Page 24

“Cassidy?”

“A — a t-tumor. A brain tumor?” Cass watched as Rebecca nodded, and the sick feeling in her stomach intensified. “C-cancer?”

“I don’t know, baby. They have to do a biopsy to determine that.”

Biopsy. Cass sprang up from the couch and began pacing. She wrung her hands as she mumbled. Then she’d stop, rub her sweaty palms on her shorts, and start again. Cass went back to Rebecca’s side, kneeling.

“Okay. What are our next steps?”

Rebecca had watched Cassidy go through the emotions of Rebecca’s news. Judging by the mumbling Rebecca could decipher, Cassidy had gone through the five stages of grief in the span of thirty seconds. Of course, Rebecca knew this was the beginning of what could be a long, arduous journey, and Cassidy’s emotions would ebb and flow with hers, but for now, Cassidy was on the ‘do something’ stage.

“Well, Hunter made an appointment for me with a neurosurgeon to discuss options.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, okay.” Cass took out her phone and opened her email.

“What are you doing?”

“Emailing the hospital to tell them I won’t be there tomorrow.”

Rebecca put her hand over Cassidy’s phone. “Cassidy, no. This is just a visit to…”

“Stop, Becca. I’m going to be there. Did you really think I’d sit this one out? Just go paint while you see a freakin’ surgeon about a brain tumor?”

“Cassidy…”

“No. I’m not a child, Rebecca. I don’t need you to shield me from the hard things in life. I want to be there. I need to be there, Becca. Don’t push me away on this when you know full well that if the tables were turned, you’d want the same thing.”

Rebecca raised a brow. “You get this look when you dominate me. Determined. Focused. I’ve always found it sexy. Right now, I find it a little intimidating, and I can’t say no to you.”

Cass’s lips twitched involuntarily. Imagine Mistress being intimidated by you. What a heady feeling. Cass just wished it was for more erotic reasons.

“I don’t want you to say no.” Cass plopped herself on the couch and pulled Rebecca onto her lap. “Tell me what you need, baby?”

“Just you. I don’t know why I thought I should — or could — do this without you.” Rebecca moved in and kissed Cassidy, cupping Cassidy’s neck with her palm. She could feel the beat of Cassidy’s heart beneath her touch, marveling at how it quickened when Rebecca’s tongue slipped past Cassidy’s lips. “How hungry are you?” she whispered through the kiss.

“For you? Starving.”

With Rebecca secured in her arms, Cass stood — grateful she never skipped leg day. She cradled Rebecca, who nuzzled her face in Cass’s neck. Her step nearly faltered when she thought about the tumor. It was going to be a long night, worrying about what it was they were up against. The only way Cass could get through it was to be with Rebecca. To hold her. Love her… Cherish her. And that’s precisely what Cass planned to do.

Rebecca plucked the phone out of Cassidy’s hands. Rebecca had insisted on freshening up and doing her nightly routine before any… extracurricular activity started. So, Cassidy was waiting for her in bed while Rebecca took her time. Of course, that meant Cassidy had time to Google.

“Hey! I was reading that.”

“I know. I already went down that rabbit hole. Believe me, baby, it won’t help. It only makes it worse.” Rebecca put Cassidy’s phone on the nightstand and crawled up on the bed to straddle her.

Cass’s hands traveled from Rebecca’s thighs, over her perfect ass, and under her tank top to feather over Rebecca’s scarred back. She kept this sensual exploration going as she stared into Rebecca’s eyes.

“I love you, Rebecca.”

Rebecca smiled. “I love you, too, Cassidy.” She lowered her head and kissed Cassidy, slowly letting the passion build within them. Tonight she wanted to savor every moment. Every touch. They had no way of knowing what they were up against in the future. But tonight, Rebecca knew all she needed to know. Cassidy loved her and wanted to be there through everything.

“Do you think we can forget about everything for tonight? Tomorrow will be here soon enough and I can’t help the fear that things will change.”

“Not between us, baby,” Cass assured. “Whatever happens, we’re solid, Becca. I’m here for the long-haul. But yeah. Tonight is just me and you. We’ll keep tomorrow at bay for as long as we can.”