A Graduation Gift

"How did you find your way into my room?"

Shock written all over her pretty face, Cassandra sprang up. Feeling dazed, she blinked, unsure whether she was in a dream or not.

Gazing at her with lustful eyes, Rufus sauntered to her, with a mischievous half- smile on his lips as usual.

"What...are you up to, Rufus?"

As soon as he stopped beside her, he spread out his arms and wrapped her in such a tight embrace that made her blush and instinctively lower her voice.

Without uttering a word, moving or blinking, Rufus kept her in his arms. For the moment he just enjoyed the warmth with a playful smile on his lips.

The air around them began to fill with passion. Caged in his tight arms, she was forced to lean against his chest. She could hear his heartbeat, which was very steady. 'Is he distressed? Tonight, he looks restrained, unlike his usual cheerful self.'

She gave up the attempt to break free from his arms, not sure whether it was because she feared he'd blackmail her or she actually enjoyed the warmth of his hug. With an innocent look, she lifted her eyes to read his moods, but the blank look on his face gave no secrets away.

"What's wrong with you?"

unable to hold herself back, Cassandra finally asked.

Narrowing his eyes, Rufus replied, but apparently not to her question, "I like the fragrance of the perfume you're wearing."

The charm of his deep, husky voice completely disarmed her, sending a tingling of electrical current through her body. Her heartbeat raced up.

Blushing at her unintentional response, she struggled and quickly freed herself from his arms. She innocently rolled her eyes at him.

"Rufus, it is very late. Someone might find out about your coming here if you don't leave now. I just hope you're not planning to embarrass me that way,"

she muttered, well aware that deep down she was beginning to long for his affection, almost like an addiction.

In an attempt not to meet his eyes, she looked away.

With his sensual eyes, Rufus scrutinized the girl's face, a captivating smile spreading over his face.

have to fear anything. By the look in your eyes, you've fallen in

his remark, Cassandra shuddered. Involuntarily she jerked up her head, and through knitted eyebrows she wondered why she was nervous instead of angry at

her deepest secrets were being laid bare before

are so brazen! Get out right now, or

panic, throwing her hands up in frustration. To suppress the turmoil inside her, she tried to feign

you please. I don't

up his face

that you stop right there," she

biggest worry on her mind was for anyone

I want other than simply hugging you, just for a short

said, trying to calm her nerves. In all honesty, he

wrong with him. Something about him was out of place

to fiddle with her long hair, darted her eyes everywhere, while avoiding his face.

Rufus observed her, a hint of a smile making his lips curve at the corners, and his eyes gleaming with sincere

threw his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his arms. When she raised

Her pulse raced up, heart aching to

"Cassandra,"

Cassandra's heart skipped a beat. So as not to let Rufus know he had swept her off

"Are you drunk?"

asked with genuine

"No, I'm not,"

in a gentle voice, a faint

for words. Through misty eyes., she kept her gaze on him.

Tang

heart, she wondered what drove her to entertain his advances over and over again. There was no question that she's been steering him in the wrong direction - slowly opening her heart to him

the audacity of getting involved with this man, while she was still legally married to

watching her mulling for a moment or two, Rufus chuckled, then leaned forward and

Cassandra froze. The way he went about, hugging, touching and

she was not tied by marriage to his ungrateful skirt-chasing brother. Fantasies of Rufus and her in the rose bushes played through her mind - The dappled shade dancing on his body, pollen falling all over