by Moxie North
Chapter 26
“Do you think he’d be willing to date?” Cass asked Effie.
“Hmm, they call it dating while they plan your future together. Remember Dax buying me a car? I heard Stryker did the same thing and freaked Libby out. They just don’t think that making their mates comfortable is something they should hesitate on. Cash will want you comfortable and happy.”
“So if that means lying on his couch eating bon bons until you are on your feet again, he’ll probably be the one feeding them to you. I know he’s a big scary guy, but he would never hurt you. It would kill him to do anything like it. Of course, emotionally they’re still men and will do some amazingly stupid things. Usually, they aren’t doing it to be malicious; they just get a little too excited anticipating your needs. Then they overstep. You smack them down and move on,” Effie explained.
“Me smack down that giant?” Cassie scoffed.
“You had that man on his knees with one look. Imagine if you put a little effort into it. Plus, we would see each other all the time. We are a couple hours plane ride away,” Effie said encouragingly.
“Fuck me, I’d have to move,” Cassie said. She hadn’t thought about that. She’d be away from Effie for the first time in years. That was a definite con on her list. Effie was right, with access to a private jet, travel wouldn’t be hard. They could visit each other. Talk on the phone. But it wouldn’t be like living together. Then again, Cassie was worried about becoming a third wheel when the baby came. But the baby would be the fourth wheel since she was there first.
“New place, new people. The Rochon girls are amazing. I haven’t met any of Cash’s family, but I’m sure they are just like the rest of them. Happy, friendly, warm, and loving. I would hate to be away from you, but knowing you were in their capable hands would ease some of my worry,” Effie said seriously.
“Think I can’t take care of myself? Dude, I have skills. Like nunchuck skills and bow hunting skills,” Cassie said seriously.
“All right Napoleon Dynamite, I know you’ve always taken care of yourself. Can’t you let someone else do it for a while? Someone that won’t ever consider it a burden; someone who will treat it as a gift instead. Imagine for a minute making him happy. You want to see just a smidge of what that means, just tell Cash you want to try. Not committing to anything. Just tell him you want to give him a chance. I guarantee you’ll have handed him the world.”
“Sounds too easy,” Cassie said, pursing her lips in an awkward duck face.
“With shifters, it is that easy. No stupid human games or bullshit. Real honest emotions all the time. For two jaded ladies like us, it takes some getting used to. Eventually, you’ll stop doubting him and just soak up the love. Try it,” she encouraged.
Cassie thought about it. If she said maybe, what would she get? Cash’s attention sure. His help in her therapy. Probably junk food anytime she wanted. Cuddles and kisses. Hopefully orgasms, although she still had her doubts about the logistics of having sex with him.
“Are you staying? I’ll say maybe if you’re staying for a bit,” Cassie offered.
“I’m staying until this little monster wants to come out. I really want Kenzi around. She’s been through a cougar shifter birth. I almost wouldn’t mind if Dax’s crazy mother showed up. That woman has done a one-eighty the likes of which no one has ever seen before. It’s like she’s been possessed, but in a good way.”
“I’m so glad. I want you here. I didn’t want to miss the birth. I’m totally taking pictures and posting the massacre on the internet. I’m guessing your kitty baby is going to claw its way out. Rawwrr.” Cassie made slashing motions with her hands.
“Dude, that is fucking nasty. What the hell? Why on earth would you wish my baby to Freddy Krueger my vagina? That’s a dick thing to say,” Effie said, holding back her laughter.
“I’m just anticipating the carnage. I mean seriously, don’t cats have litters? What if there is like seven or eight in there?” Cassie said dramatically.
“It’s very rare to have more than one. And they are born human, thank you. Apparently their shifter souls know they need to hold back. The babies don’t even shift right away; it takes a while. And I’ve been assured that they never shift while nursing, because damn, that would suck,” Effie said.
