FIGHTING HIS FEELINGS

Cassandra and Eros didn't say a word to each other until they got home. Cassandra didn't wait for Leo to open the door for her, she got off the car and stormed into the building. Eros followed her immediately, getting pissed with her attitude. He was supposed to be the angry one here, he was the one humiliated, how dare she? He wanted to be so mad at her like he used to be but he couldn't, he was just so focused on finding out what was going on in her mind that he didn't get as mad as he should have. He followed her up the stairs and once they were in his room, he slammed the door shut, and in one quick motion, he strode over to her, grabbed her wrist, and turned her to face him.

Her back was pressed against the dresser, and she looked away from him, avoiding his eyes. He stared at her for a while, the heat from her engulfing him and he restrained himself from hauling her against him and kissing her silly. Why was she so damn sexy? He began to speak immediately to blot that thought out of his mind.

"Look at me," he commanded.

"I don't want to," she replied.

In normal circumstances, he would have given her a dirty slap, but this was not normal at all, and it was driving him crazy, how weak he has become for this woman. She had to know that he was the boss around here and give him that respect. He dragged her away from the dresser and pinned her to a wall, his palm resting on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her. He noticed she was trying hard for their bodies not to touch, and he leaned on her, his lips aligning with her ear and his breath fanning against her neck, her body stiffening under him.

"What you tried today," he began in a cold, steel voice, hoping to convey the message. "Never try it again. I am your boss, and I don't like being told what to do." He pulled away from her, giving her time to catch her breath.

"And I don't like being challenged," she retorted as he turned his back to leave.

He stopped and turned to look at her, a deep frown sitting on his brows. "What did you say?" He has never seen anyone so audacious. After pulling that stunt in front of everyone at the club, he was sure every other girl would be crippled with fear by now and probably would have apologized for acting so erratic, but this woman was not only angry with him, but she was talking back at him. She doesn't regard him and the feeling of that now debilitated him. He was so weak in the knees because he couldn't even find himself harming her again. What was he going to do with her?

"You gave me the rein and I am taking the lead. If you want me to act as your woman, then you should also learn to act as if you compromise for me. I hate men that are not trustworthy," she spat and for some strange reason, he felt a jab at his heart.

"What does that even mean?"

"Who tells a woman to pretend to be theirs this minute and is ready to sell her off the next minute?"

Was it what all this was about? "I didn't sell you off, did I? If I did, you won't be standing here running your mouth because you still have it," he spat.

"Oh, indulge me, Eros Castillo, leader of the El Dragon gang, what else are you good at if not showing wickedness? I am still surprised that my face is not battered up till now." She was riling him up and she knew it, she was pushing too far, and it was dangerous. Eros was an egomaniac and had serious anger issues. How was she even going to pretend to love someone she hates?

"I didn't try to sell you off." It surprised them both that he was trying to explain himself and not act like the animal he usually was, but Cassandra was still ready to push, she wants him to feel the hurt he caused her. Since she didn't measure up in strength, she will keep hurting his ego.

"What do you call bargaining with your partner in crime for a specific price?"

"Cassandra, you really have to watch your language now. I wasn't bargaining with that bastard," Eros defended, he couldn't even believe he was trying to explain and defend himself right now. "He kept talking about you and offering me up to $10,000,000, but I told him I wasn't interested and the moment I excused myself to speak with Javier, the idiot slid into the restroom."

Cassandra could see his frustration and she knew he was speaking the truth; it wasn't supposed to ruffle her at all, but she was kind-hearted to a fault. She eyed his hands. "Are you hurt then?" she asked gesturing to his hands.

He looked at his knuckles that were bleeding from the bruises he acquired while hitting Marco, touched by the little show of care, but decided to put on the nonchalant facade. "It's nothing for you to worry about," he said his demeanor relaxing now.

He killed your father, Cassie, don't be kind, you have to hate him.

That little demon in her head reminded her as she wanted to insist on helping him treat the wound. "Get out then," she said moving toward the dresser.

"What?" Eros seemed more surprised than annoyed.

