by Lisa Hobman
‘God, Cassie you really are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,’ he moaned, his mouth full of her breast. ‘The feel of you beneath me… God there really aren’t enough words in my vocabulary to describe how much I want you.’
Her eyelids fluttered closed and her lips parted as he continued to devour her. ‘You’re doing a great job without words, believe me,’ she gasped as his fingers drifted lower… lower…
*
Mac
Sated once more Mac scooped Cassie into his arms and she rested her head on his chest as he stroked her hair. The scent of her coconut shampoo had been one that he’d loved from the first time he’d been close enough to smell it. Now, he closed his eyes and inhaled freely, relishing the fact that he could.
So this was what it was meant to be like? This had been making love. He’d always thought the phrase was clichéd and so overused but now… Now he got it. Now he understood what it meant to put someone’s pleasure before his own. To delight in watching a woman’s expression tighten and release as her orgasm took hold and to want to keep experiencing that over and over.
The noises of desire and enjoyment she’d made had turned him on so much more than those of any other woman he’d been with. And the way she’d clung to him as he’d reached his own climax, as if it really meant something to her, had solidified the truth he already knew. That he was meant to be hers; that in some strange, miraculous way she had arrived in the village at the right time; that the things he’d endured since her arrival hadn’t happened because of her but he’d survived them all because of her.
He felt her breath slow as the heat of it caressed his naked chest and he held her tighter. Unwilling to let the night be over just yet. A quick glance at the clock told him that dinnertime had been well and truly bypassed. Yet, even though his stomach growled, he was reluctant to release Cassie from his embrace.
Eventually after the third hungry rumble occurred Cassie giggled. ‘I think your belly needs food, Mr Mackenzie.’
He laughed and rested his arm across his eyes to hide his embarrassment. ‘Shit, Yeah that one was really loud, eh?’
She sat upright, revealing the creamy mounds of her breasts to him once again and he couldn’t help his attention being drawn there. She really was gorgeous.
She slapped him playfully as she climbed from the crumpled sheets. ‘Oi, Tiger. I’m up here. I’ll go make some scrambled egg on toast and open a bottle of red wine. You jump in the shower and come and join me when you’re ready.’
He clambered from the bed and tugged her into his arms again. ‘I don’t want to shower yet. I like wearing your scent on my body,’ he told her as he slipped his hands down and squeezed her bottom. Her cheeks flushed and her nostrils flared. He wasn’t sure if what he’d just said had disgusted her and he stuttered an apology. ‘God, I didn’t mean that to sound… I mean I didn’t…’
She pulled his face down and stopped his words with her mouth. When she pulled away she lightly grazed his chest with her nails. ‘You’ve no idea how good that makes me feel.’ She smiled sexily before turning away, grabbing her satin robe and heading for the bedroom door.
Chapter Forty
Cassie
Once down in the kitchen, Cassie let Cliff out into the darkness of the little cottage garden and then located the music app on her phone. She thumbed through to find a Beach Boys track list and hit play. As she let her little furry companion back in to the house, the haunting, sultry opening to ‘Good Vibrations’ filled the room. As the chorus kicked in, the chill of the tiles beneath her feet lessened as she began to dance around the kitchen, preparing the simple meal for her new man. She sang in to the whisk as Cliff looked on with his head tilted to one side and little tail wagging frantically. No doubt he thought his human had totally lost her marbles.
The track list was suddenly interrupted by the ringing of her mobile phone and she reached across the counter top to grab it as she continued to whisk the eggs in her white plastic jug.
‘Hello?’ she answered breezily in a sing-song tone, unable and unwilling to hide her happiness from her voice.
‘Hi, poppet. It’s me. It’s Seth.’
The smile disappeared from her lips and she felt the blood drain from her skin. Her whisking hand froze and she gulped. She considered cutting him off but was somehow stone-like, unable to take action. ‘W-what do you want?’
