by K. J. Dahlen
“I’ve never kissed anyone before. I didn’t know how to do it.” She glanced at him then looked away again. “Did I do it right?”
Deke raised his hand slowly. Barely touching her chin, he brought her face toward his. He studied her for a moment then said, “You did just fine.” She blushed and he had to ask, “How old are you anyway?”
Cassie blushed redder. “I’m twenty two.” She stared out the window for a moment, then turned back to look at him. “Can we kiss again?”
Deke hid the smile that wanted to break over his lips and nodded. “I think I’d like that.”
Cassie leaned toward him. Her tongue licked her dry lips and Deke groaned. Without thinking about it, he raised up and turned her over on her back. Grabbing her face, he lowered his lips to hers and when she opened her mouth to gasp, his tongue entered. They kissed long and deep.
His body was hot against hers, separated only by the blanket between them. She groaned as his hands lowered to her shoulders. Pushing the blanket from her, Deke’s eyes widened as he noted her bare skin beneath it. He knew she had been fully clothed when they had fallen asleep but now she was bare to him.
His hands shook as he removed the blanket and took in the sight of her. He knew he needed to be very careful and not mess this up. He wasn’t used to having to be cautious and gentle, not in his life. Her skin was creamy white and soft. He gently traced her shoulder bones and watched her breathe. Her breasts were full and tight. Her chest moved quickly as his hands lowered to her belly. His fingers skimmed her flat stomach and he lowered them further still until he touched her mound.
His fingers tangled gently in the red curls that hid her womanhood from the world. Ever so gently, he leaned over and licked her breast. Her nipple hardened in response and she moaned at the unfamiliar feelings coursing through her body. His fingers then brushed against her clit and she jumped. “Shhh, don’t panic, just let the feelings through,” he whispered in her ear.
Cassie nodded and his fingers brushed her clit again. She moaned and opened her legs wider. “Please…?” she whispered.
Deke groaned and leaned closer to her breast. His lips sucked her nipple in deep. She cried out as his fingers ran down her slit. He opened her nether lips and ran his finger along it. He could feel the wetness and he groaned again. Dammit, this woman was a treasure and one he needed to go very slowly with—if he could hold his lust back.
Slipping a finger inside her, he began fingering her. Deeper and deeper with each thrust, he could feel her body tighten against him. When he slipped another finger inside her, she moaned and began moving her hips to his rhythm.
He suckled her breast then changed to the other side. His cock was harder than it had ever been before and was screaming for release. His fingers went deeper and he could feel a small patch of skin baring the way. Deke knew he shouldn’t be surprised but his heart soared at its presence. “I need to fuck you,” he whispered. “I need you so much it hurts.” He gazed intently at her. “Are you ready for that?”
Cassie nodded. “Show me what passion is like.”
He moved to lay between her legs. He was so ready and he prayed she was too. He put his cock at her opening and pushed inside slowly. Hissing, he told her, “You’re so tight.” When he got to the point he could go no further without causing her pain, he leaned over and sucked her nipple into his mouth again. Biting down he heard her hiss of pain and he moved inside her. Pushing past the pain and her sign of innocence, he felt her buck against him.
Easing himself the rest of the way in, he slowly brought himself out, then he pushed into deeper and set the rhythm he wanted. His lips nibbled on her neck and he could feel her body responding to his thrusts. Soon, she cried out and arching her back, he felt her gripping his cock as her orgasm hit her. His control snapped and with a few more strokes, deeper and harder than before, Deke joined her. He almost growled as he felt his body let go.
Sweat beaded his forehead and a drop splashed down onto her chest. He rested a moment on his elbows before moving to her side. “Are you all right?” he asked gently.
Turning her head, she smiled. “I never knew sex would feel that good.”
“That was pretty amazing,” he agreed.
“Is it always that good?”
“I guess that depends on who you’re with when it happens. It’s different with each partner you have.”
“I don’t want to be with anyone else.” She frowned. “I just want to be with you.”
