His hand caresses her cheek and Cassandra is lost in him, in his touch, the taste of him, the press of his lips against hers. The burning of passion and desire. It has been a long time since she’s felt this way, since she’s been kissed so intently. She wants... she needs...

She is breathless when the kiss finally breaks, filling her lungs with air once more with a gasp as she gazes at him with blue-grey eyes dark with desire. His words earn him a soft, breathless laugh and a smile as she briefly untwines from him to reach up and cradle his cheek with her hand, fingers splayed along his jaw.

“I think,” she manages, tugging her lower lip between her teeth for a moment. “I think you can be forgiven.” And then it’s her turn to lean forward and kiss him fervently, an answer to the question he hadn’t spoken. Yes.