Too Much to Bear My Love

Cassie’s head drooped and there was a flash in her eyes. When she looked back up, she was back to her innocent, bubbly self.

“Oz, come sit with me. Don’t worry. I’m not going to harm you. Even if something should happen, isn’t it always the woman who’s at a disadvantage? I’m not even afraid, so why should you be?” Cassie sat Oscar down and brought him his glass of wine. “Go ahead and try it. Let me know if you like the taste.”

With a practiced hand, Oscar swirled his wine to release its aromas. He then brought the glass to his lips and took a sip, savoring it slowly. “This wine is good. It’s full-bodied and rich.”

Cassie laughed. “Good, good. You should drink more then.”

The two of them continued to chat and drink through the night. Even though he could usually hold his liquor, Oscar was starting to feel the buzz from the wine. He tried to stand up, only to fall back into his chair.

Concerned, Cassie made her way toward him. “Are you drunk? Let me take you to the bed.”

Oscar wanted to swat her away but found himself too weak to do anything. He gave in and let Cassie lead him to bed. As she reached out to remove his clothes, he suddenly grabbed her hands. “Oz, you’re drunk. I’m taking your clothes off so you can sleep more comfortably,” she said softly.

Oscar stared at her with glassy eyes.

A sly smile lit up Cassie’s face. “I’ll make you feel even more comfortable in a while. After tonight, I will officially be your woman.”

She reached up to caress Oscar’s face. “Don’t blame me for setting you up, Oz. I was just so afraid of losing you to Amelia. You keep telling me you love me, but you refuse to be intimate with me. You left me no choice but to do things my way. Once this night is over, you’re mine forever.”

Oscar was still staring at her in his drunken state when he suddenly muttered, “Amelia.”

This came like a bolt from the blue and Cassie froze.

“You keep saying you no longer love her, but even in this drunken and drugged state, you’re still calling out her name.” Cassie felt her rage boiling over and started tearing at Oscar’s clothes. “I was going to drug you further, but I held back for fear of side effects. How could you still call out her name? Do you know how much this hurts me?”

Oscar continued muttering, “Amelia, you’re home? Let’s go to bed then.” He was about to sit up and pull Cassie into bed, but he couldn’t muster an ounce of energy to do so.

“Amelia, what’s wrong with me?” he asked quizzically.

Cassie gathered all her strength to remove Oscar’s clothes before stripping herself down. As she straddled him, Oscar pushed her away in frustration. “Go away. You stink.”

she was a child and never had she ever been shamed like this. And to

sultry whisper, “What’s the matter, Oz? Don’t

dead to the

dark. She was not at all

humiliating me. The more you push me away, the more I want to become yours. Mark my words. I’ll make sure I’m the

a divorce. I think I’m in love with you.” He even had on such a dopey smile as he said that, a stark contrast from the cool, authoritative demeanor he always

and whispered, “Oz, I’ll make you

a packet of human blood from the wardrobe. It was one that she had purchased from the hospital.

dumped the remaining blood into the toilet and flushed it

bed and calmly lay

and snuggled against his chest. He saw that they were both naked and guessed

was even a little disgusted by it. Oscar wondered if Cassie had set him up but promptly ruled that out.

contemplating it when Cassie stirred. She met his gaze with red, puffy eyes. “Oz, you got so drunk last night you forced me into bed. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t snap you out of it. You’ve promised me you wouldn’t hurt me, and yet you were so rough last night. I cried and tried to stop

said that, she broke

It was my fault that I got stupid drunk and did what I did. I promise I’ll take

I was going to save myself for you ever since we started dating. You wanted to wait

the drops of blood left on the bed and felt a surge of pity toward Cassie. “Don’t worry,” he said softly.

Oz. But the way you were last night…

honest, he had always dreaded the prospect of marrying Cassie. He was aware of how often he professed his love for her but

long. The fact that he could bring their family business to even greater heights just showed how clever and capable he was. Yet now he had to convince himself that

aren’t you saying anything? Are you disgusted by me now and regret your promise to marry me? You know I’m not that kind of woman, right? If you really don’t wish to marry me, I won’t force you either. We’ll cut all ties, and I’ll go back to Erihal. Even if I do have your child, I’ll raise him

tight. “You’ve misunderstood me, Cassie. I was just thinking about stuff earlier. I’ll make good on my promise to get the divorce and marry you. You’re the woman I’ve always longed for, and I won’t

hear that,” Cassie replied gently. “Why don’t you take a shower before going to work? I

with a man. If you feel uncomfortable in any way,

“Oz, I know.”

bathroom, Cassie picked up his phone and dialed Amelia’s number. Once the call got through, she said gleefully, “Ms. Winters, it’s me. I’m pregnant

the call, Amelia was cool as a cucumber. “Are you with him

the Clinton residence, but it’s still got a nice, homely touch to