Betrayal (69 page)

Cassidy closed the distance between them and looked at Alex. “Last dance coming,” Alex said. Dylan was ready to walk away when Alex grabbed hold of him and lifted him onto her hip. “Oh no, Speed. We started this day as a family and we are ending it exactly the same way.” Cassidy touched Alex’s cheek lovingly as Alex pulled her closer. “I hate these shoes,” Alex said, kicking them off. Cassidy laughed and kicked off her own. That sent Dylan into his own fit of giggles. The Beach Boys started playing and Cassidy shook her head. “Hey! It’s a beach wedding,” Alex explained. “Besides, what
would
I do without you?”

“Less dishes?” Cassidy raised her brow.

“Yeah and you’d eat less tacos,” Dylan said plainly. All three began to laugh.

Rose put her arm around Helen and sighed. “I’m not sure I have ever seen two people who belong together as much as those two.”

Helen nodded. “I never thought I would see Alexis so happy,” she said. They both scanned the faces surrounding the family on the dance floor and realized everyone was having the exact same thought. Alex and Cassidy and Dylan looked as if they had always been together. It was something no one could explain and no one needed to.

Cassidy was signing slightly off key as she and Alex simultaneously lifted Dylan off the dance floor. He laughed and when his feet hit the floor again, he crossed his heart theatrically, singing the chorus he had only just heard. Alex lifted him back to her hip and she and Cassidy put their arms around him as the song wound into its final chorus. “Thank you for being my family,” Alex said to them both.

Cassidy smiled. “Thanks for being my moms,” Dylan said as he and Alex both flashed Cassidy a huge grin before singing the last chorus to her.

“You are both crazy,” Cassidy laughed. “But I love you both,” she said as the music ended.

“Perfect way to end the evening,” Alex observed. Dylan hugged them both. “You have fun with Cat,” she said. “Mom and I will pick you up tomorrow afternoon.” Dylan nodded and skipped over to Barb and Cat. “So you ready to blow this beach party, Mrs. Toles?” Alex asked.

“Are you going to carry me over the threshold?” Cassidy bantered.

“I’m going to carry you over more than one threshold,” Alex countered.

Cassidy flushed slightly. “In that case, let’s get a move on, Alfred.”

“Wait!” Alex ran over to the table and came back with Cassidy’s message in a bottle. “My wife left me an important message. Wouldn’t be good if I forgot it.”

“What kind of message did she leave you that is so important you had to run?” Alex whispered something in Cassidy’s ear. “I thought marriage was supposed to end all of that nonsense,” Cassidy submitted.

“Oh? You haven’t met
my
wife,” Alex said as they began to make their final exit.

“No? What’s she like?” Cassidy asked, curious how Alex would answer.

Alex stopped abruptly and turned Cassidy to face her. “My wife?” Cassidy nodded. “She is the most amazing person I have ever known. Frankly, I don’t think I deserve her, but I thank God every day she thinks so.”

Cassidy kissed Alex soundly, receiving a host of whistles. “She sounds wonderful. But I think you should know,” Alex listened carefully as Cassidy continued, “that my wife takes my breath away every time I see her. And I know I don’t deserve her, but I am grateful she loves me.”

“She does,” Alex said with a kiss before gently pulling Cassidy forward. No one stopped them. It was more than clear where they were headed and that the festivities had ended. A quick kiss on the cheek from Rose, a whistle from Nick and Alex was opening the door of a ridiculously decorated SUV for Cassidy. “What the hell were they thinking?” she shook her head as she got in. Cassidy was doubled over in laughter by the time Alex got in the driver’s seat. “What? What is it?” Cassidy pointed to the dashboard. “What in the hell?” An action figure of Agent Mulder from the
X-Files
was secured to the dashboard holding an action figure of Agent Scully across his arms. The note in front of it read:
The truth is out there, Agent. Just hope you know where to look
. “I’m gonna kill him,” Alex said before she erupted in laughter.

Nicolaus Toles walked through his house slowly, sipping a glass of red wine. It hadn’t changed much over the years. He turned
down the hallway and slowly allowed his eyes to follow the array of portraits on the walls. It was almost as if he was traveling back through time. He stopped halfway down the narrow corridor and stared at the face of a young girl. She was missing her front tooth in the portrait, but she smiled with pride; no care or worry about the gaping hole in the front of her mouth. He laughed, remembering the day she had lost that tooth. She was chasing the neighbor’s dog, determined that she could catch him on her own when she tripped over one of her brother’s toy trucks and landed squarely on her face. He shook his head. He recalled she didn’t cry. She didn’t yell at her little brother. She’d been wiggling that tooth for weeks and now it was in her hand. “Look, Daddy!” she screamed to him.

“What happened?” he asked when he saw the trail of blood running down her lip.

“Tooth fairy is coming!” she exclaimed. Her brother ran over to inspect the damage to his sister. She showed him her prize happily. “Look Nicky! That means the tooth fairy comes!” His eyes got wide as his sister bent over to him. “And you get half of whatever she leaves.”

“Why does Nicky get half?” her father asked.

“Cause, silly, his truck made me lose my wiggly tooth! Come on Nicky,” she grabbed her brother’s hand. “Let’s go show Mom!”

Nicolaus Toles raised his glass to the little girl. “Never change,” he whispered. He continued his slow pace, sipping his wine and studying the changing faces on the wall until he reached his study. He paced around the desk and took a seat. He picked up a pen and began scribbling a note; occasionally sipping from his glass as he combed through his private thoughts. After several minutes he scrolled his signature and placed the note in an envelope, addressing it simply. He unlocked his file drawer and thumbed through some folders until he found what he was searching for. He dropped the envelope inside, closed the drawer and locked it. Closing his eyes, he allowed a
deep sigh to pass his lips and took the final sip of wine from his glass. “Never change,” he whispered.

