Chapter 13 #2
“Any way we have to get it,” Blade agreed, and they all nodded.
This woman might have changed sides, but it was too little too late if she thought it was going to save her from their wrath.
January 7th
10:49 P.M.
Was there a way to delay the inevitable ending for the evening?
Cassandra wasn't sure. If she had to guess, however, the answer would be no.
It wasn't like they were doing anything particularly special. She was just sitting in a huge cinema room, which they hadn't used once in the months she’d stayed there before watching some movie that Rose had chosen. It had been the other woman’s idea to have a movie night, and while she’d been expecting Steel to immediately agree, he seemed to be prepared to do anything to make Rose happy, she had been surprised when the others all readily agreed as well.
So, movie night it was. Complete with popcorn, soda, and an assortment of candy. With her stomach pleasantly full after dinner and then way too much junk, Cassandra had been more content to watch the man sitting beside her than the movie.
The first time she’d stayed there, she’d been attracted to Dragon, but when she’d left, she was sure that the whole attraction thing she’d felt between them was completely one-sided.
These last couple of months, she had been absolutely positive she never wanted to see Dragon again, that the whole thing had been a mistake, and she just wanted to put it behind her.
That Dragon had come when he thought she might be in danger helped a little, but it was everything he’d done since then that told her she’d been wrong in thinking things were one-sided. Gentle touches, sweet gestures, opening up about his past. How was she supposed to resist any of that?
The truth was, she didn't even want to.
Why would she?
Dragon was a strong, loyal man who seemed to actually care about her. Sure, they both had some issues that needed to be addressed, but they could do that while exploring whatever this thing between them was.
“Thanks for hanging with me tonight,” Rose said when the credits began to roll.
“Everyone always enjoys your company, but now you're mine for the rest of the night,” Steel said, scooping Rose into his arms as he stood and making her squeal and then giggle.
The couple was utterly adorable, and Cassandra watched them as Steel ran out of the room holding Rose with a wistfulness that she hadn't quite been expecting. Falling in love and having her own family had always been something she wanted. From the time she was the littlest girl, she’d played weddings and moms and dads.
Maybe it was her small mind trying to recreate what she’d lost.
As she got older, her darker desires started to make themselves known, and she quickly realized she was a little different than the other girls her age.
Still, it had always seemed inevitable that one day she would find a prince charming who liked things rough in the bedroom but sweet the rest of the time.
Until last year when her paternity came to light.
Now she hated the part of herself she had always accepted so easily, even more so now that she knew that Dragon wanted her because he thought she was the soft, sweet, innocent girl she was in other aspects of her life.
“I’ll walk you to your room,” Dragon told her as he stood and held out his hand.
Slipping hers into his was the easiest thing in the world, and he tugged her gently to her feet.
In high school, no boys ever offered to walk her to class or home at the end of the day because they were all scared of her brothers.
She’d always felt like she missed out on some of the high school experiences, even though she’d enjoyed those four years.
“Night,” she called over her shoulder to the others, but her gaze was only for the man beside her. As much as she loved the tender way he held her hand, she wanted to yell at him that he didn't have to be so gentle with her all the time. She wasn't going to break.
If she could survive learning her father was a rapist, and then shooting him, she could survive anything.
Sure, the revelation had rocked her entire world, leaving her feeling lost and adrift, but the more time she spent with Dragon, the more she found the pieces of herself that she’d thought had disappeared.
Her smiles were becoming more genuine. The lack of strength she feared separated her from her family felt more like her imagination.
And Dragon’s presence made her feel a whole lot less alone.
“You knew about the woman at the park before I called to tell you,” she said as they headed up the stairs.
His violet gaze met hers, and then he gave a single nod. “I knew someone came up to you at the park, but not what she said to you or what she wanted.”
“You were watching me.”
“I was.”
“The whole time I was gone.” It made sense.
She’d always had that feeling of being watched, but she’d assumed it was just a result of her own insecurity and that nobody was ever really there.
Well, nobody had really been there, but the feeling was because Dragon had been watching over her the entire time.
“You weren't okay when you left here.”
“Everybody else thought I was. My family believed me when I said I was coping with everything we’d learned.”
“Your family might have fallen for your sweet, little lies, but I'm not them. I saw right through your act.”
“How?” If even the people who knew her best in the world, who had helped to raise her, had been fooled when she pasted on a smile and assured them she was dealing with everything, then how had Dragon seen the truth?
His free hand reached over the tapped the tip of her nose. “I could smell the truth a mile away, little rabbit.”
“You can smell all my emotions?” It was so weird, like she got that dogs had the ability to scent things in humans related to their emotions, but Dragon had to be the first ever person who could do it.
His enhanced sense of smell was an amazing thing, even if it did leave her feeling vulnerable before him.
He had an edge in figuring her out that she didn't have when it came to him.
“Most of the time. With everyone else I always can, but with you … sometimes it’s like I'm the old me and I have to figure you out by watching you, listening to you, and trusting my gut the old-fashioned way.”
“So, I'm special?” she asked, only half teasing.
“Special,” he agreed, sending a flush of warmth through her system.
They’d reached her room, and Cassandra wanted so badly to ask Dragon to come in with her. It was only the fear of rejection that held her back. Would he still want her if he found out she wasn't the angel he seemed to think she was?
Before she could make up her mind if the risk was worth the potential rejection, Dragon leaned in and brushed his lips to hers.
The kiss was sweet enough to cause cavities, and although it had arousal thrumming between her legs, she wanted so much more.
Wanted to tangle her fingers in his hair, wanted their tongues to duel, wanted his hands on her body, roughly massaging her breasts, then his fingers plunging inside her.
She wanted him to take what he needed from her instead of being so worried about what he should give her. Because his pleasure would be her own.
But the kiss didn't progress anywhere, and her hope dimmed as he straightened and reached around her to open her door for her. He was never going to be comfortable giving her the kind of intimacy she craved.
“Sleep well, little rabbit.”
Since she didn't want to embarrass herself, she nodded and hurried into her room, closing the door behind her. She had to figure out a way to enjoy what Dragon wanted from her, or she was going to lose him forever, and she didn't want that.
Stripping out of her clothes, Cassandra headed into the bathroom, turning on the shower and stepping under the spray, making an attempt to keep her stitches dry.
As warm water rained down upon her, she slipped her hand between her legs.
Her bundle of nerves was already throbbing with need, and if she could just make herself come with nothing more than touching it, then maybe she stood a chance at giving Dragon what he wanted.
Circling her bud, she tried to find her rhythm.
Pleasure built in her system, she grew wet and thrust a finger inside herself.
Finding that magical spot she knew was in there, she brushed her fingertips against it with each thrust, and her thumb worked her bud, as she chased the pleasure that seemed to remain just out of reach.
Tears of frustration built as she tried so hard to climb to the peak, but the more she tried, the further away it seemed to get, until she gave up with a frustrated groan.
This was useless. She couldn’t come from just a little touching, and she’d never come if the sex didn't involve bruising grips, a sting of pain, a dominating, demanding lover who commanded her pleasure like it was their right to do so.
“Dragon,” she whispered helplessly to the empty room. “How can you not want me the way I need to be wanted?”