HANS: Alliance Series Book Four(63)

Cassandra was my obsession.

My Butterfly to love at a distance.

A pretty creature on the other side of the glass.

I never wanted her to know me.

Never wanted to take the chance of trying.

Because her rejection… It would crush me.

I’d known that much. Known that if she was afraid of me, it would smother the last bit of humanity I still held.

From afar, I could pretend. I could dream. I could fantasize and prepare. But never believe any of it could be real. Never think I’d ever have her close enough to touch.

I made a point to never get close enough to touch.

Cassandra reaches up and brushes her fingers along my jaw.

Not once, not ever, did I think she’d reach for me.

And now I’ll settle for nothing less than all of her.





CHAPTER 73





Cassie





There’s something going on behind his eyes. Something intense.

And I’m irritated that I don’t know his expressions well enough to know what it means.

But Hans doesn’t say anything, just reaches past me to grab the backpacks, lifting them easily up and over me.

As he flings his door open, I shift and slide out after him.

Of course he doesn’t let me just drop down to the ground—he catches me around the waist, lowering me slowly.

I expect him to start walking toward the hotel, but Hans moves to the rear door and opens it.

I’m on the other side of the door, so I don’t see what he’s doing until he slams it shut.

And then my jaw slackens.

Because he’s pulling on a worn leather jacket. Mixed with his boots, long hair, and shirt that’s not buttoned all the way to the top, he looks like a literal rockstar.

Unaware of my throbbing libido, Hans slings a backpack over each shoulder—which somehow doesn’t look out of place, then gestures for me to go.

I stop in front of the truck and hold my hand out for Hans.

His eyes snap down to my hand, and I watch him swallow before he grips my fingers with his own.

His hold is tight, like he’s worried I might say just kidding and pull my hand back.

I glance up at his profile.

He really is stupidly handsome. And vigilante killer or not, I can’t believe he didn’t have a woman in his life already.

But thank fuck he didn’t. If I’d had to witness a girlfriend coming and going from his place, I’d probably have moved.

Together, we step off the parking ramp and turn down the sidewalk.

The historic hotel is only a dozen yards away, and that’s when I remember what I’m wearing.

I halt, pulling Hans to a stop with me.

He looks down at me, but I just hold up a finger.

I use the toe of one shoe to pull off the other, then lift my foot and pull off the oversized sock I stole from Hans’s basement bunker. Shoving my bare foot back into my tennis shoe, I repeat the process with the other.

With both socks off, I shove them into the hoodie pocket and tug the sides of the hoodie down even more, ensuring it covers my sleep shorts entirely.

“What are you doing?”

Not dropping his hand, I step back to let him see. “I’m your drunk hookup for the night.”

He lifts a brow. “Huh?”

“You picked me up at your club.” I smirk. “But my high heels were killing me, so I switched into these.” I point at my feet. Without the bulky socks bunched at the top of my shoes, I look much less memorable. “And I got too cold in my skimpy outfit, so you gave me your hoodie. Because you’re a gentleman.” I bat my eyes.

“Because I’m a gentleman,” Hans repeats.

“Yep.” I start walking, pulling him along with me. “Until we get to the room, of course. Then you’re going to fuck me like the brat I am.”





CHAPTER 74





Hans





Then you’re going to fuck me like the brat I am.

In the middle of the sidewalk, I drop Cassandra’s hand and grip the back of her neck, forcing her to a stop.

She looks up at me, and I want to see her just like that—wide-eyed and full of mischief—with my dick stuffed down her throat.

Cassandra presses a hand against my chest and sways into me.

“Girl.” My jaw is so tense I barely get the word out.

Her stance softens, and the sides of her mouth pull up. “Yes, Daddy?”

Fuck. Me.

My cock throbs, and every muscle in my body tenses.

I pull her closer and slide my hand up the back of her head until I’m gripping her ponytail. “That’s three.”

Her lids lower, and I don’t think she’s faking the intoxicated look this time.

She’s perfect.

Then her other hand slides out of her hoodie pocket, and three little spheres are in her palm. Red, yellow, and orange.

My grip tightens as she lifts her hand and pours the Skittles into her mouth.

“Cass—”

She opens her mouth, sticking her tongue out. The candies sitting there.

For me.

“You are a fucking brat.”

I seal my mouth to hers.

Her tongue pushes into my mouth, and I swipe mine across the top of hers.