How Cassie Got Her Grind Back [Divine Creek Ranch 23] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Heather Rainier

  “I understand. I’ll start out slow.”

  “Samson, you don’t have to—”

  He grabbed on the loose knot of hair pulled up at the back of her head, ready to get started. “What did you call me?” He didn’t personally give a rat’s ass what she called him since they didn’t have a Dom/sub arrangement, but it was important to have her in the proper mindset before the fun started.

  A breath rushed from her lips, and she smirked. “Sir, I meant Sir. You don’t need to go slow with me—”

  “Wouldn’t you agree we’ve known each other long enough for me to know what you need and how you need it?”

  She bit her lip, probably trying to hide a smile judging by the way her lips curled, and then she said, “Well, yes, Sir, but—” She twined her ankles, and he felt the vibration running through her body as anticipation built up.

  “Excellent, I’m glad you agree, and now I know what else you need.”

  She grew still as he released her, and he felt her eyes on him as he reached into his toy bag and pulled the cellophane from the brand-new ball gag before retrieving the spreader bar hanging on the wall nearby. He turned and faced her. “What’s your safe word?”

  Victoria caught herself in mid-eye-roll and snickered. “Red,” she murmured, but her attitude, which was actually encouraging to him, clearly said, as if—with a cocked hip.

  She’d called him a couple of hours before from the OR where she’d just lost a patient and asked him if he was available. When he’d told her he was already at the club, he’d heard the tears in her voice when she agreed to his suggestion that she come right over. A masochist, whose talent happened to be healing the hearts of premature and often as-yet-unborn infants. The losses happened, and when they did, he was around to help her out.

  It was an honor to have any part in helping a woman whose hands were skilled with such a rare gift. Despite the connection between them as sadist and masochist, his interest in her was of a friends-only variety. And she’d made it clear her schedule played hell on relationships and she didn’t want to do that to anyone in her life. Samson respected the hell out of her because she put her patients before her own personal life. It was a sacrifice she said she would gladly pay.

  With the squeak toy slid inside her suspension cuff and her feet spread a couple of feet apart, he adjusted the tension on the chains to accommodate her new stance and then came up behind her again and re-did the knot of her long hair for her so none of it would get yanked out accidentally. “All set now, little masochist. Unless you have any other helpful advice or instructions you’d like to give.”

  She ordered attending surgeons and technicians around in the OR, expecting instant compliance and support. Purportedly had a core of phenomenal surgical nurses who could practically read her mind and gave her unswerving loyalty, if one was to believe Victoria. But at Hazelle House, she wanted to exchange all that power, give up all the choices and the outcomes to another kind of expert, and she trusted him with the reins…and the whip.

  “No, Sir.”

  “I’m about to gag you, so what’s your safe signal?”

  She manipulated her fingers inside the cuff, squeezing the squeak toy so it sounded out loud and clear. “I’m ready when you are, Sir.”

  After gagging her, he selected a suede flogger, anticipating her impatience and grinning. He’d get to the whip when he knew she was ready for it and not a moment before.

  Someone walked by their play area, and the scent of vanilla wafted over to him. He glanced around, but the hope was unfounded. Cassandra’s skin had carried the scent of vanilla on it, probably from a natural source rather than a perfume. But she wasn’t anywhere nearby. It was probably a sub trying out a new fragrance or lotion.

  But the sensory experience was enough to bring her to mind as he unwound the strands of the flogger. He enjoyed working with Victoria, but the anticipation he felt now was for the next time he talked to Cassandra…and found out the reason for her retreat.

  Would she ever let him bind her like this and trust him to flog her, or more? Did he even want that with her?

  Refocusing, he turned back to Victoria, only part of his heart in the scene to come. Not because he was no longer interested in helping her. Far from it. He just wondered at the lack of fulfillment he normally felt at taking the reins and the whip in hand.

  All else faded from focus besides the impact of the falls. When he assumed control, and responsibility for Victoria’s wellbeing, he couldn’t afford to be distracted by anything else.

