A Graduation Gift

Cassandra sighed. Rufus was being too persistent, and she knew there was nothing she could do but give in. He wouldn't change his mind once he had set it on something. "Do you really want to know? Are you sure about that?"

Cassandra asked, her eyebrows knitted in challenge as she looked up at Rufus who was pinning her down on the couch.

"Of course. I won't let you go until you tell me," he insisted, mirroring her earlier by raising his eyebrows himself.

Seeing the stubborn expression on his face, Cassandra took a deep breath, thinking where to begin.

"Get off me first. I can't talk properly like this. I won't escape, I promise. Then I'll tell you everything."

It was hard for her to breath with Rufus lying on top of her, his solid body framing hers. If she was going to be telling him everything, she had to get him off first. He was already distracting enough from a safe distance. They were so close that she could almost feel the flutter of his eyelids.

Rufus, damn him, of course knew it. The blush coloring her cheeks as she turned sideward to avoid his eyes told him more than enough. Deciding to tease her, he moved a bit, holding up the upper side of his body with both arms and raising his chin a little.

"Here you go. This is more than enough space. Tell me now."

He lifted a hand to her chin and forced her to look at him. "I'm waiting, Cassandra." He grinned wickedly at her as his eyes twinkled with mischief. With his arms around her, Cassandra was effectively trapped.

She knew that he would not let her go until her answer satisfied him. This bastard!

"Fine! It was a little boy, my first love …"

But before she could proceed, she was interrupted by Rufus.

"It definitely wasn't a girl," he said, fighting back a chuckle and trying to keep a serious expression. "Please get to the point. What was his name?"

his eyes at her, as if a beast focusing on its prey.

I

voice in her embarrassment and

held a torch for him and never let him know?" Rufus found himself

he didn't expect that it was to the point of

"Maybe..."

and Rufus almost could not believe it,

did he look

to know more. That boy must have been very handsome, otherwise Cassandra wouldn't have had feelings for him

that 'beautiful' isn't normally used to describe what

rose from her eyes as she talked, as if

good-looking, gentle and tall! I hardly reached his chest

her lips as she spoke. Rufus didn't miss the soft curve of her lips. A myriad of feelings weighed in his chest as he watched her. It was almost painful. He fixed his eyes on her

was ridiculous that he, a grown man, would be this jealous

out, unable to stop

almost embarrassed after hearing himself say it, but he found himself waiting

her waist when she just

me!

it was ridiculous. It was he who forced the truth out from her, but in the meantime, he didn't want her to say anything good about her first love. He was

said simply, then leaned close to her ears. "Or else …" he whispered, trailing one of his hands dangerously down her

the

hurried to raise her arms in

alright! I get it. I won't stop until you know everything. So