Hers To Belong To, page 12
The first order of business was to go for a row. I’ve always kept a single sculler at my flat, using it as a form of exercise and escape. However, I found that I’d added two more to the fleet, including a double sculler for use with Bash. Happy to see that I’d kept up the habit over my lost years, I put the single into the water and tested my sculls. The movement quickly returned to me, and I pushed myself at speed and distance. Sure I was sore as shite the next day, but my body responded accordingly. I’d been using a gym on a semi-regular basis, but this was what I needed.
Secondly was to visit my groomer. He was in a complete state over my hair and beard and blocked out the whole day, just for me. He chattered on and clucked at me, but by the end, my hair was trimmed and neat with a bit of product, and my face was cleanly shaven. Phyl was thrilled when I showed up at the office, and I gave her a tic of a smile, slightly embarrassed by her effusiveness.
On the last, I invited my wife for dinner and asked Mrs. Manningt to prepare all of her favorites and to set us up in the library. It has the most oversized fireplace in the house and is perfect for an intimate setting. She didn’t say much, but I could tell she was excited and onboard. Cassidy didn’t see me as she entered the room, her long hair loose and swinging about her creamy exposed shoulder. I could smell her freshly washed skin, and her legs were wrapped in tight, black leggings.
She’s perfect.
She’s mine.
She asked where I was in that sweet rough voice, and when I answered, she turned around, her hair a waterfall over her shoulder. Her plush, decadent lips open slowly, eyes wide in her face. And though she tried to hide it, I could hear her gulp from across the room.
“Have a seat, shall we?” I step behind her to push her chair and lightly caress her silky hair. “I’ve asked the staff to prepare your favorite dishes since I can’t remember, and Mrs. Manning assures me that everything will be to your liking.” I pour her a glass of wine but stick to water myself.” How was your day?”
Her mouth is still agape, and I have an overwhelming urge to put something in it. “Um, It was good.” She takes a healthy swig as I smile behind my glass. “Working on anything interesting?”
She has an NDA on both projects but tells me about the Carbon Mineralisation email she received. I can tell her interest is piqued, but so is mine. I remember hearing rumblings about this throughout the industry and would love to hear more. I ask her a few questions, which she immediately answers with expertise. Not for the first time, I was awed by her brainpower. She also mentions a conference she has been invited to headline. Her eyes are lit with excitement, but there is still some trepidation in her voice.
“This sounds like an amazing opportunity, love. Why the face?” Our first course is a few slices of bruschetta, rich in olive oil and spices. She takes a healthy bite, a flutter of guilt across her face. “What is it?”
“I’m afraid to fly. I know it sounds stupid, but…” I reach across the table and take her hand. “It doesn’t sound foolish at all. I completely understand.” Her slim fingers curl into my palm.
“I have a greater chance of being hit by a meteor, you know? I calculated the odds. Intellectually I know that I’ll be safe, but I can barely stand the thought. Every time you left Paris to fly here, I almost had panic attacks. I can’t even chance my sisters coming to visit—I’m too afraid.” She looks down at her now clean plate in shame.
“Love, look at me.” She peeks up, eyes extra green in the warm light. “I am so, so sorry for what you went through. I don’t remember, but I can guarantee that my one wish that day was to get back to you. If it helps, I’ve added extra men to my flight and ground crew, and I’ve secured an even more private hanger, far away from the other planes. So I am perfectly safe, and you will be too; I’ll ensure it.” Our second course comes, a delicate bowl of soup filled with consomme and thinly sliced shallots. “Now, what are the dates of this conference so that we can make arrangements for the children.” I take a sip of the soup.
“Arrangements? I thought I would leave them here with you?” Her pretty face is puzzled. “Do you not want to be with them?”
“Of course I do, darling. But I will be accompanying you to America. Surely you didn’t think I was going to let you go alone? Aside from your fears, there is no way I am going to allow you to be vulnerable to blokes thinking they have a chance with you.” She laughs, her deep dimples flashing. Cripes, those are lethal.
“I’m an old mama of two. Trust me; no one is looking to hit on me.” She set down her spoon with a grin.
“Darling, do you look in the mirror? You are perfectly gorgeous, love. There’s not a man alive or dead who wouldn’t love to get their mitts on you. Trust me.” I smile at her pink cheeks and sip my water. “Anyhow, I will be at your side the whole time, intimidating anyone who comes close to you.” She rolls her eyes but is still blushing. We continue to eat in silence, finishing our third-course salads with a flourish. Finally, Mrs. Manning arrives to whisk away our dishes, filling our glasses and scurrying off. Cassidy is twirling her glass between her fingers, staring at me. I give her a lopsided grin and raise a brow. “Something amiss, my love?”
She arches her own delicate brow.” You look…different.”