  Chapter Four

  A few weeks later…

  Cassie’s heart was thumping uncomfortably as she walked under the banner announcing the Divine High School Class of 1986 and into the ballroom. The crowd was thin, but she was early and had hoped for time to settle in and calm down a bit before the rest of the attendees arrived. She’d changed outfits and undergarments several times before finally settling on something modest and dressy-casual. The seductive purple dress she’d bought just for the reunion was still hanging in her closet, she thought forlornly, but at least no one could fault her outer appearance.

  She wished she’d given more serious thought to securing a date for this event. Being married to Bill hadn’t always been fun, but he’d always come to the reunions with her in years past. The reunions happened every five years and this one was her first as a single woman.

  Music was being provided by a DJ who was already doing his thing while chatting with Travis and Veronica. Knowing those two, they were requesting slow dance songs so they could get cozy on the dance floor later. Hank stood nearby conversing with another couple. At least she had people she could hang out with. She wasn’t sure if Bill was coming, and she hadn’t returned his call from earlier in the week. She made it a rule to avoid talking to him unless it was vital or concerned the kids.

  She was scanning the room nervously for Lydia Carlisle, hoping she and Chance and Clayton had arrived, when a callused hand gently gripped hers. She turned and gasped in recognition. “Andrew? Andrew Portman, is that you?”

  The tall man standing before her smiled, his green eyes twinkling as he held his arms open for a hug. “I wasn’t sure if you’d recognize me.” He patted his shirtfront and added, “It’s been a few years and pounds since the last time I laid eyes on you, beautiful girl.”

  During high school they’d shared numerous classes, had both been active in the music and band departments, and they’d been good friends, even when scandal had occurred in their senior year. After graduation he’d gone away for college, and they’d lost touch.

  She giggled and said, “Sweet talker, some things never change, do they? Don’t be standing there claiming to have put on weight or aged because you haven’t changed hardly at all.”

  “Now who’s sweet-talking?” he asked, his cheeks, the color of lightly creamed coffee, taking on a ruddy hue.

  “Are you in town visiting? You never came to any of the other reunions. I thought I heard you’d gotten married to Dorene Lester a few years ago.”

  Andrew pursed his lips and nodded. “And I’m also recently divorced.”

  She patted his arm. “Me, too.”

  Andrew chuckled. “Ain’t we a pair? Her whole family was nuts. Between that interfering bunch and the problems we were having, it finally came to an end.”

  “No kids?”

  Andrew shook his head, and the regret showed in his gorgeous eyes. “She insisted she didn’t want any, and I went along with it. And you?”

  Cassie nodded. “A boy and a girl. They’re in college now. They’re great kids.”

  “Ah, then they must take after you.”

  Cassie laughed and nodded when he invited her to come with him to get a drink from the bar. The next several minutes were spent getting caught up on jobs and moves. During a pause in the conversation, Andrew said, “You know, I always wondered if you went on to performing arts college like you dreamed of doing.”

  Thinking of Samson and his pointed ques
tions, Cassie shook her head. “I had to put college on the back burner when…everything happened. After graduation, with my mom…away…my dad needed me at home and in the family business. I still dreamed of going for it but I got married to Bill. And then Joseph and Tamara came along. Family life took priority.”

  Andrew nodded in commiseration. “I always pictured you ending up with Samson Cutter.”

  “Lots of things didn’t work out the way I envisioned them.” She looked past Andrew’s shoulder when there was a flurry of activity at the entrance. Andrew’s ex-wife, who also had a fair amount of history with several of the men already in the room, had just entered on the arm of a much younger man.

  Cassie glimpsed the pain in Andrew’s eyes before he shuttered the look with a blink. Andrew had adored Dorene all through high school. It was obvious their recent divorce still hurt, and Cassie acted without hesitation. She scooted under his arm and tugged his hand around her shoulder.

  Andrew looked down at her in surprise. “Girl, what are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing, doofus? I’m your wingman…wingwoman. I’m your friend, damn it.”

