Lasting Attraction (Cassie Series) (20 page)

             
"Hello, is this Cassandra McKnight?"

             
"Yes, this is she."

             
"Ms. McKnight, this is Phyllis Guthurtt from Millis Labs, calling about your results for a paternity test."

             
"Yes, absolutely."

             
The pause has my heart rate accelerating. "The test results show that the biological father is..."

             
I can't believe I'm bringing Miah home to my family. It took me forever to bring Cassie home to meet everyone. It took over a year for me to introduce her to my parents. I guess it is different that Miah has met and worked with my father, and she has more of a head on her shoulders, but still, it seems way too soon.

             
The biggest difference is Miah asked to have dinner with my parents. Cassie did everything in her power not to meet them. She met my brother a couple dozen times, but not my parents. They liked her a lot, but I could tell they passed a lot of judgment on her, probably because of things my brother had said about her. Or the fact they knew we were on-again, off-again way too often.

             
They don't know that Miah and I have gotten anything close to serious, but honestly, I didn't even know. It just happened. After that day in the office, we went on our date, then another, and well, another. Eventually it became a routine thing, and although we haven't defined our relationship, I can feel it becoming more. I can't help the fact I still love Cassie and some nights I lay awake at night regretting ever letting her go, but I knew it was what had to be done.

             
If I wasn't sure before today, now I'm positive. Her and Avery, they just belong. It hurts fucking hell. I almost couldn't look at her today, especially with her tiny belly, knowing the chances of that growing baby could be mine.

             
So I'm not sure what this thing with Miah is, but I know that I'm willing to give a chance. She is here for me, I'm there for her, we work together, we're both closer in age, and its been great. That girl isn't very shy about telling me what she wants, when she wants, and how. Damn if I don't love that about her.

             
And no, I don't love her. Nor do I plan on falling any time in the near future. I'm just happy. Its something I sure feel as though I deserve, and damn it feels good. No drama, no ciaos, no confusion- just happiness.

             
I arrive in front of Miah's apartment and get out of the truck, just as she is making her way towards it. I pull her in for a hug and quick kiss on the mouth. "You sure about this?" I ask her.

             
She pushes at my shoulder with a faux insulted expression. "Are you saying you don't want me to meet your mother? Seeing as I've already met your brother and dad."

             
"Not saying that all."

             
She grins at me and walks towards the passenger side. I open the door for her and she climbs on up.

             
When I get into my side of the truck and start it up, she looks over at me and bites on that pouty lip of hers. "What do you have planned?" I ask.

             
"You just look a little stressed."

             
"I am," I admit.

             
"I can help with that." I lift a brow as she slides towards me to sit in the middle seat. "Just start the truck and drive," she orders. See, this girl drives me a crazy, but in the best fucking possible way.

             
I do as she says, cranking the engine and heading out towards to my parent's house. I get just out of the busy part of the city when Miah starts to pull her pants off. I look over at her like she is fucking crazy. "What the hell are you doing?"

             
"Trust me."

             
"I do trust you. I don't trust myself. Fuck, I'm going to crash if you get naked." I try to focus on the road but it’s hard. Yeah, pun intended.

             
She unzips my pants, and pulls down on them, causing me to lift my ass up so she can get them down to my knees, along with my boxers. Shit, is she about to?
Oh,
yes, she is.

             
Miah maneuvers herself so that she is straddling my lap, her head resting on my shoulder so I can still see out the window. Its hard to keep my hands gripped on the wheel, but I manage, even when Miah lowers her wet, heated sex onto my hardened cock. Fuck if this doesn't feel good already. She slides up and down on my shaft, slowly and delicately, but the way we're positioned and the fact I have to concentrate on my speed and on the road, it feels fucking incredible. I don't think I've ever felt something so powerful before.

             
She continues to ride me that way until she starts coming, and I can no longer concentrate on the road. I whip the truck to the right and park it on the curb, then I quickly grab onto Miah's hips and slam her body up and down on my shaft, quickly coming deep inside her.

             
"Fuck," I say the second realization hits. "Fuck!" I yell louder. I don't want to scare Miah, or piss her off, but how can I be so fucking stupid? I know how, because I screwed Cassie for so long without a condom, that's how. "Please dear God, tell me you're on birth control."

             
She stops resting her slumped body against mine and faces me straight on. "I can't have kids, Pierce."

             
"Wait, what? Why not?"

             
She looks out the window and looks to be chewing on her inner lip. After a few second of a pause, she faces me again and smiles. "I just can't. I don't know why. I still take it, to regulate my periods, but I was told at seventeen I'd never be able to have kids. I never understood it, but I never questioned it much either. Its why I push so hard at my job, to fill a void or something along those lines." She pulls off me and sits down in the middle seat, grabbing at her underwear and pants to get them on.

