Unforeseen, page 11
“Well I certainly enjoyed the show. Here’s to hoping I get to see more next time,” I teased, raising my glass of wine.
“Stop it!” she squealed, covering her face with the blanket.
“You stop it,” I laughed, plucking a throw pillow off the couch and tossing it at her. “Since when has Cassidy Carpenter had a shy bone in her body?”
“I don’t know,” she confessed, lowering the blanket. “You just make me feel, I guess. It’s not something I’m used to.”
Suddenly our playful banter had taken a serious turn. Little by little, I was breaking down Cass’s wall–revealing her vulnerability. Twisting the ring on my finger, I knew what I needed to do before this could go any further between us. My heart knew when I first saw Cass that this was something I needed to do, but it had taken longer for my head to catch up. If she was revealing herself to me, it was my turn to give her my all. It was time to say goodbye.
“I’ll be right back. Make yourself comfortable,” I said, retreating down the hallway to the bedroom.
Excusing myself, I needed to do this alone and in my own way. Opening the drawer to the nightstand, I removed the black velvet box which held Alyssa’s diamond engagement ring and wedding band. Removing it from her finger just minutes before closing the casket had been one of the most difficult moments in my life. I only took it, thinking that someday Maddy might want it as a reminder of her mother.
Turning to Rich, he took Alyssa’s ring from his pocket and placed it in my palm. Using the pad of my thumb, I swiped a fresh tear from my bride’s cheek before continuing with my vows. “Alyssa, my beautiful, gorgeous bride, today I take you as my wife. From the moment I first laid my eyes on you in that coffee shop in the middle of downtown Manhattan, I knew I needed you in my life. From this day forward, I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of sorrow, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, always be open and honest with you, raise a family together with you, and grow old with you all while cherishing you for as long as we both shall live. Never goodbye,” I vowed, sliding the ring on her finger.
“Blake, my handsome groom and best friend, today I take you as my husband. Together we’ll create a home, joining our lives and our families. I vow to help create a life that we can cherish, inspiring your love for me and mine for you. I promise to be honest, caring, and truthful to you as you are and not as I want you to be. We’ll grow old together and love one another for as long as we both shall live. Never goodbye,” she said, placing the tungsten band around my finger.
Thinking back on that moment, I truly believed then that it would never be goodbye and forever would last a lot longer than just a handful of years. Even after I was grazed in the shoulder by a stray bullet as Rich and I covered a political rally a few years back, I still thought we were invincible–living in our perfect little bubble.
“It’s time to finally say goodbye, Lys. I’ve found someone, and she makes me happy. I think you’d like her a lot. She’s Brooke’s best friend, and she’s great with our kids. You’ll always be my first love, but I think it’s time to open my heart to someone else. I can’t do that while I’m still holding on to you–to this ring. Truth is, I think I’m already falling in love with her. I hope you understand,” I said out loud as I slipped my wedding band off my finger, placing it in the velvet box. Looking at the rings together in the box, I exhaled sharply before snapping it closed. “Goodbye, Short Stack. I love you–I’ll always love you.”
Placing the box back in the nightstand, I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment before returning to the living room to talk to Cass. I needed a minute to think about what I’d just done. Raking my fingers through my hair, I wondered if I should even tell her how I was feeling. We’d had such a good conversation at dinner that I feared this might set her back again.
“Hey, you were gone a long time,” she said as I walked back into the room, sitting beside her on the couch.
“Yeah, there was something I needed to do,” I confessed, reaching for her hand.
As our hands locked together, she let out an audible gasp. “You took off your wedding ring?” she asked, cautiously.
“It was time. I want to move forward with you, and I couldn’t properly do that while I was wearing another woman’s ring,” I said, hoping she could hear the sincerity in my tone. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, Cass, but I want to find out. Take this leap with me?”
She stared at me for what seemed like an eternity before finally responding. “OK, let’s try,” she said.
“Yeah? We’re doing this?” I questioned.
