Page 35 of Reign

Cas grits his teeth and rubs his eyes. “Why is he still here?”

I slide his drink over to him and explain what Adam said about being busier tomorrow than today.

We can see him and Camila out on the pool deck chatting animatedly.

I figure now’s as good a time as any. “Hey, Cas?” I soften my voice and place my hand on his forearm, my skin burning with the contact. God, I forgot about the heat and electricity that flow through this man. He looks first at where I’m touching him as if to make sure it’s really happening and then brings his eyes up to mine.

I lick my lips and dive in, “I want to apologize for how I’ve behaved since we arrived here. I don’t know if it’s a reason or an excuse, but I just had to work through some stuff and let the dust settle on my reality for a minute.” I don’t know if what I’m saying is making any sense but Cas’s eyes look hopeful.

“What are you saying, Princess?” he growls, standing up abruptly and stalking toward me around the corner of the island, causing me to yelp.

“I…um…” I can’t find my words because he’s getting closer and his body heat is making my brain fuzzy. He’s got me pinned against the refrigerator. His left forearm is braced on the appliance by my head, his right hand is cups my face while his hips press into me.

“Cat got your tongue?” he teases, as he dips his head lower until his mouth is only an inch from mine. I bunch my hands in his t-shirt, trying to pull him closer. He’s in a black, v-neck t-shirt like always, and those damn tactical pants again. The same outfit he had on the first time we had sex.

Seems fitting.

“Cas…”I breathe his name because it’s all I can get out of my mouth and suddenly his lips are on me. A resulting groan tears from his throat and I hear his nails scrape the fridge as his fingers flex. I push my hips forward as the hand that was on my face moves to the back of my head, holding me to him. His tongue leaves my mouth and begins to trail down my neck, causing me to arch my back and thrust my chest in his face.

He reaches for the hem of my shirt and starts to pull upward.

“Cas, windows,” I say on a heavy exhale.

Tugging my hand, he’s a man on a mission to get me upstairs.

“Wait!”

He stops in his tracks and glares at me. “Ihavebeen waiting. Very patiently, I might add. I’m done waiting.”

A giggle bursts through my throat. You’d think I’d never had sex before with how nervously giddy I am. “I just need to pull dinner out of the oven and let Camila know we’ll be upstairs. I don’t want her to think we’ve left and I want to make sure she’s okay with Adam.”

He narrows his eyes slightly and I can tell he’s confused by my sudden concern for Camila.

I shrug. “Like I said, I just had to work through some stuff.”

He nods even though I’m not sure he understands although he probably does, considering the serious amount of his own shit he’s had to deal with over the years.

When I check in with Camila on the pool deck, she gives me a sad smile but says, “Go get ‘im, Tiger.” I chuckle and roll my eyes as I embrace her in a tight hug. It’s meant as athank you, an apology, and a promise that both Cas and I will take care of her.

“He’ll always love you, you know,” I whisper in her ear.

“Too bad it’s not enough,” she responds before pulling back and wiping her eyes quickly. “Now go give the man what he wants.”

It’s strange how much one conversation can change the course of a relationship so drastically.

When I step back inside, Cas pulls me against him. “Did you justhugher?”

“I did.”

“And she let you?”

“She did.”

“What the hell happened in Joelle’s pool while I was gone?”

“I’ll never tell.” I wink at him teasingly knowing he’s probably envisioning some scenario where the three of us were making out in the absence of men. “Come on, Mr. Guerrero, I think I have some apologizing to do.” I try to tug him toward the stairs but he stops me, turning serious,

“Libby.” His use of my real name catches me off guard. “You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. I understand that a lot has been thrown at you in a very short amount of time.” I feel abutcoming on and he doesn’t disappoint. “But I need to know you’re ready. The last few days of dealing with your anger has been hard and I can’t lose you like that again. If you’re going to give yourself to me right now, I want all of it.”

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