by Scarlet West
“Cassidy,” he whispered.
I went to him and, wordlessly, he opened his arms. His lips pressed to mine, and he drew me to him, and our mouths clung as if each other were the source of all life. I drank him in eagerly and his mouth devoured me.
We sat down heavily on the couch, arms clasped.
He released me and I giggled weakly.
“What?” he asked. His handsome mouth was quirked in a grin.
“I’m sorry, Adam,” I whispered. “I’m too tired. I want you, but, right now I need to sleep. Just sleep. Okay?”
He nodded. “I’m tired too,” he said.
He stroked my face with gentle fingers. I gripped his shoulder and we looked into one another’s eyes.
“I need a shower,” he chuckled.
“Yeah,” I agreed and grinned. “I’m sure I smell horrible.” I sniffed. I could smell my own sweat, and I imagined I must look a fright – I was still dressed in his t-shirt and shorts, after all.
“You smell good,” he whispered, kissing my hair. “Like yourself.”
I felt my insides warm. I nestled into his chest and breathed the scent of his skin, warm and dense. “You too.”
He chuckled and stroked my hair.
I showered first. Having hot water sluice down my body felt heavenly. I washed my hair and breathed in the scent of lemon shower gel and dried myself vigorously. I already felt better.
When we were both washed, we sat down on the couch with coffee. It was late – I still had no idea what time. My brain drifted in and out of waking.
“So,” Adam said. He took a big sip of his coffee. The scented steam floated comfortably on the air between us. I breathed it in. It smelled like an ordinary day. A heavenly smell.
“So?” I said.
“We’re alive,” Adam said. He put down his coffee and leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.
I nodded and sipped my own coffee, then put it aside and snuggled close to him.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I won’t ever underestimate how amazing that is.”
We lay there in the quiet for quite some time.
“So,” Adam said, bringing my attention to the present moment. “Brady’s really lucky.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. The cops were investigating his ties to the Mob, but at least he was alive.
“He’ll be okay,” Adam said, squeezing my shoulder. “I’ll get him a good lawyer. Given his bravery and the fact that he went to the police, I think they can get him out of the worst of it.”
“I hope so,” I said emotionally.
We lay there silently a while. My mind hopped back to the night’s events. It already seemed so distant, as if it was a part of somebody else’s life, instead of ours.
“Adam?” I frowned. Something occurred to me – something that didn’t make sense.
“Yeah?” He kissed my brow. I snuggled closer.
“When you opened that case,” I paused. “The cash there. Was it real?”
“Yeah,” he said. He twisted to look into my eyes. “We weren’t going to risk it.”
I raised a brow. “It was fifty thousand dollars?”
“Yeah,” he said. His voice was low. I wrapped my arms around him, drawing him into my embrace.
“But, Adam?” I was shocked. “How did you get so much money together?” I didn’t even want to ask if they’d got hold of it illegally.
“It’s from the bank,” Adam said. “It was in my checking account.”
“Adam!” I twisted to face him. “That’s all your money!”
He grinned. “Well, not quite all, no,” he demurred. “But it’s the only cash I have, yeah. The rest is all tied down in stocks and shares. I can’t get at it that easily.”
“Adam!” I said again. I was horrified. “You were going to give it to them? All of it?”
“Sure,” he said. He shrugged. “It’s just money, Cassidy.”
I shook my head in amazement. “My brother is really fortunate to have you as a friend,” I said.
He bent down and looked into my eyes.
“Cassidy,” he said softly. “I didn’t do it for Brady.”
“No?”
“I did it for you.”
I felt my heart stop. I wanted to cry. I wanted to sing. I wanted to kiss him, very hard.
Adam must have felt it too, because he bent and, with exquisite tenderness, put his lips to my own. We kissed.
I melted into his arms.
He held me tight against him and then, with a tenderness that took my breath away, lifted me up and carried me to bed.
