23. Cassidy
CASSIDY
W hy the idea of Harle shopping for sexy lingerie, specifically for me, had me all hot and bothered, I couldn’t say. But it did. Just picturing him browsing through a store with me in mind had my body heating.
I stood in the doorway for a moment, not sure what to do after that little chat. He was waiting patiently, but his eyes darkened a little as they swept over me, and I couldn’t hold back the blush. There was no denying the heat there, not with the way his gaze lingered, and something inside me softened, my nerves easing just a little.
“Dinner’s just about ready. How about you come over here and help me dish it up.”
“Alright. It smells great.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
I moved to stand near the counter, all the while trying to pretend I was more than just barely dressed.
He handed me a plate, his fingers brushing against mine, and I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through me.
We moved in sync, but tension crackled between us. When he reached for a spoon, he brushed against me, making me stiffen. His breath warmed my neck, and I bit my lip to stifle a gasp.
“You okay?” His voice was deep and rumbly and oh fuck, I loved that.
“Yep. I’m fine.” My voice was high and a little squeaky. I did not love that. “You?”
“I’m great. How much chicken do you want?” He held up three slices with the tongs.
“Yeah, that’s good. Thanks.”
I was hyper-aware of how close he was, the heat of his body radiating against mine. Such a turn on, just serving me chicken.
“You’re all set.”
As I picked up my plate and went to move toward the table, I felt his hand trail down my back and lightly over my ass and I couldn’t hold back the gasp this time. I kept walking, risking a glance over my shoulder at him. His eyes were firmly on my butt.
At the table, Harle set his plate down and turned to me, his eyes dark and searching as they locked onto mine. He stepped closer, his hand coming up to lightly trace the edge of my jaw before dropping back to his side. “You good?”
I nodded, a bit too quickly, and tried to smile. “Yeah. I’m good.”
He watched me for a moment longer, his gaze softening, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright,” he murmured, his voice low and almost teasing. “Let’s eat.”
He pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, my heart rate still skittering. Harle sat across from me, and as we began to eat, I tried to focus on the food, on anything other than the way his eyes seemed to linger on me, like he couldn’t wait to finish the meal and get to what was next.Annd there goes the overthinking and tensing up again. Fuck.
“Funniest thing happened the other day.”
“Yeah?” At least my voice sounded normal.
“Buddy got himself all tangled up in the hose. Can’t even think how he did it. Before I could even get to him, Max decided to lend a hand.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Exactly. So Max is barking at the hose, Buddy is barking at Max, they’re both barking at me and we’re all wet.”
He was trying so hard to put me at ease, telling silly stories about the dogs. And here I was, sitting across from him in lingerie he’d bought, about to spend ten days having sex with him to make a baby. A baby. The thing I’d wanted for so long, reduced to a contract and a timeline and... god, his forearms looked amazing as he gestured about Buddy’s escape attempt.
I forced a laugh at the right moment, trying to focus on his story rather than the surreal reality of the situation.
“They are such dorks, I swear.”
This wasn’t how I’d imagined starting my family. Then again, nothing in my life had gone according to plan.
“They really are.”
He told a few more funny stories. I pretended to relax. Then dinner was done.
“Come on, let’s get this cleaned up.”
I nodded and followed Harle to the kitchen, my hands full of dishes. As we started cleaning up, it felt so weirdly domestic, I almost forgot what I was wearing.
Until the dishes were all stacked in the dishwasher and it was switched on.
Then I was suddenly hyper-aware of my barely-there nightgown and the way Harle’s eyes roamed over me. The kitchen felt too small, too warm, and I couldn’t quite catch my breath.
Harle stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. The touch was gentle, but it sent a shiver down my spine.
“You’re tense. We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, darlin’.”
I swallowed hard. Honestly, I had no fucking clue what was wrong with me. I was just a basket case, it seems. It wasn’t like I was a virgin. All I could do was shrug in reply.
His fingers trailed down my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “We can take it slow. There’s no rush.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, so I took a step closer, hoping he understood without me having to explain myself. Without a word, he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. He slowly lowered his head, brushing his lips lightly against mine.
“Tell me what you want, Cassidy,” he whispered, his breath hot against my lips.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself. “I... I want this. I do. I’m just nervous.”
Harle’s hands slid lower, cupping my ass and pulling me flush against his erection. His hands on me, his hard cock pressed against me - it was overwhelming in the best way. He held me close, his lips hovering just above mine.
“Tell me what you want,” he murmured again.
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “I want... I want you to kiss me. Really kiss me.”
A slow smile spread across his face, and then his lips were on mine, hot and demanding. I melted into him, my arms wrapping around his neck as he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth, tasting, exploring, and I couldn’t hold back a soft moan.
Harle’s hands roamed over my body, the thin fabric of the nightgown doing little to dull the sensation. Every touch sent sparks of electricity through me, and I pressed closer, craving more.
He broke the kiss, trailing his lips along my jaw and down my neck. I tilted my head, giving him better access, and gasped when he found a particularly sensitive spot.
“God, Cassidy,” he breathed against my skin. “You’re so beautiful.”
His words sent a shiver through me, and I tugged at his shirt, suddenly desperate to feel his skin against mine. He pulled back just enough to yank his shirt over his head, tossing it aside. I ran my hands over his chest, marveling at the hard muscles.
