Roswell Fanatics

Title: The Littlest Princess (Sequel to The Unwanted Prince)
Rating: ADULT
Category/Pairing: C/C, with M/L, M/M, and I/A and Z/V
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended, cause I'm just a poor college student and can't offer you anything other than a ford contour and an apartment that I don't actually own.
Summary: Hi gang, as promised, the sequel to The Unwanted Prince. Trust me, you guys are in for an interesting ride.


PS-To the mods, Thanks for catching me. I promise to be good from now on.



Look at my amazing banner by Dreaming in Purple. Her work manages to astound me everytime! I love you dear
Part 1

The Littlest Princess

“Oh Cameron,” Jessica Stapleton moaned as she came down from the sexual high created by Antar’s notorious rake Cameron Guerin. She was lucky to get a man like him into her bed and it took her a great while before he had finally succumbed to her charms. Not that she ever thought he wouldn’t. Cameron was a tireless lover who sought to please her any way he could, but only in the bed room. Cameron wasn’t one for flowery displays of affection, especially in public.

Cameron sank down into the overly perfumed sheets of Jessica’s bed, finally stated after the vigorous evening. Jessica Stapleton was gorgeous, mysterious and insanely tempting with her lush body, jet black hair and violet eyes. Jessica was a ravenous woman who pleased him nightly, but she was quickly becoming too attached. Cameron wanted lovers, not loves. He wanted flings, not wedding rings and especially not with the likes of Jessica Stapleton. She was a barracuda of the most vicious kind. It was her tenacity that had first drawn him to her, but it was that same tenacity that was turning him away.

“Cam?” Jessica asked as she snuggled into the crux of his arm. Cameron flinched at the nick name. No one called him Cam except for one person, and that person hadn’t spoken to him in years.

“Don’t call me that. You know I prefer Cameron,” he scolded her. He disentangled himself from her arms and reached for his black pants.

“I’m sorry Cameron. Please forgive me. Don’t leave just because I said that,” Jessica grabbed at his arm and tried to pull him back toward the bed. Then a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” Cameron called. A boy about the age of 15 stumble in the door and Jessica gasped and quickly dove under the covers to hide her nakedness. She was shocked at Cameron’s audacity, that he would let her be viewed by some common boy with no respect to her person. The thing Jessica didn’t know about Cameron was that he didn’t respect her, not in the least. He couldn’t respect a woman who actively sought to cheat on her husband and reveled in the deception.

Cameron rose up to his impressive height of 6’1” while he quickly pulled his black riding pants over his lean hips. Cameron was the spitting image of his father, General Michael Guerin with the same rugged good looks but he had his mother, Maria’s, strikingly beautiful eyes. Their bluish green gaze made women melt on the spot.

The boy handed Cameron the sealed envelope and Cameron handed the boy some money for his trouble. Cameron opened the letter and read the contents quickly, folded the scrap of paper, and picked up his jacket.

“Cameron, are you leaving?” a confused Jessica asked. What was in the letter that made him reach for his clothing so quickly?

“Good evening Jessica,” was all he said as he left the room and a very angry naked debutante fuming in her bed.

He followed the boy out to the front yard to find a carriage and Jamie leaning on the door with his standard casual posture. Jamie was 3 years his junior and at 23, he was slowly following in Cameron’s footsteps. Jamie was the oldest son of Cameron’s father’s best friend Prince Zan and next in line to the thrown after Princess Cassandra, only daughter of King Maxwell and Queen Elizabeth.

His thoughts drifted to Cassandra, or Cassie he had called her most of his life, or at least the parts of it she would speak to him. Cassie had been a gangly young girl with a spirit for living rivaled by few. She had requested to train right next to him when he was in warrior’s training, and while there were parts of it she was excluded from, she could fight with the best of the soldiers and could best a good deal of them.

Then Cassie and Cameron turned 16 and everything had changed. The King and Queen were having a grand ball to celebrate their birthday’s which were only a month apart and the bomb was dropped on both of them. Their parents had decided to betroth them and they would be wed during the month between their 20th birthdays.

Cameron ran that day and never looked back. He wanted to experience life, not be stuck marrying a girl he considered more of a sister than anything else. He had left for his parent’s summer home and refused to come out of hiding until his parents got this whole betrothal thing out of their systems.

Cassie had been crushed, but she didn’t let it show. She thought Cameron would make an ok husband, considering they had been such good friends as children, but his swift and dramatic rejection of the idea of marrying her convinced her otherwise. She sent him a short message that read ‘I release you Cameron.’ That was all it said, and that was all it needed to say, although it did break his heart just a little. He didn’t want Cassie to give him up, he just wanted some freedom, but sacrifices had to be made in his pursuit of selfish gratification. Then he learned that Cassie had run away as well, going off to school and he hadn’t heard from her ever since.

“Jessica Stapleton, huh?” Jamie asked with his eyebrow arched in question. Jamie looked every inch like his father Zan, with dark black hair, dark mischievous eyes and cocky grin.

“Shut up Jamie,” he said a he climbed into the open coach door directly behind him.

“We wake up on the wrong side of a wanton’s bed?” Jamie asked with a smirk.

“What’s wrong with my mom?” Cameron dodged the question with another.

“She’s sick, and I mean really sick Cam, but that isn’t the only reason you’re being called home,” Jamie explained. Cameron cocked his head at Jamie, looking for an explanation. “Cassie’s getting married.”

TBC…

I just want to warn you guys that this part is going to be rather sad. If you are a strict Maria lover, then don't read this, because this will really upset you. Just know that while this story starts out sad, it will have a happy ending I promise!!! Ok, you have been warned. Proceed to part 2...

Part 2

Cameron sat there in stunned silence. Cassie was getting married. Who was this guy that could ever measure up to a girl like Cassie? Did Max and Liz actually agree to this? They must have since he was being told Cassie was getting married, not that she had brought a guy home to meet the folks.

“Did you hear me Cameron?” Jamie asked. Cameron was taking the news differently than he had expected, but then again, he had always been rather stoic, just like his father.

“Yeah I heard you Jamie. How long will it take us to get home?” he asked.

“I’m hoping no more than a day, 2 tops,” Jamie replied.

“Good,” was all Cameron said as he leaned back against the cushion of the coach’s seats and stared out the slit of the drawn curtains, watching the landscape fly by as he was carried back to the place of his childhood, a place he hadn’t seen in 10 years.

----------------------------------

They arrived the morning of the second day and Cameron was greeted at the door by his father, General Michael Guerin. Cameron’s father was now in his early 50’s, but he was still an intimidating man. He and Cameron stood eye to eye at 6’1” and if you didn’t know them well enough, you could mistake the men for brothers. To say that Michael had aged well was an understatement. The general stood in full military regale with his royal blue military uniform and chest full of medals, waiting to receive the son he hadn’t seen in over 10 years. It had taken Michael many years, much soul searching and constant encouragement from Maria to finally bury his anger at his son for running away. Michael had tried to do the same thing himself when he was younger, but Maria had reined him in. Cassie wasn’t like that, she had too much of Max and Liz in her.

“Hello son,” Michael said in his usual stern tone, but what shocked Cameron the most was when his father reached out and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re home. Your mother has missed you desperately.”

Cameron didn’t know how to react. The General, as Cameron had often referred to him, was not a man to show affection, but here he was, hugging him like he was afraid he’d disappear if he let go. He quietly smiled at the General’s comment about how is mother had missed him. He was still the same old steely bastard.

“I missed her too dad,” Cameron said as he hugged his father back. Michael would understand what he meant, even if others didn’t. The Guerin men had a way about them that was all their own.

“Cameron!” came a shrill shriek as a mass of blonde curls and flowing pink skirts rounded the main door and went flying for his arms. Michael had to jump back before he was run over by the exuberant girl.

“Abby,” Cameron said as he scooped up the bouncy 19 year old girl. She had all their mother’s spunk and fire and she was the apple of his father’s eye. She had grown up so much from when he had last seen her. She had only been 9 when he had left and back then she had been a little girl. Now she was a full grown woman and as much as Cameron hated to admit it, she looked absolutely stunning. He prayed she hadn’t started dating, because he wasn’t ready to get locked away for murder just yet.

Abby was born Abigail Amy Guerin when Cameron was 7 years old. He loved his baby sister and often he and Cassie had often taken care of her for his parents. She was an ambitious child and made for a never dull day. Cameron was glad to see that fire still burned brightly in his little sister, even now as a young woman who should act like a grown up, but was much more comfortable just acting like the giant kid she was.

“How ya doing little sis?” Cameron asked her. She looked up into his eyes and saw the tears streaming down her face.

“Better now that you’re home. It’s been too long Cammy and Mommy’s really sick. Cammy, I’m really worried about her,” Abby told him as she nuzzled into his dark blue jacket that smelled like his familiar scent of sandalwood and juniper. She had always felt safe with her big brother, and now that he had grown up, she was convinced he could save the world, just like her father could.

“Can I see her?” Cameron directed the question to his father standing in front of him, who was trying not to look right at the scene his daughter was creating. Thankfully Jamie had known better than to try and ruin the moment and jump in on the Guerin family reunion. He had made a hasty exit and left them to their current issues.

“I think she’d lop off my head if you didn’t,” the General smiled. His wife was one strong and independent woman and it had been all he could do to keep her in her bed instead of coming down to greet Cameron. Cameron disentangled Abby from his arms, picked up his pack and entered the palace with Abby on his arm and his father behind him.

“Cameron?” Maria’s weak voice rang out from the bottom of the stairs. There she stood, frail and fragile as frosted glass in a dressing gown, clutching the banister like it was her only life line.

“Mother,” Cameron gasped as he dropped his bags and rushed to her side and caught her just before she fell off the stairs. Cameron scooped her up into his strong arms and turned to his father.

“First room at the top on the left,” the General instructed him. His face was as white as a ghost when he saw Maria at the foot of the stairs, teetering precariously and he would have caught Maria himself but Cameron was just a bit faster than he was. Michael wrapped a quietly crying Abby under his arm and pulled her up the stairs after her mother and brother.

Cameron found the room quickly, skipping several stairs with each step. His mother felt like she weighed nothing at all, and Maria had always been a very vivacious and voluptuous woman in her prime. Now she looked like a porcelain doll that Cameron was afraid to hold too tight for fear he would crush her.

Cameron laid her gently on the bed and Maria stared up into his greenish blue eyes that were glazing over with tears at the sight of his strong and confident mother lying helplessly on what looked much too much like her death bed. Cameron sat down on the bed and Maria reached out her pale arms and he laid his head down on her chest.

