Twenty-One | Cassidy
Twenty-One
Cassidy
I woke up with a headache and drool on the side of my mouth as I reached around to find my phone that was obnoxiously loud with the alarm I’d set going off. I had to work today, and I knew yesterday that I needed to set at least seven alarms to make sure I got there on time, thanks to Mom’s eggnog.
When I unlocked the screen to silence the alarm, I noticed a new text message from Sean. My memories of last night quickly flooded my brain, and panic consumed me as I rushed to read through the messages I’d sent, hoping it had been a dream—or more so, a nightmare. To be nice to Sean while under the influence of eggnog wasn’t something that should be allowed to happen. Sam should have confiscated my phone or something once he figured out who I was talking to. Talk about not being a good brother.
My eyes widened in horror as I covered a hand over my mouth while reading them. Not only had I been nice to him, I had sent him a naughty picture of my legs spread and my sheer black panties.
When I got to the end of the thread, there was a video from Sean. I had asked him to jack off and send me a picture, but this wasn’t a picture. It was a video, and I didn’t have to guess what it was about.
My finger trembled slightly as I pressed the button to play it, making sure the volume was down. The last thing I needed was for one of my family members to think I was up watching porn at seven in the morning in my childhood bedroom.
The screen was dark but clear enough that I could see he was inside his car as he gripped his dick and stroked it. A heat started building between my thighs as I watched him jack off and come on his hand. I quickly exited out of the video and tucked my phone underneath my pillow as if that would protect me from what I’d just seen.
I got up and started gathering my stuff so I could go home and get ready for work. It was going to be beyond busy for the next few days until Christmas, which meant I would need extra caffeine to keep me going.
**********************
B y the time I got to work, I was twenty minutes late. I had called Bruce to let him know ahead of time, and thankfully, he wasn’t upset. I had to forfeit my stop at Sugarplum Lattes and settled on a few energy drinks I found in my fridge when packing my lunch for the day. I didn’t love them, but they got the job done.
I clocked in and looked at the schedule, frowning when I found that I was working in the back today. We had two trucks that had been unloaded this morning, and now my job was to spend the day organizing the inventory so the night crew could restock the shelves for tomorrow.
I pulled a hair tie out of my pocket and put my hair into a high ponytail, ready to get this over with. There was a lot to work through, so I planned to start with the toys since I knew they would be a top priority. If, for some reason, I wasn’t able to get everything put away before tonight, at least they could get those restocked before we opened tomorrow. It would save whoever was working in the toy department the hassle of constantly coming to the back to see if something was in stock or not.
By the time I made it back to the pallets of toys, I looked up and frowned again when I saw Sean.
“What are you doing back here?” I asked, my mood already sour.
“Working,” he replied casually with a glance at me before returning his focus to the pallet he was unloading.
“Why? I’m on the schedule for this today. Not you.”
“Bruce asked me to get started since you were running late.”
“Yeah, and now I’m here so you can go.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” I demanded with my hand planted firmly on my hip.
“Because I already got started and am in a groove. Plus, with both of us working back here, it’ll get done faster.”
“Yeah, but you can go help someone who is actually happy to see you today,” I said, practically sneering.
Okay, so it wasn’t his fault that I was in such a bad mood. I was embarrassed about what happened last night and not ready to face him yet. Add in the way he kept looking at me with that stupid shit-eating grin, and I wanted to chuck a rock at his head just to get it off.
“Well, that’s unfortunate because I was really looking forward to seeing and working with you today.”
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I picked up on his tone. It was obvious that I wasn’t going to catch a break today and that we would be stuck together after all.
I rolled my eyes and ignored him as I walked past the pallet he was working on and started working on another. We worked in silence for a while, somehow managing to stay out of each other’s way. It was probably because there were so many pallets of toys and different aisles they all went on, so it allowed us to not have to be in each other’s space.
A few hours later, Bruce came back to check on how things were going and complimented us on how efficiently we were working together. I smiled, though deep down, I wished he knew how much restraint it took to keep me from hitting Sean with the broomstick ponies I had just finished unloading.
We got down to the final pallet of toys, and I stood back while Sean cut the plastic covering off it.
“I’ve got this one if you want to go start on the food,” I offered, hoping he would take me up on it.
“Food is already done,” he said, pulling the plastic down. “Tom and Gabe worked on it this morning. All that is left after this is housewares.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, then, you can go to housewares.”
“That’s okay. I like to finish what I start.”
