* * * *
Ivan chuckled when “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton started to play as they reached the dance floor.
“Your favorite, right?”
Cassie grinned and nodded as he pulled her close, so close she would be able to tell just how much he’d enjoyed watching her ask for what she wanted. His mind had filled with images of her lodged between them as they both made love to her.
“Can I ask you something?” At his nod, she said, “Did it bother you that I was asking Samson for those things? Sometimes I feel as if I’m at a tennis match, dividing my attention between two sides. I hope you weren’t offended that I wasn’t speaking directly to you when I was asking for a threesome. That’s the way the question was intended, you know.”
“Baby, stop worrying. It’s natural for him to take charge, just as I’m wired to more or less go with the flow, and it’s been that way practically since we were babies. You remember how it was years ago, right? Samson has always been one to take the driver’s seat, and barring a few disasters in our youth, he’s a good leader, so I’ve learned to trust in him. That’s not to say I always agree with him, but he’s learned to value my input, so there’s balance there as well.”
“I needed to make sure. The trust and respect is there for both of you. Would you mind if I invited a few friends to join us at the table? I think you’d like them.”
“Of course not.” He and Samson had discussed the future but had decided to wait until they had more loose ends tied up to lay it all out for her. She had the ability to loosen his boundaries, and if they’d talked much longer, he would’ve told her everything before they were ready.
A few minutes later, they were joined at their table by two women, Leah Elder and Presley Ann McCulloch, who turned out to be sisters. Leah’s men, James and Vincent Elder, were both city police officers, and Presley Ann’s men, Jared and Kendry McCulloch, were with the Divine Fire Department. They’d hit it off with Samson instantly when James and Vincent recognized him from his days on the Morehead police force. Presley Ann and Ivan had found common ground when she’d mentioned that she had another chef friend, Lydia Carlisle, whom Ivan remembered from the class reunion .
Ivan looked over at Cassie, who had been relatively quiet, and when he leaned close to her, she kissed him and said, “I’m enjoying watching my friends talk to the two of you.”
“Is that all?” he asked, noting the way her eyes had grown shiny.
She shrugged, and her cheeks grew rosy. “Just thinking how much I love you.”
His heart lurched in his chest. “That’s the first time you’ve ever said that to me out loud.”
“It is?”
“Yeah.”
She slid her hand into his and squeezed. “It was always there. Always implied…I’m sorry.”
“Why? The words didn’t need to be said out loud for me to feel it. I love you and always have.”
Biting her lip, she swiped under one eye with the side of her hand and then nodded. “I think I always knew, too.” He kissed her again and could feel the heat from her warm cheek. She caressed the nape of his neck, sending waves of sensation up and down his spine, making him harder by the moment.
They both looked over to find Samson watching them with tenderness in his eyes and rapt expressions on the other’s faces.
Presley Ann giggled and said, “Y’all are too cute for words. I sense another Divine happily ever after in the works.”
The fast dance number that had been playing ended, and the simple piano chords of a slow dance song by George Strait started.
Leah looked surprised and said, “Did one of you request this song?”
Choruses of “no” came in reply, but Ivan thought Presley Ann smiled wider, although she didn’t say why. Leah grinned at her sister. “Would you mind if I borrowed one of your men for a dance, sis?”
“Of course not,” Presley Ann replied without hesitation. “You don’t even need to ask.”
Cassie made a soft sound, so quiet only he heard her as Kendry got up from his chair and held a hand out to the dance floor. “After you, Leah.” Leah’s smile was wide, but her eyes were shiny as she walked away from the table in his company.
“My heart,” Cassie said softly, flapping her hands at her eyes but smiling back at Presley Ann when she looked her way and nodded.
Knowing Leah was bound to James and Vincent, and looked very happy about it, he said, “There’s a story there, I imagine.”
Cassie flapped her hands and looked as if she couldn’t speak as tears dripped from her eyes and Presley Ann said, “You’re gonna make me cry if you don’t stop, Cassie.”