Cassie laughed back at her friend. How in the world did they ever get to the point that they needed to have these conversations? A year ago, it was whether or not they could afford to buy the good instant noodles. Now they had access to more money than they could ever want, private jets, and men that wanted to spoil them.
Effie started laughing, holding her huge belly with both of her hands to keep it from shaking.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Cassie asked.
“You, baby bears, haha, you think a little kitten is trouble. I’ve seen baby bears in action. They are maniacs,” she said continuing to laugh.
“Oh, no way. I’m not birthing no bears. Have you seen the size of Cash? Is there shifter birth control I can take? Like maybe a voodoo witch doctor that can keep me from breeding giant mutant mountain babies?” Cassie pleaded.
“I give you a week. A week of letting that man take care of you. Then you will be thinking of ways to repay his kindness. But I’ll let you in on a secret. The scales for us will always be unbalanced. We will think we never do enough, and they will wonder how we give them the world every day. When you open your heart to him, you’ll realize all he wants is you and a family. And when you can give him that family, it’s a little payback. Truth is, we keep track, they don’t. Dax looks at me like I handed him the world. Now that I’m pregnant, he looks at me like I created the universe.” Effie had a wistful look in her eye.
Cassie apparently was the only one on her side. She had a veritable army of Rochons and Hayes that thought she needed to get with the program. Sadly, she didn’t have too much fight in her left. If she was coming into the situation fresh, not injured, she could probably at least put up a token attempt at keeping her independence.
There was a part of her, though, that she usually ignored and kept locked away. A part that wondered what it would be like to have someone worry about her. Care about her, Hell even just think about her. Would that be suffocating or sensational?
Fuck her, it would probably be sensational.
“Fine, I’ll say okay. But that’s all! I don’t want anyone planning weddings or bites or any of that shit,” Cassie said, crossing her arms and sticking her lower lip out.
“Such a damn baby,” Effie said rolling to her back. She let out a low moan. “Damn, I have to pee again. DAX!...” she let out an earsplitting yell.
Chapter 27
The door slammed open against the wall. “What is everyone okay? Are you having contractions? Cassie okay?” Dax said, his eyes darting around the room frantically. He was to the bed and running his hands over his mate like he was checking for injuries.
“Fine, just needed to use the restroom. Pull me up,” Effie said with a smile.
“Damn it, woman, don’t scare me like that,” Dax growled.
“Hah, made you growl,” Effie said, trying to push herself up from the bed. Dax half lifted half pulled her to her feet. He waited until she got her balance.
“Wonder if that would work for me?” Cassie mused.
Effie turned and gave her a wink. “Give it a try,” she taunted.
Taking a deep breath she let out a horrible screech, “CASH!”
The pounding footsteps had her laughing before he hit the door. “What’s wrong? You hurt?” He was doing the same room scan looking for intruders and fires.
“Just practicing my shifter call,” she told him happily.
“Woman,” he growled.
The growl made both women burst into laughter.
“I’m waddling to the bathroom. Cass, you joining us out in the living room?” Effie asked.
“Yeah, give me a few,” she said to her friend giving her a knowing look. She got a wink and a no
d back. Dax kept a hand on his wife as he helped her through the door. He softly closed it behind them.
Cash came to the bed and lay down next to her, taking the spot that Effie had been in. “How was your nap? You really feeling okay? Nothing hurts?”
“Nope, fit as a fiddle. My leg is feeling better in the splint. I can move it more, so it’s not as stiff,” she said.
“Good, I’m glad. How was your talk with Effie?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her face.
“Hmm, enlightening,” Cassie offered.
“Really? In a good way or a bad way?” Cash was hoping that Dax was right, and Effie would steer her towards him.
“Good, she gave me some things to think about,” she hedged.
“Like what?” he pushed.
Cassie wasn’t sure how to say yes to someone. She’d always been a “no” person. It was new territory for her. She thought about him telling her to yield. Maybe it was the answer. Just bend a little and let it happen.
