That’s enough to put my mind at ease while he works to put my body at ease. A moan slips from my mouth and he smothers it with his kiss.
I raise my hips to meet his thrusts, taking him deeper and it doesn’t take long before we are coming together. He drops his head to mine and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “What is it about you, Cass?” he groans against my lips.
“I could ask the same thing,” I murmur.
He looks into my eyes as he considers something before sliding out of me and pulling my back against him, spooning me once again. “Good night, Cass.”
“Night, Jax,” I whisper into the darkness as a yawn takes over me.
He pulls me in tighter and I instantly drift into a peaceful sleep.
It must be at least an hour later when I feel Jax pull away from me. I hear him climbing out of bed and pulling on a pair of pants. I listen as he takes a few steps towards the door and pulls it open. “What’s up?” He says in his croaky night time voice.
“I was just checking in on Cass,” Sean says. “I figured she would be here with you.”
“Oh, ok. She’s fine. She’s out like a light,” Jax explains.
“Yeah, good. It looked like she enjoyed herself tonight,” he says with a hint of concern in his voice.
“Better believe she did,” Jax laughs. “I haven’t seen her like that in a long time. It was nice.”
“Yeah, sure was, man,” he says. “Listen, I actually came to talk to you.”
“About what?” Jax grunts, completely confused.
“About Cass, the real reason she’s home,” Sean says, making me stiffen in bed. What on earth is he talking about? I’m home because the boys asked me to, because with Dad gone they needed me close, somewhere they could easily watch over me like the overprotective big turds they are.
“Go on,” Jax says cautiously and I can tell by the tone in his voice that he suspects that I’ve lied about something.
“Shit,” Sean sighs. “Look, I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t mention any of this to Cass, but me and the boys sort of manipulated her into coming home.” I hear the cringe in his voice and I can imagine what his face would look like in this moment.
“Huh?” Jax grunts with amusement in his voice, prompting Sean to go on.
“She wasn’t happy in New York. We had all gone to visit, but it never got better and we knew the best thing for her would be to come home. So, after dad died, we guilt tripped her, saying we needed our baby sister home. We had all talked about it and agreed it was best for her to go to Denver and see you again. You’re what makes her happy and we knew, whether it was intentional or not, you’d take her pain away.”
Jax is silent for a moment, but I’m a different story. I shoot out of bed and storm up to my big brother and push him in the chest. His eyes widen in shock, either too tired or drunk to have noticed me earlier. “You lying sack of shit,” I scream at him, “All of you, you’re nothing but dirty, lying douche bags.”
“Shit,” he murmurs under his breath.
“Shit?” I hiss. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Yep, what else can I say?” he says. “We don’t regret it. I mean, look at you, you’re smiling again. For fuck’s sake, Cass, you even sang tonight.”
“It should have been my decision when I came home,” I tell him. “I wasn’t ready.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, little sister. We had to step in. You’re way too stubborn to have admitted it to yourself. If it was up to you, you would still be rotting away in New York, not living.”
“He’s right,” Jax cuts in. “You should have come home years ago.”
I give him a look that would scare the dead. “Whose side are you on here?”
He raises his eyebrow at me and gives me a stupid look. “Uh, theirs,” he says as if I should have known, but really… I should have.
I flick my attention back to Sean and all I can do is stare at him as I admit defeat. He’s right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Look, I have to go,” he says before a grin rips across his face. “We have a flight leaving in three hours and I still need to consummate my marriage.”
“Gross,” I grunt as Jax puts his arm around my waist and pulls me to him.
“Night, kiddies,” he winks before backing away.
“Just so you know. I love you and I’ve had the best night, but at this very moment, I really hate you.”
“Got the message loud and clear,” he smirks with a salute as Carter and Logan walk by on the opposite side of the landing.
“Oh, and I hate you fuckers, too,” I call out to them. They give me confused looks, but I slam the door closed before they can question it.
“God,” I groan, “They’re a bunch of jerks.”
Jax just smiles at me and drags me back to bed. “Come on, you can whine and bitch them out tomorrow. For now, I need to feel your body against me.”
How could a girl possibly resist that offer? “Ok,” I say climbing back into bed and let Jax pull me against him. He whispers good night in my ear and plays with my hair until I have calmed down enough to fall back into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter 14
Jaxon
I stand in front of the mirror taking myself in. I’m an absolute mess of nerves. My hands shake, I’m all fidgety and my heart is threatening to beat right out of my chest. I take a deep breath, hold it in before blowing it out, the same way I do right before a big game.
I check my suit in the mirror once again and grab the little box off the vanity as I double check that I’ve done everything. After all, I want to make a good impression. I’ve shaved, remembered deodorant and even shined my damn shoes.
It’s either now or never. I’d never be able to scrounge up the nerves to do this again. I fire off a quick message to Cass just to double check she won’t be home.
I put the little velvet box in my pocket and rush down the stairs before I have the chance to back out. I head out through the front door without a backward glance in the direction of my parents who call after me, wondering what the hell I’m doing in a suit.
