Cassandra's hands were shaking and tears started to flow from her eyes. Her darkest fear had come to be realized. Her days on earth were numbered and she felt like a fool to fall for a mortal. She felt Ray take her in his arms to stop her shaking. Soon Cassandra was comfortably cradled against his body and his warmth seeped into her. He gently kissed her on her back, kissed her mark which felt odd. Cassandra had never been so intimately touched by anyone. Only her father could see her mark and he had explained to her the significance of it.
Soon Ray turned from kissing her back to her neck and then her lips. Cassandra felt her body open up to him. She knew what was happening but again she was quite helpless in this matter. It was an automatic response. Cassandra closed her eyes and decided to give in to the sensations she couldn't control. She surrendered to God's will and to the insistence of Ray Sutherland.
When she was steady enough Ray was watching her with concern. "You are completely safe with me, no one will ever touch you, do you understand?" he asked.
She nodded knowing it was impossible to explain to him what was written on that extraterrestrial artefact that they called the black star that was so scary. "Where is the star?" She managed to ask.
"It's safe." He answered before getting up to dress. "I have a three-day conference to attend. I'll be gone the entire day. I have bought you a few sexy things to wear at night. I hope you don't mind. I like to be entertained after a hard day." So saying he gave a sexy smirk that melted her to the bed.
"No I don't" She whispered, shaking her head. "What do you want from me?"
He curved his lips in triumph, "Everything."
So saying, he left the room.
When a man of the calibre of Ray Sutherland wanted everything from her, Cassandra had reason to be afraid. To not mention the fact that Samael had sent a message to earth was also a serious concern. That meant he knew that she was here. Then again her disappearing powers also posed a mystery. She was a carrier and her mating was supposed to transfer her powers to her mate. Was it possible to transfer her powers to someone of a different species?
The three days passed away in a blur and the three nights brought on more intimacy than Cassandra ever thought possible. Cassandra told Ray about her parents being murdered for a family heirloom and her escaping with it. He couldn't tell him where she had escaped from and how. It would all be too much for him to digest. She simply told him it was too painful to recapitulate. He nodded and changed the topic. Cassandra found out from Ray how he was the illegitimate child of two foreign travellers who had left him with his parents in return for their hospitality. Cassandra realized how hard it was for a religious man like him to accept that his birth was itself against God. But can a life be brought on earth without the will of God? No, it cannot. God had some purpose in the illegitimacy of Raymond Michael Sutherland. Perhaps it was to make him the righteous person he was or perhaps it was to ensure that he had the conversation with Cassandra soon enough that was vital to their relationship.
"I am sorry to not give you a heads up about my intentions with you but I didn't plan on things getting this far this soon," Ray said and kissed her again.
"It's alright. You wanted to avoid office gossip. It saved me my reputation." Cassie said. "I have never had any intimate relationship before and I know you don't do relationships. It is better that things are cleared up between us. I do not mind this kind of relationship that you choose."
"Cassandra, you frustrate me." And did he sound frustrated! "I told you I want everything from you. That includes your heart, Cassie. When I said that I do not do relationships it doesn't necessarily imply that I only have illicit affairs. One thing that you do not understand of me is that I am deeply religious and our Lord created me for one woman and when I kissed you I realized that you are my woman Cassandra. That is why I allowed our relationship to have progressed this far in the first place. Even then you could have objected any time and I would have receded. I am not a player Cassandra. I had sworn to celibacy until God pointed me to the right woman in my life and you are that right woman, the only woman. In my mind I did not ravage you in my bed; I consummated the beginning of our life together. Marry me, Cassandra. We are meant to be. "
The cat was out of the bag. Cassandra was already mated to Ray. From the Universe that they come from marriage was performed through consummation. A woman's purity was everything. Maybe God had later realized that beyond purity a woman could have a heart and a will and so granted her the power to choose among Earthlings. But that was a luxury her people could never afford. Cassie looked away. She was forbidden to give her heart to a mortal but she already did. She should say yes if she were to remain on Earth. How could she say this? But what if her prolonged presence on Earth brought Samael and destruction! It wouldn't be fair to him when Samael came and took her away. "I don't know if I can do that."
"What do you mean you can't do that? Our relationship has already been consummated!" Ray growled in dominance.
Cassie looked away. She knew he was telling the truth. How could she tell him that there was never to be anyone else for her? She was bound to him but he need not be bound to her and that would be for the greater good. "I do not belong to you. I have to return to my betrothed someday." She lied knowing it would bring an excruciating pain on her heart to do so.
"What do you mean by betrothed? Do you have a fiance? Then what were you doing with me? You never even mentioned it to me. Was it just for the job? Did you have any feelings for me or were you manipulating me into giving you a raise?"
"I do, I did have feelings for you. When you come near me the feelings overwhelm me. I can't think straight with your kisses and your touch and I like it and want more of it. But that can't change the fact that when Samael comes for me I shall have to go with him."
"In short, I seduced you. Do you know what that makes me feel like? A cursed rapist;" Ray Sutherland let out a frustrated breath. "I took your virginity for God's sake."
"Don't take the Lord's name in vain," She said mollified.
"Are you bothered about cursing? Are you even bothered about a man's conscience? You took away my faith and burdened my conscience with your treachery. I took an active part in your act of adultery and I have erred grievously," Ray Sutherland, the Greek god, the master of his world looked crushed.
"You sinned in ignorance Ray. God will forgive you. I do not love the person, Ray, far from it. If there was a man that I do love it is you. But it is a rule of our land that I cannot be with you. Still, my heart bleeds for you, Ray Sutherland. How can I ease your conscience?" Cassie replied hastily, disturbed with the man's pain and anguish. She placed the palm of her hand over his heart in order to soothe him.
"Kill me."
Cassie was shocked. "I can't do that either. I would rather kill myself."
Ray Sutherland got up and paced his room unsure of what he was to do. Then he finally turned to her. "Marry me today. Then when you want to marry him I shall not come in the way. I wouldn't feel like I dishonoured you and you get a share in my property."
"I don't want your property. I love you more than you can ever love me. In this day and age, it may sound strange but my purity meant a lot more to me than my life itself. But I gave it to you because I would rather have you than anyone else. But on a long-term basis, I can't belong to you." Cassie tried to pacify him. She couldn't let him marry her. Could she?
"You wanted to ease my conscience. This is how. I am not forcing you to do it or seducing you into it. This time it is your choice. I give you my word when he wants you he will have you. I shall do my level best to do right by you in the eyes of the Lord whether you approve or not. I will never exercise my rights on you. But I want to face myself in the mirror and God at the end of my life on earth. Please, Miss Angel."
"I will marry you Ray if it is such a big thing to you but when Samael comes, you will have to let me go." She decided to finally give in. She could not force a man to wallow in guilt because of her.
He nodded. She never imagined a hurried wedding or the fact that a separation would loom in the dark behind them. Ray took her to a chapel to get a quick wedding but the sight that greeted her was that everyone from her office was there, even Mr. Sutherland in a wheelchair. Ray had already planned all of it and this was always what this trip was about, to get her to marry him. Guilt wrenched her heart but there was nothing she could do. She had to stand by her decision and be firm for the sake of the man and his world she had grown to love.
Soon they were back to their normal busy life. Ray insisted that Cassie move in with him in his apartment. He explained he had an elderly housekeeper who could chaperon her stay in the house. The pent house apartment had six bedrooms and Cassie could comfortably settle into one till she chose to leave. What Ray didn't mention was that he would be returning to work for NASA on Project Black Star very soon and Cassie would have all the luxuries of the penthouse to herself. He could do at least that much to make up for his sins.