“It’s ok sweetie. I’m fine, just a little tired,” Maria just tried to sooth him as she felt his body shake with bottled up emotion. He quickly pulled himself upright. He hadn’t acted this way since he was 12 years old.

“What did the doctors say mother?” Cameron asked the dreaded question, but he knew getting it out of the way would be best.

“Just like your father,” Maria chuckled softly, which sent her into a string of deep throated coughs. Abby and Michael had reached the room in time to hear her coughing and Abby ran around the bed to pat her back and ease the pain, “Those doctors seem to think I’m sick or something, but what do they know. I plan on being out if this bed in a few weeks and prove them all wrong. Tuberculosis isn’t as serious as they keep saying it is and besides, Maria Guerin never met a sickness she couldn’t defeat. I’ve beaten the common cold countless times and they still don’t even know how to cure that. I’m quite sure I have one up on the lot of them.” Maria smiled that engaging smile that reminded Cameron of the woman his mother really was. Under all the pain and sickness, Maria Guerin was still alive and kicking, trying to fight her way out.

“Well, then I see no reason for you to be in this bed, if you plan on getting better so soon,” Cameron played along with her. If his mother was going to be in denial, he could humor her.

“I keep telling your father and sister that, but they look at me like I’ve sprouted a second head. I mean, how many times a day do I have to explain to them tuberculosis doesn’t make you sprout heads, it’s makes you cough, geeze,” Maria laughed again and thankfully this time she didn’t cough like she had the last. The coughs that had racked her body earlier looked painful, “It’s good to have you home son. Just like your father, better late than never.” Maria reached out to him again and he hugged her close to him. His mother had always had a way about her that just made you want to smile no matter what. He was sure that was why a stony man like his father had fallen for her so long ago. No one was immune to Maria’s charm.

“I’m glad to be home mother. I’m sorry I’ve been gone for so long,” and he was. He honestly missed this place, all the memories and all the good times with Jamie and Abby and the twins, Ronny and Robby Whitman, and Cassie. He missed Cassie the most. She had been his best friend and the only person he could laugh with and not worry what she thought about him.

“Honey, let me get Cameron settled into his room and you can see him later. Besides, it looks like you could use a little rest, especially if you plan on getting out of that bed in a few weeks,” Michael smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Cameron noticed this and knew the gravity of his mother’s condition in that instant. Maria was not getting out of this bed and no matter how stubborn she was she couldn’t fight this. Cameron was grateful for his father’s insight to know that he would need to be alone for a while. He would need time to come to grips with many realities and he had a very short time to do so. Cameron planned on making up for every last second of his absence no matter if his mother would live for the next 20 years or the next 20 minutes

TBC…

See, I told you, sad

Part 3

Cameron entered his old room and stared in awe at just how little it had changed. His four poster bed still had the same dark green comforter and his mahogany desk was still in the far corner. His dark green furniture and rugs were still in the same spot he had then arranged as when he had left. It was like time had stopped in his room. The other thing he noticed was the lack of dust on the furniture. Someone was in here diligently cleaning this space, expecting him to come back at any second.

He felt his eyes mist slightly. When he had left, he had intended to come back at some point, not after a long ten years. Part of him asked himself if it was worth with it. All the things he had missed, his parents, Abby growing up. He couldn’t get those back, and for what, so he could drink in excess and sample women across the countryside. Sure, he had enjoyed himself, but at what expense. Just what had he given up? He might never fully know, but he was going to change that right now. Like the conviction he had made about his mother, he would try and regain the family and the memories that he has so selfishly ran away from. Cameron was so deep in thought that he barely heard the some one enter the room and begin to riffle through his old desk.

“Could you please come back and clean in here later. I just got home,” he said in a rather exasperated tone, figuring it was the cleaning staff.

“I’m not here to clean Michael. I just need to get something out of Cameron’s desk and I’ll be on my way,” Cassie replied insulted. Michael didn’t miss details, ever, and he would have known it was her. What was with him?

Cameron slowly spun around, knowing that voice anywhere, no matter how much it had matured. He stared at her as she bent over his desk in a pale blue day gown and her long brown hair swept back into a loose French twist with several tendrils falling around her face. Her creamy skin looked so soft he could almost feel it and her feminine body was the most tempting thing he had ever witnessed. She must have heard his gasp of surprise because she turned to look at him and he found himself staring into her striking charcoal outlined amber eyes. Her long lashes fluttered in recognition and she stood up to stare open mouthed at the man she hadn’t seen in over 10 years.

Cassie was shocked. Cameron looked so much like his father that it took her a minute to make sure it really wasn’t Michael, but there was no mistaking those eyes. Those eyes that had been her childhood fantasy for some many years, the same eyes that the thought of had made her cry for years after his departure. She took in his strong build and his eloquent dress and was impressed with the man she saw before her. She would have enjoyed looking at him more if the very sight of him didn’t make her want to turn and run away crying.

“Cassie?” Cameron asked. He watched her look him up and down and didn’t miss the mix of emotions playing across her face.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I came home to see mom,” he told her. Both of them stood rooted in place, not sure how to handle this situation and not sure who should make the first move.

“Oh, of course. I’m sorry to hear about how sick she is. Uncle Zan told me yesterday,” Cassie said, looking down at the floor. She should have known he was home to see his mother. She shouldn’t have even let the thought that he might be home to see her cross her mind. She was engaged for goodness sake.

“Cassie,” Cameron crossed the room and pulled Cassie into his embrace, doing something that every molecule in his body told him to do, while every sane thought in his brain told him he shouldn’t. He could see Cassie was uncomfortable and he couldn’t take it anymore, “I’ve missed you Cassie,” he breathed over the top of her head because he was a good 7” taller than her.

“Don’t Cameron,” she said pushing away from his strong arms, “You can’t just come home and expect everything to be forgiven. You may be the prodigal son to Maria and Michael, but I have no such delusions. I’m an engaged woman Cameron, a woman you don’t even know because you couldn’t be bothered to get to know me.”

“I’m sorry Cassie, I really am,” Cameron told her, reaching out to her. Cassie took another step back.

“Too little, too late Cam. 10 years too late,” she said as she wiped at her eyes that were threatening to spill over. She didn’t want him to see her tears. He didn’t deserve them, not after the way he left. Cassie could be just as calloused as him.

“Cassie” a melodic male voice called from the hallway as it entered Cameron’s room. A tall, dark haired, brown eyed man who looked to be in his late 20’s and well off from his cloths and stature came up behind Cassie and circled her waist in gesture that couldn’t be called anything but possessive, “You were gone for so long I was getting worried you might have gotten lost in your own home,” he said with a bright smile, thinking himself genuinely funny.

“Thank you Dirk,” Cassie said smiling and reaching up to place a kiss on his cheek. Cameron could see that the smile was forced and he flinched slightly at the kiss.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Dirk asked, looking Cameron up and down, sizing him up.

“Cameron Guerin,” he said extending his hand toward the man who had himself wrapped around Cassie.

“Dirk Jenson, Duke of Shillington,” Dirk replied, taking his arm from around Cassie to shake Cameron’s hand, “Was this who you were…?” Dirk asked Cassie.

“Yes, this is who I was telling you about. Cameron is one of my very good friends from growing up,” Cassie explained.

“And if the story is correct, it’s you I need to thank. If you hadn’t decided to go off and seek your independence I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to meet Cassie and figure out that she’s the woman of my dreams,” Dirk teased good naturedly. Cassie looked slightly taken aback by his comment, but when Dirk looked down at her she hid it well.

“Umm, maybe we should go and let Cameron get settled in, honey. It’s been a while since he’s been home and he probably has things he needs to do,” Cassie turned and pulled Dirk toward the door.

“Nice to meet you Cameron,” Dirk said, waving as they left. Cameron’s parting thought was that he wished he could say the same.

TBC…

Part 4

“Dirk, I’m not feeling all that well. I think I’m going to go up to my room and rest a bit,” Cassie told him.

“You want me to come with you?” Dirk asked suggestively, pulling Cassie tighter to him.

“No, I’m really not feeling well, and don’t make me remind you that I won’t do anything like that until we’re married,” Cassie scolded him as she wiggled free of his arms.

“I know,” Dirk joked, “I was just kidding around sweetheart. I’ll make your apologies at lunch and I’ll see you at dinner. Would you like me to have something sent up?”

“No, thank you, I’ll be fine,” Cassie said as she turned toward her room, dodging the kiss she was sure Dirk was going to try to give her. She just didn’t want that right now, not after those things he said to Cameron. It was one thing to think those things about her and Cameron’s past, but it was another to say them. Cassie had told Dirk just how much Cameron had hurt her and he had told her that he understood. Well, he must not have, because he joked about it like it was nothing. Just a misunderstanding or something trivial.

Cassie reached her room and went straight for her bed, burying her face in the pillows and crying like she had wanted to do ever since she laid eyes on Cameron Guerin. Why would he come back now, after all these years and all the times people had tried to bring him back? His mother must be worse than what her Uncle Zan had told her. She hoped Maria wasn’t dieing, but that was what everyone seemed to be thinking. She might as well push the wedding back, because no one would want to celebrate with Maria so ill. It’s a good thing the wedding isn’t for another full month or Aunt Isabel would freak. Sure she’ll freak anyway, but better to sacrifice her hurt feelings for everyone else’s heavy hearts.

Cassie thought back to Cameron and just how much he had changed. He was the spitting image of his father, but his mother’s beautiful features were present too. He had been cute as a 16 year old boy, but now, he was a beautiful specimen of a man. No wonder he had cut a wide swath with the ladies of the neighboring kingdoms. No woman could a resist a man who oozed sexiness like Cameron Guerin.

She shouldn’t be thinking such things about Cameron she scolded herself. She was engaged to a very wonderful and good looking man. Dirk was the perfect match for her and everyone had told her so. She knew she should be more enthusiastic about marrying him and she knew she was lucky to get a man a sweet and caring as him, but she just couldn’t bring herself to think of him as anything other than sweet and caring. She didn’t look at him with lust and she told him that she loved him, but she really wasn’t sure. After Cameron had broken her heart, she wasn’t sure if she had the ability to love anyone.

With that thought, Cassie cried in earnest over the things she had lost and the predicament she currently found herself in.

-----------------------------

“So, I hear you met Duke Dirk,” Jamie teased Cameron as they rode through the back acreage. Cameron really needed to relax and Jamie insisted on the ride.

“Yes, I have. He seems like a good enough guy. I’m sure him and Cassie will be happy together,” Cameron replied.

