Pushing Boundaries

[ROBERT SNOW]

Cadence’s hand curled over his shirt and it only encouraged Robert as he pushed her back into the arm of the couch. He pulled her legs apart, ready to climb on top of her and take her there on the pretty, pristine couch. His hand slid higher under her skirt, finding her rear and finding it delightfully bare. The string his fingers slid into indicated she had on a thong, which only got him hotter for her. His lips were hungry against hers, his hand groping her shamelessly, when suddenly she shoved him hard at his chest. With a confused look he pulled back, looking down into her green eyes and wondering why she was shoving him. Annoyance gnawed at his gut and made his heavy brow fall over his piercing eyes. Her hand went limp and he decided not to wait to hear why she’d pushed him off. He dove back in, kissing her hard once more, daring her to try that again. Their tongues danced against each other and he was sure she wouldn’t irritate him again, but he proved to be wrong as she pushed him back, harder. He was going to push her back into the couch, force her down with his body, let her fight against him until she screamed, but her body pressing up into his made him pause. Before he knew it she was straddling his lap, her hands on his shoulders and looking down into his eyes. He hated that he couldn’t look away though his hands grabbed her ass hard as he gazed up at her.

Her lips drew down to his but they hovered just over his mouth, taunting him. “He had a journal.” Robert’s brow furrowed again, looking hard into jade pools. “His room became a shrine, one I wasn’t supposed to disturb, but I did. His journal told me about you and your friendship with him, what you both aspired to be…” He didn’t know Jude kept a journal but he was suddenly very curious about it. “He was your only true competition and seeing how ruthless you were as an adult, it was easy to assume you would be responsible for taking him out. Especially before he could take you down in a political campaign.” And Jude could take him in a political campaign, but that’s what made Robert like him so much—no one else had the balls to put up such a fight. “No one needed to tell me you were responsible. I’d connected the dots myself. The signs all pointed to you, Robert…” The way her voice softened as if she was afraid to anger him only made his fire burn hotter, but it also made his stomach twist to know she had blamed him all on her own. “I needed someone to blame…” One of his hands buried into her hair, tugging gently as his hand closed into a tight fist. He pulled her into a hungry, desperate kiss, letting her wonder if he was angry or not. It didn’t take long for him to solve the mystery.

Pulling her head back, he stared into her eyes like a predator that had caught his prey. “I don’t blame you for blaming me…” he confessed softly, his voice rumbling deep like distant thunder. “But if your brother were alive, I would proudly be his second if he proved to be the better leader.” It was a confession he would repeat to no one. Robert was the best, would always be the best, but even he had to admit that Jude could have beat him. If that had been the case, Robert knew Jude would have deserved it and perhaps he would have been more humble. Humility was never one of his strong points. His lips found Cadence’s again and his hand tugged gently at one of the tiny strings gracing her hips to hold her tiny thong in place. It snapped back against her skin and he smirked a little against her mouth. He then grabbed her hip hard, the one hand in her hair untangling from the golden strands and finding her other hip. With a rough tug, he pulled Cadence against him and pushed her back into the couch once more, then time pressing his weight into her hips. Once hand slipped between them, teasing along her mound as his mouth grazed back to her ear. “We can do this here or in your bed.” His fingers tickled over her still covered treasure, pressing into her button as he grazed it. “Tell me what you want.” The soft command was spoken in a voice barely above a whisper against her earlobe. He wouldn’t stop torturing her until he got an answer.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Her eyes searched his, unsure how he felt, but his fist was quick to bury in her soft, dark blond hair. He wrapped the locks in a tight fist, pulling her hair gently and in no time Robert was devouring her mouth with his own. Cadence made a soft moaning sound against his lips, sure he was upset with her confession, and turned on by her insolence. Torment was sure to follow as it always did, which excited her in ways it probably shouldn't.

