Cassandra's Challenge Page 5

  Cassandra is in awe that his size and girth matches the rest of the man. The thought of them together starts a trembling deep inside. Kneeling on the bed William braces a massive arm on either side of her head sinking down for another passionate kiss.

  “Cassandra,” He groans pulling her up and over him. His hands move down kneading her thighs, spreading them wide so she straddles him. Gripping her hips, he lifts her then watches her beautiful blue eyes as he slowly lowers her, pressing against her entrance demanding entry. Entering her he finds she’s even smaller and tighter then he thought, but oh so hot, so wet, his massive arms start to quiver. He doesn’t want to hurt her.

  As he enters her, Cassandra groans, nothing in her life has prepared her for him. He’s heated steel covered in velvet. Her sapphire eyes blaze into his before they begin to glaze over. Her hips circle wanting more.

  “Easy,” He groans, sweat beginning to slick his chest from the strain of holding back. “We need to go slow. I don’t want to hurt you.” But Cassandra’s past all thought need rules.

  “William,” Putting her hands behind his head she pulls him up into a wild kiss that has her wrapping her tongue around his. His hips jerk thrusting deep. He closes his eyes as her tightness surrounds his thick shaft.

  Cassandra throws her head back with a stunned cry. Freezing he holds her still, fearing he’s hurt her.

  “It’s alright.” His voice is strained as sweat breaking out on his face. Hearing her low moan he grips her hips tighter. “Shhh, it’s alright Cassandra we’ll stop.” He starts to lift her.

  Bringing her head forward she locks passion filled eyes to his, in an urgent voice says only one word.

  “More!” She demands trying to grind her hips to his, “God please more!”

  William’s stunned. Carinian women are larger than Cassandra and many of them are unable to accept a fully erect Carinian male.

  “William,” Her passion drenched voice jerks him back. Easing his grip he allows her to set the rhythm. Gripping his shoulders she circles her hips grinding against him, building the tension to an unbearable level. Pulling her to his chest his teeth scrap along her lower jaw on his way to her swollen mouth. Once there his kiss imitates their bodies. Cassandra’s nails dig into his shoulders.

  “Let go Cassandra!” He grinds out, “I’ve got you! I won’t let go!”

  Cassandra screams as the unbearable tension finally snaps, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. Going limp in William’s arms her head drops onto his shoulder.

  William holds the trembling woman running a soothing hand up and down her spine. Brushing back her damp hair he kisses the delicate neck he’d exposed. She’s amazed him, so small, so delicate, yet so passionate and strong.

  As minutes pass Cassandra’s breathing finally starts to settle, lifting her head she looks at him with dazed eyes. Moving to kiss his lips, she realizes he has yet to find his own release.

  “William,” She whispers, moving her hips slightly. Running her hands up his sweat drenched chest she eases herself back. The small movement has him groaning.

  Putting her hands on either side of his face she looks deep into his wild violet eyes. “Let go William, I’ve got you.” As she kisses him his control finally snaps.

  Twisting her under him, he sets a frantic pace then with one final thrust empties himself into heronly leveling himself off her at the last second to keep from crushing her. Resting his forehead on hers as he tries to regains his breath. He’s never experienced a release like that, and fears his lack of control has harmed her.

  “Cassandra,” Gently he kisses her lips, “Look at me, please.” Slowly she opens her eyes, revealing a dazed but fully satisfied woman. “You’re alright?”

  “I believe that would be an understatement.” Releasing a deep breath he bows his head.

  “William,” As her brain starts to reengage she realizes he’d truly been afraid. “Look at me, please.” He raises his head revealing turbulent eyes. “I would let you know it you hurt me.” She frames his face with her hands looking directly into his eyes, “I won’t lie to you. I may be sore but that has to due with my undesirability, not you. Believe me.”

  Saying nothing he moves to her side but she senses his anger. On Earth, except by her family, she’d been desired only for her intellect. Her 6’1”, 165lb frame isn’t something men desire. She should have realized it was the same here. It’s only as she starts closing herself back off does she realize how much of her true self she’s revealed. Hoping he hasn’t realized it, she moves away only to have William grab her.

