Page 63 of Back Up Plan

Elle laughed and took a step back, space that Ari was quick to take up.

“Look, me and Cassandra go way back, I can do…” Elle started.

Hearing this woman say Cass’s name, felt like a whole other disrespect. Ari walked toward her, pushing her chest out and forcing Elle closer to the wall by the bedroom door. She had cleared a path for herself to leave.

But, she wasn’t ready to let Elle get away with this. She wanted to respect Cass’s wishes, but no one would see or hear what happened in this room.

With Elle up against the wall, Ari took a slow breath in and said, “Don’t you ever call her that again. You lost that privilege a long time ago. Do you understand?”

Elle tried to laugh it off but when Ari’s gaze persisted and she stepped closer, now inches from Elle’s face.

Elle nodded, “Sure, pal. But, she’ll be back for me. She can’t help herself.”

Ari laughed a deep, low grumble.

“She’s mine now,” Ari said, looking Elle up and down one more time before chuckling and walking out.

She strode out of the room to find Cass waiting by the hallway leading out, she waved Ari down and smiled. Ari’s heart melted at the sight of her. She never wanted to see Cass get hurt. And she needed to do whatever she had to in order to do that.

Cass looked past Ari toward the bedroom door as Ari approached, watching Elle slink out from the room.

“You okay?” Cass asked.

Ari smiled and put her arm around her lower back, bringing her in for a kiss. Their lips met and Ari was reminded of how sweet Cass tasted. Her body felt like it was on fire after talking to Elle like that, she’d never felt more powerful.

And all she really wanted was to be in Cass’s bed, intertwined, and asleep.

* * *

When they got back to Cass’s place, pizza in hand, Gabby was already halfway through a generic rom-com. Ari and Cass popped open their pie on the coffee table and dug in, enjoying the guessing game of the film's plot.

As they sat next to each other on the couch, Cass extended her arm along the back so Ari could crawl into the warm space just in the crook of her arm.

Ari felt like she could lay there forever. Her eyes grew heavy as the film played on, her stomach full of pizza.

Before she knew it, Cass was stroking her hair and whispering, “Do you wanna go to bed?”

Ari forced her eyes open and looked to the TV, the credits scrolling across the screen. She nodded and Cass shifted, picking herself up and holding her hand out for Ari.

Cass led the way to her room, their apartment still unfamiliar to Ari after only a couple visits. She held Ari’s hand in hers and pushed open her door. The warm light from Cass’s vintage bedside lamps, making the room feel like a cozy, mountain lodge.

She could only manage to take off her shirt and drop her pants before crawling into the bed. Ari inhaled, wanting to breathe in all of Cass’s smokey, earthy scent.

Cass took off her own skin-tight dress — her nipple rings visible for just a moment before she threw on an oversized t-shirt and hopped in the bed.

Ari rolled toward Cass, prompting Cass to become the little spoon. As she moved into position, Cass brought her ass to Ari’s pelvis. Instinctually, Ari pushed herself closer to Cass.

A low groan escaped Cass’s mouth.

“Ariel, we’re supposed to be sleeping,” Cass said with a giggle.

Ari smirked from behind her, putting her hand on Cass’s hips, “I’m just enjoying the way you feel.”

Cass began to grind her ass in time with Ari’s light thrusts. They both started to moan, low and quiet.

Ari snuck her hand from Cass’s hips down her hairy, unkempt pussy toward her folds. She lightly caressed Cass’s hood, allowing her fingers to part it ever so slightly.

“God, Ari,” Cass whimpered.

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