I consider cutting through the fence to next door but I want to do this right. I walk the whole way up the driveway, cross to the next property and back down to the house before climbing the stairs and hitting the doorbell.
I wait for a short moment before the door is answered by Cassie’s dad, Brad Waters. “Mr. Waters,” I greet with a nod and a smile.
He stands before me in silence as he takes in my attire. “Shit,” he sighs, skipping over the fact that I addressed him formally, which I haven’t done since he ratted me out about it when I was twelve. “Either someone died or you’re here for something else, and to be honest, I’m kind of hoping you’re on your way to a funeral.”
“No, sir,” I say, “No funerals in my immediate future.”
“Hmm,” he grunts. “There’s about to be.”
With a grin, I ignore his quip. “May, I come in?”
He steps out of the way to allow me to pass. “I don’t know why you don’t just sneak through Cassie’s window like you usually do.” My eyes go as wide as saucers. Shit, I didn’t realize he knew. What the hell was I thinking coming here? He’s going to chew me out for sure. “Relax kid, if we had a problem with it, we would have said something when it started four years ago.”
Hmm, I don’t know what to think about that, but I take it in stride and follow him into the house. He leads me through the kitchen and grabs a beer before passing one to me. We walk into the good living area and he offers me a seat. I take it gingerly and wait until he’s comfortable before getting started.
“Wait,” he cuts in, holding up a hand with a gleam in his eyes. He gets up and steps out the open door before hollering up the stairs, “Boys, get your asses down here. Young Jaxon has something he’d like to discuss with us.”
Oh shit. I’m fucked.
Brad walks back into the room and sits silently before me, watching me fre
ak out as we wait for Cassie’s older brothers to come down.
Each of them enters with a smirk before taking me in and changing their smirks to a scowl. “Fuck me,” Carter says as the boys flank their father and turn on me.
“Alright, kid,” Brad says. “Now we’re ready.”
I let out a shaky breath before getting to my feet and pulling the box out of my pocket. I open it up to reveal a silver engagement ring and place it down on the coffee table between us.
“Well,” Brad says, ripping his eyes off the ring to focus back on me. “I’m honored but you’re really not my type, besides, I’m not sure my wife would approve of me having a boy toy.”
The boy’s chuckle at his response and it’s deathly clear where they get their humour from.
“Sir,” I say, looking him in the eye. “I have known Cassie since the day I moved in next door and knew I wanted to be with her since the very next day. As you know, next year we’re heading to college and will be living together. So, I’m coming to you to make you aware of my intentions. I’m not some kid who’s messing around with her or would ever hurt her. Cassie is it for me and it’s important that I let you know that.”
Brad slightly raises his chin to me with respect and I continue. I eye the boys before focusing back on their father, so they know they’re included when I ask this question. “Sir, I would like your blessing to propose to your daughter.”
He takes a deep breath and wipes a hand down his face. The boys give each other knowing glances, but I focus my attention on Brad. He slowly rises from his seat and makes his way over to me before holding his hand out. I reach to shake his hand but he pulls me into a hug. “Son, I have known for years that your intention was to marry my Cass, and you have both mine and Cathy’s support.”
“Thank you,” I say as he releases me.
“My only concern is your age. You’re just a kid. Hell, Cassie’s just a kid, too. I know your relationship is heading that way, but there’s no rush.”
“I think what Dad here is trying to say is that Cass would have a fit and kick your ass if you asked her now,” Sean supplies.
“Yeah, I know,” I tell him. “My plan is to wait, I just wanted you to know my intentions before we moved in together.”
“Thanks, son,” Brad says, with a big cheesy grin on his face and pride in his eyes. “Welcome to the family, Jaxon.”
“With all due respect, I feel like I’ve been a part of the family since I was a kid,” I tell him honestly.
“Shit,” Logan laugh. “Looks like the old man is about to cry of happiness.”
I wake with a start and it takes me a moment to realize where the hell I am. I’m in Cassie’s bed, the morning after the wedding and I have to admit, it was a bit eerie dreaming about the day I asked for Brad’s blessing right after I’d been at his son’s wedding and the girl in question was sleeping in my arms.
Maybe it’s being in this house again or maybe it’s just Cass, but I’m starting to think and feel things I haven’t felt in a long time.
Desperately needing to clear my head, I get up out of bed and head downstairs for breakfast. The place is a mess but not a soul is awake, well apart from the clean-up crew who are running around the place like headless chooks. I know Cass and the boys won’t be up for hours so I fix myself a bowl of cereal and head into the media room to catch up on the last game.
It’s an hour later when I decide it’s probably time to head back to campus. I go back up to Cassie’s room and give her a kiss on the forehead. “I have to go,” I tell her. “We’ll talk when you get back to campus.”
With that, I grab my things and my filled hockey bag of shit that I stole from my parent’s house and head downstairs. I throw the bag in the back of my truck but spy Cassie’s car a few down from mine and an idea hits me.
