She is beautiful. And she fucking knows it.
She sits across from me, pretending to be interested in whatever the hell our parents are talking about, but I know her mind is elsewhere. I know it’s on me—where it should be. I wonder if she knows I have my hand in my jeans, my fingers wrapped tightly around my cock. I stroke it to her while she sucks a thin, green bean into her mouth and engages her mother in conversation. I can’t wait to tell her what I’ve done.
My lips part. I’m fucking hard—so hard I can’t believe it. I’ve fucked my hand about nine times since Friday night, and every time I imagined her. I can’t do it anymore. I need it. I would come all over her legs right now if my father wasn’t sitting two seats to my left. My cock softens at the thought and I leave it alone, stabbing my fork into my chicken.
“You’ve barely touched your food, Caleb.” Marcus points out, pointing his knife in my direction.
I don’t want to talk to them—any of them. They’re standing in the way of me eating what I really want. I want Cassia’s thighs on my plate. I want them spread open, offering me the delicious delicacy of her tight, sweet little pussy. I want her ass. Her tits. Her fucking mouth. Beans? They think I want to eat beans when I can devour their daughter an actually wind up satisfied when I’m done? Screw the beans. Give me the girl.
“Maybe you’re coming down with what Cassia has.”
I almost snort. Sure. Let’s go with that.
I nod. “Maybe.”
Cassia looks at me, he lips pouty and her eyebrows furrowed. I don’t know why she’s always worried I’ll expose what a perfectly naughty girl she is. It’s not like we’ve done anything together. She’s innocent…until I make her guilty.
“You’ve eaten quite a lot.” I say to her, hiding my delight. “I take it your appetite is back?”
Realization flickers over her face as a red blush pools in her cheeks.
“Oh. Uh, yeah. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
She avoids my eyes and pushes a few peas around her plate with her fork.
“It’s a good thing you fell ill at the beginning of the week, Cassia. At least you’ll recover in time for Bible study with Caleb on Friday.”
She tightens her slender fingers around her fork as she peers at my father.
“I was hoping Caleb could cover sex and marriage with you this week.”
I almost choke. Oh. This is going to be good. I shift in my chair.
“That’s a fair bit away from where we are at the moment, right?” She looks at me.
The way her sweet little eyebrows pull together as she frowns kind of makes me feel bad for her. She’s a little wolf desperately trying to fit in with sheep, but we’re not like them. We’re not sheep. We cannot be herded.
Dad clears his throat. “When I come again, I shall bemoan many which have already sinned, and have not repented of the lasciviousness and fornication which they have committed in an unrighteous manner.”
Cassia quirks an eyebrow. “Lascivious?”
“To stir up desire in oneself, or another, that cannot be virtuously satisfied within the boundaries of a righteous relationship.” I say, pushing my plate out of the way. “I.e. Between husband and wife.”
Yeah. I learned that word when I first got hair on my balls.
Blood drains from Cassia’s face, turning her stomach enough for her to lower her fork and nudge her plate out of the way.
“What’s this about, exactly?” She asks her mother who keeps her eyes downcast at her plate.
Linda ignores her daughter’s question, offering a slight glance at Marcus, asking for help.
Weak.
Marcus threads his fingers together, dropping his elbows on the table. “Cassia, we recognize how hard you are trying to stay on the right path and we are thankful for it, truly, we are…”
“But?”
“But we would like for you to take an oath…of celibacy until you are married.”
Cassia chuckles nervously. “You’re not serious?”
Marcus narrows his eyes. “We’re dead serious.”
“Cassia, this is a good thing. Your father told me everything that’s happened and he’s acknowledged how hard you’re trying. Taking the oath only further ensures your dedication. It forms a promise between you and God that your parents can trust wholeheartedly.”
“They should trust me not depend on some stupid oath.”
“If you’re not having sex, why not take the oath?” Marcus asks, accusation thick and heavy in his tone.
“Because it’s unnecessary. I’m not going to embarrass myself like that.”
“It’s a simple ceremony, Cassia. You repent, you swear an oath, and you wear the ring. That’s all. You can take it off once you’re married.”
“I have to wear a ring, too?” She tosses her hands up. “Why don’t you slap a fucking scarlet letter on me and tattoo whore across my fucking forehead while you’re at it?”
“Cassia!” Marcus booms. “That’s enough!”
My lips twitch up.
“I’m not finished.” She points at her father. “Fuck you.”
Then at her mother. “And fuck you.”
Her slender little index finger shoots in the direction of my dad. “Fuck you, too.”
And, finally, she points it at me. “And fuck you—especially you.”
I reach for my glass of water. “What’d I do?”
