“Hey, Xavier?” I ask between kisses.
“Yeah?”
“The store is officially closed, and I’m ready to go home.”
“Is that an invitation, or are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks.
“An invitation.”
“Good,” he says as he kisses me again, hard with lots of tongue. “Because I want to rip your clothes off and take you right here and now, but I don’t want to rush once we get started. I want to spend hours touching you, kissing you, loving you the way you deserve.”
“I’m still mad at you for not telling me you were technically married,” I tell him, although it’s hard to remember why with his arms still around me, holding me like he never wants to let go.
“I’m still mad at me too,” he replies. “Good thing I know a great way for us to work out that anger.”
“Oh really?” I ask with a grin, loving the easy way he talks about us being intimate when just a few weeks ago it was nothing more than a fantasy in my head, a wish I’d had for years about something I never thought would actually come to fruition. That’s what triggers the sudden onset of sobs faster than you could flip a light switch.
“No, no, no,” Xavier says when he pulls back to look at my face. “Please don’t cry.”
“S-sorry. It’s just a lot to take in, you know?” I tell him. “This is what I’ve wanted for so long…”
“Jesus, Cass,” he grumbles before hugging me to his chest. “I wish you would have told me how you felt sooner.”
“You didn’t feel the same way…” I explain.
“I do now, okay?” he says. “It wasn’t your fault it took me so long to open my eyes. It was mine. But just because it took me longer doesn’t mean that how I feel about you now isn’t as strong. I love you. I’m in love with you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’m more certain of that after a few weeks than I ever was with my marriage.”
“Really?” I ask.
“I swear, Bambi.”
“It’ll probably take some time before I’m able to trust you again,” I warn him as I rest my face against his chest, soaking up his rich boy cologne and listening to his heart thumping.
“I know, and that’s fair. Actions speak louder than words, and I’m all about showing you how I feel, over and over again.”
He’s obviously talking about sex, and I can’t wait to finally get Xavier into my bed after waiting so freaking long, even if I am a little nervous. Our first time at the reunion was explosive, but it happened so fast I didn’t have time to be self-conscious. Now, tonight, we won’t be in a rush. What if the sex isn’t as good as before? What if it was a fluke? God, I have got to get out of my head and get Xavier into my bed before he changes his mind.
“I guess I’ll, um, lock up and meet you at my house,” I tell Xavier when I finally pull away from him. I even give him a little push with my palms against his chest to hurry him out of here so I can have some time alone to pull myself together.
“I’ll see you there,” he agrees, placing a kiss on my forehead. “But I’m going to wait in the parking lot for you to leave.”
“I have a security system,” I assure him.
“Yeah, you do. And his name is Xavier,” he replies with a grin.
Xavier
Cassidy makes me wait half an hour in the parking lot for her to lock up. It doesn’t take a detective to figure out that Cass is nervous. Whether she’s still unable to completely trust me or if she’s worrying about how things are going to be between us in bed, I’m not sure.
Our first time happened fast. Now, though, she’s had time to think. Too much time, so she’s more hesitant.
Finally she comes out. With a quick wave of her hand, she gets into her car, and then I’m following behind her in my rental.
That just reminds me of one more thing I’ll need to do once I get settled in – buy a car since I sold mine in Seattle rather than figure out how to get it here.
At Cass’s, I grab one of my bags and head up to the door she’s already unlocking, or at least trying to. She drops her keys not once but twice.
“Gosh, I’m clumsy tonight,” Cass says with a puff of nervous laughter.
“Want me to help?”
“Nope. I’ve got it. There!” Triumphant on the third try, she opens the door and starts turning on lights as I follow her inside.
“Do you want something to eat? Or drink? I could fix something if you’re hungry, and there’s a ton of snack stuff in the pantry…” Cass tells me when we stop at the kitchen for her to put her phone and keys down on the counter.
“I’m good,” I say to stop her rambling.
“Okay, then I guess we can go on upstairs and get ready for bed. Unless you want to watch some television?”
“Bambi, do you want me to just sleep in the guest bedroom tonight?” I ask. Even though it would suck not to finally share her bed, I don’t want her to stress.
“No!” she quickly objects. “Unless you want to sleep in the guest bedroom…”
“I’m just trying to figure out what you want me to do,” I tell her when I sit my luggage down by my feet. “I want you. I think I’ve made that clear. But not until you’re ready.”
“I’m ready. Why wouldn’t you think I’m ready?” she asks with her hands on her hips.
“No reason.”
“Then let’s go to bed. Together,” she says.
“Good,” I reply before I grab my luggage and make my way to the stairs with her following behind me.
Once we’re in her bedroom, she goes to her usual side of the bed while I put my things in
