CASSANDRA

I woke up with a severe headache and an equally sore vagina. I sat up on the unfamiliar bed while rubbing my forehead trying to remember the event last night. I pulled the white sheets up to cover my naked chest as I looked around the unfamiliar room.

Oh, crap!

I looked to my side and I saw a bare-chested man lying next to me on the bed groaning while trying to snatch the sheets back. My eyes widened when I recognized the man, I knew this man—well not personally but I had heard of him before.

I could feel the blood draining from my face when I realized what I had done last night. I let out a frustrated cry as I buried my face with my palms. Oh, God. Of all the people I could have sex with last night, why does it have to be him?

Calix Spiridakou. The playboy cousin of the Loukas. He was famous in high society for being handsome with a devil-may-care attitude. He has often been dubbed as the black sheep of the Spiridakou family. Never once cared about their family reputation when he was often the favorite topic of the tabloids with his scandalous relationships with models, and socialites. There were even rumors circulating that he even dated a married woman in the past!

I knew that he was currently residing in Monte Carlo enjoying his jet-set lifestyle with high-stakes gambling and women. I just didn't expect that I would meet him at the wedding.

Are you still drunk, Cassie? Of course, he would be at the wedding of his cousin where else would he be?

There was no use in regretting what happened last night. What is done is done. All I could do now was get the heck out of this place before he woke up. I just didn't expect that he was the same Calix I was talking to last night. Normally, a guy like him would not spare me a second glance since I was not one of those glamorous women he usually dated.

I scanned the room trying to find my clothes from last night and I could feel the heat spreading through my cheeks when I noticed how they were discarded haplessly on the floor mixed with his clothes from the wedding yesterday. Were we that wild last night?

With a silent curse, I carefully dangled my legs on the side of the bed without waking him up. There was no way I would dress in front of a man even if he was soundly asleep. So I warily picked up my clothes from the floor and a frown marked my forehead when I couldn't find my undies. Where was it? I looked around even tossing his clothes to the side trying to find my underwear.

Shoot! My eyes widened when I saw him stir and go sideways on the bed. He was about to wake up. I'd better leave before that happened, I tiptoed on the bed even if I still couldn't find my missing undies I closed the bathroom door firmly behind me and dressed up.

I almost didn't recognize myself when I saw my reflection in the mirror. My hair was sticking in all directions my eyeliners were smudged on my eye area and my cheeks were flushed. There was no doubt that I had a wild night last night though I couldn't remember much of the details what I remember clearly was how many times I've done the deed with Calix Spiridakou was it three or four times?

I washed my face and tried to comb my hair using my fingers trying to fix it somehow before I slipped on my clothes last night even though my underwear was noticeably missing. I looked at my appearance hoping that even if I would bump into someone outside, I would still look presentable.

I silently went back to the bedroom trying to retrieve my purse and heels before leaving. My plan to escape before he even woke up was dashed when I saw him reclined on the headboard of the bed watching me with interest. He was still naked save for the white sheets covering the lower half of his body.

"Trying to bolt, are you?" He asked sanguinely, his blue eyes danced wickedly.

I could feel the heat spreading through my face up to my ears. I looked away since I was unable to meet his eyes at the moment. "Huh? Ah, yes. Good morning. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."

"So this is probably what the women I slept with in the past feel whenever they woke up without me in the room. You almost escape if I didn't stir a while ago."

"Again, sorry for disturbing your sleep I didn't mean to. You can go back to sleep if you want I'll just get my purse and heels before leaving." I said coolly, still unable to meet his gaze.

My eyes widened when I noticed from the corner of my eye saw he had leaped out of the bed. I shielded my eyes with my hand so I wouldn't see his nakedness. "I don't know if it's intentional but you are hurting my ego, Cassandra."

"Cassie," I corrected him lightly. "Cassandra is so mouthful my friends and family call me Cassie for short. Even your cousin Loukas is calling me by my shortened name since I prefer to be addressed by that name."

"I don't like the shortened version of your name," he stated with a dark scowl on his forehead. "I'll just call you 'Cass' if you don't want Cassandra."

"But no one calls me Cass."

