Roll For Initiative

26. Cassie

" O k, I’ll think about it."

With those five words, my heart sinks into my stomach. I was working in the kitchen and realized I left the stainless-steel cleaner in the bag in the front room. I was about to walk in when I heard them talking low. I can’t believe Lucian has been back for less than a week, and Jayme is already trying to get him to move back to California. Only this time, it would be permanent. He can’t go. I thought he would have just turned him down, but no, he is actually considering it.

I put back on my headphones to try and distract myself as I clean. I know he is going to choose the job. Why wouldn’t he? His dream is to design cutting-edge security systems and help run a company. If he asked me what he should do, what would I say? I can’t be the one to take away his dream, his future. That would just be selfish. No, I would just have to let him go.

I’m getting so frustrated while cleaning. I thought this shit was supposed to be therapeutic. Fuck this. I am too short and am currently up on my tip toes trying to get stuff down from the top cabinets. He has those open cabinets with no doors, so everything got dusty. Why the hell are the cabinets so tall in here? Do they not even consider short people while building? As I stretch to grab the last big bowl, two hands grip my waist from behind, lifting me to grab the bowl easier. Instinctively, I yelp and thrash in his hold, causing the bowl to fall to the ground and shatter.

“What the fuck!” I screech.

“Cassie, chill. It’s just me.” It was Jayme. He quickly puts me back on the ground, away from the broken glass. “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you; you just looked like you needed some help. I thought you heard me.”

“Yea, well, you could have just grabbed down the damn bowl yourself. And I have headphones in; of course, I didn’t hear you.” I turn to go grab the broom as Lucian bursts into the kitchen.

“What the hell happened? Cass, are you okay?” He is checking me over for damages, and my face is flushed red with embarrassment.

“That was my bad man. I lifted her to grab that bowl, and it startled her.” Jayme explains.

“It’s fine. I'm sorry I freaked out. I'm sorry about the bowl, Lucian. I’ll get you a new one.”

“Fuck the bowl. I’m just glad it wasn’t you that got hurt.” He glares at Jayme for a moment before looking back at me. He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, my body reacting to how close he is. “How about I get you a step ladder shorty.” He smiles and grabs his keys to go down to his storage area in the basement. Fuck why didn’t I just think of that.

I glance back at Jayme; he’s looking down at the floor, trying to avoid eye contact. He can feel my glare and glances up at me.

“Sorry again, Cassie. I didn’t know it would frighten you so badly. There’s no need to be this mad at me, though.” I didn’t even realize the hateful glare I was giving him. It wasn’t even because he touched me; no, it was because he was about to take Lucian away again.

“Sorry, not mad. Just thinking. I think I forgot a cleaner. I’ll be right back.” I walked back to the front room to grab the stainless-steel cleaner. Jayme follows close behind me.

“Is there another reason why you are acting so hostile with me? Did I do something wrong?” Ugh, it wasn’t all his fault. I guess I shouldn’t be totally pissed at Jayme. “Did you, by chance, overhear what we were talking about?” He catches me off guard with the question. I’ve never been good at lying; I have a horrible poker face.

“What? No, I didn’t hear anything. What would I have heard.” I trip over my words, my face bright red. I fidget with the bottle in my hands.

“He won’t go if you say you don’t want him to. I know he won’t. That’s why I’m asking, no, actually, I’m begging you, don’t take this away from him. You and I both know this is his dream, and he is too damn nice of a guy to put his own wants and needs first. He’s in love with you, you know.” His words are causing a knot in my throat, making it impossible to swallow. Love? No, he doesn’t love me—at least not that way.

“What? No, he doesn’t. And if Lucian wants to move to California, I won’t stop him.” I sigh and go to walk away, even if it kills me.

Jayme goes to say something else, but Lucian walks back into the room. He can sense the tension between us.

“Uh, everything good?”

“Yeah,” I respond quickly. “We were just discussing dinner plans for tonight.” I glance over at Jayme, hoping he will just play along.

“After we are done cleaning, we will go out. My treat.” Thankfully, Lucian buys it.

“All right. Let’s get this shit clean.” I say, heading back to the kitchen to finish what I started. There’s a layer of dust on everything. It’s so weird how a place that hasn’t been touched in ? of a year could be so dusty.

Six hours and one insanely clean house later, we all collapse on the couch. I’m stuck between the 2 of them. I lean my head on Lucian’s shoulder, and he puts his head against the top of mine. I can feel Jayme staring at us, but I don’t care. He is wrong. Lucian isn’t in love with me. He is just my best friend. That’s all, nothing more. Most best friends do this, don’t they? I honestly don’t know because this has always been our normal; it is just how we have always been with each other. We have cuddled and even slept in the same bed; nothing felt off or different, at least until now.

I can tell I am starting to doze off from exhaustion when Jayme clears his throat and nudges my leg with his.

“When do you guys want to head to dinner?”

“Can I take a shower first? I feel like I have a layer of dust about an inch thick everywhere on my body.” I ask, wiping a dirt smudge from my arm.

“Go ahead, Cass. What about you, Jayme?”

“I guess I am pretty filthy.” He says, shooting me a smirk as I get off the couch. Perv.

I head to Lucian’s room to use his shower. I am coated in sweat and dust. Eww. I close his bedroom door and enter his master bath, stripping off my shirt and leggings, leaving just my bra and thong. I stare at myself in the mirror. Jayme said I was beautiful. It confused me, primarily because of how hot he is. Again, I know I’m attractive, but I’m still learning to have more self-confidence.

