“Cass…”
Breathing raggedly, I placed my hand against his cheek and kissed him once again. Michael met my advances, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed me with equal vigor. Over and over, I kissed him, relishing the moment while I could. My heart beat faster with every moment, and my lips parted to deepen our connection.
Michael groaned at my encouragement and he pressed his body up against me, guiding us back toward his four-poster bed. I didn’t stop him. I wanted this more than anything, and I was tired of holding back.
Our kisses became more passionate, deeper, and frenzied as we tugged at each other’s clothes. He gently pushed my cardigan over my shoulders and froze. The marks caused by the Shadow Demon’s hand were still red on my skin. His eyes shot back to mine, tortured. He opened his mouth to speak, but I put a finger to his lips and shook my head.
“Not now,” I whispered, and replaced my finger with my lips. He groaned low in his throat and kissed me passionately.
My skin tingled as the caresses became urgent.
I needed more.
When I felt my back brace against the bed frame, I knotted my fingers in his hair and kissed him long and slow while pulling him down on top of me. Michael followed my lead and ran his hands up the front of my shirt, admiring my curves without lingering.
“Cass...” he breathed huskily when our lips finally broke apart. “Tell me to stop if you don’t want this. I love you so damn much. Please.”
I knew from the way he spoke that it wasn’t a command it was a plea—he was giving me an out, one that I had no intention of taking. Instead, I kissed him on the lips again and took his hand to raise it higher against my thigh. He glanced at me, uncertain once he realized what I was doing.
“Don’t stop,” I whispered. “Don’t you dare.”
He took my encouragement and leaned forward to kiss my neck, trailing a heated line of passion down my jaw and collarbone. His lips drew lower on my chest, caressing every inch of skin they could find. I craved his touch more and more. My clothes were becoming a nuisance as I squirmed beneath him breathlessly, and he teased my skin like magic. I arched my back against him when he buried his lips into the collar of my blouse and began unbuttoning the fabric.
I was delirious with pleasure and closed my eyes with a dreamy smile as I ran my fingers through his hair.
Yes, I thought. This is what I want.
I knew then that, despite all this time apart, I had never once stopped loving him.
H ours later, I smiled into the pillowcase and rolled over to look at Michael. He wrapped his arm around me in a warm embrace and kissed my shoulder. I was happy and satisfied, both emotionally and physically. My body still tingled from our lovemaking, and his hands, body, and mouth were much more comfortable touching me after our romantic escapade.
His gentle caress caused me to bite into my smile and squirm beside him on the mattress. I tilted my head up to kiss him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Suddenly, there was a buzz from somewhere in my bag, and I looked over to it reflexively.
“Let it go to voicemail,” Michael whispered. “I’m not done with you.”
I giggled as he kissed me on the neck and told him, “I have work in the morning.”
He pulled away from me to prop himself on one arm. “I don’t want you to leave. Stay the night with me,” he pleaded.
“I can’t, you know I can’t. I need to go home, get a change of clothes, shower. Besides, I don’t even have my flute—Luna could be trying to summon me.”
Michael kissed my nose. “Okay.”
I slid out of bed reluctantly and tossed the covers off me. Michael's body was so warm and inviting, and I hated leaving him like that. I pulled on the clothes that had been so carelessly discarded earlier and tried to make myself presentable. My long blonde hair fell across my shoulders as I stepped into my skirt. It was all messed up and smelled like the musk of his cologne.
“What?”
He grinned. “Nothing, Beautiful. I was just tempted to pull you back in bed with me and have a go at round two.”
I chuckled and leaned over to kiss him before I made my way out the door. “Well, that’s going to have to wait until later.”
He shifted to the side of the bed and took my hand, “Are you running away from me again?”
“What?”
“I know you, Cass. You’re probably freaking out right now, and I don’t want you to run away from me because of it. Last time we kissed, I didn’t hear from you for three weeks. I don’t want to find out how long it would take this time—especially after something like this.”
I stopped and sat down next to him on the mattress. His chest was bare, and I could make out the subtle contours of his muscles when he moved. “I’m not running,” I told him. “I’ll call you when I get home, I promise.”
Michael ran his fingers through my hair and kissed me. It was slow and unhurried, deep and passionate at the same time. When I pulled away from him, I had to catch my breath to speak. No one had ever touched me the way he had, body, mind, and soul. The way he looked at me was so heartfelt, and I was helpless to refuse him.
He slid out of bed and donned a pair of pants and a t-shirt so he could walk me to the door. We paused at the threshold of his bedroom and gazed at one another lovingly. We were in a bubble—a blissful, happy bubble—still in the afterglow of rekindling our love affair. I think he and I both knew that the minute we opened the door, our bubble would burst, and reality would set in. He braced his hand against the doorframe and kissed me softly.
“So, does this mean you’ll finally go out with me?”
I laughed. “Yeah, I think it’s safe to say we’re together.”
He grinned. “Good, because I wanted to make this official.”
I smiled and placed my hand on the knob before looking up at him again. “Me too. I’ll call you when I get home.”