The last thing I knew before I woke was Adam snuggling down into the bed beside me. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, and together we drifted off to sleep.
Epilogue
I rolled over in bed and felt soft light touch my eyelids. I opened my eyes. The low lighting of Adam’s bedroom always made me smile – understated and fine, just like the rest of the apartment.
I snuggled down in the warm bed and rolled over, facing him.
He was asleep – or he seemed so – his blue eyes shut, chest rising and falling with steady breaths.
I moved up the bed and placed my lips on his. Firm and straight, they parted gently under my tongue.
I grinned and deepened the kiss. Murmuring in his throat, he drew me into his embrace.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Hello.”
We smiled at each other, our special smile.
I kissed him again, more slowly. His mouth admitted my tongue and I could feel him smiling as I kissed him boldly, exploring his mouth as he explored mine. His hands stroked the small of my back. I felt my body start to heat up.
Feeling playful, I kissed his neck. His eyes shot open, and he grinned. I held his gaze and, deliberately, moved down his body until my mouth met his waist.
He gasped and shifted on the bed. I moved so that I was lying closer. Then I parted my lips and gently drew his cock into my mouth.
He gasped again, eyes flying open. I tried not to grin as I looked upward.
He lay down again and I drew him into my mouth, feeling that hard firmness tickle the back of my throat. He was big, and it had taken me time to get used to him, to do this without gagging. Now, practiced, I bobbed my head, feeling him push against the back of my throat. I repeated the motion, bobbing and then moving up.
He was gasping incoherently, and I sucked harder, flicking my tongue across the smooth skin of the head. I could feel it throbbing, and I tasted it as if it were a precious fruit.
He was making noises and I licked it, teasing him, pressing harder as I pushed my tongue on it. He gasped and I knew he was getting closer.
I drew up and mouthed the tip of his hardness, as if it were a sweet candy I was sucking, the tender skin soft on my lips as I swirled my tongue around the tip.
He was gasping like a landed fish and I could taste him and knew that he was about to give me a full load in my mouth.
Then, as he grunted, he flipped over, twisting to the side. He grabbed me, dragging me up his body.
“I want you,” he murmured. His hands were at my waist. Smiling, I guessed what he wanted. I opened my legs and sat on him, with my clit pressed to his hips.
He sighed and I moved around, loving the way his hard body felt, pressed up between my thighs. I was teasing him openly now, rubbing my wetness on him, not quite letting him enter. He grinned and pulled me against him, gasping as I repeated the motion. I could feel how ready he was, and I knew I couldn’t keep it up too long.
As he grunted again, I lifted my weight and positioned him so that he slid inside me. I moved down, letting him enter me by degrees.
He roared as I plunged onto him the last two inches. I lifted up and then lowered my body again, feeling my tightness stretch to him.
I lowered and raised, and he was groaning and grunting beneath me, drawing me to him, then releasing me and grabbing my hips, lifting me with those strong arms and pulling me lower.
<
br /> He was starting to gasp, and I felt my own climax approaching. I could feel him pushing inside me, rubbing on all the places that felt the most wonderful, tickling and pressing.
I came hard on a yell and I collapsed.
The feeling flooded through me, making me feel weak. I lay beside him and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. I could feel my own heartbeat, and I could hear his breath. He was still hard – he hadn’t come yet. I wondered how it was possible he could do that to me and hold himself back.
He seemed to hear my thinking, because he grinned.
He kissed me, his lips pressed to mine, nibbling my own in the way that made my body start to feel a fresh pang of arousal.
He held me against him, and I felt him move lower. My body caught fire.
“Adam,” I murmured as he moved to my waist. “You haven’t come yet.”
“I want to do this first,” he said. Firmly, his hands pressed to my thighs.
He moved them apart and I closed my eyes as he spread my folds. I held my breath, barely able to control my rising excitement as he found my clit and, so gently, touched it.
I gasped.