“She told me you wanted me to be happy more than anything,” she said quietly.
“True. What else?”
“That you’d never resent me,” she added.
“True, I can’t imagine that emotion ever coming up,” he said.
“She said that I could have a whole family that would accept me and care about me. I never had that. I don’t even know what that means,” she admitted.
“Well, I’ve talked to my mom, and we can slowly introduce you to the family. She agrees you don’t need to be bombarded by Rochons right now,” Cash informed her.
“I appreciate that,” she murmured.
“What else?”
“She said I should give you a shot,” she threw out.
Cash took that in waiting to see if she agreed with her friend.
“You gonna give me that shot, Sprite?”
“I can try. I can’t promise, Cash. I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never relied on anyone before. I need you to be patient with me. And you need to tell me if at any point you don’t like something I’m doing. I don’t understand the rules, so you need to tell me if there is something I should or shouldn’t be doing,” she told him. She was so worried that she’d let him in and then it would fall apart because of her.
“Well, there is one rule. Don’t tell anyone about shifters. That’s it. As far as me and you, there are no rules. We have open communication. You can tell me anything, ask me anything. No question is not allowed; no question inappropriate. I’ll tell you if there is something you need to know. I need you to tell me if you want or need anything. I’ll try to guess, and I’ll bet I’ll get pretty good at it soon, but until then don’t hesitate,” he said to her.
Cash wanted to hand her the moon, but he didn’t want to scare her away either.
“So, if I’m staying here for the foreseeable future, I’m going to need to see Effie a lot,” she warned him.
“I figured that. If Dax can’t send the plane, we can drive. It would only take about four hours to get there. Or if you are in a big hurry we can charter a plane,” Cash offered like it was so easy.
“Huh, chartering a plane. How much money do you have?” Cassie asked. He said there was nothing she couldn’t ask.
“In liquid assets or the whole kit and caboodle?”
“Did you just say kit and caboodle? Who says that? I mean really,” she scolded.
“Sprite,” he growled.
Effie was right; making them growl was fun.
“Everything, net worth mister.”
“Depending on the market, somewhere between eight and nine million give or take. I don’t really know, and don’t really care,” he said honestly.
Cassie looked at him; her mouth dropped open. She knew that Dax had money but had never been brave enough to ask.
“Seriously?” she gasped.
“Been alive for a while. Run a successful business, invested wisely, don’t live very big. It just kind of builds up after a while,” he said with a shrug.
“Huh,” she said. “Well, in case you’re interested, my net worth is in the one hundred seventy-five dollar range. That’s all liquid assets too,” she added.
“Well, that means you now have eight-ish million, one hundred seventy-five dollars,” Cash said with a laugh.
“Yeah, right. I’m a millionaire,” she scoffed.
“Want to make it legal? We can get married, and half of everything will be yours. Hell, I’ll sign it all over to you if it makes you more comfortable,” he offered.
Cassie knew she was dreaming then. Nobody treated money that casually. “You’re nuts,” she whispered.
“Nope, you are way more valuable than money. I can always make more. There is only one Cassie,” he said. Cash had been patient, but she looked so cute laying with her head on the pillow, her little forehead crinkled in worry.
He let his lips brush over hers in a feather light kiss. He felt her gasp and stroked his tongue out over her lips.
When she didn’t pull away, he advanced deepening the kiss. He wanted her to know he was handing her everything he was. His money, his body, his love. None of it mattered without her.
“Be mine, Sprite,” he whispered against her mouth.
“M’kay,” she said back against his mouth. Damn, he made her addle-brained.
“Okay?” He checked to make sure.
“I’ll try,” she whispered back.
“I’ll take it,” he said with a low rumble. He kissed her again, his mouth sealing over hers. It made her toes curl. He was really good at that.
Pulling back he looked at her pretty flushed face. “Ready to join the living?”
