She giggled and dropped her head back as he took her nipple into his mouth. “Mmm,” she moaned, his mouth on her breast lighting her up down below.
He slid his hand into her panties and two fingers directly inside of her, making her gasp. “Damn, that’s the hottest thing ever,” he said. “You’re so wet for me.”
Cassidy never did well with sexy talk, but coming from him, she could get on board.
She gripped his blessedly hard cock. “And this is for me?” she asked.
“Hell, fucking yeah it is,” he said, pushing her down on the bed.
He started to head between her legs, but her body was so in need of him inside it, she wasn’t sure if she could take the torture. She nudged his head away. “Just get a condom already.”
He smiled. “I can do that.” He jumped up and grabbed a small bag out of his suitcase and pulled one out. Within seconds he was plunging into her there, sideways on the bed. She gripped his biceps as the pressure mounted, taking her to places she’d only dreamed about. God, if only they could remove that condom between them, she’d freaking lose her mind. But she couldn’t go nuts here. She’d been so good for so long, teaching others to be safe. She had to stay strong and resigned.
She let out a groan as he pushed hard inside her, over and over, the friction making her lose control. She dug her fingertips into his shoulders and let herself go with a loud sound of carnal bliss, and he collapsed onto her, breathing into her neck. After a moment of rest, he kissed her neck and then pulled off of her, lying on his back. “Fuck, Cassidy. I can’t get enough of you.”
She smiled and let that sink in for her.
While he was in the bathroom, she pulled the sheet up her naked body, feeling a little bit too exposed. When he headed back for the bed, he said, “Are you cold?”
“Not really,” she said.
He slid into bed next to her, underneath the sheet, and ran his hand up her belly and between her breasts. “I could touch you every minute of every day.”
“I could let you.”
He ran a single finger down the length of her torso, brushing by her clit, and then cupping her thigh. “I love every inch of your body.”
She froze, his wording throwing her off a little, but he just continued playing with her. She had to relax into this…just let it be what it was going to be.
“You’re the one with the amazing body.” She pulled the sheet off his chest so she could look at it. “Tell me about all your tattoos,” she said, running her fingers over his arm.
“They’re not anything super-significant, not those. I got the first one as kind of a fuck-you to my buttoned-up life, and then I got another one just because I’d had a hard time deciding that day and wanted to go back for the second one. From there it became kind of a habit.”
“Do you think you’ll get more?”
“If I feel like it, but I’ve been done for a while now. You don’t have any, do you?” he asked. “Hang on.” He lifted the sheet and took a look at her backside. He ran a hand over her ass, and then gave it pat, which made her feel twenty years younger for some odd reason. “I didn’t think so. You never wanted one?”
“I had a moment when I thought about it, but it passed.”
He ran a finger over her chest. “You ought to get one here in red. Jesse Kirby is hot.”
“You wouldn’t see that as a little psycho?”
“Hell no. I’d parade you around town in tank tops all the time so everyone could see it.”
She considered him. “It really doesn’t bother you, being seen with an older woman?”
“Not like it bothers you to be seen with a younger guy.”
She deserved that. “I made progress tonight, didn’t I?”
He smiled. “Yeah, you did. I wasn’t sure what to do when I first saw you. I didn’t want you to think I was blowing you off or anything, but I wasn’t sure how open you would be with me.”
She gave him a resigned smile. “I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way. It was my hang-up. It had absolutely nothing to do with you personally.”
“Exactly what hang-up is it that you got over?”
She inhaled deeply, knowing she was on thin ice here. This was so new, whatever it was. He seemed all in but these situations were delicate. Cassidy would never forget the guy who had once pursued her hard. Flirting shamelessly for nights on the phone. The second she gave it back to him he made an excuse to get off the phone and she never heard from him again. Men liked the chase. She understood this.
“I just wasn’t sure where this was going. I’m still not sure, but I think we may be in the same arena.” She gauged him. Might as well get it out on the table. She was interested. She was letting him know that.
He took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I’m not only in the arena, I got us a pair of box seats.”
She smiled. “Dang, you put some coin down for those, didn’t you?”
“Damn right I did. Cost me a week’s salary.”
She shook her head, giggling. Freaking giggling.
“God, you’re sexy when you let yourself laugh.”
“You think I hold back?”
“Oh, yeah. You’re so nonchalant. Disinterested.”
“Wow, that doesn’t sound good.”
“Not unkind, but unaffected.”
“Sounds like I put on a good front,” she said.
He ran a finger over her forehead and down her nose. “You better watch out. I’m busting through that front. I’m coming for you, lady.”
She closed her eyes, smiling so wide. He covered her mouth with a kiss, and they fell right back into their rhythm, but this time, they just kept kissing. He pulled away, staying close. “You have no idea how good you make me feel.”
Her heart filled to the brim when he said things like that. She’d seen this as an affair. A handful of nights of progressing passion that would eventually fizzle when a pretty girl walked into his bar. And that still might be their fate. Only time would tell them for sure, and as soon as they got away from this fantasy weekend she would find out exactly where they stood.
