Chapter 22:

Chapter 22:
“I am tempted to run my fingers through his hair or along his slender arm.”-Cassidy

Cassidy

“You have been friends for ten years, best friends, even roommates and you are together, yet you have yet to be intimate?” Uncle Morgan asks in a whisper, as Oren and Remington take cold showers to counteract the effect of the sauna. 

“You know my reputation,” I say. “I want it to be special. He’s special, and I only realized my true feelings recently.”

It’s all true, except I doubt I’ll ever get to be truly intimate with Remington, no matter how much I love him. 

“I can tell how special Remi is to you,” he says and pats me on the back. “You are really a lovely couple and I am so happy for you, but have neither of you noticed signs of being fated to one another?”

I think long and hard, then groan, “Remi doesn’t have his wolf yet. I think parts of him are repressed. I knew instantly that we would be great friends, but I can’t say there have been any signs. My wolf is naturally protective of him because we care about him and he is so delicate.”

“I don’t think he is as delicate as you believe he is,” Morgan says.

I shrug and pull on the spa lounge pants and robe. To me, Remi will always be someone I protect whether he is delicate or not. 



The rest of the spa day is relatively uneventful, if you don’t count the adorable blush Remi gets over us getting couples massages and being naked with just a towel over his junk and ass while getting worked on. 

I have an idea of where I want to bring Remi tomorrow, after we help set up some of the tents for the harvest carnival that starts in two days. I have never gotten to show him any of my favorite spots in the woods. Tomorrow afternoon is supposed to be warmer than usual for this time of year and I would love to bring him to my favorite spot for a private swim. Few people know about it outside of my family and even fewer go there. It is technically on our property even though it is in the woods. Our family property goes pretty deep into the forest. 

When we get home, we eat dinner in the formal dining room since it is the only room large enough for the entire family. Then, I pull Remi into my favorite movie watching room, the family room down in the basement, where we have a perfect longer and pillows and blankets for creating a fort or snuggling. Tonight, it’s all about the snuggle! 

I’m happy when Remi uses my pecs as pillows and curls up on me. I could spend every night for all eternity like this. I miss our regular movie nights. When we were roommates we did these at least once a week, more when we were stressed out, 

I am tempted to run my fingers through his hair or along his slender arm. But I don’t dare push too far, especially after earlier.

I honestly didn’t know the beautiful curly, swirling lines were sexual organs and if it were not for the embarrassment and horror on Remi’s face, I would have kept going just to hear his beautiful voice moan my name in an even more pleasured way. But he doesn’t want me in that way and I respect that. I will have to do better to refrain from crossing that line, because I love him and value what we do have, which is friendship.

“Cass, I know you enjoy running your hands through my hair almost as much as you enjoy me running my hands through yours. You don’t have to be afraid to touch me, my furls aren’t exposed until it’s hot and humid,” Remi says, tilting his face up to look at me.

“It might be too personal and feel free not to answer, but during sex, things can get hot and sweaty, do the furls show up then?” I ask softly.

“So far, no. I haven’t had them show up during sex, but I take precautions…I keep the room or my apartment cool and there usually isn’t enough heat and sweat to trigger anything,” he replies equally softly. 

“There is a lot I don’t know about you, even after years of friendship and saving you from that one super abusive guy…” I sigh.

I vaguely hear Remi reply, “just about my reproductive system and sexual practices which you haven’t needed to know.”

Remington’s voice is sleepy and my fingers are idly running through his thick, black hair while my mind wanders back to that day. 

Remi had been dating one of my fellow football players. I was never as into the sport as some of the guys. I enjoy the athleticism, but I don’t enjoy the posturing and how serious people are in their competitive spirit. The other teams are not our enemies, they are just other guys who play the same game and also want to win…it’s a game, not a damned war! 

This guy was the team captain, only he didn’t want anyone to know he is gay and he was a controlling dick. I didn’t know how controlling until I came home from classes early because my afternoon class was canceled. It was a day that Remi had all early classes. When Remi wasn’t in the common area of the house, I knocked on his door. His reply was whimpered. I didn’t like that and liked it even less when I heard a quick movement and heard a thump.

“Remi, are you okay?” I called through the door.

I heard his sniffle before he uttered a choked out, yeah, fine. Leave me alone, Cass.”

He didn’t sound like himself.

Something was wrong then I heard the whispered growl, “ make him go away, bitch!” 

I ripped the door open and found Remi on the floor, naked except for a sheet tangled around his delicate body with bruises fading from his arms and cheek. His fae healing would have them gone in another hour, but fear and sadness filled his pretty green eyes and his lower lip quivered even as the naked quarterback rushed me in an attempt to overpower me. In that moment he became my enemy and remained that way to this day. 

I dodged him and quickly took control, ripping him from Remington’s bedroom and tossing him out the front door bare assed, then tossing his pants and bag at him. 

I heard later that he had to explain to his live-in girlfriend, whom he had told Remi was his cousin, why his jersey and sneakers were missing and made up some ridiculous story.

Remi got dressed and cried against my chest while we watched a marathon of romantic comedy movies and snuggled. If it weren’t for how hurt and embarrassed Remi had been, it would have been the most wonderful night. 

I’ll rescue him from a million assholes if I have to, but I sure hope I don’t. Remington deserves so much better than that.

We must have both drifted off because a giggle awakens me as Finegan, Jasper and Lola stand in the doorway and Jasper snaps a photo. 

Teenagers!

I glare at them.

“You are so cute together, big cousin. Don’t be like that,” Lola says. “I wish I had someone as well matched to me as you have!” 

I carefully stand, pulling Remington into my arms and carrying him up to our room, the movie long forgotten and him fast asleep. 

He squirms and nestles further against me and I pause to hold my breath.

I must be hearing things because I swear I hear Remington’s sleeping voice mumble, “I love you, Cassidy.” Under his breath.

I had to have heard that wrong!