“Yeah right, ok. You don’t need to lie for my benefit cuz. I’ve met him, remember,” Jamie teased sarcastically.

“All right you caught me,” Cameron laughed, “He does give me the creeps just a little.”

“Just a little!? The man makes everyone in the family unbelievably uncomfortable, just no one wants to admit it to Cassie. Your mom came close to saying it one time, but Aunt Liz managed to redirect the conversation in time,” Jamie told him.

“So Liz and Max don’t like him? Why are they letting her marry him then?” Cameron asked.

“Well, no offense, but they figure they messed up so badly the last time they tried to get Cassie to marry that if they messed with this one, she’d run off again. It doesn’t do much good to try and change Cassie’s mind when it’s made up. You remember how stubborn she was growing up. Well, now she makes a mule look like tame little pony,” Jamie joked. Jamie’s ability to joke about everything never ceased to amaze Cameron.

“Well, if it’s any cancellation, I realize now just how stupid I was to run off like that. At 16 it seemed like such a good idea,” Cameron admitted to Jamie.

“Hind sight is 20/20 cuz,” was all Jamie said as they turned their horses back toward the castle.

------------------------

“Cameron?” Victoria called out to him as he and Jamie entered the dinning room, “I didn’t know you were here! Why didn’t I know he was here?” she looked over at her husband and back to her her son accusingly.

“Hey, it’s news to me sweets. I’m just finding out too,” Zan said holding up his hands in defense. Jamie just shook his head at his mother’s and father’s antics. They always jabbed back and forth, but loved each other deeply.

“Well, I don’t care if you did or didn’t. Come here honey,” Victoria said getting out of her chair and opening her arms to him. Cameron walked into her embrace and hugged her back. He had forgotten just how short Victoria was and now he dwarfed her, “It’s so good to have you home.”

“I’m glad to be home,” he told her honestly. Liz, Max, Zan, Isabel and Alex all got up and hugged Cameron in turn and they finally sat up at the table and dinner was brought in. Cassie and Dirk finally made their entrance and sat quietly at the end of the table. Neither one of them looked overly pleased to be there. This didn’t go unnoticed by Liz.

“Sweetheart, are you feeling alright?” she asked Cassie.

“Umm, yeah mom, I’m ok,” Cassie said with her eyes down cast, studying the wood grain on the table like it was the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

"Is there something else bothering you dear?" Liz asked.

“I want to umm, that is, I think it would be best if we pushed the wedding back a bit,” Cassie struggled to tell them. This was harder than she thought it was going to be, especially with all of them looking at her like this and Aunt Isabel looking so hurt.

"You want to what?" Isabel gasped.

“We don’t need to honey, but if that’s what you want then we will. Are you sure you want to push it back?” Max asked her. He knew she might do this, especially if Maria turned for the worse like she had in the last few days. Cassie had such a big heart and would think about everyone else’s feeling before her own. Apples really don’t fall far from the tree.

“Thank you daddy. I’m sorry everyone, but I’d feel better if we did,” Cassie replied. Dirk mumbled under his breath, but didn’t fight her on the subject.

TBC…

Part 5

After dinner, Cassie quickly excused herself to her room, trying to avoid the questions she knew would come barreling at her. She made it to the stairs before a hand reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her into a darkened room and pressing her against the wall filled with books.

“I don’t like being made a fool of Cassie and I don’t want to push this wedding back, but I know I can’t force you into it at the end of the month so I’ll wait. But know this Cassie; I’m not going to wait any longer than 2 more months,” Dirk hissed in her ear in a voice so menacing that it sent chills down Cassie’s spine.

“Dirk, you’re scaring me. Let me go,” Cassie cried out and tried to struggle free.

“I’m not trying to scare you; I just want you to know your place woman. I’m the man and I call the shots. Once we’re married, you’ll learn to be obedient and to show me some respect. I’ll give you this little victory, but after tonight, don’t try to pull anything else. I’m warning you Cassie,” Dirk wrestled her back against the wall, pinning her with his strength.

“Dirk, please stop, I’m sorry. I was thinking of Maria. Please Dirk, you’re hurting me,” Cassie pleaded with him.

“Fine,” Dirk said releasing her, tucking her arm under his, “But go straight up to bed sweetie. You weren’t feeling well this afternoon and I don’t want my sweetheart sick,” he said for the benefit of Cameron who he heard coming close to the door of the room he had captured Cassie in. He kissed her on the cheek and pushed her toward the stairs. “Sleep well my love.”

Cassie just ran up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. The farther away from Dirk she was at the moment, the better off she would be.

“Cameron, so good to see you again. Are you all settled in?” Dirk asked him as he made his way down the hall toward him.

“Yes, I’m all settled,” Cameron told him, extending his hand out to shake Dirk’s. Dirk stuck his hand out and vigorously shook his.

“Would you care to join me in the men’s lounge for a drink?” Dirk asked him.

“I could use a bit of Zan’s fine brandy,” Cameron said, clapping Dirk on the back and turning toward the west wing of the castle.

--------------------------------

“Sorry to hear about the postponement son,” Zan said, puffing a cigar in a large overstuffed leather chair. This was Zan’s haven. It was a man’s room with dark thick furniture and mahogany bookcases.

“I am too, but it’s what Cassie wants and I don’t have the heart to press,” Dirk told them with a voice laced with sincerity.

“So, when are you rescheduling?” Jamie asked, setting his cards down on the poker table in the center of the room. He was locked in a game with Cameron and Charlie, Victoria’s brother who had just come to visit for a few weeks and had gotten in after dinner. Charlie was now 32 and stood at an imposing 6’3”. He was a very handsome man had done well for himself. He had gone on to get his degree in architectural design and now worked for the monarchy, designing new buildings and often free lancing for private projects. Charlie had married a few years earlier to a lovely girl named Tyra and she had just given birth to a lovely baby girl.

“I’d expect no later than 3 months from now,” Dirk said with confidence. He knew Cassie wouldn’t try and back out of the restriction he had put on her little postponement if she knew what was good for her.

“That’s not much of a wait. Do you think Cassie will want to marry that soon?” Zan asked him with interest.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure she only meant a little bit of a push back, not a whole year or anything silly like that,” Dirk told them.

“So, is that all the time you’re giving my mom?” Cameron asked, slamming his cards down on the table, making the chips jump and the glasses rattle.

“No, that isn’t what I meant,” Dirk tried to defend himself.

“No, that’s exactly what you meant. Excuse me if I’d like to think my mom will live a little longer than 2 months,” Cameron challenged as he rose from the table, knocking his chair backward.

“Cameron, I honestly didn’t mean,” he tried.

“Yeah well, who cares what you meant. I’m not stupid Dirk. Just because I haven’t been around for the past few years doesn’t mean I can’t still pick up on the signs you seem to have obviously missed. Cassie postponed your wedding because she doesn’t want to be celebrating while the rest of us are busy grieving. Show some respect for your future wife’s astute awareness of the situation we unfortunately find ourselves in,” Cameron raged. This man was thicker than fortress walls.

“I know why she did it. I’m just saying that I don’t think we should wait around. I want to marry this woman and a little celebration could do you all some good,” Dirk stood his ground with Cameron.

“Who do you think you are? You think you can just waltz into this family and then decide what we need around here,” Cameron yelled at him.

“I’m just following your sterling example Cameron,” Dirk threw back at him.

“You’re dead,” Cameron pushed the table over and charged at Dirk. Charlie quickly stood up and got in front of Cameron as he barreled toward Dirk. Jamie got in front of Dirk and held him back with Zan jumping in the middle.

“Alright boys, that’s enough. Chill,” Zan told them, holding his hands up to try and block the 2 of them, “I think we’ve said a few things we really didn’t mean. Make amends, and do it quick.”

“What ever Zan, I don’t need this shit. Tell Duke Jerk over there to get his head out his ass,” Cameron cocked back at Zan.

“Yeah well, you need to get over yourself buddy. I may not be part of this family, but I will be soon enough and unlike you I won’t run off the minute I don’t like something,” Dirk challenged back. Jamie and Charlie were having a hard time keeping the 2 men back.

“F*ck off!” Cameron yelled at Dirk.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Max asked as he entered the room. He had heard the shouting and came quickly to see what was wrong.

“Oh, 2 pin heads just getting out some aggression,” Jamie said pushing Dirk backwards as both he and Cameron stood down from their macho display.

“Anyone want to tell me what this is all about?” Max looked back and forth between Cameron and Dirk. Cameron just turned on his heel and brushed past Max, going toward the stairs to his room. Dirk left out a side door, leaving the occupants of the room rather confused as the tense situation diffused with the exodus of the aggressors.

“Ok, no more late night brandies for those 2 idiots,” Jamie commented.

“Here, here,” Zan and Charlie called out, raised their glasses and threw back the last of their drinks.

----------------------------------------

Cameron climbed the stairs, still fuming over the altercation with Dirk. That guy just didn’t know when to shut his mouth. He was a cocky bastard and Cameron was just the man to make him eat his words. God, what did Cassie see in this jerk?

Cameron passed Cassie’s door and saw that the door was open a crack with a little bit of light streaming out. He knew he shouldn’t stop and that Cassie was probably long asleep, but he just couldn’t stop himself. He had been shocked by her loveliness this afternoon and worried about how fragile she looked during dinner.

He leaned close to the door and looked in to see a candle lit, casting light across a large 4 poster bed. Cassie lay in the middle and her body and was curled up in the tight ball. Cameron could hear slight sobs and the sounds of crying coming from the room.

He opened the door slowly and looked upon Cassie as she cried for the second time that day. Dirk had never attacked her like he had today and now she was really afraid of him. He acted like a crazy man. Cassie didn’t hear Cameron enter the room and didn’t stir until she felt the bed dip with new weight.

“Please go away Dirk,” Cassie said in a small withdrawn voice.

“You insult me Cassie,” Cameron whispered.

“Cameron?” Cassie asked as she sat up in her bed, “What are you doing here?”

“I saw the light on and I heard you crying. I just wanted to see what was wrong,” he explained to her.

“Cameron, you shouldn’t be here,” she told him, looking nervously at her now fully closed door.

“I used to visit you in your room all the time Cassie,” he commented.

“That was a long time ago Cam, and things have definitely changed,” she tried to tell him, but it didn’t look like he was getting off of her bed.

“I really am sorry for that Cassie. I hope you know that. I wish I knew then what I know now. I never would have left,” he admitted to her. The words had been lingering in him for years, but he had been too afraid to utter them.

