After what felt like an eternity in the shower, Lia's mind had stopped racing. She wasn't sure how long they had been in there, but she no longer had the energy to think about it. Her thoughts had blurred into a single stream of exhaustion and sensation.
When they were finally done, Lia tried to get up on her own, but Cassius was already there, lifting her effortlessly. "Don't rush. Take it slow," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle.
As soon as he placed her on the bed, she instinctively grabbed for the blanket, trying to cover herself, but before she could, Cassius leaned in, pressing soft, insistent kisses to her skin. Lia's hands clenched the sheets, her breath hitching as his touch wandered across her body.
Her pulse quickened, but then—a sharp sound broke through the moment.
Beep, beep, beep.
The sudden ringing of her phone made Lia freeze. Her body tensed, but Cassius didn't seem bothered by the interruption. He ignored the ringing, his focus entirely on her, continuing to move with the same determination as before.
The phone stopped ringing for a moment, then started again, insistently. Lia felt herself trembling, torn between the need to respond and the overwhelming presence of the man beside her. She felt she had no right to interrupt, no right to stop what was happening.
But Cassius noticed the shift in her. He paused, his touch slowing as he pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze with those intense, dark eyes. His breath was heavy, but he managed to regain control, leaning back on the bed beside her.
"You've got two minutes to answer that," he said, his voice deep, but gentle.
"Thank you," she whispered, quickly slipping out of bed. She grabbed her phone, heart pounding. It was her foster mother, Karen. Panic gripped her—what if something had happened to her grandmother?
"Mom, is something wrong with Grandma?" she asked, her voice shaky.
From the bed, Cassius rested his head on his hand, watching her closely. His gaze never left her, trailing over her back, which was marked by the events in the shower before—soft red imprints from him.
"Lia, where are you?" Karen's voice came through the phone, testing the waters. "Grandma's awake now."
Relief flooded Lia. Her grandmother was awake. At least for now, that was one less worry to carry. "Mom, I'll come by to see her tomorrow."
"Lia," Karen hesitated before adding, "did you manage to get the money? Because… I might have another way." Her tone was tentative, knowing that Lia had been trying to secure funds for the surgery. Karen thought this was a good opportunity, and she believed that her adopted daughter would compromise for grandma.
Lia shifted uncomfortably. She felt Cassius's gaze burning into her, reminding her of the limited time she had to finish this call. "Mom, let's talk later. I have to go."
"Alright, don't let me keep you. Take care of your work," Karen said, a note of satisfaction in her voice, because she sensed an opportunity had arisen.
When the call ended, Lia let out a deep sigh, the weight of her situation settling back on her shoulders. Turning back to the bed, she walked over to Cassius, her expression carefully composed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cassius, for the interruption. Let's continue," she said quietly, crawling back into the bed, lying flat carefully on her back as if preparing herself for what was next.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Lia, I don't force anyone to stay. If you don't want to continue, you can leave."
She stilled at his words. Was he angry with her? She knew she had been conflicted, but now she was determined. How could she take what he offered without fully committing herself?
"No, Mr. Cassius, I want to stay," Lia said earnestly, turning toward him. Her hand found his and guided it to her chest, her cheeks flushing deeply with embarrassment. "I'm not unwilling… I just… I'm inexperienced."
Her words were awkward, her face hot with embarrassment. "Maybe I'm not good at this yet, but I want to satisfy you," she added, her voice wavering with a mix of nervousness and resolve. Then, summoning all the courage she had, she leaned in and kissed him—this time not with hesitation, but with intent. It wasn't graceful, but it was sincere.
Cassius's lips curved slightly in amusement as he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer. His hands cupped her head gently as he responded, his actions deliberate and patient. He was clearly pleased by her effort.
The night stretched on, and the bed swayed with their movements. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room, and the sounds of the city faded into the background. The intimacy between them grew until, finally, exhaustion overtook them both, and they fell into a deep, quiet sleep as the night gave way to dawn.
...
When Lia awoke, the bed beside her was empty. The events of the night before flooded her mind, and she tried to push the memories away, though her body reminded her of every moment. Her muscles were sore, and she could barely move without wincing. She sat up slowly, scanning the room. Her clothes were nowhere to be seen, and even if she found them, she doubted they would be wearable.
Staring at the ceiling, Lia let her thoughts drift. Did she regret what had happened? No. She had made her choice, and it had given her what she needed.
But before she could sink too deeply into her thoughts, the door opened, and Cassius entered, holding a tray.
"You're awake," he said simply, though there was something in his eyes that hinted at last night's intimacy.
Lia looked over, startled. "Mr. Cassius…" Her voice came out rough, her throat aching.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "That title sounds strange now, doesn't it?"
He placed the tray on the bedside table. There was a bowl of porridge, along with some side dishes. It was simple, but it caught Lia off guard.
"Thank you," she said, slightly taken aback. He had brought her breakfast. The thought of him taking the time to do something so simple was unexpected.
She shifted under the blanket, feeling the cool air against her bare skin. "Could I… borrow something to wear?" Her cheeks flushed as she made the request, feeling awkward.
His eyes trailed down to her bare legs, then back up to her face. "I don't have any women's clothes here," he said casually.
Lia bit her lip, feeling foolish for even asking. "I'm sorry—"
Before she could finish, he stood and walked to the closet, pulling out a crisp white shirt. "You can wear this."
He handed it to her without a second thought, and Lia hesitated for a moment before taking it with a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
The shirt was oversized, but it was soft and smelled faintly of him. It was better than nothing. As she dressed, she felt his eyes on her, watching her every move. She tried to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks, knowing he wasn't going to look away.
When she stood to put her feet on the floor, her legs buckled beneath her, and she stumbled, unable to find her balance. Before she could fall, Cassius was there, his arms wrapping around her, lifting her with ease.
"Don't push yourself," he said, his voice steady as he carried her effortlessly. "You need to rest."
Lia's face turned a deep shade of red as she buried herself in his chest, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.