Cassandra's Challenge

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be fine Aunt Cassie.” Victoria reassures her. She nods.

  Kyle walks over, carrying a tray of glasses. One for each, including Victoria he raises his.

  “A toast, to Cassandra and Victoria,” He winks at Tori. “Welcome to the family, I hope you know what you’re getting into.” Touching his glass to Tori’s, she giggles and they all take a sip.

  “To Dad and Cassandra, and the little one on the way, may he be as smart as his mother,” Lucas nods to Cassandra. “And as good looking as me.” William can’t help but laugh.

  “To my wife,” there’s no doubting the pride in his voice, “and niece”, or the love. “Beautiful additions to our family.”

  “To the Zafar men, each and every one of you are a gift in our lives. Isn’t that right Victoria?”

  “Right.” She agrees.

  “Admiral.” William turns to Hutu who seems to have recovered from Cassandra’s kiss.

  “Yes, Hutu?” Lucas and Kyle leave the room with Victoria.

  “Sir, the suite is been prepared per your instructions.”

  “Thank you Hutu.”

  “Sir, Princess.” Hutu nods than leaves.

  Cassandra looks up at William. “What was that all about?”

  “Hutu has prepared a meal for us. It’s up in our suite.” He wraps his arms around her, around his wife.

  “That was nice of him.” She leans into her husband.

  “Should we go enjoy it?”

  “I could eat.” With his arm around her he leads her out of the room and up the stairs to their suite.

  Entering the private living area Cassandra stops. It isn’t the room she’d left to get married. Candle light fills the room, furniture has been moved so there is a lone table in the middle of the room, set with china and crystal, silver domes covering the food. Music played softly over the comm.

  “William….” She turns wonder filled eyes to his. Stretching up she gives him an emotion filled kiss. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I want our first meal as husband and wife to be special.” He cups her face, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones.

  “It is.” The love in his eyes takes her breath away.

  Guiding her to the table, he pulls out her chair, seating her. Lifting the covers he pours a golden liquid into their glasses. She watches him unable to speak. He went to all this trouble, for her, he truly is a special man.

  Smiling at him she looks down at her plate, Zebu, the first meal they’d ever had together, after the first time they’d made love. It touches her heart that he remembered.

  “Eat before it cools.” He tells her.

  As they eat they talk. William tells her stories about Kyle and Lucas growing up, things they’d done. She tells him more about her family.

  “You have a cabin in the mountains?”

  “My great grandfather built it. Every generation adds something.”

  “Really? Do you get there often?”

  “Only between tours Kyle uses it a lot though.”

  “Can we go sometime?”

  “You’d want to? It’s pretty remote.” William leans back looking at her.

  “I’d love too.”

  “I’ll arrange it then.” Standing he walks around helping her up, pulling her into his arms he slowly moves her around the room to the music. Sighing Cassandra lays her head over his heart her arms wrap around his waist.

  Lowering his head William’s mouth starts at her temple before continuing its journey down to nuzzle her ear.

  “Hmmm.” Her hands grip his back as she turns her head allowing him better access to her neck. William takes advantage by exploiting all the sensitive spots he knew so well.

  “William….” Cassandra groans as his mouth moves down her neck. Raising his head he looks down to see her desire, his wife’s desire. It is a potent thing. Leaning down he sweeps her up into his arms, carrying her into their bedroom.

  Cassandra is trying to catch her breath. This man, her husband, has done so much to make this a perfect day, from beginning to end. A memory to hold to, that will get them through the hard times. And she had no doubt they would have them, that’s life. But it is what you did in between that will sustain you.

  “I love you William.” She looks into his eyes as he lets her legs slide down his body.

  “I will always love you, wife.” William seals his vow with a kiss. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” His fingers tunnel into her hair, gently removing the pins holding it up. “When you entered the garden….Cassandra….I’ve never seen anything so beautiful…you took my breath away. You are my heart, my soul, all that matters in my life, you’re my wife.” The emotion in his voice has her eyes filling.

