How Cassie Got Her Grind Back(Divine Creek Ranch 23)(124)

Her throat hurt as she sobbed, tears clogged her throat and ran over her temples and forehead as she hung limp over Samson’s lap.

“He hated me, even though I tried and tried and tried to win his approval. It was never enough. It’ll never be enough. I’ll never be enough.”

She was limp as a noodle, all the terrible pain and tension draining from her as she was turned and lifted into Samson’s arms. Samson tilted to one side and then she was swaddled in a velvety soft velour blanket. The throw from the chair Ivan had sat in.

“Cassie,” Samson whispered. “You’ll always be enough for us. Always.” His voice shaky with emotion.

Ivan said, “And being enough for us isn’t based on what you can do for us but on who you are to us.”

She could barely open her eyes as Samson cuddled her so that her head was resting on his chest in the spot below his collar bone where her head seemed to fit so perfectly. He sat so that Ivan faced him and she was comforted as they stroked her through the blanket, which she held on to as if it were a life line as the pent-up emotions dissipated.

“You got hard hands,” she murmured, giggling when her words came out a little slurred.

A husky chuckle rumbled from his chest. “I’ve heard that before. I wanted to get through all those walls you’ve built up. You were hurting yourself worse by holding it all in.”

“Think I understand what Victoria said a little better now.” She looked up at him, barely able to keep her eyes open. “Thank you.”

She reached up to him, to pull his head down for a kiss. His warm lips against hers were the last thing she felt as exhaustion finally caught up with her.



* * * *



It was dark outside when Cassie opened her eyes. She listened to the sounds around her, trying to remember why she’d gone to bed and if she’d forgotten to do something.

Then it all came back. The fire. Joseph still in the hospital. Her father and that horrible scene. The spanking. Flipping back the fluffy blanket, she recalled she was nude when the cool air from the ceiling fan hit her warmed skin. A jaw-cracking yawn made stretching irresistible, which reminded her of why she was naked when her ass rubbed against the velour. The soft nap felt like sandpaper against her abused posterior.

Someone must’ve heard her pained groan as she stretched her sore leg muscles, because she heard Samson and Ivan’s dual bass rumbles from the kitchen and then the creak of footsteps in the hall.

“Hey, baby,” Ivan said as his shadowy figure filled the doorway and he came to the side of the bed and set something on the night table before turning on the lamp. “How do you feel?” he asked as he stroked her cheek and her bare shoulder.

She cupped her hand over his. “Like a balloon that’s had all its air let out, but in a good sense. How long did I sleep? Is Samson okay? Are you okay?”

Ivan grinned as she sat up, keeping the blanket wrapped around her, and moved over so he could join her on the bed.

“He’s fine. You slept for a couple of hours and probably need several more, but I wanted to feed you a little something.”

“I missed supper?”

“Don’t worry about that. We fixed the meal, ate, and cleaned up, and there’s plenty left if you want it, but in light of what you dealt with earlier, I’ve decided to bring you your dessert first.” He reached for the stoneware bowl on the night table and dipped a spoon into it, gathering up a bite. The aroma was mouthwatering.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Bread pudding with Jack Daniels sauce, and a scoop of Blue Bell’s finest.” He hovered the loaded spoon before her and shook his head when she reached to take it. “Nope. You have strict instructions from the Dom to not lift a finger. Let me feed you.” She glanced up in time to see the vulnerability in his gaze, the need to take care of her and comfort her. She opened her mouth, and moaned as the warm bread pudding and whiskey sauce combined with the melting vanilla ice cream made her taste buds go twang. It was sheer heaven.

He waggled his eyebrows as she moaned. “That’s a nice sound. Is it good?”

“So good. I want more.”

“I like the sound of that,” he said and took in a deep breath and let it out, seeming to relax right where he sat as he scooped up another bite.

“You didn’t answer all of my questions.” She took the spoonful he offered and closed her eyes in bliss.

“I’m okay, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’ve never been around Samson when he’s done anything…like that before. It was unsettling, especially when I could tell it was starting to really hurt, but then I noticed how you were struggling to hold it all in. Then I understood.”