Page 79 of Emerald Moon
The lower Cass’ hand went, the more Jo felt the intense heat inside of them growing.They wanted things they hadn’t desired in years.
Cass pulled her hand away and, bracketing her arms on either side of Jo’s head, she looked down at them.“In my plan, this isn’t how we ended the night.”
“Plans can change,” Jo gasped.
”I’d rather not do what I have planned for you in the woods.”
”But we’re here now and it feels right.”Jo worried that if they left, the mood would dissipate.Maybe some of Jo’s worries would rise to the surface and they’d get too self-conscious to do anything.Maybe Cass would decide to stick to her original plan for a chaste end to their date.
Cass lowered her head and kissed Jo’s forehead.“Let me take care of you.”
Jo didn’t think that being cared for was hot until Cass said it.Heat stirred low in their belly at the thought of what she had imagined while making her plans.“Where do you want to go?”
”I’ve got a room to myself.It’s small, but it’s mine.And I’ve thought about what we could do together there.”
”Yes.I want that.But when we get back to the car, you’re going to need to drive as fast as possible back to your pack house.”
”Safely,” Cass added.
Jo laughed.“Yeah, of course.But just drive.”
twenty-four
Jowasrighttobe worried, at least on their end.On the drive over, the mood cooled and they started to think, which led to overthinking, and overthinking wasn’t sexy at all.They kept glancing over at Cass and wondering what she was thinking, or if she was thinking at all.She seemed like the type to take things at face value and not think too much.But Jo didn’t know.Cass could also be silently freaking out in the driver’s seat without showing it on her face.
Freaking out wasn’t the right word because Jo totally wasn’t freaking out.It was more like planning for every outcome the next few hours could bring.They were just being prepared.What if they felt awkward when they entered Cass’ room for the first time?What if they couldn’t get back to the mood they had before?What should they do about their binder because they definitely felt better with it on, but would that be weird?What if Jo was actually a bad kisser and they never knew?What if Jo had forgotten everything about making out and sex since the last time they had any?
They needed plans.If they felt awkward, they’d just fake being normal.The binder?They’d decide in the moment.Kissing and sex?They planned to let Cass take the lead.
Jo stared out the window on the drive back to the Crooked Creek Pack house and nearly jumped out of their skin when Cass placed a hand on their thigh, but they laughed it off with a smile and placed their hand on top of hers.Having Cass’ hand there helped ground them.Their thoughts slowed.The worries seemed farther away.It was just Cass, after all.Everything was better with her.
Because having that contact made everything better, Jo rushed to Cass’ side when she got out of the car and slipped their hand inside of hers and gave her hand a squeeze.Cass looked down at them and smiled, giving their hand a squeeze in return.
Jo tried to avoid any eye contact with anyone on the way to Cass’ room and hoped they wouldn’t run into Krista.She’d be full of questions that Jo wouldn’t want to answer out loud.She’d already been overjoyed when they told her what had happened and the two of them hadn’t had a chance to meet up over coffee to properly talk it over yet.Krista was filled to the brim with excitement she hadn’t been able to express in person.
They almost didn’t notice when Cass stopped walking and a door shut behind them.
“I’m glad you’re here, Jo,” Cass said, lifting Jo’s hand to her lips to kiss the back of their hand.
Jo giggled but didn’t pull their hand away.“What are you doing?”
”Welcoming you to my room.”
The look in Cass’ eyes stirred up more comfort and calm than the fire they had before, but it wasn’t unwanted.They took a moment to take in the space around them.The walls were a pale green color, but Jo could see very little of them.Most of the space on the wall was covered with bookshelves stuffed with books, framed posters and photos of birds, and some landscape art.
”Did you take these photos?”
”Oh heavens no.I’m not that talented.I can get a blurry shot of a bird on my phone or a regular camera, but nothing like what my friends can do.I bought these at conventions over the years.”
Cass was quiet for a moment, looking around her own room, her hand still clutching Jo’s.She rubbed her thumb along the back of their hand.“Do you still want to do this?Answer honestly.I’m fine either way.”
”Yes.Definitely yes.”
”But you’re so tense.”
Jo noticed their clenched jaw and their tight shoulders.They purposefully relaxed both and thought about lying, but knew that Cass would see right through it.“The mood is gone.At least for me.I’m excited!But also thinking a lot.The mood can come back, though!I’m just sort of stuck.”
Cass stood there for a moment saying nothing and they wondered if they’d truly killed the mood for good.
