#sub!cassian

your teeth bite into your cheek for a moment before you position yourself behind him. planting a few slow kisses to his neck, he chuckles, leaning into you.

"ohhhh, i see. you want something," he remarks, smirking.

you hum thoughtfully, placing a few more kisses before responding.

"maybe. i have a proposal," you start. "you're captain, yes?"

"yeah, your point?" he asks.

"that means you're good at taking orders, right?" you say, hands wandering over his torso.

"i'd say so," he agrees. "what're you getting at?" he abandons the chopping and turns to face you.

"i was thinking we could try something... how about you obey my orders tonight?" you propose.

“oh yeah? and what would you do to me, hmm?” he challenges, chin tilting up in a cocky manner.

you rise to the question with ease, hand wrapping around his neck gently. his pulse quickens under your fingers.

“mmmm, whatever i want,” you purr.

cassian's pupils dilate for a fraction of a second and it boosts your ego enough to continue.

"it wouldn't be anything too crazy, unless you want it to be. it's something i've been thinking about for a while. but if you don't feel comfortable, i understand. just think about it may-"

he cuts you off before you can finish. "i want to. i want to try it," he murmurs. taking your hand, he kisses the inside of your palm gently. "please."

the desperateness in his tone almost makes you snap, but you compose yourself.

"are you sure? i don't want you to feel pressured, my love. i want us both to have fun," you say, searching his eyes. he takes a breath before responding.

"i trust you, y/n," he states firmly. "you know i do. and i know you wouldn't break that trust." he squeezes your hand as if to cement the fact you both know. he trusts you. your heart thumps harder at his honesty.

"ok. thank you. really," you say earnestly. giddiness and nerves fill you, but you push on. "you know the traffic light system? red for stop, yellow to slow down, green to keep going?"

he nods.

"great. ok. umm..." you trail off, hands fidgeting at your sides. "i told you i think about this a lot, but know that i'm about to do it, i'm a little nervous."

cassian smiles softly. "don't be. order away." it's that charm, that self-assuredness that makes you want to tear him apart. straightening your spine, you look at him fiercely.

"kiss me," you order him. for a moment, you wonder if this was a mistake, that he'll laugh. but cassian is all too keen to grab your waist and pull you into him, kissing you roughly. your hands find his hair and yank hard, earning a moan from him.

"did i say anything about touching?" you ask, eyes hard. your hands grip his locks and pull his head back. "i don't think i did."

despite the pain, cassian feels his dick twitch. his hands drop from your body in a flash.

"n-no, no you didn't. i'm sorry," he gasps. no movement to try and escape, you note. an evil grin creeps up your face.

"awww, you're sorry?" you coo in faux-concern. "i have a way you can make it up to me."

his eyes meet yours hopefully and you see tears welling up. it makes your cunt drool.

"those pretty tears won't make me stop, you know," you giggle, nipping his neck. a dazed look has painted over him. you lick his neck to snap him back to reality. "color?"

"green, green... maker, y/n," cass murmurs. the grip on his hair softens and you place a kiss to the corner of his lips. there’s a beat before you decide what you want to do next.

“bedroom, cmon,” you say, taking his hand in yours and walking over.

“i’m liking this new side,” cassian chuckles, following you eagerly to your shared sanctuary.

the two of you stand in the middle of the room, lights dimmed low. he looks at you for an order, but you don't give him one just yet. instead, you circle him slowly, taking him in.

the stubble dotting his face, his strong, commanding nose, there were a myriad of things about him you adored. and not only those things. you loved his attentiveness, his unwavering devotion to you and the rebellion, and that despite everything, he was hopeful. you couldn't ask for a better partner.

a slow, possessive hand trails down his clothed chest. cassian stiffens, wanting to touch you, to guide your hand where he really needs you. but he just opts to take a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"take everything off and sit," you say, tugging at the hem of his shirt. cassian obeys, removing everything. slowly. the sight of his bare chest makes you want to swoon, the hair there arranged in a way that makes you want to bury your head in it. his cock is perfectly shaped, leaning a bit to the side with a soft plum coloring the tip. and the best part? he was leaking.

"giving me a show?" you smile, appreciating the view. the tips of his ears turn red, a slight blush dusts his cheeks. "don't be shy, baby. i like seeing what's mine."

at this, cassian whines. "what's yours, huh? fuck, y/n. you're good at this."

"glad you think so, sweetheart, but we've barely started," you smirk.

cassian sits on the edge of the bed. the next move you make surprises him. sinking to your knees, you make yourself comfortable between his legs, lips inches away from his cock.

"w-what are you doing?" he asks, fighting with myself not to buck towards you.

"what's it look like? m'gonna suck you off. duh," you say, rolling your eyes playfully. "and you're gonna sit there and take it, ok? no moving."

you lean down to lick up and down his shaft teasingly, and damn it, he can't help himself. cassian bucks towards you just a little and immediately regrets it. with a sigh, you pull back.

"wait, no, no-" he begins to protest. a pointed look from you stops him from going further.

playing pretend, you sigh in "disappointment". a few choice kisses inch further and further to his inner thighs, earning trembling breaths from cassian and a smile from you.

"shame, that was supposed to be easy. 'no moving', i thought, 'he should be able to do that, right?'" you tut. "but you just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

"how could i have kept still? your mouth just felt so good, i couldn't not move!" he grumbled.

"i know, baby, i know. but you wanna be good for me, right? make me proud? i'll reward you, promise," you wink up at him. he sighs, tilting his head back for a moment. your hand rests on his thigh gently.

"color?"

"green... damn it."

"that's what i thought."

with that, your lips greet him in one fell swoop, all the way to the base. the gasp that emits from cassian makes you giggle again, the vibrations fueling his pleasure. drool spills from your mouth as you take him in and out, in and out, in and- then you stop. take a moment to breathe. you take your time kissing his balls, seeing how they twitch with every act.

long lashed eyes flick up to look at him. his hair is a bit messy, knuckles white from gripping the sheets. the captain that you know and love is struggling to keep his composure all because of you. he's wrapped around your finger, mind, soul, and especially body.

the more and more you take him in your mouth, the more that famous composure of his breaks down. he's whining, moaning, groaning, all the prettiest noises you ever did hear escaped from his lips. you groan at the sight of him, making him twitch in your mouth.

