Page 106 of The Monster and the Masochist

A kiss you would give someone you were in an established relationship with.

A kiss you gave without thinking.

A kiss you would probably forget about because it was just one in a hundred identical kisses you would continue to give and receive.

But I wouldn’t forget it.

I didn’t think I could ever forget a single kiss this woman ever decided to bless me with, and this one was no exception.

“You… You look… Jesus Christ, Cass… are you trying to kill me? How am I supposed to make it through this whole day without fucking you?” I murmured in her ear, and my mother laughed softly, taking that as her cue to drift off to join the rest of our family out in the garden.

Cass preened, and I choked on a laugh at how obvious it was that she knew exactly how hot she looked.

“Here… I got you.” I started fumbling in my pocket like a moron right as she pulled two boxes out of her tiny white and gold clutch.

“I brought rings,” she said matter-of-factly, popping open one of the boxes to reveal an elegant, sleek engagement ring with a massive, white oval diamond.

My heart sank, but I swallowed and nodded.

Releasing the grip I had on my little velvet box in my pocket, I reached out to take the one she was handing me. This one was a more masculine, gold band, and I assumed it was mine.

She frowned as I wordlessly accepted the box and slipped it into the inner pocket of my suit jacket. She cocked her head to the side, looking curious.

“What were you going to say?”

“Nothing,” I muttered, clearing my throat awkwardly.

“It’s not nothing, you said you got me something?” Her eyes were sparkling with interest. “Did you get me a… gift?”

My heart skipped a beat again as I realized she was…excited.

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck. Even to me, I sounded nervous.

“It’s nothing, it’s stupid. I just… I brought a ring for you, too, but the one you got for yourself is beautiful. If you like it, you should wear it.”

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“You have a ring for me?”

“Uhh, yeah, but don’t worry about it.”

She frowned, her expression strangely soft.

“Can I see it?”

“Uhh, I mean, yeah, but if you don’t like it, like I said, you should just wear the one you have.”

“Theodora. Show me the fucking ring,” she snapped suddenly, and the authority in her tone made my clit throb.

Still sweating an ungodly amount, I nodded and pulled the box out of my pocket. I fumbled with it, and the Q-Tip seemed to catch on the velvet of the box. To my horror, it slipped out too, dropping to the floor at our feet.

Cass glanced down, a confused look crossing her face.

“Oops… sorry…” I muttered, bending down to pick up the tiny swab, but Cass beat me to it.

She snatched it up, studying it carefully, before glancing back at me.

“Why do you have a Q-Tip in your pocket?”