25. Cassidy
CASSIDY
P leasure rippled through me, so intense that I gasped. I floated in that hazy space between dreams and waking, where pleasure wrapped around me like warm honey. My body felt heavy, languid, every nerve ending sparking with delicious sensation. The dream felt so real - strong hands caressing my skin, warm breath against my neck, waves of pleasure building and building. Even in sleep, my body responded, arching into phantom touches that felt more real with each passing moment.
Fragments of the dream flickered through my mind. Broad shoulders, calloused hands, the scent of pine and something uniquely masculine. My skin tingled everywhere, heat pooling low in my belly. A particularly intense spike of sensation made me gasp and grip the sheets, the cotton rough against my sensitized fingers.
My eyes fluttered open as I let out a long, low moan. That’s when I realized Harle was inside me, one hand cupping my breast, toying with my nipple. The other trailing over my belly, and lower, brushing against my clit. Oh. God.
Another moan escaped my lips before I could stop it. Harle paused, his breath warm against my neck.
“Morning, darlin’.” His voice was husky with sleep and desire.
Oh god, I’d never imagined that consenting to be fucked in my sleep would lead to this. My body was on fire, consumed by sensations I’d never felt before.
Harle’s lips found my shoulder, trailing kisses along my skin as he resumed his gentle rhythm. I closed my eyes, losing myself in the feeling. It was so different from our first time. No nervousness, no pressure. Just warmth and pleasure building steadily.
With his hand wrapped around my thigh, he hooked my leg back over his, giving him much better access to my clit. My breathing quickened when he took full advantage, rubbing lightly at first, then increasing the pressure until I was gasping and arching into him.
“That’s it, darlin,” Harle encouraged, his fingers working in tandem with his thrusts. “Let go for me.”
Faster and faster. I felt the tension coiling tighter and tighter. Harle’s movements became more urgent, his breathing ragged in my ear. The dual sensations overwhelmed me, and I bit my lip as waves of pleasure crashed over me until I broke. Harle followed moments later, his hot cum spurting inside me. It felt so good I wished we could do it all over again straight away.
I lay still for a few moments, basking in the afterglow. My body felt boneless, pleasantly sated. Harle’s arm draped over my waist, his chest pressed against my back. For a brief, blissful moment, I allowed myself to enjoy it. Just revel in how lovely it felt to lie there, in his arms.
Then reality came crashing back. What the fuck was I doing? Don’t get used to this. Don’t get needy. This wasn’t some romantic getaway. It was a clinical arrangement to get pregnant. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in the moment, no matter how good it felt.
I tensed, suddenly hyper-aware of every point of contact between us. Harle must have sensed the change because he pulled away, the mattress dipping as he climbed from the bed.
“Come on. Let’s get in the shower.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, huh?”
I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“You want me to shower with you?”
“Yup.”
“Oh, um, okay.”
I hesitated for a moment before pushing myself up, my legs still feeling a little wobbly. My mind was spinning, trying to catch up with everything that had just happened. The way he’d touched me, the way he seemed to know exactly what I needed. It had shaken me.
All those years with Brian, and I’d never felt anything like that. It made my head spin, this realization that maybe it wasn’t me who was broken. Maybe it was never my fault. But letting myself think that way was terrifying. I didn’t know how to process any of it, didn’t know how to fit any of this into my carefully labelled boxes.
Following Harle into the bathroom, I watched while he turned the water on and adjusted the temperature, very much admiring the view.
He was so casual about it all. Like this was normal, like we’d been doing this for years. It made something twist in my chest, a strange mix of longing and fear.
I wasn’t supposed to want this kind of intimacy with him. I wasn’t supposed to be craving his touch, wasn’t supposed to be savoring the memory of his hands on my body. It was too dangerous, letting myself get comfortable with this. Because the more I let myself feel, the more I let myself enjoy it, the harder it would be to walk away when this was all over.
Harle turned to face me, giving me that easy smile. The one that made my insides go all soft and warm. “In you get.”
I stepped into the shower, closing my eyes as the warm water cascaded over me. It was comforting, the heat loosening the tension in my muscles. I let out a long breath, trying to let go of the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head. Harle stepped in behind me, closing the door. He didn’t say anything, but I could hear the familiar sound of body wash being squirted onto a loofah.
