She fidgeted, biting her lip, and nervously asked, "What?"
"Can I at least get a kiss?" he remarked, licking his lips and rubbing his palms in anticipation.
"Tri-Tristan?" she stammered.
He was teasing her. He knew how vulnerable she felt out in the open.
"Oh … Okay … Fine. If you insist." She rolled her eyes in annoyance, moving nearer to give him a smack on the lips.
She was thrown completely off guard when his arms pulled her close and his lips descended on hers in a torrid, scorching kiss. Her brain screamed a warning, but her arms had a mind of their own as they snaked automatically around his neck.
She didn't know how long they'd locked lips or from what direction the police officer came until he was clearing his throat.
"Sorry, officer," Tristan grinned with mischief, releasing the power lock and setting her free.
Cassidy scrambled out, embarrassed, along with wolf-whistles and catcalls of, "get a room, buddy."
She was mortified and fled down the street towards the café.
"Hold the door, Brian."
It was Brian, the new cashier. They called him "The Nerd" behind his back because of his geek glasses. He was into computers and often spewed words they couldn't understand. It was like he came from another planet, but he was otherwise harmless. Cassidy liked him.
"Oh … Hi," Cassidy managed to greet him before grabbing hold of the glass door for support. The world was suddenly spinning around her. Her breakfast felt like it was rushing up her throat and she wanted to puke. Badly.
She rushed to the ladies room like her pants were on fire. But when she got there, her nausea suddenly disappeared. She felt cold and clammy as she splashed water on her face.
"What the fuck was that?" she asked her reflection on the bathroom wall. "Must be something I ate," she shrugged as she exited.
The queasiness never left her all day. It was there, hovering like a cloud. And she felt so restricted with her undergarments, like her bra was pinching her nipples. She excused herself, entered the ladies room, and removed it. With the apron on, no one would ever know she was braless. She felt better until the smell of brewing coffee assailed her and she cringed in disgust. She ran back into the ladies room.
"What the fuck is wrong with me?" she muttered to herself.
She knew of a small clinic a few blocks away and vowed to go see a doctor soon, remembering her mom's condition. Heaven forbid she had cancer, too.
Cassidy was feeling listless when Tristan came around to pick her up. She mustered enough vigor to give him a bright smile.
"Ready for some food?" he asked.
She nodded, feeling a sudden craving for pizza. Tristan brought her to the park near Lincoln Square where they went on their first date. By the time Tristan was on his third slice, she was still nibbling on her first. She had suddenly lost her appetite.
Oblivious, she gave a sigh, giving up on the pizza and blaming it all on work. She never felt like this before. Her dad's phone call must have affected her more than she admitted to herself.
"Cassidy, please tell me what's wrong. You have been acting strangely since this morning," Tristan asked with exasperation.
Cassidy decided to tell him about her mom. This was the first time she'd ever talked about her, and it seemed the better option than actually telling him she was feeling sick.
"I don't want to lay my problems on you. It's family. My Mom. She's very sick. It's cancer. My Dad is so worried. He takes constant care of her. You wouldn't believe how sweet he is. She tries to keep him from worrying but we can see the cancer is taking it's toll."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tristan asked.
Cassidy shrugged nonchalantly.
"I just did," she replied sharply, annoyance coloring her words. Her worry bubbling through and making her edgy.
"No … I meant about her being sick."
"It's not your problem, it's mine." She felt uncomfortable telling him. Cancer was such a big threat and tragedy just wasn't her forte. Saying the words out loud made her mom's illness seem more real. When she said the word cancer she could feel her stomach tighten. Maybe that's what was making her feel sick. A good old case of nerves.
He looked at her with furrowed brows before letting out a long-suffering sigh.
"Your pride is such a pain in the ass," he remarked. "I want to help you. I have some money if you need it."
Cassidy shook her head vigorously.
"Drop it, Tristan," she warned. "I don't want to feel like some kind of mistress that you've paid for. I can handle it, okay?"
They finished the rest of the pizza in silence. Tristan had become taciturn after her outburst. Cassidy knew that her words cut him deeply. It was a generous offer, and she had not handled her refusal well. The man had feelings and she had hurt them. Both remained aloof and distant all the way back to the house. There was going to be no sex tonight, Cassidy thought.
They lay stiffly beside each other on the bed. The silence between them was like a wall that kept them apart.
After a few minutes of waiting to see if he would make the first move, Cassidy turned to face him and whispered softly, "Tristan, I'm sorry for what I said. You have never made me feel like a mistress. It was a low blow, and I'm sorry for saying it."
"Come here," he replied, taking her into his arms. "I know that there are a lot of things we don't know about each other. You'll probably find out things about me that you won't like. But I'll be here for you whenever you need me."
"Oh, Tristan, what is there not to like about you? I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be beside you right now."
"My cock sure feels like the lucky one. Here … feel it … " he replied, grabbing her hand and putting it against his erection.
"You're such a bastard," she giggled as she started a slow caress.
He threw his head back in ecstasy as Cassidy increased the pressure on his cock. She relaxed her grip and slid her hand up and then down, following the hardness.
"You like that, don't you?" she asked as she lowered herself down between his thighs.
The frenetic nodding was all the encouragement she needed. She parted her lips slightly, stuck her tongue out, and licked the head of his cock. The dew that had accumulated at the small opening tasted sweet in her mouth. She was on fire now.
She parted her lips even wider and sucked slowly, inch by inch. The sound of his ragged breathing aroused her even more.
"Oh, Cassidy … that feels so good, baby."
Cassidy increased her tempo, alternating the pressure of her lips around his cock. She wanted all of him.
"Stop, baby, stop … or I'll cum in your mouth," Tristan protested.
She didn't argue when he angled his body and pushed her down on the bed. He trailed soft kisses down her neck and fondled her breasts before undressing her.
His eager hands tugged at the straps of her silky nightdress. She felt his fingers slowly draw up the hem over her knees, up her thighs. His fingers wandered across her swollen lips, tantalizing her with his touch.
Cassidy sucked in her breath wanting more. Then with one swift motion he lifted her back and swept the garment off, tossing it to the floor. His lips trailed kisses from her chin to her chest. Her breathing hitched as his lips took possession of her nipples and sucked on them. When his hands reached down between her legs and parted them wide, she already knew the havoc his fingers and tongue would cause her pussy.
It didn't take long before she was quivering, holding her orgasm at bay until he was ready to enter her.
Tristan touched her lips with the tip of his cock. A slight pressure opened them enough for his cock to find her nub. She gasped in pleasure as he slid the tip back and forth heightening her arousal.
Then gently he entered. She felt his cock slide against the moisture inside her. He pushed deep. Tristan's cock felt good inside of her. She grasped him tightly as her vaginal wall contracted. The friction was like gasoline on a burning fire. Her contractions intensified as he thrust.
She clasped her hands behind his neck and met his thrusts perfectly. It wasn't long before Tristan's body went rigid, his thrusts more and more frenzied.
"I'm cumming … " Cassidy gasped, panting heavily.
It was all Tristan needed to hear before he released himself inside her.
Cassidy felt a strange stirring inside her heart. It was an intense emotion she'd never felt before, and it caught her by surprise. Tristan had total control over her body. She didn't mind that, but she realized her heart wanted him to conquer it as well … and it was a thought that scared her shitless.