“You exist, Caleb. You fucking exist.”
Aw. I just might marry this feisty little firecracker. I smile. I can’t help it. She’s turning me on way too much to ignore.
“That’s hardly cause for such hostility.” I point out, sipping my water.
She flips me off, sending sharp tendrils of excitement barreling through my body. This is fun!
“Cassia Claire!” Her dad barks out, his face a royal red.
My smile doesn’t fall. I bet angry fucking the shit out of this girl would be epic.
Cassia whips around on her heel and storms toward the staircase.
“We’ve paid for the ceremony, Cassia. It’s going to happen.” Marcus shouts after her, his face red with an angry mix of rage and embarrassment.
“We can’t force her to take the oath, Marcus. It doesn’t work like that. She has to be willing.”
“I’m not.” She shouts over her shoulder.
“This whole time?” Marcus snaps, pushing up from his chair. “This whole time you’ve led us to believe you’ve changed? Have you been having sex? Have you been in contact with that boy?”
Cassia stops, squeezing the banister in her hand. She turns around. “I’ve been locked up in this house since we moved here, only let out to go to work and church so that leaves little time for me to blow the whole town, and no, I haven’t spoken to Thomas since we left Bismarck. You smashed my laptop and took my phone.”
Holy hell. This girl has no freedom.
“Then take the bloody oath and quit humiliating us. How long do we have to live with the embarrassment of your mistakes? How long do we have to suffer because of what you did?”
Jesus fucking Christ. They really need to ease up on the girl. I clench my jaw as hurt slaps her across the face. I press my shoes into the ground, my calf muscles burning as I bear down on them. It takes all my energy not to stab Marcus in the hand with my fork. No wonder the poor girl tries so hard to impress her parents. They hit her with some intense emotional abuse.
Swallowing hard, Cassia turns away from her father, away from the table, and bounds up the stairs.
“Cassia!” Her father shouts, his voice coaxing my violent urge to jam a chicken leg down his throat.
He steps away from the table in pursuit of his daughter.
“Marcus, wait. Caleb should go.” My father interjects, his tone calm and cool.
Marcus shakes his head, wary of the suggestion. “I don’t think so.”
Dad folds his hands on the table in front of him. “He successfully completed his celibacy ceremony six years ago. I think Cassia will benefit more by talking to someone who has been through it and is of a similar age.”
Again, Marcus shakes his head. “I think this is an issue best discussed with a parent.”
“With all due respect, Marcus. You’re the last person Cassia would want to talk to about intercourse and celibacy.” Dad points out, making Marcus’s jaw tick.
Marcus eyes me up with his beady little stare. “Celibate, you say?”
Not even close.
My father nods. “You can trust Caleb. That I promise you.”
Sure, he can trust me. He can trust me to give his daughter the kind of dick that will fuck with her feelings.
Marcus plants his hands on his hips and rakes his teeth over his bottom lip. “All right.”
It takes everything I have to hold back a triumphant grin. My chair screeches against the tiles as I push away from the table. It’s all too easy. He’s practically shoving Cassia into my arms, begging me to fuck her…
…and I will.
I swear to God, I will.
****
I open the door to her room, walk right in, and close it behind me.
Her room is messier than I thought, littered with female paraphernalia and corkboards besieged with pictures of Cassia and her friends. Her room smells nice, like apples and cotton candy, and the slightest hint of nail polish tickles my nostrils. I drag my sights to the back wall where white and black pillows are scattered chaotically over her snow white comforter in the middle of her large bed. She has better things to do than clean her room, it seems.
I walk slowly, analyzing everything as I pass it, moving closer to the vibrant corkboards beside her desk. What I see in the photos tells me a lot about her. She’s playful, loyal, and free spirited. Or at least she was until her parents took control of her life.
I lean against a small cane chair by the photo boards, my finger twitching against a thin, soft fabric. I glance down at the black tee resting over the back of the seat. On the left breast pocket, in cursive writing, is the name of a store I’ve walked by one hundred times on Main Street.
I lift the shirt. Cassia works at Peppa’s Perfumes.
Smiling, I return the shirt to its spot and glance up. My stomach drops in the most delightful way when a photo in the middle of the corkboard catches my eye. It’s her smile I see first, wide and wild, exposing perfect white teeth, followed secondly by her large, blue eyes, framed with long, dark lashes. The photo is taken from a higher angle, looking down on her. She’s the only one in the photo, her hands threaded together on her thighs. The angle would show off her breasts if she wasn’t wearing a white dress that covered the majority of her chest. I pluck the photo from the corkboard and hold it in my hand.
