“So deep,” Cassey mewls softly. “Oh God, baby, I’m…”
“Ssshh….” I kiss her mouth, and swallow the sexy sounds she’s making. It drives me wild when she’s loud, but I’m aware that we have a house guest.
I suck in a breath when Cassey purposefully clenches her muscles, bringing me to the brink of my orgasm. I growl into her neck, and pump my hips faster. Cassey whimpers, and comes apart in my arms.
She bites my shoulder to stifle her scream, and it pushes me further as I chase my orgasm.
The fire starts low down my spine, and then erupts violently.
When our erratic breathing slows, I move away from Cassey and grab a warm washcloth from the bathroom. I clean us both up, and then toss the washcloth aside before climbing back into bed.
Cassey tucks her head into my neck, and haphazardly tangles our legs together. The feel of her next to me is something I don’t want to go a day without, and the idea of losing her is painful. I’m going to need her, especially when it comes time for me to say goodbye to my father. I don’t think I can get through it without her. Pushing the thoughts aside, I hug Cassey to me, and fall asleep with ease.
I’m woken up by yelling, and a loud bang. I jump up when I see Cassey isn’t next to me, and pull on my sweats before hurrying out to see what all the commotion is about.
“What’s going on?” I ask, walking into the living room. Cassey is in one of my shirts and her sleep shorts, and she’s fighting with Quinn’s boyfriend, Jarred.
“Where is she?” Jarred shouts. “Fuck, Cass, just tell me where I can find her, please.” The guy looks like shit, like he hasn’t slept at all. His hair is a mess, and his clothes are in complete disarray. He has a crazed look in his eye, panicked and frantic. Poor guy looks like he’s about to lose his shit. “Quinn’s not here,” I answer for Cassey. My voice is hard. I reach for Cassey and pull her back slightly. I cross my arms over my chest, and glower at Jarred.
“But she was here last night? She’s okay?” Jarred asks.
“No, she’s not okay,” Cassey snaps. She’s a feisty little thing, and if I wasn’t annoyed with Jarred right now it would turn me on.
“She was a mess,” Cassey continues, “and if you don’t pull your head out of your ass, she will leave you. She told you she’s pregnant, and your response was to throw accusations at her.”
“Fuck,” Jarred growls. He drags his fingers through his hair. “I really screwed up, and I just need to tell her how sorry I am.”
“It’s time to man the fuck up,” Cassey says. “She shouldn’t have to consider raising your baby without you, so don’t give her that option.”
“I know, dammit! I know! But I freaked out!” Jarred replies, exasperated. “Cass, please, I’m begging you, tell me where my girl is so I can fix this.” Cassey’s lips thin. She’s contemplating telling Jarred where to find Quinn. I’m tempted to tell her not to say anything, but this is none of my business, even if Jarred handled the news of Quinn’s pregnancy in the worst way possible. I’d make him suffer a bit longer for being a jackass though. “Fine,” Cassey sighs. “She left this morning to go to her parents’ house.” Jarred nods, relief written all over his face. “Thanks.”
“I swear to God though, Jarred, if you do anything more to hurt my best friend, I will personally make your life hell, make no mistake. Quinn deserves better.”
“I know, and I’m going to fix it. I promise.”
Cassey nods once, satisfied with Jarred’s promise, and we watch him leave. She turns to face me, and I wrap her in my arms.
“Seeing you get so worked up is pretty sexy,” I tell her.
Cassey laughs and slaps my chest playfully. “Let’s hope I won’t have to do that again. I’ll seriously beat his ass if he hurts Quinn.”
I chuckle. “Now that, I would pay to see.”
“What, you don’t think I can kick some ass?”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it, baby. I might just misbehave on purpose so I can get you worked up.”
“You just want make-up sex,” she laughs.
“Any sex with you will do, I’m not fussy.”
“You’re such a horn dog,” she replies, smiling.
“You drive me crazy,” I say, picking her up. Her legs come around my waist and she wraps her body around mine.
“Right back at you,” she whispers. Her phone starts ringing just as we reach her bedroom, and I put her on her feet. She runs to grab it, and I head towards the shower. I hear her voice, and a few minutes later she walks into the bathroom. Her face is pale, and she stares at the phone.
“Cass?”
Her head whips up and she opens her mouth to speak. “It’s my parents,” she says. “They’re dead.”
I rush to her side just as her knees give out. “Okay, baby, I’ve got you,” I say, lifting her. I sit down on her bed with her in my lap.
“What happened?” I ask, gauging her reaction.
“They overdosed on heroin,” she swallows hard. “And then their trailer was set alight with their bodies inside.”
“Shit,” I mutter. I don’t know what else to say. I wait for the hysterics, and the tears to come. Instead, Cassey’s expression remains blank.
“We can be on the next flight out of here,” I say.
She shakes her head. “No. I don’t want to see them. We don’t have any relatives, so there’s no point in me going.”
Her eyes well up, and finally the first tear falls. “I shouldn’t feel…” her words trail off and she swallows hard, her brows scrunching slightly.
“You shouldn’t feel what?”
“Relieved. I shouldn’t feel relieved, but I do. I’ve hated them for most of my life, and all I can think about right now is that I’ll never have to see them or hear from them again.”
I wipe her tears away, and hold her face in my palms. “They can’t hurt you anymore, but are you sure you don’t want to go home?”
“I’m sure,” she says, nodding. “I have nothing left to go back to. This is my home. You are my home.”
What more can I say to that? I can’t begin to fathom what her parents did to make her hate them so much, but now I hate them, too. Why would anyone want to hurt Cassey? She’s kind, with a big heart, and she’s so fucking strong. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve her love, but I will spend the rest of my life proving to her that I can be what she needs. Her parents are assholes for never treating her the way she deserves, and I find myself feeling relieved that she won’t ever have to deal with them again.
Chapter 15
~ Cassey ~
“They’re dead?” Quinn asks. We’re sitting on the sofa in my office drinking coffee. She sips her tea, staring at me wide-eyed over the rim of her cup. I nod, finding it difficult to believe myself. It was only yesterday that I found out about my parents’ death, and even after speaking to a detective who confirmed it, it still doesn’t feel real. I haven’t cried yet, and I’m not sure I will. I feel both guilt and relief. Guilt because I’m not heartbroken over my loss if I can call it that; and relief because I haven’t had this sense of freedom in forever.