A deep sigh travelled across the airwaves and caused a shiver of unease to traverse her spine. ‘I want to see you. It’s been too long. There are things we need to discuss.’
Ignoring the imploring tone to his voice she closed her eyes and shook her head. ‘How did you get this number?’
He chuckled. ‘Oh come on, poppet. You know me well enough to have no need for such questions. So… when are you coming to see me?’
Her nostrils flared and as bile rose in her throat she gritted her teeth. ‘In prison?’ she hissed. ‘When am I coming to see you in prison after you tried to kill my friend?’
‘Hey, don’t forget I haven’t been convicted, darling. Don’t be the judge and jury, eh? It’s all lies and you know it.’ He sighed again. ‘I just want to see you. To talk.’
She slammed the whisk down, sending globules of the opaque yellow egg mixture flying across the wooden counter top. ‘How are you even allowed to use the phone? And isn’t there some kind of rule that says you can’t contact me?’
‘Cassandra, please, just listen to me. I pulled in a favour and I only have a limited amount of time. I need to see you. There are so many loose ends. Please. I just want to talk. I promise you that’s all I want.’
Suddenly filled with defiance as she remembered how he treated her before the fire had even occurred, she decided to stand firm. ‘No. I won’t come, Seth and I’d rather you didn’t contact me again. I’m hanging up now.’
‘Cassie, please.’ He insisted as his voice wavered. ‘I’m going crazy in here. I just need to see a friendly face. I’m begging you. Please? I know you must hate me right now and I don’t blame you for that but please… if you ever really loved me, come and see me. Just five minutes is all I ask. Please?’
How could he sound so much like the old Seth now? Had prison really had such an impact on him? Maybe he was truly remorseful. But she couldn’t risk it. ‘No. Sorry, Seth but I’m moving on and so should you.’
‘I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say. It’s… it’s about your mother’s death.’
Her heart plummeted as if she was on a fairground ride, only without the fun. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You need to come and see me. I’m not prepared to say things over the phone. Let’s just say that I’ve had some interesting conversations in here.’
She was unwilling to believe him. ‘My mother was very ill when she died. What could you possibly have to tell me about it?’
‘Like I said, I can’t talk over the phone. You need to come and see me. But don’t tell anyone. This has to be just between you and me, Cassie. Only you and me, okay?’ he whispered down the line.
Fear gripped her stomach and she didn’t know what to do. If there was any chance of foul play connected to her mother’s death she needed to know. ‘How do I know you’re not just making this up to get me to come and see you.’
‘Fine, Cassie, don’t come. But you’ll forever be wondering. And I would hate that for you. There are people in here who know things. Awful things…’ His voice trailed off.
‘I’ll think about it. But I won’t promise anything. I don’t even know if I should legally be visiting you.’
‘Like I said, no one must know. No one, Cassie. I’m putting myself in danger telling you any of this as it is.’
‘I’m hanging up now,’ she informed him as tersely as possible and hit the end call button. Her heart pounded and her palms were sweating. What the hell could he possibly know? And why had her dad never mentioned this? So many questions rattled around her head. She had absolutely no clue how to deal
with this latest revelation, but deep down she knew she couldn’t settle if she didn’t find out.
Hands came about her waist and she almost jumped out of her skin. Mac stepped to the side of her so she could clearly see his face. ‘Hey, it’s only me. Is everything okay?’
She pondered telling him about the call but decided not to spoil the mood they had been sharing. She forced a laugh. ‘Ugh, I’m fine. Just so engrossed in cooking, I suppose.’
He nodded to her phone. ‘So have I converted you?’
The Beach Boys were singing ‘Good Vibrations’ again and she tiptoed and planted a tender kiss on his cheek. ‘You might just have. I especially love “God Only Knows” but I put it on shuffle and this came up first.’
‘I can certainly agree with you on that particular track.’ He stepped closer and slipped his arm around her waist again as his other hand caressed her face. ‘It’ll always remind me of you.’