"m'gonna cum! i wanna move so bad, shit-" he looks down at you teary eyed.

you just bat your lashes at him, continuing until he has no other choice but to unravel with a strangled cry. the taste of him is a little tangy, nothing unpleasant. it's no problem for you to swallow him down greedily and keep going.

"ungh! oh my god, wha- fffuuuckk!" cassian can't help but buck into you now, so with quick hands, you pin his hips down and abuse his sensitive head, swirling your tongue deliriously around him. and it's all just so much for him, the poor thing. he's whining, begging, crying for you to stop. but no colors are uttered, so you continue.

his mind is melting. the mixture of pleasure and pain is addictive and soon enough, he feels that coil in his stomach tighten up again. the whines and pleads grow louder and louder as he cums again. you keep licking his head and he decides he can’t take it anymore.

"yellow! please, please, hah-," he breathes out. you hum around him one more time before detaching yourself. a long, glinting trail of saliva connects the two you for a moment, a reminder of the sinful act just seconds before. you rest your head on cassian's thigh, looking up at him.

"thank you for honesty, baby,” you coo. “didn’t think you’d enjoy it so much. you only said ‘yellow’ after you came.”

tears escape his avoidant eyes but he can’t help but look at you anyway. “and what about it?” he sniffles, a little embarrassed.

your eyes narrow. “don't be smart with me now, especially after you just cried like a slut."

he chuckles at that. "fine, fine. but wow, you really were thinking about this a lot, huh?" he teases.

and now it's your turn to blush. "i mean, yeah. s'not my fault you look so submissive and breedable," you confess.

"wait, what?!" he balks. you laugh, rising to kiss him slowly.

"we can try that next round," you suggest, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. his eyes widen.

"next round?"

a gentle shove lays him flat on the bed. you look down at him, smirking.

"you thought i was done?"

Unabashed sounds fall from Cassian’s lips, his voice rough and edged with his incoming orgasm. Moans and pants and filthy fucking words that have the ache between your legs becoming a full on desperate throb for any sort of friction. 

Being like this, the source of his pleasure, even when he’s guiding you with a hand at your nape…it makes you feel…powerful. And you want more of that feeling; knowing that you can make Cassian like this, a puddle for your mouth, your touch, your sounds.

You want to see how much you can get away with.

Planting your hands to the cutting muscles of his hips, you work yourself free. Cassian can feel your resistance, slowing, his fingers slipping from your hair as you sit up. His brows are tight with worry, and he ignores the heaving of his chest, the pleasure wracking his bones to make sure you’re okay.

But your eyes are bright, alive and not filled with tears or discomfort. You’re wiping saliva from your face with the back of your hand, and Cassian’s confused until he’s not, when you climb on top of him and sit on his cock with a determination only his girl could have.

“I’m going to ride you, baby,” you tell him, rubbing your wet cunt across his already sopping cock. He grunts at the feeling but his words catch in his throat because you’re not waiting for a response, sinking down onto him and rolling your hips on the way down. It’s a move you’ve never done before, coming up with it only now in the confidence that’s coursing through your blood. It makes Cassian bare his throat to you a little, and fuck do you like that. “But you’re not allowed to cum.”

“Is that so?” he asks, voice filled with curiosity and nonchalance. He lifts his hands, settling them behind his head as he watches you hungrily. “And why is that?”

“Because I’m in charge,” you answer, and the self-assurance in your tone has him agreeing with pleasure.

“Alright, sweetheart. Show me what you’ve got.”

So you do. You pull out all of the stops, using every trick that you have and know he loves. You even use words, trying something new, speaking to him with the arrogance that he does you when he’s fucking you within an inch of your life. 

Cassian’s cockiness turns quickly, hands falling from his head to touch, but only where you’ll allow. He grumbles, frustrated, but obeys. You flood the bond with praise in response, and Cassian nearly melts.

As much as he tries to keep himself in check, pretend that you’re not affecting him as much as you are, you know that he’s getting close.

“How are you doing down there, baby?” you ask, trying to keep the tease from your voice. You can feel the way he’s trying to hold himself back, trying to think of anything besides what your cunt is doing to his cock, your words to his mind, and your fingers to his body.

“I’m great,” Cassian answers, but it’s strained. You bite back a wolfish grin. If he wants to try and pretend, you’ll make his impending orgasm worse.

“Is that so?” You repeat his words from earlier and he nods. “You can pretend all you want, baby, but I know,” you drift off, trailing your fingers up the expanse of his massive chest. It jerks with a heavy breath as you roll your hips once more in a slow, leisurely swirl. Tapping right where his heart lies, you lean in close, fluttering your lashes just how he likes, lips a hair's breadth away from his gasping ones. “That if I bounce on your cock only a few more times,” each word is accentuated with a bob up and down his length. His hands steel themselves to your hips, but he makes no move to lift you, to fuck you like the wild beast raging inside of him wants. He knows he won’t get what he wants if he does, and you likely won’t go near him for a week. “You’ll be cumming right in my tight little cunt, whether you’re trying to or not.”

Cassian throws his head back into the pillow with a groan, his fingers tightening on your skin, eliciting a pleasured gasp. His hazel eyes are hidden behind shut eyes but it’s okay because yours have rolled into the back of your skull as you sink deeper, move faster, his cock filling you to the brim. 

“Fuck, sweetheart,” Cassian breathes. He can’t focus, your beautiful body is doing too much. There’s an undeniable heat coiling his gut and the tip of his cock hits your womb, dragging down your constricting, soaking wet walls. Yours is the best pussy he’s ever been in, ever seen, and he needs to mark you. “I need to cum.”

“Yeah?” you taunt, moving faster. Every bounce on his cock makes you feel so incredibly full, but there’s more that you want. You want his cum, want him fucking it into your womb. You want to keep him there, hold his cock in your cunt until he’s hard once more and do it all over again. You don’t want him leaving you until there’s so much of his cum in your cunt that each thrust sends the silky white dripping between your thighs. You want to paint his skin with it, lick it up, share it with him. “You need to cum, Cass?”

“I need to cum.” It’s almost a fucking whine, for Mothers sake. His tone has pitched higher as he tries to stave away the orgasm threatening to rip his body apart. There’s nothing for him to think about that would help cease this lance of fire traveling down his dick with each of your hot motions, his head is empty of all thoughts but you. “Please.”