"Good," he said with satisfaction. "Then it would be my pet name for you."

"But—" I started to protest biting my lower lip when I was about to meet his gaze I realized that he was still completely naked. I looked away once again. "—can you do me a favor? Can you get dressed before continuing this conversation?"

He leisurely looked over his naked body unashamedly before giving me a challenging look. "I don't see the difference in covering my body when you already saw what I have to offer last night, don't you think?"

I could feel my cheeks heating up once again. "That's different. Last night, I was not myself and I couldn't care less seeing a man's naked body but now that I am sober it makes me uncomfortable."

"Ah, of course." He mocked, picking up his discarded boxers on the floor, and wore them for the sake of decency. He cocked a brow at me. "Presentable enough for the modest heiress?"

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him, how it could be considered presentable when his boxers did only cover his manhood but it didn't hide how erect it was early in the morning. How could I have such a straight face when my eyes were a magnet to his huge bulge between his legs? I didn't know if he was aware of it or he simply didn't mind.

And then, it occurred to me that I wanted to ask him about my missing undies. "Hey, have you, by any chance, seen my underwear? It seems that it was misplaced last night."

He looked away from my searching gaze. "Ah, maybe it was around here. Have you searched for it around the room?"

"Yes, and I couldn't find it," I was mortified to admit. "How could I possibly go home without one? I will die with mortification. Can you help me find it?"

He met my gaze with a devilish smirk playing on his lips. "Are you sure that are wearing one before you attend the wedding? I believe some women don't wear anything underneath sometimes."

I scowled at him darkly. "What kind of ridiculous question is that? Do you think I am some sort of woman I would go out in my house without wearing such?"

He shrugged nonchalantly as he looked around for my missing undies. "Very well, I am sure it's just lying around here."

I helped him find my missing undies around the bed area. I couldn't believe it! Of all the things that could go missing why does it have to be the most important thing I wore? I bit my bottom lip when I saw the blood stains on the bed. I cleared my throat to get his attention. "Um...I'm sorry about the bed."

He looked over his shoulder and saw the stains I was referring to. "Don't mind it, I will just throw the sheets later."

My eyes widened at his announcement. "Can you do that?"

"Yeah. I own this place. I can throw whatever I want."

"Oh," of course, silly me. I should have expected that since their family owned the whole island. I should have guessed of it last night since the way he moved on the dark place with such familiarity he must have been here countless times before.

"You know what?" He said after a moment, running his hand over his disheveled hair. "I will just ask my younger sister if she has new underwear lying around in her closet for you."

I gave him a horrified expression. "You can't possibly do that! That is so embarrassing what would Dionne think?" I started to shake my head firmly. "No. I will not let you do that. I'd rather go out without one. Thank you very much."

"Relax. I know that she's your friend and I am not planning to inform her that you are the recipient of the underwear. Besides, it's already a common occurrence for my sister when I ask for her new clothes and some personal items from time to time."

My lips parted with disbelief while looking at him. "You mean to say you used to ask for items to Dionne when you brought your women here?"

He shrugged indifferently. "Yeah. Well, not most of the time only when I unintentionally ripped their clothes or underwear during the night."

"That's crazy," I paused and then corrected my words. "No. You are crazy. How can you do such a barbaric thing? I'm sure your ladies were offended by such an act. What if that was their favorite dress?"

His lips curved with a lopsided grin. "Quite the contrary, I think they were more turned on by the barbaric act as you put it. It makes the night wilder for both of us." He chuckled loudly seeing the confusion on my face. "Innocent lady like you will not understand. Stay here and wait for me. I'll ask for my sister's spare thongs for you in the main house."

"Please not a thongs. I don't wear provocative undergarments like that." I informed him and the man's lips merely curved with a grin.

I watched him get dressed in the clothes we wore yesterday with his trousers and rumpled shirt before leaving the room. I sat on the bed angrily and crossed my arms in the middle. I couldn't believe that I was having such a weird conversation with him about his women just after having sex with him last night. I should have left before he woke up so I was spared this awkward conversation with him.

After a few minutes, he was back with the items he brought from the main house. But fresh sets of underwear were not the only thing he was carrying back to this house. He also brought breakfast from the main house.

