CASSIUS

by Alexi Ferreira

  After my shower, I hurry towards our room when I enter I see steam rising from our bathroom but there’s no sound. Walking towards the door I see Scarlett soaking in the tub, her eyes are closed, and her head is resting against the brim of the bath. Even though I’ve showered I hurriedly divest of my clothing and make my way silently towards her. I stand over her and look at her beautiful body in the water.

  Her breasts are swaying gently with the water, I don’t waste any more time, bending down I place my hand under her legs and the other behind her shoulders before I lift. “Cassius!” Scarlett gasps as I bring her against my chest before I step into the water and lower both of us into the water. “What do you think you doing?” she argues

  “I’m taking a bath.” I sooth as I kiss her neck.

  “Not with me you’re not, I’m still upset with you.” She grumbles as she tries to move away, but my arm is around her waist holding her back close to my front, she won’t be going anywhere unless I want her to.

  “I understand why you are upset, but there is no reason for it.” I cajole, “Baby, even if I wanted to I would never stray, once we Elemental’s find our mates that is it for us. You are the only woman I’m interested in, the only woman I could ever want. Therefore, we have decided to send the Jezebels away.” I feel her relax slightly under me.

  “They’re leaving?” she whispers

  “Yes, they’re leaving.” I confirm

  “If what you say is true, why would you keep them here?”

  “Not everyone here is mated, remember.”

  “Yes, but you all shagging the same women. Don’t you care that the others have had sex with them, what about STD’s.” She keeps on moving her body as she speaks rubbing against my already hard erection. If she doesn’t stop, we not going to finish this conversation.

  “Baby, until we find our mate the women we have sex with don’t matter. It might sound cold but it’s just a body. After living for centuries, one women is just the same as the other until we mate.” I explain, she twists her body around making me groan.

  “What do you mean for centuries?” her eyes are huge with curiosity.

  “I’m four hundred and fifty-three years, you just a baby next to me with your twenty-five years.”

  “Are the others as old as you?” she asks as she looks over my face and body making me want to laugh at her inspection.

  “Some are older, others are slightly younger.” I bring up my hand and tweak her perky nipple. She slaps my hand away and gives me a glare making me grin.

  “You say when you mate its different from other women, how?”

  “There’s a connection between mates that we can’t get with anyone else, When I touched you it felt like my world that had been in darkness for so long started to lighten. I will never be the man I was before, but you have given me hope, something that I had lost long ago.” She strokes her fingers over my chest, her eyes trained on my chest instead of my face.

  “How can I make you happy, if you are used to so much variety? I will tell you now Cassius, I’m not into threesomes.” She blurts, but I can see a sheen of tears that are fighting to fall. I place my finger under her chin and lift her face until she’s looking at my face.

  “Baby, I don’t need threesomes. All I have to do is think or look at you and I’m hard.” Taking her hand that is still on my chest I pull it down until its touching me where I want her. “That is what you do to me, also with mates the longer the bond the more we need each other.” I reveal

  “That’s not good.” She murmurs as she opens her hand and starts to stroke me making me groan deep in my throat. “If I want you anymore I will combust.”

  “Come here baby.” Lifting her under her arms I help her turn until she’s straddling me. Placing my hand behind her neck I bring her closer until I’m kissing her senseless. I still need to fight the darkness within me, but with her it’s easier. Today at the bar the fury that engulfed me would have driven me to destroy something or someone when I felt her retreating from me, but her energy also manages to centre and keep me focused.

  Placing my hands under Scarlett’s ass I lift her until she’s hovering over my hardness, “Place me inside.” I rasp, her hand places me at her entrance and I slowly start to lower her onto me. “Fuck, you’re tight.” I groan.

  “Cassius” she gasps as I bury myself deep within her body. I hold her still while letting her get used to me.