You smirk, slowing your hips to a gentle roll. The sound of frustration Cassian makes has you getting wetter, not often in charge during sex like this. It feels…amazing. You feel powerful, having this size of a male beneath you, trying to tear himself apart at the seams in order not to cum, to follow your direction like the good boy he’s trying to be.

“No,” you answer simply, coming to a halt. You can feel the tension of his body, muscles straining with the effort to keep still, to not spill into you and fill your greedy cunt. It’s extra greedy tonight, with the taste of control you have. “You’re not going to cum.”

Every whimper that escapes Cassian’s tongue has your cunt clenching. Never did you think that this could feel so good. Is this how he feels when he’s leading a troop? To have someone listen without question, even when they so desperately want to have it their way?

“I can’t hold it, sweetheart,” he pleads, peeling his eyes open in desperation to look up at you. You sit on his dick, spine straight, tall like a goddess. Your forehead is dotted with sweat and your cheeks are flushed pink, creeping down your throat to your chest, nipples tight. Your hands are planted on his own chest, swiping over his own nipples as if trying to calm him down. All it does is add to the erotic sensations swirling through his body.

“You can, and you will,” your voice takes on a harsher tone. You haven’t cum yet so Cassian isn’t allowed to. You are going to service yourself first, and then, if he’s been good, he’ll get to cum. “I know you can, Cass. You’re doing amazing so far.”

The praise goes straight to his cock. You can nearly feel it throb inside of you, and you clench around him just to tease a little more, see how good his control really is. 

Cassian meets your eyes, his gaze sharper than it was a moment ago. Your heart falters for a moment when you see the challenge lying within. His demeanor shifts and he tugs you down, pulling you flush against his chest, his arms winding around your waist to lock you into place as he leans in close, breath hot in your ear. “When this is all over, when you’re done with this little power trip,” he starts. The threat rumbling his tone goes straight to your keening cunt. “And you’re still aching for more—” Cassian’s teeth brush the shell of your ear and you shudder. It’s hot, but neither of you are moving, chests fighting for breath. His cock is hard and hot inside of you but you don’t dare move as warmth floods your system. He’s playing dirty, using his words to try and get you off like you don’t know his games. “I’m going to return the favor. Show you exactly what you’re doing to me, sweetheart.”

Fucking fuck, does he know how to get you. The slight curve of his pink lips upwards shows you that he knows it too, felt that unmistakable flutter of your walls quivering at the thought of being pinned to the bed, Cassian ripping orgasm after orgasm from your shaking body until you’re nothing more than a puddle of tears and moondust.

But you’re in charge right now, you have to remind yourself. You steel the walls in your mind and catch Cassian noticing. His eyebrows twitch only slightly.

“Oh Cassian,” you sigh, pushing at his broad shoulders to sit yourself up. His muscles shift beneath your grip and it feels nice. While he may have accomplished calming his cock down a little with those threats of his, you can still feel that tightness in your own groin, the one drawing to be released. You brush the tendrils stuck to his face behind his ear with a savage smile that says you accept. “Threats aren’t going to help you this time.”

His throat bobs and you want to lean down and lick it. 

Your thighs are burning but you pick up your pace, both you and Cassian releasing matching moans as you go from no movement to riding his cock like it will give you all the riches in life. It has, so far. You love your mate dearly, so much so that the emotion is near overwhelming. Tears prick your eyes at the thought but you bite your lip, focusing on the sting. You’re the strong one right now. 

“Fuck, you feel so good, baby,” you whine, head falling back on your shoulders. Cassian’s hands find your tits and there’s only a sliver of your brain that can focus on anything besides the feeling of his cock dragging against your walls, hitting that spot inside of you that makes you feel like you’re going to combust. It’s making sure that his touch doesn’t turn demanding, guiding you up and down no matter how badly you want to release your power to him. 

“You’d feel so much better stuffed with my cum, sweetheart,” Cassian grouses, watching you with bright eyes.

“Don’t want you to cum,” you mewl a little, grasping onto his hands with your own. Your orgasm is cresting again, but you don’t want this to end. “I like being in charge.” 

Cassian’s hands slip from yours, winding down your torso to get a full grab of your ass before trailing up your skin so he can grip your chin and force your face down to meet his. 

“I love you being in charge,” he admits, grunting at your movements.

“You do?” you gasp at a particularly pleasurable jab of his cock, switching the angles as you lean closer to him. The wildfire in your bones that connects the both of you is ablaze now, an inferno of passion that’s nearly burnt to the end of its rope. You prepare yourself for the explosion by clawing your fingers into Cassian’s gloriously tanned skin. 

Cassian steals a kiss, and you allow him to. His mouth is hot and dominant and you’re desperate for his taste, his large hands on your body and his cock in your cunt. “Yes,” he hisses when he pulls away, barely. “I love when you take what you want from me, telling me how good my cock feels stuffed inside of you. If I never had to leave this tight, wet cunt of yours I wouldn’t. Fuck Rhys and fuck the courts. You’re mine, sweetheart, and I’ll do anything you ask, no matter how much it hurts.”

“Cass,” you cling to him, pressing your head into his collarbone as the implosion happens. “I’m cumming!”

“Yes, sweetheart,” he encourages, planting his feet onto the bed and fucking into you now that you’ve stopped moving, jerking only slightly as your orgasm locks your muscles. You cry out in pleasure as he works you through it, liquid fire burning your body. 

It mirrors him and he gasps, feeling the rush of your orgasm as he tries desperately to hold himself back. “Sweetheart, please, can I cum?”

You moan affirmation because you don’t think you can speak anymore. Your brain is mush, your cunt sensitive as Cassian grips you tight and fucks up into you, chasing his own orgasm. You whine at the feeling but he likes that, his body shuddering as he releases his hot cum into you.

“That’s it, sweetheart, take all of it. I’ll fill you up good,” Cassian’s breath is hot in your ear but his words have your brain clearing for only a moment. 

You swat at him, huffing, before melting back into the warmth of his body. “That’s supposed to be my line.”

His chest vibrates with laughter beneath you and you can’t help but to smile, accepting the sweet kiss he presses to your lips. “Sorry, sweetheart. Maybe next time.”

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•

✵✵✵✵✵✵

After work on Tuesday, Cassian found himself at yet another after work happy hour. Nesta wasn’t here to keep him company, but he figured catching up with some of his best friends was a pretty good consolation prize.