Robert suddenly pulled back and she swallowed, looking into his predatory eyes. He looked so dangerous and handsome and she suddenly craved his firm touch. "I don't blame you for blaming me.." he confessed in a low growl, which confused her. She was certain he'db more furious and less understanding, but she atced him silently, letting him say what he needed to. "But if your brother were alive, I would proudly be his second if he proved to be the better leader.". His words startled her and she watched him with surprise. Was Jude really so good? Would Robert really have stepped aside if Jude had been better? Why was her heat pounding like that? His mouth came back to hers and she whimpered quietly gainst it, surprised how hot his confession had gotten her, and how deeply she felt he need to please him. His fingers curled around the thin piece of material keeping her panties at her waist, and then he let it snap against her skin. Her body twitched and she sucked in a sharp breath through her nose, rewarding him for the pain by gently grinding against his groin. His fingers curled roughly at her hip, the handin her hair falling away to do the same and with a quick tug he had her tight against him and was positioning hr below himself on the couch. She could feel his need for her pressing hard against her and a raspy breath trickled frm her throat. Robert's trained hand slid down between her legs and her body betrayed her by letting her hips move to meet his touch, chills breaking out on her arms as his hot breath tickled her cheek and then her ear. "We can do this here or in your bed." his confidence didn't annoy her as it often did, but instead turned her on further. There was no question what his intentions were, and she would have it no other way. He pressed a finger against her covered bullet and her body reacted with a jolt, her hips moving as if to ry and escape the touch, but he held tight making her need fo him grow with each passng second. "Tell me what you want." it was simply a nicer version ofhis usual question; Where do you want me to fuck you, Cadence?

The girl considered the question for a long moment, unsure what to tell him. Should she play coy? Should she let him take her there? Show him her bedroom, something she had been dreading since he walked through her doors? Robert had never been a patient man and his teasing finger pressed harder into her tender flesh and she sucked in another sharp breath. "Bed." She found herself breathing out before she could stop herself. Robert wasted no time hoisting her up onto his hip, and Cadence slipped her legs around his wait, hr arms around his neck. When he asked for directions a single delicate finger pointed towards a door down to the left in a minuscule hallways housing only two doors. Robert carried her to the room and opened the door, flicking the light on. Her room was the only one with color splashed on the walls. The main wall was a deep plum, a white california king bed centered against it with matching white night stands on either side. It had an old fashioned type of legance to it, the lamps on the table both antique and glowing dimly in the room. The other walls were splashed with a lighter purple in the same family as the accent wall. One wall had a large window that was covered with a white curtain, pictures of birch trees framing either side of the huge window. The wall opposite the bed was lined with a built in shelving unit and the shlves were lined with books, candles, pictures, figures and other odds and ends. Momentos of her life that she didn't care to share with anyone who might be over and be in her living room. In the center was a television and some of the shelves held blue rays and DVDs. The room had an overall personal feel to it, warmer than the rest of the home. Her bedspread was and eggshell white with a pale gray outline of birch trees on it, and the top of the bed was covered with dozens of plush pillows with designs on them. Some were ruffled like flowers, other furry, some with birds printed on them.. it was eclectic and classy with a very feminine feel to it. The wall across from the window was the one they entered from, and at the other side was adoor leading to a wide, deep walk in closet filled with shoes, clothing, purses and an array of jewelry.

Cadence tried not to think about all the personal touches in the room as Robert carried her in, laying her onto the plush bed. His body enveloped hers and her eyes stayed locked on his, allowing him to make all the moves as usual. She could feel th light draft on her thigh from her dress being flipped up slightly, her bottom half peeking out for Roberts eyes if he cared to look. "Now what?" She asked coyly, her voice soft and challenging, watching him intently with her deep, jade eyes.

