Safeword: Arabesque (Safewords Book 9) (33 page)

“Think about it. I have an idea, if you want to try it…but not today. I’ve put you through a lot today. Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m perfect, and laying in your arms is just the icing on the cake. Thank you so much, Isaac. Sir.”

“You’re welcome, boy.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cassie didn’t know why Sam wanted to stop by her house, but she just
knew
it would be bad news. It wasn’t that Sam only came by for bad things, she’d been by a few times to check on Cassie and hang out, but something about the phone call set Cassie on edge.

Clemente had spent a few days in the hospital before being moved to the hospital clinic, but was apparently with the general population now, awaiting trial. The judge hadn’t let him out on bail, thank goodness. The news didn’t report much on his accomplice, but she couldn’t find anything on him, either. He’d been allowed out on bail, but she wasn’t worried about him coming after her.

A quick internet search didn’t show anything new, so all she could do was wait to see what Sam had to say. If Clemente had finagled some loophole so he was getting out, she wasn’t sure how she’d manage her life. Probably take the required classes and then apply for her concealed carry permit, though she couldn’t have a weapon at work. Mental facilities were one of the few places even sworn law enforcement couldn’t carry.

She was home alone when she let Sam in, and her friend’s first words after the initial polite conversation were, “Where’s Cam?”

“Working. He actually isn’t here much during the week — between classes, rehearsals, and work.”

“Oh. Can we get him here?”

“You have bad news? Is Clemente getting out?”

“Oh, no, Clemente is staying behind bars, but…” She growled and shook her head. “His little weaselly sidekick? They want you to give another deposition. A Vegas cop will likely be here in the next day or two, to interview you again.”

She sat and put her tablet on the table. It was connected to a keyboard, so it stood up, and it came on to a Skype window.

“Sit beside me, your attorney is supposed to be waiting for me to call.”

Sure enough, he answered right away, and Sam jumped right in with, “I’ve let her know the Vegas DA wants another deposition from her.”

“That’s right,” he said. “Cassie, do you believe both men knew they were taking you against your will, or is it possible Clemente lied to his assistant, told him he was helping you with a rape fantasy, and he thought you were getting off on it?”

Cassie immediately saw the problem, and knew the man wouldn’t see jail time. “I wasn’t privy to their conversation before they grabbed me, but it doesn’t seem plausible Clemente would wait until he saw me to mention it.” She shook her head. “I begged and pleaded and fought, but it’s what you expect in that kind of scene. If Clemente says he told him it was some kind of planned kidnapping scenario, we have no way to refute it. Do we?”

The attorney shook his head. “We probably can in a civil trial, but in a criminal one, where the defense only needs to establish reasonable doubt, it’s up to the DA but it’ll be an uphill battle.”

“The pictures of me they took, when Nathan rescued me. Consensual role playing scenes don’t end with someone looking like that, or with dislocated shoulders.”

“You told the police he sent his assistant downstairs at the end before Clemente really went at you with his fists. The assistant says you weren’t injured when he went downstairs.”

“Which is a lie, but…yeah, I can see how my statement helps their scenario. They both hit and punched me throughout, and my shoulder was dislocated less than an hour into it, but the worst of the beating happened after he was out of the room.” She sighed. “So, there’s nothing I can do?”

“I’m going to talk to the doctors,” he said, “see if there’s any way to establish medically how long your shoulder had been dislocated, or whether some of the bruising on your face could have happened hours apart, as that’ll establish him being in the room for some of it. It’s legwork I’ll need to do if you decide to prosecute in civil court, and I don’t mind doing it early enough I can share with the DA. I’ll let the two of you know if I come up with anything useable.”

They said goodbye to him and Sam turned to Cassie, “I’m so sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault.” Cassie looked at the clock and asked, “Want to go get something to eat before class?”

“Has the doctor released you?”

“Nope, but I’m going anyway and I’ll do what doesn’t hurt.”

She’d planned on going in maybe another two or three weeks, but it suddenly felt important for her to take back her life. She’d gone back to work, it was time to go back to the dojo.

* * * *

Frisco was surprised to see Cassie walk into the dojo, but thrilled. He stepped to her to give her a hug, hoping she wouldn’t rebuff him in front of their friends, and she glared at him but allowed him to gently embrace her and even hold her a few seconds before she pushed away.

“I didn’t expect you here for another week or two, but it’s great to see you.”

Cassie looked at Tom as she said, “I may not do much, but I’d like to beat the crap out of the heavy bag with my good arm, at least. I’ll try the other katas and moves, but I’m not up for a spar. I just need to be here, though.”

“You’re welcome, as always. Do what you can and hang out for the rest.”

When class was over, Frisco asked Cassie if she’d like to go get something to eat. He didn’t really expect her to say yes, but was pleasantly surprised when she agreed.

“Sure, but I’d like to have a few drinks, so maybe we can drop my car at my house, and you can drive?”

Cassie ordered a margarita as soon as they were seated, and Frisco asked, “Is something bothering you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Will you be upset if I drink tonight? I mean, not just have a drink, but
drink
?”

It wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but if she was asking him to take care of her while she got drunk, he’d do it. Whatever she needed. He leaned forward and touched the side of her hand. “I’ll take care of you however you need, but can I ask a few questions while you’re still sober?”

She nodded, but looked wary. “Nothing too heavy,” he assured, “I just want to make sure I don’t overstep. Tell me the rules now, while you’re sober, and I’ll follow them later when you’re drunk.”

