After the Meeting

[cassandra]

Going into Kaden's room to wait while he showed their 'guest' out, Cassandra's pulse was racing, along with her mind. Knowing a confrontation was coming as soon as Kaden came into the room, she thought quickly. Normally, she'd want to be fully dressed, in order to have the psychological advantage. Tonight, she thought the reverse would give it to her. Getting her suitcase from under the bed she quickly rummaged through it til she found what she wanted: A transparant, white, silk nightgown. A 4 inch band of satin fit snugly across the top of her breasts, the silk was attatched to the band and flowed loosely down her body. The band caused her breasts to appear even higher set than they were naturally. Spagetti straps went from the band to hold it up. Looking into the mirror she blushed at her own reflection for the nightgown covered nothing. Her golden skin showed clearly through it. "This should help somewhat. Maybe." she thought nervously. Picking up her hair brush she began to brush her hair from roots to ends to make it gleam in the way Kaden loved. Hearing his footsteps coming she put the brush down and kicked the suitcase back under the bed and sat down at the top of the bed, leaning back against the pillows, waiting for the explosing she was sure was coming.

[Kaden]

After escorting the man out of the club, Kaden turned his eyes back toward the room he usually stayed in here. His eyes narrowed as he made his way over to the talking-to he just needed to have with Cassandra. Moving behind the bar, he entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He was immediately greeted with the admittedly amazing sight on his bed. "You're..." The wizard was about to let himself be enraptured, but he shook his head to clear it. Touching his temple softly, he took a deep breath.

"...Nice try, but it's not going to work Cassandra. As beautiful as you look, you're not getting out of this one." Kaden said. "Just how could you not tell me about hiring a damn mercenary to help you raid your father's castle? And how could you let me find out like THAT?"

[cassandra]

"I didn't mean for you to find out that way. And I didn't actually hire him until night. In front of you. I merely called and 'ordered' one. I had NO idea he'd arrive this quickly! I'd been trying to think of a way to tell you, but I've not been back that long, and things have been rather hectic since I got back. Baby, I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose,. You have to know that! And before you even go there, the reason that I didn't think this was something that you and I alone could do is this: It might come down to my father having to be killed. I'm not sure I could do that unless he threatened your life. I might hesitate even then. As much as I hate him now, I loved him once. If I hesitated at all, you'd be dead. Could you kill him? If it came down to it, and you saw love in my eyes for him, could you kill him? And if you did, could you live with yourself? That decision had to be taken out of our hands. Trent could kill his own father, I've no doubt. So he won't hesitate to kill mine should it come to that. Can you possibly ever understand and forgive me?" Cassandra was fighting to hold back tears. She didn't want to use her tears against Kaden, but she didn't know what she would do if she couldn't make him understand.

[Kaden]

Kaden's eyes fleeted downward for a brief second. He hadn't thought of whether or not he'd be able to kill her father. A while ago, Kaden wasn't sure he'd be able to kill period. Of course he'd proven himself wrong multiple times, but those had been people no one he knew had any connection to. Plus they were out to kill him.

"Do you have any idea how it felt to be sitting right there? I spent years when I was younger not knowing anything about what I could do, being the "kid" he was talking about, the one who wouldn't be of any help to anyone. I got past that, but do you know how it felt to have you hire me protection with me right there?" The emotion he'd been trying to keep at bay was seeping into his voice.

[cassandra]

"That's what you don't understand baby. I didn't hire you a bodyguard. I called for ME one. I'd already made the call before I came back. Before I knew there even WAS an us. As I was sitting there, knowing that you'd come with us, all these thoughts raced through my head. Killing my father. Could I? Could you? But the overiding thought that kept pounding in my brain was that should the situation arise, you'd trade your life for mine. There's one thing that no one knows. I'm immortal to an extent. The mercenary hit it on the head. Only magic can kill me. My mother, in tring to circumvent that, had a cleric make me a charm. As long as I wore it, even magic couldn't kill me. Without it, not only could magic kill me, but even an ordinary person could, merely by destroying that amulet once I've touched it again. If my father knows all about me now, and I have no way of knowing, then he knows this. And he would do it. What would you do in that instance Kaden? What? I know. You've never told me you loved me. But whatever it is you feel for me, you'd die in trying to save me. I can't let that happen. I can't! I won't! So while all of this was racing through my mind I decided to make a condition of his payment, of his very survival, your survival. The 'kid' that could be of no help to anyone? I'm not sure he ever existed, but if he did, he sure as hell doesn't now. It has nothing to do with your abilities, or lack thereof. It has to do with the fact that I can't live without you! If you died, I'd destroy the amulet myself to join you! Look at it as a very healthy sense of self survival if you must, but for God's sake forgive me for it!" At that she did lose control, and begin to weep uncontrollably.