             
After I get my put back on and I bring the truck back onto the road, I reach over and grab her hand. "I'm sorry to hear that, Miah." I'm not sure what else I can say in this situation.

             
She looks over at me, and I can sense her smiling. "Its okay, I've learned to live with it."

             
"You shouldn't have to though."

             
"Yeah, I know," she whispers.

             
We continue the drive to my parents’ house with the music lowered and no talking. Just as we're about to pull in the driveway, I look in Miah's direction. "None of your kinkery here." I wink as she bashfully grins.

             
Once we're inside my parent's house, I introduce Miah to my mother, who immediately asks a million and one questions. She still is reluctant on any girl, apparently, and I'm assuming its because the relationship I had with Cassie really did a number on me. In fact, my relationship before her did as well. I fucking suck at them!

             
My father doesn't seem to give two shits either way about my relationship- or non-relationship- with Miah. He is polite and curt with everything he says and does. It really doesn't bother me at all, and it doesn't seem to bother Miah. Evan is extremely nice and pleasing, but I think a lot of that has to do with his new found relationship with Miah's brother. Oh, how that still has an odd feeling, but I don't think I've seen my brother so happy, besides when he had children, so I'm still very happy for him.

             
We eat a dinner together, where everyone gets along and conversation flows fine. Nothing is asked of yesterday, and I don't think I could be more thankful right now. After dinner, Miah offers to help my mother with the dishes, which I think wins her many bonus points.

             
Evan and I end up outside on the back deck. Dad decided to turn in early, which really doesn't bother the rest of us. Ever since Evan came out of the closet, he has been a little distant. He didn't discourage him or disown him, or anything like that, but he hasn't exactly been the most supporting father. I think Evan understands it, I even do, too, but I can still feel the hurt radiating off my brother over the situation.

             
Either way, we ignore our issues and talk sports for a little while. Something I don't get to stay caught up on as much as I'd like anymore. Miah comes out when she is does with the dishes and sits in the chair next to me. The three of us get lost in a long conversation over nothing, and its a night I've needed in such a long ass time.

             
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I pull it out, I look down to see Cassie's name on the caller ID, as well as a notification indicating I had missed calls. I hadn't even noticed them. I stand up and excuse myself while answering the phone.

             
"Hello?"

             
"Hey, its me," her voice sounds so soft, and almost hurt.

             
"Is everything okay?" I ask, not liking the feeling I have in the pit of my stomach.

             
"Oh. Did you not receive a call before this? I thought I gave enough time."

             
I'm confused, I think. "What is going on Cassie? Is everything okay?" I repeat.

             
I can hear her small sigh and I instantly realize that she is calling about the paternity test. It actually hurts my heart. This feeling in the pit of my stomach, I already know its telling me that the baby is not mine. We're not together, and we're both moving on, so this shouldn't hurt this much? Should it? Why do I feel like I want to fucking slam my fist into something then? Damn this shit.

             
"The lab called earlier with the results. I thought they would have contacted you. That is why I was waiting. Anyways, do you want to hear it from me or from them?"

             
"Well, you're on the phone, you might as well say it." I already know the damn answer anyways, I want to say but don't.

             
She starts to mumble, and although her words are directed towards me, I think she is saying everything more to herself. "I knew I should have done this in person. We should talk. I know its weird, and I'm sorry it is, but shit. I wasn't expecting this, Pierce." Her voice grows louder as her thoughts are obviously a little cleared. "You're the biological father."

             
"Yeah, I- wait, what? What did you just say?"

             
"I said you're the father," she nearly whispers, as if she is ashamed.

             
Fuck, I'm... I'm thrilled! "I am?"

             
"Yeah," she answers reluctantly."

             
"Wow, I wasn't expecting that. I'm... shit... I'm speechless." After a second of nothing from either of us, I realize she could have taken that the wrong way. "Oh, wait, Cassie. I'm happy, I'm really happy. I promise you, I'll be the best damn father there is. I promise you, I'll take care of you both, no matter what."

             
There is another pause, and as I'm about to check the phone to make sure she is still there, she finally speaks softly again. I can hear the emotion in her voice, and I'm pretty sure she is crying. Crying because she is happy? Because she is upset? Confused? I'm really not sure, and I'm not sure I want to ask on the phone. I'd rather be there for her in person. Fuck, I wish I was there in person. "Thank you, Pierce. That means a lot."

             
"Can I see you soon?" I ask hesitantly.

             
She does this awkward laugh thing on the other line. "Yeah, Pierce, that sounds good. I need to go though."

             
"Okay, I'll talk to you later. Thanks Cassie, for everything."

             
The phone goes quiet and I just sit here and stare at it a few moments while I process this new information. I think all along I believed the baby was Avery's, so this is just fucking unbelievable. I'm so happy, and proud, and thrilled, and all these other things I didn't know I could be all at once, over something I didn't think would happen. Over something I didn't think I wanted to happen.