NOVPUBDiana rested heavily against Cassius's chest, her hair a tangled cascade clinging to her sweat-slicked skin, her breaths shallow and ragged from the ordeal her body had endured.
The faint red mark on her breast pulsed with a lingering sting, a silent testament to Cassius's earlier cruelty, yet her exhaustion seemed to melt into the warmth of his embrace. Her eyes also fluttered, half-lidded, as she leaned into him, her vulnerability laid bare.
Vivi, watching from the edge of the bed, should have felt a pang of fear or sorrow for her mother's suffering, but instead, a deep, aching longing bloomed in her chest.
The sight of Diana—her fierce, unshakable mother, so intimately entwined with Cassius, their bodies pressed close, stirred something primal in her. She didn't just want to witness their closeness; she craved it for herself, yearned to feel Cassius's warmth, his commanding presence, to be held as her mother was, wrapped in that electric intimacy.
Cassius's gaze shifted to Vivi, catching the raw hunger in her eyes. His lips curved into a knowing, almost tender smile, his voice low and teasing, carrying a weight that made her heart skip.
"What's that look, Vivi?" He asked, his tone laced with a playful challenge that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're staring like you want something. Like you're jealous of your mother, sitting here all cozy in my lap."
"...Don't tell me you want the same treatment, hmm? To feel what she's feeling right now?"
Vivi's cheeks flushed crimson, her breath catching as she shook her head vigorously, her hands gripping the bed's edge until her knuckles whitened.
"No, that's not it!" She stammered, her voice high and unsteady, betraying her nerves. "I don't...I wasn't thinking that at all!"
But the words felt hollow, her body's heat giving her away, a flush creeping up her neck as her eyes darted nervously between Cassius and her mother.
Cassius's smile deepened, his gaze piercing, as if he could see every secret she tried to hide.
"Don't lie to me, Vivi." He said, his voice smooth but firm, carrying an authority that made her stomach flutter. "I see it in your eyes. You can't fool me. Be honest now—tell me what you want. If you're brave enough to speak the truth, I might just give you exactly what you're longing for." His hand traced slow curves on Diana's back, making her mother shiver, her body still pressed against his chest.
"Go on, Vivi...Say it."
Vivi's breath felt hot, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it. The longing in her chest was a wildfire, consuming her hesitation.
She glanced at Diana, whose exhausted form seemed almost serene in Cassius's arms, and something inside her broke open. After watching her mother bare her body and soul, Vivi felt a reckless courage surge within her.
Her trembling hands moved to the thin fabric covering her small breasts, and with a shaky breath, she let it fall, exposing her nipples to the cool air.
"I-I want it." She whispered, her voice soft and coy, barely audible. "I want to be close to you, like she is."
"I want to sit with you, feel you holding me, just like you're holding her."
"...I don't want to be left out here, alone on this cold bed while you two are...together."
Diana's head lifted slightly, her eyes widening with a flicker of shock as she processed her daughter's words. A quiet realization settled over her, her heart twisting with the understanding that Vivi's feelings for Cassius ran deeper than she'd ever suspected.
But before she could linger on it, Cassius's voice cut through, warm and bright.
"That's my girl." He said, his smile wide and approving as he looked at Vivi. "Honesty looks good on you, Vivi."
"...And since you're being so brave, why don't you come over here? Come sit with us, right here." He patted the armrest of the chair, his tone inviting but edged with a challenge that made her pulse race.
Vivi's heart soared, excitement and nervousness tangling in her chest, but then her gaze dropped to the floor, to the daunting meter of space between her bed and the chair where Cassius sat with her mother.
Her legs, weakened by years of illness, trembled at the mere thought of crossing that distance. She looked at him, her eyes wide and pleading, her voice small.
"I...I can't." She said, her tone laced with desperation. "My legs are too weak, Young Master. I can barely stand."
"...Please, could you come get me? Just pick me up and bring me there? I know you can."
She thought that he would readily do as she said since he had already lifted her like a child several times before to help her out. But to her utter shock Cassius actually shook his head, his expression gentle but resolute.
"No, Vivi." He said, his voice steady. "Your mother's comfortable right here, aren't you, Diana?" His hand pressed against Diana's back, pulling her closer, her breasts flattening against his chest as she let out a soft, involuntary whimper. "Because of that I don't want to disturb her. So, if you want to be here with us, you'll have to come to us."
Both women froze, their eyes widening in unison. Diana's head snapped up, concern etching deep lines into her face.
"Cassius, she can't." She said, her voice trembling with urgency. "Her legs aren't strong enough. She could fall, hurt herself. Please, I don't mind getting up. Or you could carry her—she's so light, you know that. Just help her, please."
Vivi nodded eagerly, her arms lifting instinctively, her small frame poised like a child waiting to be scooped up.
"Y-Yeah, please." She said, her voice taking on a soft, almost playful lilt as she flapped her arms gently. "You've carried me before, Young Master. It's easy for you. Just pick me up, like you always do."