“Oh? Is it the hair?” I pat my head teasingly, and she drops her head back in laughter. “Yes, it’s that, and the beard is gone. But you seem…settled. I don’t know how to explain it.” She shrugs, her gleaming skin exposed by her loose jumper. I want to bite her.
“I am more settled, but I’m just missing a few more important things.” I am deliberately being cagey.
“Like what?” She sits forward but quickly moves back when the main course arrives. I see that in her quest to make my wife happy, the kitchen has made all of her favorites literally. The plate is stacked with various food, actually an odd combination. But the look on Cassidy’s face is worth it.
“Well, I’d like the children to know that I am their father. It’s not something we’ve talked about, but I hope you are willing to listen.” I watch as she stacks her fork with three types of meat and hide a smile. My wife loves her food. Mina definitely takes after her.
“I’ve been thinking about that. Let us do it as soon as possible. I think Kian may know, but we need to confirm it with them. I think your mom would be happy too.” She takes another colossal bite and continues. “Let’s tell them when they get home on Sunday. Okay?” I can feel my face split in happiness. “I’d love to.”
She jiggles a little in her seat. “Is there anything else?”
“Oh, a few things, but we can talk about those later. First, how is your food—erm, how was your food?” Her plate is spotless, and I watch as she rapturously licks her fork. Christ, my pants which were already snug, suddenly tighten. “It was wonderful. Oh! Is that Tartufo?” She claps her hands at Cook, who brings the dessert herself.
“Where do you put all of it?” I ask as she is served a double helping.
“My brain,” she retorts, a smug smile on her face. I shout in laughter and take a much smaller portion myself. “Noted, Doctor.” We finish up quickly, and Cassidy thanks the staff profusely. I stand up and holding out an elbow that she immediately slips her arm into.
“I thought that we could watch a film? I’m not up to date on what’s good or popular, but maybe you could pick.”
Cassidy stops in her tracks, a weird look on her face. “I can pick?”
“Yes, darling. Anything you want.” Perhaps I was an ogre about this in the past?
A slow, devastating smile crosses that mouth. “Let’s watch a movie then.”
Twenty Eight
Cassidy
You know I had to do it, right?
Twenty Nine
Cassidy
“You are an absolute devil.”
I crack up and flip the lights on in the theatre room. Ayden’s face is covered in a slight sheen of sweat, knuckles white in fear.
“Is there any way in the universe where you didn’t know that I hate frightening films?”
“Nope. I totally knew.” I nibble on some cookies we brought in with us. “We watched the first film in this series together before.”
“And I liked you well enough after to make two children with you? I should have known by the title that something was amiss. The Strangers: Prey At Night? And to think I thought it was a nature film.” I laugh even harder—poor guy.
“Do you still have a girl named Tamara at DevCo?” He thinks hard and frowns. “Yes, but I don’t care for her. Good worker, but I can’t be in the room with her.” I’m howling at this point. I tell him in fits and starts about the first movie and his aversion to the poor girl just for her name. Finally, he glares at me and shudders.
“Devil, I tell you. Gorgeous devil.” He leans over and suddenly pulls me into his lap, his face one inch from mine. My laughter dies suddenly. “I think you should let me pay you back for that, Doctor Masters. Turnabout is fair play.” His breath dances along my skin, and my lips open involuntarily. “What did you have in mind?”
He’s silent for a moment before he leans in and takes a tiny nip of my top lip. He pulls back and gives me a look before doing the same to the bottom. I freeze in place, vast waves of desire storming at me from a distance. He kisses the corner of my mouth, brushing his lips from side to side until he reaches the middle. He pulls back again, searching for permission, but I’m just a pile of silent mush. His hands loosen their grip on my arms and slide until they are under my sweater, restlessly stroking my skin.
“Cassidy?” I shudder in response to his raspy voice, and he dives in, mouth attacking mine. His tongue slips between my lips, ruthlessly stroking mine in a rhythm that is uniquely ours. I groan from deep in my soul as he grips my head and slants our kiss to the side. The avalanche of longing, of deep recognition, threatens both of us. My arms are hanging down to my sides, my body just melting under his touch. My heart beats to the sound of my name on his lips.
I groan again as he eases the brutal kisses, gently laving my abused mouth. Our breath is mingling in pants as we stare at each other.
“That’ll do for now.” He stands up with me in his arms, letting me down slowly, and thank god for it. My legs are wobbly as jello. “Let’s get you up to the bed, yes? You’ve had a long day.”
I have?
What did I even do today?
I nod dumbly and let him lead me upstairs. “Here you are. I’ll see you in the morning, yes?” I nod more, voice long gone. He smiles at me in smug satisfaction and whistles his way to the room next door. I’m still standing in the doorway when his door closes with a soft snap. I jump and hurry into my room, leaning on my closed door.
Shit. I’m in trouble.
* * *
“Kian, honey, I’d like to talk to you.”