  “You will explain!” He demands. Cassandra just stares at him. “What do you mean?” Feeling her try to pull away again his grip tightens. “I demand an answer!” His voice is harsher then he’d intended as he discovers he can’t take her pulling away from him.

  “I’m not one of your crew! You can demand nothing of me!” Pushing against his chest she tries to get loose. “Damn it let go!”

  Switching his grip to her forearms he pulls her up until she’s eye to eye with a very angry Carinian male. “I’m not letting go! What do you mean undesirable.” He feels her stiffen but doesn’t back down.

  “You have no right!”

  “You gave me that right! Here in this bed!”

  “What do you want to know?” She shoots back angrily. “That there’s only been one before you?” He feels her trembling in his hands. “And that he had to be paid.” The words tumbled out before she can stop them. Shock has him loosening his grip.

  Twisting away, all she can think is that she has to get away before she humiliates herself further. But she’s forgotten how fast he moves. One moment she’s on her feet the next she’s in his arms.

  “You were taken advantage of?” William’s his voice is very still, very controlled.

  “No,” Suddenly weary she closes her eyes. “William…” She feels the tears building behind her eyelids. “Let it go, it was years ago, he doesn’t matter.”

  “No.” Tipping her chin up he tries to get her to look at him but only manages to make her tears seep out. Tears that tell him all he needs to know.

  “Cassandra, tell me, let me in.” Startled eyes meet his. “Did you think I couldn’t feel you pulling away, shutting me out?” His voice is gentle.

  “Why do you need to know?” Her shivering causing William to realize they were both naked, reaching behind him he pulls the blanket off the bed. Wrapping it around her, he lifts her into his arms. Comfortable with his own nakedness he carries her over to the couch, cradling her he sits, his thumb gently wiping away her tears.

  “Talk to me.”

  Cassandra finds she can do nothing but lay her head on his shoulder in confusion. Who is this man? She’s seen him in battle, commanding thousands, knows he isn’t afraid of making the tough decisions. He can be impatient and short, his presences intimidate, his anger terrify. And here he is wiping her tears, waiting for her to talk to him. Something shifts deep inside her.

  “I was in my second year of teaching at MIT. Because of my age and credentials there was some friction with staff and students. A group of students and faculty nicknamed me the “Ice Bitch”. I didn’t socialize with them, I didn’t play favorites or let people slide. Eventually they decided that if I got laid I’d take it easier on them.” She looks to see if he understands what she’s telling him. She still hasn’t totally grasped all the terms in the other’s language.

  William follows her story, generally understanding, his jaw tightens at the term “Ice Bitch”, realizing what it means.

  “What does ‘laid’ mean?” Cassandra takes a deep breath.

  “Sex.” He continues to look at her. “What’s your word for what we just did?’

  “Mating.” Her eyes widen slightly.

  “Is that what you call it when it’s a one night stand?”

  “One night stand…” He frowns.

  Cassandra’s frustration is growing, “One night stand, when you and a woman meet
up, mate, and then go on as if it never happened.”

  William’s arms tighten around her, his eyes turn fierce. “That’s not what we did!”

  “Then what’s your term for what I described.” Looking at her, he realizing she needs this knowledge so she can understand what is happening with them.

  “Slamming.” Cassandra looks away.

  “Ok, so if I was slammed that maybe I’d ease up on them. But their problem wasn’t only finding a man willing to be the other half but one that I might be interested in.” William’s jaw tenses but says nothing, knowing he needs to let her finish.

  “So anyway there was this one student on campus, he’d been in my class the previous year, he was extremely intelligent. We’d have coffee sometimes and discuss theory. He was attractive in that blonde, beach boy sort of way. Never mind, I’m not explaining that.” She tells him as he opens his mouth. “He was having money problems so the group got together and came up with a thousand dollars, all he had to do was get me in bed.” At his look she corrects, “Slam me. So he asks me to his apartment to look at a research paper he’s working on. Anyway he made some advances, they were pretty good, I thought why not, I’m nearly 20. So we did and that was that. End of story.” Taking a deep breath she looks at him.