Alex opened the door to the suite she and Cassidy were sharing and nearly dropped the bucket of ice she was carrying. Cassidy was standing near the large window, looking out at the water. She still had her wedding gown on and the moonlight through the window highlighted the soft curls that fell to the side of her face. Alex set down the bucket and moved behind her, taking Cassidy gently into her arms. Cassidy leaned back into the embrace. Alex looked out at the moon over the water. It was mesmerizing, but it did not hold a candle to the woman in her arms. “Cass?”

“Hum?”

“We’re married,” Alex whispered.

“I know,” Cassidy smiled and held Alex’s hands around her.

“Is it weird?”

“Being married?” Cassidy asked as she gently caressed Alex’s arm.

“No,” Alex kissed her wife’s head. “I’m supposed to come in here and ravish you, right?” Cassidy just giggled. “I keep thinking about Dylan. Is that weird?”

“I don’t think it’s weird at all,” Cassidy assured her. “It’s one of the reasons I love you so much.”

Alex sighed. “I can’t believe what he said. He’s just…God, Cass. I was so proud of him.”

Cassidy turned in Alex’s arms. “I know. Me too. You gave him that chance, Alex. It meant so much to him, and to me. Dylan is lucky to have you in his life.”

“You know, my mother seems to think I am going to have you pregnant on our wedding night,” Alex smirked.

“In that case you’d better call Mulder and Scully down there on the dashboard,” Cassidy laughed.

“Oh, I don’t know, if I try all the things on the note my wife left, I think I might just have a chance.”

“Well, you know, it seldom happens the first time, Alex. You’d better be prepared to try a whole lot.”

Alex cupped Cassidy’s face in her hands. “No time like the present,” she said. She kissed Cassidy and felt Cassidy fall into her.

“Good start,” Cassidy whispered into Alex’s ear. She kissed Alex’s neck and lingered there.

“Oh God, Cass…”

Cassidy had lost all thought. Her hand was slowly tracing Alex’s cleavage and her kisses were trailing swiftly behind each caress. Alex wanted to speak. She had been waiting to make love to Cassidy all night, but she was helpless when Cassidy touched her. That was something she prayed would never change. “Alex,” Cassidy began as she moved around her wife. Cassidy slowly began to unzip Alex’s dress and push it gradually off her shoulders. “I didn’t write that note about you making love to me.” Alex closed her eyes as she felt Cassidy’s hands tenderly stroke her back. “You still have no idea,” she kissed Alex’s shoulder and she circled back to face her wife, “how much I love you.” Cassidy traced the outline of Alex’s face and led her slowly to the bed. She hovered over Alex and smiled. “You think I can tell you somehow,” she said.

“Cass, you are a poet compared to me.” Cassidy shook her head and kissed Alex. “Well, you are,” Alex insisted.

“No. I told you. What I feel for you…I told you, it exists beyond words.” Alex closed her eyes and struggled to catch her breath as she felt Cassidy’s kiss reach the top of her breast. Cassidy said nothing. Her hands delicately touched every inch of Alex’s skin. Her exploration of Alex’s body was so slow and so complete it was almost painful; almost. It was a torture that Alex hoped would never end. Alex ran her hands over Cassidy’s back and reached the zipper of her dress. She need to feel Cassidy close to her and as always, Cassidy immediately
understood and lifted herself so that Alex could free her of her confines.

Cassidy’s hair was still swept up and Alex drank in the radiant glow that emanated from her; the moonlight brushing her skin, the flickers of passion that danced in her eyes. “You do,” Alex whispered.

“I do what?” Cassidy asked as she admired the beautiful face looking up at her.

“You sparkle,” Alex smiled.

Cassidy gave a soft chuckle. “I think you are in love, Agent Toles.”

“Yeah?”

Cassidy raised her brow. “Maybe,” she said as she kissed Alex and resumed her tender and loving exploration of the woman beneath her.

Alex thought she might die from anticipation. She could feel the warmth of Cassidy’s body gliding softly against her own. She could feel the beat of Cassidy’s heart when Cassidy pressed up against her. Soft kisses descended gradually down her hip and Alex could no longer remain silent. “Cass…” The sound of urgency in Alex’s voice increased Cassidy’s own desire and she moved to end Alex’s suffering. She felt the need to see Alex, to look in her eyes. Her touch gently increased and she lifted her kiss to Alex’s lips. For once Alex was not content. She turned them both. Cassidy felt Alex’s hand travel slowly down her body, stopping only occasionally to solicit a response and an appreciative moan from Cassidy. “I need you,” Alex confessed. Cassidy looked into Alex’s eyes and kissed her slowly.

“You have me, Alex.” Cassidy closed her eyes as Alex brought her over the first threshold, just as she had promised. Cassidy whispered Alex’s name as Alex’s body began to submit to Cassidy’s touch. It was enough to push Cassidy over the edge again and she held onto Alex more tightly than she ever had, looking into Alex’s eyes, riveted, transported, most of all loved. “Alex,” she managed as her tears began to flow freely.

“I’m right here, Cass.” Cassidy collapsed into Alex and held her close. “Cass?”

“I just can’t believe it sometimes, Alex.”

“What?”

“I don’t think most people ever find what we have. I really don’t,” Cassidy admitted. “I can’t imagine ever living without it again.”

“You don’t have to,” Alex assured her wife.

“So, what was it like?” Cassidy asked, finally relaxing in Alex’s arms.

“What?”

“Making love to Cassidy Toles.”

Alex unclipped Cassidy’s hair, removing the pins she could see and gently prompted it to fall. “Cassidy, making love to you is always new for me. But, I love that you are Cassidy Toles.”