Welcome To My World (Hell Yeah!)

by Sable Hunter

  She would never want to speak to him again. That fact wasn’t even up for debate. Bowie’s heart was breaking. How could he give her up? Hell, how could he let her exist in this world, struggling, and him not do everything he could to make her life better?

  For about ten minutes he sat down and stared at the water, not seeing the birds or the fish that jumped or the traffic whizzing by behind him. All he could see was Cassie’s sweet angel face and hear her cry of pain when she tried to take even one step. Struggling with his conscience, he tried to come to terms with what he had done. Essentially, he, Bowie Travis Malone, had been responsible for stealing Cassie Cartwright’s life.

  What was he going to do?

  How could he face her and pretend he didn’t know?

  He had to, at least for now, because he couldn’t lose her. Cassie needed him and he needed Cassie.

  “God, help me,” he prayed. His shoulders slumped in defeat. What could he do? And then he realized, there was only one answer. He would have to build a world for both of them, one where she would feel safe and later…later he would tell her the truth when she was so much in love with him it wouldn’t matter.

  * * *

  Cassie heard the rap on the door. Her whole body went limp with relief. He was only a half hour or so late, but she’d started imagining the worst. Throwing open the door, she met him with a smile of relief. “I was worried.”

  Bowie felt a pinch in his chest. “Sorry, baby.” He leaned down to kiss her.

  “If you’re hungry, I made a crockpot roast with potatoes and baby carrots.”

  She looked so hopeful that he would’ve eaten again even if he had consumed three suppers. Luckily, he was starving. “Sounds wonderful.” He sat down at her table and immediately started thinking of how to proceed. First, he had to ask. “This morning, you told me you’d been in an accident. We got interrupted.”

  The table was already set and she lifted the crockpot over to the table and Bowie held his breath while she did so. Lord, he needed to calm down. Cassie had been taking care of herself for some time and he needed to let her do things without him freaking out. “Oh, yea, ‘the accident’,” she said the last two words with emphasis. “You have to realize I don’t know many particulars. My folks didn’t talk about it much, other than they measured everything in life as either happening before or after the accident. All I remember is going out to play and chasing a little bird. I can remember the pain, but not much else until I woke up a few days later and I couldn’t run or jump or walk like before.”

  “Do you know who…?” He held his breath.

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Not really. I may have heard the name, but I don’t remember much except the anger. I couldn’t handle that, so I decided not to be angry. The boy who shot me didn’t mean it, Bowie. He was just a little boy.”

  “God.” Almost, almost he spoke up and told her the truth. Bowie felt his throat burn and his lungs hurt. “Cassie…” He felt his courage ebb and flow. What would it do to them if she found out now?

  He couldn’t afford to risk it.

  “I’m so sorry, Cassie.”

  “Oh, don’t be. It happened so long ago, I don’t really remember being any other way.”

  They fixed their plates and for the first time Bowie just picked at his food.

  “What’s wrong?” She couldn’t help but ask. “Is it last night?”

  “No, no,” he reassured her. “It’s just been a long day,” he told her details about the wreck. “Insurance will cover it and George is okay, so it could have been much worse. It was just a hassle.” He could see she was concerned, picking up on his mood. Smiling, he sought to reassure her. “I’m just glad to get back here with you. I want us to do things together.”

  She gave him a thousand watt smile. “I look forward to trying new things with you.”

  Bless her heart, she meant sex. “Oh, that’s a given. I’ll take you to heaven if you’ll let me, over and over again.” But he meant more than sex, he wanted to give her comfort and ease, he wanted to make her world a Cassie-friendly place. He wanted to take her places she’d never been able to go before. “I want to take you to Galveston.”

  “What?” Cassie looked excited.

  “I want to rent a beach house and spend a few days down there with you.”

  “Seriously?” Her elation was obvious. “We could go together?” Cassie tried to think. “Could I do it? Most of those houses are off the ground. I can’t climb stairs and the sand…”

  “Trust me, Cassie.” He picked up her hand in his. “Just leave the details to me. I’m very aware of what I need to do to make this work, and I will.”

