"I don't know. Maybe, I just want to claim my woman." He whispered, his voice husky.
Cassie couldn't talk as a result of the lump in her throat. Where did the lump even come from? Kash took a strand of her hair and rolled it around his index finger. "K... Kash?" She called but it turned to a whisper.
He brought his face closer and she snapped her eyes shut, waiting for whatever he wanted to do. She wanted to run, but her legs seemed clued to the ground...or maybe, she didn't want to leave. She wanted him too. She didn't want to hide these feelings inside of her anymore.
Kash pecked her cheek and she shuddered, then opened her eyes slowly to look into his. That was totally not what she expected but it was something.
"I can't hide this feeling anymore. Keeping it inside of me and seeing you with other guys make me feel like going crazy." Kash stated.
"What are you talking about?" Cassie asked. She didn't know how she got her voice back immediately but maybe the feeling of her wanting to hear what Kash wanted to say prompted her to speak.
"What I want to say is that, I lo_"
His words were cut short when Sapphire pushed open the door. Cassie almost fell but Kash caught her and Sapphire entered.
"Umm... I didn't know you guys were... um... busy." She chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
"No! We... um... I came to apologize for... I'll be in the living room." Cassie rushed out of the room.
Sapphire faced Kash and he glared at her.
"Sorry." She laughed.
"Remind me to lock that door next time." Kash ruffled his hair.
"I can still come in, you know." She teased.
"Not if I get you stuck in a time loop. How about I show you an example?" He asked.
Sapphire gulped. "I won't dare next time. I only came to tell you that Diego is awake." Sapphire said and disappeared before Kash would change his mind.
Kash quickly put on his clothes and appeared in the room where Diego was kept.
Diego fluttered his eyes open and looked around. He saw Kash and sat up. "Kash, you're okay." He smiled.
"Huh?" Kash was confused.
"I saw what Drake used my body to do to you. I am so sorry for being so weak. I tried to snap out of it but the power was too strong for me to handle. If I hadn't come into your life and became your friend, Drake wouldn't have used me to hurt you."
"It's okay, Diego. Don't be so hard on yourself. You're safe, I'm okay and everything is back to normal-that's all that matters." Kash patted his back.
Diego hugged him.
"Awwn!" The girls shouted and Diego quickly disengaged from the hug. He looked at them. He knew Cassie, alright but the other two ladies; he had no idea who they were.
Sapphire stepped forward and sat beside him. "How are you doing?" She asked and placed her hand on his forehead.
Diego was speechless. He didn't know who this beautiful goddess was but why did her touch send tingling feelings down his stomach. And why does she look a lot like Kash.
"It seems you don't know who she is." Kash chuckled.
"Obviously." Sapphire rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I don't know." He bent his head.
"She is my elder sister Sapphire and that person over there is Layla." Kash pointed at Layla who bowed.
From her gesture, Diego could tell that she was a maid. "Nice to meet you two." He smiled at them.
"We have good news for you, Diego." Kash chuckled.
"Drake is dead?" Diego asked.
"Not yet, but we won't be hearing from him in a while." Kash answered.
"Then, what is the goodnews?" He asked.
"Sapphire was chosen to be your guardian!" Kash announced and Diego almost fell from the bed.
"What! You mean, the same way you are Cassie's guardian?" He asked.
"Yes." Kash answered.
Diego felt like screaming. He didn't know this day would arrive so quickly for him. He finally had a guardian! He was finally free; he was finally going to avenge the death of his parents.
"I'm so happy!" He exclaimed.
"I know how you feel. I can remember the amount of joy I felt when my aunt told me that Kash was my guardian." Cassie smiled.
"You must have felt so lucky." Layla smiled, looking at Kash.
"Yeah. I did." Cassie smiled and looked at Kash too. He winked at her and she looked away, blushing after she remembered what almost happened between them.
"Aren't you guys going to school anymore?" Sapphire asked.
That was when Kash and Cassie remembered that they had school to go to. Kash held Cassie's hand.
"See you guys after school." Kash exclaimed as he led Cassie out of the apartment.
Sapphire turned to look at Diego and caught him staring at her. He looked away immediately and she chuckled.