“Yes, we’re doing this. Now shut up and kiss me, Mitchell.”
“Now that’s an order I can get behind,” I growled, clutching the nape of her neck, bringing her lips to mine. As our lips touched, her hands became entangled in my hair, only deepening our kiss. As much as I didn’t want to rush her into anything, I craved her–all of her.
Not wanting to disrespect Cass by taking her back into the bedroom, the same bedroom where I’d just said goodbye to Alyssa, I eyed the couch we were sitting on. Resting one knee beside her and placing my other foot on the ground, I gently lowered her back to the couch. I hovered over her, continuing my onslaught on her lips.
Stopping for a moment to catch my breath, I gazed down at her, taking sight of her chest as it rose and fell with her own rapid breaths.
“Cass, if you want me to stop, you need to tell me right now. Because once I start, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to control myself,” I warned, staring into her dilated pupils. She was as ravenous for me as I was for her.
“Don’t stop,” she said, barely above a whisper.
“Say it louder,” I growled.
“Don’t stop! I want you Blake–all of you,” she said louder than before.
Those were the only words I needed to hear as I slid my hands under her shirt, unhooking her bra. Moving my hands to her front, I grazed her full breasts causing her to squirm beneath my weight.
“As much as I want to take this slow, I don’t know how much more time we have alone,” I whispered.
“Then stop wasting time,” she sassed, as she sat up and ripped her shirt and bra off in one quick movement.
As much time as we’d spent together in the last few weeks, Cass still kept me on my toes–always surprising me. Lying back, she grabbed my hand in hers, guiding me to her chest. Placing both of my hands on her breasts, she directed my palms as they slid across her already hardened nipples. Thinking her dominatrix side was pretty sexy, I decided to let Cass take control–for now.
“Just like this,” she ordered, removing her hand from mine. “Don’t stop.” As I continued palming her breasts, tweaking and pinching her nipples, she reached her hands over and popped the button of my jeans before slowing working down the zipper, my already erect cock springing free from the waist of my boxer briefs. Circling her fingers around the head of my cock, I nearly lost it before it even really began.
“I think it’s my turn to take the driver’s seat,” I growled. Pulling down her leggings, it left just the thin fabric of her panties between us.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” I growled, before placing a trail of heated kisses down her chest and stomach, stopping just above the waist of her panties. Knowing I didn’t have much more time, I quickly stood and discarded my clothes, letting them drop to the floor.
Crawling back onto the couch, I rested my weight on one arm as I took the other hand and slowly slid Cass’s panties over, exposing her pretty, pink pussy. She moaned beneath me as I stroked my thumb over her already wet core. The expressions on her face as I inserted one finger and then another, left me wanting to jizz all over her stomach without even properly fucking her.
“Faster, Blake. Faster,” she moaned as I inserted a third finger into her already pulsating center. Waiting until just the right moment, I used my thumb to stroke her clit causing an orgasm to ripple over her body. If her orgasm felt that good around my fingers, I could only imagine what it would feel like with my cock buried deep inside her pussy.
As she lay there, trying to catch her breath, I reached for my pants which I’d tossed on the floor. Pulling out the condom which I’d grabbed earlier, Cass sat and stared at me with a sleepy smile forming across her lips.
“Let me,” she said through hooded eyes. Allowing her to take the condom, I leaned back, resting my weight on my ankles. My fully erect cock standing at full attention, just waiting for her to touch it. Ripping open the package, she placed the condom at my tip before slowly sheathing it in its entirety.
Exhaling deeply, I sat back on my knees, lining up my dick with her entrance. Drawing her into me, I feverishly kissed her before sinking into her pussy as we both dropped back onto the couch. I pumped into her, the sound of my balls smacking against her ass, as I dug my fingers into the flesh of her back. Rocking my hips back and forth, I continued to fill her to the hilt with each thrust. Her breathing became ragged and I knew she was close to her release.