“Hey Cass,” Rhys said once Cassian was close enough, standing up from the booth to grab Cassian’s hand and give him a one-armed hug. He had on a crisp white button-up and a pair of perfectly tailored navy slacks as though he’d come right from Deloitte’s office; knowing him, he probably had. “Been a minute.”

“Good to see you too, Rhys,” Cassian said back with a roll of his eyes. He returned Rhys’ hug briefly before turning to clap Azriel on the shoulder with a wide grin. “Hey, Az.”

“Hey,” Azriel replied, raising his beer in greeting. He shifted to make room so Cassian could sit next to him and Cassian slid in gratefully. “How’s it going?”

Their friend group tried to meet up once a month when they could, but Amren was away on a work trip and Mor was away for fun, so that left the three of them. Their plans were never as elaborate as Mor or Amren’s so they usually settled with their usual happy hour and pool night at their favorite bar. 

Once they got some food in their stomachs, they paid their server, grabbed their drinks, and migrated over to the pool table in the back room. Someone had just finished a game, so they took a few minutes to rerack all the pool balls and organize them for a game of three before they got started.

“So,” Cassian began once he’d taken his shot. “What’s new?”

Azriel took his shot next before he answered. “Nothing new for me.”

“How’s Eris?” Rhys asked, reaching for the chalk so he could rub some on the top of his cue stick.

“He’s good,” Azriel responded, a tiny little smile breaking through his otherwise stoic expression. He and Eris had been dating for a few months now, and clearly things were going well. “He wants to go away for Valentine’s Day weekend.”

“Perks of dating a lawyer,” Cassian told him with a grin. Eris worked in one of those fancy offices on K Street, and he briefly wondered if he and Nesta knew each other before forcing himself to focus on the conversation in front of him. “Where are you guys gonna go?”

“I don’t know,” Azriel answered, shrugging. “Probably someplace warm. We’re both tired of freezing our asses off.”

“Amen to that, Az,” Rhys chimed in. He took a sip of his beer before finally taking his shot, and then it was Cassian’s turn. “Speaking of dating… I think I met someone.”

“You think?” Cassian took his shot and then turned to look at Rhys with a teasing smirk. “What, is she imaginary? Or does she go to a different school?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Rhys retorted over Cassian and Azriel’s combined laughter. “No, she’s very real. She’s an artist.”

“An artist, huh?” Azriel asked. He caught Cassian’s eye just long enough for Cassian to tell they weren’t done teasing Rhys. “Surprised that didn’t make all your gold digger alarms go off.”

“She’s not like that,” Rhys immediately defended his new crush. She must have really been something for him to defend her so fast. “She runs a nonprofit teaching art to underprivileged kids, and she freelances on the side.”

“Very noble of her,” Cassian replied, grinning, “but I’m surprised you didn’t walk into your first date with a prenup ready to be signed.”

“You know Cass, you’re talking a lot of shit for someone who hasn’t had a girlfriend since…” Rhys trailed off for dramatic effect, pretending to count on his fingers. “Shit, actually, I don’t even know.”

“Fuck you, I dated Dierdre last year and you know that,” Cassian fired back.

“Cass, that was 2023,” Azriel said slowly, like he was talking to a little kid. Cassian rolled his eyes at how hard Rhys was starting to laugh; he supposed it was his turn on the chopping block. “It’s 2025 now.”

“Okay, fine, whatever,” Cassian said back. “But I just went on a date a few weeks ago, thank you very much.”

“At least you’re out there, buddy,” Rhys responded, laughing as Cassian half-heartedly tried to hit him on the arm. “I’m sure your person will come!”

Cassian rolled his eyes, doing his best to seem chill even though internally he was anything but chill thinking about the truth of his situation. He wasn’t about to get into the specifics of his arrangement with Nesta and how she was essentially leading him around by the dick when she wasn’t his girlfriend; his friends weren’t assholes, but he wasn’t about to get into his deepest, darkest desires in a bar in Adams Morgan. Rhys and Azriel could enjoy their teasing, and Cassian would have to just suck it up. “We can’t all be as lucky as you, Rhysie.”

✵✵✵✵✵✵

Teasing aside, it was good to catch up with Rhys and Az, and it took his mind off waiting around for Nesta to finally reach out. He made it home in one piece and managed not to rub one out for the first night in at least a week, which was a perverse accomplishment he’d keep to himself, thanks.

When the next morning finally rolled around, Cassian felt like a kid who knew his mom had gotten him something good for Christmas but he wasn’t exactly sure what was inside the wrapping paper. Nesta hadn’t specified what time she would call him, so he was just riding the high of knowing he’d talk to her at some point today rather than freaking out. 

He assumed she’d call him after work, and his intuition turned out to be correct; she called him while he was cooking dinner and he was more than happy to put down his wooden spoon to pick up his phone instead.

“Hello?” Cassian said, already smiling. He knew he should probably pull it together when it came to Nesta, but he really didn’t want to.

“Hi,” Nesta said back. She sounded like she was laying on something soft — he could hear her moving some fabric around, and he thought it was maybe her comforter or a nice, soft blanket. He liked the thought of her all wrapped up and cozy. “I hope this isn’t a bad time.”

“No, I’m just cooking some dinner,” he told her. He eyed the flame on his stove and turned it down just a little bit. “How are you?”

“Hungrier, now that I’m talking to you,” she responded dryly, pulling a laugh out of him without even trying. “What’s for dinner?”

“One of those one pot chicken and rice recipes I saw online,” he answered. He gave the food one last stir before stepping back to sit at his kitchen island. “It’s my first time making it, so I hope it turns out okay.”

Cassian could tell Nesta was rolling her eyes at his attempt at being modest. “Save it, Bobby Flay. You know I don’t like you selling yourself short.”

“Okay, okay, I know my way around the kitchen,” he admitted. He was the unofficial chef of his friend group, but he wasn’t about to give her more fuel for the fire right now. “Just say the word and I’ll cook for you anytime, sweetheart.”

“Good to know,” she replied. “But speaking of saying the word…”

He laughed again. “Yeah, I figured that’s what you wanted to talk about.”

“Gold star for you, Cassian,” Nesta responded, just on the edge of being patronizing. “What time are you coming over on Friday?”

“Maybe around 6:30 or 7?” Cassian offered. His office closed an hour earlier on Fridays, but he didn’t want to even think about risking being late considering DC traffic. “If that works for you?”

“Mhmmm… let’s do 7,” she told him. He could hear her typing, and he wondered if she was updating the calendar invite he was very sure she kept. “Wear something comfortable.”