Deke shrugged. “It doesn’t always work that way sweet thing.”
Cassie closed her eyes. Rolling away from him, she gathered up her blanket and ran into the bathroom.
Deke flopped back down on the bed. He’d been amazed at what transpired this morning. He couldn’t believe she’d never known the touch of a man before today. He’d thought that would have been the reason she didn’t like to be touched, that some man had brutalized her, but that hadn’t been the case. He was even more mystified now than before.
What they had done here had been nothing short of spectacular. Never before had he had such a response as the one she gave him. Her touch had been awesome and her body had been more than he ever hoped to be on the receiving end of. The scent of her arousal had driven him crazy. He brought the fingers to his mouth that had been buried deep within her. Touching his lips to them, he could still taste her. Like her juices were made for him, a flavor he now craved.
Deke groaned and pushed himself out of bed. If he thought about her much longer, he would need her again for round two. He needed to clear his head. Pulling his pants on, he grabbed a shirt and left the room. Making his way down the hall, he noticed Honey and Reva were in the kitchen getting coffee going.
Honey, River’s old lady smiled when she saw him. “Morning Deke.”
“Morning.”
Reva, Gator’s wife handed him a cup of the hot brew.
Deke grinned and said, “Thank you darling.”
Reva blushed slightly and went back to work gathering items for the breakfast meal they served to those who wanted it.
Deke turned and went to join Gator at one of the tables. They were quiet for a while, each lost in his own thoughts.
Finally, Gator cleared his throat and glanced over at Deke.
Deke noted his vice president staring at him. “What’s on your mind Gator?”
“Heard a rumor a few nights back and I can’t make up my mind as to whether or not to believe it.”
Deke glanced over at the other man. “What kind of rumor?”
Gator rubbed his earlobe between his fingers as he looked troubled. “Somebody said that Big Jimmy was in the hospital. Heard someone had almost cut his manhood off a few weeks ago. Heard too, he was in real bad shape, lost a lot of blood.”
Deke thought about what Gator told him then glanced down the hall toward his bedroom. He couldn’t help but wonder about this news. He lifted his cup to his mouth and sipped the coffee. “Interesting news isn’t it?”
“Yup, it sure is. Kinda makes a person wonder though.”
“Wonder about what?”
“How somebody could do that,” Gator explained. “That would be a terrible thing to happen to a man.”
“It would indeed,” Deke agreed. “But it also has to make you wonder what Big Jimmy did to bring out that kind of rage in someone. Don’t you think?”
Gator nodded. “It is a mystery isn’t it?”
Deke drank his coffee and enjoyed the silence around him for a few minutes anyway. Then he saw his door open and Cassie walked out. He glanced over at Reva and lifted his cup.
Reva grabbed the coffee pot, an extra cup and brought it to the table. She poured the coffee and went back to the kitchen, never bothering to look at the person sitting beside Deke.
Cassie raised the cup to her lips and moaned as the hot brew slid down her throat. “Man, that is great coffee,” she said to no one in particular.
“Yup, my woman can
make a great cup of coffee in the mornings,” Gator commented.
Cassie looked at the other man sitting there and smiled slightly. Holding out her hand, she said, “I’m Cassie.”
Gator stared at her for a moment then reached out to take her hand. “I’m Gator.”
A short time later, people began gathering inside the clubhouse. One or two at a time until soon, all the tables were filled. Wiley limped in last. His arm was around a slender woman and when she noticed Cassie, she glared at her. Her fingers rolled into a fist and she growled. Wiley whispered something to her and glanced over at Cassie. Then he kissed the woman’s head and went over to a table in the corner of the room.
Cassie stared at him for a moment then turned her eyes to the kitchen area where she found the woman Wiley was with glaring back at her. Her eyes turned to Deke.
“I did warn everyone to leave you alone but Connie might not listen.”
Cassie nodded. Getting to her feet, she made her way over to where Wiley was sitting. Wiley stared at her the whole way. When she reached him she said, “I’m sorry I hurt you the other day.”