  “There’s more.”

  “No.”

  “If there wasn’t it wouldn’t still bother you.” When she tries to look away he grips her chin. “What happened the next day?”

  “It wasn’t the next day, it was the rest of the semester, one by one everyone involved asked me if I could stop by their apartment to look at a research paper.” William can see it still hurt her.

  “It was your first time,” She lowers her eyes, “I’m sorry.” The eyes she raises to him have a wicked gleam.

  “Don’t be, I fully believe in payback.” He raises an eyebrow. “I gave them the mother of all finals. Not one of them passed it.” William tips his head back letting out a deep rumbling laugh. When she smiles at him, he’s heart stutters. Swooping down he captures her mouth.

  “I desire you Cassandra,” The laughter leaves his eyes. He wants to make sure she understands him. “This,” He says as he runs a hand down her back, “is not a one night stand!”

  “Then what is it?” The question is out before she can stop it. “Wait! Forget I asked that.”

  “You can ask me anything. Cassandra, I realize this is all new for you, not just us, but the Retribution, the Regulians. You need time to adjust, to learn what’s the same between our worlds, what’s different. I’ll help you all I can.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll eventually figure that out.” Before she can question more his intercom goes off. Capturing her lips in a quick kiss he stands putting her down on the couch. Still naked he goes to his communication consul and presses a button.

  “Zafar.”

  “Admiral we have translation on some Regulian chatter we’ve picked up that you need to hear.” Colonial Tar informs him.

  William watches Cassandra get up to retrieving her pants. “I’ll be there in thirty.”

  “Yes sir, see you in communications at 1830.”

  Cassandra’s mind is churning as she tries to come to grips with everything that has transpired in the last sixty minutes. God had it really only been sixty minutes, it seems like a lifetime. She’s revealed more to William than anyone in her life. No one knew about John. Struggling with her pants on with staying covered William comes up behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

  “What are you doing?” Finishing with her pants she steps away from his hands.

  “Getting dressed, you need to go.” Looking for her shirt William pulls on his pants.

  “It’s in the other room. Cassandra,” Following her out of his private chambers, he watches as she goes directly to the pile of discarded clothes and hesitate.

  Knowing she’s trying to figure out how to get her shirt on without dropping the blanket, he removes the problem by pulling the blanket away. Lifting her onto his desk, he moves between her legs pulling her against him, skin to skin.

  “We’re back where we started.” He mummers, nuzzling her neck.

  “William.” Her desire is instantaneous wrapping herself around him she pulls him in. As he works his way up her neck, she groans letting her head fall back. Pulling her head forward he scorches her mouth.

  “Cassandra,” Breaking off the kiss he rests his forehead against hers. Heavy eyes meet his barely controlled ones. “I need leave for a while.”

  She immediately loosens her grip trying to regain control of herself, “Of course you do. I’ll just finish getting dressed…” He cuts her off.

  “Stay.”

  “What?”

  “Victoria is gone for the night. Stay with me. Let me hold you while you sleep.”

  “How did you know Victoria is gone?”

  “I’m the Admiral.” Cassandra stares at him. “Stay, when I get back we’ll eat. This shouldn’t take that long.”

  “That’s a crock of shit.”

  “Excuse me!” William’s stunned no one has the nerve to talk to him like that.

  “You get a call from your second in command, telling you they’ve decoded transmissions from the Regulians that they think you need to hear, and really except me to believe that you won’t give it as much time as it needs? Do I look stupid?”

  He gives her a considering look. “I believe you are a very intelligent and astute woman. Please stay. I want to know you’ll be here when I’m done. I want to come home to you.” He says it out loud, knowing she doesn’t understand the commitment he is making to her.

