“I usually can, but it feels better when you do it,” she replies softly, but sure of her words.
With the tip of his finger, he trails down her sternum, beginning at the base of her neck, and follows a path down her ribs, across her navel, over her mound, and stopping at the hood of her clit.
Pushing himself up on his elbow, he leans over her, watching her blink beneath hooded eyes as he asks, “Is this what you want, Cass? You want me to make you come with my hand?”
Harlan doesn’t wait for a response; instead he slides his fingers through her slick folds and inserts a long digit into her axis, watching in rapture as her body arches from the bed at the intrusion. He bends forward and kisses her once before slanting himself towards her breasts and taking a nipple between his lips.
Against her breast, Harlan bites and sucks at the peak, circling his tongue around the exposed bud all while rubbing his thumb against her clit, loving the gasps he garners from her. The sound is music to his ears, a melody of sexual desire. The two fingers now guiding themselves on their own course in and out of her body begin to move more rapidly as her internal quakes start to tighten against him.
His erection grows and lengthens against her thigh and she rocks her body against him, whether on accident or purposefully, but the feeling is enough to drive him wild. Harlan removes himself from her breast, taking a moment to glance down at his fingers rocking in and out of her body before turning to focus on her face, flushed with passion and desire.
Suddenly, the hand gripping the comforter beneath her springs up and clenches around his arm as she closes her eyes, her mouth opening into a small O.
“Are you close? I want you to look at me when you come,” he demands as he sucks her bottom lip into his mouth, gently biting on the skin.
Her hips sway and rock as she presses against Harlan’s hand and then suddenly she erupts against him, her body pulling at his fingers. She snakes a hand into his hair and tugs his face closer to capture his mouth fully with hers. The kiss is fast, fierce, and needy until she comes down from her high, then her kiss, her taste, changes to one that is deliberate, unhurried, and full of love.
Love?
Yeah, he is good with that, he concludes to himself.
After wiping his hand on his thigh, Harlan turns so that he rests above her. The hand he had been leaning on previously reaches up and gently cradles her face. The space between her thighs opens allowing him to rest between them.
Harlan moves to hover above her, breaking the kiss, torturous. As she looks up at him with affection he hears the silent question passing between them and he answers with a gleam in his eyes.
“Yeah, sweetheart. I’ll make love to you,” they reply silently.
He gazes back at where their bodies almost meet, where they would soon be joined, but is startled when she says, “I’m clean, Harlan, and I have an IUD. I want to feel you.”
Those words cause his shaft to jerk and he looks back at her where she nervously bites her lips.
“I’m clean, sweetheart. And thank you for trusting me, Cassidy,” he adds as he bends down to kiss her once more while slowly sliding himself into her tight pussy.
A few short thrusts and Harlan finds himself fully seated in her, a sense of coming home washing over him. He pulls back only a few inches, keeping them close enough that their noses could practically touch, and reaches back with a hand to grasp her thigh and bend it at his waist.
The position is new and deeper than he could have imagined and he feels a sense of pride when Cassidy’s eyes widen in surprise and then shut in ecstasy as he rocks into her. His movements are steady and slow; all planned to bring her to the edge and keep her there, while helping him maintain his sanity.
Because Cassidy makes him feel like he is constantly losing an endless battle with reason.
Her breath begins to hitch just as the tingling deep in his spine builds.
“I want to come with you, Cass,” he commands as he gazes down at the sexy woman beneath him.
“Oh, God. Oh, God,” she cries out as she shatters in his arms at the same time that Harlan bursts deep inside her.
He jerks a few times, her body milking his shaft as it clenches, then he relaxes against her frame, careful not to crush her underneath his weight and stature. His cock slides free from her center and, at the sense of loss, he moves to the side slightly and faces her.
With a satisfied smile on her face, reflecting the one across his, Harlan says, “I can’t say that I’ve ever been a fan of missionary, but I think you just changed my mind.”