Before Wiley had a chance to say anything, Cassie turned and found Wiley’s woman standing there with a knife in her hand.
“Get away from my man.” She snarled. “Get away from him and stay away from him!”
“Connie, back the fuck off,” Wiley told her. “She isn’t here to do anything to me.”
“I came to apologize to him,” Cassie told them.
“I ought to gut you like a fish.” Connie hissed. “I ought to cut you real bad and watch you bleed all over the floor.”
~* * * *~
Cassie cocked her head and felt herself shutting down. Going into survival mode, she watched the woman holding the knife carefully.
Everyone around them was silent as they watched the drama unfold.
“Deke,” she called out. “I don’t want to spill any blood here today. I just want you to know that.”
“I know that darlin,” Deke called back. “I did warn her not to mess with you.”
Wiley got to his feet and walked around Cassie. He stepped between Cassie and his woman. He tried to take the knife out of her hands.
Connie pushed him away. “This bitch needs a lesson.”
Wiley grabbed Connie and pulled her back. “Don’t do this woman. Let it go.”
Connie struggled to get away from him. When she succeeded, she turned to Cassie and began moving forward. No one tried to stop her now. Connie brought the knife out in front of her and crouched slightly.
Cassie didn’t move a muscle. “Please don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Connie scoffed. “But I want to hurt you. I want to fucking kill you!”
Cassie raised her eyes to Wiley.
Seeing her distracted, Connie struck. She brought the knife into position and jabbed at Cassie. Cassie moved to avoid the blade. Connie followed, swinging the blade a third time. Cassie reached out and knocked it away from Connie.
Cassie stepped to one side and Connie rushed past her. She bent over and grabbed the knife again, and went after Cassie. Cassie blocked the knife a few more times and that enraged Connie. Connie swung the blade again and this time, she nicked Cassie’s arm.
Everyone watched as the expression changed on Cassie’s face. Her eyes narrowed and her skin paled as she breathed a little deeper.
Deke called out softly, “Cassie, don’t kill her.”
Cassie nodded distractedly and went on the attack. She jabbed her fist in the other woman’s face and Connie swung away with the force of the hit. Then Cassie lifted her foot, again and again, striking the woman in several key places: her gut, her chest and her ass. Her intent hadn’t been to kill but to injure her opponent. The third time she struck Connie with a direct smack to the temple, the other woman fell to the floor dazed.
Cassie stood over her, her hands clenched into fists, her breathing deep as rage took her. Finally, Cassie pushed it away. She lifted her eyes to stare at Wiley.
He looked pale. His eyes were on his woman and when he lifted them to Cassie, he mouthed a silent, “Thank you.”
Connie laid on the floor in pain. She’d truly never seen Cassie coming. When Cassie walked away, Wiley bent down and helped her up off the floor. Wrapping his arms around her, he helped her to the table and sat down.
Honey ran out of the kitchen with a basin of water and a washcloth.
Cassie watched as they cleaned her up. She glanced over at Deke and Gator. “I didn’t mean to make her mad. I wanted to apologize to Wiley for my actions. I hope I didn’t hurt her too badly.”
Deke raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Glancing at Gator, there was a stunned look on the other man’s face. “I think you made your point loud and clear. You gave her ample warning.”
Cassie shook her head. “Doesn’t make what I did right. I didn’t have to hit her so many times.” She lowered her head and her voice dropped to a whisper. “But when the rage takes me, I can’t stop.” She got to her feet and ran toward the bedroom. The door slammed behind her and the entire room was silent.
Gator looked over at Deke. “Wow. I’ve never seen those kind of moves before. I thought sure as shit, Connie was gonna kill her.”
“Same thing happened the other day when Wiley grabbed her. She just went ballistic on him.” Deke shook his head.
“Yeah, that’s what I heard, so I didn’t want to touch her myself.” Gator laughed. “I guess it’s fine if she touched me first by shaking my hand huh? What a spitfire!”
“Spitfire?” Deke laughed.
