Cloud Riders (Lord of the Planets) (12 page)

‘You still love me, don’t you?’ She heard Kayden’s voice.

Cassie tried to wiggle out of his grip and hit his chests with her fists but he held her firmly, bringing his head down to claim her lips with the passion she so remembered. Within seconds her body stopped fighting and betrayed her. It melted into him with unleashed lust.

He pulled back and held her, looking into her love-soaked eyes. She tried to pull herself together and speak but no words came out.
How does he do this? After all this time, he thinks he can waltz back into my life and reclaim my body.
She lingered, viewing him through the stupid eyes she knew must surely be giving away the feelings she still kept for him deep in her very soul.

He took her hand. ‘We need to talk.’

Feeling her surrender, he placed his arm around her as they walked in silence: two lovers who had run out of words and were waiting until the minute they could be back in each other’s arms. Cassie followed like a lamb to the slaughter as if she had no will of her own. His power over her was making it obvious that if he hadn’t come to take her home she would surely die from a broken heart if they parted this time.

He took her back to his suite at the casino. Here he sat her down on the bed before pouring them a drink. She swallowed it and savoured the burning sensation as it ran down her throat, trying desperately to bring herself back to her senses. Neither of them seemed able to do what they should have been doing—talking.

Kayden moved to Cassie. He took her empty glass and tossed it aside. He scooped her up into his arms and kissed her again. This time there was so much love in that kiss that tears ran from her eyes. Kayden felt them and lay down with her on the bed, letting her cry it out in his arms. He held her close while she let the hurt of what he did to her leak from her eyes, one tear at a time.

Calming finally, she lay quietly, feeling how very nice it was to be back in his warm and comfortable arms. The feeling of belonging made her realise she had been so childish, running away and not trying to work it out with him. She must have hurt him terribly too. Why he was here with her now was beyond her.

Finding her voice, she looked up at him and saw that his cheeks were wet from the emotions she had shed. ‘I’m sorry. I was just a girl and too inexperienced to understand. I thought your indifference meant you did not care enough for me and had just used me. I can feel now that wasn’t true. Was it? How have you been able to forgive me?’

He looked so emotionally distraught with his bloodshot sad eyes and miserable expression that her heart broke for the ordeal they had both put each other through. ‘Cassie, I did treat you terribly and because I slept with you once I expected you to be grown up enough to feel and know that meant I loved you. I was a fool. Only recently someone made me realise that you had been locked up all your life and had no experience with men or any kind of love at all. I scared you away and deserved every bit of hatred you threw at me. Even so, I love you with all my heart. I have come here today to beg your forgiveness and to ask you to come home with me. I promise I have learned my lesson and I will never be so careless with your love again. If you send me away I will go. But I beg you, give me another chance?’

Cassie searched his face for any kind of trick. All she could see was raw love and feelings. ‘I’ve made a new life for myself here, Kayden. People respect me and I enjoy having my own money to do with as I please without having to ask for it.’ She shook her head and sat up.

His arms dropped from her as if he were unable to hear the rejection and needed them to hold himself together.

Cassie moved from him and walked into the bathroom to splash her face and think. When she came out she had made her decision and smiled at him. ‘But all this means nothing without you.’

Kayden jumped up and swung her back up into his arms. ‘You little sneak! I thought you were telling me it was over. My heart was in my throat and I could hardly breathe.’ He swung her around. ‘I feel so happy I don’t know what to do with myself.’ He was laughing and placing little kisses all over her face and neck.

Cassie laughed with him and hugged him back. ‘Let’s go do something together. Build a new memory—a good first one. Let’s go on a real date. I’ll take you to my favourite spot.’ She grinned, wanting to pinch herself to check that he was actually there.

Kayden wanted nothing more than to take her on a date and as he slid her down he kissed her one last time before getting himself in check and taking her hand. ‘So, this is our very first date? I like that. I am all yours.’ He bowed and gestured for her to lead the way.

As they arrived at Kings Park, Cassie explained about the nights she had spent there with her friends. She pointed out the beautiful views of the city to the left, South Bank to the right and positioned in the middle, the casino where she worked. Cassie pulled up and getting out of the car, walked arm-in-arm along the path she had walked many times while dreaming of this very moment.