[ROBERT SNOW]

________________________________________________

Robert was deeply satisfied by the way Cadence still looked at him like she was frightened. For once he felt like he had her total respect and submission. Perhaps it wouldn’t last long, but he had it undeniably. She nodded finally. “Yes, sir.” It was so soft, but he was glad to hear her give in, her eyes reflected the sincerity of that hushed statement. A small smirk appeared on his lips before he leaned down and kissed her again, his mouth slow in parting hers. His tongue teased hers, obviously satisfied from the harsh fucking he’d just given her. He was vindicated and as he kissed his lover he wondered if she would submit to him as she hadn’t before. Steadily his kiss became harder, more passionate and consuming, sensual enough to entice but not to indicate any intentions of having her again so soon. His teeth tugged at her lower lip gently before he pulled back and looked down at her. “Now…tell me you’re mine.” A flash of bitterness crossed her face, but he only gave a gentle smirk in return. It took a long moment, but finally she answered. “I’m yours.” He grinned wide, his hand coming up to rest against her jaw, his thumb securing under her chin with his palm against her throat. It was a gentle touch, but they both knew what his hands were capable of. He had no intention of harming her further, though.

Instead Robert leaned down and kissed Cadence again, deep and slow, wanting to leave her breathless in return for her cooperation. His hand moved back into her hair and grabbed a handful of the golden mass, but he didn’t tug on it roughly like he normally did. Robert simply used his grip to hold Cadence’s mouth against his as he rolled onto his back and guided her face above his. It occurred to him that his attraction to Cadence was much deeper than he was willing to admit. He had admitted her cared for her and wanted her to belong to no one else, but she could mean a great deal more than he was allowing himself to believe. How could that have happened to him? Pulling back, he opened his eyes to study her pretty face seriously, combing his fingers through her hair briefly. He hadn’t lied when he said he hated what she did to him…but he hadn’t told the full truth either. In reality, he enjoyed what she did to him far more than he could accept. With a soft exhale through his nose, his hand moved from her hair and ran down her back before tracing back up her long spine. To his mild surprise but quiet satisfaction, Cadence rested her head on his shoulder and he leaned his jaw against her golden strands in silent acknowledgement. This act of affection would never he referred to aloud, but Robert would enjoy it while they silently relaxed into each other.

Looking at the little knick-knacks on her shelves and the pictures around the room, he really started to notice all of the hints at her personal life. He didn’t know what they all meant and might never know, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious. This room continued the feminine feel of the whole apartment, but in the dim light he appreciated the color scheme and very personal touches. Asking her about everything would only make Cadence more uncomfortable and he’d made her uncomfortable enough already this evening. But there was one question burning in the back of his mind. “Do you still have Jude’s journal?” he asked, breaking the silence with his deep, rumbling voice.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence hated the way he smirked down at her meek reply. She wasn't meek, she was strong and willful and confident, but Robert could break her down like no other and she despised him for it. But not entiely.. there was a part of her tha appreciated the fact she'd found her match, someone who could squelch her stubborness and bend her till she broke. It was the reason she stayed around, and she told herself it was the only reason. His kiss was one of reward; passionate, sensual, lacking the roughness he'd used before completely. His tongue slid over hers soothingly, as if to apologize for the wa he'd been forced to treat her, but reinding her it had been all her fault. His mouth grew hungrier, his kiss harder and Cadence submitted, matching his movement and hoping he was done usingherbody for the moment. Something told her he was. After that last performance she knew he would be worn out, even if it had come from adrenaline.

Robert's teeth clamped gently on her bottom lip, tugging it as he moved away. His icy eyes bored down into hers and she watched emotionless, waiting for him to speak. "Now...tell me you're mine." she scowled almost immediately, her body growing taught with her annoyance. She hated him or it, for forcing her to say what she swore she would not, but the consequences were far worse than any reward and she knew denying him would hurt. Her body still ached from the way he'd roughed her up and she knew he knew she wouldn't openly deny him again. "I'm yours." She all but growled at him, hating herself now for her compliance. Anger blossomed in her stomach at his vindication, but she neither said nor did anything about it. Robert's hnd slid to her throat gently, reminding her of his power, but showing he would be gentle with her. She knew that was only if she behaved fo him, though. How she wanted to despise him completely.. but she could not. Not when she longed for the power he had over her, despite how much she hated it.