  Andrew laughed with her and gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the top of her head. “You’ve always been a good friend, Cassie. I’m glad that hasn’t changed. Tell you what. If Bill shows up I’ll run interference for you, too. How’s that, wingperson?”

  “That’d be great. If I’m lucky, he won’t show up at all.”

  They joined Hank, Travis, Chance, and Clayton, and their wives, with several other friends at a table, and the chitchat proceeded along normal lines, like at every reunion. In the split buffet line, they were unfortunate enough to be across the serving dishes from Dorene and her date. Dorene glared at Andrew and then gave Cassie a brittle smile across the serving dishes, evidently buying that they were a couple. Cassie began a mental countdown, knowing Dorene wouldn’t let this opportunity slide.

  In three…two…one—

  “Okay, so…Cassie, did your mom ever get over her drug addiction after your dad divorced her? I heard she owed some very scary people a lot of money.”

  “Huh?” Dorene’s date asked as he piled his plate with brisket. The serving line grew quiet. Cassie knew what was coming next, and her heart rate soared.

  Dorene tittered and said, “Oh, it was a huge scandal, baby.” She went on to rehash, within Cassie’s hearing, the erroneous and out-of-date tale that had circulated about her mother having a drug addiction of some kind and she’d embezzled money, which had led to the scandal that had rocked Divine.

  One of the other women in the line tried to shush Dorene, but she ignored her and continued.

  “The local volunteer fire department had lost all their buildings, several vehicles, and equipment in a tornado. This was years ago, and the insurance didn’t cover anything but the original wooden structure. The whole town banded together for a fundraiser and raised all the money needed to replace everything plus some extra. Then her mother, who was the VFD treasurer, embezzled it, and they discovered the chief of the fire department, who was also daddy to Cassie’s boyfriend, Samson, and his twin brother Ivan, was covering for her. They were both incarcerated, and the town was devastated. We had to raise the money all over again, and people’s homes and possessions were at risk until they were able to rebuild.”

  “Like you had anything to do with helping, Dorene?” Clayton Carlisle said. “You were too busy spreading rumors and sleeping around to be involved in anything so altruistic.”

  “I most certainly did! I volunteered to work the dunking booth at the fire department carnival that year.”

  Andrew cleared his throat and said, “Whoa, Dorene. You sweet-talked me into going into the dunking booth for you that night because you’d teased your hair into those big poofy bangs and didn’t want to mess up your Aqua-net. I don’t think that counts as helping your community in their time of need. And who are you to talk about people’s families when everyone knows the Lester family has more than its share of nut jobs and fruit cakes.”

  “Wait,” Veronica said in a shocked tone. “Lester? You’re a Lester? Are you related to Tabitha Lester? She worked at Clay Cooks Jewelers and as a church secretary here.”

  Lydia’s eyes popped wide, and she giggled and said, “Ooooh! There are more of them? Hank, is it true?”

  Blinking innocently, Hank nodded as he shot an amused look Dorene’s way. Cassie giggled, despite the hurt Dorene’s words had caused. Maybe Dorene should’ve kept her fool trap shut.

  “Yep. As it turns out, Nika, they’re first cousins.”

  “I wonder whatever became of that hose beast,” Lydia said before snorting with laughter.

  Travis said, “Last I heard from Val, she was still hooked up with…what were their names?” he asked, squinting as if he was thinking hard.

  Trying to quell her enthusiasm, Veronica said, “Stubby Joe, Black Mike, and…and…”

  “Big Dick!” Lydia provided, and laughter erupted in their vicinity around the buffet line.

  Andrew arched an eyebrow and schooled his expression. “What would they name a baby? Stubby Black Dick Junior? That’s so wrong.” Andrew had a twisted, wicked sense of humor, and Cassie laughed so hard with everyone else she nearly peed herself.

  “At least my mom wasn’t a drug addict!” Dorene sniped.

  “Nope, but she was the biggest gossip in town,” Cassie replied. “She never could get her facts straight, a trait you seemed to have inherited. My mom has a gambling addiction, Dorene, which she overcame decades ago, not a drug addiction. And people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, Miss ‘I Got Busted for Smoking Weed on Divine Creek When I Was a Minor.’”

