by Moxie North
“Of course, I’m sorry I’ve been making things difficult. I guess the cat’s out of the bag, huh Dax?” Cassie smarted.
Dax gave her a growl that had Effie and Cass laughing. Wow, that was too easy.
When Connie smiled at her consent, she went back to the kitchen and started making phone calls. Cash leaned over close to Cassie’s ear and said, “Proud of you.”
Cassie looked into his eyes. Fuck her, he was. He was proud of her; she could see it shining back at her from his eyes. She even saw a little shine around the edges. His bear must be proud of her too. Fucking hell. Cassie didn’t think she could remember a time when someone was proud of her. No one had ever thought she was anything, but this man, he was proud she wanted to be part of their world. How the hell would he look at her if she ever really accomplished something? The thought made her heart skip a beat.
Then she felt the tears start to well in her eyes as he continued to look at her with that proud fucking look. Cash spotted it and moved to fix it fast.
“I think we have a few before the gang arrives. I’m going to take Cassie for a quick nap. I’m sure Effie wouldn’t mind one before the guys and their horde of little hellions arrive,” Cash said, standing and leaning over to pick up his mate.
“Oh, can I have a nap?” Effie cooed like it was the best fucking thing since sliced bread. Cassie looked down and saw even though they had just been lounging on the couch, she look wiped.
“Run, run while you still can,” Cassie said dramatically. That got a smile from her friend.
“Come on then. Let’s get you comfy,” Dax said, helping Effie off the couch. He leaned down like he was going to pick her up, and she started slapping at his hands.
“Ugh, no, belly is too big. It’s not comfortable.” She continued batting at him. Dax conceded and wrapped an arm around her waist and started moving her to the bedroom down the hallway.
“See you in a bit,” Cassie called out over Cash’s shoulder.
“Later,” Effie said, throwing up a pair of devil horns.
Cash walked into Cassie’s room and kicked the door shut. Putting her on the bed, he went to the window and drew the curtains, The lace was thick enough that it put a shadow over the room but still filtered some light in.
Without a word, Cash started removing the braces that were on her legs and very gently started going through her exercises. Cassie was trying to think of something to say, but a little voice in her head said she didn’t need to say anything. Cash was doing his thing. Well, actually he was doing the exercises for her. It didn’t need commentary. Cassie had always been the talker. It was what kept people at a distance so they couldn’t see the real her.
Now, she had a deep understanding that Cash knew her. Really did. It was an overwhelming and terrifying thought. At the same time, it felt good. Like she was protected but still able to be herself. She watched him as he worked through the motions. His eyes going from her legs to her face, gauging if she was in pain.
It didn’t hurt. Her knee and ankle were stiff but didn’t hurt. She had to wonder if some of her pain was manufactured from her level of stress and depression. A busted ankle hurt. But a healing ankle that was never moved hurt too.
Finishing the movements that kept her joints lubricated and her tendons loose, Cash left her braces off and slid into the bed next to her.
“You did good, baby,” he said, wrapping his big body around hers.
“Uh, I just laid here,” she reminded him.
“You did everything,” he returned.
Cassie didn’t understand that statement, so she changed subjects. “Why did you look at me like that on the couch when I said the family could come over?”
“Because in the space of about twenty-four hours, you have managed to rejoin the world. I’m fucking proud of you, Sprite. It’s brave as hell, and you did that all on your own.”
Cassie thought about that. He was so very wrong. Cash was the strength behind her decisions. It was like her soul knew he had her back. No matter what. She wasn’t sure how that knowledge got there, but it was burning inside of her bright and true. This man wouldn’t let her down like so many others had.
“Not on my own,” she whispered.
“Who else stepped back into the land of the living?” he asked. He was still watching her with those intent eyes that didn’t miss anything.
“You’d never let me fall, would you?” she asked, her eyes locked onto his, searching for the answer before he spoke.
