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.

anything. By the look in your eyes, you've fallen in love with me,

shuddered. Involuntarily she jerked up her head, and through knitted eyebrows she wondered why she

deepest secrets were being laid bare before the whole

brazen! Get out right now, or I

in frustration. To suppress the turmoil inside her, she tried

please.

A look of amusement lightened up his

stop right there,"

was for anyone in the Tang family to find out

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

to calm her nerves. In all

Cassandra couldn't stop wondering what was wrong with him. Something

long hair, darted her eyes everywhere,

a smile making his lips curve at the corners, and his

waist, and pulled her into his arms. When she raised her eyes to meet his gaze, she felt a flutter of pure affection

up, heart aching to be forever

"Cassandra,"

to let Rufus know he had swept

"Are you drunk?"

asked with

"No, I'm not,"

answered in a gentle voice, a faint smile forming on his

was at a loss for words. Through misty eyes., she kept her gaze on

at the Tang family house, you

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 when

an Idiot, for the audacity of getting involved with this man, while she was still

or two, Rufus chuckled, then leaned forward and gave her a brief, gentle

Cassandra froze. The way he went about, hugging, touching and kissing, just swept her

and made her wish 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 them and softly