Married to the Rogue

Chapter 2: Dream

|Cassandra|

I woke up early the next morning. And I could not help but smile when the first thing that greets my eyes were the peaceful sleep of my husband.

Still lying on his stomach, with his head facing my direction, I gently moved my body closer to him, enough that we won't touch skin to skin. I was grinning from ear to ear as I started looking at his face, memorizing and appreciating the small details I see like I usually do every morning.

Even with the months had passed, I think I was still in a dream that I truly married the man of my life. I still could not believe that I am Cassandra Lancaster.

But then...remembering that I still have half a year remaining to be with him and change his mind about leaving me, I felt a pang of pain assaulting the organ on my chest.

I wonder if I could really succeed on my plan of letting Leon fall in love with me.

I did not know how long I was staring at my husband when suddenly, the memory of last night suddenly flashed into my mind.

'You could have ask me that you wanted a goodnight kiss, wife. I can give it to you, you know. No need to secretly steal it everynight,'

I automatically went out of the bed, suddenly alarmed and alert of the fact that Leon was probably awake and he was waiting for a great timing to tease me once again. My heart was pounding so loud against my chest that I thought it would break free.

I stared at him for a few minutes, ensuring that I had not woke him up from his slumber. He was unmoving and was breathing evenly like he was still lost into his own dream and peace.

I sighed heavily in relief. I thought my heart was going to explode in shock and anticipation!

Instead of remaining on my place and gazed at Leon even I was tempted to, I decided to prepare for the day. It's still five minutes after five and too early to make breakfast and everything, yet, since I don't have anything to do, that made me busy.

I went out of the bedroom to start my daily routine in the morning. Prepare the breakfast, do some household chores, and water my plants on the garden. The sun was already peeking on the east when I was done with everything.

Every Sunday, Leon usually stays inside our house and spend his entire day inside if he has nothing to do. He sleeps until noon, or sometime, the entire day especially if his duties on Saturday is more than 16 hours.

But there were also Sundays were he usually spend his day going somewhere. I don't have idea where is it since he never, even once, brought me with him whenever he was out on his day-off.

Well it's not that I am complaining that he doesn't bring me. His only reason when I asked him one time that...bringing me will not be an option because it was dangerous. What can I do but believe at him, right?

I went back inside the house and decided to have my morning bath. I started to get excited at the thought and quickly prepared I needed! Coffee and some breads if I suddenly got hungry while taking my time inside the bathroom.

It took me a while before I was done preparing my basic needs. And when I got inside our bedroom, I saw Leon still lying on the same position. And that is an indication for me that he will be asleep for the next couple of hours! I appreciated the scene in front of me a little while before I decided to finally get inside the bathroom and prepare my hot bath.

The marbled floor quickly greeted me as I stepped inside. There were two exposed lavatories above the granite table at my right, two water closets beyond the lavatories and my favorite spot inside the bathroom was the bathtub near the curtain wall, overlooking the vast forest on the south. Yes, we have a wide bathroom. And this is one of my favorite place in this modern house.

Having a long time bath every morning was my favorite part of my morning routine. The thought of getting inside the bath tub with warm water and appreciating the view of the forest suddenly makes me excited!

So...I quickly prepared everything I need. I filled the tub with warm water then put some bubble bath. I placed the breakfast table beside tub, putting my breads and coffee, a music box, then pulled the blinds of the wall so I could have a better view of the forest!

I was quick with stripping my clothes because of my excitement. And I heave a deep sigh of relief when the warm water touched my skin as I stepped inside the bathtub. I shut my eyes close as I slowly and carefully dips myself on the water, now filled with bubbles. And when the warm water enveloped my skin, I could not help but grin widely.

I opened my eyes and was about to reach for my coffee on the table. Then I started enjoying the warmth of it as I dragged my eyes toward the thick forest beyong the glass wall.

You can say that I was enjoying my hot bath when I started humming along the music coming out of the box. It was a quite disappointing that the music only lasted for few minutes. But then...after a while, I started enjoying the peace and serenity of the bathroom.

I have not yet finished my coffee when I decided to reach the cup on the breakfast table. The coffee might already cold, but still...I need to drink all of it. It's a pity if I don't drink it all.

But due to my slippery hands, I accidentally let go of the cup. I gasped when the cup was immediately broken upon hitting the floor. The crash made a loud noise on the corners of the room. I suddenly felt a little sad expecially that cup has a sentimental value for me.

But then. what just happened suddenly dawned to me. My eyes automatically landed on the door, worried that the noise might have woken up Leon and he starts barging inside! It would be a...disaster if he finds me here...naked!

