A/N: Wow, what a season! I've updated portions of chapter 1 just so the story isn't OOC, and I do want to include the canon that is most important to our heroes! Charlene will be a prominent part of the story!

Jenkins tried not to fumble the keycard as he open the door to their room. Cassandra walked inside, silent. He shut the door, and then leaned against it slightly, staring at her.

Cassandra saw so many things in that moment. How desperately he wanted her. How inappropriate he felt it was. How angry he was at himself for feeling this way, and at the universe for forcing this on them. And how much he really did care for her, and was worried about what was to come next.

She walked over to the table in the suite, and pulled out one of the chairs. "Why don't you sit, and I'll massage your back again?" she said with a soft smile that she hoped came off as safe and inviting. Her new husband looked a bit like a deer looking down the barrel of a gun.

She really couldn't help the glimmer of a smirk that came to her lips. It was so delicious to be the one trying to make him comfortable, instead of the other way around. But she had no intention of telling him that. All of her dreams were coming true. But this was not his dream. At least, not yet.

Jenkins looked at the chair, and then back at her. He was dreadfully worried about his actions, certain that he would hurt her the moment he lost control. He could feel the pounding of his heart, the adrenaline running through his body. The simultaneous feelings of fear and desire were not as fabulous as all the world's literature made them out to be.

He nodded, appreciating her willingness to take this slow. He took off his jacket, and loosened his tie. Cassandra came closer, and pulled at the tie slowly, eyes locked on his. She let it fall to the floor.

"Sit down, and lean forward," she said, indicating he should straddle the chair and use the back to lean on. He saw the benefit in this, as it gave her access to a wider range of his backside. He was actually looking forward to this, he realized.

She pushed hard with her thumbs, so very glad her father had taught her proper massage technique when she was 10. He had always been willing to teach her anything she wanted to learn. "It doesn't matter what size your hands are if you understand the way muscles are lain out," he had explained. Cassandra now recalled every piece of instruction and everything she knew about the human body to aid her new husband.

She went up and down his back slowly, deliberately, coming up to his shoulders and spending time there, then all the way down to the small of his back. He always stood ramrod straight, and was so very tall, Cassandra knew she would be giving him regular massages for some time to come.

Jenkins couldn't help but enjoy the attention. His height and weight (he was not a skinny man, he knew) had always caused him to have tension in his back, and though he did try to take care of himself, it was so very nice to have someone else take care of him for a change.

He relaxed into the chair, resting his head on his folded arms as Cassandra's warm hands pushed away some of the tension. Her hands felt so good, the muscles unknotting, he felt supple, safe….

"I wanted to ask you something," Cassandra said softly as she kneaded his back. "I know this isn't ideal, but I want you to be comfortable talking to me, and telling me what you need." She felt him tense at her last sentence, but kept going.

"I can't decide which one's better in this situation: waiting for you to tell me what you need, or just taking the initiative. Neither one is very…consensual," here she paused her massage, clearly emotional.

"If you don't mind, could you continue while we talk?" Jenkins asked in a very quiet voice. "It's a …welcome distraction."

She started again with no other comment, simply waiting for him to speak. Jenkins was nearly overwhelmed with gratitude.

"I feel very conflicted, to be honest," he said, "as I have never felt so unsure of my own mind. To have to ask you literally to bed me-" he took a deep breath, "seems so unethical, I am simply not sure how to deal with it."

"But I don't want to assume anything, either," Cassandra said. "I got to make a choice. You didn't."

They were both silent for several minutes, as Cassandra continued her ministrations. "I am afraid," Jenkins said finally, whispering. "I am afraid of the negative effects."

"What are they?" Cassandra asked, trying hard to sound comforting, and not worried.

"If the pollutant is not diffused regularly, I will become…aggressive," Jenkins swallowed, trying to focus on describing his condition. "Meaning that I must – partake- at least every couple of days, whatever it is. I must ejaculate," he said bluntly, his voice rising in pitch, his anger at the situation bubbling to the surface.

He couldn't hold it in anymore. The stress of the last several days, of forcing a beautiful young woman to marry him, of loving Charlene for so long and never being able to even kiss her cheek, he sat up, his hand over his eyes, trying to hide his grief. He broke.

Cassandra pulled away slightly. This man, this amazing, complicated man, was crying in front of her. She had wanted to be a little miffed, at first, over his unwillingness to embrace their new relationship. Couldn't he be a little happy that this wouldn't be so bad?

But she had squashed that thought like the bug it was. This wasn't his choice. This was so unlike the choice he would have made for himself as to be completely disgusting to him. He was afraid of forcing himself on her, of hurting her, and angry of not having the right to choose. Oh, he had a choice – this or death. That wasn't a choice.

She held him. Let him lean against her, as this Knight of the Round Table cried. She waited for the storm to pass, and then looked into his eyes.

"You can never hurt me," she said almost sternly. "I know that, it's a fact. But I don't want you to be so gallant that you try to go too long, without..." she blushed slightly. "So how about this: You get to control how often, unless I see that you're not asking for…enough. And then I'll initiate. And you'll have to believe that if I really don't want to do something, I'll speak up for myself. Fair?"

Jenkins looked at her in wonder. Where had this amazingly bold person come from? Had she been there all the time, but he had been busy pining after Charlene?

Something made him think about how his body was reacting to her closeness. He realized he was aroused. Good god, man, he thought.

"Cassandra," he wet his lips, his eyes drawn to her red plump ones. She was so close. "I…"

"Come over here," she pulled on his hand, guiding him to the in-suite jacuzzi. She turned the water on hot, and undressed him and herself as the tub filled.

Jenkins was so memorized by her beautiful body, he forgot to be self-conscious about his. The warm water was heaven, but it was only making him harder as he watched her slip into the tub around him. He was panting slightly, unable to catch his breath.

She slid up to him, watching him closely. "We don't have to do everything tonight," she said a little breathlessly, straddling him. "Touch me?" He was sexy, damn. Cassandra couldn't help it. She loved her husband.

He made a small sound in the back of his throat, and closed his eyes. Feelings he had never had before blazed through him. He felt like he was on fire as he reached out and gently touched her breast, then her nipple.

Cassandra arched into his touch. She had never had anyone be this gentle, this thoughtful. She reached for him, gripping his hard member in her small hand.

"Cassandra," he struggled to get out, speechless at the feel of her hand sliding up and down, oh god it felt fantastic, the friction, his hips bucked, his hands kneaded her breasts, his head thrust back, pulling her to him, he couldn't control himself, he needed this, faster, please, he needed more-

He roared his release, panting, the euphoric feeling of release after so long (good lord, had it only been 24 hours?) forcing him to keep his eyes shut.

Which allowed Cassie to observe him without him knowing. He was beautiful, enjoying what she had done. She was nearly desperate to make him feel good, to make him forget about his past love. She wanted all of him, heart and soul.

He opened his eyes to the vision of a naked Cassandra straddling him, rubbing herself with his leg, her eyes clouded with desire. He could think a bit, now, free from the effect for a little while. She was clearly still very much aroused. By me? He couldn't fathom the reality that was in front of him. But he wasn't going to let her do all the work.

He reached down, and touched her core, finding her clitoris. He wasn't a complete innocent. She gasped at the touch, needing only a few swipes of his thumb to set her free, shaking violently in the pleasure released.

He got out, grabbed a towel, and reached for her, drying her and caressing her. He very much wanted her to feel special, even if he was surprised she wanted him.

They made their way to the bed.