14
Upon their return from the fantasy weekend, Cassidy had sworn to herself that she would buckle down at work for the week and not fall into a romance-induced coma. Knowing that Jesse had a lot to catch up on from being out, she told herself that she wouldn’t try to see him until Sunday when the shop was closed, and she started counting down the minutes. She even let Marigold deliver the cookies on Tuesday, but after a WTF text with a single-tear emoji, she’d sworn she’d make the Wednesday delivery.
As she walked into the bar, showered, hair done, and makeup on, a first for a workday for her, Jesse, snatched her up and twirled her around, barely giving her time to set the cookies down. She was thin, but she was a big girl. She was worried he’d hurt his back, but then she remembered his age and subsequent strength.
He set her down. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen you for a full forty-eight hours.”
“Well, we left each other at about six o’clock on Monday, and it’s eleven o’clock on Wednesday, so I think we’re more like, forty-one hours.”
“Forty-one too many,” he said, kissing her like they weren’t standing in the middle of a place of business.
“Ahem,” Kelly, one of the servers, uttered as she passed with raised eyebrows.
He took Cassidy’s hands. “Come upstairs with me.”
She glanced around like there was someone there who would get them in trouble. “Really?”
“I’m gonna lose my mind if I don’t have you right fucking now.” He slid his hands over her hips and down to her ass.
She stepped back, smiling. “Okay.” It wasn’t like she hadn’t prepared for this possibility. This was a young, very sexual man, and it’d been two days since they’d last made love…had sex.
He led her through the door that promised to squeal but did not, and up the stairs to a door that was not locked.
Just as they go
t through the doorway, he went for her at the same time his phone buzzed. He looked at it. “Fuck. Hang on. Can you not just handle it?” he asked as he typed. He waited for the response and then rolled his eyes. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” He pointed at a door. “That one’s mine. Go make yourself comfortable. Get naked.” He went for the door and then came back to her and kissed her, threading his fingers through her hair. He pulled away. “I’ll be right back.”
He ran down the stairs, leaving Cassidy standing in his apartment a little dumbfounded. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it looked exactly like a slightly upgraded college roommate type apartment. A decent leather sofa. A television that was definitely not the latest technology. A large plastic bowl that may have had cereal in it earlier that day, she hoped, on the coffee table. Tons of wires coming from the TV stand. A video game console. She felt like she could have handled anything but the video game console.
The sound of a door opening stunned her so epically that she gave a little shout, holding her hand over her heart. A very young girl stepped out of a room wearing nothing but thong underwear and a T-shirt that exposed her belly, stopping just below two ample breasts that were either fake or outstanding.
The girl scratched her head, her shirt lifting up to almost expose her nipple. “Hey. I thought I heard Jesse come back.” She squinted at her. “You’re not his sister are you?”
“Umm,” Cassidy said, having trouble taking her eyes off the girl’s exposed body. “No.”
“Mmm,” she grunted, and then headed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. “Dammit. I’ve got to do a grocery order.”
Cassidy wasn’t sure she’d ever been stunned into submission, but that was exactly what was happening in that moment.
The girl turned back to her, setting a bowl on the counter. “I’m Gracie.”
Cassidy wasn’t sure if she should give this person her name or not. But honestly, the girl didn’t look interested in knowing it, which encouraged her to give it. “I’m Cassidy.”
Gracie forced a smile. “Nice to meet you. Sorry I don’t have anything to offer you.”
“It’s no problem. I’ll tell you what. I’m just going to head out. It was lovely to meet you.”
“Is Jesse not coming back?”
“No, I think he might be. I have a question, actually. Can I go out this back door? The one that exits to outside at the bottom of this staircase, or will that trigger an alarm?”
“No, that’s totally how we come and go.”
Cassidy smiled out of pure relief. “That’s great. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“No problem.” Gracie looked her up and down. “Do you do barre?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re like, hot for an older lady. I want to look like you when I’m your age. What’s your workout?”
“Umm,” Cassidy said, utterly clueless. “I’m just gonna…” She trailed off as she opened the door.
“Bye,” Gracie said, lifting her hand up high. Cassidy pushed through the door just before getting a glimpse of what had to have been her exposed nipple.
Cassidy ran down the stairs, begging the gods to let her get out the door before he came back in, but as soon as she pushed through the out door, she heard the other door open.
“Cassidy?” came Jesse’s voice, which now full-on gave her the creeps. Picking up her step, she started a jog in the direction of her car. “Cassidy!” he yelled and, of course, caught up with her. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Cassidy stopped, realizing running was futile at this point. He was in way better shape. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Umm, I met Gracie.”
He just stood there looking confused for a moment, and then understanding finally seemed to sink in. “Oh, fuck. Have I not mentioned her yet?”
She couldn’t help a laugh. “No.”
“She’s my roommate. I forgot she was home. She’s usually up and gone by now but she’s on spring break.”
“Spring break?” Cassidy asked. One of many questions she didn’t want the answer to.
“She goes to community college in Niceville. They don’t have class this week. I forgot all about that.”
