Shivering uncontrollably, Cassandra stood on the steps. Once again, she found herself stuck in this situation… History was repeating itself.
“Would you like me to get you a taxi, madam?”
“Yes, please,” Cassandra said gratefully to the nice doorman.
She had no idea where she would go… All her things were still at Sébastien’s, but she didn’t want to go back there. Maybe he had plans with the blonde.
“The lady doesn’t need a taxi. She’s with me. Can you send for my driver, please?” a familiar deep voice, throbbing with anger, came from behind her and she stiffened in rejection.
A harsh hand on her arm pulled her around. She met furious dark eyes and everything in her protested against his anger. The fact that the doorman had already hurried off to do his bidding made things eve
Cassandra was still on cloud nine, trembling in his arms. Sébastien pulled her into his chest and cradled her against him. They were still joined intimately, and at that moment she couldn’t ever imagine being separated from this man. She’d never felt like this with her husband, not even in the early days of their marriage when she’d had so many hopes and dreams of a happy future. Something extraordinary had just happened, and Cassandra hated to admit it. When they reached his apartment, Sébastien carried her straight up to his bathroom and ran them a bath. Then they made love. Again, and again. And now she lay here, blissed out. Complete. She heard a movement and looked up. He was holding out a big robe. “Come on, chérie, or you’ll turn into a prune.” &n
She stopped backing away and put her coffee cup down carefully on the low table by the couch. Cassandra straightened and folded her arms. “Look, that’s exactly what it is. We both know that. I’d prefer if we could just be honest about it. What I’m saying to you is that I don’t need to be given any kind of platitudes. I’m not going to be weak, or desperate to have more than you are willing to give. If you said to me right now that this is over, thanks but goodbye, I’d have no problem walking out of here.’ Sébastien had gone very still, his eyes becoming dark as the night without stars. No doubt he wasn’t used to lovers calling the shots, Cassandra thought cynically. And why did her flip words cause an ache somewhere in the region of her chest? She pushed it aside. The truth was this: Sébastien wasn
Three intoxicating, passion-filled weeks later, that wonderful day was eluding Cassandra as she looked down from her position in the press box to the VIP area in Croke Park. Déjà vu washed over her as she caught Sébastien’s eye and made a face before turning her attention back to the game between Ireland and England. Her heart was singing, her breath was coming fast, and her entire body was burning. Cassandra put her intermittent feelings of nausea down to that see-sawing feeling and tried to forget that she’d been compelled to buy an over-the-counter pregnancy test that morning on her way to work after Sébastien had said goodbye to her from her own modestly sized double bed. She wouldn’t think about her late period or the pregnancy test now. It couldn’t… And yet, a small voice deep inside kept yelling th
Sébastien came in and towered over her, the door shut behind him.“What the hell was all that about?” Cassandra moved around to her armchair and sat down because she was afraid she might fall.“Well, that was me, finally airing my dirty laundry. In front of the entire nation, no less.” He had moved to the center of the small living room and glared down at her.“And in front of the entire Six Nations public too. I believe the news is hitting the airwaves as we speak. The hotel where the after-match party is being held has had to call for police assistance in dealing with the hordes of paparazzi already camped outside.” She winced. Sébastien grunted something unintelligible and
It was vital to move away from him. But after a few steps, Cassandra stopped abruptly as her hand that had been sliding along the counter hit something that froze the blood in her veins. Instinctively, Cassandra covered it. She knew immediately what it was… She’d left it there in her shock and confusion just minutes before opening the door to let him in. Sébastien’s eyes darted to where her hand had made the betraying, concealing movement. Cassandra gulped as he looked back at her. She felt guilty since she looked guilty. “What’s that, Cassandra?” “Nothing important,” she said, almost hopefully. “If it’s nothing important, why are you trying to hide it?” “I’m not.” “Show me what it is.” “It’s nothing, Sébastien…” “Now, Cassandra!”  
Head leaned against the back of the couch, Cassandra was trying to push back the tears threatening to come out. Everything was such a mess… Her entire life was such a mess… Not to mention the life of the entire Applegate clan. The only being not touched by this entire disaster was her baby. He or she was being protected by her and Sébastien. Being here wasn’t the best option, but for now, it was the safest. A couple of days later, Cassandra finally had to acknowledge that she really hadn’t had a choice but follow Sébastien. Not that it made her feel any better. What could she have done? Her family was still shocked by the revelations she made on TV. The entire country was in shock. She closed her eyes, remembering every single thing that happened before her arrival here. &n
Cassandra felt a rising sense of panic that Sébastien would just keep her here, like some kind of animal in a zoo. Why was he acting like this? Why was he treating her like he didn’t really want her here? Was his plan to take away her baby once she’d give birth? At this thought, Cassandra put her hand on her belly again, in an unconscious gesture of protection. “You’re not alone, Cassandra… Besides, here you have everything you want…” “Right… Everything…” ‘Except you…’ Cassandra wanted to yell in his face. Their eyes locked and her gaze pierced Sébastien’s stomach. She was so beautiful… Cassandra was dressed down in jeans and a loose shirt, and he could see the outline of her bra underneath, white and plain, and yet more seductive than the flimsiest lingerie he’d seen on her yet…
He made it sound so easy. And, while Cassandra felt it was important to assert her independence, she knew Sébastien was right. For now. It wasn’t just about the two of them anymore. She’d worry about the shifting parameters of their affair later. The knowledge that he still desired her was intoxicating, she went to bed that night and slept properly for the first time all week. The next day she entered the house and found him already there. She knew Sébastien had a serious amount of work to do and a few important meetings to attend to, but he was there, waiting for her to get back home. Sébastien came towards her and gave her an inquisitive look. “So? I want to know everything the doctor told you.” “The pregnancy is proceeding very well, in spite of all the stress in the last few weeks. And