Chapter 7

7

CASS

C ass couldn’t shake the memory, no matter how hard she tried to bury it under the routines and responsibilities of her work. The firehouse had always been her anchor, a place where duty and purpose overrode everything else, where her focus never wavered. But ever since that night, Cass felt like she was fighting against an undertow, drawn toward thoughts of Evelyn against her will. The routine of each shift felt heavier now, her concentration slipping in moments she couldn’t afford. A simple briefing with her team became an exercise in forcing herself to listen, to absorb the details, to drown out that flicker of something that lingered like an ember in her mind.

Evelyn. Her name felt like both a spark and a weight, something igniting inside Cass that she wasn’t prepared to handle. Cass prided herself on her ability to separate personal feelings from work. She’d faced high-stakes situations, put herself in danger for her team, and yet this—whatever this was—was testing her like nothing ever had.

But it wasn’t just Evelyn’s presence or even her sharp eyes or biting words. It was what Evelyn stood for: the challenges, the constant friction, and the unyielding strength in her gaze. It drove Cass crazy, the way Evelyn pushed back at every turn. It infuriated her, this woman who’d come in with her cost-cutting plans and her steady, relentless focus on efficiency. But beneath the frustration simmered something more dangerous, something that stirred in Cass a craving she didn’t want to admit.

She spent the days after their encounter trying to rationalize her behavior, trying to understand why she’d let herself slip. She knew how much the firehouse meant to her; she’d dedicated years to this job, to her team, and now, by allowing herself to be distracted by Evelyn, she felt she was letting them down. She imagined Becky’s voice in her head—the wise, encouraging words of her mentor, now a legend in Phoenix Ridge but someone who’d trusted her to lead. Cass couldn’t help but feel that she’d broken that trust somehow, that she’d let her guard down and lost sight of what was important. And that mistake was weighing on her, pressing down on her chest with each thought of Evelyn.

The rest of the week passed in a haze, each hour filled with drills, inspections, and meetings—all attempts to bury herself in her work. She wanted to stay too busy to think, too busy to let herself drift back into the memory of Evelyn’s eyes meeting hers, of the electric pull that had surged between them. Yet no matter how hard she tried, Evelyn lingered in her thoughts, frustratingly persistent. It was as if each thought, each memory of that night only strengthened the need to confront her and make sense of what had happened.

By Friday, Cass felt stretched thin, her focus shattered by the constant back-and-forth in her mind. She tried avoiding Evelyn and keeping her distance, hoping that time would blunt the intensity of her feelings. But instead, avoiding Evelyn only intensified her frustration, her thoughts spiraling into restless confusion every time she remembered the spark in Evelyn’s gaze, the unspoken challenge they both seemed to feel.

Late one evening, unable to sleep, Cass reached for her phone. She scrolled through her contacts until she found Evelyn’s name. Her thumb hovered over the call button, but she couldn’t bring herself to press it. Instead, she tossed her phone aside, a fresh wave of frustration welling up within her. She didn’t understand this pull toward Evelyn; it was reckless and went against everything she stood for. But the need to resolve things, to confront what had happened, was growing louder, harder to ignore.

Finally, as if compelled by some force outside her control, Cass found herself driving to Evelyn’s office.

Cass gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles pale against the worn leather as she drove through the quiet streets toward Evelyn’s office. She’d told herself over and over that she’d gotten a handle on her feelings, that she could compartmentalize them like everything else in her life. But as she replayed their last tense exchange in her mind, she felt the same pull—an ache of unresolved tension, of words left unsaid, and of emotions she couldn’t shake no matter how hard she tried. Every rational part of her had advised against this, warned her that driving over to see Evelyn now, at night, was a dangerous game. Yet here she was, unable to stop herself.

She glanced at the clock on the dashboard, the late hour reminding her that Evelyn would be alone, likely absorbed in her work. That image sent a thrill through her, a quiet sense of anticipation that she’d been trying to ignore since they’d first collided, both literally and figuratively, over their duties and loyalties. This wasn’t like her; Cass had always prided herself on keeping control, on separating her personal life from her responsibilities. But something about Evelyn—her resilience, her defiance, the way she stood toe-to-toe with Cass without backing down—had unraveled her usual resolve, leaving her vulnerable to an impulse she couldn’t quite explain.

