A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Fifty Eight
Richard waited for as long as he could before he walks into the other room. He was expecting to see Cassie there and when he doesn't he calls. "Cassie."
"I'm in the bathroom." She calls back, as she sinks into the soaking tub.
He walks over to the bathroom door and stops, watching her in the moonlight coming in from the windows. "This was your idea." He asks.
"Yes." She says, watching him. After few seconds he walks over to the tub and sits down on the edge. "Are you going to join me?"
"I wasn't sure if I was invited." He says, trying unsuccessfully not to smile. She looks at him as if to say you know better than that. "Alright." He says, standing up. "Since I didn't get to watch you undress, close your eyes." She looks at him for a few seconds before she closes her eyes. "No picking."
"You don't trust me."
"No." He says, pulling his shirt off.
He slips his shoes off before he reaches for the belt at his waist. Unfastening it, he unbuttons his jeans and then pushes them down. Stepping out of them, he pushes his boxers down last and then steps out of them before he looks up and finds Cassie is watching him. "See." He says, standing there completely naked.
"I only watched because you said you didn't trust me." She says, watching him.
He walks over to the tub. Getting in behind her, he sinks down wrapping his arms around her. "I love you." He says, kissing her shoulder.
"I love you too." She replies, leaning back against him. They sit there for several moments, simply holding each other and enjoying it. After a while, Cassie says. "I think everything is going to be fine this time around."
"This time around, I don't understand."
"I think we're not going to have the problems we had last time we were married."
"One of the biggest reasons for those problems was that were Prince and Princess and then later I was President of San Cristobel. San Cristobel isn't a part of us anymore."
"I loved our time being Prince and Princess and you being President."
"But it caused us a lot of heart ache, mostly due to Edmund and my inability to punish him severely. I felt sorry for him because of what Father did to him. But at some point I should have realized that excuse and forced him to admit his crimes and accept punishment."
"You wouldn't have been able to live with having to kill him."
"Maybe not, but I should have still put him on trial and let the people decide his fate. I might have stepped in if they had sentenced him to treason, I don't know. But my inability to make him answer for the things he did cost us a lot."
"It's over. And we're back together and I'm never leaving you."
"And I'm never leaving you, the boys, or this little one." Richard says, laying his hand on her stomach. "You scared me this afternoon."
"It scared me. I don't remember ever feeling false labor pains with Tammy, RJ or Will, that's why it scared me."
"And maybe we're a bit hypersensitive with this baby because we didn't think we would ever be able to have another child together."
"That's probably true and it's something we will need to get under control before she's born."
"Maybe we should." Richard says, smiling. "I want to do this for the rest of my life."
"Take a bath." She says, turning to look at him.
"No, well yes, but that's not what I meant. I want to hold you for the rest of my life. I want to raise our kids and grow old together. I want to live the dream I had."
"The dream you had, what dream?"
"The dream I had at Reva when we first moved to Springfield about us going old together."
"I think we're going to get that." She says, leaning up to kiss him softly. He sighs softly, pulling her to him as he deepens the kiss. The heat of the water and her being next him forcing desire to burn through him. She pulls away after a few seconds and he sucks in a deep breath, looking at her. "I know, but that's not part of the plan."
"Do we have to have plan? We could just wing it." He says, as she laughs.
"Umm, I've got something special for later, but it requires us to do this first." She says, reaching for the shampoo. Sliding under the water, he shivers as she moves down his body. When she comes back up, he tightens his arm around her, pulling her back against him. She sucks in a deep breath and then turns her head and kisses him. "We'll take care of that as soon as we take care of this." She says, handing him the shampoo bottle.
"You want to wash your hair." He says.
"No, I want a bath but it's a special bath."
"A special bath how is a bath special?"
"Because you're going to give me one and I'm going to give you one. Now try not to think too much about that while you're washing my hair."
Telling him not to think about that is like telling a dying man not to think about heaven or hell. It just simply can't be done. Taking the bottle he opens it and then squeezes some of it onto his hand before he reaches for her. Slowly he begins to wash her hair. Running his fingers through the growing length. Since he had been home, she has started growing her hair out again. When he's washed all of it, she slides back down into the water.
Rinsing the soap from her hair as he sucks in a breath. Coming back up, she reaches for the shampoo again, she turns to him. "Is it my turn?" He asks, as she moves around to face him. She looks down his body. Her gaze settling on his desire through the murky water. When he comes back up, she sits there for a few seconds, watching the water roll down his face and chest to his waist. "You know we can skip…." That brings her back to reality and she shakes her head no.