  “I have to leave in the morning, I will be away for two days.” I mumble as I help her move her body on top of mine. Her passion drives me crazy, soon I’m plunging up into her body with such unrestraint that I’m sure there will be more water on the tiles than in the bath. Pulling her forward I take one of her perfect breasts into my mouth, suckling and twirling her nipple between my teeth.

  “Oh . . . oh, Cassius.” Scarlett screams as her pussy convulses around me. Pulling a shout of her name out of my depths as I empty my essence deep within her body. She collapses against me, her heart racing with her release. We sit like that until our hearts calm and our breathing has returned to normal.

  I lift her off me gently and place her again with her back to my front as I start to soap her body. “I will phone you every couple of hours while I’m away.” I state and feel her nod against my chest. I know that the longer we are apart the more we’ll miss each other. As bonded mates we’ll feel the separation physically, therefore I need to make sure to always contact her as she will feel it before I do. If we go too long without touching or speaking to each other it becomes painful to the point that mates have had to be drugged to be able to cope.

  Pulling both of us out of the bath once we’re both clean I carry Scarlett to our bed. Laying on my back I draw Scarlett closer, “Sleep baby” I murmur as I feel her body relax against me and her breathing deepen. I must have fallen asleep because suddenly I feel arms around me, holding me from behind, my heart is racing as I fight whomever is holding me. Never again, I won’t let this happen again, I will rather die.

  “Cassius” Scarlett’s cry brings me awake in an instant. Opening my eyes, I freeze, my hands are around her neck and I’m pinning her down on the bed. Her eyes are frightened orbs looking up at me. I jump out of bed, my hands scrubbing at my face and pulling at my hair as I take in a deep breath to calm me.

  She sits up, her hand around her neck her legs drawn up to her chest, her eyes looking at me in fear. Fuck, that look is gutting me. I take a step closer and place my knee on the bed, but she moves back against the headboard. “Baby” I murmur as I stretch my hand to touch her, but she leans back, her breathing shallow.

  “I’m sorry.” I whisper, “I’m so fucking sorry.” Her eyes are dilated, and I get the feeling that she’s not seeing me, “Baby please, I won’t hurt you. Breath Scarlett.” If she doesn’t slow her breathing she’s going to pass out. Fuck this, I move quickly and pull her against me. Her body is trembling in fear, tears slipping down her cheeks. I hold her tight against my chest as I speak softly to her, I need to calm her.

  When I look down at her I notice that she’s unconscious, the loathing that I’m feeling for myself has no explanation. Even in sleep, how can I hurt my woman? I knew this was a bad idea, I knew that sooner or later I would hurt her. I’m too fucked up to be able to have a mate.

  “Motherfucker” I roar, as I pull her closer to me and kiss her forehead. I sit back against the headboard, holding her close against my heart. What am I going to do? We sit like that, I don’t know if minutes or hours before Scarlett starts to awaken. She finally wakes but doesn’t say anything just sits quietly against me, her eyes looking deep into mine.

  “I have to tell you something.” My voice is chocked, I don’t know how much I’m going to tell her, how much I can tell her, but I need to make her understand. “I didn’t want to bond with you because of this, I don’t want to hurt you. One night on my way to the compound I was ambushed by Merdor and his men. They held me for months, torturing me, messing with my mind.” I take in a deep br
eath and look down at Jade.

  Her eyes are sad, as she waits for me to continue. “While I was with them they started to build up on my blood intake. They gave me more and more until I was sure that I was a breath away from turning into one of them. If my brothers hadn’t found me when they did I would be what I most detest in this world.” A tear slips down her cheek and I swipe it away.

  “They tortured me until a breath away from death, repeatedly. As soon as I’d heal they would start again, this went on for months. When they realized that I would not give in willingly they . . .” I stop, I don’t know if I can do this? I have never revealed the tortures that I was submitted too to anyone, I look away from her, my eyes burning with emotion. “A week before I was found . . .” my voice is low and gruff with emotion, I must clear my throat to continue. “they beat me until I was unconscious, when I came to I was naked. I could hardly move with my injuries, but I still tried when that Son of a bitch grabbed me from behind and held me down.” I can feel bile rise in my throat, but I push it down. I feel Scarlett’s hand on my face, but I don’t look down, “he . . . forced me that day, he broke me. I cannot stand for anyone to hold me from behind, my mind snaps and I’m there all over again.” I feel the silent sobs raking her body, the sobs that I wish I could allow myself to shed, but that would be letting that Motherfucker win and I won’t ever do that.

