EPILOGUE
MANON
“Uh, a-are you sure?” Cassie asked through a jagged breath.
I could feel my head rising as the weight of her hands sunk deep into the dark purple comforter on either side of my head. I would have never picked out such an abrasive color on my own, but Cassie had a mind like no other.
The comforter she picked out was ethically sourced from a small family-owned business she found online. The fabric was made from recycled materials, and each stitch was hand sewn with love, it was different and unique—just like her. Slowly over time I watched as small things in my apartment that I never noticed before, were replaced with something that popped. It started with my white nightstands. Cassie said she couldn't bear to sleep another night next to something so bland. So that same day I made her an authorized user on my account and told her to get whatever her heart desired.
Now months later, our apartment looks like the inside of Cassie's mind, artwork covered almost every inch of the walls and even though nothing seemed to match, everything seemed to flow together like it was meant to be.
When I saw what she was able to create here, just with this space. That’s when I initially told her she should really consider interior design.
But just like right now she shook her head as if it was impossible.
“F-uck i-s it broken?”
I can hear her growing frustrated, her body leaning back resting her weight on one of her hands as she fiddled with something in the other.
She was trying to be sneaky while my tongue trailed her thighs, but the constant clicking didn’t go unnoticed. I knew she was trying to hide the fact that she had a toy in her hand. I knew the second she leaned back that she had something up her sleeve.
She always did, in the eight months that we have been together the one thing I knew Cassie was consistent at was trying to surprise me.
Whether that be with breakfast, a new suit she picked out for me, or her favorite rose toy that she was trying to sneak use on me while she rode my face. She always had a way of making every day feel like the first day all over again.
Maybe it was the way she looked at me like she never got tired of hearing me rant about work. Or how she always seemed excited to see me even if I was down or clearly had a bad day, her smile never faltered.
I could never put my finger on how she was able to do it, but I was the happiest I’ve ever been and the most loved I’d ever felt.
When she finally leans forward out of defeat, I can see the small light flashing red, and we both audibly sigh when we realize the toy was in fact dead.
It’s silent for a few seconds but I could tell she was putting even from the position I was in.
“Okay, maybe that was a sign, you know I really need to get going.”
Reluctantly I softly tap the pillowy soft cheek that hovered over my chest, motioning her to lift up.
“Come on.” I whispered as I felt her huff out a breath.
But still, she fell over to her side landing with a soft bounce right next to me, and as I raised up onto my elbows, I couldn't help but let my eyes linger on how her breasts moved against her chest.
But quickly my view was blocked when she pulled the dark covers over her body to shield herself from my gaze.
“Don’t stare if you're not going to do something.” Cassie teased with an arched brow.
Even under the covers she spread her arms and legs out wide like she was ready for me to take anything I desired. Her nipple just barely grazed the top of the cover, giving me just a peek of what I was missing out on. It didn't matter that at this point I had seen her in every position, on top every surface, and any at any time of day. My eyes still squeezed shut like the thought of leaving her like this was tearing me to pieces. I didn’t even realize I was biting my bottom lip until I felt a sting of regret, but I knew deep down, I had to leave.
“Cassie—” I let out a shaky breath.
“You know I can’t do this right now.”
Her brows fell at the same exact speed as her arched back sunk into the bed.
“I knooooow” her voice drags on through her whining as I watch her swing her bare legs over the edge of the bed.
“You know it's hot having a successful girlfriend and all, but you could have warned me that meant I would have less time for morning head.”
Her lips started puff up with annoyance and I couldn’t help but start to grow a smirk. Cassie craved me just as much as my skin burned to be touched by her.
My smirk grew wide, “Are you trying to say that starting my own firm wasn't your idea?”
You could hear laughter that I was trying to hold back, start to bubble up in my throat. But that only made her eyes tighten as she shot me a quick glare. Her body jolted as she jumped up from the bed, my eyes couldn't figure out where to go.
I watched as she strutted across the room to snatch up her robe, and immediately I fell back against the bed, letting my arms go limp as I let out an exasperated sigh.
“Uh-uh you don’t get to lay back down now.” Cassie's tone is firm, telling me she means business.
“If neither of us get to cum, then you definitely don’t get to go back to sleep.”
Before I can even say anything in response, she’s yanking my wrist until I’m hanging on the edge of the bed.
A squeal leaves my lips, but it’s quickly suffocated by Cassie's lips. Our giggles faded into a vaguely sensuous light, as I pressed forward into her kiss. My arms wrapped around the back of her neck as our tongues thrusted against each other with such a force that made me slip out an inaudible groan.