Taking the shampoo, she squeezes some into her hand before she moves to straddle him. Leaning up, she slowly washes his hair, repeating what he had done. She takes a few moments to massage his scalp. As she massaging his scalp, he looks up and sees her breasts are even with his mouth and he can't resist the temptation. Leaning forward, he kisses one softly. She jumps and starts to move away but he quickly reaches up and wraps an arm around her waist, holding her tightly while he takes her breast into his mouth, playing with her nipple, caressing her as she sucks in a deep breath.
Bracing herself by holding onto the tub, she lets him continue. Until he reaches up with his other hand, gently squeezing her other breast as he pinches the nipple slightly. She feels her body melting and gathering strength she pulls away from him. He looks at her and smiles before he slips below the water, rinsing the shampoo from his hair. When he comes back up, she back in some control. "Now what are we doing?"
She turns for the soap and a wash cloth. Getting it wet, she rubs her hand together until the wash cloth is soapy and then she begins to wash him, slowly moving her hand over his chest, neck and arms. When she's finished, he looks at her and then pulls himself up, hoping the she would wash his erection. She knows what he wants, but she says. "Turn around and let me wash your back."
"You know you're driving me crazy with this." He says, turning around and bracing his hand against the wall as she stands up behind him. Slowly she moves her hands over his shoulders, which are straining against the desire rushing through his body. She moves down his back, to his waist and over his hips and butt before she sinks to her knees. "Can I turn around now?" He asks hoarsely.
"If you want to." She says softly.
He turns around and then looks down. She kneeling before him and his desire is reaching for her as she looks up. She reads his desire in his eyes. "Not this time." She says softly as he sucks in a deep breath. She washes his legs, letting him brace himself on her shoulder when she reaches his feet. She washes them quickly before she looks up. Reaching for his desire, she washes it. He struggles to control his breathing while he fights the desperate urge to pick her up, and carry her into the other room. When she sits back, it takes him a few moments before he's able to sit back down in the water. Sinking low enough for the water to rinse him completely.
When he sits back up, he looks at her and she hands him the wash clothe. Once she handed him the wash clothe control passed to him. He takes it and begins to give her a bath quickly. After a couple seconds, she says. "Slow…."
"I can't." He says, leaning up to kiss her.
Wrapping his arms around her, holding her completely still while he devours her mouth. She senses his control holding on by thin line and when he begins again, she doesn't protest when he quickly washes the rest of her. Within a couple of minutes, he's dropped the wash cloth in the water and he's running water over her body. Standing up, he help her up and then steps out of the water. He turns to help her, but she shakes her head.
Getting out, she reaches for the towels, handing one to him, they dry off together. When he's finished, he reaches for her, wanting to sweep her up into his arms and carry her into the bedroom but she places a hand on his chest. "Go on and I'll be out in a few moments."
"Cassie." He says desperately. He was beginning to hurt and she realized it.
"I promise I won't be long." She says, leaning up to kiss him softly. He tries to hold onto the kiss but she steps back.
"If you're not out there in two minutes, I'm coming in here to get you." He says hoarsely as she smiles.
"I won't be long." She says, as he turns for the door and she goes to the counter. It's the first time that he notices the she has one of her bags there. He stops for a second and she says. "I'll be out in less than two minutes, I promise."
He leaves and she opens the bag. Pulling out the negligee that Harley bought. She lays it on the counter before she quickly gets her makeup and puts it back on. Washing her hand and teeth, she reaches for the negligee. Slipping it on, she looks at the robe and then decides not to put it on. Walking over to the door, she turns the light off before she opens the door.
Richard is sitting on the king size bed, facing the bathroom. The moonlight is spilling into the room from the windows beside the bed. He looks up when he hears the door open. Staring as she walks out of the bathroom. He has to swallow a few times before he's able to say. "Cassie." She walks over to him slowly as he stands up, still staring. "Darling, you're beautiful." He whispers, moving his eyes down her body. "Wow!" He says. "I mean where did you get this?" He asks, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her to him.
She can still feel his erection lying against her stomach and she shivers slightly before she answers. "Harley bought for the wedding shower."
"This is what you were talking about when you said I'll see some of stuff you got tonight."
"Yes, do you like it?" She asks, looking up.
"Do I like it, of course I like it." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
She reaches up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Slipping her tongue in to play with his. He quickly feels desire ignite inside him again and he tightens his arms around her waist for a moment before he releases her. Pulling the towel loose while they're still kissing, he lets it drop to the floor. He sweeps her up into his arms as the towel drops to the floor and sits back down on the bed.