  “I told you I was broken and that I would hurt you, I’m sorry . . . you deserve someone better.” I kiss the top of her head and then move her off my lap before I stand and make my way into the bathroom. I turn on the water and climb into the shower, I stretch my arms and place my hands on the wall before me as I lower my head between them and let the water beat down on my head. What a mess, I should have stuck to my resolve and not bonded with Scarlett. I can’t hurt her again, the look in her eyes when I woke up will haunt me.

  I slap one of my hands hard on the wall, but the pain is nothing like the pain in my soul. I hear the shower door open and scrunch my eyes in anguish. “Cassius” she calls softly without touching me, when I don’t answer she moves under my arm and stands between my outstretched arms. Her hands go to my waist and she pulls her supple body flush with my hard one and lays her head on my chest.

  “You are perfect, you say that you are broken but I see a strong courageous man that went through hell but came out on the other side fighting. You say I deserve someone better, but you were my salvation. I was ready to die, I knew that I still had Kade to look after but even he wasn’t enough of a hold to keep me here after what I went through with the Keres. But then you spoke to me, and every time you talked you pulled me away from the darkness, from the despair that my existence had become.” The tightness around my heart is dispersing, the fury is starting to subside at her words at her nearness. “For years that I dreamt about you, for years that I yearned for something that was missing. Now that we have found each other I’m never letting go.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.” I confide

  “You saved me.” She whispers as she lifts on her toes and kisses my lips.

  “Tell me.” I ask, but she shakes her head and I see the pain.

  “I can’t” I drop my arms and enfold her in them. It’s time that I read that file of hers and find out the horrors that my woman went through only then can we both start to heal.

  SCARLETT 10

  Cassius left early this morning, promising to contact me often. When I walked with him to the garage I noticed all the others were already there. A sombre feel to the departure, which makes me anxious thinking that they might be in danger. The prospect which I still haven’t met, Caelius and Gunner stayed behind, when entering the garage, the first thing I noticed was Gunners swollen lip and bruised face. Everyone could guess how he got them just by looking at the glares Brielle was sending Bion.

  Every time I think about what Cassius has been going through my heart tightens and I want to cry, the pain that I could hear in his voice when he revealed the horrors of his captivity will haunt me for a long time. Those Keres need to be stopped, not only did they destroy his life but they did the same to mine.

  He asked me what my nightmares were but I can’t tell him, I try not to think about everything. Maybe one day when the memories don’t trigger such fear in me that I panic I will tell him, for now I will fight the memories.

  “Are you ready?” Jasmine asks as she walks towards me.

  “Yip, just been waiting on you. Where the others?” after saying goodbye to the guys the women agreed to help Aria with her herbs as she won’t be able to visit her garden for a while after the baby is born.

  “They already outside, I just went to drop Orion off with Gabriela as she offered to look after him while we outside. She’s so excited about the naming ceremony of the babies, when the men get back you will be attending your first naming ceremony. It’s so beautiful.” I’m curious about the ceremony, Aria had explained to me about what they do and how they go about finding the right stone for the baby.

  We make our way outside to find them already in the garden, “Will you excuse me for a minute?” I ask as I notice Kade in the Garage bending over a bike with Gunner. I’ve hardly seen Kade since I woke up, I need to talk to him and see how he’s adapting to this new life. I know that he’s in heaven when working with cars and bikes, but it’s always only been the two of us and I want to make sure that he’s fine with all the changes.

  “Kade” I call as I approach, he looks over his shoulder and then smiles when he sees me.