He kissed her as reward and the woman melted into his affections once more, unable to do anything else. His fingers curled in her hair once more, but she didn't flinch this time, allowing him to pull her face over his as he leaed onto his back. He kissed her a moment longer before pulling her face back. The anger on her face had slipped away and she watched him consider her seriously, his fingers combing through her knotted just-fucked hair. He slid his hand down her back, caressing the skin gently before sliding it back up. She took it as her cue to relax, and he did, resting hr head down onto his shoulder. The move was an affectionate one, and she knew he would appreciate it considering her submission to him. She could feel his face nuzzling into her hair, and she fought the notion that sh enjoyed it. She didn't want to.. she didn't want to like the way it felt to be curled up into him with his fingers trailing up and down her spine. But God, did she.

Her breathing evened and so did his as the minutes ticked by. Cadence was content to lie with him, her eyes slidng shut as she let the calmness wash over her. She realized it hd bee the first time she'd brought a man to her bed. This bed in this home, anyway. It made sense that it was Robert there, and she didn't hate it as much as she thought she might. "Do you still have Jude's journal?". She hadn't expected him to speak yet, and she certainly hadn't expected that. Her body tensed a little, but she didn't move or speak, silently considering the question. She had it, but did he deserve to see it? She could lie, say it was still at her parents home, but would he know? Would he ask for it? She knew lying to Robert would hold its own consequences if he were to find out, and she knew he asked because he wanted to look at it. Why else would he bother wasting his breath? Instead of answering she slipped from his arm and moved off the bed. She didn't bother to cover up, knowing Robert knew every intimate inch of her, and made her way to the bookcase. She slid an older looking book out and opened it. Her fingers dug inside before revealing a smaller, thinner book. She left the book out and returned to the bed with the journal in her hand, returning to her position and offering him the book. "This is mine now." She said, her voice soft but firm, letting him know it wasn't up for debate. "You may look, but it's mine."

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert felt Cadence tense, but he remained calm, looking down at her now. She didn’t move for a long moment and her hesitation only confirmed to him that she had kept the journal. Why else would she take so long to answer him if not to consider whether she should tell him or not? If she lied to him and said she didn’t have it any longer, he didn’t know if he’d have it in him to punish her. Well…maybe tease it out of her. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see it and be thrown back into those bright days that he would never have back. But part of him was deeply curious about the old tome and Cadence’s hesitance only made him more eager to see it. Without a word, the woman in his arms slipped away from him to the edge of the bed beneath his curious gaze. She moved to a bookcase, her slender, nude form beautiful enough to be painted. Though his eyes feasted on her, Cadence hardly gave him a glance, digging through the shelves until she slid an old book from the order. To his surprise, she opened it and revealed another, smaller book. At the sight of it Robert could feel his throat constricting oddly. His lover came back to the bed and he felt a certain amount of dread looking at the small volume in her hand.

“This is mine now.” Her possessive statement as she extended the book toward him brought his eyes back to hers, raising a thick brow. “You may look, but it’s mine.” A genuinely amused smile broke out on Robert’s face and he couldn’t help but be reminded of a bratty child being forced to share her toys. He let out a soft chuckle, taking the book from her gently. “I wasn’t planning on stealing it.” The tone of his deep voice was teasing and he realized it was probably the warmest he’d ever been around her. Finally he cracked the book open slowly, his attention becoming absorbed in the neat scrawl of Jude’s handwriting. He remembered that handwriting now…The first few entries dated back to when he and Jude would have been thirteen. For a long moment he considered the date at the top of the first page, wondering why it looked familiar. He didn’t read the words below it yet for a clue. Suddenly it occurred to him and he frowned slightly. “That was his birthday…” he said, more to himself than to Cadence. In that entry Jude explained how he’d received his journal for his birthday and figured he could write in it every day since he always had thoughts he couldn’t explain aloud. A line caught his attention and it made him grin, one that he might think would make him look like an idiot any other time, but that actually softened his features for a brief couple of seconds. The line read: “Robert gave me a new wooden chess set. He said, ‘I figured you’d like a new set for me to beat you with.’ I laughed, but we both know I won that last match.” “I remember that chess set I gave him.” His eyes came up to Cadence’s, amusement still glinting in his look. “And he didn’t win that match. I won it, but he insisted I’d cheated. Jude was prideful too.” The way he commented on Jude’s behavior wasn’t an insult though—it was a mark of what they had in common. Robert had never seen pride as a bad thing as long as someone had something reasonable to be proud about.

