17. Trenton
Trenton
The sun streaks through the curtains hanging on Cassidy’s window.
It’s too early for me to be awake after our late night, but I’m too wired to sleep.
I took Cassidy to bed after fucking her against the door like a savage animal, and she fell asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow. But me? My mind was reeling.
I’m in love with her. I don’t know when it started, or how it happened, but I’ve been falling for a while now. Last night only solidified it.
I just don’t know what she wants.
If I tell her how I feel, I could risk ruining everything. I couldn’t care less about my image and this arrangement Celeste cooked up. But Cassidy needs to finish this book she’s working on, and I don’t want to take that away from her if I tell her how I feel and she doesn’t feel the same.
I have to wait it out.
Cassidy turns over and buries her face in my chest. “Why is it so fucking bright in here?”
I chuckle. “Because we passed out without closing your curtains.”
She sighs against me as I run my fingers down her bare back. “I don’t want to wake up yet.”
“So don’t.” I press a kiss to the top of her head. “We can stay here all day.”
Her head pops up and she opens one eye. “Really? You don’t have anything to do today?”
“Nope. The season starts on Monday so I get to rest a little before the madness starts.”
“So why are you up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Thinking about last night.”
Her body wriggles against me as she hums. “Last night was good.”
“It was.” I slide my palm over the curve of her ass. “You are an incredibly sexy woman.”
She slips her hand between us and wraps it around my dick. “You want to recreate another video already?”
“Fuck the videos, Cass. Just fuck me.”
I roll onto my back and take her with me, positioning her legs on either side of my waist so she’s straddling me. The sunrays hit her like a spotlight, messy hair and full tits, her naked body like a work of art that I want to gaze up at for hours.
She rocks her hips against me, letting out a small moan. “I love it when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you can’t take your eyes off of me.”
“How could I? Look at you.” I pull her down on top of me and press my lips against hers. “You’re perfection, Cassidy Quinn.”
She shivers beneath me. “Do you think...could you maybe be on top of me this time?”
I shift Cassidy onto her back and prop myself up, hovering above her. “Like this?”
“Yes.” Her legs wrap around my waist as she runs her nails along my back. “I want you nice and slow.”
I know exactly what she wants, and my heart soars.
“You want me to make love to you, baby?”
She nods, her eyes bouncing between mine. “Is that okay?”
My chest aches, and the words almost slip from my mouth.
I love you.
Be with me.
I want to be yours.
Instead, I dip down and capture her lips. “I would love nothing more.”
I show her everything I’m feeling, hoping she feels it too.
“Do you know how to care for them?”
I peer inside the cage. “I’ve been doing a lot of research. It seems fairly simple.”
Ronaldo nods. “Just keep them away from direct sunlight and make sure the area isn’t too drafty. She’s cared for a bird before, you said?”
“Yes, she nursed a baby bird back to health after the nest fell out of the tree and the mother abandoned it.”
“Great.” Ronaldo beams. “Love birds are a true symbol of love and devotion. There is no greater romantic gesture than this.”
My eyes flick between the two brightly-colored birds snuggling together on a perch.
I’ve wanted to buy her a new bird ever since Candy died, but she needed time to grieve.
During that time, I scoured the internet for the right kind of bird to keep as a pet.
I found Ronaldo and we e-mailed back and forth for a few days until I made my decision.
Nerves bubble through my veins as I drive back home with the birds secured in the back seat of my truck.
I can’t see Cassidy getting mad about this, but what if she isn’t happy with the way I’m springing this on her? What if she isn’t ready for another bird, let alone two? What if she reads into the meaning of love birds and calls me out on it?
I release a steady breath through my lips. No. I know Cassidy, and she’s going to love this. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth imagining the way her face is going to light up.
Rupert lets me borrow a luggage cart to make it easier to transport the birds in the elevator, and he shoots me a wink as the elevator door closes.
I send Cassidy a text when I get to her door.
Me: Can you open the door for be, babe?
“I’m starving. I really worked up an appetite with all that fucking we—” The words die on Cassidy’s tongue when she opens the door and sees the giant bird cage before her.
She covers her mouth with her hands. “Oh my god. What is this?”
I pop my head out from behind the cage. “This is for you.”
She inches closer to the cage. “There are two birds in there.”
“They’re love birds.”
Her eyes fly to mine. “Who’s are they?”
“Yours.” I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants.
“I bought them for you. I wasn’t sure if you’d want another bird after Candy, but I know how much you enjoyed talking to her every day.
And these guys have each other so they won’t be lonely when you’re gone.
” I slip my hands into my pockets. “I’m not trying to replace Candy, but I just... I want you to be happy.”
Cassidy rushes into the hallway and wraps her arms around my midsection, squeezing me tight. “I am happy, Trent. Thank you so much. This is the most thoughtful gift anyone’s ever given me.”
I close my eyes and relish in the feel of her in my arms, relieved she isn’t mad.
But while I hold her, her body begins to shake with quiet sobs.
“Hey, look at me.” I lean back just enough to look into her eyes. “Why are you crying?”
She sniffles. “I have to tell you something.”
“Okay.” Unease creeps into my gut. “What’s wrong?”
“Let’s go inside.”
Fuck me.
My stomach twists itself into knots as I carry the bird cage into Cassidy’s apartment.
Here it comes. The talk. The I know we’ve been growing closer lately but we’re only doing this for the contract and we’re nothing more than friends with benefits talk.
I set the cage down against the wall and join Cassidy on the couch.
She clasps my hands. “We started off on the wrong foot when you moved here, but I’ve really been enjoying this time with you.”
“So have I.”
She chews her bottom lip, and then she blurts it all out.
“I know I signed a contract, and I know we’re supposed to be pretending to date, but somewhere along the line, this became real to me.
I know it’s my fault because I pushed us into fooling around, and that made things way more intimate between us.
But we said we wouldn’t lie to each other, and I can’t keep pretending that I don’t have feelings for you.
And if you want to stop what we’re doing because you don’t feel the same, then I understand.
I know it’s a risk telling you this, but I couldn’t keep it in anymore.
Not after everything. Not after this.” She gestures to the birds.
“You’re so good to me and I know it’s all part of the contract but I just needed you to know, on the off-chance that maybe you do feel what I’m feeling. ”
My heart thrashes against my chest.
“Baby, come here.” I pull her onto my lap and brush her hair away from her face, looking into her watery eyes.
“The man who sold the birds to me told me that they represent love and devotion. Which is why I got them for you, because I wanted to show you how I feel about you—because I needed you to know. I’m in love with you, Cassidy.
I’ve been falling for a while now and it’s not because of the contract or the sex.
It’s because I couldn’t not fall in love with you.
You’re beautiful and kind and caring and talented.
” I brush the tip of my nose against hers. “I love everything about you.”
“Even my singing?”
“Even your God-awful singing.”
A laugh bubbles out of her as another tear rolls down her cheek. “I love you too, Trent. I know you don’t believe in meant to be, but I do believe that everything happened to us so that we could end up together, exactly where we are right now.”
She loves me.
“Maybe we’re destined to be together. Who knows?
But I’d like to think that I’d choose you regardless of fate or some divine intervention.
In any version of how this played out, I would’ve fallen in love with you because you’re the woman of my dreams. You’re the person I’ve been hoping to find. Everything feels right with you.”
Cassidy smiles and rests her head on my shoulder. “I don’t think I could’ve written a better ending to this story myself.”
“Ending?” I stand with her in my arms and toss her over my shoulder as she squeals. “Baby, we’re just getting started.”