Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3) (41 page)

“
No, well, yes, but I shot
him first.”

“
Jesus Christ. You’ll be
lucky if I ever let you out of my sight again.”

She trailed her soft finger
down my scar and kissed my closed eyes, “I’m not going anywhere.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and said, “About that kiss…I
have one condition.”

“
What’s that?”

“
Take me home, no detours
this time.”

Groaning, I pulled the keys
out of my pocket and informed her, “You should drive. My head is
thrashing.”

“
Should we call a
doctor?”

Smiling at her, I pushed
her off my lap and said, “It’s nothing a good pounding can’t
cure.”

She shook her head and
said, “It’s time you pay up on your lost poker bet.”

Shit. How did I tell her
I’d really won the game that night? Delaney knew the truth, but I
was pretty sure her loyalties now laid with Cassidy and not me and
was surprised she hadn’t revealed the truth to Cassidy. “Blackbird,
let me love you first. I’ve missed you.”

She started to speak and
then didn’t. As we walked out of the closet, another gift box
caught my eye. Releasing her hand, I picked it up, remembering what
it was. She looked to me and I handed it to her.

“
Here, sit down.” I moved
her to the edge of the bed and told her to open it.

Hesitantly she opened it
up. When she removed the lid and saw the contents, she pressed her
lips together and struggled to hold back the emotion.

“
I bought these the day I
came back from the cabin, before…”

She nodded, “They’re so
tiny.” She held up the baby booties, then the hat and the bib. She
placed everything back in the box and replaced the lid. “Thank you.
You know, you’re mom said something to me the day before she died.”
I was speechless as she continued speaking, “She said that you’d be
so happy about the baby, like she knew. I wasn’t even pregnant yet,
I don’t think.”

I wiped her tears before
pulling her to me. “I want a family with you, Blackbird. I never
thought I’d say those words to anyone.”

Whimpering into my neck,
she reciprocated. “I want a family, too. It’s just…”

Stroking her hair, “What is
it?”

“
I’m scared. What if I
can’t get pregnant?”

“
Hey, you said the doctors
said it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“
I know, but, what
if…”

“
Shh, stop worrying about
the ‘what ifs’. I want a family with you, when you’re ready.” She
nodded into my neck and asked that I be patient with
her.

Holding hands we walked out
of the bedroom and down the stairs. She drove us home and I threw
her over my shoulder like I’d done so many times before, once we
were inside. I carried her up the stairs and knew we’d triumphed. I
loved her more than life itself. She was the only thing in my life,
which had once been full of debauchery that mattered.

I walked into the bedroom
and kicked the door shut behind me. Memories from before and after
the accident swarmed my brain and I was thankful she insisted we go
home. The penthouse was home for many memories, but the townhouse
was our home. I let her slide down my front and smiled wickedly at
her.

I pulled out my phone and
silenced it before docking it to the speakers and putting on my
‘Cassidy’ playlist. I’d found the list after Smith gave me my new
phone. I’d added several songs in the past few weeks and now that I
remembered everything, all my song choices made sense. Some I’d
even taken from her playlist for the club.

I played the song that I
had added during my time away at the cabin. I spent those days
sobering up and in daily sessions with Dr. Pratt. I knew then I
could never let her go and all I wanted was to give her my
love.
Give Me Love
by Ed
Sheeran
began playing as she walked
around the room tempting me by the sway of her hips.

“
I thought you said no
sappy songs.”

Closing the distance
between us, I snagged her wrist and yanked her body to mine. “It’s
not that sappy. Give me love, Cassidy. Let me love you.”

I didn’t wait for her
answer, simply feathered my goatee over her lips, cheeks and neck.
Her breathing increased as she gripped my arms and pulled at my
suit jacket. I shrugged it off as she worked the buttons of my
shirt. Before she had it fully open, she yanked it out of my pants
and I pulled it over my head. I bent down and ran my hands up her
stockings and as I reached her knees, my hands traveled under her
dress to the hem of the stockings. She was wearing a garter
belt.

“
You’re wearing the garter
belt. You know what that does to me.”

She just smiled as my lips
met hers. She glided her tongue into my mouth with such fervor that
I groaned. I cupped her face and pulled my lips away as I asked
where the zipper was. She turned around and I found the small clasp
and zipper that kept the dress closed. Slowly, I pulled it down as
her ivory skin met my eyes. I spotted the back closure to her bra
and took note that it was also one I’d purchased for her. I pulled
her back as I bit on her neck, pushing her hair to the other side.
Sliding the dress over each shoulder, I guided it over her hips.
Once I heard the fabric hit the floor I stood up and took in the
sight of her. All white skin, black lace and red hair. She was a
sight to be seen.

Slowly, she turned around
and closed the distance between us. I wanted to take things slow,
but she was making it difficult. That memory of that morning in the
dining room at the penthouse, all those weeks ago, came to mind. We
had been frenzied and I didn’t want that for us, not then
anyway.

Like she read my mind she
chanted, “Slow and hard, James.”

I showed her my smile that
I knew she couldn’t resist and pushed her back against the bed. She
leaned up on her elbows as she watched me undress. I left my briefs
on and climbed on top of her fully intending to make her
beg.

“
It Was Always You
.”
Another Maroon 5 song that spoke to my heart, which was
her.

“
Another sappy song. I’m
beginning to wonder about you Mr. Benedict.”

“
Only the sappiest for
you.” She smiled sweetly as I lowered my lips to her.

I began kissing every inch
of exposed skin, savoring every moment. Her skin was beginning to
tremble and every caress produced a shudder or a moan of pleasure
from her. Kneeling between her knees, I detached her garters from
the stockings and pulled the belt off her body leaving the
stockings. Her panties were next and I locked my eyes with hers as
I pulled them down.

