by Alicia Banks
“I hope that’s not true. Do you think that's what dreams are, the future?”
He shrugged. “I don't know, I guess it depends on the dream. If it's a good one, I would probably want it to happen. I would be more apt to try and make it so.”
“And if it's a good one, but it shouldn't be?”
“I can't say that I follow.”
Cassandra pressed her lips together and just smiled to herself before she took another drink of the tea. She felt like she had said enough, probably too much. Cassandra finished her tea and practically ran away from him. It was like she couldn't get away from him, no matter how hard she tried.
She went back to lay down, knowing that she wasn't going to fall asleep. She was going to stay up all night, with the dream and Antoine on her mind. It was much of the same thoughts and that was probably worse still.
***
The next day she got up a little late, and he was already dressed and looking like he was ready to go somewhere. She asked him if he was going somewhere and he agreed that he was.
“I have to take care of some things with Nathan today. I shouldn’t be long.”
“Does that mean that maybe soon I will be able to go home?”
“Are you that quick to want to leave me?”
Cassandra didn't know if he was being for real or not. It had nothing to do with that, she just wanted her clothing and her normal things. Without them, it didn't feel right.
“Really, I just don't want to keep wearing the same thing.”
Antoine chuckled. “We're back to the clothes again, are we?”
She kind of gave him a dirty look and that just made him smile even more. Cassandra did not like how much amusement he was getting out of all of it. Couldn't he see that she was bothered by so much more than clothes?
“Look, since you already know where my bedroom is, why don't you just wear something of mine?”
“Because you're about twice my size for one.”
“Yeah, it's not perfect. I will get you something while I'm out if you want.”
“Can I come with you?”
“No. Not with what I'm going to be doing today. I don’t want you in danger again, Cassandra.”
Again, it was an answer without a real answer. He seemed to do that a lot and she was getting used to it. Instead of pressing the matter, Cassandra knew that she wasn't going to get any more information than she was getting right then.
“I guess I will figure something out.”
He didn't seem to care one way or another. Cassandra tried to tell herself that it didn't matter what she wore. It was just something to cover her up while she was washing her things. She’d seen a washing machine during her tour. She would only have to wear his clothes for an hour or two. It wasn't like he'd be there, anyway.
***
“See, they look good on you.”
Cassandra jumped. “Jeez! You’ve really got to stop doing that. Did anybody ever tell you that you have a knack for scaring the bejesus out of people?”
“Like I said, I don’t usually have somebody here with me. It's actually quite bizarre for me to walk in and smell somebody else in here.”
“Smell me? Are you telling me that I need to take a shower or something?”
He looked disgruntled for a moment. “No, it's nothing like that.” He sighed loudly.
“Never mind, just forget that I said anything.”
That happened a lot. Antoine would say something that made basically no sense to her and then get frustrated with her when she didn't quite understand it. Cassandra really just didn't get what he was talking about half the time. He had a strange way of saying some things. Cassandra wanted to know what he really meant, but Antoine wasn’t good with answers. She didn't want to seem stupid though and ask, so she was unaware too much. She had already put her foot in her mouth more than once.
“Well, I did take a shower.”
He chuckled. “Cassandra, you smell wonderful.”
Then his face tightened up, like he didn't want to say that, either. Cassandra wished for a moment that she could know what it was that he wanted from her.
“So, how did everything go?”
He shrugged and looked weary. “It went okay, not as good as I was hoping, but I guess it's to be expected.”
“So, I'm still not going home yet, am I?”
He agreed that she wasn't, and Cassandra wasn't as bummed as she thought she was going to be. When she got used to her surroundings, and used to Antoine, she was sure that she could make the best of it. Cassandra had a knack for making the best out of any situation and considering that she was alone in the middle of the woods with a hot guy, it didn't seem like it was going to be that hard.
He asked her if she wanted to take a walk and she agreed, just to get over the awkward moment. There seemed to be a lot of weirdness between them and Cassandra didn't know if it was her fault or not. She just had so many feelings and emotions wrapped up in Antoine. He didn't seem to have many emotions at all, but apparently, she had enough for both of them. As much as Cassandra wanted to believe that she had a grip on things, she knew damn well she didn't. The longer she stayed with Antoine, the more she was going to want him. Considering that she already thought about being with him most of the day and all of the night, it didn't look very good for her.
She was able to forget it all for a little while when they went for hike. He seemed to know the woods like the back of his hand and seemed quite happy there. The smile that he had on his face was one of genuine glee and probably the happiest she had seen him since they'd met.
“You were made for this, weren't you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the woods and everything. You just seem like you're very comfortable here. Maybe you’re just a bit more wild than everyone else.”
He relaxed and agreed. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“I didn't really understand why anybody would want to live this far out, but I think I get it now. It is so peaceful. I don't think you could get that anywhere else, not even at my place, and I thought I was pretty far out.”