She breaks the kiss at this point, looking at him. He turns to the head of the bed, propping up the pillows, he scoots back and then he holds out his hand for her. She slips her hand in his and he pulls her to him. Catching her mouth as she moves over him, straddling him. They kiss as she wraps her arms around his neck and he puts his around her waist, holding tightly to him. She can feel his erection pressing against her thigh.
After a few moments, he gathers the negligee in his hands, pulling up her body as they kiss. He has it halfway up her body when she breaks the kiss and sits back. Her eyes are heavy with desire when he looks up. A staggering wave of desire rushes through him as he looks into her eyes. He continues to pull the negligee up until he reaches her arms and then she takes it. Pulling it over her head and tossing it to the floor as he lies back against the pillows, watching her. She moves closer to him and he reaches up. Slowly moving his fingers down her face he whispers. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." She says, leaning in to kiss the side of his neck as she moves back, hovering over him. "Does it hurt?" She asks, leaning back and looking into his eyes.
"It had eased up but now it's starting to again." He whispers, as she reaches for him. Wrapping her hand around his erection, she squeezes him gently as he sucks in a deep breath. "Cassie." He groans, closing his eyes tightly. She quickly realizes that she can't push him as far as she had before. He's too close to the edge. Sitting up, she moves over him. She kisses him as she guides him inside. The moment he feels his body entering hers, he pulls away, breaking the kiss to release a deep groan. She sucks in a deep breath as his hand fall her hips. "You have to do this, I can't." He says, fighting to hold his control.
He moves down into a more comfortable position as she rolls her hips over him, sliding back and forth. They continue for several moments before she leans back bracing her hands on the bed. She lifts her hips and then brings them back down. He reaches for her, running his hands down her stomach. He slips his hand between them, reaching for her hidden desire and rubbing his fingers over it. He feels her jump and he looks up, smiling. "Richard." She groans.
"I know, darling." He whispers, deepening his caress as she moves again, increasing the tempo. He lifts his hips and she looks up, surprise rushing across her face. "Come here." He says, holding his other hand out to her.
Wrapping his arm around her, he continues to thrust as she slides back and forth over him. He soon realizes it won't be long for either of them. He looks up, and smiles, seeing the realization dawn in her eyes. "Don't stop, please." He whispers, continuing to thrust against her sliding hips.
"I feel you growing. You're almost there."
"I know but I can hold on until..."
The tension snaps inside both of them, small waves of release rolls over them. His hand falls to her hips, holding her tightly as shutters of her release course through her and she feels him jerk, each wave becoming stronger as their release rises. She collapses into his waiting arms as the last wave sweeps over them, sucking in a deep breath as he wraps his arm around her, holding her to him. Its several moments before either of them can think or move. He makes the first move. Reaching up, he buries his hand in her hair, holding her to him as she turns her head. "I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too."
They lay there holding each other. Their breathing slowly turning to normal as he relaxes. He relaxes enough for her to realize that he's still inside her and she can feel him growing again. She looks up, watching him. He looks at her. "You want to again." She says, watching him.
"I can't help it. You've got me so turned on, I can't control…." She leans over to kiss him.
She moves against him and he reaches for her, stopping her. He wraps his arms around her before he rolls her over onto her back. Leaning up on his forearms, he gives his first thrust, entering her completely. She sucks in a deep breath looking up at him. "I like this." She whispers, running her hand down his chest.
He continues, growing inside her with each thrust until he fills her completely. His rhythm increase each time he enters her, until he's driving his body into hers. He so focused on that, that he almost forgets about her until, she moves beneath him, rolling her hips with his. "Cassie!" He groans.
He leans down to kiss her. Changing the position, and bring him against her deepest desire. "Richard!" She screams, closing her eyes as she reaches for him.
He continues thrusting as she reaches for him, pulling him to her, fighting to hold onto him as he pulls away. She's holding him so tightly that her nail are leaving half-moon indentations in his thighs. He presses deeper as she arches her back.
The first flutter of her release washes over him. He continues moving deeper. She moans with each thrust, letting her body be swept away. As the strongest wave sweeps through her, he thrusts for the final time, letting her bring his release with the pressure of hers. She squeezes him tightly. Laying his head on her shoulder, he gives over to their body's release.
