara.

  God, I hope she accepted his proposal. His sulking is tiring, and I don’t want to imagine what he would be like to work with if she rejected him.

  Someone entering the fairly empty club pulls my attention to the door. It’s Reggie, Adrian’s friend. His eyes roam the room before he spots me, surprise lifting his brow. A small smile plays on his lips as he saunters over.

  He’s in jeans and a cream V-neck t-shirt. The dark skin of his chest is smooth beneath it, and his curly ebony hair is cut shorter than I remember it from the funeral.

  “Hi, Agatha.”

  “I think we know each other well enough for you to call me Aggie.”

  “OK, Aggie. How are you?”

  “I’m bored. Want to join me?” I smile and pick up the drink Charlie just placed in front of me. “What brings you to Caged?”

  “I need to speak to Zev about one of his servers.”

  “Oh, well, something personal came up, and he’s not working tonight, but I’ll tell him you’re wanting to speak to him.”

  “That’d be great. So, are you getting situated in Vegas?”

  “I’m living here in the hotel, so no, but I’m hoping to find a condo soon.”

  “I could show you the area. I know a lot of cool places because of my job.”

  “Um, sure. That would be great.”

  “I guess I should get out of here.” He flashes me a crooked smile. “Give me your phone, and I’ll put my number in it. You can let me know what day you want to go condo hunting.”

  “I don’t think I’m ready for that type of commitment, Reggie.”

  He throws his head back and laughs.

  “It sounded that way, didn’t it?”

  “I’m only playing. It will be nice to have a friend here.”

  Reggie types quickly on my phone before he hands it back. “Take care, Aggie. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.” He winks and slides a hand over his slick hair.

  Damn, was that flirty banter? Adrian would be pissed at me all over again, and I finally got him back on my good side after all these years.

  Maybe hanging out with Reggie is a poor idea, but dammit, I’m lonely and bored, and Adrian sure isn’t offering to go condo hunting with me.

  ***

  The glowing red numbers taunt me.

  1:00 a.m.

  My alarm clock keeps record of my grief one slow minute at a time. Each new number is a reminder that a new day without her will come.

  The sun will rise, but I won’t feel its warmth or perceive its beauty. Much like these annoying red numbers ticking by, the sunrise has become another glowing image to remind me I must get up every day and live without her.

  “Without you, Mom. I miss you.”

  A sob catches in my throat, so I kick off the covers and climb from the bed. I pad to the expansive window overlooking the Strip and poke my head between the curtains to view the colorful nightlife.

  This hotel room has become my cocoon, my protective walls from the unexplored city below, but it does little to protect me from the cracks in my heart. It’s beating slower, the deep crevices filled with grief.

  My brothers are in this city, possibly in this hotel at this very moment, yet I feel isolated. Las Vegas is my fresh start, but I can’t run from the grief. It’s a ball and chain holding me back from what was supposed to be a place of endless possibilities.

  I’ve always been a positive person, spirited and hopeful, but that part of me is slipping away. Every day I’m putting on the mask I believe my brothers need to see, but I’m dying underneath.

  They have their routines and relationships, and I need something, too. I don’t know what that something is, but I’m drowning in this loneliness.

  Needing to be around a human, any human, I run to the bathroom and make quick work of my auburn hair, putting it up in a messy bun.

  I chew on the inside of my cheek as I contemplate my wardrobe. I haven’t done any shopping since moving here. I imagine the clubs are fairly busy at this hour, so I find the sexiest outfit I own, a black wrap dress, and put it on.

  It hits right above the knee, is slinky, and ties on the side. Plain but cute enough. I pair it with some silver strappy heels and dangling earrings.

  Some mascara and a quick swipe of pink lip gloss …

  “This is as good as it gets,” I mutter at the mirror. Grabbing a small clutch purse, I toss my room key into it and take the elevator to the main level.

  I debate on which club to visit for all of five seconds. There’s no way I’m brave enough to enter D/s by myself, so I head back to Caged, where Charlie is still likely manning the bar.

  I spot him and his ginger hair, so I take a stool near his end of the bar. “You’re back,” he says, brandishing a warm smile. “Couldn’t get enough of me, huh?” He’s winking now. “I’m only playin’, Ms. Cassano. What can I get for you?”

  Charlie says he’s only playing because my overprotective brother gave him a forbidding look when he told him to take care of me. He’s also barely legal, like the rest of the staff in here, and that makes him too young for me.