Cash could hear the question in her voice but also the thread of hope that was searching for him to agree. She still didn’t get it, but she would. Every damn day he’d figure out how to show her that she was the only one for him, and she never had to be alone again.
Bringing a hand up to her face, he cupped her cheek. Her face was so small in his hand. His thumb brushed over the apple of her cheek as he saw her eyes still searching.
“Sprite, your world changed the moment I saw you. My bear recognized you as our mate. I would die without you in my world. Every breath you take is like a gift to me. Every time you succeed in something, I’m going to throw a fucking party. Every challenge you face, I will always, always have your back. When I first met you and told you to yield, it wasn’t an order, it was a request. You choosing to let me take care of you is a fucking honor and privilege that I would never not cherish. You won’t fall. I won’t let you. I’d take on the entire world for you.”
Chapter 29
Cassie’s breath had stopped. This man was for real. For the first time in her life, Cassie felt something tight in the middle of her chest at the promise of this man. She knew how happy Effie was, but she never thought that would be an option for her. That happiness. That love.
“Fuck me, you love me,” she whispered back to him.
Cash let out a chuckle and nodded his head. “Yeah, baby, I love you.” Cash couldn’t help but think that love wasn’t a strong enough word for the emotions he was feeling. Maybe it was because she was so small; maybe because she was so broken. But he knew that even if he met her before the accident his need to love and cherish this woman, protect her from the big bad world would be just as strong.
“Like really? Hearts and flowers and shit?” she asked.
“Yeah, Sprite. Like hearts and flowers and shit. Our life can be so simple, and it can be fucking beautiful. We have each other. You need something, tell me. You want something, tell me. You want to fucking go on vacation or pierce something, I’ll make it happen. You want to stay in bed all day and let me do wicked things to you, I’ll make that happen too,” he said with a growl. He leaned down and claimed her mouth, drawing her bottom lip into his mouth, scoring it with his teeth.
Cassie was lulled into a stupor by his words. Now she was feeling the heat between her legs start to build. He totally knew her on buttons.
“Do we have time?” she asked, although what she was asking for wasn’t totally clear to her.
Cash continued to kiss her, dragging his beard down her jaw, feeling her shiver under him. “Do we have time for me to fuck that tight little body of yours? No. Do we have time to make you feel good? Absolutely,” he said, latching on to her neck and sucking hard, pulling the blood to the surface. She’d wear his mark around the other bears tonight.
“Hmm, well if we don’t have time to do it, why bother?” she gasped back at him. Just the harsh suck on her neck had her body arching against his firm chest.
“Because tonight, after dinner, I want to take you back to my place. I want to lay you out on my bed and spend the entire night worshipping every fucking inch of you. I want you to tell me about every tattoo covering your beautiful skin. I want to bring you to orgasm so many times you lose track. And when I sink my cock into you, and Sprite, it will fit, I want to hear you scream out my name, and you tell me you love me,” he said. He’d brought a hand up to cup her pert breast. He gave it a squeeze, dragging his thumb over her nipple before giving it a roll between his fingers.
“Oh shit, that’s good,” Cassie moaned.
“Imagine what I could do to you if I had the time,” he said, kissing her mouth again, his tongue sweeping inside.
“You think a couple orgasms is going to make me say I love you?” she said, her breath short as his beard trailed over her skin, his hand working her nipple in a delectable torment.
“No, I think you’ll tell me you love me after you tell me about your tattoos,” he corrected. Cash moved his hand under her shirt and to the cup of her bra. His fingers pulled down the soft fabric and found a hard, taut peak that needed his oral attention.
Pulling her shirt up, his mouth came down over her sensitive flesh before she could protest. He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth and felt her hands grasp his head in a tight grip.
Cassie thought of him listening to her tell him about the ink on her body. She knew he wanted to know the how and why of every one of them. And every one had a story. But nobody had ever asked.
Damn, this man wasn’t even wiggling into her heart; he was steam rolling it. Effie was the only person that knew why she’d inked herself the way she did. She was the only person Cassie had ever trusted. Now, she felt this man would understand. This man wouldn’t judge her.
