CASSANDRA
Emilio grins when Cassandra doesn’t respond. “No need to say anything. Your eyes have already told me everything.”
“Emilio…”
“I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking you’d forgotten about me, about the bond we share, about the depth of our love.””
Oh, please, Cassandra thinks, make him stop.
“Don’t….” she pleads, shaking her head.
Emilio’s hand gently brushes her cheek. “I was mad and confused, but I couldn’t let you go. I didn’t know what to do, how to move forward. I’ve never been in love before. It scared me how much I cared about you, how you’ve become such a big part of my life that I can’t imagine it without you,”
“Stop, Emiliano….” Cassandra says. “Please.”
His arm wraps around her waist, pulling her closer. Her bump presses against him.
“I prayed for my life back…for the queen of my heart.”
Cassandra knows if he keeps whispering these sweet words, she’ll break down. “I don’t believe you,” she manages to say, her throat tight.
“If I could kiss you now, I know it would touch your heart. If I could hold you, your heartbeat would tell me everything your mind won’t. No matter how long we’re apart, we’ll always be waiting for each other.”
Emilio bends his head and gently kisses Cassandra’s neck. She shivers and clings to him.
“Life tested my love for you. When I went to bed alone, I felt cold, lonely. My heart and body knew you should be there, but you weren’t” His hands start to explore her through her dress,
“Stop it,” Cassandra says, her voice barely a whisper. “Stop saying things you don’t mean.” She c
closes her eyes.
“They say your first love is the one who always comes first, and you are mine. You are my blessing, sweetheart. You might not believe it, but your body knows mine.”
Emilio’s hand gently strokes her growing bump, and Cassandra feels her heart swell with the love she still has for him.
“We’ve been connected since the day we met. No matter where we are, fate will always bring us back together. That’s why I’m here now.” He brushes his lips against hers. “I love you, Cassandra Rodriquez, and I’m here to take my beautiful wife home.”
She tries to pull away, but his grip tightens. “I don’t love you,” she lies.
“You’re not a good liar, sweetheart. You can’t even look me in the eye when you say that.” Emilio cups her face. “Your love is clear in your beautiful eyes. Deny it all you want, but I know you love me as much as I love you.”
For the first time, Cassandra sees the truth in Emilio’s eyes. He’s always kept her at a distance, but now he’s letting her see his true feelings.
Cassandra gives in, sinking into his warmth, letting herself get lost in his touch. Emilio is right. She can fight him all she wants, but it won’t change the truth: she loves him and always will.
“Damn you!” she says, tears streaming down her face. “You have no idea how much I want to kill you right now.”
He chuckles, his breath tickling her scalp. “I’m right here.”
“If only I could,” she mutters. “If only had the strength to fight you.”
“I was a fool for waiting so long to come for you. But when I got the divorce papers, I knew I had to put my pride aside. I couldn’t lose the one person who means everything to me.
“I was mad when I found out about my father, and even madder that you knew. Trust and honesty are important to me, Cassie; I don’t let people in easily. I thought what we had meant nothing to you if you could hide the truth from me.”
She shakes her head. “I kept quiet because I love you. I didn’t want to see you hurt. You’re the reason I keep going, the reason I face cach day even when I feel like I’m falling apart inside.”
12:09 PM
“I understand that now, and I promise to keep an open mind from now on. Just promise me you’ll never leave me again.”
“I promise I won’t.” Emilio lifts her into his arms, and she blushes. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to make love to my wife. That is, if she doesn’t object… I haven’t seen or touched her in three months.”
Cassandra thinks of all the other women she’s seen him with in the papers. As if reading her thoughts, Emilio says, “I haven’t kissed or touched another woman since we’ve been apart. None of them were you, sweetheart. All those women you’ve seen me with were just friends, and most of them were married.”
She can hear the sincerity in his voice, and she smiles. “I believe you,” she says, touching his stubble, “and I have no objection.”
Emilio groans and gives her a long, passionate kiss. “Is it safe for the babies?” he asks, and Cassandra nods.
He carries her to bed and makes sweet, tender love to her, taking his time to rediscover her body. Four orgasms later, she collapses onto his chest, panting. She lets her hands wander over his chest, enjoying the feel of him again.
Cassandra lifts her head to meet his gaze. “I have something to tell you,” she says.
“We’re having another boy and a girl.”
She stares at him, taken aback. “I haven’t told anyone yet how did you find out?”