He read several more entries detailing days that Robert had long since forgotten, but would always be remembered here on the fragile pages well preserved. Jude talked of his parents, their teachers, his training…and of course Robert. It was plain to see in his entries that they were rivals on some level, but mostly Jude put down a trusting, admirable relationship between them. He forgot how they raced each other after lessons and realized for the first time how seriously Jude took them. Part of him could look through the book all night until he swallowed every detail of Jude’s short life. But a greater part of him could feel a hard knot tying in his gut. He had never felt like this…not this strongly anyway. It hit Robert that he missed his best friend…he had missed him for years. The hard knot in his stomach moved to his throat and he hardly understood the emotions bouncing around his brain. Lowering the book, he looked sadly at the pages, forgetting just for a moment that Cadence was watching him. “We were so young…and so reckless.” If he had been more mindful of his words, his actions…if he had only watched himself, Jude might still be alive…but then Cadence might not be. He closed the book with a hard swallow and handed it back to the beautiful woman sitting beside him. “Thank you for sharing that.” She might be confused that he hadn’t read it cover to cover, that he was suddenly falling quiet and pensive, but there was no way he could explain it to her. How could he admit how much pain it caused him to suddenly have so many happy memories come back? His jaw clenched as he fought the discomfort in his stomach.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence didn't like the way Robert chuckled at her, it made her feel annoyed and a little flustered. “I wasn’t planning on stealing it.” He teased which irked her still. She nuzzled against him silently, though, looking at the book as he read. She'd read it all before, more than once, and knew what the contents of the book were. Still, her eyes roamed over the words, recalling the imagery in her mind as if she'd seen this movie before.

“That was his birthday…” His tone was soft and her eyes flitted up to look at him, watching him as those cold, blue orbs absorbed the words she'd done already. She was more curious of his reaction than anything else. She watched the way his lips curled up as he read, looking almost delicate which was a huge contrast to the way he normally looked. It made Cadence both uneasy and relaxed, like she could actually trust him, but he wasn't someone she could normally trust. “I remember that chess set I gave him.” His eyes met hers and she gazed silently back, not knowing what to say in return. “And he didn’t win that match. I won it, but he insisted I’d cheated. Jude was prideful too.” It wasn't meant to be an insult, and she, oddly, didn't take it as one. She didn't know Jude the way Robert did, he would know how prideful the boy was, and in turn he would know the traits she shared with her brother. It was something no one had ever dared to share with her before. Her parents never opnely compared her to their deceased son, and she'd always been content with that but there was something about the way Robert did it that eased her somehow. As though she wanted to be like Jude, wanted him to see her the way he'd seen her brother.

Robert read for a long time and Cadence lay patiently beside him, looking between the pages and the man reading them. She watched the way his expressions changed slightly with the words, sometimes looking amused or pleased, others sad. She'd never seen so many emotions run across the mans face before and she found it made him seem more human to her. He was always so rugged and in control. Fianlly he lowered the book, his eyes sad as they stared at the small volume. “We were so young…and so reckless.” She stayed silent as her eyes stayed glued to him. “Thank you for sharing that.” She was quiet for a moment and then nodded her head a little. "You're welcome." She finally said, just as softly. Cadence felt the overwhelming urge to kiss him, to touch him.. She wasn't used to the way Robert was acting now, so pensive. He looked unhappy now, sad, and it disturbed her midly to know that reading that book had doen this to him. Was he feelign guilt, perhaps? Remorse? Sad that Jude had gone?