Cass shook her head, trying to quiet the doubts, but the tension only grew with each passing mile. She knew this was more than a work conflict now; it was something she hadn’t felt in years, a pull that was equal parts desire and challenge. The thought of confronting Evelyn, of finally speaking openly—of doing something reckless—both terrified and exhilarated her. As the office building came into view, Cass felt her pulse quicken, her grip on the wheel tightening as she parked. She knew whatever happened tonight would change things between them, and yet, despite the uncertainty, she couldn’t bring herself to turn back.

It was late, the building was dimly lit, and Cass’s footsteps echoed in the empty hallways. She didn’t know exactly what she was planning to say, but she needed answers, needed to face this thing between them head-on.

Cass arrived at Evelyn’s office after-hours, her heart pounding in her chest as she made her way through the dimly lit hallways. The building was nearly empty, giving her surroundings an eerie, hushed quality that only heightened her tension. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to say to Evelyn, but she knew she needed answers—needed to understand why she couldn’t let this go.

When she entered, Evelyn was there, alone at her desk, a stack of papers spread out before her. She looked up, a flicker of surprise passing over her face as she saw Cass standing in the doorway. But she quickly masked it, her gaze shifting to that unreadable, professional demeanor Cass was beginning to know all too well.

“Cass,” Evelyn said, her voice even, though Cass sensed a subtle wariness beneath her calm tone. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Cass took a steadying breath, walking further into the office, her gaze locked on Evelyn’s. The tension in the room was like a live wire, the space seeming to shrink as she stepped closer. She could feel her heartbeat thudding in her chest, a blend of anger, frustration, and something else she didn’t dare name.

“I wanted to talk about…what happened,” Cass began, her voice rough and low, betraying the emotions she’d tried so hard to suppress.

Evelyn’s expression softened, just a fraction, her eyes meeting Cass’s with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. “Is that so?” Evelyn’s voice was controlled, but Cass could sense the vulnerability lurking beneath her professional mask, a hint of something she didn’t expect.

Cass clenched her fists, trying to ground herself, to push back the emotions threatening to boil over. “That wasn’t supposed to happen,” she said, her voice thick with a mixture of anger and regret. “I don’t… I don’t cross lines like that. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

For a brief moment, Evelyn’s gaze softened further, and Cass saw a glimmer of understanding in her eyes, a flicker of vulnerability that made her heart twist. “Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen,” Evelyn replied, her voice quieter now, almost tender. “But it did.”

Evelyn’s words, the honesty in them, broke through Cass’s defenses, igniting the frustration and desire she’d been holding back. She stepped closer, the air between them thick and charged, her pulse racing as Evelyn’s gaze held steady, unwavering. Cass could feel the magnetic pull drawing her in, stronger than the restraint she’d clung to all week.

“Evelyn…” Cass’s voice was barely a whisper, a mix of anger and longing, a plea wrapped in a warning.

Evelyn straightened, her eyes never leaving Cass’s. “What are you really here for, Cass?”

The question cut through her defenses, a question she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t have words for the storm raging inside her, the turmoil of desire and frustration.

Without thinking, Cass reached out, her hand brushing against Evelyn’s arm. She felt the tension in Evelyn’s muscles, the barely contained energy beneath the surface. Evelyn’s gaze met hers, sharp and unwavering, and in that moment, the air between them shifted, the weight of their unspoken feelings pressing in on them, undeniable and electric.

The words hung in the air between them, weighty and raw, stirring up every emotion Cass had been trying to ignore. It was like holding back a flood, the force of it pushing and pulling until finally, something broke. Without another thought, Cass stepped forward, closing the last inches between them in a single, heated motion. Her hands found Evelyn’s face, and she pulled her into a kiss that was fierce, unrestrained—a release of all the frustration, desire, and unspoken feelings that had been building for so long.

