Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3) (9 page)

I spotted the gift box on
my dresser and recalled what was inside. Grabbing the box, I put it
in the closet, up high on a shelf and said a silent prayer that one
day we’d get good use of the contents inside. Heading back down to
my office, I pulled up iTunes and got to work.

Her playlist had exposed
me to some bands I’d never heard of before and one was quickly
growing on me.
The Airborne Toxic Event
had been completely foreign to me and now I
couldn’t stop listening to them. The first thing I did was download
all of their work and turned it up as I grabbed a pad of paper. It
took me moment, but the words started flowing as I spilled my heart
out on paper to her. I wasn’t brave enough to give the love notes
to her, but one day I would be.

The next afternoon, I was
purposely late to the meeting with Judge Mathis in order to give
him some time with her. After I chased her down in the hallway, I
froze and let her leave again. I had to pace myself. She wasn’t
ready to hear me pour my heart out and I hadn’t been ready either.
I headed back to his office and closed the door.

He smiled at me knowingly,
“That girl is still head over heels for you.”

“
I don’t know, she doesn’t
act like it.”

“
James, you brought her
here to sign separation papers. I wouldn’t expect her to be happy
about it. I’m not sure what your plan is, but I’d execute it soon
before you lose her for good.” I knew he was right. “I’ve learned
in my many years that most women are very forgiving. They just want
to be cherished and wanted. Cassidy is no exception. That girl
wants you to scream it from the rooftops.”

“
I have some grand
gestures up my sleeve. Don’t worry.”

“
Alright. Well, here’s the
paperwork. File it or win her back.” I shook his hand knowing I had
absolutely no intention of filing that paperwork and went to leave
his office. “Hurry up before someone tries to snatch her
up.”

“
Yeah, yeah. Thank
you.”

I didn’t need any reminders
about Paul and any other suitors who’d come calling when they found
out she was single. Of course, she wasn’t single, she just didn’t
know that. I pushed down the voice that chastised me about playing
with fire. It was a daily struggle to remind myself that I wanted
her, no matter what I’d done or been through, and I was going to
prove I deserved her.

The next weekend I went to
the club to pass time. I was a silent observer, lurking in the
corners while I watched couples seduce each other on the dance
floor. I recognized some as regulars, knowing they’d end up
downstairs come the end of the night, and others I didn’t. I threw
back the rest of my drink and was headed toward the door when I saw
her walk in with Paul.

I backed away so that she
wouldn’t see me. Her eyes scanned the room before they lingered
over the door leading down stairs to where her desires awaited her.
My suspicions were correct. I knew her well enough to know why she
was there. It wasn’t for the dancing and drinking. Paul had been
down there with me, but it’d been several years. He didn’t mind a
little group play, some light bondage, but he was no sub and no
Dom. I wondered if she’d opened up to him about her desires, but my
gut told me she hadn’t. She was still discovering them and coming
to terms with it. If she thought he could give her what she craved,
she’d be disappointed.

I stepped outside and
called Annie to discover that she was downstairs as well. The next
part of my plan was about to be set into motion.

C
hapter
6
~
I
mpressive

~ CASSIDY ~

A couple days after seeing
James and Judge Mathis, I was in my office when Linda told me my
next appointment had arrived. When Linda walked Melissa back I was
mildly annoyed. I’d ignored her calls, knowing it was about the
job. I gave her an A for effort. She was savvy. Apparently, I
couldn’t avoid her any longer.

“
Linda, close the door.
Thank you.” Linda left, closing the door behind her as I requested.
“Melissa, have a seat.”

“
Thank you.” She took a
seat and I pushed my work aside and took a sip of my coffee. “Thank
you for seeing me.”

“
Don’t thank me, yet.” She
smiled as I commended her for her efforts. “Pretty smart scheduling
an appointment for a wedding planner.”

“
Well, you wouldn’t see me
any other way.”

“
True. So, what do you
want?”

She sat up a little
straighter and cleared her throat. She was intimidated and I
couldn’t figure out why. “I’d like a chance at the job. I’m a great
candidate and I believe I’d be a great fit.”

Sighing, I knew she was
right. “Your resume is impressive. I’ve practically memorized it.”
I needed her and I think she knew that. Maybe we needed each other.
“Ok. You have ninety days to prove to me that I’m making the right
choice.”

Her eyes got big as she
exclaimed, “Really?”

Shrugging my shoulders,
“Cecily is confident and your resume speaks for itself. Can you
start on Monday?”

“
Yes, hell, I can start
today if you want.”

Laughing, I said, “Monday’s
fine. It’s already Friday. Enjoy your last weekend of freedom.” We
both chuckled at that. “Wait. It’s a holiday weekend. Make it
Tuesday.”

“
Cassidy?”

“
Yes.”

“
I’m really sorry about
the baby.” I wasn’t expecting to hear that from her and was a
little dumbstruck. “Nothing is or was or has gone on with James and
me since he met you.”

“
Melissa, I really don’t
want to talk about it.”

“
I know, I just had to say
it. James is yours and he wants you back, even if he’s too stubborn
to say it out loud.”

“
Ok. I can’t hear any more
of this.”

“
I understand.”

“
Thank you for coming in.
I’ll see you bright and early on Tuesday.” She nodded and we shook
hands before she saw her way out.

I put what she said in the
back of my mind. I had plans with Delaney that night and with Paul
the next and I couldn’t focus any more of my attention on James,
especially if the feeling wasn’t mutual. Life went on, at least
that’s what I told myself and what I was trying to do. I had no
cares in the world and wanted to live that way. It was time to live
life to its fullest and just have a good fucking time.