“I wish you hadn’t left either Cam, but you did and you can’t change that now. I’m sorry, but you can’t turn back time,” Cassie tried to explain to him.

“I know I can’t Cassie, but I wish I could. Instead I need to cherish the future that I have now that I’m back with my family and my friends,” he told her, “I want to be in your life again too Cassie.”

“I don’t know if I can do that Cam. I wish I knew, but it’s just been so long,” she told him. Cam was ripping her apart inside. She wanted to believe him but her heart was still raw from the pain he had inflicted on it for ten long years.

“Forget the past Cassie. I want to be apart your future,” he told her, cupping her upturned face. He wiped at the tear stain on her face with the pad of his thumb, tenderly caressing her face.

“I can’t forget the past Cam. It still hurts,” she reveled in his tender touch. His hands were so large and his skin was rough but soft at the same time.

“I just want you to forgive me Cassie. Please forgive my foolish youthfulness and give the man I’ve grown up to be a chance before you pass judgment,” Cameron pleaded with her.

“I’ll try Cam, but you have a lot of sins to atone for,” she laughed a little. She looked down at her bed spread and her eyes followed the dent to the strong pair of masculine thighs that were resting on it. Her gaze traveled up his broad muscular chest and his slight stubble on his strong chin, past his chiseled cheeks and straight to his amazing eyes. They had always captivated her. They held so much expression and meaning and at this moment, Cassie could read the sincerity in them, but there was something else. Passion was lurking in those deep blue green eyes, passion unlike anything Cassie had ever seen. Sure Dirk and other men had looked at Cassie with lust and wonder, but never passion and it had never affected her like it did now. She could almost feel herself drowning in them.

Cassie leaned closer to Cam, captivated by his green gaze, his soothing voice and his stark sincerity. Cam moved his hand to cup the back of her head and bury his hand in her now freed dark silky tresses. He closed the distance, pulling her closer to him and capturing her full lips in a tender and breath taking kiss. Cameron pulled her closer to his hard body and held her tight as he kissed her like no man had ever kissed her before.

Cassie’s head was spinning. Every nerve ending in her body was on fire with the heat of this kiss and she knew deep down that she shouldn’t be letting him kiss her, but she had dreamt of this kiss her entire life and now that she had it, she couldn’t stop it. Cam deepened the kiss and stared to explore her tempting mouth with his expert tongue. “Oh Cam,” Cassie sighed as she pulled him closer.

Then a loud knock came from the door…

TBC…

The plot thickens

By the way, Icequeen and Earth2Mama, damn you're fast!!!

Part 6

Cam pulled back quickly and looked down into Cassie’s wide scared eyes. The knock came again and they could hear the knob being turned as the person tried to enter.

“The privacy curtain, quick,” Cassie whispered to Cam and he jumped off the bed like he was being shot at, ducking behind the privacy curtain in the far corner of the room and quickly blowing the candle out behind him. Cassie made sure you couldn’t see him behind the curtain as she made her way toward the door to open it. Behind it stood a slightly worried King Maxwell.

“Is everything alright Cassie?” Max asked his daughter as he kissed her cheek.

“I’m fine daddy. I just locked the door by accident,” Cassie told him, and made sure it was loud enough for Cameron to hear it.

“It’s just you seemed so upset at dinner tonight and I wanted to check on you. I want you to know that we don’t have to push the wedding back sweetheart. I know you’re doing this for Maria and her family, but your happiness is important Cassie and I want you to be happy,” he told her as he sat down in one of the small lounge chairs in Cassie’s room. Cassie took the chair facing his. The candle light in the room cast a deep glow throughout the room and she could see the deep shadows in her father’s worried face.

“No, I think it would be better if we waited. I want to give Maria time to get better before we marry. I want her to be alive and well when I walk down the isle. She has been just as much if not more of an aunt as Aunt Isabel and Aunt Victoria have been to me,” Cassie explained to him.

“Cassie, I honestly don’t know if Maria is going to get better. I wish with my whole heart that she will, but she has been so sick for so long and she just gets worse by the day. It might be better to marry now, so that she is guaranteed to see it,” Max told her with a very heavy heart. Maria had been his friend since he was sixteen years old and he couldn’t imagine a life without Maria. She had been the glue that had kept them together for so many years and the only person who could make Michael truly happy.

“Daddy, I don’t want Aunt Maria to die,” Cassie said, burying her head in her hands as the reality of losing such an amazing woman washed over her.

“Come here sweetie,” Max said and Cassie moved into his lap. A girl was never too old to be held by her daddy and that was just what she needed right now, “I don’t want Maria to die either sweetie, but we have to face that it could actually happen. I know she would want to see you get married and if she felt better, she’d be so busy helping your Aunt Isabel plan it right now you would be pulling your hair out, but we don’t have that luxury right now honey. I want you to think about that before you finally decide to push back the wedding.”

“Ok daddy,” Cassie sniffled, “Thank you,” she said as she got off his lap and he rose from the chair.

“I had better get to bed. I’m sure your mother is frantic wondering where I am,” Max joked as he kissed Cassie’s forehead.

“I’m sure mommy is long asleep by now daddy,” Cassie smiled at him.

“You’re probably right. Good night sweetheart,” Max smiled back at her and turned to leave, “Oh, and tell Cameron he can’t start his late night visits again now that he is home. You’re an engaged woman and it isn’t right.”

“But how?” Cassie asked, surprised that her father knew Cameron had been there the entire time.

“Because Cameron was the only one who ever locked your door,” Max said as he left the room, leaving a stunned Cassie and a speechless Cameron in her room.

Cameron had been listening to the entire conversation and it had been hard for him to hear Max talk about his mother’s impending death like that, but it was the truth. Max always had a way about saying what really needed to be said, but without hurting those around him with the truth of his statements. It was a great talent and it made him and even greater king.

“Umm, you had better leave Cameron,” Cassie said, not even able to look at him now that the heat of the moment wasn’t upon her and she was once again thinking clearly.

“I’m sorry Cassie. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that,” Cameron apologized. This entire situation had turned out way different than he thought it would. He hadn’t really known how it was going to turn out, but he was sure it wasn’t anything like this.

“No you shouldn’t have, and you shouldn’t have come into my room late at night. It just isn’t right Cameron. I’m an engaged woman and I can’t have you coming and going from my room when ever you please,” Cassie said with her hand on the door knob, waiting to pull it open.

“Are you trying to convince me or are you trying to convince yourself Cassie?” Cameron asked. Cassie’s eyes flew up and looked at his casual pose as he leaned on her bed post. He looked like he naturally belonged in the bedroom, like he was in his element. He wore sexiness like a second skin and he made Cassie’s heart race just looking at him.

“You,” she snapped at him, “I happen to know quite well that I’m engaged,” Cassie threw back at him. Cameron pushed off from the bed post and moved toward her like a big cat stalks his prey. His grace and power made her momentarily forget to breathe as he closed the distance between them.

“You could have done better than him,” Cameron casually accused her.

“You’re right Cam, I could have, but you never gave me the chance,” she told him as she slammed the door in his handsome face.

-------------------------------------
The next morning, Cameron woke up bright and early and went for a brisk ride to try and gather his nerve to go see his mother. It was getting harder and harder to come to terms with the fact that she was dieing, but he was running out of time to dance around the subject.

Cameron headed back to the castle and after a quick bath, he headed to his mother’s room to try and spend some time with her. After her little stroll through the house, she had been so worn out that she could hardly hold her head up. Michael had refused to let anyone near her for fear it would overdo her.

He entered her room and found her sitting up in bed with a large mug of hot tea in her hand. He coloring still wasn’t as good as it could be, but it looked better than it had. She was dressed in another night gown and her hair had been done already this morning.

“I had hoped you find your way to my room this morning,” Maria commented over her mug of tea.

“And like the good son that I am, I did exactly that. How are you feeling this morning mom?” Cameron asked her as he pulled up a chair next to her bed.

“Oh, still a little tired. Your father keeps yelling at me for walking through the castle the other day, but I wasn’t going to sit in this god forsaking bed while my baby boy finally came home,” Maria told him with a voice filled with determination, “You know, you should have come home a long time ago.”

“I know mom, I know,” Cameron told her, hanging his head. His mother always said exactly what she was thinking and went straight to the heart of the matter.

“So, have you met the Duke yet?” Maria asked him as she took another sip.

“Yeah, I’ve met Dirk,” Cameron replied in a voice that sounded his displeasure and dislike of Cassie’s fiancé.

“So I take it you like him about as much as I do?” Maria asked amused.

“Less if possible,” Cameron commented.

“Well, I hope Cassie wakes up and see what a colossal idiot he is and breaks this farce of a wedding off,” Maria told him.

“She did decide to push is back last night, and Dirk didn’t seem too pleased about it,” he told her.

“Good, maybe Cassie does have some sense after all,” Maria smiled, “So, when are you going to make your move?” she asked him.

“What?” Cameron asked his mother, shocked beyond words.

“I might be sick, but I’m not stupid,” Maria told him with a look on her face that told him he should have known better. There never was and never will be keeping anything from his hawk of a mother. She knew things were happening long before they had begun.

“I can’t do that mom. She’s engaged,” Cameron told her, shaking his head.

“Yeah, to a pompous idiot,” Maria scolded him, “She likes him about as much I like being sick. She was and has always been in love with you, and just like your father, you were way too thick to see what you had right in front of you. Sometimes I worry that more of your father went into you than was good for you. Cassie doesn’t have the same tenacity as your dear old mom, and I didn’t let some wayward Guerin man turn me down. The only reason she let you leave was because she thought it was what you wanted, because it would make you happy. It didn’t mean she ever stopped loving you stupid.” Maria huffed at him. She was glad Abby had turned out like her. If Abby had turned out like Michael too, she would have spent her entire life unbelievably frustrated.

“Really?” Cameron asked his mother while rubbing the back of his neck, a sign that Maria had hit a nerve and gone straight to the heart of what was bothering her son.

“Yes honey, and if you were fortunate to get any of my brains, you would go after Cassie because she is the woman you were destined to love. Why do you think we arranged your marriage all those years ago?” Maria told him like it wasn’t any kind of new development.

“Why did you arrange our marriage all those years ago, mom? I still don’t know why you did that to us at such a young age.” Cameron asked her.

“Because even a blind person could see just how perfect you 2 were for each other and it was just a matter of time before you both realized it. I think Cassie realized it long before you did Cameron, about 10 years before,” Maria explained to him.

