Page 50 of Since Always

“Probably the bathroom.

"Well," he says. "Then let's get you into the bathroom. We won't be as loud in there."

He stands up, pulling his pants and boxers off, and dragging me into the en-suite. He sits me on the edge of the counter.

"You said you’re on the pill, right? I've tested recently and I'm always careful, but I can..."

I shake my head. I was tested after Ryan and had thankfully avoided that landmine. I won't tell Owen that was the last person I was with. "I'm clean too,” I reassure him.

He doesn't wait before he is pushing inside of me. We know we can't prolong this, in fear of being caught, but that makes it all the better.

I groan into his neck, clutching him; my legs wrapped around his body. It is not slow and romantic this time, but full of pure need. We know we can't prolong this, in fear of being caught, but that makes it all the better.

We grip one another tighter and tighter, as we climb together. It is as though we can't get enough—can't be close enough. I try to stifle my moans, but groan into his t-shirt.

"I'm coming," I warn him, then my body releases. He holds me tight, steadying me as I shake on the counter. He dives his mouth onto mine, swallowing the last of my moans. His body goes tight and he quivers a bit, before stilling and holding me in place.

We waste no time after we finish. Owen puts himself together in the bedroom, while I use the restroom, and then quickly back out into the room. Wait," he says as I make my way to the hallway. "I should go out just in case."

"Oh, right," I say. "Smart thinking."

I duck behind the door as he steps out into the hall, and I hear my mother.

"Hey, O. I was just coming to check on Cass. She seemed like she might not be feeling too well."

Shit.

"Oh, she spoke to me when she was on her way to her bathroom, I think. She said she was fine, just needed a few minutes. Hey, um, can I grab you for a second? I've been meaning to ask for a couple of days, and I keep forgetting. I'm about to redo my office in the Denver house and there are a couple things in Jack's office that I was wondering where you got. Could I show you?"

"Oh, of course. You can probably have whatever it is,” she says as their voices trail off around the corner.

I fall back onto the wall, releasing my breath. His quick thinking has saved us, but that was way too close. I was stupid to take that chance. I don't know why neither of us can act responsible when we know how much is on the line, but we have to be more careful. Then again, I don't have to worry about it too long. He is leaving tomorrow afternoon.

As soon as I have the thought, I am overwhelmed with the urge to cry. I can't believe it's happening. We have finally gotten here, and now we are going to be thousands of miles away from each other on opposite sides of the country. I am already trying to plan the trips I will take to DC, and how we can meet in Denver, but it doesn't feel like enough.

I slip out of the room and stand in the hallway for a moment, trying to push the thoughts from my head. I don't know how we are going to do this, but I know I have to figure out a way.

I can't lose him again.

CHAPTER 16

Owen

Everyone stays late into the night, so by the time I can sneak into Cass's room, it is almost 3:00 in the morning. This is our last night together, though, and I have to spend it by her side. We make love twice, my body not able to get enough of her, and we fall asleep with her head on my chest. I set my alarm for 6:30, just in case. When it goes off, we both moan in protest.

"Don't go," she says, her voice croaking from her single hour of sleep.

"I have to, gorgeous." I wrap myself in my robe and lean over to kiss her on the forehead before leaving.

Knowing there is no way I can go back to sleep, I head to Jack's old office to sort some preparations for my return to work. I will go back to Denver later today so I can deal with a few things in my state office tomorrow, before heading back to DC the day after. I am usually excited before a session starts, but something is tugging at me now.

I will be alone.

That warmth that Cassidy has brought into my life this week will be gone. I've spent years trying to fill a massive void with power, money and work. But it still feels as hollow as it always has. Or at least, it did, until her.

I drop my head into my hands.

"Hey, I thought I heard you moving around," Stephanie says, stepping into the open office door, wrapped in Chris’s plush white robe.

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