  “William, I need to be in my quarters. It’s Victoria’s first night away, I don’t know how it’s going to go. If Leander calls I need to be able to answer.” Her eyes plead for understanding.

  Stepping back he helps her off his desk. “Is that what it will take for you to stay, for Victoria to be able to contact you if she needs too?”

  “Yes.” Watching, he walks around the desk moving to his communications consul, suddenly she realizes she’s still naked from the waist up. Picking up her shirt she turns it right-side out to pull it on.

  “Communications, this is Admiral Zafar.” She watches him with questioning eyes.

  “Yes Admiral.”

  “I want to reroute all transmissions from G43 to my secondary line with the selected ring attached. It is to ring in both locations and is to take effect immediately. Is this understood?” He sees Cassandra’s eyes widen.

  ”Yes Admiral”

  “I want a test call initiated. One minute.” Disconnecting he waits. The consul lights up with a different tone, answering, “That’ll be all.” Walking around his desk he rests his hands on her shoulders. “Will that do?” She looks at him in amazement.

  “Why would you do this?”

  “I will do whatever it takes for you to be here.” Lifting a hand he gently caresses her healed cheek. “Cassandra, I need you here tonight.”

  “I want to be here.” Wrapping her arms around his still bare waist she tilts her head up. “You’ve got 15 minutes Admiral.”

  Putting an arm around her, he walks with her back into his private quarters, leading her to his library. “These are books that I’ve treasured all my life. Read any of them you want.” She stares first at the books then him, her eyes shining as if he’d just given her the universe.

  “Really?”

  “Really, now I need to get dressed.” He leaves her staring at the books. In the bathroom he splashes water on his face and gives himself a serious look in the mirror. Books, he should have realized how important they would be to her, such a small thing.

  Drying his face he goes to his closet for a fresh shirt. Cassandra is already curled up in a chair, engrossed in a book. His jacket lying next to her, the blanket folded on the couch. The small acts touch him deeply. Pulling on the shirt he walks over for his jacket, Cassandra looks up.

  “What did you decide on?” He
asks pulling on his jacket.

  “I decided I’d just start at the bottom, work my way up.” She tells him sheepishly.

  Putting an arm on either side of her, he leans in to kiss her goodbye. “Sounds like a good plan. I’ll see you in a little while. Make yourself at home.” Turning he fastens his jacket on his way through his ready room. Entering the corridor he’s in full Admiral mode.

  Back in his quarters Cassandra lowers her book. What the hell is she doing? She looks around his private chambers. How did she get here?

  To agitated to sit she walks into William’s ready room and stops. She hadn’t gotten a clear look at it earlier…they’d been a little busy. He has an oversized desk, even for him, facing the hatch letting all who enter know who’s in charge. It seems to be made of wood. Moving to run her fingers over the top she finds it has a very smooth silky feel. On the corners there is a variety of boxes and what she considers photos. Looking closer she smiles, discovering they are of William’s sons at different stages in their lives. There are several chairs in front of the desk but a large space in between, a space for those not offered a chair. She’s sure many a man has trembled in that spot. Tables in the far corners hold charts, reports and correspondence.

  While the walls in her and Victoria’s quarters were the drab color of the rest of the ship William’s has the warmth of paneling. On those walls he’s displayed several pieces of framed artwork. Scenes she’s never seen before. The one catching her eye seems to be of a sunset but it has three suns of differing colors, all setting at the same time. She’ll have to ask.

  Turning back around Cassandra looks at the room. It’s a reflection of the man she knows as the Admiral, oversized, strong, confident, intimidating and sometimes formidable, but there’s a warmth too.

  Reentering his private chambers she realizes there is another door. Opening it she discovers a storage room containing unused furniture. Closing the door she continues on seeing a kitchen area with what looks to be a cold unit under the counter. Opening it she finds several bottles of what look to be wine. The couch William had held her on is against his office wall with his library housed in the corner, two oversized chairs are in front of it. Well oversized for her. There is a built in closet, a private bathroom and of course the bed.