She chuckles and adds, “Wow, the playboy rock star may be changing his ways. You’ll turn vanilla like the rest of us in no time.”
As she jokes she turns on her side to face him completely.
A bit of solemnness comes over Harlan and he instantly regrets being labeled a rock god and playboy by the papers and living up to the title bestowed upon him. It is part of the reason their record label ordered a PR makeover for their band. Ryker has been the only one that kept to the straight and narrow, mainly because he is a good kid. The rest of the band had lost themselves in drugs or alcohol, where Harlan found his vice in women. But no longer. He is tired of playing the character the media wants. Because what he wants is Cassidy.
Trying to reassure her he pleads, “You know not all of it is true, Cass.”
In a maternal way, she reaches up and caresses his hair.
“I know, Harlan. We all hide a part of our self behind a costume. I probably understand better than most.”
He inclines towards her to capture her mouth. Just as he is about to slide a leg through hers, Cassidy’s stomach growls loudly breaking the moment.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, but Harlan simply laughs and pushes off from the bed, heading for the bathroom.
“I probably need to feed you, huh? Let’s get you cleaned up,” he adds when he returns with a warm washcloth, “then we can get something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
Harlan gently washes between her legs, secretly taking pleasure at seeing himself on her intimately.
They dress in silence, replacing their clothes from earlier, though Cassidy refuses to don her underwear, instantly driving Harlan crazy because his cock is now pressing against his zipper at knowing she is bare beneath her pants.
“What would you like to eat?”
Cassidy gazes out of their window and returns to him smiling like a kid in a candy store.
“I could really go for some McDonald’s. A burger sounds delicious.”
Chuckling, Harlan wraps an arm over her shoulder and kisses the top of her head.
“That’s my girl.”
ASSIDY LEANS BACK AGAINST the bike, taking a moment to stretch out her legs, as Harlan fills the tank with gas. She bends further to check her lipstick in the mirror, grateful she had purchased a red lip stain prior to leaving yesterday.
Yesterday? Is that all? It already feels like she had been with Harlan for months. They just sync so perfectly together.
Suddenly, a hand caresses her leather clad behind, another purchase she had made unknowingly yet perfect for riding a motorcycle. Jumping slightly, she practically knocks Harlan in the chin as she straightens. But he simply wraps his arms around her waist and tugs her close.
“Those pants shouldn’t be allowed in public,” he whispers in her ear as he gently grips her hips.
Cassidy wraps her arms around his neck and stands up on her toes while wearing her red stilettos, per Harlan’s request, and envelopes his mouth in a heated kiss. One of his hands slips beneath her silk shirt and rubs her bare back sending shivers down her spine.
Unfortunately, before they can take things further a lone pickup truck travels past the deserted road and honks their horn, an older man waving his arm out the window in amusement.
Harlan laughs and eventually Cassidy joins in, though she misses the feel of his hands on her skin. He grabs her helmet and replaces it on her head and then does th
e same with his.
“You ready to get out of here? It should only be an hour or so more.”
Just as Cassidy nods her head in approval, Harlan’s phone chimes and he turns to check the messages.
“Fuck,” he says as he flips the shield on his helmet and turns towards her, doing the same to her visor.
“What’s the matter? Something wrong with the band?”
“No…just…I’m sorry, Cass.”
With a solemn look in his eyes he turns the phone towards her. An article online shows a picture of Harlan checking into the hotel yesterday.
But Instead of getting irate, as Harlan expects, Cassidy takes a moment to study the picture. It’s taken from behind, obviously not by the receptionist who was itching to get a photo, and the edge of Cassidy’s jacket can be seen slightly blurry along the corner. So, whoever took the picture was behind her as well.
“Hey, it’s ok,” she says as she hands the phone back to him. “I’m sure it was an anxious guest excited to see you. And they cropped me out so no one even knows I was there, I just look like another blonde lady in your harem.”