“Even though I wasn’t around, I kept tabs on you and the babies.”
“But how
“I found out who your doctor was and asked for updates after each of your prenatal visits. I needed to know you were all okay.” Emilio reaches out to touch her belly. “Your safety means more to me than anything else, no matter how mad I might be.”
Cassandra isn’t sure how to react. Should she be angry or grateful that he went to such lengths? But then again, this is Emiliano Rodriguez she’s dealing with. She shouldn’t be surprised. And if that doesn’t prove how much he cares about her, then she’s a fool.
“How did you convince the doctor?” she asks.
He grins. “No one can resist me.”
“You’re too cocky.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“I wonder why…”
“Want me to remind you?” Emilio asks, pulling her back k into his arms.
Cassandra smiles but shakes her head. “Did you talk to your mom?”
“Yes. It was tough, but understanding why she chose not to tell my biological father about me made it easier. I’m grateful she married Carlos and gave me a stable, loving home. He may not have been my real dad, but he’ll always be my father. Even though I wasn’t his biological son, he loved me and taught me how to love.
“We all make choices, and my biological father made some terrible, illegal ones… I can’t understand how mom could’ve fallen for him.”
“Our hearts don’t always make sense, Emiliano.” After a pause, Cassandra asks, “So…you went to Mexico?” He looks surprised that she knows. “Your mother thought you might go.”
“Yes, I went, and what I discovered wasn’t pretty.” Emilio tells her about the drug cartel, and Cassandra gasps when he mentions the children who died from overdosing on the drugs his father sold,
“He was a dangerous, influential man who had everyone at his beck and call, and no one had a good word to say about him. Many are relieved he’s dead, especially since the cartel died with him. I don’t hate him because I never knew him, but I despise what he did and what he represented.
“It’s hard to believe he and Carlos were brothers. I’m glad things turned out the way they did because Dad instilled good values in me. He was a great father and the reason I am who I am today. I’m grateful he chose me as his son–I’ll always be thankful.”
Hearing the pride and love in Emilio’s voice, Cassandra says, “I’m thankful too,” she says, kissing his bearded cheek. “Without Carlos, I wouldn’t have you.**
19
wonder why…
Fant me to remind you?” Emilio asks, pulling her back into his arms.
issandra smiles but shakes her head. “Did you talk to your mom?
‘es. It was tough, but understanding why she chose not to tell my biological father about me made it easier. I’m grateful she married arlos and gave me a stable, loving home. He may not have been my real dad, but he’ll always be my father. Even though I wasn’t his ological son, he loved me and taught me how to love.
We all make choices, and my biological father made some terrible, illegal ones… I can’t understand how mom could’ve fallen for him.”
Our hearts don’t always make sense, Emiliano.” After a pause, Cassandra asks, “So… you went to Mexico?” He looks surprised that she hows. “Your mother thought you might go.”
Yes, I went, and what I discovered wasn’t pretty.” Emilio tells her about the drug cartel, and Cassandra gasps when he mentions the hildren who died from overdosing on the drugs his father sold.
He was a dangerous, influential man who had everyone at his beck and call, and no one had a good word to say about him. Many are :lieved he’s dead, especially since the cartel died with him. I don’t hate him because I never knew him, but I despise what he did and
hat he represented,
It’s hard to believe he and Carlos were brothers. I’m glad things turned out the way they did because Dad instilled good values in me. He was a great father and the reason I am who I am today. I’m grateful he chose me as his son–I’ll always be thankful.”
Hearing the pride and love in Emilio’s voice, Cassandra says, “I’m thankful too,” she says, kissing his bearded cheek. “Without Carlos, I wouldn’t have you.”
*You were ready to replace me.” he tenses.
“I wasn’t going to wait for you forever.”
“Am I that insignificant to you?” Emilio asks, rolling onto her.
“You mean more to me than words can express.”
“I truly love you, Cassie, so much it scares me. Do you think you can spend the rest of your life with a man as overprotective, possessive, and jealous as me?”
“I’m just as jealous and possessive,” Cassandra says, running her hands over his shoulders. “We’re stuck with each other.”
“I guess we are,” Emilio says, bending down to kiss her slowly and tenderly,
He is home. He is where she belongs.
EMILIANO
Emiliano is content in Cassie’s arms. As he sinks into her warmth, he thinks life can’t get any better than this. He loses himself in her body, in her love.
She is his home.
The End