Cassie felt like her skin was on fire. His mouth on her nipple, his hands that had skimmed down to her hip, the words in her head. She felt drawn tight, her body and mind both needing a release.
“Cash, I need to come,” she moaned. He said if she needed something to ask. So she did.
“I got you, baby,” he said, bringing his mouth back to hers. He kissed her hard and deep then pulled back to look at her almost frantic eyes.
“I get to taste you this time,” he said, his eyes glowing brightly.
Cassie gave a nod. It wasn’t one of her favorite sexual acts, but she knew somehow that this was one that Cash had to have.
He moved down her body, dragging her stretch pants down her legs, carefully moving over her knee. Cash grabbed her ankle brace and put it back on her ankle. Then grabbed a pillow from the pile near the wall and tucked it under her knee. He kept his eyes from the prize, knowing that once he looked, he’d be tasting.
Standing, he shrugged off his grey t-shirt tossing it to the chair under the window. Cassie sucked in a breath at the sheer muscled beauty of the man. She’d never get used to it.
Cash looked down at his pants and shook his head ruefully. “I need to stay focused,” he said to himself.
He came to the head of the bed and gave Cassie’s hand a tug. She sat up, and he swiped the shirt over her head. Cassie flicked the latch of her bra open on the front and tossed her bra to the floor. She saw Cash’s eyes didn’t follow the bra; they were focused on her chest. She didn’t have huge boobs, but she rocked what she had. They were high and full; they looked fan-fucking-tastic in corsets.
She could also see his eyes scanning over the blood red heart that was nestled between her breasts. The heart looked old and weathered; the edges dark and blurry. The center of the heart had an antique looking lock; the colors a muted gold. The shadowing of the keyhole felt deep and endless. Cash didn’t say anything. He just took in the mark.
The ink on her arms was varied. She had a watercolor tattoo on her upper arm that looked like the one he’d seen on Effie. But this one was different. Her other arm had a sailor girl pin-up that looked old and modern at the same time.
His eyes followed down over her scar running the length of her stomach. He could see the hint of another tattoo creeping around from her back, the edges just trailing over her hip. Cash continued his perusal to her legs. There was a garter tattoo over her thigh, the lace delicate and complicated. He knew it went all the way around. The amazing part was the three-dimensional image of a nine-millimeter gun tucked into that garter.
There was an infinity symbol on her ankle. A trail of purple flowers, tiny and delicate winding up her other calf.
His eyes finally came back up to hers and saw she was watching him warily. “Later,” he said roughly. Cash settled himself at the end of the bed and took in his mate. A few pounds and she’d have her curves back; she’d be softer, healthier.
Cash moved his eyes down the length of her body until he finally looked at his goal. With her leg propped on the pillow, her pussy was on full display, pink and glistening, waiting for him.
“Fuck me,” he growled.
Cassie giggled, fucking giggled! Shit, she was not being sexy. But she’d never had a man look between her legs like it was a fucking pot of gold. In fact, she couldn’t remember a time where a man ever had looked at her. Like, really looked.
Cash couldn’t pull his eyes from the soft pink center of her. The sweet smell was tickling all his senses, making his mouth water. It took a second to notice that the hair on her mound resembled something. Looking up to her, he raised an eyebrow.
Cassie gave a shrug. “Usually, it’s in the shape of a heart, but I haven’t kept it up lately,” she explained.
“I’ll fix it later,” he promised, then looked back down. Scooting back down the bed, he had to position his big body between her legs, with his feet still on the floor. His bed was much bigger at home, custom made for his size. They could both splay out and get comfy when he had her there.
Cash leaned close and breathed her in. His eyes closing for a moment as he let his bear and himself just appreciate what was going to be theirs forever. When his eyes opened again, he saw Cassie watching him, her lower lip worrying between her teeth.
