“It’s been nice living in a home where I know I’m safe. I don’t know where I’d be if you hadn’t taken me in.”

“You would have gone home eventually.”

“Or I would have stayed hooked on drugs, eventually living on the streets with a criminal record. You don’t know. I’m grateful for what you did for me, but every day I think about what would have happened if you walked away from me once you had your case sealed and delivered. You could have given up on me.”

“I’m not the kind of man who abandons a beautiful woman.”

“I’m not the kind of woman who had ever believed in a knight in shining armor, but here you are in the flesh, taking care of me and showing me what it’s like to be treated with respect. You’re a beautiful soul, Logan Campbell. I’m awfully glad you came into my life and changed my future.”

He smiled and leaned his forehead against mine. “I wish we could stay here forever, hidden away from the ugly world.”

“We’d need jobs and a means to pay for my eating habits. As nice as it sounds, you and I both know we have to go home.”

He touched my lips with the back of his hand. “I’m taking you home, Cassie. Just promise you’ll be patient with me.”

“I can be patient, but only if you climb under these covers and make love to me. We might have to leave in the morning, but we’ve still got a long evening ahead of us and I’m not ready to call it a night.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

I watched as he lifted the sheets and brought his body to mine. His first kiss was passionate, his hands wandering over my naked skin. When he pulled away he paused for a second, simply staring deeply into my eyes. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let you go,” he whispered.

“So don’t.”

Chapter 30

Logan

My betrayal was getting worse by the second. She trusted me, all the while I was making phone calls and arranging for her parents to meet us in a nearby town. I knew if I took her all the way home she’d freak out. This way I could ease her into seeing them by doing it in a public place. If I knew Cassie like I thought I did, it would go smoother this way.

The phone call to her parents had my stomach in knots. I’d done my research and got their number, waiting until I thought someone would be there to answer. I was calm and professional, having never spoken to either of them before.

The phone rang four times before a female picked up. “Hello?”

“Hi, this is Logan Campbell with the FBI. Do you have a second to talk?”

“Logan Campbell with the FBI? Is this one of those scams where I’m supposed to send you my life savings or you’ll confiscate our farm?”

“No, Ma’am. I can get you my credentials and email them if necessary. I’m calling on behalf of your daughter, Cassandra.”

“Cassie,” I could immediately hear the worry in her voice. “Oh my god, is she okay? Please tell me something didn’t happen to her.”

“Mrs. Healy, your daughter is fine. I can assure you, she’s in good hands. She been in my care for the past month, give or take.”

“In your care? Is she in trouble?”

“Not at all. Unfortunately her boyfriend was involved with a person we’d been investigating. Cassie worked with us to close the case.”

“What about Brant? He’s a criminal, you know.”

“He’s deceased, ma’am. He was killed by the assailant before we could detain both of them.”

She was crying on the other end of the phone. “Was my daughter involved in something illegal? Is that why she hasn’t come home?”

“That’s the reason why I’m calling. Ever since her boyfriend was killed I’ve been looking out for Cassie. She’s been renting a room in a house I own, and as much as I enjoy having her around, I know she belongs home with her family.”

“I can be on the first flight out.”

“That’s not necessary. We’re already en-route. We’re a day out. There’s just one thing you need to know before we meet.”

“What?”

“Cassie doesn’t know I’m bringing her home. She’s stubborn, as I’m sure you already know. Against her wishes, I planned a cross country trip in hopes I could reunite her with you and your husband. She’s been through a lot.”

“Where should we meet?” She was anxious, which made me feel like I was doing the right thing. Cassie wasn’t a piece of property. She wasn’t a lost puppy. I couldn’t expect her to run to them with open arms. There were issues they needed to address first.

“How about Ashville, say noon the day after tomorrow? We’ll be traveling by car, so I’ll need an extra day to make it there.” It killed me to set a time when I knew she would come to hate me. It was like someone coming up and telling you when you were going to die. “I’ll be staying at the Comfort Inn Biltmore West. I’ll bring her to the lobby.”

“Thank you, Mr. Campbell. You don’t know how good it is to hear my baby is coming home. We’ve been so worried.”

“It’s my job, ma’am. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

When I hung up, the knots in my stomach were worse. After the time we’d share I couldn’t fathom the outcome of my betrayal. I wanted to tell Cassie; to give her a heads up, but what good would it do? She wouldn’t want anything to do with me.

After the call, being around Cassie had become extremely difficult. I didn’t mean to withdraw and make her suspect something was wrong, but she obviously knew me better than I assumed. “You’ve been in a mood tonight. What’s going on with you? Are you homesick?” She wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed me softly with her full, pouty lips. “Is there anything I can do to distract you?”

She was the distraction, that’s for sure. I needed to get her out of my system before I was wanted for abducting her and taking her back to Vegas with me. “I can think of several ways you can make that happen.”

She looked down and fished her hand into the front of my pants. “I think you need to let me handle your problem,” she said while moving in to run her tongue over my lips. Her cold hands grazed over my cock, sending a shiver throughout my entire body. I didn’t pull away though. Nothing was going to keep me from being with her again. I didn’t even care if the building was on fire. We were staying in our room until we were finished. Time was precious in our situation and I didn’t want to waste it fighting or worrying about what couldn’t be undone. “I’ve been thinking about this all day, Logan.”

We’d been standing by the window looking out at the snowcapped mountains. The room had been silent. I was doing my best, holding myself together while struggling with my ability to hide my feelings. Cassie had been right. Something was happening between us; something I hadn’t allowed myself to see. At home, back when we were only being cordial with one another, I’d always envisioned what it would be like to have her, I knew there was always a slight possibility.

Her hand gripped my dick. She moved it up and down for a few seconds before deciding my pants were getting in the way. I felt them loosen and fall to the floor at my feet. She lowered her body, only stopping when she was sitting on her knees. I ran my hand through her hair to keep it from blocking my view. I needed to memorize the way she looked with her lips surrounding my stiff cock. As her saliva lubricated my shaft, I could hear a swishing sound with the vibration of her own moans enhancing the act. Cassie took her time, licking and then sucking. She’d take breaks and tease me with her tongue, then go back to sucking while massaging my balls. Right when I was about to blow, I moved her away, pulled her to stand, and twisted her around. It took me a matter of seconds to bend her over the bed, expose her ass, and take her from behind. My pace was vigorous, and after a couple minutes, I was filling her with my release.