  “When?” She was bubbling with enthusiasm.

  “As soon as you can get ready.”

  She whirled her wheelchair in a circle, making Bowie laugh. “Don’t get dizzy, doll.”

  “I’m just thinking. I have three orders to fill, but I can do that today. Felicity can mail them for me, and after that, I’m yours.”

  Her happy face and sparkling eyes made Bowie’s voice hitch in his throat. He had robbed her of so much. Making up for everything would take him a lifetime, but it was a quest he longed to accept. “Yes, you are mine. I have a few things to do also. How about we plan on leaving the day after tomorrow? Would that be time enough?”

  “Yes! I can do that.” But a sorrowful meow met her ears. “Oh, no. What about Sassy and Patience?”

  “Let’s take them over to my house and see if they get along with my animals. If they do, George can take care of them all at once and they won’t be lonely.” And that will be the first step to getting Cassie to move in with him.

  The thought seemed to worry her a bit. “I’m not sure.”

  “Let’s try it.” Then, he decided to go for a hail-Mary pass. “In fact, it would go a long way to getting them used to it, if we just gathered up your stuff and you made the candles at my house. I’ll help you pack them when you’re ready.” To his satisfaction, Cassie looked dizzy. “Go ahead and pack for Galveston and I’ll load up your waxes, jars, whatever. Just point it out and I’ll take care of it.”

  To put it bluntly, Bowie was a whirlwind, an irresistible force and Cassie found herself swept away in his storm surge. She did as he asked and soon she and her animals, a suitcase full of clothes and all of her work supplies were set up in Bowie’s house.

  “This place is so big, I don’t know what to do with myself.” She slowly turned her chair in a circle, taking in the large den with the fireplace, the big screen TV, the comfortable couch, the pool table.

  “I’ll clean off the dining table or the desk or set you up a different table, wherever you want to work to be comfortable.”

  “Oh, any place will do, I don’t want to disrupt anything.” Cassie was jittery. She was very glad to be with Bowie. The offer to take her to Galveston, to stay over with him for a bit—it was all a lot to take in and process. But she was enjoying the hell out of it!

  “Let me get the animals settled and you get ready for bed.”

  Bowie put his hands on her shoulders from behind and kissed her cheek. He was about to walk out when she said, “Bowie?”

  “What, baby?”

  “Is your bedroom upstairs?”

  “Fuck,” he breathed low. “Dammit! Just sit there, I’ll be right back and we’ll go together. I gotta get that fixed.”

  She heard him grumbling as he left and it made her smile. She didn’t mind that he had forgotten or that it would be difficult, Bowie would take care of her. Cassie never questioned this. While he was gone, she moved a few boxes and looked in his refrigerator for a bottled water. She got thirsty during the night and since getting up was hard, she always took water to bed.

  A few minutes later a Bowie-size storm blew through that whisked her up and carted her up the stairs. “I fed everyone and made sure they had a secure place in the bunk house.” He smiled and kissed her. “I’ll have to show you what I’m talking about tomorrow. I’ve buil
t a room just for the animals so no one has to sleep out in the weather. There’s a doggie door so they can go out and do their business in an enclosed yard and climbing poles and shelves for the cats if the dogs get on their nerves. Everyone had comfortable beds and the food and beverage bar is open all night.”

  Knowing how some animals suffered at the hands of their owners, Cassie gave Bowie a gentle kiss on his cheek. “You’re a good man.”

  “I am a man, and I’m about to show you how good I am.” He placed her gently on the bed and began to undress right in front of her.

  Cassie was entranced. He was so broad and muscled, his chest was lightly furred and wide. She wanted to touch it so much she ached. When he shrugged his shirt off his shoulders, she marveled at his biceps and knew she couldn’t even begin to reach around them with both hands. “I wish I had some music,” she quipped.

  “Oh, you do?” He winked at her and pulled on his belt buckle, thrusting his hips out toward her.