Reva brought out the coffee pot again, and filled their cups. “Do you think she’ll want some more?” she asked softly.
“Can I take it to her?” a voice from behind Deke asked.
They turned their heads and saw Peaches standing there.
She nodded at two men standing just inside the door. “I asked them to bring me here, so I could talk to Cassie.”
“Did you see what she did?” Deke asked as he motioned for her to sit.
Peaches nodded as she sat at the table. “She’s got better control of her rages than she did a few years ago.”
“What does that mean?” Deke frowned.
“It means she didn’t kill anyone or even half kill them,” Peaches said quietly.
“Explain that to me.” Deke glared at her.
“Cassie’s life was a living hell when I first met her. We were both five years old and every day she got beat up by our foster mother. When the pain from her slapping didn’t mean anything anymore, she graduated to a belt. Then a whip. It was rough on all of us but she enjoyed beating Cassie the most. Cassie stuck up for the other kids you see. She would always take their punishment and that drove Mrs. Pierce crazy mad.”
“Go on,” Deke ordered her to continue.
Peaches shook her head. “Cassie took it for five very long years and she would have taken it longer if Robbie Pierce hadn’t tried to rape me. She didn’t let him do that.”
“What happened?” Gator asked.
“She cut him real bad,” Peaches whispered. “There was so much blood. When she finished, she grabbed my hand and we ran away. She vowed she would always protect me and she did. No one messed with Cassie. She kept us both safe for a long time.”
Reva set a fresh cup of coffee down and patted her on the arm. She tilted her head. “You tell her breakfast will be ready soon.”
Peaches got up and taking the coffee and went to the back room.
Gator watched her go, then turned to Deke. “Kinda makes sense now doesn’t it? Her not wanting to be touched.”
“Yeah, it does. It also makes me wonder why social services didn’t notice the kids were getting beaten.” The whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth.
CHAPTER THREE
Peaches knocked on the door and opened it carefully. She saw her friend sitting in the corner wrapped up in a blanket and it remi
nded her so much of the past, she almost cried. “Oh Cassie, what have they done to you?”
“Peaches, I’m in so much trouble!” Cassie wailed.
Peaches ran over to where she sat and wrapped her arms around her. “No, you’re not. They don’t know. I swear I would never say anything to put you in harm’s way.”
“But you had to tell them something.”
“I told them you were beaten everyday by that bitch Mrs. Pierce and I told them about the day we ran away but that’s all, I swear,” Peaches cried out.
Cassie nodded. “We can’t tell them anything more. We have to protect our secret.”
Peaches nodded. “I will. I won’t tell them, I promise.”
Cassie stayed in Peaches’ arms for the longest time. Then she peeked up at her friend and smiled. “I kissed him this morning,” she whispered.
Peaches swallowed hard. “Who did you kiss?”
“Deke.”
“Oh, honey,” Peaches said softly. “Is that really wise?”
“I don’t know if it was wise but oh, it felt so wonderful.”
“Did you fuck him?” Peaches asked with a fearful look on her face.
“Yup and it felt great,” Cassie admitted.
For a long time neither of them spoke then Cassie said, “I didn’t mind his touch. In fact. it didn’t feel so bad.”
“Oh, baby.” Peaches wrapped her arms tighter around her. “Some touches are okay and others are wonderful. Not everyone’s touches hurt.”
“I know that now. His touch didn’t hurt me.”
“I’m glad.” Peaches brushed Cassie’s hair away from her face. “Come on girl, Reva said breakfast would be ready soon.”
Cassie got to her feet and laid the blanket back on the bed. She followed Peaches to the door and back into the main room. Deke’s table was full, so they went over to another table and sat down.
Reva carried them each a plate of food and after setting it on the table, she glanced at Cassie. “I hope you’ll give us a chance to be friends. Not all of us are as crazy as Connie.”
Cassie nodded. “I understand why she did what she did. I hope she can understand something as well. I did tell him not to touch me. In fact, I told him twice. He didn’t listen either time.”