Reaching up, she runs her fingers through his hair as he collapses, half of his weight on the bed, half on her. They struggles to catch their breath. A few more minutes and he pulls away from her, lying down beside her as he sucks in a deep breath. She moves over beside him and he lifts his arm. Wrapping it around her shoulders, he pulls her to him and then softly kisses her forehead. Closing their eyes, they both fall asleep.
After leaving the lab, Detective Rossi goes to speak to the other witness. He pulls up to a complex on the east side of Reston. Getting out of his car, he looks around. Spotting the witness's truck he begins walking towards the vehicle. He's about halfway across the parking lot when the witness comes out of one of the building. "Roswell." Detective Rossi calls out and he looks up. And Rossi can tell he's not to happy to see him.
"Look I id'd the man already."
"We have in custody and I want you to come down and id him in person."
"Are you crazy? How am I supposed to do that? I'm working here. Besides..."
"Besides, we can arrest you as an accessory to that break-in. The only reason we haven't is because you're cooperating with the investigation. If you cease cooperating, then…."
"Alright, alright, I get off in a few hours. I can come by the station after that."
"Thank you." Detective Rossi says, holding out his hand.
"Yeah, right. I don't have a choice and I've got work to do." He says, walking around the detective and continuing to his van.
Detective Rossi goes back to his car. He stops at one of the local diners on his way back to the station and by the time he gets back, Kent is waiting for him. "Rossi, I've got the results from the DNA test." He says, handing him the file.
"What's it say?" Rossi says, taking the file.
"It's a perfect match to the DNA on the shards of glass. Your suspect was in the victim's apartment."
"Thank you." Rossi says.
"You're welcome." Kent replies, turning to leave as Detective Rossi walks away.
When he reaches his desk, he calls the jail. "Reston Jail." The jailer says.
"This is Detective Rossi, I need prisoner 32343 brought over to interrogation."
"Prisoner 32343."
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"Umm, there might be. One of the other jailers tried to force him to go back into the jail with the other prisoners. He resisted and was tased a few times before I could stop the other jailer."
"If he's resisting the jailer, why did you stop him?"
"The prisoner is claustrophobic. I had given orders that he was to be allowed to stay outside during the day. The other jailer didn't know about the order and tried to force the prisoner back inside the jail with the other prisoners."
"Is he able to answer questions?"
"He might be in a few hours." The jailer asks.
"Fine, bring him over here in a few hours then."
"Yes Sir."
A few hours later, the witness walks into the Reston Police Station. He walks up to the desk sergeant. "May I help you?"
"Yes, I'm here to see Detective Rossi."
"Have a seat and I'll let him know you're here, What's your name?"
"Roswell… Joe Roswell."
"Okay, have a seat." The desk sergeant says, nodding to the chairs behind him as he picks up the phone. Roswell sits down. When he hangs up the phone, he says. "Detective Rossi will be here shortly."
"Thanks."
About ten minutes later, Detective Rossi walks up to Roswell. "Mr. Roswell, if you'll follow me." He says, as Joe stands up. He follows Detective Rossi through the station to a small room. Opening the door, they walk in. Inside the room there are no chairs or table. And on the opposite side of the door is a wall of glass, behind the glass is an empty room with a small platform. Behind the platform is a white wall with and the room is brightly lit. "Okay, here's what's going to happen Mr. Roswell. I'm going to have a series of men brought in to the other room. I want you to look at each of the men and tell me if you see the man you bribed you to let him into the victim's apartment. Are you ready?" Joe nods once and then Rossi holds down an intercom button and says. "Bring them in."
To the left of the platform a door opens. Joe looks at and wonders why he didn't notice it before. About eight guys walk into the room, all of varying sizes, shapes and colors. He takes a step forward, looking at each of the men until he reaches the last man. The moment he saw him he recognized him. "It's the last one. He's the one that told me that if I let him into the apartment he would get the guys pestering to leave me and my family alone."
"You're sure."
"Yes."
"Okay, thank you. Mr. Roswell. I'm going to have an officer come in to get your statement…."
"I've already given my statement. "
"Then we'll go over it and make sure there's nothing that needs to be changed."
"Okay."
"I'll send that officer in immediately." Rossi says, opening the door. He walks out, closing it behind him. Joe looks around the room. A few moments later, the door in the other room opens and the men are lead out. Shortly after that, an officer opens the door and says. "Mr. Roswell, if you'll follow me, we'll go over your statement to the police." Joe walks out of the room, following the officer.