"Come, let's have some breakfast." He invited freely.

"I don't think that's necessary." I shook my head. "I should be get going. Thank you for the undies."

"Have breakfast with me and then I will drive you back to the main island with my yacht. There is no water taxi around here."

I shook my head once again. "I don't think so. What if someone will see us together? The last thing I wanted was for people to realize that we spent the night together."

"No worries, my yacht is docked at the back of the island so no one will see us. I like to come and go out of the island without the watchful eyes of the people around here." He was smiling innocently in my direction.

I didn't know what compelled me to agree to the breakfast he was insisting but I just found myself sitting across from him at the breakfast table in his small kitchen. There was a variety of food in his basket but I only took some bread and spread them with some marmalade and a cup of coffee.

"So," he said casually while enjoying our breakfast. "Now that you mention that you are finally sober up. Do you have any regrets about sleeping with the cousin of the man you adored? You even end up losing your virginity."

I was about to sip my coffee and stopped midway to stare at him in disbelief. I was about to consider his question out of line but then again he was that guy I slept with so maybe he was entitled to know. "Surprisingly, no. I don't regret my actions last night. Thank you for letting me experience what I am missing in life."

"Are you finally over with your love for my cousin now that he is married?"

I frowned at him. "It is not an easy process. If it was that easy I should be over him a long time ago. You have to know that it was not that simple to forget the man who caught your heart the moment you first met him."

His jaw clenched tightly while his dark blue eyes were stormy at the moment. "I see." Silence filled the room after that. I decided to ignore him and just focused on my breakfast so I could be on my way. I intended to have a long shower once I got back to my apartment also, I needed to pack since I would be leaving soon for New York for my work at the art gallery but then he surprised me when he spoke again. "How about I help you forget Loukas?"

My eyes snapped in his direction. "How will you do that?"

There was a lazy smile on his face. "Just like last night. I believe that the faster way to forget someone was to have someone on your bed to keep you occupied."

My gaze narrowed at him. "That sounds dubious."

"Trust me," he said with a grin. "It's effective."

"But I don't want to be in a relationship right now."

"So am I," he replied, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. "Relationships aren't my thing. I am not telling you that we should date exclusively. I am only proposing a partnership in bed."

I raised an eyebrow when I already got what he was implying. "You mean an illicit affair? Something like being fuck buddies?"

"Yes, if you will put it that way."

"I am not so sure about that," I murmured under my breath. I could hardly believe that this guy was offering me such temptation. Only two days before I wouldn't dare to entertain such a scandalous invitation.

"Do you want to forget Loukas or what?"

"I do," I answered sincerely. Since I wanted to forget this love I have for him I could finally move on with my life. I hoped that sooner when I had the chance to bump into him and his wife I couldn't feel the same pain I experienced during their wedding.

"Then, I am offering to help you forget him." He said brightly. "I think we already proved last night that we're compatible in bed."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" I asked curiously.

He looked away sipping his coffee. "I don't know. Maybe I feel sorry for you yesterday trying to be happy for the union of the man you adore and his beloved woman that's why I want to help you forget your feelings for him. You don't have to answer yet, think about it."

I didn't reply to him after that and just finished breakfast. After a moment, we were on his yacht and he was about to take me to the main island. I was rather surprised to see him driving his yacht on his own. Well, what do you expect from a man like him?

"Do you mind if I borrow your phone? It seems that I lost my phone somewhere on this boat." Without a word, I gave him my phone and he dialed his number. I looked at him questioningly when I heard his phone ringing in his pocket. He gave me back my phone with a shameless grin. "That's my number. Save it. And I will save your number too on my phone."

I was speechless at his sleek moves. Once we arrived at the main island, I was thankful to be away from his presence. "Oh, yeah, Cass?" I turned around to look at him. My heart went wild when he suddenly leaned down and whispered something near my ear. "About your missing underwear, I have it in my pocket all along. There is a saying that finders keepers, right?"

Before I had the chance to react, he went back to his yacht leaving me staring at him from the dock with utter disbelief. He even winked at me before sailing back to the water.