Cassandra's Challenge (6 page)

“I’m not sure what…” Turning she finds him right
behind her, for a large man he moves quietly. The Admiral puts an
arm around her waist, a hand behind her head and lifts her up for a
passionate kiss.

Cassandra’s stunned. Will she ever understand
him? With her senses reeling all she can do is grip his powerful
biceps and hang on.

Walking her backwards, he sits her on his desk
to slip between her thighs pressing his erection against her
stomach. When he changes the angle of the kiss she starts to
understand the passion hidden in him, and finds herself responding.
Hooking her ankles around his thighs she pulls him closer.

Breaking off the kiss William buries his face in
her neck. He hadn’t meant to move this fast, but seeing her
laughing with Truple made him feel the need to mark his
territory.

“William….” She groans.

Going still, he captures her face in his hands.
She’s never said his name before.

“Again
,” He demands looking her in the
eye. “Say it
again
!”

“William….” She whispers gazing up at him with
passion drenched eyes.

His control snaps, the sound of his name on her
lips has him needing to touch her, all of her, to join with her. He
strips off her shirt as she undoes his jacket. Shrugging it off, he
rips his t-shirt over his head. Pulling her off the desk, his mouth
descends. The feel of skin against skin causes Cassandra’s thighs
to tighten trying to bring him even closer. Never breaking the kiss
William enters his private chambers going directly to his bed.

Cassandra is on fire, she’s never felt like
this. Her entire life her intellect has ruled her actions,
everything thought out, calculated. Her emotions always controlled,
only her family penetrates the barrier she maintains. But here,
with William, her emotions overwhelm her, she can’t control them,
she needs more and William is the only one to give it to her.

Slowly lowering her onto the bed William works
on her pants, slipping them down slim hips that remind him just how
small she is, he needs to regain some control. Breaking off the
kiss he eases back looking at her lying naked on his bed.
His
bed
! Running large rough hands up her quivering body he
realizes he’s wanted her since he’d first felt this strong woman’s
tears in his hands. Standing he watches her, as he removes his
remaining clothes.

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.