“Sure, I’ll play nice tonight. I’m hungry anyway. My secret squirrel stash is running low,” she admitted.
“Hopefully, you’ll agree to move into my house soon, and I’ll put a mini fridge by the couch if you want,” he said. He totally wasn’t joking.
“Sawheet!” Cassie said with a laugh.
Cash smiled back at her. Thanks to Effie, his mate was smiling and saying maybe. It was a step in the right direction.
Standing up, he leaned over and scooped her off the bed, reveling in the fact that her arms slid around his neck and held him tight.
“Bathroom,” she said quietly to him.
“On it,” he responded.
Chapter 28
He took her to the restroom and did his normal routine of waiting outside. This time when she was done, he heard a quiet, “Cash?”
His heart swelled that she was expecting him to be able to hear her. That she knew he was waiting for her call. It thrilled him that she knew she could rely on him even for something so small.
He brought her into the living room and deposited her on the couch next to Effie. Who was currently splayed out with all the throw pillows behind her back and her feet up on the table. Dax was sitting on the coffee table with one of her feet in his lap rubbing it.
Cassie took up a position of lying down on the couch and attempted to put her head on Effie’s lap. The belly that seemed to have doubled in size in the last week made it difficult.
“Dude, move over,” Cassie said, giving Effie’s belly a gentle push.
“Stop bossing around the unborn,” Dax said continuing his foot massage.
“He started it,” Cassie groused, finding a little bit of thigh to rest her head on. Effie’s hand came down and started brushing through her hair. She loved when Effie played with her hair. She imagined it was something a mom would do. Not that her mom ever even remembered to brush the knots out of her hair before school.
“We don’t know if it’s a boy or girl. You’ll give it issues calling it the wrong gender,” Effie said.
“Better than calling it, it,” Cassie surmised.
Cassie felt the best she had in a long while. She didn’t think it could get any better until Cash picked up her feet gently and sat down. He watched her to see if she was uncomfortable sitting that way. She just gave him a lazy look.
Cash smiled and started rubbing her toes that were sticking out from her splint. He spread her toes, stretching them from the cramped position they had been in for so long in her cast. He talked to Dax about business stuff for a while. Cassie was sort of listening. Connie was in the kitchen as usual. She brought everyone iced tea. The really sugary kind; it was delicious.
“You thought of any names?” Cassie asked, being lulled into a stupor having her feet rubbed along with her head.
“Hmm, Dax likes Charles for a boy,” Effie said.
“Eww, Chuckie,” Cassie said giving Dax a look.
“It would be Charles, imp,” Dax corrected.
“I like Trixie for a girl,” Effie said. Cassie watched Dax roll his eyes.
“Barnaby has a nice ring to it,” Cassie offered.
“Sprite, that’s what you name a cat,” Cash added.
“Still, could call him Barney,” Cassie suggested. She liked weird names. She’d always thought if she had a daughter, she’d name her Winifred, so she could call her Fred. Not that she really ever thought about kids. She figured she’d graduate to a goldfish or something someday.
“What name do you like for a girl?” Cash asked her. He was interested if she’d ever given any thought to baby names. He certainly had. He had a list hidden in his desk drawer at home.
“Girls are harder than boys. Can’t give her too awesome a name, or she’ll sound like a stripper. But then you go too classic and she comes off as uptight. I think it’s a little dude in there,” she said giving the belly a poke.
“But if it’s a girl, it would have to be kicking like Effie. Trixie is good, so is Sloane, or Simone, S names always work,” Cassie said thoughtfully. She wasn’t going to give up Winifred; that one was hers.
Cash leaned over to her ear and said, “Tell me later.”
Damn the man, how could he read her so well? She gave him a look that said she doubted that would be happening. He just smiled back.
Connie came over then. “Do you mind if the kids come over? They’ve been dying to meet you. And they’ve all heard Dax and Effie are here. It would be impossible to keep them away,” she explained.
