Chastity Falls: Limited Edition Box Set

by L A Cotton

  “You’re going to have to spell it out for me.”

  “He loves you, Cassie. Dennis loves you.”

  Laughter bubbled up my throat, spilling out in a hysterical pitch. “Loves me? He doesn’t love me. He left. Dennis left, Ana. If he loves me so much, where is he? Why did he leave when I needed him most?”

  My world was imploding, and he abandoned me. You didn’t do that to people you loved. You didn’t walk away when the going got tough.

  You just didn’t.

  Tears pricked the backs of my eyes again, and I turned away. Lilly reached up, touching my cheeks and beamed. God, she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to watch me fall apart even if she couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I needed to be strong, for her if for nothing else.

  “Cassie, look at me,” Ana’s voice was soft, and I wanted to be mad at her. To take out all my frustrations on her because she was here for him. She was sitting in my aunt’s house, telling me Dennis loved me when it should have been him. He should have been the one here, comforting me, holding me.

  As if she could hear my thoughts, she said, “He wanted to come. It almost broke him to leave you, but it was the only way. This was the only way to keep you and Lilly safe.”

  “Safe from what? We’re not in any danger.” But the second the words left my mouth, I knew I was fooling myself. Luis had never once threatened me or done anything but offer his help and support, but I knew better—I should have known better. People like Dennis and Luis and Jackson didn’t play by the rules of normal people. If someone threatened them or something they cared about, they would go to any lengths to protect what was theirs.

  And in some bizarre reality, Luis thought of me as his.

  “What did Dennis do, Ana?” Slowly, the events of the past few weeks began to fall into place. I knew he’d taken the job to be around me. But what had happened after Luis turned up at the house?

  “He took care of things.”

  “But how? What does that mean?”

  Her gaze flitted to the window behind me, and I knew she was considering withholding the truth from me.

  “Please,” I begged. “If you’re here asking me to give him another chance, I deserve the truth. I deserve to know what Dennis did.”

  When she met my gaze again, what I saw rendered me speechless. But nothing could have prepared me for the words that came next.

  “He walked away, Cassie. Dennis chose you.”

  I stared at her, unable to talk. Her lips curved up, and I felt nothing but warmth and love and a glimpse at a future I’d once wanted more than anything. “But the real question now,” she said, “is what do you want?”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Dennis

  “You’re going to wear a hole in my new carpet.”

  My head whipped up, and I stared at a guy I’d once hated. Braiden Donohue, the guy who had almost ruined my best friend’s life. Funny how things turned out.

  Family became enemies, and enemies became allies.

  “You do realize Jackson could start a pound the way he keeps taking us in like strays?” I smirked, and he flipped me off.

  “I was here first.”

  “Guys, let’s try not to kill each other before they arrive.” Cara—Braiden’s girlfriend—appeared with two beers in hand. “Here, figured you could use this.”

  “Thanks.” I snagged it from her and took a long pull. “The wait is killing me.”

  “Jackson said their flight landed at eleven.”

  “And we aren’t going to the airport because …?” I’d wanted to go, but Ana and Jackson insisted I stayed put, and from the way Braiden and Cara were watching me, they were on strict orders not to let me leave.

  “Because—” Cara started only to be interrupted by the doorbell. “Oh, thank god.” She grinned. “You might want to get that.”

  “Me?” My brows furrowed.

  “Just go. Go.” She started nudging me forward, and the realization hit me. They’d played me. My hand trembled as I reached for the door handle.

  “Is she? Are they?” I choked out suddenly overcome with emotion.

  When I’d asked Jackson and Ana to go to Redmont on my behalf, I hadn’t known what to expect. Cassie probably hated me for abandoning her—again. But I didn’t want her to make a hasty decision in the aftermath of her aunt’s death. I wanted her to be one-hundred-and-ten percent sure.

  “Just open it already.” Cara flicked her head to the door, and I wrapped my fingers around the chrome handle.