After leaving Mr. Roswell, Detective Rossi has one of the officers bring Schultz back into one of the interrogation rooms. And once Mr. Roswell is taken care of, he goes to talk with Schultz. Opening the door, Schultz looks up. "Are you letting me go?"
"No, Mr. Schultz. I'm not. I've actually built a solid case against you. Now in your previous statement you stated that you've never been in DC, is that correct?"
"You know it is."
"And do you want to change that story?"
"No, why should I, it's the truth."
"Are you sure about that, because I've got a witness that id's you as being the man that bribed him to let him into the victim's apartment in early July. Now if you've never been in DC how can he id you as being the man he let into the apartment?"
"I don't know, ask him. I'm telling you I've never been here."
"You know, Mr. Schultz. You're not a good liar."
"I can't tell you why that man says I was in DC. I've never been here."
"Okay, let's move on. I've got other evidence that maybe you can explain. The morning after the break-in our officers discovered two pieces of glass in the victim's apartment with blood on it. Up until you gave us a DNA sample we had nothing to compare it to. We tested the DNA sample you gave us this morning against the blood we found at the scene and you know what, it was a perfect match, less than 1% off. So can you explain, if you've never been in DC and you don't know the victim, how was your blood in her apartment?" Ralph doesn't answer.
"You see this is what I think happened. You meet Ms. Whitley at a bar, restaurant, some where, you tried to pick her up, but she was smart enough to turn you down and that made you mad, so you followed her for a few days, found out where she lived and bribed the maintenance man in her apartment complex to let you into her apartment while she was at work. He let you in and you trashed the place." Ralph still doesn't say anything.
"You know, Mr. Schultz. It doesn't really matter what happened or why you broke into Ms. Whitley's apartment. I can prove you were in DC in early July and I can put you inside her apartment the day of the break-in and I have to witnesses backing up this story. So, Mr. Schultz. You're under arrest for breaking and entering and destruction of private property." Detective Rossi says, closing the file and getting up. "You're on your way back to prison."
"Alright, I'll talk. But I want a deal and protection."
"You tell me what happened and we'll see." Detective Rossi says.
"I was hired by a guy to break-in to the ladies apartment. I wasn't supposed to hurt, that's why I had the maintenance guy to let into the apartment after she was gone. I was only supposed to get information for him."
"Who was this guy?"
"He's name was Reginald Simmons. He used to work for this really rich family in Springfield, the Spaulding's. But he quit and when to work for a lady."
"Why did this Mr. Simmons what information on Ms. Whitley?"
"He didn't tell me at first. He just told me to get as much information as I could find and get it to him. He said he would give it to the lady he worked for."
"Who is this lady and why did the lady want information on Ms Whitley?"
"The ladies name is Olivia Spencer. She lives in Springfield. Simmons never told me why she wanted the information. But I know why she did."
"Okay."
"Ms. Whitley is married to Olivia's former boyfriend."
"So, this Olivia Spencer ordered Mr. Simmons to find out as much information about Ms. Whitley and he hired you to do it, is that correct?"
"Yes, but there's more."
"I'm listening."
"Shortly after I broke into the apartment, Simmons called me and told me to come to Springfield that the job had changed."
"Changed, how?"
"Olivia had changed her mind about going after Ms. Whitley. She had decided to go after someone else."
"Someone else, who?"
"Her former boyfriend, the Mayor of Springfield, Jeffrey O'Neill. She instructed Simmons to find a place where she could hold him. She ordered him to purchase a drug to subdue him and then we were supposed to take him to this place and hold him for her."
"And what was your part in this plan to kidnap Mr. O'Neill?"
"I was supposed to follow him, learn his routine. And man it wasn't hard to learn. That man has got to be the most…."
"Back to the story, you were to follow him. Did you ever report in about what you saw?"
"Yes, I would report to Simmons. I guess he told her. I never spoke directly to her."
"Did you ever see her with Simmons or at the place where you were planning to hold Mr. O'Neill?"
"Yes, she came out there a couple times. Once to inspect the place and then to follow up after she told us to change some things. She was there when I reported in and told Simmons that I was almost spotted. She was really pissed because of that."
"When was all of this supposed to happen?"
"Umm, I believe it was supposed to go down yesterday or today. I'm not sure what the date is?"
"Alright, Mr. Schultz. I'll contact the Springfield police and check this out. In the mean time, you're still under arrest for breaking and entering and destruction of private property as well as parole violations for the leaving the state without advising your parole officer." Detective Rossi says, standing up. "I'm going to have an officer come in to take your sworn statement." Schultz sits back as Rossi walks out of the room.