Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

He kept his grin to a minimum but continued to play. Starting at her knee, he grazed her inner thigh with his fingertips, skimming his way up her flesh until she was visibly squirming beneath the table.

“Derek, stop,” she whispered.

“Nope.” He continued until his fingertips grazed the crease of her thigh and her sex, causing her to gasp, which she immediately covered with a light, deliberate cough.

“Are you okay?” Kendall asked from a few seats down.

“Fine.” Cassie picked up a glass of water and took a long sip, forcing a smile. “See? All better.”

He swiped his finger over her sex, finding her wearing a tiny thong. She moaned and clenched her jaw, shutting her mouth. He grinned and he slipped a finger beneath the damp fabric, finding her outer lips covered with arousal.

His cock throbbed against the placket of his pants, and he was grateful nobody could see either one of them.

“I’m going to kill you,” she muttered, curling her hands into fists in her lap.

He placed his free hand behind her back and leaned closer. “Shh. Nobody is going to know.” Back and forth he whisked, swiping her clit with each pass of the pad of his fingertip.

She trembled in her seat. He’d never been to a more interesting fundraiser, he thought, breathing in deep, inhaling her fragrant scent.

“And now we come to the honoree portion of the night,” a new, louder voice at the podium said.

At least that meant the talking would be over fairly soon and they could move on to food. Which meant he could take her home and get her into bed.

He picked up the rhythm with his fingers, taking Cassie closer to the brink. She grabbed her napkin and held it over her mouth, faking a cough as her body began to shake and shudder beneath his hand. He let her ride out the orgasm, keeping an eye on his friends, certain everyone was involved in conversation with their own women. Nobody was paying attention to Derek and Cassie.

He brought her down, pulling her tighter against him. Finally, he removed his hand and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Should I apologize?” he whispered in her ear.

“Don’t say another word.” She placed the napkin back in her lap. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes glazed.

“Hey. Derek.” Lucas punched him in the arm, just as everyone in the room began to clap. “That’s you. Get up there.”

Payback was a bitch. He now had to face the crowd, the people looking at him expectantly. All of which was enough to kill his erection.

Still, he took his time acknowledging Lucas’s words. Accepting congratulations around the table. And reveling in Cassie’s kiss before rising to his feet to accept his award for the work he’d done and the money he’d donated to House of Hope.

* * *

Cassie invited Derek to sleep at her new apartment for the first time, and the same limousine that had dropped them off took them there. He called a neighbor to feed and walk Oscar, both tonight and in the morning, and he was all set.

They arrived at her place and left their coats in the front hall. They kicked off their shoes before making their way to the bedroom.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said, unhooking her bracelet and placing it on the nightstand. “Congratulations on being honored tonight. I can’t believe they surprised you like that.”

Cassie tried not to think about what she’d been doing seconds before his name was announced. As his name was announced.

“Thanks,” he said, not meeting her gaze. He’d been humble about it since his acceptance speech, which had brought a lump to her throat.

My parents had no insurance when my father became sick. If my mother hadn’t had to work two jobs to put food on the table and to pay rent, she would have had more time with my father at the end. I want to make sure other families have the time my parents didn’t.

Cassie’s heart had hurt listening to his words. Her family had the money to make sure their employees had insurance. They could have given Marie time off to be with her husband. Instead she’d already been fired, accused of stealing. It still didn’t make any sense to Cassie. She definitely planned on talking to her mother about it next time they were alone together. She wanted her mom’s take on what had happened. And why.

“House of Hope is lucky to have you,” she told him.

“It’s just something I need to do,” he said, placing the plaque he’d been given on her dresser top.

He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over the vanity chair in the corner.

She strode over to him on bare feet and met his gaze. “Well, this is something I need to do.” She reached up and unhooked his bow tie, tossing it to the floor.