7. Cassian

Blakely parts her porcelain lips for me, letting me slide my tongue inside her mouth and get my first real taste of the enchanting woman I found only just a few days ago. How did I survive this long without her?

When my sweet girl whimpers for me, something ravenous claws its way up from my chest, needing more. Blakely's hands slide up my chest, one snaking down my bake while the other tangles in my hair. Her nails scrape against my skin and scalp, letting me know she wants this. She fucking needs it, same as me.

I spread a hand out over her lower back, pressing my curvy goddess against my chest as I walk us a few steps backward. Leaning Blakely against the wall, I continue my invasion of her mouth, stroking my tongue against hers until she trembles in my embrace.

She finally breaks our kiss, but I'm not done yet. I can't get enough of her. Blakely's pulse is pounding against her neck, and I lick my lips before pressing a teasing kiss there. My girl moans and tips her head back, giving me more room to devour her.

I growl as I lick a stripe up her neck and pull her earlobe through my teeth. "Love the way you taste," I rasp, pressing a kiss to her temple and breathing her in. Blakely writhes against me, rubbing her thighs together in desperate need of friction.

Fuuuuck me, she's so damn innocent, so young and sweet, and yet broken in a way that will haunt me forever. Blakely is more than what happened to her in the past. She's who she chooses to be from this day forward. I just hope I'm lucky enough to be a part of her life when she realizes how strong and capable she is.

Blakely might not need me, but I've already become addicted to everything about her, from the playful glint in her light blue eyes to her shy smile.

"Cassian," she half-whines, half-moans. I love how desperate she is, how innocent in her need, how trusting she is that I'll give her everything she's asking for.

"Love how responsive you are," I tell her, my voice deep and filled with dark desire. I'm trying to keep my shit together, but it's hard holding onto my sanity when the hottest woman I've ever laid eyes on is surrendering her curvy, perfect little body up to me.

"Please…" she murmurs, her breaths growing ragged. She doesn't even know what she's asking for, but goddamn, I like hearing her beg for me.

Wedging my thigh between her legs, I groan when I feel the heat of her pussy through her pants. Fuck, she's wearing my pants. My clothes are getting soaked with her cream, and goddamn if I'm not jealous of a pair of sweatpants.

"Ride me, baby," I growl before taking her lips once again. Blakely doesn't move at first, and for a moment, I think I crossed a line. Then she tilts her hips forward, grinding her core against my thigh. "That's it, Blakely," I praise.

"Mmhm," she breathes out, her eyes closed, her swollen lips parted as I take all of her in. She's exquisite, from her midnight black hair, wide, ice-blue eyes, ample chest, curvy hips, and thick thighs I can't wait to see wrapped around my hips as I drive into her over and over…

"Feel good?" I ask, my voice harsh and raspy. I'm barely hanging on, but I need her to get there, to reach the tipping point and fall right into her pleasure.

"Y-y-yeah," she stutters out before burying her face into my shoulder. I hear her muffled moans as her legs tremble and squeeze around my thigh. "I… I… oh, god…"

Blakely gasps and tips her head back, parting her lips in a silent scream. I hold her close, letting her ride out her orgasm. Her muscles tense and release, over and over, and then finally, Blakely exhales, shuddering as she goes limp in my arms.

I scoop her up and cradle her in my lap on the couch. Blakely curls up against my chest, burying her nose between my neck and shoulder.

"I've got you," I whisper, rubbing calming circles on her back while her breath returns to normal. "Are you okay? Was that too much?" I ask, suddenly aware of how carried away I got.

"I'm good," comes her muffled voice. "Was it… for you…?" I furrow my brow, not sure what she's trying to say. Blakely sighs and finally tips her head back, those blue eyes latching onto mine. "I just mean… I've never… so like…" She exhales a frustrated breath, but I don't let her doubt herself for very long.

"Blakely, you're this intoxicating mix of sweet and sassy, sexy and innocent, wise beyond your years and yet inexplicably playful, despite life giving you every reason to be bitter and angry. Every moment I get to be with you is better than the last."

"Are you even real?" she murmurs, those wide, doll-like eyes peering up at me. God, she's so precious, so beautiful, my chest aches the longer I look at her.