I unclasp my bra and let it fall to my feet. I’ve always hated bras, but my mother would throw a fit if I weren’t “properly dressed.” She used to scold me and say, “No daughter of mine is going to be a hippy, walking around with her tits loose.” God, I hate that woman. Nothing I ever did was good enough for her pretentious standards. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I will never be good enough for her or her lifestyle.

I pull out my ponytail and run my fingers through my hair, loosening the tangles. My fingers drag down my neck and chest. I graze my hands over my nipples. The cool air has made them hard, and they are sensitive. I toy with them for a moment. Pinching and twisting, slowly getting turned on by the added thrill that two insanely hot men just down the hall could hear me if I were too loud. What if Lucian walked in? Would he turn away, or would he join me? That thought has me trailing my touch lower, tracing the curves in my hips into my thong. I stop just above my clit, the nerves pulsing with my heartbeat. This is risky, but it makes it even hotter.

I slide my fingers through my wetness. I didn’t realize how aroused I was already. I guess the thought of getting caught is newer to me, and damn, does it feel good. If Lucian walked in right now, I would pull him inside the bathroom and slam the door closed. I would drop to my knees and make him see what he does to me. Pulling out his cock, licking up and down his shaft, coating it in saliva. I’d wrap my lips around it and take him to the back of my throat. Mmmm, I can practically feel his hands tangled in my hair, controlling me as he fucks my mouth. Fully in control of how deep he goes and how much air I’m allowed to breathe.

“Holy shit.” A startled voice cuts through the pre-orgasmic fog and my brain fucking shatters. I scream and whip around to find Jayme standing there. He is just staring at me, mouth tilted in a smirk. Fuck!

“What the fuck? Get out!” I scream, covering my tits with my arm.

“Damn, girl. Sorry, I didn’t realize you would be in here so preoccupied.” He has a shit-eating grin on his face. Eyes trailing all over my pretty much naked body. My thong barely covers anything, so he has a full view.

“I said, get the fuck out.” I grab a shampoo bottle off the bathtub’s edge and whip it at him in the doorway.

“What the hell is...” Lucian walks right into the bottle's path, and it hits him in the face. “Ouch. What the fuck.” He drops to his knees, clutching his eye. Shit, what if I blinded him.

“Lucian, I’m so sorry. Shit. Are you bleeding?” I run to kneel at his side. Completely forgetting my nudity. He takes a second to open his eyes, and he sees me. My boobs are right there in his face, and that’s when the realization hits me. His eyes travel down my body and then back up to my exposed nipples.

“Cassie!” He rips his shirt off and covers my body. “Damnit, what the hell is going on? I thought you went into the guest bathroom.” He is rubbing his eye, barely able to open it. At least it isn’t bleeding.

“Nope, she was in your bathroom, Lucian. She was a bit preoccupied and didn’t hear me walk in.” He smirks knowingly at me. “She was surprisingly quiet, so I didn’t even know she was in here.” Jayme declares like a dirty secret being shared. My entire body is red from embarrassment and rage toward him.

“I’m sorry, Cassie, I sent Jayme in here to use my shower because I thought you were in the other one. Wait, what do you mean she was preoccupied?” He looks over at me, his shirt wrapped around my front. I want to curl up and die right now.

“It’s nothing. I’m um, going to go finish my shower. Then we can go to dinner. Can we just drop it and forget this happened?” I look at Jayme; he puts his hands up in defense.

“I’ll drop it, but damn, I won’t forget it.” He smiles and chuckles, looking me up and down again. “That was a sight I wouldn’t dare to forget.” He laughs as he walks out of the room. I’m still kneeling by Lucian. He rests his hand on my bare thigh to get my attention away from Jayme.

“Cass? What happened?” He looks so concerned with his big brown eyes. My body feels like it is on fire. My skin is burning beneath his touch. “What were you doing?” He looks so serious now, his eyes roam along my bare skin. His fingers dig into my thigh, begging me to answer. He knows the truth; how could he not? Jayme might as well have just come out and said it.

“Nothing. It was nothing. I was just getting undressed, and he walked in. So, yea, he saw my boobs. But so did you now, so it’s whatever.” It’s obvious he is able to read between the lines about what really happened. I glance between us and can tell he is thinking about it because his pants are definitely a lot tighter in the groin now.

God, how I wish it were him that walked in instead of Jayme. I can’t deal with any more awkwardness between us right now. I stand and back up into the bathroom, but he is following me, stopping the door with his foot.

“Cass, are you sure you’re OK? We don’t have to go to dinner if things are too awkward between you two now.” I still have his shirt covering my front, but his eyes still linger as if he can see past the fabric.

“Nah, it’s all good. It’s no big deal. Just tell the fucker to knock.” I chuckle to try to cut the tension.

“OK, as long as you’re sure. Want me to cut his eyes out for looking at you?” He jokingly asks. I detect a hint of hostility. I wonder if it is bugging him, thinking that his friend caught me touching myself. Oh God if he only knew he was the one I was fantasizing about.

“Can you go so I can shower? I’m starving.” I say, pushing him toward the door. He walks out but turns back to face me. He looks me up and down again; my bare legs are fully on display for his eyes to linger on. He closes his eyes and deeply inhales; a low growl slips out on the exhale. My pussy clenches at the sound. Fuck I want him right now. He opens his eyes and just shakes his head. Silently, he turns to walk away, and I hear the softest whisper from him. Words I don’t believe he meant to say out loud.

“It should have been me.”