Cassandra stopped, afraid that she would say too much. He just had this effect on her, one where she didn't know what to think or what to say. Her usual confident self was gone, replaced with unsurety and a desire to give him what he wanted. Cassandra wasn’t too experienced in the ways of men, but she knew enough.
The current state they were in was one of the hardest things for Cassandra to get used to. She didn't understand why it was so easy between them. They didn't know each other, had never met before that fateful day, but then again, it felt like she had known him her whole life.
She also found herself quickly falling for the man. While she told herself that it would do her no good, she couldn't help but feel something. He had awakened a part of her that Cassandra had thought was fast asleep. Now she knew better. Now she knew that all it took was the right man to awaken it.
Since it was awakened, Cassandra had to ask herself, what’s next? And when? When is it going to happen?
Chapter 8
Antoine
Things were definitely changing in Antoine’s household. Not only had Antoine never lived with someone in the cabin, save for a few weeks’ years ago with a cousin, it was a little bit harder to adjust to than he would have thought. He told himself that she was just staying for her safety. It wouldn't be long. All of these were reasons for him not to sweat it, but of course he couldn't stop thinking about it, thinking about her.
At night he could hear her tossing and turning, and although his friend Nathan found it hilarious that he was so bothered by his houseguest, Antoine was less than impressed with the results of it. He felt himself getting even crazier because he wasn't getting the proper amount of sleep. His fantasies had taken over his waking periods, and just as much of his dreams as well. Nothing worked, not even drawing.
Antoine started back to work and even though he was doing it remotely, he found a way to go to meetings to
get away for a little while. He was out of the house more than he probably was ever before, and he knew that it was because of his houseguest. Cassandra made it hard for him to think of much of anything else. He didn't know what to say or what to do half the time when she was around. He kept snapping at her, making her come close to tears more times than he cared to admit.
He wanted to think that he had better manners, but then again, he was questioning if that was true or not. At the moment, all he could think most days was about ramming deep inside of her and doing it repeatedly, until neither one of them could walk. How was he supposed to do much of anything else when all he was thinking about was that? It left him feeling rather out of sorts.
The last meeting he had for the week was one with Nathan and of course, he didn't want to talk about work. He was far more interested in what was going on at Antoine’s house. He had a million questions, and all of them were centered on how Cassandra and Antoine were getting along. Wink. Wink.
“You know, it would be easier to answer you, if you weren't grinning so damn big.”
Nathan waved him off. “Dude, I have never seen you all twisted up for a chick before. You know that I'm going to have to say something. We are now in uncharted territory.”
He was joking, but it was true. Antoine was twisted up because of Cassandra and he didn't like it one bit. The more he thought about it, the less he could smile about it. She really had messed him up in the head and he had no idea what he was supposed to do about it. At the moment, all he could think to do was stay away from her as much as possible. That's pretty much what he’d been doing, even though he had been failing miserably and the space between them didn’t seem to be helping.
“What is there to say? I got a damn human staying with me and surprise, she is more trouble than she's worth.”
“So, you've given it a try?”
“What?”
“You know, you fucked her yet?”
His head snapped over so quickly it almost hurt him. Not only was he not digging the way that Nathan was talking about her, but he was also confused by how easily Nathan thought he would do something like that. It went against everything that he stood for. All there was to think about was the fact that she was human. That's all he needed to know to keep him away. Humans, women, they were all the same. Human women were too dangerous.
“Why would you think that I would do that? With a human?”
“Because for one, she's hot as hell.”
While that was true enough, Antoine thought that Nathan knew him better than that. He should know that he was not interested in her like that, or shouldn’t be. He was interested in getting his friends through his time of need and going back to the simple life that he missed so much.
Nathan just shook his head, like he could read his mind and maybe he could. “Look, man. You're making this more complicated than it has to be. You like her, I bet she likes your crazy beasty ass, so why make it more difficult than it has to be? Bang her and get it out of your head.”
Antoine sarcastically thanked him for his help. “Really, you’ve saved me with your wise wisdom. Bang her…”
“No problem, anything I can do to help.”
“So, now that we have my problem solved, I just need to bang her. How about we take care of your problem?”
“Oh, you mean the old leader that wants to kill me, or the military faction that's looking for me as well?”
Antoine shrugged. “Either one of those will do.”
He groaned and told Antoine there wasn't much more to talk about. “Vincent is trying to help me find them. As soon as we do, we will be able to move on to the next plan.”
“And the next plan being?”
His friend smiled in this eerie way.
“Burning them to the ground, obviously.”
Antoine sighed. “I was afraid you'd say that.”
“Was there ever a doubt, though?”
“No, I guess there wasn’t.”
