Chapter 17: Realization

Edward kissed her gently on the lips, his tongue resting on hers. He tried to push her against the wall, intensifying the kiss. As he felt her body melt into his, she let out a small moan. However, he felt her push away from him.

Cassandra wiped her mouth and placed her hands on his chest, shoving him back. She gazed angrily at him. She slapped him and said, "Sh*t! You had no right to do that."

He had a tremor, his body was in a blaze, and he badly wanted her. "Don't fight me, Cassandra; I know you want me as much as I want you," he said, his breathing scuffed.

"No, I don't," she exclaimed, "and now get out!"

He placed his hands on either side of her, resting them on the wall and encircling her. "Then, why did it take you so long to push me away if you didn't want me?"

Cassandra was panting heavily, almost succumbing to her urge. It felt great to be held and kissed by Edward. He had a way of kissing her that made everything else fade away, except the sensation of being kissed and touched. He was strong but gentle, trying to bring out her wanderlust. But she couldn't afford to go down that road again; she knew her heart wouldn't be able to handle it again.

"I-I was just playing along with you, now get out," she said, her voice cracking slightly. He looks back as he walks away. "If you change your mind, my room is conveniently close to yours," Edward grinned at her.

"I won't," she hissed, and he returned to his room, sexually dissatisfied; he had been without female company in his bed for these days and needed one now, but he wanted Cassandra only. Only her.

~

Cassandra awoke relaxed; it had been one of the finest night's sleep she'd had in the last few weeks, despite the incident with Edward. The smell wafted like fresh flowers since the mattress was so huge and mellow.

She got out of bed, smiling and trying to stretch, to inspect Akia. When she saw the space beside her and realized her baby was missing, her heart seemed to stop beating and a chilly shiver ran through her.

She pulls on the perfectly matched robe while still wearing her nightdress and runs down a staircase, calling out Akia's name. Went from one room to the next, overcome with worry as her heartbeat started to pound As she makes her way down to the kitchen, she notices Edward and Akia eating brunch. She rushes over and takes Akia in her arms.

"Oh, Akia thanks God you're just here. You frightened me nearly to death; never go anywhere without telling me again, okay?" she says, kissing the little girl.

"Relax, honey, she was just with me. I just prepared her a breakfast," Edward said while eating.

She spun around to face him, her voice rising. "Don't tell me to chill out; she's my daughter and I am worried about her."

Edward didn't like the way she was talking to him, so he grabbed her arm and yanked her. "Do I have to remind you always that she is also my daughter? I know that you are worried but I'm her father do you think I can't take care of her? I just want her to make breakfast. What'swrong with you!?" he yelled at her.

When they heard Akia cry, they both stopped shouting at each other. "Mommy does not fight with daddy please, you were napping, so daddy told me not to wake you; I'm sorry; please don't be mad," she said, tears rolling down her tiny face.

Cassandra's heart broke when she saw Akia cry; she scooped her up, kissed her, and managed to wipe her tears away. "Don't cry, baby; I'm not angry with you; I was just worried when I couldn't find you."

In a gesture of love, Akia rubbed Cassandra's cheek with one of her tiny little hands. "I'll never leave you, mommy, but please don't fight with daddy, okay?"

"OK, baby," she said to Edward, "daddy and I aren't going to fight anymore."

Akia then looked over at Edward, and with a look that was beyond her years waved a finger at him, sounding so grown up when she spoke to him. "And don't you yell at my mommy again."

Edward had to smile, she was a child, not even two yet, giving him a lecture. "Ok sweetheart, I promise, no more fighting."

Akia then smiled at the two and wiggled down from her mother, saying, "Now kiss and make up."

Cassandra looked surprised when she saw Edward, and her voice started shaking as she spoke. "No, we don't have to kiss, baby; we're fine now," she tries to persuade her daughter.

Akia took a step forward, her hands on her hips. "You still need to kiss to make sure, mommy, people always kiss after a quarrel," Akia innocently stated.

Cassandra gave a shaky nod. "Baby, you've been watching way too much drama."

Edward smiled as he drew Cassandra into his arms. "You heard her, right? We have to kiss, and we've already done more than that, so don't be shy, honey," Edward said quietly. "Whatever," she muttered as she rolled her eyes at him. He then lowered his head, attempting only to kiss her on the lips. But when his lips came into contact with hers, he deepened the kiss.

She drew back slowly, her gaze fixed on his. When their kiss was broken, Akia laughed and said, "You both look so sweet."

