Taryn twirled Cassie’s hair in her fingers, contentment settling deep in her soul. “I’m pretty sure I haven’t had that many orgasms in my life, let alone in a few hours.”
Cassie laughed lightly, and her breath cooled Taryn’s nipples, still wet from Cassie’s attention.
“Yay for me,” Cassie said, her touch gentle as she stroked Taryn’s ribs.
She kissed the top of Cassie’s head. “Yay forme. I didn’t think I was built to have pleasure like that.”
“Maybe your body has just been saving them up for me.”
“And I was already wishing I’d met you sooner.” Taryn traced slow patterns on Cassie’s naked back, feeling a peace so solid and profound, it was almost overwhelming. “I think we should lock the door and stay like this forever.”
Cassie pushed up and readjusted herself to lay her head on Taryn’s stomach. “Won’t that go against your policy of not staying in one place too long?”
She shrugged then nodded. “I guess, but being with you has made this long stay in Vegas bearable.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes. “Bearable but not viable?”
Taryn gave a small smile. “You already know me too well.”
“I don’t think so, but I’m going to enjoy getting to that stage.”
Taryn’s heart expanded in her chest with the mere concept of longevity Cassie’s words implied. “I hope so. About how that might work…” She cupped Cassie’s breasts and lazily ran her thumb over Cassie’s nipple.
Cassie swatted Taryn’s hand away. “There’s no way I can have a serious conversation with you if you’re doing that.”
She returned her hand and continued to play. “Really? Why not?”
Cassie shuddered and clasped her hand over Taryn’s. “Because of the insane effect you have on my body. I can’t concentrate on actual words when you’re touching me that way.”
Taryn grinned, feeling rather smug, but her smile faded when she thought about the obstacles they had to overcome to truly be together.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked. “Why do you suddenly look sad?”
She stilled her hand. “I’m not sad. I just… We’ve got a lot to talk about, and I don’t know what the outcome will be.”
Cassie took Taryn’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “We’re going to work it out. We have to.” She pressed her hand over Taryn’s heart. “Remember, the beats that are left in here are mine, and I’m not letting them go. So let’s figure out our future together.”
“Okay. Well, I kind of have an idea that I want to run past you, but I need to get it all out before you respond.” Taryn glanced out the window. Maybe if she saw a shooting star, she could wish that their future together was simple. “Would that be okay?”
Cassie smiled widely. “For you? I can do that.”
“Cool. So… I haven’t really mentioned it, but I’ve been having a mini mid-life crisis. I haven’t been happy—no, scratch that. I’m happy with the people around me. I just haven’t been fulfilled with the job itself. Traveling is somehow in my blood, even though my family has lived in Florida for four generations. I love being on the move and not having roots feels good; it feels natural to me. But I don’t get the same rush from the shows that I used to get. And even this new development and business partnership with Andi hasn’t solved this feeling of being…lost. I was excited about it initially, but that’s worn off, and I’m still left bouncing around like a pinball in a never-ending game.”
Taryn focused her gaze on Cassie, and she nodded but said nothing. “Spending so much time with you has saved me from disappearing into a total funk, and you also indirectly introduced me to something that might just be the thing I’m supposed to be doing with my life.”
Cassie pressed her lips together, clearly struggling not to respond or ask a question.
“It started when you took me to the free clinic and introduced me to Louise and Sara, and also when you asked if I’d thought of doing something other than plastic surgery with my medical degree.” She shook her head. “I hadn’t, which was so short-sighted and narrow-minded of me. I’d wanted so badly to get away from my family and what they thought I should be doing with my life that I associated medicine with something undesirable and superficial. But after helping Louise and seeing the huge difference something relatively small could make, I got to wondering what a difference I could make if I actually went back to medicine.”
Cassie’s eyebrows arched so high, Taryn thought they might touch her hairline. She suppressed a laugh, and though it was tempting to put Cassie out of her misery and allow her to speak, it was too funny to see her struggle with staying quiet.
“I think I want to get my license renewed, but I don’t want to work in a system where profits are prioritized over people. Obviously you’ve heard about Doctors Without Borders. My crazy idea and a solution for us to have a real life together is for us to apply to join them. I’ve got research to do; I don’t know how long it will take to get my license back. But we could both practice medicine. We could be together. And I wouldn’t be terrifying you daily…” Taryn ran her fingers through Cassie’s soft hair, delaying the inevitable onslaught of questions. “I know you’ve got your mom and Rachel to think about. And there’s your job and the work at the free clinic. But I’m hoping we can work around all that somehow, so we can be together—properly together. What do you think?”
Cassie didn’t speak for a long moment, and Taryn dropped her head back into the pillow. Of course it wasn’t a solution. Asking Cassie to leave everything and everyone she knew behind was too great a request, even for love.
“My mom isn’t the problem,” Cassie said finally.
Taryn listened as Cassie told her that she’d cut her mom from her life. She dared to let her hope grow as it sounded like Cassie’s decisions and actions were final. Her mom’s parting shot made Taryn nauseous. How could a mother say something so vitriolic to her own flesh and blood? Her parents were no role models, but she was grateful they’d never said anything like that. Cassie’s breakout of Buster, though, made her laugh. “So that’s how Andi ended up with your mom’s dog? I thought you’d convinced your mom to give him up; I would never have pegged you as dog-napper.”