  Braiden chuckled from somewhere behind me, but I didn’t give a flying fuck. Because on the other side of the door was my future.

  My heart.

  My home.

  It swung open, and the sight of them standing there almost brought me to my knees. Nothing could have prepared me for the feelings rushing through me. I’d walked away from my old man. My family. I’d broken my promise to Mom and given up everything I’d ever known.

  But seeing them standing there made it all worth it.

  No words passed between us as I gathered Cassie and Lilly into my arms. Burying my face in her hair, I breathed her in. “You’re here; you’re really here.” I held her at arm’s length, ducking my head and pressing a kiss to Lilly’s soft skin. “You’re here.”

  Tears glistened in her eyes as I palmed her cheek. “Where else would I be?” She smiled, and I saw no traces of uncertainty or fear, just hope and love and everything I’d dreamed about seeing reflected back at me.

  “I love you. I love you so fucking much.” I pulled them both back to my chest, holding on so tight I never wanted to let go. And I wouldn’t. Not this time. No matter what the future held, no matter what obstacles lay ahead of us, I was here. Right where I was always supposed to be.

  Lilly squealed with delight, wiggling in her mom’s arms, trying to reach for me. “Here, take her. She’s missed you.”

  My eyes slid to Cassie’s—to the woman I loved—and with that single look, I tried to tell her everything I needed to.

  I’m sorry.

  Forgive me.

  I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered, looking back at me with the same intensity. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  And it was.

  It’d had taken us six years to get to this point, but it was our time. And I didn’t want to waste a single second of it.

  “She’s finally asleep.” Cassie perched on the bed beside me, but I leaned forward, sliding my hands under her legs and pulled her onto my lap. She readjusted herself until she was straddling my thighs, her hands pressed against my chest.

  “I still can’t believe you’re here.” My hands curved over her collarbone, drawing her to me until our lips touched.

  “Dennis, maybe we should …”

  I eased back, gazing at her. Still barely able to comprehend that this was real. That she and Lilly were here in Tampa.

  “Ana and Jackson are busy with Emma. There’s no one here but us.” And I needed to feel her. God, did I need to feel her. To bury myself inside her and love her. Closing the distance again, I went to kiss her, but Cassie’s hands moved down my chest, creating a barrier.

  “Why, Dennis?”

  “Why?” My brows knitted together.

  “Why now? We lost so much time.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I’m not trying to ruin the moment, I’m not, but I guess a part of me needs to know why.”

  I lifted my hand to her face, tracing the seam of her lips with my thumb. Her lips parted on a soft moan. But she was right; she deserved to know the truth.

  “When I was twelve, my mom killed herself. Overdose. I found her barely conscious. I begged her to stay with me, begged her to hold on until the EMTs arrived. And do you know what she said? She made me promise to never leave him.”

  “Oh god, Dennis, I … I didn’t know.”

  “It hit my old man hard. He turned to drinking to numb the pain. And when he wasn’t dr
unk, he was making deals with the devil. Without Mom, all he had was business … and me. When Jackson left Chastity Falls, I’d hoped things would calm down, but I should have known Miller Hayes would never get out. He started taking more risks, dragging my cousin further and further into things. Walking away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, Cassie, but I couldn’t just leave him, and you deserved more. You deserved so much more.”

  I brushed away her tears with my thumb. “What?” My eyes searched hers, desperate to know what she was thinking.

  “You could have told me. You should have …” She swallowed hard.

  “Would it have changed anything?” The words hung between us, and when she didn’t say anything, I had my answer. I’d loved her more than anything, but sometimes love wasn’t enough.

  I knew that firsthand.

  My old man had loved my mom, but it wasn’t enough to leave his corrupted life behind, and Mom had loved him, but in the end, loving him had destroyed her.

  “Setting you free was the right thing to do. But when I saw you across the bar, I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk away again. Not a single day went by when I didn’t think of you, imagine where you were and what you were doing. I will never forgive myself for what you went through, but if you let me, I will spend every day for the rest of my life trying to make it up to you and Lilly. I love you, Cassie Malson. I never stopped.”