Chapter Forty-one
Cassie shook uncontrollably as the prison officer frisked her. She had already walked through a metal detector and been required to hand in her bag. A stern-faced woman with hair scraped back into a ponytail had informed her that her visit was limited to thirty minutes but in all honesty she wanted to be out in five. The place was very clean but the fact it was a prison gave her the heebie-jeebies. Never in a million years did she expect to have cause to set foot inside one, never mind that it would be to visit Seth Guthrie of all people.
Once inside the waiting area, she glanced around at the other visitors. Some were chatting amongst themselves like this was just any normal day but others, like her, looked uncomfortable and afraid. Once the officers were ready to accept her group they were shown through to a room with chairs and tables set out as if ready for interviews. They were all asked to be seated and await the arrival of their particular inmate. Inmate. Another word she never thought would be associated with Seth. This was all too surreal for words.
Her stomach roiled as she saw Seth walk through the door. He looked unkempt and older somehow. His unshaven face was pale and his eyes sunken and circled with grey. But this time it was no ploy for sympathy, that much was very clear. She wouldn’t have recognised him out on the street.
He gingerly sat opposite her and reached out to touch her hand where it lay on the table. She swiftly moved her hands to her lap.
‘Hi, poppet. You look… you look beautiful.’ His voice trembled and his eyes welled. The tears shimmered in the harsh, artificial strip lighting.
‘Thank you. But please stop calling me poppet. I’ve always hated it. Now what did you have to tell me that was so important?’ she asked dryly.
He gave a light laugh. ‘Straight to the point eh? I guess my influence on you continues.’
She snorted. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Seth. You have no influence over me. Not anymore. Now why did you ask me to come here?’
He sneered and leaned forwards slightly. ‘Your boyfriend waiting for you outside is he?’
Before thinking it through she snapped, ‘You said not to tell anyone, so he doesn’t even know I’m here.’ She immediately closed her eyes and clamped her teeth down on her lips.
He laughed again. ‘Tut tut. Little Cassie’s keeping secrets from her new man already? I didn’t expect you to go through with that part. What will he think when he finds out?’
She opened her eyes and stood. ‘Clearly your reason for requesting a visit was simply to wind me up. I won’t stay and listen to it, Seth. Goodbye.’ She turned to head for the door.
‘Wait! I’m sorry. Please don’t go.’
She sighed and turned to see his stature had shrunken and he suddenly resembled a lost puppy. But she was unwilling to fall for his mind games. She wanted to know what he had to tell her about her mother’s death then wanted to get the hell out of there. She reluctantly turned and took her seat once more. ‘Then explain why I’m here so I can get home.’
‘I wanted to apologise. I treated you so badly. You didn’t really deserve it.’
Angered by his use of the unnecessary adverb she jutted out her jaw and folded her arms across her chest. ‘I certainly didn’t deserve any of it. And neither did Mac. I can’t believe you would sink so low as to ruin a man’s life like that. A man you didn’t even know.’
‘I haven’t been convicted,’ he stated plainly, his eyes once again ice cold and emotionless. God he could turn it on and off like flicking a switch. Devious bastard.
‘Oh cut the bullshit, Seth. You were jealous. You wanted something you couldn’t have and so you destroyed it. It’s what you do. I just never realised it until now. And your half-arsed apology is of no use to me. It won’t bring back Mac’s home. You caused that poor man so much pain. He could’ve died and thanks to my connection to you I would’ve forever felt responsible. So you could have ruined two lives. And you supposedly loved me once. Although, I really don’t see that, looking back. You wanted a possession. Something you could own and control.’ She leaned towards him and spoke through clenched teeth. ‘Well I have news for you. We’re fighting back. You can’t touch us anymore. You can’t touch me anymore. It’s over Seth. You lose. You’re just a pathetic, spoiled mummy’s boy. You deserve to rot in here. Now tell me what you wanted to tell me so I can go!’