“Okay,” he agreed easily, wondering now how much time she’d scheduled for him. An hour? Two? Longer? He supposed he’d finally find out in two days. “Anything else?”

“Greedy,” she said without much heat.

“You know I can’t help it,” he said back. It was maybe a little too honest, but she’d had his number within the span of drinks and an appetizer, so he’d left his shame behind him that same night.

“Fine. Don’t touch your dick more than necessary until I see you,” she told him casually. “I have plans for it.”

“Okay,” he breathed, his cock twitching in his pants despite his best efforts to stay calm. I should’ve jerked off again while I had the chance, he thought, but who was he kidding? It was more than worth giving up masturbating if it meant she’d lead him around by the dick, and wow, that was a fun thought. “Yeah. Whatever you want.”

“There’s a good boy,” she practically purred into the phone. “I’ll see you on Friday. Have a good night.”

Nesta hung up without waiting for his response. Cassian didn’t know how long he sat there thinking about Nesta calling him a good boy like that, but it was long enough that he jumped when the timer on his phone went off reminding him to check on his dinner.

His one pot meal came out a little crispier than he’d planned, but it was a worthy sacrifice. 

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Thursday passed in what felt like a blur, and once Cassian walked out of the office on Friday, he could hardly stop fidgeting. He had so much nervous energy that he had to do a quick workout once he made it back to his building, running through a shorter, less intense version of his usual full-body circuit. He didn’t know exactly what Nesta had in store for him tonight, and disappointing her was not an option. 

Once he sweated it out for forty-five minutes, he felt a little bit better. He left the gym in his building and headed upstairs to his apartment, already thinking about the nice, long shower he was going to take. He didn’t want to assume anything, but it was always best to be prepared; he took some time to clean up the hair around his dick and thoroughly scrub every crack and crevice on his body in case Nesta wanted to explore. He even made sure his fingernails were carefully filed down before he moisturized his face and body, and he took a few minutes to fluff out his hair properly before heading into his closet to figure out what to wear. 

Nesta had said to wear something comfortable, so Cassian figured he couldn’t go wrong with some of his nicer athleisure — this stuff was usually too nice to wear to the gym, so at least he could finally put it to good use. He looked through his dresser drawers until he found a white shirt and navy joggers, and he pulled on some socks and matching white sneakers to go with it. He didn’t know what to expect tonight, but hopefully this would fit his needs. 

Once he was dressed, Cassian made sure to put on deodorant and a little bit of cologne so he’d smell good without being overpowering. He still had about half an hour before he could reasonably leave, and while he’d normally make himself something to eat for dinner, he was a little too jittery to try and put some real food in his stomach. Instead, he grabbed two granola bars from his stash and plopped on the couch to try and distract himself with something on TV, half-paying attention to the newest episode of Abbott Elementary while he ate his snacks. 

Eventually, the time finally came for him to make the drive over to Nesta’s place, and Cassian hopped up like he’d been stung when he saw the time. He took several deep breaths before grabbing his phone, keys, and wallet and stepping outside of his apartment, and then he was on his way. He couldn’t stop bouncing his leg or tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he maneuvered DC traffic, but he knew he’d much rather get all his anxieties out now before he came face to face with Nesta. 

Realistically, he knew he was probably going to have a good time. He was more than attracted enough to Nesta, and she’d said repeatedly that she liked him and wanted to do this. He didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, but he did know he wouldn’t have to worry about pretending to want to be in charge, so at least he had that going for him. Nesta wouldn’t laugh at him, or make fun of him, or say he was a freak for wanting what he did — at least, not in a way that they wouldn’t enjoy. 

Cassian knew it would be more than fine, but that didn’t stop him from worrying a little bit anyway. If he wanted to really enjoy himself tonight, though, he was going to have to get his shit together before he saw Nesta, so once he’d parked and was waiting for the elevator to her floor, he tried to mentally hype himself up a little bit. 

It’s gonna be fine, he tried to tell himself. She likes you. She wants to make you beg until you cry. It’s gonna be more than fine. 

It worked a little bit, but eventually the elevator dinged on the fifth floor and it was game time. Cassian walked down the hallway, and once he reached Nesta’s apartment, he wiped his hands on his pants and took one last deep breath before he gently knocked on the door.

“Hey,” Nesta said once she opened the door. She had on a white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of blue jeans, and instead of her usual braided coronet, half of her hair was pulled back from her face. She looked so beautiful with her hair down it was a miracle he was able to focus on what she was actually saying to him, and he managed to get it together just in time to hear her add, “Glad you made it. Come in.”

“Thanks,” Cassian said back, perking up like a dog with a bone at her choice of words. Her apartment looked the same as the last time he’d been here, though this time he noticed what looked like a Kindle sitting on her coffee table right next to an almost-empty glass of water. “Is that a Kindle? What are you reading?”

“Nosy,” she replied without any heat. She locked the door behind them before giving his sneakers a pointed look, and as he removed his sneakers, she added, “Yes, it’s a Kindle. Maybe if you’re good I’ll tell you what’s in my library.”

“I can do that,” he responded, grinning. He put his sneakers on her shoe rack and shrugged out of his coat before asking, “Where do you want me?”

She eyed him for a moment before beckoning him over to the kitchen. Despite her open floor plan, he hadn’t spent much time looking over here, but he liked the ample cabinet space and large island in lieu of a proper dining room table. “Wash your hands.”

Cassian draped his coat over one of her barstools before walking over to her sink, taking a few pumps of her floral-scented soap so he could wash his hands thoroughly. Nesta passed him one of her dish towels so he could dry his hands and he turned to look at her expectantly once he was done. 

“Did you eat before you got here?” Nesta asked, her gaze turning considering. He felt like she was staring straight through him as he leaned back against her kitchen counter, the fridge a cool wall to his right. 

“I had two granola bars,” Cassian answered sheepishly. At her unimpressed look, he felt compelled to defend himself. “I know, I know. I was just, ah…a little nervous.” 

“Nervous about what?” she questioned in that direct way of hers. 

“I didn’t know what to expect,” he told her honestly. He could feel the beginnings of a blush creeping across his cheeks, but he suspected it would only be the first of many tonight so he didn’t fight it too hard. “I was thinking about a lot of. Um. Possibilities.”

“Were you now?” she responded, the hint of a smirk appearing on her full lips as she took a few steps closer to him. 