****
Kash appeared in an empty classroom with Cassie and she quickly rushed out of the room. She was shy to look at his face because of what happened in his room. Kash chuckled and followed behind. She got to her locker and opened it. She remembered how Kash kissed her forehead and smiled. She touched her head, her smile getting wider.
"You're in a good mood, today." Asher, who had caught her smiling to herself asked.
She gasped and turned to face him. "Oh, hi Asher."
"Your night?" He asked.
"It was fine. How about yours?" She took the books she was going to use and closed the locker.
"It wasn't fine. I was thinking about you all night." He sighed and she smiled. "Are you free after school?" He asked.
"I'm supposed to go training with Kash. It's almost my 18th birthday and Kash said, I need to master my powers before then." She answered.
"Oh. I wanted to take you out for ice cream. It has been a while since we went out and spent time together. I just wanted us to do that today. Can't you skip training today? I'm sure Kash will understand. He cares about you and won't say no." Asher pleaded.
"But_"
"Please, Cassie." He begged.
Cassie sighed. "Okay but we aren't going to spend more than an hour there." Cassie said.
"Thanks." He smiled and left.
Cassie sighed and headed for class. She sat down and looked at the seat behind her. Crystal wasn't in school. The girl has been ditching school lately and even though Cassie didn't trust her yet, she was still worried about her.
"Hey, Cas." Jaden smiled and sat beside her.
"Hi, Jaden. What's up?" She asked.
"Nothing interesting. Just busy these days." He answered.
"Did you travel with your dad again?" Cassie asked.
"Not really," He chuckled. "The school dance is next week Friday."
Cassie faced him in surprise. "Next week Friday! That's 10 days away!" She exclaimed.
"Why are you surprised? Didn't you come to the auditorium?" He asked.
"About that... I came quite late today." She snickered.
"I've told you now, so get ready." He smiled.
"Yeah. Did you get a date?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah. I asked Stella out on a date." He sighed.
"I know her. She is Lily's friend but she is different. I like her because she always put Lily in her place." Cassie said and he chuckled.
Kash entered and saw them but surprisingly, he didn't feel bad or jealous. While looking into Cassie's eyes this morning, all he could see was her love for him. He heard her thoughts and got her feelings straight. She might not tell him but he knew that she loved him and that alone was enough. He knew she wouldn't leave him for someone else. She was his mate and he would make her his. He smiled at then and went to his seat. Jaden, who was expecting that usual glare from Kash was surprised.
"Is it Kash that's your date to the dance?" Jaden asked.
"You'll see the person on that day." Cassie answered.
"Ugh! Tell me, the suspense is killing me already." He whined and she laughed.
****
After school, Cassie followed Asher to an ice cream shop and they sat down.
"Did Kash come with you?" Asher asked.
"No. I asked him to wait at home that I'd be with him in an hour. So, let's get this over with." She said.
Asher sighed. She really did like Kash. This was the same girl who was always shy to look him in the eyes before Kash came. "What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" He asked.
"Anyone would do." She answered.
He stood and got her same flavor as his. After taking the ice cream, he took her to a garden close by.
"I have to get going." She said.
"It isn't one hour yet. I still have 20 minutes." He said and she smiled.
"Oh."
"Cassie, can I ask you one question?" He requested.
"Sure." She nodded.
He moved closer to her and made her face him. "Do you like me?" He asked.
Cassie was taken aback. Where did that question come from?
"Asher, I_" She couldn't complete her statement when he drew her to himself. He placed her hand on his chest.
"Can you feel it? That's how much my heart beats for you, Cassie." He said.
"I don't understand_"
He lifted her head and stared into her eyes. He brought his face closer to hers and was about to kiss her when a knock landed on his head. He left her and turned to see Kash.
"Kash!" Cassie called. She was glad he came because things were about to become awkward.
"You!" Asher snapped.
"Calm down, fella. You don't have the right to go about kissing anybody you feel like." Kash scolded.
"You also don't have the right to tell me that. She didn't push me away. Why should you interfere?" Asher asked.
Kash chuckled. "She would have if she knew what your intentions were." Kash said calmly.
"And how do you know that?" Asher asked.
"I know because she is mine!"
.
.
.