Chapter 21
Elowen's POV
I woke up slowly, my head pounding like someone had hit it with a hammer, but the fog in my mind started to lift. The room came into focus—Cassian's room, with its dark walls and that faint smell of cold ore and roses that always clung to him. I lay there, my body pressed against his chest, his arm heavy around me. My skin felt sticky, and memories of tonight hit me all at once. Sarah's drug, the heat, the confusion—I thought it was Casper. But now, staring at Cassian's sharp jaw and those ice-blue eyes watching me, reality crashed in. Shock hit hard, my stomach twisting. How could I have let this happen? Yet, deep down, a strange freedom bubbled up, like I'd finally broken free from something I didn't even know was holding me back.
Cassian shifted, his hand on my back. "You're awake," he said, his voice low and rough. He looked at me, his expression steady, not a hint of regret. "You were out of it just now. Sarah slipped you that drug—the one that makes you want things you can't control. But it's over now. Casper will deal with her. Don't worry."
I sat up a bit, the sheets slipping off me, and felt the cool air on my bare skin. "Drug?" I echoed, trying to make sense of it. "So that's what caused all that heat and confusion..." My mind raced as the pieces fell into place.
"That bitch," I muttered, trembling slightly as anger washed over me. I remembered her smirking at me earlier, and it made my blood boil. But then, I looked at Cassian, his fingers still on my arm, and something else stirred.
"I... I remember bits," I said, meeting his gaze. "I thought you were Casper. God, this is fucked up." My voice cracked, the weight of what happened settling on me.
Cassian's thumb traced circles on my skin, gentle in a way Drake never was. "I know it's a lot," he said quietly. "But you're safe now."
That word—safe—hit me differently than expected. With Drake, I'd walked on eggshells, always fearing his next outburst. Even one wrong word would earn me days of silent treatment or worse. But here, even in this mess, Cassian hadn't once tried to blame me or make me feel small.
Juno whispered in my head, her voice bold and clear: You knew it was him all along, deep down. Stop fighting it.
I closed my eyes, memories flashing behind them. The way Drake would grab my wrist too tight when I spoke to other men. How he'd dismiss my opinions in public. The constant feeling of being trapped. Then Cassian—fierce and wild, yes, but never cruel. Never making me feel worthless.
"I don't know what I'm feeling right now," I admitted, opening my eyes to find him studying me. "Part of me is horrified at this situation, but another part..."
I trailed off, noticing how my body was already responding to his nearness. That warmth spreading through me wasn't just leftover from the drug. It was something real, something I'd been denying.
"Another part?" he prompted, his gaze intense but patient.
I swallowed hard, finding courage I didn't know I had. "Another part of me feels... free. Like I can finally admit what I want without feeling guilty."
His brow furrowed slightly. "And what do you want, Elowen?"
The question hung between us, heavy with possibility. I shifted closer, my hand resting on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken beneath my palm.
"I think I want this," I whispered, surprising myself with my boldness. "Not because of any drug, but because it's been there all along."
He raised an eyebrow, his face serious. "You sure about that? You're clear now, Elowen. If you want to stop, say it." His words came out controlled, but I saw the fire in his gaze, that possessiveness he always carried.
I shook my head, my breath quickening. "No. I'm awake, and I know what I'm doing." I leaned in, pressing my lips to his, my tongue pushing in hard. My hands roamed down his body, feeling the lines of his abs, and lower, to the hardness between his legs. "I want this," I murmured against his mouth. With Drake, I never dared to be like this—he'd snap and make me pay. But Cassian made me feel strong, like I could own my desires, even the weird ones that made me blush.
He pulled back a little, his hands on my hips, holding me in place. "This is dangerous, Little Prey," he said, his tone a growl that sent shivers through me. "You might like it, but it could get messy."
I smirked, my fingers tracing his thigh, feeling the heat build. "Maybe I like messy," I shot back, my legs parting slightly as I sat on the bed. His gaze fell on my skin, and I saw him swallow hard, the motion straining his throat. That gave me courage. My hand slid up my smooth calf, all the way to that already-soaked place of longing. I parted my legs, fingers circling there, tearing away every last pretense, and said to him: “Come, Cassian. Taste me.”
He hesitated for a second, his expression hungry, then he knelt between my legs, his hands pushing my thighs apart. "Fuck, you're pushing it," he muttered, but his fingers slid up my skin, rough and demanding. He pressed me back on the bed, his breath hot on me.
I laughed softly, the sound mixing with a moan as his lips brushed my inner thigh. "Don't act like you don't want it," I said, arching my back as anticipation built within me. His teeth grazed my skin, just hard enough to sting, and I gasped, my hands gripping the sheets beneath me.
I tried to grumble, but the sound that came out was a whine. His tongue flicked out, tracing the spot he bit, and I arched up. "Oh, fuck, that feels good." His mouth moved higher, his forearms pressing against my thighs to hold them wide apart, his fingers teasing my folds.
I groaned, my hips lifting. "Don't stop," I pleaded, my voice raw. His tongue slid inside me, slow and deep, hitting spots that made me see stars. "Cassian, fuck, yes!"
He pulled back just enough to say, "You taste amazing, like honey." Then his lips were on me again, sucking and licking, his tongue circling my clit with just the right pressure. I twisted under him, my hands in his hair, pulling him closer.
"Harder," I demanded, my body on fire. He obliged, his mouth working faster, his fingers joining in, sliding in and out. "Oh God, don't tease me!" I cried, my back arching off the bed.
He chuckled against me, the vibration making me shudder. "Beg for it, then." His words pushed me over the edge, and I felt myself getting wetter, my body clenching around his tongue.
Just as I was about to lose it, he stopped, his head snapping up. His attention went distant, like he was listening to something I couldn't hear. "Shit, Casper's mind-linking me," he said, his voice tense.
I growled, frustration hitting me hard. "Not now," I snapped, grabbing his arm. "Tell him to wait. Don't you dare stop now." I pulled him back down, my legs wrapping around his shoulders. "I said I want this, and I mean it."
He looked at me, his eyes dark with want, but he nodded. "Fine, but he's on his way." His lips found me again, his hands holding me tight as he dove back in, his tongue thrusting deeper.