“Yeah,” he breathed. It was almost hard to focus with her standing so close and looking at him like that, but somehow he managed to add, “I don’t eat much when I get nervous.”

Nesta tsked. “Big guy like you? We can’t have that, Cassian.”

“I— I guess not,” Cassian answered, nearly swallowing his tongue when she stepped so close to him that their fronts were pressed together. All the blood in his body rushed south so quickly it was a miracle he didn’t sway on his feet, and even if he’d wanted to move, he was pressed against her countertop with nowhere to run. 

“You said you’re good in the kitchen,” she said seemingly out of nowhere. She reached up onto her toes, and he had to hold back a whimper as she rocked right against his rapidly hardening cock. “Right?”

“Yeah,” he managed to say back. He was going to spontaneously combust or something, holy shit. “I am.”

“Why don’t we put those skills to good use, hmm?” she asked. He was mostly sure it was a rhetorical question, but that didn’t stop him from nodding like he was a goddamned bobble head. “We’ll put some food in your stomach, and then…”

Cassian choked on his next breath as Nesta managed to get a hand in between their bodies, her slender hand palming his cock through his pants before rubbing up and down a few times. “Nesta…”

“…And then we’ll see about the other big guy,” she finished. She squeezed his cock before stepping to the side to open one of her cabinets and pass him a wooden cutting board. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” he breathed as soon as he remembered how to form words. “Yeah. Okay.”

Cassian waited until Nesta had taken a seat at her island before he turned to open her fridge. It was decently stocked, and he pulled out a few things to try and assemble something that would pass muster. He somehow managed to make a passable charcuterie board with some meat, grapes, and cheese without losing his mind too much, despite his dick being distractingly hard and Nesta just being distracting, period. 

“Do you,” Cassian tried to say after a few minutes. Speaking coherently was harder than he’d anticipated, so he swallowed and tried again. “Do you have any crackers?”

He hadn’t made a ton of charcuterie boards in his life, but crackers tended to be on all of them. 

“No,” Nesta answered. “I hate dealing with the crumbs. Are you finished with that?”

“Yeah,” he replied, reaching out to subtly push one of the cheese cubes back into place. “I think so.”

“Looks good,” she told him. She leaned over the counter and reached over to snag the cheese cube he’d just pushed into place, keeping her eyes locked on him as she popped it into her mouth and made a satisfied little noise. “Mhmm. That’s good.”

“Thank you,” he managed to respond. His brain was bouncing between her saying something nice and the sound she’d just made like some kind of horny pinball machine, and he couldn’t pick which thing was sexier so he just gave up and decided on both. 

“You’re welcome. Now come on,” Nesta said, motioning for him to pick up the board he’d made. “We don’t have all night. Let’s go.”

Cassian dutifully picked up his board and followed Nesta down the hall and into the second door on the left, revealing the guest room she’d mentioned previously. It was half office and half guest room; there was a daybed with two bookshelves on either side on one wall, and a fancy desk and ergonomic chair on the other. He wasn’t entirely certain he’d fit laying down on that, but maybe that was the point. 

“I’ll take that,” Nesta told him once he’d looked his fill. He handed over the board and waited for her to tell him what else to do. “Shut the door.”

“Okay,” Cassian agreed. While she moved toward the bed, he turned and gently shut the door behind them; he didn’t bother to lock it considering they were the only ones here. 

When he turned back around, Nesta was sitting on the edge of the bed with the board directly to her left. He wanted to go to her immediately, but he wanted to be good even more, so he just stood there and let her look him over. 

“Come over here and sit,” she said after a minute or two. He crossed the room in a few long strides and was about to climb on the daybed when she tsked, and he froze the second his knee touched the comforter. “No. On the ground.”

Cassian slowly backed away from the bed and sank to the ground. Nesta handed him a pillow from off the bed and he took it, shoving it under his knees as he got as close to her legs as he dared. 

Turned out, he was feeling pretty daring. His face was basically pressing against her denim-covered thigh, and he couldn’t drag up an ounce of shame about it. She didn’t seem to mind, though, so he wouldn’t stress out about it. 

“Comfortable?” she asked once he’d stopped fidgeting. 

“Yes,” he answered, turning his face up so he could make proper eye contact. 

Cassian was by no means a small man, but the way Nesta was looking down at him made him feel like he was two feet tall in the best way possible. Looking at her was like staring directly into the sun, but he didn’t dare avert his gaze with how intensely she was staring at him. 

“You doing okay?” she questioned more pointedly. 

“Yeah,” he breathed. Then his brain caught up a little, and he realized she was trying to check in with him properly. “I’m good. I mean, I’m green.”

“Smart boy,” she replied, reaching down to run her hand over his hair. “Now open up.”

Cassian’s lips parted automatically just in time for Nesta to feed him a grape. It was perfectly firm and sweet, and she watched him chew on it for a few seconds before she said anything. 

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?” Nesta said, raising her eyebrows expectantly. 

Cassian’s swallow was so loud there was no way she didn’t hear it. “Thank you.”

“Was that so hard?” she told him. He shook his head no and she added, “Exactly. Don’t make me tell you again.”

He was a little curious what she would do to him if she had to tell him again, but the part of him that was so desperate to be good absolutely refused to even entertain the idea. So he just nodded and waited patiently for her to feed him the next bite of food, which turned out to be a little cube of cheddar.

“Thank you,” he murmured once he was finished chewing and swallowing. 

Cassian kneeled there and let Nesta feed him until he lost track of time. He could’ve been there for twenty minutes or twenty hours; he didn’t know, and he certainly wasn’t complaining. His focus had narrowed to the feel of her fingers pressing various food between his lips, to the satisfied expression in her eyes every time he bit down, to the bite of his knees digging into the floor despite the pillow there. 

She had him hook, line, and fucking sinker. He was more than happy about that.

“Last one,” Nesta eventually murmured. She guided what was apparently the last grape between his lips and her fingers lingered for a moment, somehow making his head spin even more than it already was. 

“Thank you,” Cassian whispered once he was finished. He didn’t know how it was possible to be this turned on just by her hand-feeding him, but holy shit was this in the top five hottest things that had ever happened to him.

Who was he kidding — this was definitely the hottest thing that had ever happened to him. She hadn’t even touched his dick properly yet, and he was two seconds away from panting like a dog and begging her to. He didn’t know how he was going to keep it together for whatever else she had in store for him, but Jesus Christ he was going to have to. 