Michael nodded as the door swung open, and I stepped out into the cool night air. After I opened the door to let myself into the driver’s seat, I pulled out my phone to see whose call I missed.
Oh crap. Halle.
There were three missed calls, all from the time when Michael and I were occupied. Worse, there were missed text messages, each more urgent than the last.
“Cass, I had a terrible day.”
“Where are you?”
“What’s going on? Are you mad at me?”
“Call me!”
My happy bubble burst immediately, and I realized I had chosen Michael over her. I ignored her call and let it go to voicemail rather than answer it.
The whole drive home, I beat myself up about what a terrible person I was. My sister needed me, and I was too busy losing myself in a night of passion. I’d committed the worst crime. I chose a man over my sister. My twin was probably crying her eyes out, desperate to reach me, and I decided to let her suffer alone.
I pulled into my parking space at the apartment and immediately called her back, hoping it wasn’t too late in Boston.
Halle answered her phone on the second ring. “Hey, Cass!”
I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed out of the car in a panic, saying, “Halle, are you okay? I had three missed calls from you. And those text messages worried me. What’s going on? I’m so sorry. Talk to me.”
“Ugh, it was the longest day ever! I just wanted to vent. There was this jerkwad at the coffee shop earlier, and it pissed me off.”
I stepped onto the pavement and shut the car door. I couldn’t believe this. “That’s it? Some guy at the coffee shop? I thought you were having some kind of crisis. That’s why I called you back so soon.”
“Oh, no biggie. I can tell you about it now.”
Anger crept over me as I listened to her speak. “Halle, I was in the middle of something. Couldn’t this have waited until our weekly Skype?”
“What’s the big deal? I wanted to talk to you.”
“Hal, I love you, and I love talking to you, but I also have a life,” I said, nearly expl
oding. “I can’t always be at your beck and call anytime you want to chat.”
“That’s not fair. We talk at least once a day, and I have always been there for you,” she argued. “Haven’t I been the one you’ve called for the last couple of panic attacks?”
“That is completely different. It’s a medical condition, and you know that—which is something I’m in therapy for. I love you, Halle, but I think we need to give each other space to breathe. You’re always talking to me about having my own life outside of you, being strong and standing on my own two feet—which you’re completely right about—but maybe that also applies to you.”
There was a pause on the other line before she responded in a chilly voice. “Okay, so what exactly are you saying? Spell it out because I’m not sure how I’m the bad guy in this.”
“I think we should probably cut back on how often you and I call each other,” I told her. “And it’s not because I don’t want to hear from you. It's just that I realized we use one another as a crutch. We call each other for every little thing. Last week you called me in the middle of the day because you stubbed your toe.”
“It really hurt!”
“I know, Hon, but I finally took your advice, and I’m trying to step out on my own for once and have a life outside of you. I have friends and…I think you should do the same.”
Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Sorry, Cass.”
“Sweetie, I don’t want you to apologize. I want you to find your happiness, because I did, and it feels wonderful.”
Halle exhaled a puff of air and said, “You’re right. We’ve never really lived apart before, even when we were in different cities, but this is different. You have a full-time job and a life in San Diego while I’m out here. I shouldn’t have to call you about the coffee shop guy.”
I grinned. “Did you at least get a name?”
“Nah, just stupid coffee shop guy number four hundred seventy-two. I’ll get over it.”
“Okay.” I unlocked the door to the apartment and went inside. “I still want to hear about him, okay? Just…save it till Friday.”
“Got it. We’ll talk then.”
I was about to hang up the phone when she said, “Oh, wait before you go…”
“Hmm?”
She let out a mischievous laugh. “How was the sex?”
My cheeks erupted into a flaming blush as my jaw fell open in shock. “What...how did you…?”
“Oh please, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out.”
“I am not discussing that with you.”
“Was he good? I bet he was good.”
“Good night, Halle!”
She laughed. “Goodnight.”
I saw Michael every day that week—we were nearly inseparable.
Sometimes he would meet me for lunch at the food truck where we reunited. Other times, I would go over to his townhouse after work. Regardless of where we were, however, our romance was back in full force. We kissed as often as possible, whenever we were in private. I wasn’t a fan of public displays of affection, though we held hands all the time.
He agreed to pick me up after the faculty meeting on Friday so we could go on a walk before our date. I waited for him on the sidewalk by the faculty parking lot and sent a quick text to let him know that I was ready. As I slid my phone back into my purse, Matt Christensen sidled up beside me.
“Do you need a ride?”
I glanced at him and frowned. “No, thanks. Someone’s coming to pick me up.”
“Oh, come on. I’m already here. I could drive you home. It’s no trouble at all.”
“Thanks for the offer, but he should be here any minute.”
Matt’s smile faded. “You’re not still upset with me, are you? That was weeks ago.”
“Yeah, well, I have a long memory.”
Just then, Michael’s truck pulled into a parking spot across from us. I turned to Matt with a little smile and secured my bag on my shoulder. Michael got out of the car to meet me on the sidewalk. “Hey, Babe. You ready to go?”
Matt scoffed when he saw Michael put his arm around my shoulder. “Is this supposed to be your boyfriend? Gimme a break.”