The instant her lips met Evelyn’s, a rush of heat flooded through Cass, coursing from her head to her fingertips. It was unlike anything she’d felt before—intense, consuming, and completely beyond her control. She felt like she was falling and grounding herself all at once, each touch, each movement fanning the flames that had been smoldering between them for weeks. There was nothing gentle about it; it was raw, an expression of everything she’d held back, the kind of kiss that felt more like a collision than an embrace. Evelyn’s hands slid up her arms, gripping her shoulders as if she needed to steady herself, the touch sending another shock through Cass’s system.

As they broke apart just enough to catch their breath, Cass didn’t hesitate. She felt an unshakable need to hold her closer, to deepen the connection she’d been denying herself. In one smooth motion, her hands slid to Evelyn’s waist, lifting her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing. Evelyn’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in surprise for just a second before softening as Cass set her down on the edge of the desk, never breaking eye contact. Cass could see the spark in Evelyn’s eyes, the vulnerability and excitement mirroring her own.

She felt a surge of confidence, her usual steadfastness merging with the reckless thrill of finally letting go, of surrendering to this pull between them. Her mind was spinning—torn between wanting to say something and ground herself in words, but knowing that no words would capture the depth of what she was feeling.

The doubt and conflict she’d carried around vanished, replaced with the clarity of this moment. Cass felt herself letting down every wall, every reservation and her thoughts of the department, her team, and her responsibilities fading into the background as she gave in. For once, there was nothing but the two of them, the undeniable magnetism drawing her to Evelyn, the realization that she’d wanted this—wanted her —far more than she’d ever let herself believe.

Her hands gripped the edge of the desk as she leaned in, lips brushing along Evelyn’s in a gentler, more searching kiss, but her pulse continued to race, every part of her alive with the sheer intensity of being this close.

She moved away, kissing softly as she went. Down her neck, her chest, stomach, and her thighs over the neatly ironed skirt Evelyn was wearing today. Down each leg, kissing the soft stocking material that, although sheer, hid the Evelyn’s skin from Cass’s gaze.

Down and down she went, until finally reaching her feet, encased in shiny black heels, whose clicking had become the background music to Cass’s every thought, awake and in dreams. She ran her finger along the toe of the shoe, taking in the smooth, unscuffed surface, so very different to her own worn-in work boots. God, they really did come from such different worlds. But right now that didn’t matter. What mattered was the woman in front of her. She wanted to have her. Touch her. Taste her.

Slowly, teasingly, she slid her hands up Evelyn’s legs, tracing circles with her thumbs all the way up her inner thighs, not breaking eye contact for even a second. She could see the glint of anticipation in Evelyn’s eyes, the flush on her cheeks; she was breathing shallowly, her eyes glazed over with want.

“Mmm, I wonder what you would do if I just tore these stockings right open to get to your pussy? How you would feel driving home all disheveled.” She grinned as Evelyn’s eyes snapped to hers, a shocked expression on her face. “It was only a thought; I’m sure I couldn’t afford to replace them anyway.”

Her hands continued their journey upwards, Evelyn letting out a mewl as Cass hiked up her skirt to her hips. There, beneath the stockings, Cass could make out her panties. Red. Lace again, but red. How naughty. Cass would bet her month’s paycheck that her bra matched, but she didn’t want to distract from her goal to find out.

Fingering the waistband of the stockings and underwear, she tugged them down. Evelyn tilted her hips, needing no encouragement; she wanted them off as badly as Cass did. Sweeping both Evelyn’s legs in a smooth motion, Cass tossed them over her shoulder, hearing them land softly behind her.

Finally, Evelyn was bare to Cass’s gaze, completely shaved and smooth, just a hint of darker pink peeking through.

“Now, don’t be too loud. Can’t have any of your big, powerful bosses knowing what you get up to in your office.” Cass smirked as she dropped to her knees, kissing and teasing her way up the soft skin of Evelyn’s thighs, until she reached her prize.

She didn’t hesitate, diving in to claim Evelyn’s pretty pussy in her mouth. Her tongue found the clit quickly, flicking across it back and forth before drawing away. Cass had no desire for Evelyn to finish any time soon. She wanted to draw it out, drive the woman wild with need, to watch her unravel, all because of Cass.

She drew wide, languid circles with her tongue, lapping it over and over softly. After a while, she sucked, ever so slightly, and Evelyn’s hands shot down to tangle themselves in Cass’s short hair in response.