“God, I am an idiot,” Cameron said, hanging his head, disgusted with his stupidity and his blindness. He had been so selfish as a youth and it had cost him the most wonderful thing in his life, Cassie’s love, “What can I do mom? I screwed up everything.”

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step in Mama Maria’s 12 step Get Cassie Back program,” Maria told him with a bright grin on her beautiful face, “Now, here’s what you need to do…”

TBC…

Let me just say, if you didn’t hate Dirk before this part, you will after it.

Part 7

Cameron went to bed that night with his mind whirling with ideas and plots, scheming ways to get Cassie to notice him, maybe even give him another chance. His mother was quite frankly a genius and devious to boot. No wonder his father had never stood a chance against Hurricane Deluca as she was so often referred. The woman knew all the tricks and that very thought made him wonder about how Grandma Amy got Grandpa Jim. He knew they had been married after he was born, but he was sure his mother had learned a thing or 2 from his grandmother and he cringed to think what Abby may have picked up along the way. The men of this world weren’t safe with Deluca women running around.

-----------------------------

Cassie wandered out to the garden the next morning, needing to clear her head and collect her thoughts. After a full day of pondering she still hadn’t come up with a clear answer for many of the questions floating around in her head. What had been wrong with Dirk? He had never done anything like that to her ever. He had always been nice and gentlemanly, but then again, they had never had a disagreement before. Cassie had never questioned him, just going with whatever he said, because it usually agreed with what she wanted. This unexpected turn of events was definitely alarming, but not nearly as alarming as Cameron kissing her. It wasn’t the same kind of alarming and that was what worried Cassie the most. She had liked his kiss and if they hadn’t have been interrupted by her father she feared it would have progressed to something she would definitely come to regret.

At least, she knew it was something she was supposed to regret. Dirk had never kissed her like that, never. She had been so moved in one kiss that she felt like her entire universe had been flipped upside down. Cam had made her toes curls and her blood sizzle and curse her for being a horrible fiancé and wanton but she wanted him to do it again in the worst way.

Cassie was dressed in a plain sage green dress and a cream colored apron, with a cream bandana to hold back her hair. She bent down into her floor bed and began to tend to her group of award winning roses that she took over from her Aunt Isabel many years ago. Isabel still fussed and fumed over the roses, even through they were Cassie’s responsibility, but Cassie didn’t mind. They were her pride and joy and no one could take them away from her.

“Cassie, I was told I might find you out here,” Dirk called as he came up behind her. He was, once again in perfectly pressed and hand tailored cloths that had never seen a speck of dirt or been exposed to anything but pampered rich living. His dark hair was slicked back and his spotless riding boot reflected the morning sun, “Cassie, what are you doing on your hands and knees in the dirt like this?” he demanded.

Cassie was elbow deep in fresh soil as she pulled the weeds and tilled the soil around her precious roses. Her face was covered in dirt smudges from wiping a stray lock of hair that kept falling in her eyes and her apron had dirt all over it from her wiping her hands on it in an attempt to clean some of the dirt off them before she went after that tenacious curl. “I’m tending my roses Dirk. Aren’t they lovely?” she asked him. They were just starting to bloom and she knew that before long it would be time to cut a few and make bouquets for the palace. She loved the smell of fresh roses throughout the grand estate and it made her even more proud of her labor of love.

“My god Cassie, you’re filthy. Might I remind you that you are a princess and princesses do not wallow in the dirt like common livestock. There are servants and gardeners for this sort of work. Leave such tasks to the lower like it should be,” Dirk reprimanded her, pulling her up by her arm and standing her up in front of him for his inspection.

“Dirk, these are my roses and I like to take care of them myself. I don’t mind getting a little dirty. It’s actually quite fun. You should try it once,” Cassie looked up at him in surprise from his tone. She didn’t know where he was coming from with this little tirade. It sounded like he was already getting himself worked up and over something as insignificant as working in her garden.

“Surely you jest Cassie. I would never seek enjoyment in slopping in the filth of the ground and neither should you. I’m taking you into the castle where I will present you to your mother and then she’ll order you to bathe this rubbish from your royal skin. Princesses and future queens do not dirty themselves with peasant practices and I fear your family has yet to instill this knowledge into your wayward mind,” he scolded her as he pulled her toward the house.

“Dirk, what are you doing? I was just working with my garden, and frankly my mother knows full well that I “slop in the filth” as you so rudely referred to it. I take pride in my roses and I’m not going to give up something that makes me as happy as my roses do just because princesses aren’t supposed to get dirty,” Cassie snapped back at him as she dug her heels into the ground in disobedience. What was wrong with him and where did this nonsense about princesses can’t get dirty come from?

“It’s worse than I feared. Did your father teach you nothing about being royalty?” Dirk commented as he rolled his eyes and his grip tightened on her forearm.

“Let got of me Dirk, you’re hurting my arm,” Cassie told at him. She knew he was going to bruise her worse this time. In just a few short days, Dirk had managed to bruise her thoroughly and it was all she could do yesterday to cover the matching one on her other arm. Almost every person in the castle had asked her if she was feeling alright, because it was unbearably hot yesterday and she wandered about with long sleeves on.

“I wouldn’t have to if you would just do as I tell you to. I know what’s best for you Cassie and you need to accept that. Now, be a good girl and quite struggling. You have a bath awaiting you and then I need to change because you have ruined one of my favorite jackets,” Dirk complained. Cassie looked down at the spot he was referring too and found a small speck of dirt on it that would wash out easily, but to him it was the end of the world.

“I’m not done in my garden. If it bothers you so much, leave. I’ll bathe the instant I’m done and then I’ll come and find you after I’ve cleaned up, but I’m busy right now and I’d like to get back to my roses,” Cassie told him, trying to wiggle free of his hold.

“I said NOW Cassie, I will not ask again,” Dirk pulled her viciously against him, looking into her eyes with a look so fierce Cassie feared it would haunt her nightmares for years to come.

“No Dirk, let go of me,” Cassie struggled to get out. Now she was frightened out of her mind and Dirk showed no signs of relenting his position.

“How dare you, you stupid little woman,” Dirk hissed, shaking Cassie forcibly and jarring her hair loose from her hair wrap. Her dark locks tumbled forward and covered her startled face.

“Stop Dirk, please stop, please,” Cassie pleaded with him.

“Cassie?” a voice rang out over the garden. Dirk picked his head up and saw a tall dark blond head coming this way over the trellises of the garden. No doubt it was that hot head Cameron who always seemed to turn up at the most inopportune moment.

“Don’t you dare say anything,” Dirk hissed under his breath, right into Cassie’s ear. His tone was so menacing that Cassie began to visibly shake from terror. Dirk was getting scarier by the minute and she had no idea what to do. If she had just listened to him about getting that bath he wouldn’t be doing this right now, but no, she had to go and upset him. If she would have just done as he said none of this would have happened.

“Cassie,” the deep voice called out as it drew near. Cassie knew it was Cameron coming upon them and she breathed a sigh of relief. Dirk’s grip on her arms lessened to a light caress and he pulled her into his tight embrace. “Cassie?” Cameron called out again.

“Oh Cassie, how I love you,” Dirk called out, knowing full well Cameron was rounding the corner the minute he said it. Cassie felt Dirk tense as he said the words, waiting for Cameron’s inevitable gasp of shock.

“Oh god, I’m sorry,” Cameron gasped out as he came upon what appeared to be a lover’s tryst in the middle of the garden. Cassie was dirty and disheveled and the whole scene looked questionable.

“No, I’m sorry Cameron. I just can’t seem to keep my arms off my future wife. She just looked so beautiful out here in the garden, the sun on her face and the earth all around her. I just couldn’t resist,” Dirk commented nonchalantly. Cassie blushed from ear to ear, hardly believing that Dirk would say such a thing about her, making her look like she was some wanton hussy. The thought of her and Dirk doing something like he was implying in the garden, in full view of others made her shudder with disgust. She could never be so brazen, “Are you getting chilled my love? I told you it was too cold for such things,” he said winking at her, “You should head into the castle and get washed up. I promised to take you out for lunch and so I shall. I’ll see you in an hour?” Dirk asked.

Cassie just stood there, mouth hanging open in utter shock. He had just implied a million things with that comment, not the least of which was that she had wanted to do something out here, in the open in the middle of the day, where anyone could happen upon them. How could he do something like that, and in front of Cameron? She would never live down the shame of a comment like that.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes. I’ll see you in an hour my love,” Dirk said, brushing her hair out of her face and kissing her cleaner cheek, but cringing as he did. Cassie didn’t miss the quiet moan of disgust he uttered, or his subtle wiping of his mouth after he kissed her and rounded the corner. Cassie looked over at Cameron who looked about as shocked as she did, especially since he had basically been told he had interrupted an afternoon romp in the gardens.

“I’m sorry Cameron,” Cassie hesitated, “It wasn’t what it looked like. I was just tending to the roses.”

“Is that what they are calling it now a days?” Cameron brazenly asked. He was utterly shocked and scandalized.

“Cameron!” Cassie shrieked in outrage, “I mean it, we weren’t doing anything.”

“You don’t have to lie to me Cassie. I know full well you’re engaged. You told me so yourself. What you do with your fiancé isn’t up to me. You don’t need my approval,” Cameron told her, turning his back on her. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. From all angles it looked like he had just walked up on Cassie and Duke Jerk rolling in the yard and if he had been a few minutes later, he would have seen much, much more.

“No, Cameron, please,” Cassie said running after him and grabbing him by his elbow. He turned around and looked down at her lovely, smudged, flushed face. She looked so fragile and pure, covered in dirt and smelling of roses and soil, “Cam, I swear it wasn’t like that. I don’t know why Dirk said those things, but I don’t want you to think what I know you are thinking about me.”

Cameron looked down into her large amber eyes and their beauty always managed to make his heart race and make his body react. He surveyed her body and found her lips to be the same slight fullness, nothing like they had looked after he had kissed her last night; which would have been a sure sign of what Dirk had been trying implying and for that matter, Dirk wasn’t even remotely dirty. If had been as close to Cassie as he had said he was, he would be covered in dirt. Just from Cassie’s hand gripping his elbow he had more dirt on him than Dirk had on his entire body.

“I believe you Cassie. I know you wouldn’t do those sorts of things,” Cameron finally admitted as he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Cassie better than that, or at least he thought he did.

“Thank you Cameron,” Cassie said, leaning up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek and at the last second, Cameron turned his head and captured her lips in a tender kiss. Cassie knew she should have pulled back, but she just couldn’t. Cameron’s kisses were like the world’s most potent drug and she was quickly becoming addicted. Cameron moved to wrap his arms around her waist when Cassie gained her senses and stepped back.