I skip back up the stairs two at a time and break into her old recording room and start dismantling as much of the important stuff as possible. I take it down, bit by bit and load it into the back of my truck. I can’t resist but to go back to her room and give her another kiss before leaving. She mumbles a goodbye and snuggles deeper into her bed, I gently close the door and climb into my truck.
It’s nearly nightfall when I wake on the couch. I’d gotten home and headed to the gym with Bobby. I immediately collapsed on the couch and fell asleep assuming Cass wouldn’t be back on campus until late afternoon, she would have stayed in bed all day.
I had a lot to think about with Cass after everything that had happened at the wedding, so I did what I do best and worked it out at the gym, practically killing myself in the process.
Bobby had taken one look at me, smirked and said, “Looks good on you.” I gave him a blank stare denying that I knew what he was talking about, but it is pretty damn obvious. I have Cass back in my life, in a strange, not really together kind of way and for the first time in years, I’m starting to feel settled within myself. I’ve not been as grouchy or dying for the party lifestyle like my reputation suggests I would. I haven’t chased after any chicks or acknowledged them when they attempt to climb all over me. I just don’t feel the need anymore, there’s no longer a void that needs filling.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like myself and clearly, Bobby has noticed.
“So,” I hear Bobby say and realize he’s sitting on the opposite couch watching ESPN when he could be doing that at his own place. “Ready to talk about it yet?”
I send a scowl his way as I sit up on the couch. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He nods towards a cold beer on the coffee table and I reach forward and take a sip. My stomach clenches as it attempts to reject receiving any more alcohol into my body. I place it back down with a cringe. “Quit pussy footing around,” Bobby demands. “How was the wedding?”
“Good,” I grunt, not offering much more than that. He gives me a pointed look and I let out a resigned sigh. “Fine,” I say, telling him what he really wants to know. “Cass and I talked and sorted some shit out.”
“And?” he prompts.
“And, I don’t know. She still wants to be with me, but I’m not sure I can trust her not to up and leave again,” I tell him. “I can’t go through that shit again. Why do you think I’ve avoided this shit with chicks?”
“Honestly, dude, I think you’ve avoided it because you’ve been holding onto hope that Cass would come home, or at least, waiting for someone who could even resemble the kind of person Cass is,” he says, “Though, you never would have discovered anyone like that because you don’t give any of them the time of day.”
“Seriously? The kind of chicks I’ve been with are not really the type of women who are interested in a relationship, they’re after the bragging rights which I was more than happy to give them.”
“And what about now?” he asks.
“Now?” I repeat with a sigh, “Now, the thought of being with another woman makes me feel sick, like I’m betraying Cass in some kind of way. It’s ridiculous though, because we’re not even together.”
“It’s not ridiculous,” Bobby says channelling his inner Dr. Phil. “You’re in love with her and you know as well as I do, that if you were to be with someone else it would hurt her. It only makes sense for you to want to protect her from that.”
“Yeah, I guess, but doesn’t change the fact that she’s the only one I want in my bed. I just have to make sure I can trust her now.”
“Holy shit, Jaxon Payne has seen the light,” Bobby says, dramatically as he raises his hands to the heavens. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Shut up, man,” I say, grabbing the cushion off the couch and launching it at him.
He catches the cushion with lighting fast reflexes, which I must admit is one of the reasons he makes such a great hockey player. “You going to head over and talk with her?” he asks, “Because if you are I may as well head over, too. I’m fucking starving.”
I think it over for a moment before shaking my head. “Nah, man.
She probably isn’t back from her place yet. She most likely stayed to help clean up a bit and from what I know of her, she probably needs a bit of space to sort through everything that happened last night.”
“Yeah, ok. I better go and scrounge up my own dinner then,” Bobby grumbles.
With a lift of my chin, Bobby heads out the door. I get up off the couch and find myself some dinner before settling back into the couch and watching the game.
----------
I wake on Monday morning and I just know this is going to be a good week, all the pieces of my scrambled puzzle are finally falling back into place. There are only a few pieces left for me to work out.
I rush out the door to meet the boys for our morning run and we instantly get into it. I lead the pack with Bobby by my side and the rest of the boys following us up.
A smirk plays on my lips as two petite brunettes come jogging on the opposite side of the road. Bobby and I recognize them instantly but they’re too lost in their conversation to realize anyone is around.
Bri notices us first and nods her chin towards us. Cass looks up and zero’s her eyes in on me. I jog across the road and the boys follow behind so we’re heading straight for them. A playful smile comes over Cassie’s lips and I know within just a few moments, that smile will be gone.
I adjust myself on the path so I’m running right in her way and stare her down. Heat rises in her cheeks and I know she’s thinking about the other night. She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth and begins biting on it, making me want to pin her up against a tree and fuck her right here, not caring who the hell is watching.
I push the thought from my head or I’ll never be able to concentrate on the rest of my training session. The closer we get, the eviler my smirk becomes. She releases her lip from her teeth and the flirty look in her eyes disappears. She starts shaking her head, but it’s too late, we’re right on top of them now. “No, no, no,” she squeals.
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