Ashton embraced Cara as they stood on their veranda. He sniffed, kissed Cara’s shoulders, and whispered to her ears. “I miss you, love.” His low baritone voice sounded too sexy for Cara. She blushed hearing him speak those sweet words for her freely and sincerely.
“Love, you know sometimes… I can’t stop myself from thinking if you love me because I forced you or is it how you really feel?” Cara spoke softly. Those thoughts have been bugging her mind for a long time now and, unfortunately, she can’t get them off. She lowered her head, feeling ashamed of asking Ashton who had done so much for her, trying to prove his love and affection for her.
“How about you, love? Do you love me because of our situation or do you really feel it?” Ashton squeezed Cara’s hand as he caressed her chin with his other hand. He took a deep sigh, knowing he will not be able to prove it because he couldn’t disclose it to Cara. He couldn’t let her know that he was not under her spell anymore.
Cara bit her lip as he stared at Ashton’s eyes. Honestly, she did not know how to answer his question. She learned to love him perhaps because of their situation, the same with Ashton, so how does her love for him differ from his? She felt like she judged Ashton’s love for her unnecessarily. “I’m sorry, babe.” She whispered as her eyes became watery. It was so spontaneous she did not expect to be this emotional.
Ashton was quick to wipe her tears with his fingers. “Oh, why are you apologizing? I’m the one who should be saying sorry.” He said and kissed her forehead. “Baby, I just want you to realize one thing.” He added as he lovingly held Cara’s face between his palms.
Ashton paused and rested his forehead opposite Cara’s. He then placed her hand over his chest. “You can force me to do things on a whim and all, but you never had the power to compel my heart.”
Cara smiled as she remembered how Ashton struggled when he was forced to be nice to her, but deep, was betraying his real emotion. “How can I be such a fool not to realize that?” She blurted out loud.
Ashton laughed with her and answered “We are all fools in love, right?” He grabbed Cara by the hips and pressed his body towards her.
Cara gasped and tapped Ashton’s shoulder. “You are a beast! Babe, you really never get tired, do you?” She commented to her husband.
Ashton’s hand slipped inside her nightgown, caressing her behind and upper thigh. He sneered as Cara commented on his stamina. “I will never get tired of you, babe… Never.” Ashton said in his low voice near Cara’s ears.
The way he talked and caressed her sent electricity throughout Cara’s body. It is as if he really knows how to make her heart beat like it is ready to win a race. He pulled down her undies as if checking if she was into this frisky move of his.
Cara tapped his shoulder again to remind him. “Babe, what are you thinking? Somebody might see us here.” She was really afraid of getting caught doing the deed with Ashton. Although she was sure that no one would speak against it, just the thought that another person would see how Ashton pleasures her… It was unspeakable for Cara.
Ashton laughed and turned to Cara like they were dancing. Cara was facing the view outward from the veranda while her body was against the rails. Ashton positioned himself behind her, being playful with the reluctant Cara. He enveloped his wife with his warm embrace and kissed her neck seductively. “Isn’t that more exciting, babe?” Teasing Cara made him more excited that she could feel him poking behind her.
“Don’t be silly, babe.” She hadn’t even finished her piece, but Ashton’s hand was all over her body. “Hmmm, Ashton, we can’t be seen like this.” she moaned and protested at the same time. “Ahh, babe…”
“Nobody will see us here, don’t worry.” Ashton assured Cara and licked the back of her ear. He couldn’t contain his excitement as he heard Cara’s groans. “Baby, you are making me go crazy.” Ashton made it clear that he really wanted to do it with Cara right then and there. He was just glad that Cara did not order him to stop, or else he could not do anything to defy her.
Cara slowly bent her body slightly forward to give Ashton better access to her body. She was way deeply enthralled at the moment to just stop right now. “Take me now, love.” She said in her seductive voice.
***
“Are you ready, babe?” Cara asked her husband, who looked exquisite in his black suit and red tie. Crafter Co.’s scheduled press conference will be started in a few minutes and Ashton will be the one addressing the company today.
Ashton squeezed Cara’s hand as his reply as they walked towards the conference hall. “Ready as ever, love.” He moved closer to Cara’s face. “I can’t wait to get this thing over with so we can go home earlier.” He winked at his wife and showed his sexy smile.
Cara tapped Ashton’s arm to stop his silly comments, afraid that people around them might hear. When the threat of the Phantoms became clearer to them, Ashton doubled their bodyguards just to be sure. They were led to a holding room before their turn to go to the conference hall. “Oh crap!” Ashton blurted unexpectedly as they sat on the couch.
“Huh? Is there something wrong, love?” Cara furrowed her eyebrows, thinking about what made Ashton upset.
He smirked at her, as if liking her reaction. “I’m okay. I just thought we could get some alone time in this room.” He said in his low voice.
They both laughed and the guards surrounding them were clueless of their sudden burst. “Babe, is this necessary?” Cara glanced at the additional guards Ashton got for them.
Ashton just raised his eyebrows at his wife. He knows how stubborn she can be, but he definitely felt that it is necessary. He can’t just let the Phantoms run their show, most especially if it is at the expense of the love of his life.
Cara took a sigh and mumbled. “You know, I am a strong babe.”
Ashton chuckled at his wife and held her chin. “I know that. In fact, we both know you are the strongest.” Their conversation was cut short when Barry opened the door of the holding room. “Boss, it’s time.” His words were short, but the serious look on his face was a puzzle for Ashton. This isn’t Barry. They had been working for decades already and this was the first time he had seen him looking like this.
Cara nodded and stood up, looking at the scrunched-up face of her husband. She did not want to let the surrounding people notice the look on Ashton’s face. She opted to stay quiet as they both went towards the conference hall.
Ashton’s senses were drowned. There are a lot of people around them, but that familiar scent he cannot mistake it for anything else. He looked at Cara and held her hand; he wanted to alert her, but at the same time he felt frustrated that he could not figure out where the scent was coming from. It was obvious that he was thrown off purposely, so he could not detect them.
 “Babe, it smells funny in here.” Cara commented to Ashton. “I can smell every particle of the things they scattered in here.” She added. “Gosh, this makes me want to puke. The smell is horrid.” She stated, not wanting to further, breakdown the scents she was picking up as thinking about them is turning her stomach upside down.
“Babe, wait here. I need to talk to Barry.” Ashton looked at his wife before he walked towards Barry. He wants to make sure the press conference area is secure for Cara.
“Cover Madam!” the guards shouted and “bang bang bang” The loud sound of gunshots echoed in Ashton’s ears. He ran back towards Cara, seeing her hold her chest with a wand poking out. Their eyes met as she fell on her knees and slowly drifted out of her consciousness. That scene that unfolded before him broke his heart into pieces. He took off his coat and covered his wife as he swooped her in his arms. He wants to take Cara out of the area as fast as possible; people can’t see her in this situation.
Ashton saw the man that stabbed Cara with a wand. He was shot by the guards and they held him tightly, he had a broad grin on his face as blood gushed out of his mouth. “I got your bitch. We will see each other in Hell.”