Joining the Party (10 page)

“They’re yours, too. They’re crazy about you.” Dom pulled her in. “So you don’t want to share me?”

She wanted to run. He saw it in her eyes. It was too fast to get emotional and possessive, but they both felt it.

Her eyes glistened with the start of tears. “No, I don’t want you with any other women. And I don’t want any of those guys in there. Expect the ones related to you. And Alex.”

“Alex is just like a brother to me. It’s okay.” He wiped a tear away. “Why do you think I stuck so close to you? It kept the other guys away.”

“Protecting the newbie.” She nodded.

“No, keeping you for myself.” Dom kissed her. No other man would touch her but him and his family. “I won’t touch another woman, not as long as you’re with us. And you’ll keep to the men of this house. Deal?”

She nodded and finally smiled.

It was like sunshine burst in even as the sun set. “Want to go back in?” he asked.

She shook her head and pushed her jeans down. No panties. Dom’s cock throbbed. Cassie always wore demure panties no one would be ashamed to let a doctor see. Clean and neutral colors that would make any grandma proud.

“Forgot something?”

She shrugged. “What’s the point? They’re just another layer to take off at a sex party. I figured I’d get you in the end. Or the seam of my jeans would feel a lot better.”

Dom kissed her as her eager hands worked to free his cock. The chemistry was electric as she clung to him, one hand on his erection, encouraging him, and the other hand on the back of his neck, holding him to the deep kiss.

Lifting her out of her sandals and jeans, he pressed her back to the wall. Naturally, her legs opened when his hand went to her, soft wet pussy and rubbed her slit. She worked his shaft in return.

Dom froze. “Damn, I didn’t bring anything.”

“Shh, we don’t need it.” She kissed him. “I’m guessing you guys get tested with all this activity—even with the stock in latex you must own.”

He smiled. “Yeah, we get checked out regularly, but I never go without a rubber.”

She slid on his cock. “I’m on the pill. I’m not crazy, but we don’t need anything else this time. Not us.” She trembled as he filled her to the hilt.

The sensation made him stagger. Nothing between them was right. Her scent held him tight. Every move drove him crazier. “You’re trying to make me come.”

“That’s the idea,” she whispered.

“Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I did it without anything?” He looked her in the eye and saw a glint of possession or at least a sexual claim no other woman in Lucky Springs had.

“Doesn’t it feel better?” She squeezed him.

She was good and not just in bed. “God, yes! You’re going to get it all night long.”

“Promises, promises,” she teased. Cassie’s hips rocked on him, and Dom buried his face in her neck.

“You’ll get it. And you’ll love it. Hell, you’re not leaving my room tonight.” Dom straightened and held her ass tight. Thrusting hard, he felt her nails digging in as her cunt stayed open. She whispered his name.

He heard the need, the possession, and claimed her on a new level. Fucking faster, they had all night but right now this was special. This time could go fast.

All the way in her, he pulled all the way back. Her gasp was fuel for his ego. He thrust into her until he felt her muscles shudder. Cassie muffled her cries on his neck as she rocked and came on his cock in full climax.

He was on the edge but savored her release. Then he filled her again, getting more moans from his sexy woman. His pace a blur. He stroked for his own need, and the rush of truly filling her with his cum made it even better. His grunts joined her gasping as he came. For several moments, he just held on.

“Cassie, we should go in,” he said.

She shook her head and held on. “Front door and upstairs.”

Cassie slowly let go of his waist and found her footing.

“People will miss us.” He didn’t want to be the jerk host.

Wiggling into her jeans, she gave him an amused look. She opened the door a crack, and the pants and moans were loud. “They’re all happy. We’re not doing them anyway.”

He pulled the door closed and nodded. “Okay, but when the brothers join in, we use the condoms. They get too wild.”

“Absolutely. You know, people think we’re a couple.” She kissed his cheek and held onto his shoulders as she stepped into her sandals.

“That’s a problem?” He zipped up.

“No, we’ve never talked about any of it though. We’re including everyone so it’s more than people think, but Lucky Springs doesn’t need to know all that.” She blushed and headed for the front of the house.

“You don’t want a harem?” He pinched her ass in full view of the front yard. No one was out to see, but it was still a public place.

“No, stop. How do Kitty and Violet Ann and Neil handle it?” She threw the question out there seriously as she slipped into the front door. No one noticed as they snuck up the stairs and into Dom’s bedroom.

“Roommates. The girls always lived together, and the one actually married Neil. Makes it more socially acceptable. Lucky for us, you live next door. Whenever you’re in town, you can sleep over all you like.”

“Old Mrs. Jenkins must’ve caught me walking over. It’s not like my car is sitting out front all night.” Cassie shed her clothes naturally.

“No secrets in a small town. Almost none.” Dom striped in seconds and pulled her to him in nothing but her bra. He wanted her to say she’d stay and never leave him. Move in. But it was too much to push for that now. The intimacy they’d built tonight, the request to be the only woman he slept with—that was enough for now. But not for long.

She stayed quiet with that far away look in her eye.

