Safeword: Arabesque (Safewords Book 9) (27 page)

“Fair enough.” He kissed her forehead. “I talked to Isaac about bringing it, but we’ll double-check before I leave.”

She and Cam walked out of the bedroom holding hands, and Frisco stood and moved to a chair when he saw them, saying, “Take the sofa Cassie, so you can lay down if need to.”

She felt best on her left side, as there was no pressure on the stiches in her bottom and it didn’t mess with her hurt shoulder. Not the best for her ribs, but sometimes life sucks.

She soon discovered the back of the sofa nicely supported her shoulder and ribs, and she sighed in contentment as she found a comfortable position.

“Isaac,” Cam said above her. “Cass wants to be sure you have your weapon?”

“I do.”

Frisco made another disapproving noise and Isaac said, “None of that from you. Cam and I will both be responsible, and our being armed means she doesn’t have to deal with a stranger in the house guarding her.”

“Did someone feed Jake?” Cassie asked, obviously wanting to change the conversation.

“Yeah, I did this morning but he’s
still
ticked at me,” Frisco said.

“Thanks.” She looked to Cam. “Can you make sure he has water before you go, please? If it runs low he’ll drink from the toilet, and he licks my face with that tongue.”

Everyone in the room laughed, and Cassie looked to Frisco. “If you’re going to insist on staying, I’m going to boss you around. Get something to write with so I can give you my grocery list, and I’ll give you money to go to the store. While you’re there you can pick up whatever fixings you need to cook a huge dinner for all four of us this evening.” She hesitated and added, “Maybe lunch for the three of us, too.”

Frisco leaned forward in his chair with his elbows on his knees, and Cassie had to fight to hold his gaze without looking away.

He nodded and said, “I know you’re getting me out of the house a little while, but I’m good with that because it gives me something constructive to do. Something I can do for you, so I don’t feel so fucking helpless.”

* * * *

Cam hoped Frisco would leave while he watered the dog and changed clothes, but he wrote out a list as Cassie dictated it, and timed his exit as Cam left for school.

As Cam’s foot hit the bottom step Frisco said, “Isaac says I had no right to ask for a hug, and I’ll have to earn your respect and trust before I can ask for it again.”

Cam took a few seconds to think of the best way to respond, and landed on, “You needed Isaac to tell you this? It wasn’t obvious?”

“As much as it bugs me for you to talk to me with your back to me, I won’t ask you to turn around. Yes, I needed Isaac to tell me. I don’t do relationships. I have no clue how to…shit Cam. I was wrong to send you away. I have feelings for you, too, and I miss you.”

“You have really shitty timing and I’m not capable of dealing with your drama while taking care of Cassie. She comes first, and I’m not sure I believe you, anyway.”

“And I want to draw you into my arms so bad it hurts.”

Cam had no response so he walked to his car, and even though he had to turn towards Frisco to get into it, he kept his eyes averted so he didn’t have to look at him.

If he looked at him, he’d cry, and he hadn’t been lying about having too much to deal with right now. Frisco hadn’t just broken his heart, he’d
shattered
it, and Cam hadn’t managed to put it back together yet. The only reason he was talking to the asshole without screaming was to keep conflict away from Cass, but he was under no obligation to do so when she wasn’t around.

* * * *

Cassie watched Cam and Frisco walk out together, and looked at Isaac. “Something happened to upset Cam while I was in the shower.”

“It did, but you shouldn’t have to deal with any of our bullshit right now.”

Cassie’s eyes boggled as Isaac stepped to her and dropped to his knees beside the sofa. “I don’t know how hand shy you are right now, so I won’t try to touch you, but I need to know what’s going through your head. Do you want to talk about what happened?”

Cassie shook her head and swallowed her tears. “Not yet. I couldn’t even find the words to tell Cam. Frisco told him some, and I had Sam tell him the stuff Frisco doesn’t know. I’ll tell Cam he can share it with you later, but I don’t want to be around when he does, okay?”

“Thank you. He gave me the basics without sharing too many details. If I do anything that reminds you of what happened, or bothers you in any way, tell me, or say your safeword, or
something
, okay?”

Cassie nodded, uncomfortable with him on his knees but she liked having him close so she dealt with it. “I’m not going to be skittish and fragile forever, but I need to physically heal before I can work on the emotions, I think.”

“Of course. I’d love to hold you and protect you, but I think we need to leave that up to Cam for now, until you’re ready for other hands to touch you.”

“No,” Cassie said, and she suddenly wanted to feel his caress. “You can erase the memory of what his hands did. I remember how you used to touch my cheek. It was so intimate, and yet controlling and dominating at the same time. Can you do it, please? Touch me so I have a loving caress to remember instead of Clemente’s fist?”

Isaac’s gaze captured hers, and after several long moments he slowly lifted his hand to her face and stroked her cheek.

“You are such a precious jewel, Sweet Thing.”

Cassie smiled and asked, “Would it be okay for you to sit on the sofa so I can put my head in your lap? Maybe just until Frisco gets back?”

“It’ll be fine, but we aren’t going to hide anything from Frisco. He and I have an understanding, and he knows I intend to attempt to woo you back.”

* * * *

Isaac caressed her cheek again, slowly, as one would approach a dog who’d been beaten, and watched Cassie’s eyes close in pleasure.

“Frisco won’t want you to know what I’m about to tell you,” Isaac said, “but I refuse to keep secrets from you.” Cassie’s eyes opened in curiosity and Isaac continued, “Frisco lived across the street from my foster family, and his mom had taken to inviting whoever was living in that house over for Sunday dinner because she realized they fed their foster kids cheap crap so they could make the most of the little bit of money the state paid them.”