“I just got done defending myself from a situation just like this. I don’t want to have to do it again,” Cassie told him looking him right in the eye. She knew Cameron was dangerous and he was quickly flooding her mind and clouding her good judgment.

“I know, I’m sorry Cassie,” Cameron told her, “Would you accept my apology in the form of a dinner out, purely as friends,” Cameron said holding up his hands in defense when she gave him a speculative gaze questioning his true intentions.

“I don’t know Cam,” Cassie replied with her hands on her hips, trying to access him.

“I promise Cassie, just as friends. Please?” Cameron asked her innocently, batting his eyelashes and smiling like a goofball. Cam could always make her laugh, even in the most serious of moments.

“Oh alright you big cad, but just as friends,” Cassie finally gave in with a laugh, shaking her head at his antics.

“I’ll see you at seven then,” Cameron turned to exit the garden, but quickly turned back to look at her, “And I think you have done an amazing job with Isabel’s roses. They’ve never looked better,” and with that he left her to smile to herself over his praises.

--------------------------

Dirk had been standing in the shadows, eaves dropping on the entire conversation and he couldn’t see them kiss but he was sure that was what Cassie had been referring too after her one comment. How dare she be unfaithful to him and in the middle of the family garden like that? He was just going to have to prove to her not to cross him like that ever again.

TBC…

Dirk is an abusive bastard and I can relate to poor Cassie, having gone through a boyfriend like Dirk myself. Thank god I got away from him. There will be some scary stuff for our poor Cassie in this fic because abusive men just don’t know when to quit, so I warn you all now. It will get worse before it gets better.

On that somber note, Happy New Year All!!! I hope it turns out to be better than all the other years you have had and all the things you have been hoping and wishing for come true. My wish is to capture a live specimen known as the elusive Jason Behr, or in Latin (Sexious Behrous). I know it was spotted at the end of this year, I’ve seen the photos to prove it. (Still jealous Tuesday!)

I look forward to another year with all over you as friends and readers and I thank you all for a full year of support, including my nomination for The Unwanted Prince. Congrats to those who won the Best Dup category. It honestly was an honor just to be nominated! Thanks also to my good friends Tuesday and Steph. I love you girls, you rock!

Keep laughing, keep loving and keep reading,

Katie

Thanks for waiting gang. Sorry I was gone for so long. It seems like the only time I have to myself is when I'm sleeping, and even then my BF is there half the time. Oh well. This new part is really long and rather steamy. I know you guys will like it. Let me know what you think and thanks again for waiting for my sorry butt to update. Love you all tons!!!!

Ok, on to Part 8


Part 8

“What to wear, what to wear?” Cassie mumbled to herself as she dug through her closet. She had a million dresses, but none of them looked even remotely appropriate. She had flung nearly 20 on her bed that hadn’t looked quite right and she was sure she was going to loose Abby in the mountain of material she was creating.

“Why are you so worried about what you look like?” Abby asked her in a muffled voice as she tried to dig out of the heap of satin and silk, “You’re just going out to dinner with Cam right?”

“Well yeah, but I haven’t been out with anyone in a very long time,” Cassie told her, “I mean I met Dirk the first few months I was at school and Dirk isn’t much for going out, so we always ate at his town house and I didn’t really have too much time for friends at school because I spent so much time studying or with Dirk, so I haven’t been out anywhere to just go out in a very long time.”

“Dirk never took you out for dinner?” Abby asked incredulously.

“No, he doesn’t like to go out to crowded places and he always told me that he didn’t want to share my beauty with every other man in the place, he wanted to keep me all to himself,” Cassie told her with a smile in her voice. She had always thought that had been super romantic of Dirk.

“If you ask me that sounds ridiculous and cheap!” Abby voiced her opinion.

“I thought it was romantic,” Cassie turned around to look at Abby who was looking at her with her eyebrow cocked up in skepticism.

“I think it’s creepy. Not wanting to share your beauty, more like not wanting to share you sounds more like it,” Abby remarked, “Why didn’t you have any close friends at school Cassie?”

“I told you, I was so busy with studying and then Dirk always wanted me to come over, so we spent a lot of time together. Besides, he didn’t think very much of a few of the girls I had classes with and I didn’t like to hear him and them fight so I just stopped talking to them. I didn’t like to upset him with their presence and he didn’t like it when I talked about them. He was sure they were just using me for my friendship because I was a princess,” Cassie explained to her.

“I stand corrected, THAT is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” Abby said getting off the bed and staring Cassie down with her hands on her hip and a posture that would remind anyone of her outspoken mother, “Didn’t want to take you out, didn’t want you to have any friends, didn’t want you going anywhere but his house. This all sounds really suspicious to me Cassie. Did he control everything you did? Did he tell you what to wear and how to cut your hair? I bet he even told you when you were allowed to come home and visit. Did he even ask you to marry him, or did he just decree that little detail too?”

“Well, Dirk was the one who had to look at me, so I figured I’d look the way he wanted. He was always so happy when I wore the dresses he liked, so it made me happy. What’s so wrong with that?” Cassie sounded like a confused child. She didn’t really understand why Abby was so upset about Dirk, but by her tone, she was talking to Cassie like she was a full blown idiot.

“I can’t believe you!” Abby screeched and threw her hands up in the air, “You let that man walk all over you, control you and turn you into his own personal puppet and you wonder why you can’t make a single damned decision on your own. It’s because you haven’t made a decision in years. Can’t you see that he is controlling you?”

“Dirk doesn’t do things like that. I make my own decisions all the time. Honestly Abby it isn’t like that,” Cassie tried to tell her, but Abby wasn’t hearing it.

“You know what, I’ll go get Dirk and he can help you pick out your dress. I’m sure he’ll be really thrilled to hear you’re going out with Cameron tonight,” Abby threw at her over her shoulder as she made her way toward the door.

“No, Abby, don’t,” Cassie plead as she grabbed Abby’s arm before she could make it to the door, “You can’t tell him. He wouldn’t understand. Cameron and I are trying to rebuild our friendship and Dirk doesn’t trust him. He would insist on coming along and it would ruin the whole evening.”

“Trying to hide liaisons from your fiancée Cassie?” Abby asked her, looking her square in the eye, “Fine, I wouldn’t tell Duke Jerk, but I want you to think really hard about this guy Cassie. Do you love him because he is the man you are meant to be with, or because he told you that you can’t be with anyone else?”

“Everyone else walked out on me years ago?” Cassie said hanging her head in defeat, “I’m lucky to get a man like Dirk. I’m not pretty and a marriage to me holds a lot of responsibility. Dirk is the only man who ever approached me. I scared all the others away,” Cassie told her, the hurt deeply laced in her voice.

“Yeah, well there are a few others who wouldn’t walk away from you Cassie, not again anyway,” Abby told her, pulling her dear friend into her arms for the hug she knew Cassie desperately needed.

“I’m afraid Abby. I can’t get hurt like that again,” Cassie whispered.

“But hiding behind a sham of a relationship won’t protect you either. It’s better to follow your heart now while you still have one. Dirk isn’t the man for you Cassie, but that’s up to you to decide. I can’t make that decision for you, no one can,” Abby told her.

“I know Abby, I know,” Cassie finally admitted. A big decision loomed in Cassie’s future, but what was the right choice. If she chose Dirk, she would be stuck in a loveless marriage that the only thing it offered was security, but if she chose Cameron, who knew if he would stay this time. It was better to have a man you don’t love than to love a man you can’t have.

----------------------------------

Cameron stood at the bottom to the grand steps waiting for Cassie to finally finish getting ready. He had told her 7 and Cassie was generally very punctual, but it was already 7:15 and he was starting to worry she was going to back out on him.

Then he heard the distinct click on feminine heels on the marble staircase and the swish of a full satin skirt. Cameron looked up and the sight before him took he breath away. Cassie wore a ruby colored dress with a scoped neck line that while modest, still showed off a tantalizing expanse of her creamy skin. The dress was fitted to her torso and hung in soft waves down to her feet. Her dark hair was piled up on top of her head in the fashion of the day with a few soft tendrils cascading around her angelic face. She wore very little make up except for a little charcoal on her eyes and some gloss on her lips. Cameron felt like he was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen reaching his brain.

Cassie smiled at him as she descended the staircase. He looked so unbelievably handsome in his emerald green coat and cream pants. His high black boots and the dress sword he often carried when he was in public finished off the outfit. He was freshly shaved and smelled crisp and masculine. His hair was still slightly damp and hung lightly over his soulful eyes. He also held a bouquet of red roses, tied with a dainty ribbon.

Cassie was sure that being this handsome was against every law of nature. She wasn’t sure she would survive a full night with a man that looked this good and not act on all the rash things she had been thinking most of the day. Her conversation with Abby had made things even more confusing and tempting all at the same time. Every time she looked into Cameron’s eyes, she forgot everything but him. She could hardly remember her own name let alone the man she was supposed to be marrying in less than a few months. No one compared to Cameron, but she still wasn’t sure if she could risk her heart to a man who had trampled it once already.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” Cameron managed to tell her as he extended his hand to help her down the last few steps. He wasn’t sure how he had managed to speak at all, but the bright smile Cassie gave him at his compliment made it worth it. He handed her the flowers and she moved them up to her face to inhale their exquisite scent. Her face was an expression of pure bliss at the gesture of the flowers.

“You look very handsome yourself and thank you for the roses, they are lovely,” she complimented him. Cameron bowed low and Cassie giggled at his antics. When she least expected it, he could always make her laugh. When they were younger, he had spent much of his time tagging along behind Uncle Alex and Uncle Kyle and their strange sense of humor often came out at the weirdest moments, “So, where are we going?” she asked him.

“It’s a surprise madam, but one I know you will enjoy,” Cameron told her cryptically. He reached for her wrap and draped it around her shoulders. He offered his arm to her and asked, “Shall we go beautiful lady?”

“Let’s!” She said smiling up at him.

-------------------------

The evening was some of the best fun Cassie had had in years. First Cameron took her to the Moonlit Ballroom, the most expensive and famous restaurant in the entire kingdom. They were offered a private cove away from the general public, but Cameron declined, telling the maitredee that he would rather sit where the whole room could see and be jealous of his beautiful date.

The meal was excellent and they spent the evening talking and laughing and just enjoying each other’s pleasant company. Then Cameron took her to her Aunt Victoria’s opera house where she was giving an exclusive performance. Victoria had opened her opera house a few years after her wedding to Zan and ran most of the day to day operations of the company. Only on select occasions did she actually perform, but when she did, the house was sold out with in minutes.