Cadence took Roberts face in her hand and forced his head in her direction, making him look into her cool, jade eyes. "I want to know what you're thinking." She said firmly, though her face was soft. She had never asked such a probing question before, but his reaction was something she didn't expect. She didn't know what to expect really.

[ROBERT SNOW]

“You’re welcome.” Cadence’s voice was as soft as his and Robert didn’t bother to look at her. Instead he stared down at the bedspread, contemplating the birch trees with a pensive frown. He hadn’t expected Jude’s journal to make him feel this way. Had anything ever made him feel this way? If it had, it had been far too long ago for him to remember. Suddenly Cadence’s hand was on his cheek and he blinked as she forced him to look at her. “I want to know what you’re thinking.” The statement came as a surprise and his heavy brow dropped low over his cool eyes. It was a much more personal demand than Cadence had ever asked. He was surprised to find he wasn’t annoyed, though. Stunned and hesitant, yes, but not annoyed. For a long moment he simply stared into her eyes, considering what he should tell her. To his dismay, he actually wanted to tell her the truth. He glanced to her lips and then gave a heavy sigh, reaching up and taking the hand on his face in his own large hand. His eyes looked down at her hand in his, his thumb running over the back of her thin hand. She took good care of her hands. It occurred to him that it was an odd thing to notice, how well-kept her hands were, but he was relaxed enough to not care.

“I’m thinking about Jude. Maybe…maybe if I had been more mindful of my actions and of my words…maybe he would still be alive.” His eyes came back to hers, feeling oddly open to her right now. “But then, if I had been, would I have met you?” A small quirk of his lips suggested a smile as he reached up his hand and pinched her chin gently. “I like to think I would have, but I can’t be certain you would even exist.” The small hint of a smile faded as his hand found hers again. “It’s strange to think about that…that you might not have existed. In fact, I’d rather not think about that.” It was a strangely sentimental comment, very unlike Robert, but it was the truth, one that had taken him a long time to admit. Now he refused to picture a life without her in it somehow. “But I do feel responsible for Jude’s death. If I hadn’t been so reckless, those boys wouldn’t have felt the need to exact revenge on me. I killed them for what they did, but I’ve always felt responsible for your brother. Reading his journal only reminds me of what he meant to me…he was my best friend. And it was my fault he died.” With a hard swallow, he looked down at their hands again. That knot was in his throat again and he didn’t like it. What was it about the journal that affected him so? Or was it that Cadence was there with him? Did she soften his resolve to show no emotion and be as hard as the stone he turned into?

“That’s what I’m thinking. I’m certain it’s not what you were expecting.” He looked back in her eyes again, semi-amused but actually more anxious. It was strange opening up to anyone, even Cadence. In the morning he would have a hard time believing he’d done so. “Now it’s your turn, Miss Higgins. What are you thinking?” For once, he wanted the spotlight off him.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Robert's brow lowered and for a moment she thought he might lash out at her invasive question, but the anger she expected to see in his eyes neer showed. She didn't back down, though. He watched her a long moment and finally let out a long sigh, his fingers moving to his cheek to take her hand in his, a gesture that made the girls stomach squirm, especially when his thumb caressed the back of her hand.

"I'm thinking about Jude. Maybe...maybe if I had been more mindful of my actions and of my words...maybe he would still be alive." she suddenly wished she hadn't asked. The hesitation in his voice wasn't something she was accustomed to. It was like watching a regular man cry; uncomfortable. Still, she felt strangely close. Part of her wanted to reassure him, but that wasn't Cadence. "But then, if I had been, would I have met you?" her brow shot up slightly, her breath catching in her throat. Would Robert prefer over Jude? The thought was strange and foreign. Robert's hand reached up and pinched her chin gently forcing her eyes to remain on his. "I like to think I would have, but I can't be certain you would even exist." That squirming feeling in her stomach returned again and she could do notthing but gaze back at her lover. She had been Jude's replacement, hadn't she? Would they have tried for her had he lived? She'd always been so sure they wouldn't. She had never been destined to meet her brother, her lovers best friend.

