"Owen, whatever you're thinking, cut it out. Those fantasies are way out of line." Easton shot Owen a look that seemed to pierce right through him.
Owen's face went from red to ghostly pale. "How do you know they're just fantasies?"
"Stay away from Cassidy. She's not someone you can mess with." Easton gave him a once-over and snorted. "Behind that innocent face, she's got the heart of a snake. She's way too much for an 18-year-old like you to handle."
Easton's harsh words about Cassidy made Owen bristle. He frowned and shot back, "Do you even know her? What gives you the right to say that? To me, she's kind and gentle!"
Easton just sneered, knowing Owen wouldn't listen no matter what. "Go ahead, try your luck."
As he watched Owen's reaction, Easton realized he was probably overthinking it. Owen was just a kid. No way Cassidy would be interested in him.
After Easton left, Owen stormed back to his room, still fuming. In the shower, he couldn't stop thinking about Cassidy in that dress this morning and how she had just applied medicine to him.
Her scent seemed to linger. He closed his eyes, lost in the memory, his hand drifting downward. Before he knew it, his body responded.
"Cassidy," he whispered, stroking himself.
It wasn't until he came that he snapped out of it. Blushing, he quickly washed his hands, trying to erase any trace of what he'd done.
Owen thought it was a one-time thing, but that night, he dreamed of Cassidy.
In the dream, she wore that same black dress, gently applying medicine to him. He blushed, inhaling her scent.
When she offered to help him break off the engagement, he grabbed her hand, just like in real life. But in the dream, he didn't pull away, and Cassidy didn't say she only saw him as a brother.
Her hand moved lower, pressing against his erection through his pants.
The moment she touched him, his arousal intensified. Cassidy unzipped his pants, pulled down his underwear, and freed his erection.
She pushed him onto the sofa, lifting her dress to reveal lace panties already soaked. Under his gaze, she slowly removed them, the liquid from her arousal forming long threads. Owen swallowed hard, wanting to taste her.
Cassidy pressed one hand on his shoulder, biting the hem of her dress, while the other hand rubbed her clit, soft moans escaping her lips. Watching her pleasure herself increased his desire.
When more liquid flowed from her, she took his erection and carefully lowered herself onto it. Seeing her like that, he couldn't hold back. He grabbed her waist and thrust up into her.
As he filled her, they both moaned. Her moans were so intoxicating that he kept thrusting, driven by the need to hear more.
After Cassidy's body trembled in orgasm, Owen held her and they went at it in all sorts of positions until the whole sofa was a mess and Cassidy's voice was hoarse.
Time seemed to blur as they continued, but eventually, Owen woke up from his dream.
As he came to, the memories of the dream hit him, and he froze. He couldn't believe it and glanced at his bedsheet.
The stains on the sheet were a stark reminder that he had indeed dreamed of making love with Cassidy.
Owen felt a mix of shyness and devastation as he realized he had feelings for Cassidy, his stepmother, and dreaded facing her after such a vivid and inappropriate dream.
He wished he could just forget the whole thing, but it was too vivid to erase. Even thinking about it made him react again.
Owen desperately hoped to avoid Cassidy, fearing the inevitable awkwardness. But, as fate would have it, the more he dreaded it, the more likely it seemed to happen.
Just as he was about to head downstairs, he saw Cassidy in the living room, looking up at him like she wanted to say hi.
Owen felt his face flush with heat, turning his cheeks bright red. He quickly retreated to his room and slammed the door shut.
The door banged so loudly that Cassidy heard it clearly from the living room. She blinked in confusion, not sure what had just happened.
Cassidy could tell Owen was avoiding her, but she didn't press the issue.
By late afternoon, the butler informed her that Rachel had come to visit with Scarlett. Cassidy knew they were here to smooth things over from the party and went out to greet them.
They exchanged pleasantries, and Cassidy led them into the living room.
"Mrs. Cooper, I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday. I didn't discipline my daughter properly. I've already talked to Scarlett, and today I brought her to apologize to you."
Cassidy smiled and accepted Rachel's apology. "I think Miss Moore might not have meant any harm. As long as she sincerely apologizes, I'll let it go."
Rachel nudged Scarlett, urging her to apologize, but Scarlett, clearly annoyed and unwilling, made it obvious she had been forced to come.
"Sorry," she muttered, staring at the ground with a bad attitude.
Scarlett's attitude irked Cassidy, but she kept her cool. She smiled at Rachel. "Miss Moore seems very reluctant to apologize. It seems she doesn't think she did anything wrong. Is it really that hard for Miss Moore to apologize to someone like me?"
Cassidy then turned her smile to Scarlett, but Scarlett perceived it as a challenge. "What do you want? I already apologized to someone like you, a nobody, and you still refuse? What right do you have to refuse?"
Cassidy looked at the frantic Scarlett, her tone calm but clearly angry. "So you didn't come to apologize today. If you don't want to apologize, then please leave."
Rachel didn't expect her daughter to cause trouble even while apologizing, but Cassidy's tone also rubbed her the wrong way.
Even though Cassidy was the head of the Cooper family, she was new to this social circle. She shouldn't be talking to Rachel like that.
Rachel glared at Scarlett, signaling her to shut up, then turned to Cassidy. "Mrs. Cooper, Scarlett is still young. Please don't hold a grudge against a child."
Cassidy smiled. "Even a five-year-old knows to apologize when they do something wrong. Does Miss Moore not have the manners of a five-year-old?"