“Not yet, Cass. Stay with me a little longer,” I said, slowing my motion.
“Please, don’t stop. I need to come, Blake. Please let me come.”
“Fuck! You’re so fucking hot right now. You, naked beneath me while you scream my name, have got to be the hottest, fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” I growled, pounding into her once more.
“Are you ready to come, Carpenter?” I asked.
“Mmmhmm,” she moaned, arching her back, her nipples standing at full attention.
“Louder!” I yelled, tweaking her right nipple with my finger as I bit down on the left.
“Fuck!” she yelped.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I smirked. “We’re going to do this together. You understand?”
Nodding her head, I stroked her clit with my thumb as I slammed into her pussy once more, sending her over the edge. Rocking my hips back and forth once more, I came undone with my own orgasm. Taking a few breaths to try and calm my beating heart, I rolled onto my side as to not crush Cass beneath my weight.
“That was—.”
“Amazing,” I interrupted her, not allowing her to finish her thought.
“I was going to say fucking amazing, but just amazing works, too,” she giggled.
“No, you’re right. That was fucking amazing,” I agreed.
We lay in silence for several minutes, before I felt Cass’s hands on my chest and shoulders. Tracing my scar with her finger, I knew I owed her an explanation.
“That’s where I was hit by a stray bullet,” I said, the haunting memory replaying in my mind. “I’m sure Brooke told you all about it.”
“Yeah,” she said. “She thought Rich died that day. Luckily you were both all right,” she added, resting her head against my chest as I told her the rest of the story.
“He may have saved my life. I was only grazed on the shoulder by the bullet, but I did lose a lot of blood. If Rich hadn’t stepped in like he did, I’m not sure how things would’ve turned out.
“You’d think that my near-death experience would’ve prepared me for when we lost Alyssa, but it didn’t at all. In fact, I think it only made me think we were even more invincible than I already believed we were.”
We lay there talking for a few more minutes before hearing a commotion out in the hallway to the apartment. Cass sat straight up, wrapping her arms around her chest.
“Please tell me your parents don’t have a key,” she squealed, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Yes! They do,” I yelled. “Hurry, get up! I’ll grab the clothes!” Picking the clothes off the floor, I threw them at her in the bathroom before hurrying into the bedroom. Slipping into a pair of sweatpants that I’d worn the night before, I threw a T-shirt on over my head before running back out into the living room just in time for the front door to open.
“We knocked, but you didn’t answer,” my mother said as the kids ran past her.
“Yeah, we were just cleaning up after dinner,” I said, hoping my mother believed my lie. Yes, I was a grown ass man lying to his mother. I’m not proud, but sometimes it had to be done.
“Where’s my mommy?” Kaity asked, staring up at me.
“I’m right here, Princess,” Cass responded, stepping out into the living room. Biting my tongue, I nearly lost it when I noticed her clothes.
Trying to get Cass’s attention, I failed as Kaity enthusiastically started telling us about their evening.
“Mommy, I had so much fun with my new Geema and Geepa. We saw a movie, and ate lots and lots of popcorn.”
“That’s great, Baby. I’m glad you had so much fun.”
“Mommy?” Kaity said, her expression changing as she finally looked up at her mother.
“Yeah, Baby?”
“Why is your shirt on backwards?”
Looking down, Cass’s forehead creased and a look mixed with shame and guilt flashed across her face. “I, uh,” she stuttered, realizing that my parents were also in the room.
Knowing I needed to step in and do something before Cass fled my apartment, I interrupted before she was able to finish her thought. “She spilled food on her shirt when we were eating dinner. She went into the bathroom to wash the stain out. She must’ve accidently put it on backwards when she slipped it back on. Right, Cass?” I said, nodding my head, hoping she’d agree with me.
“Yep, silly me! I’m so embarrassed,” she said, her cheeks flushing.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Darling. It’s happened to us all,” my mom said.
“Thank you. You must be Mrs. Mitchell. Blake has told me so much about you,” Cass said.