She took Kayden to the Whispering Wall and after sitting him at one end she walked all the way to the other. Kayden eyed the size of the seat that was shaped like a horseshoe and his fear of losing her nearly caused him to move from where he was told to stay and go to her. Cassie called out to him, distracting him from his thoughts. ‘The distance is so far you will not be able to hear a quiet voice but by leaning your ear against the wall just a whisper carries. Try it, just lean in,’ she called to him. Pressing her own cheek to the wall she whispered. ‘I love you.’

Kayden whispered back, ‘I love you, too. God, how I love you, honey.’ His voice broke and Cassie could hear him breathing heavily, trying to pull it together. Then pressing his face to the wall again he said, ‘Please, come to me. I can’t stand you to be so far away from me. Never again, Cass.’

They both stood up and began walking, meeting halfway and signifying how they were going to be in their relationship this time round. They strolled over to the wishing well where Kayden poured his heart out and bent down on one knee, kissing her hands, promising never to make her feel unimportant to him again. Her spirits lifted at his heartfelt confession and lifted again further along at the lookout where he wrapped his lovely big arms around her as she was pointing out all the fun places she’d been.

‘You must have had many men take you on dates here. I get jealous just thinking about it,’ he said, a little quiet and sullen.

Cassie didn’t answer him. She too, was feeling resentful of the many women who had frequented his arms since she’d been gone. She changed the subject, not wanting to spoil their night with silly jealousies. Instead they sat and revealed harmless scattered details of their past few months without each other. Wrapped in each other they sat on the soft grass watching the sun come up.

‘You know, Cassie, we never went out on a real date. This is perfect!’ He grinned, pulling her up from the grass and into his arms. ‘I had a great time, princess.’ He held her close.

She felt the power of his feelings. ‘I did too.’ She grinned back at him.

‘I was your first kiss, your first love and I know this sounds selfish, but I wish I had been your first date as well,’ he said as they strolled back to the car.

Cassie said, ‘Just one more stop for coffee before our date ends. There is someone I want you to meet.’ They pulled up at her home and he looked at her with eyebrows furrowed so close together by a frown that she almost giggled at him. ‘Come inside, I want you to meet the two people who have been my dates to all the lovely places I’ve told you about.’

‘I can’t, sweetheart. Let’s go somewhere private. I can’t take it just yet, meeting the other man or men in your life. I’m really not up to it, princess.’

She ignored the protest, gesturing for him to follow. ‘You’ll enjoy meeting this man. Trust me. There will be absolutely no tension,’ she said, opening his door and dragging him out of the car and inside the house.

Ruby had heard them pull up. Cassie chuckled to find her still in her dressing gown, already organising coffee. Jim was at the table reading the paper with his tracksuit on.

‘Hi guys,’ Cassie smiled. ‘I want you to meet the man I intend to spend the rest of my life with.’

Ruby thought she looked absolutely radiant as she made the introductions.

‘Kayden Hunter, this is Ruby and Jim, my friends and companions who have been my dates to every event I’ve had the opportunity to go to.’ Kayden looked at her, stunned. ‘Yes, you were also my very first boyfriend date,’ Cassie giggled and stretched up to kiss his cheek.

Kayden’s grin said it all. Cassie could tell by the sparkle that washed over his eyes how happy she had just made him. Up until that point, Kayden had no idea his lover had kept herself just for him and Cassie could see his fragile heart soar.

Ruby hugged him and made him feel welcome. ‘Our Cassie has brightened up our world but we knew it wouldn’t last forever.’

Jim stood politely. ‘So you’re the man she ran from. I’m so glad you’ve finally found her. We worried that she would end up an old maid because she wouldn’t go anywhere without us oldies,’ Jim confessed, shaking Kayden’s hand.

Cassie glared at Jim, shocked. ‘How did you know? I never said a word!’

Jim laughed again. ‘Walls here are thin and you talk in your sleep. You called out to Kayden most nights. Sorry, darl, you never fooled us for a minute.’