Cassius's chuckle was warm, tinged with pride, but he shook his head again.
"Oh, Vivi." He said, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "You're not that little girl anymore, stuck in bed, needing everyone to do everything for you."
"Look at you now stronger, healthier, becoming the woman you're meant to be. I'm so proud of you for that."
His voice grew firmer, like he were telling her to challenge herself.
"And that's exactly why you can't keep leaning on others, or on wheelchairs, or on anything else. It's time to stand on your own, Vivi...Take that first step. Right now."
"...Make this the moment you start becoming more than you were."
Diana's breath caught, her eyes glistening with worry as she looked up at him.
"Cassius, she's not ready." She pleaded, her voice thick with maternal fear. "She's only just starting to get better. If she tries to walk and falls, she could hurt herself badly. Please, don't make her do this. Just carry her, or let me help her. I can't watch her get hurt."
But Cassius's gaze remained steady, unyielding.
"She's ready, Diana." He said, his voice calm but certain. "She's been ready for a while now. She just needs to believe it herself. She needs a push, a reason to try. This is that moment."
He turned to Vivi, his eyes locking onto hers, warm and encouraging.
"What do you say, Vivi? Are you going to do it? Are you going to take that step?"
Vivi's heart pounded, the weight of his words settling over her like a mantle. The distance seemed insurmountable, her legs shaky and unreliable, but his confidence—his unwavering belief in her, lit a spark deep within her.
She looked at him, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "Do you really think I can?" She asked, her voice trembling but laced with a quiet courage. "Do you believe I can do it, Young Master?"
His smile was radiant, his eyes shining with conviction.
"I know you can." He said, his voice rich with warmth. "You're one of the strongest women I've ever met, Vivi. You've fought through so much already...And this? This is just one step."
"...And I promise you that when you take it, I'll be right here, ready to catch you in the biggest hug you've ever had." He spread his arms wide, the gesture open and inviting, promising the closeness she craved.
Diana's hands tightened on Cassius's arm, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she watched her daughter, her heart torn between fear and hope.
Vivi's resolve also hardened, the longing for Cassius's embrace and the need to prove herself outweighing her doubt.
She took a deep breath, her chest rising as she steadied herself and slowly, trembling, she slid one leg off the bed, her bare foot brushing the cold floor.
The effort made her wince, her muscles protesting as she tested her weight, her body swaying like a fragile sapling in the wind. She then glanced at Cassius's open arms, at her mother's anxious, tearful gaze, and a quiet fire ignited within her.
With a shaky exhale, she placed her second foot on the floor, her legs quivering under the strain. Her hands gripped the bed for balance, her knuckles white, but she didn't falter.
The room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with anticipation.
Then, with a surge of courage, Vivi pushed herself upward, her body trembling like a newborn fawn taking its first steps.
She stood, unsteady but upright, her chest heaving as she fought to stay balanced.
Diana gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks as she watched her daughter stand for the first time in years, her voice breaking in a soft sob.
"Vivi...oh, my girl.."
Cassius's eyes shone with pride, his voice rising with a quiet, fervent encouragement.
"That's it, Vivi!" He said, his tone rich with emotion. "You're doing it. Just one step now. One step, and you're here with us. That's all you need today. You've got this!"
Vivi's heart swelled, the weight of their belief in her pushing her forward. Her eyes locked on Cassius's outstretched arms, on the promise of his embrace, and she felt a surge of determination.
She lifted one trembling leg, her body shaking with effort, and took a single step forward.
The movement was small, faltering, but it was hers.
Diana's sob broke free, her hands flying to her mouth as tears streamed down her face, her pride and relief overwhelming.
Cassius's face lit up, a rare, unguarded smile breaking through his usual intensity.
"Yes, Vivi!" He called, his voice thick with emotion. "You did it! You took your first step!"
But as Vivi's foot settled, her strength wavered, her legs buckling under the strain.
A gasp escaped her, her arms flailing as she braced for the fall, her heart beating with panic.
But before she could hit the ground, strong arms enveloped her, warm and unyielding, pulling her into a fierce embrace. Cassius had moved in an instant, catching her effortlessly, his hands sliding under her arms to lift her with a gentleness that belied his earlier cruelty.
"I've got you." He murmured, his voice soft and proud, his eyes gleaming as he looked down at her. "You did it, Vivi. You took that step."
"...Didn't I say that you had it in you?"
Vivi's felt her eyes turn wet as she heard his encouraging words and the saw the pride in his eyes like he saw his own daughter take her first step as a baby. Her body also trembled against his as she realized she was safe, held in the warmth she'd longed for.
Cassius also carefully eased her onto the armrest of the chair, positioning her so her legs draped over her mother's lap, her small, exposed breasts brushing the air, as Diana's fuller ones pressed into Cassius's chest.
The three of them were impossibly close now, a tangle of warmth and vulnerability, their breaths mingling into the moment that both Vivi and Diana had been waiting to see for years, which all came to be because of the man before them, who had long become much more then a simple benefactor to them...