Cassie looked down a few seconds and finally said, “There are no rules, other than I have both my safeword and the word
no
, tonight. Tara cleared me for vaginal sex a while back, though she said my backside still needs some time.”

Frisco wasn’t sure how to respond, so he didn’t. Cassie shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don’t know if I’m ready for sex. I mean, I know I’m not when sober, but maybe doing it drunk will be easier?”

“What does Marcus have to say about it?”

“He said I’ll know when I’m ready, and if I haven’t decided I am in another couple of months we’ll talk about it, but for now, he isn’t concerned.”

“Did something happen today to make you want to get drunk?”

“Yeah, but I’ve already told you I don’t want to talk about it. If you need to know, step outside and call Sam and tell her I said it’s okay to tell you.”

Cassie held up her phone. “Even better, I’ll text her you’re about to call, and it’s okay for her to tell you. Just…don’t talk to me about it when you get back. Okay? I feel better after hitting the bag, and don’t want to think about it anymore, at least for now.”

Frisco stood, leaned down to kiss her cheek, and stepped outside to make the call.

When Sam had explained everything, Frisco said, “She’s basically asking me to babysit her while she gets falling down drunk, Chica.”

He told her the rest and Sam said, “I don’t know what to tell you. Just listen to your gut, I guess?”

Frisco stared at the darkening sky, checked in with his intuition, and called Isaac.

“Feed her, get her drunk, and take her home. I’ll be waiting at her house, and if she needs sex the two of us can make the decision together.”

“What if she can’t handle two at once? What if she’s asking for me alone because it’s what she wants?”

“And what if it’s because she’s afraid you’ll hurt her emotionally if she takes you back, so she uses this to push you farther away?” Isaac asked.

“I’m going to be honest with her. She or I will text you to let you know whether she wants you there or not.”

Isaac laughed. “Not like you to think of the honest approach while I’m devising other plans, but we’ll go with it.”

Frisco went back in and noticed a second margarita. She was serious about getting drunk.

“I talked to Sam, and then called Isaac.”

Cassie took a drink, liked some salt off the rim, and took another.

“He wants to be at your house, waiting for us, when I take you home,” Frisco added.

Another lick and a drink, and she said, “Cam will probably be there by then, too, and I don’t want three men in my bed.”

“You want me and Cam? Together?”

“I don’t know what the hell I want, Frisco. Can you please not overanalyze it? I just want to get falling-down-shitfaced-drunk. Maybe you hand me off to Cam and I sleep it off, maybe I beg you to come inside and fuck me, or maybe I beg you to come inside and fuck Cam while I watch. I don’t freaking
know
what I’ll want once I’m drunk, until I’m drunk.”

Frisco texted Isaac to let him know she had already figured Cam into the equation, and didn’t want a fourth person tonight.

He thought about how it sounded, and sent another text.

She may not want me, either. It sounds like I may just be here to babysit her while she drinks, so I can hand her off to Cam.

A few minutes later, Isaac texted back.

Okay, I was going to call you tonight about Cam. He’s marked up pretty good and I don’t want it to take you by surprise.

Frisco had known they’d negotiated for a scene and expected there would be marks. It still hurt though, knowing Cam went to Isaac to get his needs met, instead of Frisco.

Thanks for taking care of him, and for warning me. Anything else I should know? Did he seem okay?

Another text popped up within seconds.

He’s fine. Call me when you get a chance and we’ll talk. Put your phone away and take care of our girl.

Frisco looked to Cassie, noted her drink was getting low, and asked, “Another?” She looked at her glass, back to him with glassy eyes, and nodded.

Thankfully, once the food arrived she slowed down on her drinking, and even had a cola on the side towards the end.

Frisco kept the air as cold as he could get it on the drive home, but she didn’t seem to be getting sick.

She stumbled and wobbled as they walked up the sidewalk, and Cam came out of the house to help get her inside.

“I talked to Isaac earlier. And Sam.” Cam told him.

Frisco nodded as they walked Cassie into the front door. “Good, then you’re caught up?”

Cam nodded and pulled Cassie into his arms as Frisco closed the door. “You okay? I made some ginger tea and have it in the fridge so you can drink it cold. You want it now?”

“Yes, please. Thank you.”

“You want to go to bed, or sit in the living room?”

“I want to go to bed. Can I watch Frisco fuck you?”

Frisco’s heart broke as Cam’s face darkened and he said, “He hasn’t…we haven’t…I don’t know, Cass.”

Frisco stroked Cam’s cheek over Cassie’s shoulder and said, “I talked to Isaac. He told me you’re marked. Don’t worry about protecting my feelings.”

“Did he tell you he fucked me?”

“No, though he asked me to call him when I could talk, so I imagine he intended to.”

“I can’t do both of you in the same day without being upfront about it.”

Cassie looked up to Cam and asked, “You fucked Isaac?”

He kissed her forehead, so tender, and smiled. “Might be more accurate to say he fucked me.”

“He has the most wonderful cock, doesn’t he? I mean, I like yours, too, but...”

She turned to Frisco. “And yours is nice! Oh god. I should just shut up now.” She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek into Cam’s chest.

Frisco chuckled and looked at Cam. “We’re good, boy. I’ll get her some ginger tea from the fridge, you get her into bed. Okay?”

“Thanks, Sir.”

When Frisco arrived with ice water for him and Cam and the ginger tea for Cassie, Cam had her shirt and bra off and was working her yoga pants down her legs as she lay in bed and giggled.

Frisco chuckled as he settled the drinks on the side table. “Does she want everyone naked, or just her?”