“
James. Don’t make me
beg.”

Grinning, “But you know how
I love to hear you beg.”

I reached for her hand and
pulled her to a seated position. On my knees and still between her
legs she cupped my erection as her lips moved over my torso. Her
other hand moved up the back of my leg and into the hem of my
underwear. Squeezing my cheek and digging her nails in, I growled
as I reached for the hooks of her bra. Once it was unhooked she
shrugged it off and threw it to the floor. Leaning over her, she
fell back to the bed as I took a nipple into my mouth. I sucked and
nipped at it until she cried out, my other hand teasing her
mound.

I kissed down to her navel
until I reached the damp sweetness that was wholly her. Her clit
was starting to swell when I took it in my mouth and worked my
tongue over it. I loved watching her hips and thighs flex as she
sought more pressure. She was seeking penetration and I knew it as
she pressed harder into my face. I worked my briefs off then cupped
her ass in my hands as she became more disoriented. When she panted
my name, I pulled away and knelt between her legs.

“
Cassidy, look at me.”
Those eyes of hers were magnetic. She searched for my face in the
darkness and met my eyes. “I love you, Blackbird.”

Panting and trying to
smile, she replied, “I love you, too.”

Lowering myself over her,
my tip prodded her entrance. I kissed her lips, both our eyes open
and slid into her. She was warm, wet, tight and eager to meet my
every thrust. Her walls quivered around me as they accommodated me
and as it slowed I pulled back out and right back in. Arching her
back, she exposed her neck to me as I lowered my lips and began
leaving my mark just below her ear. Her hands frantically searched
for something to hang on to and I knew what she craved. My hands
captured her wrists and pinned them to the bed on either side of
her head.

I ground my hips against
her as I asked, “Is that what you wanted?”

Sliding in again and a
little deeper she whimpered my name. “James! Yes, please don’t let
go.” She used the strength of my arms to her advantage and arched
up into me further, rubbing every part of her against
me.

Repeating her movements, in
rhythm to my own body, she became more feverish. “I won’t let go.
I’m never letting go of us.”

Her eyes met mine and the
wall of ecstasy glazed over them. She was about to come. I focused
all my movement on her, my own release pushed aside. “H, harder.”
Her legs were trembling as they tried desperately to cling to my
waist. “OH! Yes, right there.”

The stillness settled over
her—a telltale sign she was ready—and with my next thrust, she
screamed my name as her release took over. My body took over as I
drove her harder into the mattress, freeing her wrists she wrapped
her arms around my neck as I succumbed to my own climax.

A few hours later and a few
orgasms later, she was lying on my back and tracing the anchor
tattoo with her fingers. I told her everything about when and why
I’d gotten it. She fell asleep like that and I delicately rolled
over as she burrowed into my side. I slept better that night than I
had in months, if not years.

C
hapter
24
~
F
orever

~ JAMES ~

It was back, everything. A
couple weeks had passed since that night when everything came
rushing back to me. I had just finished a meeting with Cal and
Jane. They were taking the leap and starting the process to build
their house. Paul was helping them with the design, though he was
still in Atlanta. I hadn’t admitted it to anyone, but I missed him.
I had some things to ask him and hoped he’d be
receptive.

After making that call I
headed to the parking garage. The conversation had gone better than
I anticipated. He agreed and I hoped it was the first step to
getting him back to Michigan. Though, given the cold front we were
entering, I wouldn’t want to leave Atlanta either if I was
him.

Cassidy was working late,
or so she’d said. When I pulled in the drive, her car was in the
garage. I was looking forward to another weekend with her. We
didn’t have plans and I planned on keeping her in bed all weekend,
if I could. I’d chain her to the bed if I needed to and I knew she
wouldn’t object.

Chessa greeted me at the
door as I set down my things. I picked her up and asked her,
“Where’s your, Momma?” I set her down and she darted up the
stairs.

The music became louder as
I made my way to our room. When I walked in, she was wearing her
glasses, a white blouse that was unbuttoned, that black bra I loved
fully exposed, black skirt, and knee high boots. Those had to be
new. Shit! She looked like a naughty librarian. I adjusted myself
as I took in the scene in front of me. She had candles lit,
curtains closed and the light off.

Her hair was up in a tight
pony and she held a crop in her hand. I approached her and she put
up her finger. “Not so fast Mr. Benedict.” I stopped, eager to see
what she’d do next. “Don’t move.”

Turning to her iPod, she
scrolled through the playlist, hit a couple buttons and hit play. I
shook my head at her and her choice of music. She was demented and
I loved it. They were coming in concert and she’d already purchased
tickets.
Whore
by In This Moment
began blaring. She shooed Chessa out the door and
closed it. We’d been pretty vanilla and boring the last week or so
and it was evident she missed the spice.

“
I have plans for you.”
She walked a circle around me, trailing her crop over my
suit.

“
Is that so? Since when
are you in charge here?”

“
You made the comment that
I could, or was it should, be a switch.” She turned in a small
circle, took a bow and said, “Tada!”

“
Cassidy…”

“
Ah, ah, ah. Tonight, it’s
Mistress.” She narrowed her eyes at me as she smacked the crop
against her boot.

“
Mistress.” I closed the
distance between us. Her boots added several inches to her height
and she was nearly eye to eye with me. “What did you have in
mind?”

“
You, naked,
NOW.”

Once I was disrobed, she
told me to get on the bed. Sitting on the edge, she placed her
spiked boot between my legs, dangerously close to my package.
Gently, she pressed the heel into my thigh and told me to remove
her boot. I found the zipper and trailed my fingers down the
exposed flesh as I released the zipper, repeating the action on her
other foot. Her eyes traveled to my growing erection and she smiled
wickedly.