Page 66 of Pretend for Me

I peeled the shirt from her body, launching it somewhere in the room. I cupped her breasts in my hands, using my fingers to pluck at her nipples until they were sharp points. Slipping my hand down her torso and into her panties, I found her soaked. I rubbed my thumb along her clit, causing her to whimper. Giving her mound a light squeeze, I slid two fingers into her pussy, gliding them in and out of her shallowly. She continued to whimper and moan, grinding her hips back against my erection.

“I need you too.” Cassie whimpered, “More.”

I made quick work of undoing my pants and pushed my boxers down, releasing my length. Once I covered myself with a condom, I slid my cock along her slit before I thrust into her, burying myself to the hilt.

We groaned simultaneously at the feel of being connected in this way.

I set a frantic pace as I fucked her deeply. I threaded one of my hands with hers, intertwining our fingers. The other hand took hold of her hip, steadying her trembling legs.

“Harder,” she cried, as I sucked on her neck, marking her as mine.

I bucked wildly into her, giving her all I had. Claiming her. Loving her. Vowing silently to protect her. The sounds she made as I pounded into her spurred me on more and more. It didn’t take long for her to reach her peak, her pussy clenching around my cock spurring my orgasm. I rest my head against her back, trying to catch my breath.

I wasn’t okay, but so long as I had her, I knew I would be eventually.

34

MATTHEW

The past week had been quiet. Too quiet. News broke of a SEC investigation into Adams Point, and Wyatt and Parker were brought in for further questioning.

I expected Wyatt to practically break down my door or at least call. But nothing, not even a text from him or Liz.

Radio silence.

I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried.

The little bit of information I received was an update through Silas’s connection at the SEC. The only groundbreaking piece of news was that Arthur was called in for questioning shortly after Wyatt. Everything else pertaining to the case had been strictly hush hush.

All I wanted was for justice to be served and Parker not to be implicated in Wyatt and Liz’s illegal activities. There wasn’t a whole lot I could have done to prevent Parker from being part of the investigation, but I hoped that the evidence the team had dug up would be enough to help clear him of any wrongdoing.

After my talk with Parker and Joy at the party, in the back of my mind, I also worried about myself. Joy’s warning about the lengths people would go to in order to protect their secrets ranthrough my thoughts. I wasn’t naive to think that there would be no repercussions for the very public takedown of Wyatt. My adoptive father was a lot of things, but most of all, he was a proud man. Having his son punch him in front of a crowd of people didn’t seem like something he’d just brush off. I knew that Wyatt wasn’t going to let sleeping dogs lie.

Cassie stirred next to me, and I attempted to stop fidgeting. I didn’t want to wake her again. Every night this past week, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to shut off my thoughts long enough to get a good night’s rest. I glanced over at the clock on the nightstand, seeing it wasn’t even five in the morning.

Even though I had my sleep aid back in the form of the woman I adored, after the whole debacle at the Harrises’, I couldn’t help but let my mind wonder what could have been. Cassie could have been adopted. She could have been happy. She could have had parents who chose her. Despite all her efforts to make herself undesirable, Parker and Joy saw through the facade. They wanted her.

When I told Cassie about Parker and Joy’s intentions, she obviously was happy to have been wanted, but she just couldn’t get past how evil Wyatt and Liz were. How they had taken yet another thing from her, and for what? Greed? Money? Power? How did her happiness change anything for them? Was it simply that they wanted everyone else to be miserable?

Cassie was saddened that they’d directed so much hatred toward her simply because of circumstances beyond her control. It wasn’t like she chose to grow up being poor. There was a silver lining in this all, and she was glad that I finally got to read her letter.

I took a deep breath, thinking of the letter I read countless times since leaving the anniversary party. I’d practically memorized it by this point.

Dear Matthew,

I think this is the longest we’ve gone without speaking. Being without you kills me. I want you to know that first and foremost. But I think after everything that has transpired, we need to take some time to find ourselves.

Growing up in chaos and constant madness, we never had a chance to become our own people, to learn what we liked about ourselves, or even how to have a functional relationship with anyone else.

Well at least I know I never had that chance. It seems like you might be faring better than me in that regard.

Leaving you never crossed my mind as what would be necessary, but I’m starting to see that I’ve never made choices for myself. It was always about us. Or you. I would always put myself last because maybe that’s what I thought I deserved. But you chose for yourself without considering me, and that really hurt.

Enjoy Japan. Despite what you may think, I am happy for you. I hope that we can talk when you get back and maybe start rebuilding a friendship. I miss my best friend.

I’m sorry I tossed the locket on the floor. I know how excited you were for me to open it after the party. You saidyou hoped the engraving would be my favorite gift yet. I don’t know what you meant by that, but I’m appreciative of the gesture nonetheless.

Please know I’m proud of you. I just need to choose myself now, so I can be proud of myself too.

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