Page 46 of Finding Forgiveness
“Yes, they’re in the pole studio. Do you want me to take you to them?”
“Please.” She pushes through a large door and I follow closely behind. I’m struck by how big this place is. I’m not sure what I expected, since this is the first time I’ve ever been here, but it certainly wasn’t this. “Nice place.”
“It’s great isn’t it,” she says, glancing at me over her shoulder. “Logan bought me this for my birthday around ten years ago.”
“Wow.”
“I know right. I still can’t believe this is all mine … I have to pinch myself every day.”
I know they’re loaded, but this was a birthday present? Logan Cavanagh has definitely raised the bar high for all the other husbands. Now, even I feel like I need to up my game.
The most expensive gift I’ve ever bought for a girl was jewellery. Specifically, a six-carat oval diamond ring. A promise ring for Cassie, and I’d planned on giving it to her for Christmas the year she broke it off with me. We were too young to get engaged, but I already knew I wanted to marry her one day. I still have it. I’m not sure why I held on to it for all these years, but it’s sitting in my bedside drawer.
There’s a dance class underway so we hug the far wall, staying out of the way. I notice a couple of the teenage girls do a double take when I pass, so I keep my attention trained forward. Brooke leads me towards the far end of the studio and through a door beside the stage. I’m shocked when it leads us into another large room.
This one has expansive cathedral ceilings, and every inch has been painted a bright white. The large wooden beams that run from one side of the wall to the other—used to secure the metal poles—are stained a light oak to match the polished floorboards.
My eyes immediately zero in on Cassie. She’s on one of the poles at the front of the class. Those skimpy little shorts she’s wearing, that hug her peachy arse perfectly, have my cock twitching in my pants. She paired them with a black lycra top which looks more like a bra.
I’m so impressed by her obvious strength as she effortlessly holds up the weight of her own body by her arms as she scissors her legs wide and swings around the pole. She’s always had a tight, lean body, but you can clearly see her muscle definition when she makes certain moves.
She’s so damn sexy, and seeing her like this is something I won’t be forgetting in a hurry. I’m pretty sure this sight will haunt my dreams … just likeshehas for years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up with a raging boner after dreaming of her. It’s like a never-ending torture that I can’t escape.
As if seeing her every day and not being able to touch her, kiss her, hold her, isn’t torment enough.
My sister is walking the floor and correcting any wrong moves the women make. They are dressed just as scantily as Cassie. Is it a common rule that pole dancers wear limited clothing, or does the excessive amount of skin on show help with their routine somehow?
There are about a dozen students in here, but I’m not paying them any attention. I’m too mesmerized by Cassie. I knew she was a phenomenal dancer, because I’ve seen her perform countless times when we were younger—when I attended my sister’s dance recitals. But observing her work this pole is on a whole other level. It’s so hot it has my mind going straight to the gutter.
My sister is the first to notice my presence, but I don’t even realise she’s standing in front of me until she speaks. “Con, what are you doing here?”
“You never updated me.”
“I’m sorry, you were in court so I didn’t think you’d get it anyway.”
“I came straight here … I needed to see she was okay.”
“I’ll take over the class so you can talk with her,” she says. Her gaze moves to Brooke who’s still standing beside me. “Is that okay?”
“Of course,” Brooke answers.
Jacinta makes her way down to the front of the room and when she says something to Cassie, her head snaps in my direction.
Brooke places her hand on my arm. “I’ll leave you guys to it.”
“Thank you.”
When Cassandra approaches, I give her a tentative smile. From the outside, she looks fine, but I won’t be able to stop worrying until I know for sure.
“Hey,” she says.
“Hey.” I reach for her hand. “Have you got a second to chat?”
“Sure.”
I turn and lead her towards the door I just came through. The passageway beside the stage will be private enough, and I won’t have to raise my voice to be heard over the music.
“Jaz told me your mum called,” I say once we’re alone. When she bows her head, I place my finger under her chin, bringing her attention back to me. I scan her face as I speak, and now that I’m up close, I can see her eyes are puffy. She’s been crying. “Are you okay?” She nods her head once, but when I see her eyes glistening, I fold her in my arms. “Please tell me you’re not going back to Melbourne?”
