A Graduation Gift

The candlelight quivered. The charming smile across Rufus's face made her face burn.

In the warm atmosphere, Rufus's question flickered through her mind. It seemed to carry more meaning than it appeared on the surface.

As she looked at him, the candlelight was reflected in her eyes, flickering with emotion.

She lowered her eyes and tried to hide how nervous she was feeling.

Rufus chuckled shortly and decided to drop the issue. He could see she was uncomfortable discussing it.

Cassandra focused on her steak. Rufus had cooked it to perfection, medium rare with just a hint of pink on the inside. When she lifted it to her lips she found it tender and succulent. She closed her eyes in delight and savored the taste.

He knew that Cassandra's birthday happened to be on the same day as the submission date of the proposal.

Rufus had asked Victor to prepare the table beforehand, and he had even taken the time to hire a baker - not to bake the cake for him, but to teach him how to do it himself. But the steak was his crowning achievement.

It seemed that his efforts had paid off. Rufus felt himself warm at the blissful look on Cassandra's face. This kind of satisfaction was different than the one he normally felt, better than excelling in the workplace or winning a bet.

Any one who knew him well would have their jaws dropped to the floor if they came to knowledge that he had done cooking and baking for a woman.

He doubted anybody would even recognize him now that he had taken off his business suit and tied an apron around his waist. 'Imagine if they see me washing dishes!' Rufus thought to himself.

It was clear that he had not done this many times before. Unsure of how to properly wash dishes, he sometimes let the plates slip from his hand.

Leaning against the kitchen door and watching him, Cassandra wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry.

This seemed like a snapshot from the life she had always dreamed about.

She had dreamed about having a family life like this - eating together with her husband, cleaning up together afterwards, sharing the chores everyday.

When Rufus had finished, Cassandra decided to keep her promise.

"Alright, where should we watch the movie?" she asked.

She was a woman of her word, although, she had to admit, the lingering taste of the steak in her mouth might have had something to do with it.

anyone else in the world had ever had the honor of having Rufus cook for them.

eyes twinkled slyly

I tell you, that I have

couldn't help the grimace that flashed across her face. 'Who has a cinema in their house!'

luxurious

they had never dedicated an entire room

film equipment either. The room itself had been especially built to maximize audio quality. This in itself must have been a ludicrously

chose a foreign romance movie from the romance section of the film library. Halfway through the film appeared a particularly touching scene, and Cassandra could no longer hold back all the

her in surprise, as wondering why she

handed her a piece of tissue, and hesitantly stretched his

second, enjoying his warmth. Then she realized what she was

guarantee you that I won't be such a gentleman," he

hesitation, Cassandra let herself sink back into

He looked down at the woman and just couldn't

intimate and tender, started to heat with rising passion. The couple on screen seemed to burn with desire

herself grow hot. She had never been more aware of Rufus's body against hers. If she were watching alone, she

her even more tightly

god, what am

brother,

let myself give in to

up. Rufus was caught off-guard and fell to the

eyes fill with hurt and confusion

can't do this!" the woman shouted.

couldn't. Morality, responsibility, even sanity forbade

his clothes out to hide his disappointment.

be open to a relationship with him for as long as she was

coming so close to crossing the line, Cassandra would not sacrifice

deeply to calm himself down, he stated gently, "It's quite late now. You can sleep here tonight and go home in

and paused, as if having

of the cabinet, in case you want to lock the room. You never know, I might turn into a werewolf and come to

the mood to laugh,