  “If you go get my purse, I’ll slip a dollar in your undies.”

  “I think I’m worth more than a dollar, short-stuff.” He tossed his jeans across the room and jerked his briefs down.

  “Yep, I would say so. You sure as hell don’t need to jelq.”

  Hearing the unexpectedly erotic word come out of Cassie’s mouth almost knocked Bowie down. He slung his remaining clothes over his shoulder and crawled up on the bed toward her like a big lion. “What did you say?”

  Cassie giggled. She couldn’t stop. He had straddled her, looming larger over her with a chest so wide he blocked out the light, his long hair hanging down like a black mane. “And do you know what that word means?”

  “I do,” she whispered. “Do you?”

  Before he could answer, she took his member between her fingers and began to milk it. “I don’t think yours needs to be lengthened, but if it did, this is the way you would do it.”

  Bowie groaned. “Oh, I don’t know. I think it’s working.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  He grew still and let Cassie have her way with him. “And how did you acquire this risqué knowledge?”

  “I read.”

  “What are you reading these days, cupcake?” He started kissing her face all over. “E. L. James?”

  “No,” she hiccupped a laugh. “Sable Hunter.”

  “Never heard of her,” Bowie muttered as he began unbuttoning her shirt and slipping it off of her.

  “I wish I could dance for you,” Cassie whispered as she helped him disrobe her.

  Bowie felt like a big hand reached into his chest and was crushing his heart. “Shhh, you’re making all of my dreams come true.” Not for one moment did he want her to even think she was less than exactly what he wanted, what he needed.

  “What can we do tonight?”

  She looked so hopeful that Bowie wanted to do everything he could to make her feel cherished and desired. “What do you want to do?”

  “I want you to take my virginity and make me cum.” Cassie just threw the words out without taking a breath.

  Bowie felt humbled. Bless her heart, she didn’t know that those two things seldom happened simultaneously. Or so he’d heard. Bowie didn’t have extensive experience in virgin territory—nil to be exact. “I want to give you your heart’s desire, but I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”

  “You’ll think of something.” She gave him a snarky little smile. “I trust you.”

  Bowie stretched out beside her, knowing he had to be so careful. He couldn’t do this in the traditional manner, not with his cock. He was a big man and his weight could hurt her. He prayed they would discover other positions and other ways of making love that wouldn’t cause her discomfort but until they did, this would have to do.

  “I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.” He kissed her, lay down next to her, reclining back on one arm so his upper body was sitting up. This way Bowie could kiss her lips or her breasts and keep one hand free to work his magic below her waist. “God, you’re sweet.” He could tell she was a little nervous, her breathing was shallow and her body was trembling ever so slightly.

  “I don’t think you can operate from there.”

  Her bland statement made him chuckle. “I’m a smooth operator, just watch me.” First, he began with kisses—sweet close-mouthed kisses that grew to passionate open-mouthed kisses when she wound her arm around his neck and held him close. As Bowie made love to her mouth, he let his palm glide down her smooth, toned stomach until he was palming her mound. “You’re so beautiful here, so soft and warm.” Slowly, he began to let the heat build, rubbing her between the legs, letting his fingers dip inside her folds.

  “Feels so good,” she whimpered, reaching down to touch his dick.

  “Uh-uh, let me concentrate, my time will come later.”

  She let out a frustrated little groan. “Spoilsport,” she grumbled.

  “Just pay attention to what I’m doing here.” He fussed playfully as he kissed her neck, then licked a circle around her nipples. “I’m gonna stretch you, baby. You tell me if I hurt you, if I do, I’ll stop.”

  Cassie just immersed herself in the pleasure. Bowie was sucking at her breast and pushing two big fingers deep inside of her. He moved them in and out, slowly, then picked up the speed, adding another finger, going deeper and deeper until he touched a place that had her gasping.

  “Hurt?” He lifted his head.

  “No! Feels so good. If you stop, I’ll hit you.” Her words were husky and she wrapped her fingers in his hair and tugged.