  Dorene scowled at their group and at Andrew and muttered, “Whatever,” and tugged her date from the serving line while he was still helping himself.

  “Wait, baby, I wanted some more ’tater salad!”

  “Come on!”

  Clayton smiled at Cassie and patted her shoulder. “Ignore her. Your friends stand behind you.”

  “Damn straight,” Hank added. “She certainly has no room to talk.”

  They were being nice, but Cassie could already see Dorene’s cadre of old mean-girl friends congregating and murmuring around her in the corner. All her earlier levity drained away as if the plug had been pulled on it.

  Cassie shrugged and welcomed the feeling of numbness, her only defense against such ugliness, learned from having a father who had always spoken his mind, regardless of those he hurt. Bill hadn’t been much better.

  There had been times where she wished she’d ignored her dad’s expectation that she marry Bill Resendez, an up-and-coming businessman and former high school football star. But if she’d kept her promise to Samson and Ivan, that would mean she would’ve never had Joseph and Tamara, and she could never regret their existence. They were her shining lights.

  Andrew nudged her gently with his elbow. “Come on, Cassie. We’ll just steer clear of her and enjoy our meal.”

  The others distracted her with lively banter, and she tried to enjoy the evening. She wasn’t going to let that mean-spirited wench run her off. It was her town and her class reunion, too.

  She did her best to ignore the music when Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away with My Heart” began to play. Veronica enticed Hank with a beckoning finger as the lights dimmed on the dance floor, and everybody chuckled when Hank spun Veronica into his arms.

  Andrew tapped Cassie’s shoulder. “It sure is nice to see Mr. Responsibility found a good woman. Want to dance? Hardly anyone dances at these things, and I think this is the year we break the trend.”

  “We talked to the DJ,” Travis said. “And made sure he knew we wanted to hear plenty of slow-dancing and two-stepping music mixed in with all the other pop music from the eighties they always play.”

  “Thank you, Travis,” Cassie said as she rose, and Andrew took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She would have fun. She wouldn’t thin
k about the last time she’d danced with Samson to that song, a few weeks before at Bunny and Joseph’s wedding.

  Samson had called and left a couple of messages, confused as to why she’d walked away and trying to make amends, but she hadn’t called him back. First her father and grandfather, and then her husband, had always talked her around to their way of thinking because it was convenient for them. She was done with manipulative men telling her anything.

  She tugged on her dress and bit her lip, wondering if Samson would approve of the more reserved attire she’d chosen for tonight—and then wanted to kick herself. Old habits died hard.

  Hank cut in with the next dance. “You having a good time?” She nodded, and he said, “You should tell your pretty face then. Don’t let Dorene’s pettiness bother you. She’s jealous.”

  “Jealous? What could I possibly have that she’d be jealous of?” The thirty extra pounds that had crept on a bit at a time over the decades sure wasn’t it.

  Hank looked at her and exhaled slowly, and she had the distinct impression she was testing his patience for some reason. And he didn’t answer her question but asked another. “Why haven’t you talked to Samson?”

  Because I’ve been depressed, and it wouldn’t matter what he said. I’m blaming my hormones. And he hurt my feelings, and I have a right to be pissed. In the end, she kept it simple. “I don’t wanna.”

  “You should. He cares about you. They both do—”

  “Not helping, Stinson,” a growly voice said from behind her. “May I cut in?”

  Hank looked pleased with himself as he grinned and nodded, just in time for the song to change. Couples left the floor, and she felt more exposed as she looked up at Samson as Luke Bryan’s “Strip It Down” began playing. He looked so sexy in his jeans, cowboy boots, and white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and she imagined herself doing as the lyrics dictated, under his direction.

  “Don’t talk. Just listen, okay?” Samson said as he took her right hand in his left and gently but firmly pulled her toward him. He was so solid, and he smelled so good. And then she realized he’d given her an edict. She opened her mouth to speak, and he stopped her.