"It's strange to think about that...that you might not have existed. In fact, I'd rather not think about that." She was surprised at the heat she felt rising in her cheeks at his comment. What had gotten into him? Why was he doing this to her? Saying things like that, forcing her to admit her loyalty to him, his ownership over her.. "But I do feel responsible for Jude's death. If I hadn't been so reckless, those boys wouldn't have felt the need to exact revenge on me. I killed them for what they did, but I've always felt responsible for your brother. Reading his journal only reminds me of what he meant to me...he was my best friend. And it was my fault he died.". She knew she should be furious, but the anger never bubbled up. How could she be angry at him?

"That's what I'm thinking. I'm certain it's not what you were expecting." he looked amused almost, but the cool expression she usually wore never left her youthful face. It wasn't that she was angry, but she wasn't used to dealing with sentimental conversations, and she wasn't sure how to react towards him. "Now it's your turn, Miss Higgins. What are you thinking?" Cadence swallowed hard and squirmed a little, not wanting the spotlight on her, especially when she had no idea what she was thinking. She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head from side to side slightly. "I don't know." She answered in a soft, honest voice. "I don't know what to think." Her gaze dropped to his lips and she sighed. Slowly she moved her face to his, kissing him gently as her eyes slid shut. "I don't want to think right now." She admitted softly against his mouth.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert knew in the morning he would regret opening himself up so much to Cadence, especially with how calm her face had remained through his whole explanation of his thoughts. She thought he was weak…he hated to admit weakness. Already he was regretting opening his mouth when Cadence shook her head. “I don’t know.” Her voice was soft and honest. Maybe he had jumped the gun in assuming her thoughts… “I don’t know what to think.” He frowned, almost worried and maybe even a little desperate for a straight answer. Refusing to show that desperation other than the slight furrowing of his brow, his eyes dropped to her lips as she moved closer. She kissed him gently and he found himself winding down little by little, surprisingly comforted by the way she kissed him. “I don’t want to think right now.” Neither did he, but there was something still gnawing at him for her answer. Their lips met again and he let her distract him for the moment, kissing her deeply. His hand curved around her jaw and pulled her face closer against his. Why had he let her under his skin? He loved it and hated it at the same time. The arm he had wrapped around her pulled her to him more tightly, nudging her slightly more into his lap so he could better kiss her.

But that gnawing wouldn’t go away. He wanted a straight answer from her. His mouth pulled away from hers, his hand holding her face still as he gazed into her eyes intently. He couldn’t let this go. “Tell me what you’re thinking. After all that I just admitted, I need to know.” The man never pleaded or begged. He hardly even implored. But right now, there was a definite hint of need in his voice, a tinge of desperation that Cadence would surely pick up on. His eyes were focused entirely on hers and he waited silently for her to give him what he needed. “I’ve never told anyone else how I truly felt about Jude. Not one other person…but I told you. I need to know…do my…feelings…do they make me weak?” He’d always thought feelings made a person weak. They clouded a person’s judgment and often got in the way of important decisions. People, particularly women, tried to tell him that feelings made a person stronger because they shaped a moral character, but that was stupid. Yet he’d always harbored small feelings—for his parents, his mentor, Jude, and now Cadence. Jude and Cadence…would they be the end of him? Who was Robert Snow if he actually cared for another person? Cadence was the only person living he felt he cared about…the only person he trusted…Perhaps he was a fool after all. But would she confirm it or would she help ease his fears as he slowly found himself changing just the slightest bit?

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

All too quickly Robert was pulling away, his hand reaching to still her face as his intense eyes bored into hers. “Tell me what you’re thinking. After all that I just admitted, I need to know.” Her lips pursed slightly. She didn't know what to think. Then again, it was more so that she didn't want him to know. For the most part she had no thoughts on it, but she knew it wasn't entirely true. “I’ve never told anyone else how I truly felt about Jude. Not one other person…but I told you. I need to know…do my…feelings…do they make me weak?” They made her uncomfortable, that was for sure but she knew she couldn't say that.