He placed his head in his hands and his shoulders shuddered. For a second, she almost felt guilty for making him cry but when he lifted his head he had a huge grin on his face. She gasped at the incredulity of it all. He was laughing at her!
He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. ‘Do you know you’re incredibly sexy when you’re feisty. I don’t know anything about your mother. But it worked, didn’t it? You’re here, behind your stupid surfer’s back. Poor little poppet. Your mummy died through illness of course. Believe me the naughty boys in here don’t even look at me, let alone tell me anything juicy.’
All hope of him genuinely asking for forgiveness or telling her anything of importance faded. ‘You callous bastard. How the hell did I ever love you?’ The question was rhetorical but he appeared to be about to answer so she spoke first, ‘Stop. Just stop, Seth. I don’t want to hear anymore.’
He held up his hands in surrender. ‘You’re right. I wanted you back and you were making it difficult. I don’t like to lose, simple as that. No one walks out on me and gets away with it. I tried every which way to do things the nice way until you left me no choice. So if you think about it you are kind of responsible. If you’d come back to me none of this would’ve happened. I own you. You’re mine. I don’t let go of my possessions lightly.’ He shrugged as if his explanation was the most natural thing in the world. ‘But I did love you, Cassie. I may have a twisted way of showing it, yes. But the fact remains, no one will ever compare to you. And I would do anything to get you back. Anything.’
Shaking her head, she stood one last time. ‘Oh Seth, there’s absolutely nothing you could ever do now to make me love you again. You killed what we had the first time you slept with that woman in our bed. And you continually put nails in the coffin each time it happened after that. But what buried us was when you involved an innocent bystander in the shitty debacle that was our relationship collapse. And then you drag my mother into the mix. You really do need help. I feel sorry for you. Sorry that you have to lie, cheat and manipulate to get what you want. We’re over. Done. Have a nice life, Seth Guthrie. I’m sure you’ll make some lovely new friends in here.’
Feeling buoyed by her newfound courage she walked away without looking back.
*
Mac
Cliff lay on the rug in front of the roaring fire watching as Mac paced up and down the room. Anger prickled at his skin and a sense of betrayal knotted his stomach. Where the hell was she? The call had come two hours ago. Perhaps his worst fears had been realised and she’d left?
The door opened and he stopped in his tracks to glare at the new arrival. ‘Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been worried sick.’
Cassie halted in the doorway and wid
ened her eyes, clearly shocked by his use of expletives. ‘Out,’ she stated plainly.
Mac shook his head and grinned, feeling no amount of happiness. ‘Out?’
She nodded and removed her coat, hanging it on the hook by the door. ‘That’s what I said.’ She made her way into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle.
Mac followed and stood behind her, arms folded across his chest where he could feel the angry thud of his heart beat. ‘So, how was he?’
Cassie stopped moving and without turning to face him, asked, ‘How’s who?’
‘Come on, Cassie, there’s no point lying. I know you went to see Seth.’
She turned with an air of defiance. ‘Well you’re wrong. Why the hell would I go visit that psycho?’
Mac raised his arms and let them flop loudly to his sides. ‘Jesus. The fact that you went without telling me is bad enough, but the fact that you’re lying about it hurts, Cassie. It really hurts.’
Her nostrils flared and her eyes darted towards the wall-mounted phone. Mac followed her line of sight. ‘Yeah, not only does he have your mobile number, but apparently he has the house line too. I wonder where he got them from, hmm?’
Cassie closed her eyes and lowered her head as she whispered, ‘He called when I’d gone. Of course, he called.’
‘Oh he called. He couldn’t wait to tell me all about your secret little rendezvous. How you’ve forgiven him now and that you’re going to remain good friends. All total and utter bullshit no doubt, but after everything he’s done to us you couldn’t keep away from him? He called and you went running? I just don’t get it, Cassie. And what I can’t get my head around is that you didn’t even tell me he’d called you, let alone the fact that you were actually going to visit the bastard. You kept it all quiet. I thought we had something special. A trust between us?’