Well, he won't probably see my entire body since my upper proximities is covered with water and bubbles. But thinking of finding him inside the bathroom while I am still using it, is a little bit...uncomfortable to me.

I know...I was almost n***d last night. But this story will be different.

I anticipated his sudden arrival after a few seconds. My eyes was locked on the door. But after a few moments of peace and silence, I concluded that he must still in his deep sleep that he did not hear anything that had happened here.

I stared at the broken ceramics on the floor. I was having a debate on myself whether I started cleaning those broken pieces or not. Or maybe, I will do it after my bath. It took me a while before I came up with the decision.

I'll do it later.

So, I decided to ignore the broken cup and continued enjoying my bath. I closed my eyes and leaned the back of my neck on the edge of the bathtub. I was in the same position for a few minutes that I did not notice I had fallen asleep.

I usually fell into sleep whenever I was enjoying my bath. but by the time that I woke up, I felt someone slightly tapping my cheeks and calling out my name.

"Cassandra! Cassandra! Wake the fvck up!" I heard him say in hurry.

I opened my eyes and the first thing that meet my gaze was the familiar blue orbs of a man. Then I quickly sat up straight when I realized that Leon was in front of me!

"L-Leon!" I exclaimed. I blinked as I looked at him with shock.

"Why the hell did you fell asleep? Don't you know its dangerous?!" he said with so much anger.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention," I whispered with worry.

This is not the first time seeing Leon this worked up. The way his forehead creased, suddenly aware of the curious and viscious look he was giving.

"Is anything wrong?" I asked, suddenly curious why is he here in front of me.

It took me a while before I became aware of our situation. The only thing that's covering my nakedness is the water. And now, most of the bubbles are gone that if Leon tried to looked down, he would really see my entire nakedness. I simply covered my chest with my hands. Leon's gaze remained at me for a few seconds before he heaved deeply. And without saying anything, he stood from sitting in front of me and left the bathroom.

I blinked, suddenly surprise and shock with what had happened. I was hundred percent sure that Leon will be awake later this morning or after lunch. I started to have the habit of not locking the door. That's why it was really surprise to me to see him wide awake and looking down at me.

I quickly finish my bath with worry. I could not enjoy my bath remembering that look from Leon's face.

Grabbing the robe on a nearby rack, I quickly wore it and get out of the bathtub. But I only cry in pain in return I felt the tiny pricks on my feet.

"Ouch!" I groaned in pain when I finally remembered that there were still shattered ceramics on the floor. My gaze landed on the floor and immediately stepped toward the area where there were no ceramics.

Then I quickly checked my feet, finding some possible wounds.

"What happened?!"

My body flinched when the door suddenly burst open. The Leon immediately went back inside.

"I..." I was not able to finish my words when his gaze dropped on the floor. I heard him uttering a curse before he quickly went to my direction and checked my feet that was lifted on the air.

He carefully took out the tiny fragments of ceramics and seek for wounds. He found some few but it was small and not that deep. I heard him sighing a deep breath before he stood up, then crouched a bit. His one hand reached for the back of my knees and the other snaked on my back and started carrying me. My eyes widened in surprise when I realize what he was doing.

"Leon! You don't need to carry me! I can walk!" I said to him. But I was too late when his long legs dashed the way out of the bathroom. I end up biting my lower lip in return when he carefully placed me down on the bed.

"Don't move," he said with warning.

I nodded my head as response and he quickly went back inside the bathroom, probably to get the first aid kit.

He was holding it already when he got back. Then as soon as he sat in front of me, he started treating the small wounds on my feet with his gentle hands. I could not help but stare at him as he was doing that.

Many have said that Leon was rough and...merciless. That he was too harsh to other people and even gave them a hard time.

But I could not help but disagree with them.

How could a man like him be that kind of person?

"Next time, wear your slippers, Cassandra,"

I was dragged back to reality upon hearing that. I blinked when I saw him looking at me.

"Alright," I whispered as an answer.

He nodded his head then stood from the floor. He turned his back to me as he went back inside the bathroom. I was still on the bed when he got out.

"Do you have other things to do this morning?" he casually asked. He was inside the walk-in closet but I could still hear his voice from there.

"Nothing. I'll just probably watch a television or read books on the libabry," I said to him.

Then I remembered that I needed to change. I inhaled a deep breath as I stood from the bed. I was limping my way inside the closet. Leon immediately looked at me. He eyed me for a few seconds but he did not say anything further.

So, I busied myself on finding some clothes for myself.

But after a few seconds of silence, I suddenly heard him asking.

"I want to chase the winds. Want to come?"

