Chapter 5
Chapter Five
CASSIAN
Great idea, Jasmine. Just great.
Don’t get me wrong, I was glad Beth and Fred had a room, but now I was stuck with the hot Force officer I needed to distance myself from. It didn’t help that he was so kind he gave up his room for a pregnant woman. Damn him.
The thought of him in my room distracted me for the rest of the evening, and retiring for the evening was just as awkward as I expected.
“I don’t know why I expected your room to look like all the others,” Sterling said, looking around the space as he lowered his bag to the floor.
My room was bigger than the guest rooms because this was my home.
My bed was big enough for two, and there was enough space to do a lap around it.
The tall window at the far end looked out at the stables and the forest, and I had my own bathroom to the right of the window.
The room also had its own fireplace, which was really nice on wintry nights like tonight.
“Maybe I should rent it out and sleep in the stables to earn a little extra money,” I said as I sat at the end of my bed.
“That’s crazy,” he said.
“That’s how you sound.”
Sterling chuckled, and I despised the way my stomach did flips. I wanted to make him laugh again. No, I never wanted him to laugh around me again. Sexy people shouldn’t be allowed to laugh like that.
“I’ll sleep on the floor tonight,” I said.
“No, you’ll sleep in your bed. I’ll sleep on the floor. I’m not paying to be here,” Sterling argued.
“You’re paying with your heroism,” I said.
Sterling rolled his eyes, and another abrupt laugh slipped out. Whoops. “I will not kick you out of your own bed.”
“There is no way I would ever let you sleep on the floor while I take the bed,” I said.
“Maybe we can share. It looks big enough,” Sterling said, eyeing the bed.
My face warmed, and he wouldn’t look away from me. The moment he smiled, I knew he saw how flustered I was. “Fine,” I said, “but you have to keep your shirt on, Turnip.”
“Are you sure? You told me this morning clothes were optional.”
His response only made me blush deeper, but maybe he wanted that. I didn’t respond, because if I opened my mouth, I’d say something stupid like You’re right. In fact, take off your pants too.
“I’m sorry, Cassian. I’m being unprofessional again,” Sterling said.
“It’s fine. If you’re more comfortable without a shirt, sleep how you will.” I stood up. “I’m going to get changed in the bathroom.”
When my pants came off, I took a little extra time. If I didn’t take care of this right now, I’d just let this sexy, smart, sexy man break my heart. He would just leave when he was done with the investigation, and I’d be alone.
My hand was good enough for tonight. It didn’t take much before I was biting my lip and coming in my palm. Sterling was just outside the door, and the thought of him so close was enough.
It was good I handled my arousal, because his bare torso was on full display when I returned. I couldn’t have survived the night without jerking it out of me first.
“Is this okay?” Sterling asked, probably noticing how I couldn’t take my eyes off his perfect body.
“Mhm,” I hummed as I walked around the bed to climb in. “Goodnight, Sterling.” I pulled the heavy down cover over myself and turned away, safe from the sight of him.
When I woke up in the morning, my face was pressed against his bare chest, and my arm and leg were flung over him.
I rolled away fast, trying not to awaken him. Unfortunately, he was already awake.
“Good morning, Cassian,” he murmured.
“Morning, Turnip,” I muttered. I couldn’t look away despite knowing how red my face was.
The sun shone through a crack between the curtains, landing in a gold line across his ribs and down his stomach.
His dark hair was much messier than I’d seen it, and his sleepy gray eyes watched me with a smile. “Sorry about… that.”
“I didn’t mind. It’s terribly cold, and you’re very warm,” he said.
I looked away, my heart falling ill. I wished I could just have a normal life that let me pursue normal relationships, but I was stuck at this inn.
My life would never be normal. I was doomed to be alone, sentenced to a lifetime of new people every night.
It didn’t matter how much I liked Sterling. He’d leave someday.
“I’ll make you some coffee to warm you up,” I said, peeling the thick cover away and stepping into the frigid morning air.
“Wait, Cassian. Don’t go,” Sterling said. “I’d rather you stay here.”
I preferred it too, but I didn’t want the heartache. “That’s not appropriate, Sterling. We only shared a bed because there weren’t enough rooms.”