I think I’ll keep it.
“What are you doing?” I lift my head as she strolls barefoot from her bathroom and I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips.
With her usual sass, she folds her arms over her chest and leans against the doorframe.
“You’re cute.” I say, slipping the photograph into my back pocket.
“Thanks.” She scratches her lip. “Do I even want to know what you plan on doing with that?”
Isn’t it obvious? Excitement bubbles in my stomach. If only she could see the images I see. I smile, unable to contain it as wicked, dirty, nasty thoughts flood my brain.
“I’m going to come all over it.”
Cassia cringes, screwing up her pretty face. “Gross.”
I turn towards her, tilting my head in that way she likes so much. How do I know? Because she flexes her fingers every time I do it.
“When I’m finished with it, I’ll give it back to you in exchange for a new one.”
A smile breaks over her beautiful mouth as she lets out a humorous rush of air. Any other girl would find me disturbing, probably, but Cassia isn’t any other girl. She absorbs my kinks and my desires without a flinch. Hell, I told her I was going to fuck her ass and I witnessed yearning burn brightly in her eyes. Most girls would shudder at the thought.
“You’re twisted, you know that, right?”
I nod. “I know.”
She shifts her weight onto her left leg. “Does it work?”
I step closer. “Does what work?”
“Your wolf among sheep routine. Does it work?”
I take another step and the beat of my heart kicks up, thrumming at an unusual pace. I try to ignore it, but the heat that blooms underneath my collar is making it difficult. I’ve never felt this before…this heat. It’s unbearable.
“You tell me. Does it make you horny knowing who I truly am underneath my mask?”
She rakes her teeth over her bottom lip, carefully selecting her next sentence. “It has its appeal…especially to girls like me who are tired of having their sexual desires suppressed by overprotective parents.”
Tingles dance along the surface of my skin, setting it alight. “And what are your sexual desires?”
Cassia smirks, lowering her hands as I take another step, leaving only a few inches of space between us. “I barely know you, Caleb Andrews.”
“You know enough.” I state, placing my hand on the wall beside her head.
She quirks a brow in that way I’ve come to like so much. “Enough for me to give you a piece of my soul? I don’t think so.”
I snort. “That’s what you think sex is? The exchanging of soul fragments?”
Silly, naïve girl.
Her stare flicks over my lips. “Maybe not for everybody, but I like to think sex leaves impressions on us…no matter how disconnected and primal it is.”
“Sex can be a nameless game. No connection. No emotion. No exchange. No impressions.”
Our eyes lock and the honesty in the ocean of her irises punches me in the stomach. Did Thomas leave an impression on her? If he did, how long will it take me to lick her clean? To leave an impression so deep nothing can cover it.
“Not for me.”
Interesting. I bend my elbow a little, resting my body against hers. I’m hard—so hard it fucking hurts.
“All right. So you need a connection. What’s ours?”
A red hot blush creeps up her slender throat and washes into her cheeks. “We’re certainly not lovers and I wouldn’t go as far as to say we’re friends.”
I almost smile.
“Not like you and little Tommy.” I tease.
Her eyes thin as she pins me with a glare. “Little? He’s bigger than you.”
Annoyance pricks at me, her defensiveness over that pathetic boy unsettling in my stomach. I’ll fuck her in ways she’s never been fucked before. In ways that’ll have her believe she was still a virgin up until she met me.
“Not where it counts.”
Cassia rolls her eyes, ignoring my shot at Tommy’s penis. “That remains to be seen.”
Her challenge sets fire to my blood. Lowering my hands, I unbuckle my belt. Cassia watches, a red flush surging over her face, but she doesn’t stop me from pulling my cock out of my pants. Her lips part as she takes it in with her greedy, blue eyes. My nerves thrum through my body, restricting how much oxygen I can suck into my lungs.
“You were saying?” I ask, unable to keep the smug feeling in my chest from affecting my tone.
If she loves it now, she’ll love it even more when it gives her the best orgasm of her life.
“Well…I…you…” She stutters, her eyes glazing over in a lust filled haze.
Exactly.
Cassia inhales and rushes it out in the same second. “Can…can I touch it?”
Arousal, unstoppable and resilient, has my stomach muscles tightening in ways I’ve never experienced. It contracts around that huge black hole of emptiness I’ve felt for so long and it compresses it, allowing my lungs more space to expand. I lean closer, desperate for her to temporarily fix me, to temporarily make me feel like I’m someone who isn’t totally wrong for her.
“If you don’t, I will. Either way, that thing you’re wearing will be covered in my c—”
“It’s a romper.” She cuts in, her brows furrowing in frustration.