I heard him chuckle. I knew he loved teasing me, and I loved it too. I held my breath as he fingered me again.
Slowly, teasingly, he licked me. He made long strokes, tasting my wetness. I closed my eyes and gasped as his tongue flipped, tantalizingly close to my clit, but not there yet.
I yelled as he drew it into his mouth. He chuckled, the sound muffled, and held me as he worked it with his lips and tongue firmly.
I was sobbing now, the feeling so intense it was almost painful. I could barely control myself. I was grateful we were on the top floor, because I was making all sorts of incoherent sounds. He was still licking me, then touching me, then kissing me.
I felt that sweet, exciting pressure rising in me and started to move, not knowing anything except how I felt, except how much I wanted him and how much I wanted him to keep on going.
I was engulfed by the torrent of my climax. My senses all screamed, and I gasped, collapsing on the bed. Adam stayed where he was, holding me, his head on my knee.
I giggled, my consciousness drifting back to the present moment.
He lay there a while longer, then moved toward me.
“Enjoy?”
I opened my eyes and grinned. “What do you think?”
“Reckon so,” he teased.
I pushed him. He laughed.
I reached up to his chest, feeling sweat and muscle. Flattening my hand, I stroked down. Gripping his cock, I squeezed the tip.
“You’re still hard,” I said.
He chuckled. “Surprised?” He grinned. “I want you even more.”
I smiled and shifted on the bed and he, smiling, moved to be on top of me. I loved this part – lying beneath him, feeling vulnerable and safe at the same time as he smiled into my eyes and gently pushed inside me.
I closed my eyes as he filled me, my body opening to his as he pushed in and then, with sweet slowness, drew out again. He seemed to know exactly what to do to find all the wonderful places inside me. I held him in my arms and started to moan as he pushed in and pulled out, starting slowly, then getting faster, and faster.
My senses were swamped. I was nowhere, I knew nothing. All I could feel, or see, or hear, was Adam, and what his fine, wonderful body was doing to my own.
I focused on the waves of warmth that were spreading through my belly, shooting down my nerves and to my brain, making my stomach tighten and my heart thud and my loins tingle. I couldn’t believe it, but I was getting close again. I gasped, and he gritted his teeth and I knew he was, finally, close too.
He pushed in and pulled out and he was growling in his chest, holding me firmly, starting to sweat. I felt his own body start to tense up and I knew he was getting close too, now, so close…
We both cried out and the waves washed through me, carrying my senses away. He collapsed beside me and we lay like that, worn out.
I must have slept, because the next thing I knew was his voice, amused.
“Cassidy?”
“Yes?”
“We should go. The party’s in an hour.”
“What?” I shot up in bed, stared at him.
“Shh,” he soothed. “It’s okay. It’s only four o’ clock. We still have an hour.”
“Okay,” I murmured, feeling better. “But I still want to shower and paint my nails.”
“Okay,” he grinned. “I guess we should get moving then.” He kissed me and I held him close, reluctant to leave our blissful moment.
“Yeah,” I said, stroking his head, mouth turned down with regret. “We should.”
We showered, his skin slippery on mine as we washed each other, tenderly. Then, dressed and dried and ready, we headed to the party.
“Cassidy!” Brady greeted me, kissing my cheek. “You look stunning. Adam,” he shook Adam’s hand. Adam nodded.
“Glad we could make it,” he said.
I smiled up at him and he gently put a hand on my shoulder, leading me into the hall.
I looked round. Most of our friends were here – Ainsley was in the corner talking to Jem, a colleague. I spotted Emilia, from work, and Mrs. Halston. She was talking to a tall man and seemed happy.
“Brady,” I said, turning to my brother, who was standing with a glass in his hand, his shoulder still stiff, but otherwise dressed like everyone else, in suit and tie. “It’s great to see you out and about.”
“You have no idea how great it is to see you,” Brady said. “And in nice surroundings.”
I smiled and nodded. It was.