Harlan smiles with relief as he retrieves the phone and places it in its stand on his bike.
Turning back to her he says, “You were never a part of my harem, sweetheart,” just as he reaches out and squeezes her hand.
“I know,” she whispers as she glances down to look at their joined hands.
“Alright, let’s get you to your family. I need something sweet,” and then turning a Cheshire cat’s grin in her direction he adds, “and a cupcake.”
Cassidy’s cheeks heat beneath her helmet as his meaning washes over her. They got a late start this morning because Cassidy woke to find Harlan between her legs, eating her pussy like it was his last meal. And by the way he is grinning at her, Harlan must be remembering too.
She smiles back and Harlan helps hoist her onto the bike and then follows suit before the rumbling of the engine comes to life and he takes her down the interstate leading them to Carson.
EVEN IF CASSIDY WERE blindfolded she would have instantly known when they were in the vicinity of Carson. The area just smelled of home to her. The scent of freshly cut grass, pine, berries, and spring all mixes with a hint of manure because they were in farmland, of course. It is all familiar to Cassidy and as she sat on the back of Harlan’s bike she wonders what he thinks of the smell of her home town.
A glance at her watch proves that they are about twenty minutes late to the ribbon cutting, but Cassidy can’t help that. Harlan refuses to speed with her on the back, and truthfully, she had to praise him for her safety.
As they approach the Main Street, Cassidy takes in the fresh coats of paint on the buildings due to Spring on the horizon. From what she can see, someone has purchased the abandoned bar at the edge of town, which is a great relief. It is the last building to be unoccupied since the resurgence of the communities surrounding the town. And truthfully, Horizon’s, the lone bar, can’t keep up with the demand in the warmer months with the winery tourists make their presence known.
She smiles as they pass Angie’s Diner, a place to rival any mother’s cooking, and the place she held her first job. Then they pass the lot that housed the old-school building which had been demolished and construction on the new Carson Pediatric Clinic is underway right next to her sister Everleigh’s pharmacy, which Doc Nelson sold to her last month when he was ready to retire.
Finally, her sister Sydney’s bakery comes into view with a crowd of people standing at the entrance mulling about; a few with cupcakes and drinks in their hands.
Cassidy releases her hold on Harlan and points towards the crowd as many of them turn to scrutinize the loud newcomer.
Harlan parks his bike on the corner just as Sydney and her boyfriend Dylan emerge from the edge of the building, giggling like two kids in love. She jumps down from the bike in her excitement and removes her helmet quickly, brushing her fingers through her hair to give life to the flattened strands.
“Cassidy?” her sister’s voice cries out from across the street.
Leaving Harlan to settle his bike, Cassidy rushes across the street to her sister.
“You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you? I’m sorry we’re late. I really tried to get here on time,” she says apologetically.
Cassidy works to hide a smirk as her conservative sister rakes her gaze up and down Cassidy’s leather clad body. Suddenly, she can feel when Harlan approaches even if Sydney’s eyes widening in alarm didn’t suggest it.
“Oh, this is…” Cassidy begins, but then an unknown visitor surprises her just as Harlan comes to stand beside her on the sidewalk.
Ryker comes barreling towards the couple and shoves Harlan with a force Cassidy has never witnessed from her little brother.
“What the fuck, man! What are you doing with my sister?” he shouts before Sydney’s boyfriend Dylan grabs his arm and tugs him away.
Harlan’s nostrils flare in anger, but he remains stoic, hands buried deep in his pockets. And in a moment, that will be etched into her mind forever, Cassidy looks up at Harlan and wraps a hand around his arm and presses her body against him, showing her few family members that they are together – an item. She can see when Sydney’s eyes widen further in surprise because Cassidy knows to never ever bring someone around that isn’t serious.
Marking herself as being with Harlan is a first for Cassidy.
Dylan finishes his conversation with Ryker, calming him down, but only slightly, as they watch Ryker stalk off towards the bakery. As Dylan rejoins Sydney, she reaches forward to introduce herself to Harlan.