I tilted my head toward his direction. My forehead were starting to crease, trying to undertsand what he was saying. And his expression depicts a wait for my answer. It took me a while before I finally realize what he meant by that. And I could not help but gasped in excitement.

"Really?!" I confirmed with a wide grin of my face. Leon smirked at my reaction.

"Yes,"

"Sure! I would love that!" I said right away, the smile still plastered on my lips.

"Then change. I'll be waiting for you at the living area," he said as he pulled shirt on his closet then find his way out.

So, I made a quick change of clothes. I grabbed any dress that I could find the wore it, went out of the closet as I dried my wet hair, then finally finish fixing myself.

After fifteen minutes, I was limping my way out of the bedroom and head toward the living area. But I did not find Leon there.

I stepped out of the house and saw him instead on our frontyard, half n***d as he gazed at the woods in front of us.

Yet...I could not help but looked at the mark on his back. I had seen it a few times already. It was a terrible wound a few months ago. But now that it was healed, it became a scar on his back. And for some reason, it's not that I wished that I wanted him to have that mark, those scars added to his masculinity and handsomeness.

Leon might have noticed my presence that he instantly turned around to face me. I quickly plastered a smile on my lips. He had told me already how he hated those people who looked at the scar on his back with disgust and hate, and even pitiness.

"Ready?" he asked as he walked closer to my direction.

"Yes,"

He smiled then without wasting another second, he quickly shapeshift himself into a wolf. A brown and massive wolf.

I had seen him shapeshifting numerous times years ago, even before we got married. And he would always takes my breath away whenever he did that. I could not help but to feel awe and amaze even if shapeshifting was a natural thing to do to their race.

I went beside him then run my fingers through his fur. It was soft against my hands. And I would be finding myself on enjoying in playing with it if I did not hear Leon's voice ringing on my mind.

'Mount on my back, Cassandra,'

I blinked and was taken aback upon hearing that voice inside my head. Leon's eyes looked directly into mine. Even if he is in his wolf form, I smiled even more then immediately do what he had say in excitement. He slightly lowered down his body a bit so I could mount his back with ease. And when he ensured that I was settled, he started walking inside the woods.

I could the muscles on his back flexing on my beneath. My hand grasp the soft strands of his fur. It was a miracle that I was able to stop myself from hugging him from behind even I badly wanted to.

"When was the last time you did this, Leon?" I could not help but ask.

'If I have time on my day-off, I am doing this,'

My lips protruded at his response. And he never even bothered to invite me. I know that I told him once on how I love to ride his back whenever he chase the wind, right? Has he forgotten that?

I suddenly felt something cold in my gut.

Well, he might have forgotten that. That was already ages ago.

'Hold tight,' I heard him say on my mind again.

"You don't need to remind me," I uttered as I hold onto his fur a bit tighter.

My heart was pounding against my chest. The anticipation of what will happen next was beyond me. I am very much excited, that when Leon suddenly run swiftly through the woods without notice, I shrieked immediately on the top my lungs.

"Leon!"

I grasped his fur and leaned my body down to his. My eyes widened in fraction as I witness how fast Leon was running. Horror of falling creeps into my system. I know that I like this kind of Leon's routine, running into the woods with godspeed. But it seemed that my body had slightly forgotten that feeling that I thought my heart was breaking out of my ribcage.

'Are you okay?' Leon asked.

I swallowed hard and looked ahead of me. His entire focus was on our way.

"I'm...fine," I managed to answer. And the feeling of falling down was short-live when I gradually managed myself of getting used to this. But Leon seemed to have known of my reaction earlier that he suddenly made a quick turned to our right, which made me shrieked in surprise once again!

"Leon!" I said at the top of my lungs as I close my eyes. And I have seemed to disturbed the animals in the forest with my voice. When I opened my eyes, I saw some animals running away and even the birds were flying away from their trees. I did not know if it was because of me or because of Leon.

I inhaled a deep breath as I straighten my back. The cold gust of wind kissed my face once again. And Leon seemed to get starting serious on his run. I anticipated his another antic but he remained subdued on our way.

I could not help but smile as I was also starting to enjoy the moment. My eyes were filled with the scenery around us. This is my first time prominading the woods so I can't really help myself in admiring the landscape around us.

Fresh air. Greens. Blue sky.

It was really my dream to travel the world and discover what was beyond the horizon. It was my dream to discover new things, meet people and make new friends. But the life that I had before Leon happened in my life was not the life that I want or even wish.

That was why...it was really a blessing in disguise that I met Leon and even...married him.

Even the marriage was only for political reason.