Brady had served six months in prison. The party was, at least in part, to celebrate his release. Adam had done as he had promised and got the best lawyer that money could buy. He had cited Brady’s fearless bravery and his assistance in the arrest of four noted mafia figures. The judge had mitigated the sentence and he’d served only six months.
I smiled.
“It’s great to have you back.”
“It’s great to be back,” he chuckled.
I nodded and looked around the room.
It was largely a work party, because the other thing we had to celebrate was the new achievements of the company. This last month, we had made record profits. It felt amazing.
“It’s good, huh?” Adam said.
I turned to him where he came to join us. Dressed in a fine black suit, he looked more handsome than I had ever seen him. I nodded.
“Very good,” I said. “I like the venue.”
“Me too,” he nodded.
Together, we leaned against the wall and watched the party in full swing. The music was on, and I watched as people started to dance – merry laughter and cheers accompanying them.
After a moment, I felt his hand squeeze mine. I looked up at him.
“Shall we go outside?” he said. “It’s hot in here.”
Grinning, I nodded. He laid a hand on my shoulder, careful not to move the strap of my dress, and together, we headed out of the hotel’s hall and outside where it was quieter.
I breathed in the cool air and Adam leaned back against the wall. The trees sheltered us, sighing in the evening breeze. Up above, the sky was dark turquoise, studded here and there with early stars.
I cleared my throat, wanting to speak, but not sure what to say. Adam got in first.
“Cassidy,” he said. His voice sounded oddly tight, and I wondered what had gotten into him.
“Yes?”
“I know,” he paused, and I twisted around, seeing him lick dry lips. “I know we didn’t always get along and I know that I was a total jerk to you when we were kids. But I also know, that I love you more than any woman I’ve ever known in my life. I want to spend the rest of my days making you feel loved and special. Will you let me do that?” he asked, getting down on one knee before me. “Will you marry me?”
I gasped. Incoherent, wild joy welled up inside me, drifting away my
speech. When I’d calmed down, tears wetting me, I looked into his eyes.
“Yes,” I said, sniffing. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Yes?” He was crying too, now, tears running down his firm-jawed face. “Really? Yes!”
“Really,” I said, and I knelt too, gripping his hands as he got up and drew me to my feet. “Oh, Adam!” I chuckled. “You didn’t need to ask. You should have known what the answer would be.”
“I did need to ask,” he said with a twisted grin. “Or how would I have known you wanted me?”
“Adam,” I gave him a playful jostling. He gripped my shoulder. “I would have thought it was obvious.”
“I love you, Cassidy,” he whispered.
I held him close, almost crying with the force of my emotions. “I love you, so much too.”
We kissed.
I felt my mouth twitch into a grin as he wrapped me and held me close. I had a secret for him, too. I hadn’t known when to tell him – hadn’t known how he might take it, not yet.
I knew now.
“Adam?” I whispered in his ear.
“Yes?” He frowned down at me; eyes puzzled. “What is it, sweetie? You’re not unsure?”
I almost laughed. I bit back my grin, and then could contain it no longer. I whispered it to him, softly.
“Adam, I’m pregnant.”
He gripped my shoulders and held me at arm’s length. His face was so intense I felt my heart tighten.
His eyes, round and blue, scanned my face.
“Cassidy?” he whispered. “Really?”
I was laughing again, wild joy making me weakened. “Really,” I said.
He grinned into my eyes, stroking my hair. Then, tenderly, he kissed me.
“I love you, Cassidy Williams,” he whispered. “And I am so, so happy.”
“I’m happy, too,” I whispered, holding him close. “And I love you, too.”
I always had, I thought, closing my eyes and holding him tight, heart soaring, body tingling. It just took time for me to find that wonderful secret that had hidden in plain sight, for so long.
When we finally see that secret, we should speak our hearts. Life is far too short not to risk everything, for the amazing, all-transforming miracle that is love.