Sterling hesitated. “Right. I just can’t seem to stop myself. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I was still his host, so I prepared his morning coffee. By the time I made it back to my room, he had dressed himself. I only lingered long enough to receive his thanks for the coffee before sitting behind the front counter to begin the checkout rush.
“Morning, Cass,” Jasmine said, yawning as she staggered out. “Did you have a good night?” She wiggled her eyebrows with a grin.
“It could’ve been better,” I said.
“He was that bad?”
I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t do anything.”
“Why not?!” she asked.
Thankfully, a customer approached the counter. I took my time helping him so a line would begin forming behind him and Jasmine couldn’t ask more questions. Sure enough, morning travelers trickled out of their rooms to join him.
“Good morning, ma’am, how can I help you?” I said to the next customer with a big smile. Jasmine huffed off to help Olive in the kitchen.
I worked through the line until I reached the last person, but she wasn’t a customer. It was Willorunia.
“Cassian! Lovely morning, isn’t it?” she asked, grinning at me.
“Willo! What are you doing here?”
“I came to receive my payment and help with the curse. Surely you’ve found me a jarful of cateyes by now…” she said, lifting one dark eyebrow.
My mouth hung open as I tried to tell her I didn’t have her payment. “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t expecting you today. I only filled it halfway.”
Willo crossed her arms and sighed. “Oh, well… I’ll take what you’ve got, I suppose.”
“No, Willo, I can get the rest of them,” I said, waving my hands as I stood from the stool. “I’ll get Jasmine to watch the counter. Can you come back tomorrow?”
“This is the only day I’m available for the next month,” Willo said.
“Oh no… I’m so sorry,” I said.
“Cassian, it’s fine. You’re like family. I want to help you, and I shouldn’t have asked for payment.”
“Don’t be silly,” I said, calling out for Jasmine. “I’ll get the rest for you right now.” I headed for the door as Jasmine started walking over, but Willo caught my arm.
“No, Cassian. I need your help with this enchantment. Let me do this for you. It’s not a big deal,” she said, looking me in the eye.
My face warmed, embarrassed that I had let her down so badly.
“Good morning, Willorunia,” Sterling said, stepping out from the office door.
The doorways to Jasmine’s room and my room were inside the office, so for Sterling to emerge with his mug of coffee saying good morning was a clear sign he had slept with one of us.
Willo looked at me with raised eyebrows.
I didn’t want to know how scarlet I was.
“Good morning, Sterling. Sleep well?” Willo asked.
“He gave up his room for a very pregnant woman, so he slept in my room,” I explained. “I’m sure it was awful since I’m such a blanket hog.”
“He was perfectly generous,” Sterling said, taking a sip of his coffee. “Is everything all right out here?” He gestured to where Willo held me by the arm.
Willo released me. “Just fine, Officer. This is no business of yours.”
Sterling’s eyebrows rose. “Really?” He said it so calmly that it almost didn’t feel like an accusation.
I explained the situation to him, since Willo clearly wouldn’t.
Sterling nodded as I explained, but his expression didn’t change. “I’ll finish collecting cateyes for you while you two work on the enchantment. I just need to see it when you’re done for evidence.”
“You would do that?” I asked. It was so hard to keep cool around him when he insisted on being so thoughtful.
“Of course, Cassian. Whatever you need,” he said. “You’ll have to cast that warming spell on me again, though.”
“Thank you so much, Sterling,” I said, hurrying around the counter to grab the half-filled jar of blue stones.
“Please, call me Turnip,” he joked.
I set the jar on the counter across from him and returned to Willo’s side, hating the way I giggled. He was still flirting with me, damn him. Was it really that difficult? Gods, he must have liked me as much as I liked him.
“I appreciate that, Sterling. We should get started,” Willo said.
Willo and I cast the warming spell on ourselves, and then I turned to cast it on Sterling.
He watched me the entire time, and his gaze flustered me.
“Be careful, Turnip. Like I said yesterday, this spell only lasts an hour. It’s dangerous to be in icy water without it, so try to keep track of the time, all right? ” I said.
“Sure thing, Fiddlesip,” he replied, setting his coffee mug on the counter to grab the jar of stones.
“It’s Fibbersnap,” Willo said.
I pushed her toward the door. “He’s joking.”
“It’s not very funny,” she said, frowning at him over her shoulder as he followed us outside.