  “When I entered the garden, all I saw was you.” Cassandra touches his cheek. “You were standing there, my light, my love the only one I’ll ever have, you’re my husband. All I’ll ever need is you.” Kissing him her fingers move down to work on his jacket sliding it off his massive shoulders.

  “You always look so handsome in your uniform.” She turns to carefully place it over the back of a chair. William leans down to kiss her bare shoulder his fingers working the buttons on the back of her dress. Freeing her it slides down her body as his hands slide around her to cup her breasts.

  Groaning she leans back letting him support her as her body begins to ache. “William….”

  Releases one breast William’s fingers tease their way down her side to slip under the scrap of violet eadai covering her. Finding her hot and wet he slips a finger into her.

  “William!” Her hip move against his hand, he can already feel her starting to tremble. As his thumb caresses her nub the trembling increases.

  “Let go Cassandra.” He whispers into her ear, gently biting her lobe, increasing the pressure of his thumb. “Let go for me.”

  She can’t breathe, the pleasure he’s giving her coming so fast. Reaching behind her she wraps one arm around his neck the other gripping his thigh as her hips move against his hand.

  “William!” She gasps as her body explodes.

  Holding her trembling body against his William is kisses her shoulder. Does she know what it does to him? Her response to his touch. That she allows herself to loses control, with him. Bending he sweeps her into his arms carrying her to their bed. Laying her down he sees her eyes begin to focus. Removing his remaining uniform he joins her.

  Cassandra watches him undress, her breath still not steady. He is such a large man in every way, strong, tough, sometimes gruff but he’d never hurt her. She’s known that since the first day on the Raptor. He puts her needs first, her need for understanding, her need for justice. Even when it makes things harder on him, she’s first. He protects her, even from herself. He’s her life mate, her love, her lover, and now her husband. As he joins her in their bed he lets her roll him onto his back.

  Lying across his chest her fingers gently caress his lips as her eyes look into his. Slowly her lips replace her fingers, her eyes never leaving his. The kiss she gives him is soft full of all the love she has for him. Her tongue plays with his as her hand moves down his chest, fluttering across his well-defined abdomen to his thick shaft.

  With her fingers dancing across him, teasing him William feels his control slipping. Gripping her hips he lifts her so she’s straddling him.

  Breaking off the kiss she watches him as she slowly takes him in, inch by glorious inch. He’s eyes flare as she takes all of him, only slowly reverse the process. Sweat breaks out on his chest, his fingers clenching as he tries to maintain control.

  “Let go William.” Cassandra’s voice is husky with passion. “Let go for me.” She watches as his eyes darken and turn just a little wild.

  Pulling her mouth down, his hips drive home, rolling her he crushes her into the bed, he thrusts long and deep. Locking his hands with hers he holds them above her head bracing himself above her as his mouth continues its assault.

  Cassandra wraps her legs a
round him as she rips her mouth from his desperate for air. “More…” She pants as she starts to tighten around him. “Please William…more.”

  William growls at her demand, attacking her mouth he loses the last vestiges of control, blind desire takes over. He barely hears her cry of release as she tightens around him. He will have more. He will take more.

  “More!” He demands releasing her mouth. “Give me more!”

  Her eyes widen at his demand, she can’t…but her body is already starting to tighten. William is giving her no recourse as he feeds on her breasts, using his teeth to tease her already throbbing nipples.

  As the orgasm explodes through her body Cassandra screams, capturing it with his mouth as he empties himself into her with one last powerful thrust.

  Cassandra is limp beneath him. With great effort he lifts his head his breathing still irregular, finding her eyes closed her lips swollen. Releasing her hands he caresses a flushed cheek. Lifting heavy eyelids glazed eyes meet his. “Are we alive?” She whispers. Easing to her side he leans down to gently kiss her lips.

  “I think so.” He mummers his hand wandering down her body. Resting over their son.

