Page 10 of Always Heated

Caleb is up and earns four points. Cassidy sets down her drink for her turn and as she’s about to throw, I stop her. “Wait!” She false-starts her throw and turns to me with a glare. I stand and correct her form, moving the axe further back to give her more momentum. “There. Go for it.” I take a seat and she chucks the axe, hitting the middle red circle. “Yes, just like that, baby!”

“Baby?” Ashlyn mutters quietly, but loud enough for me to hear. My eyes widen.

I sit down, clear my throat, and correct. “Amazing throw, Cass.”

We play for the hour and with the last throw left to Cass, our team needs three points to beat Ingrid and Zack. Ashlyn and Cay are a point behind us, which I’m not surprised by; it was clear forty minutes ago this was a dick measuring contest between Zack and me.

Before Cass gets up, I tell her, “Keep it in the one-point circle.”

“But then I’d have to forgive you.” She lightly licks her upper lip with a chuckle.

Cassidy tosses the axe and it earns us four points, winning the game. She lifts her arms with balled firsts in celebration as I sag back into my seat in defeat. Zack is on his feet in aninstant and wraps her in his arms, swinging her in a circle. She laughs, then kisses him as he sets her down. Jealousy pools in my belly watching them; he’s touching what’s mine.

“Easy there, tiger,” Ashlyn warns. “She’s not yours.”

My gaze snaps to her. “What are you talking about?”

“I know all about your little quest for Cass. This is chess and he’s three moves from checkmate. Don’t do something to hand it to him in two.”

I don’t know how the hell she knows; Caleb wouldn’t have said something. Maybe Cass did? It doesn’t matter, she’s right. I need to bide my time, or I’ll lose the only woman I’ve ever considered spending the rest of my life with.

With Ingrid and Caleb wanting to take advantage of a night out, and Cass needing to get to work, we go our separate ways. All the while, Ashlyn’s words play on repeat in my head. Cass is pissed that I showed up at her place, and rightfully so. She’s engaged, and I made the selfish decision to stop by when she wanted to rest before work.

The game has changed. Back to my romantic comedy movie marathon for ideas.

cassidy

. . .

The past two weeks, my stomach has been in knots. Travis has thankfully let up with his pissing contest with my fiancé, but I’m still on edge. In contrast, Zack has sent me dinner every night that I’ve had overnight shifts since axe throwing.At least, I think it’s Zack.Every time a delivery driver arrives, I can’t help my smile. I don’t know how I ever thought Travis could compare to this sweet man.

My shift is nearly over and the doctor is making his rounds. As much as I detest the micromanagement, I understand it’s necessary. No matter how great of a nurse I am, there are dozens who can’t properly place an IV, and ignore their patients. I don’t take it personally.

Once his round is done and we’ve changed over to the morning crew, I’m out the door with a skip in my step. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this light.

As soon as I’m home, I take a long, hot shower. Except as I drag the loofah up and down my limbs, I keep getting flashbacks to the one night Travis and I spent together. I gave him every opportunity to touch me, and his cock was hard for the entire night—yes, I checked. It was a euphoric feeling, beingwrapped in his strong arms while I kept my body pressed to his for hours. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about him as anything more than a friend.

After settling into bed, I slide my fingers down my body, until my middle finger swirls around my clit. The way he held me close that night is nothing in comparison to the two of us fully clothed as he kept me pressed against my front door. My free hand teases my breasts, tweaking a taut nipple, as I remember how he leaned in and spoke next to my ear.

I pick up my pace, teasing with intermittent dips into my wet pussy, unable to help myself from how he jolted my hands back during axe throwing. The feel of him gripping both of my wrists with one of his hands… I press two fingers deep inside me, desperately wishing it was more than my own hand.

Fuck.

Zack.

I’m an engaged woman touching myself, thinking about another man.

As I drag my fingers from my pussy, I cry out in a swirl of anger, lust, and self-loathing. It would be one thing if it was porn, but I shouldn’t be getting off to Travis.

Especially since he doesn’t want me; he wants theideaof me. A fucked up promise he made a decade ago. Being in our thirties, he’s likely regretting a few life decisions, and I’m a safe option. Cassidy: The girl who was always there, in case Travis fucked up after sleeping with half of Sapphire Lake.

Well, fuck that.

There’s an ache in my core, and I do my best to conjure Zack in a fantasy so I can sleep before helping open Dani’s floral shop in a few hours.

“That’s right, baby, just like that. Fuck, you take me so well…”

I’m pulled from the fantasy. Zack is horrible with dirty talk and has never in the time we’ve been together said that I take him so well. I’m in hell. After a deep breath, I try again.

---