Authors: Paige Cameron
“Exactly. There is a slight one if you’re professionally trained. But very minute. The first is our original formula. The second is the ingredients mixed with your blood.”
“How can that be possible?”
“This is going to shock you. Do you remember anything about your father?”
“A little. I was six when he died. He’d gone on a trip. Mother said he had an accident. He was killed in a plane crash.
“I loved him. He was tall, broad, and jolly. He used to throw me into the air and catch me. I knew he’d never drop me. He and Mom were happy together. She only worried when he left on business trips.”
“I’ve talked with Rae. We believe he was a descendent of the third tribe. He probably never knew, or if he did, he chose not to reveal his secret, not even to your mother.” Ellen was watching Cassie’s response closely.
“You’ve talked with her?”
“I did.”
Cassie looked back into the microscope. She studied the tiny particles circulating around. “It’s a lot to absorb.”
“Go home and talk with your mother. Then I’d like you to have a healthy meal later today and return within four hours of eating. Your mother and you are AB positive. I want to take the same amount of blood that you’d donate to a blood bank, and then I’ll separate the plasma from it.
“If the first batch works as well as the small amount of whole blood we tested, then you can donate more frequently because I’ll return your red cells to you.”
“How often will Mom need the treatments, if the ones she’s taking now fail?”
“I’d say every two weeks, but in her weakened state and not knowing the reaction, we’re going to start every four weeks.”
“Great. I’ll talk to Mom and tell her that I’m starting the donations today. That way we’ll be ahead of when she needs it. How long can you keep the plasma?
“We can freeze it for up to a year.”
Her head spinning, Cassie walked out of the ranch house and straight into Nick.
“Hi.” Cassie wasn’t sure what else to say.
“I’d ask how you’re doing, but I heard from Lang about the work he’s doing on the building.”
“Yes, as usual he’s doing a great job. The landlord should be happy. The place will be in better shape than when I rented it.”
“Yeah, well, good to see you.”
Cassie saw the flash of hurt in his eyes before he walked around her and into the house. As she drove to her mom’s, it dawned on her what she’d done. After saying she could take care of herself and sending Nick away, she accepted Lang’s help. She had hurt him. He probably thought she cared for Lang and not him. Which wasn’t true. She loved them both in different ways.
Loved? She’d never really let herself acknowledge how deep her feelings went for them. Now what could she do? Had she lost Nick with her foolishness? She drove into the drive at her mom’s home. Later, she had to find a way to make things right with Nick.
The day went quickly. Her mother’s spirits were up since she’d talked with Ellen. Her treatments in the city were still not doing as well as the doctor wanted. Ralph had been driving her to the appointments since the fire, and had talked with the doctor. If there was no significant improvement after she finished this course of treatments in two weeks, then they’d stop them.
Cassie went back to the shop and asked Cindy to cover for her for the rest of the day. Just as she was leaving to go down the street to a small restaurant she liked, Lang came in the door.
“You’re early,” Cassie said.
“I thought I’d take you out to eat.”
“You heard about the possible new treatment for Mom?”
He nodded. “Mitch keeps me abreast of everything going on around the ranch. I happened to go by the ranch house, not long after you’d left. I ran into him and Ellen talking.”
“I was going to Sally’s to eat the healthy meal Ellen said I had to have before donating.”
“Sally’s has good food.” He held the door open for her. “Shall we?”
“Thanks. I get tired of eating alone. And there is something I wanted to talk about with you.”
They strolled along the sidewalk past the drugstore, a jewelry shop, and a small clothing store before getting to Sally’s. Lang didn’t talk. He was just a comforting presence at her side.
“Hello, Cassie and Lang.” Sally, a tall, thin blonde greeted them at the door. “Not often I see you in town, Lang.” She gave him a quick glance up and down. He’d drawn those looks ten years ago and obviously still did.
Sally led them to a booth. “Here are your menus. Coffee for you, Lang?”
“Yes, and iced tea for Cassie.” He glanced her way, and she nodded yes.
“Be right back for your order.”
He sat back and looked across at Cassie. “How do you feel about the work Ellen has done?”
“Great, especially since Mom is probably going to need the new medication. Did Mitch tell you about my real dad?”
“Yes, we talked privately. You don’t need to worry that everyone will be told.”
“I wasn’t. It was a shock. I haven’t had time to really think about the possibility that Ellen suggested.”
Sally interrupted with the coffee and tea. She took their orders and hurried off.
“Does the thought that you might have a kinship to us bother you?” Lang stirred the sugar into his coffee while he waited for her answer.
“I’m not extra strong, or talented in any unusual way like you all are. It’s hard to believe that’s possible. And then look how uncomfortable I always was at the ranch. I didn’t feel I fit in.”
“Maybe that was the reason.”