He reached for the hem of my nightgown, his fingers playing with the delicate lace. “Can I?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
I nodded, my heart racing as he slowly lifted the garment. I raised my arms, allowing him to pull it off completely, leaving me bare before him.
Harle’s eyes roamed over me. His gaze was hungry, appreciative, and it sent a thrill through me despite my nerves.
“God, you’re gorgeous.” His voice was low and husky.
Before I could respond, his lips were on mine again, more urgent this time. His hands explored my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I gasped into his mouth as his thumbs brushed over my nipples, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.
He broke the kiss, trailing his lips down my neck and across my collarbone. I tangled my fingers in his hair, holding him close as he lavished attention on my breasts. The sensation of his mouth on me was almost too much, and I couldn’t hold back a moan.
“Harle,” I whispered, my voice breathy and desperate.
He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire. “What do you need, darlin’?”
I tugged at his belt, suddenly impatient. “Too many clothes,” I managed to say.
“Let’s fix that.”
He stepped back just enough to undo his belt and shuck off his jeans and boxers in one smooth motion. I couldn’t help but stare, taking in every inch of him. He was magnificent, all hard muscle and tanned skin.
Harle pulled me close again, and I gasped at the feeling of skin on skin. His cock pressed against my stomach, hot and hard, and I felt a rush of wetness between my thighs.
“Bedroom?” he murmured against my ear, his hands cupping my ass.
I nodded and he scooped me up in his arms, carrying me down the hall to his bedroom.
My heart raced as he gently laid me down on the bed, his body hovering over mine. The heat of his skin against mine was intoxicating, as I ran my hands along his muscular back.
His lips found mine again, and I lost myself in the kiss. It was deep and passionate, filled with a hunger that matched my own. I arched into him, craving more contact, more friction.
Harle’s hand slid down my body. When his fingers brushed against my inner thigh, I gasped, breaking the kiss. He looked at me, his eyes dark with desire but also questioning, making sure I was okay.
I was. More than okay. But I also knew my body. Knew what I was capable of. And what I wasn’t. Burying my fingers in his hair, I dragged him down for another searing kiss, then wrapped my legs around his waist.
He pulled back in surprise, looking down at me. “Cassidy…”
“No, don’t. I won’t come, no matter what you do.”
The small frown that settled on his face was pretty endearing. He went to say something, but I was done with talking.
‘Please, Harle, just fuck me.”
His eyes darkened at my words, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Okay. I will. But you and me are gonna have a chat about this tomorrow.”
With his eyes on mine, he eased into me, filling me completely.
I gasped, my back arching off the bed at the sudden intrusion.
“Fuck, Cassidy,” he groaned, his forehead resting against mine. “You feel amazing.”
I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist, urging him deeper. He started to move, his hips rolling against mine in a steady rhythm. Okay, so this was really nice, actually. I’d never imagined it could be like this. My experience had all been lights off, a quick fumble, a couple thrusts and done. If only I could switch my thoughts off, I might even…
I tried to focus on the sensations, on Harle’s body moving against mine, but my mind wouldn’t quiet. Thoughts raced through my head, a constant stream of worries and doubts. What if I couldn’t get pregnant? What if all of this was for nothing? And god, what would happen after these ten days were over?
Harle’s lips found my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he whispered, “You feel so good, darlin’.”
I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, to concentrate on Harle’s touch, his scent, the way he filled me so completely. But my mind kept spinning, jumping from one worry to the next. Was I moving enough? Should I be making more noise?
I felt Harle’s rhythm change, becoming more erratic. His breathing grew heavier, his grip on my hips tightening. I knew he was close.
“Cassidy,” he groaned, his voice strained. “I’m going to?—”
“It’s okay,” I whispered, running my hands down his back. “Let go.”
With a final, deep thrust, Harle came, his body shuddering against mine. He buried his face in my neck, muffling a low moan. I held him close, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against my chest.
After a few long moments, he dragged his head up, his eyes searching mine. “You didn’t...”
I shook my head, offering a small smile. “It’s okay. I told you I wouldn’t.”
He frowned slightly, but I leaned up to kiss him softly, cutting off any protests.
“Really, it’s fine,” I assured him. “This was... nice. Different, but nice.”
“Hmm.”
Oh. Fuck. I’d disappointed him. I knew I’d fuck it up. He shifted, moving off me and I was grateful for the fact that he didn’t pull me into his arms.
“I just want you to be okay.”
I huffed out a breath of relief. “I am okay. It’s just not something my body does. But this was really good, Harle. Thank you.”
I could see the arguments roiling around in his mind.
“Please, can we just go to sleep.” I hated how small my voice sounded now.
“Sure. Okay.” He leaned in to kiss me softly, then to my ever lasting relief, rolled over and put his back to me.
The space between us felt vast, despite the fact that we were sharing the same bed. I listened to his breathing, waiting for it to even out into sleep. Finally it did and I could relax a little.
I couldn’t sleep, of course. At least I wasn’t crazily over thinking it all though. Instead, I realized that this was the nicest sex I’d ever had. And that maybe the next ten days were going to be fine.