"Yes." She said softly, knowing he would grow angry, "But only to me." She added, her voice soft and not mocking like one might expect hers to be when discussing something like this with Robert of all people. "And not in a way that would make me think less of you. If anything you've come across as less cold than normal, as if you had a heart." The last comment was mocking, and there was a flash of amusement twinkling in her cool eye. She felt compelled to touch him, caress his face, but the thought made her annoyed. She didn't like affection, neither giving or receiving it, and a tender stroke would do that.

Suddenly she sighed, her gaze dropping from his. She hated how much he'd opened to her, knowing he wanted the same in return, knowing it would cause her to put a great deal of her pride on the line to please him. "It makes me uneasy to know my existence means a great deal to you." She admitted. "I don't know what to think about it, how to feel.. you know my reluctance to show weakness in any way. It took a lot for me to admit you were even hurting me, to trust you at all, in any situation." Her eyes met his briefly but she didn't like the probing look in his eyes so she tore them from his once more. "You've changed everything and I don't know how to process it."

[ROBERT SNOW]

“Yes.” Cadence’s answer only confirmed what Robert feared and his brow lowered heavily over his piercing eyes. He hated to be called weak, even if he’d asked for her honest answer. “But only to me.” That didn’t make it much better. She was the only one who knew about his weakness. Of course to the rest of the world, the world that didn’t know him, he would continue to look as hard as the stone he became. But to the one person that knew him, he was weak, and that stung more than it should have. “And not in a way that would make me think less of you. If anything you’ve come across as less cold than normal, as if you had a heart.” Well…at least she didn’t think less of him. He still didn’t want her to see him as weak, though. Her discreetly mocking tone about his heart eased him a little, but he wondered if this meant he really did have a heart, as small as it might be. The slightest smile creased his lips, if only to show his appreciation for her trying to soothe her honesty. He still found it troubling.

She sighed and he watched her intently, waiting for the words that held to the end of that sigh. “It makes me uneasy to know my existence means a great deal to you. I don’t know what to think about it, how to feel…you know my reluctant to show weakness in any way. It took a lot for me to admit you were even hurting me, to trust you at all, in any situation.” And it hadn’t been hard for him? He raised an eyebrow at her, frowning the slightest bit. Had she missed his hesitation in all of that, the sheer effort it took to say anything about Jude? Why couldn’t she give him the same courtesy? He wanted to make her squirm as much as he had. Her eyes lifted to his and he simply gazed back, insistent on more answers. “You’ve changed everything and I don’t know how to process it.” How long had it taken for him to process? As much time as he spent recovering in his own bed from a bullet wound now patched by a metal plate that his hair kept hidden. It would take her time, but he wasn’t about to give up.

The bed sighed as Robert adjusted himself, his body covering hers again and forcing her eyes to his. “You let it happen,” he answered simply, his deep voice a soft rumble. “You invited this, Cadence. When you first allowed my advances and even reciprocated, when you stayed by my side throughout my coma, when you remained my assistant even after I was no longer leader, you invited my attachment to you.” One hand slid down her thigh toward her knee, leaning in and placing kisses along her neck until he reached her ear. “You don’t know how hard it was for me to admit that I wanted you, and then to admit that I relied on you. And that was just to admit it to myself. So can you imagine how hard it was to admit that I needed you? Even harder still, admitting it to you.” His hand slid higher again, this time running along the inside of her thigh. “Yes, it’s hard to process, Cadence, but you will.” His teeth tugged her earlobe gently before he planted more kisses down her neck, the hand on her thigh kneading gently at the soft flesh. Already he could feel himself stiffening again, but his lips moved slowly across her flesh, teasing her. “And I’ll be ready when you do.” He kissed below her chin, up to her jaw and paused over her lips, looking down into her beautiful green eyes. “You’re mine, Cadence. And I don’t intend on letting you forget that.” And with that his lips devoured hers, his body ready to remind her just how much she belonged to him.

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