Cassidy scrunched up her face, trying to continue to make sense of this. “Does she typically walk around mostly naked?”
“Oh, fuck,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Cassidy. I swear, she and I are totally plutonic.”
“Okay, I’d really like to believe that, but I want you to imagine that you’ve stepped into my home and found a very attractive man walking around in his underwear. What would your feeling about that be?”
He tossed up his hands. “I’d want to fucking kill him.”
“Can you maybe understand that I have some questions? For one, why haven’t you mentioned this?”
He held up a hand. “I swear to God, I wasn’t trying to hide it. It just never came up. I don’t see her that much at home anyway.”
“At home?” she asked.
“She works at the bar. That’s how we know one another.”
Cassidy closed her eyes, letting that gem sink in. “Hang on. This woman works for you?”
“Yeah,” he said, like that made perfect sense.
“And you see her walking around your house half naked on a daily basis?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s just not a big deal.”
She narrowed her gaze at him, understanding banging her upside the head. “Is it not a big deal because she’s an ex of yours?”
His hesitation to answer the question made her want to vomit. “I wouldn’t call her an ex, exactly.”
She held up both hands like she was being arrested. “I think I’ve heard all I need to for the day.” She turned and headed toward her car.
“Please don’t run away from me. I really want a chance to explain this.”
She shook her head at herself. What had she expected?
“Please, Cassidy. I can’t let you walk away like this.”
She stopped and turned toward him slowly. “I’m sorry. You can’t let me?”
“This is spiraling out of control. Please, just listen to me for a minute. Can I have a minute?”
She let out an exhaustive sigh, wanting to get away, but somehow needing to hear the explanation for this nonsense.
“We used to sleep together on occasion. It was always just for fun. Neither of us ever took it seriously. She’s not dating anyone right now, but she sees guys all the time, I swear.”
“In your apartment?”
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
She bit her lip, looking off at the ocean between the buildings. “I’ve made a huge mistake here,” she said, her heart unable to believe the words it needed to hear.
“Look, I’ve never hidden my lifestyle from you. I told you I lived above my bar. You know I’ve slept around a lot. I’m honestly not sure why you’re so shocked about this.”
“Because,” she said, her voice coming out way too loud. She gained control of herself. Nobody ever said anything good when they weren’t rational. “Because there’s a beautiful young girl at least half my age walking around half-naked in your apartment whom you have apparently slept with multiple times. Look, I’m easy, and open, and fluid, and whatever other term is en vogue right now, but as a human woman, that shit is not going to fly.”
He dropped the tension in his shoulders, thinking as he stared at the sidewalk. He nodded like he was finally understanding. “I get it. Just let me figure something out, okay? I can’t kick her out in the middle of the semester.”
Her hand went to her forehead, rubbing it. She felt like the biggest heel on the planet. “You aren’t going to kick her out now or ever. This is just a shock, okay? Can I have a minute to process it?”
He stared at her, fear in his eyes. “Okay,” he said. “That’s fair enough. Can I come over tonight after you get off work?”
“Don’t you need to be working then?”
&
nbsp; “I’m always a floater in case someone doesn’t show up. If everyone’s there, they won’t need me.”
She let out a sigh. “Okay. Maybe, six?”
“I’ll be there.”
She nodded and then walked off toward the car, her brain bouncing around in her head. He was right. He had never lied about his lifestyle. It was all out there for her to view, chlamydia and all. She couldn’t expect him to be all the things she wished he was no more than he could expect that of her. The worst part was she feared the emotion that was driving this train on her part was jealousy. And Cassidy had never been the jealous type. She didn’t like what was happening to her at the hands of Jesse Kirby. She was becoming a person she didn’t recognize. As much as her heart screamed in protest, she wondered if she might need to nip this now before she got in any deeper.
15
A knock sounded at the door at exactly 6:02, and Cassidy let Jesse in.
“Hey,” he said, gauging her.
She gave him a tempered smile, still unsure what was going to happen. Her brain was telling her this needed to end now before she got too out of control of her emotions, but her heart begged her to hear him out with an open mind. She did need to respect him enough to let him say what he had come there to say.
They sat on the couch where Cassidy had a bottle of chardonnay chilling in a carafe. “You want a glass?” she asked.
“No, I’m good,” he said, and she started to wonder if he was there to end things with her. Get in and get out. She faced him, her elbow on the back of the couch, letting him speak first.
“I should have told you I had a female roommate. I guess since I see her more as a sister now than anything, I wasn’t thinking about it being an issue for you. I just wasn’t thinking about it at all.”
“You said you see her as a sister now. So, when’s the last time you slept with her?”
He thought about it, shaking his head. “I can’t really even remember. Maybe last summer?” He nodded. “It was August. And even then it was just a friendly fuck. Her summer session was ending and she was stressed from exams and needed to clear her head and didn’t want to swipe right on a stranger. Neither of us was weird at all the next day or any days since. But I didn’t feel great about it afterward, and I swore to myself that would be the last time.”
Grayton Beach Dreams Page 12