  Cassie’s mouth crashed to mine, and we sank into the pillows in a flurry of desperate kisses and heated touches.

  “You’re sure they’re busy?” she murmured against my lips, her hands sliding underneath my t-shirt. But I didn’t reply because that would have meant pulling my lips away from her skin. I traced her skin with my tongue, exploring every dip and curve until she was gasping above me.

  “Clothes, too many clothes,” she panted.

  I didn’t need asking twice. Her tank top went first, and then she helped me remove mine. Her bra was next. Then her leggings. Cassie crawled off me to let me shuck out of my jeans, and I used the moment to my advantage, tugging her down the bed and caging her body with my own. Her soft lines fit against my hard planes perfectly, and she cradled my face, gazing up at me in awe. “I love you, Dennis Hayes. I never stopped.”

  But words weren’t enough. I needed to show her what she meant to me. To reacquaint myself with every inch of her body until I was so deeply tattooed on her soul there was no chance of ever removing me.

  Pressing a tender kiss to her lips, I moved off her slightly, rocking back onto my haunches. Licking down the hollow of her neck, I scraped my teeth against her skin, soothing the sting with my mouth and drawing tiny whimpers from her. Cassie’s body arched up, needy for more, but I had plans … and they didn’t include getting her off quickly.

  “Dennis—” she moaned, and my eyes snapped to hers. She looked so good—cheeks flushed, eyes dilated—and my heart swelled with the knowledge that this wasn’t a one-time deal. This was forever. I got to spend all my tomorrows worshiping and loving her.

  Gently, I teased her breast. Kneading and squeezing, I leaned forward, sucking the sensitive bud into my mouth.

  “Jesus,” she panted as she fisted the bed sheets.

  I released her nipple with a pop and moved lower, kissing the stretchmarks around her stomach and across her hips. Visible evidence of her strength and courage. And then my mouth hovered over her core.

  Cassie’s hips bucked, and I steadied her thighs with my arm. “I’ve got you,” I said, earning me another soft moan. Working her panties to the side, I slipped a finger inside her, watching as her eyes fluttered shut with pleasure.

  “More, god, I need—”

  Shrill cries pierced the room, and Cassie let out a frustrated groan. “I’m sorry.” She blushed, turning her head to the side as I crawled up her. Capturing her chin between my fingers, I brought her face back to mine.

  “Never apologize. Lilly is a part of you. I knew what I was signing up for.” I smiled, and she batted my arm.

  “I guess I’d better go get her.” Cassie went to move, but I pressed a quick kiss to her lips and sat up, grabbing my t-shirt off the floor.

  “Stay, I’ll go.”

  “But—”

  “Cassie, I didn’t just choose you. I chose Lilly too. You’re my family now.”

  Family wasn’t always your blood. It was the people you chose. The people you loved not because of DNA or obligation but because you just did.

  Family was where your heart was.

  And Cassie and Lilly owned my heart.

  They always would.

  Epilogue

  Cassie

  “Emma, not the—” I squeezed my eyes shut unable to witness the massacre of Lilly’s birthday cake.

  “Did she just finger the cake?” Dennis dropped his chin to my shoulder, stifling a chuckle, and I leaned back against him, letting out a long groan.

  “Yep,” I said. “So much for spending all day yesterday baking the thing.” It had taken me hours to perfect the icing, knowing that if it didn’t look exactly like the unicorn from Despicable Me 3, we’d be facing a toddler tantrum of epic proportions.

  “Toddler germs never hurt anyone. All adds to the flavor.” Jackson tipped his bottle of beer to Braiden’s and they both laughed.

  We watched as Ana rescued the cake from Emma, scooping her up and trading the pink unicorn cake for a stuffed bear that looked like it had seen better days. Thankfully Lilly was too busy playing in the yard with Bruno, our Labradoodle, to notice. “That was a lucky escape,” I murmured.

