Page 24 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

“Same for me, thanks!” Nadine added enthusiastically. But even as the waiter walked away, she shot Cassandra a knowing look.

“So, back to what you were saying,” Nadine said, her voice gentle but firm. “About feeling lonely. I really want to hear more about that.” She reached across the table to touch Cassandra’s hand, hoping to offer some comfort. Cassandra didn’t move her hand.

Cassandra hesitated. “I mean, it’s just life, right? We all have our ups and downs,” she responded, quickly changing thesubject as she straightened the napkin on her lap. “Work has been going well though, lately.”

Nadine sighed softly, but didn’t let the conversation shift so easily. “Cassandra, please. It’s okay to feel lonely. Everyone does sometimes. I just want to help.”

The food finally arrived, a welcome interruption. Plates of pasta and fresh garlic bread were placed before them, the steam curling up invitingly. Nadine’s stomach grumbled, but the curiosity in her heart didn’t lighten. She picked up her fork and twirled the pasta on her plate.

“This looks amazing!” Cassandra said, forcing a smile and taking a bite.

“It really does!” Nadine agreed, digging into her meal. But she kept her gaze on Cassandra, her brows knitting together with concern. “You know, you can talk to me about anything. I’m your friend now, Cass. I want to help you feel less lonely.”

“Thanks, Nadine,” she said softly, looking down at her plate. “I just…it’s hard to explain, you know?”

“I get that,” Nadine replied, her voice encouraging. “But I believe in you. No pressure, but I’m here for you whenever you’re ready to talk about it. We can make a night out of it if that’s what it takes. Just the two of us, a movie, and ice cream, whatever you want.”

Cassandra smiled slightly, appreciating the offer. “That sounds good. I’ll think about it,” she promised.

Seated at a table lit with flickering candles, the conversation felt more appealing than the food. Nadine watched Cassandra slice her salmon, not saying anything as they ate in comfortable silence for a while.

It was hard. Cassandra was so guarded. So frustrating. Both sexually and personally. Nadine wanted desperately to get beyond her walls.

“Cassandra,” Nadine encouraged gently, “tell me what’s on your mind.”

The words finally spilled out of Cassandra. She sat up a little straighter, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s just…I’ve convinced myself that love and vulnerability are distractions. At fifty-two, I feel like I’m too late to the show for any kind of relationship.”

Nadine’s heart ached. “You’re not too late. Love isn’t something that adheres to a timeline,” she said honestly. “We get to decide what we want, regardless of age. I see the hurt in your eyes, and I want you to know that you don’t have to carry it alone.”

Cassandra’s blue eyes looked around the room, trying to hold back unshed tears. Nadine reached across the table, allowing her fingers to brush against Cassandra’s. The simple gesture ignited a spark between them. “You don’t understand,” Cassandra continued, her voice thick with emotion. “Opening up feels terrifying. Being guarded has kept me safe, but at a cost. I’m lonely, Nadine. More than I ever let on. And I realized when having sex with you, how much I wanted it. How much I wanted more. It started off as just a game, but then I just felt overcome with all these feelings that I couldn’t control. So I shut them down. And I had to shut the sex down, too. I’m sorry for that.”

Nadine felt a surge of empathy and determination. “You don’t have to be alone. We can explore this connection we have. We can build something together, if you let me in.”

Cassandra peered at her silently, the vulnerability hanging in the air as tangible as their empty plates. Nadine could almost see the wheels turning in her mind, the struggle between risk and self-preservation.

A beat passed before Cassandra spoke again, her voice steadying. “I’ve spent so many years building walls…but there’s a part of me that wants to break them down. I want to trust again, tofeelsomething again. But, I worry I will hurt you. That I won’tbe capable of giving you what you need.” Her blue eyes looked more honest than they ever had.

Nadine smiled softly, her heart soaring. “We could try. We could try it together. There’s no pressure! We’re just two people who understand one another and have an incredible sexual chemistry, trying to navigate this unpredictable world.”

As the waiter cleared their plates, Nadine took a deep breath, summoning her courage. “Cassandra, can I come over to your place?” she asked, the urgency in her voice betraying her calm demeanor.

Cassandra paused, her brows knitting together in contemplation. “Nadine, we just wrapped up a big project. You need to rest, not push yourself more.”

“It’s not about work,” Nadine said, leaning forward, her heart racing. “It’s…unfair. The last time we were together sexually, you left me hanging right before I finished. It’s been driving me crazy. All this time working with you, being so close, wanting you so much….” Her voice softened, laced with vulnerability. “I thought maybe you might feel the same? Maybe we could start to try with some sex?”

Cassandra’s expression shifted, a flicker of surprise and something else Nadine couldn’t quite place. “You probably had other women finish the job. You’re the big shot, after all,” she replied, her tone teasing but concealing a hint of something deeper. Was jealousy causing this accusation?

“No, I swear,” Nadine replied quickly, defensiveness creeping in. “I’ve been focused on work. I’m not seeing anybody. I can’t stop thinking about you.” The words tumbled out with sincerity, conveying the loneliness that had crept into her life since their last encounter.

Cassandra’s gaze softened, and Nadine could sense the walls she had around her heart beginning to falter. “I’m just…I don’t know if I should. I don’t know if I want to complicate thingsbetween us, more than they are already,” Cassandra admitted, her voice a whisper.

Nadine felt a pang of disappointment, but continued to push for what she desperately wanted. “But what if I need you? What if we could explore this without complicating everything? Just one night, an escape from reality.”

Cassandra stared at her, the weight of their histories hanging heavily in the air. The air between them crackled with chemistry and promise. She knew Cassandra wanted her. She had seen Cassandra’s gaze flitting over her breasts repeatedly through dinner.

After a moment, Cassandra sighed. “Fine. I’m not ready to have you at my place, but I suppose I could take you to a hotel room for the night.”

Excitement simmered just beneath the surface as they stepped into the luxurious hotel room. The scent of expensive perfume lingered, and soft music played in the background.

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