"As real as you are," I answer, brushing a kiss to her forehead and then the top of her head. I breathe in her wildflower and honey scent, already knowing I can't live without her. I just hope she's ready for an obsessive mountain man like me. "I'm going to hop in the shower," I tell her, changing subjects. I'm hard as a fuckin' rock and I need to go rub one out in the shower before I lose my damn mind and maul my sweet girl. "Then I can give you a proper tour of the worksite. How does that sound?"

Blakely opens her mouth, no doubt to apologize for trespassing for the tenth time, but I silence her with a chaste kiss.

"If you were thinking about saying sorry, save your breath, beautiful. How can I be mad at you for trespassing when it led me straight to you?"

I can tell, once again, when the moment is becoming too much for her. I never want to scare Blakely off or come across as some cheesy hack.

"I'm going to go rinse off," I say, giving her one last kiss on the forehead. I can't help myself. I want some part of me touching her at all times, but I never want to suffocate her. Blakely climbs off of my lap, her cheeks still flushed from everything that happened between us this morning. "Feel free to grab some muffins and fruit for breakfast. I don't know if you know, but we have quite the stash of blueberry muffins," I inform her with a grin on my lips.

Blakely laughs, the sweet sound resonating with something deep in my soul. I feel… complete like all the pieces of my heart are finally sewn back together. Only, I"m better than I ever was before Blakely came into my life.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm cleaned up and ready for whatever the day brings. When was the last time I was able to say that? But it's true. As long as my beautiful girl is by my side, I feel like I can do anything.

I head to the kitchen, pausing when I see Blakely standing at the sink, the sunlight streaming through the window tangling in her dark locks. Her curvy silhouette calls to me like a siren, and I move forward, needing to touch her in some way.

She sways ever so slightly back and forth, and the closer I get, I realize she"s humming softly to herself. This is a completely different woman than the one I found just a few days ago. Instead of cowering in fear and jumping at every little thing, she"s more stable. More at peace. I"d like to think I had something to do with that.

I know Blakely isn't magically healed from the trauma she's endured for years, but it's a start. We'll heal together and process everything, getting help from therapists and meds if necessary. All I want is for Blakely to live a happy, fulfilled life, knowing she's loved.

"Hey, beautiful," I murmur as I step up behind her. I worry I might startle her, but when she hears my voice, Blakely relaxes and leans backward, her back resting against my chest. I wrap an arm around her waist, holding her close while bending down and brushing a kiss to the side of her neck.

"Hey yourself," she sighs contentedly.

When I look over her shoulder and down at the sink, I frown when I see she's been doing dishes. "You don't have to clean," I tell her. "I was going to get to those in a little bit."

"I have to earn my keep somehow, right?" Her tone is light and teasing, but I know her words have a deeper meaning than what's on the surface.

I drop my hands to her hips, gently spinning my girl around so we're face to face. One hand comes up to cup her cheek, tilting her head up so she can see me when I tell her this truth. "Blakely, you don't have to earn your keep. You don't have to earn your right to exist. I want you here."

She gasps softly, those crystal blue eyes shining with disbelief. "You m-mean, like, just for now, right? I'm sure I'll outstay my welcome here. You'll get annoyed or frustrated with me–"

I cut her off with a kiss, unable to hear any more of her nonsense. I know it"s her trauma talking, but it pains me all the same. My sweet girl doesn"t think she deserves love, but that couldn"t be further from the truth.

"I don't want to hear you talking about yourself that way ever again," I whisper onto her lips before kissing her gently, tenderly, letting her know I'll take care of her in this way, too. "You're not annoying. You're not a burden. You…" I sigh and look up at the ceiling, hoping to somehow pluck the right words out of the air. "You are the only bright spot in my life," I finally settle on. "And I'm going to do everything in my power to show you that."

The look in her eyes completely guts me. She wants to believe me so badly, but she's afraid I might break her fragile heart. The first tear falls, followed by several more until she's sobbing in my arms. I wrap her up in my embrace, holding her through the storm of emotions.

When she's all cried out, I peel Blakely off my chest and wipe the last of the tears from her eyes. "Do you trust me?" I ask, not for the first time.

"Yes," she answers immediately. My heart fucking soars at that one word.

"Good girl," I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She shivers at my praise, and all sorts of filthy thoughts fill my mind. That will have to wait, however. "Now, go wash up and I'll take you on that tour," I tell her with a wink.

Blakely nods and heads to the bathroom, leaving me staring after her, rubbing the heel of my hand over my chest. I love her so much it hurts. I just need to figure out a way to get her to fall in love with me, too.