I drop my head back and blow out an exhale. “I don’t even care. Will you please wrap you fingers around my c—”
She snatches my shaft in her hand, her warm, firm, and feminine fingers, gripping me tightly.
“Ohhh…” I groan, my lips parting as I bring my face back to hers. “You are fucking torture.”
“I want it inside me.” Cassia whispers, sliding her hand down the length of my shaft. “Now.”
Do I fucking look like I need to be told twice? Shit.
“You’re going to get it.” I grip her hips and pull her close.
Her breasts push against my chest, filling my head with all of the things I’m going to do to them. I’ll suck them, lick them, bite them, and rub my dick between them—everything. I’ll do anything.
Cassia’s breath hitches in her throat as I turn her around and shove her against the wall. I press my cock against her backside, buying myself a second to figure out how the FUCK I’m going to get her naked. What kind of satanic contraption is this? I mean, God damn! The little, black romper is sexy as hell, but super inconvenient. I stare at the back of it, not knowing what the hell I’m supposed to do.
“There’s a button at the top.” She urges me, pulling her hair to the side. “Undo it.”
As she lifts her arms, I see a small sliver of her skin just below a shiny black button. Without thought, I grab each side of the lacy fabric and I tear it open, exposing her beautiful, smooth back.
“Or tear it open.” She mutters, shrugging the lace over her shoulders. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Spontaneity. It’s sexy.”
I plant wet, eager kisses along her shoulder and into the nape of her neck. Soft moans of pleasure—pleasure I’m making her feel—seep from her lips and damn near make me come on the spot. Her tones are light and musical, sounds I could listen to all day.
I pause.
The sound I can do without, though, is the thump of shoes climbing the staircase outside her room. Are you kidding me?! Adrenaline is slick on my skin, sending my heart rate through the roof.
“Shit!” Cassia swears, thrusting backward. “Someone’s coming.”
“Unfortunately, it’s not me.”
“Will you stop?” She hisses, adjusting her clothes. “And pull your pants up!”
I pull up my jeans, completely covering my ass.
Following her lead, I stuff my hard dick back into my pants—which I deserve a medal for, really—and she pulls the black fabric of her romper over her shoulders.
Blowing out a gush of air, she tightens her long ponytail and leans against the wall. I only just manage to get my dick back into my pants and cross the room to her computer-less computer desk before the door opens. I’ve been up here barely seven minutes. How does that even warrant a checkup?
Marcus pops his head in as I lower myself onto Cassia’s cane chair, hiding my unbuckled belt and throbbing erection. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about it for too long. As soon as Marcus and I make eye contact, it pretty much shrivels up inside itself.
“Checking up on me?” Cassia bites out, folding her arms across her chest once again.
He shakes his head. “Caleb, your father got a call and has to go.”
I nod. “All right. I’ll be down in a minute.”
Without a word, Marcus closes the door. Cassia scoffs, pushing off the wall. With heavy feet, she storms forward, then turns, and storms back in the other direction. She repeats it over and over. It’s kind of annoying.
“A celibacy ceremony? Can you believe him?”
“Do it.” I say, standing up to buckle my belt.
Cassia frowns, her entire body tightening as she stops pacing the length of the room. “Excuse me?”
After I zip my zipper, I push five disappointed fingers through my hair, devastated I never got to bury myself inside her. So close. So close, yet so far.
“The ceremony.” I sigh. “Do it.”
“Are you out of your mind?” She steps toward me. “I don’t have to succumb to that humiliation. Don’t you think I’ve put up with enough embarrassment for one lifetime?”
“It’ll make your life a hell of a lot easier while you’re still living under your parent’s roof.”
“Caleb—”
“I’m celibate.” I say.
Cassia laughs once, rolling her eyes so dramatically I half expect them to roll out of her head. “Yeah, okay.”
“I am.”
She plants a hand on her hip. “Where’s your ring?”
“I lost it at the beach.”
Another eye roll. “How convenient.”
So. Damn. Sassy. Where’s that Bible of hers? Now’s a good a time as any to use it on her ass.
“None of it means shit—the ceremony, the ring—they don’t prevent anything. I could fuck you through this wall and then go downstairs, look your daddy in the eye and swear black and blue that I didn’t touch a single hair on your pretty little head, keeping my celibate status intact.”
She laughs once. “You think God doesn’t know you’re lying?”
I shrug. “Who cares? You and I, we’re going to hell anyway, right? Might as well make a show of it.”
Cassia straightens her spine, smoothing her hands down the front of her romper. “You’re going to Hell. I’m on the path to redemption.”