~<>~<>~<>~

Delaney and I went to
dinner and then to the club for some dancing. She didn’t mention
James once and I was thankful. She was the most non-judgmental
person I’d ever met. She and Smith still boggled my mind. I never
would’ve put them together and it turned out that they’d known each
other since they graduated high school. She told me a little bit of
how they met on summer vacation. She’d spent the summer with her
Aunt, in a tourist town, and Smith was working for her
Aunt.

There seemed to be a lot
more to their story, but she didn’t dwell on it. I was looking
forward to hearing more and wondered if they ever planned on
marrying, knowing it wasn’t for everyone. They’d been together for
over two years, after rekindling their relationship from an almost
decade hiatus. I wanted more details, but I’d have to wait, there
was a dance floor waiting for us.

We were sitting at a table
close to the bar, taking a break, when we spotted Roxy and Misty.
“Your girls are here.”

I nearly choked on my drink
as I laughed at her statement. “Uh, they’re not my
girls.”

“
They’d like to be.” She
waggled her brows at me and said, “No judgment! You’re free to do
what and
who
you
want.”

I watched them out of the
corner of my eye as I just said, “Mmmhmm.”

She kicked my leg under the
table, “You’re attracted to her!”

“
Ow! What?
Who?”

“
Please, Cassidy. She’s
fun, they both are.” I open-mouth gawked at her. “Or so I hear.”
She winked and took another sip of her drink.

I was more than attracted
to her, them. Fucking hell. I’d always admired the female body, but
never found myself attracted to one. Not the way I was attracted to
Roxy and Misty. Before I could think on it anymore, Delaney pulled
me into the throngs of people as we danced and danced some
more.

That night when I got
home, I found myself pleasuring myself in bed, again. It was
becoming a habit, but that time the bodies I imagined around me
weren’t male bodies.
Shit!
Roxy and Misty had tried persuading me to stay
and I had found myself in a precarious situation in the restroom
with them.

“
Come home with
us.”

“
Better yet, come down
stairs with us.”

“
I, um, I really
shouldn’t…” I’d spent some time on the dance floor with them and
Delaney, but I wasn’t making out with her. Roxy leaned in and
kissed me just under my ear, sending a shiver through
me.

“
Cassidy, you staying or
going.” Delaney stood at the entrance of the bathroom, smirk in
place, as Misty and Roxy hovered around me.

“
Not tonight girls.” I
pulled myself away and walked toward Delaney.”

“
We’ll be here next
weekend too.”

I closed my eyes as the
ending sensations from my orgasm flowed through me. I drifted off
reminding myself that I deserved some fun and there was nothing
wrong with a little experimentation. It would just have to wait.
Maybe until next weekend.

~ PAUL ~

It was Saturday, and I had
a date with Cassidy. I vaguely wondered if she realized I was
considering it a date. I stopped and picked her up some flowers
before making my way to her place. When I pulled up, her security
detail left after we spoke. James, had lightened the reins
slightly. The only time she had someone watching her was when she
was alone. She was slowly getting her freedom back and I knew she
was happy about that.

We went to dinner and a
movie before we debated our next move. I wanted to invite her back
to my place, but didn’t want to be presumptuous. It was a first
date after all and I didn’t want to move too fast. I decided then
that I should be the gentleman and take her home.

Walking her to the door,
she invited me in. I struggled with the decision and kissed her
goodnight. Of course the kiss became heated and she pulled me
inside. Fuck it. We were both consenting adults. Once the door was
closed, I pushed her up against it while finding her hands and
locking our hands together. Pressing my body against hers, she
pushed back, eliciting a moan from both of us.

“
Cassidy, we should take
it slow.”

“
Fuck taking it
slow.”

Before I could agree or
disagree, her mouth found mine again as we walked to the couch, our
arms tangled around one another. We sat down next to each other but
it wasn’t long before she was on her back with me next to her. I
broke the kiss as my hand skimmed over her exposed torso, her
sweater lingering around her ribcage.

My eyes scanned down her
body. The skirt she wore was exposing too much of her thighs for me
to keep control. My hand reached down to her ankle and slowly moved
up the back of her calf and up to her knee. I lowered my lips to
her knee and kissed my way a little higher. I lifted my eyes to
hers as she waited for my next move. My hand moved under her skirt
and caressed her hip as she bit her lip.

“
I don’t want to move too
fast, Cass.”

“
I know. I’m ok. Please,
kiss me.”

Smiling, I asked,
“Where?”

Stifling a laugh she
begged, “Here.” She pointed at her mouth as she narrowed her eyes
at me.

“
Anything you want,
Cass.”

We continued making out and
rubbing against each other for quite some time. Soon I was on my
back as she dry humped my erection. Jesus. I was going to come in
my pants if she didn’t stop doing that. Like she read my mind, her
weight shifted as her hand pressed against my groin.

“
Cassidy, be careful. You
don’t know how bad I want you.”

“
This,” she squeezed me
gently as I sucked in a breath, “says otherwise.”

“
Evil. You’re
evil.”

I sat up with her
straddling my lap and crashed my mouth to hers. She smelled so good
and I couldn’t believe I finally had her in my arms again. The time
in the hot tub had just been a tease. Her hands undid my pants and
I wasn’t going to stop her. Her hand slipped in between my briefs
and jeans as she grabbed on to me. My hands gripped her hips and
pulled her closer. She shifted slightly so that she was humping my
thigh as her lips worked down my neck and she continued stroking
me.

Before I could slow it
down, her hand jerked me off as my orgasm flooded over me. Shit.
She encouraged me on and didn’t seem disappointed, but I was. That
was NOT how I wanted that to go. She went to get up but I stopped
her.