Then back to the circles, slow and soft. Over and over, Cass teased her, switching back and forth. Bringing her closer to the edge before backing away.

Cass’s jaw was beginning to ache, and she could feel Evelyn shaking above her, desperate to climax. Once again, she drew circles, concentrating more firmly on Evelyn’s clit. When she could sense that she was near her breaking point, Cass brought her fingers up, slipping them into Evelyn’s core, pumping them back and forth as she licked and sucked. Closer and closer, until finally, Evelyn jolted above her, tremors racing their way through her whole body. Only once Evelyn’s climax had finished did Cass pull back, her knees complaining. Fuck, Evelyn looked practically debauched up there. Her hair was a mess, her clothes crumpled, her cheeks flushed, and her body thoroughly worn out, Cass thought Evelyn had never looked better.

The engine’s low hum filled the cab of Cass’s truck as she drove through the quiet streets, the streetlights casting fleeting shadows across her face. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white against the dark leather, as if holding on a little harder could anchor her to some semblance of stability. But no amount of tension in her hands could distract her from the swirling chaos in her head.

She had done it again. Let herself lose control, give in to something she didn’t fully understand. The memory of Evelyn’s touch, the heat of her breath, the undeniable pull that had drawn them together burned in her mind, refusing to fade.

“What the hell am I doing?” Cass muttered, her voice harsh in the enclosed space.

She glanced at the rearview mirror as though searching for answers in her own reflection, but all she saw was a face lined with frustration and something she couldn’t quite name. She felt like a stranger to herself tonight, torn between conflicting emotions that refused to settle.

Anger bubbled up in her chest, hot and sharp. She wasn’t even sure who it was aimed at—Evelyn, for getting under her skin in ways no one else ever had; herself, for letting it happen; or the situation they were in, with its impossible tangle of professional boundaries and undeniable chemistry.

Cass smacked the steering wheel with the heel of her hand, the sharp sound breaking through the oppressive silence. “Get it together,” she growled, her voice cutting through the haze of her thoughts.

But she couldn’t get it together. Not when every mile she drove felt like she was getting further from the office but closer to a chasm she didn’t know how to cross. How could she let this happen? She was a professional, a leader. She had spent years keeping her personal life separate from her work, ensuring nothing ever interfered with her responsibilities to the firehouse and her team.

And yet, Evelyn Ford had come into her life like a spark in dry brushwood, igniting something Cass hadn’t even realized was there.

Her jaw clenched as she replayed the night in her mind, every moment etched into her memory with a clarity that felt almost cruel. She hated how easily Evelyn had unraveled her, how the fiery arguments and charged silences had turned into something else entirely. Evelyn, with her sharp wit and unreadable eyes, her unshakable determination and that damn infuriating way of always meeting Cass head-on, refusing to back down.

And now Cass couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was maddening.

She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was late, far too late to still be wrestling with this. Her team was counting on her. They were fighting a battle for their future, for the tools and resources they needed to save lives, and Cass couldn’t afford to let herself get distracted. She’d always prided herself on being unshakable, on putting her duty first. But now? Now, she felt like she was coming apart at the seams.

Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, back to Evelyn’s expression as they had parted. There had been something in her eyes—something vulnerable, almost hesitant that Cass hadn’t been able to ignore. It had made her heart ache in a way she didn’t want to examine too closely.

“Damn it,” Cass muttered, shaking her head as if the motion could dislodge the memory.

Her anger swelled again, mixing with frustration and confusion until it was a storm raging inside her. She wanted to blame Evelyn, to pin all of this on her. But deep down, Cass knew better. This wasn’t something Evelyn had done to her. It was something they had both let happen, something that felt as inevitable as it was dangerous.

By the time Cass pulled into her driveway, her mind was no clearer than it had been when she had left Evelyn’s office. She turned off the engine and sat in the darkness, her hands still gripping the wheel. She needed to figure out how to handle this —how to untangle the mess of emotions and focus on what really mattered.

But as she leaned her head back against the seat, Evelyn’s face flickered in her mind once more, and Cass knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.