  “Good. That’s good.” He enjoys her barely formed words. A testament to just how far he’d taken her, how far they’d taken each other.

  Cassandra can’t get her mind to function, it’s shut off. How does this man, her husband, she can’t help but smile, do that to her? Covering his hand she laces their fingers.

  “Do you know what I like more than my eadai?” She asks when she finally catches her breath.

  “What?” He loves to hear her desires.

  “Being your wife.” He watches her eyes sharpen, her mind reengage. “Being Cassandra Qwes Zafar. Admiral Zafar’s wife.” William heart tightens, hearing her say it. He’ll never get tired of hearing it.

  “My wife.” He lifts her hand to kiss the ring he’d placed there only a short while ago.

  “Tell me about the ring.” She rolls onto her side facing him.

  “It was my first House ring. Given to me by King Kado, Jotham’s father, before I went into the Academy.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Thirteen.”

  “And you’ve worn it ever since?”

  “I couldn’t seem to part with it. So as I grew I just switched fingers instead of getting a new one.”

  “William…”

  “I know it’s out of style, the giving of rings, even when it was in style, it wasn’t an old House ring. I can get you something more appropriate.”

  “Just try and get it back.” She closes her hand around his. “That you would give me a ring you cherish matters more to me then some fancy thing that’s only there to show off.”

  “It’s a symbol of the House of Protection Cassandra.” He wants to make sure she understands.

  “My husband is from the House of Protection, it’s appropriate.” She sees the concern in his eyes. “What am I not understanding?”

  “It’s not that, people will question. Question your commitment to the House of Knowledge if you wear a ring from the House of Protection.”

  “The ring is about my commitment to you. How I express that commitment is up to me. It has nothing to do with the House of Knowledge.”

  “But you need to know it could be brought up tomorrow.” She looks at him understanding what he’s telling her.

  “Thank you.” Leaning over she kisses him.

  “Tell me about mine.” William looks at the thick wide band on his finger. It’s a mellow golden color, edges softened. A large square cut black gem fills the face, frowning as the light hits it he realizes it violet, not black, the deepest violet he’s ever seen. Sitting up he looks at the sides. One has a crest, the other a single arrow. It’s a first son’s ring.

  “Cassandra….where did you get this?”

  “I found it in Sabah’s tomb, the last time I left Kayseri.” William’s eyes fly to hers.

  “When?”

  “After Victoria.”

  “And you never went back?”

  “There was nothing to go back too. The tomb collapsed….the day I left.”

  “After the ring was removed...”

  “Yes.” Sitting up Cassandra touches the ring.

  “You’ve had the ring ever since?”

  “Yeah,” She gives him a slightly guilty look. “I know I should have turned it over but I couldn’t part with it. Victoria likes to call it my lucky ring.”

  “Why?” He watches her closely.

  “Because of my dad, I showed it to him. He told me to keep it, that it was meant to be mine and would always keep me safe. It kind of became the family talisman, if you wore it you’d be protected.” He sees the touch of sadness in her eyes, talking about her father.

  “If it’s yours why was Victoria wearing it?” He sees her eyes darken.

  “After the poisoning she was scared, she didn’t want to admit it, but she was. I gave it to her to wear.”

  “So she’d feel safe.”

  “That and it made her feel closer to Peter. He’d wear it when he was away.” Cassandra looks into his eyes, seeing he understands she meant when he was on missions, dangerous missions.

  “But she gave it up.” William’s throat tightens as he looks at the ring. “Today, both of you gave it up, to give to me.” His eyes lock with hers.

  “We don’t need the ring to protect us anymore. We have you.” She touches his cheek letting him see the belief, the trust they have in him.

  What had he ever done to deserve this? The trust of not only his life mate but of Victoria. They’d given him the one thing they had left, something special to each of them.