A slow grin began to spread across Michael’s face as they stared each other down. Now that they were standing next to one another, I realized Michael was taller than Matt. He had broader shoulders too. I didn’t think of him as overly muscular but, having them side by side, there was no comparison.
“Cassandra, who’s your friend?” he asked.
“Michael, this is Coach Christensen. He was just leaving.”
Matt held out his hand and said, “Hey, I’m Matt. Nice to meet you.”
I glanced up at Michael and saw the recognition was already there. He knew who this was. My anxiety rose steadily with every passing second, and my breathing shifted while I struggled to remain composed. Michael must have noticed my rising panic because he glanced at me with concern and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Right…Matt. Is this the guy who tried to kiss you?”
Matt grinned at him, but there was no warmth in it. It was more like a challenge. “What now, tough guy? Are you feeling threatened?”
My chest tightened as I listened to their exchange, and I shied behind Michael defensively. I didn’t like confrontation. It stressed me out, and I didn’t like seeing Michael shift into his aggressive, overprotective self. However, it was in moments exactly like this when I needed him to take care of me. I think he knew that too—he saw me spiraling and decided to intervene.
I loved him for that.
Michael laughed at Matt Christensen’s remark and said, “Threatened by you? Not in the slightest. Do you know why? Because Cassandra’s about to go home with me. Get it? She’s taken. If you ever try something like that again, I’ll make sure that you regret it.”
“Are we in a pissing contest now?” Matt asked him with a sneer. “Afraid I might steal your girl?"
“Nah, Cassandra has her own mind, and she can choose whoever she wants. But if you touch a single hair on that gorgeous, blonde head of hers without consent, I will personally beat the living shit out of you. Then I’ll help her file a sexual harassment claim, and make sure that you get fired. Do you understand?”
Matt snapped his jaw shut and glared at Michael without saying another word. Michael turned and walked me over to his car across the parking lot. I was trembling from the encounter, and he opened the door for me so I could get inside. Before I did, Michael took me in his arms and kissed me—long and deep—in the middle of the parking lot for everyone to see.
I kissed him back and the tension eased as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
When he pulled away, Michael looked me in the eyes and said, “I love you. I am passionately, hopelessly, and desperately in love with you. I don’t know what it is about you Cassandra Williams, but if I go a single day without seeing you or talking to you, I’m completely miserable. You’re my best friend.”
I smiled, taking his hand in mine and interlacing our fingers with each other. “I love you too.”
Starlight, Star bright…
Chapter Fourteen
T he weeks flew by in a delicious blur.
Life with Michael was perfect. I slept at his house a few times a week and, whenever his schedule allowed, he spent the night with me. Samantha adored him, and even Halle was coming around now that she saw how happy he made me. That happiness carried over to all aspects of my life, including work. My students were learning and growing wonderfully, and I loved teaching more every day.
I stayed late for a parent-teacher conference in my classroom, long after the other students and their parents went home. It was dark outside when I walked to my car, not that it bothered me. I was a Dream Weaver, the darkness of night called to me, embraced me with its magic aura, and shone down with hundreds of twinkling stars.
I was lost in my thoughts as the air around me thickened, and I heard a small gust of wind ruffle throu
gh the car.
“Do you always stay so late?” an amused voice asked from the passenger side of the car.
I whirled around in shock and put my hand over my chest, saying, “Dad! Good grief, you scared the hell out of me. You can’t just keep showing up like this. Someone could see you.”
Ellyllon chuckled as he looked at me. “I’m not worried about that. Who would even see me behind the tinted windows of your car? Let’s go for a drive. I’ve always enjoyed these vehicles—quite enjoyable, if I do say so myself.”
I debated for a moment, then unlocked the car and turned the key in the ignition. “I hope this isn’t about Michael,” I told him icily. “I made myself very clear during our last discussion.”
Ellyllon slid into the passenger seat with preternatural grace. He ran a hand over the dashboard, and peeked in the glove compartment, saying, “Don’t worry, I didn’t come here to talk about him. I came here to extend an olive branch and try to mend the rift between us.”
Glaring, I sat down and buckled my seatbelt. “Oh?”
Ellyllon nodded, glancing out the window as I pulled out of the parking space. “Indeed. Your mother had a few choice words for me on the subject which I will not repeat. Suffice it to say that I was unaware of the depth of your conviction. I apologize for my previous sentiments and hope we can put the past behind us.”
I frowned. “I wasn’t aware that you had spoken to Mom.”
He chuckled, saying, “I went to speak with her a few days ago, hoping I could convince her to change your mind. When I arrived, she gave me a vicious tongue lashing. Could we try again?”
“I would like that,” I told him. “Where are we going?”
Ellyllon waved his hand, lazily toward the street ahead. “Wherever you like. It matters not to me.”
“Fine,” I said, turning onto the main street in a slow, scenic route around San Diego’s quiet neighborhoods.
“What a lovely city,” he commented, gesturing to the passing houses. “I can see why your mother decided to raise you here. There’s a sense of tranquility and beauty in everything I see.”
Chasing Starlight: Cassandra's Story (The Daughters of Night Chronicles) Page 16
