She gasped and turned to face him. “Wow. Congratulations.”
He leaned up and kissed her quickly. “Well, it wasn’t as clean as that,” he said, chuckling. “I pulled up all of Mac’s mistakes and showed Mr. Winthrop how many jobs were botched by him where I had to come in and clean up.”
She laughed. “Nice. I’d have just uprooted his plants.”
“What?” He chuckled.
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “So what happens now?”
“Well.” He pulled her back down to his chest. “I want you to come work with me,” he whispered. “They want me to handle the business aspects of the operation, so I’d like you to be in the project management position that was split off from Mac’s old duties.”
“What?” Cassie asked incredulously, looking at him.
He swallowed nervously. “I love you, baby. I know you have a life here, but I want you to make a life with me. We can take this as slowly as you want, but I already know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“You’re giving me a job?” Okay, so he just poured his heart out and she jumped to the part about her not being unemployed anymore. A girl has gotta eat.
He nodded. “It’s yours if you want it. I’ve already cleared it with the executive staff. And if you agree, you get to select the positions we keep from your office.” His lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Except for Sasha. She’s not staying in her old position. I’ve already asked that she be promoted to my old job.”
Cassie gasped, covering her gaping mouth. Ian had gone to all this trouble to make things right while she was busy moping around her house. He did this for her because he wanted to be with her. She smiled. She really wanted to be with him too, and now it seemed she’d get to do that. Then she laughed, thinking about being able to keep working with Sasha.
“What’s so funny?”
“Let’s tell Sasha this was my idea. I owe her for making her spank me that night. This should clear that debt.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Hmm, I can’t wait for you to do something bad so I can tan that ass myself.”
She giggled, squirming in his embrace. “Well, apparently I kissed a guy a couple of times last night. Does that count?” she asked playfully.
He pulled away, staring her down, a look of mock anger crossing his face. “You’ve been making out with some guy while I’ve been pining away for you?”
“In my defense, I was really drunk. And Sasha was the one who wanted me to fuck him, and oh my God, I’m going to shut up now,” she said as she saw the playfulness leave his expression.
He grabbed her lightning fast and slung her over his knees. “I’m going to spank you until you remember who you belong to, baby.”
She laughed as he started swatting her, which quickly turned into moans, which quickly turned into an afternoon of her surrendering herself to his possession.
There really was no doubt who she belonged to.
Epilogue
Sasha loaded the last of her bags in the Uber she’d called to take her to the airport.
California bound.
She couldn’t believe she was leaving her southern roots for a big city, trading in supped-up trucks for charming cable cars. It was a scary thing.
It was a liberating thing.
No doubt about it, though, it was time for a change. When the opportunity presented itself, she seized it. Of course, it was that or the unemployment line, but she didn’t need nudging. Her career was her life. It always had been, but after what happened with her ex, she could use a fresh start.
A reboot.
Sasha shivered at the thought of that horrible man as she climbed into the car. Some scars never disappeared, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t use a little help forgetting they were there. Yeah, the sooner she got settled into her new life the faster she could close the chapter on her old one.
She’d taken the first step by accepting the job. The next step would be finding a place to live. Cassie had told her a little too eagerly not to worry about it. Whatever that meant.
Oh, you know. Her friend had probably already found Sasha an apartment in a building filled with hot, single men. Cassie would be sorely disappointed if she thought Sasha was going to be busy playing the field. There would be none of that mess. Her field was off limits still. Like seriously. She’d walled that shit off brick by brick after Dwight, and it’d take a tornado to knock them down.
California didn’t get tornados. It was the perfect place for her.
With each passing mile, she felt something she hadn’t in months. Lighter. The tension she’d carried eased, if only slightly.
She had already decided there’d be no more hardcore men. Ever. That rule would never change. Not that anyone could crush her carefully crafted walls, but why chance it?
No, when she was ready, she’d find a meek little thing who wasn’t controlling or demanding, or she wouldn’t be with anyone at all.
She was okay with that, too.
“Please, Sir. I-I can’t take it anymore.”
Aaron Cope looked down at his sub for the night and suppressed a sigh because he knew just how true Gabi’s words were. He, too, felt as if he couldn’t take it anymore. He loved being a Dom and thought he loved the idea of no commitments. He was known around the club as a hard ass who didn’t put up with shit, which meant he usually had subs vying for his attention—a
