“Where are you going?” Nate asks, his voice laced with concern. Cain turns back to face us, determination etched into his features.
“To get our girl back…” he declares before slamming the car door shut.
TESSIE
I sit alone at the table and watch the couples on the dance floor swaying to the rhythm of Purple Rain by Prince. The nostalgic melody brings back memories of the trio. I missed them so much. Like I said, all good things come to an end, right? I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as I long to be reunited with them once again. The shot glass in front of me seems to be my only solace, but it does little to ease my pain. A single tear rolls down my cheek as I try to fight back the overwhelming emotions.
As I reach for the shot glass, I notice two hands appearing on the table.
I lift my gaze and see Cain sitting opposite me. His presence catches me off guard and I freeze. I feel like my heart just stops. At that moment, I can’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he looks. He wears a clean white t-shirt, a black hoodie left unzipped, and a pair of dark jeans. His eyes catch my attention, which seems to have a newfound depth as if he is finally allowing himself to feel something.
Before I can say anything, he speaks up. “I’m so sorry, princess,” he says with a remorseful tone. I muster all my strength to hold back my tears, but they start streaming down my face anyway. I remain silent, staring at him as I try to process everything.
Tears continue streaming down my face and he comes rushing to my side. With a gentle touch, he wipes away my tears and lifts me up from the booth. In an embrace, he holds me close, letting me know that I am not alone and everything will be ok.
He holds me tightly, his chin resting on the top of my head as he speaks in a regretful tone. “I realize now that I was a fool. I shouldn’t have done what I did in the forest. I let you walk out too easily and I’m so sorry.” His words are filled with emotion and I can sense the pain in his voice as he speaks.
Cain takes a step back from me, his eyes lock onto mine and he gestures for me to follow him. Without hesitation, I oblige and we make our way towards the center of the room where the dance floor is located. The dimly lit room is illuminated by a vibrant shade of purple that casts a dreamy aura over everything around us. The iconic Purple Rain tune continues to play in the background, setting the perfect mood for a slow dance. As he wraps his arms around me, I feel his warm breath on my neck as we begin to sway to the rhythm of the song. Every move is effortless, every moment is perfect, and I am lost in the enchanting melody of the music.
We move to the music. He gently raises my chin and I stare into his eyes. “I’ve completely fallen for you…And it scares me more than anything, Tessie,” he whispers, his words echoing through my heart.
Tears well up in my eyes again and I struggle to hold them back as I reply, “I fell a while ago.”
We continue swaying together in each other’s arms.
The song reaches its crescendo. He lifts me off the ground and pulls me in for a passionate kiss. We feel like the only two people in the room, lost in the moment. He gently places me back on my feet and whispers in my ear, “Let’s go home, princess.”
I take his hand and we start walking towards the door.
Just as we are about to leave, Rae leaps over the bar like she has done it a hundred times and stops us in our tracks. “You better treat her right, Cain, or I will hunt you down,” she warns, her eyes fixed firmly on Cain.
Cain smirks and lets out a chuckle, squeezing my hand tight. “I have no doubt you will hunt me down, Raquel. I promise to treat her right,” he replies, his voice oozing confidently.
I motion with my hands to Rae that I’ll text her. Cain leads me outside where I see Nate and Mike standing at the Jeep.
Confused, I ask them, “What are you doing here?” All three of them exchange smirks and look at each other.
Suddenly, I realize something—“You’ve been watching me the whole time, haven’t you?” I say. Despite being under constant surveillance, I find myself indifferent to the fact. All that matters to me is the emptiness in my heart caused by their absence. The longing to be reunited with them has grown so intense that the thought of being away from them any longer feels unbearable.
No one responds to my question, but Mike surprises me with a kiss before I can say anything else. As this happens, Cain opens the Jeep door.
I hop inside the Jeep and take a seat in the back, flanked by Nate and Mike. Suddenly, I feel Nate’s lips on my neck, and he whispers, “It’s good to have you back, baby.”
I can feel a blush creeping up on my cheeks.
I’m glad I’m back with them. I missed them…I missed them so much.
CHAPTER
SIXTEENTESSIE
It’s an amazing feeling to be reunited with the trio. I missed them and we were ecstatic when we got back together last night. We fucked all night, of course, and the experience was different this time. It was gentle and pleasant, unlike our rough and wild moves.
I sit in the bath as the warm water envelops me. I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. Suddenly, the door opens. I open my eyes and see Cain walking in. He sits beside the bath and looks at me with concern in his eyes. “Are you ok, princess?” he asks gently. I offer him a small smile.
“Yeah, it’s nice being back,” I reply. Wanting to prolong my relaxation, I reach for the hot tap and turn it on, letting the sound of the water fill the room.
“Can I ask you a favor? Could you please take me to my house? I haven’t been back there for a while and need to pick up some bits. If that’s ok,” I say.
Cain’s expression softens and he nods. “Of course,” he replies. “Whatever you need.”
Cain slowly undresses himself, one piece of clothing at a time, until he stands bare-skinned. He takes a deep breath and enters the warm, inviting bath, feeling the soothing water envelop his body.
We sit across each other in the serene water. I reach out and gently place my hand on the scar adorning his chest. He looks down and a subtle smile appears on his face as he places his hand over mine, intertwining our fingers in a tender embrace. The water around us seems to be still, the only sound we hear is the rhythm of our breathing.
“How did you get that scar?”
He responds softly, “My days in the army.”
Without a second thought, I lean in and place a gentle kiss on his scar, hoping to alleviate any pain or discomfort associated with it. I know not to ask questions.
I make my way over to Cain and sit down between his legs in the warm water. I can feel the bubbles tickling my bare legs as I adjust my position. As I lean back, I feel the warmth of his chest against my back and sense his steady breaths. It’s a comfortable and peaceful moment. I’m glad to share it with him.
We immerse ourselves in the warm water, the bubbles create a soothing sensation on our skin. His lips start exploring my neck. The world around us fades away as we get lost in the moment, savoring every touch and every breath.
The door unexpectedly opens with a creak and Mike barges in, abruptly cutting short our private moment. “I’m sorry, I gotta take a leak,” he exclaims.
Cain curses under his breath, clearly annoyed. Mike hurries to the toilet and begins to relieve himself. Despite the situation’s awkwardness, I can’t help but giggle at the absurdity of it all.