“Don’t believe anything my son has told you about us,” Mom chuckled. “And, please, call me Penny. And, this is Blake’s father Dennis,” she added, as the girls ran off to the bedroom to play. As Kaity ran by Cass, I was almost certain that little girl was going to get an earful later for embarrassing her mother.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Cass said, forcing a smile. We exchanged in a few minutes of brief conversation before my parents excused themselves and exited, after telling us of an impending snowstorm.
“Well that was probably the most awkward experience of my life,” Cass said after my parents had left. “I’m sure they think super highly of the girl who just walked out of their son’s bathroom with sex-crazed hair, swollen lips, and a backwards T-shirt. But, thanks for just telling them that I have no hand-eye coordination because that was so much less embarrassing,” she added, covering her face with her hands.
“It’s official, I can never see them again,” she sighed.
“Would you stop it. We’re adults, Cass. They’re adults. They know what adults do,” I tried reassuring her.
“Fine, if you say so,” she sighed.
“I do. Just trust me?” I asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I do,” she said with a faint smile. “And, as much as I don’t want to leave, we should probably get going too.”
“Stay the night?” I asked. In my head, I knew it was probably too soon, but I didn’t want her to leave especially when she was flying home the next day.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Blake. I don’t want Kaity to get the wrong idea,” she explained, her forehead creasing again. “Besides, I didn’t bring anything extra with me. We don’t have a change of clothes, or even our toothbrushes.”
“I’m sure Maddy has something big enough that Kaity can wear, and I think you’d be pretty fucking sexy wearing a pair of my sweats and a button-down shirt,” I groaned. “Please, say you’ll stay. I probably even have an extra toothbrush or two. Besides, I really don’t want you out there riding around in an Uber when the roads are bad.”
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before answering, “Fine, but I’m sleeping with Kaity in your spare bedroom.”
“But,” I tried arguing.
“No, buts, Mitchell,” she said, waving her finger at me.
“Are you sure I can’t get you to change your mind? Something tells me that Round Two will be even more fucking amazing than Round One, Carpenter,” I said with a wink.
“Ugh, you don’t play fair!” she yelled, swatting my arm.
“I never said I did, Babe.”
Cassidy
WAKING UP IN the morning, wrapped in Blake’s strong arms, wasn’t something in my game plan. My head was telling me that everything between us was moving too fast, but Blake asked me to believe so that’s what I was trying to do.
After spending the night together, in Blake’s spare bedroom, saying goodbye as he dropped us off in front of the terminal was a lot more difficult than I’d ever expected it to be. We hadn’t made specific plans to see each other again as the details of his upcoming move to D.C. were still up in the air, but Blake promised that it wouldn’t be long, saying that he would visit as soon as he and the kids had settled into their new environment.
Walking from the gate, after arriving back in Michigan, lost in a memory of Blake’s lips locked onto mine, I nearly ran smack dab into Brooke who was waiting for us at the baggage claim area. I’d told her several times before we left that I could just leave my car in the long-term parking, but she insisted on handling our transportation to and from the airport.
“Aunt Brookie! I missed you!” Kaity squealed, running into Brooke’s outstretched arms.
“Hi there, Princess! I missed you, too,” she said, squeezing my daughter so tight that I thought she might pop. “Tell me all about your trip! Don’t leave out anything!”
“Well, let’s see,” Kaity said, looking up toward the ceiling, probably deciding on which story to tell Brooke first. “Oh, I know, I have a new Geema and Geepa!” she said, excitement in her voice.
With this new bit of information, Brooke eyed me suspiciously. “You do?” she asked, hoping to pry more information from my daughter. We’d been friends far too long. It was time for me to turn the tables.
“She’s just talking about some people who I met for work. It was an older husband and wife team who run this particular bridal boutique, that’s all. She really took a liking to them. Norma and Dean–they were really sweet,” I said, hoping she’d buy my story.