  “Cassandra….” He rests his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “William I can’t prove it. But I believe I was meant to find this ring, Kayden’s ring. Was meant to bring it back to Carina, to you, it’s back where it belongs, on the hand of a man from the House of Protection. I believe that’s why Sabah hid it, instead of giving it to their son. The ring needed to be returned to Carina, to one of Kayden’s descendants, to you.”

  “I don’t descend from Kayden.”

  “You descend from Walwyn, his brother. You’re family the ring needs to be returned to the family.” She touches his cheek.

  “The way Sabah needed you to find it, to return it, to have a Qwes woman return to the throne of the House of Knowledge.” He touches her birthmark which by now was not only blazing white but all the rays coming out of it were colored. The five House colors.

  “Maybe.”

  “Cassandra…” William’s voice is aggravated.

  “William,” Her eyes are serious as they look into his. He can tell she’s thought this out. “I understand what you’re saying, and yes I even believe it. There are too many coincidences for it not to be. But I’m not going to let that dictate my life, my life with you, Victoria and our son. That will be our decision. Not the Assembly’s, not the Ancestors, ours.”

  William listens, really listens to her, and she’s right. He has to smile, she usually is. Pulling her across him he gives her a long kiss.

  “What is that for?” Her eyes sparkle into his.

  “For being right, you usually are, we will decide our future.”

  First sun is barely rising as Cassandra feels William sliding away from her.

  “Where are you going?” Her voice heavy with sleep.

  “Shower. Sleep. There’s time.” Kissing her softly he tucks the covers around her. Watching her eyes close he leaves her. He hadn’t allowed her much rest, his need for her, for his wife had surprised him. They had loved fast, hard, slow, and soft. Even now he wants her. Turning on the shower he steps in.

  Sleepy eyes watch him watch his firm bare backside move away from her. He has marks on his back, from her nails. They’d loved long into the night, exhausting each other, to have only a touch, a look, rekindle the passion. Just the thought has her body starting to tingle
. Hearing the shower she smiles.

  “You missed a spot.” William freezes, his head whipping around to see the water flow over his wife as she steps into the shower. Tipping her head back her hair streams away from her face as sapphire eyes met his. “Let me get it for you.” Running her hands down his magnificent flanks they turn to gently but firmly stroke him.

  “Cassandra….” What she can do to him, this small woman, his wife. As her inventive hands continue to glide over him he finds himself bracing his hands against the wall.

  “Do you know how many fantasies I’ve had about you and this shower?” She whispers kissing the marks on his back.

  The feel of her hands on him, her lips and tongue on his back, water everywhere how much is a man supposed to take! Pushing away from the wall he turns griping her face.

  “Show me.” He demands, his lips capturing hers.

  She can’t believe how badly she needs this man, will always need him. As her tongue duels with his, he backs her into the wall, his arm sweeping under her, lifting so she can wrap her legs around him.

  At her entrance he rips his mouth from hers. “Tell me!”

  “I am yours! Only yours!” Tightening her legs around him she pulls him in.

  “Yes!” Pounding into her he pulls her closer. This won’t take long, her hands have devastated is control. “I am yours Cassandra! Only yours!” As he thrusts one last time she shatters around him.

  With the water still pouring over them they try to breath. Cassandra’s arms are locked around his neck, legs around his waist keeping her from just puddling at his feet.

  “You and I are going to have a long discussion on your fantasies.” William straightens a wicked gleam in his eye.

  “I have lots and lots of them.” William finds he can only grin at the thought.

  Turning off the water he eases her feet to the floor. Reaching for a towel he begins the enjoyable task of drying her.

  “Do you realize how precious you are to me?” Cassandra’s eyes darken as he tenderly wipes the moisture from her hair. “I thought I knew my place. What my life was to be, where it was going, was content with it. Then you entered my life. And I discovered I’d been living only half a life. You gave me love, honesty, trust, and asked for nothing in return. You stand. For what you believe, against any who disagree, even me. And you protect. The innocent and those you love, including me. You are my love, my life mate, my wife. You make me a better man.”