A shiver snaked up my spine as I focused on his words and wondered if he was talking about what had happened last night. I tried my best to ignore it as I reached for a stack of boxes and bumped into him in the process.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way to work around each other if you’re going to insist on staying in my space,” I said curtly, avoiding his eyes as he towered over me.
“Maybe you’re the one in my space.”
I swallowed hard as he took a step forward, forcing me to take a step back to avoid our bodies touching.
“I’m not. I was assigned to work back here. You weren’t.”
“Well, it seems fate had other plans.”
I moved further back, a gasp escaping my lips as my back hit the metal rack behind me.
“I wouldn’t call it fate. I would call it you being obsessed with torturing me and forcing yourself into my space today,” I said, looking away as he stood inches away from me.
He licked his lips as he rested one hand above my head and spread his feet to lock me into place. Unless I injured him, there was nowhere to go.
“Do you want to know what real torture is, Cassidy?” he asked, my name sounding like sin rolling off of his tongue. He turned his head to the side and studied me, his gaze hot as it penetrated me.
“Being stuck with you?” I offered, smirking when I felt his body tense around me.
“Nope. Real torture is getting that picture of you in those fucking panties last night and not being able to touch you. Having to remember how tight you were and not being able to fuck you.”
I tried to swallow, but my throat was suddenly dry as a burning heat blazed between my thighs.
“Sounds like a you problem.” My voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard me.
“Not really. I took care of the problem. Remember?”
My skin prickled as a rush of heat washed over it.
“No,” I lied, desperately trying to look anywhere but in the deep blue eyes that were watching me.
He leaned closer and slowly brought his hand up to cup the side of my face. His touch was feather soft until he pinched my chin between his fingers and turned my head, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“Did you watch the video?”
“No,” I lied again, this time sounding breathless. Goosebumps covered my skin except the places his fingers touched, which left a trail of heat behind.
“Are you sure about that?”
I nodded, not making any effort to break free from his touch this time.
“Then why are you blushing?” He pulled his lower lip between his teeth as he waited for my answer.
“I’m not. It’s hot back here.”
“Liar.”
Shit.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed about watching it, Cass. I sent it to you because I wanted you to watch it. I wanted you to see what you did to me. How hard you made me just thinking about the ways I wanted to touch you.”
Another wave of heat poured over me as the ache between my legs started to build.
“You forget how well I know you. How well I know your body.”
“I seriously doubt that. It’s been over twelve years. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“I’m not. But I would be willing to bet money right now that you’re wet for me.”
I rubbed my lips together, forcing myself not to answer.
“Are you, Cass? Are you wet for me?”
This was getting dangerously close to me crossing the line and giving in to stupid desire. I needed to stop this now before it got out of control and I did something I would end up regretting. Sean was the enemy, not some old fling I could hump because I was horny.
“Nope. Not even a little. I’m dryer than the Sahara desert.”
“Hmmm. Then I guess I have work to do.”
“I don’t think so, Satan.”
“Satan?” His lips spread across his lips in a grin as he nodded. “I’m not usually into that level of role-playing, but I could give it a try. If I’m Satan, does that mean you expect me to punish you?”
“In your dreams.” I was running out of witty comebacks—hell, I was running out of words in general. They didn’t have to be witty; they just needed to be enough to get me out of this situation. My mind knew what was best for us, but my body clearly had other ideas as it leaned into his touch, and my legs begging to spread for him. Ugh, stupid body.
“Well, actually, my dreams are pretty good. Usually they involve us doing all sorts of depraved things to each other and fucking for hours at a time—you know, to make up for lost time.”
“Something is seriously wrong with you.”
“You’re just filled with compliments today, aren’t you?” he asked with a glimmer in his eye. He was enjoying this way too much. I didn’t have to reach down to see if all of this was arousing him as said arousal poked my leg through his jeans as he pressed himself closer to me.
“Trust me, compliments are the last thing I want to give you.” I shoved against his chest, pushing him off of me.
He moved easily, not fighting it at all as he stepped away and gave me space.
“You know what I think, Cass? I don’t think you hate me as much as you try to convince yourself you do. I think that you hate yourself for still being in love with me.”
The air rushed out of me as I processed his words. I narrowed my eyes and pointed a finger, stabbing him directly in the chest.
“You’re so full of yourself,” I said, shaking my head. “I am not still in love with you.”
“Am I?” He moved quickly, invading my space again. “Then explain this.”
Before I could say anything, his mouth crashed down over mine in a frenzied kiss.