CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68

Cassius stood by his window. It wasn’t close to sunrise by any means, but he had returned for the day.

Why?

For Rose.

She seemed so clingy and scared.

Not the usual fear that showed when she feared he would do something to hurt her, but the kind of fear that showed her reluctance to leave his side.

He looked back at his bed and stared at Rose’s sleeping figure, wondering why and how she chose to love him.

Now, it was difficult for him to go with his plan for her; how could he? When she was being so... adorable.

He sighed, turning back to gaze out of the window.

Tonight has been quite eventful, from Felonious’s lair to the meeting with the elders. He thought of his uncle and clenched his fists.

He knew his uncle was ambitious, but he didn’t realise that Jaroslav had gotten ambitious and greedy. His actions were becoming more rancid, gathering people to hurt Rose just to get to him.

He was never going to let anyone hurt Rose, whoever tried would have to face him. He protected everything important to him with everything he’s got... including Rose.

Somehow, she had managed to make herself an important person in his heart, and, once someone made it there, there was no going back from it.

He knew what Jaroslav wanted, and he would slowly let him unravel himself in his stupidity.

"Cassius," Rose’s whisper got to him, chasing away every disturbing thought in his head.

He slowly turned and saw her sitting up in bed, her hair over her shoulder as her silk, white nightdress contrasted with her black hair.

She was beautiful... and she was his, only his.

"Can’t sleep?" He questioned as he held himself back from going over to the bed, he wasn’t in a rush to give in to the longing he felt.

Longing meant attachment, he didn’t want to get attached.

Rose nodded, not looking away from him for once.

"Why?" He asked.

"You. I want you to hold me. It feels lonely..." She slowly raised her hand to her shoulder and gently combed her hair with her fingers.

Cassius muttered very quietly under his breath; Rose was going to be the death of him.

He slowly walked over to the bed and got into his side of the bed, "I’m here now," He said in a gentle voice.

Rose stared at him, contemplating whether she should go to him or not. She didn’t want to overwhelm him with her growing attachment.

Cassius sighed when he saw that Rose wasn’t moving toward him. He shifted closer to her and placed his finger under her chin, "I’m here now," he repeated in a tender voice.

Rose blinked up at his face, staring into his green eyes, "Can I?" She raised her hand to his chest, barely touching him.

Cassius held her hand and gently drew her into his arms, "You don’t have to ask before you touch me, Rose," He whispered as he hugged her.

Rose was cuddled in Cassius’s arms, her head resting on his chest and her heart pounding slowly from what Cassius had said.

She couldn’t bring herself to believe it, she wasn’t going to get ahead of herself, "I..." She stopped, shaking her head at herself.

She should remain quiet and enjoy the little privilege of being in his arms.

"Rose," Cassius called softly, his hand slowly moving along her curves.

Rose bit her lip as she raised her face to look at his.

"Yes?" She answered.

"I said, you don’t have to ask for permission before you touch me. You can just do it if you feel like it," His voice was more of a whisper, his eyes portraying his complex emotions.

"Why?" Rose asked, trying to lift herself off him but he held her tightly.

"You love me, don’t you?" He buried his nose in her hair, closing his eyes.

Rose smiled, "I do..." She replied.

"Then that gives you the right over my body, Rose." He caressed the side of her face, leaning his face down to hers.

"What about you? Do you love me, too? Loving you is not enough... not enough for you to let me... I need to know you feel something for, me, too. Even if it’s not love," She said.

Cassius breathed in, staring at Rose’s face as if he were searching for his answer on her face.

"I can’t answer that, Rose." He said.

"I know," She chuckled.

"I was just asking," She smiled and lay her head back on his chest.

Cassius rested on his velvet headboard, staring at the window.

He couldn’t tell Rose that his emotions had changed. It wasn’t love... yet, but it was close.

She was the only person who made him want to have any sort of relationship with another person. He wanted to be the one to make her smile, not cry; he wanted to be her protector, someone she could trust, she wanted to be her home, just as she was his.

Yes, Rose has become Cassius’s home; she always made him feel the most comfortable, her little defiance to his orders served as a refreshment to him, he was used to people bowing at his feet but Rose came along with a little challenge...