“Hi, I’m Sydney. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Thanks, you too. Congratulations on your opening,”
Cassidy has to stifle a laugh as Sydney and Dylan’s eyes grow in size when they hear the deep resonance that is Harlan’s voice.
“Cassidy, did you two meet while on tour? I didn’t think you had left yet,” her sister asks in confusion.
Glancing up, they smile at each other before Cassidy responds secretively, “Not quite. I’ll explain it to you later.”
Cassidy nods at her sister, then escorts Harlan down the sidewalk towards the bakery and the newly open, The Grill.
“So, what do you think?” she asks Harlan as he gazes in the freshly cleaned windows while they wait in line.
He places an arm around her waist and she mimics his gesture with her arm.
“I like it. I can see why you were excited to come home.”
Gazing up at him she questions curiously, “What is your home like?”
Harlan smiles at her indulgently and leans forward to place a kiss on her lips, effectively ending her questions because Cassidy has a hard time thinking straight when he pulls back.
As she glances away from Harlan, lost in her desire-filled haze, she witnesses her brother walking away from the bakery at a hurried pace.
“I’ll be right back,” she says to Harlan and she presses a gentle kiss to his lips before calling after her brother.
“Ryker! Wait up!”
Surprisingly, Ryker stops at the edge of the sidewalk and waits for her to catch up.
“Hey. Sorry about,” he begins but Cassidy simply throws her arms around her brother and hugs him close.
“I’m sorry, Ryker. I know you feel the same way I do about mixing business life and private life.” Cassidy works to hide her grimace while her little brother, who clearly towers over her, frowns at her statement. “I swear to you, I met him before I got the job for your band. A job that I am overqualified for, but I am excited to finish.”
“Really?” Ryker says exasperatedly.
“We met at a bar back in September, right after my fashion show. I didn’t know who he was until I met with him earlier in the week. He had introduced himself as Theo,” she pleads trying to make her brother understand.
“So, you’re telling me he lied to you and used you as a one night stand? And I’m supposed to be ok
with that?”
Anger now fuels her veins. She completely understands Ryker’s stance on public and private life and getting mixed up with people that you work with. Truthfully, she feels the same. But his inability to see past his stance as her brother is causing Cassidy to lash out.
“No, that is not what I am telling you. I need you to understand that I can take care of myself. He hid himself when we met, just as I did. And I am the one that walked away that night, not Harlan. So, don’t preach to me, little brother. I need you to be by my side on this,” she exclaims as her hands and arms flail in explanation.
Cassidy silences as Ryker narrows his eyes at her, turns his gaze to glance at Harlan, and then returning his attention to her.
Then with a deep sigh he stands taller and runs a hand through his spiky mane as he says, “Shit, you’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Why do you say that?” she questions while holding back a smile.
“Because you look just like Avery and Nikki when you talk about him. Come here,” he says as he wraps his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. “I’m sorry I went off. I was just a bit surprised; I wasn’t expecting to see you two together.” He leans back slightly from the hug and adds, “He has a bit of a reputation, Cass.” Cassidy begins to interrupt but Ryker continues, “But the way he is looking at us right now pretty much says that he loves you too.”
“Really?” she asks surprised and turns to look at Harlan who stands watching their interaction with his feet hip distance apart and arms crossed against his wide chest with a protective look on his face.
“I have to head back to the studio. I just wanted to come see everyone. I guess I’ll be seeing you soon?”
“Yea,” she replies as she leans up on her toes and presses a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll be seeing you soon. And Ryker,” she begins as he turns to head towards the town car waiting for him, “Thank you for understanding.”
He nods at her and continues on while Cassidy walks back towards Harlan who lingers for her. When she is close enough, she grasps his hand closest to her and she twists their fingers together.
Coming Altered: Welcome to Carson, Book Four Page 10