  “So are you going to find out?” Jackson raised his eyebrow as Dennis slid his hands over my protruding belly. Heat flashed through me, and I wiggled against his crotch. Ever since finding out I was pregnant, I’d been as horny as hell.

  “No,” he said at the same time I said, “Yes.”

  Jackson laughed. “Word of advice.” He aimed his words at his best friend. “The pregnant lady always wins.”

  “That’s what I keep telling him,” I said with a smile.

  Dennis grumbled something, but then he was pressing his lips to my neck, sending delicious shivers rolling up my spine.

  “Seriously, guys, it’s a three-year-old’s birthday party. Let’s at least try to keep it PG.”

  “Fuck the three-year-olds, you’re hurting my eyes,” Braiden grunted, and Dennis leaned over and punched his arm.

  “Language. That’s my unborn child in there, and he doesn’t need corrupting before he gets here.”

  “He?” I glanced around, meeting his eyes, and he flashed me a blinding smile. Even after all this time, I got butterflies just looking at him.

  “It’s a he.”

  “And if it’s a she?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “Have you seen the three of us?”

  Jackson and Braiden concurred, clinking their bottles again, and I rolled my eyes at their over-the-top displays of macho. Dennis nuzzled me again, and a sigh slipped from my lips.

  “Seriously?” Braiden’s eyes went wide.

  “What?” we both said in unison as I turned to Dennis, hiding the flush of my cheeks. It wasn’t my fault if growing a tiny human made my hormones go all over the place.

  “You think I don’t know that look?” Jackson said. “I’ve been there. Trust me, I know that look.”

  “What look?” Ana joined us, licking frosting off her fingers.

  “The horny pregnant lady look.”

  She rolled her eyes, nudging him in the side. “That is not a thing.”

  “Oh, it’s a thing. Remember that one time when we were—”

  “Okay, okay,” She clamped a hand over Jackson’s mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s a thing. But don’t mind us. We’ve all been there, apparently.”

  “I have to go supervise the games, anyway. Guys, shall we?” Dennis pressed a final kiss to my cheek and slipped his arms free.

  “Me? I don’t remember signing up for any games,” Braiden protested, and I smiled to myself.
He was going to have a big shock when Cara finally told him she was expecting their first child.

  “I promised Lilly and Emma a water fight. The proper kind with Super Soakers.”

  “Aren’t they a little young for Super Soakers?”

  “Yes,” Ana and I said in unison, but Dennis grinned.

  “You’re never too young for Super Soakers. I’ll grab the guns, you grab the hose.”

  We watched on as the gaggle of hyper three-year-old girls shrieked with delight as the three guys tried to herd them outside.

  “He’s going to make such a great dad.” Ana sighed dreamily. “I know I’ve said it so many times already, but you guys make the best couple.”

  “Ana, it’s been two years.”

  “What’s been two years?” Cara appeared looking pale, a slight sheen to her skin.

  “Still sick?” I asked, and she clutched her stomach on a groan.

  “It’s never ending.”

  “It’ll get easier. I still can’t believe he hasn’t put two and two together,” Ana said.

  “You know how he gets. He barely lets me out of his sight still. Can you imagine what he’ll be like when the baby comes?”

  “You need to tell him.”

  “I will.” She shrugged, helping herself to a can of ginger ale. “Soon.”

  I shot Ana an incredulous look, and she stifled a giggle.

  It was almost hard to believe I’d arrived in Tampa just before Lilly’s first birthday. And we hadn’t looked back since. Dennis was a doting father to Lilly and worked with Jackson at his private security company while I taught at the local elementary school.

  “You have that look,” she said pulling me from my reverie, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Not the horny pregnant lady thing again.”

  “No, I was going to say you look like a woman in love.”

  And I was.

  God, was I ever.

  Dennis

  “Is she down?” Cassie closed her book and placed it on the nightstand. I yanked my t-shirt over my head and kicked out of my jeans.