The Last Time by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online Page B

body was hooked around mine and her face rested on my chest. Even when she was pregnant with my kid, she was still so small.
    The TV was on, but I wasn’t really watching it. Instead, I was thinking about my two friends. Just the idea of losing one of my parents was enough to make me go into a depression. I loved them both so much. But to lose both… .within a year. That was rough. And I felt bad for Hazel too. She was strong and secure on the outside, but I knew Flynn’s betrayal was eating her alive.
    “Mike?” Cassandra whispered.
    “Hmm?” My hand moved down her back, feeling the steep curve I loved.
    “Do you…have any doubts?”
    My hand stilled. “About what?”
    “Me…”
    I turned my head and looked at her. Her face was concealed underneath her hair. I had a feeling she did it on purpose. “No. Not a single one. Why?”
    “I just…I don’t know.”
    “You do know. Tell me.”
    She rested her hand on my stomach. “You’ve been single your entire life, and now you’re getting married with a kid on the way. Doesn’t that…scare you?”
    “No.” Not one bit.
    “Are you sure?”
    Where was this coming from? “Does it scare you?”
    “No.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, Mike,” she said firmly.
    “I don’t have a doubt in my mind, Cassandra. You’re my soul mate. All I want is you.”
    “But…”
    “There is no but,” I interrupted her. “If anyone should have doubts, it’s you. I don’t deserve you. You’re marrying down and I’m marrying up. That’s just how it is.”
    “Not at all.”
    “Shows how much you know.”
    She hooked her arm around her waist. “I guess I get scared that you’ll take off when everything hits you. That you’ll want to go back to your bachelor life.”
    I was hurt. “I’m insulted you would even think that.”
    “I’m sorry…”
    “I’ve been around and I know what’s out there. I want a marriage in this house, with kids and birthday parties. I want a wife and a happy life. Believe me, my time before you was shitty. I used to tease Sean for his commitment to Scarlet, but in reality, I was just jealous. And now everyone is jealous of me.”
    Cassandra fell silent. Her hand stopped moving.
    “Do you feel better?”
    “I think so.”
    I turned off the TV then cradled her into my arms. Still holding her, I checked all the locks and lights then set the alarm.
    “We don’t need an alarm,” she said as she hooked her arms around my neck.
    “We don’t?”
    “Not when I have a huge caveman to protect me.”
    I smirked then carried her up the stairs. After I lay her on the bed, I pulled my clothes off and got into bed.
    Her hands caressed my chest. “Bullets would bounce off of this.”
    I smirked again. “Are you trying to butter me up?”
    “Maybe,” she said playfully.
    “You’re doing a good job of it.”
    “What more do I have to say to get you on top of me?”
    Her bluntness turned me on. “Not another word.” I moved over her then separated her legs with my knees.
    Once I was inside her, I moved into her slowly. I was never in a hurry with Cassandra. I liked it nice and slow. I knew she did too. Her nails dug into my back while she moaned underneath me, loving everything I was doing to her.
    My eyes were connected to hers, feeling my heart swell like it usually did. “I can’t wait to make love to you as your husband.”
    Her eyes softened and a louder moan escaped her lips.
    I dove into the moment with her, head first. With her, I was invincible. With her, I was whole. With her, I was the man I always wanted to be.

7
    Hazel
    The guys arrived at the apartment, wearing shorts and t-shirts.
    “Thanks for helping me,” I said quietly.
    “We got your back,” Mike said as he patted me on the back.
    “We don’t mind,” Sean said.
    Ryan was pissed. “Is the fucker going to be there?”
    “I told him he shouldn’t be there if he wants to keep his legs.” My voice felt hollow, empty. I spent the last few days crying. My