“Why don’t you come up here and sit next to me,” Nesta said, stroking his hair again before she let go of him. “Go slow. I don’t need you falling all over yourself even more than you already are.”

Cassian’s cheeks were on fire as he slowly got to his feet, shaking out his legs a little bit after he’d been kneeling all that time. He had to hold back a sigh of relief as the blood came back to his legs, but judging by the amused look in Nesta’s eye, he could’ve just let the sound out. Something to file away for later, he told himself. 

“Take off your shirt and pants,” she told him after a few seconds. “And fold your clothes, for fuck’s sake. I’m sure your mother didn’t raise you to be a slob.”

“Okay,” he agreed, trying really hard not to cross his wires between his mommy issues and Nesta and failing miserably. It wasn’t really working, but he had other things to worry about right now, so he carefully took off his clothes and folded them like she’d told him to. “Where should I…?”

“The chair’s fine,” she answered. She sat back on her hands and watched him do as she asked, and he could feel her eyes lingering on him as he turned to neatly place his clothes on her chair. “Stand there for a second?”

Cassian turned to face her and did his best not to fidget as Nesta looked her fill, those gray-blue eyes sweeping over every inch of him with startling intensity. He could feel her gaze on him like a weight, as if she were touching him with those perfectly manicured fingers instead of merely looking him over, and when her eyes lingered on his hard cock tenting his underwear for several long moments, he had to start thinking about the Ravens and the Commanders losing their respective games to stop himself from coming on the spot.

“I see all that gym time is paying off,” Nesta told him after what felt like an eternity. He thought it was a compliment, but the slightly patronizing edge to her words had another blush creeping across his face. “Lose the underwear.”

Cassian’s hands shook a little as he followed Nesta’s command, and he folded his black briefs before putting them on top of the rest of his clothes. He was so turned on he hoped she wouldn’t keep him standing there much longer; his cock was leaking so much he might make a puddle on her nice floors, and who knew what she’d do to him then.

He kind of wanted to find out, but given the way her eyes were glued to his cock, he didn’t think he’d get a chance to, and he was one hundred percent okay with that.

“Come on,” Nesta eventually said. Her eyes flicked back up to his before she patted the space to her right a few times. “Come sit.”

Cassian took the few steps between him and Nesta and sat down on the bed next to her, trying not to hunch in on himself the way he wanted to. She was still fully clothed, so he tried to focus on that and how hot he thought it was instead of his slowly returning nerves.

Nesta eyed him up for a second before moving to grab the empty wooden board and put it on the ground. Once the bed was clear, she turned back to him and said, “Lay down for me.”

“Do you think I’m gonna fit?” Cassian asked, looking down at his long legs and back up at Nesta.

“Did I ask you if you would fit, or did I tell you to lay down?” she fired back without missing a beat. 

“Yep,” he squeaked out, already shifting so he could lie down. He’d come way too far to risk anything that would make her not want to touch his dick, so he mentally shook himself and grabbed a pillow so he could make himself more comfortable.

“Was that so hard?” she questioned once he was flat on his back. His legs were just the tiniest bit too short for the bed, so they just awkwardly hung off the edge.

“N–oh,” he replied, his voice shooting up an octave as she swung a leg over his middle and straddled him with no warning.

“What’s the matter?” she asked innocently once she was settled on his lap. She was sitting right on top of his cock, and he hissed when she reached down so she could pull it out from under her. “Don’t tell me I’m too heavy for you.”

“No, I basically bench you as a warm—fuck,” he swore right in the middle of his answer, losing his entire train of thought when she tightened her grip on him. He had to summon all of his strength not to buck his hips and risk sending her flying, and judging by the little smirk on her face, she knew that perfectly well.

“A ‘warm fuck,’” she repeated, laughing softly. He would’ve laughed with her if it weren’t for the way she still had her perfectly manicured fingers wrapped around his cock. “That must be a new kind of exercise. Speaking of exercise… you don’t mind if I take you for a whirl, do you?”

“I think you can do whatever you want,” Cassian answered, a little dazed from the way she was perfectly handling his dick. 

“Gold star for you,” Nesta told him. Her grip on his cock tightened until it was just on the edge of being painful, and he couldn’t help but groan when she finally started to move, even though her pace was torturously slow.

“Is that the only thing I get?” he asked, panting just a little. 

“Do you think you deserve more than that?” she retorted. 

He nearly swallowed his tongue when she let go of his cock long enough to lick her palm and bring her hand back down. “Fuck. Uh. No?”

“You don’t sound too sure of yourself,” she replied, clearly fucking with him. She picked up the pace just a little bit and he couldn’t stop himself from groaning. “Try that again.”

“Uh…” he trailed off. It was hard to think between her staring down at him like that and his cock in her hand, but he had to say something. “Whatever you think I — ah, God — deserve.”

“There you go,” Nesta said, really starting to pick up the pace now. He was leaking like a faucet, and between that and Nesta’s spit, everything was starting to feel a little too good. 

“Please,” Cassian moaned. He didn’t even know what he was begging for, but in his mind, there was nothing else to do but beg. 

“Please what?” she asked, clearly delighting in his suffering. 

“Please let me come,” he answered in a rush of words. He was torn between squeezing his eyes shut to try and hold off longer or watching her, but in the end it was impossible to really look away. She just looked way too good on top of him. 

“You know,” Nesta began, drawing it out. Cassian was holding on for dear life now, his nails digging into the mattress so hard he wouldn’t be surprised if he tore through the fabric as he tried to hold off. “I technically never said you couldn’t, but… I guess you’ve earned it.”

“Really?” Cassian panted, questioning her like a dumbass. He really needed to stop doing that.

“You’re such a fucking masochist,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. She was really pumping him now, and every time she jerked her wrist upward she managed to perfectly hit a spot just under the head of his cock that was damn near making him go cross eyed from how good it felt. “Hurry up and come before I change my mind.”

“Fuck, fuck, Nesta,” he groaned, his hips bucking into her hand one last time as he finally let go. His vision went a little fuzzy around the edges as he finally came, a choked gasp escaping him as the pleasure hit him. It was overwhelmingly good, so strong that his toes curled, and Nesta wrung every last drop out of him until he turned into a whimpering mess from the overstimulation. 