Edward then snatched her up in his arms. "Is that okay now?" he asked, as Akia happily nodded her head.

Edward then prepares a hot coffee for Cassandra and hands it to her. She couldn't bring herself to look at him after that kiss, so she turned away. The taste of his lips hovered on her lips. And the way he looked into her eyes made her feel as if he was about to do more than a kiss. But she was relieved that Akia had disturbed them.

"Let's never quarrel in front of Akia again, I don't want to see her cry," Edward said, nodding her head. "Me too," she said.

"All right, so after you eat, I'll show you and Akia around the horse farm, so need to l change into black jeans and wear boots too," he says as he walks away, leaving Cassandra unsaid.

~

After an hour, both were dressed in black jeans and brown cowgirl boots. Akia sported her little cowgirl hat with pride.

Cassandra and Akia were walking down the stairs when they noticed Edward waiting by the door. I like how he has a rancher look on him. He was dressed in tight pants that highlighted his strong thighs, a black t-shirt that highlighted his heavily muscled chest and arms, cowboy boots, and a hat.

She couldn't help but get turned on and sensed a pulsing creep down to her core. When he saw them, he smiled and his gaze traveled down her body and back up. Her jeans were tight and hugged her features. Her lovely breasts were highlighted by the top.

He then turned to look at Akia. "Ohh my sweetheart, you looked so pretty in your outfit," Edward said, kissing her on the cheeks.

"Doesn't mommy look good too, daddy?" Akia asked. He responds with a smile and a show of his indentations. "Oh yes, mommy always looks stunning," Edward said, as Cassandra's cheeks reddened.

Then Edward tends to take Akia's hand and leads her to the barn. This is where the horses stay on occasion; they each have their stall. "Would you like to feed them some vegetables, sweetheart?"

She jumps up and down in joy, her eyes as big as frisbees. "Oh, daddy, can I?"

He picks her up while she continues to hold out some vegetables and he picks her up. When they began chewing, she burst out laughing.

Cassandra was overjoyed to see her having such a good time. Edward then took them on a tour of the rest of the horse farm, where they met some of the workers. Though he appeared hesitant to introduce Cassandra to one, in particular, a young man named Greg.

"Good morning, Miss. It's an honor to meet you," Greg said, tipping his hat to her.

It didn't escape Edward's notice of how Greg was inspecting her, and it seriously concerned him. "All right, Greg, you can now return to your work," he said to the young man.

Cassandra was able to talk to Edward since Akia ran ahead of them. "How come you were so disrespectful to that man?" she inquired.

He creased up his brow. "He's being paid to work, not to look at your curvy body; your body is only mine, and whoever fantasizes about it, I'm going to kill them." He could have stung his tongue in rage.

Cassandra was taken aback. in response to what he said "I'm not a thing, Edward; that you can be owned like a toy, and that man didn't even do anything wrong," Cassandra explained.

He came to a halt and turned to face her. "Are you so oblivious that you don't recognize when a man is lusting after you?"

"That's crazy; Greg was just being courteous," she defended the young man.

"Really? you're siding him huh?" Edward said as he walked faster.

When he was finished showing them around, they returned to the house, where Mrs. Consuelo was waiting for them to have lunch.

After lunch, Edward informed everyone that he needed to run some errands in the village.

"Edward, son," Mrs. Consuelo said, "I have a list of things I'd like you to collect for me." She hands him a list, which he puts in his wallet.

He kisses Akia and walks out. Maria entertained Akia while the other two sat and started talking. The older woman smiles as she looks over at Akia. "She's a lovely, intelligent little girl, and I'm sure it must have been difficult for you to raise her on your own."

"It wasn't easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything; Akia has made my life more wonderful; she is my life and I love her so much."

Mrs. Consuelo lamented, "If Edward had known, he would have helped you."

Cassandra began to tense up. "Mrs. Consuelo, it's complicated; I hope you're not implying bad things about me, but we were strangers, and it only happened once," she explained, but the truth is that it happened twice.

Cassandra's hand was patted by the elderly lady. "I don't think you're bad; I know my son can be very charismatic. Back then, he was a different man, wild, running around with a different woman every night, but he's managed to change. He's now more willing to take responsibility, and you can see how much he loves Akia and you."

"I understand," Cassandra said, nodding. Yes, she could see his love for their daughter, and Akia loved him back; it was both sweet and heart-wrenching, but she couldn't tell whether his love for her was genuine or not. She was perplexed by his feelings for her.