2. Travis

travis

. . .

I can’t have a one-night stand with Cass.

Just because Caleb fucked Cassidy’s best friend, Ingrid, back in high school, doesn’t mean I have a free pass to sleep with his sister. I shouldn’t have flirted with Cass. Maybe it’s the whiskey… No. It’s the fact that I’ve always wanted her, but she’s off-limits.

I wish I was driving, at least my hands would be busy and not tempted to slip my fingers into her pants, making her come so hard she nearly crashes my truck.

I’m in literal hell.

Cass has the right idea, white-knuckling the steering wheel at ten and two. “This is a bad idea, isn’t it?”

“Probably,” I admit. “Which is why you’re going to drop me at my place, then drive yourself home. I’ll get my truck in the morning.” The suggestion has every part of me protesting, despite my better judgment.

“It’s your birthday.” She sighs, shaking her head. “I’m not going to drop your drunk ass home and leave you. ”

I don’t have a snappy comeback, and Cass is a woman of her word; I’ll be dropped off to Ashlyn at the sheriff's department sooner than seeing my own doorstep. Instead of turning right toward my place, she continues straight, then left onto her street. It’s clear where we’re headed, but I ask anyway, “Where are we going?”

“You can crash on my couch after we get very drunk and stay up late watching a movie. I peg you for a suspense guy, but I should force you against your will to watch a romantic comedy. Torture on your birthday feels appropriate.”

“Torture?” I laugh. “What did I do to deserve it?”

“Existing.” Cass’ expression is void of all emotion, and I begin combing through my memories to figure out how I wronged her. Nothing comes to mind.

My brows pinch. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” She doesn’t answer as she parks the truck in her driveway. This is bullshit. I’m not a fucking idiot and know my reputation. Does she want this as much as I do? I try again, “Why would I deserve to be tortured, merely by existing?”

“Because you’ve fucked every woman in Sapphire Lake,” she snaps, and my heart stops. “Every time, I have to sit back, watching it happen, knowing you’d never touch me. Shit, Travis, you have to know what that does to a woman’s self-esteem.”

“Are you serious? You think I wouldn’t touch you? Fine. You want the truth? Get ready, Cass, because you’re not going to like it! You’re Caleb’s sister.” I rub my hand down my face. “You deserve better than anything I can offer. The other women were just a good time; one night with no strings attached. You? You’re all the strings. You’re the girl you bring home to Mom and Dad, the girl you settle down with, the girl who would force me to grow up. ”

“You’re impossible.” Cass snatches her purse from the floorboard next to my feet, and climbs out of the truck, slamming the door behind her. Here I thought I was complimenting her, but yet again, I fucked things up.

I rush out of the truck and follow her into the house. While I’ve been here dozens of times, never at night, and definitely not the two of us… alone. Soft moonlight peeps through the windows, lighting the path to her kitchen. There’s a clang of my keys hitting the marble counter, followed by a thump of her purse. Truly, I have no fucking clue why she’s pissed, it isn’t as if I ever stood a chance with her.

When I reach the dark kitchen, the only additional light comes from the open fridge where Cass is bent over, rummaging for something. She pulls out a beer and a bottle of water, then kicks the door shut with her heel, leaving is in near darkness. Without a word or acknowledgment, she uses the bottle opener on my keys to pop the cap off the beer. After a long pull, she sets the bottle down with enough force to cause foam to overflow.

“Fuck!” Cass grabs the kitchen towel, while I remain immovable. She’s a wildcat—if I make a wrong move, she’ll claw my fucking eyes out and feast on me for dinner. Not in a sexy way with those pouty lips wrapped around my cock; I’ll be a shell of a man. If I remain perfectly still, she’ll forget why she’s pissed at me.

Tossing the damp towel onto the counter in a huff, she lets out a defeated sigh, then braces herself on the cool marble. I’m not drunk, and wish I was even slightly buzzed. I have no excuse for taking the six steps it takes to cross the kitchen and pull her to me. I don’t dare ask if she’s all right, clearly she’s not.

Cass wraps her arms tightly around my waist, cheek pressed to my chest. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m just…”

“You’re just what?” I lean back to look at her, moonlight casting shadows on both of our faces.

“Sad. Lonely,” she admits. It wasn’t an answer I would’ve guessed. Cass is strong, beautiful, and fucking brilliant. There’s absolutely no reason she should be lonely. Then again, even with the guys at the station, my family, and the women who come in and out of my bed like a turn style, I’m lonely, too.

“You can yell at me anytime,” I offer. “I’ll probably deserve it.”

Silence lingers between us like a thick fog and every part of me is holding back the urge to slide my hand into her hair and kiss her. Cass pulls back, her eyes searching mine as she opens and closes her mouth a few times, as if starting to say something but thinking better of it. Finally, she settles on her words and with a shaky voice asks, “Would you stay tonight?”

“Depends. Am I sleeping on the couch, or with you?” I’m not a small man at six-four, I doubt I’d fit on what’s barely a step above a loveseat.

“You can stay with me, but I should warn you, I sleep naked.”

A smirk tugs at her lips, and no matter how fucking wrong it is to do it, I close the distance and kiss her. It’s not the fevered kiss of two horny people about to get naked and fuck for a few hours, this is… Fuck, it’s tender, cautious. She tastes sour and sweet, like the cherries from her drink, and I can’t get enough. I cup her face and angle her to deepen the kiss, licking and teasing until she whimpers into my mouth. For something that’s so wrong, it sure as hell feels right. I’ve al ways wanted Cass, and now that her lips are on mine, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.

Except, I have to. We can’t do this. It would ruin my friendship with my best friend, and Cass would hate me after. I pull back and playfully smack her ass. “All right, wildcat, time to get you to bed.”

“Please tell me you’re not going to use that as some cute nickname for me.”

“No need for a pet name, because the only thing I ever want to call you is mine.” Fuck, I did not just say that out loud. Yes, I did. Maybe I am actually drunk. No, I’m drunk on her.

Cass lets out a full laugh. “That’s a good line. ‘ The only thing I ever want to call you is mine. ’ Which movie is that from?” She kisses my jaw and steps out of my embrace. “I’d like you to stay, but please never try one of your cheesy pick up lines on me again.”

It wasn’t a line, but there’s no way in hell I’ll admit it now.

I’m led into her bedroom and we strip out of our clothes. Calling my bluff, she slides under the sheets completely naked, and I dare to do the same. My cock will hate me later, but that's a problem for tomorrow. She snuggles up to me and I can’t help asking, “Why are you lonely, Cass?”

“I don’t know. I feel like the world is moving on without me. Most of my friends are married, some with kids. With my crazy work schedule, I can’t imagine meeting someone, let alone dating long enough for them to get down on one knee and ask me to be theirs forever.”

“I get it.” I sigh. “Most people don’t understand my schedule, either. Though, I guess you do. Are you still working nights?” She nods against my chest. “That has to be hard on you and your body.” I pull her closer and can’t help kissing the top of her head, breathing her in. “What do you say in ten years, if we’re both single, we run off to City Hall and get married?” She chuckles and I feel it everywhere. “I’m serious! My dad loves you, your family tolerates me, Caleb will murder me, so you’ll get a nice life insurance pay out for you.”

“Sounds perfect. But that means you’d have to grow up.”

“Has to happen eventually, right?”

She hums thoughtfully, then agrees, “Ten years.”

I’ve never slept with a woman I didn’t already sleep with. It’s comfortable, and with Cass in my arms, for the first time in a very long time, I’m feeling a little less alone.