Page 114 of Queens

Maybe I should be. Cassia and I don’t know one another that well, and most of our relationship has been spent with her hating me. She’s still convinced I’m out to steal Wrath, and she teeters between affection and murder with startling speed.

I’ve never been with a woman like Cassia. She’s complex and confusing. I don’t particularly enjoy her attempts to kill me, but the moments where she lets her guard down are addictive.

“Go to sleep,” she says. “I’ll stay here.”

“You can sleep with me,” I offer. I want her to.

She looks around, disgust written plainly across her features. “How many people have you welcomed into your bedroom?”

I’m not answering that.

Cassia smacks her lips. “Exactly. I won’t be sleeping in this room.”

“The sheets are clean.”

“I don’t care about the sheets. I care about not being attacked in my sleep. I’ll have your things brought to my place tomorrow.”

What? I blink. “Are you suggesting I move in with you?”

“Well, I’m not left with much choice,” Cassia says. “You’re my mate, and you need my protection. We’ll figure out the logistics tomorrow.”

I’m too tired to deal with Cassia’s particular brand of crazy right now. I don’t have the energy to navigate it, not like I usually do.

I shut my eyes and settle into bed, trying and failing to ignore her looming presence on the opposite side of the room. Is she planning to stand over me the entire night? Several minutes pass before Cassia huffs, drawing my attention. She sounds annoyed. I can’t fathom why.

Cassia inches closer, and the bed shifts as she sits beside me. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I’m trying.”

“I know how to make you sleep.”

I crack open an eye, curious. “And how’s that?”

Her gaze trails down my body, lingering at my waist. “Are you too injured?”

“No.”

Even if I were, I’d lie.

Cassia slips a hand underneath the sheets. I wait for her inevitable evaluation. Cassia has a staring problem, and while I’m not ashamed of how I look, her calculating, drawn-out gaze is intimidating.

Less than a second passes before she sticks her hand underneath my underwear and pulls out my half-hard cock.Fuck.She’s not wasting any time, nor is she easing into anything.

Her palm is warm, and I quickly grow hard under her scrutinizing gaze. Does she like it? I’ve never had anycomplaints. I’m thick enough to stuff a cunt, and I have good length.

“You’re large,” she says. I’ve heard that before.

It’s usually a breathless, excited statement. Cassia is merely observant.

I resist the urge to sigh when she begins swiveling my cock around, inspecting it from all angles. “Cassia…”

She looks up, meeting my gaze. “What?”

“It’s not a toy.”

“I beg to differ.”

Despite her words, she tightens her grip, beginning to stroke. I hiss, my hips twitching. I’m not sure what I was expecting, and I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by Cassia’s efficiency. She doesn’t tease me, doesn’t warm me up.