[Kaden]

He couldn't help but feel himself begin to soften at the sight of her crying. It was a definite weakness of his and they both knew it. He took a step forward towards the bed. "St - Stop crying..." Kaden whispered. "Look, I'm sorry, but you have to know how I would have taken all of this. I mean like you said, it's not even been 24 hours I have you back, only to find out you've been planning all this? And..and...no, I'm not buying that about him protecting me. You know if anyone was good enough to end up killing me, he wouldn't have been much help there."

[cassandra]

"What do you mean? Not buying it about him not protecting you? Kaden? Use your head! When have I had time to make the arrangments since I've been back? How could I have hired a body guard for you before? That was spur of the moment! And what do you mean about the rest of it? Good enough to kill you then he wouldn't be of much help? I'm upset already and you're confusing me!"

[Kaden]

Kaden knew it was mean, but he couldn't help but laugh. She was so cute when she was flustered like this. "Would you calm down? I only meant I don't really believe he has the ability to protect me from anything i wouldn't be able to protect myself from anyway."

[cassandra]

She wanted to be angry at his amusmjent of her, but she was too damn relieved to see his mood lifting. "Kaden, to tell you the truth, I agree with that statement. For the most part. You're much more powerful than me in everyway as well. However, I was once able to provide distraction that enabled you to save both of us. He might could do the same. And he will if he knows his life and his money depends on it." Rembering the first night they'd ever made love, and what preceded it was always bittersweet for Cassandra. It was filled with so many powerful emotions.....the despair of thinking she'd lost him, to death. Exhilaration that she didn't. A raw feralness in knowing she'd killed for the first time for him. The beauty of the lovemaking that came later. The total emptiness she felt when it was over and she realized he still belonged to another.....Her mind went from that, to the realization that he no longer did. And from there, to just how many people were no longer in his life because of her. Almost all of his friends had turned away from him because of her. For one reason or another, but they all had to do with her. Turning to him she asked, "Kaden? Am I worth it? Am I worth all that I've cost you? The pain that I myself have caused you? Am I truly worth it?"

[Kaden]

Well this was a complete 180 from their previous topic. Not that he'd had a problem with it, this was a comparatively easy one to handle. He knew exactly whether or not she was worth it. "Yes. To put it very bluntly, yes you are more than worth it. I don't know what pain you think you've caused me, but if these friends you're talking about would leave because of who I want to be with, then so be it. Any pain you think you caused me has long been overshadowed by the joy you bring me." Kaden answered.

[cassandra]

"I bring you joy? Of all the things I thought I brought into your life...drama, confusion, pain, hard choices...joy has never been one of them. I'm more glad than you know that I do." Reaching out she traced his mouth with her fingertips, "You know, I never get tired of this...and I never get used to how incredible your mouth feels...firm, like a man's mouth, yes...but the lips themselves...so velvety soft...you have an incredibly sexy mouth Mr. Kaden Torrick."

[Kaden]

Unconsciously moving his head around, so his mouth followed her fingers, Kaden drew in a deep breath and held her hand. "Well if you like it so much, Miss Deyton...why touch it with your fingers?" He asked, quickly moving his face near hers but stopping just before touching her lips. "Why stop there?" His breath touched her lips as her fingers did his earlier, but he never closed that distance.

[cassandra]

At his challenge, she took her tongue and ran it lightly over his upper lip, tracing it. She did the same with his bottom lip, then took her tongue and lightly licked at the seam where his lips met...teasing them apart...feeling them part slightly she closed the slight distance between them, pressing her lips firmly against his, slowly caressing his tongue with her own.

[Kaden]

Finally letting both knees rest on the bed as they kissed, he put his hand behind her head and started to wrestle more firmly with her tongue. After just a teasing few seconds of this, he gently pulled his lips away, making sure he pulled her tongue a bit as he did so. "Remind me why we're here again." The wizard whispered to her.

[cassandra]

"I am reminding you why we're here baby," Cassandra murmured against his mouth as she put both her arms around his neck and pulled him down towards her, twisting as she did so, causing him to land with his upper body against her own. Everything faded to black as she lost herself once again in Kaden's arms.