Page 31 of Becoming

“A myth.”

“Excuse me?”

Cassidy looked up from tracing little patterns on the bench. “My waitress that night. When I asked her about the card, she said she thought that it was a myth.”

Rebecca nodded with a little smile. “It had been a long time. But when I saw you walk in with Miranda, I wanted you.”

Cassidy shivered at Rebecca’s words causing Rebecca to feel that familiar hint of desire she now associated with only Cassidy.

“I fought with myself, telling myself to leave you alone,” she continued before Cassidy could say anything. “Next thing I knew, I was buying you a drink. No matter how hard I tried to stay clear of you, my body had other ideas.”

“What was so wrong with me that you tried to avoid me?”

Oh, Cassidy. You have it all wrong. “Nothing is wrong with you. I tried to stay away for many reasons. The biggest one being that I knew things would be different with you in that room.” Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose. It was as though her mouth had a mind of its own. It was bound and determined to tell Cassidy anything and everything. “I know what you think happened with the others, but you’re wrong. None of them ever saw me without my mask. None of them ever saw me naked. You did.”

Cassidy frowned in confusion.

“I never had sex with any of them, Cassidy.”

“But,” Cassidy shook her head as though she were trying to find the right words. Or any words for that matter. “I… we…”

Yep. So very cute when she’s flustered. “It was never about sex. It was about control. For both parties. That’s what I meant when I said I chose them carefully. They were more interested in just giving their bodies over to the pleasure of the pain. That’s what they got off on. I never touched them without some sort of instrument of torture. Touching me was off limits. No exceptions. Until you. I broke all of my rules with you.”

“Not all of them,” Cassidy muttered. “Did you feel anything for me, Rebecca?”

“Oh, Cassidy.” Rebecca scooted closer to her companion and touched her face gently. “I felt too much. It’s why I had to leave. It’s why I should leave now.” She dropped her hand and stood.

“Oh no!” Cassidy grabbed both of Rebecca’s hands and turned her until they were facing each other. Her grip was tight, but not painful. As though she were afraid Rebecca would run if her grip loosened. “I’m not letting you walk away again, Rebecca. You said it was for the best, but didn’t say why. You said it was what was healthiest, but still no reason. I need a reason. A legitimate, concrete reason.”

Rebecca didn’t know whether to be irritated or terrified. Irritated that Cassidy was demanding something of her, and she was considering giving her the reasons. Terrified because… she was considering giving her all the reasons.

“I don’t know how to have a real relationship, Cassidy.”

“I’ve never been in a serious relationship, either. So we’ll learn. Together.”

Rebecca shook her head a little. “I’m damaged. Why would you want to get involved with that?”

“We all have our demons, Rebecca. Yours may be a bit more complicated, but I don’t care. I want to be there for you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I’m trying to! And, so far, your excuses are feeble. Give me a real reason!”

Rebecca let out an exasperated breath. She’s really going to make me say it. “Fine. You want a real reason? I am technically old enough to be your mother, Cassidy!”

“Bullshit! You know I’m twenty-five, right? You can’t be more than five years older than me.”

“It’s not nice to lie to your Mistress, Cassidy.” Shit! I just called myself her Mistress! Any hope that Cassidy missed that little slip was dashed when her nose flared with a desire that most likely mirrored Rebecca’s.

“I have no reason to lie to you. The most you can be is ten years older than me. And that’s pushing it. Besides my mom is like that much older than my dad.”

Rebecca threw her head back and groaned. Determined to make Cassidy understand that they were probably doomed from the start, she locked gazes with her.

“Cassidy, I’m sixteen years older than you.”

“Bullshit!” Cassidy snickered at herself as Rebecca rolled her eyes a little at the unimaginative outburst. “Damn!”

“Exactly.” Now she gets it. Yeah, it hurt, but what else did she expect? That Cassidy would say ‘fuck our ages’ and whisk her away?