Victoria had given Cameron her reserved box and they watched the performance from the best seats in the house. Victoria had even dedicated the show to her lovely niece, causing Cassie to almost die of embarrassment. Auntie V had never been one for tact, but that was why they all loved her.

The ride home was comfortable and relaxed. Cassie sat next to Cameron in the coach with her head resting on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her back.

“I had a wonderful time tonight Cameron,” Cassie told him, “Thank you for taking me out.”

“I’m glad you liked it Cassie. I hope we can go out again sometime. I really enjoy your company,” Cameron told her. She felt so good curled up next to him like this. She smelled sweet and her warmth spread through his body like a soothing flood. She fit right in the crook of his arm, like she had been made especially to match him.

“Thank you Cameron,” she replied, “I enjoy your company as well. I haven’t had this much fun in years.” She snuggled closer into him, enjoying more than just his company, but also the feel of his strong masculine body pressed close to hers.

“I’ve missed you Cassie,” he whispered into her hair and lightly kissed her forehead.

“I’ve missed you too Cameron, more than you can ever know, but don’t finish your sentence. I don’t want it to ruin the night,” Cassie whispered back, holding the tears that blinked at her eyes at bay.

“I can’t help it Cassie. I have missed you, missed this. I’ve been stumbling around in my shallow existence, searching for meaning. How stupid I was! The very meaning I was searching for was the one thing I so foolishly ran away from. God Cassie, can you ever forgive me?” Cameron poured out her as he kissed her temple and nuzzled her dark hair.

“The day you ran away you ripped my fragile heart to pieces. I want to forgive you, but I cannot allow myself to trust a man who has already betrayed me once Cameron. What kind of a person am I that I go out with you, a man who is trying to win back my love when my loving fiancée waits at home for me to return? I am just as much a betrayer as you.” Cassie pulled away from him and buried her face in her hands and let the tears fall.

“Cassie, you cannot betray him because you do not love him. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice, feel it in your touch,” Cameron explained to her as he caught her chin and turned her tear streaked face to look up at his emotion filled eyes, “Cassie, you can’t love him because you love me.”

“I can’t love you,” she pleaded with him, “I can’t love a man I can’t trust and I don’t trust you Cameron, I shouldn’t.”

“I’ve changed; I swear I’ve changed Cassie. My whole life changed the minute I saw you again. I knew what I really wanted, and that is you. I need you so much Cassie,” Cameron told her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.

“Please don’t Cameron, I can’t, you shouldn’t,” Cassie begged him, but she knew she was begging in vain. She wanted him, needed him just as badly as he needed her and she didn’t want to love him, but couldn’t help herself. How do you stop loving the man of your dreams?

Cameron silenced her futile protests with his mouth as he swooped down and claimed her in a kiss the blew away all protests, all reason, leaving in its wake nothing but the feel of Cameron pressed tightly against her and the need to kiss him more. Cassie leaned into the kiss and parted her lips to give him the access he was seeking.

Cameron’s kisses had taken her breath away in the past, but this one threatened to steal her very soul. It held so much passion and desire that she feared the coach would burst into flames from the heat they were generating. Cassie ran her hands up his chest and buried her fingers in his silky hair, pulling his lips even tighter to her own.

Cameron reached under her and pulled her astride his lap. Cassie didn’t miss a beat as the haze of desire flooded over her senses and she just went with the moment. Cameron began to kiss down her neck and over the creamy skin of her neck that had been tantalizing him all night. Cassie threw her head back, giving him better access to her body and held his head tight to her flesh. His hands moved up the back of her gown and slowly undid the top few laces. He pulled down slightly and exposed the top expanse of her flawless breasts that were threatening to spill out of her corset. He kissed the swell of her right breast and she moaned at the contact. Cameron reached around and pulled the last of her corset down to reveal her right breast and the rigid nipple that was standing out in invitation to his mouth.

He closed his lips around the pink bud and Cassie nearly bucked off of him. It felt so amazing. No one had ever touched her like this. His tongue was doing things to her body that made her want to scream in pleasure. A distinct throbbing began low in her body. She kept rubbing her thighs against his groin in an attempt to east the tension and she noticed that with every rub if her lower body, Cameron’s grew against hers. It was very thrilling to think she had as much of an effect on him as he was having on her.

Cameron could feel her urgency, but he couldn’t do what she was asking here on the seat of a coach. She needed to be in a bed, surrounded by candlelight and covered in rose pedals. She needed to savored and treasured. Her soft feminine skin was so amazing and the movements she was making against his groin were driving him crazy. If he didn’t slow her down soon, he might not get that chance to savor her like he knew he should.

He reached down between them and undid the trappings at the juncture of her thighs. Thank god she had worn thigh high stocking and not the full pair. Cameron could smell her evident desire and could feel the building moisture against his straining erection.

“Cameron, what are you doing?” Cassie hesitantly asked. She had never been touched in that spot by anyone and even though she felt the pull and the curiosity, she was still afraid of what was to come next.

“Shh sweet Cassie, I know what you need,” he told her and kissed her silent as he ran his long finger over the lips of her sex. Cassie nearly jumped off him in shock of the electrifying touch of his fingers, but Cameron held her fast. His long finger pushed past her folds and found her damp well welcoming him. He probed her entrance and Cassie began to moan his name loudly, so he covered her mouth with his to keep her cries of pleasure from alerting the driver of their activities.

He pushed one long finger inside her tight body and she moaned deep in her throat at the pleasure he was giving her. It was like nothing she had ever experienced. She was sure it was sinful and wrong, but she wanted it to go on forever. He slowly withdrew the finger and then pushed it back in deeper, sending little bolts of pleasure through her body that made her toes curl.

Cameron picked up a steady rhythm of thrusts and withdrawals that had Cassie ridding his hand with vigor. Then when he pulled out of her body fully, Cassie moaned in protest, but the tone changed as he ran his finger over her ultra sensitive nub. Cassie didn’t know this part of her body existed, but it was now demanding Cameron’s undivided attention. The light flicks of his fingers were driving her mad with pleasure and kept pushing her toward some unknown precipice and felt like it was constantly just out of her reach. Cameron’s tongue plunged into Cassie’s mouth as his fingers plunged into Cassie’s yielding body and that sent Cassie fly over the edge of that precipice and straight into the heavens where the pleasure was so great that she could scarcely breathe from the force of it.

Cassie finally drifted back down to earth and looked into the face of the man who gave her more pleasure than any other person on this planet ever had. He wore a devilish grin of satisfaction and kissed her swollen, parted lips with his own.

She looked completely ravished and that’s exactly how she felt. Cameron had completely taken her over and she had let him. She looked down at her exposed body and her wanton position and gasped in the shock of the situation. She pulled up her bodice and scrambled to get back into her haphazard clothing. Her cheeks flamed at the memory of the liberty she had just given Cameron, ashamed with her rash actions.

“What is it Cassie, what’s wrong?” Cameron asked, reaching for her and trying to get her to stop fussing and return to his arms. What they had just shared was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced. She had come apart and presumably for the first time, in his arms and he had never seen a sight more euphoric in his entire life. He wanted to see that face beneath his own as he claimed her as his in his bed he dreamed they would one day share. No, Cameron Guerin would not be satisfied with one night of Princess Cassandra, not ever. He wanted her, needed her and would do anything to keep her. Cassie was as essential to his life as breathing.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Cassie asked incredulously, “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. I just gave liberties of myself to a man I’m not engaged to. On the contrary, I gave of myself to a man who thinks he can cloud my judgment by using my body against me. I never should have agreed to go out with you tonight Cameron. This was a bad idea from the start.”

“Cassie, don’t say that. You don’t mean that. I’m sorry I went too far, but I know you don’t mean what you’re saying,” Cameron reached for her.

“No, stay on your side of the coach sir,” Cassie said, putting her hands up to ward him off, “You have already done enough damage. I can’t believe I allowed myself to be wooed by the kingdom’s most notorious rake, Cameron Guerin, ‘the slayer of women’s hearts and the stealer of maidens’ virtues.’ God, I’m so stupid,” Cassie mocked him. She knew his reputation. Who didn’t? And she had fallen prey to his charms just like every other foolish woman in the kingdom.

“Cassie, please don’t say things like that. It’s not like that with you. I swear,” Cameron tried to convince her. Then the coach rolled to a stop and before Cameron could stop her, Cassie jumped out and ran for the castle, but before she reached the door, she turned to confront his approaching form.

“Stay away from me Cameron. I’m not some virtue-less woman who you can just melt to your will. I wish I could trust you, but damn it Cameron you just proved to me that I can’t and I can’t trust myself with you. Obviously you don’t respect me; else you wouldn’t have behaved the way you did. I am a princess Cameron, not some hussy, and by my royal order, I order you to stay the hell away from me,” she venomously threw at him. She was seething with anger over the whole situation and the only way to prevent this from happening again was to keep him at arms length.

“You can’t mean that. Damn it Cassie, I love you,” Cameron pleaded with her.

“Ha! Don’t say that and pretend you know what the word means,” she spat, “You wouldn’t know love if it smacked you square in the face. The only reason you want me is because you can’t have me. Well Cameron, now you understand what my 16 year old self went through. I loved you but I couldn’t have you, so I moved on. Do the same Cameron. It will save us a lot of problems in the end,” she said turning away from him.

“Cassie, I love you. I’ve loved you all my life but I’ve been too stupid to see it. Please don’t bring up my past transgressions. I don’t want to dwell on the past, I want to live in the present and plan for the future, the future I want with you,” Cameron reached out and placed his hands on either side of her face, trying to sooth the rage that was tearing through her tiny frame.

“So what, you’re asking me to marry you?” Cassie laughed as she removed his hands from her face and dropped them quickly, “You can’t ask an engaged woman to marry you and I can’t forget the past like it was nothing. I suffered for years from your vicious rejection. Dirk is the only man who has ever truly loved and cared for me. He won’t walk out on me in a year or 2 if things get rough or whenever things don’t suit his tastes. Can you make the same promises? No, you can’t, because the promises you make aren’t worth the shit you pile them on.

No Cameron, I don’t want a man who wants to romance me and waltz out of my life the instant he isn’t happy, and you and I both know that’s the kind of man you are. Stay away from me Cameron. I can’t bear the heartache that I know you are able to give for a second time in my life. I don’t think I’d survive it again,” and with that, Cassie opened the door to the castle and shut it in his face.