He gave her a wolfish smile and brought his hand between her legs. Cash let just his thumb trace over her lips, the slick moisture of her easing the path. He traced up and down, a light touch not meant to torment but to explore. The pad of his thumb just brushed over her aching clit. He got the gasp he was looking for.
Catching her eye again, he brought his now glistening thumb to his mouth and sucked it in, letting the delicate flavor of her wash over his tongue. His eyes closed, and he growled deep and low in his chest. She tasted like she smelled, all sweet and womanly.
“Better than chocolate?” she quipped.
“Fucking better than anything, Sprite,” he rumbled at her, his eyes blazing with desire. Cassie sucked in a shocked breath at the sight. She was bantering while he was preaching the truth. Damn.
Cassie was shocked into silence as her gaze followed his head as it dipped between her thighs. She felt the first soft swipe of his hot tongue on her flesh. Then when she was expecting another, she was shocked when Cash sealed his mouth over her pussy and kissed her. Like fucking kissed her pussy. Not tentative licking and prodding, hell no, he was kissing her pussy like he kissed her mouth.
Hot forceful tongue, sucking and biting. It was fucking amazing. Cassie had her fingers in his hair and gripping it in seconds. The overwhelming sensations were crashing through her. She’d never felt anything like it. This man was devouring her.
Chapter 30
Cash was in fucking heaven. His mate’s perfect pussy was his. He ate and sucked and couldn’t get enough of her. It was like nothing his bear or he had ever experienced. She was perfection.
Knowing he could spend all day doing this, he focused on what his mate needed. She wanted to come, and her wish was his command. Cash moved his mouth to the top of her mound, sucking in the soft skin around her clit so his tongue could drag over it. His hand moved up her thigh, and he ringed the opening to her body with one finger.
“Yes.” He heard her gasp.
Cash eased his finger into her tight sheath. She was small, but he knew he could make her stretch and soften for him. He continued with his mouth as his finger slowly slid in and out, exploring, searching for the spots to make her squirm.
“More, baby,” she moaned. Cassie’s body arched, her head digging into the pillow, her hands still wrapped tight around his head.
Cash took a millisecond to soak in her calling him baby. He was fucking pleased as hell. In reward, he pulled back his finger and eased another one next to it
, pushing back into her clenching heat.
He heard her gasp as her body locked at the intrusion of his thick fingers. He gave her a moment to relax. The second she did he started to move his fingers. He felt her pussy get wetter, coating his fingers, easing his way. As he worked her, he started spreading his fingers, stretching her flesh, preparing her for later.
Cassie was in outer space; she was sure of it. Her body was humming; her senses on complete overload. His fingers had burned going in, but now she wanted more. Her hips were bucking on their own accord, seeking more contact. More pleasure. She wanted his cock but knew that wasn’t going to happen right now. Which meant she needed to be patient. She had been thinking up excuses to not go to his house tonight, but those flew out the window when his mouth attacked her clit.
She was so going home with him.
“Cash, please,” she begged. Her body felt like it was on fire, and she was so close to the peak. It was within her grasp, and she knew it was going to be oh so good.
“I like it when you say please,” he growled, the vibrations spinning over her clit like the best vibrator money could buy. Cash twisted his fingers inside her and bent them up, finding that sweet, painful spot that hurt so good.
Cassie couldn’t help the short scream that escaped her. He was on her g-spot, and her mind tried to move away from the sensation as her body clawed closer to it.
“Come on, Sprite. Show me how hard you can come for me,” he ordered. His mouth returning to her clit as he lapped and sucked furiously. His fingers pumped in and out of her, pressing deeper as his knuckled bumped against sensitive flesh.
“Now,” he growled against her and felt her whole body lock tight as she started to scream. And fuck was she loud.
Cassie knew she was making an unholy amount of noise, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her body felt like it was going to shatter under the explosion of pleasure. Her clit felt like it was the center of the big bang. Her pussy was trying to squeeze Cash’s fingers off as he continued driving into her. And for the first time in her life, Cassie felt a hot gush of liquid from her core pour out over his fingers.