He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside. “You want to move in? We’ll take you.” Dom ran his tongue along her collarbone and nibbled her ear until she shivered.

“Yes. No. I can’t think like this. I don’t want people talking about me like I’m a slut.”

“You’re not. As far as Lucky Springs is concerned, you’re my girlfriend. Okay?”

Her cheeks pinked up. “Okay. You’ve confirmed it to people?”

“Better me than Ham.” Dom kissed her nose then took her mouth.

Cassie took a step back. “One more thing. Did I watch enough of the party to get to take photos of you?”

She was so deadly serious about her question that all Dom could do was smile.

Chapter Six

Jessica’s Salon
was like a second home for Cassie. It’d belonged to a great aunt in her family, and Jessica had started working there young. When the aunt’s older sister passed on, Jessica had inherited the salon and a lot of expectations.

Cassie loved seeing Jessica in her element. She was such a social creature that the only place for private talk was in the back waxing rooms. Jessica was hip enough to bring the popular things from Shreveport and New Orleans to Lucky Springs. The sting from the bikini wax lingered, but Cassie knew it was worth it.

“Put on this new cooling moisturizer.” Jessica handed her a sample tube.

“Thanks. What we do for men.” Cassie applied the cream and knew the tingle of being waxed would only make things more fun later.

“Men? You mean your man. Dominic, right?” Jessica asked.

Damn! Cassie had to watch her mouth more. “Of course. I meant generally. Women do crazy stuff for men, and all they shave for us is their faces. Or Dom’s case his head, too.”

“True. So you’re happy?” Jessica leaned on the table as Cassie got dressed.

She mulled the question for a moment. “Yes, I am happy. It’s so weird. They’ve lived next door for years. Dom and I talked here and there, but he never asked me out or made a move.”

“Well, I know Mrs. Jenkins thinks it’s a great idea. And everyone around here loves it. Keep you around and get a woman in that house. That’s a lot of men to manage, but you’ll handle it.”

Cassie shrugged, knowing Jessica probably meant cooking. “Ham is on his own schedule. Monty and Alex really run the house. They don’t need me. But I like them. The house is huge so it’s not like they’re short on space.” She didn’t want to get sappy but couldn’t stop smiling.

“You could’ve done a lot worse. Everyone likes Dom. Hardworking, polite and close to his family.”

“So no one cares about the interracial thing?” Cassie didn’t care, but knowing the general opinion in the town gave her the power of information.

“No, he’s part of the town. People were worried you’d bring home some Yankee snob who hated it here and drove us all nuts.” Jessica poked her cousin in the arm.

Cassie laughed and nodded. “Okay, I can see that. I wish Frank would come home and settle down with you.” Jessica was strong and knew who she was. She deserved a great guy, but she couldn’t control him.

“Me, too. But I’ll get over it. I’m tired of hoping and waiting.” She put the supplies away and sanitized the work area. “So does this mean you’re settling down with Dominic and staying?”

Answers swirled in her head. “It’s only been a few weeks. I don’t want to get clingy and crazy on him. I want to see how it goes. I’m happy and not running off anywhere right now. Good enough?”

Jessica hugged Cassie. “I’m happy for you, too. Just hold onto it; don’t run from a good thing.”

Cassie nodded. “Will do.” Jessica had a few years on Cassie and occasionally handed out snippets of big sisterly advice. This time Cassie had to agree.

* * * *

After the salon, Cassie came back to the Meriwether house and found Dom assembling her lights in his bedroom. They’d only grown closer, and she’d overheard Alex and Monty debating whether to set up the spare bedroom for her or if she’d rather stay in Dom’s room.

They wouldn’t make that ultimate decision, but it touched her that they wanted her to move in. She’d circulated even more in the town. Lunch with Kitty and Violet Ann confirmed their reports were true. Everyone thought she and Dom were an item.

Slipping into his room, she tapped on the door. “Got a group of girls coming over?” she teased.

Dom grinned. “Just you. Have fun in town?” He hugged her to him.

“It’s like I never left.” Cassie didn’t object when he started to undress her. The cues were all there. “I guess we’re doing the photo thing?”

“No time like the present. The guys are all out.” He nudged her out of her shoes and striped off his own clothes. “You’re the expert with the lighting and the camera.”

She grabbed the tripod and set it up in front of the nightstand at a bit above bed level. These would be up-close and less angled. They might suck, but she’d find a few good shots to use. She set the auto picture feature and blessed the digital age.

Then she tilted the lighting as Dom stretched out like a king on the bed. The light blue sheets would show off both of their skin tones rather than wash her out. He had an eye for those things, but it didn’t surprise her. She’d seen his work around town. Sculpting shrubs on the rich houses, he was a secret artist.

She climbed into bed and straddled him, pressing their bare torsos together. Cassie felt every shift with them this close, but it was more than physical. She was in love with Dom and Alex and Monty. It felt complex until she was alone with them, and suddenly, it was simple. Ham was fun and family, but he was searching for something else. That was okay. Somehow, the life fit her now, doing her photo projects and knowing everyone. Now, she could be herself.