Nesta thankfully took pity on him and eventually brought her hand to a stop, grabbing a towel from somewhere — under the pillow, maybe — to wipe her hand and his stomach off. “Take some deep breaths, baby. Just like that. There’s a good boy.”

Cassian took in one deep breath and then another, his heart rate eventually slowing to something approaching normal the longer he laid there. If he’d felt a little dazed the last time he saw Nesta, it was nothing compared to how he felt now; he couldn’t conjure up a single thought besides how good it felt to be touched like this, his mind buzzing pleasantly as he just focused on breathing and the feel of Nesta’s hands on him. 

“I’m going to get a washcloth and some water, okay?” she told him after a few minutes, her voice low and soothing. She shifted slowly until she was off of him entirely, and he missed her comforting weight immediately. “I’ll be back in a second. Keep breathing for me.”

Cassian barely even registered Nesta walking away, and by the time he properly realized he was laying on the bed by himself, she was already back. The washcloth was warm and her touch was gentle as she wiped him clean, and she made him sit up for a few moments so he could drink from the glass of water she’d gotten for him. “You good?”

“So good,” he answered, still a little dazed from the enormity of what had just happened. 

“Okay,” she replied with a tiny, private smile. She put the empty glass on one of the emptier shelves of the bookcase and tossed the washcloth into a tiny hamper in the corner of the room that he hadn’t noticed upon first glance. “Lay back down. I’m not done with you yet.”

Cassian did as she asked, pleasantly surprised when Nesta maneuvered them onto a cleaner, drier area of the bed and laid down with him. She gently pushed and prodded at him until he was half on top of her, his face perfectly pressed into the side of her neck, and when she started to run her fingers over his curls, he couldn’t have held his eyes open even if he’d wanted to. He made a happy little sound as her other hand drifted down to wrap around his back, her palm just cool enough to feel good against his overheated skin, and shifted his arms so they were properly cuddling. 

“You did so good for me,” Nesta murmured into his hair after a few minutes of laying there in soft silence, her voice warm. 

“Yeah?” Cassian mumbled back. He felt like he was simultaneously flying high and ready to sleep for ten hours. “I did?”

“Mhmmm,” she told him, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple. His skin tingled where she’d put her lips and he had to fight to hold back the full-body shiver that threatened to overtake him. “You were such a good boy. Very… eager.”

“If you say so,” he managed after a second. Trying to think straight right now was like trying to hold onto water, so he just gave up on it. Nesta could do plenty of thinking for both of them.  

“Lucky for you,” she replied, “I do say so.”

He laughed softly. “Think that makes me the luckiest guy around.”

“No arguments there from me,” Nesta said softly. “Now shhhh. Just relax for a little bit.”

“Okay,” Cassian said back, and then fell silent. Nesta kept running her fingers all over him, and if he was a cat, he knew he’d one hundred percent be purring right now. He was so comfortable laying here in her arms that he wished he could stay here forever, wrapped in her warmth and her reassurance that he was good, but he knew it would eventually have to end.

For now, though, Cassian could at least enjoy it while he had it. He snuggled further into her embrace and left his eyes shut, more than happy to let Nesta block out the world for as long as he could stand to let her. 

Eventually Cassian felt less like he was floating through reality and more like he was standing on solid ground, so he turned his face to try and look at Nesta properly. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Nesta replied casually, like she hadn’t just turned his world upside down, dick first. “You feeling okay?”

“Yeah,” he answered after a moment. He still felt amazing, but things had faded down to a pleasurable buzz and he could actually string more than a few words together. “I’m feeling pretty good, actually.”

“Glad to hear it,” she replied. This close, her eyes looked incredibly blue, and he had to force himself to stay focused despite how pretty they were. “Me too.”

“But you didn’t…?” he asked, trailing off as he realized she hadn’t finished. At least, not that he’d noticed, and he tended to notice those kinds of things when he wasn’t experiencing one of the best orgasms of his life. 

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good time,” she told him. Her pleasant expression turned decidedly more wicked as she added, “Don’t worry. You’ll get your chance.”

Cassian’s brain couldn’t keep up with all the possibilities suddenly unfolding before him. “Yeah?”

“Down, boy,” Nesta replied with a fond roll of her eyes. Cassian just grinned up at her, far too excited about the prospect of making her come to be embarrassed. “We’ll talk about it.”

“Okay,” he responded, still smiling. He probably looked a little insane, but if he could give her even a drop of what she’d given him tonight, he was allowed to be a little insane about it. “I’ll be patient.”

“Of course you will,” she told him. She patted his head like he was her pet, and hey, that was… a thought. “For now, let’s get you dressed.”

Cassian recognized the beginnings of a dismissal when he heard one, and even though he knew all good things had to come to an end, that didn’t stop him from holding back a pout as he slowly rolled off Nesta and collected his bearings. His clothes were easy enough to find and put back on, and he’d left his keys, phone, and wallet inside his coat pocket. 

He hated how easy it was to leave, but that was part of the game, too. 

“Let me know when you get home,” Nesta said once they’d left her apartment and started walking to the elevator. She’d put her slippers back on and he thought it was the most adorable thing in the world to watch her pad down the hallway in them, but he valued his dick way too much to say that kind of thing out loud. 

“I know the drill,” Cassian eventually said back. If he was dragging his feet just a little bit to extend his time in her presence, that was between him and the hallway carpet. “I guess I’ll see you in two weeks?”

“You will,” she confirmed. They reached the end of the hallway despite his best efforts, and she reached out to press the elevator button when they were close enough. “I’ll call you on Wednesday, too.”

“Yeah?” he asked, smiling. He just couldn’t help it as far as she was concerned.

“Yes, Cassian,” she answered. The sound of his name on her mouth was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard, and judging by the knowing look on her face, she knew it. “You can just assume we have a standing phone call on Wednesdays.”

“Does it come with an itinerary?” he joked, pleased as hell to pull a soft chuckle out of her. She had such a pretty laugh that he wanted to hear it all the time. 

He wanted to do a lot of things with her all the time. It was starting to become a serious problem. 

“You can pick the icebreaker,” she told him dryly. 

“Nah, that’s all you,” he responded, laughing quietly. It felt good to go back and forth with her, but he knew his place here. “You’re the boss.”

The look she gave him right as the elevator doors opened damn near made his toes curl, and his lips parted in slight surprise as she reached up to tug a loose curl back into place. “Smart man. Have a good night.”

Cassian’s scalp tingled pleasantly his entire ride home.