He paused to gather his thoughts. “To compound this, the teacher who later adopted me decided Frisco needed a male role model, and he invited him over often to watch ball games, play catch, and learn to box.”

“So, the two of you were almost raised together, in a way. Your dad was his male role model, so you’re kind of close to being brothers.”

Isaac breathed a sigh of relief that Cassie had grabbed the truth so fast. “Bingo. Got it in one.”

She looked sad. “I can’t come between the two of you, Isaac. You were right to walk away.”

“Oh no. I’m madly in love with you, and if he wants to step up we’ll figure something out without tearing you apart in the process, but for now he’s good with me stepping up to the plate and taking care of you.”

“Maybe I’m not good with the idea of you taking care of me until he decides he might want me? What happens if I want you, and he decides he wants me? Will you walk away again?”

“I swear to you I will not.”

Cassie looked into his left eye, then his right, and nodded. “Okay. I believe you. Will you sit on the sofa, please?”

“I will, but there’s something else you need to hear.”

She raised her eyebrows and he said, “In college, we both dated the same girl for a while.” It took him a few seconds to realize he hadn’t explained it well enough, and he added, “At the same time. In the same bed.”

He waited until she looked as if she understood and said, “No pressure and no expectations. I’m only saying that we both love you, and if he develops the balls to admit it, and if you care for both of us, it may not be necessary to choose.”

She shook her head. “I can’t deal with this and I think I just want to go back to sleep. Will you get me a pain pill off my side table, please?”

“No. I won’t.”

She looked surprised and he said, “If you’re hurting and need a pain pill I’ll get it, but if you just don’t want to deal with reality? Sorry, but no.”

“
Fuck
,” she said, with feeling. “Damn if you aren’t right. Okay then, get up off the floor and either get back in your chair, or get on the sofa with me, and we’ll watch some of what the DVR caught while I was away.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Isaac was reading an ebook on his phone when Frisco returned. He took note of Cassie asleep with her head on Isaac’s leg, and shook his head without commenting as he carried groceries to the kitchen.

On his way back through the living room he kept his voice soft and said, “Don’t get up. I’ve got it and she looks comfortable.”

“Thanks, but I wasn’t planning to. Did you get anywhere with Cam?”

“He wouldn’t look at me, but at least he seemed to listen.”

“You hurt him and he’s vulnerable. Not looking at you keeps him from showing you how much he’s hurting inside, and it helps him stay strong and not give in and hug you, when you ask.”

“So I need to force him to look at me?”

“Not at all. You need to convince him it’s safe to look at you. It’s going to take time and you’re gonna have to be patient.”

Frisco sighed and walked back out the door.

“Why are you helping him?” Cassie asked from his leg.

“Because he doesn’t have a clue, and he’s hurting, too.”

Cassie played possum when Frisco came back, and Isaac decided to let her. She truly was fragile and vulnerable right now. She was strong, and he knew she’d bounce back, but expected it to take a while. She’d been through a horrible ordeal.

When Frisco had put the groceries away he sat on the chair facing Isaac and said, “I’m glad she’s comfortable enough with you to let you touch and hold her. Between you and Cam to take care of her, I won’t worry so much.”

Aware Cassie may be listening, Isaac said, “You need to figure out where you might fit into her life as well. I won’t back off again unless she lets me know she wants me gone, but if she welcomes you? So will I.”

“She’s never going to be okay with that arrangement. And throw Cam into the mix, too?”

“Why don’t we let Cassie decide what she will and won’t be okay with? Meanwhile, what are you making us for lunch; she’ll be starved when she awakens.”

“I’ll surprise you,” Frisco said as he stood.

* * * *

Cam expected to walk back into stress central, but was surprised to see Cassie stretched out on the sofa with her head in Isaac’s lap, and Frisco cooking as if everything was hunky-dory.

“Ah, you’re back!” Frisco said. “If you don’t have too much homework, would you mind helping me in the kitchen? I have a lot of things coming together at once and could use another set of skilled hands.”

Cam looked at Cassie, who rolled her eyes and shook her head. “We’ll talk later. For now, just assume you’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone and be thankful for small favors.”

Frisco had fixed one of Cam’s favorite dishes, which apparently was also one of Isaac’s favorites.

As Frisco finished with the duck, Cam stirred the peach and pepper sauce until it was the right consistency, and then kept an eye on the homemade cinnamon churros.

Frisco pulled rice out of the steamer and mixed it with a bunch of spices and minced veggies sautéing on the stove, and Cam set the table.

The two moved around the kitchen as if a choreographer had carefully scripted their moves, and as Frisco needed something he couldn’t find, Cam retrieved it almost before he asked.

Cassie had a u-shaped cushion to sit on, to keep her weight off the stitches, so they managed to all sit at the table and eat a scrumptious meal.

Frisco asked Cam about his day, and he answered, but looked mostly at Cassie and Isaac as he spoke.

Cam’s cellphone buzzed and he started to ignore it because Frisco hadn’t allowed electronics at the table, but he took a breath and pulled it out, read the text, and handed his phone to Cassie.

She looked up in alarm. “Tara wants to come look at my stitches?”

“Who is Tara?” Isaac asked.

“She’s a nurse practitioner,” Cassie told him. “She was part of Sam and Ethan’s team in Vegas, in case they both needed medical attention at the same time, as their manager only had one doctor on the payroll.”

Frisco looked at Cam. “I wasn’t aware you and Tara were close enough for her to have your cellphone number.”

Cam opened his mouth to point out Frisco no longer had a say in who he was and wasn’t close to, but closed it because he didn’t want to stress Cass.

Isaac looked at each of them in turn and finally asked, “Something ya’ll want to let me in on?”