They sat and drank coffee while Ruby cooked them a big breakfast. After they ate, she helped Cassie pack. Even though they were sad to see her go they were happy that she had found her soul mate. It was then back to the casino so Kayden could check out of his room and Cassie could say goodbye. When she found Alex, Cassie swallowed hard as she choked out her gratitude for his friendship. She sobbed in his arms as they held each other for the last time.

‘It’s okay, Cassie love. I knew when I kissed you that there was another man somewhere who had your heart but I did love that you tried to kiss me back.’ He grinned, brushing her hair from her drenched cheeks.

‘I’m sorry it wasn’t you, Alex. You know I adore you don’t you?’ she hugged him again.

Taking her by the chin, he forced her to look up at him. ‘As I adore you, my friend, but if he stops making you happy for even a second, you come home to me, you hear?’

Cassie nodded.

‘Now come and let me meet the man who is stealing you from me.’

Cassie cheered up. ‘You’ll like him, Alex. He’s so much like you at times. When I first met you it was hard not to hate you for it.’ She giggled, making him smile at her.

‘You know I should be mad at you for leaving me in the lurch like this but your happiness means more to me, pumpkin,’ he said, touching her nose and hugging her under his arm as they walked back towards Kayden.

Alex took it really well and she knew she would miss him most of all. When he shook hands with Kayden he asked him to look after her and bring her back for a visit from time to time. He sounded more like a big brother than her sort-of ex. She thought how sweet a man he really was.

Kayden drove in silence, worried for Cassie as she sobbed silently into her hanky. Coming back into her life had been one emotional roller coaster and he swore to the heavens that he would make it up to her. An hour later Cassie dried her face, squared her shoulders and turned, watching Kayden as he drove.

He turned and squeezed her hand with a nervous tremble. ‘Any regrets?’

‘Only one.’ She touched his face tenderly and wished she hadn’t been so hasty in dragging him out of his room at the casino. She had been a little anxious at the time but now all the goodbyes were over all she wanted was to be in her man’s arms.

Kayden saw in her sweet, loving face what she was thinking. He thought if he didn’t change the subject he wouldn’t be able to stop from pulling up, kissing those luscious lips and doing anything he could to ease her sadness.

He grinned. ‘I know exactly what that regret would be and I’ve been wondering the same thing. Why would you buy a Mazda?’ His comment was out of left field and Cassie started to giggle. Her infectious change of mood thrilled Kayden and he laughed with her. He felt pleased he had taken her mind off the sadness she had been feeling and he listened intently as she explained that her car had all the newest mod cons including sunroof and what she felt was one of the best surround-sound systems. She turned on the CD player and a Fleetwood Mac song blared out from the speakers, making him laugh.

‘So you like the older-style music?’

Cassie grinned. ‘I know. Who would have guessed? I’ve found out a lot more about myself too. I love eggs but not the bacon. I like baths with many bubbles and the smell of scented candle shops draws me in like a moth to a flame. And best of all I like to just sit and watch a really fast action movie but the bad guy always has to lose or I don’t like it so much.’

They pulled up, Kayden still highly impressed by her revelations. Cassie sounded full of life and had worked hard while she was away to learn a lot about herself. He felt proud of the woman she had become. Gone was the nervous, fearful Cassie and in her place was a desirable seductress who had him so wound up he could hardly wait to get out the car to hold her again. Kayden walked around to Cassie’s side of the car and when he had her standing, leaned her back against the car. ‘And now we are home, what was that one regret you started to tell me about?’

Kayden closed his eyes as she pressed her body against his. She didn’t need to say a word. She had him under her spell and he shuddered with longing as he felt her stretch up. He bent down to meet her honey-tasting mouth. He could feel her power humming sweetly through her and as he deepened the kiss it tingled throughout his whole body, sending such a sensual feeling through him that he lost control. With a swift movement he scooped her up into his arms and carried her inside. That is where they stayed until the sun came up the next day, happily in each other’s arms. They dozed off every now and then but it only took one or the other to move and they would be hopelessly lost in each other again.