“Of course not,” Cassie says, like she’s shocked I would think that at all.
God, I love this girl.
“Well, that’s just one good example of why I shouldn’t have blown up the way I did,” I say on a sigh. “You trust me. And though my actions at the Halloween party say otherwise, I trust you, too, Cassie. I know you wouldn’t do anything with Grayson, that your heart is mine. I guess I just… I was scared. I thought I was losing you again. And to be honest, I still don’t trust that guy.”
She chuckles at that. “That’s fair.”
“But again, I trust you,” I say. “And that’s what matters.”
I pull her into me, and she lets me take her into my arms, burying her face in my chest as I breathe in the scent of her.
“So, we’re okay? You’re not mad at me?”
“We’re okay,” I tell her, kissing her hair. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too,” she whispers, and then she hugs me tighter and I do the same, and we stay there for a long time, just holding each other while the waves lap at the shore and the mockingbirds sing us a song.
After a while, we peel apart enough for Cassie to ask more about the camping set-up, and I walk her through everything, pouring us each a glass of wine. We make hot dogs and eat s’mores by the fire, listen to music on the portable speaker I brought with me, and catch up on everything we’ve missed over the semester.
And finally, I feel whole again.
It’s late when we climb into the tent, the moon high above us and casting its silvery glow over the water. We leave the flaps of the tent open so we can enjoy the view, taking advantage of the fact that we’re alone, and Cassie lays her head on my chest where we lie in the fortress of pillows and blankets.
“I’ve been so miserable without you,” she whispers.
I inhale deep, running my fingers through her hair. “You and me both.”
“I hate how well I know that feeling,” she says, leaning up on her elbow to look at me. “The feeling of losing you, of wondering if I’ve lost you forever.”
“You could never lose me forever.”
“Promise?”
I laugh, kissing her cheek. “I mean, as long as you can put up with my stubborn ass, I’ll be around.”
“Good,” she says on a grin, but as soon as it comes, it falls, and her eyes search mine. She watches me for a long moment, and then in one motion, her hands grab my shoulders and she swings one leg over me until she’s sitting in my lap.
Her mouth finds mine, passionate and sure, and as soon as we breathe into that kiss, all the blood rushes to where her center meets mine.
“God, I’ve missed you kissing me,” she whispers, grinding her hips. “Touching me.”
“I hate myself that I wasted all this time.”
“Well,” she says, rolling again. “You can make up for it now.”
Leaning back, she pulls her sweatshirt over her head, leaving my face lined up with her perfect breasts barely covered in a lilac lace bra. I groan in appreciation, running my fingers along the edge of the fabric before I dip underneath and palm her completely.
Her head falls back, mouth open, and she grinds against my erection with just the right friction to have me ready to come in my pants.
Ever since the first time Cassie let me touch her, we’ve gone slow. We’ve gone easy. We’ve taken our time and explored each other, and I made sure — above all else — that she felt good and comfortable and safe.
But the way she’s grinding against me, the way she’s kissing me and biting my neck and running her nails down my back, I know she doesn’t want easy tonight.
And I can deliver whatever she needs.
We’re all arms and lips and heavy breathing as we take turns rolling on top of the other, stripping off articles of clothing and letting them get lost in the blankets. When we’re bare, I back up into the pillows and pull Cassie onto my lap again, running my hand down between her legs and slipping my fingers between her wet lips.
She moans, arching her back and digging her nails into my shoulders as I press one finger inside without warning.
“Jesus Christ, Cassie,” I curse, sucking her neck between my teeth. “You’re so fucking wet.”
“I want you inside me.”
“I am inside you,” I say, pressing another finger in to join the first.
I curl them to the tune of another moan, but then she presses her hands into my chest. “No, I want you,” she says, running her hand down my abdomen until she’s palming me in her grip. Just the feel of her sweet fucking hand around my shaft has me flexing into her grip, pre-cum letting her palm slide up and down me with ease.