***
Antoine went home a little bit later with his friend’s words on his mind. Just bang her. That's what he kept telling himself and before he knew it, it was all Antoine could hear. By the time he got through the door, he was raging hard and in need of some attention. It had been a long time since he had been so worked up. It was impossible for him to get it out of his mind. Cassandra had cooked for him, trying to help out, and he was thankful for it, but of course he wasn't thinking about that at all. He was far more worried about other things, things that mattered more. Like the sway of her breasts without a bra on. She was wearing one of his shirts again and nothing on underneath. His attention was officially pulled away.
“You're not eating.”
“Just got a lot on my mind.”
“You went to see Nathan, didn't you?”
He agreed. “Yeah, I went to see him a little while ago.”
“Well, was it bad news? Is that why you're troubled?”
Antoine found it amazing that she always seemed to know exactly what he was thinking or at least the mood that he was currently in. Currently, Antoine was troubled, but it had nothing to do with the impending fight that he was not looking forward to. Instead, it was something else. It was the human.
“No, it wasn’t anything like that.”
“Then what was it, Antoine? I feel like you’re keeping something from me. Is it something that I need to know?”
Antoine pressed his lips firmly together, hard enough that the line turned white. He wanted to say many things, but he didn’t trust his voice. It would come out gruff and he would have to witness her looking at him as if he was going to hurt her. He hated that look and he didn’t want to deal with it.
“No, everything is fine.”
Cassandra got up and asked him if he wanted a drink. The whole time she was moving around the kitchen, taking his drink, filling it, all of it, he was watching her tits sway and move with her. He groaned inwardly and tried his best to ignore it and to forget how badly he wanted to do just what Nathan suggested. God, he wanted her so badly it hurt.
She stopped in front of him and he looked up. Her hand was out, and he took the drink from her. Their eyes met for a moment and then he was setting it down. Antoine’s hand snaked out and grabbed her arm.
“Do you really want to know what is wrong with me?”
Her breath had quickened, her damn chest moving up and down at a rapid rate. He couldn’t believe it. She was driving him straight up mad and he yanked her down onto his lap. Her tits were now in his face and her ass was right above his hard length that was full for her. “This is what is wrong with me, Cassandra. I want you so damn bad, but I can’t have you.”
He stretched out and pulled her face close to kiss her, as his hips ground up into her bottom. He heard her gasp and he released both her lips and her body. Cassandra scrambled off of him and she was trembling. That made Antoine feel bad and he got up, frustrated. He’d gone too far, and he knew better. What was he thinking?
“I’ll be back.”
He stormed out and went away from the cabin. He went where no one could see him and shifted into his true form. He needed to remind himself of who he was. Antoine was all wrapped up because of a damn human. He couldn’t let that happen. He needed to fight it, which was made easier by the way she’d looked at him. Her eyes had gotten wide, and she’d been genuinely shocked and maybe even feared him then. Antoine hated the idea of any of it. He only wanted to give her pleasure, forbidden as it may be.
***
When he got back, Cassandra didn’t seem bothered by his actions and she no longer had fear in her eyes. It was curiosity and something more, but Antoine didn’t want to see it. He didn’t believe that it was real, anyway.
“I was wondering if you would let me alter a bit of your clothing to make something for me to wear?”
“Alter?”
“You know, shorten and bring in. You haven’t brought anything else, and I could make your clothes fit me better. It wouldn’t be hard.”
“I’m sorry, it completely slipped my mind. If you give me another day, I promise to bring you some tomorrow.”
“No, it’s fine. I really like that one grey shirt and shorts. Maybe I could just fix those and maybe a few other things?”
“This is what you want to do? I mean, it really is no trouble to go get you something.”
“Really, it would give me something to do. You’re gone a lot and I’m here by myself, no television. Sewing was an old past-time. It could be fun to pick it back up.”
Antoine was mesmerized by her smile and upbeat attitude in the middle of everything that was going on. She was in a bad spot, admittedly a really bad spot, but she was smiling, and she looked like she was making the best of it. That was admirable to Antoine, and for some strange reason, made him even more attracted to her.
“Of course, do what you like. It might be a while still.”
Cassandra smiled and then kissed him on the cheek quickly. It was only a light peck and she was gone just as fast, but he had to stop himself from grabbing her and pulling her in for a proper one. Just that simple touch had hardened him. It was becoming a permanent state when she was around.
***
Fuck…
Antoine had just gotten home from an attack he’d helped Nathan with. Several were dead, he was responsible for many of the deaths, and he was running on empty. His body was tired, his mind was wrecked, and the first thing he saw when he walked through the door was a barely-clad roommate that he wasn’t supposed to be touching.
“What are you wearing?”
It came out before he could stop it. The words were gruff and clipped. He was instantly hard, no longer tired, ready to press on. The short skirt was mid-thigh and wouldn’t have been hard at all to get to. Her shirt revealed her stomach. It took him a minute to see that the shirt was actually his grey one, cut up and then formed into an enticing package on her chest.
“You told me that I could use some stuff, remember?”