"I need to go naked and it's not right for you to be here. You are a man of your word, right? You won't take what I'm not prepared to give." A smug smile tugged at her face.

Eros hated that she was controlling him. Why does he even allow her to tie his hands and feet like this? But it was her attitude that drew him in the more. She was a different kind of trouble, different from the kind he was used to. He huffed and took a few steps back before turning to leave the room. Once he closed the door behind him, he heard the twist of the lock and restrained himself from banging on it. Did she just kick him out of his own room?

He walked dejectedly to the living room and was grateful Javier was not around to tease him about it. He was certainly not in the mood for banter.

~~~

The alarm in his phone went off, waking him. Eros sat up on the couch and looked around the room. He was still in the clothing he wore to the club last night. He sighed and stood up from the couch. He was beginning to doubt his mental health. He couldn't believe he let a woman kick him out of his own room. He had not even planned on sleeping on the couch, but he was so tired last night that the moment his head touched the luxurious leather of the couch, he drifted off to sleep.

Each time, he lets things pass between Cassandra and him, he only ends up regretting it the next minute and always resolved to be harder on her the next time, but once he sets his eyes on her, the anger and his resolve evaporate into thin air. It was a helpless situation for him, and the only resolve was to send her away, but he couldn't even bring himself to do that, he couldn't bear not seeing her, not knowing what was going on with her, and not knowing where she was.

He started up the stairs, hoping no one saw him on the couch, especially Javier. He was getting sick of Javier's teases, and they were strangely starting to sound true to him, but he couldn't give in. The door was unlocked now, and he knocked before going in. Knocking on his own door to go into his room. What kind of enchantment was Cassandra using on him? She wasn't in the room when he got in, but the room had been neatly arranged, the bed well dressed as if no one slept there last night. He looked around to see if she kept any notes or anything to tell him where she was, but nothing gave it away.

He went to his closet and put on his sport wears. It's been a while since he visited the gym and going there this morning won't be a bad idea, since it was Saturday. He needed to clear his head on things, he needed to run whatever he was feeling out, and he needed to get his head straight. He needed to think.

Without another thought of Cassandra, he went down to the area he used as his gym. No one was there and he was grateful for that. All he needed now was to be alone. Who was she to get him so weak like this? he thought as he punched the punching bag. Marco's words still rang in his head. Why did he not just sell her off to the bastard? He has been doing it before, he had sold girls for a lesser price, so why couldn't he do it with her? What was so unique about her? The answer was there in his head, she was simply different, a puzzle that he wanted to crack. He had to fight this feeling, he had to fight it, this was not him and it could never be him.

She was his slave, she was nothing, but his slave and he should treat her like one. He was going to ask her to leave his room and move over to the boy's quarters, after all, it was only the foreign client they needed to impress and not his men, she has no business being in his room and certainly had no right kicking him out of his room.

He was so occupied with the thoughts of Cassandra that he did not know that he was punching the bag like a maniac, running out of breath and sweating profusely until the door to the gym flung open and Javier came trudging in with a blonde woman. Javier had a grin on his face that upset him the more. He stopped punching, grabbed the hand towel, and wiped his face, panting.

"What do you want?" he asked Javier in a tone that suggested he wasn't in the mood to joke around.

"This is Miss Peterson, your therapist. Exactly what you wanted," Javier announced with a proud smile.

Eros' hand dropped from his face. He had forgotten about requesting a therapist. The lady came forward and stretched out her hand for a shake, with a beautiful smile on her face.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Castillo."

Eros walked over to the bench and sat down ignoring both of them. Javier turned to the lady and smiled at her.

"Excuse his behavior, he doesn't like to touch people when he is sweaty, I will show you to his office now.

The woman smiled with understanding, nodded, and started out of the room. Javier waited for her to close the door before he turned to Eros.

"What was that all about?"

"Javier, I am in no mood for your lectures this morning."

"I am glad you at least acknowledge them. You can't continue like this, let the therapist speak with you, or just surrender to your feelings and stop fighting them." Before Eros could say a word, Javier was already at the door, not prepared to hear whatever he needed to say.