Oh, cute. She thinks redemption is a thing. I won’t be the one to tell her once you fuck up, you fuck up.
Redemption? Repenting? There’s no such thing. If you had bad intentions when you made your mistake, you’re not getting forgiven for that.
“Let’s analyze that real quick, shall we? You refused a celibacy ceremony, told your parents and a priest to get fucked, and straight up asked me to put my cock in your tight little cunt.” I point out, slowly swallowing the distance between us. “Since we’re reflecting on your outrageously sexy behavior tonight, how’s that path looking to you?”
A fierce flush flares in her cheeks, but it doesn’t touch her furious glare. I half expect her to jab me in the nuts now I’m within arm’s reach. Instead, she points a straight, angry finger at the door.
“Go fuck yourself.”
I laugh under my breath, unable to help the slight chuckle that breaks through. “I don’t have much of a choice now, do I?”
She opens her mouth to spit another hateful string of words at me, but I snatch her jaw in my hand, squeezing her mouth with enough pressure to trap her words in her throat.
I like her like this.
Quiet and at my mercy.
I crane my neck and she sucks in air with a loud hitch as I suck her bottom lip inside my mouth and lick it. She tastes even sweeter than I imagined. I catch her lip between my teeth, applying a little pressure, before I let it go.
Once again, I’m as hard as stone. I fucking hate myself. Why? Why do I keep torturing my body with this woman? Why haven’t I dabbled in other pussy while waiting for Cassia to grace me with hers? I have no idea.
“Thanks for the photo.” I murmur, dragging my thumb up her jaw and across her lip. “It’ll speed things along.”
“You’re disgusting.” She says, but her words lack the venom they were spitting before I took the kiss I wanted from her.
I smirk. Christ. She’s insanely pretty. Have I thought that already?
“If you had a phone I’d text you progress shots.” I say, leaving her alone as I walk over to the door. I glance over my shoulder. “Unfortunately, your parents took that when they robbed you of your freedom too.”
She flinches as I open the door and step out into the passageway, closing it behind me. Fresh air swoops into my lungs—air that isn’t tainted with the taste of her. I blow air out from my cheeks and tilt my head back, waiting for her spell to fade. What am I doing? Why am I messing around with this girl? I normally do what I do and then get out before anyone has the chance to ruin my life. It’s usually not this hard to do. I promised myself I’d stop playing on the edge, stop risking my ass for a quick screw. If Dad lost the church because of me…he’d die. It’s the only thing keeping what’s left of his heart beating.
Repositioning my game face, I stroll down the hall, my hands in my pockets, and meander down the stairs. At the door, my father is in a serious, quiet discussion with Marcus while Linda clears the table.
“Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Claire.” I say, dropping off of the last step.
She smiles over her shoulder. “Any time, Caleb.”
I smile back and nod. Yeah. I don’t see these guys inviting anyone to dinner for a little while. At least, not until they get their little gimp under control. Seriously. It makes me sick and the fact think this pathetic excuse of a mother allows her child to be emotionally abused is beyond my comprehension. My mother would never…
I clench my jaw.
My mother would never judge me for who I am. Sure, she’d try to guide me down the right path, but only with a gentle hand. I’d bet a thousand dollars Marcus could beat Cassia and Linda wouldn’t lift a finger to stop it. Love thy husband…but at what cost?
“Grab the car keys off the table, will you, Caleb? I’ll meet you at the car.” Dad calls out, disappearing into the dark.
I cross over to the table and grab the keys.
“I was just apologizing to your father about tonight, Caleb.” Marcus says, holding the front door open.
I turn to look at him.
“Apologizing?” I ask, stepping closer. “Would that be for ruining a nice dinner or for the serious emotional abuse you hurl at your daughter?”
Marcus flinches, his chubby face pinching in confusion. He can’t believe I said what I said. I can’t either. This is what I was talking about when I said I should get out before I fuck my own life up over a girl. But this isn’t about me. This is about the mental state of an already fragile individual. If he pushes her any further, she’ll be blowing guys on a corner for the reputation, not the money.
He widens his stance and folds his arms over his puffy chest. “Excuse me?”
Casually, I toss the keys into the air and catch them in my palm. Don’t do it. Do not argue with him. It’s not worth it.
“I know it’s none of my business,” Ah, fuck. “but you should be a little nicer to your daughter. She’s the only one you have.”
He shifts his weight and huffs, apparently offended. “I only provide pressure where it’s needed. When you have children you’ll understand.”
“I don’t need to have children of my own. I already know I’ll be twice the father you are.” I step out of his house and stroll across the porch, suppressing what I truly want to say.
Thanks for dinner, Marcus. You piece of shit.