  Bowie smiled around her nipple. He was doing something right. Pumping the three fingers in and out, reaching in as far as he could, he kept his thumb on her clit, rubbing circles around and around until she stiffened and cried out, “Bowie, yes!”

  God, he was hard. She was so wet. Maybe, if he was careful. Levering himself over her, he opened her legs ever so gently and put the head of his cock at the gate of her vagina. “I can’t help it, I need you.” He pushed in, not far, but it was enough for him to feel the amazing squeeze of her tight little pussy.

  “We’re doing it!” She held his gaze, wonder on his face.

  “Yea, baby.” He pushed in just a little farther, shut his eyes and just reveled in how it felt to be inside of Cassie.

  Emotions pulsed through Cassie as the orgasm faded and the thrill of watching Bowie satisfy himself inside of her body took hold. This was what she wanted—this connection, this knowledge that she could enjoy and be enjoyed. It was absolutely thrilling. Raising her head, she kissed his chest, running her hands up and down the arms that held him above her. How she wished she could bear his weight upon her, feel him pressing her into the mattress.

  Bowie fought so hard for control, it was heaven being with Cassie. “You’ve ruined me,” he whispered as he surrendered, finding his release.

  Cassie hadn’t cum again, but she didn’t really care. Bowie rose and went to find a wash cloth to clean her up. Then he gently pulled her to the edge of the bed, lowering his head between her thighs.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Kissing it and making it better.”

  Cassie wouldn’t have thought it possible, but her second orgasm was better than the first.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Bowie?” Uncle Michael was concerned. “Aren’t you setting yourself up for a mountain of heartache?”

  Bowie steered Sheba up next to Jasmine so she could nurse. He had given the mother camel and her calf a vaccination. “Maybe, but I’d rather do that than walk away from her.”

  “You were a little boy, you can’t sacrifice your life because of one mistake.”

  A banging drew his attention. Cassie had come outside to play with the animals. Her laughter carried across the yard. The sight of her made him smile. “Look at her and you tell me if she’s worth any sacrifice or not.”

  Michael stroked the small dromedaries back. “But what about—”

&nb
sp; “What about what?” Bowie asked as he wiped his hands before going to meet Cassie.

  “You, know, a physical relationship.”

  The two men shared a lot, but this wasn’t one of the things they usually talked about. “That’s private and my worry.” He didn’t like to be rude to his uncle, so he mellowed it with more information. “Look, we’re going out of town for a while and I have a favor or two to ask you.”

  “Of course, sure. What can I do?”

  Bowie kept an eye on Cassie as she let the dogs jump up on her. The makeshift ramp he had installed was one of the first things that had to go. “Help George, if you can and get ahold of an architect, a designer, contractors or whatever. This is what I want.” He reached into his back pocket and took out a list and handed it to his uncle. It included new cabinets, a revamped bathroom, ramps, exercise room, hot tub—everything Cassie would need to be comfortable in his home.

  Michael stared at what Bowie had written. “You’re rebuilding your whole damn house.”

  Bowie nodded his head. “I am, I’m doing what it takes to make her welcome in my world.”

  “Are you sure about this?” His uncle just couldn’t seem to let it go.

  But Bowie was sure. “More than anything.”

  “What about when she finds out the truth, and she will, some way or another.”

  Bowie looked off into the distance, dreading the day. “I haven’t seen absolute proof yet, but when I do…well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

  Michael sighed and took off his cap, rubbing the top of his balding head. “Lord, talk about a bridge over troubled waters…”

  Bowie slapped a hand on the older man’s shoulder. “I want to be that for her, Uncle, don’t you understand? I want to be whatever she needs.”

  “Okay, Bowie. You can count on me.”

  * * *

  “I’ve got to cut across Texas and deliver a piece of machinery for Malone Earthworks.” Bowie explained. “George is going to be working on a rig north of Beaumont and then we’ll head down, it will be a circuitous route, but we’ll make it fun.” He pulled out of Kerrville and headed toward Austin.