Confused by his statement, Cassie asked, “What do you mean?”
“Perhaps something inside you recognized our kinship. You didn’t understand, and it made you unsettled. Consequently, you put distance between you and the place that evoked those feelings the most.”
Cassie was surprised both by such a long speech from Lang and by what he said. She thought about the time she came to the ranch and those years before she ran off.
“The reaction was like a hum,” she muttered partly to herself, but loud enough for him to hear. He didn’t respond, just drank his coffee and waited patiently.
“When I got to be a teenager, it got worse. I don’t know if I can describe it. A yearning, a questioning—” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I blamed my confusion and feelings on the fact that you all were different from me. I didn’t fit in. I’d noticed the extra strength, how well most of you could see better, further than me. And other small incidents that pointed out our differences. I told myself I was inferior.”
“If you’d been older, like Sara, I believe you’d have responded differently.”
“Perhaps, or maybe I would have been a pain either way.” She smiled at Lang, and he laughed.
“Maybe.”
Sally brought their food, and they ate in silence. But it was a comfortable quiet that was soothing to Cassie.
“I never eat this much. I think that’s all I can get down.” Cassie pushed her plate to the side. “I ran into Nick today when I was walking out of the ranch house.”
Lang glanced across at her and at her plate. “You ate enough.” He didn’t comment on her other statement.
“Nick was polite, but distant. I hurt him, didn’t I?”
“Yes.” Lang took a sip of his coffee.
“Well, say something.”
“What do you want me to say, Cassie?”
“Tell me how to make it right.”
“I can’t do that. You and Nick have to find your own way.” He continued to finish his meal.
“Since I let you help me, he probably thinks I care for you and not him. It isn’t true. For some reason when I’m with you I’m calmer. With Nick it’s more teasing, laughing. I don’t know how to describe the difference. I need both, but right now I need your solidness, your strength more.”
Lang put down his fork and sat his plate to the side. “I’m not always calming. I wasn’t at the new house the other day.”
“I know.”
“Nick has strength you can depend on, too.” Lang shrugged. “He just offers it in a more demanding way.”
Cassie grinned. “Yes, he does.”
“You two have to work that out.”
“I’m not sure he wants to.”
“Let’s go back to your place,” Lang said. He motioned to Sally, and she brought their check.
After paying, he and Cassie walked back to her shop and went up the back stairs to her apartment. Cassie led the way inside and opened her living room windows to let in some fresh air.
“Do you want some tea? I have several different specialties of Nanna’s.”
Lang stepped into her space. “The only thing in this apartment that I want, is you.”
A ripple of excitement shivered over her. She stared into his gray eyes and saw the need.
Large, callused hands cupped her face. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? When I look at you, I ache to be inside your hot, sweet pussy.” He kissed her lightly on the mouth.
His words sent heat flowing to all the parts of her body. She stood on her toes and leaned into him. Her arms curled around his neck.
“How do you think I’ve felt watching you work? Your hands”—she stepped back, took hold of them, and kissed each palm—“do beautiful work. I’ve wanted those hands on me.”
Lang wrapped his arms around her body and stood holding her tight. “This isn’t a game, Cassie. I love you, and so does Nick. We want you for our wife.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I know. I love you, too, but I can’t commit to a relationship at this time. Not yet. There’s something I have to be sure is taken care of first.”
He stepped back and held her shoulders. “Let us help.”
“Let me try to deal with it first. If it gets too hard, I’ll come to you two.”
He wasn’t pleased. He, like Nick, wanted to take over, but he nodded. “All right, if you promise to call us when needed.”
“Deal.” She grinned at him. “Why are we talking?”
“I have no idea.” He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. When he let her down, her body slid against his hard frame, and the desire that almost constantly flickered when he or Nick were around grew into a roaring fire as Lang slowly unbuttoned her blouse and removed the rest of her clothes.
Lang stood back and looked at her. “You are the only woman I’ve ever really wanted. I always knew it was either you or no one.”
Cassie reached up and unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re way overdressed, cowboy, if you want to make love to me.”
“Yes, Madam. That’s exactly what I plan to do.” He stood patiently as she unfastened his silver belt buckle and slid his jeans and shorts down his long legs. She stopped for a second and touched his large cock. Her hand wrapped around the velvety hardness, and her tongue licked the salty drop from the top of his dick.
She heard his indrawn breath. His fingers grasped her head gently. A thrill built inside her as she took him in her mouth and wrapped her tongue all around his wide girth. His big body shuddered, encouraging her to cup his sac and increase her movements. She sucked on his cock and gently massaged his balls.
“Darlin’.” His raspy voice had her glancing up at him. His face muscles were held taut, his jaw tight. “I love what you’re doing, but I want to be in your tight pussy when I come. So you’d better let me take off my boots and get rid of these pants.”