  “Sis, how you feeling?” he asks as he lowers a part that he’s holding. I walk up to him and hug him close.

  “I’ve missed you.” I confess, “why haven’t I seen you, are you keeping away from me?” I see his worried look before he looks down.

  “I’ve just been busy, and I know you fine because Cassius keeps me updated.” He grumbles, his lying and when I realise why he’s been keeping away from me I want to scream, but then I realise that for a twenty year old having sex is a big thing, but I wish it had been with someone he felt something for and not just because of sex. I open my mouth to berate him, but then I shut it again. I will just embarrass him, and the Jezebels are gone now so no use worrying about it.

  “Do you like Cassius?” I ask instead, it’s important to me that my brother and my boyfriend like each other. From what Cassius says this relationship of ours is forever, there is no going back anymore.

  “Cassius is cool; actually they all cool in their own way.” Kade replies, “I know that look, don’t worry everything is perfect. These guys are teaching me so many things and they let me test the bikes.”

  “You’re okay with this thing with me and Cassius?” I ask

  “Sis, you’ve pinned for this guy for years and Cassius seems like a decent guy. Why wouldn’t I be fine?” he asks with one of his goofy smiles.

  “I just wanted to make sure that you’re fine with all these changes.” I confess, “And I don’t want you to keep away from me just because I’m with Cassius.”

  “I won’t, I promise.” He says

  “Okay then, I’m going to go help with the gardening and will see you later for lunch.” I say as I hug him close again before I leave to go join the other women. When I approach I hear Aria’s exasperated voice.

  “That’s not a weed Nova, you pulling out all the celery. The weeds are the ones with those tiny pink flowers.” She grumbles

  “Well that’s silly,” Nova mutters, “Why would I want to pull out the pretty ones.”

  “Oh my word, Nova” Aria mumbles as she throws up her hands in frustration. I see Jasmine and Brielle hiding a grin as they continue to pull out weeds. I go and kneel next to Nova and nearly burst out laughing when I hear her mumbled grumblings. I see the bunch of celery that she pulled out lying next to her.

  I’m nearly finished with my patch when I look up and see the guy that I saw the other day in the infirmary. “Who’s that guy?”

  “That’s Sven, a prospect.” Brielle explain
s, “I’ll introduce you later.”

  “I’ve met him before, or kind of.” Nova looks at me curiously, “I was still in the infirmary, when I woke up and he was there. When he saw I was awake he hurried out of there.”

  “Why would Sven be in the infirmary, is he even allowed at the back?” Brielle asks

  “He shouldn’t be anywhere near the back, that’s why he has a room in the front with the Jezebels.” Jasmine says with a frown. “Did he say anything to you?”

  “He looked flustered; when he saw that I was awake he quickly left.” I answer

  “Aria have you been able to pick anything from his thoughts?” Nova asks

  “No, the man only thinks about cars. Every time he’s around all I hear is him going through these steps of how to build a motor. I swear he’s obsessed with it.” She reveals

  “Either that or he’s keeping his mind busy for you not to pick on anything else.” Brielle suggests

  “Maybe, I should go persuade our friend to tell us what he’s up too.” Nova quips as she gets up.

  “Wait, that could be dangerous if he’s up to something. What about we use Scarlett’s gift and see if he lies.” Jasmine suggests, “Like that he won’t know that we’re suspicious about anything and we would know what he’s hiding.”

  “I could do that, if he lies I will know what the truth is.” I say as I stand and start to dust off my jeans.

  “We need a plan; we can’t just go up to him and start to ask questions.” Aria states as she walks towards us. After going through different scenarios, we finally all agree on how I should approach Sven. We all make our way inside, the women dispersing each going their own way as we see Sven sitting at one of the tables eating.

  I approach and see him tense, “Hi, we didn’t get properly introduced before.” I say as I sit before him. “My names Scarlett”

  “Sven” he grunts as he takes another bite of his sandwich.

  “So Sven, what do you do around here?” I ask with a smile on my face.