  “A vodka tonic please.” I swivel my stool, turning my back to the bar. I eye the crowd still hanging onto the night and the excitement it stirs.

  Colored lights flicker along the dance floor, spotlighting a different dancer with every beat. They’re either brave or too drunk to give a damn. Regardless, they’re carefree, enjoying themselves, and I’m envious.

  My eyes lock onto a couple who is rubbing up against each other. I’m mesmerized over how lost they are in each other, their shapely bodies swaying to the sensual music.

  My face heats as the man dancing behind the woman splays his fingers over her lower abdomen, pulling her closer to his front.

  Her head falls back against his shoulder, and no one needs to hear what she’s thinking. She longs for his hand to move south and provide her endless pleasure.

  Realizing I'm tightening my pelvic muscles, I turn back and grab the drink waiting for me. I glance around, and I'm the only one left at the bar.

  I can’t remember the last time I went to a club. Hell … after thinking about it, I’ve never been to a bar alone.

  Well, there you go, Aggie. A first in Vegas. I guess I just need to get out more.

  Curiosity getting the best of me, I swivel back around and study the handful of couples still on the dance floor. The DJ announces he’s going to slow it down for the last few songs of the night.

  Wow, if I thought there was some dirty dancing going on before, it’s in full-swing now. I suck down my drink and ask Charlie for another.

  Shamelessly I watch the remaining three couples grind to a song, and I’m mesmerized by their audaciousness. Two of the women are in short, tight dresses, and one’s wearing leather pants and the tallest red heels.

  Every one of the dancers are attractive and their clothes stylish. They’re in the heart of their youth, their libido in overdrive and taking me along for the ride.

  “Everything good here?”

  The smooth voice beside me has me jerking my head to the left. A tall man in a suit is right next to me, facing Charlie at the bar. With casual intent, I put one foot on the floor to toe the stool around toward them.

  “Yep, I got one loiterer here, but she’s extra special.” Charlie winks again, and the man in the suit turns his head back to look at me.

  God Bless America.

  Who is this gorgeous specimen? His blue eyes give my body a once-over before he studies my face.

  “You look familiar.”

  “I’m new to the area.” Instantly nervous, I throw back the last of my second drink and slam it down on the napkin a little too hard. Yep, I’m a lightweight.

  One side of his handsome mouth curves upward.

  “Yes, you don’t look like you’re from here. Are you a guest at the hotel?”

  “Yes, I’m staying here.”

  “
I’m Kruse Evans. I oversee security here at Submission.”

  Oh, shit. I know who he is. He’s Simon’s best friend. Actually, I’ve overheard all my brothers mention his name in conversation.

  He finds me familiar because of Adrian. It’s weird, since we’re the opposite sex, but the similarities are definitely there. I mean, we are twins.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Kruse.” My hand feels dainty as his envelops it. Our eyes lock, and I’m lost in his. I don’t believe I’m the only one hesitating to let go, either, our fingers touching a little longer than necessary.

  “Mind if I have a seat?” he asks.

  “No, please.” I shrug when I feel anything but calm.

  “Whatever she’s drinking, Charlie, make her another.” He sits next to me and loosens his tie. His tall height is intimidating. “So, are you going to tell me your name?”

  “Maybe later.” I don’t want him to know my identity. I have a feeling the second he does, he’s going to treat me differently, and I’m digging how he’s treating me now, gazing at me with intrigue in his eyes.

  Another first for the night.

  I can’t remember a guy ever admiring me this way, and I’m not surprised since I was with one man since high school.

  “Hmm … OK then, Princess.”

  I roll my eyes. “Oh, how original. How did you come up with that one?”

  He nods toward Charlie, who’s cleaning off the top of the bar. “Charlie seems to think you’re royalty, and you obviously feel I’m beneath you if you won’t even tell me your name.”

  He gives me a panty-dropping grin, letting on that he’s only kidding around, and yeah, I’m digging where this is going, except he’s Simon’s closest friend and appears a little young for me.

  “Hey, what’s the frown for?”

  “Oh, uh, the music stopped. I was enjoying it.”

  His stool swivels until he’s facing me from the side, so I do the same. He’s staring down at me, his mouth hinting of a smile as he takes hold of my hand.

  He places it between both of his, and I can’t resist examining them. It feels intimate the way mine is clutched between his strong palms.