I kept my eyes closed as I felt the gentle touch of the loofah against my skin, moving in slow, soothing circles. Harle’s hands were careful, respectful, but undeniably intimate as he washed my shoulders, my back, down the length of my arms.
“How did you know what to do?”
“To get you off?” His voice was low, with the hint of a smile audible.
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s like this, my overthinking friend. A woman doesn’t kiss like you do, or gasp like you do, or feel like you do, if she can’t be turned all the way on.”
“Oh.”
He paused for a moment, the loofah stilling against my skin. “I could tell you were in your own head too much. You were overthinking it, holding back. So I figured it might be easier if I got you started while you were still asleep, before your mind could get in the way.”
I swallowed, my eyes still closed. His words made sense, but it was more than that. It was the tenderness, the patience he had shown me. It was like he knew me better than I knew myself, and that scared me as much as it comforted me.
“You okay with that?”
His hand moved to trace down my arm, the loofah brushing against my side.
“Obviously.”
“Glad to hear it. Now lemme have some of the water, why don’t you?”
I laughed, stepping to the side to allow him to move under the spray.
I watched as he tilted his head back, the water streaming down his face, his eyes closed in concentration. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved. He was unhurried, confident, like he belonged here, with me. It was impossible not to stare. Even the act of rubbing the shampoo into his hair was hot. He looked like he was in a tv commercial.
He rinsed his hair and gave me a quick smile. “It’s all yours. I’m gonna get breakfast on.”
“Okay.”
Yeah, I perved while he grabbed afluffy towel from the rack and wrapped it around his waist, water still dripping down his chest. He caught me looking, and a teasing smile played at his lips as he winked at me before turning and leaving the bathroom.
I huffed out a breath and turned the water temperature down a notch, needing something tocalm the heat spreading through me.
After a few minutes under the streaming water, where I somehow managed not to spiral into overthinking territory, I turned it off and stepped out of the shower.
I took my time drying off, running the towel over my skin until I was mostly dry, then wiped the steam from the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, cheeks flushed and hair damp. I looked like I’d just been well fucked, which made me flush some more.
It took me a few minutes to blow dry it and when I was done, I seriously considered putting a bit of make up on, then rolled my eyes at my reflection. I would never wear make up at home on a Saturday.
When I walked into the bedroom, my stomach growled, reminding me how hungry I was, after being deliciously fucked awake. But my attention was quickly drawn to the bed.
It was neatly made now, which was no big deal. What was a big deal was the silky green negligee, laid out in the center like an offering.Similar to the one I’d worn last night, it was gathered at the bust and would likely skim the top of my thighs.
I picked it up, the smooth fabric slipping through my fingers as I imagined Harle buying it for me. The very idea of him shopping for this, with me in mind,made my pulse quicken. Heat bloomed in my chest as I slipped it on, the material cool and silky against my skin. I’d never had the courage to wear anything like this for Brian, not even on our wedding night. And look, I barely had the courage now, but when I went back into the bathroom to hang up my towel, I flicked a quick glance at myself in the mirror. Okay, yeah, that was pretty good. I could do this. Of course, I needed yet another deep breath, so I took it and headed out, ready to face him.
The aroma of coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air as soon as I entered the kitchen, making my stomach growl again. Harle stood at the stove, his back to me, wearing only a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants that hung low on his hips.
As I hesitated in the doorway, I imagined going right up to him and running my hand down his back. It made my palm itch.
He turned, spatula in hand and his gaze raked over me. It was so hot, I could almost feel it against my skin.
“Coffee’s ready if you want some.”
“Great, thanks.”
As I moved towards the coffee pot, I could feel his eyes on me, following my every move. The intensity of his stare made my pulse leap, and I had to concentrate to keep my hands steady as I poured myself a cup.
“How hungry are you?”
Starving, but not for breakfast.
“Pretty hungry.”
His eyes still roaming over me appreciatively, he smiled. “Good. It’ll be ready in a few.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Nope. Just stand there so I can look at you.”
“Um, okay. Sure thing.”
I took a sip of coffee, grateful for something to do with my hands. The air between us crackled with tension. It made me nervous, for sure, but also excited. He wanted me. He definitely wanted me. And he was done hiding it.