Somehow, he had found himself attached to her. Her body, her scent, her blood. He couldn’t imagine himself with someone else and he definitely couldn’t think of Rose with another man.

"Are you alright?" Rose asked as she noticed that he’d been quietly staring at the window for a long time.

Cassius blinked away from the window and gazed down at her, "Yes, you should sleep." He whispered.

Rose shook her head and lifted herself from his body, sitting beside him.

"You don’t want to sleep?" Cassius furrowed his brows.

Rose nodded, "You don’t speak harshly to me anymore, you... you make love to me, not just sex; you let me sleep in your bed, you want me around you even if you don’t say it," She paused and gently swept her hair over her shoulder, "You care about me when you think I’m going to die or if I’m sick." She leaned her head on the headboard and shut her eyes.

"That’s not a master-slave relationship, Cassius," she whispered.

Cassius hasn’t blinked since Rose started speaking; his eyes were locked on her face, each of her words hitting right inside his heart, awakening those stubborn feelings that refused to surface

He moved closer to her, "What is it then?" He questioned, his arm sneaking around her, pulling her closer.

Rose opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him, "I think it’s love, Cassius. I think you love me," She held his gaze, daring him to deny it.

Cassius gulped, his arm tightening around her, "What if I do?" He asked, lowering his face to hers, and his eyes glowing an emerald green.

"Why do your eyes glow this way sometimes?" Rose’s finger traced his brow.

"When I’m jealous, affectionate, or longing for someone’s affection. It’s rare," He whispered.

Rose smiled, "So which one is this? You’re definitely not jealous right now, handsome; you’re either longing for my affection or giving it?" She smirked at him.

"Answer my question, Rose. What if I loved you, what would you do?" Cassius asked, his lips a breath’s width away from hers.

"I’d be... I don’t know, happy? Having someone you love love you back is the best feeling, I guess," She wanted to kiss him but he moved his face away, causing her to frown.

"I can’t love you, Rose," Cassius said.

"I think you do, Cassius," She took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. "It’s not that hard to admit your feelings. Just say you love, let me show you how it truly feels to love," She whispered, kissing the side of his face.

Cassius chuckled, "You want your freedom," He murmured.

Rose blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?" She asked.

"You want to hear me say it and hold me to my words; not happening," He smiled at her, a genuine smile for the first time.

Rose chuckled, "You’re smiling," She straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I’m not holding you to your words, Cassius. I know you said you’d set me free the moment you say those words to me. But, trust me, I’m not holding you to your words. I just want to hear it from you. Reassure me, Cassius, I’m not going anywhere, I promise," She whispered into his ear.

Cassius held her waist, "I don’t believe you, Rose. I can’t tell you what you want to hear. I don’t want to lose you." He placed his forehead on hers.

Rose bit her lips, frowning.

"Fine. Goodnight." Rose murmured and leaned away from him, but she didn’t move off his thighs.

Cassius held her down on his lap, turning her face to him. "You promise?" He looked into her eyes.

Rose slowly nodded, "I’m not going, unless you ask me to," She replied.

Cassius gulped, suddenly feeling nervous as he stared at Rose’s eyes.

"I’ve never said it to anyone... not now, not in my previous life," He took a shaky breath.

"Then let me be your first," She encouraged, her heart pounding loudly in expectation.

Cassius slowly leaned in and kissed her; slow, deliberate, passionate.

Their tongues rolled in their familiar sleek motion, breaths mingling.

Rose released a slow, quiet moan, breaking away from the kiss and holding Cassius’s face in her hands.

"I’m waiting, Cassius," She whispered, breathless from the kiss.

Cassius kissed the side of her lips, "I... I love you, Rose, my little human," He spoke in a very soft tone.

Rose’s breath hitched in her throat, she blinked twice and hugged him, sighing blissfully, "I love you, too, Cassius, my dark prince," She murmured.

Cassius found himself smiling, feeling very fulfilled and... happy.

Rose was his.

"You’re mine now, Rose. I’m never letting you out of my sight," He kissed her neck, his arms possessively wrapped around her.

She was basking in his love, quietly lying in his arms; she was in love with a vampire, a dead Prince, and she couldn’t have asked for anyone else.

"I’m not going anywhere, Cassius. I promise," She replied softly.