Chapter 130 Golden glow
Cassie
The morning light filtered through the sheer shutters, casting a golden glow across the bedroom. I stirred first, my body naturally gravitating toward the warmth beside me. Greyson lay on his back, one arm thrown over his head, his breathing deep and even. The harsh lines that usually marked his face had softened in sleep, making him look younger, almost vulnerable.
I traced my fingers along his chest, marveling at the contrast between his peaceful expression and the scars that told stories he'd never shared with me. There was something about mornings like this that made me feel bold, made me want to worship him the way he'd worshipped me the night before.
Moving carefully so as not to wake him, I pressed soft kisses along his collarbone, tasting the salt of his skin. I loved the way his body responded to my touch even in sleep, the way his muscles tensed beneath my lips. My kisses trailed lower, across the defined planes of his chest, down to the line of dark hair that led below the sheet.
I wanted to give him the same pleasure he'd given me, wanted to show him how much I craved him. My hands worked carefully to free him from the confines of his boxers, and I felt a thrill of satisfaction at his body's immediate response to my touch. He was beautiful like this a work of art powerful even in vulnerability, and entirely mine.
When I took him into my mouth, his eyes snapped open with a sharp intake of breath. His hand immediately fisted in my hair, not roughly, but with an urgency that made my heart race. I loved having this effect on him, loved the way his careful control cracked when I touched him like this.
"Cassie," he breathed, my name rough with sleep and desire,there was something else there too, something I couldn't quite identify.
I looked up at him through my lashes, my lips still wrapped around him, and saw his jaw clench. His breathing had changed, become more labored, but not in the way I expected. There was tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there moments before, and his grip in my hair had tightened almost painfully.
I hollowed my cheeks, taking him deeper, wanting to drive him to the edge of control the way he did to me. But instead of the groan of pleasure I expected, I felt his whole body go rigid beneath me.
"Stop," he said suddenly, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.
I pulled away immediately, confusion flooding through me. "Did I do something wrong?"
Greyson sat up abruptly, running his hands through his hair. The tenderness from moments before had vanished, replaced by something cold and impenetrable. "I need a shower.Don't follow me ."
He was off the bed and heading toward the bathroom before I could respond, leaving me sitting there feeling exposed and rejected. The sound of the shower running filled the silence, and I pulled the sheet around myself, trying to understand what had just happened. Had I been too eager? Too aggressive? I replayed every moment in my head, searching for what I might have done wrong.
When he emerged twenty minutes later, fully dressed in his usual black attire, he wouldn't meet my eyes. The transformation was complete , gone was any trace of the man who had held me so tenderly the night before. In his place stood the Greyson I'd first met, all sharp edges and careful distance.
"I have things to handle today," he said, his tone businesslike as he adjusted his watch.
"Greyson, what's wrong? What did I do"
"Nothing. You did nothing wrong." his words felt like a lie, or at least not the whole truth. "I'll be back later."
I wrapped the sheet tighter around myself, feeling suddenly small and foolish. "When later?"
He paused at the bedroom door, his hand on the frame. For a moment, I thought he might turn around, might explain what had shifted between us in the space of a heartbeat. Instead, he said, "I don't know," and left.
The sound of the front door closing echoed through the thouse, leaving me alone with my confusion and the growing ache in my chest. I'd thought we were building something together, thought the walls he kept so carefully constructed were finally coming down,in the span of minutes, they'd been rebuilt higher than before.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, providing a welcome distraction from my spiraling thoughts. My father's name appeared on the screen, and I answered quickly.
"Dad?"
"Morning, sweetheart. I hope I'm not calling too early. I was wondering if I could come by for breakfast? There are some things I'd like to discuss with you."
I glanced at the clock. It was barely eight, but I was grateful for the company.
"Of course. Give me an hour?"
"Perfect. I'll bring Aiden with me, if that's alright. He's been asking about you."
The mention of Aiden brought a complicated mix of emotions. My father had been pushing Aiden as a potential romantic interest for months, and while I appreciated his steady presence in my life, my heart was entirely consumed by the enigmatic man who had just walked out on me.
"Of course, Dad."
After ending the call, I forced myself into motion. I couldn't change whatever had happened with Greyson, but I could focus on preparing a meal for the people who actually wanted to be around me.
The kitchen became my sanctuary as I worked, the familiar motions of cooking providing comfort my mind desperately needed. I prepared my father's favorite – eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise, fresh fruit, and strong coffee. The domestic routine helped quiet the questions racing through my head, at least temporarily.
I was plating the food when I heard Greyson's footsteps on the stairs. Hope fluttered in my chest maybe he'd come back to explain, to fix whatever had broken between us. But when I looked up, his face was a mask of cold indifference.
"I'm going out, forgot something " he announced, not even looking at the breakfast spread I'd prepared.
"My father is coming over," I said quickly, hoping it might make him stay. " Padkoss?"
Something flickered in his eyes surprise, maybe, or concern but it was gone too quickly for me to be sure. "Another time."
Just like that, he was gone again, leaving me standing in the kitchen surrounded by food I'd made with love for a man who couldn't bear to look at me.
The knock on the door came exactly at nine, and I composed myself before answering. My father stood there with his usual warm smile, his silver hair perfectly styled despite the early hour. Beside him, Aiden cut an impressive figure in his tailored suit – tall, confident, with the kind of classical good looks that had made him successful in both business and his personal pursuits. My father had made no secret of his hope that something romantic would develop between Aiden Massa and me.
"There's my favorite girl," Aiden said, his voice warm with genuine affection as he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. His touch was careful, respectful – nothing like the commanding presence Greyson carried.
"Aiden," I said softly, managing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. I could see the concern in his gaze as he took in my appearance, and something else too – the same protective instinct that made my father worry.
My father kissed my cheek, his sharp eyes taking in my appearance with the practiced assessment of a man who'd made his fortune reading people. "You look tired, sweetheart."
I led them to the dining room, grateful I'd prepared enough food to feed a small army. "I've been adjusting to a lot of changes lately."
We settled into conversation over breakfast, my father asking about my new living situation with the careful diplomacy that had made him successful in business. Aiden, as always, provided moments of levity with stories about their various ventures and the colorful characters they encountered.
Despite my efforts to appear normal, I could feel my father's concerned gaze lingering on me throughout the meal. He knew me too well, could read the tension I was trying to hide.
It was Aiden who finally addressed the elephant in the room. "Alright, Cassie, what's got you looking like someone stole your favorite toy?"
I set down my fork, my appetite finally abandoning me completely. "It's complicated. I still have my favorite toys by the way."
"Complicated how?" my father asked gently. "Does it have to do with tl Greyson ?"
The fact that my father knew about Greyson shouldn't have surprised me he'd actually changed ...hearing him say Greyson's name with that particular tone made me realize he might know more about what I was going through than I'd thought.
"He's just..." I struggled to find words that wouldn't reveal too much. "He's dealing with some things from his past, and I think I might have triggered something this morning without meaning to."
Aiden leaned back in his chair, his expression growing serious. "Triggered how?"
"I don't know," I admitted, frustration bleeding into my voice. "One minute everything was fine, and the next he was completely shut down. He wouldn't even look at me."
My father and Aiden exchanged a look that didn't escape my notice.
"What is it?" I demanded.
"Cassie," Aiden said carefully, "men like Greyson , men who've seen the things he's seen, who've had to survive what he's survived ,sometimes they carry wounds that don't show on the surface."