TBC…

Part 9

Maria was dead. The wailing of the people of the kingdom mourning for the General’s beloved wife could be heard deep within the palace walls. The same wailing was echoing throughout the palace as the royal family gathered by Maria’s bed side. Cassie found her mother sitting in the corner of the room in Maria’s favorite chair. She sat staring at nothing, silent tears streaking down her face with Jamie standing behind her. Abby was draped across her mother’s prone body, sobbing loudly and uncontrollably. Aunt Isabel kept rubbing her back while she wiped at the tears on her own delicate features.

The room was packed. Uncle Zan and Charlie were attempting to console Aunt Victoria. Uncle Alex, Kyle, Serena and Dirk stood off to the side, sharing quiet words. Michael stood in the window, silently watching the day begin, the first day in over 35 years that he’d have to face without Maria. Uncle Max just stood at his best friend’s side, knowing Michael didn’t want pity or all these tears, but also knowing the man was quietly dieing inside. He had been slowly doing so ever since Maria had become ill.

Many of the tear stained faces turned toward her as she entered the room, but the one person she wanted, no needed to see most was no where to be found. Cassie turned from the room, ignoring the voices calling for her to come back. She ran down the stairs, through the great hall and straight for the gardens, knowing exactly where to go.

She reached the arbor, his mother’s favorite place in the entire palace. Maria and Aunt Victoria used to sing to them as children and she would tell them stories by the hour. This was her sanctuary within the palace walls, surrounded by rose bushes and butterflies. She would say that this was the only place you could feel truly close to nature in the entire world.

There he sat, shoulders hunched, his body heaving lightly with sobs. He wasn’t a crier, he was tough, strong, but Maria’s death had crushed his resolve in one swift stroke. He turned to look at her and the sorrow and pain in his eyes said more than any words ever could. Her heart shattered at the sight. She had been standing stock still, waiting for him to see her, now she ran to him like her feet had wings. She threw her arms around him, needing to hold him more desperately than she had ever needed anything before.

“Cameron, Oh God Cam, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed as she finally broke down. She could feel him still silently crying in her arms. Cameron pulled out of her tight embrace and then enveloped her in his own. He rocked both of them, trying to soothe her with soft words, but his own voice wavered under the emotional onslaught.

“It’s okay,” he soothed, “She is in a better place now.” Cameron tried to be strong for bother of them, knowing that the sight of him so broken down had driven her to such sorrow more so than the reality of Maria’s death.

“Oh Cam, all those things I said. I want to take them all back. I didn’t mean them, I’m just so confused,” Cassie cried harder in his arms. She cried for his mother, their families’ loss, his broken heart and her own precarious situation.

“I know Cassie, I know. I’m sorry too,” he whispered into her hair.

She loved this feeling, of being completely enveloped in him. There was no where else that she felt so at home or so right. Cameron was the one piece in her life that she had been missing. Some part of her had always known that but just never could admit to it. Cameron tilted her chin up to look at him and wiped the tears off her face. Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Cameron leaned down and captured her lips in the most tender and loving kiss she had ever experienced. Her heart soared and her eyes closed as she gave herself over to his kiss, to him.

Cameron pulled back and Cassie sat there, eyes drooping slightly and sighed from the bliss she felt. Cameron could always do that, completely enrapture her with one little kiss. God how she loved him.

“Cassie? Cassie?” Dirk’s voice rang out over the garden, shattering the moment between them. “Cassie, where are you?” he called to her. Cassie had always thought his voice sounded sweet and melodic, now it sounded like nails dragging across a slate floor.

Dirk stalked into the arbor and dashed to her side. “Come my love, it is time,” he told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.

“Time for what?” she asked, utterly confused. Dirk didn’t even seem to notice Cameron sitting right there, but as she turned to look at him, she found his seat empty. She turned back to Dirk and he was dressed in sharp black trousers, a crisp white shirt and a tailored burgundy waist coat with a white rose on the lapel.

“Why time for our wedding Cassie, I don’t want to be late,” Dirk said as he grabbed her hand and proceeded to drag her along behind him. Cassie looked around her in shock as the scene changed and she was in the great hall in front of the high bishop in a white gown and her royal tiara. Flowers had found their way into her hand and Dirk was standing next to her.

Cassie looked at the room and all the people around her. Abby stood at her side and Cameron flanked Dirk. “Cameron, what’s going on?” she shouted. Cameron said nothing; he didn’t even look at her or acknowledge her presence. Cassie heard the bishop call out, “If anyone has any reason why these two should not be joined in the bonds of holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

She looked around the room, her mother weeping softly at the beauty of the ceremony, her father looking proudly on. The rest of the room was full of bright smiling faces with no intention of saying anything. She looked at Abby who wore the same bright smile as everyone else. Then she looked over at Cameron who was now hunched over, staring at the floor with a white sheet thrown over at him.

“Cameron, Cameron!” Cassie shouted, “Please say something! Wake up Cameron. Anyone, Please!” she yelled to him and everyone in the room, but no one moved. No one even noticed she had said anything.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the bishop told them and the organist began to play. Dirk pulled her close, but Cassie pushed at him, desperately trying to get away.

“Just kiss me sweetheart and then when we get home I’ll teach you some real manners,” Dirk’s voice changed from loving to menacing. Cassie looked up and his eyes were red and mean, his whole face twisted in a grimace.

“No stop, help, Cameron help me! NO!” Cassie yelled out and fell out of her bed. She looked down at the floor and took stalk of her surroundings. She wasn’t married to Dirk, Maria hadn’t died and she was safely tucked in her bedroom. She replayed the dream in her mind and realized 2 very distinct truths. She didn’t want to marry Dirk and she needed to find Cameron.

Part 10

Cassie untangled herself from her bed sheets, got up off the floor and made her way down to Cameron’s room. She pushed open the door slowly and found him sitting in his chair, a snifter of brandy almost completely drained. A glass sat on the stand beside him and his feet were propped up in front of a small fire in the fire place. He swirled the last of the brandy in his glass and threw it back, flinching from the burn it caused on the way down.

Cameron turned in the chair to look at her and snorted, “I’ve gotten so drunk, now I’m seeing things.” Cassie didn’t say anything. She just slowly closed the door and made her way to his chair.

“You aren’t drunk Cameron, I’m really here,” she told him as she reached out a tentative hand to rest it on his shoulder.

“If you really are here you shouldn’t be. It’s not right for princesses to be rooms with men they don’t trust,” he snapped at her.

“I’m sorry Cameron, I really am. I didn’t mean all those horrible things I said,” Cassie told him with a heavy heart.

“God, I’ve stooped so low that now I’m even fantasizing about your apology,” Cameron shook his head in disbelief. He looked like the long end of a bad road. His shirt was unbuttoned and his hair disheveled. His eyes were slightly glazed over from the brandy and he was only wearing one shoe. He stared down into the bottom of his empty glass, wallowing in his self pity.

“Cameron, look at me,” Cassie said softly. Cameron’s face turned up toward hers and he blinked his eyes in surprise and realization. She really was there, in her night gown, apologizing to him. He hadn’t dreamed her up.

“Cassie, you should get back to bed. We’ll talk in the morning,” Cameron told her. The only thing he really wanted to do was pull her in his arms and hold her, but he knew better. She was a princess, an engaged woman and it wasn’t proper for her to be in his rooms at this hour, especially not after the liberties he had taken earlier this evening.

“I’d prefer to talk to you now,” Cassie replied quietly.

“Cassie, you shouldn’t be in here, it isn’t proper,” Cameron tried.

“Well then I guess it’s a good thing I’ve never give a damn about being proper,” Cassie retorted, adding the strong language for effect.

“Well somebody should cause I’m quickly getting too drunk to be the responsible on in the room,” Cameron tried to joke.

Cassie pulled the foot stool out from under his feet and they hit the floor with a loud thud. Cameron cursed from the surprise pain shooting up his leg, but then pushed himself up in the chair so he could look Cassie in the eye. She was now sitting on the ottoman between his legs, her face inches from his and her gaze very intent on something.

“Cameron, I came here because I need to tell you I’m sorry. I thought about all the things I said and it wasn’t right. I can’t keep blaming you for everything when I’m at fault too. I let things go the way they did just as much as you. If I had wanted to stop I would have told you, but in all honesty, I didn’t,” Cassie paused, drawing up her courage for her next statement. It would change everything in hers and several other people’s lives. “I’m truly sorry for the way I have been acting and I wanted you to be the first to know that I’ve decided to not marry Dirk.”

“Oh God, don’t do this because of me, because of tonight. I’m such an idiot to have pushed you the way I did,” Cameron pushed his fingers through his hair rather violently, showing his worry over her words.

“I’m not just doing this because of tonight. I took some time to thing about it and I just don’t think Dirk is the man for me,” She explained, looking him directly at him with a knowing twinkle in her eye.

“Are you sure?” Cameron asked with a hint of hope and fear in his voice. Cassie nodded in the positive.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” Cameron said, wrapping his strong arms around her, picking her up and spinning her. Cameron’s heart swelled near to bursting at Cassie declaration. It wasn’t much but it was something, and by God anything was good enough for him. She laughed at his antics and when he finally put her down he ceased her laughter with a kiss that literally made her whole body sizzle.

Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the re-blossoming love she felt for him and he kissed her just as fiercely. Cameron scooped her up like she weighted nothing and carried her over to his still made bed, laying her down upon it softly. He treated her like a fragile vase that could break at any second.

She reached her arms out toward him, needing to be back in his strong embrace again, needing to feel secure and loved. Cameron knew she was looking for companionship and although his body desperately wanted to give her much more than that, he knew he’d hold off this night. He slowly crawled into the bed, kicking his last shoe off as he did.

“Can I sleep here?” Cassie asked him in a voice so full of innocence and trust that it nearly broke Cameron’s heart. Cassie had often stayed in his room when they were children, running to him whenever she had a nightmare.

“Couldn’t sleep again?” Cameron teased, using the line he had gruffly and sleepily uttered many times during his childhood when he used to find Cassie curled up on the far pillow in his bed. This time he pulled her close and she settled against him with her head on his chest, tucked under his chin. Cassie nodded her head in the positive to his question, already drifting off because she was in a place that gave her so much peace and comfort.

“Okay, just don’t tell Jamie or the twins. They’d never let me live it down for letting a girl sleep in my room,” Cameron teased her in the way he always had when they were young, only this time he used a much sweeter, loving tone. Cameron felt her smile against his chest and then heard her breath even out as she finally succumbed to sleep. He was not far behind.

TBC…