But just as quick as the feeling came it was gone in a blink of an eye when Cassie ripped her lips away from mine. I could only swatch her breathlessly as she waltzed right past me and straight to our shared walk-in closet.
“Besides, I should probably start getting ready too. I wouldn’t want to be late for my first day working at Maze...”
Cassie’s voice dragged on as I immediately shot up and off the bed in a rush. My head spun as I stood there, eyes wide, there was no way what I thought I just heard just came out of her mouth.
Because if she just said she was starting her first day at “Maze” the biggest interior design company in the area, then I would probably cry. Not because I needed or ever wanted her to work, I couldn't care less about a cent she makes. But from the moment we met and started her whole case, I knew that when Blue Wheels took away her job, they were also stripping her of her independence, and the one thing she had after both of her parents passed.
It was more than just the money it was the power it held over her, and no matter how much she loved staying home with Leo and doing her own thing I knew she desired something more. The second I got her to redecorate our place I saw this spark inside of her that I couldn't let go of. I didn’t care how annoying I might have sounded when I kept bringing up the idea, but I wanted her to know that I would support her no matter what her dreams were.
I even went as far as writing a check for her first year of school if she wanted to go all the way back and start over. Which she immediately tore up in my face and refused to accept, but I still noticed how her eyes widened with hope. It was obvious she was desiring more from life, and I was more than willing to pay any price if that meant I got to see her smile like that every day.
“Excuse me?” I croak out when she doesn't immediately turn around. But all of my unanswered questions were immediately solved when her head whipped around with the brightest smile.
The same exact one she had when I said I would be her lawyer.
Or when Judge Hickerson announced that she was “Not liable”.
The corners of her mouth stretched until the apples of her cheeks turned red, I couldn't even gather the words, my feet raced across the room until my hands were in reach of her.
A fit of giggles left Cassie's lips as I swooped her up in my arms before spinning her around.
“HOLY SHIT!!!! BABE!!!” I screamed, not caring how early it was.
When I finally set her back down my mind started to race a mile a minute, “Why wouldn’t you tell me? Oh my god! We need to throw a party, baaaabe I could have planned something—”
“—Throw a party when you're preparing for your biggest case yet?” Cassie cut me off.
My shoulders slumped as her brows raised knowingly, she didn't want me preoccupied with anything else but my work. Even when she just told me the best news I could have ever heard, she still was thinking about me…God did I love this woman.
“You know I would have moved things around if I knew.” I mumbled, and as soon as she saw my small frown she placed her hands on either side of my head.
I watched silently as her green eyes flickered back and forth between mine, “Babe, today is your first hearing against Perian Law, there's nothing in his world I want you to focus on this case.
My eyes rolled as I scoffed,
“Please the only person that should be worried is Dylan and whoever else is even left of that shithole of a company.” My head shook decisively, as I thought about what Neil would say, but he was probably too busy working with our team of contractors down at the Kapoor Law Group to even care about Dylan or this case.
Ever since we got our hands on the camera footage from my office back when Dylan had initially fired me, I knew we could take him down for harassment, and discrimination. There was no doubt about it, it only took a few weeks after Cassie’s case was closed that everyone found out I had represented her on my own, and that was more than enough credibility to start my own group.
I was on the verge of starting my own empire all while his was falling apart.
“Fuck, I kind of like this newfound confidence.” Cassie's eyes twinkled as her gaze darkened.
“Yeah?” I said while still pulling her in closer, my grip slipping down until I had two perfect handfuls of her ass.
“Well, I owe it all to you.”
Keep for a synopsis reveal of Taylor Riley Parham’s lesbian Zombie Rom-Com.
EVERY SHADE OF DECAY
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the undead are the new roadkill and state-sponsored zombie hunts are just another way for citizens to make rent. Bonnie- an introverted survivalist and pizza shop employee, is perfectly content with her predictable routine of dodging death, slinging dough, and secretly daydreaming about Rue—the hot, brooding regular who comes in at least once a week.
They've never exchanged more than a handful of words, but when Bonnie’s quiet life takes a chaotic turn after a late-night shift gone wrong, and a run-in with a Level-7 zombie leaves her on the brink of death. Rue comes out of nowhere—taking the bite meant for her.
That should’ve been the end of Rue.
But when she shows up the next week, right on schedule without a scratch in sight. Bonnie thinks she’s seen a ghost, and the unanswered questions begin to pile up. Sure , maybe Rue has always been a little grey-ish…even in the middle of summer.
And okay, yeah, her family owns the only funeral home in town…..even though most of the dead already walk among us.
Determined to get to the bottom of Rue’s undead mystery, Bonnie finds herself tangled in a web of secrets, danger, and a brewing romance that’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.