Lottie dropped the children off about an hour ago, and Ayden laughed at her left speed. Poor Lottie looked about as harried as can be, hair a mess and lines around her eyes. We had offered to send Nellie or Mrs. Manning along, but she and Thomas declined, wanting “her babies” to themselves. Hmph. See how that worked out.
Ayden and I spent the weekend together at home as the weather turned stormy out of nowhere. I thought it would be awkward between us after the kiss, but he was normal as can be, even though I was a bundle of nerves. We took a quick walk in the rain while he told me about plans to turn part of his acreage into a farm to food bank operation. I listened as he talked about doing the same on his grandfather’s estate, and Bash had already agreed to donate part of his as well. I smile at his passion and offer to help with anything I can. We had another meal by the firelight, this time keeping it to a simple pizza, and after, I read a book while he worked for a while, bouncing ideas off of me. Mrs. Manning served us hot chocolate with a smile, both in cozy sweatpants and warm tops. We talked late into the night, making plans for Mina and Kian, especially for Kian’s birthday, which was fast approaching. I wanted something low-key, but Ayden was adamant that we pull out all the stops. Finally, I gave in, an excited look in his amber eyes winning me over. I went to sleep with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.
“Yes, Mama?” Kian was on the floor playing with the handheld game Bash got him, and he couldn’t seem to put it down.
“Come sit next to me.” He climbs up on the sofa, and I take his small hand in mine. Ayden enters the room with Mina, who he is holding. He sits next to me so that all four of us are together, heart in his eyes.
“Well, I wanted to tell you something. And Ayden does too.” I look over his head and smile.
“We aren’t going back to Paris, are we?” His small voice is shaky with worry. “I don’t want to leave.”
“No, honey. No. We are staying here.” I squeeze his fingers and kiss them.
“Okay, because I don’t want to. I like it here.” He sits up a little, with me just now noticing his spine is bent with stress—my baby.
“Noted. No leaving England.” I offer him a smile. “I wanted to talk to you about your daddy.” Kian’s eyes flit over to Ayden, and he looks down. “Okay.”
“Well, when you were tiny, your daddy had an accident and hurt his head. He was really sick for a long time, so we thought it would be better if he waited until he was all healed up before he came back. And now he’s ready to be your daddy again. You and Mina.” He doesn’t say anything for a long moment, just continues looking at the floor.
“I gotsa a Daddy?” Mina asks, little brow crinkled up.
I smile big. “Yes, you do, Mina Bean.”
“Where he at? He hidin’?” Mina looks around the room, and I struggle not to laugh.
“No, Mina. It’s Ayden.” Kian points briefly at the man holding his sister. Neither Ayden nor I say anything as Mina gasps dramatically. I swear this kid should be on Broadway. “A-yen? You my Daddy?” Her hands prop on her petite hips as she gives him her best scowl.
“Yes, poppet I am. Is that okay?” She stares at him for a moment then wags her head. “I cawl you Daddy, now?” He nods gently, tears in his eyes. “Of course, you can, Little Miss.”
“Are you going to leave us again?” Kian interrupts. My heart just about plunges to the floor. My poor, poor boy has been scared this whole time. Ayden puts Mina to her feet and kneels in front of his son.
“There may be times I go away for a little while for work, but I will always be back. I love you so much, Kian, and I’m so sorry I haven’t been here for you, but I am here now. You and Mina are my life and always will be. As your mumma said, I was sick for a while, but I’m all better now. I’m here, forever. Okay?” Kian says nothing, just watching Ayden in misery. He reaches out and touches the white patch at Ayden’s temple and sighs. A deep adult sigh. “Is Lottie my grandma?”
Ayden nods. “Yes, she is. And Thomas is your grandpa, and Bash is your uncle. And we all love you so much.”
“LOTTIE MY GRAMMA?” Mina screeches at an unknown decibel. “I cawl her!” She takes off at top speed, and I see Nellie hurrying after her. Kian looks exasperated. “She’s too loud, Mom.” I chuckle and shrug. “Yes, she is. But what can we do?” I smile at him and gesture toward the man laying the world at his feet. He grimaces and stares at his hands. “You love us?”
“With all of my heart. I always have.” Ayden moves a bit closer. “Will you forgive me?” I hold my breath as Kian looks directly at him. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Ayden’s breath comes out in a loud whoosh.
“Yes. You are nice to us, and I’m sorry you were sick. Mama likes you too, so okay.” He hops off the couch, and in the distance, we can hear Mina shrieking in delight. While I am positive that Mina has no idea what a grandma is, she’s excited all the same. “I’ll go check on Mina.” Ayden nods, sniffling suspiciously.
“Daddy?” Ayden’s head snaps up and turns around. “Yes, Kian?”
“Just checking. You haven’t been a daddy long. You may need practice.” He gives a small smile as he skips out of the room.
