The Mistress’s Game

"You look like you are about to regret something" Cassandra whispered, her voice threading through the silence like a warning she didn’t mean to give. Ethan Hale froze, the bottle in his hand tilting just enough for the amber liquid to tremble at the edge. Slowly, he set it down and turned toward her. His face was composed...too composed, but his eyes there was a storm in them, dark and searching, as if he was peeling her apart piece by piece, weighing which parts of her were real and which parts were fake. "What if I already do" he murmured His voice was smooth but it carried weight the kind that pressed on your chest and made it hard to breathe. Cassandra smiled and let her hair fall to one side to hide the small shake in her lips."Then tonight you get to forget" she whispered and stepped closer Her heels clicked gently on the floor of his penthouse,it was too wide open space that looked too perfect and too clean. Every part of him screamed control and she was here to break it. He set the drink aside without looking at it. His eyes stayed locked on her moving from her face to her bare shoulder showing under the thin black dress. His hand moved once at his side, like he wanted to grab her but was still holding himself back. "Are you sure about this?" he asked Cassandra stopped right in front of him, close enough to feel his breath, but left a little gap. She thought of waiting for him to cross it first. Then she lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes. "I have never been more sure about anything" she whispered That was all it took. He closed the gap then put his hand on her waist warm and firm through the thin fabric. She did not move away. She leaned into it and smiled like this was all for him and not for her revenge. The kiss came fast. His mouth was warm and she kissed him back hard as her fingers grabbed his shirt and pulled it open while his hand held her lower back and pulled her closer. Her plan had been to take control, to make him feel wanted so she could use that later but when he kissed her like that, slow at first then rougher, like he couldn’t decide if he wanted to worship her or destroy her she felt something twist in her stomach then she moved backward until her back hit the edge of the cold marble island. Ethan kept kissing her as his hands moved up her sides strong but still controlled like he did not let go even in passion. She pulled back breathing fast and looked at him with wide eyes that were not fake this time. "Are you always this confident?" she asked, letting out a small laugh "Only when I’m sure what I want" he said, his jaw tight as his eyes were darker than before. "And what do you want" she whispered "You" he said and kissed her before she could speak.His mouth was on hers before she could talk. She wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him closer, letting him think he had all the control but Inside she told herself this was only part of it, it is just a step and it is just strategy but she moaned into his lips and for a moment she did not know who was winning. He lifted her easily and put her on the counter, his hands holding her thighs as he pressed closer then he kissed down her neck and she arched into him one hand in his hair and the other holding his shoulder. "Ethan" she breathed, so soft that it was hard to hear. Her voice shook and she hated it. Get it together Cassandra this is for Dad for what Ethan’s company did, you are in control, she told herself. But it didn’t feel like control when his fingers traced the hem of her dress, slow and careful, waiting for her reaction. She nodded once and stayed quiet, giving him permission. she promised herself she would not give so easily. The fabric moved up and cool air touched her skin then his hands were on her again warm and urgent. His breath was rough in her ear. "You are shaking," he whispered. "No, I am not" she said softly but her voice cracked and they both knew she was lying. He kissed her again harder this time like it was not just desire but possession. He pulled her close till she felt every part of him on her, only the sound from her throat that shocked her raw, needy, like it wasn’t even hers. It was meant to be a trap but it felt like falling --- When it was over, she sat on the counter with her dress twisted around her waist. Ethan stood in front of her with his shirt half open and his chest moving up and down. He didn’t look at her body first, He looked at her eyes. "You knew exactly who I was when you came here" he said with a lower voice now, almost quiet Her throat closed up tight. He knows She opened her mouth to laugh it off, to say something smart, but nothing came out, No sound, no excuse, Just silence. Ethan stepped closer until she could feel his heat on her skin. He lifted her chin with one hand, gentle but firm, making her look at him. "So tell me, Cassandra Miller…” His eyes burned into hers like he was peeling her apart “Why are you really here?" Her lips opened ready to deny it but he leaned closer to his face just inches from hers. "Don’t worry" he said softly as his thumb brushed her jawline. "I already know the answer and I’m not going to stop until I break you open and find out why you’re lying." Before she could breathe he kissed her again hotter this time, no pause, no softness, just raw possession like he was claiming her right there. His hand went under her dress pulling her closer on his lap kissing her deeper till her head spun. Her last clear thought before she gave in was scared “what if he breaks me first!?”